Ear Update

I saw the ENT today and they are happy with how fast my recovery is doing. I have 80% of the left ear and still only 40% in the right. Again they had told me to expect 6-9 months to regain the hearing I had. I'm pretty happy that the left ear is doing so good. Again, I'm grateful for any hearing I have. Although it's been nice to not hear what the kids could be arguing about.

Bye Bye Bottle!

Last night we had a little bit of a problem. What could have happened to Michael Joseph's Bottle? Slowly they have been disappearing, one cracked, the other got left in the rental car in Georgia and I've just kept thinking well eventually he'll move on to sippy cups. Why is it baby's will drink anything from the sippy cup except milk. After searching the house multiple times I gave up and figured this is the night that we are done with the bottle. Going to bed was a little rough, and he did wake up around 3:00 a.m. but we made it!!! Wow, I've gotten rid of the crib and now the bottle. Thanks Avent for being a wonderful bottle!!!! You helped all my babies transition!!!! How many people feel the need to blog about something like that????

100th Year Celebration

We had an extra special date night on Saturday. Cecil has been going to the Sandy Rotary for a few weeks and our neighbor Ken and Marsha invited us as their guests to go to the celebration up at the University of Utah. Ken was also the flag bearer for the Sandy Club. It was an inspiring evening with wonderful entertainment, food, and talks. Mark Eaton was one of the featured guest speakers, I had never heard his story and it was incredible. I always knew the Rotary did humanitarian things, I just never realized the scale at which they do it in Utah and across the globe. I had a great time and I think I might even want to be a part of it. It might be good for me to do something once a week that gets me into the community. So the decision for Cecil is whether to join Sandy or Lehi. Either way it is awesome and was a great way to spend an evening with my neighbors and honey.

Lydia's 5th Birthday Party (LITTLE LATE, BUT WORTH THE WAIT)

At last, if I knew how to add music to my blog, that is the song I would put with this post. 5 is the first year that Lydia could have a "Friend Party". Ever since she was 3 she has been obsessed with Ratatouille the Pixar Movie. I knew I had to use that as our theme. I've been collecting Ratatouille Pez Candy for 6 months, I'd ordered a few items, had Pia make aprons for the guests. Since the whole Shern family was sick in December we cancelled the original party, but had a blast this past Saturday when it finally happened. What started out as 5 guests turned into 15, Lydia just loves people so much, she kept inviting more. So with the help of mommy's great friends we baked mini pizzas, watched some Ratatouille, unwrapped some presents, and had a pinata to bust open. Fortunately when I googled Ratatouille cakes, I came across a blog that used the cupcake pan to look like a chef's hat. I also found a pic of little mice/rat cupcakes. For all the moms' who throw a party for their kids every year, my hat's off to you. I'm still sticking with my plan of 5, 8, 12, 16. Whooh, alot of work, but a lot of fun. I'm also working on my cake skills, since Bree is off in Texas, but I'm getting there, not to shabby for someone who is challenged by the oven!

The short story

December was a rough month for the Shern family. Everyone (even Cecil) was sick. We had cancelled parties, scaled back the ones we did do, and even cancelled our weekly date nights for a whole month. Just as I thought things were getting better, I had my lovely asthma winter cough, I coughed so hard I broke my eardrums. The pain. I've had two foot surgeries, knee surgeries, my tonsils out, 3 c-sections, and a breast reduction. Hello!!! Nothing is as painful as busted ear drums. I've lost about 60% of my hearing (to return anywhere from 6-9 months). I am so grateful to the Ear, Nose & Throat Center in Draper. Dr. Sharma is my hero. My next door neighbor Bruce P.A. looked at my ears on Thursday and told me I would probably need to see a specialist. Of course being New Years Eve Weekend offices were closed. I kept thinking, I don't want to go to the Hospital, I can wait it out. This morning I made so many calls with all the Nurses saying just go to the Hospital, we're booked the next two weeks. And the Draper Group's phone systems were down. So I said a prayer that I would be seen and taken care of. I walked in there with no apt and the receptionist immediately took me to a room and had one of their P.A.'s take care of me, and then he consulted with two of the Dr.'s one of them being Dr. Sharma. So, as I ramble on and on. I'm excited for a New Year in 2011, and I'm grateful that the hearing loss isn't permanent. So forgive me for the next couple months if I seem to ignore you or keep saying What? Maybe I'll master the art of reading lips! And I'm so thankful for my answered prayer, and the Blessings of the Priesthood, and friends and family. I am a lucky girl.