Thursday, October 29, 2009
Halloween preview
Sunday, October 25, 2009
BYU trip!
ROAD TRIP!!! After reading about a friend's adventures to the BYU game in Texas, we (erin) had this great idea to go on our own road trip. Requires much effort when wanting to go anywhere with 3 children. We decided to take a road trip to the BYU vs Utah State game. It just so happened to coincide with General Conference. We were able to round up tickets for Conference and headed to Utah with the Beckers.
DAY 1:
We left at 3:30 am.....Friday October 2nd - had to be there for game time at 7 pm. Before the sun was up, we headed out.
Stop 1: Flagstaff for fillerup - 28 degrees and freezing!
Stop 2: The Gap (45 minutes before Page, AZ) - interesting, still cold and we parked next to Beckers, one care on their side and other a foot from our van - stuck in the middle of a domestic distubrbance, several "F"-words later - in a matter of seconds, we hurriedly backed out of the gas station and left!
Stop 3: - unscheduled visit with Kanab Police Officer - Lea took a picture of the police car, but the picture was accidentally deleted from her camera. Two tickets (both my Jeff and Geoff Becker) and $180 later, we continue to Kanab for brunch around 10 am at Wendy's in our fav gas station there.
Stop 4: By now - for us, we're 2 stops too many for our trip to Utah.
Stop 5: trade drivers for our vehicle, my turn - just before entering the I-15 from the 20. Right before Beaver.
Stop 6: Some construction, but whew, we made it to Springville Walmart for diapers and a long-sleeved shirt for me. It's cold! It's about 3 pm now and we're headed to BYU Bookstore - I love this place! Beckers are on their way to see family - we'll re-convene at the game.
Stop 7: BYU BOOKSTORE! On our way into the Wilkinson Student Center, I hear "Jeff! Jeffrey!" At this I turn around to see someone I should know holding the door open for me. I did a double take because he was in the group calling Jeff. It was Jeff's cousins (dave's girls) and their mom Jane. They were on their way to the bookstore too. Warm hats and new BYU shirts, we're back out the door to my aunt's house (my mom's sister, Marietta).
Stop 8: We're finally somewhere to unload and relax. The kids are free to run around. My cousins were there and their kids. My Aunt and cousins were kind enough to watch our kids while we went to the game. When I was younger, my family spent countless hours at Mare's house when we'd take our trips to Utah from Washington. Brings back a lot of fond memories being there and hanging out with family. Lea and my fav cousin Jenny... :) has a daughter Lea's age. They had a great time together and were sad to part ways the next day as we headed to Salt Lake to stay with Jeff's brother Nathan and family. We gave our Sunday morning tickets for Conference to Jenny and her husband.
Stop 9: Off to the game! Grab dinner at Burger Supreme - now it's 6 pm and closing in on kick-off. If anyone knows Jeff, we don't miss kickoff - it's frustrating for him, me I don't care, but Jeff loves every second of the game experience....notice I didn't say the game....it's the game experience..... subtle difference.
Met up with the Beckers again, Jeff's brother Steven and Elise (not the same as the little one mentioned above) and still more Risenmays we found - Amy, Paul and their son. Quickly downing as much Burger Supreme as we can, we take the rest with us and head to our seats - 3RD ROW!!!! (from the top of the stadium...) After much heckling from Jeff and other disgruntled BYU fans, several rounds of the wave and the BYU fight song, BYU wins something to something... :). I was just happy to be there - feeling 20 again and carefree!
Stop 10: Nathan's and then to the park. Back for dinner and men to Priesthood (also had tickets for my nephew Brendan and his friends who were down from BYU-I) while Mandy and I watched a movie and the kids watched a movie downstairs. Worked out great and we enjoyed being with them. I saw them this summer for the Risenmay reunion at the Oregon Coast, but Jeff was unable to take work off and join us. It's been a while since they'd seen each other - April at Eric's (youngest brother) wedding.
"Should I eat it?! Mom said 'No rocks, no dirt, don't lick the sidewalk, but she never said wood chips....'"
DAY 1:
We left at 3:30 am.....Friday October 2nd - had to be there for game time at 7 pm. Before the sun was up, we headed out.
Stop 1: Flagstaff for fillerup - 28 degrees and freezing!
Stop 2: The Gap (45 minutes before Page, AZ) - interesting, still cold and we parked next to Beckers, one care on their side and other a foot from our van - stuck in the middle of a domestic distubrbance, several "F"-words later - in a matter of seconds, we hurriedly backed out of the gas station and left!
Stop 3: - unscheduled visit with Kanab Police Officer - Lea took a picture of the police car, but the picture was accidentally deleted from her camera. Two tickets (both my Jeff and Geoff Becker) and $180 later, we continue to Kanab for brunch around 10 am at Wendy's in our fav gas station there.
Stop 4: By now - for us, we're 2 stops too many for our trip to Utah.
Stop 5: trade drivers for our vehicle, my turn - just before entering the I-15 from the 20. Right before Beaver.
Stop 6: Some construction, but whew, we made it to Springville Walmart for diapers and a long-sleeved shirt for me. It's cold! It's about 3 pm now and we're headed to BYU Bookstore - I love this place! Beckers are on their way to see family - we'll re-convene at the game.
Stop 7: BYU BOOKSTORE! On our way into the Wilkinson Student Center, I hear "Jeff! Jeffrey!" At this I turn around to see someone I should know holding the door open for me. I did a double take because he was in the group calling Jeff. It was Jeff's cousins (dave's girls) and their mom Jane. They were on their way to the bookstore too. Warm hats and new BYU shirts, we're back out the door to my aunt's house (my mom's sister, Marietta).
Stop 8: We're finally somewhere to unload and relax. The kids are free to run around. My cousins were there and their kids. My Aunt and cousins were kind enough to watch our kids while we went to the game. When I was younger, my family spent countless hours at Mare's house when we'd take our trips to Utah from Washington. Brings back a lot of fond memories being there and hanging out with family. Lea and my fav cousin Jenny... :) has a daughter Lea's age. They had a great time together and were sad to part ways the next day as we headed to Salt Lake to stay with Jeff's brother Nathan and family. We gave our Sunday morning tickets for Conference to Jenny and her husband.
Lea, Elise, Lucas
Met up with the Beckers again, Jeff's brother Steven and Elise (not the same as the little one mentioned above) and still more Risenmays we found - Amy, Paul and their son. Quickly downing as much Burger Supreme as we can, we take the rest with us and head to our seats - 3RD ROW!!!! (from the top of the stadium...) After much heckling from Jeff and other disgruntled BYU fans, several rounds of the wave and the BYU fight song, BYU wins something to something... :). I was just happy to be there - feeling 20 again and carefree!
Walked to Steven's apartment and played Beatles Rockband for a couple songs while traffic dispersed, then headed to my aunt's house for the night.
End of day one: it was a long day, but so happy to arrive safely and had a great time with family and friends.
DAY 2:
Spent the morning with Marietta, then headed to Salt Lake. Jeff was going to the Priesthood Session of General Conference and we wanted to spend some time with Nathan and his family during the day so the kids could play. Stop 10: Nathan's and then to the park. Back for dinner and men to Priesthood (also had tickets for my nephew Brendan and his friends who were down from BYU-I) while Mandy and I watched a movie and the kids watched a movie downstairs. Worked out great and we enjoyed being with them. I saw them this summer for the Risenmay reunion at the Oregon Coast, but Jeff was unable to take work off and join us. It's been a while since they'd seen each other - April at Eric's (youngest brother) wedding.
Lucas, Anna, Lea and Abbey
Everyone had a good time at the park.....Jeff showing off his rodeo skills.
Nah! I'll just pick it up and throw it down - who needs toys?!
DAY 3: On the road again.....
Day 3 was much like day one. Back on the road again. Alot of stops: Panguitch, Cameron, us in Flagstaff, etc, but we made it home and it was a memorable trip. More photos from the Cameron stop:
Babies "driving", the kids running crazy between the vans to bust out some energy and on to the final stretch of the drive. Good times!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Choose this Day
From President Eyring - Choose this Day. My spiritual filling as we're home from church for another week - just in case we're still contagious for something. Lea had a low grade fever 100 and I was exhausted - thankful for a day of rest. Happy Sunday!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Cw8I8eukaI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Cw8I8eukaI
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Breathing is not optional
After almost 2 weeks of random illnesses, I still don't feel like I'm caught up on anything around my house. I feel like I haven't stopped long enough to relax and my legs are aching. And apparently I look as tired as I feel. :) Thank you Lisa for watching my kids during Super Saturday!! You're the best!
Friday was Jeff's turn at the doctor and the return for me to get allergy shots. Both were in adjoining offices - very convenient. :) Jeff has had asthma since forever. Although since we've been married, he stopped using any meds for it and has not been to any sort of doctor in the last 8 years. He finally had time to go and the specialist we (Lea and I) see for asthma/allergy didn't have an opening for 2 weeks - we needed it now. Another doctor was available and off we went. Turns out when you only use 58% of your lung capacity - not good. After a breathing treatment - up to 60-something% - still not good, but better. This could explain why Jeff has such a horrible memory - lack of oxygen to the brain will for sure decrease your memory. Or it could be the 3+ concussions he had when he was younger. Either way, the boy needs help! :)
Back on a bunch of new meds for Jeff to increase his breathing capacity - just in time to run a Ragnar Relay Race in February!!! The doctor told Jeff he was a passive something-or-other. (She didn't actually say that, but I can't remember what she called him) Basically he had gotten used to using such little oxygen or he was so sure he was "better" that it never occurred to him he might not have been better.
This whole breathing better idea will definitely help in the losing weight battle - he's losing inches and lbs and is getting back to the Jeff I first met - yeah! A happier, healthier husband! And hopefully a happy, healthy family - maybe with clean laundry and dishes if I can motivate myself to do anymore loads of either.
Aren't they cute?! Jeff was home for an entire week of work - this is absolutely unheard of for our family - although he was sick, it was fun to have him around. Jeff "styled" Abbey's hair too - she's finally back to normal and totally adorable! Aside from the crazy do.
Friday was Jeff's turn at the doctor and the return for me to get allergy shots. Both were in adjoining offices - very convenient. :) Jeff has had asthma since forever. Although since we've been married, he stopped using any meds for it and has not been to any sort of doctor in the last 8 years. He finally had time to go and the specialist we (Lea and I) see for asthma/allergy didn't have an opening for 2 weeks - we needed it now. Another doctor was available and off we went. Turns out when you only use 58% of your lung capacity - not good. After a breathing treatment - up to 60-something% - still not good, but better. This could explain why Jeff has such a horrible memory - lack of oxygen to the brain will for sure decrease your memory. Or it could be the 3+ concussions he had when he was younger. Either way, the boy needs help! :)
Back on a bunch of new meds for Jeff to increase his breathing capacity - just in time to run a Ragnar Relay Race in February!!! The doctor told Jeff he was a passive something-or-other. (She didn't actually say that, but I can't remember what she called him) Basically he had gotten used to using such little oxygen or he was so sure he was "better" that it never occurred to him he might not have been better.
This whole breathing better idea will definitely help in the losing weight battle - he's losing inches and lbs and is getting back to the Jeff I first met - yeah! A happier, healthier husband! And hopefully a happy, healthy family - maybe with clean laundry and dishes if I can motivate myself to do anymore loads of either.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Lea A., First Grader and the case of the extra tooth......
We like Junie B Jones, can you tell!? For weeks maybe even months, Lea has been asking when she'll lose her first tooth or at least have something to wiggle. All of her friends are starting to lose their teeth and it's a little disheartening for not to be in that club yet.
Well, today is different, she has a loose tooth! Only one problem, which I can see causing more problems in the future......................the tooth is not that loose and her teeth are very tiny. Okay, but the big problem: the next tooth has already pushed through behind the "loose" tooth..................*sigh*. Prediction - the tooth will have to be yanked and there could be future visits to an orthodontist if this is the pattern for all her teeth.......*more sighs*.
Lea and her cousins: Brianna and Ashley sitting by Lea. Wickenburg, AZ
PS: I tried to take picture of it and all I got was a black hole. haha! :) So you'll have to ask her the next time you see her - she will gladly show it to you. Although we're going to the dentist this week to get it figured out, so look fast! :)
Well, today is different, she has a loose tooth! Only one problem, which I can see causing more problems in the future......................the tooth is not that loose and her teeth are very tiny. Okay, but the big problem: the next tooth has already pushed through behind the "loose" tooth..................*sigh*. Prediction - the tooth will have to be yanked and there could be future visits to an orthodontist if this is the pattern for all her teeth.......*more sighs*.
PS: I tried to take picture of it and all I got was a black hole. haha! :) So you'll have to ask her the next time you see her - she will gladly show it to you. Although we're going to the dentist this week to get it figured out, so look fast! :)
NEW DIET! Lose 6 pounds in 3 days!!!
I'm sure you're all just on the edge of your seats waiting to hear about my new found diet and weight loss....well, here you go....be warned it's not pretty, but it was easy. :)
Tuesday: Lucas woke up not feeling well. He spent the better part of the morning (5 am-ish) throwing up, dry-heaving and then had diarrhea. He finally finished and was able to sleep most of the day. Great...that's over.
Wednesday gone, here comes Thursday: I was under with only half of what Lucas had and it wasn't the throwing up part although I felt like I should have several hundred times... Erin was sweet enough to take my kids for me Thursday morning, returned them for nap time, then picked them up again in the afternoon when she brought me a pregnancy test...yes a pregnancy test. I had to explore all the possibilities as to why I was at 5 minute intervals doubled over in pain for 2-3 seconds and it would go away....if this was the beginning of 9 months of pregnancy, this was the last time and it was going to be a long haul. I took the test and it was negative, means nothing to me so I'm still uncertain about that option.
Friday: I called Erin that morning to see if she would take my kids again and she wasn't feeling well so she couldn't (keep reading erin...), Jeff finally came home early - I think that was about 3:30 to help out. Later that night (I'm still miserable, no cramping, and the bathroom runs are less frequent - yeah!) I called Erin to see how she was doing. Turns out I never called her, she wasn't on her way to take her boys to school because they don't go to school on Friday and I need a nap.... :) She was fine other than I called during the "getting kids to bed routine".
Bedtime: Jeff flips on the light and hands me Abbey and says "I need help." Breathing heavily, high fever and runny nose....yuck - that's Abbey, not Jeff. :) Jeff spent a good part of the night giving her an ice bath with towels to bring her 103.7 fever down to 100. She finally sleeps and is up later with me. A little more sleep and the other kids are up at 6:30.....why oh why do my kids get up that early!!!!?!?!?!? I think we've watched more TV/movies than ever recommended by anyone....
Saturday: Jeff takes Lea and Lucas to Lea's soccer game - after missing the first 2 practices, she's starting soccer again...YEAH! I love it, but didn't go - under strict orders from Jeff to stay in bed....right because Abbey loves to just lay still and not move around. Saturday afternoon, finally found someone (thank you Palmers!) home to watch our kids while we went to urgent care (after a somewhat sad email to my nurse friend Kehau in Portland I was convinced I should go). Of course the clinic was closed and Good Night Peds didn't open for another hour. We drove out to a different office - much cleaner one, but there was already a line at 5 pm and it just kept getting longer and longer by the minute. Very sad to see so many sick little ones and tired parents - we were all in the same boat: miserable and lost. We meet with a very nice doctor, they test Abbey and she almost kung-fu'ed the nurse in the head while she swabbed Abbey's nose. Quite entertaining actually. She's a fighter! :) Doctor comes back and oink, oink we have the Type A/Swine flu - whew, now what. Take this and should be okay - will lessen the symptoms and off you go.
Of course all 24 hour pharmacies are anywhere but close to us in Laveen. Jeff drops me off with the kids at home and drives for another half our to the pharmacy, spends a couple hours there, and returns home....4 pm to 10 pm was a long day for everyone.
It's finally Sunday, Jeff took Lea to church, Abbey and Lucas are napping and I'm finally eating - oh yeah back to my weight loss diet. I am down 6 lbs in 3 days from 3 days of diarrhea and not eating or drinking (some water here/there and couple of freeze pops). It's not recommended by any doctor, but it sure does work. Abbey is still recovering, but is doing better and well my house looks like we've been hermits for about a month.
Attitude of Gratitude:
*my friends near and far who were there to help
*Jeff has a job now where he can leave without others condemning him for having a "Family first" attitude
*health insurance - we went 3 months without it this year....scary - we are family who uses the insurance to the fullest!
*knowledgeable doctors and nurses
*my sisters and mother-in-law who would show up in a heartbeat if I asked
*I still need my mom even though I'm 30 and have my own children. I now understand why my oldest sister would call home when I was younger and ask for her mommy....I thought she was insane..... she might still be, but she never reads my blog so she won't know any of this. :)
*I have goodly parents whom I miss very much!
*the priesthood is a beautiful power to have and my husband is pretty amazing! A pest yes, but still the right one for me!
*Lea is not sick and hopefully she will not get sick - she's been a very big help!
Tuesday: Lucas woke up not feeling well. He spent the better part of the morning (5 am-ish) throwing up, dry-heaving and then had diarrhea. He finally finished and was able to sleep most of the day. Great...that's over.
Wednesday gone, here comes Thursday: I was under with only half of what Lucas had and it wasn't the throwing up part although I felt like I should have several hundred times... Erin was sweet enough to take my kids for me Thursday morning, returned them for nap time, then picked them up again in the afternoon when she brought me a pregnancy test...yes a pregnancy test. I had to explore all the possibilities as to why I was at 5 minute intervals doubled over in pain for 2-3 seconds and it would go away....if this was the beginning of 9 months of pregnancy, this was the last time and it was going to be a long haul. I took the test and it was negative, means nothing to me so I'm still uncertain about that option.
Friday: I called Erin that morning to see if she would take my kids again and she wasn't feeling well so she couldn't (keep reading erin...), Jeff finally came home early - I think that was about 3:30 to help out. Later that night (I'm still miserable, no cramping, and the bathroom runs are less frequent - yeah!) I called Erin to see how she was doing. Turns out I never called her, she wasn't on her way to take her boys to school because they don't go to school on Friday and I need a nap.... :) She was fine other than I called during the "getting kids to bed routine".
Bedtime: Jeff flips on the light and hands me Abbey and says "I need help." Breathing heavily, high fever and runny nose....yuck - that's Abbey, not Jeff. :) Jeff spent a good part of the night giving her an ice bath with towels to bring her 103.7 fever down to 100. She finally sleeps and is up later with me. A little more sleep and the other kids are up at 6:30.....why oh why do my kids get up that early!!!!?!?!?!? I think we've watched more TV/movies than ever recommended by anyone....
Saturday: Jeff takes Lea and Lucas to Lea's soccer game - after missing the first 2 practices, she's starting soccer again...YEAH! I love it, but didn't go - under strict orders from Jeff to stay in bed....right because Abbey loves to just lay still and not move around. Saturday afternoon, finally found someone (thank you Palmers!) home to watch our kids while we went to urgent care (after a somewhat sad email to my nurse friend Kehau in Portland I was convinced I should go). Of course the clinic was closed and Good Night Peds didn't open for another hour. We drove out to a different office - much cleaner one, but there was already a line at 5 pm and it just kept getting longer and longer by the minute. Very sad to see so many sick little ones and tired parents - we were all in the same boat: miserable and lost. We meet with a very nice doctor, they test Abbey and she almost kung-fu'ed the nurse in the head while she swabbed Abbey's nose. Quite entertaining actually. She's a fighter! :) Doctor comes back and oink, oink we have the Type A/Swine flu - whew, now what. Take this and should be okay - will lessen the symptoms and off you go.
Of course all 24 hour pharmacies are anywhere but close to us in Laveen. Jeff drops me off with the kids at home and drives for another half our to the pharmacy, spends a couple hours there, and returns home....4 pm to 10 pm was a long day for everyone.
It's finally Sunday, Jeff took Lea to church, Abbey and Lucas are napping and I'm finally eating - oh yeah back to my weight loss diet. I am down 6 lbs in 3 days from 3 days of diarrhea and not eating or drinking (some water here/there and couple of freeze pops). It's not recommended by any doctor, but it sure does work. Abbey is still recovering, but is doing better and well my house looks like we've been hermits for about a month.
Attitude of Gratitude:
*my friends near and far who were there to help
*Jeff has a job now where he can leave without others condemning him for having a "Family first" attitude
*health insurance - we went 3 months without it this year....scary - we are family who uses the insurance to the fullest!
*knowledgeable doctors and nurses
*my sisters and mother-in-law who would show up in a heartbeat if I asked
*I still need my mom even though I'm 30 and have my own children. I now understand why my oldest sister would call home when I was younger and ask for her mommy....I thought she was insane..... she might still be, but she never reads my blog so she won't know any of this. :)
*I have goodly parents whom I miss very much!
*the priesthood is a beautiful power to have and my husband is pretty amazing! A pest yes, but still the right one for me!
*Lea is not sick and hopefully she will not get sick - she's been a very big help!
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