Summer So Far

Here we are - half way through Summer break!! I can't believe we will be half way through July this week!

We've been trying to keep busy...well, maybe busy isn't the right word. With 4 kids, two of them a handful on their own, we don't really have to try to keep busy!! I guess we've been trying to get stuff done and keep entertained!

Emily and Josh just finished up Fun and Fitness camp at the school. Basically, it was supposed to keep them physically active but having fun. Goal accomplished! They both said they wished it lasted all summer long. They got to have two off-site activities - mini golf and swimming at the aquatic center - which they absolutely loved!! Who wouldn't, though??!?

Em and Josh are also finishing up their last session of swimming lessons. I don't know if either of them really LIKE swimming lessons, but they've been good sports to go and get it done. We've told them they have to go, but they don't have to like it! I think knowing how to swim is something they need to do (this from someone who doesn't swim very well)! Here they are on their performance day for the first session. Looks like they're having fun to me!

We have also been trying to keep up with the garden. If you looked from the house, you would wonder if there was anything out there besides weeds!! With all the rain we got throughout June, the weeds pretty much took over. We (mostly I) have been trying to get them back under control. Emily and Josh were loving the $$ they were earning at first, but even that isn't enough to entice them into the heat! I don't blame them though! It looks like we're going to have a bumper crop of tomatillos! Hope Jared can find a really good salsa recipe or we're going to turn into the tomatillo bandits and start leaving them in cars while we're at church!

We've had a few bike rides, but we can't seem to keep tires filled with air. The kids LOVE when we do get to go. We almost always end up at the park for a while too.

Last night we went to Providence Canyon for some dinner and shooting. Yes, you read that right! Jared did some repairs on a gun or two and had to make sure he did everything OK. He told us all we needed to stay in the van while he shot the first rounds, just in case. Um, yeah! That made me feel really good! I was concocting an emergency plan in my head, just in case! Thank goodness he did everything right and didn't have any problems! He even let Emily and Josh shoot his 22. Instant heaven, especially for Josh! Sidenote: I brought the camera to take some pictures, and what do you know - that battery was dead!! Dang thing!!

And, to top it all off, we've had another round of the sickies. I really can't believe it myself! You'd think we'd be safe in summer, but no. Coughs, throw ups, fevers, you name it!!

And all in the name of summer fun!!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day seems to have some unwritten requirement for unexpected excitement.

Last Mother's Day, I spent the day timing contractions and ended up spending the night in the hospital to get them stopped. I was 34 weeks along in my pregnancy. That was the beginning of several weeks of "bedrest" (as if!!!) and 2 more trips to the hospital before Caleb was born (thankfully he waited until 38 weeks).

This year, the excitement continued, only it wasn't pregnancy related (thank goodness!!!). Josh informed us on Saturday night (after all the doctor's offices were closed) that he was sick. After a run-down of symptoms, I was pretty sure he had strep....AGAIN (he just had it back in April). I did what I could - dose of Tylenol, hugs, kisses, reassurance - and sent him to bed.

When Jared got home from church at 1 p.m. it was off to InstaCare. Where we waited...and waited...and waited some more.

More than two hours later we walked out of there with a prescription for antibiotics,

and thankful to be somewhere other than there!

What do I want for Mother's Day next year??

THE MOST ORDINARY AND UNEVENTFUL DAY POSSIBLE!!!

Update: The Streak Ends

OK, so I think Emily was maybe pulling out the drama today. I really don't think she was "sick," at least not enough to come home from church. She was bouncing around the house all afternoon like nothing was wrong. In fact, she had more energy today than I've seen in a long time!

Dr. Mom's diagnosis: she has a cold and the stuffy nose was bugging her; she has asthma that gets aggravated with colds and all the bad air we've had lately.

I guess I'm too nice and shouldn't give in to every complaint! Especially when the complaints come early in the morning!

As far as I'm concerned, the streak hasn't ended. We're on 11 days and counting!

The Streak Ends

I brought Emily home from Church today because she doesn't feel well. There go my thoughts of all illnesses leaving with January.

I was starting to feel a little giddy when we made it to 10 days with no one being sick. That was yesterday. I guess I didn't knock on wood hard enough or long enough.

Are you starting to see why I dislike winter so much??!!?!

I want SPRING,
I want SUNSHINE,
WARMER WEATHER,
CLEANER AIR!!

Sick, Sick, Sick

I really am getting quite tired of the illnesses running around this family (see "Ode to My Mind" 0n Jan 6). It seems like it will never end! Just this month, we've had Emily with her 2nd round of strep, Rachel with her 2nd ear infection in 3 weeks, Caleb with who knows what (a cold on top of a cold probably), me with a sinus infection, and Josh home from school because his throat hurt. And that was all by the 15th of the month!!!

Yesterday, though, was the day of all sick days. Picture this: sitting in Stake Conference, listening as best we can, me beaming with pure joy because Jared is sitting on the bench with us, Rachel busy and noisy as usual, Emily and Josh asking when we will be done every five minutes for the entire last hour. We come to the closing prayer, and all of a sudden, Caleb starts throwing up! And Jared can't find the burper to contain things! And we're having a lovely conversation - "Caleb's throwing up! I can't find the burper!" "Well, isn't it in his carseat with him?" "I thought it was, but I can't find it anywhere!" - right during the middle of the prayer. Thank heavens it wasn't during the opening prayer!!

You might think the fun ends there. Oh, how wonderful that would be. Caleb had one more small episode of throwing up later in the afternoon. But the real fun starts about 5 p.m. I am getting a few last things ready for dinner. I am standing at the sink, Caleb is on the floor right by my feet, and Rachel is standing next to me. All of a sudden, she throws up, and poor Caleb is the very ungrateful and unlucky recipient of its landing!! So Jared whisks Caleb off to the bathtub while I clean up the rug and Rachel, who at this point is looking stunned and slightly pale.

Clean up accomplished. So we sit down to have dinner. Rachel sat in her highchair and sucked on an ice cube while we had our food - sorry Rachel, I'm sure you don't want anything to eat, and I know I don't want you to have anything. We finished up, cleaned up, and I went to take Rachel out of her high chair, when the volcano erupted, AGAIN!!! And this time it splashed all over my foot! As I look at Rachel, I see that face - HERE IT COMES AGAIN!! And I, being the very loving mother that I am, make a quick run for it to avoid getting it all over the rest of me! Jared whisked her off to the tub and I cleaned up the highchair and floor.

Well, to make a long story a bit shorter, we ended the night with Caleb getting yet another bath (his 3rd in 24 hours) and both of them going to bed early! Whew!!

Please, oh please, let this be the end, the grand finale, the final episode of illnesses in this house!!

Ode to My Mind

Oh dear Mind,
I fear I am losing you,
Or even worse,
Maybe you're already gone.

You see, with 4 kids and winter-time
We haven't gone more than 2 weeks without someone sick!
Which means we're keeping the doctor in business all on our own!

I think maybe, dear Mind, you're staging a protest,
What with trying to remember to administer all the antibiotics,
Taking temperatures, remembering who has what symptoms,
And generally losing most of my precious sleep!

And all this on top of the usual:
"Where is Caleb's binky?"
"Mom, have you seen my gloves?"
"Hurry up, we're going to be late!"
"Rachel stay out of the fridge!!"

I'm sorry dear mind!
Please come back to me soon!
I need you desperately!
And I promise to give your more respect and attention!

The Little Things

I recently spent three days in the hospital with Emily while she recovered from a very severe case of pneumonia. She had been sick for 10 days before we finally figured out what was going on. I know we have all gained an extra measure of grattitude for the things in life that seem so little but are really huge when it comes down to it. Little things like:

• Tylenol and Ibuprofen to help a raging fever
• a doctor who really knows what she's doing
• the ability to breathe without difficulty
• the ability to move around on your own
• the comfort of the Holy Ghost
• the power of a priesthood blessing to soothe and comfort a restless child
• all of the modern medical conveniences and knowledge that can allow a child to recover from something that, 100 years ago, probably would have taken her life
• PORTABLE OXYGEN!!!
• antibiotics
• x-rays
• FAMILY!!!

I could probably make a list a mile long, but don't have the time or space. I am always awed at the love and concern shown to us by family, friends, doctors, and most especially Heavenly Father. I know we wouldn't have made it through any of this without each one of them. A gigantic THANK YOU and WE LOVE YOU to each of you!