Friday, June 6, 2008
New Features
I'm trying to realize my full blog-potential. As a result, I've added a few new features to the right. Please participate in my summer movie poll (I realize that this may be a silly venture since my blog only has a few readers!). And I'm pleased to announce that in the future you will be able to easily locate Twilight series updates, as they now have a home of their own. Also, I'm loving the new "My Blog List" feature that blogger offers--it lets you and me know, at a glance, which of my friends have blogged recently! So peruse, participate, and enjoy! (PS--if you haven't noticed, I updated my playlist recently too. Chad has had quite the 80's influence over me!)
Mononucleosis and the Common Cold
We're sick. All four of us. It started last Friday night, when Bree started running a temperature. I finally took her to an urgent care when her temp neared 104, and she was given antibiotics for an ear infection. When I got home at 11pm, Chad said that he wasn't feeling too good, which I mostly disregarded, not having the energy to care at the time. So Sunday Mason and I went to church, while Chad stayed home with Bree--both of whom were feverish by this time. When I got home, Bree's fever had finally lessened, but Chad's temp had him feeling like he was "dying." So I cancelled my Relief Society presidency meeting, scolded Chad for waiting so long to take something for his fever, went to pick up Bree's medicine at the pharmacy, and came home feeling stressed. Well, Monday Chad took Mason to his well-baby check-up, and had the doctor look in his throat. He came home to tell me it's probably Mono. We still don't know for sure, but we know it's not a bacterial infection, and his symptoms are classic Mono: fever, aches, severe sore throat, swollen lymph nodes.
Before you start thinking, "Who has Chad been kissing?" just know that you don't get Mono just by kissing. Besides, he probably got it from me, since I've had it before, and apparently you're a carrier for life with this thing. (Believe me, Chad gave me a hard enough time about getting Mono my first semester in college!). So things just kept getting worse for Chad, and Tuesday Bree, Mason and I all came down with colds. Now, I'm kind of a bad nurse at home even when I'm feeling healthy. And I'm usually up to the task of playing nurse-maid to my kids. But I am horribly unsympathetic to my husband when he's not feeling well, and it's much worse when I'm sick too.
So it's been a rough week--I pretty much told Chad he'd have to fend for himself, because I barely had energy to take care of myself and try to help the kids. Luckily, Bree started feeling better, but then we had an exuberant toddler climbing all over us. Thank heaven for my mom, who came yesterday to rescue us from dirty dishes, laundry, and grime, and to relieve us of our energetic little girl until we recover. I'm feeling a little better today, thankfully, and Mason only has a slight stuffy nose still. Chad however...well Mono is not kind or brief. I'm afraid I will have to try and be a little more sympathetic. I will ask him "What's wrong honey?" when he whimpers or groans; I will say "You poor thing," when he complains about his sore throat; I will agree that his symptoms are awful and he's probably the first to ever suffer symptoms of this severity. Well, at least I'll try.
Before you start thinking, "Who has Chad been kissing?" just know that you don't get Mono just by kissing. Besides, he probably got it from me, since I've had it before, and apparently you're a carrier for life with this thing. (Believe me, Chad gave me a hard enough time about getting Mono my first semester in college!). So things just kept getting worse for Chad, and Tuesday Bree, Mason and I all came down with colds. Now, I'm kind of a bad nurse at home even when I'm feeling healthy. And I'm usually up to the task of playing nurse-maid to my kids. But I am horribly unsympathetic to my husband when he's not feeling well, and it's much worse when I'm sick too.
So it's been a rough week--I pretty much told Chad he'd have to fend for himself, because I barely had energy to take care of myself and try to help the kids. Luckily, Bree started feeling better, but then we had an exuberant toddler climbing all over us. Thank heaven for my mom, who came yesterday to rescue us from dirty dishes, laundry, and grime, and to relieve us of our energetic little girl until we recover. I'm feeling a little better today, thankfully, and Mason only has a slight stuffy nose still. Chad however...well Mono is not kind or brief. I'm afraid I will have to try and be a little more sympathetic. I will ask him "What's wrong honey?" when he whimpers or groans; I will say "You poor thing," when he complains about his sore throat; I will agree that his symptoms are awful and he's probably the first to ever suffer symptoms of this severity. Well, at least I'll try.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
The "Local Wave"
Sunday after church I packed up the kids and started the the hour-and-a-half drive to my parents' house. Chad was scheduled to work 10-hour shifts to cover the Memorial Day crowds at Roosevelt Lake, so I decided to skip out on temporary single-mom experience. It's always so nice and relaxing to visit my parents. Bree absolutely LOVES her "Gamma and Papa." And my sister Danelle's old room is a Disney wonderland complete with Pooh's 100-Acre Wood wall murals, piles of stuffed characters, a hug bin of small plastic figurines, and a plethora of Disney DVDs. Bree spends most of her time in that room, coming out for the occasional bite of food or a ride on "Papa's Tractor."
Well, on the drive there I was marvelling about several things. I chuckled as I passed a car-full of old folks standing next to a large saguaro cactus to get their picture taken in Mammoth. I suppose a saguaro is quite a sight if you don't see it every day. And then as I got nearer to my parents' house I wondered, "Who in their right mind would live here? Whose brilliant idea was it to stake claim here?" Oh, yeah, that was my great-grandfather. And the family just stuck around. My mom escaped for about 25 years, but she's back there again. Well, I guess it is sort of pretty. The 'river' that runs under ground makes those dead-looking mesquite trees miraculously come to life every spring. I also wondered how long it will take for the I-10 Bypass highway to be built, providing some much-needed pavement to the road to my parent's house (it's about a 20-minute drive on a rough dirt road).
What makes me smile, though, is the way all the locals on that dirt road wave to each other as they pass. It reminds me of when I was a teenager and my friend Mackenzie invited me to Lopez Island (one of the San Juan Islands in Washington's Puget Sound). Mackenzie informed us that everyone on the island waves when they pass one another--so you better wave or else they'll think you're a tourist. (I was tickled that this custom was mentioned by Wikipedia!). So as I drove to my parent's, I waved to the other cars. Some of them waved too, and I knew they were locals. The cars that didn't wave were suspiciously clean, a non-local dead giveaway.
So, even though I'm technically not a local, I did live out there for like 7 months. So I figure that gives me the right to participate in the "Local Wave."
Well, on the drive there I was marvelling about several things. I chuckled as I passed a car-full of old folks standing next to a large saguaro cactus to get their picture taken in Mammoth. I suppose a saguaro is quite a sight if you don't see it every day. And then as I got nearer to my parents' house I wondered, "Who in their right mind would live here? Whose brilliant idea was it to stake claim here?" Oh, yeah, that was my great-grandfather. And the family just stuck around. My mom escaped for about 25 years, but she's back there again. Well, I guess it is sort of pretty. The 'river' that runs under ground makes those dead-looking mesquite trees miraculously come to life every spring. I also wondered how long it will take for the I-10 Bypass highway to be built, providing some much-needed pavement to the road to my parent's house (it's about a 20-minute drive on a rough dirt road).
What makes me smile, though, is the way all the locals on that dirt road wave to each other as they pass. It reminds me of when I was a teenager and my friend Mackenzie invited me to Lopez Island (one of the San Juan Islands in Washington's Puget Sound). Mackenzie informed us that everyone on the island waves when they pass one another--so you better wave or else they'll think you're a tourist. (I was tickled that this custom was mentioned by Wikipedia!). So as I drove to my parent's, I waved to the other cars. Some of them waved too, and I knew they were locals. The cars that didn't wave were suspiciously clean, a non-local dead giveaway.
So, even though I'm technically not a local, I did live out there for like 7 months. So I figure that gives me the right to participate in the "Local Wave."
Friday, May 23, 2008
Today's Blessings
I woke up this morning to blessing number 1: it was 9:00am! I had slept through the whole night, which meant that Mason slept all night too--10 hours! I couldn't believe it! I don't always sleep that long, but I had been deprived the past couple of nights, so I'm ecstatic that he let me catch up.
Blessing number 2: my fax machine worked. This may seem insignificant, but the fact that my relatively new multipurpose machine, whose fax feature was never needed in the past, has been failing me in that area. As the RS president, I have to fax food orders to the Bishop's Storehouse every 2 weeks, and it is supposed to be a great convenience to be able to send these from the comfort of my home and PJs. It may seem silly, but it was causing me a great deal of frustration, and adding to the stress of my calling. I know the Lord is helping my fax machine. He's also helping me to not easily freak out and get overwhelmed by the small stuff!
Blessing number 3 actually came yesterday when Chad's doctor's office called and said that the MRI of his knee showed extra fluid, but no torn cartilage! We had been worried about the pain/stiffness/popping sounds from Chad's knee, and we were praying that there would be no cause for knee surgery. We're so thankful that some physical therapy and care will alleviate the problem.
Blessing number 4: the rain! The storms came in yesterday to save us from Wednesday's sunny and 95 weather. I've been enjoying moisture and temps not passing 60. It's funny how that has put me in such a great mood! I read my friend Mackenzie's recent blogging about how the rain makes her happy. When I lived near Seattle, I took the weather and green for granted, and now that I've been a desert dweller for 7 years, I will never overlook this blessing again!
So, if you ask me why I'm in such a good mood today, see above blessings!
Blessing number 2: my fax machine worked. This may seem insignificant, but the fact that my relatively new multipurpose machine, whose fax feature was never needed in the past, has been failing me in that area. As the RS president, I have to fax food orders to the Bishop's Storehouse every 2 weeks, and it is supposed to be a great convenience to be able to send these from the comfort of my home and PJs. It may seem silly, but it was causing me a great deal of frustration, and adding to the stress of my calling. I know the Lord is helping my fax machine. He's also helping me to not easily freak out and get overwhelmed by the small stuff!
Blessing number 3 actually came yesterday when Chad's doctor's office called and said that the MRI of his knee showed extra fluid, but no torn cartilage! We had been worried about the pain/stiffness/popping sounds from Chad's knee, and we were praying that there would be no cause for knee surgery. We're so thankful that some physical therapy and care will alleviate the problem.
Blessing number 4: the rain! The storms came in yesterday to save us from Wednesday's sunny and 95 weather. I've been enjoying moisture and temps not passing 60. It's funny how that has put me in such a great mood! I read my friend Mackenzie's recent blogging about how the rain makes her happy. When I lived near Seattle, I took the weather and green for granted, and now that I've been a desert dweller for 7 years, I will never overlook this blessing again!
So, if you ask me why I'm in such a good mood today, see above blessings!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Family Home Evening
This week FHE was at our house. After we ate our dinner of taco salad, Chad gave a lesson on the Proclamation on the Family, and then chaos ensued. This video was our attempt to give the kids a structured activity rather than let them tear the house apart! (Thank goodness for our wonderful Nursery leaders--Bree comes home singing songs I never taught her!)
He Remembered!
This is my third year celebrating Mother's Day as an actual Mom. Unfortunately, the past 2 years, although Chad got me some kind of gift or promise of gift 'round about Mother's Day, he forgot the actual day. This may seem petty to men, but this particular woman thought it was a sad oversight. 
Well, this year Chad remembered! He set the alarm so he wouldn't sleep in (our church isn't until 11:00, so usually I wake him up after I've already showered and am getting myself and the kids breakfast). He made me a delicious breakfast of chocolate chip strawberry waffles and eggs. And then he gave me my gift--2 DVDs (Cheaper by the Dozen 1 and 2--how appropriate!) and the Twilight series. But the best part was his card--homemade with my scrapbook supplies, with a loving message inside. I had tears in my eyes as I read it; I don't think he's ever written me a love note before, and it meant so much!
So, even though Sundays are hectic for me with my RS calling, and Chad works from 3 to 9pm, I had the best Mother's Day ever (so far)!
PS--Bree 'made' me a card in Nursery. I guess it had little pom-poms for flowers, but she picked those off before I even saw it!Friday, May 2, 2008
12.12.08
December 12th...the release date of the Twilight Movie (this is a pretty awesome movie clip, and has gotten me totally geared up for the film). I'm excited to see the movie, and I'm really hoping that Edward's character will come close to fulfilling my expectations...I have my doubts...
I just finished reading Stephenie Meyer's Twilight for the second time. Meyer has been selected as one of TIME MAGAZINE's 100 Most Influential People of 2008, a fact that I heard from my grandmother. So you know if my grandmother has heard of the Twilight series, in spite of the fact that it's a vampire romance novel for teens, it must be good!
I'm on a book kick after our Enrichment Meeting last night, a meeting of "The Finer Things Club," (a complete and utter success!). Since I haven't been feeling well the last couple days (the doctor didn't seem to want to prescribe me anything for my mastitis--I guess she thinks I'm faking?!) I've been taking advantage of the down time and getting some reading in. I'm over half-way through Key Lime Pie Murder, the latest loan from my friend Joanna's murder mystery with recipes series by Joanne Fluke.
Now I'd better get to work on my lesson for Relief Society on Sunday. I've got it outlined, but there's still some preparation to do. Then next Tuesday, my copy of Stephenie Meyer's latest book, The Host arrives in the mail. I can't wait to see what's in store for her adult readers!
I just finished reading Stephenie Meyer's Twilight for the second time. Meyer has been selected as one of TIME MAGAZINE's 100 Most Influential People of 2008, a fact that I heard from my grandmother. So you know if my grandmother has heard of the Twilight series, in spite of the fact that it's a vampire romance novel for teens, it must be good!
I'm on a book kick after our Enrichment Meeting last night, a meeting of "The Finer Things Club," (a complete and utter success!). Since I haven't been feeling well the last couple days (the doctor didn't seem to want to prescribe me anything for my mastitis--I guess she thinks I'm faking?!) I've been taking advantage of the down time and getting some reading in. I'm over half-way through Key Lime Pie Murder, the latest loan from my friend Joanna's murder mystery with recipes series by Joanne Fluke.
Now I'd better get to work on my lesson for Relief Society on Sunday. I've got it outlined, but there's still some preparation to do. Then next Tuesday, my copy of Stephenie Meyer's latest book, The Host arrives in the mail. I can't wait to see what's in store for her adult readers!
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