A WEEK OF MIDNIGHTS

As if Daylight Savings isn't hard enough, we've had a lot of late nights this week--like every night!---for once though, I wouldn't trade it.
For instance,

Anne had her surgery Monday.  Tonsillectomy, Adenoidectomy, and tubes in her ears.  I felt a bit of a traitor, as she was SO excited! We had all of these treats just for her for after surgery (pudding, yogurt, popsicles, etc.), Dad was taking a day off to with her and Mom to the hospital all day--it seemed like quite a holiday.  I tried to let her know we were helping her nose and ears and throat feel better, but that it might hurt a little after surgery, only I think that part was overshadowed by treats!

Brent was home sick, so we just left Lucy w/ him, and reported to the hospital just before 11.  She was only able to eat jello, apple juice and sprite for breakfast, which seemed to suit her just fine...until she fell asleep on the way there, and woke up carsick, throwing up JUST as we were getting to Primary Children's.  So now, she also got a new shirt at the gift shop (modeled in the pictures above).  Anne did great--she needed no sedation to calm her down from leaving Mom & Dad--though the fact that she had nearly 3 hours playing in nursery-like waiting rooms probably left her just anxious to do anything! Primary Children's Hospital is WONDERFUL (we only had to wait so long b/c our Dr. got behind from an emergency)--so catered to children, and so friendly an atmosphere.  She also got a hug from G&G Duncan before she went in (since Kathy's getting radiation treatments at the Cancer Center next door).  We also enjoyed a very belated lunch w/ them in the cafeteria while we waited for the surgery, and before they had to go. 

I wasn't very prepared for how upset children are waking up from anesthesia (they did tell us, I just didn't absorb it very well).  Brian actually wanted to be with her as she woke up, so I met them in the recovery room, and she was quite upset for quite a while.  The first pictures are as she finally calmed down a bit to rest.  She forced herself to swallow some of the slurpie and juice so we could go home, and she was livid about taking out the IV and wrapping a red bandage around it (she took it off right after we got to the car).  But the surgery went well, and what relief to hear the Doctor say it was SO needful:  Her adenoids were so big, they nearly clogged his machine, her tonsils plenty big, and the fluid in her ears had been sitting so long it was the thickness of tree sap! He wondered how she had been able to hear or speak AT ALL!! A huge reassurance that we had done the right thing! Our sweet neighbor had made us dinner of Chicken Noodle soup and homemade bread, and Anne was so relieved to be home that she even came to the table wanting to eat!

AND--though the recovery is slow and gradual, and her voice still sounds funny, things are already looking MUCH improved!! 2 great moments:
1-I turned Dora on for her to watch one afternoon, and her first response was, "Turn in down Mom!" (we have no recollection of her wanting ANYthing turned down in volume before!
2-I was making some toast one morning, and she came over to me w/ wide eyes, saying, "Mommy, I smell something."  Not thinking much of it, I asked what she smelled, and she replied, still w/ wonder, "I smell BREAD!" and it hit us both, that this was, if not a first, a long time coming!! Neighbors and family have been so sweet to remember her, and it has been pretty cozy HAVING to stay home all week.  Those first few days though, we got to missing our Anne, as she was barely herself!

So, Monday night and Tuesday night, I got up in the middle of the night to update her medicine.

Wednesday night was City Council Marathon, I mean meeting.  I think 6pm-11pm constitutes a marathon though.  I was at Brent's Jr High registration and then Scout Parent's mtg (where I finally got the low-down on meritbadges), so I just watched the online feed when we got home.  Brian gets a 300 page packet to read through before each meeting, so you can imagine how long it takes to get through things, especially if not everyone is of the same mind (everyone is NOT of the same mind!).


Thursday was more politics w/ Utah's Republican Caucus meetings! I wondered why I hadn't heard of these in all my years of voting (until 2 yrs ago when Bri was a county delegate), but I was informed not every state uses them.  I'm not yet convinced of the advantages, but it was quite exciting gathering as a precinct (a few blocks is all)--all 122 of us, and selecting state and county delegates to represent us at convention.  A major issue is whether or not state Senator Orrin Hatch should be replaced after 36 years.  After meeting his opponent, and hearing of his huge fiscal success (see previous postings), I am a HUGE Liljenquist fan, as was about 2/3 of our precinct.  I even got to help count the votes, but with so many people, it took some time--fun to be in such a charged and active atmosphere! The first presidency sent a letter out to be read, encouraging everyone to participate, and our stake supported the plea by cancelling all meetings the 2 nights they were held.  We had Jazz tickets from the firm, but were happy to let Brian's dad put them to good use--we think Salt Lake is a GREAT place for grandparents! (this one went until 10, so on more--we almost got to bed a little earlier, until I remembered the next night wouldn't be any better since:)

Friday was Regional Basketball!! All of our ward teams went to Regions, Deacons lost the first game, but YW and Men's were in their 2nd game Friday night.  I went w/ Brian to his, where they lost (and we're all forgiving the ref's!), but it was fun to caravan together w/ a few couples.  The game was at 9, so that was our date night, and by the time we got back from Morgan, it was the last of our late nights!

Yesterday, I first went to Maddie's last game, where they not only won (and got Tshirts!), but she made her first basket!! The team and parents are so supportive of her getting more feisty and assertive w/ the ball .  I saw the first 3 quarters, but missed her basket at the end (the coach texted me),

since they'd asked me to say the opening prayer for a GREAT stake RS Birthday Celebration--really neat collection of the heritage of Relief Society in the Church, as well as right here in Syracuse.  To coin the old-fashioned phrase, "I was loath to part company!" Once I did though, Brian and I went and bought more wood for our garden boxes---redwood this time, so hopefully they'll last even longer.  We've had LOTS of beautiful weather this week in the 60's, bringing to mind the awaiting yardwork, and getting me to pull my bike down.  I also LOVED reading the AMAZING true story Unbroken this week--one of the most amazing books I've ever read. 

And, despite Mom and Dad being up late a lot, Spencer at least keeps us hopping! He has not been deterred by any amount of saving daylight.  His enterprising spirit (and attending our youth auction) has spurred the idea of having a family window washing business, OR a car washing business! To practice, he got up early Thursday morning and washed Brian's car, NO JOKE! @ 7 AM--having to hook up the hose, find soap, rag and bucket, and even take the steps outside to reach the top.  It was barely light, and rather chilly (it's okay, Mom, I'll just wear my coat!), but wash it he did, asking immediately after, how much I thought I'd pay him :).  I asked HIM if he had rinsed off the soapy bubbles (you're supposed to do that?) What a guy!

COUNCIL TO CARPET

Lots of excitement here at the Duncan household!
Brian was just appointed (right after my last post!) to Syracuse City Council.  Here's the link to a newspaper article http://www.standard.net/stories/2012/02/28/duncan-fills-vacancy-syracuse-city-council. 

Though we didn't sleep much the night we found out thinking of how weighty an assignment this is, the more he's researched city issues and talked to other professionals and citizens, the more into the groove he's gotten, and as most all of you may know, politics is SO his groove--it's fun to see him take it on and put so many of his talents to use.  He was well supported by a lot of longtime locals here who encouraged him to apply after hearing a lot of his comments at previous meetings, and also shared their support with the City Council, who appointed him.  Because it was due to a recent vacancy, there was no election held--just a 3 minute speech at a City Council meeting, and an application turned in.  His little "speech" was GREAT--I asked him after if he'd worked hard on it, or practiced in the shower, etc.?  No, he told me--he wasn't sure what he'd say until he stood up!

Also,
This is what our house has looked like all week, as we got new carpet installed!! It is WONDERFUL!! and a HUGE improvement!! Quite an adventure shoving all of our furniture into 2 rooms (the kids loved waking up early to run around on the bare wood floor, dancing, doing headstands, etc. before 7AM, and then again when it was newly soft), but well worth the craziness! The carpet company is a client of Brian's law firm, and they traded this service for the legal work--Hooray! The last picture is of the new carpet--it feels like we're walking on giant marshmallows, it's so soft.  The day the installers came (of course they showed up as I was throwing my clothes into the wash, and my only other clothes were wedged in a drawer between my mattress and a wall!!)--I camped out w/ Lucy and Anne in the basement LAUNDERING every bit of clothing and bedding I could, and having a "picnic" for lunch.  They finished right after the kids got home, when Brent told me his Regional B-Ball game was in an hour, w/ Maddie's right after, so the vacuuming and furniture moving was drawn out a bit, but we are now back to normal, and feeling more de-cluttered and set up than normal. (I'd include after shots, but all the furniture ended up just where it was before)

Other tidbits:
Brent had his first YURT campout a few weeks ago, camping and cross-country skiing in the snow, and while he was there, I took the rest of the children up to visit Great G&G Mildenhall, then we tried exploring Willard Bay (of the Great Salt Lake) on the way home.  The two park entrances were closed for the winter, but we did find a dirt road along some preserve range, and pulled the van over to the lip of the bay, where we could hike up a hill and see the water.  It was cold, and not much of a beach or anything, but who doesn't love a little adventure?! I treated them to Pace's 50 cent corndogs and ice cream after their patience with me :)

Spencer had his 2nd grade program--he got to play the drum, and I got to try and control my emotions while they sang and did sign language to the Preamble to the Constitution.  School programs do it to me every time! Those aren't crazy hairdos by Spencer--he just got to stand next to Abe Lincoln and George Washington :).

We also finally got to spend time w/ Dad & Kathy, who have been in Salt Lake for about 3 weeks for Kathy's radiation treatment--it seemed perfect to have them so much closer, but all of our plans have been sideswiped by someone getting sick at the last minute, or schedules being too crazy.  They came for dinner and games last Sunday night w/ Nate & Stacey's family, which was so nice, and they also brought some fun Valentine's goodies for the kids and cute outfits for Lucy's birthday.  Lucy insisted on wearing almost all of them at once to bed that night, and I insisted on taking a picture--which was a bit of a joke--she WAS looking when I snapped all of these shots, but you can see Lucy v/s my Shutter speed!