Avery: Look what I did!

At the end of this summer, Avery had an unforgettable childhood experience getting her first CAST! "Oh, man!" (I don't know how else to describe it, and kids especially can relate to just these two words and phrase made famous by a certain masked fox! You will only get that if you are a parent of small ones at home!) Anyhow, Shailee was taking her downstairs to play, like normal, and somehow caught the edge of a stair and they both fell, hitting their heads on the wall. It wasn't until a bit later after Avery calmed down, that she wanted to get down (as I was holding her) to grab a toy, took a step, and immediately pulled up her leg like a wounded puppy holding up his paw! It was obvious something was wrong...
We took her in the doctor's and found she had a small fracture on her tibia and needed a cast. We assume Shai must have accidentally caught her foot underneath her when they fell, causing the fracture. Shailee cried a good part of the afternoon saying, "I'm the worst sister, EVER!" over and over. We assured her it was simply an accident and Avery's hugs seemed to make it okay for them both!
The whole ordeal was, of course, was super sad, but Avery adjusted quickly, hobbling around like the fastest peg-leg you've ever seen! We even nicknamed her 'Pirate' (I think Scott even tried to get her to say, "Arrr!"), and we always knew she was coming, as we could hear the pause, clunk, pause, clunk of her footsteps behind us!! She was the cutest little broken leg, peg-leg girl you've ever seen!
I HAD to get pictures, just for the memories...now that they are good ones instead of bad!

If I had 3 wishes...

The last few weeks have been, well, full of SICKNESS. It sure makes you appreciate the times when you feel good--not even great, just good; with no sore throats, coughs, vomiting, diarrhea, fevers, teething, and times when kids actually sleep through the night! The girls already missed the 2nd to last week of school for a family vacation, then all the "fun" of the last week (field day, water games, autograph signing, not to mention the family fun of BBQs, 4th of July, etc).

It all started great, when we vacationed with Scott's family to a ranch in Montana. It was GORGEOUS! Full of horseback riding, hikes, fishing, bacci ball, and even tennis and golf! Then, the late nights, laughing, SUGAR, and sharing rooms w/cousins and therefore, germs, all got to us, I guess. One by one, 3 of the 6 of us came down with fevers, coughing, aching, etc. Some thought we even got the dreaded swine flu...whatever it was/is, it ISN'T FUN!! It does make you appreciate that at least it is only half of us! Just when I thought Shai and Eden were finally getting better, they got their first, horrible, dose of MAJOR cold sores all over their lips, inside cheek, tongue, and gums!

Now, I'm not blogging this to say "poor us" or get pity--it just helps me to remember and hopefully be grateful when things may not be perfect, but they aren't THIS bad!! Also, because Eden said the funniest, and yet saddest thing about it all. Her teeth have been hurting so bad she can't really even eat anything without inflaming or irritating the cold sores all over, since her "guts" (gums) are so swollen from it all. Last night, sadly, after 3 days of this, she covered her eyes at dinnertime and said, "Don't show me the food! I just want it so bad and I can't have it, it hurts too much! I just wish I could be healthy and eat whatever I wanted!"

Then, today took the cake. This time Eden's lips were dry and peeling and her tongue was stinging so much she looked at me and said, "I just wish I could switch places with someone who isn't SICK!!" She followed up with,
"Dad said he would switch places with me...
but, HOW?!!" quite seriously!
You could see her mind thinking desperately on how she could make it a reality! Then she said, "If I had 3 wishes, I know what I would wish." I asked her what she would wish for and she said, "First for my mouth to feel better, then for me to not have any sickness, then for Shailee to feel better." She was dead serious. How sweet that she would use her last wish on her sister, too! (The bad part about it is the thing that came to my mind, is how all of that could be taken care of in just 1 wish, "Help us all to be perfectly healthy", leaving 2 more to do whatever you wanted with! Oh Chelsea, you can't be greedy in a time like this!)

Jokes aside, really, I just want to remember the good times: of health, laughs, miracle days when you wake up feeling refreshed, times the laundry is done, the house is clean, and my family is just HAPPY!
One day, it will all be gone, and although well-rested and in an orderly house, I may think back on the times I got to get up and rock my sick girls,
and I will wish for it all back again...

Easter, Birthdays, Sister's Wedding, and everything else I've missed...

SO! I had to use my time and blog about that incredible experience with that little baby who passed away for my last blog, but now, I better catch up on the last few months of life as well! Here's to my once every other month blog update!

Easter: How can one not LOVE Easter when kids are around?! Believing in the Easter Bunny, coloring and decorating eggs as if they were art, searching not once, not twice, but three times at a minimum to fill an Easter basket with unneeded toys and candy between two Grandmas, home, and any other Easter hunt around. When else do you get to go to Grandmas house and "search" for treasures to collect on purpose?! I love that it is normal to walk around and pass a pair of gummy lips on a ledge and think, 'perfect, that's for me!' or find bubbles in a planter, or better yet (the practical gifts come out), find new underwear on Grandma's slide! Of course, rounding them all up after an exhilarating search to really remember WHY we have Easter, is the best. Watching their eyes as they hear the story, once again, of Christ's life, death, and resurrection, which allows us to also be resurrected and live with Him again...priceless.

Spring Birthdays: It's not until Spring comes upon us that I realize Scott and I weren't actively planning the "perfectly" spaced family as Shailee's, Avery's , and Rilee's birthdays are all within 8 weeks of each other!! They all had a great time, although Avery had an especially memorable 1st bday with cellulitis in her eye! What we thought may be pink eye, swelled up within hours of her eating her cake for her first birthday, even after a Drs visit and antibiotics! I told Scott I may have to reinact that day for photos only, since little Avery didn't notice the difference, except having to turn her whole head to us when we talked since she could only see out of one eye! I suppose it sure will make it memorable, however, as she looked like Mahamed Ali! Rilee had a swim party at the Rec Center, so for her, life couldn't get better sharing that with her friends! Shailee's big news was she "FINALLY" got her ears pierced!!! She couldn't have been more excited and she didn't even flinch when she got them done! I can't believe I have a preteen--she is so fun and has quite the personality as she matures! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THEM ALL!

My sister's Wedding: My cute sister, Brittany, got married in May,and it was awesome! We love her new husband, Brad, and love that he fits right into the family. Brittany's colors were purple, orange/peach, yellow, and royal blue. She pulled it altogether so well, it was beautiful!

That should do it for the Spring highlights! More in a few months...ha!

It's About Time--

What an eventful last few weeks. Easter flew into Mother's Day, which was a whirl to Rilee's birthday the end of May, then, sadly, last week ended in a baby's funeral for a dear friend in our ward. Interestingly enough, watching faithful people endure life's difficulties is actually inspiring and gives a fresh perspective in life.

This was the first funeral I encountered as RS President, but it was softened, somewhat, because of the amazing faith building experience it was, and going through it with a good friend. The coolest, most positive part of it all, apart from understanding this is NOT the end and this family will see Katelynn again, was knowing that a 7 week old baby had affected hundreds of lives in such a short time. Realizing that many who live full lives may not affect the good, the change, the desire to do better, as this tiny baby has.

My friend, Leta Greene, who has two "miracle" children and endured 7 miscarriages, felt she was supposed to get pregnant again last year. Leta has Epstein-Barr Syndrome, has chronic arthritis already, and getting pregnant debilitates her body/back/and hip so severely, she ends up on bedrest and a wheelchair for a good part of it. Despite this, she did get pregnant, and two weeks later, her husband (a young, healthy, triathlete) had an unexpected heart attack and she almost lost him. (This was also following him getting hit by a UTA bus the year previous and almost dying!)

During the pregnancy, they found the baby's heart, brain, and kidneys had some abnormalities and may not survive the pregnancy, and if she did, she may be severely handicapped. The Greene's perservered. They had faith. They prayed. Katelynn Faith (meaning "pure faith"), spent her whole little life in Primary Children's NICU/PICU. She needed heart surgery to survive, but her kidneys began to fail, and she couldn't breathe on her own. Her parents did what they could, and after trying two smaller heart surgeries to help her get by until the "real" one, they knew they needed to let her go and stop her pain, even knowing theirs would continue.

They greeted each set back, each test, each negative possibility, with faith, hope, determination, and positivity. So many have been touched by their trial, their reliance on God, and their sweet Katelynn. Stories were gathered from many, many people from all over, and compiled into a book, as a tribute to Katelynn and her parents. They are amazing, inspiring, thought-provoking. I was honored to contribute the following:

"Katelynn was here for us--anyone who was lucky enough to be around her and have felt of her HUGE spirit knows this. There was so much I learned and felt, more than could be put in words, during the brief encounters I had with her. She taught me so much, so quickly. Like Leta always testifies, this was supposed to be, no matter what it took to get her here, no matter the painful moments of missing her, or the physical pain as a result.
As soon as I walked into Katelynn's little room in the NICU, I was overcome with the Spirit, and felt I was on hallowed ground. I felt her spirit was larger than life. I tried hard not to overstep my bounds and not ask to be able to touch her, be close to her, but it seems I couldn't help it. My spirit desired to, hoped to be near her, so I gingerly touched her hand, and cupped her knee/foot. Instant peace. Aching at the reality of the situation, but Joy.
Paul's words now come to mind when thinking of Katelynn, "I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith." Leta and Nathan have allowed Katelynn's life to do such good, by sharing her and her fight with us all. Thank you. Watching them in their "extremeties" has turned hearts to God. Testimonies have been strengthened. Desire to do better has increased. Appreciation for blessings has grown. Faith has overcome despair. We have all been changed, for good, from this tiny, valuable life.
The Savior promises, "I will not leave you comfortless", even when at times it feels we are. In those times, our spirits may ache, but they also are being sheltered, and comforted, by unseen hands. He reminds us that "in the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world". And now, Katelynn has, too."

It's hard not to be grateful for the lives we live, the air we breathe effortlessly, the health we enjoy, the freedom we are granted. It's hard not to want to "improve our time" we are given on earth. To stop complaining, to start appreciating, serving, loving, and living as our perfect Examplar, our Savior. Here's to doing more, reaching out, reaching up, doing our best. So many would give anything to have that chance at life again! Thanks, Katelynn, because you have forever changed me, and so many, "for the better". Ah, perspective IS everything...

Adios, Arizona

So, the girls and I were able to go join Scott the last 2 1/2 weeks of his golf tournaments in Arizona the last of February and first of March. They were off track and we were itching to get out of the snow and be a family again.

Scott flew home so he could drive down with us, thank heavens, as driving 11 hrs with 4 kids and a baby to feed, didn't sound too fun on my own! We broke up the trip with a quick stop in Vegas for rest and swimming, and were happy to end in warm, beautiful Arizona the next day. We were spoiled with 70-85 degree weather the whole time, and I got so used to it, I began to assume everyone had that sunny climate, until we got home to snow on the ground and freezing cold wind to shock us back into reality.

The girls swam all day long!! Even little Avery loves the water and we all had a great time! (Check out the photos--you've gotta flaunt the cottage cheese while it's still considered cute--which is why there are no photos of me...dimples are NOT in!) We did daily walks through the trails and beautiful desert/golf landscape everywhere. We also had some family time at the tennis courts and some biking. All in all, it was just great to be together again, especially in such a gorgeous place (thanks to Mom and Dad's "winter home"!).

Long story, short, Scott came home with us with a new resolve to give up the full time golf life. This, of course, has been a very difficult decision, but without going into too much detail, short of having the answers to prayer and many other things with bad timing, he would still be going full force. He feels at peace, however, and feels lucky he was able to "live the dream", even if for a short while. Reality of moving the family down there, especially after my calling of RS Pres, just didn't add up and he's currently on the job hunt, so let us know if you have any leads. (Not the best time for that, either!)

We count ourselves lucky and know the Lord is in charge and guiding our lives and can make them better than we could imagine...now, if we could just figure out when...! Ha ha. I just keep reminding myself, "man cannot comprehend all that God doth comprehend". His perspective is all that really matters.


THE END...!!!!!!! (I couldn't resist!)

"You like skinny jeans??!"

Today Eden made me do a huge, BELLY laugh out loud, and I HAD to write, so I wouldn't forget why...

I finally pulled out a pair of skinny jeans I bought while on a Girls' Trip, (egged on by my much more stylish and "up to date" sisters-- and the fact that they were only $6 from Gap). It has been well over a year since I've worn them, and I was curious if they finally fit again. Once I put them on, Eden asked, "You like skinny jeans??!" I was not daunted by the question, thinking how stylish I must look, and answered that yes, I did indeed. Her eyebrows went up, with a shrug of her shoulders. Then I asked, "Don't you like skinny jeans?" Her reply was immediate, uncensored, and completely blunt, "No, I think they look like tights!"

Pause, pause, I wasn't sure if that was a general observation, or one aimed at what she was seeing right then. I decided there are only 3 possible conclusions to be drawn from this event: 1) She was reinforcing her argument why SHE won't wear the oh-so-cute-and-stylish skinny jeans I bought her. 2) She remembers seeing her friend just last week in skinny jeans, she told me, and said "it looked like she had tights on with a shirt" (As I listened, I was secretely hoping this to be what spawned the comment), or 3) (and most likely) Maybe this is a good indication that I'm not quite back to normal and this is a 6 yr old's sweet way to say so... Oh well, it's back to the gym I go!!!!!!! (No worries, I'm STILL wearing them--just to try and believe it wasn't #3! In fact, if I get brave enough, I will even take a picture of the forementioned skinny jeans...if I do this, then I'm either crazy, hoping for a laugh, or truly in denial) Oh, if we could only be so honest with everyone we meet!!

Top 10, no, 11 reasons I love Life!

I FINALLY changed my layout!! Not that it's important, but change is always good. (At least Avery's excited and cheering me on...)
I thought I'd write a few things I'm grateful for...

1. Nights I can SLEEP more than 5 hours at a time!! (It's starting to happen more regularly!)
2. Girls who love to play in the snow. It may take 20 minutes to get all the "gear" on, but they can spend hours out there if they wear all the right stuff!
3. Girls who remember to use the bathroom before they start the 20 min ritual to get on the snow gear...
4. Childlike confidence: Rilee got a guitar for Christmas, and after just a few strums, she thought she was a superstar!! She had it strapped to her constantly for a few days (slinging it over her shoulder if she wasn't using it). She just knew she was good!!
5. Times when I get a "yeah!" instead of hunched shoulders and chin sticking out while saying "ahhh", when my kids ask, "What's for dinner?!"
6. Days, weeks, or months without sickness!!! We've just gone through 2 bouts of strep throat, coughs, colds, and even a small bout of RSV with Avery. Luckily, it was mild, and although I've felt like I'd never get to go out again as we've kept isolated, I think we're finally through!
7. Family--who loves you even when you lose your mind! It is nice to know that no matter how bad I look, how little sleep I got, how grumpy I am, or how much I vent, my family stillloves me and knows who I really am, even when I don't act like it!
8. Fat Burning Yoga and days I actually get to exercise...I know this sounds cheesy, but I have really come to rely on the stress reliever that exercise is for me. Since the sick girls, I haven't been able to go to the gym and MISS IT! (I never thought I'd say that and really mean it!) So, Denise Austin's Fat Burning Yoga has to do it for now! I especially love it when Eden joins me, then tells me how sore she is the next day holding all the poses!!
9. 1Week Husband--I can't tell you how great it was to have a husband around for a whole week!! Especially since he told the girls, "Hey, run everything through Dad...Mom is off limits for the next few days!" He let me go to lunch, go to the gym, read, or just do anything that was impossible without help. Love that!
10. Friends, Life lessons, and Prayer--I am constantly inspired by the people around me. There are those who are facing true difficulty with grace, humility, and perspective. There are great people I see that serve because that's who they are and want to be, and it makes me want to do even better. I love lessons life teaches if we are humble enough to surrender to the Lord, knowing that is the only way we'll get through it. And, what would life be without a lifeline to Heaven?! We can gain peace, understanding, strength, feel true Love, whenever we want/need it, from the God of the Universe. And, as busy as He is, He constantly calls for us to "come unto [Him]", let Him take our burdens, and make us equal to every challenge we face. Amazing Grace.
11. Oh, and Exclamation Points!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My brother, Jeremy, just made fun of all of us sisters/Mom with our back and forth emails planning a Girls' Retreat, because he noticed that every sentence ended with an exclamation point. He pointed out that not all sentences need to end with one, two, or three exclamation points, unless we are shouting each one. Well, here's to being excited, and LOVING life so much, we have to end each expression with !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I win--we now have a contest of who can use them more often)
    

I'm not that popular, so...

I hadn't updated my blog in forever, and then realized, why even do it, since I have no readers anyway?!! Ever since I went private, well, no one can get on, and since I went private after only my 2 or 3 postings, I hardly had any who checked in anyway! I DO want to be safe, but, since no one knows to even look, it would be hard to cause problems from this blog! Maybe when I get popular...ha ha

Grandma Judy, Scott's mom (yes, we distinguish by first names since they are both Grandma Clark...!) always goes ALL out for Christmas! It was so fun for the girls, especially. She makes you feel like a million bucks, and always so loved. We thank her for her huge effort every year to make Christmas unforgettable!

Life is going great. Scott has been in Arizona for the mini golf tour he is doing tthere. It has been hard to not have dad around, but the Lord makes up for things and has blessed us. Ever since I was called as Relief Society President, I feel so busy anyway, by the end of the day, I just crash! The girls have been awesome. They try and "surprise" me every now and then with a clean kitchen, set table, or straight house. Boy, it's nice to have older helpers and more mature kids!!

When I put the phone to Avery's ear to "talk" to dad, it's funny to see the look on her face. At first, she listens intently, with a "this sounds familiar" dazed look on her face. Then, recognition comes and a huge smile spreads across her face, and she starts pumping her arms up and down, as if she were going to take flight! Pretty soon, screams and shrills fill the air, as her pent up energy and excitement have no other escape. Now, she takes the phone in her hands looking at it intently, as if she were checking to see where dad is hiding inside! She is changing and growing so fast, it has been so fun to see!

I have also loved watching the developing talents of my crew. Each complain to have to practice piano, but can't seem to pass the it without stopping and playing something! I think I've heard that famous duet, bum bum, babum chord thing...a ZILLION times! (Notice the over exaggeration to make a point, which I have learned well from my girls!) The funnest thing to watch are all the "original" compositions they all seem to come up with, especially Rilee. She entered the Reflections "Wow" contest this year, and submitted a musical number and WON 1st Place! Now, she thinks she IS the next Mozart, constantly composing something...some better than others, but entertaining just the same!

Shailee is always excited to push herself to learn more in Ballet and get it "right". She also LOVES math and friends! She is becoming so responsible and mature...bitter sweet, as my "little" Shailee is no longer! Eden is so fun to have around in the mornings before school. She is a great reader, and keeps telling me that soon, she'll be bringing home all the chapter books with NO pictures! She also LOVES paint polish, makeup, and jewelry, and has the most catchy LAUGH, ever!

We are doing well, and trying to stay afloat, loving the challenge of each day! I realize this blog is for me, by the way, so no pressure to read this...but I will do better to update soon! Drop us a line sometime!