March

Feels like it went by super fast but also dragged on at the same time.  I just made sure to try and do a lot with my kids.  Except for the weekend I got strep.  That totally threw a wrench in our fun plans.  I haven't had strep since May so that was great but not great that I got it again. Stay away strep!

Weather was weird.  Sunny 60 degree weather one day and then snow the next day.  It couldn't make up it's mind.  It tried to turn into spring so I tried to get some spring cleaning done.  Tried.  On the sunny days we made sure to go outside and play.  Can't wait for summer!

One day Memphis asked if I would go outside and play catch with him.  We had so much fun and I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. We tried to play catch with a tiny ball that was hard to see.  It was probably hilarious to watch us try to play catch.

 As we were coming in Memphis told me how much he loves me.  Made my momma heart happy.  I needed that bright spot in my life during the hard times we are going through.  Love my Memphis.

 Memphis' teacher is awesome!  She has been such a life changer for Memphis.  She started reading Fablehaven out loud in class and now Memphis is reading it at home.  Makes my reading heart happy.  And Kayzee has started reading chapter books!  Love my kiddos!

 I was so excited when Jessica told me she was in Utah and wanted to see me.  I just love this girl!  I have known her most of her life and she has a special place in my heart.  We went to Texas Roadhouse for lunch and then went shopping.  I got to see her another weekend too.  Love and miss you Jess!

 My kids got haircuts finally.  They both had really long hair it was getting ridiculous ha ha!  Such cuties.

 Had a really fun night with the kids one weekend.  We started with battling against each other playing wii games...

 Then we had a fruit and veggie snack while we watched Ferdinand...

 And last but not least we had a sleepover.  Even though my bed is a king I still had Memphis basically sleeping on top of me.  Kayzee talks in her sleep and likes to sleep sideways the wrong ways.  Still fun to make memories with these two crazies of mine.

 It was teacher appreciation week one week.  Love my door decoration this year.

 Memphis got a cabbage plant at school and if it grows he earns a pizza party.  We followed the directions on the best way to plant it but there were some below freezing nights and one day of pouring rain and it doesn't look too good.  I am horrible with plants.  I always kill them.  Maybe it survived.  Only time will tell but he has been trying his best to take care of it.

 Love that my kids still like to play at parks...

 We also used some more of our punch pass to FUNTOPIA!  The slide was working this time.  YAY!

 Summerlost by Ally Condie---one of my favorite books I have read so far this year..."I have been in the presence of a lot of greatness.  And people I love who love me back.  It might be the same thing."  Loved it!

In February I met with a few lawyers.  I am filing for divorce and I explained to each of them my situation.  I just wanted my kids and me taken care of so we can survive as a new family of 3.  And I was so overwhelmed with everything we would have to divide up and figure out.  The lawyers told me their ideas and how they would move forward to help me.  In March I ended up picking one that my neighbors used and his kids are in my PE classes.  He is awesome!  Teacher discount ha ha!  The main goal was that me and the kids stay in the house and that I keep my part-time job so that I can be there for the kids since I will have sole custody.  We didn't want anything changing too much for the kids.

It's been HARD!  I have definitely gone through the stages of grief...crying, anger, denial, acceptance, etc.  I worry about my kids and they have had a hard time too.  Kayzee cries a lot and expresses her anger a lot.  But she always makes the best of each situation.  So glad she has so many friends to distract her and cheer her up.  Memphis doesn't really talk about it.  He has been acting out in negative ways at school and has been getting in trouble a lot.  I am trying to get him in to a counselor.  The whole situation just breaks my heart.  But I am so grateful for my kids in my life.  They cheer me up and keep me going every day.  We got this!

February

I have been debating wether to post about our February for awhile.  That's why I am so behind.  Most of February was me crying and me and the kids being really sick.  Who wants to read about that?!?!  But this blog becomes my journal when I turn my blog into a book at the end of each year so here goes February...

Kayzee celebrated the 100th day of school with a dress up party.  Here is what she picked to wear...

Memphis had his wax museum presentation.  He had been working on this project for awhile.  Parents were invited to walk around the classroom and push the red buttons and the students frozen as wax museum figures based on the famous person they chose came to life and shared a little about their famous figure.  It was so fun.  Memphis was Thomas Alva Edison and he did so awesome!

A not so Happy Valentine's Day for us this year.  At the end of January me and Danny decided to separate (that's the crying part mentioned above).  He left January 23rd and it's been a hard adjustment for everyone.  Memphis cheered me up by bringing me home a rose.  So lucky to have this Valentine in my life right now.  Love this sweet boy of mine.

The day before Valentine's day Kayzee got a really high fever and she said her throat hurt really bad.  I thought it was strep so I took her to the doctor.  Nope.  Turns out she had the horrible flu going around.  NOOOOOO.  The doctor said me and Memphis would get it for sure so just plan on being home the next two weeks.  When I heard that I just cried inside.  The kids only ended up missing a week of school each but I missed two.  It's really hard missing school when you are a teacher.  But I am grateful I was able to find subs the whole time and that I didn't get the flu as bad as my kids so I could still take care of them because they were so miserable.  Kayzee missed her class's Valentine's Day party she was so sad.  She kept saying it wasn't fair because she also missed Thanksgiving being sick.  I don't blame her for being so sad.  I love this beautiful girl of mine.

We all snuggled up in my bed for the two weeks.  We didn't get much sleep between the fevers, sore throats, and nasty coughs.

Then the flu got scary.  All 3 of us ended up in the bathroom at 4am because we all couldn't breathe.  The only thing that seemed to help was a very steamy bathroom.  I kept praying that we would get better but we just kept getting worse.  The dr had prescribed Tamiflu and it was supposed to shorten the flu and lessen symptoms if you caught it early enough but apparently it's hard to find in fluid form for kids.  I went to a lot of pharmacies before I found some and it was $60 each!!!

Eventually Kayzee got better which was a relief.  She cried for 4 days straight she was so miserable.  Her throat hurt the worst.  But Memphis only got worse.  One night at 3am he couldn't breathe at all and it scared me so much I rushed him to the emergency room.  The doctor and nurses there said I did the right thing because he was in really bad shape.  As soon as we walked in they could hear him struggling to breathe and rushed him back to a room.  They ran a bunch of tests and took some x-rays.  Gave him some breathing treatments and an IV of fluids and a steroid to open up his airway.  Memphis was so brave and didn't cry at all even when they were putting in the IV.  

So miserable poor guy.  Tests came back and they diagnosed him with quite a concoction of illnesses.  Flu, croup (crazy at his age), bronchitis, and pneumonia.  He was still on Tamiflu but he also got a steroid, an antibiotic, and an inhaler to help him kick all the sickness going on in his body.

I seemed to kick the flu but then I got a horrible sinus infection.  It was horribly painful so I got to the dr and got an antibiotic and a nasal spray.  Whew!  Can we just be done with sickness for awhile?

Through all this and trying to take care of everything while being sick we have been so blessed with wonderful friends, neighbors, and ward members helping us out.  All of their small acts of service were such a blessing and I am so grateful for everyone who came rushing in to help.  We had bags of groceries brought to our door.  So many dinner meals and enough for leftovers for lunches that I didn't have to make anything the whole time we were really sick.  We had men in our ward come give all of us a priesthood blessing.  Some women cleaned my kitchen and some took home our dirty clothes and did laundry.  Like I said...BLESSED!  There are so many wonderful people in my life it makes the hard times easier.  Now I just need to pay it forward!

Memphis had his last Basketball game of this season.  He didn't get to play in the last game because he was still on all his medications and had no energy or breath to play but I am so proud of how much he improved over the two months.  He said he had so much fun and wants to play again next year.  Way to go Memphis!

March so far has been a little bit better.  Can't wait for warmer spring weather and spring break!

January

January has been a crazy month.  Really hard at times (let's just say I have not cried this much in a long time) but so much fun at other times.  The fun times are what I want to remember.  I also want to remember the love and support I have from my friends and family.  I have been so blessed.  

Memphis started 3rd grade Jr. Jazz Basketball.  He complained about not wanting to go for a week before the first game.  But he did awesome especially for having never played before.  He does great every week always improving and making baskets.  I am so proud of him and I hope he sticks with it.

 We went to my best friends birthday party.  Yummy cookie cake.

 Happy Birthday Amy!

 Big year for my kids in Primary.  Memphis is now in Senior Primary and Kayzee is getting baptized!

 Went bowling one day.  Crazy tied score the first frame.  Don't know how we managed that!

 Kayzee took 2nd!!!

 Kayzee is so funny what she picks up on.  One day in the car..."Mom, I can say 'What the heck' but I can't say 'What the stuff that falls from the sky'!"

 My kids love the Virtual Reality store in the mall.

 Love my silly kiddos!

 I am taking an arts integration course at UVU on how to integrate creative movement and dance with the core curriculum in Elementary schools.  Here is one of our lessons on cloud types.  Education can be fun!

 My nephew James is getting so big and cruising around.  Love that smile!

 Me and the kids went to see Auntie Nita's new apartment.  We played some basketball, foosball, and got in the hot tub.  We love you Nita!

 Memphis turned 9!!!  I love his tender heart and I love all the hugs and kisses I get all day every day from my best buddy.  He loves his mommy and I love him!  Happy Birthday Memphis!

 Memphis wanted to celebrate at Classic Fun Center with the Hoge family and his auntie.  The kids got to do some scootering, bouncing, climbing, laser tag, and arcade.

 The Classic Fun Center Party Package is awesome.  They do all the work and provide all the food and treats.  They made it so much fun Memphis said it was the best birthday ever!!!

 The birthday boy got to go into the ticket blaster and spin the wheel for more prizes.

 Lots of presents.  He is spoiled by his family and friends.

 One of Memphis' presents was Pie Face...

Great Memories!