Facial Laceration

That is officially what the doctor's diagnosed Noah with this past Sunday night. Let me start at the beginning.

My neighbor has an XBox game Guitar Hero. That game ROCKS! He brought it over so he and Jon could "jam" together. Sophie also likes to play Guitar Hero, but doesn't quite comprehend the guitar "strumming" and how to make it correspond with the "fret" pushing, so I was helping her. Noah was standing in front of the tv dancing to the music, as he tends to do whenever music of any kind is playing.

Noah is a bit bowlegged and has issues with falling. He also has issues with taking the impact to those falls on his head and face. That evening was no exception. All of a sudden he fell right into the XBox. He fell and the XBox fell and I knew any second the cries would start. So in preparation for the cry I went over to pick him up and give him kisses and hugs, when to my horror I see a gaping hole to the left of his bottom lip and blood POURING out of it!



Once the bleeding stopped, Noah didn't even seem like he was affected by the injury. Jon kept telling me that we should just put a butterfly bandaid on it, but I was certain that wouldn't do the trick, so Jon had me call the Emergency Pediatrician. Sure enough, she told me we needed to take him to the Emergency Room. Ugh!

After 1 hour in the waiting room, we were taken to a room and told he would need 2 or 3 stitches. Because of his age, and the fact that he had NO idea what was happening, we had to strap him to a back board and velcro strap him down to it. Cloths were wrapped around his face to keep the area sterile.

Noah & I were absolutely traumatized! Jon held his hands and I rubbed his belly. We sang "Jumbo Elephant" and that seemed to help, but the real calming was done when Jon turned on the camera to show him pictures of his "sissy". Suddenly things were ok. The doctor was able to do the stitching and once he was released, the nurse was kind enough to bring a grape popsicle.



Although I doubt it, I hope this is the 1st and last visit to the Emergency Room!

My Family

My grandmother passed away last week. October 29, 2007. She was 91 years old and had been suffering with physical pain for as long as I could remember, so her passing was a blessing.

I know this may sound morbid, but I was really excited for her funeral. I was excited because this meant that my entire family was going to be able to get together, after years of time and distance.

I had the BEST time. My grandma was the oldest of 4 children and while her brother had passed away 3 or 4 years ago, her 2 sisters were able to make it out for the service. It was an amazing thing.

I also got to see my cousins. Not all 19 of them, but pretty close.



My Uncle Kirk and his family.



My Aunt Syl and her family.

I was unable to get a picture of my Aunt Fran and the 2 of her 7 kids that made it out.



My family, excluding my brother Dennis.

My grandma was the hub of our family and we were able to celebrate her life together.

Lake Powell

Jon and I just went out to the Arizona side of Lake Powell for the wedding of one of my very good friends.

It was awesome.

I went out there with a negative attitude, which is really unlike me. Especially considering it revolved around Lake Powell, my home away from home.

I thought it would be a bunch of kids partying. No real plans for the future. I mean, hey! They had already been engaged for almost 2 years and dating for 13. I almost thought it was never going to happen.

And then we got there. Jaime took us to Antelope Pointe where they have a newly constructed restaurant....floating on the lake! It was truly amazing. I felt like I was a part of something greater than I. It was really great to experience this with Jon and a long time friend.

We had a really relaxing time and I even got to take a nap. I probably shouldn't have taken the nap since I still had a song to memorize before the wedding, but I was really exhausted! Then Jaime and Troy had their rehersal dinner. At their sushi restaurant Blue Buddah.

From the moment I walked into that place I was stunned. They weren't a couple of kids playing grown up. They had really accomplished something inspiring.



They literally built this restaurant. From building the bar, to laying the hardwood floors to constructing the slate tile fountain at the main entrance. Jaime even made all the pillows that were on every seat in the house.



The wedding was beautiful.
I was pleasantly surprised by how grown up my friends had really become.
How focused on a future they were.
How amazingly balanced they are in their life.
I felt guilty for being such a Negative Nancy, but I tried to make up for it by praising her for her accomplishments.
I felt extremely fortunate to be the one she considered above all to stand with her on this special occasion. To be the one to be her biggest fan on the day that was most important to her.

All I can say is, thank goodness for good friends!

Living in dorms, paying a mortgage!

I have these neighbors.

They are on the younger side, (if 23 and 25 is younger).

They also tend to live as though they live in college Fraternity Houses.

There are 2 guys and 1 girl and when I say it's a Fraternity House it is because the girl also lives as though she is a guy.I have had numerous conversations with the 3 of them letting them know that I have a lot of problems with the way they live. It's actually not the way they live that is a problem for me, (I've certainly lived that life-style and have no room to talk). The problem that I have is when their life-style interferes with my own.One of the guys in the house has assumed the role of "father" and is constantly trying to keep the other 2 in check, but just like a father, the children tend not to listen to him. So I do not have fault with the father figure. He and I, in fact, tend to have some of the same problems with the 2 children.

On Saturday night, the male child was over at our house watching the Broncos vs. Browns Preseason Game. By midnight, I HAD to go to bed or I would not be able to wake up in the morning to teach my Primary Music class. I literally fell into bed and closed my eyes to go to sleep. It seemed like only moments later that I was awakened by the children next door. I looked at the clock to find that in was actually 2:30 am and they neighbors were getting back from the bar. I pulled my pillow over my face, but it seemed to have falled off because I was again woken up. This time it was 3:40 am. I was contemplating whether or not I should pull myself out of bed and walk over the their house to give them what-for, but decided not to when I heard male child tell female child to close the garage door. She did and I fell back asleep......only to be woken up AGAIN at 4:25 am. This cycle continued until 5:30 am!

To say the very least, I was exhausted at church that morning, but I seemed to pull something off because the kids were all receptive. Including Junior Primary. (This NEVER happens).After I got home from church I really flipped out and my venting was to Jon and his friend Mike. Poor guys. Mike was at the house that evening before hanging out with all the roommates, but was not a part of the noise. Lucky for him, because I was ready to rip off his head and blow fire out my mouth in fury. He informed me that at 4:00 am the children had also woken the "father" up and he yelled at them. It obviously worked, just like a fathers reprimanding, because they woke me again at 5:30 am. Jon told me that it would probably be better if I got some sleep and when I am in a more understanding mood, then go over to the party house and let them know how I felt. I agreed.

This morning, as I was packing Sophie up to take her to school, the "father" was outside smoking, so I thanked him for assisting my in the noise control, but let him know that I felt I had been more that understanding to the noise issue and that if it ever happened again, that I would call the police on the whole house. He agreed with me that they deserve it. I suspect that "father" is going to grow weary of the role he has assumed in the house and eventually abandon the family. Can't say that I blame him. If the real estate market was better, I would too.

Envy

I hate to admit that I am suffering from a little bit of envy.

I have this AMAZING friend that has a really beautiful life and I seem to be aching to live vicariously through her. As I read her awesome blogs, I wish that just for one day I could walk a mile in her shoes. Feel what she feels and experience her admirable sense of creativity.

Since there really is no cure for this emotionally dibilitating disease, I have decided to cure it with a few things. I plan to strive to live my life better and to the fullest. I plan to work hard on being more creative. I plan to spend more time loving others and less time worrying about why my life isn't as pleasant as everyone elses. I also plan on sitting here at me computer and putting together a list of 10 things that are good about me; that set me aside from everyone else I know. I also hope to make this list as unique as possible! Here goes......

1. I make friends really easily because I have a bubbly personality that someone told me "lights up a room" :) (I like that one)
2. I can sing music that puts my children to sleep
3. I know how to make small children quickly consider me a friend rather than a stranger (danger).....is that good or bad?
4. I tend not to take life and situations too seriously and so it is easy to let go of my anger
5. I'm a good talker
6. I'm a good listener
7. I have a knack to look at pictures and draw acurate replica's
8. I'm a loyal friend
9. I love my family more that anything else in the entire world
10. I can step out of the box of my life to see where I need improvement, and work diligently on improving it

I have to say.....that was extremely difficult. Every time I listed a pro, a con would slip into my mind just to make things difficult! I tend to peak and valley in my life and currently I'm platteauing somewhere in Death Valley.

I had heard somewhere that Oprah recommended making a list of the things you were thankful for in your lives. I'm modifying that to my personal bonuses. It isn't that I'm no good, it's just that sometimes I forget what a valuable person I can be. ENOUGH of my pitty party.

Maybe I need to carry around a camera more often, just so I can remember all the beautiful things that there are to see! I need to go find my warm fuzzy place!



.......Thanks Aub for all your inspiration!

Jealousy

I have been lacking the time to post, unlike my very talented and beautiful friend Aubrey. She has quite an knack for blogging and is very eloquent with what she writes. I just do it whenever I have an opportunity, which is virtually NEVER!

My sweet husband was given the task of planning our Anniversary celebration, which will occur this weekend. More specifically, starting today. This was a task given to him weeks ago in hopes that I would not have to do a single thing in order to enjoy some private time together. My problem is that since I have asked him not to tell me a single thing about this planning, he is actually not telling me a single thing about the planning. I have been freaking out thinking that he hasn't done anything and that I will be utterly disappointed.

Turns out.....he is taking me to Steamboat Springs for the weekend! Are you jealous? If not, then you should be! A weekend without children, with the love of my life and hot natural spring water? Only a trip out of this country would top this one!!!

Unfit parent

I'm officially a bad mom. 2 days ago my children's worlds came crashing down due to either my lack of patience or my lack of attention.

Let me preface this story with a statement. My daughter might need hearing aids. For some reason, my asking her to complete a task 4 to 5 times in a row seems to be going in one ear and out the other. I assume it is a lack of hearing that is the cause of such a thing. After repetidly asking her to put on clothes after her bath, I gave her body a turn and a push. Unfortunatly, her feet had not yet made the full turn when I gave her the push and her hands were in the pockets of her robe. Her face very literally bounced off the ground. (Groan) I hear ya! Fortunatly, no blood was shed, but she did have a mark on her upper lip that actually looks a little like lip liner. She quickly got over the trauma, but not before her little brother got a piece of my parenting skills.

Noah has gotten into climbing onto any and everything that he can. This such occasion just happens to include the child size chair in Sophie bedroom. While my back was turned, he climbed up onto that chair and it tipped over. Are you cringing yet? Just wait. He doesn't just fall over the chair. Oh no. The chair strikes the backside of Sophie's keyboard that was a present from Santa. It breaks off a LARGE piece of the piano and in the process Noah hits his face on all the keyboard buttons and such. Right on the bridge of his nose! Now I have a screaming baby with a bloody nose and scratches ALL over his face. He looked like someone had taken a 2x4 to this poor childs face! It was the most horrifying thing that has happened to my baby since the day of his birth. Way to parent.....MOM! Next time I'll let Sophie play with matches and Noah can have the lighter fluid!