Bad Luck

A little bit of bad luck goes a long way! Our home has been filled with an impaired function affecting all parts of the body aka sickness. It has not been fun to say the least. First Dirk was down and out with pneumonia which required a hospital stay. 2 weeks later and I think he is finally feeling better but not 100%. Then our sweet little Clay contracted something terrible. He was so sick. He would just moan and groan and we knew he didn’t feel good. Three doctors later and several tests run we found out that he was really sick…which of course we knew…but never got a name for it. Luckily we have been treating him with a strong does of antibiotic. They first started him on penicillin, which wasn’t doing the job they next gave him an IM of Rocephen and then followed up with azithromycin. A week later, he is still very cranky but appears to be on the mend. Poor Jeslyn, she has had 6 sleepless nights and can’t seem to breath. I think she may have a horrific cold that is kicking her butt. Good thing she got to stay home from school yesterday because it was canceled due to TOO much SNOW. Yes snow, it is suppose to be spring, but it isn’t here! Then there is me, momma, I have the worst sore throat and my ear drums feel like they are going to burst. I can’t bend over without almost falling down because I get so dizzy. And to top it off, I can’t get in to a Dr. because it appears everyone else is sick too! Oh mercy! I think I am going to spend the day sanitizing every doorknob, handle, counter, nook and cranny that nasty little sickness bug could be hiding! I just hope we can keep Jauncee well. Now that I think about it she may have started us all off with a tiny little cold…can’t really remember because she never complained too much. And to top it all off I was ROBBED!

I can’t even believe it, I feel so violated. I had spent the morning at the doctors office with Clay which ended up being tests, labs, x-rays all at the hospital. 4 hours later and an exhausted baby we were out the door to head for home with a few necessary stops to make on the way. First stop, drug store to fill Clays prescription. I pulled up to the door, acknowledged my quiet, sleeping baby and grabbed his insurance card out of my wallet which was in the diaper bag, ran in the store to drop off the prescription and came back out…literally 2 minutes max…I had been robbed! My diaper bag was gone, my wallet was gone! My baby was still in the car, thank heavens! Never again will I ever be so trusting. Just imagine for a minute. How many of us have pulled up to Baker Drug left the kiddos in the car, hurried inside dropped off a prescription and back out the door? I am guilty of doing that many of times. I was so upset that I didn’t know what to do. I ran back into the store and told them that I had been robbed…they didn’t believe me…as if their parking lost was unsafe! I was in a panic…I drove back to the hospital just in case I was loosing my mind and I happened to leave it there. Which I knew I didn’t but it was worth checking out anyway. Of course I didn’t find it. I went to the bank next and canceled my card and put a stop payment on the check book, and then went and filed a police report. They told me my chances of getting it back were slim to none but that they would investigate it anyway. I called my mom so upset and bless her heart she is so special and sweet, she was able to calm me down and gave me some good advice. Thanks mom for being there for me. Later that evening I drove back to town to dig through dumpsters in the area. I was hoping the thief only wanted my wallet and perhaps trashed the rest. My diaper bag wasn’t small nor inconspicuous it was rather large and a giraffe print to boot. I knew if it was in one of them it would for sure stand out. A couple hours and several dumpsters later…no diaper bag! I had finally accepted that it was gone. I felt a whirlwind of emotions that day…I am glad that it is over and my husband and baby are finally better and all the fun new replacement baby stuff is here – YIPPEE! We also have a huge event we are looking forward to this up and coming Friday, can’t wait!

Of course I had to leave some cute picture of our precious babe! We love him so much!

He has this funny scowl, I love it...he is such happy baby that it makes me laugh when he does! Mr Clay is very animated.

6 and 7 months

Clay Boone, our sweet, good natured little babe who is growing up way too fast! I love this little guy so much! He has been so much fun. Our family is truly blessed, I have never been around such a good baby…and it’s all of the time! Clay has such a fun personality and seems to be quick at mastering each new skill. He has been sitting up for over a month now all on his own with little or no support. He can grasp things really well, which isn’t too surprising with his enormous broad hands. He can even pick up things with his fingers. He loves to eat…his favorite’s oatmeal, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes and beans. He doesn’t care too much for the fruit, but I keep trying them. Although he does like to suck on apple slices. He still loves to nurse, which I love! Clay has two teeth on the bottom, they started breaking through around 6 months and are really sharp and growing fast, luckily he has yet to bite me too hard. I kind of think he may be cutting a few more. At his 6 month check-up he weighed in at a whopping 17 lbs 20 oz (75^th percentile), height he was 26 ½ “ (54^th percentile).

He is now 7 months and I am certain he has grown. Just today he sat up all on his own…my little baby is turning into quite the busy little body, but he is so much fun. I just love this little guy and couldn’t imagine life without him! The girls and Dirk too! Life is good!

In school awhile back Jeslyn had to write a personal narrative and present it before her peers and their parents. She wrote about Clay, and did a fantastic job!

When My Brother Was Born

By Jeslyn Gillins

I walked in the room. I was thinking I finally have a brother. I already had a sister. It was time for a change. That’s what I was thinking when I first saw him. I couldn’t say a word. I was speechless. I was so eager to hold my new baby brother.

“What is his name?” I asked.

“We don’t know.” Mom said. “Just a minute and you can hold him.”

“I call holding him first.” I said. I had waited long enough. I wasn’t about to sit and wait for my little sister t have a turn first. I waited patiently. Finally my brother was done eating. Dad brought him to me. I sat on the couch. He was a beautiful baby. He had curly hair. His eyes sparkled like diamonds. They were blue like the ocean is blue. He had the cutest little round head. He had mom’s and my ears and lips. My baby brother didn’t make a peep. I think he is the most beautiful baby on earth. I was so excited about my mom coming home the next day. Then I could help tend him. Part of my life changed that day. I love my baby brother Clay Boone.

I am very proud of Jeslyn and her personal narrative. I think I had tears in my eyes that morning listening to her read while I was holding our precious bundle of joy. How blessed I am for the opportunity I have to be their mother and for the stewardship over them. Each one is truly a gift from God, and oh how grateful I am for that gift.

Daddy Daughter Date

On February 11, 20011, Jeslyn and Dirk went on Daddy Daughter Date for Achievement Days. They had a formal dinner and a dance along with a talent show. I think they both a great time together. Jeslyn and Dirk get along so well and I am glad for that.

Valentine's Day

Heart-shaped candies and cookies, pretty cards, flowers and lots of xoxoxoxo….no wonder Valentine’s is a favorite! Well let me tell you how lucky I am! Every Day for me is a Valentine’s Day! Every day of my life with Dirk is filled with LOVE incomparable to anything I have ever had or felt…so who needs to celebrate Valentine’s Day when in fact all you need to do each day is wake up and WAHLAH...HAPPINESS, LOVE and AFFECTION!

I have a funny story to share about the girls. It seems Valentines Day has changed over the years. When I was young we would give the usual valentine cards to our classmates but this usually didn’t cover our close knit group of friends. So we would include in our count a card for each of them and after school my mom would run us around and we would put the card on the doorstep, knock on the door or ring the doorbell and run as fast as we could. We did this to everyone on our list including our siblings. It seemed our doorbell alone rang for a couple hours straight. My mom even joined in on the fun. I should have carried on this tradition but for some reason I didn’t. So this year I thought it to be never too late to start! Wrong!! We were going about our usual evening routine of homework, dinner, and baths when I decided to slip out the back door with my goodies. I laid them out on the porch, knocked on the door and ran around the corner of the house waiting…I could hear them running around but no one came to the door so I knocked again. This time I could hear Jauncee getting upset. I waited a bit longer then knocked again and headed for the back door…but it was locked! What!?! The girls locked me out! Well I don’t think they locked me out just the person knocking on the door. Finally they saw me out the window in front and let me in. Not sure if this “new” tradition is going to be a good idea. It was all kind of funny. They were both mad at me for a bit but it didn’t last too long.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

JAN - U - AR - Y

Excited for a new year with new opportunities!

JANUARY is the one time that I look forward and backwards at the same time. I reflect on events of the previous year and resolve to improve some aspect of my daily life and personal philosophy. Cast out the old and in with the new! The shortest day has past, and whatever nastiness of weather we may look forward to at least I know the days are getting longer. Minute by minute they lengthen out.

January proved to be a month full of cold weather and snow but that didn’t stop us from getting out and enjoying the winter!

We also enjoyed the wintry bliss from inside our cozy little home. Something I am thankful for this time of year!

Jauncee and Clay Boy had fun strolling around the house! I think this activity eventually put him to sleep. It must have been due to him laughing so hard in the beginning!

And yes, we still had our tree up in January!

Jauncee loves Clay and is so much help with him when she gets home from school. She can entertain Clay for quite awhile. We love our Jauncee!

January also brought our first sleigh ride of the season.

Sure glad Santa brought Clay a snowsuit so he could get in on the fun. He was fascinated by the ride and eventually it rocked him to sleep too!

Silly Jauncee!

Every night before I go to bed I give my sleeping angels one more kiss and fix covers if needed. To my surprise on a school night this is how I found Jauncee. I guess she didn’t think I was serious about it being bedtime! Of course I had to take a picture and tease her about it the next morning! She blamed it all on me…as if I like to play tricks on her at night while she is sleeping!

My handsome little boy that is always smiling but I never seem to be able to capture it on camera!

January was also a month for sleepovers. They are always fun!

Sledding on the elk hide proved to be entertaining. Jes was the only one who dared in the beginning. The other girls thought it to be disgusting…Jauncee did come around!

We also enjoyed an afternoon sledding. It was so much fun and nice to get out and enjoy the fresh cool air. I went down 3 times and would have more if I thought I could have walked back up the hill some more, which was quite a hike.

Every night Clay sits up on the counter and helps me cook dinner. He keeps me company and I love it! He is such a fun little boy, he sure can jabber up a storm if he wants to. Although his time on the counter in the Bumbo is coming to an end…he seems to have figured out how to maneuver out of it if he wants to. Better to be safe than sorry.

The girls having fun entertaining themselves!

Self Portraits...something Jauncee loves to do. She loves to take pictures in general!

Our little Clay Boy also turned 5 months in January. He is so much fun and is growing like crazy. It has been such a joy to have a baby in the house and a little boy to boot! He is so loved by everyone. I also can’t believe how good of a baby he is, we are so blessed. He likes to play with anything and everything. He loves to socialize and can’t get enough of his reflection in the mirror. I love this little guy and treasure the time at home that I get with him.

I love being a wife and a mother there really is nothing greater!

We are excited for February to be here and look forward to more fun and great things yet to come!

Christmas Cheer

We celebrated Christmas early this year since the girls were going to be gone spending the holiday in Utah with their dads. We started the celebration Tuesday night with a roasted brisket for dinner. Grandpa and Grandma Johnson joined us for the occasion.

Our beautiful Christmas tree!

My little present wrapping helper…Clay had so much fun playing with the bows!

And the girls had fun teasing him! The perfect gift…our sweet little baby! Who could want for more?

Grandpa and Grandma Johnson joined us for the occasion. The girls were so excited and from Sunday on they kept begging me to open “just one” present! Alas Tuesday night arrived and dinner was over so naturally it was time to get down to business and open us up some presents!

Chore clothes, what fun! They also both got a pair of new boots, each one got a sledding tube, pajamas, a cute outfit, a Barbie and salon supplies.

My two favorite boys, I love these two! My sweetheart wouldn’t look at the camera for anything that night!

Clay had fun playing in the trash!

Our sweet girls in their new pajamas, one doesn’t look very happy, any guesses why! Her jammies didn’t come with the eye patch or whatever it’s called. The girls already have a few and Jeslyn, she actually uses hers and Jauncee, well they end up falling behind the bed because they never get used so I really didn’t think she would mind, guess I was wrong. She did get over it quick though

Winding down after all of the excitement! It was a fun evening. I tried my best to make it special for everyone, sometimes as a mother and wife you never know if you succeed in doing that or not.

CHRISTMAS IN HOLDEN

That next day after school the girls, Clay and I traveled to Utah. We spent that night in Holden with papa and grandma. When we first got there the power was out and had been for quite sometime. We all enjoyed a bowl of homemade Chili by candlelight. Eventually the power came on and we celebrated! First, Jauncee’s birthday and then Christmas!

I love her present opening position! She was getting all into it! Funny girl!

Both modeling their new snuggies from papa and grandma! Something they both wanted really bad!

They also got a huge Barbie Dream House! They were excited!

CHRISTMAS MORNING!

Christmas was really quiet at our house. Dirk moved cattle and I missed the girls! It was my first Christmas away from them and I sure missed their sweet faces. I did get to talk them both that morning and hear all about what Santa had brought them. They are both sweethearts and I am just glad that they are finally home where they belong!