The Right Place

This week I was privy to an amazing event. I showed up to a women's meeting for my church called Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment Meeting. (Usually we get together and learn how to improve our spiritual and temporal lives. We also share with each other our talents and tips to great living.)


Well, this particular night I sat listening to the spiritual message when my cell phone rang. (Note: My cell phone never rings except when I expect it too. My kids, calling to just say hi, was not expected.) Feeling embarrassed I remained in the foyer of the building. I intended to stay there until I saw a natural break in the proceedings. A few minutes had passed when I noticed several people exit the meeting room. As I walked toward the door to rejoin the other sisters (a name we call each other in the Relief Society), I overheard a friend telling the Bishop about her newest grand baby. I didn't catch the details, but heard enough to note that the news wasn't good. The baby was sick.


I joined the rest of the sisters for the other practical-tip sessions and then we all sojourned to another room to enjoy some craft-time. Before I got too involved in my craft I asked my friend if her grand baby's condition was life-threatening. She said they didn't know what was wrong. The baby was born healthy. Then a few hours later started showing signs of shallow breathing--his nose would flare with every breath. Nose flaring? Wow, that sounded so familiar...too familiar. I immediately cut her off and shared with her the experience I had with my oldest son. Just a few hours after his birth he was showing similar symptoms. The doctor was not sure what was wrong with him either.


She said they thought her grand baby had some sort of infection. I told her my baby was first diagnosed with a heart defect that warranted further testing at a more sophisticated facility. She wasn't sure what tests they had given her grand baby.


When I related my baby's final diagnosis, she quickly called her son to make him aware of the possibility that it could be the same thing--Beta Strep or Group B Streptococcus. We started working on our crafts hoping that the "coincidence" of information was not such a coincidence after all. Hopefully they would discover it was Beta Strep and be able to treat it sooner than later.


Re-living the emotional roller coaster that I experienced with my first baby started to invoke my own anxious feelings. I prayed that everything would work out for this new mom and that she wouldn't have to experience the same. Emotions weren't the only things revisited though, I was able to recall more details of the illness. I realized that with my baby the doctors were shocked to hear that the Beta Strep was passed to him after I had tested negative (after a routine screening). It was also curious that he was infected with the virus when he had been born Cesarean. In order to "cover all the bases", my friend informed her son that the testing may have been incorrect for her daughter-in-law as well.


As she left me that night she mentioned that she felt more at peace than she'd felt in several hours and just knew things would work out. I petitioned her to call me and let me know as soon as she could about the outcome.


Two days later...


My friend called me and told me that her grand baby had been diagnosed with Beta Strep. He had been treated with antibiotics soon after her son had talked with her that night. The baby responded immediately and was now perfectly fine. One more day in the hospital and it was Home, Sweet, Home for this new family.


Coincidence? No, God knows our needs. I feel so grateful for having been at the right place.

Thank God for Kids

My husband and I just heard the song Thank God for Kids. So we decided to make it our "wake-up" song. That way we can start out the morning on the right note (excuse the pun). Yesterday I was thanking God for my kids...let me share just a few examples.

Sammie was walking to the car with me and said, "Mommy, I'm glad God made houses, cause the rain might get us. Or the snow. You can just get cozy in your bed with your blanket and be warm."

Kayla was headed for a friends house but stopped a few feet away and came back to give me a hug (O), a kiss (X), and an "I love you".

Benji dropped what he was doing to "save" Hyrum from inevitable danger (that he seems to be getting into a lot lately). And with his sweetest voice distracted Hyrum into doing something safe.

Ally took an ordinary soda can (from Benji's science experiment) and turned it into a pig that is sure to make you SMILE.

Hyrum gave the best "loving" with his arms around my neck, his head on my shoulder and a little tap-tap with his hand on my back. Or better yet, he climbed to the top of the table, stood up and complimented himself on a job well done with a squeal. (He's keeping me busy now!)

So "get down on your knees tonight...[and] thank God for kids!"

http://www.jango.com/stations/35946671/tunein?proxy_id=25435243&song_id=149095

Big Enough?

Kids...some seem too big, while others don't seem big enough. Sammie just went to her first day of preschool. I can't believe she is only one year away from kindergarten. Technically she is the right age for preschool. I am just wishing she would stay little.

All too soon she'll be off to "big kid" school like the rest...

I have been told so often that these little ones grow up "too fast", "don't let the good times pass you by, they'll be gone before you know it", etc. So true, so true!

Nine Years Going on 16

Ally had her 9th birthday this past week! She finally got the friend birthday she has been begging me for. Luckily she likes taking charge. She planned/carried out the whole party. She may as well be 16 with the way her mind works. (*Note...her "friend birthday cake" was SMORE cake...the real cake came later, see below):

On her real birthday we surprised her with breakfast in bed before school and a real birthday cake that night! We, Ally and I, put our creative juices together for the cake. I think it turned out pretty cute.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALLY!!!!

Sweet start to my morning

I was having a hard time opening my eyes this morning, when I heard a tiny voice in my room say, "Good morning, Mommy!" I replied, "Hi, Sam." Then she asked the cutest question: "How are you feeling?" "Fine," was all I could say in my shock. Really I should have been able to reply with a "great" or something. I guess I was just caught off guard. She's only four!

Kids do the darndest things, don't they!

Almost over

Summer is almost over if you can believe it! School is starting earlier than usual this year.

Yesterday we had another family wedding. And since Hyrum was sick on Sunday I was worried that we wouldn't be able to go. At least not without difficulty. I prayed that Hyrum would feel okay and that the rest would stay healthy. Through a small miracle, Hyrum didn't show he was sick until the end of the wedding luncheon. And the rest? Well, Sammie got sick in the car on the way home and Kayla showed signs of it when we got home. Oh, and don't forget Ally. She spent the night awake with the same stomach flu. I guess it's good timing for all of my kids to be sick this week instead of during the first days of school. ("Good" is relative though, seeing that stomach flu is never good.)


Aside from the summer's "crash landing", we've had a good "flight"--fishing with Grandpa,
fun with the cousins, Hyrum's 1st birthday and weddings galore!


And so I conclude with...Happy Summer to all and to all a good-Fall!

IT'S OFFICIAL...TAKE A LOOK!

Ain't HE sweet! See him walking down the "street"!