Mother's Day 2014

Sometimes life doesn't seem to be going your way.  Today started out that way.  However, now that the day is coming to a close I can say it was perfect.  I wouldn't want it any other way.
Jacob has a cold that has been making it hard for him to sleep.  Therefore, I don't get much sleep either.  Last night was one of those nights.  It was long with frequent interruptions to sleep.  Morning came and I got up and made us breakfast while Les came home from work and fell asleep instantly.  Breakfast was so good.  We had German pancakes with strawberries and cool whip on top (yes I am keeping to a low sugar diet).  The kids saw me making eggs and decided before I had even whisked the eggs together that breakfast was going to be yucky.  They all tried it and at least one of the kids finished a whole portion.  Another one at all that I gave her but would only allow half of one on her plate.  The other girl ate the toppings and then refused to eat anymore. 
Then it was time to get ready for church.  They all got into beautiful dresses while I called to talk to my mom.  I was given enough time to shower and get myself ready.  As soon as I was done the girls were going a little stir crazy so they went to Emma's room and held a "rememberance" party for our cat Midnight (I'll talk about Midnight at the end).  After they headed off Jacob came to me crying so I pulled him onto my lap.  He laid down as best as he could in my lap and within minutes was off to dreamland.  This never happens.  Ever.  So now I'm thinking this illness is really doing a number on him.  A short while later the girls come back to me telling me they are sick and they think they should stay home from church.  the bad mom I am thinks, "I don't want to stay home and be their entertainment all day.  Especially on Mother's Day!"  Emma must have been able to read my expression because she quickly changes her mind about staying home.  She tells me, "I want to go to church mom."  I tell her I can't let her go because if she is sick I can't let her spread it to all the other kids.  She so sweetly replies, "I promise not to get anyone sick."  If only it could be that easy.  So I tell the kids that if they are staying home to go change out of their dresses.  They argue with me for sometime about how they now will go to church anyway so I can go.  I finally tell them to keep themselves busy and I will think about what to do.  I finally decide that I will take at least Emma to church so she can give her Article of Faith in Primary and then we can go home.  I tell the girls this plan and all of them want to go.  Right before I go Santiago comes home early from church (he told me he would be so if I needed someone to watch sick kids he would be here) and then Jacob wakes up.  Let's just say that by the time I make it out the door church has started.  The girls were really quite good in Sacrament.  Then I take them to Primary.  Emma sits up front while we wait for it to start.  As I am looking around I remember that the music leader had asked me some questions for a surprise for the kids on Mother's Day.  I thought it would be a shame if they missed it.  So I sat and thought and thought.  The only one who had any signs of sickness was Samantha.  She had been sick but by this point she hasn't had a fever in more than 24 hours.  In theory, she shouldn't be contagious anymore.  After Emma finishes reading her Article of Faith I ask the girls how they feel.  Emma and Khloe say they are fine and I haven't observed them coughing or having snot run out of their noses.  So I send them to sit with their classes.  Sammi on the other hand says she is still feeling sick.  However, she keeps asking me about what she can eat for lunch when we get home and when are we going home to have lunch.  I think to myself this girl must not be too sick if she is hungry.  I decide to sit and watch music time to see my kids reaction when one of the mystery moms is me.  Just before they do the questions for me Sammi decides she wants to go to class.  I send her to sit with her class and then watch as Emma's eyes get larger and larger as the clues about me are given.  I thought it was quite fun.I got to sit in Relief Society and listen to the lesson with all the other women in the ward.
We went home and I warmed up lasagna for lunch.  Then Emma and Santiago (with a little help from the other two girls) made a sugar free cake for dessert.  I made dinner and Les even got up and spent some time with us for an hour or two before he had to head off to work.  Then it was dessert time and I was rather surprised at how good the cake turned out. 
The kids are in bed (even Jacob but I am afraid at how short lived that will turn out to be) and I am about ready to head to my own.  I will try to remember to get on tomorrow to tell the sad tell of the cat named Midnight.

5 Wonderful years!

Five years ago today Les Mounteer Jr. took me to the Vernal Temple and made me his wife for time and all eternity!  It has been a life changing experience.  In our five years of marriage we have had two beautiful baby girls, added another toddler girl to the mix, moved 3 times, lived in 6 different wards, put Les through college, and through it all we still love each other.  It is amazing that with all the things that have gone wrong I can't stand mad at Les for very long.  For whatever reason he can't stay mad at me either.  I feel that is important because it will get us through many hard times in our lives and keep us together. 
I want my love to know that I am grateful I get to be his wife.  I love our life together.  Happy Anniversary my love!

There she goes!

I have been trying to put video's on here from my camcorder but so far it isn't taking. So for now I just tell you the news instead of showing it to you.

SAMANTHA IS WALKING!!!

Last week we were getting some stuff cleaned up before going to bed when Sammi walked her first steps. She came to give me a piece of paper. Then she side stepped back over to her walker. I was in complete shock! Earlier that day I had tried to get her to walk but as soon as I let go she cried and sank onto her bum. I told Les who looked up and said, "I didn't see it so it didn't happen." I knew he was teasing me but I wanted him to see it too. So I gave the paper back to Sammi. Just as I knew she would she looked at it then at me and brought it back to me. This time I made sure Les was watching. We are so happy! We have been worried that she was a bit behind due to her slow start but, she is proving to us each day that she is a fighter who can overcome obsticles. For the next few days I tried to catch her on camera but to no avail. As soon as the camera came out she would sit down to do something else. Finally, it happened! I am upset that I can't get the video on here. I am oh so pleased with her progress. Within days she went from taking a few steps to walking across our living room. She is getting to where she can turn around (somewhat).

In other news for those that don't know our family spent Sunday night stuck on a mountain. We went for a Sunday drive. As we drove up the mountain we went through some snow. Even in 4-wheel drive we slid a bit (there was a drop off on one side of the road. We kept going and made it through. We stopped to decide if we wanted to continue or turn back. We looked at our map and thought we were close to Randolph, UT. So Les thought we should continue on and maybe we could go see Carolyn and her family in Kemmerer. When we tried to move forward we didn't. So we tried to move back and couldn't. Les and I got out to assess our position. We dug out around our tires. I found some woodand we put that behind our tires. It didn't work. So Les got a bunch of smaller rocks and put them behind the tires. That didn't work either. Thinking we were close to Randolph Les decided to walk out for help. I fed the kids, wrapped them in blankets, and put them down to sleep. Emma wanted to be in my lap and so did Sammi. I finally got them to sleep. I sat for a long time watching the curve in the road around which Les disappeared. Sammi woke up several times and I would sooth her and put her back to sleep. I must have dozed off because I woke up to see Les standing outside the car. I unlocked the car ans he climbed in. It was almost 2 am. he was cold, tired, sore, and hungry. While he ate he explained what he had gone through. We were a lot farther from Randolph then we thought. Les got to a lake that was about 15 miles from Randolph. The snow on the road was 3 feet deep. He turned around when he realized that no one from Randolph would be able to get through to us.
We tried to sleep the rest of the night but the kids seemed to wake up as we were falling asleep. Around 7 am I decided I was going to walk out the direction we had come in. I was going to suggest that we all go but realized the kids kids wouldn't be able to walk that far and neither could Les. His legs were cramping from the wlking he had already done. So I started out armed with a few cereal bars, Les' cell phone, a map, and a walking stick. With images of my kids and Les in my head I pushed through without stopping to a place called Hardware Ranch (wildlife management area). As the buildings came in to view (2 1/2 hours after I started) tears flowed from my eyes and I screamed for help. I was still to far away for anyone to hear me. So I kept walking. I made it to within a hundred yards of the buildings before anyone realized I was yelling for help. A group of men were working on the roof of the nearest building. They climbed down ran to their truck and drove to me. They picked me up and drove me back up to Les and the girls. They attached tow ropes to the Yukon and pulled it out. We made it home by 10:30. We bathed the kids, fed them, and put them down for a nap. Then we showered and took a nap as well. We are still tired and oh so sore but we are home and safe.

Power of the Priesthood

The last few days have been quite the trial. Monday night Emma had a temperature of 104 degrees. We gave her some Tylenol and put her in the bathtub to cool her down. The Tylenol helped for about half an hour and then her temp started climbing again. So we took her into the ER. If it hadn't been midnight we would have called Daniel to help give her a blessing. We should have anyway. Emma screamed the entire time they were trying to get a reading for her O2 level. She was upset because she did not want that horrible thing taped to her toe. She worked so hard to get to it. Then when I din't think she (or I) could take much more they took her to get a chest x-ray. She screamed even harder when they strapped her in with her hands above her head. Les would describe it as Emma in a bottle. I had to wait out in the hall while the did it. I don't know if it was the hormones or that I am her mother but I cried a lot while we were there.
When we got back to the ER the nurses came in with a catheter to get a urine sample. I had this internal battle. I hate to hold my child down for anything (I myself can't stand to be held down against my will) but at the same time knowing that if she isn't held still, more pain could be caused. All the crying wore Emma out and after the nurses left us alone so fell asleep. An hour later the Doctor came in to tell us the results. Everything looked fine. We were told she probably had a virus and that the only thing we could do is give her Tylenol/Motrin to keep the fever down while her body worked things out. Great, we waste a few hours in the ER just to go home and do the same things we had already tried.
We were all exhausted when we got home so we wrapped Emma up and placed her in our bed beween us. Every hour or so she would wake up crying and reach out for me. I comforted her as much as I could until she fell back asleep. Around 5 she woke up and couldn't be comforted. We gave her more Tylenol (her temp was back up to 103) and when it kicked in we could tell a difference. She actually smiled and was more like herself. I went to make some breakfast and while I was cooking she took her Elmo book that makes sounds and would dance around the kitchen. My heart felt so much joy to see her acting better. Les and I decided that she should have a priesthood blessing. Les had used the last of his oil when Kailey was sick so we called around to see who had some. Jana said she would hurry and warm some up so Les could refill his vile. Daniel was already at work so we were going to see if he would come out to the parking lot to help give the blessing. Les didn't want to bother him so when our old home teacher called back to say he had found his oil Les asked him if he would help give Emma the blessing. So we went to their house and a beautiful blessing was given. I can't tell you how Emma felt but I immediately had peace flow into my heart. Les dropped me off at school on his way back home. I was so tired that I didn't get much done at school. Les came to get me and took me home. I emailed the teacher of my afternoon class to let him know why I wasn't coming in. I was so grateful to be home where I could take care of my little girl. Off and on through the day she would run around and be so playful. Then when her energy wore out she would take a little nap.
I can testify that the Priesthood is powerful and that it is a great blessing in my life. I am grateful for a husband who is worthy to have the Priesthood and to use it to bless the lives of our family. Emma's blessing has come to pass. In it she was told that she would know that she is loved and that although she would be uncomfortable for a little while she would get better. She is better. Her temp hasn't completely gone away but it has not spiked back up to those horrible high temperatures. Little by little I see her body healing and getting back to that healthy state.
I would like to send a great big thank you to everyone who prayed on Emma's behalf. It means so much to our little family to know that we have so much support. We love you all.

So I guess I'm a Blackwidow

That is what Les called me after we went to the hospital to get an ultrasound. No it does not mean that I have planned or even would plan to devour my mate. I'll come back to what he means later.
I absolutely love any sign that my child is growing and healthy. On Wednesday Les went with me to my Dr. appointment. I relished the look that came to his face when he heard the baby's heart beat. It lets me know that this loving man loves this baby as much as I do.
Today I was so excited not only for myself but also for Les and Emma to see the baby. Especially for Emma. Lately she has noticed that my tummy has gotten bigger. One day I noticed her staring at it. I told her that there was a baby in there. She looked a little confused but still accepting. She then gave the "baby" a kiss. Let me tell you it sent this incredible warmth coursing through my body. I have worried about Emma being overly jealous and even mean to the new baby. Especially when she realizes this new baby gets some of her attention from Mommy and Daddy. Her sweet little kiss showed me that there may still be some trouble but it won't be as bad as I had imagined. I want to give Emma every opportunity to see the baby and anything else that will help her come to terms with this change that is coming. That was why it was so important that she be there for the ultrasound. I wanted her to see her new sibling and start her toward being prepared for the future.
She was totally in to the pictures on the screen. I don't think she really knew what was going on.

Now for the exciting news . . .

I don't know if I should tell what I know.

Then again I am so excited to tell someone . . .

We are having a . . . .

GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!

So back to the blackwidow thing. After finding out we are having another girl he told me that I must kill off all the boys. Thus I am a blackwidow. If that is the case then maybe he should be a little worried. But for now we are just excited to get to know our precious new girl.

Parable of the pencil

We had our first sunday lesson in Relief Society today. The first councilor had been out of town so they moved the lessons around. I am grateful for it. I really loved the lesson. A basket was passed around with the Parable of the Pencil for each person. I hope you enjoy the story.

The Pencil Maker took the
Pencil aside, just before
putting him into the box.

"There are five things you
need to know," he told the
pencil, "Before I send you out
into the world. Always
remember them and never
forget, and you will become
the best pencil you can be."

"One: You will be able to do many
great things, but only if you allow
yourself to be held in Someone's
hand."

"Two: You will experience a painful
sharpening from time to time, but
you'll need it to become a better
pencil."

"Three: You will be able to correct
any mistake you might make."

"Four: The most important part of
you will always be what's inside."

"And Five: On every surface you are
used on, you must leave your mark.
No matter what the condition, you
must continue to write."


The Pencil understood and promised
to remember and went into the box
with purpose in its heart.

We applied each step to ourselves. Read it again and think how you can apply each of those things to your own life. Always remember that God loves you and sent you here for a reason. You do have a purpose.