September's miracles, october conference

 Well, I almost didn't think this month would come. October really is my favorite time of year but somehow I kept thinking that I might just be pregnant forever, Mesa will always be so hot, and I am doomed to continual sweatiness. But, the weather is changing, the air isn't constantly on, and the mornings and nights are actually feeling nice outside! We spend the evenings int he backyard or going on walks and it isn't too bad. I wouldn't say it is cool yet- but definitely not as hot.

I am 35 weeks now. I have had some really bad hip and lower back pain lately. It leads to lots of contractions and just overall feeling of "ugh". But, I can't seem to find too many things that make it better. I am actually not even wanting to go to the doctor about it- trying to skip appointments to make this pregnancy go by faster! Ha ha. dumb, but effective! I will say though that it has totally motivated me to get my body back into shape after this baby. :) I loved this past conference talk this weekend where the guy basically said "are you uncomfortable in your own body? can you do something about it? Then...do it!"

Conference weekend was great. We haven't had James home for the whole weekend in a really long time and they boys never left him alone.  The kids seem to just play quietly and I laid down A LOT which actually really helped my back cramps. Maybe that's the solution.... lay down :). It seemed like all our family were out of town, and it was just us. Which made for a boring priesthood session night. But, I loved that the kids were asleep by 7:30 and I just read. Nerdy, but wonderful. James went with the Brown boys out to eat and then to watch the ASU football game. As for conference, I felt impressed too:

- Don't get 1st and 2nd commandment confused-- put God before others - Story of man who refused to work: aid is there but if we don't step up and take it- we feel total despair- God wants to help us but it is our responsibility to get up and work- so he has something g to help us with. He does not wait until we have reached a certain level of goodness - his help is available now. But we have to trust it is there. 

6 tips to raise spiritual confidence

1- take responsibility for own spiritual wellbeing 2- take responsibility for physical body - if you are uncomfortable in own body- do something about it- it deserves for you to be master of house3- embrace obedience- wholeheartedly "when I do good, I feel good" Lincoln4- repent quickly - 24/7 5- become really really good at forgiving all men all the time6- accept trials and setbacks as just part of mortal experience 

-Acknowledge and face weaknesses but don't allow them to immobilize you - they will be with you your whole life-Need peace?        Make time to pray everyday- share even mundane details - family prayer is non negotiable       Choosing to read scriptures  is more important than anything else- rearrange priorities         Schedule fhe       Don't let anything prevent you from going to the temple        The more we do this- the more satan will want to harm us but his ability to do so is lessened 

-How can we avoid errors in personal decision making? -recognize God doesn't want us to just live,exist and die. He wants us to do something greater 

Another favorite moment of conference was when I was changing dallin's diaper. I asked Dallin how such a tiny amount of poop could smell so bad? I mentioned to Tommie that it looked like a little squirt of toothpaste, but smelled so bad. Jackson over heard and said "toot - paste? Sick mom!" Ha, that's become a new phrase... "just a little bit of toot paste". We keep laughing about it. 

Dallin has quite the hair lately. I can not get it to stay down. I snapped a few of these pictures during a session. What crazy adorable little boys I have!  :) 

I really feel a miracle has happened. We had a $7000 bill from the emergency room visit with Tommie's first skull fracture. I had fought insurance companies to get coverage, been told they would pay a portion, but the bill kept coming back in full. I was getting so frustrated and feeling like there was now ay to pay off those, the other doctor's bills, the baby, and everything that kept breaking :).  A few weeks ago on a friday we got an official notice that insurance denied the claim and it was now our full responsibility and payments needed to begin. James came home from work that friday, frustrated with a few problems he was trying to handle at work and I decided I just couldn't tell him about it. He found the letter anyways and we kind of had a depressing weekend thinking about how to pay for everything. Well, monday morning I called down to set up some payment options with the hospital. The lady told me my account had been paid in full. I couldn't believe it. Some, anonymous donor, looks for people who's insurance denies the claim and then offers to cover it all. I just went quiet not he phone thinking about how incredible. All too often we think we know the way the Lord could answer our prayers. For me, this was for insurance to cover some of the bill. I felt frustrated that prayer of mine wasn't answered. But, Heavenly Father had an even better idea! :) And, somewhere in arizona, is some charity that I have no way to thank or know who it is. Incredible huh? Talk about a great reminder that Heavenly Father knows ME, personally, and all my problems and cares. Now, we can just focus on the smaller bills and that means, that I think the Yukon will be fixed within a month too. SO grateful. I will love having a car to fit all my kids :) 

Our fridge and dishwasher broke again in the past few weeks. Talk about frustrating! I couldn't handle life with no fridge-- how do some people do it? We ate way too many peanut butter sandwiches and crackers.  And the dishwasher, right before the repair guy came, it just started working again. Incredible huh?

Can't forget free krispy kreme day. If you dressed like a pirate, you got a whole free dozen donuts. Kids loved it and ya, we just sat in the store and ate donuts with shaela and her kids (and some friends) :)  Did I mention Shaela announced she's pregnant again too?

This week is October break. No school for Jackson and I'm afraid I am going to be SOO boring to him :) But, I am excited to have another week of not too much going on.  Jackson also had some bad cavities - ok 9 - that we took care of this past 2 weeks. It made for 2 really long appointments for him, with lots of laughing gas and pain, but one silver tooth and 8 cavities later -- he's a new boy! I was impressed with how brave he was!

And, look how handsome he is! Love his kindergarten pictures this year!  I went to my first parent teacher conference and Mrs. Jankunas had nothing but positives to say about Jackson. She says he is so smart, and way past kindergarten level. But, she said he is also the one that answers all the questions and helps everyone. I was glad to hear he was a rule follower, and not a rule breaker. :)