Aspen is Mobile

So Aspen officially started crawling yesterday. We all just keep putting interesting things in front of her to get her going, especially paper and books. She more motivated to crawl when she's without clothes thus only the diaper in the video. I'm so thrilled because I didn't get to see Mercedes learn to crawl. Scott has built some custom gates for the top and bottom of the stairs out of some really cool 3form material called fossil leaf - our stairs are really wide. Now we have to really pay attention whats left laying around which will be really hard with Mercedes; she leaves little piles of stuff everywhere she goes; eg. leaves, rocks, carrot buddies (carrots from the garden that are too small to eat), pictures she's colored, food - piles everywhere. Crawling is fun but adds a little more complication to keeping order in life. Hopefully her new skill will keep her occupied and happy and less evening fussies. We just love her to pieces!

California Fires

I know that I, and I'm sure many of us, watch the news and see these fires and the devastation they cause to people, their homes and belongings. We watch and think 'How terrible' and then go on with the rest of our day because really, are we in any imminent danger?

Look at this picture. It was taken by my friend Linn who lives in the neighborhood we just moved from in Mission Viejo. This was where we used to call home, and where part of us still wishes we could still be. This really could be us; or any of us for that matter and I have to spend just a moment on self-introspection; when did I become so apathetic to the possible and probable catastrophes of this day? When was the last time I updated our 72 hour kits? Aspen doesn't even have one yet.

I was humbled by this picture because it did hit so close to home and this blog is to help remind me to work on my physical as well as spiritual preparedness.

Park City

This last weekend Scott had the sales conference for 3form in Park City at the Canyons Resort. Mercedes just happened to have Fall Break from school so we were able to go up and hang out (go to the outlets of course). It was Aspens first time in a pool and her little legs just wouldn't stop. Mercedes is a fish and could've stayed in the pool all day. We miss having the pool just around the corner like we did in CA. When it was time to go Mercedes cried, and cried, and continued to break down into tears the rest of the day because she didn't want to leave. She even said in family prayer that night "Please help me not to be sad about leaving Park City." She's such a sweet girl.

Fall Flu

Mercedes never got sick as a baby. In fact the only time she ever threw up was between 1 and 2 in the car almost anytime we went anywhere. She was always carsick. Well some nasty bug invaded our house a couple of weeks ago. Aspen had been abnormally fussy and at 3am it all came up, and kept coming. She couldn't keep anything down for 12 hours. My little tiny was pale and lethargic. She could finally keep 1/2 oz down at a time. It's taken her a week to get back to normal but now her nights are all messed up and we need our sleep.

Three days after Aspen got sick, Scott and I were down in the basement when I heard Mercedes call my name and then some strange sounds. I ran to the bottom of the stairs and looked up and there was Mercedes standing with a bowl in her hands throwing up in it. What 5 year old has the presence of mind to grab a bowl? It was 6 pm and until 6 am the next morning she didn't go 20 minutes without throwing up - that's a minimum of 36 times in 12 hours. We put her on the floor in our room hoping sleep would help calm her tummy, but we were jumping out of bed every 20 minutes. Finally at 1am Scott and I decided to take shifts. He got in Mercedes bed and she got in with me. At 4 in went in and woke Scott up, said "She's still throwing up every 20 minutes" and crashed in Mercedes bed. She didn't eat anything solid for 2 days and only got off the couch once the first day to go to the bathroom. She's a skinny girl to begin with, barely over 30 pounds, but she looked anorexic. The worst part for her was that she couldn't go to kindergarten. She talked me into letting her go back sooner than I should've let her; I wouldn't let her go out to recess and she was exhausted after the 3 hours of school. But she bounced back the next day.

Scott and I both got a little sick but not bad. My prayer after all the chemo sickness was that no child of mine would ever have to deal with pain, sickness and suffering like that and I hurt deeply for those parents that do. A very difficult moment for me was once while waiting for my turn for radiation, a small child was wheeled into the room that looked like a dungeon and following her was the anesthesia cart. Children should not get cancer. I'm thankful every day for healthy children with strong bodies and minds.

Summer Vacations

We were able to get away twice this summer for some fun vacation time. In June, over Scott's birthday, we went to Jackson Hole for a week. We stayed at my sister and brother-in-law's house in Victor, Id which is just over the pass from Jackson. I don't think we've ever had such a relaxing vacation. We had no agenda and just did whatever sounded good at the time. We went on quite a few bike rides and fished in the ponds just out the back door. It was some much needed down time. Scott's dad and the Leavitts (we missed you Emma) from California came for a few days so Mercedes had some playmates. It was hard to come back to the real world.

In August we were able to go visit my parents in Alaska. They've finally settled in Haines, which is north up the Lynn Canal from Juneau. It's quite a trek to get there. The flight got into Seattle in the evening with a 3 hour layover, then into Juneau where we arrived at 11pm (Alaska time) and had the catch the slow ferry into Haines at midnight. We crashed in a cabin and docked in Haines at 4:30 am. I was worried about Aspen doing ok on the trip, but the girls did great.

Alaska is so beautiful! At least where my parents live it is. The ocean and forests and glaciers - it's just so different from the ranching community in Montana where I grew up. There's wild berries all over, which is great fun for the kids. We got to go out on my Dads boat, the Legacy, and sight see. We went to a wildlife park that filmmaker Steve Kroschel has set up by Mosquito Lake. We saw wolves, reindeer, moose, porcupines, lynx and many more in and almost petting zoo type scenario. I got a little nervous when they brought the lynx out on a leash - then took the leash off and just had it sit by them. We went into Skagway one day to do the touristy thing; most of the cruise ships stop there. Dad does most of his electrical work in Skagway when he's not fishing. We looked for bears up the Chilkat, but it was too early in the season. We left church early because the power had gone out and right after we left a bear decided to show up. That's what get for skipping church! It was sunny and warm the entire time we were there. Scott had to leave before me and girls and I was worried about making the trip back myself. It went well - we took the fast ferry (2 hours instead of 4) to Juneau, stayed the night and took the 6am flight out the next morning. I can't wait to go back!