May 3rd? Wow.

My sister left me a comment telling me it was time to update my blog. I just looked at the date and she is right.

School has been out for a week and I feel like I have done a lot. I spent two days cleaning carpets, one day cleaning the kitchen, and one day (Monday) just enjoying the day off. But today, I have done hardly anything and I am feeling like I have wasted the day. The frustrating thing is the kitchen is a mess again and there are toys all over my clean carpet. When does the house stay clean? I think one of my friends has a great idea. She cleans the house and then she leaves for the day. She hangs out at other people's houses. That could keep my house clean.

On a side note, I have to keep telling myself that it is okay to sit and just relax. So how do I do that without feeling lazy? Oh, and how do I stop eating?

Goodbye Sammy, Hello Millie and Cocoa

So we had to get rid of Sammy a week after we got him. Kyath was crushed. Sammy bit two of our neighbors. One child, they actually took the child to the doctor. He was just playing, but it broke through skin. Ky still hasn't gotten over losing Sammy. They were really close.

In Sammy's place we bought two Chihuahuas. They are both girls and they are really sweet. Millie is the smaller dog with white paws and Cocoa is the big dog. The kids love them. Lexi, our other dog, tolerates them.



"Dog Pile!"


We had to take Lexi in to the vet. She squealed every time someone went to pick her up. She had gone on a walk with Don. She likes to hop in the basket underneath and ride. Well, she went to get out and Don ran over her with the stroller. She limped for a few days after. We took her in yesterday. Her foot wasn't hurting anymore, but she was obviously in pain. Come to find out, Lexi has a slipped disk. They sent us home with some Prednisone and some pain reliever. We keep giving gave her some in some chicken and she is a happy camper.

We just found our small camera. I may be posting a lot in the next little while just to post all the pictures. Then again, maybe I won't.

Swine Flu Epidemic

I just came home from school after many e-mails to teachers about the Swine Flu. We sent out fliers to all the parents regarding the virus. I heard that they closed down a Park City school because of probable cases with five students. Even with all this media scare I've been thinking that everything will just be fine. I mean the child that died in Texas was from Mexico and just came here a month or so ago, right?

Well I went to pick up Zander and Dresden at Debbie's. She greeted me with a sickly daughter. She has a temperature and a runny nose. She just wants to be held. I try not to get too worked up about things in the media, but with Dresden just being sick, I get a little paranoid.

I thought this would be a good time for me to share an e-mail sent to me today from the Health Department on what teachers are to watch for:

Recommendations for Teachers and School Personnel

How do I know if a child might have swine flu?
A person can spread the swine influenza before symptoms begin. A person may be able to infect another person one day before symptoms start and up to seven or more days after becoming sick. People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered contagious as long as they show symptoms. Children, especially younger children, may be contagious for longer periods.

Symptoms of swine influenza are similar to those of the common flu.
o Fever and chills
o Sore throat
o Cough
o Headache, body aches, and fatigue
o Diarrhea and vomiting can also be present

Watch for these symptoms in children:
o Fever with a rash
o Dehydration
o Fast breathing
o Bluish skin coloration
o Slow to wake or sluggish interaction
o Flu-like symptoms improve, but then return and cough worsens
o Severe irritability
If a child in your class shows these symptoms, remove them from the classroom and take them to the school nurse or school office. The school nurse should refer the child for medical treatment with their primary care provider, or emergency room.

How can I help prevent the spread of swine flu in the classroom?
To prevent exposure to the flu virus in the classroom, teach the same precautions as those to prevent the regular influenza (commonly known as seasonal influenza):
o Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and discard the tissue.
o Wash hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when hand washing is not possible.
o Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, as germs can more easily gain entrance into your body through those areas.
o Remind parents that if children are sick, they should remain at home.

Other Resources
For more information, please visit: www.health.utah.gov/swineflu

Dresden, starting early

I just came back from Smiths. I needed to pick up a few things at the store. Zander, Dresden, and I all went. Zander wanted the little shopping cart and so that is what we used. After we paid, Zander was tired of pushing the cart. I let Dresden push just to see if it was something she might want to do. Not only did she want to push it, but she insisted on pushing the shopping cart all the way to the car. I just kept thinking, here we go...

I believe in miracles

Do you believe in miracles?

I don't know how to start this blog except to say that there might be an opening for an assistant recorder at another temple. Don has wanted to be an assistant recorder since he first started working at Jordan River Temple as a clerk over five years ago. The position requires a degree and it is extremely difficult to get such a position in the church. Don spoke with HR about such a position a year ago and they let him know that he wouldn't be a candidate until he had his bachelors degree.

Now let me tell you why I still think he deserves it. Don has over five years experience of working in the temple office. He knows the policies and the procedures. He knows the rolls that volunteers and staff members play and how to keep both happy. He has the experience that a degree cannot give him. He has the social skills and the understanding needed to be an assistant recorder.

I think it takes more than all of that though to work in the temple. Don has the spirit needed to work in such a position. He works hard all of the time to keep his spirit pure. He listens to good music. He reads his scriptures daily. He holds Family Home Evening every Sunday. He doesn't watch very much T.V. and when he does, he turns it right off when there is something offensive. He is the only person I know of that has cried many nights because he had the desire to get set apart as a High Priest. Ky's primary teacher has told us many times that Ky is the one in his primary class that knows all the answers and that is because Don spends time daily teaching his children principles of the gospel.

It would be a miracle if Don were to actually be considered for the position. But I believe in miracles. I know that it was a miracle that my companion and I were protected in the park when that man was following us. It was a miracle when we sold our last house. It was a miracle that Don turned out great after being orphaned at 11 and growing up in group homes with rebellious teenagers. It was a miracle that Kyath's eyesight went from blind to not needing any glasses. It was a miracle that when Porter fell down the stairs and got a cut near his eye, that it was just near and did not effect his eyesight. It was a miracle that when Porter was doused in gasoline, he did not catch on fire. It was a miracle that Kyath did not cross that busy street when he wandered away from home at two years old. It was a miracle that Kyath didn't fall out of the car when he opened the door on the freeway. It was a miracle when Porter didn't drown when he fell into that pond at Fermont Park.

I believe that my family has experienced more miracles than I can number. I know that God loves everyone and is there to help anyone that reaches out to him. He is working miracles everyday. I cannot deny God's hand in me and my family's life. He has been leading the way and we have tried to follow. I am hoping that maybe, just maybe, he has been preparing a way for Don to get a position as an assistant recorder.

I found it

It's not like anyone really care, but I found the IPOD. I am so happy. I could not get anything else done until I found it. The good news is that I cleaned my bedroom in the process.

Where is it?

You know how you lose something and you just keep looking until you find it. I actually get anxiety until whatever I am looking for is found. I can not feel comfortable again until I know where it is.

Well right now I am looking for my class IPOD. I use it for all the transitions in class. We even listen to YMCA at the end of the day. I cannot, however, find it and I feel lost.

The last I saw it was when I was getting ready for work on Wednesday or Thursday. I had it in my hand when I was getting all my things together to go out the door. But somehow, I ended up at school without it. I thought I would find it at school. I thought I would find it at school. I thought I would find it in my car. So far, nothing. I am so frustrated.

I never knew how attached to that thing I would be. I put all the versus of the Book of Mormon on it. I listen to a chapter or two a day. Then I listen to Enya as I prepare my room for school. I use Mozart as "brain food" when they are working on test that really requires concentration. Then at the end of the day we use party music to get ready to go home. It really sets an amazing atmosphere in my class. I really hope that I find it before Monday.