The Big Toe Year

Liam had a birthday, and can no longer show his age using just fingers. He got creative to add that extra digit.

Festivities were dampened a little by the fact that three of his brothers (Aidan, Andrew, and as of today, Colin) have what is most likely swine flu. But I allowed him to play the Wii this afternoon, usually a no-no on a school night, and he beat a game he's been at for months. So there were some perks.

He chose artichokes for dinner, a family favorite. Our second course was fondue-style hot dogs, which was a big hit. Both were traditions in Brandon's family while growing up.

Presents and cake rounded it all off (in that order--it drives me crazy! I grew up with cake then presents). He is such a great kid, and we love having him in our family. Hopefully his brothers haven't given him a present that oinks and lasts about a week!


UPDATE: Liam did come down with the flu the day after his birthday. How kind of it to wait!

Long Ago in the 70's

Colin at our ward party, August 2007

As I was driving with Colin the other day, he saw a horse.

Colin: Mom, I really love horses. I bet you really love them too. I mean, you used to have to ride them to get around.

Me: Uh, no, not really. Grandpa had some on the farm, but I never really rode them much. We had cars, just like today.

Colin: But I thought you were born in the '70s. Wasn't that a long time ago?

One Little Monkey Falling Off the Bars

This is what can happen when you lose a contest to see who can hang onto the monkey bars the longest during recess:

The first aid person at school didn't think anything was really wrong, and I was told over the phone that he put an ace bandage on it just to make Colin feel better. When he got home it was apparent, though, that he was really in pain. In his own words at the time, "It feels like nothing will ever be the same."

After giving him some Motrin and waiting a few hours, I ended up taking him to the doctor (where Colin refused a sucker), who then sent us to the hospital to get x-rays (where Colin refused a sticker), which then showed that he has a fracture near the growth plate on the thumb side. He also told everyone when asked that he does not like Batman (why on earth would they even think to ask?). It sounds like he was being contrary, but he was really just being overly serious.

He really wanted to go to the library to get a book he had seen that looked cool, but when we got there it was closed (drat Columbus Day!). Instead we ran to the grocery store and got donuts and cinnamon bears--enough to share with everyone. That seemed to work just as well.

The angle of the break makes it more complicated than the pediatrician's office wants to handle, so I'll be taking him to an orthopedist in the next few days and we'll have the first cast ever in our family. I guess I forgot to knock on wood one of the times I told someone that we've never had a broken bone or stitches (knock on wood!) in our family.

At least he's getting lots of love & attention from his brothers!

p.s. This would happen just a few weeks after he started violin lessons!!!

Heber Valley Bike Ride

At the first rest stop at Soldier Hollow

Today the whole family rode in the Heber Valley Century bike ride. We did the 25-mile family version, and we all survived! I had my doubts before--how would an 18-month old handle being in the bike trailer with his sometimes bullying 3-yr old brother that long? Would 8-yr old Andrew, on his fixed gear BMX bike be able to make it? Would I be able to make it?! But it turned out to be a great ride with beautiful weather and scenery, and highly enjoyable.

Logan and Aidan were buddies in the bike trailer. Logan had a few screaming fits for the first little bit, but once he got M&Ms at the first rest stop and they got him singing the "Bob the Builder" theme song, he was great.

Brandon was a workhorse! He towed 3 kids, although Colin on the trail-a-bike helped out with pedaling a little bit. This made it so I didn't have to pull anyone (the only way I could keep up!). I brought up the rear, and was surprised to find that the hardest part was going slow enough to stay behind the kids.

We were the last group out, but ended up leap-frogging with another family who had a trailer and a young rider. It worked out great, since we ended up having our own personal SAG vehicle right behind us on the road where there wasn't much of a shoulder to ride on.

Other than a 7-mile ride together on Monday night, this was the first time we had all been out together. All the kids were great sports, and I found myself really liking it (other than a few times I was scared to death by my kids doing dumb things, like riding with "look, no hands!" next to a busy highway). I even bought a jersey for myself at the end, so maybe I'll get out there with Brandon occasionally!

The autumn colors were in full swing. There were a few times I would have loved to stop and take some pictures, but didn't want to lose our momentum (especially since the SAG car was right behind us!). We drove home over the Alpine Loop, and "ooh"ed and "ah"ed the whole way. Unfortunately I didn't get any great pictures there either, just the one above, which doesn't do justice to the colors at all.

Thank goodness for a truck to haul everything around in!

p.s. You can pick up your jaw about the fact that I actually posted something now.

Please Say That Did NOT Just Happen!!

I had the lovely experience last week of dismantling and cleaning my piano key by key...because a student threw up on it. She was my first student of the week, and it happened about 5 minutes into her lesson. She sat there a bit bewildered for a second, then it happened again! At that point I saw she wasn't going to move on her own, so I quickly guided her towards the bathroom. She threw up in the entry way en route, and again on the bathroom floor (at which point I opened the toilet lid for her!). Poor little thing, she was obviously feeling horrible, but I sure wish she had reacted a little differently at first...like turning her head away from the piano! Ah well. I called her mom to come get her, cancelled the rest of my lessons, then broke out my cleaning supplies, including my steamer, and cleaned/disinfected everything as well as possible. I didn't dare steam the piano, but used Clorox wipes on every surface I could get to. One helpful fact was that everything that needed cleaning was green--she had been enjoying St. Paddy's Day treats that day. Then I called a piano tuner and got step-by-step instructions on how to take it apart to the point where I could get every individual key as well as all affected surfaces inside the piano. While I was at it I vacuumed out all the dust bunnies, too. The next time it gets such a good cleaning, I just hope it's under different circumstances.

Brandon helped me take everything out as well as get it all back together, and I had my piano tuner come two days later to check it all out (it worked out well because it needed a little tuning, anyway). And now the next time one of my kids drops a paper clip, pencil, or who knows what in, I am confident I can get it out myself!

Definitely one of my more memorable lessons. Do you think I can instill fear into my students by telling them I once made a student throw up?!

Remembering Gracie

I had the privilege today of attending the funeral of Gracie Gledhill. At just 11 months old, she touched and captured the hearts of many around the world. She was born with a severe congenital heart defect (HLHS, or hypoplastic left heart syndrome), and had open heart surgery at just 4 days old. She needed a second surgery last fall, but her heart wasn't ready for it. Last month they determined that her only hope would be a heart transplant. A miracle occurred, and she received a heart after just 3 days of being on the transplant list. Unfortunately, the heart never worked for Gracie. She came out of surgery on life support, and her parents said goodbye to her this past Monday.

I remember the first conversation I had with Michele after hearing that their ultrasound had shown a problem. I was her visiting teacher at the time, and we were both pregnant with due dates just weeks apart. It was heart breaking to think about, but Michele was preparing by finding as much information as she could, much of it from blogs. Michele started a blog to document their own journey. It turned into a way for family, friends, neighbors, and ultimately thousands around the world, to connect with little Gracie.

Over the past year, Gracie and her family have been very much in our family's thoughts. Here are just a few things I have learned along the way:

The power of prayer. Tom, Gracie's dad, spoke at the funeral and mentioned that they really feel like Gracie was being called home when she was 4 days old and crashed after her first surgery. However, she was allowed to stay here on earth a little longer through the faith and prayers of many, especially children. In their blog they also wrote about how they could literally feel the power of prayers lifting them up and sustaining them. From the day she was born, Andrew prayed daily that "Gracie's heart could be healed the rest of the way." I tried to explain to him that it may not happen like that, but he was undaunted. When we heard about her heart transplant, it seemed like his prayers would be answered fully. While it wasn't the case for her on this earth, we know that her heart truly is healed "the rest of the way" now. As for me, I have prayed more fervently over the past few weeks than I have in a long time.

Be more patient, enjoy the journey more. Often as I hold Logan, I think of sweet Gracie. When he makes a mess out of the lid drawer for the 10th time in one day, I am thankful that he is energetic and full of curiosity. When he gets up in the night, I am just thankful that he is here.

Give of ourselves. So many people have been touched by Gracie's story. This wouldn't have happened if Michele and Tom hadn't been willing to share it. Paul Cardall, a gifted musician who himself is waiting for a heart transplant, played one of the musical numbers at the funeral. On his blog just a few days ago, he mentioned that he had never met the Gledhills in person, though he felt a closeness with them. He also was willing to give a gift today to this family who played his music to Gracie since her birth.

The Plan of Salvation is real. Jesus Christ is our Savior, and families can be together forever. My testimony of this has grown tremendously. Tom and Michele's faith in this is also evident. Singing the words to "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" and "Families Can Be Together Forever" packed more punch for me today. Almost every line seemed tailored for the circumstances.

Gracie was only here a short time, but she lives on and will be remembered always.

Going Public!!

I haven't been a great blogger lately (or ever, for that matter). Since I know it can be frustrating to go to someone's private blog and repeatedly find that nothing has changed, I'm going public for a trial run. This will allow you to add our blog to your feed reader and not have to check back here all the time only to be disappointed (because I know you are!!). I, personally, am a great fan of my Google reader. Hopefully it will also make it easier for some of our older family members to check in without having to remember all that silly log-in stuff, too!

We just ask that if you post a link to our blog, PLEASE DON'T USE OUR LAST NAME. Trying to maintain a little internet safety still...

Let me know if you enjoy the "public" mode or not. Thanks for reading!!