We still exist!

I'm sorry I haven't posted in such a ridiculously long time. We went to Arizona to visit my family for Thanksgiving and to go to my Sister Stephanie's mission homecoming. It was so much fun! I love having my sister back! She has come back with so many inspiring stories about the people she taught in Denmark. I always think it is amazing how different people are when they return home from a mission.

Stephanie and I had quite a bit of sibling rivalry growing up. I was born April of '83 and she was born in December '85. When we were kids and people would ask us how far apart in age we are, I would always say 3 years and she would always say two. Now when people ask she always says 3 and I always say two. I can't be old enough for my little sister to be home from a mission!

Here are some pictures from our trip...This is the Scottsdale railroad park. Asher was in little boy Heaven! I was impressed that they gave you such a long train ride and there was a bridge and a tunnel which made Asher VERY excited. The first time we went, Asher and Paul road in the box car at the back of the train. It was Asher sized, but Paul was a little cramped so the next time we went, Paul convinced Asher to sit in the front by the engine. Asher has always been really sensitive to loud noises and the trains whistle being so close was too much for him. He would be laughing and smiling and then the train would whistle and Asher would cover his ears and whimper in fear. All in all he loved it, Asher still wants to go back. Madeleine loved it too. She thought the whistle was awesome.

This is Stephanie. She met Madeleine for the fist time on this trip and they were fast friends. Steph is going to BYU in January, so if you know any RM's who want to take out the coolest girl on earth, let me know :) She'll kill me for that.
We also went to see the Mesa temple lights. Asher was really excited to see the Christus statue in the visitors center. It was so moving because he was so concerned and wanted to know why Jesus had holes in his feet. I told him that Jesus Christ died on the cross so that we could live with Heavenly Father again and that Jesus died because he loves us. It was one of those moments where I wished that I could just transfer my feelings and emotions into Asher's little heart. I hope he someday comes to feel as strongly about Jesus Christ and his divinity and love as I do.

Maddie kept saying "Baby Jesus" over and over again for the rest of the evening after she saw the nativity scene.

Paul took this beautiful picture. I may have to frame it.


Tuesday night (Dec. 2nd), a few hours before we had to wake up to catch our plane, Madeleine started vomiting. She threw up several more times during the night. Then again in the parking lot at the airport. While we were in the airport waiting for our plane she started having explosive diarrhea and we had to change her clothes twice. She threw up all over the airplane we were on, luckily the plane was empty so she only puked on the empty seat next to her. She then threw up about every 30 minutes on our 3 hour drive home from the Portland airport. I have never been so happy to be home in my life.

The next day Paul was too sick to get out of bed, the day after that Asher and I were too sick to get out of bed. The best part...

Asher and Maddie are STILL throwing up and have diarrhea. Maddie doesn't wake us up when she vomits so every morning I go in and have a huge mess to clean up. I took her to the Dr. on Tuesday afternoon and he said it was the stomach flu and it can last up to 10 days. It isn't as bad as the first few days, but one of them is always vomiting. Asher is back in diapers again after being almost completely potty trained.

It has now officially been ten days and they're still just as sick. I don't want to sound like a downer, but it's been really hard to feel very Christmasy when I've barely left the house since I've been back. I was able to go to enrichment last nigh and I LOVED it, it was such a beautiful program and so festive, and no one was vomiting. I absolutely love my ward and the ladies in it. And I want to go back to church this week, so if you could all say a special Christmas prayer for Asher and Maddie to feel better, I would appreciate it.