I love this picture

I took this on Sunday as we gathered for Sam's "farewell."

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Maggie and her friends attended a multi-stake dance on Saturday, celebrating the "wearing o' the green." I thought that today was the appropriate day to post it. Tonight we will be diving into green stuffed crepes (I can't even express how much I dislike corned beef and cabbage). I've still got to come up with a green dessert (and I'm not referring to the environment!).

Hope you're wearing your green today so you don't get pinched by the leprechauns (i.e., Ellie and Griffin).

And here we are today:

STAY BACK! YOU'RE NOT MY MOM!

Today was the day Ellie's class faced off against the Red Man suit in their RAD training. (This is a program in the elementary schools that helps teach students how to defend themselves or escape a possible abduction.) Here are some pictures of Ellie as she went through it. I included a video of her experience as well.

Good Things Utah!

Since there wasn't any school today, the Mia Maid leader arranged for the girls to go to a local live show called "Good Things Utah." Unfortunately, they didn't have enough drivers (she was the only one) so I was asked to go along. It was an interesting experience being part of a live studio audience. The best part was that their guests today were the 5 Browns! Wow! They were absolutely amazing. To watch them--their visual clues and their hands--was breathtaking. When we got home, Mags and I saw that we were on-screen twice (certainly not for more than a second as the cameras panned the crowd of 50 or so). Here's a picture of all of us with the hosts.

The best news was that we made it back home before the snow hit.

"The Sickness in the Family Goes Round and Round..."

So let's see. In the past month we have had: 2 sinus infections, croup, bronchitis, the common cold, coughs and asthma treatments, and now, for hopefully our final number (with absolutely NO encores), strep. Maggie has been struggling with being sick off and on for two weeks now. Yesterday she crawled into my bed in pain, cold, and genuinely miserable. She told me she had a sore throat, a headache, and a then-fever of 103. I said that this was the strep trifecta and was sure she had it. She balked at the idea since she had her tonsils removed years ago, so I held off on the appointment. As she struggled into my room again this morning, I waited diligently until 8:30 when the pediatrician's appointment line opened, made the call, and had her sitting in the doctor's room by 9:00 a.m. By 9:15, we had a diagnosis and my suspicions were confirmed. She's still struggling with a fever and sore throat, but with some of the antibiotic in her system (and an extended weekend to recuperate), we'll hopefully have her back on her feet by Tuesday.

Now everyone get better! (And no, the strep didn't turn her hair red. We did that intentionally earlier in the week before she was bedridden.)

District Science Fair

We are proud of Ellie's effort in the science fair this year. Unfortunately she wasn't chosen to go on to the district level, but we think she did a great job anyway. To show our appreciation, John brought home a large and special box of gourmet chocolates just for her. We love you, Ellie!

Ellie Graduates from Croup to Bronchitis

We celebrated the Sabbath day by taking Ellie back to the doctor. After a course on antibiotics for a sinus infection (two weeks ago), prednisone for the croup, and nearly a week out of school, we realized that she wasn't getting any better and her eyes were starting to sink due to dehydration from the upset stomach/sore throat/cough. Now she starts on another round of antibiotics for bronchitis. The regional science fair is this week and she really wants to be well enough to go. Prayers on her behalf would be greatly appreciated.

This "stuff" that is making its rounds through the neighborhood is just nasty. I was out of work for 3 1/2 days and only able to put in a half-hearted effort on the two that I went. I had to teach all the young women today and have nary a voice to teach with. I still have a massive ongoing headache, full sinuses, and a nagging cough after a week. I guess that's just par for the course.

As the song goes, "You've got to be sick to appreciate health." Believe me, I appreciate it. So does Ellie.