Families are Forever

On the 15th we woke up and got ready for family pictures and of course G was taking his sweet time showering when there were 5 other people who needed to use the same bathroom...annoying!  But here are some of the pictures of Mr H.'s side of the family.  His family includes older sister (CC), husband (RC), son (R), and daughter (N).  He has a younger sister (SB), husband (S), and son (M).  And we can't forget Mr H.'s mom, Grandma Ruth!

 

Once the pictures were taken we needed to get G right to school, but before that he needed to go back to his apartment to change and grab his school stuff.  Once at the school, G had missed 3 classes and Mr H. wanted to meet and talk with G's wrestling coach.  Unfortunately, he wasn't available, but he got his phone number and called him later on that day, and left a message.

My sister, her husband, Mr H., and I went to Mesa around 4ish.  This was a very exciting time.  Mr H. and I were going to the temple to be sealed and to become a forever family.  Now, let me pause for a second and explain in my own words what a sealing is.  When a couple gets married, in a church, justice of peace, or in a backyard, they are married "until death you do part."  My interpretation for this is that once a person dies, they are no longer together, they're "parted."  This would sadden me if I was not able to be with my family when I die.  In the LDS temple there are ordinances that are performed which are sacred...not secret, but sacred.  One of those ordinances is a sealing ceremony, where we are married for "all time and eternity."  This ordinance helps to ensure that once we die, we will be with our family (if you have more questions about this please ask and I ill do my best to answer them).

After the temple we went to this pizza place called Organ Stop.  It has wonderful pizza, but people don't go there for the pizza...it's the entertainment.  One person plays the organ and is responsible for all of the other instruments associated with the song he is playing, such as "who let the dog's out."  This place has been openedfor 40 years and they were having a sale of 1 appetizer, 2 pizzas, and 2 pitchers of drinks for $40.  We all had a great time and ate really yummy food and listened to great music. 

 My lovely sister, RR, and her hubby. 

 KK loved the music and loved watching the guy play the organ.

We stayed until close and it was worth it.  Afterwards, we met up with Mr H.'s friends who is a Southwest airlines pilot.  He was all over the continental USA that day and had just gotten off of work.  It was great meeting him and talking, but I was getting very tired.  KK had already fallen asleep in my arms.  We didn't get home until almost midnight...which was 3am Ohio time.  It was a long but great day!

Mmm...chocolate

Woke up on the 14th and THIS little fellow was in the kitchen light.  It was running around as CC was trying to make breakfast.  It kinda grossed her out and she ran upstairs to get her husband to deal with it.  This is how he dealt with it...in a ziplock container!

 

 

 The boys were so happy to see and hold the containers.  They were debating back and forth as to who was going to throw the lizard over the wall and I told them I was, R was ok with it, but KK, now he was upset!

Even holding him like a baby didn't help!  He was really upset about it.

 After the lizard was thrown over the wall, we got ready to go to a chocolate shoppe.  The older boys went shooting on SB's father in law's property.  So the girl's and the kids went to a place called Cerreta's.  Walking into the shoppe, you can just smell the melted chocolate.  It was amazing!

Once we were done tasting and buying chocolate we went back to CC's and packed up to go to SB's, Mr H.'s little sister's house.  Since the boys were out shooting, I had to pack everything up myself...which stunk, but figured that would happen. 

At SB's, her husband made an awesome speghetti dinner.  Before the meal was made Mr. H and I had to go pick up G so he could spend the night because we were taking family pictures in the morning.  Once we got back, we ate, talked, and had some fun until everyone went to bed!

From Z to A in AZ

August 13th it was 116 degrees in Phoenix and we went to the Zoo, yeah I don't think we thought it through enough. It felt like a toaster oven but frozen water bottles were packed for us to stay hydrated. And again, CC came to the rescue with her coupons and was able to knock off some of the price which was awesome. Once we got to the zoo we saw tons of anmals including elephants, birds, tortoise, monkeys, and much much more.

 

 

 

 

 We had to get a picture with KK next to a cactus.  Isn't he sooo cute!?

 

R and KK looking at the bird.  This bird was funny.  It had a dead fish that he was just playing with it, putting it in his mouth and flipping it in the air...letting it sink then retrieving it...it was funny until another bird came by and took it from him and ate it in one swallow, then it was hilarious! 

They likes to find this stone creatures all over the zoo and sit on them and wait for us to take a picture.



Just some trees I photographed.  The sun was shining so brightly!

 

These flamingo's feathers were all ruffled and it looks to funny!  There was one flamingo that was sitting on an egg.  She stood up and we could see the egg, it was really neat!

There was an area where we could be inside the habitate with the monkeys.  They were so tiny and cute. There was one who was laying on a branch in front of a mister and he was falling alseep and trying to get comfortable but he would start falling out of the branch.  It really was very cute!

This orangutan loved KK and R.  He was following them around and touching the glass to them.  For some reason I thought that the orangutan was sad.  His daughter and her mother were in another section of the zoo and I would have to wonder if maybe they should be together or if that was the reason behind his saddness?

After going through the zoo there was a little splash pad for the kids to play in.  Which was good because, did I mention that it was HOT that day!? 

 On the way back to CC's house KK fell right asleep, he was a tired boy.  I made sure that KK was well hydrated with snacks too, but I think I neglected myself because I started getting sick to my stomach...like I was going to throw up.  I was still sweating, even in the air conditioned car!  I was really sick.  Mr H. was very concerned and told me to drink water and eat something.  Did you know that cold water will hydrate you faster than warm water!?  Yeah, learned that on The Dr's. 

My sister, RR and her husband flew into PHX soon after we came back from the zoo.  I was still so sick that Mr H. told me to rest and he would pick them up.  I'm glad he did because once I saw RR and her husband I was feel much better.  I took a cool shower, I wished that it was colder but in AZ even the cold water comes out hot...it's weird!

KK missed his aunt and didn't want to share her with R.  It was a wonderful day!

Black Canyon Ward

Since church didn't start until 11 Mr H.'s family wanted to go out for breakfast.  We went to one place and it was jammed packed...they said the wait would be a half hour and after 45 mins, I was getting very hungry and we decided to go to Ihop, since we don't have that here (or at least anywhere close to us).  We were crunched for time since we had waited so long at the other place that once we sat down at Ihop (which wasn't crowded at all!) we ordered food.  KK wanted Mac n Cheese, for some strange reason.  I ordered this omlette and pancake meal and it was so delicious!  Once we scarfed our meals down and took off to church.  We were late for sacrament meeting, but we caught the last two speakers.  One speaker had the same talk as my father had a couple weeks ago about single parents.  It was wonderful to hear.  There is a huge concern for those single parents in the church, I have been there I know how it is and to have the General Authorities talk about it to let the other members of the church that we need love and support too.  It was great. 

KK was a little nervous to go to a new class for primary but I knew that he would be alright once he warmed up to everyone.  Sunday school for Mr H. and I was in the chapel.  He was able to see a lot of his old buddies from church.  His old bishop just came back from a mission with his wife, they were in Nauvoo, Il.  We were so excited to see everyone even though I didn't remember anyone. 

Relief Society was nice and eye opening.  The woman teaching was a little older but looked very healthy and able-bodied, but she spoke about how she needed to put her husband in a nursing home because she couldn't take care of him any more.  She did not go into any detail about it but she would visit him everyday and she didn't think the aids or nurses there really cared about her husband.  Or at least they weren't taking care of him the way that SHE would take care of him.  She felt that "no one cared".  Basically towards the end of the talk she said that's a horrible way of looking at it...because there is someone who cared.  Our Heavenly Father ALWAYS cares about what is going on in our lives and he is NOT a nobody.  And her lesson was EXACTLY what I needed.  When I thought that the temple cancellation was not going to take place, I told the stake president that "no one cared" about me and that I didn't feel that I was part of the flock.  And that was wrong of me to say and think.  I know that Heavenly Father loves and cares about me and I am a part of HIS flock.  It's pretty amazing that it took me 1850 miles away from home to realize that.  It seems simple enough...but sometimes we all need to be inspired in different ways and I was inspired by this lesson and as she was planning and thinking about this lesson she probably didn't know that she was planning this especially for me!  It was great, great service, great lesson, great support from that ward. 

Octopuses or Octopi?

On Saturday when we woke up earlier than everyone else.  Remember that Ohio is 3 hours ahead, so even though we woke up at 7:30am Arizona time, it was actually 10:30am Ohio time.  KK kept asking me why RC, his cousin, was such a sleepy head.  I laughed, because I know that KK and RC had been attached at the hips since we arrived.  I made cereal for breakfast for us. 

It was around lunch by the time the rest of the family woke up.  So we ate left-vers from dinner last night.  Grandma Ruth arrived and we helped to watch the kids while CC showered and got herself ready.  Once we were all ready we hopped into the cars and started driving to the Phoenix aquarium.

Phoenix is such a large city and it takes a while to get from one place to another and after traveling the day before and Mr H.'s mom is the kind of driver how is a lead foot and very heavy on the brakes, I was just wanted to be done driving.

 Do you see that sandstorm...or haboob, as Mr H. says!?

 The aquarium was inside a mall...it was so cool.  CC is just like me and tried to save money and she had some coupons for getting the children in for free and buy one get ones.  It costed Mr. H and I about $20 for him, me, KK, and G.  Yes, G was with us for the weekend.  I had mixed feelings about him being with us.  It was nice to see him and see how much taller and broader he has gotten, but at the same time I was afraid of him misbehaving.  But I sort of had to put it behind me and stay impartial and make the most of the trip.

At the aquarium there was a ton of things to look at, they even had a petting place where you could pet starfish and shrimp!  At first I didn't know if I should let KK touch any of it because he is allergic to Tuna and Cod fish, but the allergist said the stay away from all seafood because he can develop an allergy.  But he's been to the ocean and had a fine time...just as long as he is not eating it and I clean his hands off real good...right!? 

KK plunged his hand right into the water...RC was a little hesitant. 

 He LOVED chasing the shrimp...he would stick his finger out and chase them all over the pool.  It was so funny to watch him.  He could have stayed there all day!

There was this room full of fish that were swimming around in a circle and there was a section where you could stick your head through and see from the inside.

There was a little cubby where KK could look at the fish

 For some reason they wanted to put their arms in their shirts.  Do you see that huge fish on the left?

KK fell in love with this sea turtle.  He just sat there for a good 10 mins just watching it swim.

 KK was scared to even get close to those shark teeth so I had to drag him over to get a some-what decent picture of him

 This shark had scared KK too.  We walked through a tunnel that had 360 degrees of water around us.  It was pretty cool

 After we were done looking around the aquarium there was a playplace.  This is the newest nephew M.  He was born in November.

Before we left, KK saw a penny machine, where it smashes the coin and puts an image on it, and so we HAD to do that...it costed a whopping 51 cents and well worth it. 

Once we got back out to the car, the car was covered in dust, from the haboob.  It getting pretty late and we were hungry so we stopped by McDonald's because I was craving a Hot n' Spicy because they do not sell them here in Ohio.  So we ate the food while we drove to where Mr H. used the race BMX, but no one was at the race track.  Which was a disappointment for Mr H. because he wan't to introduce me to his BMX "family".  Maybe next time!? 

It was really late by the time we got home and we were tuckered but we stayed up and tried to watch a comedy with CC and RC but Mr H. fell asleep and I decided that it was time to go to bed especially since we needed to wake up eary for church in the morning.

And so it begins...

Our family has been planning a family vacation since the beginning of this year.  We used our tax return money to buy 3 round trip tickets to Phoenix, AZ.  When we planned our trip we didn't know what Mr H.'s summer school schedule would be, so we planned for later in the summer.  After buying the tickets, we realized that KK started school during the middle of our vacation...he would miss 3 days of school.  It bummed me out a bit because, well, it just did!  Then about a month before our vacation our flights were cancelled.  Since our AZ family were already planning for us to be there from August 10 through August 18 we just booked the flights again for the same time. 

One thing that we wanted to do in AZ was to get sealed.  Mesa temple is so beautiful.  Mr H. and I visited the temple and did ordinances for the dead when I went out there 3 years ago.  So Mesa is just a special temple for us.  But before we can be sealed, I need a cancellation of my 1st sealing to X.  We tried to cancel it 2.5 years ago, before Mr H. and I were married but that fell through.  We tried to cancel again and thought we were on the right track until 2 weeks ago.  The Stake President told us that the papers weren't even sent yet!  Wait what!?  We gave them the paperwork 2 and a half months ago!  Anyway, after many tears and frustrated talks with family, friends, and church leadership I just figured it wasn't going to happen, but the Stake President tried pulling some strings and made some phone calls and we just waited.

I was getting nervous the closer the vacation got.  I get nervous and anxious about things that are big.  Taking vacations, starting a different schedule, spending a lot of money, etc.  So I was super nervous about the trip...what if they thought I was fat?...the time zone change...not packing enough...packing too much...forgetting something...losing KK at the airport.  Needless to say, I had about a million different things running through my head. 

The night before our vacation, amid the chaos of packing and taking the animals to my parents house we got a call from the Stake President, everything went through for the temple and we could go to his house and pick up the living ordinances.  WE COULD GET SEALED!  There is a letter that is sent from the first presidency showing that it was approved and since we would not get that letter, the first presidency called the temple and told them that we were approved and a letter was faxed to the temple.  I don't really know how that made me feel...it's been such a sensitive subject for me that I was just grateful for it to be done.  Before I fell asleep I wanted to look at the living ordinances that we picked up from the Stake President to make sure that everything was correct and it's a good thing I did because I saw that the stake president forgot to sign the papers!  EEEK!  We are leaving tomorrow, I would have to call him right at 8am.

While Mr H. was at work for a couple of hours, I called the stake president and let him know that the papers weren't signed.  He was very surprised that he forgot and repeatedly thanked me for checking them.  He came over to my house and signed them before we left.  As I was packing up I realized that I forgot that my mom had KK's health insurance cards from when she picked up his prescription.  So we needed to go to her work to pick those up before we could leave for the airport.

We were on our way to the airport after stopping by mom's work.  I was getting really nervous because of the flight and trip.  No reason really to be nervous, I just was. 

Our first layover was in Detriot. That's a HUGE airport! There was a water fountain that KK just loved and couldn't get enough of. He just wanted to touch the cool water. It was really neat...until he started making a mess!

I slept most of the time on the second flight.  KK was good Mr H. said.  They both played on the ipad, which was a great investment.  Mr H. was also able to track the flight and use his aeronautical GPS.  He was excited about that. 

In Arizona the heat was evident.  When waiting for Mr H.'s younger sister, SB, to pick us up I could feel the sweat dripping down my face and back.  It was kinda gross.  Once picked up, we were taken to Mr H.'s older sister's, CC, home.  This is where we would stay for a couple of nights, in their spare bedroom.  Dinner was great.  CC's husband, RC grilled chicken, ribs, and steak, corn on the cob was served along with salad.  It was great to see everyone, but after dinner I was so tired that I went right to sleep. 

As swift as an Arrow

For a couple of weeks KK has had bloody noses everyday, sometimes twice a day.  I've been worried about him and meant to call the doctor about it, but always remember after the office closes for the day. 

During the week of July 30th KK took swimming lessons.  He has learned a lot and can swim in the deep end by himself, although, I never let him swim by himself yet...I have been so proud of him.  August 2nd was the last day of swim lessons and during his lesson, KK had a bloody nose, which reminded me to call his doctor right away for an appointment, which would be later that day. 

After swim lessons KK was very clingy and cuddly.  I just thought it was because the water was so cold and he was trying to warm up.  I thought the inside of the car would be warmer, I suggested to go in there.  He told me that he couldn't walk and needed to be carried...now he is a whopping 45 pounds, he's getting to the point where I can't carry him very much.  I made him walk! 

Once we got home he just flopped onto the couch. I thought his behavior was a little odd, but let him lay naked with a blanket covering him while I washed the dishes. He started moaning and saying that he didn't feel well, he felt hot to me. Soon after, he said he needed help to the bathroom. I fetched a bowl and I helped him onto the toilet. He had major diarrhea and I set the bowl down to steady him because he was very dizzy and that's when it happened...VOMIT all over me! Grateful for having a closed mouth, but vomit everywhere on me, the floor, and walls. Yes, THE walls! I was surprised for keeping my composure because I am a sympathetic puker.

After he finished vomiting, I started a warm shower and I placed him in there.  He couldn't stand.  He just layed there on the floor.  I washed him and myself as best as I could.  I let him stay in there until I was dried off and had clothes on.  I had to bend down to pick him up...and he's getting so heavy! 

 Since he was saying that he was so cold I tried dressing him up in long soft pants.  By the time I put those on him, he was asleep.  I didn't want to disturb him.  For some reason your parents bed/bedroom makes things feel better...nightmares or being sick, have you ever noticed that?

 Since I had the original doctors appt scheduled for them to look into the nose bleeds I decided to just take him in for this illness that came as swift as an arrow and see if the doctor could take a look at his nose.  I was so grateful that I made the doctor's appt earlier. 

My dad was borrowing my car because their car took a turn for the worst.  I had called Mr H. to let him know what was going on and to ask if he would be able to get off earlier from work to take us to the appt.  No Luck!  I called my dad because sometimes he is able to get off early and to my great surprise, he was actually off work!  I let him know what was going on and he was so concerned.  He came over right away with my car to help me out.  KK was also given a Priesthood Blessing.  I packed up the stroller to take to the appt so I didn't have to carry him, plus it would give KK a smoother ride, especially with an upset tummy. 

Dad drove, I stayed in the back to help with KK.  He had thrown up another 2 times before we headed to the doctors and again in the waiting room...luckily I brought the bowl.  Dad had called mom and told her what was going on, she left work and came right over to the doctor's office to help (you couldn't tell KK is loved, huh!?), she even offered to help me clean the bathroom.  I love my parents, I am so lucky.

KK threw up, yet again, before he saw the doctor.  If you're counting...that's 5 times in less than 3 hours.  KK had a throat swab and it was determined that he has strep throat.  I learned that strep throat comes on all of a sudden.  The doctor said that she suspected strep throat before she even saw him because of the sudden onset of symptoms.  I will have to take that little tid-bit of info and put it in my back pocket for another day!  Also, the doctor did look at his nose and it was found that KK has an extremely thin septum and it has lots of capillaries.  So anytime he picks his nose, bumps it, or thinks about a bloody nose...he will have one.  She told me that cauterizing actually thins his septum more and can risk a perforated septum.  She also said that as he grows hopefully his septum will too and that if his bloody nose lasts longer than 10 mins without starting to clot than go to the hospital. 

I am so grateful that I had that stroller because after vomiting 5 times, KK fell asleep and if it weren't for already being in the stroller I would have had to disturb him by picking him up, which could have made him throw up again and I didn't want that!  After the appt dad rode back with mom while I took KK home.  My parents picked up KK's prescription and popsicles for him.  I don't know what I would do without them!  Thanks mom and dad!  KK is much better now!