I wonder what home is like...

I thought things would settle down when school started, but boy was I wrong. Between church, school, and life, I haven't been home once this week in the evenings, and I'm so tired.

Anyways, Monday evening was spent at Family Home Evening in the park, Tuesday I sat at the church for about an hour waiting to get a temple recommend interview with the stake. Last night we went grocery and school supply shopping. It's always an adventure shopping with 3 kids. Tonight I have a presidency meeting, and tomorrow night I have elected to go to the temple for the 7:30 pm session.

And to top it all off, my monthly "friend" Aunt Martha as I call it, was 10 days late, and finally came yesterday, and now I am in a very poor state with cramps. My hormones are all out of whack. I wonder if I'm starting menopause? Cuz I know there was no way I was pregnant. I had none of the signs. I always knew when I was pregnant, even with the ones I lost, before I was even late. With the 3 kids, and the 4 losses, I'm pretty sure I know the signs, and I had none this time. Thankfully. We don't want any more kids. We are so happy with our 3.

I went to Ross today to find a skirt I could wear to the temple. I don't want a temple dress, because everyone always has the same one, and I like to be different, and I thought a nice white skirt with a nice white shirt I already own, would be nice. However, the only white skirts they had were totally cheesy, so I thought I'd humor myself and look in the dress section. Guess what? I found a TOTALLY PERFECT dress and for only $15.00. I'm so jazzed! I just love Ross!

I am loving my digital camera and can hardly wait to download the images. Maybe Saturday evening...but no promises. The kids love that we have one now too. As soon as I snap the shot, they all have to see the image.

Siena is home for the season. She's such a big over grown horse of a dog. I love my little dog, so much easier in our little house. But I have some pictures of her finally. I use to take a lot of pictures of her when she was a pup, because she was just so darn cute, but I haven't developed those yet. She is 2 1/2 now...

Is it really the last day of August? What happened to June and July? Was I at Wild Island and miss the entire summer? Guess so.

Speaking of Wild Island, we are going Saturday and Monday, and then it will sadly close for the season. I will be in mourning...

Also, it's Rib Cook-Off time again. Driving through Sparks on the freeway is a very nice treat, it smells so good. My manicurist's husband ate lunch and dinner there yesterday. Lucky dog.

My neighbor's daughter has chicken pox, even though she got her shot back in November. She only has like a dozen or so pox on her, but yuck. I hope my kids don't get them. Anthony has never had them, and has never gotten the shot, and both the two little ones have had the shot. But obviously, the shot doesn't seem to stop kids from getting them since Syd got them.

I was six when I got the pox. I remember my neighbor bringing me a plate of rice crispy treats and a new puzzle to put together every day until I got better and could go back to school. And that's pretty much my memory of them...


Anyways, Latter my friends!

I'm Back

So, I got the entire room TOTALLY cleaned out by very late Friday night. Stayed up until about 12:00. I threw away about 5 black garbage bags full of old toys, beat up shoes, thread-bear clothes, and trash. I have 2 big bags of clothes to go to good will and another 2 bags of outgrown shoes that are still in good shape. (Rhett has a shoe fetish, and owns more shoes then the rest of the family members combined, and Jason's grandmother indulges him) I now walk past the room and am amazed at how good it looks. They even got to let our neighbor boys come over and play in the room for a change. Jason in impressed the room has stayed clean for 2 days. We'll see how long it lasts...

Left Saturday, late morning and drove down to my dads. I had to take both the dogs with me as no one was home to let them out to go potty. I keep them in their kennels while we were visiting mom.

The retirement home mom is in is SO nice. It's only about 8 years old, so it's very clean, modern and well lite. She shares a room with a lady named Patty. The two of them are like two kids. Mom was trying to let Patty try on her clothes and telling her she could borrow her shoes. It was kind of funny. There are several other "family" members mom has become friends with, Frank (a real character), Flo, and I can't remember the other lady's name due to my poor name recall ability. The nurses are real good, and they say they really like mom. Dad is so good with everyone there (nurses and "family") They try to keep them all busy during the day so they don't just sit around and wait to die, which is good. They have "class time" they read books, color, recite the date together, talk about what they've just had to eat, and have daily exercise classes. It's good, and mom is settling in very nicely. It really doesn't bother me to see her there and in the condition she's in, because I know she's got dad, and us girls that love her. What really breaks my heart is the "family" that doesn't have anyone to come visit them. Like Frank and Flo. I feel bad for them. But I will love them just as much as I can, they need it.

Dad is trying to clean out all moms stuff now and give all of it away to us girls. It's hard, but he won't have any place to store it when he moves, and he doesn't want anything to get ruined, and he wants to make sure we get the things and enjoy them. He said he would not be offended if we asked for anything, but he might tell us no. He is doing much better than he was a few weeks ago, but it is still hard for him. He really wants the family, as much as can make it to come up for mom's birthday next month. In the home, there is a private family kitchen and dining room where we can have a nice dinner, and then we'll go back to her area and have cake and ice cream with the other "family members" and nurses.

Mom will be 71 this year, and who knows how many birthdays we'll have left.

I barely made it to the airport in time to pick up the kids on Sunday. I left Yerington a little later than I wanted to, and got behind 3 cars I couldn't pass between Silver Springs and Fernly, that felt the speed limit of 65 was about 15 miles an hour too fast. The whole way from Silver Springs into Reno I kept praying the plane would be late, and guess what? It was! I got my security pass and through security and walked up just as the kids were getting off the plane. Boy was I ever grateful that prayer was answered! I was so afraid the kids would be sitting there waiting and I'd be making a flight attendant mad...

Anthony and I seem to be catching a little cold. I thought it was just allergies, but today I really feel crummy. Achy, headache, stuffy nose, and I have a cold sore. Anthony has all the same symptoms but the cold sore. Hopefully it stays that way.

First day of school got off well yesterday. Anthony has 2 band classes, art, and sign language as his electives. Then he has math, language, history, and science. He's gonna be very busy this semester.

Rhett got Mrs. Toti this year. She is somehow related to friends of ours, but I can't remember how exactly. She has been teaching at Peavine for like 23 years now. I think she will be good for Rhett. She strikes me as a teacher that has a lot of fun with the kids, but doesn't take any crap from them either.

Kylie had her screening for kindergarden this morning. She scored 24 out of 21. Yep, she's ahead for her age and grade level. Just like Anthony, but unlike Rhett. She is so excited to start. Next Tuesday!

Dad gave me his old digital camera, so when I get a chance to sit down, I have about a ton of pictures to post. But last night was the last Family Home Evening in the park, and tonight I have a temple recommend interview with the stake pres, and tomorrow is scout night, so I'll see what happens Thursday, but no promises!!!

Amazing what you can get done without kids around...

So I put the kids on the plane on Wednesday. They were so excited, I hardly got a good bye from them. Going through security as a non-flying person was interesting. They confiscated my hand lotion (forgot to take it out of my purse) and almost took my eye drops, until she asked if I wear contacts, which I do...My jewelry made the metal detector go off, and everyone had to remove shoes (how can anyone fit a bomb inside a flip flop that is only 1/2 inch thick? And like I said, I wasn't every getting on a plane...Whatever.

So, without the kids around, I have taken advantage of cleaning out their rooms of just about everything they own. Shoes, clothes, toys, and way more garbage than I care to describe in this blog. My kids are worse pack rats than I am, and that's so saying a lot. Needless to say, after 2 evenings of this, I am still not done. I have to go through Anthony's clothes still and get rid of most of it, then put it away, and I have to make Rhett's bed, and go through all the stuffed animals and pillows he sleeps with, and vacuum. I hope I finish tonight because in the morning I am heading to Yerington to see my parents, and the kids have to picked up at the airport at 2pm on Sunday. Wish me luck.

My sister Elaine was in a car accident on Tuesday and totaled her car. Luckily she was ok. She delivers newspapers very early in the morning, and fell asleep and hit a parked car. I'm just glad she was ok. And her husband is a mechanic, so all will be well...She has an old van she can use, and since her husband works at the Ford dealership, they get a good deal on a new car.

Jason and his brother are heading to northern Washoe co. As I type for Jared's antelope hunt. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he shoots a nice one nice and early and they get home quickly.

My back is just killing me from bending over cleaning the kids room. I wish I could go home now and just soak in a nice hot bath, but I am stuck here at work until around 6 pm tonight because it is our monthly inventory, and I have to wait for every truck to get back for Reno and Sacramento so I can post the monies...I have a Family Home Evening Book project to keep me busy here while I wait.

On LDSLIVING.com, I get daily e-mails that on Mondays, they have a FHE idea. I have been printing them out, and now I plan on putting them in a binder sorted by topics so for future reference, I can grab them easily. Plus they work great for sharing time ideas.

Anthony is in charge of the Youth Fireside next month. I feel it's going to end up being one of my jobs to do for him...why would I feel that way? Is it because he has no idea what they heck he's doing? Maybe.

I'm taking Monday off for the boy's first day of school. I'm going to take the boys to school and just kick back for the rest of the day. (Wild Island is closed, other wise I'd be there). Maybe I can soak in the bath...

So, you may not here from me until Wednesday next week.

Just another day...

The kids are leaving for Vegas this afternoon. I have to have them at the airport by 1:00. They packed on Monday, and put the bags in the back of the Suburban last night. They are so excited they even woke up when I said to, and without complaining this morning, and got dressed without as much of a fight as usual. It was nice.

It will be so quite with them gone. I plan on cleaning out their rooms while they are gone. That way I can get rid of things without them under foot trying to keep everything I toss out. And half of what they own they won't miss anyways.

The weather is changing...it started getting really windy this morning about 5:30, and it cloudy. Yuck. I'm not ready for summer to end. It looks like a winter storm outside the window here.

The kids finished swimming lesson yesterday. The two little ones improved so much over the summer. I am so glad my kids like to swim and like the water. Jason's family doesn't, and none of them even really know how to swim well (I'm surprised Jason even got his swimming merit badge). I was worried my kids might take after the Woodward family. I grew up swimming. Grandpa had a pool in his back yard when I was born, and my sisters had me in the pool when I was about 2 months old. I have pictures. So swimming and water fun have been with me forever. I'd have a pool in my back yard if I could afford it. Maybe some day.

Anthony made $10 mowing one of the neighbor's lawns last night. He has mowing Andrea's lawn most of the summer, and I made him mow hers and ours before he leaves for 5 days, and Ada came out and said she'd give him 10 bucks to do hers. If he got off his lazy butt, he could make some serious cash in our neighbor hood. There are like 16 houses on our street. Not everyone has grass, but most of them do, and I bet they'd be willing to pay $10 to have Anthony do it. I told him he should do it early next summer, but he wants to start working at Wild Island. I said to do both and make a ton of money.

Jason is going out of town with his brother on Friday for his brother's (Jared) antelope hunt. They will be back sometime Sunday. I hope Jared gets an animal on Saturday so they can get home early Sunday.

In packing up, Jason brought this bag in that has a scent thing in it that smells like dirt to put your clothes and shoes in so the animals think you smell like dirt instead of human. It is the most disgusting thing ever. My whole house smells like dirt now. I need to open the windows this evening when I get home to air the place out.

Next month for my sharing time in Primary I have to teach about Esther in the old testament. Any ideas out there for how I could do it? Especially for the kids under 7 years old? I thought maybe telling them the story and then letting them dress up and acting it out, but I'm not sure. For the older kids I thought of doing a word search. But again, I'm not sure. Any and all ideas would be appreciated.

Yeah!

I am very happy today. The lady I felt should be called as my new 2nd councilor in Primary has accepted the call. She is a great lady and I know she will do a great job. Her family has been in our ward for about 2 years now, and 3 of her 4 kids are in Primary. People have been asking for her in the various organizations forever, and the Bishop wouldn't spare her from where she was. I felt so impressed she needed to be the one called, and was afraid the Bishop would say no, but he surprised me and said I could have her. Then I was very worried that she would say no, but she didn't. She will be sustained Sunday. I'm so happy. I'm sad my current councilor is moving though. She is one of my greatest, dearest friends.

The kids are packed up for their flight out to Vegas tomorrow. They have their final swimming lessons for the summer today, we have to wash their suits tonight, and then pack them and then they are ready. Their flight is at 2:25, but I have to get them to the airport early so I can get a pass to get to the gate so I can sign them off since they are minors flying without an adult, show their birth certificates, and my id as being their mother, and watch them board to make sure they get on ok. They are flying Southwest. Anthony has flown alone before, but never the other 2. In fact, I think Rhett and Kylie haven't flown since March of 02. We don't get out much...

My neighbor across the street is home after having been in Utah and Idaho for 6 weeks. I'm so glad. I missed her. We love to sit and visit and let the kids play, plus she is my Primary secretary, and I was doing her job as well as my own while she was gone. It was never really a problem except on days I did sharing time. But, I managed. Welcome home Andrea!!!

A teeny, tiny little kitten was found outside at the warehouse today. It's eyes had just barely opened. Tina took it (too little to tell if it's a boy or girl yet). Her mom is taking it to the vet right now. They will probably have to bottle feed it. I didn't get to see it. They took it to the vet before I got here. Hope the little thing will be ok. No sign of it's mother, so we don't know how the kitten got here. I hope they don't find more each morning...

Well, I am still behind in all my paperwork after taking 3 days off, so I better get going.

10 Things I Love About Summer

In no particular order...
1. It is warm
2. There is no snow
3. The sun is actually shinning at 6 am
4. Wild Island is open
5. The sun is still shinning at 9 pm
6. I can wear my favorite shoes (sandals & flip flops)
7. The trees are green with leaves
8. The smell of freshly cut lawns
9. Fireworks on the 4th of July
10. I don't have to use 4 wheel drive just to get out of my driveway!

Some time off...

So I had already arranged to take Wednesday, Thursday and today off. Rhett had a dentist appointment on Wednesday, and I figured we'd head to Wild Island after, but Jason and I ended up having to go to the funeral. It was a catholic mass, and lasted about 2 1/2 hours, so we didn't make it to wild island. However, yesterday, we did make it. Stayed until about 3. It is so much nicer to be there on weekdays, hardly anyone there. Went again this morning, stayed until just a little after 2. The two little ones and I are getting so tan. Anthony isn't getting very dark because he hides under his towels when he's sitting on the chairs. He doesn't match the rest of us...

Voted on Tuesday in the primary election. Some of the people I didn't want to win, did. Now we have to listen to their STUPID commercials for another two months (ie Dina Titus and her stupid accent) There'll be no place to hide. Whenever her commercials come on, Anthony makes total fun of her. He needs to be a stand up comic. The kid keeps me in stitches all the time.

Tomorrow will find us at Wild Island again. We only have a few more days left to go before it closes for the season. SO SAD. I'm sure I'll cry the last day we go.

Pet Rules

Please post VERY LOW on the refrigerator door-pet nose height...

Dear Pets-

The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate of food does not stake a claim for it becoming your dish and food, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, bark, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years--canine or feline attendance is not mandatory. The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door: To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like To Complain About Our Pets: 1. They live here. You don't. 2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it "fur"niture.) 3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people. 4. To you, it's an animal, to me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours, and doesn't speak clearly.

Thank you.

Remember: Dogs and cats are better than kids because they: 1. Eat less. 2. Don't ask for money all the time. 3. Are easier to train. 4. Usually come when called. 5. Never drive your car. 6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends. 7. Don't smoke or drink. 8. Don't worry about having to buy the latest fashions. 9. Don't wear your clothes. 10. Don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and 11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

More pictures

I think I finally have this whole picture thing figured out. I had to download Adobe Photo something or other to scan the pictures and then edit them to fit so you can actually see them. Maybe I don't need a digital camera after all. I just need to remember to take the old school film to Wal-Mart to get developed more often...

After all the hard work...

After setting up the tent and pumping up the air mattress, Anthony was just too tired to get inside his sleeping bag...

Kirby at 6 weeks and 10 months

Such a cute little tiny puppy. Almost makes me want another Scottie puppy...Almost

To whom ever started the two fires in Reno:

I just wanted to thank you for creating all the smoke that has given me a stuffy, runny, drippy nose, ithcy, watery eyes, and a sinus headache from #*&%!!!!!!! Oh, and Kylie thanks you too. She has the same symptoms!!!

Ouch!

So I pulled a ton of weeds Wednesday evening, and now my right arm is killing me. Typing is hard (not so good for work) and writing is difficult (again, not so good for work).

I'll have no other choice but to make this short and sweet.

Mom moved into the assisting living center in Yerington yesterday. She was fine. Dad told her she was going there because it is a better hospital then where she's at, and they will help her get better. But since she's so sick, she'll be staying there awhile, and to make her feel more comfortable, Elaine took some of her things over there. She was so happy. Dad was very surprised. Good. Hopefully it stays that way. Dad says they seem to finally have her meds all working together now. I think it helps that a doctor that deals with this all the time is taking care of her now, instead of just a general MD.

Dad says she's on about 5 different kinds of pills. The new place she's at will take care of giving them to her. No one can visit her for a week, until she gets all settled. I'll be going down there on the 25th to spend the weekend.

Kylie has a tummy ache today and is at Grandma's instead of pre-school. I hope she doesn't throw up-she said she felt like she would all morning. She was up at 5 with me...ugh!

Kylie at Kinderfair

Klyie is kind of hid behind the red-haired boy in the red shirt. You can see just the front of her face.

Kinderfair is for all the new kindergarden kids to see what it will be like. They read a couple of books and play some games to help them read and do math.

It was fun. Kylie is so excited about going into Kindergarden!

A better picture of Kirby Sue Scottie Dog

Anthony at Donner Camp '06

News

Some good news and some bad news. They always go hand in hand don't they?

The good news first. On Tuesday, one of my friends from church gave birth to healthy baby boy. She was in labor for 18 hours, and little Jase Landon came into the world weighing 10 pounds, some ounces. A tough, tiring delivery according to dad, but both mom and baby are doing good. CONGRATS Travis and Krista. This was #2 for them. Little Brock is in nursery and now has a little brother! Yeah! We are so excited for them all!

Now the sad news, Jason climed in bed at 2:00 am this morning, and informed me that one of Jared's friends from high school that he is still really good friends with, and Jason and Jared go hunting with him and his older brothers all the time, dad passed away yesterday from an apparent heart attack while he was on his archery antelope hunt up in northern Washoe County. I'm not sure how old Orv was, but the oldest son is about mine & Jason's age. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Belding family during this difficult time.

I tried to post another picture here at work, but I think that my computer here has issues, because I just can't do it. I guess I have to get on the computer at home more often to post pictures. I told Jason I want a digital camera for Christmas so I don't have to scan pictures on my scanner and have them be little like the tiny picture of Kirby below... Sorry about that. As if she wasn't already small enough to begin with. In that picture, she was about 6 weeks old.

I actually got out of bed and ran this morning. No idea where that energy came from, but I'm not complaining. I have put on 8 pounds. I lost 6 earlier in the summer, but they came back with 2 pounds of their friends.

Haven't heard from dad on mom's status. I have to remember to call them tonight for an update. I always think about calling around 6 in the morning and 9 at night. Too early and too late. I'm such a dork!

The Scottie Dog Pup

I'm still trying to figure this whole scanner thing out, and posting pictures...give me a few more tries to get it right...

Picture from 5 years ago

This was taken at my parents house on my Grandfather's 90th birthday. As you can see, Kylie is only about 7 months old, Rhett, about a week shy of his 2nd birthday. Ewe...me in my glasses...Anthony's about 8 1/2...I am 25...still am infact...

Anthony with Jason's bear

Anthony's bear

Wanna hear about the weekend?

Friday, I got home, and was just beat. I pretty much got the kids and myself in bed by 9 pm, and we slept until about 7:30 Saturday morning. We got up and managed to get ready for wild island and leave the house by 10:15, which, believe it or not, was the time I wanted to be leaving. Miracles do happen!

We got to wild island, and Devanie, Randa, and Thomas, and the kids were just getting tickets. We stood in line and talked, it was so nice. Randa hasn't changed from the days of her being my Primary and Young Women leader. She's so awesome.

Also, Erin and Justin were there with the kids. It was really fun to be at the park with so many people we knew there also. Kylie even had a couple of friends from pre-school there.

We stayed until nearly 6pm. We were beat, but we had such a good time, we didn't want to leave. And no sun burns, if you can believe it. Either we put enough sun screen on, often enough, or we have just been enough this summer to be tanned enough we don't burn any more.

We got home, I fixed dinner (french bread pizza) and we all crashed.

Sunday, Jason and the boys went with Jared to scout for antelope. Kylie had to go to church with me early for a leadership meeting. She sat in the foyer with Bishop Jackson and colored. She was a good girl. Then we spent the rest of the morning at church. My dear friend Debbe and her hubby and granddaughter were at church. They are moving back to Utah. They came to our ward to say good-bye. I'm so sad.

The A/C in the Primary room wasn't working, and the room was SO HOT. I was glad to come home. But church was so good. Everyone's testimonies were great, and all of church, including Primary filled me up so I had the mental strength to drive down to Carson and see Mom.

Dad and Elaine were already there, for which I was glad. We sat and visited in the TV area, but then mom's back started to hurt, so we went back to her room so she could lay down. I probably spent about an hour there. She was happy to see me. When Elaine was there with her, she knew who we were, but as soon as Elaine left to go potty, she thought I was Elaine. And she babbles sometimes, and her sentences make no sense. And sometimes she realizes what she just said made no sense, and apologizes for being dingy.

She's telling all the nurses, doctors, and other patients that she's been divorced for 9 years. Dad was surprised to hear this; didn't know he had been living in sin all these years. :) One of the old guys that is a patient there has the hots for mom, apparently, and when mom introduced her husband to him, he seemed surprised, and had to go have his blood pressure taken. We had a good chuckle about that.

I really was impressed by dad. He introduced both Elaine and I as his daughters to the staff there. And one time he said that Elaine and I were the middle daughter and baby daughter to the other daughter they had already meet (Christy). He is doing really good with Christy and Elaine, and I think seeing how they are helping not only mom, but him as well, after all these years he finally feels they really are his daughters. And both Christy and Elaine call him dad. He really had been more of a dad to them then their real dad ever was.

So, I did pretty well seeing her. Christy and Elaine cry about it, but (not yet, anyways) I just don't feel I need to. I'm sure I will at some point. But, until then...

Jason is letting me drop my classes this fall so I can be able to go to Yerington more on the weekends (major study time). I am so glad. I can't begin to tell you what a load off my mind that is. I was really stressed about school in and of itself, and with Church and work, and kids, and now mom, I was getting to a point I felt I would be breaking down bad. I also have another added stress-my second councilor is moving, so I have to replace her. She is over scouts, and does THE best job and baptisms. I haven't had to worry about a thing since she's been in there, and now I worry about who will replace her and if she can do as good of a job. I guess I worry too much. And I wonder why I get migraines.!?!?!?.

This morning I woke up, and the house only had one wall of power. To make a long story short, the main circuit breaker fried up. The electrician was luckily able to get it fixed today, but our circuit breaker is old, and we need to replace it, but it costs about $1200 to do that, and takes several hours. We'll fix it if it becomes a problem, but we figure, if it's not broken, don't mess with it, and maybe, we'll be in a new home by then, and it will be someone else's problem.

Kylie had a teeth cleaning today, too. No cavities, just needs to brush better, and she is young to have lost a tooth already...most kids don't loose until closer to 6. I guess my kids are just early birds. All 3 of them lost their first teeth during the 5th year. She's such a good girl. She hates the fluoride, and sits there with a horrid look on her face, but she doesn't complain. She does what they tell her to do while they are cleaning, and she's so polite to them.

As we were leaving the office after her cleaning, she said "Now I'll have nice shiny, clean teeth to start kindergarten." Such a cutie!

Update on Mom

Got to talk to Dad last night, and he was in a better state of mind and was able to fill me on all that's going on from the beginning.

I guess Monday was a really bad day for mom. She spent the better part of the day having hallucinations, which is part of this stupid disease, and she started to pick on Christy about her scottie dog, and dad tried to get mom to leave her alone, and she turned around and punched him. His lip got split open. Dad says from there he doesn't remember what happened, but Christy had come out of her room and started screaming, because dad had mom pinned to the ground. Dad said he doesn't remember if he hit mom back or just took her down, and at that point he knew he couldn't take care of her anymore. So he called Pat Christensen, who then called mom's doctor, who in turned called dad, and told dad to take her to the mental hospital in Carson.

They had a very tough time getting mom in the car, it took dad, Pat, and Christy to get her in. And as they drove, she got even more upset and violent, so by the time they got to Carson, she was out of control, then when she realized were she was going, all hell broke loose. The doctors had to sedate her, and she finally fell asleep in the bed, and they were able to get her out of whatever she had been wearing and into a hospital gown.

The doctor at the hospital told Dad and Christy not to come on Tuesday, so they could get her settled down and evaluate her better, but they went and spent yesterday with her. She was still pretty much drugged, so there was no violence, and Christy did her hair and painted her nails.

The psych doctor wants to meet with dad, Christy, and me if I can get there today to discuss mom and where to head next. Dad has pretty much made up his mind that she's going into long term care, but the doctor wants to fill us in on how bad she really is, and what we can expect in the next days, weeks, and months. They didn't give dad a time when they were going to meet, so when dad does find out, he's going to call me and let me know. I hope I'll be able to make it down there.

Dad doesn't think she's going to last much longer. Funny thing is, she could. Some times alzheimer's patients can live for 20 years with a crazy brain. Hopefully she does go fast though. For her sake and ours. She would never act this way in her right mind, and it would kill her to know she is acting this way. She loves my dad so much, she would never do anything to ever hurt him mentally, physically, or otherwise. The way she is acting in just a ruined brain, and she doesn't know what she's doing.

Anyways, the big thing for dad is to decide where to put her-Carson, Reno, or Yerington. And a lot of that will depend on price. He's heard that the monthly cost on those long term care places can run anywhere for $3000 to $5000 a month. He can only just afford that, if he lives on the bare minimum himself.

This will all be stuff we have to work out as a family. Dad said Elaine is coming up this weekend and next weekend. Christy is here through the weekend, so Dad is going to be alone next week. Keep him and mom, and us kids, too, in your thoughts and prayers.

Must share with you...

You know when you find something good in life, you just have to share the news. I am a total lip stick girl. As I get older, I find my lips are shrinking, so I pretty much wear lip stick no matter what. I hate having to re-apply it so often, and it seems the long wear kind just make my lips really dry. BUT, I tried Maybelline Superstay lipcolor, and it really like it. It totally stays on ALL day-in fact, it's sort of hard to wash off even at the end of the day with facial wash-and my lips aren't all dried out feeling.

Give it a try. I like it.

Things are better today

I haven't talked to dad yet this morning; I figured I'd let him and Christy get up and get going...Elaine is coming up next weekend. She'll stay with me over night on Saturday.

Rhett really wanted to go see the cars for Hot August Nights, so I took him and Kylie to the Hilton and we walked around and looked at all the great old cars. My favorite is the Camero's. There was a blue one, just like I like. My total dream car. Dad had a camero when he met my mom, but he traded it in on a family car to fit my siblings, and then me when I came along. What a shame. He should have held on to it, imagine what it would be worth now. The kids had a lot of fun though. Rhett said he's going to get an old car when he can drive, and he's going to paint it
black and put flames on it. But he doesn't know what kind of car yet. He's cute. And he's such a boy.

Anthony had 2 baby teeth pulled on Monday. The adult teeth grew in crooked and didn't push out the baby teeth. He did good, hardly any pain and bleeding, and by today you can't even tell he had teeth pulled. His face was funny while he was still numb, and I kept making him laugh so I could see him drool and try to smile with a dead face-lips that wouldn't turn up, and cheeks that reacted weird.

Kids did well in swimming lessons yesterday, although I missed the whole lesson because I couldn't leave work early. And I didn't' have time to grab my suit, so I really can't wait to get to Wild Island on Saturday and do some swimming. I'm so sad it's August already...summer is just about over, and then the swimming and sunning will be done...so sad... :-(

The past two weeks we were in the midst of a terrible heat wave. Now all that heat has moved east, and we have really cooled down here in the west. Yesterday we only got to 85-not that that is cold, but it sure feels like it after being well over 100 for so many days. Those 20 degrees are a huge difference. I really notice the difference in the mornings when I get up to go running...I need a sweater...and it's darker now than it was...days are getting shorter.

Jason has arthritis in his shoulder that he had surgery on about 10 years ago. It could get bad enough that he may need a shoulder replacement in about 5-10 years. Yuck. Doctor told him to pretty much live on Aleve as needed for pain, and hot and cold packs. Like he has time for that...

Started having Ward Family Home Evening in the Park on Monday. It is a time when ward members can show up with diner, dessert, games, kites, or chairs and just sit and visit. It is so nice. I just love when we do them every August. It really draws us together as a ward family, and for me being in Primary, it's good to get to meet and visit with the sisters who are in Relief Society or Young Womens or who have just recently moved into the ward. Being that our ward takes in UNR, we get A LOT of the newlyweds that are also students living on campus. I never get a chance to meet and get to know a lot of them unless we call them to Nursery or Primary. And even then...we're so busy, you don't often get to visit.

Today looks like it's going to be a slow one here...have to find stuff to do. The first week after our monthly inventories are always slow for me-other than getting statements out on the 1st-which is why I didn't get to leave work early yesterday...but today...SLOW...SLOW...SLOW...

Not such a happy blog

I had hopped to post a fun, happy blog, but I just got a call from dad, and he had to put mom in an alzheimer's home yesterday. She totally flipped out, and hit him and busted open dad's lip. The doctor felt it would be best for her to be in a care facility at this point.

Christy came up and is with him now. Elaine left a message on my voice mail last night so I need to call her back right away.

Having mom be sick is so hard. Here I am sitting at work crying. It sounds so bad, but I just wish the Lord would take her. This is not how mom would want to be. Her spirit needs to be freed from her sick body, to be taken home to Heavenly Father and Jesus, and to see her mom and dad again, and be re-united with her loved ones. She was so close to her family growing up, and most of them have passed on. She needs to be with them again. I know loosing her will be VERY difficult, but it will be for the best, and I have knowledge that I will be able to see her again, and we are sealed togehter for all eternity, so we will never really be sepearted.

I love my mom so much, and I am so glad to have been her daughter. I am so glad to have the memories I have of our time together. I just hope everything settles down, that she will be ok, and that Dad will be ok.

Keep me in your prayers as well. I'm a wreak right now.