California!!!

Alright, well we have been in California for a little while now. We are getting used to life here. Steve has finally worked at ASUS for more than 90 days now! Which means that he is past his probationary period which means that we get insurance. Yay! My life basically consists of taking care of Caleb all day long and cleaning the house once in a while. He has grown so much. He now likes to play with monsters, dinosaurs, trucks/cars, trains, screaming at the top of his lungs, and helping mommy with whatever I am doing at the time. He is potty training right now...still... but it is worth it not having to change diapers all the time now. It does stinks when he messes up and I go through like 10 underwear in like 2 days... sometimes even one day... But life goes on. He is talking in full sentences sometimes even asking me, "Mommy, what are you doing?" He can count to 5, sometimes 6 and with help to 10. I just love him so much! Steve is working all the time. He is busy at work but working hard for us. So it is very much appreciated. We have been thinking about getting another car just because it would be a million times easier to do things during the day as Steve doesn't get home until about 7pm each night. So I am stuck at home with Caleb, talking to a 2 year old  all day long. I love him but I need adult interaction. I wish we lived close enough to a park or something that I could take Caleb to that I don't have to worry about spiders all the time. We have a playground at our complex, but they never clean it and there are TONS of spider webs and cobwebs everywhere. I don't feel comfortable having Caleb play there. I went in and asked them if they could get a hose and spray it down and they said they just cleaned it about a week ago, and that spiders just come back everyday. I was like, really? Because I think the cobwebs have been there longer than a week. Ugh! Oh well. I am tired. I am getting up early tomorrow to go work out with my friend Kristen. Yay! Finally gonna work out... kinda...

Sunday...

Well today was supposed to be an ordinary Sunday. However, it was like...not. Last night Caleb woke up early, well in the middle of the night. He said he had a scary dream. I rocked him back to sleep and then finally went back to sleep myself. Because he woke up in the middle of the night, he slept in and I didn't wake up in time for church. Which sucks because I really wanted to go to church today. So because we missed church, we stayed at home and had a family day. We made kickin' chicken for dinner. SOOOOOO GOOOOD.
Monday- Going shopping for the week and doing laundry
Tuesday- Going to the beach with Caleb and some friends from the ward
Wednesday- Doing laundry
Thursday- More laundry and cleaning house
Friday- Send off Mother's Day gifts
Saturday- Work, work and more work

Such is the schedule for my life... Except maybe going to the beach. On Saturday we went to the park and that was fun-ish... We were supposed to be there for like an hour or so, but by the time we found parking we were only there for like half an hour. You are not allowed to save parking spots. There was a ball game going on well actually there were several games going on. There was this one lady that was saving spots. You can't do that when there isn't enough parking for everyone there. Then when we went to the park, Caleb wanted to play in the sandbox and there was this like 8 year old in the box bossing all the little kids around on what to do and what not to do. It really pissed me off. I wanted to go and tell him off, that my kid didn't come to the park to get bossed around and told what to play and how to play. Ughh!!!! But I didn't. I wanted to, but I didn't. Next time, so help me if Steve isn't there to stop me, I will. He was telling a maybe 1 year old to stop putting the sand in the water like that little child would understand.. I was just furious. My child wanted to play in the sand how he wanted to play in the sand. Now I understand that this kid wanted to do that too, but he was old enough to understand to share.. Sandbox lovers watch out.. This momma's on the prowl

My Daydreaming

Okay so you know those moments where you are kind of bored when someone is talking to you or you just aren't really paying attention to whats going on? I seem to be having those more and more often. I was talking on the phone to someone, and in the interest of not hurting someone's feelings I won't say their name, but just know that I love you. Well, I was talking on the phone to his wonderful person and I just couldn't stay focused on the conversation. Ugh I hate that. Well now that we have been in California for a month now, I figured that we should get our car registered and get a new license for the car and for my wallet. I was taking the new drivers test here and I failed the first time! What?! FAIL??? What the heck? SO I took it over again and passed the second time.  But I didn't get my new license because they were all like you have to be interviewed by the Driver's Safety Team of the DMV to make sure that you are okay to drive. Apparently if you have Epilepsy, then you have to be interviewed as well. Not that I haven't been driving for years.... it just frustrates me. I mean they started treating me differently and looking at me differently once they found out about my medical condition. I was at the DMV office from about 11:15-11:30ish until 2:30. That is freaking forever. I can't believe that I waited that long. OH and while we were there, Caleb had a blowout... twice... The first time he wet through his diaper and got his shorts wet. Oh and fun fact, they didn't have a changing table in the restroom so I got to change him on the floor. Whoo! And then he was running around in shoes, a shirt, and a diaper. I got some awesome looks, let me tell you. SO I had to let his shorts dry. And while I was talking to the different attendents Caleb was crawling around on the floor and laying on the floor and running around me. And while I was taking the test(s) I had to hold Caleb because he had fallen asleep and so I was singing Popcorn Popping and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Once there was a Snowman to him to try and calm him down. I was so frustrated by the time I left. I can't even tell you.

Caleb has started this new stage that I am not liking so much. He takes a nap one day and not the next. Then maybe the next day but not for the next two days. It bothers me. Oh well. What are you gonna do?
Oh tonight we are having the missionaries over for dinner tonight. Yay! I like our missionaries they are fun. I am serving them breakfast burritos. Or as Steve's family calls them, Breakfast Tacos. Yay. And I have to clean house tonight and wash clothes if possible. Saturday is the Elder's Quoarm's activity of a pot luck pinewood derby. I am excited. Steve has been working hard on his car. I hope everything turns out good. I will take pictures when I can.

Where has all the snow gone?

So here we are in the final stages of  November and still like no snow on the ground. We have only had it snow a couple of times. And just about each time it will snow and then melt by that afternoon. While I am grateful that we don't have snow and that it has been prolonged this much longer, it is just weird that we live in Rexburg.... okay let me say that again.... REXBURG.. and we don't have snow on the ground. It has been like the longest time that I know of that we haven't had snow. Every year that we have lived here that has been TONS of snow on the ground by now.
Okay so right now here is what is going on in our lives. Steve is about to graduate from college. Like in 3 weeks-ish. He graduates on December 16. SO CLOSE! So far, we don't have any job offers yet, which is a little concerning to me because we are so close to being done. Steve is looking for jobs in California, mostly in the San Jose area. Both sets of parents want us to come and live down in Texas when we are done with school so that we can save some money. I agree but disagree at the same time. We would save money yes, but at the same time, if we went down to Texas we would lose the jobs that we have right now. Steve gets to work at the financial aid office until the middle of January. 40 hours a week. So that would save us a million dollars. Not literally but it will make the moving process easier. Also we wouldn't want to move from Idaho to Texas to California. It would be a lot of moving in a short amount of time. We don't exactly know how much time frame we are looking at. The job market is going up and down so that makes me nervous. I also don't know what I am going to do about Christmas. I don't plan on setting up because I don't know how long we are going to be here. I mean will we be here and want to set up and have time to set up and take down and everything for the Holidays before we move. But what if we don't? What if we are moving soon after Christmas or even before? I have no clue what to do. SO that is life right now. Still going still moving. Loving life. Learning new things everyday.
Oh yeah, I am now babysitting Josie's baby again. Miss Presley. She is adorable. Josie got a job being a manager at Aspin Village I think. So I watch Presley like 40 hours a week-ish. So that is income coming in plus the other kids that I babysit. So while Steve is working I will be working too saving up that money for an apartment in California when we get a job. Yay!

It finally happened...

So remember when I told you yesterday that Caleb painted? Well, it happened again, but this time I wasn't so lucky. Instead of chocolate he painted with his poop. He decided to paint himself, the bed, the sheets, the blankets, the wall, the floor, my bed, the desk, and the door. Yay.  So i grab him give him a shower and started to clean. This is the true joy of motherhood. I totally would've made Steve do it if he were home. I think this is the one time I have been jealous of him going to school.

Oh my gosh... What is THAT?!

So you might have guessed from my text messages and maybe from the title that something amazing is going to happen today on the blog. Well, you are absolutely correct. Let's start from the beginning.
This morning when we woke up, I ignored the alarm and we slept 22 minutes longer than we should have. Now before you judge me on ignoring my alarm clock on a Sunday. Just know that I have not slept good for the past 3 nights in a row. Maybe a grand total of 9 hours in 3 days. So yes, if I could sleep I was going to. Sad. Caleb was being very complainey and whiney and just kind of annoying at 7:22 in the morning. Now, granted, by this time in the morning he is usually fed and ready for the day so I can understand why he would be upset. Steve gets up and jumps into the shower so that we can be ready for church on time at 8:30 which is going to be hard pressed since we were all getting up so late. I get out of bed and Caleb will not stop crying. He keeps saying "ow ow" so I think that he is hurt. He either hurt himself last night in bed or he isn't feeling good in general. So I grab his blankie and wrap it around him and that seems to calm him down a little. But not much is changing. So I bring him into the bathroom to make the morning rounds and to show/let Steve hear how and what is going on. I set him down on the ground and immediately the crying begins again. By this time I am getting worried that something is not right. I don't think he feels good. We decide to stay home from church and take care of Caleb. Which stinks because now we have missed the past 3 Sundays. I am losing it.  While I am changing Caleb he continues the owie thing and I start pointing to different parts of his body and saying owie to try and get him to let me know what hurts. When I get to his tummy and poke it he starts bawling so either it is an upset stomach or he is really hungry. I try and feed him some cereal and he won't eat it. Doesn't even touch it. The first thing we got him to eat of the day was goldfish. Then animal crackers. Then like berries. So we figure lots of fluid and plain food. Sad day. So Caleb has had a hard day, all in all. Okay on to the main event.We put Caleb down for his nap and don't hear much out of him. He "slept" for about 3 hours. When he started finally making noise it was an "ew ew ew" I open the door and see this...

OH MY GOSH! WHAT IS THAT?! The worst has finally happened. He finally decided to "paint". For all you parents out there, you know what that means... Then I look over to the desk and see this...

Yes that is correct CHOCOLATE! DARK CHOCOLATE! MY dark chocolate! Someone, and by someone I mean my wonderful hubby left my goodies on the desk. Caleb has successfully unwrapped and eaten at least 7 or more pieces. Yay. I was a mix of emotions. Yay! It's not poop! And the little turd ate all my dark chocolate! (pun intended). We can all breathe a sigh of relief... and gratification. Below is the video of it all. Hope you enjoy! I know Caleb did...

Shoot em' Up

...life...

Okay. So I am back in Idaho and have been since about June 13. It was great to see everybody and have fun in the sun again. I didn't get to see very much of the sun for a while so that was nice. So almost immediately as I came home, I started my new job which is babysitting for the manager of the office while the office is open. She just had her baby 3 months ago and just came back to work. So I get to have a cute little 3 month old baby girl at my house everyday. It's nice. Some days it adds to the fact that I am a single mom until Steve gets back home at the end of July or the beginning of August. I am so very excited for him to come home. Like I can't even express it into words. I have officially begun the countdown. 20 days to go. YAY! But life continues. Day after day, of working and doing almost the same thing each and every day. Sometimes it gets depressing, but that's why I have my wonderful family and friends that I can talk to each and every day. Heavenly Father is amazing with that. He has sent specific people to my life at the times that I need them the most. I am loving life.
On Saturday the 9th of July, I was on a team that did a Triathlon. I did the swimming portion of it. It was 600 yards. I didn't think it was going to kick my butt as soon as it did. I finished it. I didn't stop. We did the whole triathlon in 1 hour and 7 minutes. We came in 7th place out of 10. We weren't last! And we didn't give up. We started training for it about a week and a half before hand. So, next time I will be doing it by myself. I won't stop training. I will do it. It was fun. We are supposed to get a T-shirt for doing it. I think that we should get a medal for just doing it. But that is just me. Oh big surprise... I dyed my hair black. What do you think?

Bekah again

I don't really have a lot more to add since my last post. I did go to the GI guy, Dr. Kethu, and he said that I could still have an ulcer, even though I took that ulcer medicine and it didn't help. He also said that I could have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). So, he prescribed Amitiza, which is basically a laxative, to see if that will help. So far it hasn't, in fact, so far it has made the pain worse. This is the opposite effect we were hoping for. My return appointment is on Thursday, July 21st to see how everything is going. If the meds continue to not help then he will do both an endoscopy and a colonoscopy to look for whatever is wrong. I have not yet started the progesterone pills yet (for the endometriosis possibility) but I should start them tomorrow. Mom is going to pick them up for me tonight.

Rachel got a job! She works at Heartland Bread for the Warrens. She's actually there now. She gets $8 an hour but she works in a warehouse that doesn't have air conditioning in the middle of summer in Dallas. Not a very good combination. However, yesterday when she was working, someone came in and told her that she was sexy and she should've been a model. She was floored by this since she was all sweaty and felt gross. I think she handled it very well and very professionally though. She's excited to have a job and start saving money for college. We think she should buy us all Harry Potter 7 part 2 movie tickets with her new money. We'll see if she goes for that.

John is going out still looking for a job. He had a job interview yesterday with the railroad company and he has another one right now with Wells Fargo. He's anxious to start working. He seems to be doing well here, though. It is so nice to have him home, even if he does sometimes walk into the bathroom without knocking (on Rachel, not me).

Dad's colonoscopy is tomorrow morning so today he is drinking that awful stuff to clear out his colon so they have a clear view of it. He has to be there at like 6am, so John is taking him. Can you imagine any of the rest of us being coherent enough at 6am to drive Daddy anywhere? I can't.

Mom is still working hard at the Andersons, helping Hannah. She works everyday starting at about 3pm and getting home just after 7 usually. She goes to the gym everyday and is losing weight and gaining muscle! She is so excited about that. She has an appointment with Dr. Norton (my ob/gyn) soon, but I'm not sure exactly when it is. Leah, you will be happy that she has that appointment, I'm sure :)

I think that's an update on everybody here, looking forward to reading all the updates coming from the rest of y'all soon!

All my love,

Bekah

News from the Doctor!

I just got back from the gynecologist and I am posting what she said.

Endometriosis is a possibility. Let me explain to you what that is (I needed an explanation). When you're on your period, blood and endometrium (lining of the uterus) both get schluffed off and out. Sometimes the lining escapes the uterus by a way other than out your vagina, like out your fallopian tubes. When this happens, that lining sometimes attaches to your other organs and continues to act like the lining in your uterus, meaning that every month it swells and then contracts or cramps. This is not good on your other organs as it can cause scarring and other problems. The best treatment option for endometriosis is to put your body into a temporary state of menopause, which relaxes the lining and stops your periods, so you aren't damaging anything else. Another option is to remove the implanted portions of the endometrium. This doesn't always work very well, because it's almost impossible to find them all, and then you keep making more of them every month. Endometriosis is usually diagnosed by going through a regimen of pills and if that helps, it confirms the diagnosis. However, Dr. Norton did not want to do this with me, considering the intolerance that I had for the birth control pill that I took earlier this year. She thinks that I have gynecological problems (endometriosis I'm assuming) and GI problems that are unrelated, but that feed each other. So, the only other viable diagnosing option is surgery, but she doesn't want to do surgery without knowing all that is going on in my GI tract, she wants to know all the problems that could happen before she goes in. So, I'm going to a gastroenterologist next Tuesday at 3:00. Dr. Kenthu his name is. I will most likely have to have a colonoscopy in July. That's icky and I'm not looking forward to it at all. But it feels great to finally be on the path to finding the answers that I have been looking for for so long.

In other, happier news, John has officially moved in. His computer is all set up, along with his xbox. It's so nice to have him home! He might not feel all that enthused about it, but the rest of us are. Rachel and I are now sharing a room and he is occupying my old room, which used to be Abanga's room, and before that was the sewing room. Abanga is still living with us, he sleeps in the family room (the one with the fireplace). Rachel is looking for a job for the summer, and hopefully next year as well. John is feverishly looking for a job, mostly online. My phone interview went well, I think. I'm waiting to hear back to see if I got a second interview, this one in person.

I think that's all the news I have today.

I love you all!

Caleb Walking!!!!

Alright so it has been a long week and an even longer month. Updates. Steve has received an internship down in Bountiful, Utah for this summer in a marketing firm. I am not sure of the name but Fluid is in it. He starts there the beginning of May or the end of April. It isn't paid so one of us will have to find a part-time job there and we are still looking for somewhere to stay since we will only be there for the summer, that may prove difficult. Caleb has been having all kinds of problems. He has had diharea forever and when we took him to the hospital last for accidental ingestion, the doctor at the hospital said that we should try a no dairy diet for a while and that should help normalize his bowels. Which it did and didn't at the same time. He would start out good during the day and then just get more and more loose. Sorry, you probably don't want to hear about my son's bowel movements. Not fun. Lots of diapers. So. Talked to the pediatrician today and he said to take him into the hospital for tests to see if he is allergic to something, or if he has an enzyme deficiency, or if he is syliac. He said based on the results they might have to do a biopsy depending on what the results are. I get the "fun" part of collecting stool samples for them. How fun for me. They gave me 3 vials to collect. Yuck! I am still cleaning the office and laundry room, which I must say that No One who lives here, at the complex, treats the laundry room like they would if it was in their own house. I will just leave it at that. Otherwise, life is good. Steve is still wanting school to be out and over with as soon as possible. And I agree with him. No homework makes for a happy family. He has senior-itis bad. He will graduate in December! Whoo-hoo! I expect to see ALL of you there for that. If not and something comes up, thats okay. Just don't cry when we don't see you for a while... LOL. Sorry just kidding. I learned how to crochet and am making a scarf right now. It is nice to have a hobby again. Oh and I just finished my cross-stitch that I started when Steve and I got married and were living in Afton, Wyoming in 2008. Amazing huh? And my next goal is to make matching suit vests for my boys for Easter. Yay! But we will see how that comes. Alright, well let me know if you need anything! Love ya!

Here comes February!

Alright, well life continues on despite the freezing temperatures and the snow continuing to pile up. Caleb is still not walking, although he is 14 months old. Everyone keeps telling me that that is okay. A lot of kids don't walk until they are like 15 months old. I have continued to have it in the back of my mind however because it seems like everywhere I look babies younger than Caleb are walking. I was just visiting teaching the other day, and the lady's daughter was 9 months old and walking everywhere. My nephew started walking around like 9 or 10 months old. It is not fair at all! I know I will probably regret saying this, but I can't wait until he is walking everywhere. Then I won't have to hold him all the time. Steve thinks that I hold him too much already. Which I probably do. I just finished reading this AMAZING series of books called The Hunger Games. I absolutely loved them. Tons of adventure and romance and action. Not to mention the sadness and frustration you feel towards different characters all the time. It is so weird how these little things happen that remind you that there is more to your little life than taking care of your family. That was the first thing that I have done for myself in a LONG time. Steve and I were talking and we decided that I need to get a hobby. So this week, since I finished The Hunger Games, I started To cross stitch. It has been fun. I love the way the threads feel on the top. I can't stop running my fingers across them.

Caleb has started this non-dairy diet thing going on. The doctor at the hospital said that that might help his congestion problems and his bowels. Oh yeah, he went to the hospital because he decided to drink/eat the vapor rub that you put on your chest when you get sick. Fun Times. Well Steve has been going to school and trying to find internships for this summer. We will see how this goes. Well, life has its ups and downs. Lets just try to move past the downs on our way to the ups.

Birthday Pictures!

This is Caleb walking...!

Let it Snow!

Birthday Time!

Life is continuing on. I am so excited for this week of no school, no nothing. Whoo hoo! Well, Steve has work and I wish that I had work. Recently I lost my job babysitting. His father lost his job, leaving the fact that the dad will be home all the time so he can watch his son. Boo. So I need to find another job, and fast. We were counting on that money for so many things. And I really don't want to go into debt. Sad day, well onto happier subjects.

I am making my own Thanksgiving Dinner! Yay! But I am scared spitless that it will all come out wrong. Well, I am not in charge of the turkey, Bekah volunteered that and apple pie. I got everything else. I hope they are all ready to take food home with them, we got a lot of it. I think we came out on top though. We were able to get everything for under $100! Whoo! To feed 6 people mind you.

Caleb's birthday is on Wednesday and I am so excited. We got him some shaped blocks and a toy laptop. Ya ya! I am so excited for him to open it up. I didn't know that I could get so excited to give someone something. I am just as bad as a little kid. I want to give it to him now instead of waiting. As far as cake goes, I think I am going to get him some chocolate cupcakes. OR rather make them. We love that. And his favorite meal is Mac N' Cheese so that is what we will have for dinner.

I am trying to switch him over from a bottle to a sippy cup. So that he only needs a bottle when he goes down for the night. I am not exactly sure how to do it though. So we will see. Well, that is basically our life right now. Have a great one!

Halloween Pictures!

Play Time

This is Play time with Daddy! It is a new game that Caleb just learned and would LOVE to play it all day long! So much fun and so cute! Love you! Enjoy!

Blueberry Pancakes

If you can't tell, this is Caleb eating his first Blueberry Pancake. He is also eating scrambled eggs and hashbrowns. He ate and ate that morning. We have conference on in the background in case you can't tell. Love you!

Nowadays...

Well, school has started for Steve. It started on September 9. He is taking his IBC class this year which is worth 12 credits and Visual Media which is worth 2 credits. The IBC program is so difficult and demanding that they recommend that you don't have a job or any other classes while you are taking this course. Which is physically impossible for the students who are married and have to provide for their families. Which Steve does. He provides for us and works at the school and has more classes. So in essence he is breaking all the rules that they set. Yay for us. So just in case you don't know, IBC is where the students make a new business and run it on campus. They have to come up with the idea and they present their idea to their company and the company has a president and a CEO and everything which the students choose themselves. Then the company presents the idea to bank loan officers and they decide if that idea seems credible enough to give a bunch of money to. Then the students run the company and try to make money. Yay. So Steve is going to be gone a bunch working with the company and trying to make money and make good grades.

With my life. Well, I am babysitting Aaron just about everyday and Aaron and Caleb just love playing together. They discovered our Tupperware the other day and ummm well lets just say that they had fun and made a mess. I am also cleaning the apartments that we live at after the families that have lived there move out. So I clean the apartment in between tenants which is nice so their stuff is out of the apartment and out of my way. I get paid pretty good and the work is a as you need it thing so it isn't all the time. I am also staying home and taking care of Caleb, the house, my husband, and cooking, and everything else. I am a pretty busy woman. So you will never guess what I did on Saturday. I hired someone to clean my bedroom and do my laundry. Yes, I did. It only cost me $15. Sweet! I deep cleaned my whole house while Steve was away at his business retreat. He was gone for 2 1/2 days. Oh my goodness my house was a mess. But it still hurts when your mother comes to visit and says that you are much different now cuz you used to be the clean one. Ouch.

Caleb is 10 months old now. He is crawling like a maniac and trails furniture all the time. He is just itching to walk, but isn't quite there yet. Hopefully by Christmas, but I am hoping Halloween. He will walk if you hold onto his hands and I have seen him stand by himself a couple of times. He has 6 teeth now. 4 on top and 2 on bottom. He eats the food we eat except that he likes a couple of vegetables now but they are all baby food. I can't get him to eat real vegetables yet so that is what he gets. He has tons of hair, it is long and fine and sticks straight up. Adorable. He weighs about 20 pounds and is an adorable thing. We will post pictures soon. Maybe.

rachel's

hey guys!!!! i am finally posting on the blog again!!! whoop whoop!! ok so the latest in "Rachel World" is that school has finally started again and the AP classes have begun. for those of u who dont know im taking AP English III, AP US History, AP Psycology & Sociology, AP Music Theory, and Pre-AP PreCalculus. ur thinking, holy crap wut the heck, n im thinking i know right?!?!?! wut the heck is wrong with me, is wut im thinking. but wutever. so i wrote a song called All He Sees. gots to go!!
love
Rach