Playing House

All of the sudden I've become a mom of three... only for a week that is. Each day that I'm with these kids I realize how clueless I really am about parenting, and yet, is any new parent really an expert? Treyson, age 8, had his first baseball game yesterday, so like a good mom, I wanted to go and support him. I took a seat on the bleachers close to his team, Marissa, age 4, ran off to the playground and Britton, 10, was playing with a friend, so I sat, observing. I watched all these moms there to see their sons play while keeping track of their other little ones, and the coaches (really just dads) kneeling down next to the players giving them advice, when I came to the realization that we're all just wingin' it. Most of the parents there were not much older than me it seemed, and yet in the eyes of a kid, they're all experts at parenting. Yet none of them have training or special knowledge that makes them parents - they just have kids they take care of.

Do you remember being little and subconsciously you knew that Mom knew everything? She always knew how to play games you learned, she knew the right words to say, how to cook everything just right even without a recipe, she could always help you with your homework... You didn't really have to wonder why or how she knews these things - she's a Mom, and mom's just know. Well I guess I still kinda thought that. I've watched my older cousins raise their kids sooo well and I'm in awe as to how. I realize they have their challenges, but I assumed the knowledge of how to raise a child was handed to them when they had kids I guess. As I have friends from high school getting married, one of my first thoughts is "how on earth are they going to raise children? There's no way I'm ready to have a family yet so how are they?"

Today is only the fourth day I've been watching these kids and each day I realize how much I really don't know. I'm just making it up as I go, and I'm sure these kids think I just know, because I'm a 'mom'. All of the sudden my mom is my hero. The older I've gotten, and after having moved out, the more I've realized how much she really does. And yet she never gets a simple 'thank you'. Word that mean so much, and they never hear them...I haven't heard them once all week. I can't even explain how much I admire not only my mom now, but all moms.

I guess this experience of being a temporary mom came at just the right time - right before Mother's Day. I wish I could thank my mom for everything, but I guess there will never be a way to do that...

A National Security Crisis

My mom told me this the other day and I was so...excited (probably not the right word) that I had to go look it up. Apparently Childhood obesity has become a National Security Crisis.

Disclaimer: If you don't already know, I have a very strong opinion about obesity so it may be in your best interest to cease reading this post to not risk the possibility of being offended. However, if you choose to continue, be aware that my comments may be a little harsh.

(source: New York Times) A panel of retired military officers said that, "Weight problems are now the leading medical reason that recruits are rejected and thus jeopardizing the military's ability to fill its ranks." Apparently 9 million American youth (27% of youth 17-25) are too fat to fight. That's over a quarter of the youth in our nation! However, a nutrition bill is in progress that is suppose to improve school lunches. But get this! In 1946 the exact opposite happened. It was a "national security issue" that many recruits to the military had inadequate nutrition - that's when school lunches became a national focus and were changed to get kids healthier! Apparently it's NOT working! Honestly, I don't think changing school lunches will change anything. Look at all the people in this country. It's not just the kids that are fat, its their parents too. So changing school lunches will not change a thing when the kids get their eating habits from home.

Does anyone remember the State of the Union address? Michelle Obama said that her goal (for the year I guess) is to focus on, and find a solution for, the childhood obesity epidemic. So far.... I haven't seen anything come of that....

Whatever happened to the idea of Exercise?? I GUARANTEE that aerobic exercise 30 minutes a day will make you lose weight and be healthier. It's a proven fact! And health experts have been saying that for hundreds of years! (okay, maybe not hundreds, I'm getting carried away)

Okay, so some people have health issues that make it difficult to stay in shape. But give me a break! 9 million youth, at the age that the human species is suppose to be at the PRIME OF THEIR LIVES, are clinically obese?!? (I don't think the writers of Wally were too far off). It makes me sick to look around and see how obese people are. Now, I do realize that I'm blessed. I have a good metabolism and have grown up in a home where I can choose to eat healthier. But I still think that healthy living habits are a choice. Guess what? A bag of maybe 6 apples, is 2 dollars cheaper than a bag of chips. (Found that out while grocery shopping in college). Fills you up more too. Exercise usually causes you to eat healthier too. That's why I do both. It's not that hard - people are just too lazy to get up and do anything and it's easier to be obese.

I guess it all comes down to the fact that I believe our bodies are gifts from a loving Heavenly Father. We should take care of them. And being healthy allows us to do more and feel better. So I apologize for offending anyone... that's just my opinion on the matter.

Pharmacy Technician!

I FINALLY got a job as a pharmacy technician!!

I went to the Davis Applied Technology College (DATC) my senior year of high school to take a pharmacy tech. class so that right after high school I would have a good job with good hours making between $15-20 dollars an hour. Well the research and what high school counselors had told me wasn't true. Pharmacy techs are not in demand, they do NOT make that much money, they work long hours, and the DATC has a terrible class where you hardly learn anything and pharmacies in Utah know it. I've been trying to get a job for a year and haven't had any luck - until today!

I got a call from a pharmacy, The Medicine Shoppe, yesterday wanting to interview me. (I had turned in an application a few weeks ago, but they weren't even hiring at the time). I had my interview today, I really liked the manager, and she hired me on the spot!

I start the beginning of May, after school is over. Part time for training making $11.50 and after a few weeks - full time with a raise :) Right now I'm both nervous and excited... so we'll see!!

Family Ski Trip

On Saturday morning we headed up to Beaver Mountain to go skiing for the day. My Grandpa Bell works up there and generously bought tickets for us to go. It was gorgeous! We arrived around 10am and it was pretty cold, but with blue skies and no clouds in sight, it warmed up quickly.

Me and my boys! You can kind of get a glimpse of the blue skies.

It was my parents 28th anniversary on Saturday so I insisted we take a picture of them together.

Me and my dad :)

My grandpa worked the lift on mine and my mom's favorite run so we got to see him quite a bit.

The boys were definitely very enthusiastic about being there.

I had SOO much fun! We only go skiing once a year if we're lucky so I forget how much I enjoy it. I love gliding on the snow with the wind blowing in my face. I don't know what it is, but I love it!

Father Facials

Yesterday for young women's my mom had a relaxing evening with the laurels sitting in the massage chair, eating chocolate, and having facials in honor of Individual Worth this month. When she got home from work today she offered to give everyone a facial, and of course I agreed, but to our surprise, so did my dad :)

We looked so funny with our green masks on that I just had to take some pictures. It was, however, hard to smile when they hardened, which was terrible as I was laughing trying to get my dad to smile for the picture. My dad is just so funny sometimes!

A Little Stir-Crazy

Last week began as just a normal week - school, work, studying with Tanner, midterms :( but on Thursday things changed. I felt great all week, I had just gotten over a cold, went running a few times, was getting some good study time in for my midterms... I even woke up on Thursday ready to go on an early morning run and enjoy the weather that was just beginning to warm up, but for some reason I was extremely tired. I had gotten a good 7.5 hours of sleep that night so there was no excuse for my exhaustion, but I just blew it off, snuggled back up under the covers, and went back to sleep.

A few hours later I woke to a splitting headache in my occipital region with the pain penetrating down my neck. But with my Microbiology exam that afternoon and some serious studying to do (microbiology is just not my cup o' tea) I got up and headed to the bus. I muscled through my morning classes, but my body got colder and colder as the day carried on. Before I headed off to my history class I asked Tanner for his jacket and even borrowed a jacket from a girl in class but was still freezing and miserable. While Tanner and I were studying for microbiology during lunch before taking the test, I knew I had a fever, I had a headache, my neck hurt, couldn't focus, and had all the symptoms of the flu....

Feeling even worse on Friday, I would have given anything to stay home, but I had my Anatomy Lab midterm and being on the cadavers, I couldn't have them extend the testing period for me. I pushed through and immediately went home and fell asleep. The flu symptoms, headache, stiff neck, and fever over 100, remained all weekend, so Monday morning I decided I had probably go to the doctor.

A typical doctors’ visit, I assumed I had the flu and they would just give me some drug to make me feel better and I would move on. However, as the doctor walked out he asked the nurse to get a blood sample. I don't do well with such things... I don't mind needles or blood, but for some reason when it's being taken from me, I always get dizzy and have blacked out a few times. Monday was no different. I wasn't feeling well, hadn't been drinking water, and so the inevitable happened. Poor nurse; she was little, pregnant, but so caring as she helped me onto the table to lay down. She put a wet cloth on my forehead, and got me pretzels and water. I felt terrible.

The doctor came back in, told me I had tonsillitis and a bacterial infection, gave me some antibiotics, and couldn't stress enough that I get rest and WATER (he probably told me 5 or more times). He told me that if I wasn't feeling 100% better by Wednesday or Thursday to come back immediately. I said okay and left. Tuesday night I was sitting on the couch with Tanner, not really feeling any better but enjoying the company of a strong handsome boy I hadn't seen all weekend, when I got a phone call. It was the doctor himself calling to see how I was doing. After telling him I was about the same he scheduled me for first thing Wednesday morning to check my leukocyte count. With a personal phone call from the doctor himself I knew that there must be something up, he was keeping something from me. Mine and Tanner's minds whirled as we thought of things associated with bacterial infections and white blood cells - leukemia, meningitis, pneumonia... but we just joked that I could be dying and laughed it off.

MENINGITIS!

I got to the doctors' this morning and the first thing he had done was another blood test. I was prepared though and laid down from the beginning - still got dizzy and started to feel myself fading, but pulled through :) The doctor came back in with good news. He told me with my symptoms he was concerned about bacterial meningitis - the deadly one. He hadn't even told me! Apparently the average leukocyte count is between 5000 and 9000 and my leukocyte count was at 12000! However, today it was back down 7000. A lot of other numbers were down too. I found out later that on the way out he whispered to my mom that if ANY of the symptoms returned to come back immediately. Well I'm glad I'm in the clear... for now anyways...

Stick Couple...

My Stick Family from WiddlyTinks.com

I found this cute little program online and thought it was adorable! I'm SO in love with this boy and treasure every minute we spend together. It says 'my stick family' and although we aren't a family yet... one day...