I'm Spineless

After finding the date of my last Dexascan (so my insurance would pay for this "Postmenapausal" test), I scheduled another to follow up (nine years after the first) on my bone density. I wake almost every morning now with lower back pain and feeling very weak in my core. Results of the scab: the good news is I've put on 3% more mass on my femur (from three more weight bearing pregnancies?). The bad news is that all three areas of my spine are down 10%. Yes, I am truly "spineless!" Our new doctor looked at the results and wrote me a prescription for Fossimax cautioning me to take much more calcium and Vitamin D so the body can utilize this in helping to lay down more bone. Isn't it ironic...my name means "youthful one"?

Timing

This morning I was supposed to meet my parents and sister and go to lunch and out shopping for a blessing dress. (My sister Lisa had a premie and also needed a blessing dress for her little Annabel). That was the original plan anyway. What is the Steinbeck phrase, "The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry"? What a blessing! My parents and I ended up waiting, for various reasons, and going much later than planned. The wonderful thing about this day was that had we gone according to schedule I would have missed a dear friend--Jamie Tasso Lee who stopped by with gifts for Eva (darling Onesies and pants to go with them, thanks!). She was in town briefly from back East and had a few minutes to stop by while her mom was at a doctor's appointment. I got to meet her cute little ladies, Madison and Savannah in person.

Part of a Premie Packet with bib and blanket. (Same style blanket my parents bought for Eva.)

Another Premie dress.

Mom bought a "make your own blessing dress kit" for Lisa.

Some garnish on the dress my parents bought for Eva. (Love clearance items!)

A Midsummer Eve (Finnish Juhannus Juhla)

Yesterday was a busy Saturday around here...I woke up to turn off the lights downstairs and thaw bread dough at 4:00 a.m. (forgetful girls living in the basement!). Opening the door to the bathroom, I noticed that it was, once again, under a good deal of water. I got Joe up (baby slept thankfully) and we sopped up the water with many towels by the new wood floor and on the new carpet and pad and in the bathroom. (Later today Mark from Roto Rooter--our new found "friend" discovered the water softener drain had rusted closed again and moved the hose to a better drain.) Had Joe and I been aware, we could have stepped outside to view a lunar eclipse. We went back to bed, Joe fell asleep and the baby got up to nurse. Laundry, making Pulla (Finnish sweet bread), buying bookshelves, making books to move books, and the normal meals and clean up. The children had a lot of fun at cousin Eli's fifth birthday party at the Arapahoe house. They had a Camping theme. One of the games they participated in was an obstacle course that taught them how to fly fish in a pond, go into a tent to sleep, build a fire, dress in camp clothes, etc. The children ate roasted hot dogs (in a fire), chips, salads, and had roasted marshmallow s'mores. Brett and Aino invited us to a Juhannus Juhla (Midsummer's Eve festival) at their "new to them" home. It was fun to mingle with Finns and some returned Finnish missionaries and taste Kiiseli (fruit soup), Lehtujas (crepes) with Linggonberry and Cloudberry jam, torts, voi leipa (cucumber open faced sandwiches), Pulla (sweet bread with Cardamom in various forms: sweet rolls, braids, etc.), O'Douels, Apple Beer and Root beer, makkara (sausages), watermelon. Marit Kemppainen (now at BYU) made a flip poster of the history of the holiday with it's kokkos (bonfires) by the sea, sauna, midnight dips in the sea, floral wreaths for young maidens, etc.

Wet and Wild at the Waterpark

The children earned passes to the water park by reading and meeting their goals. the passes were about to expire and so we decided to go without dad and enjoy the day with a picnic lunch and good attitude. Each older child had a younger buddy and we were off!

Eva's Two month Well Child Check

All right--time for Eva Stevah's big weight check! Come on nine pounds! Close. She was 8/14.5 oz. Dr. Matt stood by the scale smirking (about her slow breastfed gain). When the results came in. "Huh!" seemed to be the answer.

Happy Father's Day

A sweet Dessert Smoothie with fresh peaches

Hannah took some pictures of our Father's Day Brunch. We love you, Joseph!

Mother's Tea Party

For Mother's birthday this year, Amy hosted a gourmet tea party in her honor at her home. As you may have guessed, Amy displayed her tea set collection. It was a delicious and fun day celebrating a wonderful woman, Connie Hall Clayton.

Little Eva wears her first dress for the occasion.

Eva chats with Grandma.

The Hostess at work.

Tea Courses: #1 "Green" blended drink, bran Muffins, fruit kabobs and yogurt dip. #2 Egg Casserole, Lentil Sausage, and Pepper butterflies. #3 Cream cheese filled crepes and Korean honey plum (herb) tea. #4 Homemade Raspberry Sorbet and Oreo Truffles. Amy's Tea Set Collection: