Happy Father's Day!

So, what’s been going on here?  Hmmmm…

Thanksgiving in Arizona with my parents and some of my siblings was divine.  We had all sorts of good food, including a cheesecake flan made by my very own Chef Colin.  My brother, Uncle Nephi, was a hit with Degen and Maggie as expected.  They just can’t stop talking about him and how wonderful he is.  We did some yard work together, which really means everyone else did yard work while I sat in the sun and kept them company.  I tried to lift a shovel of dirt once and immediately thought better of it with my very large belly and confused sense of balance (not to mention my healing sprained knee and very loose ligaments).  I got to see my sisters Ruth and Eliza pass their road tests and receive their driver licenses on the same day!  Yay Liza and Ruthie!  The test proctor was impressed with both of them and their driving skills.  We cooked and talked and my mom adjusted all of our backs (she’s a DO so she can do that stuff) and went to the park and the kids played with Grandma and Grandpa and their aunts and uncle.  It was really ideal, except that a couple of my sisters were missing (on the other side of the country for Thanksgiving this year). My mom cut Maggie’s hair for the first time (with bangs so she can see without pigtails) and trimmed Degen’s to a presentable length, then Mom and I went to a nearby salon and had our hair cut too.  I really love spending time with my mom, even when she has to study for her next qulifying exam part of the time.

Just before Thanksgiving I was officially diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and just after Thanksgiving I was put on a low dose of insulin overnight to take care of that stubborn fasting number, just like when I was pregnant with Maggie.  My current OB, Dr. Klekman in Santa Rosa, is wonderful and is very laid back about the whole thing while also vigilantly watching and listening for any possible problems.  The diabetes educator I’ve been assigned to, Astrid Ortega, is also friendly and relaxed, even when my kids are running around her office in circles.  I do have to have weekly consults with her, weekly appointments with Dr. K, weekly nonstress tests, an ultrasound at 36 weeks to check the baby’s size, and they want me to induce at 39 weeks if the baby doesn’t arrive before then.  They only have me testing my blood sugar four times a day (compared to seven plus when I was pregnant with Maggie) this time and I don’t have to check my ketones in the morning like I had to last time around.  It’s really helped me this time around to have relaxed providers who explain things slowly and listen to me when I have concerns.  It also helped to have some past experience to compare it to so I had some idea of what was coming.

Monday was Colin’s birthday.  Happy Birthday Colin!  We spent it, just the two of us, in Los Angeles at a training for a new product Colin was researching for his company.  It was the first time we’d been (relatively) childless overnight since Degen was born, so it was fun for me to have a little break from my “job.”  It really was amazing to have a room to myself and several meals in a row with no squeals of “Mommy Mommy Mommy!” requesting a refill of plate or cup.  Thanks so much to Sonja and Dick for the time off!

Wednesday was my sister Abby’s birthday.  Happy Birthday Abby!  We celebrated Colin’s birthday with his parents, sister Kim, and her boyfriend that evening.  I gave him 2G of RAM for his laptop, which he’s apparently very happy about but accidentally found out about in advance because I wasn’t sneaky enough to delete it from the history of my browser.  So, no surprise, but a good gift anyway.  Kim and Colin’s parents surprised us with an awesome gift–an overnight stay in Kim’s downtown San Francisco apartment after Christmas (hopefully before baby), complete with local restaurant reservations, spa treatments, babysitting, and touristy touring recommendations.  And I thought our LA trip was a vacation!  Definitely a surprise, and a very cool gift.  No, I wasn’t bothered that his birthday present was pretty much half for me (and neither was Colin, as far as I could tell).  Who needs Christmas presents when your husband gets birthday gifts like that?

Maggie chipped a tooth this week, so I’ve got to get her to a dentist to check and see if we can/should do anything about it in the near future.  We’ve got to finish off the Christmas shopping and do some seriousgift wrapping.  And I need to have the car serviced right away (of course the regular maintenance would fall on this month).  And our renters of our house in Utah gave notice, so we’ve got to find a new family to live there, preferably starting in January.  And I really should get appointments for teeth cleaning and doctor checkups and eye glasses for everyone in the family before the end of the year.  I don’t even know if that’s possible, but if it were it’d be ideal.

It’s always busy around here, even when I have no energy.  Actually, I’m usually okay as long as I don’t have to stand up for long or carry anything and I get a nap in the afternoon.  Any guesses on how often those three things coincide?

To all of you moms out there, happy Mother’s Day!  My mother is definitely one of the best mothers ever, and I dare anyone to try to top her efforts or results.   Really, try it, you’ll be happier for it.  My mom is a great teacher and nurturer without being smothering or pedantic.  It’s a tough line to walk, but she does it gracefully and I’m grateful for her example.  Thank you for all you do for me and my little family, Mom.

I’ve had an awesome, though atypical, Mother’s Day so far.  Usually Sunday mornings are full of me rushing around trying to get everyone else to rush around to get ready for church.  This morning was calm and relaxed with no rushing, yet we all got to church early–and completely dressed!  And I even had time/took the time to curl my hair, so I felt relatively pretty.

At church some kids and the EQ president helped me set up the Primary room, so I got to sit down in plenty of time for Sacrament Meeting with my family in the pew instead of in the hallway.  Although neither of my counselors were at church today, my secretary was at church after a few weeks of travel and was soooo wonderfully helpful.  Two kids actually begged me to let them give the talk and scripture (which coincidentally hadn’t been assigned in advance this week) and we’d asked a member of the bishopric weeks before to do Sharing Time, so all I had to do was conduct and patrol the halls.  My patrolling was fun because we had some exciting “emergencies” like a little boy with his foot harmlessly stuck under a chair that I got to un-stick.

Near the beginning of Primary, my husband came in to let me know that he was going with some of the rest of the EQ to go help a family in the stake whose house had been severely damaged in a tornado last night.  So, after Primary I headed home alone with the kids and called some of my sisters and my mother.  Then I got to go visit my Primary counselor who recently got home from the hospital and had a great time talking with her, despite the kids’ unsuccessful attempts to destroy her home.  Colin called me on the way home from that to say he’s on his way home.

It’s been a great day.  Not because of all the thoughtful gifts my husband and kids did or didn’t get me, and not because I’m a great mother, and not because everything fell into place the way I would have imagined it if I were designing the perfect Mother’s Day.  It’s been a great Mother’s Day because the Lord has blessed me with gratitude today.  I’m grateful for the silk flower corsages the young women and young men at church gave to all the women in the ward.  I’m grateful for the Mother’s Day handprints my kids made for me in Nursery today.  I’m grateful to have two good, healthy kids–a huge blessing that I’m more aware of since I’m often in the company of women who don’t have children at all.  I’m grateful that Colin did the dishes last night just to make me happy.  I’m grateful to have the kind of husband who will cheerfully leave a meeting to serve strangers far away doing the manual labor he normally dislikes so much.  I’m grateful to be healthy and strong and to be able to move around and do almost anything I want to do and to have had a full night of sleep last night in a safe place.  I’m thankful to have plenty of food in the house for our family.  I’m thankful to have a family that loves me and accepts me, flaws and all.  I’m thankful for my mother and her mother and my father’s mother.  And today is perfect.

We had a lovely Easter, including egg dying and hiding and finding, pictures of which you can find here.  Both sets of grandparents sent boxes of goodies–thank you!!–that all of us loved.  I made little baskets for everyone and decided that next year I’m going to make myself a better basket since I did the classic martyr-mom thing of giving myself the leftovers.  Or maybe I’ll assign Colin to do a basket for me next year…  In any case, I loved seeing the surprised faces of the adults when they found out they got baskets too! 

Thanks to Phoebe and Jon, our wonderful Dallas hosts, for provinding a warm, comfy place to sleep and lots of food to eat.  One never need fear hunger when spending time with them!  Phoebe’s wisdom teeth seemed to be healing up a little bit better by the time we left, but it was nice to be there with them to help out a little.  We also got to spend some time with Ashley and Justin, our long-time friends from college and before, and see their sweet little girl who is no longer a baby.  How does that happen so fast? 

Colin did our taxes yesterday!  Thanks to Tina and Aunt Caite and Rachel for the taxes encouragement and resources.  Believe it or not, we get money BACK!  I live in a weird state of fear of owing the IRS more money and I’m totally excited that it’s the other way around.  Once I heard how much money we’re getting back, I quickly made a list of where the money’s probably going and it looks like we’ll be able to pay down some debt and maybe do a little bit of emergency kit/food storage supplying!  Woo-hoo!!!!!

I came home to a relatively clean house, which motivated me to unpack and do the laundry quickly to maintain the order we had already.  Road trips are my great self-evaluation times, and I decided (again) that I MUST get better at taking care of my body and at organizing my life with goals and rewards and such.  Colin is very supportive and I decided to go back on my “diabetes diet”–the meal plan the doctors put me on when I was pregnant with Maggie and could hardly keep from losing weight.  I also decided to go to our apartment complex gym early in the morning and work out.  All this is supposed to start on Monday, but Colin encouraged me to start working out today, so I did!  I spent almost an hour and more than 400 calories on the treadmill this morning listening to upbeat teeny-bopper Disney music.  It was so fun!  I walked three miles in 35 minutes and I’m quite pleased with myself.  I forget how happy exercise makes me.  Yesterday I picked up a sticker chart at a teacher supply store and I’m working on my goals and rewards for motivation.

We had a lovely Easter, including egg dying and hiding and finding, pictures of which you can find here.  Both sets of grandparents sent boxes of goodies–thank you!!–that all of us loved.  I made little baskets for everyone and decided that next year I’m going to make myself a better basket since I did the classic martyr-mom thing of giving myself the leftovers.  Or maybe I’ll assign Colin to do a basket for me next year…  In any case, I loved seeing the surprised faces of the adults when they found out they got baskets too! 

Thanks to Phoebe and Jon, our wonderful Dallas hosts, for provinding a warm, comfy place to sleep and lots of food to eat.  One never need fear hunger when spending time with them!  Phoebe’s wisdom teeth seemed to be healing up a little bit better by the time we left, but it was nice to be there with them to help out a little.  We also got to spend some time with Ashley and Justin, our long-time friends from college and before, and see their sweet little girl who is no longer a baby.  How does that happen so fast? 

Colin did our taxes yesterday!  Thanks to Tina and Aunt Caite and Rachel for the taxes encouragement and resources.  Believe it or not, we get money BACK!  I live in a weird state of fear of owing the IRS more money and I’m totally excited that it’s the other way around.  Once I heard how much money we’re getting back, I quickly made a list of where the money’s probably going and it looks like we’ll be able to pay down some debt and maybe do a little bit of emergency kit/food storage supplying!  Woo-hoo!!!!!

I came home to a relatively clean house, which motivated me to unpack and do the laundry quickly to maintain the order we had already.  Road trips are my great self-evaluation times, and I decided (again) that I MUST get better at taking care of my body and at organizing my life with goals and rewards and such.  Colin is very supportive and I decided to go back on my “diabetes diet”–the meal plan the doctors put me on when I was pregnant with Maggie and could hardly keep from losing weight.  I also decided to go to our apartment complex gym early in the morning and work out.  All this is supposed to start on Monday, but Colin encouraged me to start working out today, so I did!  I spent almost an hour and more than 400 calories on the treadmill this morning listening to upbeat teeny-bopper Disney music.  It was so fun!  I walked three miles in 35 minutes and I’m quite pleased with myself.  I forget how happy exercise makes me.  Yesterday I picked up a sticker chart at a teacher supply store and I’m working on my goals and rewards for motivation.

In the meantime, I’m packing and cleaning.  I’m also watching my friend’s six-month-old, Blake, for a couple of hours while she’s on a trip with her mom and her husband is in class.  He’ll come pick up the baby, and then we’re off to see the Hemingways!  Maggie and Blake are in their cribs and Degen is watching Finding Nemo, the laundry is drying in the drier, and all I have to do is put some stuff in suitcases. 

I’m sooooooooooo ready for a change of pace, and so is Colin.  Sleeping on the floor or not, it’s better to spend the time with our families than to sit at home trying to think of ways to entertain ourselves.  Actually, we have plenty of arduous tasks to occupy our time, but not much to entertain.  Plus, as much as I love it, it’ll be nice to have a little break from Primary presidenting. 

We’re going to an Easter egg hunt with the kids on Saturday, then we get to go to church with Phoebe and Jon on Sunday.  I’m hoping that we’ll get to see our friends Ashley and Justin while we’re there.  We were talking about maybe spending the rest of Colin’s Spring Break week on a road trip around Colin’s mission (San Antonio), but we decided that probably won’t work for us and we’re headed back home early in the week. 

In the meantime, I’m packing and cleaning.  I’m also watching my friend’s six-month-old, Blake, for a couple of hours while she’s on a trip with her mom and her husband is in class.  He’ll come pick up the baby, and then we’re off to see the Hemingways!  Maggie and Blake are in their cribs and Degen is watching Finding Nemo, the laundry is drying in the drier, and all I have to do is put some stuff in suitcases. 

I’m sooooooooooo ready for a change of pace, and so is Colin.  Sleeping on the floor or not, it’s better to spend the time with our families than to sit at home trying to think of ways to entertain ourselves.  Actually, we have plenty of arduous tasks to occupy our time, but not much to entertain.  Plus, as much as I love it, it’ll be nice to have a little break from Primary presidenting. 

We’re going to an Easter egg hunt with the kids on Saturday, then we get to go to church with Phoebe and Jon on Sunday.  I’m hoping that we’ll get to see our friends Ashley and Justin while we’re there.  We were talking about maybe spending the rest of Colin’s Spring Break week on a road trip around Colin’s mission (San Antonio), but we decided that probably won’t work for us and we’re headed back home early in the week. 

We’re not Catholic (obviously), but I think it’s fun to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  I was thinking about having a treasure hunt and explaining about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  Then I thought that’s not a great religious lesson for the kids, how do I tie it back into the gospel?  So, how about if we talk about Noah’s Ark and the rainbow at the end of the story?  My kids love talking about animals and boats and I think they’d love to talk about colors in the rainbow, and all that tied in to God showing his love for us with a rainbow works pretty well, I think.  So, here’s the plan:

Song: The Wise Man and the Foolish Man (CS, 281)

Prayer

Lesson: Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6-9)

Show a picture of Noah building the ark and talk about how the people were wicked and God told Noah to tell them to repent and to build an ark.  Talk about how Noah was obedient and built the ark, and put two of each animal on the ark.  God sent a flood and all the people died except those on the ark because they were obedient.  The earth dried up again and God made a covenant with Noah and the rainbow is a sign that God promises to never destroy the earth with a flood again.  God makes covenants with us because he loves us.

Activity: Treasure hunt for a treat at the end of the rainbow.  I think I’ll use different colored papers as clues–the kids look for the new color of paper.  At the end there’s a rainbow made out of all the colors and our treat.

Song: Love One Another (CS, 136)

Prayer

Treats: Green cupcakes, or green pudding, or something else… here are a bunch of ideas: www.perpetualpreschool.com/stpat_snack.html

We’re not Catholic (obviously), but I think it’s fun to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  I was thinking about having a treasure hunt and explaining about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  Then I thought that’s not a great religious lesson for the kids, how do I tie it back into the gospel?  So, how about if we talk about Noah’s Ark and the rainbow at the end of the story?  My kids love talking about animals and boats and I think they’d love to talk about colors in the rainbow, and all that tied in to God showing his love for us with a rainbow works pretty well, I think.  So, here’s the plan:

Song: The Wise Man and the Foolish Man (CS, 281)

Prayer

Lesson: Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6-9)

Show a picture of Noah building the ark and talk about how the people were wicked and God told Noah to tell them to repent and to build an ark.  Talk about how Noah was obedient and built the ark, and put two of each animal on the ark.  God sent a flood and all the people died except those on the ark because they were obedient.  The earth dried up again and God made a covenant with Noah and the rainbow is a sign that God promises to never destroy the earth with a flood again.  God makes covenants with us because he loves us.

Activity: Treasure hunt for a treat at the end of the rainbow.  I think I’ll use different colored papers as clues–the kids look for the new color of paper.  At the end there’s a rainbow made out of all the colors and our treat.

Song: Love One Another (CS, 136)

Prayer

Treats: Green cupcakes, or green pudding, or something else… here are a bunch of ideas: www.perpetualpreschool.com/stpat_snack.html

Put water and the spices from the packet that comes with the corned beef package in the crock pot with the meat and cut-up potatoes, carrots, and cabbage.  Cook all day, drain, and put meat and veggies on a serving dish.  Serve with horseradish, mayo, or mustard on the side.

If I can get to the grocery store early enough tomorrow (I hear my father-in-law is going out at 5am tomorrow), I’m totally going to try this one.  I’ve made corned beef before, but I don’t remember doing it in the crock pot or with all the veggies before.  I love corned beef and we haven’t had it in a long time because I’d simply forgotten about it. 

St. Patrick’s Day is also my mom’s birthday, and she finds out tomorrow whether she’s “matched” for a residency next year after she graduates from medical school.  I’m crossing my fingers that she gets matched for her birthday. 

We have a lot of clover around our apartment, so maybe for a fun St. Patrick’s Day/counting activity I’ll take the kids outside and we’ll look for a four-leaf clover.  And, of course, I’ve got to make sure we all get our green clothes out to wear tomorrow so we don’t get pinched!

I was just looking for some more ideas online for things to do for the holiday, and discovered that St. Patrick’s Day was actually officially YESTERDAY!  The Catholic church switched it, just for this year, to the 15th so that it wouldn’t conflict with the buildup to Easter next weekend.  Isn’t that interesting?  The next conflict like this will be in 2160!  But everyone is celebrating it secularly (like me) on the 17th as usual. 

I found this list of Top 10 movies to watch on St. Patrick’s Day.  If I were to pick one, I’d go for the Gnome Mobile (if I could find a copy). 

http://familyfun.go.com/parties/holiday/specialfeature/stpatday_sf/ Has tons of great kid-friendly ideas for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, including games, crafts, and lots of green food ideas. 

http://www.fabulousfoods.com/holidays/stpat/stpat.html Has more serious Irish recipes (not so much green), and some fun “blessings” and toasts.

Maybe we’ll have a treasure hunt tomorrow, too, and try to find some “gold coins” in a pot at the end of the rainbow.  I’ll bet the kids would love it.