A quick update:
The kids have taken well to the new house. Every kid has his own room! Shocking!! The only big change (which we still haven't made) is that Carter and Rosalind should be attending a different elementary school. We made it a good month before the old school found out, and that was probably my fault because I made arrangements with Harrison's school so he could start riding the schoolbus - which ultimately I didn't have him do. I remember the schoolbus from my school days and I'm sure the kids' language has only become dirtier over the years. I'm still driving the three of them up the hill to school every day. Bella's school, on the other hand, is about four blocks away. She walks home most days now.
Bella is in 11th grade, Harrison 8th (last year of middle school), Carter 5th (last year of elementary) and Rosalind 3rd. They've enjoyed school this year. Brennan is still home and doing well. He stayed at the hospital for a week over Halloween last year and seems to be fine. Along with major depressive disorder, he was also diagnosed with social anxiety disorder and panic disorder and was prescribed new medications. He keeps at his schedule and has wonderful plans for the future. I love him dearly, and it's wrong, but I love that he's home with me. We still envision a "normal" functional life for him someday, but are happy he is safe at home with us.
Bella is freaking busy all the time. She was called to be the Laurel class president in our ward, and then in December, the stake young women presidency asked her to serve as the stake Young Women camp president. She, her four counselors and secretary have the intimidating task of planning and carrying out Girls Camp this summer (with the help of the adult stake leaders). We are proud of her. It's taking its toll sometimes - she's been sick the last week or so and was sick with the rest of the family when we all had the flu in December/January. But she loves it, usually. Her school load is quite heavy and will become heavier next year, so she will drop her orchestra class. After President Monson's announcement that the missionary ages had been lowered to 18 for young men and 19 for young women, she's also been planning her mission. I love her drive and ambition and desire to serve.
Harrison's doing well. He's currently serving as the 2nd counselor in the deacon's quorum presidency. Scouts is "boring" but he loves soccer and video games. The seizure activity since December has been minimal - a week or two ago his tongue did its old swelling up thing, but otherwise he's been great. He loves his friends at school.
Carter is also well. He has a great group of friends from the old neighborhood and from soccer. He is hoping to get into the local arts school for sixth grade through high school. Our dear friends, the Ts, have had all their kids go there, along with Carter's friend Ethan's sister, and various other kids in our stake. Ethan, Tyson G, Carson and Carter all went to a Saturday workshop to "audition" for the school. We are trying not to be too invested in his being accepted but it would be so awesome... and so sad if the rest of his friends make it in and he doesn't. Trying to be positive.
Little Goose is great too. She loves Activity Days and her little friends and is always begging me for a playdate with someone. Cute babe. She was baptized last August. It was a great day. We're trying to get her into a free dance class offered by the school Carter's trying to get into (everything is at a premium since it's a public school and free, but they only have so many spots).
THE CATS!! Catness is getting big.
Olive is still a mess, but is slowly coming out of her shell. We see her occasionally. It's so weird to think we have a cat living upstairs that we never see. The girls get to interact with her, since their bedrooms are upstairs. I think we should have named Olive "Snuffleupagus" since for a long time, all the Sesame Street peeps believed he only existed in Big Bird's head.
After serving as the Beehive adviser for over two years, and LOVING IT, I received two new callings - Young Women secretary (when the old presidency was released in November) and ward choir pianist (January). I'm grateful to still be in the ward Young Women organization and enjoy my time with Belly.
I still go to orchestra, but have been hit and miss since November. All the holiday concerts, I decided to blow off in order to get things packed and holiday stuff done. Oh my goodness, we could not have been busier for Christmas. I played the piano and Rosalind sang for the stake Primary children's choir at the Festival of Nativities and I put together the scavenger hunt for the Festival (awesome job, I will do it till I die if they ask me to) along with getting the Mackey nativities safely to the church (ALWAYS a killer) and safely to the new house. ACK. I'm still sighing with relief that nothing broke. We had Christmas in the new house and loved it - it was worth the stress.
Hubby is still doing the soccer thing up big, but he sees the light at the end of the tunnel. He'll stick with coaching Bella's team through her senior year, and then that's it for her. He does some side stuff like helping coach Harrison's or Carter's team, and stepping in when Bella and her friend Samantha can't coach Roz's team, and he still goes to the occasional board meeting. He also holds two callings right now - teaching the fourth Sunday Elders quorum lesson (Teachings for Our Time) and as the ward co-librarian with our friend Jeremy C. Those two keep the good times rolling in that there little library.
He is still working at the same place and loving it and coming home with hilarious stories - one lady recently told him she thought he was gay (a domestic violence victim, I guess she's only used to men who hit her) and a guy who "couldn't" give a urine sample because Hubby "breathes too loud" in the restroom. OH MY GOODNESS did we die laughing at that one.
Also, soccer-related - Carter's coach BEGGED Hubby to let Carter play a Sunday game (against our family policy) and Hubby finally had to use the old "My wife won't hear of it" excuse. Which is fine by me, I couldn't care less about this woman's opinion of me, and he's welcome to use me as an excuse. But she said, "I don't know how you can be married to someone like her. I could never be with someone who isn't as committed to soccer as I am." Quite funny.
Well, on that note, I think I've typed myself silly and covered everything that needs covering. I've spent some good quality time figuring out how to access this blog once again, and I want to keep things more updated. The time goes by so fast and I feel these babies slipping away from me. Roz will be my only kid in elementary school next year... the oldest kid's "firsts" are exciting, but the last kid's "lasts" just make you feel old. :( I wouldn't change a thing though. They're wonderful and Hubby and I are so happy. We're coming up on 21 years of marriage on Thursday/Friday (that whole Leap Day wedding thing) and we're still having a great time.
Till next time...