Still Laughing Because Julie Is Having a Giraffe

Myrna Trauntvein: A two-year old granddaughter of mine breaking the news about a new baby. "Grammy guess what? Mommy is going to have a baby giraffe!"

Kirsten Trauntvein Waite: Hey, that's what I got too! Well, I guess you could explain that extra part that way. ;)

Myrna Trauntvein: It's certainly better than a hippo!

Amy Trauntvein: Love it, too cute! So happy for Julie and Jim. Is Jim still floating on cloud nine?

Myrna Trauntvein: Jim has one of those faces that doesn't hide emotion well. So, yes, he is still beaming. He had the same look when he first saw Julie. I guess like mother like daughter, in this case, she has been so sick and still feels icky to the tummy. My boys all did that to me.

Jim actually called his mom and dad while they were waiting to pay the bill so they missed out on the giraffe story.

Mayna Lovell Burnside: Congrats to Julie and Jim.

Myrna Trauntvein: Thank you! Do you think they will make good parents for a boy giraffe?

Mayna Lovell Burnside: sure they will. This little boy giraffee was a long time coming and there will be plenty of big sisters to help. We are happy for them

So much fun that you facebook non-fans have to see it.‏

Melanie wrote: Notice the mother snowman's nose in the cartoon...where did the carrots for the jell-o salad come from?

Amy Wooten Brown: OH MY ... I love this. We mom's are always the martyrs!
WAIT ... or does this mean we cut off our noses to spite our faces?

Melanie Trauntvein Bolton: Maybe it could mean that some moms sacrifice everything for a good potluck dish!

Myrna Trauntvein: I should put this up on the fridge.

Shawn Kimberly Trauntvein: love it.

Andrew Bolton: such a statement tells the world you are a mormon from Utah!

Myrna Trauntvein: Or, at least, from the USA. From Texas to Massachusetts, all Mormons love that jell-o. At least, the ones I know do and not all of those folks came from Utah.

Amy Wooten Brown: Okay well does that include NC? Because I for one have a HUGE issue with vegetables in my jello ... fruits too for that matter!
Cool Whip! That is ALL that should ever be on jello!

Melanie Trauntvein Bolton: Fruited/vegied jell-o salad pretty much is exclusive to Utah/Idaho/Wyoming Mormons. British people love fruit and cake in their jell-o and they top it with custard and whipped cream...so, I think our love of things in jell-o can be attributed to that large influx of Brits in the 1800s.

Amy Wooten Brown: Then somehow Id like to blame my lack of appreciation for fruit/veggie filled jello on my lovely ancestors who decided the trek west was just too hard for them... come to think of it ... I have a LIST of things that I could blame on my ancestors who didn't trek west...too bad there is that convert thing! ; )

Myrna Trauntvein: Add Colorado and Texas to that list, Mel. I am the ONLY Mormon in Utah, that I know of, who prefers jell-o with NOTHING in it. I like whipping cream, whipped, on top.

Melanie Trauntvein Bolton: I never was a fan of the carrot-raisin-pineapple orange jell-o, with mayonnaise topping...most of us can say, "GROSS!"

Jeanette Knighton Stephens commented on Shawn Trauntvein Family

Hi Myrna,
Jeanette Knighton Stephens wrote:  "Funny thing! We had Dane in our 10-11 yr old boys group at Family Camp the second year that they had it and worked with Shawn and Kimberly who were part of the family camp staff that year. We have just seen them around through the years in other scout activities. When I saw your last name, I thought you had to be related to him and you had a Shawn listed as one of your kids on Facebook. Nice to meet you!!! Fun family. We loved having Dane in our group."

Craziness

So this last week has been super crazy. I had lots of crazy experiences with my companion and with the families in my branch/the families that I've been teaching. One interesting thing that happened is that I took  a bus to the other end of Managua and didn't know what was happening until I didn't get off at the stop that I was supposed to get off at. When we got off the bus I told my companion to follow me onto the other but that would do that route in reverse...after all was said and done we got back 2 hours later a little scared and a little jarred up (mainly because of the drunk guy that was getting WAY too close to me).

 

It sounds like a LOT has been happening at home over the past week. Never lose focus on the important things in life: 1. our forever families, 2. trials will pass, 3. LOVE EVERYONE. Seriously, we as human beings need to love more and provide more service to those around us. As we try and love those that are around us and invite them to church or to listen to the missionaries we provide service for them that many cannot provide, and we reap many blessings.

 

I love this mission, I love my branch and love my investigators, but, yet again, the Lord has called me to another part of the vineyard. For the time being I am in the office of the mission helping doing some secretarial things before the apostle comes to Nicaragua. The Lord taught me a lot in my last area and with my last companion. I will work hard wherever the Lord has placed me, but sometimes it's hard how I'm just ripped out of the areas and everything. I'll learn to get over that.

 

I love you all so much and pray for you all the time. I have been praying for Uncle Phil and his family, I know that the Lord will take care of his family. I love my Saviour Jesus Christ and I love the Book of Mormon so much. I also love the opportunity that we have withtin this church to always progress, change, become better.

 

Work hard, love even harder.

Elder B

 

P.s. Idea for the week: start a gratitude journal!

Questions for Melanie

Myrna wrote:
1. How is Howard's brother? Is he getting better? It sounds like he inherited his dad's heart problems. 

I just hope that I didn't inherit my female family's short (Great-Grandma Smith, 72, Grandma Edna, 78 and Aunt Renee, 71) lifespans. Great-Grandma Ruth lived to be 84, Great-Great Grandma Mina lived to be 81, G-G-Great Grandma Mary was 75; G-G-Grandma Susan was 57; and G-G-Grandma Ida Pearl was 76. I'm holding out for 100. :) 

2. I only enclosed $5 in Bradon's Christmas card. If he got it, I thought I would send the rest that way ($5 at a time) and if not, then I would just send you the money. I haven't had an answer though I have asked. I guess he is too busy being an ELDER to worry about it. I will send you the $25 tomorrow. I will send letters by mail as well as by email because I know they don't have much time on the computer. But I won't put in money.

Melanie wrote: Howard's brother has had some set backs. He suffered from stomach flu last week, the developed plueresy, and pneumonia. They want him better before they send him home. All the children have some problems with heart, cholesterol and the related factors. 

Kim and Shawn sent us money and we put it in Braden's bank account. He has his debit card with him and can access his own money when he needs. It's easier that way. The bank does all the fee changes. 

Thanks Mom. I hope you are feeling better. I am still waiting to get my yearly bronchitis. It will come when I have the least time to deal with it...so I am trying to figure out when I will be busier than I am. I have four callings right now: Seminary teacher, substitute Sunday School teacher (I have taught every lesson so far), Young Women 2nd Counselor and Visiting Teacher. As a young mother I waited for the time that my children would be teenagers, so that I could deal with my callings better. Hmmmm...

Love you.

Melanie

I really am going to live.

I really am going to live.

Unless a truck hits me, I should make it through this. I have coughed so much that my ribs hurt and Dr. Mark Jones said that I will likely cough another few weeks. Great! At least I do not have pneumonia. My apologies to all who were here on New Year's Day. The rest of you are lucky that you escaped. This hit about Tuesday, which means that I was probably coming down with it earlier.

I ended up having x-rays of my lungs because I am old. My lungs are clear, of course. I think the doctor even knew that when he sent me to the lab. What I have is Acute Bronchitis.

Symptoms usually include (and I have them all):

A cough, which is the main symptom of acute bronchitis. It may be dry at first (does not produce mucus) and after a few days may bring up mucus from the lungs (productive cough). The mucus may be clear, yellow, or green. Sometimes, small streaks of blood may be present.

A mild fever, usually less than 101 F. A higher fever may indicate pneumonia. (Mine was 101.)

A general feeling of tiredness. (What's new?)

A sensation of tightness, burning, or dull pain in the chest under the breastbone that usually is worse when breathing deeply or coughing.

Whistling noises (wheezing) when breathing, especially during physical exertion. (Oh, you mean walking!)

Hoarseness.

Most cases of acute bronchitis in otherwise healthy people last only 2 to 3 weeks. But more than 20% of people with acute bronchitis have a cough that lasts more than 4 weeks.

Often it is hard to tell the difference between viral and bacterial forms of acute bronchitis, and many conditions have symptoms similar to acute bronchitis, such as asthma and pneumonia. Because pneumonia can be a serious complication, it is important to know the differences between acute bronchitis and pneumonia. For example, a high fever, shaking chills, and shortness of breath often occur with pneumonia but not with acute bronchitis.

Dr. Jones decided to give me an antibiotic because it seemed as though I have a bacterial form. It worked, so I guess he was right. I am feeling like I might live and, except for coughing fits that last several minutes and take the breath away, I am doing well.

Dad thought I had pneumonia which is why he insisted that I go to the doctor.

At any rate, I am not contagious anymore. 

Sorry about exposing all of you. 

Love, M


*We love you, and sure hope you get better soon. -Shawn

President Pinegar‏

AnnMarie wrote:

Mom,

I did not have luck contacting President Pinegar through Facebook.  Would you please help me find out if he would be willing and able to speak to the Provo East Stake youth at our youth conference this summer?  We will be dorming at Snow College June 21-23.  On the 21st we will be attending the pageant.  If he is wondering, our stake presidency is President Randal J. Christiansen, counselors Stephen Hales and Mark D. Palmer.  Many of our YM/YW leaders were in the MTC when he was president there and would really enjoy our youth having the opportunity to listen to him.

Thanks,

AnnMarie

I really am going to live.‏

Unless a truck hits me, I should make it through this. I have coughed so much that my ribs hurt and Dr. Mark Jones said that I will likely cough another few weeks. Great! At least I do not have pneumonia. My apologies to all who were here on New Year's Day. The rest of you are lucky that you escaped. This hit about Tuesday, which means that I was probably coming down with it earlier.

I ended up having x-rays of my lungs because I am old. My lungs are clear, of course. I think the doctor even knew that when he sent me to the lab. What I have is Acute Bronchitis.

Symptoms usually include (and I have them all):

A cough, which is the main symptom of acute bronchitis. It may be dry at first (does not produce mucus) and after a few days may bring up mucus from the lungs (productive cough). The mucus may be clear, yellow, or green. Sometimes, small streaks of blood may be present.

A mild fever, usually less than 101 F. A higher fever may indicate pneumonia. (Mine was 101.)

A general feeling of tiredness. (What's new?)

A sensation of tightness, burning, or dull pain in the chest under the breastbone that usually is worse when breathing deeply or coughing.

Whistling noises (wheezing) when breathing, especially during physical exertion. (Oh, you mean walking!)

Hoarseness.

Most cases of acute bronchitis in otherwise healthy people last only 2 to 3 weeks. But more than 20 percent of people with acute bronchitis have a cough that lasts more than 4 weeks.

Often it is hard to tell the difference between viral and bacterial forms of acute bronchitis, and many conditions have symptoms similar to acute bronchitis, such as asthma and pneumonia. Because pneumonia can be a serious complication, it is important to know the differences between acute bronchitis and pneumonia. For example, a high fever, shaking chills, and shortness of breath often occur with pneumonia but not with acute bronchitis.

Dr. Jones decided to give me an antibiotic because it seemed as though I have a bacterial form. It worked, so I guess he was right. I am feeling like I might live and, except for coughing fits that last several minutes and take the breath away, I am doing well.

Dad thought I had pneumonia which is why he insisted that I go to the doctor.

At any rate, I am not contagious anymore. 

Sorry about exposing all of you. 

Love, M

Just So You Know About Genealogy. . .

Myrna wrote: The genealogy lines on my side of the family, mostly the Pitts and Edwards lineage where we went back to Adam (Hehehe), have been corrected on Ancestory.com. We no longer go back to Adam. Oh, well, sad though it may be, it is all checked and doubled checked and is as correct as I know how to make it until I find another mistake. I am not having as much luck with new.familysearch.org. Several lines have holds on them and it takes longer to correct that information. I am now trying to get Elizabeth Brewster married to the right man, Thomas Emerson. I will keep you posted as to how that works. So many family members have put in conflicting information and names that there is a hold on her name. I am working through that, I hope.


Melanie wrote: Mom,

That is still amazing! Thank you for doing all this work. 

I hope that your cough gets better really soon and that you will be able to sleep better. 

I love you.
Mel

Shawn wrote: Yes, thank you so much. I guess I will have to update my gedcom’s again.

Tom and Laurel Move

All three of you, my dear sisters, wrote about Tom and Laurel's move. None of you said why they are moving. Also, are they keeping their home in Price or selling? I have been going to call but I have a terrible cough. I cannot seem to stop and I didn't want to call and hack away. The doctor said that his other patients with this rotten cough have kept hacking away for up to four weeks. Mine just started on Dec. 27 so I have awhile, I guess. I am OK if I don' talk. Cruel and unusual punishment in my case. :)