Blossoming...

This was the East Side of our house. Charming, right? More like a ghetto trap beckoning weeds and just asking for little ones to fall into those gaping widow wells.

*Before*

This is the side of the yard NOW.

*After*

Jody worked hard to make this look fantastic. Now we have a walking path, with bushes and sturdy window well covers.

Spring is full of COLOR, and I love that. Our backyard is becoming that bright haven that we look forward to during this season.

Poor Baby

We are heading in the right direction. We now have some answers as to why Sienna has been so sick. A recent ultrasound and VCUG test show us she was born with a duplicate ureter.

Nurse: "Well, Mrs. Tait your baby has a double ureter connected to her left kidney."

Me: "I don't know what that means!"

Nurse: "It means you will be spending some time up at Primary Children's with a pediatric urologist."

And so we wait for that visit, which is coming up soon.

Back in October of 2011 (Sienna was 13 months) she ran an outrageously high fever for days, with no other strong symptoms. She was diagnosed with a Urinary Tract Infection, which we later found out was a kidney infection. With the help of anti-biotics, she was healthy once again. And then earlier this spring, she ran another unbreakable high fever - reaching a temp as high as 105. I was so scared. I knew it was another Kidney Infection! Once diagnosed, the anti-biotic made her throw-up any possible liquids I could get in her. She was in the ER overnight, and thanks to modern medicine - we were able to nurse her back to health. 

Doctors, Jody and myself knew there must be an underlying problem. Staff at the Radiology Dept. at Primary's did a VCUG. It's a terrible test for anyone to have done...especially if you're 18-months-old. Nurses gave Sienna a catheter, mermaid-tied her legs together, and then injected fluids up into her bladder. The goal was to have her "go to the bathroom", so we could see if her bladder was draining properly. She was hysterical and very upset. When she finally released the liquids; we saw that she has a severe reflux problem. Much of the liquid went back up her ureters (those are the tubes that connect our bladder and kidneys) and into her kidneys. This is called Kidney Reflux. Reflux is rated on a severity level from 1 being fixable and 5 - Severe. She has Level 2 Reflux on her right side and Level 5 on her left. She also has an extra ureter!

Most people have one attached to their right kidney and one attached to their left kidney. She has two on her left side. Click here to read more about Kidney Reflux

My biggest concerns are that she may experience some kidney damage. Her left kidney has retained so much liquid, over time, that it is much larger than her right. This dilation can lead to kidney disease. My other concern is the ongoing pain she has felt. It breaks my heart to know that since the time she was born she has had kidney reflux, and we didn't know. Medical journals indicate that the expansion of the kidney, due to reflux, causes tummy and back pain. I feel so sad that she has never felt 100%. However, I am so thankful we live close to Primary Children's. Their specialists are fantastic, and I know they will have all the answers in regards to surgery and getting her to feel better.

Upon diagnosing her with kidney reflux, doctors put Sienna on a daily anti-biotic she will take for one year, and maybe much longer.  This will prevent her from getting any more infections.  I am anxious to hear what urologists have to say about surgically removing/blocking off that extra ureter.  Sienna will most likely have a VCUG every year now to make sure the reflux is not getting worse.

Sienna is a sweetheart. And we love her. And I am loving that volume in her hair!

And really. Look at her. Does this look like a girl who is going to let an Extra Ureter get her down?!? No way.  This little one is just as strong as she is sweet.  And as you can see, she thinks it's really funny to run away from me when I'm trying to clean off her face!

Some Bunny Loves You!

Seriously. (And I love that I'm saying that because of the nature of the picture.) But Really! This is one of my favorite pictures ever of the girls!!


Gracie and Sienna had a good time finding the Eggs that the Easter Bunny hid around our house. Good thing we had colored them the night before. Gracie is quite the Easter Egg decorator!


Easter Sunday was lovely. There were some really sweet moments with my Primary Class when we were talking about the Resurrection. I told them how thankful I am for our Savior Jesus Christ. Because, I know, after the Resurrection, my brother Michael will be be able to walk and talk. The sweet 6-year-olds listened. And I know they felt the spirit. After church, we went over to my parent's home for the annual Easter Egg Hunt.



Everyone had a good time!


I sure love these girls.


*Sienna 18 months*

Skills USA 2012

This school year, I have worked with lots of students in the TV Journalism Classes at Lehi High School. However, eight dedicated students represented Lehi at the Skills USA State competition this spring. I was so thrilled to have our two teams take home the Gold and Silver Medals in their competition. Each team of four students has 1 hour and 1/2 to write and produce a 3-minute newscast. Then they go live -- floor directing, tri-casting and anchoring their show. The winning team scored a 907 out of 1,000 points. Our Second Place finishers were only five points behind them with a 902! These numbers are super exciting to me because last year's winners won with a score of 750. These students worked hard. Looks like my lectures on the Inverted Pyramid of Journalism, Strong Leads, and Attribution seem to be sticking! Hooray. Great Work LHS!



It wasn't easy for those four students who placed second, to see their peers win Gold - when they wanted the top of the podium just as much. But it clarified again to me, it's not if you win or lose...but HOW you win or lose. Class, dignity and gratitude for the experience. If I have learned one thing in my first year of teaching high school; it's that the most important lessons I'm teaching don't have anything to do with broadcasting. Teaching character reigns supreme. In 33 days, those Seniors in my class will bid farewell to their high school experience. It's my hope that something positive I've said will stay with them. Life is what you make it....so make it SPECTACULAR!

How Can You Tell When It's Time to Leave the Zoo?

One child who hates being placed in a giant egg and the other very upset that her sister is not smiling for the picture. Time to book it to the car. Pronto. And we would have, but Gracie kept running away. I used to despise those child leash/harness systems that you see parents using at theme parks. "Why would you force your child to be in one of those? That's terrible." Well, now I know why. I'm not running out to buy one...but it's tempting. Very tempting.



Before the girls got really tired, we had a blast! Gracie, Sienna and I spent the day with my good friend Emilee and her two darling girls.
{Melt my heart!}


The giraffes were Gracie's favorite animal. We also enjoyed watching the gorillas, tigers and camels.


Sienna was not so sure about her ride on the carousel.

"Mom, Remember When I was a Kid?"

Gracie doesn't want "to grow up." At times, she gets almost panicked when she thinks about growing up. She tells me on a daily basis that it's just not going to happen. And right now, that's okay with me. I love her humorous commentary and honest responses. She is at a really fun stage, and I'm simply enjoying it.


As we rounded the corner into our neighborhood - home from a trip to the library - the other day, she says: "Mom, do you remember when I was a kid?" (long sigh)

I (holding back my laughter) reply: "Yes, I do."

"I just wish I was young again," She says.

Baahhaa! She is only four, and already she's wishing back the years. I mean...really?...What could be better than juice boxes, preschool parties and trips to the park?!? I think she may be over-thinking this. :)


Sienna, at 17 months, is such a sweetie. She loves stuffed animals.


She also wants to be just like her big sister. So first thing when she wakes up; she goes to find these Tinkerbell wings and then begs me to put them on her.


Sienna has proven to be a much more difficult baby - compared to Gracie. She is more needy, and she's already thrown some tantrums. I guess I will just have to drench her with some extra hugs and kisses!


These two are super cute when they play together. Sienna answers nearly every question with "Yah". So as we are driving around doing errands this is what I hear from the backseat....
(Gracie:) "Hey Sienna, Do you want to ride on a turkey?"
(Sienna:) "Yah."
(Both:) Laughing hysterically.
(Gracie:) "Hey Sienna, Do you like to eat tree leaves?"
(Sienna:) "Yah."
(Both:) More Laughter.

This is repeated over and over and over...

Murder Mystery Cruise

Jodes and I had SO much fun at our friend's Murder Mystery Party! Jody's character was Ethan Cruz, the charming and wealthy executive. And I was Phoebe Abuelos - the contestant eliminated from Top 5 on the Cruise Ship Pageant. As I was deciding what to wear to dress for my part, Jody kindly reminded me I have a gleaming pant suit that screams Send me to Emerald City in the back of my closet. Perfect. No looking needed. The pant suit was a hit. Jody adorned himself with lots of man jewelry - also a hit.



The Girls



The Boys


And this, by far, is my favorite picture of the night. Ben ran across the shot - as we all said Cheese!


I, and two others, solved the mystery. Phoebe was on her game that night!

Out and About...

I recently had the opportunity to speak with the Miss Orem Contestants about interview and public speaking skills. I always enjoy helping out, when I can, with the Miss Orem Pageant. I have so many fond memories from my days as a title-holder. I *loved* speaking to school children, during my year as Miss Orem, about the beauty of differences and celebrating our abilities.

And below is the story I filed on Saturday for 2News.

**Click Here to Watch - Top Story -

Thanks to Daylight Savings and Vernal being 3 1/2 hours away from Salt Lake City...I rolled into my driveway at 3:30 a.m. When I got home, all the lights were on. That's because poor Jody and Gracie had been throwing up the majority of the night. So sad! Little Gracie was so paranoid about throwing up in her bed (again) that when I went to check on her to see if she was asleep...she had a small plastic garbage can over her head! I should have taken a picture... but I didn't know whether to laugh or start crying for her!

One extra day...

It's Leap Day!

A day that only comes once every four years. And that got me thinking...what would I do with these precious extra hours? Vacuum the floor, snuggle a little longer with my babies and reflect. This February, Jody and I celebrated seven years of marriage.

Seven Years Ago, you could have told me; Jody and I would have two healthy little girls, would freeze up north in Montana for three years, buy three different homes, live (and even function just fine) without a microwave or dishwasher in our first house, laugh harder than we did when we dated, cry more deeply than I thought possible, and love at a level that 7 years ago...I wouldn't have been able to understand. It would have sounded epic then...but much like skipping to the end of a good novel - it would have just been words. The past 7 years with Jody as my other half - have been amazing.

Butte, Montana is not really the Newlywed Capital of the Nation. But off we went. We bought our first home. All 700 square feet of it. It didn't have any storage space - but that was okay. We didn't have much to store. The bathroom could only hold one person standing...unless of course the other person was standing in the shower. It was a humble home...but it was ours!

On this unique day, I am making a commitment to live each day like it is a bonus 24 hours! Life is what we make it. So let's make it glorious! I warmly smile at the path my life has taken. From the bumps in the road to the charming and unexpected detours...Today has been a day for me to look at the progression of the past seven years.



The video is going to have better clarity if you don't watch it on full-screen. :)

I Love You to the Moon and Back...

Valentines Day rubbed off at our house. Love is in the Air!

Cupid's Day was fun. Before helping my high-schoolers write and produce the Pride TV segment, I had them play "Doughnut You Know?" A game I created, where in order to win a doughnut...you say something genuine and nice about the person whose name you draw out of a bowl. The students gave sincere compliments that they otherwise most likely never would have vocalized. No one was distracted on their phone or talking to their neighbor...they were just boosting up one another. It was fabulous. And then I got called down to the front office. Jody had sent me Beautiful Flowers!! He is so thoughtful. That made my day!

After teaching, I helped at Gracie's Valentine Pre-school Party.


Passing out Valentines, a puppet show and eating heart-shaped cookies. These darling kids were in heaven!


And who could forget this little love bug?

She needs a Heart Day Shout Out too. Speaking of hearts -- she has won mine...but also gives me daily heart attacks by climbing on furniture, attempting to swallow small objects and breaking all electronic devices. Ha! She makes up for all of the chaos with her hugs and snuggles.

She has been holding still like a champ while I blow dry her hair. What a good girl! Sienna just had her 2nd haircut. The stylist took an inch and 1/2 off of the back to create this A-line bob. It suits her.


Papa & Grandma Wiscombe and Uncle Michael dropped off some valentines for us too!!


That night, after I read Gracie her bedtime story, she squeezed me tightly. "Mom, I love you to the moon and back." It's one of those moments where you close your eyes and try and remember everything about that split second. What a lovely end to a sweet Heart Day!