Harvest

Darian helped Wade harvest his carrots. They are both so proud of the contributions their gardens make. I am proud of the work they put into their gardens.

Service with a smile

For the Church Welfare anniversary our stake is collecting food for the area food bank. We went as a family on our route. I showed the boys how to do the first few houses. Then it was Darian's turn. He was scared. I had to take over on his first try. Wade got impatient and took off to do the next house on his own. Darian had to buck up and do it after that. Elowyn got a bag and started chasing after the boys. She came to me, "make my bag alive". I wasn't sure what she wanted, but I figured it out. She wanted it fluffed up full of air so it would float, and so she could get cans in it. That was her next request. She saw the boys getting cans and she wanted in on the action. Julie and Parley were there to attract more business. Eventually we were doing three houses at a time. Julie drove the van with Parley. Wade and Darian worked alone. Elowyn and I worked as a team. She would ring the doorbell then knock on the door then stand in the little window beside the door. When people came to the door with a cat or a little child she would ask me what their name was. Then when we left she would tell me she was going to do a cart wheel which consisted of leaning over, putting her hands on the ground and raising one foot in the air. We all made a pretty good haul.

My Friends Can Moo Can You?

All creatures are worth talking to. My little Lady likes to ask the cows many things, always begining with a "hello". Then approach until she is nose to nose and then jumping back because it was a little too close but getting right back in there to cheer up that cow with conversation.
Little Lady is always a good hostess.

My other hand

With school starting I have really been missing my other hand. The hand that is always there to help or hold.
All summer I wake to the sounds of Wade reading as he quietly waits for Elowyn to wake so that he can change her diaper and get her dressed for the day. He then took her upstairs and played with her so I could get another hour of sleep before Parley woke. Wade made breakfast most mornings, sometimes he was a bit messy, but he was in charge of cleaning up dishes. Wade would hold Parley and rock him when I had to work with Darian or Elowyn, sometimes taking both Parley and Elowyn. Wade has been responsible all summer for a 20x4 foot garden of his own but he also took on Elowyn's garden and helping her weed each day. Wade is as patient as a saint with his older brother Darian, playing with him and trying to understand him as well as defending him. Wade has been near by all summer asking if he could get me a drink or if I needed him to do an extra job. This was never done with the feel of brown nosing, but with what felt like real concern for my comfort and well being. Wade has also been overlooked all summer, he is usually overlooked by everyone, teachers, parents, friends. He is almost always taken for granted. The squeaky wheels get greased and I am so worn out from the emotional grease I often not only have none left but I snap at the only dependable wheel I have. Now that school has started Wade is still dining all of that in the mornings as well as his regular jobs and homework but I miss him while he is at school. I often find myself stretched and I wish for my other hand to be home.
Wade is sensitive, smart, kind, good, and happy. He is a blessing in my life.

The day after

Elowyn is back to normal today. Her pediatrician agrees that it was most likely heat exhaustion. We took her to Dairy Queen to keep her hydrated. God is a God of miracles. This experience renewed our love for her. (the terrible twos have an effect on people). Her brothers also had faith promoting experiences during the ordeal. All is well.

She is at home and asleep now

Elowyn came down with a fever unlike any we knew. Her arms were cold but her chest was burning up. She got to 103. Julie cooled her down a bit and got her to drink so we thought it might be over. The fear was that it was heat exhaustion. So when she threw up and her temperature went back up she went to the emergency room. I got there soon after. They asked questions. Took measurements. Then they put us in a room. Then it was Tylenol up the bottom. Thermometer up the bottom. Ibuprofen down the throat. Then wait. Then check eyes ears and throat Then measure again. Then an IV which I thought was terrible and would be the worst. She could never look at a nurse without suspicious fear for the rest of our stay. Then wait. She was getting normal, but a blood test showed high white blood cells. So chest x-rays. Julie took the other kids home. Then the worst came. Test for meningitis by taking spinal fluid. They gave her a drug that made her loopy so she couldn't register pain or any other input correctly. I held her hand and tried to hide my tears while they poked her. When she came back around 20 minutes later she said in a pleasant in charge voice "let's put this away and go home now. ". The test was negative. So finally antibiotics. Then peel off all the sticky sensors. Peel off the IV. Then put on a gown and go. When we got outside Elowyn pleasantly talked about how it was dark and how we should find the truck so we could drive home to "Bonnie Jean"(think of Brigadoon). She said on the drive home that we went to the doctor and they made her better so now we go find Mama. I'm the one who wants to cry about it all. Blood lab work is still pending, but the worst case should just be more antibiotics.

Babies

"Mama, do you want to lay down with the babies?"
"oh, yes!"
We love our babies.