The greatest show on earth and Tuesday's Tip...

Last week we did an annual trip to the circus. The kids were over the moon about going and did not leave disappointed.

My kids with cousins and a few friends who used our extra tickets (it was a lot of kids).

I, however, could have done without nacho cheese in my hair thanks to the drunks sitting behind us.

Tuesday's Tip...
Some one I love was recently told she had an irregular lump found during her mammogram . It was located where they could not do a needle biopsy so she underwent surgery last Monday to have it removed. It was very small and caught early. The doctor said it did not look malignant. Unfortunately when the pathology came back last Wednesday it was Cancer. We were all so shocked and sad for her. She underwent surgery again today (poor thing) and they were able to confirm good news in that it had not spread to any lymph nodes. We are hopeful and grateful this was caught early. But I know she has been through a lot and still has treatment ahead. I share all this for one reason though. Please get yourself and the women you love to get their mammograms done and when they/ you do insist on a digital mammogram one (its new) it makes a difference. None of this would have been seen this early if she had no been gone in on time (the lump would never have been felt where its located so exams were useless for her) and it was not visible on a regular machine. The best treatment for Cancer is early detection. I feel grateful for this being found early. It really wakes you up when those you Love get sick.

I hate wednesday...

Wednesday used to be my girls night. The beacon of light in a long hard week...
Now they begin with rushing Lindsey and Jacob off to school (like every other day).
Coming home and getting the twins off to preschool.
Picking the twins up at preschool.
Going to the gym.
One hour rest time for the girls (clean up time for me).
Ballet class for the twins.
Lindsey and Jacob home from school
Homework and start dinner
Swim team
Showers and bedtime

I'm exhausted and I hate Wednesdays!

Oh before you feel totally sorry for me girls night has been moved. Not deleted. With an activity every single night life is hard.

I believe in miracles...

Dear Sydney and Hailey,
I believe in miracles because I begged God to allow you to live and come to our family safely and you did. It didn't seem possible or even likely.

As I watched you be born and heard your first weak cries. I knew I was experiencing a miracle, we all knew it. I watched the nurses and doctors attend to you carefully. I worried as a ventilator was needed to help you breath.
All I wanted was you to be born alive- to have you safe, yet my arms ached as stayed at the hospital small and weak for 29 days.

We celebrated as you came home pink and healthy to our home.
You have given me a gift. I will never be the same. I will never take any life for granted. Life is fragile. I love you so very much!
Happy Birthday my sweet little girls!

A evening hike nightmare....

When Alan was out of town we decided to take the kids up to the mountains to get pictures. After spending afternoon coordinating clothing and doing hair we headed up around 5pm. Our plan was to take photos and go on a short one mile hike. I work out all the time so 1 mile was described by sister as a "a little walk up the road". We began taking pictures, which turned out great. After millions of pictures Jacob announced he needed to use the bathroom. So we all went down the trail to use the bathrooms. After taking them I told my sister how glad I was that we had done that, "wouldn't it be awful to be the top of the mountain with a kid needing to poop". Good point. So we began our little "walk down the road" as we got to the trailhead Sydney announced a need to use the bathroom again. We had just been there so I wasn't feeling the need could be too urgent. I sent my sister on her way with the other three and headed to the bathroom. For some reason I retrieved my car keys from her as well. As we were walking towards the bathroom Sydney begins to cry and tell me she is going to poop. True to her word she did. EVERYWHERE. Shoes,legs,everything. My hands were caked in the stuff. In the good old port a potty there is nothing. No water, no sink, no paper towels nothing. She is screaming. I head to my car with a kid covered in brown stuff and me looking bad too (thank goodness I had keys). I keep extra stuff in a bag with wipes, hang sanitizer, underwear all that good stuff you need with small children. I knew I was in trouble before even arriving to the car because all that stuff was in a swim bag I had thrown out of the car as we were rushing off. I was hoping to find something to save me. NOT SO. I found two dry wipes from wiping faces and a bottle of water. I did my best to clean her off. At this point I have no desire to go on my little walk up the mountain even if its short. I have no choice though as my sister has got my other three and has no idea where we are. SO we head off with Sydney and no underwear (poor dear she was NOT happy). As we begin walking I realize this is not short or easy. Time passes and its all uphill, over creeks, and its getting darker. I am carrying my then dirty girl on my back and I am wiped out. I see no sign of my sister either. That doesn't bode well for how long I have to go I decide. After what seemed like forever I hear some voices in the distance. I eventually see Jacob and Lindsey at the top of a high peak. I finally catch up and wonder if my sister considers this hike more than the walk up the road. I don't want to say anything. I don't have too she is as surprised as I am. We continue up to Secret Lake. It's then that Sydney has to go to the bathroom again. This time I take her seriously. She goes under a tree (remember we have no wipes). We keep on going and going. At the top she goes to the bathroom again. After a few more pictures we headed back down where Sydney went to the bathroom again. People were stopping us commenting on how lovely the kids were dressed for a hike. Yeah they were all wearing dresses and brown sandals that were very dirty now. We had no idea what we were getting into at all. No water and no food. When we got home it was 10pm! My kids were starving. When I told Alan the whole story he said something about why would I take a baby hiking with diarrhea. I wouldn't ever do that. Sometimes you don't know these things before hand. Sometimes knowing would be better. SO thats part 2. Lovely huh.

Thank goodness the pictures were so nice. The kids thought it was a wonderful thing. They loved every minute (except being with out underwear Sydney hated that part).

Photo Story Friday...

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

30 weeks pregnant with the twins The picture above is one of only two or three pictures of me pregnant with the twins. I admit to not taking any pictures out of fear. I did not want a reminder of my pregnancy if I lost my girls. You can read more about monoamniotic twins and why this was such a risk here http://our-munchkins.blogspot.com/2008/01/monoamniotic-twins-explanation.html. When I was pregnant with my twins inpatient monitoring was not done. I went daily to the hospital while the girls were monitored for several hours. We watched for signs of trouble and prayed to see a pattern before it was too late. If we saw an issue my doctor would have admitted me for more constant testing. Leaving the hospital was always horrible for me. I always prayed to know if we were missing something. The hours in between each visit were not peaceful. I lived in constant fear that I would loose one or both girls. This was a very real threat. Every day when they put the ultrasound wand on my stomach I waited in agony till I saw they were okay. This picture was taken on a very big celebration. When I first began monitoring the girls (at about 25 weeks Viability) we knew we could delivery at any time. I received steriod shots for that very real possibility. We toured the Newborn ICU and we well versed in the risks of micro preemies. The doctors told us that 30 weeks was a very important milestone for a preemie. That 30 weekers do very well. So from that point on I just wanted to get 30 weeks out of my girls. Everyday that passed at first made 30 weeks seem impossible. But days turned into weeks and all the little issues seem to keep us hanging on. When I hit 30 weeks we were thrilled. So the picture above ( one of the only pictures I have) we went to a very expensive restaurant and celebrated the girls making it to 30 weeks. It was a short lived celebration because while I thought I would relax making to 30 week I did not. The stress of knowing they could live if delivered was overwhelming. I just wanted it to be over. I wanted them delivered safe. The last two weeks waiting for their safe delivery were intense and terrible.

Two and half years later we returned to the same restaurant and celebrated two healthy wonderful little girls.

My Grandma...

I haven't felt much like posting. I have been reflecting a lot about what I wanted to share about my Grandma and that left me overwhelmed. We went on another short weekend trip and that was a welcome distraction for a while. The funeral was today.

Thank you for all your heart felt and sincere wishes. It meant a lot to me. I also wanted to thank my childhood friend Allison who reads my blog (and doesn't comment hint hint). She read of my Grandma's death and immediately notified her mother (who is my mom's good friend). It meant a lot to my mom to receive support at this time and I know her mother would not have known without Allison being so thoughtful. She did the same thing when my Grandpa died. I truly appreciated that simple act of kindness.


My Grandma has been such a dear part of my life, all of my life. She was my mom's best friend and number one cheer leader. She has been there for nearly every event in my life. She was an amazing woman who lived her life simple and with integrity. She worked every single day of her life, and she worked hard. She never wanted to be idle. She spent her entire life dedicated to serving others. In the last months of her life it got hard. She was alone. She could not get around anymore. She was in pain. She still never complained. When I asked how she was doing she always said, "Just the same". She never made us think it was a picnic but she did not focus on her hardships. What a great example this was to me and is to me. We are all given challenges, we may have to suffer. Getting on with it with a good attitude can take you far. I will take that example with me. She was also always grateful. I won't soon forget her constant thank you's when she received care or help. Even in her last days I saw her writing notes (which took great effort) to the nurses and saying thank you. That really impressed me. My Grandma was not a powerful woman. She never had a big career. She spent most of her life taking care of her family and her friends and neighbors. She worked hard and saved every penny they earned. Again, she never complained. Without being out in the work force she found a way to touch many people. Being a great mother changed the lives of so many. In a world where motherhood is not often valued she showed me of its great value. Her example helps me remember that what you do as a mother and for your children and posterity is a huge accomplishment. Through that job you do influence many and you do change lives. This is something she did. She also gave me my mother, who is my best friend. It has been so difficult to say good bye and let go of this marvelous woman. I am grateful to know I will see her again.

I feel lucky my kids got to know her and love her and her them. On my last visit with her days before she died she was not well. It was very difficult for me to see her like this. When I said Good bye to her and told her who I was I was able to say I love you and she smiled and she kissed me. I am so glad I had that moment and that closure. Those memories are cherished.

This was on the back of the funeral program and I really liked it.
We all have things that happen to us and wonder, "why me?". My father used to say pressure is what makes diamonds and coal and probably a lot of other valuable things.

Diamonds and coal are both made from the same element. It is the difference in pressure and heat that changes them. It is the same with people. Were made of the same elements, but the pressure and heat make some of us diamonds. It's how we handle our problems that determines our lives. Out are opportunities are great, if we just take advantage of them.

-Marguerite Jensen (my Grandma)

I hope I can remember this. We all have the opportunity to take our lives and make them great.

Marguerite Christensen Jensen
Marguerite Christensen Jensen 7/17/1915 ~ 5/22/2008 Grandma lived a good long life. We loved grandma and sitting in her lap with a book, her M&M jar and her closet of vintage toys.Marguerite C. Jensen "Marge", beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister and friend, passed away of natural causes on May 22, 2008 at home with loving family by her side. Marge was born to Daniel and Mattie Christensen in Fruitland, NM. Marge was valedictorian of her graduating class. She served in the Canadian Mission where she met her future husband, Ivan Jensen. They married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple in 1941. Her husband preceded her in death after 66 years of marriage. She had a kind and loving heart, and a wide-ranging intellect. She was an avid reader, loved history and collected historical artifacts, loved flowers and gardening, enjoyed cooking, quilting and sewing. The family will cherish the many pieced quilts that she artfully created. Marge and Ivan have six children: Karen (Rex) Alldredge, Roberta (Paul) Barstad, Kathleen (LaVere) Terry, Ivan Orville Jensen, MaryAnn (Dennis) Golightly, James (Mardi) Jensen. They have 22 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren. Marge was an active member of the LDS Church. She served faithfully throughout her life in many church positions, including president of YWMIA, Primary, Junior Sunday School and Relief Society. She was also a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, and served on their board. Her greatest accomplishment was being a loving mother and her posterity call her name blessed. The family would like to express appreciation and thanks to friends, neighbors, Rocky Mountain Hospice, and all who have offered their love, support and prayers. Funeral services for Marge will be held on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 11 a.m.