Phew . . that's over with . . .

I'll start by saying that I forgot to take my camera with us to Montana, so no Christmas pictures. . I'll have to see if Grandma has some pictures to share.
We drove up to Idaho Falls on Tuesday afternoon, staying the night at a hotel. We took Oreo with us and he was so good. It was odd though, being trapped in room all together with no where to go. It was actually great family time. I took refuge in the hotel hot tub, which I had to myself. . Loved it.
We made it to Montana in the early afternoon of Christmas Eve. In the Mohn household Christmas Eve is the big family gathering event where everyone gathers for the opening of gifts to eachother. We are blessed to receive an abundance of gifts from Grandma and Grandpa (Wayne's folks), which this year was the main gifts we received as a family as with our situation of my unemployment. We stayed in Montana until Sunday morning. The kids went sledding on Saturday up Skalkaho and had tons of fun. Wayne and I did not go as I was still dealing with a great amount of pain from my latest surgery (Fissure repair).
We are getting together with friends for New Year's Eve. We have never really done anything before, usually sit around until about 10pm watching the broadcasts from across the country and call it an early night.
Brendan is really loving his new Pre-School and starts Basketball on Monday at the Legacy Center. It is really hard at this point to think of putting him back into daycare and going back to work. We have both really enjoyed this time off together. Oh well, things will work out how they should.
I have not had very many more headaches lately - yeah medication and rest. I still have very little energy but trying to be more active.
May your New Years be as great as I hope for mine to be! I am hoping mine will be full of great health, employment and great family memories!

Real Quick

It's been a while, Yes, I know. Kids are all doing well. We are heading to Montana for Christmas on Tuesday for a few days.
I think this is the most sparse that our Christmas tree has ever been, but gratefully, the kids don't care! They are just estatic that we are going to Grandma's house!

Birthdays

Both Wayne and Michael celebrated their birthdays on November 11. Michael received some money in place of presents and decided to purchase a Nintendo DS and a Mario Game. He just loves it! Wayne got a hat and t-shirt and his painted house.
My mom, Laurel White, had her birthday yesterday. She was recovering from a tooth removal and spent the "drooling on her pillow." Brendan has started PreSchool at the Lehi Legacy Center and just loves it. He is going twice a week for 2 hours a day.
The weather is getting cooler and just about all the leaves are off the trees. As I was not feeling well on Saturday the neighbors came and raked the whole yard and made a huge pile of leaves (which I have resisted jumping in for 4 days now).
I went to the doctor yesterday and we are changing my medication again. It seems as if my last medication was causing the headaches so that I was having one a day. I will be on straight steroids for the next week then on some new meds. I will also be having an MRI on Tues (11/18) to check for small clots in my brain. They believe I may have a condition that is allowing unpurified blood to pass into my head from my heart. UPDATE . . NOTHING WAS SEEN ON MY MRI TO INDICATE ANY PROBLEMS. IT DID SHOW A BAD SINUS INFECTION, WHICH WAS THE SOURCE OF MY THREE-DAY HEAD PRESSURE/HEADACHE. STEROIDS CLEARED THAT UP.
Only two weeks until Thanksgiving!

Longer than before . . . .

Wayne's mom (Glenda Mohn) and sister (Kila Breault) came down last week and helped us paint the house for Wayne's and my birthday presents. It went from Pink and chipping to a great brown.

House prior to new windows and painting.

Pictures of house now -

Since purchasing the house we have put in a new railing, new door, new windows, and of course painted.



We also celebrated Brendan's 5th birthday. He went to Chuck-E-Cheese. He got lots of great toys.


It has been a while since I last blogged. I have been having a few more migraines and trying to rest.

New favorite time of year . . .

Spring had always been my favorite time of year - but now, I think I like Fall better. A few cool days, a few warm days, still some flowers blooming but now to the background of coloring hills.
As you can see from the photos, Brendan is loving his football classes. He thinks he is such hot stuff - of course he is and I encourage that I am sure. He is learning to kick off the little tee-thingie, throw the ball into the air to get points, catching, learning the terms of the game and getting two laffy taffy candies at the end.



In this one he is the quarterback, after coming up with the ball you can see the coach has to give him a shove in the correct position. Even after being shoved, he still turned around the other way and ran behind his team. Just goes to show that he has Aussie Rules in his blood - so much for those yankee rules!
My health - I can tell a diference now with my new medications. I am not near as tired and do not have near the headaches. I have had one headache in the last two weeks! I actually have a little bit of energy, which I overuse and burn off fast leaving me tired again but I am learning my new limits.

He's acing his classes!

As you may know Michael has had some difficulties in his classes with getting work done and being motivated to make it through the day. This year is his first year with a male teacher, Mr. B. We reviewed his grades last night and he was so proud. As were we.
We made the decision for me to stay home and focus on my health. I pretty much sit in a stuper daze with the effects of the medications. I saw a new neurologist for a second opinion. Dr. Pamela Vincent in Provo. She has a great new plan for me. I am stopping the medication I have been taking since my hemiplegic migraine and I am on a new regime of medications for four weeks. I am starting to feel a difference in the way I feel. Still have no energy and bloated. One of the side effects of the old medicine was weight gain - - lovely.
I enrolled Brendan in Itty Bitty Football that starts next week. He is really excited and carries around a football.
Afton is doing well in school but a bit frustrated that Michael's grades are better than hers.
Wayne is taking on a little more to make up for my loss of income. Another shift or two and tracking another boy who will be released from the boy's home. Which means that the boy will be living on his own and will have to call Wayne to check in several times a day.

Been a while. . .

Well, I went back to work on September 11th. I am working for Farmers Insurance Litigation division in Salt Lake. First few days were great, getting to know everyone and my job . . . then the migraines kicked in again. I have never felt so absolutely horrible in my life. I couldn't call in sick . . how could I? I think the best way to explain how I looked is a drug addict that was coming off a high and in need of a boost. (I only know addiction from what I see on "Intervention" so that's to what I refer.) I ended the week without a headache, but taking it easy and not doing much to avoid getting another migraine.
The kids are doing great in school. We have always provided lunch money for the kids to eat a hot lunch at school, but dang, that crap is expensive! Ok, not if you think that they get a hot meal for $1.50, but that adds up and I think that PB&J will become the lunch of choice for a while.
I am glad the weather is cooling down. The leaves are starting to change on the sides of the mountains, which is great. We will be having our house painted this next week which will change our house from pink to tan/brown.
Brendan is looking forward to his birthday next month and is eagerly deciding on a final decision for his present.

Pictures

These are a few updated pictures of us . . well, some of us.



Still no medical word. I have had a background check cleared from Farmer's Insurance. I have applied for a position of a legal secretary within their in-house legal department. I have yet to receive an offer from their head office, but Debbie, my would-be co-worker said that she would like me to start on Wednesday and get rolling. So, I think that means that she wants me.

I usually don't speak of politics, but I have to say that the Republican VP, Palin? seems quite nice and seems to have her head on straight. I guess I will have to start paying attention now.

Peaceful week

Well, as you may or not know - I was laid off last week for 'medical reasons.' It has come to be a blessing as I was quite sick most of the week. I have had neurological problems, speach delays and totally spaciness.
The kids are adjusting in school well. I had a followup appointment with my neurologist before my insurance runs out and she has increased my medication and is happy that I haven't had any numbness on either side of my body. I'm glad she's so happy! We are freaked out by the latest delays. I have had some blood taken to check my liver. The medication I am on, Depakote, is known to have adverse effects on the kidneys and liver which would cause neuro problems like speach . . etc. Of course she is out of the office on Fridays and Monday is a holiday . . . ggrr. I hope I find out soon what's going on.
We went to Lehi High School's first football game of the season. Let's just say the kids were bored and I was none too happy to let my kids out of my sight. Brendan needed to go to the bathroom so Michael and Afton took him and I gave them a few dollars to stop by the 'snack bar' to get some goodies. It seemed like they were gone forever! They were out of eye shot and I got more and more fearful with each passing minute that my tiny little babies (10 1/2 and 12) were being harrassed by the big school bullies. Well, it turns out I have a few phobias, but my kids are growing and I need to give them space - - next time I'll take walkie talkies or something so I don't get scared. Now, don't get me wrong - nothing happened to them, but crap they could have gotten pinched, pushed or even turned in circles with a blindfold on. I just can't let them go at such a young age. Now I know why Mum used to not get to sleep until I was home at night as a teen!!
The final score was 0-2. We all got into it when the coach decided with 6 seconds left to go for a field goal (3pts). It ended dismally, but we will go again tonight to support our Lehi Pioneers!!

Quick Back-to-School update

Okay, I went to remind Afton to get out of bed after she had been awoken by Dad. . she was lying in bed in her school clothes just waiting for the time to pass. What? She then promptly arose and got herself breakfast to be quickly joined by a Just-as-excited Michael. They were both up and at it ready to go without yelling, nudging, or threats! My wager on how long this will last is limited to weeks if not days. Brendan didn't make it back to day care today as he has a sore throat and we felt it best he be home to rest, or, Wayne home to rest - however you see it.

GOOD ON YA AFFIE AND MIKIE!

I guess I shouldn't celebrate until they have done their homework tonight? Oh crap!

She's off to Junior High!

Shh, Wayne doesn't know, but I had him drop Afton at School for her first day because I couldn't hack doing it. It makes me nervous at the thought of her being so grown up. Wayne got her fees all paid, got her locker combination and schedule (with room numbers) - which, by the way you can't get until you pay the dumb fees - and she was set. Wayne asked her if she needed any help to her locker or class or anything and she said no and was off.
Poor daddy about lost it right there. He saw her intermingling with the 'boys' and had thoughts run through his mind of what they were thinking of his daughter - not the nice kind either - I am sure she will have to give a full run down tonight about those darned boys.
Michael doesn't start school until Monday, big 5th grade. Brendan will also go back to day care with preschool as he isn't quite 5. One more year for him! I am sure I'll be the one dropping him off - Wayne has made it quite clear from his birth that he won't be able to hack dropping him off for school on that first day. I don't think it will be bad, he is already excited to go and will be much the same as Afton, which I am not sure is better or worse. To have the child excited to go and care less that you walk away from the building with you head hanging low felling un-needed or having your child cling to you and you thinking all day if they are okay. One of the great things about being a parent I guess.
We all got to go to a work party last night with bowling and games. The kids had so much fun - we did too, but I'm not a bowler - I look like Elaine (from Seinfeld) dancing when I bowl. That is one coordination I lack. I got such a horrible score - with bumpers - all three kids beat me! Quite dismal.

One week closer to School . . .

Well, after a few days sick, I am back on my feet, partially. I had a migraine all weekend again and this time I saw my neurologist and got a couple of shots. It has taken a couple of days to come out of that sleepy daze, but I am working on it. Brendan and Michael made it back successfully on Saturday afternoon. Oh, I’m so glad to have them back. Wayne’s Mom Glenda stayed around for a few days and helped out. Boy, was I glad - she even helped the kids to clean the house for me, what a lifesaver.
Afton had a fantastic time at camp and took the ritual ‘rest of the day’ to sleep and recover. She thought I was a dork when we stopped by the neighbors to ask and pick some apricots off his tree. The limbs are so heavy with fruit they are sagging. I, for one, don’t like it when things sag. So, we grabbed some before the birds did.
Watching the Olympics has me want to favorite pastimes - One, Australia and two, swimming. I really miss swimming. For those of you who don’t know, and probably have a hard time believing, I was on the high school swim teams at Kearns High School and Orem High School. I never made it to State on either team, but that’s okay, I made great friends and it was a great experience.
My kids start school on Monday. Afton, being the Junior Higher she is gets to go a day early on Friday. I am nervous for her but excited. She'll have a great time.

Another headache -- Really?

Well, I was blessed with another headache this weekend. I went to Lisa Conforti's baby shower which was very nice. Lisa is 34 weeks pregnant and is looking so good. Why couldn't have I been that lucky?
I pretty much spent the rest of the weekend in my bed trying to sleep off the migraine. I was able to slip in some time to help Afton gather the last minute things for Young Women’s Camp. Oh, she is so excited. I wasn’t sure she was going to ever get to sleep last night. But, she got off fine this morning. I am so excited for her.
I spoke with my doctor who instructed me to take 750 mg of the Depakote at night time. I hope that works! I’m exhausted!

Baby blessing picture

I just have to share the picture I stole from Shannon's website - its so nice.

This picture was taken on Sunday, July 20, 2008 at the blessing of Madison and Blake White. All that were in attendance are in this picture.

Congratulations to Corri & Frank

I completely forgot to mention the fact that Corri and Frank married on Friday, July 25, 2008. Congrats to them!

Weekend/Public Transportation

I had a good weekend - it started with a migraine which eventually faded. Wayne and I spent the evening at Mum & Dad's with Blake and Madison - oh I can't get enough of them. We heard a few great White traditional stories about flatulence and Guy being a POPO. I had mentioned to Mum how I wanted her to crochet me some dish rags and she handed me some partial crocheting that she said to finish. Well, I had been taught how to crochet several times, did it for a few minutes and gave it up. I took it that she was busy with her baby blankets, which she can do with her eyes closed and could probably do with her toes!! I undid the crocheting a little to see how the stiches went and I have not put the stuff down yet. I have made 5 dish rags already and anticipate I'll be the person I used to get annoyed with when I was a kid. I always was frustrated having to vaccum around Mum's knitting/crocheting. It was always on the floor, on the couch, that was fun, finding a knitting needle wedged in the couch when you sat on it.
On Saturday I got some rest and then went to lunch with the departing White Family at Golden Corral. Afton has been staying with Alyssa since the family BBQ on Thursday night. We have had quite the quiet household with the boys still being in Montana. They are doing well, Michael has finished his soccer camp and enjoyed it. They both start swimming lessons this week in Hamilton, Montana, which is where Carl & Glenda, Wayne’s parents live. Their lessons run for two weeks and they will come back next week.
I don’t expect this week to be very exciting - it is always hard coming back to work after a short work week.
Last night I did one of my favorite things - I layed on my hammock and watched a thunder storm rolling in across the mountains.
The kids and I planted a small garden in the spring which is coming into fruition. We have some tall corn growing, tomatoes that will fill buckets when red and some onions. The peas, beans and carrots whimpered out as I was still recovering from my ‘stroke’ after they were planted and didn’t get enough TLC. Oh well, next year.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - I rode the bus into work this morning and it was full -- as usual, with gas prices rising, it is the best way to get from Provo/Lehi to Salt Lake. Why do people freak out about touching other people? I mean really, the guy I was sitting directly beside must have been preparing his confession to his wife about how he feels bad about rubbing the leg of a woman on the bus. Crikey! If you are that phobic - don't ride the freek'n bus! He pulled his leg away more than my 4-yr-old pulls away from hugs! I'd understand if he were cute, or I'd like it if he were cute - WAIT . . anyhow, get over yourself people!

Pioneer Day

The day started off with some quiet time at home - did a little shopping then went to the big family BBQ. It was great! Everyone, that is still close, came by for some steak, hot dogs, lamb chops and Aussie snags. I am a little dissapointed that I am having to work today though! I do get a free lunch! But still -- Yuck. When I get some pictures in I will save them. Have a great weekend!

Fantastic weekend

Wow, I cannot believe how great my weekend was. It started by getting my hair cut and styled - which every woman loves. I then ventured out with my girlfriends from work and their babies/toddlers (their own or borrowed) and went to the Living Planet Acquariam in Sandy. How fun - although I was a little freaked out by the stingrays! http://www.thelivingplanet.com/ Here's one for you Steve-O! Can't believe one of those killed you - poor bloke. Wayne took Michael and Brendan to Idaho Falls where he was met by his Mom to take them to Montana for Soccer camps and swimming lessons. Afton is staying home this trip because she wants to be there for babysitting the twins this week and for her very first Young Women's Girls Camp the first week of August. The boys will be back on the 9th. Afton and I then headed to McDonald's for lunch with Kelly, Travis, Walker, and their borrowed nieces. Afton and I then headed to home with a few stops by Ikea and Ross - both unexpected spending trips - thanks to Affie's pleadings. I went home for a nap and Afton manned the phone. By 7:00 she had had enough of my sleeping so she woke me for dinner at Arbys - man she loves that place. Wayne stopped by his mate's place - Cole (mission companion) - in Logan for a visit and was home late.
Sunday was a busy day - Up early for the baby blessings in Spanish Fork and then over to Jamie's for a quick bite and home for a nap then to Mum and Dad's talks in yet another sacrament meeting. We then headed over to Mum's for a bite of Lasagna, to play with the babies and to clear out her living room for the arrival of her new wood floor today/tomorrow.

Excited Aunt

I am getting quite excited about my soon to be neice and nephew. I am heartbroken that I cannot be there to play with them, I am excited to see who the look like and for them to be delivered safely.