Gettin' A Bigger Car

Well, we have reached the point where we need to graduate from a mini-van. Yes, I know there are vans that seat eight instead of seven, but we're tired of cramming stuff in, around, and under people, and our kids are getting bigger, so we're cramming them in, too. People usually ask us how many kids we're going to HAVE (yes, usually with that emphasis), and our answer is always the same. (No, it's not "none of your business," though it probably should be :), but rather "it's not up to us.") We think we're probably towards the end of the child-bearing years, but we just don't know, so it's really hard to decide what kind of car to get. Maybe we should just go all out and buy this beauty:

Yee-haw; transporting the family in style! Seats 20 comfortably. But that might be a LEETLE too much for our budget. Maybe we should consider something like this baby:

It's vintage; it's cheap; it seats 14. AND it has really cost-effective air conditioning (just roll down those windows)! SWEET! (This Sub's for real! Justin and I found this for sale on KSL while looking for Suburbans late one night. I can't remember exactly what year it is now; I think it's a 1946 interurban bus model. When we found this, I had been having the worst, most excruciating rib pain I had ever had in any of my pregnancies. I swear my ribs were almost dislocated, if not totally. When we found this we laughed so hard I cried, and the next day I could hardly stand the pain--I think I totally dislocated my ribs! But it was worth it! And, thank heavens, the baby turned and dropped, so she is totally out of my ribs.)

Life's Like That Sometimes. . .

Update On Justin

As I mentioned in my previous post, Justin spent Father's Day with the flu and in pain from back problems. We are not sure if he had swine flu or not, but he definitely had some variety of influenza. Apparently they're either not testing anymore or they ran out of tests, but they told us to act as if it was swine flu and keep everyone in the family out of public for several days. So, after a late night trip to Walgreen's (sorry if we took germs to anyone there, but Justin was too sick to babysit) for Tamiflu, we pretty much kept the family quarantined until the following (this past) Thursday, including Justin. He was pretty sick, which he hardly ever is, and it took him a few days to get back to feeling decent. But that Tamiflu stuff is amazing! I came back from Walgreen's with it after 11PM, he took it, and 15 minutes later he started to feel better. Not great, just better. He was still pretty sick after that, but I think he was a lot better than he would have been without it (he gave me a pretty good scare earlier in the day with his airways beginning to feel constricted, but that disappeared after a little while). I really appreciate Justin's prayer that the rest of us wouldn't get it, and I am grateful for the prayers of others that helped Justin to get better and protect the rest of us, too. I was a little worried because pregnant women and little children are more vulnerable to serious complications, so I thank all who combined their faith with ours and helped us all get/stay well.

Justin spent the first few days after Father's Day trying to work from home (and wearing himself out--I kept telling him to go to bed, but he wouldn't until he got a headache and got dizzy. . .). He was also nursing his back, so he had to keep standing up and sitting down in different positions and places. We discovered that the passenger seat in the van had just the right amount of recline, so he spent the rest of his home confinement working in the van! We plugged his laptop into an extension cord, plugged it into the outside outlet, and he had internet access from the wireless router in our house! We opened all the doors and windows we could, stocked him up with water, and, since he doesn't mind the heat as much as most people, he was just dandy out there.

The first day back at work was miserable, and he only stayed half the day. He had been in a lot of pain all week, and I was really getting worried. After talking about it, we determined that he was overcompensating for his back and stressing other parts of his body, as well as the bad part of his back because he was trying not to put too much pressure on it. After he stopped overcompensating, he has felt much better since then, and has been able to do full days at work. He would still like a more supportive office chair, but other than that, it seems like things will be fine.

Now, about Justin's back and neck: he has four degenerated discs in his necks, and two bulging discs in his lower back. We don't know what we're going to do for his neck, but he's having spinal decompression on his back in the hopes that we can avert degeneration in that area (it's a newer machine that works better than the old ones). We really want to avoid surgery, which has the potential to be debilitating, and we don't want to do nothing, either. Justin's a strange guy: he's never really had the classic symptoms of degeneration, but his back did keep giving him problems lately (after he started an exercise/weights regimen). The chiropractor finally sent him for an MRI and that's when we discovered his problems.

For the first part of the treatment, probably a little more than half, Justin cannot lift, bend, twist, or exercise! Being very pregnant and scheduled for a c-section, this was not news I wanted to hear! However, if Justin is able to schedule his visits for three a week, he should be past the worst part before we have the baby (he is going to really push for it). I know our families and our neighbors will help out wherever they can, but I know Justin would really like to be functioning well when that exciting event arrives (especially since we have five other kids to worry about). I have to admit that I about lost it when he told me about his back and the treatment and stuff--I was absolutely overwhelmed and exhausted that day, and feeling that way and thinking about all the stuff we needed to accomplish this summer made me feel that it would be impossible. But I am so grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord. He reminded me that he never gives us more than we can handle and that he always "strengthens the back to bear the burden." I thought of my wonderful family members and neighbors who will be willing to help with what is needed, and I knew that things would work out just fine. I am also grateful that my two oldest are becoming great lifters, diaper changers, etc. Things will work out.

I have been blessed to be able to do what has been needed, and I didn't think it would be possible, considering how low my energy seemed. I am so grateful for the blessings I have been given. I also appreciate the insights I've been given into how worried Justin must be about the cost of all of this on top of the cost of my surgery and the baby and the new car we need, what his health condition means for his future, and so on. But wouldn't you know it, I think the thing that has made him the maddest in the short term is that all his work at the gym will be going "completely downhill," as he put it.

In true Justin-fashion, when his company paid for part of our Rec Center membership, he determined to use it to the utmost. He did so much research, trying to determine the best methods, exercises, and lifting techniques to get his body in shape and stronger in every aspect. He charted his progress faithfully, noting each improvement or stagnation, and marking those exercises that didn't seem to do much good or that seemed to aggravate problems. He would then look for a new exercise/technique to replace it. I wanted to spank him, though, when he decided to do a deadlift (you know, the thing you see weighlifters on TV do, except with more reasonably-sized weights). I was worried it would give him or aggravate back problems. Sure enough, it did! We're not sure if this is when the bulging discs occurred, but a couple times since he's hurt himself again doing other things, so it either aggravated a problem waiting to happen or caused the problem. The big stinker! Anyway, Justin is kind of upset that he will have to start all over again. I know how he feels. After I have surgery, my muscles go to pot because I'm not allowed to lift anything heavier than the baby, go up and down stairs, or push things. It's frustrating after I'm given the go-ahead from the doctor to go home and try to go back to normal--everything seems so much heavier, and I'm already tired and drained from taking care of a new baby. It won't be easy for him, but I think he'll get back up to speed faster than he thinks.

So that's how Justin is doing. He just keeps plugging along, and I'm so grateful for him! But aren't we too young for this?

Happy Father's Day!!

My dad is an amazing father. He has been totally dedicated to our family from the moment he and my mom were sealed for time and all eternity, doing whatever was necessary to support our family. Through financial hardships, my mom's many health problems, and all the stresses of life, he kept moving forward, always taking time to make sure each one of us felt loved, and always making sure we were taken care of. He has been so supportive of my mother through her health challenges and her return to full-time work, cooking and cleaning and helping wherever he saw a need. He always finds time to help others, even though he's so busy himself. I am so grateful for such a patient, loving, dedicated father. I couldn't help but think of him as I watched this incredible video--a true story about another dedicated, amazing father. I know you'll think of fathers you know and love that have touched your heart in a similar way. I am so grateful for my dad and for all the other dads out there that step up to their responsibilities and make this world a better place!

(I also want to express my love and appreciation to Justin, who is also a very dedicated and wonderful father. He has gone through so much to provide for and take care of our family. He worked almost full time through his entire stint of schooling, driving 2 hours to and from work in Salt Lake while attending school full time at BYU in Provo. His life was full of studying and work and not much else, though he always found time to help with the children and create great memories with them. He also served in a singles' ward bishopric his last year of grad school, which was a great experience, but also meant even more time spent working hard. Over the years, he has worked and prayed to provide for our family, and has listened to the Spirit about the direction we should go with his work and where we should live, and even though sometimes the answers have not been exactly what he would have liked, he has followed those promptings and we have been so very blessed. Lately it seems he's been so busy he hardly has time to sneeze, but he somehow finds time to be a great dad and husband anyway. Right now he's laying in bed with influenza and 2 bulging discs in his back which he's undergoing treatment for. He means more to us than I can even express. I love you, Justin, and I'm so grateful for your dedication to our family!!)



If you're having trouble watching the video on my blog, here's the link to it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhqRMP9meMc

When Life Gives You Lemons. . .No worries; this is not a post about something going wrong. I am the proud recipient of the fabulous Lemonade Award! Thanks to Jaymie, an amazing, wonderful friend, and an amazing example of gratitude, for this show of confidence in my apparent abilities to make lemonade out of lemons. I am really trying to be grateful no matter what my circumstances, and even though I fall short and end up whining sometimes, I am trying. I find that when I look for something to be grateful for, even when it's hard, my life is filled with joy and peace that carries me through rough waters (big or small). I wish I could say that I am always this way, but I hope someday I will be!

I nominate the following blogs for this great award:

Jaymie at Mislaid Musings: I know you nominated me, but I just couldn't not nominate you! Jaymie is a great example to me of gratitude and unconditional love for others.

Kristin at Mormon Fury: My amazing little sister who finds so much joy in life no matter what life throws at her.

Becca at The Johanson Family: Justin's sweet and talented cousin who sees the good in everyone and everything.

Tara at Aaron and Tara West Family: Justin's "cousin-in-law" who listens to the Spirit and looks for the positive even in great adversity.

Starla at The Packer Family: Another of Justin's awesome cousins who has an amazing attitude and sweet spirit, and loves life.

Stephanie at The Finlayson Family: Another West "cousin-in-law" who adores her husband and children and shows gratitude in everything she does.

Melissa at Mooneroid Universe: Another amazing, wonderful long-time friend who radiates gratitude and a zest for life even amid trials that would make other people hide under their beds.

Kayleen at Our Family Feil: Yet another fabulous long-time friend who sees the beauty in everything and everybody.

Holly at The Cherry Family: I have known this gal for umpteen years, and her ability to stay positive and smiling amid life's "circuses" have my deepest admiration.

Grandma West at Roy and Lorna West Family (a blog with multiple contributors): Justin's awesome grandma who takes a licking and keeps on ticking, with more energy and ability to accomplish than just about anybody I know.

Angenette at The Incredible Imblers: An amazing person we met while young marrieds at BYU who has been through the wringer the past few years and still manages to keep going and creating joy and peace for her family despite immense grief and trials. I seriously don't know how you do it!

If you would like to gift this award to anyone you know, here are the rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog or on a post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an attitude of gratitude
3. Link to your nominees within your post (I was too lazy, but the links are on the right of my blog--if you would like a link removed, please let me know. . .I do want to respect your privacy. The links are so I can keep track of people, but I don't want to intrude on anyone.)
4. Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award
5. Share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award
6. Tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude

Through my own experiences, and through the experiences of others, I have found so much to be grateful for. I thank the Lord for His many blessings to me and for amazing friends and family who teach me so much!