2022, February 21-27

We weathered another winter week.  

The scare we had last week with Eliza seems to have evaporated as quickly as it came up. She still spit up blood a couple of days this week, but we will have to wait and see what happens when she sees a GI in March. Hallie is quite frustrated with how the medical system is working (or, rather, not working).

Mike received an art set from BTS Arts while at UAESP, and he made a couple of landscapes with Eliza for school on Monday. 

She had a couple of hard nights going to sleep. When she starts acting up, Fergus doesn't quite know what to think or do. 

For those who missed it, Tuesday was Twos-day. 

We got some winter weather on Wednesday and Thursday. It was pretty dang cold at Creekside. Hallie's work can't quite seem to find someone to shovel the sidewalks, so Thursday Hallie and two of her students shoveled the back sidewalks for nearly an hour.

For Fergus, happiness is a warm lap on days like these. 

We stand with our friends from Ukraine and condemn Putin's sorry excuse for yet another power/territory grab, and we stand with our friends from Russia who have to put up with Putin. Politics aside regarding how we got here, we stand with those who are working for a swift end to the invasion and a return to peace in the region.

Eliza likes reading in her little alcove. Also, we want to take a second to shout out to our kids' teachers. Here you see E reading a note she received a couple of years back from Mrs. Haymond. We appreciate all her love and consideration for our little girl. Eliza and Hallie are going out to lunch with her on Monday. On a similar note, Landon received some needed support from his science teacher, Mrs. Paxton, this week, and we so much appreciate how she and his other teachers have worked with L as he's contended with his broken hand. 

Mike taught his EdD students this weekend, and for part of class, they went down to the university's student dining center to have lunch and do an ethnographic observation. Hallie and the kids joined him, and Hallie met this group of students participating in the ROTC. As Bryce is an army recruiter, Hallie was excited to see some service people on campus. 

As we near the end of the month, it's time to start thinking about this year's garden. . . . 

We had a pretty winter sunset on Sunday. So grateful for the snow! Hallie is thankful for the snow because around the corner are all the boutiques and fun that happens in the spring. People are advertising, and Hallie is excited for what is to come.

Hallie has struggled a lot this week. Hallie has worked closely with Eliza during her medical issues both physically and mentally and these have added to the stress of the other things in life that are going on. Life is real and everything we do is not beautiful, but as Hallie told her students, "Put one foot in front of the other. That is the only way we will wake up and be here again tomorrow."

2022, February 14-20

More travel and medical concerns this week. 

On Valentine's Day Monday, we shared the love at home. Over the weekend we noticed one of Fergus's canines looked broken, so we tried to get him into the vet. We had to wait until Tuesday morning. Fortunately, when we took him in, the vet said the tooth looked fine despite the break. Mike now calls Fergus "Snaggletooth".

Eliza also went riding on Tuesday.  

After work on Wednesday, Mike and a work colleague took a group of EDLF MEd students to the Utah Association of Elementary School Principals (UAESP) Conference in St. George. This meant that Mom got to go with Landon to get his hand checked and his cast replaced with a removable one. Three more weeks of this, and it looks like this year's meet season is done. 

While Mike was out, Hallie held down the fort, which included cleaning up an exploding Corelle plate. On Wednesday morning, Eliza woke up having drooled some blood in her sleep. She began to complain of stomach pain and spitting up blood during the day. 

This is her on Thursday. Her attitude about school this week was less than stellar. 

This is Mike on Thursday. He got to go hiking at Snow Canyon State Park. Such a beautiful part of the world!

While he was on his hike, Hallie called requesting the insurance card. Why, you may ask? Because she and Eliza were at the doctor trying to figure out E's ailment. Hallie already had an appointment to see an ENT specialist. There happened to be a pediatric ENT doc there too, so he looked at Eliza, using a scope to check her nose and throat. 

Meanwhile, Mike enjoyed the scenery and sent a copy of his card up north. Considering the steepness of the petrified sand dunes, having to hold back to make sure his signal was strong enough might have been alright. As it was, he hiked around and took photos. 

On Friday, Eliza continued spitting blood. As the pediatric ENT couldn't find anything wrong with Eliza's throat, Hallie took her to the local ER, where (among other things) the doctor gave her an X-ray. Apparently she swallowed a coin in the last couple of days, but that wasn't causing the issues. The ER doc thought maybe Eliza had an ulcer. Mike wondered if maybe E had also swallowed something wooden or plastic that wasn't showing up. However, due to the radiation dose, the doctor had determined not to give E a CT scan, instead opting to prescribe Prilosec. 

Mike made it back home Friday evening. Snaggletooth, er, Fergus (and everyone else) was glad to have him back home. 

On Saturday, Eliza was feeling well enough to go on a field trip with Mom to the Kreative Kiln in Provo. 

Alas, Eliza's ills were not done. Although she seemed more or less fine on Sunday morning (still spitting blood), by Sunday afternoon she was crying in pain. Would that the situation were straight forward. After some back and forth trying to figure out how much was drama/attention seeking and how much was real, Hallie made a call to Primary Children's Hospital, and she took E up there while the boys held the fort. As of this writing, she's being treated by specialists. We'll keep you apprised. 

2022, February 7-13 (900th post!!)

We spent part of the week celebrating a birthday and part of the week apart. Also, this is our 900th post since we started way back in October 2004!

Eliza got to ride Juneau three (yes, three!) days this week. Plus she even got some outdoor time on Monday. Winter has been too warm and too dry. 

 Hallie has been asking for an actual desk for her classroom, and on Monday the school delivered! 

Fergus sleeps. 

More of E on Monday. 

For her birthday, Eliza gave some custom sugar cookies to family and friends. 

On Tuesday, she and Dad delivered a couple to her teachers on the way to riding practice. Mrs. Daniels gave her a present!

We had a little riding time outside before going back indoors where it was a bit warmer. 

Ferg is not much of a fan of one of E's presents. 

Our birthday girl opened presents on Wednesday before we all went out to eat. 

Landon and Mom went up to Salt Lake to stay overnight so they could catch an early flight out to Texas, and Eliza and Dad held the fort at home. 

In Texas, M and L saw a replica of the Munster's house. 

Then they went to the Dr. Pepper Museum. 

(Shades of a similar image taken some over 17 (!) years ago.)

Meanwhile, Eliza had another glorious riding day.

One morning in Texas, Hallie ran into Dallas' version of Rodeo Drive. 

At home, we discovered that Fergus seems to have broken a tooth. As it was the weekend, we have to wait to take him to the vet. 

Mom and Landon had some authentic Texas-style BBQ. Luckies!

Eliza received more birthday presents! Lucky!

On Sunday, Hallie went to the Fort Worth Stockyard and saw a cattle drive. 

Dad and Eliza went to Grandma and Grandpa M.'s to watch the big game. Note the time remaining clock at the first score (6:22!). 

We had tasty grub too. Nom, nom, nom!