We Dew

School Program

2009-12-18T12:50:00.003-07:00

So, I've always secretly mocked those "wimpy moms" who cry at dance recitals and whatnot. I never really understood. I've resisted admitting it, but I am one of those moms. Multiple times over. How do these kids grow up so quickly? Wahhh!

Yesterday was McKenzies preschool Christmas program. I wondered how she would do, because at other performances she's been a little shy, but she did great! She sang along and even did some of the gestures, too!

Smiling with Grandma Terri after the show

Last night before bed, McKenzie was snuggling with me, talking about our day. It was one of those peaceful, sweet moments that I love sharing with my kids. I told her how much I liked her program and how proud I am of her. She beamed with pride and quizzed me to make sure I paid attention during the show. Then:

Me: You are growing up WAY too fast!

McKenzie: I KNOW! Pretty soon I am going to be too big for you!

Me: Then what will happen?

McKenzie: I will leave. I will drive away in my car. My NEW car. My BIG NEW car! And you will boohoo!

Coming back to life

2009-12-03T10:01:00.003-07:00

It's been almost six weeks since my leg was put through the grinder, and I'm finally starting to feel like a person again! The experience was a lot different (and harder) than I ever expected.

In surgery they drilled holes in my tibia (shin bone) and used a chisel to break the rest of the way through. Then they made a cut over my knee and pounded a 14 inch long, 1/2 inch wide titanium rod through the middle of the bone. They straightened my leg and put some screws in under my knee and above my ankle. The x-rays look like a case of metal shop gone wrong.

I had a block on my femoral nerve, but that didn't touch the pain. I'm usually quite a light weight with pain meds (I think I broke up and used 2 percocets for the entire time I recovered from child birth) so I was surprised at how much medicine I needed. Knowing how strongly the meds affect me, I asked to start with 1/2 a percocet, but soon needed needed more. I had taken as many as allowed and was still in agony, so I moved up to the oxy. Even then I was taking three every three hours and Tylenol in between. Much of the first two weeks after surgery is a blur.

After three days in the hospital I came home. My sister stayed here to help babysit me and the kids, and mom and dad were here a lot too. Even after they left "full time babysitting" I called my parents several times in tears. Each time they jumped right in the car and came to my rescue.

Cris has been a huge help. Working full time (and overtime) and keeping up the house hasn't been easy for him. But I love and appreciate him so much. We also had SO much help from other family members, friends and neighbors. Thank you everyone for the meals, the babysitting, being a taxi service and for your love. I don't know how we could have got through it alone!

I think I went into this a little starry eyed thinking that I'd have a broken shin, but could still manage around the house on my crutches just fine. But, it was a few weeks before I even moved up to the crutches! I started on a walker (insert geriatric joke here) and even then, leaving my place on the couch was painful enough I avoided it at all costs. McKenzie was a great help, bringing me diapers for Alli, or the phone, or whatever I needed. But, she also got tired of it too. One day I called for her and she told me, "McKenzie's not here right now! Leave a message!"

I've learned a few tricks along the way. Since I couldn't hold anything in my hands as I moved around with the walker I learned to shuffle a laundry basket in front of it to shuttle things around the house. Sometimes even Allison. (How else do you convince a 1 year old it's time for her nap when you can't pick her up and carry her?)

For the most part, I'm off the meds and am able to get around the house without the crutches. I just have a really nasty limp. I'm not quite able to drive yet, but am hoping to get there soon. It's a weird feeling being locked in your house and unable to escape! More than once I called people begging to take me for a quick ride anywhere. The park. Grandmas house. I didn't care! I just needed a change of scenery.

The bruises are nearly gone. At first my entire leg was a solid rainbow of black, purple and green. I thought the bruises may last for months, but luckily only shadows remain. And for the first time, when I lay on my back my toes point to the ceiling! It's been a weird feeling to get used to - before now my pinkie toe would lay flat on the bed!

So, I can see there is some improvement. And I know things are going to get even better. But, I think I'm going to fight like hell to avoid the surgery on the other two bones!

Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-15T11:45:00.003-06:00

Grandpa Randy took us to the pumpkin patch in celebration of McKenzies actual birthday! Unfortunately it was a little cold and drizzling rain, so we had to hurry through, but we still had LOTS of fun! Pumpkins are one of McKenzies favorite things (fitting she's an October baby, right?)

Afterward, the Dew family met us at Applebees for some yummy dinner! Happy Birthday, Z!

McKenzies Birthday

2009-10-15T11:30:00.004-06:00

McKenzie is now officially FOUR years old! It's such a fun age of excitement and magic! A few things about Miss McKenzie:

She is full of personality! There is no hiding if she is tired, or cranky, or excited! She is stubborn and can't be talked out of many things, but she's also sweet and compassionate too.

She loves to learn! School is one of her favorite things! She also loves to read and asks so many questions about how things work. Right now, she's trying to figure out driving, asking me why the cars drive between the lines and how they take turns at the intersections. It's amazing to see her little mind go (and how she picks up the little details!)

She is a ham! She loves attention and has a hard time sharing the spotlight! Even though she adores and protects her little sister (who idolizes her) she gets frustrated when Alli's the center of attention and does her best to upstage her.

She is currently in love with firemen thanks to a safety program at school. She knows how to stop, drop and roll, knows where to meet if there is a fire and will gladly demonstrate how to crawl below the smoke. Other potential careers: gymnastics - the girl cannot go an hour without flipping or somersaulting, chef - she loves to help in the kitchen and comes running when she hears the mixer turn on, photographer - she still loves taking pictures and 'scrapbooking', and artist - paint, markers, crayons, clay? She loves it all!

We love you, Z!

Birthday Party for Two

2009-10-15T11:17:00.002-06:00

On Saturday we had a party for the girls' birthday. McKenzie put on her chef costume and made individual pizzas for everyone. I had put a sign up on the door saying "McKenzies' Pizzeria - Pizzas made the way I want them!" and that's exactly how it was! The pizzas ended up being 3" thick and didn't always have the toppings that were requested, but she had SO MUCH FUN making them!

For their cakes, I made two ice cream cake rolls - one vanilla and one cholocate. However, I didn't get any pictures of them blowing out the candles (daddy preferred video) so I'm issuing a plea to my wonderful mother-in-law and sister-in-law to share some of their shots with me! ;)

The girls were thoroughly spoiled by our wonderful family and it was a great evening!

2009-10-07T12:01:00.002-06:00

Saturday was Allisons birthday. After I got home from work, we had dinner and some cupcakes McKenzie decorated for the big event! (She covered them in gum drops, but soon hated them after her first bite!) Alli got to open a few presents, but we are saving the rest for the girls party this weekend. (I'm such a mean mom, huh?) Anyway, here's a few pics of her big day!

Birthday girl wouldn't stand still for a photo!

She was hesitant about the cupcake at first...

But soon dug right in!

She kept touching it, saying "This! This?"

Happy Birthday, Allison!

Happy First Birthday, Allison!

2009-10-02T08:15:00.004-06:00

Tomorrow my baby turns one! Already? It seems like the time has flown by in the blink of an eye, but yet I can't remember us not having her as part of our family. I thought I'd share a few things about her:

She LOVES to eat! Although her size may not reflect how much she takes in, our little girl is rarely seen without something in her mouth. She has refused baby food for months, but hasn't found a regular food she doesn't love. Her favorites are apples, ice cream, lasagna and celery.

She's very good on her feet! She's a great walker and chases her sister and I wherever we go.

She loves to hold her hand to her ear and pretend to talk on the phone. She'll say "Hi!" and "Daddy!" over and over again, all day long.

She loves to throw anything she can find into the bathtub, and say "Uh oh!" over and over again.

She loves the telephone and remotes, and we're constantly trying to hide them from her. She usually outsmarts us and we end up with a drool covered telephone.

She is a scavenger and thinks the world is her buffet. She'll run for the dirt as soon as we're outside and fill her mouth if I'm not quick enough. She loves when the garbage can is full enough she can reach inside for a "treat". She picks up bits of paper off of the floor for a snack. And yes, she has been found playing in the toilet - so the new catch phraze at our house is "Did you shut the lid?" I know it sounds like I don't watch her and my house is a mess, but this kid is good at her craft!

Her favorite things are two cheap pillows I bought at Ikea for a buck. She sleeps with them every night, carries them around the house, jumps on them and sits on them. It's adorable to watch her cuddle with them. They are threadbare and starting to fray, but I can't imagine throwing them out.

When we say "Alli Cat!" she can't resist smiling and comes running to us. Her one dimple shows with a smile, and her super kissable cheeks beg for some lovin'!

We love you, Allison! Have a happy birthday!

School Pictures

2009-10-01T14:44:00.004-06:00

McKenzie brought home her school pictures yesterday. Not just any school pictures - her very first school pictures! They shouldn't have been a surprise because I'd filled out the order form and written out the check a few weeks ago. But, when I opened that envelope I got a little misty eyed! The pictures were a reminder of how big she's getting! She's in school now, has friends and functions very well without me - something she likes to remind me of everyday when she begs me not to walk her to her classroom. She can do it by herself, thank you very much!

The photograph may not have captured her best smile, or highlighted the twinkle in her eye. In fact, her hair is a little messy from playing on the playground and the photo is a little off center. But I LOVE this picture. For some reason it seems like an all important milestone. Or maybe a glimpse of whats to come. Here's to 14 more years of her school pictures to make me cry!

One day to justifiable crankiness!

2009-09-30T13:38:00.003-06:00

Last call! Anyone else want to self torture?

So far there are five people giving up soda:
Kristy Langford Deans
Malory Madsen Moore
My mom
My hubby
and I

We're still open to more opponents, so sign up! We officially start tomorrow through the end of the year! Wish us luck!

Carbonation Challenge

2009-09-23T11:41:00.002-06:00

I'm drinking too much Dr. Pepper.

Again.

And I'm trying to quit.

Again.

I'm lacking motivation to just quit, so I'm going to make a game out of it. Wanna play?

Anyone who wants to play needs to chip in $10 (a little added motivation). We'll go by the honor system, and the person who goes the longest without drinking soda (anything carbonated) keeps all of the money in the pot. I think 3 months is long enough for the contest, so if we don't have a winner by the end of the year, everyone who is still in the running will split the money.

I'm hoping for at least 10 people (then the pot is $100!) and have 4 signed up already. If you want to play too, shoot me an email or leave a comment!

PS - Can't decide if you want to play? Think of it as a savings plan. If you're like me, you'd spend way more than $10 on soda in three months! :)

The bionic leg

2009-09-21T21:40:00.000-06:00

... is being installed October 27.

A whole month of waiting! Whaaa!

My heart is pounding a little faster...

2009-09-17T20:37:00.003-06:00

and my leg is already starting to ache.

Some of you may know that I would be the perfect shoe model. If I had coordination, that is. You see, my right foot turns out quite far to the right - thus allowing you to see the front of the shoe on my left foot, while also seeing the side of the right shoe. Brilliant right? Think of it as half duck footed.

Anyway, we started to notice the problem about 14 years ago when my knee started to hurt. I was diagnosed with external tibial torsion and told that I would eventually need a knee replacement and to hold out as long as I could. My knee and hip have hurt every day since then. Pregnancy was a joy.

I'll spare you some of the boring details about a summer filled with tests, referrals and MRI's, and just tell you that they've made some advancements and I don't need a knee replacement. (Yay!) They just need to cut my tibia (shin bone), turn it, and put it back together. Unfortunately, the only doctor with experience is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. So... I spent my day at Primary Children's Hospital with my new doctor, Dr. Klatt.

It was perhaps the most uncomfortable time I've ever spent in a waiting room. On one side of me was a beautiful clubfooted baby. On the other, an 8 year old who fell off the monkey bars and broke his arm. Kids everywhere. And me, the 28 year old partially duck footed woman hobbling into the children's hospital. I lost count how many times I was asked if I was Stacy's guardian. Not to mention they were running 45 minutes behind schedule.

But, Dr. Klatt was really very nice and I felt comfortable right away. He reviewed the MRI's and x-rays I brought with me, and did a few tests himself. He found that not only is my right tibia twisted, but so is my left. And my right femur (thigh bone). He said that if I were a child he would break both bones in my right leg now, but suggested we start with just the shin bone for now.

He is going to make an incision in the front of my shin, drill holes in my bone and break it the rest of the way through with a chisel. Pretty medieval right? The bone will be turned, a long metal rod will be put in from an incision by my knee, and screws will be placed by my knee and ankle. I'll spend 3 days in the hospital and can't put much weight on my leg for several weeks. Obviously, I'm too old for surgery at Primary Children's, so we'll probably have it at the Orthopedic Center down the road. I'll find out the schedule tomorrow.

The good news is, this diagnosis is MUCH better than what my referring doctor had braced me for. Dr. Klatt thinks I can return to work in 2-3 weeks if I want. And, there is a chance this surgery will alleviate the pain I've been having enough that I may not need the other two bones broken. (Cross your fingers!) Hopefully I'll be able to run without crying for the first time. Ever!

While I was walking to my car after the appointment, I had a bit of an inner dialogue:

3 days in the hospital?! What am I going to do? If I get woken up every 15 minutes and asked if I need something to help me sleep I'll walk myself home, thank you very much!
Maybe I'll have to take the computer and blog to entertain myself. I can see the post now: "8:38 - moody nurse is back. HELP!
I'm surprised there's a problem with my femur, no one mentioned that before. Maybe I don't really need that bone broken? Or maybe I do and I should just get it done now? Who wants another surgery, really?
He said he'd do the surgery with an epidural; that went okay when I had the kids. WAIT! I was AWAKE when I had the kids! I hope he doesn't want me awake! I CAN'T HANDLE HEARING MY OWN BONE BREAK!

About then, I started to panic. A lot. And I know I wont be able to sleep tonight. When they call me tomorrow to schedule, there are definitely going to be some questions! Until then, I'm going to be pacing. In my own little partially duckfooted way.

First Day of School

2009-09-09T08:56:00.002-06:00

I dropped McKenzie off for her first day of preschool a few minutes ago. She has been SO excited! She woke up early and begged to get her uniform on, wolfed down her breakfast, and waited rather impatiently to go! When we finally got to school she asked, "Is it time for you to leave yet, mom?" Sniff, sniff! My baby is growing up and doesn't need me! It made me a little teary eyed as I pulled away, but I guess it's easier than if she were bawling and had to be torn away from my leg.

Here's to a good year!

Dinosaurs!

2009-09-03T21:12:00.004-06:00

I was feeling stir crazy, so I took the girls to the dinosaur museum in Ogden for the first time today. Even though I wrote down the wrong exit number, we eventually made it, and the girls were WONDERFUL! It was a peaceful (and long) car ride, Alli happily rode in her stroller when we got there, and McKenzie didn't run off or misbehave. What more could a mom ask for, right?

Here's a few of my favorite snapshots:

McKenzie and her typical goofy pose.

She thought she was SO cool when I took this picture!

The girlies riding a big lizard-dinosaur thing in the park.

Allison on a turtle. She was so proud of herself, isn't it adorable!

Ride 'em cowgirl!

I wish I had my video camera when we toured the indoor museum. But, to tell the story, I have to provide a little background... This summer, Cris and the girls toured the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Pointe with some of Cris' family. While they were there, McKenzie heard some of the dinosaur noises in the background and asked Aunt Ashli, "Did you hear that? Maybe some dinosaurs are still alive!"

So... today when McKenzie saw the animatronic dinosaurs that moved and made noise, she was a little frightened. She inched up closer and closer to the fence. Then, she muttered, "I told Ashli some dinosaurs are still alive!" I think I laughed the rest of the way through the park! I love that girl!

Chatterbox

2009-09-02T21:13:00.002-06:00

Alli is becoming more and more vocal lately, which is so much fun! (Mostly because she hasn't learned to tell me 'no' yet!) She can mimic noises so well that sometimes it's hard to tell when she knows a word, or is just parroting it back! One of my favorite things is watching her hold her hand up to her ear and see her pace around saying "Daddy!" and "Hi!" while she pretends to be on the phone. Total girl, right? (And in case you are wondering, she adores jewelry and shoes, too. No joke!)

She also cracks me up when Cris is in the car with us. She can't stop saying "Daddy! Daddy! DadDEEE!" over and over again. I'm not quite sure if she thinks it's a game, or if she's frustrated she can hear him talk, but can't see him.

For my own documentation, here's the words she's been saying:

Daddy
Mommy/MomMom
Hi
Hello
Bye bye
Doggy
Thank you
Banana
Kiss
and today, she started pointing and saying 'This'

Unfortunately, she's also perfected a shrill glass shattering scream. It's the loudest, most horribly painful noise I've ever heard come from something so cute. Sometimes, she squeals when she's frustrated. Sometimes when her sister pesters her. And sometimes I have no clue what causes it! All I know is that I don't like it. AT ALL. That noise grates on my patience like nothing else. Mix that in with an almost-4-year-old who is overly anxious for school to start next week, and we've had a fun week at our house. And it's only Wednesday! Now I feel like I need to scream! :)

Digital Scrapbook

2009-09-01T13:53:00.003-06:00

A few people have asked what program I use to design the mastheads on this blog, so here's the scoop! The program is 'LumaPix FotoFusion Scrapbook Essentials featuring SEI'. (Say that three times fast - go on, I dare ya!) It was a freebie I got at an SEI class at the Scrapbook Expo. I'm just digging in to digital scrapbooking, so there is so much I don't know about it. But, I do know that this program is EASY! If you want it, check out http://www.shopsei.com/, and while you're there, check out club sei - it's the mommy scrapbookers friend.

More Menzie-isms

2009-08-31T17:46:00.002-06:00

The computer went back to the shop again, so I've been unable to blog for a few days. While I was gone, you missed a few funny conversations with my daughter. Here's a few to brighten your day:

"Grandma, sometimes does Grandpa make you go to bed when you want to stay up and watch tv?"

--------------

My sister was changing her baby boys diaper. McKenzie leaned over, opened the diaper back up, pointed, and said "Thats a silly one!"

Thats what Menzies do

2009-08-21T20:48:00.002-06:00

We've been trying to encourage McKenzie to stay dry all night long. She's about at the 50/50 stage now where it seems like she could stay dry all night, but doesn't think it's worth the effort. We're trying to earn stars on a progress chart, but still lacking motivation. Any ideas?

Anyway, here's a snippet of a 'staying dry' conversation from last weekend.

Daddy: Uh oh! Your pull-up is wet! Why didn't you stay dry like a big girl?
McKenzie: (cocks her head to the side, thinks for a minute and shrugs) Thats what Menzies do on Tuesdays! (stops and thinks again) What day is it?
Daddy: Sunday.
McKenzie: Sometimes thats what Menzies do. Even on Sundays. Sorry Dad. I'll prolly (probably) be dry on Mondays!

Ga-Loon!

2009-08-21T14:58:00.002-06:00

See Kenzie's stitches in the pictures above. She's refused to let me photograph it. Stinker!

I was able to sneak out of work a few Mondays ago, so Cris and I decided to take the girls to Lagoon (pronounced Ga-Loon by my oldest) We knew Alli wouldn't be able to do much and thought McKenzie could use a buddy on some of the rides, so we "borrowed" the daughter of a woman I work with. The girls are only a few months apart and have played together a few times - plus it saved her from getting a sitter that day. Luckily it turned out great! The girls were old enough to wait in line and go on rides in the kids area ALL BY THEMSELVES!, which was obviously a major accomplishment. Their favorite ride was the hydroluge - which meant Cris had to take them seperately at least 3 times. The older girls had an absolute blast. Alli, however, was not a fan of the heat. Still, the day was a success!

Tooele County Fair

2009-08-21T14:50:00.002-06:00

My MIL and I took the kiddos to the county fair this summer. Although I wasn't entirely impressed, it was a wonderland for Miss McKenzie! Animals, snow cones, crafts AND rides?! She nearly passed out from sheer joy!

Later, as I related McKenzie's joy over the scrambler ride to Cris, he suggested she go back for a second helping. McKenzie got to go back for a date with mom and dad, and I sincerely wish I would have had a camcorder with me to document the pride in her step and she pranced from the parking lot holding her daddies hand on their "date". I just love how the little things are so exciting for her!

Back in the swing of things...

2009-08-21T11:55:00.003-06:00

My computer was the unfortunate victim to a virus. I finally got it back last night (plus an extra two gigs of ram), and am working on catching up in life. How did I become so dependant on a computer, by the way? Banking and paying bills seemed impossible. I couldn't call anyone, because I think I may have forgotten how to use the phone book. And I had withdrawals when I could no longer stalk some of my favorite blogs. Hopefully that is all behind me now.

While I was absent, we've stayed rather busy. I've been working on the back yard, which now has 6 trees and a bunch flowers that are starting to fill in the flower beds. The kids play set "Dew-Hickey Park" received a fresh coat of stain. And, I made use of the tomatoes I grew by bottling my first two batches of salsa - without major incident! Wooha!

Allison is growing like a weed. She has some of the most kissable cheeks I've ever seen, however, she's learning to toddle away from me when I start looking like I'm about to devour them!

I signed McKenzie up for Catholic preschool, which should be interesting. More than half the students aren't Catholic so I'm hoping our religion won't be an issue. The program is highly recommended and taught by a family friend who is highly respected, so we are both excited about it. Right now, I'm not so excited about the uniform policy, but who knows? I may end up liking it.

McKenzie also received her first set of stitches. She was sleeping over and grandpas and fell on the frame of the trundle bed when she got up in the middle of the night. She came out of the bedroom saying "I think I'm bleeding" and never even cried (until the needle came out at the ER)! She ended up with about 5 stitches at the top of her cheek, near her eye. She had to be wrapped up and held down while they stitched her up, (which was hard for me) but otherwise, she hasn't been bothered in the least.

I've also had my share of doctor visits. I've been having problems with my knee and hip for 15 years, but this last year had really started to bother me. 15 years ago they had me expecting a knee replacement, but luckily thats not the case. My tibia (shin bone) is rotated more than 60 degrees, so they'll need to break and reset it. The problem? This surgery is usually only done on toddlers, so only pediatric orthopedic surgeons have expertise. The knee specialist I had been seeing pulled some strings and got me an appointment at Primary Childrens hospital next month. We'll see if the surgeon agrees to take my case from there. If he does, no walking for 8 weeks. Should be fun!

I've got a bunch of fun pictures to post, some funny stories, and other junk to share, so stay tuned! :)

A few pics...

2009-07-24T10:25:00.003-06:00

9 month bragging rights

2009-07-17T17:15:00.003-06:00

I thought I'd post this sooner, but someone has been a tad uncooperative every single time the camera comes out. I couldn't take it any longer, so I took pictures anyway.

Alli is officially 9 months old! She's a little over 17 pounds, and is at the 25th percentile for height and weight. Her heart is still sounding good, and everything seems just fine!

A few milestones:

She can clap
and wave
and has finally gotten her first two teeth... with 2 more coming in soon!
She's also learned a few new words! Her vocabulary consists of: Daddy, mamma, banana and hi. I'm loving her voice!
However, to me the most exciting development has been.... WALKING! It's only 3 or 4 steps at a time, but she's moving on her own! As quickly as she's picking it up, I won't be surprised to see her running next week! ;)

Even though she's still a mommy's girl, it's hard to see her growing up so quickly. Don't forget Miss Alli Cat, your still my baby. I love you little girl!

Pink Oreos

2009-07-16T13:11:00.003-06:00

I was feeling domestic earlier this week, so while Alli took a cat nap, McKenzie and I made home-made oreo cookies. Her only requirement: pink icing. "Pink like a lady, mom!" Go figure!

The cookies turned out great, and McKenzie and I had a really nice time together. However, she did, burn her finger on a warm cookie sheet. I grabbed a cool cloth and asked her if she was okay. With her little lip quivering, she looked at me with the saddest puppy dog eyes and told me that a cookie would make it better. How could I resist?

So, I sat her down at the table with a big cookie and a glass of milk. She took a few bites, stuck out her lip, and complained that the pink frosting wasn't working for her burn. "Next time, we'll have to try blue frosting - it's tougher, mom!"

Welcome Baby Trevin!

2009-07-02T13:14:00.004-06:00

Yesterday, I was excited to get a call from Malory and Devin saying that Malory had been admitted to the hospital - I was finally going to be an aunt! My wonderful in-laws took my kiddos, and I hopped in the car to hurry down to Richfield for the excitement.

On the way down, they told me my sisters water had broken, and texted me several times asking where I was. I was afraid I was going to miss holding a baby fresh from heaven, so I sped like a bat out of hell!

When I got there, Malory was only dilated to a 3. 2 hours later, she was still a three. Good thing I hurried, right? :) And you know what? I spent 10 and a half hours waiting for Trevin, and I still ended up missing him! BAH! Cris had to leave for work by 2am the next morning, so I couldn't stay in Richfield past 10pm. (Someone's gotta watch the girls, right?) Malory started pushing (the first time) around 9:30pm, but they stopped her to wait for the baby to come down more on his own, and I had to leave. I WAS SO CLOSE! But, I guess I didn't have the worst of it. Malory was in the hospital for 20 hours with hard labor before the little guy was born!

Trevin Kenneth Moore

July 1, 2009 11:57 pm

7 lbs 2 oz, 20" long

And for those of you who are curious, he has dark curly hair.

And of course, he did inherit the famous (and incredibly cute) "Moore Nose!" Yay!

And although I didn't get to see the baby, the road trip wasn't a complete loss. I'm going to chalk it up to an educational experience. Here's a few lessons I learned yesterday:

I can pee like a man: Okay, not exactly... let me explain. As I mentioned before, I had received a few texts asking where I was, which led me to assume they wanted me to hurry (that, plus the fact that when my water breaks, it isn't long before the baby is in my arms. Thought maybe my sister would be similar). But as much as I wanted to hurry, I REALLY had to make a pit stop. I pulled into a gas station and waited outside the locked womens room FOREVER. I paced the aisles. I read labels on the packages of beef jerky. And then, I couldn't wait any longer. So, I hijacked the mens room. Simple enough solution, right? I barricaded myself in, practiced my best hover technique and was ready to hit the road again. I did get a few funny stares when I exited the room, but I countered them with my best innocent shrug and told them, "it was a really long drive!".
MapQuest is not my friend: I've been to Richfield before. Used to live there... when I was seven. I'd never driven down on my own, and since the people I usually ride with take po-dunk country bi-ways, I wanted to have some solid directions under my belt. Too bad they were wrong! I followed the mapqeust recommendations to the T (trust me, I've reviewed them a hundred times!) and they ended up putting me on I-15 South at mile marker 157. My next turn was at mile marker 222. Too bad the mile markers on southbound I-15 get smaller the further you go! The directions put me 60 miles south of my turn off! I had to go the long way through Cove Fort and take I-70, delaying me further and forcing me to spit out a few naughty words.
My sister's mid-wife thinks I'm mentally challenged: While chatting with the Dr. and nurse, my mom mentioned that I had a sub-dural hematoma when I was born (something my mother had interestingly never mentioned to me). The doctor looked at me with her kind compassionate eyes and told us that I was lucky to have what cognitive function I do.
Apparently, I look like a "lot lizard" (in trucker speak, that means "hooker at a truck stop"): On the way home, I stopped at the hook at 222 (trucker for the "Flying J in Nephi") to balance out my blood-to-caffeine ratio - I needed a Dr. Pepper quick! Two rather fragrant (and not in a good way) immigrant men covered in hair and filth asked me in garbled English if I wanted to "party" in their Peterbuilt tractor. Oh baby!

While I was sad I ended up missing out on hearing Trevins first cries while I paced the hallway, I am still glad that I went. It was fun and exciting being around Malory and Devin on their special day. The veil that separates Heaven and Earth was thin, even when I was there, and we could feel the Spirits of those we love ushering a new baby into our lives. Thanks Mal and Devin for including me in your special day. And welcome baby Trevin! We love you!

Maybe this post explains...

2009-06-26T11:54:00.002-06:00

...why my house looks the way it does? Or why I never feel I have enough time in the day? Or why I have that annoying little nervous tic?

Today, as I was leaving from McKenzies' swimming lessons I almost ran over four separate children. They were darting between parked cars, dashing in the road, chasing after balls, and who knows what else. No parents in sight. Mental note: next year, don't book swimming lessons in the same park and same week as the county arts festival.

We somehow make it home, and about the time I strip off McKenzies' swim suit, the door bell rings. I instruct McKenzie to wait in the bathroom for me, but of course, she's soon standing at the door, somersaulting in all her glory in front of my neighbor.

The neighbor leaves, and I tackle McKenzie and dunk her in the bath. In the meantime, the baby has found my juice and begins to bathe herself (and my carpet) in it. Apparantly, she's now tall enough to reach things from the end table.

I begin mopping up the mess, and then dunk baby in the tub. In the meantime, McKenzie had been brushing her hair, but somehow knocked over daddys cologne, where it breaks and spills all over the floor. Scent overload. Glass everywhere! Kenzie gets banned to her room (and safety) and baby gets locked in her crib where she wails. And wails. AND WAILS!

The glass finally gets cleaned up. No cuts! But, for some reason I don't think anything will ever smell the same again. Baby is rescued from the crib, and I ask McKenzie to pick out a book for us to read.

Reading time/cuddle time begins but Alli can't give up her independance long enough to finish the story - she's set free to crawl around the living room.

Book is finished, toddler is happy, and where is baby? BAH! Beginning to eat the check the neighbor just dropped off. Did I mention I just found out she was tall enough to reach the end table!?!

A work in progress...

2009-06-26T09:18:00.006-06:00

Thought I'd fallen off the face of the Earth, did ya? Nope! I was just buried up to my neck in sand and dirt and SOD! I'm SO EXCITED!

We built this house almost SEVEN years ago, and had starry eyed fantasies about how easy it would be to finish the back yard. We had no clue the amount of work and the money we would sink into it! But, we made huge improvements this year. (Mind you, all of this dirt is left after we had TWENTY TONS of sand hauled away!)

BEFORE:

DURING:

We were so lucky and incredibly grateful to have so many people help us out! My family was there, Cris' dad and some friendly neighbors! Thanks for putting in the hard work, everyone!

I think we picked the hottest day of the year so far for the work. There was a little bit of sunburn, lots of sweat, and sore muscles the next day. Thanks for helping put this "vision" into reality!

AFTER:

I have some grand ideas for filling the planters with lush plants, shading the yard with leafy trees and growing moss between all the rocks... but my husband assures me I've spent enough this week! It's taking every ounce of self control I can muster to resist maxing out the credit cards at the nursery. It's that feeling of being so close!

We still need to put in a few cement pads, acquire some patio furniture and some lighting, then is Bar-B-Que time! Wahoo!

Two Thirds of a Year

2009-06-04T21:30:00.002-06:00

Allison is officially eight months old. It's been a hard milestone for me to swallow. For some reason 8 months seems incredibly close to a full year. Where did the time go?!

We're also under some big adjustments in our house because she is now officially mobile! She's been rolling around the house for several weeks, then she learned to sit up from laying down, and now she's officially crawling! I can't believe it! She's also pulling up to stand and is pretty good on her legs, so I won't be surprised if walking isn't too far off. It's exciting and fun... but I'm not looking forward to the bumps and bruises that her new freedom will inevitably bring.

She's a good little eater! She likes oatmeal and veggies, but doesn't usually care much for the fruits or juices. However, most of the time she prefers to eat whatever the family is having. She has an uncanny knack of identifying dinner time, and has a way of guaranteeing herself a spot on my lap.

She still hasn't mastered sleeping through the night, which is my only complaint. However, it's not horrible - she wakes up around 2am to eat, and goes right back to sleep. I might also have to get up once or twice to help her find a binkie.

She's learned to give kisses, but doles them out stingily - saving the majority of them for Grandma. She claps, sometimes waves bye-bye and mimics just about every sound - including "no, no, no" when we have to take something away from her. My favorite sound is when she scrunches her face up until her nose wrinkles and she snorts over and over again! Too cute!

This afternoon my mom was over helping me paint the hallway in our home. Allison was sitting on the floor of her room, where she could still see us, playing with some toys. She grabbed her baby brush, and rubbed it up and down on the door over and over again, all while looking so proud of herself! I swear she was trying to paint, too!

She's a super happy, easy going baby (unless you don't feed her fast enough) that always has a smile on her face. We love her so much and can't wait to see her next set of tricks. Even if right now I'm remembering when she was a newborn who nuzzled under my chin and would fall asleep on my chest. I miss those quiet cuddles, but, I love this stage too - who wouldn't want a full beam smile on a bouncy baby SO excited just to see ME every morning!

Love you, babe!

Imaculate Degeneration and Bird Friendly Beans

2009-06-02T08:05:00.004-06:00

While we spent some time at the cabin, we went to check out Midway, which is a really cute little town! We ordered gourmet pizza and ate at an outdoor cafe - where my dad ordered organic, bird friendly, grown in the shade, environmentally suitable coffee. How do I know the coffee was that good? The coffee cup told us! What is bird friendly coffee, anyway?!

Afterwards, we toured a really cute boutique in a barn. While we wandered through, McKenzie discreetly passed some really bad gas. My mom asked her about it, and McKenzie said, "It's just my breath, it's okay!" We laughed so hard, we had tears running down our cheeks!

Grandma Dona had spent the weekend with us, too, and while I was driving home she was telling me about her macular degeneration. However, she had a slip of the tongue and called it "immaculate degeneration" a few times. I've heard of immaculate conception, but I'm really not quite sure how that effects her eyes. Hmm...

Grandma also had a few colorful conversations with me, that included the word "doggy style" and and a few choice parts of anatomy, that I am electing not to blog about. It was entertaining and uncomfortable all in one. Either way, I've officially decided that McKenzie is genetically prone to her "Kenzie-isms" thanks much to Grandma Dona. And if this weekend was any indication, I think our conversations with my daughter are only going to get more colorful!

Celebrity Look-a-Like

2009-06-02T07:48:00.001-06:00

I totally stole this from Kristy's blog; thought it looked fun!

I'm not sure what to think about looking like Christian Slater. Hmmmm....

Be back soon!

2009-05-27T21:48:00.002-06:00

We're off to the cabin for a few days. I'll be back to the land of internet shortly! Until then, I'll be collecting some great blogging material!

I love that smelly girl

2009-05-22T18:24:00.004-06:00

Please don't think I'm cruel for the following post. It's meant as a light-hearted look at the situation. I'm not picking on my daughter, and I in fact, love her more than I could ever begin to describe. I'm choosing laughter (and maybe a little exaggeration) as my outlet to a busy week! :)

I think I might be a bad mom. Even though my daughter had surgery this week, I had a really hard time cuddling her. Or comforting her. Or even being in the same room as her! My stomach turned every time she got near. It's not that I don't love that little girl, because that certainly is not the case. Its the smell!

Have you ever been around road kill? In July? About a week after it was hit? That's the smell! It's coming from her nose, her mouth and her ears. When I first noticed it, I was certain that she had an infection. Or maybe a rodent crawled in the back of her throat and died?! I was about to strap her in the car and b-line for the hospital, when the surgical center called to check in on her. The nurse told me it was normal, nothing to worry about, and as long as she doesn't get a fever over 101, everything is fine.

The nurses reassurance was nice, but that didn't help my gag reflex! I think I may have injured my neck by craning my head so far away from her while I cuddled her during a movie yesterday! And at night the swelling has caused some major snoring that somehow gushes out more foul smelling air that literally fills the house. Last night I resisted the urge to turn on the light to check for green cartoon vapor lines coming from her mouth!

I'm sure it doesn't help that she has no interest in eating right now. Every once in a while, she will wander into the kitchen. I run in and follow her like an over-excited chihuahua puppy. "Do you want a popcicle? Ice cream? Jello? I'll make you some potatoes? Or soup! Even candy! You can have ANYTHING you want!" I think my eagerness creeps her out a bit, so she slowly backs away and tells me she doesn't want anything yet.

So, today, I was putting away some laundry and I heard McKenzie go into the kitchen. A chair scraped as it was dragged across the floor. I was sure she was going to climb up on the counter, but I resisted running in and checking on her or offering any help. I sat anxiously as I waited for some clue as to what she was doing. A few minutes later, she came in to my room carrying a brownie on a plate. "I got one for you, too, mom!" She had found a spatula in the drawer, climbed onto the counter, found a dish, and perfectly cut and plated a brownie. For me. I scooped her up in my arms and we had the biggest hug. And I didn't even cringe when I kissed the frosting off of her lip. I love that little girl!

Bath Time

2009-05-22T17:06:00.004-06:00

I've been playing with a new scrapbook/photo editing program, and I am pretty sure I am adicted!

In other exciting news, Allison pulled up to stand by herself today! To mark the occassion, I made her pose standing by the bathtub... first in her diaper, then in her cuddly pink robe, and then with her cute little bottom on display. I'm sure she'll hate me later for taking the pictures, but I made it up to her by giving her an extra bath in the middle of the day. It's definately her second favorite thing right now, after food, of course! She loves to splash and play, especially when her sister is in the tub, too! She's been a little moody this week. I think it's the frustration of being so close to crawling and walking, but not quite being able to pull it off. So, this was a fun little photo shoot for both of us to break up the routine of the day. The only negative? I couldn't get my normally smiley baby to give me a good grin, she was more interested in trying to dive into the tub, or chew on her ducky! Silly little girl!

The bet is over

2009-05-20T18:22:00.002-06:00

The soda challenge between my husband and I is over. I'm claiming victory, however, Cris has a million excuses as to why he really did not lose.

(Don't remember the challenge? Click here!)

I officially went more than 2 months without a single sip of soda. He says he didn't indulge either, but I can't be totally sure. He HATES to lose... especially to me, and I'm afraid it may have given him motivation to fudge a little on the truth. First, I found several fast food drink cups stashed in the garbage can. He claimed they had been in his car for weeks and he was merely cleaning up. I had my suspicions, but I trusted him. Silly me.

A little while later I found a receipt from McDonalds left carelessly on the table. A receipt that listed the date. And his name. And a detail of the contraband he ordered. BUSTED!

Honey, next time you challenge me, don't underestimate my willpower. And more importantly, don't be so careless in disposing of incriminating evidence. Now, turn off the computer and book my spa appointment! :)

My Girls

2009-05-20T08:58:00.001-06:00

The girls were being so cute together today, I couldn't resist taking a few snapshots. McKenzie was extra sweet and tender with Allison today, and wouldn't stop giving her kisses - despite Alli's protests. I love you, girls!

Goodbye Tonsils!

2009-05-19T12:30:00.002-06:00

Yesterday we took McKenzie to St. Marks to remove her tonsils and adenoids. She was such a trooper - actually excited to go! Allison spent her first night away from mommy, and slept over at Grandpa Ken and Grandma Jodi's house since we had to leave home by 5:30am.

McKenzie asked me to take a picture of her tonsils before the doctor "threw them in the trash"

She also asked me to take this picture. On one side of the toy, there was a chalk board. There wasn't any chalk, so she told the nurse that her grandpa would bring her some if she was good. (Which he did!)

I felt so sad when the brought the wagon up and wheeled her down the hall, away from me. I felt like I should be there holding her hand why they put her to sleep. But, it was a short surgery and things went well. While they were taking her to recovery, the doctor met with us. He had told us before the surgery that her tonsils were huge - something he called +4, which he doesn't see often. But, he told us that the tonsils were nothing compared to her adenoids. He said he'd never seen anything like it in a child so small.

They told us that the nurses would take care of her as she wakes up and that they would get her dressed and ready to go. I was disappointed because I had promised her I'd be there as she woke up. However, once she did wake up, she screamed and screamed and screamed. The receptionist could hear her from the waiting area and asked us to go back with her, thankfully. She was confused and disoriented while she cried for 30 minutes, but came around quickly after that and ate a few popcicles.

In fact, she stayed awake the whole drive home and only took two small naps all day long. (They had said she may sleep for 6-8 hours from the demerol.) She was playing as normal (minus sounding like she had a stuffy nose) and ate and drank well. This morning, she is a little more sore and swollen and is needing encouragement to drink. But, it's going well - much better than we had anticiapted. Phew!

Zoo Day

2009-05-19T12:13:00.001-06:00

My husband is a smart man. He realized we were in for a "fun" few weeks while we dealt with McKenzie's surgery and the fun of her healing, and suggested we do something fun before we put her under the knife. Surprisingly, he chose to take us all to the zoo - something I would have never imagined him picking. Here's a few fun snapshots from our day out:

Alli riding in the wagon, enjoying her very first trip to the zoo.

Of course, we couldn't go to the zoo without the mandatory photo taken at the lion drinking fountain. I'm pretty sure these pictures are rights of passage for any child! Anyone who grew up in Utah not have one?

I was surprised at how much BOTH kids loved the carousel! It was our first visit since they opened it up.

And of course, the train. Is it just me, or does my daughter look scared to death? LOL!

I'm not cool, I'm cheap!

2009-05-15T12:36:00.002-06:00

My resolution this year has been to save money grocery shopping AND build my food storage up. I like to go for the complex, unmeasurable goals! Yay me!

I think I've done well this year. I taken up clipping coupons, have started looking at the ads (ok, maybe I just a glance, but thats better than never opening them, right?) and now pay better attention to prices when I shop.

As for the food storage, it's coming along well. For Christmas we got a Shelf Reliance can rack (which I love!) and it's about half full. The deep freeze is filled with a butchered pig we bought a few moths ago, and I put up shelves in the mud room which are full of cleaning supplies, laundry stuffs, toilet paper, and that type of thing! I can't tell you how good it feels to be making progress! Especially since I've never really put much into food storage.

I usually go grocery shopping on Thursdays because McKenzie is in school, - which means Alli and I can take our time and meander through the aisles. Yesterday was no exception. I needed to stock up on a few more baby products, buy a 2 week supply of yogurts, jello, pudding, soups and other soft foods (McKenzie's surgery is Monday) and do the regular grocery shopping, too. When I came time to check out, I SAVED $38.74! Can I get a whoop, whoop! Alright, maybe being frugal isn't cool, but it sure feels good to me!

Buys of the day:

#1 - 1 package Bar S hotdogs AND 1 package Bar S bologna for a total of 6 cents! Six cents! They were on sale for .78 each, and I had a coupon for $1.50 off if you buy two!

#2 - They paid me 8 cents to take home Kraft ranch dressing! It was on sale for $1.42, and I had a $1.50 coupon! Whoo whoo!

Hopefully I can keep this going. I'm a little nervous though, because yesterday was McKenzies last day of school. We can manage regular grocery shopping, but entertaining two kids on my coupon day seems a bit scary. Maybe I'll become one of the those midnight grocery store shoppers and walk around Maceys in my pajamas and slippers? ;)

Honestly, I'm not quite sure why I'm posting this. I've come up with a few reasons:
A) I was in desperate need of updating my blog and was sorely lacking material.
B) I'm still riding the emotional high of saving money
..... or more probably:
C) I'm looking for justification of the money I spent on myself at Kohls last night.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2009-05-06T10:10:00.002-06:00

My moms birthday was on the 22nd. As a surprise, my grandmother and I decided to kidnap my mom last week for a girls day out. Luckily, Malory was able to come up and tag along as well!

We picked up Grandma and all went to lunch at Pei Wei's, one of my favorite places! We gorged ourselves on the best Mongolian Beef and lettuce wraps! SO GOOD!

Then, we hit the mall for a little retail therapy, and ended the day with a trip to the spa. Mom and Grandma had never been before, and I've only adventured there once with my sister-in-law, Ashli - and that was an eye opening experience! Who knew that a facial included a mud bath and full body massage? We surely didn't, so we looked like spa geeks when we came out of the dressing room with our jeans on under our robes! LOL! Ashli and I weren't sure what to do - we didn't want to strip down and have them think we were spa-perverts!

Grandma, mom and I had booked massages a few weeks in advance, and they had told us that one of us were going to have a male masseuse. I should have never mentioned that detail to grandma! She stressed and worried, even though I assured her that she could have one of the ladies!

After we were dressed, we relaxed in the lounge area drinking fruit flavored waters and nibbled on treats. The room was so dark, and filled with running water fountains that made it very relaxing. They brought us warm neck wraps and soaked and scrubbed our feet. Then, it was off for the massage, and it was wonderful!

Grandma came out of the room beaming and said she almost felt like crying, being pampered so. She said she became so relaxed during the massage she must have dozed off, because she woke to the sound of her own snort! LOL!

It's always wonderful to spend the day with those amazing ladies. They are so strong and such excellent examples to me. I hope they enjoyed themselves, because they deserve it. Now, how many more months until the next birthday? I think we should start a tradition! LOL!

I didn't expect to have this conversation...

2009-04-23T15:04:00.003-06:00

After preschool, McKenzie and I were playing on the floor together. Out of the blue, she started asking me questions about her body. Apparently, my three year old is anxious to get boobs, wear a bra, and feed a baby! Heaven help me!

Since she's still so young, we kept the conversation pretty basic. I told her that it's important for her to eat right, exercise and get lots of sleep so that one day she can become a woman too. She was intrigued by the thought that she could become a grown up woman, and wanted to know if boys could do the same thing. I explained that boys become men like daddy, and girls become women like mommy, which made her giggle with joy. Not wanting her to focus too much on it, I told her that she didn't need to worry too much about it because she still had lots of fun things left to do while she's still a child. Horrified, she stopped and yelled, "I'm not a child! I have hair! I am a mammal!"

Smell my miracles!

2009-04-23T09:49:00.003-06:00

We've been enjoying a lot of outdoor time this week while the weather has been so nice.

On Tuesday we went to a farm to pick fresh asparagus and to a nursery to pick up some tomato and pepper plants. And yesterday we mucked out the flower beds, mowed the lawn, fixed a broken vent on the camp trailer, and (as much as I hate to admit it) finally took down the Christmas lights from our roof. The girls have absolutely enjoyed the fresh air and are loving the freedom spring has provided them.

Yesterday, McKenzie also helped me plant some dahlias and cana lillies for my mom. We had one of my all time favorite conversations:

McKenzie: I like to plant flowers!
Me: Me too. It's nice to get outside, isn't it?
McKenzie: Yeah. I like the sun. (pause) We're planting miracles, huh mom?
Me: (laughing) MIRACLES?
McKenzie: Yeah, I like to plant miracles. Then we can watch them grow! Just like Ruby!
Me: Ruby? From your tv show?
McKenzie: Yeah!
Me: Oh, sweetheart, Ruby planted marigolds! That's a type of flower.
McKenzie: Yeah, we're planting miracles, too.

I don't normally care for marigolds (too smelly!) but, needless to say, I don't think I can resist planting some this year!

First Word!

2009-04-21T09:46:00.002-06:00

I'm sure you are not going to believe me, but Allison has started talking!

On Friday, I was eating a banana, and she was trying to get to it. I'd give her a little taste and say "banana" and after a few bites, she started repeating. Of course it was "anana", but I was shocked. I thought it was cute, but didn't quite think it counted as a first word.

But that night we put her in her high chair while we ate dinner. She kept eyeballing the food and crying out "ANANA! ANANA!" I hadn't yet told Cris about what I heard her say earlier in the day, so I was surprised when he told me that it sounded like she was asking for a banana! Then I started to wonder if she really was talking. We decided to see what happened the next day.

Sure enough, she kept it up! After work, I got out a banana, and she piped up right away. "Anana!" So, I decided to call it official! First word: April 17! She was 6 1/2 months old.

Now the word has changed to "nana" and it pretty much means "feed me"! So cute!

..........

Oh, and if you are wondering if I am feeling bad that her first word wasn't the traditional mama or dada, I'm not. I think it's incredibly fitting. First of all, food is her first love. She makes no attempts to hide it. I'm sure she'd dart into any strangers arms should he be holding a baby spoon.

Secondly, McKenzie didn't quite get it right either. Her first word was "mama", but thats what she called her daddy!

Feeling Thankful!

2009-04-21T09:37:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was Allisons cardiology appointment at Primary Childrens. I had been dreading going since they had warned me that she'd need to be sedated for an echocardiogram. But, when we got there, they hooked her up to the EKG and the results were good enough they didn't need to go through with the echo! The doctor listened to her heart and said that there is still narrowing of the pulmonary valve, but its very mild. And the big surprise.... they don't need to see her until she's two years old! After that, they'll do an echo at 3 years old, and follow ups every three years from then on! Last visit they had told me that we'd need to be seen every 4 months for the rest of her life, so was I shocked! I had planned on being at the hospital for four hours, but it was only 20 minutes! I'm feeling very relieved... and very thankful!

The Soundtrack Of A Clean Bathroom

2009-04-16T13:18:00.004-06:00

Today Allison went down for a real nap. Not one of her usual 15 minute cat naps, but a good, out for the count nap. AND McKenzie finished her lunch and ASKED if she could take a nap! At the same time! What the?! That left me with... what do you call it? FREE TIME! To like, actually get stuff done!

I had been lamenting over the sad state of my house, so I decided to dig it and get it cleaned up. I don't mind cleaning, but have to encorporate it with some good tunes. My zune mp3 player was dead, so I went to the bookshelf in our bedroom where we keep a lot of our CD's. I'm looking through it: Kansas, America, Skid Row, Bob Dylan, Guns and Roses, White Snake.... all Cris' music. I finally found Andrew Lloyd Webber. Perfect! But, when I opened the case up, it was empty. Ugh!

I can't say for certain, but I am pretty darn sure my husband hid it from me. A few weeks ago, I popped it into the CD player during a family house cleaning spree. McKenzie and I had a good time singing and play-dancing along to the Phantom of the Opera while we cleaned, but a very large vein was starting to pop out of Cris' forehead. As soon as I stepped out of the house to empty the garbage, my cd had been replaced with Bob Dylan. And I immediately turned off the music and ended the cleaning session. No matter how clean my house could have been, it was not worth the torture of Bo Jangles.

Somehow, all of my cd's end up getting packed up and sent down to the basement. Now, I'm not accusing anyone, but I know that I'm not doing it. And since there's a locked gate at top of the stairs, I'm pretty sure it wasn't the kids.

So, as I'm thumbing through the the stack of cd's, I come across the 1996 Grammy Nominee CD. We're talking: Seal, Hootie and the Blowfish, TLC, Alanis Morisette (angry Alanis, not the poetic one as of late) Brandy and Boyz II Men. Oh the memories!

I remember being in 8th grade, listening to this cd in my room while playing with my hair and make up. It was one of the first cd's I ever owned, and I totally thought I was cool. I'd sit and daydream about high school and boys and all sorts of foolish teenage girl stuff. Oh my.

So, here I sit, scrubbing the toilet and rocking out to Gangsta's Paradise. Honey, if the girls start quoting Coolio, it's not my fault. Blame the casper who keeps hiding my music! :)

Alli Poodle Monkey Bum

2009-04-16T10:51:00.003-06:00

My dear, sweet little girl. Has it really been half a year already? Time seems to have flown by, but at the same time, I can't begin to imagine our lives without you. I have loved getting to know you and watching your personality develop.

Generally, you are a happy, easy going girl with lots of patience... until you see food. You love to experience new tastes and textures, and tend to protest loudly if the food isn't being offered to you fast enough. As soon as you smell dinner cooking, you make sure that the whole house doesn't forget about you.

One day, we decided to let you have a taste of a pickle, just to watch your expression and were surprised to see that you absolutely loved it! However, every time you taste mashed potatoes, you scrunch up your face like I'm feeding you something terribly sour. You are always surprising me like that.

You are getting very good with your hands, learning to pick things up, twist them and play with them. You always find a way to grab hold of my earrings, or yank on your sisters hair. But, the two of you have learned to play together, too. I started to cry the other day as I was driving while I listened to the two of you laughing together. You'd coo and babble, McKenzie would talk back to you and the two of you would break out into the biggest fit of laughter, over and over again. I hope the two of you continue to build a relationship of love and support for the rest of your lives.

You still aren't sleeping through the night yet. I know you could do it (because, you've proved it a few times) but I think that you love to cuddle so much, an entire night is too long to go without being squoze tight. I love the quiet time we get to spend together in the middle of the night. You are always so happy to see me; when I pick you up, you bounce in my arms in a little celebration! You have the sweetest coos when you talk to me at night - so soft and tender. Then, you doze off to sleep so softly and peacefully.

You have some of the most gorgeous eyes, just like your daddy. Everywhere we go, people stop to admire how big and beautiful they are. I ask that you keep them big and open - be aware of different experiences, new people, and change. Try new things, expand your horizons and explore. Remember that we love you and we will always be there for you, our beautiful, happy, sweet little girl.

They're going to cut my baby!

2009-04-16T09:03:00.002-06:00

The night before last, McKenzie was up all night screaming. Mom diagnosis: double ear infections. Why these things never show symptoms until after the doctors office is closed, I'll never know! I think the nasty little germs have a stopwatch. They all gather around and chant "Insta-care closes in: 3... 2... 1... and ATTACK!"

I felt so bad for my poor little girl. She wiggled and writhed in pain. We gave her pain reliever, decongestants, put cotton in her ears, got out the heating pad. I tried everything I could remember doing as a child, and couldn't give her any relief. She would climb up on my lap and beg me to make it better, but when the relief never came, she'd run to her dad and do the same thing. Such a frustrating feeling when you can't help your own child.

I thought I had heard something about putting warm oil in an ear, but wasn't quite sure, so I turned to the handy internet. (What would I do without it?) I found three home remedies. Number one: put urine in her ear. Call me crazy, but I wasn't about to try it. A) sounds messy B)GROSS! C) infection + urine does not sound like a good combination. And I think that something that comes out of a body, probably came out for a reason and shouldn't go back in. Scratched that off the list.

Number two was warm olive oil. Again, it sounded a little messy, but I would have tried it, had it not been for option number three: hydrogen peroxide. I dipped two q-tips in the peroxide and put them in her ears. She didn't like it much, but after 30 seconds, she pulled them out and told us it didn't hurt anymore. She climbed in bed and didn't make a peep the rest of the night. I am totally adding that to my mommy book of tricks!

In the morning I took her to the doctors office. Just as I suspected, two ear infections. Pretty bad ones, in fact. Somehow, him saying that made me feel guilty, but I keep reminding myself that there were absolutely NO symptoms before she went to bed. Whatever I need to do to cope, right?

The doctor also checked out her throat. She normally has HUGE tonsils, but I had been noticing them getting bigger lately. I kept checking her for fever, sore throat, anything that might raise a flag, but nothing did. The doctor told me that they were getting too big, and he wanted them out. I asked if there was any infection or problem with them, but there's not. Just big ole tonsils - tonsillar hypertrophy. Something my mother in law tells me is a Dew Family trait. (THANKS, DEW FAMILY!)

The doctor worried that should she get an infection, the tonsils will swell to the point of completely blocking her airway. EEK! So, we've scheduled appointments with our first ENT. Tonsils should be yanked the first part of May. I still have mine, so I'm a little unsure what to expect. So, tell me, how bad will it be?

Vacation: The last few days

2009-04-14T12:52:00.003-06:00

We spent the last few days on the boat enjoying some relaxation, taking in some shows, playing some games, and playing with the kids. McKenzie loved playing with the kids program the last few days, even if she refused to go the first few days. They played games, did crafts, had parades and parties, watched a circus and even played on a jungle gym. She was in heaven!

On Saturday, we got off of the boat in Los Angeles by 8:30am and rented a car (our flight home wasn't until 7pm) We had been looking for a place to waste a few hours that would entertain the kids. My brother suggested Knotts Berry Farm, and since I could get discounted tickets through my work, we decided to give it a try.

It took us a while to figure out there was an entire kids section (we wandered around all of the other rides first, telling a very sad and emotional McKenzie she was too small for each of them first. So sad) but once we got there, McKenzie loved it. She didn't have much sleep the night before and had a very busy week, so she was a little (okay, a lot) cranky. But we did manage to have a good time.

Her favorite was a big maze that had a bubble room in the middle of it. She came out drenched in bubbles and had to deal with wet shoes the rest of the day!

She also loved the bus ride. I took her once, but daddy had to ride at least 6 times!
And of course, a scrambler type ride.

After having such excitement and emotions, our ride home was not nearly as peaceful as the way there. Allison was exhausted and slept from takeoff to landing. McKenzie whined, argued and cried the ENTIRE flight home. Both mine and Cris' nerves were frazzled, and I'm sure a few other passengers as well. You could probably have heard us coming! To all of my fellow passengers, I am sorry. We tried our best! And considering the length and type of the trip, one meltdown day wasn't too bad, I suppose.

Anyway, it was a wonderful vacation. I loved being able to spend so much time with my family, my parents and my brother. Thank you mom and dad for the wonderful gift, we'll remember it forever!

Puerto Vallarta, part two

2009-04-14T12:36:00.003-06:00

After we got back from the excursion (which I am told, made us rather smelly. Sea Lion poop?) the girls and Cris and my dad had just finished with their naps. We cleaned up and wandered off of the boat to see the city. Most of the attractions were a decent cab ride away, and after our Mazatlan experience we decided to just hoof it near the port. This city was much cleaner, modern and very nice. Heck, there was even a Wal-mart and Sams club next to our ship!

A view of our ship, the Norwegian Star

After all of McKenzies pirate talk all week, when I saw a guy dressed like one, I begged him to take a photo with us. You can't really see it, but he had the creepiest contacts in!

All tuckered out after a long day

Vacation Day Five: Puerto Vallarta, Part One

2009-04-14T11:20:00.004-06:00

In Puerto Vallarta, my mom, brother, and I wanted to book an excursion to Las Caletas. It's a private cove that you can only get to by boat - no roads. This is a picture of the small boat we road on, with our cruise ship in the background.

There were trained parrots flying everywhere (one nearly scalping me!) and I even got to hold a squirrell monkey! The beaches were beautiful. There were paved pathways, canopys, hammocks, bridges all over the mountainside. I can't begin to describe how beautiful and peaceful it was! I have a million pictures I'd love to post, but am losing patience uploading so many.

We tried snorkeling. I am very cluastrophobic, so breathing through a tube made me panic a bit, but after a few minutes, I got the hang of it. The water was very merky that day, so it was hard to see too much. But, we did get to see a few fish, like a puffer fish. I tried to dive down to get a closer look at a fish, and in the exitement, forgot to hold my breath. Big mistake. I think I filled my lungs with a few gallons of sea water! I coughed and sputtered and gagged for 20 minutes!

Then, we had the chance to kyack, explore, or hang out on the beach before the main event:
We got to swim with sea lions!!!! For some reason I thought they'd be smooth like a dolphin, but they were furry! And friendly! We got to pet them, watch them jump and play, and even got to ride them!!

I got a few kisses, too!

I wish I could have taken the girls with me to enjoy the beach there. We were under a huge rainforest canopy, so sun wouldn't be a big problem. There were crabs to chase, iguanas sunning on the rocks, tons of birds and fish. I absolutely loved it! My new wish: spend at least a week at Las Calentas. This was by far my favorite stop of the trip!

Vacation Day Four: Mazatlan

2009-04-14T10:37:00.004-06:00

The parts of Mazatlan we saw were not so nice. It was a really run down, dingy place. Maybe we didn't see the nice areas though, I'm not sure.

We booked a van to take us to the "golden zone" which was supposed to be the main beach and shopping area. I think it was the scariest ride of my life! Our van sped through narrow, congested roads, squoze between the smallest of spaces, and drove as though he expected everyone else to get out of his way. Luckily they did and we survived. Although, one golf cart full of people was almost not so lucky!

We walked down to the beach, which was quite nice. The girls loved it! McKenzies first reaction was anger at the sand in her shoes, but once we got them off, she was in heaven. She dug, and rolled and played in the sand (her dream was to build a sandcastle, ever since we started planning this vacation) And we had lots of fun in the water, too. Allison did her best to squirm off of the beach towel we had her on, and somehome managed to ingest large quantities of sand, no matter what we did to stop it.

There were jet ski rentals, banana boats, all sorts of peddlers, and people offering to take tourists parasailing. My grandma and sister went parasailing when they visited Matt and Sara in Florida, and it's been something I had wanted to try ever since. Cris had no interest in going, but my mom was game! We saddled up and went flying over the ocean - SO COOL! I was surprised it was such a smooth easy ride. I was a little afraid they'd drag me along the beach before take off, but I only had to take two steps before I started flying. And the landing was smooth and easy.

That's me sailing over the sail boats!

At the end of the day, we had sand everywhere. I washed our swimsuits in the sink at least 20 times, and still dont think I got all of the sand out! LOL! And washing a baby in the shower was an experience - very slippery! One thing I'm glad to have now that we're back is a bath tub for the kids. But, look at this picture, so worht it!

Vacation Day Three: Cabo San Lucas

2009-04-14T10:21:00.003-06:00

Day three was our first port day. My parents and Cris wanted to try deep sea fishing. We tried to see if they'd let the girls go with us, but Allison wasn't allowed and they charged a huge fee for McKenzie. Not wanting to brave another country alone with two small children, I stayed on the boat. However, the view was still spectacular! I took a hundred photos of the famous rocks surrounding Cabo. The beaches were beautiful and the water was a bright blue. The girls and I spent the day in the pool. Oh so nice!

Meanwhile, the deep sea fishing boat caught a marlin that weighed 150lbs! And Cris reeled in a nice mahi mahi. My mom has the pictures, so I'll post those later.

Bob booked surfing lessons and had a ball giving that a try. He came back with a few nice scrapes he earned in a tangle with some rocks, but I don't think that dampened his spirits! See, he's even smiling in a picture! Will wonders never cease!

As the girls and I played in the sun, I was surprised how much McKenzie enjoyed the warmth. She climbed right up on a deck chair and layed out like a pro. I remember when she was done, she looked up me and told me "sometimes I like the sun. It makes my tummy warm." It think she may have been cooped up in the house too long this winter!

This is one of my favorite shots of Allison. I took it as we were getting ready to head to the pool. What a doll!

Vacation Day Two: At Sea

2009-04-14T10:06:00.003-06:00

The second day on the boat, we continued to explore. It was a little difficult to figure out how to get from place to place because you couldn't walk from the front to the back of the boat on one floor. So, if you were at the front of deck 8 and wanted to get to the back, you had to go down to deck 7, walk to the back of the boat, and then go up to 8. It only took us a few days to figure that one out! LOL!

While we walked around the decks and played shuffleboard, we saw whales!!! There were several of them playing in the water - jumping, splashing and blowing water! It was SO cool! I tried to take some pictures, but you can't really make anything out in them. My dad also saw a sea turtle, something I was bummed to miss.

Cris and McKenzie had a ball playing in the kids pool. At first McKenzie only went down the little slide, but soon, she was a pro and could go down the big kids slides. It was wonderful because none of the water was over 2 feet deep! We had to keep an eye on her of course, but she had the freedom to pretty much do as she wanted!
Oh the food! There were barbeques by the pool, buffets, cafes, fancy restaurants and free 24 hour room service. That night we tried one of the nice restaurants and had the best lobster I've ever had. Yum!

Uncle Bob at one of the buffets

We made it!

2009-04-14T09:44:00.003-06:00

Yes, we did end up going on vacation! The flight to LA was cancelled, so we ended up booking with another airline. The flights cost a few hundred extra dollars, and left earlier in the morning, but we made it there! Whew!

As I had mentioned before, it was the first flight for both girls. I was a little nervous about the logistics of it all, but it ended up going quite well. Allison didn't make a peep the entire flight, and McKenzie was well behaved as well. (Although, when we were getting ready to land, she did start yelling "We're going to crash! We're going to crash!" We explained that the airplane would land just like the ones we watched at the airport earlier, so she changed her tune to "We're going to crash softly! At the airport!") Luckily the flight wasn't full, and we were able to sit in the back and have several rows to ourselves!

Because of the earlier flight, we did have to wait quite a while at the port before we were able to get on the boat. Once we finally got on, we went to a buffet on one of the top floors. McKenzie wasn't too hungry, but loved to watch out the big window at the ocean and the small boats going by. It really surprised me how much it interested her. But, after a minute, she quietly reached up to the table and grabbed a butter knife. She worked it into the belt loop on her pants and when I asked her what she was doing, she told me she was getting ready for the pirates!!! Where was my video camera when I needed it!

McKenzie eating ice cream. She usually only nibbles at food, but on the trip, she ate SO much! If only I had a buffet line in my dining room!

Cris at the life boat drill

McKenzie checking out the kids play area

AHHHHHHH!!!!!

2009-04-03T21:21:00.003-06:00

I just got a call from Jet Blue. Our flight has been cancelled.

We need to be on the boat in Los Angeles by 2:00 tomorrow.

Not good.

Blah, blah, blah. Something about bad weather in the Northeast. Planes can't get here. But what about the planes that can't get there. Send them to LA!

Looking at other flights.... they're all an extra $200. Oh happy day! I didn't want to use that money for anything fun on my vacation!

It only takes 11 hours to drive there. Who knows, maybe we'll hop in the car and start a road trip!

Assessment

2009-04-03T14:08:00.002-06:00

McKenzie had her assessment today. The speech test was good for her. They asked her to talk about some pictures and asked her the perfect questions to get her to say the sounds she struggles with. Watching the therapist write down some of her words, it made me realize that there were more sounds than I had been aware of, sounds I had overlooked because I knew her intentions. I felt okay after the speech test.

But, after the behavior test, I was a little bothered. She tested with high levels of hyperactivity, aggression, a low attention span, and a low adjustment tolerance. I knew that these were problems, that's why I had scheduled the tests. But, it hurt to hear them said.

About my child.

I feel.... I don't know. I guess there is some guilt. Wondering what I could do/can do differently.

At the same time, I know she's just a kid. She's three. Kids are hyper, play rough, and don't always follow directions. I feel a little protective, not wanting to go to far in the program. I worry what to do. And the crazy things is, I don't even know what my options are. They'll call in a few weeks with more thorough results and let me know if she even qualifies for the program.

Why is wanting the best thing for your child such a complicated thing?!

We're still here!

2009-04-02T07:54:00.002-06:00

My sister and I were talking the other day and she gave me a little grief for not updating my blog. Yes, the very same sister who updates her blogs quarterly. I explained that I had been reading through my past blog entries and realized that nearly all of my posts contain the description of some kind of bodily fluid, bodily function, or a big raving complaint. Not the best kind of reading material, eh? In an effort to expand my posting horizons, I have completely ran out of material! LOL!

There are a few things going on in our house, but none seem quite worthy of an entire post, so how bout a little update?

We are getting things ready to leave on our family cruise this weekend. I've been spending the last few days shopping for new summer clothes for the family, packing hordes of crap we'll probably not even touch, and getting primped. I got my hair cut, eyebrows waxed, and a pedicure (thanks for the gift certificate, Terri!). This will be our first real vacation as a family since... forever. We'll be dragging along 3 large suitcases, a carry on, a diaper bag, a great big stroller and two carseats. It should make for some great entertainment and some frazzled tempers by the time we actually reach check in. And since we have an early flight, we may be taking along a few cases of bed head and drowsy kids. (Hopefully not the tempers to match?) However, I can't describe how excited I am to see McKenzie experience her first plane ride, and all of the fun the boat has to offer.

Tomorrow I am taking McKenzie in for a speech test. And I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. She's made huge advancements lately, and has an amazing vocabulary. However, unless you are versed in the delicate language of Menzie, you can't understand what she is saying. If she needs help I will get it for her, but am I just being a worry wart with my first child? Or am I going to label her forever by enrolling her in a special needs program? I don't want to put her in a program that won't challenge her in other areas either. Right now she can recite her alphabet, her days of the week and can count to 20. I don't want her learning to stagnate. SO, I think we'll just have to have the assessment, see what they recommend, and make a decision from there. Anyone with experience with the Early Learning Center?

Cris and I have stayed good on our challenge to give up soda and sweets. I'm surprised it's gone on this far! Since I was already depriving myself, I decided to overhaul all of my eating habits and I'm finally starting to shed some baby weight! I can put on my pre-pregnancy pants - not that they are pretty yet. But a few more pounds will make me feel a whole lot better! And hopefully a few more after that!

My mom has had a problem with her upper eyelids covering most of her eye, to the point where it blocked a lot of her vision. She decided to have them fixed, and the doctors office suggested that she have them done before our trip because it was such a minor surgery. When she had it done on Tuesday, they couldn't get her numb. They used more numbing solution than usual, and had to continue with the surgery anyway. She said the cauterization was horrible - felt like a shock behind her eyeball. Because of the problems, her entire face is swollen, and can't open her eyes a lot of the time. She's a nice purple color too. Looks like she went a few rounds with Mike Tyson. I feel bad she's not going to be feeling the best on our trip.

In other news, Allison will be 6 months old tomorrow. I can't believe its been half a year! I'll dedicate an entire post to her half birthday... eventually. All I can say is, I can't imagine life without her.

I might update more tomorrow, but I make no promises! See you guys later!

Family Day

2009-03-27T07:40:00.002-06:00

We usually try and have some type of "family night" on Tuesdays - Mondays just never seem to work out. This week, we went to Classic Fun Center (the old Classic Skating on 90th) for the first time. And you know what, we loved it! It's pretty inexpensive, and there are all sorts of things to do! We weren't quite ready to tackle skating with McKenzie yet, so we did take a pass on that one. But, we did have a ball on the big inflatable climbers, bouncers and slides. McKenzie was a blur running from one to the other, hardly ever standing still. But, I think Cris had more fun than anyone! I think we are going to have to add this to our list of regular haunts!

My busy little girl and I. Do you see those rosy cheeks! She was working hard!

Cris scooped up Allison and took her for a ride down the slides, too. She loved it!

Alli loved laying back and watching the kids play!

A cute, but slightly blury, shot of McKenzie in one of the tunnels

I don't usually get to see Allison with a bottle, so this was a treat for me. I was surprised to see she holds it herself, and even put herself to sleep. Aww, precious!

Paper and Stickers and Glue! Oh my!

2009-03-20T09:46:00.002-06:00

I'm getting ready to go to the scrapbook expo. It still feels really funny saying those words. I always secretly laughed and the crazy ladies who packed up all of their scrapbooking supplies, waited in hours of lines and all sit together in a great big room cutting and gluing pictures. What was the big deal?

My mother and sister in law started going, and came back with reports of how crowded the place was, how crazy people dressed up in matching jammies with their friends and how hectic the whole experience was. "No thank you!" I thought. But, they did bring home some pretty great deals and some really cute products.

After a few years of them hounding me, I finally gave in. I think this will be my fourth or fifth expo. And you know what, I really do like it. I love to scrapbook, so a weekend of that - without children interrupting is blissful. We've come up with a few of our own traditions, and I enjoy spending that time with Ashli and Terri. We've taken tons of fun classes, and a class or two that was pretty pointless. However, I still look forward to every March and September when the expo rolls around.

But, there are a few things that I am sitting her dreading:

The long admission lines. People start lining up at midnight the day before. What the heck?! Ladies, your pictures will still be ready for cropping when the sun is up!
The crowd. Whats up with people who suddenly stop in the middle of an aisle and have an in depth conversation. This place is crowded - Move it or I'll be tempted to plow you over! (Ok, I never really would do that, but I can't say I'm not tempted to tackle a few people every year)
People who are never on time. For the sake of my mother and sister-in-law, I will not name names. LOL! :)
Loading up and carrying my junk. Do you know how heavy paper is?!
And by far the very worst: the bathrooms.

Maybe its the insane number of same-sex people crammed into one building. Maybe its the glue fumes? Or maybe it's the Mexican food in the concessions stand. I do not know. But whatever it is, those bathrooms reek! And it gets worse as the weekend wears on. We're talking plug your nose, hold your breath, run in only when you are certain you'll pee your pants if don't go NOW. It's horrible!

Last year, I was pregnant at both expos. It was not pleasant. Smell = puking. Not fun. And this year, I'm still not certain I won't gag. So this year, my only request is, ladies, do you really need to do that in public?

2 Days Sober!

2009-03-13T15:32:00.002-06:00

Two days with no sugar and no soda! Can I get a woo-hoo!?

I'm especially proud, because yesterday I went to the movie theater, and remained sober! Do you know how hard it is for me to not have a snack or a Dr. Pepper during a movie? (eek! I sound like a junkie!)

Technically, it's been three days, because I started a day before Cris and I made our little wager. However, according to him, I am unable to count that first day. He's grasping at straws already! Ha! And although I usually try to be a little more sensitive to his pain, I have to admit that I giggled a little when he had to head to the medicine cabinet to help him deal with a painful caffeine headache. Thank goodness I wasn't that addicted! Honey, I'm sorry, but you are TOAST!

Fun at the cabin

2009-03-12T14:38:00.003-06:00

This past week, we were able to get a little R&R at the cabin. Malory and Devin went up with me and the girls Friday morning, and Cris met us after work Saturday evening.

I don't usually spend much time at the cabin in the winter (there's SO much snow!) so it was a little different from the summer water fun I'm used to... but we still had so much fun! I took a million pictures I'd love to post, but I narrowed it down to these:

My moms dog, Beans, went with us. McKenzie had a blast taking him for walks, even if it was just on the deck! We did get to play on the swing set a little, but most of the trip was spent indoors.

McKenzie warming her tootsies by the fire. Isn't this what winter is supposed to be?

Alli worked on her sitting up skills, and just about has it down! Quit growing up girlie - you're only 5 months old!

We watched a few movies and cuddled on the couch. Cris and McKenzie dozed off. Too cute!

Aww!

This is McKenzies silhouette in front of a pile of snow that had fallen off of the roof. There was about 2 feet on the ground when we got there, and another foot fell Monday night.

Here's a picture of the storm. It was SO peaceful to sit near the fire with hot cocoa and a book or a cuddle from one of my girls.

Watching my girls enjoy the cabin, brought to mind some of my favorite memories from the cabin. Here's my Thursday Thirteen list:

The whole family sitting on the porch, eating cherries and spitting pits
Catching skeeters and tadpoles in the pond
Watching my dad fly fish on the river, and him letting me reel them in
Jessica and I thinking we were cool when were 12 and met some boys there
Sharons mighty fall into the pond
The worlds best hide and seek games
Grandma repeatedly attempting to make fudge, but it never turning out. (She can make fudge, just apparently not at the cabin!)
The hummingbirds fighting over the feeder while we watch through the window at breakfast time.
Grandma Dona rescuing fallen baby robins by picking them up with a teaspoon, and climbing a ladder to put them back in their nest.
My brother, Bob, claiming to have been bitten by a snake when it "jumped up" and bit him
The cabin smell.
Yahtzee!
I had to include a story for number 13: I was there when Grandma and Grandpa were setting the rocks around stream in front of the cabin. I startled a small skunk from the brush, and took off running. Grandma yelled at me, "Push its tail down! PUSH IT DOWN AND IT WONT SPRAY!" I wasn't convinced so I ran to the porch near Grandpa. Grandma took after that skunk with a shovel, trying to push it's tail down. She eventually knocked it into the stream and tried to drown it with her shovel. I remember Grandpa taking a sip of his diet coke and shaking his head while he said, "sometimes I don't know about your grandma..." with a big smile on his face. I think she fought with the skunk for an hour before we lost interest and went inside. I still don't know who won, but I don't remember her smelling like she was sprayed!

The Battle of Wills

2009-03-12T10:42:00.004-06:00

Yesterday, I told Cris that I was trying to give up drinking soda. I normally don't drink much of it, but while I was pregnant, I craved it like no other! I think the habit stuck and I had way more than I should. But, I didn't like the feeling of needing a Dr. Pepper. That, and my mom gave me a guilt trip, telling me that women who average one soda a day have a 60% increase for getting diabetes. So, I decided I needed to be done. Cold turkey. AHHH!

I asked Cris if he wanted to give up soda with me, and you should have seen him laugh! He has a bigger addiction to soda than I, and really no desire to stop. After a little fun teasing, he agreed to give up soda, if we could make it into a challenge. However, he said that his addiction was stronger than mine, so I had to give up candy as well. I agreed, as long as he stays away from fast food. To make it interesting, the person who gives in to temptation first must buy the other a prize. He said he wanted hunting equipment, and I told him he could buy me a spa package.

I can't bear the thought of him rubbing his victory in my face, so I am pretty motivated. Sanctuary Day Spa, here I come! :)

Oh, and is it cheating to have a cold Mountain Dew waiting for him when he gets home from work? LOL!

Go Jazz!

2009-03-12T10:22:00.002-06:00

I am a little behind on posting, so you'll have to bear with me while I dump a whole bunch of stuff onto my blog at once. Sorry!

2 weeks ago, Cris and I were watching the Jazz game at home. McKenzie was hunkered over her big bowl of "pot kern" (pop corn) watching the game, too. She looked up at Cris and asked if he'd take her to go see the "Boozer game" in the green seats. How could we say no? We tried to explain that Carlos Boozer was injured, and probably wouldn't play, but she still wanted to go so badly.

So, last week we went to watch the Jazz play the Rockets, which was an AWESOME game - even if we did have the worst seats in the house (can you blame us for being cheap and buy the $9 seats in the very top row? We were taking a three year old and weren't sure we'd make it through the entire game) And luckily, Boozer played!

We filled McKenzie full of junk food and soda, because, really, whats a game without all that? And ended up making a few trips to the potty - which was not too easy, considering the location of our seats. On one of the trips, McKenzie smiled at a Jazz employee. He asked her if she was a Jazz fan, and she said "Let's Go Jazz!" He chuckled and asked her if she'd like a Jazz tattoo. She was so polite and kind, I was VERY proud. Apparently he was impressed, too, because he complimented her and loaded her up with all sorts of Jazz gear like a hat and thunder sticks. She was so proud to go and show her daddy!

Thank you, Grandma Terri, for watching Allison. It was such a fun, special trip for us to have some quality time with McKenzie. The only bad thing: every time she sees them on tv she begs to go to another game! We've created a monster! But, daddy couldn't be prouder! :)

Picture Tag: Sixth and Sixth

2009-02-25T14:08:00.004-07:00

In celebration of Mindys first tag, I'll play along!

6th folder, 6th picture:

This is my brother-in-law holding Allison the day after she was born. Cute, isn't it? He is going to be a daddy this July. Can't wait!

I tag MALORY and any one else who wants to play along!

Sink/Cradle

2009-02-14T13:52:00.002-07:00

We were having one of those days where mom didn't have enough hands to go around. McKenzie needed her hair brushed for preschool, both girls wanted lots of attention, I hadn't had a chance to brush my teeth yet, and Allison didn't want to be put down. We tried bringing the bumbo seat in the bathroom, we tried laying her on a blanket on the floor, we tried everything! Each time my normally peaceful and easy going baby would scream. So.... we got creative!

I put her in dry sink and she instantly relaxed. She coo'd to her reflection in the mirror and enjoyed being able to watch McKenzie and I. Workded great! (Until it was time to take her out!)

This picture makes me laugh. She looks so relaxed and comfortable. Silly girl!

Look at those eyelashes!

Play date

2009-02-11T13:04:00.003-07:00

The neighbors invited us over for a play date today. We were going to have a Valentines themed lunch (where everything was pink) and then let the kids play together. Sounds like fun right?

Instead, as soon as the kids saw each other they started beating each other. One pulled the chair out from under the other, someone pushed someone else down, someone got bonked over the head with a sword, kids cried that the applesauce was colored pink, and juice was spilled everywhere. McKenzie was being picked on by the older boy, so she threatened to punch him, and then they started to fist fight! FIST FIGHT! Where the heck did she learn that!?

After forty minutes the total chaos didn't subside. The only thing the kids shared was pain... and taking turns bawling. They didn't eat a bite of lunch. I was embarrassed by McKenzie's behavior, even though there was enough blame to go around. I had had enough. I set down the baby on the couch, while I tried help straighten up my poor neighbors ransacked living room. When I picked the baby back up, she was covered in slime. STINKY SLIME! She had just experienced a major diaper malfunction - all over their couch! MAJOR BLOW OUT!

Do you think we'll be invited back?

Things that made me laugh at work

2009-02-05T10:51:00.005-07:00

To enter my office at work, I have to walk past the Asset Protection office and show my badge. Last week as I walked by, one of the AP guys pointed to my bag and told me I couldn't bring a laptop computer inside. It was my pump bag (like this picture), so I said, "Oh, it's not a laptop". Then the conversation went like this:

AP: Really, you can't bring a computer in here.

Me: I know, but it's not a computer. (start walking)

AP: Stop! You can get fired for bringing in your own computer!:

Me: IT'S NOT A COMPUTER. It's a pump.

AP: A pump? (totally confused)

Me: Yes, my boss knows about it, its fine. (start walking again)

AP: I don't think I can let you in!

ME: (a little exasperated) Remember when I was pregnant? Well, I had a baby. I breastfeed that baby. And while I am at work, I use a breast pump. That's whats in this bag: a breast pump. Okay?

The AP guy turned a little green, and still hasn't made eye contact since that day.

-----------------------------

As most of you know, I have a sweet tooth. At work, my friend shares my addiction, so we often bring in snacks to share. For months, we've been noticing that when we leave something there overnight, we may not have the same amount when we get back. Example: we might open a bag of pretzels and before we leave, close them up and put them in our desk drawer. The next day, there is half as much as what we left. It's no biggie, we don't need that many snacks after all. But, we do find it funny because no one has ever mentioned anything about it. No admission. No thank you's. Nothing.

A little while ago, my friend and I opened a great big box of milk duds. We each had 2 or 3, but they didn't hit the spot, so we put them away. The next day (only 12 hours later) we came to work and there was ONE milk dud in that great big box (the milk carton type). Really? Did you think we wouldn't notice? You left one? ONE?! If you are trying to be sneaky, why not take the whole box and hide the evidence? Maybe then we would think we misplaced our snacks? I guess they didn't want to feel greedy by eating the whole box? LOL!

Happy 4th Month

2009-02-05T10:45:00.003-07:00

Allison is 4 months old, arleady!

We just got back from her well child visit and things look good. She's now 12lbs 4 oz, and remains at the 40th percentile. She had a jump in height, going from the 10th percentile, to the 25th.

She's teething, consistnatly rolling over, and even stands when I lean her against the back of the couch (with me right there to catch her when she tips)! This past week has been fun because there has been a HUGE improvement in her motor skills. She's learning to grab at things and pull them to her mouth so well! And her laugh! It's absolutely intoxicating! I love to kiss her chubby little cheeks and listen to her giggle!

I can't believe we've had this chubby cheeked little girl for 4th months already... but at the same time I can't remember what it was like without her! We love you, monkey!

Photoshoot time line

2009-01-30T15:07:00.002-07:00

McKenzie asked if she could read her Curious George book to Allison. SO cute!

Just reading away....

Allison playing with her favorite toy: her own fist

"Stop taking our pictures mom! We're not cute anymore!"

Anyone else play?

2009-01-30T14:53:00.004-07:00

Cris gave me Animal Crossing: City Folk for the Wii this Christmas. I still tease him that he only gave it to me because it was the only video game commercial that featured women playing, not teenage boys. He doesn't deny it. LOL!

The first time I played it, we laughed and said that it was probably designed for a 13 year old girl.... but that hasn't stopped me. I play for a few minutes at night or during McKenzies nap time while I cuddle Allison before putting her to sleep. What can I say, its addicting!

My sister got the game for her birthday, and just yesterday we set up the microphone chat and online wifi play. Pretty fun! Does anyone else have the game? We can exchange wii number and be 13 year old nerds together!

Two Nuts

2009-01-27T10:44:00.003-07:00

My cousin gave us this cute peanut pail. One side for the peanuts, and one for the shells. (Or hulls, or whatever they're called!)

McKenzie likes peanuts, but had never had to open them up before, so it was new experience. She loves pistachios, but the shells are a little tough for her open. These were just right. When she cracked her first one open last month, she was shocked to find there were two nuts inside. She kept shouting "Mom! Two nuts! This one has two nuts! I win!" When I explained that all peanuts usually have two nuts inside, she thought it was the biggest treat! Now, just about every afternoon she calls out, "Mom! I want some 'two nuts' please!" I laugh every time!

Bedtime stories

2009-01-27T10:21:00.002-07:00

We tucked McKenzie into bed and she begged to have her sister sleep with her. That wasn't going to fly, but I did let them cuddle while I read bedtime stories to them. McKenzie is already counting down the time until Alli is ready for a "sleepover". So cute! They love each other so much it makes me so happy (happy enough I tear up when I see Allison look adoringly at her big sister). I'm so glad they are going to have each other to play with, get in trouble with, vent to, annoy and love for the rest of their lives.

I love you girls!

One of those afternoons...

2009-01-25T10:01:00.002-07:00

On Friday my side of the family met up for dinner at Joe's Crab Shack. Afterwards my dad suggested that we go to Kohl's to pick out some pajamas for McKenzie to keep at his house in case she sleeps over. WHAT THE?! Yes you read that right, my dad suggested we go shopping. For clothes. So McKenzie can sleep over. Which she has done only one other time. What was even more surprising is that he picked out leopard pants and spent 30 minutes trying to find the right coordinating top. I'm not sure, but I think he may be wrapped around my daughters little finger. So cute.

I had more than my fair share of soda at dinner, so by the time we made it home, I really needed to potty. I plucked the girls from their car seats as fast as I could, tucked my keys into the pocket of my sweater and dashed into the bathroom. Plunk! The car keys fell right into the toilet.

I scooped them out and began the delicate balance of soaking them with lysol while trying to keep the clicker as dry as possible. Ugh. Did I mention I hate germs? If you see me with a nervous twitch driving down the road, it's not a seizure, I'm just thinking about what could be lurking on my clicker.

We had previously bought a pig and had it cut and wrapped in Richfield. Malory and Devin brought it up to us, so I had to unload the meat from the back of the Yukon. I pulled on the back door handle and the alarm went off. The very loud alarm. So, I RUN back into the house and grab the wet, tainted keys and try the clicker. Not working. AHHH! I begin a frantic search for the spare set of keys and finally silence the whailing.

Then, I remember that I could have used the key. HELLO!

I finally get to the boxes of frozen pig, which are VERY heavy and managed to get the first one unloaded into the deep freeze without incident. However, the handle on the second box breaks and frozen chunks of paper wrapped pig flesh go flying throughout the garage. With one very large ham roast landing squarely on my toe.

Just about then, Cris gets home. "Didn't you make me dinner?"

I'm deadly with a candle

2009-01-21T18:01:00.000-07:00

For the last few months, my husband and I have been hunting a mouse that found its way into our house. I’m more than a little paranoid about cleanliness and have a slight obsession with anti-bacterial products, so knowing there was a rodent hiding somewhere in my house has nearly driven me insane. With our house at the base of the mountain, and an open lot next to our house, we sometimes see mice around. They’ve gotten into my garage before – which I’m not fond of, but can deal with. But, needless to say, the house is a whole other story.

This mouse tried to be friendly. At night or at nap time the mouse would sneak out to inspect the quiet house. I’d sometimes see him scurry into the living room and stare at me with curiosity. If I didn’t hate him so much, I might have thought it cute.

Since we’d dealt with mice in the garage before, we had previously considered ourselves prepared. Cris set a dozen mouse traps, but after a week, they remained empty. I grew impatient and bought another kind of trap. Then, we broke out the poisons. When those went untouched, we went to the store and bought one of every kind of mouse killer they had. Still no luck. I only mention these details so you understand my state of mind last night when Mr. Mouse came for another visit.

After McKenzie and Cris were asleep, Mr. Mouse came to visit Allison and I. I cursed at him and shooed him from the room. But, he came right back, unafraid. That ticked me off a little, so I put Allison to sleep in her crib and came back to the living room. I grabbed a bucket I thought I could trap him with and went back to my post. Sure enough he came for another visit. It wasn’t close enough for me to capture him, but close enough to drive me nuts. I scanned the end table near me for ammunition and had the option of: a phone, the remote control and a candle. I knew that if the remote or the phone touched the creature I could never use them again (no amount of disinfectant can kill mouse cooties, you know) so I settled on the candle. Carefully I slid over, picked it up, and hucked it at the mouse. It was probably a stupid idea, but I was mad, frustrated and tired. Not a good combination. But you know what? It worked! Mr. Mouse is no longer living. I woke up Cris afterward: partly to brag, partly to celebrate, but mostly because I needed him to dispose of the body.

I'm Baaaa-aaaack!

2009-01-21T17:45:00.003-07:00

I've been absent from the blogging world lately, but it feels good to be back!

I've had some kidney problems for the last two weeks, but I think they are finally resolved. At first they were afraid a disease was shutting down my kidneys, but it turned out it was a kidney infection and kidney stones.

I'd been dealing with pains in my lower back, but didn't think much of them until my urine was suddenly solid red from blood. I'll spare you the potty details, but it was a little scary to see. My poor doctor has to be sick of our after hours visits. Why don't these things happen during the middle of the day?

After close to a week, the pain became unbearable. I lied on the couch crying from the pain. It felt so much like the back labor I had with Allison. I called my mom and asked her to help take care of my girls since Cris couldn't leave work. And then I cried for feeling like a failure and a looser mom who couldn't care for her own kids.

I downed the pain pills (which is unlike me. I only had one half of a percoset after having Allison) and started on prostate medicine. If that doesn't make you feel feminine, nothing will! I couldn't nurse the baby while on the drugs, so had to pump. Pumping isn't my favorite thing in the world, but it is SO much less fulfilling when you're dumping the milk down the drain. Ugh!

Luckily the worst pains only lasted for a day. The stone stuck in my bladder though for another 5 days, and I finally passed the stone yesterday. I had no idea how poorly I felt until it was over and my entire body relaxed. It feels good to be me again! And to not have doctors orders to drink a gallon of water a day!

Look at those adorable chunky cheeks!!!

2009-01-12T18:56:00.004-07:00

Allison also has a new favorite toy... a scarf. I was given it at a scarpbook expo (what it has to do with scrapbooking I'll never know?) and pulled it out of the package the other day. Maybe it was the high color contrast, but her eyes were immediately drawn to it. I put the scarf near her and she immediately wound her little fingers into it. She loves to rub it over her face and chew and suck on it. It's so funny to watch how excited she gets when she sees it coming! And amazing to see how quickly she's growing and changing - being able to use her hands and recognize shapes! Too big, too fast!

I guess I adopted?

2009-01-12T18:40:00.003-07:00

When we were on vacation near Mesquite in November, McKenzie won a prize at the Fiesta Fun Center in St. George:

She carried that spiky balloon thing around everywhere, and insisted on sleeping with it each night. When we were getting ready to leave the condo, she started crying and asking for her 'brudder'. For the life of me I couldn't figure out what she was talking about. After tears and questioning and unsuccessful distractions, we finally figured out she was missing the purple squishy and referred to him as 'her brother'. Where she came up with it, I have no idea.

At first I thought it was just a funny phase that she would quickly forget. But, each night since then, she has refused to sleep without brother. He goes everywhere with us. He was eventually popped, and is now limp, and his eyes have worn off. He's also missing a bunch of spikes.

Since it's a huge sob fest when brother goes missing, I've tried to keep my eyes open for an emergency replacement... but to no avail. However, when we went to Chuck E. Cheese last week, my parents and brother earned enough tickets to get her two more related creatures:

She loves them, too, and has bestowed them nicknames as well: Big brother, little brother (the original brother) and blue spiky brother. Now all three must be in bed with her at night - which isn't terribly easy since big brother is quite large and tends to roll. The entire house is aware when he rolls out of bed, thanks to McKenzie's squealing alarm. At times I resent the brothers because they seem to create a lot of frustration when they get up, run away, and hide, but every time I see them they make me smile at the kooky, creative imagination of my little monster.

100 Things To Do

2009-01-08T16:23:00.004-07:00

Yes, I am still alive. The dark cold weather has bummed me out a bit, and sitting down at the computer hasn't been too appealing lately. Excuse the blog slackiness, please.

However, as I was blog stalking, I found this post on my cousins website. I thought it was kinda fun! I've highlighted everything I've done in blue. How many have you done?

1. Started your own blog - Obviously :)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7.Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (I auditioned for the Sociable in 5th grade... I didn't make it! LOL)
11. Looked up an old boyfriend on Facebook
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept in an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (solar)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung Karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (does Las Vegas count?)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gotten out of a speeding ticket
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (I forgot about Karate club in middle school with Belinda Lopez, Jessica Prince and Avi Smith! LOL!!!!!)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching (didn't see any, though)
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Adopted a stray dog or cat
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt... but never finished the edging
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. (fish)
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

A BIG sigh of relief!

2008-12-31T12:36:00.002-07:00

So, I did it. I went back to work on Monday.

I've mentioned in my blog before that I have had some misgivings about going back to the working world. I love my job... I just hate that I have to leave my kids to do it! I was ready to quit, but couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to hang onto my job a little while longer 'just in case'.

I had thought about showing up and begging my boss to work out some kind of part time arrangement, but wasn't sure that my first day back was the best time to be asking favors. Especially when there are no part time employees in the entire office. But, turns out I didn't need to! Near the end of the day, Jack pulled me aside and asked if I would be interested in working fewer hours. I almost peed my pants with excitement! In my office the first few months of the year are the slowest time, but he explained that this year was forecasted to be especially slow. Needing to help out his P&L, he thought having me work fewer hours would be a mutually beneficial solution. But it gets better - I am still a full time employee! Should I need more hours, all I have to do is say so and I'll get my regular schedule back. And my vacation time and profit sharing wont be jeopardized. Hallelujah!

Jack wants to make sure I stay in the loop, so he'd prefer me not to take a week off at a time. Instead, he suggested I take one day off the first week and the second week I take two days off.

Did I mention my regular schedule is only three days a week? Three long days, but three nonetheless! Yay! So, the way things are shaping up, I'll work Saturday and Sunday this week, and next week it will only be Monday! My schedule should continue like that through March.

Today we may be celebrating a New Year, but me? I think it feels more like Thanksgiving! Thank goodness for answered prayers!

Mental Music

2008-12-24T09:37:00.002-07:00

Have you ever woken up with a song stuck in your head? It's sometimes happened to me, but lately it's been an every day occurrence and I don't know why.

I wake up about 2-3 times each night, and every time a different song is playing in my head. Sometimes its a pleasant, uplifting song and sometimes its just annoying. It's hard to fall back asleep with a chorus running through your head over and over again. I also began to wonder why my brain picked the songs it did.

Everyday is different, no song has ever repeated. Here's an example of a normal night:

2 am - I wake up to feed Alli and am humming Christmas music. Okay, I am excited for Christmas and I probably heard the song any number of times throughout the day. It's pleasant and I can see some connection...

4 am - Now I am singing along to a primary song. Is it just a cute, comforting song? Or a reminder to focus more attention to the spiritual side of my life?

6:30 am - Do you remember Hansens MMMBop song? Apparently I do. Thank goodness that was the last song - try and fall asleep with that running through your head! WHAT AM I DREAMING ABOUT? LOL!

Rambling and Venting - please excuse

2008-12-22T21:21:00.003-07:00

I go back to work one week from today. I'm not excited.

Even though I've been dreading leaving my girls, I have been slowly preparing myself and them. I've been giving Allison breastmilk and formula bottles once or twice a day, and she's been taking them without problem. But, I'm thinking I haven't done enough.

After dinner, I ran up to the store to pick up a few groceries and a few treats for stockings. I was gone less than an hour, when my cell phone rang. I could barely hear Cris asking me to come home over the screaming baby in the background. With the loud cry I was afraid she was hurt or sick, but he said she was just hungry and refused the bottle. "Ha!", I thought. I had planned on going home and sitting with him on the couch, reminding him of proper bottle feeding technique. (He's fed her some with the bottle, but I'm usually there, so I thought maybe he was doing something odd. He was more involved with feeding McKenzie, but it's been three years. Maybe he forgot?) But, when I got there, he was doing everything right. He looked so frustrated. He said he'd tried feeding, burping, walking, swaddling, singing, swinging, everything he could think of, and all she did was scream. And scream she did! Her face was bright red, and tears were running down her pudgy little cheeks.

She never cries, so this bloody murder scream had me worried. Maybe the little cold she got from McKenzie had caused an ear infection? I decided to give it a few more minutes, and then I would call the doctor. I sat down in my big comfy chair and cuddled her close. She quickly relaxed and calmed right down. She stared up at me with big, teary eyes that accused me of abandoning her.

I felt so bad. She didn't want a bottle. She didn't want to nurse. She just wanted her mommy. What a compliment... but what an ouch! What do I do with that? Since I already don't want to go back, I was ready to call up work and tell them I was through. But the sensible part of me started to nag and remind me why I'm going back at all. Right now, we need the security net. Cris works at the Metal-Allergic lab for the Kennecott Copper Mine. Rio Tinto, which owns Kennecott, announced that low copper prices have forced them to lay of thousands of employees around the world. Right now, we don't know where the layoffs will be. Kennecott recently renegotiated a $150,000 decrease in monthly costs from a few suppliers, so they are hoping they will be spared from laying anyone in Utah off at all. And the lab where Cris works (affectionately called the MetLab - yes, I tease him about working in a meth lab, you can laugh too) has been asked to double their test samples each day, and create new shifts. His job should be okay. But what if it's not?

I'm almost ready to take the leap of faith and trust that things will work out. SO not like me! And Cris will jump on board with me, if I feel strongly enough. But, it's not his first choice. He's worried. It would be a huge burden on his shoulders, and I can't feel good about knowingly placing it there. So, I'm back to the chain gang. In less than a week. Gulp!

There are a few lights at the end of the tunnel though. Work has been incredibly slow. After the Christmas rush, I understand there are talks of allowing people to schedule a full a weeks worth of voluntary time off as long as the lull lasts. I'm hoping that goes through. The people who want to work full time can keep doing just that, and I can retain my job "just in case" and work a whole lot less than my normal 12 days a month - and still be a full time employee! Plus, it will be nice to beef up the savings account with the money I do get from working. That would be another tension easier for my hubby.

I'm also hoping that copper prices start to rise, or at least stabilize some. Maybe by February Kennecott will have solid future plans, and Cris will feel safer in his job and in the economy. And maybe then he'll feel it's more work than its worth to leave the girls, and we'll all be happy transforming me into a homemaker. BAH! Who would have thought!?

My Own Personal Rudolph

2008-12-22T13:32:00.002-07:00

Someone is having a major klutiness streak. I think I pick McKenzie up from a tumble, trip or fall at least 4 times a day. Growth spurt? Or is she taking after me a little too much?

This one happened at my parents house a few days ago. She was walking near the back door, and somehow ended up tumbling head over heels down the entire flight of stairs to the basement. Luckily it's just a bit of rug burn on the tip of her nose. Cris keeps teasing her, telling her that on Christmas Eve she better sleep with the covers over her face or Santa may mistake her for Rudolph and ask her to pull his sleigh!

The Best Part Of Making Fudge Is:

2008-12-19T07:23:00.003-07:00

The changes a new baby brings...

2008-12-18T18:52:00.003-07:00

A new baby brings all sorts of changes.

One example: laundry. I am constantly surprised at how many extra loads one so little can generate. Even though the itty bitty outfits are only this big I'm pretty sure some sort of baby magic causes them to reproduce and multiply in the laundry hamper, creating avalanche risks. Yes, even if every bit of laundry had been washed, dried and put away the day before, by morning a new mountainous stack threatens to topple and bury me should I speak too loudly.

Also, having a baby girl creates a new sub-category when washing clothes. In addition to separating darks, lights and levi's, I wash full loads of pinks and lavenders. It makes for an interesting rainbow of colors in my dryers lint trap. Simple pleasures, people, simple pleasures.

And of course, we are all aware how babies change bodies. Theres the usual array of stretched skin, saggy skin and my favorite: extra skin. But the ailment that is plaguing me now is hairloss. I'm worse than a long haired lap dog on a hot day! Warning: DO NOT WEAR DARK COLORS WITHIN 10 FEET OF ME!

Yes, I know that I am not losing extra hair... just shedding the extra that my body saved up during pregnancy, but this is getting ridiculous! It's been over 2 months! I'm tired of removing life sized wookie impersonators from the drain in the tub.

Today, when my vacuum wasn't working as well as it usually does, I turned it over and found what looked like a small animal trapped on the roller. I spent a good 15 minutes cutting and pulling and freeing about 10 pounds of Stacy hair from the Dyson, and touched up the floors only to find the beater bar clogged again. Ugh.

But, on the bright side, losing 5 pounds of hair a day only aids in my post baby weight loss, right? That, and maybe I can make some extra cash selling those wookies. Anyone interested? Makes a great last minute Christmas gift!

Bowling

2008-12-16T13:00:00.003-07:00

After our party with Alex, Grandma Terri's side of the family got together, too. We met at the bowling Alley in Tooele and had our Christmas party in one of their party rooms. Afterwards, everyone bowled. It was nice to see everybody, and it was also relaxing having the party a little bit before everyones schedules were packed up like they get later in the month. This was the second year Terri planned the party, and it think it turned out well (even if I couldn't knock down a pin to save my life!)!

McKenzie with Cris' uncle Rick. He's always been especially sweet to our family, and treats our girls extra special.

For a good part of the game, McKenzie passed the time between her turns letting the fan style her hair. She thought it was pretty funny. What a nut!

With daddy's guidance, she did pretty well. I think I saw at least one strike and one spare! Although, it was nothing compared to my hubby, the professional, who took bowling in college at least 4 times.

"I will NOT smile!"

McKenzie and Ricks son, Collin, had fun dancing! I don't know where they came up with it, but it was darn cute! She kept calling him her 'brother' and kissed him goodbye when it was time to go. Precious!

I think 2 games with 7 players each made for a long evening for McKenzie. BUT, she was great for the first little while. I think Cris and I better take her back for a shorter game, and she'd LOVE it! That is, if we can pry her away from the crocodile game in the arcade!

Early Christmas

2008-12-16T12:52:00.003-07:00

Cris' brother, Alex, is going to Michigan for the holidays to be with his girlfriend and her family. We're going to miss him! Since he'll be away for the Christmas hubup, we decided to have a little party with him on Sunday. Here are a few snapshots:

Grandpa Randy and the girls

McKenzie and Alex openiing a present. I think this gift was one that Alex gave her (a fisher price princess castle!) but it's hard to tell since McKenzie helped open pretty much every present in the room that day.

Alli getting some kisses from her papa

Travel safe, Al! We'll miss ya!

Morning Update

2008-12-16T10:31:00.002-07:00

Bad mommy strikes again.

Yes, I fed my baby single grain rice cereal today, and she's only 2 and a half months old. Even though that picture looks deceiving, she really did love it. She's been interested in food for a while now. She smacks her lips and tries to get to my food when she's sitting on my lap at dinner time. A few weeks ago, my mom and I were having some apple pie and Allison was so interested in the smell, my mom let her taste a bit of the filling and she went nuts over it. She cried for more when she was done. Since then, she wants a taste anytime she smells food. So, I followed her lead and we broke the 4-month rule for foods last night. But, you know what? I don't regret it. She did great - didn't gag or choke, and had a really easy time swallowing the food - hardly any of it was pushed out of her mouth like most kids do when they learn to eat. She kept smacking her lips for more, and if I didn't get it to her fast enough, she'd try to eat her fist. After we were done, she danced in the chair of her swing, almost like she was celebrating. It may be time to break out the high chair!

McKenzie woke up last night leaking buckets of snot. Whats up with this kid lately? She goes a year without being sick, and in the last few months we've had the flu, an ear infection, strep throat and 2 or 3 colds! Not exactly the environment I wanted a newborn in, but what can you do? I broke out the humidifier, the Vicks, and the decongestant, but she still woke up often because she couldn't breathe. Poor thing.

Today she is doing better, but still snotty. (Why are kids always sickest at night?) She hadn't eaten much of dinner last night, and still refused food this morning. I tried everything from eggs, bacon, sausage, cereal, fruit to juices and she always said "no fanks" in her little nasally sick tone. But, a few minutes ago, she came up to me and asked for pizza. She even threw in the "Please, oh please?" So, I popped some pizza rolls in the oven and you should have seen the celebration! Of course, she only had two or three bites, but still I was her hero.

Don't worry, the feeling of joy only lasted until I had to wipe her nose. Then I was returned to my evil villain ranking. Oh the drama at the Dew house. :)

Angel... or Class Clown?

2008-12-14T12:39:00.002-07:00

McKenzie had her preschool performance yesterday. I had a banquet to go to that morning so I couldn't make it :(, but luckily Cris recorded it for me. Both sets of grandparents and aunt Ashli went to watch her, too. She's such a lucky girl to have so many loving family members around to love and support her! Thanks, guys!

For being such a busy, energetic girl, I was surprised she sat so still waiting for it to start. She sang along a little, jingled the jingle bells just right, and seemed to do pretty darn good! I was impressed!

I did have to laugh at her class clown antics, though! During breaks in the singing, she would flip her head and knock her halo off onto the ground. The two little girls next to her were so sweet! They picked it up for her and placed it back on her head just so. McKenzie saw her opportunity and kept it up, with a mischievous little twinkle in her eye. The sweet girls next to her never were aware of the game, they just nicely helped her out and placed the halo back up for more abuse. So funny! We have it on video, but I'm having a hard time editing it down to a short clip. (I hate quicktime format! And I think my computer program, Roxio, agrees! Ugh!)

Anyway, she did well and I am proud of my little munchkin! I love ya, Z!

Every Day Annoyances

2008-12-11T11:27:00.003-07:00

Hmmm... another post about being annoyed. Seems to be a common theme lately. Maybe I'm still coming down from the pregnancy hormones. Or maybe there are just a lot of crazy people and I'm no good at avoiding them. Who knows?

Either way, here are some things that have made me want to scream "WHY?!" over the last few days.

When I hadn't heard anything about the status of an online Christmas order, I wrote an email asking the company how it was coming. I got an email back saying "I'm not sure if we have any more of (what you ordered). We are closed on Mondays." So, after a few days of not hearing anything else, I write again. This time their email said, "I have already responded to your inquiry once. We are still waiting to hear if you want the (item) once it comes in from backorder." GRR!
Pulling up to the drive thru window and instead of them asking for my order, they ask how I am doing. I say fine. They tell me their name. Then recite the specials. And before I can order they are asking me if I want to try their number three in addition to my order. I don't want a 10 minute narration! Just give me some chicken nuggets already!
Finding out my toddler has a preschool presentation a week before the dress rehearsal. On a day I already have plans I can't change, so I wont get to see her sing. Oh, and she needs a costume!
Sending my preschooler to class dressed in her angel costume (thanks for sewing it, mom!)for dress rehearsal day, only to pick her up covered in frosting. WHO SCHEDULES GINGERBREAD DECORATING DAY THE SAME DAY YOU REQUIRE KIDS TO BE IN THEIR COSTUMES? Their white satin angels costume? She's three! Of course there's going to be an accident!

I'm pretty sure I was going mention something else, but venting has relaxed me so much that I can't remember it now. But, should you run into me at the grocery store and I seem a little off kilter, these are examples as to why! :)

Update: I'm glad you guys are catching the humor in my posts! I'm afraid people will read them and think I am an ornery old hag! Really, they make me giggle as I write them, and I hope you enjoy them too! Thanks for reading!

Christmas Lights

2008-12-10T19:38:00.003-07:00

I love Christmas lights. I love walking through temple square or downtown Salt Lake while snow flakes stick to my hair and the twinkling reflects in peoples eyes. I love the feeling they give me - warm, excited and filled with Christmas Spirit.

Almost every house in my neighborhood decks out their yard in beautiful Christmas displays. I love it! I love the homey feeling I get turning into the area. I usually keep the blinds open in the evening, so I can peek out enjoy the sight.

I also love videos of Christmas displays like this one.

But, as I have learned, having one of those shows in your neighborhood, is not fun.

Sure, it was cool the first day or two. Then, when the house was quiet, I started to get annoyed when I could hear the same song being played over and over again. (Mind you, this house isn't right next to me, its about 4 houses away from the entrance of my cul-de-sac!) I think some of the neighbors must have talked to them, because, the volume has gone down some. But, the flashing lights! I think I'm going to get a seizure!

Yes, I know that I'm whining about something trivial. Something other people really enjoy. Something someone obviously put A LOT of work into. But, dang it! Christmas lights will never be the same!

An Ode To Thumbs

2008-12-04T12:30:00.002-07:00

Yesterday I woke up with sharp pains in my left thumb. It was annoying, but manageable. I was surprised because I wasn't sure why it would hurt - I can't remember falling, participating in any extreme sports (ha ha), or anything else that would injure it. I trudged on with slight whining.

This morning when I woke up it REALLY hurt! It began to swell, and I wasn't able to move it. Couldn't touch it. And sitting still even bothered it. I think I may have even asked Cris not to look at it! LOL!

Turns out it's broken. My first ever broken bone! It's just a hairline fracture, so it's pretty mild. But, my tendon is the main problem. I'm to keep it immobilized, anit-inflamed, rested and elevated for 10 days. My question is how? I never noticed how much I use my thumbs! This stinks! Changing a diaper is quite tricky - and you should see me hen peck this post! I have the feeling I'll be using some creativity to get things done this week - like putting the lid on a sippy cup, or opening my prescriptions - those were fun tasks! :)

So, has anyone else had any "mystery injuries"? Or embarrassing ones? Leave a comment or post about it, because I'm curious. And could use the entertainment. I'll be here wondering if I've taken up sleep walking. Maybe? I did have a big nasty bruise on my knee last week I have no recollection of. But for me, that is pretty normal. Klutziness and easy bruising don't mix. And apparently, neither do chicken bones! Ha ha!

** More funnies! Just before I clicked "publish post" Allison began to fuss. I manged to pick her up... and she spit up all over and inside my splint! What the heck? She never spits up! It's going to be an interesting 10 days! :)

2 Month Check Up

2008-12-03T18:41:00.002-07:00

Today, Alli is 2 months old. (Can you believe it?!)

We went in for her well-child visit, and things looked great. She is now at 9 lbs 14 oz, which placed her in the 50th percentile. The doctor seemed quite happy, because she was in the 15th percentile at our last appointment. As for height, she remains in the 2oth percentile - but we're not too concerned about that, considering her genes. (I'm 5'4" and Cris is 5'6" so I don't think either of our girls really stand a chance of being basketball stars)

The doctor reviewed her cardiology reports and seemed quite pleased. He said he'll monitor her for the Noonan and Alagille Syndromes the cardiologist mentioned, but he seems even less concerned than our cardiologist (who wasn't concerned enough to send her for genetic testing). He also said that her murmur seemed quieter today, and he suspects that if things continue to go this well the cardiologist will space out her visits even further. So all in all, I'm happy. Yay!

Just Braggin'

2008-11-29T20:35:00.004-07:00

No sense in hiding it, I'm just gonna come out and say it: this post is all about bragging about my little cutie pants!

But, look at that picture and tell me I'm not justified? :)

Allison is the happiest baby. Sweet, content, and very alert. She spends most of her waking moments smiling (although I am hard pressed to get an actual picture of a smile!) and cooing. And as for night? She wakes at 2 and 6am to eat, and goes back to sleep without a struggle.

She's holding her upper body up and steady, will mimic facial expressions, and is learning how to grab things. (Today she got her first handful of my hair.) And she loves being outside, looking around. Winter has bad timing, because I know she would absolutely love stroller rides through the neighborhood.

All of these changes seem like they've come so fast! They are exciting and fun, but remind me she's already out of the little newborn stage. Sometimes I wish there was a way to freeze time, pull my girls up on my lap, and spend forever cuddling them in a rocking chair. *sigh* She is turning 2 months on Wednesday, and in some ways it seems like such a short time. And other times, I feel like that makes her too old. Either way, I can't imagine things without her. We love you, babe!

McKenzie-isms

2008-11-29T09:34:00.002-07:00

McKenzie was helping me make Allison smile one morning, and this is the comment I heard about her dimples:

"Oh, look how cute her dinkles are, mommy!"

-------------------------------------------------

At Thanksgiving dinner, McKenzie came running in from the living room

Me: Whats wrong?
McK: I don't like that Elk! He's mean!
(Grandpa Randy has a big stuffed elk hanging on the wall)
Me: It won't hurt you. It's not alive, it just sits there just like the toy animals in your room.
McK: BUT HE BLINKED AT ME!!!!

Thankful

2008-11-27T12:31:00.003-07:00

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I wanted to share a few things I love about my family. Truly, I have been blessed.

McKenzie

You are so strong. Your stubbornness can sometimes grate on me, but honestly I am glad you have it. I know your determination will carry you through life and nothing will stand in your way.
Your great big eyes. I was so happy when you were born and had your daddy's bright blue eyes! They are so expressive, and nothing gets by your eagle eye.
Your enthusiasm. You make me take time to stop and appreciate the everyday things - for example, you literally make me stop and smell every flower we pass. With you, an average day can be so exciting.

Allison

I love cuddling you. You love to be held, and nothing makes me happier than holding you close. Feeling you relax against my body as you fall asleep is an amazing experience. But, even better is when I feel you melt against me, and I realize you aren't asleep at all. You are soaking up the moment wide-eyed and loving the cuddle as much as I.
I love that you need me. You love seeing new people and spending time with family, but after a few minutes, you are ready to come back to mom. Knowing that you recognize me and won't accept an imitator makes me feel so important.
You are so easy. I don't know a better way to explain it. You are easy-going, happy, and rarely make the smallest of cries. I think Heavenly Father knew that I needed a patient, even tempered little one to get me through the adjustment of having two kids. Knowing that makes me feel humble and appreciative.

Cris

You balance me. You are the strongest in my weakest areas. And I think I compliment you, as well. Together I think we make the perfect team.
You support me. You've never once stood in my way. If I feel strongly about something, or am just up for a new adventure, you may try to talk some sense into me. But not once have you ever told me 'no'.
We need each other. Sure, sometimes we may fight. But, even in the biggest of our disagreements, we can't stay mad at each other for long. Not five minutes after an argument, we're back to our playful selves, laughing out loud.

Today I am especially grateful for each of you. You all have unique qualities and abilities that make me stand in awe. I love you all.

We're Back!

2008-11-26T19:27:00.004-07:00

My Grandma Dona wanted to get away for her birthday, so I loaded up her, my sister, and my girls, and we drove down to Grandma's condo near Mesquite. The warmer weather was a welcome distraction and encouraged us to get out and enjoy some sunshine. In fact, it felt so nice, we decided to stay an extra day!

Across from Grandmas house is a nice park with a firepit and pavillion. During a little bit of down time, McKenzie and I snuck out and took a few snapshots:

On Grandmas birthday I cooked some cornish game hens, made some bacon-cheddar mashed potatoes and we had a nice dinner in. We even surprised Grandma with a few of her favorites: pumpkin pie and sparkling apple juice!

Malory and Grandma

McKenzie and I

We went for a nice drive through gorgeous Snow Canyon. Each time we go, I hope to catch a glimpse of the tortoises that live there, but I still haven't succeeded. But, we did see six big horn sheep in the gorge!

Every time we drove through the gorge, McKenzie was so intrigued by the Virgin River. She would get excited each time she saw it and beg to get close to it. "Oh please, oh please, mommy!" So, after a few tries, I finally found a spot we could hike down to the river. It ended up being a beautiful spot with a red sand beach, a little vegitation, and some big red boulders. Allison stayed behind with grandma while we went out (thanks, Grams!) but this summer, I'm hoping to take both girls back. The river was wide, shallow and slow moving there, with no rocks. As long as the water flow isn't too fast this summer, I think they would have a ball splashing in the water. Almost like a beach day! :)

I'm noticing now that I don't have any pictures of Allison out and about, which really makes me sad since she was such a super smiley girl! (Other than a day she had a tummy ache. I'm learning I need to be much more careful about what I eat. She's not a fan of onions.)

The girls were better than I could have hoped on the way home! McKenzie napped and spent lots of time pointing things out through the window, and Allison didn't make a single peep until we were about 15 miles from home. Not bad for two little ones on a all day car ride! It was so wonderful because I had such a nice time talking with my Grandma. We laughed, cried and shared lots of stories. I learned a lot about her childhood, family history, and her opinions. It was such a nice mini-vacation. Thanks for running away with me Grandma! And thanks for tagging along, Mal, and helping me round up the kiddos!

Mom, It's NOT Okay!

2008-11-16T14:15:00.003-07:00

This weekend I invited Terri and Ashli to see the Madagascar movie with the girls and I. We stopped at McDonalds on the way and made an afternoon of it. At the movie, McKenzie had a little bit of a hard time sitting still through the whole thing, but we let her stretch her legs by standing in front of the empty seats near us. She thought the show was pretty funny, and I considered the outing a success. It was such a nice afternoon!

On our way out of the theater, McKenzie stopped walking and said, "Oh no!" She had spilled a little bit of her root beer on her sweater and had a horrified look on her face. I told her that it was okay, and we'd clean her up at home. She put a determined look on her face, told me "It's NOT okay!", threw her sweater on the floor, and stormed off with her arms folded and her chin stuck up high in the air.

It wasn't behavior I would encourage, but none of us could do anything because we were laughing so hard! What a little diva! She had the whole crowd in stitches.

If this is any hint of what we are in for when she's a teenager, I'm a little frightened! :)

Painfully Polite and Hilariously Hostile

2008-11-13T09:34:00.003-07:00

I found a website that laughs at passive-agressive notes people leave for each other. (Well, maybe some are just plain agressive) I thought it was a good time waster. Check it out if you get bored. Enjoy!

http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/

Tagged by Amy

2008-11-13T08:47:00.002-07:00

Seven TV Shows I watch:

House
The Office
Househunters (and all the other HGTV shows)
Celebrity Rehab (guilty pleasure)
The Utah Jazz (I have a husband who is addicted)
Maggie & The Ferocious Beast (I have children)
Sponge Bob Square Pants (ditto)

Seven Things I Did Yesterday:

Watched McKenzie paint with watercolors
Visited my parents (and mooched a free lunch!)
Made foam turkey magnets with Mckenzie and my mom
Napped with my cuddle baby snuggled against me
Made homemade sugar cookies
Delivered cookies and magnet to Grandma and Grandpa Dew and visited with them
Went shopping at Wal-Mart (and saw Mindy Palmer and Amber Sagers!)

Favorite Places to Eat:

Cafe Rio
Olive Garden
Rodizio Grill
Ocean City (Chinese food)
Taco Bell
In 'N Out Burger
Mimi's Cafe (for their artechoke dip! Yummy!)

Things I Look Forward To:

Cris coming home from work
McKenzie coming home from preschool
Our family vacation in April
Christmas!
Allison learning to laugh
Getting the kids to bed and having a few quiet moments
Seeing the play 'Wicked' in April

Things On My Wishlist:

Getting the backyard completely landscaped
Having a garden
Cabinets in my laundry/mud room
A new couch
A playroom in the basement for the kids
Wood floors in the living room
A BIG snowstorm just before Christmas

I tag:

Malory
Shelese
Kylee
Sara
Mindy Palmer
Mindy Black
Kyra

Lub Click Whoosh Dub

2008-11-11T09:36:00.002-07:00

Yesterday was Allisons' cardiology appointment at Primary Children's. After the usual height, weight, and other basic stuff, they covered her with stickers and plugged her into the EKG. Even though I knew that we were having these tests done to help her, it was still so hard to see so many wires attached to my baby.

The doctor came in afterward and listened to her heart. He said that something definitely wasn't right. My heart sunk. Instead of the normal "lub dub" sound of a healthy heart, Allisons goes "lub click whoosh dub". He told us he suspected a faulty heart valve and thought there was also a hole in her heart. He told us she would need an ultrasound, and said he would try and get us in for the test that day. We were on our way to the waiting room, bracing for a long, agonizing wait, when they thankfully called us right back.

They hooked her up to another EKG machine (after we had just ripped about 10 stickers from the last test from her sensitive little skin) and started an ultrasound. Two technicians were in the room, discussing the terms and acronyms I didn't recognize as they did the test. They were very focused and it was obvious they had found the problem, but didn't tell us what it was. They took pictures and measured and discussed for over an hour. We knew they were looking at her lungs and were so scared. They left the room to show the doctor the images and make sure there wasn't anything else he needed. While they were gone Cris told me that he was sure that one of her valves wasn't right from seeing it on the screen. From all of the measurements they took, we thought they gathering information for surgery.

The doctor met with us a short time later and explained the problem. Her pulmonary valve is very thick and isn't opening as it should. The heart is having to use more pressure than normal to get the blood to flow through, and the valve cups out as the blood flows past. He also thought that instead of the valve having three flaps that close, hers only has two.

However, her case is fairly mild. Right now there is no danger to her health. Often children grow and the problem never gets worse. If thats the case, she should have no restrictions and require no treatment. She will see the cardiologist every 3-4 months for the next 2 or 3 years to check the amount of pressure her heart is putting out. If it starts to require more pressure to pass the valve, they will either use a balloon to stretch the valve out, or do heart surgery. If it gets really bad, she will have a valve replacement. Right now, they don't want to do any treatment because it can cause leakage, and the risk would not outweigh the benefit. Luckily they did not find a hole in her heart - even one that the majority of babies have at her age.

He also said that the valve problem is commonly linked to two syndromes, one that effects the liver. It's something the cardiology team and our pediatrician will monitor, but right now, she shows no symptoms. If they start to see some of the physical characteristics on her face (like a very pointy chin) they will send us for genetic testing, but didn't think it was necessary.

So, unfortunately, there is a problem. Of course I wish they would have sent us home with a clean bill of health, but, if my baby has to have a heart problem, this one isn't comparable to some of the horrible problems other people have to go through. We are very thankful. Thankful for the good news, thankful we have caring doctors with amazing equipment, and thankful for a good outlook.

My mean little trick

2008-11-07T12:27:00.003-07:00

So, if I hadn't done so already, I have officially crossed the line and become a mean mom.

The last three months it has been really difficult to get McKenzie to stay in bed at night. We read stories, give big hugs and cuddles and anything else we can think of to anticipate her needs before we tuck her in. Somehow, though, she comes out with a million different requests: "I need to hug my daddy again. My nightlight is too bright. I need a different cup of water. I need to potty for the 100th time in the last hour." You get the picture. It had gotten to the point where Cris and I are both losing our temper and night times were not looked forward too.

So, the other day when McKenzie and I were taking down Halloween decorations, I was a little desperate, and used a little creativity. When I started packing up our scary rat, McKenzie stayed far away and kept telling me how frightening it was. There were no tears or anything, but she was definitely wary.

While we worked, I told McKenzie that the rat watched for naughty girls who didn't go to bed like they were supposed to. She asked a bunch of questions and somehow decided that the rat would eat her bellybutton if she didn't stay in her bed. Everytime she walked by the box of decorations, she would cover her stomach, walk far away from the box as possible, and say "Rat, I go to sleep good."

So, being the mean mom that I am, when night time rolled around, I pulled out Mr. Rat and totally took advantage of the situation. I told McKenzie that he would never go into her room, but would wait for her to sneak out when she was naughty. I tried to explain that it was okay to get up and go potty if she really needed to, but he knew if a little girl tried to lie or not. On our way to her bedroom, I sat Mr. Rat in the hallway. McKenzie climbed right into her bed, and after stories and kisses and hugs, rolled over and went right to sleep. That was Monday. We have not had a single sneak out or even a single tear at nap time or bed time since Mr. Rat has been on patrol. It may be evil, but you know what? The peaceful evenings make it SO worth it! :)