A Weekend in Albequerque

So we had a really fun weekend in ALBQ, NM with Winslow's sister Evelyn and her family, and Winslow's Mom. We went to the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (sort of.) And to the Explora! museum. It was sooo cool. The kids had a blast. Rachel's favorite was the Minkin' Mog houses they made. (AKA Lincoln Log.) Jacob and Abby had fun with Winslow in the "Bubble Room." It was so fun to hang out with family. Rachel and Julie are such a fun pair. We totally wore everyone out! Ev and I got to go to the Sunflower Market. Grandma Lisa was such a huge help and I am always glad when she comes to play. The kids adore her too!

The Balloon feista was very early in the morning. We got up at 4am and still got stuck in nasty traffic trying to get there. Eventually (after waiting an hour to move only a very short distance) we decided to abort mission. Instead of making down onto the launch field, we found a spot just above the field and just off the freeway, to watch. We saw hundreds of balloons take off. It was amazing, and very cold! We've decided next year we are going on a weekday.

Laundry Helpers

When I got home from work today I started a load of laundry. Abby had told me this morning she was running out of socks. So I told Abby to put her socks in the washer with the load I had started. What about underwear, she asked. Yeah, okay, but just your socks and underwear. (understand I put a decent size load in already.)
WELL.... I forgot to put in the soap. So I came back to put in the soap and realized she had put her WHOLE LAUNDRY BASKET worth of clothes into the washer and they were all soaked. AHHH! I had to laugh. I pulled out a whole bunch of soaking wet clothes and put them back into the laundry basket. I told Abby, next time, don't put all your clothes in the washer. OOPS!

Guess I am getting OLD

So this week I was able to experience having Gout firsthand. Some of you may know what this is. I had heard about it, but didn't really know too much, until I got it myself. Gout is an incredibly painful condition in which uric acid crystals build up in your joints. Most common is the foot below the big toe. It usually onsets at night, and is quite painful (I know I mentioned that before, but just incase you forgot....I like to whine.)
Honestly, I wanted to cut my foot off. It hurt sooo BAD. The pain would lessen when I would lie flat and not move it at all. Too bad you have to get up to go to the BATHROOM! Thankfully the Dr got me started on medicine and by yesterday afternoon I hurt, but not nearly as bad. Today I am still sore and some pain but feeling a lot better. Please note I have been on crutches for the last 2 days cause I can't put any pressure on it. Hopefully I will be off crutches by Tomorow.
The funny thing about all of this is that the most common people who get gout, are Men, drinkers, and have some extra padding around the middle : ), and they are OLDER. Now I do know people who have gout who don't fit those qualifications. But Winslow and my Dr thought it quiet hilarious that I have gout, because Obviously I am not any of those things. (well maybe I have been a closet drinker, LOL. Can you even imagine?) So I guess I must just be OLD.

How I do it All....well some of it anyway!

My friend Andrea asked..."how do you do it all, do you wear a cape?" Actually it's Winslow who wears the cape. We call him Superman. I do a lot, but he is a huge support. He helps get kids ready everymorning, he puts away the food after dinner. And he does countless tasks for me. So tips on how to get it "all" done.

• Make a dinner menu--be realisitic though, one night for dinner we are having corndogs!!!
• Simplify-- I finally broke down a while ago and threw away, yes in the garbage, half of my girls toys. Now it's easier for them to clean up their own stuff!
• Lets face it, I am always behind on laundry and I hate putting it away...so a lot of the time I ignore it!
• My kids have chores and rewards. they get icecream if their chores are done, helps me a ton.
• Delegate...if someone else is willing, let them do it!
• Time out for me--I love going to the park on my lunchbreak once a week with all my mommy friends and their kids. Makes me feel like I am still connected to all my friends.
• I come home on my lunch break a lot and start dinner
• Rhodes Rolls
• I cook most of my meat when I get it home from the store. Put it in quart freezer bags and then its ready to go for a meal....don't have to spend all that time cooking it when it's dinner time!
• PRAY A LOT!!!
• Relax

PS Andrea I really felt for you and my sister (who has twin 3 year olds and a 1 year old) this Sunday. We watched my friends kids so she could take a sick kid to the dr. So we added an 8 year old and another 1 year old to our crew. Things actually went really well. Winslow took David and I took the other baby, and the rest of our kids behaved themselves. But I just kept thinking. This isn't bad....but there's no way I could have done this with two infants!!!! I don't know how you guys did it. YOU WEAR THE CAPE GIRLFRIEND!!!

When I grow up

Abby: Mom, I can't wait to grow up and be a Mommy. (said with longing and wonder in her voice)
Rachel: (With the same longing and wonder.) I can't wait to grow up and be a Cheerleader.

HA HA HA HA HA

Cousins

We were able to spend time with Cousins this last weekend. I love Family. The kids were swinging on the swings at my Uncle Don's. Remember when we were little....If you were swinging paralell with someone else...you were married! I had forgotten. But the kids were having so much fun. "Ohhh I am married to you!!!" And then the sprinklers came on!!!! What a treat. LIFE IS SO PRECIOUS!

Gracie, Makele, Abby, Lindsey on the swings.

What a week

Well, it was quite a week at our house! The week started off with sad news for our family. Cousin Evie...who was just a few years older than Winslow, passed away on Sunday. It was sudden and unexpected. We found out later it was caused by a blod clot.

And then on Tuesday. I came home from work with the kids and Rachel complained of her stomach hurting. This is not unusual for Rachel. She often has tummy aches and so I came to rub her tummy with some essential oils. She was BURNING HOT!! 102.5. So I called my boss to let her know I would not be into work the next day. The night was rough. Rachel felt miserable with a high fever that reached 104.7 during the night. This was with Ibuprofen. Lots of baths and a blessing helped us get thru the night. So of course I made an appointment with the DR.

The next morning Rachel slept a lot and was NOT excited about all the medication and baths. We saw the Dr. No apparent illness, so we did a urine ananlysis. Unfortunately it was a little tricky to get the sample. Rachel dumped it out!!! So we had to wait longer, and then finally I got the sample and took it to the DR. office. In the hour between when I dropped it off and when they got around to testing it, her fever went up to 105!!! I was a nervous wreck. I drove to the Dr.'s office and stood at the front desk so I could make sure to get the info I needed!! The results were positive for a UTI. So the doctor gave me a script for meds. Unfortunately the meds could take up to 36 hours to take effect. AHHH! So we started her on the meds and then Winslow called a friend to come help give another blessing. I was physically and emotionally drained. I fell asleep on my bed with the lights ON as Winslow tended to Rachel's needs for the first 5 hours of the night. I would wake here and there and know he was taking a temperature, or comforting her and I was so grateful he was there. He is my SUPERMAN. Once I felt I could function, I took the next shift. Baths, and meds, and cool washclothes, and lots of love. She threw up a couple of times. I was so WORRIED. Winslow, ever the picture of patience and calm, did better. Sometimes I get a little frustrated with that...but most of the time I can let it go later :)

She slept all morning Thursday. So did I! We were wiped out. The dr. called the house to see how she was doing. She did really well all afternoon and we were hopeful she was on the mend. We decided to pack for the trip to Salt Lake City for the funeral. I packed and then left it all in the front room, still not sure if we should tempt fate. The night went well so early in the morning we headed out. And of course she puked in the car! AHHH! You know that moment when you know you can't pull over fast enough! We were blessed. We only had to put a blanket and the cover of her booster in a trash bag and put it in the trunk. And she was fine the whole rest of the trip.

We were grateful to be there for family. This Friday marks the 16 year anniversary of my older brother's death. Most of you knew him well. I have always been touched by all those who came to the funeral. I remember my cousins who willingly gave up their trip to Hawaii (they had been saving all summer with summer jobs and hard work) to come to the funeral. They didn't have to. They didn't really see a lot of us at the funeral. But it had a lasting effect on me. And so, when someone I love dies, or when someone I love suffers a loss. I go.

...And now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;

Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and to comfort those that stand in need of comfort....

Mosiah 18:8-9

This is why I go. For all those that were willing to mourn with me and my family.

The bishop had wonderful words of comfort. To take Sorrow out of Death, you would have to take Love out of Life. (I believe this is a quote from Joseph Smith.)

I am So grateful we had the opportunity to be with family. To cry together. To hug. To hurt. To long for the day when we will be TOGETHER FOREVER.