Goodbye January

It is almost February.  In fact, tomorrow is February.  But I want it to stay January.  'Cause in February I have to take Cameron back to the hospital for his third laser procedure on his face.  The laser is doing wonders as we can already see a difference after only two treatments.  Cameron doesn't seem to mind going to the hospital too much.  In fact he told me that he likes the hospital ok, and who wouldn't cuz everything is about him and he gets to wear funny pajamas, watch movies and eat popsicles, but he said he doesn't like waking up early and not eating. He can't eat because he goes under anesthesia.  And he is asleep before they put the IV in.  so it is not too hard on the kid, but it is hard on the mom.

I know I have been blessed not to have any serious medical issues with my family.  Sixteen years of parenting and up until last year we had one broken arm (not Andy), one set of stitches (not Andy), and one concussion (amazingly still not Andy).  And Janessa was born with a urinary tract problem which did require tests at the hospital every year and nightly antibiotics, but she outgrew it by age 2 1/2.

Then there was 2010.  Not only did we meet our insurance deductible, we also met our yearly out of pocket (none of it maternity).  In March my hubby pretty much shattered his elbow requiring 13 pins and a plate to put it back together and physical therapy to make it work again.  Everything went fine and he healed well.  Brennen got pneumonia in August and luckily didn't require hospitalization, but was a very sick kid for 2 1/2 weeks.  In September Cameron had his first laser procedure, Andy had his tonsils and adenoids out in October, and the day before Thanksgiving another laser for Cameron.  My anxiety level or something went way down after Thanksgiving knowing I was done with hospitals and doctors until February.  Yet, I didn't have too much time to relax because thrown into the usual holiday chaos was a family trip to the Dominican Republic.

I loved January.  And now January is over...

To all you moms out there who deal with medical issues and hospitals on a regular basis, including my sister, you are my heroes!

Cameron posing for some pictures before 2nd laser surgery, Nov 24, 2010

Super patient!

Eating a popsicle after surgery 

Republica Dominicana

Early on Christmas morning, we went to the airport to begin our journey to Santo Domingo, Domincan Republic to visit Grandma and Grandpa (Scott's parents) who are serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

After a long day--three airplanes--we finally got there.  It was so fun and exciting to see Grandma and Grandpa waiting for us at the airport.

While we were there we . . .

...hit the beach,

Cameron  

Andy is snorkeling in the background, Bren and Dustin making drip castles

notice the shells and snorkeling gear...as well as the cute kid

 
. . .visited an orphanage,

...saw the Temple,

The Santo Domingo LDS Temple is the 8th largest

...went to Christopher Columbus Square and saw the old city,

The cannons are part of the old fort protecting the harbor.  This was the first settlement in the new world

the walls of the old fort



the building in the background is the oldest catheral in the Americas--the inside is beautiful

 ...explored a BIG cavern,

an amazing hole in the ground right in the city

Though you can't see it, the bottom of the big 'hole' behind them is water with fish and turtles.  There were quite a few caverns that you walk down stairs to the water  





after you go down lots of stairs and see different caverns, then you walk through a darker part and all of the sudden it opens into this



...rode the Metro and saw the city.

the Metro track is on the above left

A 'recylced' wall outside of a school that is decorated with what would otherwise be trash. 

Feel Good Moments

One morning as I was returning home from taking Brennen to school, I happened upon a some geese flying into the park.  The sun was just coming up and  I was looking at them from behind and it was beautiful how the sun was shining illuminating the geese so they were almost silhouettes.  Well, I really can't describe it.  But it reminded me of a painting or something where bird's bodies are more like an outline, (you know, how you draw like an "m" for a bird in the sky).  okay...words aren't working here but for a moment, it was beautiful watching the geese fly into the park and land on the grass and I felt warm fuzzies.

moving on...

Brennen is 13 and he looks 13 or maybe 11. He is a pretty quiet fellow and though he assures me he has friends at school, there are never any at our house, nor does he 'hang' with anyone on a regular basis--just occasionally with the boys in the neighborhood.  He is a very talented musician.  He decided to play the piano and sing for the school talent show.  He downloaded the sheet music for "Over My Head" by the Fray and learned it the accompaniment but decided to have someone else sing.  He asked one girl and before he knew it 4 girls wanted to sing.  So one night three girls showed up at our house for rehearsal (don't know what happened to the 4th one). And you know how girls look when they are in middle school--older than the 13 year old boys.  It was so cute to see Brennen and these girls.  (only a mom would say that).  They call him Starfish because he was in "Alice in Wonderland" as a starfish and still wears the t-shirt/jersey occasionally that says "starfish" on it. so cute.  Made me feel good to see Brennen being social.

next..

I have recently had the privilege of being around a newly returned missionary.  He is still glowing.  I always feel that baby's eyes shine with the light of Christ and Jacob fits that description too.  He is shining with the light of Christ.

My nephew arrived home late Saturday nighte after two years of teaching the gospel in Columbia. My family and I heard him speak in church and then went to my brother's house on Monday night for a welcome home party. Jacob sat with us and answered questions about his experience.  It was lovely.  Kind of a funny word but I can't think of a better one.  He is so happy and fills the room with his happiness.  He shared how his went on his mission just because he knew since he was young that he would, but messed around before hand and really didn't prepare very well. Yet while he was out serving a great change came over him and he now has such a marvelous love for the Savior, and feels that love from Him, and a has an incredible testimony of prayer.  Andy even told me after church that he "felt so happy when Jacob was speaking that he cried a couple times."  


It is interesting how we send our knuckle-head (as my brother often referred to him) 19 year-olds on missions and they come back so different.  It just felt so good to be around him and look at his happy face, and into those bright eyes.  

Stocking Stuff

This morning my youngest came to me in the kitchen so sad.  "I can't find a stocking for me." he said.

We put the Christmas tree up late last week but I haven't finished decorating the house, and though decorations and most of the stockings are still in the Christmas boxes, there are some stockings floating around, and he couldn't find one with his name on it (for he can read his name now). I can say that yes, Cameron has a stocking with his name on it, but sadly, it doesn't match the rest of the families'.

Last time we made stockings (or rather bought some and wrote names on them with glitter glue/paint stuff) was Andy's first Christmas.  It was a few months later that we excitedly and surprisingly found out I was pregnant after almost 6 years.  Janessa's first Christmas I found a matching stocking and she actually fit into it! and we took a picture of her int it.  Funny, but at the time I had the idea to buy 2 stockings "just in case" but I didn't imagine I would get pregnant again, plus I had my hands full with two babies already, so I only bought one.  Needless to say when Cameron's first Christmas came along 2 years later, I couldn't find a matching stocking.  And every year since I have been meaning to do new stockings...

There are many advantages to being the youngest, and sometimes there are not.  I did find Cameron a stocking with his name on it.  I don't know yet if he noticed it doesn't look like everyone else's.

Home Improvements

There is a light switch in my room that does nothing.  There is no ceiling light and none of the outlets are connected to the switch.  Even though I have lived in this house for over a year, I still flip the switch most times when I walk in my room expecting a light to come on.

Imagine my surprise and delight when I came home from shopping the other day and my husband was installing a ceiling light in our room!  We could tell from the 'uneveness' or whathaveyou of the texture of the ceiling that there must have at one time been a fixture there.  So Scott climbed into the attic, found the (what's that technical jargon...?) thing and wires to connect a light to, and cut a hole in the ceiling to get to it, and hooked up a new light fixture.  Awesome.  Now when I turn on the light switch I have light!  I had no idea it was even on his to do list.

And last week ago Scott and Brennen built me a food storage shelf.  We have no pantry or storeroom to speak of. So I have food in the laundry room and Scott's office, which are both off of the kitchen.  I decided I needed a shelf to put all those bottles of grape juice I did.  And applesauce and next year's peaches (I didn't do any of those this year).  I designed a shelf for the laundry room deep enough to hold 3 quart-sized bottles, and 2 #10 cans (the kind we Mormons get from the dry pack cannery), and just tall enough to maximize space. If you are curious, each shelf is 12 and 3/4 inches deep and 7 and 1/2 inches apart (high).   And the shelves had to fit between the garage door and the door to the backyard.  I designed them and my boys put them up.  Aren't they beautiful?!?

(note on the right side my genius husband put nails to hold our tape!)
and I really don't have that many bottles of juice -- I mean they are not "3 deep"-- a lot are just at the front so it looks like more, you know, for a better picture...

Why oh Why

These are my oldest boys enjoying the use of laptop computers courtesy of the school.
Every student in the Farmington district from 6-12 grade is issued a laptop.  In a time when art programs and music programs, positions and teachers' pay are being cut, let's put a computer in the hands of every student.  Why?!? Of course the computers come from grant money so it is different from the budget.  whatever.

Do you think these boys (in the picture) are doing homework?  no no no.  Games.  The computers come with wireless internet. And of course it is 'filtered' so they can't access everything on the internet.  yeah right.  filters only do so much and any kid who wants to can find ways around the filter.  It just makes me upset and frustrated as a parent that in today's world with all the technology, challenges, and temptations that exist for our kids today that the public education system would provide them with a tool to make it easier for kids access harmful things.  Yes, parents should monitor their kids and communicate and be open and all that.  As a parent I can limit the technology my kid has, such as smart phones and itouches with browsers, etc., and put my home computer in the dining room, but what do I do when the school gives them laptops?  Kids can go anywhere there is free wi-fi and do whatever they want on their computers.  I can teach my kids, but I can't hold their hands and be with them everywhere.


Yes, this picture of my boys is in their bedroom, and we have since made a rule that they can only use their computers in the living room and dining room.

Why do the laptops need wireless internet?  Supposedly the textbooks are on the computers.  (my junior says that his teachers don't even use the computers).  Can't they access textbooks without a wireless internet?  I am not a computer tech so I don't know much about how that works, but I am sure I could figure out a way to use the computers without wireless access away from school.  I am mad and that my kids have something in their hands that opens up danger and temptation that they don't need at this young age.  And also something that gives them less personal interaction with family and peers.  I know that one day my kids will be on their own and have to make choices then, but they will be older, more mature and able to handle things better.  Right now they are teenagers with teenage brains trying to figure out the world.  They don't need help of laptops and the internet at their fingertips!!