Flapjacks

We celebrated National Pancake Day yesterday by having pancakes for dinner. Not only that, Cooper measured, mixed, poured, and flipped these pancakes, almost entirely on his own. They were quite delicious. He was terribly pleased.

About the Lion

I have been trying for years to get Peter to read The Chronicles of Narnia. I thought the fact that his name came from that book series would have been enough, but no. Finally this year he had to read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for school.

And suddenly he can't stop talking about it.

We told me that he wished he could tell the kids at school about all the things he discovered while reading. He knew that Aslan was a type for Christ, but he hadn't realized the significance of the stone table scene from simply watching the movie. He was bubbling with excitement while he explained so many deep and important subjects he found in the book that can't really be discussed in school.

I love seeing my kids excited about books that we both love.

A Day With Doctors

Since I last wrote about the illness at our house, Bryan, Sophie, and I have joined Peter. Bryan went to the doctor on Friday and had his case of the flu confirmed then. I saw my OB on Friday as well and was given a prophylactic dose of Tamiflu. On Saturday I switched over from one dose per day to two because I was showing symptoms of the flu. The same day, Sophie put herself down for a nap, something she hasn't done in ages, then ran a fever and said it hurt when she danced around the house.

Sophie spent many hours that night awake, coughing, and running a high fever. She would wake up crying and saying that she couldn't breathe. That meant Bryan and I spent many hours awake as well. Bryan held her upright from 4AM on and sang to calm her down whenever her coughing became too aggressive.

We had already gotten substitutes for our callings for church on Sunday so as not to spread our germs. So instead of heading to church when we woke up, Sophie and I went to urgent care. When we arrived she was running a fever of 103.8. They treated her with steroids, acetaminophen, and a breathing treatment. They also suggested that we take her to the ER to be evaluated because she was breathing about fifty times per minute.

Instead of going straight to the ER, we went home to touch base there and so I could nap before heading back out. Sophie's fever went down and she perked up considerably, but we decided to take her in anyway.

The ER was a busy place.

The doctor sent us home after a short evaluation with a prescription of more steroids for her breathing. She enjoyed sitting on the large exam bed and watching cartoons while we waited.

She slept better last night and napped again today. Peter is nearly better and I think he'll go to school tomorrow. Bryan and I bounce between feeling awful and exhausted and kind of okay. We both napped today too.

So far, Cooper, Phoebe, and my Grandma are still healthy. We're praying they stay that way.

Dream a Little Dream

"I close my eyes, and then magic happens!" -Sophie, describing what happens when she dreams.

A Day of Spring in February

Keeping Track for the CDC

So, remember that Peter was sick but seemed to be recovering? Well, this morning his cough was really bad. I decided to take him in to the doctor, just in case.

Good news: Peter does not have strep or pneumonia.

Bad news: Peter does have the flu.

The doctor took a culture and confirmed that yes, Peter does have influenza. He's not allowed to go back to school for the rest of the week and possibly into next week. He still feels lousy, but he has a buzzy energy that he has no outlet for.

Now we're waiting to see if anyone else will join Peter in the land of the flu-ridden.

Hats On

Grandma Bonnie's hands have been busy while she's been here. She made this hat for Sophie. Sophie showed her gratitude by wearing it the whole rest of the day.

 

The Illness Report

On Sunday morning Peter told us he didn't feel well. He's played the "I'm too sick to go" card often enough that unfortunately we don't pay much attention anymore, though he generally only calls it in for school. I told him he was still going to church. We only had Sacrament Meeting because a snow storm  had delayed church by two hours. Peter decided he could go, but he didn't feel well enough to pass the Sacrament because he didn't want to share any germs.

Partway through the meeting I looked over at Peter and realized he was shivering. While Cooper and I stayed after for choir practice, Bryan took everyone else home. He said that Peter went right to sleep instead of eating lunch. 

He spent the next several hours running a fever and going in and out of sleep.

Sometimes he was upstairs in his room. Sometimes he was watching the Olympics with Grandma Bonnie. Instead of lying still and resting, he talked almost the entire time he was conscious. He narrated the sports, dissected the commercials, predicted which brands were being advertised. I knew he was sick and hurt all over, but sometimes it was hard to remember with the constant stream of words.

Near bedtime, his fever broke. He finally was willing to eat. And, because of all the naps he'd taken, he wasn't at all sleepy. In fact, we was feeling so much better that he was up till midnight. Bryan and I finally insisted he go to sleep since we were so tired.

He spent most of today resting, and he still had some body aches, but he didn't run any fevers.

The Hairdresser

Grandma Bonnie told me that when she was little she would comb her great-grandmother's hair. That made these pictures even sweeter.

Queen Sophie

Red and Pink

Somehow I managed to take Valentine's Day pictures of the ladies at our house, but not the gentlemen. My apologies to the men.

Phoebe got herself ready early enough that we had time to do her hair. You can't really tell in this picture though. I repeated the same style with Sophie to give an idea of what we did.

I had had grand plans to make a beautiful breakfast the night before so the kids could wake up to a festive meal. Instead, I had a migraine and went to sleep. So I modified my plan and served previously frozen homemade applesauce muffins with whipped cream and pink sprinkles. That was fancy enough for the kids.

We celebrated the day of love by eating a very sweet, very red, very crunchy watermelon. It was like eating a watermelon flavored carrot. Seriously.

The kids enjoyed goody bags with Valentine's chocolates and a holiday-themed book. Bryan came home from work with a bouquet of red roses for me and a bunch of yellow daisies for my Grandma. We were both delighted.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Generations of Smiles

We're so happy that we brought my Grandma home with us from the wedding last weekend. We love having her here. Sophie gives her many hugs and kisses each day and asked me take this picture.

Deep and Abiding

I love when February 12 falls on a Monday. It always reminds me of that date in 2001, which was also a Monday, when I woke up bright and early with a new title: fiancee. Bryan and I had stayed up late the night before, first while he helped me lock up the buildings in Heritage Halls at BYU, then as we sat on the back steps outside my apartment and talked about things of an eternal nature.

It's a little hard to believe that that was seventeen years ago. And it's amazing to understand how much fuller and deeper the love we have for each other is now compared to that morning in February 2001. New love is great and fun and exciting, but love that has seen hardship and joy and sadness and growth and trust and faith is beyond what I could have comprehended those many years ago.

Happy Engagement Anniversary Bryan!

Take Note

As we walked home from the bus stop yesterday, Cooper told me about something that he did during lunch.

Cooper: My friend and I did something fun today.

Me: Oh? What did you do?

Cooper: We paper texted.

Me: You paper texted?

Cooper: Yeah. We had a piece of paper and I would write a note and then she would answer it and hand it back to me then I would answer what she wrote. We did that all through lunch.

Me: So...you passed notes.

Cooper: No! We paper texted.

Me: When I was a kid, we called that passing notes.

Own It

A few mornings ago, during the rush to get ready for school, Sophie sat at the end of my bed and looked at a picture of herself. "Mom," she asked, "do I need to get rid of my birthmark when I'm bigger?"

"No, not if you don't want to, it's your face."

She ran off to do something else at that point and I thought the conversation was over.

Several hours later, while we drove in the car, Sophie made an announcement. "I don't ever want to get rid of my birthmark! I want to keep it, even when I'm a mom!"

I told her I thought that was great. And I really do.

Squishy Baby

One highlight of the wedding weekend was meeting my newest niece, six-month-old Emma. Her mom, my sister Paige, is in the background of these pictures. Emma is a sweet girl who loves laughing and being around lots of people. She also loves all of her grandparents. As you can see from these pictures, she loves Grandma Bonnie.

Jordan and Leah

Look! Bryan took a few more wedding pictures on Saturday!

While I attended the sealing in the Washington D.C. Temple, Bryan and the kids explored the Visitor's Center.

Then they came and waited for the bride and groom to come out of the Temple.

And then they joined us!

We seized the chance to take a family picture at the Temple. Thanks for being the photographer Falisha! Also, it was not a warm day.

And then there was dancing.

Lots of dancing.

And Jordan and Leah walked down a sparkling pathway to their car.

Celebrate!

We had a wonderful weekend celebrating my brother Jordan and his bride Leah! They were married in the Washington D.C. Temple on Saturday. It was a sweet and spiritual sealing and then a fun reception afterward. And with all that excitement, I took almost no pictures. I pulled my camera out while Bryan danced with the girls at the reception...and that's it. So, until I can borrow some photos from other people, enjoy these few. Bonus, you can see my sister-in-law Falisha dancing with Cooper and Sophie as well as my brother-in-law Eugene dancing with his baby girl Emma. Oh! And I just noticed that the bride and groom are visible in the back left corner of the pictures. Well, I guess these pictures captured more than I thought they would.

Congratulations Jordan and Leah! We're so happy that you're married and that we could be there with you on Saturday!

Circle of Life

After the races were done at the Pinewood Derby on Wednesday night, the Cubmaster gathered the kids together on a blanket for a discussion to prepare for an Arrow of Light ceremony for one of the boys. This is the exchange that followed.

Leader: What happens to every cub scout eventually?

Phoebe: (after raising her hand and being called on) They grow up.

Leader: That's right! They grow up.

Sophie: (without raising her hand) And then they become mommies and daddies!

Leader: Well, that's true.

Sophie: And then grandmas and grandpas!

Leader: Yes, after a long time.

Sophie: And then they die.

(cue gasps of laughter from most of the adults in the room)

Sophie: And then they're resurrected!

Leader: Well, you've got that whole circle of life down.

I guess all the lessons about the Plan of Salvation have really taken hold.

Cars

Cooper had his third Pinewood Derby last night. He did well, but did not earn one of the top three prizes. He did, however, receive the Most Unique Design Award. He had fun, no matter that he didn't place.