Lydia's New Glasses

I snapped this quick photo of Lydia before she headed off to school this morning. She finally got her new glasses! These are the ones she chose and I thinks she looks quite cute. I think she was a little nervous to see what the kids at school will say. I know the glasses are already making a HUGE difference on how well she can see. Yeah!

Good News about Violet

We had a follow up ultrasound for our baby Violet today. At the 20 week ultrasound they actually discovered choroid plexus cysts in her brain. What is a choroid plexus cyst you ask.

"The choroid plexus is the area of the brain that makes the spinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. There are two of these areas in the brain, one on either side. This is not an area of the brain that is involved in thinking.

Once in a while a cyst forms inside the choroid plexus and is called a "choroid plexus cyst" or a "CP cyst". Cysts can be found one one side or on both sides and they come in many different sizes. A choroid plexus cyst does NOT cause learning problems or mental retardation and are not cancer.

If mothers have other risk factors, a choroid plexus cyst may suggest that the baby has a higher chance of having a chromosome change such as Trisomy 18. Trisomy 18 is a very serious medical condition cause by an extra copy of chromosome #18. Most babies born with Trisomy 18 cannot survive long term".

You can only imagine how Wes and I felt as the doctor was giving us this information during the ultrasound. You hear that your baby has cysts in her brain and it is sure to raise some internal alarms. Honestly, I was really devastated at first. The doctor reassured us that the cysts if they stayed wouldn't cause any problems for the baby at all. She did advise us though that it put us at a higher risk for Trisomy 18. She told us that our odds were so slim though especially since my QUAD screen came back normal. She also said that the baby didn't show any other physical signs of having Trisomy 18.

She offered for us to come back at 28 weeks for a follow up ultrasound. She let us know that it really was unnecessary, but if it would give us peace of mind we could go ahead and get another one. My regular OBGYN said we should go ahead and get it since then we would get a chance to see the baby again.

We went in today and I am happy to report that the cyst's in Violets brain are completely gone! I really had come to terms that the cysts were pretty benign if they stayed and felt pretty confident that she didn't have Trisomy 18, but it is a relief to know that she no longer has the cysts!

She is still my little turkey though. She was still covering her face with her arms so were unable to get a 3D image of her, but really I can't complain. I am just so happy that from everything that we can see we have a healthy, little girl.

Oh, and why didn't I post this so long ago or share this information with family? I really didn't want to worry everyone, but I feel safe to share now that everything is well.

Lydia the Musician

Lydia came home a few weeks ago and informed us that her school offers music lessons. She really wanted to learn how to play the violin. We decided to let her go for it. We have rented a violin and the lessons at the school are actually free. I think it would probably be a good idea to enroll her in some private lessons as well. I hope her interest lasts and she doesn't grow tired of it. I decided to "practice" with her one Sunday evening. I bought a violin for myself about 4 years ago. I thought for sure I would be able to teach myself. How silly I was. Anyway, I think Lydia and I had fun going over some of the basics. Now if I only I could learn how to play more than just the 4 basic notes :)

I am excited for Lydia and I hope that the violin will be something that she will enjoy forever.

Challenges

Do you ever feel like there are several challenges which hit you all at once. That is what I have felt like these past few days.

Lydia has been having a hard time seeing so we took her to the eye doctor. We found out that she is slightly nearsighted, but we have also found out that her eye muscles are spasming and making it VERY difficult for her to see at times. This of course effects reading, watching television, school and everything. The doctor is hoping that glasses will help correct the problem. We have ordered glasses for her and hoping they will arrive soon.

We have had some major challenges with our house that have sapped our energy, time, and money. I won't go into details about this one but I will be very happy when this issue is resolved. It has been emotionally and physically draining.

I came home to a very sick husband yesterday. I really hope he gets better soon and that whatever he has does not spread through the family.

I know things will get better but it has made it hard to get other things done, especially my church callings. I was supposed to meet with some newly called den leaders and this hasn't happened at all. Also, I haven't been able to do my visiting teaching. Perhaps it will just have to be phone visits this month.

I am looking forward to general conference and I know it will help uplift my soul. I am grateful for all the blessings that I have and will be happy when I feel like I am on even ground again.

"Can Chemicals Kill You?"

Adelle came to me yesterday while I was working and asked me "Can chemicals kill you"? My girl is very inquisitive so I answered right away "Well yes, certain chemicals can kill you". I suddenly started to wonder why she was asking me. She goes on to explain that she thinks she may have drank some 409. Adelle had spilt some root beer in the kitchen just earlier in the day. I had asked her to wipe it all up and then to spray some 409 on the area and wipe it again. She has done this before with the table and hasn't had any problems. She informs me that she had left her cup sitting on the floor while she was spraying and had drank the rest of her root beer. She was very worried that she may have drank some 409. I proceed to ask her a series of questions "Did you taste the chemicals" to which she answers "No". I take her into the kitchen to show me what she is describing. Suddenly she bursts out "I DON'T WANT TO DIE". My poor child! I had to comfort her and assure her that it is very unlikely that she drank much and that she will be just fine. I proceed to have her drink a very large glass of water just to be sure that she will be alright. She talked to Wes later and he again assured her that she wasn't going to die. She responded back "Well of course I will, but not till I'm old. I have a long life to live".

You have to love kids :)

Grateful for the Lord's Apostles

We had our Stake Conference this last week and we were very blessed to have Elder Ballard attend and be our main speaker. I made a point this time to attend the adult season and the regular session. I usually only go to the regular session with my girls. For the Saturday night adult session I arrived an hour early to make sure I had a good seat. Honestly, I probably could have arrived a little later, but it was nice to be there enjoying the calm of the chapel and reading from the scriptures.

Also in attendance for the Saturday night session was the Salt Lake City mission president and his wife, and Elder Keach (sp?) who is one of the area seventy. It was a wonderful meeting! The first thing that struck me was the volume of singing. I had never heard a sound so amazing in our little, local chapel. There were so many people in attendance that when we sang the opening song I was deeply moved. It made me think of a heavenly choir of angels!

Speaker after speaker motivated and inspired me to do even better in my life. Elder Keach spoke of three things that we can do when difficult changes come.

1. Humble ourselves and seek Heavenly Father's guidance.

2. Get Involved and Serve Others

3. Heavenly Father will Guide us along.

He did point out that these things will take place in God's own time, his own way and his own will. He said that the Lord's promise to those that are faithful is - Be of good cheer for you are little children and I will lead you along and my angels will be around you.

From there Elder Ballard spoke. He was so warm and humorous. I have never heard him make jokes before, but it was nice to feel like I knew him better. He discussed the importance of family and how the family is under attack. He went on to counsel mothers and fathers to love their children. He instructed fathers to be loving and kind. He advised fathers and husbands if they are raising their voices to their family that they need to stop it that night. He instructed mothers not to raise their voices to their children. Here Elder Ballard threw in some humor and said "I know you are thinking But Elder Ballard, you don't know my children". He also counseled husbands and wives to kneel down every night and to give a prayer of thanks to Heavenly Father that they have had one more day together. He said husbands and wives should take turns saying the prayer.

From there he went on to counsel grandparents to make memories for their grandchildren, especially memories centered around the gospel. He told wonderful stories of his own family and those things they have experienced.

I loved to listen to him speak and felt the spirit so strongly. I loved being able to sit so closely to the podium and to be able to have Elder Ballard look into my eyes as he was speaking. It meant a lot to me. It helped me remember the eternal perspective in my life. All of my silly worries about work and other mundane things melted away. I came home to my family so happy and grateful.

The next morning I woke up very tired but I didn't want to miss the general stake conference meeting. Lydia was with her dad for the weekend so she was unable to come with us. Adelle and I got ready and left the house early to walk to the the local high school (my old school in fact). Our Stake Center is currently being renovated so we held the meeting at the high school auditorium, which in some ways is very strange. I performed on that stage so many times and to come back to attend church there is well a little odd. In fact, my old choir teacher was there running the sound booth.

We got to the meeting about an hour early and Adelle insisted that we sit on the very front row right by the stage. We saved our seats and mingled with some wonderful people, some that I hadn't seen in a long time. The meeting began and Adelle colored while I listened intently. Members of our stake presidency spoke. The president of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple and his wife spoke as well. Elder Keach spoke again. He directed his words especially to the youth and his talk was absolutely wonderful.

Our last speaker was Elder Ballard. He first started out by remarking how wonderful it was to have the children there in attendance. You could hear babies and toddlers talking and crying, but he made a point to say how glad he was that they were there. He said it is important that children come to meetings because it develops a wonderful habit of attending church. He then directed his thoughts mainly to the women, which I loved. He spoke of how important women are to the Lord. He cited two stories from the bible to emphasize this point. He first spoke of the woman of Samaria who was at the well. He then read from the bible the story (see John Chapter 4). By the way, I loved that he read from the scriptures more than any other speaker. He said that Jesus for the first time proclaims that he is the Messiah. Elder Ballard pointed out that this wonderful news was first told to a woman.

He then referenced another story from the Bible when Jesus Christ rose on the third day after his death. He said the first person that Jesus Christ spoke to after he was brought back to life was Mary, a women. Elder Ballard advised us that women are precious to the Lord and hold a very special place in his heart. It touched me deeply to be reminded how precious we are as daughters of god. He advised men and children to respect and honor the women in their lives and if this hasn't been done that we should apologize to these women.

He also spoke of how important it is that we listen to the spiritual promptings in our lives. He relayed several stories of outcomes he has had when he has listened to the promptings. He first shared a story (one that I must have heard in conference before) about when he was a Bishop. He had felt a spiritual prompting late one snowy evening to go visit a widow in the ward. He ignored the prompting thinking he would go early the next morning. When he arrived on the doorstep of the woman the next morning he learned that the sister had passed away. He promised himself from that moment on that he would never ignore a prompting again. It reminded me that I need to live my life in a way that I can receive spiritual promptings and when those promptings come I should listen immediately.

At the end of the conference Elder Ballard advised us that he wanted to leave early with the Stake President to go to the overflow building to speak briefly to those who had not been able to be in physical attendance at the meeting. They were receiving the meeting through a video transmission. He then advised everyone to raise their hands in the air in front of them. He then asked us to move our hands up and down while he did the same thing. He then said "Now you can go home and write in your Journal I shook hands with Elder Ballard today". I think there is a great longing when a general authority visits a stake to be able to meet with them and to be near. I could tell that Elder Ballard is aware of this need, which of course can not be met for every person within the stake. I felt his love for us though and was so very grateful for the opportunity to be in attendance.

Adelle wanted to met with the Elder Ballard afterwards, but unfortunately that wouldn't be an option. Instead we walked home with a lovely sister in the ward enjoying the sunny day. I don't think I will ever forget that weekend. I am really looking forward to the upcoming General Conference as well. It really is my favorite time of the year when I can listen to the prophet and his apostles speak to me and others all around the world. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has sent us loving leaders to guide, help and to direct us. I know I am not alone.

Braxton Hicks

Braxton Hicks are one of the most interesting things aren't they? For no apparent reason at all suddenly your abdomen tightens into this rock hard ball. It isn't necessarily painful, but it isn't comfortable either. I will have days when I will get them more frequently. I wonder if it when my body is growing to accommodate my growing girl. Now that I work at home four days a week I will often sit at my computer desk in my living room, barefoot working away. I still haven't gotten to the point of wearing pajamas and not showering. Somehow the world just doesn't feel right if I haven't gotten ready for the day. Make-up is optional and there are days I choose to apply my minimalist make-up before beginning the day. I really don't wear that much anyway.

I have gotten off the point though, back to Braxton Hicks. I like to sit indian style in my computer chair and guess what I've found? They trigger Braxton Hicks contractions. Why in heavens name would that be the case. So now I need to remind myself to keep my feet under the desk instead of trying to sit all comfortable and cross legged. I also noticed that they seem to happen when I am stressed or on a day when my girl is particularly active. I think Violet may be having a dance party today. I know she can't hear my poppy Micheal Jackson music because I have headphones on. Yes, I listen to Micheal Jackson. I have mixed opinions on the man, but I enjoy his music. So there you go...it's out! I think for the time being though Violet is sleeping so I will take advantage to feel this inner peace and calm, literally. I don't feel like I am housing a mini bounce house for the moment. I sneezed a little while ago and worried that the rough jolt might wake her.

Isn't that the silliest thing? I LOVE my little baby and I promise I'm not complaining, just explaining my pregnant world. Sometimes sugar can really get her going. Perhaps I need to cut out the sugar. Really though, can one Jolly Rancher make that much of a difference? It will be interesting to see if little Violet will be this active when she is born. Hopefully she won't get too crammed these next 14 weeks, because honestly the cramped space isn't making her move less. It is only making the jabs, bounces, flutters and kicks stronger. Just call me bouncin' Lizzy! Oh...I thinks she's awake. Hello little one.