"I currently have the swine flu. In fact, my mom, dad, and grandparents have it also. I'm feeling a lot better though. My grandparents are the ones I'm worried about, but I think they are on the downhill side of this yucky illness. We spent the night in the emergency room with my grandpa earlier this week so he could have IVs. Luckily, everyone was semi-feeling better for Thanksgiving. I was able to go out to The Hungry Hunter and pick up some prime rib dinners for our family. As of now, everyone is doing MUCH better. And our Thanksgiving day wasn't too terrible - I was together with my family, my grandpa was out of the hospital, there were no dishes to do, and we all watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving :) We still have a lot to be thankful for.
"I never got sick for the holidays. Lucky me. My sister, though, seemed to only get sick on holidays. She’d have 100% attendance at school, but still suffer all of the illnesses we did. She just saved hers for days off of school. I always felt bad for her.
I did have one Christmas, though, that ranks way up there for having a sick family member. I had a new baby just before Christmas, and we were excited to have him home on the big day. On Christmas morning, I woke up and knew something was wrong. He was yellow, and lethargic. I knew he had jaundice. We allowed our older child to open Christmas presents, but we knew we had to take him in. We loaded up a tray of cookies for the nurses, and figured we’d stop at the hospital to have his bili-levels checked, and then go on to the celebrations at my brother’s house. I figured, at worse, we’d have to take a light with us to his house. No, that isn’t the worst that can happen. The worst that can happen is you sit for 30 mins in a waiting room, holding your little baby, and then a nurse comes in, and SHE is crying, and you know it isn’t good. Different levels mean different treatments. Anything under a 7, they leave. Under a 10, they don’t treat, but ask that you come back for another test. Under 13, they send you with a billi-blanket. Under 20, they hospitalize with banks of lights. Once the levels hit 30, you are looking at brain damage in your child. His level was a 29. He still holds the record for the highest levels in our hospital, ever. I went from sitting there, wondering how long until we could go to get Christmas dinner, to wondering if my child would have permanent brain damage.
They rushed and put every light they could find in the hospital on him. I could hold him for 20 mins every 3 hours. My father-in-law came to the hospital to assist in giving him a blessing. My mother-in-law came with. They brought Christmas dinner to us. I remember sitting there, at that little hospital room table, barely able to taste the ham and potatoes. Our toddler amused himself, and the nurses, by running his new tractors up and down the hall. We had all sorts of visitors coming to see us, because that’s what people do at Christmas. I had a new, beautiful baby that I loved to show off (as all moms do), but I had to do it pointing through a glass window, and showing the little thing under all those blue lights. Don’t think, for a minute, though, that those visits people make to hospitals, to see perfect strangers, don’t mean the world to those who are in the hospital. People gave him quilts, and books, and little stuffed animals that he still has and loves. For me, though, I was encouraged by anyone who would come and tell me how beautiful he was, and was willing to say a prayer for us.
The ordeal lasted a month. He endured lots of tests, and had a team of doctors across the state working on his case. It didn’t act like normal jaundice. But, in a month, his body kicked in, and his liver started working, and we were done. He is an active little boy now, and shows no problems from his early trials. The whole thing effected me more than him. Every Christmas, I can’t help but think about that little, tiny, helpless baby, and the helpless feeling I had as I had to just watch him and now hold him.
It reminds of what a blessing the gospel truly is. The whole purpose of Christ coming down to earth was to allow families to be together. For all those mothers who have ever ached to hold their baby, that is the greatest gift of all. "
Ok friends, it's Nancy Beth here. Ally is in the throes of morningsickness and she has delegated to me the weighty issue of hot chocolate blog topic selection. In honor of her trial during this time of food and celebration, I would like to know if you have ever been miserably ill during your favorite holiday. (I know the no brainer is to post what you are thankful for, but I figure all the blogs will be doing that, and if we are nothing else here, we are unique.) So tell me, did ou ever have strep throat at Christmas, Chicken Pox on Halloween, or the dreaded flu on Thanksgiving? Did you have to endure a sick family member, spouse, parent, or child, in the midst of decorations and preparations? Did it ruin your holiday? Are you left with a greater appreciation for health and holiday now that you have endured it? Share with us and we will empathize and sympathize and maybe even patronize! (only in a very nice way.)
"When I was a kid, I had a few favorite toys. I remember for my 5th birthday, I had a party and McDonald's and I got one of those magic hair dolls. When you raised her left arm to the butterfly in her hair, her ponytail grew longer. It was so cool. And all of the girls were really jealous of me. My parents even bought the one with red hair, so it was just like me. I can't for the life of me remember what they were called. Sad.
Pretty Pretty Princess was also a favorite. I took a Pretty Pretty Princess play set to one of my friends for her birthday present. It was the hardest thing I had ever had to do. And to be perfectly honest, I don't think anything since has been as difficult, comparatively. Yeah, childbirth isn't easy, but I didn't have to talk myself into it like I had to with this one. I really wanted to be sick so I didn't have to go to the party. Her name was Stormy by the way. She lived on the corner of our street, about 6 houses down. It was the longest walk of my life.
And the ultimate, My Little Ponies. I only had one or two, but I loved them dearly. In May, I was in a thrift store and found several for a dollar or two a piece. I bought every single one of them for Charlotte. I sat on her bedroom floor and tried to convince her to play with them. She ignored me. Matt found me sitting on the floor playing with them by myself. I was slightly horrified that he caught me reliving my childhood like this. For the record, 6 months later, Charlotte loves the ponies and carries them around. So it wasn't a wasted 10 dollars."
"My whole life, I wanted a Cabbage Patch Doll. I wasn't lacking in childhood toys at all, in fact, I owned, (and still own) nearly every piece of Strawberry Shortcake paraphenalia ever made. Not this new revised version either. The one with the cute dress and the oversized hat and the pink kitten with white polka dots. You know, the cute strawberry shortcake. I have her on a quilt that my grandmothers made for me, and I still sleep with it to this day. She's hangin' out with her ever so cute boyfriend Huckleberry Pie and his dog with the green striped ears. (Now that I am thinking about it, I really need to start making this my halloween costume for next year. How fun would that be!)
But back to the Cabbage Patch doll. It wasn't that I was lacking in 80's era trademark toys, it was actually that my best friend Lindy happened to be the only girl in school with TWO Cabbage Patch Dolls. And somehow, it brought our friendship into question, that she had two and I had none, and every other girl in our class had one. (or so I thought. that's probably not really true.) Of course, the dolls were something like $60, an obscene price tag really. And Lindy only had 2 because her dad tried to buy her love when her parents got divorced, and he bought her a brown haired one that looked like her, and then one day at the bus stop, a school bus ran over Lindy's foot, or something like that. (It wasn't nearly as destructive as it sounds, she was in a cast for a while but she could still walk and stuff. Maybe the bus only sort of rolled while she was getting on. 2nd grade memory is skewed not only by the time that has passed but also by the perceptions of 7 year olds). At any rate, the bus driver felt bad and went and bought her the 2nd one, and he bought her the most coveted doll of all, the blond one, with two pigtails, and her name was "Suzanne". And when I went to her house, we would watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with the Mousketeers and sing the theme song and play with the dolls. She always let me play with the brown haired one, whose name I can't quite remember, because she told me she like the bus driver better than she liked her dad. (Pretty sad, actually, that a little girl would have more love for the school bus driver that ran her over than she would for her own father). Whatever, I was just grateful to be best friends with the girl who had two CPDs and was willing to share with me.
And my childhood was just fine, really. I wasn't scarred by the lack of doll. My mom made me two homemade Cabbage Patch Dolls, they released all sorts of spin offs, like the preemies and the silky-hair version (my sister got one of those) and then there were the garbage pail kids and the whole thing sort of died out. Until last Christmas. I was doing my Christmas shopping when I discovered that they had re-released the original Cabbage Patch Doll, and I was so excited I decided to buy one for each of my nieces. I wandered around target with 3 dolls in my cart for over an hour before I realized as I kept gazing at the dolls that my nieces could care less if they ever got cabbage patch dolls. It was me that wanted one. Somewhere inside of my 32 year old body a 7 year old little girl was still begging with all of her heart. So I did what any reasonable 33-year-old-with-a-7-year-old-
trapped-inside-her would do. I wrote a letter to Santa and I posted it on my blog.
And guess what. Santa reads blogs.
Because this is who greeted me Christmas morning:
She came with a birth certificate and her name is Nola. And she has the Xavier signature on her butt (and the cute little butt dimples under her tiny diaper) and the little belly button, she even smells exactly the way I remember them smelling, and, well, she is just perfect. I even counted her fingers and toes.
I couldn't tell you which part of me is more thrilled, the 33 year old who doesn't have a real baby or the 7 year old who finally got the baby she always wanted. But since we are in fact the same person, let's just say that this year when Santa asked me what I wanted, I honestly couldn't think of a single thing."
"It was a purple popple for me. I wanted one so bad one year. And it had to be purple! Every chance I had I asked for it. It was Christmas Eve and my parents were letting us open one gift. My older sister said I should open a particular box from my Grandma. (My mom actually bought the gift and labeled it from Grandma, but whatever, it was the same to me). She told me it was a popple. I picked the box hoping it really was a popple and a purple one too! I was not disappointed. It was a small purple with pink hair and blue eyes! I was in love. For a long time that was my cuddle- and-make-me-feel-better stuffed animal. It always makes me smile when I think about that little purple popple now. "
Well, currently my Mom is on a frantic search to get the hottest toy for the grandkids this year...have you guys heard of Zhu-Zhu Pets?They are tiny motorized, computerized hamsters (and accessories) that are completely sold out EVERYWHERE, and are selling for quadruple their value on Amazon. I read somewhere that they are producing a quarter of a million Zhu-Zhu pets every day, but still stores can't keep any in stock. Which is bad news for my nieces and nephews.
Totally reminds me of the Beanie Babies craze. Remember? So now I'm having all kinds of toy flashbacks. Furbies, trolls, Puppy Surprise, Mall Madness.(Trolls still freak me out. I think it's the jeweled belly button that gives me the heebie jeebies)
What was your most desired toy as a kid? What toy still makes you happy when you think about it? You know the one, it's that toy that you would totally still play with if you had it. This week, before the holidays hit, let's talk about all our favorite childhood/vintage toys!
PS: We had a great baby week last week, thanks to all who contributed, especially the new contributors. I love it.
I've been thinking all week about what to send for baby week. And I pretty much got nothin. I mean, tons of my friends are pregnant or have babies (I'm going to a baby shower this weekend!) and billions of girls in my new ward, and we just got a new niece a few weeks ago, and don't think we haven't thought about it yet... and still, I got nothin! For something that I think about and hear about so much you would think I would have something to say about it. But one thing I have been mulling over the past couple of days is: boy or girl?
I decided long, long ago that I wanted to have a boy first. We even have a boy name picked out already. Probably for the same reasons other people want boys first- in anticipation of there being other siblings to follow so they can have an older brother, right, and also I hear that some people prefer the less-emotional boys but I'm really not convinced that either is easier. But a girl from my ward who's expecting brought up an interesting point in favor of girls. She talked about how bored she is at home when her husband is gone and how she doesn't have a lot of friends she can call up on a whim and that she really wants a girl to be her little shopping buddy. Ha! Great idea! (Plus girl babies are tons more fun... I mean who can resist the headbands with GIANT flowers on them) So now I am torn. And although I have always wanted a boy first I have this nagging feeling a girl is in store for me (can non-pregnant future moms even have that feeling??) So any opinions? Boys or girls for first baby??? Or what about... TWINS!!! Oh, if only...
"I have been trying all week to get up the motivation to write on this topic. And I still haven't found that motivation haha So I just thought I would leave a short blurb on the funny things Miley says and some cute pictures of Mrs. Miley and Mr. Austin. (The cutest kids on earth)
Miley Quotes: "I have polka dots in my eyes!" Said when looking in the mirror at her pupils. Miley tells me, I'm a good helper, and kisses my forehead. Yea... she melts my heart. She came up to me and said "you are smart" She then went up to my bread and said "you are smart too!" Hmmm She came up to me and said "Be nice, it's his first day at school!" 10 points to whoever can name that movie.
Well, I am sure that all of those things were probably only cute to me but there you have it!
Kids say the silliest things! Here are a few quotes from my 3 year old, Boyd:
A few days ago we were putting Boyd down for bed and as part of the routine both Aaron and I take a turn laying down for one song beside his bed. As Aaron was laying down with him, Boyd suddenly turns from Aaron to the wall and says:
"Look Monster! I don't care if you sleep next to me but don't take my blanket!"
During a dinner time prayer Boyd says:
"Please bless Daddy that he will be an Alphabet Pig for Halloween."
While driving to a friends house when Boyd really had to use that bathroom:
"NOT COOL, Dad! Driving on all the bumps..."
(Aaron wasn't meaning to drive on the bumps).
While eating dinner last night Boyd fell off the chair in slow motion and in a more scarred than hurt voice said:
"I'm tough, I'm tough!"
When asked to clean his room he came out saying:
"Um...I think I lost my super powers to clean!"
And this one there is no explanation!
"Daddy, we have ants way up in our heads to fix our whistles!"
I also have a 17 month little princess. She is darling and I have to day she is in one of my favorite stages because she is learning so much and is just so darn cute! And she knows it!"
For some reason when I think of babies I think of cute little animals...and I can't separate the two in my head.
Like this cute baby bear beanie found here. at Baby's Got Style.
For a boy, I love the idea of doing a nursery in green with this cute cloth turtle mobile from Baby Gap.
And finally, these Barnyard bathwraps from Pottery Barn. So cute. I want to SQUISH that baby in the green.
One day my baby will probably hate me for dressing and/or surrounding him with cute little animals. But I can't help it...instincts taking over...help!
Oh...and if I have a boy something tells me I will be needing to buy this:
I've been thinking all week about what to send for baby week. And I pretty much got nothin. I mean, tons of my friends are pregnant or have babies (I'm going to a baby shower this weekend!) and billions of girls in my new ward, and we just got a new niece a few weeks ago, and don't think we haven't thought about it yet... and still, I got nothin! For something that I think about and hear about so much you would think I would have something to say about it. But one thing I have been mulling over the past couple of days is: boy or girl?
I decided long, long ago that I wanted to have a boy first. We even have a boy name picked out already. Probably for the same reasons other people want boys first- in anticipation of there being other siblings to follow so they can have an older brother, right, and also I hear that some people prefer the less-emotional boys but I'm really not convinced that either is easier. But a girl from my ward who's expecting brought up an interesting point in favor of girls. She talked about how bored she is at home when her husband is gone and how she doesn't have a lot of friends she can call up on a whim and that she really wants a girl to be her little shopping buddy. Ha! Great idea! (Plus girl babies are tons more fun... I mean who can resist the headbands with GIANT flowers on them) So now I am torn. And although I have always wanted a boy first I have this nagging feeling a girl is in store for me (can non-pregnant future moms even have that feeling??) So any opinions? Boys or girls for first baby??? Or what about... TWINS!!! Oh, if only...
"So, I don't really have any baby friends or relatives at the moment. I would love one of my own, but I feel like I need to find a husband first. However, I don't need a husband for a baby dog. Now, as my cousin constantly reminds me, I know little Bary Manilow does not qualify as a baby. But this is as close as I can get right now.
I went to find Barry on whim one day in February. I had just broken up with a boyfriend, and was feeling sad and alone, especially with Valentine's Day on the horizon. So, just for fun, I decided to look up puppies for sale in the newspaper. The very first add in the paper was for chihuahua puppies. One left, male, mostly white. AWWW!!! So the 5 year old inside me said, I'll just call. I don't want to buy him, I just want to know more about him. Then they asked if I wanted to come see him. Sure, I thought. Looking won't hurt anything. I'll just go and look.
So I called my BFF Ally, and said, "Hey, you want to go look at a tiny baby chihuahua with me?"
Before I knew it, Ally and I were on our way to Saratoga Springs to go look at the little guy. A young family was selling him. The wife answered the door, and the husband was sitting on the couch...with the MOST adorable tiny white puppy I had ever seen in my life. At that moment, I knew I was coming home with a new baby.
Ally helped me name him on the way home. The kids at the house I bought him at called him "Licker". I decided we could do better than that. It was a close race between Barry Manilow and Neil Diamond, but the name Barry eventually won out. Ally was so supportive in my moment of insanity. I mean, it really is crazy to buy a tiny dog while living in an apartment in Provo. Luckily everything worked out, and it turned out to be one of the best spur of the moment decisions I ever made. Thanks, Ally! You are totally Barry's Godmother. "
"Not gonna lie, my birth story with Brody was a nightmare, as was my pregnancy with Charlotte. So, unless anyone is morbidly curious, I'll spare you the details. But, because of the length of time and the intensity of the pain killers I had to take after Brody, I don't remember a much of his early months. But, here's a story for you about when Brody started nursery, taken directly from my blog.
Late Monday evening, we heard a knock on the door. It was our neighbors. They're good friends of ours and its not unusual to chat with them. There was purpose in this visit, beyond idle conversation. The husband (we'll call him Fred) had a story to share with us. As it turns out, he was a sub in nursery the day before. His story unfolds as follows:
"So, usually Brody and I are buds. Yesterday, however, he was my nemesis. And he outsmarted me. I don't know how I feel about being outsmarted by a 2 year old. It all started with story time. He would have nothing to do with it. He wanted the toys and he knew where they were and how to open the cupboard. So, thinking it would deter him from his goal, I placed a chair in front of said cupboard and sat in it. He tried to muscle his way in, but being 1/4 of my size, had no luck. So he went and sat in the corner and stared at me. All of a sudden, this look crossed his face. He jumped up and ran over to the room divider. He snuck through it and waited just on the other side for me to come get him. As soon as I got through, he ran back and tried to move the chair. I got back before he managed it. So back to the corner he went.
Another look spread across its face. This time, he took off the other direction. He turned off the light. He spun around and looked at me, daring me to leave my chair and come turn it back on. I got him that time. Another teacher turned the light back on. Back to the corner.
He sat there a few minutes longer this time. Again, that same look spread across his face. He took off towards the divider. I was ready this time. As it turns out, it wasn't the divider he was after. It was the window. In one swift motion, he popped the screen out and spun around to look at me. I could see him thinking "I got you now. This one will take longer to fix."
He was right. It did. And he got back to the chair. He won that war. I've never met a smarter toddler.
So, my toddler schemes. And does it well, apparently. "
Hot Chocolate Shop is our version of a coffee shop. A place for chic LDS girls to blog together, laugh together, and indulge in a little chocolate-flavored friendship.
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Every Monday I post a discussion topic. Girls email their responses to the topic to hotchocolateshop@gmail.com, and then I post them up and we all enjoy it and discuss it. Topics range from boys to life lessons to recipes...and to infinity. We're girls, we never run out of things to say.
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"I currently have the swine flu. In fact, my mom, dad, and grandparents have it also. I'm feeling a lot better though. My grandparents are the ones I'm worried about, but I think they are on the downhill side of this yucky illness. We spent the night in the emergency room with my grandpa earlier this week so he could have IVs. Luckily, everyone was semi-feeling better for Thanksgiving. I was able to go out to The Hungry Hunter and pick up some prime rib dinners for our family. As of now, everyone is doing MUCH better. And our Thanksgiving day wasn't too terrible - I was together with my family, my grandpa was out of the hospital, there were no dishes to do, and we all watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving :) We still have a lot to be thankful for.
