No excuses.

I'm not making any excuses for such a long absence.  But if I did, I do believe that finishing my Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics, along with its 75 page, 6 month long, capstone research project, having 2 adult children move back in temporarily with us  (ouch - that hurt financially), a high school graduation, sending a son off to Basic Training, and marrying off our oldest daughter should all count.  Along with all the standard work it takes to run a family and home during the same time.

But really, no excuses.  Just life. But here are some great photos from the last year to tide everyone over until the next time I post - hopefully next week...(and when I get a new camera battery or camera...)...

truth time disclaimer:  The great looking photos come from 2 different sources - 2 sets of great friends who both happen to be great photographers - because honestly, my picture taking skills just plain suck are just plain bad.  I'll post the link to their pages next time!

oohhh...I'll doing a wedding post next week!  With lots of pictures (at least what I have now!)

Father's Day Photo Shoot with Chris Klok

Melina's Senior Photo Shoot with Jim & Colleen Quiggle

Melina & Brandon's Engagement Photo Shoot

Yes! I met Ree Drummond! The Pioneer Woman!!!

Josie at her first opera!

Mathew - asleep - as always!

A real longhorn with Ammon!

Josie on the real longhorn!

Our new cat - Mr. Fluffies...

My new car!  A 2006 Toyota Sienna

Jake on the same longhorn!

The heart condition

Melina was diagnosed last year with an obscure and rare heart condition - postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. (POTS)

This was a surprise to us - we actually went to see the cardiologist last year because she had an abnormal EKG and had had several near-fainting episodes. We followed the non-drug guidelines the cardiologist gave - increase salt intake, eat and drink every 2 hours, and be careful when changing positions.  Oh, and 99% of all teens grow out of it by age 16-18.  And this condition very rarely get worse...

see where I'm going with this?

She is worse.  It started with a constant headache.  After 5 days, and a trip to the ER (with injections that didn't work at all for pain), and a trip to our doctor, we have now spent the last 6 weeks in and out of the cardiologist (not a pediatric one, but an adult dr. who agreed to see Melina because of her age and he specializes in these types of heart conditions), neurologist, and our general doctor trying to fix this. 

And she has missed almost 11 days of school (fortunately, though this is now labeled "chronic" for the school (and district) and all this appointments and sick days do not count towards absences for school).  Not to mention church and time with friends and family.

I will save you all the medical mumbo-jumbo and testing results.  In short, the severe, constant headache is caused by the extreme low blood pressure and the high heart rate.  The cardiologist started her on medication to help treat the blood pressure and heart rate issues, and the neurologist has started her on a medication regimen to get rid of the headaches.  And our doctor sees her regularly, in order to keep track of all this - because she likes him best and trusts him and talks with him about how she feels.  (plus side - his visits cost less!)

This has been frustrating for all of us.  Melina because she is so sick at times.  The symptoms for POTS are long - and she has a lot of them.  Her head is constantly hurting.  The new medications are not fun and must be taken - they cannot be missed - thus leading to new habits to develop. Us, because this time, we can't fix it as parents.  We have to trust and get the doctors to help us.  And her siblings, because Melina just isn't herself 100% any more.

Getting a cold (or any other illness) this past week, caused her to be down and out for 3 days - because stress, illness, and physical pain makes POTS worse. 

And the doctors can't guarantee that she will "grow" out of this now. 

And that sucks worse of all.

Life Changes

18 months ago, I went back to college.  It wasn't an easy decision, as in order to do so, I not only had to quit my work-from-job of medical transcription, but I also had to re-arrange the home-school teaching schedule in our family.

Since that time, Aimee has started high school, Matt moved out on his own, and Melina is graduating 1 year early from high school.

And I have continued to work on my Bachelor's degree in Health Informatics.  Which I enjoy. Sort of.

What I have re-discovered is my love of teaching.  During my internship, I have been busy teaching and training (and learning some too) all about the new EMR (electronic medical record) system the clinic is putting in.

So, in the midst of all this, a thought of inspiration - rather an very distinct impression from the Spirit, about what I should be doing with my degree work.  And it doesn't include using my degree work for what I thought.

Instead of working towards my Master's in Health Information Management or Healthcare Administration, I will be finishing the few math credits I need in order to apply for Teach Arizona.  (Teach Arizona is a 1-year intensive Master's in Education program - that will give me a Master's in Secondary Math Education, along with preparing me to get my Az teaching certification. Maybe one day, I will be able to teach Health Information at the college level...but one needs education certifications/classes to do so.)

The looming question remained for Mike and I.....

what does a homeschooling mom do with her children while student teaching?

Well, they would go to school.  Public school. 

And so Ammon, Jacob, and Josie will be attending our local elementary school. 

We have prayed about this. Fasted and prayed about it.  And we know that this is the right decision to make for our family.  The school is good.  And fun. I met their teachers - good vibes all the way around.  I feel good turning over this part of the schooling to them.

And most importantly - the 3 of them are SO excited!  They can't wait!  They are excited to get to go to school with this friends, to make more friends, and to be where their friends are all day long! 

Being a teacher doesn't mean that I am giving up on teaching my children.  Rather I will not only be able to continue to influence their education - they are home for 10 weeks during the summer ;), but I also will be home in the afternoons to help with homework, do lots of reading, and other fun activities that we like to do (shhh...they are educational - don't tell them!)

Being a teacher also means that I can influence others too.  I love high school age kids.  I love being at the high school with them.  I have started to shadow a few teachers at my girls' high school (in math!) and o.m.g.  I love it!  Still!  So, while my children are excited to start school, I am excited to become a teacher!

Big changes.  But if families didn't have change, wouldn't life be monotonous?

Still here.

And working on school - my senior year - so very busy with papers and certifications. 4 papers left to write to finish this semester.

Sewing lots.  Including J's flower girl dress.

2011 Grad Night is in less than 14 days. 

busy...

All the time.  Seriously, between school (2 classes and 2 exams done in 4 weeks), teaching school in our home, being the mom and running our home, running Grad Night 2011 for our high school, helping my mom and dad with getting their house ready to sell, and sewing, my life (and my family's) has been full!

I passed those 2 classes (with A's actually!), am getting a grip on everything else (save the laundry - I swear it is out to get me), and have been sewing, sewing, sewing...

for my sister's wedding - which is in 2 weeks!

I have made (in the last 11 days):

a vest for my husband (for his suit - to make it a 3 piece suit)
cumberbands & bow ties for Jacob & Ammon
a new dress for Aimee
a birthday dress for a friend ;)
1 flower girl dress for Josies - completely with layers upon layers of material and netting -

I have also done some smaller things...mending, a pair of khaki pants for me, skirt for my mom, new outfit for Josie for winter...and probably more things that I can't remember

All I have left to do:
work on our family gift for my sister and soon-to-be husband
finish something for me to wear
finish making the bow for Josie's dress
sew on the fabric roses onto Josie's dress
help hem my mom's absolutely gorgeous dress for the wedding

oh, and make goodies for the bake sale this weekend, help with a Grad Night decorating build, study and pass my next exam (dec 15).

On to more things...

That's my girl!

Melina's 1st quarter progress card came in the mail yesterday....

4 A's :)

2 B's :)

She was rewarded with hugs and chocolate chip cookie dough!

(and I didn't take that photo - Melina did!  She has quite an eye for photography!)

Josephine's birthday!

She is 5! 

And following in tradition - I made her a new dress for her birthday (1956 pattern, which is a very similar dress to what her Nana had when she was little):

She had a great day!  She went out for lunch - a tradition in our family - to the restaurant her of choosing.

She got presents...a new shirt, a minature skateboard, tinkerbell dolls, new doll house furniture, and 2 special gifts..

a new bike

And a set of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls!

(more on those later - because I made them!)

Aimee and Nana made her a cupcake cake:

She is our last child!  We are grateful for her!  She is such a bright spot in our lives and family each day! 

3 weeks ago

I thought things had calmed down.

Ha.ha.ha

School started for Melina.  I only have to drop her and her friend off to school.  Friend's mo & dad are doing the pick-up!  Melina has a full schedule - her graduation requirement have changed for her graduating class, so it was a bit more work to get her schedule done - and to include seminary!

I am almost done with my management class.  Whew.  2 more classes for the semester.  If I don't add more.

My sister is getting married!  At Thanksgiving.  Wedding plans are in action.

School started at home for everyone else. 

I have been sewing. 

The most important thing happened last week -

What I have been doing....

Moving furniture and books.

 (please don't ask me how many books there are

- I refuse to count for now -

but all you need to know is that there is 15 ft of bookshelves - 3 are 7ft high and 3 are 8ft high

(the shorter ones will be taller in a few months when I get back to Ikea).

My chairs were an awesome craigslist find!  I got them and the ottoman for $40!  All they needed was a quick clean!  They have been deemed the perfect reading chairs by Lina and Aimee - you can turn any which way, pull your feet up, stretch over them, etc - and be perfectly comfortable!

Painting furniture. 

I painted all our pine furniture in the family room!  I love the new color - it is a soft, creamy white and really helps our family room to look bigger!  And it re-newed the life of our furniture - which is 7 years old!

I painted the 3 tables also - coffee and 2 end-tables.  We love them.  They are painted with Behr Premimum Paint with Primer - in a semi-gloss - for easy cleaning.  Needless to say, there is no drawing allowed on the tables anymore.

Or shoes!

Making new valances -

 this is one, and there is a longer one over the sliding glass doors on the left.  The material came from my neighbor's mom and was FREE!  It is a very nice weight decorating fabric.  The light yellow pops very nicely with the blue walls and white trim in our new library/my sewing room.

Covering one of the office chairs. 

(the other one was just fine)

 This is an older military chair, given to me from my parents, whose neighbor gave it to them!  It is in perfect condition underneath, but need a puch of color for....

My new office! 

I desperately needed this space - mostly for tax purposes while I work (I do IT work for people). 

(Technically, I am supposed to share this room, however, I am the only one in there more of the time - either studying or working.)

This room has turned out beautifully!  Matt helped me paint it before he left, mom came over and helped with hanging all the pictures, and I (semi-homemade) made the closet curtain and covered the chair.  Aimee likes this room, as she does her school work in here, away from the younger ones who are at the kitchen table. 

I didn't buy any new furniture for this room.  I moved all the pieces that I have had throughout the house into here - 2 desks, table-top desk, bookshelf, and chairs.  I bought a few new frames, but I had all the pictures already - in storage.

And yes - it is Paris themed. 

I *heart* Paris. 

I have been there 4 times. 

I am waiting to go back. I have been lots of other places - England, Wales, Scotland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belguim, South Korea, and several states in the US, but I always long and go back to Paris. 

Love it.

Studying. 

Yep.  I passed my Healthcare Delivery Systems class.

I now have to finish:

Principles of Management

Medical Terminology

Pathology/Physiology (which really bites, because my last class was 6 days over the cut-off date).

I think that leaves me with only 5-6 classes, and then 2 capstone projects for my degree work.

I have been sewing - more than valances and chair covers.  I promise.

I am still here!

I promise. 

I have been really busy.  Between our son moving to my brother's home, summer school for Lina (all done!  Yay!), teaching writing to Aimee, helping 2 boys work on Weblos and Wolf badges, cleaning, laundry, getting ready and sending the girls to camp, finishing decorating my office, repainting furniture in the family room, make valances for the library room, and sewing mulitple skirts, dresses, mending, and a new temple dress...

and all my studying...

I am very busy!  But I should be able to upload pictures soon...

and the girls are coming home today...

my sister and her finace are coming into town tomorrow for 4 days...

whew!

My heros...

My husband.  The best father in the world - he is so loving, kind, and fun with all our children.  And slow to get angry. 

My dad.  The greatest man I know.  He is kind, loving, and fun.  And slow to get angry.

It seems that the man I married is just like my father. 

It's true.  Girls want a man - just like their daddy.

The last of 3 birthdays in the same week...

Ha! You laugh. But seriously - our oldest 3 children all have their birthdays within 4 days! So here is the next birthday child:

Melina!  She is 15 today!  Yeah!  She is such a fun girl!  She is very artistic - a talent that she has inherited from my mom. 

Melina is going to be an artist. 

She takes photos, sketches, writes stories, poems, and essays with no difficulty. 

She has her own style of dress.

And she is the best sister - super loving and kind to all her siblings.

She has a wonderful sense of humor - and is always making us laugh.  Although at times, we think that her humor is related to her being blonde...

This is Melina and her Daddy - they have the most amazing relationship - and the same sense of humor!  I was truly blessed to be able to marry such a man for time and all eternity in the temple.  (More about him tomorrow on Father's Day!)

Melina and Aimee have the most amazing relationship....as sisters, only 2 years apart - they have been becoming friends these last 2 years...

Need I say more?

Happy Birthday Melina!

Another Birthday!

Today is my Aimee's birthday.  She is the sweetest peacemaker there is!  She is always kind, loving, and full of laughter!

Today she is 13! 

We are grateful for her and that she is here with us today.

During my pregnancy with Aimee, she was diagnosed with 2 different life-threatening problems in utero at 18 weeks, and then at 25 weeks, I went into labor with her.  Everything was okay, until at 31 weeks, and then I was hospitalized - for her - not me.  I spent almost 10 days in hospital with her - and then, everything turned worse - Aimee started dying.

With quick thinking of the doctors and nurses, we had an emergency C-section at 33 weeks 2 days, and she was born - small and sick.

But once out of utero - with medication - and priesthood blessings - she healed very quickly and was able to go home at 5 days old.  She weighed 4 lbs 14 oz and was 16 inches long.

She gained weight quickly, and spent most of her time in the sling that I wore almost 24/7.  She was quite sick, off and on, for about 2 years - mostly respiratory viruses and lots of pneumonia, from her lungs not being matured 100%.

She was also born with a conductive hearing loss.  She was 98% deaf in both years until age 2.  She was treated by the German audiologists, at age 1, and her hearing was improved to less than <2% deafness by age 2.  She now has less than a 1% hearing loss, and you would never know.  She spent over 8 years in speech therapy to improve her her speech and communication abilities!

She loves to cook, bake, and read.  She is going to be going to high school in 2 years and she already is planning on a culinary arts plan.

Happy Birthday Aimee!!!!!

For those wondering - we have our 3 oldest children with birthdays within a 4 day window!

So, Matt was on Tuesday, Aimee is today, and tomorrow is another birthday!

An 18 year old son.

I am not old enough to be the mother of an 18 year old.  Yet today I am.  Mathew has turned 18 today.  We went out for breakfast to his favorite place - Cracker Barrel. 

He leaves today for the southeast.  He will be working, learning electrical construction, for my brother.  He is excited and sort of scared all at the same time.  I remember feeling like that years ago when I turned 18.

Matt has been a blessing in our lives.  He has been a great big brother to all his siblings and a good son.  We know that this the right thing for him to do - to move to out with my brother and work.

Salt Lake City 2010

We took a quick trip up to Utah to visit with friends and to drop off Melina and 2 of her friends at EFY.  While we were there we went to Temple Square.  Where I nor my children have ever been!

 

The organ in Conference Center!  I actually heard one of organ concerts in the Tabernacle while at Temple Square!  It was so beautiful. 

Snow.  In May. 

Snow.  Again.  In May.  In Provo.  We drove through it and walked through it to drop off Melina and her friends!  Yuck. 

There is a reason I live in the desert. 

Summer Clothes 2010!

White knit shirt and black linen skirt...

White knit skirt and turquoise knit shirt - which is the same pattern as the white shirt above!

Black, red, and white rayon knit shirt, same black linen skirt.

Green rayon knit shirt (same pattern as the above)...

Pink, white, black, and gold knit shirt (Jalie Pattern)...

I also made a cute pair of denim capris for the jeans sew along on pattern review - I just have to finish writing up about them and take pictures...

Happy Birthday Ammon!

Today...is his birthday!  I don't have any baby pictures to post - they are all in the non-digital scrapbooks!  But, I can tell you some interesting things about Ammon:

1.  He was born exactly 3 weeks after returning from Germany - in Arizona.
2.  He was 5 weeks early (just like one of his sisters!)
3.  He was a good baby - and loved to be held and tickled.
4.  He loves to read - and has been devouring the Percy Jackson series this last month.
5.  He is planning on being a doctor.  He has been planning this since he was 5.
6.  He studies hard in his schoolwork - because he wants to be a doctor - and never complains about it.
7.  He loves Legos!
8.  He always is smiling.
9.  He is very kind and sweet to everyone he meets.
10.  He is just an awesome kid!

So....

Happy Birthday, Ammon!

Life changing events going on here...

First - I finished my paper!  It was evaluated with a 3.5/4.0 - all done - 6 weeks ahead of schedule - I start my new class this Monday - 4 weeks ahead of schedule!

Second - Matt graduated!

Third, we were up all night on Graduation - for our high school's Grad Night 2010 celebration!  We were voluteering, like we have been doing all year.  This next year, Mike and I will be the Committee chairs for the whole Grad Night 2011!  We are excited to do so - we had a great time - both with the graduated Seniors and with our new friends that we made.

Fourth, Matt is moving!  My brother has offered him a job with a local construction crew (doing electrical work) in Alabama!  Matt will be leaving here in the middle June to live there!  He is excited to be moving out on his own (with his uncle's help) and to growing up! 

We took a trip early this week.  I will post where we went later....

The last paper is done!

It is being edited as I write this.  I should be able to submit it for grading tomorrow or Saturday!  Now to finish helping get ready for the Grad Night 2010 party and to help pull it off this week.

Today was Matt's last day of school.  He graduates Wednesday.  1 child down.  5 to go. 

I got lots of beautiful things for Mother's Day.  I got new jewelry (lots of it) from my youngest children and my mom and dad.  Melina made me a cute purple polka dot bowl for my sewing table in her Art class.  Matt took me our for dessert at his work.

Mike got me a new headboard and foot board for our bedroom!  I will post pictures of it later (um, when I can locate the camera cord - Melina seems to have "borrowed" it and has yet to return it to my desk). he new headboard is important - our last headboard was bought almost 20 years ago - for only $99.  And it has been through 4 moves and was on its last legs!  I also re-arranged our room for the new headboard.  And it looks wonderful!  I moved the bed to a different wall and re-hung pictures and a new shelf.

So, now to finish my intern reading assignment, The 5th Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization by Peter M. Senge.  I really am enjoying this book and have learned a new way to look at organizations and problem solving.  I would recommend this book to anyone who has a job or is in school!

This has been a busy week - again....

Things are moving right along.  My 3rd paper was accepted and graded with another 100%.  I have only 1 more paper - which I will start while my mom is having some corrective foot surgery tomorrow.  This last paper is on Performance Evaluations.  But I am not complaining - I am 7 weeks ahead of my semester being done and will be able to start my next semester 4 weeks early!

(This surgery will be her third, on this foot.  This particular foot is having difficulty healing - and the second surgery was to remove a screw that would not stay in the bone - and you could feel the screw on the top of her foot!  That was repaired, however, there seems to be exessive bone growth in that same area, so tomorrow that will be fixed. She has been such a trooper about this!  And it is not her dr.'s fault, either - her foot is just having difficulty repairing and healing itself.  Even her dr. is surprised about this healing.)

Along with that, I have been taking children to eye appointments, buying new clothes, sorting out old clothes and shoes, and making new ones.  I also have been remodeling my bedroom - which is my Mother's Day gift from Mike.  So, I will get pictures up on that soon too - somewhere, I know I have the time.

We are 13 days from Grad Night for Mathew's high school.  Seeing Mike and I are on the committee, we have been helping non-stop. We do enjoy it!  This weekend we I will be building and helping with set up - Mike and the younger boys will be at Father/Son campout.  It seems that our ward (congregation for all my non-LDS friends & family) likes to plan these on the weekend of Mother's Day - every year!!!!!!

Here is what we did last weekend - we went to the the Gila Valley Temple open house. 

This was Jacob's favorite thing - Moroni on the top of the temple!  That was the first thing he looked for!

It was super windy and super sunny.  But we had a wonderful time - being in the temple together and being outside.  Matt was unable to come, as he had to work that day.

And this is what happens when you let your children have gummy worms on a 2-hour trip.  And Melina gets bored.  Somehow, just somehow, the gummy worms end up being put in noses.