Joe Update

I just have to say, if you haven't heard yet, that doctor induced memory loss drugs are interesting. No I'm not talking about medicinal marijuana, unless they have it in a clear liquid, injectable into the IV form. After my procedure {colonoscopy} on Monday, I have literally 6 hours of my life that I do not remember. Full coherent conversations occurred with everyone, just not one iota of info or memory was retained. Just bizarre! For further details, just call Heather. I won't be of any help on this matter. If photos don't make you squeamish, check out my blog [Find the Humor in Life]. I promised Heather that I wouldn't post them on this family blog.

We are officially Moving!

So, I just thought I would post a little preview of the next few weeks for us. It has been a whirlwind week and the next few promise the same. Dad and Marquie are flying home tonight, after Marquie's first week of school--hopefully, she'll post what she has learned about living in Virginia sometime in the near future. Then, tomorrow morning, we are loading up all the stuff the moving company won't take and heading back to Virginia. Marquie is trying to weasel her way out of the 12 hour trip--yes, Heather, 12 hours (boo, hiss)-- by pleading to stay with Heather for the weekend and flying out to meet us in Washington, DC on Monday.

I will spend the week with Marquie in a hotel--slash, slash...no, MOTEL in Front Royal while Dad travels to some much neglected areas of the east coast for meetings. Hopefully, sometime during that week, Marquie and I will be able to see the home Dad has rented for us to spend the school year in.

Then, on (or before) September 7, I will fly back to Chicago so I can be here when the moving company packs our belongings on September 8 and 9 (they figure it will take 2 days--I can only imagine how many days it would have taken if we had not done such a massive clean-out before we put our home on the market). Then on September 10, I think a Wednesday, they will load all our belongings on a semi and head for Virginia.

Once, I have finished cleaning the house, which I am desperately trying to accomplish as much as possible this week, I will officially leave for Virginia. We will move into our new home on September 15 (and I'm sure 16, 17, 18....).

So, what becomes of our home in McHenry? We are still praying it will sell, but would really rather not leave it empty through the winter months...so I suppose that part of the story is still to be determined.

There you go. All are up to date!

First Week. . .

I was confused about this being my first week.  For me it is week 3 and week 4 and week 8 and week 1 and end of term grading, but I don't think that is what she was referring to or maybe it was.  Though, it was our first week with daddy gone and we did start school at home.  We set up a schedule together with the boys and they are very excited!  We have a little structure but a lot of freedom to just love learning!

I have really tried to not force them to do anything but to inspire them to want to learn.  Yesterday after cleaning up breakfast I headed upstairs and could just tell that they didn't want to stop playing for "school", so I tried to inspire them.  I pulled out a book and asked if anyone wanted to come and hear me read a story . . . like moths to a flame!  They came and we read some fun poems and fables and then started our handwriting.  We've really had fun with handwriting which has shocked me.  We do two letters each day and always practice and circle our best--which they apparently love.  Then, we always play a game where we find words that only use the letters we have learned so far.  Last night at dinner we were telling daddy about our new game and that tomorrow we were doing g and h and Michael said then we can use the word 'cabbage.'  We just about died.  Apparently it was Joshua's idea. . . it is a good thing they can read because they are already smarter than me and will need to learn from books.  :(    So, things are going well and we're having lots of fun.  Tomorrow we're learning about prehistoric life--after the dinosaurs . . . should be fun!

It is different not having daddy around but we're excited he has a real job and love supporting him!   Now we just have to pray that more people will audition!  

How is school for everyone else?

First Week of School

Okay all you first week of schoolers (James, Liz, Marquie, Bryce, Joe)....(I think Justin and Jodi don't start until next week)

I want to hear about it!

Michelle's Post

Hi from Santaquin!  I know it is hard to imagine that we are actually writing a blog, but all is thanks to Justin and Jodi who come on occasion and bring their computer so we have access to the world.  We have a sweet Julia Belle (with an 'e'), and an EllaAnne and Daniel who adore her!  We think she is pretty sweet too, crooked nose and all!  The doctor says it should go away, but if you don't expect it to, then when it doesn't, you won't be disappointed!  So we don't have our hopes up too high.  As you all probably know by now, we had a bit of a problem with the epidural, and it turned into an awful seven-day ordeal.  Think: super migraine times TEN, for SEVEN DAYS!! (By the way, Bryce says hi, and "all anesthesiologists can go to hell!")  Must have been a little traumatic for him, I guess.  Mom took very good care of me, with a little help from Justin and Jodi, of course.  Now I'm on the fast-track to normal life!  That means I can get out of bed and walk around and take care of my baby!   Each day I am feeling better and better, thanks to all your prayers and thoughtfulness.  We have had hoards and hoards of visitors, all with the best intentions in the world, but still not getting the hint to leave, even when you are talking about how annoying it is when people come over and call ALL THE TIME, and all you really want to do is SLEEP!!  They do, however, come bearing gifts, which is nice, but you have to hide them so the next person to come doesn't see the plethora of perishable sweets (pies, brownies, zucchini bread, cookies, rolls, etc.) stacked on the counter.  Don't get me wrong, I love it, but my will power is soon to fail, bringing a weight gain I have been working rather tenaciously to avoid!  We really are grateful for everyone's consideration and kindness to us.  Thanks to family and friends we are well taken care of: food to eat, clean house (again, a relative term, as Mom put it), and company to enjoy.  Don't count on hearing from us again anytime soon, at least not until Justin and Jodi come back with their computer!  We love you all!

My week!

So, I got home from Utah this afternoon. I had a great "first class" trip. Thank you to my wonderful children who sacrificed their sleep, so I could be on the 7:54 a.m. flight.

Michelle is doing well, at least last time I saw her, although she struggles with bedtime. I kept trying to tell her when the baby sleeps, you sleep. So, I think her motto is: when I sleep, Bryce tends the baby. Both Michelle and Bryce are pretty exhausted.

I had a wonderful week with Michelle, Bryce and family. For the first part of the week, Michelle only got up to go to the bathroom. She and the baby both ate in bed, lying down. Michelle even sat on the couch, lying down. She ate lying on her stomach with her head turned sideways. She was in massive pain. She just kept saying, "one day I'll wake up and this horrible headache will be gone." And sure enough, one day she woke up and the horrible headache was gone! Now, she only has a mild headache and if she sleeps enough, it stays pretty mild.

After living all week in Michelle's beautiful kitchen, I came home and realized how drab mine seems. I need a new kitchen. Wait, I'll have on in three weeks. And, it's quite lovely, may I add.
It was so sad to leave Michelle's house this morning. But, I know she is in great, capable hands with her terrific and understanding husband who has arranged for relief society sisters to bring meals this next week as well as do laundry and clean house--which by the way, the term "clean house" in the situation she's living in is certainly a relative term. My accommodations were very comfortable in the "master suite".

I came home to a massive group of teenagers and four lovely grandchildren at my home to surprise Marquie with a going away party, then many tears and hugs from Mom and Dad and on to her murder mystery play in which she, by the way, was magnificent.

I'm hoping that maybe Justin will find a way to help Michelle blog about her last week. It would be great to get her view on this rather unusual situation.

Tomorrow, Marquie officially changes her home town from Johnsburg, Illinois to Front Royal, Virginia. I, however, will remain behind to get things ready for movers to pack and haul away our remaining belongings!

I'm tired and this blog is a little discombobulated. I think I shall quit writing. Good night!

Oh MY!!

Well, I have been told that I have not been a good communicator this week so I will try to correct that error. OK, so here is what has happened for those who have not been told.
- We decided to back down from our purchase of the home on Gold Cup Drive. I was ready to fax the signed documents but we are still waiting for settlement of the Hutchings estate and did not feel that we should put ourselves at risk financially. So, that left us in the cold.
- I started looking for rentals on Wednesday. Wow, was that discouraging. Makes me feel that I can probably rent our home for a very reasonable price compared to what I saw for what they are asking.
- Nothing on Wednesday so Thursday I decided to "accept" a home that just really didn't feel good to me but would work. Before signing I went back into the rental listings and called on two that were well out of our range. Well, really out of our range! But I called, asked to see them and offered very low compared to what they were asking. One family couldn't make up their minds but the other was receptive. When I walked into the home I was filled with the warmth and love in the home. I will call it the Spirit. A family of eight children. We couldn't finalize on Thursday as the husband was traveling.
- Friday, I met with the family and they approved of me and our family, agreed to my adjusted offer (still substantially below asking) and we came to terms. I even got Marquie registered in school
- Marquie and I leave tomorrow for her to start school Monday at Skyline High School in Front Royal, VA
- We will work with the movers to get packed and move from Johnsburg as soon as possible.

I have pondered a great deal on the strong feelings of the Spirit that I had related to the other home. I have come to understand that it was all part of moving forward and me may well still have the other home. I know the Lord is guiding us and we are looking forward to being back together as a family.