I love Chuck

Top Ten Things I have learned lately...

1. After spelling weird wrong for 30 years, I realized (we) starts the word and that makes total sense to my brain.

2. Never EVER drink water sitting by hubbies side of the bed, it may just be his spit out grotesque gargled salt water from his messed up teeth.

3. I am kind of perplexed how I can love horse radish so much, and not understand where and how it comes about.

4. Fisher-Price toy packages are harder to break into than my house.

5. Sometimes nasty gas stations bathrooms are just what you need when you have had five children and too much to drink.

6. Kids pick up more than you know... After reading a book with Monkey one night she said, "Mom, I am always nice to you.  I have never in my life said something mean." I said, "I know and that is why I love you!"  then she said..."Unless I'm really mad, then I just say it in my head...like you know when you're mad at dad?..."uuuhhh ya.." "Like that...."

7. If I were 14 again,  would have "Beiber Fever" too!

8. Plain White T's new album rocks the house.

9. Sometimes blond jokes get old, even degrading at times and I have to wonder what in the world a shade of hair has to do with personality, and then I do something like test the warmth of a frying pan with my hand and it doesn't matter anymore.

10.  If you and your hubzy wear twin snuggies and you go to Mc Donalds in them and you are asked if they are snuggies..."you" are pretty awesome 

So tonight Jon and RBM are being recognized for being one of the fastest growing businesses in the UV50 magazine for the third year in a row!  Thanks to our team at RBM for making this happen, and thanks to Jon for juggling all he does every day.  It isn't easy to balance so many businesses but somehow he pulls it off.

{it isn't always pretty}

So guess what?!

I am finally backing up all 105 GB of pictures clogging up my computer.  I will finally be able to download the past few months of happenings and share them with you, cause I know you would just die without that! 

So lately I have been thinking that there are so many funny things about his blogging world!  One funny thing are the blogs I go to because I think the mommies look so put together and fun and their parties are well, to die for and their houses are decorated to the max and get all excited when I see all of their crafty ideas and their foodie masterpieces and perfect outfits  and dressed up kids on all their vacations and fabulousness and I think...

Why can't I do all those things?  

I mean, I cook spaghetti perty dang great and I even manage to get dressed once a week and what is my blog about?  It kinda reminds me of Seinfeld...it's about nothing and everything at the same time.

And then I realize after I visit these blogs I sometimes want to barf.  

Maybe it's because I feel less somehow...or not good enough...or like I don't have enough and I know this isn't why people blog, but it can turn into that....actually sure I have done it without even meaning to.  That's why I died laughing today when I visited a blog that my sister in law referred me to...I have been laughing at her all day because she well, is funny and quirky and sarcastic and pretty perfect.  Unfortunately it looks at though she has just stopped her blog for whatever reason...

and that got me thinking, at some point that may happen to me, I may just run out of blogging steam and come to a sputtered halt.  Blogging is weird that way, it isn't a book you read from beginning to end but a continuation...and how long can I continue? 

 I'm not quite sure.

Either way, I am so happy I got all my sad stories out of me so I can move onto more frivolous posting options for a bit like how I just bought seven pairs of big star converse for my whole lot of family at Target the other night!

Just love that Chuck Taylor Guy!

Popcorn Popping

Some bunnies around here are starting to get spring fever!

I love this time of year when everything starts to come back to life, and the air begins to warm just a bit.  I love when the breeze is still crisp and fresh and the buds come out on this tree in front of my house.  This picture is from a few years back, but it will soon happen!

I also am ready for a fresh start, a new beginning.

Our family has been through a long intense winter with Handsome coming and all of the changes, the wedding, a good friends funeral, stresses from work, and more.  It has been a good six months of pressure, that has brought about change.  I feel ready to have less sickness in our home and to be outdoors playing with my kids.  

I long for snow cones*swimming*riding bikes*water fights* boating* no homework* reading together on the hammock*going for hikes in the trees*picnics by a stream*and throwing the windows open to let the warm summer breeze through the house.

Today is also a special day because my family is all fasting for my nephew Carter.  

He is my brothers son that has battled a weak heart since his birth.  He has once again been in the hospital for weeks after contracting RSV.  He has had liquid continue to fill his little body and the doctors are at a loss.  We are praying for his recovery...he is such a strong little guy and has overcome so much all ready.  My brother and sister in law take turns sleeping by his side each night and then my brother goes to work each day and Amy watches over her little baby girl.  I don't know how they have managed so long.  They are both an example to me of faith and patience.  

They both have smiles on their faces and a positive attitude always.  

They are amazing parents and I admire all they do.

{any and all prayers are welcome in their behalf}

I found these pictures of Easter Sunday in 2009 today.  

I can't believe how much the girls have grown in that short period of time.  

See what I mean!?

I also can't believe the the LDS general conference is coming up THIS weekend!! I am so excited and LOVE snuggling up with my family and listening to church in my PJ's.  There some awesome messages that we try to incorporate as a family especially for the next six months until conference rolls around again.  It is on Saturday from 10 to 2 and the same times on Sunday.

We always get Magleby's cake and some yummy fruit to eat.  We also love getting lots of different crafts to do as we listen.  The little kids color a lot, make jewelry, hair bows etc.  

It was six months ago during the Fall 2010 general conference that I was waiting to see if Handsome would be coming to live with us!! I CAN'T believe that.  It just plain baffles me.... We heard about him on Thursday night, contemplated on Friday, gave them the go on Friday night ....and I listened to conference and sweat the remainder of the weekend until we met him on Sunday night.  I remember taking notes in my journal searching for any answer I could get from the messages being shared.  I also remember when my patriarchal  blessing fell out and the sentence that jumped out to me.

"You have been blessed with children, and others will be coming to your home."

{He was coming a few hours after this fell into my lap}

Now Mack will be getter her special blessing soon.  Her interview is on Wednesday night to talk about a date.  I am so proud of her and I can't believe she has grown into such a beautiful young lady that is ready for her blessing already.  She is such a blessing in my life and always helps with the kids and asks how I am doing, not a normal way for a teenager to act.  

*such a blessing*

And now for some greatly exciting things!

Do you remember my friend Barbara that started the foundation "Help Me Grow"?  There is a link on the right side of my blog, because it is awesome!  Jon and I have always supported her where we could and she has done such an amazing job getting the program going that she has recently been noticed more and more by the state of Utah.  

This is a GREAT thing and we are hoping for another year of great growth in her program!  

She is holding an event for families coming up the end of April that you will want to be to!

Here is the information:

Help Me Grow Blog

And to register CLICK HERE

Comment here with your name and address on my blog when you register and I will send the first 10 people a free book to read with your kids!  I plan on having some other give-a-ways over the next few weeks to get people registered early!

The very minimal price is more than worth all of the information you will gain and the fun your kids will have!  Learning can be fun!!

Prescription Drug abuse: Part Six

After the near drowning incident we decided to go and get some help.

We picked a doctor and went to share our problem with him.  He was kind of a weird guy, but he helped us wade through some of the things we were facing.  

He prescribed some medication to help with Jon's anxiety and another to help him sleep at night.  As I mentions previously, at first it was Ambien and that made him crazy.  It helped him fall asleep right at first but then he was wake up soon after and walk around the house like a crazy person for hours.  

I can't emphasize enough the need to keep in contact with a physician on a consistent basis until you find the right dosage and medication to help.  It took a year or two to get it just right, but it was worth the time and effort to do it.  

After Jon's emotions were more easily monitored, he felt strong enough to attack his addiction issues he had been facing for more than a decade.  We called a drug rehab place in California because he didn't want to attend one here locally because it would have been embarrassing for him.  (I didn't blame him).  The lady on the other end of the phone warned us that the process would be very expensive and the pain would be excruciating.  We had no idea how we would come up with the money *I think they quoted us $10,000* just for the bare minimum service.  

We didn't know any other option, so we reserved a spot and started saving our money.  I remember sitting on the bed talking to the woman on conference realizing for the first time how hard this process would be for Jon.  I again became worried that he wouldn't be able to do it.  I felt so out of control and insignificant.  I guess as I look back, it is obvious where my walls were built.  I was protecting myself and it has taken several years since all of this to take the walls down 

brick

by 

brick

We decided to plan a trip for the family to California and turn it into a fun time for everyone so they would realize what dad was going through.  They were still young enough to be happy and oblivious.  They were in their own world of  bikes, dogs, and games.

We told everyone *including my cousin Mandy that lived with us* that we were going to Disney Land and to stay at the beach for a business conference.  Our real plan was for me to stay at a hotel in Disney Land for the first six days and at a hotel on Laguna beach the next four days.  I called my friend Kori and let her know what I was really facing, and asked if she would come help me at Laguna.  

She agreed, being the loyal friend she always has been.  She had watched her brother battle the same thing for years {eventually loosing him for the same reason}.  I knew I could trust her not to tell anyone and that she would understand what I was fighting against.

{All was going as planned until Jon changed his mind}

He was so upset that he would miss going to Disney Land for the first time with the kids that he locked himself in his room and detoxed himself.  For Me, and for the kids.

The thought of it still brings me to tears. 

 The pain and agony I saw him experience over the next few weeks was nothing short of a horror film.  He was sweating and shaking for days.  He lay in wet sheets and gritted his teeth.  He didn't watch the TV because his eyes and head hurt so bad.  I remember him moaning in his sleep whenever he was lucky enough to drift off to sleep at night.  

His body was in pure agony.

I was in agony.

Our friend Jared was a nurse practitioner at the time *now an anesthesiologist* came over to take Jon's blood pressure to make sure he wouldn't slip into cardiac arrest.

  I don't know how he didn't.  

It was the longest two weeks of my life, watching him.  My love for him grew and I was so happy he would do this for our family.  I knew he hated being a slave to all of the pills, but he was finally aware enough to take that leap of faith.  

At the end of the two weeks he looked beat up, tired, and ripped apart.  

His eyes looked more clear than they had in years, but he was worn out.  More importantly he was happy.  He was so excited to spend time with the kids at Disney Land!  We decided to surprise the kids and packed them all without them knowing.  We drove to the airport and told them that we were taking Rooz home on the way to school.  

When we pulled up to the long term parking, Jon said "Let's say a prayer."

The kids all looked at us weird, and folded their arms.

"Dear Heavenly Father.... {and I closed it with} and please bless us that we will be safe on our flight to Disneyland."

I couldn't help put peek as I said the last little bit.  I didn't hear an Amen out of a one of them!  They all started cheering and questioning us over and over again.  "REALLY!!!??"

We rushed them out of the car and before they knew it we were on the plane, and not to the rehab center for dad, he would be with us.  I could never express my love and admiration to him enough for making this effort, for changing the path for me and the children forever.  We had a marvelous time on the rides and together. 

 We all felt free and Jon and I felt like kids.  

When people ask him how he did it, he gives slightly different answers each time but never without mentioning that he relied on our Heavenly Father.  He knelt on the stairs on the way up to bed each night asking for help and forgiveness.  We also said our prayers together, but he didn't take his decision lightly.  

He followed through, and it has made all of the difference.

Prescription Drug Abuse: Part Five

These Prescriptions medication posts that I have to write have been hanging over my head like an elephant tied to a string.

I have wanted to share, but wait for the perfect opportunity to tell.  I wait for a day I feel super strong and let it out bit by bit.  I am at a place now that it just needs to be finished, so I don't have to think about it anymore.  I know in my heart that I will be telling the story someday to a room full of people and I will attack that when it comes, but today I need to be done with the blog posts. 

 I need to move on and start focusing my growth in other areas. 

What do I say when I speak to a group of people needing help?

I know it will be emotional, gut wrenching even.  I am not the type that seeks for fame and glory, jumping at any chance I have to be in front of people, but I will do it if it helps someone.  I could think of many other areas that would be more fun

 *not the poster wife for prescription drug abuse* 

but if it is my calling, I will attack it.

After we flew home from Hawaii things changed a bit.  Our problem was more out in the open and we knew it had reached a point where we had to deal with it.  Unfortunately it wasn't top on Jon's priority list or my own for that matter.  Meeting with a doctor was overwhelming for him, because he knew he would have to figure out the problem and for me because I didn't know what to expect.  Jon and mentioned how horrible detoxing would be and I was worried.

We fell back into a routine for a bit *honestly can't remember if it was weeks or months* until IT happened.  The day I almost killed Jon, unintentionally of course, but in reality just the same.  

Jon had a meeting that day and needed to take a nap beforehand because he had stayed up almost all night working.  He was exhausted and needed to refuel.  

"What if I can't wake you up...?" (which happened quite a bit with him sleeping so deeply/passed out)

"You have my permission to throw water on me.  It's that important that I get up."

So he fell asleep...almost for the last time.

When it was time to wake up, I called to him.  As I had expected, it wasn't working.  He was gonzo, out, cu put!  I walked over to him and yelled his name even louder.

 "JON WAKE UP!"

nothing

not a flinch, or any sort of movement.  

I walked into the kitchen as we had discussed and filled a 32oz. refill mug full of water.  There was some certain sort of gratification I had gotten out of this in the past when he had asked me to do it, kind of a free get-you-back-jerk.  I made sure it was cold to get the full needed effect. 

I walked back into the front room where he was passed out on the couch. 

I looked at him for a moment, {almost} feeling bad for him.  I trickled a bit onto the top of his head wondering if it would be enough to arouse him, of course it wasn't.  I rallied in my mind and reminded myself that he asked for this.  He wanted it.

He was snorting loudly.  Soundly.  He even seamed at peace.

His mouth was slightly parted and his unassuming body was gone to the world.

I swung my arm back to get the full effect, and let er rip!

To my amazement, he barley jerked.  He was so out of it that nothing happened, well nothing happened, until it did.  But the thing that happened wasn't what I expected to happen.  

{He started to choke}

He gasped for air like he had been pulled out of the ocean by a lifeguard.

First I punched his arm

and then shoved him, but my 125 pound frame wasn't moving someone that was more than double my weight.  

He continued to fight for air even though he was passed out.  His body needed it, but he was beyond being aware enough to cough.  His body was limp, dead looking. He started to turn white. 

I mustered all my energy and rammed my knee into his leg hopping to yank him out of his self induced coma.  {nothing}  I punched him over and over, but it still wasn't working.  Pretty soon, it had been long enough that I was really beginning to worry.  Knowing that I couldn't pick him up to let the water drain out, I pulled the arm furthest away from me and pulled his body towards me.  

He fell off the couch and he landed on his stomach causing the water to drain out on it's own.  

And that was it.  

I was finished.

I wrote him a letter saying I was taking all the kids up to stay at our cabin until he could get his priorities straight.  I packed up the kids and left.

When I was just ready to drive up the canyon, Jon woke up and called me on the phone.  He promised that he was done.  He had made the decision to move on and that he loved me and would do whatever it took to get healthy.  

Reluctantly I agreed to come home and figure out our next step.

Prescription Drug Abuse: Part Four

Before I begin sharing the next part of this story, I want you to know that Jon is very aware that I am sharing this story.  He is in this with me, we are together...as *one* sharing OUR story.  

We plowed through it together, and we are sharing it together.  

He may be the one leading me through sharing the story and not the other way around.  He is strong and he wants to help people that are going through what he did.   Addiction to pain medication is rampant and one that is not going away.  Lots of people would bury their heads in the sand, but this will do nothing to solve the problem.  .  

I remember flashes of Jon looking at me, half there...half somewhere else, in another land.  I remember loving and hating him at the same time and feeling so confused.  The good thing is that Jon was always involved with the kids.  Every chance he got, he wanted to play with them on the weekends. The problem was that he wasn't emotionally there.  The medications held him in a place of bondage, like his soul was trapped and he couldn't get out.  

One major turning point was the time we went to Hawaii with my parents and brother and sister in law.  I never had the chance to be with Jon for a straight 12 hours because he was working, but on our trip I was able to see the roller coaster his body was taking.  We would be driving along the coast on a beautiful summers day, the breeze a perfect temperature without a care in the world and I remember noticing Jon gradually getting more agitated by the minute.  I remember turning to him and saying

 "Are you OK?  What is wrong?"  

 "I don't know, I just feel irritated..."  

 "There is nothing here to stress you out...look where we are..."

"I know, I just feel frustrated..."

And so he would take his medication and it would drop him really low.  So low in fact that when we went to turtle beach to snorkel, the medication took over and he stumbled all over the beach in front of my dad.  I was horrified and so embarrassed.  Up until this point he had limited his overuse to night time after work when nobody was around, but for whatever reason he had reached a limit of major abuse in front of my family. 

 I remember my dad looking at me and asking,

"What is wrong with him?"

I replied that he had taken his medication and the swimming had pushed it through his body...which was true but the amount of medication was also to blame. I recall walking up next to him and saying,

 "You had better pull yourself together!  What do you think you are doing?  You have no idea how embarrassed and mad I am right now!"  

But it didn't matter.

He was gone, in another realm of existence.  He just looked at me with glassy eyes and kept stumbling around.  I could have killed him, I wanted to kill him.  If it weren't for all of the innocent by standers, I may have.  How could I be in paradise and feel like a mass murderer?  How could he treat me like this?  

I was full of questions and no answers.  

I felt alone

hurt

angry

abandoned

It was at that point that I took another step back.  I had backed away so many times by this point.  I had built the Great Wall of China all the way around my heart.  I had to in order to survive.  I knew logically that he wasn't doing this to hurt me, but it didn't matter.  He was doing it just the same, and I hurt just the same.  

I don't remember talking to him after that for a while until we went and sat at the pool together.  It had reached the point of (talk about it...no option)  We laid there in the sun and although it was hot, my temperature was hotter.  I was boiling inside as well as out.  My breath was uneven and my emotion was cold.  I didn't have anything to say to him, nothing.  

So he spoke.

"I need to fly home for a meeting."

"WHAT?  Are you kidding me?? We are in Hawaii and we are going home in four days!"

"I have to, it is a really important meeting that came up and I have to deal with it.  I will fly home as soon as it is over."

I couldn't believe my ears.  First he was already in the dog house and now he was telling me he was putting work in front of our vacation?  I sat and stared at the sky, unmoving and not responding.   He said he was sorry.

  "What in the world kind of meeting is so important that you have to fly home?"

and then it all made sense. 

"I do have a meeting but I also need to get more medication.  I ran out and I can't make it four days without it."

  All of the questions I had wanted to ask but hadn't had the strength to hear the answers poured out of me.  

"How much have you been taking?"

"A lot."

"Yes, I figured as much but if you think you are flying home you need to tell me how bad this is so we can figure out how to solve the problem."

And so he let me have it.  

"I take about 40 soma a day, 40 lortab a day and some Oxycodone." 

This made me sick, but I still didn't realize what it meant.  I still don't know if I do.  All I knew is that it was A LOT.  

"You mean you can't go four days and just wait until we get home to get more?"

"No way. My body would freak out after one day."

"Fine, I will support you flying home for a *meeting* if you promise to go to a Doctor when we get home and get some Anxiety medicine and sleep medicine or whatever he prescribes."

And so the deal was made.  

He flew home, flew back the same day and we finished our trip.  This was the first and last threat that was ignored.

Cabin Fever

Last week my sister Camille and I went to visit Thanksgiving Point with the kids.  We have all suffered from cabin fever the past several months having been sick and freezing in all of the snow.  It was time to get out!  Camille had baby Jayne on New Years Eve, hence her name Jayne *after my Grandma*, Eve.  She is a doll and I just wanted to squeeze her all over!

Jackson, Bug, and Handsome ran around ooooing and ahhhing at all of the dinosaur bones.  They were in heaven!  I always have this random thought when I am looking at things like this....

{Just imagine all of these skeletons came to life all of a sudden and started tromping around the room, kind of like "Night at the Museum"}  Do you think the kids would love dinosaurs just as much? 

I don't think so

But because they are dead and made pretty by fun colors and cartoons, they love them.  I guess that goes for anything...I'm not much into bugs but "A Bug's Life" is pretty dang cute!

Anyway......

We had fun and it was GREAT to see my sister and her darling kids!  I am so excited for summer to roll around.  It makes it so much easier to get the kids outside and romp in the summer sun!

A Bit of You

Well good morning!

I didn't have time to post last Friday but I didn't want to forget to introduce some of the Pink Moss readers that posted on the Pink Moss facebook wall last week!  Thanks for saying hi!  It is so fun to see the diversity in people and for me to see that I am not always talking to myself!  So without further ado....

Sarah Elizabeth Juliano

Just thought I'd pop in! 

My name is Sarah and I am just a college blog reader who found your blog through BlogFrog I think. I emailed you not that long ago because I really love your story and your life very much inspires me.

I just recently got myself a blog, and am in the process of redesigning/getting it up and running. 

http://sunlightafterrain.blogspot.com/

Monique Haberkorn

Thought I'd pop in after reading your blog earlier today!

My name is Monique! I'm married to Steve...he's a Marine currently preparing to deploy on his third deployment to Afghanistan in a few weeks. We moved to Hawaii last summer and will be here for the next 3 years! :)

I was drawn to your blog because both of my sibling are adopted. My sister is Turkish and was 3 weeks old when she came to live with us, and my brother is from Guatemala and was 11 months old when he finally came home. It's been an amazing journey and I just love to see other families who have been completed by adoption! :)

lifeofmojo.blogspot.com

Ruth Roberts

Just popping on to say hi before I head off to work this morning. Not sure if I've ever commented, but I read your blog pretty much every day. Been reading about a year I think - found it via blog frog.

I'm an infant teacher in the UK - I live about 10 miles from Liverpool. I have two children, Miss M who is 12 and Mr B who is 9 and autistic. My blog is www.atpolsplace.blogspot.com

Kasie Knoll Ballbach

Hi. I'm Kasie. I'm 30(I hadda think about that) and I found your blog before you adopted handsome. I have three kids, Jace is 7, Isabella is 3 and Jax is 2. I'm a nurse, done all sorts of work in that field. I'm from wisconsin, a small town with 3 stop and go lights.

Heather Sutherland

Hi, I'm Heather. I think I found your blog around the time you were adopting Handsome. Did you maybe post something in MckMama's BlogFrog community or something? Anyway, a few interesting things, I'm a preschool teacher, I make party cakes, I'm expecting my first baby this summer, and I live in the Frozen Tundra (aka Minnesota). I don't have a blog, but feel free to wander over to my cake page and check out my creations. Just search That Takes the Cake! Creations. I really enjoy reading your blog, and just love all the pictures of your beautiful family! Thanks for sharing!! :)

Gage Gillings

Introduce myself...My name is Gage. I have known Janae for some time as I was her Probation Officer during her High school years (she has changed immensely). I love the outdoors, Mountain Biking and making my children work hard. I have Seven children and an amazing wife. If I didn't live here in Orem, Utah, I would live in Moab, Utah. Yada, Yada, Yada...
My Blog is; http://adventuresutah.blogspot.com/

Gretchen Skelly

I love your blog. I don't recall how I found you, but every since then, I've enjoyed reading your blog and about your family. You really inspire me to be a better mom! Something interesting about me is that I grew up in a family with 25 kids! My parents had 11 bio kids and 14 adopted kiddos. It was like no other experience, and yet normal all the same. My blog is

http://theskellyscoop.blogspot.com/

Cindi Weber Braby

I rarely leave comments but I enjoy reading about your beautiful family. Thanks for being so positive. My blog is http://utahmomslife.blogspot.com/

Brooke Palmer

Your blog was suggested by Barb, who I'm interning for with Help Me Grow. She has nothing but praise for you, and now I really enjoy reading your blog :-) My blog is http://bbpalmer.blogspot.com/

Lisa Paxton Wilkinson

Hi There! I know you, you know me:) Thanks for letting me be your blog stalker friend:) When I hugged you at Leonards funeral you were probably like What The?? Funny how blogs make you feel like you know people, now you can read mine and know me!! 6 crazys: I'm leavin on a jet plane! 

Lisa Kats

Hi, I am from Iowa! I have a 3 year old and a 4 month old! I love to read your blog because I like to know that I am not the only one living in chaos. I love reading about your family! I would love to have a huge family but that is something my husband isn't so sure about! I do daycare in my home so that I am able to be home with my kids but make a little money! Somedays I ask myself why I do it! Chaos, Chaos and a somewhat unorganized home is where I live :)

Melissa Palmer Harper

Hi, from Missouri! I stumbled across your blog about 6 months ago. I am a step-mother of two boys (11 & 9) and have 19 month old twin girls! My husband is a stay-at-home dad :)

Rebecca Reilly Wright

I Love your blog and read it because it reminds me that chaos is normal, and there really is no such thing as normal. I love the love you have for your family, and how they mean the world to you. I am reading from the peach state (ga) and although I don't have kids, I too have those one sided friendships where it may be a long time between phone calls, but my friends know I love them - I just have a hectic schedule and barely get time to eat let alone talk to my loved ones. Thats why I read blogs and facebook - its my way to connect to everyone :)

Wendy Hayes

Hi, I enjoy reading your blog. I have 3 children, 3 step-children, 2 grandsons (one is 4 years, the other is 1 month old), and 4 pugs.

Jessie Staska Walker

Hi! I'm Jessie from Keep It Together :) I am a mom of two kids (one of whom has autism) and we live in South Carolina. I found your blog on Blog Frog and found you interesting :) I was raised LDS although I am no longer a practicing member.

Massiel Ortiz Espinal

I came across your blog about a year ago, and I loved it because I've always said I only want girls when I have kids :P. I'm reading from the Dominican Republic :)

Elisabeth Nichols

I stumbled across your blog one day and love it! As for where I'm at...I'm currently living in Senegal, West Africa working as a missionary and teacher.

Julie Hess

Okay, just following your instructions. Here' s my link:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hesses-Madhouse/192697986061?ref=ts
Blog address is: http://hessesmadhouse.blogspot.com/
Really enjoying your blog!

BarbaraJo Matheny Hatch

You are living a very similar life as the one I grew up in. Now I am on the SOuth side of the border growing my own family.

And there you have it...some of Pink Moss friends!

Thanks for sharing a bit with me of who you are :)