Catch- Up

The time just passes by too fast sometimes. Since my last post alot has changed. Right after starting my diet to loose my muffin top I had some teeth issues. Turns out I needed a root canal among other things and so my diet went to pot. Unfortunately I still have my muffin top. May was a busy month with kids getting out of school, dance recital, parties, Kimberlee's 13th birthday and our 14th Wedding Anniversary. Eric and I were able to get away for a mini vacation which was super nice. We really enjoyed our time away. June brought a phone call from the Littleton Police Department wanting to interview me. So Eric and I flew up to CO for an interview. Before we left I had word that I passed the first step and they wanted a 2nd interview. As I write this today I haven't heard back from the background check to see if I have the job. I feel confidant that I do have it but the process just takes forever. So we are packing up our home, trying to find renters for it and also trying to find a home to rent in CO. Fun times for sure. We are moving the end of July which doesn't give us much time. The kids are all super excited about the move. We feel this is where our family is supposed to be so we are excited about it as well. For the 4th of July we drove to CO for further testing and so forth for my job. We took the kids to the best water park ever, Waterworld CO. It was so awesome. We met our neice and nephew Alexis and Ryan Pagel. It was a blast. We got to buy fireworks and let them off. It was a fun night. Then we drove home and ended up in Heber a few days before the 4th to celebrate with my family. We got up early and participated in our 1st "Carissa's Run" and then enjoyed a parade, yummy food, cousins, and fireworks before heading home to be here for a special baby blessing. What a week that was. When we got home I took Livie to the Dr. as she developed a bad cough and cold like symptoms while we were away. We found out she actually had walking pneumonia. No wonder why the over the counter medicines didn't seem to be making a difference. This past week was busy with packing and packing and more packing. On Thursday July 15th Olivia started complaining about her tummy hurting. We thought maybe she was just hungry. So we fed her dinner and then put the kids to bed. At about 2 am she woke up screaming, had a high fever, throwing up, and telling me her right side hurt. She was up and crying until 4:30 when she finally fell asleep. She slept until 8 and then still complained about her side hurting. So I took her to her pediatrician to have it checked out. The pediatrician told us to go to the ER. When we got to the ER the Dr. ordered a CT scan of her abdomen and found out she had appendicitis. Poor little girl was going to have to have surgery. I called Eric and he came right over and he called my Dad to come help give her a blessing. When Grandpa showed up he had a balloon and a cute little brown puppy. Livie was so happy to see her Grandpa and her new puppy. The surgeon told us surgery was at 4:00 so that was fast. We only had 1 hr to wait before the surgery. Her surgery went well, and when we got to go back to see Liv she was asleep and looked like she was in pain. She opened her eyes and told us her tummy was hurt. Luckily she was able to tolerate morphine so that helped to take the pain away. She did what the Dr.'s and nurses told her and got better so fast they let her come home the next day. It was so good to be home and able to sleep. She is doing so well and rarely complains of any pain. She walks a little funny now, legs spread apart and slightly leaning forward. It's hard to see your kiddos in pain, but I'm thankful for good doctors to help her get better!

Olivia's Speech= Silliness!

We have come a LONG way with Olivia's speech! When she was three and just learning how to talk we could hardly communicate. It was heart wrenching to know your child wanted or needed something and you just can't figure out what that need is. I remember many times Olivia throwing herself down on the floor in defeat because I just couldn't figure out what she was trying to tell me. UGH! So I went to MPS and had her tested. After one failed attempt I retried when she was a bit older and she was accepted. She has since attended two years of speech therapy in school and her vocab has improved greatly. From her first talk as a sunbeam where she bore testimony of "Harry Potter" AKA Heavenly Father. That is seriously how it sounded when she talked. To being 5 years old with two years of speech under her belt. She now has a much more efficient whole language concept. She no longer says I go outside or things incorrect like that. BUT, it can't be perfect, right??? So now she has a few articulation issues. Funny ones I think, for example:
She says:
Bitchup = Bishop
Traighten= Straighten
Irun= Iron
Whaf if= What if
Trawberry= Strawberry
Shange= Change
Shair=Chair
Shring= String
Shockboard= Chalkboard

Stuff like that, I love it but it won't be so cute when she is 10, so maybe one more year of speech and we'll have it down pat.

What I'm missing out on

A few of my favorite things have been causing me much grief recently! Mainly because I have chosen to not partake of them. :( I walk through the grocery store and see this:
All of the above happen to be some of my most "needed" commodities around this time of year. And then I visit friends houses and I find these sitting on a perfectly cleared off table in an inviting candy dish:
As if that isn't enough torture, these were right beside those:
And tonight at a baby shower these were displayed eloquently on a tiered cup cake tray:
As well as many other delectable delights, such as fruits of all variety, and some yummy looking pasta salad. Instead of endeavoring in pure delight, I opted for eating these:All to get rid of this: My
Top!

Check this out:

My sister in law started this amazing company. Selling high quality boutique items for your precious son or daughter. The clips are so Amazingly cute too! You will want to visit her website for sure!!!

MacyMae Clippies

Introducing La Bebe's exclusive line of hair clippies! All MacyMae clippies come lined with our patent-pending silicone gel grip that prevents the clip from slipping out of even the finest baby hair. MacyMae Clippies are being worn on newborns all the way up to adults since they are hip and modern styles for anyone!

What I have learned...

I have something to admit that I'm not very proud of. Since I graduated from seminary I haven't applied myself to daily study of the scriptures. I would do really well some days and others not so great. I was having some problems in our home life and was challenged by a friend to complete the study of the Book of Mormon in 40 days. I really didn't think it was even possible but following the guidelines she gave me I began reading. As I read I discovered I was becoming almost addicted to the stories. I felt as if I was living in the time of the prophets of old. I put myself many times in the exact circumstances of them and wondered how I might react or do things. Through this study I learned some important things. I learned that we as a people need to become more Christlike. We can become more like him by learning more of him. President Gordon B. Hinkley said, "There is nothing we could do of greater importance than to have fortified in our individual lives an unshakable conviction that Jesus is the Christ, the living Son of the the living God." I also learned that just because fathers of old chose unwisely doesn't mean that one righteous son or daughter can break that cycle by choosing to come unto Christ. This is done by studying about him, and praying for strength. I also learned to beware of pride. It is an evil all around us, even today. To become more Christlike in all of our dealings with our fellow men will indeed break the horrible cycle of pride. In my studies I would find the time passing by and me reading beyond the daily recommended scriptures. I began reading on Mar. 1st and completed the sacred words on Mar. 30th. I challenge anyone who is having personal struggles or needs questions answered to partake in a daily study of the Book of Mormon. For in the pages of this book, you will find the answers and peace you are seeking. This is my testimony!
Leah

Tribute to Great Grandma Carpenter

99 Years and still baking cakes from scratch!

I received word this morning that my sweet Grandma Thelma Carpenter had finally passed away. She has wanted to pass for some time now, but the Lord has seen fit to keep her here on earth for 100 years. My Grandma Carpenter Donna, Grt. Grandam on her 100th Birthday, and Aunt LaDeane

Wow! I learned so many things from Grandma. When she lived in Mesa right across the street from the temple I would visit her often. She taught me about dedication, and to develop a love for temple service and worship. She would spend all day everyday in humble worship at the house of the Lord. What an example for her posterity. I also had the privilege of taking Grandma to her Dr. appointments on a number of occasions. She was always so sweet to me and I remember many conversations where she taught me about life in general. One such occasion she told me, Leah, just because there is a MD behind the name doesn't mean he knows everything. You should always pray to be sure. That taught me a great lesson because she is right, God knows everything! She also taught me to be afraid of mammograms, lol. I'm not really afraid now, because I've already had one so I guess when I am in my 80's it will hurt much worse. I also remember Grandma's homemade bread and jam. It was a treat going to Thatcher and having Grandma make me a piece of toast. Grandma's toast always tasted the best. My children remember Grandma for her pecans. Kimberlee, Grandma, Zachary, & Derick
Grandma came to visit on Thanksgiving Day. Devon Owens & Derick(Just a month before her 100th Birthday!)

She was a pro at shelling pecans and we received many bags of shelled pecans from her. Grandma, I'm so glad you are "HOME" now! I love you so very much! Until we meet again!

Can a 5 year old pack all by themselves???

So what do you think? Can a 5 year old really pack everything they need all by themselves? The answer is YES if the 5 year olds name is "Olivia Lowe" that is! My Dad helped his side of the family book a cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada Mexico. So we are taking our kiddos too, with it being their spring break. The kiddos have been so excited they wanted to start packing weeks ago. I finally relented and let the kids start packing yesterday. Olivia came to me about 20 minutes after I gave her the go ahead and said, "Mom I just finished packing". I was shocked that she was done so fast. So I inspected her suitcase to make sure she didn't forget anything important. She had everything she needed, 5 shirts, shorts/ pants/ 5 panties/ 5 socks/ 3 swim suits/tooth brush & tooth paste/ a coloring book/ a coloring page she apparently had colored/ and her lamb! So the only thing she forgot was her PJ's. Wow, I was so impressed, she only forgot one thing. That is my kind of 5 year old!