What a Pout!

I think Michaela's pout is so cute.... I thought I would share! This is the reaction we got when we asked her to share a toy with her cousin Reagan, not so good!

My mom sent me this story this morning and I wanted to share......

The Invisible Mom

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the
way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and
ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the
phone?'

Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or
sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can
see me at all. I'm invisible. "The invisible Mom."

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this?
Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being.
I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?'
I'm a TV Guide guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?'
I'm a car to order, 'Pick me up right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the
eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but
now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.
She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a
friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip,
and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting
there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was
hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic,
when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said,
'I brought you this.'

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure
why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:
'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are
building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would
discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could
pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals -
we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives
for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and
expected no credit.

The passion of their building was fuelled by their faith that the eyes
of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the
cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny
bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man,
'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that
will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman
replied, 'Because God sees everything.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was
almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the
sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of
kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked,
is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great
cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a
disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own
self-centeredness.
It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As
one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to
work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book
went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime
because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my daughter to tell the friend
she's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning
and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three
hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd
built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home.
And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add,
'You're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're
doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will
marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to
the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Happy Saturday!

Yesterday it was BEAUTIFUL outside! Like 75 degrees and clear. So I cancelled my massage appointment, and Jordan, Michaela, Shawnie and I headed out on a road trip. The GPS led us to a small park in Ellensburg WA where Michaela played at a park for the first time. (is that weird it's taken me so long to take her to a park?) Then we were almost home and wanted dessert so we called Jordan's Aunt and Uncle to see if they wanted to meet us somewhere but they were having his daughter and her new fiance for dinner, but invited us to come over there! It was so much fun! Jordan got to go out on the wave runner (They live ON the lake) and Michaela played with their little boy Cameron. It was so funny to see her playing like a big girl, running around and squealing with him. I had a great time too, Stephanie always makes such good food, I always leave there with new dinner ideas! Anyway, some of the other pictures are of earlier in the week, but my mom needed a baby fix, so I put extra on here this time! On a different note, Michaela met with the specialist at Childresn's Hospital where we had her tested for EVERYTHING. Turns out she is fine. Just a string of viruses, and apparently it isn't uncommon for babies to be sick all winter long....This is my fourth opinion so I will rest easy for now! Thanks for the prayers and concern!

Feeling Better!

So as some of you suggested, I was already in the process of finding a different doctor! We got into see a specialist affiliated with Seattle Children's Hospital on Wednesday and have already had numerous labs done. Things are going well and so far, nothing too serious is coming back. I will keep you informed and keep Michaela in your prayers! In the meantime, we are having a blast with new backpacks, markers and discovering mommy's socks!

The Saga Continues.....

Okay, so yesterday was the worst day of my life. I am certian I can say that. It begins with an entire three months of Michaela's urinary tract infections and hospitalizations, (I don't know if I posted when she was admitted again, ON HER BIRTHDAY.) and a "virus" that she has had for about six weeks now. I take her to the doctor at least once a week, sure there is something more than a virus and she can have medicine for it, but everytime I am sent home with tylenol and motrin. Anyway, yesterday she felt a little warm when I put her down for a nap but she was sleeping so I didn't wake her for tylenol. About 45 min into the nap, I heard a yelp and thought someone stepped on a puppy outside or something. After dismissing the noise, my body got chills and my mom internal voice (also known as the spirit) told me to check on Michaela. So I go in there to see my poor little baby having a seizure. Her eyes were wide open and rolled into the back of her head and she was shaking like a fish out of water..... So I pick her up, attempt to call 911, but I don't have service downstairs so I carry Michaela upstairs while she is still seizing, use the landline and scream to the operator that my one year old is and has been seizing for at least two minutes. I could hardly get my address out, and couldn't think of my house number, and this whole time Michaela is still shaking and at this point her lips are turning blue and she's going limp. I gave her rescue breaths and ran out to the lobby to meet the paramedics, the whole time my baby is limp in my arms and still shaking. Three or four minutes have gone by...... I gave her some more breaths, she finially stops seizing and now I am sitting on the bench in the lobby. So now Michaela is slowly starting to come out of it, still jerky and vacant looking but breathing and looking less blue, I realize I hung up on 911 when I carried the landline to the lobby and my cell phone didn't get service where I was sitting (side note.... switch to a useful cell phone company?) so I jumped on this poor man waling inside, I said in a urgent tone, Sir I need your phone, my baby is sick and I need to call my husband. Dude looks at me for a moment so I say, I NEED THE PHONE PLEASE. Jordan gets three words, Michaela is having a seizure, and I hang up on him. The manager comes out and asks whats going on. I realize I am about to get into an ambulance and I don't have any shoes on so I scream at her, I need my shoes! So she gets them, the paramedics come, Jordan gets there,we ride in the ambulance, go to the ER, Michaela had a Febrile Seizure which happens when a temperature spikes or drops suddenly. They say there are never side effects and they actually aren't emergencies and I don't even have to call 911 if it happens again. RIGHT. I will be calling. Anyway, she is fine, her temp is being regulated by Motrin and Tylenol, it's 98.8 now which is low normal, and we are ALL recovering. I actually want to publically thank Morgan Killian for educating me about a month ago when this happened to her daughter because I knew instantly what was going on and freaked out less than I would have otherwise....so THANKS MORGAN! Anyway, someday the health scares will cease, and I will be less paranoid. I actually didn't sleep last night, I watched Michaela like a movie, stuck a thermometer in her poor bum every two hours and the poor girl is terrified of a diaper change now. Life is returning to normal, and MAYBE tomorrow night I will go to sleep, not tonight though! Thanks for the prayers and calls, they were needed, felt and appreciated.

Busy Week

Where does the time go? When I was working, there was so much to do like dishes and laundry and grocery shopping AND go to work from 8-5, and somehow it all got done! Now, there is no 8-5, it's just Sunday through Saturday, 24 hours a day, all at my disposal to get something done. So why on earth is there nothing in the fridge, a million things on the floor and can someone tell me why I am LATE TO EVERYTHING?! I am (a little) obsessive about being on time, and latley, I am at least 15 min late to most everything. I can't imagine what two kids will do to this chaotic schedule! Anyway, I was stressing at my inability to manage a household of three people, when I read an email from a close friend of mine. She said her blog was called boring because she doesn't have a life, it's just pictures of her little boy on there! Her response was that her life was her family, so that is what her picutres were so that is what her blog was about. It got me thinking, I guess I feel so busy because I would rather play "gonna get you," or dance to silly songs or make it to story time at the library instead of dishes. And when Michaela is sleeping, I like to make love posters for Jordan or cookies for his office or something non productive like that. I guess what I am saying is that like my friend, my family is my life and we are happy and late and messy! Well at any rate, I am proud to join my friend in the boring blog ranks! Hope you all enjoy your week!

So here is the cutest thing I have ever seen, Michaela LOVES to brush her hair and yesterday she was extremley quiet so I peeked around the corner to find her brushing her hair with the vacum brush! Not sure why she looks so mad, maybe those are her pretty eyes!

This is the swimming pool that the Easter Bunny brought to Michaela. Not that instead of a swimming suit and flip flops, we are still in winter coats and boots!

First Few Steps!

Yeah! Michaela is a walker! She officially started over the last two weeks, and this video is from the begining stages, but I thought it was cute! Now, she is kind of a runner, so don't expect too many pictures for a while, she's too bruised! SHe isn't content with walking so when I put her down, it's like a bull out of the gate (for those of you not from Montana or Wyoming, that is a rodeo metaphor......!) Anyway, instead of walking her 15 or 16 steady steps, she bolts about 4 or five, straight legged wobbly running steps and then belly flops wherever she looses her balance! So funny!... And sad!

Happy Easter Everyone!

Road Trip

Hmmm, I see that Jordan suddenly became a blogger while I was gone! That must be what happens when the wife goes out of town, the husband loses one skill (dishes) and picks up another (blogging)!

Anyway, Michaela and I went with my mom, brother and his girlfriend to Utah/Wyoming for a little family reunion vacation. Let me begin with this: WYOMING IS COLD. Luckily and thankfully it didn't snow while we were there, but it was cold nontheless. Below are a few pictures to describe the week. I figure pictures are more interesting than words! I can't wait to get updated on all of your blogs again!

This is how Michaela traveled most of the way! Isn't she cute....!

Five Generations, Michaela, Samantha, Raylene, Juanita, and Rolene

Here is Michaela and my cousin Trudy

What would a trip to Wyoming be without riding a bull? (Thanks, Wal-Mart!!)

Here I am at my elementary school - the coat rack is so small these days!!

And what would a road trip be without a flat tire??!

And Finially in the Hotel! Michaela slept in the King Size bed with me, and took up most of it!

I love technology....always and forever

The few times I have posted a comment, Samantha is standing over my shoulder showing me how to work this "computer" device. I do spreadsheets at work all day long but this blog stuff is hard. I want to post some kind of picture or visual because I'm afraid if I only type stuff, no one will really read this. So to see who my real friends are, there will be a short quiz at the end of this post so pay attention.

You may be surprised to know that Seattle ranked the most "intelligent" city in the USA (http://www.travelandleisure.com/afc/2007/city/seattle). I'm not sure what that means but it sure boosted my spirits for the customs exam I'm taking on April 7th. I hope to pass the test the first try so wish me luck. Another notable #1 was coffee of course and who can dispute that? Has anyone ever been to downtown Seattle? Coffee is even big in the summertime. I think they are even offering coffee at some daycare facilities ; - )

One ranking that we missed was "Affordability" (#16) which I assume is mostly linked to housing costs. We are environmentally aware (#2) and I can tell you that I hear the words "carbon footprint" and "green" more than I hear my own name. The biggest shame to Seattle is that we ranked #23 in Barbecue. That just depresses me because barbecues are an all American activity.

I have loved every place I have ever lived for different reasons. Here's the quick Pros/Cons list :
*Seattle : Beatiful skyline in between 2 snow covered mountain ranges, next to a lake, and the puget sound with Mt. Rainier in the background. If the clouds move out of the way it's breathtaking.
*Phoenix : Sunny skies every single day! Swim anytime of year. Wearing oven mitts while golfing is no fun.
*Provo (do my 3 months at the MTC count?) : Where else can you go to a nickle arcade, dollar theater and get fry sauce at the nearest Wendy's all within 1 city block? If every one is a member, how can every member be a missionary?
*Loncoche, Chiloe, Punta Arenas, Lago Ranco, Valdivia & Puerto Cisnes Chile : Small town feel and I don't remember ever hearing about anyone hating Chileans as passionately as some people hate Americans. So laid back that "on time" doesn't exist which is cool for parties but killer for meeting a customs deadline.

Places I wouldn't mind moving to :
Rio de Janeiro; Preston, Idaho; Hong Kong; Wenatchee, WA; Nessa, OR

Here are some other surprising statistics for other cities in case you were wondering :
-Portland, OR was the best overall (Characteristics) city
-Washington D.C. was #2 in best family vacation spots

There you have it folks.

Exciting News!

Hello Friends and Family! Our family is excited to tell you that we have started the adoption process again! It could take a long time, and it could be very fast, Michaela came to us just six short weeks after signing up with the agency. This time though, we are going through LDS Family Services, and it tends to take about a year with them. That's where YOU could come in! The odds of being placed with a newborn triple when you are connected with a birthmother on your own, so they told us to involve friends and family. Well, if you know of any girls in need of options for their unborn baby, please tell them a little bit about our family and that we would be intetested in talking with them. We have another blog that you could direct them to, with our agency contact info. The site is: http://www.hopefulinwashington.blogspot.com/ , you can feel free to visit there also, but please DO NOT LINK IT TO YOUR BLOG, OR LEAVE COMMENTS ON THERE! It is very important that our identities remain unknown, to protect our information. If you have a question or comment, please leave them on this post. We are superexcited and will try to keep you updated as we set up all our online profiles. Thanks for the support and prayers! Sorry..... no pictures right now, I am in the middle of a movie.........

First Trip to Dairy Queen

My Grandmother couldn't be here for Michaela's birthday or Valentines day, so she sent Michaela a tip to Dairy Queen! It was her very first time with ice cream and let me tell you, we now know what a sugar high is! Enjoy the video, we think she is adorable as well as a genius!

Meant to be?

I was going through some old baby pictures of myself the other night and was surprised to see that in fact, Michaela and I do resemble eachother! People always tell me that she looks a lot like me, but now I see it! How blessed we are that she is part of our family!