Aaron leaves, puking begins, add in an anxiety attack...

We can always count on either a snowstorm or illness when Aaron leaves. This time, he left on Tuesday, and on Wednesday Ben started puking.

I was at the gym when the nurse called, having an anxiety attack. I was taking a test that determines one's metabolic rate, which allows a person to know where their heartrate should be to optimize cardio training. I was supposed to keep a mask on my face for 20 minutes, which is connected to a machine that monitors the oxygen flow, with my nose plugged, and found I didn't last more than 20 seconds before I had to yank it off. Talk about claustrophobia.

The guy administering the test told me to take it home and see if I can work up to it over time. I left the gym 20 minutes after I got there (the child care center staff looked a bit confused when I came back to get the kids so soon, and Aidan, in particular, was really upset that they didn't have enough time to play).

This was all very lucky, because the school nurse had called my cell phone 9 times, because Ben had thrown up in class. We picked him up, and he looked and felt fine, and didn't throw up at all at home. Later in the day, my stomach felt awful, too. I chalk up my getting it, and no one else, to finishing Ben's food over the last few days quite a bit, due to his trying cheesecake and discovering he didn't like it, and trying a new waffle recipe that he didn't like. Luckily (I think), I don't throw up - I just feel miserable for a day, like there are rocks in my stomach, and I get really nauseus. So, the house suffered for it, but the boys did a marvelous clean-up last night, and I think we'll survive. Nobody else seems sick, at all, and I hope it stays that way.

I tried out the mask a little last night. I might be able to handle it, if I have some sort of distraction. Anybody have a good book they can recommend that can absorb me during it?

First Snow

Last week we had our first snow. How I love it when it is wet and sticky, it coats the trees, and yet it is still pretty warm out! Today, it is raining. There is no more of this beautiful snow on the ground, rooftops and trees. Everything is green and brown again, yet the sky is still grey, and it brings my mood down and makes me feel tired. I prefer it snowy. At least when there's snow with a grey sky, the world is still bright.

First Steps

Katie took her first step on Sunday, and she is up to 5 steps at a time now (says Tristin - I haven't seen more than two). She is as sweet as ever!

I am almost done weaning her. We had to go really slowly, due to my tendency to get mastitis lately. I cut out the bedtime nursing last night, but still ended up nursing her at 4am a little. I nursed her again when she woke up, but that's it for the day. We're trying hard to get her to sleep through the night. Every time she cuts teeth, she reverts back to waking up overnight. 4am is actually not so bad, as she has gradually pushed back from 1:30am over the past few weeks. I suppose daylight saving time probably helped with that a little.

She had her 1-year check-up yesterday. The poor thing got four different shots, plus that awful blood draw for iron testing. We've never had that before. They told me it is a new practice to do that routinely. She really hated it. They poke her finger, and have to fill a small tube about 2cm full. It took a few minutes of squeezing her finger. After that, she got really mad at her band-aid.

Katie loves Dr. Haugland. She was standing up by me when he came in, and when she saw him, she started for him, and he sat down on the floor for her to come to him. She took two steps without holding on to get to him, and climbed up him and gave him a hug. It was really kind of strange, as she hasn't seen him in 6 months. But he is definitely a friendly-looking man, and probably reminds her of family, as he is half Czech, just like me.

Anyway, she is now 18# 8oz., and 29", and very healthy. Dr. Haugland has no concerns, and says we can skip the 15-month visit, and schedule her for an 18-month check-up, unless I have any concerns.

Congratulations?

Callings in the church are inspired of the Lord, right? And every calling is important, and we don't vie for callings. We've all heard the comparison to the church as a body, and it needs every hand, foot, finger, and even the baby toes just as much as the legs, arms and torso. So, a family history consultant and a den leader and a Primary worker are just as important as a Relief Society President and a Bishop to the function of the ward, and no one is better than anyone else because of their calling. So, why is it that when you get called into a presidency, people congratulate you? According to the Merriam-Webster's online dictionary, congratulate means to express vicarious pleasure to (a person) on the occasion of success or good fortune.

Yesterday, I was called as 2nd Counselor in the Primary Presidency. It's my second time in this calling, and I have also served as Primary Secretary. Each time I have been congratulated. I never know what to say when people congratulate me. I feel like I'm acknowledging my hard work in striving for the position if I respond with a "thank you." That's probably the appropriate response, but it all just makes me uncomfortable. I guess I do feel really good that a great woman like Kristen Johnson asked for me to be one of her counselors, and that the Bishopric approved, but is that success or good fortune? Often times, the Lord issues callings to test or teach a person, not because He thinks the person can do the job better than anyone else.

I'm really excited about my new calling. When Aaron told me on Saturday night that I had an appointment with a member of the Bishopric for Sunday morning, I started stressing over it, because I knew there were empty den leader positions, and I figured that would be it, so I prepared myself for it. When I saw Patty Beckle, one of the other cub moms, in the foyer of the church when I arrived, I thought we were doomed. I was pleasantly surprised that a new presidency was being formed, and I'd been called into it (Patty is the new secretary). I like being in Primary.

I was released as a family history consultant and as a member of the pack committee. It is possible that I will end up being the pack committee chair again (I finally convinced everyone that the committee chair should be a member of the primary presidency back when I switched to being the Cubmaster). There is a chance that the Cubmaster's wife will get that position, as she is the other new counselor, and it would sure streamline communication between the organizations. I'm fine with either way our president wants it to be. I would love to not have to be responsible for anything involving Cubs, on one hand, and on the other hand, I would like to try doing the Committee Chair calling with the mantle to really do it. I'll find out how it is all going to work on Friday at our first presidency meeting.

Katie's Birthday

Now that you've seen the cake, here are some snapshots of Katie's special day.

This is the house that Aaron built.

This is the cake that I baked.

Once upon a time, about a year and a half ago, I baked the most fantastic chocolate bundt cake, from scratch. Twice since then, I failed at baking said cake. It would not come out of the pan in one piece. Katie's first birthday was, unfortunately, the second instance of this occurrence. Tears ensued. So, Aaron to the rescue (why didn't I just put him in charge of this to begin with?). While Aaron prepared for baking a new cake, we all gobbled up most of mine. It tasted great.

This is the house that Aaron built.

Or, to be more accurate, castle. This is the chocolate CASTLE cake that Aaron made for our daughter's first birthday. Kind of shows up my silly bundt cake idea, doesn't it?