Savannah Banana

Savannah broke out in a horrible rash Sunday and stopped walking because her legs hurt so much. She has been sick for two weeks. First it was strep throat, but the fever wouldn't go away and then the rash started. When she started crawling around everywhere I got really scared. I took her to the doctor and the diagnosis was that it might be mono! How weird is that?! They pricked her finger and took a blood sample. The first test came back negative. The nurses tried to find a good vein in her arm to take another sample to send to Children's Hospital, but Savannah didn't think it was a good idea. I ended up stretched out on the table with me holding her down, Savannah screaming, two nurses holding onto her arm, and Jared standing by my leg crying. They gave up and sent me to Children's Outpatient in Mason.

It went a little better there, but by the time it was over Savannah and I were both crying and when they offered her a sucker for being good, I took one too!!!

Today, we headed back to the doctor and found out the mono test came back negative. (after all that drama!) We went through the torture of another finger prick to find out that Savannah's white blood cell count is coming back up. (thank goodness) The official diagnosis is that she has been suffering from a virus and just ended up with a viral rash. She's no longer contagious and she is getting her energy back.

I'm just thrilled that we are on the road to recovery. IT HAS BEEN A LONG COUPLE OF WEEKS!!!

My Pity Party

I am having my very own pity party. I've had a couple tough weeks with kids being sick, lots of make up work, and doctors appointments. But today I finally had a day when I didn't have to go anywhere and I could stay home to clean my house and do lots of laundry. I got started on the upstairs bathrooms. I swept, stripped the wax, and started waxing the floors. While applying the second coat of wax in my bathroom, my vision started to go bad and I knew one of my wonderful migraine headaches was now on today's schedule.

I finished the floors, took my pain pills, and tried to take it easy until the kids settled down for their naps. I got in a nap myself, but when I woke up I found out that Shane was not coming home in time to watch the kids so I could go to Enrichment. I couldn't take the kids with me because Savannah has a fever and Jared has a head cold. I wanted to go so bad!!!!

Even worse is that the Stampin Up party I was going to attend tomorrow night with Sylvia was cancelled due to the expected bad weather!!!!! I lost both of my "fun" nights in one fail swoop!

My house is still a mess and I missed out on a killer salad bar...... Oh well, at least my 2 bathroom floors ROCK!!!!!

I'm the boss, Applesauce!

A few days ago, I was getting all the kids in the dining room for dinner and they were so loud that I insisted that they sit down and not say one word! The older kids thought this was so funny. If they started to talk, I cut them off and told them to be quiet! They started grinning and pretended to start talking to try to get a rise out of me. (shocking, I know)

Well, Savannah came in and sat down next to me. Of course, she started to talk and tell me all the things on the table she did not want to eat for dinner. I hushed her several times. The other kids kept snickering. Then Shane walked in. Savannah turned to him and complained, "Dad! Mom's trying to boss us!"

Shane almost lost it! The kids did! They all started laughing. Savannah couldn't figure out what was so funny! Shane told her, "She's supposed to boss you.....she IS the boss!"

(at least Shane knows!)

Bye-bye High Chair

My high chair is outside on the curb waiting for the garbage truck. For the first time in over 16 years, my house will have no high chair in it. It's a little sad, but I am so tired of tripping over it and walking around it, that I am extremely happy to let it go. It was a gift from Shane's mom when Tanner was born and has served us very well for the last 4 kids. But, it is SO COOL to be able to say "so long" to the baby years. It has been a long 16 1/2 years of babyhood!!!! :)

Unexpected Blessings

Sometimes in life you have to do something you don't exactly want to do. I needed to go to work last September to help get some bills paid. So, I tried to get a job at the Y, but they weren't hiring for the position I wanted. Instead, as most of you know, I started cleaning houses. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. :)

I work for 3 of the best women ever! Jean Pace is a great lady who is unbelievably talented!!! She inspired me to try crocheting with thread. While I was laid up after hurting my back I got a whole doily done!!! I have really come to love Jean. It is so true that you learn to love the ones you serve.

Then, there is Sylvia. She's been a friend of mine for years, but I never made time to hang out with her on a regular basis. Now, we exercise together every week and sometimes I work a little! She is so wise and an absolute BLAST to be around!!!

Last, is Linda. We talk about life, kids, money, etc. I love to clean her house. It stays so clean. There aren't any little kids messing up everything I do!!!

I had no idea when I started working again that I would end up with so many blessings. These three women make me feel wonderful. The additional money has helped with our bills, but even better has been my time with three people I love. Heavenly Father is so wise.

Super Saturday

I love the adult session of Stake Conference! Tonight was no exception. First, I got to pick Shane up at the stake center and we went to Subway! It was PACKED with Mormons! We saw the Jungkunzes (how should I spell that?), the DeGraws, Mike Lysle, Tom Westfall, Jerry Flyr, and 3 other LDS people I didn't know! After eating, we went back for the meeting. I love our stake presidency. They are the best! At first, I started feeling "the guilt". The first topic was family history. Like I have time for that! But, President Weisman told us all about the new and improved streamlined method of preparing names for the temple! TOO COOL! We learned about missionary work. Again, the guilt. But, it was very spiritual and motivating! Finally, family preparedness. Luckily, we're making some decent strides in that area. So, the guilt faded quickly. After the meeting, things just kept getting better. I got to visit with Jen Livingston (great fun), Mayde Robertson, the Striebecks, etc! Then we headed to UDF and had ice cream with 5 other couples. It was a blast. Everybody was so funny! We heard lawyer jokes (told by real lawyers), girls' camp and scout camp stories, and accounts of getting speeding tickets and getting out of speeding tickets. The whole evening was really nice and a great night out!!!! I can't wait to do it again.

Pain in the Back

So, last Saturday I took a step wrong while skipping down my stairs. I wrenched my back and have spent the week trying to HEAL! I'm so sick of my heating pad! I haven't been able to exercise, do much laundry, or work a whole lot. But, I'm feeling a bit better and I'm thrilled. The best part of the week was the many times Hunter put his arm around my shoulders and said "I hope your back gets better soon Mom." I love my boys.