I was up with Hyrum every 2 hours last night. Don't know if it's a growth spurt or just an off night. He has been a little stuffy so I gave him his first taste of Elderberry today and he took it really well.

Nathan was awake at 6:50.

Levi didn't have to be to school until 10:15. Before we were even in town Nathan was asleep so I just headed to Idaho Falls for lunch with mom.

We ate lunch at the Olive Garden. It was just the break I needed. However, going on such little sleep and walking around Sam's Club with mom made the trip home really hard with 2 sleeping boys and me fighting sleep.

After we got home I quickly made dinner and then tried taking a nap when all the kids got home from school but Hyrum decided it was time to play. I should go for a walk instead but my body is a little shaky and I feel like I'm falling asleep as I walk around. I decided to lay on the bed and just talk with Hyrum instead. His smiles and cooing make it really hard to be frustrated with him.

We have had a huge rain storm that knocked out some of the power. I love it! I love the sound of pounding rain and the grey sky that is pushed out by the sun. I love the smell after rain. I only wish I had grass to run through during the storm. I feel like being sporatic that way.

It's probably a side effect of very little sleep.

A week flying by

I can't believe it is already Thursday (and now it is Friday)! It seems like my life is just a circle of busy morning, calm morning, naptime, afternoon of run, run, run, loose my temper, deny myself the privelegde of screaming or crying, evening of fussy baby, calm baby, bedtime, restless and interrupted nighttime and start again with morning. Maybe I'll draw that out and see what I can do to simplify the chaotic times of the day and really enjoy the calm moments.

Here is a picture of the list for the week. This only shows the activities for the 4 older kids. It does not mention feeding & caring for a newborn, keeping up with a 2 year old, house stuff, the office, or meals. No wonder I am going crazy!!

Silly Shower Song

I've never been one to sing in the shower and I don't know why I started this silly little song but it kind of took over and let me vent about my body - in a healthy way??

Use the song "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" for the tune. Here we go:

My arms are so fat that I hide them,
My belly is squishy and gross
My butt has unspeakable ‘dimples’
I can’t decide what I hate most.

The morning brings breasts plump like melons
By evening their drained, saggy, flat.
My eyes hide in bags colored purple
Oh what is the meaning of that?

Bring back, bring back, oh bring back my body to me, to me
Bring back, bring back, the body that’s pleasing to see!

My ankles, I finally see them,
My toes painted pink cheer me up
My jawbone reveals that I’m thinning
But the process, it really does suck.

My hair needs a cut, yea I’ll do that
Exercise . . might do that too
It really would help if I’d eat less
But together it's too much to do.

Bring back, bring back, oh bring back my body to me, to me
Bring back, bring back, the body that’s pleasing to ME!

Delightful, I know. I was going to do a verse about not wanting to get dressed but Hyrum was ready to eat by then. Maybe another day!

Just Another Manic Monday

Monday came way too fast. The night was very interrupted by 2 little boys so 6:30 seemed to come before I was ready.

We found out that our apprentices wife had been in a car accident so he was not coming in to work. She was actually bringing 2 brothers up to work with us for the week because we are so busy. As much as we felt for them, it is hard to be on the employer side really needing that employee to come to work. LeRoy had to rearrange things for the guys, was a little stressed and it really wasn't the best start to our week. However, I did get kids off to school, managed to shower early, get kids where they needed to be after school, realized once again that I hate baseball, made dinner for us (lasagna and bread) and extra to send home with the apprentice.


We were invited to FHE tonight by one of our new neighbors. By the time 6:30 rolled around I was a little frazzled, really just wanted to go to bed and was once again on my way into town to pick up a kid. Hyrum needed fed, Erika still needed to do online school registration which started at 7 and she needed to do it right at 7 so she could get the teachers she wanted. LeRoy was being a little onry and insisted that we all go over together, and that we drive. HELLO! We can see their house from ours and I STILL needed to feed the baby, and we were already 10 minutes late. He kept following me around (as if that helps) asking what he could do to help and I just stated matter-of-factly that if he wanted to help then just take the other boys and go! Erika and I got there only 5 minutes after he did and the evening was fine but the kids and I were all a little irritated with LeRoy.

Then LeRoy proceeded throughout the night to bug their 15 year old about getting his eagle and to let skeletons out of his closet which was hard not to roll our eyes at and when he started to cry (telling about his parents) I opted to go downstairs and see what the boys were doing. Oh well, let's just get it out there and then people know what we are really like (or rather what LeRoy is really like). Wow - reading that I can see that I was a little more bothered by LeRoy tonight than I initially thought.

The family that we met with (the Anderson's) really is a fun family - 5 boys, 1 on a mission. Their boys are the ones who came over to get Derek and Justin on Saturday and they all ride the bus together so the kids already knew each other. I really enjoyed the mom and can see being good friends with her. She took Hyrum for about 45 minutes and as he slept she would play with his cheeks and chin and it would make him grin. The 2 boys that were sitting by her really got a kick out of that.

During all the run-a-round of the afternoon we also had a visit from Erika's YW group. They came while she was gone so that they could decorate her bedroom door to welcome her to YW (officially, since she has been going to YW with them since January). Erika was really cute about re-enacting her reaction for a picture. Actually, her re-enactment was a little more posed than her real reaction but it was fun for a picture. They left her a bag of edible MnM's and each of the MnM's taped to the door had a written note from the girls in the ward.

Weekend Satisfaction

It has been a great weekend!

It started a little hectic with LeRoy going to Teton, Erika to dance practice, Justin to baseball practice and Me at the center of all the coming and going. And that was all before 10am.

The kids quickly got their chores finished because they were all wanting to have friends over or go somewhere. Then they found that all of their in-town friends were already busy and the disappointment set in. Our new neighbors quickly remedied that! Five boys between the ages of 7-10 showed up at our door wanting Derek and Justin to join them for outdoor games: tennis, bikes, basketball, races, etc. Boy heaven!

Erika joined her best friend Allie, they joined the boys and suddenly there were 16 kids ages 7-15 going around the subdivision. I love the view from my office because I can see the whole subdivision from here and could pretty much spot my kids during the whole day. Our neighborhood does a big loop which is great for bike races and other games but also great for keeping an eye on things.

Then several of them ended up at our house. LeRoy has inherited (long story) a foosball table, shuffle board table and an air hockey table. Add that to the pool table that we already have and who needs video games. It was a little noisy for a while (with foosball and pool downstairs and air hockey, shuffle board in the garage) but it was fun to see all the kids gather here for a while and then move on to the next activity (which was setting things on the fence posts and seeing who had the best aim and could knock them off). I love seeing all of them play together and use their imaginations. As much outdoor active time that they have had, they should all sleep well tonight!

I was able to work in the office for a while and much to my satisfaction it is completely caught up. Quarterly taxes are finished, invoices caught up, problem invoices worked over and my desk cleaned off. I really do enjoy what I do once I get to it. It is just hard getting to it with 7 others pulling at my time (and leg and breast - quit giggling, I mean Nathan and Hyrum, not LeRoy!)

Saturday night LeRoy and I went to Idaho Falls. We stopped to look at a job which turned out to be a remodel on an extremely old farm house. It reminded me of Grandpa and Grandma Fullmer's old house (not the trailer) and kind of the Morey's house. Old out buildings, old house, old house smell - all of it in need of tons of work. It made me even more grateful for my own home and not needing to fix it up - just live in it.

Then we went to dinner at Garcia's. I ate probably twice as much as LeRoy did which made me feel a little like a pig but I was hungry and hadn't eaten very well throughout the day. He also claims that he is just getting old so doesn't eat as much.

Saturday night my mind began trying to get me out of going to church. We were having stake conference which was a broadcast from SLC and I knew that trying to keep Nathan quiet would be a chore, the time wasn't going to work well with Hyrum's schedule and really I just didn't have the mental energy for it.

We found out that there would be a re-broadcast of the conference so we split the family a little and I went to the 10:00 session with just Erika and we had a wonderful time. I wasn't overly inspired by the speakers though a couple of personal improvement thoughts popped into my head, but it was really great to have some time alone with Erika. We went to the 'old' stake center knowing that it would be the same broadcast and wanting to see some of the people that we love in the 'old' stake. It was so great to visit with some friends, not have LeRoy at the center of it all and not having babies in tow.

LeRoy and the boys all went to the re-broadcast at 1:00 which once again was great for me. I put both little boys down for naps, Erika went to read on the trampoline at Allie's house and I took a relaxing bath in my big tub.

During the afternoon I went on a walk with Derek and Nathan and realized even again that our neighborhood is so nice! Many people were out on bikes or walking and were friendly but without this feeling that I had to stop and really visit with anyone or that I was in their walking space. The little sinner side of me also enjoyed seeing a neighbor plow up his field (he just took the cows out to pasture for the summer) on Sunday. I felt like I live in a place that has a 'live and let live' motto rather than the subtle, judgemental neighborhood that I came from: everyone trying to outdo the other on the righteous scale. Our family just doesn't follow the same 'keep the sabbath day holy' rules that many Rexburg people appear to.

I have discovered some simple pleasures:

Convection oven . . . love it! I can bake 3 pans of cookies at once and be done in 10 minutes bake time. I never have liked making cookies because they take forever. This is the way to do it!

Sandwich maker . . . time saver! Derek is still in the omelet mood and we found that doing them in the sandwich maker saves so much time while also making very fluffy.

Jetted tub . . . previous to today, the only times that I had been in the new tub was when I was in terrible pain and crying. Today I got to take a bath just because I wanted a bath. I have been a little sore in my back but it isn't anything slowing me down or bringing me to tears. It was great to do something that I wanted to do: relax and read and get ready for another week.

Gifts

I have received some wonderful gifts in the last week from people that I really love. They spoil me, not only with gifts but with friendship!

Levi and Chad went to the fabric store with Chad's mom, Colleen. The boys picked out the fabric for Hyrum and Colleen made a blanket for him. It was a wonderful surprise. Colleen and I served in the RS Presidency together and became great friends then but now having our boys hang out together keeps us in touch with each other. During our move Colleen brought over boxes and cinnamon rolls, helped us move a couple of loads and then kept Nathan for almost 6 hours. Colleen is one who just gives and gives and never expects anything in return.




Yesterday I went to see Rilda (I'm tired of writing 'midwife' so I'll just use her name. Hopefully everyone will know who she is in the future). While I was there she gave us a housewarming gift. She had it custom made for us, chose the colors and saying and insisted on having 2008 put on it. I love it! Every time I visit with her I get so much more than a massage or phone call. It's like walking away with my love bucket running over.

My new visiting teachers came over today and one of them brought a quilt for Hyrum. It isn't just a flannel blanket but a crib size quilt with a bat in it. (I can't take a picture, my batteries are charging and the video card is full!) I first met her at the RS Birthday dinner for this ward (about 5 weeks before we moved in) and she was being spotlighted at the dinner. The walls were covered with blankets that she had made and given over the last 17 years. She has given a quilt to every baby born in the ward in the last 17 years - amazing!

It was so nice to visit with both of the sisters and feel in one visit that they were there to get to know me, they didn't seem rushed to get out of here and we had a nice discussion about the message. My day was actually a little brighter for having them here. It certainly didn't feel like they came just to 'get it done for the month'. I hope it continues in the months to come.

House Highlights

I took a few pictures of my favorite places in the house.

I love my kitchen! I love to cook in it. I love cleaning it. I love looking at it. I still can't believe it's mine.

The mudroom is my 2nd favorite room (1st favorite on rainy days). The kids have been great to put their stuff in their lockers and keep their shoes/coats out of the main entry way from the garage to the kitchen. It seems automatic now for them to walk in a put flip their shoes off into the locker and dump all their other stuff there. The only problem I have found so far is that they love to drop off their backpacks in their lockers and then not think about homework. Out of sight, out of mind.

I enjoy having a garage. Last night was the first time we have parked in it. I've never had a garage before, not while growing up, at college or in 17 years of marriage. I was dreading going out this morning because of the wind, snow and cold but as I put the kids in the Yukon while it was in the garage, drove away completely dry and hair not mangled like a nest, came home and parked in the garage . . . ahh it was great!

As we get pictures up on the walls I'll take more pictures. Everything is unpacked but we haven't put pictures up yet so it still looks incomplete. I've wanted to take a picture of the outside of the house but it is either so windy I don't care to go out, there is a construction truck of some kind in front of it (they are finishing the driveway) or it is snowing (like today). Eventually you will all see pictures. It would just be easier for me if you would come visit to see it :D

Week Old News

I actually wrote this last week, was getting ready to edit and then post it and had to go feed the baby. Now I'm understanding why no one commented. I didn't ever post it :D

Erika has been doing track for the last month. Her first home meet was on Thursday. I couldn't believe how graceful she looked going over the hurdles! She is also fast but she made it look so easy. I was always afraid of the hurdles in PE. I feel like I really never see Erika besides he getting up to leave and getting ready for bed. With track, dance and mutual we really don't see her until at least 6:00 every night. Some nights it is even later. I wondered if she would get burnt out doing this but she seems to thrive on it. I see a little bit of Kellie and Kate in her. She is very cheerful, helpful when she is around, and loves to be going, going, going. She has kept her grades up, still practices her violin, does her chores and has cut her mirror time to about 15 minutes. After several months of attitude, sneaking around, and defiance to all family rules I say with cautious optimism that I really enjoy Erika as a teenager. She is so beautiful, has so much potential and at this point in her life seems to be on the 'right' track.

Levi had a fashion show in his spanish class on Friday. He and his partner had decided to be the "Blue Men" and were taking the run way to the blue man music. His trip to DI turned out to be a rather blue experience. Levi has also been my biggest help with Nathan and Hyrum this week. He is such tender big brother. He told me that he was sad to realize that Hyrum will only be Nathan's age (2) when he graduates from school. Maybe he is trying to get in as much time with him as he can - whatever the case, he is very helpful with both boys and I love watching them all together. This week Levi and I also spent some time getting him registered for his Junior year. I was so impressed with his careful planning to make sure he had classes that would help with college. It was the first time that he has ever mentioned college. He also put on his schedule to take 1 trimester of early morning seminary so that he could still fit in all the necessary classes, a small engines class and still do orchestra. I had no idea that he really does think things through, is planning on college, enjoys orchestra and is willing to go to school an hour early for seminary.

While at DI, Levi found a pair of Elmo slippers which he purchased for Nathan. Of course this inspired Nathan to spend extra time gazing at his monster self in my mirror again. Nathan also discovered that Hyrum's diapers have Sesame Street characters on them. The first time he pulled all of the diapers out was cute enough that I pulled out the camera. Now, after having diapers scattered in a trail from the bedroom to the living room for 2 days, it doesn't seem quite as cute. What still remains entertaining is that every time I change Hyrum, Nathan quickly comes to check out which Sesame Street character is on the diaper coming off and the diaper going on. ~~ His bad habit of jumping on the couch led to a face plant in the arm of the couch, a bloody nose and a purple nose. He evidently didn't learn from the experience because he has still been caught jumping on the couch.

Justin has been part of the pee-wee ballroom dance team (because they needed another boy or one of the girls would have to drop out) and had his group picture Thursday. It was rather amusing to watch all these 3rd graders being positioned for pictures and they actually had to touch each other. The instructor has done great to get them to stand in dance position for the cha cha but posing for pictures was another matter all together. I'll post the final picture when we get it.

Derek has been dying to build something since we moved in and he saw that we added a workbench in the garage just for him. Last week he was itching to build so took apart his toolbox and put it back together, just so that he could use his tools. After our builder finished framing up for the back steps on Friday he left a pile of scrapwood that he said he would come and get rid of. Derek quickly scooped up the pile, hauled it to the workbench and built a birdhouse. That kid's creativity is awesome. He can look at a pile of wood and see a finished project. Derek and Nathan are the outdoorsmen in our family. They would both be quit content to just leave the acre as dirt rather than planting grass.

Hyrum is on a normal baby schedule. . . eat, burb, sleep, cry, diaper change, eat, burb, etc. He is becoming more alert and even looks like he is going to have adorable chubby cheeks like Nathan did. I teared up a little this morning as I looked at him gazing into my eyes (instead of at the ceiling) and realized that he is now out of newborn diapers, is getting a little baby fat on him and already seems to be growing up. I can't believe it has already been 4 weeks! I love it that he curls into me and loves to cuddle. It was really slowing down my house cleaning and office work until I remembered that someone had given me a snugli when Nathan was born (Nathan hated it!) and we tried it out. Magic! Now he gets to cuddle up with me and I still get alot done, though I have noticed a little back ache after a good afternoon of carrying him around.

LeRoy has completely set up his "man's room" and he also took on the daunting task of cleaning the garage (you know, all that last junk stuff that has to be moved out of the old house but you're not quite sure where to put in the new house, if it should even be kept at all). He also surprised Derek and Justin with bikes today. They had both outgrown the small bikes they were using and we were needing to change tire rims on one of them. He found a good deal on a couple of them and instantly became the favorite parent when he drove up to the house with 2 new bikes. During an overnight scout trainig LeRoy was 'forced' to play Bunco. He won a prize for lowest points but didn't really see the excitement of the game. I've tried to explain to him that my monthly Bunco getaway has nothing to do with the game and everything to do with a night out with the girls.

I have been trying to get up the courage to put holes in the walls to hang pictures. So far I have 2 up - not getting the job done very fast. I have loved cooking in my new kitchen and it has been great to have family dinner without anyone having an extra elbow in their side. I really am working on taking pictures of the house (Mom keeps asking for them) but I haven't done it yet. That will be my goal for this coming week.

After 4 weeks of being baby bound, moving, unpacking, getting over an infection, and attempting to feel somewhat normal after having a baby I made the courageous effort to go out on my own today - no kids, no husband. I took Elder Ballard's conference talk to heart and decided it was time to fill my near empty well. I was gone for 5 hours and it was great. What did I do? Shop for food storage items. I love that actually. I also stopped in Menan to see a friend who is due in 3 weeks, wandered around a couple of stores for decorating ideas and mostly just did whatever I wanted to. I got home a little late to really put anything together for dinner. The kids were delighted when I announced that we were having bread and milk. LeRoy wasn't so thrilled but he's a big boy.

Now I am off to bed, replenished and ready to meet the new ward.

Today's Thoughts

Whew! The blessing certificate matches the birth certificate.

Ahhh! It feels so good to not feel rotten. I'm a little wiped out from church and family time but I don't ache anymore, just a dull pain that is easy to endure after the past 2 days that I have had. I have found myself slouching from fatigue but it has been a good day.

Cool! Two families in our new neighborhood came over and introduced themselves today.

Wow! Am I spoiled. I called the midwife Friday morning (when the pain became more than I could stand and LeRoy was ready to take me to the hospital) and we spent about half an hour on the phone. She has called to check on me Friday evening, Saturday morning and Sunday evening and even offered several times to come and stay with me Friday night (so tempting knowing that she would do massage). She even made a trip to Burley yesterday to be with her mother who is close to dying and she still has taken the time to check on me. She truly follows the counsel of Lucy Mack Smith to "cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another ". I am so blessed to know her and to be at the receiving end of her kindness.

Yawwwn! I am off to bed!

The best of times, the worst of times!

How could so much happiness, great events and joy take place in the same week as so much pain and crying?!? I thought that with Nathan I understood the scripture in Alma 36:21 "there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, on the other hand there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy." This week I have learned this principle to a greater depth. Let's get the worst of it out of the way. . .

(**I have two weeks to catch up on so this is long, rather than doing a bunch of short posts**)

I have mastitis. At first I thought my body was just making more milk to keep up with the baby and the thought actually occurred to me "it's far from your heart, you're not going to die from it". (I'd heard that a time or two growing up!) So I went to bed and endured. Then I woke up yesterday morning and thought "wait a minute, it is right in front of my heart and I think I will die from it!" In 17 years the only time I have ever called LeRoy to come home from work was when I was in labor, so when I called him yesterday morning he immediately came home.

The last time I felt pain like this over my entire body was 13 years ago when I was in a car accident and felt like my body had literally been thrown against the vehicle. I had no idea that this little 'breast inflammation/infection' actually spreads inflammation throughout the entire body. If you could see on my body the pain that I feel I would appear completely black and blue. My wrists, ankles, elbows, neck, and entire back ache to the point that I have no strength. Yesterday I nearly dropped the baby because my shoulders and arms suddenly gave out on me, thank goodness I was just lifting him out of his bed and he didn't fall hard. My heart is pounding in my head and it takes robust mental effort just to hold my head up. I ache in so many places that I can't pick what hurts the most. OK, I can, it is the breast. But, I won't even describe that, it just makes me cry more! I feel like my whole body had gone on strike after being taken advantage of during the last few weeks. I really should have been taking better care of my body and maybe my body would take better care of me.

The midwife has me on a strict regimen of oil packs, heat packs, baths, vitamins C, B-complex, Calcium and adrenal support. I really want to avoid going to the Dr. because their prescription for this is an antibiotic and that will dry my milk up. So I am doing exactly what the midwife has told me to. Today I am feeling better. Certainly not 'over it' but I think we caught it in time and hopefully the worst of it is over. The midwife also prescribed bedrest. I chuckled, she told me she wasn't kidding and I cried again. How does a woman with 6 kids just stay in bed? Well, I have made it 1 day in bed and the family is doing ok. (I'm cheating right now while they are all gone and doing this post, don't tell :D) It is not all up to my standard of 'running things' but it will all bounce back. I have to just let alot go, like cleaning the old house, fixing meals, laundry, going anywhere, finishing the unpacking and all that little stuff that a mother does throughout the day.

Now if I can only get up the strength to go to 1 hour of church tomorrow for the baby blessing.

On to the best of times . . .

What's In a Name?
There is alot in this name! LeRoy and I have never had this much difficulty trying to name a baby and always had the name picked before the baby was born. It took us almost 2 weeks to name this little one. We both wanted to use Grandpa Hawkins' name for the middle name but with it starting with an 'O' and our last name starting with an 'E' we were having trouble with initials. We didn't want to give any additional teasing ammunition to 4th graders by giving him initials like "Toe, Joe, Moe, Soe, Hoe, Foe". Yea, you can see that eliminates alot of names!

We finally had to quit thinking about a middle name and just focus on what his first name was supposed to be. There were only 3 names that both of us really liked for this little boy, all of which created an tease-worthy acronym. As I was rocking the baby one afternoon I said one of the names out loud and it seemed so fitting. Then I couldn't remember why we couldn't use it because I knew LeRoy like it as well, it was actually one that he brought up and was his favorite. Then I remembered the middle name and suddenly felt that Grandpa was there to give comfort. He was honored that we wanted to use his name, in honor of him, but he was fine to have us not use it. (This all seems strange to type!).

So the short, long of it is . . . his name is Hyrum Jesse. LeRoy also came up with Jesse, which I wanted to use with Justin, and it surprised me because he didn't seem to like the name 9 years ago, but we both love Grandpa Jesse. He was raised in Rexburg, raised his family here, and through his family history leaves a wonderful testimony and legacy of love. Much like Grandpa Hawkins.

Happy Birthday Nathan!

I can't believe this little man it 2! He has grown up so fast, especially in the last few months. He was excited to get a battery operated power drill like his dad's and even more excited about his Curious George monkey, book and video. (I would not have survived the last 3 weeks without the Curious George Movie!). We had his cake the next night because it was so late when we started the birthday celebrations but that didn't stop him from enjoying it - after all, it had strawberries on it!!

The Move

Mom deserves a medal! She really made the overwhelming task of moving a family of 8 seem almost easy. Throughout Friday, the kids being home for spring break, we made trip after trip after trip just moving the little stuff - which is a ton of stuff! Levi and Chad did the driving of 2 different vehicles, mom organized the kids and kept the whole show running and I unpacked as it was all brought in. By about 6:00 we had most of it moved over, with the exception of the big stuff. We didn't really intend for it to go that fast but my visiting teacher showed up and while we were gone she completely packed up the kitchen, washed down all the cupboards and had it all in the driveway ready to go. When LeRoy got home from work he decided that the big stuff could still be done that night so until 11pm we had men from the ward helping us move. They were all wonderful! My only regret during the move was that I didn't take pictures. The kids were such troopers, so cheerful and willing to help and it was actually fun to watch their excitement. I will try to take pictures of the house now and update them. Just not today :D

Now I wake up in the mornings with feelings of awe and inadequacy. Awe that I have such a beautiful home and at how quickly my life has changed during the last 5 months. Inadequacy because we are blessed so far beyond what LeRoy and I feel we 'earn'.

My Office

I love it!! It took us almost a full week just to get it running (and the fax machine still doesn't work right) but it is finally usable. In the mixup of getting a mailbox we didn't get mail for a week so that really threw things off and when we finally did get our mail we realized it had actually been a slow week. Now Hyrum and I are setting up a new schedule including work. I really should take naps while Nathan is asleep but last week I just needed to catch up. Now - thanks to the strict orders of my midwife - I am to take a nap every day! The office will be ok. If it can go a week without a computer and mail it can wait for my nap. Unfortunately, it waits until I get to it.