Decorate...who me?

Ok so I have been decorating a bit here and there even though I still wake up wondering if this really is my house. I mentioned in an earlier post that I have been blog stalking home decor blogs as well as stealing ideas from IKEA. And I have been promising some pics for a while so I guess here we go.

First, my family tree. I stole this idea from IKEA and my wonderful friend made it a reality. I love this. I haven't finished because I want pics from every side of the family- well at least the 4 grandparents lines- and Riley had a baby but she said she could help add a few leaves and some shading. Anyway the smallest frames are actually CHRISTMAS ornaments from Hobby Lobby. I couldn't find the exact same frame in every size so I just went with a wood-like theme for the frames.



Here is the IKEA version again:


Second, my old window frame. I LOVE OLD STUFF! You know antique items, people, just about anything old except FOOD- ick! So I wanted something on this wall but I was afraid if I hung a picture that it would get faded since there is a window just to the right of this wall. So I grabbed this frame that I bought as a set of two and hung it on the wall. I think it is awesome and maybe one day I will get the project for the other window frame that has glass done.


Next, my monogram project. So I love the ideas of monograms. I don't know why but maybe it is just another simple way to include my family history obsession in my life. So I found a letter "N" that I liked and printed it out. It was a little grainy so I just went over it with a permanent marker cut it out with an exacto knife and glued to a pre-cut piece of clue scrapbook paper. Add a frame and voila another cool item for my home. YAY!


Last but most important is my wall of what matters most. My family is my greatest obsession. I live for them- past, present & future. I have tons more pictures to hang and if I can find or get a vinyl phrase made that sums up this wall it will go at the tippy top. So wish me luck that I won't fall off a ladder and further bust my body. It is fun to feel like this home is MY home. Maybe next I'll be able to show my drapery that I am making, some pillow covers, my patriotic themed front room and possibly a bathroom or three. That's if my kids don't drive me insane-er before then.

Pray for...

Do you ever feel as though your prayers seem hollow? Like you have a list of thanks and please and it never seems to get smaller? Does this even make sense?
So I have been thinking about how prayers are answered and how it always works out just right. It's often easy to have this knowledge when things are going smooth BUT it gets harder to recognize the silver lining when all you see is the tarnish.
Well below are some things I am especially gratefull for right now!
* Rain- wow we have had a ton and that means I don't have to water the lawn or garden! YAY!
* Medication- how would it be to have no relief from illness EVER. Glad I live NOW.
* Flowers- thanks to the previous owners the yard is in bloom and it is a joy to experience. Peonies and irises, columbines & roses, fresh strawberries and clematis.
* Space- how nice it is to have space. To have room for everyone and to be able to see your junk and get rid of it.
* Spouse- Ryan is an amazing man who I hope gets enough credit from me for how outstanding he is.
* Kids- who knew my greatest trial could also be my greatest blessing. Four brilliant and loving children who work hard and learn tons all while teaching more then I will ever teach them.
* Spirituality- nothing keeps my mind going more than studying and learning about my purpose. I need this more than food, this is the air for my soul and keeps me from feeling useless. Thank goodness that I was blessed with this gift of curiosity about the Plan of Salvation

A voice from the Dust

Recently my grandmother told me of a phrase that my great-grandmother(pictured above) imparted to her once:

When everything's going smooth
Life gets boring
You gotta stir things up


Now I don't know if you have to stir things up BUT I do think that things go smooth and then all of a sudden you're on your ear. Life just stirs itself up! This phrase has been going through my mind alot recently as I ponder how smooth life went for about six months and now here we are.

Well I guess there must be opposition in all things so here we go. Wish us luck in our opposition. And enjoy this picture of my grandfather stirring things up.

Family History Picture

So for many of you this won't matter at all but for my siblings this may be extremely interesting.
Recently my mom came to spend time with my grandmother- her step-mother. While talking with my grandmother the subject of my biological grandmother came up. My grandmother is an outstanding lady and has kept nearly EVERYTHING of my biological grandmother's. In one box there was a photo album and in this album was the above picture. (And since my grandma is SUPER cool and owns a scanner I was able to scan it in and now I have this digital copy. All without the album ever leaving the house. OK so technology can be good.)

So this picture is of the Edgar and Mabel WECKMUELLER family circa 1920's (post Dec1921) Their two children Edward "Eddie" and Kathleen are pictured. So I hope that you all enjoy this picture as much as I do.

I HATE TECHNOLOGY

So our PC has been on life support for years and seems to slowly be biting the dust and NOW the lappy is terminal. There is no hope for either of these poor excuses for progress in the tech sector and now our trusty printer, scanner & copier seems to have been injured beyond repair- boys shoving various items into it.
So I say down with technology. I mean will the world stop if I have to write a note? Will my email box fill and then implode. Will I stagnate because I can't renew or reserve anything online. Will my remaining brain cells be able to find a way to pay bills the old fashioned way. Who knows but this is sure a fine time to have all this stuff decide to crap out- you know when you are paying off medical bills & trying to save for that rainy day that seems to be TODAY. ARG!

Inspiration

So here is the inspiration I mentioned from IKEA. I will post my version soon.

Blog Surfing

OK... I have a confession to make. With a new house comes a desire to decorate. I do not pretend to have much natural ability for this but somehow it is beginning to fall into place, and it has been less than a year.

It also helps that Ryan is handy and that I have my friend Riley to advise me before I make any disastrous design decisions. I probably don't follow the rules when it comes to decorating but who cares - I like it.

The best thing I have done is when I find an idea I like I take a picture or steal said idea and tweek it to my own desire. Like I saw this one family tree idea at IKEA and I had to do it. Riley came over and away we went. It is awesome and although I am not finished it is the focal point of our family room.

I also attribute most of all the internet and those awesome decor blogs that are out there. There are just numerous ideas that I have been able to get inspiration and impliment in my home. I just think that this has saved me tons in time and money. I have bought NO magazines and accumulated no library fines. There is now nothing to throw away and no excess paper lying around. I am so thrilled that I can get ideas without having to use my budget for that instead of the pictures I want printed or the fabric I need.

So here is my salute to online decor blogs. Thanks for the money saving ideas! (Go ahead. Try it.)

On the Mend

So for an update on Job(Ryan)....He is recovering slowly but nicely. Right now he is trying to overcome the side-effects of the drugs but soon he will be done with those and it will not be so bad anymore.
Seriously though it may be a year before his energy level is back to normal. This is hard for him with a demanding job, four kiddos and the fact that he never sits still for long. For example this weekend we painted our master bathroom, planted two fruit trees, seeded the lawn and moved potted plants around to save from the snow. Yep again more snow. Well at least we have yet to turn on the sprinklers. Mother Nature is certainly helping our pocket book.
Well I guess that is it for the update we are well and so very grateful for everyone's thoughts and prayers.

What NOW?

So yesterday we went back to the dermatologist and got the first biopsy back. She brought in another doctor- this is #7 in case you are keeping track- for a look at our medical mystery. With the biopsy back and two doctors looking at him we got yet another diagnosis- Linear Iga.
You can google it if you want to but it is no fun. Ryan can barely walk due to the blisters all over his feet. HOPEFULLY we can take this drug and be over it OR he may have to take this drug for the rest of his life OR he may not be able to take the drug in question and the who knows.
We won't know until the biopsy and blood work from yesterday come back.
Apparently it can become auto-immune even if caused by an allergic reaction originnaly. We are very grateful that the doctors are so aggressive and that they have taken the time to explain, research, check and double check everything.
Medical issues STINK! Dealing with the possible mortality of a spouse REALLY STINKS!

So to date this is what we have: Strep infection(Strep Throat), Mono, Staph infection of the skin and a rash diagnosed for now as Linear IGA.

Please keep us all in your prayers. This is exhausting, overwhelming and no fun. Luckily the kids are healthy- knock on wood- and for now we have a job.

One in a Million...BABY!

Ok so we think that we FINALLY have a diagnosis for Ryan's disease.
Erythema Multiforme
Ever hear of it? Us either. Luckily we got a dermatologist who did know what it was. You all can google it OR you can go here
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/762333-overview the pics are pretty close to what Ryan has and it is NO fun.( The likelyihood of getting it is 0.01-1% crazy huh?)
There is a chance still that it could be a more sever form of the afore mentioned condition called: Stevens- Johnson Syndrome (way to go Dr. Britt).
You can read all about how fun that is too at the above site.
So hopefully by Friday we will have a 100% confirmed diagnosis. Just two more doctor's appointments- opthamologist & dermatologist (AGAIN)
Thanls for all of your prayers and concern. It has been a long week and a half and hopefully it is nearly all over. And if you really want to see how bad it is we did get pics- YUM!)
BY the way he still has strep and Mono! Fun huh?

Medical anomily

So Ryan had a little ER visit last night. And the verdict was yes you have strep-red-(like doctor #1 said on Wed) but...Dum Dum Dum...that pesky rash oh yes baby you have mono-purple- too.
So the back story is Ryan had strep about a month ago, was given antibiotics sometime during that he contracted Mono and because he had antibiotic going on it caused a rash. Due to the Strep diagnosis another round of anti-biotics was given which exaserbated said rash- spreading to the eyeball. After 3 doctors and three nurses trying to get an IV in we finally got a diagnosis and hopefully he will be on the mend.
I guess that this rarely if NEVER happens and the doctor at the ER said that he hadn't heard of such a thing since Med school- good thing he did because the ER room was way small and staying there too long would not have been cool.(Feng shui is definately in order there!)
Thanks to friends (Mark & Steve)for a blessing, for family (mom & Jeane) for watching kiddos & for relief from callings, kids and dinner for a day or two (Debbie, Julie, Jill, John & Patty).
I have learned that sometimes it's not only OK but necessary to say I can't do this. Whew! What a month! Thank goodness for modern medicine though!) As well as my own personal nurse(Julie). Where would I be without you? Oh wait I know...exploded mammary system due to undiagnosed mastitis, miserable husband who is too sick to rest & not too mention just a little mental instability!
Hope May is better than March & April.

Cute Kid

So this morning I recieved a great compliment! James was sitting at the table and he tells me "Mom you're a cool lady"
I think that I must be doing something right to have a two year old compliment me.

Let it SNOW ...BABY

So we are supposed to have nearly 2 feet of SNOW! YAY! Ok so many may think why are you cheering for snow...in March? Well we have really not had any snow or winter here in Denver and with Ryan traveling so much I have really wanted a snow day for him to be with us more than just on the weekend. So hopefully- fingers crossed- we will get said 2 feet of snow, be able to sleeep in, get the basement better organized and thank God that we still don't have to water the grass just yet. Plus we can bake up a storm and since Michael is on Spring break I don't have to wake up to see if he has a snow day from school.
So pray for snow and enjoy the first and probably last snow of 2009 thus far.

Brilliant

So my sister is BRILLIANT. I was reading her blog and I was in awe of the most wonderful observation that she made:
STRESSED is DESSERTS backwards...
so therefore I am going to adopt the Marie Antoinette attitude to life,"let them eat cake" or cookies or copius ammounts of chocolate or any other dessert like item to do away with the stressed-out nature that I seem to be so prone to.
Do you think it will work? Hey whatever works but isn't it interesting how there is always oposition in all things?

Take Part @ your own risk

(So I have seen this on several blogs and I thought- what the heck? So take a chance and give me a challenge by taking part in this GIVE AWAY. WHo knows maybe I'll get it done sooner than a year from now.)

Well, all you have to do is be one of the first five people to comment on this post and offer the same thing on your blog! Easy, right? Well, of course there are rules.

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be.
5- Don't expect a miracle here, people - this challenge will be waking up my creative side.

The catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

So there you go! Hop to it!

Goodbye Childhood and Grandma

This past week has been so up and down. After accepting that I am now a professional vomit cleaner- 3 seperate incidents- I thought that I was prepared to see my son be baptized.
Unfortunately I wasn't. I was only able to pay partial attention with a 13 month old wanting all of my attention. Then of course James had issues too. Not to mention I can't accept that Michael is 8 and now so grown up. He has matured so much in the past few months. He tries so hard to manage the cards that he's been dealt all the while being a great example to his siblings.
Michael is such a great boy/young man and I am so blessed to be his mom. He makes us all so proud. He makes wise choices and asks great questions. His mind is beautiful and inspiring while being scary too.

Now on to Grandma. Saturday morning right after Michael was actually babptized and while he was changing we got word that Ryan's Grandmother passed away. Although sad it was sweet to know that she was able to be with her sweetheart on Valentine's Day.
Inez LaVee Davidson Norris was an amazing example to her entire family. It is now 10 1/2 years since I first met Grandma & Grandpa Norris and it seems strange that they are no longer here. Grandma Norris was always so pleasant to talk to and to learn new things from. I will never forget feeling like she instantly loved me when I first met her. She just smiled at me like she knew I would be her grandson's wife. Boy did she know.
We will all miss her so much but we are all so grateful to have known her.
Thank you Grandma, we love you.

Salute to the octopus

So I attended church today alone with four children. Not that the children misbehaved but after a while kids get wiggly- church doesn't start until 2pm UGH! Then one needs a diaper change. (I needed 3 more pairs of arms.) Then the older ones have bodily function issues- 2 bathroom trips from one and a nose bleed from another. And of course I can't leave 3 children unattened so I have to nurse the unwilling to wean baby right there- at least I had the presence of mind to grab a blanket.
Due to the lack of a sherpa I am carrying too much weight between bags and babies and begin to feel pain- again. Ah the joys of motherhood! There goes all that physical therapy out the window.
Finally, the relief of hours #2 & 3. As I wrestle just one squirmy child a false sense of I can do this begins to settle in. Alas as hour 3 nears the halfway mark a crying child is brought to me. So there I sat with one crying two year old & and a 13 month old who won't let anyone else hold him. (The two year old began crying uncontrollably while singing primary songs & begged for his father to no avail!) So the meeting- which was wonderful, what I heard anyway- begins to creep along. All I can think is "you better not die on me Ryan or I'll kill you!"
Being a married single parent at least makes me appreciate the presence of the other parent when they can be around.

So here is to the octopus who was blessed with enough arms to do the multi-tasking that is expected from mothers. (Boy is Life Exhasusting.)

One more almost ready...

So I registered Christi for Kindergarten last Thursday. It is bittersweet to think that my only XX-chromosomed comrade will soon abandon me and I will never again be the person she spends the bulk of her time with.
SAD :(
Although sad it will be nice to spend more time with the two little guys and maybe even focus on me for a second. Like bathing I could take that up as a hobby now, right? Oh no that would be entirely to presumptive of me. Like two little boys will remain motionless long enough for me to enjoy a well-earned shower- oh well. Two more years until James starts Kindergarten then maybe?
I kid you know but these benchmarks are so taumatic and schitzo. One minute you're excited the next not so much. Well I knew I had lost my mind but I guess this blog just verifies that. Oh well!
Good luck to all those registering kids for Kindergarten- let the stress/relief begin!

Family History in 2009

So for those of you who didn't know I see dead people. All kidding aside I love family history and genealogy. I love looking for people that are lost and learning who they are/were.
Since I was about 12, maybe even younger, I have been obsessed with finding out who made up me. I still love the work although I am more focused on my kids. Family History is my thing. Like some people enjoy exercising or doing yard work I get consumed with searching for my family's information. I could spend days in the Family History Library in Salt Lake and still not be satisfied that I had found it all.
So to the point. In 2009 I am redoubling my family history efforts. I am going to quiz my grandmothers while I still have them. I am going to help my mother-in-law find those she is missing. I am going to take a trip to SLC just to find dead people. I am going to involve my kids in this so that they know why it is important to me. They may not get the bug but I think that if they understand that this is important to me that they may be just a little more patient with me being on the computer day and night. More importantly I am going to post things I find on my blog until we have the time and money to set up our Family History webpage.
So family if you have questions, ask them. I will post answers, pics and even some brief histories to this site for all to read.

COUGARS

So back in Novemeber Ryan took Michael to the BYU vs. Air Force game in Colorado Springs. What a great Dad & Son bonding experience.
My sister Jeane took this great picture of Michael with Cosmo.
Hard to believe Michael turns eight just next month. It is insane to think that he is growing up so fast and yet him being a baby seems like a lifetime ago. I guess that's the plauge of parenthood, never enough time to plan for tomorrow but a life time to miss yesterday.
Oh well, hopefully I can enjoy and appreciate the next ten years a little more than I have the previous eight.