Ear Tubes and Adenoids

Since March 20th Sophie has been on antibiotics three times.  She has had two ear infections and the fluid just wouldn't drain, so she had to have a second set of tubes put in.  The doctor told us that they always take the adenoids if a child has to have tubes a second time.  I think it is a blessing, because Sophie breathes very loudly when she sleeps and she snores. 

The first surgery I forgot the camera, so I don't have any pictures of Sophie in her hospital gown.  When she heard that she was going to have surgery, she was so excited!  Here she is all excited for her surgery.  She wasn't scared at all!

 

 Cute little pull-up bum!  She wouldn't turn around and look at me, she was having too much fun playing on the doctors stool.

 She was so brave when the nurse came to take her back to the OR.  She was a little nervous, but they told us that she never cried.  When we went to see her after surgery they told us she was getting a little sad, but she didn't cry until she saw us.  Mommy got to snuggle with her first. 

 After about a half an hour, she wanted to snuggle with Daddy.  She was so sleepy.  The nurse told us that they gave her Tylenol and Morphine while she was in surgery.  I'm sure she was feeling the affects of the Morphine and the anesthesia.

 My drowsy girl!  She was so sweet and snuggly.  She was able to drink her Pediasure after surgery and she kept it down until we left.  As Jon was putting her in the car she said that she wanted to throw up, so he pulled her out and she threw up on the rocks outside.  After that she was just fine. 

 

Lucky for us, Sophie fell asleep on the way home.  Jon and I stayed up way too late the night before, so all three of us got to take a nap when we got home.  The post-op instructions were too keep her down and have her rest for the day.  Yeah right!  Once she woke up from her nap, she was her usual ball of energy.  It was quite the challenge trying to keep her from doing somersaults and jumping off the couch.  She kept showing us all sorts of tricks.  We tried to get her to rest, but she just wouldn't relax.  She even got a new movie to watch, but that didn't help either.  Oh well, there doesn't seem to be any damage done from her busy day. 

 

The Como Zoo

This is Jon's week off between semesters.  Since Sophie was having surgery on Tuesday, we decided to go to the Como Zoo on Monday.  We invited Karlie and Maverick to come with us.

 We saw all kinds of animals, but some of our favorites were the giraffes.

 This is the momma lion, and she looked huge.

 The caribou

 Maverick and Sophie eating lunch.  I just love Sophie's cheesy smile!

 This is Schroeder and he weighs 525 pounds.  He is the biggest gorilla at the zoo.  He was huge and he looks mean.  I wouldn't want to mess with him.

 Sophie, Maverick and Karlie

 Sophie liked seeing the animals, but her favorite part was the rides.  The whole time we were seeing the animals, Sophie was asking to go on the rides.  Her favorite ride was the swings.  She was so excited to ride them, since she is too small to ride the swings at the Mall of America.  The zoo wasn't very busy, especially since it was a little cool and rainy, so Sophie was the only rider on every ride. 

 Driving her purple sports car.

 Driving the fire truck.  The ladders went up and down while squirting water.  The kids can ride on the ladder, but Sophie chose to ride inside.  I'm glad she did, because I don't think she would have liked it.

 She didn't like this ride.  It's one of those that drops you once you get to the top.  She did not like that feeling.  She is her mommy's girl.  I hate those rides and Jon just loves them.  I don't like feeling like I'm falling and I hate how my stomach feels.

 We got to ride the carousel for free.  It is a refurbished carousel that is 99 years old.  It was beautiful!

 In the kids play area they have play animals that you can feed.  Sophie had to show me how she could feed the animals.

 I love this one with the gorilla.  She's up on her tip toes, just so she can feed the gorilla.

Even with the rain, we had a great time. 

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful Mother's Day!  Jon made a yummy breakfast just for me.  I had fresh strawberries and cream cheese filled cinnamon French toast. It was absolutely delicious! 

 Sophie picked out these beautiful yellow flowers for me.  She also gave me a case of Ice sparkling water.

  

Me and my little angel girl!  I sure love her, and I'm so grateful that I am the mother of this little blondie.  She brings so much joy into my life and I feel honored to be her mommy.

We invited our friends, Chesley and Karlie over for dinner.  Jon fixed pork chops and mashed potatoes, with steamed asparagus and fresh pineapple.  It was so good!  The best part of the meal was the homemade chocolate cake.  It was so moist and fudgy, it was incredible!  I have such a wonderful husband and I am so grateful for all that he does for me.  Jon and Sophie bring so much joy and happiness into my life, and I am so blessed to have them in my life!  After dinner we went for a walk and then the Andersons came over for dessert.  It was a wonderful day!



Best Friends

Elsie came over to play, while Rita was home cleaning carpets.  Sophie was still in her pajamas when Elsie came over and she decided that she wanted to wear her green and cream striped dress too.  I got Sophie dressed and did her hair and Elsie wanted me to fix her hair too.  They looked so cute when I finished, that I just had to take their picture.  They didn't want to hold still or smile until I bribed them.  I told them that if they would hold still for just a few pictures, they could have a treat.  That did the trick!  They held still long enough for me to get three pictures and then they got their Smarties.  They were so excited, and the pictures turned out so cute that I just had to share them with everyone.

 

 

Cute best friends!

 

My cheesy little girl.  These are the cutest girls.

 

Grandma Goose's Funeral

We were fortunate enough to be in Utah when Grandma Stuart passed away.  We got to Utah on Friday, December 14th around 4:00 pm.  Joey was married that same day and was having a dinner instead of a reception that evening.  Mom invited me to join them, so I hurried and got ready and went to the dinner with Mom and Dad.  It was so good to see everyone, but especially to see Grandma.  I didn't visit with her long, but I did get to say hello and give her a hug and kiss.  She looked so good and I was able to talk with her for just a few minutes.  I am so grateful that I went to the dinner, because that was the last time I got to see Grandma well. 

 

Aunt Wendy called us around 11:00 pm on Saturday, December 29th to let us know that Grandma had had another stroke and that she wasn't doing well.  She told mom that uncle John had just given Grandma a blessing of release.  Nicole and I decided to go with Mom and Dad to say good-bye to Grandma.  Scott came with us and Jon stayed home with Sophie, since she was already in bed.  We called Nick to let him know what was happening, and he drove up too.  I was so grateful for the chance to say good-bye to see her one last time.  Though she couldn't talk, I know she was aware that I was there talking to her.  I told her how much I love her and how much I am going to miss her.  She has always meant so much to me.  I feel that I owe my life to her, because if it weren't for her, I may have died 18 years ago.  She listened to the promptings of the spirit and came to visit me when I was sick 18 years ago, and because of how frightened she was by the way that I looked, she spoke with her good friend Dr. Woodmansy who then called and told Mom and Dad to take me to the ER.  I am grateful that she was listening to the spirit that day.  I am truly going to miss this wonderful lady, who I had the privilege of calling Grandma.

 

Sunday evening, December 30th we had a get together with the Calls and the Pitts.  Uncle John and aunt Jer didn't come, because they were with Grandma and Grandpa.  A few minutes after aunt Wendy arrived, she received a phone call from uncle John letting her know that Grandma had just died.  It was hard to hear, but we were so glad that we were all together when we received the news.  We spent the evening eating treats and recalling fond memories that each of us had with Grandma.  She was one of the most kind, gentle, giving, and loving women that I've ever known.  I feel that I am better because of her example and I hope that I can share that with others.

 

Grandma's funeral was Friday, January 4th.  It was one of the most beautiful funeral services that I've ever been to.  Uncle John and aunt Jer both spoke and they did a wonderful job.  It was so fun to hear all the wonderful things about Grandma and to hear stories that I'd never heard before.  Emily sang and Sheri played the piano, both were absolutely beautiful.  I feel so blessed that I was able to be in attendance.

 

The pallbearers carrying Grandma's beautiful casket.

 

Her final resting place.

 

Everyone waving a white towel to say their final good-bye to Grandma.

 

 

When we would visit Grandma and Grandpa when they lived near Bear Lake, Grandma would always stand outside on the deck and wave a white towel to say good-bye.  She would stay out there until she could no longer see our car, and we could no longer see her.  This is a memory about Grandma that we will always treasure.  She was always so kind and loving.  I will miss her so much, but I know I will see her again.  I love you Grandma!

Reed Christmas Party

Uncle Rex planned a Reed family Christmas party up in Hyde Park.  Scott and Nicole drove up with us and Scott wanted to stop at Gossner's to get some cheese.  I bought some cheese curds "squeaky cheese", smoked swiss cheese, and some raspberry honey.  The party was a great success!  Most everyone was in attendance, even Camille came.  I heard that she wasn't going to come, because she hadn't been feeling well, but she showed up with her kids.  They are getting so big!  She looked great as always and she has a cute little pregnant belly.  I got to say good-bye to Connor and wish him luck on his mission.  He has been called to the Riverside, California mission.  It was so good to see everyone.  Alecia and Larry put together some Christmas Minute to Win it games.  We split up into three teams and we had several tasks to complete.  Unfortunately our team didn't win, but we sure had fun playing.  I was so glad that we were able to attend the party.  I miss seeing my relatives!

 

Two very cute girls!  Samanatha and Sophie watching all the fun and games.

 

Scott and I trying to move a cookie from our forehead to our mouth without using our hands.  Scott did it, but I didn't have much luck, I dropped the cookie several times.

 

Another game, aunt Sherri had to hold a candy cane in her mouth and try to pick up six other candy canes and drop them into a bag.  She did really well.

 

I had to suck through a straw and pick up as many Necco candies as I could and drop them into a sack.  I did well, in fact I think I got the most.

 

Mom holding Emma.

 

Cute Macy!  She was so cute to play with Sophie.  Sophie just thought that Macy was the best!

Christmas Lights on Temple Square

Sophie just loves trains and the whole time we were in Utah, she kept asking if we could ride the train.  We decided that we would ride the train in to downtown to go to dinner and then to see the lights on Temple Square.  Dad took us to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory and the food was so good.  We got peppermint bark cheesecake and dulce de leche cheesecake to go and we ate them later that evening and they were both absolutely delicious!  While we were waiting to be seated Mom and I took Sophie to the Disney store.  While we were in the store, I saw two different friends from Bozeman, Kameron Abbott and Darcy Francis.  I talked to Kameron for a few minutes, long enough to find out that they've moved back to Utah.  We had a very yummy dinner and a fun evening.  The trains were a little delayed going home, we thought we were going to miss our train, but we made it just in time.  Thank goodness we did, because we would have had to wait another hour for the next train, and as it was Sophie fell asleep just before we had to get off the train.  She was such a tired girl, but I think she had a fun evening.

 

Sophie on the train.  Notice the dark spot next to her left eye.  She fell off the bed and cute her eye just before we had to leave to catch the train.  She ended up getting a black eye from it.  Poor girl!

 

Riding the train into Salt Lake to see the lights.

 

Papa, Maemi and Daddy on the train.  Sophie was in the picture, but she ducked down right as I took the picture.

 

All bundled up to see the lights.  She loved seeing the lights, but loved eating the snow even more.  It was old snow, but she was determined to eat some. 

 

Mommy, Sophie and Daddy at Temple Square.

 

The beautiful Salt Lake temple with all the Christmas lights.

 

Papa, Sophie and Maemi enjoying the lights.