My Super Mom

My mom came to stay with us for a week to help out while I had my surgery. All I can say is she is My Super Mom, and the kids Super Grandma. She is just amazing. It was so fun to have her out and I couldn't have survived the week without her. She came out the weekend before the surgery so we could have a little fun before. We spent Friday at Disneyland and had so much fun. Brent rode his first rollercoaster... the Matterhorn, and then Chip and Dales coaster in toon town. He was done after that, he was a little scared.
My mom was so helpful cooking, cleaning, playing with the kids, taking Taylor to school, waking up with Brent at 6am. I was so spoiled and it was so nice not to have to worry about everything else and just rest and recouperate. There was a time when I was just clearing my throat and my mom came running across the house, drink and straw in hand saying, " you need a drink, it sounds like your throat is dry." She spoiled us rotten and we loved every minute of it. Thanks mom.

WE ARE SO BLESSED!

This week has been a roller coaster of emotions. Having my thyroid removed, recovering from surgery and getting over the anesthesia, and trying to forget what the doctor told us after the surgery. (that he didn't like the way it looked and he thought it was cancer)...yuck.. Finally today we had our post. op. appointment to get my pathology results. The Dr.'s office called this morning to cancel my appointment. I was like, NO, I'm still coming, I have to know today! We already had arrangements for the kids to go places and Eric moved his schedule around so we could drive the 3 hours round trip to go to Riverside. All the Dr.'s in the office and the surgeon were booked for today so I convinced her that my internal medicine doctor who is here in Palm Desert SHOULD give me my results. He's in the same network of doctors. Luckily they said ok. So it worked out that we didn't even have to drive far. (I don't know why they didn't do that for me in the first place)
My doctor was so nice and cut right to the chase and told us everything was OK! Whew... He explained the lab results as 'adenomatous nodules with cystic degeneration, fibrosis, etc.' Which are big words that mean BENIGN, ugly and swollen, but not cancer. Yeah! He of course said he wasn't my surgeon or endocrinologist and I should still see them but as far as he could tell, everything looked OK. We asked for the A.OK to start trying again for babies, and he wanted me to make sure my thyroid levels were stable with the endocrinologist first.
But, we are just so elated that it came back CLEAR! Through the last week I've mentally gone down many scenarios in my head of what ifs... and I just feel so blessed that this trial can now be through. I have been so comforted through the entire thing, really I've been OK. I never felt like cancer would be something I would have to go through right now. But after the Dr. talked to us after surgery, we started preparing ourselves for something different. And if we would have had to go through radiation, etc. we would have been OK. (But I'm so glad we don't) I just have so much hope and faith. What would I do without the gospel? I have grown closer to the Lord through this ordeal, and maybe that's why I needed to go through it. But I just know that whatever we have to deal with in life, the Lord strengthens us if we rely on Him. I am so grateful for the power of the priesthood, and an amazing husband who is a worthy priesthood holder. Our family and friends have been so kind and have given us a shoulder to lean on, and been so supportive. Thank you for all your prayers and kind words. I have never felt so loved, thank you.
I didn't want to make this long but a few months ago when this health stuff started we also challenged the YW in our ward to memorize the Living Christ. We as leaders did it with them and all went to Disneyland as a celebration of us all doing it! (I ended up missing Disneyland because I was busy riding in an ambulance to the hospital having a dramatic miscarriage) But as I've gone through all of this I was so grateful for the words of the Living Christ that have been imprinted into my mind. All the things we go through in this life, He has experienced all the pains, disappointments, and heartache. I guess if we want to try to become like Him we have to experience at least a small portion of what He has.

Honesty

I am not the most eloquent writer when it comes to my blog, or really in any sense... and I've spent tonight catching up and changing the post date so it 'appears' I was consistently blogging, so I'll apologize now for my blubbering, or going on and on. I hope I make sense. After reading my friend Lillie's blog about how we all tend to take the great things in our lives and post them onto our blogs. Almost appearing perfect with our well thought out, edited pictures, and cute things our kids did and said that day. I am inspired to write this little entry. I hope this isn't depressing for anyone but thought since I want to turn this blog into our family journal/ scrapbook I should record all of this. And since my life is far from perfect but so far... I think I've just tried to put all the great things about us on here. I'm including a little honesty... just to keep balanced and a little real.

Last fall when I was barely pregnant I found out that the nodules that I've had on my thyroid for the last few years were now 'suspicious' and that my thyroid needed to be removed. The biopsy's I've had the last few years always came back benign and I've had the cysts aspirated/ drained and we've moved on. Well, I think it was good I changed doctors and went to an endocrinologist and got things looked at closer. They couldn't tell me if the biopsy was benign or malignant, and since I've had these thyroid issues they said we'd need to remove it to make sure the pathology was clear, and this way wouldn' t have to worry about any more growths.

So we took this news in stride and prayed for inspiration in what to do since I was pregnant and the surgery might cause me to miscarry, or hurt the baby. So we decided to put it off until this summer after the baby would be due. At 13 weeks, I ended up miscarrying just the week before Eric and I were scheduled to go to Hawaii. My sister's ticket was already bought and everything was in place. (she came to take care of the kids while we were gone) So after begging my doctor to still let me go (and promising him a Hawaiian pineapple in return.) (the deal was I could go, but no swimming and no sex) ... so much for Eric's Hawaiian dreams... I met Eric in Hawaii and I did my recovering on the beach laying out trying to forget that I wasn't pregnant anymore. And wondering if this was the Lord's way of telling me that I needed to deal with the thyroid issue and then worry about expanding my little family.
(I hope I don't sound flippant about all of this... I think I've explained it so much and I'm super tired and probably still drugged up a little)
After many doctor's visits and drives back and forth to Riverside I finally had my surgery on Monday. My mom has been out here this week helping me and being the Super Grandma/ fill in Mom. The nurses told me I was a 'light-weight.' And unfortunately they we not referring to my actual weight. They meant I responded to anesthesia quickly without alot of drugs. I'm sure it's because I don't drink or do any drugs. (I'm so grateful for the Word of Wisdom)
So coming out of surgery was hard because I was so out of it and of course in pain. The surgeon spoke to us after and told us he didn't like the way the thyroid looked but couldn't tell us for sure until it went through pathology. ... not what we wanted to hear. But we are hopeful and I keep holding on to the priesthood blessing Eric gave me a few months ago when this all arose and he blessed me that it wouldn't be cancer and that everything would work out.
I have such a great husband who was by my side the entire time, helping me throw up over the side of the wheel chair and holding my iv for me all the while. He has been such a strength to me, I'm so grateful for him.
So now I am thyroid-less. if that's a word? I'm taking medication and slowly getting back to normal... i can't believe I'm still awake. it's all the napping I'm doing... And now I have this lovely incision across my neck... as my daily reminder. Brent keeps looking at it and saying, "band aid?" and blowing on it. :)
I have been so blessed through this whole ordeal with a supportive family, such great friends, my sweet little young women. (They had New Beginnings last night and I of course had to miss it but the presidency came over with a beautiful bouquet of roses with notes attached to each rose from a different girl) our young women's is so amazing... that's another post
At this point I have to be grateful for these trials, really so many other people have much bigger issues in their life to work out. It has brought my family closer and I have grown closer to the Lord. I just have to learn to rely on Him and accept His will for me. We will keep everyone posted on Monday, when we get our results.
Eric thought I should include my picture of my 'lovely' neck. Sorry if it's graphic.
...I never knew how heavy my head was until it was hard to hold up...

Clean out your closets!

My last little project in Young Women's has been helping Meisha Lee with a service project that she has been wanting to do for some time now. She has researched and found that in many third world countries many people don't have shoes. Because of this there many kids cannot attend school, they get hook worm and other diseases. So it's been Meisha's vision to have a SHOE DRIVE. So in the foyer of the Indio Building there are boxes and signs for our shoe drive. SO NOW'S A GREAT TIME TO DO SOME SPRING CLEANING AND DONATE YOUR OLD SHOES YOU DON'T WEAR ANYMORE. And you know what that means. Where there is empty space, there is reason to shop for more! (I just went to DSW last week and they have some great deals.) We are going through the Soles4Souls organization and Meisha is actually hand delivering them to their warehouse in Vegas when the shoe drive is finished. They collect all the shoes and deliver them to third world countries and even within the US where needed.

We have the big combined YW/YM activity where we are compiling all the shoes and ending the service project on Wednesday Feb. 27th. So bring them this Sunday!

Happiest Place on Earth!

My mom came into town on Valentine's Night to help me for the week. I'm having surgury on Monday, so we wanted to have a little fun first before I turned into the patient. So Taylor played hookie from school on Friday and Eric and Curt took the day off and we went to the D-LAND! We had so much fun. We went to Disneyland first and hit all the rides we could, and then to California Adventure. (SpaceMountain, Buzz Light year-Brent's favorite, the Madderhorn, Toon Town- the parade, and then over to Soaring, Grizzly rapids, the jelly fish, the Boomer, etc. etc. We discovered that Brent was tall enough to ride the Matterhorn! It was his first rollercoster and he did great. He sat right in front of me with his hands covering his eyes the whole time. He said, 'Mommy, scared' a few times.







I kind of felt bad like we forced him into something he didn't want to do. Then when we rode the chip and dale roller coaster in toon town he wasn't very excited and then when we went to Pirates, and he was determined not to go. He was like a spider monkey attached to my midsection with his head buried into my chest. The rest of the day, we didn't push him and he had a great time. Taylor has no fear and goes on everything she's tall enough to ride on. She's waiting for the day until she's tall enough to go on Indiana Jones.
I think the parade is still my favorite part. I even love when the characters wave at me. Taylor and I look at each other and smile and think we are princess's too. (some of you might think I'm pathetic, but it's just magical for me) I love it. It was so fun!
My sister, Sarah and her family was also able to come into town for the weekend to see us and my mom. We had a great Sat/ Sunday together. I love my family. My mom is just like a sister to me, I wish Angie could have been here too.
They all went on Monday to the Living Desert while Eric took me for my surgury, and had a great time.
What a great weekend!

Happy Valentine's Day!

What a great day we had for HEART DAY! The young women came over last night for an activity of making cupcakes and Valentine hearts, so we were in the Valentine spirit a little early. I sent Taylor earlier in the week (trying to be on the ball) with her Valentines so she'd have them ready for the big day, and a little girl in her class told her she HAD to hand them out that day (Tues.)! So after a little talk of 'you don't have to do what your friends tell you to do.' We went to Target and bought a second round of Valentine's for her to hand out. Her classmates got lots of love from her this week.

Taylor had a heart healthy party at school for her Valentine Party so I was asked to bring heart shaped blueberry muffins for her class party. So the day before we had lots of fun baking lots and lots of blueberry muffins, some for her class and some for us. My mom was always so cute on holidays and had a little something for us. So following in her footsteps, Cupid came to our house Valentine morning and brought everyone a little something. Tay got a new little outfit, a new coloring book, some new crocks*, and lots of cute Valentine's from her Grandma's/ Great-Grandmas/ Cousins. She also got her cute Valentine bag from Grandma Mimi and Poppie to take her Valentine's to school in. Thanks Mimi and Poppie! Brent got an AquaDoodle, a coloring book and some crocks (*the target version) and Valentines. Eric got some new white church shirts and even Uncle Curt got a new tie from Cupid. We had a delicious Valentine breakfast in these ramekins I've been wanting to use. (I love the dollar section in Target!) I made egg souffles in them and they turned out so yummy! We also had the heart shaped blueberry muffins.
We also had a broker's caravan at our house that morning from 10-1. Since I was volunteering in Tay's classroom that morning we had to have our Valentine Family Breakfast, have the house perfect and everyone out of the house, with Valentines, muffins, and clean children in tow. Whew... I can't imagine if I worked and that was our morning every morning. It'd be so crazy. I'm probably a wimp. Brent went over to Brinley's to play and I had such a fun morning in Tay's classroom helping. Kindergarten is so magical. I'm so grateful for Tay's great teacher, Ms. Orduno. I'm sad she'll have to finish Kinder in another school.
We ran to Costco after Kindergarten and picking Brent up to get a few things before my mom came that night.
Curt was our babysitter for our Valentine's date. Can I just say I am the luckiest girl. Eric is so good at making things magical and memorable. He surprised me and took me to Jillian's. It's a restaurant tucked behind El Paseo in a old house that they've renovated into this quaint restaurant. It is his favorite restaurant, and I've never been before. He's only been there for work functions, so it was fun for me to go. We had the BEST dinner, delicious appetizers, lamb, lobster fettuccine, and mouth watering desserts. I'm still dreaming about the meal... and still having to work it off too. :)
After our amazing dinner we went to the airport and picked my mom up from the airport.
What a great day!

Happy Monday

Taylor didn't have school today. I think it's Martin Luther King's birthday, or something significant I just can't remember. But it was fun to have a little day off. We decided to go to the Living Desert and spend the morning. I left the house tidy, just as I usually do these days since we are selling it. But I didn't leave it "show ready," with all the lights on, the music playing, etc. etc. So as we were walking in the entrance I got a call from Curt saying a realtor called and wanted to show it in an hour. He was sweet and said that he'd moved some mail I had out and made Taylor's bed for me. When I told Taylor about the realtor, she looked at me with big eyes and said, "I didn't make my bed this morning." It was cute... I reassured her that Curt had done it for her. I told her we'd have to run home and she was devastated. I swear, selling this house is getting in the way of me trying to be a good mom. So I called the realtor hoping my phone wouldn't die, (I didn't charge it the night before) and asked if she could come in the afternoon. Whew... it all worked. We saw the giraffe's, the wild animal show, the butterfly exhibit and we were out of there just in time to get home to make the house perfect and leave again so they could see the house. We had so much fun. We haven't been to the living desert for a while and Brent is at a perfect age for LOVING all the animals and especially the big train. (The Living Desert is getting a Lion Exhibit soon.. big news. Tay was really excited)

We love our Uncle Curt

Eric's brother, Curt has been living with us since Christmas doing his internship with Marriott Vacation Club as a Marketing Executive during this winter semester. He's going to BYU Idaho and is graduating in business in December. He's been staying in our guest room and has his own little area of the house for privacy. We have loved having him here, especially with Eric still traveling and gone to orange county most of the week. It's so nice to go to sleep and know that I'm not the only adult in the house and even better, to have a priesthood holder just across the house. I sleep so much better. It's made Eric being gone more tolerable. Curt is so helpful around the house and the kids just love him. He very patient with them and even lets them climb in his bed and he'll upload their favorite Rascal Flatts 'Cars' video and they'll dance on his bed. (I'm sure a few of you are wondering if you have cute single sisters, yes, he's taken. He has an adorable girlfriend patiently waiting his return to Idaho)
We love you Uncle Curtie, thanks for being so great!

Crazy for Hannah Montana!

Taylor got to use her Hannah Montana Concert Movie tickets today that she got in her stocking on Christmas morning.
For any of you not familiar with Hannah Montana/ Miley Cirus, she is quite the phenomenon and the big hit right now. Even though Taylor is only 5 she really loves her. Her songs are quite cute, and innocent for the most part. We thought it would be fun to take her to the concert last summer when it was here in L.A. but tickets were impossible to get and I'm wasn't going to be crazy and pay through the nose to get them. So we thought the concert/movie was the perfect plan B. It was a mommy/ daughter date and we had so much fun. I didn't want to miss Pres. Hinckley's funeral broadcast that Saturday, so we got to the movie theatre only 15 minutes early. big mistake... We were lucky to get a seat. There weren't any two seats next to each other in the entire theatre, so Taylor sat on an end seat and I sat behind her and then moved into the aisle and sat next to her. It was so much fun and I loved it too. There was so much screaming in the theatre, you would have thought Miley was there in person, but the kids were so excited, it was really cute. Taylor and I sang to the words and she looked at me and asked me to be quite (she actually joked with me and said, 'mom, zip it," and laughed) the whole 'zip it lock it put it in your pocket' kindergarten phrase is coming to bite me back. I guess I was embrassing her... only she could sing along. oh what I have to look forward to.... :)
We did love our little girl date and even went and got our toes painted afterwards. I love my little girl.

A Great Tribute

I have to admit Glenn Beck is one of my favorite people. If you don't know him, he is a Policitcal Pundit/ Conservative Radio Talkshow host/ and now has his own TV show on CNN Headline News/ and Author. I love his take on things. He doesn't claim loyalty to a political side, but claims himself as a conservative/ a thinker/ and sometimes a rodeo clown. (he's also a comedian) So anyways, I listen to his radio program everyday, and when I miss it, I listen to the podcast later. Because I'm a Glenn Beck Insider, I have access to all his podcasts, etc. Anyways did I mention that I really like him. I'm hoping to visit his studio next time I go to NYC.
OK, I know I'm a geek. And Eric has even accused me of having a crush on him, which is not completely accurate, but has a little truth to it.
On Monday night he gave a great tribute to President Hinckley at the end of his show that was really touching. I just wanted to share. I thought it was really neat that he did this dedication on a live television show. (he is LDS by the way)

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/200/5127/?ck=1

I truly will miss our dear President Hinckley. I am grateful for his lifelong service to our church and to the Lord that he dedicated his life to. I know he and sweet Margarie are still making their rounds greeting and embracing the many people in heaven who are welcoming him home. Think how many people have had their temple work done because he dedicated and built so many temples here on earth. I hope that I can look to his wonderful example and strive to be better.

Tennis anyone?

Since soccer ended in December, Taylor has started Tennis lessons now and she is loving it. She is taking them over at the Tennis Center at the JW Marriott. (gotta love that even Tennis lessons have Associate Rates) :) There are only 4 girls in her little class, so it's a nice small group. It helps that her good friends, Emma and Claire Jones are in her same class. They have so much fun. The entire hour is full of games, games and more tennis games. The girls don't even realize they are actually learning tennis skills because they are having such a blast. All 4 girls where pink every week, and even their teacher wore pink today, they were so tickled. They are the cute pink tennis girls!

Brent needs a 2 and under class to join. He runs along side with them and when he gets away from me, he joins in their drills. He's actually really coordinated. We've learned to bring my racket for him to play with on the sidelines with me. Otherwise he's stealing everyone's elses racket and running for the loose balls.

It's Official....

We are moving. Yes, it's official. It has been in the works for the last few months. Marriott wants Eric in the Orange County office M-F. Since last March, he has been leaving Tues and coming back on Thurs, and then at his Shadow Ridge office on Mondays and Fridays. It is really a blessing for our family, it has been hard to have Dad gone during the week and we are excited to have him home every night. Wow, what will it be like to not have to get a babysitter to go to YW's, Enrichment or a girls night every once in a while? Although I do have to say it has been nice to have Eric's brother, Curt here to help out with the kids at night when I need him. He is living with us and doing his internship at the Marriott until April. So he will pack up with us and probably work out of the O.C. office also.
It is really so bittersweet... We love living in the desert. We love the friends we've made here, we love our ward, we love our house and yard. But we know this is an answer to our prayers so we can be a real family. I am grateful that Marriott is moving us out there... that means I don't have to box up anything. YEAH! And I'm grateful that they've made it so we can afford to live out there too. Yikes, yes the neighborhoods are great and all but it's expensive.
So if anyone knows anyone who wants a great house for a great price send them our way. (4 bedroom/ 3 bath, 2060 sq.ft. gated community/ quite neighborhood/ DSUSD schools/ lots of upgrades in the house: 4" baseboards throughout, new custom media center and cupboards in the family room, upgraded guest area with laminate wood floors, wainscoting, and beautiful custom tile guest shower/ bathroom) ... I can't say enough great things about my house. I'm sad to leave it.
If any of you have any suggestions on neighborhoods/ areas you know of in the O.C. that are nice, let us know. We have an idea where we want to be but it's not set in stone. We really like the Rancho Santa Margarita area. (It's just past Mission Viejo)
So now the fun begins... keeping the house spotless, for potential viewers. (I know the market is slow, so maybe they will be few an far between but I still have to have the house ready to show.) So I forsee many movies for the kids so I can make my vacuum lines while they sit on the couch. :)

2007 Gillis Christmas Movie

So for Christmas, we put together a little movie with all of our pictures from Christmas. Take a look and tell us what you think!

Go to: http://gallery.mac.com/ekgillis#100029

Or you can go to the Gillis Media Gallery on our links to the left and then click on the Movie. Hope you enjoy.

Sioux City Root Beer

This is good Root Beer, but lost a lot of points because it is an impersonator. It is a mix between Barq's and A&W. It has a lot of likability, but I am looking for a Root Beer that stands out on its own. There is a fine line with Sparkle and Smoothness. This is an argument in the family right now; can you have strong sparkle, yet still be smooth. I argue that you can. I have yet to find the perfect combination, but it has to exist. What are your thoughts? Do you have an opinion on this?

Smoothness:.......2
Rootness:..........2.7
Sparkle:.............4
Originality:.........1.5
Likability:..........3.5
Branding:...........3

Overall:............ 2.8

Mason's Root Beer

This was a pleasant surprise and one of the better Root Beers that we have had in the show down. It claims to have a keg brewed flavor, and I would have to agree with Mason's on this count. It had a great smoothness to it and a good root flavor as well. This would be a good ol' BBQ Root Beer that you could break out for the friends. Website: www.realsoda.com The score is as follows:

Smoothness:........4
Rootness:............3
Sparkle:..............3
Originality:.......2.9
Likability:........3.5
Branding:..........2.5

Overall:.............3.2

Baron's Boothill Sassparilla

Well, the packaging is nothing to right home about, but I guess it matches a Sassparilla. When testing this Root Beer, it just came up with very little taste to it. It was still better than the Abita we tested before this, but lacked some of the other characteristics I'm looking for, like rootness. This is a Root Beer you give to your kids or your in-laws to make them feel special because it's Root Beer in a bottle, but you feel good because you didn't have to waste the good stuff on people who wouldn't appreciate! So here is the score:

Smoothness:.........4
Rootness:..............1
Sparkle:..............2.5
Originality:.........3.5
Likability:...........2.5
Branding:.............2

Overall:..............2.6

Does she remind you of anybody?

Let's just say Taylor is going through a stage. At least I hope it is! My five year old is going on fifteen. We have arguments/ melt downs every morning about what she's wearing for school. AND her School has UNIFORMS. It should be easy but it's not. She will cry and say I have nothing to wear. I don't like that, I don't like this... etc. Which some mornings I'm patient with and we go over many options etc, and some mornings it just makes me mad and then I'm probably just sinking down to her level by arguing over a silly outfit. She's 5 shouldn't I be able to have some say in what she wears?
Well today I threw in the towel. To try to solve our dilemma last night I suggested that we pick her outfit out so we wouldn't be rushed the next morning. She then told me that when she's grown up she wants to be a fashion designer. (I didn't even know what a fashion designer was when I was 5!) So I let her put together her own 'masterpiece.' Being tired it didn't bother me too much, but in the morning I almost took back my promise, but I stayed strong and told her it looked great and she did a good job choosing. I don't ever remember my mom telling us we had to wear something (except something appropriate for church) And that's how kids express themselves... right? Well Eric and I thought there was a slight resemblance to a certain childhood TV star. So Taylor is our new little PUNKY. And we love her that way!