This little piglet

My sister, who is a pediatric ER nurse sent me this picture. They have it hanging up at the nurse's station. It's labeled "Swine Flu Paranoia". Awesome.

This week in the Funnies

So as I was looking at what I have recorded for this post, I realized that most of the conversations occurred between me and Trent. I didn't try to exclude Aleana or Hannah. But they don't give me near as much "material" as Trent. With that being said, here's to the funnies...

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Aleana - 1st day of school

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Aleana has decided to play the violin. She was so excited to come with me and rent one just her size. The following day was her first day of Orchestra in school. When she and Trent came home that day from school, the very first thing she did was break out the violin. She was showing me how to hold the bow, and how to "properly" take care of it. She then started "playing" the violin. Trent, being as nice and polite as he could said, "Aleana, the violin is really neat. But could you PLEEEAASE go practice in your room. WITH. THE. DOOR. SHUT!"

Trent, my sweet Trent, those were my thoughts exactly. Glad you said it and not me. I just keep having to remind myself, at least it's not the oboe :)

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Trent - 1st day of school

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Trent's attention to details when it comes to school work isn't that great. So when he came home and brought his homework folder via backpack express, he showed me some of his completed school work. Trying to encourage him to work harder, I complemented him on how nice his handwriting and numbers were. He said, "Ya, I decided to try writing them like the pictures, they look better when I do it that way".

Hmmm...who would've thought!

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I had all the kids in the car, driving to the grocery store. This conversation happened:

Trent: Mom, why are babies born naked?

Mom: Well, we are born with what our bodies make. Our bodies can't make clothes.

Trent: I knnooowww that. But what I want to know is if babies are born naked, then why do we have to wear clothes?

As nice as that may seem, when you really think about it, it can be a frightening thought.

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Tracy and Trent having a blast

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So we (being the whole family) were in the car on our way home, and Hannah was restless and making noise (by noise I mean super-sonic-bat-scream). I asked Aleana if she could maybe keep her entertained. The usual stuff wasn't working, so I suggested maybe she should sing to Hannah. One of Hannah's favorite songs is "Itsy Bitsy Spider". Aleana began singing it, and Tracy chimed in. However, his words were different. (If you don't know Tracy, he is notorious for making up goofy lyrics to songs. Some are appropriate and some not so much). Tracy's version went something like this :

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the piggy's snout

Down came the mucus and sneezed the spider out

Ooey gooey spider, I feel so bad for you

At least you should be happy, it wasn't piggy poo

Really - where does he come up with these things...on the fly none the less. Least to say, Trent now has a new favorite song. I cringe with the thought of what the actions might be...

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Trent being Trent

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Trent woke up this morning with sore throat. He didn't have a fever, but insisted that he didn't feel good. I was kind of torn whether to make him go to school or not. I just knew if I sent him, I would get a phone call, and of course it would happen right after I put Hannah down for a nap, from the school nurse telling me that I needed to pick my son up. Then at the same time, I didn't want to hear him whine and complain... So I weighed my options, and decided to be on the safe side and let him stay home.

I knew he was over-exaggerating how "sick" he really was, and decided to use this as a teaching moment. I decided that there would be no fun in the Giles' home today. No toys, no coloring, no fun snacks, no playing outside, no games - especially on the computer. And oh how he loves the computer. He kept asking about every 5 minutes if he could play on the computer. And every 5 minutes, my answer was the same. "No, if you are sick enough to not go to school, then you are sick enough to not play games". After the millionth time that I used this answer, Trent finally asked, "But Mom, I am feeling better. If I am feeling better, why can't I play on the computer?" Not wanting to tell him my real reason of not letting him play on the computer (no fun at the Giles house thing) I told him, "No, because we all use the computer. If you use it, you will get germs on it, and make the rest of us sick." I thought it was a good excuse. Well, it wasn't good enough for him. He said "But mom, I'll wash the computer when I am done." I explained to him that you can't wash the computer good enough to get rid of all the germs. Okay, so I really didn't care about the germs, and I may have been stretching it a little bit, but I didn't want him to call me out of my own game.

He seemed to be content with answer...or so I thought. About 10 minutes later, Trent comes up to me, holding his hands out, and asked me "Now, can I play on the computer?" I looked down at his hands, and he had carefully wrapped them in saran wrap, SARAN WRAP!!! Trying not to bust a gut, I asked him why he wrapped his hands. He told me it was so he wouldn't get germs on the computer.

You gotta "hand" it to him. He is resourceful. And for a moment, I was tempted to let him play on the computer. But atlas...I did have to be responsible and I stood my ground. Barely standing, because I was laughing so hard.

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Aleana trying to be "brave".

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We were driving home, listening to the Radio when an 80's song came on. Aleana looked at me and said, "This must be an 80's song." I asked why she thought that. She said "Well it sounds funny, and I don't get it. Why do they keep singing 'hot potato, hot potato' over and over again?" I laughed (which she didn't appreciate) and explained to her that he was singing "Amadeus, Amadeus" over and over again.

Hot potato, hot potato. I guess it kind of sound like it. I couldn't remember the name of the song, so I googled it and it's called "Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco. I even found a link to the video (click Here). The song is horrible. Hot potato would have been an improvement.

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Although Hannah is talking and will inevitably have things to say, her cute ways are too irresistible not to post a few pictures. This week's feature: her keen fashion sense.

5...

I want to learn how to can peaches and pears and all sorts of things. I remember "helping" my mom when I was little and before she got sick, but not enough to pull it off on my own. I probably need to get some supplies first?

The kids have no school on Thursday or Friday. What am I going to do? The fact that I am already worried about this, and it's only Tuesday - a little scary isn't it?!?

I worked at the pharmacy yesterday, and am paying for it today. This pregnancy thing is kicking my butt this time around.

Hannah's outfit today consisted of her jumper, a hand-me-down brightly colored coat, and a pair of goggles. I picked out the jumper, and she helped herself to the rest. Should have gotten a picture of her keen fashion sense.

I want a new cell phone - that isn't going to happen anytime soon. But hopefully getting bunk beds for the girls and finding a crib (that isn't broke beyond repair - courtesy of Trent) is in the near future.

It Took 10 Years and Grateful

First my apologies for the last post. I am not usually that, hmmm shall we say, negative? I have just had a really long and emotional week and that post was an attempt to get my mind off some pretty serious stuff we were dealing with. Now on to the present.

I have debated back and forth as to whether I should write this or not. But, I then decided that I should write it with no other reason than for me. Men (if there is actually any who read this) be forewarned: this post may contain a little bit of TMI.

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I have PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome). Getting a diagnosis for what is wrong with me has been quite an adventure. I started having symptoms when I was 17 years old and a senior in high school. I had irregular periods, or should I say, very-regular periods. My period would occur every 14 days, and last for 7 days with severe cramps. Yes, do the math. Not exactly fun - especially when one is involved with athletics. Then again, are they ever fun? I also was dealing with depression, in the name of mood swings (my poor parents).

I finally told my mom that things weren't right like they used to be. She promptly made an appointment, and I went to see the doctor. I insisted that the doctor had to be a women, as this was a delicate and embarrassing thing for my young self. And let's just say, it wasn't good experience. At my appointment, I had told the lady doctor what problems I was having. At first, she didn't believe me. She explained that I was her patient, and my mother wasn't in the room and I could be honest with her. She was convinced that I just wanted to be on birth control pills. She proceeded to talk to me about safe sex and STD's. Upon my insistence that I was not having sex or planning on having sex anytime soon, she finally backed down. Then she told me what she believed was wrong with me, and it would be the same answer every doctor for the next 10 years would give me. She said, "Well, I think there is nothing wrong with you. You are young and it is perfectly normal. Some girls take a while to regulate". This was said, even knowing that I was perfectly regular for two years prior to that. So she broke out some birth control samples, and sent me on my way. I took the pills at night, every night. And every morning, I was sick, for a month. My mom called the not so nice lady doctor and informed her that they were making me nauseous. She was told that I needed to be on them for three months, and that my body would adjust. Three months? Are you kidding me? I never went to that doctor again.

Round two. My mother asked around and found another ob/gyn that a lot of people seemed to like. My experience with him, other than the fact that is was a "him" went much better. He said he wasn't sure what to think, but his guess would be that I was young, and hormones do weird things. He then said there was a slight possibility that there were small "cysts" on my ovaries, but it would be too soon to tell (should of listened to that more - it would have helped in the long run). He wanted me to monitor my cycles and gave me a chart to fill out. Then he gave me birth control pills with a much lower dosage that didn't make me sick. The pills seemed to work. My periods were regular. Cramping was still bad, but manageable. And so, for the next few years, I took the pill and went on with life.

I got pregnant with Aleana the first month after I went off the pill. It was a little surprising, since I was told it takes about 6 months to get pregnant after the pill. I just assumed that I was super fertile, and inherited it from my mother. The pregnancy went well, with the exception that I gained a whole lot of weight - 65lbs to be exact. Now, it was my fault mostly. After all, I was eating for "two". After giving birth, I lost 40lbs in 2 weeks. It was encouraging. I assumed the other weight would follow. It didn't. Diets kind of worked for awhile, but it was a huge battle, and I not only didn't lose the 25lbs, I ended up gaining 15 more.

When Aleana was a year, I ended up getting pregnant again. However, I miscarried at 8 weeks. I was sad, and it was painful - but I could always try again. I was young and fertile. Many women have at least one miscarriage, it's nature's way if something isn't right. I wasn't too worried.

A few months later, it was time to try again. The first month it didn't happen. Still not too concerned. Then came the second and third month - and still nothing. Six months of trying, and nothing to show for it. I was getting discouraged and thought there was something wrong. By this time we were stationed in Germany. I made an appointment with the base doctor. I explained to him what was going on, and my symptoms - since they had returned (with me no longer being on the pill). Any guesses as to what he told me? Yep, not only the "you are young and it's your hormones" speech, I was also told that I would have to wait a year before they would be concerned enough to do fertility tests on me and my hubby. It was the clinic's standard. So getting a second opinion from the same clinic wasn't going to help, and I wasn't brave enough to go to a German doctor.

After 14 months of trying, I was pregnant with Trent. And let me tell ya, 14 months of trying is exhausting and unless a person has had to experience that helpless feeling of not being able to conceive - one cannot begin to understand. Every month a new feeling of hope and anticipation, only to end up in heartache. It takes a toll. When the test was a positive, I showed Tracy and we both cried - we were just so grateful to be pregnant. There were no complications with the pregnancy - even though I gained a massive 70lbs. And this time, I wasn't eating for "two". I was trying hard to watch what I eat. I was really frustrated that no matter what I did, the weight did what it wanted. Again, lost 40lbs and not an ounce more.

We decided that it was nice having a 3 year gap between the kids. Even though it wasn't planned that way, it was really nice to have that time. So when Trent turned two, it was time to try again. Going into it this time, I knew that it probably wasn't going to happen right away so I made an appointment with the base doctor (we were then stationed in Colorado). I told him I needed a referral to see a civilian doctor. He assured me that it wasn't necessary, that the base could accommodate my needs. I told him that they couldn't and it was my right to request a doctor off base. To this day, it was one of my best decisions.

The day came, and I went to my appointment with off-base doctor. I was on a roll, and just like I did with the base doctor, I wasn't going to let off-base doctor push me around. I went into that room and told him all my experiences and frustrations. I told him I knew there was something wrong with me and that I was 27 - and it wasn't because I was young. After I finished, he just kind of looked at me, with a dumbfounded look. He asked how long my symptoms had been going on. I told him 10 years. He then asked me to repeat what my symptoms were. I told him about the short menstrual cycles, the heavy bleeding, the cramping, the depression, the weight that would not come off, the migraines, and again voiced my frustration. He just shook his head. So, there I was, sitting in the chair, thinking - "oh great, another doctor who isn't going to listen". He finished writing in the file and asked if there had been any blood tests in the past. I said no. He sighed and looked up at me. He then told me he could not believe that more hasn't been done. There was obviously something wrong, and he couldn't understand why no one investigated it further. He asked me if I have ever heard of something called PCOS. I said no. He gave me a pamphlet to read, and ordered some blood tests that needed to be taken over the next month. I was to come back to discuss the test results and what to do about having a baby.

Meanwhile, I went home and read the pamphlet. It said that 1 in 10 women of childbearing age are affected by PCOS and that it was the number 1 cause of infertility. The cause of PCOS is still unknown, but most researchers believe that it is genetic. The body makes an excess of insulin which causes an increase of androgen (testosterone). The increase of androgen can lead to weight gain, ovulation problems, acne, and in some cases excessive hair growth. The symptoms include heavy bleeding/irregular periods, overweight/obesity, infertility, ovarian cysts, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, depression, hair growth, pelvic pain, skin tags, and dark patches. PCOS is not curable, but the symptoms can be managed with birth control, type II diabetic medication, fertility drugs, and diet/weight-loss. Getting and being pregnant with PCOS can be difficult. There is a higher chance of miscarriage, as well as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. Hmmmm. As I was reading it, I noticed that I only had a few of the symptoms, but not all. So I did what anyone else would do - I googled it.

At my next appointment with off-base doctor, my test results were back. My insulin was off, and my progesterone was extremely low, which meant I wasn't ovulating. The doctor looked at me and said "You have PCOS. While there is not a single test that can diagnose this, the results make it pretty clear". At that point I just start crying. Imagine, me - in a room, with the doctor balling my eyes out. He reassured me that it isn't the end of the world and that PCOS is treatable. I looked at him and said " I know that. But I feel horrible. I made myself not to be able to have babies...all because I am fat!" He looked confused and asked why I thought that. I told him how I did research and found sites that discuss PCOS and how if you just lose weight it will go away, and that being fat caused this "syndrome" to happen in the first place. Off base doctor explained to me that yes, losing weight will help with being able to get pregnant, and help with the symptoms, but it doesn't cure it. There is no cure. And while being obese can make these symptoms more extreme, it did not cause PCOS. In fact, there is proof that PCOS can cause weight gain and there in lies the problem. Losing weight is ideal, but it is very difficult because you have to work against your own body. It can be done, but it is harder than what the average woman has to deal with. He could tell that I was still skeptical. He asked me if I was obese when I was 17. I said no. And he then asked "but you still were having problems?" And that was the moment that the light bulb turned on. Okay, so I have this problem, but it isn't just my fault and I can do something about it, sort of. It's not the end of the world.

Off base doctor worked with me over the next 18 months, testing hormone levels and trial and error with different strengths of metformin (diabetic type II drug that helps with insulin resistance) and clomid (fertility drug that causes ovulation). After two years of trying, we found out we were pregnant with Hannah. This time the pregnancy was monitored very closely from the start. The doctor kept me on metformin until I was 36 weeks to prevent miscarriage and also to help me not gain excess weight. I gained a grand total of 22lbs. Not too many complications, until 37 weeks - where I had to be induced due to pre-eclampsia. The birth went fine and I lost 34lbs. Quite the contrast compared to the first two kids.

It took 10 years and several doctors to finally figure out what was wrong with me. The crazy thing is that PCOS is fairly common, but because the symptoms can be attributed to so many other things, it is hard to narrow down. The good news is that I am finally aware of what is going on. I am not crazy. I have not been worrying about nothing. I have the tools and knowledge to manage it. And because I was able to get this all figured out, I can take steps to avoid the long term problems like the development of diabetes, heart disease, and uterine cancer.

So then begs the question. After not having to truly worry about contraception for the past 10 years, not really having to worry about getting pregnant, and knowing that pregnancy will take medical intervention, how is it that we were able to get pregnant on our own, without even trying? The Lord works in mysterious ways. I quit trying to ask why. Although, I must admit, I was quite surprised to say the least and I am grateful.

Headlines: Carter - Racism plays major role in opposition to Obama

Insulting to say the least. A former president...FORMER PRESIDENT Jimmy Carter speaks his views and says that opposition for President Obama is due to racism.

He says, "I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African-American," Carter told "NBC Nightly News." "I live in the South, and I've seen the South come a long way, and I've seen the rest of the country that shares the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African-Americans." He continues to say, "That racism inclination still exists, and I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of belief among many white people -- not just in the South but around the country -- that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply,"

Are you kidding me? Sure, there are those out there that think an African American should not be president. And yes, they are wrong for thinking that. But what about someone like me? By the normal standards, an average American (and white, heaven forbid). I neither like or dislike the President. I didn't vote for him, not because of his skin color, but because I really couldn't tell what his angle was. He's rather "young" in the political arena and I didn't know if I could "trust" him (as much as you could trust any politician). Plus, his track record was just as short as his experience. With that being said, he is the President of the United States, a leadership position that I respect no matter the color, size, shape, or religion of the person. He has been president for less than a year, and there remains a lot to be seen. In my opinion, there a some things so far that he has done right, and some things he has done that just baffles me.

The stimulus package(s). Baffles my mind. Lets give more of our money to the ones who couldn't be responsible for the money they already had, so we can save our, "the peoples' economy". Then not regulate it enough and watch as more of our money lines the pockets of the wealthiest. Really? That's what paying our taxes is all about? And being opposed to to this free handout out (the one where the wealthiest 1% of our country can get their greedy little hands on our hard earned money -the same group of people who's wealth equals more than the bottom 95% of American people's "wealth" combined)...this opposition makes me racist?

Or how about this Healthcare Plan, with a $90 billion dollar price tag? Where are our grandchildren's children supposed to get that kind of money? Because we surely don't have that kind of cash now. I am all for Healthcare reform. I am not opposed to that. But why the rush? This problem has been huge for years now...why push so hard so quick? It has a feeling of "let's get this passed - before the people realize what it really is". Gee, where have we seen that before? It can be clearly seen with the former presidency and the war in Iraq. To believe that a strong opposition for government in general is now seeded in racism because there is a new head-honcho is ridiculous (although one must note, opposing President Bush was considered "unpatriotic"...it seems that the terms have just changed to fit whatever spin "they" put on it). Here's a novel idea...What if opposition came from actually disagreeing with the policies presented? Or maybe it came about by distrust? How about common sense? How about actually listening to "we the people(s)" concerns. Nope. Because now if we voice our opposition we are labeled, according to Mr. Carter, as racist (hmm...is that an attempt to discredit what we have to say?).

But what is really bothersome, is that a former president made these remarks. He is not stupid. He is very well aware of the media monster or machine. He is aware from which era he served as president and what he wants his legacy to be. He is aware of his responsibility. And after all that, he pulls out the "racist card"? Is that all he could come up with? Why try to manipulate? I would say that Mr. Carter is wrong. And to label opposition as racist, not as distrust or free-speech, or part of democracy is abominable and concerns me deeply (if you couldn't already tell).

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Off my soapbox now - just had to vent.

5 random things

I got the bills paid today.

I get an Ultrasound Level II tomorrow (these are awesome!)

I really dislike it when people wear white socks with sandals. Really kind of defeats the purpose.

Baby is craving some egg rolls and a nap. (Looks like neither is going to happen today.)

I like playing Dance Dance Revolution on the XBox for exercise. It keeps me entertained. :)

"If You Build It, They Will Come" - Scharf Reunion 2009

This is Jim Scharf.

He has been quite busy. About 4 years back, he was able to purchase some land outside of Moab, UT near the La Sal Mountains, a life long dream of his. Ever since then, he has been hard at work. From digging posts and fencing the property, grating an easement, raising two sheds, digging a well, installing power, laying foundation and building a house - including plumbing and wiring, he has kept quite busy. Although he had some help along the way, he did most of it with his own two hands. Did I mention that he just turned 80 this past year? Or that he suffers from lung cancer, has had 2 heart attacks, and needs both knees replaced? He is amazing. He has a stubborn streak a mile wide, and a heart bigger than that. He is my Grandpa.

This last year he called me and wanted the get the grand kids together (me and my siblings are the only ones, as my mother was his only child). He wanted to do a Scharf Reunion, "Jim" style. This is something that he has been wanting to do for sometime. All five siblings and their families were able to make it. (Which is rare. There were a lot of sacrifices that had to be made.)

We had such a good time. Just sat around and visited. Met some new family and had some good food. The best part was we all got to see Grandpa. As with any family reunion, pictures were a must. He had us gather 'round the infamous tractor. The same orange tractor that we played on as kids, when we visited him in the summertime. Also, the same tractor that did a lot of the work around the property.

Brian, his wife Tracy and two kids, Jerry and Sean

Aaron, his wife Erika, and two kids, Brevin and Jace

Me, my Tracy, and our three kids, Aleana, Trent, and Hannah

Jesse and his son, Falken

Grandpa and Tessa

We goofed around playing games, as the kids played outside getting dirty, shooting their rubber-band guns, having squirt-gun fights and finding grasshoppers. (Aleana was quite disappointed that the rubber-band guns didn't have sufficient power to actually kill a grasshopper...who's child is she?)

Hannah - getting ready to climb the tractor, which was a popular thing with the kids.

This is a famous "Trent" look. It is the look of "Dad, ENOUGH ALREADY!"

I rarely post pictures of myself. And while this is me, in a frumpy maternity shirt, it has to be included. My dad can't resist to giving me a hard time. And by the look on my face, you can tell that I am pretty much used to it. :)

The Boys. Man, I sure do love my brothers, even if Jesse is still "too cool" to smile. (And notice the mountains in the background. Simply breath-taking. This pic was taken from my Grandpa's porch.)

And while hanging out at Grandpa's property was awesome, the "bigger" kids (er, the grown-ups) needed a change of scenery and a chance to cool off. So we headed to the mountains. It didn't take long (30 min drive on dirt roads). It was nice to cool off.

Mt Pearle - 12,721 ft. Highest peak of La Sal Mountains

Trent, or the other boys didn't care much about the awesome beauty, they just liked the big rock...and hated the bugs that kept trying to eat them.

The road that takes you to and from the mountain is unique, and one of our favorites. We used to come up this way as kids with Grandpa to explore and go fishing. However, every once in a while we got to stop at the "creek that you drive through". A small creek literally runs through the road, on purpose. Our car always seems to make it though and it's always fun to watch the kids.

You can play in the creek, just make sure to get out of the way for traffic

Hannah testing the water - does she know how cold run-off water is?

More water fun with Dad

Poser.

Hannah being brave and Mom about to pee her pants as they walk through the water.

Aunt Tessa, "soaking" her feet. And not-so-little Jace wanting to jump in, if only mom would let go...:)

Trent, in his element. Hmmm, what can I throw next?

Kids at play.

She has to be freezing, right?

Sure, thanks for sitting in it. The ride back to the cabin is going to be real "fun".

Love this pic. Falken flexing his muscles. He is such a character and can win over anybody's heart.

All in all, we had such a good time. But it seemed that the time was too short. Not enough time to catch up, but there were plenty of laughs and good memories made. Can I say how much I love family?

Don't Judge My Hair

If you are ever bored, and feeling down about your current "do", fret no more. Someone just sent me this link, and I have to say - I found it pretty funny and a little disturbing.

http://dontjudgemyhair.com

I will no longer think my hair, even at it's worse, can ever be that bad! :) And feel free to keep clicking through the older entries, it gets better...or worse. Which was your favorite? Mine was a toss-up between "Santa Squid Face" and "Crappy Hairstyle".

Enjoy!

Trent' Birthday

The end of June, just after we moved into the house, we got to celebrate Trent's 6th birthday. I can't believe that he's that old. He is still headstrong as ever, with a big tender heart. There were boxes everywhere and I felt bad for him. It seems like his birthday always has something else to compete with. Whether it's moving, reunions, vacations, or sickness, the poor guy always has to share. We set aside the afternoon, and tried to make it special. We went to McDonalds (per his request), where he played on the indoor playground to his heart's content. Then when we got back, he was ready for cake and presents.

You cant tell by the look on his face, he was being patient. What he really wanted was to bypass the Birthday song and cake, and go straight to the presents.

Make a wish...

Trent asked for a remote control helicopter for his birthday. I didn't think it was possible that we could even afford it. Then I found this little helicopter on clearance at Kohls. I know it wasn't designed to last long, but it was certainly worth what little money I spent just to see him smile.

Ahhhh...a scooter that can do tricks.

Trent getting prepped.

Trent gets to take flight. I rarely post videos, but I thought this was cute. Ignore the boxes and mess. It was really fun to watch him "navigate", and then crash.

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And now some bonus pics:

Aleana being a great big sister. She has been such a big help lately.

Hannah found a better way to ride.

I just thought this was so cute. We had turned the sprinklers on to give the lawn some extra water, and Hannah, on her own, decided to give it a try. I just happened the have the camera there and captured the look on her face as the mist hit her.

Favorites

Old Favorite

Today we had to go to Mountain Home AFB - Tracy needed to pick up his uniforms. This meant we got to go to the BX. For those of you who don't know, the BX stands for Base Exchange. It's kind of like a Walmart but with less stuff. They carry some interesting things, but also some things that you can't get at the American grocery stores. There's lots of candy from Germany (and since we stationed there, I must say I got spoiled on how nice their chocolate is. Hershey's just doesn't cut it for me.) And not only do they keep the "overseas" stuff well-stocked, it is reasonably priced. Now on occasion I have found some of the good stuff at the grocery stores, but the price is a little too much for me. So I thought about getting me some Ritter Sport candy bars (milk chocolate with Raisins and Hazelnuts happens to be one of my all-time favorites)...but then I saw this (imagine a ray of light shining down on it...with angelic voices...):

Yep, Chocolate covered Macadamia nuts (much cheaper at the BX, I might add). So yummy. Now this candy is in the top 3 of my all-time favorites...above the Ritter Sport. I heard it calling my name. Could. Not. Resist. Why? Because it also reminds me of this:

We took this picture from our lanai (balcony) in Hawaii. We went a few years back right after Tracy got back from his deployment. Did I mention, we were there for 10 days? Awesome. Loved every moment of it. We had such a good time, and it is just a beautiful place. We plan to go back...eventually. One of our favorite vacations ever.

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New Favorite

One of my fellow bloggers posted a "Product Review" on her blog. (Thanks Megan!) One of the things that she reviewed was the PedEgg. Now, I have seen the infomercials - the one that says, "But wait! There's more!" kind. I have even seen them at Walmart, with the "as seen on TV" endorsement-sticker and everything. But, I thought is was just another gimmick. You see, I have the most horrible, cracked, rough, sand-papery ugly feet (they're like hobbit feet, minus the hair). I have tried the files, the exfoliating stuff, the sea salt stuff, the pumice stuff, and the professional pedicure stuff. I have to admit, I love getting pedicures. It's the one thing that's just for me. However, it gets too darn expensive. (Especially since I heard about acrylic nails for toes. But that's another blog post all together.)

I read her review, and she raved about it. So I thought I would give it a try. Went to Walmart, spent my $10, and tried it. And you know what? It worked! Freakin' awesome. My feet haven't been that smooth since high school. It's shaped just right to work on your feet. Just as a warning, it's supposed to catch all the dead skin (yuck), but it doesn't. Well, not for me anyway...but there was a lot of work that little PedEgg had to do. So I am passing my "this rocks" approval to others, so they can enjoy soft, happy feet, at a cheap price. This is one of my new favorite things.

Boise to PHX

On Easter weekend, Tracy's family was having a little family reunion in Arizona. Originally we told them that we couldn't make it. After having moved and Tracy's job situation, we just thought we would not be able to afford this year. However, about 10 days before the reunion, being curious, I looked on Southwest and they were having a great deal. So we brought the tickets and got to make it down to the Valley of the Sun. It was a quick weekend trip, but it sure was nice to see everyone. The kids were playing with all their cousins (didn't see them for hours at a time), games were played, the swimming pool seemed like it was never empty, and movies were watched. In fact, with all the fun happening, we didn't get a whole lot of pictures. :(

My parents were able to make the drive from Winslow and we got to spend half a day with them. Mandy and Andy also came and brought their kids. We were going to do outside activities including an Easter egg hunt, but we had to pick the ONE day a year that it was raining. Grandma Buggy made it work with an Easter egg hunt inside the hotel room, and also treated the kids to a few presents like books and clothes. They LOVED it. I was able to have a fun visit with my parents and sisters. It was great to watch the little ones interact. I got to meet Leah (Mandy's little girl), who is just a few weeks younger than Hannah, and baby Riley (Andy's little girl).

Hannah loves giving kisses and Leah didn't seem to mind

Cute pic of Leah

Hannah had just started walking (at 14 months - she kind of took her time). The bruise on her forehead was one of many.

Aleana showing off the new outfit from Grandma

Trent couldn't wait to try this on. It is still his favorite shirt. Thanks Grandma.

Sadly the end part of the weekend came way too soon, and we found ourselves flying back. There was an unplanned delay in Las Vegas...for 2 2/1 hours. (Not so fun with a fussy toddler who's stroller was "accidentally" stored on the wrong part of the plane...thanks to the flight attendants - and was already transferred to another plane and en route to Boise). On the last leg of the flight (leaving a 9pm) which was 2 almost 3 hours long, Hannah had just had enough. She was fussy and cranky and wouldn't let her daddy hold her, which meant I got the lovely pleasure of being stuck with the fussy and cranky baby as well as all the glares coming my way from the grouchy passengers.

I finally got her to fall asleep in my arms (which never happens but was thankful she did). Then with about an hour left of the flight, she had a night terror. For those who's kids have night terrors, you can understand. Hannah gets them when she is behind on sleep. She "wakes up" but not really. She screams and screams at the top of her lungs, and is scared of something. But because she is actually still asleep and in her dream, you can't get her to snap out of it. (It's the freakiest thing. Her eyes are open and looking around, but no body's home) The best thing to do, it to just leave her alone and not touch her. However, because there were no empty seats, and we had "begun our decent", I couldn't put her anywhere, and I couldn't stand up and walk around with her. So she screamed, and fought me, and screamed and squirmed trying to "get away" from whatever was scaring her in her dream. The other passengers, who were mostly sleeping began to turn their lights on, and groan, and the dirty looks started coming my way. I tried my hardest to wake her up, and then sang to her - trying to reach her somewhere in that dream. Nothing worked. She screamed the rest of the way. I was exhausted from holding a child that was fighting me full strength and I literally was in tears (all though I tried to hide it by burying my face in her blanket). Some people got more irate, and then others...those who were mothers and grandmothers started giving me looks of sympathy. The plane landed, and you would think she would stop. Nope. She screamed while all the passengers unloaded, while we got off, and while we got our luggage. She finally stopped, when we went outside. The cool air got her to snap out of it. Sigh. Then she was a happy baby, liked nothing ever happened on the whole drive home from the airport.

Ahhh, but I know the truth. And I will think twice before I fly again, especially on those late night flights. And even though my kids are having fun...they will go to sleep and get good rest on the night before we fly back, so help me. :)

Aleana

Aleana celebrated her birthday in May. She turned 9. Now being nine doesn't sound like a big deal, until I start thinking about how it is one more year closer the "tween-age" years. This next year she'll be in the 4th grade. Then on the the 5th...then to the dreaded middle school years. Even though being nine isn't a "big deal", I am sure going to enjoy this year and cherish the calm before the storm.

Her celebration this year was low-key. We tried to make it special. She got to choose whatever she wanted for her cake. She chose this:

(That is a Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. The best slice of cheesecake ever created. I let her try a slice awhile back when Tracy took Trent to their Father's and Son's Camping Trip. I thought we would have a "girls night out" and make her feel special. The cheesecake was so good, and something that she obviously didn't forget about. I guess I should choose my words more carefully when I say, "you can have whatever cake you want." Needless to say, we all enjoyed it. Yum!)

She only asked for one thing for her birthday. She wanted a ripstick. A what?!? Yes, a ripstick - those kind of skateboard looking things that you have to swivel to ride. We tried to come up with other things that might appeal to her more, but her mind was made up. So we bit the bullet and got a ripstick...and helmet....and protective gear.

Teaching her how to ride it is her Daddy's responsibility. She's catching on quicker than I thought she would. No major broken bones or scrapes yet, as I am sure they will come eventually. (I cringe with the thought...)

(Her tough girl look. Not too intimidating, we'll have to work on it.)

Happy Birthday Aleana Mae!