Well and Healthy... or not.

So, a lot of you have been asking for an update on me... the mom of the bunch!
I think I may have forgotten what it feels like to be the normal healthy me. I'm definitely not as sick as I was when I first got sick back in April, but as I was talking to a friend the other day about all of this, I realized that I'm so used to feeling this way that I don't really remember what I felt like before.
The illness is definitely making its way back into my life. I woke up a couple of days ago and had a really hard time getting out of bed... The tremors and dizziness are back too, which is just more annoying than anything serious. I think what I notice the most is the constant pain and weakness in my arm and legs. I'm managing it all the best I can. I've found that as long as I work through the pain rather than staying in bed... the better I do in the long run.
So, what's in store? As promised, I plan to return to the neurologist before the end of summer. I'm letting him run ONE more test... the lumbar puncture (aka: spinal tap). I can't decided which version sounds better... they both give me the creeps!!! Apparently it's painless (unless they hit a nerve)...

Well and healthy, or not... sometimes you just do the best you can and make the best of less than desirable conditions. :)

It's My Birthday... YAY To Me!!!

My babygirl, Kayla turned 14 on the 26th of June. She is growing up WAY too fast... When did this happen? Seriously!

Kayla is such a fun~loving, outgoing girl. Her favorite things right now... sleeping in, boys, text messages, cherry coke, friends, swimming, violin, dance/cheer and running.

Happy birthday babygirl!

We celebrated her birthday a few days late. Kayla got to spend her birthday on the Pioneer Trek this year... she turned 14 just in time to attend youth conference! They celebrated her birthday on the trek (pioneer style) and despite all the grief she gave me before going, she had a fantabulous time!!!

Kayla is my "traditions" girl... she loves to celebrate traditions, as well as make them up along the way. She started a birthday tradition a while back where everyone writes a birthday wish on one of the birthday girl's balloons and we send it off into the sky. Most of Kayla's well wishers commented on the fact that in only 2 short years she'll be driving a car. Um... I'm not really ready to accept that yet okay!!!

The family helped us celebrate. Cammy just had to smash a cupcake on Kayla. Lucky for Kayla she's pretty quick and Cammy got her shoulder instead of her face! Good try though Cam...

My friend...

A week ago today a close friend of mine lost her 7 year old son in a tragic accident. I can't even imagine the pain of losing a child. I remember receiving the message from my friend saying that her angel Landon had been involved in an accident and was dying. I had to read the message several times and even still, it didn't seem real. I later received a message saying that they were taking him off life support that evening. How heart~breaking! That was the night I cuddled up to my own 7 year old and held her tight all night long. I didn't sleep well... I just couldn't stop thinking about my friend and what she must be feeling. The funeral service Monday was a beautiful tribute to her angel. I was so amazed by my friends composure... she is by far one of the strongest people I have ever known.
Penny has been such a good friend to me... I wish that I could somehow return even a portion of the love she has shown me over the years. We've only known each other for about 8 years, but have been through quite a lot together. She was my temple escort when I went through the temple for the first time. She was there for me the night Matt left. She was my shoulder to cry on and my constant source of strength throughout the entire divorce ordeal.
Penny and I were meant to find each other I think. We had been friends for a while when we discovered that we each had been praying to find a friend. My prayers were answered... she truly is a wonderful friend. I love you Penny!

Rain, Rain... Go Away...

We wanna swim and play... oh, and stop driving our mom crazy!!!

Well, the pool is finally fixed and open. We've just been waiting for a sunny day to happen. Well, our window of sunshine came... for about an hour! For some reason summer just doesn't seem to actually begin until we get our first swim...

...Summer 2009 begins.