Prescriptions

Of course my kids just can't get over their illnesses. 

Ciara has been through 4 rounds of antibiotics to get rid of her last ear infection (and the last prescription gave her a reaction).

And now Caden is on round 2 for his latest ear infection.

With Rocky's new job, we had to switch to an individual insurance plan.  His work pays a certain amount each month towards our premium, which makes it work out pretty well. 

The plan we currently have does not have a prescription coverage. 

It would have been and extra $100 per month to be covered (out of our pocket).

None of us are using any prescription on a regular basis, so we decided that it was just a waste.

Even after all the medicine we have needed these past few months, I still know it wouldn't be worth having the coverage.

But still.

Amoxicillian I am OK with.  At Walmart, it is only $4.  But the next antibiotic that we need is $81. 

Why does it have to cost so much?

If it doesn't work, can I bring it back for a full refund?

I would LOVE to see that!

Luckily we have a discount card that saved us $20.

Where do these discount cards come from?

If they are free, then why do I need a card?  Can't you just lower the price?

Obviously, I don't understand our health care system.

And the reason I don't understand it is:

IT MAKES NO SENSE.

Stereotype

I do not enjoy being confronted with stereotypes. 

 Really, I don't think anyone does. 

But it seems that we just can't help but believe them.

As a Mormon, there are MANY stereotypes that people think define me.

I would like to dispel some of these.

1.  I did not grow up in Utah.

2.  I am not a huge fan of the Osmond's (I actually had to google them to get the spelling right).

3.  I am not a Republican.

4.  I am the only wife of my husband (I am amazed to find out how many people actually believe that we are polygamists).

5.  I only have 2 children, and no, I do not plan on having 8.

6.  I am not in love with Mitt Romney.

7.  I do not support Glenn Beck (frankly, he kind of creeps me out).

8.  I once had a nose ring, and I still have tattoos.

9.  I do not consider BYU to be the only option for my kids future college plans.

(I actually worry that my kids will want to go there someday.)

10.  I love Tupac.

Just thought you might like to know!

To Etsy or Not

Since I have taken up crocheting, Rocky has been encouraging me to sell my items on Etsy.  I have gone so far as to create a page, but I have not listed anything on it yet.  

Basically, I am afraid.

I guess I am afraid of failing.  

What if no one buys anything?

What if they buy it and HATE it?

Then I was introduced to the website regretsy, and my fear was increased. 

What if I wind up on regretsy??????

I know that Rocky is just encouraging me to sell my wares to make money.

I think he still harbours hopes that I will be his sugar-mama someday.

I think he is delusional.

OK, I WILL post my stuff on there.  

I WILL get over my fear of failure.

Even if no one buys anything, it still keeps my hands busy, and gives me something to do.

I will let you all know when it is done.

Caden is standing beside me and would like me to tell you that he has stinky bums and stinky brains.  

He thinks this is the epitome of humor.

Eggs

As Ciara and I were running errands on Saturday, she began to ask questions of a delicate nature. 

I am not sure I am ready for this! 

"Mom, how to babies get in the mommies tummies?"

In my head, I am panicking, trying to find an appropriate answer for my 6 year old without lying.

I want to be honest, but not brutally honest.

I explained that all mommies have eggs in their tummies, and that is where the babies come from.

"But mom, how do the eggs crack open?"

Then I had to explain that the eggs that mommies have are not like the eggs we eat for breakfast.  They are much smaller. 

"Well, what do they look like?"

That was one I really couldn't answer.  I just tried to explain that they are very, very small.

I know that this is just the beginning of questions like these. 

Will I ever feel prepared to answer them all?

Will I ever feel that she is old enough to hear the answers?

These questions are just a reminder that in a few short years, I will have to have a MUCH more detailed talk to her about these eggs and what exactly it all means.

Can't my kids just stay small and innocent forever?

Missionary Work

Missionary work is a big thing for the Mormons.

Especially out here where we are few and far between.

We are taught that every member is a missionary.

I struggle with this.

For me, my beliefs are such a personal and private thing that I have a hard time bringing it up to other people.

However, I have a plan.

I will be a stealth Mormon. 

I will just be the wonderful, perfect person that I am.

I won't tell anyone that I am LDS.

Everyone will want to be like me.  

They will see my wonderfulness, and strive to do everything that I do.

Including . . . 

Go to my church.

When they find out what church it is, they will be so consumed with thoughts of being like me that they will gladly follow me into church.

How is that for a plan?

(In case you couldn't tell, I am being extremely sarcastic.  I really don't expect people to want to emulate me.  However, if you do decide to be just like me, contact me and I can give you some pointers.)

We do feed our young missionaries on a regular basis, and have enjoyed getting to know all of them.

Here are our missionaries hard at work.

They built some snowmen and decorated them with their pass along cards.  

Must have been a slow day.

Looking Back

I did not blog much last year. 

You would think that not much happened. 

The opposite is actually true. 

I guess that so much kept happening that I was unable to keep up!

A quick recap of 2010:

Rocky started a new job.

Moved 2200 miles to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

Bought a house in Selinsgrove (so another move, but not so far).

Ciara and Caden attended 3 different schools.

All of my grandmothers died.

Rocky started another new job, but this time in State College.

New church callings (Sunday school teacher for me, Elder's Quorum Presidency for Rocky)

Lots of exploring!

(NYC, DC, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Baltimore, Hershey)

We have now officially lived in PA for 1 year.

I feel like I have learned some things.

1.  I am still fascinated with the Amish.

2.  Small country down does not always equal less diversity.

3.  I am a pretty good baker.

4.  40 degrees here is MUCH colder than 40 degrees in Utah or Colorado.

5.  Snow is not always powdery.

6.  Probably most importantly, Heavenly Father has his hand in all things.  I don't understand a lot of it right now, and a lot of things have not gone as planned (aka jobs) but I still know there is a purpose to all of this. 

I will also have to post some pictures of my new hobby, crocheting! 

I have been making baby hats constantly.

Not sure why, since I have no babies myself.

Considering starting and Etsy store to sell them. 

Remembering

On Friday, my cousin and his wife welcomed their first child.  Thank goodness for technology, because it was on facebook that I found out that her water broke, and through texting that I was notified that she had been born.

They live in Las Vegas, so the chance of me seeing this new baby anytime soon is quite small.

I do love babies!

Every time I hear the news of a new baby, I immediately start to reminisce about my own birthing experience.  Does everyone do that?

And now you all get to read about it!  

(Aren't you lucky?)

Ciara was late.  I can remember on my due date taking a walk with a co-worker (while at work, I think he was trying to get me to go into labor) and people would stop and ask when I was due.

Telling them all that today was my due date was kind of upsetting.

It got worse the next few days when I would have to say, "Oh, it was 5 days ago!"

She stayed in 10 days too long, and we finally decided it was time for her to get out.

She was officially evicted on April 19th.

I didn't want to be induced (I was hoping to go without an epidural) but was so tired of being pregnant, and going to the non-stress tests twice a week.  

Plus, I had almost no amniotic fluid left.

Anyway, they broke my water, and hooked me up to pitocin.

Wow, that stuff worked fast!

I was in the worst pain ever for about 4 hours when I finally changed my mind and got the epidural.

I slept for the rest of my labour, pushed for about 2 hours (2 hours and 20 minutes to be exact) and there she was, my 9 lb baby girl.

Caden was a little different.

They  knew he was going to be big, and at the last ultrasound (a week before his due date), they estimated him to be close to 11 lbs.  

So my Dr decided that she was not "comfortable" delivery such a large baby, and pushed me to have a c-section.  

I knew that he was not that big, and that I could do this the "regular" way, but after her terrifying me with stories of paralyzed arms and brain damage, we decided to have the c-section.

It was so quick, and anti-climactic.

But I did have a healthy almost 10 lb baby boy.

I wish I could go back and experience those days just one more time.

(Yes, I realized I could just have another baby to experience it again, but I really don't want another baby, just the experience of giving birth again.  What a magical day!)