First Week of School

So, we finally made it back to school this week! YEAH! The kids were ready and I was more than ready for them to get back to class. However, it does mean that my reign as PTA pres begins officially. But, I can get back to my career and such if the kids are in school.
We had to go back to school shopping, which is my least favorite thing to do. I guess I am not a shopper - I would rather go in and get out - I really hate window shopping.
So, take my 3 kids shopping to find their traditional first day of school outfit and new backpacks, shoes, etc, and it was one exciting day. The boys want to wear nothing but slicky shorts and pants - no jeans - especially for Spencer. They however are not really hard to find, except small enough to fit around Spencer's waist. Robyn is a little harder. I remember shopping with my mom for things and having the exact same conversation with her - do you like this, hm...I don't know. I guess it is coming full circle.
So in order to keep the peace, we decided to finish a scooter skirt that we had begun making - actually we needed Aunt Cindy to come and finish it. The pattern says easy to sew, but let me tell ya - not so easy. But it did turn out cute.

And so after many weeks of anticipation, the kids had their first day. And were so excited to see all their friends and meet new teachers. It was really fun to listen to them.
Then we had Back to school night on Thursday night - where you join the PTA, meet the teachers, volunteer for things in the school. This was my first big thing - and it stressed me out a lot. Actually, I didn't realize how much until today - the day after. I have been completely exhausted all day - trying to work and such. Just feel like I need to decompress. I feel pretty good about how it went - I hope everyone else also felt that it went pretty good.
But the most fun part of the evening for me was seeing all my friends and meeting new friends and teachers. So in a way, it was like my first day of school too.

Utah Jones

We finally went camping this summer (only once)! And we had a really great time. We went up to Midway to the Wasatch State Park. It was really cool. It is really close to the town - in fact, we had to drive through the neighborhood to get to the campground. We went with our good friends, the Despains, and got to do some fun things. We went on a hike with the camp naturalist & others, by the light of the full moon on Friday night. It was really amazing! The moon was really so bright and it was so peaceful. The kids were pretty nervous about coming across bears or mountain lions or even mountain gorillas (thanks to Uncle Jeff). But no avail. We did see a dog, but he was with his owner also on the hike.
Then on Saturday, the kids went to a Junior Ranger program and learned about birds of prey. They got to see wings and birds' feet and go bird watching with binoculars. We did see a falcon being chased by one brave swallow. Not sure how successful it was, but we can hope. Then they were awarded a certificate and badge certifing them as Jr Rangers.
And on Saturday night we had a discussion group about birds of prey with the naturalists from the Wasatch and Jordenelle State Parks. We got to see a perigren falcon up close. It was really beautiful. We learned some things about Altair (I guess that is how to spell his name) like his eyes are fixed in place so no shady looks, and he dives down on his prey going about 200 miles an hour and punches it with his feet to knock it dead. It was really interesting.
We made mexican smores - tortilla with peanut butter, chocolate chips, marshmallows rolled up and cooked long enough to melt. They were really good. Then on Sunday we went geocaching and actually found it! And as always, we made ice cream in a ziploc bag which was fun and yummy.
One of the funniest things was Jacob, of course, since he "was born to be funny". Everywhere he went he had a hat, a walkie talkie, a walking stick, and a pocket knife. He was always prepared. Someone called him Indiana Jones and he said we don't live in Indiana. So the name Utah Jones came to be...Check out his pix.

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I wish I had that disease

I really struggle with people who seem to live in a sheltered little bubble of a world. You know the ones I mean, they have everything they need, nothing traumatic has ever happened in their little world, there is no disease or death, they don't even know what the real world is like. Maybe I'm jealous or really just annoyed! I have never even been able to be in that bubble.
I have three auto-immune diseases. That means that my body is attacking itself thinking it is doing its job but really, not so much. The first one I was diagnosed with was Graves' Disease - which is basically hyperthyroidism. After a radioactive iodine treatment, the month before I got married, I have been on replacement thyroid hormones ever since. Not so bad - take a pill 6 days a week.
I was then diagnosed with Type I diabetes - while pregnant with Robyn and Spencer. I take 2 types of insulin daily and have to prick my finger/fore arm about 4 times a day to check my blood sugar. This one is a bigger deal, but you wouldn't be able to look at me and know I am a Diabetic.
I was diagnosed with Addison's Disease about 5 1/2 years ago. This is a rare condition where my adrenal glands do not produce enough of two hormones - cortisol and aldosterone. Cortisol affects almost every organ in the body and is important for normal body function. The adrenal glands release cortisol to help the body cope with stress from illness, injury, surgery, childbirth, or other reasons. Aldosterone helps the body retain salt and maintain blood pressure (thanks webmd). Without either of these, let's just say, it can be very, very bad. So, I take a steroid, cortisone, every day, and I take a replacement for aldosterone, called flourinef that helps maintain my blood pressure.
One of the symptoms of Addison's Disease is hyperpigmentation - or a great tan. So, I now have a really great tan. I never used to tan - ever. I would burn, freckle and peel. But now I am brown as a cocoa bean - thanks Dr Wahlen.

And at last, the reason for my venting - please, please, please think before you speak. Last night at an Enrichment meeting (which is rare since I don't go, but had to bring Robyn, long story), a woman came up to say hello and mentioned that I am always so tan. My usual response is, "just diseased". And inevitably the response to follow is, "I wish I had that disease." And the only thing I could think to myself, cause it was church, after all, was, "I wish you did too." Cause let me vent here...the tan is not the advantage. I would rather still burn, freckle, and peel than have to take steriods everyday and juggle the diseases and their side effects.

So before you open your mouth, just THINK!