Gift giving?

The holidays are upon us! Even our dog is catching the spirit of gift giving. She watches afternoon videos with the girls every so often, and lately the girls have really been enthralled with "My Little Pony" DVDs. Spot is a very observant giver and has been doing her "shopping" early this year. A few nights ago when he got off work at the hospital (3:00 am), Bret let her off her chain in the back yard, and sure enough, she jumped the wall and headed out on an adventure. When he left for the Boulevard job (6:45 am), he about tripped over a ride-on sized pink pegasus pony that Spot had left on our front porch! Bret quickly took it to the sidewalk, so whoever's it is could claim it. It sat there for two days! The girls would go out and talk to it from time to time. It was really cute. Anyway, now I'm wondering where we can find some! I still have to go through everything that is already in their room and weed it out. Is it really less than 75 days until Christmas?

Shingles!!!

Trinity hadn't been feeling too well this past weekend, and when she got out of the bath Monday night, I noticed a weird rash on her lower back that wrapped around her left hip and went down her left leg a bit through her goin area. I called my mom to see if she knew what it was, so she came over to look. (Trinity had spent Saturday night and Sunday with them, and had a fever, but no rash.) She didn't know what it was, so I called the doctor Tuesday morning. I spent the morning with Trinity in her preschool class here at the college. It was her day to bring treats, so I stayed to see what they did. It was really fun, but I could tell the rash was bothering her.

I took her home after class and came in to work. About 3:30 that afternoon, the doctor's office called back and said to bring her in, so Dr. Staheli could have a look at her. She has really bad eczema, and I'm sure he was thinking it was just a different looking outbreak of that. Heidi dropped her off to me about 4:30, and off we went. It was quite a while before they could see her, but as soon as he saw her lower back, he said, "Well, that's shingles!" Then we had to weigh her, so he could try to figure out what to prescribe and how to dose it for a 45 pound 4-year-old! My first reaction was, "That's an old person's disease!" I guess it is normally in adults. Doc said she's one in a million. She hasn't ever had chicken pox either, and she was vaccinated for it, so this just gets stranger and stranger.

She has been in such pain the last few days, it just makes me cry. She has to take her medicine 4 times a day, and it is adult-type medicine, so it doesn't taste good or anything. It does seem to be working, though, so we are hopeful. Poor baby! I've put a cold pack on the break-out (over her pj's) at night when she wakes up, and that seems to help. I just hope she gets better quickly. She is tolerating it really well. I just feel bad that she has had enough experience with hurting skin that she takes this in stride.

As a side-note, I saw Seattle and Phyllis Umi at the doctor's office. They were there with Phyllis' sister and her baby. It was nice to catch up with them.

Temira is THREE!!!

Temira turned 3-years-old on the 19th, and had her first day of preschool yesterday. To say she was hesitant to get on the bus would be a huge understatement, besides being totally out of character for her. She threw one of her classic fits. Unfortunately, Grandma Squire had to deal with her on her own, since Grandpa was at the temple. I took her to school, and after convincing her to go inside, she was right at home. Her real teacher is out this week, but the aids are the same, so I don't think she'll have too much trouble adjusting next week. She goes to school Thursday and Friday. I really hope she decides to get on the bus today. If she doesn't, I'm sure Trinity will want to...which will cause an even greater raucous! At least Grandpa is home today. :)

Her birthday was fun. We first had a little birthday party at Grandma and Grandpa Andrus' the weekend before because Aunt Hillary, Mason, and Moira had come for the Hafen Family Reunion. Then we celebrated on her birthday because it was Thursday, so the boys were there. Her favorite present is a Woody doll from "Toy Story," and he gets to rescue the baby that Straga's gave her. It is fun to watch her play.

She can be a handful because she is so headstrong and independent, but that is what makes her so loveable. She can definitely hold her own!

We love you, Temira!

Yes, we do have a 1-year-old!

I can't believe I didn't post last month! I'm such a slacker! Talia had her first birthday, and is officially one of the big kids now. Her stats at her one year appointment were 24.3 lbs (wow!) and 31 1/2 inches tall! She is in 18 month clothes, and is running around holding her own.She has a fuzzy blanket she cuddles with at night, and likes to sleep with her cloth Clifford book. She wakes up in the morning and "reads" to herself while occasionally calling to see if anyone else is awake yet. She's so funny! What a sweetheart! Definitely another keeper! :)

Walking, Little voice men, and Evaluations

Well, she's doing it! Our little Talia has been taking a few steps here and there for about a month, and just the last couple of days she's decided that it's okay to stay standing. If she wants something REALLY bad, she'll still drop to her knees and scramble after it, but she's thinking she's all that when she can walk with the big kids. What a cutie!

Trinity was missing Grandma Andrus a few days ago and insisted that we call her. Well, after several attempts at all of her numbers, I finally told Trinity that Grandma wasn't by the phone to answer it, so we'd have to leave her a message on her voice mail. I dialed her cell one more time, and when the message came on, Trinity siad, "Grandma? Are you there? I have to talk to your little voice man." It was so cute!

Temira had her hearing screening a couple of weeks ago, and was supposed to have her vision screening last week, but the school (TLC- The Learning Center) cancelled. They just forgot to call the parents and tell them. Bret said the doctor's office had been telling families all morning. Nice communication, huh? Anyway, she is winding down with them, and will be at the District Preschool as soon as she turns three. Trinity really loved going to school there, and I hope Temira has a good experience, too.

On a side note: Trinity will be coming to the college preschool on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for Fall Semester. She's not really sure about going to a new school, but she's glad it will be by my work.

Happy Birthday, Trinity!

Trinity turned 4-YEARS-OLD last Thursday! I can't believe my oldest daughter is already four! I had to work, but I took off early to go get her birthday cake. (I will try to post some pictures as soon as I get them loaded on a disk that I can bring to work. They take too darn long to do at home.) Anyway, it was a really pretty princess with a horse type cake. She got a pink fishing pole (Temira got a Nemo one.) and a purple big-girl bike. It's the one she has told us she wants for over a year, but now that it is at home, she is afraid to ride it. She says she doesn't want to get on it because she will tip over and fall off. We showed her the training wheels, but she still refused to get on it. Temira loves it, though. She can't really reach the pedals, so she just rocks back and forth on it! I'm just glad someone is enjoying it! We are leaving it in the house for now, just in case Trinity decides she wants to try it. Maybe if it is "furniture" she won't be so afraid of it. She likes the one in Grandma Squire's backyard, so I'm sure she'll warm up to this one.

Anyway, that night Trinity and I met Aunt Heidi, Grandma Andrus and Mason at "Suessical the Musical." It was quite a fun and entertaining little show...very high energy! I was exhausted just watching the performers! The guy who played Horton the Elephant is a co-wroker of Heidi's, so it was even more fun for her.

After the play we all went back to our house where Grandpa Andrus met us. Bret and the rest of the kids had the fireworks out, and we set off a few before it started to rain again. Then we went inside for cake and ice cream. It was a fun evening.

Trinity, we love you so much! We are so happy to be your "mother and papa."

The Twins are 12!!!

Chandler and Tevin turned 12-years-old on the 14th, and Bret ordained them on Father's Day (18th). That was a special treat for him on Father's Day. The ordinations took place at the boys' mom's ward, so we attended sacrament meeting there. Kristelle's Aunt and Uncle live in her ward now, and her aunt was the last speaker. I mention this because her aunt kept going on about how grateful she was to have a worthy priesthood holder for a husband. Now I don't know his story. He may be sick or he could have been out of town, but he didn't come for the ordination which was right after church.

In fact, no one was there from Kristelle's family except for Chris. (They were re-baptized two Septembers ago, and had blessings restored and were sealed this past March.) Anyway, I thought that was strange because she is always all about attention, and no one was there for her...er, the boys. ;) Well, Kristelle's bishop of course was there, and the Young Men's president, but Bret works with him at the Boulevard, and Kristelle was visibly upset when he and Bret talked for a while...like old friends. It's sad really, and yet I find myself humored by the whole thing.

The boys were well supported though. Bret's dad, his brother James, and three brothers-in-law: Dave Anderson, Brian Adams, and Alfred Bowman (and families) were there. My dad (and mom and Heidi) and Jeremy (and Haven and Sonora) and our very good friend Oscar Fakahua were there to assist. The blessings following the ordinations were very good, and encompassed each of the boys' personalities and strengths. I wish I'd been thinking ahead enough to write them down, but they are there regardless of anyone's exact memories, right?

Trinity commented throughout, but the funniest thing I heard (she was sitting on my mom's lap) was when Chandler was shaking everyone's hands. Trinity turned to Tevin and said (not quietly), "Tevin, it's your turn! Hurry up!" She was delighted that the boys were "hiding" from her in all the people. At the end she told them both "Happy Birthday Party!" one more time.

All in all it was a beautiful day!

Sad day...

Bret called me at work this afternoon to tell me that Roake had accidentally strangled himself to death. They had tied up the dogs, so they could move some stuff from the front yard to the back yard. I'm not sure what happened...if he wanted to get out with the kids, or if he just got twisted up, or what, but Chandler found him wheezing his last breath. Chan tried so hard to help him, but it was too late. I called Aunt Sharlene to see what we could do, since Spot would just dig him up if we buried him. She had Bret take Roake to the clinic to be cremated. I am so sad. I can't stop crying. He wasn't even 2-years-old. He was gone before Temira woke up from her nap, so I don't know how she will react. She really loved him. Trinity would say that he was Tenemira's Roake and Spot was hers. Maybe she will share her Spot. I just can't believe how sad I am! I know the kids are all sad at home, too. Tevin answered when I called and could barely speak.

It has been a sad week for us. Bret's brother James' wife's dad had an aneurysm in his brain earlier in the week, and it doesn't look like he will make it. He sister Jennifer's husband's mom was in the hospital with a stroke this week, too. Then on Saturday we learned that one of our friend's brothers had shot himself. It has really been an emotional week.