Laura

Today marks the 6th anniversary of my younger sister Laura's death. She was just a few weeks shy of her 16th birthday. But she wasn't like other girls her age...Laura was mentally and physically handicapped. She had been that way since soon after birth, but she was a joy to her family and all she met. Laura taught us so much about life, love, gratitude and patience. She had such a bright spirit and a beautiful smile. Sometimes when people would meet her they weren't sure what to make of her. She had such a sweet little face...but then when you least expected it she would grab your hair with one hand and reach into your purse with the other. Her death was sudden yet not unexpected She had been diagnosed 2 years previously with cardiomyopothy. She had always been healthy as a horse but due to the death of 2 of my other sisters from the same heart disease it was not a complete surprise when the diagnosis was given. Her death was just two months after the birth of E. I am so happy that Laura got to meet her first niece. The meeting was sweet, Laura was very weak but still had the strength to grab! So as I brought my new daughter to Laura's body I was ready to quickly pull away if needed...but she didn't grab at her socks like she loved to do to babies...she looked at her and gingerly touched her and put her head on E's face. It was such a sweet moment just 2 days before she died. We were all with her when she died, including my sister who was able to come home from her mission just in time...although we believe that Laura was waiting for us to all be together. The spirit of the Lord was so strong as she was taken home...I have been able to draw on the testimony that was gained and strengthened from the events of that day and in the days that followed. We were so blessed to have Laura in our lives...she is missed but we know that she is in a better place where she is free from her earthly body and doing a great work on the other side with her two sisters Beth Anne and Elena.

Here is the obituary that my parents wrote up:

Laura Elizabeth
On March 30, 2002, in the loving arms of her parents, sisters and favorite brother. Her fifteen years were ones of joy for those who knew and loved her and countless others who only felt of her spirit. Afflicted in both body and mind, her spirit shone like a beacon. She joins her sisters Beth Anne and Elena and leaves behind her parents Jack and Maria; sisters Alicia, Kassie and Lillian; her favorite brother Hyrum; brother-in-law Cannon and niece Elyse. United together as a family for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple, those remaining, look forward to a joyful reunion in the life to come. Services were held Wednesday, April 3, 2002 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, McLean Stake Center Chapel, 2034 Great Falls St., Falls Church, VA, at 11 AM. Burial followed at Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, DC. Expressions of love may be made in the form of contributions to the Hospice of Northern Virginia. Published in The Washington Post from 4/2/2002 - 4/4/2002.

New Blog and sleep training : (

So I'm sure that by now you have all noticed my new blog! It was designed by Carly of Playful Pickles. Here is her Etsy page and her blog making blog.

She just asked what I liked and voila!

Tonight was our first night of sleep training...I know I know how very un AP of me. But I gotta admit co sleeping is getting old! L literally takes up 1/3 of the bed when I really like to take up 1/2 so its just not mathematically possible for us to share the same sleeping space....or is it??

So to start I nursed him and he dozed, so I put him in the pack n play and told him it was time for night nights (previously he had been in it while we talked about night nights) and said good night. Well of course he commenced screaming and I went in every few minutes and told him I was there and loved him blah blah blah....after which he decided that the only way he could get through to me would be to throw up. Well it worked, but it was only a deterrent and about 15 minutes after clean up he was asleep!

Although we had a slight glitch...

Now how do I get him to lay down without waking him up?

"Pop Axadt"

L often times runs around with his diaper off. But only if I'm really sure that he doesn't have to go to the bathroom. Well after trying the potty a couple times I determined that he didn't have to go. He had other plans. He and E were happily playing in her room when I hear her scream "L pooped!" Oh crap! I run in and yes it was on the carpet. So while L is getting cleaned up in the bath E decides that she needs to get it down on paper...here is her statement:

"I cat blef tat? a ntr ( w/a backwards N) pop axadt hbt love E"

Translation: I can't believe that another poop accident happened.

I admit that this is not the first time my potty skills have been off but we have been lucky that it has never been on a carpeted surface. Oh well, we had a good laugh and a great letter to show for it.

I also had a moment of reflection...I can't believe that my little girl is writing! I swear she's still 3, time goes way too fast, and L is 14 months this week! It seems like I was just pregnant with him. We need to savor every moment, which is why I'm glad that I have this blog so that I can remember all of the small things.

God Grew Tired of Us

We watched this movie last night and it was GREAT! My little sister Lillian recommended it to us. It is about a group of Sudanese refugees called the Lost Boys and their amazing journey from Sudan to Kenya and then for some of them on to America. It really makes you realize how lucky we are to live in this country.

First Tooth!!!

So the most exciting event in E's life happened today...her first tooth came out...well was pulled out by me.

It has been hanging on by a thread for a week now and tonight I just gave it a friendly wiggle and pop! It was probably the funniest thing thats happened in a while. E was so excited, then she was freaking out from the blood, then she was crying because she was so happy! She said it was the best day of her life and she can't believe that she lost her very first tooth. We called Can, Mia and her friend Ruby who also lost her first tooth today. I was almost in tears from laughing and watching my sweet little girl have yet another first.

Enchiladas, the Potty ,Gym class and repentance

So tonight C AKA the most amazing hubby in the world! made some yummy enchiladas that we have been seriously digging lately.

Enchiladas

(the healthy ingredients in this recipe can be substituted....I am just giving the originally intended ingredients)

The sauce:

3 tbs whole wheat flour
3 tbs coconut oil

heat this to make a roux then add all the rest until smooth and boil until desired consistency

(all of the following are apprximations...you can add more or less to your liking)

3 tbs chile powder
3 cloves garlic
1 large onion(optional...we opt out...yuck!)
1 tbs cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp cinnamon
3 cups chicken stock/broth

The filling:

7-8 sprouted wheat tortillas
2-3 C chicken/pork/beef
2-3 C cheese

Make sure that all the tortillas are soaked before you add meat/cheese then use remainder of sauce over the top.


Now on to the potty portion of the post. L has been going on the potty since he was four months old...now before you bail out on the post check out these
links.

(this is his little port a potty)

So now that you understand a little about it I just have to brag that L has started going to the bathroom when he has to go....he will toddle over and kind of stand by the door or go into it and we will hurry and take his diaper off and pssss! I don't think that his control over his bowels is completely mastered although if I see him squatting and staring me dead in the eye I know he is about to go so we can catch it sometimes.

Gym class...who didn't hate it right? Well we have another generation. But I think that E has a valid reason for hating it. Her gym teacher is mean! He pretty much yells all the time, now I don't think that he is trying to be mean its just his charming personality. So now every Tuesday we get to hear the litany of excuses (ps just to remind you all what litany means "a repetitive or incantatory recital, which is exactly what this is every week) My stomach hurts, I have a cough, I got a sliver, etc etc. Anyway, it is pretty funny b/c after one Tuesday I asked her how it went and she said that he actually wasn't that mean today.

Ok last story...on Sunday we were talking about what we learned and E said that she learned about forgiveness and a word that starts with an R. Repentance I ask...Oh yeah repentance she replies. So I ask her to give me an example and here is the dialogue that followed:

E "For example if you spit your gum in somebody's hair and then you can say you're sorry and they could say its ok"

K " hmm...thats an interesting example. How about this...what if..."

E " I accidentally by accident accidentally spit my gum in Jane's hair"

K "What? What happened? Did they get it out?

E "Well I was playing with it like this (her hand motions stretching it waay out and twisting it in her finger) and then it just got stuck in her hair.

K "Oh but it came right out?"

E " No the teacher had to cut it out"

K" what? did she cut a lot out?

E " no just a little"

K "did you say sorry?"

E " No, I forgot"

So there you go folks....a lesson in forgiveness and that R word learned and forgotten.

Midwives and Recipe's

Ok, so first I am just going to give a mini shout out/rant.

I love my midwife, she is so wonderful. I am a doula for a client of hers and we had a meeting all together this weekend. Midwives in general are so great...birth is normal to them, everything is how its supposed to be. There is no added fear, just celebration in new life and beauty in the process. To contrast it I got a call from a client who is due tomorrow who's Dr wants to induce on thurs. Why? Because they suspect that the baby is about 8lbs!! Wow no one has ever had an 8lber before, what would we do without inductions....oh wait, we would birth our babies when they were meant to come! Its just frustrating b/c the whole time he's talking about how he wants to help her have the birth she wants and now he's scaring her into an induction making her think that her body isn't working properly! Hopefully she will listen to her intuition and wait for her body and her baby to tell her when its time.

OK so Cannon is making me put a disclaimer on this post that the opinions expressed are not meant to offend but are purely the views of the blogger.

Anyway, on to the recipe of the day. I have to give all the credit to my lovely friend Amy K.

Yummy easy Rosemary salad dressing

Olive oil-as much as you like!
1 clove garlic thru a press
fresh ground pepper-a few turns of the mill
1 stem fresh rosemary finely minced

just put everything in a pan and sautee for a couple minutes, voila! Just adjust the amounts for how much you want. Now for the secret ingredient.... Bragg liquid amino's lightly sprayed on the lettuce....so yummy!

Thanks Amy, it was a big hit at our house!

My Radio Debut!!

So now I am officially famous...I will probably be signing autographs this weekend, not sure where yet. I'm sure my fans will know how to find me though.

OK, not really. I was on a womens issues show on WAMC called 51%. It is a show hosted by one of my oldest friends Julia Taylor. We've known each other since we were 5! Thats 20 years...wow I feel old! I saw her at church at xmas time and we got to talking and I told her that I'm a doula and had a homebirth etc and she tells me that she just happens to be doing a show on birth. So I told her to sign me up! So anyway...here is the final product.

http://www.wamc.org/prog-51.html

It is called birth talk. I was so nervous to tape it and I think even more nervous to listen to it. I hope you guys enjoy and get a taste for how much passion I have for this subject.