tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84848600842406861192024-02-19T00:07:40.066-08:00The Rice FamilyHome, Where the Journey Begins......Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.comBlogger358125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-77474208385102401292013-09-08T16:33:00.002-07:002013-09-08T16:39:07.497-07:00The puzzles piecesI rarely like to share such personal experiences in such a public forum but I have felt prompted to multiple times so here goes. As many people know Jerry is in the process of being laid off from his job. It is not the end of the world but it has definitely strained our spirits a bit and definitely left us wondering what's next. For now, he is finishing up at Belle Foods and I am working full time hours at a per Diem job in Birmingham. We have been a bit stressed but we have also been blessed in numerous ways. One of those ways has been in the peace that we both feel. We know that we are in Birmingham for a reason and while we don't know exactly what that reason is, we feel like it is all part of the Lord's plan for us. I am very grateful for the Spirit of peace that we have right now and don't know how we would get through the trials of this life without it. In speaking of the Spirit I would like to be able to say that my most spiritual experiences happen at church or in the temple, but in reality most of them happen at work. Working in the Intensive Care Unit I see a lot of people in their most vulnerable state and I see many at the end of their lives. The veil between this life and the next is very thin and the experiences at both birth and death tend to be very spiritual for me. Last week I just happened to have one of those days.<br />
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It was Tuesday, I arrived at work (not a scheduled shift) and got report on my assignment. One of my patients was very stable and expected to transfer out of the unit. The other was extremely unstable and not showing any signs that she would improve. I started in the room of the unstable patient and spoke to the family. She was a Full Code which means we would resuscitate her if and when she her heart stopped. Given her condition I knew we would be coding her during my shift and I also knew that coding her would not change the outcome of the situation but merely prolong the inevitable. Her husband and daughter were at the bedside. I introduced myself and updated them on her condition. In the first few minutes of being with the family I knew that they didn't want the patient to suffer and that they had a strong faith so I approached them about her code status. Long story short, the family made her a Do Not Resuscitate and she died very quickly into my shift. I was the nurse more for the family than the patient and that was OK. My other patient transferred out of the unit and by noon I was patient less but expecting another very unstable patient from the ER. I got report and went to have a quick lunch. In the 20 minutes I was off the unit for lunch I got a call that the patient had been emergently dialyzed in the ER and had improved so much that she was going to a regular floor but that I would be receiving another patient. I got report and the patient arrived. In admitting him I came to find out that we share the same faith. He too is Mormon. He immediately perked up and thanked God for this small gift. For him it was a reminder that God was aware of him and his needs at that very moment. As I sat at my desk to chart I started to think about how chance could have played NO part in our meeting. For starters I wasn't scheduled to work on Tuesday. If it weren't for a last minute need, I would not have even been at work. Secondly, I started the shift with two patients and most days finish with the same two. And lastly, the first admission from the ER miraculously improved and had her orders downgraded. (This NEVER happens) Usually even if they improve they come to the unit first and we transfer them out. As I thought about all of the days events, it struck me that only one being could have manipulated all of those pieces so strategically, and that is our Heavenly Father. And then the aha moment......He is doing the very same thing in ALL of our lives. We just can't see it. And at that moment I knew with the utmost assurance that we are going to be fine. That God is in total control of our lives right now and that he is manipulating the puzzle pieces of our lives in just the same way he had for my patient. We just need to continue to exercise faith in His plan. <br />
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I want to share my testimony. I know that God lives. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. I know without a shadow of a doubt that they are aware of each and every one of us. That they know our needs even before we do. I know that they want us to have joy in our lives and that the trials we face are for our benefit. They make us stronger and better and I am grateful for the chance to improve. I am grateful for my Savior who has provided a way for me to return to the Father despite all my imperfections. I am even more grateful for their influence in my life and for the plan they have for me. And I leave this with you in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-48799698720810419142013-06-13T15:59:00.001-07:002016-03-24T05:06:45.130-07:00Marriage.....10 years and countingI have been asked a lot of the years what the secret to being in a happy marriage is. I have to say I always chuckle just a little bit when asked because I in no way proclaim to be an expert in the field. But given that today we are celebrating 10 years of pure wedded bliss ;) I figured why not put my thoughts into words. Jerry and I have been together 15 years today and have been married for 10. It seems crazy to even type this. And while most of it has been fabulous, some of it has been really hard. Especially those early years. I know, I know, believe it or not I'm not always the easiest most lovable person in the world and Jerry is well...Jerry. We love each other like crazy and honestly we do rarely fight but when we do....well we do. I personally think it's healthy.<br />
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So what have I learned in 15 years? Well the one thing I have definitely learned after being together 15 years is that men do not read minds well. Let's face it, they don't read minds at all. So if you want them to know something, you'd better just tell them. It's a whole lot easier than hoping they'll figure it out on their own and takes a whole lot less emotional energy.<br />
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The other thing I've learned is that if I'm unhappy with the way things are going I need to work on myself. Even if I think the problem is Jerry or it's easier to say the problem is Jerry (which of course it usually is) I need to work on myself. It's been a hard pill to swallow but no one can truly make us happy but ourselves. When we are happy with ourselves it's easier to be happy with the ones we are with. These things being said, neither is in any way the secret. The secret, at least for us, has been our faith in God and our perspective on eternity. Jerry and I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints together almost 9 years ago. As Mormons we believe that we can be sealed to our families forever. When I first learned this I was terrified of the prospect of being with Jerry forever but loved the fact that I could be with my children (or at that time child) forever. Over the years that fear has flip flopped. Now I can't image being without Jerry and shiver at the fact that I will be with my kids forever. ;) All kidding aside it is by far for me the biggest blessing. Our marriage isn't until death do us part but will live on for eternity. So I figure I can stick with Jerry and hope and pray with God's help he can molded into the perfect eternal companion or I can give up now and we can go to eternity with all our current baggage and problems. Yes problems. All marriages have them. The secret is never ignoring them and knowing that no marriage is perfect. Even the ones that look perfect. I will tell you this and while this shouldn't be a secret, too many of us don't know this. People only put their BEST stuff out there for the world to see. Most people only post to Facebook and their blogs the perfect pictures, from the perfect outings, in their perfect outfits. As women and sometimes men, we look at these things and immediately look at our own lives. The messy house, the loud kids in mismatched clothes, the lack of family time we've had that week, whatever. We look at the worst in our own lives and compare it to other people's best. It's totally unfair and not real. So let me be real. Stop doing it! We are all struggling. Some of us our willing to share that fact and some are not. But you do not have the market cornered on cRaZy. Most weeks I do! If you don't believe me, ask Jerry.<br />
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Back to that eternity thing. About 6 years ago, just after Jerry and I were sealed in the temple, I was asked to give a talk on eternal marriage. In preparing for that talk I came across something that has been engraved in my soul and for me has totally changed the way I look at all relationships, not just marriage. It was a talk given by F. Burton Howard. In it he recounts what he learned from his companion, exemplified by a set of silverware. The story went something like this. We started out as two poor law students with little money to spare. On occasion though, my wife would work as a part time election judge or someone would giver her a few dollars for her birthday, and instead of spending it, she would quietly set it aside. When she had enough she would go into town to buy a piece of silverware. Of course it took several years to accumulate enough pieces to use them, but when we finally had service for four, we began to invite some of our friends for dinner. Before they came we would always discuss which utensil to use, the battered and mismatched stainless or the special silverware? In those early days I would often vote for the stainless. It was easier. You could just throw it in the dishwasher after a meal, and it took care of itself. The silver on the other hand, was a lot of work. My wife insisted that I buy a tarnish free cloth to wrap it in, each piece in a separate pocket. When the silver was used, it had to be hand washed and dried so that it would not spot, and put back in the pockets so it would not tarnish. If any tarnish was discovered, I was sent to buy silver polish and together we carefully rubbed the stains away. Over the years we added to the set and I watched with amazement at how she cared for it. For years I thought she was just a little bit eccentric, and then one day I realized that she had known for a long time something I was just beginning to understand. If you want something to last forever, you treat it differently. You shield it and protect it. You never abuse it. You don't expose it to the elements. You don't make it common or ordinary. If it ever becomes tarnished, you loving polish it until it gleams like new. It become special because you have made it so and it grows more beautiful and precious as time goes by. Marriage, like the silverware is a lot of hard work, but if you want it to last forever it needs to be treated like the priceless gift that it is. <br />
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<br />Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-35682389694883805772012-04-23T08:19:00.000-07:002012-04-23T08:19:58.223-07:00My smartphoneSo I am loving my new technology. This morning the kiddos had a 2 hour delay and I was able to lay in bed and read my scriptures and ensign on my phone. I can even highlight!! I love that scripture references are just a finger tap away too!! Technology is amazing. I am hoping it will help me to keep my resolution to do a better job at daily scripture study. So far so good!Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-13418694832199595562012-04-12T08:18:00.000-07:002012-04-23T08:21:24.406-07:009 monthsAvery is 9 months old today. She is still a super baby and has even been amazing through this trip and multiple time changes. She sleeps like a champ and is finally eating like one. Well real food that is. She is not a fan of baby food and despite never having taught her the first baby sign, she signs all done whenever I try to give it to her. She loved Easter and all of the amazing food it brought, especially mom's steamed artichokes. She ate her weight in them. I love how big she opens her mouth when we are feeding her something she likes. And how she yells when we don't shovel it in fast enough. Pizza, eggs, green beans, potatoes and cheerios have all been added to the list just this week. She is pulling up on everything and even cruising a little if she wants something out of reach badly enough. She has thankfully learned to sit as well because, well, that game in the crib at night was getting a bit old. She loves to be outside and is fascinated with her sisters. She is not a big fan of the formula now that I am home full time and will rarely take it. She is quickly turning into a mommy's girl as well, much to daddy's hurt and heartache. She still has no teeth but the top two look awfully close. She is super smart and making a ton of new sounds. Still not saying mama. Just dadda and nanna and what sort of sounds like huuh? She is just a beautiful addition to our family both inside and out. She is our HAPPY BABY!Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-81529607449781058682012-04-08T19:44:00.000-07:002012-04-23T08:06:17.954-07:00Easter SundayToday I am grateful. I am grateful for many things. For my amazing husband and beautiful children, for my family who I love tremendously and was able to spend Easter with, for the opportunities that lie ahead, for amazing friendships, for a few days of work to help pay the bills, and for those few days to be over ;). But most of all I am grateful for the atoning sacrifice of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and for the knowledge that because of His amazing sacrifice I will never in my life endure anything that he cannot comprehend and that because of that I will never be alone. Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-43847701536698771672012-04-03T19:36:00.000-07:002012-04-23T07:41:13.965-07:00GratefulSo yesterday was a trying day. We met with the loan officer and found out that because we have to push our closing back again we will definitely lose our 3.85 interest rate. A definite bummer as it will add almost 60 dollars a month to our monthly mortgage. And with no definite end in site, we can in no way even lock in at today's rate. So I guess it will mean another month in an outrageously expensive corporate housing and no paycheck. I am trying to have faith in all that is happening. But as of yesterday all I could see was debt piling up and no way to combat it. I have always been the only one with the ability to fend off financial problems because I have a job that allows for it. I would just pick up a shift. In this instance I feel like I am hog tied and smothering and I am just trying to be patient without losing my mind. So today as I sat in the ridiculously expensive corporate housing waiting to go and see my new home, angry that the Realtor has pushed the time back an hour cutting into my already tight scheduled trip to Atlanta, I found myself trying to breathe and to remember that I am exactly where the Lord wants me to be. I made one last trip to the mailbox to see if the package I desperately needed by today had arrived, it had not..... and I got into the car. It was on the way out that I got one of many slap in the face confirmations I have had to receive in my life from the Lord. (He knows me and this is the kind of revelation I do best with.) As I was pulling out of the complex I noticed a UPS truck in front of another building. I passed it not giving it a second thought and than it occurred to me that my package was being shipped UPS. I quickly turned around and parked beside the truck waiting for the driver. When he came out I asked him if he might possibly have a package for apt 1217. He did and that is when my attitude changed. Not because of the package per say but because once again the Lord had reminded me that he knows me personally and that he has a hand in EVERYTHING, including me receiving my package before my week long trip to Atlanta. If my Realtor hadn't been running late I would have never had the opportunity to see the truck and receive my shipment. So if things aren't happening exactly as we had hoped or expected I am OK with that. Because I know that someone much greater than I knows exactly what is best for me. He loves me and as long as I am in tune to his whisperings (that is if I can keep my grumbling down) he will bless me. And I am so very grateful for that gift.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-90520941791824097742012-03-24T13:21:00.003-07:002012-03-24T14:15:42.743-07:00What is that SMELL??So Tuesday was Jerry's official last day on campus. After putting the girls on the bus and Avery down for nap (I took a short one too ;) I began cleaning. I don't mean surface cleaning. I mean the kind of cleaning that I haven't had the time or energy to do in, well, lets just say, a LONG time. It was gorgeous so the windows were open and it just felt clean. I somehow even managed to prepare what I thought was a nice dinner. It was at the point that I was thinking, hmmm maybe I CAN do this, that Jerry got home from school. Unfortunately he was not as excited as I was about my productive day, as his first words were, "Man it really stinks in here!" I have to say I was a little upset and the terror from last week crept back into my brain. I couldn't smell a thing and I had been cleaning all day, so what could he be smelling? Jerry suggested we take the girls for a walk and play at the park, which we did and then we came home and had dinner. After dinner we went out for some free Rita's Italian ice. After all he has to butter them up with all the goodies before he leaves them with mean ole mommy. ;) We came home and crashed, never to think of the smell again.<br />
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Well, that is until the next morning. Headed to the laundry room in the basement with the dirty clothes I opened the basement door and was slammed in the face with a HORRIBLE, HORRENDOUS smell!! I can only guess it was what Jerry smelled yesterday. It was beyond description and for an ICU nurse, well that's BAD! My neighbor Dan, the maintenance man Ed, no one had words for it. It literally smelled like a dead carcass. So Jerry and I began tearing up the playroom to try and find the smell. A smell that has the ability to come and go. After two days of this on and off again odor I finally figured out it was the deep freezer. I say I because Jerry has since escaped the smell by moving to Alabama. Not inside the freezer but outside, the backside and it was BAD. I called Sears and the earliest a repairman could come out was Saturday afternoon. UGGG. It got so bad on Friday that you could smell it outside the apartment but then Friday night it was gone again. I have to say it got so bad that I was tempted to have my neighbor put it outside. But today we finally have resolution. Darrell the repairman took one whiff of the not so bad today smell and said it's rotten food. Unfortunately I wish it were that easy. The inside of the freezer was odor free and food free. Sooooo, the problem is that during our 8 days without power, (who could forget all that fun) something with blood thawed just enough to get down the drain and into a catch basin that can neither be replaced or removed for cleaning and the reason the smell was on again, off again was because each time the freezer was cooling and the motor was running it was heating the catch basin of bloody residue. (This I guess is how any liquid is cleared, it evaporates. It's been quite the educational experience.) I speak of the smell as was not because it is completely gone, but because it is so much better, that I can actually breathe down there. Because now when the motor on the freezer runs I can smell a faint odor, but mostly I smell the bleach that he had me pour down the spout. Hears to hoping it works 100% because if not my nearly new freezer will be going to the dumpster. The smell was that BAD and I'm not moving it with me to Alabama!!Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-76472033019163609852012-03-15T19:14:00.001-07:002012-03-16T20:53:20.942-07:00Terrified would be putting it mildlySo as many of you know, Jerry has taken this amazing new job with Belle Foods in Birmingham, Alabama. He is leaving a week from yesterday and as a result I will no longer be working. I have cut back a great deal in preparing for this transition and I have to say it's been a little rocky for all of us. Last Tuesday I had the pleasure of driving Jerry to work so I could have the car for the day (something Jerry has been doing multiple times a week for over 2 years with no complaint). We got up at 6 am, got ready for the day and drove Jerry to UCONN. When we got there Jerry realized he needed the keys to his office which were on the key ring with the car keys. He had multiple keys so it made sense to just take the car key off and give him the rest. We quickly left. We had little time to get home in time for the bus so that I could get to an 830 am Doctors appointment in Manchester. After taking a wrong turn we made it home with only 2 minutes to spare. Perfect! We would run inside and grab the backpacks and lunches and be right on schedule. WRONG! Jerry had the key ring and I was locked out of the condo. UGGGG!!! I quickly ran to the office, got the spare key and grabbed the backpacks as my amazing neighbor took the girls to the bus stop. Somehow the bus was just late enough that I was able to get the backpacks to the bus stop and get them off to school. Back to the van and now off to Manchester, I was already feeling ready for a nap. One hour at the office and Avery and I headed to BJs for gas and groceries. In getting gas I noticed that the wrench was lit in the van and we needed an oil change, so off to Larry's garage for an oil change, where I had to attempt to entertain an infant without putting her on the floor where she likes to be. We rushed home in just enough time to unload the groceries, nurse Avery, stuff an sandwich in my mouth and then run to the bus stop to get Ansley. We then jumped back into the van and ran to UCONN to pick up Jerry so we could run back to Manchester for Doctors appointments for Jerry and Ansley. While at the apt I lost track of time and managed to miss Ally's bus. Again my fantastic neighbor Dan came to my rescue and got Ally for me. Exhausted, I wonder, could this really be easier than going to work? At the end of the day I had to admit to Jerry that I am a bit nervous about my new role as a stay at home mom. After all, sedating the children will not be an option if they become unruly and there are no mandates about 30 minute lunches and breaks. No regulations on mommy to child ratios and no ancillary homework helpers or dinner preparers. It will be all on me. I pathetically asked him to try to remember how hard it has been for him over the last 5 years and to try to be sympathetic when the roles reverse when he admitted to me that he is a little nervous as well. He has been at home with the girls taking them to school, karate and Daisy's and doing the homework and night time routines all while being my personal chauffeur. I think it's going to be a learning curve and shock to both of our systems. People keep asking me if I am going to be OK once Jerry leaves next week. My answer is, I am going to be fine, the kiddos on the other hand, may not be. Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-82772170209268683052012-03-12T18:54:00.000-07:002012-04-23T07:37:52.240-07:008 months oldWhere to begin. Avery you are getting so very big. Everyday you amaze us with something new you have learned. You are still a chunky little monkey just like we like you. You have the plumpest thighs and arms and have rolls all over. You are a beautiful baby inside and out. You are officially into your 9-12 month clothes and fill them out beautifully. You have the face of a perfect little doll and an amazing temperament to go with it. You are so easy going. Thank goodness because it is a rare occasion for you to ever get a day where you get all your feedings and naps on time or at all. I will say though that you have found your voice and are not afraid to use it. Especially when telling your big sisters you have had enough. You are finally taking to the baby food although there are still days when you seem like you could just care less and you still spit a great amount of it out. If you are into eating you grunt and yell if I don't get the next bite to your mouth. Something your dad thinks is hilarious. You are definitely not patient about all things but neither am I so I can't find fault in that. You definitely have a bit of your dads short temper though. Your cry is like no other. And while you don't do it often there is no mistaking it when you do. You have been crawling for a few weeks now and are quite proficient at it. Just this weekend you tackled the task of climbing the one step up into the kitchen. I guess I am going to have to do a better job of keeping the kitchen floor clean because today after a day of sweeping it with your belly you were filthy! You have yet to get the first tooth making you our latest teether ever. I think my favorite thing about you though is your laugh. You laugh like your big sister Ansley, from your belly and as soon as you hear someone laugh you erupt in laughter. It's the cutest thing ever. You love your sisters and they love you. I can't imagine life without you in it. It's hard to believe you have only been with us 8 short months and yet it seems like yesterday I gave birth to you.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-34648757287134105372012-02-18T18:53:00.000-08:002012-02-21T19:20:28.755-08:00I LOVE MY KIDS, I LOVE MY KIDSSo I have fallen off the blogging wagon so to say and have been meaning to get back on for some time so here goes.<br />
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Today, despite not feeling well I had the best intentions of getting my children outside. It was beautiful and sunny. 50's but nice. So after putting Avery down for a nap we took out the bikes and headed out to Henry Park for some quality outdoor mommy, daughter time. Helmets and all. Yes, Jerry was at home supervising the babe and grading and I for a moment felt like a good mom. My bubble was quickly popped when we weren't even out of sight of the front door and the whining ensued. Thinking it was just because they hadn't been out on their bikes in a while we continued. This was the mistake. If one wasn't crying or whining the other started. I went back and forth trying to encourage them to keep trying, keep riding, the park is close. We finally get there, my nerves are shot but I look gleefully on at the play scape that I am sure will grant me just a couple of minutes of peace with my magazine. NOPE! First run down that great big yellow slide and Ansley has dislodged a chunk of ice revealing the cold wet water below. She is soaked and wailing. I given her 2 options. We can leave now or she can play wet. She wants to stay. Ahhh, I crack my magazine. I hear crying. Now Ansley is crying because she is not swinging as high as Ally is on the swings. Mind you she is swinging far higher than I could ever push her so I am at a loss for what she would like me to do. Yet the wailing continues until despite all my effort to contain myself, I lose it and we pack it up for home. I think we made it a whole 4 minutes, but who is counting. This has no positive effect on the whining. We are 2 minutes into the ride home and I decide that the bikes don't need to move with us to Alabama because the girls will never be allowed to ride them again! Chanting I love my kids, I love my kids, over and over in my head we somehow make it home alive. Ansley changes clothes and I find that a moment of peace where I decide (really it took some convincing in the moment) that I do LOVE my kids.<br />
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So here it goes! <br />
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To my girls, I Love You!<br />
I love you when you smile, especially at me.<br />
I love you when you love and help each other.<br />
I love the way you love your baby sister and the way she loves you too!<br />
I love the way you love to help.<br />
I love you when you are so quiet I have to look for you. <br />
I love you when you listen, especially the first time.<br />
I love you when you use your words.<br />
I love to see you grow and learn.<br />
I love you when you laugh. <br />
I love the little love notes and pictures you make for me. <br />
I love you when you wake, even at 6 am.<br />
I love you when you fight.<br />
I love you when you tell me my dinner is "disgusting"<br />
I love you when you call me "mean"<br />
I love you when I yell.<br />
I love you even when you think I don't love you.<br />
And most of all, I love you even when our day doesn't go as planned.<br />
Because these are the real moments.<br />
The moments I am reminded everyday are passing so very quickly.<br />
So I love you. Even when you aren't perfect.<br />
I love you because you love me and I'm not perfect either.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-20893880012164411372012-01-12T20:00:00.000-08:002012-04-23T08:20:54.428-07:006 months todayHard to believe but Avery is already 6 months old. Time goes so fast. She is still toothless but teething like crazy. She is also up on hands and knees. Rocking like crazy and pretty good at going backwards. She has found herself stuck under the couch several times already. Not too good at going forward yet although sometimes she kind of just jousts herself forward. She is turning and rolling everywhere. She also loves her jumper. She hasn't been sleeping the best since our trip home but I am hopeful it will improve. She is also not a huge fan of baby food, especially the fruits. I think they are too tart for her. She is also pretty good at sitting up. Almost well enough for her 6 month pictures. She absolutely knows her name and loves to hear it. She adores her sisters. Daddy too! She is still somewhat perplexed by her reflection but likes to look at it. She loves her thumb!! Today Jerry took her for her well visit. The nurses were so impressed that he was there with her by himself. He is such a great dad. I told him if this job in Birmingham doesn't work out he has become one heck of a good house wife. She weighed in at 17 lbs 11 ounces (80% percentile) and was 25.5 inches long (50%) She has the shortest chubbiest hands and fingers. It's so cute. She took her shots like a champ. As soon as she saw Jerry he said she just laughed. She gets so excited she just gets both her arms and legs going at the same time. Her laugh, like Ansley's, is totally contagious. She is a happy happy kid!Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-91808910257762834462012-01-02T19:29:00.001-08:002012-04-23T07:43:07.135-07:00New Year brings New BlessingsSo I had the pleasure of working New Years weekend again. Jerry is such a trooper and had the kiddos for 3 straight days and nights. During that time I was able to reflect on what was probably one of the hardest but most blessed years for us as a family. Financially it was a tight one. In all of our married years we have never made so little, yet somehow neither of us could think of one thing we felt like we did without. Ally has had the most difficult start of the school year thus far but we are finally making progress in the fact that she is being tested and we should have some answers soon. My third pregnancy was definitely a hard one physically but I was blessed with the birth I have always wanted, natural and quick. The best part, a beautiful baby girl who we couldn't imagine living without. A lot of fighting between the girls lately but also some of those sweet tender moments that make it all worth it. The blessing of a husband worthy to baptize a child of God, and a daughter faithful enough to desire it. A husband who after much struggle and defeat finally passed his comps. An adjunct position at the University of Hartford to help pay for some extra expenses. A crazy year of weather, 70 plus inches of snow over the winter, an earthquake, a tornado, a hurricane and then a freak winter storm in October. A total of 12 days without power but a stronger testimony of the blessings of preparedness and heeding the words of the prophet. It has truly been an amazing year. And if all of that wasn't enough in what was almost the final hour of the year we received one of the biggest blessing we have EVER received. A job offer better than any we could ever imagine. So with that we look forward to our next big adventure in Birmingham Alabama! We are sad to see this chapter of our lives coming to an end. We will miss so much about Ct but we are thrilled to see what the future hold for us. I truly believe that the Lord works in ways we will never fully comprehend. He loves us and wants to bless us. I am grateful and humbled by the trials and blessings of this past year and look forward to 2012. Happy New Year!!!!Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-12698522508721113852011-08-16T20:17:00.000-07:002012-02-21T06:53:11.674-08:00Avery Lorette Rice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2jmKl1K78e-KG1jy4iHbEMWlT9upqRHY2CbmBjbNvVWiZy62O8bK9LwO_3P6bToIqHOyKI-Qew3U9HkIrC7L7dlBqDHm2AjGZSK9j1AafD36g-zFb_iHoe2zQhBs-yOnPc8UPYNfGd0/s1600/140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2jmKl1K78e-KG1jy4iHbEMWlT9upqRHY2CbmBjbNvVWiZy62O8bK9LwO_3P6bToIqHOyKI-Qew3U9HkIrC7L7dlBqDHm2AjGZSK9j1AafD36g-zFb_iHoe2zQhBs-yOnPc8UPYNfGd0/s320/140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8yDfqRApRnIBaWn_VzJzBsYHwygOqUYj9Q06FC_i7HyU3Az9tBEG06UYEIH2PrEYgAM-eZtDoxfo2q739JrntE8WuUQexJ5TFsMOwE2a31l7sp_UJwBzsTzTNcGmUnF5jFpcW7Zok9g/s1600/146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8yDfqRApRnIBaWn_VzJzBsYHwygOqUYj9Q06FC_i7HyU3Az9tBEG06UYEIH2PrEYgAM-eZtDoxfo2q739JrntE8WuUQexJ5TFsMOwE2a31l7sp_UJwBzsTzTNcGmUnF5jFpcW7Zok9g/s320/146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Today we welcomed Avery Lorette Rice to our family. She was born at 1:01 pm and weighed in at 8 lbs, 4 oz. Her length was 19 3/4 inches long. She has the cutest chubby cheeks we've ever seen on a baby and she loves her thumb! The girls are ecstatic! Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-56028648596349766652011-06-03T21:45:00.000-07:002011-06-03T21:45:00.234-07:00Crazy New England WeatherSo from 2 weeks of straight rain, to a week of high humidity and almost 90 degrees, to deadly tornado's just a short distance away and now back into the 60's my body is completely confused. Jerry has even said he is cold. Really 69 degrees, it's not cold. I have loved the retreat of temps back into the 60's because it has lead to a return of what I once knew as my ANKLES! For the last 3 weeks they have been swollen beyond recognition. It's been so bad that it hurts to walk on them. Sunday was so bad that I couldn't get my feet into anything but a pair of 2 dollar Old Navy flip flops. I thought it was something I was just going to have to endure but it seems like it is related to the heat. Because as of right now (almost 10 pm) I could still pick them out as my own in a lineup. Something I usually cannot do by 10 am!! So as far as I'm concerned, it can stay sunny and 60 FOREVER! Or at least for the remainder of this pregnancy.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-76887069878596929672011-04-29T22:58:00.000-07:002011-06-14T18:41:29.079-07:00AnsleySo today while I was at work Jerry calls me to tell me that Mrs. Oliphant, Ansley's pre-school teacher, made him blush today. Ansley has a little friend at school who is smitten with her and follows her around. She is not phased by his undivided attention one bit. Jerry had no knowledge of this until today. Apparently it has gotten so bad that his mother told Jerry he only wants to wear one shirt to school everyday because it is Ansley's favorite. Well today, while out on the playground, he put a flower behind her ear and told her she was as beautiful as an angel. When the teacher told Jerry this he apparently turned multiple shades of red. I fear he may be in for some trouble as these girls get older. They have both had admirers as early as preschool. Thankfully for now Ansley is still set on marrying her daddy!Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-75506397271732873052011-04-28T18:59:00.000-07:002011-04-28T18:59:40.228-07:00Great Day!Today was storybook character day at school. Ally went to school dressed as the witch from Snow White. Ugly nose wart and all. After school we had Allyson's second parent/teacher conference. She is improving in almost every area of school, especially reading. She is now reading at a k level, which at the beginning of the year, looked like it would never happen. On another fun note, I was able to score 4 packages of diapers, 2 boxes of envelopes, 4 candy bars, and a package of feminine hygiene products for under 10 bucks at Walgreens today!! I think I have enough diapers to last until the 6 month mark!!Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-92135804565464917522011-04-27T19:00:00.000-07:002012-02-21T06:45:30.936-08:00Ansley, oh AnsleyAnsley is obsessed with playing with Jerry's karate sword, (it's a wood practice sword for anyone wondering what the heck is going on at the Rice's). She is almost as obsessed as he is. Today she was holding it and says, "Daddy I want to see you fight with your sword for real."<br />
Me, "Ansley, someone could get hurt."<br />
Ansley, "I know, he needs to fight a bad guy."<br />
Me, "But Ansley, daddy could get hurt."<br />
Ansley, "Mommy, Daddy has a sword, a knife and a gun. He's like a special agent or something. He could do it."<br />
Jerry, "Well that is true."<br />
Way to encourage her daddy!Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-67817068829754631982011-04-08T19:42:00.000-07:002011-05-09T13:57:54.360-07:00The black eyeSo, my karate instructor approached me last night to inform me that he needed to speak with Jerry. A few days back, Ansley and Ally were taking a shower when a fight ensued about the shower massager. Ansley, who has taken to arguing with Ally, rather than giving into her every demand got angry when Ally asked for the shower massager back after mere seconds. She gave into to Ally's demand but more or less threw it at her, hitting her in the left eye. The result was an instantly black eye. Ally screamed and cried for at least 10 minutes. Some out of pain, but mostly because she was upset about having to go to school with a black eye. <br />
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Fast forward to the next day when the black eye is now cool and she loves and wants to protect Ansley. I take the girls to karate while Jerry is at school. Sensei Rod has a very strict no fighting policy, unless of course we are defending ourselves, so when he sees Ally's black eye and says, "It looks like you need to work on your blocking. Where did you get the black eye?" Ally, trying to protect Ansley from Sensai says, "My dad gave it to me." I hear nothing of this and we go home. That is until last night. Sensai approaches me about how exactly Jerry gave Ally this black eye. I am mortified and try to assure him that Ansley was in fact the one that gave her the black eye but that I would speak to Ally as soon as I got home. Jerry was already at home studying for his comprehensive exam. <br />
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So this morning I sit Ally down to ask her about what she told Sensai. She very proudly said, "Well I didn't want Ansley to get in trouble and I knew daddy couldn't get in trouble so I told Sensai daddy did it." Sounds perfectly reasonable to me except for the fact that daddy can get in trouble. So I explain to Ally that we can't go around telling people that. She was clearly confused so I told her that some daddy's do hit their kids and if she tells people that daddy hit her they can arrest daddy and take her and Ansley away from us. She immediately teared up and told me she didn't want daddy to get in trouble. She assured me that Sensai was the only one she told that story too. I guess for now all we can do is wait and see if DCF shows up. Poor daddy gets thrown under the bus again!!Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-41194535007353674242011-03-26T19:38:00.000-07:002011-03-27T19:43:32.707-07:00Well who will I marry??So today at dinner Ally informs Ansley that one day she will live with her husband and kids and not Jerry and I. Her reply to this was "I know, but I am going to marry daddy!" Very cute indeed but I let her in on a small secret. "Ansley, daddy is sealed to mommy for eternity. You will have to find your own husband to take to the temple."<br />
Ansley, "But I want to marry daddy."<br />
Ally, "you can't marry daddy Ansley."<br />
Ansley, "Who will I marry then?" (Her face is covered in the chocolate pudding we had for dessert, extra cute!)<br />
Me, "I don't know, you will find someone when you get a bit older. Thankfully you have plenty of time to live with mommy and daddy."<br />
Ansley, smiles :)<br />
It's conversations like these that make being a mom just priceless!!Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-15851084827534819402011-03-19T21:53:00.000-07:002011-03-27T19:36:41.037-07:00An interesting scripture study indeed!!So tonight we were reading in 2 Nephi Chapter 28 with the girls. When we happened upon verse 21 which talks about how Satan lures people away from the truth and down to hell.<br />
Ally, "Ooohhh, that's a bad word."<br />
Ansley, "Yeah, that's a bad word mommy."<br />
Me, "Well it can be when it's used as a curse but here they are talking about a place. Hell is a bad, dark place because it is far from the presence of our Heavenly Father. It's where Satan will spend eternity."<br />
Ansley, "Why?"<br />
Me, "Because he cannot go to Heaven."<br />
Ansley, "Where is he right now?<br />
Me, "He is here on the earth, trying to make us stray from what we know is right. He is miserable and he wants us to be miserable too!"<br />
Ansley, "Well I am going to hold onto the Iron Rod. I don't want to go to hell with Satan!"<br />
Me, "me too!!" <br />
Ally, "me three!!"<br />
So we continue on in our reading. <br />
Quickly we come to a verse talking about Satan again. To which Ansley blurts out, "Satan lives in Shi_!! I continue reading like nothing happened. Thanking God that Ally missed the comment all together and then put the girls to bed. I can only image that she remembered he lived in a place that was a BAD word and Shi_! came out instead of hell. Either way I laughed so hard I cried! (once I got downstairs of course) I'm telling you I love the ages of 3 and 4. You just never know what might pop out of their mouths. :)Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-22724840743065609142011-03-15T21:11:00.000-07:002011-03-15T21:11:00.375-07:0023 weeksI am 23 weeks pregnant today. You are about 11 inches long and weight just over 1 pound. Crazy because I have already gained 20 lbs, YIKES!! I love that you can hear now. Hopefully you are getting used to the sound of the vacuum cleaner because I LOVE to vacuum. I am loving all of the movement and the girls love that my belly is getting bigger. Ansley is very protective of my belly and is always gently rubbing it. Tonight Ally read the baby the story You are all my Favorites. They are going to be great BIG sisters. <br />
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I am definitely suffering from baby brain though. We had the missionaries over for dinner tonight and I was trying so hard to have everything done early so they wouldn't be late for an appointment. I was so pleased with myself when dessert was even ready. That was until I went to take it out of the oven and realized I never turned the oven on. I did set the timer though!! UGGGGG!!Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-19815534588491811792011-03-13T19:35:00.000-07:002011-03-15T19:44:49.410-07:00Sunday March 13, 2011It was a tiring day indeed due to the fact that my flight landed in Boston at 11:50 pm and we had a 90 minute drive home. On top of that we sprang forward last night making it a 3am bedtime after a 70 hour work week. Thankfully Claudette came to the house so Jerry didn't have to get the girls out of bed. What that meant though was that they were raring to go very early. <br />
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During Sacrament service Ansley talked Andy and Claudette's ears off. She is so talkative lately. To entertain her Claudette began showing her pictures from the primary 3 book. Several comments were too funny not to post.<br />
Picture of the last supper, "Oh it's the last dinner!" <br />
Map of the world, Ansley "Where do I live?" Claudette points to the northeast portion of North America. Where do you live? Again Claudette points to the northeast portion of North America. "Oh we live close to each other!"<br />
Last was a picture of a little girl licking an envelope. Claudette asks Ansley what she thinks is in the envelope. "LOVE"Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-79386296536488575422011-02-27T21:30:00.000-08:002011-05-09T13:40:58.122-07:00February 27, 2011Today we had a special Stake Conference in Bloomfield. We were hoping to hear the details of the new Hartford temple but were found out there isn't any new information yet. Either way it was great to be in the presence of an apostle. Elder D Todd Christofferson was with us from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. After the session was over we were invited to go up and shake hands with him. Ally could hardly wait. She was so excited. I was surprised at how interested she was in meeting him. For Ansley, the highlight was definitely the bus ride over to the stake center. Oh well, she is only 4.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-66443644458114525262011-02-04T09:54:00.000-08:002011-02-05T10:00:35.086-08:00Calling in the National GuardSo the town of Vernon has called in the National Guard to remove snow and ice off of all the roofs of the school buildings. I have to say having grown up in CT I can never remember a winter in which snow needed to be removed off of school buildings and if it did we never had to call in the National Guard for help. They have even resorted to calling parents for help and for shovels and snow blowers. With more snow and ice in the forecast for this weekend and next week I have to wonder how much more we can take. At this rate we may have snow on the ground until June!!Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484860084240686119.post-14585655427377712172011-02-02T18:05:00.000-08:002011-02-05T10:00:51.083-08:00It's an icy mess!Well they were right. We woke this morning to sleet and freezing rain galore. It's a disaster. Needless to say we are off. It is now snow day number 5 for Vernon, but I have to say if the temperature doesn't rise any today this mess is going to freeze and we can pretty much count on snow day number 6 for tomorrow. YUCK!! I think I'd rather have gotten Chicago's 2 feet of powder than this nasty mess. I would also like to thank the University of Hartford for literally cancelling classes less than 20 minutes before the start of Jerry's class. Nothing like a needless drive on the ice covered roads.<br />
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As I am blogging this post Vernon has cancelled school for tomorrow. Snow day #6 it is!!Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014074244501977416noreply@blogger.com1