2/15/2013 Presidents Day Weekend

The kids were excited to get out ot school early today, for an early start to Presidents Day weekend. They had half day of school today, the weekend, and no school on Monday. Yay! Hope we can do some fun things!

2/14/2013 Valentines Day

The kids had a really good Valentines Day. The day before... they made sugar cookies and went around and heart attacked some neighbors. We had fun making some fun treats this year... our favorite was chocolate covered marshmallows on a stick with sprinkles. They turned out to be a big hit! We had a pink pancake breakfast and each of the kids had fun doing their valentines parties at school (and preschool). Samantha got a pair of earings.... so cute! We had heart shaped pizza for dinner and a special sugar cookie for each of the kids from Grandma Chipman. It was a great day for the kids! :)

2/13/2013 A year ago today...

I will have to post pictures tomorrow.... got a lot of good ones today. I was realizing towards the end of the day, what a contrast this day was to the same day a year ago. I had been up visiting mom, and while packing the car, and in a hurry to get in an out of the snow that had just started to pour down, I ran right into the back hatch of our SUV, and put a dent in the top layer of my skull, giving me a massive concussion.... that would end up taking months to heal from. I was in a fog for the next several days especially.... and at times the healing seemed so slow... but the body is an amazing thing, and now a year later, (other than a little indent on top of my head.. ha ha) everything is healed and well as it should be. It reminded me of my similar circumstance that I am in with health. It may be a slow process, but the body has an amazing power for healing and I am so grateful for that. It helps me to have an even greater appreciation for the atonement and its ability to heal us in all areas of our life.
Today was such a good day! I don't know if it was one of those "blessing" days, or if it was one of those "turn the corner" days.... but overall I felt better than I have felt in months, and was able to help the kids with their school projects, valentines preparations, a girls camp activity, and just general housekeeping, which felt so nice to do!!! I did the dishes while Dad Bret slept, and it felt so nice to be doing that, since he has done that so many times for me. :) I may have done a little too much for one day in all my excitment of feeling well. I am suppose to follow a 50% rule... I average out what would be a normal amount of activities and tasks to accomplish for one day, and then I cut it down to 50%. It just felt sooo good to actually feel good though... that I am afraid I didn't stick with the rule well, and did end up with a very intense lung flare-up this evening, that I think we have finally gotten settled down so I can sleep. I will do better tomorrow. :) Its hard, because I never know how many "good days" in a row I might get.... sometimes its just one... and so on those days, I just want to get done all I can. But I am going to really work at pacing myself. It will be better in the long run! I will have to post more about todays activities with some photos tomorrow.... it really was a wonderful day, and the kids had such a good day too. I loved my time with them. So much!

2/12/2013 3 weeks into treatment....

I have never let anyone take my picture before when I have been sick. I feel awful and crummy, and then in ways I feel bad, because I have these large gaps of time with no photos. Sometimes months at a time. So, I decided that this time will be a journey. I may not look as well as I would like, but hopefully with treatment, I will contiue to improve and be able to see the progress. I can realize along the way, that no matter how I feel or look, I can still make good memories, and make each day something special.

I spent time with Tyler in her room today.... she "cooked" for me, with her kitchen set, and we listened to primary songs, and she danced for me, and we read together on her bed and looked out the window. It was nice to feel well enough to be able to enjoy that time with her! I am now 3 weeks into my treatments... I think we have known that this was coming for quite some time, but did not realize when I got sick this time that it would hit so hard. I have known that the treatments would be somewhat overwhelming.... everything from shots, to breathing treatments, once a month treatments, once a week treatments, eye care treatments, oral care treatments and supplements, daily physical therapy, and a daily pill count of 34 pills which all have to be divided and grouped so they can be taken at the correct times. I have met with a nutritionist to try to tackled that end of it, and right now it feels like a full time job!! But the goal is, that it will be worth it and hopefully put this disease into remission. I look at myself in the mirror, and I think to myself... "Thats not me!" Inside I feel young, and well, and feel I have great mountains to climb... but when I look in the mirror, I realize I need to take time to gain some strength. I am learning through this process though, and I really appreciate the lessons I am learning. They would be difficult to learn any other way. I know we are given the trials we are given in our lives for a reason, and we are told to be greatful for them... this past few weeks, as I have had some time to ponder and reflect, I realize just how much I have to be greatful for! And the little daily moments in life that mean so much more too! Today I got to spend the morning with my beautiful daughter, and just really feel her sweet spirit, and that was such a great experience. If I had I been well, I may have been too busy tidying the house, or running errands, or just doing the daily tasks, to have noticed how special that time really is. And to realize that she loves me just for me.... whether I am a sick mommy or well. She loves me the same. :)

1/11/2013 Grandma Yates Birthday, Cupcakes, Dance, and Valentine Boxes

What a busy and great day. We started the day off by calling mom for her birthday. It was so fun to talk with her, and to realize the strength that she is in my life. !! I was able to make it to the post office with a package sent up to home in Idaho..... felt like a huge milestone to make it to the post office! Yay! I am starting to have some amount of normal life again, even if I still tire easily. Samantha had a friend over afterschool, and they enjoyed spending some time at Walmart getting ingredients to make a fun Valentine treat (Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting... yum!), Tyler was content to try on all her dance outfits and dance around the house for all of us! I don't have a picture... but Tanner is really coming along with his reading. He is starting to really pick out some big words and is is enjoying books more and more. One of his favorite things is when Bretty reads him chapter books at bedtime. Its a fun thing that they do together. Dad and Bret stayed up late working on Brets Valentine Box for school. I will have to post a picture when the project is completed.... its going to be great. He is making a castle with a drawstring bridge, so that the cards he recieves can be sent in through the bridge into the castle. He sure has a mind of a creativity and some real artistic talent!! We sang songs for family home evening... which turned out really nice. We have a favorite right now... its from the new primary childrens CD we recieved... 1 Nephi 3:7 I Will Go And Do. Its a beautiful song. I love hearing the kids sing it, and singing it together as a family. It feels our home with the Spirit, and is a great way to end the day!

1/10/2013 Inspirations and Faith

We had a great ward conference today. Very uplifting and encouraging. It was interesting to hear our Bishop speak, as he is currently recovering from knee replacement surgery and has not been feeling well. I had to laugh and cry at the same time when he said... "Now I may not be out running marathons with Sister Chipman... but I am happy to be able to walk again!"... I will be happy to have the stamina to both walk and run again. We were able to meet with the Bishop later in the day, and it gave a me a lot of courage, hope and confidence, that things will once again be well in time. It may take time, patience, and endurance... but I know that as I believe, obey and endure... my life will be blessed, and that gives me a lot of hope!

1/9/2013 Camp Announcement Fun

Today we had fun getting ready for our activity to announce the theme for our Young Women's Camp this year. I think it is going to be a lot of fun. We have such great girls and I am so excited to be a part of it, and to be sharing this experience with Samantha!! She is such a great helper!

2/8/2013 Tylers Preschool Homework

Tyler loves doing her homework from preschool! She practices reading and colors her workbook pages. She is such a little dollie, and I love getting to have her at home!! :)

2/7/2013 Visiting Pearl with truffles!

 

Had a great visit with Pearl today! Sure love that lady!! Suzanne and I brought her some chocolate oreo truffles...... so good! Greatful for such great friends! :)

2/6/2013 Lauries Birthday

February is the month of birthdays in our family! Lots of cake! Fun! I just wish I could be closer to all the birthday festivities.... for now, I have to be satisfied to celebrate a virtual online birthday! I have always loved that her and Davids birthday are just a day a part. They are so close in ways, and I think that the timing of him coming to our family was more than coincidence. I love having another birthday to celebrate... another life to look back on and draw good memories from. :) 

2/5/2013 Happy Birthday Little Brother

(From my Facebook Post) To the little brother that constantly gives me strength! I love you!  Tomorrow will be my "little brothers" 30th birthday. He lives a life of love, courage and strength. He has endured many difficulties in his short life.... but his love for others and his amazing spirit can be felt and uplifts me more than I can express gratitude for! I love you little brother, and I hope you have a wonderful birthday!!!

2/4/2013 Flowers :)

This flower opened up so beautifully today! So pretty. Bret brought me flowers about a week ago, and I have loved seeing the different stages of each of them opening and blossoming. This one on the top is my favorite! :)

2/3/2013 Sunday Dinner and Mormon Messages

We had a good evening after church with a great meal from Grandma Chipman! Then we  piled everyone onto our big bed, and watched Mormon Messages together, and finsihed off with some pumpkin pie. What a great Sunday.

GROUNDHOG DAY!! :)

YAY!!The groundhog is predicting an early spring!!! That sounds great to me! :) Its been a cold winter. I am ready for sunshine!! :)

2/2/2013 Samanthas New Violin

I love having music in our home. Samantha was able to use some money she has saved up towards the purchase of a new violin and I just love listening to her play!! Tyler is coming along with her violin as well, and both of the boys are excited to start praticing on Samanthas old violin. We always had music in our home growing up, and the older the kids get, and the more involved they get in music, it just brings so much peace and happiness into our home! I love it!

2/1/13 Still Sick :(

So, I have still been really sick! Hopefully a few months from now, I can get up some new pictures that look better and healthier. :)