January birthdays, etc.

Wow, the last 2 1/2 months were just filled with so many things going on both good and bad that I just haven't been up to blogging but I know I want to get back to doing it again. 

To sum things up, in November Nikki ended up spending a week in the mental hospital in Meridian where they changed her diagnosis to Borderline Personality Disorder and changed her meds to put her on Prozac for depression. Unfortunately she went through some very big challenges with losing her two best friends (her boyfriend dumped her to date her best friend) but has since made new friends and reconnected with other old friends. The depression meds seem to be helping but I think she would do better if she would exercise more. Also, because of her struggles with her mental health Nikki quit her job at Del Taco mid December. It was all we could do to get her through the semester before Christmas break. Because of her struggles with her mental health we decided to let it be her choice to go to church. Since then, she has only gone 2 or 3 times and that's usually because a cousin was giving a mission homecoming/farewell talk. We just continue to pray that she will get her mental health in order and have the experiences she needs to come back church activity later.

During Christmas break we were able to spend some time together as a family at a cabin we rented in Garden Valley, ID. We spent Christmas there and invited my dad to come up and play the role of Santa. He was able to borrow a Santa suit from my step brother Scott. It worked out great and we had a wonderful time up there. I posted our pictures about it on Facebook so I'll just post a few here since I still have January to catch up on also.

On New Year's Eve I decided to start Garrett's 1000 piece Star Wars puzzle he received for his birthday in September. I figured maybe he's more likely to want to do it if I get it started. Some days I didn't work on it but by the next weekend I was halfway and Garrett finally started helping and was really getting into it. It took about 1 1/2 weeks to put together the puzzle. Alice was actually the first one to help me with it and then when we got close to the end that's when Garrett, Nikki, Jack and Charlotte did some helping. 

Nikki had her 18th birthday on the 11th. She said that we could celebrate our birthdays together the weekend after but of course I had to do something on her special day. I bought some balloons and decorations and Alice helped me decorate her room while she was at school. It was fun and she loved the surprise.

Alice had made a couple of homemade cards for Nikki before her birthday and that made Charlotte really want to get Nikki a present but we didn't have time before her birthday. The best idea I could think of for her was to bake Nikki her favorite cookies, oatmeal (without raisins). I helped her with the cookies that night and then the next day we went to the dollar store where she picked out a little bird house that Nikki can paint and got one for herself as well. On a later date they painted them together.

It takes a lot of effort to squeeze that cookie dough scoop!

Enjoying a freshly baked cookie.

Charlotte also picked out a decoration that says "My cat is my 💓" and I saw this wall sticker that says "Change is good".

Painting their bird houses.

I love that they did it together.

Nikki says hers is a "Bruno" bird house. Bruno from the movie "Encanto". We love that movie!

Nikki really wanted to open one present on her actual birthday. Curtis was really sleepy by the time we got around to it but we did it anyway. We got her a light projector that has stars, aurora waves, white noise, and bluetooth capabilities. It also comes with a remote. She loved it!

Nikki has trouble sleeping sometimes and doesn't want to be alone so we're hoping this helps.

Here are a couple of cute photos of Alice. She's such a cutie pie! And she's actually starting to ask me to do different things with her hair. Yay!

Now to my birthday weekend. I didn't really feel like celebrating my birthday this year so it's nice that Nikki wanted to celebrate it with me. With her graduating high school this spring who knows where she'll be on her next birthday. Curtis and I started with going out to eat on Saturday the 15th to a Chinese buffet called City Buffet. This is our new favorite Chinese food restaurant. We especially love the coconut shrimp. So good! We went shopping after that to find me some new clothes for my birthday. I hadn't been to Ross in a long time so we went there....and I scored! It's typically very difficult to find things I like but this time around I think I got 7 tops & 2 jeans. It feels so good to have new clothes to wear again! However, Curtis needed to wrap them for my birthday so I would have to wait an extra day to wear them. We also stopped at the grocery store and then went home to relax and watch a movie. 

Nikki decided that she wanted carrot cake so we bought a cake mix, frosting and some ice cream. This year we just shared the cake for both of us. After dinner we had parents and grandma Norton come over to celebrate with us. We sang the birthday song, then took turns opening gifts. Nikki bought a party hat and whoever was opening a gift was the one to wear it.

This was a year for trick candles. We had fun trying to blow them out together!

We got Nikki her own weighted blanket in hopes that will also help her sleep better. She kept using mine.

My stack of clothes I picked out the day before.

One of the tops.

Nikki got a towel set with her initial on each one from my in laws.

Nikki loves eating hot sauce on her foods so we got her some Tabasco socks!

A bundt pan so I don't have to borrow one from the neighbors next time I make a donut cake. That was from my parents.

I'm not going to show a picture of all the gifts that were opened. I had intended to get pictures of us with all our gifts in one picture but that didn't happen. Nikki picked out some art supplies for me, one being a wood burning tool. She thinks it would be good for me to have a new hobby that no one else really does. I'm excited to learn!

Anyway, the next day on my birthday Curtis surprised me by taking the day off from work and cooked breakfast of French toast. The kids didn't have school because of Martin Luther King day. After lunch we went shopping with Nikki to get her some new shoes. I also happened to find some new long black boots, so we both got something. 

Wearing one of my new tops on my actual birthday.

My mother in law made us a new quilt bed spread and pillows. The quilt and black pillow were given at Christmas. The red pillows were a birthday gift. The afghan was made by my brother in law Nic. We are loving the new look! We really needed it! I'm going to have to pick out some new curtains for our room now to match.

By the evening of my birthday (the 17th) we had Charlotte and Jack sick with fevers. Then the next morning Nikki didn't feel well either. She had a sore throat, headache, and congestion. So those three stayed home from school the next day. Charlotte was feeling better that day and so went back to school on Wednesday. Jack and Nikki ended up staying home all week from school. Curtis started feeling a bit sick during the week as well but continued to go to work anyway. He used Nyquil to help him feel better. By that weekend (which was last weekend) I started to not feel good. Congestion, headaches, fatigue. Unfortunately I had to miss going to see my niece Ellie give her mission farewell talk but at least I was able to watch it online from home. A blessing that came from covid. I'm slowly feeling better through this week but decided I had probably been taking a nasal decongestant longer than I should so I stopped using one yesterday. I have still had a clear nose but still feel some pressure in my sinuses. I also started using a Neti pot yesterday to help clean out my sinuses. I use it in the morning and at night. Today is the first time in a week that I haven't taken any meds, not even Ibuprofen for headaches. I never did get a fever. We did a lot of movie watching last weekend so that we could rest. The kids and Curtis have all been back to feeling well this week while I have been down. I'm hoping I'll be feeling normal again by next week. We'll have another birthday to celebrate (Jack) and I haven't done anything to get ready for it yet! 

On a side note, Garrett was also ordained to be a priest at the beginning of this month and on the 2nd Sunday he said one of the Sacrament prayers. He went nice and slow and he did a good job. I can't believe I have a son old enough for this now! Also, Charlotte started going to activity days since she'll be turning 8 this year. She has her 2nd activity tonight. It's going to be a crazy busy year this year with Charlotte getting baptized, Nikki graduating high school, us celebrating our 20th anniversary (hopefully in Hawaii), another Seaside vacation for the Nortons, Garrett taking driver's ed and Alice starting Kindergarten. And I might as well say something about the very real possibility that we will likely be moving to Washington for Curtis to open a new office in the tri-cities area for the company he's currently employed with, Keller Associates. It's not 100% sure yet but we're almost positive that it will happen.  I'm just going to be flat out honest....I do not want to move to Washington.... but I also don't want to keep Curtis from opportunity for growth in the company. Change is hard but it can be good. We'll see what happens!

Halloween Week Happenings

Jack had his first band concert of the year on Tuesday the 26th of October. The gym was packed because the band is so big this year, especially the beginning band. Jack played the French horn for Intermediate Band and the trumpet for jazz band. He is really improving quickly. Mr. Sene was right about him being a natural. For jazz band he had the opportunity to play a soli, which is the same part played by more than one person. In this case it was just him and one other person and they did great!

Charlotte participated in a book character pumpkin decorating contest at school. She has been watching 101 Dalmations lately and so she wanted Lucky for her character. She pretty much did the whole thing by herself. Alice helped with some painting and I had Nikki help her with the ears. She didn't win anything but it was still a cute one and it was fun. There were 150 pumpkins turned in this year and so many neat ones!

She brought it home the day of their Halloween party and got to wear her costume to school. You can't see it but she painted the stem of the pumpkin and stuck it in the back for the tail using a nail. It reminded me of Eeyore.

Going to school in her costume on Thursday the 28th. There was no school on that Friday so they did their Halloween party on Thursday.

Since Charlotte dressed up, Alice wanted to also. Her preschool did not celebrate Halloween since they are at a church. They had a Fall party instead the day before.

Curtis having some fun with Nikki's cat mask. He ended up wearing the mask to work but he wore business clothes with it instead of the devil costume. He got a lot of laughs at work.

Our ward trunk or treat was also on the 28th. Jack dressed as a paper boy. Dinner and the trunk or treat were served outside while different activities were set up in the gym.

Picture booth. She's a sassy cat.

Alice racing her friend best friend Sidney in the duck race.

Friday the 29th was the big field trip for Alice and the preschool to go to the Farmstead and to the pumpkin patch. Since Charlotte didn't have school she was able to come with us. Things were not very organized as this was the first time these teachers have gone to the Farmstead for their field trip. They usually went to Linder Farms and it is done way differently. Everyone ended up going off on their own. Oh well, it was still fun! This was the first time I have been to this location since they moved. In fact, I don't think I have been to the Farmstead since Curtis and I were in the singles ward. I love how open and spacious this place is and there are so many things to do. Most of the activities are included in your ticket as well so that's nice. The girls and I had a great time! I took a lot of pictures also, so be prepared!

Waiting to get in.

First thing we did was the hay ride to pick a pumpkin. It was part of the preschool ticket but it had to be a small pumpkin.

This is the first time they have ever picked their own pumpkins from a pumpkin patch. So fun!

Like I said, lots of open space. It was nice.

We went through the beast! It was dark inside!

The girls were so excited to do the corn beach! It was just like the corn box at Linder Farms only more spread out and easier to get in and out.

I didn't mind paying extra for the pony rides. This was Alice's first time on a pony/horse. She was nervous about it but she liked it.

Charlotte of course loved it and climbed up and down by herself because she wanted to do everything herself. Miss Independent! She was asking me in line if she could ask the people if she could ride a horse not attached to the thing that goes around. Let her ride a horse once and she thinks she's a pro. Love her!

They have some bees that you can feed if it's warm enough outside but it wasn't warm enough while we were there. I didn't want to anyway and I don't think the girls would either, especially Alice who got stung by a wasp on her finger once before.

They had a ropes course that has things for all ages. The girls were too small for some things.

Picture frame.

The jumping balloon thing. They had one for small kids and another for big kids.

Cow barrel ride.

Making big bubbles!

One giant swing! Except this one is chained down so people can't actually swing on it. It's just for sitting and getting pictures on.

I didn't get a picture of every activity we did but there were lots of things to do and it was a lot of fun. We were there for nearly 4 hours and we didn't even do the corn maize!

Saturday morning of the 30th Nikki and Angie got together to finish making their costumes. They made paper mache' masks of Elmo and the Cookie Monster. Nikki wanted hers to look a little scary. To me, it looks like Elmo fell in the mud or something, ha ha.

Nikki let the girls try it on when it was only half done.

Charlotte has a sucker in her mouth. Not easy to put the mask on with a sucker in the way.

After they finished, their boyfriends came over and they went on a date (without the masks on). Nikki ended up giving her mask to one of the teachers at school who she thought would like it in their classroom.

That very same evening Curtis and I picked up Grandma Norton and headed over to BSU to watch Garrett perform in the big D3 marching band competition. Skyview had their best performance and did well! They came home with 1st place for Auxillary (drill team) and either 3rd or 4th place overall. They had announced it as 3rd place but then later Garrett said they messed up (again) and we actually got 4th place. That's okay because they did very well on their performance!

We bundled up and brought blankets but the weather was actually nicer than the previous competition we attended at Ridgevue the week before.

The morning of the competition the band parent t-shirts came in so I bought one for me and Curtis.

Coming out on the blue turf with his big bass drum.

3 of the 4 backdrop paintings. Again the theme is "out of the ashes" so it's post Apocalypse. 

Boise State performed that night as well and it was so fun to watch!

As for Halloween day, it was pretty low key. We went to church like usual and later had a nice roast for dinner and I baked some pumpkin chocolate chip muffins while watching Relative Race. I had been debating on whether to let the girls trick or treat with it being on Sunday and whether or not to give out candy since we already did the trunk or treat but I decided it wouldn't hurt to take them around for a little bit and to let Garrett and Curtis hand out candy to trick or treaters. I let Jack go around with his friend Tyler. Nikki went out and walked around the neighborhood with Angie and Logan. The girls and I were able to trick or treat with our neighbor friends, Ashlie, Sidney and Lilly. The funny thing is that Charlotte got tired out pretty quick and we only did it for half an hour even though I had a wagon. She did not want to sit in it.

Later we played a game that Jack had prepared to do as a family. Curtis was exhausted and not feeling well (ate too much candy) so we went to bed but the rest of us played in the family room. It was basically a cake walk game. Music was played as we danced or walked around the couches that were back to back. We would pause the music, roll a die and call out the number. Then that person would answer a Halloween trivia question and get a piece of candy. We were all pretty tired after that and since they had school the next day anyway, kids were in bed around 9pm. Wow, that's early for a Halloween night! It was great!

Nikki's Diagnosis

The week of Halloween started off in an unexpected way. Sunday the 24th we were invited to dinner by an old friend of Curtis's from his high school years (Scott Gibbons). That day, Nikki seemed to be having a down day. She cried in the morning and I told her she could just stay home from church if she wanted, so she did. Well, she slept the whole time we were gone and even after that we couldn't get her to do much. The time came for us to go to dinner and of course she did not want to go with us. The rest of us went and enjoyed some smoked chili and we brought corn muffins. Then we played a couple of games. It had been several hours and we decided it was time to go home. We were all shocked to see that Nikki cut all of her hair off so that she was nearly bald. The other kids were just asking why and Curtis and I were trying not to get mad about it. She is definitely experiencing some mental health issues and we needed to get this figured out.

The very next day I forced myself to go to the Rec Center in hopes that exercise would help me feel better but also so I could see my sister Melissa there and talk to her about what had happened. I almost chickened out but I'm glad I talked with her even though I burst out in tears in public. I was just so frustrated and didn't know what to do. Thankfully we already had the appointment made for the psychiatrist but that was a whole week away. I told Melissa some of the things going on with Nikki and to her it sounded like it could possibly be bipolar, especially considering the family history. Since Melissa has bipolar disorder I asked if she could talk to Nikki. I was able to take her over there on Tuesday the 26th and it was eye opening for Nikki but a very good conversation. Nikki told me that the things Melissa said she experiences are like her own experiences.

Just a couple of days before she had cut her hair off I thought she was doing so well. She was back to doing art again. There was an art project that she had been putting off for months and she finally tackled it. It was to paint a ceiling tile for her English teacher from last school year and it looks so good!

This is for the book "The Great Gatsby" (which I don't think I've ever read).

There are periods when she is happy and feels like she can do anything and then she goes downhill into a depression and feels like everyone hates her and she hates herself. She also gets anxiety.

We had her appointment with a psychiatrist on Monday November 1st where they were only offering online sessions. I wasn't thrilled about it being online but at the same time it was nice to just pick her up from school and bring her home instead of driving to Meridian for the appointment. It went well. She and I were asked a series of questions and it was determined that Nicole has Cyclothymia. It is not technically Bipolar but it could be considered the lowest type of Bipolar. Her cycles of depression and everything else she feels come in shorter cycles than those with Bipolar. Cyclothymia is a mood disorder. She was also diagnosed with having ADHD. The doctor (Joeth Ryan) decided to start her on some mood stabilizing meds called Lamotrigine. She has to gradually get up to the dosage she needs to avoid any allergic reactions. Apparently this is a medication used for people who have seizures. We're hoping that this will help with both the Cyclothymia and ADHD.

Nikki has been on the meds for a week now and I can't say that I see a difference yet. She had another rough weekend this past weekend. It was great at first with going on a date with Alex on Saturday but then Sunday came along. As soon as we got to church and sat down she pulled out her art pad and phone so that she can look at things to draw. The other two girls got paper to draw on or a coloring book out. At first I told them to put them away until after the Sacrament had been passed. Nikki didn't like that I had asked her to put it away. She immediately puts her head on her hand and closes her eyes. After a couple of minutes I decide that maybe it would be good for the girls (all 3 of them) to draw until it was time for the Sacrament to be passed. Even after telling Nikki she could go ahead and draw she refused to do it. So I left her alone after that. After the meeting was over she ducked out to go to her Sunday school class while I went to Primary with the girls. Jack also went to his class. Garrett was at home with a hurting stomach. Later on I go into the nursery to check on Aunt Cori and how she's doing in the nursery. She loves it in there she says but then she asked if we were able to find Nikki. What? I didn't know she was missing. I guess Curtis had asked Cori to go look in the bathroom for him to see if Nikki was there after she had left her class. She wasn't in there. 

It wasn't until after church that I find out that Nikki had started walking herself home and Curtis found her and drove her the rest of the way home. She was feeling down and depressed again and feeling like she doesn't belong at church (which she has said several times before). She was very down all day, even after Curtis got her out to take a walk in the evening. She seemed okay the next morning (which was yesterday) but after she got to school she sent a text and called me to ask if she could remove seminary from her schedule and just have an open period to do school work. That kind of threw me off and ruined my morning but I told her that we would talk about it with Dad that night after she got home from work. She later came home at lunch time in tears because she didn't want to go to seminary, which was the only class she had left for the day. I talked with her in her room for a little bit but I didn't want to say too much, especially anything that would cause more frustration. She doesn't feel like she belongs there and she felt like the teacher would call her out all the time because she's either sleeping in class or when she's trying to stay awake she'll have phone out and be drawing. I just let her stay at home and sleep.

I texted Curtis to let him know and actually for several weeks now he has been thinking that maybe we need to back off with trying to get her to church. His sister had told him that it backfired with her two boys on forcing them to church. Now neither of them attend as men and carry some resentment. We certainly don't want to cause resentment for Nikki with us or the church. After talking about it when Curtis was driving home and after he called and talked to our bishop we ultimately decided that it would be better to get her mental health in order and hope that the spirituality will come later since church and seminary seem to be triggers of some of her episodes. So last night we talked to her about not forcing her to go to church anymore and that if we needed to get her out of seminary then that's what we would do because her mental health is priority right now.

It was a hard pill to swallow and a very difficult phone call to make this morning when I called her seminary teacher. Of course he was greatly disappointed and saddened by this decision and the fact that she didn't seem to enjoy seminary anymore. Then I called and emailed her counselor at school to go ahead and remove seminary from her schedule. I was emailed back that it was taken care of and she now has an open period instead. Wow, that was hard to do but I'm hoping beyond hope and praying that one day she'll choose to come back and that she will feel the spirit again after her mental health is stabilized.