Summer-Hales Style!

YES school has been OUT since June 10th for us--but I will admit I know EXACTLY when school STARTS around here...August 23rd!!!!!!!! We cant believe that at that time ALL FOUR girls will ALL be gone. If you need myself or Jon we will be out to lunch, at the mall, at the movies--who knows! GLORIOUS.

Summer has been off to a great start for us--this is pretty much our schedule.

Each morning while Jon is getting ready for the day from 730am-1030am & I am at the gym and doing the food run from 830am-1000am the girls ALL have to do the following and be DONE by 1030am.

Pick up room, make bed, dirty clothes INTO basket, eat breakfast, take shower, brush teeth, get dressed, pick up their designated room downstairs & clean up kitchen.

Let me just say this has been a DREAM for me! They ACTUALLY do all of that and are ready to start the "Summer Day" by 1030am--so all of us are ready to go do something fun!

Summer -Hales Style
Mon: Craft Day at home with mom & dad
Tue: 2 dollar Movies then swim at friends house (with FUN slide pool!) 2-5pm
Wed: Pharoah's Water Park 11am-4pm
Thu: Newport Beach 15th street 11-5pm followed by hanging with family in OC
Fri: Friend Day (they can have a friend over or go to a friends house)

My family thrives on a schedule--when they know what's expected of them and what our plan for the day is--its like MAGIC.

I will say not having anyone in diapers, bottles, carseats etc makes a HUGE difference for us. Also our kids aren't in any camps, sports, dance or extra activities. Also makes a big difference. I don't know how other families manage to do it all--HUGE KUDDOS to them!

How about you? Does your family have a schedule? Is your summer relaxing or a bit crazy?

We have been officially TEEN'D....

Rachel turned 13 a couple of weeks ago.

We are not sure how it happened--one day she was a sweet young lovely child, the next day BOOM full blown teen with ALL it's glory!!!

For her bday she wanted AGAIN something easy & simple-YEAH for mom! She invited friends over, they went on a bigger or better scavenger hunt. I gave them a toothpick and they went to each neighbor asking if they had anything bigger or better-then they go house to house and see what they end up with. She LOVES to do this with her friends every year--this year they came back with a HUGE robot!

After the scavenger hunt they all hopped into the pool. This year we had a DJ playing all their favorite songs. SOOOOOOOOO FUN!!!!! They enjoyed pizza and all kinds of teenage grub. Later they came in and did some mattress surfing down our stairs--awesome.

We had our little family bday party for her too:

She REALLLLY wanted a pizza cookie instead of a cake--fabulous!

and YES ALL THING HOLLISTER.....


Rachel is too fun---our only concern is everyone THINKS she's 15/16!!!!!

Girls Weekend!

Each year I get together with my girl friends. These girls have been with me through my MANY up's & down's of life these past few years. These were the girls that came to me when Jon got hurt, helped watch my kids, were physically here when I bawled my eyeballs out, helped me get through the struggles that presented themselves as time went by. I will forever be grateful for these few woman who never judged me for how I handled things but chose to instead do what they could to "just help." Don't we all need these kinds of friends!!!!




Kristen Thompson: I met her when I FIRST moved to our home here in Riverside. It was at church in the nursing room. We both were nursing our 3 month old girls. We started talking-soon discovering that we both LOVE FOOD and SLEEPING. Say NO MORE--Best friends FOR LIFE! Since that very day--I have considered Kristen one of my "best friends."
Celesta McGee: I met her at church as well. Apparently she either thought I was stuck up or just really did NOT like her! HA-I come across that way CUZ IM SOOOO SHY at first till I warm up to you. I invited her to a few of my "Bachelor Season Finale's" & the more I got to know her the MORE I got to love her. She is one of those easy going "no fake/no drama" kind of girls.
Amy Novak: I met her on my street a few months after we moved in. She lived 8 houses up from me. My oldest Rachel, 5 at the time, walked outside with her blanket and asked Amy's daughter "Hey do you want to see my blanket?" Amy-confused asked "Um where is your mom?" I came outside and we hit it off right there. Amy knows EVERYONE! Literally. Every time we go somewhere someone say's HI to her-she's like a celebrity. Cracks me up! Amy would do ANYTHING for ANYONE-I love that about her.
Erin Thompson: I met her through church. She is one of those WAY EASY going kind of girls. "Go with the flow-whatevs." She is the girl that is happy to take ALL FOUR of your children TO THE BEACH along with HER FOUR children! Every mom needs one of these friends! She dresses like a Rock Star & I am always trying to copy her latest look only she looks awesome & I come off looking like I tried WAY TOO HARD.

This year we decided to stay "local." We did GWO OC style. We have decided that from now one we will ALWAYS do the few days before Mothers Day. School is calmed down (no crazy school projects), our lives all seem a little less busy etc.

On Thur around 11am we piled into my truck & began GWO.


We drove to the OC airport to pick up Celesta

where I managed in MINUTES to get myself in trouble. Shocking I know huh. Apparently, as the nice cute officer told me, you are NOT allowed to be on the phone, have a passenger yelling out your sunroof, music blaring & not pulled ALL the way over to the curb. Who knew these rules!? Obviously not me. When the cute officer came to "deliver" all the broken rules I rolled down my window and asked "Oh perfect are you here to help load the luggage?" He actually was super cool and when he rattled off everything I had done wrong--I told him thank you and "peace out!"

We then headed off to the Mission Viejo Mall. We were starving and needed to shop. After KRISTEN was ALL done with HER shopping (inside joke) we headed off across the street to catch a movie Date Night-hilarious. We had the whole theater to ourselves. We then walked across from the theater to Riptide for our 6pm dinner reservations.
We had been waiting around for our bill-but not really caring because we had NO KIDS torturing us when suddenly the manager comes over. He asks us how our meal was? We replied "SO GOOD!" He then places a piece of paper on the table with a BIG FAT ZERO on it and says "thanks for joining us today!" What in the world?! Did he just basically tell us our meal was PAID FOR?!?! Celesta whips out "do you even work here?" Seriously-were we getting punk'd by Ashton Kutcher or what's going on?? The bill was NOT CHEAP! It HAD to have been atleast 200! We all pitched in extra for our waiter-a "pay it forward" kind of deal. We walked out of there STUNNED that someone had just paid for all of our meals!

We then headed off to our Hotel.

The Laguna Cliffs. This place was AMAZING. We plan to just come to THIS hotel EVERY year-ya it was THAT GOOD!!!!

From the entrance--just beautiful.
driving further up the hill to the hotel doors:

We pulled up to the valet and handed off the car--then walked into this GORGEOUS hotel and checked ourselves in.

They told us our room had been "upgraded" to an ocean view WITH a balcony!

They had recently remodeled the hotel.

At about 10pm that night we all had the urge for a BJ's pizookie!

We hoped back into the truck and made our way down PCH to the nearest BJ's.

We each ordered a SMALL (yes did you know you can ACTUALLY order a SMALL pizookie! It's only 2.95!)pizookie & moaned with every bite we took-dulish. If for some STRANGE REASON you have NEVER had one of THESE here is a link to show you how to make yourself one at home. http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2009/08/how-to-make-a-pizookie-or-a-pizza-cookie-recipe.html

We then headed back to the oh so perfectly, lovely, and quiet hotel. We all plopped onto our beds and SADLY directly onto EACH of our own cell phones.
We spent a LOT of time on our cell phones!

The texting went wild, the FB status updates rocking, internet searches, emails etc-CUHRAZY! We all came to chit chat and ended up quietly alone with our own cell phones-classic. Do you know people who when they get on their cell phone SUDDENLY start talking WAY LOUD (Amy & Kristen)--isn't that funny when that happens!! I would tell them "Um HELLO you are yelling." Kristen told me, "Well I cant hear on the other end." Okay then!

The next morning SOMEONE Ms. Celesta decided we needed to get up and cracked opened the heavy drapes. Seriously-who does that?! Just kidding. We had decided the night before we would hit up Denny's for breakfast. We decided since it was SO NICE (seriously the ENTIRE TRIP was PERFECT WEATHER!!!) to walk to Denny's. The WAY CHEAP food was so grub.

Kristen was off to get her pampering massage

while the rest of us went out to the pool

and RELAXED chit chatting away in the sun. They had these GREAT Cabana chair/set up things

(like I mentioned they recently remodeled the entire hotel so even the cabana's were NICER then this! Think REALLY cushy padding.) at the END of the grass overlooking the ENTIRE ocean...HEAVEN!!!! We SERIOUSLY could have just stayed in this ONE spot the ENTIRE time we were there.

After Kristen's massage she came over to tell us to go hit the spa for our showers-they had EVERYTHING we could possibly need. So we gathered up our stuff and headed to the spa area. She was NOT JOKING!!! They give you a lovely Robe and sandals. Then you step into a HUGE shower. It had TEN sprayers on EACH wall PLUS a HUGE sprayer from the ceiling. Talk about feeling like you are drowning!! They had shampoo, conditioner, gel, cream, lotion-everything. They had the hairdryer, deodorant spray, razors, toothbrushes/paste, seriously-EVERYTHING! In the spa area they also had a steam room & a dry sauna as well as the spa. HEAVEN.

After the HEAVENLY PERFECT shower-we got ready to find ourselves a yummy Mexican place to eat. We hurried & got ourselves put together.

obviously Kristen got ready FASTER then I did! We all did the change of outfits a few times, swapping and sharing clothing items-it was like we were all roommates in college. Good times!

We found this great place right off PCH--they HANDS DOWN had THEE best chips EVER!! Thick, warm--oh sooooooooooooo good!! We then went shopping for a little bit. We hit up Nordstrom were I purchased my VERY FIRST outfit.

Too fun! Amy & Erin helped Kristen & I to find cute outfits (because seriously I cant seem to make things I pick out work right!!!) Of course we HAD to hit up BJ's once AGAIN--pizookie.

The next morning Kristen & I got up for a nice run outside. What a workout we did! We also did a little bit of weights in their gym & then hit the spa showers AGAIN-seriously I couldnt get enough of that spa area!!!!

We all checked out and hit up the OC Swap meet for a little bit MORE shopping. After we found a place to get our pedicures then off to find GRUB. We found a Yardhouse (which I had never been to before), ate a DUHLISH lunch & talked.

It was then time to get Celesta back to the aiport. She needed to be dropped off at 545pm--so OF COURSE as soon as she walks thru the doors she gets a text telling her that her flight was DELAYED till 830pm--GEESH! She ended up staying and the rest of us took off back home.

Girls Weekend was SOOOO enjoyable and perfectly positioned the DAY before Mothers Day! Thanks for coming with ladies---Big Loves to you All!

in the meantime...

I have created a whole girls weekend update--but STILL waiting on my FRIEND (hint hint ERIN THOMPSON!!) to give me her photos she took---the weekend was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO fabulous!!!

SO in the meantime...here are some lovely photos of my ADORABLE two young children at their BEST!





Awesome huh! SIIIIIIIIIIIGHHHHHHHHHHHH

on the bright side-while at Girls Weekend my sweet awesome most terrific mother-in-law Sandra put in a FABULOUS new garden with my 2 older girls




How GREAT is that -right!

So I in turn spent ALL last week making the backyard cleaned up and READY to bring on summer




the end!

Trials are for others..not just yourself.

Maybe that's why God gives us trials.

It's honorable. It comes with deep responsibility. Our response to trials doesnt just affect us. It's not suppose to.

You become a complete open book (if you allow yourself). Judgements come-some are harsh & surprising. Some are tender & beautiful. I will be the FIRST to say "I could have done/handled some things differently." But it wouldnt be true to who I am or my character. Which needed to change.

Just today I have received two separate messages from people that know me. I am worried that maybe this "boost" of spirituality is preparing me for something in the near future!?

"Christina,
You don't know me, but I have followed your blog for years now and always been strengthened by your faith and wonderful attitiude! I never would have guessed in a million years I would be put in a position as a caregiver for my own husband, but last week he was diagnosed with brain cancer, and underwent brain surgery. I have thought of you a lot, and remembered things that helped you. Thanks for sharing your challenges. They really have blessed others!
love,
Wendy"

Niagra Fall of tears. Cleansing. Rejuvinating. Re-Energized. Strengthened.

"Have I told you about Christina? SHE is really an amazing woman! I totally admire and look up to her in so many ways- seriously- I have "known" her for over 4 years I think now- before her husband was in his accident and put in a wheelchair-she has 4 little girls and works really hard at everything she does- we "met" on a mormonchic, and then she started a blog and then I did.. that is how we have kept in touch- we have talked on the phone a few times- I feel like I totally know her although we have never met in person-ANYWAY... get to know her- you won't be sorry! While going through this trial with her husband she is still really beautiful, an incredibe mom, a service oriented person, hard worker, super funny, down to earth, an entrepruner, tell it like it is- and super friendly, all things I LOVE I could go on and on about her amazingness."
-Lauralee

WELL! That pretty much sums me right up then doesnt it.

SERIOUSLY THOUGH--I am WAY worried with all the "Nice-ities" coming my way!!!!!

Spring Break ING & reflect ING!

It was sooooooooooo nice to not wake up and shuffle kids out for school all week!

Monday: We hit 2 movies at the $2 theatre.
Tuesday: Took all four girls to the mall - Rachel bought herself more Vans, Sarah purchased her FIRST pair.
Wednesday: Beach at Corona Del Mar
Thursday: Bowling
Friday: Rented movies via Red Box (LOVE that thing!)
Saturday: Hiking in the hills

So looks like we had a good week of Spring-the weather was PERFECT total summer like.

As I went to bed Saturday night, I was reflecting on my week. Does anybody else do this? I think about the times I came up "short" in the motherhood department. I find myself saying, I could have done this better, that better, played more games with them, talked to them more etc etc etc etc ETC. Then I found my thoughts going towards "HELLO this is Satan's sharpest tool for mothers--to make us feel like we aren't doing a "good enough" job!

I realized that at this point, if I can get them to:

clean up their rooms everyday after school -JOB WELL DONE!
(I have to LITERALLY go up everyday to "check & pass it off")

brush their teeth- JOB WELL DONE!
(I have to LITERALLY smell their breath-that should win me a gold medal huh!)

read the scriptures with us and PAY ATTENTION-JOB WELL DONE!
(we are using this GREAT book that goes along with the scriptures)

pray as a family/personal prayers-JOB WELL DONE!
(we do this with Jon each night usually in our room)

spend one on one time-JOB WELL DONE!
(each Sunday we call them in one by one oldest to youngest, we ask them how their week went, is there anything they are struggling with, need help with, want our help with etc--they LOVE this & are surprisingly very open and honest)

My Patriarchal Blessing states "You will have noble children." THE PRESSURE!!! Maybe this is why I find myself reflecting & worrying that I keep coming up short to this. But I am reminded time and time again-Satan will do ANYTHING to wreck my family-including paralyzing Jon.

HE WILL NOT WIN. Can I get an AMEN!

Prepare, Preparing or Prepared???

For quite a while now I have had PREPARE on my mind a LOT lately. Not sure if it is because of our situation with Jon's injury? Our lack of income for FOUR LONG YEARS NOW? The constant earthquakes we keep having or the BIG one everyone else keeps having?!

One night I felt prompted to get a tubbermaid container and spend a FHE night having the girls get an old pair of sneakers, socks, jeans & a tshirt. We put our clothes into that tubbermaid container and put it in the cupboard upstairs in the hallway. One of my fears is, we have an earthquake in the middle of the night-we are all shoeless & me stuck in my religious wear!!

We may never need that tubbermaid in that certain spot. But maybe I just needed to follow that little prompting?

We also have a large rolling trash can that has 6 72 hour back pack kits complete with water, food, toilet paper, pad of paper, pens, wipes, cup, shampoo, soap, deodorant etc etc etc. This past FHE we pulled them out took inventory & then I purchased all new food. Kinda of funny-I THOUGHT it had only been a "couple" of years--my bad. We looked at the yummy crackers and carmel--um OOOPS it WAS ORIGINALLY crackers and cheese!! nasty.

This General Conference the girls will get to eat the oh so yummy emergency food and replace it with fresh food (obviously minus the "carmel & crackers!").

Within this large rolling trash can we have LOTS of supplies like flash lights, batteries, solar blankets, first aid kit, portable radio, tools, maps, 2 binders with TONS of emergency information, mask, even a bucket (cuz ya know someone may need to go potty!) etc etc etc. ALL of these things PLUS the 6 72 hour kit backpacks fit neatly into the rolling trash can. It's kinda like our "covered wagon!"









Again, we may never need these 72 hour kits. But we have felt prompted to take it seriously. Maybe once again, it's just about us being obedient to the promptings we feel for our own family.

Of course NOTHING brings as much comfort as being SPIRITUAL PREPARED! We were AGAIN having another lesson on being prepared. It was geared more towards "spiritually." I didnt quite FEEL LIKE my girls were "grasping the concept." I felt prompted yet again to be frank with them. Before I knew it, these words, sentences and thoughts came flying out of my mouth before I could edit! I turned to Rachel (almost 13) and said "Rachel, what if we had a serious earthquake and EVERYBODY died but you. Would you be spiritual strong enough to take care of yourself? To move on with your life? To get on your knees and ask for help? To know that Heavenly Father is with you even though your family was not?" Jon whipped his nervous eyes right over to me with the look of "ARE YOU JOKING ME?!?! What in the world!?"

SILENCE.

We talked about this. We spent time discussing this. Things were "grasped."

Lastly, we all know that in the end, if we are having a major fire or earthquake-Jons rules are to "Save Yourselves & Let Me Be!" --lovely huh.

My Father in Law...Robert Hales birthday post

Our family LOVES this man. I have always felt that Jon is the only man that I know that reminds me of Christ the most. I have the same feelings regarding Jon's Dad-Robert. He is the only man that reminds me of Heavenly Father the most. I am definately blessed because of these two people in my life.

Growing up I had ALWAYS wanted to marry someone JUST like Robert Hales. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd get to marry one of his gorgeous sons! My mom use to tell me, "always take a look at the Father of the person you are considering to marry-most likely he will be JUST LIKE HIM." This couldnt be more true!

Robert is amazing.

He & Sandra have seven children, all active in the church, all temple marriages (Mark HURRY UP! HA JK), 5 Eagle Scouts, 5 Return Missionaries, I believe all 5 were AP's, all college graduates, all happy & healthy children expanding their broods. What a blessed man huh!

Robert has a great sense of humor. There is always an understanding between he & I that where ever we are driving,

we are ALWAYS in a race. ALWAYS. The rule is that you have to get OUT of your car and RUN to the front door and THAT determines the winner. Thankfully he is MUCH older then me and I use that to my full advantage!! During race mode we sometimes take different routes thinking one way is going to beat the other person. There have been times when an ENTIRE OPEN bag of cheetos have flown ACROSS the inside of my truck as I was determined to BEAT HIM-which I did! I LOVE that when we are all traveling up to Chad's house by car, that we RACE THE ENTIRE WAY. We get our BEST speed time in once Sandra & Jon have fallen asleep. Sandra & Jon do not approve of our racing ways however. Which makes it THAT more fun for the two of us!

Robert is COMPETATIVE! (Do you see how the racing fits RIGHT in there.) Have you SEEN this man play Pollyana?? Look out. You can NOT be whimpy when playing with him.
It doesnt even matter if you are a grandchild!

I can totally hear this conversation with Katie, "Geez Dad." With Robert's usual reply "WHAT?!"
He has killed players in Pollyana-simply because it just feels so good. Love it. He has played Pollyana for DECADES that when any number comes up-he knows EXACLTY where his player is suppose to be.

It's pretty amazing actually.

HOWEVER, Robert taught me how to play Chess when I was first dating Jon.

It was our first game. I wasnt aware of this competative nature of his at this point. But I am JUST as COMPETATIVE as he is. (again, we make the best racing team!) We are about 3/4of our way thru the Chess game. I am looking at the game, my pieces, my placements, the moves I could make when suddenly I realize "hmm, if I move this ONE piece to this ONE spot-game over." I wasn't totally sure yet because I had just been taught. So I bravely asked Robert "if I move this here, does that mean I win?" SILENCE. That was all I needed-movement was made, victory was won, his pride---SHOT DOWN!!!!!!!!!! We have yet to ever play a Chess game again, nor will I EVER give him THAT opportunity.

Robert is a kind kind KIND man. I've never seen him yell at anyone, raise his voice or get upset (well except for the Frey's Electronics fiasco! which was well deserved). He is always willing to help anyone out. He is one of the most generous men I know. Without his help-we would be living in a tent, I am sure of it! I have to laugh at this one story. Jon & I had just moved into our brand new home. The backyard wasnt even in yet. We decided to dig trenches to lay pipes for a spinkler system. We called Robert the day before to ask him to come help us. "Of course!" he said. The next day comes, we are ready to start digging. Robert pulls up and says "I am here to help!" Only coming out of the car are three men he picked up from OFF THE CORNER!!!! Jon & I look at eachother and start laughing, to which Robert does his usual "WHAT?! I said I'd help!" Comedy.

Robert LOVES either Carls Jr or El Pollo Loco. During the week you can ALWAYS find him at either of these places on Chapman Avenue. They know him by name. They know his order when they see his black shiny jag pull into the parking lot.

A number 14-NO CHEESE & Medium Diet Coke.
He comes to our house every Friday and we hit Carls Jr. He LOVES

their chocolate cakes.

The poor man gets severly congested when he eats anything that has cheese, butter or chocolate in it. I mean SERIOUSLY talk about trials!!!!!!!!!! He has the LARGEST amount and array of over the counter sinus congestion mediciation of ANYONE I KNOW. Whenever we get together for dinner, we promptly tell him what he can or can't have. He just eats what he wants anyway and follows it up with drugs. It's comical.

Robert is a TRAVELING MAN! He has this ONE HAT

that literally has been AROUND THE WORLD.

He & Uncle Mike goofing off-I hear there is a photo of him as he FELL OFF this contraption.

He LOVES to vacation with all of his family. One time Jon & I went with them to Hawaii in 2000. I will never forget chowing down on our chocolate macadamia nut ice cream on a waffle cone-dreamy. Both Mark, Jon & myself turn around to see Robert wearing "the hat" with a hawaiian themed shirt, camera around his neck, black jean shorts -which up to this point doesnt sound too bad right? No, IT GETS WORSE. Let's move on down to his choice of footwear. Let me also quickly point out that he has no ability to tan his legs-ever. We gaze our eyes past his Holy Ghost legs to see black sandles with black CHURCH SOCKS! This is an image I will truly never forget.

Robert has a tradition at Christmas time to give each of us $50 to spend how we want. HOWEVER each year he likes to HIDE it in something. He has put the money in chocolate angles, See's Candy Boxes, Cans of soup, the freezer-for the 14 years Ive been in the family, 14 different ways. We LOVE IT and look forward to it each year.

Robert also has this obsession with LARGE HOOD ORNAMENTS. He drives a black Jaguar.

He doesnt want to get a BMW or a MERECEDEZ because the hood ornaments are "dinky & not manly enough". Cracks me UP!

Lastly, Robert is one spiritual GIANT. The man knows the Gospel inside & out. He once taught Gospel Essentials class & had MORE people in his class then the regular Sunday School class! I love that when he teaches anything about the Gospel, he challenges our thinking and makes US think of the answers ourselves versus him just telling us the answer to Gospel questions. He has an unwavering testimony. He is deeply connected to Heavenly Father & Christ.

My family is blessed by this wonderful man-and will continue to be blessed...well until he FINALLY FINDS his acres of land he's always wanted (he's always looking for lots of acres that we can have a Hales Compound on) and asks us to join him in bedouin tents

if THAT happens it will change EVERYTHING!

Happy Birthday Robert---we all love and adore you!

It's been FOUR YEARS!

This is what our schedule/life was like FOUR YEARS AGO:

March 2006
Jons Daily Schedule..

12am-Cath, rotation in bed and give meds(baclofen)
2am- rotation in bed and meds
4am-Cath and rotation in bed
6am-rotation in bed and meds
8am-Cath, rotation in bed, dressed and breakfast
9am-Meds
10am-rotation and meds
1130am-transfer to wheelchair
12pm-pressure release for 5 minutes (meaning i have to get onto the couch and tilt his wheelchair back into my lap to relieve pressure so he doesnt get a pressure sore)
12pm-lunch and meds
1230pm-pressure release for 5 minutes and then range of motion exercises
1pm-pressure release for 5 minutes
130pm-pressure release for 5 minutes
2pm-pressure release for 5 minutes and meds
230pm-pressure release for 5 minutes
3pm-pressure release for 5 minutes and meds
330pm-pressure release for 5 minutes
4pm-cath, pressure release for 5 minutes and meds
430pm-pressure release for 5 minutes
5pm-pressure release for 5 minutes
530pm-pressure release for 5 minutes
6pm-pressure release for 5 minutes, meds and dinner
630pm-pressure release for 5 minutes
7pm-transfer back into bed and start bowel program
730pm-transfer jon onto commode chair for continued bowel program
8pm-transfer jon back onto bed, change clothes, bath, and meds
9pm-meds
10pm-meds and rotation in bed
12am-Cath, meds and rotation in bed

so as you can see - its VERRRRY busy and LOTSSS of chaos in our life right now..mix his schedule in with him having physical therapy at the home 3 times a week and occupational therapy 3 times a week, plus 2 doctors appts which will take a total of 3 hours getting there, waiting and returning home...

i have to help with all of that AND then help the 2 older girls do their homework from 3-4pm, try my best to have rachel practice her piano each day, feed girls breakfast, lunch and dinner, make them do their chores for the day, try to keep the house quiet for jon, change diapers, get juice cups and snacks, keep an eye on jon so that he doesnt black out or pass out, constantly ask if he's okay or does he need his feet up..if he does i have to be right there to do so or ill be in a HUGE mess, feeding him, getting a drink of water when he needs it, answer the telephone, work on our business by answering phone calls, checking and responding to business emails, staying on top of our business accounting, making sure and paying all business bills on time, getting my mail each day, staying on top and paying our home bills on time, getting girls bathed and showered, teeth brushed, prayers, fhe, scripture reading each day, fighting the fires between 4 young girls each day, working with a 2 year old who SCREAMS if im not right by her side constantly, laundry, washing all of jons towels, sheets, pillowcases, clothes, as well as all of our clothes, having all the neighborhood kids constantly in and out of the house, back and forth from the backyard to the front yard, making sure becca doesnt go outside and into the street, working on getting social security to help us out- which working with the government is a NITEMARE, keeping everything filed and organized regarding jon, bills, insurance stuff, charts, medical records, social security stuff, equipment manuals, numbers for when equipment breaks down, state disability information, TRYING to find a caregiver who can help me, figuring out what im going to do for 3 of my daughters bday's coming up this month and next month, trying to prepare for 2 weddings and the hales family cruise that had already been booked and paid for before the accident occured which will all occure in the month of june and THEN wanting some alone time by myself and on the computer but too tired so i just want to go to bed instead...

so as you can see...my life and jons life is extremely difficult right now, maybe people dont really know just how hard it is..i hope this may help you to realize when people ask "what can i do?"..that all i can say is..theres so much i dont even know where to start!

i KNOW this will get SO MUCH easier..but right now its REALLY hard and REALLLY hard on me the most right now..this is why im struggling to find a balance and help from a caregiver..because jon requires SO much ALLLL day and ALLL thru the night...it really is a LOT of work

When Jon FIRST got hurt-the FIRST person I called after family was Sis. Rushton. The one thing she said to me that I have NEVER forgotten was "It's hard right now but I promise as each year passes it WILL get easier!"
SHE WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOO RIGHT!

Now we have Amanda (our nurse) come in 730-1030 to prepare Jon for the day
His Mom comes out on mondays for 2 hours to work him out, his brother Mark comes on Wednesdays to work him out for 2 hours, and he comes back again on Friday with Jons dad to work him out for 2 hours.
He eats lunch around 2pm, helps the girls with their homework and Anna gives him the medicine he needs at 4pm.
Jon is able to more around SOOOO much more-he can do his OWN pressure releases.
He doesnt need medication around the clock-he has been able to get himself off major medication and only use what is needed.
Jon is doing SO well-that often times people dont even realize he's paralyzed!!!

We have been SOOOOOOOOO blessed the past four years with help from our families and from all of our friends-we cant thank you enough for bearing this trial with us. It wouldnt have been possible without all of you-thank you.

Our future is SO BRIGHT right now and we are SO ready to bring it in!

How did I get so lucky?

Totally Stealing this idea from my friend-Thanks Amber!

Lows: WHY DO I HAVE THEE MESSIEST CHILDREN EVER!??????????
One Random Day Snapshot:

ANOTHER Random Day Snapshot:

and YET ANOTHER Random Day Snapshot:

DUDE those were THREE DIFFERENT DAYS!! Do you feel my pain-they are MESSY!


Someone please tell me I am not alone here. Why do I have such messy girls?! I secretly hope they "snap out of it" by the time they go to college or get married. I apologize in advance to their poor husbands. Hopefully they all just marry someone rich so the maid is included.

Actually they are REALLY good about cleaning it up when I ask them to. I have taught them to make "piles." One trash, one clothes, one toys. THEN put the piles away-this way it's not so overwhelming to them.

I guess my problem is the upkeep-it's great for one day, then I dont say anything (cuz I am never in their rooms-I mean HELLO they can dress THEMSELVES!) so when I actually walk past it I just sigh and close the door. Maybe I need to just be better about having them check on their rooms EVERYDAY!? Is that the secret I am JUST NOW figuring out?!??! Maybe I should just be grateful this is my only low this week!


HIGHS: Every Fast Sunday we get together with Jons family. We usually rotate houses, but lately it has just been easier for us to all meet at his parents house in OC.

Robert doesnt have any meetings on Fast Sunday by choice OR COMMAND as he is the Bishop! HA
So we have Jons parents, our family, Todd & Celene's family, Scott & Kellie and cute little Esther. We always do a "potluck style." Last night Celene made taco soup, I brought a big green salad & made cheddar/jalapeno bread-UM GRUB, kellie brought cut up fruit, mom/dad made their famous punch & a BIG OL' chocolate cake!

I LOVE that my girls are older and there is NO diaper changing, or referring or getting to things we arent suppose to. All of our kids get along SO well-it's so great. I LOVE that we dont discuss boring things or plop ourselves infront of a football game (those are definately happening on other days!!). We are always discussing DEEP things. Whether it's church topics, politics, where we see ourselves in the future, when we think the SO CAL earthquake will hit, what food storage supplies we have etc.

I realize that I am not really "spiritual fed" at church, but when I visit Jons family-I am definately spiritually FED! I come away (as I am driving us all home) feeling so blessed to be in this family, so blessed to have so many righteous examples to TRY to emulate, so grateful our children all get along so well as cousins, so blessed to be encouraged to try harder, do better. I always feel like my "batteries get charged!"

QUESTIONS: What are your secrets to a fabulously well kept childs room?
Do your families get together each month for Fast Sunday? Do your families have great discussions?