Sickness round 2

Of course the week the kids go back to school after Spring Break, a dreaded stomach virus hits the first grade HARD.  The class down the hall from Matthew's had 11 kids gone one day.  And one by one kids bit the dust.

Luckily it was a quick virus, with violent throwing up for about 6 hours and then they're wiped out resting for awhile.  This sweet guy slept on the floor of the bathroom, and me close by outside the bathroom just in case.

On the bright side, the next day, he was feeling better but we kept him home (24 hours symptom free), and I knew we both needed a good nap.  I needed something to calm him down so I grabbed "Magic Treehouse #1" and we both climbed into my bed and we began to read.  We'd each take a turn reading a page.  I hope I never forget the excited, amazed and happy look on this boys face when he realized he could read these books!  It was magical.  How I love raising readers!

And, because this virus is so virulent, it hit both my girls in succession, and then a couple weeks later it hit Sam.  We are SO DONE being sick.

My friend Edith

This is my "Sister" Edith Juaneh.  She is from Sierra Leone in Africa and has lived here for over 20 years.  Over the past 3 years she has been my companion to go visit other sisters in our ward.  She's getting older and before she gets too old, she's going back home to Africa to live.  I will miss her.  She has amazing faith, and always has a sweet treat for the sisters we visit.  She pronounces Matthew's name in a unique way that he loves: "Matt-hew".  She gave Lindsey a special necklace with her initial on it when she was baptized and she loves it.  Edith is a good woman.

Now lately when Matthew prays, he prays for those who are sad Sister Juaneh moved, and prays that those that miss her the most, that she'll greet them when they get to heaven.  Since he's not expecting to see her again in this life.  SO sweet.

Spring Break--worst ever!

We had wonderful plans for Spring Break.  Stephen took the week off from work and we were going to go camping and rock climbing up in Oklahoma.  And then on Monday morning, Kaitlyn woke up with a fever.  And she stayed sick for a couple days.  Before she got better, Sam came down with it.

So there went our plans of camping and rock climbing.  We still hoped for maybe an overnighter somewhere local.  Stephen filled his time fixing up our back fence, replacing 3 poles and a rebuilding a panel that was rotting.  Matthew was helpful with his tools and loved helping his dad.

But sure enough Matthew and then Stephen came down with the same virus.  A fever, and then a cough.  Matthew bounced back pretty quick but Stephen's really lingered.

And it lingered so badly that that weekend's plans to head to Houston to attend the baptism of Elisa were in jeopardy.  In the end Stephen stayed home, we took the gamble that Lindsey and I would remain well and not infect the rest of the McKneely clan.

The baptism was lovely.  Kaitlyn played the piano and did a great job.  It was her first time playing for a meeting outside Young Womens.  So proud of her!

And I was honored to give the talk on baptism for sweet Elisa Sophia.

Hundreds Chart

Matthew came home from school the day before Spring Break beaming!  

At school there is something the school counselor does called the "Hundred's Chart".  When a teacher or staff member catches a student doing something good and kind towards another student, it is written on a post-it note and the student gets to pick a square on the chart, numbered 1-100 to put it.  When the chart gets full, then the counselor does a drawing and selects numbers and awards prizes.  

Sweet Matthew is on the chart about 3 times.  It got filled up and his number was chosen and he won a new lunch box filled with school supplies AND a free ice cream cone from Chick-fil-a.  So after school we went to celebrate the beginning of Spring Break AND Matthew's Hundreds chart.  And yes, he's wearing pajamas because it was a reward his class earned at school.