sickies

Attempting a smile over his sicky bowl

I have spent 7 of the last 8 days in semi-quarantine with our babies. I went to bed last night with high hopes of sending Grace back to school today. This morning her eyes were still bloodshot and goopy. And then Grant got into our bed and threw up all over our clean sheets.

There have been some less-than-shiny moments where I have had it up to *here* with the mucus, the throw up, the messy pants, the tears, the whines, and the interrupted sleep. But mostly, I think I'm just frustrated with the confinement. Mama needs to stretch her legs! But, alas, I'm too tired by the time Cori comes home...

I've tried to make use of the time. I've cleaned out a couple of closets as well as the kitchen pantry. Naturally, I've done lots of laundry. I actually did some blogging last week. I did some cleaning out in our office. This is a more impressive feat if you consider that, for all intents and purposes, our office is also serving as our basement. (The garage gets too hot during the summer for a lot of the storage I'd like to keep out there.) I've shared a few conversations with the triage nurse at our pediatric center and have been able to avoid taking the kids in - as I suspect we caught all this junk at their office when we took Eden in for her well-baby visit. Said triage nurse also gave me an insane schedule of liquids to help with the barfies. It goes something like this:

• 1st hour- 1 T coke every 15 minutes
• 2nd hour- 2 T coke every 15 minutes
• 3rd hour- 3 T coke every 20 minutes
• 4th hour- 3 oz. Gatoraide every 30 minutes
• 5th hour- nothing
• 6th hour- more Gatoraide

I don't remember what she said to do if you make through all 6 hours without a relapse. I was, perhaps, a little overwhelmed. It's intense, right? But I set my timer and dosed Gracie up with beverages as directed and she did really well. It was bed time when we reached the 6th hour. She slept and then was eating easy food the next day. With Grant this morning, I was a bit more casual about the process and he kept throwing up. So I buckled down, got out the medicine cup and set my timer again and he hasn't thrown up in 2 hours. How do people figure this stuff out?

In other news:

• Cori was set apart as our ward's Elder's quorum president yesterday.
• Cori also cleaned/fixed up my 15-year-old bike. Hurray! We are a trailer away from having our whole family on wheels. Credit should also go to my dad who had stored the bike for the last 15 years. Thanks guys!
• Our DVR is pretty busy. It is 31 days of Oscar on TCM baby! See the schedule here.
• I think I need a vacation. I KNOW I want one. My parents are gearing up to go to Scotland this summer. I'm just a wee bit jealous.
• Two of our four citrus trees are blooming. The aroma is indescribably perfect.
• I'm thinking about keeping a mommy bank on my iPod rather than giving the children the cash for their allowance. I never think to bring their moneys along when we go out, and when they see stuff they want to buy I can't remember how much money they have at home. Grace is SO GOOD about doing extra chores with me and though I know her compliance is completely money related I want to enforce the behavior better than I have been. So my plan is to keep a ledger for tithing and allowance that we will review each family night. And then pay tithing once a month... Suggestions?

books I finished last year

It has been nearly a year since I posted a reading report. And it has been just about as long since I read a few of these books. Consequently, the following reviews will be brief, but will be comprised of the gems that have stuck with me from each. Better late than never, right?

Three Cups of Tea, Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

It took me a while to get into this biography, but I found it very inspiring. I admire people who throw their whole hearts into their situation, particularly when that situation isn't something they would have chosen for themselves. Here is a man who saw a need and went at it full boar. I also really REALLY like the idea of fighting terrorism with education as well as equal educational opportunities for girls. Mortenson has started quite the movement. You can read about it here.

The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger

When Salinger died last January there were a lot of biographical and editorial segments done about him on the podcasts I listen to. Catcher in the Rye is a book I have heard about forever but had never read. I knew that it was the handbook for every serialistic creep and outcasted teenager out there, but didn't know a thing about what it was actually about. Reading the book was interesting. Stylistically it is a masterwork. Written in stream of consciousness the reader is given full access to Holden. It felt like having a 200 page conversation with somebody. The book is completely laced with (unemotional) profanity. The story itself is quietly tragic. I'm glad I read it as an adult. I have often wondered why a person will completely self-destruct when presented with an opportunity to prove him/herself. Holden, the protagonist, argues that he doesn't care, and that he doesn't believe in proving himself to 'phonies.' What I read between the lines was a lonely boy who doesn't like himself and can't believe that anybody else would. He dismisses nearly every genuine feeling he has and talks himself out of any intimate connection. And yet his dream is to be the 'catcher in the rye' the man who keeps all the playing children from getting too close to the cliff. He wants to protect and to be admired. I felt like I came to understand a few people in my life a lot better by seeing the world through Holden's eyes. It is certainly not a read for everyone. I am astounded that there are teachers out there who encourage putting this book in the hands of middle schoolers. I think most of the high schoolers that pick it up are not equipped with the life experience to properly understand it. (Hence the handbook statement before...) I don't think I'll ever pick it up again, but I'm glad I read it.

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

This is one of my favorite books and I hadn't read it for 5 or 6 years. I picked it up in the midst of our hectic relocation last summer and finished it at the hospital just an hour before we had our Eden. Everytime I read this book, I take something new. This latest read was particularly well timed. Towards the middle of the book , there is a discussion about the scene that takes place in the Garden of Eden. It is pointed out that in the original Hebrew text, God uses the word timshell (translated thou mayest) as he gives instruction to Adam. He gives Adam the freedom to choose. This is a huge theme throughout the book, in fact the last word of the book is timshell. It was a good reminder to me during last summer that even when I feel that so many things are not in my control that I always have a choice.

Wind, Sand, and Stars, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I became familiar with Saint-Exupéry in my collegiate French classes reading Le Petit Prince in its original text. I had no idea how many other works he had published. In the college of humanities alumni magazine that comes from time to time, there is a book recommendation page, and this book was highlighted by several contributors. I ordered it with some birthday money and Cori was the first to read it. He was moved and really enjoyed it. I had a similar reaction to the book. It is the memoir (and we don't know how exactly autobiographical it is, some of the stories are pretty incredible) of Saint-Exupéry's experiences as a French mail currier after the war. Though he is always talking about planes, pilots, and the elements that have to be respected by both, you can't help but feel that the subject matter is so much more universal. The translation is gorgeous. There were several passages I read over and over because the language and imagery are so beautiful. With the help of all the great aviator to gospel comparisons we get from President Uchtdorf, this book read as a very spiritual metaphor to me.

image diary 01.31.2011 (after airport and preschool runs)

Eden

Her fingers are almost always in her mouth. No teeth yet. Though I am a veteran diaper changer, it takes me some extra time to get this girl clean due to all her rolls. Her eyes are still deep sky blue. The hair that is slowly coming in is very blonde.
Eden started rolling over shortly after Christmas. At first, we were all pretty excited about it. (How do you like her sweet baby mullet?)
But, it has taken her and me a few weeks to get used to it. She is very good at rolling but not very good at being happy or sleeping on her tummy. A lot of the problem stems from her reluctance to turn her head. When I get her from her bed, her nose and chin are often red because she just sticks her head straight down into the mattress. It worried me. A LOT. But she has it figured out now. Kinda. We are both sleeping through the night again which helps me feel we are back on track. She is easy going about keeping a flexible daytime schedule which is necessary and so helpful.

Stripped down for the doctor... At her 4 month checkup, she was in the 90th percentile for height and the 75th for weight. Happy chunky girl. She reaches for and grabs toys. She babbles and blows lots of slobbery bubbles. This girl drools so much. She isn't too interested in eating from a spoon, but we do it every night anyway- just cereal and carrots so far.
She has a cute little squeak of a laugh. She is very ticklish. She LOVES diaper changes and anything else that guarantees face time. She won't take a binki but goes to sleep well on her own (except in church). She gets pretty fussy around dinner time. She loves her brother and sister.

back to real life

I took Rondee and Hayden to the airport this morning. Very sad. We had such a fun week. While they were here, we:

• made almost daily trips to the park
• rode the train in Anthem
• went outlet shopping
• took kids to school
• picked kids up from school
• cooked yummy food
• spent a day at the zoo
• did lots of laundry
• enjoyed nearly perfect weather
• made tin foil dinners and s'mores in the fire pit

It was just like old times... minus the perfect weather part. The week went by fast. I am hoping they felt sufficiently thawed out before returning to the frozen tundra of Northern Illinois.

These are a few pictures from our day at the zoo. We are pretty sure the boys' favorite siting was the construction area- tractors, backhoes, bobcats etc. (pictured above). All of the animals were pretty fun too.

blessings

Just a little AZ magic. Every morning and afternoon we see hot air balloons spotting the sky. The kids count them on the way to school. They count them whilst playing in the grass when I'm making dinner. It is hard to believe we have lived in Phoenix over 7 months. It has taken a little while, but I think we are finally adjusting to being here. Today I am also grateful for:

• The peace of the Sabbath Day Last Sunday, there were protestors picketing next to the Church (it is the site of the future Phoenix Temple), poor Gracie got sick and threw up right in the middle of the passing of the bread AND I sang in Sacrament mtg.. Then this Sunday, Cori and I both fulfilled speaking assignments and I played the organ. It has been a bit hectic to say the least. But we have kept a prayer in our hearts and have enjoyed the last couple of Sundays. I have been able to clearly identify a peace that has been unique to our days of worship.
• A fun soccer game yesterday Cori gave Grace a little pep talk on the way to the field yesterday. She said, "I know Dad! I just have to believe in myself." She had a really fun game and even had a little break-away where she ran the ball from one end of the field to the other. At her water break, she was still pumping her victory fists and told us that "I really believed in myself" and "It was the best EVER!"
• My dear friend, Rondee who is staying with us for the next week. Her husband worked overtime and surprised her with plane tickets for Christmas. She and her boy, Hayden, made the long trip from Chicago yesterday and we are so glad they are here to play with us!

Grantigus

Grant goes through multiple napkins a meal. He does not like having messy hands nor a messy face.

He is quiet, but not shy.

He can ham it up when opportunity arrises.

His favorite movies are Robin Hood and Sword in the Stone. The old Disney ones.

He loves mini wheats.

He drinks milk at every meal.

He likes making Gracie happy.

He likes his hair in a faux hawk. He asks for it everyday- calls it 'rockstar hair.' No matter how much product I use, it doesn't last very long.

He really enjoys playschool.

He tantrums like a healthy 3-year-old. But not very often.

Phoenix is the perfect place for this boy. He gets to play outside every day. He doesn't like being outside by himself however. It is a good thing, I guess. It gets me and the girls outside everyday too. We have lots of picnics. Some days we load up the jogger and walk Grant to preschool or we go to the "big park." It makes him so happy to be in the sun.

His obsession with cars and tractors is as strong as ever. The city of Phoenix just lad a new water line down one of our main cross streets and we had lots of BIG tractors, cranes, fork lifts, steam rollers, etc. at the end of our street. Grant heaven. I have to keep both eyes on him in parking lots as he loves to watch cars drive by - their wheels in particular. And the closer the better. He runs outside to look at the small planes that fly by and the hot air balloons in the afternoon.

When folks ask Grant about being a big brother and how he likes Eden, he says, "we got her from the doctor." If only! He is very sweet to her and doesn't seem to mind having given up his place as the baby in the family. It makes him so happy when she smiles at him. He doesn't care to be around her when she is fussy. He plugs his fingers into his ears.

He is the best sleeper. I can count on one hand the number of times he has woken us in the night since he was a baby. That being said, he is not the best waker-upper. It is a Jeckle and Hyde kind of situation. We never know who we will get. Some mornings he is bright, happy and cooperative. Other mornings we greet him only to get pouted at (or worse). Cori thinks it is a blood sugar thing. We went through one really bad patch and Cori started just sitting him up to the table and making him drink some milk. 5 minutes later, Grant would be happy. Silly boy. He stopped taking regular naps last summer. But when he gets tired, he asks for a nap or to go to bed. Seriously. He will ask us to put him in bed. Or he will just get his blankie and find a place to snooze.