I must be nesting!

I'm not sure the exact definition of "Nesting" but I think that it includes projects as well as cleaning. Lately I have felt a huge push to want to finish everything that I started years ago. lol. I finished a blanket that I started in High School. (My girls LOVE it) and after 5 1/2 years of marriage I finally put my wedding flowers in a glass case! They look so gorgeous! I forgot how much I loved them and they reminded me of the SPECIALEST day of my entire life! I sat and stared at them for almost an hour afterward.

I have also tried a little bit of tool Tu Tu's! I don't for see myself making any more, but it was fun. Here is Eliannah in one, she was such a stinker about taking these pictures! It was like she wanted to mess them up on purpose! So they didn't turn out great, *sigh.

This is the kind with the flower pedals in it. I really like it, but I messed it up because I only did half the yardage, so it has not gathers or volume. oh well!

I think that Tsadakah's is my favorite! the color scheme is just one of my fav! Perhaps if I were to do my wedding reception over I would choose these colors instead. See what I mean about the pedal skirt? There are no gathers so it makes her look like she is wearing a see through skirt. lol It makes me laugh.

Other projects that I am trying to finish are: baby blanket for MiKaylah, scrapbook pages for 2009, and I want to scrapbook Mike's mission pictures and letters.

So my goal for April is knocking off projects. It has been fun so far, my house just isn't as clean as it was in Jan. ha ha!

Other things that I have been doing in the category of nesting is cleaning and re-organizing. I re did my kitchen and I LOVE it!!! My pantry!!! Love it! and my bedroom closet. Next up, the medicine cabinet!

Working through the storm toward the light.

Thanks to everyone who fasted and prayed for Michael. We have felt so blessed by the out poor of love and thoughtfulness of our neighbors and friends. Last week was an emotional rollar coaster that seemed to last twice as long as it should have. lol But now we feel the sun is coming out and rightfully so Spring is on the way! This week is looking up!

Mike's leg is looking better. I can still see infection in it...he hasn't seen the end of his antibiotics yet, but I see more healthy tissue than infection and it is drying out and starting to bleed, which the DR's said was a good sign, he is also seeing the skin in the outer area looking more like scarring! Sounds gross, but all good news. Wahoo!

The Dr's are also optimistic. He is off the IV's and is now going to a "wound" specialist. He was told that he is going to have a huge ugly scar, but that it doesn't need any surgery!!! He has to go to "Therapy" once a week for at least a month. They check it and tell him what he needs to do and make sure that it is getting better. THis wound specialist said that Mike has tunneling in his wound and was able to stick a Q-tip into the whole made in his wound all the way to the first cotton...then he said, I've seen worse, I've been able to stick the whole thing in once. He gave Mike the ok to dig the trench for the water line as long as he stopped if it started to hurt.

So here are some of the pictures from them digging and reconstructing our water pipes. My wonderful father came and helped. He was here for a day and a half after doing a job of his own, he works construction. We owe him so much!! Mike couldn't have done it without him. They work so well together!

They ended up digging 65 ft of trench and spending $50 on supplies! ha. My husband is AMAZING! Not only does he have the know how to do something like this but he always does a thorough job and does it in such a small amount of time!!! They actually finished! The dirt is still dug up like this, but the water is running to our house again and there is no leak!!! The meator is not spinning!

For the weekend we went down to my parents to have an Easter egg hunt early. It was a lot of fun and a good way to get away from our troubles. The picture at the top is of Sadye dying her egg.

When we got home on Saturday night, late Saturday night, we walked in the door and imeadiately realized that it was FREEZING! The thermostat read 52! What was going on? Mike went down stairs and saw that the heater had been turned off, when he turned it back on the fan would blow cold air only because the heater wasn't igniting, no heat! Mike stayed up until two in the morning trying to fix it. He was so worried about me, cause I already have a bad cold, and the girls who were under five blankets! He is wonderful and never quits when it comes to protecting us!

But he could't fix it! So for that whole night and the next morning we didn't have any heat! It was really really cold and I totally leaned an appreciation for having heat! I think God is just wanting to teach me a lesson of all that I am blessed with, because you don't know what you got til its gone! Our water heater was still working so we could take hot showers to warm up. My fingers got that itchy burn from the hot water and when I got out I could see my own breathe...In the warmest room in the house!!!!

We had the best person install our heater two years ago and we were able to call him, on a sunday, and he walked Mike through the process to fix the heater! yay! Then he gave us his home and cell number and said we could call him any time if it happens again! Thanks Dave!

Oh and then I think that I broke my toe Sunday night! I

tripped in the hall on the vent. Our house is old so we have a LRG vent on the floor of the hallway. As I stumbled on it my toes ran along it like a cheese grater! My toes were all chuncked up and I think that I broke the second toe. It imeadiately turned purple under the nail and it is swollen. It is the same toe I broke in high school. Not really a big deal, but just funny that it is happening now of all times.

So we are now crossing our fingers and hoping that nothing else goes wrong for a while. We need a lil break!.

But I really wanted to thnk everyone for their support and their love and the thoughts and prayers!

When it rains, it thunderstorms!!

Lately I have been feeling so blessed. I have had very few trials in my life which I am so very grateful for. Even this is nothing compared to the trials that I know others are going through, so I don't mean this to be a complaining blog, just an expression of all that I am going through at this time.

February 11th, Mike got injured. He fell and got a 4 inch scrape up his shine bone on his left leg. Because it didn't cut we thought that it was not a big deal and tried to take care of it ourselves. It bruised like mad!!! His whole leg was swollen and black with bruising! It even bruised into his toes! I kept thinking just hold on till the bruising is gone and then the scrape, which had become a large bump and infected, would heal.

After three weeks of it not healing, he finally was willing to go see a doctor. The Dr. gave him an antibiotic and told him to squeeze the puss out after soaking it in salt water. He got little metal shards out of his leg at that time. The infection seemed to improve, but not healing. As soon as he took the last antibiotic the infection came back and it was furious!!!

So he went to another Dr. (She has been amazing and we love her and I never want to change Dr.'s.) She gave him an even stronger antibiotic and took a sample of the fluid. Sunday, we had Mike's brothers and BIL give him a blessing which was a lot of comfort to him because he has been really worried about it all.

So then the utility co. called and said that they detected a leak in our water line. Mike was out there trying to dig it up and find it. But he got sick easily and he now is on a prescription for Vertigo. So we decided that he just had too much to deal with to expect himself to do the job. So we called a pro. and it will be thousands of dollars! oh the joys of being a home owner!

While I was meeting with plumbers all day, I get a call from the Dr. and she says that the sample taken from Mike's leg has been detected as Strep, and Staff! I told her that it isn't getting better, infact it is looking worse! It is opening up with a gray flesh and it is oozing. "Is that normal?" I ask. "Definately not! Have him come in ASAP!" After looking at it she sends him to U of U hospital. There he is hooked up to an IV and given his third antibiotic! He is there for three and a half hours and then has to return every twelve hours for more. They said that if it is going to improve he will be able to return to oral antibiotics...if not, we are looking at surgery!

Mike will be out of work for at least a week, more if he has to have plastic surgery. He has been going to school full time too, and I am worried about the classes that he is taking. I hope that his teachers are flexible and understanding!!! If he loses his classes, all that time and that money I will be so sad!

So on top of that...our car is leaking antifreeze, or something. More money gone! And Eliannah is coming down with a cold/flu, which is really nothing compared to everything else but on top of everything else, it is quite overwhelming. We decided to tackle one problem at a time, so we are going to deal with his leg first and worry about the water line later, which means that right now I am living with the water turned off all day every day with the exception of one hour a night when we turn it on for 'emergency' purposes. lol. Needless to say I am so grateful for running water! I think that what I have is still better than what they pioneers had and I wonder how they did it. Back then Mike would have lost his whole leg for sure or even died! I truly am blessed.

Anyway, Mike just left to go back to the hospital because after two days in and out of the hospital on IV antibiotics (this being his third kind) it is still NOT looking any better! We are going to have a family fast on Sunday, and if needed before that too, but if you would like to join, it would be great! We'll keep you posted in case it changes. It seems like we are looking in the face of the surgery option. Hopefully the fast will ward off that. Below I have posted pictures for those of you who have a strong stomach and are curious. I'm warning you, It is bad looking so if you don't want to see it don't scroll down!!











The line outside the wound is where the red was when he went into the hospital on Monday night. Mike wanted me to take this picture of his whole leg so that you could see how large it is in comparison.

This is after two days of IV antibiotics for 3 1/2 hours at a time. I took this picture right before he left for the hospital 9 am Wednesday! As you can see...not improving.

Catch up

It has been a while since I have been on.

First, I need to catch up on my new years resolutions. So for February I chose to become a better mother by finding something every day, a poem, song, scripture, or article, that inspired me to be better. It was really great! I enjoyed it very much and I am now trying to compile it all into a book on blurb so that I can return to it often.

For March I am working on not gossiping. More on that later...

Second, The book, Fascinating Womanhood. I have met with my little group twice now and I wanted to talk a little about the things that we discussed.

In the first meeting we talked about the Intro chapter and the chapter "Celestial Marriage." In reading the Celestial Marriage Chapter I posed the question, "What would you be willing to give up in order to have the marriage of your dreams?" You know the perfect marriage in your mind, where your husband adores you and does so much for you and is romantic at all the right times. Well, what would you give up to have that? Would you give up being right? Would you give up time with friends? Would you give up the upper hand?

Lastly, In my personal life...well there is a lot! We found out that we are having another GIRL! I found out that I am anemic. I finished the life story of my grandfather. I am starting to nest, yes already. And I am starting a baby quilt for MiKaylah.

We decided to name her MiKaylah, which is the hebrew name meaning, God-loving. We are spelling it that way because her due date is on Mike's bday and so we are blending his name with his late mother, Kay's. It has great significance and meaning.

New Years Resolutions

Ok I know that this month is almost over so it is weird to be talking about Resolutions now, but I really have been doing it since the beginning, just haven't had time to blog about it until now!

Usually I do my Res's by 4-5 long-term year long goals, and in 10 years I think that I have followed through and accomplished...um 1. Sad! So this year I am taking a different approach. I am going to achieve 12 shorter term goals. Each month I am going to pick one goal according to what I need most in my life at that time.

For the month of January, I am printing my schedule daily AND I have to write down how long it takes me to do each task. The reason is because I was noticing that I was unrealistic on how long it takes to do things so I get overwhelmed with the fact that I am constantly "behind schedule" that I give up on my schedule my noon.

Perhaps this is all due to the fact that I recently watched Julie & Julia, which I really liked, I not feel inspired to want to write things that are special and important on my blog. I want it to be something that is so interesting or inspiring that strangers read it. Not because I want people to be impressed with me, but because I really just want to make others happy, inspire them, and or help them feel better. So not only am I going to report each month on the goal that I have attempted, but I am also going to write about one of my favorite books, like Julie did.

This month I haven't drastically changed. My schedule still doesn't always get all accomplished, but I have found a lot of self discovery. I am now aware that I really need to have a work hard schedule every day, because by the third day I am so done! So I've decided that every third day I get to sleep in and play with my kids for hours, even if the house is a mess, and even allow myself to do one of my favorite things without feeling guilty for it. Then I am refreshed for another two days of hard work!

The book that I was referring to is called Fascinating Womanhood by Helen Andelin! It is so wonderful! It is a book about improving your marriage. I read it and reread it every chance I get. It is like another Bible! j/k But if any of you want to get your hands on it and read it along with my posts then that would be great! Otherwise, just enjoy the posts. I'll start with the first chapter on my next post. This way you will have time to get the book if you want.

My Merry Christmas!

This is what I got for Christmas from Mike! Don't you love the wrapping job? I think that our whole marriage he has never wrapped a present! ha ha. He does cute stuff like this or he commissions my sister or my mom to do it.

Here is my first reaction. My "I can't believe it" reaction. A little background, we decided to divide his bonus equally for Christmas and when the money was gone that was all we'd spend. I thought that new kitchen chairs would be too expensive but that was what I really wanted. Mike urged me to just pick other things. So I did and spent "my" Christmas. Then on Christmas morning I got four of these...
This picture is kind of far away so you can't tell but I am all teary. I couldn't believe that sacrifice that he made for me. He encouraged me to spend my money and then didn't get the PS3 that he wanted so that he could get me even more! I feel almost unworthy of a gift this pure of heart.

I believe that the truest form of love comes from sacrifice. If you want to learn to love your children more deeply, sacrifice for them. I don't mean give them something they need that you are able to give easily, I'm talking about give up watching your absolute favorite show to play that game that you can't stand that they always want to play. (I'm working on this personally) True sacrifice is giving up something you really want to make the other one happy.

Mike did this for me. It for some reason reminded me of when we were engaged and my awesome sisters wanted to make me a King sized quilt for my wedding day. It was a tradition in our family and all the other women chose their wedding colors as the scheme for the squares. My sister who took us to get the fabric said, "You don't have to do your wedding colors, they can be any colors you want."

So Mike said, "Like yellow and green?" (Green Bay Packers colors) Joking I said, "Sure, you have a say in this too." He lit up like a boy on Christmas! I was so cute that I couldn't say no. I had to jump on board and get excited too. So my blanket is green and yellow and I couldn't love it more if it were yellow and purple or pink and baby blue, because it is ours. It reminds me of the joy that comes from loving someone else more than you love yourself.

I know that that is small and insignificant compared to what he has done for me this Christmas, but those chairs mean so much to me because he loved me enough to give up what he wanted for something I wanted! Can I just say that he spoils me like this all the time! He HATES surprises for himself, but he LOVEs to surprise me big!

Merry Christmas Update!

WE HAD A REALLY GREAT CHRISTMAS. BECAUSE IT WAS MY PARENTS FIRST SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN HOME WE SPENT IT WITH THEM! THIS FIRST PICTURE IS ACTUALLY AFTERWARD WHEN WE CAME HOME AND TSADAKAH GOT ALL DREESED UP IN ALL THE DRESS UPS THAT SHE GOT FROM SANTA!...OK ACTUALLY IT IS NOT ALL SHE GOT. HA HA.

THE DAY AFTER WE WENT SLEDDING. HERE IS TSADAKAH AND HER COUSIN MORIELLA. SHE WENT DOWN A TOTAL OF TWICE BEFORE SHE WANTED TO GO HOME. THAT IS NOT EVEN WORTH THE TIME IT TOOK TO GET SHE SUITED UP.

HERE IS ELIANNAH AND HER COUSIN ASHER. SHE LOVED THIS! IT WAS HER FIRST TIME EVER. THE SECOND TIME SHE WENT DOWN HER GLOVE CAME OFF AND HER HAND WENT INTO THE SNOW. SHE WAS DONE AFTER THAT TOO. OY! WHAT BABIES! MIKE ON THE OTHER HAND WAS OUT THERE FOR THREE HOURS!

LOVES!

CHRISTMAS MORNING. THIS LIL OUTFIT WAS 5 BUCKS AND IT WAS A HIT! SHE PUT IT ON RIGHT AWAY AND DANCED AROUND THE FLOOR.

THIS DRESS WAS ALL SHE ASKED SANTA FOR! SHE LOVES IT AND WEARS IT EVERY DAY. IF YOU LOOK YOU CAN SEE ON HER FOOT IS A BRAND NEW BALLET SLIPPER! SHE IS DOING AN ARRABESQUE (SP?) HER LEG IS SIPOSED TO BE BEHIND HER, BUT SHE ALWAYS HAS IT OUT TO THE SIDE.

ELIANNAH IS OPENING HER FIRST PRESENT. SHE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A FAVORITE GIFT, IN FACT SHE SEEMED TO HATE THEM ALL EQUALLY! HA HA. WE GAVE HER A MUSIC TOY BUT SHE WAS MAD THAT THE INSTRUMENTS DIDN'T COME OFF THE STAND. WE GOT HER A STUFFED PENGUIN BUT THE TEXTURE FREAKED HER OUT SO SHE WOULDN'T TOUCH IT. AND SO ON...

WE HAD FUN HAVING THE KIDS DO A NATIVITY PAGENT. TSADAKAH GOT TO BE ONE OF THE WISE MEN. WITH HER IS SETH AND DATAN.

GIVE HER A CROWN AND SHE WILL BE ANYONE YOU WANT! HA HA

ELIANNAH WAS A COW FOR THE PAGENT. IT WAS THE CUTEST COSTUME EVER! IT HAD TONS OF PADDING IN THE BUT AND THAT MADE IT ADORABLE! I TOOK SO MANY PICTURES OF HER IN IT.