No rest for the weary mom

Sick today- feel like puking, but no rest for the weary mom.  

Took Kenz for a follow-up appointment with the Pediatrician after her few urgent care visits.  She's still struggling to breathe and this whole 'treat the symptom and freely give false diagnosis' thing is killing me... And her.  This is precisely one of my 'whys' for wanting to be a PA.

Since the mold exposure was apparent in September, we've been told by a few different doctors, "it's bronchitis, it's sinusitis, it's extreme allergies, take these meds, might be mono; oops, that didn't work, let's do an X-ray- looks like pneumonia so let's give you a shot in the butt, some steroids and lots of antibiotics, plus allergy meds and cough meds, and an inhaler. Take this homeopathic remedy; it should make you feel better. Oops, it's not pneumonia, it's probably classic asthma, take these meds..., nope, meds didn't work so it's probably chronic viral bronchitis, but really, we're stumped, so keep taking your inhaler right before your swim work-outs, and let's get you into an Allergist."  I think the part that takes the cake is the PA who asked me, 'does she smoke?' And after I answer a resounding NO, turns to her and says disapprovingly, 'do you smoke?'  Really???  That's all ya got?? 

I don't have much faith in the medical community that doesn't want to explore beyond the usual.  But today, a break from school and lunch at The Habit made it better for a moment.  And then tomorrow starts the cycle all over again.

Valentine's Day at the Gilbert Temple

In some ways our 'pilgrimage' to the Gilbert Temple open house reminded me of all those stories you hear from the early days of the LDS Saints and their pilgrimage to the temple to worship or be sealed. 

The day before leaving we had only a few dollars to our name, but this trip was so important to me for really only one reason.  How often do/will our children have the chance to experience walking through the doors of such a holy edifice as youth and primary aged children?  To  see and feel for themselves what joy & peace that can be theirs if they live their lives in such a way to claim those blessings.  A beacon and a perfect memory to hold onto when times get tough, when the road doesn't seem clear, when judgement is clouded, weakness prevails, or when the path seems bright!

We had planned on staying at Kevin and Brooke's, but last minute, she didn't want houseguests, being due in a month with baby #2... So having no funds to go, but feeling strongly about taking the kids.. We booked a hotel for one night in hopes that K&B ended up relenting-- I guess they felt badly knowing how many years and how many times we had hosted them when it wasn't the most convenient. 

The night before we left, Curt received a small bonus from work... One that would pay for the gas and allow us to have a few meals out.  And so we made our 24 hour pilgrimage.  

And the temple did not disappoint.  I wish I could have captured on camera Izzie's face as she rounded the corner into the celestial room and laid her eyes on the most grand crystal chandelier I've ever seen.  Alexandra was in awe of the grand staircase that she envisioned to be in her house when she grows up.  I loved that the mystery was taken out of whatever was in Monson's head when he saw the simple beauty of the sealing room and the altar where marriages/ sealings take place.  The mirrors of eternity caught Mckenzie's eye.  It is my hope & prayer that these simple symbols will become the memories my children will hold onto as they experience the ebbs and crossroads of life, which will propel them to choose the right, even when it's hard.

Meet Justin Bieber

...Holding hands with overly- obsessed 3-year-old, Viviana.  She drew this picture of him at speech preschool and professed her love.  Her teachers just crack up at the things that come out of her mouth.  Giggly and giddy, 

"I want to hug him and and give him kisses... I wuv Justin Bieber. He's cute!"  

I think I have reason to fear...our 3-year-old is already boy crazy.  

We've been battling illness in our home.  The other day, Monson asked me if he had a fever... Viviana overheard and piped in, "Fever?  Bieber Fever?"  

She doesn't miss an opportunity to crank up his music or search & find his Never Say Never movie trailer video on an itouch.  Too much pop culture for a 3-year-old?  I think so.

Celebrate McKenzie.

We only do parties for our kids every 4 years or so.  McKenzie's last one had to be skipped because I was on bedrest with Viviana....   So this was her first party since she was FIVE.... 

Let the celebrations begin!  And I don't do small scale and simple when it comes to celebrations.   We had a ridiculously slim budget to work with.  

Feast your eyes.  It was so much fun to plan.... 

A delicious glitter party with a 

yummy cabochon accessory project.

They played a fun icebreaker game... there were about 20 questions written on that beach ball... they toss it, and whomever catches it has to answer the question their right thumb is sitting on.

Foozeball tournament

Playing "I never"

Happy Birthday, Kenz!

New Quotables...

Izzie:  "When we are on the swings he just looks at me and so I look back.  Then I just looked at the sky cause I was kind of nervous.  I'm just gonna ask him if he likes me, cause I'm a lovely girl.  I know Ben likes me."  2/9/2011

"The most important things in life are things like... Heavenly Father, Jesus, the Holy Ghost, AND play dates!" Izzie 2/11/11

"I need medicine mom, I have hiccups in my mouth." -Viviana 2/17/11

"When is Heavenly Father going to answer my prayer?  I try to listen and I think that he did answer me, but I couldn't hear it because Izzie was talking too loud!" Alexandra 2/18/11

Alexandra said, "Why can't girls be prophets?"  Isabella piped in, "Duh, because girls don't wear suits and ties! Plus girls are too loud and throw tantrums!"  3/6/11

Mom to Viviana:  "What's all over your face?"  It's happy!  10/26/11

Izzie:  "Mom, what's this on my face (pointing to a blemish)... I have a great idea... let's just get rid of it by bedazzzling it!" 8/18/11

To Our Children: When You Grow Up...

and have children of your own...

It will be payback time.  

We will come visit your homes all of the time.... AND 

• We're going to gather all the shoes in your house and have your kids leave them just inside the front door so you trip.
• We're going to teach your kid how to eat all your granola bars and leave the wrappers all over the house.
• We're going to complain, "I don't like this dinner" before we even taste it.
• We're going to feed your kids all kinds of sugar... right before we leave so they're bouncing off the walls.  
• We'll convince them that flossing is overrated so you end up having to pay thousands on root canals and fillings.
• We're going to bring drums and instruments, and noisemakers of every kind... so they can share their talents with you 24/7.
• We're going to shower and then leave all our towels on the floor in a giant pile... and then add the clean ones to the pile.
• We're going to show the kids how to put toothpaste on their toothbrushes and then leave them under the sink until the ants get to them.
• We're going to give them water right before bed so you have to get up at 2 am to take your three-year old potty.
• And we'll be sure to bring legos with us and then dump them all over the floor in the hallway so that at 2 am when you're rushing to take your three year old to the potty in the dark you step on them you scream 'damnit' really loudly.
• We're going to get every bowl out of the cupboard, and pour cereal and milk into them... and then walk away leaving them on the table to waste.
• We will break all your pencil sharpeners for you.
• We will draw on all your printer paper and leave the caps off the markers to dry out and make sure to leave all the mess on the floor.
• We will bring an electric pencil sharpener with us and sit in front of the TV and sharpen them one after another while you're trying to watch the news.
• We will buy your kids rootbeer and let each one open his/her own can, take ONE sip, then set it down on the table never to return again.  
• We will give them otter pops and make sure they leave their sticky wrappers in the garage or all over the ground outside.
• We will take all the utensils and plates and cups outside in the backyard and garage... and leave them until you find them a few months later.
• We will take your itouch and make sure your kids hide it in obscure places and then say "just kidding"  when you find it 3 weeks later.
• We make certain they chant and throw tantrums unless you let them have their way.
• We will make your older child hit your younger one and then blame it on the middle one.
• We will dress your kids with their undies on backwards.
• We will buy five balloons and let them float to the top of the ceiling so you can listen to them scream and cry for their dumb balloons.
• We will take your kids to the library and check out 42 books at once and make sure they stick them in their backpacks and loose them in their rooms... and find them 4 months later so you have to pay the overdue fees.
• We will watch movies with lots of buttery popcorn and make sure they spill at least half of it on the carpet.  Once the movie is over, we will make sure they know how to dump the old maid kernels in the disposal, jamming it up so you have to fix it.
• We will go to In & Out and buy everyone shakes, burgers and animal style fries, and then tell them they can only eat about half, and then show them how to stuff the rest in the crevices of the seats and mush it into the floors of your car and leave it there for you to find when the car starts smelling rancid.
• We will let your kids play hide and seek with your car keys.
• We will put your kids in your car to play around and leave all the lights on so in the morning your car battery is toast.  And they're late to school.
• We will come and chant in your ear every morning to see what the weather is going to be like.
• And we'll make sure to dump our suitcases out in the middle of the guest bedroom and we'll make sure they puke all over your favorite quilts and onto the carpet so you have to clean it up.
• And in the middle of the night, we'll teach them how to pick their noses and leave boogers on the wall...  the kind that only can be sanded off.
• We'll show your kids how to play dress up with your shoes and your makeup-- until they're utterly ruined.
• And we'll make sure to teach them how to dip the toilet paper in the toilet water and suck on it when they're thirsty.
• And with just one special little one... we'll make sure she wipes poop all over herself from head to toe and then continues to finger paint the walls and floors with poop just so you have the joy of raising yourself.

We cracked ourselves up with this list 

of just a few things you guys have done..

But we promise to love them just the same.

My Chanting Alarm

Who needs alarms when you have Alexandra living right under your nose?  Every morning... precisely some time between 6:30 and 7:15 (AKA before this night owl mom wants to pry her eyes open... Miss Alexandra comes to my bedside and very UNtenderly wakes me up by demanding, "What's the weather going to be like today?  Hot or cold... hot or cold?" When I don't answer right away or the right way according to her ... she continues:

mom mom mom mom mom MOM! (said with obvious gusto)... 

You get the idea.  She chants my name even though I've already mumbled off something that at least sounded good to me... in my half-asleep state like, 

"it's going to be cold in the morning and warm in the afternoon"  

Well, that's not good enough for her... she doesn't 'do' warm.  The same way she doesn't 'do' maybes.  She's a black and white, right and wrong girl... nothing in between.  So everyday in beautiful sunny California... when it's 42 degrees in the morning and 72 degrees in the afternoon... she wears this once-cute, now awful coat.  She wears it with shorts and sandals, she wears it with sweat pants, jeans and skirts.  You won't find Alexandra without her beloved gray toggle coat.  Rain or shine, warm or cold.  Even after school in lovely 70 degree weather... you can spot her a mile away bundled up in her coat because it's just that big that heaven forbid she holds it instead of wears it.  It's just easier to sweat it out.  So in the end it didn't even matter how I answered the weather question during my morning alarm.

Lip Smackers

You know she's a girly girl when....

It only takes one sitting to go through a whole stick of lip balm.