Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Brent

Hello Everyone,

We hope that you are all well.

Just to let you know, Brent injured himself on this summer's High Adventured trip. After seeing a chiropractor with continued pain, he finally went to our family doctor who referred him onto a pain management doctor and a spine doctor. So here we are now. Brent is schedule for surgery on his neck/back next Wednesday (Sept 29th). They will take out the herniated disk and fuse the two surrounding vertebrae. It will take up to a year for full recovery. So, here we go.

Love you all.

Nicole

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Dorius Family Update

Happy New Year 2011!!
Hi all. Thought I would post a quick update.

Jestin is still looking for permanent employment. He has had small jobs here and there and they are scrapping us by, but that is it. I have applied for a night watch job at a home for troubled youth.  The lady called and said to send her my resume (eh? resume? I may need some help here soon B!) and she would put it at the top of the stack for their next hire. We'll see. It would be from 11pm-3am and I would just sit and be there in case any of the girls woke up. I can commit to that kind of work! LOL 9-5 not so much... but even on a bad heart day I could still go and sit. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Emma is adjusting to Jr High. It's not her most favorite. She doesn't like trying to keep 10 teachers straight! (yep... she has 5 classes a day on an a-day b-day schedule.) She is taking Intro to Voice, Drama and Hip Hop. Next sememster she gets to take Piano lessons at school! I CAN'T WAIT! *grin* With 10 classes totally the kids can take much more elective type classes and figure out what they enjoy at an earlier age. She is a little leery about her first science project... she has to gather and document 25 different kinds of bugs. We had trama the first couple of bugs because she had to put them in the freezer to kill them. She was pumped to find a huge dead grasshopper in the parking lot! It was already dead! LOL! She is enjoying Hip Hop (the courses she choose combine to test her dream of wanting to be a singer) and thinks that next year she wants to try out for Drill Team.

We really like the charter school here. There are some around that are iffy...but this one is awesome! I like that I get an email with all her homework assignements each day, so if she forgets something we can get it caught up before it's due (we can print off any and all homework). They totally set these kids up to succeed and I like that! They also teach them the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which is really cool too!

Cody is liking his 6th grade teacher. It's a man, and he SO reminds me of Cody's personality. Cody loved the first project they had... a Sugar Baby to learn responsibility. It was fun! (pictures on our blog) He also is signed up for Drama (they start some electives in the elementary age kids in 4th grade). He has LOVED his drama class and can't wait for this years. He is also on the brink of Pre-Algebra already because they place the kids where their skill level is, instead of by age/grade. He will likely be in the same book as Emma... and Emma is ahead "for 7th grade" as well (they usually study Math 7) by doing Pre-Algebra. It is cool.

Cameron is liking school too... though not quite as much. He loved the freedom of summer way too much! LOL! We are getting into the swing of things though and he really likes his teacher. He aces all his tests and is doing just great!

Caleb, my sweet baby Caleb, started Kindergarten and LOVES it!! He wishes it were all day! He is learning a lightening speed. He is at the local Elem. because they offered a better speech therapy program (with the old YW Pres. in our ward) and his teacher is also in our ward! He is happy as a little clam. (And thanks Ma for helping him get his prized back pack! He LOVES it! Glad we didn't talk him out of the $3 one! LOL)

Jestin needs eye surgery. And soon. They think they messed up with his first eye surgery and damamged the lens, as he now has a catatact in that eye. The surgeon wants to do cataract surgery for him and then do the diabetic retinopathy surgery as soon as possible for the other eye. The problem? Our state insurance will cover NOTHING. We are trying to figure out what to do to make it happen, and still pay our other bills with money we don't have as well. It's fun... let me tell ya. But he can't go blind or we are up a creek without a paddle. We are praying and trying to sell a hot tub that his uncle gave us to see if that will help.

On other notes, there has been lots of fun trials that keep us on our knees. We are serving as best we know how, and trying to do all that we can within our means. We are thankful for the power of prayer. We are grateful for our testimonies and the peace that knowing Heavenly Father's plan gives us. Without it, I think we would be much worse off and despairing quite a lot. But we are continuing to grow and know that this too shall pass... for it always came to pass... it never came to stay. ;)

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Hello from Jackson!


We are having tons of fun!!

Monday we went to Yellowstone. We saw Old Faithful and all of the upper geyser basin. I love the Morning Glory Pool. I fell in love with it as a kid. It isn't as blue as it was because people have thrown things into it and blocked it's source. We saw lots of animals but no bears. We explored Old Faithful Lodge. It was cool. Found out to stay there isn't a bad price but you have to do reservations atlease 13 months in advance. On May 1st they will open reservations for 2012. They will likely be sold out before May 2nd. I found a perfect t-shirt for Sean we may have to go back and get. Dang I was dumb not to get it.

Tuesday we went to Jenny Lake and Jackson Lake Lodge. That was lots of fun. At Jenny Lake we took the boat across and hiked to Hidden Falls. Can I just say, my feet HATE me. Oh, do they hurt!!!!. It was worth it though.

That night we went to the only thing we had planned for sure. We went to the Bar J Wrangler chuck wagon dinner and show. It was so fun. We met some folks from Indiana and some from Ogden. It was cafeteria seating. We was a blast. Highly recommend it if any of you get a chance.

Yesterday we were lazy! My feet are recovering. I slept until almost noon. We did drive to Teton Village. It was too stormy to ride the tram. We could have spent the money but seen nothing due to the cloud cover. We came back here and vegged. We went to the grocery store. We got here with the great tomatos Heather gave us and had nothing to cut them with. Anyway, we went to the pool area. Dad swam but the pool was alittle to cold for me. I sat in a salt water hot tub. I have a new nickname, Corky. There was no way I could stay down. The minute I wasn't concentrating to stay seated I popped to the top. Sure felt good though. The real hot tub is outside.

Today we are going to shop in Jackson. There are tons of shops. They even have a Christmas shop, Yea!!! I fell in love with this town as a kid too. It was like magic with the wooden sidwalks etc. Of course, it has grown and become commercialized since then. I hope I'm not disappointed

Well, I better go. Dad has brought me breakfast. He goes to the diningroom and then brings me a plate. I just laze around the room and get ready (and write to you) while he goes to eat. I am just not a breakfast first thing kind of person.

Sean, the place we camped with my folks if called Flagg Ranch. It has really changed. It is very commercialized. The part we stayed in has actually been closed. Atlease it is right now. They may open it in the summer.

Hope you are all doing well. We are having lots of fun.

Love you all,

Mom

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Ma and Dad ran away to Wyoming

Here is the latest email I got from them...

Hi,
We are having a blast. Yesterday we went to Yellowstone.We saw the two things I wanted most and LOTS more. My feet hated me big time. It was worth it. We saw Old Faithful and Morning Glory Pool and most of the upper geyser basin. It was cool. Old Faithful went off twice while we were there. We took pictures from two sides. We explored the Old Faithful Lodge and had lunch/dinner in their cafeteria. We didn't see any bears but lots of other animals.

Today we are going to Jenny Lake and Jackson Lake Lodge. They are on our list. We are trying to do the most outdoor stuff on the warmest projected days. Tonight is our Bar J Wrangler dinner and show. The only thing preplanned.

I am practicing on the lap top, as you can tell.
Talk to you soon.

Love you all, Mom