Hey this is Robert. It's been a while. Heidi keeps me posted. We love hearing from all you guys! Like Heidi said, my mouth is pretty sore. I think it's getting better but its taking longer than expected. What causes canker mouth sores? That's my main complaint now- more than the swelling and sore gums. So Karl, is it better to do root canals or tooth extractions for abscessed teeth? I took a day off after the extraction, but then I needed to get working again. It's not fun talking all day with a sore mouth- And that's all I do at work- non-stop-even while driving. (Dad caught me talking on my cell while driving.) I enjoy working, but dislike having to work after hours which I've done quite a bit. Today (Saturday), I just got called to be on call today and tonight. It's frustrating. Heidi said I shouldn't have to because of my mouth. I've had a hard time sleeping because of the pain which only goes away 2 hours with the prescriptive dose of IBU Profen. Hopfully I have a good liver, because I've had to take a lot around the clock to function at work as well as to help Heidi. Heidi has been incredible to support me. I keep thinking I'm a baby- but it hurts.
The good news is that amidst all that's going on, Heidi and I are excited for #3! No due date yet-but probably March/April. Heidi is so cute with her baby belly- I love it and she hates it. Tyson and Bub love feeling the 'round trampoline'. She's had more morning sickness with this pregnancy than the other two combined. (and increased mood swings). ha ha ha. She's great.

Heidi and I are wanting to put up the Christmas tree and lights and decorations this weekenend. It's hard to believe it's coming so quick. Thanksgiving's not over yet, but Christmas will be here before we know it. We've been having nice weather for this time of year though. It's wonderful.

It's good to hear that Quickyn is sleeping longer (sometimes). All I can say is don't buy earplugs! I agree with you Bri. Touch and affection are needed at this time of their life. It's hard to just let them cry. Always go with your heart/feelings. In my maternity class, we acually discussed this for a whole period and read several articles about it. The conclusion for most of them was that for most situations was to let them cry 5 minutes. After 5 minutes of non-stop crying, it's okay to settle them down and hug them, but then of course to put them back in their own bed. That way they get your affection but they still learn to sleep in their bed. The article discussed a study they did over 25 years or so that showed that those children that were given affection at night with cries turned out to be more caring, understanding and patient as an adult than those that were just left alone to cry. those kids ended up being more resilient, direct and stubborn.
Anyways that's just one of the studies. I really don't think any of that stuff matters. It's different for each child and each situation. With Tyson (now 2), He cries every time it's bedtime and we don't usually let him out- and eventually he cries himself to sleep. I have to admit though, I enjoy cuddling with my boys at night (and Heidi).
So good luck Bri and Hollie with those pretty girls. I guess I better stop and try accomplish something before my next phone call on call. (I just had to giveIV antibiotics to a 6 year old). I'm more used to stubborn old dying people than kids that are babies and getting better.( Not all old peple are stubborn and dying). I just remembered I need to prepare a lesson for tomorrow. There's always something to do. Gotta love it!. Go Utah Jazz! And Happy Thanksgiving!

Wahoooo! Congrats you two. We had a feeling you were pregnant. We didn't say anything because we thought you were going to surprise us all. We hope you have a girl too, but it would be reall cute to have all boys as well. Keep us updated.

Bill and Bri

Movin' on Up!

Hey everyone! I felt bad about leaving a sad note last time, so I thought I would update y'all with some good stuff.

Well, last night Quickyn woke up only 4 times which is a way big improvement from 8! YEEE HAAAWWW. She usually ends up in bed with me by midnight, but last night I didn't bring her into bed with me until 4:30 a.m. I did bring her in finally so I could get a little extra sleep. She was a really good napper today and I got a few things done. She wasn't taking naps as of the first of October but as of the end of October she takes 2-3 naps a day. We still have our bad nights, but I think if I keep helping her learn better sleep habits things will continue to get better.
And hardly any crying involved too!!!

We really like our pediatrician. He is very nice and he sees eye to eye with us on most things. The only thing we disagree with is how to get her to sleep at night. I was actually appalled by something he mentioned at our last visit. He said, "you can even let them cry all night. Earplugs can be a good investment." Oh my goodness! Yeah, he said that. I'm sorry, but the thought of that makes me cry. I like to let her know that I am there and if she cries I'll be there asap. I've actually found that the sooner I respond the better she sleeps and she's even on occasion gone back to sleep on her own just because I've come in to remind her that it is okay and I'm there.
Maybe the crying it out thing works for some babies. Don't infants naturally crave human contact and attention? Maybe I'm slamming the idea too hard, but I just don't feel right about it.

Thanks Holly for the tip I think it helped tremendously!

Gotta run, Bill's given the Q-bug a bath and she doesn't seem to be enjoying it.

Love, Bri

This is an old picture, but I feel the same way. I am wearing that shirt again.

You probably already know, but we are expecting again. We are do sometime in March or April. Don't know for sure what, but we both want a girl. In a way I feel like it is, but we want it to be a surprise. Tyson wants a sister. I guess we are following Karl and Megan.

Robert had a bad tooth problem with lots of infection. He had the tooth pulled on Tuesday and he is still hurting and swollen. It was swollen up around his eye. That worried the dentist because he had seen that before and the patient ended up blind. So if worse comes to worse they will do surgery and let the infection drain.

Well I better sign off and put Kaleb down for a nap and clean up the house.

Heidi

Great Places for Educational Media

Below I have listed a couple of places where you can find media online.

http://www.teachersdomain.org/ (Corrected from last entry.)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/

http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/pompeii/interactive/interactive.html

Nasa has videos and interactives.

News videos: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/showdown/view/

http://pioneer.uen.org/ This one may require you to register.

Hulu.com = you can watch full lenght movies.

I hope this doesn't bother you that I put this on the blog. I won't put any more information about educational media.

Have fun!

Bill

P.S. Today my students had fun trying to get a paperclip to float on water.

Hey guys,

I called grandpa last night. I thanked him for the DVD that he sent out. I suppose you guys will receive yours soon. The DVD has pictures and videos. Kriss and Kim Hoffman are playing baseball and basketball. It has video on it that is from Haylee's baptism. That was a special experience and a nice evening.

Karen is doing better. She told Grandp Karl that she hadn't felt so good in a while. As a last resort the doctors decided to give her medicine by injecting it into her muscles. The medicine is then released over a time period of 4 weeks. Karen wasn't taking her medicine regularly, but this seems to work for her.

He said that when he redoes the roof to his house, he will do it with the tin roof like dad's. School is going great.

Oh, Meagan asked about lesson plans. I don't think my notes would be good for lessons. I will send you some fun demonstrations or things to watch. There is a lot of free educational media out on the internet that is pretty good. If you want to learn something, type the concept in with the word "applet," or "virtual." I think Karl and Meagan's kids would certainly enjoy mixing corn starch and water. Make a lot and cover your table and floor. The liquid is fun to play with. When you squeeze it, it becomes hard, but the minute you let it be, it becomes a liquid again. If you want the details on this, it is because it is a nonnewtonian fluid that is specifically a shear thickening fluid. Paint just happens to be shear thinning fluid because when you apply stress with your paint brush, it actually becomes more liquidy, or less viscous.

Monday Bri and I went to a retirement home and shared a scripture that went along with two science demos. It was fun. Bri really wants to do it again. I wouldn't mind either. It was fun. Some of those elderly ladies really couldn't believe that a balloon wouldn't pop when pushed against a bed of pins. I also dragged my fingers along to make an aluminum rod vibrate and resonate so that it sung one note. Oh, I had fun with the balloon and pins. I popped a balloon and then announced that it didn't work. We needed faith. I had a lady blow on it because she had so much faith. Then I pressed the balloon against a bed of over 300pins (or challenging fiery darts.) Bri made this demo for me before we were married. I love it.

Hey, if any of you guys do play with corn starch and water, you should watch a video on youtube that shows some spanish people running and jumping on 5ft deep pool of this stuff. It is in spanish, but it's the best demonstration of walking on liquid. If you type in corn starch into google or youtube it is one of the first ones to pop up. I have been a bit leary about using youtube, but I have found that it is great for showing science experiments that I cannot do at my school because of the restrictions. If you type in "water balloon in space" you will find videos demonstrating the intermolecular forces of water floating in the space shuttle with no gravity when the astronaut pops the balloon. It is a floating ball of water. You can see astronauts drop a hammer and a feather on the moon. You can watch a hydrogen filled balloon being exploded. If you type in "thermite" you will see a reaction that happens at about 3,000 degrees melting through things. Dry ice and vacuum bell jars are also great things to see.

Just off of the top of my head, look at Teachermedia.org. There are lots of videos. I think that is the location and homeschooling parents can access it. Well, I have got to go. We are trying to put Quickyn to bed.

Love Bill and Good Luck with Science

Sometimes You Feel Like Crying

We just got done reading Hollie and Luke's blog and I feel like crying. Enjoy the fact that Gracie is sleeping so well. We've been working with Quickyn on sleep and have had some progress, but it is going to take some time. I'm just not the type of person who can let a baby "cry it out". Some nights she's up more than most and I've been so exhausted from lack of sleep. We think that her sleep problems started when I got really sick in September. I was so weak that we brought her into bed with us so I could nurse her and sleep. I couldn't even hold her to feed her I was so weak. Anyway, now she sleeps in her crib until 10:30 or 11:30 at night and then she won't sleep unless I put her in bed next to me. And if I move away from her....yeah...she wakes up! She has it down to a science. But, I will prevail. Back at the start of October she wasn't napping unless I was nursing her and she was in my arms, now she is taking 2-3 naps a day of at least 30 min each. Today was a breakthrough. She went down for a nap at 1:20 and she slept all by herself in her crib (and even put herself back to sleep after startling awake) until 2:30!!! WOO HOO. This is major people! Now if only she would sleep longer stretches at night.

Anyway, not to say I'm angry with you Hollie, but I am frustrated that I can't be enjoying the sleepful bliss you get. I'm lucky to get 2 hours in a row without interruption. I do have to admit something though. I sure do enjoy cuddling with her in bed. Her warm little body next to mine and the cute way she nuzzles next to me when she's hungry is priceless. I will miss that once she starts sleeping on her own.

So, we're all curious what you're holding back. Bill thinks you're pregnant! I think you're moving closer. Are we warm yet?

Well, I have to go get Quickyn into bed.
Bye Bye
Bri

Christmas Choir

Yeah! Speaking of Christmas music and the the choir comment... We got roped into doing the choir this year. Luke was just leaving the room where choir practice was going to start and our friend in the branch came in and said to Luke "Oh good, Hollie is on her way in for choir practice. Just stay here." Luke obviously confused because we had not even heard or talked about it at this point guessed that I had just decided we were doing it. Then that same lady came and found me in the chapel and said "Hurry Hollie, Luke is waiting for you at choir practice for the christmas program." I was like, "What? I didn't know we were doing it but okay." When Luke and I found each other we were well you know how we felt...SILLY! Oh well. We did kind of want a break from being involved in everything, but it is fun to feel the wonderful spirit from the music.

Ha Ha!

:) :) :) :)
Okay that's enough ha ha's.
Wait one more...
ha ha!
JK, Nothing but love!

Robert got a new calling. He is the new Gospel Essentials teacher. He is nervous. He keeps telling me that he can't teach. It will be good for him, and it will be a missionary experience. I think I will go to his class and help him out and make him even more nervous. He starts on Sunday. He will be fine, that class is small anyways. He had a calling just like this one in the student ward.

What do you think of the election outcome? I don't know enough or haven't followed it to really say.

Robert thinks it is too early for Christmas music, but the radio is playing non-stop Christmas music now. I turn it on for fun and to see how Robert reacts. I guess he likes it because last night he put on Christmas movies. There is a month and a half until Christamas.

Tyson is in the process of being potty trained. Kaleb likes to nap all day. He is teething and he is emotional about it.

It sounds like everyone is pushing onward.

Mum

Hey we have some news but I can't tell you yet. Just a couple more weeks and I can tell you. Dang I really want to say but I can't.... mums the word.
Lisa glad you are back with Ben safe and happy. It would be hard to leave your kids but Dad said they are doing well. It won't be too long before you are back with them again. Tell Ben hi from us. I hope everyone is doing well. We love you guys.