Emma has been super busy as well (I wonder where she gets it?? Bwahahaha)
Here's a quick sum up of her comings and goings as of late...
* She finished her first semester of college with flying colors over summer semester. She is continuing her college courses this fall - along with being a Sophomore in High school. She has two EdNet (live interactive) college courses this semester and one AP class. It is TONS of work, and she really wants to do it, but sometimes really just wants to be a teenager and hang out with her friends. It's tough, but she is being so responsible about it and learning a lot of time management skills. We feel really proud of her, but try to not be too proud because we want her to do this on her own if she wants it - it's entirely up to her ;)
* Emma is serving as the Mia Maid President at church and loves the girls in her class. She prays for them often and is just so sweet about it.
* Em earned her Young Women's Personal Progress Medallion in July (me too!!) It was fun to receive it together and to reflect on how much we have grown together. She has been such a motivating factor for me to get mine alongside her, and it has been worth every minute! When I was being interviewed by the Bishopric member about my experience and about how it has changed my own relationship with the Savior my heart filled to overflowing and my eyes filled up with tears... I hadn't realized just how important my role as a mother is to help my children feel, recognize and develop a relationship with the Savior. I realize that I am His greatest ally when it comes to my kids. It was profound moment as a Mom. Emma is excited to move on to earn her Honor Bee next, and has already completed over 40 hours of service helping Cody with his Eagle Scout Project. She restarted reading the Book of Mormon.
* She is still in love with piano, though with her schedule she is self teaching at the moment. She loves Drama and is the same Drama class as Cody. She chose Drama this year as opposed to Choir. She realized she didn't have time for it all. She looks forward to attending the Shakespeare Competitions in Cedar City next month. Cody is in Shakespeare and she gets to go cheer him on. She also wants to get a mask! (see below)
* Em is screaming up on Sixteen! She has her learner's permit and loves to practice, though the freeway has not been yet attempted. Her Mom and Dad are trying to save up to get her through Driver's Ed in the next few months. She was asked to Homecoming last week. She was so conflicted! Before her Dad and I could even discuss it and make a decision, she made it herself. She decided that it was the right thing to do to follow the standards she knows are for her own good and she told him no. He was a good friend, and was somewhat relieved she said no --- he didn't realize she was not 16 yet and was sick about making her choose! He has agreed to be her escort for her Masquerade...
* Yep. Masquerade. We are throwing her a Sweet Sixteen party and her theme is a masque (hence the mask shopping at the Shakespeare Festival.) We have a cousin who is a DJ and he is going to come make it a good time! We found Emmy a formal gown in California and she just picked up her shoes the other night on our way to Millie's wedding. It should be an event to be remembered!
We are so thankful to have her in our family! She is Mom's best friend, Cody's best friend, and we all just love her to bits! She helps to keep our busy family going whenever she has time and without her her Momma would be lost!
WHEW! That last semester was a doozey! Especially considering my last post was in January! LOL
I will be adding posts and dating them when they happened chronologically, but truth be told my last post was about the anniversary of my sweet Grandma's passing and her photo LOL
So... here's an update:
Jestin took two college classes this last semester (his first ones back to school since his Electrical studies) over 12 years ago. Math was TORTURE. We spent HOURS working problems together... up until midnight on the nights he didn't have class trying to meet homework deadlines. His professor was VERY difficult/demanding when it came to due dates... and for a student who worked full-time as well as attended classes at night {and did side jobs every free moment} - let's just say - it was ALL we could do to keep him caught up! I joked that that was all we did as a family for the last 4 months: eat, sleep, school and homework. All of us. LOL It was C.R.A.Z.Y. Jes also took a Health class and aced it. He really enjoyed it. But I can't even tell you how relieved he was to be done.
My semester was good... I took my Math 1050 class (got an A-), and a Library Research class (got an A) and Intermediate Spanish (got a B+... conjugating verbs was killing me! Yes... my fluency came back quickly... but my brain just wanted to reword the sentence to say the same thing without having to conjugate LOL it was rough)
I also took a Leadership Mentoring class that I absolutely adored! I was working toward becoming a UVU Mentor and was so excited for it! The week before I needed to turn in my application, I was sitting in class and had this horrible feeling come over me. I cried the whole way home. I fought the feeling and fought the feeling.... I didn't want to NOT apply - this was a HUGE step toward my dream of becoming a professor teaching in the Student Success program (and as a mentor I would be helping to TEACH one of these classes!) It made no sense to me, and so I refused to ask if I should not apply when saying my prayers. But I already knew. Finally I asked. Yep. The answer was "not at this time". I was devastated. The day before the application was due, I got a text from the head of the Student Success Dept. He had heard that I was not going to apply...
He had been in our class "observing" my professor on a day when I taught the class - we had to teach the class twice during this semester to practice the skills we were learning to become a mentor. He told me that I did an excellent job, and that I was an excellent candidate for the UVU Mentor program and he asked to me to apply. I told him that I wanted to - very badly - but that I knew the time was right for me to apply... but maybe next spring I would apply. He told me that he admired my following what was right for me in my life and that he would look forward to my applying and that if I wanted to be involved in the program at all next year just for experience to come see him.
I couldn't believe it! The guy who some day could be my "boss" took the time to send ME a personal text, asking me to apply, and thought I would be a great candidate! I was stunned. And tickled. And It comforted my heart - as I was a little afraid Heavenly Father was telling me no because I wouldn't do a good job! LOL
Anyway... I still get a little disappointed when I really think about it - I really wanted to do this! And to do it with the kids I trained with would be awesome... but I think I know one of the reasons why the answer was "the time is not right"...
Two weeks before the UVU semester ended, Emma and I met with her academic counselor. Long story short... she is a high honor student and had specific goals for her future. Even though she is only going to be a sophomore next year, he suggested a program that her school offers. We did some research, jumped through a bunch of hoops... and 2 weeks later my baby girl had a UVU student ID in her hot little hands. (*sniff*) She participating in a program called "EdNet"... she takes college courses through video conference at her school. If she stays on course, she will graduate with not only her high school diploma... but also her associates degree! :) She is super excited. And super stressed out. It is a HUGE change. But she is up for the challenge ;)
So now... that makes 3 college students in our household! *gulp*
I think that as the mom and the scheduler, with 3 college students, plus 3 regular students... I will have my hands happily full.... and being a UVU mentor would require more than I should probably give while Em is adjusting and Jes is as well. :) It will all be good. And I can "mentor" my own little nestlings *grin*
So... enough about college life...
Cody is doing fantastic in school as well. He came home with a High Honor Roll certificate. He is taking honors math track and if he keeps up with it he will be done with calculus at the end of high school. He is also working on getting his Eagle Scout project completed this summer. He is Senior Patrol leader and Deacons Quorum President. He is a busy young man. He loves listening to music and reading the newspaper.
Cameron has been busy in school as well. He gets really good grades and loves to hang out with his best friend Tyler everyday he can. He took basketball classes this spring. He has also been a great friend to Caleb... they do almost everything together. He loves being an 11-year old scout and was really sad to miss his first overnight campout tonight - He has been home most of the week with his first really bad asthma attack in months.
Caleb was baptized this month. It was a wonderful event (I am sure you saw the post) He is so very excited for summer and the freedom to play and play and play. He still struggles some with his reading, but we are going work really hard on it this summer and see if we can't get him back on track :) Caleb still loves his sandbox, and his newest passion is water balloons. He is SUPER excited to go to Seven Peaks water park over and over, and go on hikes, and have his friends come for a week, and go to San Fransico over the Fourth of July & Six Flags!
And so... we are gearing up for summer!!!
Time to plan some fun, some work, some service and some memories! What about all of you? What are your big plans for the 3 months of freedom ahead of us???? :)
It's been a while.
I mean a long while.
I have every excuse in the book to list why I am not posting and keeping up on this blog of ours... but none really do it justice. I truly have just let other things take precedence.
And that is ok too I suppose. :)
Here are some quick highlights from our household... and hopefully I will get the past posts with pictures up asap ;)
Cam started coughing last week. We kept him home from school Tues-Friday because he just couldn't seem to get enough air. We thought it was more asthma related. I took him to the Dr. on Thursday, and he did not have a fever, and his O2s were ok (thank heavens!), so we continued our regular regime when he is in a flare and went on with life.
We had the Daddy Daughter dinner here on Saturday. *gulp* I was extremely fatigued that night, but that often happens to me... so I just figured it was recourse from a very busy week + school.
We all went to church Sunday morning.
We had been up REALLY late from the party and so the aches and pains that I felt, and Jes felt, and the whiney kids, we just brushed aside.
The longer we sat in church, the worse I felt.
And I started to cough.
So did Caleb.
We decided to go back home after Sacrament Meeting, and only let Emma and Cody stay
(they both felt fine, and had no symptoms)
All our friends tried to shake our hands or hug us, but we shyed away and tried to get out of there as quick as possible!
Within hours Caleb and I were running fevers. Cam as well. Jes had the aches, was weak and pale. He would not allow me to take his temp.
And here we are... almost 4 full days later... Sick... SiCk... SICK!!
Symptoms COLD FLU
Fever Rare * Usually
Aches Slight * Mod-Severe
Chills Uncommon * Fairly Common
Fatigue Mild * Mod-Severe
Coughing Productive * Dry, Unproductive
Sneezing Common * Uncommon
Stuffy Nose Common * Uncommon
Sore Throat Common * Uncommon
Chest Pain Mild-Mod * Often severe
Headache Uncommon * Common
This is a chart issued to us a couple of years back by the CDC. The ones that have stars are all the symptoms we are dealing with.
Cam just barely tried school today. He made it ok... but is pale and weak now. He still coughs, but I am sure he will for weeks. He has not had a fever since Monday.
Emma started with a "tickle in her throat" she said this morning, and refused to stay home from school. This evening she is chilling, headache, coughing etc. The fever just hasn't started yet.
I can't get my fever below 99.8, though it prefers 101-102.6 . Everything hurts. My heart protests and does funny rhythms randomly. We also have had nausea on and off and both boys threw up a couple of times... but I think it was coughing related?
The worst complaints are the aches, the chest pain, the burning cough, and the fatigue.
All in all... It has NOT been a super fun week at our house.
I have missed 3 days of class.
Caleb has missed 4 days so far.
Cam was sick for 8 days.
Jes seems to be fighting it on and off - thankfully he usually doesn't not catch stuff like this
((knock on wood!!!))
Emma will not be going tomorrow.
Cody needs a foster home!
Bwahahahaha
I went out to check on Caleb watching a movie this afternoon and this is what I found:
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| Em's behind the purple feather :) |
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| Emma's glasses are reflecting ;) |
I know. I know. My posts have been few and far between. I have tried to post those with photos as often as I can, but really there is much to say.
First off... have you seen Pintrest ?? Oh. My. I would say I am addicted... but that is a strong word. What I am is tickled, pleased, happy, entertained, and taught. It is a wonderful website where you can link to pictures from your favorite things, projects you wanna do, recipes you wanna try etc. It is basically a glorified "Favorites" button... but your friends can see what you like and learn from you too!
It is super fun... to see and know what my friends are interested in in living color... and see new things.
But the thing I like the very best?
It's not the projects I am dying to try.
It's the not the cute quotes or yummy recipes.
It is the revelations I have found.
I only click on things *I* really like. I don't *have* to like what others like and put them on my boards. It is like a living/changing collage of Me. Heather Dorius. These are things I like, love and am interested in. It is Heather Dorius beyond Mom, Homemaker & Wife. And it is fun. So... I have been there a lot... learning more and more about this person I am.
But! A shpeel on Pintrest is not why you are here... and so...
By way of an us update....
Emmalee turned 14 on the 10th. FOURTEEN!?!?! Can you believe it?? She wanted to go to lunch together (aka - checked out of school) just she and I. So... I checked her out and we went to the Pizza Factory. That evening we had all Jes' family over for cake and icecream. It was a quiet and simple day.
The next day, Vetran's Day, 11/11/11, I let my honor roll student (a.k.a. Emma) play hookie and we went shopping. She had $90 from all the family for her birthday to spend, after paying her tithing. We went to 7Circles - this amazing shop in Orem full of brand new brand name clothing for CHEAP (usually from stores when they only have one or two left of something, or the clothing got a little dirty, or the box is munched ,etc.) - Em got a brand new pair of Sketchers Shape-Ups she has wanted so much for only $28!! (they are $100 shoes!) Then we went to Saver's Vetrans Day sale - all clothing etc was 50% off regular prices. She spent $1-3 dollars on each piece of clothing! She got 3 really nice pairs of jeans, 5-6 shirts, some socks, and another pair of shoes - New Balance! (they don't even look like they have been worn but once - maybe! for only $7!) all for about $35! Then we hit JC Penny's for a real bra. She has been wearing sports bras because she grew so fast! We got her measured and found her a really nice soft fabric bra for only $19 - then the sales lady showed us the same bra in blue and purple for only $6.77 each on clearance - and gave us a discount on the total purchase because they measured her. She only spent $30 for 3 REALLY NICE bras!! It was AMAZING!! She went with a specific list, said a prayer, and we were able to get EVERYTHING she needed from her list!! With a little to spare for a photo shoot of us in the malls camera booth - something she has always wanted to do! :D I just love this kid! She is so much fun!!
Cam's chicken pox are over - if he will quit picking the one pox left on his cheek and in his nose! They are bleeding almost daily! Little pill is going to have a scar! :{ Oh well. He has always been a picker... he just can't stand it! LOL I am not sure if I should take him to church tomorrow if he keeps making it bleed! Do you think he is still contagious from it even though it is past the "scabbed over" stage? Ugh. Anywho... glad that is over! I met with his teacher last week for PT Conferences... Cam is an honor roll student as well. He is leaps and bounds ahead of everyone in his class and LOVES his teacher and has tons of friends. :D So happy for him! He is such a good kid!
Jestin's job is not making ends meet. He has been taking every little side job he can. I feel so sorrowful for him... not because we aren't grateful for the work... but because it irritates that part of his heart that feels like he fails his family as a provider. I wish he could understand that it is NOT him... that there are literally THOUSANDS struggling to make ends meet right now in this depression (sorry... but I don't buy the recession theory LOL) and just because Emma had to ask for $ for her birthday and then use it for her own clothing that she desperately needed, does not reflect on him as a person! She is learning VALUABLE life lessons at an early age... all the kids are... and I am not sure I would trade it for the life of them getting every little thing they want exactly when they need it... know what I mean? Money is NOT all it's cracked up to be!
Cody has had some amazing learning lessons lately. He is maturing and become quite the young man. He just melts my heart. He is loving school, and his interest in photography grows more each day. He is a lady magnet too... we were giggling at the girls fawning over him the other night at the school... especially since he seemed completely oblivious to it! Cracks us up! He is the responsible one in the mornings and makes sure everyone gets up on time. We sure appreciate him! LOL
Caleb is loving school... but he is struggling - hard core. Math? He is a whiz and could do math all day long. Science? Loves it and absorbs it like a sponge. Reading? Nope. He forgets letter sounds, gets frustrated in nano seconds. It is really sorrowful, since last year in the weeks before my stroke he was completely starting to read and doing really well. After the stroke he shut it all down. And he can't seem to access it in his little mind. He's half way through first grade and not reading more than 20-30 words - IF he sounds them out. :( It is really discouraging. They want to get him some extra help and I am considering finding him a child counselor to speak with... wondering if maybe he processes the scary events of that period of our lives he would be able to remember the letters and sounds. ??? Otherwise that little man is perfect! He loves to hang out with friends and build/tear apart anything around him - even the food on his plate! LOL he is a miniature Jestin and it cracks me up!
I am doing well. My emotions have all come back and I feel more like ME than I have in almost a year! Very few residuals show up from my stroke and it is amazing to think where I have been and come from. I have learned how valuable emotions really are. And I also have realized that the thought process of "I have to be strong" or "Have it all together" and never just bursting into tears and FEELING the emotions around us is a ploy of Satans. He doesn't want us to feel the sorrow, frustration, hurt etc. because then we would turn to our Father in Heaven, as we are SUPPOSE to, and be given the light, comfort, love and support He intends for us.
So... here is a little piece of advice from me...
CRY.
Let it out.
FEEL.
It's ok!
You can't have the good without the bad! It's TRUE!!!
And God has SOOO much to offer you when you allow yourself to experience the rollercoaster of emotions that are ours to enjoy.
Now... if you're cryin' because the elastic is shot in your pantyhose... well then... maybe you are following my advice a little too closely (bwahahahahaha) but for heaven sakes! Life is HARD right now! Many of us are struggling harder than we ever have before.... it's ok to let a few tears go! It's ok to sob! It's even ok to Ugly-Cry!! Have you ever NOT felt better after a good long cry?
That's my 2 cents for today. Please stay tuned for further instructions...
*grin*
