What's happening in our world...

For my fans, I have decided to post a new blog...lucky you! I decided to finally change the background template, thanks to google, and a user friendly how to site, I figured out how...all on my own! This week seemed to go by quickly thank goodness. I worked my regular 4o hours, and ended the week with a blood draw at the doctor's office. Only another month and a half until I am finished with taking the coumadin and blood draws. I am suspecting my coagulation will be low and I will need to adjust again, as evident by all the bruises I have. I have no idea where they came from either!
Kam and Ellie had some sort of something this past week. Both with runny noses, but thankfully, Ellison never developed a fever or acted fussy...chalk it up to allergies or the sniffles. I think both are finally on the upswing now. Kam has been keeping busy with school, and I with work and primary. I am excited to report that we had 15 kids on Sunday, one of which is an inactive, hopefully reactivating. That is my next big feat in primary, trying to figures out strategies to reactiviate the less active children. If anyone has any suggestions, they are welcome. Yesterday I was so frustrated with my primary kids, I made them sit for the last 5 mintues of primary and practice being reverant (an idea I heard from my sister-in-law, thanks Rachel)! It seemed to work momentarily. We are also finally finding a teacher for the new class we developed and new achievement night leaders and a new secretary (something I have never had since becoming the primary president). Now if we could only find someone to lead the music, we would be fully staffed!
Ellison is as cute as ever. We are going to be starting her on cereal...I will let you all know how that goes. I am hoping it will help fill her belly at night and we can cut out the 3 am feeding. Ellie has figured out how to roll from back to belly, and on a good day and with momentum can roll herself back onto her back. Ellison is the most talkative baby ever and loves to communicate with us. She coos and will even laugh at times, which is adorable. Ellison will also try to pull herself up when given two fingers, and tries to sit up. We have started reading every night before bed, and although her attention does last through the entire book, she is patient enough for some. Well, that is our week in review. Sorry no pictures this time, I had some taken of Ellison in her Blessing dress that I finally got on the computer on Saturday, and will post them later this week with details on her blessing.

So this past week has been crazy. Of course we all know about the death of President Hinckley. It's amazing how fast information spreads, all of my friends here in Mississippi knew about his death in a matter of minutes (thanks to our family in Utah).
On Tuesday I attended a pampered chef party at Elizabeth's house. Despite my best efforts to refrain, I did end up buying more kitchen utensils. Fortunately I always buy things I know I'll need, which included bamboo mixing spoons, a small frosting spreader and a small bar pan stone.
On Thursday I met with my student's OT professors to discuss her progress thus far. She is doing better, but still gets an attitude at times. She has been able to start seeing some of the patients on her own on the ortho floor, but now this week I am rotating to the neurology floor, so she will be right by my side again.
This week I also got a new cell phone which was way over due. I ran my last one into the ground until finally the screen went black, and wouldn't call out anymore. I do admit I have really upgraded! I have this awesome samsung phone that plays music, and takes video! I didn't even know they had cell phones that take video...so much for me being techno savy!
Saturday Kam and I stayed at home and watched President Hinckley's funeral via satellite tv (yes we do get BYU tv) and had the missionaries over to watch as well. I also tried making cinnamon rolls on Saturday. Some worked well, others not so much, but they must have been somewhat good, because the missionaries ate them...hmmmm, wait...don't missionaries eat most anything? We also took a trip to Wal-Mart (which was crazy busy)...never a good idea on a Saturday in Mississippi...it's like their Mecca!

I have decided to post some new pictures because my friend Cailin was only somewhat happy with my attempt to even get some pictures on the computer. Hopefully you will all enjoy the new pictures I have posted. I do have to admit though, the pictures of my sweet baby do her no justice, because she is so much more adorable in real life! Here is another update of our week...
Ellison has decided to continue to grow up on us, despite my repeated pleas for her to stay my little baby. I know she is only 4 months old, but she has just hit that cute stage where she is smiling and laughing. Her latest trick is rolling over. Ellison has finally mastered maneuvering her body weight from her side to her belly, and on a good day, can get her arms underneath her! She is such a cute baby, and I am so glad to have her!
I am still working with my student, who I have had for about 3 weeks now. Clinically she is doing well, it's the professional behaviors we are working on. I am sure she will be doing well by the end of her 12 weeks, but we continue to chip away on this aspect of the fieldwork. Primary has also been keeping me busy. We have decided to split the primary into a junior and senior primary as our primary is growing! I think I counted 17 children today (not including the nursery children) which is almost double what we are used to! We created a new class this year, which puts us up to four classes now. I never knew how much work teacher retention is, as well as juggling the budget and calming teachers concerns. We are looking to fill our achievement nights calling now...I hope that works out soon!
Kam has also been keeping busy in school. He goes Monday through Thursday from 8-11, and then picks up the baby, and watches her until I get home. Kam has been such a trooper through our tumultuous year and is a good, protecting dad. I know he loves the time he is able to spend with Ellie.
So, that is the update on us so far, until next week...

So I have been told my MULTIPLE people that I have not posted any pictures of Ellison on my blog and need to do so. So, for all my fans, or rather, Ellison's fan's here you go. Included is also an update on the Howard family. Kam has started school again this semester, by the end of this year, he will have completed his 2nd year of law school, with only one year to go! I am working my life away and right now have an OT student with me for the next 10 weeks, which I realize now, is a lot of work. Primary is also keeping me busy. Ellison keeps growing like a weed. She weighs about 13 lbs now, smiles and laughs, shakes her rattle and when she feels like it, will roll onto her tummy from her back. We love her so much!

Okay, so I have FINALLY started trying to lose this baby weight (who would have thought a diet rich in ice cream wouldn't help) and the results are as follow.

Tues: 30 minutes of cardio following an 8 hour workday
Wed: Weight training x30 minutes, 2o minute walk following an 8 hour workday

The rest of the week I plan on alternating cardio with weight training (light walk following) and trying to change some of the unhealthy eating habits I got into when I was pregnant. I will post any changes (good or bad) by next Tues.

My goal is to lose at least 10-15 lbs. by my little brother's wedding on May 17th.
If anyone has any other positive, helpful suggestions, feel free to comment!

So I have decided that many of my co-workers are a bunch of gossipy grownups who act like children. I will admit, before I had Ellison, a small part of my work life was involved in gossiping. I guess I enjoyed the thrill of what was going to be said next about whom. After having Ellison, my perspective has changed and I am no longer interested in such silly banter. I wonder if these people realize how hurtful gossip can be? It's interesting that many of the people who do choose to gossip can dish it out, but can't take it (sorry for being so cliche). Anyhow, I have this to say, I am now promising that as much as I can help and resist getting sucked into the gossipping, I will NOT gossip any longer! Besides when one person gossips about another, does it just make the person gossipping look bad? (Did you all get that?) I think so!

Kam and I are excited for the Christmas season to finally be here. Kam is finishing up his last final tomorrow, and I am ready for a trip home. Kam and I were commenting the other day that we haven't been anywhere in the past year because of the awful pregnancy and post pregnancy stuff we had going on...we are ready for a vacation. We are excited for our family and friends to meet little Ellie. We are also planning on blessing Ellison while we are out there with my family around. I think we will be able to get most of mine and Kam's family there.
On another note, it has been brought to my attention (multiple times) that I need to post a picture of Miss Ellison (as the Southerners would say)...I am working on that one to. She is doing great, I am stressed about bringing her on the airplane with all the germs that are there. I know that I can't protect her from everything, but I can try! RSV season is the devil!