Phantom!

The first time I saw Phantom of the Opera I was in 4th grade, 9 years old. My grandma used to take the entire family to a musical each Christmas. This particular show was one of the greatest nights of my life. What an experience. Michael Crawford played Phantom. I was completely entranced the entire show.

I remember waking up to the sound of Phantom of the Opera on Sunday mornings. My mom played the music so we would be familiar with it before going to the show. My sister and I used to lay in bed at night singing the songs. At one time she and I could recite the entire show word for word. Trust me, that was one sure way to annoy the heck out of my dad! Well, my wonderful, magnificent, talented and otherwise spectacular sister is taking me to Phantom of the Opera in LA for my birthday! Yeah! I can not even begin to tell you how excited I am! I love you sis! 

Afterthought: Maybe I should go finish your wedding scrapbook before I come to see you. I mean it is what? Only your third anniversary in March...oops!

Hulse Baby #3 01.26.09

Here is Hulse baby #3. The ultrasound tech said I am measuring exactly on my due date - August 27, 2009. I totally and completely think this baby is a boy. Johnny and I make boys. That is just how it works for us. I feel wonderful except for being tired and that is to be expected. I have not been sick at all. If I were having a girl I think I would be sick. I just "feel" that it is a boy and I am okay with that. 

For now we will call "it" peanut, but I like Wesley (**sigh**, it makes me think of Princess Bride). Johnny is thinking Wyatt. He said he wanted Wyatt, Morgan, or Virgil. I vetoed the last two in a heartbeat and told him to stop watching Tombstone! I have issues picking names. I want all my offspring to have a name of their own, no rhyming or all starting with the same letter. They are each unique. I don't even want them to have the same sounding end to their names. I think Wesley Hulse would be a good name. Not to knock Wyatt but I have never been a fan. For some reason I think I would feel the need to dress him as a cowboy his entire life. 

If by chance this baby surprises me, (which I highly doubt) I like the name Eliza. Johnny only likes Eliza if it is spelled Alyza, but that is a little too strange for me! He also likes Angelica but that makes me think of Rugrats. I like Eve, but does that sound strange? Eve Hulse? It seems we need a first name with more than one syllable. 

It is late and I should not be thinking about baby names yet. 30 more weeks to go.

My happy boys...

My happy boys in their Christmas church clothes. I love sweater vests.

What a Week!

Last Saturday: Went to a birthday party. Daniel started throwing up pink frosting in the car on the way home.

Sunday: Daniel threw up all over the kitchen. Johnny and I traded off at church. Sacrament meeting was quite peaceful sitting all by myself. Laundry.

Monday: Daniel was getting better, Jaxon started getting sick. Laundry.

Tuesday: Jaxon started throwing up. Johnny was out of town. Laundry. Laundry. Laundry.

Wednesday: Daniel was complaining his tummy hurt. Jaxon was still sick. Daniel was bored being in the house and threw screaming tantrums most the day. The boys were hardly eating anything. I came home from a church activity to Jaxon hysterical. After a few hours of him literally screaming in pain I took him to urgent care about 10:30pm. Diagnosis: Severe ear infection in left ear. Treatment: Antibiotics & ear drops. Pharmacy: Argument with pharmacist over pink coloring of antibiotics. In bed after midnight.

Thursday: Johnny was home from work. Yeah! I started getting sick. Daniel threw another tantrum and started slamming/kicking doors. I tried to stop the door slamming as he swung the door shut. It went back and the door lever caught him in the forehead. Daniel started screaming that he couldn't see. See below. 2nd trip to urgent care. (about 5pm) Diagnosis: Hematoma and one missing tube from the left ear, vision was not impaired.

Treatment: Cold packs & heaps of motherly guilt. Emergency trip to COSTCO for pull-ups. Jaxon pukes up the pink antibiotics after checking out. Johnny starts calling Daniel funny names.

Friday: 1am Daniel in our room saying his ears are bleeding. Screaming, crying, complaining, bribing, pleading, etc. 3am Daniel in our room saying his ears are bleeding. 3:01am 3rd trip to urgent care. Receptionist laughs as I walk in. They kindly don't charge me. Dr. confirms Daniel's ears are not in fact bleeding. His left ear is just draining fluid from having the tube come out. Daniel says "okay" stops crying and I take him home. He goes right to sleep. Ward temple night. Crying in the celestial room over my terrible week.

Saturday: I still don't feel good. Suffering from guilt, pregnancy, and sleep deprivation. Playing in Pioneer Park. Fun time with family. Daniel enjoyed seeing the train. Jaxon and Daniel play in the water of a drinking fountain. Daniel falls in the water and hits his head again (same spot). More motherly guilt. 5:45pm talking with neighbors; hear Jaxon scream. Johnny is holding our crying baby but it is not a normal cry. Jaxon had an inch and a half gash across his chin. 4th (YES 4TH!) trip to urgent care. Receptionist laughs as I walk in. Diagnosis: Split chin. Ear infection in left ear is gone, now right is infected. Treatment: Medical glue and gauze. Stay on vomit inducing antibiotics.

Sunday: Can't even lift my head off the pillow. Still feeling sick. Sleep until 9! Oops, church started at 8! Walk around in a daze. Try to go to another ward sacrament meeting to "make up" for missing ours. Fight with Daniel for almost an hour over wearing his church shoes. Go to the other ward. The meeting started an hour ago...we were misinformed. Go home. Crawl in a hold and die. Try not the think about the $150.00 we spent at urgent care this week. Pray we don't have to go again.

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008 was small and relaxing. My parents came into town from California. Since my little sister lives in Nepal and my older sister had her tonsils out the day before it was just us. I enjoyed having my parents come and my boys LOVE Mumzie and Pauna!

I didn't put up a real tree this year. Only a sad little outline on the wall. I know. I was a Scrooge, but honestly it was better this way. My boys would have destroyed a real tree and I was feeling overwhelmed as it was. So, this is all we had, but love was a plenty, so we were not left wanting.

My boys loved their new Radio Flyer wagon. Jaxon climbed in and out all day. They also loved playing new games and spending time together. I love Christmas.

The boys looked so cute in their new Church clothes (thank you cousin Kim & Aunt Louanna).