Mom's Got the Touch

Yesterday I decided to sit down at the piano for awhile. It doesn't happen very often considering the 4 pairs of extra hands that have a tendency to gravitate toward the keys anytime they hear me playing. Yesterday was no exception. I had made it halfway through a song when Claire's fingers ever so gently started gracing the high notes adding a lovely cantata to what I was playing. I stopped, and removed her hands from the keys and she looked up at me and asked "Sit with you, Mama?" I reluctantly pulled her onto my lap expecting to hear more of her piano stylings but instead she moved my hands to the keys and I started playing. To my amazement she sat there with her hands in her lap just humming her own little melody. After about 5 minutes I noticed that her head was getting heavy. I called Keith in so he could tell me what she was doing. Falling asleep was what she was doing, and believe me she got heavy really fast. Keith was able to get a couple of shots, just ignore my double chin :) I suppose I haven't lost my touch!

Update...

....to the post just below this. We're back from the Dr. and Claire has two very bad ear infections. How Instacare missed that is beyond me. Keith and I are both a little put out. At least now we know what's really wrong and even better than that, we know, thanks to experience, that she should be feeling better within a day or two. Thank goodness :)

Temple Dedication

I'll admit that I was not as excited to attend the dedication as I should have been. I was afraid that Claire would have a fit watching me leave while she's still not feeling well. Now she's complaining that there are "owies" in her ears so it's back to the doctor today. Anyway I hadn't really prepared myself spiritually to be at such a sacred event and just was having trouble gearing up to go. Nonetheless, Keith was on the ball and had arranged our awesome nieces to babysit, so we went.

And of course, I'm glad we did. The main thing that I took away from the experience was something that Pres. Monson said during the dedicatory prayer. He told us to "Pause to Pray and Think to Thank." For some reason those words really struck me. I guess that means I need to take them to heart. Then as we started to sing the "Spirit of God" I couldn't stop the tears. At every dedication I have attended it is when the music for that songs begins that the spirit speaks to me the strongest. The idea that there are thousands of people gathered together in the temple and stake centers all over singing the same words at the exact same time is amazing to me. I'm getting teary eyed again just thinking about it. I was so happy I went, it lifted my spirits and filled my heart with such a measure of joy I can't believe that just a few hours before I was not wanting to go.

Unexpected Event

Last night I had hoped to have a good night in with my family, maybe watch a movie, chill out and enjoy not having anything to do. Boy did it turn into something I had not expected.

Claire started having a runny nose and a small cough on Sunday. We kept her out of nursery to avoid giving it to anyone else. Her symptoms have been hanging on the last few days. Because of the stuffy nose she's had a little trouble breathing while sleeping. Keith and I had one heck of a night on Tuesday staying up with her, sleeping on the floor with her and trying to keep her comfortable.

Then yesterday she took a small nap which is understandable when your not feeling in tip top condition. She woke up a little after 5 pm with a temperature of 104.7. I needed to get her to the Dr. just in time for the Dr. offices to close. So Keith hurried home and I took her to the nearest Instacare. Two hours, two chest x-rays and one breathing treatment later we returned home with a nebulizer and prescription in hand. She has something called bronchilitis. Don't ask me to explain. All I know is that it's viral and I have to give her a breathing treatment every 4 hours that takes about 15 minutes. It's hard to get her to hold still that long, even though she is sick. This will go on for 4-5 days and hopefully we can see her breathing improve. Luckily, she is in good spirits and other than being a tad grouchy, you'd never really know she's not feeling well.

What a great start to the weekend :)

So Excited

So, we finally booked our trip to NYC in June and it's finally starting to feel real. It's amazing how that happens after you shell out big bucks!?! I'd like to enlist some help from you in the blogging world. If you have been to NYC/Palmyra, what do you suggest that I see or think I absolutely cannot miss? And for those of you who dream of going, what have you always wanted to see/do? We have many ideas but only 9 days so give me some food for thought.

A Deer in the Headlights

And on my windshield.

There is also minor damage to the hood of the car, but nothing picture worthy. I'm just a little stiff and sore in the head and shoulders because my head hit the steering wheel. It also hurts to turn my neck. According to the police officer who happened by, it could have been much worse. Luckily there's nothing wrong with me or the car that's not fixable. Stupid deer!!

A Thought...Again

I don't mean to throw another quote at you, but I came across a book my mom gave me that has quite a few good ones that seem to pertain to me. I'm trying to read one a day. I post this mostly as a reminder to me and hopefully to inspire some of you.

"A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take."

On a side note, this thought made me think of my mom (of course) but also my sister Michelle. I love you guys!

Surprise

Or maybe not so much of a surprise. Most of you probably guessed I was getting my hair cut unless you are one of the few who have more creative minds (FYI, I'm not pregnant). So, here's the proof, I chopped it off.

Thanks to Rach for taking the picture. I'm still getting used to it. As the days go by it will probably start to look like I know how to do it. I think it makes my hair look a lot darker.

On another note, Keith and I had tons of fun at the game!! Both the Cougars and the Jazz won so all in all it was a good basketball day. Hope you all had a great weekend!