Thanksgiving

A time for thanks. I decided to steal my mother's idea and list what I am thankful for. First, I have all the usual things that I am thankful for:

• The gospel -- I get a lot of strength by living the gospel. Plus, I have a whole extended family through the ward that cares about me and my son.

• My family -- My wonderful son is the most important person in my life. He brings such joy in my life as I watch him grow up and find his way in life.

• My sisters -- I have three wonderful sisters. I love to spend time with them. We have such wonderful talks and enjoy spending time together. I love having my youngest sister right down the street from me -- at least for a few more days until she moves to Utah :(
  
• My brother -- My brother and I were the best of friends as we were growing up. I loved spending time with his friends rather than mine -- at least that's what I remember.
  
• My neices and nephews -- I love to spend time with my nieces and nephews. I tell them stories, play games with them, talk about books, and spoil them rotten when I can. (The picture is only a few of them -- I have 20.)
• My house -- I have enjoyed decorating my house and finding the best place to put everything.
• My yard -- I finally got my backyard landscaped and I love it.
• My job -- I am so thankful to have a job that I love doing. I enjoy children's literature and helping students come to love it too.

Now time for all the little things I am thankful for:

• low cost of gas right now
• soft ice cream
• a night sky full of stars
• soft green grass to lay on
• all the colors, especially purple
• sweet smelling flowers
• new books -- especially ones you can't put down
• smiles
• hugs
• chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate
• dishwashers...so I don't have to wash dishes by hand
• coupons
• Chuck, 24, Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, Stargate Atlantis, Numbers
• Friends, Lois and Clark, Beauty and the Beast, Star Trek Voyager, MASH
• soft pillows
• warm blankets for cold rainy days
• a porch swing
• a cool car that I can put a lot of stuff in
• holidays where I don't have to go to school

Okay -- I'll stop listing things so I can go have fun with my family.

Sleep Test

Last night I had my sleep test. Talk about an experience! Once I get there and answer a bunch of questions (in my nightgown no less), I then get hooked up everwhere. They put sensors on my legs and chest. But the really fun place is all over my face and hair. And then they tape the wires down. I also got two sensors in/around my nose -- one to test the air pressure and the other to test the air temperature. Finally, the REALLY fun part. I move to the bed and try to lay down on it with all the wires and not get tripped up.

I read for about 15 minutes and then tried to sleep. It seemed like I just couldn't get to sleep. They asked that I sleep on my back since the apenas are stronger then. I don't like sleeping on my back :( Finally I turn to my side and try -- that doesn't work so I go back to laying on my back. After several of this back and forth and I know it has been a while, the technician comes in. When I said hello he told me that I had sleep apena and he processed to hook me up to a CPAP machine. I found out it was already 12:30.

A hose is connected to the machine and a nose mask. The mask goes over my nose and I am told to breathe only through my nose. Talk about panic! It felt a little like it does when I put my mask on to scuba dive. I knew this was going to be difficult. Sure enough, I start to cough and find it hard to breathe. I had to take deep breathes and calm down. Then I could breathe better and fell asleep. Next thing I remember the technician was waking my up again and it was 7:00. It turns out that I was waking up about every 45 seconds. No wonder it seemed like I never went to sleep.

Now I just have to wait to talk to the doctor on the 1st and then maybe all this tiredness will start to go away. I am just soooo happy to finally know what has caused my extreme tiredness for the last year or so.

Freezer Meltdown

My freezer went on the fritz a few days ago. Luckily we were able to save almost everything -- only lost the ice cream :( and the juices. So I spent today shopping for a new freezer. Thanks Mom for helping!

Coupons Galore

Today I got my first set of coupons from Sunday's papers. I have seen what Cheryl has done with her coupons and decided that I need to give it a try. Soooo...I have started getting the Sunday paper. (By the way, Maria the Zits cartoon was awesome and reminded me of Christian and I.)

I will have to see what will happen with all my coupon savings. Hopefully, I do as well as Cheryl. Although I am sure it will take a few weeks to really start saving since I have to get a bunch of coupons first.

Night in the ER

Last night was an interesting one. My mom has been watching Cheryl's kids while Cheryl and Ben were on vacation. Well, I get a call around 5:30 from my Mom saying that she thinks Addie has broken her collarbone. Thus started our adventure.

Christian and I quickly got to Cheryl's house. Christian stayed with Brayden and Cambrie and Mom and I took Addie to Good Night Pediatrics. They were afraid she might have dislocated her shoulder and sent us to Banner Thunderbird.

Poor Addie was crying because her shoulder hurt soooo much. But she was also pretty brave. When she was able to lay still she would be okay. The doctors and nurses were all so careful with her -- they didn't want to hurt her more than she already was. It ended up that she had broken her clavacle. They wrapped her shoulder up and put her arm in a sling (one with different color bears on it). She also got a soft polar bear to keep. Then we were finally able to take her home -- at 10:30.

Poor Cheryl had to deal with all of this long distance through phone calls. Addie was very glad to see her mom and dad this morning. Cheryl and Ben were glad to see her too.