Weak in the knee...

Last Sunday I had a lot of pain in my knee.  This isn't anything new for me.  My knees generate pain often.  I am used to it.  At first I just ignored it.  As the day went on the pain became very intense and almost dropped me to the ground every time I put my weight on my right side.    I was hoping that I had slept on it funny, bumped it, or twisted it funny, and that as the week went on the pain would go away, and my knee would just heal itself.  So far that has not been the case.  I don't know what I did, or how I did it, but somehow, someway I have screwed up my knee AGAIN!!!  This is a problem for me.  #1, because I am terrified of doctors, #2 I have already had multiple surgeries and really not in the mood to do it again, #3, I don't like needles, and surgery requires a few of them, #4, I don't trust the hospital out here.  ( I am sorry to all my friends that work at the hospital, it's not you I don't trust!!!)  #5, seriously!!!!! How many surgeries does it take?  and #6, I am to tired for this!  :) 
Like I said I have had multiple surgeries in both knees. I am just not ready to do it again.  Don't get me wrong, the end result is fabulous, but everything in between just sucks!!!  It seems like everytime I have had knee troubles it just comes on.  There isn't any kind of traumatic injury that has caused the damage (at least not that I can remember)   And every time it's something different, something the doctor couldn't have predicted. and something that always makes the doctor scratch his head (I don't meant to be difficult, it just comes so naturally).  This time it's the same story, but I am worried that it is slightly worse than any of the other times.  In the past the pain has been, for the most part, bearable.  This time, not so much! 
Bad knees run in the family, and I guess the hereditary fairy didn't notice the EXEMPT tag on me when I was made, Yay!!! 
I was just really hoping that I was done with knee problems!  Guess not!
I am sorry to complain about this on my blog. It's really not an interesting topic.  I use my blog as a journal, and really  needed an outlet to get this off my mind.  I am nervous, and hoping to avoid the inevitable!  I don't have time for surgery, I hate the swelling that comes with it, I hate the bruising, the crutches, I hate it all.  I just really don't want to do it!  Maybe I will have a small miracle.  Stranger things have happened.  Right?

Blood, sweat, and a toga...

The end of the 2nd quarter was last Friday.  Phew!  This quarter has been a whirlwind and a half.  The quarter started out just like any other, but by mid-term it was a different story.  Alek had two c's and Jayce had three.  Luckily we got them up in a hurry and were able to maintain the 4.0 status until THREE days before the end of the quarter.  THREE DAYS!!!  Alek forgot to hand in an assignment in science that brought his grade back down to a C and Jayce's gym teacher screwed up on his mile run time and wouldn't give him any credit even though he had done exactly what she said. Now I know what your thinking.  You are thinking ya right the teacher screwed up.  But I am a witness to the crime. I had gone to the school to help Jayce and give him some moral support, I witnessed the whole event.  Basically what happened is Jayce had to beat his 1st mile run time, which he did, but when he handed his time sheet in the teacher said, "this isn't his 1st mile run score, this is his 2nd (which was slightly worse than the first).  Jayce told her that was the number she wrote down.  She refused to listen to him and accused him of lying.  That's when I got involved.  I explained to her what had happened and she simply said, "well I'm the teacher, and he didn't pass off his mile run, so he will either need to run it again, or take the C."   Ahhhh....
So after a few tears, and a long time for mom to calm down, we devised a plan.  We hydrated him really good, gave him a GREAT dinner, bought him a stop watch, made THE BEST breakfast ever, bribed him with dinner, and a movie with friends, and most importantly Grant gave him a blessing,  The next day I was on pins and needles.  FINALLY Jayce called me after 3rd period to tell me he beat his score by 1 min and 38 sec.  SWEET!!!  Now Jayce has an A in gym and is out of that class.  What a relief, except now Alek has her,  Great, here we go again!
Now back to Alek's C in science.  I saved this for last because it makes me laugh everytime I think of it.  Alek begged and pleaded with his teacher to let him hand in his missing assignment.  She wouldn't budge, but she made him a deal.  Since they had been studying Greek mythology if he would wear a toga to school ALL day she would give him extra credit.  Of course Alek sprung this little tid bit of information on me the morning that he was supposed to do it.  But we got it done, and he wore the sweetest blue toga this side of the mississipps to school.  He was so proud of it!  He wore it clear until dinner time.  We were proud of him and he got the extra credit points.  Unfortunately it wasn't enough to get him an A, but he did get a B+.  He was a little bummed because he has A's in all his other classes, but it was a lessoned he needed to learn.  Hopefully he won't "forget" to hand in his assignments ever again!
Now we are on to third quarter tomorrow, and hoping for smooth sailing.  Wish us luck!!!
P.S.
To all my V-Town friends.  If your kids get Ms. Jensen for gym, here is a little bit of advice, tell your child to run as slow as they can the first time.  Trust me on this!!!!

Sisters...

I have been blessed in my life to have 10 amazingingly beautful, sisters.  4 of which are my sisters I grew up with and 6 who are sisters by marriage.  Either way, I love having sisters, and I love being a sister!  Sisters have a bond that can not be forged.  We are tight and we stick together.  Seriously don't mess with sisters, especially MY sisters.  You are putting your life on the line if you do.  I'm just sayin...
I don't see my sisters NEAR as often as I would like.  But let me just tell you, when we are together, watch out!!!  As Mari says, "I think our maturity levels go down when we are together."  Yes ma'am I believe you are right.  We do some of the funniest (and stupidest) things when we are together.  I laugh so hard I...well nevermind, but my sisters know what I mean,  even James knows, but he's kind of like a sister.  Love you James. :)
My sisters can make me do things I didn't think I could or would ever do, (actually James can get me to do things I NEVER thought I would do, James are you sure you aren't my sister?)  we laugh with each other and at each other,  we call each other when we need a shoulder to cry on, or just need to talk.  They are honest with me when I ask them if I look ok, or if I need an opinion about an outfit or things of that nature (husbands aren't allowed to give honest opinions in that department, that's why God made sisters!)
I can't imagine my life with out my 10 sisters (and James).   Each one of my sisters is beautiful and has been such an inspiration and example to me.  I have learned so much from each one.  I am thankful for each of you and hope you know how much I love you.  The Lord has truly blessed me by allowing me to have 10 awesome sisters to love and that love me, even when I am a turd. 
And James, I know you aren't my sister, obviously, but you are there just as much as they are.  You are an amazing brother that would do anything for his sisters!  I love you too brother!

13 inchaes and counting....

So...all those who prayed for snow, here you go, We got snow. 

And a TON of it!!!

Family pictures

Today we had our family pictures done for our Chrsitmas cards. I was hoping for a little bit of snow in the back ground, but instead we got dead grass, leaves, and a beautiful pine tree. Believe it or not it was a hot day. It was difficult to believe we were doing Christmas pictures.

December...

 I am so excited for this holiday season.  I can't wait to get started with gift wrapping, parties, cooking delicious sweets, gift giving, family, friends, gift buying, the hustle and bustle, the lights, the music, and so much more.  But what I am most excited for is the spirit that Christmas brings the whole month long.  I love that everyday I think of my Savior and his humble birth. 

December also brings a bucket full of emotions for me.  I remember several years ago feeling the spirit so strong that I wasn't interested in the gifts, and the parties and all the normal Christmas activities.  The spirit enveloped me and my family, and taught me that the most important thing I could ever have or want is my family.  I remember praying that what I was feeling would never leave me.  Every year as December approaches I begin to have anxiety attacks, dreams brought on by fear, and I break into to tears just a little bit easier than normal because I want so badly to feel that feeling I had 11 years ago.  I lost so much that year, but also gained more than I could have imagined.  I lost my brother to cancer, something I could not bare to go through again, but I gained such a testimony of my Heavenly Father, my Savior, and the atonement, that I wouldn't change the events of December 1999 if I were given the chance.  The love I felt, the spirit I felt, and the peace I felt can never be described.  Don't get me wrong, if I could have Jared here I would, but that wasn't the Lord's plan for him, and I am thankful that the Lord was able to teach me through Jared's death.  I cherish that more than any gift I have ever been given.

Over the year's I have learned to enjoy the traditional Christmas activities again, but never without the memory that brought me so close to my Heavenly Father, and my family! 

I hope that everyone has the most wonderful Christmas.  I pray that it will bring peace, joy and love to each of you!  Merry Christmas!!!