A whole new sound!

"Everything is SO LOUD!"

These were the first words out of Emily's mouth when she put on her brand new hearing aids! They not only look "SWEEET" in the light blue color that Emily chose but she even gets to decorate them with stickers! Who could ask for more??

It was a new world for her to be able to hear things like a door closing, the sounds while driving in the car, music (that wasn't turned up super loud!) and when she walked into her classroom this morning, she put her hands over her ears because everything was so loud!

It will take a little while to get used to but the Audiologist explained that the hearing aids can tell what environment she is in and adjust the sound for optimal hearing. It will be able to track what her needs are and when we go in for the next appointment they can adjust them to work even better for her needs. Technology is amazing!

Emily has never been able to listen to an ipod until now :) She has her very own special earphones that hook into her hearing aids! Pretty snazzy don't you think?

Emily was so excited to go to school and show her friends. They were all so excited for her. It is so awesome that hearing aids can be COOL! Instead of being something to try and hide, they are something to be proud of. Something that makes you SPECIAL!

How can you tell?

I am writing this post at the same time I am SUPPOSED to be at the Temple with my very dear friend. Why am I not there? Great question! Maybe you could all help me out on this one.

Emily has had chronic stomach pain for a long time. The last two weeks have been extra bad because she was on Omnicef for a sinus infection. She has taken this many times before BUT I guess it can cause bad stomach pain.

I took her off the medicine on Monday and she has been eating and acting more like "normal." When I ask how she's doing she always tells me, "It's NOT better mom, I just get sick of saying owe" hmmm

Last night she kept us all up because her tummy and her leg and her arm hurt. She even seemed to have some diarrhea. When she was eating breakfast her pain seemed worse then usual so I decided to give her the option of staying home; reminding her of course that this would mean NO PLAYING after school. She thought about it and decided she would stay home.

After dropping the kids off she kept telling me things like, "Mom, it's never good to lie about being sick because then you don't get to play." and "Mom, I am sorry you can't go to the Temple." Very sweet don't you think?

This takes us to my dilemma, She is now downstairs in front of the TV with paper, tape, markers and crayons spread all over the floor. She came up wanting me to help her make a scrapbook!!! Not a sign of a very sick child is it?

I looked at her and explained that if she is really sick, this means she is too sick to work on crafts like a scrapbook.

"I am sick mom"

"I believe you but if you are too sick to do school work then you are too sick to do a scrapbook."

"Oh"

This is the struggle. All of her life I have tried to make her "sick" days fun because she has been so miserable. I know her stomach hurts but unlike most children it doesn't seem to be going away any time soon. She has to live with more pain then most of us do. I don't know if I am being too rough on her just because she has learned to deal with her pain without having to be laying on a couch all day or is she taking me for a ride???? How can I tell?

I guess it's time to set some new ground rules for what happens when you stay home sick. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated :)

She qualified!

After last years many disappointments Jac is so HAPPY! She Not only qualified for the 200 breast stroke a few weeks ago; but Monday she qualified for the 100 breast stroke as well!!! She also took time off her 100 free. It was a great day:)

Alex and his friend Natalie and Grandpa Heaps enjoyed teasing her between events :)

We love Orem meets because more of our family can come to show support. (I was really smart and didn't bring the camera. Phone cameras do a splendid job don't you think?) Deb, Melissa, Grandma Heaps and Grandma and Grandpa Whiting joined in cheering Jac on for her winning time!

It meant so much to have all of you there. Thanks everyone!

BEAUTY IS...

The kids really showed their creativity and personal touch with their reflections entries this year.

Jacqueline made this darling clay figure which will always bring back such happy memories for our family :)

The title is, "Woo Hoo" You might have guessed but it is of Emily on the day she came home from the hospital. She was so excited to see everyone and be back home; Matt filmed her in front of the house with her arms spread out wide yelling, "Woo Hoo"
"Beauty is... courage!" She wrote how Emily's courage during such a challenging time in her 6 year old life, showed her true beauty. I just love the little teddy bear slippers and bright colored mask:)
I was very impressed with Thomas' project this year. He is becoming quite the artist! As you can see, others think so too. He will be going on to Regions next month. Congrats Thomas!

Beauty is... Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom "because having and using your knowledge makes you beautiful". He is such an insightful boy!

Matt tried to get him to add that his mom was the motivator for this piece because I have so much wisdom that he admires. Thomas and I had a good laugh! I told him the judges would know it was a tactic to get brownie points :)

Beauty is... RAINBOWS! I can't imagine Emily choosing to make anything different!

Emily wrote how she loves rainbows because they always help her to see the beautiful things in life. If you ask her what her favorite color is, she usually says "rainbow". The nurses got a kick out of this. Emily drew many pictures of rainbows to hang up on her walls. She always hoping to see a rainbow when she looked out her hospital room window.

"Mom, they just make me happy"

"Yes Emily, they really do!"

It's happening!

Another tooth gone!

Maybe this is why she doesn't eat!

Emily went to her Immunologist this week and she is doing fantastic! Seriously, her ANC(5100) and WBC have never looked so good. They tested her blood to see if she would be able to fight the flu. It wasn't a great response but it DID respond! which shows us it's happening; our daughter is getting an immune system!

She got the H1N1 vaccine yesterday. You would have thought someone was going to cut her open! She has been scarred for life from the 6 vaccinations she got last month. So far there are no signs of feeling sick at all :)

Emily is struggling with her weight which is down to 17.5 but what's new? She is still having mysterious stomach pains too. It seems to come and go, staying for a few weeks then takes a break before coming back. Hopefully it will eventually go away for good. She's been a real trooper because I've been making her go to school anyway because it is a great distraction. I figure if she can still play, she can surely go to school :) It's amazing how motivated this child is by friends!

Other then these minor issues she is doing well and staying HEALTHY. She is getting over a sinus infection but that's it! Hopefully the rest of the winter will go the same.

Trick or Treat...

Thomas and his friends, Matthew Jones and Katie Struthers are obsessed with the series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians. For those of you who don't know about the books; in short, they are about kids who are 1/2 human and 1/2 god. They go to "Camp Half-Blood" to learn what they are to do. (Thomas can explain it MUCH better) Anyway, They decided to be characters in his books. Any excuse to show off their REAL swords!

This crew spent their summer days playing in the "pit" creating their own world with homes for each of them and an arena for sword fighting. Yes, they are real, and yes they are very careful with them (that's what they tell me anyway) So far, only one scratch, oh I mean a "kitten" scratched Matt's face... not my sweet innocent son Thomas ;)

Here's our beautiful princess Emily! Nothings better than getting to wear make-up and glitter to school!

The famous school parade! Matt really does miss out on all the fun...I even sent him a text to tell him so while I waited very patiently to see my precious children :)

Jac didn't do any dressing up this year but she made this amazing monster named "MO" What can't this girl do? It's the cutest monster I have ever seen :) Now, how do we store him for next year?

Jac and her friends Kenzie and Ellie decided to honor their sweet mothers by carving I "heart" mom. It really did bring a tear to my eye...or was that flying pumpkin pieces???

All in all it was a fabulous Halloween! Now if The kids will just hide their candy from dear old mom so I can keep my girlish figure:) hee hee

Carving Adventures

Don't you love our creations?

Do you think the kids got a little crazy?

Matt made Mr. P90X. We had to dedicate it to our BUFF nephew Mitch!

Sorry we didn't have any blond hair:)