Happy Birthday Fu-Fa!

Today is my younger sister Alyssa's birthday! Happy Birthday to you! (Alyssa is on the left, than me, and then my youngest sister, Emily.) When Taylor was little she couldn't say Alyssa, and somehow came up with Fu-Fa. (I have no idea how she got Fu-Fa out of Alyssa, but I thought it was cute and did all I could to encourage it).

Some quick Alyssa trivia for you:

*Alyssa (and Emily) use to memorize trivia pursuit cards, so she is very hard to beat when we play--She can even get the sports questions.

*Alyssa hates to get up in the morning.

*She was the founder and president of the bridge club in high school.

*Alyssa know everything about history and the US presidents.

*She likes poetry, and her son's middle name is Walter, in hopes he will be a poet.

*My daughter, Taylor's middle name is Marie, the same as Alyssa's, in hopes Taylor will be like her aunt.

*Though she originally wanted to be a lawyer (she likes to argue her point), she got a business degree and works part time for a great company in the Tri-Cities.

*She makes a wonderful apple pie.

*She had two pet guinnea pigs, named Napolean and Napolean's wife's name (whatever that was--I forgot)

*She was on the stardards committee at Ricks.

*Alyssa is an avid reader.

*She has always been a good example of a follower of Christ.

*She is one of my favorite people on the planet and I often call her for advice because she is very smart.

Happy birthday Alyssa! I love you!

(I haven't mailed your present yet, but you'll get it soon:)

Shopping for a new ward!

Okay everyone, before I continue with this post, let me say we LOVE our ward. It is filled with WONDERFUL people who are truly amazing. They are angels. Last week is a perfect example. I had gotten sick. I had Stuart make one phone call to cancel pre-school (I was suppose to teach the next day), and before I knew it, I had people watching my children for the next two days and bringing me dinners. It was amazing! No, we are not shopping for a new ward--we love our ward. However, this funny thing happened on Sunday that made me laugh.

Stuart has been traveling a lot for work lately. Two Sundays ago he was gone, then we had general conference, and then he had to be gone this last Sunday, again. It makes church a little crazy, but really I only have to survive Sacrament meeting and then I'm fine. (BLess the primary and nursery workers, and Ashley Marshall who always takes Madelyn so I can teach my class). Back to Stuart. This last Sunday Stuart had enough time before his flight to attend the Cascade Park Ward (that meets at 9 am in our building) sacrament meeting so he could get a little church and take the sacrament (He invited me and the girls to go with him, but I thought one sacrament meeting would be PLENTY.) He came home from church and basically had fallen in love with this ward. Actually, mostly it was the activities the ward was doing. THursday night was a debt reduction/budgeting class (Stuart's favorite topic ever--In fact, he still wants me to go because "You take good notes." Whatever!) Friday night the ward had a chili and pie cookoff (If you know Stuart, he is very competitive and also thinks he's a master chef). Saturday morning the stake (That's right, this isn't even our stake) is having a 1mile walk/5-k or 10-k run, which he is really into at the moment. To end the week, Saturday night the ward Elder's quorum was playing dodge ball/ family potluck. Quote Stuart, "I've always wanted to live in a ward that plays dodgeball." I thought the whole thing was pretty funny, but that also meant we got to spend the drive to the airport talking about how if he was ever in our ward he would remember how fun it is, which is such an important part of church anyway (And to help him remember how fun we are I signed him up to be in charge of a booth for the Trunk or Treat activity at the end of the month). Also, we had to talk about if he isn't careful he is going to be the next activities director and will be hating life (at least I would be hating life, but I'm sure there are people who would actually enjoy it--I'm just not one).

I had thought the experience was kind of funny (my mom laughed about it when I told her), so I figured I'd add it to my blog. I sat down Monday to write about it, but got distracted. Then, when I did get back to it, I decided it wasn't as funny as I thought it was and not blog-worthy, so I deleted it, but apparently I didn't delete the title. That, in and of itself, was kind of funny. So to everyone that called or commented, No, we are not really shopping for a new ward. We love our ward and are here to stay. (probably:))

Gentian Violet pictures (But no Bumbo)

I know I have been so bad about posting. My excuss is I am cameraless at the moment and I love posting pictures. However, on the bright side, I think I found a replacement camera at Costco, so soon I'll be back at it. What I'd really like to post is a cute picture of my little Madelyn sitting in her new Bumbo seat (thank you Karen Hill!) Oh my goodness, I love this thing. If you have a baby between 3 months and 14 months (that's what the box says) you NEED this. Alyson and Taylor also LOVE this and I have to keep telling them NOT to sit in it. (grumble)

However, since I have no cute picture of the Bumbo seat and Ms. Maddy, What I do have is pictures of Madelyn with her dark purple mouth. Shortly after she was born, Madelyn developed Thrush, which is a yeast infection (I think) babies sometimes get in their mouths. It is this white, gucky stuff on their cheeks and tongue. (There is probably a more scientific term, but you get the idea). I took Madelyn to the doctor and she put us on Niostatin. For two weeks we had to use a Q-tip and swab the inside of her mouth four times a day with this stuff. (plus I got to swab my nipples four times a day--probably more info than you wanted to know, but it was mostly awful.) This did NOTHING. We went back to the doctor and got plan B--Gentian Violet. It was soo funny. The doctor starts by saying when I buy this DO NOT get alarmed at the scull and cross bones on the label. (I wish I had a picture for you). Yes, she said, it is toxic if swallowed, but your baby will not be swallowing it. (Are you sure about that?) I just had to use a Q-tip and swab her mouth once a day for three days (and yes, I get to swab my nipples again, too--Love it!). So I'm thinking, Why didn't we start with this, it's so much easier. The doctor when on to explain it will turn everything dark purple and it does not come out. Also, the last piece of advice was not to take my baby out in public because people will freak out. It's now a little clearer as to why this is plan B. However, the scull and cross bones should have tipped me off.

So, off to the store I go, bought the Gentian Violet (scull and cross bones and all) and gave it to

Madelyn. Stuart thought she looked like a Black Mambo snake and was ready to sue the doctor when Madelyn died from poisioning. The damange to her clothes and mine was kept to a minimum, but she wore the same outfit two out of the three days, and could only use one blanket. However, it was worth it. The Gentian Violet worked like a charm. It took a day or so for the purple to wear off, but the Thrush was gone.

Gone, that is, until two weeks later I noticed some white spots on Madelyn's lip again. Sooo, we go three more days with purple mouth and nipples (you're jealous, huh?)

I am hoping the second time does the trick. I guess I should be grateful, though, because Thrush is pretty minor on the list of diseases/sicknesses Maddy could have. And I'm pretty sure purple bras are in fashion.