Shots, Shots, Shots

A little over a year ago, Jackson was walking by our shed when he saw a hornet fly up to him and sting him right on his eye. (Can you guess which eye?) He started to get a puffy eye, which I thought would be normal, but when he started getting hives all over his body, and itching, and his face started to blow up I called Sam to see what I should do. He said to give him some Benedryl and take to the Dr. ASAP. The Dr. gave him a shot of Zyrtec and made us stay there for a while to make sure he wasn't going to get worse, i.e. stop breathing.

He suggested we go to an Allergist to see if he is allergic to bees. We did, took a lot of tests, and found out he is allergic to wasps, hornets and yellow jackets (just like his grandpa Pollock). He is not allergic to honey bees.

This picture was taken later, and the puffiness was going down. Both eyes were originally swollen.

The Allergist suggested giving Jackson allergy shots, for the next 5 years. To make it a shorter time, he also suggested giving 16 shots, three different times. (Two shots, one in each arm at a time).
We would have to wait 30 min. to make sure he didn't have a reaction, then go back and get another two shots. This process each session took 4 to 5 hours.
Since we were going to be there all afternoon, we took a few things to do. Jackson did his Summer Bridge, read for 30 min., then got to watch a movie. This worked out very nicely. I took my lap top all excited to blog the whole time, just to find out they only had secured Internet access. So, I organized all my pictures from the last few years, and found some that I thought we had lost.
We are now done with the three 4 hour sessions, (before school started) and he will go in once or twice a week for two shots, one on each arm, for the next 41/2-5 years, then he should not be allergic to these insects any more. I'm thankful for the medical science that Heavenly Father gives us, to better our health and lives.


Maren wanted me to post her after getting her shots before kindergarten started. She was so brave, and the kids told her it wouldn't hurt very much. She got 4 shots, and.............
THEY DID HURT!
Maren wasn't hurting as much by the time we took this picture. So she is trying to put a sad face on. She needs to practice a little don't you think?

Back to School

As I was frantically getting the kids off for their first day, (I was also trying to frost cupcakes for Jacskon's b'day which was on the first day of school, and his teacher wanted the cakes there first thing in the a.m., making breakfast for Sam, I was also getting ready for the 10:00 session at the temple, (we need to leave at 9:15), I was meeting one of my counselors at 8:25 to run over to someones house to give them a little thank you card and flowers, I had to drop off the cupcakes and drop off checks at the office), the bus came roaring out the back window. "Bus!" yells Jackson. (which means it will be in the front of the house in 1 min.) So, the kids (having their backpacks on and all ready to go) run out the door. I'm in my dress, no shoes, grab my camera, and try to grab a picture of the kids while getting on. I'm glad they stopped to look while I was shooting. (I'm not too happy about the garbage can in the back) Sammy has his own private bus. He incorporated this bus last year, as it drove past the middle school each day about the same time school opened. High School is a little out of the way (two blocks to the west), but I'm sure Sammy has talked his bus driver in making a new route on his way to work.
I was able to make it to all my functions for the morning/afternoon. I did get to go home and sit in the massage chair (Donna was booked today) for a half hour before it was time to pick up the kids.

Maren rides the bus from the kindergarten school to Aliza and Jackson's school, so it will be one school for the pick the up of these three. (last year I had three schools)

The kids had a great first day!

When asked what they liked about their first day, they said..........

"Arts, making an elephant, getting on the bus and making friends." - Maren

"Not doing any work, except art." - Aliza

"Doing math." - Jackson

"Leaving and going home." - Sammy V

Welcome back to school kids!

Jackson's 10 years old!!!

from my journal 10 years ago.

August 27, 1998

Omaha, NE

Woke up at 5:00 a.m. with contractions. Could not believe it. They were 7 to 8 min. apart. They were like that all morning. We wanted to get them going, so Anny, Kass, Zack, Sammy and I went to the Zoo (mom was on her mission in Jamaica, so Anny and Kass came to my aide). That got them going. Sam came home at 5:00 (He had to take a test first, he asked if I could wait, I said "I guess so") We went to the hospital and at 10:39p.m. Jackson Ryan was born. 7lbs 12 oz.

Sam stayed the night with me. We didn't get much sleep because we got into our room at around 2:00 a.m. We had a little food, then got to sleep at 3:30 a.m.

Anny, Kass and Sammy came at 10:00 to visit. We had lots of visitors the next two days.

As I sit here and remember this day, it brings me great joy. We had been waiting for 4 years to receive another child from our Heavenly Father. We were finally blessed with Jackson. When we told Sammy in January that we were going to have another baby, Sammy shouted for 10 min. "Mom is going to have a baby!"



Jackson is very much the outdoors person. He is a very active boy. When I would finally get to sit down and relax when I was 8 months pregnant, I would have to sit up with a straight back so Jackson could do somersaults inside my stomach.

He still does his gymnastics moves, he just has a little more room (click here to see his state gymnastics meet). Jackson loves to golf, ride bikes, motorcycles, swim, fish with dad, and snowboard. He is very loving and sensitive to everyone around him. He even gives great back rubs.

We just want to wish Jackson Ryan a very, very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

Jackson's b-day party at the lake with a few of his friends. Of coarse he finds a snake......

did I mention he likes snake?

L-R/ Jacob A., Colton A., Matthew O, Jackson, Adam L., Aikman P.

Back row- cousin Paige P.-- she did pretty good being the only girl there:)

Becca's 40th

I've thought of so many ways I could do this post. I was going to post the four different dinner/lunches that were given for the big 4 0. Our office luncheon, (the picture above), (thanks Amy for the announcement of how old I am), the family dinner on Sunday where Clint, Amy and kids, Jodi and Sedley, and Crystal came over for a yummy sloppy joe dinner. Mom was here to help make the dinner. I was so glad she was here to help celebrate the occasion. The luncheon on my birthday at Olive Garden with mom, Amy, Jodi, and Laurel (I got a great gag gift from Amy, a book called Sex after 40, open the book.....blank pages:). Then the dinner at Applebees with my little family later that evening, (Jackson and I got free ice cream sundaes).

It was suggested that I say 40 things about myself, which was a great idea, but my brain is too "old" to think of that right now.

I was going to scan a picture of me as a baby, close to when I was born, then one now. But It takes time to find the photos and scan.

I was going to give thanks to my husband for the beautiful roses and card he gave me, (picture of roses and scanned card and all), but I decided to save that one for my anniversary post next week.

So instead, I'll just say..........

I'm one year older and feel like I am still 20.

HERE'S TO A NEW DECADE!!!

Sammy's Birthday

Sammy turned 14 years old!!!!!

July, 27 2008

I know it has been a month since his b-day, but this really has been a busy summer. I thought before I put Jackson's or my birthdays down, I better put his. This is for you Sammy :)

He and a few friends went to Geyser Park, the local fun games, go carts, etc. They had a fun filled day. He won so many tickets, we was able to buy the whole Atomic Fireball jaw breakers from the counter. Needless to say, his mouth was red, and burning. He did share quite a bit with others.




Sammy is finding a new love with golf. He is pretty good for just starting, and hopes to be on the high school golf team next year.

Sammy somewhat, kind of sort of, likes to play PLAYSTATION 3. What am I talking about, if he's not reading, he's in the basement playing PlayStation 3. Aunt Amy got him a shirt for his birthday that reads....."I'd help you, but I'm stuck to this chair" Need I say more?
Sammy is an avid book reader (he read the first Harry Potter book at the age of 7). Asked what his favorite book, or book series are.......
"LORD OF THE RINGS, of coarse." (he is reading the series for the 4Th or 5Th time right now. He is using Sam's books that he had as a teenager)
Sammy has been playing the piano for 5 years now. He plays pretty good, and is starting to learn some primary songs and hymns. If he can play the song, he loves piano. If he has to practice the song, he does not like it so much.

Sammy dressed as an "older" woman for Halloween, 2005

Sammy loves, loves, loves, jumping off cliffs, and knee boarding. He would be out there the whole time, well, he usually is because no one else wants to be in the "scary" water.

If there is a baby to be held, he would be the one holding him/her. It is fun to see that he hasn't gotten to "old" to hold a baby.
We love Sammy, and are very blessed to have him in our family. He really is a very big help at home, when I call for him, he is there in seconds. Whenever I ask him to do something, it is done. Love you Sammy!

Bits of Becca - 30 years ago

The actual pioneer dress mother made 30 years ago. Since I couldn't wear it any more, and I couldn't find any pictures with me wearing it, I had Aliza put it on as a model. (P.S. like our new/old petrified log Sam got from his dad?)

Again, this is from my "diary" 30 years ago. 9, almost 10 years old. I hope I get better with my spelling!

Tuesday July 25, 1978

Today we whent to Primary and we had a pioneer parad because yesterday was when the pioneers came to Salt Lake and we whent around the naborhood and I had a bonet mother made and a dress, but it was like a pioneer dress. When we got bake, I was so hot and thirsty and my pop was frozen and I had to go in the building and get a drink it was fun and vary vary hot too.

Wenesday July 26, 1978

This afternoon, I whent to my dads offis, I work relly hard down thair when I got home I was really tired we ate supper, we whent swimming and we played cars, then I whent to bed.

Tusday Agest 1, 1978

Today Wendy came over because she whent to california and we had a big parad in marideon (Meridian,ID) and they throw out some cany but I gave some to kathryn and trina, all the peple that worked at dads offec whent to Sakis and it was fun and vary good and I had a babesite because everybody was gone and it was fun.

Wendesday Aguest 2, 1978

Today I whent to dad affes when this man called and whoned a check-up. and it was dad all the time and it scared me so much and this year I got to be in the pumkin race or in the fair and if I win the largest pumpkin, I get $2.00 plus a priz tonight it's boring. I dident do much but take care of Aaron.

Family Vacation - Glacier National Park

We, as a family, had the privilege to go on a final family trip before school started. We decided to go to Glacier National Park, and Whitefish. It was a beautiful and breathtaking time. We took the boat with us, so we could hang out on the lake in Whitefish. This is our third time back since we have moved to Montana. I think this is becoming a yearly trip. We hope others can join us in the future, and see the beauty in this part of our wonderful country.

This glacier, shown below, named Jackson Glacier, is one of the shrinking glaciers here. They say by the year 2030, if things progress the way it is now, Jackson Glacier will be gone.

Some Favorite and Not So Favorite things we did.

Glacier ////////Whitefish Lake

SAMMY

"Jumping off a cliff, and getting money."

(Sam bribed the boys)

"TUBING!!!"

"Doing homework"

"Thinking about doing homework

and preparing a talk"

JACKSON

"Getting out to see a bear"

(it is there...... way in the back:)

"Knee boarding"

(this is Becca, we didn't get a picture of Jackson)









"Not getting money for jumping off the cliff. I did jump off a cliff, just not the one dad said"

"Being on the tube, I was on with Aliza and we did not like it!"

ALIZA

"Seeing the Ram!"

"Riding in the
boat all day"








"Getting stuck behind all the trucks"

"Screaming on the tube"

MAREN




"Seeing the Ram hang out in the visitor parking lot"

"Tubing with mom"

"Stubbing my toe"

"Getting water on my face while
tubing"

SAM

"The tattoo on the head guy in line at the grocery store" and......."Trophy Fishing"












"Most of Glacier has burned down due to a fire last year"

"Wife and kids were

not impressed with
my fish"

BECCA

"Taking lots of photos out the car window, and the breathtaking views!"

"Riding in the boat, and taking pictures of the kids"

It was a wonderful end to the summer. I am thankful for the beautiful creations of our Heavenly Father and Saviour.