My Family...

They say that blood is thicker than water. My dad used to say that you were very lucky if you have one true friend in your lifetime. I have been very blessed to have many, many true friends. And while blood may be thicker than water, we have been blessed to have some amazing friends that would do anything for us. Friends that are more like family. Maybe sometimes better than family! ;)

But I love watching my family function. I love watching the way they surround each other with love and concern and rally to take care of any that are struggling. I had to laugh when a kid that Kimi had dated was heard to be talking bad about her. Jace and Garrett weren't taking it sitting down and they let him know it better not happen again. My boys have worked together and make a great team. The girls too. The last time Kalli got her shots, she was sitting down yelling that she needed to go to the bathroom, she said, "Me leg, me leg, me can't move me leg!" And Jace came running... picked up her and carried her to the door of the bathroom. Willie used to stand at the top of the stairs before he could walk and yell, "JACE... GARRETT" and they would run and pick him up. I finally had to tell them to stop until he walked so Jace told him one day, "Hey buddy, mom is mean and won't let me pick you up until you walk, so walk buddy, okay?" And he DID!

But it amazes me as they get older and develop deep, adult relationships. It makes my heart so full to see them rally around each other and help each other succeed in life. I love watching them become great men and women. Not perfect... but great! Recently Garrett has taken Tanner under his wing and the difference it has made in both of their lives in incredible and amazing. I love watching them help each other.... lift them to higher levels than they could reach without the other. I love to see the literal meaning of "Families are Forever" because that is what they are working towards. There are friends that are like family, and that is important. But when family is working together to accomplish great things in life, there is absolutely NOTHING more amazing! I see them as friends, enjoying being together, taking care of each other... that is the dream I had when Thayne and I first started having our family. I watch them plan the future and I am so grateful to be the mom of such truly amazing human beings! There is nothing greater than this!

Speaking of weather...

I'm glad we took the time to enjoy the good weather. It's 35 degrees today, warming up from a balmy 27 degrees. I hear it is snowing in town. So far we haven't gotten any, but 'they' say it's coming. Thayne wants to go get wood in the morning. He wants me to go. I think I don't like being cold!!! BRRRRRRRRR!!!! I love fall. But I really don't care for winter! I don't like to be bone cold. That kind of cold that hurts clear to the bone, where you start shaking and can't get warm. But then, it is nice to have a nice hot fire burning, the house sitting at about 85 degrees and everyone sitting around drinking yummy homemade hot chocolate and watching a movie! That's heaven for sure!!! Here comes winter, ready or not!!!

Kindergarteners....

I help in Hyrum's kindergarten class once a week. Watching little kids is an interesting thing. It makes me wonder about their homes, their parents, what makes them tick. I am a people watcher by nature, so that is nothing new. I find it interesting though. I sometimes look at Hyrum in the mornings and catch him before he leaves the house in his favorite shirt that he's worn several times and has food stains from the night before. It's not from a lack of trying that he doesn't always look put together. For instance, I will brush his hair out, and then he will do some whacked out thing with water and hairspray and I feel like hiding my face for fear that people think I let him leave the house that way. :)I have no problem letting the kids express themselves...which is a long way from not letting the kids leave without being absolutely positively perfect. That's the way I used to be! I was just thinking what a slacker I am now. I used to always have the little girls prim, proper and perfect with a big bow on their heads. They had bows to match every outfit, hundreds of bows. Sometimes before church I would decide I wanted to do something different with their hair and have to make them a new bow. It made Thayne crazy!!! :) But my big girls have ruined my little girls. They like their hair 'poofed' or some other modern cool thing their big sister's do to their hair, or worse, gasp... they want to do it themselves!!! ACK!

So I really can't judge any of these sweet little kids by the matted hair in the back, because really, their parents probably did the best they could to assure that they walked out the door neat and put together....I hate to even mention that when I saw Hyrum in the class there was a faint 'hot chocolate moustache' left from the hot chocolate he snuck into after I cleaned up breakfast!!!

But some of these sweet little people truly seem to have to deal with a life much harder than they should have to at their age. A couple of them seem so unhappy. One little guy refuses to follow directions and then literally has a melt down, including ripping his papers. It's constant with him. It makes me want to bring him home and fill his life with all the love he can handle. There are so many insecurities in some of these kids. Some of them are so well adjusted and happy and willing to do all they can to accomplish their tasks. You can see a difference in the parents of those kids too. I guess I just have a soft spot for kids. And watching any kid struggle, watching any kid not be cherished makes me want to cry! I want to protect them all. I want to make every little person feel loved and cherished with the knowledge that they can accomplish anything they dare to dream!

Enjoying the nice weather....

No doubt the weather is turning. We have frost on the cars in the mornings and the kids are freezing when they leave for seminary at 5:45am every school day! If we don't start a fire at night, the house is freezing in the mornings. It seems odd that we are already into October and amazed at how quickly the year is coming to an end. Sadly, we can't even get through Halloween or Thanksgiving but they've already got Christmas stuff out in the stores. I saw somebody putting Christmas lights up yesterdy. I'm not ready to worry about Christmas.

The kids love to play kickball at the marina and we can have a pretty wild game with just our family. Usually we get kids watching us with longing in their eyes to join the game so Thayne has whoever is hanging around jump in and play with us. The kids also love to feed the ducks and geese there. We had a bunch of old bread, popcorn and hamburger buns so we decided to walk to the marina and hang out for a while. My poor desperate children... when we suggest doing that, they are so thrilled you would think we told them we are going to Disneyland! :) But we got Nate bundled up, loaded the stroller with the goods and off we went. I can only imagine what the nice, calm couple, lazily feeding the geese thought when Kalli and Hayden went charging through the gaggle of geese hanging out! Just going by their looks (which is totally wrong and judgemental) they didn't look the type to appreciate what felt like 75 kids running towards the birds with bread in hand. The geese didn't really seem to appreciate it either! But what do they know, they are bird-brains!!! ;) And Willie and Jace were happy to get in a little football passing too!

Before long, it will be too cold to find much enjoyment hanging out at the marina... but just for one more day, it was fun to watch them enjoy the nice weather and being together!

"Crepe" Sunday

We always look forward to the first Sunday in April and October. It's General Conference which means we get to 'watch' church on tv. And have crepes. We love crepes. It's always a treat and we do have it more often than April and October. But we love it!!! Thayne makes about 4 pounds of bacon and I get the crepes going. They are amazing, with cream cheese filling and either cherry, blueberry or raspberry pie filling over the top. YUM! The kids all love it. We get to hang out together, cuddle up and enjoy the day hearing wonderful spiritual messages and enjoying the time together. We love our Crepe Sunday's and everyone looks forward to them!

We do the recipe X6 but that leaves extra for the next morning! Try it... and let me know how you like it!!!

Crepe Batter:

1 1/4 cup flour

2 TBLS Sugar

Pinch of salt

1 1/2 cup milk

3 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 TBLS melted margarine

Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth, about 2 minutes.

Creme Cheese Filling:

8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sour cream

2 TBLS Sugar

Mix ingredients well. Spread on crepe and roll. Add fruit on top

911

Last night we called 911... I am so sick of punk kids. If they were kids. Who knows! Thayne and I had just got from a movie and was hanging out with the kids, playing on the computer and getting ready for bed when the power went out. I had a thought go through my head wondering if somebody would ever play with the power box on the outside of my house... it came back on and then it went out again and this time I looked and noticed the neighbor's lights were on so I told Thayne and Tallin that somebody was outside. Then Tallin heard somebody and the power went off again. This time it totally blew my DSL modem and now the internet doesn't work at my house (thank you Jace for letting me use your verizon internet card). We went outside and didn't see anyone but then Willie saw somebody run by his bedroom window. Tallin and Thayne took off outside and was looking for them. We could hear them running.... the problem was, on Friday the girls had been home, downstairs and heard somebody upstairs. They were scared and didn't dare come upstairs but called Jace and Garrett to see if either one of them were home. Pretty soon they heard the footsteps leave and they came up and my bedroom door was open and it had been closed when they came in the house. So we didn't know if whoever did it had been in the house or not. So we called 911. The sheriff department swarmed the back roads and around the area and stopped cars but I think they missed it. Kinzee saw a car start that was parked on the road behind our house and then drove slowly and stopped in 3 different places before speeding out of here. The police told us that this has been happening around here. It upsets me! I can't imagine how terrified the kids would have been if it had happened while we were gone. Besides that.... what kind of people come and do something like that when all of the lights in the house were on? And that they stayed around for as long as they did. Maybe they didn't have anything except being obnoxious on their minds... but what if they did? Why would they think it is okay to do this? What were they trying to prove? It's so frustrating! And now my computer doesn't work either. We have surge protection but still, it stopped working the third time the power was turned off.

Thayne said it makes him mad because the kids won't have any closure to this... they were freaked out and will hate staying home and sleeping downstairs alone and it's not fair that people can make you feel unsafe in your own home. It's sad that people think it is their right to do what they want to whoever they want. ARGH! Tanner said he will find out who did it. I hope he can!!! The police would be happy too I think! It made for a very long night!!!

Kinzee Jo

Kinzee Jo is 13! Another teenager! I can't believe it has been 13 years since that adorable girl was born. She's amazing. She has grown up so much. Where did the time go?

13 years ago yesterday Thayne and I went to Provo, Utah to shop. We needed a new camera so we could take pictures of our sweet new daughter scheduled to be born the next day. Funny how things stand out in your mind, even now after all of these years. We were so excited to have this daughter join our family. It had been a rough year, Thayne had gone through back surgery and took months to recover and be released for work again. And we were having a new daughter join our family in just hours. A funny side to all of this. That day the jury came back and found OJ not guilty of murdering his wife. Yesterday, 13 days to the day he was found guilty on several counts of armed robbery... poetic justice maybe! ;)

The mood in the operating room was more like a party the morning Kinzee was born. The doctor's had 60's music playing. Dr Smith and Dr Monson were in rare form, singing along to the music, nurses dancing. We were swinging to Rockin' Robin or something like that! :) Dr Smith told the nurse, who happened to be named Marcia, that he needed a new glove. She said, "What kind? A bloody one? That doesn't fit????" Everyone started laughing. I was laughing, they told me to hold still or I would have an uneven cut! I told them they were sick, and that they were having far too much fun to be handling sharp instruments! And then out came our beautiful baby girl. She had the sweetest little round face! She was so wanted, and so loved. The day we left the hospital we went straight to my grandma's surprise birthday party where we got to show off our sweet little girl. She has been a constant joy to our family. She is a gift and we are grateful to know this wonderful young woman! I look forward to seeing all that she will accomplish in her future.

Happy Birthday my sweet daughter. I hope that the years ahead bring so much joy and happiness and that all of your dreams come true!

I can do this.... I can.... I know I can!

I can get through this day. I know I can! I am sick. I am coughing and stuffy and my throat hurts and my head is throbbing. I got a migraine last night and it hasn't gone away.

First thing this morning Candice (sil) and I went to the video store to start making the 500 or so bags we need for our booth at the Taste of Home Cooking Show tonight. Thayne picked Bummy up from school and met me and we went to town to take Nate to the ENT. I am so upset, disgusted really at the lack of integrity the doctors in this town have. The other ENT that did 4 of the kids' tonsils is no longer in practice and this guy was just... well... I don't swear so I am not going to even go there!!! ;) I don't know if I want to cry anymore, or just throw myself on the ground like the kids do and have a major melt down fit! The guy couldn't even be bothered to discuss Nate or what we think is going on. He told us that he usually refers little ones to Primary's... did he do it? No, he just sat there saying he didn't deal with babies this young. REALLY??? Well... they certainly knew his age when the appointment was made so why didn't they save me 2 hours and $20 by telling me that in the first place???? And he certainly didn't offer to refund my co-pay. I walked out in tears. This has been the most frustrating road. Though he did tell us that he would absolutely need an ENT to diagnose whatever it is we assume he has. I just want to scream!

After we got done there we went over to the convention center to set up the booth for this afternoon. And then I met Tanner to buy him some food for his lunches for the next 2 weeks until he gets his first paycheck from the mine. It's so good to see him have purpose, and have gratitude... but I am just exhausted. I haven't slept much and what little I do isn't restful since I can't breathe. I am waiting for Kimi to get here with the Tahoe so we can load some more popcorn and posters and stuff we need for the show and then get back to town for the next 3 hours. Thayne wants to take me to the movie tonight. I look forward to that, except maybe sleeping would be a better option. But maybe having my mind rest and not have to think for a minute might be good too!

It's almost 3pm. That means only 7 or so more hours till I can think about getting to bed!!!!! I can do it right??? I can, I can, I, oh gee, I hope I can!!!

Mitt

This 'political' season has been a fun time in my family. Who knew I had so many children that were actually paying attention to what is going on in society and actually have an opinion about it! :) Okay, I guess if you know me, you know they absolutely WOULD have an opinion about it. But it has been really fun and exciting to watch how much they want to be involved and actually have a part of the political action! That is the great part! I think that no matter what a person believes, they should believe it enough to do something about it! We happen to be pretty conservative and have some pretty strong opinions on things like abortion. It has really surprised me to watch Kassi become so politically charged. She has told me on many occassions that people that believe they can get rid of a baby before it ever has a chance simply for convenience sake are part of the reason she is going to go into politics! One guy told her that abortion for convenience was fine and I guess it would have been funny to be in the room with her defending the right to live. She made the comment that everyone should have a chance, after all HE did! :) I just think it is important to stand for what you believe, at all times, and in all places, and to not sway in every direction because of a lack of conviction. My kids seem to think that too!

So of course you can understand their excitement to hear that Mitt Romney was coming to town. They actually believed that he would have made an amazing president! Mitt was coming before the VP debate and Kassi informed me that we would be going!!! I accidentally scheduled her to work at the video store last night. She was teasing but she called me up and said, "You do know I will quit if you don't let me off!!!" :) I laughed and told her it wouldn't be a problem and that she could certainly have it off. Willie and Wyatt insisted on going too! They wanted to see Mitt!

He was a fantastic speaker and we were all very impressed. He was so positive and upbeat and shared some amazing stories. And I must say I am extremely impressed with him. He didn't spend any time at all bashing others. He spoke positively about what would be done, spoke positively about our country and about the flag and about our freedom and durty as American's and I don't remember on thing that bashed anybody else! After he was finished he went into the crowd to meet people. Kassi, Willie and Wyatt moved to the front and got to shake his hand. Wyatt came back and told us that he was never washing his hand again! You could see Kassi just beaming waiting to talk to him. She came up and told us the same thing, that she wasn't going to wash her hand again. She and Willie stayed down by him and then Willie asked if he could get a picture with him so Kassi took one of Mitt and Willie (and Kassi's friend jumped in too). Then we had a potluck dinner and watched the debates. All in all it was a fun night and the kids enjoyed the whole experience! I am so grateful for those that had the vision of what this country could be and fought for the right for us to believe how we choose! We are so blessed!

After some drama... the tubes are in!

Nothing is ever easy or uncomplicated when it comes to Nathaniel. I told Thayne it wouldn't be 'just' ear tubes. I had told Thayne he should just come with me he laughed and said it would be 'just' tubes. Okay, so we have been through it many times before... but I am usually the one that deals with it while Thayne is working. I've even dealt with several of them getting tonsils out alone. But I was worried that it wouldn't be 'just' tubes with this child. He didn't let me down... it's always fun to tell Thayne "I told you so" because he is so fun to tease! His lungs were clear Tuesday evening at his check up. I told Dr S that I forgot his Zantac and Singulair but we didn't think too much about it. We got to the hospital at 7:30am on Wednesday and the anesthesiologist, Steve, came in. He was doing the normal checks and listened to his lungs after going over his history. He then told me he had huge concerns over doing this surgery today with his lungs. He said his lungs had fluid in them. He was awesome, talked to me about his history. He had worked at Primary Children's for 8 years and said that he was concerned that Nate could have serious complications and we would be in serious trouble because the hospital wasn't equiped to handle the problems they could face if they went forward with his operation and that he just couldn't lose this baby on the table over ear tubes. He said he would talk to Dr S and they would be back in. Dr S and Steve came in and after listening to his lungs again Dr S said that his lungs had been clear. He told me that all night he had a thought in the back of his mind that without the Zantac, Nate may aspirate and that it may be a pattern with him at night, that he aspirates and then sounds junkie all day and by afternoon has it cleared out. After another anesthesiologist, Ron (who has always taken care of us) came in for another opinion. He agreed with Dr S and his theory and offered another solution. The ear tubes absolutely needed to be done. Even on antiobiotics Nate had fluid and infection. So he offered to come in and help with the surgery himself at 4pm, keep Nate on clear fluids all day and give him his Zantac and Singulair and then try again if his lungs cleared. At 4pm, his lungs were perfect. They went forward with the sugery but told me they were going to go slow, put him under slowly and suction his throat out. It went very quickly and Dr S came out and gave me the thumbs up saying that Nate did absolutely perfect, it went smoothly and that this little boys stars lined up perfectly again! He said it couldn't have gone better. His left ear was horrible but they were glad to get it done.

The great thing is that I learned more in 5 minutes with Dr S about Nate than we have been able to in the last 8 or so months going to other doctors. He listened to Nate's lungs and asked if he had been tested for asthma. We discussed his history and he immediately got us an appointment with a pulmonoligst on November 7th and wants us to discuss the possibility that the respitory problems are from a severe case of reflux. He told me that what he saw without the Zantac spoke volumes about what is really going on with this little boy and he believes he will need surgery in order to fix the problems. He also believes that tracheomalacia is a definate possibility and wants to follow through and get this baby living a normal life.

I sat in the hospital room with Dr S, Steve and a dear friend and nurse, Marion. They wanted to hear Nate's whole history again. I was stressed out about his lungs having fluid in them and was kind of upset. As I told them what we had gone through with all of the doctors and the hospital stays, they cried with me. Dr S said he was so upset that the medical profession had let us down so badly and that he was so sorry. I was so amazed as they wiped their eyes and expressed their desire to find the answers to help us get Nathaniel healthy. We are so blessed to know people like this. They were an answer to our prayers and I believe that we will be able to move forward with getting answers for Nate's health issues. He will be rechecked for cystic fibrosis but after everything Dr S saw he doesn't believe that will be an issue. He thinks it all comes down to severe reflux, worse than we originally thought. It will be so good to be able to get him some help!!!

So after a scary start, he was the miracle that we have always known him to be!!!