Day #291 - Soccer (Sept. 10th. . . I am finally up to date!!!)

Eryn and Joseph are both taking soccer this Fall and I think that it is great for both of them. This is Joseph's second time around and he is really improving. He has a long list of friends on his team and a good coach from our ward, so it is a very friendly environment. Eryn is trying soccer for her first time and is loving it. She was playing this morning and kept telling me on her water breaks, "this is so fun." She played goalie for the first time today and did a great job.

Day #290 - Rest

This has been a busy week. We are way to over scheduled these days. For once we didn't have anything on the calendar and could rest and regroup.

Day #289 - Good Attendance

A scout hosted our activity for his Eagle Project. It was a Walk and Roll activity to encourage exercise and fitness. Everyone got an orange bracelet at the finish line that said "Walk and Roll."

We had a Support Group activity tonight for the Intermountain Spina Bifida Support Group. We always hope for a great turn out at our events, but never know which activities will attract lots of people. This was a very well attended event! Also, as usual it was great to connect with so many families dealing with our similar situation.

Day #288 - Joseph has started Preschool

Jojo started preschool yesterday. He is going to have a great year!

Day #287 - Chance meeting

I ran into a friend I haven't seen for a while at Joseph's soccer game today. It was so nice to see her and her little family and reconnect.

Day #286 - Tomatoes

I am loving the tomatoes we have been harvesting lately. So much tastier than the store bought ones.

Day #285 - Noah

My nephew, Noah was baptized today. He was so happy throughout the entire day. It was sweet to see him almost giggling with joy before going into the water. I love Noah very much and am grateful for the spirit we felt at his baptism.

Day #284 - Time Alone

Okay. . . I know I am sounding really pitiful after the last few posts, but really I am fine. We all have rough days, right? Anyway, I took some time for myself tonight and felt lots better. It was nice to be alone and to feel quiet.

Day #283 - Joel is home

After a rough hand full of days it is great to have Joel back home.

Day #282 - All things from God

I was reminded today that all of my blessings come from God.

Mosiah 2: 20-21

"I say unto you, my bretheren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another -

I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another - I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants."

Sometimes I forget that He is the source of all of the good in my life and of all of my blessings. I love God and am grateful for the life and breath that he lends to me every day.

Day #281 - A listening ear

I cried on the phone to a friend today. Things got a little too overwhelming for me at the end of the day and trying to stay positive was not working. I appreciate Kelly for her listening ear. I wish I wasn't such a wimp sometimes, but this last week has been pretty tiring doing the kids on my own. I feel bad complaining to Joel when he is literally doing everything in his power to fulfill all of his responsibilities with work, church and home. Ultimately I know that things will improve and most weeks are not like this. So. . . here's hoping for a better week and if not. . . I am putting Kelly on speed dial!

Day #280 - Eryn is doing well

Eryn and our family's personal hero, Ann Marie Hannon. She literally has made a huge difference in our lives. A very dedicated, kind and caring person.

Eryn and I went in for a check up today with the Urology department. She had an ultrasound done to look at her bladder and kidneys. Everything is holding - which is good. Her right kidney is not looking great. It is small and is still retaining some urine, but looks much better than when she was in such bad health over a year ago. Her left kidney looks great and her bladder is so so. The walls are pretty thick (not sure what that means). In the office we tried to get her to empty her bladder on her own on a special potty chair. After multiple friendly attempts (very low pressure from me and the nurse) it was clear that she still has no way of emptying her own bladder. She is healthier than ever, though and on a very good routine with cathing. So overall we are happy and keeping a watch on things.

Day #279 - Visit from Becca

We had a nice little visit from Aunt Becca today. She is like a superstar in our house. Everyone loves her and wants her attention (including me). :) She has been pretty busy lately. So it was nice to have her over.

Day #278 - Few Complications

Lily has really had very few medical complications so far in her short life. I was talking to another mother through our support group on the phone tonight. She has a daughter around the same age as Lily. As we talked about all of her daughters surgeries and shunt problems, I couldn't help but feel grateful for Lily's lack of surgeries. Not to say that she won't have serious issues and surgeries in the future. Just makes me feel blessed for where we are now.

Day #277 - Emily & Siope

Emily had extra tickets to see "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" so she gave them to Joel and me. Neither of us had seen this before. We really enjoyed it and felt so happy coming out of the show. The whole thing was just full of fun and happy energy. Thanks to Emily for the tickets and to Siope for watching the kids (they are already asking to come back to your house).

Day #276 - Personalized Care

We were at Spina Bifida Clinic recently and I talked with one of the nurses about bowel training for Lily. She seems to think that Lily is old enough to work on getting her on what they call a bowl program. I will spare everyone the details. The great thing is that the clinic offers one on one help. We set up an appointment with the nurse practitioner (Paula) who met with us and listened to everything that Lily is doing, learned about our family situation and then helped create a plan tailored to us. After meeting with Paula today I was very happy with the goals that we set. It will also be nice to be able to speak with her over the phone for some follow up support (believe me we will need it!). This is going to be a long process, but hopefully it will help with Lily's over all health. I have already bought her a little potty (with a good back support for her to sit well) and she is cooperating with sitting on the potty for a few minutes at a time. She thinks that she is a really big girl. In the week that we have worked with this potty, I have already noticed an increase in her appetite. So I am pleased and hoping for the best.

Day #275 - Medicine

Anna went to three days of school then came down with a sore throat on Wednesday night. Thankfully we took her to the doctor and found out that she had strep throat! The doctor said that she was her first patient with strep in three months! Poor Anna. I am just grateful that we were able to get her some medicine to give her some relief! She ended up missing two days of the first week of school.

Day #274 - Playdates for Lily

One of my goals this next school year is to give Lily lots of opportunities to play with children around her age. She needs the social development. She has proven to love being around children her age, but tends to need a little protection and a lot of support. She lacks confidence, especially when another child towers over her. So far so good. It takes a lot of dedication on my part, mostly because I need to be very involved in their play or at least very watchful. But I am sure that it will be worth it for Lily's normal development and overall happiness.

Day #273 - Peggy

Eryn has to do something that not a lot of children her age (7 yrs old) have to do. To maintain a healthy body and to protect her kidneys from further damage, she inserts a catheter (long tube) into her bladder through a stoma (surgically created port in her bellybutton) to empty it. She does this every four hours, every day. Eryn has proven to be very responsible with her medical needs. She rarely fights us on this relentless task. In fact she does it all on her own every day as long as we remind and prompt her to take care of it. She also takes a medication twice daily to help her bladder relax and not to leak. It is nasty stuff. But she prefers to dispense it to herself as long as she has food and water on hand to help wash it down. Up until about a month ago she was also taking an antibiotic on top of that medicine every day to help avoid infections in her bladder. She definitely lives with multiple reminders daily that her body needs watch care to stay healthy.

Because it is so important for Eryn to empty her bladder regularly, she has to catheterize herself at school once a day. All last year she had a wonderful aid provided by the school district who acted as a helper for her. Eryn did so well last year with Peggy's help. For a child who carries such a big responsibility, it was so comforting to have such a consistent, friendly support at school.

This year our school was in jeopardy of losing Peggy based on a low number of special needs kids. When the school year was about to begin, Eryn started to get really anxious about the idea of being responsible for herself at school. After a week of sharing Peggy's responsibilities between the school secretaries and Eryn's teacher, I was so grateful to hear that our Principal fought hard and won Peggy back to our school. I really think that I took her for granted. It was such a great relief to know that Eryn had her to rely on again.

Day #272 - 1st Day of School

Eryn, 2nd Grade - Anna, 4th Grade

I love the first day of school. As a child I remember setting out my clothes the night before with such excitement. My girls are just the same. It's always special to have something new to wear that first day. Both the girls left for school this morning happy and excited for what the new year will bring.

Day #271 - Dedicated Choir Members

We just started Ward Choir practice up again today. It's always tricky to get good attendance, especially when starting after a break. I felt grateful today to see a handful of friendly faces. There is a short list of ward choir members who are very faithful in coming and who are very supportive to me. There they were and we got back to work. I am so grateful to them and hope to be that dedicated to ward choir in the future.

Day #270 - A New Calling

Joel just recently got called as Elders Quorum President. This calling is definitely going to be a big time commitment for Joel and in turn for me (not having him around). It's been a bit of an adjustment for all of us. But despite the rough change, I feel extremely grateful for the opportunity it gives Joel to be involved in service. I just pray for the strength to not complain when he is gone more often.

Day #269 - Musicals

I grew up watching lost of musicals. Some of my favorites as a child were: The Sound of Music, The Music Man, Meet Me In St. Louis, Annie and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Our local theater is putting on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers right now and I was able to take my girls to see it. We all had a great time and really enjoyed the play. I am grateful I had a chance to share one of my loves with my girls.

Day #268 - The Book of Mormon

I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon. I feel that it is proof that God is the same yesterday, today and always. It clearly shows that God loves all of his children. When I read it, I feel peace and comfort and the gospel of Jesus Christ comes into complete view. I was reading the Book of Mormon with my family the other day and read a scripture that reminded me of this.

In 1 Corinthians 15:22 it says: "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

In Mosiah 3:16 King Benjamin teaches: ". . . for behold, as in Adam, or by nature, they fall, even so the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins."

I am grateful for the clarity that the Book of Mormon brings to the teachings in the Bible. I love both books of scripture and feel blessed by their teachings in my life.

Day #267 - Joesph's Asthma is improving

Joseph has struggled with asthma for the past two and a half years. It was really hard to figure out how to control. But after a lot of education and after getting into a good routine with his puffers we were able to keep it in better control. We also started using some oils which also seemed to help. This has been a pretty asthma-free summer and his symptoms seem to be much more mild and easier to manage. I am so grateful for that and I'm just hoping it will continue.

Day #266 - Ammon

My nephew, Ammon received his mission call! He is going to be a missionary in Peru! I am so proud of him and excited for him. He will be the first of the grandkids in our family to serve a mission. It's kind of fun that he is carrying on the spanish speaking country trend, too.

Day #265 - River Fun

One of my favorite things about the summer here is playing in the river with the kids. It reminds me of sitting in the surf at the beach. The sun is hot, the water is cool and there is a lot to explore. I usually put a swim diaper on Lily and just plop her down in a shallow area. The other kids walk up and down, find pretty rocks and interesting sticks and play pretend. We had to put off river play this summer because the rivers were so high in the spring. So it has been nice to be able to get in the water and cool off!

Day #264 - It's Over!

Joel and I have been involved in a committee for our Stake's 30 year celebration (which happened last night). When we first got involved, we had no idea how much time and energy we would have to commit. Joel especially dedicated a lot of hours doing recordings, collecting pictures and editing video. We worked with some very talented people (who also dedicated a lot of time) and in general things turned out very nice. It's just good to know that it's all done. :)

Day #263 - Anna

The summer is coming to a close and I don't know what I am going to do without Anna. She has been very helpful to me this summer in a lot of ways. It's amazing how just the simplest things can make such a big difference: opening a door for me, picking Lily up and bringing her to me, picking something up off of the floor, entertaining younger siblings, the list goes on and on. I have been so grateful for her help.

Day #262 - My Life (Aug. 12th)

Today was our 11th anniversary. My girls caught wind of our anniversary a few days ago and have been scheming and planning things that they could do for us. They asked to sleep upstairs so that when Lily woke up, they could hear her and get her. So bright and early the next morning when Lily made the tiniest peep I could here their little feet scurrying down the hall to take care of her. Then I could hear their little voices quieting her down and asking her to put her hand on a paper so that they could trace it. About an hour later they woke us up and called us over for breakfast. They had set the table for breakfast, folded laundry, cleaned up and each made cards for us. As I sat at the breakfast table with all of those sweet faces smiling at me, I felt happy. Eleven years ago I never would have imagined that we would be where we are today in so many ways. Life has taken us on lots of surprising twists and turns. But, honestly I always hoped for a sweet and loving family - and that's just what we have! Not perfect by any means - but wonderful just the same. I love my life.

P.S. I am also so grateful for Anna who was basically the mastermind behind this morning. She is really thoughtful and talented at making big plans. :)

Day #261 - Mistakes I Make

I make some bad mistakes sometimes. I am kicking myself for one today. I totally put my foot in my mouth. The only good perspective I can put on my mistakes is that they make me feel more compassion and forgiveness for others when they do dumb things.