Opposites: Happy, Sad

This week was different and exciting for so many reasons, but mostly because studying was no where on the agenda. I worked out, baked lots of bread, made new delicious recipes, played with E a lot and even went on a field trip with E and our friends V, K, and K. We went to the new children's museum in Ogden and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It's funded by a non-profit arts society and is essentially a no holds barred indoor play arena. There are various themed play rooms set up, such as trains, gardening, the kitchen, the tea room, the sushi room, dinosaurs, Utah history, etc. Each area has wonderful, high-quality toys, exploratory props, books that correlate to the theme, and absolutely no play restrictions whatsoever. It's basically a Utah mom's wintertime haven. We really loved it until a large group of school children came and some were yelling at E while he played near them, resulting in an ornery E and a frustrated me. I don't really like big crowds, especially of crazy children without parents, so we left not too long thereafter.

E trying to find the fish on his laminated card.

Gleeful expression after the arch of numbers was knocked down.

Contemplating a future career. That's Mr. President to you.

Naturally, playing with the trains.

Then the weekend came and Travis and I did yard work, cleaned the garage, cleaned the cars, and went to Baby Animal Days in Logan. Baby Animal Days occurs one weekend out of the year and a bunch of farmers bring their young animals to the American West Heritage Center and let the community bask in their cuteness. We went with our friends and had a lot of fun until the crowds got larger and T and I bailed. (I'm noticing a pattern.)

E was climbing up the fence post to look at the ram and then he started to jump in.
Don't worry, his suicide attempt was prevented.

Are you chicken? As a matter of fact, I am!

E wouldn't pet the baby goat, but when T asked, "Can you give him a kiss?" he quickly obliged.

Meeting the mini horses in the open petting zoo.

Me showing E and K it was okay to touch the animals in the petting zoo.

Cutest calf ever!

K and the obese rabbit that doesn't move.

My favorite picture. T and E holding a delicate bunny.

My week was only getting better as we drove down to my eldest brother's home to celebrate his birthday with all my family that lives in Utah. Right as we exited the freeway my mom called with the bad news. My sister was diagnosed with a staph infection almost a month ago and after the hospital made an error producing her culture, they put a PIC line in her and prescribed their strongest antibiotic. Her swelling went down and then five days ago they removed the PIC line. However, on Saturday her swelling returned and by Sunday morning she was in the ER with swelling and blisters all over her body. She's been transferred to a specialized hospital's burn unit and we're awaiting test results to find out what exactly is happening.

My mind has been going nonstop and is filled with unanswerable questions. My sister is the world's most service oriented person and would do absolutely anything for anyone. I can't even begin to count the number of times she's been there to cheer me up, cheer me on, or perform an outrageous favor I wouldn't ask of anyone else. Several times I've watched her swoop in and alleviate someone's worries and I've marveled and thought to myself how I wish I could do the same for her. Now a time has come when she needs help more than anyone else and I feel powerless. All I can really do is pray and hope and pray some more. Please pray for my sister and her family. I know she has heaven and angels fighting for her and will appreciate all the prayers you send her way.