We finally got Grant on video doing all his animal noises. So, if you have a minute and you want a good laugh, it's pretty funny. We love that he clucks when you ask him what a chicken says!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Karen and girls' visit
We had such a wonderful visit with Karen, Kenneth's sister, and her 2 girls. I thought I would share a few more pictures from their time here:
One of the days Karen, the kids and I went to a Farm Park close by. Here are the kids watching the ducks and geese swim in the pond:
Here is Grant checking out the Turkey:
Here are the girls on one of the play tractors- mostly I included this shot so you could see the cool 'barn' play structure in the background:
Here is a good one of the girls on the tractor:
All too soon it was time to say goodbye. Here are the 2 'peas in a pod' playing one more time at the airport before we said goodbye:
Kenneth and Karen:
Thanks again for coming and helping us out, Karen, Alyssa and Joslynn! We love you!
One of the days Karen, the kids and I went to a Farm Park close by. Here are the kids watching the ducks and geese swim in the pond:
Here is Grant checking out the Turkey:
Here are the girls on one of the play tractors- mostly I included this shot so you could see the cool 'barn' play structure in the background:
Here is a good one of the girls on the tractor:
All too soon it was time to say goodbye. Here are the 2 'peas in a pod' playing one more time at the airport before we said goodbye:
Kenneth and Karen:
Thanks again for coming and helping us out, Karen, Alyssa and Joslynn! We love you!
Learn Something New Everyday!
I feel like the kids have been learning so much lately! We all are, I guess. Here is a run down on what we have been learning:
Grant is saying more and more words everyday. He has learned to say banana. It sounds like 'mana', but I know what he is saying and it is adorable! His latest favorite word is 'engine'. As in fire engine. At first when he said it I thought he was saying 'onion'. I showed him an onion a couple of weeks ago and it was a word Emma learned pretty early on, so I just assumed. But, I should have known with this little guy that it was indeed 'engine' he was saying. He loves books about trucks and work machines and tractors.
He has also learned to tattle on his sisters. It cracks me up! He will run out where I am (or Kenneth is) and get in 'the stance' and say which ever sister's name who happens to be the offender at the moment. Today instead of just saying their name he also added a word to describe what the offense was; e.g. "door" when they had closed their door and would not let him come in.
A couple of weeks ago I meant to write a post about how Grant had FINALLY learned to sleep like a normal person!!! He was sleeping all through the night 11-12 hours and for about a week was napping anywhere from 2-3 hours in the afternoon. It was amazing!!! I was so excited that he finally got it after so long of only napping for 45 minutes, or if I was lucky 1 hour and 15 minutes. Well, good thing I didn't write that post because it didn't last! Everyday for the last week and a half Grant wakes up sometime in the 4 o'clock hour. I tried going in and telling him it was still time to sleep, but it wasn't working- he would still cry. So, I tried telling him when I put him to bed at night that I wasn't coming in until it was time to wake up in the morning. So now, he cries from whenever he gets up in that 4 o'clock hour to 6 am when I go and get him. (That is my policy- 6 am is the earliest I want these children awake in the morning.) We've tried putting him to bed earlier to see if that is what he needed, we tried to put him to bed later to see if he was simply getting too much sleep. Neither worked- he still woke up at the same time. The last few days the wake up time is slowly creeping later: 4:20 am, 4:30 am, 4:45 am and this morning 4:50 am. I am hoping that he will creep it right back up to 6 am. Sheesh. I tell ya, I tell ya, I tell ya.
Arianna is learning to potty train!!! She is the complete opposite from most children, however, because she is pretty much doing all of her #2s on the potty and up until today almost always refused to do any #1. Funny lady. We have been motivating her with small animal toys that she can earn every time she successfully does something on the toilet. I really think she is the type that will just have to decide when she is ready to be diaper free. No one can make up her mind for her. That's kind of how the current training came about. One day she just went in there and did it, even though for weeks we had the animals on the refrigerator and she knew how she could earn them.
It's funny, we thought for sure she would train before Emma did. It sure didn't happen that way. Maybe it was the move. She was starting to train a little back in Maryland. For a long time we would ask here when she was ready to go on the potty and she would say, "Tomorrow". Well, today, she decided it was time to give her diapers to Grant- she is a big girl now and ready for panties. (Just to prove her point to me that she was a big girl she brought up the fact that she even showers now). So, as I write this, she is in panties for the first time. The real question is: Am I ready for this? (The extra laundry and frustration) Well, I better be if she is!
Emma is learning to read! She is really getting the concept and amazes us sometimes with what she understands and picks up on. A lot of it at this point is memorization, but she is really learning and it is exciting!! We are talking a lot about what we want to do for school for her in the Fall: Homeschool or Kindergarten. I am leaning towards Kindergarten and Kenneth toward Homeschooling. I was homeschooled myself for a little while and I have worked in a Kindergarten class, so I am biased. We'll see. I went to observe a kindergarten class in our assigned school a few days ago. It was pretty good, but I wasn't completely won over.
Here is Emma at 'resting time'. She doesn't even try to get comfortable anymore; it's all about the books!
I am learning to get back into my workout routine. I was so good when we were in Maryland before we moved. I felt really great- healthy, strong and my clothes fit comfortably. Then we drove across the country, lived in a hotel for a month and then had to move in. I kept telling myself that I would start up again when we were settled in the house. Then I felt like we were never truly settled because there were still unpacked boxes, still things I couldn't find, still pictures unhung. Then. . .Kenneth was at the end of his semester and then all the craziness with the Lymphoma happened. Well, now that we are in a routine with our new life and now that my thighs have been nagging me for a few weeks, I have started again. I already feel better about myself! I am excited to get back in the routine. The kids are learning to stay out of my way. That was another reason I dreaded getting back into exercising- the kids inevitably need something or have a melt-down and I am interrupted and it bothers me. It is easier this time with Kenneth home and willing to help me fit this into our schedule. So, here goes!
What has Kenneth learned, you ask? He has learned to accept the fact that he is a handsome bald man and is now willing to have his picture here on the blog. So, here he is:
This is when we were saying goodbye to Karen, Kenneth's sister, at the airport.
The kids are loving Dad's head- what a great place for the animals to stand!
Kenneth is actually doing quite well. He has a great appetite and feels healthy and strong. We feel so thankful.
Grant is saying more and more words everyday. He has learned to say banana. It sounds like 'mana', but I know what he is saying and it is adorable! His latest favorite word is 'engine'. As in fire engine. At first when he said it I thought he was saying 'onion'. I showed him an onion a couple of weeks ago and it was a word Emma learned pretty early on, so I just assumed. But, I should have known with this little guy that it was indeed 'engine' he was saying. He loves books about trucks and work machines and tractors.
He has also learned to tattle on his sisters. It cracks me up! He will run out where I am (or Kenneth is) and get in 'the stance' and say which ever sister's name who happens to be the offender at the moment. Today instead of just saying their name he also added a word to describe what the offense was; e.g. "door" when they had closed their door and would not let him come in.
A couple of weeks ago I meant to write a post about how Grant had FINALLY learned to sleep like a normal person!!! He was sleeping all through the night 11-12 hours and for about a week was napping anywhere from 2-3 hours in the afternoon. It was amazing!!! I was so excited that he finally got it after so long of only napping for 45 minutes, or if I was lucky 1 hour and 15 minutes. Well, good thing I didn't write that post because it didn't last! Everyday for the last week and a half Grant wakes up sometime in the 4 o'clock hour. I tried going in and telling him it was still time to sleep, but it wasn't working- he would still cry. So, I tried telling him when I put him to bed at night that I wasn't coming in until it was time to wake up in the morning. So now, he cries from whenever he gets up in that 4 o'clock hour to 6 am when I go and get him. (That is my policy- 6 am is the earliest I want these children awake in the morning.) We've tried putting him to bed earlier to see if that is what he needed, we tried to put him to bed later to see if he was simply getting too much sleep. Neither worked- he still woke up at the same time. The last few days the wake up time is slowly creeping later: 4:20 am, 4:30 am, 4:45 am and this morning 4:50 am. I am hoping that he will creep it right back up to 6 am. Sheesh. I tell ya, I tell ya, I tell ya.
Arianna is learning to potty train!!! She is the complete opposite from most children, however, because she is pretty much doing all of her #2s on the potty and up until today almost always refused to do any #1. Funny lady. We have been motivating her with small animal toys that she can earn every time she successfully does something on the toilet. I really think she is the type that will just have to decide when she is ready to be diaper free. No one can make up her mind for her. That's kind of how the current training came about. One day she just went in there and did it, even though for weeks we had the animals on the refrigerator and she knew how she could earn them.
It's funny, we thought for sure she would train before Emma did. It sure didn't happen that way. Maybe it was the move. She was starting to train a little back in Maryland. For a long time we would ask here when she was ready to go on the potty and she would say, "Tomorrow". Well, today, she decided it was time to give her diapers to Grant- she is a big girl now and ready for panties. (Just to prove her point to me that she was a big girl she brought up the fact that she even showers now). So, as I write this, she is in panties for the first time. The real question is: Am I ready for this? (The extra laundry and frustration) Well, I better be if she is!
Emma is learning to read! She is really getting the concept and amazes us sometimes with what she understands and picks up on. A lot of it at this point is memorization, but she is really learning and it is exciting!! We are talking a lot about what we want to do for school for her in the Fall: Homeschool or Kindergarten. I am leaning towards Kindergarten and Kenneth toward Homeschooling. I was homeschooled myself for a little while and I have worked in a Kindergarten class, so I am biased. We'll see. I went to observe a kindergarten class in our assigned school a few days ago. It was pretty good, but I wasn't completely won over.
Here is Emma at 'resting time'. She doesn't even try to get comfortable anymore; it's all about the books!I am learning to get back into my workout routine. I was so good when we were in Maryland before we moved. I felt really great- healthy, strong and my clothes fit comfortably. Then we drove across the country, lived in a hotel for a month and then had to move in. I kept telling myself that I would start up again when we were settled in the house. Then I felt like we were never truly settled because there were still unpacked boxes, still things I couldn't find, still pictures unhung. Then. . .Kenneth was at the end of his semester and then all the craziness with the Lymphoma happened. Well, now that we are in a routine with our new life and now that my thighs have been nagging me for a few weeks, I have started again. I already feel better about myself! I am excited to get back in the routine. The kids are learning to stay out of my way. That was another reason I dreaded getting back into exercising- the kids inevitably need something or have a melt-down and I am interrupted and it bothers me. It is easier this time with Kenneth home and willing to help me fit this into our schedule. So, here goes!
What has Kenneth learned, you ask? He has learned to accept the fact that he is a handsome bald man and is now willing to have his picture here on the blog. So, here he is:
This is when we were saying goodbye to Karen, Kenneth's sister, at the airport.
The kids are loving Dad's head- what a great place for the animals to stand!Kenneth is actually doing quite well. He has a great appetite and feels healthy and strong. We feel so thankful.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Hippeeeeee!!
Here we are again! Kenneth is currently undergoing his 3rd chemo treatment; after this we will be halfway through!!!! Hippeeee!!! (this is what Emma says lately when she is excited)
Before the treatment starts, Kenneth always meets with the Oncologist to see how he is doing and to make sure that there are no strange side effects happening (e.g. the crazy nose swelling last week). This morning we felt quite wonderful after talking with the Oncologist.
At this point I will back up and tell you of our experiences last week. Kenneth had to meet with an Endoscopy doctor, the same one who did the biopsy. He asked Kenneth how he was doing and how the treatments were going. Kenneth said he seemed quite surprised when he told him the Oncologist sees him returning to work in 6 months. The doctor didn't state it right out, but Kenneth could tell that he couldn't believe that the prognosis could be that good. He told Kenneth that the cancer was all throughout his chest/abdomen; he had no problem getting what he needed for the biopsy. Needless to say, Kenneth came home a little melancholy from that appointment. The next evening Kenneth and I watched a movie that I had picked out from the Library. I knew very little about it, but had heard good things, so brought it home to watch. As it turned out, one of the characters in the movie had Lymphoma and died. We were both bawling by the end of the movie and I had to convince Kenneth and myself that it was just a movie and that everything is going to be okay.
So, today when we asked the doctor if he believes the cancer will be gone after the chemo treatments and he said that 70% of the time with this kind of cancer the patient is cured on this regimen we felt euphoric. Kenneth feels very well. In fact, he asked the doctor if it is normal that he feels so good. He said that for someone Kenneth's age and whose health is otherwise so good, yes, it is normal to feel this good. Kenneth had even gained weight since last time- 4 pounds!! Hippeeee!
Also contributing to our happy days is that Kenneth's sister, Karen is in town again. She arrived on Friday with her two youngest daughters. The girls have loved having their cousin here to play with. Grant, is NOT happy to have a little intruder in his territory, on the other hand. Joslynn, who is 13 months old, touches his toys. (Gasp in horror!!) He is not pleased to say the least. We are very thankful to Karen for her being here for today's treatment and for all her help around the house. We are also grateful to her husband and other children at home for sacrificing so she can be here with us. We really didn't have to twist her arm too hard to get her to leave frigid Utah to visit us here with our 70 degree weather. She's even sporting her shorts and t-shirts here. Her girls are glad to be able to play outside without snowsuits on!
As I sit here blogging I am listening to Pandora and a song came on that I had never heard before. It is He Is by Hilary Weeks. I had heard her sing once at Time Out for Women and heard songs various other places, but never heard that song. I recommend listening to it. It is beautiful. It reminded me again how grateful I am for the Savior. I am thankful for His patience with me. I am thankful that He took upon Him all our sorrows and pains that He might know how to succor us. Last night I was reading to the girls from the Book of Mormon Stories. We were reading about Lehi and his family traveling on the ship across the ocean. Laman and Lemuel, sons of Lehi, were angry with their brother, Nephi and tied him up to a post. He remained tied up for 4 days, and the Lord sent a horrible storm. The account tells us that after his brothers finally released him, his wrists and ankles were very swollen and sore. But Nephi did not complain. He looked to God and praised Him. As I read that to the girls last night I felt a sweetness come over me. I felt the Holy Ghost prompt me that I need to be more like that. I need to not complain. I need to be more gentle in frustrating situations. I am thankful for my family being so patient with me. I have so much to learn.
I never did write a follow-up to the post on the kids getting colds. Kenneth did have a sore throat for a couple of days and had some congestion, but I account it as a blessing that NONE of us had the cold really take full hold. We are all feeling great again.
Now for the pictures. Kenneth caught Grant playing on Emma's bed with a pair of her pants. Whenever he finds any of the girls' pants with cats or dogs on them he drags them around the house for a while.
Silly boy!!!
Here are some pictures of the girls with their cousin, Alyssa:
All lined up watching Clifford.
Here are Alyssa and Emma being bookworms during resting time.
Before the treatment starts, Kenneth always meets with the Oncologist to see how he is doing and to make sure that there are no strange side effects happening (e.g. the crazy nose swelling last week). This morning we felt quite wonderful after talking with the Oncologist.
At this point I will back up and tell you of our experiences last week. Kenneth had to meet with an Endoscopy doctor, the same one who did the biopsy. He asked Kenneth how he was doing and how the treatments were going. Kenneth said he seemed quite surprised when he told him the Oncologist sees him returning to work in 6 months. The doctor didn't state it right out, but Kenneth could tell that he couldn't believe that the prognosis could be that good. He told Kenneth that the cancer was all throughout his chest/abdomen; he had no problem getting what he needed for the biopsy. Needless to say, Kenneth came home a little melancholy from that appointment. The next evening Kenneth and I watched a movie that I had picked out from the Library. I knew very little about it, but had heard good things, so brought it home to watch. As it turned out, one of the characters in the movie had Lymphoma and died. We were both bawling by the end of the movie and I had to convince Kenneth and myself that it was just a movie and that everything is going to be okay.
So, today when we asked the doctor if he believes the cancer will be gone after the chemo treatments and he said that 70% of the time with this kind of cancer the patient is cured on this regimen we felt euphoric. Kenneth feels very well. In fact, he asked the doctor if it is normal that he feels so good. He said that for someone Kenneth's age and whose health is otherwise so good, yes, it is normal to feel this good. Kenneth had even gained weight since last time- 4 pounds!! Hippeeee!
Also contributing to our happy days is that Kenneth's sister, Karen is in town again. She arrived on Friday with her two youngest daughters. The girls have loved having their cousin here to play with. Grant, is NOT happy to have a little intruder in his territory, on the other hand. Joslynn, who is 13 months old, touches his toys. (Gasp in horror!!) He is not pleased to say the least. We are very thankful to Karen for her being here for today's treatment and for all her help around the house. We are also grateful to her husband and other children at home for sacrificing so she can be here with us. We really didn't have to twist her arm too hard to get her to leave frigid Utah to visit us here with our 70 degree weather. She's even sporting her shorts and t-shirts here. Her girls are glad to be able to play outside without snowsuits on!
As I sit here blogging I am listening to Pandora and a song came on that I had never heard before. It is He Is by Hilary Weeks. I had heard her sing once at Time Out for Women and heard songs various other places, but never heard that song. I recommend listening to it. It is beautiful. It reminded me again how grateful I am for the Savior. I am thankful for His patience with me. I am thankful that He took upon Him all our sorrows and pains that He might know how to succor us. Last night I was reading to the girls from the Book of Mormon Stories. We were reading about Lehi and his family traveling on the ship across the ocean. Laman and Lemuel, sons of Lehi, were angry with their brother, Nephi and tied him up to a post. He remained tied up for 4 days, and the Lord sent a horrible storm. The account tells us that after his brothers finally released him, his wrists and ankles were very swollen and sore. But Nephi did not complain. He looked to God and praised Him. As I read that to the girls last night I felt a sweetness come over me. I felt the Holy Ghost prompt me that I need to be more like that. I need to not complain. I need to be more gentle in frustrating situations. I am thankful for my family being so patient with me. I have so much to learn.
I never did write a follow-up to the post on the kids getting colds. Kenneth did have a sore throat for a couple of days and had some congestion, but I account it as a blessing that NONE of us had the cold really take full hold. We are all feeling great again.
Now for the pictures. Kenneth caught Grant playing on Emma's bed with a pair of her pants. Whenever he finds any of the girls' pants with cats or dogs on them he drags them around the house for a while.
Silly boy!!!Here are some pictures of the girls with their cousin, Alyssa:
All lined up watching Clifford.
Here are Alyssa and Emma being bookworms during resting time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
