Out of Commision

We are currently out of commision. Don't worry about paying more for healthcare this year. Our family will gladly pay for everyone with the ridiculous amount of co pays we have made this summer alone. It all started at the end of May with Victor's snake bite and hasn't ended. We had strep throat in June, (no not just one kid, we could only be so lucky) My son Victor has had 4 visits for an infected toe and currently we are battling a nasty bug that my daughter brought home from girls camp not to mention, a terrible sinus infection and stomach bug. Last night my youngest woke me up at 2:30 A.M. crying with a sore throat and headache. Yikes! Stay away from us right now. So this is how we are spending our 24th of July, indoors and miserable.This has been unacceptable for a self proclaimed germaphobe like me.We have disinfected every surface that has been touched and yet we can't stay healthy. I've heard you can over disinfect. Not in my book if you ask me. Give me a break!

How badly I want to hang out with my family. It is such a rare occasion when both of my sisters are down. So to sum up our summer so far, IT HAS STUNK!

On a more positive note, (see I'm trying to look at the bright side) *We have been able to spend time with my cute nephew Luis.
*The kids have been to park several times.
*I had a much needed day of with some of my friends from Drill team. * *We have had so much fun playing Ultimate Frisbee for Family Fome Evening with some of our neighbors and friends.
*And My kids have been pyros with fireworks and our new fire pit.

School is around the corner and we so badly want to reclaim our summer and get out of the house.



The kids thought it would be funny to put Luis in Alesia's doll cradle


Baby Louy


Day at the park




Bums will work


Thats the way Livie!


Go Carlos!!!






Pre game


FHE lesson before Ultimate frisbee


My Pyro Children, lighting glow worms

Domestic Diva

I realize it is so funny to post pictures of food but I thought, if I am willing to post pictures of my great grocery deals why not?
Yesterday Alesia and I made crescent rolls. This was my first time making them. To some this may not be a big deal, but for me its huge.
When my husband married me I made it very clear that I rarely cooked and that I didn't cook well. There was just always something else I would rather do then stand in a kitchen all day. Well the last few years I have decided that feeding my family a well balanced meal was important and I make it a point to cook everyday. So I have been trying all sorts of new recipes. The best part is that my kids have loved cooking with me. I have realized how important it is to teach them how to cook and spend quality time with them.
At the end of the school year I was reading a book that my son Emilio made. He had listed different things he wanted to do when he got older and some of his favorite things. Under the section of "What I Am Most Proud Of" he had put, "making brownies"
him and I had just made them a few nights before. It was his first time. I remember being a little tired that night and probably would have welcomed my head hitting the pillow early but I told him sure I would love to help him.
I never would have realized how something so simple would mean so much to him and how sacrificing a little of my time to help him and teach him would be something he would add to his list of "Things I am proud of" in his life.
I love the look on my kids face when I have made them breakfast and not just handed them the cereal box. Don't get me wrong, we do have our fair share of cereal to. I just like the look they give me that Mom got up a little earlier today to do something for me. I know it makes them feel special.
Anyways, I am glad I am embracing my new domesticness(is that even a word?) I am still working on getting a wheat grinder. (I can't wait!) Next I will try to make my friend Cassie's bagels and who knows, if I'm feeling kind of wild and crazy I may learn how to sew. My Mom and sisters are gasping I'm sure.

Pity Party

Today I have had a major pity party. Lately I have been in a funk and can't seem to get out of it. I have recently been having some problems when I am exercising. I have noticed that my arms break out in an hot awful rash. It was terrible the last 5K I ran. And has become such a nuisance. So I decided to go to the Dr. today and try to get it figured out.

You will never believe what he diagnosed me with. An allergy to exercising. On top of it he said in worse cases it can lead to your airway closing off. What? Imagine the panic I have felt all day. Altering my lifestyle is just not something I feel like doing right now. Although reluctantly, I know I have to.

Well this is not the best thing to tell a girl who already struggles with anxiety and who definitely cannot go without exercising.

The one thing that diminishes a lot of stress in my life has caused a new stress for me. HENCE THE PITY PARTY.

I found every reason to feel bad about myself and situation today. My poor husband came home from work to a crying miserable wife. I told him about the weight I have gained. How I wish we could financially do more with our kids during the summer. How I wish we had a new house that didn't require so much physically and financially, how I wish he didn't have to work so hard and so many hours each week especially on his "so called" days off and of course my new allergy news. I also told him that I felt bad that he was married to a woman with asthma and terrible allergies that seems to limit us at times. (All of this while bawling my head off of course.)

Pathetic I know! Now I am just trying to focus on the new challenge that I have to deal with. Obviously, I know that others have struggles. Obviously, I know that mine are not the worst. Today it just felt like it. I have spent a lot of time on my knees praying today.

Before I started writing this post I decided to look at a blog of a Mom who not only has a daughter with special needs but lost her one year old son last year in a household accident involving the blinds.

How foolish I felt, and how wonderful it was to know that my Heavenly Father heard my prayers today and led me to that blog. I desperately needed a reminder of how we all have struggles, we all feel emptiness at times, we all think that our trials are so much harder than others,or that we shouldn't have to change what is comfortable and easy for us. But the most important thing I got was so simple. Three words we hear all the time " Count your blessings." How could I have missed that in my day of "Poor Me."

Tonight I am going to count my blessings because they are many. Maybe tomorrow I will wake up with a brighter perspective and greater appreciation for all the wonderful things in my life!