Awwww, Nuts!

Tonight while I was working on Chloe's scrapbook at Oby's mom's house, Oby was watching Chloe at home. Taylor introduced me to one of my new favorite treats....

Coconut cashews. Have you ever tried these things? OH MY GOODNESS - they are delish!!!

Sadly and ironically, Oby was at home feeding Chloe cashews. He called me and said she was being fussy. I thought he was trying to get me to come home, and told him to go play with her outside. He called awhile later and said she had thrown up and was very upset, and he was worried it was because he gave her cashews. I came home.

Aside from being very congested and sounding like an 80-year-old man who had smoked three packs of cigs for every day of his life, she was in a pleasant mood and seemed fine. Then....

hives appeared on her neck and around her mouth. So we headed to the hospital. I was terrified that she would go into anaphylactic shock or possibly aspirated on the cashews because of how she sounded when she took a breath.

By the time we got to the hospital, her hives had gotten worse, and she had red around her eyes and ears. But, the little trooper, she was in a very happy and pleasant mood! She entertained all the sick people in the ER. What a sweetie pie.

The doctor listened to her lungs and assured me she hadn't aspirated. He did tell us to keep her away from cashews and give her a dose or two of Benadryl. Poor thing, she'll never get to try those delicious coconut cashews! (more for me!)

Good Helper

Today I had lots of weeding to get done, then I watched my nephew Jake for a couple of hours. When I have stuff to do and Chloe's a good girl so I can get it done, I always say, "You're such a good helper!" Her reaction to that statement is equal to that of lottery winners - she loooooves being a good helper!

Weeding:

With Jake at the park:

Mother Goose and I have made amends since our last run-in. How cute are these little goslings!?!?!....

Speaking of help, I need it. Tonight I was given a church calling to do activities with the 9-10-year-old girls every other week. I don't remember being that age. What do 9-10-year-old girls like to do?????

Mama Chloe, Never Give Up, Big Girl

Yesterday I took Chloe to a neuropsychological evaluation. It was long and exhausting for both of us. We'll get the results later. One thing that was evaluated is if Chloe has nurturing skills. I didn't think she did, but - Chloe never ceases to amaze me. She was handed a little baby doll, and she started giving it kisses and hugging it tight. Okay, so she also tried to chew its little head, but still... she nurtured!

The doctor was absolutely in love with Chloe. She kept telling me that I had made her entire week by bringing her in! She was amazed at how much determination Chloe has. She never gives up, no matter how hard things are. As she was given different tasks that are so challenging for her, she just kept trying and trying and trying and trying and trying and trying......... If the people around her don't give up on her, then she'll achieve things because SHE will NEVER give up!



She is so inspiring, even to someone who meets little kiddos like her all the time. As we were leaving, the doctor reminded me to come back next week and we'll go over the results. She reminded me that when we go over the results, it is highly recommended to leave the child with someone else so I can focus on what I'm being told. But she said, "In Chloe's case, I'll recommend for my sake that you DO bring her in!!!"

Afterward, we stopped to visit Will, and her nurturing skills went into high gear again. When she was holding Will, Taylor and Nana told her she was a 'big girl.' Boy oh boy did she like being called a big girl!!!

If only this picture showed how cute her dress was!

A Couple New Things

Chloe likes to give five....



Ezekeil is obsessed with giving Chloe loves.....

Flashback Friday: My Roommates Through the Years

Get comfortable. I decided to flashback my roommates and, well, there are a lot.

Roommates at USU....

Some were my true roommates, and the others were neighbors that we were really close with.

More USU groupies:

Rachel, Emily, Danelle, me, Shelly

My roommate Janica and I lived in Ogden for awhile....

Janica, her sister Cami, me

We had a 'Saturday Night Live' party once, and here's part of that group.

Janica and I are on the far right.

Then I moved to the big SLC, and lived in an apartment with these girls....

Melissa, Helen, Jen, Jamie & me

Then this crew lived in a home in Sugarhouse....

Jamie, Jen, Dianna, me

Dianna, me, Jamie at Lake Powell (one of my fav places on EARTH!)

Then I headed to Draper, and lived in a few different places with a few different girls....

Stacy and I at Halloween

Heidi and I in Moab



me, Jessica & Molly - Halloween




Jessica, Mollz and I - karaoke

Molly and I with some friends from church at Bear Lake

Rachel, moi, and Molly - my bday




Molly, Heidi and I

(yes, I know I look drunk, but I'm not - that's Dr Pepper!)




me & Mollz

Then I headed back to Sugarhouse, with some new roommies....

Sarah, Amy & I getting a Christmas tree

Amy & I at a soccer game

Hands down, my favorite roommates EVER....

Oby & I

Me and Miss Chloe

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Mother Goose?

WARNING: Read no further if you don't want your childhood perspective about Mother Goose to be significantly tainted.

Sweet, bonnet-wearing, story-telling, rhyme-reading kind bird? THINK AGAIN!

The day started out perfectly. Chloe and I needed some fresh air. Yesterday it was a bit hot, but today it was partly sunny with a delightful breeze.

Perfect weather: Check.

Then we went to the perfect place for a walk, Jensen Nature Park, right by our house.

Perfect place: Check.

Chloe was jibber-jabbering in the stroller and I was enjoying my iPod playlists (I put together a mean playlist, lemme tell ya!) and we were both thoroughly enjoying ourselves. We were minding our own business strolling along the designated path, when out of nowhere.....

a goose started honking at us! I barely had time to think, 'What the.....' when.....

she took off after us. I don't know if you've ever seen a goose running and honking, but it's surprisingly very threatening and scary! I have never ran so hard and fast in all of my life (well, while wearing flip-flops and pushing a stroller, that is).... I booked it around a corner and took refuge behind some tall weeds. When it seemed we were in the clear, I took my breath. Chloe was giggling hysterically! (She didn't know that we were just about killed and/or mamed by a wild animal - ignorance certainly is bliss).

I couldn't help but think, 'What is that bird's problem? I support the nature park. I RECYCLE! For heaven sakes. What did I do to her?'

I briskly scurried over to the other side of the park, only to see a few people gathered, talking, and pointing over to where the 'situation' had just occurred.

They asked if we were okay.

"Ummm.... Did you guys see that?" To my dismay and utter embarassment, these perfect strangers HAD watched me running in flip flops away from the wild beast! I was mortified. There are many times in my life when I have to make the ultimate decision: laugh or cry.

I laughed. They laughed. It was a good time.

They explained that I wasn't the goose's first victim, and the city had been called to address the issue. They believed the goose was protecting....

Her babies.

Suddenly, that mother goose's actions made perfect sense to me. I have been in her situation before, where the only thing I can do is act like a maniac to make sure my baby gets taken care of.



Sure, I understand Mother Goose a little better, but I will never think of her the same!