March Thacker Review

At work I do something called a "30 Day Nursing Review" for one patient each shift. In this review i discuss changes with the patient, their current level of functioning, skin problems, antibiotic needs and any falls. Just how they are doing. I was thinking that I really need to start doing one of these for my family, just to keep record of what we have been doing. So here is my March Thacker Review:

Travis: Doing awesome. Just got a promotion to "Service Manager" and has already started training and working in this new position. Trav is seriously awesome. Let's just review how he has climbed the Wells Fargo ladder. Started as an On Call Teller in Price. Transferred to Provo as a Part-time Teller. Quickly went to full time. Then became the Lead Teller. Got promoted to Banker. And he is now the Service Manager which means he is over all of the Tellers. He has done all of this just since we have been married, and going to school until 3 months ago. I'm so proud of him and the accomplishments that he has made. He seriously works so hard. My parents took us out to Tepanyaki to celebrate. Chance LOVED it. To be fair, he is pretty easily entertained haha but he wasn't even scared of the fire or anything. He did so well and everyone loved him there.

Travis started the process to be able to umpire softball. I had no idea what a process it is. He had to go to a "school" for it and then be evaluated in his skills. He has to wear a specific uniform which they are not flexible with at all with. He is so excited to start and I am excited for him. He has wanted to do it for quite some time and now he actually has the time to. Plus the extra income will be nice, especially for doing something that he would probably do for free haha

He is also looking forward to playing softball. He is going to be on 2 teams this season. It will be fun to take Chance to the ball park. I really want to raise our kids being active and involved and I think Travis is a great example of it.

Amanda: Making progress. I have started exercising more seriously lately. I did the first half of the insanity workout but then I stopped. It was really hard for me to stay motivated. I enjoy getting out of the house and doing different things. However, I do think that I got some benefits from it and I am considering doing some of the workouts 1-2 times a week because they really do kick your butt!! I have been walking and running at the track. It's been difficult for me to lose the baby weight and I still have about 3-5 pounds that just keep hanging on. I definitely want to lose it all before I have another baby and since we want to have our kids very close, time is ticking!! I am training with my mom for a 5K that we plan to run on April 19th. I think we will be ready by then. Right now we run 5K 2-3 times  a week then walk 2-3 times a week. We ran a 5K in October 2012 but then my mom broke her toe and I got pregnant so we didn't keep up our fitness like we would have liked to. But we are back at it! I bought a jogging stroller and haven't regretted that purchase one bit! Every thing I do has to incorporate Chance and a jogging stroller has been heaven for our work outs. Again, I hope that Chance is learning to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle!

Still working full time. Sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming but I love it. And I love that I can work nights. I figure that Chance has a baby sitter about 10 hours a week, 15 hours on the rough weeks. Not many moms who work full time can say that! And I am SOOOO thankful that my mom is willing to help us out with him. He is so close to my parents, it really is the sweetest thing! He sees them and his eyes light up and he gets so excited! What a special bond to be building, even at such a young age!

Chance: 7 months old and Growing! You cannot talk about Chance without talking about this kid's size! He is huge! Weighing in at 23 pounds, he is wearing 12-18 month tops and 9-12 month bottoms (thanks mom and dad for short legs). He is developing so much. He responds to his name now. He has stranger danger in him and will only go to who he wants (usually mom, he is a total momma's boy). He can stand holding on to something and take steps while holding your fingers. He has two teeth on the bottom and both top front teeth are coming in now. He likes to eat anything you will feed him. And he eats A LOT! He has been less keen on formula and likes to try FOOD lately, which I am totally fine with. He sits up in the bath now and plays with toys. He seems to be left hand dominant right now but it will be interesting to see if it changes and he ages. He has two left handed great grandpas so you never know! He has gone to day care twice and now and done really well. I like the idea of him being around kids and learning how to interact, I feel like that is very important for their social development.

Zuka: Awesome. As always. She is such a great dog. Her and Chance have become great buddies and she is a great helper. We tag team feeding him. I run the food and she cleans his hands (and face when we are done). She's so gentle with Chance, allowing him to dig at her face and eyes. He pulls her hair and even bites her ears now! And she has NEVER, NOT ONCE, shown any sign of aggression or even irritation to him. She lays by him on her own free will. It's really fun to see them interact. Kids need dogs! And we couldn't ask for a better one!

Escaping the "Rain" for some Sunshine

I am usually not one to complain but the last few weeks have been so challenging for us. When it rains, it pours! Our problems ranged from $400 fridge repair (including replacing all the food in the fridge), a root canal ($1400 minus what insurance paid), some issues at work that were completely ridiculous, our car windshield breaking, our other car's battery going out, then all of us being sick.... And that's just a few of the troubles. I have just been DONE with life.

Trav needed to use some of his PTO or he would lose it so we planned a few days that lined up with my work schedule to go visit my family in Arizona. As the trip approached, we considered canceling because Chance was just sick. I didn't want him to be miserable. But honestly.... we needed a get away so we decided to go anyway.

The night we got there we had such a great time. Clint and Rebecca and their kids came up and Jen's family came over and we all had dinner together and just enjoyed eachother's company. It was actually warm enough outside that we hung out in the front yard. Chance loved being outside. Since he has been older, he really hasn't had the opportunity because it's been so cold. As the night went on, Chance got much worse. He has only eaten 5 ounces all day (compared to his normal 32 ounces). We weren't sure what to do and then my mom gave me the obvious answer, Give him a blessing. We called a guy in town who could come help Travis. He came over in his cop uniform and everything. Benefits of a small town.... They gave Chance a blessing and he started to get better almost immediately. We were able to feed him 6 ounces before bed and then he woke up at midnight to eat 6 more ounces and slept the rest of the night. I was so relieved. I am so grateful for the priesthood and for a husband who is a worthy priesthood holder. He was right there when Chance needed him and that meant so much to me. It really strengthened my testimony.

The next day Chance was feeling better so we went to St George to spend some time. Travis went golfing and Chance and I attempted to go shopping. Chance was so tired and grumpy that it was a pretty miserable time. I brought water for a bottle but it had gone very cold. I get grossed out by bathroom water even though I know it's all the same water haha so Chance and I made a stop at Starbucks. I got a smoothie and he got a warm cup of water to make a bottle haha I sure got some weird looks. What can I say, Motherhood is an adventure!! We went to the golf course and just sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful sun.

Later that night, Jenell colored my hair. I have been debating a melt for a while but was nervous about it. It's a big change and I didn't know if I would like it. However, I'm SOOO glad that I did it. She did such a good job and I love it. I kind of feel like it's manifestation of a mid 20's crises haha but I'm fine with that. I like it and it will be fun to have something different.

On Tuesday we went and visited Charlie. He entroduced Chance to horses. Chance LOVED them and kept reaching out to touch them. It was pretty cute. We went for a ride then went to lunch with Charlie. He is my great uncle. He lives in Switzerland so I really don't get to see him very often. This was the first time he had seen Chance so it was a pretty fun opportunity.

We went to Jacob Lake with Jenell and Oran for some delicous cookies that night. Chance tried out his first rocking horse. It was a little big for him but still very cute.

Jenell's kids, Mhea and Lukus were sooooo cute with Chance. They doted on him and just loved him every second they could. They would bring him toys, play peek a boo, whatever they could do to interact with him and help keep him happy! 

I can't even begin to explain what a great get away this was for us. It was soooo needed and it was so nice to be around family and just relax. It helped me put things into perspective and be grateful for what I have rather than wishing I had more or feeling sorry for myself for some recent events.

I'm so grateful for my family and their willingness to take us in and help take care of Chance, feed us, and just love us. My family absolutely loves Travis and that means so much to me. Most of the time we aren't even doing the same thing when we are there because they want him to go play ball or go out to the cows or whatever. They have taken him right in and gotten to know him and it makes our visits very special and enjoyable. I really love it.