brad's wedding

Brad is married!!! Wednesday and Thursday we got to spend time celebrating brad's wedding. Brad is a mission friend of Than's (they both served together in Taiwan and have been working together ever since).

The Friends.

They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. I stayed outside to watch the kids and so, believe it or not, we took some pictures!

What's up with Cam's poses?!!?!? She has a mind of her own.

Cam & Coy

I didn't get a great one of my kids. It was hot and they wanted to run around and be crazy.

Again...what is up with that popeye look?!?!?! She's so funny. And I love that Pacen feels the need to direct Claira's gaze. She's not going for it this time.

We spent a lot of time on the stairs. The kids kept playing princesses and castles. It was fun to hear their imaginations.

Then we ran around and played hide and seek in a little garden area. The SLC temple grounds are so beautiful and peaceful.

Claira waving. So cute.


Claira was done.

man we're hot!


In other news, Camry got her hair cut and loves it. Claira ate a blue marker and her poop has been bright blue for two days. I didn't know that would happen!

Than's grandparent's came out, but I'll put pictures of them up later. I'm leaving for San Diego in the morning to see my mom. She's back in the hospital. She can't find a way to manage her pain at home and it's real bad. They've found more tumors. It just seems to get worse and worse. I love her so much it's hard to see her in so much pain, but also hard to not be there to see her in so much pain. Thankfully, Than is wonderful and letting me spend some time down there just me. I have faith in Heavenly Father's plan and that is what is getting me through this time. That and prayer. Even when everything seems awful, I can still kneel down and talk to my Savior, who has felt every sorrow and pain that I and everyone else has felt, and bring me peace. Am I still sad? Yes. Am I still frustrated and sometimes angry? Yeah. But I can still see the blessings that Heavenly Father has given us and my mom. I feel it's a blessing that she and Loren got to go to England for two weeks and travel together before her body got really bad. The day that they got back, her back began to hurt and she hasn't gotten over it yet, but while they were gone, she was able to walk around and visit with old friends and spend special time with her husband. That is a blessing. I think especially during these hard times it's important to write things like that down. Really we should "Count our many blessings." This song has been going through my head all day. I just thought I'd put all the words down for us to read.

Count Your Blessings Hymn #241

1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings; name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

[Chorus] Count your blessings; Name them one by one. Count your blessings; See what God hath done. Count your blessings; Name them one by one. Count your many blessings; See what God hath done.

2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?Count your many blessings; ev’ry doubt will fly, And you will be singing as the days go by.

3. When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold. Count your many blessings; money cannot buy Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.

4. So amid the conflict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged; God is over all. Count your many blessings; angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Text: Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1856–1922

My baby is swimming!!!

We have been so busy the past couple of days. One thing that has made us busy is Claira's swimming lessons. She's 11 months old and has had three lessons and is doing so great. Yesterday she was able to float unassisted for 8 seconds. It may not sound like much but she's just a baby! It is really amazing how natural it is for babies to swim. She is picking things up so quickly. It's incredible.

The goal for babies is to be able to float for one minute. They also learn to find a wall, roll over, and grab and hold onto the wall. You wouldn't think that would be hard, but JoD said that a lot of kids drown right next to the wall not knowing how to pull themselves up or "crab walk" along the sides where a stair would be.

The first day I took Claira, Camry was freaking out! She was hysterical and crying about how Claira would drown and how Claira needed to be big to take swimming lessons. But, now that she can see that Claira is safe, she's all good. What a compassionate sister!

Here's the stats for my 11 month old Claira:

Weight: 16 lbs. 14 ounces. That's the 4th percentile folks!

Height: 28.5 inches. 47th percentile....now that's more like it!

All of her tricks:

Can give kisses and hugs.

Can stand up all by herself but has yet to take a step. (Pacen and Cam didn't even think about walking until 14 months!)

Wave goodbye.

Claps.

She has "words" for mama, dada and doggie. She definitely says something different when she is talking to than or me. and every time she sees penny it's the same sound....kind of like doggie, but not really. But it's the same every time so it counts!

She can fold her arms for prayer. I've got to get a good picture of that--it's adorable!

She's already becoming an ovaltine addict thanks to her brother and sister.

She really has a sense of humor. It's kind of weird how she can already know that what she's doing will get people to laugh at and with her.

She loves to play with cords. Weird and dangerous I know.

She tries to put on clothes and the kids think it's just the funniest thing they have ever seen.

She loves fruit. Especially berries.

She's squirmy. I get exhausted holding her.

She does not like to get dressed. Naked is her preferred choice.

I get stopped all the time because of her eyes. I was having lunch with Jen and she said something about them, and I told her I get comments on them all the time and just as the server walked up she said, "Her eyes are just amazing!" And they really are. She is just a beautiful, happy baby. Too bad I can't take credit for them. :)
Only one more month and I have a 1 year old. Time flies.

Back To Real Life

We are back from San Diego. We got back Thursday night and I don't know why I took so long to blog. I feel like I needed time to think and process all the things that happened while we were there.

The fun thing was going to the Birch Aquarium on the campus of UCSD. The kids loved it. I loved it. Emily loved it. It was just an all around fun time seeing the fish, touching the star fish....we scored a sweet parking spot. You can't go wrong with that.

Emily is a great aunt. She will make a great mommy someday...and she'll be the most stylish.

This is just Erin hanging with the kiddos in the backyard.


So, the night after we went to the aquarium was not a good night for my mom. Her back had been hurting her the whole time that we were there....on a scale of 1 to 10 it was an 11. She had already been to the emergency room but they didn't really do anything for her. This time she had already had her MRI's and she was sick and tired of being in pain. She and Loren go to the ER to see what they could do. They admit her. The results of the MRI come in and are that there are multiple tumors on her brain and spine...which are what are causing all the back pain. Apparently PET scans typically miss these spots and they think that the tumors were there the whole time. They are still relatively small. The "solution" is to radiate her back to alleviate pain, and to radiate her brain. The radiation on the brain & spine will hopefully zap those tumors and then she will continue taking the chemo drug. In the meantime, she's been in the hospital trying to regulate her pain meds. Her pain level is still at a 4 but today she was more chipper and alert and less nauseous.

After an obviously emotional week, I had to drive back home. Leaving there was very difficult for me. I hate being the only one not there. I feel a mixture of guilt, and then relief, and then guilt for feeling relief....it's a complicated emotion. It's not like you do a lot when you are there, but it feels good to be able to help a little even if it is just keeping company. I've had lots of time to think about this, and I know that I have my little family to take care of and it's the best place for me to be. When I was visiting my mom in the hospital Loren had said something and my mom said, "You just do your job (speaking to Loren), I'll do my job, (and then looking at me) You do your job." And my job has always been to pray. And that is what I know I can do. ANd she knows that we have many many Mormons praying for her. She's so funny about that.

When we got home, Than had left presents for us on the table. When Pacen opened his present he said, "Oh my! My dad is the best daddy!" He got a foam cougar claw and Camry got a little princess music thing. They were in heaven.

As for me, Than left the most sweet present ever. He is seriously so thoughtful it kills me. He bought me the book from Elder Holland "Trusting Jesus". And then this picture by Walter Rane.

He left me the sweetest note and I'm going to copy some of it for me just so that I can remember what sweet words he wrote me in a time when I really needed to hear them.

"When I went to find a present for you this portrait seemed to standout and silently deliver the message I would hope to share. “Trust Jesus.” Not just because He was a wonderful person and not just because of His compassion and love for others, but most importantly because He is our Savior. He fulfilled the mission given to Him by our Father in Heaven and overcame death, both spiritually and physically, so that we might live together forever with our loved ones. “He is not here, He is Risen” brings hope to the world and I know someday we will be together with our families again.
One of the most important aspects of the atonement is that during the process He came to understand and feel of every pain or sorrow that we would experience in this life. Not so he could take that pain away, but rather to help Him know how to succor His children in our infirmities. He has felt your pain and knows how to make your burden light and not leave you comfortless.
I wish there was something we could do for your Mom, I wish there was something we could do for Kaylee and Zach, I wish we could help Kathy’s pain go away and the list of loved ones and friends goes on. Luckily Heavenly Father knows better than that and does not take our struggles away, but gives us a Savior that we can turn to in times of sadness and sorrow. He has also blessed us with wonderful family and friends that can be our support and strength."

I am so blessed to have this wonderful husband to truly be a strength for me during this hard hard trial.

Then we finally got to see Than Friday night at the end of his scout camp. Pacen and Cam got to camp with him overnight and they loved it. He worked so hard with those boys and they all had a really great time. We are so glad to have him back in our house and to be home as a family again.

Linda 2.0

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Camry is a little clone of my mom. She has been obsessed (as always) with the horses. Everyday we go down....multiple times a day....to feed the horses carrots (and when we were out of carrots we fed them apples but she was very concerened because Bill doesn't like apples...only carrots). She always yells as we go down the little path something like, Here horseeees....look what I got for ya! Jeepeeee.....billleeeeee.....I got some carrots!!! And I swear they came to the sound of her voice today. They were eating and we came down and they stopped what they were doing to come get some carrots from Camry, and then back to their other food. The girl has them hooked.

And the girl has no fear. She just sticks her hand out and feeds them just like they're little kittens or something. They lick all over her hands and she just climbs up in their face to pet them.

But seriously...even down to that skirt (and dare I say stubbornness...)...she is so much like my mom.

Beach Day!!!!!

My kids were so brave at the beach! Okay, this picture doesn't exactly show that bravery, but they actually got in the water and splashed around and had tons of fun. Pacen had the first time experience of getting salt water in his mouth. I wish I had the video on of that. He sits down and then this big wave rushes up and goes up into his face and he just gets this horrified look and screams, "That's why you don't make me sit down in the water!" and starts spitting everywhere. Classic.

Uncle Marc came. Let the digging begin!

Claira wanted in on the fun.

Claira decided to venture out and explore. She immediately crawled to some seaweed and of course it went directly into her mouth. Not her smartest idea.

The three prettiest sisters ever.

Just a few minutes after this one was taken, Camry was taken out by some waves. She was safe because we were all around her, but she was mad.

But soon recovered with the help of Auntie Rin.
This is the post cover girl shot.

More Ocean Fun...