Deciding to move back to Idaho/Utah

It has been a crazy wild ride deciding and figuring our what our next move was....literally and figuratively!

Joe also hasn't enjoyed his job as well. It's just so hard when you move to a different facility that is totally different from what you've been trained to do, and they have little tolerance for training their way. Because, who wouldn't do everything exactly how they do it? After all, there's only one way to do things.....

So after deciding that it would be very hard for me to find a job needing only general ultrasound,  Joe noot enjoying his job, and how liberal portland really is,  we've decided maybe this isn't where we should be for our little family. But it was a decision that still brings tears from my eyes. It is a place where I have always wanted to live, I was more socially and physically active then I have ever been.

But that's ok. Joe and I have been reading the Pearl of Great Price and Genesis lately for our study. It has been a frequent theme, leaving a place, sometimes fleeing, for the safety of their families. It's kind of frustrating why things worked out so smoothly for us to move there,  but I'm burnt out trying to answer that question.

Now to explain how things happened, we decided that for the safety of our family, we'd need to stay in Idaho and Utah. So Joe applied for  couple of positions in Boise just before thanksgiving. He also called his old coordinator at LDS hospital. They had a position opening and he was curious to see if they would consider taking him back. The next day his manager called him and had an "interview" over the phone and essentially told him it was his if he wanted. However, we'd neee to make our decision over the weekend. The positive side of things would be that they would treat this as a long term leave of absence, like a maternity leave. After praying and trying to weigh the pros and cons, we decided to accept LDS's offer. Joe was excited to get back to where he knew the protocols and procedures. So he is on and off 7 days in a row, working 12:30 am-11 pm. Not ideal, but all things considered, a blessing.

However, moving there was very expensive and therefore moving back an added expense, and so we wouldn't be able to afford a deposit and first month payment for a rental. So my parents kindly allowed us to move in with them, put our storage in their shop, and stay as long as needed.

Well, now Joe will be staying at the hospital on a sleep room for 7 days, and then come stay with us for 7 days. I'm hopeful it won't be too hard on us to not see/have him around all of the time. People comment on us all of the time, saying we're still like newlyweds because we always want to be together. If we had it our way, we'd work together too, side by side. So this will be very hard to do. Our goal is to save up money and stay here til February/March.

Fall fun in our backyard

I think one of my favorite things about our home is the backyard. It looks like a forest wonderland. I love the rocks, pond, trees, leaves, and even the ivy that i hated on my mission because of all of the cobwebs. I read that ivy was one of the best plants for converting the air into oxygen, so I quickly became a big fan. I just make sure the kids don't go tromping in it. 

Addie loves running along the pathway and down the steps, over and over again. Jojo does his best to keep up and is a good sport. I'm glad they have eachother. Hopefully they will be good friends, and stick up for one another.

I owed a friend from the ward babysitting, so we got her two kids for a day. Clara is Addie's age and they get along pretty well. They are both full of energy and enjoy running around. Ben is 3 months old, and was napping during this time. Jojo especially enjoys playing with him and gets very excited. Addie has held him once and just fell in love. They do really well with babies. For the most part the kids have fun. Clara and Addie bully Jojo a little, which makes me sad. I try to correct it as best as I can and get excited when they are nice to him. But he does his best to keep up and be a big kid too. I love my kids and am glad they have friends at church and playground times.

This morning while Jojo was still sleeping, Addie helped me make some banana bread. She LOVED it! I need to do more of that with her, but with both kids it's hard because they don't want to share, or they get too crazy. But I need to do better.

So unfortunately I had to quit my job at Legacy Meridian Park. During the interview i made it clear i was not a vascular or breast tech, but I'd be willing to train. So i did for the first few  weeks. But sometimes i would be with a male tech who dont do breast. Or there were days that i wouldn't see vascular exams at all. Only training 2 days a week, well it limits what you see. I asked Joe to find out what the ultrasound scenario was at Good Samaritans where he works. He talked with a tech that had been there for 6 months and still didnt do all of the vascular exams. So i thought, "ok, don't stress out. It will come, and they know it takes some time". I'd even ask for help after a month and the other techs said i was on my own, that i needed more confidence, and that if i wasn't sure about somethings I could ask a radioligist. So I thought everything was ok, and I just needed to grin and bear through it. I was totally fine with the general exams and got along with everyone fine.

That is until i got a phone call from the lead tech on a Friday. She said i wasn't catching on as fast as they had hoped, but they liked me enough to try something that they hadn't done before. She offered to extend my probationary time another month, if I could get daycare to do 3 days a week. So I did just that, for a week. However it never got better. They were more critical and picky, even though i was just practicing on a tech and not a real patient. There are so many things to remember and your hands have to learn how to manipulate the image to get things clearly. Well, on my last day the lead tech got frustrated with a tech for taking too long on an exam, even though he was just explaining things I hadn't seen them do there before. So that's  when I decided it was time to just leave. 

It's terrifying because we need the money so much, and it sounds like most places here in Oregon require vascular, breast, and general ultrasound. Whereas where I worked in Idaho and Utah there were 3 different departments for that. So I'm not sure what we'll end up doing. We moved here because of a better schedule for Joe, and more days for me. And everything was so perfect! The way they acted in the interview, they couldn't be more excited about having me. But, i guess sometimes even though we pray, fast, and attend the temple we aren't always going to make the right choice. Or maybe we needed some more refinement. Either way, it's been a stressful few weeks. 

But I do love it here! I love the green everywhere. Its so gorgeous, and i dont mind the rain too much yet. I do get frustrated when i want to go walking with friends from the ward, and its too bad so we go to the mall instead. It gets too hot for me there and i get a headache everytime. Lol, what a complainer! In Idaho and Utah there was snow! The kids love playing in the rain. I love the trees. I love the ward and the friends we have made already. I love having the coast so close, its my favorite part. But if we do have to move, at least I got a taste of what pretty close to a perfect place can be. I find myself crying when I drive through the areas, at the thought of leaving so soon.

Halloween

Our ward did one of the best parties we've been too. Its was decorated super cute, yummy chili, and games for kids to play. Addie and Jojo both had fun bowling and fishing for prizes. And then the trunk or treat afterrwards would have been fun, but they just wanted to run around and scream. Ha ha, I think next year will be better.

Addie chose to be Cinderella, out of the many princess dresses Stephanie gave her from her girls. And Jojo was excited to be a giraffe this year. It as fun to see them both excited, and for the most part cooperative.

We also went to the zoo and enjoyed their treasure hunt along with the animals. Addie went as a giraffe and Jojo was a lion. It was a lot of fun!

Halloween day we decided to go for a hike/stroll up Forest Park as a family. We kind of got burnt out of halloween, so this was a fun activity. However, the trails weren't so stroller friendly, and some places were really steep. So maybe in a year or two we can try it again. It was gorgeous though!

Jojo is 20 months old, and just seems to be older. He does so well talking, that I know it's because having Addie helps him out a lot. They are pretty good friends, and also fight a lot. But that's what simblings do, right? 

Portland Temple

I braved taking them both to Jojo's 18 month dr check up. It's silly and people do it with more kids, but I feel like I've conquered a big feat by doing things like this. Haha, I'm a whimp!!

We were driving home on I-5, and I decided to take a walk around the Portland Temple. I pass it a couple of times a week on my way to work, but never take the time to enjoy it. I'm glad I did, it was such a beautiful day. And it's such a beautiful temple. 

It had rained that morning...

The missionaries at the visiting center said the kids could touch and feel Christ. It was sweet watching them look at their Savior.

The temple doors are beautifully carved.

And there weren't as many fall leaves as I was anticipating for Oregon. But they were beautiful when you found them.

Fun things about our kids

We have been loving our move to Oregon! Two trips to the coast, we beyond LOVED playing in the sand and ocean. We are looking forward to next summer.

Addie and Jojo seem to have adjusted well. They have made some fun play dates and walking/park trips with ward friends. Every Monday and Wednesday we meet up as moms and walk 2.5 miles, halfway uphill (on rainy days we do mall). Its such a pretty trail surrounded by trees and a bridge. And then the kids get to swing and play on the playground.

We have been so happy with our daycare.  Farah Emami is a grandma that satches watches her 2 grandkids  Illa who is about Adddi's age and Kayvone who is 12 mos. Sometimes they have a baby there too. Addie often asks about Farah and wants to go to her house. So that's always so reassuring.

Jojo is 19 months old and walking, running, climbing stairs like a champ. He is cautious, so different from Addie who just goes and often fell. But that could be because of their age difference when learning to walk. Anyways, it's nice having the stairs open and not worrying so much about falls.

The other week Jojo climbed up to the slide, sat down and went down a big slide all by himself! He's such a big boy, not my baby anymore. It makes some things so much easier,  but also makes me sad because i miss my baby. He speaks quite a lot and has been using short sentences. He's said where did it go back around July. Now he says things like "want snuggles, don't want it, want to eat, want out, want shoes, jojo bean is silly, baby Ben (our new friends from the ward". Yesterday i was driving home from work and daycare.  Addie was saying "Adaline Mabel Johnson" and so i said "good job! Jojo's name is Joseph Evert Johnson". And jojo said "Jojo bean!", made me laugh.

Addie can count her fingers and toes. She is learn4to count animals and whatever in books which she does pretty well with. Sometimes she skips around, but it seems like she is beginning to understand 1-10. She loves to sing her abc's and recognizes the letters A, O, and F. Random I know!

Addie helps a lot with putting things away, clean up (while singing clean up), and heating milk in the microwave. Jojo has started to clean up and sing  well. She is such a good example to him. She is starting to say her prayers with help too.

Trip to the coast with Grandpa Gary

One of my favorite things in this life is the beach/ocean. Seriously one of the things that can guarantee to bring my soul happiness. I'm glad my family feels the same way. We had sooo much fun!! Grandpa Gary came down Friday night, Saturday we headed to Astoria, OR. One of the places I have wanted to see since I was a kid and reading books. And it was as magical as I had hoped. 

Thia is the Astoria Column. It looks really neat, like a lighthouse, but it's not. I giess it was built by the Northern Pacific Railroad, but it was pretty cool to drive around. Due to time constraints, money, and kids, we didn't go walk around.

Where the Colombia River opens up to the Pacific Ocean.

Cannon Beach

Joe had a hard time keeping Addie out of ths cold water. She was in heaven!! I don't know if there i a kid that could have loved it more.

Jojo also enjoyed himself, but he preferred to keep the water to his knees. He would run out to squeal and run back in.  I have more pictures of him because Addie wouldn't hold still. Haha, This day is definitely a memory I'll keep in my heart forever.

Grandpa Gary with us. He was a good sport driving around, walking to the beach, walking around the outaide of the coast guard center.

The kids loved having Grandpa come visit. He came to church with us and Addie loved holding his hand as they walked up the sidewalk. I think she feels a special need to care for him. Jojo enjoys snuggling up with him too. They're lucky to have such a great grandpa!