Vacation Everyday

Lots of books and storytelling.

Beauty everywhere we look
Kites!


Lots of Golfing!

Audrey sat down to play and sang along to her own tunes.

The people not in our group are as far down at the other end as they can be.

More Fun in Oregon

Dustin went home today. He will be back for our last long weekend. We miss him already.

Here's a shot of our hike. It is really really REALLY beautiful here.

Oregon Here we Come!!

I didn't bring the cable to download pictures so we are working out our technical difficulties. I will get them up as soon as we find some compatible software here.

We have already spent hours playing on the HUGE Pile of sand grandma and grandpa had delivered just for our digging enjoyment.

We went skiing on Klamath Lake (where they produce most of the world's famous blue algae). My body has definitely not used its waterskiing muscles in WAY too long. We have ALL learned how to golf. It is so cute to see all the kids walk to the driving range with their own sets of clubs.

And today we went to a huge air show with the Air Force Thunderbirds.

Whew! Way more fun with pictures.

My parents are taking great care of us.

The Great Big 35 Years!!!

I was born on Father's Day. That is fun to think I made my Dad a father ON the day. And he is a GREAT Dad. I have really truly been so blessed by his deep unconditional love, his great wisdom, his tender heart, and his fun spirit!! And my kids think he is the BEST!

So every now and then I share a birthday with Father's Day. It was super fun as a kid, but now as tomorrow rolls around, who gets breakfast in bed? Who makes dinner? Who opens presents first? Who gets the most presents? Who do we get the kids all excited about?

Maybe we will both just lay there in bed and wait and see what happens!

Either way, I have some fun plans for Dustin. He is a fabulous father. I can't think of any way he could be better with our sweet kids. They know he loves them, they feel his respect, and they have SO much fun with him.

I feel so blessed.....even though I am now in a whole new age bracket!!!!

Shopping

OK, I have noticed some shopping phenomena. Sometimes we might all fit into one of these scenarios.

1. We buy things ONLY because they are a good deal. We had never wanted them previously or felt any need until we saw what a good deal we could get.

2. We sometimes also only like things if they are highly priced. We think they MUST have more value if they are more expensive. This holds true for electronics and jewelry especially.

3. We seem to think the grass really is greener over there. We are never satisfied with what we have...at least not for very long.

I almost always fit in category number 1. For example:

I walked into Anthropologie and they were having a SALE. Wow. I've never seen a sale in there. And I stumbled on this shirt for super cheap so I HAD to buy it, only now that it is home....well....it's kind of funny looking and it is 90+ degrees outside!!!!!!! Pajamas?

Then there was that cardinal bird feeder I saw at an end of year sale in a catalogue. So cheap, I thought there has to be a tree I could put it on. It is still in its box somewhere in my house.

That's why I love Costco so much. I even bought my bedroom furniture there. Don't tell my rich neighbors.

I LOVE to drive four hours to the nearest Williams and Sonoma outlet just so I can get stuff at a great deal!!! How much sense does that make?

Summer Sensation Coupons!!

More than a couple people have asked us about our summer coupon program so I thought maybe someone out there would find it useful. My kids LOVE this. They seriously can't wait to start doing good things to earn coupons.

Here is what I do. I modified it from what they do at school all year:

I buy a box FULL of the things they love, everything they ask for all year and I say no. For us, this included magnet earrings at Claires, webkinz, toy spy equipment, Breyer horses, candy, etc. I throw in some family activity coupons like dates with Dad and trips to Six Flags and a local water park. Then everything in the box gets a pricetag in coupons. Webkinz are 100 (or I would have to buy one every day). Then I come up with a list of things the kids can do to earn coupons. Here is our list this summer with the number of coupons earned:


Saturday Chores 2
Clean 5 Windows 1
Vacuum a Room 1
Sweep Kitchen Floor 1
Pick up Playroom 2
Clean off Stairs 1
Do Dishes unload/load 2

Swimming (10 laps) 1
100 Jumping Jacks 1
50 Curl Ups 1
10 push ups 1
Run to Lake + 1 lap around 2
Bike 20 Lake Laps 3

Memorize 3 line scripture 3
5 pages Scriptures 2
Ben 2 pages 2
Prepare and teach FHE Lesson 2
Learn how to lead music 1
Memorize Article of Faith 1
Memorize current piano piece 2
Learn new piano song 1
Write Name (Andrew) 1
Learn Phone Number 1
Learn Address 1
100 pages in chapter book 1
Ben 20 pages 1
Any Research Report 1 Pg typed, 2 written 5
State or Country Report with visuals 5
Write Creative Story 5 pages 2
Ben Book Report 2
Art Project 2+ hours 3
Ben Journal 10 pages 2
Girls Journal 10 pages 1
Math Facts worksheet 10 pages 1

This works great for us. What are some of your summer plans for the kids? I am ALWAYS looking for new ideas.

Vesicoureteral Reflux

Vesicoureteral Reflux.

What on Earth is that?
What happenned to the light and fun blogs? First that tear jerker Memorial day one and now, a medical term?

This lovely hard to pronouce couple of words is what the medical professionals call the condition that our dear Audrey has. It is fairly common, just like Ben's club feet but you would never hear anything about it unless it was "happenning" to you or someone in your family. They both run in families. (not my side by the way--I'm all for genetic screening as a requirement for a marriage license.) Totally kidding. Dustin is worth all the genetic "extras." He is a total rock and I will love him forever.

But still, if truth be told, we have an extra toe, club feet and vesicoureteral reflux all genetically inherited from Dad's side. What did they get from me? Beautiful browns. A beautiful smile (once fixed by braces), what else? Not totally sure, but whatever it is, it is NOT a medical condition!

Anyway, back to VUR (vesicoureteral reflux). It is a condition where your urine does not flow out normally. The valves don't work properly and so it can flow back up to the kidneys. The main problem with this reflux is that it puts the kidneys at risk. At a very young infant age, it puts their whole little bodies at risk.

The Doctors prescribed daily (yes, you heard me right) antibiotics as a preventative measure against infection, and we are monitored at least yearly by a sonogram and an awful test called a VCUG, or a nuclear cystogram.

We just had our yearly test and it does not look good. Audrey's one kidney is smaller than the other and not looking true to shape. She has also seemed really fussy lately. And the Dr. now recommends a surgical procedure to fix the ureters and valves going into the bladder. It has a very high success rate but does not come without some signifant risks. And it is an awful recovery....two day minimum hospital stay and we are talking severe pain when you urinate for 7-10 days. I'm not sure I will ever be able to potty train her after that! So here I am stuck between two choices I don't like. Continue to do what I am doing and seriously risk losing a kidney, or have an awful surgery and risk all the dangers that involves, including internal bleeding or a failed repeat surgery.

I feel like my three year old must feel when I tell him he can either go to bed in his own bed or go to bed on the floor, but he has to go to bed. And he tells me he doesn't like those choices. I, like my little Andrew, am wondering if I hang on, will another choice will present itself? Just like when I give up and let Andrew come sleep with Dustin and I.

Summertime!

We had our Graduation. Way to Go Ben, on to First Grade!We finished all our lessons and classes for the year.
On to bigger and better things. Like Swimming!

And more swimming.
And resting by the pool in between our swimming.
Gotta love summer.