the latest.... besides our vacation

We started potty training Carlee yesterday (talk about really diving into reality after a long vacation without kids).  Yesterday was really not very good she never REALLY went potty in toilet.  Today she's gone twice, once first thing after she woke up and the second time I went to her in the room to check on her and she said mommy and was holding herself, I ran her to the potty & after about a half an hour she went.  She really freaks out when she goes pee pee in the potty, she's really scared about what's happening, she was shivering the first time & didn't understand.  But the second time was a little better than the first time, she wasn't as freaked out.  So I'm confident that the more she does it, obviously, the more comfortable she'll be since she'll begin to understand what's happening.  She doesn't have any short on because she went through 3 pairs yesterday before 9:00 so I figured panties will be fine till she gets better at it.  Sam and I really felt like she was ready to start potty training, yesterday I really began to doubt but today I'm feeling much better since she's actually gone twice in the potty.  It may take a little time, she is after all only just barely turned two!

Preston's ear infection came back, it's not as bad as it was but it's a little worse than it was before we left for vacation, poor guy, his ears are always hurting.  But he's on a stronger antibiotic so hopefully that will get rid of all the fluid in his ear.

Sam got an interesting call while we were in France.  First let me tell you that no ones cell phone worked while we were in France except Sam's brother Kent.  She that is the number we gave my mother so she could call with any problems with the kids.  Friday morning, early maybe 7:00 a.m., I was getting out of bed, Sam was already up.  I hear in the room next door (on the boat) Kent's cell phone ringing.  Shortly after Kent came out of his room and asked if I recognize the number.  There was the international 001 numbers before but it looked like it was a phone call with Sam and my area code.  So, there was a message, Sam listened to it, it said "Kent this is (our stake president from church) I'm trying to get a hold of Sam and Heidi, if you could have them give me a call that would be great" (that's not word for word but close).  So we think about it and realize that it's almost midnight the day before where he is at and were concerned to call so late.  After a little debate and thinking that he had just called so he probably is still awake, Sam calls!  He speaks to him for a bit, I begin to realize there is a call being extended.  When Sam finishes he wants to speak with me and proceeds to tell me that he has called to extend a call to Sam to be the 2nd counselor in the bishopric in our new ward & and asked if I would support him in this.  Well, I do support him & Sam had accepted so all was set.  They wanted to get a hold of Sam so they could do the sustaining on Sunday, 2 days away even though we wouldn't be home yet.

I'm happy for him, all will be well.  We thought it was so funny that they were able to somehow able to get a hold of us.  No one where we live had a number to get a hold of my mother in order to get Kent's number as to get a hold of Sam.  But the Lord always provides a way in order to fulfill his will.

This is a map of France.  Our plane took us from Paris to Toulouse (in the pink) we drove to Castelnaudry (bottom center in the pink) and that's where we started, barged down the Midi Canal to Carcassone (not on this map but southeast of Castelnaudry, which is also where the castle was) & then continued up almost to Montpellier.  We were nearing the end of our barging when we got the call.  We had been waiting to get through a lock (you'll learn more about that later).  So basically what I'm trying to show is that we were in the middle of no where but the Lord knew a way, which is amazing.  He always knows away we just have to go to him & sometimes, have patience.

Comments

[pam]

good luck on the potty thing, hopes she gets it down soon for ya. Hope Garret is feeling better, Dylan use to have ear infection after ear infection, we finally did the tubes in his ear at 3 years old and it help a lot. Tell Sam Congraulation, I know he will do a wonderful job, sorry for you, you will be left to take care of the kids on sunday, etc... You'll do great.

[Molly]

WOW! Congrats on Sam's calling!

Good luck with potty training...I've had some that went quick and easy, and others....not so much. ;)

[Libby]

Congratulations on the calling and good luck on the potty training. I had a hard time with Ashlee. Preschool finally became the motivating factor. Hopefully Prestons ears will get better soon. Just a note though, go with your gut feeling. Mikayla had the same problem, she was on antibiotics all the time. Once the adenoids were removed she hasn't had one since, she hasn't even had a cold or anything of the sort. I would highly recommend seeing an Ear Nose and Throat doctor.

[Moma]

That interesting about Carlee and the potty training- never thought of it as something that would freak one out- but I guess it is something new and different then what she has know her whole life.

[shan]

oh, potty training. that's on my list. Maybe for the summer. ;) I've been through it twice already and dreading it. We started Conner at 27 months and "finished" when he turned 3. So we waited a while longer with Payton and started just before his 3rd birthday -- he was fully trained in 3 days. I still love him for that.

Good luck with Carlee -- hopefully she will be really good for you and figure it out in a week!

[Nichole]

Good luck with the potty training.

Sunday they told us all about how they got a hold of you to extend your call. Its really an amazing story. Congratulations. This will be a great bishopric. Not that we have ever had bad ones.

[Diantha]

Wow that is truly amazing how they got ahold of you. I am really dreading potty training with Garrett, he shows zero interest! Maybe one day!
Good luck Carlee!
You trip looks amazing and I can't wait to hear more about it.

[Lewis]

Good luck on your new calling. Keep up the great work and the Lord will always watch over you and your family.

[Lisa Brown]

That is amazing how they were able to still get a hold of you. I can't wait to hear about your trip and see some of your many pictures :).

[Kristeen]

all I have to say about potty business it's was a breezzzzzzzzzzzzz for me... but can be a pain ask my daughter Inlaw Nicole.. And Sam your the right person for the new calling - love knowing you are willing to serve when even the call comes...

[Angela]

Welcome Home! I enjoyed getting to see your children a few times while you were gone, but I'm sure you're happy to have them back yourself. Good Luck with the potty training. Unfortunately I don't have any advice to give but I'm sure you'll do wonderful. You always do! :)

[summer]

Good luck with the potty training! Congrats to Sam on his calling!

[MomB]

It would be interesting to know how they got our number for Sam. Let us know. Also, potty training is easy for some and not so easy for others. It just takes a while. I somehow got you all trained. Sam, you will be great. What a great opportunity. Love ya tons.

[Kristi]

I received 2 phone calls from members of the stake presidency while you were away asking if we knew where you were. I was starting to get a little nervous that something was wrong. (ie. Do you know where they are? With whom are their children staying? Do you know the name of Heidi's parents in AZ?) I became very concerned about your safety so I finally asked if everything was okay. When I was assured that it was, I realized that your husband was probably being called to the bishopric in your new ward, but was not surprised at all. You are both awesome, and (my) Sam was saddened that you were no longer in our ward because he appreciated your husband's dedication to his calling. He will be terrific.

With potty-training, I have used different activities while my children got to sit on the potty that were only for that time. My daughter loved make-up, so that was easy. Books, little toys, anything that is fun and different than the normal routine may be incentive to alleviate the undue excitement of sitting on the potty. Magnets are good, too, they stick to the bath tub. Stickers are fun, and if Carly is visually motivated, create a chart with different rewards for various goals (ice cream cone w/Dad, trip to the library, favorite dinner, new coloring book, renting a favorite movie, etc.) Good luck! Juju's not far behind.

[shelley]

I hope the potty training is getting even better! Pass on the things that work and don't to me K! Congrats on the calling, wow, you'll be busy Sam but you'll be great!

[Karen (Clouse) Orphey]

Hi Heidi! LONG time no see!!