Another Allergy?

My mom holding baby Gym Rat

I woke up this morning with what felt like a fuzzy tennis ball in my throat. I couldn't swallow and my mouth was dry, but I was too tired to do much about it as I stumbled out the door just before 7:00 AM to run the carpool. My sweetie had an early meeting and I was on my own.

As we pulled up to the school, I complained a bit to Princess about my throat and she quickly assured me I wasn't the only one suffering. When I got back to the house, I pulled open the medicine cupboard and popped a Loratadine. I shook my groggy brain, willing the tiny pill to work faster. When did this all happen?

I remember my mom always complaining about hayfever when we were kids. Since my dad owned a small farm, I always assumed she really got sick when she was around the hay. It wasn't until I was older that I realized that she had seasonal allergies  that sometimes got way out of hand.

My sweetie has always trouble with allergies, but not me. Not until the last few years, that is. How is it that a healthy adult can suddenly start having issues with the outdoors? Well, I plan to find out!

Today in my email, I received an invitation to an Allergy Night hosted by the University of Utah. They are having a free event on April 23, 2013 from 6:30 - 7:30 at their Daybreak Facility in South Jordan. They are even offering a free allergy test (with a skin prick) to figure out what type of allergies I might have developed in my old age.

So if you are anywhere near South Jordan, and the pollen is driving you crazy like it is me, check out this website

http://healthcare.utah.edu/calendar/index.php?trumbaEmbed=view%3devent%26eventid%3d104696528

 to get yourself registered too. I hope to see you there!

**I was paid a small fee for this promotion.**

A Little Randomness

I'm feeling a bit random tonight and a lot burned out! The Dog Walker started a new job at Wal Mart about a month ago, stocking shelves three nights a week. He works the graveyard shift on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. You would think that might mean I could get more sleep since he is gone those nights and I don't have anyone up to help with homework (except Prima Donna)...

But no, it doesn't work that way. Instead when the first of the week rolls around, he is used to staying up all night so that is when he wants to do his homework. This 3:00 AM thing just doesn't work for me when I have to get up early and get kids off to school.

In fact, it's carpool week for me (you know how much I hate the carpool!) so that means I have to be coherent and ready to drive at 7:00 AM.

I sent the Dog Walker off to bed about 20 minutes ago so I could give you a quick post. I thought it might be fun to pull up a few old totally unrelated pics and tell you what I remember. Teach used to do that for me once in a while, so I guess I can do it by myself...maybe...


This first one is a cute pic of Bossy and Gamer and baby Taco. Aren't they cute!?

Oh the Dog Walker will be so mad at me for choosing this picture! When he was little he just loved Barney. One day at the mall he had a chance to hug his hero in person. These funny pictures were taken by him in 2007 right out of his scrapbook. Without Teach's step-by-step instructions, this is probably how I would be scanning pictures too!

Another one from the same year. This is his cute Halloween costume I made. Except he forgot his cowboy hat!

 Sweet little Princess and baby Scout about Christmastime, 2005.

The Drama Queen and Teach just being so silly! I always warned Teach that she shouldn't pull a silly face in almost every picture she ever had taken. Because someday somebody might just put them on the blog...

Good thing she can't read blogs on her mission.

And with that, I bid you good night!

Breakfast with the Mayor

Do you remember way last summer when we all headed off to our CountryFest celebration? Princess and Prima Donna were in the parade with the marching band and Sport led his group of helmet wearers on their bikes. The Dog Walker had his dancing filmed and entered into the contest by Utah Dave, and the kids all participated in the Pinewood Derby that was set up at the park.

They love racing their cars any time they get the opportunity and this time was no different. After they raced each other, they had the opportunity to race with the mayor! He had an amazing car made to look like a city golf cart (I wonder if he made it himself?) and it was much faster than I expected. He beat all of our kids, but promised them a consolation prize of having breakfast with the mayor. That was in June.

When the email finally came mid-March, we had pretty much given up thinking it would ever happen. So last Saturday was the big day. We dressed the kids up cute and headed for the University of Utah medical center at Daybreak. I know, weird place for a breakfast, huh?

We met in a conference room and helped ourselves to muffins, eggs, bacon and sausage, fried potatoes, and juice. The muffins especially were delicious. We sat with our tables in the shape of a U and the mayor sat with us. He answered informal questions and asked the kids about their activities, particular ball and things offered by the city.

After we were finished eating, he took a few minutes to talk to the kids in a more formal way. He and his assistants asked us how they could improve the Pinewood Derby and increase participation. The kids were full of suggestions! I was proud of their ability to speak up in their first-ever political forum.

After the talking was over, they spent some time making a little video to go on the city website. I was planning to put this whole post up when the site was live, but honestly, if it takes as long as the breakfast invitation did...

Kiylee's Christmas - Chapter 14

So we are finally here! The last chapter of my never-before-published children's novel...what do you think? I guess I won't ever make any money off it, but at least a few of you have read some of it. It's hard to spend so much time on something that nobody will ever read.

Cover for my Book created by Dog Walker

I'm sure by now you figured out that this is a mostly true story although my memories and Bossy's memories tend to differ some. And my sweetie's memories are something altogether different. But I think I captured the essence of the real-life drama that devastated our lives back in 1997. 

 Chapter Fourteen – Kiylee’s Christmas

    “Line up, line up!”  We crowded near the top of the stairs in our new pajamas.  Mom was first, carrying a fragile wrapped gift in her arms. Nathan was after her, then Kiyna, Kinsey, Neal, and finally me. Dad was already downstairs. He always went down first to turn on the Christmas tree lights.
    It was still dark outside and the living room was lit only by the lights from the tree. “Careful,” Mom cautioned as we made our way excitedly down the stairs. 
    I bumped into Neal somewhere near the bottom step and I grabbed his shoulders to keep him from falling. “Kira,” he complained. 
    “Oh, you’re fine,” I mumbled. “Hurry up.”
Mom sat down on the couch and cradled the precious gift on her lap. Usually, we all grab our stockings and then start ripping, but not this time. I picked up my gift for Kiy and carried it to Mom. I could see the tears shining in her eyes as she carefully unwrapped the blanket from Kiy’s arms and sat her up. She still looked so pale and small! I handed her the package.
    Kiy was too weak to tear the paper herself, so Mom helped her. Within a few seconds, the doll’s blue eyes stared up at Kiy from the torn paper. Kiy looked up at me and smiled. “Ra-ra,” she whispered and reached for me.
    I hugged her gently and carefully while the tears slid down my cheeks. I looked at Mom and she was crying too. “You know, Mom,” I said, “the best gifts aren’t wrapped in Christmas paper.”

Kiy and Nate at the zoo about a year later.

    I glanced across the room at Dad. He was trying to get Nathan to open one of his presents. I laughed, “Guess what, Dad?” 
    “What?” Dad asked.
    I gently stroked Kiy’s wispy curls. “I believe in miracles.”
    He smiled. “And in Santa Claus?” he questioned.
    I looked around at the mound of unopened gifts. “And in Santa Claus!”