Today

Ryker has a cold. Runny nose. A little on the ornery side. He's eating though. More than he ever has. Yesterday he ate 4 bowls of cereal, 2 bananas, a candy cane, and 2 chicken nuggets. Don't you all sign me up for mother of the year at once. This morning he had 3 bowls of cereal. I hope it's a sign of good things to come.

Jaxon is going sledding with a friend for the friend's birthday. He's been anticipating this event all week and has reminded us all how grateful he is by including "grateful I could go sledding" in every prayer since learning he was invited. He leaves in an hour.

Did you watch the Jazz game last night? We listened to it on the radio since we don't have fancy stations like TNT or ESPN. We're old-school like that. It was still exciting. Unfortunately, with 30 seconds left in the game, the station broadcasting the game started playing music. I think we should keep Gaines. He's a spunky little thing. Sure wish we could have seen the game winning shot.

Ryker Bean trying to smile with his mouth chuck full of banana


*Gulp* There's the cheesy grin...banana and all.

In the car today Jaxon told me that the singing was hurting his eyes. He also asked his grandpa the other day if the enchiladas had any weeds or grass in them. Weeds or grass? No, there's no weeds or grass in the enchiladas. "Good. Because I'm allergic."

I love my life.

Some Might Call It A Coincidence

Today was a different day at church. The Relief Society had a special Visiting Teaching lesson and arrangements had been made for all the sisters in Primary, YW, and nursery to attend. The Elders Quorum would supervise the kids and the Priests did sharing time. The ward missionaries took over the nursery.

A few minutes after the lesson in Relief Society had started, Ryker's nursery leaders came in. One leader sat down next to me. During the lesson a wave of panic came over me. I asked her who was in the nursery with Ryker and if she had told them about Ryker's food allergies. No, she hadn't told them because they had already had snacks. I worried they would take the initiative to feed them more snacks. I stopped listening to the lesson. Should I go to the nursery? All I could think about was Ryker and what would happen if he were given the Goldfish crackers or Peanut Butter Crackers in the nursery bucket and no one in there knew he had an allergy. Would they even notice if something were wrong with him? Just as suddenly as the panic had set in I felt a very reassuring calm come over me. He would be fine. They had already had snacks. Besides that, the foods he couldn't eat had not been opened. All the opened packages were foods he could eat. Surely they wouldn't take it upon themselves to open up new foods for the kids.

After the lesson (which was fabulous and just what I needed to start off the year right) I bee-lined it to the nursery to grab Ryker. He was happy (phew!) and the ward member holding him said he did just great. He said all the kids were a lot happier after they gave them snacks. Yikes! I didn't know what to say when I saw the opened box of Goldfish crackers. I found Brian, told him what I had learned and sent him to ask the brother what exactly they had fed Ryker.

When Brian asked him what they had fed the kids in nursery. The brother said they had given all the kids a few animal crackers, cheerios, and goldfish. Brian asked if Ryker had eaten any of the goldfish crackers. The brother responded, "You know, it was really peculiar. He picked up the goldfish crackers and placed each one in my hand and wouldn't even try them. I thought all kids liked goldfish."

I came home from church, knelt by the side of my bed, thanked my Heavenly Father for watching over Ryker, and cried. Most don't understand the constant worry that comes from having a child with food allergies...especially when they are too young to understand what foods could hurt them.

Some might call it a coincidence that Ryker wouldn't try the goldfish crackers, but I know it was much more than that.

Our Year In Review

January: Brian's medical clinic closed their doors the last week of December. We began the year 2009 jobless...but not hopeless. Utes won the Sugar Bowl...Go Utes! Found out Ryker had a few food allergies (wheat, egg, milk).

February: We visited Hardware Ranch (i.e. elk, sleigh-ride, binoculars, hot cocoa, family, loads of fun). Brian flew at i-fly. Brian and I did 2 crossword puzzles a day and continued looking for work.

March: Brian turned the big 3-2 and played in the BEHS Alumni Bball Tournament. We visited Antelope Island and said we would go back when it was warmer. We didn't.

April: Oh, April! I think you were my favorite month!! Saw Wicked. I turned 30. Ryker celebrated his 1st birthday. More allergy testing: substituted wheat for nuts. Brian was offered a job as an Orthopedic PA with the Ogden Clinic!!! I saw Wicked again.

May: May was a blur. Still reveling in all the excitement April brought us.

June: Brian continued doing paperwork to get all his credentialing done so he could start working. Jaxon took swimming lessons. We went to the HAFB Air Show with everyone else in Northern Utah, but loved it any way.

July: Camping in the wind. Camping with the Priest's. Camping with the bears (or possibly very large cows...it's still under debate). I ran my first (and only) 5k.

August: Brian started his new job!! Went on vacation to Lake Tahoe (stolen golf clubs, dislocated fingers, replaced the breaks on our car....played on the beach, hiked, laughed, played, relaxed...love it!) Jaxon turned 5. Sweet baby Jovi joined the family.

September: Participated in the annual Peach Days. Jaxon played soccer. Our basement was finally finished. Another cute cousin, Carter, joined the family. Ryker decided walking was better than crawling.

October: Welcomed baby Piper into the family making the grandkid count 11 kids ages 6 and under (don't worry...there is another one on the way). Jaxon lost his first tooth and was given a "golden dollar" from the Tooth Fairy. Halloween was delightfully fun trick-or-treating with a dragon and a bear.

November: Thanksgiving. We were thankful for so many things this year including our faith, family, and Brian's new job. After Thanksgiving dinner we exercised our faith by allowing Brian to practice his job on our family. Getting a cast is a lot more fun when no actual injuries are sustained.

December: The month of parties and celebrations. A ward Christmas party. 3 family parties. 2 work parties. And a party with our long lost friends. Brian and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary. We celebrated the birth of our Savior and reflected on the matchless gift of His life. We know that all good things come from Him.

2009 was a year of growth and change for our family...spiritually, physically, emotionally. We are better people for the challenges we faced and the experiences we were blessed with.

2010, we are excited for new challenges and experiences you will bring us.