Mt. Spokane

Yesterday we figured we better do something really fun with Mason and Cooper since we were going to abandon them on Monday for three days. So we decided to take them to the top of Mt. Spokane and have a picnic up there. Mason and Cooper were pretty excited, and I've never been to Mt. Spokane, that I can remember, so I was pretty excited too. Once we got to the top and got out of the car, we realized that we forgot one very important thing. It was not a warm 75 degrees like it was down at our house, it was a cool and windy 55 degrees. None of us were dressed for the weather. We did get a few shots before the boys begged to go back to the car.

Look at my poor little boys, they were so cold.

But we made them take one more picture with me. When I picked up Cooper, he asked me if he could climb in my tummy.

About half way down the mountain we found this area with a few picnic benches, so we got out and attempted to have a picnic. The weather had improved a bit. It was probably about 65 degrees and the wind was not as strong as it was at the top.

We gave the boys a blanket to snuggle up in together. Mason was fine with it but Cooper sure was not! He wanted nothing to do with eating outside. So we packed up our lunches and got back in the car.

On the way back down, every time the brakes were applied on a down hill slope, the car would shake really bad. The brakes were still working, but we figured we better have it looked at before we go to girls camp on Monday. We headed straight to Les Schwab were we found out that the front rotors needed to be replaced badly. Our fun day at Mt. Spokane turned into a fun day at Les Schwab. I think the boys had more fun at Les Schwab, running through the rows and rows of tires and eating tons of candy than they did at Mt. Spokane. Too bad the Les Schwab adventure was more expensive than the Mt. Spokane one.

Introducing...

our resident Firefighter/Doctor, Cooper. He's a keeper I must say. (Did I mention he works shirtless most days?) Be jealous, be very jealous.

Part of the statistic...kinda

As I said in my last post about Jeff being laid off, he had an interview at Whitman Hospital in Colfax (about 1 hour from where we are living) this morning. The position is supplemental, which means no guaranteed hours, but the RT manager told Jeff when he applied that they need someone at least 24 hours a week. We figured that he may as well apply because even at 24 hours a week, he would earn somewhere between $230-$500 more a month than he would receive from unemployment, depending on if he worked a day or night shift. If he only was able to get 24 hours a week, it would still be less than his previous salary, but at least it would be less that we would have to pull from savings each month.

Before his interview one of the RT's took Jeff around the hospital and showed him some of the different departments. From what Jeff could tell, it seemed that the RT really liked his job, and that it would be a good hospital to work for. Jeff said the interview went really well, and at the end of it the RT manager offered him the JOB! He starts on Monday July 5.

During the interview, Jeff let them know that he would like to get on somewhere full time, and work at another hospital supplemental. (So we can get our massive car repair bill paid off faster.) After the RT manager offered Jeff the job, and he accepted, she told Jeff that they do have one full time position available, but are going to offer it to another RT who is currently working there supplemental. If that RT does not want the position, the RT manager said she would be able to then offer it to Jeff.

Jeff has applied at the VA Hospital here in town and Pullman Regional, both those positions are full time. Neither of those hospitals are going to begin their interviewing process until the middle of July, so there is still hope for full time work.

I think it is safe...

to say that I am FINALLY over the morning sickness! It's been two weeks since I've been nauseous or thrown up! Those nine weeks went by so slowly! Yeah for feeling good! AND the other good news is that my energy level has returned...as long as I get a short nap in every day. This is probably the best part for me....as my house has been cleaner in the last week than had been in about the ten weeks prior. Yeah for the blessing of good health. Love it. Love it. Love it.

Poll

I put a poll on the side of the blog. Please take a moment and vote. I am very curious to see what you think! We go in for an ultrasound on July 2nd at 10am, hopefully baby will let us see what it is.

Good Things to Come

With everything going on lately with the pregnancy sickness, the car, and now Jeff's current state of employment, this video is a really good reminder to me that good things are sure to come. I don't understand why these trials have come my way, but I do know they are for my good. As long as I have faith in my Savior and do the things I know I need to be doing, good things will come out of these trials. Everything will work out for the better. That is one thing I know for sure.

Part of the statistic...again

Jeff was laid off last Friday. Yup. It sucks. But we will make it through.

So here's the "short" story. Jeff had been really stressed out at this place of employment for the last 5 months. In February he started clenching his jaw at night and had to get a night guard. In April he thought he was having a heart attack. He went in to minor emergency where they ran tons of tests, everything came back fine. Heart attack symptoms=too stressed out. In May he started having really bad stomach issues, this went on for a few weeks, he lost 20 pounds.

Why had he been so stressed? In the beginning of February, he was asked/told to be the branch manager over the branch in Kennewick. Then in April (I think) he was asked/told to be the branch manager over two of the other branches here in Spokane. For the last two months he had been trying to manage three branches, working out of multiple locations, being shifted around to wherever they felt he would be able to manage the best, never able to really settle into being a manager, and never given any training on how the owner would like him to manage the branches.

On Wednesday June 2nd, Jeff was asked by the owner if anything was wrong with him. Jeff told him that there was, but that he didn't want to share anything with him that would end up jeopardizing his job. The owner assured him that he didn't need to worry, Jeff could share anything and that he would support Jeff in anything. So Jeff told him that he was stressed out and not enjoying home care anymore. Jeff told him that he would love to go back and work at a hospital. They discussed the timing of things, and decided that Jeff would wait until August to start looking for another job, in the mean time, would give to company 100%. They also discussed that if Jeff found a really good opportunity before August that he would be open and honest with the owner and give the company plenty of time to find someone to replace Jeff.

Thursday June 3rd, Jeff said things around the office were a little weird.

Friday June 4th, Jeff took off to go one the father-son camp out with the boys.

Monday June 7th, the owner asked Jeff if he had heard that he had three interviews for Jeff's position.

Tuesday June 8th, the owner told Jeff that he had another interview for Jeff's position. Then later that day he asked Jeff if he had heard that he was going to hire the person he interviewed earlier in the day.

Wednesday June 9th, the owner told Jeff that Friday was going to be Jeff's last day. So Jeff confirmed with the owner that he was going to lay him off, so he could collect unemployment until Jeff found another job.

Friday June 11th, Jeff had his exit interview with the owner's wife. She gave Jeff a letter stating that they did not have the need for a Respiratory Therapist at this time, that they were hiring a Respiratory Assistant and that was the reason for Jeff being laid off and that Jeff was leaving on good terms with the company. Then Jeff left.

Jeff has applied for any and all RT jobs. There are not very many out there right now. He has heard back from a few, telling him that they have already filled the position.

He heard back from the hospital in Colfax today. He has an interview next Thursday morning. Colfax is hiring for a supplemental position, which means it wouldn't be a guaranteed set number of hours each week. The RT manager told Jeff that he would be guaranteed at least 24 hours each week through the summer and that he can pick up extra sifts too. We figure this would be better than being on unemployment. If he only got 24 hours a week, the pay would be about the same as unemployment, but at least he wouldn't be receiving money from the government. He is going to try to get on with another hospital supplemental as well, so he can hopefully get full time hours between the two hospitals.

We got a letter from unemployment today stating that he was approved, so if he doesn't get a job right way at least we would have that little bit of income.

Car Woes Finale

It's been 7 long weeks since the 4Runner broke down, but we finally got the 4Runner back tonight! I guess the third engine was the charm, everything with the engine and all other parts went in great. And just in case you are wondering, no, we were not charged any labor or parts for the other two engines. I missed having the 4Runner so much! Every other 4Runner I saw made me sad. I am so happy to have it back, I could just hug it. Silly. Yes. But I don't care.

Garden 2010

Here are the beginnings of our garden! I am so excited! One of our three pumpkin plants.
One of two of our zucchini squash.
Red and Orange bell pepper plants.
Tomato plants
Can you see the three tomatoes growing? Oh yeah baby! This is what I am really excited for, picking tomatoes right off the vine and eating them! This is something I did ALL the time as a kid. Every summer my Dad grew tomato plats (he still does, like ten plants!) and I would take off the ripe ones and eat them while playing outside.

Here are the strawberries that I transplanted from a person in our ward's garden last year. I didn't get any strawberries last year, but I already have a ton growing. I think I'll be lucky if I get enough to make even one jar of jam though, because Mason and Cooper can't wait until they ripen. They've already told me that they are going to eat them right off the vine.

Here are the raspberry plants. I transplanted them last year too, so I didn't get much off them last year. This year should be awesome!

*Disclaimer: After my sister DeAnne commented telling me what a good job I did getting the garden in even with being sick, I fell I need to tell everyone who the person with the green thumb really is. Jeff. Yup, he does all the planting, watering, weeding, and pruning. I just enjoy all his hard work. Spoiled? Yes. And I love it!

Double Doctors

Tuckered Out

Cooper was so tired after the camp out. He took a bath as soon as he got home and then fell asleep on the couch. This is very rare for our kids.

Then on our way out to some friends of ours' daughters baptism Saturday afternoon Mason fell asleep with his pillow over his head because the sun was in is eyes. Do you see Mason under there?

Father-Son camp out

Friday night was our ward's Father-Son camp out. The camp out was at Camp Cowles. Jeff took both boys, his dad, my dad, and my brother Michael also joined them.

Mason in Papa Borders' truck on the way up.

Cooper in Papa Borders' truck too.

The weather wasn't looking like it was going to cooperate, but it only sprinkled on them while they were setting up the tent.

Mason and Papa Borders

Cooper wanted to sleep on Papa Meador's foam pad, or maybe he just wanted to be a stinker.

Cooper with both of his papas.

Mason playing with the flashlight.

*Sorry for the really boring pictures. You would think that all they did was sit in the tent. I guess that's what happens when you leave a MAN in charge of taking pictures. Jeff said that he and Mason went on a hike and played on a ropes coarse, but there are no pictures of that. Men.

Preschool Graduate

We now have a preschool graduate! Can you believe it? Me neither! I cannot believe Mason will be in Kindergarten next year. Here are a few pictures from graduation this last Friday.

Sitting at the table with the rest of his class, while Miss Jolinda told the parents about some of the exciting things they did this year.

Mason receiving his diploma with Miss. Jolinda. What a cheese head!

Jeff was really happy that Mason shared his cap with him.

Baby check up

Today I had a check up with my OB. I have lost two pounds since my check up last month. No shock to me there. I don't think I've never lost weight between check ups, only gained. I guess I can blame that one on the sickness and lack of appetite. My nurse had a difficult time finding the heart beat, which is really weird because she has been an OB nurse forever and with me has never had a hard time finding the heart beat before. It took probably two minutes, but felt like forever. The baby was hidden under my pelvic bone. Once found, the heart beat was really strong, 156 bpm. I don't want to hear any predictions on the sex based on the heart beat. Last time it was 171 bpm. I don't believe the heart beat has anything to do with the sex and neither does my Doctor. So there!

My next appointment is July 2. I have an ultrasound that day, hopefully baby will let us see what sex it is.

I am 15 weeks 2 days pregnant.

Blah...

I am now 15 weeks pregnant. I have been sick now for 8 weeks, pretty much non stop. I feel like I should be feeling much better, or at least starting to feel better. I am not. I don't like it. I hate complaining about being sick but it is what consumes my thoughts every waking moment of the day.

Yeah yeah I hear all you positive thinking 100% of the time kind of people. (Now say this next sentence in a really annoying voice, cuz that's what I hear when THIS is said to me) You should just think about what you doing and the big picture. This will only last a short moment in time.

Really? Thanks for those uplifting thoughts. For me all I can think about is: Don't puke. What sounds good to eat? I feel like poop. Huh I wonder if this will it make me sick as soon as I get the last bite down and then have to run to the bathroom to puke it all up? Oh I'm going to puke. Don't puke. When is the last time I ate? Don't puke. When do I have to eat again so I don't wait too long between eating so I don't puke? Don't puke. Don't puke. Don't puke.

I know there are women out there who have "morning" sickness way worse and I used to be one of those "oh come on it can't be that bad" kind of people. Now I will have way more sympathy for those who have it bad.

On a more positive note, most days my energy level has improved a bit. It's not quite back to normal, or even "pregnancy normal" but it has improved. For that I am grateful.

Car Woes Update

It has been five weeks since my 4Runner broke down and I still don't have it back! Ugg. So why is it taking so long?

It took 1 week for engine #1 to be shipped to the mechanic. Once they got the engine in, they ran all the normal tests on it to make sure it didn't have anything wrong with it. The engine turned out to be no good. So back that engine went.

Then they had engine #2 shipped to them, which again took 1 week for it to get to them. This engine had only 70,000 miles on it, our original engine had 113,000 miles on it. What a great deal for us! They again did all the normal tests on it and the engine checked out fine. So in the 4Runner it went. This process should have taken about 1 week. It turned into 1 1/2 weeks due to a bolt on the radiator busting and a slow down in shipment of another part for the 4Runner.

Last Wednesday they finally got all the parts in and fired up the car. The car ran beautifully for about 5 minutes, then began making a clanking noise. The head of the engine was taken off to be tested. Upon taking the head off, they found a pin (or something) was bent and there was coolant that they didn't put in, in places it shouldn't be. So engine #2 is no good.

So now it's back to square one. Finding engine #3. Waiting 1 week for it to get to mechanic. Testing it to make sure it is in working order. Putting it in the car. Translation: at least two more weeks without a car! Yeah for us!