SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2016
The Proof is in the Bowl
Documentation that sometimes I'm a fun, laid back mom - peanut butter for dinner! Actually, I was really desperate for the kids to eat and after refusing all of their favorite foods I resorted to a bowl of peanut butter for each. They only ate about three bites. I'm blaming their illnesses and I've been lenient with their pickiness of food while they've been sick so I guess it's time again for structure and consistency. I'm so tired of fixing food for every meal just to have it turned away and having to cook several more separate meals.
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016
Update on Cora
In February Cora had her eyes tubes removed, pictured here. They're very skinny and about 1.5" long and the part with the little knobby end goes at the top of the tear duct. I got to take them home as a souvenir. The good news is that the tubes are out, the bad news is that they weren't effective. Her next option would be drilling a hole in the side of her nose through the nasal bone to let the tears drain through there. The ocular surgeon won't do them until she's about four years old so Dr. Whitehead said if it were his child he'd opt for another round or two of the eye tubes again to see if the duct will open up. Right now we are just waiting a few months to see what would be best for her. It would mean a little scar on both sides of her nose as they would drill through the skin.
I packed up both kids and off we went. Kimball asked for a snack but he never finished his lunch so I brought his PB&J with us and made him eat that first. He's become quite the picky eater and I was determined to win this mom war of not eating lunch. He happily ate the sandwich as I waited for the doctor to come into our exam room. As soon as Dr. Drain opened the door she asked if it was a PB&J sandwich, I said yes, and she said ok well I don't think I'm going to come in there today as I just found out I am allergic to peanut butter. I quickly put the sandwich away and gave hand sanitizer to the kids and myself. But the damage was done, the doctor didn't want to come in and I had to reschedule. UGH!! What kind of an idiot brings a PB&J sandwich to the allergist?! I wasn't even thinking about peanut butter being one of the top allergens and the risk that I was taking bringing that into the office, other patients could have gone into anaphylactic shock because of me! I was so disappointed and upset with myself.....I just wanted the test results and to know about this medication. I didn't want to have to wait another 3-4 months!!! What an idiot I am!
I was able to schedule a "phone appointment" with the doctor so I only had to wait another two weeks to get the test results instead of several months. GREAT NEWS!!!!! Cora tested negative for wheat AND egg AND beef!!! I'm still in shock, I didn't think that would happen before she was five years old. So the only allergy now is milk according to her blood. I have the ok to start slowly introducing these foods back into her diet to see how well she tolerates them. YAY!!!! As I started to hang up I apologized profusely for bringing the sandwich into her office and she said, "Well, thanks to you we now have signs up all around our office stating that."
We met with the neurologist last week and I couldn't wait for Cora to walk in there and strut her stuff! He was the one who told us that she'd never walk or talk and I was so anxious for her to prove him wrong. Of course he didn't remember saying that but he was pleased with her progress and we don't have to see him anymore! Another doctor crossed off our list!
The allergic reaction she's having from the acid reflux medicine was getting too severe so I had to take her off the medicine. Instead I started giving her raw apple cider vinegar, mixed with her juice, to help combat the reflux. Boy that is stinky stuff but she drank it well. Unfortunately, she started getting more raw excema spots on her body that weren't there before so I think she's intolerant to that as well. Hmmm! Now what do I do? Someone suggested a chiropractor so I took her to one of those but she was also a wellness doctor and did all sorts of voodoo, kooky stuff that didn't sit well with me. I'm not sure what to do now she she's not on anything or taking anything. I can't reintroduce wheat, egg, or beef back into her diet until I get this excema cleared up so I'm doing all that I can to help the rash.
Whew! I think that's all for now. In the next two months we have another slew of appointments that I'm also very anxious to hear how she's doing. I'm hoping her heart is still correcting itself and that she'll be a candidate for a throat surgery to help her talking. Fingers crossed but time will tell. We are so blessed to have this sweet, funny little girl!!!!!!!
Starting Them Young
The kids have been sick and cooped up in the house off and on for the last six weeks. Even though Kimball is still sick I made them go outside with me for some fresh air (note the pajamas). We picked up the garbage along the street around our house, with being only two blocks from the high school the students like to sit on this little ledge on the side of our property to smoke and eat. They leave a lot of crap behind that they should be taking with them. But it was a good time to teach the kids about littering, picking up after yourself, and leaving places better than you found them.
Vocal Point Concert
The Vocal Point a capella group came to Spokane and tickets were surprisingly cheap. It was a bit on the cheesy side with all the Mormon references but that's what you get with young BYU students. It was a nice evening of Mexican food with my main squeeze and singing along to their rendition of Frankie Valli's medley.
The Day Has Come
Lance has dreamed of having a Nintendo buddy to play with. He's finally got one, they're like two peas in a pod.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016
Date Night
On president's day Lance and I went on an all day date, which was lovely and much needed. First, we started out at a local donut shop for breakfast. Then we drove to Coeur d'Alene to an indoor water park there, it was a blast! I think we concluded that we like that water park better than the other two we've been to here, it is nice being indoors that you don't have to worry about sunburns or sunscreen. We went down all the slides and swam several times, had a break for lunch and did more of the same for a few more hours. I was super tired after we were done but it was worth it, so much fun! We drove back to Spokane and ate at Olive Garden for dinner before returning home.
It was such a nice break from the daily routine!
My Funny Valentines
Happy Valentine's Day!
Kimball wanted his hair spiked up for church, which was the first time he's ever requested that and even though Lance nor I care for the look, I let him go anyway. We actually had a pacific regional conference for church meetings so nobody really saw him anyway. And Cora? I love her ponytail!
I love everything about these next photos, especially the way the kids interact with each other! These are the little valentine's that the kids got from us. Kimball immediately named his puppy Baxter and they both slept with their new friends that night.
I'm still not a huge fan of valentine's day but its growing on me a little more year after year. It's kind of nice to acknowledge what you love most about life.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2016
Boredom Buster
The kids have been sick all week, mostly Cora, and we haven't gone to therapy or done anything at all. I have to admit, it's been nice having a small break from therapy but then the challenge of keeping the kids occupied with something different every day comes up. Today we painted with real paint and played balloon toss with "paddles" made of paper plates and a popsicle sticks.
Lesson Excerpt
My calling for the past year is teaching the 15-18 year olds in Sunday school. I've got on average about 10 kids each week, sometimes as many as 15. They are so bright and intuitive and they teach me much more than I'm sure I teach them. They participate really well and we have really, really great discussions. I absolutely love it and it's my favorite calling I've ever had. Like, I really, really, really love it! I've decided I should put a scripture or quote in my journal that I'm using for my lesson each week, this one was from two weeks ago.
“Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
“You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down.”
- C.S. Lewis
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2016
Worthy of Our Promised Blessings
"I do not know why we have the many trials that we have, but it is my personal feeling that the reward is so great, so eternal and everlasting, so joyful and beyond our understanding that in that day of reward, we may feel to say to our merciful, loving Father, 'Was that all that was required?' I believe that if we could daily remember and recognize the depth of that love our Heavenly Father and our Savior have for us, we would be willing to do anything to be back in their presence again, surrounded by Their love eternally. What will it matter, dear sisters, what we suffered here if, in the end, those trials are the very things which qualify us for eternal life and exaltation in the kingdom of God with our Father and Savior?"
- Linda S. Reeves
- Linda S. Reeves
The Plan of Happiness
"'And they lived happily ever after' is never written into the second act. That line belongs in the third act, when the mysteries are solved and everything is put right."
- President Boyd K. Packer
- President Boyd K. Packer
Random Photos
One of the local groceries stores remodeled and they have the cutest little shopping carts for kids, I will say it is a big enticement to go to that store, which is expensive. We only go there for Cora's allergenic free food but when we do Kimball does all the shopping himself. He picks out the stuff (with my help), puts it in the cart, put the food on the conveyor belt to check out and loads the cart back up with our bags. It's great!
Sometimes these two are like best friends!
This was actually the first time Cora stood on the chair to help me, she's never been too stable on it by herself without me at her side. We made valentine cookies and her favorite part was holding the mixer. Then she did dishes for me and played at the sink for hours.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2016
Ruts and Surgeries
I've been stuck in a rut lately. All of the kid's therapies are driving me crazy, it's an endless task it seems and it's draining. Kimball's speech recently changed to two times a week now which I think will be good for him. I blame the rut on winter. I don't like winter; it's too cold, too wet, too gray, and too dreary! Bah humbug!!!
Ginette spoke with me after Cora's therapy on Monday and explained what they were working on for PT. She mentioned maybe getting her eyes checked for any suspicions about depth perception. I just said ok. Later that night I was trying to fall asleep and replayed Ginette's conversation in my mind. Then it was like a light bulb went off and I started realizing a lot of subtle changes with Cora's movement. She doesn't come down the stairs on her own anymore, she doesn't get up and down from her chair in the dining room any more, she doesn't get off the bed on her own anymore, she doesn't walk to and from the garage like she used to, any variation in flooring (like a threshold) is just stepping off a cliff for her, etc. I didn't make anything of these findings until Ginette mentioned it so now I'm anxious to hear what the ophthalmologist has to say about it in a few weeks. Cora gets her eye tubes out on the 18th so I'll be ready with my list of questions. The only thing I know is of concern about her vision that hasn't already been corrected is that when she looks into the distance she has one eye that wanders. Only surgery can fix that but hers isn't even noticeable or affecting her. I wonder if that has something to do with her depth perception or not. Hmmm, either way I'm anxious to hear what the ophthalmologist has to say.
Kimball has been like a roller coaster all month long. On the days when it's just him and I while Cora's at therapy he can be the best little pal and we have such a great time together. Other times he's a little whining thing with a big attitude and so ornery. It drives me crazy. I also blame that on winter and being cooped up.
Lance had a great January, his biggest call volume so far of 188. It's so nice to see him happy with work and really enjoying himself!
Our awesome realtor texted me the other day and reminded me of her offer: that she'd come do a tile back splash in our kitchen for free. Initially we waited so that the business could get going but I figured now is a good time to do it. So in the next week or so I'll be shopping for tile! I'm quite excited!
I've also decided to quit answering the phone whenever someone from home calls. It's always bad news. I keep forgetting to journal this so here's the latest on the guys:
Ginette spoke with me after Cora's therapy on Monday and explained what they were working on for PT. She mentioned maybe getting her eyes checked for any suspicions about depth perception. I just said ok. Later that night I was trying to fall asleep and replayed Ginette's conversation in my mind. Then it was like a light bulb went off and I started realizing a lot of subtle changes with Cora's movement. She doesn't come down the stairs on her own anymore, she doesn't get up and down from her chair in the dining room any more, she doesn't get off the bed on her own anymore, she doesn't walk to and from the garage like she used to, any variation in flooring (like a threshold) is just stepping off a cliff for her, etc. I didn't make anything of these findings until Ginette mentioned it so now I'm anxious to hear what the ophthalmologist has to say about it in a few weeks. Cora gets her eye tubes out on the 18th so I'll be ready with my list of questions. The only thing I know is of concern about her vision that hasn't already been corrected is that when she looks into the distance she has one eye that wanders. Only surgery can fix that but hers isn't even noticeable or affecting her. I wonder if that has something to do with her depth perception or not. Hmmm, either way I'm anxious to hear what the ophthalmologist has to say.
Kimball has been like a roller coaster all month long. On the days when it's just him and I while Cora's at therapy he can be the best little pal and we have such a great time together. Other times he's a little whining thing with a big attitude and so ornery. It drives me crazy. I also blame that on winter and being cooped up.
Lance had a great January, his biggest call volume so far of 188. It's so nice to see him happy with work and really enjoying himself!
Our awesome realtor texted me the other day and reminded me of her offer: that she'd come do a tile back splash in our kitchen for free. Initially we waited so that the business could get going but I figured now is a good time to do it. So in the next week or so I'll be shopping for tile! I'm quite excited!
I've also decided to quit answering the phone whenever someone from home calls. It's always bad news. I keep forgetting to journal this so here's the latest on the guys:
- Dad has been diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy. It's genetic it, the same kind that Uncle Gordon and Great Grandpa Stockdale has/had.
- Dad had a trip to the ER in Arizona during Casey's wedding to have his gall bladder removed in December
- Grandpa Pettingill had surgery on his foot and has been at a care facility in Burley until the doctor releases him to go back home. It's been over a month now, his foot isn't healing like it should be. According to him he plays cards, bingo, and Wii, "I'm really having quite a blast!" I think he's really missed the social atmosphere being so far away at the cabin and has really enjoyed the care facility.
- Grandpa Pettingill also needs a hip replacement which will not be done until his foot is healed and some other surgery done but I can't remember what it is.
- Grandpa Watson now has prostate cancer. He also had some kind of operation on his heart this past week - not a stent but something about going in a neck vein and doing something with the aortic arch. If the procedure isn't successful he'll need a pacemaker. That happened last week and I haven't heard if it was successful or not.
- Joseph broke his neck! He was playing basketball and some guy rammed into him knocking him to the floor. However, his neck broke before he even hit the floor so it was quite a blow. They took him by ambulance to the ER at which time he was paralyzed. He quickly regained feeling in most of his body although he still has a hand that has no feeling. Two of three doctors suggested that he have surgery on his neck, I haven't heard if he decided to go ahead with that surgery or not.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2016
Kimball Says
Today Kimball and I went to the library while Cora was at therapy. As soon as we got to our little table Kimball whispers a secret in my ear and says, "When the big, bad wolf comes he won't be able to blow us down because the library is made of bricks!" Then he smirked and laughed because he was so proud that he out-witted the wolf.
MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016
As of Lately
Now that Christmas break is over we are back to resuming our regular schedule. Cora now has therapy Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:30-1pm and Kimball has speech on Wednesdays at 11. Cora's in an older preschool therapy group at the Guild School so there's about 10 kids in the class and she LOVES that there's more socializing and kids her age that talk. She's doing really well!
Kimball is doing great with speech, within a month of therapy he quit stuttering so they're still watching for any dis-fluency but are continuing with other aspects of speech. Right now they're working on the S sound and he loves it.
With the new year we've had a chance to reflect, run reports, crunch numbers, and analyze how we've done with Lance's business, Inland Mortuary Services. He's been on his own for nine months now and I'm amazed at how well he's done. Our main goal was to still be able to make ends meet and keep the electricity on. He's surpassed that and continues to gain the business of other funeral homes and expands his services. In November he started offering an answering service for SCI's four locations. So after hours (5pm-9am), on weekends, and any holidays all of SCI's phones are forwarded to Lance. He takes messages, dispatches calls, emails, faxes, etc. with the phone calls that come in. The downside is that we always have the phone whether it's 2am, during sacrament meeting, on a date, at the doctor's office, running errands, etc. we always have to have that phone on us. I say "we" because while Lance is busy doing removals, "I'm" the one who answers the phone. I guess you could say I work part time for Lance although I'm just happy to support him. It isn't fun, neither of us enjoy answering the phone but it's easy work and easy income. The upside is that it's the only service he offers that is a fixed income, everything else greatly fluctuates so it's nice to know that we'll at least get the minimum for the answering service each month.
Lance's old boss here at SCI, Caryn, just sent in her resignation. Several of Lance's old coworkers have called asking him to apply for her position which was flattering. This could mean one of two things: #1 the new Spokane manager decides to use their own employees for removals and we lose a big majority of our business, or #2 the new Spokane manager decides to exclusively use Lance for removals which means a big increase of work. We're hoping for scenario #2 or at the very least that things stay the same as they are now. We're really praying that scenario #1 never happens, if it did it would be detrimental.
I'm so proud of how hard Lance is working for our little family and he's got incredible business intuition! Every position that he's worked from being the errand boy and yard clean up at White's, removals for Daniel in Charleston, his internship and subsequent job as funeral director at White's, managing the embalming center for Spokane, and continual management of funeral homes in Spokane; they've all given him significant experience and insight. Both good and bad insight on how a business in the funeral industry should be run. There were things he learned from Daniel that he's implemented in his own business and things from SCI that he was forced to do because of "policies and procedures" that he would never do on his own. I'm grateful for his intellect and discernment. I'm grateful for his hard work ethic. I'm grateful for his honesty, integrity, and loyalty. I'm grateful for his concentrated efforts and resolve and determining attitude through school. I'm also grateful for his humor - I don't think you could be a funeral director or mortician without a sense of humor.
I've been cleaning out every room and closet in the house getting rid of stuff we no longer use or need. A bit of spring cleaning I suppose. I moved Kimball's bed into Cora's section of the room so we could have a play area in the other part of the room and preparing for transitioning Cora to a regular bed. Other than that I just shuttle kids to and from therapy and answer the phones for Lance. I'm certainly anxious for spring as I'm not a big fan of snow or winter in general. I'm anxious to work outside in the yard, resume walking, enjoy the sunshine, go to parks, play in puddles and mud, admire the flowers, and fly kites. Overall, life is good and we're certainly blessed! :)
Kimball is doing great with speech, within a month of therapy he quit stuttering so they're still watching for any dis-fluency but are continuing with other aspects of speech. Right now they're working on the S sound and he loves it.
With the new year we've had a chance to reflect, run reports, crunch numbers, and analyze how we've done with Lance's business, Inland Mortuary Services. He's been on his own for nine months now and I'm amazed at how well he's done. Our main goal was to still be able to make ends meet and keep the electricity on. He's surpassed that and continues to gain the business of other funeral homes and expands his services. In November he started offering an answering service for SCI's four locations. So after hours (5pm-9am), on weekends, and any holidays all of SCI's phones are forwarded to Lance. He takes messages, dispatches calls, emails, faxes, etc. with the phone calls that come in. The downside is that we always have the phone whether it's 2am, during sacrament meeting, on a date, at the doctor's office, running errands, etc. we always have to have that phone on us. I say "we" because while Lance is busy doing removals, "I'm" the one who answers the phone. I guess you could say I work part time for Lance although I'm just happy to support him. It isn't fun, neither of us enjoy answering the phone but it's easy work and easy income. The upside is that it's the only service he offers that is a fixed income, everything else greatly fluctuates so it's nice to know that we'll at least get the minimum for the answering service each month.
Lance's old boss here at SCI, Caryn, just sent in her resignation. Several of Lance's old coworkers have called asking him to apply for her position which was flattering. This could mean one of two things: #1 the new Spokane manager decides to use their own employees for removals and we lose a big majority of our business, or #2 the new Spokane manager decides to exclusively use Lance for removals which means a big increase of work. We're hoping for scenario #2 or at the very least that things stay the same as they are now. We're really praying that scenario #1 never happens, if it did it would be detrimental.
I'm so proud of how hard Lance is working for our little family and he's got incredible business intuition! Every position that he's worked from being the errand boy and yard clean up at White's, removals for Daniel in Charleston, his internship and subsequent job as funeral director at White's, managing the embalming center for Spokane, and continual management of funeral homes in Spokane; they've all given him significant experience and insight. Both good and bad insight on how a business in the funeral industry should be run. There were things he learned from Daniel that he's implemented in his own business and things from SCI that he was forced to do because of "policies and procedures" that he would never do on his own. I'm grateful for his intellect and discernment. I'm grateful for his hard work ethic. I'm grateful for his honesty, integrity, and loyalty. I'm grateful for his concentrated efforts and resolve and determining attitude through school. I'm also grateful for his humor - I don't think you could be a funeral director or mortician without a sense of humor.
I've been cleaning out every room and closet in the house getting rid of stuff we no longer use or need. A bit of spring cleaning I suppose. I moved Kimball's bed into Cora's section of the room so we could have a play area in the other part of the room and preparing for transitioning Cora to a regular bed. Other than that I just shuttle kids to and from therapy and answer the phones for Lance. I'm certainly anxious for spring as I'm not a big fan of snow or winter in general. I'm anxious to work outside in the yard, resume walking, enjoy the sunshine, go to parks, play in puddles and mud, admire the flowers, and fly kites. Overall, life is good and we're certainly blessed! :)
Random Photos
Wow, this is my 1200th journal post!!
Cora decided to take a little nap in the kitchen. On her baby's pillow.
This particular night I could not get Cora to calm down or sleep at all. We finally ended up bringing her downstairs for a bit where she just didn't act like herself. I'm not sure what it was about or why but the next day she acted fine.
This boy's expressions crack me up.
Date to the library
E.T. phone home - she loves playing dress up!
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015
2015 Highlights
Every year has ups and downs, it's just how life goes and will continue to be that way I'm sure. But we'll focus on the good things that happened this year! Here are a few highlights of 2015 in chronological order:
- We bought a house
- Lance quit his managing job for SCI and started his own business called Inland Mortuary Services
- Cora had her second surgery
- Lance and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary in Coeur d'Alene
- Went home to visit for a month
- Cora began walking at 22.5 months
- Cora's gastrostomy tube was removed
- I turned 30
- Kimball began speech
- Lance added an answering service to the business
- Cora had her third surgery
- Cora said her first word, "mommy"
Cheers to a happy and healthy 2016 for all our loved ones!
MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2015
Merry Christmas!
All I wanted for Christmas day was a little bit of uninterrupted family time....and I got it! Lance did end up having a busy day of 10 calls but we had a few hours in the morning where the phone was quiet, whew!
These are the only pictures we got of Christmas day; the kids in their undershirts, underwear, and new socks. It was a nice relaxing day complete with pull apart rolls for breakfast, naps for everyone, and too many goodies. The gifts we received were more than generous and it was just so lovely to have some family time together, that's a rare happening these days!
This is a video of Cora rocking and singing her baby to sleep. Too adorable!
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