Catch up

I feel that I have been very out-of-touch lately with things. We have had a very full week. Where do I start? I guess where I left off....

I mentioned that Max's ears were a problem? Well...they became worse last Friday night when he woke up screaming uncontrollably. He is such a tough kid, that obviously something was very wrong. He screamed from 1:30 am-4:30 am. We almost took him to the emergency room, but we finally got him to sleep and he woke up much more content. We were able to go to the ENT on Tuesday to find out that both of his ear drums had burst and his ears were full of blood and puss. Gross! So...it was tubes again for him -- his 4th set in 2 years.

I took Max in to get his tubes on the morning of the 31st. Because you have to get up so early to get to the hospital, I was really tired and didn't eat very much before leaving. After waiting for over an hour for his surgery, my blood sugar started getting really low and I started shaking. Max went into surgery and a nurse took one look at me and made me sit down with my feet up and kept bringing me food. It was so nice to be taken care of. She said that just by looking at my stomach, there was no way that I was going to last until October. She doesn't know my sheer determination to have this baby on October 15th!

Max came out of surgery really well. The doctor couldn't believe that he doesn't complain about his ears. She said that they were so full of blood, etc. that there was no way he could hear. Sorry, Max! I really hope that that these bigger tubes will last longer and that his hearing will vastly improve. Even though he never complains and says that he can hear just as well as before, I already notice that he is much more content and happy.

Do you remember when Nate fixed my violin? Well...he happened to on purpose mention to the most musical family in the ward that it was fixed and that I should play. So, they promptly asked me to play for an adult fireside last Sunday. Did I mention that I haven't played for 12 years? Needless to say, I was a little nervous. I can't believe that I remembered how to play! She and I played a duet on the violin to "Love Is Spoken Here" while her husband accompanied us on the guitar. Everybody said that it was amazing, but I kind of felt like I was in Jr. High with a wobbly bow that I couldn't control. Let's just say that I did OK for not having played for so long. But, if you ever have to give a lesson on not using your talents and then losing them, you are welcome to use me as an example.


Jake started Kindergarten. Yeah!!! He is very ready to be older and more mature. I put him in afternoon Kindergarten and love it. It gives me time to get ready in the morning so that I am ready to do errands or other things while he is gone. It has worked out really well so far. He loves his teacher and already has some really good friends in his class.

I do feel bad for Devin, though. He and Jake get along so well, that he really has a hard time when Jake goes to school. So, I am now spending part of my day playing trains, Legos, and puzzles again. (And of course, letting him watch an occassional Dora means that I get a little more time to get stuff done.)



I was pleasantly surprised to open my mail last week to a Good Mail package. My mailbox is usually bills, bills, bills. Jenny sent me the cutest Texas postcard and a Live, Laugh, Love book. Jenny...thank you. The phrase Live, Laugh, and Love was my sister-in-law's favorite phrase. After she was killed in the accident, I made her boys mini-scrapbooks with that title. My brother also put that phrase on her tombstone. So, without even knowing, you gave me a very special gift. Thank you!!!

We had a very belated, yet fun Renegade birthday dinner for Jill's birthday last week. Amy outdid herself with the table decor again. The food was fabulous, and Jenn's birthday book was unbelievable. Seeing as how my camera is never in my purse when I would like it to be, but always in my purse when I don't even think about using it, it would be better to look at Jill's blog for pictures. I have always been blessed in my life to have really good friends. Jill, you are an incredible person and a friend to all -- Happy Birthday, again!

I'm getting my boys ready to go water skiing. More about that to come. Hope you all have a fabulous Labor Day weekend.