The Mercado Family



Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Behind the Scenes

About a year and a half ago, while on a road trip listening to one of our favorite cds, Dog Train, my kids had decided that they wanted to perform a dance and lip sync to the Don't Give Me That Broccoli song, at our next ward talent show. I kind of got excited too and we shared some ideas and then forgot about it. 6 months later, we found out there was going to be a ward talent show, so we got all excited and put together something that we practiced a few times. The talent show ended up being postponed due to lack of interest, so we sadly put aside our act. It was finally rescheduled for last weekend, about 9 months later. We were so happy to know we could practice and perform it finally! Luckily, everyone remembered what we had practiced before, so we didn't have to do much. We added a couple of new ideas and practiced on the church stage and felt ready!

We're very happy that Erik and I were able to make the performance. He had a rash and fever the night before (not a good combo!) and I was sure I was going to have to have someone take my place and that he just wouldn't be in it. I talked to a nurse and to my sister (nurse in training) on Friday night. I was prepared to take him in Saturday morning to see the doctor, but my prayers of the night before had been answered. When I returned from my run Saturday morning, he was totally fine. No rash, no fever and he hasn't since then. It was definitely the weirdest and most short-lived thing ever. No one in his class had anything related to a rash, nor has since.

Needless to say, we all got to perform and I was so pleased with how it turned out! I couldn't believe that Erik actually went through with it! I thought for sure he would change his mind. The only hitch was the fact that I said my line, " ...and here's your broccoli..." just as the curtains had finished opening. I guess the music crew couldn't hear my cue, so I dished up a lot of broccoli while we waited! I thought there was maybe a problem with he music, but the kids stayed right in character. I was so proud of them! And Jason was hilarious!

If you haven't seen it on facebook yet, here it is!


Friday, February 24, 2017

Daddy Dates

Jason has been able to take the kids on some pretty fun outings lately. He and Austin went to the Blue and Gold banquet for Austin's scout troop. Austin didn't get any awards by then yet, but he had earned his Bobcat. Even though they didn't sit together (the packs sat together), I think Austin enjoyed going somewhere with Jason alone and he enjoyed the food there.

 Jason took both the boys to a scout outing to the Botanical Gardens where they made terrariums. They all had a great time and Jason was able to spend time with them at one of my favorite places to go with the kids!
Austin is the one with the paper on his terrarium and Erik has the white on. 


Karissa got to go to the daddy daughter dance with Jason, aka Butterfly Ball. It was the community one she went to last year since they don't have one at her school. Victoria is too old for it now!



Victoria and Jason went to a Red Wings game the other day. Since she got a 3.0 her first quarter at school, she qualified for a free ticket to the game. She was pretty excited and I think Jason was excited to go as well, since he hasn't been to see the Red Wings.


We all got to go ice skating a few weeks ago with a deal through groupon. It's always a blast to go ice skating with my family!


Erik went by himself, on the walker, later.



Bethany came with us.


Austin was enjoying speeding around with the walker.


Karissa was looking good on those skates!

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Once There Was a Snowman

We've had the craziest weather this January and February! It's either unusually warm and rainy (warm: in the 40s or 50s) or pretty cold, with wind chills below 15, meaning no one gets to go outside at school. The cold days aren't near as cold as we've had previous winters, but they feel really cold when it's 45 one day and then 20 the next with those wind chills. We haven't had much snow, but we finally got a good snow storm a couple weeks ago that gave us some good packing snow a few days later.

In all my 10 years living here with kids, I have to say that I've never made a "real" snowman before. Yes, many times we have gone out pushed a bunch of snow together and tried really hard to make a tall snowman, but they end up being more like snow hills with hats, scarves, and faces. Don't get me wrong, we have loved them and named them, but we just never had one that we rolled. Actually, a few years ago Victoria did with Bethany, but I wasn't outside and I missed it! I always blame the fact that I grew up in California and never learned the art of building a snowman. Everyone tells me you have to have to right packing snow, which happens on a slightly warmer day, I have learned. I think I've always gone outside the wrong days. Finally, a couple weeks ago, we went outside after school and rolled the snow. It worked! It rolled and rolled and we became rolling fools! We made the biggest snowman ever! Victoria made the bottom, Austin made the middle, and I made the head. It took Victoria and I to pick up the middle, it was so heavy. Karissa helped with forming and sculpting it just right at the end. It was great!
We named him Sherlock. 

He was even taller than me!

 Now, it has melted.
All gone...

At least it was sunny and nice on Valentine's day! It's a different story today- icy and cold. 

Jason spoiled me with these beautiful roses and my favorite- chocolate covered strawberries! He gave the girls their own bouquets as well. The boys got balloons and they all got their favorite candy. I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast and we had a delicious cod, shrimp, and tomato Italian dish. It was a pretty busy evening, though, so we were happy to eat together and for the cards and gifts we exchanged. Some of my kids were very generous and kind with their gift giving. No money spent, but favorite toys were exchanged, it was very sweet. I have been somewhat moody this week, but we have had some good moments in between my nagging spells.
That was our picture a couple of years ago. This was our 18th Valentine's Day together. It's right when we started dating 18 years ago.


The girls got fun socks from me, but I know the flowers were their favorite!
The boys got a some lego guys from me, but they sure loved the balloons!
February is halfway over, hooray!

Monday, February 6, 2017

Story of My Ear

About 30 years ago was the first time my ear drum ruptured. I remember it very well- where I was sitting and what I was wearing, since the pain was so intense. I would say it's definitely more painful than childbirth or running a marathon. Think of a bad ear infection and multiply it a few times. It draws you to tears!

It was fixed a couple of times, but I have the hole still, Each time it ruptured it was just about as painful as the first. The doctor used to say I couldn't get water in it ever or I would lose all hearing in that ear. I've lost some hearing. I have gotten water in it here and there, but I'm usually pretty careful. Since we have moved here to Michigan, some doctors have said that a drop of water is bigger than the hole, so it wouldn't make a difference. Some doctors have said that the hole "wants" to be there because it keeps coming back. Maybe it's helping with drainage (think of a tube in some one's ear). I've gotten lazy while here and not seen the specialist to get it cleaned out every time. Sometimes the regular doctor has done it, which was always a mistake. The specialist uses a vacuum, which hurts and always made me cry when I was a kid, I dreaded it. However, when it's done at the regular doctor's office, they shoot water in it, which makes it pop and fizzle. It's like acid being shot into my ear. I think it hurts even more than the vacuum. Plus, it's water, so every time I go there (I've only done it twice and I forgot about how bad it was when I returned the second time) it takes my ear a few days to recover, or more, from getting cleaned out. I basically get an ear infection just from getting my ear cleaned out.

Before Erik was born, so over 5 years ago, I looked into another ear plug. (The putty plugs do nothing!) I have always wanted to do a triathlon, but I need a better plug. I did a duathlon years ago and it was great (run, bike, run), but I want to try something different, just to challenge myself. When I looked into the ear plug years ago, I found out that they make them for your ear specifically. It's made of silicone. they cost $100. I had decided when I would have to time to get to a pool, not an easy thing around here at the most convenient times for me, and when my kids were old enough for me to get away for that training, then I would get the ear plug and do it.

Last Tuesday I got my plug fitted so I can do my first sprint triathlon this summer! It should be here in another week. I just hope it's worth it. The fitting was awful! My ear is still recovering, 6 days later, though it's almost back to normal (normal for me). She pushed a bunch of foam in my ear and then filled it with putty. It went in farther than the plug will so it could get the full measurement of my ear canal. She left it in there for 3 minutes. It hurt the whole time. I think it surprised her that it hurt me so much. She said it was probably because of the pressure. My ear killed that night, was draining all sorts of stuff onto my pillow (I know, gross!), and clogged right up, like it always does when I have an infection. It is still ringing slightly and slightly clogged, but luckily the ringing has abated a ton.

I'm excited for my ear plug and can't wait to start swimming! I hope the ear plug works well enough for me to just swim some laps without getting water in it.

 I can't complain too much about my ear since this has been my only big health issue I've had to struggle with. My doctor says I'm the "healthiest person he's ever met", so I should be grateful for that, and I am!