Monday, October 24, 2011

Welcome to Nevada President Obama

A little taste of our life here in Nevada... It's reality. I know everywhere in the country has been affected, but I'm not sure if anyone realizes how bad it is here. When I've told people they all kinda nod their heads and say, "yeah yeah everyone is struggling everywhere." They don't get it. It's been so bad that we've had general authorities come and we've held special fasts for the people in our city that have lost their jobs and families that have been affected by the turn in economy. Welcome to Nevada. I don't like to get into politics too much on here, but when I saw this video it hit home for me. So we're just rolling with the punches and doing our best to survive. Good news: we are still alive :)

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Ch-ch-ch- changes

I've had my swing shift (5pm - 1am) for over a year now. It worked out ok when the kids were in preschool and Kindergarten, but now that they're all in full day I've started to grow less fond of it. During the day I sit at home all by myself, then as soon as they get home from school I have time to say Hi and ask them how their day was before I get in the car for work. I barely see them. When I get home from work at 2am of course the entire house is asleep. I discussed the idea of switching over to a day shift with Ti and was excited to make the move, but every shift that came up had me scheduled to work Sundays during church... so I never signed up for any of them. I waited and waited and thought that I was doomed to this swing shift forever LOL. One night I went in to work and seen a grave shift up for bid.  I've worked grave before and barely survived. Didn't think it was for me. But I looked at it again and couldn't help the interest and curiosity that crept in my mind. 11pm-7am with Saturday & Sunday off. I wanted weekends off so bad. Hmmmm... If I started at 11pm I could actually have dinner with my family and even put the boys to bed before work. And if I got off at 7am, that would put me home at around 8am - just in time to send the boys off to school. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense to sign up for it. It took a little convincing for Ti. I think just the word "grave" made him a little uncertain about the change. I worked 9pm-5am before and it was brutal! But that was when Siope was still in preschool and so I never was able to get consecutive hours of sleep. I was confident that this time around would be different. We finally decided that I would sign up for it. If it didn't work, then I could always go back to a swing shift.

I've since completed my first week of grave and am going on week 2. Can I tell you how much I love it?! I know there are pros and cons to each shift, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons for me with this schedule. When I explained what my new schedule was going to be to the kids I was surprised at the reaction from them. They memorize my routine from swing and on Mondays they would come home and jump all over me cause they knew it was my day off. I told them that I was starting a new shift and I would be going to work while they were sleeping and come back in the morning when they were waking up. Mote jumped so high and hugged me so tight.

The other night we went out and had dinner at Chili's. It was freak'n awesome that I got to go out and have dinner with my kids during the week! Each night we do homework and have dinner together. I'm able to give them a bath and put them to bed before I get ready for work. When I come home in the morning they're already awake... usually brushing their teeth and soon as they hear the front door open, they run down the stairs to greet me.

Surprisingly my body has been doing ok adjusting to the time difference. It didn't do so good when I worked 9-5. And I'm not sure if I'm doing better because I went in to it this time expecting the worst. I've been ok during my shifts... a couple yawns here and there and Ti has bought me some 5hr energy drinks, but for the most part I've been fine. Last week I never got more than 4hours of sleep at home though. I would sleep either 4 or 3hrs each day. My body just wasn't accustomed to sleeping at this time of day. Today however I got 6 hours! Which is good enough for me!! I was shooting for 6 or 7, so I'll take this 6 that I got :) I have very little to complain about this shift. So far so good!

Friday, October 14, 2011

Continuing to Honor Lauren

We're constantly thinking of ways to keep Lauren's memories alive. Ti has said to me before that as the kids grow older that their memories they have of her will start to fade... which I refuse to believe. One of my sis-in-law's had a sister that passed away when they were younger and I asked her if she still remembers her. She looked at me and answered firmly, "Kiki, I have vivid memories of her." Which brought so much comfort to me. I think of Lauren on a daily basis and yes, the memories of her are still vivid. I hope and pray that they remain that way as the years pass.
As certain events come up, it breaks my heart that she isn't here to experience them with us. At Fatu's UNLV game I looked around and tears filled my eyes cause the entire family was in the bleachers to support him. When Ren was sick Fatu had a conversation with her and told her to keep fighting so that she could get better cause he wanted her to come out to his football games and watch him play. Fatu talked with me after about his conversation he had with Ren and said he wasn't sad. He felt positive and good about her. That he was sure that she was going to get better. I thought about all this while I looked at everyone that night at Sam Boyd Stadium and I wished Ren could be with us to complete our family cheer section for her Uncle Fatu. I'm sure however, that she still was able to watch him play and that she had the best seat in the house :)



Halloween is coming up which was definitely one of Lauren's favorite holidays. Who doesn't love Halloween right? Carol and them decorated her spot at Wasatch Lawn
Happy Halloween Rennie!

Bats on her trees to accompany her butterflies




I just know she would love this!!
It is bittersweet to continue to honor her in these simple ways. We are happy to remember and think of her, but sad that she is not physically by our side. We might (big emphasis on "might") be in Utah at the end of the month. I hope I make it in time to contribute to her Halloween decor.