what have we been up to?

Nothing much. Here are some pictures, I will try and write later.

Craig is really really good with Gavin. He even 'borrowed' a doll from Aunt Heidi and has been changing baby's diaper when I change Gavin's. They are both really cute.

Gavin's doing pretty good. We see the surgeon every week and last week he said he looks good. He just has a really bad sore bum. I have been trying everything. hopefully it will get better.

He's home!

He's home! We had to push the dr a little to motivate him, but he was off everything today anyway and done with the antibiotics. Hooray! Thank you everyone for your prayers!

Eating

Today they started giving him pedialyte in a bottle, and then a little bit of (milk) colostrum at 6 and then again at 9!! He had several BMs and seems to be doing really well! I was able to feed him twice (the second time he didn’t want the pedialyte) and Trevor fed him the milk.

HOORAY!! This might speed up his recovery process to a little before next Wednesday coming home, but this is just our speculations.

The PGI doctor came and talked to us a little before we left tonight and said maybe we could try breastfeeding him tomorrow. But we will see what the other drs say. (I’m still not sure who makes all the decisions now, the surgeon or the pediatricians?)

He is still sleeping a lot and doing well.

Recovery

Gavin’s surgery went smoothly on Wednesday. However, they did find that he has two hernias (yay, another surgery!). This can be an outpatient procedure, and we will hold off on it until he is fully recovered from this one. It is not life threatening right now. If we didn’t have the surgery though, his intestines could fall into the holes and cause issues (and they would have noticed by about 4 months along if he hadn’t of had his intestine surgery).

He has been sleeping a lot, which is good. Yesterday he was only on Tylenol (they have a prescription for morphine for him if he needs it) and the surgeon was feeling around his tummy and he didn’t cry, so he seems to be handling the pain well.
Last night he did have a bowel movement, but it sounds like it will still be a little while before he gets to eat.

Craig has been so good for us! He was able to go play at a friend’s house on Tuesday and hang out with Aunt Nini (who he has missed a little) on Wednesday during the surgery. Then yesterday, it was just me and him again. He was a little restless at the hospital, so we didn’t stay too long yesterday morning.

But he is so funny and goofy! I think it’s a really good thing we have him already because laughing helps things not be as stressful for us. He does this shoulder thing. Sometimes it’s to start dancing, other times, he just does it! It’s like a shrug, but he really gets into it! It always makes me at least smile, if not laugh.
Craig is talking and learning so many new words. He is really getting his colors down better.

Trevor is back to work this week, except for Wednesday. It stinks, but I think it helps a little to get back to somewhat of a routine.

I’m doing pretty good. Getting a little better most days, emotionally. Laughing does really help. I feel like I should be back to normal, but my back just kills me. I think I am really straining those muscles( really shouldn’t be picking up Craig sometimes; but what do you do when he falls asleep and really, really needs his nap, but I want to at least go in and see Gavin. I pick him up and carry him in).

Pumping is going good. It just is tiring (every two-three hours sure does sneak up on ya). But feeding will be about the same when Gavin finally gets home. Just maybe our freezer won’t be overflowing. Or maybe it still will be, since I’ll need some storage for when I go back to work. It’s amazing how much nicer the hospital grade pumps are. I rented one for at home and they have one available at the hospital to use.

Poor Gavin has been getting these little bumps/rash on his skin. One nurse guessed he just has really sensitive skin because it is worse usually on the side he is laying down on. Trevor noticed last night he has some on his legs too. And it’s getting better, but when he tore his tube off his face, that of course made lots and lots of bumps on his little face. These were from before the surgery and then the three incisions for part of his surgery.

all is good

The surgery went smoothly and he is back in the nicu recovering. I will write more tomorrow. Soo tired.

Surgery is happening!

Gavin's results came in and there were none of the "relaxing" nerves in the biopsy (which is the results we wanted so we knew that he has Hirschsprung's disease). He goes for surgery at 8 am today (Wednesday) and it will take about 3 hours. Please keep him in your prayers.

For the surgery, they will be cutting 3 small holes in his tummy. Two in his lower abdomen and one a little above his belly button. Then, they will stick in a scope and take a biopsy of the upper intestines to make sure the nerves are all in there (we are guessing because it would've been too high for the other biopsy to reach). The pathologist will be on hand to look at the samples and make sure that this part of his intestines are fine. Then, the surgeon will go in and remove almost all of the part without all of the necessary nerves (missing the relaxing nerves). He will be leaving a small part to sew the normal part back together. Then, they will sew him back together and he starts his recovery. The surgeon said that he can begin eating again after his first bowel movement, but we will wait and see what the PGI doctor says (pediatric gastro-intestinal). Then, about a week to recover. . . hopefully :).

Today was pretty nice. . . in a not normal way. Craig was able to go play at a friend's house and had so much fun! I went in and Gavin had a pretty good day. The nurse said he was sleeping most of the day! and almost the entire time I was there, he was pretty calm. Then, tonight, he was pretty fussy and the nurse was about to give him some "sweeties" (very simple sucrose that feels like a morphine shot), but he did calm back down.

We ended up having a Mormon nurse today! which was perfect since we ended up having my dad come down and give him a blessing. She let us have 4 people in for the couple of minutes. It was nice.

no results yet

No results yet. Bummer. So we’re not sure if the surgery is still going to happen tomorrow or if it will be delayed until next Monday.

Yesterday, the nurse was finally able to put the pick line in (will be helpful during surgery and they cannot have things below or at his waist during the surgery for obvious reasons). She got it okayed by the doctor to give him some sedation. This put him out for a little while and she also gave him a really good enema and the PGI said the bowel movement was really good and it was great that the enema was able to be put in a little further. Plus, I’m sure it helped Gavin not feel hungry for a while longer.


I have so many things to be thankful for! So many people have sent their love and prayers and we know that we are loved.

All weekend I was kind of stressing about school and not having things organized for my substitute. Yesterday I went in to try and get things together and this other wonderful teacher, had made copies for my class and homework packets and is just so sweet! I really do have great teachers to work with and so many family members and church members looking out for us. It is nice to remember.

Not too much new

First off, Craig is being such a goofball recently! It has been fun having a little more time with him (since we both have this week off). He likes to go visit Gavin also. We were driving home one day for lunch and he asked me if we were going to see Gavin and I told him we needed to go eat and then we would. He started crying and whining a little and saying Gavin’s name. Then last night we asked him if he wanted to stay at home or go see Gavin and of course he wanted to go. But then in the car, he fell asleep, so I asked if he wanted to go home and sleep or go see Gavin and even in a groggy state, he still said Gavin. He really is such a sweetie!

Some Funnies:
Craig was riding his bike on the back porch last night and totally went up to the post and pretended to order like from sonic. It was hilarious!!!
Then at dinner, Uncle Luke was hanging out with us and Craig decided to call everyone someone else. So I was Craig, Luke was Momma, Daddy was Luke and Craig was Daddy. I couldn’t believe it, but he also had it moved over. So Craig was sitting next to Trevor, then Luke, and me and that’s how he switched our names. He made us laugh… which is very good right now.
He did something else; I’ll have to keep thinking.

Gavin Updates
Short updates: Gavin is now on the nutrients (has lipids in it and is yellow, like mountain dew) and is pulling out his tubes very often. Luckily, he hasn’t pulled his iv out of the umbilical cord (his cord is too short and they can’t sew it in); they will be changing the iv to a pick line and it will be placed in his lower arm up through his arm to an even bigger vein by his heart. This one can stay in for 20 days, whereas the one in his umbilical cord only 10 days before changing. No results back from biopsy. Gavin is about 8 lbs now but his stomach size is going down (a good sign that his intestines are not as enlarged and bloated)! He is having an irrigation every 12 hours and he is able to have bowel movements with this, so it helps keep his intestines clear and him healthier. (An enema basically) WE talked to the surgeon this morning and he said it might be Wednesday that we have the surgery! No results back yet, but at least now we have an idea!

What we have been up to:
A little later on Thursday (after they took his biopsy) we went in and finally got to hold Gavin again!! It was so wonderful. Of course I’m bawling half the time. Then that night, Grandma Kady and Aunt Nini came in and held him a little too, and I did again also. It is so wonderful! Poor boy is just getting so hungry. They did start him on Thursday night on the more nutrients through his IV, but it doesn’t help his stomach not feel empty. It makes me wonder how it will be once we are able to feed him if he’ll quickly realize that now when he shows me he’s hungry he’ll trust that he will actually get fed or not. We’ll cross that bridge when we finally get there.

We like it when he sleeps!! This helps him not feel hungry, or at least not cry because he’s hungry.
Yesterday, we went in and after Trevor took Craig out into the hall, I got to hold him for quite a while!! It was so marvelous. I just wanted to stay there all day and just keep holding him. I sang some songs to him and he had hiccups for part of it. I lost track of time a little, but I think it was about 30-45 minutes. Meanwhile, Craig was outside in the lobby with Trevor. Craig does do pretty good back in the NICU with us, but sometimes it’s just a little stressful having him there. Gavin got really upset and crying a lot towards the end of Craig being in there and he ended up pulling out his tube that lets the air out of his stomach. So Trevor and Craig went out in the hall and the wonderful nurse fixed his tube and I was able to hold him.
It’s a little less crowded around Gavin’s bed now, for the past two days, so that helps. Craig is pretty good about playing with his train or cars, coloring, reading books and playing a little Nintendo DS. When there are fewer cribs around Gavin, Craig just plays on the floor! Of course he has to get washed up to touch Gavin again, but he’s so good. Even pretty quiet while he’s playing . . . considering how noisy and loud he LOVES to be. On Thursday night, Craig even wanted to give Gavin one of his teddy bears. (Craig not really attached to one thing but semi-attached to a couple of things, like blanket, two bears, doggy and dinosaur. He goes through phases.)
Then, last night my mom, Craig and I went back and visited for about an hour. Gavin was asleep the whole time and so we didn’t hold him, but I got to rub his arm because he was uncovered with the heat on. Craig had fallen asleep on the drive, but when I picked up my mom, I woke him a little and asked if he wanted to go home or go visit Gavin. In a sleepy little voice, he told me Gavin. The entire visit he was still pretty quiet since he was a little out of it. He just wanted to sit with Grandma Kady.
Another grandma was washing up and noticed Gavin. She commented that he was a big baby! It was funny!! She then told her daughter, “Look at that big baby!” They must have had a preemie. I told her he’s about 8 lbs and she saw the sign (his name, birth weight and birth date) and said wow, 8 lbs 10 oz! Although Gavin is still bigger than Craig was when he was born. He is a big boy and probably starving! He likes to eat. Oh well. Some day.

Random:
Our days go by too quickly! We are so tired in the morning, then I’m pumping every 2-3 hours for 15 minutes, then driving. It just flies by and before I know it, it’s midnight and I’m so tired.
I forgot how much time nursing takes. In one way, pumping takes less time. But I have to be home or at the hospital to do it, whereas nursing I could do it out in my car or other places on the go.
I have had a lot of running around to do, trying to get paperwork for maternity leave and insurance and such. It’s not fun, but has to be done. Yesterday I had a breakdown. I think I’m doing ok and then a lady tells me I need more forms from my doctor and I break down crying! She must have thought me pretty silly for crying over a paper.

Gavin David Ross

We had our baby. . . finally. He came Sunday, at 6:58 pm. 8 lbs 10 oz of adorableness, Gavin David Ross. Dark brown hair, 20 inches long. Hooray!

Things looked good, I am feeling well and he was doing well. Monday just before noon we were planning on both of us being discharged and going home. However, Monday afternoon he was not eating at all or having any bowel movements. Nurses started getting worried, and so he was wheeled down to the nursery and had an x-ray taken. He had lots of air in his intestines.

The gastro-intestinal doctor looked at the x-rays and after having a tube stuck into his stomach, letting air and other fluids out, he was still not doing much better. Next day, Tuesday, he still was not passing all the air after some large bowel movements.

They decided that the level 3 NICU at another hospital would be better for him. There is a better infant radiologist and they can see more things in x-rays. Finally around 3, he was on his way to the other hospital.The next morning (Wednesday) he had an x-ray with a barium enema and things were better seen.

This is what they transfered him over in, in the back of the ambulence! Craig would be so jealous.

It appears to be Hirschsprung’s disease. For more details, look at these websites http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1040/mainpageS1040P0.html or http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hirschsprungs-disease/DS00825 or http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hirschsprungs_ez/index.htm

Basically, part of his intestines need to be cut out and it will solve the problem of him not being able to keep food down and better go to the bathroom. He has not eaten since 11 pm on Sunday. Poor boy. And it will probably be quite a while still (next week after the surgery).

Last night (wednesday), they put a catheter through the umbilical cord into him to provide nutrients. Today(Thursday) they took the sample of his skin from the area that the nerves are not working and test it to make sure the nerves are not working. This will take several business days and then after the results are back, we will plan the surgery. Then, it will be a couple more days before he can take food (let his intestines heal and re-introduce food). That is the plan for now.

just pretending to have a baby

so, thrusday morning i woke up and had some contractions varying 5-10 minutes apart. i got ready for the day and they continuted. so i thought that things would be happening and we would be having our baby. but, i guess it was just pretending. oh well. we keep waiting. i have had some more serious contractions (2-3 minutes apart for 40 seconds each), but then they all just stop. so, we are STILL waiting.

we'll see if this baby ever comes.

four years

oh yeah, happy fourth anniversary to trevor and i! i can't believe it's been four years! we usually do a little something, but this year fell right at the wrong time. all of my changes, being pregnant . . . . we ended up going out to dinner with craig the night before, then taking anita out for her belated birthday dinner and trevor's mom the next night. we are oh so romantic!! oh well. i don't mind. i did miss tuacahn and st. george trip (mmm pizza factory), but maybe next year.

wow, 4 years, time is flying by!

life goes on

well, i have survived!! actually, we have. Still prego, and ok with it, besides the uncomfortable part.

I ended one year and started a brand new one! so many changes for me and they seem to be going pretty good. I am loving having only 15 students!!! the day is pretty long most of the time, but it could be worse. and of course, it still does not end just because I leave school. i have so much to do all the time and things never get done. but that's life.

last week, dr guessed the baby to already be 8 pounds. but things are looking good and I finally asked him questions and found out things should be ok labor wise with him.

craig is being watched by his aunt nini! she is great, it's just an adjustment for me. I drop him off around 7:15 and don't pick him up until 4:30. he is growing up and changing so much!! he is getting taller, heavier and learning so many words. his most recent giggle is saying the batman theme! na na na na na na na batman! tonight in the bathtub, he added batman shark! he's so goofy! we laugh so much because of him.

Trevor is keeping busy! he has a new calling that i will talk more about in our private blog. i'm not sure how he feels about it yet, but it seems to be going ok. he's working with my dad though and that can be tricky. they get along fine, it's just my dad is very spur of the moment and sometimes not as reliable.

I have great teachers that I am working with at my new school and everyone sure is helping me out great! i think i might finally have a substitute lined up for when i go on maternity leave (seeing as it could happen at anytime!!!!). i'm kinda hoping i make it to open house next week, but trevor mentioned that unless i am still in the hospital or in labor, i could probably figure out a way to go anyway. it's kinda tricky not knowing when this thing is going to happen. oh well.

last time, i lucked out and was just focusing on getting my finals finished and the night i was done, i went into labor. so i didn't really have to guess... not that i remember.

i'm having contractions, but nothing serious. i have another appointment tomorrow, so i will see how much more things are doing.

well, i'm supposed to be recording grades, not blogging, so i will stop. or go to sleep. i'm not sure. ha ha ha :)

that time in the school year

so it is report card time again. and once again, i am stressed. there's just a lot to do. and now, i can't even sleep. oh well.

it is 3 in the morning and I am thinking about the kindergarten promotion ceremony and the last day of school and how i am going to get everything ready in time. maybe i'll be able to get back to sleep sometime tonight.

good news! there's a teacher exchange program and I went yesterday and got a lot of posters for my new room! so at least now ihave some free things i can hang in my room. we'll see what else I am now in need of, since this year I was able to share my room with someone who already had everything.

more family time

our trip

For all the fun details, see my private blog! but here are some fun photos.

contacts!

Back to normal life, I am having a big baby! Doctor is guessing an 8 or 9 pound unlike Craig who was 7 lb 14 oz. we will see.

Also, I am trying out contacts! I have an astigmatism now. So my left eye is always blurry, but i still think i love having the contacts! I love being able to see when swimming, getting my hair cut and so forth!! my prescription is at least -5 so when I had to take off my glasses, it really did leave things very blurry.


Plus, I am getting very pregnant! I have had a lady ask me if I was ready to have the baby and I told her i still had 2 more months. what is my response supposed to be when people comment on how big I am getting. hooray. thanks for also noticing. o-well.



I no longer sleep through the night but have to wake up in the middle to go to the bathroom. Plus, I drink about 3 liters of water every day in a 5 hour time span! i get so hot during school, that I down it afterwards too. i feel a little silly carrying 3 liters with me into school, but so far, no swollen feet! hooray!


Trevor is staying busy enough at work. There is continual talk/gossip/guessing around him about what is going to happen and lay-offs and mandatory furlough; but he tries to ignore it since there is no point in worrying over nothing he has control of. It is all just gossip for right now and people worrying... at least in his department.


Craig is growing and talking more and more! He is now counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 most days and sometimes says more numbers between 4 and 10. We had one of the babysitting group families over last week at our house and he played pretty well with them considering he does not like to share his toys. Then, last night he played wonderfully with another one of the families for babysitting group. He didn't want to leave at all at the end.


He is understanding lots more that we are having a baby! he kisses baby Gavin every once in a while and understands that there is a baby in mommy's tummy we have to be careful of.

for me, my first year of teaching is almost over! AAHHH! I have lots of things to do still (and should be doing now instead of blogging). Plus, I am a little nervous about next school year! i will be in a new grade level, new school (with a new principal observing me), have to set up my own classroom and not just share someone else's AND i will be leaving on maternity leave with a substitute. I just need to pray more about everything!


we pre-registered to have the baby today and it's sinking in more to me that this is all coming to an end very soon and really, I'm not ready. Mentally, I am ready for a second child. But his room is not together and with all of the things with school, i am not ready!


I also got my hair trimmed on Friday! hooray. i have been badly needing it. It is still straight (straight being a relative term for my hair that never like to NOT be curly) so we will see tomorrow how much I like it when it is all curly again.

back to regular life and a checkup

Well, we had lots of fun on our trip visiting family and then back here with other family visiting, but I am still trying to catch up on sleep and get back in the swing of things. We also had our check-up today for baby and he is a big one!! So, hopefully, his growth will slow down a little. Because i don't really want him to come early (would make it harder with my class) and I don't need a 9 pound baby. we'll see.

I promise to try and get many more pictures and videos together and get some blogging done! if only for journal reasons. I need to keep track of things because I always forget things.

private blog

I thought i would shoot a reminder that I am posting on our private blog and would love for others to still read, but will need you to email me. marilene.ross@gmail.com

I dislike the fact that on private blogs, you can never tell when they are updated, so I am updating this blog with that info, but there will not be much posting on it. i also dislike people being able to find me. I love being able to see what people know who and with private blogs you can't see a thing about the person.

life is moving along for us and things are going well.

visiting ducks and other adventures

all in a day

To check out this post with updates, pics and a video, view my private blog!

http://tandmross.blogspot.com/

some fun- repost

somehow i deleted this post. oops.

I have a job next year. there are pros and cons.
I will be in a first grade classroom, working full-time, at a new school, just across jones from my school right now. I'm getting more excited thinking of things i will be doing next year, but it's a lot of work!! there a lot i don't have. o=well, that's for another time.

We have had some fun recently! we had some time this last week and walked around bass pro shop! it was ok. mainly just fish in tanks. we did see a duck too and sharks. it was free, so that was nice.
then, we went to king putt on Friday night! it was fun. i'm never one for taking the game too seriously and waiting much. there were a couple people in front of us going a little slow.... and stopping to take pictures with 2 other groups behind them. BUT, we jumped ahead of them all and got out of there pretty quickly. it was fun, but a really little place. each shot was about 10 feet. and the next one was right next to it. it was a blacklight place.

I have discovered that Craig really was pretty nice to me. When I was pregnant, he never really kicked too hard. this little guy, he is a kicker! he likes to prove how strong he is. on Saturday i had my last new teacher conference and one of the boring classes, i just watched my tummy and see when he kicked. it was fun. he really is getting stronger and stronger!

Trevor recently decided to buzz his hair off. it's been a couple of days, but I'm just barely posting about it. i didn't think I'd like it, but it's not completely gone and i do like it! it's a change and change is always nice.

Craig's favorite number is fourteen! he was 'reading' the airbag sign in my car on Friday and apparently it says 14 and then he proceeded to 'write' it down!! i love it! then on Saturday, hanging out with daddy, any number he saw was 14. it's at least a start.

no job

First off, some fun things. then, you can read news below. I was driving the other day and out of the blue, he starts conducting to my song!! i loved it and had to get a video. of course, i was driving, so sorry if the video is not as good of quality as i was focusing on not crashing.

NEWS-
i went tonight- frantically! to a high school here and sat and sat. the meeting started at 4 and i got there at 4:15 ish. then, around 4:30 the ONE half-time job was taken by a teacher. around 4:45 the other h/t teacher from my school got called up and we found out you give them your slip and then get to leave. Then, i sat around until 5:30 when they called my number.

SO it will be about 3 MORE WEEKS! uggh! someone will call within the next couple of days and then it will be a while. There will be a lot of moving people around (mostly in high school and middle school since those people are so exclusive on what they can and cannot teach. not a fun time to be a recently hired music teacher or something.

Craig is a grumpy little boy at times, but he is growing. he called me today when he and daddy were coming back to pick me up. He is becoming quite a talker. I could not understand everything he said, but he was saying a lot. and it was words, it's just over the phone, I couldn't figure it out. I really do love the boy, so thank goodness for precious moments like the video above.

Trevor is relieved to be done with school! ... as am I! He's still thinking about going back for his masters in the fall, and through county, they will help pay and make the process easier. but school is school. it all takes time and that's time he'd rather be relaxing or caring for his lovely wife... ha ha ha.

today was a hard day for me. I think it had to do with the frustration of tonight's meeting and Craig exerting his individualism. But i was on the verge of tears or had tears a lot today. luckily, my principal didn't come in and observe me and nothing drastic happened at school.

Here are some silly pics of Craig. He is allowed to eat in the living room on his towel, sometimes. also, him with a pillow, on the train or just to watch tv. he's silly.

Megan came over a little bit ago and somehow, Trevor ended up on the roof of the patio and then Craig wanted to too. so Megan got some shots of the two of them. that's one thing we miss a little. people just coming to visit. when living with my parents, of course we saw Luke and Megan all the time and we could just talk. now, no one ever comes over and we haven't really made any friends yet. we need to be more social, but life is so busy. anyway- here are my two wonderful boys.

happenings

well, last week was crazy, but we survived! Trevor finished his project and is now DONE with his bachelor's degree!! hooray! his group and he did a very good job and now just have to wait for their report to be graded. He chose not to walk at the actual graduation ceremony, but i didn't last year and i don't regret it. so, less money, college is getting out of us. For his project, he created a small train track idea to run up and down a street and they wanted a train set to display. So, now Craig gets to play with it! and he loves it!

he sits on the pillow and controls the train and then when problems occur, he goes over and fixes them. He wakes up in the morning and plays with it. when we come home at night, he wanted to play with it. we finally put it away for a little bit last night because he was throwing pieces, but overall he has played very well with it and loved it. and of course Trevor loves it too. it's a very fun track!

Baby news- he is a kicker!!! Trevor hasn't been able to feel him yet, but i think he will be able to VERY soon. this boy kicks a lot more than Craig ever did. it makes me wonder about their personalities. But we are getting more and more excited every day for this baby. Craig still doesn't quite understand what is going on, but we try and remind him of little baby brother in mommy's tummy and that's why I can't pick him up as much.

me- well, i am doing good. glad last week was over. at the school carnival, it was a lot of bending down to pick up the balls they kids tossed and the next day, my legs were a little sore (i wore wedges and so it was even further to lean down.). but it was fun and I'm glad it's over. we split the money to buy supplies for our classrooms next year.

who knows what classroom i will be in. today the list comes out, i think, of all the surplus jobs and so hopefully i'll get some idea. we did hear last week that all of the elementary teachers should have a job, and that secondary teachers might not. but we will see. there are a lot of people higher up than me who have been out of the classroom, in specialists areas, like training teachers and such and now they are reducing those jobs and a lot more people are back in the classroom. and of course, all of those people have more seniority than me. but i have some hope. it just might be a full-time if not part-time positions are available. we will see.

no news and go with the flow

well, i have gone to several interviews and no news yet. Thursday is the last day for principals to hire and then surplus! it goes by seniority and from what i've heard, i go to a meeting and tell them what job i want and find out if it's still available. so, we will see. it's a waiting game. and since i HAVE to get a part-time job, it decreases my openings. since i'm currently working half-time, i have to switch to half-time for next year, or wait till all the people with full time jobs get placed first. so it lowers my chances. there at least 6 of us, all going for like 2 or 3 positions!

This week is CRAZY!! this is Trevor's LAST WEEK of his bachelor's degree!! his last class and presentation is on Friday. then, i have my first year teacher class on Wednesday night, then a school carnival on Thursday night! aah. we really are missing a second car right now, trying to figure out how on earth we all are going to get where we need to be. Trevor has group meetings almost every night this week, trying to finalize their project. and then figuring out who will watch Craig while I have class and if Trevor has to meet. o-well. it'll all work out, but thank goodness for family.

it's just a waiting game. trying not to worry about things, but that's life. it's like a song i hear on the radio every once in a while. sounds like life to me!!

Craig is growing up so much!! he is talking more and more. yesterday, we picked him up from Anita and Grandma Ross. In the car, he was starting to fall asleep and we had to stop to grab some food to eat. Then, we get out to eat and he is HYPER!! he runs inside jumping jumping and doesn't stop until 10 minutes later. then, we get back in the car, and and is talking loudly and goofing around and a minute later he's quiet and fast asleep! i love that boy!

delete your comments

If you leave me your email address, please go back and delete your comment after i have emailed you. I tried, but i couldn't stay on top of the comments. or, just email me at marilene.ross@gmail.com

I am still testing it out, but i'm thinking i will post simple updates on this blog and more details and private info on my private blog. so don't worry about checking both, but this way you can tell when i have updated my blog.... because that's one of the things i dislike about private blogs.

It's a Boy!!!!!!

The doctor's appointment went well today! Craig is getting a little baby brother!! We are so very excited!! the doctor says he looks very good, head growth and weight and bones all look great! i am so happy to hear everything is looking good for our little guy and I'm so excited to now know what we are having!

my licensing test

i have a new post on my private blog, but to read it, shoot me a reminder and i'll add your name!

guess what! i looked online yesterday and found out that I passed my licensing test!! so now i need to make sure the paperwork gets to the right people and fill out stuff to try and get reimbursed (hopefully with all the budget cuts, they won't mess me up and not reimburse me... $220 back would be nice!). HOORAY!! i was so glad.

this morning i had an interview with a school and it went ok, i like the principal and i even subbed there, so i know i like one of the other kinder teachers. but, i forgot to prepare myself for the interview. thinking of things that are good about me, my strengths and goals in teaching and specific areas. well, at least i'm more prepared for my interview tomorrow.

gotta run! but at least i passsed my test.

testing going private

well, i'm going to try out having a private blog. there are pros and cons to both, but i know that especially my family members don't like pics of their kids up on my open blog. so, to protect everyone a little more, i'm testing it out! i'm gunna try and send out an email tonight, but if i miss you, feel free to shoot me an email or leave your email address for me and I will try and pass it on to you! we'll see.

but, i gotta get off to school!! back to school and i think we will have a great day!

Easter happenings

on saturday, we went over to the park and did our ward's little hunt and craig had fun! there was another ward there too before us and so craig had to watch all of those kids running and getting eggs and wanted to join them. so he got a little upset and crying because he couldn't go run and grab eggs. then, the men started setting out our eggs and once again, he just wanted to run and get them. started crying.. again. the pic on the top right is him crying. man it got cold!!

then, we went over to my mom's and got busy dying eggs!! my brother, abraham had car troubles, so we really missed him and all of his kids joining the events, but it was really fun!

after church on Sunday, we went over to my mom's again (ross side was up in reno) for dinner. after dinner, Grandpa got out his birds and was trimming their wings to keep them from flying away. the kids loved holding them, and making sure the cat didn't mess with them since they couldn't fly.

Fun times with pictures

Here are lots more pics!! back from february

Before and after haircut

After church, he fell asleep while eating pineapple!!

we had NV reading week and one day we got to dress up as our favorite book character. craig's mattress on the floor, the week or two we didn't sleep!! he's back in his crib. wearing daddy's shoes, eating dinner at macayos.

long ago in February when cousins came and jumped!

one early morning after dropping daddy off at work, he was still in pjs and singing to inside out!

Random Happenings!

Craig is growing up so much. He is talking more and more each day and just learning so much. Recently, he has been in love with stuffed animals. Instead of begging for a balloon at the store, now it's a dog, or a bear. I'm working on not spoiling him as much, but it's so hard for me to resist.

So, he has these doggies and Trevor will pretend that the doggie is licking him all over. well, Craig does it to himself now! It is hilarious! I hope to be able to catch it on video. But he holds the doggie and just laughing because the doggie is 'licking' him.

Tonight at dinner, Craig repeated some of what Trevor helped him say for the prayer. We have been trying to have him help pray, and about 6-8 months ago, he was saying some things with us, but then he stopped. It was so wonderful to hear him repeat things that his Daddy said while speaking to or Heavenly Father.

We are working a little with letters. We often will count while putting things away or just say the letters, but Craig only helps say a few. He has started to say that the foam shapes in the bath tub are letters, mostly A. And they are not only a. Some are letters and some are even numbers. But at least he’s starting to be interested. Not worried. He will get it.

Craig has been enjoying being a little less clothed recently! After changing his diaper, he’ll get up and I don’t want to fight him, so he runs around for a little while without pants on. Another day, he went without a shirt for a little bit. Then, Saturday morning, he woke up around 6:30 and I was still out of it, so I took him down stairs and let him watch cartoons for a little bit. When Trevor came down and was awake finally, Craig had taken off his FEETY pajamas! He put his little potty seat on the toilet and I think he wanted to go potty, but we caught him before he took his diaper off.


Trevor’s parents gave us some of his old stuff and in that stuff, were some of Trevor’s old toys!! Trevor has allowed Craig to play with them and he loves them!! There are like three different types in one box, but he loves them all! One set is a fun little train track! They have big puzzle like connectors and he can easily put them together. And of course he LOVES the train! He hooks the cars of the train together and puts them under the tunnel. Then, there are the more difficult ones that can make a truck, bus, or other fun little vehicle and has more complicated connections. HE loves to pull them out, put them back away, and sit with them. In all, he just LOVES them. Pretty much like Trevor does. (yes, he still does)

Trevor's test is coming up soon and he is stressing a little. He also has a lot going on with his last class and getting his project done with his group.

I still haven't heard back about my test, or from any schools. But, I feel somewhat calm! We had three wonderful people come in and help in our room at school and they helped me get just about ALL of my testing done for the report card grades. I feel relief. I know that was such a blessing!!

With all of the craziness with the school district, people have been asking me what I am planning on doing for next year. And I don't know. I'm praying and trusting that something will work out. However, I'm also doing my part. I stayed late Friday trying to make sure that the schools that do have a half-time position open at least have my info. Then, I have been thinking a little ad talking numbers with Trevor about if I did a little school at our house, or even an all day- daycare. But we just don't know if anyone would even be interested or willing to pay as much money as I would need in order to allow me to stay at home. PLUS, I will be having a baby in September and if I’m still with county, I have short term disability for maternity leave. Otherwise, I am out of money and that causes problems with bills!

I got flowers at the store the other day and Craig helped me organize them and wanted to carry them around! The small ones that were too little, he even wanted to take to Grandma Kady’s (mainly I was helping him be excited about leaving and get into the car. He doesn’t mind going to grandmas, in fact, most days he loves it; but sometimes, it’s a matter of getting into the car). Trevor mentioned that I got flowers to match our paint colors!! Ha ha ha on me! But I really do like yellow and red together I guess. They have made me feel cheerier.

Conference was wonderful! We missed the second session on Saturday, but have it recorded. But wow! There were some wonderful pieces of treasure for us. We had stake conference a little bit ago and that also had some wonderful speakers. It was a broadcast to Nevada. I wanted to mention that during our stake conference, one of the speakers mentioned that children are learning so much between the ages of 3-8 years old! And that at 3 years old, children are the most receptive! That really hit me. It helped me remember that children really do learn so much at a young age and that science can back up the church and that 8 is a good age and is correct to be the age of accountability. I loved hearing that!! I need to work to help Craig better learn, both academically and in the gospel.

During first session on Saturday, Trevor got out the laptop and showed Craig how to draw an art on the computer! He loved it!

Between conference sessions on Saturday, we went to the park and blew bubbles, kicked a ball and just had fun! It was a little cold at first, but with running around, we warmed up a little! It was so nice! We even saw a ladybug!!

Blessings!! We finally got a microwave from some wonderful people in our ward that moved to a house that already had a microwave! Plus, another wonderful person in our ward was giving away stuff to DI and let us come over real quick to see if we wanted any of it first. We ended up getting a couple of chairs for a dining table, some pics, Craig a toy and two COUCHES!!!! People are so wonderful to think of us!

just wanted to write really quick this morning! we had a wonderful weekend, a little sick with sniffles and clogged noses, but it was great listening to the wonderful messages spoken by our inspired leaders.

This week is Spring BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!! seriously, i am so glad. I have been very overwhelmed and I'm hoping to be able to accomplish a good amount this week. plus, my brother is coming to town this weekend! hooray. i love visiting family.

gotta run! got to finish off emptying out my mom's house with our junk this week and lots to do. hopefully, i will get time to get pictures together and post lots!!

updates and finally a picture

the baby's dr appointment went well. heartbeat is good and Craig and I even heard the baby kick! I been feeling a little not myself (but nothing I can really complain about... considering how lucky I am with no sickness). I've just been a little dizzy when standing for too long and people have been saying i look paler than normal. But the dr didn't say anything about low iron.

i have called all 5 of the schools in the valley that have a half-time job open, but no interviews scheduled yet. Most of them are asking for my evaluations (from my principal) and so that makes me doubt that they'd want me. When there are other available teachers who have worked longer and got better reviews. o-well. I gotta try.

Craig is growing up so fast and learning so much so fast!! I finally cut his hair again and wow he really needed it. two saturdays ago, it was so nice outside, Trevor was working on our semi-dead grass and Craig just rode his bike around out front and loved it!! then, this other pic, he likes to put toilet paper around his head. he's so silly.

We were able to go to the brandts baptism and it was very special. They are a family we know from the dad working with my dad. Megan, Luke, Dad and I were able to sing a song at their baptism and it reminds me how much i really enjoy singing with them. It was so easy!! we practiced the morning of and it was a hymn, but it really sounded pretty good and was so fun!! i love singing when there isn't very much pressure. and we are family so our voices blended very well.

Trevor is doing good, just tired of his last class and ready to be done with school. he's so great for Craig and I. Last night i was laying with Craig before putting him in his bed and I just thought how glad i am that I married such a wonderful man.

i'm still overwhelmed

I know, i still have not gotten pictures together and still have not posted in forever. but for my own sanity (not really because pretty much i am crazy) i need to do some venting.

First off, job wise, (i am working part time in kindergarten) I HAVE to move schools next year and i am hoping that I can find a part time job. In order to help decrease layoffs, the district decided that all teachers working part-time right now, HAVE to work part time next year. which i wanted to anyway, but my odds of finding part-time jobs are decreasing. FUN FUN. so all 4 of the kinder teachers at my school have to move and have to find a new job. hip hip hooray.

Next-i got out of jury duty after one day! that was a hooray!! it took all day and i didn't get done until just before 5, but i didn't have to return the next day or get stuff for a sub to do with my class!!

*i hope this one makes someone laugh, because it didn't make me laugh* Yesterday, i was running a little late (as always) and was trying to get several things done before heading off to work. so on my out the door, i turn the alarm on and manually lock the bottom lock from the inside since my keys are already in the car with Craig. WRONG!!! They were NOT! they were still inside in my purse! with my car keys, my house keys, my wallet. I did have my phone and Craig. so i start flipping out! call Trevor and he looks up lock smiths. call my mom to check and see if we gave her a key. no of course not. why would i do something half way smart. we had given a key to Trevor's parents, but they cannot answer any phone calls at work. UGGH!! big uggh! meanwhile, i am flipping out about how on earth i'm gunna get back in the house and get my purse and get to work. I try calling a locksmith, but of course, they are busy and have NO one who can assist me. good one. Trevor has a key at work, but I drop him off at work every morning. that doesn't work.

FINALLY< (someone must have prayed to knock some sense back into me) Heavenly Father reminded me that I have a hide a key for my car and that Trevor does have a house key. i calm down a little, see if the key will actually start my car and then thankfully call my mom and Trevor and let them know I will be running to grab a key and back to my house! i even made it to work on time!

I am the person who locks myself out often. many times, i leave my keys in my car (it just happened about 3 weeks ago) and so i do keep an extra key for my car. well, now i know that i need the same for my house. fun.

BUT, the good news is, Craig was with me outside of the house and not in, AND, i did not grab a rock and throw it thru our back door, like I was very tempted to. SO HA HA HA HA. did anyone laugh? probably not. o-well, lesson learned.

On to other things, i still have my silly first year teacher classes and i went last night and learned very little, but was very bored. I still have a million things for work and our house is sadly in need of some work.

But, i love Craig, i love Trevor even more and I am grateful that we are a family. I'm grateful for the wonderful messages I get to hear at church each week. i'm grateful for the many wonderful examples in my life who help give me hope that i can do things. (family and at church) I was asked to get together musical numbers for a RS dinner and I was VERY overwhelmed with how many people i needed to help. but, surprising to me (not the Lord) many of the wonderful ladies I called were very willing to help, and those that weren't were not able to go.

My family is wonderful! i have great in-law family whom I consider to all be a part of our family. I have a wonderful family of my own. they all teach me things that I need to remember and I am very blessed. So, very soon, i will get my act somewhat together and do better and recording our lives. But for now, I need to run and get ready for the day because I get to go talk to the doctor about our precious baby #2!

overwhelmed

I am ashamed a little at myself in one way, but in another way, there are a lot of reasons for my not posting. we have been so very busy! sorry, this is a little of complaining. BUT, on the bright side, it is THURSDAY! one more day closer to the weekend.

I "get" to take my licensing test, AGAIN. long story short, i took the wrong test because the right test was not create when I signed up and passed the general elementary test. now, i have to retake the early childhood test and I'm praying that i remember enough and can pass it the first time. UGGH!! so this is this saturday. one more saturday almost completely wasted.

then, i have my first year teacher classes so often, not to mention the homework for those. i still have things to do just for my kinder class above that!! i'm barely staying afloat here.

trevor has been so wonderful and understanding. he has been great. he always is.

craig is so fun! He's talking more and more every day! the other morning, when taking trevor to work, he saw the moon and he said moon!! i didn't even know where he learned that word! i don't think we've talked about it with him. he's picking up so many things and becoming less and less of a baby every day.

he jumped in his crib (we still haven't gotten his big boy bed yet, ugh) and it fell out from under him three times in one night. the last time, i just pulled the mattress out and put it on the floor. so two nights he has been on the floor. but last night, he woke up around 1 and started crying and walking downstairs. i called him (me still being out of it) and followed him, calling his name several times. finally i caught up to him on the landing of the stairs and carried him back up to bed. he slept the rest of the night with us. which meant i didn't sleep very well. so tonight, i need to make sure to put up a fence over his door in case he wakes up again.

off to school!

Classes

As a new hire teacher, schooling is never done. I 'get' to take these classes and all day conferences. Well, on saturday was my first all day conference. I did actually learn things, but it took up my entire saturday. uggh. so much house work i could have been doing.

Well, a result of one of my classes I took, about internet safety, i am strongly thinking of going private. there are pros and cons to both. SO, we will see. but there are scary people out there and they are targeting SO MANY PEOPLE!!

over the 3 day weekend for presidents day, my brother and his family came to town! it was wonderful! i got to meet my 3 month old niece and she is adorable! tanner than i will ever be in my life. blessed girl. but it was so fun having cousins around for Craig! i am behind with all the moving on downloading my camera. SHOCKER!! and right now, i am too lazy to walk downstairs and get it out of my purse. but i will try and get some safe pics up. it really was a fun time.

Here's a fun pic of Craig. He was rocking on this ottoman and rocked himself to sleep!! it was so silly.

living in our new house

This one may be long and boring. sorry. jump around.


yes we are living in our house, however, i will not say we are moved in. we still have no stove, microwave or fridge inside the house, so cooking is not much of an option yet. however, our beds are in and we are still working! we still having touch up painting to do.

It was so wierd the first night, thinking that we would actually be sleeping in our own house for the first time!!! we can do whatever we want to it, whenever. the downside, we also get to pay for everything! that's a little scary to me.

I feel the need to express my many blessings! we found a wonderfully huge washer and dryer on craigslist that seem to work well. we were able to get a cheap entertainment system and the tv was thrown in! a friend of family moved and didn't want to take it with them. family has helped so much!! we haven't had a clear schedule of when moving or painting and just going by ear, and so we couldn't ask people ahead of time if they would help, but family has stepped in and helped with plenty of painting and cleaning and moving!!

I am enjoying track break, but so sad that I only have one more week. i still have SO much I need to do!! the day before track break, we had a fun little valentine's day party with root beer floats!!!! i know... crazy with kindergarten!! but it actually went really well. i just wish everyday could be as easy going not worried about making sure we got things done. the kids just had to stay seated and we got everything for them. it was so sweet. when they got their bag full of cards from everyone, they were all yelling around the room tahnking each individual person the card was from. finally, we all just said one thank you together. it was sweet.

trevor is sick again. the poor guy!! but he is so great. he's still working so hard and getting things done even when he feels pretty bad. we know have some lights!!! it's wonderful! we had no lighting fixtures and so we had a lot to buy. but it could've been much worse.

craig is loving it! he has so much space to run, jump and THROW!! yes, we are working on things and places he can and cannot throw. but he rides his bike down to check the no mail we get and plays outside in the back yard a little. sleeping and getting to used to the new place is still a work in progress. but i think he'll get used to it soon.

i'll try and post pics soon! we had my brother come in town from reno and it was so fun!! we were trying to move and pack that weekend, but it still was nice.

pics

this is the kitchen area that still has paitning stuff and tools all over the counters. but the red turned out to be a great color!

well, we have been very very busy! we still have touch ups to do of paint and i'm going to be running around trying to get more of our brown that silly walmart refuses to stock up on. but here are some pics of out colors and some updates on rooms! we had some great help and moved most of our big stuff, but i still have some of the littler things and out clothes to get packed and moved. and OH! all the unpacking!

This is the front room downstairs and the loft upstairs.

This is our rooma nd craigs and the baby's.

Class is Scheduled!

We will be having the class on Tuesday, March 3rd @ 7:00 pm at my new house. i will try and send out an email to everyone with my personal info on it, address, number. If you would like to come, please let me know and i will give you all the info!! i don't want anyone to miss out.

PS- it is with Lindsey Futrell, who used to be in our ward!!

But PLEASE put this on your schedules!! It really is amazing how easy it is to save. Also, continue to check out these great websites


http://buyingsmart.blogspot.com/

http://shopsmartinvegas.blogspot.com/




Save money, spend little time and stock up on much needed food storage for less than you are probably spending on regular groceries now.

visiting with family

Roger and his two older kids came down for a day! he works with airlines and so they just took a quick flight here saturday morning and left Sunday morning.

It was great to see them. we missed seeing Jessica and little Taylor, but it was so nice to see family. And then my brother, Abraham is coming to visit soon! i'm so glad. here's some fun pics!

we just hung out, went to in n out, peeked inside our house (no keys) and then jumped!! of course, saw the silly goats my dad has and then went to heather and curtis's and played wii and hung out. it was great. Craig and Cote were so cute together!! all the kids were so great and so cute!

We were all so tired, Trevor and mom both fell asleep on the couch.

Guess what!

YES!!! we finally got our keys last night! i was pretty shocked when it actually worked out! welll, let me re-phrase. we got ONE key. since it's foreclosure, we only have the key from the realtor lockbox.

we went to walmart and home depot and got some things and trevor got to work a little last night! he replaced the doors, fixed the outside keypad for garage door opener and put a thermostat on. i will post more pics and things as things start pulling together.

We ar so blessed! craig loved running around our house last night!

No keys

Last night we went out to celebrate NOT getting our keys. we were pretty bummed and just getting frustrated. People just need to stop giving us hope that it will actually happen.

MMMM yummy root beer float!

So, we stopped at Cheeburger Cheeburger and it was a great little night together. Then, we went and looked and PAINT! and i think we found some great colors. at least i hope.

After that, we came home and CHUCK was on!! yay! that made me so happy! it hasn't been on since before Christmas and i was a little saddened every Monday night. it is pretty hilarious to me and Trevor and we enjoy watching it together.

two weeks ago, I went to pick up Trevor from work and he was staying late, so i stopped off at the outlet mall up on Charleston. KB toys was going out of business and they had everything 60-80% off!! i got some games for CHEAPO for school and treasure box stuff and of course stuff for Craig. he saw this plane and we had to get it! the silly boy had it in his hands practically the next two days straight! it was his favorite toy! he was so cute. He would just sit there for 2-4 minutes flying his plane. and that is a long time for this boy to sit still with one toy. he even had to have it to sleep. i love it!

baby news and all other sorts!

WARNING: very long info. feel free to skim! :P

I was able to go to the doctor last week and get an ultra sound done! it is actually real to me now! i saw the little baby's heart moving!! it was fluttering away! i love it! last time, with Craig, I ignored that i was actually pregnant and didn't get to a doctor and believe that i was actually pregnant until well, a while. (i was also trying to figure out how on earth i would pay for doctor's visits with no insurance and part time jobs while going to school) i was probably 3 months along maybe 4 by the time i saw the doctor. so this is all a little new! (got prego with Craig in march and saw the doctor late may, maybe June)

All is going! as far as the baby, i am one of the extremely lucky! i have not gotten sick at all! Trust me, I'm counting my blessings. It would be difficult with me being a first year teacher, and not supposed to take any time off, if i did get sick. so i keep taking vitamins and stay away from sick people... as much as possible surrounded by 30 sickly breathing little kinders :) But with Craig i got sick from food poisoning one time and that was all that i ended up being vomiting. so I'm praying that that is the same. Poor Trevor, he got sick already and he got sick last time too. he ends up being the one that feels the most crappy.

so all is well with the baby. Growth looks perfect and due September 13, 2009! now i get to tell my principal... seeing that she mentioned to me the other day, if they have to let go of a teacher, it will be me! I'm the last hired. yay. but we will see! We are just praying and having faith that things will work out. I keep praying that Trevor will magically get hired as an engineer as soon as he graduates and I won't have to work at all next year. but reality, I'm hoping my pay doesn't get cut so much that I'll have to work full time just to actually help at all with house payments, etc. (6% of $17,000 is quite a cut when 17,000 isn't much to start out with!)

Trevor is very busy! he got sick last week, we are thinking it was food poisoning because Craig and I never really got sick. But, Trevor is doing good and just busy! he got called to be the gospel principles teacher in our ward, along with ward missionary. too bad for me, i am in nursery helping out that I've only seen him teach once. but I'm very proud of him! gosh i love that man. He's still doing basketball, but with getting sick, we missed last week's game. But he enjoys being a little more active and it's helping us all out.

HOUSE- we went in and signed the kajillion papers on Friday night and are hoping to hear today that the sellers signed everything and got them back and that we get keys tonight. We are hoping. but we will see. things keep getting pushed back on us. then starts the mad rush to get things done and moved in! we are hoping to paint before things are moved in, but we will see. depends on when we get keys.

Craig is doing good. Since we are still sharing a room with him, he wakes up in the middle of the night and wants to sleep with us. well, sometimes that's ok, but other times, he rolls around kicking us and making us sleep horribly! Last week, he started screaming every morning around 4 and would not stop unless in bed with us!! after almost of hour of fighting with him, and trying everything (going in other room, reading books, singing songs, i got cold and took him in bed with me. the next night, Trevor set up his play pen and the portable heater in the kitchen and had him sleep in there. so he woke up hollering in there, but we did get a little more sleep and he stopped crying sooner. the next night was a little better and last night and the night before that, he didn't wake us up at all! so yay to Trevor for coming up with the idea!! when we move, Craig will be in his own room, so we hope this will also help with that transition!

School is crazy!! my class is still quite the handful! and i was feeling very overwhelmed. this trimester, we just have SO much to teach. but I'm praying about it and trying to get help from the other 3 kinder teachers. and we will see. i have a couple parents coming in to help (HALLELUJAH!!!) and so I'm trying to have them when possible get started testing these kids! in first and other grades, it's much easier to get grades because you simply give them assignments or give tests and get grades that way. but kinder has more skill grades. and most of it has to be one-on-one testing! and well, with 30 kids and no time to do it in, that is a lot to ask!

saving money

I know many of us are looking for ways to save money. well, i've been wanting to figure out a way to take these classes, at first i thought about it for enrichment in our ward, but i also think if we ever get into a house, maybe i could just get a couple of ladies together and have them come to my house.

SO, I was wondering if anyone is interested if i got a class scheduled and we could really learn how to save money and stock up for food storage at the grocery store!!

Check out these two websites!

http://buyingsmart.blogspot.com/

http://shopsmartinvegas.blogspot.com/


they save SO much money and makes shopping a challenge to see how much you can save.

no house yet

we were supposed to be signing and getting the keys to our house tonight, but as i felt, something went wrong... of course. hopefully, all the paperwork will be done by the end of the month, if not, we will see. Patience. i know.

my little bro, Luke finally got together and did part of his eagle project tonight and I love all the wonderful people who helped!! i will upload a picture of all the blankets they received, both from church people and knocking on doors! they are helping the homeless people in las vegas! so wonderful!

yay! and oh

We have had so many blessings! some sweet people in our ward heard that we were moving and needing furniture, and so he cleaned out his garage a little and we were able to get a little night stand and small cabinet/stand from him! every little thing helps. a while back, someone gave us his old couches (which still have to be cleaned) but so we have a bed for us, two couches, a dresser for Craig and a kitchen table! Plus a small nightstand and a little drawer or tv stand. i love when people are so willing to share things they are getting rid of anyway.

we are closing on our house on Tuesday night... most likely. we ended up not going with the HUGS prgram, because of difficulties and it would also raise out interest rate from 5.5% to 6.6%!!! that's a good $150 at least a month! so we have saved as many pennies as possible and we renegotiated and got the price for the house down a little also.

We went and bought a stove, dishwasher, and fridge last night. we have been watching craig's list and saw ones for cheapo! they are not the best, but for $350 for all, we couldn't beat that.

I am feeling a little overwhelmed! we still need to find a washer and dryer, looking on craigslist and then get all the little fixing ups to the house and hopefully be able to paint before we get to live in a house of our own!! plus fixing the yard some and tearing out some trees and bushes.

went from flustered to peaceful

For some reason, i am always a bit flustered when going to work. and it is usually a bit more the first day of a week. I just am not sure if I have everything ready and usually i might be leaving later than i would have liked to.

Well, yesterday was one of those days. and since there was no school Monday, it was the first day back (even though i spent a good couple of hours at school on Monday). PLUS, i was upset about interest rates (6.6% with the HUGS program). luckily, Heavenly Father prompted me to listen to some good music and i found some hymns to listen (actually sing along with VERY loudly in my car... it was just me and passing strangers). I was so happy I did. by the time i got to school, i was a little calmer and ready to face the day. then, i got some maybe good news that they might continue to have part-time teachers next year! and that made me happy to think there was a chance.

Long story short- Heavenly Father blessed me yesterday and I wanted to make a note of it. I LOVE the beautiful hymns and music we have.

pictures

A while back, we went out and got some ice cream cones. Craig enjoyed his.


Then, we got some donuts and that night, craig found one and in the middle of eating it, fell asleep! this is how we found him. silly boy!

Our stake has started up men's basketball again and Trevor went to our ward's first game on thursday. it was nice, they invited families out and we were able to watch and there were other kids there for Craig to play with. i hope next time is just as fun.

well, we are doing pretty good. tomorrow, hopefully we will be able to find out some info about the HUGS program and find out whether or not we will get help with a down payment or not.

school is going kinda crazy! my kids are just very very VERY talkative! i figured out that i really need to be strict and consistent about the rules! kids need consistency and so i really need to make i give them that to help us all out.

we went and hung out with a friend of ours through trevor's work and his girlfriend on Saturday. that was nice. we tried palying some games, but we didn't know each other well enough for catch phrase (and two of the ladies speak another language and so there was a little difficulty for them explaining things in english for us) and then a LONG game of uno. we played it with drawing until you could play and we all had a handful of cards. finally we changed to draw only one card. it ended a lot sooner because of that. but it was nice and craig was pretty good too.