We went to Amy's doctor today. According to all we know, we were following up on a visit of 35weeks. I got talking to the Doctor and told her that I have thought all along that the due date is wrong. I explained our calendar situation and the fact that I was in Ohio while Amy was in Utah. This makes it real easy for me to know a few critical things about the calendar that medical science will just have to take my word for and trust that I know what I am talking about.
Anyway, the doctor told us that if Amy goes into labor, based on the information we gave her, she will not try to stop the labor and she feels confident that the baby would be healthy and able to go home with us after the three days. She said that the earliest duedate she could make work using the charts is November 19 and the latest us December 4. Amy was slightly dilated and zero-percent effaced.
So, we don't know what to expect except that we know the baby is coming and sometime before December 9. I am kind of partial to November 26, but so are a few other people I know. We will keep you all informed. Either way, the little tax-write-off (yes, that is the only name we can agree on), will still make it in time to bear good news on our return.
Because of our uncertainty, the doctor scheduled one more sonogram for next week, on Wednesday morning at 8:30 am, so by the time most of you wake up; we will have some additional news. Of course, by the time you get this newsletter it is possible that the baby will be here. Amy sure would like that. You women know how uncomfortable the last month can be for sleeping and even just bending over sometimes.
It has been raining a little lately. We finally found homes for all the kittens and are back to two cats (one too many). The children all brought home their report cards and with the number of A's in the house, I am now broke. We had the parent-teacher conferences over the past couple of nights and the teachers have spoke nothing but good about our children and how they wished that more children were as polite and kind as ours. I was sure that they had our kids mixed up with other children until they began using their names. So, I guess it is true.
Tyler just signed up for basketball (2nd grade) and Emily signed up for Cheerleading. She is also taking a dance and gymnastics class as well. Michael surprised me and said that he wants to go to the wrestling meeting when they have it. For those who have not seen him lately, he really is filling out quite nicely for a young man. He was just called as the Deacon's quorum president, so that will be a change and a challenge for him.
All three love running around the neighborhood, having friends over the house and jumping on the
trampoline. Winter is approaching and that will change for a little while. Living in the East, we have a lot of trees here. When we were driving home from church on Sunday (15 miles one way), the wind was blowing and the trees were running down the road as though they had feet and were dancing. It really was a sight to behold.
We are a little behind on our reading challenge with the Book of Mormon. If we get through 8 chapters a week, we will still make it and we have finished Alma, so the rest is downhill from here. We are looking forward to having Mel, Howard and the children here for Thanksgiving. It will be good to have that opportunity to have them at our home
We love you all and pray for your success in the things of God. We will talk to you again at a later time.
Monday, November 21, 2005
The Old Folks At Home
This is thanksgiving month, not just because of the Thanksgiving holiday, but also because of my attitude. I am grateful to be alive! I am never going to be ready to die and leave this world. First of all, there are all of you, my loved ones, whom I enjoy. Then there is the beauty of the world. I was sitting in the sun, looking out the window for one of those brief but happy passing moments. The sun was warm, the sky was blue and the colored leaves were rustling in the breeze. It was truly breathtaking.
I am so thankful that I can enjoy the seasons of the year. Dad teased me when I said that to him. “Even the snow?” I admit I like it a lot more while I am inside looking outside. That isn’t quite true, however, because I do like to play in the snow I just don’t like to slog around in it.
Fall is one of my favorite times of the year and I so enjoy the colored leaves. Thanksgiving is actually the best holiday of the year because there is only the expectation of good food and good company.
Of course, I really like being outside in the flower gardens during the summer and I like having grandkids around during the long days. Children are always a bright note in life’s song.
The house is painted. I think it looks great. Dad’s shed has walls up but no roof. He is planning on building the trusses as he gets time during the next while. Then we will put them on. I will have a new bathroom downstairs but not in time for Thanksgiving. Like all building contractors, our plumber got a great big job that needs to be done on a time schedule. I am content to wait because it is a dream come true. It will have a shower in the back corner against the boy’s room and next to the dryer. The toilet and washbasin will follow the wall along the boy’s room. It is the same sort of pattern as is in the front bathroom upstairs.
Grandpa’s house is sold. It will be a month (maybe longer) before the money comes through. We also found out today that Grady, who is buying the house, wants us to go half on repairing a cast iron drain pipe in the basement that has split. We were selling the house as-is but he is uncomfortable with the pipe so I suppose it was the wise thing to do. Who know what it will cost, however. But it is nice to know the house is going to someone who will take care of it and to someone who also loved Grandpa. It has been heart-rending to go to the house and not have Grandpa there to visit. I took a lot of photos today of the inside of the house. It is not the same, because the people who made it a great place to visit are not there. Laurel and Cydney also took photos a few days ago so we will all have photos to share.
I am thankful for each one of you. I have finally begun to realize how wonderful it is to be with people who accept you as you are. I do know how extraordinary that is and I thank you all. Besides that, I LOVE each one of you. As Tiny Tim says in A Christmas Carol: “God bless us, everyone!”
You know, if I live long enough I might actually grow up.
Love Mom (and Dad)
I am so thankful that I can enjoy the seasons of the year. Dad teased me when I said that to him. “Even the snow?” I admit I like it a lot more while I am inside looking outside. That isn’t quite true, however, because I do like to play in the snow I just don’t like to slog around in it.
Fall is one of my favorite times of the year and I so enjoy the colored leaves. Thanksgiving is actually the best holiday of the year because there is only the expectation of good food and good company.
Of course, I really like being outside in the flower gardens during the summer and I like having grandkids around during the long days. Children are always a bright note in life’s song.
The house is painted. I think it looks great. Dad’s shed has walls up but no roof. He is planning on building the trusses as he gets time during the next while. Then we will put them on. I will have a new bathroom downstairs but not in time for Thanksgiving. Like all building contractors, our plumber got a great big job that needs to be done on a time schedule. I am content to wait because it is a dream come true. It will have a shower in the back corner against the boy’s room and next to the dryer. The toilet and washbasin will follow the wall along the boy’s room. It is the same sort of pattern as is in the front bathroom upstairs.
Grandpa’s house is sold. It will be a month (maybe longer) before the money comes through. We also found out today that Grady, who is buying the house, wants us to go half on repairing a cast iron drain pipe in the basement that has split. We were selling the house as-is but he is uncomfortable with the pipe so I suppose it was the wise thing to do. Who know what it will cost, however. But it is nice to know the house is going to someone who will take care of it and to someone who also loved Grandpa. It has been heart-rending to go to the house and not have Grandpa there to visit. I took a lot of photos today of the inside of the house. It is not the same, because the people who made it a great place to visit are not there. Laurel and Cydney also took photos a few days ago so we will all have photos to share.
I am thankful for each one of you. I have finally begun to realize how wonderful it is to be with people who accept you as you are. I do know how extraordinary that is and I thank you all. Besides that, I LOVE each one of you. As Tiny Tim says in A Christmas Carol: “God bless us, everyone!”
You know, if I live long enough I might actually grow up.
Love Mom (and Dad)
The Visit Was Great!
The visit was great! It was, of course, too short. I think the game, since it was a barn-burner, must have been lots of fun. We did give the big kids some money for gas.
Julie watched the two little ones during game time. We went to the temple. She had lots of fun with them. They went to the Bean museum in Provo and petted a live turtle. They also saw a legless lizard, which looks like a snake but isn't. They then went to the BYU art museum and had ice cream at the creamery. They were excited that afternoon when we all got together again. We sent you home some leftovers. I hope the pumpkin pie didn't get too mashed. I am not as great a cook as you are but, sometimes, it just is good to have something you didn't have to fix. Donovin and Erin are more than precious. I enjoy every second with them. I think they are both going to be geniuses and contribute to the welfare of humankind. We should start keeping all of their creations so, when they are famous, we can show people how early they started. We can also brag that we changed their diapers. I am sure that made a difference, right? Thanks for helping Erin write a letter to us. We so enjoyed it. We also appreciated the photo. Erin got a cold. I think she got the same one Bree has. David was thinking that she may have gotten cold while she was with Julie but Julie assured me that they spent most of the time they were together inside one place or another. Come up! You can take leftovers back to David. (Of course, if he is called out, he won't miss you, but if he isn't, he will.) Anyway, you are still invited. You are always invited because you are just part of my family and there is always heart room for you. David said part of the reason he is working is because of the trip that Bree says they are still taking. If they are gone for New Year's Eve (and day), do you want to come here? We have fun, eat, play games, make noise at midnight. I would love to see you! Your birthday is also in December, right? Is it the 16th or 18th? I hope you are planning on having a great birthday. You are younger than I am so the birthday should still be OK. I think I am going to do what my Dad claimed he did. I am going to subtract a year every birthday from now on out. Think it will work? I am the big 65 this year. Don't worry about the car payment check. David will send the car payment check up this week. He promised and he keeps his promises to me. They have good credit and payment history at the credit union. Bree reminded him, as they were leaving, that he had promised. She said he needed to take the time, right then, to go do it, but we don't have the same kind of bank here as the one they use. The bank is closed on Saturday and Sunday and there is an ATM charge if you are not using your own bank. I told him if he mailed a check on Monday I would have it by mid-week and that would make Judy happy. I will be thinking about all of you this week and I will be missing you if you do not get here. The kids may not know it, but they are lucky to have you. I know the grandkids are lucky to have you but I think they know it. Thanks Grandma! Love, Myrna
The Boston Baked Boltons
Sorry that this is later than it is supposed to be. Too many computer problems, not enough time in the day....
Mikaela is preparing to participate in our Ward'sPrimary Program. She has a speaking part and has been practicing her part in the car, wherever we go. She loves being in Primary. We have some wonderful teachers, finally. Mikaela has had four Primary teachers this year alone. The teacher she has is moving in December, so it will be five teachers before the end of the year. I feel sorry for the ones that are turning eight. It is such and important time for them, they need the stability of good teachers. (Mel's on her soapbox.) Anyway, she also was given the "WOW Award" at school for being such a helper to everyone. Mikaela applied to be a Postal Carrier in her Elementary School, Brookside, and was hired. She will take the mail to all the classrooms and then return any mail from the teachers, to the office. She is so excited about the whole thing. She had to have a job interview and pass a spelling test to qualify. She loves her Principal, Ms. Kay and has had some good experiences with her. She is still taking gymnastics, but they changed the time for her lessons to Tuesdays, which makes it really interesting to get to all our events on Tuesdays.
Benjamin is wanting to try out for Lacrosse. He will have to miss the games, because they are on a Sunday, but he still is planning on being to all the practices. He is now in the computer club, the science fiction club and wants to be on the Lacrosse team. I tell him it seems like an odd mixture of talents. He reminds me that it doesn't matter what you do, you just need to enjoy what you are doing. He went on a scouting overnighter to Manadnock at the end of October. I was worried that he would be cold or he would wander off, like he is prone to do, so I made him dress in many layers, and take a whistle. I then made sure that I went over the rules of the buddy system, hugging trees, not wandering around, what do to if it is cold and you can't find shelter, etc. He then said, "Why don't you just come on this hike, that way you can make sure that I do everything that I am supposed to do?" I backed off a bit.
Braden attended the same hike. It tends to be that he hangs out with the scouts his age and was going to be sleeping with them as well, so I told him to keep an eye on Ben. (Which didn't make Ben any more happy with me.) Braden has been to Manadnock before and knew that it is warm at the base, cool at the mid-line and freezing at the summit. It was supposed to rain, so he was amply prepared. He even took an extra blanket. (He said it was for Ben, if he got cold, but we didn't tell Ben that.) They had a great time, and came home to rain and snow. Braden is still in the marching band and will be practicing with them until the end of November. The last home football game is on the 11th of November, after the Veteran's Day Parade. He is tired of marching in the cold and the rain and will be glad when he is just performing in Symphonic Band.
We don't hear as much from Siovhan now that she is feeling a little bit better. She was diagnosed with GERD and has been taking medication for it. It helps a little, but it isn't as effective as we would like it to be. She loves some of her classes and will be glad when her Stats class is over. She is still working as the Family Home Evening Grandma, and she helps out with some of the struggling Family Home Evening groups. Her roommate, Heather, recently went to Hawaii with her family, which made Siovhan long for a warm weather trip. We can't wait 'til next month to see her again. Howard stopped by and saw her on his way through the United States, after a trip from Australia. They went grocery shopping and Howard took her car for the night. She loves it when her parents commandeer her car.
Howard has been traveling. On this last trip he spent time with Andrew, touring the battle sites of D-Day. They did a lot of site seeing in the pouring rain, but they enjoyed what they saw. Andrew has become a photographer, so Howard was asking questions about lighting, settings, and overall photography questions. He wants to launch back into his hobby with a little more thought of what he is taking pictures of, how the light is affecting the shot, and what the subject matter looks like from different angles.
I am still working hard to keep the family glued together, no matter where they are or what they are doing. It is amazing how many things can break down when Howard goes on his trips. I am grateful for our membership in AAA this year. We have needed to have batteries jumped, cars towed and other help. I wasn't sure we would see the benefit of membership, but it has paid for itself four times over this year. I just wish they had something like if for household appliances, which are past their warranty.
The fall colors here have been beautiful. The snow that fell last weekend, and the rain this weekend, have pretty much pulled down all the leaves (much to the boys' sadness). New England is wonderful in the fall. The nights haven't been too cool, the furnace has come on a few times, but for the most part we are doing okay at beating the high oil prices. Hopefully we'll be able to hold off on ordering oil and will get it at a low price. $2.35/gallon for home heating oil was a little high to be paying!
We love you all. Happy Holidays!
Melanie and family
Mikaela is preparing to participate in our Ward'sPrimary Program. She has a speaking part and has been practicing her part in the car, wherever we go. She loves being in Primary. We have some wonderful teachers, finally. Mikaela has had four Primary teachers this year alone. The teacher she has is moving in December, so it will be five teachers before the end of the year. I feel sorry for the ones that are turning eight. It is such and important time for them, they need the stability of good teachers. (Mel's on her soapbox.) Anyway, she also was given the "WOW Award" at school for being such a helper to everyone. Mikaela applied to be a Postal Carrier in her Elementary School, Brookside, and was hired. She will take the mail to all the classrooms and then return any mail from the teachers, to the office. She is so excited about the whole thing. She had to have a job interview and pass a spelling test to qualify. She loves her Principal, Ms. Kay and has had some good experiences with her. She is still taking gymnastics, but they changed the time for her lessons to Tuesdays, which makes it really interesting to get to all our events on Tuesdays.
Benjamin is wanting to try out for Lacrosse. He will have to miss the games, because they are on a Sunday, but he still is planning on being to all the practices. He is now in the computer club, the science fiction club and wants to be on the Lacrosse team. I tell him it seems like an odd mixture of talents. He reminds me that it doesn't matter what you do, you just need to enjoy what you are doing. He went on a scouting overnighter to Manadnock at the end of October. I was worried that he would be cold or he would wander off, like he is prone to do, so I made him dress in many layers, and take a whistle. I then made sure that I went over the rules of the buddy system, hugging trees, not wandering around, what do to if it is cold and you can't find shelter, etc. He then said, "Why don't you just come on this hike, that way you can make sure that I do everything that I am supposed to do?" I backed off a bit.
Braden attended the same hike. It tends to be that he hangs out with the scouts his age and was going to be sleeping with them as well, so I told him to keep an eye on Ben. (Which didn't make Ben any more happy with me.) Braden has been to Manadnock before and knew that it is warm at the base, cool at the mid-line and freezing at the summit. It was supposed to rain, so he was amply prepared. He even took an extra blanket. (He said it was for Ben, if he got cold, but we didn't tell Ben that.) They had a great time, and came home to rain and snow. Braden is still in the marching band and will be practicing with them until the end of November. The last home football game is on the 11th of November, after the Veteran's Day Parade. He is tired of marching in the cold and the rain and will be glad when he is just performing in Symphonic Band.
We don't hear as much from Siovhan now that she is feeling a little bit better. She was diagnosed with GERD and has been taking medication for it. It helps a little, but it isn't as effective as we would like it to be. She loves some of her classes and will be glad when her Stats class is over. She is still working as the Family Home Evening Grandma, and she helps out with some of the struggling Family Home Evening groups. Her roommate, Heather, recently went to Hawaii with her family, which made Siovhan long for a warm weather trip. We can't wait 'til next month to see her again. Howard stopped by and saw her on his way through the United States, after a trip from Australia. They went grocery shopping and Howard took her car for the night. She loves it when her parents commandeer her car.
Howard has been traveling. On this last trip he spent time with Andrew, touring the battle sites of D-Day. They did a lot of site seeing in the pouring rain, but they enjoyed what they saw. Andrew has become a photographer, so Howard was asking questions about lighting, settings, and overall photography questions. He wants to launch back into his hobby with a little more thought of what he is taking pictures of, how the light is affecting the shot, and what the subject matter looks like from different angles.
I am still working hard to keep the family glued together, no matter where they are or what they are doing. It is amazing how many things can break down when Howard goes on his trips. I am grateful for our membership in AAA this year. We have needed to have batteries jumped, cars towed and other help. I wasn't sure we would see the benefit of membership, but it has paid for itself four times over this year. I just wish they had something like if for household appliances, which are past their warranty.
The fall colors here have been beautiful. The snow that fell last weekend, and the rain this weekend, have pretty much pulled down all the leaves (much to the boys' sadness). New England is wonderful in the fall. The nights haven't been too cool, the furnace has come on a few times, but for the most part we are doing okay at beating the high oil prices. Hopefully we'll be able to hold off on ordering oil and will get it at a low price. $2.35/gallon for home heating oil was a little high to be paying!
We love you all. Happy Holidays!
Melanie and family
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