Merry Christmas

When Part of You Dies

It always seems that when someone you love and are close to dies, they take a little piece of you. My Grandmother was one of those people. She was an amazing woman, horrible cook, but amazing woman.



It’s been over 10 years since she passed away and I still think of her now and again. It may have been a song or something as simple as Campbell’s soup but a memory still sparks every now and then. When we went to see the lights at Temple Square this was by far, no exception. Everyday life with my Grandmother consisted of waking up to a hot bowl of Cream of Wheat while my sister, Amanda, cousins, and I fought over the lumps. You could guarantee that lunch and dinner would consist of soup out of a can and bread with butter. Like I said, she was a horrible cook but she made a mean bowl of Cream of Wheat and Campbell’s soup.



The trips down town were no exception. Calling for the bus schedule, fighting over who got to pull the string to tell the bus driver it was our time to get off. That ding would ring and off the bus we went. Our first stop would be to the ZCMI center to eat some lunch and get ice cream. We would usually get to pick a treat out of the big bulk candy to take home. Then off to Temple Square to walk around. We would walk all over and she would point out everything and tell us stories. She would never fail to know all about our ancestors and tell us everything they had done and all the trials they had gone through to just live their lives without prejudice and prosecution. It is those stories that have died with her. I can seem to remember the trips up there but the stories are gone; such a sad thing to have lost. I will forever miss her and hope to someday see her again.



Temple Square at Christmas is such an amazing sight. It is so beautiful and breathe taking. We listened to a choir for a few songs and the sound was amazing. Music can really move the soul. We had just missed the chance to go see the amazing statue of Jesus. That is my favorite thing at Temple Square and remember just staring at is as a child and not quite understanding it but feeling overwhelmed by its beauty. Maybe next year I can take the kids to see it. We had a great time as a family and hope my kids never forget such unforgettable memories.

The Catch Up...again!

My board-ness today has sent me to blogging. No school and no car with the lack of ambition to clean lead me to get a little caught up on blogging. So what is up in the last oh 8 months? Lots!

First off, I don’t work anymore. This has been great for school and the kids. I have had time to work more on my studies and have really been trying to get things done for the kids. Although I am pretty sure we miss my pay check. I think that has been a hard adjustment for us.

We recently just bought a house and we love it! We put tons of work into before we moved in. We are still working on a few things, but it is sooo close. We live in the mountains and it is so beautiful. I will even take the feet of snow we have! We have great neighbors and we could not have made a better choice.

Umm, I changed my major. Yes believe it or not I have made a full turn for something completely different. I decided I am done with health care and I am going to do something different with my life. I should have my business degree by the end of next summer or fall at the latest. Then I am off to the U of U, GO UTES! I am thinking engineering with an emphasis on alternative engineering. My only other thought is to stay with business and have an emphasis on project management. I think I am going for nerd and staying with engineering! School has been great and I love it. I wish I had not done it he hard way, (having kids first) but it has been so worth it.

Eric works his little butt off to support our family and helps with the kids while I am at school. I am a lucky wife and my kids have a great dad!



York is growing up fast. Although sometimes he makes me want to pull my hair out, he has turned into a pretty good young man. I think we are pretty lucky. He is a great brother to his little ones. He has found some really good friends around our new house and the new school, although new, he seems to have really adjusted fast. Of course we are now in the stage of girl friends but I think he has a good head on his shoulders. I don’t worry too much and I always get to meet the girls.



Mason has the best teacher this year. We love her. She has really helped him get his reading going more and, of course, loves him. She always tells me she wants to take him home. He is such a sweet boy! He has made a few new friends also.



Cache is Cache! He is always an adventure. He is such a funny kid. We were very fortunate this year to get a new teacher. She has been so fabulous and has really helped Cache. She has given all of us hope that one day he will be able to verbally communicate. She says he is the best kid in her class. He has now started therapy outside of school and we are pushing hard to get him to his aged appropriate levels. He has physical, occupational, and speech therapy on a regular basis. His heart has seemed to be fine and has had no shocks from his new and improved defibulator. He has had no signs of another seizer and we do not think that he will.



Dylann, my little princess is such a fun girl. I love having a girl. She is growing up fast too. She is learning lots and almost has her numbers down and we are working on her alphabet. She loves princesses and fairies and goes crazy the second she sees one anywhere. We did have a scare with her this summer while in Disneyland, California. That is probably a whole different post. I really should post about it and maybe I will next. But to make it as simple as we can, we found out the hard way that her medication can cause low blood sugar. She was near death by the time we got to the hospital and they worked their magic and saved her life by giving her dextrose (sugar) through her bone marrow. I think out of the all days I have had, this by far was the scariest. God was defiantly watching over us that day. I feel pretty blessed to still have her. She has only had 1 episode since and we caught it in time and gave her that yummy dextrose gel. Other then that she is great!



Wow, that is a lot to write! I wish I had more time to blog. I am really going to make it a goal this year to at least post once a month. It is such a great way to journal and share. Life is good, hard, but totally worth it!

Come What May, and Love it?

Yup I felt like blogging tonight. Not for anyone but myself. Maybe you have followed my link on the side of my page maybe not, Come What May and Love It. I am not a church going person, but I love the message. Now more then ever...

This last weekend my 13 year old nephew, Marshall, rolled a 4-wheeler and broke his back. After having pins placed in his back and has yet been able to move his legs, he still wears a magical smile. You go to see him in the hospital and hopefully raise his spirit, yet you are the one that leaves lifted. His amazing attitude and determination is so inspiring. He is 13 and has a future now that is so unknown, yet he still laughs. He doesn't say he wants to walk again he says he is going to walk again...and "by the end of the football season I will walk on the field with my team!"

Marshall is not a kid (I call him a kid because he is my little nephew, but he is more of a young man!) that sits around. He is in 8th grade and managed to make the sophomore football team. He is an even better baseball player. He has a huge future in front of him. He is incredibly smart and is a wiz on the computer. He has to be the nicest, sweetest, teenager out there. He has done everything right in his short life and he is the one who gets to face this trial. This video explains his attitude toward this trial in his life. It is amazing and inspiring.

I love you Marshall and we will all be there cheering for you! And when that time come you get to walk on that football field, I will be there. I will be there screaming and crying! I will not miss it for the world! XOXO

Almost...

I am almost cuaght up on blogging now! 1 more I need to post. You will have a little light reading now if you are bored. Have fun!

Silly Boy!

He is so funny, but man this does worry me a little!






Note Dylann's flip flops!

Cache Always has a Flare the Dramatic!

Ambulance rides are fun, but not when they are with your child! March 26th, was a long night. I had come home from work and was playing on my laptop. Cache was sleepy so he crawled on my lap and started to drift away. A few minutes later he did a huge jolt, which at first I thought was a defibrillator shock from an arrhythmia. Then he started to do what I like to call a seizer. Rapid eye movement, funny mouth movement, and very stiff like. York was super fast and very good when I told him to get the phone and call 911. I am glad he was there. When we got to the ER, because I love to be at work, they were very focused on it being his defibrillator. The next day in clinic we concluded it was not a shock. After discussing this with his pediatrician she wants him to see a Neurologist. We have an appointment next week. Let's hope it all goes well and I don't have to deal with another issue! That kid will be the death of me, I love that little Monster!

Cache and his IEP

I have come to the conclusion that some teachers in Special Education need not teach Special Education. There is a reason it is called "Special Education" and that is because the kids need extra care. Hint to teachers... that is why you spent all that time in school... to work with kids that are in need of extra help. We all know I have issues with Cache's teacher but I think this one has topped them all. I wasn't expecting much and I they have successfully pist me off. To sum up the meeting in a quick sentence... They pretty much told me that he was mentally retarded. (Not to offend anyone, but that is what was said)Last time I check being Deaf did not qualify as being mentally retarded. Let me recap a few things for you.

Cache was diagnosed as being Deaf at the age of 2 1/2.
He has had his hearing aids for a total of 18 months.
He has been in school a total of 9 months but there was a 3 month break in between.

So they can't figure out why he can't speak? Hummm! Do you know of many 18 months old that can speak clearly and well? Yeah me either. I am also pretty sure that it is pretty hard to process language when you are not used to it.

They want to just give up on him and send him to a full sign school with no English speaking language. Let's put this on record, I will never care if Cache can not speak a single word, he can but... He is Deaf, who cares? Seriously! He can be and do anything he wants in life and he will. This kid has more drive than any child and some adults I know. He is amazing.

Cache has more then just a hearing loss, he is a heart kid too. I am grateful to have him and grateful for every day he gets to have another day at life. I am not going to worry about if he can speak like the hearing world. Don't get me wrong, I will do all I can and what I think is the right thing to do, but this is the last thing I will worry about.

Cache can speak and he tries so hard. You just need to be patient and work with him. I do not understand why they don't see it. To just give up, it has been a great disappointment.



Cache with my glasses, he is so silly!

March 20th 2009... A day not forgotten

The day Mason lost his first tooth!





He even let me pull it out. It was pretty funny. The Tooth fairy brought him a whole $3.00. He lost another the next week, but the Tooth Fairy paid out big, a big $5.00.

Once upon a sonwy day...

Here are some shots of the kids on the slide Eric made one day when it snowed like crazy. This was all done when I was at work. I think it took forever to finally melt. The kids had a blast!





Yorky and Dylann




The boys... Mason, Thomas, Callin, and York

For All Women

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_4qwVLqt9Q

Perspective

http://thegledhillfamily.blogspot.com/

This is what matters nothing else! I am so greatful for what I have. Thank you! Please pray for this family as I am sure they need it!

Blogging Bore!

So I have been horrible at blogging. I haven't had much to blog about really. We are just living life and staying busy. The kids are good, school is good, and work stinks. So I will give you a brief boring run down...

York- Same old teenager filled with drama. I never thought boys would have this much drama. All I have to say girlfriends are lame!

Mason- Is just Mason. Not too exciting, but he is becoming quite a good reader...FINALLY!

Cache- He is all healed from his surgery and running around like his old "Monster" self. He has been signing sentences now and even trying to say the words. His teacher even comment that he was doing good...SHOCKER!

Dylann- This girl is drama! OMG I can't take it. I just want to beat her at times! Really! She is such a snot! I can't imagine having more than one girl. I know what god was thinking now! It is all too clear. It is a good thing she is so stinking cute or I may have beaten her!

As for Eric and I, we are good. Just living our crazy life. I am going to school and he is watching the kids... a lot! I feel bad because that is all I do on my free time. But he is awesome and helps me a ton! Other then that life is pretty much the same. Yes I know this is boring!

A Fellow Heart Friend

I just wanted to take a minute and see if everyone would vote for a fellow friend for a day of pampering. Emily has lost 2 children to heart defects. She is now attempting to adopt but this is well deserved. She has been through so much, as I am sure all of the women on the web page have, but I have a special place for those heart kids! Please go vote for her! Thanks!

seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com

New Adventures

Well I finally did it! I finally will start a new adventure! School here I come! That's right after years of talking about it I signed up. I am not taking it slow either! Full force, full time. I have a goal to be done a.s.a.p. and before all my kids are in school. Which means York will be starting collage! LOL! Not only did I decide to go back but decided what I was going to be when I grow up too! I know I am really turning the leaf here! Here it is... Drum Roll Please!... Nurse Practitioner. If I was young had no kids I would be a pediatrician in a heart beat. But I take things the long hard way, and got married and started my wonderful family first. So yes I am kind of settling but I still will be able to practice medicine which is really what I want to do. I obviously will go into pediatrics, I don't do adults, I would much rather the dirty snotty noses any day! I really hope to get on with the Cardiology department when I get done. I think for obvious reasons. The hart is an amazing thing, and I love it, and I love heart kids! the great thing is most of my schooling will be paid for through work. When I get done I will have next to nothing in student loans! YIPPY! I think that is the best thing I could do for my family. So my plate is full... full time work, full time school, and full time mom. I am sure there will be days I hate myself, hate work, hate school, and my family will drive me crazy, but I am excited for all that. I will accomplish something I have wanted for the longest time. I will have accomplished a life long goal. So bare with me if I am ornery, vent, or never post! And wish me luck because I am going to need it! One more added note... I am on day shift now so I will have a life again! Another YIPPY!

Christmas...Late

I am determined to get caught up on blogging! I am so far behind and I don't think I will ever be caught up! So Christmas comes first. I was very nervous about Christmas and how we would ever be able to pay for it. We pulled it off by some Christmas miracle though. We actually received a check from a medical bill we over paid! For those of you who have medical bills like we do...you never over pay...in fact you are lucky to pay! I don't know how this happened, but it did and it was just in the "nick" of time. Between that and Santa Grandma we had a pretty good Christmas.
Every Christmas eve I make a turkey dinner. I invite anyone who is willing to come. This year it was my Mom, Dad, and my brother and his family. I have to say I make a pretty MEAN Turkey. I love to cook when I have the time and it usually turns out pretty good. Although we didn't have York this Christmas he was with his egg doner... I mean mom. I think this is the first Christmas in about 8 years we have not had him. It was kind of sad. He missed all our traditions... dinner and of course there PJ's we open for Christmas eve.
Christmas was fun and exciting for the kids. I think they got pretty much everything they wanted. The highlights were...
Guitar Hero III for York, Geo Trax for Cache, Airhog for Mason, and Dylanns Little Pony's. Of course all the kids loved the WII we got them. We bought that so long ago and it was just sitting in our closet for Christmas. So many times Eric and I just wanted to open it and play it ourselves!
It was such a great Christmas and I am so thankful for all of our many blessings.



Dylann



Mason



Cache



And my turkey... yes I took a picture but it do not give it justice to the taste!