My Turn!!

Well, I guess it was my turn to be sick today. I woke up with a stomach ache, and freezing cold. Will thought I was nuts when I asked him to turn off the A/C. I'm just glad that it didn't turn into what the kids all had last Sunday. Holy cow. Can we say PSYCHO!!

We went all the way through church last week and got to Sacrament Meeting. Sabrina told me after the opening song that her stomach hurt. I told her she would be ok, and to lean up against me and cuddle. She seemed ok with that answer, and did so. A few minutes later she turned around and said she needed to go to the bathroom. I told her ok, and she snuck out the side of the pews. All of a sudden I hear this vomit sound, and I turn around and there is Sabrina frantically trying to hold her hand over her mouth to keep it all in and from going onto the poor Missionary couple sitting there. I frantically dumped my purse out onto the pew, and raced to put my empty purse under her so she could finish throwing up in my purse as we tried to quickly go to the bathroom. While I was in the process of doing this, Vanessa had leaned forward and threw up into the pew ahead of us. She quickly got up and left to the bathroom with us. Will was obviously mortified, and came out a few minutes later, and got some paper towels. He kindly and quietly cleaned up all the vomit, and got rid of everything. I finally got them all cleaned up, and sat down to estimate all the damage, and try to get my contents that were in my purse into a plastic baggie. I then stood up, and it was apparently time for round two. After this next cleaning up, it was time to go home for sure.

All the kids stripped down, and got into their jammies. Isaac then started to complain as well, and the it was his turn. I on the other hand was getting more and more nervous that I would have to call in sick to my first day of a new job the next morning. I was praying that the kids would feel better soon. We all camped out in the front room each child with their own big round bowl next to their head, and their poor little tired bodies next to it. You could tell they were all so exhausted by all of this. I was tired just from trying to keep up with each of them. Will had to be to school early, and so I told him to just go to bed, and that I would take care of things downstairs. All through the night each one of then took turns into their bowls. Thank goodness around 4:30 in the morning they all stopped and fell asleep. I woke to the alarm I had set at 7:30 and got myself ready for the day. When I was done with my shower I came out to see two little super thirsty and super hungry girls ready to go for the day as if nothing happened. Isaac then woke up in the same hungry and thirsty mood, but feeling wonderful. I couldn't understand it, but was so very grateful they were better.

So apparently it was my turn to be really sick today, and everyone else was ok. It is now almost 11 pm and I'm starting to feel much better. SO it must be some little 24 hour flu bug. Thank goodness it is going away. I don't like the flu bug when it hits our home. So now with this holiday weekend almost over, we will try to get to the Zoo tomorrow, and do something fun with the kids.

An Empty House

As I sit here quietly, I realize that I am a little sad. All three of my children are gone to school, as well as Will is also gone to school. It is just me and Rommel, and even he knows there is something not quite right about a quiet house. I say house, because it feel like an empty shell without all the kids and Will around to put some excitement and love in it.

Anyway enuf of my sad little say. Now yesterday was the first day of this loneliness and it really didn't hit me. I was able to go through all the cupboards and totally "SPRING CLEAN" my entire kitchen. I got rid of things we didn't need or use. Funny how you end up collecting a bunch of crap and not even know it. So my kitchen looks great. Now off to the front room.

All the kids are having fun in school. Sabrina is so excited to be learning more in depth science and math. She gets this love of these subjects from Will, cause these two subjects were the most hated in my youth, except for maybe PE where you had to change into a uniform. BLAH! Vanessa is super excited about reading, and telling everyone stories that she comes up with. She has such a great imagination, and she has Sabrina's old teacher Miss Collins, and even Miss Colling told me yesterday when I picked them up from school that Vanessa is a bright little thing. Isaac had a wonderful day yesterday, and didn't even want to come home, but then again today he cried the entire time, and didn't want me to leave. Hopefully he will get better, and be happy to go to school. Ive been told that this is normal, and that's why the schools start the PreK kids on Thursday so that they have 2 days of school, and then the weekend to recover and feel safe again, and then back to school. I like their thinking. I NEED my kids for this weekend. I miss them so much.

Anyway, things are getting back to a routine now, we have the job chart going, and the rewards system in place. So far so good. I never thought I'd do a job chart when I became a parent. Mom always had job charts and I hated them. But here we are again I'm doing just what my mom did when I was little. The job chart works. It gives the kids a routine, and gives them a firm understanding of where they stand in the family as far as helping goes. And it also gives me sanity. WAY TO GO MOM!! I guess my mom knew it all. Back then I thought my mom was nuts, but who knew she was right, and knew much more than I did. That's kid mentality for ya!! I love ya mom, and thanks.

I WISH...

I wish I could express exactly what is in my heart. There are no words for the pain and sadness I have felt this week for my dear brother and his sweet wife. I have freequently stopped at random and prayed to my Heavenly father for help this entire week. I have prayed for the strength to be able to cope with this loss of such a sweet little spirit. I have prayed un behalf of my brother to be able to have the strength to deal with this tragedy. I have prayed for my sister in law to be able to have the strength to get up each day and be able to continue to love and be loved. I have prayed for help in being more loving to my own children, and not take them or their love for granted. I have prayed so many times for peace, and love.

I am the oldest of five kids, and this past week, I have really felt such hurt for my brother. I have felt so helpless. I wanted so much to take away all this pain that he and his wife have had to endure. As an older sister I felt that my ability to protect my brothers and sisters was taken away. I felt as though all I could do was watch as he hurt. I wanted to make everything better for him and Michelle make it so they didn't haveto hurt any more. I love my family so very much, and I feel a protectiveness over them that is not explained. I wish both he and Michelle could see how much I love them both. How much it hurts me to see them haveto go through this. However then I realize what we have all come to realize this past week, and that is that we all have the gospel in our lives. We will all betogether as a family once again after this life. I realized that even though this was such a great loss, this was also a great blessing. Our family is ever closer. Our family has seen that no matter what may happen, and no matter what sorrow or trial may lie ahead our FAMILY is always there for eachother.

Though the days and even months to follow will be tough, we are all there for one another and that gives me comfort. I also found comfort in a song that I have always sang to my kids before they would fall asleep for the night. Each night they would say "Mommy please tuck me into bed", and most of the time I would do it happily. It always consited of me tucking them into their blankets, kissing them, and then singing them the song "Till we Meet Again". Don't ask me why they always ask for that song, but for the last year that is the only song they ever want me to sing. Like I was saying earlier, Most of the time I would gladly do it, and then there were times when I was watching a movie or doing the bills or something where I just didn't feel like doing it that night. I did it again tonight for the first time since we came back from our trip to Utah for the funeral. I was more than happy to do this task, and atually felt privdledged to do it this evening. I sang the song "Till we meet again" and somehow tonight it had so much more meaning than it had before. To see how happy my children were after I did this, made my heart ache for Jaron and Michelle. I haveto admit I couldn't get though the song completely the first time, since I was crying. But then I got through it the second time.

My only wish is that I lived so much closer so that I am able to be there for my family and especially for my little brother and his wife right now. I hope that they will be able to know of my love for them, and feel my love. These two wonderful people showed me their strength and love for eachother and for the gospel this past week. I am truly amazed at how strong of an example and how strong of a testimony these two have. They truly understand the plan that the Lord has for them. I admire their strength, and their love and wisdom. They are truly an example to me. I love them both.

Jaron and Michelle, I hope you will continue to love eachother and strengthen eachother as the days and months progress. I have learned so much from you two in these past few days. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to meet Gavin, and see just what a giant of a spirit he truly was. Your sweet little family will be in my hear and my prayers continually. You two truly are spiritual giants, and Gavin was way too perfect for this world. How grateful I am that the Lord was merciful to him, and took him back home to avoid all this unpleasantness. May the spirit bolster you up, and may you always look to the Lord for peace. I love you both!!