Happy Anniversary to Us!!

One House purchased,
Two Masters' Degrees earned,
Three Boys born,
Four Moves made,
Five Cars owned,
Six Jobs worked,
Seven Years Married.

Well, we've come a long way. We can now play a board game without fighting. That says a lot!!! I've grown so much in the last seven years through marriage. All the hard work is worth it.

Here's my attempt at a Christmas picture

Of the individual shots, K's the only one that turned out. He has always been so easy to take pictures of. My little poser. Isn't he a cutie?!!

This one would of been great if it wasn't for the baby.

Notice L's face. Love it but it won't do for a Christmas pic.

Just can't get them to look at me and smile at the same time. Dang it!!

This is just outright protest by the baby!!

Thanksgiving 2007

We spent Thanksgiving here and were blessed to have Erica, Quin, and Loyd with us. The day was nice with a few bumps here and there. L was hung upside down over the toilet by his uncle Loyd. Both C and I were in agreement that when L punched Loyd in the eye, he deserved it. No apologies needed. I enjoyed making the feast and although it takes less than 10 minutes for everyone to eat and have seconds, it's still worth all the effort. Quin was thoughtful and brought candy supplies for the kids to make turkeys. So cute. We went and saw Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium and had the kids in bed nice and early. Although we probably stay up way too late chit chatting, it was fun.
Today we spent the morning putting up the Christmas tree and talked about the symbols of Christmas that we were hanging up. And after we had homemade, turkey dumpling soup, a favorite traditional meal in this household.

A side note, L wants this ugly, stuffed, parrot he saw at Walmart. Go figure.

I don't want to jump the gun and say that our baby A is potty trained. But for the last four days he has used the toilet. He tells us he has to go by slapping his bottom, then runs to the bathroom, picks up his toilet to set on the toilet, sits down and goes. It all began a handful of days ago when I rediscovered the training toilet and thought to have A try it out. And that was it, he was hooked.

An update

I haven't updated my blog in a while or even checked up on new updates posted by friends lately. It is fun to finally get a chance to do both.

Last month I read all three of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, the first two Harry Potter books, Jane Eyre, and Villete. The last two weeks I've spent reading Wuthering Heights and finally got through it today. It was tough to get through Villete and Wuthering Heights but I'm glad I read them and did enjoy some parts of them. I'm not much of a reader but I'm trying to repent of that and make up for lost time. I ran 4 miles for the first time ever. I usually run 3 miles for a workout and was getting complacent. The goal is to run the Wasatch Back 100 next spring. The team will consist of 12 rotating, participants with the goal of completing 170 miles in 24-30 hours. It's ridiculous, I know, but it's one of three things I want to do before possibly having another kid. I must clarify that the three things are not the reasons for delaying having another baby. They are just things to shoot for in the meanwhile. The topic can be another blog but perhaps no one would care to read about my thoughts on that topic.

C has successfully passed all CPA exams and is currently waiting for his license in the mail. Hurray!! He enjoys playing on a soccer league with his work colleagues. He has been working out quite a bit and really enjoys it. Work is busy, things are changing, and seems to be enjoying all the challenges. He has an amazing work ethic and a gift to work efficiently and well with others. My dad and brothers are hard laborers and are able to do just about anything from fixing cars to dealing with miserable plumbing problems. I grew up with my dad and brothers often working side by side to fix something on one of our properties and doing all the labor on their own to save money, to learn, and because they were capable of it. So it was always a turn off when someone I was dating was incapable of doing something I thought a man should be able to do like dealing with a flat tire or didn't demonstrate a trusting work ethic that I would possibly be relying on in the future( I wasn't a good judge of that because all guys I dated seem to have successfully gained a respectable profession). I hope I'm not sounding critical and I tried not to be critical. It was just that these silly notions instilled a feeling of insecurity about my future and I knew then that, that person wasn't right for me. I guess I wanted to stick with the familiar. And C is that for me. Come to find out, his family was the same way!!

K came home from school with a bloody scratch on his neck. This week he's been thrown against the fence twice, so he says. And when I volunteered on Halloween day for the festivities, I witnessed him being thrown down onto the floor and he hit his head on the ground. Koji instigates this kind of ruff play. He wants to wrestle and so they do that sometimes. Sometimes they pretend to be whatever super hero or villain and play fight. Regardless, I put my foot down and told him he was to no longer rough house or play fight because he could get hurt and it leads to other problems. He was so disappointed and as he fought back tears, he struggled to say, "but mom, it's the only other thing we like to do when Ty doesn't bring his football." So, C and the boys went out and bought a football to take with him to school everyday and after having consulted with his teacher, who is a friend, hopefully we've solved one of the many problems I'll have to deal with for the rest of my life. I'm sure I'm sounding like a naive mother of a kindergartener who thinks she can solve any problem that he might encounter and protect him every minute he is away. Stop there, I already know what your advice is going to be. :)

L is humongous. He guzzles it seems like a gallon of a combination of things everyday. He definitely has viking blood in him or at least the appetite of one. We took off his training wheels because they were unbearably broken and useless. To our surprise, L took off on his bike!! He loves going to school and is never afraid to tell me he got time-out. But, the reasons for his time-outs are vague. I'm curious though and wish I could get a glimpse of what he's like away from home. I'm sure he gets time out for the same reason he gets time outs at home but I'd still like to know the details. He absolutely loves his time at speech therapy. I watch him sit still, participate, and even sit quietly engaged in a project for a good length of time. He adores his teachers and they are really adorable. He is a determined, persistent little fellow. If he wants something he will persist until he either gets his way or someone gets really upset. It is a good quality to have as long as its used wisely and hopefully we'll be able to work out those chinks.

A is now nursery age. He's usually pleasant and fun to be with. He enjoys sitting on my lap while I read to the boys. I'm very happy about this because L wouldn't sit through a book for the longest time and I don't have to worry about that with A. Like L, he's turned out to be quite the helper. He throws stuff in the garbage, goes and gets stuff upon my request, he gets a strainer and goes out to pick strawberries on his own accord, puts toys away, drys up spilled water, grabs his own shoes when we're heading out, tells me when he wants a diaper change, and joins in when I'm tidying up. He has quite the agreeable personality. I'm really enjoying him and the other two.

The three together are really good friends. I love that. I want to cultivate a good relationship between them and provide lots of opportunities for that. One day they'll have less and less time with each other and eventually go their separate ways but hopefully their close bonds will be strong enough to keep them united and loyal throughout their lives. Family bonds are eternal and will be desired with cultivation.

Some fun stuff we've done lately is go out to dinner and a Jazz game on the firm. Recruits...they come in handy sometimes. We also went to the Alta/Bingham semi-final football game with the kids. They were excited. While there, a man bumped shoulders with me and asked if I was an E. I said yes and nudged for Chris' attention. Sure enough he was our very own Steve E. whose children attend Alta. I asked him how he found us in the crowd. He was sitting behind us and saw L and thought he looked alot like Bobby when he was little!!! It's the hair do; it's the same exact hair style C, Loyd, and Bobby had. He met the boys and vice versa. L was excited to find out that one of Steve's kids is also named L, a family name. He was a very kind, pleasant person and even brought a basket of french fries for the boys which made the last few minutes of the exciting game more bearable for the kids. Alta won!!

Pictures are to come.

A Confession

OK.............I confess that I am in love with Edward!!! BYU graduate, Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series is my kind of entertainment. I am soooooooooooo excited to get New Moon and Eclipse in the mail. My new pastime is www.stepheniemeyer.com. I want to thank Loyd for finally giving me a book I love and my spouse for spoiling me with the rest of the series and letting me indulge in reading and rereading such a yummy book.

Recent Random pics

Snow in September, ugh!!! So like last year......my fall was cut short. We had a little snow on conference weekend as well.
Tiff Dameron use to say concerning C's jeans having holes at the knees that it's a sign of a good dad. Here he is in action.
Here are the boys at a Signing Time benefit concert.
C and I canned salsa with our tomatos. All other ingredients we purchased.
This is a 5k at the U. I'm running for the firm. You'd think a 5k is easy enough but I have to perform a lot of cognitive therapy on myself to get through it. I think I need an Ipod. Perhaps listening to some sweet Jazz will do the trick.
This is A with great grandma. He's being a mama's boy. This Giant of a lady is amazing and I hope to follow her example.
During priesthood session, we played scrabble.
We had visitors for conference weekend!!!! I love this family, they're sooooooooo awesome. I'm so blessed to be affiliated with such good people.

A baby update

L and A both play with this doll even though Dad disapproves. The boys on K's soccer team were using it as a soccer ball, which Dad probably would rather have them do.
He's pretty outgoing and happy. He can be fiesty and still sucks his thumb. He knows how to belt it out during sacrament meeting on Sundays. It's quite embarrassing. But for the most part he's easy going.
He loves to be outside and hang out with his brothers. But, he usually doesn't wander off too far from me. He'll be nursery age this month.

L update

L has a special attachment to his little bro. Dad slapped A on the hand for throwing food and L put Dad in his place. He's very overprotective of A and looks out for him. It's so cute.
This little guy has really come out of his shell. I can't keep him quiet anymore. Once you get him started, it's hard to get him quiet again. He easily out drinks and eats all of us. It floors me how much he can consume.
This is L being picked up from preschool in style. He seems to love going to school. Since starting school, he has been scratched and hit on different days. Those boys got time out so he tells me. He has had his fair share of time out usually for hiding. Poor Mrs. Chris has her work cut out for her this year!!

K update

K is known as the "sweeper." They're finally winning their games this year. He has an awesome side kick he uses to change the direction of the ball. It's pretty sweet.
K looks forward to going to Kinder everyday. His teacher, who is to the right of us, is great. Her son is in K's class and was on the same soccer team as K all last year.
This is a "transformer" that K made out of Legos. I thought it was pretty cool. My dad was floored.

Some shots of the race

Bright and early, my boys came to support me.
Thanks to the internet I learned how to rack my bike and set up my transition area in the nick of time.
My active three year old is pretty fearless. The kids somehow entertained themselves the whole time although I think it was pretty tough on C and Uncle L.

Someone help this person, I have no idea who she is.
Although the swim to bike transition took longer than the bike to run, it was easier. It's tough to try walking let alone start jogging after riding for so long.
Thank you to all who pitched in to buy me my road bike....my parents, mostly C's' parents, and of course C. I love it. It's comfortable, light, and has flat handle bars. It saved me.
Here are the boys during the race. As I came through the finish line all I could think was they must be starving, tired, and thirsty....poor little guys.

September 8th

1:28:57:06

Random Pictures

A happy Maccaroni Grill customer. Thanks to the firm for the free meal and C for all the hard work he puts in.

I Love this picture of L. He's such a sweet boy if you can believe that. He has had swollen lymph nodes that have recently cleared up after almost a year of trying to figure out what was going on. After we had a radon mitigation system installed in our home to channel out the radioactive gas, he finally got better. In June he had surgery for his trigger thumb. He no longer has it. He was an awesome patient. He'll start up preschool as well as speech therapy in a few weeks.

This is cryposporidium at it's best. Not a happy camper.

Plum Jam. This is nine pounds of plums picked from a neighbors tree. We still got about 20 more pounds to go.

This is today's pickings.

Earlier this month, C canned 80 of our garden tomatos.

This is the latest horsey ride. Seems like we got one of these every quarter.

OOPPS! My bad.

This is my effort of posting up more pics of myself.

This is L's first catch. He enjoyed grabbing the fish out of water. Me.....not so much.

Hisashiburi (Japanese for "it has been a while")

Oh my goodness, it has been so long since I've updated my blog!!! I could barely remember my login name and password to this thing. OK, where do I begin?

Signing Time

Some of you may be familiar with this show. It teaches sign language for a children's audience. It won awards last year and probably will again this year. It does air on educational channels and there are DVDs you can purchase.

This summer we've been filming with them and so this Fall you may see us on some of the episodes. I'm pretty excited about it and am more willing to try getting these kids on t.v. for fun and to make a little extra cash. A couple of months ago, one of the directors, who is a neighbor of ours, came over to film K looking for crayons. So, the day before the shooting, I got anxious and cleaned out all my kitchen drawers and made one specifically for art supplies. I even went out and bought a fresh, new box of crayons because I have this cute little toddler that finds it amusing to break all our crayons in half.

Well, that morning, the director asks K to show him all the drawers that we have. K walks into the kitchen opens the junk drawer and says, "what happened?" as he sees a nice, neat and organized drawer that is usually full of garbage, legos, pieces, and parts of everything. I was so embarrassed and started laughing from the other room because I knew I was going to be exposed in a couple of seconds. The director asks K "what do you mean?" And K so frankly put it, "this drawer is usually a MESS!!!!!!"

Well, to top it all off, the director has K look for crayons underneath the couch while filming the entire thing. Oh, oh...Sure enough K starts pulling out handfuls of cheerios, legos, and who knows what else was caught on film. As the director laughs he says, "this is so typical."

Oh well, so I admit things around here get pretty messy but I do love a clean house and so it eventually gets done!! Look for us on TV.

Severe Food and Pet Allergies

In the near future I would love to write a more thorough paper on this topic and our experience with this in order to help people out there like us. There are so many things out there about food allergies that aren't 100% true. I want to write our experience from the top to the bottom so that others might have their questions answered as I would have loved for mine to have been years ago.

K was early on very sick with allergies, which I had absolutely no knowledge about. His first year of life was pretty much a very lonely year for me, having no support from anyone. I was his only protector and advocate. My husband was going to school full time, working full time, and the Elder's Quorom President. He had no time and pretty much no idea what I was going through. I had taken my last semester off of school to stay home, in mind that I would finish up my degree the next year. Which I did do.

I would very slowly learn through following my gut instinct, doing lots of research, and a lot of guess work, that he was no ordinary kid. It started out with milk. I figured out it was the formula, I was supplementing him with, that was causing miserable congestion. I've had pediatricians and allergists tell me "food allergies do not cause congestion." I am here to tell the world that "food allergies can cause congestion!!!!" Congestion occurred to two out of my three boys every time they were exposed to specific food allergens.

Then I noticed that every time we visited someone with a dog, K would undeniably get eczema wherever his skin was exposed, particularly his forehead and scalp. He would get a fever and I would regularly give him a shampoo in the middle of the night because he would scratch and scratch (this is just a 2 month old). These breakouts would last a whole week.

It got to the point that wherever the dog touched him, would break out in hives. And wherever anyone touched him, that had touched a dog, would break out in hives. Soon after I was told by his dermatologist that dogs do not cause this kind of eczema and that K just has severe eczema and people have to deal with this their whole lives. I was furious!! He told me that I had to have at least 10 case points where he would get eczema after dog exposure. Ummmmmmmmm, do you think I'm an idiot? How do you think I came to this conclusion?!!! Doctors can be very frustrating. And to think this one was a university professor!!

One day after eating a sandwich my husband went to console crying K. Wherever my husband had touched him, he broke out in hives. He was severely allergic to wheat. He had an anyphylactic reaction to pasta (made from wheat). He was unrecognizable and swollen from head to toe. On the movie Hitch, where Hitch has an allergic reaction to something he ate, we laugh hysterically because we know exactly that it really can be that way!! We rushed him to the E.R. Soon after a blood test would reveal severe allergies to cow's milk, eggs, soy, wheat, and a slight allergy to peanuts and barley. He was allergic to dogs and cats as well but we don't eat those.

His staples were rice, potatos, and corn(masa, tortillas, grits, pasta). I soon got on the same diet because I nursed him for 20 months. I stopped baking anything fun out of guilt until I learned to make some stuff without allergens. He could have all meats, and most fruits and veggies. Occasionally bananas would make him break out in hives and really ripe fruits made his face red.

I had to get creative as well as simplify what we ate. I perfected my famous tamales and now can cook for just about anyone on a weird diet including vegetarians and people with food restrictions from medical conditions.

I am happy to say that he has outgrown most of his food allergies. We are now able to relax a little. Before, life was really dangerous. Eating out usually meant hives and a not so happy experience. Now, eating at Macaroni Grill no longer means that. He can have their yummy bread, which he devours!!!!! A full plate of pasta, meat, and veggies even though it's contaminated with all sorts of allergens including cow's milk. We think he's still allergic to it. He is served a delicious sorbet instead of ice cream which he absolutely loves.

He had his first hamburger from Carl's Jr. soon after he turned four!! What a marvelous day it was. Soon after he ate his first pretzel, first twinkie, first chicken nugget, first egg( his favorites are hard boiled and an egg in a basket) and I guess his pure, healthy diet went down hill from there!! But, life sure became easier, more convenient, and normal.

He recently had a pizza with cheese on it and he's still alive. I can't say it was completely without a reaction but surely not the same reaction he would get just a year ago after consuming dairy. He has even eaten several peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and has been fine with a dose of Zyrtec. Am I such a bad mom? Oh, but he LOVES them. He's not allergic to dogs anymore but cats sure cause a headache!

There is hope out there. There was a day I thought for sure he would never outgrow his food allergies because they were so comprehensive. He was for sure to get asthma. I imagined him on his mission somewhere foreign and me mailing him his own pots and pans to avoid contamination, his own expensive foods, and worrying about him constantly. School would be stressful. Kids at his preschool started to bring "their own snacks" because they were "allergic" too. People are really accommodating out there and there is always that hope of outgrowing allergies, something that really did happen for us.

Sprint Triathlon

OK, a month ago I signed up and paid my fees to do a sprint triathlon being held just around the corner from where I live. Thanks to Risa's inspirational feat to do one soon after having a baby, I thought hey it's time for me to do something for myself and this is really doable. I've been pregnant, nursing, and carting kids around the past five years, I deserve a little me time and something pretty cool like this to do.

I joined a gym a year ago and this gave me more of a direction in my work outs instead of aimlessly exercising. I've pushed myself physically more than I have in a decade and enjoy exercising, something I loved to do up until I starting having kids.

The swim is 1/4 of a mile, then a 9 mile bike, followed by a 3 mile run. It's all in my neighborhood so I do the actual run and bike as part of my workout. My 7 year old running shoes are tattered and the soles are actually detaching. My mountain bike is not better. I purchased it when I was in high school. The gears sometimes don't catch and boy does the bike really weigh me down, especially up those nasty hills.

I can say I don't know how to swim and have only had one summer of swim lessons to show for. I can definitely float and my favorite way to swim is doing the doggy paddle and on my back. Almost every time I go swimming, someone feels sorry for me and gives me tips, which I've been going off of. And to make matters worse my children and I have cryptosporiduim, the parasite that shuts pools down. We've been battling it all month and probably will the rest of the month. The health department has personally called me and asked us to stay out of water to stop the spread. It's been a few weeks since we've had it and still head strong!!! September 8th is the big day. Wish me luck and I'll let you know the results. Haha. I plan to take up the full 3 hours.

Ironing Shirts

OK, this has been a dilemma for me. Why can't I get myself to iron my husbands shirts?

Soon after we got married, my husband naggingly asked me why I didn't make breakfast for him and pack him a lunch everyday. "My mom did for my dad and your mom did for your dad." ARE YOU SERIOUS?!!! I go to school and work as well, honey dear. I don't see my hot breakfast and sack lunch. ....is how the conversation went.

Well, needless to say the ideals and expectations of married life adjusted and shifted to just where I thought they should be........SERVE YOURSELF AND IRON YOUR OWN SHIRTS! The more educated a women you marry, the less homemaker she's gonna be buck o.

Over the years we've learned to love each other and to do more for each other. I do the bulk of the clean up and organizing around here. I'm home all day with our munch kins watching cartoons, changing diapers, making and cleaning up after meals, it's not very glamorous at all. I even weed, trim hedges, mow the lawn, and take out the garbage. I've usually hung out in my pajamas but have learned just about the right time to jump in the shower without three kids hanging off the shower curtain, usually around Dragon Tales, if I haven't had a bad nights rest. After doing ten loads of laundry and putting them away, making and cleaning up after tens and tens of meals, cleaning bathrooms and rooms all week, why in the world would I want to iron all those shirts?

I have finally come up with the answer!!!!! After all these married years of wondering why women do that for their husbands, usually women not of my generation but of past generations. It came to me after days of thinking about it.

My wonderful, almost perfect husband and father of my children puts up sheet rock in the garage, having had no previous experience, upon my request. He installs by himself, once again having no experience, my beautiful hardwood floors because I dreamed about having them. He comes home and gives us hugs, undeniably tells us he loves us every chance he gets. He still flirts with me, hugs me, and even wants to make out with me!!!

He plays hours and hours with the kids, building things, creating things, getting them to think and learn. He reads to them, teaches them how to read and do math. He always chooses us to hang out with over anything and anyone. His loyalties are no doubt with this family. If it needs to be done, he'll cook, clean the kitchen, and the floors. He helps put the kids to bed and prays with them.

If anyone DESERVES for his shirts to be ironed, it is my husband. For me, the act of ironing shirts is really more an act of LOVE. The ONE thing that sets apart all the other tedious chores I do that says "Thank You for all you do for us. This is the only reason why I iron your shirts......not because it is my duty, not because it is part of my role but purely because I appreciate everything you do for us and I love you."

Birthday Boy!!

The decision to have another baby came after a couple of months of feeling certain I didn't want to have another yet. But the change in my heart was clear and felt like the right thing to do. I researched how to have a little girl . For several months after getting pregnant I was so optimistic about her sex. I was going to surprise everyone for Christmas with a pair of pink baby shoes. Instead, the call was sent out something like this, "I have disappointing news.... we're pregnant with another boy." I wanted to be done with two boys and a girl. The sadness lingered for a couple of days and that was it. Pregnancy was different than the last two in that I did feel nauseous but rarely enough to be bent over the toilet. What a relief!!! But pregnancy is never really a joyous occasion for me with the back pain, the constant desire to be asleep, and the growing belly and other body parts. Labor by far has always been my favorite part. I love the anticipation, the excitement, the story, the empowerment and attention that comes far and few being a stay at home mom. I had been having contractions for weeks before the induction. It was a continual roller coaster ride wondering if today was the day. Finally, with no other options due to C who was scheduled to be out of town for several weeks, I was induced. I was apprehensive about being induced because the previous two labors began naturally and were smooth. I didn't want to jinx my luck. It was a quick delivery coming after only three in a half hours after induction. I went from being six to ten cm in less that 10 minutes. Labor was painful. The baby's heart rate disappeared completely. Nurses were running around, barely having enough time before the baby came. The experience being a wonderful memory now. I'm so happy with this little guy. He is so precious to us. He's fun, happy, easily comforted, spunky, sweet, and much, much more. He has four teeth, can say mama, nana, dada, and hi. He recently took his first steps but not walking yet. He entertains himself with whatever is in the room. He has fallen down the stairs a few times, never under my supervision of course (haha). He dances, gives high fives, loves balls, sleeps on his tummy, sucks his thumb, has lot of mongolian spots, and smiles in an instant. His name came to me while watching the winter Olympics. We had been struggling with boy names like we usually do. I had decided it was my turn to pick a name since C named the other two boys. It was fun. The name worried me a bit but it sounded cute to me. We're a big fan of the Olympian for all the good reasons and so the decision was made.