He Did It!!!

Well, he did it! I know I am a little late in finally getting to this post, but that does not diminish the pride we feel for our dad finishing his degree and graduating from BYU! Last year was completely insane, but we learned that we could work together and actually accomplish something as a family that seemed to be an impossibility. Tom learned that he could do the work of 2 or 3 men, as he worked at being a dad of 9, worked his full-time job, took full-time classes, and took scouts on campouts every month. Now that he's finished, he is not sure what he will do with all of his spare time. Oh, yeah. He's starting to build a personal training business and actually working on something he loves - helping people improve their health and reach their goals. Go TOM!

The Little Red Hen(s)

I have found myself thinking of the story of the Little Red Hen so often that I thought I should maybe just get myself one...or two...strictly as an object lesson. Actually, I've been thinking about chickens for awhile. Just ask my husband, (who thinks I am completely nuts). Last spring we decided to finally take the plunge. It would be so good for the kids, after all. Granted, it's a little unconventional to take on that much responsibility for the production of ones own food, but I could not have underestimated more the benefits of having kids being so closely involved with the process of learning to work for what they eat, and that is just the (chicken) scratch of the surface.

In May, we brought home 6 baby chicks, only a few weeks old. Since they were growing every day, that gave us a deadline by which to have our fences repaired, the shed converted to a coop, and the yard ready; things I had been meaning to get to for a long time. We set up the babies in a box in the garage, and the kids got to work taking care of them, very admirably I might add. They made sure they had food twice a day, kept their box cleaned out, and made sure their heat lamp stayed on all night. They took them out during the day and let them run around in the garage while they played with them.

Meanwhile, back at the (literal) ranch, our grandpa came over nearly every day to help on the farm. He and the boys (men) rebuilt fences from scratch and learned a great deal about construction. When the yard was finally contained and secure, they set about converting the back of the shed into the coop. We picked up a couple of old doors from the Restore Store that really added to the farmhouse feel of it all. The boys chopped up the firewood that had been stored in the shed previously so they could move it to a new location. They cleaned everything out; then, Andrew helped Grandpa convert some old bookcases into 4 nesting boxes. Mighty fine work, if I dare so.

The day finally came for the chicks to move into their new home. Once they had all their feathers (and had gotten too big for their box), they graduated to the new crib. Happy birds. Happy kids. By this time, we actually had figured out the difference between a Barred Rock and a Rhode Island Red (that's the one I mentioned initially - the one that made her own bread).

All summer I watched as the kids worked in the garden and took care of the animals, both of which were new to our family. The thing that surprised me the most was not how good they were at it but how happy it made me feel every time I looked out a back window and saw how happy they were (kids and chickens). They love taking the scraps from our table out to the animals who appreciatively come running in anticipation of a treat as soon they see the back door open. They love being the ones to find the eggs and bring them in. Chamane picks them up, tucks them under her arm, and carries them around the yard like a baby. Josh even loves cleaning up after them. Andrew, particularly, has discovered a passion that I doubt he knew he had before this new adventure. He is now planning what kind of a farm to have when he grows up and exactly how one goes about acquiring the right property. I'd have to say that those 6 silly birds have changed everything! The kids have learned how to tend to animals that we depend on to produce. They have learned the actual ins and outs of raising chickens (who knew?), and I have been surprised at the peace of mind that comes with just that little bit more self reliance. Kind of cool!

My Rockin' Garden

I just thought I would share a few photos of my latest project. The stars have all aligned...finally... to provide me with a camera (with charged batteries) in the same place as the subject, so here goes.

These are still not very big plants, but these are my tomatoes, beats, Swiss chard, 3 types of lettuce, 2 types of cabbage, onions, celery, and spinach. We also have a few token pea plants that the birds didn't eat. Yesterday we added our baby pepper plants...so cute.




How sweet of a broccoli patch is that? I didn't even like broccoli, but I guess I do now.























These are all the baby peaches and cherries I pulled off my new little trees. My garden guru neighbor said that if you take off the fruit the first year, the tree will put it's production capabilities into the roots, branches, etc...basic structure so that the crop will be more productive next year. Isn't my cherry tree beautiful? I have ALWAYS wanted one of those.

These are the planters where my potatoes are going. It is sort of an experiment to see if we can grow them vertically by stacking tires up on top of one another. We'll let you know how it goes. Also in the background is one of my two new apple trees.








This is Andrew inspecting my beautiful grape vines that we just barely trellised on Saturday, just in time for them to accidentally get sprayed for weeds with the lawn and meet an oh-so-unfortunate demise. Start over? Dang! Otherwise, I have another five or six that seem to be doing okay. They are actually even starting to get little tiny grapes on them.

There you have it. The grand tour thus far. Stay tuned. I will try to update as things either move forward...or not. I suppose that "two steps forward and one step back" is still better than no steps.

FIRST HARVEST

Doesn't this look amazing? I cut these lettuce and spinach leaves out of my own garden yesterday. They are the first anything to get picked out of garden this year (besides the tiny fruit off my trees). They were so yummy. I put them all together for a salad for Sunday dinner. It looked so pretty that I couldn't resist the temptation to photo shoot (not shop). It's not every day that you get picture perfect bread and salad. I mean, come on. In fact, I don't think it has ever happened before at my house. Thanks for humoring me...those of you that are regular garden gurus.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I realize that I may be celebrating a tad early, but in order to earn my blog makeover (okay, I already did it - so much for delayed gratification) I have to post today rather than waiting until tomorrow. In any case, I am celebrating the fact that tomorrow is the LAST DAY OF CLASS for Tom in his first semester back to school. Whew!!! I can't believe he (we) made it.

I was going to a post a photo of the man, but he was concerned it would compromise the protection of his identity, and thus the mission, in this world of technosavvy teenagers. You know, can't have too much information out there on the world wide web.

I freely admit that we are crazy (insane), but right before Christmas, completely out of the blue, my husband decided to go back to school...full time...16.5 credit hours full time. That on top of his full time job, job as a scout master, and did I mention he's a joyful dad of nine? (Maybe joyful isn't the word he would use, but in any case...) We survived!

The semester was complicated by the fact that he was unable to get time off in order to go to class. He carefully arranged his schedule to go to whichever classes he could fit in on his lunch hour. David and I took turns picking him up from work, driving him to class (so he wouldn't have to find a place to park), picking him up, and driving him back to work. Some of his classes he couldn't get to, so I went in his place, took notes, turned in papers (that he wrote - just wanted to clarify), etc. His professors were extra accommodating and good to work with. One even came to our home twice to go over things with him and offer excellent suggestions.

Aside from Tom's studying and David's driving, this has truly been a family project. All of our kids have taken on the responsibility for most of the meals. Carmen took on Chamane's laundry, and Kirk did his share of extra little boys' loads. They've all pitched in by getting (sort of) their work done without being asked (as much).

All and all, it's been a great semester, full of all kinds of blessings. After finals, we will have a few silly days of celebration (cleaning our house and doing more jobs) before we start over. The best thing is that now we know we can do it. We know if we all work together, we can pull off a miracle in order to help our dad fulfill his dreams and goals. That's a pretty great family project!

Sound Familiar??

Sorry, but I couldn't resist.

1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.

2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.

3. Abolition of all right of inheritance.

4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.

5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the State, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly.

6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State.

7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State; the bringing into cultivation of wastelands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.

8. Equal liability of all to labour. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.

9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country, by a more equable distribution of the population over the country.

10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labour in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, etc., etc.

-- The Communist Manifesto -- Marx

Josh's History and Physical Examination

CHIEF COMPLAINT
1. Subungual hematoma of the 1st finger, left hand.
2. Status post dyspilectomy and clipping. See link for details.

HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS
The patient is a 6-year-old white male who was brought in by his mother and seen in consultation for ecchymotic discoloration and mild tenderness of the subungual region of the distal phalanx of the 1st finger, left hand, secondary to blunt trauma. There is an area of subcutaneous bleeding in the proximal portion of the nail that measures approximately 4.5 x 4 cm. Patient is no longer experiencing any significant pain at rest. His mother states that she has no idea what caused the bleeding. Patient himself states "I'm just not that good with a hammer."

PAST MEDICAL HISTORY
Past medical history is positive for head injury with epidermal sutures.

SOCIAL HISTORY
Mother's ambivalence is probably due to the fact that the patient lives with his parents, 6 brothers and 2 sisters. He does not drink or smoke. He does however work, vacuuming the floor in his family's home.

MEDICATIONS
None.

ALLERGIES
None.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
GENERAL: Patient is a well-nourished, well-developed white male in no acute distress.
HEENT: Pupils are round and reactive to light. Extraocular muscles are intact. Sclarae are clear, nonicteric. Tympanic membranes intact. Nares patent. Oropharynx clear.
NECK: Supple, without adenopathy. No carotid bruits are heard.
LUNGS: Lungs clear to auscultation. No rhonchi, rales, or wheezing.
CHEST: Heart is regular rate and rhythm, without murmur.
ABDOMEN: Slightly distended secondary to lunch x2.
EXTREMITIES: Extremities without edema. Regular pulses bilaterally. There is an ecchymotic discoloration over the dorsum of the base of the distal phalynx just above the lunula, measuring approximately 4.5 x 5 cm. No onycholysis is noted. No apparent avulsion of extensor tendon.
RECTAL: Deferred.

ASSESSMENT
1. Subungual hematoma of the left distal phalynx of the 1st finger of the left hand, with good hemostasis.
2. Status post dyspilectomy and clipping.

PLAN
Recommend treating the patient with Children's Tylenol 80 mg 1 tablet p.o. t.i.d. p.r.n. pain. It is felt that since there is no longer any significant pain, trephination at the base of the nail is not recommended at this time. Mother will bring him back if there is any further indication of infection or swelling. Otherwise, followup in my office in 2 weeks' time.