Happy 90th Grandma!

My beloved Grandma Ence (Mom's mom) turned 90 this month.  Every family was to create a 20 second shout out to Grandma.  I figured since there are only a handful of us outside of Utah, we should do it in front of somewhere unique to Hoosierville.  We trekked up to the Indiana State Museum to film our clip in front of the "LOVE" statue.  But there was a police officer babysitting the statue-apparently people had been climbing on it, so they've cracked down and now you can't even tak a picture of it! 

Plan B-head downtown to Andy's office.   



The White River State Park changes out these massive pieces of art every couple of years in front of Andy's building. I love this one, you can't see it, but there are hundreds on these colored mirrors going 30 feet up.





It's always a windy day here in Indianapolis.



The NCAA building is the one with the flags in the background.  I love where Andy's work is-right on the canal, within walking distance to the zoo, minor league baseball field, Monument Circle and a ton of other neat things. I always tell myself we should come down more often...maybe this Spring and Summer we will!

 So we did a whole lot of driving for a 20 seconds video, but hopefully she liked it!

Earth Shattering News..well at least for me.

So Eliza has been plagued with UTI's ever since August (she has urinary relfux).  We finally got her into the specialist a couple of months ago.  She did so great for the ultrasound and was delighted with the new stuffed animal given her by the tech, but the second part of the testing was totally horrid, which included me standing out in the waiting room crying listening to Eliza screaming her eyes out and her daddy trying to soothe her. 



POOR Eliza!

But let us not dwell on the negative. She was a trooper. After the testing, we had a very enlightening talk with the pediatric urologist specialist. He denounced two concepts that have been pounded into my head every since I was a little girl!

1. The direction a girl wipes has no correlation to increased cases of infection.

2. Bubble baths increase risk of infection.

Dr. Martin Kaefer sited the following examples; First, infants and toddlers wear soiled diapers for anything length of time, literally sitting in their refuse and do not have an increased risk of infection. Two, when has soap ever given some any infection? Irratation yes, infection? Not likely.  (I am sure there was also scientific info to back that up too, but that is what I remembered!) He maintains the #1 cause of UTI's is individuals holding when they need to go and not expelling completely when they do.  In addition, he informed us one of the biggest problems for Liza was her constant constipation. (We saw the xrays-poor girl!) Hence the reason Liza hasn't had any problems until after she started potty training. Hence her being on Miralax daily for the next two years of her life in addition to the daily low dose antibiotics. 

So why am I including this in my blog entry? This was earth shattering news to me!!  And I feel like shouted it out to the world! Especially to you moms who have daughters!  I was born with an absessed right kidney and dealt with painful UTI's and kidney infections throughout my enitre young childhood.  No one knew until I got so toxic and sick they had to remove my kidney and ureter when I was 6 years old. 

(There's a cool story about how we discovered it was my kidney making me sick-should I digress and tell?

"Going potty" had always been painful for me, I didn't know anything different and never said anything to anyone.  I also always felt like I had "to go", but again never raised any red flags for anyone because it was always that way.  I started complaining of stomach aches in 1st grade.  But didn't make much of a fuss about it and my parents weren't sure if I was jsut nervous about going to school full day etc.  It wasn't until my skin color actually turned greenish and purple that my parents got scared.  My dad immediately went to his room and knelt in prayer. "Check her kidneys" was the first thought that came to his mind.  He came out and asked me where my tummy hurt. I pointed to my right side over the kidney and was quickly taken to the hospital.  I believe my kidney was removed within days of my father's prayer. Dad, fact check on that? I was in the hospital for two weeks and out of school for about two months.)

  So, needless to say, Eliza dealing with Urinary Tract Infections now is really personal for me.

  

I've held the above beliefs for decades and to have them all disregarded in a day, well...

 it was a bit liberating!  

Liza was so exhausted by the time we got home from her appointment (heck we ALL were) we went straight to bed.  BUT! The very next day, we went out and celebrated by buying a bottle bubble bath of her choice and having a bath party!  At first the kids didn't want to put the bubbles on their heads etc (it was Eliza's first bubble bath remember), but it didn't take long for them to catch on to the fun. 

 We were all in high spirits that night and we had a camera on hand, so some post bath party pics were in order!  You are TOOO CUTE Riza Roo!!

Now the kids request a bubble bath every night. So here is to bubble baths! May you all enjoy one too!

Alli the Anaphylatic Alligator-AN UPDATE

One of the phonemic exercises we do with the kids in preschool involves hand actions while saying each letter sound.  The first one is "Alli the Alligator-Ah", "Bubba Bear-Buh" and so on.

This weekend that first phrase kept going through my head, as my skin-mostly face- has been covered with bumpy red hives again, but instead of a nice "Ah" sound, it's been "Alli the Alligator-Aaaaaaahhhh!"

The steroids I took last week cleared my face right up, but within a day of going off them the alligator bumps were back. Friday didn't seem any different.  My face itched, nothing new. My throat felt tight, nothing new (see last blog entry).  Keeping busy has helped me cope with it for almost a month now.  So, I ate lunch with the kids and then we headed off to the museum with their friend Grant. 

But by the time Andy got home from work around 5:30pm I was feeling pretty awful.  My coordination was off ie eggs kept mysteriously leaping from my hands while making dinner, I felt tired and weak, it became painful to swallow and my whole throat burned, the red spots on my face had multiplied! I thought perhaps I was just super spent from the day and hungry-dinner would solve everything.  No such luck, my heart started beating like a drum at this fast pace and I felt dizzy when I stood.

My sister called middinner and I asked her what it felt like to be in anaphylactic shock.  (She's experienced it.)  She said, "It sounds like it, girl go lay down and elevate your feet!"

I went to the computer and looked it up.  Since I was coherent enough to get on the computer I knew I wasn't in shock yet.  But as I looked at all the symptoms of a anaphylatic reaction I was checking them right down the line, from palpatations and difficulty breathing to tightened throat and low blood pressure...it freaked me out. 

I then started debating if Andy should take me to the hospital, but I have this fear; I show up at the hospital and they say, "Nothing's wrong with you, it's all in your head go home!"  So I decide to take two benedryl and go to bed instead.  At 6:30pm I crashed for the night with my last words to Andy being, "Honey, check on me in an hour and make sure I am breathing!"

I spent the entire day Saturday in bed feeling like I'd been hit by a truck.  In retrospect, (and after talking to my dad who was an ER doctor for 20 years, and who has also gone into anaphylatic shock), I probably should have gone to the hospital. 

But I am getting tested for food allergies on Friday and I have to be off antihistamines for a week prior and I didn't want anything to postpone that!  That sounds a little dumb now, and I feel kind of silly because I still am not sure exactly what I ate that caused the drama in the first place.

So to avoid another Friday night anaphylatic party, I have a rock solid plan...I am not going to eat anything till next Friday! :)

Alright, so not such a realistic plan-Let's just pray they really find something that gives me answers.

Ahh...Alli doesn't like being an alligator very much.

SOOO, I went to the allergist yesterday. Going off my zyrtec to get tested for food allergies did not work so well.  I kept breaking out in crazy crazy painful hives all over my body for no reason! Urgh! Yesterday morning it was unbearable, so I called the allergist.  My friend Katherine happened to call (answer to prayers!) right about the time I was falling apart in tears.  She came and got the kids and I headed to the doctor's.  The face is most likely some type of facial dermitis which can be caused by food allergies/sensitivities or becoming in contact with an allergen.  So I need to get tested for food allergies. The catch-I can't go off my daily antihistamines to get tested for food allergies!  Hopefully I can get my body to settle down and for right now I am avoiding the food I had last Friday whenI had that lovely experience.
I also get to have my very own epi pen, just what a girl always wanted!

March "Sadness"/March "Gladness"

College basketball conference play has begun and we're in the thick of "March Madness" around here.  But for the past couple of weeks I have experienced a little "March Sadness"...well on the trial-o-meter (minor inconvenience being on one end of the scale and tragedy being on the other)...my "sadness" is probably more on the painful inconvenience side than a true sadness...

Mother Nature has hit me every March with seasonal allergies.  Spring weather is welcomed and also makes me slightly anxious, because I never know what I will wake up to find.  But most of the time it is bearable.  There have been a couple memorable Springs.  Like the March after I returned home from my mission in California to SLC-the morning of my Bridal pictures...(yes, I said mission and marriage in the same sentence, that is a whole other blog entry!) I woke up with swollen eyes and lips.  I started frantically popping whatever we had in the medicine cabinet-benedryl, claritin, zyrtec, sudefed sinus...by that afternoon it had all gone down exept for a little puffiness that I am sure only I can see in my bridals.

Later that same month was Andy's birthday.  I'd planned some fun activities outdoors because the weather was so beautiful...well the Angelina Jolie lips returned and as sexy as they look on her...not so much on me when accompanied by swollen eyes and hives!!  The pill poppin didn't work and I ended up in the E.R. to get steroid injections.  (I'd like to think it was "a nice trip up to the hospital to let my dad and Andy become more aquainted".)

I'd honestly forgotten how cruel March could be to me, until Indiana. "Ah, Hoosierville-ya shouldn't have!"

I took a straight hit to the face yet again, but no "Jolie" lips-just painful, burning hives that started by my eyes.  It took me off guard because it is still freezing here! I thought, "hmm, maybe my mascara needs to be changed."  (Starts to spread)..."hmm, maybe it's that new detergent I just started using" (Keeps getting worse/can't cover it up because anything touching my face is too ouchy)..."hmm...I am having a hard time swallowing..." (I give in and start popping benedryl and get on a percription steroid pack.)

Allergies are a strategy game, but it is hard to fight back when you don't know who your enemies are! 

"I declare war on the month of March!"  (Doesn't really seem to have much bite behind it, huh?)

So, it is off to the allergists to see if I have some food allergies, in addition to the "usual seasonal stuff" and it is up to me to try and build up my immune system so I can fight the good fight. (this means cutting down on chocolate and late nights, right?!)

Sad that the weather that brings me such joy also causes such annoyances. 

But I did mention, there is also "March Gladness"!(No dad, I am not pregnant I know you are about to ask.)

I have just been trying to really focus on replacing negative things with positive in my life.  Red lights used to drive me crazy, "making me even later than I was to this place of that". Now the kids and I play "The Red Light Game" (shh, don't tell Jackson I told you, it is our secret game.)
The light changes, someone yells "RED LIGHT!" and you go around naming all the things you are grateful for, trying to rack up as many as you all can before the light changes and someon yells, "GREEN LIGHT!"

I know good always balances out the bad, but in the midst of a trial (whether trivial or tragic) it is really ahrd sometimes to see that scale evenly.  So my "March Gladness"-I am so so grateful that the boy who waited for me on my mission and took me to the ER the night of his birthday all those years ago, has stuck with me...allergy wierdness, girl hormones, busy schedule, crazy ideas, illnesses and all.  He is one of a kind, that Andy...so this is kind of an early Happy Birthday I guess! I love you, Lou!

So whether your March is filled with "Madness" or "Sadness" or both-make sure you take time to look for the "Gladness" it makes the rest oh so much more bearable.

MAPP: "Classics & Vday"

Probably one of my favorite units this year in Jackson's preschool has been "different types of literature".  Moms taught about nonfiction, fables, fairy tales and I on classics.  I have a soft spot for classics.  It is true that you'll find many non P.C. aspects about them, like all the father characters smoke pipes...but there are a few that have withstood the test of time and are still loved decades later.  I had such a hard time narrowing down which books would be showcased...so I crammed as many in as I could in 2 days!

"Blueberries for Sal" was read before we made blueberry smoothies for snack.

"Mike Mulligan and his Steam shovel MaryAnn" was read for free play (I pulled out our construction toys.)

"Caps for Sale" was read to get the wiggles out during circle time (they got to act like the monkeys.)

"Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge" was used to illustrate personification and made a cute craft if I do say so myself!

"Runaway Bunny" was acted out several times, then proudly performed for arriving mommies.



Eliza acting like her "Surprised!" lighthouse.



Each of the kids made a lighthouse and got to choose what emotion their lighthouse was expressing from the different emotions it talked about in the book.  I thought it was cool, most of the kids all picked different ones; surprise, sad, proud, happy...and did you know that the Little Red Lighthouse and Great Grey Bridge is REAL?! It's true.  (Sidenote-I did know that), but I didn't know New York City holds annual "Little Red Lighthouse Festivals"! Fieldtrip anyone?!



Taya as the mommy bunny disguised as "a tight rope walker at the circus".



I am so sad Colista's eyes aren't open, because she looked so darn cute as the "mommy bunny disguised as a mountain hiker".



Eliza avoiding the paparazzi...dressed as "mommy bunny disguised as a gardener".



Easton, fishing off the stairs for his part as "mommy bunny disguised as a fisherman".



Grant (getting the pre play jitters out) was "mommy disguised as a tree".

Jackson, always notorious for avoiding the camera, was the "runaway bunny" and found no problem standing in front of a camcorder...hopping about, and turning himself into various objects to outwit his various "mommies"!  Our performance was an instant classic itself!!

Below is plastic covering our windows...you may recall "THE WEEK OF ICE" not too long ago.  Well one night our power kept going off, at one point for almost an hour...so Andy covered a couple of our downstairs windows to keep a little heat in just in case. 
They looked super tacky, but made such a huge different int he draft downstairs that I decided I would embrace them.  Below is image of said "embracing".  We spent one morning during THE WEEK OF ICE, painting tissue paper and cutting out hearts shapes in preparation for the big day.


 

Since I taught the day after Valentines Day I did teach the kids about the history of St. Valentine but we didn't do a big V-day party.  I wanted them to focus more on "showing love to others".  I sat a stool in the middle of our circle time and each child got to sit on the stool as the other kids said nice things about them.  All the kids enjoyed sitting on the "love stool" immensely, they weren't as excited about trying to think of things to say about eachother as much  (Miss Alli "translated" what their shrugs meant often).  Below is a big 'ol group hug after we did the love stool.  Kids also made Valentines' for their parents and made chocolate dipped pretzels for their moms. 

 
If there is anything "messy, glittery or involving copious glue" I like to seek after those things for crafts!  Dipping pretzels seemed benign until the lid to the sprinkles bottle was pulled off. 
I am still sweeping up sprinkles from that day. (You think I am kidding, but I'm not!)
Fun times at preschool, fun times.

"Artists Can Design Things Too, Mom"

We watched this a couple of times. (Much to Jax's chagrin.)



The next day during Eliza's nap, Jackson asked if he could design her a dress while she was sleeping to surprise her. (Major "cute big brother props" buddy!) 



I drew a "Barbie Paper Doll" that would fit his creation.  (notice the sleeves shooting straight out to the sides!)
The silver starlike things all over the pink dress are "sparkles"...He was so flippin adorable..."Mom, these are sparkles ALL over the dress-girls LOVE sparkles!"
Or he'd say, "I am going to make a coat dress with gloves, then she will look nice but won't get cold."



Eliza LOVED the results so much that Jackson created an entire clothing line for her Barbie Doll.  I wish I had a picture of it all (yes, I evenutally threw them away)!! 
Jax has told me before that he is "Going to be an artist with a home studio so I don't ever have to leave you mom."
(His Grandpa Condie has an art studio in his basement.  One look at that set up and Jax knew what he wanted! A notion I know will change probably before I am ready for it to)...
Anyhow, I asked him with his new successful clothing line, if he was thinking about being a clothing designer instead.
"Artists can design things too, mom."



Watch out Versace, Armani and Ralph Lauren! Here comes "J. Alan Designs"!

Last Night I Had A Revelation

I HAVE BECOME MY MOTHER! 

(Ok, I have always looked like my mom, but I believe I have moved onto the next level-you know the one where you say things your parent said a hundred times to you?!)

My mom frequently ruined the chick flicks viewed in my youth. Comments like...


"They barely know eachother."
"That's so unrealistic and unbelievable!"
(or the infamous...)
"Why would she want him after he's slept with all those other girls?!"

Inevitably, we'd tell my mom "Shh! Just watch the movie!"

Last night I was with a couple of friends celebrating Andrea's birthday. I found myself in a group of avid "Bachelor" watchers. Before I knew it, I was ragging on their romantic reality TV show classic. I didn't stop there, though. No, I continued to lament about lame plots of various chick flicks I've seen recently, spewing forth dialogue that could have been cut and pasted straight from Shelly's (my mom) mouth!!

A friend called me on my critical ways, and that is when I had my revelation!!

Now, it isn't that I don't like Chick flicks. I am a glutton for the stuff. Andy can attest to the myriad of Chick-flick lovin' DVD's constituting a majority of our home collection!

Perhaps, it is the influenceof my mom-"the voice in my head"...

Perhaps, it is the fact that I am constantly exhorting young women to live their lives exactly opposite of all the stuff you see on reality TV,Chick Flicks, etc...

Perhaps, I am just getting picky in my old age! :)

Whatever the case may be-it is as if I've crossed an unseen bridge to "Cynic Land" and wonder if I will ever come back...?

I can't say and I guess only my future posterity will be the judge of that!

But for now-To my friends and family:
Promise to keep going with me to chick flicks and I promise I will keep my opinions to myself!! Hehehe!!

"Taste of the Stake" Youth Activity



clockwise: Marchelle Mehan (real hula dancer), Janet Crafton, Elise Merrill, Sammie Tillett, myself and Amber Ferguson



Emily Melton (2nd Counselor), Maykala Catmull, Jenny Childers



President and Jenny Pitcher, India presenters



Reanne, Sammie, Emma Harrison, and Jennifer Houser (SYC)



Kayla and Jacob Daniels and Dannie



Gisa Ott and President Cowley



The idea for this night was suggested by one of our Stake Youth Committee members.  It was to be a night to introduce youth to other cultures and help broaden their horizons as to what other cultures are like, what they eat, what their traditions are, what they dance like, and what the church is like around the world.   

It was a process and took months of planning.  It was challenging when myriads of emails, Facebook messages, and phone calls were not returned by the youth who was supposed to be in charge or other adults participating in the night. It was emotional draining discovering hours before the dance that three of the four performances had fallen through, a couple of the presenters/displays would not take place and the youth who was supposed to be in charge of the event was not coming.

I had my meltdown cry.

Then I asked Andy to give me a big hug.  His hugs do wonders. 

I decided that the "show would go on" and I would do it with a smile. 

It was a really good thing I went into the activity with that attitude. 

Only a couple of  people were there on time to set up, the valliant DJ was there but as sick as a dog, only three of the eight country display tables and presenters showed up before the event was supposed to start...and yet I still smiled.  One presenter ran in about 20min after it was supposed to start...and yet I still smiled...within the first 20min, I had one or two youth tell me repeatedly how lame the activity was...and yet I still smiled...I had one presenter show up as we were taking all the display tables down...I just kept smiling...

I had the opportunity to dance the hula with a few girls and it went really well.

I smiled!

After the hula, tables were cleared away and the dance began with a limbo stick-I knew the rest of the evening would run smoothly.  As I sat emotionally and physically exhausted on the stage watching everyone who did show up have a great time, I reflected on the positive aspects of the evening.  Those that brought displays, costumes and food from their country did a beautiful job.  The youth that listened to the presenters comments learned something new.  The youth and leaders that showed up to help really came through. All that and our hula was really fun. 

I have always felt like life is what you make of it. 

So I chose to stop moping and get my tired body off the stage and join the youth on the dance floor.

I had a good time and I saw a plethora of others enjoying themselves as well.  I decided to document a few of said "others" because I promised myself this upcoming year I would take more pictures

of the things that make up the summation of my daily life!! 

 (How does one take pictures of a ton of meetings?! :)  

The night (nowhere near) turned out as planned.  But I knew that my Heavenly Father knew I had done everything in my power to lead the youth I was over and make it a neat evening. 

And when I realized this, the negative comments of immature youth rolled off my back. 

When I internalized this, I was able to get over the disappointments of what "should have been". 

When I accepted this, I was able to be grateful for

all the things that went right.

And isn't that the case with so many circumstances we find ourselves in in this life?

No matter what situation we find ourselves in, we choose how we react to it.

...As the old Knight of the Holy Grail said to Indiana Jones,

"Choose Wisely"...(this is the part where you chuckle).

To those in the "Mad Photography Skills" Club...

The above "title" picture was taken in my playroom by my sister in law last time they were visiting.  It made me ponder on how cool other people make my house look. Which then led me to think about how awesome others make my family look. So I wanted to do a post dedicated to the cool people of photography. Heavenly Father has blessed me with friends and family who are amazing at photography! If there is ever a really cool picture on my blog, you can probably guess it didn't come from me. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a teensy tiny bit jealous of all you people with mad photography skills! It truly is a talent, so thanks for blessing my life with yours!

Annalisa Condie

Several months ago, I hosted a baby shower for one of my best friends Anna Shirley.  Her good friend/member of the "mad photography skills" club...also joined us that day.  When Casey posted the below pics on her blog, I almost didn't recognize my house!

Casey Mullins mooshinindy.com

 











Looking at our last official family pictures is reminding me that we are overdue for some new ones! Eliza was a year old and now she is almost three!

Corissa Hanson hansonphotography



  

bethany stone bstonephotography

In the above, Jax is about the same age as Eliza below...



erika pike epikphotography


One of the moms in our MAPP (preschool) group is also a member of the "mad photography skills" club.  The below are pictures Anna took from various fieldtrips we've taken this year...NIFS, Papa Murphy's and the Downtown library...



All of us under one of those rainbow parachutes.