Tunes Below

So, does everyone turn this feature off when you get onto the webpage? I am just wondering if I need to tone it down a bit. Place your vote on whether I should keep it or not.

Not much going on

It's been a while since I posted anything. Sorry for those that actually care. There isn't that much to tell as life has been uneventful lately. Richard finished wiring the basement today. That's a plus. Kierra is getting teeth all over the place, which makes for a satan baby. It is hard for us to go anywhere because she throws tantrums. Our new neighbors moved in today. They seem nice. I hope they mow their lawn. Richard has me reading the Hobbit. It is ok. I think he wants me to read the whole Lord of the Rings series. I am sure there will be a lot of boring details throughout. The is the most exciting post ever! I won't care if no one reads it.

Goodreads

Amber had me join this website called "Goodreads". I haven't read that many books to know what I really like and what I don't to contribute much to it though. I do however know that I do not like sappy love stories, I think that is why I wasn't into Twilight as much as everyone said I would be. "If you liked Harry Potter, you will love Twilight" they said. Why? A group of us were having a discussion about this and decided that there is no comparison between the two series.

Anyway, since Amber has introduced me into the world of literature, I have found myself in need of a change. Having read the Harry Potter series three times, I need to invest my imagination into a new world. Something inspiring and inventive I think. If anyone has some good suggestions, they are certainly welcome. If my mother is reading this, yes I know I should be reading my scriptures. I have been reading the Ensign, so that is a start.

Laser Day

The procedure got approved on Tuesday and so they fit Kierra in on Wednesday morning. When we checked in, they gave her a stuffed bunny. She really liked it. In the waiting room, she walked around with it patting it's back and loving it. The treatment went as expected. There were about 6 other doctors in there so that might have overwhelmed her a bit. So now we have the fun task of the after care. She has to stay out of the sun until the bruising goes away (2-3 weeks). It is really hard to keep the sun off of her when you have places to go. We'll manage, we always do.

Week in Review

What an exciting week! Nevermind, it was normal. Tuesday a mountain lion was running around in our neighborhood. The girls and I were on a morning walk and this car stopped us telling us to get home because of a mountain lion. We were quite a ways away from our houses so we hoofed it. They caught it about the time that we got home. That was fun.

From the major rain on Thursday, the basement had water in it again. Richard dug out one of the window wells and there was more water the deeper he got. I am wondering if we are sitting over some sort of natural water source. There is a crack in our foundation (something the builder won't do anything about) so Richard got some stuff to patch it up. I hope that we can get this taken care of before we get any further on the basement.

As promised, I have a cute video of Kierra. It started out with Richard putting bottles of nailpolish down a wrapping paper tube. Kierra would laugh at the sight of them coming out at the other end. She started to try and get the bottles by putting her arm down the tube and it became a smackdown between the two of them.

What's been going on?

Well, not much. Our week started out with the lovely suprise that water was coming into our basement again (really wasn't much of a suprise seeing as our house sucks). Figured out the problem and got mom to babysit on Thursday so that we could fix it. It freakin rained again on Thursday, so there went that plan. We were able to fix it along with putting up the lattice on the deck while Kierra napped (process of 2 days). Our neighbor's sold their house so that gives us one month to steal their rocks for our landscaping (they told us to, so it isn't stealing).

Hmmm, what else. Richard is finally on the 7th Harry Potter book. I am so excited for him. I cried at times in that book. I am constantly made fun of for my obsession for Harry Potter, but there is someone who is worse than me. Amber Ford. Yeah, that's right, Cassie can vouch for this. When we went to get our hair done, we had the capes on and were walking by a mirror and she asked me if I felt like we were at Hogwarts wearing our robes. It never crossed my mind. Sure the name of our blog has a reference to the books, but a hair cutting cape as robes, nah. I do want a wand though and I wanted to dress up Kierra as Hermione for halloween.

Anyhoo, there really isn't anything exciting going on in our lives. I have no new pictures to post. I promise the next post will have something eventful.

FOR THOSE WHO LIKE CATS

"Excerpts from a Dog's Diary"

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!

9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!

1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!

7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!

11:00pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

"Excerpts from a Cat's Diary"

Day 983 of my captivity. My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Bastards! There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage. Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow--but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now...

I know they are up to something!

Forget That!

Kierra didn't get her laser treatment today. We got to the hospital nice and early, they called us in and when we got into the O.R., the doctor was on the phone with the billing office. It turns out that our insurance company now requires pre-authorization for her procedures and needs proof that it is medically necessary and not cosmetic. They decided to change their policy without telling us so we got her all ready for nothing. The doctor has sent numerous letters and pictures to prove the need for the treatments. We have never had a problem before and now we are worried that they may not cover the treatments at all. According to the doctor, IHC (which we don't have) will only allow her to treat the birthmark if it is on a certain place on the face. If Altius takes this stance, I think we will be screwed. We now pay close to $200 a treatment every three months. Without insurance it is a little over $1000 a treatment. Looks like I may really have to get another job.

Laser Day

For those who don't know, Kierra was born with a port wine stain birthmark on her left cheek and chin. Every three months we take her up the U to get laser treatments to help minimize the mark and stop further growth. Tomorrow we have to take her in again. There is about 2 hours prep work for a procedure that takes five minutes. I think it is getting easier on me at least where I don't cry while she is screaming. The worst part of it all is the care after. Keeping her out of the sun, having ointment on her face constantly, keeping her from touching her face and scarring it, and of course the weird stares that we get from those who don't know her situation.

Incidentally, there was an article in this months Parenting Magazine about a couple having a child with a birthmark on her scalp. I was really annoyed with how the parents reacted and tried to hide their daughter. They acted like she was cursed and they didn't like people asking questions. That's the part I don't mind. I would rather people ask than just stare and assume that we beat her or something. In this article, the girl had one surgery to remove it from her scalp and now she is done. Kierra is in this for a lifetime possibly. We have never tried to hide her face from anyone or anything because it is something she is going to have to deal with when she is older. Her situation isn't nearly as bad as many others that have this sort of birthmark. We have met some that have the mark all over their body and also those that have it on certain parts of their head that cause seizures and occular nerve damage.

When we found out what it was, I felt horrible. Thinking of a little girl possibly getting teased because of a mark on her face. I questioned why did this happen and then I thought, there is nothing wrong with her. She is alive, healthy and to us is perfect.

Before treatments began

Day of a laser treatment

3 Hours of Pampering

My friends Amber, Kim and I went to a beauty school for mother's day. It was a bit late but oh well. We got facials, scalp treatments and I got a trim too. It was nice to get away for a while with good friends. Afterwards, we went to Paradise Bakery and vegged for a bit. It was a good school because it wasn't crowded. Amber's sister goes to school there so she was able to schedule us with the best students. Warning to all, this picture contains women with no makeup. I was the only one self conscious about it. Oh, I am standing on my tippy toes. Thanks guys for a fun afternoon!