Happy Birthday Kindyl!

Kindyl turns ten today. I can't believe she is that old! Kindyl was my easiest baby, and has continued to be a very sweet, easygoing child. When she was a toddler and I had the choice of running errands by myself or taking her with me, I often took her with me. This is unheard of for me. I don't like running errands with kids. I almost never do it. It is difficult and unnecessary .But she never asked for things she couldn't have, and she would point out fun things and just keep me entertained. Often when I am driving with her I call out her name just to double check that I didn't leave her at home! She is a quiet child, but at the same time hilarious! See this post: http://clanmacnab.blogspot.com/2008/03/silly-kindyl.html

ten things I love about Kindyl:

1. She is hilarious! She makes you laugh when you least expect it.

2. She is a good friend. I love watching or hearing about her interactions with her friends. I remember 4th grade, and I remember petty jealousies, mean girls, and getting my feelings hurt. She and one friend in particular seem to just be made differently. They are silly, and don't even seem to notice things that should hurt their feelings. She just likes to have fun. And when someone says something rude to her, she doesn't retaliate. Today she told me something rude a girl said to her. Instantly I thought of about four mean things about this girl Kindyl could say back.(yes, I have mean thoughts about children. But only when they are mean to mine.) And yet she didn't say anything mean back. When I asked her why she said, "mom, I never do. What would be the purpose?" She doesn't see a reason to hurt other people. No drama.

3. She is a fantastic artist.

4. She plays with Brenley, and even takes her to her friend's house with her.

5. She does what she is asked the first time.

6. She has fabulous hair;)

7. She loves to sing

8. She is thoughtful of others

9. She is a great student. Her teachers have always loved her.

10.She is helpful

My First Award

I was so excited to get my first award last week! Julie, AKA Crazy Mama, gave me this award and I am very honored!( http://crazymamaof6.blogspot.com/ I still don't know how to make a link, though Julie herself tried to explain it to me at lunch. What can you do?) You can't read crazy mama's blog without relating on some level, or just laughing your head off. She is the queen of telling it like it is. This is what she said:

"Sherry is a newer blogger. she found me from a few links on several blogs she frequented. turns out. we went to the same H.S. and she is NICE. not the girl that i mistakenly thought she was. and she liked me anyway even though i accused her of not being nice to me in H.S. she is NICE. and i figured out the girl that wasn't! whew! that was a relief! she posts. keeps it real, comments lots. and even replies to comments. i consider her a friend these days. and even have a lunch date set up! awesome!"

I have to say I was a little flattered, because I always thought this girl was cuter than me, and was a little jealous. I showed Wendell her pic in my yearbook, and he agreed that we look really similar. Kind of funny. But she is not the nicest girl around. So those of you who thought I was mean in High School, It wasn't me! It was my impostor, striking again;)

Here are the rules:
The award comes with these rules: 1. The winner can put the logo on their blog. 2. Link to the person you received your award from. 3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs. 4. Put links of those blogs on yours. 5. Leave a message on the blogs you've nominated. 6. Write an acceptance speech in the style of the Academy Awards, thanking every body’s mother, father, sister, brother, aunties and uncles and the kitchen staff at your favorite restaurant! So...I nominate the following great blogs (in no particular order)-

7? Heavens!

Christina at http://vivafullhouse.blogspot.com/-OneHM had listed this blog on her "Share the Wealth" feature, so I had to check it out. When I went I noticed that the girl looked oddly familiar. But I knew I didn't know anyone who had twins and then triplets! Wait her name is Christina, I knew a couple of Christina's in High School. But I don't remember any of them looking like super models! I had to pull out my year book, and sure enough, there she was. Christina is one of those girls that looks even better than she did in High School. After having twins and triplets! Amazing! And she really was a nice girl. I am amazed at how she is able to keep it together. SO cute.

ONEHM (one happy mama) at http://believeittoseeit.blogspot.com/. She is a fabulous photographer, and a fabulous digiscrapper. I have neither of these abilities. She has the amazing gift of making you feel inspired, while at the same time admitting to feeling overwhelmed at times. This makes me feel like I want to be a better person, without making me feel guilty that I am not already! What a great combination!

Laurie at http://vidal12home.blogspot.com/. Laurie is my long lost cousin and she cracks me up! She has a way of saying things that sometimes makes me cover my mouth and say,"Oh my goodness, did she really just say that?" I love it. It is like having that good friend in High School that was not afraid to do all of the things you would never have the guts to do. Like talk to that really hot guy in the back of your seminary class. Or get out into the middle of the floor and dance when you don't have the guts. You get to stand to the side and benefit vicariously. And Laurie has a heart of gold. She makes me dinner sometimes, and takes my kids away when they are driving me nuts, and unselfishly gives me all of her zofran. Does it get any better?

Caryn at http://becknewsaz.blogspot.com/- Caryn was nice enough to take all of us on her European cruise with her. I thoroughly enjoyed going to Greece, France, Italy, etc. Her pictures were even helpful in explaining the origins of the Olympics to Rachael. What a great trip! I get to play bunco with Caryn, and she is always good enough to liven things up. (yes, she is the one that started hitting the table and making the dice jump, adding a whole new element to the game.) Fun times!

Holly at http://hollysfavoritethings.blogspot.com/ This is a purely spiritual blog. Holly has taken to heart the quote I have on the side of my blog quoting elder Ballard. She has amazing spiritual insight for someone so young, and I always love to hear what she has to say. I also love her other blog that keeps us updated on her little family. She and her husband lived in our ward until recently, and you can't help but like this quirky couple.

Marcie and Holly at http://bsbbabes.blogspot.com/. These are two happenin' single chicks who are nice enough to let us into their lives. Their family lived in our old ward, and I have always been impressed by them. They all really love each other, and are such selfless and fabulous people. Their family means everything to them, but they know how to have a good time! I even had the good fortune to sit near them at a Jimmy concert a while back. Keep having fun, girls!

The seventh and last honor is going to have to go to my whole family. But just the ones nice enough to have blogs! It is so nice to have a little more insight into their lives, and be able to catch up with their families. Even the ones that live less than a mile away keep me better updated by their blogs. I love being able to see pictures and videos of events I was unable to attend. And I have one SIL whom I have gotten to know better in the last couple of weeks through her blog than I have in all the years she has been married to my husband's brother! She is a great girl. And of course all of my cousins that I haven't seen in years. Thanks, all of you, for letting us into your lives!

And now, the moment you have all been waiting for, my acceptance speech:
First of all, I would like to thank the unruly fetus who has been with me almost from the beginning of this blogging journey, though I didn't know she was there until a while later. Thank you for making me so sick, and crampy, and uncomfortable that I barely have a life away from my computer. And for giving me enough to complain about to keep my blog real. I'd like to thank my husband for giving me free reign over my computer, and using his laptop when he has work to get done. And my children for realizing that this box is really mine, and they may only use it when I have no desire to. Thank you to all of you bloggers who make blogging fun by posting interesting, hilarious, or worthwhile things. You have helped keep me sane during this fun time. Well, kind of sane;) And those of you who feed my crack/blog habit by posting comments. Thank you, thank you all..;)

Oops!

I just noticed that the button leading to donation information does not show up on Google Reader. This was really the purpose of my last post. So, if you have any desire to see how to help this family, you will have to go to my actual blog to click the button. Or use the link to visit Stephanie's sister's blog. She gives info on other ways to help as well.

I don't know how to make it show up on Google Reader. Thanks!

A Sweet Family in Need

I have really been debating whether or not to post about this. I don't even know the family personally.

The instructor involved who died in the plane crash was in our stake and his daughter goes to school with Rachael. We know that he was a good man, and has a great family. we couldn't help but feel for his family. Because of this, I looked up the other family involved.

Their names are Stephanie and Christian Nielson. They are a cute young couple with 4 young children. You have probably seen them on the news. I have been keeping up with their progress through her sister's blog at

http://blog.cjanerun.com/

You can't hear their story or read Stephanie's blog without being struck by what a sweet family they must be. Our hearts go out to them, their kids, and their families who will be helping them for a very long time.

Even though I don't know them personally, I thought it wouldn't hurt to put their button on my blog. Just in case any of you were touched by their situation and would like to know how to help.

Our thoughts and prayers are with both of these sweet families. I know that is what they need most.

What decade?

You Belong in 1987

Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day.

What Year Do You Belong In?

This doesn't really surprise me. How can anyone resist John Cusick in Say Anything. Or 80's rock. I was a child in the 80's. I wonder if my kids will always love what they love now, like I will always love my childhood culture?

I've been tagged!

O.K, I know this is late. A couple of weeks ago I got tagged by my friend Mandy. But for some reason it seemed like a daunting proposition! Difficult questions, I guess, and my pregnant brain can't tackle them well. So cut me some slack. In a few months, the answers could be totally different. Here goes:

How To Play This Game of Tag:

Post these rules on your blog. List: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 facts about yourself. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog!

3 joys:
1. My kids. especially my toddler's laugh. Right now when I feel so cruddy most of the time, I feel like her sole purpose in life may be to make me laugh. She is always saying funny things in her cute little toddler voice. Or doing something silly out of the blue. Or even just striking a yoga pose in the middle of the room for no good reason. Example: the other day, we were having family prayer. So we were all sitting around with our arms folded, heads bowed, waiting for Bren to get ready so we could start. We are all looking at her and waiting. She looks back at us and starts bocking. You know, like a chicken. "bock bock!" It was like she figured, if everyone is going to look at me I might as well give them something to look at! Goofy girl.
2. learning new things. I love to learn . I love to read about history. I love to read about politics. I love to read about places I have never been. I love to learn about anything I didn't know before. I am amazed by what fascinates me. I am not really happy unless I have learned something new every day.
3. The gospel. If I tried to list all of the good things I have in my life because of the gospel, I would have to write a book. I don't know how I could raise my children or face my challenges without the gospel in my life and the knowledge and comfort it brings me.

3 fears
1. That I may be ruining my children. That they will hate me when they are older because of something I am doing or not doing. I know that the plan revolves around free agency, and their fate is really up to them, but I worry that I am not the best example. I worry that they will come back to me and say they wish I was more this or less that. That I am not giving them everything they need. And they will need years of therapy as adults;)
2. That I have hurt some one's feelings without knowing it. I am afraid I can be more abrasive than I think I am. I am afraid I could lose friends without knowing why.
3. scorpions;)

3. goals:
1. To have family prayer and scripture study every day. We are not at 100% right now. And Family Home Evening.
2. To go back to school. I know it will be a lot more expensive now that Wendell doesn't work at UOP anymore. But I think it is worth it.
3. To work my way back into my regular exercises routine. I realize this will likely happen AFTER the baby is born. But I keep thinking I can start working my way up right now. I could at least be doing some yoga! My gym membership is sadly underused. Yet I won't put it on hold in case I start feeling wonderful tomorrow. Well, you never know!
3 current obsessions/ collections
1. redoing my bedroom. I decided to redo my bedroom about two years ago. I started buying things in the new color palate, and getting things planned the way I wanted. I told myself I would repaint and get it finished as soon as I got my bedroom organized the way I wanted it. Now I have everything I need, and it has been two years. It is still the messiest, most disorganized room in the house. Now I have it in my head that if I don't get it done before this baby gets here, I will have a nervous breakdown. I will. I have a hard time getting anything done, especially something I haven't been able to accomplish in the last two years. But I am chipping away at it. And hoping when I am done removing clutter and getting things organized, I will have help painting my room and bathroom, and will be able to get it all done. If I have to look at these mustard yellow walls while I am dealing with a new born, I will lose it.
2. Acquiring cute baby girl clothes. In my head, the only thing that will make it O.K to have yet another girl will be being able to dress her dang cute. Thanks to my lovely SIL and a good friend, I am on my way. There is just one stash left I have my eye on. I have been a little obsessive about this stash, as some of you know. And I need some really cute bows and jewelry.
3. Wendell says I am obsessed with blogs.

3 facts about me:
1. I grew up one of 11 kids. Most of us still live around here.
2. When I am upset I use Jane Austen as therapy. If you hear the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice playing in the background, I am using it to calm myself. Nothing is more reassuring than a British accent and subtle 19th century humor. If it gets really bad, I start rereading all of her novels.
3. I am not naturally creative, but I love to create things. This leads to a lot of copying. I copy scrapbook layouts. Other people's craft ideas. baby paraphernalia. You name it. I am a copier.

Well, that is probably more than you wanted to know, and more than I wanted to tell you. But that is kind of the point, I think.

Now I am tagging Laura, Robyn, Dani, Shelli,and Rhonda. And anyone else who wants to do it, feel free;)

More Beach Pics!

Bunco last night!

I joined a new bunco group a few months ago, and it has been a lot of fun. I have subbed for a couple different groups for years, but never actually took the plunge until recently.


(cute bunco girls)

The girls are almost all a few years younger than me, some of them are siblings of old High School friends (or elementary, or Jr. High;). One of the subs was the sister of a friend of mine from the 6th grade! She told me how to find her blog, and I am looking forward to catching up with her and her family.


(a couple of us pregnant girls)


These girls help keep me young. It is nice to get out of the house, and get a little wild and silly. One of the girls suddenly pounded on the table after one roll, and a whole new element was born. It's kind of more like bunco combined with the game Trouble. Come on, you remember the game.



You never know what you will get with a few girls, no kids, and a lot of sugar. Sugar is the Mormon's alcohol, I've decided. We tend to get a little silly, without all of the nasty side effects;)

Quote of the Day

My husband said something to me on Sunday that made me laugh out loud, so I thought I would share.

I haven't been to my own ward (church) in a long time. It starts at 8 a.m and I am often hurling at that time in the morning, and in no shape to really go anywhere. I try to get my family up and ready for Primary, but I have been a little inactive myself. I can't wait until our church time changes sometime in September.

Anyhow, I went to church last Sunday because it was my mother's homecoming. And it really helped that it started at 10:30. After church I was complaining to Wendell about how it was hard for me to breathe, and really not that easy for me to sit in one place for over an hour. He just laughed and said,




"Oh, Honey. We need to get you a little mouse to keep in your hand during church, then you would have no problem just sitting for over an hour!"

Very funny

Morning Meltdown

I know what you are thinking when you read the title of this post. Since most of you have children, and school just started yesterday, your mind probably goes to one of my children throwing a fit before school. Although we did have a minor temper tantrum before school involving P.E shoes, the major meltdown happened to me.

School has started, which means the Ginge is coming over. I'll explain. While the older kids are at school my grandmother (Mama Ginger) comes over once a week, usually while Brenley is asleep, so I can run errands etc. This is part of the reason I am too spoiled to take any of my children shopping with me.

Mama Ginger is one of those born organized people (for those of you flylady girls) and is naturally clean. However, she doesn't expect the same standards of cleanliness from me. Usually I settle for just having the family room and every place she can see from the couch being clean. And the bathroom in case she needs to use it. Really it is just for her sanity and safety. I know she can't stand sitting in a messy room, and I don't want her to get up and try to clean my house. She is a very active lady, but let's face it, she is 81 years old with a bad hip.

I have until 1:30. Plenty of time, you would think. So I start trying to get things habitable when the first round of kids leave for school around 7:30. Total Meltdown by 8:30.

I have basically been in bed my whole pregnancy. I have not been keeping up with the housework.(understatement) I have been pretty useless. But I do get up to do the laundry, and try to get a handle on things every once in a while, or at least yell at the kids to get their stuff done. Come on, I have a husband and 3 grown children that are perfectly capable of keeping things together if they have the smallest inkling. But Wendell has been sick himself and dealing with the sick children that I can't deal with. And the other kids just don't care.

There are certain things you don't notice when you are holed up in your room. Like the stove with caked on egg, brownie, etc. because you have been letting your 11 year old cook without supervising cleanup.(not to mention the micro, but we won't go there;) And tons of stuff under the entertainment center and couch. And all of the stuff piled on top of the entertainment center, because your children left it there when you asked them to pick up the family room. And tissue, paper, tooth brushes, etc. chewed up by your idiot dog. And the piles of dust. And your floors that haven't been done because you have been trying to get ready for the beach, going to the beach, and then getting deathly ill right after you get back from the beach.

Then there is stuff encrusted all over the island. And a box of kitchen things on the floor because you haven't unpacked it yet. And bags of groceries (non perishable) that haven't been put away. And misc. school supplies. Etc.

Anyhow, I just wasn't up for it. I couldn't do it. There was too much to do. The house is not fit for human habitation. Seriously. I can't even stand up for very long these days before I get dizzy. I am twice the size I should be right now, have trouble breathing and hyperventilating, and am showing serious signs of preeclampsia(which I had with Brenley). And the dizziness makes me hurl.

I am looking at basically two rooms that I cannot even make marginally livable. And I sat on my kitchen floor and lost it. Causing my 2 year old to panic. And pat my face and ask if I am O.K and can she please kiss it better? Parents shouldn't lose it in front of their kids.

I googled the rate of survival for a 28 week old fetus. I think I am willing to chance it. O.K not really. I'll have to give her a few more weeks.

I am not coming out of my room for the rest of the day. My kids are in for some serious work tonight.

The Format's Back! Woo Hoo

O.K not exactly. But Nate is, and to me that amounts to pretty much the same thing. Some of you know that I dig a good concert. I love a good Killers concert, and Jimmy Eat World can always get me moving. but Format concerts are my favorite!

I was pretty sad when they split up. I could still listen to their music, but it just isn't the same thing. And knowing there would be no more new music was pretty depressing.

But I just found out that Nate (lead singer) has formed a group with two other guys. They start recording next month, and will release a new album later this year. I was able to listen to a demo, and I am impressed. Hopefully I will be hitting a fab concert right about the time I start losing this baby weight. Motivation, anyone?...

The Belly Hole and the Earth Quake

If any of you have been huge and pregnant at the beach, you may have figured out this little trick. I know I learned it from one of my sisters when I was pregnant with my first summer baby 10 years ago. you dig a hole in the sand roughly the size of your belly. Then you cover it with your beach blanket or towel, and voila, you can miraculously lay flat on your belly comfortably.

(Kindyl)(Mitchell and Connor digging what could be my belly hole, but isn't;)

So I am laying there in the sand, reading my book, feeling almost normal.(my niece Janee came up to me and said,"wow, Sherry, you look a lot skinnier when you lay in that hole." Thanks Janes;) I am thinking to myself, "why can't someone come up with a bed designed like this so pregnant women can sleep comfortably on their bellies?" While I am telling myself how impractical it would be to own a bed you can only use for a few months, it starts to feel like someone is shaking my bed. You know what I mean. Like you are in bed and one of your kids come up and bounces your bed a little bit. I lift my head up and look around a little bit, knowing darn well that no one could be shaking the ground a little bit.


(this is what I look like with my belly in the sand. wow, Janee is right! I look WAYYY skinnier that way!)

I lay back down and it happens again! I look around again and think to myself, "well we ARE in California. It could be an earthquake. If it was it would have to have been very far away." Then I think nothing more of it, go back to reading my book, and even fall asleep a little bit.

A while later my brother in law tells us there was an earthquake in L.A not long ago. Two of my sisters had felt it in their beach chairs. None of us felt anything strong enough to mention it to anyone else. But most of us, especially those in the water, didn't feel a darn thing.

It was the first substantial earthquake (5.4, not really huge)near a major city in CA since 1994.

SO my baby was in the ground during the earth quake. She may have felt it even more than any of the rest of us. Except she was surrounded by fat and amniotic fluid. O.K maybe not;)

Dislaimer: I know this is bugging you, so I will fess up. That picture is not really me. Which you would know if you have seen me recently. Like in the last 5 years or so. I'm pretty sure I didn't really have anyone fooled;)

Two Bugs, One Girl

Yes it gets better. I'm still having trouble with my throat,fever, etc(you're supposed to keep your fever below 100.4 when pregnant. Using Tylenol. I'm supposed to live in a cold bath, I think) and then last night I started seriously throwing up. You'd think I would be used to it, but this is different than pregnancy hurling. It is more...violent. And I can't keep my antibiotics down. Did I mention hurling past my swollen uvula is no fun?

Yeah, two bugs! How is this possible? Shouldn't they duke it out for the privilege of residing in my body, resulting in one clear winner? How many more can I get at one time? Why am I the only one in my family this is happening to?

Today: 3 open houses/meet the teachers for three kids in three different schools. And one husband in meetings all day.woo hoo!Oh yeah, and three kids wondering when the heck they are going school shopping. Hmm...

Germ House

Our house is not the healthiest place to be right now.

My swollen uvula is still intact making me have a constant gagging sensation at all times, accompanied by some serious head/throat/neck pain and a fever. Let's not forget that I caught this fun bug from Wendell who is still dealing with it and trying to work and take care of our sickly family. I can't figure out if I am just a way bigger wimp right now, or if regular bugs are seriously a lot worse when you are pregnant. Usually when Wendell gets sick it skips right past me. My immune system is always a little compromised when I am preg.

I have been on antibiotics for two days, and have seen no improvement. I'm afraid it must be darn virus. Shoot.

I am having a hard time keeping my hands off of the strong medication I have been prescribed for my migraines. Do normal people seriously take care of this kind of pain with just plain Tylenol? It's not cutting it for me. And ibuprofen is a no no.

Then, Monday night, Wendell and I wake up at 2:00 in the morning to Brenley puking and screaming. I am in no shape to deal with it, or even help. Usually when this happens, one of us will bathe the child while the other changes the bedding and starts the laundry. This time I lay in bed unable to really move my head while I listen to Wendell do it all. Then, at around 4:00, I listen to the whole thing again. Poor Wendell. Poor Brenley.

The next day (yesterday) Bren throws up a couple more times in the morning. Rachael complains she is nauseated in the afternoon, and I tell her she is just trying to get out of her work. Around five we get a call asking for Rachael to come babysit. As I look for her to ask if she is up to it, I hear retching. Great. Rachael is not a fun hurler.

Long story short, Rachael and Brenley are hurling, Mom can't move much and Dad is still sick. Kindyl and Mitchell are our slaves.

So, when are we going school shopping? When are we going to get the kids to the dentist? When are the girls going to get their before school haircuts. I don't know.

Can we postpone school for a week?;)

Bren's love affair with the dirt..er..sand!

( She would try to talk anyone she could into burying her. Those cute Dunyon boys often took pity on her)

Brenley has always been the least wimpy of my children. The beach is no exception. When Mitchell was her age, he was afraid of the sand. He spent one whole day just sitting on his beach chair. Wouldn't even get off and touch it. Bren is pretty much the opposite.

The child got very little sleep this trip. It was hard for her to sleep in the tent trailer without her own bed. Then she would wake during the night. Then wake up at the crack of dawn, announcing to the world, "Hey mom, get up! It's light outside! See? See mom? It's light!" Lovely.

(Babies in a hole with water at the bottom. This kept them entertained for hours!)

"light" tended to come too early for my huge pregnant body that was really only meant to sleep on my comfy bed at home.

(No she's not sleeping. Just kind of hugging the sand. Silly girl.)

Because Bren was getting a good three or four hours less sleep a day (no nap either) You would think she would either be asleep or a basket case after a few hours on the beach. Nope. She dug it. The whole time. She consistently spent 5-7 hours a day happily playing in the sand and the water. O.K, sometimes the water,mostly the sand. And often a combination of both.


Then when it was time to go, she happily showered off, got baby powdered down, and got dressed. None of my other kids did that! They would squirm and complain. But Brenley really does like to be clean. Which is funny when you see how much she really enjoys the sand. Silly baby.

She promptly falls asleep in the car on the way back to camp. Wakes up after 30 minutes to an hour, and is then cranky most of the evening. Leading some adults to think she is just the crankiest baby ever. Poor Bren gets a bad rap.

I promise I took pictures of the other kids too. Coming up!

Fun at the Campsite!

(the kids playing scrabble) ( Rach doing Brenley's hair)
These are some wild and crazy kids!

The kids love camping with their cousins. Do I love camping? Not so much. I used to. But it really entails a whole lot of work these days. A ton of laundry, because I don't like to do laundry while we are at the beach. What a waste of time. So Wendell and I and each of the kids have to have pj's, bathing suits, cover ups, and an outfit for 9 days. Church clothes for Sunday. And it all has to be clean before we go.



(they're not really moving;) (the littles "observing" the snails. Fun!)


And then everything that goes with living in the tent trailer for more than a week. packing up the kitchen, bedding, shampoo etc.,hair things, misc. toiletries. for everyone. and beach chairs, cabanas, umbrellas, beach towels. You get the picture.

(Kylee chillin' with the babies) (hangin'around the camp fire)

Anyhow, I have said before. This "vacation" involves a week of work before, a week of work during, and a week of work afterword. And all of the mental anguish involved when you try to get a very disorganized person to organize this whole vacation. By the time I get in the car to drive to CA, my feet are throbbing.And that is with Wendell doing all of the heavy lifting! BY the time I get into the car to drive home, my feet are throbbing.

(posin') (watchin' a vid in the tent trailer)


But, I love love love the beach. My parents are both from southern California, and always loved the beach. My mother used to take all 11 of us kids camping at the beach for three weeks with my dad flying in when he could. And all of the grand kids love it too. I think it may be genetic!There is something so magical about sitting in the sun with the wind in your face and a book in your hand. (pics on the beach tomorrow)

9 days without sweating: priceless.

Swollen Uvula? What!

Before you get too excited, your uvula is the little hanging thing in the back of your throat. You know, the one that you see vibrating when Disney charecters sing really loud. The word comes from the Latin word meaning "little grape", because apparently that is what they thought it looked like. Well that isn't what mine looks like right now!

So I woke up this morning unable to talk. Or really even breathe really well. SOmething is blocking my throat and it hurts like heck. I haven't had tonsils since I was 3, so I ask Wendell to take a look. My first thought is that my tonsils have mysteriously regrown themselves. Yes, it was that early in the morning;) It isn't my non existant tonsils. There is a perfectly good explanation.

My uvula is so swollen, it is blocking my throat. What the heck! How does this happen? So I googled swollen uvula. Apparently the most common cause is a long night of drinking and smoking, followed by dehydration and loud snoring. Sound like me?;)

The next is a bacterial or viral infection. Well, Wendell has been battling what he thought was another case of tonsilitis the whole time we were in CA. Fun. But he managed to transfer it to me around Friday. It started with a little sore throat. By Saturday night when we got home from CA, I had such a huge headache that I took some serious drugs. When those drugs wore off, I was left with a massive headcold. This is a ton of fun to deal with when trying to unpack and deal with everything left after a week of camping. Things to do, had to push through it.


Have you ever had a swollen uvula? Were you even familiar with the word? The only reason I even know it is because I have a sister who had major issues with it after she broke her nose. She couldn't even eat normally for a long time. If I remember correctly, she lost some stubborn weight. Somehow I don't think that will happen to me;)

So now I need to get over it. The kids start school in a week, and I refused to deal with it until after our CA trip. So now I have a ton of things to do! And I don't really function well on a good day lately. Hopefully it is something bacterial, and I can get some antibiotics.

Coming next, fun post about California! Woohoo!