Kimmie Update

I am doing my updates all in one day! I haven't updated in a few weeks so sorry. Life has been totally wrapped up in CBYC that it has been a little crazy at home. With that being said I still have good news from the home front. We met with a new doctor at PCMC yesterday. He has informed us that with all of the seizures that Kimmie has had the gland that controls her eating was damaged probably in her first one hour seizure. Which is why she is so skinny and why she hates to eat. She isn't eating to eat, she is eating out of habit or because we are making her. She never really is hungry. So they can put her on meds but due to the meds she is on we hate to add one more medication. They also informed me that this wasn't caused by her meds but may have been brought on earlier due to one of the meds we had her on when she was little. That gland is controlled by hormones and now that she is getting older hormones are starting to come into play it kicked in the major problems. Her body isn't retaining any of her food. It just passes right through her. So we can artifically make the desire to eat (hopefully). We are adding CornStarch to her diet, just as we would a new medication. Although it is cheaper with no co-pay issues. Corn starch apparently makes you feel more hungry and stays into your system longer than anything else. It also makes other foods stick to it. The doctor warned me that she will put on weight with this! I am really overly excited. Finally an answer to all of this!

Crop Update

I am so relieved that CBYC is over for the year. We had a really nice turn out. It wasn't completely without problems again this year but nothing really big. I am so very grateful for an amazing committee. I really appreciate all they did to help me. We raised more money on our raffle than we ever have before! I am just thrilled that we had a lot of people. Thank you everyone for your support. I really appreciate all that you have done to support me in this. We are making a difference!

Survey

I received this survey from two different people in two days. So I thought I would post my answers...

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
I was named after the nurse in the hospital's daughter. Since I came three weeks early and one Christmas Eve my parents hadn't decided on a name. My mom wanted to call me Christmas Joy. My Dad thank heavens vetoed and so did the nurse. She said she named her daughter Krista. So therefore the name Krista Joy came into play. I shortened it to Kris in high school when no one could get it right.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
This morning when nothing seemed to be going okay. Or yesterday when I found some answers for Kimmie from a new doctor.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING
Most of the time.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Turkey.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Two born to me and one I married
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Probably
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
I do but I don't think quick enough on my feet to use it much. I also think I should have said... about two minutes after the topic has changed
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS
Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No I am afraid of heights. So are you insane suggesting I would get up that high and fall on purpose?!?
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Lucky Charms
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
NEVER!
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Most of the time, until my family is sick then I'm not strong enough.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Vanilla (boring or traditional you decide???) I also like root beer float, strawberry cheesecake or creamsicle Ice Creams.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
smile and hair
15. RED OR PINK?
pink.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I hate that I speak without thinking a lot, especially when I am mad. I hate the extra 30 pounds on my rear, thigh and stomach. I also hate that I get in over my head on projects and need people to bail me out (when will I learn to simplify?).
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST
My aunt Ann (especially right now I missed her at Crop smiling and making funny faces while I stood in front of all those people to talk, it is also Wednesday our lunch day).
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
Sure, why not.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Grey Pants and my black shoes (sorry Lara I don't own grey shoes)
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
McD's french fries
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
A guy at work whistling, and the copy machine
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
GREEN
23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Homemade rolls (christmas bread wreaths), my kids right out of the bath tub, spring rain showers, and ditto of Lara's sexy cologne on a good looking man! The cooler of a local flower shop
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Bethany, arranging pick up for my kids so that I can be here at work.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Abso-freakin-lutely!
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
I am not a sports lover but if I have to watch. Football in person, and Basketball on TV.
27. HAIR COLOR?
Blonde is the original but today it is medium ash blonde
28. EYE COLOR?
Blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Ice cream or hot breads right out of the oven
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Has to be Happy Endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Sydney White
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Red with a white sweater
34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer
35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Both, of course!
36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Anything I don't have to make. Although I love Erik's cherry cheesecake (before the messed with the receipe), chocolate cake with chocolate icing
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
who knows.
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Don’t know.
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
See question 16 I have no time. I am over my head in too many projects to read. Although yesterday I was reading in the waiting room with Kimmie and I got through 3 Dr. Seuss books, a Nick Jr. Magazine and 4 bed time stories with bear.
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Millennial Vision advertisement for our work computer company
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T. V. LAST NIGHT?
I watched the movie Sydney White last night and fell asleep to MASH
42. FAVORITE SOUND? My kids laughing
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Neither but if I had to choose Rolling Stones
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Probably Orlando Florida
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
People like my scrapbooking and my flower arranging but I am too much of a perfectionist to enjoy my own work (add that to #16).
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Scottsdale, Arizona
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Anyone and everyone!

CBYC

Life has been a little bit crazy. I am in the middle of the crop. The kids are doing well. Kimmie will be seeing a specialist in a couple weeks. So I will let everyone know. Here is the crop flyer. I hope to see you there.

7th Annual

Crop Because You Care

A Scrapbook Event for Charity

Crop the day away and enjoy food, games and prizes.There will be gift bags for the first 300 registrants. Enter the raffle for a chance to win a get-away-weekend, bid for custom projects in our silent auction, as well as lots of other fabulous prizes!

Cost is $29.00 pre-registered -or- $35.00 at the door

Saturday, February 2nd

10am to 10pm

South Towne Exposition Center9575 South State Street, Sandy

Special Guest: Stacy Julian,Founding Editor Simple Scrapbook Magazine™

You can register or print out forms on-line at www.epilepsyut.org.

Registration will close at 5:00pm on February 1st.

All proceeds benefit the Epilepsy Association of Utah

Hospital Trip

This post isn't as much fun as my last one. Sunday night we ended up having to take Kimmie back to the hospital. We stayed alomst 24 hours this time. This trip was a lot like our trip in October by the way of reasons we were there. Although we didn't give her the extra time to snap out of it this time. We just took her into the hospital. Her blood pressure was low again and her blood sugars were really low. She has now been officially diagnosed with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Which is really weird with Erik being diagnosed with diabetes in September. Anyway, she is doing okay and is back at school today. I am still recovering from the sleepless night Sunday night. We are having to check her blood for the next little while to get a base line for her and then again when we think she is acting weird or getting sick or anything.

Thank you for the extra prayers on her behalf.

Idaho Trip

We went to Idaho this last weekend to visit the new Rexburg Temple. We had a wonderful time. The kids loved the temple! I loved to hear their responses as they went through the temple. Erik and I felt like it was one of the top experiences in our parenting. Kimmie started to sing "I love to see the Temple" as we started driving up the hill close to the temple. Johnny and Laura's kids joined in. I started to cry. Johnny liked the movie, the elevators, and the painting on the wall that Erik's old bishop did. The mural was
totally amazing. I hope that they have him do one at the Oquirrh Mountain temple. Kimmie loved the eternity mirrors and the baptismal font. She thought the whole thing was really cool.




Laura took some family photos of us while we were there. There are a couple of them that I absolutely love! I am posting the family 8x10 that she did and the B &W of the kids. I can't wait to have them all printed.

Happy New Year and Christmas posting

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Christmas was wonderful at our home. Thank you everyone for your love and kindness that you brought to our home this Christmas season.

The kids top picture is from the Palmer party at Grandma's on Christmas day. The second isn't a great picture but is from Christmas with the Hansen's I thought Johnny looked too priceless. I can't wait to get copies from Lara's camera.

Kimmie had a great Christmas and got everything, plus everything else that she wanted. Her excitement has been over her "little sweetie" she got a princess baby doll from Grandma and Grandpa that she has named Emily. She has been taking it everywhere with her. The doll wasn't even on her original shopping list so it is nice to see that she is loving other things than what wasn't in the Target toy ad.

Johnny had a wonderful Christmas. He is overjoyed about his Leappad learning system. He got four books and I saved a few more for a latter date and he has been playing with them so much I may give him the new books earlier than I expected. This wasn't on the toy ad shopping list either. He is loving every minute of playing with it. I am loving that he is watching less TV and playing something educational. He was really cute Christmas morning. He kept looking for things with his name on it. He even managed to open the gift from him to Kimmie. He just ripped through his gifts and was done with all of it in no time flat. Kimmie had to wake him up in the morning but it didn't take long for him to realize it was Christmas morning and get out of his usual morning funk.

Erik is still getting out of trouble for forgetting my Birthday and Christmas gifts. I am not real nice about him forgetting something like that. I am really good about him forgetting mother's day and our anniversary but not Christmas and my birthday. So he was feeling really bad to open gifts from me and the kids and have nothing to give me for Christmas.

New Years was rather uneventful. Usually we have had family over for the holiday and no one was able to come. So we went to bed early. I know that is showing our old age.

So back to the usual work and school days.

Crop is only one month away now and I am already far behind where I want to be on it. If you are interested in coming be sure and click the link to the right and register!

Christmas Letter

For the twelfth annual Hansen family Christmas letter, we’ve decided to do something different. This year’s installment will be a quiz. See how much you know (or can guess) about what happened with us this year.

1. Johnny started into a new school this year and loves it! He can’t wait to go to A.) Kindergarten, B.) High School, C.) Middle School, or D.) The same school as Kimmie

Answer? A. He loves pre-school and is learning a lot. Although he can’t wait to start at Mountain Shadows Elementary next school year.

2. Kimmie started a new medication this year that is helping a little with her seizures. It is from A.) Australia, B.) France, C.) the Target Pharmacy or D.) Canada

Answer? B. In February we started a new medication from France. She has had some trouble with it but for the most part her seizure control is getting better and her behavior has improved a lot.

3. In a surprise move, A.) Johnny took a liking to potatoes, B.) Kris decided she was really into public speaking, C.) Johnny and Kimmie decided they loved each other so much they started sharing a room, or D.) Tipper Grandma’s cat is living with us now.

Answer? Trick question. None of these things happened. Don’t expect them to happen next year either. Although D happened for about one month, until she kept waking Kris up at night.

4. Which member of the family changed the most in weight in the last year A.) Erik B.) Kris,
C.) Kimmie, or D.) Johnny

Answer? A. Erik lost the most this year with 30 pounds after being diagnosed with diabetes. Kris lost 25 pounds. Kimmie gained 5! Johnny gained 5!

5. Which of the following themes was discarded for this year’s letter? A.) Writing a typical form letter, B.) Using last year’s letter because not much new has happened. C.) No Christmas letter this year.

Answer? All. But we couldn’t just skip our Christmas letter. We even delude ourselves into thinking people like reading this stuff as much as we enjoy writing it. Sadly for everyone else, we came up with this quiz idea though. Sorry! Any suggestions for next year? How did you do? Get them all right? Did you need a lifeline? 50-50? Ask the audience? Why not just phone a friend? In fact, call us! We hope to hear from you soon!

Erik, Kris, Kimmie & Johnny

Christmas Quiz

I received this Christmas quiz from a friend this morning. I thought it might be fun to post my answers.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper
2. Real tree or artificial with lights already strung? I prefer real but we have artificial (what is this already strung thing)
3. When do you put up the tree? right after Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? New Years
5. Do you like eggnog? NO, but my kids and husband love it
6.Favorite gift received as a child? This is really hard. The most memorable was the year I wanted a TV and my mom gave me hers. I loved my Cabbage Patch Dolls.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes
8. Hardest person to buy for? My Father in Law
9. Easiest person to buy for? my kids
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? that is a hard one.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Santa Claus with Tim Allen or White Christmas
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? do I ever stop?
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? bread wreaths
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear
17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night
18. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? At home in the early morning and my Mom's later in the morning
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? It depends on which family part we are at. We open Hansens on Christmas eve and the rest Christmas Morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Christmas in store before Holloween. My families not getting along about where we will be for Christmas Eve.
23. What I love most about Christmas? My childrens faces
24. Favorite Christmas Cookie? Butter cookies from Lara
25. Favorite decoration? My whole Christmas Tree with all the ornaments because each one has a story.

HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON!!!!!
* A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Festival of Trees/horses

This must be the time of year for field trips. Kimmie's school went to the festival of trees. This is Kimmie's school class. They are really cute! I just love them.

Johnny's school also went on a field trip to a place that teaches horse back riding. Johnny was more afraid of horses than I thought he would be having takin Kimmie to horse back riding lessons with me every week for the years of his life. He was cute mixing the horse cookies and fine feeding them but he wasn't sure about this petting them thing. He went ahead and did it for mom to have a photo but wouldn't stand there long enough to look at me.

Fall Ball

Erik and I went to the fall ball in our Stake about a month ago. Yes! We had a real date and he even spent time dancing with me! Bethany took this photo of us after we got home. I especially like the no shoes look. Thank you Bethany for the photo and watching my kids so that we could go.

I am really working hard on getting the photos that have happened recently up so that everyone can see them. I will keep trying so keep checking.

Snow Dayz

The snow has been falling and falling and falling.

The kids are having a good time in the snow. They are now waiting for the perfect "Grandma Snow Day." They need a day that isn't too cold for Kimmie but has enough snow for the sled and snowmen. My mom comes and gets the kids and they spend time playing in the snow. I don't know who looks forward to it more the kids or Grandma.

My craft show was snowed out. Although I am thinking of signing up for one that will be at Wheeler Farms on the 14th. I am thrilled for all the support I have had from everyone. If you have any ideas for anything really fun for the show I am thinking I should do it. I will post more if you would like to attend.