Memorial Day BBQ

Hoho and I started our lovely holiday weekend with some housekeeping in the school. I worked on organizing the teacher and art materials. I know that when things look good we feel better. Days, which is our local grocery store had a BBQ. So between projects we rushed over and got some lunch for a mire six dollars! After some rest and relaxation Saturday night and all day Sunday we were excited to spend Monday afternoon with the family in Salt Lake.
We invited Sissy and the kiddos over and had a BBQ and just hung out. I love spending quality time with my family and Sissy. The girls had fun playing dress up while Bug played with the train and cars. It was nice to relax and chat. I love my job but sometimes I miss my old life in the city.
  After dinner we said our goodbyes and headed out of town. We wanted to beat the holiday rush back through the canyon. All in all it was a busy, yet successful weekend.

Brave Bug

This little man in the last five in a half years has had numerous doctor visits. So it doesn't seem to phase him now when he goes in. You see Bug was born at 28 weeks gestation and has had to deal with many of the things these small preemies are dealt. His first 10-12 weeks of life were spent in a NICU. Before his first birthday he had a shunt placed in his head that drained the fluid from his head to his stomach. Because of the fluid spending 10 months accumulating on his brain he has suffered vision and hearing loss.
Every year he goes in for a special visit to Primary Children's to check his shunt, as well as many other red flags that pop up with preemies. His hearing has always been an issue so a few weeks ago he went in for a hearing aid fitting and gave the doctors and nurses quite a scare. The doctor was worried about his heart and ordered an EKG as well as a MRI. The soonest they could get him in was two weeks later. I joked with Sissy that if he didn't have a heart condition we all would by the time he got checked out.

No five year old is going to stay still that long. So they gave him a simple local and preformed the MRI. His heart and shunt are both doing their jobs and in great shape. Sissy surprised him with Curious George as he woke up in the recovery room. I'm so grateful that his MRI came back with a clean bill of health.

Buggy boy I love you and can't wait to see your awesome new ears! (his blue camouflage hearing aids) love you brave boy!

Virus

So I kind of felt a tickle in the back of my throat Monday when I went to talk to my primary doctor about my prescriptions. I figured it had to be my seasonal allergies coming as usual. By Wednesday I was coughing so hard I was gagging. I continued to take my allergy medication and use my inhaler twice a day. Nothing seemed to help though.
  By Thursday evening I had plugged in the humidifier and slept with a heat pad on my ears in hopes that it would relieve some of the pressure in my upper head. Friday afternoon the doctor suggested Musinex, fluids and rest. If I spiked a fever or worsened I was to come back in Monday morning. I'm hoping a weekend down with rest will help it clear by midweek.

Sissy

Now I know that many of those whom know me well know the logistics of my best friend and Sissy. I met Sissy in high school in our freshmen year in a math class. We instantly hit it off and a friendship bloomed. By senior year we were close friends and promised we'd keep in touch. Now back story on Sissy... she was an only child of her mother and all her family lived in Colorado.
 As we graduated high school and went our separate ways we kept in touch. In spring of 2008 I received a text message from her that just broke my heart. She was four months pregnant and unmarried. She said she understood if we couldn't be friends any more due to her life choices. If my parents taught me any thing it was to never judge others. I instantly responded with, "Congrats, when are you due?"  From that very moment our friendship changed.
I welcomed five beautiful children in as my adopted nieces and nephew.(three through birth and two step daughters) Been there through the rough patches and darkest hours, and can successfully say that this quote above states it all!  You see Sissy is my hero. Two years ago her life began to spin out of control. If she had known in a mire four months her husband would end up in jail and she'd be left to care for four young children on her own, we would have laughed in your face.
  So much has happened in those two years and I'm so proud of what she has accomplished. She's had to grieve the loss of her step daughter and her husband. Find a way to support herself and four young children.(two with special needs) through this all the kiddos have grown and thrived In their new safe and loving environment. Now let me refresh your mind to the comment above. Sissy has three biological children with her ex, but is a single mother of four. Bug was the baby she was pregnant with in 2008. Bean came in 2010 and Bee in 2012. Then there is H. Sissy has been in H's life for six years. H came permanently to live with Sissy and her ex shortly after her third birthday. She's called sissy mom since she was four.
Sissy may not have given birth to miss H, but she is her mother. I have watched her love and care for each of those children without any guile, or anger. She has even prolonged the paperwork for the divorce in order to get custody of H. No matter the sacrifice or cost those kids come first. As I've watched her the last few months I have learned that a mother's love is so strong! Sissy thank you so much for blessing my life with the love of not only You, but those beautiful children as well.

Mother's Day

Mother's day kind of snuck up on me this year. With everything that has gone on this year in our family I had no idea what my momma would enjoy. Our family enjoys movies and yummy food so Hoho and I collaborated with the boys and decided date night on the house was much needed for the parentals.
  I'm so thankful for my mom and everything she has and continues to do for me. I know that much of the time we don't see eye to eye, but I know she loves me and is proud of me. I'm glad she installed in me the value of education and a love of books and creativity.
  It wasn't until I moved away for college that I truly understood my mother's love. Before the little mother moments as a young adult bothered me, but as I ventured out on my own coming home for short breaks seemed like a trip down memory lane. I began to enjoy the simple things. Such as home made meals, hugs from my parents and most of all just conversations with my mom.
  Now that I live 45 minutes away and in another county, I cherish the values and life lessons my mom taught me that as a younger person I rolled my eyes or mumbled my opinions at under my breath. So I guess what I'm saying is Mom thank you for making me who I am and never giving up. Love you Momzilla and Happy Mother's day!

Boo's Birthday

So can I just say I love my sister in law? First off she knows how to motivate my extremely distracted brother. Second she has a heart of gold. Third she understands our family's dry humor and takes it with a grain of salt. Fourth she makes me smile. The list could go on forever. I wish Hoho and I could of made it to town for your birthday dinner.
  I must say though our girls breakfast at Moe's Diner with Rachel, Hoho and I was loads of  fun! Happy Birthday Girl, love you