Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween!!






I'm having a problem. When I download my pictures the show up as some nonsense script and so I can't put captions under each photo because I don't know where the script for one picture ends and the next begins. Let alone which picture is where.
I know, there are bigger problems in life. But does this happen to anyone else?
Once again the pictures are in reverse. So starting with the last:
#4 This is Optimus Prime and his best friend Mr. Pumpkin Head.
#3 Optimus sitting on his front porch. I'll bet you didn't know that Optimus Prime wears flip flops. Oh yeah, he does.
#2 This is the family pumpkin. We follow the Johnson Family tradition. One pumpkin for the family, then we all draw up some designs and submit our 3 favorites. Then through a complicated voting process we narrow it down to one design. This year my design won. Matt did the dirty work and Sam helped.
#1 Sam got lucky and was able to pick out a free pumpkin on his class field trip. So we let him draw up some designs and then he picked his favorite and Matt helped him carve it. He took it to school and entered it in the pumpkin contest there. Not a winner, but it was still fun.
We have great plans to attend the trunk or treat with Grandma Alger's ward. They have a big soup dinner (I made taco soup in honor of Aunt Jeanna's Birthday), and a costume parade and then we all run out to our cars and hand out candy. It's really fun. Then, I'm sure Sam and Matt will make a trip around our neighborhood while I hang and home and hand out candy to out neighbors.
We hope you all have a fun and safe Halloween.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Some of you know, some of you don’t, that I have been pregnant for the last 10 weeks. I was feeling reluctant to blog about it because I have lost 5 other pregnancies in the past and I wasn’t sure I would want to blog about it if I lost this one. But now I just really need to get it out there.

I get what is called hyper emesis gravid arum, which is a tricky way of saying excessive vomiting while pregnant. So I often have to go to the infusion clinic to receive IV fluids. Thanks to my Health Care Advocate (a.k.a. - mom) I got an as needed order to go when ever I wanted. It was wonderful.
I had a great weekend. I felt great, too great. On Sunday night I started to think about how great I was feeling and my eyes didn't slam shut when my head hit the pillow like they had been for the last month. Monday morning dawned and I called the nurse and she set up an ultrasound. There was no heart beat. Once again - for the sixth time. We are pretty sad. I called Matt and he came home from work to be with me. We sat on the couch for about an hour and then decided to go Christmas Shopping. It was fun and a nice distraction. I am so thankful to have Matt!

If you are expecting - DO NOT FEEL GUILTY! I am so happy for you and any righteous couple who are expecting, no matter if it's their 18th baby. I want to hear all about the progression of your pregnancy. By no means should you be walking on egg shells or feeling bad about your pregnancy or other children.

We have a beautiful son who is the joy/trial of our life who we wouldn't give up for anything and we feel so blessed to have him as I'm sure you all feel about your sweet children. I KNOW Heavenly Father loves me and my family. I know he isn't punishing us or trying to make us feel gypped (even though we get a little bitter and have the gypped feeling once in a while - that's a natural part of the grieving process). He is refining us, making us who we need to be. I believe all six of those babies are waiting for us - I'm counting on it and I look forward to the day I get to hold them. I pray to live worthy of being with them, but until then, we have a wonderful life to live here.
I have learned that talking about it to anyone who asks has helped enormously in the past. So if you have any questions ask them.

Yes, I am on drugs right now, but I believe every word. I just hope it makes sense. :)

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Putting your face to good use.

This is how Sam chose to carry his hamper down to the laundry room.






Sorry the pictures are in reverse.
How do you use your face?

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

An old email.

Today I was looking through my emails hoping I had one from someone whose email address I can't find. I can't find it, but I did find one from Matt. Well it was a reply from Matt. It was from March 10, 2006. So Sam was 4 years old. I remember I had taken him shopping and got him several outfits, but I was waiting for Matt's approval before I was going to let him keep them. This is what I sent to Matt:

Matt, Sam just brought one of the new shirts into the kitchen and said, "Mom,look what I'm going to try on."So I turned around and saw what he had and I said, "No, no, we need to wait for dad remember?" and then he said, "Okay, I'm just going to sniff it while I watch TV."

Monday, October 20, 2008

Julie's Cry Video

Again, while cleaning out my email box, I found a link that my Aunt Kathy sent that I was never able to check out because our computer was having problems with Adobe reader. So I clicked on the link and watched this video. Part way through I started bawling and couldn't stop. Matt was baffled. Watch it now.





At first I was like - what's this weirdo doing. But I liked it. Then when all the people rush in to join him - that's when the tears started. I feel like this guy gets it. We are all the same. No matter where we live, what color we are, what we wear, we're all human, and similar. They are all having a blast. (Except for that Korean guard guy - what's his problem?) Anyway, I don't know if the feelings watching this gave me were the intention of the film makers. But I like the effect anyway. I wonder what the words to the song are.

Update: It said in the credits that the song lyrics are adapted from a poem by RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Stream of Life

The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day

runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.

It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth

in numberless blades of grass

and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth

and of death, in ebb and in flow.

I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life.

And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Parent Teacher - Let's tread lightly?

So, I just got back from the SEP I just had with Sam and his teacher. Jeanna, I'm totally with you on this one - Let's keep it real people! I want the skinny on what my kid has been up to when I'm not around to smack him on the back of the head. (I would never do that).

Well first, I need to do a little bragging. My seven year old boy reads at a fifth grade level! I can't believe it. Well I can. He is MY son after all. But still. Wow! His spelling- not so great. Let's just say his spelling is behind his reading. But he can identify all the sight words that he's supposed to know by the end of the year already. He just doesn't take the time to think about how they are spelled while he's writing. I think the story is flowing through his head faster than he can write it so he just gets close enough and calls it good. He is a fairly lazy child - again- He is MY son after all.

So we each set a goal for him to work on. 1. His teacher's goal is for him to finish his work on time. She says he's definitely smart enough to do it, he'd just rather talk to his neighbor or wander the room.
2. Sam's goal for himself is to try not to disturb others. I know he does. He's an only child who will do the lamest things to get other kids to look at him and give him their attention. It's really annoying. But kinda cute at the same time. He's just so friendly.
3. My goal for him was to be obedient to his teacher. If she says it's time for no talking then don't talk. If she says get a book out and read it, then do it. If it's time to stay in your seat then stay in your seat.

She said he was doing really well. He'd gone several weeks without getting his name on the board. Up until "911 day". What is 911 day you may ask.
Last week I got a call from the principal. She asked me if I had a minute to talk with Sam over the phone about something that had happened on the playground that day. I said yes. Then I hear this little,"Hi mom." on the line. He then tells me about his friend who brought his cell phone to school and while they were at recess he told Sam to dial 911. So he did and to his surprise someone answered and asked him what his emergency was. He promptly handed the phone back to the kid who brought it. The kid shut the phone hanging up on the operator. I asked him if the police came or anything and he said no. Well then how did you end up in the principles office? He said someone told the Guard Duty (which is the retarded name they use in Utah for the people who stand outside and watch the kids at recess). So I give him a little talk about how we only call 911 if there is a real emergency and that we don't do whatever our friends tell us to, they don't always have our best interest in mind. I get back on the phone with the principle and I ask her how she found out. She said, "Apparently, the whole 2nd grade knows about it." She used the word Guard Duty too. Why does that sound so wrong to me. She also told me that the cell phone had no service, but apparently the call goes through for 911. Something I'm sure that little punk who brought the phone knew when he told my poor unsuspecting dupe of a child to dial it. So Sam lost his recesses for the rest of that day and the next.
Two days later he came home with a list of all the things he did wrong that day, which he had to write himself and his teacher signed it and I had to sign it and so did he. Poor kid didn't get to play outside with his friends that day.
He's really not a naughty kid. Just really annoying. He's always happy and enthusiastic and really talkative.

But that's Sam and I'm not willing to medicate him just because he can't remember to use self control. We like his personality and We love having him in our family.