This was a particularly intense work week so it was really nice that Kim and a few of the managers that report to her all had a ski activity in the afternoon today. I really like working for Kim, and it was fun to meet her husband too. Trevor and Sara also skied with us. Group pictures are on Kim’s phone, but here is one I shot of myself.
On Thursday after dropping Clarissa off at dance I headed to the Y to meet up with Courtney and Heidi. We had a great time hiking all the way up until switchback 9 when it got muddy and we needed to turn around if we wanted to be back in time for picking up our kids from various things. We chatted about our lives, shared outrage over Ukraine, and discussed what originally brought us together, our faith transitions.
At the base of the Y Heidi and I spent some more time chatting until Clarissa called me from someone else’s phone and told me her dance was finished. Abe had told me that he would get her after since Qualtrics is right across the street from Smash Dance, but he had forgotten. It was not a problem since the receptionist was so sweet and watched Clarissa until I got her–and the delight of getting my first phone call ever from Clarissa alone made my day!
After picking up Clarissa we picked up Nana, who treated us all to impossible whoppers that we brought home to Lydia. (She was home because she spent the entire night before reading and was too tired to go to school.) I had to run and clean Basil because he had gotten so muddy on the hike.
Clarissa and my mom spent a lot of time together and Clarissa was so upset when it was time for my mom to go.
Lydia had ballroom and in the evening, and Clarissa and Lydia had practice with Erica, the BYU student who now helps them practice harp on Thursdays.
In the evening Abe, Mary, Eloise and I went to the Utah Symphony at the Noorda. We had no idea what the Noorda was or where it was. It turns out we have a gorgeous performing arts venue less than five minutes from our house! Abe and I literally used to run the track across from it in the mornings and had no idea it was there because it is hidden behind some buildings.
My favorite part of the evening was when the orchestra played the Ukrainian national anthem. I have been obsessively following the news and reading about the situation, and hearing how poignant their anthem is had me in tears. Besides that every single piece played was thrilling–including Shostakovich Symphony no. 5, which they played since some can interpret it as resistance to the Soviet Union. Throughout the evening I kept thinking about the irony of how we had the opportunity to listen to music–even some pieces of possible resistance–while Ukranians are dying for their democracy.
It is painful to be privileged and feel helpless, but it is far more painful to watch your children and husband be slaughtered by a remorseless despot. I keep daydreaming of just flying to Ukraine and fighting alongside the Ukrainians, but then I think that since I do not speak Russian and have no idea what to do with a weapon, I would be more of a hindrance than a help. I have tried so many times to donate to the Ukranian military, but I think Russia has hacked that site. Instead I am donating to World Kitchen, listening to news, books and podcasts nonstop, and hand wringing.
On Wednesday I went to the 9am bikram yoga in Lehi. I always dread the commute but never regret having done that for my body after.
Then I came home, did a bunch of laundry, tidied the house, showered, and went to my therapy appointment. Vhari did internal family systems therapy with me and I felt like we made huge progress. I am such a fan of Vhari.
Then I did some groceries, picked the kids up, and took them to the park since the weather was beautiful! After the park we went to the Orem library to check out the Martha Hughes Cannon exhibit I’d seen an email about. I told the older girls to study the exhibit and tell me at least three facts about it while the little ones ran around.
After I read them all a book and then drove through Burger King for impossible whoppers for dinner. When we got home every child made it through their required instrument practice and I helped Ammon do an hour and a half of homework.
Abe came home late because his boss is in town and they had a work dinner at Block. Honestly, if I had to choose between an impossible whopper and a Block dinner, I’d actually hesitate a long time–before probably choosing Block. But those impossible whoppers are so good!
I was exhausted today mostly from how hard I’ve been pushing at work and life in general. Ammon was still sick today with super strange symptoms. Yesterday his head hurt so bad he was wailing. He said his brain hurt, his eyes hurt, his neck hurt and his stomach hurt. Also, one of his eyes was having trouble aligning. Yesterday, we took him to the doctor who thought it was a virus. Today the symptoms were better than yesterday, but they were still persisting. We felt very concerned because the symptoms seemed so atypical to us of what a normal sickness would be. We consulted Swathi and took him in to our doctor’s office again. At the end of all of it, we felt reassured that it likely is a virus. The doctor we say said this is the worst year he has ever seen in his life for viruses in Utah, and that something is going around right now causing headaches and vomiting. We’ll keep an eye on symptoms, but if they get worse instead of better, we are definitely taking Ammon to the ER. The doctor also put our minds at ease about the possibilities of tumor or meningitis which was really helpful.
Lily was a superstar and was by Ammon’s side for hours upon hours today, doting on him, giving him attention and taking care of him. Here are some cute pictures of our little Ammon!
Lily is also learning tons about Russia and the Ukraine and it is so great learning new things from her.
After taking Ammon to the doctor, I dropped the girls off at dance, picked up Nick, helped him fax some documents to Utah Legal Services for his SSA cases, picked up the girls, took Nick to Walmart, got burger king (impossible whoppers are amazing!), got donuts, dropped Nick off and went home. I was chuckling to Lily as I told her how charmed Clarissa’s life is. Clarissa went to ballroom, chatted it up with Nick, at a burger, had a donut and then within minutes her eyes were heavy and she passed out to sleep.
Also, today was my grandma Darais’ birthday. I loved her and continue to love her so much and was so touched watching this video my aunt Andrea sent out that my cousin Adam made a while ago.