Memorial Day Weekend

We had a good Memorial Day Weekend. It was really rainy. Sometimes that just doesn't seem fair. The weekend before, I had to work but it was 80 degrees outside. This last weekend, I had off but it was cool and super wet. So ladies and gentlemen, don't worry. I work this weekend, so it should be nice!!!

We took flowers to the Rexburg Cemetery for Jeff cousin who passed away in 1995 due to cancer. Jeff's aunt lives in Minnesota and so that is something we do every year. She orders the flowers and we pick them up and and take them to the cemetery. It's not a big deal at all because it presents the opportunity to explain to the kids what Memorial Day is all about. On Sunday, we went to the Parker Cemetery to visit some more family markers there.

Of course on Monday, more rain, which made it really hard to be able to play. So I took the kids to the local entertainment hub in Rexburg, (Yes, we do have one) and we went bowling. I think it was their first time bowling. They had so much fun. (Sorry to report, I forgot my camera. There would have been great pictures.) Dylan came out champion with 97, Taylor a close second with 90, Jared scored an amazing third with 80, and Melissa in last place with a disappointing 67. The kids had the bumpers and mom didn't. I hadn't bowled since before I met Jeff. We still all had a great time. It was so funny to see the kids jump up and down with their success and high five each other and give each other hugs. Jared would sit down next to the fowl line and have the ball between his legs and push the ball then quickly stand up and clap, yelling "ball, ball."

After bowling we went to Broulims and got some 'Take-n-Bake' pizzas and some ice cream and continued the party at home.

Remembering.....

I know that 3 posts in one day might be a little much. But I've been working the last couple of nights and I wanted to catch up a little bit and share with you some thoughts. Monday May 19th, in addition to going to the zoo was also a little milestone for me. Three years ago May 19th 2005, Dylan had his first craniotomy, brain surgery. He was of course 3 years old. I say first only because he has had two. The second came March 17, 2006. I've been thinking about that and the difficulty that as parents, the decisions we make on behalf of our kids, as well as how much the human body can endure. It is quite remarkable and can withstand more that I had previously given thought to.

The first surgery was due to a abnormal growth in the right temporal lobe of his brain that we found due to a speech delay. During that procedure, his amygdala was removed(which affects emotion and behavior) and the frontal part of his hipocampus was removed (which affects memory and retention). Tough blow to a 3 year old. Results showed that he had a glylialcytoma, a benign tumor.

(That big C is where his scar is. His hair grows over it now.)

The second surgery was due to fluid filled membrane that was increasing in size at an alarming rate, in the same place as the first surgery. Because of his MRI's there was also some question about some cancerous tissue growth as well. I'll never forget the morning of his second surgery, talking with his neurosurgeon, Dr. Kestle at Primary Children's Medical Center in SLC, about the need to consult an oncologist when pathology came back. Jeff turned to me and asked what an oncologist was. It's the cancer doctor, I told him. For all the gratitude in the world his pathology came back clear. But this 2nd surgery came exactly 3 weeks before Jared was born. I was as big as I've ever been and my ankles were the size of grapefruit. But you do what you have to do, because, what else are you going to do?

Today he is doing good. We still face issues about his impulsive behavior and his lapse of memory, but we are so truly grateful for what we've learned and what Dylan continues to teach us every day. We still take an annual trip to Primary Children's for an MRI, check-ups, and we try to play too so it not all about inflicting more torture, or about the 'mean doctors.'

Tauphus Park & Zoo....

Monday, May 19th, Dylan and all of the kindergarten went on a field trip to Tauphus Park and the Zoo there. Hoping to be a good mom, I took my other kids as well and we all went. I really hope that they all had a good time although I was too busy trying not to lose Jared. He has also figured out how to undo the buckle on his stroller, allow him easy access to wherever he wants to go.

After we saw the animals, we went to redeem our ride tickets on the Merry-Go-Round.

Then, we went into some shade of the trees and ate lunch. Following lunch we went to the nearby playground and played some more.

Miraculasly, I remembered the sunscreen and we all came away fairly unscathed. I hope that my kids will not only remember the feeding of the penguins or the loud monkeys, the merry-go-round or the non-stop energy of all those around us, but I hope they remember that we went and did, accomplished and that their mom was there.

Graduation

Wednesday, May 21st, Taylor graduated from Mrs. Tammies Little Preschool. She was so cute and did a great job. In turn, they were supposed to go to the microphone and say their name, how old they were and recite a nursery rhyme they had memorized. Now when Taylor did this last year, she got up the microphone and forgot her name. This year, she flew thru her part with flying colors. Her nursery rhyme was "Rub-a-dub-dub." She was so happy and was so cute to

watch.

Happy Birthday Taylor!!!

Yesterday was Taylors birthday. She explained she wasn't really 5 until she blew out the candles on her cake. I tried to explain that since she was born at 4:44 AM, she turned 5 in her sleep. Of course, being 4-5, she was right and thus loudly proclaimed the need for her birthday cake ASAP. Her birthday cake was a special order ice cream cake with Cinderella on it (as one of her presents) and would not be done until 5PM. But she stuck it out and endured like a trooper. The party began with pizza, followed by the cake/ice cream and was quickly followed by presents. I think she was pretty happy with the day overall. As usual, it ended all too soon, and I hurried and put them before I had to be to work at 10PM.

With all this talk about Taylor, I may have neglegted the fact that I have 3 kids. My oldest is Dylan. He is 6 years old and wrapping up his time in kindergaten. He is super affectionate and loves to be social. He loves being outdoors and has a great time with his sister & brother. Of course Taylor is 5, headed to kindergarten this fall, and in the middle. Jared is our baby. He just turned 2 a month ago. He is the one for which I cannot stop. I feel the constant need to follow him around in order to prevent a disaster. Ya' know those knobs that you put over the door knobs to keep kids out, he has that figured out. Thus, no room in the house is safe from Jareds terror. He has a bit of a speech delay, but that is probably because all he hears me say is "Jared" and "No!!"

My fourth kid(thats what he calls himself) is my husband. Jeff and I have been married for 8 years. He is currently working at Erickson Pontiac, GMC, a new and used car dealership here in town. He really likes it. Especially the part where he can test drive something different all the time by what he drives home and back to work. He loves animals. Several animals have adopted us since we moved to this neighborhood. (We bought our first house and moved in, in Dec.)

I appreciate your continued patience as I figure out this blogging stuff and continue to add to and update this page.

Just getting started.....

Since I learned about blogging, and go thru the blogs of those I know, I knew that some day I to would join. I have been hesitant however, feeling that I would have nothing exciting or of worth to say that others would have interest in. I guess we'll just see.

I have a 5 year old daughter, Taylor. (Her birthday is tomorrow, then she'll be 5) She says the funniest stuff, a lot of which I've heard just today. It would really be sad if no one else could enjoy the quirks of her growing mind. Maybe its just me, just because I'm her mom, but I will journal it here while I can remember it and hopefully others will enjoy it as well.

Taylor:"Mom, You know, when you get killed, your killed."

Me:"You're right Taylor."

Taylor:"But if your not killed, then the aliens will come and patch you up."

Me:"Do you mean the ambulance?"

Taylor:"Is that the van with the loud noise and the flashing lights?"

Me:"Yes"

Taylor:"Yeah, that's it, the ambulance."

The following takes place about 30 minutes later while I'm trimming the fat off of the chicken, before I throw it in the freezer.

Taylor:"We don't want that chicken fat do we mom."

Me:"Nope, we don't."

Taylor:"If we eat the chicken fat then we will get fat.....(pause) then we'll look like daddy. (Sorry Jeff)

Me:(Trying to be tightlipped and not laugh out loud)

Taylor:"Who will eat it?"

Me:"Probably the cats"

Taylor:"Will the cats look like daddy?"

Me:"No."

This is on top of being called the meanest mommy in the whole world, being told that she hates me, that I'm a "meany head" and being uninvited to her birthday party. All of which I've heard since she got up this morning.

Perhaps my life in and of itself doesn't seem that 'exciting' but those around me (my kids especially) make the ride I'm on very entertaining.