The Walls of Jericho

Isaiah got really sick with the Rotavirus last Thursday. He was so sick. Finally last Sunday I woke up and knew he needed to go to the emergency room. He was completely lethargic. Even when they took his blood and put in the IV he didn't even twitch. He was so dehydrated he couldn't function anymore.

He was better for a while on Monday, and even woke up with a wet diaper. By that night he hadn't had another and I was getting worried again. I called the pediatrician and he told me if there had been no more wet diapers, I needed to get him back to the ER. Omar called our friend Eric to come and help give Isaiah a blessing before we left. As Omar blessed Isaiah his voice became stronger and suddenly he declared that Isaiah would be better by the next afternoon.

We left to the ER and Isaiah was given more fluid. He came home and was still sick in the morning, but by the next afternoon, as promised by the Lord, he was better and has been fine ever since. Rotavirus can have a few relapses, but he's been completely fine.

Tonight for Family Home Evening Helaman was teaching the lesson and wanted to do the Wall of Jericho. We built a wall out of cushions and acted out walking around it and trumpeting and shouting. The boys thought it was great fun. Then we talked about what the point of the story was.

We talked about how the Lord always does what He promises. He told the Israelites he would knock down the wall and they would get the promised land, and He did. And we talked about how God had promised through daddy that Isaiah would be better by the next afternoon, and he was.

I'm so grateful to have a husband who hold the priesthood righteously and can invoke the power and promise of Heaven to bless my children. And I'm grateful for the confirmation of my testimony that the Lord always keeps his promises.

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday dawned bright and early to the sounds of sickness in our house. Dad, Greta, and Helaman were all sick and didn't go to church. Mom made it for a while but came back to take care of the sickos, and I came home to check on Helaman after Sacrament meeting. He had just barely gotten up when I got here and just layed around all day. When it was his turn to pick the movie (since that's all anyone did all day) he picked Finding Faith in Christ to see the Easter story. What a cutie!

He did get a burst of energy when it was time to hunt for eggs. He was so excited. Isaiah loved it too. No one told him what to do, he just knew candy when he saw it and put it in his basket. We have one egg shaped like a jelly bean and he couldn't decide whether or not to pick it up because he thought it was messed up. Funny boy.

Helaman ran out of energy as quickly as it had come. Poor guy. Our company left shortly after to go be sick at home. We were sad to see them go, and hope they are better soon!

Easter Weekend - Saturday.

Saturday started out a lazy day because we had gotten back so late the night before. By noon we were all up and ready to get going again. Mom and Greta took the boys on a date to McDonald's and Wal-Mart (yes, that's exciting for Ridgecrest) while Omar, Dad, and I went riding.

The view from the mountains was amazing. The wildflowers, the cactus, the rocks and ravines were all just amazing. It was so much fun to ride and challenge ourselves and check it all out.

The rock formations were crazy. I've never seen anything like it.

There was a place in the mountain covered with shotgun shells and bullets. It was the craziest thing I've ever seen!

After we had all showered we made it back to Randsburg just in time to have some ice cream and check out the stores there. It's a cool little "living ghost town". I think mom and dad would have like to antique more, but we didn't make it before most stuff had closed again. Silly people were turning away so much business that night.

Then we dyed Easter eggs. The boys were very into it for the 10 minutes they were into it. It was cute to watch them being so careful with the eggs. When Helaman was 18 months we only pretended to dye eggs with plastic eggs and water. But Isaiah did a good job with lots of help from Grandma.

Easter Weekend - Friday.

My parents and Greta came to spend Easter weekend with us. We were happy to see them, and had lots of fun, until poor Dad and Greta and Helaman got sick. Easter was kind of a dreary day at our house. But it was still really nice to be together.

On Friday my Aunt Ann and her husband and a few of her kids came to play with us. We started the day at the Armament Museum on base. It was kind of cool, and kind of disappointing because there was no one there to do a tour, so we just kind of wandered around and were overwhelmed by all the technical mumbo jumbo.

But we did see some missiles and bombs and airplanes. And it is always fun to hang out together.

Helaman and I think we're so funny!

After the museum we drove out to Fossil Falls. The kids had tons of fun climbing on the rocks before we even started hiking to the falls, and all the way there. It was really good for Helaman watching all the other kids be brave and strong, and by the end of the day he wanted to go where ever anyone else did.

I carried Isaiah in the my hiking backpack down the trail. It was so much fun. Omar doesn't enjoy hiking and it was nice to have people who wanted to do it with me. Especially considering hiking is what there is to do around here...

The hike to fossil falls is really short and easy and really worth it! It was even cooler than I had imagined. Grandpa was great taking care of Helaman. At first they just stayed on top and then sat on a hole. The longer we were there the braver Helaman got, and he even let Grandpa take him down in the bottom of the ravines. I was so proud of him!

And if Helaman is doing it, Isaiah must do it to. He is fearless under normal circumstances, and had no problem at all in the rocks. He was very calm for him, gratefully!

After that we went to the gardens at the Maturango Museum and then we tried to go to Ransburg, but everything there closes at 4 or the stragglers at 5. Since that didn't work out we drove to Victorville and went out to dinner at Olive Garden. We all had a great time!