Lydia gets Tubes.

Very late last night as the rain turned to falling ice droplets I worried about the short drive to the surgery center. Sleep didn't come to me much because of the upcoming advents of the new day. Bill arrived home from work about 1:30am. (He's working a modified shift this week 12-12). At 4:30 we checked the internet to see if school would be in session it was closed due to the ice. That means good news for Bill no seminary. By 5:30 I was showered and dressed, nervous anxious and excited about the surgery.


My mind went back to the day we took Austin in at just under three years old for this same procedure and how much it changed his world from the muffled sounds of voices, to suddenly being able to hear everything too loudly. For a year or so he covered his ears to any slightly loud sound, but how his speech and responses improved. It made all the difference to me knowing he could now hear correctly his brain just had to make some adjustments.


Lydia's hearing is better than Austins was at 3 years old. The tubes will help her make sounds more clear. She has been hearing you like she always has water in her ears after a bath. We will see with a little more time if this will help with her speech problems. She has speech class every other day at school which has been helping, but with clear hearing she will probably correct her speech faster.

One of the highlights for me was that I got to go into the surgery room and hold her hand as the anesthesioligist administered the sleeping medication. I even got to give her a kiss before I left the room. Lydia was so brave and so relaxed. She did everything that was asked of her. I met her in the hall after her surgery. On the way to the recovery room she was wide awake and ready to get on with the day. Lucy the nurse gave her a bright red popsicle and I helped her get back into her tinkerbell pajamas for her ride home.


Lydia didn't like the idea that she would have to miss a day of school for the surgery, but I guess we can be glad that the weather cooperated so that she wouldn't even miss one day. She loves going to school, her teachers, her friends and learning new things. I'm so glad she didn't have to miss any of that even for something so important as ear surgery.

Maddie Mondays

Every day Lydia asks how many more days until Maddie comes. We go through the days of the week counting the number of days until Monday. It's amazing that no matter what we do during each day, she always wants to know how many more days. Today was the day to hear the little pitter patter of tiny feet again. It's amazing that each of the kids the minute they walk in the door from school ask where's Maddie? I want to hold her. I've seen many tender moments as she has recieved hugs or were held by each of the children even the boys. She was a tiny baby when she first came and today she walks every where and doesn't care so much to be held. Today she loved sitting in the toy box, eating finger foods, and walking every where and grabbing everything at her level. After the day was done we sent her home exhausted from all of the attention. We look forward to her return next week.

We love our home teachers!!

Many times I have been grateful for our monthly visits from our home teachers but last night as we gathered the family around the kitchen table with our home teachers, I felt it again. Each month Brother Ford and Brother King have visited us faithfully for close to 4 years. Brother Ford brought apple pie tonight and it was delicious. We ate pie as Brother Ford gave us a message about preparing for and serving missions. I'm sure that the feeling of gratitude was for the message and the visit but it was more than that. It was about all the birthday cards we have recieved. How each of the kids look forward to them as their special day approaches. The feeling was about how we have taken turns watching each others yards and homes as we've gone on vacations. It was about knowing that we have someone we can turn to when we need help. It's their concern and advice, the help, the examples, the visit month after month, yes and even the pie. Thank you

Lazy Saturday

There's a primary song that states Saturday is a special day it's the day we get ready for Sunday!!! Well at this house yesterday was relax day. We got up late due to a late night. I think the last child got up at 10:00. We usually are more productive but I guess we all just needed a day to chill. To not feel the stress of school, work, and me nagging to get everything clean. Thank heaven we have Martin Luther King JR. day to do all that cleaning. The girls and Willy went to the It's a new year program that introduces the Young Men and Young Women's theme for the year, which is the 13th Article of Faith. The girls stayed for the dance which they love. Jessica hasn't missed a dance since she turned 14. They just love to socialize with the other youth in the stake. It's great to have a laid back Saturday, at least once in a long long while.

Go girls go!!!!

Up and down the court!!! Shots hitting the glass and the rim,not going in. Frantic passes being picked up by the the other team. Scurrying feet. Hustle but no luck!! Each girl giving what she had!!! Offence to defence back and forth, back and forth. The crowds painful sighs as the ball misses the basket over and over again. At last a loud hurrah from our crowd as a basket is made soon the buzzer rings the game is done. The girls leave in a tone of try again see ya next time.

Emily gives of herself.

A green and white circular sticker adorns Emily's bright red shirt it reads I make a difference. American red cross #33. Emily has always wanted to change the world. I guess she found a way to do that today. She gave blood for the first time at the high school blood drive! They told her she had good blood and gave her a free white T shirt. Good Job Emily!!!!

Jessica's big day

Jessica and I had a first in our lives together, we went to court. According to the judge there were a few reasons for car accidents: emotions, drugs and alcohol, and fatigue. He encouraged the kids to be courteous drivers. He was very straight forward that it is against the law to drive and be on the cell phone. Driving is a privilege not a right and it can be revoked by a parent. Jessica is a great driver and we are excited for her to drive with her new license. I'm sure that I won't be taking away her privileges any time soon because she is one great kid!!!!!! Now she is a license carrying driver. Watch out Manassas here she comes. She'll be doing all my errands now!!!