Complaint first, then what we are having?!

I don't know about other people, but I am not looking forward to the "universal" healthcare or reform or whatever the government is calling it these days. I am so fed up with the discussions being all about only the Republicans fighting this loosing battle and how anyone against it is a loser. Obama has more power than I thought he would have to control the media coverage so well regarding this healthcare. Most people are against it. Still, those are my feelings and with having problems with State insurance how in the world would I ever support government runned insurance. So, let me get to the problems of State insurance. I feel that if I gave up my citizenship I would not be having any of the problems that I am having now. If I pretend not to speak english, maybe things would be covered. In my interview I informed them that my private insurance was ending on June 30th. They inform me that with my lay off I should have no problems getting on insurance for my pregnancy in July. Only to be informed that my husband miraculously makes $200 extra for the month of July before dropping down to what is reported in June and August. So I am not qualified for July coverage. Then in August they give me a coupon that isn't paying for my prescriptions because I am informed I have private insurance. SINCE WHEN? I INFORMED THEM THAT I NO LONGER HAVE IT?! I finally get that straightened out, only to go get my DIABETIC medicine and be informed I have to pay $50 for 3 of my 5 prescriptions. Can't afford it. Call the state again and they approve the 3 prescriptions. Go and try to pick up the 5 and only can pick up the 3 because only 3 got approved. Now, when I call them they tell me that I need to have a doctor's note explaining why I need these prescriptions, then take it to the pharmacy so they can input the correct codes and then the State will recognize that I am a DIABETIC. I can't inform them that I am a diabetic and just because I am having only diabetic prescriptions they can't figure out for themselves that I am a diabetic. And people want a "universal" healthcare. It will be soo much worse than this.

Now for the good news. Sekona, Lillian and I went for a ultrasound (which I personally hopes get paid for with all the problems I have been having with State). It was in Portland at 7 am. We got there in plenty of time. The ultrasound tech called us in. Started the ultrasound and asked if I was feeling the baby kicking. I told her off and on. Now knowing the tech was doing most of the imaging from lower on the abdomen than I remember Lillian was, I recognize the kicks a whole lot more. The heart looks great, sounds great and the chambers were fine. The baby was moving all the time and was making the ultrasound tech work for the pictures. We saw the head, brain, arms, legs, abdomen, heart, lips, face, spine, skeleton. Sekona and Lillian enjoyed seeing the baby move. Lillian asked if it was ready to come out now. She can't wait for it to be here. The tech told us we are having a BOY! We are excited and apparently Lillian was right from the beginning. She has been telling everyone that she was getting a brother from the start. Now I just have a hard time waiting for the time to pass, since Lillian asks practically everyday if he is ready to come. If she wouldn't ask so much it wouldn't be on my mind so much.

News update!

I guess it is time to let all know that I am pregnant. I am 4 1/2 months, will be due on December 17th. Lillian is telling everyone it is a boy, but we do not know what it is yet. She gets in these moods of where if her frends (who are boys) or boy cousins play too much together and not much with her, she then decides it will be a girl. I have an ultrasound on the 10th of August and hopefully the baby or doctor will be cooperative. Sekona is excited and has told everyone that he can that we are expecting. He gets in these moods where he won't let me exercise then tells me to exercise and then tells me not to do anything hard or for that long at the gym. I am trying water aerobics and think I have finally found one that is close to when Elizabeth taught in Hawaii. I was offered a bumping position, but it was for a lot less hours and no benefits. so I declined. So far the pregnancy is going well. I just feel like a blob, tired and that is nothing new.

I was treated well!

For the end of my job, I was treated pretty well. On the 17th the bus drivers decorated the table where I collect their papers and had presents there for me. I had a present for the baby, present for leaving and my birthday! There was some donated money, gift certificates and I just felt spoiled. Then on my last day--I attended the end of the year office party they gave me a gift for leaving, a gift for my birthday and a gift for the baby (until they know if it is a boy or a girl). I also won a gift certificate playing one of the games. So, for having my last day of work on my birthday wasn't as bad an experience as I thought it would be. Still, it feels unreal that I no longer have a job. I want to thank everyone for their well wishes and birthday wishes. The pregnancy is doing well and nothing major to inform on yet.

Economy strikes the Taufa family!

For those of you who didn't know---Earlier this year due to unforseen circumstances Sekona closed his business down for a year or two. There just weren't any phone calls.

Also, last week I was informed that my position is dissolved and I will no longer be needed after June 18th. Unless something drastic happens and funds come in and they are able to keep me.

Sekona and I feel that the Lord has a different plan for us. We may not know what it is or what it will entail, but we will figure it out.

Time for a Catch up-Spring Break, etc.

Here are Mikaydi, Lilian and Molly enjoying themselves when they came down for Aubrey's wedding. They had so much fun together!

Here are the sweet angels asleep at Granny's house while Lillian and I were up for Spring Break. I was busy making scrapbook pages and was glad to have Lillian entertained by Molly.

Lillian fell in love with this dog named Bear! Bear was one of the Rugby players dog and Lillian babysat the whole game, even asked if Bear could come over for a sleep over?!

We found a dog she isn't afraid of!

Here is Sekona passing off to a teammate that made a try. It was a good way to end Spring Break--with a rugby tournament.

Again here is Sekona running with the ball.

Here is what a scrum looks like.

Here is the beginning of a scrum.

Here are some teammates that Sekona played with.

Easter time!!!! Lillian kept asking when we were heading to Granny's or cousin's house to go Easter egg hunting. She was disappointed this year that she couldn't go. So the Easter Bunny had a little egg hunt in the apartment for her.

Here's her modeling her easter dress! Doesn't she look fabulous.

The last time we went home we stopped off at Multnomah falls for a little break. Lillian loved it.

Here is Lillian taking a picture of the parents! Does pretty well?!

Coloring and the Photo Gallery!

Lillian loves to color and at first would put all her pictures in her drawer. Lately, she wants to display them so everywhere you look there is a colored pictured. My co-workers are suprised at how well Lillian can stay within the lines so well. So, if you come into our house there is a photo gallery in the kitchen, living room and her bedroom walls. Maybe I will get a chance to take a picture and post it. JUST AS I POSTED THIS--I WALK OUT AND LILLIAN IS TAKING DOWN ALL HER PICTURES AND PUTTING THEM AWAY.

I Don't want green!

I was watching a TV commercial the other day and I realized I don't want green! Of course, it didn't hit me until the end of the commercial. It was a catchy little commercial about buying a "green" car. Everyone in the commercial was talking how everyone wanted "green" and how great it was. Sorry, but I don't want "green"! I haven't seen a vehicle out there that has proven to be efficient, cost worthy, warranty wise any better than a regular car. True some claim to have more miles per gallon. Still, I don't want "green".

Socko?

I don't really understand the word, but lately Lillian has come up with this word: Socko. Now when I ask her what it means, she tells me she doesn't know or know where she heard it. Part of me thinks she made up the word from listening to Sekona talk tongan, but I can't be sure that she didn't make it up while playing with friends. The only thing I do know is that she uses the word in a "name calling" way. Sekona and I have asked her not to use the word anymore but she uses it more and more now. Does anyone out there know the meaning of socko?

Here's a tag!

A--Attached or Single: Attached to Sekona

B--Best Friend: Boy--Sekona, Girl--Jenny

C--Cake or Pie: Depends on how it is made, but like both

D--Day of Choice: In high school it was Thursday, now probably Friday or Saturday

E--Essential Item: Cell phone, car keys

F--Favorite Color: Red

G--Greatest Accomplishment: Graduating from college, getting sealed in the temple, having Lillian

H--Hometown: Mattawa

I--Indulgences: Books, Internet, Chocolate

J--January or July: July

K--Kids: Lillian 4 years

L--Life is incomplete without: the gospel and family

M--Marriage Date: 11/20/97

N--Number of Siblings: 4 brothers, 1 sister

O--Oranges or Apples: Oranges

P--Phobias or fears: Disappointing love ones, sugar cane spiders, Lillian being kidnapped

Q--Quotes: "Stay out of bed, that is where people die. ”

R--Reason to Smile: Sunshine, Sekona and Lillian, a good book, hanging out with friends

S--Season: Between Fall or Summer--I love the fall leaves, fog, and the brisk air of fall. I love the sun, all the green and being outdoors for summer.

T--Tag 5 Friends: Elizabeth, Amanda, Vaitare (sorry on the spelling), Stacy, and Crystal.

U--Unknown fact about me: I can't stand paying a bill late, and I have to balance my checkbook once a month.

V--Very favorite store: For Lillian and Sekona--Kohl's, for me I guess Lane Bryant

W--Worst habit: Eating sweets when I'm stressed, shouting at Lillian when my sugars are dropping, saying "whatever" when I'm too frustrated to deal with it.

X--X-ray or Ultra Sound: Ultrasound

Y--Your favorite food: Potatoes

Z—Zodiac: Gemni

8's questions tag

8 TV shows I watch:

1. Grey's Anatomy

2. Private Practice

3. House

4. Bones

5. NCIS

6. Fringe

7. Lie to Me

8. Ghost Whisperer

8 Things that happened yesterday:

Went to church

Gave a lesson

Took a nap

Watch TV

Put music on Sekona's mp3

Played "I spy" computer game with Lillian

Read "ISSA's Fitness Program book"

Ate faikakai

8 Things looking forward to:

1. Getting paid

2. Going to the gym on Wednesday

3. Lillian's haircut tomorrow

4. Getting out of debt

5. Having a house

6. Going to the temple

7. Going on vacation

8. Losing weight

8 Things on my wish list:

1. Have a house

2. Be out of debt

3. Watch Lillian grow up and get married

4. Have another baby (if possible)

5. Have retirement

6. Be healthy

7. Keeping my testimony strong

8. To be safe

8 Things Sekona did yesterday:

1. Slept in

2. Got ready for church

3. Taught a lesson

4. Took a nap

5. Ate pig, tapioca, faikakai

6. Talked on the phone (tongan)

7. Drove to church

8. Played with Lillian

8 People I tag:

1. Debbie

2. Korbi

3. Tiffani

4. Katie

5. Elizabeth

6. Kristen

7. Crystal

8. Lauren

Lillianism's

Lillian and I were heading home from the gym, passing a dairy or feedlot when:

L: Mommy, know where milk comes from?

M: where?

L: The man pours the milk down the cows throat and the cow gives us milk.

M: Close but not exactly right.

Lillian and I discussing President's day and why I am not at work:

L: You're not going to work mom?

M: No, remember today is President's day.

L: Where are my presents mom?

M: You don't get presents on President's day.

L: Remember mom, on holidays it is nice to give everyone a present. So, where is my present? Are you mad at me mom?

M: No, I am not mad at you. It's not presents day, but President's day--like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln's birthday.

L: They get presents how come I don't?

M: I'm sure they did, but it isn't that kind of holiday.

This is Tuesday:

L: Where you going mom?

M: I have to go to work.

L: Why mom? Why can't you stay home, you didn't go to work yesterday.

M: Remember yesterday was a holiday and now today I get to go to work.

L: Oh, so you don't work on Wednesday?!

M: Yes I do--Monday, Tuesday, Wed, Thursday, and Friday unless there is a holiday like on Monday.

L: Do you have to go to work?

Valentine's Tag

♥ How long have you been together? 11 years

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating? A few hours.

♥ Who asked who out? He asked me.

♥ How old are each of you? He is 37 and I am 34.

♥ Whose siblings do/did you see the most? Mine.

♥ Do you have any children together? One

♥ What about pets? We discuss it, but I am afraid of him eventually eating one.

♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? Finance

♥ Did you go to the same school? No.

♥ Are you from the same home town? No. Not even the same country.

♥ Who is the smartest? He says I am, but I think he is smart as well.

♥ Who is the most sensitive? I think I am, but he has his moments.

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? We rarely eat out as a couple, his favorite is King's Buffet or Chipotle orRed Robin or Ruby Tuesday (but mostly King's).

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? Australia (with my sister, her friend and a niece).

♥ Who has the craziest exes? Has to be him, I never dated before him.

♥ Who has the worst temper? Me.

♥ Who does the cooking? He makes mostly his own breakfast. I cook usually the larger meal when I cook.

♥ Who is more social? About the same, maybe more him.

♥ Who is the neat freak? He loves the place to be clean, but doesn't usually do the cleaning. I love the place to be organized and struggle with keeping it the way I like it.

♥ Who is the more stubborn? I'm not sure.

♥ Who hogs the bed? He definetly him.

♥ Who wakes up earlier? He does.

♥ Where was your first date? Walk around Laie and to the gazebo behind the temple.

♥ Who has the bigger family? I do.

♥ Do you get flowers often? Not really, but when I do get them they mean a lot.

♥ Who is more jealous? Neither of us.

♥ How long did it take to get serious? About 2 or 4 days, but nothing official for 2 weeks.

♥ Who eats more? Him.

♥ Who does/did the laundry? I do a lot of it, but when he wants something clean he will do it.

♥ Who’s better with the computer? I would have to say I am.

♥ Who drives when you are together? He does.

Tag! You're it!

LUCKY YOU!

Lucky you!The first FIVE people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!

2- What I create will be just for you.

3- It'll be done this year. (might be a little while)

4- You have no clue what it's going to be.It may be a story. It may be poetry, shoes, bags, or a little invention of my own! I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

Believe me... it may blow your mind!The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Coloring and Stories!

I need to get some pictures of Lillian's coloring. She is getting pretty good, if I say so myself. She doesn't trace, just stays within the lines. She loves bold colors! She is constantly asking me to color with her, which I have fun doing except when she picks out what picture I can do.

She loves the story of Goldilocks and the three bears! She was requesting that I tell her a story and that one popped into my mind. Now it doesn't matter if she is going to bed or not she wants to hear the "Papa bear story" or "Goldilocks". She varies on what it is called. Even when I am done she is requesting that I tell it to her again!

Everyone needs to do before they die

I have marked the ones I have done in Bold! (put * by “sort of” ones)

Started your own blog

Slept under the stars

Played in a band

Visited Hawaii

Watched a meteor shower

Given more than you can afford to charity

Been to Disneyland

Climbed a Mountain

Held a praying mantis

Sang a solo

Bungee jumped

Visited Paris

Watched a lightening storm at sea

Taught yourself an art from scratch

Adopted a child

Had food poisoning

Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

Grown your own vegetables

Slept on an overnight train

Hitch hiked

Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

Held a lamb

Gone skinny dipping (* does it count if it was see through)

Run a Marathon

Seen a total eclipse

Watched a sunrise or sunset

Hit a home run

Been on a cruise

Seen Niagara Falls in person

Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (*went to where my great grandparents use to live)

Seen an Amish community

Fired a rifle, shotgun or pistol

Seen Michelangelo’s David in person

Sung karaoke

Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

Bought a stranger a meal

Visited Africa

Walked on a beach by moonlight

Been transported in an ambulance

Had your portrait painted

Gone deep sea fishing

Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

Kissed in the rain

Played in the mud

Gone to a drive-in theater

Visited the Great Wall of China in person

Started a business

Taken a martial art class

Visited Russia

Served at a soup kitchen

Sold Girl Scout cookies

Gone Whale Watching

Got flowers for no reason

Donated blood, platelets, or plasma

Gone sky diving(*does gliding count)

Visited a Nazi concentration camp

Bounced a check

Flown in a helicopter

Saved a favorite childhood toy

Visited the Lincoln Memorial in person

Eaten Caviar

Pieced a quilt

Stood in Times Square

Been fired from a job

Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

Been on a speeding motorcycle

Seen the Grand Canyon in person

Published something (*does doodle magazine count from elementary school)

Bought a brand new car

Walked in Jerusalem

Visited the White House

Had chickenpox

Sat on a jury

Met someone famous (Met Elder Thomas S Monson, President Gordon B Hinckley was at my Graduation, famous pianist Vladimar K-something)

Joined a book club

Lost a loved one

Had a baby

Seen the Alamo in person

Swam in the ocean

Owned a cell phone

Been stung by a bee

Seen Mount Rushmore in person

Learned to play an instrument (then forgot mostly how)

Held a tarantula

Touched an iceberg

Changed a baby’s diaper

Taken a trip in a hot air balloon

Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment

Had a food fight

Screamed as loudly as you possibly can

Ridden a roller coaster

Visited all 50 states

Taken a road trip

Milked a cow

Been in a movie

Crashed a party

Made cookies from scratch

Gotten a tattoo (*a sprayed on tattoo)

Rafted the Snake River (*close the Columbia river and another one)

Performed on stage

Been to Las Vegas

Eaten shark

Bought a house

Been in a combat zone

Walked the Golden Gate Bridge

Touched a sting ray

Broken a bone

Ridden a horse

Eaten sushi

Had your picture in newspaper

Gone back to school

Eaten fried green tomatoes

Killed and prepared an animal for eating

Dyed your hair (*tried to dye a piece of hair blond—didn’t work; did the wash out kind)

Caused a car accident

Saved someone’s life

I’m passing this tag onto: Those who have time and are interested in it.

Holdin' back!

This last weekend I bought Lillian a write and wipe "I can Print" book. Also, convinced Sekona to buy a Leap Frog Clickstart for cheap since it was on a good sale. Lillian has been just floating ever since on her ability to recognize her letters and colors! I sat back as she jumped up and down and her face lit so bright as she wrote a letter. A part of me was wondering if I had been holding back her ability to learn! I forget just because she isn't in school, that she is only 4, that she couldn't and shouldn't still be learning. She practiced her name today. We are still working on putting the letters together. I enjoy watching the aspect of learning and sometimes miss and forget that I should challenge myself to continue to learn.