Game 2

Taylor had her second game of the year tonight. The first inning was great, all thirteen kids on her team got a hit and ended the inning with a grand slam home run. The only thing that I did not like was that the kid playing pitcher for their team would try and knock over the kids running to first base. I didn't think much about it at the time, but that was a sign of things to come.

This league is for the fun of playing, (and I know, everyone that knows me cannot believe I can go for that, but it is true), but their coach and base coaches thought differently than that. At the kids' age, very few kids can catch and we play so that the kids don't take advantage of that. Sure, we could have kids just tag everyone out and steal and take extra bases on errors, but we are trying to teach the kids to play. The other team's coach, however must believe winning is everything as they had their kids take bases on errors (which technically you can do, but why?), then in the second inning, their coach put a player about ten feet from home plate so that he could get to each ball quickly and run and tag out the kid either running to first or home. I want to see that strategy used in a couple of years when the kids are older (sheeessh). I couldn't believe their coaches. Fortunately, again we had more kids and scored more runs, so hopefully we put those coaches in their place. (Just to let everyone know, I kept my cool and didn't say anything at the field)

Taylor again did great, she got her two good hits, fielded a couple of balls in the outfield, and had fun. We have another game Saturday morning at 9:00.

1st Baseball Game

Taylor had her first game tonight. Although they really don't keep score, our kids said that they scored more runs than they other team (which is true, but we are just there to have fun) I got to be the outfield coach and the first base coach. I had a lot of fun tonight, Taylor had A LOT of fun tonight. She got a hit both times at bat and the team played great. It was really fun.

Now I've gone and done it...

Scott and I joined a Health Club today. I am really excited about it. I took the doctor's advice seriously and, once Scott said okay, I hightailed it down to the place and signed up. They've got every imaginable piece of workout and weight machinery ever made, I think. Plus, swimming, racquetball and tennis, if we should want that. I meet with a personal trainer on Monday so he can show me the ropes and help me figure out which machines are best for my back. They have a terrific day care center there as well, so I can even take the girls with me. There are certain days and hours when we can take the girls swimming or to play basketball too. So...it will be fun. I am excited to start whipping myself into shape! I think Scott and I may be able to go workout together once in a while too! I'm looking forward to it.

In other news, Taylor started Pee Wee Baseball practice on Thursday night. She is going to have about 2-3 games per week through June. She had a blast at practice and even took Dad to the park today to practice some more. She is going to have a lot of fun I think. She is also signed up for swimming lessons this summer at a neighborhood pool. She wanted to do that over dance or piano lessons because it's her favorite thing. (P.S. Thanks Rose for reassuring me about Taylor! I needed it!)

Shaylie is talking pretty well these days. My favorite is whenever I say "love you!" to her she says it right back with a kiss. She is awesome! She loved Anje's dance recital tonight. She was dancing in the aisles with the girls on the stage. She is such a cutie!

Love you all! Talk to you again soon!

Latest Doctor News...

I went to see the Neurosurgeon today. He looked at my MRI's and told me I have neither a bulging disc nor a herniated disc, but a collapsed disc. Since it is not causing any nerve damage or leg pain, he does not think that he should remove the disc. If I did have surgery, it would be a fusion. However, he does not recommend this option. He told me that most of the pain I have is mechanical, which I took to mean that it only hurts when I move. He says the best way to get rid of the pain is to lose weight and exercise. I am working on the losing weight part (in fact, I have lost 34 pounds to date), but I need to get going on the exercise.

I told him I was concerned about getting moving, since it hurts to do this. But he assures me that, although it will hurt, exercise is the best thing for me. He suggests 30 minutes of exercise (at 140-150 heart rate) 5-6 days per week. He told me I should join a gym, since they have everything there plus heart rate monitoring stuff. He also said not to get discouraged since it takes about two months before I will see any real results. He told me he has won many $500 bets with people about whether or not this will work. I didn't bet him, and he didn't ask me to.

He did schedule me for another injection though. It's a different kind than the others I've had. He told me that those epidural shots I've had were not the right kind for me. This one should block the pain for up to a year, so he says. The doctor I've an appointment with is not on my insurance, so I have to find out how much this will cost me and then decide if I need to change doctors.

I was very relieved to find out that he is not leaning toward the surgery for me. I was also glad to know that I have some options that are totally within my control, since I am extremely tired of relying on doctors to help me. Especially since they don't know what they are talking about most of the time.

Anyway, other than all that, we seem to be doing fine. I am still concerned about Taylor's hair pulling habit, but I don't think it is all that it seems to be. I know that there are some pretty scary things out there, but I really think this is just a bad habit. We'll see. If she doesn't stop, rest assured that we will get her some help.

We love you all. Take care and keep in touch!

Now we have seen it all!

We found out an interesting thing tonight. Grape Kool-aid consumed in large amounts, like the two girls that live in our house have done, makes for an interesting green color in the stuff that comes out. Tonya called me in to see Shaylie's diaper and it was green! And not the icky green, it was very bright green. Then Taylor called, she was having the same dilemma in the bathroom. I, being the computer junkie, looked up green poop on the internet, and found that it is caused by too much iron or sickness. That didn't seem right for the color of green my kids were achieving. Then I looked up kool-aid and green poop and found, "Grape kool-aid makes your kids poop green." What fun!

Pomp and Circumstance

The month of May is here and with it comes a litany of graduations. Congratulations to my youngest brother, Chad Strong, who graduated from Southern Utah University on May 4. He has a degree in Business and Information Technology (I think). Yea, Chad!

Next weekend, my sister-in-law Erin Strong, also graduates down in Phoenix. She actually finished her teaching degree a while ago, but she is now participating in a much deserved commencement ceremony. My mom and sister are going down to celebrate with them. I wish we could go too, but Taylor is still in school and with my back (and a hundred other little reasons why) we won't be able to make it. We will be celebrating vicariously and we really are happy for Mike and Erin both!

My mom's sister, my Aunt Pam, just sent me an email announcing her candidacy for a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration which she will receive on May 11th as well. She has been working on this for a very long time. So congratulations to you too!

And finally... I just received my diploma from the Institute for Children's Literature. I have been recommended by my instructor for the advanced course but I don't know if that will be in my future. I have submitted a piece I wrote during the class to Highlights for Children and I got a note from them saying that they are considering it. I won't get my hopes up but at least something of mine is out there. I am excited to pursue this new avenue, and finally feel like I know what I am doing. Now, if anybody out there has any blockbuster ideas just send them my way....

Congratulations everybody!

Internet is back online!

Our cable internet has been out for the past four days, so it has been withdrawl at our house. Now that we are back online, we will be getting Taylor's birthday pictures online soon. There are going to be many changes to the web site coming soon, as we are quickly running out of space on our web server.