Lately

On Wednesday, February 1, Hannah came over to watch the kids while Matthew and I went to the Family School information meeting. Back at the end of August things weren't going well for the boys in their classes at Painted Sky, the local public elementary, and I felt strongly to get them on the waiting list for Family School, a charter that incorporates home schooling. Not long after, we got Abraham moved into a different class, which has made a world of difference, and Hyrum got over his beginning of the year hesitations and seems to be doing well also. We wanted to keep our options open though, so we went to the information night for the charter school anyway. We talked for a long time afterwards about what we think will be best for each kid, as well as what would be best for the family as a whole. We both came to the conclusion that doing the 80% program doesn't fill any deficits and would more likely than not add a degree of stress and difficulty. We felt though that the 50% program would actually give us some of the things we feel we are lacking now, like the kids being home more during the week and adequate time to do music lessons a bit more seriously. If it was a choice between Painted Sky and Family School, I think we'd end up choosing Family School, but with the new K-8 being built right across the street, the choice isn't quite as clear cut. I called the next day and changed our preference from 80% to 50% and I guess we'll have another discussion if we actually get in. 

On Friday, February 3, we had the Brown's (plus Sako) over for dinner. Matthew made homemade pizza, and I made a salad and dirt for dessert. The initial plan was to also build pinewood derby cars for the ward activity coming up, but we ended up just visiting for a couple hours while the kids played.

On Saturday, February 4, we got all three boys set up on computers and they had a full Minecraft day.  It was a really lovely day, so I did make the kids go play outside for an hour at lunch time, and in the afternoon Mercy and I went on a walk. Matthew started not feeling well towards the end of the day and ended up skipping a Priesthood leadership meeting and canceling D&D. 

On Sunday, February 5, we woke abruptly at 6:00 am to the door bell and the sound of frantic knocking. I opened the door and found a teenage girl, who had clearly just been beat up, crying and asking if she could use our phone. She smelled of alcohol, but wasn't totally drunk. From what I could gather from bits and pieces of her story, she was at a friend's house when some other people showed up, presumably one's who had a problem with her. She said they jumped her, and I'm guessing she got away in haste which explains why she had no coat or cell phone. She called her mom who came and picked her up. I'm not sure if she initially came to our house or if we were just the first to open the door, but I'm glad she made her way to us and that we were able to help. I pray my children never end up in the same situation.

I went to Stake Conference alone on Sunday because Matthew continued to feel ill. He still wasn't feeling well on Monday, so he took a sick day and played Minecraft to keep his mind off his queasy stomach. Luci and Cora came over for three hours and kept Mercy totally occupied while I finished up all the monkies for a commissioned quilt I'm working on. 

Matthew was feeling better on Tuesday, but decided to work from home. He had a couple long meetings he had to call in to which he could do just as well from home as from the office, plus he could multi-task with a bit of Minecraft in the background. I tended Riker for most of the day.

Mindy offered to have Mercy over on Wednesday, so I dropped her off and then spent several hours in search of fabric. I needed some boarder fabric and backing for my monkey quilt, and was hoping to find some bicycle patterned flannel. Despite going to four different stores, I did not have good luck. I was, however, able to pick up a few quick groceries and a birthday present for Cora. That evening we all went over to the West Mesa aquatic center for Cora's swimming party. I was starting to not feel great, so I didn't swim, but everyone else did and had a lot of fun. Mercy flabbergasted me with the how much she peed that evening. I took her to the bathroom twice during the swimming, then again just before we left the pool, then she peed all over her car seat during the 5 minute ride home, and then went again half an hour later just after I tucked her into bed. 

I woke up at 4:00 am yesterday morning to the sound of Mercy retching in the hallway. Thankfully we made it to the bathroom in time and I didn't have to clean vomit out of the carpet. I wasn't feeling well myself, but nevertheless put on my mom pants and cared for Mercy, who was feverish and ill all day long.

The results of Mercy's sick stomach subsided by mid morning yesterday, but she's become extremely congested and has a barky cough that kept her up most of last night. I gave her some medicine that was mildly effective and she got a few hours of sleep in my bed. So far she's spent most of today watching shows with a box of tissues at her side.