I'm not one to carry on about my aches and pains and physical troubles. It really doesn't do any good to complain about everything because there will always be something bothering me, AND there will always be someone who is way worse off physically than me. Also, being a mom life just goes on... kids still whine and need you regardless of how awful you feel. Prayer and a smile just get me through the day most days. But, indulge me for a moment because I am in need of someone to feel sorry for me. As I laid out all my medication on the counter I had to have a big laugh over my personal pharmacy. I'm one who even has a hard time taking a Tylenol for a headache. I'd rather try heal myself the natural way first...water, healthy food, herbs and sleep. (that's another blog.)
Have you ever seen "What's Up Doc?" with Barbara Streisand? This is a favorite quoted part of the movie towards the end. The judge and the bailiff are in the courtroom ready to start the hearing but having this quite conversation between themselves before it begins. The judge has just laid out all of his pills he needs to take...
Judge Maxwell: You see this yellow pill?
Bailiff: Yes sir.
Judge Maxwell: You know what it's for?
Bailiff: What, Judge?
Judge Maxwell: To remind me to take this BLUE pill!
Bailiff: What's the blue one for, Judge?
Judge Maxwell: I don't know. They're afraid to tell me.
Well, I feel like that is me lately. Within the past couple of weeks I am taking
Iron
Thyroid medication
Vitamin D (that's what I get for moving to Seattle...low levels of Vitamin D.)
Antibiotics (for severe sinus infection)
Prednisone (for a polyp found in my sinus cavity)
Anti-yeast stuff (to counter act the antibiotics since I am prone to yeast infections.)
Meloxican (for my new life-long friend, Ankylosing Spondilitis... google that one wontcha)
As of today, my regiment has become quite extensive and I need a personal Home Health Aid to administer the drugs... 2 can't be taken with food but can't be taken with each either; another is taken 2 for 3 days then 1 for 2 days then 1/2 for 2 days. Another is taken 1 on day 1, skip 3 days then take another one, skip 3 days then take another one continuing on for 14 days. I won't bore you with the other stuff. The 2 Dr.'s I've gone to said that for sure I'll be feeling a night and day difference in my energy levels just for curing 1 of the above problems. Imagine the NEW ME my family will enjoy when all my troubles are cured!!! (at least the iron and thyroid levels and the sinus infection. My other troubles can't be cured with medication. Ha!)
As I am writing this blog I am wondering why we as women feel like we have to appear like we've got it all together. Today at the grocery store the cashier asked me, "How are you doing?" Of course I gave the usual response... "fine thanks. How are you?" If I was really being an honest indjun I would have said, "You know what? Today I feel like crap!"
I am thankful for the opportunity to have personal pharmacies in our kitchens... in many countries the mom's just go on with their lives feeling like "crap." At least we have Dr.'s, insurances and medicines to help us get better. I am thankful for that.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Harpalicious
Some of you know that Emmy has played the harp for over a year now. She is so proud of it and begs to give a personal recital to whoever comes to our door. I am amazed at how fast she is picking things up and I also love having this cute little harp as a piece of furniture in our home. To me, it's all about music and opportunity and culture and all that jazz.
Speaking of jazz Emmy's teacher highly recommended we go to a concert of a lady, Deborah Henson-Conant and promised we would be greatly entertained. Ayson, Emmy and I went. It was at the Triple Door Theater in Seattle which serves dinner while you watch the show. The girls thought it was so fancy. It was also a BLAST! Oh my word, this woman is known for playing the harp blues style. She calls the harp a naked piano or says that the piano is a harp in armor. She plays the harp like it's a guitar. She is so unique and fun. If you ever see this woman in your town performing, even if you don't play the harp you will still love her. She is a supremo entertainer. As I watched her play I was so envious because I could feel that she was LOVING what she was doing. She was amazingly good at what she was doing and she loved doing it and she got paid for doing it. What a gift. Emmy and Ady begged to buy one of all the CDs and DVDs that she's done only so we could take home a little of what we saw and share with the rest of the family. (just for the record we only bought 1 CD). They loved it too. I loved showing the girls what fun you can have with music...with your talents. That the show was a reflection of hours and hours of practicing and working and lessons and money. A mom's job is all about planting seeds...they agreed that it was worth it all.
This is a clip of the opening number she did for us. It just got better and better as the night progressed.
Speaking of jazz Emmy's teacher highly recommended we go to a concert of a lady, Deborah Henson-Conant and promised we would be greatly entertained. Ayson, Emmy and I went. It was at the Triple Door Theater in Seattle which serves dinner while you watch the show. The girls thought it was so fancy. It was also a BLAST! Oh my word, this woman is known for playing the harp blues style. She calls the harp a naked piano or says that the piano is a harp in armor. She plays the harp like it's a guitar. She is so unique and fun. If you ever see this woman in your town performing, even if you don't play the harp you will still love her. She is a supremo entertainer. As I watched her play I was so envious because I could feel that she was LOVING what she was doing. She was amazingly good at what she was doing and she loved doing it and she got paid for doing it. What a gift. Emmy and Ady begged to buy one of all the CDs and DVDs that she's done only so we could take home a little of what we saw and share with the rest of the family. (just for the record we only bought 1 CD). They loved it too. I loved showing the girls what fun you can have with music...with your talents. That the show was a reflection of hours and hours of practicing and working and lessons and money. A mom's job is all about planting seeds...they agreed that it was worth it all.
This is a clip of the opening number she did for us. It just got better and better as the night progressed.Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Commercial Time...
My dad, Ken Matheson, who I always thought would be a General Authority some day... has FINALLY come out with his first book. He's an author. It has been a long time in the making... after years of much urging and reminding from his dear Marlene, to a 4 month sabbatical in Hawaii, it is here! We are SO proud. We hope to see him on Good Morning America or the Today show soon because it is going to be life changing for so many. I'm pretty sure that if it doesn't keep your love alive you'll get your money back guaranteed. You think I'm joking, but his words and insight really have the potential to bring world peace. I'm not biased. This book is going to be sitting on the store shelves right next to Twilight. Kenny's book will be the newest RAGE... everyone is going to be wearing pink shirts that say, "My love is Alive." or "Keep your love alive or bust" or "Edward an Bella know how to keep their love alive."
It was awesome to google the book title and see it pop right up on so many sites already. I've heard it said that next to the Cheerio book this one is the best ever.
It was awesome to google the book title and see it pop right up on so many sites already. I've heard it said that next to the Cheerio book this one is the best ever.
At church Dad got harassed by the guys because the book is pink. All the Relief Society ladies piped in by saying that because it was a pink book all the ladies would be drawn to it and buy it for their husbands. I think it's a rather eye-catching cute book and Dad's name is sexy in print. Dad has been doing firesides, Education Week, Know Your Religion, CES talks, private counseling, teaching at BYU and many other workship'ish speaking type of thing...he's got a huge fan base. Get the word out. You too can keep your love alive thanks to Kenny!
Way to go Dad!
We're glad we know you!!!!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Happy Birthday Maryn
My little, teeny, tiny baby girl Maryn turned 12 on March 7th. For the first time ever I think I was equally excited for her birthday to come this year. Twelve is such a great age. I mostly had been looking forward to her entering the Young Women's Program at church.... what a great time...great friends...great activities...super awesome leaders...Basically it's someone else teaching her the things I've been trying to teach her... it's another voice... strengthing her testimony and developing her into a lovely woman. I loved my Young Women's experience so much and feel like my lessons and leaders and activities and girl's camps really helped to make me who I am. Whew! So, I guess I could say that I have great hopes and expectations for Maryn's experiences.
Anywhoo...
Maryn started off the day at 7:00 being kidnapped by the Beehives and their 2 leaders. Mary Jo Webb and Carol Folkman, her cute leaders took her in her jammies while the cute Beehive girls give her bedroom a "heart attack." As a side note: there are now 5 little Beehives... 3 are named Maddie, 1 Page and 1 Maryn. I think Page was excited to have someone else in the group not named Maddie.
We all went out for lunch to Red Robin.
It was fun to celebrate the birthday with our visitors from the East.
Being sung to by all the workers...
Maryn went to her dance class in the morning from 9:00-11:30, then lunch, then with Grammy, Aunt Sandy, Adyson and me we had a girls day downtown Seattle. Our first stop: getting Maryn's ears pierced. Woah! Maryn was SO nervous sitting in the chair waiting her turn... but determined that it was finally her time to get her ears pierced after 10 years of begging. (no kidding. 10 years.) Here are her virgin ears.
Looking stoic as the trigger is pulled and the hole is made.
The after shot on one side as the second ear is being "holed."
We shopped forever at Claires then took Maryn to her little acting class on the 7th floor of the Macey's building while the rest of us went to the Chocolate Factory Shop. Yum! After picking up Maryn we went shopping to Old Navy and watched Maryn try on all the clothes that Old Navy owns in a size 12. All the girls older than 12 were exhausted.
We had milkshakes for her "birthday cake" and opened a few presents. The last present was worth going on one of our wild scavenger hunts. Here's the "after" picture of what the present was... a cell phone. Yikes!
...and here is the "before" picture of going on the scavenger hunt. Everyone was a bit silly following Maryn around to all the clues.
I think it's safe to say that Maryn's birthday was a hit. Besides her birthday of turning 7 when we went to Disneyland I think this one was right up there at the top of the big ones. She couldn't have been more thrilled with her new wardrobe, getting her ears pierced and a new cell phone. (it's still not an all the way cool cell phone because her texting is blocked. "Mom, no one just talks on the phone anymore. Everyone texts." I guess we are so old fashioned.)
Anywhoo...
Maryn started off the day at 7:00 being kidnapped by the Beehives and their 2 leaders. Mary Jo Webb and Carol Folkman, her cute leaders took her in her jammies while the cute Beehive girls give her bedroom a "heart attack." As a side note: there are now 5 little Beehives... 3 are named Maddie, 1 Page and 1 Maryn. I think Page was excited to have someone else in the group not named Maddie.
We all went out for lunch to Red Robin.
It was fun to celebrate the birthday with our visitors from the East.
Being sung to by all the workers...
Maryn went to her dance class in the morning from 9:00-11:30, then lunch, then with Grammy, Aunt Sandy, Adyson and me we had a girls day downtown Seattle. Our first stop: getting Maryn's ears pierced. Woah! Maryn was SO nervous sitting in the chair waiting her turn... but determined that it was finally her time to get her ears pierced after 10 years of begging. (no kidding. 10 years.) Here are her virgin ears.
Looking stoic as the trigger is pulled and the hole is made.
The after shot on one side as the second ear is being "holed."
We shopped forever at Claires then took Maryn to her little acting class on the 7th floor of the Macey's building while the rest of us went to the Chocolate Factory Shop. Yum! After picking up Maryn we went shopping to Old Navy and watched Maryn try on all the clothes that Old Navy owns in a size 12. All the girls older than 12 were exhausted.
We had milkshakes for her "birthday cake" and opened a few presents. The last present was worth going on one of our wild scavenger hunts. Here's the "after" picture of what the present was... a cell phone. Yikes!
...and here is the "before" picture of going on the scavenger hunt. Everyone was a bit silly following Maryn around to all the clues.
I think it's safe to say that Maryn's birthday was a hit. Besides her birthday of turning 7 when we went to Disneyland I think this one was right up there at the top of the big ones. She couldn't have been more thrilled with her new wardrobe, getting her ears pierced and a new cell phone. (it's still not an all the way cool cell phone because her texting is blocked. "Mom, no one just talks on the phone anymore. Everyone texts." I guess we are so old fashioned.)Maryn has always been the electricity that buzzes constantly in our home. The carbonation. The tornado. I mean ALWAYS. She has been a busy girl since she was born always doing the next step way before she was supposed to... sitting up, crawling, walking. She taught herself how to tie her shoes. She taught herself how to ride a bike. She is a determined kid who doesn't let anything, even the answer "NO" stand in her way. Friends, playing and being outside the home doing something is her oxygen that sustains her. She has always had a trillion friends and her teachers have always loved her. She is happy and fun! She has wanted to be big for so long wearing sexy things or make-up when she was little that it has scared me. But going along with wanting to be big has been a huge help around the home. She loves to change diapers and babysit and make lunch and take care of things. She is my #1 helper. She is so talented. Whatever she tries, she is good at. She is a talented dancer...always has been. She is very musical playing the piano fabulously. Her piano teacher loves her musicality and expression. I love to hear her play the piano. She would be on every sports team, every equestrian group, every swim team every sewing class or cooking class, every dance team,or every jump rope team if I let her. She loves to be busy and loves to do everything. Maryn writes in her journal every day and reads her scriptures nearly every day. She is fun. She is funny. She is a great big sister organizing the other kids in some sort of dance routine or game or snack. Neighborhood kids of all ages come over to see if Maryn can play. Talking to other moms with girls Maryn's age I have learned to appreciate the fact that Maryn isn't moody. She doesn't pout at all. She might be a professional arguer or a master manipulator to get what she wants but she isn't hurtful or mean or stay mad for more than a minute. She is a challenge to keep up with... always staying a few steps ahead of me (which is exhausting) but she is always a joy. When she's away from our home we feel the empty lack of energy and electricity (although sometimes I need a break from it, I have to admit.) but there's always a hole when she's gone. She is loved. She's an example to us all and is one of Heavenly Father's favorite people. Happy Birthday Mimi!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Visitors from the East
On March 3rd we had some fabulous guests arrive... Jeff's parents and Aunt and Uncle, Sandy and Pete Mang. The trip was a gift from the Mang kids to their parents after the passing of Grandma Mertie. Aunt Sandy was asked where she would want to go and she picked Seattle to come and visit us. I think that means we're her favorites... or just the ones she hasn't seen in a while. They had never met Kaden before which tells you it's been far too long since we've seen them. It was Uncle Pete's first time on an airplane and he LOVED it...just like a kid looking out the window trying to guess what everything was down below. For 10 days we had a super duper time together. Jeff was able to be a bit flexible with work in order to take some time to enjoy his family and see some sights. They went all over the place being tourists in addition to being homework helpers and kitchen helpers. It really was a gift to us too being with Aunt Sandy and Uncle Pete for that long. They are such good people. They were all ours for 10 days. They left us (I'll speak for myself), ME wanting to be a better person because of their love of life, positive outlook and great sense of humor. Thanks for picking us for a get-away and thanks Grammy and Poppy for tagging along! We loved having you!
A trip to snowy Snoqualmie Pass. 
Lunch at XXX. Because of the name we had never been there before afraid of what they might be selling. But thanks to many referrals they went and LOVED the ambiance reliving the good ol' days... and their huge root beer floats.
Cute Sisters.
The traditional Space Needle pose.
So on Friday night the High Priests of our ward were having a Salmon Bake Social. What better for the Mormons than to bring 4 rowdy Catholics. Oh my! They were the hit of the whole party. Both ladies were volunteered to play a part in some "readings" for entertainment... And they were pretty rambunctious in the "jelly bean mingle." (We had a small bag of jelly beans and had to go around trading with others to get a bag of 1 color of jelly beans. Great idea for ice breaker games if needed.) The food was great and the company was crazy.
The dark spot in the whole week was the sickness that befell part of the household. Ady started off and missed 2 days of school. Kaden was hit pretty bad. Then Poppy was knocked over so hard with the "yuckies" that he found his way to the Urgent Care and given medication and lots of tissues. Jeff felt left out and joined the group of sickos too.
Poor little Kaden was such a cute, sick boy.
Pete was a crazy reader... reading an entire book in 1 day. Aunt Sandy couldn't believe it. She kept checking in on him to make sure he hadn't fallen asleep... he was just realizing that he liked to read. They were an example of togetherness... doesn't matter what you do as long as you are sitting together. We think it was nice and relaxing for them to be here.
We had to ride the ferry boat across to Bainbridge Island to show them... you guessed it... Mora's Ice Cream. Yum! Grammy helped Ady with homework on the ferry.
Poppy had a birthday while he was here. We didn't want him blowing out the candles and spreading yuckies on the entire birthday cake so we cut out a big piece for the candle blowing moment and then he could eat that piece all himself.
We tried to get pictures of the kids with Grammy and Poppy but couldn't get everyone at the same time. Ady and Emmy were first.
Maryn
Emmy and Kaden
Lunch at XXX. Because of the name we had never been there before afraid of what they might be selling. But thanks to many referrals they went and LOVED the ambiance reliving the good ol' days... and their huge root beer floats.
Cute Sisters.
The traditional Space Needle pose.
So on Friday night the High Priests of our ward were having a Salmon Bake Social. What better for the Mormons than to bring 4 rowdy Catholics. Oh my! They were the hit of the whole party. Both ladies were volunteered to play a part in some "readings" for entertainment... And they were pretty rambunctious in the "jelly bean mingle." (We had a small bag of jelly beans and had to go around trading with others to get a bag of 1 color of jelly beans. Great idea for ice breaker games if needed.) The food was great and the company was crazy.
The dark spot in the whole week was the sickness that befell part of the household. Ady started off and missed 2 days of school. Kaden was hit pretty bad. Then Poppy was knocked over so hard with the "yuckies" that he found his way to the Urgent Care and given medication and lots of tissues. Jeff felt left out and joined the group of sickos too.
Poor little Kaden was such a cute, sick boy.
Pete was a crazy reader... reading an entire book in 1 day. Aunt Sandy couldn't believe it. She kept checking in on him to make sure he hadn't fallen asleep... he was just realizing that he liked to read. They were an example of togetherness... doesn't matter what you do as long as you are sitting together. We think it was nice and relaxing for them to be here.
We had to ride the ferry boat across to Bainbridge Island to show them... you guessed it... Mora's Ice Cream. Yum! Grammy helped Ady with homework on the ferry.
Poppy had a birthday while he was here. We didn't want him blowing out the candles and spreading yuckies on the entire birthday cake so we cut out a big piece for the candle blowing moment and then he could eat that piece all himself.
We tried to get pictures of the kids with Grammy and Poppy but couldn't get everyone at the same time. Ady and Emmy were first.
Maryn
Emmy and Kaden
Having family come and visit is never any work... just fun and togetherness. Even if it means squishing 6 adults and 4 children in a minivan in order to get on the fairy it's nothing but FUN. (We had some looks as we all climbed out of the minivan of people who thought we were practicing to be in the circus.)
Everyone was all so much help and so much fun... it was just a big treat for us to be together. THANKS for coming!
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