A little #DisneySide

We love Disney. We love the movies, we love Disneyland (I'm sure I would love Disneyworld if I could ever afford to take my family there!). I was sent some really fun things from #HomeCelebrations and #MariaBailey and threw a low-key get together with friends.
We love to have friends over, but this winter hasn't been kind in the sickness department. I had to reschedule twice due to sick kids. When I finally was able to have it, 2 of my kids were out of town.
We still had some fun treats, fun visiting and a fun movie!

The spread of treats! 

I was espcisally proud of my Minnie Popcorn bags! 

A little family tree 

some of the take home goodies 

Katie-showing her DisneySide! 

The kids enjoying Big Hero 6!

When we go to Disneyland, our favorite thing is--Family! Just being together and having fun! That's exactly they way we showed our #DisneySide.

Valentines!

Our Valentine's Day might have been somewhat unconventional. Here's what we did.
Nate made pancakes and eggs for breakfast. A yummy way to start the day! Nate headed out on a longish run (13 miles-two weeks 'til his next marathon) and I headed to the grocery store with Emma & Rebekah. We needed to get the rest of our supplies for Ronald McDonald house lunch. Once back Emma had a friend over and Nate and the boys headed out to fix a geocache that they had placed a while ago. I worked on laundry and my Sunday lesson for YW.
Emma made up mac & cheese and hot dogs for the kids. Nate and I headed to our favorite dinner spot-Bernadinos. Not super romantic (especially having Rebekah with us) but boy the food is good!
On the way home Nate mentioned that we should go star gazing. I had never seen a shooting star and he decided that needed to change. We headed home, grabbed camp chairs and a blanket and drove out of town away from the lights.
Unfortunately with it being a long weekend our desert was full of RVers. Still with no moon we had a pretty amazing sky to look at. It was chilly and Rebekah wasn't a fan, but I saw my shooting star. I love being able to enjoy and appreciate the creations of our loving Heavenly Father and the night sky is surely one of those!
We grabbed Reece's Freezes on the way home and found a movie on Amazon Prime-The Italian Job. Rebekah slept through the whole thing! She the promptly woke up after the movie and kept me up for another 2 hours...
We spent the day doing things as a family, getting things done. What better way to show our love for one another than spending time and being with them. I love my family and am especially grateful for Nate. We've commented lately how CRAZY life seems. 5 children, Nate's job, PTO and Stake President...and it's not slowing down.

We are loved completely...something to work towards as we strive to be more like our Heavenly Father.

6 months...

This little lady turned 6 months yesterday!

It's just crazy to think that 6 months ago we were here:

  Here's a little Rebakah update:

• She now sits up all be herself! She loves that she doesn't have to lay down on the floor.
• This past week she cut her first 2 teeth! The 2 bottom middle.
• She has tried rice cereal and doesn't care for it. She also has tried pears & sweet potatoes and she's a fan.
• She's petite. The last time we were at the Dr (last week) she was 14 lbs 11 oz (Her older siblings were close to 20 lbs at this age).
• She only likes mommy milk and not from a bottle. 
• She still is nursing close to every 2 hours--around the clock. 
• She's had 2 ear infections and we're a little concerned she might have reflux. Something we're going to be asking about at her 6 month check up.
• She does not like to be left alone in a room and will let you know!
• She's ticklish, but every time she laughs she gets the hiccups!
• She has tons of personality :) Lots of smiles and wants to see and be into everything.

We love her so much and are so happy that she is part of our family. 

When ye are in the service of your fellow being...

Today I sit here sipping on a soda from McDonalds. It's not where I want to be. I want to be down in Loma Linda at the Ronald McDonald house. After Nate and I stayed there while Rebekah was in the hospital, we knew we wanted to continue to lend support and service to the house. My friend Megan noticed on their facebook page last month that they had a day open for providing a meal. It happened to be a Monday-no work-no school-day! I quickly messaged Nate (who was on travel) to check and see what he thought and we got signed up.

All meals at the Ronald McDonald house and provided on a volunteer basis. If no one volunteers for that day, no meal. There is still a pantry with food items, but you have to take time away from being with your child at the hospital to prepare it. The meals at the house while we were there were a huge blessing and service to us.

 

  

We enlisted the help of several other families in Ridgecrest that had also stayed at the house at various times-the Cushings, the Rossers and the Bernadinos, planned a menu and got to work organizing.

We planned sandwiches (bread, meat, cheese, tomato, lettuce, mustard, mayo), pasta salad, potato salad, chips, drinks and brownies. A simple menu, but something that could leave really usable leftovers for families at the house.

This past week Henry got strep throat and Rebekah got an ear infection. We had a week for them to get better. Yesterday we noticed Henry having watery eyes, then buggery eyes. I missed urgent care by 10 minutes and had to go to the ER. I missed a pharmacy being open by 16 minutes. Sick kids are not allowed in the house. Parents don't want to be sick or they can't visit their kids in the hospital. And there are children receiving medical treatment that stay at the house.

So, I sent Nate, Benjamin, Emma and Mo off this morning and I stayed home and got a $45 prescription filled for eye drops. Henry was super sad that he didn't get to go to Ronald McDonald, so we got McDonalds for lunch instead.

There is always next time...

Some answers and some questions

Last Friday Benjamin had an appointment at CHLA (Children's Hospital LA) with a Pediatric Neurologist. Our pediatrician had asked us to go. Benjamin has had what I call a "Tick" since he was little. She wanted us to make sure it wasn't anything more serious. Neither Nate or I were concerned, but went ahead with the appointment. 

Nate took him in while I took everyone else to a playground at Griffith Park. They loved the park. We also tried to go to the observatory, but it wasn't open yet.

I picked up Nate and Benjamin and they both seemed happy with the appointment. The Doctor said the Benjamin has what are called "Stereotyped Movements". They are voluntary, and he will likely learn to control them. There are no further tests and no need for further follow up. Nate felt like she knew exactly what was going on (he showed her a couple of videos) and could explain everything very clearly. Answers and a win for the doctor!

We enjoyed spending the rest of the day in LA. We went and explored the Griffith Observatory. The kids really enjoyed learning about space and the planets.

We also spent some time at REI (Nate's favorite!), Cafe Rio and Costco. 

Onto the questions....

Our little Rebekah continues to keep us on our toes-nothing serious though. I took her in 2 weeks ago because she had been so fussy. 

I was sure she had an ear infection. Nope. But the doctor felt she wasn't gaining weight fast enough. She has me taking an herbal supplement to and increase my milk and she nurses at least every 2 hours-around the clock! 

I took her back in the week and she was satisfied with her weight gain, she is now 14.7 lbs but the fussiness hasn't subsided at all. She's still eating just as frequently and screaming if she doesn't...I'm now thinking it's a gas problem. That or she's just a grouchy child. Hopefully at some point I can get more than an hour and a half of continuous sleep.

My Hurdles

I know I need to be more healthy.  I know I need to loose weight.  I know it won't be easy and I'm a wimp.

Today I went on my second walk for the week,  only a mile and a half (better than nothing). I'm wanting to do at least 3 good walks a week. I feel like the hurdles in front of me are almost insurmountable. Here's my pity party list:

• Time-i constantly feel like I have zero time.  Monday,  fhe; Tuesday, stake meetings; Wednesday,  stale meetings; Thursday, mutual /scouts. PTO. Pick up,  drop off. The list just keeps going.
• My health-now this should be a reason to do this rather than a hurdle, but sometimes it just feels to big! Between migraines, thyroid and my back (apparently  I have a deformed and slipped LA vertebrae causing a lot of m my pain) it just seems to be too much.
• Nate -sorry my sweet, but your love of running and all things  healthy have really tainted  me. Seriously, you run marathons. Who does that! Well you do and are amazing and it kind of makes me feel like i'm not. I love that you have a means to de-stress, but seriously, it kind of drives me crazy. Love you!
• Fear of failure-this isn't my first go at this.  My last effort resulted in a bout of plantar fasciitis. I've never been successful  at loosing  any amount of weight, ever!

So here's to a new year with a vision (I'm liking the idea of a vision rather than goal) of better, health,  more energy and looser pants!

'Tis the Season

Right now, one week before Christmas Eve, I'm finally starting to feel Christmasy. Not sure why this year that has been hard to do. Maybe it's living in the desert and not so wintery town of ours (although we've been rainy, misty, foggy for the last few days!). Maybe it's the fact that getting 5 children taken care completely takes what feels like every moment of my day leaving nothing behind. But really that is part of what I should be grateful for during this season-my beautiful family.

I am truly blessed, it may be crazy, but's it's my crazy!