Amazing Grace

This morning has been one of those mornings where I've been laughing constantly. Simply because if I didn't laugh, I'd be screaming. As we all woke up and got going, I asked Kienna if she would make her bed and then come downstairs for breakfast. We were able to all get dressed, have breakfast, scripture study and family prayer before I even heard from Kienna again. I had just opened up an email from my grandmother containing this incredible video of Il Divo singing Amazing Grace. I was thoroughly enjoying the moment and feeling quite moved when she came downstairs (please have Amazing Grace singing in your mind as your listen to our conversation):

Mom: Oh good, you have your bed made.
Kienna: No! I CAN'T make it.
Mom: Why? What's making it so hard.
Kienna: I have fire in my stomach.
Mom: Oh, well if you're sick, maybe you should go back to bed and have a rest.
Kienna: No, I'm not sick, I just FEEL like I have fire in my stomach.
Mom: Oh, I thought you had REAL fire in your stomach.
Kienna: No I don't!
Mom: Okay, well, if you aren't feeling sick, why don't you go just do your best and I'll help you finish up the little wrinkles.
Kienna: No, I just CAN'T!!
Mom: Honey, I've seen you make your bed lots of times and you do a REALLY good job. Why can't you make it today?
Kienna: I don't know (Bill Cosby fans can start laughing right here)
Mom and Kienna together: Sigh
Mom starts watching incredible music video again
Kienna: Mom, you know why I can't make my bed?? Because I'm UGLY!
Mom: WHAT??!?!??! You are not ugly.
Kienna: NO MOM!! I said I'm HUNGRY! (She may have said this the first time, but this is what I heard - I swear).
Mom: Okay, go have some breakfast really fast and then finish your bed.
Kienna walks away and then runs back in crying: Mom, there's no more cereal.
Mom: Yes there is hon, just let me finish this video (somehow it was still inspiring) and I'll come get it ready for you.
Kienna: But I want to get myself breakfast.
Mom: Okay, well, why don't you go grab a magic cheese (aka Cheese Strings) and then go make the bed. I'll have something waiting for you when you get back.
Kienna gets the magic cheese and comes back in complaining that it is too cold. I warm it up for her. She eats it and complains about how she'll never be able to make her bed. I remind her that I just want her to do the BEST she CAN. That doesn't mean it's perfect, it doesn't even mean that it's close to good, just PLEASE try.
She then collapses in tears.

Saryn then chooses this moment to kick her and to play with all her school papers creating even more agony. Kienna then makes her last stand and goes upstairs to make her bed. I finish it up and help her realize it is NOT the impossible task she has pegged it to be.

As I was watching this inspiring video, I realized how much this situation must be replayed in the eternal scheme of things. How often is Heavenly Father looking down watching his children just pleading with them:

"PLEASE, JUST DO THE BEST YOU CAN!! I'll do the rest! I'll make up for what you can't do. Just please do what I KNOW you are capable of!"

Then we go through every excuse in the book as to why we can't do this simple task. I just need this, I just need that. I can't do it without doing THIS first. I have these other commitments that I think are more important. Whatever our excuse may be.

Regardless, it was a humbling moment. I think I do this a lot more than I'd like to admit....maybe the apple isn't falling far from the tree?!?

Either way, I'm thankful for his 'Amazing Grace; which was hitting me really hard as this scene unfolded to me.

Once the Wheel is in motion....

Well, I've been frustrated (as I have said before) over the past year as I've waited. My pediatrician sent out a request for Kienna to see an ENT on October 6th, 2008. Yesterday, we finally had out appointment. I guess that if you wait a year, the ENT decides to really make it worth your wait. I have NEVER been so happy with how things went.

We went in and filled out some forms, then were right back in the room where the Nurse Practitioner came and did a full exam to see what needed to be done. Within minutes it was decided that Kienna will need her ear tube removed (they are supposed to stay in for approx 9-18 months - so, after being in place for 4 years....). They also looked in her throat and after hearing her medical history decided on a tonsilectomy. After further investigation, it appears that her adenoids may have to be removed as well. Apparently when she breathes through her nose, it sounds like she's sucking air through a straw and it's really restricted. Overinflamed adenoids can also lead to ear and throat infections because they prevent the Eustation Tubes from draining properly (or something like that). This makes PERFECT sense to me. They said that they will scope it out and when they see what her adenoids look like, they'll make a more informed decision on whether they need to be removed or not.

So, in this surgery, her ear tube will be removed, her tonsils will be removed and quite possibly her adenoids. They will also scope out what her ear shape is, etc. They will thoroughly examen any other possibility that might cause her to catch all her tonsilitis, strep throat, ear infections etc. They also were debating whether they would put in another set of ear tubes. Her right ear drums looks very calloused and concaved, so they felt that she may be hard of hearing. Within 1 hour, we were able to go get an audiogram done. I couldn't believe it. We were in the waiting room for less then 5 minutes before we were called back. The results were given to us on the spot and she had normal results. Apparently 20 or higher is normal and she was exactly 20. So, they decided not to put tubes in and we'll see how things work out.

Now I was scared, I had to book a day for surgery. I was sure that I'd be waiting MONTHS or another YEAR before we could get her in. Nope! They had an opening Oct 29th (kinda mean right before Halloween, don't you think?) or November 10. Not too hard of a choice for me, especially since Jarett has the day off of school on the 10th and 11th.

So, it's all prepared. Nothing left but the surgery (granted, it IS kinda the biggest part), but I thought it would be so much more red tape to cut through and so many more back and forth visits to the doctor. It was so short and sweet.....it left a really good taste in my mouth.

I just pray that this will fix little Kienna's ability to catch EVERY illness that comes around. We don't want to end up like Aunty Hayley with the Swine Flu.... Get better soon Hayley!!

The Cahoon Book Worms!

If anyone knows Jarett, they know that he's a regular book worm. He always has at least 1 book that he's reading and there's usually a few others that he has started around the house. I have caught onto this bug and have started reading as well. It seems that it might be genetic, however, as Kaia is reading like crazy in both French and English (apparently her teacher told her she's reading English at a Grade 4 level and, because she's in French Immersion, she hasn't even learned any English yet). Anyway, the pattern seems to be continuing as all the kids get older. There's been a lot of reading around this place! We all have books we're very excited about reading and it has been great! Jarett is enthralled in many James Clavell and Wilbur Smith (both Historical Fiction) books, but is right now reading, The Winds of War.
I just finished Little Women (which I LOVED - it has such great lessons to learn from it) and I am now thoroughly enjoying Pride and Prejudice. This book is found around the house everywhere. I can't go anywhere without it.


Kaia, Kienna and Saryn are all enjoying a chapter or so of Little House in the Big Woods (the first of the Little House on the Prairie series). As their cousins are all VERY big fans of the show and the books, we have jumped on the bandwagon and the kids love it!! (Saryn actually sits still to listen to it).


Saryn loves looking through books constantly. This one happens to be a hymnbook with pictures in it, but she tells me the story in it and she loves learning the stories behind the pictures. It's been a really great teaching opportunity.


Even little Jaymeson has caught the reading bug. He's a BUSY BUSY boy and does not even come close to sitting still, unless he's on my lap and I am reading him a story. He LOVES books. He loves turning the pages and seeing pictures and hearing the sounds of the words. He's even mimicking words and talking quite a bit (in baby talk). He hits the pictures with excitement. All he needs now is to be lying down with his foot up on his opposite knee and he really would be a clone of his father...


Anyway, that's just a little bit of what is going on around here.

Why So Serious?

We got a Vita Mix today and had a smoothie. The girls loved it, but none had as much evidence as Jaymeson....Doesn't he look just like the joker??

Kaia to the Rescue!!

Problem: Saryn is unconsolably crying in the basement (where Kaia and Kienna want to play) and the noise is irritating them.

Response: Kaia comes upstairs and asks me to put Saryn upstairs in her room so no one can hear her.

Problem: Jaymeson is asleep upstairs and it's more important that Jaymeson doesn't hear her than anyone else.
Response: Maybe Mom and Saryn could watch a movie upstairs while Kaia and Kienna have quiet playtime in the basement.
Problem: Saryn doesn't want to watch the movie upstairs, she wants to watch it in the basement.
Response: "It's totally up to Mom", but Kaia and Kienna could build a wall to divide the basement in half causing Saryn to be able to watch her movie on one side and cry as much as she like while Kaia and Kienna "try their best to stay out of Mom and Dad's stuff" and play on the other side.
Problem: Mom doesn't like the idea of a wall being erected by a 6 and 5 year old in the middle of the basement.
Response: Mom and Saryn could have POPCORN while watching a movie upstairs....Saryn immediately is happy and starts up the stairs.
Problem: Being 3, Saryn has been side-tracked on the way upstairs and is now wanting to build a fort with her sisters.
Response: 3 Girls ask their Mom if they can PLEASE build a fort. Mom now has 3 happy girls and is able to blog for a few minutes.

If there's a problem....

She'll solve it!

Thank you Problem Solving Kaia. We couldn't have done it without you.

Aunty Lella's Wedding

As many people realized, this year 09/09/09 was a special day, but it was special for another reason in our family. Jarett's sister Marella got married to Dey. My girls were unofficial flower girls and had a blast! 10 days later, we went down to Calgary for the reception and stayed up late dancing and having so much fun.

Congrats Marella and Dey!

My girls in curlers the night before.

We had to have them wrapped up in a bandana to make it stay in...

Jaymeson sporting his bowtie!

All the girls (neices of Marella) watching through the temple window waiting for her to come out.

The oldest and the youngest grandsons. Tyrus is so good with Jaymeson.

The only way to get boys to focus on a picture is to say SPIDERMAN!!
Jaymeson might have been a little confused...

Kaia was climbing up in the temple window while waiting for Marella. We've talked about this since to make sure she knows that's probably not the best choice of activities in a sacred place.

Isn't Marella beautiful?!? Lucky Dey!

The Reception - 09/19/09

Saryn was dancing like crazy. She's so funny.

The Cahoons getting down!

Grandpa Bucey dancing with Kaia and Marvel.

The oldest girls of each family. These girls danced hard all night long!

Kindred took a turn in the break dancing circle. Laughed my head off!

Jarett and his mommy! He's obviously proud of having her on his arm...

Bucey was a highly demanded dancing partner!

This was completely candid. She was just super excited!

I love how good of an Aunt Marella is - down on the floor on her knees in her wedding dress.

Kaia and Marvel danced almost the whole night. Isn't it great to have older cousins to play with?

Taysia! This girl was 3 when I first met her and I can't believe how old she's getting.

Love this picture. Jaymeson is SO spoiled with attention whenever his cousins are around.

Logan Dj'd the wedding. He is one of my close friends growing up. We've known eachother since Grade 2. I had no idea that he'd be there. It's a small world after all....

I was walking around and Kipp took my camera and just took a picture of me and Jaymeson. It turned out pretty good. Thanks Kipp!

These next few pictures were taken in the "secret room" where the girls would all run off to to hide from their moms. They had little baskets of candy that they brought around to everyone. After a while, they decided to ditch out and just eat all the candy. Erin totally busted them and got the wedding photographer. Those pictures will be awesome!

I totally remember doing this with my Sunday Dress...

It was SUCH a fun reception and it was awesome to see them get married. It was the first time with all the Cahoon kids in the Temple. It was an awesome experience!! Congrats Marella and Dey. I wish you all the happiness in the world!