Happiness

The piles of junk by my home computer I am normally an organized person. I return my library books on time. I don't lose them. They may end up with a few bite marks, but other than that, I am such a decent library attendee/consumer/ what's the name I'm thinking of. But, since the onset of my bi-polar I can't keep track of library books worth a darn. They get lost- I've lost two now and I owe the library $30 unless I can buy them for less on amazon and return them. I have $6.00 in fines. You heard me correctly- $6!! I haven't paid it yet, hoping that somehow it just isn't really true. This morning, while checking e-mail, I got another library notice: seven books are due in three days. Do I know where most of them are? I think so, but I'm sure one or two have escaped from the Abbott prison and are now running full speed ahead to the ditch at the end of our street and I'll have to fork even more money to the government, I mean, library. This is my blog....

So, I got my hair cut on Saturday. I love it! It feels fresh, clean, up to date. I found a 20% off coupon and a business card somewhere and that was such a blessing! It was really hard thing for me to do- walk into that salon. Growing up my Mom always cut our hair. In college (10 years of it including Josh's schooling) I went to Paul Mitchell's beauty school and usually just got a trim. I've chopped off my hair two times before, but the cuts weren't as good as this one is. Yay for doing new, hard things and enjoying the results. I even have a follow-up visit planned for the end of May. Every eight weeks is a good time to get a hair cut. You can check out my hair at the family reunions. Speaking of which, I need someone to volunteer to be in charge of a whole family photography session. Any takers? Love, Megan

I'm teaching Primary today, as a substitute for one of my friends. It should be fun. I went to bed last night at 9 pm and woke up at 4:15 am. 7 hours of sleep. I'm turning into my Dad! Who always goes to sleep early and wakes up early also! Since a month ago, I now own two green plants. They make me happy and I'm glad they have decided to join our family. That's all for now. TTFN. Love, Megan Rose Hulihan Abbott p.s. My Mom was here for a week to help out. She made it home safely yesterday. What a blessing good parentage is! Thank you, Mom, for all your help and especially for the home made cookies and bread and a clean toy room. I love you! Love, Megan

So. I've decided to be a parent. Yes, I have four kids. Yes, they are ages 6,4,4 and 2. Yes, I have parented before. But not completely consistent. I want to be their friend and this hurts our relationship. So, after reading Child Wise- how to raise your 3-6 year old, I officially have decided to be my children's parent. Not their friend. That will come later. My first test on this was just now. Elizabeth was watching Hannah Montana, which is Y7. She knows that the rules are you have to be at least 7 to watch y7 cable tv. But, she had someone found it and was watching it anyways. Turn the channel, Elizabeth, I told her. We don't watch y7 until we are 7. "Why not?" she whined "Everyone else is doing it." This is not the first time she has said that. "Yes, but we don't and that's the rules." Then she hit me with a hard statement and tried some tears to go along with it. "But, Mom!" she whined "Hannah Montana is just like me...

April 2007, Grandma- who is watching the kids- and Elizabeth Yesterday, at the hospital, on the in-patient side of floor #6 at Montgomery General Hospital (aka Monkey General), we were all asked to state our name and a mantra we live by. I said that I'm Megan (obviously) and that my mantra was "The best is yet to come." A few others were "stuff happens" and "don't worry. be happy." I would say that also if I was an in-patient at the hospital! Seeing what the patients who were omitted are like, I've realized that I haven't gotten bad enough to actually be admitted into the hospital. I like the hospital. The food is good there and the people are nice. I've decided that I will probably do their 0.h.p.- outpatient hospital program- which is only MWF from 9-12:45 pm. next week. Esperanzaa- alady in our ward has a small daycare and could watch them for me, since my Mom leaves tomorrow! There are three levels of care goi...

So, I went to the hospital yesterday, so the dr. could monitor my meds there. I was quite manic and enjoyed myself the whole time. They upped my medicine. What can I say? I enjoyed learning more about their php program there. It did take work and I did cry during their grief and loss session. I had a classmate die during Thanksgiving break when I was at BYU ten years ago. It hit me pretty hard, and I guess I still haven't gotten over it. I gotta go help Elizabeth get ready for school. Chow, Megan Rose

My Father-in-law and my husband, two of the important men in my life! April 2006 Could bi-polar be a happy way to live? I propose that it can be. I've mentioned that I am bi-polar to all of my 2oo something friends on facebook Then I found out that three other people I know are also bi-polar. I guess the statistics that out of 250 people 2 or 3 would be bipolar is a pretty good statistic. Earlier, before I was diagnosed and it was hinted at, I told Josh that I didn't want to be bi-polar. Not today. Not now. He came back with a terrific comment. It's almost for his reactions to my problems that I married him. So, he said "But if you are bi-polar wouldn't you want to get help for it." Yes. Yes, I do. I'll keep you all posted on my recovery and progression. Love, Megan Rose p.s. Thank you to those who have given me service through out my diagnosis and recovery. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

"Ni How" That means hello in Chinese. "Ni How ma"That means how are you in Chinese. "Seven jo!" That ten minutes of massage. I'm addicted. To what you may say-chocolate? Yes, but the blog is not about the 3 pound bag of ghiradhelli dark chocolate baking chips I have in my cupboard right now. It about a massage parlor. Located in my near by mall. They charge a crazy amount- ten dollars for ten minutes, considering that in China they charge ten dollars an hour. I first got a massage after I worked out with a free trainer at golds gym. I was so sore after that that not even motrin could touch my pain. So intsead of working out more- which hurt a lot- I went to the mall and got a ten minute massage and fell in love. With the friendly people there, although no one speaks any English, including my favorite masseuse- I can't even remember his name, but I know that when I go there I don't want a whimpy girl doing my massage for me, I want this massuese...

Jen, helping me make pizza! March 2009 My Parents have been encouraging me to see a Dr. Amen (www.amenclinics.com). He has an office in California and they just found out that they have one in Reston, Virginia also- a 38 minute drive from my house. Dr. Amen is a nurologist that uses brain scans to help solve people's mental issues. What do you guys think? Go or not go? I'll definitely be at Montgomery General this afternoon for an intake interview. Wish me luck- I haven't been to a hospital in a long time- not counting Wednesday!!! This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.

Ethan, Easter time, 2007, Age 3 Say your dr. agrees with you that a hospital visit would help you out. Say you finally learn that you are indeed bi-polar, with manic tendencies. My question for you is this- what do you wear when you are going to an outpatient program at your nearest available hospital? Jeans and a t-shirt, or will that make you seem to normal? Your best blouse and pant set? No, too professional. I settled for comfy jeans, a black sirt, my favorite purple hoodie and a silver ball and chain type necklace. That's what I wore to the hospital yesterday. They sent me home, telling me to go to a hospital that was closer So, now I have to do the dressing thing all over again! Do I wear the same outfit, since it's new people that I will be meeting at Montgomery General (aka monkey general) or do I just switch up the t-shirt. That's what I'll do- just switch the t-shirt! This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.

It's funny living in the East, with Eastern standard time. There are some positives and negatives to it. Positive: I get to read e-mails before most people are even awake. 2. I get to blog before most people are awake also so it always surprises them when I've blogged already today- like today! Negative: I can't call anyone at 9 am when I am stressed out, since it would be 6 am in California where my Parents, sister Larissa and brother Tommy live, or it would be 7 am in Utah where my other two sisters live, as well as in Missouri where my twin sister lives. Bleh. Hope you all have a good morning! I've already been up since 5 am and that would be 2 or 3 am your time! Love, Megan

Funny statement about the economy's current status or lack thereof. Disneyland, who wants to come with me some day next year? My future wheels- Mazda Miata, original body, red with a tan soft cover top. Oh, baby! So, I'm into positive affirmations lately. They are normally things like "I am lovable." " I am capable."and "Dog-gone it people like me." Lately they have changed to "I am in California." "I am at Disneyland." "I will have a million dollars when I turn 40." " I will have a Mazda Miata by the time I'm 50." Are these unreasonable demands to ask from the universe/world? I don't think so! This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.

Elizabeth and Asher, St. Pattys Day 2009 Jonah in Green! Twinners! They are almost 5!!! Aaaaahhh! Happy St. Patrick's Day, Everyone!!! Kiss us, We're Irish!!! Love, Josh, Megan, Elizabeth, Ethan, Jonah and Asher

Did I take this or Elizabeth? I can't remember! So, we had a wonderful day yesterday: Church, family over for some good shrimp fettucine with pistachio pudding and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. One thing I could have improved on was estimating how much milk we had left. We had almost a full gallon, so I thought that would be enough for 12 people, plus breakfast for six the next morning. Actually Monday is usually oatmeal day at our house, so a little milk left is fine for oatmeal, but not cereal. Asher woke up early crying and I was tired from taking care of him and some pots and pans were dirty from yesterday, so I decided on cold cereal for breakfast. Hmm. Enough milk for most but not for all. Josh got up and I went to the store to get some milk, along with a carrot and vegetable broth, for Ethan and Jonah's preschool stone soup they are making this morning. I went in and then out of Giant, getting all the things I needed, and then some. As I got to the car, with groce...

Ethan, March 2009, with his collection of Valentines Day Pencils I found this picture on my camera a few days ago. Looks like Elizabeth's art work- not mine! I don't normally blog on Sundays, but I woke up at 6:15 this morning and I already have showered, read my scriptures, dressed, made Cooked oatmeal with raisins, nuts and cinnamon out of a bed and breakfast cookbook my Mom made me (by the way, Josh and I decided we wouldn't want to own a b and b- just stay at one!) and unloaded the dishwasher, so here I am. I'm also downloading pictures off my camera. Two weeks ago, Jen- Josh's sister came to visit. She lives in Ponca City, Oklahoma and was here to help me clean and organize and help out and put together things for me. Ellen-Josh's other sister and mine as well- was here the week before to do the same thing. As Jen and Josh drove to the airport, they spoke about how my work is too much for one person to do! Yay! Finally some sympathy! They talked about how m...

Alma 7:23 Be: -Humble -Submissive -Gentle -Easy to be entreated -Full of patience and long suffering -Temperate in all things(not hot or cold!) - Diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times. -Ask for whatsoever you need, both spiritual and temporal -Return thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive. -Have faith, hope and charity- then ye will always abound in good works (vrs. 24) This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.

Of sending out an Easter letter this year, because I didn't send out a Christmas Letter for Christmas 2008. What do you guys think? Would you like an Easter card and letter from us, the Abbotts? If so, leave your name and address below and I may send you one. I may even buy a new stamp set from stampin' up, just to spruce things up. Get it spruce? Christmas/Easter card? Megan p.s. check out this website, just for fun: www.apple.com/ipodshuffle/features.html?cid=CDM-US-DM-iPod-C0009228-139923&Email_PageName=C0009228-139923-c5&Email_OID=472877&cp=139923&sr=em

3/11/09 Have you ever had a mood swing that lasted all day and that changed by the hour? This is my life right now. Yesterday I was ecstatic and high on life. For about an hour. The next hour I was depressed and felt that life was not worth living. Today? Same thing. Good thing I have an appointment to go see my dr. tomorrow. Good thing God invented Chocolate. That seems to boost my low mood up to a higher altitude. What a crazy thing life is! This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott. p.s. what chocolate am I eating you ask? Dove dark with blueberries crisp from the fridge and bought by my chocolate loving Mom. Like Mother like Daughter.

3.10.09 Welcome, Ben (www.mytwocansandastring.blogspot.com) and Kristen (www.ineversawthiscoming.blogspot.com) The two newest bloggers in the family of Joshua Wight Abbott. Ben is Josh's youngest brother by five years and Kristen is Josh's second oldest sister by some years also. Ben lives in SLO, Cali with the Parents (found at www.lloydandjudy.blogspot.com) and is an actor. He attends PCPA and has applied to BYU for next year and some other schools (if I'm wrong in any of these points, please do correct me.) Ben returned from an LDS mission and has been studying acting ever since. Kristen lives with her husband and eight sons in Paso Robles, California, near Hilary, one of Josh's other sisters. Kristen and Hilary are mostly responsible for the fact that all good boy names are now officially taken- Jacob, Luke, Spencer, Christopher, Jonathan, Peter. No, James and John aren't taken, but James is a cousin and John is my Dad. So, if we have any more boys, I will be na...

3.9.09 I know it's early- 5:15 am, but I just had to write. I'm currently taking a medicine that causes me to sleep like a rock- not a baby, since babies don't sleep through the night usually. This has been wonderful for me, but hard on Josh. Fifteen minutes ago, I woke up to a screaming Jonah. His nightlight had- for some random reason- gone out. I said, or politely yelled "Josh!". Josh startled and quickly got up to give aid to Jonah. My medicine is interesting. It makes me have sleep patterns like the family I married into- Josh's family. I go to sleep fast, I stay asleep heavily and then it takes me about 30- 45 minutes to wake up. It's wild! The negative side effects of this medicine is that I am often very hungry and have already gained 2-3 pounds this week. So, this is the dilemma- stay on the medicine and get good sleep and fat. Or...get off the medicine and sleep poorly and be skinny . Hmm ...As the Abbotts would say- tough decision (with a frenc...

Sunday. March 8th. 2009. I went online and enjoyed reading other's blogs today. Your blogs have sparked a creative fire in me- a warm glow of desire. The desire to write. Where better to write than in an on-line journal, only available to my close friends and family, on a private blog? So, hence the name change. No longer is this blog entitled "Pink Panda" after my favorite color and animal. It is now entitled "Happiness" and through the title change and content change, I hope to learn how to write. Let me know of any errors in grammar, punctuation, format, etc. that you find in the body of my work. I have a Bachelors Degree from BYU in Elementary Ed., but they sure didn't teach me the fine art of grammar- as you can plainly see. So, break out those old, dusty files in your head labeled "grammar" dated from one, five, ten, fifteen or even twenty or thirty years ago, and help edit my writing. I will be writing in this blog every night as part of a b...

Check out the new pictures from February! What a fun, crazy, busy month we had! http://picasaweb.google.com/joshmeganabbott/February2009# Love, Megan

Ethan and Jonah, 11 months old, Provo, Utah 2005 This morning I feel very groggy and still half asleep. Jen is taking Elizabeth to school for me, until I feel more like myself. I went to the dr. yesterday. He told me that I am a wonderful patient. I don't miss appointments, I take the medicine as prescribed and I am very willing to do whatever they ask of me. It's true. I so long to get better that I am willing to do almost anything to get there. Even if it means taking medicine. Even if it means giving up my child bearing years. I am determined and I know that course of action to follow through personal prayer, scripture study, blessings from Josh and support from Dad Abbott, Josh, Ellen, Jen, Craig and Ellen, my Relief Society President and my Visiting Teachers. Thank you everyone! My next dr. appt. is on next Thursday. Here's to hoping that all goes well until then. Love, Megan Rose Hulihan Abbott

Tommy is my oldest younger brother. My family consists of seven children and he is the fourth child, after Larissa and Molly and I (we are fraternal twins). He is three years younger than me, so I won't say exactly how old Tommy is today! Happy Birthday, Tommy! I know your wife calls you Thomas and in your job you are probably called "Hulihan", but to me you are, and always will be Tommy. Isn't that so cool that you share the first name with the Prophet of Christ's restored Church, President Thomas S. Monson. Wow! Hope you have a good one! Love, Megan p.s. can I just send blog shout outs from now on to the birthday peeps? Happy Belated b-day Cash. Happy Upcoming b-day Grandma Betty! I better send her a card, since she doesn't read my blog!

http://www.loveboxes.blogspot.com/ My absolute favorite blog to read. I read it everyday- when she posts! Tiffany is artistic, amazing, creative, lives in Kaysville and sends fun little stuff in her packages when you buy something from her. She paints little boxes and dolls and sells them through www.etsy.com. My other absolute favorite sistes- ok, so I have many and could spend hours on-line just browsing. It's dangerous for me actually. Good thing Josh has all my creidt card info. Except for on amazon.com. or else it would be off the wagon of shopping addicts anonymous. (saa). This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.

No school today, shout hooray! Lots of snow More to go Here and there Everywhere. Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss. I don't know How old you are, But happy birthday, Near and Far. This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott. p.s. don't you just love rhymes and Dr. Seuss? Anyone know how old he would be if he was alive today?