California McMillans

Spurred by three anonymous comments. I got one anonymous comment on my blog that simply had a different opinion.  I realized that we have different morals in our household than most and many probably think I am different, which I am.  I am actually proud of that.  They weren't mean, just had a different opinion so don't really understand why they felt they needed to use anonymous but whatev.. But this is the one is the one that I just couldn't understand and the reason behind my post. It was downright mean.  I can't help but wonder why people feel the need to say mean things.  It was being mean about someone's teeth and why the mom didn't do anything about it.  Something she has 0 control over and I am sure would love to change.  My friend took the higher road and explained her situation better of having to wait for permanent teeth to come in. I had the worse acne and teeth as a kid and I am not exaggerating.  If I had photos, I would show you.  You can

Danny took pictures for Scott's U-6 soccer team.  The photographer cancelled about a week ago so we just decided to go the free route.  The lighting wasn't perfect, but I think that they turned out great.  Aren't they a cute group of kids!  

Danny will have his right hip PAO on Friday. He started having hip pain as a teenager. His family doctor overlooked hip dysplasia and he was dismissed with, "don't be so hard on your body". He always felt his hips weren't alligned. Educational moment....If you or someone you know is in hip pain GET IT LOOKED AT!! Go to specialists. Don't take "just deal with it" for an answer or wait until it gets worse. An x-ray was able to easily detect his dysplasia. Congenital Hip Dysplasia is usually treatable in infants and children. The older you get the worse it becomes. Your cartilage wears which can result in arthritis. Replacements aren't the best answer for a relatively young person since they don't last very long.  Be an advocate for your health or a loved one if you suspect hip dysplasia. We had a miracle two years ago when Danny started to have severe pelvis and testicular pain. He went to specialists to figure out what was

We just had the primary program at church.  In our church the kids stay with their family during Sacrament meeting (which is usually a mix of survival and semi-organized chaos on our pew), followed by two hours of primary (kids are ages 3-11).  The first hour they meet with the junior primary (3-7) where someone is assigned a prayer, scripture and talk followed by a teaching activity and singing. Danny has taught Scott to sing loud so that is what he does.  Tyler is starting to sing at home more.  Today Tyler asked to sing I am a Child of God in the car for a friend.  It was cute.  Tyler is working on staying out of trouble and often bribed with candy to listen and behave in Primary.   So the primary program is a combination of the kids giving small teaching roles about a topic followed by a song on that theme.  As soon as Tyler saw Pop and Grandma he abandoned his class up front and came to sit with us, which is fine.  Someday he will sit in primary.  Last year Scott would rarely

Scott got in the car after kindergarten beaming.  He got to do the share bag or pick something to share with the class.  He chose the Bandit, his RC car.  He told the class he got it at Tower Hobbies , keeps it in the garage and drives it a lot with dad.  The teacher let him drive it on the black top which was "SOOO cooool"!  He said he went so fast that rocks were flying and the entire class was cheering and yelling for him. He loved it and kept saying, "Day 40 was the very best day of Kindergarten."  When I asked how he knew it was day 40 he said, "the President of the school (aka Principal) Mr. Jones counts the days and puts up a new number each day with a special key". As soon as he got home he called dad to tell him about his great day and drew a picture so that he would never forget.  This is the first year that he actually likes to draw.  In the past he would just draw when assigned and now he actually likes it.  Pretty fun to see how their in

I love General Conference.  I am no longer in the season that I could sit and absorb every message, but it is a good season I am in. The bits and pieces of the messages that I hear resonate within and I recognize all the things I am doing well and can do better.  I leave a better person, awaiting the next conference in six months. So tonight was the relief society meeting which was so good. Some points I really liked was how importanat it is to be a visiting teacher.  I love the two woman that I visit teach.  I have grown to love so many woman who have visit taught me and who I visit teach.  I loved when they said it is really about the depth of charity.  There is such a difference when visiting teaching is about loving and caring someone compared to making sure you get in a visit each month.    Another point I loved was about charity.  When I was in the Northgate ward I had the blessing of being in compassionate service.  I have had that calling twice now and absolutely love it.  

So in kindergarten they have coloring up/coloring down.  When the kids do something well they get to color up or make an unwise choice they get to color down.  If you color up 3 times you get to choose a prize and if you color down 2 times you get a time out.  Scott usually likes to tell me how he colored up and earned his prize, but Thursday was different.  Scott told me that night that he skipped a color when coloring up so he could get his skeleton.  I was sad he chose poorly and at the same time even more proud that he decided to tell me and make things right. So we discussed that I was proud of him for telling me, that we all make mistakes and the main thing is that we learn from them and make them right.  The whole process of repentance and forgiveness is what we are all here for, right?  I said he should probably tell his teacher what he did and give back the skeleton since he really didn't earn it.  He was so scared and sad and disappointed in himself.   He alw

Had an echo yesterday.  We switched insurance to Danny's work and it was $120 instead of my usual $10...we'll have to look into that for next year.  This year Danny and Tyler will max out on their deductables so I don't really care how I pay...$100's at a time or $1000's.  Grateful for insurance in our household and that Danny has a job so we can afford to get fixed in our household!!   So the important stuff.  Tyler seems to be doing well.  His liver/kidney function is doing well so they upped his captopril to 6ml/3x day and lasix to a whopping 1.2ml/2x day from 1ml.  His heart seems to be doing well and sats were the normal mid to high 80's after resting.  They started in the 70's after walking to the appt so it fluctuates a bit depeding on excercise or the pulse ox.  I blame it on the machine to keep me happy.  So the plan is going to UCSF on November 13th and surgery on Nov. 18th.  They will keep him on milrinone for a week prior to surgery to tun

Tyler learned to ride little bike...wahoo!  He did great. We moved into a court with perfect driveways.  He had one spill but wanted to keep on biking.  He threw a fit when we had to pick up Scott and he needed to ride tandem and not his big boy bike.  That might have to wait until his heart gets fixed.  We celebrated with ice-cream, and yes, Kira likes to sit on the table to eat.  Good times.  It has been over 100 most days lately.  While I roast at the park, I prefer heat over cold so will not complain. Plus, it is an excuse that Scott needs to take care of Kira at the park.  So cute!  I will bring my camera one of these days and show you Scott's babysitting skills.  He learned from the Rajecki's this summer.

Friends brought us to this little creek by our home to go fishing. The boys each caught a little fish. Best thing about living at the delta is that you can catch a fish in any body of water. Great little activity on a school night. We also went to Webster Resort. So fun! I forgot my camera. We got one pic of Tyler closing his eyes on the way over.  But don't worry I stole pictures from Tara's blog featuring other families who we love (who weren't there with us might I add) just so you can see what it is like.  Thanks Tara...hope you don't mind.  Waterfront cottage equipped with a zip line, tons of acreage for the kids to roam and water to play in. They brought the kids tubing and the smiles on their faces were priceless.

Scott had his first motorcycle ride on the VFR yesterday.  He wanted me to take him to school this way, and he told all of his friends.  Look how tightly he's holding on.  Good old VFR.  I'll probably have to post about it on the nitroblue-investment blog.

I started coaching at this pool 10 years ago as a Delta Skimmer. I was a 19 year old that didn't know what I was doing. I relied on the head coach to tell me how and what to teach. He had a family crisis in the middle of the season and I was left to figure things out, which I did and realized that it was a pretty great summer job before heading off to BYU. The following two summers I stayed at BYU to take classes and enjoy school without much swimming and headed off for my mission. I came home from my mission in April and coached for Valley Vista which were fun times. It was a good way to get back into normal life and was the beginning of dating Danny which still makes me smile. Tangent...we were so young, naive and just soo in love....like when you missed the person after an hour and couldn't wait for them to get home. Don't worry, I still have that same anticipation of Danny getting home (but now its so I can get some help with the kids and have an adult to hang o

I was asked by a new member of my old ward how I liked the Northgate Ward. I said that there could not have been a better Pre-Kindergarten ward for me. I feel so blessed when I think about the past two years I spent in the Northgate 1st Ward. There is this small window you have in life when your oldest is old enough to have good friends, enjoy parks, museums, etc without being tied down to school. Those magical years start around 2 or 3 and end when they start kindergarten. During those years I was surrounded by about 10 women who were in the same boat. I loved them, I loved their children and perhaps even more importantly they loved me and my children despite our weaknesses. Or my children's poopy underwear accidents that they needed to clean. Everyone was unique, welcoming and full of love. Everyone was always willing to serve each other because they cared. While I had built in babysitters most of the time, I could call any of my friends and they would help with small and

So I was looking at a friends baby on facebook and Tyler wanted to see pictures of him as a baby. He loved seeing himself as a baby. Especially when Pop was holding him. He loves his Pop. He explained to me how cute he was. He explained that they fixed his heart in some. He learned about the feeding tube that he went home with and how some kids need help eating in the beginning so their body can get stronger. This is the only one he didn't like explaining, "That is really mean of them to put me in a box." I told them that they needed to take him across the bridge to a new hospital and the box made sure he was safe to which he replied, "that way I was able to go under the ocean and see the fish in my box." Made me laugh to which I said, "how cool is that?" It is always hard to know how much to explain to the a child or show them. I don't think Tyler ever saw himself as a baby in the hospital. Child Life Specialists brought a doll and fake ho

Tyler:  "Can I play your iphone?" Me:  Did you brush your teeth? Tyler:  Yes. I look at Heidi, who shakes her head.  Tyler sees this and says, "Maybe."

Tyler turned four on September 4th.  We had dinner at the Bogners.  Ryan pulled the kids in this garden wagon for like an hour and the kids wanted more. Steve, Leah, Laurel and Ryan were in town with their kids. On labor day we went to the Fun Fest at Heather Farm Park.  It was roasting hot but we had a good time. My favorite part was the bmx bike show.  The jumps are harder than they look, but boring unless they are doing backflips.  Those were cool.  One kid did a front flip, which was even cooler than a backflip.  I didn't see any kuwaharas, though. Then we had cake and burgers at Pop's.  Happy birthday, Tyler!  

Labor Day isn't official without camping. I am such a last minute planner and decided to go camping on Wednesday, 2 days before the crazy 3 day weekend. That means 0 spots left at most places. I refused to go anywhere without a lake or river to play in the next day since it was supposed to be 100. We got the last spot at Del Valle and had a great time camping on Friday night and playing on the rock beach, warm lake and shaded grassy area on Saturday. I always say that next time I will actually plan and get a group of friends together but never do. It all worked out because when I went down to the beach, I set down my stuff and heard my name. Friends from the NG ward were right next to us. It was great that Scott and Tyler got to hang out with Henry all day. Especially great when Tyler took a 2 hour nap and Scott still had a playmate. McMillan tips to Easy and stress free camping = 1 night stay, foil dinner and cereal breakfast, RC cars for entertainment, less than 1 hour