Summer Begins

Wow! I am feeling so much better! Isn't modern medicine AMAZING?! The antibiotics are getting a bit easier to take and I actually woke with energy this morning. The symptoms are retreating and are pretty much gone at this point. PHEW!

#2 headed off to a scouting high adventure early this morning. Before he could go, though, I had to take him to the grocery store to get a few additional food items. He woke me at 5am. I'm so surprised at how good I felt. YAY!!!

He'll be riding his bike, camping, white water rafting, and lots of other things in eastern Oregon. They're headed to the Metolius River. My family took a trip there when I was a kid. It was a blast! I hope #2 has a great time. I'm sure he will. He's with his bubs.

#1 is nannying and is very happy in her position. She gets to work with two sweet girls and run them around to do all kinds of fun things in the area. She works for them Monday through Thursday and works her other job on Fridays. It works out so well.

The talk is that we'll drop her at school over Labor Day weekend. The actual move-in day, from what I understand, is September 6th, but since the younger kids start school on the 4th (#3's birthday), it seems strange to up and run away the day after they begin. We need to discuss it with her apartment managers to see if that's kosher, but I'm thinking it'll be great for all the kids to see where their big sister is going to be.

I'm getting really excited about this new chapter in her life and ours. Thank you to everyone who has helped employ her so she can earn the money she needs to get her safely to Idaho and in school come September!

#5 is sick, so we're sticking close to home today. The original plan was to get to the library and sign up for summer reading--I'm still reading the Harry Potter series with #5. We're halfway through with book #5 as of last night. We won't have finished the entire series by the end of the summer (if I'm calculating correctly), but our goal is to read a chapter a day. We started in on our summer tradition of Summer Bridge workbooks this morning as well.

Everybody's got their goals for the summer.  Here's how they stand right now....
#1 - earn $$ for school (This is her ONLY goal. That's how important it is).
#2 - finish Eagle Scout award, run 400 miles, Portland to Coast
#3 - earn $100, get on one of the high school soccer teams. She also has her own "bucket list."
#4 - swim, advance in scouting
#5 - swim, read everyday
#6 - learn to tie shoes, ride a 2-wheeler
#7 - potty training - FUN! FUN! FUN! (I haven't ever been forced into this one before, but if she's going to be ready for preschool in September, it's got to be done. YIKES!)

My goals for the summer are listed above. I mean, seriously, is there really any room for me to focus on anything else right now? Once school starts, I'll be able to work on my own stuff. For now, my goal is to help my kids have good memories and to feel successful about the summer of 2012. So glad to be getting some health and energy back in order to get some things accomplished.

On to Something

K, so check it out....

I went to the doctor today, right? Before I went, I got to thinking over all the signs I've had of this infection. Like the blood test I had run a WAY long time ago that showed that my white blood cells were quite elevated. The doctor mentioned that I had an infection, and we both just shrugged our shoulders and moved on. I can't even tell you how long ago that was.  I mean, a SUPER long time ago. This has been percolating in my system for a very long time.

Today, I asked if the heart and dizziness stuff could stem from this, and she said she thought I was "on to something." It is very likely.

So, I'm now on antibiotics--the nasty, cruel kind, but very happy to be so if it means the other stuff will stop. Typically, a person will be on them for five days, but lucky me, I get them for seven because I was too pig-headed to get this checked out before now.

Hoping for the best!

In the Eye of the Storm

The day has just begun. I'm awake. Everyone else....still asleep. This is a great way to start the summer. I feel a sense of urgency to start the summer off on the right foot. I feel like the next two and a half months all hinge on how today progresses.

Here's the bad thing....I have some kind of infection that I believe has taken over part of my body. Eek! A lot of the issues I've been having seem like they could all be a result of this--heart, dizziness, etc. I think I'll be visiting a doctor today. I've been trying to take care of it myself, but it doesn't seem to be getting any better. Not good.

For the past number of days, I've been a bit baffled. Yesterday, I was awakened by a phone call from a teacher at the Warden's school. She shared that there had been some graffiti painted on the school that defamed "a teacher." It ended up that it was the Warden that was being memorialized, but they spelled his name wrong. Really?! How hard is it to spell "H-E-S-S?"

#1's car was left out on the curb in front of our house a few nights ago with the top off. Someone nabbed a piece of the middle console. Yesterday, when we got home and went into the garage, where the car now is, there was a strong smell of sulfur emanating from it. Hmm....

 The other day, I allowed a woman, who was coming from the opposite direction, into the school parking lot before me. I sat and waited patiently for her to come to the understanding that I was letting her go first. She, and her probably 5th grade daughter, shot me the dirtiest looks. Honestly, I think they were one step away from expressing their love with a hand gesture that included a lot fewer fingers than the traditional wave. Are they not used to people being nice to them? Baffling.

Yesterday, #3 climbed into the car after school and shared that her yearbook had been lost. She'd given it to a kid to sign. It was never returned. About an hour after we'd arrived home, the receptionist at the school called. The book had been found by one of the crossing guards blocks away from the school. It "wasn't in the best of shape," but it has all of the autographs in it. We'll go pick it up today. Today is also the day we get to go pay the money for the trumpet.

 So, hmm....What's up? Why are we all feeling so mean and ornery? Or are we? Am I just existing in this little bubble of meanness? With all of this going on, it makes me somewhat embarrassed to say I'm part of the human race.

Many of these incidences aren't even a response to someone else's mean act. These are self-motivated. It just doesn't make sense. Why are we all so angry? I would also venture to say that I've never even held a conversation with those who've done these acts. Random and anonymous? Mean just for meanness's sake?

As I begin summer vacation this morning, I have one thing to say to those who've done these things....thank you. All of this makes me want to redouble my efforts at being civilized and kind. I feel like I have the responsibility to make up for what seems to be lacking in this world right now. Thank you for providing the examples of what not to do. I'm ready to share these with my children and discuss with them the mean things that happen everyday that are really not necessary. Thank you for encouraging me and my family to be more kind and loving toward others.

One more reason why the next two and a half months (and longer) DO hinge on today.



Just a reminder....Be kind. Everyone you meet has some battle he's fighting.

Just for the Record

Every year at church, they include write-ups about the graduating seniors. Yesterday, #1 was one of these for this year. As I sat next to her as she read the info about herself, I asked her if I got it all right. She pointed out three errors. There was also a typo, but I'm happy to say, that wasn't me. Phew! Anyway, here's the write-up about #1. The original only had the first photo. I added more just because I can.

Photo courtesy of: Julia Shinkle Photography

#1 was born in Salem, Oregon, on 11/11 at 2:22pm. The Hess family lived in Monmouth, Oregon for the earliest years of her life. In July of 1998, they moved to Aloha.

#1 is a sweet, gentle, calm, but remarkably strong  person who loves people. She is always quick to laugh and ready to forgive. #1 is very non-judgmental and accepts people for who they are where they are. She thrives in her role as the oldest of seven children.

In first grade, #1 started playing soccer. She played for the next ten years. In high school, she played as a sweeper on the soccer team, ran on the cross country team and was a sprinter and a hurdler on the track team. She received the coach’s award for her hard work and leadership on the soccer team. By nature, she is honest, hardworking, and trustworthy. #1 has a strong moral compass and doesn’t believe in following the crowd.

Her greatest love is books. She was voted by her graduating class as the class “bookworm.” It could be that she received this “honor” because, there were a few times, #1 would get in trouble for reading the book she had  hidden on her lap under her desk during boring class lectures. Her favorite book as a teen was Maximum Ride by James Patterson. Her new favorite is The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

#1 is very self-motivated. Even when taking zero period classes, she never had to be awakened for school. Seminary has been #1’s favorite class. During her senior year, she had the opportunity to be her youngest brother’s “big buddy” at Little Warriors Preschool.

This past year, #1 decided to develop her talent for singing. She tried out and was accepted into the Aloha High School Concert Choir.  She also auditioned and received the opportunity to sing in the LDS regional Encore choir. Prior to these, her musical experiences had been instrumental—flute, bass clarinet and piano. In eighth grade, she played bass clarinet in the Beaverton School District Honor Band.

Her family feels that a day would not be complete without hearing #1 at the piano playing tunes from the Broadway shows she loves—Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables Wicked, and many others. This past year, as a graduation gift, some family friends bought her a ticket to Wicked when it came to town. Nothing could have made her happier.

During the summer of 2011, #1 went to Japan to serve the people and help clean up from the tsunami. It was astonishing how quickly #1 adapted to the culture. She particularly loved the people, their sense of community, and their care and concern for each other.

Most recently, #1 had the opportunity to go to outdoor school as a counselor. She cared for six girls from the Klamath Falls area and taught all of the kids everything there is to know about the beach. She says she’s had enough of the beach to last her a year. We’ll see how she feels after being in Idaho for an extended period of time.

#1 likes mac and cheese, cookie dough and broccoli. She earned her Young Women’s medallion by completing the Personal Progress program. She collects quotes and enjoys poetry. She also enjoys public speaking and will always include a poem or two in what she shares. She would like to serve a mission when the time comes. More than any place, she would love to go to Italy.

#1 is going to be greatly missed by her family this coming year as she heads to BYU-Idaho in the fall. She plans to study music.