RUN!

So I had a crazy dream and I just woke up so I want to write it down before I forget it. It made me wake up really breathing hard and scared so if you have an interpretation please feel free to post a reply.

My kids were around 8, 10, and 12 and Doug and I were in a new town. I think maybe out of state. It was a rich part of town too. We were looking for a place to rent because Doug got a new job with the company and we were yet again going to have to move.

Doug had a wealthy great aunt and uncle that lived in the town and he wanted me to meet them, or at least see their huge mansion. He knew they were out of town on vacation. When we got to their house he took me to see their huge guest house on this very large, maybe even a golf course lot. We started to think maybe we could rent this house. Wouldn't that be awesome!

It kinda looked like this one.

When we got there we looked inside and a handful of homeless people were all over the floors passed out drunk. They had broke in and had trashed the place. So Doug and I went into commando mode and chased them all out and had to beat a few of them up. (We watch a lot of action movies.) After they left we started exploring this big house. It was older, a two story and had cool stuff but also weird things like a separate room for a tub and a separate room for a toilet right off the main hallway. We thought it would be a great place to rent. We locked up and left.

The property was right across the street from a mall and some cool stores so we went across the street to do some shopping. Low and behold we ran into Doug's rich great aunt. Doug was too chicken to ask her if we could rent the house so I asked her and she said no.We were sad but we didn't give up just yet. She was just an old women set in her ways and needed to be shown the benefits of us living there. We told her about the break in and how trashed it was. We told her how we could fix it up for her and we could keep an eye on the place while they did their traveling. She was thinking about it.

Then we went into the bank with Doug's aunt and were waiting in line still trying to convince her. My kids were enjoying the lady because she really liked my kids. Doug had left to go take care of some business in the indoor complex that the bank was in so I left the kids with her and started to leave to go find him when I spotted a man who had a gun tucked into his coat standing in line at the bank. He also looked suspicious so I quietly went up to the teller on the end and told her about the man with the gun.

She was a young lady and kinda froze. I realized the man had heard me and when he got up to the counter he looked at me and did not do anything with the gun just to show me he wasn't going to get caught. He looked at me as to say I know what you did and now you are in trouble. I left the bank and  I looked back. I could not believe what had just happened. I then notice he was following me! So I ran out this metal door that lead to the back of this complex outside. There were these steep zig zig stairs that I decided would be faster if I climbed over the top of them and went straight up.

In my dream I am not in shape. Weird cause I am in such great shape in real life. HAHA! I am getting really tired as I am climbing but I am climbing for my life. He is catching up. As I get to the top I end up on the street full of people and don't know which way to run. Where is Doug?

THEN I WAKE UP! So what does this mean to you? I rarely remember my crazy dreams but this one was very remembered.

Youtube Haircut

I

Some great advice is about to be given...Never go on Youtube to learn how to cut your own hair! I have not had time or money to get a haircut. It has been driving me crazy. So last night I was looking on Youtube when the genius idea of thinking, "I learned how to milk a goat on Youtube, how hard could cutting your own hair be?". This should give you a clue as to how tired I was. So after an hour or so of Youtube I decided to start with the bangs. I have always hated bangs and every time I get them I sadly remember  but YU (Youtube University) gave me the confidence (amnesia) to cut my own bangs. Sadie told me that I must be feeling like a super hero with superpowers to feel like cutting my own hair. Kamryn wanted me to let HER cut my hair.

The bangs seemed as though they turned out ok. Remember it was late after a very long week. So I decided to just keep on hacking away at my hair like some kind of mad hairstylist. YU doesn't really teach you how to fix your own hair after you start those initial wrong cuts. I think I may want my money back. Needless to say I will be wearing a pony tale for the next few weeks.

Basketball Season

Derrik made the JV Boys basketball team for ALA. The coach told me that he could have made Varsity but he wouldn't get to play much so we are glad they decided to put him on the JV team. So now all 3 of my kids are playing basketball. All different playing times. Not sure how it will work but we will do the best we can to see who we can. Might just pick to watch whomever plays at home.  Here we go!

XC Banquet 2013

Derrik had his Cross Country Banquet last night. ALA did so awesome and took state for 3 out of the 4 teams (runner up for the other one) so we had lots of celebrating to do.

They had yummy food and Derrik got a metal.

He also got his ALA letter for Cross Country because they did take state. It stinks that it is too hot to wear an actual lettermans jacket here. Might have to have a letterman's sweatshirt. haha. I am sure he will be getting many more letters to go on that sweatshirt too.

Deer Muley

Here are some pictures of the desert mule deer buck that Derrik killed Friday afternoon. He had basketball practice Friday early morning so we didn't get over to the unit until around noon.  We got up in an area that I hunted last year.  It's a tough area to get into, but I got a buck out of there and saw another good one.  We worked through some thick draws and did some glassing off of the points, but couldn't find anything so we decided that we would head into another area north of where we were.  We decided to walk back up a thick draw that we couldn't glass into.  There was sign everywhere so we knew there were deer in there somewhere.  We had almost made it back to where we originally started and I saw a thick area that we couldn't see into and I threw a small rock into it.   Out jumped this nice buck less that 50 yards from us.

He was a smart old buck and took off in a direction that we just didn't have a shot.  He was running as fast as possible and Derrik was heading in the direction that he was heading.  In the direction he was going we would need to move about 100 yard to see in every direction from a point on the ridge.  We got there and I looked over to the right and saw the buck two ridges over and still moving fast.  I told Derrik to set up and see if he could get a shot as the buck got to the top of the 3rd ridge.  The buck got up to the 3rd ridge and I was standing to his left looking through my binoculars.  As the buck got into the last window he fired and it sounded like he hit it.  I was looking through my binoculars and didn't see the buck come through the window.  I moved over to my right to look in the direction that he shot from and I could see the buck's feet kicking around.  I just looked over and said "I can't believe you just shot that buck".  It was 400 yards away and moving fast.  He had 3-5 seconds from when the buck came up to decide how much to lead and how high to hold.  He hit it right in the neck.  

This is his best buck to date and has an inside spread of 24 1/4" with a huge body.   He also has a cheater point below his left eye guard that Derrik calls his drop tine.   The buck he killed ended up being the other good buck that I saw last year.  I had to include the one picture that Derrik's head isn't in the picture because one year he was my camera man and cut my head off of every picture he took of me with my buck.  Now it is just a joke we play with each other.

Doug

It was the best hunt ever too cause all 3 Slade Boys got their deer opening day! 

Uncle Darwin, Derrik and Grandad Alan

We Got Ourselves a Basketball Team

Both Sadie and Kamryn made the ALA basketball teams! Kamryn has,not played very much except for a few summer camps when she was little. We were suprised when she told us she wanted to try out. She worked really hard and improved a lot over the course of the tryout week. They even cut quite a few girls.

Sadie has played alot and has her dads talent for basketball. She made Varsity even though she had to sit out a few practices. The coach was very impressed with her defense skills.

We know Derrik has made the team (basketball is his sport) but not sure yet if he is Varsity or JV. We will know next week.

We are going to be very busy the next few months going to lots of games. Good thing I like to watch basketball better than any other sport.

I Hate Diabetes

        

One day Derrik is going to be reading this book that was printed from this blog and say, "Hey I remember when I had diabetes and I had to do all that crap. It really sucked and I am really glad I am cured and don't have to do it anymore." They are so close to finding a cure. I just know it will happen in Derrik's lifetime. Until then it just stinks and I hate it. I hate seeing my son have to deal with things when just being a kid is hard enough. I also know God gave him this trial and he will be able to deal with it and it will be OK.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Derrik. He ALWAYS wore his superman shirt with his shorts all twisted and ALWAYS had his Clifford shoes on the wrong feet and carried his bow and arrow around talking about bad guys. He loved to talk about bad guys.

I wish life was that simple still and I wish I would have cherished the moments more. People would say to me, "Enjoy it cause they grow up fast." I did not believe them and always was pushing and worrying about the next thing.

I wonder sometimes if I share too much on this blog for others to see but then I am not one to hold things in. My kids are use to it. I do change stuff now and then when one of them asks me to change or take stuff off. This is my life and I want it documented. Maybe so it will stay longer since I forget so much so easily.

We went to the Endocrinologist on Tuesday. Even though I nag Derrik what he  seems to think constantly and he feels like I don't notice how hard he is trying I do notice. We see Dr. Hahnke quarterly (yes it is pronounced HAUNKY...he is one of the best and we tried most of the endocrinologists in the valley so we would know.). The last 3 quarters he has hounded Derrik to get his carb count down, check more often, and just be better so his A1C test will be better. This blood test tells us how his blood sugar levels have been over the quarter. We are shooting for a number under 7. He was diagnosed at a 12 and has never been under a 9. A 5 is ideal.  He also has a test called Microalbumin Urine Test. This tests determines how much protein he is leaking indicating his kidneys are not functioning properly. He has had elevated levels the last 2 times and was told he would have to go on meds if he can't get his numbers under better control. I have to say I think that scared him a little. He did try, could always do better, but he did try and I was confident his numbers would go down. When we got there Dr. Hahnke was happy about his carb count and his numbers were a little better. I thought for sure it would be a better urine test. 

Unfortunately it not only wasn't better it was very bad. He will now have to take medication daily to protect his kidneys as best it can and he is pretty discouraged. As soon as Doug and I found out we got to researching on the internet on what we need to do to help him. Dr Hanke wants him to go on a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM). We have one but Derrik hates it cause it is one more thing that will have to be attached to his body and one more thing he will have to poke and worry about. The one we have is not very reliable and kind of a pain.

 Dr Hahnke says there is a new one out that is suppose to work a lot better and is more comfortable. Of course I called about it right away and of course we aren't eligible for the upgrade for 2 and half more years and it costs $800. Our kid needs it so we will find a way. I just hope he will wear it. I hate that he has to go through this but I am so happy we live now with diabetes and not 20 years ago when there were so few options. Every problem he has is manageable it is just going to be hard until that cure is finished and ready for Derrik to use. I know the Lord will help us too and for that reason I am grateful.

Cha Cha Cha

ALA's first dance recital of the year was fabulous! It was a packed house. Ms. Clare, the dance teacher, is worth her weight in gold. I love how it is cool to do dance at this school. Big tough football players and all social classes aspire to be in dance. Kamryn really tried hard to be in dance but it was very full. Next year. She has so many kids she had to break it up into several night performances.

Sadie looked beautiful and had 3 dances she was in, The Waltz, The Cha Cha and 2 Step.  She had lots of friends and leaders come out and support her.

She looked like she was having lots of fun. At the end the whole audiance gets up and dances. I loved how all the dances were appropriate and clean. We did not have to spend tons of money on stupid slutty costumes and she learned some steller dance moves. It was like a LDS youth dance festival. Can't wait till the next one.

The Superhero Within

Tonight was Young Women in Excellence for our ward. The theme was "The Superhero Within". Kamryn had a little part introducing the values. There are 7 of them. Sadie was the youth speaker. She did just amazing. Her talk is below. She was so brave and has come so far. I am very proud of her. Then Kamryn showed her goal that she was working on which was learning to play the guitar. She and Sadie sung a song while she played. It was so beautiful. Doug and I are so blessed to have such talented kids. It was a great night.

I am here to talk about finding the superhero within. This is my vision of me as a superhero. I named my superhero Everlasting because she will fight forever and she won't give up. She doesn't look like regular super heroes, but when I think of a super hero I think of someone who is brave, strong and smart.  I kind of thought of Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games when I made her on an online site a couple of months ago. We all have a superhero within us. You have incredible powers. You have your own personal kryptonite, arch nemeses, allies, weapons and power ups. Everyone has villains and an arch nemesis in their lives. I like to call them the deceivers. These people bring you down and weaken your superhero capabilities. They could be actual people in your life. Satan is the greatest deceiver of them all. He is your life long enemy and he wants to destroy you. He works hard on you. He doesn't want you to use your superpowers and he wants you to underestimate your superhero capabilities. He wants you to think that you aren't capable of winning. You have to save yourself from him. You were sent down here as a daughter of God to fight him. You may even feel like he has already captured you and you don't think you can get out. Superheroes always find a way, because good always wins.

Kryptonite is your weaknesses, sins and things that you absolutely cannot go to no matter what. Things that could potentially destroy you. Everyone has different kryptonite. Some examples of kryptonite could be something like Drugs, Pornography, self harm or harm to others, lying, gossiping, or immorality etc. You have to stay away from your kryptonite so you can fight the deceiver. I want you to imagine a large box or chest. Mentally put all of your kryptonite in this box. Now, put this box in the farthest land possible in a deep dark cave away from sight. Locked up. Never to be entered. Will Satan leave it alone though? No.  He will try everything to get you to go there. This deceiver is very cunning and observant. He will find ways to make you feel like going to your kryptonite is okay, good even. It's not okay. He will do or say anything; I repeat ANYTHING so that he can win you over and have you not fulfill the work that God has prepared for you. However, every superhero has had times when they fall short.

That’s where your super powers, power ups, weapons and allies come in. These are things that will help you fight the deceiver and help you stay away from the kryptonite. Your allies could be your family, your friends, and your church leaders. They are on your side they want and can help you. You need them in trying times when you fall short or are heading in the wrong direction. You have to be careful who you choose as your allies at times. Your greatest Ally is your Heavenly Father. He knows you better than anyone else knows you. He knows your goals, your weaknesses and strengths. You were born to fight a very hard and important battle that is very specialized to you. He has sent you with special super powers.  You have been given a body. You have the ability to choose right from wrong. He sends the Holy Ghost to comfort you and warn you. You have the scriptures. You have the Book of Mormon, which is considered the most correct book on Earth. You have a testimony. You have help from your allies. You have the Atonement and Jesus Christ to save you from sin. You have Heavenly Father's grace. You have prophets and revelators who give you guidance. You have the blessing of knowledge and truth. As far as weapons go, whenever the deceiver tries to make an appearance in my life, my super hero Everlasting, shoots him in the face with an arrow. He's just jealous because he doesn't even have a face haha. He leaves her alone eventually, and the more she shoots him the less he tries to make an appearance.

God gave us weaknesses. We aren't designed to like everybody. We aren't designed to be perfect. On the other hand, we are not designed to fail. We are designed to fight the adversary and do exceptional things. You are on a special mission to make it back to your Heavenly Father. Before you came to this Earth you raised your hand and you said "I will go. I know this is important. This will be hard, but I am strong enough to fight this deceiver and I won't be alone in this because I know my father in heaven will always be with me." With every hard battle a superhero faces, her superpowers get stronger.

 I suffer from severe depression, anxiety and stress disorders and all the difficult impulses and things that come along it. I don't think many people would know that about me or would even be able see it if they tried sometimes. The deceiver has worked very hard on me it seems. I become so physically sick or distraught from it at times that I can't do things that may seem normal and easy to everyone else. It's impossible to explain to anyone how hurt and how weak I have felt. I also can't explain to anyone how blessed and protected I have been through specifically hard times. The fight for me is different every day, even hours, and minutes sometimes, and I use my super powers differently every day. I don't seek attention for it or feel like I have it worse than anyone else. I'm well aware that it could be worse. But that’s my personal struggle and challenge in my life. I'm not ashamed of it anymore because I know now that it's not my fault and eventually I will be stronger because of it. I am already seeing strengths I am receiving. I don't see it as a weakness anymore. I see it as a special mission that I have been given by God that I will accomplish so that I can save other people with my superpowers. The only reason I am telling you all that, is because I know everyone out there has their personal battles that are very very hard for them. And if you haven't figured them out yet I promise you that someday you will. I promise you that someday you will hit rock bottom, or will head in that direction, and that you will have no other choice but to realize all the superpowers that you have had all this time. I guarantee people in this room have hard battles that they are fighting or have fought that you have no idea about. It doesn't matter what your kryptonite is, or what your battles are or will be, God will help you save yourself if you let him. Find your superhero within. She is waiting for you.

She Can SEE

When we went to get Kamryn's sports physical she did not pass the eye portion. Last year she was far sighted and this year she is near sighted. I guess it is true when they say a girl can change her mind whenever she wants.

She also told me after we found out our eye insurance only pays for glasses every other year that she had lost her glass a long time ago so putting new lenses in the frames was not an option.  So we decided that maybe contacts would better as far as loss since they are disposable and she will have more than one pair. Also just our luck her eyes are exactly the same prescription!

This is Kamryn getting her contacts instruction. When I use to have contacts (not anymore cause I got lasik eye surgery) I did not learn as fast as Kamryn. I also had only 1 pair for the year so losing them was very bad.

She keeps saying it is so weird that she can see. I can remember saying the same thing and that the leaves are so crisp. Hope it works good for her and that her eyes do not get as bad as mine did.

I am not sure she can get any more pretty. Such a cutey.

Sadie's First Day of School Again

Sadie has missed so many days of schools she is flunking most of her classes.  This is just not acceptable to Sadie or her parents. Sadie has always been a great student. We have worked really hard with the school to get things to work but they just weren't working. Meeting after meeting. The school has really bent over backwards for us but when your kid is sick and just can't do it, they just can't do it. No meeting will change that.  Sadie is starting to feel so much better and now the realization of how far behind she is has hit her. There is no way she can make up one and half quarters before the semester grade comes out. After much prayer I felt that online school to catch her up would be the best solution. She also felt that would work. She would really only need to make up 2 semester classes since we dropped most of the other ones earlier with the intent of making them up next year or in the summer.

So I went down to the school so excited to lay out my latest plan. I think I need a seat in the office with my name on it. Much to my despair I was told that ALA does not accept online credits. I had to go and tell Sadie that she was just going to have to do her best and work hard at making up the work she missed. This was devastating to Sadie. She fell down into her hopeless place and couldn't go to school.

The next day as I was taking Kamryn to school the Spirit told me to go into the school and tell them I was not going to take no for an answer. The vice principal told me that the only thing she could think of was to petition the school board and write a proposal to see if they would make an exception. I came home and researched on the internet on how to write a proposal and worked on it all morning. By noon I sent it and told Sadie we had a slim chance and it literally was the last thing in my bag of tricks. I also told the school I needed an answer by the end of the day or I would be going down to the District Office to speak with someone directly.

The next day Derrik was home fighting a low and I was not able to leave him to go down to the district office so I texted the VP and asked if she had heard anything. She said she was in meetings all day but should would find out and let me know. 

At 2pm I got a call telling me they had a emergency board meeting and had decided to grant her permission to do online school! When she told Sadie she said Sadie said, "Boy my Mom must be pretty convincing!" 

Next I called the online school and found out I had missed the deadline for the next start date of Monday by 2 hours! I could not believe it. I had come so far. I pleaded with the lady to take her application. After a few phone calls she took it and said she couldn't promise anything. By 5pm we got a call saying she was ready to go!

Monday morning (the kids were out of school because of Veteran's Day) she got to work. The login didn't work so she had to call and get it fixed which didn't work till noon. Then she had a hard time understanding how it all worked but I think we are good now. She will now go to school every other day and do online school every other day doing the 2 semester classes she needs to do to be caught up in January.

First Day of School Again.

State Champs 2013!

Derrik made it to State for Cross Country. He has his Grandad Slade's running genes. I was at TOFW so Doug went and cheered him on. It was in Glendale so they had to get up really early to get all the animals done and then drive over.

Derrik had been having lots of trouble with his blood sugar this week. Not sure whats going on. He was so excited about the race because he did so well at his last meet. We even went to the chiropractor on Friday and had him dig out his legs so the muscles wouldn't be so tight.

When he started the race his BG (blood glucose) was 200, which is high but not super high. Doug said mid way it just skyrocketed past 400 (normal is between 80-120) and he started feeling sick and fought it the whole way. I am proud of him (even though it probable wasn't very safe and he should have just stopped) for finishing the race. It was by far the worst time he has had. His time was 25 min. 

The good news is ALA took state and all the hard work paid off. Derrik sure enjoyed Cross Country this year and now he is in shape for basketball which starts today. We see the Endocrinologist on Tuesday so hopefully he can help us figure out why this stupid diabetes is being so wacky.

Time Out 2013

I haven't been to Time Out For Women in a really long time. It is a conference put on by LDS people to inspire women. This year when I saw that the conference would be combine with a Time Out for Girls 12-18 I thought it would be super fun to take the girls and make a weekend out of it. Doug and Derrik always get to go hunting and do stuff so I thought it was about time I start taking the girls and do stuff too. I called up Andi Derrick and we made plans to get a hotel and she would bring her girls. We don't get to spend as much time as we would like with our old friends.

The conference was in downtown Phoenix. We stayed at the Marriott (cause Andi does not like "yucky motels." Luckily it was pretty cheap and it saved us on parking cause we could walk.

This is us walking the streets of Phoenix on Van Buren at night. Never thought I would say that. Haha.

It was Friday night and all day Saturday.

We were late because of basketball tryouts so Jennifer Shumway saved us seats.

My two very best friends.

We got home pretty late but slept ok for it being only one night. 

Sadie was feeling kinda yuck and took a little nap during breakfast. The whole hotel was full of Mormon Women. It was quite a site!

The girls were in a separate place with the same speakers but different topics.  We walked to a restaurant for lunch. Again full of Mormon women. There were 5500 women and a lot of girls at the conference. It was the largest one they have ever had.

Torie and Sadie

Kamryn and Kymber

 We sat with Jen and her mom and sister both days.

During one of the breaks we took some pictures. The line was large so we were in a hurry so they are kinda  blurry.

I enjoyed my company more than the conference. We saw so many people we have not seen in forever.

My girls had fun with their childhood friends.

We will have to think of our next girls trip. It was fun.

Cross Country Timelapse

Since Saturday's meet was at ALA all the parents were required to work at the event which meant we couldn't be everywhere to see the kids start and finish so on. A super nice mom, Mrs Evans, took over 350 pictures and shared them with us. 

There were so many kids and lots and lots of schools participating. Derrik is the one in the blue headband. Doug was on the course directing and I was doing the score table at the end.

Derrik wanted to measure his time for himself since it can sometimes be days before they find out what their time was.

Little did he know I was the one doing the times and would have been able to tell him instantly.

Still messing with the watch....

Almost got it....

Got it!

Very intense concentration.

Ain't he cute?

and handsome?

He sure loves athletics. I am glad.

The ALA kid in front of him is his good friend Colton Cluff.

I found out that he is a kid of a childhood friend I grew up with from Pima, AZ.

Her name is Stacy. Small world.

Derrik had his best time this week.

Here comes Derrik!

After all that fiddling with his watch he forgot to stop it at the end.

Now off to State next Saturday. I think we should advize no watch fiddling. I bet he will shave a second off his time. Derrik was 6th for his school and 20th overall.

We Have a Winner

Derrik's last cross country meet before state was this morning. It was at AlA and the weather was beautiful. Derrik took first place in his division and he beat his best score at 17:45 for a 5K! His first race was something like 21 so he really has improved. Now he is all in shape for his true love sport, basketball. Tryouts start Monday!