Everybody Loves Marcia

**I stole this from my sister Ann's blog. I think it is perfect!

My mom is recovering in the hospital right now. My mom, the healthiest woman I know. She excersises regularly, eats salad for lunch and has only stayed in the hospital to have her 8 babies.

On Sunday evening she was driving to the church taking food to a Young Women's dinner. Something happened to cause her heart to completely stop. We don't know what happened yet, the only thing they can tell us is that it wasn't a heart attack. She went unconscience and crashed the car. Immediately police and firefighters and EMT were there and got her heart going again and rushed her to the ER. The doctors decided on a hypothermic therapy, something that would greatly increase her chances of recovery. They made her really cold (33C!) and kept her that way for 24 hours. We had to wait and wait to see what happened when she woke up. Yesterday afternoon, after she was warm again, they turned off the sedative. She woke up quickly and was responding to us right away. What a relief! She was happy to get the breathing tube out and we were happy she was still with us!

It's been a rough couple of days, and we still have a ways to go to figure out what happened in the first place, but I have learned some things. First, everyone loves my mom. And I mean everyone. It's been so cool to get messages from so many people wishing her a speedy recovery. So many people. It's pretty cool.

Second, I've learned that hundreds of people praying for the same thing makes a difference. Mom's friends of all different religions, and some who claim no religion, have been praying or meditating or sending us positive energy and thinking about us. And we have felt it. I haven't really experienced that before. It's really cool.

Third, it's possible to feel peace in terrible circumstances. Ask me about that one sometime. That's been the most awesome thing of all.

Instagram

I realize I recently posted some of these photos from my phone but I have Instagram on my phone. And I am bored while I wait for boys to fall asleep. So I am blogging. Especially since I am a horrible sister and haven't emailed my missionary brother so he has to look at my blog and I haven't been wonderful about updating that either. But in my defense, no one wants to blog (remember) about the sickness that has been going around this household going on 3 weeks.

Back to the photos







Matt, I will try to be better about blogging and emailing especially since I will see you soon. And I know you looked at past blog posts, showing someone your hair?

Happy Birthday Ben-a!

Ben turned one last Monday. The year really went by too fast. I love the stage he is in but I know he is growing up and it is just going to go faster and faster.

These are just 2 photos from his birthday cupcakes. I took more with the camera but since I am sitting outside the school, these will have to do for now.

Some Favorites- right now anyway

1. When Isaac is being a great brother. For example, tonight after/at dinner Ben was whining and Bryan and I were distracted with the big boys; Isaac left his playing in the other room to come in and check on Ben and fed him his bottle (and Ben has been anti-bottles for a couple weeks now).

2. Ben is drinking again. He still is not guzzling like my other kids but we are making progress.

3. Austin is being a fabulous helper lately. I forgot how helpful almost 6yo are. I was making dinner tonight and he cleared the table (them missing 3 days of school this week made for a lot of make-up work), WITHOUT being asked!

4. Adam is learning about responsibilities. And he is a great big brother. He is very concerned about his brothers, sometimes a little too concerned so we also working on tattling but since this is favorite things I had to include that too :-)

5. Bryan.

6. Getting closets and a bathroom emptied :-)

7. Friends. Friends that invite us places and are willing to come to our house. We still owe them smoked pizza.

8. Bryan cooking. That includes on the stove and the smoker. I prefer the smoked stuff but stuff on the stove is good and appreciated.

9. Having ice cream while watching tv with Bryan AFTER the boys are in bed. Ice cream can be substituted for Melona Bars. And occasionally having popcorn. Or mandarin oranges that are partially frozen- yum.

10. Yummy dinners. I was in a dinner slump last week, at least I felt that way. But last night we had 6 different fruits, fresh french bread and cheese (I had some fruit dip with my fruit but I was the only one) and tonight we had a chicken pasta with peppers and avocado- the recipe I got from Janel, I always feel like a good wife when I make that :-). I am hoping I stay in my "enjoy planning the meals and actually making them" mood because I enjoy cooking, it just gets frustrating when people (kids) don't "like" it but really they just don't want to.

Why can't I get this to post?

Random Favorite Phone Photos

I needed to delete photos and videos from my phone so I dumped them on the external hard drive but still need a few photos for the boys (particularly Isaac and Ben) to look at. These are a few that I kept on my phone. Some favorites out of hundreds- I'm pretty sure over 700 but I can't remember.

If I get on the desktop and can remember I will put captions under them.

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Tired

Today I am tired. No exhausted. I honestly cannot remember the last time I was this tired. And maybe I wasn't so tired when Ben was a newborn because it was okay if I took a nap because "I just had a baby" or because Ben slept more then than he did last night.

Whatever the reason, I am tired. On Sundays I get tired and I am happier having a rest but most of the time I just want to lie on my bed and not sleep but not worry about the boys either. Today, I. Want. To. Sleep.

I wish I had a photo of me sleeping but I guess I can add that later

I wrote this April 29, 2011. But my phone won't let me post it so I thought I would document the date on my own.

Update on Boys and Visitors

I LOVE visitors. I HATE the adjustment period after they leave. "Normal" life just seems so boring. But we are adjusting. Ben seems to be under foot or in arms most of the day now. But still mostly happy. Especially when Dada Dada is paying attention to him. Isaac wants Jill. Want Jill and Katie. But used the potty several days in a row but I am not convinced that diapers are not in his future. Baby steps though. He isn't opposed to the potty which I am excited about and we celebrate every.time.he.goes.

Austin has been invited to a few birthday parties recently and will have his First play date next week. I think he is adjusting well. He is speaking so well and his reading has improved so much. Adam is doing really well in school. We are working on writing but I am not a great writer. I am a list writer. So I don't know how much help I can be. But we still work. He plays and has friends at school but still misses friends from California. I am hoping to keep them at the same school. Adam is in FIRST grade and at his THIRD school. But if we find a fabulous house on a fabulous lot in a fabulous neighborhood and it is a different school, WE will adjust. As a side note, I LOVE that the ladies in the office know my kids are my kids and Betty Knows Every Ones' Name. And I love how organized pick-up is. I love me a good system.


Bryan loves his job. His assistant is fabulous. He goes to court. There is organization there. He needs that. He has people to go to. He is happy. I need that.
I am learning more about myself and what I can (and cannot) handle. I need to remember patience. Everything takes time. We haven't been here for 3 months yet but I forget that and expect things to be like we have been here for a year. Moving is hard. But I have done it enough (I think at last count Bryan and I have lived 10 places together and Adam has lived 7 places) to know that it gets easier. I still get lost but that is what my phone is for :) And my closest friend is my SIL's mom and then about half an hour away. And the boys being in school cramps my "on the go" style BUT I have learned (very recently) I need a schedule. Not a strict schedule but somewhat of a routine.

Some photos with our visitors, thank you Jill for taking most of these.


Katie, Isaac, Maxwell, and Ben in stroller


Odin and Ben


Austin, Katie and Isaac- everyone loves the driveway


Odin on bike and Isaac "pushing"


Austin, Isaac and Adam having fun with hats and Jill in Old Navy.


Adam and Austin on train in Grapevine Mills


Isaac with the Bumbo on his head shouting to "people" outside. No one was out there, he just shouts "Hello" and "Bye. Bye." out the window.


I think I have more photos on my camera but blogging from my phone is so easy. I already miss this cute boy even if his momma thinks he was cranky

Smoker and TEN Years

A few weeks ago I was at CostCo during the day with just 2 boys. We weren't rushing to get out of the store but we weren't "shopping" either. You know the kind where you wonder up and down all the aisles, check out the clothes, look through the books. When I saw this

So of course I took the photo and sent it to Bryan, who was working. A few minutes later, he called. He rarely calls while he is at work. I ended up taking at least a half a dozen photos of it- inside, outside, the vent thingy, the racks...

He came home from work and wanted to get it. After we discussed it, him telling me how great it is and me agreeing, I told him "Happy Anniversary." After dinner, I sent him in my car (alone) to get one.

I put the boys to bed while he was out.

Thankfully his brother, Aaron, came to town the next evening and helped him get it out of my car. There is no way I could have lifted it.

I get to enjoy things like this

And he hasn't even smoked meat in it yet.

So I guess Happy 10th Anniversary to both of us!

Gramma J

Photos taken from Ryan Johnson's Blog. Thank you Ryan for taking such great photos and posting them so I would have something to put on here.



I don't even know where to begin. We are coming up on the second birthday in my little family since J died. I miss her birthday cards. And it hasn't even been my birthday.
I was cleaning out my Inbox and came across a few emails from J. For 93, she was amazing on the computer. A little over a year ago, I emailed her asking for her toffee recipe. She responded, more quickly than most of my sisters, and surprisingly part of it was not all caps.
Since we found out we were moving right before the funeral, I don't think I have had time to really process everything. I am grateful for the plan of happiness/salvation and my knowledge of it.
Birthdays and football season are going to be hard. I just wish my memory was as good as J's.

Elizabeth is a much better writer than me so check out her J post.

J's house
Missionary wall/map
Her couch
At the funeral


Nielsons, not all but most, at Luncheon. J's posterity from just one child.

Club House

Before we moved in, we had a "club house". I thought it would be perfect for storage. I was mistaken. Everyone loves the club house. I can honestly say I have NEVER been in the club house all the way and I don't plan on it either. Jill has been in it. But she is fun and I am not. I thought I had a photo of that, I will have to look for it.





Bryan and Isaac were playing on Bryan's phone in the club house.

Oh, it is a little closet under the stairs with a little door. Just sticking my head in the club house makes me feel claustrophobic.

My Cute Baby- almost 10 months

Can I just say, I think he is so wonderfully cute. He is really one of the happiest babies I have ever met. That being said, he does cry, he does get cranky but overall he is happy and easy-going even when he misses naps (yes, that is plural) and goes to boring meetings and rides in the car for long periods of time.

Some new-ish things about Ben:

He crawls. He has been my oldest baby to roll over and crawl but he can go up steps, well one step out of the living room.

He LOVES food. He prefers food over a bottle. We are lucky if he finishes 4 ounces at a time these days. He had started trying little pieces of bread and pasta lately and loves that too.

He ADORES his brothers. He is content to play alone while Isaac is still asleep in the morning but his face lights up when he has a brother to entertain him.

He is back to sleeping through the night (thank goodness!).

He still only has 2 bottom teeth (that we know of).

His favorite thing to say is "dada" and occasionally cries for "mama" but that is rare.