Rejuvenation!!!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to drink from the fountain of youth? Or to drink from the fountain of utter peace and happiness? That is exactly how I felt coming into Utah yesterday! It doesn't matter how long you have lived away from home or how happy you are where you live, Home is Home!! It feels amaizing to see these sights again!

Oh, and the look on my family members faces when I pulled up was absolutely priceless!!! They had no idea I was coming. In fact, I called them when I was a few hours away just to see how they were doing! I am so glad I will be back in a few weeks, because 5 days will go by too fast!!!

Follow-up appt with Dr. Nieman

Kyla had her follow-up with the pediatrician yesterday. All of her labs came out perfect! So that was great news!!! On the down side, he wanted her to weigh 8.2 kg (18 lbs). But, she only weighed 7.8 kg (17.1 lbs). He said she hasn't gained much weight since her appt two months ago. But that she was definently healthy, mentally and physically

So, he is chalking it up to genetics and that she is a picky eater. We put her on Enfagrow once a day. It's kind of like pediasure but he thinks its better. We are also going to put both of our kids on *juiceplus. I have heard of all the benefits including its ability to prevent future diseases such as cancers, diabetes and more. Tommy gets a lot of veggies in his diet, but I still have trouble getting kyla to eat them. The pediatrician suggested I put Kyla on it and I told him that as a mother, and knowing the health benefits, I couldn't put one of my kids on it and not the other one.

So, we will start this and Kyla goes back again in 6 weeks. Maybe she'll decide to grow a little!!!

Doing you a favor!!!

So, this weekend myself and Lara Coad manned a Pandemic Preparedness booth at the stake preparedness fair. So, I thought it would be a nice thing to put that info up on my blog. Hope this is helpful!!

What is the most important thing to remember????

PREVENTION, PREVENTION, PREVENTION!!!!

Do i need to say it again?

This is not a time to panic, but a time to prepare!!!

1. Vaccinations can help boost the immune system

2. Proper hand hygiene is the #1 way to stop the spread of infection!!!

(NO ONE DOES THIS ENOUGH!!! unless you are ocd :)

3. Healthy Eating is so important to keep your body healthy so it can fight diseases!

4. Adequate Rest is extremely important to allow your immune system to remain strong. (especially for the little ones!)

5. Exercise can only benefit your health and make you better able to battle diseases, even if it's just going out for a walk every day!

6. Maintaining a clean environment and Proper Hygiene - Keep those bugs at bay!!

7. Education, Education, Education! Learn all you can from the appropriate sources! and most of all... Don't Panic!!!

Here is a checklist of things to have on hand, in case of!!!

• N99 reusable mask for everyone in the family (you can get them at rexall drug) or 20 N95 masks (but you have to be fitted for these!)
• Box of Surgical Masks (for caring for sick loved ones) These are only good for one use up to an hour. Not appropriate protection for out in public.
• Box of latex gloves (for caring for loved ones)
• Medical supplies/ medications for those in family with current medical conditions
• Gravol or similar antinausea medication
• Tylenol and/or Ibuprophen
• Immodium or other antidiarrheal agent (not to be given to young kids)
• Benedryl
• Hand Sanitizer (preferably hospital standards one, you can get them at home health care stores)
• Liquid Hand Soap (Washing is always the best option)
• Vitamins
• First Aid Kit and Thermometer
• Two weeks- one months of food and water (If it's too dangerous to leave, you wont have to)
• Electrolyte Fluids (Gatorade, Powerade, Pedialyte or a homemade option)

Homemade Pedialyte Recipe

Serves 6

4 cups water

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 packet unsweetened Kool-Aid (optional)

Mix all until dissolved. Keep refrigerated and use within a couple of days. Like the store bought pedialyte, you can make them into popiscles too. Store bought pedialyte also contains potassium. If your child can keep food down, try giving them some mashed banana (which is high in potassium)

There is lots of information on the

World Health Organization website www.who.int

Center for Disease Control www.cdc.gov

US Food and Drug Administration www.fda.gov

and Lara found a Family Pandemic Preparedness Guide that is really helpful!

http://www.city.leduc.ab.ca/Leduc/files/Protective_Services/Emergency_Preparedness/Public_Personal_Pandemic_Planning_Guide.pdf

Go Reds!!!

Tommy has such a good little baseball team this year. His coach is really good at helping the kids really learn how to play! Tommy is really enjoying this season! They have two games a week and one practice.

He is pretty good at hitting, but he needs a little work on understanding the game more. We are trying to teach him about catching, throwing, and where to throw or take the ball once you get it! And sometimes we are just trying to get him to pay attention when he is on the field!

He is getting it though, last game he played short stop for an inning, got the ball and threw it to first. He didn't beat the runner... but, it's a start!! He is a pretty athletic kid and I know with more practice he's going to be really good!!

First Base Slide

Second Base

Third Base

Coming Home

Home Slide!

Mothers Day and a big splash!!!

Mothers Day was great!! We went to stake conference, then to Mothers Day Brunch and Elbow Springs Golf course. This brunch is AWESOME!!! Then we headed home, played baseball with Tommy, I took a little nap and Barry and I watched a movie! Than our day ended with a hilarious splash. Best of all, Barry got me a book for mothers day, that is a big deal because he hates when I read :) Tommy made me this adorable card!!! I will save it forever!!!

So, later in the evening, Tommy was in the bath and Kyla was ready for bed. She decided she wanted to go in and put her hands in his water. I decided I better go in there and get her. As I was walking in, she flipped over the side and into the tub with her clothes on! I immediately had Barry come look. We were all laughing so hard and Kyla was SOOO excited to be in the bath with Tommy! She was splashing and smiling!!! No wonder Barry calls her "Trouble Baby!" She continues to shock us with her personality!!!

To my mom...

To My Mom

First off, I want to tell my mom how much I love her! She is silly and corky and fun. Maybe also a little crazy at times! But, that just comes with being in our family! She is just right for me!!! We have lots of fun together. I have so many fond memories of my mom dropping whatever she was doing just to hang out with me. I miss those LONG moonlight walks, hours of playing 5 crowns and skipping through disneyland singing zippity doo dah at the top of our lungs! I love it that you don't care what anyone thinks about you. It's a good thing because you are perfect just the way you are! I love you forever and ever. Can't wait to see you in June :)

I stole this questionaire from jamie. Thanks :)

I really love it when my mom spends quality time with me, we don't get much of that anymore!

My mom likes to wear anything comfortable, when I was a kid... her nylons were to first thing off after church!

My mom always tells me, she loves me and misses me!

The best thing she does is at any time she will stop what she is doing to do what I want to do!

It makes her happy when her kids are happy, healthy and getting along.

My mom loves to relax by relaxing with family or more recently... going on cruises.

I like it when she acts goofy! Like dancing or trying to do cartwheels in the middle of the street before the start of a parade :)

The best thing she cooks is lasagna, that is something I liked of hers as a kid.

When my mom shops she likes to buy anything onsale! She is a super bargain shopper.

My mom’s favorite household chore is… laundry never seemed to bother her.

My mom’s favorite TV show is probably "so you think you can dance."

If she could go on a trip, she would go to anywhere warm, maybe the caribbean. On a cruise!

I love my mom because she knows me and loves me no matter what! and I really do love her silly side too!

This time I asked tommy the questions about me...

My Mom - Tommy answered these, and some of the answers leave me wondering!

I really love it when my mom plays with me.

My mom likes to wear red dresses. (BTW, I don't own a red dress.)

My mom always tells me a secret and that she loves me.

The best thing she does is helps me feel better.

It make her happy when I help her

My mom loves to relax by cuddling with us and us making her warm.

I like it when she takes care of me.

The best thing she cooks is pizza and macaroni.

When my mom shops she likes to buy dinner.

My mom’s favorite household chore is vacuuming.

My mom’s favorite TV show is Survivor.

If she could go on a trip, she would go to Mexico.

I love my mom because she takes care of me when I'm scared.

Nightly charades at the Ehlert house

So, every night we go through this hilarious play of events.

-We put Tommy to bed at 8:00. Usually Kyla is in there when we read a book and say prayers, so she likes to cuddle with tommy for a minute before I take her out and turn out the light.

-As soon as I take her out, even if I take her downstairs. She immediatly heads straight back into Tommy's room. Where he procedes to help her onto the bed. She snuggle right in next to him.

-I return and remove her again. But, since Tommy likes his bedroom door to stay open... She again returns to his room. This will continue on and on.

-Finally I decide the door will just have to be shut. This is what Kyla does for the next few minutes... She sits outside Tommy's door. Knocking and yelling at him and us to let her in. Then it's off to bed for her by 8:30.

***Yes, I know that if I just shut the door to begin with than we wouldn't go through this every night. But what's the fun in that? I actually think it's funny and I just love seeing these two together. They love each other SOOO much!***

Tommy's Birthday Photos

Some of Tommy's Birthday Photos.

It was such a fun day, where the boys got to just be boys.

Dodge Ball

Just running around

Worriors

Luke on the attack

Carter and Linken

Cousin Zack

Carson

Cousins Luke and Taylor (Their older siblings Bensen and Kameryn were there to help too!)

Cole

Money from Grandma Ehlert, he also got 50 US dollars from Grandma Keller

Asher

Caleb





Thanks to everyone for coming. We wish Bryce, Conner and Hunter could have made it!!!