Ellie Belly

Ellie has been so cute lately. I've noticed for the past two weeks that when she needs assistance with something, she'll say "HELP! I need Mommy Power!" It cracks us up and makes me feel like a hero when I can "save the day."

She's been going through an interesting phase lately too. Despite all my efforts in the past to make sure she knows to "color only on paper" I have been noticing her personalizing 'her things.' This has been an interesting process to find out what she has personalized next. Of course she personalizes her toys, and bedroom furniture unfortunately, but even the TV and remote belong to her apparently. Even though it is rather annoying to find my house with little "Ellie"'s everywhere, it's cute and I remind her we color and write ONLY ON PAPER. I find myself saying the things I heard my parents say growing up.... "this is why we don't have nice things" being one of them.... Oh the joys.

Ellie has also been trying to figure out how to tell a joke. She loves to make people smile and laugh. Lately, she will come up to Shayne or I and tell us in a whisper to our ear, "Dad, I need to tell you a secret..... SOUR MILK." Then Shayne will laugh, and she comes over to me to tell some other joke. Her favorite being the word, "CASH" for whatever reason. It's pretty funny.

Ellie is also becoming quite the helper. It's not uncommon to see Ellie washing the dishes.... of course at this age, I have to go back and rinse them again when she isn't looking, but I'm thrilled at her wanting to help and never discourage her from it.

If you ever wanted to know, Ellie's current favorite foods are; spaghetti, spaghetti o's, ravioli's (and to think she says she HATES tomato's! Ha ha ha), macaroni and cheese,Ramen noodles, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hotdogs of course, cheeseburgers from McDonalds, fried chicken, chicken noodle soup, spring salads with ranch dressing, and her newest favorite ham and cheese sandwiches. She'll try just about anything though, and if she sees we REALLY like it, usually and magically she likes it too.

This kid loves to DANCE too. When I have music on, she will run upstairs and get her dress up clothes on and come back down to boogy. She has to wear her clip clop shoes (short heeled Sunday shoes), and of course princess tiara. I think Ellie has a lot of potential in dance and I wish I had her in dance this year. For sure next fall. Ellie sings quite a bit too. Her favorite song year round is "Jingle Bells."

Ellie loves school and is learning bunches this year. We have a set of alphabet magnets on the fridge, and she likes to play "teacher." She'll take a letter and say, "what letter is this?" I will say, is it "A?" to which she'll reply with a huge smile, 'YES GOOD JOB!' Or if I got it wrong which I do at times just to test her ABC's, she says, 'No, try again.' It's pretty fun to see her learn. She has come a long way since last year.

We were thrilled that for the first time on her own this year, Ellie sat on Santa's lap without crying. In years past, she's been excited to to Santa, but when we came close to seeing him, she took one look and started to cry. When she was two, she RAN away. This year, as Shayne and I were looking over the picture packages, Ellie ran up to Santa before they were even ready for us. She made sure he knows she has been good and doesn't want a "rock" for Christmas. We were thrilled.

This morning, as it snowed, Ellie of course got bundled up head to toe in her cowgirl boots, coat, hat, scarf, and used my gloves to check out the snow. She went in her pajamas and all. It was cute to see her trying to roll a snowball with my very large gloves on.

Ellie also couldn't be more thrilled about her new baby brother or sister. In her prayers she always prays that the baby "will be good in Mommy's tummy." She can't wait for her birthday because I told her it will be around then that the baby will be coming. Of course she wants a sister. My ultrasound is December 22, but are going to ask the hospital to put the sex of the baby in an envelope for us to open Christmas Day. We are thrilled.

Ellie is such a blessing in our family and we love watching her grow up and being a part of her life. We can't wait to have another blessing in our family. Having Ellie makes me so excited to be a Mom again. We hope you are enjoying your holiday season!

Christmas 2006

(I thought with the holiday coming up it might be fun to write a couple blogs about real life Christmas stories I've known in my life, or the lives around me. I have decided to start with one of my own....)

It was a cold winter’s night, only a few short days before the Christmas holiday. Laura bundled up in her warmest jacket and mittens to go to ShopKo to pick up a prescription and some Children’s Motrin for her daughter who was just over 18 months old. The drive was bitterly cold, and Laura wished she could have stayed home. She knew her husband, Shayne, would go instead but she also wanted to get some last minute stocking stuffer surprises for him to find on Christmas morning.

Before entering the store, Laura called the automatic teller number to find out the amount of funds available for her to spend. She knew that there wouldn’t be much, but there would be plenty for her purchases. $46.00. Laura was happy to find that more money was in their account than she had realized. Pay day was coming close however, and with Christmas ready to go, Laura was reassured that there would be plenty to go around after the holiday.

Laura headed straight to the candy section for her stocking stuffers. Finding large candy bars on sale for only a dollar a piece, Laura grabbed them for the stocking stuffers. She also saw some Reese’s peanut butter cups that were shaped like bells. They were her husband’s favorite; he would certainly love them in his sock. Laura noticed a stack of Stephen’s Hot Cocoa nearby, and remembered the name she had drawn for her the secret Santa at Arby’s where she worked most weeknights. Put a bow on top, and this cocoa would be a nice surprise for the name she had drawn.

Laura then made her way to the baby aisle. She was shocked to find out that Pedia-sure was ten dollars for only six small meal replacement drinks for kids. She remembered her daughter feeling much too ill to eat and worried about her nourishment. Taking it in her hands, she headed towards the Pharmacy where she found the much needed Motrin to lower her young one’s fever.

Laura approached the counter. “Hi my name is Laura Munn, our doctor called in a prescription for my daughter, Danelle Munn,” I said as I handed them our insurance cards.

“Yes, I have it right here. That is $7 with your co pay. Would you like me to ring up your other purchases here?” the Pharmacy tech said as he motioned towards her handfuls of purchases.

Laura turned to look behind her and noticed a line quickly forming and felt badly for making the people wait longer for her purchases to be made, but handed over her things anyway. “That’s $34.52, how would you like to pay for that?”

Laura reached in her purse and pulled out her debit card. As she swiped it Laura remembered that her pin number didn't work, “will you please run that as credit?”

“Your card has been declined,” the pharmacy tech said a little louder than comfort.

“That can’t be right, can I try it again?” Laura felt her face getting hot, and the crowd starting to get anxious from waiting behind her.

“I’m sorry, your card isn’t working. Is there any other way you can pay?” The once nice pharmacy tech seemed to have changed before her very eyes.

“Uhhhh…..” Laura rummaged through her purse already knowing that there was NOTHING that she could give them.

Laura looked up, “I don’t really need these,” she said as she took back the Reese’s bells, and Stephen’s Hot Cocoa. This took her total down to $25.11. “Can I try it now?”

The pharmacy tech allowed Laura to swipe the card a third time. “It’s still not working.”

“My daughter really needs these things…. She’s so sick.” Laura felt tears now starting to form in her eyes. “I’m sorry, if I can just make a phone call, I will be right back.”

As Laura was about to leave the pharmacy, she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. It was a woman with shoulder length blond hair behind her, probably in her forties. The woman softly asked, “How much do you need?”

Laura replied, “a lot actually. I’m sorry about all this.” If it were only the difference of a few cents, Laura might have taken some change. However, her total was just over $25. “I’ll be right back,” Laura told the pharmacy worker as she left the counter and walked swiftly out of the store.

Crying out in her car, Laura called the automatic teller number one more time to listen closer. The auto teller said slowly and clearly, “your checking account balance is $46.00. Your total available balance is $46.00.” Something had to be wrong. It said $46 was available and her card wasn’t working. About to call her mother who she knew would come and help, Laura decided to try her card a final time in the store. Maybe her pin number to her debit card would work; she had to try.

Walking into the store, Laura was red and hoping no one would remember her that stood behind her in the line. She also hoped it would not be obvious to anyone that she had been crying. Laura approached the Pharmacy, “can I try my card again? It should be working; I don’t know why it’s not working….”

The pharmacy tech spoke loudly, “the lady behind you already paid for your stuff. She said to tell you MERRY CHRISTMAS.”

In tears, Laura reached for the bag, and said “that was really nice of her,” and blushing left the counter. Scanning the store, Laura tried to find the lady who had helped her. THERE SHE WAS. Laura barely saw her. She was just leaving the store.

Laura had an idea. She thought she could try to buy a gift card for $25 and run it out to her and thank her for her kindness. Laura didn’t know if her card would work, but she waited in line with the gift card in hand. The debit card was accepted, and as soon as her receipt was printed, Laura ran out of the store hoping that the woman hadn’t driven away yet.

There she was again; the kind blond woman and her pre-teen son. “Excuse me…. Excuse me? Do you remember me from the Pharmacy? I just wanted to say thank you and give you this. It’s a gift card for twenty five dollars….. I was so embarrassed in there, I’m so sorry you had to do that. Here,” Laura handed her the gift card, “thank you so much. You have no idea what that meant to me.” Laura felt tears forming in her eyes again.

“No, you keep it. Have a Merry Christmas!” The blond was getting in her truck too fast for Laura to argue.

“Thank you! Merry Christmas to you too!!!” Laura was crying again at the thought of this woman’s selfless act.

The drive home seemed a little warmer than it had only an hour earlier. The blond didn’t know Laura. It didn’t matter. She saw someone who needed a little help this Christmas, and selflessly stepped in. She could have walked away with her own prescription saving her $25.00. For that matter, she could have taken the gift card as well. Laura was filled with the Christmas spirit and was touched by the generosity of others, even a stranger who knew nothing about her.

Humbled, Laura went home smiling and grateful to know that there are still people out there who care. To some, it might have seemed like a small thing, but to Laura it meant the world. It was one of their best Christmas’ ever and Laura has never forgotten it.

Random Thoughts

Yesterday, as we curled up in our warm bed on a cold night, our dog jumped up on our bed like she was going to get away with something by sleeping next to Shayne and I(which she eventually did). Thinking back on her day, I had to wonder what was going on in this dog's head that she would even dare sleep on our bed than her puffy blanket on the floor. Then I remembered, I guess to her this was a special day. This thought stirred up some random thoughts about what must go on in a dog's head the way I see it. Here is her day, as she might have seen it.

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DAISY'S SPECIAL DAY!

8:30 a.m. Mom jumped out of bed and let me go outside in the back yard BEFORE she even got a chance to use the bathroom. Very strange.

9:00 a.m. WOW! Dad is making me a special breakfast of vegetable soup! Am I on medicine again? Is he trying to hide something in this food? Oh who cares, YUM!!!! (Eats it up quickly, not realizing the REAL reason she's eating vegetable soup is because the dog food ran out last night.)

9:30 a.m. Ellie lets me have a bite of her uneaten waffle. It was heavenly.

10:00 - 12:00 NAP. Noticed that Mom put a blanket over the top of me since I looked cold. It was a nice nap. Had dreams about chasing Ellie around the park.

12:45 p.m. Spent a lot of time outside enjoying nature in the back yard, and now Mom and Dad are cooking pizza.

1:15 p.m. *SCORE!* I got a pizza crust from Mom.

2:00 p.m. Played "ROPE" with Dad for a while. Dad let me win three times. Starting to wonder what the special occasion is for me to win three times.

2:30 - 5:30 p.m NAP again. No blanket this time, but the sun setting shines right on my part of the couch. It's nice.

5:50 p.m Family goes to Aunt Sarah's Birthday dinner. Wish I could go. Maybe they'll bring home left overs.

5:50 - 7:30 p.m. PATROL HOUSE. Thought I heard someone knock on our door. Tempted to bark. Listened to cars pulling in. Heard some voices next door. Heard dogs next door. Checked house. Everything is good. Took another nap.

7:30 p.m. Door sounds like it's unlocking. Not 100% sure who it is, better run upstairs to hide.

7:31 p.m. Realized it's only my family back, and they brought bags!!! Hope they remembered my leftovers.

8:00 p.m. They went to the store to buy me dog food on the way home!!! Dad is mixing gravy in a pot. I wonder what this gravy is for. I should stare at him and give him "the eyes."

8:30 p.m. Starting to wonder if it's my birthday because Dad just gave me TWO BOWLS of gravy style dog food with ACTUAL GRAVY on top.

11:00 p.m. Mom wants a treat from Maverick so she can take her pills. Dad is going to Maverick. WAIT! Dad just said I could go! "Oh joy! Oh joy! Oh joy! I love RIDES! Dogs love rides!!! I'm a GOOD GIRL!" Jumping around to show my appreciation to Dad. Starting to seriously consider if it really is my birthday.

11:30 p.m. Dad comes home from Maverick. Loved the ride. Smiled the whole time. Dad got two hot dogs. I hope the extra is for me.

11:35 p.m. Mom just gave me bite of her hot dog, and a small piece of jerky. BONUS! Dad gave me bite of jerky!!!! Convinced it's my birthday.

12:30 a.m. After snuggling with Mom while watching a movie, it's time for bed. Seriously considering attempting to sleep on bed with them today.... SINCE IT'S MY BIRTHDAY.

12:40 p.m. Worth a try. I jump on bed and sniff Dad's face to see if I can sleep on the bed. I know he's a softie when I give him "the eye's." I try "the eye's." Didn't need to. Birthday girl gets to sleep on bed. Lucky me! I love birthdays!!! I hope it's a week of birthday celebration.... falls asleep smiling and dreaming about my day.

Surprising Sarah

In my opinion, everyone needs a bigger birthday party AT LEAST every five years. Most years, it can be as simple as cake and ice cream with close family (unless your a kid and a friend party is planned).... but this year, I wanted to do something nice for my sister in law, Sarah Cameron, by hosting a surprise birthday party for her - she has been long past due for one also. Sarah has done so much for me over the years, and especially lately with my bed rest time.

I had a lot of help from her friend Dan in Michigan, and her Mom in planning the party. Facebook also helped me reach some of the friends of hers that I wouldn't be a able to reach as easily. We had the party set for November 14, at 5:30 at Thai Kitchen in Provo.

Sarah walked in after her guests had all arrived, and I could tell she was tearing up as she walked in and was surrounded by several of her friends and family. We ate, and had a delicious strawberry Boston cake after.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH! I hope you enjoyed your party!

Halloween Highlights!

Halloween Party with the Munn's

Every year, I have made it a tradition to have a big Halloween Party.... but being on bed rest for most of this Halloween season, planning a party was not an option. But, it didn't mean we didn't have a party! Every Halloween as a Munn family, we carve pumpkins together. This year, with the help of my sister in law Sarah and Shayne's grandma, they made a wonderful Halloween meal to make it more of a party.

For dinner they had dragon eyes (deviled eggs), feet of meat meatloaf, tombstone potatoes, bone bread sticks, purple monster goo cottage cheese, chips and dips, and a creepy drink with a frozen green hand in it. It was a delicious meal! Ellie and my two nieces, Kaede and Arisa, loved the thought of eating "monster toes" for dinner!

After dinner, the girls put on blindfolds for "Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin." It was funny to see them playing the game as it was the first time for all of them. Kai and Ellie got really close, but Kaede won the prize Halloween lantern she can use on Halloween night.

Later that night, we carved pumpkins. Every year Shayne picks the hardest one for his pumpkin and carefully spends all night on it. In closing we had icecream cake shaped like a monster head for dessert. It was a really great night full of memories! I love Halloween and I can't wait for the holidays that will follow shortly!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

12 Weeks and Counting!

Today was my 12 week check up. After such a rough start to this pregnancy, I was really nervous for the appointment, and to tell you the truth wasn't truly celebrating this pregnancy until I knew what today's outcome would be. I brought Shayne and Ellie with me to my appointment. Ellie was excited to hear the heart beat.

We decided to hear the heartbeat first. My certified nurse midwife took her fetal heart rate finder and pressed it against my belly. I thought I could hear a heartbeat, but I guess what I was hearing was mine. No baby heartbeat. Of course I was worried, and they scheduled another ultrasound to check on the baby.

After the rest of my appointment was over, we rushed over to the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center for the ultrasound. I was nervous to what we might see, and told Shayne and Ellie to stay outside just in case. My worry was all for nothing though because as soon as she put the ultrasound stick on my belly, we saw the baby and it was kicking, flipping, and moving everywhere. The ultrasound tech said, "that baby is definitely alive!" The heart rate was 167. Measuring at 12 weeks, 3 days. Perfect!

I still have a very small blood clot, but they say it's too small to really worry about. If I don't overdo it, I can resume a normal life again. We are so happy to be 12 weeks now! We're very happy and feel like now we can start planning for our next sweet little baby.