Whew! It has been a crazy, crazy few weeks here. My head hurts when I think about it. The craziness started in March, yep more than 4 weeks ago!! April looked like it was going to be hectic but we had no idea.
It started with the SHS production of "Bye, Bye Birdie" in March. Both boys were in that and did a super amazing job. Alex blew everyone away with his portrayal of Mr. MacAfee. We knew Alex could sing but he shocked us all up there on the stage that first night. WOW!! He stole a few scenes, too. Taylor didn't do too bad either as he pulled off a great Hugo Peabody. I think he would like to have had a role with some more singing in it though. Rob and I went to all 5 performances. We were grateful for a discounted "parent" pass. We sure love to watch our children in whatever they choose to do.
The week after the play ended Ashley called me with a question. She wanted to know if she needed to call the doctor. Why? She had fallen down the stairs outside of her apartment. It was after hours at her doctor's clinic and she didn't want to bother anyone. I remember insisting that she call. She didn't really want to call but she did. She spent 4 hours at the hospital that night as they monitored her contractions and did and exhaustive ultrasound to check the baby. All was well but that started a massive change to our plans. I started packing a bag and we almost left the next day for Rexburg.
The last Thursday in March was Taylor's Eagle Court. Sometimes when you are the youngest of five you don't get the same treatment as everyone else. Such was the case for Taylor's Eagle Court. We didn't even get invitations out. Taylor invited people via email!! The court was held with two other Eagle Scouts and it was very nicely done but the Huff's probably did the least of all the families as far as preparations go. I do believe Taylor had an enjoyable time. It was a very nice court of honor.
The boys had training the first weekend of April for NYLT. They were up at Black Mountain. They got back Sunday around noon. That was about the time that Rob and I were headed out to a retirement party for one of the guys that Rob worked for at Boeing. The party was at Sahalie Country Club down south. It was good to meet some people that Rob worked with and put faces to the names. We did feel a little out of our element, everyone was walking around with a glass of wine!
We left bright and early Monday morning headed out for spring break and baby duty. We took a friend with us. Her daughter is in Rexburg, too. We arrived in Rexburg 14 hours after leaving our house. It was a long drive but we had quite the number of drivers in 2 car caravan. Once in Rexburg we stayed with Ashley and Travis. The boys stayed with Matt in his apartment. Ashley was doing well but she had over done it. We all do too much when family is coming to visit! She had a doctor appointment scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. We decided to wait to see what the doctor said before continueing on to Utah for some college things. At her appointment they didn't tell her much but scheduled another appointment for Friday and told her that she needed to pretty much be on bedrest. Good luck with that one!!
While in Utah we restocked Chris's apartment with a trip to Costco. That was fun!! Really, I had fun putting stuff in the cart. I think towards the end Rob was trying to get me out of there because I was going way over the amount Rob had in mind. Chris was so skinny though!! He should do okay over the summer now!! :-)
On Thursday we took Alex, Taylor and cousin Brandon with Aunt Karen on a BYU campus tour. We got loaded into a huge golf cart and toured around campus. Our guide was fun and interesting. They get a little to close to the edge of the cliff when they are talking about the rec centers on campus!! After the tour Alex and Brandon each met with the Freshman Mentors to learn about classes that they would need to take and learn about Freshmen Bundling. Alex has 19 credits already from his ACT scores and his AP test scores. It was very beneficial to see how that all fit into his schedule.
On Friday morning we headed back up to Idaho for Matt's convocation services that evening. Ashley reported from her Friday doctor appointment that they couldn't figure out why they hadn't induced her yet. It was now scheduled for Monday morning at 7:30 if she didn't go before then on her own. Ashley did join us for all of the graduation festivities. She was a trooper! I know that she was in pain. Matt walked at convocation Friday and on Saturday morning there was a graduation for everyone. It was held in the Idaho Center. That is a real nice addition to the campus. It reminds me of the Conference Center in Salt Lake. It was so cold in Rexburg. There was snow on the ground in the morning. It did melt off but we got a picture of Matt after getting his diploma!
On Monday morning Ashley, Travis, Rob and I headed off to the hospital. Ashley was all hooked up and ready to go by 8:15. They put in the epidural at noon and Ashley was able to start pushing at about 6:30. She did an amazing job. I got to be there the whole time. It is quite a different experience being beside the bed rather than in the bed. Austin weighed in at 7 pounds 12 ounces born at 7:23pm. They measured him at 18 1/2 inches but that number always changes depending on who is doing the measuring!! They came home from the hospital on Wednesday evening.
Rob, Alex and Taylor came home on Tuesday. They had so much going on at home that they needed to be back for. Taylor missed the first two days of Drivers Ed (hurray! we are almost done with that one!!). The boys had choir festival on Thursday and Alex had a solo there that he needed to practice for. Monday the 18th Alex rearended a classmate at dental office on the island on the way to school. Everyone was fine but 22 year old Blazer versus 2008 Jetta, it wasn't a pretty site for the other guy. That is a tough call to get from Washington at 8 in the morning in Idaho!! Then this past Thursday another one of those yucky phone calls came. Taylor had been hit in the face with a hockey stick in PE!! I did get that one coordinated pretty well with the doctor before Rob even got back to the doctor in Everett. Taylor didn't need to have stitches but they did glue it shut and it has steri strips on it that should be there for another week.
Boy, was I glad to get home! Matt and I made the 14 hour trip in 17 hours. (Thanks to road contruction on the pass!) I miss my grandson terribly. I love holding a little baby. The crying didn't really bother me either. I wish it would have been that way when my kids were babes. Oh, and by the way, Rob has a fever over 102!! And that is what I came home to. I love my life, it is truly wonderful!
