Our crazy week...

Hello from the Dorius'!!

Things here have been crazy!

Jes has been working crazy long hours

(I think in hopes of making Christmas not so tight)

Monday he worked 5am-3pm at his regular job.

Then he worked on a side job from 4-10pm.

He was in bed by 12:30am.

Tuesday he worked 5 am-3pm at his regular job.

He then drove to Park City and worked at the Mansion, not getting home until just before 1 am.

Wednesday he worked from 4am-3pm - regular job.

He took his big ladder over and hung "Grandma Carolyn's" Christmas lights on her house.

Then went to his side job again, getting home just after 10:30.

Believe it or not today he slept in!

He didn't leave for work until almost 6 am.

He didn't get home though until 5 pm.

He ran back over to "grandma's" to add an extension cord and get them lights glowin...

He actually ATE DINNER WITH US...

and then headed back to his side job in American Fork.

Emmalee has been working crazy long hours as well!

She has Concert Choir at school, and then are doing a "Spirit of Christmas" program.

She has had rehearsals almost everyday for the past 6 school days.

(It is not just the choir, but it is the whole fine arts program together!)

(so it's BIG)

She has gone to school at 8:30.

She gets out a 3:15 and stays at the school working on her homework as best she can because rehearsals start at 4:00.

She is supose to be done by 9pm... but her best friend is the President of the Concert Choir, and multiple times she and her friend have had to stay late to clean up the classrooms the students wait in until it's their time.

It has been A LOT of work for her.

She crashed yesterday and called in a Hookie Day.

We ran errands together, and she spent most of the day desperately finishing the homework that has been piling up so she won't mess up her honor roll status.

Performances started tonight and so she will be at the school from 5-9 today and tomorrow and monday, with another program on Saturday from 2-4.

During dinner tonight, when we did our "Best Part/Worst Part of the Day" - without Emma because she had just left for her performance - Caleb said his best part about today was that "I gots to see my whole family all at the same time for a few minutes today"

*sniff*

He is such a sweet boy.

It has been rough!

They have been in bed everytime Em and Jes have come home.

:(

I can't wait for NEXT TUESDAY!!

Oh wait!

That's Young Men/Young Women's Night.

Ok.

I can't wait for next WEDNESDAY

LOL

New year update

This 1st week of 2010 has not been terribly kind. I was knocked flat with strep throat, and have finally come back to the land of the living to find it is Thursday and I am terribly behind in life, laundry and drinking/eating (lost 10 lbs though!) Jestin has been incredible to keep the home fires burning as far as feeding, shuttling car pool for school and dishes. Our home still looks almost like it did the day after Christmas (you know...like Christmas threw up all over LOL) but the kids have quietly played near by, or watched netflix on the Wii while I tossed and turned in fits of agony/sleep on the couch. It was fun. (not)

On an upnote, Jes had two small jobs this week. We may make the rest of the payments we needed to pay last month, with the exception of our mortgages, which are in modification process still (though we have a trustee sale date of January 28th!) and the supply house bill that seems to never end. This recession has kicked our butts so hard we have lost the ability to let it get us down. Curse or blessing? Not sure. We just find joy in each other, in life, in serving and in living the gospel and leave the rest to God. I guess if we end up living in the camp trailer for a while... maybe we will start traveling the country like snow birds? Bwahahaha

He is still applying anywhere and everywhere. We can't believe how qualified out of a job he is. Small jobs keep trickling in, and meeting our very most basic "needs" so we wonder what that means? Is the answer "hang on a little longer and your business will pick up" or is it "you are not looking in the right places" or is it "the path was present months ago and you missed it" or is it "have faith...keep being 'an example' to others...and we'll see just how much you can really endure before you both are in the nuthouse/poorhouse"?? Bwahahaha. All we get when we seek answers is peace. Handy... but terribly helpful.

Emma was not happy to start the second half of the year. She is SO like Jes in regards to change. She wants things to stay the same. She is adjusting. She wrapped up her voice class and now is starting piano! :) She is excited! She has been a strellar little woman these last 5 weeks. I am telling ya, if you are going to have a stroke and try to keep a family of 6 running, everyone needs an Emma. I would be lost without her. She is starting to wear thin, but I have improved so much I am trying to take on much more and let her be the sister again instead of "mom's manager" (you know...like I am the CEO and she is the running manager LOL) She is just awesome and I am so lucky to have her. She really is one of my best friends.

Cody is plugging along. Most people think he is Jes on the phone now his voice has changed so much! He is officially a 1/4" taller than Emma and quickly approaching me. *sigh* He's 11. Heaven help us! I just pulled up our family photos from Fall 2008 and there was Cody, walking next to Jes, and he barely reached his shoulder! No wonder we can't keep the boy clothed and shoed! LOL He also has quite the fuzzy mexican lip fuzz (ucky) but we are trying to avoid his shaving for a little while yet. Poor thing! He is loving his newest game for the DS - Bookworm - and we don't mind him playing for hours! (especially when he teaches us all the meanings of new words! :)  )

Cameron is doing much better these days. He was really acting out for a while. Jes discovered the discipline tool that works with his personality. Push ups. Without fail... they impact his behavior for the better. It's so crazy how they all respond so differently to different parenting styles. It's a lotta work to be a parent and figure them all out! Until they have a growth spurt/hormones and everything changes! Tee hee! He is loving the MP3 player Santa brought him for Christmas and is often listening and singing (*grin*) while wandering about the house. Tee hee. yes it is off key because he can't hear himself. It's funny. Sorry. We giggle.

Caleb is bursting forth into independence. It is a blessing... and a sorrow. He really doesn't "need" me for any of his basic care anymore. He eats, dresses, showers, pottys, makes his own food, brushes teeth, etc etc. I still get to read to him, but that is quickly going to be coming to an end. He is not the baby anymore. And he is amazing! He can put together practically ANY puzzle, build anything he sees out of anything he wants (ie; paper, cardboard, clay, garbage) He is quite the inventor. It's fun.

The chickens are having a hard time with the cold weather. Jes put a heat lamp in the coop, but now they tend to pick on each other a little bit more... maybe because they can see each other all night? One of them grabbed the comb of another during the night one night last week and spread loaded the coop with blood all over. It was a mess! Silly birds! We are only adveraging 3-6 eggs a day from all 10 birds.

Stroke recovery is moving forward. I am slightly affraid that more is coming before it is over, simply because many of the avenues I need/want to chase are not fesible for me/us right now, but I am holding tight to my priesthood blessings, and hoping my interpretations and understandings are what the Lord really meant. ;) This illness has set me back a bit, but my Dr. ordered one more round of steriods to help promote healing in the brain, so that is good. The biggest loss I have found with the strep is my speech. Reading aloud (one of my exercises) is torture! I have lost something there. Can't say big words, complicated sentences, etc. I am looking forward with great joy to a time when Jen can come and do my massage therapy again as well. We haven't been able to hook up since Christmas, and now with being sick all week, I am betting someone else will get it, so we are not up for visitors to take it home with them! : P  The other thing I am looking forward to with great joy is driving again. I am SO stir crazy not being able to do what I want/need to without needing someone else to take me. It's hard.


Anywho... That is a quick update on us. How are all of you? We need to keep up on here better. We really enjoyed having you that could come down for Christmas! Dinner was lovely and the chance to hang out was even better! (and thanks for letting us feed the Wilkin's as well... she is telling everyone in the ward how absolutely amzing my family is... it's a story they will all hear over and over and over now *GRIN* you'll be famous! tee hee)

We are looking to 2011 with hope... even with this rocky start of a week. Haven't we hit the bottom yet so we can come back up? I am fully willing to submit to whatever the Lord has in store for us, I just really would like it to be a little less stressful. LOL

Love you all!
Heather

btw... had to change our look on this blog to get the photo of all of us to fit properly. Hope everyone is ok with the colors/layout etc. If anyone finds a better one...run with it ;) ((hugs))

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. ;)

Jestin's new callling

I know I haven't posted about this, though I know Ma and Dad know and I think Jenny does. Just thought maybe you would all want to know what crazy calling they decided to give Jestin! He has been called as the new Elder's Quorum President for our ward. He is feeling VERY unable to do such a calling since he never served a mission and is not as literate in the gospel as he feels he should be, nor does he feel that he recieves revelation as he should... but it seems to be the right thing right now. He is stretching more than I have seen him do in a LONG time. He is rising to the occasion and I am happy for him. He really will do a great job... I have no doubt. But maybe if you could keep him in your prayers while he adjusts that would be greatly appreciated. :) Love ya all! ~~h.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Mom's

Thanks Ma & Dad for a nice dinner at your house this year. It's always nice to come home. Here are just the few photos I took. I am a slacker I know!

Bethani asleep while eating... her tripopan (sp?) kicked in QUICK! *wink* A roll in one hand and a spoon in the other! LOL

Ma & Emma eating pumpkin pie and icecream

And Aunt Jenny measured all the kids... I need to ask the totals to post! I forgot to write them down!

Cody

Cam

Caleb

Emma

Brent and Nicole... I think you should measure your kids and send them to us so we can add them to the Wall for Fall 2009 *WINK*

Dorius Update

Hi there! I thought I would post a quick update for my fam...since I have been severely neglecting my blog. LOL.

We are hanging in there. We just finished our 2008 taxes (filed an extension after the mess our accountant created for us with our 2007 taxes in the hopes of getting that screw up paid off before these new ones were due) and now we are in a pickle. We owe a large amount, and with little to no work coming in and all our credit lines maxed living month to month we are now part of the scared part of the population at the mercy of the IRS... and we pray they let us honor our payment plan and don't get any wild hairs to steal from our bank accounts or lien our home. It is scary and it sucks.

I have closed on 6 homes in the last month or so... yet every penny went to catch up all our late payments, etc. from little to no income for 4 out of the last 9 months. *sigh* I keep hoping the economy picks up and Jestin gets SUPER busy. As it stand right now he is working tons of little tiny jobs all over that gas to get there and negotiations on price dwiddle us down to not even covering expenses. Even a job he did for the CHURCH told us they couldn't pay for what was done and we ate a couple thousand dollars. It's not been fun being self employed. And to boot no one is hiring.

I have a home listed in Provo (originally listed for $999k) that just dropped to $850k. We had a call on it last weekend... but the homeowners wouldn't show it. They insist on being there when it is shown and wouldn't budge. Even when I told them the buyers were here from Texas and were leaving the next day. *sigh* Talk about disheartening. I just keep praying it will sell. That would cover our taxes! Then I wouldn't care we were in debt everywhere else! LOL
(Jenny! Stick to your debt free living with all you've got ok??)

The kids are good. Well... ok... mostly good. I just told Cody tonight that we have to send him back to school. I have to be able to work during the day at my job without hours away from it and he needs more than I can give him right now while I am trying to help Jess dig us out financially. Maybe next year he can home for school again... but for now he must go back. I visited with the American Leadership Academy today - a charter school - and LOVED what I learned about their interest in academics and the needs of the student coming first. They aren't pigeon holed as much as regular public school is and there are FAR more enrichment options for him. He will do marvelously I have no doubt - I am just so sad to break his heart. He is deeply bummed out. He loves being home with me. It breaks MY heart! :( Stupid economy!!!!!!

Ohhhhh... this post sounds gloomy! I am sorry!

We really are not that sad around here. We are blessed more than we deserve! I had a crown fall off over a month ago and have not had funds to go get it fixed. Last week I got a sore above that tooth on my gums and was affraid it had abcessed, so I went in. Turns out it was a canker sore, the tooth was fine, so he replaced the crown. He also filed it down to the right height so I can close my teeth for the 1st time since my heart first acted up when I had it put on. (I was so wigged out about the experience of being defillabrated that I did not CARE that I couldn't shut my mouth right when I went back for the permanant crown - I wanted out of that chair and out of that office! LOL) I was grateful, but sick as I walked to the counter to pay. I knew my account was in the negative, as we had been waiting on the church job to pay for weeks, and I was about to write a rubber check. She said $75. I got ready to pay and she looked up and said... oh! Wait! You have a $75 credit on your account! No charge for today! *GRIN* Now... first of all... I paid our tithing the day before. Secondly... there is no way I had a credit because 1 - I paid cash, at the cash discount when I paid last because we had no insurance, and 2 - that was over 2 years ago! If I had had a credit that long...wouldn't they have sent me a refund check?? Either way... I know Heavenly Father paid that dental bill for me. :) And I am so thankful!

Our chickens are doing great! We get 6-8 eggs a day. They taste SO good! They have TONS more yummy flavor than store bought eggs! Ahhh... it is lovely. The kids love to play with the chickens too... they are fun pets to have!

Emma is slowly getting over the loss of her hamster Shadow. She is not sure she wants another one anytime soon. She will be 12 in just a few days! WEIRD! She got her temple reccomend interview tonight and the bishop gave her her reccomend, dated for her birthday. We are planning a baptisms trip shortly after then... she is excited. She also gets to start wearing makeup - weird! - and we are going to start that whole adventure too! She gets to attend her first YW activity the day after her birthday. I am so not ready for all this growing up stuff! She went trick or treating for the first time by herself with friends this year... and I was fine with it... even excited for her... 'til she walked out the door and down the walk! I burst into tears! It was like sending my first child to kindergarten all over again! Wowza! LOL! She did great and had a wonderful time. :)

Cam is super pumped! He gets to move to ALA (the charter school) with Cody. (Emma is on the waiting list - 6th grade is full) He has a neighbor that goes there that he enjoys playing with, and he is struggling at school. They have 2 teachers with small children Team Teach. One does morning, and one does afternoon. (they cant get teachers because the pay is so crappy and the classes are so full!) There is little to no consistency and he got over half of his report card in beaming NI's or U's. He is not doing well in that confusing environment... so when the charter school said they had room in both boys grades I was really relieved! (see? more blessings from heaven! We really ARE blessed! :))

Well.. I better get to bed! I have some apples to finished putting up tomorrow and then I need to take Cody to explore the school and see if we can't get him somewhat excited about his new adventure... we also need to hit DI and see if we can be blessed enough to find a couple of uniform clothes for the two of the them. So fun!

Hope all is well with your families! post when you can! (((HUGS)))

I love my family

I just wanted to express my love to you all. I am thankful to have each and every one of you in my life. You each have taught, and teach me, new things and help to stretch me and help me grow. I know some of us likely would not have chosen to be friends on the street simply because we are all so different and diverse so I am thankful that God put us together as a family. I am glad we can share the ride of life together. You are a cherished part of my life. (Even when ya make me crazy! bwahahahaha) Love you!

Dorius' too

Hi! Me too. Slacker that I am. LOL. Actually I have been too busy to even keep up on my own blog very well! *grin*

We have had a really rough patch. There has just not been much work since late Dec. Jestin has had one bigger job in Sundance, but they dont like to pay on time, and so we have had months were everything is late being paid and it feels like we will never catch up! He has had a little more work trickle in, but without the funds to meet supply needs for the next jobs it is hard! Being self employed really bites as of late.

I have been working my GUTS out in Real Estate. We (my partner Maria and I) have over 9 active clients... 3 under contract... 3 listings etc! We have worked hard! But nothing is closing. Obama and his brilliant policies have made it virtually impossible to close the home buying process because the banks aren't lending and it is a mess!! Even our client with $100k down is struggling to close. HE IS A FREAKIN IDIOT! I am so discouraged by where our new Pres. is taking this great nation of ours. Jestin calls him the Anti Christ. I am not sure that he isn't far off. :( At any rate it is really discouraging to put your heart and soul into your work for months and months on end with nothing to show for it. And to boot the subdivision we have worked over a year in, the one that had the Parade of Homes home... we were suppose to recieve a commision on that sale (the P of H) and the builder has not paid. He is lying to my broker and it is just a mess. We have pulled off the project. And the clients that I have been working with on that one have found a new home (one of the ones under contract) and the others are not far behind. It is so disheartening. BUT! The real estate market IS picking back up. There are a few banks lending and I just hope some of them include OUR people. :)

The kids are great! They are loving summer. I have horrible guilt because with lack of funds for fuel or anything else we have done VERY little in the way of fun. We went camping with Ma & Dad for Cody's birthday... that was a blast! Ma was SO in her element! We need to go again SOON!

Emma and Cam have decided to go back to public school this fall. I am somewhat relieved and sad all at the same time. Cody still wants to stay home and learn. Caleb is signed up for Preschool, but he may be moved to one here at the elementary - he needs some speech therapy. We are waiting to see what the district will do.

Well... I better go. Real estate is calling. Have a great day!

Dorius Update

Hi! I am tickled that we are all getting more active on here! I had envisioned such and agree with Nicole... we can't be close in person or telephone very often...but we can here! *GRIN*

We are hanging in there. ;) We have started some paperwork for a loan modification for our second mortgage. It could save us hundreds each month. I look back and am not sure how, but we survived from the end of Dec. through April with little to no work for JWD Electric. I know all our credit lines are maxed & our savings is gone... but even that couldn't have gotten us through... It's been hairy. Jess has been working more since April.. not 40 hours a week by any means... but working. :) Tithing brings blessings only the Lord can offer. And we are SO very grateful.

My work is picking up some. We closed on a house across the street from me while we were in Arizona. That makes it so I can get groceries. :) Gave them a huge a deal on commission (family rate because they were going to use us to buy)...only to have it go wrong. It is disappointing to learn how many people want ya to work your guts out for nothing. I keep telling myself it will eventually come back to bless us for being so kind and we will get an honest wage somewhere else. *sigh* I have quite a few possibles... and multiple clients looking/having to sell first etc... but I try to never count my chickens before they hatch... and before I am done and have completely earned what I make. I am still sitting at the Subdivision a couple of times a week. Our builder has a home that will be in the Parade of Homes starting tomorrow... so we are all praying for a pick up! (especially with the new $8k credit!) And I am thankful for the chance to sit down for a minute here though and give ya'll an update while I use up my shift of time here at our "ghetto trailer"! ;)

I like my new calling... though the research is quite time consuming! Emergency Preparedness is a HUGE subject area. Maria and I (my real estate partner, bishop's wife, best friend & co-E.P. specialist) are going to try to get Disaster Plans for the Neighborhood going. It is a BIG undertaking, but we both feel the urgency to do it. Should be an adventure. ;)

Emmalee is growing fast. She wears my shoes now, is almost the same bra size as me(sorry uncles!), is taller than her Gram (Jess' mom) and is dying to not be growing up so soon. She loves homeschooling... and has done more power point presentations on what she has learned than I can count! She was able to be in the same Hope Of America Concert as the boys, and I did get pics that I will post as soon as I can (2businesses plus regular "post-vacation chaos" and that just does not get to be high on the priority list right now darn it!) LOL She loved Arizona! She had a great time with the girl cousins, though the teenage drama was a little more than she could handle...LOL. She is a peacemaker child and does not do well with constant irrational contention. I pray it continues through HER teenage years and we can stay close. :)

Cody is doing awesome! My biggest hopes for his homeschooling career may have been manifest yesterday. One of the things he was struggling with was wanting to play with friends or be social...he always said no! Since starting homeschooling his personality has blossomed! He has such a quick wit and a cute sense of humor! He had one of the kids in our neighborhood call and ask if he could play... the one with severe ADHD that he has completely avoided because he was just too much for Cody's quiet personality. Cody said yes! He went to his house to play... they played there and then came to our house to play! And they played SOO well together!! I was thrilled beyond belief! Cody was so patient with him and they really had a good time. It tickled me to pieces! He of course is excelling in schooling. We have exhausted the interest of DNA and genetic modification...for now...and we are now on to solar energy. *grin* He is almost all done with his Bear book and is really excited for the Weeblos camp next weekend with his dad (they are letting him go because he is close within 30 days of becoming a Weeblos)

Cameron is a pickle. Sometimes he is SO sweet and other times he is a sour puss. He re-broke his arm, hates to do school work for me, is really emotional about his best friend moving the end of June, and could live on the computer playing webkinz, or any other virtual reality type games if we would let him. He gives the best hugs ever, loves you deep and long, and keeps us on our toes. He still has NO sense of time. He has figured out the art of manipulation and is not too crazy about mom and dad's rule of "what did your mom/dad say?". *giggle* We are almost through Alma in his Book of Mormon reading before his baptism next January. (btw - Uncle B & fam: if you'd like to try and come we would LOVE to have you!) He loves Piggies in a Pancake and would eat them for every meal if he could! :)

Caleb. Oh man oh man Caleb. He is so much fun! On the way to AZ he snuck into the snack box (that's what I get for putting it next to him!) and ate an entire GIANT sized Hershey's bar. From Phoenix to Tucson we could not figure out why he would NOT be quiet!! His mouth went a hundred miles a minute! We laughed so hard when we figured it out. The poor boy was on a huge sugar/caffeine rush!! He LOVED AZ and STILL asks if we are in AZ. He loves motel rooms/condos. ?? It is a hoot. Any and all we drive by now he wants to know if we are staying there. LOL! This boy likes vacations! ;)

We really did enjoy our trip to Tucson for Kayelani's Graduation. It was lovely!! It was so fun to see McOmber's so happy to see Grandpa and Margean, and even more so to spend a little time with him and then stay and spend some extra time with them. KK has a really nice boy she is dating and each night the 6 of us adults would stay up and play games until all hours. The last night we were shocked to realize it was almost 3am UTAH time! LOL. I felt so very loved by our Heavenly Father while we were there... it had been in the 100's the week before we went down. It even hit 110 in Phoenix on our car temp gauge as we drove through. We arrived in Tucson to cloud cover... and it stayed the ENTIRE time we did!! It lightly misted rain a few times and never got above 85! Jess and I were both REALLY concerned about how my heart would do... but with the exception of a few times of needing to lay down, my heart did FANTASTIC! Heavenly Father really does create miracles in our lives if we choose to see them that is for sure! Everyone kept saying Tucson weather is NEVER like that. Storms fly in and out and temps roller coaster all over. I was SO greatly appreciative of the tempered weather I can't even explain! What a humbling experience!

We have been working together the last few evenings on building a chicken coop. It is fancy. Jess laughed and said "Son of a Utah Home Builders Assoc Superintendent of the Year had better build a good one!" LOL He is making the plan up as we go... it will end up looking like a little school house I think! The kids and I are debating on painting a bell on the front and making a sign that says "Hen High school" or "Poultry Preschool"! LOL The chickens are doing great! Well... except one. She is still SO tiny! I named her Wilbur. She is a Bandee chicken and looks like she has only grown a week since we got her! Jess had to give her a bath the other night because she was so pooped on. She is the sweetest little thing and holds her own though!

We added to our zoo-like qualities while in AZ. The kids wanted a gecko and I made the mistake of saying "if you can catch one you can keep it". Ha ha on me. We now have a lovely little Mediterranean House Gecko. His name is Gilligan, Gilligan the Gecko. Cody is officially in charge of him and LOVES it! Now we have chickens, a Yorkie, 3 frogs, a tankful of fish, a gecko and a hamster. My life is complete?? Bwahahahah

Katina... I will add peace for you all to my prayers as well. That seems like the only real avenue available at this exact moment - and I hate to say it - but wouldn't that just burn *her* up to know she has not effected you and your family? It makes her seem more like the problem that she is as well! Your children will feel your peace and WANT to stay. ((hugs)) and prayers!

Nicole... I really appreciate all you have written. You are much more than a sister-in-law that is for sure! I feel so blessed to have 3 wonderful sisters on this side of my family now! I know we have had our baggage as a family, but I know we are stronger for it. And we have a history all our own that is for sure! :) May God Bless the Stoddard family as we strive to be closer and honor and support one another in our struggles!

Thanks for reading this novel! WOW! I DO need to update more often! And I will have pics soon as well!! Gotta run! Home Depot is calling... LOL!

We finally got away!

We got to go camping for the 1st time this season! (YEA!) We went to a place called Palisades. WOW! It is Awesome! The water was SO beautiful and aqua in color! They had paddle boats, fishing, golfing, ATV trails, full trailer hook ups...the works! It was perfect!

This is Caleb waitin' on the dock for his turn on the paddle boat... LOL

Dorius Update

Thought I would post a quick update on us:

Jess is still without much work. He has been talking to an old boss about possibly working with him and being a sub for him. We will see. Magleby has told us they would have more jobs for us if we had more man power...but how do you have more man power with no work? It's a quandry. LOL. He is staying very faithful about it all though... and the small jobs keeps coming. He tested and earned his yellow belt in karate this week. He is really enjoying it!

I have had a terrible time with my heart. (See our blog for details...it makes me cranky to type it out) I am very discouraged, but there is nothing I can do about it so I am trying to keep my chin up and "tread water" happily. (grr) Going backwards is just so frustrating. And being told to wait it out and see what happens makes me even LESS happy. *sigh* I shouldn't complain! I *am* alive right? LOL

I also have learned how to bottle chicken at home! Talk about YUMMY!! It is so tasty! And so easy! I am going to do beef next... and I want to learn to make homemade cheese! Go me! LOL

The girls in the neighborhood caught wind I did chicken and we had to have a canning party! I have such great neighbors!

Emma has come home for homeschool now as well. They are both doing SO good! I had no idea it would be so simple and fun and fulfilling. It really has been a joy for all of us! We feel closer and more like a real unit. It's hard to explain. I am relishing it for now!

They spent an afternoon using magnets to find the most amounts of iron in the dirt around the yard. Then they came in and did experiements on it. They set up their own museum and showed each of the family what they learned. It has been such a good time!

Here is a pic of Cam's broken arm from yesterday! He tangled his feet in the web climbing part on the playground and flipped out landing on the one arm with his full body weight. POOR THING!! It was not a good day! They had to put him to sleep to set it. It was a long day at the ER. He is doing pretty good today. Tylenol w/codine can do that you know! LOL! He can't go to school until after he sees the Ortho Surgeon on friday... and then even maybe not.

Sophie is LOVING being an only dog again. We have missed Zoey, but she belongs with her other parents again. They need her. And I need less to do everyday... LOL!

Caleb is as crazy as ever! He loves pre-school, and homeschool, and having the kids home as much as I do. We are never bored that is for sure! *grin*

I hope you all can post updates soon! It would be great to hear how you have been!

Check out our blog for a big update..

And so...

We have gone from this....

Added this....

And added this...

And added this....

And this fine young man....

And together we have created......

......

........

...................

THIS!!!

What were we thinking ???

Bwahahaha

Dorius Family Update - warning kinda grumpy LOL!

We are hectic as ever at our house! Between our two businesses, busy church callings, illness and christmas/december madness we hardly ever stop!

The kids had stomach flu early in the week and I had many adventures in carpet cleaning - joy joy! *grin* Then Cam and Cody had bad sore throats and headaches - Caleb was the one that started the stomach flu - was well for a day or two and started a nasty cold! Cameron started what looked like pink eye on friday - it cleared up with antibiotic drops the next day and then Emma's eyes started! She too started the drops and I pray we are passed it! (pink eye t-e-r-r-i-f-i-e-s me - that is what triggered my last bad case of A-fib! :O waaa! No! No! NO!) They all seem to be on the up and up this new Monday - though now Jess and I are struggling... fer the love!

This last week/weekend has been the worst I must say! I had to coordinate and pull off a Primary activity & coordinating all the class lists/callings so we could put on a teacher prep class for the new year last night. (the pri. pres. had her baby this week and the other counselor and secretary are due in a few weeks so I am not sure it will get better before it gets worse!) I had to coordinate the Ward Christmas Party Program that night that got dumped in my lap! ack! I hoola hooped to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" with the Activities committee (what the ___ was I thinking?? I never caught my breath after that!) Then I was the "primary song leader" in a skit the bishopric did (Jess had to miss because he was so ill- I felt so bad!) and that was nice and embarrassing! It was hoot tho! Then I set up and pulled off the nativity scene and Santa claus all tied into one that REALLY turned out quite well! I was pleased with the results and the Spirit it brought! I also ran the curtains. Whew! By the time I helped with as much clean up as I could, I knew I was so done that I might not be able to drive myself & Emma home! I had WAY over done. I walked in the door and laid down on the couch and could not move for over 45 minutes - I hurt so badly! My heart was pounding so hard I wanted to puke and thought my head was going to explode. It was...umm...not so fun. *wink*

After laying down for 45 minutes I took my blood pressure it was 138/90 (I think) (Thanks again Jen! It is so nice to have that little machine here at home!) Anyway it was WAY higher than I am used to! And that was after laying down! Oye! Jess was so mad at me.

Sunday was just as busy - we both had ward counsel in the AM, church meetings, teacher training and then a powow with the Elders Quorum Pres hoping to find names that we can pray about - I got home yesterday around 7 pm and was a mess... I had horrid chills and aches - and all night I was miserable! Ugh! This makes 5 days straight of body aches every day - how annoying is that??

I also had my FLYSistahs Christmas party earlier in the weekend in SLC friday night and was there until almost 2am - one of them had some major meltdown (and rightly so :( ) but it made for "really? I am sorry you are in need of a good friend right now- but I gotta go home" kinda not such a good plan. So I stayed. I was slapping myself on the drive home and hoping I wouldn't sleep through the set up the next AM for the Primary Activity!

Jess has a monster chest cold & is just plain miserable - I am affraid it is pneumonia - he coughs until he almost throws up (and has a time or two) and just plain sounds terrible! (and deep down I am terrified Cam will get it.... :( ack! I am disinfecting like a mad woman!) I went this afternoon and helped Jess pull a main power feed through garage trusses - what a joke! He was too weak to push normally - I was too weak to pull like I wanted to and it was cold and that big fat wire did not want to budge more than a nano inch with each full exertion we could muster. Aye! It was pathetic. It took hours!! We finally said a prayer and asked for help. And then it slowly came! It was lovely - and I kept sensing that Jessie's Great Grandpa Allman (the one who married Grandma Lucas' sister) was there... though he was worried about Jessie and wanting us to quit. *sigh* The problem is you don't tell Jess to quit - when he has said he will do something - he does it - and his ambition never ends I tell ya! I feel so blessed by it and cursed by it other times...LOL! Silly sick man! I had to leave him there to get home for the kids - so I hope he is doing ok now - he *had* to the get the feed wired into the panel or the homeowner would be without power tonight.

Wow this post seems whiny! I guess I needed to "get it off my chest" LOL! I am feeling a bit better myself today - though my throat is sore and achy. Ah! The goodness winter brings with it! Yippe. I am going to go fold the mountain of laundry and get the boys sheets washed for the upteenth time this week. LOVE and SQUISHIES to all!

Brent & Nicole - I forwarded Morgans story to my neighbors and friends - they are all so proud of him too! It really is neat!

Sean - I am sorry I didn't call you back the other day - I should be home and available tommorow Am - LOL - if you still need me now! bwahaha "go Heather!" allrightythen.

Jenny & Clint - I hope Clint is feeling better and his shoulder is healing well! Post an update when you can... been thinking about you when I lay in bed at night and think "man! I still haven't called to check on him!" I suck. I know.

Mom and Dad - Jess hasn't forgotten your fence repair - it bugs him daily! He will get there eventually!

Love,
Heather

Jestin in something besides Carhart's and a JWD T-shirt!

Our neighbor and friends invited us to the New Utah Valley University President's Ball. It was way out of our league...and quite fun!

My favorite was seeing Jess all dressed up! *GRIN* Thought I would share!

Thanks Jenny for stayin with the kids!!

Cam's in the hospital. Check our blog for updates. :)
~~heather

Ma's Newest "Granddog"

This is Zoey. Aint she sweet?? Sophie loves her...