Swine, Strep, and Surgery

You can't make this stuff up. In the past week our family has had all three. Swine flu, dental surgery, and now Strep throat.

The Swine flu hit last Wednesday taking down everyone but Lauren. Don't ask me how she escaped. The Swine has been ugly. Fever, chills, congestion, cough, the works. I estimate we've been through about 30 bottles of gatorade, 12 or so boxes of jello, 4 boxes of Lipton noodle soup, 2 bottles of Tylenol, 4 batches of tapioca pudding, 4 bottles of juice, and a combined total of 21 missed days of school/work. I don't even want to think about how many movies we've watched.

Then people started to get better. Then they started to get worse. It was frustrating, but we trudged on. Annie didn't get worse though, and she was scheduled for dental surgery today, so I took her to the hospital while Gary watched over the walking wounded here at home. Annie has her father's teeth. It would be much better if she had mine, but alas, 'tis not to be. I am a total Nazi about her dental care, but it doesn't seem to matter at all. She is the only 6 year old I know who gets flossed, brushed, and flouride gelled twice a day every day, and still the teeth just want to rot out of her darling little head. Today she had three teeth extracted, 6 crowns, 2 fillings, and sealants on whatever molars were left. It can't have been many. She was scared to death of the whole thing, but she was a trooper. Since she needed so much work, they put her under, and she was sure she was going to wake up in the middle of it. She didn't. All went well with Annie's teeth.

Meanwhile, back at home Gary was pondering the mystery of why no one seemed to be getting better. Not only were they not better, but everyone's throat seemed to be hurting worse than ever, including Lauren's, who was never sick in the first place. "No," Gary thought to himself, "we can't possibly have picked up a whole new bug on top of the swine." But he started checking throats and discovered puss and ugliness. He and Ethan have the worst throats, so they went in for Strep cultures this afternoon and sure enough, we apparently all have Strep. I just knew all those years of medical school would pay off. Thanks Gar for figuring it out! Seven amoxicillin prescriptions later we just had to give up and laugh. Forty-eight more hours of juice and movies, and hopefully this will all be over. Can anyone say family togetherness?

I almost forgot...During the middle of the night last night the water heater broke and began to leak. Tanner discovered it on his way to seminary this morning, and so at 6am Gary and I were in the basment moving boxes and cleaning up water. In the midst of everything else we are dealing with no hot water until tomorrow evening. As I type Gary is running up and down the stairs with pots of water from the stove to try to get Annie a warm bath. Aargh! When it rains it pours. Or puddles on your basement floor. Whatever.

Halloween!

Well, once again I managed to get five kids costumed up for the candyfest that is Halloween. It was very fun to discover some differences in how they do Halloween here compared to where we have lived before. First of all, I'd never seen so many trick or treaters in my life. Kids and teenagers just seemed to appear out of nowhere. The thing we liked best is that the whole thing was like a block party. If you are a family that is interested in participating in Halloween, you don't sit in your house and wait for kids to ring the doorbell. Instead, people get out folding chairs, decorations, tables etc. and set up shop on their porch or their driveway. Lots of people had out crock pots with soup and cider and were chatting it up with the neighbors while kids came by to collect their candy.

Many people played music out their windows and the Halloween decorations were out of control. Fog machines, flashing lights, blow-up decorations, tombstones etc. The decorations were a funny thing, because with the exception of a few homes, we didn't know they were coming. Decorations just suddenly appeared on people's lawns in the afternoon of Halloween. The other thing that was different is that even though there were zillions of people in the streets between 6-8pm, by 8:30, everyone was gone. Even the teenagers went home. Apparently you trick-or-treat your heart out for a couple of hours and then you go home and leave people alone. I can handle that. So Audrey and Tanner had fun holding down the front porch and handing out candy, while the three small ones made the rounds. Good candy here too. Lots of full size candy bars and hardly any dum-dums. Hope you had a great Halloween in your neck of the woods! Jenn

The first photos are of the kids on their way to the Ward Fall Festival on Wednesday night. Audrey is not pictured here because she had to go to symphony rehearsal instead.


Little Red Riding Hood and Dorothy
(Annie won 'Least Scary Costume' at the Festival)



Frodo Baggins



Dorothy Again



Dwight Shrute (from The Office)





Red Riding Hood



The Gang



The youth were in charge of the Ward Festival, and here is Tanner running his 'Pin the broom on the witch' booth.




Audrey did dress up for school on Friday. She wore her flapper outfit from Dance Festival last year. Her lazy mother didn't get up in time to snap a photo before seminary, so here is a picture of her in it at Dance Festival. That's close enough, right?



Lauren drssed up for school this past week a few times as well. Here she is as a hippie for 'blast from the past' day.



And she was a queen when the drama club hosted the Halloween dance. Her Dorothy outfit wasn't finished at the time, so she dug this out of the Halloween box (Thanksk you Courtney!) and had fun handing out soda and snacks all night. Good times!




And finally, we had a family Halloween party on Friday night, and Tanner asked if he could run a face painting booth. Pretty funny to have any kind of booth at a party for your own family, but of course we let him. We hadn't planned ahead for this, so he only had black, brown, pink, red, and white face paint, but the little kids thought it was a blast. Here is his handywork.

Family Photos

A couple of weeks ago, my entire family came to visit. They came to town for Ethan's baptism and Lia's birthday. They were only here a few days, and many people were sick, but we still had a great time. Since we were all in one place at one time, and because dad has hair again (yeah dad!) mom decided it was time for family photos. A nice lady in our ward took these photos in the back yard of another nice lady in our ward. You have to love wards. Anyway-Enjoy!


The Halversens


The Kings


The Grown-Ups


The Whole Clan






The Grandsons




The Granddaughters




The Grandkids


Gar and Jenn


Ty and Kelly


Steve and Lynn in the cutest picture of the whole bunch...

Raising Kids

Raising kids comes with it's fair share of pretty hilarious moments.

Today Lauren stayed home sick from school. Since Audrey and Tanner go to seminary, they leave in the morning before her. They first discovered she had spent the day at home when they returned from school. Tanner immediately started giving her a hard time about faking sick in order to get out of school, hardly a new discussion between siblings I think.
Nonetheless, it upset Lauren a bit.

So, in my infinite wisdom, I decided to have Tanner write her a note of apology. Here is the note he delivered:

Sorry I called you a faker.
I hope you will Forgive me, instead of showing Animosity, and in return I'll show Kindness, Empathy, and Repentance.
From Tanner

I told him close, but no cigar. Try again please.
Here is attempt number two.

For many years, I have been rude to you.
After deep consideration I apologize to you.
Keep this note for always and forever.
Every day you can look at it and remember me.
Really sorry, sincerely Tanner

At this point, Lauren had just about had enough and responded with a note of her own:

Dang! You are a great brother! I
Only wish I could be more like you.
Remember I said that.
Keep this note.

Lauren

Kids. What are you going to do with them?

My Sister

Today my gratitude moment is for my sister. Everyone should have a sister. My parents will tell you I prayed for a sister from the time I was little. Who knew I'd get answer to that prayer as great as Kelly.

When do I need and appreciate her? See Below.

*When the guy at the auto shop charged me more than he quoted and I need someone to gripe at.

*When I found a great deal on something at the store and I need someone to be happy with.

*When my kids are driving me nuts and I want to make sure it's not just me.

*When sick kids have been puking on me all night.

*When I want to plan any sort of party or family activity. She is always on board.

*When I have to decorate for a church event and I need someone to save my centerpeice-impared behind.

*When I need any sort of drawing, be it for a pattern, a handout, an invitation, whatever.

*When I need a new recipe because I'm bored with all my old ones.

*When I planned a social gathering, and not many people showed up.

*When I need help figuring out what to get mom and dad for Christmas.

*When one of my kids did something spectacular and I need someone to brag to who won't just find it irritating. (Grandparents are good for this one too!)

*When I sewed a new quilt and I want to show someone.

*When my kid's school pictures are hilarious.

*When I need to discuss Halloween costume planning.

*When I want to hear someone use a Wisconsin accent.

*When I need someone to be silly with.

*When I want the truth.

*When times of sadness hit our family.

*When I've had my feelings hurt.

*When I'm bored.

*When I need someone to try making fondant with.

*When I want to discuss American Idol at length.

*When I need somewhere safe to vent frustrations.

*When I need a pedicure buddy.

*When our kids break arms, need fillings, need surgery, need to stop chatting with their neighbor in class, need stitches, need hugs, need help.

*When I want to reminisce.

*When I'm worried.

*When I wreck the car.

*When one of my children wreck the car.

*When I need someone to laugh at my funny story.

*When I want to discuss hair styling options.

*When I just need to hear her voice.

*When I find a new song, book, TV show, movie, or whatever that I'm sure she should also check out.

*When I think I hurt someone's feelings and I don't know what to do.

*When I need a laugh.

*When I need to cry.

*When I need a friend.

I love you Kelly. Can't wait to see you next week.
Jenn

Dandelions and Determination

Today's musing is about soccer.

When I was little I played soccer for one season. Maybe two. But probably just one. I don't remember for sure. The only part of it I much cared for were the dandelions in the field. I was one of those kids who was too busy with flowers and bees and possibly my shoelaces to notice that the ball was headed my direction.

Later in life I grew to appreciate the sport more. My high-school boyfriend played and I used to go to some of his games. Then I met Gary and went to some of his BYU games. He is a huge soccer fan. Been playing and watching all his life. After marrying him, I was treated to more soccer games as well as middle of the night celebratory dances when Brazil won the World Cup. (Thanks goodness for DVR, this coming summer Gary can watch the games at a normal hour!)

Enter Ethan. He plays soccer all the time. We finally gave up on the 'no soccer in the house' rule as long as he keeps the ball on the ground. He comes home from school every day, does his chores and homework, then immediately dons his cleats and heads for the back yard. Ethan's favorite part of the new house is the back yard. It's big enough for his own personal soccer field and he's in heaven.

(Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa.)
Extra points if you can name that movie.

I watch him out there as I do dishes or cook dinner or whatever, and he'll set up the cones and run drills. Then he'll find every soccer ball we own and line them up to practice shooting. Sometimes he'll run windsprints, sometimes he'll work on ball handling. Usually after a while he returns to the house to hunt down recruits. He often gets Gary or Tanner or even me out there to pass with him or play a little one on one. He has very good skills for a kid his age, and so he usually beats me. Okay, he always beats me. I'm not sure I've ever seen a kid love something so much. On second thought, Audrey and music has to be close. Anyway, I look at him and the word that comes to mind is determination.

Who knows what his future soccer career will hold. A lot of it will depend on how hard he continues to work, but we'll continue to give him every opportunity we can. Maybe he'll play through high school and love every minute of it. Maybe he'll even play in college or fulfill what are I'm sure are my husband's secret dreams of him one day leading the USA to to the World Cup. Maybe he'll play a few more years and find another sport or activity he loves even more. Who knows. All I know is for now I am so thrilled that my kid has something that makes his heart sing. It always brings a smile to his face and by association, a smile to mine.

If you are in town any Saturday over the next month or so, grab a camping chair and a bottle of water, you are officially invited to one of his games.












Ethan loves this picture of himself looking rather like 'Kaka,' one of Brazil's best players. Too bad mommy's camera and photoshop program aren't as good as professional-sports-photographer-man's. Oh well.





Ethan was freaked out this whole game trying to figure out if they let a girl on the other team, or if a boy really had hair like that. It's an all-boys league, so I guess wacky hair is the correct answer.

Experiences and Musings

The other day while studying for my Doctrine and Covenants class I came across this quote by President Hinckley. "To you women of today, who are old or young, may I suggest that you write, that you keep journals, that you express your thoughts on paper. Writing is a great discipline. It is a tremendous educational effort. It will assist you in various ways, and you will bless the lives of many--your families and others--now and in the years to come, as you put on paper some of your experiences and some of your musings."

I haven't written much lately, and I've needed to. I hope you forgive me for using my blog as an outlet for some of my experiences and musings. If you want to skip ahead to the pictures at the bottom of the post, then I'll forgive you.

My life is considerably different than it was 6 months ago. I was crazy busy with kids who were admittedly overscheduled, church jobs that were highly demanding, but also very fulfilling, tons of wonderful friends and all the social activities that come with them, and a husband who was around quite a bit considering he did have a job and everything.

Things are suddenly more quiet. My church job is not at all stressful, but also not terribly interesting. (Piano for Primary, I love to play, and am happy to serve, but it's hard to get to know anyone from behind a piano), my husband's job is quite demanding and so we see less of him, my kids are doing a few key activities, but not anywhere near the madness we had before, and weirdest of all is that my kids are all in school all day. It's so strange after all these years to be faced with trying to remember who you were before kids took over your every waking moment.

Now, before you decide to give me a piece of your mind, let me say that I realize I have plenty of friends and relatives reading this who are thinking, "Oh, Jenn suddenly has tons of spare time, I wish I had a problem like that!" I know. As a mom, you spend years wondering if these darn kids are ever going to grow up and leave you with two seconds to yourself, and suddenly, they do. And it turns out, 8am-3:30pm is a long time to spend alone every day. In addition to that, most of them don't even need me much once they are home. They are generally old enough to fix their own snacks, clean their own rooms, do their own homework etc.

It would be better if I had a few fabulous friends around, but I left them all in Washington and Utah (one is Wisconsin too!). Hmmm, guess I didn't really think that through did I? I have tried to find things to occupy myself, like taking an online class and going to the gym a lot. It's actually really fun studying and taking tests again, but it's a go at your own pace kind of class, and I'm already several weeks ahead. Not trying to toot my own horn there, you would be that far ahead too if you had my kind of time. As for the gym, all I have to say is that I'd better look amazing by the end of this school year.

Anyway, I'm trying hard not to throw myself a daily pity party and this little post is actually about gratitude, and is my small attempt at proving to myself, and if I'm honest, probably to God, that I really do know that I have about a million things to be grateful for. I figure I'd rather not turn into a big whiney whiner who whines.

So what am I grateful for today? My kids. I miss their cute faces while they are gone. I'm grateful that Audrey and Tanner go to early morning seminary without complaining. It is really hard and I wouldn't blame them if they looked at me one day and said, "Um, I don't think so." I'm grateful for Lauren's extremely social personality. There are times in the past it's landed her in a little trouble at school, but it's been such a blessing this year. She is the lone Halversen kid at her brand-new middle school, and she's handled it so well. And finally, this morning I was getting the smallest two kiddos off to the bus stop. It is only two houses away, so usually I kiss them and off they go while I watch out the window or from the front door. I wave as the bus goes back by our house, but that's about it. Today they asked me to come down to the bus stop with them. Since this isn't our normal routine, suffice it to say, I wasn't ready. My hair was as as crazy as it always is when I've just rolled out of bed, and I was wearing old pajama bottoms and one of Gary's giant T-shirts. Oh yeah, I was looking smokin' hot. Oh well, I thought, and off we went. While at the bus stop Ethan and Annie chatted with me, held my hands, and hugged me good-bye. It didn't cross their minds once that I looked insanely ridiculous in front of their friends. With most of my kids now being teenager types, I guess I've gotten used to being a constant sournce of embarrasment for them. I am so grateful to have at least a couple of kids who still think that I'm the greatest no matter what. Kids have their fair share of moments where they make me nuts, but really, what would I do without them? Love you guys! -the mom


First Day of School Photos-