Still sick.

The rest of this week I continued to be sick. It was wonderful though, because we did LOTS of fun stuff together! For instance...

We built a fort!

Under the bed!

An idea I got off of Pinterest was to put some of those glow sticks in the tub and have a bath in the dark. The kids LOVED it. (But Brenna requested I stay in there while the lights were out.)

 

...and lots of SNUGGLE time! 

  

...and movie night with daddy!

 

Kaylee was by herself...well of course she had Ellie.

 

One of the days that I was sick, our new neighbor, Lisa Westover, picked up Kaylee from school and brought us a big pot of beef stew. It was perfect. The kids were sick of PB&J.

Oh, and Kaylee has learned how to cross her eyes. SO clever!

 

And now for some random pictures...first a picture of Ammon after falling over backwards into this basket. It was pretty funny. He didn't think so.

 

This is Brenna venturing out and trying the toy room.

 

We've also started doing a little bit of school at home. This is Brenna after tracing the letter 'S.'

       Today I fasted for decision making. Should I pursue a job? If so, which one? Should Nate take a job?
      After church, I was just having a lot of inner turmoil. I prayed in the kitchen for financial well being of family, and to end my fast. An overwhelming out-pouring of the spirit moved me to tears! The very comforting words came to mind that Heavenly Father would take care of me.

5 more miracles.

Miracle #1: The printer worked.
There were a few of our possessions that were destroyed on the trip. We were sure the printer was on the list. Nate messed around with it for a good half hour. I think every adult took a turn trying to get it to work. No matter what anyone did, it wouldn't turn on! It was done for. Bummer! Since the whole 'asking for help' thing had been working for me lately, I decided to pray about the printer, too. The moment I finished my prayer, I tried turning it on...nothing. I checked all the cords. Everything was plugged in properly! Or wait...no, it wasn't the cord had two components, and one end was plugged into the computer, the other into the printer. The way the cords were wrapped, it was difficult to tell that this was the case. I plugged the two together and voila! Printer!!

Miracle #2: The router worked, too.
We had a Comcast guy come and set up internet. There was some issue with our modem...something about the registration...and the inventory...anyway, they loaned us one of there's, and since then I've probably been on the phone 5 times with 30 different people trying to figure it out! On top of it, when we plugged in the router, not only did it not send internet to the laptop/ipad, it shut down internet access all together. Nate and I both tried multiple times. One night, I was determined to figure it out. It was too hard sharing the slow-as-a-turtle-old-as-a-dinosaur desktop computer with all that we needed to have done. I got out the 'how to' pamphlet and the accompanying software. I was at it for a good hour when I decided to pray for help. Another hour later, the router was working. Don't even ask me how it happened, I just know it did. It was miraculous. I think by then it was so late, I was delirious!

Miracle #3: I found Sam's Club. (Liz, don't laugh!)
The Giant Eagle grocery store that seems to be monopolizing all of Pittsburgh was giving me a lot of anxiety about living here. The prices were outrageous compared to what I am used to! $1.99 for a head of iceburg lettuce? $3.29/lb. for really crappy tomatoes? $3.69 for a gallon of milk? (Actually, that milk price is pretty universal around here from what I've seen) I am a pretty experienced couponer, but under the circumstances, I didn't have the resources OR know-how to do a coupon run here in Pittsburgh. All I knew is that we were in desperate need of provisions and I wanted to go to Sam's! I knew if I could just find a Sam's club, I could stock up and rest at ease.
I got in the car with all 3 kids. Got out the GPS from Brian and Alisha that I had never before attempted to use. To begin with, I could not figure out how to get the thing to stop thinking I was in California! (That's where they used it before) I said a silent prayer. Suddenly, Star started giving me directions! (Star is the name the kids and I decided to give her...the brand is Nextar) WAHOO! I was a nervous wreck, but I was doing it! Driving all over the maze that is called Pittsburgh!
Suddenly, star said, "Your destination is on the left." I looked to the left...um, nothing but trees. Nothing at all! About a half mile later there was a store called 'Super Saver.' I was so bummed! Where was I even? Did the GPS totally malfunction? I parked and told the kids were were getting out.
Wait. No. I came out here to find a Sam's. I'm going to keep looking. I drove back to the road we came on and decided to go a little further. About a mile later, there it was! On the top of the hill! Sam's! It was then that I realized that for the address I had typed 3261 instead of 3621. So the error was made by me, not the GPS! We got our food and returned home all in one piece. It was a miracle.

Miracle #4: The mailman doesn't pick up mail, just drops it off.
I haven't asked any locals about this yet...so don't quote me on it...but it seems as though the mailman only drops off mail. He doesn't collect it. He parks at the end of the street and walks down, delivering mail from house to house. We were wondering what that box on the house was for. And wondered why nobody had a mailbox in front of their house.
Right when we got here, I filled out my application for a Pennsylvania Nursing license and put it in an envelope along with the $100 fee. I decided not to apply for a temporary license, figuring it couldn't really take that long to process my application, plus it would cost me another $35. No thanks. I wasn't really planning on working soon anyway.
However, my license sat in that mailbox for 2 days.
Nate and I reminded each other to drop it off on Saturday, but we both forgot.
I started to think about working. We prayed about it. I started to feel like maybe I should look for a job.Ugh. Why? I had felt so good about just staying home.
That night, I started looking at jobs online. I came across a per diem job that I could do from home...hmm, interesting! I applied. Man, I really needed to get that application SENT! ASAP! Especially if I was going to work soon!
Sunday came, and we both forgot! AGAIN!
Finally it was Monday. TOP priority to get that puppy in a mailbox. Any mailbox! Before I left, I was looking at the licensing website online and realized it would take a long, long, long time before my application would be processed; weeks, even months. I needed a temporary license if I needed to work soon.
Before I left, I changed the form and added my $35. I dropped it in the mail on the way to the grocery store. SUCH a miracle I was able to make that change.

Miracle #5: Ammon stopped throwing up.
The next day, Tuesday, I found Ammon in his crib covered with puke. Something he ate? Gave him a bath, got him dressed, gave him a bottle, and he drank it down.
Then he threw up all over the dining table.
I changed him into pajamas and informed Nate I would not be going with him to get our drivers licenses changed. Then he threw up all over the floor. Then a fever.
Yikes! Poor boy! I spent a lot of the day holding the sickly child. I decided to have a teaching moment with the girls. We all knelt down in front of Ammon (who was passed out on the couch). I said, "Whoever says the prayer, remember to ask Heavenly Father to help Ammon to feel better." Kaylee volunteered and gave the sweetest prayer using those exact words. I told them to have faith that Heavenly Father can make Ammon better.
When Ammon woke up, he was still feverish and cuddly. He didn't want food. He did have a little water. I admit, I was nervous! I continued to hold him. Later on, he had some milk. Then a little later, some yogurt. Couple hours later, he was begging me for crackers and more milk. No throwing up!
When I put him to bed, he still wasn't quite himself, but at least he was keeping everything down. We thanked Heavenly Father for yet another miracle in our home. The very next day he was symptom free.

We have found a home! YAY

We feel like this is kind of meant to be. When Nate was in Pittsburgh, he was going from place to place, and pulled into the driveway of this house. Right when he did, the owner also pulled up. The rest is history. This place is perfect for us!

View of the front

A garage!!! Never in the 7 years we've been married have we ever had a garage!

All the bedrooms have wooden floors.

Kitchen!

Dining

Living room

Entry

This house also has a 'dungeon' basement which we can use for our food storage and punishing our children. 

Kidding.

Nate has also found an office space so in mid-November we are good to go!

Mid October

On October 6th, it was Shannon and Tyler's engagement party. It was BEAUTIFUL! Nate was busy working on stuff for the franchise, and I worked the night before, so he had to catch up...and I went with the kids. It was WAY fun seeing all the guys from highschool...I haven't seen them litterally since graduation day! But I couldn't visit as much as I wanted to because I was chasing 3 kids in a fancy place in my high heels and a pencil skirt. But Shannon of course looked perfect. I was so glad I got to go! They are such a perfect couple!

As Nate was working on all his stuff, he realized he needed a physical address in order to proceed with...whatever. On Saturday, the 9th, he was booking his flight! I begged him to go AFTER our family pictures that Shannon had offered to do that evening, and being the good husband he was, got a flight for the next morning at 1 AM!

So we did our pictures. They went PERFECTLY! Shannon is amazingly talented and relaxed. The kids even cooperated because they are starting to feel comfortable around her. Nate was dreading pictures because he's used to a very stressful situation, but after we were finished even said, "Wow, that was quick! Best photo session I've ever had."

We went to dinner with Shannon and Tyler afterward at the Brick Oven. It was so fun getting to know them! Ammon was going a little nuts chucking food and silverware, but the girls were angels, so I don't think we scared Tyler and Shannon too much with our walking circus. Hehe. Also, I love the Brick Oven. Will they have one in Pittsburgh? I don't know. One more thing to add to the list of things I will miss about Utah. :( Along with our new friends Tyler and Shannon! :( :(

So we got the kids to bed afterward and I drove Nate to the airport in the middle of the night. Poor guy. I knew he wouldn't sleep. He's never been able to sleep on the plane. Come to find out, he didn't sleep at all.

On Sunday, I was brave and went to church alone with the kids. We were actually on time! It was a miracle! I was feeling like superwoman. Ammon was terrible in sacrament so I didn't hear much of what was being said, but he was perfect in gospel doctrine {as he reverently munched on ginger snaps...don't judge me}.  I love Brother Allen's lessons. I'm going to miss them.

On the 10th, it was Nate's birthday, and he was still in Pittsburgh, alone. I did have a late night conversation with him on skype though and we tried to celebrate a little bit. Ammon got a huge smile seeing him on skype and tried to kiss the screen...SO cute. He pretty much spent the whole day driving around looking for an apartment and an office. He treated himself to ribs at least for dinner! He said he did get a lot of love from texts and facebook messages. So thanks everyone for making him feel special through technology. :)

He finally came home on Wednesday. I was supposed to work, but Nate's flight got in at midnight, so I called in sick so I could pick him up. Plus I have like 2 weeks worth of PTO that will never be used up. It was nice to be able to clean the house really well and make a decent dinner for his homecoming. It was so nice to have him back.

When he came back, he had pretty much narrowed it down to 3 homes he thought would be nice to rent. One property, he hadn't anticipated looking into, but he saw a sign and pulled up. Right then, the owner pulled up and showed him around. It's an old house built in like the 1940s, but the inside is brand new. In Pittsburgh, it's pretty rare to have any kind of backyard or driveway, and this one has both! We decided this is the one for us! It's wonderful to see pictures of where we'll be living...it makes it feel like it's really going to happen!

 Today I took the kids to a pumpkin maze with Brandy and Max. Max and Ammon both picked up sticks and were wacking the ground. Then Ammon looked down and saw the corn cobs and decided it was dinner time and tried eating them! They also had some big slides there. Brenna didn't hesitate to go down by herself! Kaylee on the other hand was in tears because she was so scared. I went up there and put my arm around her and went down with her. After that, she was going all by herself and so proud. I took Ammon down a couple of times and he loved it.

Max and his stick. Cute boy!

Searching the corn for CANDY!!!

  Afterward, we went to get 25 cent ice cream cones. Ammon thought he was cool in Max's sponge bob hat!

I am going to miss Brandy and Max.

 When we got home I finished making Kaylee's Toy Story rice krispie cake and spent like 3 hours (not really) cleaning our messy kitchen. It usually is like that after I work. I also decorated with some balloons and crepe paper. Kids go nuts over that kind of stuff.