Sewing Class!

I mentioned a few months ago that I was setting up a sewing camp for the summer.  I have already had a couple of sessions of class and it has been so much fun!  It has also been really great because it has helped me to teach my own kids to sew, and they LOVE it!  We have made so much stuff!  I have a mini-session next week and then I am going to take a break for some vacationing.  After that I have one last session and it is PACKED!  It's going to be a lot of fun. (And maybe a little crazy.)

My little sweatshop!

These girls are dangerous!

Empathy Training

So, after I posted my "True Story" post I thought (and hoped) that the story would end and I could say "happily ever after" etc.  Unfortunately I got another UTI and they identified the bacteria this time:  Klebsiella Pneumonae.   So apparently this is a bacteria that isn't super common to get, and usually it's found in older individuals who have been in the hospital.  They get pneumonia from it and die.  It's pretty antibiotic resistant, and hard to kill (thanks to its capsule, aka slime layer.  I actually know that this means now.)  They tested the one I had and the tests indicated that it should die if I took Augmentin.  So I took it.  And it didn't die.  My dr. had told me that if it didn't die I would probably have to have IV antibiotics and a PICC line (which I spent too many hours fretting about). I have decided that even though I am not in school right now, I am getting some important education for nursing school.  It's called "empathy training".  I hope the semester will end soon.  Aaaanyway, my dr. thought something could be going on with my renal system, since this bacteria shouldn't have even really been there in the first place.   And I keep having RBCs in my urine.  So I had to get an x-ray that was supposed to show whether I have kidney stones.  No stones.  Next, I was referred to a urologist (because, who can complete a course in empathy training without a visit or two to the urologist?  I mean, I've already experienced the OBGYN..)  The Uro ordered a ct scan, which was supposed to look for cysts or obstructions.  Scan came back, no cysts (although I do have some strange scarring in my left lung.  Who knew?) The next thing could be the final exam of the empathy training:  The cystoscope.  I'm not even gonna talk about that.  Suffice it to say that they are going to look inside my bladder to see if there is something that is causing me to have hematuria (blood in the urine).  Of course, I am no longer fretting about the PICC line (the Uro said that we have a couple more oral antibiotics we can still try). Now I am just fretting about what they might find in my bladder.  Trying not to worry about the "C" word.  It's probably not that.  I just hope they can find it and get it taken care of. I'm so over it.  It's all about the empathy people.

Days for Girls

Holy cow we have been doing SO much sewing! All through the months of April, May and June I have been helping a lady in my ward with a project called Days for Girls.  It's an organization that provides re-usable menstrual supplies to girls in developing countries.  It helps them to be able to stay in school and get educated.  My friend made a goal of providing 1000 kits and planned to take them with her on her humanitarian trip to Bolivia.  It's a really great organization and I have had a good time helping with it.  I feel like it's service that I can do, and can hopefully make a difference in the lives of these girls!

We have a BIRTHday! 14 big ones.

Look who is 14.  

She's SO old!  These kiddos grow up so fast!  Elise is smart, beautiful, zany, witty and has a very caring heart.  We love her so much.

I'm pretty sure these kids are crazy.  Erica and Ashlyn Davis came over to eat pie with us.

So Much Singing!

While I have been sewing a lot, Kent has been SINGING!  He is involved in two different music groups:  Red Rock Singers, which is a community choir and Half Step, which is a a capella group that some guys (and one brave woman) created.  They have done several concerts, sang at the Iron County fair last year and have a "Christmas in July" concert coming up next month. 

Taylor Creek

One of our favorite places to hike is Taylor Creek in Kolob Canyon.  There are several forks of the creek. The trail we went on this time was the double arch alcove trail. 

Catching tadpoles

We made it!

Look at that cool alcove!

Gnomeo

Look what I got for Mother's Day!  I have been wanting a garden gnome for a long time.  Meet Gnomeo. I love him.

Digging in the garden

True Story

True story:

Once upon a time there was a girl- well, she wasn't really a girl- more like a youngish middle-aged woman-girl. As her 40th birthday approached there was a council deep inside her yards and yards of dark and anaerobic intestinal catacombs. The bacterial colonies each wanted to present a gift to the woman-girl.

"What should we give our host for her birthday?" they contemplated. "We each want to give her gift, something that she will remember forever, something that she will recognize as the proverbial descent to the other side of the hill."

They appointed Helicobactor Pylori to be the first to offer its gift, but instead of the gift of beauty- an ulcer:

One gift, ulceration rare

Burning nasuea, sure to scare

Inflammation that shames the red red rose

She'll stoop in pain and discomfort

Wherever she goes

Next Escherichia Coli stepped forward to offer its gift, but instead of song - a UTI:

One gift of inflammed bladder

Sure to bring discomfort to her

Intestinal bacteria in the wrong location

Bringing forth this fateful abberation.

And last of all (we hope) Clostridium Difficle- waited patiently for it's opportunity - until both the good and bad members of the Society of Microbiota had been systematically destroyed to bequeath its gift on the woman-girl:

One gift of many symptoms unpleasant

That are too scandalous to mention at present

Sufficient to say, it brings forth queasiness

And an overall feeling of intestinal uneasiness.

And so it was, the gifts were bestowed, and the woman-girl met her insurance deductible easily, and before the year had been half spent. And after the Clostridium and the other 3 remaining bacteria (as in 3 single bacteria, not 3 types) in the woman's gut had been had been destroyed, there was plenty of space for a new generation of friendly microbiota to colonize. And there was much rejoicing in the digestive land.

Let's Play Music Recital

This was Adele's second year of Let's Play Music, taught by her very talented Aunt Kathy!  She has learned so much about music theory and has really loved this class.  She got to play "the hardest song in the book" at the recital, and was really excited about that.  Kathy is an awesome teacher.

I made her a special mermaid tail for the recital.  She was so excited about it!

Cedar City Temple

It's fun to see the Cedar City Temple taking shape!  Here is a recent picture of the progress, with a fiery sunset in the background.  All the primary kids in our stake got to write their names on rocks that were going to be mixed with cement and poured into the foundation of the temple.  That was kind of fun. When they grow up they can tell their kids that their name is written on a rock in the temple.

Summer Sewing Camp

I was trying to think of something I could do this summer to keep busy, and make some money too. Thankfully, I don't have to take any classes this summer, and I don't have to go to a daily job.  But I did feel like I wanted a little job or something so I could save some money and put it toward all the nursing junk that I have to buy in the fall.  (Hello expensive textbooks, not to mention tuition.  Still hoping for some scholarships to come in).

I have been teaching my one main sewing student (and occasionally her sister as well) all year.  They have told their friends how much they like their sewing class and the word has spread a little bit. I have been asked if I was taking more students. I told them that I couldn't do it during the school  year but that I might do it during the summer.  So I finally decided to commit to it and I have organized a little sewing camp for kids that I am going to be running through most of the summer. I am still working out the details but I have over a dozen students signed up for different sessions this summer, and I expect to have several more before it starts at the end of May.  I think it will be really fun.  I'm glad I get to do this instead of study or work at a regular job.

End of the Semester

I have (almost) survived the semester.   It has been much busier than I thought it would be. I had the same amount of credits this semester as last semester and two fewer labs.  I thought it would be less crazy.  Turns out I was wrong.  It ended up being super crazy because of my chemistry class.  My teacher is 1 super unorganized and gives homework and quizzes and tests at random times and does not stick to any type of schedule.  2.  Is confusing when he lectures and doesn't make much sense. Because of this I have had to study the book a lot. It has actually been kind of like an independent study class- only worse-  one that meets EVERY SINGLE day, and has annoying quizzes.  I can't even explain how excited that I only have to endure this class 4 more times.  Unfortunately I still have 3 more homework assignments that are due.  Two of them are due during the week of finals. Who does that?

My other classes haven't been so bad.  Nutrition has been super easy, but has had quite a bit of busy work and homework assignments.  My other class is pathophysiology. I have learned a lot and enjoyed it.  I'd rather do physiology related stuff than chemistry any day.  If I have to learn the Kreb's cycle one more time....

As soon as the semester is over there will be some real partying.  I have an entire month off before my kids get out of school.  WOO HOO! I have been making a mental list of all the things I want to accomplish (or at least work on) while I have this time off.  And some of it might continue into the summer.  I need to work on my art wall in the family room downstairs.  I have several sewing projects and I need to get some stuff ready for the kids sewing camp I am doing this summer to try to keep busy and make some money.  I need to re-do my cookbook binder and I need to get going on the landscaping in the backyard by getting the dirt people there to help with moving the dirt and rocks. and to hopefully get someone to come do the sprinklers and curbing. After that we will probably do the rest ourselves. I am hoping to make some progress on this in the next couple of weeks.

I have a 16 year old!

How did this happen? HOW?  Emilia is 16.  She finished up her driver ed driving hours during Spring Break and passed her test just before her birthday.   She wanted to go to the DMV on her birthday and get her license.  (GASP! CHOKE!)  She can't be old enough to drive.  This is one of the scariest things as a parent.  Giving your own (young and inexperienced) flesh and blood keys to the car and letting them go out ALONE!  How do people get through this???  I'm sure she will be a good driver. It's just a whole new level of trust and freedom and it's hard to let go of this.  Growing up is normal and good.  It's just really hard and scary sometimes (especially for the parents!).

But anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my lovely and talented EMILIA!!!

The "Pick-UP"

After years of waiting, Kent finally has his new pick-up.  We looked at trucks listed on KSL and decided to go up north to look for trucks since there weren't very many available down here.   We took Ian with us and went up on  Friday night, with the intent to look at trucks on Saturday.   We ended up at a used lot in Bountiful with very sly and persuasive salespeople and came home with this blue beauty.  We don't regret the purchase, you just think about the whole transaction and realize all the tricks and tactics that were used on you.  It kind of makes you mad.  Like the fact that there are all these hidden fees tacked on the end of the purchase.  We felt like that was kind of sprung on us.  We tried going in there cautiously, and with our responsible buyer sense, but they are so sneakily manipulative that it is easy to commit to something before you have all the info and before you are totally ready.  So, overall we are happy with the vehicle, but we do feel like we were manipulated by the dealers, and that never feels good.  There is a reason why used car salesmen have the reputation they have.  Lessons learned.

Eating at 5 Guys in Bountiful

40

Yeah, I'm 40.

The Passing of the Granny Gear

 Traditionally, when one of the sisters had their 40th birthday we have showered them with gifts fit for a granny.  All sorts of stuff that people tend to need as they age.  Denture cream, prunes, granny panties, cat sweatshirts, etc.  As the youngest sister it was always very fun and enjoyable to be on the giving end of such presents.  Unfortunately my time for receiving has come.  The last day of my spring break we met in SL and had dinner at Cheesecake Factory (and experienced the worst and slowest service I have ever, ever, ever seen).  The food was good and the cheesecake was amazing, even if it did take about 2 hours for dinner.   Yohanna brought us all squeaky cheese and Gossner milk from Logan.  That was definitely the highlight of the trip! After dinner we went to the hotel and I was bequeathed the traditional granny panties and cat sweatshirt, along with a few other great and exciting gifts such prunes, Depends, Altoids, and of course a lovely turban, fit for a bald granny.  The weekend was fun but really quite a whirlwind.  I dragged Amy up with me for my torture birthday party.  Amy had come to visit us during our spring break and stayed for several days.  This granny party was kind of organized quickly and at the last minute.  I hope she didn't mind too much being a witness to this crazy tradition.  One thing that was different this time though was the lightening speed photo uploads to Facebook.  I'm pretty sure some of the pics of  Carol made it to Facebook, and maybe Linda, but mine were literally uploaded within like, 20 seconds of being taken. I was trying to be a good sport about it but, honestly, it is definitely more fun to be the disher and not the taker.

ACCEPTED!

The letter came today.   When we filled out applications they said that we could expect to hear whether we got in by the end of March.  I was surprised to find this letter in my mailbox!  I guess they wanted to get the letters out on the first day of spring break so they don't get bombarded with questions and complaints of people who didn't get in.  The applicants can have a week to process things and stop freaking out before they can go talk to the people in the nursing office...  But, I'm in!  YAY!  All that work to get to this point has paid off.  I'm so excited to be in!  (Now I keep thinking, oh great, I'm committed now!  Is it too late to change my mind?)  I want to do this, it's just kind of overwhelming to think about what it is going to be like.  I just have to keep telling myself what I told myself at the beginning:  I don't have to do it all in one day.  I just have to do today what I need to do today and try not tot worry about what is coming up tomorrow, next week or next month.  If I do everyday what I need to do that day, pretty soon I will be done.  I have been following that mantra and look, I'm almost done with prereqs, I am done with 3 semesters of work and I have been accepted into the nursing program. I have 2 more years, but that is a lot less than the 3 1/2 I started with.  I can do this.  I can do this.  (I need more money to do this, but I can do this!)

February 12

That is the date that has been going around in my head since November.  It is the deadline for the submission of nursing applications.  I got mine turned in about a month ago, but February 12 was still an exciting day! It means that they will start reviewing applications and I should find out in about a month whether I get in to the program.  

It was kind of funny seeing a lot of people having last minute application freaking out.  There are several people in my pathophysiology class who are applying to the program.  I was overhearing people all week talking about application this and that and, "I need to pick up my photo" or "I still haven't gotten my letter of recommendation back" stuff.  I am pretty confident about my qualifications, but there is always that "what if I don't get in?" question in the back of my head.  To my advantage, some of the people I know who are applying seem REALLY immature and don't have the best grades, so I think I have a pretty good chance.  I hate waiting!

Arrow of Light

Ian has worked hard to get his arrow of light. It came in the midst of the big "scout program re-vamp" so thing were a little crazy there at the end.  But we did it! 

Update

It's pretty hard to keep up on the blog these days.  The fact that my computer fried itself hasn't helped.  I unplugged it when we left for some Christmas traveling and when I plugged it in again it fried itself.  Not sure why.  Kent said it fried the power supply so we got a new one.  Still didn't work.  He guessed it needed a new motherboard and processor too.  So we got new ones.  Now we are having some problems with software.  It is a good thing he is a computer genius and got my laptop working better before the holidays.  It is pretty old and was slow but he was able to strip it down to bare bones so it would have enough RAM and stuff like that. So, anyway, it works now.  But unfortunately, my photos aren't on this computer and typing on it isn't my favorite  So I have kind of been waiting for my desktop to work so I could update some stuff on the blog.  Some of it will have to wait, but I needed to update at least.

• We celebrated Kathy's birthday at the end of January.  We have both been so busy and our schedules didn't work out but we FINALLY were able to go out to lunch last week to celebrate her birthday.  I love so much having her live so close to us. We have lived here for so long without family close by and it has been so wonderful to have her here!  And I love that my kids get to have a relationship with their kind and wonderful (and musical!) Auntie Kathy!  And the other great thing is that my kids get to see and spend time with their cousins and their babies.  Christmas was so much fun this year because we had extended family to celebrate and party with! 

•  Something I've been continuing to do while I'm in school is to try to sew when I can, and teach sewing lessons to my cute girls, Carly and Eve.   We do sewing lessons almost every week and we make all sorts of fun stuff!  I have had some knit fabric for awhile and was kind of putting off sewing maxi skirts, but decided to try one day.  It worked out great so I had my sewing girls make some.  And then Adele wanted one so I made one for her too.  She was so excited to wear it to her Grandparent's Day program. (Which will be the subject of its own post later.)  I bought more knit this week so I could make a couple more skirts for myself.