September 13, 2017

It has been a pretty uneventful day but it sure has been a long day. I started my day by volunteering a the cannery. It was exactly what I needed to get out of this funk that I have been in. It has been hard to motivate myself to get stuff done. It has been hard having Madison so far away. She seems to be doing alot better and that really helps me. Last night she let me know that she got all of her work done for the week. I am glad that she is finding her groove with school. I hope that she starts reaching out more and finds friends. I am afraid that she is still holding on to relationships back in here Meridian alittle too much and it is holding her back. I trust that it will all work out.
When I got home from the cannery I rested a little and then checked out the garden. This is the first time that I have looked at it since we got home from Rexburg and it had a ton of ripe tomatoes and some more huge cucumbers. I had planned on focusing the rest of my day on cleaning and laundry but instead canned marinara and pickles. This was my first time doing marinara so I hope that it turns out. It was really time consuming and made for a late night.

Ashley day was less stressful then yesterday and she was a huge help in the garden getting everything picked with me. While we were getting things prepped for the marinara she talked and talked about an assembly that they had at school today. It was fun hearing all about it. (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) She had a much better attitude today. She must be getting used to the early mornings.
Allison had the busy day today. She made up some tests at school. She got a little break after school today for about an hour before she had to go to work. She worked until 7 and then headed straight to mutual. Tonight they started practice for the temple celebration. It is exciting that the dedication is around the corner. It has been a long three years since the ground breaking and even longer since it was announced.

I only got to speak to Kevin for only 10 minutes at 11:30 pm. This convention that his company puts on each year really keeps him busy. I bet he can't wait till Friday when he gets to come home.

September 12, 2017

Things are starting to feel somewhat normal again around here. We have got back into our groove of morning scripture study again. It really seems to be working and the early hour isn't too hard on everyone. Ashley was a little resistant this morning but she showed up and that is what is the most important. The girls left for school and I focused more on getting this blog(journal) caught up. I have a lot to do but every little bit helps. I had this thought that I should email President Eyring and thank him for his thoughts during the parent meeting. I didn't expect to hear anything back but he emailed me back.

All these little tender mercies help me see more and more that Madison is going to be ok. I love that she is at such a wonderful place.
Ashley had a cross country meet today. She has been struggling with practicing because the air quality has been so bad. I know that her asthma was really bothering her but she did not let that hold her back. She ran the mile in half and did not give up. She did do more walking then last meet but that doesn't matter she finished. She was the last one to come in and it was so amazing to see everyone cheering her on. I love this sport and especially seeing how her school cheers everyone on.

This sport has been so good for her. She has so many friends she is doing this with and she has made lots of new friends also.

Ashley wasn't quite done with her day after the meet. We headed home to pick up her stuff for soccer practice and piano.

Tuesdays are a crazy day for her until the end of September.
Allison worked on getting caught up after missing school last week. She also worked on some family history. She installed the app on her phone a few months back and it is fun to see her get excited when she gets a notification about a new possible family member. She has reserved about 50 names for baptism in the last few days. I am glad that she can still fit in things like family history while she has such a big load at school. I love seeing her prioritize things.
Madison finally has got registered for all the classes that she needs. She has four on campus classes and two online classes. I think that it is a good load to start out her first semester with. She has also been making friends.

Every time I talk to her she seems happier and happier to be at school. She actually ask if she could live there in the winter and work while she takes a couple of online classes. I don't think it is a good idea since she can live here for free and save more money that way but I never thought that she would be asking something like this a couple of days ago.
Kevin has been busy all day at a conference in Salt Lake. We haven't been able to talk much today. Friday can't come soon enough so he can come home.

September 11, 2017

Today did not start as a good day. I did not sleep well last night. I tossed and turned all night worried about Madison and then took Kevin to the airport at 4 this morning. I got the girls off to school and then laid down for a bit before I ran my errands. Madison's backpack arrived after we left and there were a few things that she forgot so I got a package ready for her. I think this is going to be fun sending her stuff. It helps with how much I miss her.

While I was out Madison sent me a picture for her first day of school. I love that she knows how important these things are to me. To me it was a sign that she is doing better.

She is going to to great. She called before bed time to report on her day. She hung out with her roommates. They went to Walmart and to get dessert together. I am doing a little happy dance. She told me she found her classes fine today. I hope with all this good news that I will be able to sleep tonight.
Allison and Ashley had good days at school. Allison has a lot of makeup work from missing two days but she jumped right into it when she got home. She will get caught up fast. Ashley was able to ride her bike to school again. It is so nice that the air quality has gotten better.
We all wore our BYU-I shirts proudly today. I think that it was therapeutic for us all.

We all look forward for the phone call from Madison each night.
It was a good day except for one minor annoyance. A fire alarm started to chirp. I was able to narrow it down to the upstairs and then Allison came home and found out which one it was. Kevin normally does this but thankfully I was able to get it changed so it wouldn't annoy the girls all night.

September 10, 2017

Today was an emotional day. There are signs everywhere that Madison is not here. We sat on a side pew at church and when church was over Ashley ask if we were going to wait for Madison. It was also obvious when I was making dinner. There is going to be so much to get used to now that there are only four of us here. Kevin had a Scout court of honor and while he was gone we facetimed with Madison. She wasn't very chatty. I could tell that things were bothering her. After the girls went to bed Kevin and I facetimed with her again. Madison was having a hard time and it was heart wrenching. After we were done talking Kevin and I both joined Snapchat.

We have no idea what we are doing but hey one more way to connect with Madison so why not. The first thing that I saw on Snapchat was that Madison found our care package that she hid in her closet.

I am praying for a good day tomorrow. I wish that I could be there with her but I know that she needs to do this on her own.

September 9, 2017

Today we left Madison in Rexburg. As a parent this was the hardest thing that I have ever done.

I knew that it was going to be hard but then to see her face it was so hard to walk out that door and not just pack her up and take her back with us. I know that it is going to be hard for a bit but she is going to do amazing things and have the best time in Rexburg. We will also find a new normal at home.

Before we left, we finished up some grocery shopping for Madison while she was on campus finishing GetConnected. We also took a tour of the new apartment complex that the girls will be switching over to next semester. The complex Madison is in now will become boys housing and the girls will get this pretty new complex. I can not believe how much has changed since Kevin and I was there.

She hasn't signed a contact for the Spring yet but she is pretty sure she wants to stay in this new place. I guess we will wait and see.

September 8, 2017

Today was a busy day. Madison slept well and did not have anymore further complications with her throat. We woke up and headed to Madison's apartment to get her moved in. When we got to the apartment there was a bit of a line. I wish that we could have moved in yesterday but it just didn't work out. Once we made it through the line it was time to get Madison's stuff inside. We didn't want her to start bleeding again so she was not allowed to do anything but thankfully the apartment complex had these wagons that we could borrow to help.

It was a quick process of getting it all in but we didn't jump right into unpacking so Madison could get on campus for some of the events.

Before the events started we got some lunch and Madison got her id card.

After lunch Madison met with her Iconnect group to get to them at the start of get connected (freshman orientation). They met on the courts and Madison was apprehensive to go but went and tried. She was in a lot of pain so Kevin ran to get her some pain meds and took them into her. It was a little overwhelming to see all those freshman together trying to figure this college thing out.

Kevin said you could see that she was trying but also miserable because she was in pain. I am proud of her for trying and working through the pain.
After the get to know you event it was time to meet in the I-center with the parents for a welcome from President Eyring and his wife. They had a great message for us all before the students moved on to meet people in their majors. The parents stuck around for a question and answer session.

During the parent session President Eyring spoke about his father and how he kept a family journal and how he started one for his family and how it had been a blessing during trying times in his life. He was not sure why he felt inspired to share this message but I know why. I have been neglectful of keeping our family journal and after today I am recommitting myself. This has been therapeutic for me and the girls have loved looking back and reading about our memories. From today on I am going to write about each one of our days and I am going to catch up as best I can on what I have neglected. President Eyrings talk is just another testament to me that Madison is at the right place and that she is going to be ok.
After the parent meeting there was a break in the get connected schedule. We had heard that the Walmart in Rexburg would be crazy so we decided to head back to Idaho Falls and shop there and also get some dinner. We wanted to get Madison back to the rest of get connected but she was exhausted and felt a lot worse so we took our time with shopping and then went back to her apartment to move everything in. It was nice to get her room pulled together.

After we were done we headed back to the hotel with Madison. She wanted one more night with us before we leave tomorrow.
Allison and Ashley have been having fun back at home with Miss Dawn. Allison is feeling a little better so she decided to go with them to the Scentsy fireworks. When the girls got home we got a fun report on their night. They saw a handwriting analysed and it was fun to see how she got some things right about them. She said Allison was very stubborn, smart and a musician. Ashley was objective, and someone that takes charge. I am glad that they had so much fun and were in good hands while we were away.

Girls saying goodbye to Madison

Today was a crazy day and we did not get to leave when we wanted to leave. Madison could have moved into her apartment today but we just couldn't make it happen. The crazy started at 1:30 this morning. I had been in bed for about a half an hour when Madison came in and she was spitting up blood. Kevin was still awake so he worked with her to see if they could get the bleeding to stop. An hour later she was still bleeding so he took her to the ER and they did not get back until 5:00 AM. They went to bed and I got Ashley off to school before getting Allison an appointment because her pain was not any better. We saw Dr. Smith and he ordered more blood work, a chest x-ray and a CT. We were gone till about 1 in the afternoon. While we were gone Kevin took Madison into the ENT because they did not want her leave till they saw her. They cauterized her throat and said that she was good to go but needed to head to the ER if she started bleeding again. Never had I had two kids with hospital bracelets before. Life always seems to get crazy when life is busy around here.

Kevin had everything in the care when we got home, I just needed to get our bags packed. Before hitting the road we needed to head to the eye doctor to get some contacts for Madison. When we were acouple miles from our house Madison started crying because she didn't get to say goodbye to Ashley. She would be home from school by the time we got the contacts and got back to the house so we decided to do that so she could say goodbye. It was hard not to cry along with Madison I don't know how I am going to leave her in Rexburg.

I am glad they got to say goodbye. This is going to be a big adjustment for everyone.
We made it to our hotel late so we went straight to bed because tomorrow is going to be crazy.