Challenging all moms!

In the wake of the coming holidays I am putting a challenge out to all the women I know out there that do so much for their families, spouses, Children and various other activities... Take some time for yourself! I have been so busy this last months that I noticed I had not taken a shower for longer than 5 minutes. I had not done my hair or make-up all month (unless you count a ponytail). My nails were nice and long and healthy for the first time in years but they were not painted. I know these sound like such little things but when I took a minute to do it, It made me feel better.
I went to do the paper-route Trent does, and took a friend Saturday night, the papers were not there yet so on a whim my friend Genesha and I decided to see if we could catch the last showing of the night of Twilight. We thought for sure it would be sold out, but decided with all the students leaving for the week, due to the holidays we might get lucky... we did! The theater was about half full.
It was a good movie, it had some funny parts, but it was a good reminder that this movie was for adolescents and not necessarily adults. It was fun to see how they all played their parts and I really liked who they cast for the characters.
I did however have two complaints and it was not due to the movie.. It was common movie edict. It was a late showing 9:40 and there was a two year old that was there with his mom. He was tired and kept crying, she would not take him out and kept telling him to "shut up" I was very frustrated with how she was treating her son and also how she would not take him out. true.. I try very hard not to be critical of parenting styles.. but get a sitter! Second, I understand this was a chick flick but, for those men that we kind enough to go... be polite. One guy there talked on his phone for a good 20 minutes right behind us.. after several glares from me and other watchers he finally hung up. I mean really, leave the theater to talk on the phone!
all in all a good break and something fun I did with a friend. Trent was more than happy to be home with the children playing on the computer.
With all the hussle and bussle of the season it is so easy to forget what we, as women need. There is so much focus put elsewhere. so while the turkey is cooking, lock the bathroom door and take a long shower, do your hair and make-up and brush your teeth! You deserve it!

woohoo!

I normally do not shop at this odd store here in town.. they carry everything from hunting gear, winter gear to kitchen appliances.. It is the worlds most interesting store called Tri-State. So I got an impression to go and look at the boots that they might carry... at last, I found some goods boots more in my price range, who would have thought to go there, they are usually over priced on most things! Hooray! they had Emeline's and Micah's size... I am looking into finding boots for Casie now and I will be set. thank heaven for those small promptings!
We are doing fine otherwise, Trent had a head cold and decided he should share it with me... Hannah, somewhere in the mix pick it up as well. so far it is just really stuffy noses and lots of nose wiping! Her breathing has remained good and I have not needed to treat beyond a stuffy nose. I hope we are all doing great in the next few days so that we can enjoy Thanksgiving week! I am so excited for lots of turkey and leftovers....

Price Check on boots

The Children have grown so much this last year that I have need to purchase new sizes of winter clothing. I have found some great deal and for the most part the two younger girls are doing well with hand me downs. Our boots however did not fair well and I find myself buy three pairs of boots. After looking at several of the local stores including Goodwill I have come up empty. I am not sure what happened to the boot industry but the cost of boots are ridiculous! For the piece-of-garbage-walmart-payless-brand that last half of the winter with my children they are 17- 20 dollars. of course the nicer boots are 30 dollars and up. I remember buying boots and I promise It was not that much last year... So I am putting a shout out for anyone that can find me a good deal on boots or have some laying around that are in decent shape..ie no holes.. fairly sturdy.
I am not asking for anyone to buy them for me... I will buy them. But any good ideas or a great deal that I can pay you back for would be awesome.. for some reason my children are very hard on shoes so the sturdier the better. Shoe sizes are boy 2-3youth, girl 13-1, girl 9-10. Thank you. I am so limited here in Moscow I am hoping this may help lower the blow to the wallet.
We will be in Idaho Falls for Christmas, and usually the big snow fall is there after.. cross my fingers...
thank you!

Building Forts

Emeline's master piece

Hey

I think I have an engineer on my hands :)

gotta copy BIG sister

I remember as a child building amazing forts that my mother was nice enough to leave up for a few days. I do not have nearly enough space to allow it to stay up for too long but none the less I have taught my children how to build them. they had a great time and it kept them occupied while it has been very rainy and gross outside!

oops! forgot Halloween!

Our sick little Hannah.. She did not get to go.. too sick!

A witch, an army guy and a Vampire

So I just realized that I did not post Halloween Pictures. It was a crazy day in this house with Hannah still being sick. A costume that I had bought a month earlier did not fit Cassie any longer and so we improvised with clothing on hand. I thought it was not half bad.. way to use Christmas dresses from last year! We did not go far because of the rain.. but we had Chilli at home waiting for us to warm us back up!

Keeping the link

So I am going to keep the link to Hannah's website. I think I will post to it from time to time just about Hannah mostly. I have friends that we made from the NICU in Spokane and from the Ronald McDonald house that only know that one. I also belong to some support groups that I have mentioned and have sent a few people to it to see the road, and that it does get better!

Preemies

I have recently joined several preemie support groups, and there are a lot of them. I am baffled every time on how many babies are born early (36weeks or sooner). I am currently praying for a little girl who was born at 1.1 pound, she is 4 months old now and just had major open heart surgery to correct a problem. She has been such a strong little girl and pull through the surgery with amazing colors!!! The family is not LDS but amazingly dedicated Christens and through all that they have endure.. 100% show thanks to God. I love that. I love that no matter what the religion that God matters! They have such amazing faith and trust when it comes to their little girl. Trent and I have been so blessed with Hannah! Our family is better for having her. I am so amazed with how well she does every day. I can not believe sometimes that she came into this world so small. We have these little hiccups in our life and I forget how little it all is in the mix of this life. There is a beautiful song called "So Small" sung By Carrie Underwood. I listen to it and just think about Hannah and last summer. This was just a grain of sand.
I think about all the Love and support our family received. I think about all the people that prayed for our little girl. I think about the wonderful, amazing nurses that loved my daughter and took such wonderful care of her. The awesome Doctors and specialists that took tender care after her and helped her to stay on this earth. I am absolutely thrilled that my sister in law, Traci is going to be a NICU nurse. I am so touched that she is willing to do such a hard, and I do mean hard job. It can be joyous one day in there and so sorrowful the next. I know she will be strong enough to do it.
I also have some friends who's babies have not been able to handle this life and were taken back to heaven. One that I have meet recently through one of the support groups just lost her baby. my heart goes out to her and her husband this is the 2nd baby they have lost. I am so grateful that we got to keep our little Hannah, but new that it was by the grace of God and her will to live that she is with us.

Finding Ground

Do you ever feel like you are just trying to find some sort of ground in your home. A piece of the house that is clean and clear of mess and toys. That was once my bedroom, but, something happened and it has become the "I-do-not-know-where-it-goes-so-put-it-in-mom-&-dad's-room" place. It drives me nuts. I like having a clean and orderly home. I have been teased by some of my friends saying I have OCD.. Trent says I have CDO.. because it has to be in the right order. Our home has taken a turn for the worse the last week since we have had the stomach flu and then Hannah in the hospital and now I have to recover. I have been cleaning for what feels like days and I still feel like there is so much to do. I guess one room at a time.. but my bedroom is the first to be fixed!
We are all doing well and looking pretty healthy at this point. I hope to see Hannah's chubby cheeks return soon!
I am doing a homemade sort of Christmas for the kids from me and Trent this year... meaning I make it and Trent gets to have his name on it. I am making dresses for the girls and PJ's for the family. I just hope I can get it all done before Christmas!

Thank you for your prayers!

Hannah came home this evening. She is still very weak and tired. She has stopped vomiting at this point and we hope it stays that way. Now to get her back to happy Hannah again! Thank you so much for all the prayers, I know they were heard!

Hannah is in the hospital

After a 5 day fight with the stomach flu Hannah went into the hospital for re-hydration on Monday morning. we were hopeful that it would just be for the day, but unfortunately it has become several. She is still in the hospital due to the fact that she is still barfing and we would had to have to re admit her latter if she were to be sent home still sick. I ask for all your prays tonight that Hannah can come home soon!!!

Hannah

Cassie

Emeline

Micah

What cute kids we have!

So I am thinking of switching our family over to blog spot. I am trying it out for now. I kind of want to get away from What our family went through last year with Hannah, although we love here and are so happy she is hear with us, I go to the website and see the old picture and want to move on from it. We are here and now. 

We currently live in moscow where Trent works for the University of Idaho IBEST program as a Computer Scientist. I am a Mother. I take care of our home and our family. Micah is in the 2nd grade, Emeline is in the 1st grade, Cassie is my entertainment and comic relief during the day and Hannah is curious and into everything she can get into.