Oh they say when you're married in June... (name that musical)

I finally went to the doctor about my many ailments a few weeks back. (I was actually taking Joe in for his 2 year appointment and the peditrician heard me coughing and asked what I had been diagnosed with and I had to sheepishly admit I hadn't been to see anyone yet and she promptly sent me down the hall to see someone.) Turns out a little bronchitis and walking pnemonia won't go away on their own! Anyways, I am feeling a bit more up to snuff (what exactly does that mean?) and my brain is thinking about things again instead of being in a illness induced stupor of thought! Here is something I have been thinking about....

June being wedding month... I have been hearing a lot of funny funny stories about weddings and honeymoons and I wanted to share some and hopefully hear some more.


1) Honeymoon story #1: Couple checks into hotel and in their hurry to get in the room leave the key in the lock only to be terrified a few hours later by the bell boy pounding on the door to tell them to take their key inside.

2) Honeymoon story #2: Couple makes reservation at a darling little bed and breakfast but upon arrival find out that the bathroom is just open into the bedroom. No door just a little curtain separating the unfortunate person with an upset stomach from the room where their beloved is waiting. Good thing they had already said "Yes".

3) Honeymoon story #3: Couple checks into hotel and decides to fill up the bath for a luxurious soak but gets a bit distracted and the tub overflows and they get a call from the front desk that the room below them is getting wet and they spend the entire night with the clean up crews moving the giant fans around trying to dry up the water!


Have you got any funny stories to share?

I Surrender!

I give in! or up! or out! Whichever direction I need to go. I have been sick for an entire month and I am done!

• First I got this weird flu. I call it flu part 1. I got a high fever, chills and horrible body aches. It lasted about 4 days.


• Second I got a stuffy nose, sore throat, pressure in my head thing. I call it head cold. It lasted for about 1 week.


• Third I got what I call walking pnemonia. I only diagnose it this way because I could still walk but I couldn't breath! It turned into a horrible, HORRIBLE cough. I have had this cough for 2 going on 3 weeks now. I can actually hear gurgling in my lungs! Gross but interesting. It kind of sounds like pop rocks in your chest!


• Then I finally got flu part 2 this week. This was symptomized by the more normal, disgusting and obvious signs of the illness. I won't go into too many details. Suffice it to say I actually considered taking my pillow into the bathroom to sleep in between "episodes". Lucky for me that has only been going on for 2 days.
  

Finally Mom insisted that I get a blessing which Dave and Andrew were nice enough to do! So nice to have worthy priesthood holders around! I am already feeling better just wiped out!
Here is the list of medicines/suggestions that have been recommended for me to try:

Tylenol PM, Immodium, Pepto Bismal, Claritin, Mucinex, Benadryl, Advil, Airborne, Diet Coke (apparently it helps Aunt Tricia when her head hurts), Get an antibiotic and a more powerful decongestant from your Doctor! Gargle with salt water, Use Vicks on your throat and chest, Use the vaporizer, Get an air filter, SLEEP.

Anything you would like to add?

Shortest Spring Ever!

It was in the high 70's today and it felt great. I was actually thinking of doing some yard work. Then I listened to the radio. It may SNOW tomorrow. Welcome Winter. Again. I tell you I really do love having 4 seasons but Spring is always a gyp.

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I did. Eventually...

See I got the flu on Wednesday. It wasn't what I usually think of when I get the flu it was just the chills and aches. Multiplied by about ...let's say... a million. I was so cold that I had 4-5 layers on and was wrapped in a blanket laying in bed under 3 others blankets and was shaking violently! It would have been funny except my body hurt. My skin hurt to be in it. It was so horrible! I was laying in bed crying and begging Dave to come get snuggle and get me warm only to yell at him when he did because 1) he was way too cold (sure sign I am sick since I know Dave is a furnace (not a gas one!!)) and 2.) it hurt when he touched me! Fun times for the both of us. Felt better Thursday morning. Went shopping with Mom in the afternnon. Started feeling chilled. Went to Haley's parents to record the Tricia/Brandon song for the wedding luncheon wrapped in blankets with a couple of jackets on! Felt better on Saturday Night!

Tricia's Carter Family Shower: Fun to see Carter Cousins. Fun to hear the Tricia/Brandon story rehashed. (It's a good one). Fun to hear horror Honeymoon stories. (I may share some later!) Yummy food! (Thanks to the Aunts!) Meeting Kaile, Cambria's fiance. Good laughter. Some tears (it's ok remember). Grandma's shocking dirty old men comments! Much laughter.

Sunday: The Renchers & their teaching tears! Dave and I did dinner for Mom and later that evening Tricia/Brandon and Andrew/Jenn came over to chat and play. We were laughing because after talking we found out that 4 of us taught lessons that day and all 4 of us cried a bit. The topics were difficult.

• I had to teach the YW about The Blessings of the Priesthood in the Home. thanks.
  
• Andrew taught on Enos being taught from his father in Gospel Doctrine.


• Brad had to talk to the YM on the Resurrection and


• Mom (this is the obscure one) talked on the Allegory of the Olive Tree (WHAT?) They were talking about the fruit that righteous branches will bear and how that would relate to them (the young single adults) Anyway they discussed that righteous children could be a fruit of righteous living... Mom.... righteous children... tears.

It was a stellar day for the Rencher Teachers!

Another great part of the day was laughing with Andrew & Jenn about the Office and how awkward it was. I felt awkward watching it. I don't particularly love feeling awkward but there were some good lines.

Pam: I don't care what they say about me. I just want to eat. Which I realize is a lot to ask for. At a dinner party.

• Pam: What a cute bench. Michael: Thanks, that's my bed. Jan has, uh, some space issues so I crawl up on that puppy. Jim: Really? 'Cause it seems pretty narrow...and short. Michael: It's actually a lot bigger than it seems. Look at this. Jan: See? He fits perfectly.


• Jim: Michael and Jan seem to be playing their own separate game, and it's called, "Let's See How Uncomfortable We Can Make Our Guests." And they're both winning. So I am going to make a run for it.
  

I have to tell you one of my new favorite shows that is actually clean enough to recommend to Mom is Eli Stone. Tough lawyer... hallucinations (many musical in nature) ... doctor/brother tells him brain aneurysm.... don't tell anyone... Acupuncturist/spiritual advisor calls them visions... fiance... outspoken assistant doesn't like her... boss is fiance's dad... new cute lawyer believes in him...I like it!

Spring Break Rollins Style!

Well, we are back!

We had a shaky start as we travelled to Winnemucca and checked into the hotel only to discover that Alex had a horrible fever, swollen glands and a sore throat. I was sure he had strep as it has been going around our neighborhood! What a mess. Lucky for me I had brought some Tylenol so we got him comfortable enough to sleep. Needless to say the first thing we did in California was take him to an Urgent Care! I was shocked to find that though he might have strep his throat woes were nothing compared to his horrible ear infection. Once again showing the medical world that I am indeed the Worlds Worst Mother! Sara and I had spent our time in the waiting room talking about how we need a Dr. in the family if for no other reason than to check for ear infections! Both of us have had the experience of 1) taking the screaming child in and having no infection and 2) taking the child in for a well-child checkup and being told that he/she has a double ear infection! So 10 minutes later I have another "I swear he never even mentioned his ear was hurting" moment! Sometimes I tell you I feel like I need to have my child fill out one of those medical questionnaires before I take him in to the doctor. Do you have a history of ear pain? Does this area hurt? How about this one? I also think I should swear him in before questioning him because he tells me his neck is killing him, which I reported to the doctor but when she asks him he says... Nope it doesn't hurt! It is all a plot to make me look like the WWM! He acutally didn't get better until Saturday night, Sunday morning. Until that point he couldn't walk and if he did he hunched over to the side and kept one hand up by his chest and the other on his head. He looked like a little special child! It was hilarious.
We had the best time with Brad,Sara, Alli and of course Adam, Emma and Ethan! Sara is a brilliant hostess and it is amazing to me that even in the middle of the chaos of remodeling the entire house it is still something you would see in the Pottery Barn catalog! Their house was great before and it will be absolutely amazing when they sell it!

Friday we spent a Very, Very, VERY full day in San Francisco and wore the boys right out! We did Fisherman's Wharf, (complete with clam chowder), the cable car, Chinatown, Ghirardelli Square, the Aquarium and even saw Lombard Street although by this time it was dark!

By far my favorite thing that we did was go to pier 45 and check out the WWII Submarine and the WWII Merchant Vessel. We spent 2 hours touring through those with the boys and talking about what their Great-grandfathers did in the Navy and seeing how they may have lived! It was so cool!






Saturday was Adam's baptism. It was beautiful! There is something to be said for living in a small ward! Adam was the only baptism on that day and all the talks and stories and slides shows were directed right to him. Adam inherited a bit of his fathers fashion sense and was a bit mortified by the white jumper that he was supposed to wear. His desire to be baptized won out and after seeing his own dad in an equally attractive (not to mentioned a bit hiked up on his backside) outfit the baptism program commenced. Alli gave a great talk on baptism and the importance of the gate he was opening that day. Sara had put together a wonderful slide show about Adam and then Brad baptized him. We sang songs as we waited for Brad and Adam to get dressed in their far more stylish outfits and join us again. I then gave a talk on the gift of the Holy Ghost with help from both Josh and Aaron. They told Adam what they have felt like when they fell the Holy Ghost. Then Brad confirmed him. What a glorious day for Brad, Sara, Adam and the rest of the family. We were so glad that we were there. That day alone made the entire trip worth it!

After the after baptism celebration we loaded up everyone this time and went across the Golden Gate bridge (cool) to Muir Woods (awesome). They aren't as big as the giant redwoods (or so I am told) but they fit the bill as far as I was concerned! It was incredible! The world in all it's variety is such a beautiful place. After our hike we took the 1 up the coast a ways to Stinson Beach! The scenery there was breathtaking! I love to see the waves crash up on the rocks and see the ocean stretch out forever. The sun was going down and it was so wonderful. We got out and ran in the FREEZING cold water for a few minutes which was great for some good laughs and many squeals!




Sunday we had a great Easter and thank goodness the Easter Bunny found my boys all the way in Suunyvale! Who knew bunnies were so smart? We went to church and my boys experienced the joy of going to Sara's primary!

We loved the chance to just sit and chat with the family! We love our Rencher cousins and the aunts and uncle that they live with!