MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We had a really nice day with my parents and sisters. We went out for a late lunch and then came back to the house for cake and ice cream. My sisters and their families stayed for awhile and visited. I think we wore Dad out but it was nice to get him out of the house for a bit.

We've had lots of snow here this past week so we are definitely having a white Christmas. We have somewhere between 6-8 inches on the ground--maybe more. It's been fairly cold--so it's not going anywhere for awhile.

Well, have a Very Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

Happy, Happy Birthday to my amazing, beautiful mom! I'm so grateful for all she is to me and my family and so glad she is a part of my everyday life. My sisters and their families are coming today and we are all going to break bread together to celebrate her birthday! My mom works so hard everyday taking care of my dad and helping keep my little ones on the straight and narrow. :) I'm glad we have a day to celebrate her! You mean the world to me mom! I LOVE YOU! Hope your day is fabulous!!!

MISSING LOVED ONES

It's been a while since I've posted. I apologize. Rob's mom died a little over a week ago and while she hasn't been super healthy, I can't say we were expecting it. We spent the last week having a service for her and being with family. We have had a month or so filled with losses--She is the third.

We lost our older daughter's Grandma on their mom's side but she claimed our younger ones as well. We called her Grammy. Thankfully, we went to visit her  (and Poppy) last year in CA. She had Parkinson's and had been sick for a very long time. I'm glad she is no longer in pain.

When Grammy died we went to CA for the funeral. Megan and Julie went with us and Sara flew in from Portland and met us there. We were able to spend time with Poppy, who isn't well either, and her sons and some of the kids' cousins/ It was nice to see everyone.

No sooner had we returned home than I got a message that my friend Venice, one of my closest, dearest friends had passed away. She was like a mother, sister, grandmother and friend all wrapped up in one person. She was also a grandma to my kids. I was and am still devastated by her loss. I had just checked on her before we left for CA. The kids and I had gone to visit her and I didn't have any idea she was so close to leaving.

Well, that's where I've been. Haven't felt much like writing. Just been feeling pretty sad about all the sweet people we've lost. 

PEANUTS ANYONE?

Today was a FANTASTIC day!! It was our first taste of freedom. Remember the scene in The Princess Bride where Inigo outsmarts the kidnapper because he's "spent the last few years building up an immunity to Iocane powder." Well, my son has spent the last few months building up an immunity to peanuts. Today for the first time--he ate his poison and he did not have a reaction. 

We are only at a dose of one peanut and we have to make it to 24 peanuts before he is free but this is truly a modern miracle!! Hallelujah! Thank you so much Douglas H Jones, MD!! We are so grateful we don't have to live in fear anymore! Thanks for all your hard work and for your wonderful staff! We love you!

Jono holding a peanut for the first time about to eat it!

Jono's medicine for the next week! A peanut - twice a day.

 

DON'T MESS WITH OUR CHOCOLATE!

Carly was still hungry after lunch today so I told her she could make a Nutella sandwich. It wasn't her first choice but she went ahead. As she was making it she said, "Mom Nutella is chocolate but they put a nut in it that ruined the chocolate." Hahaha! Such an astute observation for one so little! Rob and Jono LOVE the stuff. My baby girl and I, not so much! DON'T MESS WITH OUR CHOCOLATE!!! Just sayin'!

THE PLEDGE VERSION 2.0

Jonathon was wandering the kitchen while I was getting dinner together last night and he kept trying to recite The Pledge of Allegiance. They say it everyday at school as a class and he has it mostly memorized. He was mixing up a couple of verses and he had run a couple of words together in his mind but overall he had learned it pretty well. He did it over and over and I was helping him a little until he had it almost perfect. So he went through it one more time and it went like this.

I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
And to the Republic for which it stands
One Nation under God, Indivisible,
And Everything, And a heart full of God

I really like his version--I'm keeping it for posterity. Plus, I think our country could use a little more of God in our hearts right now. Maybe we could add that verse in somewhere--lol. It's so cute the way kids hear and remember things. I think Jono got the gist anyway. Sure love my cute little guy!

HEAVEN HAS ANOTHER ANGEL

This morning I got a message that one of my oldest and dearest friends passed away. She and I have been friends for almost 28 years and have been through so much together. She is in her eighties and hasn't been well lately but for some reason, I still wasn't prepared for the news. I'd been to see her just before we left on our trip to CA and talked to her on the phone, too. I just wasn't expecting her to die. I am so sad. She truly was one of my best and most loyal friends.

One of the last things I told her when I saw her was not to go anywhere. Obviously, she had other plans. She lost her husband a couple of years ago and I know she really missed him. She was ready to go--but darn it, I wasn't ready for her to go. Thus, my caution to her. This should be easier when we know people are prepared to go, but it still isn't. I am going to miss her too much. She really was a light and joy in my life. She was someone I love so dearly and laughed with until we cried at times. Everyone should have a friend like her. I miss you already Venice. I love you.

Carly with Venice and the blanket she made for her

Venice holding Carly at Carly's sealing

Dick and Venice with Carly

Venice with Jono, me and Carly

Venice and me on our last visit

JUST SAY "YES" TO POWER TRAIN!

We've had an interesting couple of days. We left this morning to drive to CA. We have a family funeral to attend. A couple of days ago I called our car dealership and made an appointment for yesterday to have the oil changed and tires rotated before we left. Rob took the car out yesterday morning and it seemed like it was taking a really long time. Finally, he called and told me he would not be bringing our car home before we had to leave. He said they found an oil leak--something pretty major. Gah! But then, he told me some good news. We had purchased a Power Train Warranty when we bought the vehicle and it was all covered but a small deductible. Not only that, they would be providing us with a rental vehicle for our trip since they couldn't get to our car before we needed to leave. Wow! Now, that's some warranty!

Don't worry, we left Grandma and Grandpa under the care of a watchful neighborhood. In fact, first thing this morning my neighbor across the street sent me a note wondering if everything was OK because there weren't any cars in our driveway last night but the lights were on downstairs. I explained to her about our car and that we hadn't gotten our rental yet and that Rob and Grandma were out running errands. Grandpa and I were holding down the fort with the kids. Or maybe it was that the kids were holding Grandpa and me for ransom? That sounds more likely. Lol. It should be a nice break for them having a little quiet around the house.

HAPPY 57th ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!

Today, Saturday November 7, is my Mom and Dad's 57th Wedding Anniversary! It's hard to believe they've been together that many years. I still remember my Grandma and Grandpa Flint's 60th Weddng Anniversary celebration and my parents don't seem that old. (Maybe they aren't--I don't really know the age difference on when they hit their 60th. Lol!)

Anyway, we didn't have a big celebration. They don't really know many people here plus Dad wasn't up to going out or anything. In fact, he hasn't had much of an appetite lately. We ordered in from Red Lobster and we did get him to eat a baked potato. That was about the extent of his celebrating! Ha! Mom is doing really good and Dad is holding his own. We are glad they are here with us. The kids love having them here too. I don't know what they would do without them.

Well, just wanted to wish them a very Happy Anniversary from me and my family! We love you Grandma and Grandpa!

You made the cutest family!

AND THE WINNER IS . . .

Carly entered a state-wide art contest for school. It starts at her school level and then goes on to the state. She got a trophy and ribbon for her entry at the school level. She is pretty excited and we are pretty proud. Love this little one SO much!!

Miss Carly with her entry and awards

DENIAL -- MORE THAN A RIVER IN EGYPT

I was shopping the other day and when I got to the cash register to pay the clerk asked for my ID. After I handed it to her, she looked at it and asked if I was fifty-five. I immediately said "no" and then realized I was wrong! Holy Crap! I told her I was and she gave me a Senior Citizen discount. I didn't know whether to be insulted, depressed, or delighted with my 30% off!

Actually, I probably should have been worried that I didn't remember my own age! Lol! And what reminded me was I'd had this discussion with Rob a few weeks before. Our birthdays are within a month of each other and I was telling him we were fifty-four this year, not fifty-five. Now, it's not hard to do the math--even if you're bad with math - (which I am. Lol.) We were born in a year that ends with a zero. I guess I was in denial.

Rob's been saying for years we were going to hit a point where we would walk into a restaurant and be eligible for the Senior Citizens discount and Carly and Jono would be eligible for the "Kids ten and under eat for free" discount. Well, we just got there!

MY KIDS ARE SMARTER THAN ME

I just put Carly to bed and she stopped me on the way out to ask a question. It went like this:

Carly: "Mom, do you like boys with long hair?"
Me: "No, I don't like long hair on boys at all!"
Carly: "Jesus had long hair." (With a tiny bit of a "Gotcha" inflection.)
Me: "Well, I like Jesus with long hair--but that was a time when everyone wore their hair long."

T.H.I.N.K.I.N.G.

Carly: "Mom, you know why they had long hair back then?"
Me: "Why?"
Carly: "They didn't have scissors yet! They had to do everything with rocks!"

Lol!

PEANUTS FOR CHRISTMAS?

Everything is going smoothly here. We have all just been busy. Grandpa and Grandma are healthy as are the rest of us. Jono's OIT or as I call it his "Peanut trial" is continuing to go well. In fact, if he can stay healthy and not have any reactions it is possible they will have him eating his first peanut by Christmas. Each week when we go it seems there is another child graduating from the program! There is usually a child there eating his or her first peanut as well. It is such an amazing thing to witness.

I am so grateful we are here so close and able to participate. Some parents have sold their homes and moved here to do this. Some travel on planes to come each week. It is a life-saving and life enhancing program and we are just so blessed. I think I have told you before that this doctor has been Jono's doctor from the beginning. So, we are so lucky not to have had to search for -- but to have had it fall in our laps. A peanut allergy is such a frightening thing to have--you only have to scan the newspapers to see how many people (kids especially) die from them every year.

Well, there really isn't a whole lot more going on here--so I will close on that note. But I will keep you posted.

COUPLE MORE PHOTOS

Jono and Carly

Rob and Nancy

OUR NEW FAMILY PHOTO

Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on the world, yours are the feet with which he goes about doing good, and yours are the hands with which he blesses the world." ~Teresa of Avila

My Beautiful Family

HIGHER ED IS OUT FOR THE LITTLE MAN

We were driving along today and Jono announced he will not be going to college. I said, "Of course you're going to college. It will help you so much in your life and you will get really smart there. Why wouldn't you want to go to college?" "Nope, college doesn't have playgrounds. It won't be any fun at all. I'm not going!"

Well, alrighty then! I didn't realize my little man had a really good reason. Lol.

KISSES FROM HEAVEN

Today I was sitting in the car with the kids waiting for something and out of the blue Carly said "Mommy did you feel a little bit of love when you were getting married?" I didn't know what she meant. I turned around and looked at her and said, "What?" I mean, I think most of us feel a lot of love when we are getting married so I really wasn't sure where she was going with this. When I turned around to look at her she basically repeated her question--

"Did you feel a little bit of love when you were getting married? (but then she threw in a gesture) Because I was doing this--and she blew me a big kiss. She said, "I was watching you and I blew you a big kiss so I hope you felt a bit of love from me."

Wow. Sometimes this little girl just melts my heart. She has told me, on more than one occasion, that she picked me as her mom and Rob as her dad -- and that she was watching over us before she came here. Little nuggets like these are some serious kisses from Heaven.

LIFE CHANGING PROGRAM

So this is the program my son is in. His doctor has people from many states and even from Australia and Japan coming to participate. It is saving lives. I feel so blessed to have Jonathon in it right now. If you know someone who has a deadly food allergy, you should have them watch this. I've been terrified to send him on too many play dates or even to school. I have never wanted him very far out of my sight because I was afraid he would accidentally eat something with a peanut in it--and have an anaphylactic reaction. This program is changing his life and my world. Happy Days! Click on the link to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTaAH5vO2_8

MOVING DAY!!

Dad went for a check up with his neurologist on Friday. His doc actually thought his walking has improved. That was really good news. We will take all the mobility we can get!

Dad's brother Ed called and is coming for a visit in a few weeks. I think it will be great for them to spend some time together. He will only be here for a couple days but it will still be nice to have him here. He has never met any of my kids. We are hoping we can get most of the family together at least one day during his visit.

Carly and Jono are doing really good in school. Both of them really like their teachers. They are both making new friends and thankfully, Carly has some of her old friends in her class, too. She even had a playdate this week. I am most impressed that Jono has not had to sit on the time-out bench in his classroom even once! I was so afraid his "rambunciousness" wouldn't play well in the classroom but he seems to be respecting his teacher. She even told me "He is a really great kid!"

Rob and I are going to Payson tomorrow afternoon to help Sarah and Rich unload their moving van and start getting moved into their new home. We are so EXCITED they are going to be back here in Utah!!

PEANUT ALLERGY UPDATE ~ JONO'S NEW THING!

I haven't explained where we are on Jono's peanut program. So, let me update you. We had two very intensive days of dosing. We spent all day both days in the doctor's facility with other kids -- most close to Jono's age. They were at varying stages of the program. One was on her very last day of the peanut allergy program. Another was at the stage where she had to eat her first actual peanut. Her mother was very emotional about it.

I hadn't thought about it until that moment. I mean, I was very nervous beginning the program--although probably not as nervous as leaving my son at school where I couldn't be there to protect him for the first time. But, I digress. :) Anyway, we spend years protecting our allergic children from these substances, making sure they understand how harmful they are to them. We tell others not to make sure not to give them to them. We make sure our kids know how to ask if the food they are going to eat has any of the forbidden element in it before they touch it. Then suddenly, here we are the ones giving it to them. This mother was the one handing her daughter the dose (the peanut) to eat and it was almost more than she could take. The great news is that her daughter had NO reaction at all to the peanut!!

In the program Jono is in, his doctor is very, very slowing giving him small amounts of peanut protein. He will build up to peanut powder and then eventually to a peanut, then to more peanuts. The day he can eat 24 peanuts without a reaction, he will graduate. He will have to stay on a maintenance dose of peanuts--8, I believe to keep his immunity up.

This doctor, who has been his doctor since the beginning is doing amazing work. He is doing this for other allergies as well. He is doing it for wheat, milk, eggs, tree nuts . . . there may be more but that is what I remember for now. He has people coming from all over the US and from several countries to try to rid themselves of these deadly allergies. What an amazing blessing that we are right here --and he has been our doctor all along.

Here is what he's doing:

http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/free-food-allergy-treatment-seminars/17897/pM3nAEqMG06VJ-ao6cmtjw

SCHOOl DAZE

It was a long, busy week so I am just now getting a minute to post our first day of school pictures. I will try to post more soon. Love everyone!

They have really enjoyed getting back into school (Jono was pre-school). They love their teachers and are making new friends. So good to see them having fun!

MUCH TOO LONG

I know it's often much too long between postings on here. This summer has flown by. I thought I'd have more time and it feels like I've had less but only because the kids have kept me busier than usual. They are growing up so fast! We are finishing our fourth and final week of swimming lessons this week! It's been so good though. My friend Robin talked me into setting the kids up with private swim lessons and they have learned so quickly. If they fell into water now they could not only save themselves they could swim to safely.

Rob and I went over to the school this morning to finalize a few things for the start of school. Carly is going into second grade and Jono is starting Kindergarten. Their first day is actually Jono's 6th birthday. He is so excited! We ended up moving him to the afternoon class because he just got accepted into the peanut allergy program he's been on the waiting list for and his appointments will be in the morning. We are excited and a bit trepidatious at the same time. I am grateful and excited he has this opportunity to not be allergic to peanuts anymore but a little nervous about the process as it is still so new and comes with no guarantees. All prayers on his and our behalf our very welcome. He starts on August 17th.

Grandma and Grandpa are hanging in there. Nothing major to report. All is well.

WELL THAT WASN'T VERY NICE OF ME!

I was just going to put a little update on here and noticed my last post was about Sadie and what we thought was her last walk. We went to the vet that day just sure we had no choice but to put her down. It was very sad because she has all her faculties she just couldn't move at all on her own and she's 75 lbs. Anyway, we got her to the vet and the vet spent a few minutes examining her and told us Sadie had blown both knees out. "Wait, what?" I'm not sure we knew dogs had knees! Lol. The vet said one was probably an old injury but the other one was fresh. Wow, we just had no idea. I'd been treating her stiffness like it was hip displasia. But no, she just blew our her knees. So, on to some heavy pain and anti-inflammitory meds and hope she will be good as knew soon,

She has been on them almost a week now and has made a ton of improvement. She can stand and walk and get around for the most part on her own. Stairs are still a bit hard for her but she does the best she can.

Grandpa had a check up at the dermatologist today. He is doing fairly well but getting him in and out of the house to his appointment always wears him out. He has more energy on days when he stays in and works from home--and he seems to feel better when he gets a lot accomplished! But then, don't we all!

Well, not much more for today! More later.

ONE LAST WALK

Our dog Sadie is almost ten. She has been such a sweet dog. She is good natured and has been so great with the kids. This past year, maybe a little longer it has been really noticeable that her hips have bothered her. Hip dysplasia is fairly normal for Labradors and she is part Lab. We've been giving her CoQ-10 and special hip and joint supplements and for awhile they seemed to be helping. But in the past 3 days she has gone down hill so fast. She can hardly move her back legs at all and she will just lay there and cry until one of us comes and helps her move. We've been helping her up and down steps -- but this afternoon she would not even try to tackle them at all.

I finally put a leash on her and took her out the front door which is considerably easier. It still took some lifting and assisting but we made it--only to have her just lay down and refuse to move. That is until her sister Tashie stood at the door whining to come out also. So, we put a leash on Tashie and brought her out front, too. Tashie just assumed we were going on a walk. So, she came out all excited like she does when we put her on a leash for a walk. When Sadie saw Tashie all excited she got excited, too and stood up and started walking, and she kept walking. I was kind of astounded and the kids were very excited to see that she wanted to go for a walk --so we all went. I didn't let her go far before I stopped and turned her around, though. I didn't want her to hurt herself or cause more pain for later.

I had to tell the kids this was probably our last walk with Sadie. They are really sad--and so am I. She has an appointment with the vet tomorrow evening but I am fearful of what we will find. After Rob got home later this evening, we couldn't even get her to stand up to go out again--not even after Rob carried her outside. She is in pain and it makes me so sad not to be able to stop it. I am hoping, against hope the Vet has some ideas on how to help her, short of bionic limbs. 

Our sweet Sadie on what may prove to be her last walk

 

 

GO MAMMA GO!

Rob and I went shooting tonight. As one of the targets, he took a gallon of water and asked the supervisor at the gun range if he could put it out with our other targets. The man said he could but wasn't sure why Rob would want to because it would be kind of embarrassing if he missed it when he shot at it. Well, Rob put it out anyway. Then, when I was getting ready to shoot Rob asked me if I wanted to take a shot at the water. I had no idea about the earlier conversation that had gone on between the two of them. So, I just aimed my shotgun and with the first shot I blew it to Smithereens. I turned around to look at Rob as I was celebrating and there stood this gun range supervisor with the oddest smirk on his face! I couldn't quite figure it out at the time but later when Rob told me the story I understood. Pretty funny, eh?! Yay me! Lol!

GOOD STUFF

It's been a good news sort of day today. Sarah and Rich got their new house. Now they just need to sell their other home. We'd appreciate prayers for them to be able to do so quickly so they can have their whole family together again. We are all very excited for their move. We are going to love having them this close!

The other good news we got today is that Jono got accepted into the Peanut trial. His allergy doctor is doing this life-saving and life-altering work with all kinds of food allergies. Jono has been on a 3-6 month waiting list to get into it. He finally got in and will begin mid-August. Anyway--his doctor is literally curing food allergies--serious ones like peanut, tree nut, egg, wheat, milk and other deadly allergies. It is amazing!

I have been so nervous to send him off to school where I cannot protect him and now he will hopefully be safe and cured soon so I won't have to worry. What a miracle!

Took the kids to swimming lessons today--Jono's first go around, Carly's second. It was kind of a trip--so to speak but I will have to write more about it later as Rob is ready for bed. Take care, night all.

NEWS FROM SISTER SARAH!

My sister Sarah and her husband Rich were house hunting this weekend and found one they love a little over an hour from here. They still need to sell their home in Idaho but have now put it in the hands of a realtor so hopefully that will happen can happen soon. They put an offer on this new home and should hear back tomorrow. We are all excited to have them so close again!

It's been a short weekend. The kids have colds and have been coughing up a storm, especially Carly. Rob hasn't felt well the whole weekend and this morning I woke up with a migraine.

We have a single mom and her two year old daughter staying with us for a little while. She was supposed to be moving into some government assisted housing and her approval got mixed up so she had to be out of her last place before she was approved and now she has to wait for the next apartment to come available. So, we have a lively place right now.

Grandpa and Grandma are doing fine. Not much new going on with them. Grandpa was working on Alumni stuff today and Grandma was helping him.

Carly and Jono start private swim lessons tomorrow. They are supposed to be a lot better than the public ones. My friend has had her children in them and said that with just two weeks of them they came out knowing how to save themselves if they fell in deep water. That's what sold me on them. I've had Carly in lessons before but not Jonathon and never felt like she got much out of them. So, I'm hopeful they will really learn something from them.

Well, that's about it for now. Night all. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA!!

Today is Grandpa's birthday! The whole family is coming to celebrate! We are having a big feast and are excited to all get together. Pictures to come! Happy Birthday Dad! We love you!

CATCHING UP

The break so far has been filled with play dates, Karate, gymnastics and all kinds of things to keep the kids busy. More than not, it keeps mommy busy and tired and not getting a whole lot else accomplished. But--we are doing our best to have a great summer!

Grandma and Grandpa are doing well. They have been out a few times lately for doctor's appointments and haircuts. Grandpa struggles to get around more these days. We help him the best we can and let stairlifts and wheelchairs and walkers assist us in getting him where he needs to be.
He is in good spirits. He gets up and works everyday. Our post lady says we get more mail than anyone else on her route--and it's all for Grandpa and Grandma.

Before I end, I just want to wish my dad a very Happy Father's Day! I have been so blessed to have him as my father. He taught us from a very young age the value of hard work, having integrity, being compassionate and helping your fellow man. These are not just things he said, but things I watched him do. He is one of my greatest examples and I would not be the person I am today if he were not my father. I love you so much Dad! Thanks for all you've done for me and all you've taught me! You are the very best!

Me and my Daddy

YAY FOR SUMMER BREAK!

Thankfully, today was Carly's last day of school. It is a welcome break! She had a rough year--a teacher who was discombobulated, several bullies in her class and just generally not as positive an experience as we would have liked for her. Strangely enough (at least to me) the bullies were all girls. One mom, finally just moved her daughter to another class because she didn't feel like the teacher was dealing with it effectively. We felt the same but when we mentioned the possibility of moving Carly she came undone. The bullying was never over anything specific--just "clickish", mean-mouthed bullying. But it finally took going to the principal to get anything real done about it. Anyway, I could go on and on--but suffice it to say--we are glad to have her out of this class and hopeful next year will be a positive one for her.

Grandma worked outside a little in the flower garden today. It was a really nice day here. It's starting to get and stay warm. We've had some rain and wind here and there but for the most part it's been feeling more like summer here.

I'm hoping Jono and I are about over our colds. I still have a bit of a cough and he's got a runny nose but other than that we are both feeling better than last week.

I'm so excited to sleep in just a little in the morning tomorrow and not have to get up to get a little one ready for school! Yay for summer break!

MY BRAG!

I'm very proud of my sweet Carly today. She won two awards at school for reading. One for being the hardest worker and one for reaching her goal. She's read over 6,700 minutes!

The rest of her week is pretty much play time. They have field day tomorrow and are putting on a play part of the day for the next two days. So, I'm pretty sure she can make it through the week. Then Thursday they get to sign yearbooks and are only there for a couple of hours. Yes, first graders signing yearbooks! Lol!

She also broke another board in Karate tonight. So, I guess this is my Carly brag tonight--as opposed to blog! :)

LOTS OF COUGHING

Saturday was the first day since Wednesday or so that I really got up and stayed out of bed. I had been hacking for a week or more. I am so tired of coughing! Unfortunately now Jono has it. Although, thankfully, he doesn't seem to be having any side complications. Knock on wood. We went to church today and then came home and napped for awhile.

Grandma went out and did a little shopping and then when she got back and we started dinner, Grandpa got sick. I think he got to feeling a little better before bedtime but we are keeping an eye on him.

Carly has four days of school left and she can hardly wait till they are over. Counting them down!

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU SAY BUT HOW YOU SAY IT. NAH--IT'S WHAT YOU SAY!

Jono woke up much earlier than usual this morning and came in and snuggled in bed with Rob and me. He actually fell sound asleep again and when I got up to get Carly ready and run her to school he stayed asleep. I shut the door quietly and left him in my room while I took her. I was hoping he would still be sleeping when I got back because I was really exhausted and wanted to sleep a little longer. He was and I did.

When we finally started to wake up. He said to me kind of groggily, "Mom, where's Carly?" I said, "She's at school?" He said, "Did you take her?" I said, "Yes." (Now, this whole conversation occurred without him really even opening his eyes. He was still kind of snuggled in next to me. So, he hadn't even gotten a good look at me yet.) Then he says, "Well, good thing they didn't make fun of what you were wearing!" Lol! Good thing I love this kid!

IT TAKES TWO BABY!

Grandma had a doctor appointment today and things went well. Jono and I hung out with Grandpa while she was gone. I tried having Grandpa tell Jono some of his childhood stories but Grandpa's voice wasn't very loud today and Jono's attention span was really short so mostly I got to enjoy them. I wish my kids were old enough to appreciate my dad's stories. He has some excellent ones with some great lessons. Hopefully, we can get some of them written down.

Carly has a school play the last week of school and she has a narrator part in it. Almost everyday she has come home and told me her teacher says she needs to practice more say certain words better. So I have been working hard with her on it. Today, she came home really upset because her teacher told her she still had to practice more. Carly thought she had really improved and so it hurt her feelings.

I ran through it with her a couple of times tonight and she seemed to be reading it just fine. Then it hit me to send her into her dad. I knew he would know just what to do. That was exactly the right medicine. It was so cute to listen to. For the next 45 minutes I heard him explain to her what the narrator part was and ask her if she really knew what the whole story was about she was going to be narrating. He asked if she knew where her part came in and who she came after. He made sure she understood the story she was telling so she could tell it in an engaging way.

Wow, I sure love this guy I am parenting with. It really does take both of us! My little girl went to bed a happy girl and will hopefully have a better practice with her teacher tomorrow! Thanks for the help Daddy!

KARATE GIRL

In the interest of equal time for my young ones -- I give you Karate Girl. (This is Carly's new sport.)



Carly with her friend Evan



Practicing Moves

INCOGNITO

Just had to share this photo. Jono has gotten creative with the way he takes his nebulizer treatments. This boy cracks me up -- which is probably lucky for him on some days!

#Goggleman #Mycuteboy #Theblueshepherd

VROOM VROOM!

Spent today in bed mostly with kids climbing in and out to be near me. They don't like it when I'm not out and about in the house. Still coughing a lot and unfortunately tonight Carly started coughing too. I hate for her to be sick during the last couple weeks of school. I hate Spring colds! Hopefully this one won't last long for either of us.

Grandma started making "Race" food today. She got part of our meal for race-day made today and will finish it up tomorrow. We have a family tradition of having chicken and potato salad while we listen to the Indy 500. The great thing about being out here is that we are far enough away we can usually watch it!

Hope everyone has a safe holiday weekend. Don't forget to remember those who gave all for our freedom. Ladies and Gentlemen . . . Start your engines!

MAMA CAN'T TALK

 I haven't felt well at all today. Last night I knew I was either coming down with something or the pollen count was really high and my allergies were out of control. I woke up this morning and knew it was the former. I've been coughing my head off and I only have a partial voice. What I do have is this really crackle-y sounding voice that is even hard for me to listen to and hurts a bit when I speak. There, I'm done whining. I feel better. Thank goodness it's the weekend and hubby's home!

Susan and her daughter Ashley came up and helped Grandpa for several hours today. Grandma made dinner for everyone before they left.

The best part of the day though was that I had two very cuddly kids all day. They don't like it when mommy is sick. Jono took care of me most of the morning. He curled up with me in bed and we looked at books and he got me things I needed. Nurse Carly replaced him when school let out. She's very tenderhearted and always worried when mommy doesn't feel good. So, she has to stay right with me. Two very sweet kiddos.

Well, since my nurses have been put to bed, I guess I'd better get some rest myself. Night, night.

CUPCAKE MOMMY

I think I wrote about Grandma tripping over the vacuum last month (so to speak). Anyway, her ankle is still fairly swollen from that fall so I took her back to the urgent care last night. They re-examined her ankle and x-rayed it again but still couldn't find a break or fracture--at least not one that was visible. So, she was sentenced to the boot again and some physical therapy. The doctor told her the physical therapy can actually be very helpful for injuries like this so hopefully doing some will help it.

I was in trouble yesterday for making cupcakes but not keeping any of them (I couldn't because they were for my friend's wedding.) So today I made cupcakes for here and had some very happy kids. Jono is through with pre-school now and Carly only has a two weeks of school left. Things are definitely winding down and I will be glad to have them out for the summer. (Remind me later I said that. Lol.)

Susan is coming up tomorrow to help dad with some of his paperwork. He is doing pretty well right now. He has a bit of a harder time getting around these days than usual but he still manages. If he's going out of the house to an appointment and steps are involved then he generally needs some help. Otherwise he does pretty well.

Not much else to report on at the moment. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. :)

TMI

So, tonight my 7 year old told me I am not allowed to come to her school with a ponytail in my hair--and I'm not sure yet but it may have hurt my feelings. Lol.

I spent most of the day making 12 dozen cupcakes for a friend's wedding and admittedly hadn't spent much time on my beauty regimen. (Alright, I don't have a beauty regimen.) Anyway, I was still in my sweats and t-shirt when I went to pick her up. I did have a little bit of make-up on but I hadn't done much with my hair. I had it up in a ponytail. But here's my saving grace!! I knew I didn't look good enough to go get her myself so I stayed in the car and sent Jonathon! I thought I behaved like a perfectly good first grader's mom and stayed in the car where I knew I wouldn't embarrass her. Obviously, it wasn't good enough because before bedtime I got the little lecture about "no ponytails" at school.

I did talk back a little though. I said, "Well, you know, Daddy actually likes my hair in a ponytail. Did you know that?" She looked at me and didn't quite know what to say or where to go with that. So she finally said. "Well, I just like your hair when it's all poofy cuz it just looks crazy and I like it crazy! So wear it poofy when you come to get me like you normally do, OK?"

At this point, I'm thinking I should have just shut up and agreed not to wear the ponytail to her school. I'm not sure I needed to learn I normally walk around with a poofy, crazy look. There is such a thing as TMI (too much information.)

The worst part is, it's usually kids under age 10 who just say it like it is, good or bad. They have no real filters so the truth just comes out of their mouth. I'm going to miss my pony tails and my poofy, crazy looks. That -- or I'm gonna need a couple of gags -- size 5.5 and 7.5 with a little room to grow. Lol!

TEXTING 1, 2, 3 . . .

Grandma and Grandpa watched the kids for us tonight while we went to Aunt Susan's for a presentation she wanted us to see. Grandma was invited too but she offered to babysit if we would take notes for her.

The kids weren't didn't want mommy to leave them but they had fun cutting watermelon with Grandma and she made them pizza for dinner. That didn't stop the scolding when we got home a little later than they thought we should have. I have two little ones with strong opinions.

Tomorrow I am baking cupcakes for my friend's son's wedding dinner. This is the same friend who made my wedding dress ten years ago. Somehow cupcakes don't really equate to sewing a wedding dress but since I don't have that skill (and her son would look silly in a wedding dress anyway) baking will have to do. I am relieved though that she is going to ice and decorate them herself since I am a true novice at that.

Grandma and I finally went and got her and Grandpa a "smart" phone yesterday. We are now in the process of getting it figured out. It's actually the same kind I have but it's a couple levels smarter than mine so it does some things even mine doesn't do. Hopefully, we can figure it out without too much pain! The best thing is Grandma is learning how to text! So if you get a text from her soon it's real!

THE FAITH OF MY CHILD

Carly had Karate tonight and when Jonathon an I were leaving to go pick her up it was storming outside. Also, Rob had just called to let us know he was on his way home in the storm. Jonathon was pretty worried about all of us being out driving when it was thundering, lightning and raining so hard so he asked me if he could say a prayer. I said he could and he said a sweet prayer asking that we could all drive safe and get home safe. Then he thought for a minute or two and asked me if he could please say his prayer over again for his daddy. I said sure. (I was driving by now.) This time he asked Heavenly Father if he would please put a "force field" around his daddy as he came home. Oh.my. goodness! This little boy--I mean, well--I wanted to laugh but then, I thought, I would LOVE it if Heavenly Father would put a force field around my husband and bring him home safely. And as far as I know that is just what happened. :)

SURPRISE VISITORS

My sister Sarah stopped by today with her family. They had come this way to pick their daughter up at the airport in SLC. She'd been staying with an aunt in VA. Anyway, they surprised us and we had a nice visit with them.

We got wonderful, amazing and relieving news last week when Sarah's husband Rich found a position here in Utah. He has been trying to find a job for quite sometime. He has excellent qualification but we think he was probably being seen as "overqualified" by a some of the places he applied too. Finally, though he found a place that really liked his resume and loved him when he interviewed with them. So, he starts with them next week and Sarah and the kids are staying to sell the house. They plan to move this way within 2-3 months.  We are all so ecstatic!

I have just hated having my baby sister so far away and I know mom and dad are excited to have her within an hour also. They will be moving back to the same area they left and that is about 45 minutes from us. So, anyone who wants to join us in prayer that their house in Idaho sells quickly would be very welcomed to do so!

Carly has a field trip tomorrow to Red Butte Gardens in SLC. She is very excited. They have beautiful gardens there and over 8,000 different varieties of trees. They are going to do a lot of walking and learning. From what the teacher has told us there is over a mile of walking to see all of what they have there.

Last week in Karate Carly broke her first boards. I wasn't there to see it happen but my friend Robin caught a couple of pictures of her breaking one of the boards. She broke a green one and then she broke two together -- a yellow and orange one. I'm so excited that she is loving Karate. We had her and Jono both in gymnastics and while she liked gymnastics okay, she wasn't excelling in it the way Jono is. And the competition between them just wasn't worth it. Now that they each have something they love and can excel in -- it is fun to watch.

My Achy Breaky Girl

Hi-Yah!

SATURDAY EVENING'S POST :)

Sorry about not getting that video to work last night. I thought it was up and didn't realize it hadn't made it.

It's been a really rainy, cold day here today. We need the moisture but it would be nice if it weren't so cold.

Everyone here is doing pretty well. The kids only have a couple weeks of school left. Jono's pre-school gets out in about a week and a half and Carly gets out on June 4th. Jono is getting so excited for  Kindergarten!

This is his pre-school picture from this year. We just got it on Friday. I just took a picture of the photo to post here so the lighting isn't as good as the actual photo. He is such a handsome little guy. Sure love my little one!

Well, better get to bed so I can get everyone (especially me) up for church in the morning. Night all!

DECISIONS, DECISIONS . . .

Jono is getting to be a really good little gymnast. So much so that his gymnastic coaches are begging us to let him be on their competition teams--one you usually have to tryout to be on. We are a little apprehensive since he isn't even in Kindergarten yet! We are having to give it some serious thought since Jono really wants to do it as well. We don't want to hamper his natural talents and abilities but this would be a bigger time commitment than his present one. We just want to make sure he has enough balance--that he gets time to be a regular kid, too and just enjoy school and playing with other kids--and isn't spending all of his free time at gymnastics or practicing. He is just so young still. Decisions . . . decisions.

 

In the meantime, here he is doing his back handspring at home:

 

CONGRATULATIONS SARA!

We went to Cedar City this past weekend to see our daughter Sara graduate. She received her masters and her MBA and we are mighty proud of all her hard work! Way to go Sara! Here are just a few--OK a lot of our pictures! 

Dad and Sara

Julie, Sara, Megan and Carly



Sara receiving her degrees

Julie, Rob, Sara, Megan
Jono and Carly (Mom is taking the photo)



Stephen and Sara, Jono on Sara's lap, Megan with Carly on her lap, Julie
Nancy and Rob standing behind



Nancy with Sara

Sara with the parents



Sara and her little brother



Sara with baby sis

Megan and Sara



Megan and Dad with the little photo bomber



Carly being teased by dad (the photo bomber strikes again)

Sara and Julie (Look close--there are two photo bombers!)

Father and son

JUST A FEW THINGS BEFORE APRIL'S OVER

Not much going on here. We celebrated Ashley Ridgeway's (Susan's daughter) 20th birthday this past week. Susan and the girls came up to help Grandpa with his paperwork and spent the afternoon.

Grandma's ankle is almost completely healed. She has gotten around on it really well the whole time. Thank goodness. We would have been in a pickle with both her and Grandpa not getting around well.

The kids have one more month of school left. Julie has a new job and has already received a promotion and two raises. She's a supervisor now and she's pretty excited. Don't ask me to explain what she does. It's not sales so she's happy!

Our daughter Sara is graduating with her MBA this weekend and she just finished her Masters of Accountancy also. We are very proud of her. Way to go Sara!

ADOPTION IS ABOUT LOVE

Rob and I spent some time this morning talking to first graders about adoption. I had planned to go at the beginning of each year to Carly's classes (for the first few years) and do this but it turned out Kindergartners weren't at all curious. So, I had let it slide this year also. The first semester went by without any problem but as it turns out age 7 seems to be the magic age for curiosity. Lately Carly has come home sad, moody or upset at some of the questions her classmates have asked her. I don't blame them for being curious--I blame me for not being more on top of it.

We had such a great talk with them and helped them understand so much more than they knew. I think it will allow Carly to go back to being just another one of the kids.

At the end of the presentation, we gave them all a treat. We let them choose either a twinkie or a chocodile. Then I pointed out to them that those treats looked different on the outside but once you take a bite out of them you can see they are the exact same on the inside. I pointed out to them that it was the same with people -- just like them. It doesn't matter what color you are--what shade you. We are all the same on the inside. I also asked them if the threats were good and they all said they were yummy. I told them to remember that about each other. No matter what they look like on the outside, assume your friends are good on the inside.

It was a fun morning and hopefully they learned something and we made at least a tiny, positive dent in these little minds for how they will  treat each other in the future. :)

SO, THIS AMAZING THING IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD

Ever since we found out Jonathon had a severe peanut allergy I have felt fearful about him going to school. I worry enough about it when I have him and can keep a pretty stringent control on what he eats and gets into. The thought of him being in a setting where they serve peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and where other kids could randomly hand him something deadly really terrified me.

We've had an allergy doctor since he was tiny and he told me very early into it that medicine would one day solve this. Well, he was right. I just didn't know it would be him (our doctor) that would solve it.

Jonathon hadn't been in to see him for a little while and one day not long ago a friend who knew how scared I was about sending Jono to school sent me a news interview about a doctor making news about solving the peanut allergy. What surprised me was that is was our doctor being interviewed!  We made an appointment right away. We had to wait a little bit to get in to see the doctor because people are coming in from all over the country to see him. When Jono had his appointment, he had to have his blood taken so they could see his current peanut allergy level and it was still severely elevated. So he was a definite candidate.


Though not a happy one.


He got in the program but there's currently a 3-6 month waiting list to start it. Then it takes about 6 months to complete the treatment plan. From there he should be allergy free from peanuts! Dr. Jones has a couple of bulletin boards full of people--mostly children who have completed treatment and are allergy free--and not just from peanuts. He is doing this with several allergies: milk, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat and eggs.

This is changing the world for some people. I hope it changes the world in a great way for my little boy! So excited my little guy will not have to live in fear of food his whole life! Yay!!

You gotta go watch the story below:

http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/free-food-allergy-treatment-seminars/17897/pM3nAEqMG06VJ-ao6cmtjw

GRANDMA'S NOT SO GREAT DAY

It turned out to be not so great a day for Grandma. She kinda/sorta tripped over the vacuum and nearly broke her ankle. We spent a little over an hour at the InstaCare and they did X-ray, Thankfully, it doesn't look broken but the doc said there was a lot of blood in it. She has almost a tennis ball sized knot on her ankle. It swelled up really fast when she did it. She has a bad sprain for sure. She is supposed to stay off of it for a few days and baby it. Guess we will see if that happens.

I told Carly as I was putting her to bed that she couldn't ask Grandma to do anything for her, including making her an egg for breakfast in the morning. She gasped and looked at me with a panicked look. I said, "Don't worry, I will make you an egg." She started to tear up and said, "But Mommy, your eggs aren't as good as Grandma's." (Thanks a lot kid!) I kept telling her I would try to do it like Grandma but she wasn't having any of it. I finally quieted her by suggesting I teach her to make her own egg and then she could be mad at herself if she didn't like it. That was an idea she liked!

Well, I will keep you posted on Grandma. Hopefully, she will heal quickly and be back on her feet soon. She has earned a rest but not like this!

SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF

I was out running errands with the kids this afternoon and they were both fairly high strung so it was becoming a bit of a chore. As we were finishing, I talked to Rob and he was just leaving work himself, so we divided up parts of dinner each of us would grab on our way home. I got my part done and then decided I needed to make one more quick stop. I pulled in to the grocery store. I ran inside really fast. As I did, I noticed Girl Scouts with signs that said "We take credit, checks and cash!" I managed to force my body past them and get inside the store, grab what I came for and check-out quickly. I headed back out the door only this time the Thin Mints were actually screaming my name! But I ran, I ran as fast as I could in the opposite direction and didn't stop until I was safely locked in my car. I didn't even check the rear view mirror to see if the thin mints were there before I backed up. I could have backed right over them for all I know. (Wow, doesn't a chocolate shake with crunched up thin mint cookies sound good, right now?) You may want to check the Smith's parking lot. I could have easily crushed a box or two right there on the ground. :)

I was seriously so proud of myself for not walking, but running away from the Girl Scout cookie temptation. I usually order 10 boxes of thin mints and this year, I ordered none--and I haven't bought any since either! Yay me! Yes, I was patting myself on the back with one arm when I looked down to see what I had in my other hand. It was a bag of things I'd just purchased from Smiths. OK, they weren't things--to be exact it was $16 and some change worth of mini Hershey chocolate bars. It was a really good sale people! I couldn't pass it up! I'm a serious chocoholic! C'mon! Give me a break! It's not like I'm going to eat it all in one setting or anything like that. Oh, but it's definitely going in mommy and daddy's secret hiding place! Lol!

So much for something to be proud of, eh?

BETTER GET MOVING ON THAT BACKGROUND CLEARANCE NOW. . .

Today was not my favorite day. I lost my little girl for about an hour today and it was the most miserable feeling ever. I let her go home with another little girl from school. I'd only met her mother once, at school and didn't have her home address. I know, big mistake. Her mom doesn't speak English, but the little girl was translating on the phone while she was asking me and said they would bring Carly back to the school at 4:00 and I could meet them there to pick her up. It's a girl Carly really likes so I agreed. I had a strange feeling about it--SO I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO MY FEELING. But I didn't.

I went to the school at 4:00 to get her and no one was there. I waited and no one came. Thankfully, one of the secretaries had stayed late and she tried calling the family for me. Disconnected phones. She got special permission from on high to give me their address so I hurried to the address. They had moved 3 or 4 weeks earlier and left no forwarding address. You guessed it--I AM TOTALLY PANICKING NOW!!

Bless that secretaries heart--she thought to give me her number in case of a problem. I called her back. She met me at the school again--and this time she had my little sweetheart on the phone. She had them tracked them down to a cousin's house where they are now living. She only found them there because of a fluke--something the little girl said to her when she came in the office a few days earlier. Thank goodness for small miracles!

When I talked to my little one on the phone, her excuse for not being at the school at 4:00--'Oh mom, we decided to play till 5:00 and were gonna call you and forgot." NO WAY, NOT OK!! This poor Mom could have easily gone into cardiac arrest!!

So, I finally talked to some adult in the home who speaks English and told the I was on my way to pick up my little girl. I arrive a few minutes later only to find they have taken her home. I can't get home fast enough to get her in my arms. Seriously, all I care is that I have her back.

Never, Never, Never again--will I let a child of mine go anywhere with anyone who doesn't have an FBI clearance!! So, future sons-in-law . . . you are on notice . . as of now! (And future daughter in law--this means you, too!)