Service

When Hurricane Andrew hit south Florida in 1992 I went down with my parents to help clean up our property that had not sold before our move. Many opportunities for service were presented in the time we were there as well. Lots of opportunities! The devastation was expansive and severe. Hurricane Katrina might have made it look pretty wimpy but it was no less real to those people at that time. Just as the flood victims of the Midwest suffered devastating losses last month.

Recently, Chris was able to spend a Saturday helping a couple of families tear their houses apart down to the frame work so they could start over. Everything in their house had to be gutted. Everything! I was a little jealous because while is hard, back breaking labor there is obvious results for your time and energy. My service, staying home and taking care of the kids so he could go, didn't seem as rewarding.

Don't get me wrong, I love my kids, but I like to do things that give me instant gratification too! Loading the dishwasher rather than unloading it. Eating chocolate. Vacuuming up crumbs rather than doing it because it has been awhile. Doing a physical act of service where you see the results. I love that! It doesn't get much better than instant gratification combined with service!

One of the volunteers is a general contractor. His financial estimates for the work they did equal huge financial savings for the people they were able to help. Cheap demolition, such as they did, could go for $25/hour. The day Chris went there were 70 people from our stake that worked for about 8 hours-that's $14,000! All of the stakes combined, on just that day, probably saved people $30,000. If you include the previous weekend and the hundreds of people who helped over two days it runs the total up to $150,000!

It is just a rough estimate, but how amazing to be part of such amazing service!

Big Prints?

Noah being big for his age has brought a few things to my attention that I wanted to record here:


1. High Expectations. Even though I know exactly how old he is I frequently have to remind myself that he can't do 'that' (whatever it is) yet, he is only two! Some how I have subconscious expectations based on size even if I don't want them!

2. Other People's Expectations. Others who don't know him, from the grocery store to church to the doctor's office (yes I know they have his records but they always double check after looking at him!), think he is older than he is and also have size equivalent expectations.

3. His Expectations. This has become more evident just recently as he leaves parallel play behind. Noah's inclination is to play with the kids who are about his size. This tends to be mostly 4 year olds. They, however, recognize his age limitations better than anyone, and don't really want to play with him. He, in the meantime is passing by more appropriate playmates that would have similar abilities and interests but displace less space.

Rural Rest Stop for Retirees on Roadtrip

My father recently retired and has been enjoying the leisure time that comes with this life change. This past weekend it meant that Grandma Leslie and Grandma Max stopped in for a visit as they were heading to KY to from MI. Some highlights of the weekend included babysitting six kids (including Noah and Ian), helping me fold copies of the ward program, changing diapers, visiting Chris' new lab, sleeping in, Father's Day pie at church (yummy!), Father's Day dinner, holding a screaming baby (more than once!), a quick storm that knocked the power out before our pie was completely done cooking (and stayed out for HOURS), an evening walk, and picking paint chips for the boy's room.

Also, Ian discovered his tongue,

Noah got to 'drive' Grandpa's new van,

and Grandpa even made and gave Ian his bottle while we were out!

I love my parents and look forward to any opportunity to hang out and be together. It was especially fun to have my dad here on Father's Day. Thanks for visiting Mom and Dad! We will take you any time we can get you!

The Road to Recovery

...has been long and hard (or so it seems). Those of you who have walked this path know and told me how it would be, what to expect, but I was still a little unprepared for the reality of it. If only I could have stored up sleep and patience to whip out as needed!

The last week has included a lot of whining, long naps, crying, medicine, Dora, nighttime awakening, medicine, short naps, rocking, baby signing time and chocolate milk. (All naps were his, not ours!)

And, actually, no ice cream or popsicles. He refused to eat either. Oh, and no heart rate raising activities.

It got worse before it got better but we seem to have turned the corner this weekend, though, and we are all breathing and sleeping easier. Thanks again for all the love, support, dinner, prayers, and encouragement.

A Day Late...

So, this is a day late but I figure better late than never! Besides it should be recorded for posterity how AMAZING Chris is as a father! Computer problems kept be from posting this on Father's Day but here it is in all his glory. My mother's post about my father and the men in my family was so well said I have opted for the photo route to honor Chris for Father's Day. There are a lot; I couldn't choose just a few. I won't be offended if you get bored and bail out early! But if these pictures aren't enough and you want to see more amazing dad be sure to check out my brother-in-law's daddy dearest pictures-they are great!

Get Your Grow On

In May just after we planted it and then a few days ago. The first four rows are carrots; they came up first and best. The onions have been slower to appear and slight accident with a hoe depleted their numbers.

Holy Tomato Plants Batman!

A handsome little green pepper and a shy little jalepeno

We watched our garden faithfully without much change. Then, we had a huge storm, lost our power, got lots of rain and the next day it seemed that everything had got their grow on! Most of you probably aren't terribly interested but as novice gardeners we were super excited when things actually started sprouting.

At A Glance

Ian at 4 month and Noah at 5 months. They must be brothers!

The Deed is Done

The day seemed to start ok, even if it was a little early. Like 5:00am. The ambulatory surgery entrance was right where they told us and we were early enough to get a parking spot. One of the other ENTs was sick that day and his three surgery appointments had to be canceled as they arrived. We were glad that ours wasn't. A kind nurse took Noah and Chris to be weighed and measured (Noah not Chris:). I came back with Ian just before Chris successfully got Noah into the hospital gown. They gave him and extra to put on backwards as a robe, as if modesty was an issue.

I wouldn't have thought so for Noah, but apparently he wanted everything to be covered!

Still blissfully unaware of the trials to come Noah 'drove' his car to the operating room where Chris had to leave him at the door. They used a gas mask to put him to sleep before inserting the iv catheter and administering the anesthetic. The surgery was quick; it seemed that no sooner had we be been told it started than the doctor was there telling us how it went. Things had gone well with the removal of the tonsils and the adenoid pads but he would like to keep Noah over night.

He spent some time in recovery coming out of the anesthetic. We met him in his room in the pediatric unit. He was groggy and out of it but clearly uncomfortable. You could tell that he really didn't want to move his mouth, jaw or throat at all holding it all as still as possible. His saliva was very viscous and would pool in his mouth before drooling out the corners since he wouldn't swallow it. He sat with Chris and zoned out to Dora until the nurse had to take care of business.

She had to give his pain meds orally and also ended up using the syringe to get some water down him too. This was a fight every time with wails of pain and lots of tears. This was the only picture I could bring myself to take of his misery and she was just taking his blood pressure!

Surprisingly to me, I was close to tears most of the day and, unsurprisingly, am eternally grateful that Chris was able to be the strong one in this situation. It about tears my heart out to see my baby so pitiful and crying with the pain and it seemed like that happened a lot. The reality though, is that there were some ok, maybe even good, moments in the day thanks to the drugs.

Feeding Daddy his pudding and making his first efforts at speech.

Eventually, making it to the playroom for some one handed play.
Check out the trappings on that right hand!

And even getting to take some toys back to his room.

I came home that evening feeling pretty disheartened, mostly from his moments of misery. Later, Chris called and I could hardly hear him for all the babbling and talking that Noah was doing, 'high as a kite', according to Chris after getting another dose of Lortab. He sounded pretty chipper and excited and I was heartened. Hearing him like that was surely an answer to prayers. Thank you guys for that!

Home again and happy to be in his own bed.

While the struggles of recovery are not over the Lord is aware and has made it evident to us as we receive much love, support and service from friends and family. Thanks.

Noah is His Father's Son...

Noah is showing off his band-aid that he got when they drew blood at his pre-op appointment. I made Chris come because anyone who knows me knows that I don't really do well with blood or needles. Although I do much better now there will always be the story of how I kicked a doctor (it must run in the family my sister kicked his nurse/wife the same day) and the story of when I passed out at the clinic on my mission, both involving needles. But we won't get into that. This is really about how Noah is his father's son. I think I was subconsciously waiting for some yelling or crying to come from the back but there was nary a peep. When they returned Chris reported that he didn't even cry. No flinching, pulling away, whining or crying. He sat calmly on Chris' lap and watched them draw his blood. When he was finished he got a Nascar band aid over the gauze, a Lofty the crane sticker (just visible on his shirt) and a couple of suckers from mom and dad for doing so well.

Posting about this picture is also supposed to be cathartic for me. That's what Chris told me. A few days ago we cut Noah's hair. Chris was all for the tennis ball look because, ultimately, he is his mother's son too. He gets so hot, so quickly if the weather is even remotely warm (just like me). Hot equals miserable and cranky (just like me). And it takes him awhile to cool down (just like me). Anyway, the cut he ended up with I hate! It seems to be a little bit longer than a tennis ball, but really it does him no favors in the style department. It is mostly my fault since I was doing the clipping my only defense being that I having been learning haircutting on Noah as he grows. My only consolation (beyond the fact that it really does help him stay cooler) is that same reason I chose to try cutting Noah's hair in the first place-he is young and doesn't care what he looks like!

First Time For Everything

First time riding in a bike stroller.

First family bike ride (that includes children).

First time Ian wears a hat.
First picture of the boys together, ever!