Quick update

Wow, 2 updates in a week! That must mean I am still home from work... Went to the Dr yesterday and he said though my ears are irritated and my throat looks nasty I did not have any infections. Yeah! Don't have strep. Yeah! Just a nasty virus...bummer because you really can't do anything about a virus. Plenty of rest, fluids etc. He told me to pick up some Musinex D from the pharmacy...$24.59!

When I got home my Visiting Teacher called and told me if I thought I was getting an ear infection I should cut an oinion in 1/2, warm it a little in the microwave and hold them or tie them in place over my ears for at least 15 minutes ...Since I was willing to pull out all the stops and not be sick anymore, I did the onion thing. It was actually soothing, although Bill said I smelled awful. (By that time I couldn't smell a thing)

I also followed the advise of a friend in Idaho. ... To stop night time coughing put Vicks Vapo rub generously on the bottom of the feet at bedtime, then cover with socks. Even persistent, heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief. Works 100% of thetime and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting.

Well, although I have done everything recommended and do feel a little better this morning, I called in and they told me to stay home and get well, not just today, but tomorrow too. Thenn we have a 3 day weekend and I don't go back to work till Tuesday. I am relieved, and hope the rest does a body good...my body that is:)

Happy New Year!

Even I got tired of looking at my pre - Christmas post every time I got on to read everyone's blogs, so it MUST be time for a change!

I don't have pictures, but I can bring you up to date. We did get to Oregon for Christmas and it was wonderful! Calista had saved the making of the Gingerbread houses for when we got there...Thanks Calista! It was fun to do that activity again with kids, they just bring so much joy and excitement to any situatuion:) Maddi's favorite activity while we were there was putting together the nativity puzzle. She picks out all the pieces and separates the animals from the people. Then she says "Gramma, let's do the puzzle, you be the people, I'll be the animals" And we would put the puzzle back together...she knows all the pieces and where they go. She alternates who does the people and the animals each time...What a cutie. Kellen is getting so big and is such a help. He's a wiz at games. We got to see the play they were in for Christmas. It was the Christmas story as told by the animals. Kellen was the lion, the king of beasts, and was sure he was the king of all. By the end of the story he gave his crown to the baby Jesus and declared him the King of Kings. It was very good. Maddi was an angel...one that was very lively and mischievious...she was pretty funny. It is pretty obvious that every one adores her.

We had an uneventful trip home (the best kind) on Tuesday, and would have had a quiet New Year's eve except I decided that since chicken was on sale ($1.29 lb for skinless, boneless chicken breast) I should stock up on some. I had recently used my last jar of bottled chicken and really miss having it ready to use. So I picked up enough to do a canner load (for me that is 16 pints)
and Bill and I got it started.

Wes called in the middle of that and said since he and the guys didn't have anything planned could they come over and party....Yes... Here they came. I put the chicken on hold, and gave them all assignments. We had a cheeseball (my Christmas cheeseball) and cracker tray, Hot artichoke and crab dip, (recipe on Calista's food blog) a fudge and candy tray, coconut shrimp and sauce, taquitos with chips and salsa, a ham and cheese tray, fruitcake and sparkling apple juice (thanks Kathy!). Not a bad spread when we weren't planning on having a party. Then we found out that Chris (one of the guys that came over) was the 1989 New Year's baby...so we sang happy birthday and put on "Newsies" to watch....By this time we had the canner going and Bill sat in the kitchen and watched the pressure on the chicken till it was done.

The next morning I picked up a friend of mine from work...Wendy...lovingly referred to as my GPS because she gets me all over Salt Lake without getting me lost. We took a quick road trip to Kuna to pick up my 1/4 beef and 1/2 beef for a family in our ward, from my favorite beef growers, Jan and Jim. It was a turn around trip, we stayed at G'ma and G'pa Danes bed and breakfast and then hit the road for home. During that very fast trip we were able to stop and see Brad, eat at El Giro Gallo on Thursday night, visit with both Jim and Ken and Family, pick up beef on Friday AM and check on our rental. That got us back to Utah in time to eat at another favorite...Maddox for late lunch before getting home and unloading beef into the freezers awaiting them. Whew!

Wendy has always been amazed that I find Salt Lake big, busy and hard to get around...when she saw where I came from, she just laughed...she said the problem is that I am used to being the only one on the road. What's wrong with that?! We took Blacks Creek road to get to the freeway and I pointed out as we passed "Pleasant Valley" road, we have two prisons (ON Pleasant Valley Road) ..she had just finished laughing over that when we came to the shooting range, she said that must be the back up plan...it was too funny.

Well I've been back at work for a week, then started fighting a cold. When it gets like this I usually get ear infections. I hate that! They sent me home from work yesterday and I had to have Wes come pick me up because I ride the vanpool. So I am home again today, not feeling well, but at least I have a Dr apt. for 2 this afternoon. I am feeling lazy, but it was a great time to catch up on everyones news and catch you up on mine. Hope the New Year finds you all happy, healthy, and busy.