Miquela's 21st Birthday

I can't believe that my little Miquela is 21. Happy Birthday to our Miquela bird! Time certainly has flown by -- it seems like only a few months ago that you were 7. That year you had a shared birthday parter with Great Grandpa Roger for his 80th birthday.

Some Of My Favorite Things

Below you will find 40 things that are my favorites -- I could go on and on but this today is enough.
Cherry coke from the soda fountain
Pellet ice
Time to cook and bake
The smell of clean babies – there is magic in baby lotion I swear
New, clean sheets with a high thread count
Listening to the ocean – I never knew it was so loud
Reading anything and everything – wait I’m not into vampires
My kiddos – I can’t believe how old they are getting
Charles – what more can I say
Traveling
Perogies
Dark chocolate
The wind right before it rains
The smell of outside right after it rains
Disney World
Taking pictures
JetBlue
New York
Learning anything new
Good doctor reports
Fresh flowers
Fire and Ice roses
Talking on the phone – not so much into texting
Snuggles
Buddy the dog
Playing in the ocean / at the beach
Movies and movie popcorn
Christmas (side note I hated Christmas when I married Charles until we had the girls)
My Daddy – he thinks I’m perfect – yes, I have him wrapped around my little finger
Not having to hurry
James Taylor / Rod Stewart / Kenny Chesney / Enya
Las Vegas
Snow
The apple gorgonzola salad from Buca di Beppo
IMH (Its My Heart) My friend Corrie started it for all of our heart kiddos in honor of her son Noah
Pomegranates – Charles says that I love anything to eat that I can play with
The smell of Pine Sol
Frozen fruity drinks from Sonic
Girl talk
Always being able to find some hope

17 Years Ago

today I met Charles. I wasn't looking for him but he was looking for me. It was one of the first times I'd been to church in three months due to my work schedule. I went to the Weber State 5th ward after working a night shift at SDCH -- I was so tired and just threw myself together to get there. After all I was going to church not to meet some guy.

It was a nice service and I learned it was Mothers Day. I made a mental note to stop on my way home and pick something up for my mom -- so much for the whole keeping the Sabbath day holy. As I was leaving sacrament meeting I felt this tap on my arm and there was Charles. We walked to the parking lot chatting and as it turned out we were parked close together. We talked and talked -- believe it or not it was mostly him chatting not me. He told me that he was going to be out of town for the next week but asked for my number to go out the following weekend. We had lost track of time and over three hours had gone by – who would have thought that Charles could be such a talker! Seventeen years, seven kids, two houses and a zillion other things here we are - who would have thought so much could happen in such a short amount of time?

I love you Charles!

A Group Home for Maggie

As Miss Maggie prepares for discharge from her fully secure/locked mental health placement Charles and I have began the search for a Group Home for her.

Initially we were given only 1 option (option A) which we went and looked at. It was okay, only and hour and fifteen minutes from home, seemed like they had an established program and a mature staff but we left feeling uneasy.

We pushed and were given two additional options one nearly four hours away and the other nearly three hours away. Before I could set up appointments to go and see either one we were told that the place further away was no longer a contracted agency. It was a mixed blessing -- it was further away so that left us with closer options however in the same breath we learned some information that concerns us that option A is not a good place for Maggie.

Next week I'll be driving out to Egypt to see option B. I've looked at their website, left their admissions office voicemail and tried to find anyone else who has had their child there -- so far I have not been successful. There are very few Group Homes that are taking girls in Utah -- the state is in the process of recontracting and it is a nightmare. They are cutting the number of places available by 2/3's. There is nothing (not one Group Home) in the metro area -- something I find odd and hard to believe.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Update on my Garden

I was feeling rather proud of my little seeds -- they had sprouted quickly, and most of the little pots had plants in them. A rare chance at success for me when it comes to growing plants. When it began to get warm towards the end of April I began setting all the little pots out on the back porch for a few hours a day. One night I forgot to bring them in -- I didn't think much about it. The next morning as I was getting ready for work I looked outside and found all my pots upside down scattered about the backyard. I cried. I know that is silly but they were growing and all I could think of was for once I was going to have a garden my pretty dream garden was gone! So I moped for a couple of days and then replanted new seeds.

I have a new "plan". My tomatoes, cukes, pumpkins, watermelon, etc I am getting from the nursery. They will be bigger and I hope strong enough to survive. I replanted my beets, onions, and corn. I couldn't find any peas at the stores so I guess I'm too late for them.

My cousin Jennifer has her little garden in plastic cups in her dining room -- they are HUGE! They look like nursery stock plants. My heart had a moment of jealousy that quickly ended when Jen mentioned our Granny. Granny was a gardener a great one. She had what I like to call perfect black dirt and grew the best veggies! I could hear her words of just try again and so today out I go to find a spot in my backyard to put the plants. Wish me luck :)

Botox Anyone?

Zachary went back to see the ortho Friday -- Dr. Klatt is a great guy. One look at how Zachary was walking and he agreed that it was worse than before. Since casting didn't last even four months we are moving on to step 2 -- botox. In two weeks Zachary will see a rehab doc -- Dr. Gooch. (Side note back a zillion years ago when I worked at SDCH I used to work with Dr. G -- she knows her stuff big time.) Dr. Gooch will be the one to make the call if botox is the next step or surgery. With botox they would then either cast Zachary to force his feet flat, give him foot/ankle leg braces, or try just the botox alone.

It was hard enough when he was in casts for November and early December -- I can't imagine him being in casts for the summer. Zachary loves the sprinkler, mud and playing outside way too much. We'll do whatever needs to be done but I feel for my little man. Maybe we'll be able to hold off until September?

I felt bad because when we got off the elevator Zachary remembered where we were and started to cry, "I don't want new casts Momma!” It broke my heart. Jon who was with us kept asking "Is Zach getting new casts? What color? Can have them too?” I'm grateful for the Neonate follow up clinic and sitting in there reminded me how much we do have to be grateful for -- many of the kids born around the same time as Zachary 27-28 weeks gestation have vision, motor and learning issues. If mild CP and toe walking from it is the worst thing that happens we have it made in the shade.

My Hero My Brother

Patrick is nearly six years younger than I am. When he was born I used to cart him around like a baby doll. He was MY BABY. When he was just a few weeks old he had to be admitted to the hospital with an infection. I thought it was my entire fault. I was too little to see him at the hospital and cried for him. When he was two he didn't speak yet because as they soon found out he couldn't hear. Thank goodness it was easily corrected with a seat of PE tubes. He was a pest at times but so sweet. Anytime he wanted something he would come and find me to help him get it. He had a baby Kermit and a pink care bear that he slept with. I would tease him at times to the point of tears -- good thing he loved me. When he was 9 he crashed his bike and split his nose to the bone -- I was babysitting the neighbor kids and he came for me to fix it. I remembered how he begged me not to tell mom. I remember looking at him and saying "Buddy you are going to need like 100 stitches to fix this". In reality he only needed 72. When I married Charles he was mad -- I was going away and he had to wear a tux!
Somehow time kept moving and soon he was driving and would come to our little house in Magna with his friends -- spelling things with my fridge magnets. Then the day came for him to be sworn into the Army. My little brother, with the brown soft fuzzy hair when he was born was going away to boot camp. It was like pictures of his life flashed before my eyes in the minutes of the ceremony. I cried because I was so proud of him. Putting him on the plane broke my heart. Here was my lil brother who was so tender with my special needs girls going off to be a man.
Time kept moving on and before we knew it the day was 11 September 2001. As I sat watching Good Morning America, doing the girls' hair before school watching planes crash into the towers. I remember thinking of Patrick and wondering where he would go and what would happen. I'll never forget the innocence in Sabrina's voice as she said "Don't worry Momma Uncle Patrick is in the Army and he'll protect us". Little did she know how many times he would go to the Middle East?
He was already and Army Ranger but wanted to learn and do more. Patrick learned how to fly Blackhawk helicopters and later Kiowa’s. He was a busy guy hanging out in the "sandbox" but always found the time to talk when I called or answer my facebook posts. He loves his nieces and nephews and isn't afraid to show it.
Patrick is home again and in love with two people. Patricia and her daughter Kira. They soon will be leaving for Alabama for 3 more months of flight school and have decided to marry before they go. On Monday I'm lucky to be one of their witnesses as they get married at the county building.
Patrick, you will always be my lil brother and I love you. Patricia and Kira welcome to the family -- you've made Patrick so happy. I love you all.

Post Note : The wedding didn't happen as the flu came calling - soon though very soon :)