Stranded, Farmington, a Promotion & a Virus

Our third baby went to the hospital. Whaddya mean you don’t know who our third baby is? Y’know - the one that has a face only a mother could love. The one that is big, black and boxy. *sigh* Yeah. Our Scion was in the shop. The Daddy...uh...kinda...uh... left the car ‘on’ all night (not like the ignition on...hello CO2 poisoning) just the key turned to the on position. Well, the next morning, the Moore4 piled into the car to start our day taking Daddy to the train and you guessed it, dead battery. Our neighbor across the street (and fellow ward member, I might add) was kind enough to come and help do a jump start. Note to readers: When you see a ‘spark’ form from trying to do a ‘jump’ be afraid, very afraid. The outcome? Hundreds of dollars to fix our beloved Boxy. :( boo hoo. Well, I should add that we had Toyota detail it while it was there, also.

This basically was the reason the car was ‘on’ anyway. Daddy was trying to air out the stench that loved our car as much as we did. With two spilled milky baby bottles, countless snack crumbs and whatever else found its way into the car (or ‘carbage can’ as Daddy so accurately put it)...our car was ready for a washdown. And boy was it the best $130 bucks we ever spent. Daddy thought the paint was in better shape than it appeared after it’s cleaning, but the inside was like having a brand new Scion again! New rule: no eating in the car. At least for a little while.

We had a bright blue Corolla to use while Boxy was getting all spiffied up and repaired. Cali was so thrilled to ride in it! And Carice, after being put in our car a few days after getting it back saw a blue car next to ours at the mall, started to fuss and cry. How the girls loved that blue car! Well, as for me and Daddy we so happy to have our car back. Little did I know that this wouldn't be the last encounter Boxy, and speaking on a personal level, we would have together.

April 25th found us in Farmington for Kindergarten Round-up to register Cali for kindergarten this fall. (Can you believe it!) But Carice had been really, really sick with a high fever from a virus. After about 2 whole days, her fever had finally broken, but I had scheduled her a doctor's appointment for that day because she had broken out in a rash and I was concerned. However, at one point of Rick and I sitting in the parent group meeting with the principle, he turned to me and said, "We either get Cali registered or we take Carice to the doctor." I don't know if he was thinking the same thing as me, that this meeting seemed like it was gonna last for a long time, but Carice just wasn't looking or acting very well. So we decided that I would take her to her doctor (in Sugarhouse) and come back for him and Cali.

I was just about to exit I-15 and get on I-80, when out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw something black and then I heard a 'bang' sound. I could feel the car shake as I tried to get over to the side and get off the freeway. I had blown my tire. As you can probably tell, I am a little bit... okay, more than a little bit of a "Panicky Patty', but this time I had good reason---I didn't have my cell phone. And I don't know word one about changing a tire. I was freaking out, praying that the Lord would send someone and completely unsure what to do. I couldn't start walking on the freeway with a baby!?

I hung out my window and tried to motion drivers to come over to me. I eventually got out and stood outside my car. Over and over I spelled out 911 with my fingers and shaped my pinky and thumb into a phone, saying " I need a phone!" I was a mess. At one point a huge Wal*Mart truck came barrelling down the fast lane; I drew closer to my car. I don't know how long I was out there, but finally, I turned around and noticed a white van had pulled over quite a ways ahead of me. A woman got out. I was able to use her phone and call Rick. He was going to try and find a ride out to me, but I was worried about that as I had Cali's car seat. I called 911 who put me in touch with highway patrol, but before I could finish with them, an officer had pulled up and was walking toward me. I then used her phone and called Rick. I suppose there was a twinge of embarrassment of having a female officer change my tire for me, but I didn't really care, I just wanted help. She put the spare tire on and I was on my way back to Farmington. Of course, I got lost and turned around and ended up in Salt Lake so I had to wind my way back to the northbound freeway. I crept my way along at about 50 mph with my hazard lights on. All I needed was to blow this tire and I would be sunk. Fortunately for me, I got stuck in some light traffic and had to go slow anyway, so I didn't have to feel like such a dolt all of the way there. Carice was calm the entire time. She didn't cry or fuss or anything. Even during the time I was stranded out there amongst the fury of the freeway desperately trying to get someone to help me. The Lord truly blessed her and I that day.

Rick and Cali were waiting for us (ironically) near the model home of Richmond American at Farmington Greens. And had I waited just a little bit longer at the school, the principle finished up, Rick got Cali scheduled and they were done on time. Who would have guessed. We missed Carice's appointment, obviously, but headed to KidsCare. She was alright. The rash was due to her high fever that she had, but she thankfully was alright.

I was never more aware that night, as I sat in our Tonet chair holding Carice; waiting for her to fall asleep for the night of the lucidity of the movements of my body and the serenity and health of my surroundings---and my life. That Wal*Mart truck scared me. Scared me more after the fact than during. If the driver hadn't been paying attention, I could have been blasted to smithereens. Rick and Cali not even knowing--Carice, alone. I wasn't ready to say goodbye. I would want to feel Rick's safe embrace, one more time. I'd want to kiss Cali and marvel at her brilliance, one more time. I'd want to hold Carice's round soft little body and breathe in her sweet scent, one more time. My gratefulness to the Lord spilled out that night for everything he had done for me that day. He truly saved me despite my awful ignorance of car repair 101.

I told you April hates me. Or maybe it's the other way around. I guess this is one reason I saw red robin after red robin in my back yard this month. Actually, we had a couple of them hangin' out in the playground on more than one occasion. My dad must have been sending love and support for he knew the crappy ending to this month. Perhaps he was with his dad, my grandfather, that I never met and look forward to meeting someday. I know it's spring, which means red robin weather, buta girl can dream. :) But I have say there was happier times this month (phew).

We got a call from Scott earlier in the month to report on the status of our house. As of the 10th we had a gigantic hole in the ground-the start of our fabulous new home :) We thought there would be more completed when we went up for the round-up, but nothing more was done. Well, I noticed some sort of mint green pole sticking out of the ground near the front of the house. I don't remember that being there before. All I can say is, yay, yay, yay!!

One reason I love living in Utah is to watch General Conference on my TV! Growing up in Oregon, we had to don on Sunday best and head to the Stake Center. Now, I can be in jammies and not have to be there an 'hour earlier'... blast that Pacific Time Zone!

It was a special session of Conference as we were able to sustain a new Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. When I heard he was called as our next president at the news conference, it seemed as if an old friend had just been called to be the Prophet even though he has served side by side President Hinkley as with so many others for so many years.

It was a very spiritual experience to see him as the Prophet. It was as if something different had happened to my eyes. It's hard to explain, but I could see and feel that he was indeed the Prophet. Rick saw it, too. It was an experience of a lifetime.

It you didn't get a chance (and with little ones in the house, who can hear all of Conference) to hear Elder Ballard's talk to mothers - it definitely is a must read via www.lds.org or in your Ensign magazine. Because of this talk we have instituted MNO, Mom's Night Off! And thanks for a wonderful, stupendous, gracious husband, every Thursday is MNO for about 2 and half hours of doing what I need to do, or want to do. I love you, Rick. You are simply the best husband out there. Congratulation on your official promotion of a lead in your department at work! Rick's one year anniversary is coming up in June. Has it been a year already? How time must fly when you aren't bored at work anymore, huh, Love :)