The 5K!

I am getting so excited for the 5k in St. George in January. I've been busting my butt, and training hard for it by running everyday........well uh, just kidding. I haven't even exercised since Thanksgiving day. No motivation at all. The cold is the reason! I loved going outside to run, and now I can't. Well today I ran, and it felt good. I think I'll be okay......do you think I have time if i start back up now? I hope so! I hope all ya'll that said you wanted to go are still going to come. Come on! It will be fun!!!!

Having a Blast

I used to hate blogging because I couldn't ever think of something to blog about. I sometimes worry about if people will think my blogs are dumb. Everyone elses were so much fun and interesting, but not mine......I finally decided that I blog for me, and not worry about if it's dumb. It's been so fun to be able to look back and read past posts. It's true that blogging is like having a journal.
Since we have moved to SLC, and Matt has been going to the U we have become major fans of the Utes Basketball team. Our kids even love it, so we have a lot of fun going to the games together. Basketball is simple, and fast paced enough to keep their interest the whole time.  So today was a pretty fun day. Matt, and I went to Cafe Rio for lunch and then to the basketball game. After the game we took our kids to our ward party where they were in a nativity play.  It's days like this that I will never forget.........especially since I blogged about it.

Kicked Da Dry Patch To Da Curb

I have had some skin problems on my chin since the summer. I got a bunch of nasty zits, and decided to use some zit cream. The cream dried my chin out. This may sound gross,  so if you get grossed out don't read on. My skin ended up getting a dry patch, and I would peel the dead skin off because I thought it was healed under it. It ended up being raw unerneath and super sore. I tried leaving it alone, and it would just stay there.....never going away. I tried exfoliating face wash, and lotion. It looked so disgusting because it was red and irritated. If I put make-up on it it would look flakey, and gross. Three nights ago I had the bright idea to start putting chapstick on it. I did it morning and night and right away it healed, and the soreness went away overnight! My skin is so soft now, and that scaley dry patch is gone. Yay! Who would have known!!!! I wonder if it was some kind of excema.

I Can See---Woohoo!

The other day I was putting my contacts in an I lost one! I am BLIND as a BAT! I have been going around with only one contact in, and getting terrible headaches! My glasses are the rimless frames, and the part that hooks to the lens, and goes around the ear broke. My kids lost the peice, so I was devestated. There is nothing to the frames really. Just a nose piece, and two ear peices, but they are very expensive frames. I called around and the cheapest ones were 160.00! I decided to look on ebay, and Wallaaaah, I found the exact frame for $30.00!!!! When they came they were still in the packaging, brand new, and with a case! I then took the frames and lenses to The Moran Eye Center, and the lady put them together, and fitted them on me for FREEEEEEEE! I couldn't believe that someone was that nice! I feel so blessed! I CAN SEEEEEE!

THANKFUL!

This morning when I took Jocelyn to the bus stop the wind was so abnoxious, and stinging cold that it kept taking our breath away. Jocelyn isn't used to riding the bus yet, so she gets very upset when she finds out we are going out to the bus stop. So the wind didn't help matters. While we were outside this morning, I thought about  the pioneers and how they were out in this cold non-stop and how they would be over joyed and content living in my little biddy apartment, able to go to the temple and church as the pleased. I know that we celebrate the pioneers in the summer, but I think about them the most in the winter! I am so happy that I can be warm on a day like this, and I'm thankful for them good ol' pioneers!

Chewy Toys

I just wanted to quickly jot down something Jocelyn said to me that made me laugh. For those of you that don't know, Jocelyn has an obsession of chewing on almost anything. It's like having a dog around that chews up everything! Headphones, sunglasses, batteries, anything! So her therapist that use to work with her brought her a chewy tube, a rubber toy that is made for kids that like to chew on things. The purpose is to defer her from chewing on household items. She calls it her chewy toy. Well her chewy toy doesn't work, she still chews everything up.
I was taking a bath and Jocelyn walked it and said,"Is that your boobie,is it a chewy toy, is it squishy?"
She is also starting to tell me to tell her "you're welcome" after she says Thank You to me.

The Forest

Hailey was sitting on the side of the tub watching me shave my legs tonight. She was so funny, telling me about how soft her legs were because she has baby hairs. She told me that mine were sharp like the grass in the forest. After I was done she said my legs were smaller from getting all the hair off. What a sweetie...haha!

Life Is Good

I locked my door before I went to bed so I wouldn't have any UNEXPECTED guests happen to crawl in my bed. I also locked it hoping that when Jocelyn woke up at 6 am she would see it was locked, and go get one of her big sisters to get her some cereal. It worked,I actually got to sleep in a little longer! When I did get up I woke up to the most disasterous house ever! Still, I didn't really mind. I love having older kids to help me out, and I got to sleep in longer! I all of the sudden got in the mood for Christmas, and wanted to go get a Christmas tree.
I made a deal with my kids. I made them each a list, even Jocelyn, and told them to do all of the chores on the list. If they did their jobs then they could get whatever treat their little hearts desired. We made treat lists, and I was off to Wally World to get my Christmas Tree, and the kids treats. This was the most clever plan ever! I had a way fun time shopping *ALONE*, and my house was getting sparkly clean while I was doing it! I thought to myself -Life is way good!
I started to think about how I was glad I didn't have a tiny little baby to take care of. I loved the times I had with each of my kids when they were babies, but I feel like I have done my time! I want to focus on me now that they are more independent, and I want to be done having babies. I am happy with the ones that I have, and I don't think there is room for anymore. After having babies I am so tired until they are about 2 years old. This might sound ridiculous, but it's so true. Having babies kicks my trash!
Two years ago I would have never had the thought of taking all 4 of my kids to the movie, and today I did have that thought. We didn't go, but it was so exciting to me that they are all ages that would be good during a good kid movie.
Life is good, and I've done my time!

Wondering What To Do

At the beginning of the school year I had MERSA, a terrible staph infection. I had to go to the hospital, and I was very sick. I had recieved a phone call from London's teacher around that time, and she was very upset with me because London's homework wasn't getting completed that week, and a couple of notes hadn't been signed and returned.
She called me to let me know. I felt bad, but really I was too sick to make sure she was doing her homework. Friends and family were watching the kids. I think that Matt's mom might have done some homework with her.
I sent a letter to her teacher just a few weeks ago asking her for a report card because I needed something to prove that she was in school. Her teacher sent me the worlds longest email telling me every negative thing about London that she could think of. I don't think that my kids are perfect. I have had a child (Brooklyn) that struggled a lot with school. I even had Brooklyn repeat 3rd grade because I can recognize when there is a problem. I care how my kids are doing, don't get me wrong. I want to know if they are having problems, but she was totally attacking me by saying that I didn't help her at home. I felt like she found pleasure in telling me what a failure my child was. I'm serious, there wasn't anything positive about the email. She also acted like I was an idiot for asking for a report from her. I had just recieved a mid-term from Brooklyn's teacher so I thought she could do the same.
I wrote her back, and explained to her how things work at our home, and she wrote me back and was much nicer.
I met with London's teacher (we'll hide her identity by referring to her as MRS. Haggle Snaggle) yesterday, and she just rubbed me the wrong way. She talked at me, not to me. Mrs. HS told me that she gives the whole class a Pre-test in Math. She doesn't teach the kids any of the concepts first. Then the ones that do above average go to one teacher. Mrs. HS takes the kids that did alright, and then the ones that didn't know any of it go to the resource teacher. Like I said, I want my kids to get extra help if they need it. Brooklyn still goes to resource for help in Math. It's not resource that I'm concerned about. I think that they should teach the kids then do a pre-test. I would feel terrible if I took a test every week and got them all wrong. I think that deviding them up plays a toll on their self-esteem too. The kids in the class know which kids are being sent away because they don't know any of the concepts. London gets things if she is taught. Her problem is paying attention.
Matt came to the school and was looking at the books at the book fair while I was in with Mrs. HS, but he was in the hall waiting for me with the kids towards the end of the conference. My two youngest kids came in the classroom. They sat down and started looking at some books. Mrs. HS haggled out in yelling tone, "Hey you put those books back now, and leave them alone." Well for those of you that know Jocelyn, she just looked down with the book in her hands. The teacher was so mad that she didn't obey her.
I was burning up. I thought, so this is how she talks to the children. How does she treat the students when no one is listening? I just have a bad feeling about her teacher. I want to send London to another school. Maybe Dilworth, and she could ride the bus with Jocelyn. I have dealt with my kids teachers for 6 years now, and I've never felt like this before! NEVER!

*Update*

I called Dilworth and their 2nd Grades are too full :(. I guess I will just talk to London about things, and let her know that just because she is sent away it doesn't mean she isn't smart. I think I'll find out what they are learning and teach her myself ahead of time so she does well on the Pre-tests.

Jocelyn Goes to Pre-school

Last Monday, Jocelyn had her first day of Special-Ed Pre-school. She did really well until it was time to come home. She is supposed to ride a bus to school, which hasn't happened yet. There is has been a mix up with the teacher and the bus driver. She rides a taxi cab home with a teachers aid. She got very upset when that happened. I think she'll get use to it eventually.
On her second day *Wednesday* the teacher called us and told us to come right back to pick up Jocelyn. She said that Jocelyn had a fever of 101.5. When we got home I took her temperature because she was playing and jumping around. NO FEVER! I was worried that she had that nasty flu that has been going around here at first. What a relief when she really wasn't sick. She hasn't even had a cold, or a runny nose. Pefectly healthy.......so that is why I am so confused. Did the teacher accidentally use a toy thermometer from the toy box? Ha, probably!

London's Baptism

I was stressed out about so many things the night before, and the day of London's Baptism. No one seemed to know who had a key to the closet with the clothes, and I wanted to show a movie I made of London, but wasn't sure if we could get into the library to get the T.V. I was also frightened to give a Baptism talk, but I really wanted to do it.....so I asked myself to speak. I got through it, and everything seemed to run smooth. We got the clothes, and the T.V. She was amazingly beautiful. She sang "Love On Another" with my mom, and London sang so pretty, and hit all of the notes right on. I want all of you that helped me out, and participated to know how much I appreciate you! Thank you to all of our friends and family that came.....we love you!!!

Family Photo's 2009

My best friends husband took our family pics a few weeks ago. For those of you that are on facebook, these are old news...but here they are for those of you who aren't.

She Cracks Me Up

Yesterday I promised Brooklyn we would go to Walmart to get a bike tube....I hate the ghetto far away Walmart here in SLC. I let Hailey come along to spend her 5 bucks she got for her birthday. On the way home she said,"Mom did you know the most common color for girls is pink, and the most common color for boys is blue". That girls vocabulary is out of this world for her age. I thought most 5 year olds would say, girls like pink the most, and boys like blue the most. I think she is a little smarty pants, but I am her mom so of coarse I think so. That doesn't mean she's not a sassy pants though......maybe more stories on that subject to come!

Oh, I actually just thought of a sassy pants story about Hailey.
Just last night I had the older girls unloading, and loading the dishwasher.
I told Hailey to wipe off the table. I had to tell her a few times, and still she refused. I told her that if she lived her, and ate in this house then she needed to help, or she wouldn't eat. She said, "Oh, so you are just gonna let me die, huh?". I told her yes so she had better start cleaning. That was the magic threat. Sounds harsh? I don't care, it worked like a charm! She wanted to eat, haha! She's the one that said it too, that's what funny.

Being There

The only person in my immediate family that I am close to is my sister, Sarah. I don't get to talk to her much, but when we do talk, it's for at least a couple hours. We just ignore the kids in the background, and talk about everything and anything. She never thinks differently of me, and she love me for who I am. Since I don't get to talk to her much, I am grateful that I have great friends that live very close. You know you have a great friend when you can think of them as family. When family isn't near I think that good friends become sort of like family. I feel like I am a genuine, nice, friendly person to everyone that's around me. I'm the type of person that wants everyone to like me. I know that not everyone in life is going to like me, but it's something that has been bothering me lately. Well, enough rambling for now. I want my friends, and sister to know how much I appreciate them being there for me.

Who Do You Look Like?

My hubby has been told he looks like Tom Sizemore, in Saving Private Ryan. I think he does in this pic, but other than that not really.

Tom Sizemore (on the left)

I think that Matt looks like Mr. Incredible, only with dark brown hair instead. We have a tiny hatchback Hyundai, and everytime Matt gets into it, it reminds me of Mr. Incredible getting in his car. Hehe!

Mr. Incredible

Matt resembles Kevin James to me. He's a funny guy, and in someways really does look like him.

Kevin James

Have you ever been told that you look like someone, or like celebrity? I have been told once that I looked like Emma Smith in the Joseph Smith movie, but I don't believe it. Someone also told me I looked like a woman that was in an Ensign story....LOL!!!

Dancing Jocelyn

Jocelyn, London, and Hailey love to dance to the radio in the car. I swear in part of this Jocelyn sings part of the song. Watch, and see. This girl has rhythm! Sorry it's sideways, just turn your head.

The Big Hump Of A Bump

It was Saturday, August 29th when it

came. It was the giant zit that had formed on the side of my face. At one point I had tried to POP the sucker with no such luck. I walked outside to talk to my friends, and they asked me what was on my face. I thought that some make-up had smudged, but they told me that I had a giant bump on my face. Embarrassed, I went in the house and looked in the mirror......it was bad.

Sunday it had gotten a lot worse and was close to my eye so I went to the Instacare, and they lanced it and said it was a cyst. They only could get part of the cyst out, but they sent me home with antibiotics strong enough to kill staph infection since it looked infected.

Monday I was back at Instacare because the whole side of my face and eye was swollen. They doubled me up on my antibiotics.

Tuesday I was in the ER at LDS Hospital because it ended up being the worse form of staph called MERSA, and it was in my blood stream. My face was swollen clear to the bridge of my nose.....and man it hurt so bad.

They gave me an IV with very strong antibiotics.

Wednesday and Thursday they had me come back to LDS to get more doses in my IV. I'm so much better now, and I actually look like me now.

I have the best friends ever for helping me, and making me go to the Dr. when I didn't think it was a big deal. My mother in law was awesome too, and came two nights in a row to help me with my kids. I love you all!!!!! I still have the bump but I feel better, and I think it will eventually go away.

Cha-ching Bada-bing Bling Bling

Today was such a lucky day......something happened that doesn't happen very often....or ever!

I was in the bathroom putting on my makeup when I heard excited Brooklyn yell, "Mom, come in your bedroom QUICK!". She was holding up a bill, and she said it was 50 dollars. I snatched it from her hands in disbelief, thinking it was a 5 dollar bill. HOLY FREAKING CRAP!!!! It was infact a 50 dollar bill. I have no idea where it came from. It was just sitting there on the floor by my side of the bed. Like I would miss a 50 dollar bill that was on my side of the bed on the floor!

It was soooooo cool, awesome, rad, and bodacious!

Jocelyn My Sunshine

I am so proud of my little girl, Jocelyn because she has come so far! Let me rewind a little bit and fill you in. Jocelyn was born the most perfect baby ever!!! No crying at all for the first 4 weeks of her life. She did get fussy once in awhile because she had ear infections. By the time she was 6 months old she had tubes put in her little ears. Ahhh, my perfect little baby was back after the tubes.
Jocelyn turned one and I thought that her tubes had fallen out because she was super fussy, grumpy and no fun. I was shocked when the doctor told me her tubes were fine and dandy. From that time on I knew that something was different with Jocelyn than my other kids. She threw giant tantrums, and was so frustrated with everything. When she turned two and wasn't talking at all, and started rocking on the couch I started to wonder about autism. It was like walking on egg shells not knowing what would make her have a giant melt down. She would just walk up and hit her sisters for no reason and laugh when she was told that it was wrong. She wouldn't look at people, or interact with other little kids......and the list went on.
I was referred to an early intervention place called DDI Vantage, and they came to our home and did some tests with Jocelyn. She qualified for their services, and recommended that I take her to the Center For Children With Special Health Care Needs.....whew long name!

Over a period of a month they tested her, and they diagnosed her with Aspergers Syndrome, Anxiety, Sensory Intergration and Speech Delay. I am still a little confused about the diagnosis. Mainly because she has progressed so quickly. She went from not speaking to saying full sentences in a 3 month period. She still has her melt downs but not as often. People that live around us have noticed her changing, and interacting with the children more. She is such a cute little girl, and is happier now that she can tell me what she wants. It really cuts down on the frustration for both of us! She really is my Little Sunshine!

Missin' Matt

I guess I decided to do a post about my husband, Matt because I miss him. I'm actually waiting for him to get home. He got done with a 12 hour shift, and left at 6 pm to come home. As you all probably know we live in SLC, and Matt works in Hurricane. I have mixed feelings about him working far away, and leaving for days at a time. I would love for him to just quit working for Wash. County Sheriff Office. I feel like he can't let go completely, and accept that we moved to SLC. Every time he goes down to work they beg him to go to school at SUU, and come back to work full time. They have been asking him to come back for a year now. I am pretty sure that they will still want him back in a year when he is done with school, and if not, he'll have a degree.....maybe he'll use it. Although I would like him to quit, and just get a job up here, I understand his reasons for hanging on to this job. He only has to work one weekend a month to maintain employment with them (which is great for when he is going to school). He can work full time in the summer. It's pay is pretty darn good..........minus the gas money to get clear down there. If he doesn't get a job right after he graduates he has a job still. It bothers me when people ask me why he travels so far to work, and why doesn't he just get a job where we live. Ha....I ask myself these questions and most of the time don't have any answers myself. I know that Matt is doing what he feels is best for our family. He is such a hard worker and I love him for being such a good husband and dad. I miss him so much!!! I can't wait to see him.......wooohoooo!!!!

Lesson Learned

It has been bothering me lately that I think everyone has it better than me, and these perfect people don't have any struggles in life. Does it really come natural for some people? Perfectly clean house, clean kids without messy faces, hair and make-up all done up.....and the list goes on. I swear I'm the only mother in this world that doesn't have it together. I end up realizing that other mothers stuggle too..........everyday, but I don't know why I can't remember that. Which is why I'm glad that I decided not to keep to myself anymore and go out and make new friends with my neighbor girls. It's the best thing I have done for myself. I thought they wouldn't want to be friends with the girl that had 4 kids because a lot of them only have one or two young kids. In a way I thought they had judged me before they knew me. I always hold everyone so high above me.....on a pedestool! The thing is I have learned this lesson in life already, and I know that everyone has their insecurities. I just hope that I don't forget for a long time so I can continue to be myself around the new people that I meet. It's hard coming out of my shell, but when I do you can't shut me up.

Still Laughing!

I got motivated at decided that I was going to clean out all of my cupboards and go through the old, stale, outdated food. I went grocery shopping at the case lot sale and I got loads of canned food for our food storage. When I was putting food away I noticed that some didn't show the dates on them.

I said to the fam, "I should date all the food!" and London started laughing histerically. I was trying to ask her what was so funny, and I finally got it out of her. She couldn't believe that I wanted to go out on a date with our food. She thought this was so funny because I do joke about being "in love" with my Kitchen Aid mixer, which I do love. Sometimes when I am cooking (this may sound psycho) I kiss the mixer and tell it I love it, and the kids tattle to Matt that I love the mixer.

I have been worried if Hailey has been eating enough at school because the teachers tell me that she just picks through her lunch. I have started to give her lunch before school since it doesn't start until 12:30. I had just picked her up from preschool, and I was curious what she had eaten that day at school.

She said, "Um......well they gave me a piece of bread that looked like a pretzel......and it really tasted like my carseat.....oh I mean it tasted like pee." It was funny because I definatly wasn't expecting that answer. Totally off the wall!!!

Today she said, "Mom you're not just my friend, your my very, very best friend do you want to know why? It's because your house smells good!"

I love these kids! They keep me laughing and I love to laugh!!!!

My Redroom

We live in family student housing at the U, and we are loving it. It's been such a wonderful experience for our family. We have become major fans of the basketball team, and they did pretty good this year.

Well the reason why I started to talk about where we live was for a reason. After people graduate, and get new jobs they have to move out of these apartments because only students can live here. So when people move out they put things that may be a "treasure" to someone else on the sidewalk by the dumpster instead of throwing it away. I love these people........yes I'm the person who loves to take these "treasures" home.

I have found so many good things. One was a clock still in the box with brand new batteries in it. I also found a nice desk, white vanity stand, and one of those shelves that go over the toilet. My latest treasure is a headboard. The first time I laid my eyes on it I saw the potential it had to be a cute headboard in my bedroom. I took it home and painted it black, and I quite like it!

I just painted my bedroom victorian red, and the black headboard looks pretty good with the red.

Hailey is Halarious!

I just wanted to quickly jot down something that Hailey said to me this morning.
"Mom, do you know what SEXY really means?" I said, "What does it mean?" She told me that it really means "Cute" in spanish. I was laughing so hard, and she kept insisting that it meant cute in spanish. What is funny, is that she has been telling me I'm sexy all day. Now, I feel SEXY! LOL!!!

This is my oldest daughter Brooklyn. She likes to hear stories from Matt's work, but once he tells it he has to be prepared for a million questions all night about the story. She just can't get her mind off of things that intrigue her. I think she tends to get obsessed with things, and she probably gets it from me.

With that being said, here is the reason I am posting pictures of Brooklyn with a broom in her hand. For about a month now she has had a broom or the vacuum in her hand non stop! I was such a proud Mommy that my daughter was cleaning without me hounding her. This was a DREAM come true! It started to seem like a problem when she really became obsessive about it, but I didn't want to discourage her from cleaning. Finally I told her that it's great that she cleans the floors, but when the dishes are dirty, and piled high, then there are other chores that need to be done. In the picture on the right she knew I was trying to take pictures of her so she was running away.

She really is an awsome helper, and she will make a great momma someday! I tell everyone that there's no way that I could get by with having 4 kids if I didn't have my Brooky to help me out!

Time Flew in 2008

This is a month by month summary of our life in 2008.

January 2008

We had just moved in to beautiful townhome in good ol' Kanab, Utah. It had an incredible work out room, pool, and hot tub which we totally took advantage of. This was pure paradise, not only because of the nice amenities, but because we had been living at my mom's house for the previous 7 months. It was nice to be on our own again, but thanks to my Mom and Clarence we were able to pay off pesky bills that never seemed to go away. So Matt continued to work for Washington County Sheriff's Office as a Deputy. The girls started school at Kanab Elementary, and seemed to like it. We were planning on building a house through a program where you help build it yourself along with other families. I also worked for Color Country Community Housing a few hours a week promoting , and recruiting families for the program.

February 2008

I don't know how many of you know but we had 2 rabbits, Oreo (a buck), and Licorice (a doe). Well, Licorice became pregnant at the beginning of February, and my kids began to ask questions. "Mommy why is Licorice giving Oreo a piggy back ride?" I can't believe it's only 30 days of gestation for rabbits. We came home one night and Licorice had pulled out all of her belly fur, and underneath were 9 babies. 4 pink, and 5 black. They looked like little mice without fur, but really cute. We went to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary for help because there were too many for Licorice to nurse so some weren't getting feed enough. They taught me how to make home made milk and they gave me rodent bottles. It was an awsome experience for me and the girls. We also loved going to the hot tub on freezing nights. Once we went on a snowing day and propped up the cover so our heads didn't get snowy.

March 2008

I picked up a cleaning job, which was totally awsome. I got paid $16 dollars an hour to clean 5 brand new model homes, and 2 clubhouses ( one of which was ours). I worked for my neighbor Eliora, and we became great friends. I only worked once or twice a week for 4 hours, which was perfect for me.

I continued working for Color Country setting up open houses and meetings. We still planned on building a house with our house plan, and lot all picked out. I had recruited 4 other families so we were going to start building. We made an appointment to go close on the loan. When we got there, we signed all of the papers. The person closing the loan noticed that one important paper was missing. We were told to come back the next day and it would be there to sign. A week prior to that we had started to have doubts about it, since Matt was working in St. George. We prayed hard about it, and decided to back out. It was really hard to tell Keith (the program director), who I was working for at the time. At that time Matt was feeling strongly about finishing his bachelor's degree, so that was another reason why we decided not to build.

We had a really fun Easter, and the 9 cute bunnies made it complete.

April 2008

After we decided not to build our home, I stopped working for Color Country. I continued cleaning, and started cleaning townhomes that people had moved out of as well.

Matt wen to the Dermatologist to ask him about a 2 giant moles on his head. He was hesitant to remove them because he said when they are fleshy colored they are usually harmless. Matt was annoyed because whoever he would go to for a haircut would always end up running into them. He got tired of that happening, and sometimes they would bleed a tiny bit from all the trauma. After that sob story they Dr. agreed to removed them both.

Matt recieved a call 2 weeks later with the pathology report on his moles. The Doctor was stunned, and told Matt that one of them was positive for Melonoma. He told Matt that it was pretty deep, and the Dr. made an appointment for us to see another Dr.( for those of you wondering, he went to an Ears, Throat and Neck Specialist) that day.

After evaluating the situation, the Doc showed us how much of Matt's skin would be removed, and he told us how deep it was. It would be a total of 2 surgeries, to get rid of it.

Before Matt could go in for surgery we had to go to the other hospital. There they shot some dye in his head on the area where the mole use to be. The dye would go down into the lymph nodes in his neck if it did spread. This part might not seem like that big of a deal, but it was horribly traumatic for not only Matt, but me. During this procedure, the pain from this caused Matt to pass out. I was freaking out because it looked like he was dying, and his eyes were rolling to the back of his head. He wasn't responding when the staff was saying his name, and I was crying, saying his name.

They finally woke him up, and whew finally that was over. They said that the reason why it hurts so bad is because there isn't any fleshy area on the scalp, just bone. Ouch!

So, o ver to the old Hospital we went for the surgery. They took out 6 lymph nodes from his neck to make sure that it didn't spread through out his body.

They cut out a round circle of about 2 1/2 inches (sorry if this is too graphic) in diameter, and sewed in some gauze to keep the wound open. They didn't close it up because they wanted to test the edges to make sure they went deep enough. Well, 3 days later we recieved a call, and it was good news, the cancer didn't spread through his body, and they had removed all of the cancer in his head. Ahhhh, relief!! So, back to the hospital for his second surgery to close it up. When I walked back with the nurse to see Matt after the surgery I wan't prepared for what they had actually done to him. I thought they would just sew the hole up, but they had cut a N shape incision that consumed the whole left side of his head with 20 staples. I wasn't prepared for how big his wound was going to be, and it looked so incredibly painful. I couldn't believe that they told me it wasn't supposed to be covered up. I had to be the nurse and clean it twice a day, and put antibiotic ointment on it. The skin kept dying, and Matt had to make trips to St. George to get the dead skin cut out. Eventually it healed up, and everything turned out good. His Dr. was Dr. Kent Gardner, and he was so good!!

Matt was off work for 7 weeks healing, and during this time he had decided for sure that he was going to go back to school. He applied to Weber State, and The Unversity of Utah. He was accepted into both, but chose U of U.

May 2008

The kids really loved Kanab, especially when the pool opened, and the weather was amazing. There was a park near by that we enjoyed going to. Our favorite place to eat was the lunch special at Lotsa Motsa, or Escobar's Mexican Restaraunt. We love to eat out, who doesn't??? If you are passing through try one of the two!! I also knew I would miss my friends, Valene Beardall and Terri Schumann. The kids made good friends too, but we all knew it was time to move on.

We feel really blessed, because Matt qualified for Vocational Rehab to pay for all of his schooling. During May he went through testing and paper work to get into this wonderful program. We were excited that we had an apartment waiting for us on Campus at the U of U. June would be our last month in the amazing town Kanab.

June 2008

Packing, packing, and more packing! We planned on moving to SLC so we packed our stuff up. We were going to take our Expedition up to Matt's parent's house early so we didn't have to worry about hauling a car behind the U Haul. It totally broke down, and it's sitting in Kanab waiting to be fixed.............still!

Matt went in for a PET SCAN of his whole body. Dr. Gardner wanted to make sure that cancer hadn't spread to any other parts of Matt's body or organs. Good news again, it didn't spread. We were lucky that it was removed when it was. Melonoma is a silent killer if it goes undetected, so GO get your moles checked, NOW!

Brooklyn and London went to St.George to stay with Jon for the summer. They only lasted 10 days......I was glad because I missed them so much. My sister, Sarah took our rabbit Oreo (who lost his wife Licorice in a dog attack) along with their son, Uno. I think she's regretting it, but THANKS Sarah! At the end of the month we loaded up the U Haul and we were off on our new journey from the BOONIES to the BIG CITY!

July 2008

We were pleasantly surprised with our new home. Nice neighbors, and a giant park right outside our door! I was glad that everyone was so nice, because Matt still worked full time at the Sheriff's Office until school started in the fall. I wasn't prepared for the obstacles that would come my way when he was gone. He would go for a couple of weeks at a time leaving me without a car so I would stock up on groceries. I got pneumonia and plueracy, Hailey got strep, Brooklyn had an ear infection and Jocelyn had to get stitches. I would have never survived with out the nice neighbors that helped me when Matt was working. Matt's Mom helped us out a lot, and checked on us the whole time. I want to tell everyone that helped our family out THANKS!

August 2008

We celebrated Brooklyn's 10th Birthday on the 8th. We had an exciting party with friends and family. I looked up on the internet how to make an ice-cream cake. MMMM it was simply scrumptious, so now everyone in the family asks for it for their Birthday. We missed Matt like crazy, but we knew eventually he would be home more.

School started for Matt and the girls. I started a new job working for the U of U as a custodian.

September 2008

London turned 7 years old on the 6th. She loves all the girls her age that live by us, so she had a fun party with them. Everything turned so hectic once school started, and days went by so fast. The school the girls go to is amazing, and the teachers care so much about the kids education. Brooklyn has improved so much that her teacher is amazed. London is doing so well at sounding out words that I can't spell talk to Matt anymore because she can figure out what I am saying.

Hailey started Headstart this month, and she is coming out of her "no talking" phase, I think. She is a little genius, with an excellent memory!

October 2008

Hailey turned 4 on the 14th of this month. We had a joint Birthday party with her Grandpa Alan, who's Birthday is the day before hers. She missed his b-day by 2 1/2 hours. The girls had a fun Halloween trick or treating with their cousins, and visiting their Grandma's and Grandpa's. Thier Great Grandma Siddoway took them through 5 of her neighbors backyards. They all got together and made Halloween Spooky Yards.

Brooklyn: Devil

London: Rodeo Queen

Hailey: Pregnant Mommy

Jocelyn: Pink Poodle

I think this was the funnest Halloween yet!

November 2008

The kids and I started Polish lessons this month. Matt already speaks it so he doesn't get lessons. We have a friend that is from Poland and she teaches us twice a week.

Someday we want to go there, and be able to speak a few words. I loved having some extra days off of work during Thanksgiving break. We went to Great Grandma Siddoways house for a delicious Thanksgiving Dinner. We had it with Matt's side this year. The kids made turkeys out of pinecones, and magnets. They have a wonderful Grandma Holley that always has a fun project up her sleeve.

I turned 30 this year, and to tell you the truth I feel 20!

I was reunited with my brother Riley, who I hadn't seen in 10 years. I really missed him.

December 2008

I can't believe that 2009 is gone! We had such an amazing Christmas. It really was our best Christmas ever! Riley decided to come to our house on Christmas Eve. We all went ice-skating, and all of the kids loved it. Later that night we re-enacted the Nativity Scene the best we could with small kids. We headed outside for some late night sledding, after all we do have the best hills for it right outside. We made sure to have plenty of creamy, rich, hot chocolate waiting for us when we were done. Riley decided to spend the night with us so he could see the kids open up their presents. We left some pumpkin cake w/cream cheese frosting for Santa, and carrots for the reindeer.

What a great present for me to see Riley since I didn't know if I would ever see my brother again, and I got him back for Christmas.

Matt has continued to work for Washington County as a Reserve Officer, which means he went part-time.

I can't believe the year is gone, but we are excited to start another great one full of amazing memories. Go 2009! Go UTES!!