Day 176 Girls Camp

Emily and all her gear

Saying goodbye to Lydia

Emily is so excited that the day is finally here for her to go to camp.  She has worked so hard to get her assignments done.  She wrote two awesome scripture story summaries, purchased and made things for the group of girls that she will work with, prepared devotionals, and worked with leaders to prepare food.  She just is so happy about doing all the activities.  This is her last year of girls camp and she wants it to be the best! It will be hard to top all those years of camp but somehow you will have saved the best for last!  Have a great week

Day 175 Super Heroes

Austin already for scout camp 

Willy is ready for high adventure

Heavy packs and many more miles to go

It's Sunday and I had the wonderful opportunity to teach all the youth classes in Sunday School the story of two great super heroes in the Book of Mormon, Alma and Amulek.  Their power being the power of the Priesthood. It saved their lives as the power shook the walls of the prison and killed everyone inside but them.  For the complete story see Alma Chapters 8-16.  I loved teaching the awesome youth of our ward the truth found in the Book of Mormon.

Willy and Austin are ready for camp.  The boys don't leave for camp until tomorrow but they spend the evening and night over at their leader's home because they leave at four in the morning.  I hope they have a wonderful time.  Austin is at a scout camp and Willy is at High Adventure.  The camps are near each other but are they are not together. So they can ride together and meet at the end for a few activities.  It's going to be a fun week for them!  Thanks to all the leaders that take the boys and girls during camp week!  Emily leaves tomorrow for girls camp!

Day 173-174 EEG

Children's National Hospital

Bill, Lydia, and I had to be at Children's National Hospital by 1:45 pm.  We started out at 10:00 am to make  it to our appointment.  Now we had plenty of time to get there.  We stopped and ate at Chipotle near the National Zoo.  We took our time knowing we weren't too far away.  However it is amazing that even following the GPS you can make a couple of wrong turns and you walk in the door of the hospital at 1:47.  Bill dropped Lydia and I off at the door and he finds parking.  After checking in to the Hospital we arrive on the 5th floor room 542 for Lydia's overnight EEG.  The EEG tech arrives and places wire leads all over her head, wraps her head in gauze and puts a crazy cute hat over her wires. Now she looks so much like a court jester.

We had so much fun playing games, coloring, and snacking
It was a slumber party with a cool hat and a tether cord.

The hats are made by volunteers and given to each child. It covers
 up the gauze that makes them look like they are hurt.

Bill returned home and Lydia and I spent the night.  I was there to watch and record any seizures if she were to have any.  The wires records brain waves.  I did not see any seizures but I did notice times when the recorder did, (I assume.) I will find out more next week when I hear from the doctor.  Lydia enjoyed Mac and Cheese, chicken nuggets apple juice and cookies for dinner.  She had pancakes, sausage, cereal and chocolate milk for breakfast.  Getting to the bathroom with a cord for a tether is a challenge but after about the 3rd time we worked out a system that worked pretty well.  Lydia fell asleep about 10:00 after a few tears about not having family prayer with everyone and missing her sisters and brothers.  I watched her as she slept for a few hours and then finally fell asleep after finishing the book Heaven is Here, and working on my Sunday School lesson.

Saturday morning consisted of  having the leads taken off her head, eating and showering fast so we could meet Bill at the loading area.  Lydia did great!   We left the hospital about 9:30am.  Bill had found a faster way to the hospital.  It only took us an hour to get back to the church where Bill had left Austin in charge of filling the baptismal font for a youth baptism.  Emily had found her own way to the stake center for a stake dance practice and Willy had chosen to sleep in and miss the practice.  We all spent the day tired.

Day 172 Service

It seems that the opportunities to serve are not convenient but you know that no matter how frazzled you feel you know in your heart that it is the right thing to do.  Today I received a phone call from a sister asking if I could take her to a doctors appointment in Fairfax.  I didn't hesitate to say yes even though I needed to get Emily to her activity and to get the house and things ready for Lydia's overnight stay at the Hospital on Friday.  I just knew that I needed to help her.  I dropped Emily off early at a friends to get some things ready for camp and arrived at her home at 11:00 am drove her to her appointment.  Which she was so grateful for.  I waited and waited and waited.  As I waited I enjoyed reading a great book "Heaven is Here"  so the time was quiet and uninterrupted, which I don't get much of.  I returned home after dropping her off and retrieving Emily at about 3:00.  Not much time to get other things done before dinner, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve.  She was in so much pain and I was glad that I could help relieve some of her suffering.    I only tell this to say even when life is hectic and your schedule is all messed up and all you want to do are all the tasks on the to do list, remember that when service opportunities arise take it it will bless the person's life and give you a new perspective on your own, and possibly some uninterrupted reading time. 

Day 171 What?

I have stated before in this blog how much I disdain going to doctors and going to car repair shops.  Last night my check engine light came on in my new Camry.  So annoyed.  I guess I just hate having to change my schedule and spend time in a place that smells like oil and grease, but I just can't let it go.  I bought the warranty and I'm going to use it!  I called the car shop at 8:30 am and was able to immediately get in.  They put it on the scope and it had an error number that corresponded to the gas cap not being screwed on tightly.   By the way I have not put gas in it since the car dealer put gas in it so I learned how to put the gas cap on correctly and went on my way.  At least it was no big deal and the guys at the shop were fine to work with in fact he apologized that I had to take time out of my day for it.   

Emily, Willy and Austin go to camp on Monday so today was the day to make sure that they had everything they needed for camp.  We spent time shopping for shorts, rain gear and odds and ends to make their life at camp more bearable.  They are all excited about camp and all three are going to different camps at different places.  So next week Jessica Lydia will be the only kids at home.  Maybe life will slow down for a few days!

Day 170 Swim

Water Water Water!!!! Every kid I know loves going swimming during the summer time!  It's that feeling of cool wet all over that tingles from head to toe! Today Lydia begged to go and I said yes!  she was tickled pink!  We asked if anyone else wanted to go and no one wanted to because they had other plans.  I had already said yes, so we took off and went together.  I loved the one on one time.  She loved jumping to me off of the side of the pool in both the shallow pool and the deep pool.  Floating on her back, running in the whirlpool, and having the buckets drop water on her head were some of her favorite activities.  I loved seeing her eyes light up, feeling the splash of water from her jumps, and letting her tell me what she wanted to do next!  On our way home she asked "Can we go again tomorrow?"

Day 169 Father's Day!

I am so grateful for the wonderful men who have influenced my life.  I am grateful for my father, Bill's father and Bill the father of our children!  It was fun to get up this morning and have the children help me make Bill's favorite breakfast, eggs, hash browns, and pancakes!  Bill opened a few gifts and then off to church!  We had Malory over for lunch. She was great to talk to the girls about college majors and gave some career advice.  We enjoyed calling our fathers and talking to family!