Sorry about the unintended 2 month sabbatical. Here's some of the highlights from the past two months:
We survived Christmas. It wasn't too bad this year except that both the kids were really sick.
We also survived the ward Christmas breakfast. I made 8 dozen caramel pecan rolls (recipe on the right) and did all the decorating. Don't have pictures, sorry.
I had to drive Justin to and from work for a week while his car was in the shop. Some idiot hit his EMPTY PARKED car in a SNOW-FREE parking lot. Because, you know those are so hard to miss. And then, rather than being able to take care of it over the two weeks that Justin had off from work, idiot decided to call us a week after I had started the claim with his insurance company to let us know that he changed his mind and wanted to pay cash and had called the insurance company to stop the claim, and would we mind please getting ANOTHER quote for paying cash. Justin ripped him a new one and told him it didn't matter whether it was paid for by the insurance company or cash, the car was going to get fixed properly and SOMEONE other than us was paying for it. Car is now fixed, but I really did not enjoy driving to Orem three times per day for a week (once to drop off Justin, once for therapy, then to pick Justin up).
One day when I was trying to get Liam to cooperate for a diaper change, he decided to throw a tantrum. He ran into his room, locked the door (it locks from the outside so they don't wander at night) and slammed the door closed. When I went to check on him a few minutes later, not only was he asleep, but he had changed his own dirty diaper and disposed of it! Might it be time for potty training?
Alana has hit the terrible twos with a vengeance. She now throws things, hits, and melts onto the floor into some spectacular tantrums. It's going to be a fun next year.
Alana has also started to talk quite a bit. After about 18 months of not saying much (Liam wasn't much of a talker either) she now says: more, bottle, milk (usually those are used in conjunction), uh-oh, oh no, where'd it go, eye, yay, mama, daddy, and duck (which means everything).
Liam's therapies are going well. He was diagnosed with
Sensory Processing Disorder at the end of November. It is the explanation for his speech delay and his severe separation anxiety. He's now in occupational therapy as well as speech therapy, and he's going better at acclimating to new environments. We are still having some issues like sunbeams, but it's way better than it was last summer.
Also, sitting in the waiting room of the therapist's office, I listened to a kid (about 7 or 8) speculate LOUDLY to his mother on whether I spoke Chinese or Spanish. Really kid? Not only was it a bit rude and the mother didn't do anything to shut the kid up, but Chinese or Spanish are the two languages he comes up with? Despite what you hear, kid, not all minorities are Mexican or Chinese. Argh.
Kids have been sick non stop for the past two and a half months. We've done ear infections, fevers, stomach bugs, runny noses, sinus infections, and a nasty cough that lasted 5 weeks. They *might* be getting better now (knock on wood).
Justin and I attended the Salt Lake Symphony Vienna Ball. It was a lot of fun. We went with a group of friends and watched the BYU ballroom team while eating dinner, and then we danced to the SL Symphony and Mark Chaney Jazz trio. I also bid on the silent auction for a silver plated pyrex casserole chafer. I signed up for the opening bid of $35, totally expecting not to get it, but I won! It's beautiful and is sitting in the kitchen until I get an excuse to use it. I'll try to post pictures.
I've been having a lot of depressive spells since last May, but two weeks ago, I started to get a lot of panic attacks randomly. Once during a stake Relief Society thing in which I was the rep from our ward. After basically running out of the chapel, I wouldn't be surprised if the entire female population of the stake think I'm a nutter. Went to the doctor where they said for heaven's sakes don't stop taking my zoloft (I, unlike most people, stop taking my medication when I get really down) but they are adding Welbutrin because studies have shown that increasing dosages of SSRIs isn't as effective as adding another medication. However, if this doesn't work, then I might have to be evaluated as my dysphoric manias might actually be bi-polarism masked by the zoloft. Fun, huh?
I have a goal to lose at least 20 pounds. I feel uncomfortable, my blood pressure it getting high which is unusual for since I normally have low blood pressure, and I lack energy. My weight has fluctuated 30 pounds in the last year, and I have gained about 15 pounds since October. Goal is to start walking every day and eating less (which the Welbutrin might help with since it's an appetite suppressant.)
And on a good note: Justin got a raise and promotion. Yay.
