{my morning at the dentist}

Normally a trip to the dentist wouldn't be anything to write home about, but this particular morning will probably be cemented in my mind for quite a long time.

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to take all five kids to the dentist at the same time.  I can see why my thought process seemed sound at the time I made the appointments--I'm sure I was thinking that Rick would be able to come with me to help with kids, and getting everyone done at one time would save us from multiple visits. 

Making appointments six months in advance is kind of crazy, in my opinion.  Who knows what in the world they are going to be doing six months down the road?  I certainly didn't know Rick's travel schedule, and he ended up being out of town last week.  My only hope was that they always put us with more than one hygienist at a time, so the visit is cut at least in half.  My heart sank when we walked in, and I was informed that there would be only one hygienist that day.  

All of a sudden the one bag of bribery jelly beans I brought seemed vastly insufficient. And yes, they do seem rather counterproductive, but

Emma was up first.  I left Ryan with Kate in the waiting room, and pushed the boys in the stroller down to be with Emma.  She did so well.  The boys, did not.  They weren't really being naughty as much as antsy, but what 2 year old wants to be strapped down in the middle of a hallway, with nothing to look at except people in scrubs and white shoes? When Emma was finished with her cleaning, the dentist wasn't available to come look at her x-rays so she could get her fluoride treatment.  Emma would have to come back after everyone was done to finish up. Not a good sign.

Kate was next...and after her cleaning, the dentist still wasn't available.  She was added to the queue, and I knew we weren't leaving anytime soon.

By the time Kate was done, it was Ryan's turn, and I took the boys back to the waiting room to see if I could entertain them with a few toys. There weren't many there, and the ones that I brought with me weren't doing the trick.  We tried reading books, singing songs, and anything else I could think of to entertain them.  I'm sure the office staff and other people in the waiting room really appreciated the show, but it was MUCH better than it would have been otherwise.  Really, they should have been thanking me. Lol.

I took the boys and girls back to see how Ryan was doing, and we had pretty much hit the limit by that point.  The jelly beans were going in pretty quickly by now, and I was just hoping we would have enough to last the whole visit.

{kate is thrilled, can't you tell?}

{love this "get me out of here" face!}

When the hygienist finished with Ryan and told me that the dentist still wasn't ready, I wanted to cry.  She still had to look at all three of their x-rays, examine their teeth, and give them one more treatment. I looked at the boys, looked back up at her, and told her that if the dentist didn't come in the next three minutes, we would be skipping the rest of it. They really had been so patient considering the circumstances, but it was time.to.go.

The dentist was there in less than a minute.

Three hours after I backed out of the driveway that morning, I was finally home. 

I fed the kids and put them down for naps in record time...I needed my own nap.  And some chocolate.

It's a good thing that we only go every six months, because we're all going to need that long to recuperate!

{moments}

Sometimes, I wish I could freeze time... if only for a moment. Why does it have to pass so fast?

Sigh.

{my boy}

This is enough to make me forget the hours proceeding this quiet moment...

♥ this boy. 

{photo booth}

I downloaded pictures from my camera the other day, and I found some that the girls had taken together.  When I saw them, it gave me a sudden glimpse into the future--through teen years and into their adulthood, and I actually choked up a little. 

Lucky girls--they'll always have each other.

{our easter}

Easter snuck up on me this year.  April already?  The weekend was proceeded by Spring Break, and Rick was able to take a couple of days off, which was the best. 

One of the highlights of the holiday was a flashlight egg hunt, which my kids LOVED.  We haven't had one like that in a few years, but I think we'll continue the tradition--it was so, so fun.  We had hot chocolate and indoor s'mores afterward, and it just made for a wonderful night with friends.  

The Easter Bunny made an appearance this weekend, of course, and there was much speculation about what would be in the baskets this year.  Emma was talking to me about it, and she said, "I can't figure out what will be in them, toys, candy, or 300 bucks." Needless to say, there was no money involved, just enough candy to cause three cavities...each.

Easter Sunday is another one of those holidays where the camera comes out before church, but with a 9am start time, that can sometimes come at a price.  This year it was Henry crying, Jack wanting Rick to be in the picture, and Ryan missing in action for the first few minutes. One day I'll appreciate the imperfection I'm sure, but once in awhile I would like a picture where everyone is smiling and happy.  Hmmmm.  A girl can dream, right?

Easter dinner was an adventure, to say the least.  We should probably just have grilled cheese, lol.  There were cobs of corn dunked in milk, people poked with forks, and more.  I guess with so many littles that's par for the course, but Rick and I just looked at each and shook our heads. We did have a really good discussion about Easter, and what we learned in church today, so I think it was redeemed for the most part.

Now the kids are tucked in their beds, sure to have dreams of chocolate bunnies running through their heads.  The sun is setting on a wonderful Easter Sunday, and on a week at home with family and friends--that's what I call happiness.

Happy Easter...from our home to yours!

{the allure of a dollar}

I took my girls to Dollar Tree for the first time ever today.  I had to stop by and get a couple of things for a project, and since it was right after ballet, they came along.

Oh my.

They thought they hit the jackpot, and were literally giddy, as they danced from one aisle to the next.  I don't know if Dollar Tree has ever seen such enthusiastic patrons! 

Kate:  "I love this place!  They just have so many things!"

Emma:  "I would be so happy if I could live here."

Kate:  Mom!  Can we have this?  It has a 1 on it!

Our big purchases? 

Peeps and Princess rings.  

Good day.

{catching up}

I can't believe I've only had two posts this month--it's the longest space between posts I've had since I started blogging.  Life has been especially busy--I know I always say that, but it's felt different lately. So, to get us caught up, here's a little synopsis of the past month...

{After leaving my sister's house the end of February, they came here to watch our kids while I joined Rick on a business trip to Houston.  It was only for a few days, but it was wonderful.  YUMMY food, a quiet hotel room where I could watch whatever I wanted, working out in the middle of the morning, and warm weather--it was the best!}

 {We are busy building beds...three of them!  We finally got to the stack of wood pallets I found a couple months ago, and we're almost finished with a new bed for us, using the pallets as the headboard and footboard. I already have the new bedding--it's going to be a totally different look!  The girls' beds are also in progress, and we're using shutters for the headboard and footboard.  I'm getting antsy to have them done--but that's no surprise, lol.}

{I cleaned out every closet in our house this past weekend, and I can't stop looking at them. :) Every time I walk by Rick's closet I have to open it and look, lol. Don't you love that feeling?  I go through Ryan's room every couple of months and "de-junk", but this was a major overhaul of both his and Rick's especially.  Lots of stuff to Salvation Army, and I'm feeling great!}

{I  got another ticket.  For speeding.  I swear they have me on some kind of "watch" list, lol.  They were both for 10 and under, but still...}

{Jack refuses to go to bed at night.  Doesn't matter if he has a nap or not, he's just put his foot down, and that's all there is to it.  I think I have to put him back in bed at least 42 times each night before he finally gives in.  How much longer do you think I'm going to have to keep this up?}

{Ryan is working on all the paperwork for his Eagle Scout project, and it's officially on the calendar! If all goes well, he will be an Eagle Scout in June, as soon as he meets the 6 month wait since his last advancement.  It's the earliest you can get your Eagle, and he's worked really hard to accomplish it.   The paperwork is quite consuming, and the last few weeks have been filled with lots of planning.}

{Henry loves to eat.  Plain and simple.  I don't think we are going to be able to afford him when he becomes a teenager, if his appetite gets any bigger!  Although I have to say it is nice to have at least one child that will eat whatever I make.  :) }

{I love that my girls are reading!  It's so exciting to see them progress, and I have so many books I want to share with them.  I developed a love for books very early on, and it's always been my hope that my children will as well. I love YA literature, and Ryan and I are reading many of the same books.  I LOVE discussing those books, talking about where we are in the books, and trying to figure out what's going to happen--it's one of my favorite things.}

{The weather has been absolutely incredible.  Literally.  To have so many days in the 70's and 80's is unreal, and we have been spending every possible moment outside in the yard or at the park.  There simply is nothing better than opening all the windows, and feeling the sunshine both inside and out.  We're totally spoiled now, and the 50's are feeling cold, lol. My kids would live outside if I let them, and many days that's about how much we are taking advantage of it.}

{One of my good friends turned 40 this past weekend, and I was able to help her husband gave her the surprise of her life.  It was so fun to see her walk in and see all of her siblings and parents standing there, yelling "surprise", then celebrating with her over the weekend. SO fun!}

{Oh, and since no post is complete without a picture, here are my girls all dressed up for school a couple of weeks ago. They were THRILLED to be able to wear their princess dresses, even on the bus.  Kate and her friend Gabi made a plan to dress exactly alike, and they did...right down to the leggings and bows on their shoes.}

I know there's more, but that's all I can think of for now. Plus Jack just got out of his bed (surprise, surprise), and I need to go and put him back in.  Again. *sigh*

{kate's big milestone}

We have some exciting news to report...Miss Kate learned to ride her bike this weekend, sans training wheels!

 

Honestly, she could have probably done this a year ago, and I don't know why we didn't try sooner.  Saturday was the day though, and it was a rather spontaneous decision.  It was a little rainy and overcast, but Rick was building in the garage, and all the kids were itching to get outside.

 In hindsight, I probably should have changed out of my pajamas, but like I said, we were being spontaneous.  :) I'll tell you what, running up and down the road about 20 times while holding on to the back of a bike is quite the workout--my legs are still sore, lol.  It was very exciting for everyone, but especially the boys. So exciting, in fact, that they ignored their "do not cross" line on the driveway, and followed us up and down the street.  So, we were quite the sight...me in my pajamas, pushing a bike with a red-headed girl screaming for joy, followed by two little boys in their pajamas, all running down the street.

She was a natural, and it didn't take her long before she was zooming along on her own, even making turns around the cul-de-sac.  She was all set to go on a family bike ride, but we told her she needed a little more practice before she went on roads with more traffic.

We celebrated the milestone with her favorite cookies...what a great day!

{mud pies}

April showers bring May flowers, and March brings...mud.

This March has also brought unseasonably (and delightful) warm temperatures, so I really can't bring myself to complain.  This afternoon was beautiful, and so when the boys woke up from their nap, we all went on a bike ride around the block. When we got back, none of them were ready to go back inside, so I grabbed my book and got comfy on the front porch while they played...in the mud.

They discovered a drainage pipe in our front yard, and some lovely muddy water surrounding it, and thought they hit pay dirt.  Pun intended.  :)  The brought out their diggers, shovels, buckets, dump trucks, and went to town.  Now, I'm all for letting kids play and get dirty, but normally I don't usually let them get SO dirty right before dinner, because it means an extra hour of baths and cleaning up before we eat. I'm telling you--this spring weather is doing something to me! I think I might have spring fever, lol.

When it was time to come inside, I had Ryan go start the bath, so I could strip all their clothes off before taking one step inside the house.  He looked at them, then he looked at me, and asked incredulously if I had known what they were doing out there.  He certainly didn't expect me to say that I did! 

So yes, we did have that extra hour of baths, laundry, and trying to get inches of mud out of shoes, but I also had some really happy kids.   Totally worth it.

Now let's just hope all that mud comes out of their clothes...

{piano recital}

I don't remember my first piano recital, but I know was little--around 4 years old. I also can't remember a time of my life without the piano in it, or music, and for that I am immensely grateful.  How my life would be different--I can't even imagine it.  I know my mom is part owner of my ability to play, since she was the one that motivated me through those years of not always wanting to practice, and along with my dad, supporting me through hundreds of lessons, rehearsals, performances and recitals. 

  I'm a strong believer in starting children in piano or another instrument when they are quite young--by 5 years old--so this year it was my girls' turn to start taking lessons from me.They have both enjoyed it very much, and today was their very first recital! I always hold my recitals at a nursing home--I think it's the perfect arrangement.  The residents absolutely love having the kids come and play for them, and the kids have an audience that will love them no matter what.  Today was no different, and it was a smashing success.

Out of my own children, Ryan was the first up, and he did very well.  He messed up a little bit on one line, and came up with some pretty impressive improvisation to cover his tracks.  Except for me, no one was the wiser!  I'd say that's talent, wouldn't you?  :)

Miss Kate was next, and although she's the brave one when it comes to roller coasters and climbing trees, performing makes her nervous.  I stood right next to her, and she did it--yay, Kate!  She gave the cutest curtsy EVER after she was finished, and the whole audience laughed.  Loved it!

Now Emma on the other hand, was one cool cat.  She got up there without the slightest hesitation, and played her song straight through.  She got a little shy when she stood up to curtsy, and gave it backwards-- it was perfect. She was so brave--yay, Emma!

The icing on the cake was the fact that my parents were in town, and able to be there to watch them perform. How lucky are we?! I'm so proud of each of them--I know it's not always easy to sit down and practice, but they worked hard, and it paid off in the end.

Way to go!

{a long overdue family day}

Hooray!  Busy season is almost over!  It really is something to cheer about--we've missed Rick a lot since the beginning of January, and we're ready to have him home--especially on the weekends.  This weekend was one of the first he didn't have to work, and we decided to take advantage of it by going on a day trip. I told the girls about it a couple of days before, and all they could talk about was our "adventure".

We arrived in the early afternoon, and of course everyone was starving (I think my kids are always hungry--no matter when they last ate), so we stopped at one of our favorite family restaurants.  We actually ended up having to order a second kids' meal for Henry---we should have just bought him an adult meal, it would have been cheaper, lol.  Emma was thrilled (and I was thrilled for her) because they had gluten-free hamburger buns, which meant she was able to have a hamburger in a restaurant for the first time since she was diagnosed.  Happy day! The kids did pretty well, but I don't know why I forget how much of a spectacle we can be, lol. 

With tummies full and happy, our second stop was a really fun children's science museum that was featuring the Magic School Bus "Kick's Up a Storm". We love the Magic School Bus at our house, so this was pretty darn exciting. Winters are always so long, and it was so nice to be someplace where the kids could feel a little freedom. 

 

We promised the kids that we would get ice cream at the university creamery afterward--which is the best creamery ice cream I've ever had. It's probably a good thing it's so far away.  :) Jack is a boy after my own heart...he ♥'s ice cream, and polished off his, Henry's (I can't believe he doesn't like ice cream!), and some of Kate's too. 

 

We didn't get home until late, we missed baths for the night, and we didn't get any projects done, but no one minded. 

It was exactly what we needed.

{valentine's day}

I'm a practical romantic.

I hate paying for flowers (because really, the money all comes from the same place), especially from a florist.   One of my favorite things is flowers in my kitchen, but I'll wait for the farmer's market, or for the wildflowers in my backyard to bloom.  I'm not a roses girl, but give me a pot of tulips, and I'm happy.

Candy? No, thank you. Too many calories for one thing, and even if I was to splurge on eating some, I wouldn't want to spend the money on the kind I like.

Jewelry?  No diamonds for me.  My everyday wardrobe usually consists of jeans or yoga pants, and any jewelry I would attempt to wear, fancy or otherwise, would be torn off by my little boys in about two seconds.  I love cute and funky jewelry for those nights out with the hubby or girlfriends, and to wear to church, but I would rather pick it out myself.  When it's on sale.  :)

Like I said, I'm a practical romantic. Just mop the floor for me and call it good.  Lol.

 I do love a night out, and we always go out on the weekend to celebrate if Valentine's Day falls on a weekday like it did this year.  Rick surprised me with potted tulips and an "officially cheesy" date request for Friday night, just like we did when we were in college and dating. I'm not sure what we're doing, since it's a surprise, but I'm excited!  Tulips are my favorite flower, and they are absolutely perfect in my kitchen. I actually find myself just staring at them sometimes--they make me happy! 

 I love Valentine's Day, but it's more of a family day for us.  Waking up early, surprising the kids with fun packages, candy and homemade valentines, eating peanut butter blossoms for breakfast, wearing red & pink, making a fun dinner and yummy dessert--that's the best.

So, to my six valentines...I ♥ you!

{a surprise visit}

Saying my parents came from a surprise visit sounds so funny, considering they live thousands of miles away, but it's true.  This time though, they didn't have too far to go, as they were visiting my sister's family in Illinois.  My darling one year old niece underwent open heart surgery last week, so my parents were there were helping with my nephew while Chris and Memorie were at the hospital.  

Fortunately all went well, and Eliza came home from the hospital after a few days to recover.  However, she needed a lot of rest and quiet, which is quite difficult for a 4 year old boy to understand. So, my parents loaded him in the car, and brought him to our house--where lots of rest, peace, and quiet aren't paramount.  :)

We were excited to have all of them, and my kids were beside themselves to not only have Gramme & Poppy, but their cousin too!  It was quite the week, and with so many littles running around, there was never a dull moment.

{For example...}

*Emma, to my Dad:  We haven't seen you for awhile.  Boy, you're getting old.

*Emma, to my Dad: (when he turned away from the stove) Keep your eye on the pancakes!

(That girl. She is just so matter-of-fact, and the things she says can bring us to hysterics.) 

*A karaoke machine--brought to us by my parents. My girls have spent every extra minute down in the basement, singing their hearts away.

*A program, written and presented by all the littles and Poppy. It was quite excellent, as it featured an announcer (Emma), talks, musical solos (even Jack and Henry sang by themselves!), a stage, microphone, and more. Gramme and I were so impressed.  :)

*Friday night movie...sleeping bags in the basement and popcorn

*Lots of walks around the block, and playing outside despite the temperature

*Trips to the park

*Decorating sugar cookies and homemade hot chocolate

*Kate & Emma reading to Gramme

We were so sad to see them go, but happy they will be back in just a couple of weeks!  It was the perfect surprise visit.

{peace}

The day Ryan was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes just two weeks after he turned 6, and at the beginning of his kindergarten year is burned into my mind. I still remember the room we were in, the blood sugar results, and the look on the doctor's face when he turned to give me the news. I sat there, trying to process what the doctor was telling me, and I knew that he--we--would have a difficult road ahead, although I don't think I could fully comprehend what that would mean.

In the beginning, my thoughts were of the immediate difficulty and challenges. The day after his diagnosis we went to the Diabetes Center and I received training for about an hour or so.  Then we went home, and I was on my own. The first time I gave Ryan a shot it took an hour for me to be able to calm him down enough for me to do it.  This process had to be repeated 5-6 times a day, and my heart broke every single time. Taking his blood sugar was also hard for him--up to 8 times a day his little fingers had to be poked so we could monitor how he was doing, and make any necessary changes.  In the very beginning, he insisted that a band-aid be placed on his finger every time, and soon his hands were covered with band-aids.  A sweet family that we went to church with brought Ryan a gift---20 boxes of band-aids, and it was the best gift ever. Counting grams of carbohydrates for every bite he consumed presented another learning curve--today I can tell you the carb count for pretty much any food there is!  

We soon moved on to other challenges---not being able to go to birthday parties where I wouldn't be there to count carbs for him, or give him a shot immediately afterward.  Going to play with friends on his own became a much more complicated process, and there was only a handful of places I could send him. The challenges were presented to us as well. Our date nights were at home for a long time, since we couldn't leave him with a babysitter. I was going to school that was located 45 minutes away, and I could no longer be away from him that long, so I had to stop. I worried about him, and about his immediate health, but I really had no idea of what life would be like in the future.

Fast forward seven years, and at 13, Ryan is a full-fledged teenager, and in many ways life is easier now. Those difficult beginning years are well behind us, and he is a pro at counting carbs, monitoring his blood sugar, and many of the other aspects of diabetes.  He wears an insulin pump, which has greatly enabled his independence. 

I think that for a long time I didn't really realize what having diabetes actually meant.  Yes, I could quote right from a medical textbook what the diagnosis was, but that's not really what I'm talking about. It's what's not written there that's so hard.

A 13 year old boy, whose only big concerns in life should be school, friends, Scouts, and how late he can stay up on Friday night, is now worrying about losing his eyesight, the nerves in his feet, possible complications with vital organs, and even his mortality. He's had to grow up a lot faster than he would have otherwise, and his concerns are vastly different than his friends, or others his age, and now he literally has to think about preserving his life, because the choices he makes now will directly impact his health--both now and in the future.  Diabetes is fully ingrained into his life, and almost every hour of the day it has to be a conscious thought at some level--whether it's time to eat, count carbs, give himself insulin, correct a low by drinking a juice, correcting a high by giving himself extra insulin, taking his blood sugar before and after meals/snacks and at bedtime, AND remembering to write it all down every single time. And through it all?  I can count on one hand the times he has complained.  ♥


This week has been a difficult week, as we got some hard news regarding his diabetes.  It has required an intensified effort to figure out what's going on, and to rectify the issue at hand.  I've had it on my mind all week long, and while I've struggled with watching him cope with it, I've felt an immense gratitude, and a resolve that we will do whatever we need to do to help him. This chronic illness will be with him his entire life, but he will have a life to live.  He can live a long and full life--graduate from high school, serve a mission, go to college, get married, have children, and even grandchildren.  He can play sports, travel, and anything else he wants to do.  I realize there are many children whose illnesses do not afford them any of those luxuries, and my heart is with all parents who have had to watch their children suffer.

One of the hardest challenges as a parent is to watch your child go through something difficult, something you would gladly take upon yourself if you could, but knowing you can't--that it is theirs to bear. Really, this is what life is about--we will all deal with our own unique trials and set of circumstances that will serve to test and strengthen us. 

M. Russell Ballard said, "No matter how difficult the trial, and regardless of how heavy our load, we can take comfort in knowing that others before us have borne life's most grievous trials and tragedies by looking to heaven for peace, comfort, and hopeful assurance. We can know as they knew that God is our Father, that He cares about us individually and collectively, and that as long as we continue to exercise our faith and trust in Him there is nothing to fear in the journey." .

I also love this quote from James E. Faust: "As we live on earth we must walk in faith, nothing doubting. When the journey becomes seemingly unbearable, we can take comfort in the words of the Lord: 'I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee.'.

I know how much our Father in Heaven loves Ryan,  and that He will always be with him.  This knowledge brings me an immense peace, and I'm so grateful for it.