"Caught You Red Handed"

Last night after I got home from the General R.S. broadcast Shea wanted to go on a walk and get the mail. So we took a family walk about 8:30p.m. Carson started to bring his hippity hop ball and wanted to bounce all the way. Well that's not going to work so Matt just threw it in our front yard. We walked to the mail box around the corner and on our way back we saw a lady walking her small dog. As we got closer Matt noticed she had Carson's ball. Now I thought Matt had just put it on the side walk by the neighbors and she just walked by and picked it up off the street. Matt went up to her and said "Oh you found our ball." She didn't say a word and handed it back to us.

As we were walking back Matt said "I put the ball in the front yard up by the bushes." If I would have known that I would have said more to the lady. I was so baffled by this woman taking things from my front yard. I always see balls, bikes, etc. in people front yards but I don't take them. What is she going to steal my wreath next? I was so irritated by her I had to vent to someone. So I called Jody (my sister) and she just laughed.

The funny thing is that the lady had no idea we were on a walk or that she would get caught. I hope she feels dumb. But the whole situation probably didn't phase her.

A Week In Review

So I was trying to think of what happened this week and thought I needed to journal my activities more...

Let's start with last Thursday. We had Enrichment Night. I worked the night before so I was a little tired but glad I went. We had a wonderful dinner (which I still crave so I need the recipes). The program was on Home can be a Heaven on Earth. Suzanne was the speaker and I got so much from her talk. So after enrichment I went home and crashed.

Friday was the same old. I think we went to Carambas for dinner.
*Saturday was GAME DAY! BYU was playing at 12:00 Noon and we were going to the ASU game at 5:00 pm. That morning Shea and I went to "Color Me Mine" and painted. I painted a pumpkin and she painted a butterfly and cat. We went home and Matt had his Dad and Tom over for the BYU game. Good thing it was a shut out because Matt would have been grumpy for my game. We took the kids to my parents house about 3:30 and then headed to the ASU game.
We parked at Gamage and walked to the stadium. I love to go to the game at least once a year. I cheered (danced) there and so it brought back memories. I still get goose bumps walking into the stadium and when the band plays. The game was so hot and our "good seats" were not that great. We were squished and the people in front of us stood the whole time. I was able to sit and see until a man with a huge straw hat sat down and my view was blocked. There were a few seats in the student section open so we went and sat with them. It was so much better there. ASU lost and we left about the middle of the fourth quarter. We had fun though!

Sunday we went to church and had a lazy Sunday! Matt dressed Carson today in this bow tie. I thought he looked cute. He has cookie crumbs in his teeth.

Monday we had a presidency meeting and I cleaned the house. That night I went to a school board meeting. My friend Jennifer Tanner is running so I went to see what the other candidates were like. I could write a whole blog post about it so but I wont. Here is Jen's campaign slogan Matt came up with "Jennifer Tanner: There's nothing fake about this 'Tan'!"
Matt is a genius! (Matt typing this)

Tuesday I went and worked out. I swam and it felt good. Carson and I did some errands and then went and picked up Shea from school. I started to feel sick and skipped my work meeting that night. Carson, Shea and Daddy washed his truck. He looks so good I thought I should share the photo. The man has not gained weight since we were married. Yes, I do feed him but I guess his working out pays off. Indy was scared and laid under the car because Matt kept blasting him with the hose.


Wednesday I went and did water aerobics with the "older" ladies at L.A. Fitness. It was fun and a good work out. Then Jen and I went to Olive Garden for her 31st birthday. Carson behaved himself well. The waitress brought him out a whole plate of croutons and bread sticks and he was in heaven. Jen's baby was so good too. So we had a good lunch! That night I went on Relief Society visits.
Thursday I had a Dr. appointment. I have only gained 13 pounds! Yea! With Carson I gained so much that I was borderline high blood pressure. I vowed to not do have that happen this time. I think working out is paying off! Carson was so good at the appointment and I got to hear the baby's heart beat. After we went an picked up Shea from school we took her to ballet class. I picked up Panda Express on the way home and got to relax the rest of the night.
"PASS THE ORANGE CHICKEN GRASSHOPPER!!!"

So here we are on Friday. Carson and I are going to the water park and my visiting teachers are coming over. We hopefully will nap because I have to work tonight!

My Star Student

Shea was picked to be the "Star Student of the Week" a couple weeks ago. She was the first one to be picked. She was so excited. She told me "I get to be first in line and push the lunch cart". We made her a poster to. It's not the greatest but I love all of the picture we put on there. She did the rest by cutting out things from magazines that represent her. If you look close there is a lot of junk food on there. oops! She had to miss the first day because she was sick and I thought she had strep throat. She didn't but she was okay that she missed the first day.

Even since school started it is a battle to keep her emotions under control at home. When she comes home she asks what Carson and I did. If I tell her we went to Kendal's house or the store she comes unglued. So I keep some things from her. Every Friday night she throws huge crying fits and every Saturday afternoon it was the same thing. Something little could set her off. She spent a lot of time in her room and I think it's getting better. I remind myself she is adjusting and Matt and I stay pretty calm. So at school and ballet class she is my angel but I guess she needs to let it loose at home.
She is such a good girl and helps me out a lot at home. The other day we were playing Barbies. Carson was Dora I was the little sister and Shea was the mom. She would put the mom in the Barbie bed. I would ask a question and she would wake up and tell me to go do something and then go back in the bed. After a few times I asked Shea "Why is the mom in the bed?" She said "Because I worked all night and I am tired." Yes, that line is from me. I felt bad but I thought it was so funny on what kids pick up on.

White Diamonds

So the other night (or morning) at work one of the bosses walked in and hugged everyone and said "Good Morning". A familiar smell came across and she was wearing the perfume White Diamonds. This is the perfume my grandma (Tutu) used to wear. My grandpa always gave it to her for Christmas. So for a spilt second Tutu was there with me again. I have been wanting and avoiding writing a post on her death but I need to now.

I woke up about 7:00am on a Sunday and saw the dreaded message light flashing on my phone. We keep our ringers off upstairs. Getting a call in the middle of the night alway meanings something is wrong. So I called my mom and she said the Tutu was found in her bed barley conscious and was in the hospital in Flagstaff. Now, Tutu can't hear and Papa can't see due to muscular degeneration. What a couple!! So when Papa woke up that morning he passed by her room (she slept in a different bed because it was more comfy) and said "good morning mom." He went downstairs to make their morning coffee. When she didn't stir he went back upstairs and found her limp and barley conscious. He called 911 and the EMT said her oxygen level was either 50 or 60% I can't remember. Well that is deadly. So they took her in. I immediately got ready and left for Flagstaff. When I got there my Aunt, Uncle and some cousins were there. I went into to see Tutu and she was intibated. I immediately knew this was not good! So I left and started to cry. My uncle gave her a blessing and in his blessing the first thing he was something to fact that we knew she was dying and that we understood that it was the Lord's WIll. Usually in blessings you hear stuff like you will get better etc. but he basically he said I know she is going to die and its okay. It was very powerful! I think I either stayed the night or left that day because she was stable.

The Doctors diagnosed her with pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia. So in her sleep she basically swallowed something and it got into her lungs and caused the infection. My mom took work off and my Aunt from Seattle came to be with her. So on Saturday Matt and the kids and I went up to Flagstaff. They told us that they would be pulling the tube out because she it had been in for to long and her infection wasn't getting better. Matt was at Tutu's house when I found this out. My brothers and sisters were with us. I was pissed that they were giving up on her. The Dr. said they could put in a tracheotomy and she may survive with that. Everyone agreed she wouldn't want that. Except for me inside. I didn't want to lose her. The other hard part was people kept asking my sister and I questions because we are nurses. I don't deal with this at all and my sister deals with this stuff with kids. So we did what we could to comfort people.

So they pulled the tube and placed and oxygen mask on her. We were all standing around the hospital bed crying. Her oxygen level kept falling. It got to 50% and then went up. And up, and back up to 95%. We all stood in awe. Then someone said "see we all knew that she is stubborn". We stayed with her till 10 or 11pm and went back to spend the night at her house. Matt took the kids home and I just thought I am staying with her till she dies and we could find a babysitter. That night it was hard to sleep. My mom and dad stayed with her all night till about 6am. I heard Papa get up along with my Aunt. I walked up stairs and they said she is still alive. My cousins were coming in from New York, Seattle and San Fransisco. We all believed she was waiting for them because the rest of the family was here. So I went back to sleep.

The Dream
I had a dream in which Tutu was a little younger with her hair freshly permed. She was wearing a flower shirt and was sitting in a hospital bed. I walked up to her and said "I love you." She said "I know!" She then asked me how Carson's finger was. (a couple weeks before his finger got caught in the vacuum and she was concerned when I told her) I told her he was fine and we all loved her. She kept saying "I know, I know and I love you to." Then she looked at me and said "I am waiting for something." My mom and Papa walked into the room and the dream stopped. I immediately woke up and started crying. I told my brothers and sisters about the dream. I truly believe she came to me. I am not saying I have special powers but it is what it is.

So we went to IHOP at breakfast and went back up to the hospital. She looked awful. She was using all of her muscles to breath. He neck looked like a frogs. My sister and I agreed that the oxygen mask was keeping her alive and needed to be taken off. We waited all day for my cousins to arrive. My brothers, sisters, Papa and I were sitting in her room. Talking to her. Papa got up and said he was going out. She immediately opened her eyes and followed him out. (she had not opened her eyes because she was sedated). It was eerie and also warming because she could her us and needed him. We ran out to get Papa, my mom and uncle and aunt. They said some goodbyes and then the nurse gave her more sedation medication. The last cousin arrived about 6:00pm. She was able to go in and talk to Tutu. After she was done we decided it was time to take the mask off.

So again we are standing around her bed crying. They took the mask off and within a minute she was gone. She turned from pink to ash gray. She was gone. We all stood there quiet and one by one people left the room. My mom never left. She sat there holding her hand. We left her alone with her for a while. Jody and I then went back in and took off all the medical devices. My mom asked if we would help dress her for the funeral. We said "yes of course".

So everyone went back to the house. Jody and I didn't stay long. We drove home that night around 10pm. While we were driving we could feel darkness. I didn't feel light just darkness. She dropped me off and while I tried to sleep I just saw dark evil shadows. Carson even woke up screaming about one hour after I got into bed. This was not like him. So I finally got some sleep and the next morning was a blur.

I put together a slide show of pictures for her. I had done on for their 60th wedding anniversary so it wasn't that hard. Fast forwarding to the funeral. The morning we went to dress her I felt a little sick. But when we went in there I felt a since of calm. I curled her hair and my sister styled it. My mom stoped and said "now I can feel the spirit. I haven't felt since she died but I can feel it now." Dressing her was bitter sweet. We buried her with the charm bracelet we had given her. The funeral was good the slide show at the luncheon was good. I stayed and watched them lower the casket into the ground. It was final. She was gone.

I still find myself crying every once and a while for her. I think about her constantly especially the times I would have called her or bought something for her. I have a Easter snow globe in my house that I had given her. It has Shea and Carson's picture in it and she just loved it. Easter was her favorite time of year. I know she is out of pain and can hear now. Papa is with her now(that is for another post) and she looks after me. I can't feel her as much and don't dream about her as much as I used to. She is probably busy up there. I miss taking her to Dillard's and SAS. She always was so friendly to the sales staff and everyone around her. She was a social butterfly. Her family came first and she loved her grand kids and great grand kids. Sometimes I see elderly women with walkers and wish they were her. We were blessed to have her in our life for so long and I am thankful for that. I know I will miss her especially when the new baby comes. But maybe she is already looking after the baby now.

One of her favorite sayings was
I love you a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.



Undine "Tutu" Rice
August 6,1923 - April 22,2007

OPERATON PAYBACK: A BRUIN BEATDOWN

Preface: This was a shot from last year's Rose Bowl game where BYU fell to UCLA. I had many sleepless nights knowing how close we were to winning this game yet we fell short. The following entry is all about redemption...



It's time for a guy's entry into the madness we call "Blog-o-rama Land".

I recently completed a road trip with couple of great friends.

Dan in Utah and Tom from Arizona. (I thought of using aliases like Fred and Barney but that was a tad lame)

I stayed the night at Dan's place on Thursday night, September 11th. I guess I picked a crazy day to fly but security was especially heightened that day. Dan's wife Malissa made some "rockin' tacos and we had fun with their son, Nathaniel. This kid is classic and a real hoot!

We golfed the next day in Park City at Mountain Dell Golf Course. Good times, many lost golf balls, great weather!


Just look at Dan's Form!!! That guy is MONEY!

My twin sisters Amber and Amanda (in no particular order) picked me up in Park City and, thankfully, took me to Provo to stay at the Marriott. I was glad they were able to pick me up and spend some time with them! I love the Wonder Twins!!!

Saturday brought back the memories as Tom and I "re-lived" our youth in the comforts of the BYU Campus. Home Sweet Home! From pointing out places I used to sleep on campus to places I'd never stepped foot, it was a little "Back to the Future" for me.



Then it was game time! Off we went to LaVell Edwards Stadium. There was a special feeling in the air. Wait, maybe that was the smell of domination yet to come.

The Cougars marched at will against UCLA and controlled the game from start to finish.



There was nothing UCLA could do to prevent the onslaught!
A 59-0 Shutout/Shallacking!

We got drilled harder by the sun than the Bruins on Saturday!

After catching the flight back to Phoenix, I was greeted by my own little cheering section waiting for me on the couch!



What a great victory and what a great trip!

Thanks Nicole for letting me get away!

An Eye Twitcher

So I saw a commercial today that I have seen before. It makes me cringe every time I see it. I think the company is General Mills and there are two boys in the commercial. The little one is trying to measure the bigger boy with a measuring tape. It has the Trix rabbit and other cereal characters in it. Anyway, when I was little I was playing with a measuring tape and let go of it. It scraped my eyeball and I do have a scar on it. So I keep my measuring tapes away from my kids. I don't even let them near it when Matt and I are measuring stuff.

So just a warning. One of the many things that can hurt our children.

P.S. Don't give them a lot of beans either.

$137.00

$137.00 is what my parking ticket cost me today. Two weeks ago I got a ticket parked in the bike lane at Shea's school. The cop told me to move but I thought he was just giving me a warning. NOPE! So Carson and I took a field trip to court today to see what the fine was. LIVE AND LEARN!!

Here is what I could have done with $137.00. Paid for Shea's dance lessons for 2 3/4months or went to Carambas (Mexican) 8.5 times or got my hair done or buy some clothes or paid for 3/4 of Matt's BYU football ticket (don't ask!) or paid for some of my electric bill this month or saved it or go to Taco Bell 27.5 times or paid for 5.5 pedicures or a housekeeper or buy new decorations for my new table in my living room and the list goes on and on!

We did it! (Well I made the decision!)

We had our formal ultrasound for the baby today. Carson, Shea, Matt and my mom were there. I told the ultrasound tech. we did not want to find out. Matt said "yes we do!" But I prevailed and we didn't find out. It's true we really don't know. Ask my mom. She told the guy "everyone wants to know but her." SO I WIN! I know it will be worth it in the end. I have been in several deliveries at work where they haven't found out and it was so much fun! Every couple said it was worth it. So everyone who participated in the poll thanks but I already had my mind made up. Now you can participate in my new poll. Do you think it is a boy or a girl? Here are a few photos from the ultrasound.

Profile of the baby.
Foot
Head
The baby looks a little scary here but oh so cute. I think he/she is saying "MOM I NEED MORE MEXICAN FOOD!!" Who am I to deny my bundle of joy this!

Labor Day Weekend 2008

This weekend my whole family and uncle's family went camping up about 20 miles east of Flagstaff. Matt went and picked my mom up from work about 2pm and then came and picked us up. Jody and Steve (boyfriend), Brad and Kim and Dad went up early and got everything set up.

We left about 3:30. Shea had to go to the bathroom about one hour into the trip. I was driving (so Matt could sleep) and I tried to wait for a major turn off. She couldn't hold it so when I did turn off it just happened to start pouring rain. Matt took her out to pee in the rocks and they both got soaked. One mile up the road the rain had stopped. HA! We got to camp just before it turned dark.

That night we had beef stew and corn bread. My uncle made a peach cobbler in the dutch oven. It was so good. We then sat around the camp fire and played "what if" and laughed and talked. I believe we went to bed around 10:30. I was so cold that night. I was sleeping by Matt but could never really get warm. It stinks being pregnant and camping. I have to go to the bathroom every 2-3 hours so I know everyone heard me unzip my tent and make noise in the middle of the night. That night it rained for about 2-3 hours off and on. There was lightning, thunder, wind and good pouring rain. Our tent didn't leak! YEA! Shea and Carson never woke up. We brought Indy with us and he was sleeping in his kennel. When it started to rain I told Matt that we needed to move him under the tarp. So in the middle of the night we got our lantern our and moved him. The next morning my brothers said he thought cars were coming through camp and then realized it was Matt and I because we were fighting. Matt didn't want to move him and I did.

The next morning we woke up around 6:30am because that is when the sun is up. ARG! We had pancakes, bacon and eggs for breakfast. We then headed off to some lava caves that my uncle knew of. The caves reminded me of the book The Host. You could instantly see your breath as we entered the cave. We stayed down there for about 15 min. and then my cousins dog decided to poo and the smell was awful. It followed us as we practically ran out of the cave. She felt so bad. At least it wasn't Carson!
Outside of the Lava Cave.
Climbing into the cave.
Jody and Steve



Brad and Kim
Kevin's Family

Uncle Rick
Cousins having fun!



We got back to camp and I read a little of my book and then we played cards. We had Philly cheese steak for lunch. Laura came up this afternoon. She took the girls on a hike while everyone else slept. When Matt got up he was driving me nuts. He was waiting for the BYU game to start and he made Steve turn on his satellite radio in his car so he could get the scores. He was pacing around so Jody and I sent the boys to the cars. Carson just wanted to play in the car the whole afternoon. Matt turned on our DVD player in the car. I told him the battery would go dead and he said "No way." Well it did! 10 points for me!! Brad had a portable generator and started our car the next morning. That night we had fried chicken, potatoes and biscuits for dinner. It was delicious. We hung around the campfire again and started to sing the diarrhea song. I know so gross but what do you do when you go camping. Everyone pitched in with there two cents. My parents were so embarrassed but laughing at the same time. AHHH good times!! Carson and Shea we so tired. Matt put them in the tent and they were out!!


That night it rained again but only for about one hour. The next morning Matt and I made breakfast burritos for everyone. We were all tired and decided to pack up camp and go home. Carson stayed in the car the whole time saying "GO HOME!" So we had a great time. We ate, my dog humped the other dogs to much, we laughed and we ate some more! Good think I don't have a doctors appointment this week! I would have gained 10 pounds.










So we got home and did laundry. Took showers and relaxed. On Monday we went to Ben and Rachel's house to swim. They made lunch for us as well. Thanks! The kids fell asleep on the way home. It was a nice relaxing weekend.