Hunt Happenings

Haunting with the Hunts

2010-11-05T16:39:00.000-07:00

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love how excited my kids are to have fun. I love helping them create their costumes each year. I love Halloween parties and fun. The candy is yummy too. Hope your was great too!

Ahha!

2010-09-19T21:58:00.000-07:00

I bet you thought that there would never, ever be another post on this blog. Well, I guess that I tricked you then.

Margaret

2009-11-02T21:36:00.000-08:00

Hi Family and Friends,

I share the following information with you not for sympathy but as a means of informing as many people as may come in contact with Margaret as possible to know about her.

After almost 2 and a half years of being seizure-free, Margaret experiences another seizure episode early this morning. It lasted for about 10 minutes. She is back on her anti seizure medication. She is doing well and few people would have ever known that she eas even seizing. I am so grateful that Jeremy was inspired to know that it was happening again because this seizure was very different from her others.

We'd love to talk to any of you about her seizing and realize that the more people that come in contact with her and know of her condition the better. It could save her life. We love you all.

Nancy

Jack O Lantern FHE

2009-10-31T14:33:00.000-07:00

For FHE, we carved pumpkins. I was sure that they would do well being carved because there were only two more weeks until Halloween. Great job carving pumpkins, boys! Unfortunately, they did not make it to see Halloween at all. Nonetheless, they were great! Margaret thought so too. She loved eating the seeds and guts! Yummy! Hope your Jack O Lanterns lasted longer then ours. It was fun anyway. Happy Carving!

Home Improvements

2009-10-31T14:17:00.000-07:00

I am still learning a lot...Everyday I think that I learn something new. I am sure grateful for parents who can pass along all of their knowledge about everything to me-the kid, still.

We are S L O W L Y working on the house and trying to make improvements. My parents in law came to visit. It seems like they always get put to work. The simple "oh, just this would be fine" turn into finishing projects that I have been trying to work on for MONTHS or starting and completing projects that I haven't even started yet. Like the retaining wall in the backyard...we have a hill and a sloping yard. Trying to put up a new fence (because the other fence can hardly be considered a fence...) Pulling up all the weeds in the backyard and sloping it the RIGHT way for rainy day drainage. And making our yard a more user friendly site. So I asked my best photographer, Greyson, to have the job of taking pictures. He did. This is what I got.

She's Come a LONG way...

2009-03-09T21:18:00.002-07:00

These are old you tube videos but I was thinking about how amazing our Little Meggy is and couldn't help but reflect on what she has been through.

Meg only hours old, Meg in Intensive Care Nursery #1, Meg #2 in ICN, Crawling Meg

Pickles Anyone?

2009-03-09T21:18:00.001-07:00

Meg's first pickles

It's about Time!

2009-03-09T21:14:00.001-07:00

For all of you that thought that I may have dropped off the face of the earth....it isn't true...Many people wondered if Meg would ever walk. Well, she is now considered an "early walker" by her physical therapist. What a miracle she is everyday. Meg's first steps Take a look and see for yourself!

For all the Fans...

2008-12-11T21:57:00.000-08:00

Yea, those truly obsessed enough to have actually seen the movie...and those really engrossed ones who have seen it more then once.....This is dedicated to you via Jessica and Kelly's blog...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u718MmV0dg

One more...

2008-12-11T21:45:00.001-08:00

This has got to be one of my favorite pictures of Meg. I think she has my smile...

OKAY, So when it rains it pours...

2008-12-11T21:41:00.001-08:00

Did you guess that I found the camera cable? So this is what happens when Greyson gets ahold of the camera...

I think that he could be the next Ansel Adams...what do you think?

She is STANDING...No really...

2008-12-11T21:31:00.001-08:00

Although this picture doesn't seem to reflect this momentous achievement this is the first time that she stood up in her bed=first time that she has stood up! But as many of you can attest to and have also unfortunately encountered, I couldn't find the camera. When I did find the camera (she was still standing at this point) the "low battery" light went on so I went to change the batteries (she was still standing at this point) got them into the camera , ready to take the shot, and this is what I was able to capture....

BUT....Just in case you think that I AM lying here she is a few days later....Notice where she is in the picture to the right...The bathroom which also means that we have to make sure that the door is shut to the bathroom at all times because she has been found playing in the toilet bowl water....And sometimes her brothers forget to flush-GROSS! We are THRILLED though! How many parents can say that they are thrilled to have their child be able to play in the toilet and therefore have to make sure the bathroom doors are closed....WE ARE!!

Well My Dear Mother-In-law...

2008-12-11T21:04:00.000-08:00

I have tried to post pictures of the kitchen remodel as promised but as you can see there are still NO PICTURES! Are you about ready to scream?! Of these things I can testify...
1. The kitchen was remodeled.
2. The remodeling project is completed.
3. There is a dishwasher installed.
4. There is an over-the-range microwave installed.
5. If Jeremy could only stay awake pass 8pm these days then he could help me figure out how to load the photos...
Leslee, Kelly, anyone savier (is that a word?) then me can you help the blog idiot out?

Obsession

2008-11-13T16:20:00.000-08:00

So I wish that someone could help me understand my addiction to this whole "Twilight" series. (Thanks a lot Angie and Jessica for the introduction..... :) ). But like many of you, I, too, have wasted far too much time reading the books and, I have to admit, have even borrowed them "book on CD" from the library and listened to them after reading through them all. I've seen all the trailers and have a favorite ( the one where they are climbing a tree-even though that is so not even part of the book.....) So what's the deal?!!! I vow NOT to see it opening night because I truly don't want to admit that I am as obsessive as others. I know that I can wait to see it but know that I will have to see it in the theaters. I laugh at Jeremy for "having to see" Lord of the Rings or Star Wars in the theaters. But for me it isn't the "big screen experience" more than I can't wait until it comes out on DVD. It's almost sick that I know that I am already going to get the DVD and haven't even seen the movie yet. Is something wrong with me? I don't feel like I am an obsessive person so what's my obsessiveness over Twilight. I actually, as I've listened to them on CD, think that Bella is quite annoying........Ugh...It isn't even real! So for any of you who can enlighten me on this subject, PLEASE do so. Also for those who are brave enough to hold out until after opening day/week, I'll go with you....

I wish it were more interesting....

2008-10-26T13:11:00.000-07:00

We are not the most interesting group of folks....we live our lives and do our thing which is routinely the same thing week after week. But I realize as I look at family and friend blogs that I DO enjoy reading about all of the regular life stuff. A friend of mine and I were talking and it dawned on me the truth of our conversation. We see each other at church or once in awhile (or in some cases not at all...) and miss all of life's happenings in between the times we cross paths. So...I am glad my friend helped me remember that although we are not the most interesting or even have the most interesting things to share, I enjoy keeping in touch even via "blog" to see how everyone is doing during the week. Thanks.

Wow! It is already that time of year A G A I N!!

2008-10-26T12:57:00.001-07:00

Our Ethan....poor guy. Ethan started coughing=time to upscale the inhaler medications and frequency. At 8 months old, Christmas Eve 2001, he was hospitalized with double pneumonia. You wouldn't know it but the guy has had pneumonia at least SIX times in his seven years of life. We were finally referred to a Pediatric Pulmonologist in Oakland. He was tested for Cystic Fibrosis, given a CAT scan, etc.. It was determined that he would need to have a bronchoscopy. He had the procedure done last April where fluid was removed from his air sacs. He has scar tissue in the lung that is commonly infected that eventually develops into pneumonia. Once he starts coughing it seems like we have about one week before the pneumonia develops. Hopefully this year will be different! So, we begin the inhaler regiment. We are determined to our best ability to nip this one in the bud. I think that if he develops pneumonia this year I may just throw up my hands! We have acquired a nebulizer and may have to start those treatments soon. Best of luck to everyone this cold season. May the force be with you NOT to get sick!!!

TRAITOR!!!

2008-10-21T22:35:00.001-07:00

I wonder if UC Berkeley would revoke his "Doctoral" status if they knew that he is affiliated with their rival....STANFORD??? Maybe they are just happy to be rid of him...unlikely....they are more likely drooling that Stanford acquired him rather than them....

A M A Z I N G ....It's about time!!!

2008-10-21T16:24:00.000-07:00

Meg, sitting here eating a snack, looked deeply into my eyes and said, "MaMa...!!!" WhooHoo!!!

Columbus Day

2008-10-13T20:49:00.000-07:00

I was actually pretty excited that the boys did not have school today. We wound up going to a "new" park, one of my favorite things to do. I had not been to this particular park before it had been remodeled with knights and sea serpent themes. It was a lot of fun and such a beautiful day! I think, though, that the favorite part of all for the kids was walking to the water's edge and throwing massive rocks into the water and no one telling them that they couldn't because there was no one there to get hurt by the enthusiastic rock throwers.

Twilight Saga series

2008-10-11T22:22:00.000-07:00

Angie and Jessica were talking about these books at a recent scrapbook enrichment night. I realize why I don't read more....Once I get into a book it is difficult to have to put it down. I literally had to set limits for myself so that I could fulfill my responsibilities as a mom and wife.

I enjoyed reading the series but as I finished the final page of "Breaking Dawn," I put it down and said to myself, "I am glad that there are no more books!"

There is a link to Stephenie Meyer's website here. (Okay so I can't figure out how to put it on my page....But the link is www.stepheniemeyer.com.)

The final trailer to the "Twilight" movie is posted and it is really good.

Blogger Stupification

2008-10-11T22:13:00.000-07:00

How do you blog when you can't download photos?! There has been so much that has happened that I can only simply state for now in a numerical order because there has been a lot of complaints about blogging again. I am sorry that there are no photos. When I finally find the digital camera cord, I'll start posting pictures.

1. Jeremy got a job!
2. Jeremy graduated from UC Berkely with a PhD in music composition.
3. We bought a house!
4. Katy came to help us move.
5. Katy painted the inside of our house.
6. We moved.
7. We're unpacking still....
8. Ethan started 2nd grade at a new school.
9. Greyson started preschool.
10. Margaret started scooting and moving more.
11. Margaret is 18 MONTHS OLD!

Speaking of Cousins...

2008-04-07T10:51:00.000-07:00

We recently were able to spend some time with our Southern California cousins as well as our local cousins. It is always fun to go to the park with friends. Where is Jacob? He must have been off flying the Batman kite. Sorry about that, Jacob.

Zoo and Museum

2008-04-07T10:25:00.001-07:00

What a great place to live! We have great opportunities to go to the zoo and to all kinds of museums. The weather is usually pretty good. And you can do some things with grandmas, uncles, and cousins!

Once There Was A Snowman

2008-03-03T13:28:00.000-08:00

While visiting Idaho, the boys were so pleased that they could build a snowman granted there was not a lot of snow to build a very big one. They were so happy with their little creation. Can you tell from their faces?

She's 10 Months Old

2008-02-21T19:31:00.000-08:00

Margelise is now 10 months. She is finally gaining enough strength to turn over from her back to her stomach. Her vision is actually improving greatly each day. It seems like the original diagnosis of Cortical Visual Impairment or CVI might actually turn out to be Delayed Visual Maturation. Her vision has seemed to "turn on" just like a light switch. As she continues to develop, her vision seems to get better and better. She has been "bustering". ("To buster"-word invented by Ethan when Greyson was teething-to be irritable, cranky, and otherwise unhappy as one's sharp little teeth are pushing through the gums.) She is currently working on four teeth coming in at the same time. She has a canine in without her front teeth in yet. I've never seen that before. We've nicknamed her "Fang". She is really doing well at sitting up but even still falls over. She scoots on her back just like my sister, Janeen, used to do. I can't believe that she can possibly be 10 months old. Where has all the time gone....

Camera Cord Mystery

2008-02-21T19:26:00.001-08:00

It's amazing how one small piece of wires can disrupt a blog for so long....

So What Do Your Kids Like to Do for Fun?

2008-02-21T19:08:00.001-08:00

A few posts ago, I introduced "The Pit". Since that time, it has r...a..i...n...e...d...Needless to say, "The Pit" was filled with water. Now, water mixed with clay-dirt=THICK sludge. The boys decided that today "The Pit" was a swimming pool. This is what happens when a boy's imagination takes over!

I am a "Man" again today....

2007-12-18T08:46:00.000-08:00

One of the amazing things about living in this area is the HUGE diversity of languages and cultures. I've come to expect it. In fact, when I happen to be in an area with a smaller ethnically diverse group, I start to notice.
I walk Ethan to school every morning. Because of the regular walking trek, I have begun to expect to see certain things. House #775 leaving for work; bus #260 at the bus stop; my neighbors car which leaks terribly covered with the newest rain proof goo, tarp, or today clear plastic wrap...There is someone else that I have started to look forward to seeing each morning. I have come to fondly call her "the man woman." Almost every school morning without fail, she and I cross paths going in opposite directions. I try to say good morning to everyone I pass and she is no exception. The only difference is that we see each other almost daily. So as we pass we greet each other with what has become our standard practice, "Good Morning" but my friend the "man woman" adds a little something special. I haven't the nerve to correct her nor do I think that she will actually understand me but she says, "Good Morning, Man" (instead of ma'am)...It makes me smile every morning. So I have become her "man" and she mine. Gotta love it!

Merry Christmas

2007-12-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

This had all of us laughing and Margaret not quite sure what was going on and threw in a few laughs to be polite...

Non-Crappy Starring You! eCards on JibJab

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

What Kind of Flower are You?

2007-11-18T19:43:00.001-08:00

I am an
Echinacea

What Flower
Are You?

So this was kind of fun. I have actually NEVER before ever heard of this flower but it is supposed to be me.....

Seven Months Old

2007-11-11T14:27:00.001-08:00

I can't believe that Margaret Elise will be seven months old tomorrow! I was just getting used to the fact that she was 6 months old. She is coming along. She doesn't really roll over. Her therapists and I decided that she has no real motivation to roll over because she really can't see well. She is more content to be on her back-it's obviously easier too. She is doing much better propping herself up on her arms while on her belly and is also coming along with sittin gby herself. She eats well. She is getting used to solid foods and really enjoys it.

Halloween Costumes

2007-11-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

This is the first year that I think Ethan wasn't a superhero in years! He decided that he wanted to be a knight. Greyson wanted to be a scary skeleton-and he was! My mom laughed that there were so many bones and asked if they were anatomically correct. Well, yeah. Of course. How else was I supposed to do it? Margaret Elise was a baby tiger.

Carving Pumpkins

2007-11-09T08:33:00.001-08:00

For FHE we carved our pumpkins. My boys REFUSED to "gut" the pumpkin. They'll coat themselves with mud, smash bugs and grubs BUT they will not gut a pumpkin because "it is so gross!" Go figure!

What a cute BABY!!

2007-11-06T16:05:00.002-08:00

When Grandpa Carl was visiting, I asked him to take some photos, he does such an incredible job! In spite of the very difficult time that he had trying to get two energetic boys and a baby to look at the camera, he snapped some amazing shots. I am not the most interesting person in the photos but I thought that this photo of Marg Elise, as Greyson calls her and whose name we've all adopted, and I was just precious. Having a baby girl is pretty awesome. I love my boys and would love Marg Elise if she were a boy, but she's not and I love having this incredible little girl as part of my life. I realize sometimes how lucky I am that she is so miraculous and feel so extremely blessed that I can be a part of her life as she is to mine.

Happy Birthday, Rob

2007-11-06T15:59:00.000-08:00

I realize that I am not so good about sending birthday wishes often times before the actual day or days for that matter. I truly think about the upcoming birthdays and other events for days in advance. I am going to invent a devise someday that can translate positive brain waves and their intentions into real life manifestations! I only wish my good intentions could be better. So from your sister, I wanted to say Happy Birthday, Rob!!

The Pit

2007-11-06T15:44:00.001-08:00

THIS IS THE PIT...When Grandpa Carl was visiting, the boys energy was diverted to digging. This was not your typical digging in the dirt.. Oh no...this digging practically went all the way through to China. Okay, maybe not that far but Greyson's head is pretty much flush with the top of the pit. You can see his blonde head bobbing as he walks around. Grandpa Carl also put stairs into the pit to make for greater ease in accessing the pit's space. The pit even had boards put on top of it for a "roof." After Grandma Judy told the boys about her cousin who lived outside in his own dirt "house" because the family house was too crowded, the boys asked me if they could sleep out there too. I actually never heard them ask but once. I think that they may have realized that actually sleeping in the pit might be a little too much. I guess no one else is doing much with the yard and I don't want to be the one to fill in the GINORMOUS hole/pit, so I guess for now the pit will stay. If it's not about getting dirty, it's not about being a boy!

Just Because....

2007-10-09T16:51:00.000-07:00

I realize that it has been a loooonnnnngggg time since I last posted anything! Well it doesn't help when your husband takes out the hard drive from the computer that you were using and everything that you had saved on the other hard drive is now lost in cyber space. Well, you ask why? So do I. I guess that the best, simplest answer is....Just because he can?

Rice Cereal...WHY?

2007-09-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

M.E. has officially been introduced to rice cereal. I don't think that she thinks that it is very exciting. She does not have a great interest in it. Her brothers loved it on their very first bit. I wonder how much of her visual impairments affect her interest in it. She is doing well. There are babies that have issues far greater than M.E. I am grateful that she is still with us and doing well.

1st Day of First Grade

2007-09-04T10:43:00.000-07:00

It's official! Ethan is now a 1st grader! His first day was great! Now on his fourth day, he is feeling the effects of a full school day! It is going to take him some time to get used to the time difference from Kindergarten. When we ask him what he did throughout the day he looks at us with a matter-of-fact, don't you get it look and his response is, "It was such a long day! I can't remember a thing!" As I picked him up from school on Friday, I told him that he was bigger then when I dropped him off at school that morning. I said, "Not only have you gotten taller, but I think that your brain grew too." He was pretty tickled by that and had to tell his Dad later that his brain had grown. I saw Ethan's Kindergarten teacher who told me that she was very pleased that Ethan has the first grade teacher that he does. When she told me that she thought it would be a "good fit" for him to have the teacher that he does was very good to hear. He has only started first grade but if it is anything like Kindergarten, he'll be in second grade before I know it!!

What's In Store?

2007-08-31T16:03:00.000-07:00

Like everyone else, life can be pretty busy and often times...... completely insane!! There are those moments when things seem good and maybe you brace yourself because you know that there is bound to be something around the corner.
We were told at the end of July that the owners of the home that we have been living in for 8 years, ever since we were married, was going to be sold so that we needed to find another place to live. Jeremy has to finish his dissertation at UC Berkeley this next year and then we'll have a job, right? So we have to be around here to do that. Then there is M.E. with all of the therapy and appointments that she needs. Ethan starting school...The fact that we are now a family of five but have the income of a family of one or two!! So trying to find a place where we could live was crazy!
I couldn't go to sleep one night thinking about it. In the morning, I knew that I had to call a particular person. After a number of contacts and even a viewing of the house, we were able to rent it. It was a three bedroom, hard wood floor, newly remodeled place that we could ACTUALLY afford to live in. I had made a special connection with this older woman who would call me daily with news and updates. I spent time in her backyard picking apples. I was ready to pick up the lease papers last week but for some reason did not get around to it. Later that night, the owners of the home we are in called to say that they decided not, yes not, to sell right now. Why they did not realize that it is not the time to sell 30 days ago still boggles my brain. It was heart breaking and actually emotionally draining for me to have to tell this kind woman who was actually ready to give me the keys to the other house that we were not going to be able to move in. I hoped that the apple pie that we had made with her apples eased the news. But to make a long story now shorter, we do not have to move. We will remain here and I wonder...what else is in store for us here?

DILLENDER REUNION

2007-08-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

Recently our family gathered to celebrate the wonderful life of my Uncle Lynn. It was bitter sweet to all see each other again. What a great man my uncle is. His family is amazing too.

WARNING...POSSIBLE GRAPHIC IMAGES

2007-08-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

IS IT A BOY THING? I have discovered that both Greyson and Ethan, at about the same age, have both enjoyed stripping and "tatooing" themselves with Crayola markers...ALL over! I'm not sure that the Crayola marker company ever tried scribbling on various body parts when they said that the markers were "stain proof!" It took days of scrubbing for Greyson's "art work" to fade. I hope that he gets all of his "tatooing" out of his system now. I guess that at least he did not write on the wall??

Holes in His mouth

2007-08-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ethan has quite a few holes in his mouth these days. Ethan has lost four baby teeth so far with at least one more on its way. I don't remember teeth growing in behind my baby teeth. Ethan has had that happen. It's kind of weird. I guess the tooth fairy dues have met inflation. I remember a few coins for a tooth. A dollar? or two??? For a tooth???

Wearing Hair

2007-08-17T14:25:00.000-07:00

M.E. likes to be tickled by my hair. I had this great idea to see what M.E. would look like wearing my hair....Such a cute baby! Even wearing my hair!

One of those days...

2007-08-17T14:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wonder if I will ever catch up on sleep. I know I need more but even when it is time for bed there if always something else that I need to do before I wake up with M.E. anywhere between 3-5am and then by the boys between 5-7am. I loved "American Inventor" and I am America's next inventor....if I could only figure out some way of making a "Sleep Bank" where you can save up on sleep and use it when you need to. Does that make sense to anyone else? This is how I look most of the time with a slight headache always looming on the edge of utter and full fledged headache explosion!

So Bad!!

2007-08-12T23:56:00.000-07:00

Something that I can't stand...PHOTOS LIKE THIS!!! One of those, "oh everyone is together...this doesn't happen very often...Let's get a nice photo"...Yea, of everyone else but me!! So gross! Then I start to wonder, "Is that what I really look like or did the camera add 10 lbs. Oh, wait, I think that I did!" Can I still get away with it being post baby weight? I need some greater motivation than all the yummy tempting food.

4 months old

2007-08-12T23:30:00.000-07:00

M.E. must have wanted to stay wake until she officially turned 4 months old (10:58pm). I think that she may have finally fallen asleep. Is that a good sign that she will be sleeping through the night? Or is it just a scam and she'll be stirring far too soon...Such a cute baby, though, even at 3 or 4 am.

Growing Up

2007-08-10T16:49:00.000-07:00

I have been looking at my boys...When did they grow up so fast! Even Grey is not a baby anymore. He's this big kid!! I have been thinking a lot about how hard it is to be a mom. Some days I am so exhausted. We were doing things all day long but what DID we do? Was it at all significant? Are my boys and now my daughter better off today then they were yesterday? TOMORROW they will be on their missions or something...Step back not too fast now...

Starting Again

2007-08-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

I have had requests to start the blogging again. I am so bad at it! I think that the main reason is because I have not too many new things to say and even fewer pictures to include as something at least interesting...

Margaret Elsie, or M.E., is doing well. As she gets older, more about her condition will be revealed. She has been diagnosed with moderate visual impairments. She is also seeing a physical therapist for her muscle tone issues. It's still hard to believe that anything ever did happen to her....But she is doing well-healthy and gaining weight...

Greyson has really gotten into defending his older bro. Ethan could be clobbering him. I attempt to intervene and get an ear full of "that's my brother!" from Grey. Can't win for losing...

Ethan is still the talker. Here is a typical example. We were all in the car together driving. Anyway, most kids would get bored of asking the SAME question over and over again, right? Not him. I counted 22 times that he asked the same question in a 15 minute time period. "Are we almost home?...How about now, are we almost home??" Kind of like the energizer bunny. He keeps going and going.