Summertime

Austin has been incredibly bored since school got out. I talked to my parents to see if he could go to Washington and spend a couple weeks with them helping on the ranch. My mom called on Sunday and she got the okay from the ranch manager for Austin to come up. He will be staying with my parents and working on the ranch / campground during the days. This will be a great experience for him.

We purchased his plane ticket today, so he is leaving one week from today flying for the first time by himself. He's flown enough that I think he will do just fine, as long as he pays attention to things around him (which can be kind of difficult for him sometimes.) He will be gone for 3 weeks and 2 days, returning on July 23rd just in time for the 24th of July celebrations since he will miss the 4th of July with us.

On the 26th of July he leaves for scout camp for one week. He will be home 2 days the entire month of July! Hopefully I will enjoy the time he is gone, and miss him, but not be bummed out every day. I'm sure about 1 week into it, I'll really be ready for him to be home! This will be a growing experience for him!

Father's Day

For months Isik has been researching, watching, and daily talking about getting a RC Truck. RC = Remote Control. This has been a thorn in my side but he was relentless and I finally agreed to the deal he found because these trucks are not just the ones you pay $40 for from the toy store, oh no! Yesterday we went and picked up the truck for Father's Day. He brought it home and his friends brought theirs over. He couldn't get the remote control to work so he had to buy a new remote control. Once he finally got it running, the joyful moment was short lived. After driving it for about 30 seconds the throttle got stuck and it ran into the curb resulting in too much damage to play with it until new parts are received and the truck is rebuilt.

Happy Father's Day honey! I love you!

Isik very happy about his "transport back to childhood".

The front of the truck is no longer connected. It will probably be fixed next weekend and back in action as quickly as possible!

Puppy Training

We had our first puppy training class with Leo tonight. I've decided to only take Leo, since he is the one that challenges us. Roscoe understands is position in the family and is a really obedient dog. Leo on the other hand is just naughty. Leo is constantly challenging us for position and so Isik, Austin, and I are taking puppy training together so we are all working together to correct the behavior, not only with Leo but with us as well.

There is a Weimer Reimer in the class, that is 8 weeks old and 1/4 of the size of Leo, then there was a Chihuahua that is about as big as a rat (if that), a Mini Poodle, and a Shitzu. Leo is about 10 times the size of these other dogs. Amazingly he did really well. He growled a couple times and tried to do what he wanted to do, but mostly he was really well behaved.

Roscoe spent the entire day with us. This morning we went to the Farmers Market and Roscoe was AWESOME! I am so happy with him. I took him in the dog park, which was his first time in one, and all the dogs were sniffing him and he really didn't care about them. I would walk away and he would leave the other dogs and stay with me. He is such an obedient dog, naturally.

This will be a great thing for Isik, Austin, and I to do together. We are a dog family; however, I am the only one that has an understanding of dogs, so it will be great for Isik and Austin to have the training too. Roscoe just hanging out in the front yard with us today.
Roscoe waiting for a treat.
Roscoe and Sam

Another sick day.

Well Sam ended up at the doctor's today and has the stomach flu! The doctor said because he was on Tamaflu it isn't related to our wonderful episode of the swine flu, but just a "new bug." I've about had it with "bugs." I just want us all to be healthy again.

Ugh... not again.

Sam started throwing up tonight shortly after getting home. After the 4th time I gave him a small piece of bread and he seemed to keep that down and then feel asleep.

I love looking at him while he sleeps so I decided to play with my camera and take some pics. Those lips and eyelashes... oh my! He melts my heart!

I hope he isn't sick through the night and is fine tomorrow!

Everyday Life

Having to stay home, being sick, while it was raining day after day, I realized how caught up I am in everyday life and have forgotten to enjoy my life. I was dreading going back to work because of the madness that I knew would be waiting for me, but around noon today I actually got caught up and everything off my desk and moving on. I enjoy my job, yes it is hectic and I have a lot of expectations, but I love it when I am able to provide someone with the money they need to expand their business, to buy a business, or to provide cash flow for them to pay their employees while they are waiting for their receivables. There are so many different elements to my day that it is never boring and I'm excited about the opportunities I have.

I have a Senior VP of the bank that is my mentor and there are some other departments of the bank I am going to experience through the mentoring. The mentoring program is for 6 months, and for women officers of the bank, and there are only 5 "shining stars" of the bank picked to be in each program. I have had so many senior level management congratulate me for being picked to be in the program, so I guess it is a big deal. I'm just super excited about the opportunity of the mentoring program in general. I'm a huge advocate of mentoring and of surrounding myself with other successful women and learning from them! They have so much to teach me and I am such a willing student! I'm going to be able to sit in on the pricing committee for the bank, product development for the bank, and compliance and legal issues for the bank. There are so many different departments and functioning groups within the bank that I have no idea what they do, how they work, and I'm excited to expand my knowledge!

This is all part of my enjoying life and not being bored and just living my life. Last night and tonight after work and after Austin was taken to his respective place (scouts or Taekwondo), Isik, Sam and I have gone out. Last night we went to The Gateway looking for a new phone for Isik (his is on it's last bar literally) and I loved being out on a Monday night. I cannot honestly remember the last time I went downtown Salt Lake during the week. Tonight we took Leo and Roscoe in the front yard and the neighbors were all out and we played with the dogs, talked to neighbors, then got in the truck (with the dogs in the back) and picked Austin up from Taekwondo and just drove around. Again, another night out of the house and just enjoying time with my family and enjoying my life.

I tend to get so caught up in the routine and it gets mundane! I'm "mixing it up" and getting out of this everyday routine I've gotten myself into and going to enjoy life instead of just live life.

Healthy Again

I think we are all healthy again. It's been a rough 1 1/2 weeks, but at least we made it through and hopefully the Swine Flu won't get us again! Sam is doing great. The Tamaflu, I think, made a huge difference with him not getting hit hard with it. He ran the fever and just felt poopy, but didn't get really sick like the rest of us. I'm really happy because I was really worried about him getting hit hard with it. Austin, Isik, and I still have the lingering cough, but each day we are all coughing less.

I've lost 10 pounds and the last Isik weighed himself he had lost 10 pounds too. We've just lacked appetite. Sam has been just the opposite and eating really good. Austin's eating habits hasn't changed, he stills eats everything he can.

I received a Get Well card in the mail today from my co-workers in Salt Lake. I really am grateful I work with such an awesome group of people! I look forward to going back to work tomorrow and hopefully getting the routine back will get me out of the funk I'm in.

Sam and the flu

Sam has had the wonderful, deep, bronchial cough that sounds like a train is coming. The past two days he has randomly been running fevers. Yesterday morning, at 3:00 AM, he came running into our room sobbing! I had him crawl in bed next to me and all I could understand was he had a bad dream and couldn't get out of his room. He was burning up so Isik went and got him the Ibuprofen and I took his temp, 102.7, and hugged him so he could calm down. I gave him the Ibuprofen and had him lay down next to me. It took over an hour for him to finally settle down and he was determined to turn the light on in his room. He kept getting out of bed and going into his room and turning on the light. He needed to sleep with the light on, he kept saying. The entire time, he would come back and lay down in our bed. Who knows?! He then got up and turned the hall light on. I coaxed him to turn it off and had him come lay down again. I told him that mommy and daddy were right there and we would protect him. He asked if he could lay by his daddy so I put him in the middle. He finally fell asleep holding Isik's hand. Whatever the dream was it really shook him up! I'm sure the fever had a lot to do with it too.

Last night he slept all night with us, in the middle. I think he is really getting over this flu. The Tamaflu made a huge difference with him! He hasn't been fatigued like Isik and I were. Other than the cough and the random fevers he has really been his normal self.

I'm ready to get out of the house! Being cooped up for over a week now has taken it's toll! Finally, we are suppose to have a break in between rain storms today, so I'm going to get some yard work done. Out of the past 12 days it has rained 10 of them! It is suppose to rain tomorrow and Sunday again. I'm not complaining, in fact I have really enjoyed the cool air and the rain. I think I would appreciate it even more if I wasn't stuck in the house to whole time.

Tamaflu

I woke up this morning and felt like I do on any other "normal" morning. I got ready for work and woke Isik up to let him know that I was leaving. He is still feeling pretty crappy, better than he was, but he's still not feeling 90% yet. Around 10:00 Isik called me and told me that Sam had started coughing. I immediately called the Pediatrician and got Sam an appointment at 11:30. I finished what I could at work and ran home, picked Sam up and took him to the Dr. He wasn't running a fever, and everything looked good. The doctor gave him a prescription for Tamaflu and said since we are starting it early Sam should be okay. However, Sam cannot go back to daycare for the rest of the week. I went and filled his prescription and brought him back home and went back to work. I got everything done that was priority and spoke to my boss. I have the greatest boss! She told me to do what I needed to do to take care of my family and get us all healthy again. Sam has now thrown up and is running a little fever. I hope that after the second dose of Tamaflu, which he just had about 15 minutes ago, his symptoms will go away. Thinking positive thoughts!!

Unnecessary Panic

When people find out that we have H1N1 the majority, not all, but the majority of them FREAK out like we have the plague or leprosy. It is frustrating, shocking, and maddening to be on the receiving end of the ridiculous questions and comments that are made. I know how bad the Media can take a situation and turn it into a large steaming pile of crap, but I can’t believe how easily the masses follow like blind sheep.

I am the only one, out of over 2,000 employees, at the bank that has H1N1 and so my boss had to contact the Business Continuity Officer for the bank on Friday after I told her what the doctor said. The Business Continuity Plan was implemented and followed. Today a co-worker sent out an email to all the people in my entire building saying that I told her on Friday that I did not have H1N1, which of course was forwarded to executive management and the Business Continuity Officer and my boss. I then received a voicemail from this co-worker telling me that I "have created quit a stir" and she needed to know what was going on with me. Immediately after that I received an email from my boss asking me to give her a call regarding my diagnosis.

On Friday the co-worker had sent me a text telling me that everyone is worried about me and I replied, “No need to worry, it’s just the flu, I just need to ride it out.” Well I guess she made an assumption from that reply that “just the flu” meant I didn’t have H1N1 because I didn’t say I had H1N1 flu. Then for her to tell me that I had created a stir, when all I did was call in sick on Thursday, really? It is amazing how freaked out and irrational people get!

I called my boss, who is very understanding and thank goodness she has a good sense of humor, and we had to call the Business Continuity Officer together. I of course was incredibly embarrassed and humiliated! I had to tell him what the doctor told me on Thursday. After we had a good discussion about everything, he informed me that he actually appreciated me getting the flu so that the Business Continuity Plan could be tested and that I handled everything correctly. He was very thoughtful and kind, which I really appreciated in my time of humiliation!

I spoke to my Primary Care Physician and he told me that after the fever and 4 days since the symptoms started I was okay to go back out in public and okay to go to work. The only way I can spread it is to cough directly into someone’s face. Well, I won’t be doing that because that would be just plain rude. I sent my boss an email and asked if I can come back to work as long as I’m a courteous cougher and not cough directly in someone’s face. I’ve received her permission to go back to work tomorrow.

I’m a little nervous about walking into work, especially after the chain of events today. I hate the attention this has caused!

Novel Influenza A (H1N1)

Novel influenza A (H1N1) is a new flu virus of swine origin that was first detected in Mexico and the United States in March and April, 2009. The first novel H1N1 patient in the United States was confirmed by laboratory testing at CDC on April 15, 2009. The second patient was confirmed on April 17, 2009. It was quickly determined that the virus was spreading from person-to-person. On April 22, CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center to better coordinate the public health response. On April 26, 2009, the United States Government declared a public health emergency.

It’s thought that novel influenza A (H1N1) flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread; mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus.

This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a "quadruple reassortant" virus.

Dr. Anne Schuchat, the director of National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases with the CDC, stated in a news conference on June 4, 2009, "You know, the seasonal influenza viruses are estimated to cause 200,000 hospitalizations every year in the United States. And we estimate about 36,000 deaths in the U.S. each year from seasonal flu." Thus far, the WHO (World Health Organization) is officially reporting 19,273 of H1N1 cases in 66 countries.

Per the CDC, on June 5, 2009, "At this time, most people who have become ill with novel H1N1 in the United States have recovered without requiring medical treatment and have experienced typical flu symptoms."

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm

Day 4 for me, Day 3 for Isik

I'm feeling much better today, about 90% back. I was running a low-grade fever this morning, but it hasn't come back. Isik hasn't had a fever until this afternoon. I'm very thankful that I'm feeling better now so I can take care of him (although I would argue that I'm a much easier patient than he is.) I've started coughing more, which I wasn't doing before. Austin still has a nasty cough and I think I'll call his pediatrician tomorrow because he has had his cough for over a week now. Isik has the cough too. (Isik thinks he is dying.)

We have all been washing our hands constantly, sanitizing the table and counter tops, spraying Lysol on everything and everywhere, and doing everything as diligently as possible so Sam doesn't catch it. Thank goodness so far he hasn't shown any signs or symptoms. Children under 5 are in the higher risk groups for complications, so I am very worried about him. He has been very confused because we won't hug him or kiss him (although I sneak a kiss on top of his head occasionally). Each night instead of sitting on my lap reading he has to sit next to me, and every night he wants me or his daddy to lay down next to him and I've tried to explain to him that I can't, but he doesn't care, he just wants someone to lay down next to him. Tonight he asked if "any human" can lay down by him. After about 1/2 hour of coaxing him and explaining to him why we can't lay down by him and promising him that when I am better I will lay down by him, he told me that he was pretending his doggy's eyes (stuffed animal he sleeps with) were Mommy and Daddy and he hugged it closely and finally went to sleep. I just want to cuddle with him. This sucks!

I think I should be 100% tomorrow and look forward to feeling "normal" again! Hopefully Isik will be better tomorrow as well. (But again, Isik thinks he is dying. Like I said earlier, I'm a better patient!)

Hello - anyone there? I have commandeered her blog for now. I am dying and she won't help me anymore. Will someone please call the doctor? She won't share her cough syrup but at night and she got a shot the other day when I took her to the InstaCare. She won't take ME!!! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!!

OK, it's me again (Cat), see what I mean??? He's the greatest husband in the world! He is so strong and handsome! He's my SAVIOR!!!! That was Isik taking over again. At least he hasn't lost his sense of humor, if he had then I'd be worried and take him to the doctor. He still makes me laugh even when we feel like we have just been hit by a Mack Truck!

Pig Flu Day 3

Well I slept like a champion last night, thanks to cough syrup and sleeping pills, and woke up this morning feeling much better. Thursday night I woke up about every two hours and I couldn't do that again last night. Isik is now on day 2 and not feeling good. I made the kids and myself breakfast, cleaned most of the house, and mowed the lawn. Isik slept until 1:30 and then I made him some lunch. I guess I did too much because the "long-lost" fever wasn't so lost. I started feeling crappy again and my fever was 100.5 so I laid down and feel asleep for about an hour. I'm now fixing dinner and wishing I had not done so much, but glad I'm feeling better. I realize that I've got to "take it easy" or else I'm not going to get better anytime soon!

Pig Flu

Yesterday morning I woke up running a 99.5 fever and within an hour my body hurt all over from head to toe. I felt like I had been hit by a bus! I sent my boss an email that I needed to take a sick day and called Isik to come home and take Sam to school. It was difficult for me to move and there was no way I was driving Sam anywhere. Isik came home and helped get Sam ready then took him.

I took some Ibuprofen and DayQuil then laid down on the couch and spent about 2 hours working from home, following up on work emails, and various other things I needed to get done or moving.

Finally around 11:30 I fell asleep, woke up at 1:30 and was running a 101.3 fever. I was freezing and hurt all over. My body felt like I had pins sticking in me on every part of my flesh and I had a massive headache. I took more Ibuprofen and DayQuil and finally fell back to sleep.

I'm not sure what time Isik got home, but that is when I woke up, it was probably 5:30. I took my temperature and it was 103. Isik took Sam over to our friend's Dave and helped me in the car. I can't even describe how bad I hurt! There is only one other time I've felt so awful and that was when I had pneumonia. We went to the InstaCare.

I just sat in the chair and the tears were rolling down my cheeks. I felt so awful! It was difficult to sit in that chair, I wanted to lay down. Isik went and talked to the receptionist and they took me right back. My blood pressure was 140/80, my oxygen was 96%, and I had a 102 fever. I had to change into a medical gown and laid down on the exam table. It felt so good because it was so cold.

The doc came in, went through all the questions. Physically I checked out okay, other than fluid in both of my ears. The doc then informed me I had the swine flu. I told him I was concerned that I might have pneumonia. We took chest xrays to make sure my lungs were clear and they looked just fine. I have the swine flu! They gave me a shot for the fever and the pain.

We came home and I laid down on the couch while Isik made our bed, went and picked up Sam and took Sam with him to pick up my cough syrup prescription. He then got Sam ready for bed and into bed. I laid in our bed with the fan turned on, so I could cool down! Isik then went and got us food. I have a wonderful husband! He took care of everything because I couldn't do anything!

Finally at 10:00 last night my fever was gone. However, that was short lived. I woke up at 1:30 this morning and it was 99.9 again, at 4:00 it was 101.9, I took more Ibuprofen, and now it is 6:15 and it is 99.0. I'm so uncomfortable! I've still got the massive headache and I'm sweating but freezing. The only good thing is the pins that have been poking me from head to toe are gone. This sucks!!!

Our boxer

Sam is a rough kid! Yesterday at school he hit his eye on a drawer and then after that he was playing with a friend and got hit in the nose. He looks like he has been in a boxing match.

15 years ago

On May 28th Austin turned 15. Yes, that is correct, 15. As in F-I-F-T-E-E-N. Unbelievable! First of all, I can’t believe he is one year away from the “first big one,” 16, and second, I really can’t believe that I am a mother to a 15 year old. This one caused me a little anxiety.

I’ve always told him that I am the luckiest mother on the planet and I truly believe it. He blessed me when he came into my life and there are countless things I have learned from him and he continues to teach me. Having him as a son has made me a better person. I have made decisions, because of him, to make our lives better, I have made goals, because of him, and achieved them, and I have made silent commitments to him that I have always kept and will continue to keep. I have always and will always strive to be the best mom I can, although I’ve made mistakes and if I could do some things over again I would jump at the opportunity. But, I continue to learn and I continue to evolve because on a beautiful spring morning, Memorial Day, 1994, I held in my arms this beautiful 8 lb. 12 oz. baby boy.

He has made me cry, but more times he has made me laugh. He challenges me to think about things in different ways. He has made me burst with pride over and over. He has made me appreciate the things we tend to take for granted.

Parenting is by far the most difficult job anyone can do, but it is by far the most rewarding one!

I love you Austin - all the way to the stars, all the way to the moon, all the way to the sun, forever and ever, and infinity! You are my sunshine! Thank you for blessing me and my life. Thank you for sharing your laughter with me. Thank you for sharing your stories. Thank you for being the incredible young man you have become. Thank you for hugging me and telling me you love me. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for the million little things you do that make me the luckiest mom on the planet.

Me and Austin, 1994

August, 1994. This is one of my favorite pictures of me and Austin. He used to sleep on me like that all the time. However, maybe he didn't really sleep, but just allowed me to (notice his eyes are open). What a thoughtful son, even as a 3 month old.

At the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. March, 1995.

July, 1995

(Present day...)

Austin's very favorite food is lobster and shrimp. I made him lobster tails and shrimp alfredo for his birthday dinner, which was wonderful I must admit. After dinner, and after Sam went to bed, Austin and I played "Would You Rather..." We laughed so hard. I love laughing with him, watching him laugh, and most important I love that he is happy.

Then we had ice cream, with one candle. The cake and 15 candles were saved for his friends on Saturday.

On Saturday his friends came over and Isik and I took them all to Fast Kart Speed Raceway. It was a great time!

After Fast Kart everyone came back to our house.

(Looking back again... these are some of my favorite pictures of Austin)

November 2006 (12 years old)

1999, maybe? I can't remember the exact year this picture was taken, but I'm pretty sure he was 5.

3 or 4 years old

5 years old (that was our pet tarantula)

5 years old