bringin' healthy back

Holy moley!

These past six days have been the most horrible of my life! More than giving birth, I tell you.

I've had the highest fever, the most horrible nights ( Evan Sr, Evan Jr and Isabel were sick too), I have lost 6 lbs because I couldn't even swallow my own saliva!, I got my period in the middle of all this!! so it doubled my body ache... ( I don't know why, by the way, I wasn't supposed to get it for two more weeks), I was so dizzie.... the first drugs were making me

have palpitations and pressure on my chest, so I had to go to the doctor again to get new ones...

So I am happy to say, that I am FINALLY feeling better.

I woke up nice and early today. Carmen had a Halloween party at her school, so i had to do her make up, help her get dressed as a WITCH!

She wanted her face green... I wasn't too sure. I wanted her to look beautiful, but she wanted to be an ugly scary witch....

And this is what I got.

She can't be ugly even if she tries....

she is just beautiful!

The other good news is that I got a lap top!

yes!!

with a camera so I can talk to my family on skype!

I know electronics and I don't get along well... I hope I can take good care of it :D

Being Sick Sucks

I haven't been sick like this in ages... and it sucks.

For some reason I sensed it was coming.

Evan was off work on Saturday and so I asked him to leave with the kids because I really needed some time to relax.

Evan is gone all day, every day...sometimes even the weekends and I felt my body giving in.

So he took them out to a pet store to get new stuff for the fish ( sally is her name) and they came home with two more :D

Instead of relaxing...... what did I do?

I cleaned the two bathrooms, changed everybody's bedding, did 4 loads of laundry, I was folding the last load when they came in.

I showered and left to do grocery shopping. At least I went on my own. Jordan was coming over to watch the Habs game with Evan.

When I got home... I was dead.

And we had people coming over the next day, so I had planned this great meal to have with them... and I was getting stressed my the minute.

I had the most horrible night. My fever as high as ever, and my throat was on fire.

I could barely move...every part of my body hurt... I SHOULD HAVE RESTED RIGHT??

And what made me feel even worse was to have to cancel in such short notice.

I was getting a calling at church too, that I was super excited about... oh well....

Evan took the kids to the Richmond ward to practice their Primary presentation.

When he came back he took great care of me. He prepared me a bath, gave me some pills, prepared chicken noodle soup, and made me a nice frosty citrus juice.

He made the kids food, cleaned the kitchen and tidied up around the house while playing with the kids.

He joined me in bed for a little nap and informed me he was getting sick himself. GREAT!

He went to school on Monday but called me to go pick him up....

I might go to the doctor today. I hate being like this, no opportunity to rest... and now Evan Jr and Isabel are getting sick too...OH this is horrible. I don;t want to take antibiotics because I get a yeast infection E-V-E-R-Y-TIME! But it might be worth it.

Anyway... I'm going to bed... I need more drugs :(

A Big Difference

I met with Carmen's teacher today.

What a difference from last year!

I was happy to know she was going to be in a split class with 1-2 Grade, but I was happier to know that she wasn't getting the same teacher as last year.

Carmen always comes home saying nice things her teacher said of her, or the nice things she did in class... etc. After meeting with her, I too adore her. She even made me cry.

She sees the potential I see in my daughter, and she really showed me she cares and loves her as I do.

She is in a mission to make Carmen the best student she can be.

She is very amazed at Carmen's level of comprehension, reading, writing and spelling skills. So even thinks she might be a gifted child... so she's going to be evaluated.

But... she made me cry when she said Carmen has a huge heart.

She kept going on how special Carmen is, how loving and kind.

She said she could tell she came from a loving home.

It really touched me.

Because we love her... I love her! And there is nothing that gives a child more confidence than to know that she is loved.

And that's the best knowledge I can give my daughter... more than any teacher can give her, or what any gifted school can teach her.

I don't need the results of that test to know

SHE IS A VERY SPECIAL CHILD!

The best years

Carmen turned 6 years old yesterday.

She had planned her party since we celebrated Evan's 4th birthday.

A Black Cat theme.

It is very handy to have a baby born so close to Halloween.... the theme is easy ;P

So we did their make up, put a little tail on them and decorated their cupcakes as kitties.

They said it looked more like mouses and rabbits... so never mind.

It was fun.

I tend to stress myself when it comes to birthday parties for my kids. I want it to be especial! But this time I controlled myself and took it easy. After all I am on my own, with three kids running around.... it gets more complicated than you imagine.

Carmen wasn't expecting a present from us. She said that we were family! that we didn't have to get here anything... But first thing in the morning, we went down to the garage, where her very first bike was waiting for her!

It took her a second to realize it was for her.

She is so cute!!

She is so smart, so beautiful, so loving, so bright, so driven, so caring, so thoughtful, so loyal...

I am totally in love with her.

I remember driving down to Seattle Temple to get married and deciding with Evan on the names of our babies.

Carmen was the first one.

I knew I wanted to have her in my family. I just knew.

The sealer told us about these especial spirits that were there, watching, waiting, excited to meet us and to be part of our family.

Carmen was born 9 months after that day.

I am so happy that it happened that way.

I remember the first time my eyes met those big wide open eyes.

They seemed to pierce my soul.

Her spirit talked to my spirit.... we belonged to each other. We were meant to be together forever.

Such an unforgettable moment.

Such and instant bond.

We were finally reunited!

I love her.

I'll love her forever.

She has my heart.

She is my daughter!

Slow Down

I started running again. I didn't do much exercising since Evan left for training for the summer. Now that he's been home for a month it was time to resume our "activity".

There is so much to do in our morning routine, that leaving to go running was a goo thought but not realistic. So we decided to buy equipment to exercise at home.

We bought this and this.

( except the older model and second hand).

I had been running for 15 min ( 6.6 speed) and couldn't do no more, so I speed walked the other 15 min. at 3.8.... and to push myself a little ( I like the pain) I went up to 7.2 for the last 2 minutes.

I'm dead now.

I couldn't help but to think if E. Uchtdorf

"There is more to life than increasing its speed".

So as I ran, I focussed on putting one foot in front of the other.... and sometimes that's what I find myself doing in life. Just the basics.... it might not seem as much... but I'm moving forward.

Didn' you know running was such a therapeutic session? ;P

Controversy

I have to say how much I've loved General Conference!

All of it was great.

Starting form the Relief Society and President Monson's amazing talk on CHARITY!

Just the day before I had been pondering ( after watching the show "The Apprentice") on how much the world promotes looking for the weaknesses of people, on how much we put people down because of the things they do wrong...etc. And then I hear this talk and I can't but desire to be better and to follow his counsel.

The same inspiration I've found throughout all the sessions in General Conference.

E. Holland is always one my favorites... it just didn;t help that he started me crying from the very first talk!

One of my favorites is E. Christofferson. I loved his talk.

Everyone's, really.... this time is hard for me to pick a favorite.

Apparently some people have some issues with E. Packer's talk.

I was surprise to hear from criticism from members!

And I couldn't help myself and had to make some comments.

All this happened while I was in the middle of reading "The miracle of Forgiveness" right in the chapter where President Kimball addresses rebellion... even more, he later calls them traitors.

I want to share some parts:

"Among Church members rebellion frequently takes the form of criticism of authorities and leaders. They "speak evil of dignities" and " of the things that they understand not" (2 Peter 2:10, 12)... In a word, they have the spirit of apostasy, which is almost always the harvest of the seeds of criticism...

One would wish the rebellious would stop and ask themselves questions such as: " Do my philosophy and my critical efforts bring me closer to Christ, to God, to virtue, to prayer, to exaltation?..."

"What shall be said of those members who press so hard and publicize their criticisms of the Church that they give encouragement to its enemies and embarrass its leadership and the other faithful members?...

What could be more despicable than a traitor to a friend, a church, a nation, or a cause?..."

( The Miracle of Forgiveness pages 42-46)

There is nothing that makes my blood boil more than hearing members publishing openly critics on God's chosen. Like would you hear Jesus talk speak and say it wasn't a good talk?

There are things I don't get. There are people who willingly walk on thin ice.

I know how Alma must have felt when he said he wished to be an angel and preach repentance unto ALL people!... I do sin in my wish too.

It is not a new thing to twist the Prophet's words to satisfy one's own will.

It's been done from the beginning of time... it appears it will go on forever... but it will have an end. We'll see eye to eye.... and there will be no confusion no more.

Can't wait for that day.

But for now... My Church, my leaders have my full support!

You don't mess with E. Packer if you don't want to have a piece of my mind.

Rolling up my sleeves

Yes! I am excited... after a year of living here... I am renovating the kid's rooms.

I found this cute bedding for the girls!!

I am trying to figure out the paint and found some cute frames to hang, plus looking for decoration for girls is so FUN!

I am having more problems for Evan's room.

I have nothing.

I have no clue.

I can't find any bedding I like. I thought about making a quilt for him myself... but since I want it now... not just before he goes on his mission, I am afraid I have to find something ASAP.

So if you happen to see anything fun ( but no childish, please)

let me know!

I am super excited!!!