Johnson Cousins in Illinois.

We were thrilled when Aunt Julie emailed and said that they'd be coming out to our neck of the woods to help Larry (Uncle Walt's Dad) sort through, dejunk, and pack up his house.  We have gotten so few family visitors here in Normal let alone cousins so we were ALL very excited :0)

Some of the highlights include: Avanti's gondolas for lunch * Having everyone sleepover at our place * late night chat with Uncle Walt & Aunt Julie * watching you kids play with your cousins * seeing baby Aimee and baby Carrie together * Dad & I teaming up to watch Isaac, Thomas and Kyle for 24 hours (I was honestly a little nervous to have 7 kids under our roof, but Dad had a great and adventurous attitude and proposed that we just make it really fun.  His attitude really shaped the time in to something great & memorable!)-- visiting the Caterpillar Visitor's Center in Peoria, free Frosty's from Wendy's, Pizza Party, movie party and sleepover * Uncle Walt & Dad taking all of you kids on the Monticello train while Aunt Julie & I worked on sorting and packing * Memorial Day BBQ * Brie, Isaac & Aunt Julie playing set * the Johnsons gifting us with the Story Cubes game *

26-31 May 2016

Thanks again for visiting us.  We just LOVED having you here!

Prep & Procedure, Oh Poop!

22-23 May 2016

Sunday morning I ate a light breakfast then was on a liquids fast for the rest of the day.  At 4pm I mixed up my prep drink then chugged that nasty stuff as fast as I could every 10 minutes.  Uggh.  It was HORRIBLE.  It looks clear but is unusually thick and has a slight fishy flavor.  Brie, you were so sweet to stay with me in efforts of supporting.  I tried to distract myself by designing things for Father's Day singing time, but was almost dry heaving by the last few cups. As things started getting moving, Dad took you kids on a walk so that the pot & I could spend some meaningful time together.  When I got to the last .5 oz I was feeling so nausea that I decided that I'd just dump it in the toilet, figuring that that is directly where it'd be going anyway ;0)  That night I scoured all sorts of forums, articles and blogs online to see what advice people had.  I had a pretty good night and woke up the next morning feeling a renewed hope that I could take on the last 64 oz head on.  I prefilled bottles, chilled them in the fridge then used a separate cup with ice cubes and drank through a straw.  It was 100% better!!  In 5 years when I need to do another colonoscopy I will definitely do the whol 128 oz. chilled, on ice and sipped through a straw.

After I was done with the prep part, per my request Dad sweetly made no bake cookies to give to the sitters (Yuling Nowland and Kathryn Kimball) and I had fun designing some ridiculous little thank you notes.  The drs and nurses really got a kick out of them :0)  Checking in to the hospital I was so shaky. I had not eaten anything in 36 hours, and the last thing I had eaten was a small bowl of rice chex for breakfast.  Thankfully they had a chair in front of the sign in window.  I needed it.  Dad was wonderful to be with me as I got my IV and before I got rolled back to the procedure room.  It was my first time being put under and I was a little nervous, but was so grateful I didn't have to be conscious of either procedure.  When the anesthiologist said that I would be asleep in 5 seconds I panicked.  It scared me to think of everything going black, so I quickly closed my eyes and said a quick prayer.  And that was the hardest part.  Next thing I knew I was back in the recovery room with Dad and I was done!  Hooray for modern medical technology!!

18 July 2016

Dr. Misra said that my colon looked fine (no polyps, hooray!), but that with a family history of polyps I should have a colonoscopy every 5 years (boo!).  I also had an endoscopy done at the same time and found bile in my stomach.  She said that she suspected it was either from too much fat in my diet or stress.  After a week in Europe eating whatever the heck I wanted and having virtually NO stomach problems, then getting back to Utah with my kids and suddenly having upset stomach, Dr. Misra and I concluded that it is most likely stress that is causing the gastritis.  The hard thing with that now is that thinking about stress making me sick makes me more stressed :0/  I know that the Lord is helping teach me to be calmer and more patient, but it's a process to relearn how to handle life when you're used to be really high strung and easily overwhelmed.

In any case, I am now taking Sucralafate a half hour before lunch and dinner in hopes that my stomach will heal and I won't have so many issues.  It's amazing that this whole process started back in February, but I'm grateful to have trained medical professionals who have guided me in this process. 

Aimee's first Spring Celebration.

This was Aimee's first Spring Celebration.  I hit up the post Easter clearance sales to get candy, then waited til a beautiful Spring day (18 April).  Aunt Em had sent a package with Easter paraphernalia and it happened to arrive that day, the timing was perfect.  She's the one that sent those adorable paper bunny ears.  We had BBQ Chicken Cobb Salads for dinner with strawberry lemonade then did an egg hunt.  Brie was the "winner" having gathered the most eggs and Lij contently opened his eggs and ate his candy as he went.  Afterwards you kids followed the bunny prints to your Easter baskets. The adorable bunny stuffed animal was from Mémé.  It was a FUN evening spent together.

The Easter Egg Hunting Crew.

I loved this CUTE bright vinyl tablecloth that I found at Target on clearance. The adorable bunny napkins are from Aunt Em.

According to Motorola, 16 (April).

Boys playing piano (newly updated sitting room)

Waiting to divvy up the laundry (each of you sat in a laundry basket and I tossed you your clothes)

Aimee and Jack (play date at Talbert's)

The boys making conference cinnamon rolls

More baking, Dad loves to bake :0)

Conference train to keep track of speakers (cut out pictures from past conference Ensign)

Aimee, you get SO excited when you hear a phone buzz or ring!

Working on Blog book #7 in time to get 40%

Read this. Loved it.  Sharing it with other moms.

Cute, busy boy!

Alex, you love your new rain jacket (from Aldi)!

Lij taking afternoon nap

 Dad working on a Coax cable for his HAM radio equipment

Reading Lij's favorite book at Easter Seal's waiting room... 

Alex assembling a torch lamp

Aimee in the midst of her BUSY brothers!

Lij peed his pants while waving goodbye to Dad one morning.  Of course the curtains hung low enough to soak up some of the pee before I could get to it.  Mom problems ;0)

Putting together a little travel package for Alan & Liz's trip to Costa Rica!!

Cute girl and the window :0)

You kids showering Dad with love one morning before work when he was feeling a bit down... 

 Lij and Alex you brought down your favorite stuffed animals to share with him.  It warmed his heart and mine.  We love seeing you love others.

I loved seeing this pair of doves check out our wreath.  They didn't nest here, but made my heart happy to see them.

Kathryn Kimball generously watched you boys so I could clean the house and prep for the Relief Society Progressive Dinner (or whatever else was priority).  Dad happened to be working from home and he had an impromptu lunch date with Jimmy John sandwiches and La Croix sparkling water.

The end of the bouncer season.

I hosted the appetizer portion of the RS Progressive dinner.  It was a great excuse to get the house extra clean and I loved having our home filled with sisters from the ward.

It was such a quiet and empty house to come home to afterwards

Aimee has officially started crawling! (just about 1 yr old)

Cute Lij & Aimee

You know you have a fetish for all things snail mail when you are giddy about your husband bringing you home package and letter standard measurement templates ;0) 

Laundry sorting time

Cute sisters!

Working on Blog Book #7

Headed out on our mother-daughter date

Brie decided she wanted to get bangs cut

cutie pie...and instantly looks so much older!  Aaah, you've got to stop growing up, Brie!

Working on a bowl for birthdays

Dad bought this coloring pad for Brie

The boys bought these tractors on their dates with Dad

Working on a birthday plate, got a bit crazy!

Home dates with Dad

Preschool open house 

I walked around a few stores with Alex and took pictures of his favorite things to give me an idea of something he might like for his birthday

Cute birthday cards from family

Bath time fun...I'm trying to chill out a bit and let this sort of thing not make me crazy

Shopping with Alex at TJMaxx

Eating our gourmet chocolates from Michigan

a 3D card Brie made

Excitement!

Party prep with Alex

Library time

Elinor Cash's book display

Brothers

Giant Disneyland suckers from Aunt Rachie

Watching airplanes with Lij during preschool one day

Some nativities I found for a GREAT deal at a garage sale

pure joy :0)

Cute things Mémé sent me for mother's day

Alex, you had Aimee cracking up so much!  You would inflate a ziplock by blowing air in to it, zip it closed, then pop it with your hands.  She was roaring with laughter!

Our first time at State Farm Park, with the Kimballs

A picture I came across of sweet baby Aimee holding her older sister's finger

Alex & I taking a selfie with the Keokuk water tower in the background...we were on a mission to find cowboy boots for the boys in Farm & Supply Store

97 cents, what a steal!

Sisters with cute coordinating daisy outfits

Family project to make mother's day cards

Brie & Alex working out in their "garden" under the play house

All 4 of you reading :0)

I've already forgotten the exact details of this morning, but I think that miraculously the boys (and Aimee) were still asleep, Dad had already left for work so Brie & I made ourselves a fun breakfast

Trying another store in hopes of finding cowboy paraphernalia

we ended up buying these pricey (BUT ADORABLE) boots for Aimee...$30 later.

Cute Easter package from Aunt Emmie

Dad headed to the attic, I think.

I couldn't get over the Sager's beautiful tree blossoming and that adorable Miss Aimee all ready for a walk

Quickly snapping Aimee's 1 yr snapshot before she rolled over and crawled away

Cutie pie getting up from her nap!

Alex & I reading about the moon

You kiddos & I decorating eggs with the kit Emmie sent to us

My little sheep

Brie & Alex playing in the rain

Lij & I garage saleing together...walking down sidewalks full of beautiful Spring blossoms!  

Alex putting together Neptune

Trying out a train track at "Cute as a Button"

Our OT center

Alex snagging a picture of me being silly and singing a made up song (to the tune of "On My Own") to you kids during lunch

Your hats arrived!

Love this pink hat, but quickly realized that it wouldn't fit for the ranch and would be better suited for cousin Abi

Oh Lij

A "creative" impromptu Earth Day dessert

Dad & I enjoying pain au chocolat and sparkling juice at Panera, keeping the Europe dream alive!

My sweet husband staying up late with me to get ready for Alex's birthday

Book #7 is here!!

Adorable little walking companion

Lij, you LOVE to explore and jump off your tricycle as quick as can be to check out bugs, man holes, etc.

Cutie pie!

Dad trying to teach Brie & Alex how to ride bikes without training wheels

Sassy pants

A sweet darling dress that Grauntie gave to Aimee last year.  It made me happy to see her wearing it!

The end of Alex's birthday celebrations

Now on to Aimee's birthday!

Aimee, the birthday girl!

My little cuppie cake

Alex working on different motions that help rev or calm his engine

Aimee's not looking overly sure about this whole candle in my cupcake thing

Alex & Lij at the dentist.

No cavities.  Hooray!

We love Dr. Hall's office (Pediatric Smiles of Bloomington) and staff

Reading with my Alex

Sometimes you just wear yourself out and you crash on the couch during nap time

It's official, we clicked the "buy" button together...we are on our way to Paris!!!!

Starting to teach other French & German

Time to accessorize with my outfits!!

Lij, you crack me up :0)

Designing and preparing sharing time for Brother (Dr.) Cash to do for me on Mother's Day

An afternoon date with Dad to see Janet Streenz perform in her very last recital!  I was anxious about leaving all 4 of you kids during the day with a babysitter, it was rainy, we were running late and I was stressing out a bit.  I opened up a Dove promise and this is the advice I found.  I decided that this date and my choosing to wear rose-colored glasses would be good practice for our trip.  That likely things wouldn't go quite as planned, it might be rainy, inconvenient, or whatever.  Little did I know that Dad & I would spend a lot of time under this umbrella in Paris, but love every minute of it.

Flowers for dear Janet

The star of the show.  She's amazing!!