New Carpet - Check, Painting - Check

Things are really coming together on the new house. We have been working every spare minute to get things ready for moving in. Our babysitter, who is also named Becca (spelled differently from our Bekah), has been very busy making money over at our house while Kent and I tried to make progress cleaning, prepping, painting, etc. It was slow going with just the 2 of us, but we finally got the master bedroom painted and ready for new carpet to be installed, which it was on Thursday. Now that room is completely transformed. My good friend, Arianne, suggested I do before and after pics, which I'll post when things are done throughout the house.

So, we got the new carpet in, some of the rooms prepped and painted, and then yesterday we had a painting party with some of Kent's family. We are so blessed to have family close by and that they are so willing to help. In one day we almost finished painting the entire house. There are minor things left like floorboards and 2 bathrooms, but the majority of the house looks amazing. Kent's mother who was suffering with an abscessed tooth spent the whole day cleaning while she was doped up. Bless that woman! No one can work as hard as she does! By the end of the day it was so amazing to see a beautiful house emerging from the filth.

On another note, my heart has been heavy with news of so much hatred poured out against the Mormon church. I think many of us who grew up in the church often heard stories of the pioneers' persecutions, and it sounded like a world away. Now thoughts of our ancestors are so much nearer, and I realize that we truly do live in the last days. I'm also sad that the feelings of many members towards people who live alternative lifestyles have been so misinterpreted. I love all of my friends, straight and gay. I would do anything to help any of them and I support everyone's right to make their own choices. But I believe that marriage is ordained of God for the creation of families, binding children to a mother and a father for eternity. I believe that we can disagree and still love each other; we can feel strongly and yet be civil and understanding of our differences. Isn't that what tolerance is all about?

Wheezy!

My little Bekah was called a "happy wheezer" on Sunday, and it was actually a compliment. She's had pneumonia for almost 2 weeks, and on Sunday morning I got a scare when she was really struggling to breath for almost 2 hours. I gave her breathing treatments and the whole nine yards. I was freaking out. I took her to an urgent care, where they basically told me again that she has pneumonia and added 2 more medications to the 3 she was already taking. The whole time Bekah was playing and happy and really showing no signs of distress other than her wheezing. As we were leaving the doctor said, "Well, at least she's a happy wheezer!"

So, this has been my life the last week or so: breathing treatments, sneaking meds into her juice so she'll actually take them, and generally being a worried mother. I've always been a worrier, and I even used to worry about how much I would worry as a mother. Maija has inherited my worrying disorder and catches anything worrisome I might say and then proceeds to...worry! Somehow I feel like a hypocrite when I tell her, "Maija, don't worry about it!" What do they say? Practice what you preach?

On a more upbeat note, we closed on our house! We are pretty excited, even though there's a lot of work to be done. But at least it's OUR house! I'll post pics after we move in.

Some Funny Moments

* Today at another doctor's appointment with Bekah, she said to me, "Mommy, you so funny!"

* Me: "Bekah, we need to change your poopy diaper." Bekah: "No, I don't want poop!" ( Yeah, well neither do I!!!!!)

Too Much Time On My Hands

Yes, that is the title of an 80s Styx song. If you don't know who that band is, you're either a lot older or a lot younger than I am. I'll forgive you! Not that I was a huge Styx fan or anything. I was, however, a Taylor Dayne fan who I happened to meet on a military base in Korea. She was doing a USO tour, and I had to go and check it out. I went up to her after the show and said, "I am a die-hard 80s fan" to which she replied, "Welcome to the 2000's!" Hmmm...I'm guessing I hit a nerve.

Apparently, I did have too much time on my hands because since my last blog everything has kicked into high gear, and we are swamped. Let's just say that when Kent finishes school, is done with his company's merger, we get the keys to our new house (which should happen any day), clean and paint the new house, move into the new house, get Rebekah over pneumonia, go to my cousin's wedding, and somehow still fulfill our church callings...and maintain some normalcy for our children, I will give a HUGE sigh of relief and get ready for the next storm.

Here are some adorable pictures of the girls from various events, including Halloween, of course!