Look who's talking NOW!

Something we now hear Parker saying a lot around the house. He has quite the vocabulary now with words like: go, wash, I love you, help, out, in, on, off, bus and nice. We are teaching him the ABC's-with Walker's help of course.

How are YOU feeling?

Alright! I've decided it's been WAY too long since I've said my peace on this page. It's 8pm. Both boys are asleep...kinda. Jason is on a camp out and I'm too restless to read quite yet.

Lately, it seems everyone (including those who don't know me) likes to ask me, "How are you feeling?" It wasn't until I heard how pregnancies went for my sis-in-law that I knew why people ask this. Little did I know that some women are sick for the duration of their pregnancy and can't function on a daily basis without some relief from a pill. For the past 2 1/2 pregnancies I've had the pleasure of not getting sick at all and being able to bend, lift, contort any which way until about month 8. Then, being so huge puts my body at such shock, it decides it doesn't like to let me walk, clean, do dishes or laundry, put on shoes or paint my toenails. So as of right now, I feel great. The answer might be different in a couple of months, but for now, things are just peachy.

Right now I am 20 weeks-half way through. Most of the people I see come in to my work ask me how CLOSE I am to having this baby! HA! I just giggle and tell them I am due in January. (Not making the mistake of telling them the BEGINNING of January, because then I just get lectured on the infamous tax break if I have him/her sooner) I have my ultrasound this coming Wednesday and we are not finding out the gender. That's the way that Jason likes things and he has convinced me that it's more exciting that way. Is your anticipation building yet?

Things have been a little bit of a roller coaster for me emotionally. My mother-in-law recently found out her breast cancer, thought to have been in remission, had spread to her lungs, liver, and brain. Going to work the next day was very difficult. I could only think about Mary and the fear I saw in her face when she told us the news. After the many doctor visits we were told the cancer is terminal and they gave her a time frame of 6 to 12 months. Jason seems to be doing ok with the news. I don't think the emotional part of the reality has hit him. Jason, getting his degree in biology, took a class on the biology of aging. One section was on cancer, so he understands the disease quite well. He hasn't had any real devastation in his life, so I think the logistics are overcoming his emotions right now. I have tried to teach Walker that Grandma will be getting more and more sick and that she will go back to our Heavenly Father soon, but he doesn't really understand how that can be. She looks so full of life right now and to him, she's just the same. I fear I will need to comfort him and teach him about death when it comes.

My mom is also having some trouble with a foot injury she got in running class. It could affect her performance grades in class if it doesn't get better.

Prayers are greatly appreciated for these two ladies.

On a much happier note, my newest niece was born on Wednesday. I can't wait to see little Ruby! Congratulations Kyle and Michelle!

The past few weeks at church have been interesting. Our ward got rearranged and we are now in the Meridian 6th ward. I helped out the first Sunday in our new ward acting as the Primary Chorister. Luckily someone already holds that calling. That is the one calling that scares me to death. Not that I'm not willing, but I would be afraid, very afraid. After helping out the one time, the primary presidency told me what a hit I was, and that the kids enjoyed every minute of it. I must say though, that it was quite fun having both the Jr. and Sr. Primaries signing the "Hello, Hello" song at the top of their lungs. I told them I wanted the bishop to be able to hear them from the other side of the building!

Like I said, An emotional roller coaster. WEEEEEEEEEEE!

So for all those who ask me how I'm feeling, watchout! You just might get the truth.

Mary Cancervive

So I think most of you that read this probably already know, but my mom's cancer as metastasized to the liver, lungs, and brain. It may be in a few other areas, but we will find out today if it has moved to the larynx, trachea, and lymph nodes in the upper part of her chest. She will probably have more tests on her lower abdomen soon to find if it has gone to the kidney, as well as test to see if it has spread to her bone marrow. What was so surprising about it is that just last monday she had her "last test" and they cleared her for 1 full year. Then on Saturday she started having a pain in her midsection, so went to the ER sunday morning. That is when they found it had spread. (So yes, she was "cured" for about a whole 5 days) It is in Stage 4, which is the most advanced stage of Cancer. The way I see it, we could have found out about it now, and try to treat it, or we could have not known about it until it was too late. (Even with treatment, she is not expected to live much past a year.) I would much rather know its coming, so that all of us can prepare, and she can get the things done that are most important to her. So many of us go through life wasting away the time doing things that are not what is most important. It is a good time for us to reevaluate what we do, and prioritize what is most important.

Thanks to everybody for the prayers and the support. Many of you have offered to help, and I will let you know what we need when we need it. Right now, we would like to get a collection of favorite memories of my mom. What do you think of when you think of her? I know one friend talked about my mom getting pulled over on the way home from soccer practice. What is one of your favorite memories?

More Stuff

I had a great idea of exactly how I wanted to word this post, but I totally ran out of time!

I have been SUPER busy, what with work, and getting ready for scout camp. I swear, being a Scoutmaster is a full-time job in and of itself! Especially when none of the Assistant Scoutmasters are going to Camp! (there are 3. It is just hard for them to help plan, when they aren't going to be around).

I had this great idea of how I was gonna talk about the physical I had to get to go to Scout Camp. I know, it is probably NOTHING compared to what I will go through later in life, and probably pales in comparison to what happens with pregnant women, but still. It was not great. First of all, it was done by a medical student. Nothing wrong with that. 1 exception to that, was that she wasn't nearly as Sensitive, in my sensitive area. I know, she was doing her job, but HOLY MOLEY. I think she got the point when my screams started shattering glass. I do have to admit, though, that the funniest part was that both of them thought I was 18. The med student totally treated me like a kid, until about 20 minutes in (you know, small talk during all the pokes and proddings) I was talking about how I had been married for 5 years, and have my 3rd baby on the way. It took her a while, but she finally got it. Then when the Doc came in, she just mostly watched for about 5 minutes. They left so I could get dressed, and I heard them talking. They left the door cracked open, and I heard her say "oh, he isn't 18?"

Now, let's watch the Camp Director's jaw drop tomorrow morning when I tell him I am in charge of 10 boys. (He won't believe me, I promise)

Time Flies

Wow, it has been WAY too long since we have put up any meaningful posts. Sorry guys, this one is is not gonna have any good pictures or anything with it either.

Here in a VERY BRIEF list, I will give you the low-down on what is going on here.

1. I started my own business a few months ago. That has been keeping me VERY busy.

2. Sarah is Pregnant, due the beginning of January. (She is getting fatigued more easily, so it takes her longer to do all of the hundreds of things she does for our family.) That has kept her pretty busy.

3. I am now the Scoutmaster in my ward. I had been planning and getting ready for the High Adventure for the older boys, but I will now be going to Scout Camp at Camp Morrison. So the last month I have been trying to get Scout camp organized, as well as records updated on all of the scouts. With Boys missing some activities, and not bringing their books to others, it is hard to tell where they are at. (they say they did it, but I don't have a record of it, which means it needs to be done again) I am trying to get all 8 boys to 1st class before scout camp in 1 month. Oh, and that has kept me pretty busy too.

4. My 10 year reunion is this weekend. I was involved early on with the planning stages, but have not been involved at all with it in the last little bit. I am looking forward to seeing everybody that comes to it.

5. Regular old Family Life. (if there is such a thing) The nursery leaders have let Parker go in to nursery a few weeks early. He has been very good with it. He has finally started communicating with us in ways other than crying or screaming. He will shake his head yes, and he signs the following: milk, please, thank you, all done, more, and food. He used to say "Da-da" all the time, but over the past month, he has refused, and will only say "Ma-ma". He makes kissing sounds when he sees a puppy. He will Wave goodbye, and will give us kisses. He will also blow kisses, but we are working on the blowing part of it. Walker loves to play outside, help me with everything, and has learned that he can take toys away from Parker. He is pretty energetic. His favorite thing to do is to go over to Gramma Woodbury's House. I swear he asks to do that every day. I would love to do that, but I don't think Grandma could handle it that often. She did take Walker down to my cousin Bob's wedding. They stopped by aunt Delynne's house, and Walker got to play in the play house. Talk about a Dream come TRUE! For any of you that know it, it is perfect for kids.

Anyway, that is a little bit of an update on us. What have you been up to?

Wife Appreciation:

Here is to my wonderful wife!

1. She cleans.
2. She cleans some more.
3. She supports me in everything that I do.
4. She excels at work.
5. She cleans. (yes, it is very repetetive)
6. She does my laundry.
7. She gets the kids to bed.
8. She cleans up after the kids (Yes, that includes me)
9. She mows the lawn.
10. She weeds the lawn.
11. She weeds the flower garden.
12. She cooks me dinner.
13. She does the dishes after dinner.
14. She deserves a break! (and a vacation)

Thanks sweetie for everything that you do for me!

Reservations

That's right! My husband, the romantic, has already decided to make reservations for next year's Valentines Day. What on earth could possibly make a man do this? Well, this particular place brings back a lot of memories for us. It seems like 3 out of 5 years we've been married, we've spent a little bit of time here. The service is always great, and if I recall correctly, the last time I stayed there, it was about $600/night. By now, I probably have you on the edge of your seat wanting more details about this place, and how YOU could get a room there.
Well, don't get too excited. It's the hospital!

Walker had a cough all day Friday, which just got worse and worse the closer we got to bed time. We did a couple of Albuterol treatments between 11 and 1 am and tried to get him to sleep some more. By 3:30, he was up again needing another treatment. Walker didn't seem to be responding to the treatments, so Jason and I thought to check the expiration date...yep-expired! Since we had no friends up on Facebook to see if anyone had any albuterol, we decided to have Jason take Walker into the ER while I stayed home with Parker. They ended up staying at the hospital until about 10:30 when they came home. The timing could not have been more perfect. Parker was ready for his morning nap, Walker (having been awake half the night) was out like a light when they got home, and Jason and I took the opportunity to take a nap as well.
After giving the day some thought, Jason and I realized that when Walker was 10 months old, it was on Valentines Day that we first went to the hospital to treat bronchiolitis. Then last year, it was again on Valentine's Day that he got the same thing, and this year it is the same.
Jason has made the decision, to save time, we will simply make a reservation for next year at the ER, probably some time around Valentines Day!

Also, Parker has started walking!!!! His first few uncoaxed, unassisted steps were taken during the closing prayer of Relief Society last week. Monday through Thursday had three or four steps here and there, but Friday and Saturday have been filled with the new pitter-patter of Parker's feet. Parker's fascination with cupboards and drawers has also increased from just open/shut to "Oh my, what goody goodiness is in here?" Needless to say, Momma and Daddy busted out the safety latches this weekend.

I Think It's That Time of Winter....

...when you just want summer to come. (And all the Popsicles that go along with it)

Merry Christmas, Happy Anniversary Happy New Year, Happy Birthday

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! Ours was not stressful...and I made sure of that! I stocked up on groceries, diapers, formula, wipes and toiletries for at least the month of December. After being at work for hours on end seeing all the crazy grumpy-bum shoppers withdraw all their money (and when I say 'all' I really mean 'all' ) to go to the mall or Walmart, the last thing I wanted to do was go spend more time with them at any store. I apologize to those who were expecting a holiday card from us. This was also part of my "no-stress" plan. There were also no goody plates made from my kitchen. I'm sorry.... Eating right and baking goodies do not belong in the same sentence in my book.
Jason and I celebrated our 5th Anniversary on the 28th. We went out to eat at an Argentine restaurant, Tango's. Our new tradition. And continued our date with an eye-reddening double feature at the theatre. It's been a while since I stayed up past 10:30, so I was quite pleased with myself that I was able to stay up so late. We saw "New Moon" and "Avatar". It was quite the night.
We rang in the New Year with a few good friends. I made a cake for Parker's first birthday.I just didn't want to trust another no-name cake froster to destroy the cake by misspelling Parker's name. (If you'll recall, Walker's First Birthday cake said, "Happy 1st Birthday Walkr"
Parker liked having cake..........on his head
I'm not sure what he liked more: eating cake, or eating the plate.

Parker loves walking with his new little gadget from Grandmother Clements. We also got him a little ...um, I forget what they are called, but Jason and I call it the abacus. It has the thick wires that wind around that have the little wooden beads on them.

We got the kids to bed, played games and in the middle of playing, 'Celebrity' discovered it was 11:59-just in time to get the Martinelli's out and toast to the New Year.
So here's my toast to you: Don't spend this year waiting for next year. Make it the best you can. Keep those who are close to you even closer.