It isn't Christmas till someone gets hurt!

So much to blog about! Things have been so incredibly crazy over the last couple of weeks that I haven't had time or energy to even think about blogging. Tonight, however, after consuming too many diet cokes, I'm wide awake and ready to blog. But I have to do some backtracking first!

Mom- Bless her sweet little heart! She went into surgery on Thursday, Dec. 18th at 9:00 am. She was actually scheduled to go in about 7:00 but things got delayed when it was discovered the stupid, I mean ignorant, nurse mistakenly gave her orange juice at six in the morning to bring her blood sugars up. Now, even I know how important it is to go into surgery with an empty stomach! The doctor and anesthetist argued for a good hour about the safety of proceeding. Finally, the surgeon's opinion won out and Mom was finally wheeled into surgery around 9:00. It was a long, grueling day for everyone involved and over ten hours later she came out of surgery and was placed in ICU. The surgeon met with all of us to report on the surgery. He was pretty arrogant, and feisty, but that was exactly what Mom needed. Everything went pretty much without a hitch and Mom did remarkably well, considering the condition she was in. The biggest surprise was when the pressure in her lungs actually decreased after the heart valve was replaced. That was the one issue which was most concerning. She actually had four procedures done, one to stop the fibrillation in her heart, one valve replaced, one valve mended with a plastic ring to help it to close properly, and a quadruple bypass on the blocked arteries. Just the fact that she was able to come off the heart/lung machine without complications was a miracle. But 'tis the season for miracles! Many miracles later, prayers answered, and blessings fulfilled and my Mom is on the mend. She came off the ventilator just a day and a half after surgery! She was moved out of ICU within three days! Had all tubes and IVs removed a couple of days later and now has only a feeding tube that is only used at night. She is scheduled to be released on Monday to a transitional unit in the Logan hospital where she will rehabilitate for probably another week. Considering the fact that even the surgeon went into this with a 50/50 prediction, I'd say she's done pretty darn good! Of course, the many prayers and blessings given might have had something to do with it! My mom is amazing, though, and we definitely had our Christmas miracle.

Now, Christmas at our house, on the other hand, was a different story! First of all, we were hit with the wretching gumboo a couple of days before Christmas. It hit a couple of kids and by Christmas day had worked it's way to Jay and I. Not a pleasant way to spend the most glorious day of the year! As many of you, it was a much more humble Christmas at our house this year so as we began opening presents we decided to prolong the excitement and take it one present at a time. Now, normally we start out that way but after a few rounds the kids get tired and we give the go ahead for a rip-fest. Anyway, Jordan was having a struggle opening a particularly difficult package and decided to break out his handy dandy pocket knife that his cousin had given him at the family Christmas party. You can guess the result! A sliced hand and emergency run ensued. Six stitches later, he rejoined the festivities. Of course, by then the momentum was rolling and the other kids didn't want to wait for his return so they finished up opening up their presents and Dad and Jordan opened their remaining presents when they returned. A little while later, Jordan went out to check on his dog in the dog run, only to discover the poor thing had expired in the middle of the night. So....Christmas was a "gut" wrenching experience all the way around from bathroom time, ER run and stitches, topped off with the demise of a beloved friend. I was never so happy to see a holiday pass! And that's saying alot because if you know me well, you know how great my love is for everything Christmas! We also were bestowed with over a foot of new fallen snow so travel of any kind was out of the question. Thank goodness we had enough good excuses not to venture out of the house!

That being said, I truly do have much to be thankful for. This past year has brought many significant experiences and blessed events. It's also brought difficulties, heart ache, and pain. But through it all, I know that the love of the Savior brought me through. I learned some great lessons, grew through the trials, found a part of myself that I had lost, and came to understand more deeply what the most important things in life are to me. I have an incredible family that I couldn't do without. I have awesome friends who support me even though they may not understand some of my life choices. Most importantly, I know my Heavenly Father loves me. What more could I ask for?

Another Mom update

My mom was admitted back into the hospital this morning. After suffering more chest pains, they determined the surgery cannot be postponed any longer. In fact, it's basically a do or die situation now. Because of the medications she's been on, they can't do the surgery for at least three days so now we just wait it out. She's stable right now and they are keeping a close watch on her. While we were there today, a code blue was announced over the intercom and after awhile the nurse came in apologizing about neglecting Mom but they had a patient "expire". We all dropped our jaws. I didn't think that was quite the appropriate time to make such an announcement! Anyway, things are a bit tenuous and we are hopeful.

Oh Christmas Tree!

The trees are up and decorated, the Christmas village is on display, the bells are jingling and whether I'm ready or not, the holiday is almost upon us. I haven't bought a thing yet, which is stressing me big time! It's going to be a lean Christmas at the Anderson household, but that's ok. That just means less for me to buy! I have this recurring nightmare that I wake up Christmas morning and all the kids are crying because Santa forgot to stop at our house. I madly rush from room to room trying to find something I can wrap quickly so they won't think this poor excuse of mom forgot about them! It's horrible! My heart races and I wake up in a cold sweat. This nightmare has plagued me for years. Maybe it's my subconscious worrying about disappointing my kids. I don't know, but it makes me nuts!

Since the coffers are bare, we decided that we needed to come up with non-monetary enjoyment. No snow so far, so sledding is out. Jay actually suggested caroling which threw me for a loop. Never, in a million years, would I have expected Jay to go along with anything remotely close to singing, let alone suggest it himself! I think we'll try and take a night and do just that! There is also a reindeer farm out west of town that we took the kids to one year. It was a huge hit and didn't cost us a dime, so if it's still up and running I think we'll make the trek out west. Gingerbread houses will be another fun activity I hope. My mom always made one for us that sat on the dining room table until Christmas day and then we all demolished it piece by piece, stale crusty stuff that it was! I'm running out of ideas, though, so if you have any great brain fluffs, let me know! My kids would appreciate it!

Update

I should've written this post a few days ago but as you can imagine things have been somewhat hectic. First let me say thank you for the prayers and words of support. It's always a tough thing to have to face mortality. My sweet mom started in with chest pains again on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. In fact, about the same time that I wrote my last post. Anyway, they took her in for another angioplasty and this time discovered another blockage in one of the arteries that was about 90% blocked. The doctors decided that was the artery causing the heart attacks and they were able to open it up and place a stint in to keep the blood flow going. They also discovered that my mom has pulmonary hypertension, or high blood pressure in her lungs. That dramatically changes the picture for her surgery. After discussing the situation with the surgeon, the cardiologist decided they needed to wait to do the surgery. The biggest concern was whether Mom would be able to come off the ventilator after surgery or if she would remain on a vent for the rest of her life. They feel that by opening up the one artery the heart should be getting enough blood and oxygen now. We were all shocked and questioned why they didn't just do the surgery when she started having another attack, but the doctor told us that if they had proceeded without knowing everything they know now, we probably would've lost her. So....the gist is this...Mom was sent home on Saturday. No surgery for at least a month. In about two weeks she'll go back in to the cardiologist at which time the decision will be made whether to proceed with a surgery or whether the risk is just too great. Talk about an emotional roller coaster! I just want them to "fix" her. I hate thinking about what could be or might be or probably will be. Dad gave me the whatfor and told me I had to buck up and think positively. He's right, of course, but it's hard when I see my mom looking so frail and helpless. So, that's the update. Jay and I went to visit her last night and although she's still very weak, she was at least sitting up. Bless her heart!!!! PLEASE!!!!

We're also preparing to send Brinlei's bmom to Hawaii for Christmas and then on to the islands after. It's going to be so sad to see them leave! We have loved having them here and they've just become a part of the family. Even Jordan and Jaxon said they will miss little Sissy. It has been such a great experience for all of us to have them in our home and I think it has validated Brinlei in ways I didn't expect. Her relationship with her bmom is so sweet to watch, almost like they're sisters. I know it's going to be hard for her to say goodbye to them.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we were privileged to be a part of Brinlei's mom's baptism. It was such an incredibly spiritual event for all of us. She looked absolutely beautiful all dressed in white. After the baptism we took the family down to temple square to see the Christmas lights. It was a bit hectic and chaotic, but we loved it just the same. It was just a great way to start the Christmas season and share in it with Brinlei's mom and sister. Now if I can just get my decorations up at home, it'll really feel like Christmas.

(Ok, these pictures didn't load in the right order, but oh well!)

Quickie

It's 3 am and I can't sleep. I spent a good part of the day at the hospital with my mom and now my brain won't shut off. She's doing ok, although we got some news today that isn't the best. The docs have decided they will need to replace the valve in her heart that is leaking, on top of the quadruple bypass. She also has fluid in her lungs, but after some testing they have determined that it isn't pneumonia and is just an effect of the heart attack. She's in good spirits and seems to be a little stronger. Hopefully by Friday she will be even stronger and ready to take on the scalpel!

Life's lessons

I started a post last night detailing all the fun and excitement of Thanksgiving when I was interrupted by a phone call from my oldest brother. You know, there are defining moments in life that change the course of thought and actions. Well, that phone call was one of those moments. He gently told me that my sweet mother had suffered a heart attack and had been life flighted to a hospital in Ogden. Those first few moments were filled with shock and fear as I contemplated what this would mean, not only for her but for my entire family.

Within a few minutes my sister and I were on the road to her bedside. I will never forget looking into my mother's eyes and seeing a fear I had never seen before. She's my mother, you know. The one who always made me feel safe and protected and now she was looking at me, searching for the comfort and peace she had always bestowed on her children. I wasn't prepared for that. She looked so frail laying there in that big hospital bed and I wanted nothing more than to be able to hold her in my arms. She was stable and as comfortable as could be expected, and felt silly for all the attention she was generating. That's my mom for you!

The night was a restless one for her, followed by numerous tests, pokes, and prods. It was determined that yes, she had suffered a heart attack and will need to undergo open heart surgery to repair the four arteries that are blocked, along with a few other issues needing to be addressed. The surgery will take place on Friday and we are hoping and praying all goes well. There are still uncertainties and concerns, and the doctors have said there could be further complications but the only way to know exactly what they're dealing with is to proceed with the surgery.

Experiences like this certainly put life into a different light. Those things that seemed so important and all consuming now seem trivial. What does it really matter if the laundry doesn't get finished, or if the house isn't spotless? There's nothing written that says I'm a terrible mom if my kids don't get a bath every night, or if they are five minutes late for school. It's the little things that mean the most. I hope I can stop for a few minutes and recognize where my priorities need to lie. The thing that matters the most is my family, both immediate and extended. Nothing else should take precedence. Nothing!

A recap

Ok, ok, I know I've been a slacker! Blogging just seems to take a back seat to life lately. So much going, so little time to keep up. I'll try to recap the last couple of weeks here.

Have you ever face planted it on a cement sidewalk? Well, that's one thing I can check off my to-do list! Yes, I face planted it, and I did it with style. Cec and I were walking into a store and I had my hands full of purse, cell phone, notebook, etc. There was a small two inch step and I totally missed it. I literally landed on my face! I ended up with a big scab from nose to chin, knocked my front teeth loose, and suffered a huge dose of humiliation. All Cec could do was laugh at her upended mom. I'm finally almost back to normal, my teeth are in place and still pearly white, and other than the bad memories, I haven't suffered any ill effects.

The little J-man is growing like a weed. He's now sitting on his own and drooling up a storm. He's getting to be so much fun! I think he likes me, too!

On the weight loss front, I am one pound away from reaching the half way point. Twenty pounds down, twenty more to go! My goal was to hit that twenty pounds gone by Thanksgiving and I'm stoked that I'm almost there. It's been a challenge and to be honest I haven't been as diligent the last month as I was the first, but it's still coming off, slowly but surely.

And now, for the last bit of news, I'm about to become a ...... MOTHER-IN-LAW! Cec has found the love of her life and he was right under her nose. Andy has grown up here as Jayson's best bud and the two of them decided they were meant to be together. It's a bit strange to think of myself as anyone's mother in law, but it's inevitable. We're absolutely thrilled and couldn't have picked a better man for our daughter. Oh wait, we kind of did pick him! (Don't tell Cec that!) Actually, we have all been telling her for years that she was going to marry Andy. It just took her a bit longer than expected to come to the same realization. The big day will be May 1st and they are getting married in the Bountiful temple. Can't wait!!!!

Holidays

Well, Halloween has come and gone (thankgoodness!) and now the real fun begins! I know, I'm a party pooper, but Halloween just isn't my favorite holiday. I never liked it even as a child. But Thanksgiving, now that's a different story! I LOVE Thanksgiving and all the trimmings. I love being with family, eating till I'm sick, playing games, and the all important Thanksgiving nap. I love the smells of pies in the oven and the crisp fall air. Wearing a sweater for the first time in the season. Nothing says holiday like a day filled to the brim with family, food and fun!

Of course, the day after Thanksgiving is the bomb too. That's the day that I finally allow myself the honor of taking out the Christmas decorations, walking down the holiday isle at the stores and yes, even beginning my Christmas shopping. I'm not a crack-of-dawn shopper but I do enjoy hitting a few stores after the initial rush. The Christmas music and movies are brought to life again and all is well with the world. I can barely wait!

This year we have one more kiddo to shop for, and even though he's too young to appreciate our efforts it's still going to be fun! Janzyn's first Christmas! Oh, how I love the holidays!

Janzyn pics

I just couldn't resist taking Janzyn out to enjoy the crisp leaves and snap a few photos. He's growing up way too fast for this mama!

Happy Birthday Maleia!

Yesterday was Miss Maleia's 7th birthday!! It's so hard for me to believe my little angel is 7 years old! Where did time go? It seems just like yesterday that Jay, Brinlei and I were on the plane heading over to adopt Maleia. The excitement and anticipation were almost unbearable. I'll never forget walking off the plane into the warm, gentle breeze of the islands. It was a day I had only dreamed about and the reality was even better! The first moment she was placed in my arms, I wet my cheeks and hers with tears of joy. She wasn't even 3 months old yet, but she was the most robust, healthy baby I had ever seen. (That's a polite way of saying she was a large Marge!) I was mesmerized by her long eye lashes and her chubby legs. She was just perfect! That trip, however, was not and after waiting for the courts for two weeks I ended up leaving my precious butterball on the island with her birthmom while I returned home to try and wait out the horrible mess caused by a corrupt court system. Eventually I was able to return two and a half months later to finalize her adoption and bring her home.




To celebrate her special day, I snuck her out of school for a quick ice cream. It was so fun to steal her away in the middle of the day. Then, later that evening we invited her birthfamily over and we dined on Pumpkin pepperoni pizza. She was showered with candy, money and presents. She is one loved little girl! Maleia, you are my sunshine. Your laughter and smile brighten my life in ways I could never have imagined almost seven years ago. I love you!

Just call me....

Sponge Bob Square Boobs! The dreaded annual mammo is over and done with, thank goodness! I always get myself so worked up over stuff like that and it usually ends up being not as bad as I imagined. Well, not this time! It was a new machine and a new lab tech. The combination was deadly! I still can't catch my breath! With a family history of breast cancer, I know it's a necessary evil but gosh darn it! I wonder what it's like for those girls who have chosen to medically enhance themselves? I think I'd be afraid of popping. Anyway, I did my duty and now I can relax for another year.

Have you had your yearly fun? If not, don't take the risk. My sweet sister had the unfortunate experience of dealing with a very aggressive form of breast cancer seven years ago. She had a recurrence two years after the initial diagnosis and treatment, and thankfully is doing great right now. She endures doc appointment after appointment and will for the rest of her life. She's been told it will likely return again but has such a positive attitude and lives life to it's fullest. Her experience has definitely made me more conscience of my health and the little daily blessings that come my way. She's an inspiration to me and I love her to pieces. She needs to stick around for many, many more years! There is nothing sweeter than sisters and I have two of the best sisters around. Both of them make me want to be a better person and I treasure the friendships we have. Although I'm the youngest, our bond is strong and I can't imagine not having either one of them in my life. I know they're just a phone call away. Thanks, my sistas! I love you!!!

The perfect picture spot!

I've been wanting to take a few pictures at the old train station in town and I decided on a whim to take Jake and Maleia one afternoon. I'm not a great photographer, although in my dreams I obsess with learning the trade, but I thought these turned out fun!

Hmmm...maybe Christmas pictures will have to be done there too!

Lazy Saturday

Jay was tending the baby and watching a football game on Saturday while I ran a few errands. This is what I came home to! Not too much football watchin' goin' on! Of course, Lexi joined in the fun too. I love my man!!!

I took Janzyn to the doc this morning for his 4 month check and he's a whopping 14 pounds 11 oz. That puts him in the 50 percentile in weight but he's still only measuring between the 10th and 25th percentile in height. Face it, he's going to be a squatty body like the rest of us Andersons! He's making all the normal milestones for a 4 month old, rolling over, smiling, babbling, grasping but his body strength and control are remarkable. At least that's what the doc says! He's pretty muscular for a little guy, which is good. He'll have to learn to hold his own with Jake as a big brother. It's still so much fun to have a baby around and I try to savor each moment because I know it won't last long. That's what I tell myself anyway!

The days fly by and I find myself only being able to sneak a minute or two on the computer to check emails. I miss my virtual lurking! But, that being said, life continues to speed by and I do my best to keep up.

Football season for Jordan has come to an end. He played his heart out and that last game was a heartbreaker. The team lost by one touchdown despite the efforts of the Stingin' Bees and Jordan finished the season leading the team in tackles. He's an aggressive little bugger! It was a sad day for him to finish his high school football career on a sad note, but he's now gearing up for wrestling and I'm excited for that to begin.

Miss Maleia has a birthday this week, Janzyn has his four month checkup, I have the dreaded mammo scheduled and of course it's Halloween. This week promises to be just as hectic and crazy as all the others! I'm also trying to redo my shop so I can reopen and start doing hair again. It was either that or find an evening job and I'd much rather be my own boss than work for someone else. Too many years of doing what I want on my own time schedule, I guess! The biggest challenge will be remodelling and painting the disaster that's become the shop. I've neglected it for the past few years and it definitely shows. It'll be fun to get back into the hairy business again, though.

I have a grundle of pictures to put on here, but the baby is loudly demanding my attention so it'll have to wait till later. Ta ta for now!

Good Morning!

This is what I wake up to every morning! Now, isn't that the sweetest? Definitely starts my day out with a smile. Janzyn has been such a light in our family. He is now 4 months old and has already given us so much joy. A baby will do that, you know. He's a happy little guy with the squishiest smile. It's hard for me to believe our family ever existed without him.

You know, I get all kinds of comments when people find out that not only do I have an almost 24 year old and an infant, but that I have 8 children. Some not so nice, others almost offensive, and a few complimentary. The one comment that makes me nuts, though, is "You must be an angel!" Excuse me? No, I'm not an angel, I'm a very lucky woman who has been blessed beyond measure. Don't put me on a pedestal just simply because I have 8 children. You can put me up there if you think I'm a beautiful goddess(tee hee), but don't do it because you think I've done something miraculous by having a large family. I'm not the perfect mom, and I don't have the perfect family. We have our struggles and challenges just like everyone else. I'll admit, there are times when I can't handle the stress and noise level, so I hide. That's right, I hide. Sometimes in my bedroom, sometimes in the car, others in places I'll never divulge because then they'll find me! But then I get over myself and come out to the chaos that is my family. And when I wake up in the morning to the sweetest little face looking back at me, I'm reminded all over again why I love my life!

Remnants of a snowman

The year's first snowman! Yup, I said snowman. We got about 2 inches of snow over the weekend and the littles couldn't resist making their first snowman. By the time I saw them, the snow had already begun to melt and the poor little guys were quickly slipping into puddledom. It was cute anyway.




I don't think my petunias are appreciating the snow, however!

Now, that's disturbing!

Brinlei asked me if I wanted to see the coolest new thing. Look closely!



That's right, it's candy boogers! You simply strap on this nose contraption and lick away. Now, that's disturbing!

Janzyn's new babysitter, I mean toy!

Only problem is his legs down quite reach the floor!

October birthday boy!

Jordan, Jordan, Jordan! What else can I say?! From the moment you began crawling and I found you on top of the wood burning stove I knew you were going to give me a run for my money. You were oh so curious, stubborn, silly, adventurous, daring, heart stopping. You still are! No one can make me laugh like you do, terrify me like you do, or touch my heart the way you do. And now that you're 18 and on the verge of adulthood, I can't help but look back at all those years and wonder if I taught you enough, or gave you enough love. Will you be able to reach deep inside and see the incredible person you really are? I hope so. We nicknamed you the Taz because you were a whirlwind no matter where you went. You tackle life with gusto and determination. You're like a bulldog, refusing to let go when your mind is set. I hope those qualities will take you down the path that is meant for you and help you achieve all you want out of life! We love you, Jordie!

A typical day

The alarm goes off at 6:30 but that's not when I get up! Thank goodness for the snooze button! Depending on the day, or lack of sleep the previous night, I sleep in as long as possible. After the third, Mom I'm hungry- call, I finally drag my weary bones out of bed, take a minute to let the blood start flowing to the outer extremeties and make a quick jaunt to the loo. My day has officially begun! Then comes the mad dash to find shoes, comb hair (Is it a pony tail or piggy tail day? No? A half pony tail it is then.)
Did you brush your teeth? Run back in and do it lickity split!
A quick good bye-I love you-have a good day to the older ones and we dash out to the car to take Maleia to school, only to discover the battery is dead and thus the car is too.
Now what? Grandma! We run across the street, borrow Grandma's car and squeek into school in the nick of time.
Then comes the baby bottle, poopy diaper routine.
Pour bowls of cereal for the others at home while making my delicious diet pancakes. Not too bad, if I do say so myself!
Throw dishes in the sink, sort laundry, wipe noses, clean up baby barf, chase kids out of the truck, check my email, get drinks of water, put a fussy baby down for his morning nap, read a few blogs, search for the 3 muskateers and find them blowing balloons.
Can you tie this for me? Sure, just take it back downstairs. Don't want the dang thing popping in my ears.
Tie mine up too!
Don't blow it up too much or it will....POP! Right in my ear! Ok, enough balloons, go find something else to do.
Check the baby.
Can I have hot chloclat? How about cold chocolate? No, I want hot chloclat! Ok, ok...just hang on.
Three cups later, wiping up spills, wiping noses, cleaning up spilled milk on the floor.
The next one to spill their hot chocolate gets it taken away!
Uh oh, she spilled it, no I didn't you did, no I didn't.
OKAY!!!! Enough hot chocolate, how about if you go jump on the tramp?
The dog threw up!
HELP!!!
It's only 10:00!!

A trip to the hospital

Whew! Can you say "Scare me!?" Jay came home from school on Thursday sicker than a dog. I've never seen him so sick! Incredibly high fever, chills, body aches, etc. He was literally flat in bed. Then, Friday morning he woke up with this rash on his leg. It was kind of scary looking and I didn't want to take any chances so I sent him to the doc. After a shot in the behind and a prescription for antibiotics, he was told it was just a skin infection. Well.... by Saturday evening his "rash" had spread up to the top of his thigh. Angry red streaks, the works. We loaded up and headed to the ER only to find out his skin rash was cellulitis. It was severe enough that he was immediately admitted. As it turns out, he had a nasty case of MRSA. Yes folks, it's the staph infection that is killing people! We can't figure out how or where he got it, but got it he did. Five long hospital days being on the big gun antibiotics have hopefully taken care of it. I brought him home today but he's still on two major meds, along with creams and ointments. I'm just praying it isn't a repeater!

Major life changes

The time has come, my fellow bloggers, to admit I've reached that stage. You know, the middle aged, frumpy, remember when stage. Those who have known me for eons know that I used to be small, petite, trim, etc. Used to be is the key phrase here! I wasn't just small, I was TINY! When I think back (remember when moment) I can hardly imagine myself that small. In fact, I took Brinlei to the doc a few weeks ago for a needed booster shot and her weight was exactly the same as mine was on my wedding day. Brinlei is a beautiful, lean image of a goddess and OH MY HECK! I was the same size!!!!! So, here I am, professing my unsightliness to the blogging world and making known that I no longer will be this massive hunk of lard! I am starting a new diet! There, I said it out loud. I would put up a before picture here but decided to wait for the dramatic effect of the before and after montage. I will not be putting my current weight out there for everyone to read either, but I will post the poundage lost.

So what's the plan? I actually do have a plan. It's called Medifast! I've done a lot of research via the net and chatted with several people who have been successful with the program and then I ran into an old friend who looks amazing and happens to be a Take Shape for Life (Medifast) coach. I almost giggled with glee! I'm just waiting for my shipment of Medifast to arrive and then I will officially be on my way to Slenderhood. Wish me luck!

My brother, my hero

This is my older brother who has spent the last year in Iraq. He truly is my hero! As we were growing up, he was the one that I shadowed everywhere. He's three years older than me and I always thought he was the coolest. Unfortunately, he didn't feel the same towards me, you know, younger pesky sister. Anyway, after he came home from his mission, we developed the friendship that I always wanted to have with him. I actually introduced him to his beautiful wife! Well, when he was in college he made the decision to join the reserves. I remember the panic I felt thinking that some day he might have to fight for our country. It was a dream he had kept ever since he was young and he joined the ranks with gusto. As we both became more involved in our own families, our relationship changed and although we don't have that same comradery that we used to have, he will always hold a special place in my heart.

Well, a year ago my fears came true and he was called up. I can't begin to explain the emotions I went through. From fear and distress to pride. I'm so proud of who my brother is and the sacrifice he and his family made to support our country. We got word this week that he would be finally coming home! In fact, he's literally on his way at this moment. I can't wait to drive down to the airport with signs in hand to welcome our soldier home.

Birthday time!

It's the Jaker's birthday today! Woohoo!!!! He informed me this morning that it's great to be 5. Last night, before bedtime, he had a little conversation with his dad and told him that since he was going to be 5 he didn't need to wear pullups anymore. Our little guy has had an issue with the dreaded bed wetting, but apparently when you turn 5 you no longer have that problem. Guess what?! He proudly wore his unders and woke up DRY! Wonder if it had anything to do with the 2 potty breaks throughout the night? He was so proud of himself, though. When he woke up this was the conversation we had.

J- Hey Mom! Guess what? I didn't pee my pants!

M- Way to go, bud! Give me a high five!

J- Mom, did you know Jordan wears unders to sleep in?

M- Umm, yea I knew that.

J- Well, now I can be like Jordan and wear unders to sleep in too!

Makes a mom proud. He's growing up so fast, too fast for this mama's heart. He's smart as a whip, loves school, is incredibly athletic, has a huge heart and loves nothing more than to tease the dickens out of his older sister. Although he had his issues when he first came to our family, he's always been our Bubba. I wouldn't trade him for anything and feel so lucky to be his mom.

In the tradition of birthdays at our house, this is what he's chosen for the day~

He gets to hog the bean bag chair all day because "He's the man" today.
He chose McD's for lunch.
He wants a chocolate cake for his birthday cake because he's "chocolate".
His dinner choice is Ramen...hmmmm me thinks he'll be eating ramen and the rest of us will find something a little more appetizing.
And...he gets to wear unders to bed again!

He's such a funny kid! Happy birthday Jakie! We love you to pieces and pieces!

Peaches anyone?

What a great weekend! Our little, homey town of Brigham has a huge celebration every fall to celebrate the luscious peaches that our town is known for. Of course, it's Peach Days! Filled with a carnival, parade, car show, and beauty pageant. The town literally comes alive during the Peach Days weekend. We go from about 20 thousand people to around 80 thousand! It wouldn't be Peach Days without all the food and craft booths, and you can find any type of entertainment you could ask for in the town square from bands and dance groups to hypnotist. The ultimate of all enjoyments, though, comes in a small dish loaded to the top with piping hot peach cobbler, topped with a generous amount of whipped cream or ice cream. Who could ask for more? The weather was perfect and friendships renewed as I leisurely walked among the booths. It was great! Now, if I could only convince Jay how much fun Peach Days really is. He'd rather sit at home watching a football game than fight the crowds and chaos. Every year he comes up with some excuse not to go and this year I told him he didn't even have to try, I was giving him the day off. I think he enjoyed himself in the solitude of an empty house!

I'd love to share pictures of my fun weekend, but alas the camera was left home so you'll just have to imagine it all! Hope you all had a great weekend too!

Fat, baby legs

Need I say more?

Labor Day fun

Oh, what do you do on Labor Day when all the world is....cold, and rainy, and miserable?!

I'm an addict!

What can I say? What other reason would I have to be up in the middle of the night? Well, besides the baby. BLOGGING!!!! My days are so full that for the most part the only time I have to get on the computer anymore is late at night after everyone has gone to bed. Only problem is there are SO many great blogs I love to read that a few minutes of computer time turns into a couple of hours! Jay goes to bed with the parting words "Don't stay up too late." at which my response is "Oh, I'm only checking a couple of blogs and then I'll be to bed." Hmmm....that was about two and a half hours ago. Shhhhhh! Don't tell Jay! Blogging is such a fun way to stay tuned with others lives, including but not limited to those of people you don't even know! Some of my best friends don't even know me or know that I know them. Scary! So, to any of you blog stalkers, stalk away. I don't mind. Just don't come knocking on my door!

I'm back!

I know, I know! I'm a slacker! Actually, life has been more than a bit nuts so blogging has been at the bottom of my list of priorities. So much going on that I rarely even have time or energy to get on the computer most days. There was a time when I could (waste) spend hours a day on the computer but no more. I guess that's what happens when you have six kiddos at home, including a new baby, while also housing two long term guests and babysitting another 4 year old. Add on to that the continuous stream of visitors coming to play with the baby (i.e. birth family). It's a miracle if I even get a bath most days!

That said, it's time for updates~


Jayson hasn't been home in FOREVER! He's completely enthralled in the life of a coach and probably won't be home again until Thanksgiving time, barring some unforseen football game over the holiday. He rarely ever answers his phone, so I don't even get to chat with him much. For some reason, his dad is always able to reach him and then the conversation goes on and on about what else? Football! They have such a close relationship, always have, and sometimes I get a little jealous but what can I do?




Cecy is still living it up big in Ogden, although she's going through room mate trauma right now. It's a soap opera every day with the usual twists and turns of single life meshing with defiant roomies, door slams, nasty text messages, locked doors, missing food, acusations, etc. etc. etc. I keep reminding her that this is only prepatory to marriage so she better learn now how to deal with others issues. She took the month of August off from school to avoid burnout and now that it's time to go back, she's not liking the thought of another six months or so. She's also dropped a bombshell on us. After years of insisting that college is NOT for her and she would never consider going, she's decided college might not be such a bad idea afterall. We told her to go ahead with that plan, but she's got to finish cosmetology first!



Jordan is thick into football season now and senior life. I must say, he's more than a bit testie after a long, hard day of school and grueling football practise. I've got to learn to keep my mouth shut to avoid the temper tantrums. He is a good little player, though, and it keeps him busy enough that he's too tired to get into trouble. He's a good kid, a lot of fun (most of the time) and although he doesn't like to show it often, he's a softie. A little example- first day of school. Imagine my surprise when I was questioning Jax about his first day of high school and Jordie's tender side came out. Here's how it went-

Me- So Jaxon, do you have any friends in any of your classes?>
Jax- A couple.
Me- What about your lunch hour? Do you have any friends that eat the same time you do?
Jax- Yea, Jordan has the same lunch. He even MADE me sit with him.

Now, picture my jaw drop and my quick intake of breath.
Me- Are you kidding?
Jax- (With a slight grin) Nope. He made me eat with him and his friends.

At home, they barely tolerate each other but Jordan wanted to make sure his little bro had someone to eat lunch with. Awwww, does a mother's heart proud.




Jaxon seems to be enjoying high school and has taken on the role of sophomore really well. It's hard for me to believe he's really only got three years of public school left! Where has the time gone? He's taking an interest in painting and cooking. He's actually pretty good at both! He's such a fun kid to have around!




Brinlei has enjoyed her summer with her birthmom here. In fact, it's almost as if she's come full circle and is now more comfortable with who she is. She's coming into her own and is a joy to have around. She's developing this silly, teasing sense of humor that just cracks me up! She's a beautiful girl with a great personality and it frightens me a bit to think of her teenage years. She gets a lot of attention because of her exotic looks, which I don't think she even recognizes. It scares me to think of her discovering the opposite sex. Right now she still thinks boys are icky and I keep telling her to keep that attitude! Heaven help us when she finally figures out they're not so bad after all.




Maleia is loving first grade! She's so funny every morning as she gets ready for school. She's getting very particular about what she wears and how she looks. Her hair is a major issue every morning! She comes home with a big grin on her cute little face every day and has to tell me all about her day. It's so fun! She brightens my day, no matter how ugly it may have been.




Jake has become the family tormentor and no one is safe from his antics. He loves nothing more than to tease and of course he has plenty of victims. My little niece usually takes the brunt of it during the day until the other kids get home, although he's taken to harrassing Sissy, Brinlei's little sister. The noise level is sometimes off the roof and I find myself wanting to just put a pillow over my head while singing "We Are A Happy Family". It's NUTS!!!! Thank goodness preschool starts next week!




Janzyn is growing like a weed! It's hard for me to believe he's 2 1/2 months already. At his 2 month check up he weighed in at a whopping 10 lbs, 6 oz. and was 22 inches. That puts him between the 50th and 75th percentile in weight and a measly 25th percentile in height. Short and squat! He is definitely an Anderson!!! He's starting to smile and coo and is as cuddly as can be. There's nothing better than snuggling up to a rolley polley baby with his soft breath on your neck. I could just eat him up! He fits in so well with our family and everyone is enthralled with him. Each day gets better and better with him, especially since he's slept the last three nights all the way through the night. YOOHOOO! I'm lovin' life!

Poor Jay is still swamped with the pool wrap up while working his long hours at school. I feel so badly for him. He doesn't get much time to wind down at night because the minute he walks in the door, which usually is anywhere from 8 to 10, he's bombarded by the kids. They miss him so much and so does their mom! Yesterday was a pretty stressful day for me and he walked in with the ultimate stress relief for me. A nice, little tub of Ben and Jerry's Everything but the... ice cream. I almost ate the whole stinkin' thing last night and enjoyed every single spoonful. I was feeling pretty sorry for myself until then. I was watching Dr. Phil and he made the profound statement that a husband who spends 14 or more hours a day working is nothing more than a paycheck to his family. When I told Jay that, his reply was "Sometimes that's exactly how I feel!" Poor guy! Thankfully the pool will close after this weekend so the horribly long hours will end.

I'm doing my best to keep up with everyone and although it's crazy stressful most days, I'm thankful for the life I have. I would be pretty lonely if I didn't have the constant chaos! Someday I'll figure out how to manage everything better.