This is a long blathering post about me going to see a naturopath and some of my hormone issues; if that sounds boring to you, then you may not care to read it. But I am hopeful that this course of action will get me to a state of wellness and normalcy, and I suspect a lot of people have similar sorts of issues, which could potentially be treated by more natural medicine.
So to follow up with my last post (six weeks is half the time of the last interval - I'm getting better!) I cancelled my appointment with the endocrinologist and went to see the Naturopathic Physician in early March. If you don't know (I didn't) they go to naturopathic medical school (for four years, and learn everything MDs learn, plus using more natural cures - not just drugs to treat symptoms) and become on ND or NMD. She is amazing! The most help I've gotten in the past (for my hormone or fertility issues and such) has been to be put on the pill, or something along those lines. That's certainly not going to help me get pregnant at this point, for which we are always trying. The gap between Hunter and Kyler is three years; Kyler is 2 and a half now. So she put me on an anti-inflammatory diet and gave me homeopathic hormones to be taken with the phases of the moon. Dean, of course, thinks it is all a bunch of hocus pocus. She gave me a saliva test kit to do at home and send to a lab. It tests for things that blood tests aren't sensitive to catch (like TPO, a thyroid value).
So she had the test results at my appointment today, and sure enough, my thyroid T3, T4, TSH are all normal just as they have been with blood tests in MDs offices. So why am I symptomatic for hypothyroid??? Because MDs, generally speaking, don't test for TPO (thyroid peroxidase antibodies), or will only do blood tests that aren't sensitive enough. Mine was off the chart with the saliva tests, which indicates that I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune response where my body is attacking my thyroid, negating the normal thyroid hormones I otherwise make. She diagnoses many people with this, because many MDs won't test for it (don't ask me why!) If an MD was to diagnose it, they would likely want to give thyroid hormone, whereas a Naturopath wants to find the underlying problem that is causing my body to do this, and cure it, so that my body will stop attacking my thyroid. Unfortunately for me (loving all sorts of yummy foods), the thinking is that it is diet related - hence the anti-inflammatory diet. So right now we are trying to determine what foods I might be sensitive to. The diet is challenging, so I may pay the $175 to have a food sensitivity test done by her colleague. That's another thing, it has been a bit spendy to go to her since my insurance won't cover her, but I had a $500 deductible anyway, so I figure there's no difference having to pay her or someone on the approved provider list who would cost more than she does, and whose lab tests would cost more. My DHEAs were also off the chart, and my cortisol drops dramatically by lunch time, which explains why I drag around in the morning and just would like to go back to bed. And, my progesterone is too low to support a cycle, or a pregnancy, so it's no wonder I am not getting pregnant.
So, she has "prescribed" for me a few things to try as "bandaids" (her word) as we determine what is causing my issues.
In other health concerns, I also took Hunter to the ENT doctor again today, as he has been deaf as a post, and can't seem to get over the sinus infection that is likely contributing to the fluid in his ears. A few weeks ago the ENT gave him a RX for amoxicillin, which didn't do anything for his sinuses troubles. So today he gave him a prescription for augmentin, and says he needs tubes again, and probably his tonsils and adenoids out. Dean says augmentin is so similar to amoxicillin that there isn't much point in using it since the amox. did nothing for his infection. Hmmm. Maybe it's time to take him to the Naturopath? But then his hearing loss (which an audiologist checked, along with the pressures in his ears today) is significant right now so we are in a quandry. If you have any wisdom please share it! I musn't leave out Kyler. He was a holy terror the whole time, 90 minutes, at the ENT's office. I'm glad that's over!
Friday, April 4, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
we are still here
So I am not much of a blogger, as it's taken me more than three months to post again! Alas I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep so here I am... Life marches on. The rainy season is here, and the children are stir crazy. We have had a reprieve from the rain for a couple of days, so I've taken the children outside some. I also had some raspberry plants come in the mail that I needed to get in the ground, so that forced me out of the house. There is much to do outside. The original owner of this house was apparently a master gardner, and there are countless living things outside. The most recent owner tried, but certainly didn't keep up with it all. I have started pruning things (like I really know how to prune) that look like they need it, and am working on getting the mindset for having a real garden this year. I am going to try the "square foot" method again - sans buckets, and have started a compost bin (in a big trash can - we'll see), and have picked up more vermiculite - which can be hard to come by.
I found a dance class that is held in Cannon Beach (down the coast a bit from us, and beautiful!) to put Hunter in. It is actually a ballet class, which makes Dean nervous, but Hunter seems to be a natural and the teacher thinks he is great. There are only two other students in the class, so he gets plenty of attention. In pondering what sort of activities to put him in, dance is appealing because it is active and indoors, not to mention that I am determined that my sons will be able to dance, unlike their father who refuses to learn. We probably should get him in little league or something along those lines someday, but dragging chairs around to sit in the rain is less than appealing to me. He wears a white t-shirt, black pants, and black ballet slippers.
Hunter is doing great in Kindergarten; his teacher says he is a role model for the other kids. I only wish he would be so good for me at home. We are so grateful that he was able to start kindergarten here, since his birthday is Sept 9. Hopefully the same will apply when it's time for Kyler to go.
Kyler continues to be an adorable terror. He is irresistably cute and charming when all is going his way, but he becomes an gnashing, thrashing beast when he gets the devil in him. He and Hunter have taken to destroying their room of late. At night when they are supposed to be sleeping, they love to throw the mattress off Hunter's bed, empty their dresser, yank down whatever they can reach in their closet, empty the bookcase, knock down anything up on their shelves, dump out their trashcan, etc. etc. And you thought your kids were difficult! Needless to say I've been losing my mind of late!
We do love that Kyler is totally potty trained. Unfortunately he often runs out the front door (he simply removes child locks) to pee on the lawn. Don't ask me where he got that. He has been trained since December. It can be done! I had wanted to do it before he was two in September, but didn't discover the book Toilet Training in Less than a Day until after that. I ran across it at a used book store and picked it up for a buck. It really works. I think it is the same method that Dr. Phil uses. It has to be followed precisely, but it is well worth it. He does need to wear a pull up at night still, which is A-ok. We were all driving to Longview the other day, which is an hour away. Kyler said a couple of times that he needed to use the potty. We were looking for a suitable place for him to do number two on the side of the road, when low and behold there was a porta potty. I try to avoid them at all costs, but that's not always possible with children. Surprisingly it didn't stink and was well stocked with tp and hand sanitizer, and Kyler made plenty of deposits. And yes, he does loudly demand to "go poop!" in Sacrament Meeting every week, although it's more to get out and try to run around than anything.
We all had a lovely Valentine's Day. Dean gave me two beautiful potted orchids. I only hope my black thumb doesn't rear its ugly head! They are both blooming right now. I've been slowly replacing the house plants that I had to give up when we moved, and surprisingly haven't killed anything yet. The orchids were a thoughtful gift from Dean. The children got some cards and money from Grandma Dee. Kyler picked out a helium mylar balloon at the store (which lasted until we got home) and Hunter got more Spiderman socks, and some Superman socks. He had been trying his best to wear every day the one pair of Spiderman socks he got for Christmas. Thanks Grandma! I gave Dean a couple of edited movies.
So I ran across another book that I've been reading called Feeling Fat, Fuzzy, or Frazzled? My hormones have always been quite out of whack, and this book sure explains a lot of it. It is by an MD and his nurse/PhD wife. I highly recommend it to anyone who has any symptoms of thyroid, adrenal or reproductive havoc. It's a bargain book on amazon.com right now. I have an appointment with an endocrinologist in about ten days (which I've had for a few months - that's how long it takes to get in), but have been agonizing over whether to cancel it or try a naturopathic doctor (ND or NMD). The more I learn and research about naturopathy the more I am inclined to think it could help me more than the medical establishment ever has.
I'll post some pictures when I think of it and Dean shows me how (it takes me a few times to learn this technology business).
I found a dance class that is held in Cannon Beach (down the coast a bit from us, and beautiful!) to put Hunter in. It is actually a ballet class, which makes Dean nervous, but Hunter seems to be a natural and the teacher thinks he is great. There are only two other students in the class, so he gets plenty of attention. In pondering what sort of activities to put him in, dance is appealing because it is active and indoors, not to mention that I am determined that my sons will be able to dance, unlike their father who refuses to learn. We probably should get him in little league or something along those lines someday, but dragging chairs around to sit in the rain is less than appealing to me. He wears a white t-shirt, black pants, and black ballet slippers.
Hunter is doing great in Kindergarten; his teacher says he is a role model for the other kids. I only wish he would be so good for me at home. We are so grateful that he was able to start kindergarten here, since his birthday is Sept 9. Hopefully the same will apply when it's time for Kyler to go.
Kyler continues to be an adorable terror. He is irresistably cute and charming when all is going his way, but he becomes an gnashing, thrashing beast when he gets the devil in him. He and Hunter have taken to destroying their room of late. At night when they are supposed to be sleeping, they love to throw the mattress off Hunter's bed, empty their dresser, yank down whatever they can reach in their closet, empty the bookcase, knock down anything up on their shelves, dump out their trashcan, etc. etc. And you thought your kids were difficult! Needless to say I've been losing my mind of late!
We do love that Kyler is totally potty trained. Unfortunately he often runs out the front door (he simply removes child locks) to pee on the lawn. Don't ask me where he got that. He has been trained since December. It can be done! I had wanted to do it before he was two in September, but didn't discover the book Toilet Training in Less than a Day until after that. I ran across it at a used book store and picked it up for a buck. It really works. I think it is the same method that Dr. Phil uses. It has to be followed precisely, but it is well worth it. He does need to wear a pull up at night still, which is A-ok. We were all driving to Longview the other day, which is an hour away. Kyler said a couple of times that he needed to use the potty. We were looking for a suitable place for him to do number two on the side of the road, when low and behold there was a porta potty. I try to avoid them at all costs, but that's not always possible with children. Surprisingly it didn't stink and was well stocked with tp and hand sanitizer, and Kyler made plenty of deposits. And yes, he does loudly demand to "go poop!" in Sacrament Meeting every week, although it's more to get out and try to run around than anything.
We all had a lovely Valentine's Day. Dean gave me two beautiful potted orchids. I only hope my black thumb doesn't rear its ugly head! They are both blooming right now. I've been slowly replacing the house plants that I had to give up when we moved, and surprisingly haven't killed anything yet. The orchids were a thoughtful gift from Dean. The children got some cards and money from Grandma Dee. Kyler picked out a helium mylar balloon at the store (which lasted until we got home) and Hunter got more Spiderman socks, and some Superman socks. He had been trying his best to wear every day the one pair of Spiderman socks he got for Christmas. Thanks Grandma! I gave Dean a couple of edited movies.
So I ran across another book that I've been reading called Feeling Fat, Fuzzy, or Frazzled? My hormones have always been quite out of whack, and this book sure explains a lot of it. It is by an MD and his nurse/PhD wife. I highly recommend it to anyone who has any symptoms of thyroid, adrenal or reproductive havoc. It's a bargain book on amazon.com right now. I have an appointment with an endocrinologist in about ten days (which I've had for a few months - that's how long it takes to get in), but have been agonizing over whether to cancel it or try a naturopathic doctor (ND or NMD). The more I learn and research about naturopathy the more I am inclined to think it could help me more than the medical establishment ever has.
I'll post some pictures when I think of it and Dean shows me how (it takes me a few times to learn this technology business).
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
time marches on
We had a nice visit with my parents, and saw lots of the sights in the vicinity. Some were new to us, and others were fun to see again. We drove to Tillamook to the cheese factory and out to a light house near there, along the coastal Highway 101. We rode the trolley and went to some museums, as well as across the "big bridge" as Hunter calls it into WA state a couple of times. We took my dad to several of the local museums, and we all toured the Flavel House which is an antique Victorian mansion built by the renowned Captain Flavel. The children were terrors, naturally, and the lady working there had a fright and got after them a couple of times. I need to put a pet carrier on wheels and stuff them in it when we take them out in public. If only!
I did tow the car to St. Helens, and it wasn't too bad, surprisingly. Another set of problems was fixed, only to find more. It's funny - I was pleased all this time that we never had a single problem with it, until starting at about 75,000 miles it seems to be falling apart. Dean's Sentra goes into the shop tomorrow. Will it never end?
We had Super Saturday here for Home, Family and Personal Enrichment (or Homewrecking as my sister would say) a few weeks ago. I taught how to make ribbon wreaths, and learned to make a scripture tote from a placemat. I showed Dean the placemat I had picked out before hand, and he clearly didn't care for it. But it is a hit with everyone else (especially me), so that's ok! It is very simple to do, and here's a link for how to do it. I didn't do the foofy embellishments, just put the handles on and sewed it together. http://www.jcarolinecreative.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=JC&Screen=PLACEMAT
We had occasion once again to call poison control recently for Kyler. I sent Hunter out to pick the mushrooms growing in the back lawn (to throw away). Apparently people come here to our development looking for psychedellic mushrooms in the fall. I don't recommend that, as the locals have stories of people who have died doing that - not to mention that I don't recommend getting high in the first place. Anyway, Hunter has learned to manipulate Kyler into doing his assignments for him, and later in the evening I was praising Hunter in front of Daddy for picking a whole bag of mushrooms. Hunter then said that Kyler did it, and ate some. Oh, great. "Let's take him straight to the ER" said the in-house veterinarian "as the poisonous kind shut down the liver and cause death within a couple of days." "Let's look it up online and call Poison Control" said the rational, penny-pinching homemaker. We opted for the latter, and Poison Control was on top of it as always. Apparently they are more likely to be poisonous if they are growing right under a tree, which they weren't. We watched for the symptoms and talked to P.C. a couple of more times over the next 24 hours, and he was fine - so apparently whatever he ate was not toxic. In the past Kyler has managed to dine on Vitamin A, Pinesol, nail polish remover, and possibly more but that's all I can think of now. The Vitamin A was apparently the most potentially harmful, and I actually gave him syrup of ipecac (it was either that or take him to the ER, said the P.C. person). I had a doctor's appointment soon after, and was holding him with the doctor and nurse in the room one of the times he vomited. Oh, the joys of parenthood!
The piano is back up on its broken leg, and my giant bruise has healed. It itched as it was fading.
Halloween was fun, for the children. They didn't seem to know what to do most of the time they were trick or treating and would just stand at the door. Kyler would sometimes wander into the house, or jump in the bushes, or chase the family pets. We had to prompt them to say "trick or treat" much of the time; Kyler was often first to say "thank you". It feels so much like door to door begging to me, so I just took them around our cul-de-sac and let Dean have them after that while I passed out candy at home.
I did tow the car to St. Helens, and it wasn't too bad, surprisingly. Another set of problems was fixed, only to find more. It's funny - I was pleased all this time that we never had a single problem with it, until starting at about 75,000 miles it seems to be falling apart. Dean's Sentra goes into the shop tomorrow. Will it never end?
We had Super Saturday here for Home, Family and Personal Enrichment (or Homewrecking as my sister would say) a few weeks ago. I taught how to make ribbon wreaths, and learned to make a scripture tote from a placemat. I showed Dean the placemat I had picked out before hand, and he clearly didn't care for it. But it is a hit with everyone else (especially me), so that's ok! It is very simple to do, and here's a link for how to do it. I didn't do the foofy embellishments, just put the handles on and sewed it together. http://www.jcarolinecreative.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=JC&Screen=PLACEMAT
We had occasion once again to call poison control recently for Kyler. I sent Hunter out to pick the mushrooms growing in the back lawn (to throw away). Apparently people come here to our development looking for psychedellic mushrooms in the fall. I don't recommend that, as the locals have stories of people who have died doing that - not to mention that I don't recommend getting high in the first place. Anyway, Hunter has learned to manipulate Kyler into doing his assignments for him, and later in the evening I was praising Hunter in front of Daddy for picking a whole bag of mushrooms. Hunter then said that Kyler did it, and ate some. Oh, great. "Let's take him straight to the ER" said the in-house veterinarian "as the poisonous kind shut down the liver and cause death within a couple of days." "Let's look it up online and call Poison Control" said the rational, penny-pinching homemaker. We opted for the latter, and Poison Control was on top of it as always. Apparently they are more likely to be poisonous if they are growing right under a tree, which they weren't. We watched for the symptoms and talked to P.C. a couple of more times over the next 24 hours, and he was fine - so apparently whatever he ate was not toxic. In the past Kyler has managed to dine on Vitamin A, Pinesol, nail polish remover, and possibly more but that's all I can think of now. The Vitamin A was apparently the most potentially harmful, and I actually gave him syrup of ipecac (it was either that or take him to the ER, said the P.C. person). I had a doctor's appointment soon after, and was holding him with the doctor and nurse in the room one of the times he vomited. Oh, the joys of parenthood!
The piano is back up on its broken leg, and my giant bruise has healed. It itched as it was fading.
Halloween was fun, for the children. They didn't seem to know what to do most of the time they were trick or treating and would just stand at the door. Kyler would sometimes wander into the house, or jump in the bushes, or chase the family pets. We had to prompt them to say "trick or treat" much of the time; Kyler was often first to say "thank you". It feels so much like door to door begging to me, so I just took them around our cul-de-sac and let Dean have them after that while I passed out candy at home.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
latest move and tribulations
We moved again last week, into our new home - finally! I despise moving, and hopefully now that we've bought a house we'll stay put for a while. We hired movers to do most of it. We love the house and the neighborhood.
The weather has gotten a bit cooler here, but is still nice and mild. It is getting dark earlier in the evening. People have put out halloween decorations all over, and the city has some witches that have "flown" into the light poles down town. I do enjoy the changing seasons.
Yesterday Kyler and I walked Hunter to the bus stop. Upon returning I found the door to be locked. I had a feeling the other day that I should put a key outside somewhere, but didn't get around to it. Dean was at work. I checked the other doors, but they were all locked. From the inside the handle will open whether it is locked or not, so I didn't realize it was still locked when we rushed out to not miss the bus. A lady from church is just a few houses down, and is an at-home mom as well, so I sheepishly went over to her house. I didn't know her well before, but she is nice and actually teaches Kyler's nursery class at church. Fortunately she was home, and was planning on going into town anyway, so she took Kyler and me to Dean's place of work. How nice of her! I still haven't put a key outside somewhere yet.
Our dodge intrepid, which is what I drive and what we use when we go out as a family, is on the fritz. It had been leaking water for sometime (then would overheat) and the transmission has been slipping and sometimes won't automatically shift. It has 80,000 miles on it now. Some mechanics replaced the head gasket and fixed one of the heads. They had it nearly a week. Yesterday we tried to drive out to the beach for a family walk, but it wouldn't shift, then started rattling. We turned around and came home. We took it back to the shop and they said the computer is spitting out some codes that only the dealer can take care of. The engine light has been on for a while too. The dealer here in town can't take it for two weeks. My parents are coming up for a visit in one week, so we need it. Dean drives a little nissan sentra, which sure wouldn't hold everyone. So, I called a dealer in a town about 60 miles away who can take it this week. Everyone says not to drive it and do more damage, so Dean wants me to tow it there with his boss' pickup. Ugh! That is so not appealing. We'll see! Now that we're officially "house poor", we can't just run out and buy another car, though Dean would certainly like to.
Last night as Hunter was supposed to be upstairs brushing his teeth before bed, I was downstairs and heard a few loud thuds. I waited a moment to listen for an explanation. Hunter whimpered a bit. I came upstairs to find him in the bathroom with the shower curtain and spring rod in the bath tub. I asked him if he had been climbing it. Yes, he said. I asked if he would be doing that again. No, he said. I asked a couple of times if he was pretending to be spider man, which he eventually said "yes" to. Hmmm. There were some big knots on his shin so I "iced" them down with frozen blueberries for a while. He seems to have another ear infection, by the way. We still have antibiotic drops for people with tubes in the ears, so we've been giving him that.
Earlier in the evening, for FHE I attempted on my own to move the parlour grand piano (a little smaller than a baby grand) so that I could open the top and pull out the music stand. Dean was in the kitchen. This was awfully foolish on my part, as I was vaguely aware that the back leg is not actually attached to the piano. The piano is just sitting on it. The piano rolled surprisingly easily, and right off that leg. I found myself screaming my head off trying to hold up the piano. Dean was trying to return a phone call from a client and ignored me desperation for a while. He eventually casually wandered over to finally watch me drop the piano to the floor. It is still with its back end on the floor and looks utterly ridiculous. I have a huge bruise on the front of my thigh. I'm not sure if the piano was sitting on my leg or hit it on the way down. Whenever we can recruit some help we'll stand it back up on it's leg. In the meantime I'm trying to find someone who could potentially fix that problem, as we sure wouldn't want to lose a child if they horsed around with it and it fell on them. So, I couldn't very well give Hunter much trouble after what I had done!
As soon as I find the digital camera and take some pictures, I'll figure out how to post them. We're still going through boxes...
The weather has gotten a bit cooler here, but is still nice and mild. It is getting dark earlier in the evening. People have put out halloween decorations all over, and the city has some witches that have "flown" into the light poles down town. I do enjoy the changing seasons.
Yesterday Kyler and I walked Hunter to the bus stop. Upon returning I found the door to be locked. I had a feeling the other day that I should put a key outside somewhere, but didn't get around to it. Dean was at work. I checked the other doors, but they were all locked. From the inside the handle will open whether it is locked or not, so I didn't realize it was still locked when we rushed out to not miss the bus. A lady from church is just a few houses down, and is an at-home mom as well, so I sheepishly went over to her house. I didn't know her well before, but she is nice and actually teaches Kyler's nursery class at church. Fortunately she was home, and was planning on going into town anyway, so she took Kyler and me to Dean's place of work. How nice of her! I still haven't put a key outside somewhere yet.
Our dodge intrepid, which is what I drive and what we use when we go out as a family, is on the fritz. It had been leaking water for sometime (then would overheat) and the transmission has been slipping and sometimes won't automatically shift. It has 80,000 miles on it now. Some mechanics replaced the head gasket and fixed one of the heads. They had it nearly a week. Yesterday we tried to drive out to the beach for a family walk, but it wouldn't shift, then started rattling. We turned around and came home. We took it back to the shop and they said the computer is spitting out some codes that only the dealer can take care of. The engine light has been on for a while too. The dealer here in town can't take it for two weeks. My parents are coming up for a visit in one week, so we need it. Dean drives a little nissan sentra, which sure wouldn't hold everyone. So, I called a dealer in a town about 60 miles away who can take it this week. Everyone says not to drive it and do more damage, so Dean wants me to tow it there with his boss' pickup. Ugh! That is so not appealing. We'll see! Now that we're officially "house poor", we can't just run out and buy another car, though Dean would certainly like to.
Last night as Hunter was supposed to be upstairs brushing his teeth before bed, I was downstairs and heard a few loud thuds. I waited a moment to listen for an explanation. Hunter whimpered a bit. I came upstairs to find him in the bathroom with the shower curtain and spring rod in the bath tub. I asked him if he had been climbing it. Yes, he said. I asked if he would be doing that again. No, he said. I asked a couple of times if he was pretending to be spider man, which he eventually said "yes" to. Hmmm. There were some big knots on his shin so I "iced" them down with frozen blueberries for a while. He seems to have another ear infection, by the way. We still have antibiotic drops for people with tubes in the ears, so we've been giving him that.
Earlier in the evening, for FHE I attempted on my own to move the parlour grand piano (a little smaller than a baby grand) so that I could open the top and pull out the music stand. Dean was in the kitchen. This was awfully foolish on my part, as I was vaguely aware that the back leg is not actually attached to the piano. The piano is just sitting on it. The piano rolled surprisingly easily, and right off that leg. I found myself screaming my head off trying to hold up the piano. Dean was trying to return a phone call from a client and ignored me desperation for a while. He eventually casually wandered over to finally watch me drop the piano to the floor. It is still with its back end on the floor and looks utterly ridiculous. I have a huge bruise on the front of my thigh. I'm not sure if the piano was sitting on my leg or hit it on the way down. Whenever we can recruit some help we'll stand it back up on it's leg. In the meantime I'm trying to find someone who could potentially fix that problem, as we sure wouldn't want to lose a child if they horsed around with it and it fell on them. So, I couldn't very well give Hunter much trouble after what I had done!
As soon as I find the digital camera and take some pictures, I'll figure out how to post them. We're still going through boxes...
Monday, September 24, 2007
Weekend ends, Fall begins
Tomorrow we will begin yet another week in this dreadful Victorian house that we do not call home. It's as though we are in purgatory, seemingly with no end in sight. It feels like we have been here for ages (but in reality 2 long months). Hopefully we only have a couple of weeks left before we can move into our real home and actually unpack and settle. Hunter has no school tomorrow due to the monthly teacher inservice. After two weeks of Kindergarten they've learned the colors and shapes. Hmmm. He already knew those, but I guess they have to cover the lowest possibilities in the class.
We had a lovely weekend. Becky coerced Dean to help with some housework before he and Hunter spent Saturday fishing. They didn't catch anything big enough to keep, but had a grand time at it. Last Saturday they caught a 16 inch rainbow trout, which we cooked up for dinner. Becky enjoyed a quiet day at home, working on some cloth gift bags. Next month is Super Saturday and everyone is supposed to bring 5-10 of some gift item they make to exchange to help with Christmas gift giving. Recommended items were candles, soaps, crocheted handiwork, ornaments, etc. I don't do such things and was rather stressed about what on earth I would take. I did an internet search for "quick easy gift project" and got the idea to make re-usable gift bags. I don't sew terribly straight lines, but hopefully no one cares. I went to Joann's (the closest thing here to Hobby Lobby - from which I am still having withdrawals) and got a few items from the remnant box, and the project goes very well. I am impressed with myself that I thought to use a twin-sized white fitted sheet that was just not working on Hunter's bed as a lining for the bags. I cut numerous linings from it, and now don't have to feel guilty for wasting the sheet (which I wanted to trash every time I made the mistake of putting it on Hunter's bed.)
Today I (Becky) was set apart as Primary Secretary in our ward. So I figured I should attend today. The Junior Primary is quite young, as explained to me by the president, which is why they were so restless and noisy and not paying attention. The counselor who was giving sharing time had a nervous break down and others had to fill in for the Senior Primary's sharing time. I had thought she was doing a marvelous job. Hmmm. I guess we'll see what's really in store for me.
This afternoon we took a lovely family walk here in Astoria. We were gone nearly two hours. We don't move along very fast when we stop at all the blackberry bushes along the way and partake. I can't stand them myself as they are much too tart for me, but Dean and the boys can't get enough. I hope I can get all the blackberry stains out of their clothes.
We had a lovely weekend. Becky coerced Dean to help with some housework before he and Hunter spent Saturday fishing. They didn't catch anything big enough to keep, but had a grand time at it. Last Saturday they caught a 16 inch rainbow trout, which we cooked up for dinner. Becky enjoyed a quiet day at home, working on some cloth gift bags. Next month is Super Saturday and everyone is supposed to bring 5-10 of some gift item they make to exchange to help with Christmas gift giving. Recommended items were candles, soaps, crocheted handiwork, ornaments, etc. I don't do such things and was rather stressed about what on earth I would take. I did an internet search for "quick easy gift project" and got the idea to make re-usable gift bags. I don't sew terribly straight lines, but hopefully no one cares. I went to Joann's (the closest thing here to Hobby Lobby - from which I am still having withdrawals) and got a few items from the remnant box, and the project goes very well. I am impressed with myself that I thought to use a twin-sized white fitted sheet that was just not working on Hunter's bed as a lining for the bags. I cut numerous linings from it, and now don't have to feel guilty for wasting the sheet (which I wanted to trash every time I made the mistake of putting it on Hunter's bed.)
Today I (Becky) was set apart as Primary Secretary in our ward. So I figured I should attend today. The Junior Primary is quite young, as explained to me by the president, which is why they were so restless and noisy and not paying attention. The counselor who was giving sharing time had a nervous break down and others had to fill in for the Senior Primary's sharing time. I had thought she was doing a marvelous job. Hmmm. I guess we'll see what's really in store for me.
This afternoon we took a lovely family walk here in Astoria. We were gone nearly two hours. We don't move along very fast when we stop at all the blackberry bushes along the way and partake. I can't stand them myself as they are much too tart for me, but Dean and the boys can't get enough. I hope I can get all the blackberry stains out of their clothes.
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