The circle of life.

We lost my grandpa, Keith Cox, last wednesday. Sunday evening he was fine - well, as fine as he could be with congestive heart failure. He called my uncles together and went over all of his affairs with them, and by monday morning he could hardly carry on a conversation, tuesday he was incoherant, and died wednesday morning about 4:10 am, in his sleep, holding the hand of his wife of 65 1/2 years. He knew he was "checking out" as he told one person. He was such an amazing man. He was the most talented carpenter/wood worker I know. I will forever cherish the rocking horse he made for my kids, and the old worn out cutting boards I inherited from someone in the family (who once had green fermica in their kitchen LOL).

Grandpa is the first person that I have been close to who has passed on (well, besides cameron, but that's a different kind of relationship). I will always remember his smile, hugs, his smell, and his laugh. I feel so horrible for my grandma. To see the love that she had for him, and the heartbreak she is going through just breaks my heart. She was so strong for the viewing and funeral. Us grandkids all spoke at the funeral, and that was tough, but the hardest part for me was when they closed the casket - knowing I'd never see his face again. I am sad that my children probably won't even remember him (well, Blaine might), because he is such a great man. But I am confident in the fact that we will be together again, and that he is in a better place with a body that will allow him to continue on in the Lord's work.

And Grandpa didn't waste any time getting to work. My cousin Darcy was due with her first baby on May 11th. As of tuesday night she said she hadn't had any contractions or anything. Shortly after grandpa passed she started having labor pains, and her daughter Maysen Baily Fox was born 12 hours and 20 minutes after grandpa passed away - at 4:30 pm on April 30th. We told Darcy that Grandpa was up there picking her out, and sent her on her way with a kiss.

So, this one's for you grandpa. Until we can see each other again, I love you.

Just because I haven't posted in a while...

I guess there hasn't been too much to blog about. I forgot what life with a new puppy is like. She's a nut case, but adorable. I still miss Madison so much though.

Matt just got a little elective surgery yesterday. If everything goes as planned Maveri is our last biological child. We still have plans to maybe adopt one day, which has always been the plan. I know that being "done" is the best thing for us, but sometimes I am still sad that I will never get to be pregnant again. But, I am so grateful I was given that opportunity at all.

Blaine and Quinten are both playing soccer right now, so that takes up three days a week. Once that is over baseball starts. I get the feeling this is only the beginning, since it's only half my children playing!

In other nrews, Blaine has a girlfriend! Her name is Megan, and according to him they sit by each other in everything except P.E., and they really are getting married. But he promised me no kissing until he's at least 16! She even calls him all the time! It's pretty cute and funny, in a "you are entirely too young" sort of way!

We got our new TV last week, that's fun. We even updated our satellite to HD. We're living the high life now, LOL. I'm just glad we can have movie night again, I really missed movie night! Every friday night is "kids cookin' night" where the kids help me get dinner ready, and "movie night" where we make popcorn, set out sleeping bags for the kids and watch a movie. This was something I started YEARS ago when Quinten was first born, and Matt was working nights. Now daddy gets to be home with us for Movie Night and it's so great! I heart movie night!

Well, I think that's about it. If you're reading these give me a shout out and let me know!

Emotional Rollercoaster!

Last night was one of the most traumatic nights of my life. I was out with friends with Matt called to tell me that our beloved dog Madison got hit by a car and died (in his arms, no less). It was awful. I was a basketcase, to say the least, as was the rest of our family. Madison was the best dog any of us had ever had. She was so special with that one blue eye and one brown eye. She was smart, loving, cuddley, playful, energetic and everything else you could ever wish for in a dog. She is and will continue to be greatly missed in our home. RIP Madison.

So, at lunchtime today I got on the computer for a bit. Matt had mentioned that he had kind of looked around for another dog online, so I continued up the search. I wasn't planning on really getting anything, espeically so soon after Madison's death. But then I saw her. A 9 week old Shih Tzu puppy with a pretty purple bow in her hair. Quinten wanted to name her Sushi, and the rest of us agreed, so that is her name. She is adorable, and I know she will help the kids (and us parents) to not focus so much on the loss of our sweet Madison.



What a crazy day. My heart is full of sorrow, and my eyes full of tears still over the loss of my girl Madison, but I am excited about the upcoming chapter of life with our new little puppy (throw in the emotions of the MRI I had to day and you could say I'm emotionally wiped out). Life is so full of the unknowns and the unexpecteds.

Because one project just isn't enough!

I woke up this morning and decided I needed to conquer yet another house project. I wanted an accent wall in my kitchen/dinning room. We have some bay windows, a nook type thing, and that's where I wanted the color - Orange, ragged with darker orange!

So, off to home depot we went.

I now have a bright orange wall, waiting for the other darker color to be ragged on top (well, when it's dry).

And I did it all by myself (so far)!

Okay - it is finished! Matt thinks I should continue the orange around the other wall in the kitchen. I just might! So, here's my new orange wall....

Tag: TWO

Okay, this is a new thing for me, so here we go!

Two names you've gone by: J.J. and Jenn



Two things you have on right now: striped pj pants & argyle socks (cute, I know)


Two things you want (or have) in a relationship: FUN, and LOVE


Two of your favorite things to do: sleep and SCUBA diving

Two things you did last night: Cook Dinner, and sleep

Two people you last talked to: Matt & Kerry


Two Favorite Holidays: Halloween & 4th of July


Two Favorite Drinks: Coke & Koolaid


Two things about me you may not have known: UMMMMM - I'm a natural blonde & I was adopted.


Two Jobs you've had in my life: Old Navy & Grating Systems, Inc.


Two movies you could watch over and over: Ocean's 11 (or 12, or 13), and Aladdin


Two of your favorite foods: Pizza and Girl Scout Cookies!


Two Longest Car Rides: Disneyland with three small kids, and I'm sure my parents dragged me on some doozies when I was younger but I've blocked them out!



Two places I'd rather be right now: Grand Cayman or the Cabin!

For Our Viewing Pleasure....

Well, there goes the patio furniture we were going to buy this spring. Blaine & Quinten broke our TV in the basement last week. I called today and scheduled the repair guy to come fix it on Tuesday. About two hours later Matt and I got to talking about how nice it would be to have a nice flat panel mounted on the wall so that they couldn't even touch it.

Guess what we got??

Vizio 50" Plasma with surround sound system (720p - for those of you who care)! We got it at Costco.com because they didn't have any in any stores in Utah, so we have to wait "approximately 20 business days" for it to ship, so we'll still be without TV down there (and movie nights) for another month. BUT - I think it'll be well worth the wait.....I hope. I'm still in a little bit of "sticker shock" b/c it was so unexpected. But it will be nice.

Medical Mayhem!

So, I went to a doctor's appointment today that I have been putting off for a few months now. My daughter Maveri is 8 1/2 months old now, and all of these problems are ones that I have been having since she was born.

First off, my wrists. I got carpal tunnel syndrom when I had Maveri. My then-doc (new ins, new doc) told me that if it wasn't better in six months that I would need surgery. Obviously, I didn't go back at the six month mark. I probably wouldn't have gone back today if it weren't for the fact that the friend I borrowed the braces from needed them back! So, because it's been so long with the braces and I still can't make it through the night without my hands going numb (even with the braces on), and I can't make it through a month without needing the braces on during the day I get to do Nerve Testing tomorrow. From what I understand they are going to run electrical currents through my wrists until it hurts. The more damage I have from the CTS, the more currents it will take to make me hurt. Sounds fun, doesn't it? The results of that will determind if I need surgery or not.

Secondly, my dear sweet daughter decided to leave a lasting impression on her way out. A pain in my butt, literally, as she broke my tailbone. Now, stupid me sat on a broken tailbone for six months thinking "it'll go away soon" before I went to the doctor. That was two months ago. The doctor basically told me to get a donut pillow and if it wasn't "significantly better" in a month to come back and the next step would be cortizone injections. Seeing as I really didn't/don't want a big huge needle in me...you know...I decided to give myself two months with the pillow. But, there's really no improvement at all. So, I have to have an MRI next week to see where all my nerves are down there, and I'm scheduled for my cortizone injection not until May 5th because the ONLY doc around that does the injections in a tailbone was booked out until then. What's six more weeks of sitting on a stupid donut pillow with a broken tailbone? UGH. Neither option sounds great.

And finally, having four kids in just over five years does take a toll on your body. The price I'm paying now is arthritis in my pubic bone. At first I just thought that pain was becaues my tailbone was out of whack and causing my pelvis area to hurt. X-rays two months ago proved different - arthritis. So, I went on Voltaren for six weeks and it was wonderous. BUT, my doctor didn't give me any refils because she wanted me to have to call her back, so then she could check on my tailbone etc. Well, I managed a couple weeks without the meds before it became really painful again....thus, I called the doc and had my appointment today. This time she gave me 11 refills! Yay!

So, there ya have it. I'm 27 and falling apart - and every single thing is from my last pregnancy! Hopefully, if all goes as planned, it was my VERY last pregnancy. Matt is scheduled for his "snip snip" on April 23rd! I really think another pregnancy would do this old broken body of mine in for good.