We did salvage a little

So here is a family picture from the big day. We were the red family.
Saturday, Saul didn't have any more fever so, since the family gathering was to be held outside, we went and kept him away from the young children and older people. The kids had a good time. The weather held out and was fairly nice.

It was Grandma Lena's 86th birthday last weekend and with graduation falling so close, there was cause for a big celebration.
Every family had a different color tee shirt. It was neat to see the different colors. I liked it because when there were kids messing, I could tell right away if any of mine were involved.

Chad went out with the missionaries tonight and the kids and I stayed home and cleaned the house and watched a movie. We are not attending church tomorrow because I don't want to get Saul into a closed building with lots of other people.

Now, Elias has a rash similar to Saul's, but no fever. I have a call in to the dr. so we can get it taken care of soon! Hopefully, it is nothing.....

About Stake Conference

Last weekend we had stake conference. For us, this means a weekend affair. It is a two hour drive to the stake center. We have been blessed with great families in the stake who open their homes to those of us who live so far away.

The time we stayed with a great family. The Scotts have kids around the same ages as ours and the kids had a great time. We also took them to Chuck E Cheese before arriving at the Scott home. Chad was able to ride with Bishop Scott to the meetings...a mere 2 minute drive! Must be nice......The kids played with their kids. The have a little five year old girl and we didn't see Marissa or Eva for quite a long time. They were both in heaven with their 'new best friend'!

The stake president challenged us as members and families to have prayer night and morning. I was so thankful for that challenge. We have struggled with family prayer both in the morning and at night. We usually have it one or the other, but not both. We have been working hard to do both, in accordance with the challenge and have seen blessings already.

It was a really good meeting. Some members were called up to share their testimony about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. We had been challenged previously to read the Book of Mormon in the six months between the conferences. I am sad to say that I didn't get it all read. I have read it many times, once I read it in two days(on my mission while I was in the hospital awaiting my surgery) but not at this time. I love that book.

This week in a flash

The week started off as slow as could be. The kids were healthy and we had some fun stuff planned for the end of the week. School is almost out and I'm excited to start all the summer fun stuff.

Wednesday night, we had cub scout pack meeting where Elias received his Bear patch, which had recently earned. It was a well put together meeting and the families all had a great time. Eva and I were instructed on where we will be sitting and when we will be coming in for a production that we are a part of......more on that later. Needless to say, it was a late night.

Thursday morning, Saul didn't want to go to school, he said he didn't feel well and had a stomach ache. Being the good mom that I am, I gave him a Pepto tablet and sent him on his way telling him that if he just couldn't hack it at school, go to the nurse and I would come and get him. Well, around 10 am I get a call that Saul has a little fever and doesn't feel well. Long story short, I picked him up and ran to town to get bandaids----more later, and some plants and top soil. He was feeling a little tired but was otherwise normal acting.

I came home and took his temp--normal--he helped me build a garden box for our plants and get all the stuff planted in it. I should have been clued a little more when he spent most of the time sitting on a rock, asking if he could help and not up in my face with a hammer insisting.....but anyway....

We picked Elias up from school and Saul fell asleep in the car. When we got home around 3:30, his fever was up to 103. I dosed him up and gave him liquids. by about 5 pm, it was 104.7, too close to 105 and danger zone. I iced him down and dosed him up again. Well, long story short, his fever never actually broke, it went down to about 102 during the night, but no lower.

I called the dr. Friday morning and we went in. Mind you, I had been checking him for other symptoms and did some research on the computer, all I came up with was possibly meningitis. Not what I wanted to hear! But, no.......it was something else. By the time we arrived at the dr. office, he had a rash starting on his chest and abdomen. I don't like rashes. Diagnosis---Scarlatina--better known as Scarlet fever. Not what I wanted to have this weekend. We have High school graduations and a big family gathering on Saturday. Dr. said he had to be quarantined for 24 hours after his first dose of meds. Not fun!

That put graduation out. I stayed home with the kids while Chad went. It was his brother, Jacob, graduating anyway. So, now we are really rashy but not as feverish. We will hopefully be able to salvage some of the weekend.......We will see.

I have to share this in light of Dave and Karen's new pet.

My kids love snakes and lizards and all that stuff. We have a large black snake that is living under the rocks at the back corner of the house. I have threatened the kids that if they move, even on rock, they will be in so much trouble......so far no one has moved any rocks

So, driving up the road to get the boys yesterday there was a three ft long black snake lying across the road. So, I do what any good mother should do: OOH, look! There is a huge snake on the road, quick take off your seatbelts and lets get out and look at it. Eva and Jesse were very eager to see it. It was a pretty thing. Jesse wanted to pet it, but we were in a hurry. I just get a stick and nudged it along. Jesse was impressed at how fast it slithered away, and sad that I hadn't caught it for him.

We got the boys and the kids told them about the snake. Saul was really upset with me. You want to know why?!? Well, he just couldn't understand why I let the snake go, why didn't I just catch it and put it in the back of the van so he could see it and bring it home to keep for a while......hmmm, I just don't know....... (they have an aquarium that they sometimes keep things like that in) So, he finally got over the whole 'no snake' thing and we carried on with life.

So, Karen, if my kids had been around when that snake was found, you can almost guarantee that the little sucker would have spent a few days, at least, in my house! Ah, the joys of living in the country with boys!

Dog Fight!

So, here's the story:
I've been training our German Shepard to walk good on a leash. I had some money to give to Megan, Chad's sister. They have 5 small dogs. Bitsy has been around those dogs before and there has never been a problem. Now the stage is set.
I took Bitsy and the two younger kids and we walked to Megan's house. Bitsy was very well behaved and didn't even seem to notice two of the little yappers barking at her. Then the biggest of the bunch got out of the house and came directly at her. He got her by the neck and she drug him away from the kids, and off of her. That prompted the other dogs to try to get into it. Well, the kids were all fine, but Jesse was really scared. Eva was angry that the other dogs may be hurting her dog.

I finally got Bitsy out of the yard and was closing the gate when that dog came at her again. I kicked the dog back but Bitsy was already in defense mode. I felt her bite my leg. She backed off immediately when she realized the other dog was no longer there. She didn't take offense in the least, only defense. For example, one of the other dogs managed to get out of the yard with her and was barking and rushing at her, trying to bite her, she merely backed away from her. The kids were still in the yard and no dogs were near them, Bitsy was really only concerned with the safety of the kids. When the other dog had been caught and taken in the house, I looked at my leg. My pants and garments had been torn and there is a bite mark bruise there, but the skin wasn't even broken. I know it was the promise of wearing the garment faithfully that saved my leg. We were not in the wrong and we were blessed with safety.

Needless to say, we don't let our dog go anywhere near where those dogs might be. And, next time one of them gets out......I may just let Bitsy after it..........I'm not bitter or anything! I used to keep her at the house until they caught the little yapper, but when they attack my well behaved dog......they are no longer welcome to roam around where we live.

Things are going well here now. Bitsy has been more protective of the kids when they are outside playing. I'm glad that we got such a good and loving dog. She will follow the kids around and stay by them where they are playing.


I'm thankful for our safety in that situation. Jesse still talks about how "I hate dem mean dogs dere!"
I will take him a little while to get over seeing that.....I'm sure he will be fine!