Cozad News Letter 2010

Another Year In The Life of The Cozads

So, another crazy year is behind us. We loved a lot, laughed a lot and learned a lot. So, this year has been a success!!

David & Jenn—Still going to Church, reading books, and enjoying life together. David is still working at the RoomStore. He is working towards his Masters and MBA in Information Sciences at UTA. He is actively looking for a new job in his field of study. David’s goals for 2011 are to find a new job and finish his Master’s Degree. Jenn is enjoying crafting and being a Mom. After 5 years of trying, she learned to crochet this year!! She is also enjoying her calling in Primary. Jenn’s goals for 2011 are to get her Lupus under control through diet and exercise and to read 10 classics she hasn’t previously read.

Carson Jane has grown quite a bit this year. She turned 3 this year. She can count to 40, write her name, and she knows her country, state, city and street. She loves books, games, puzzles and everything Toy Story!! Her favorite place is the zoo. She even took some Saturday Zoo school classes. Hopefully, she will be starting Zoo School classes in the Fall. She loves music and often makes up her own songs. She really wants to learn to play the violin, but has been told she will have to wait until she is older. She is looking forward to playing on her first soccer team in the winter of 2011. Her goals for 2011 are reading, writing and dressing herself.

Jordan is a big 1 year old now. He can walk and is really starting to talk a lot. He is the family bear because he stomps, growls and cuddles just like one!! He is the happiest boy ever. He spends most of his time smiling and laughing. Recently he demonstrated that he has learned most of his colors and some shapes! Such a smarty!! He is stacking blocks and putting Legos together too. He loves music and musical instruments. His best friend is his big sister. He follows her around and tries to do everything she does. His goals for 2011 are learning to go potty on the potty, talking in complete sentences, eating with silverware, learning the alphabet and numbers 1-10, and learning to color.

We are so grateful for our wonderful friends and family. We hope that 2011 brings you good health and great happiness.

Happy New Year!!

David, Jenn, Carson and Jordan Cozad

Starting The New Year Off Right

I know this is supposed to be a blog about crafts. And, I know I haven't blogged for a while. We got the flu. I promise to blog about beaded socks and paper bag masks some time next week. But, I thought this would also be an awesome opportunity to write about my health battles too.
For the past two years my Lupus has been out of control! Previous to my pregnancies, I was in remission. I really didn't think about my Lupus very often. Now, I can't help but think about it. I have been so sick this past year. I have had pneumonia, the flu, countless infections. My joints are squishy and achy. My immune system in non-existent. And, I have no energy at all. Recently I learned that a special diet is helping some people control their symptoms, so I am planning to try using foods to help my health. Interestingly enough, it is a very restrictive diet. I need to eat between 9-12 servings of fruits and veggies per day. No tomatoes. Very little sugar. Very little fat. Like I said, this isn't the easiest diet to follow. But, I feel like I have to. I can't stand feeling like this anymore. And, while the diet is restrictive, I don't think that will be the hardest part. I will want to see the numbers on the scale change. Since I will be on Prednisone, that probably won't happen. The likelihood of losing weight while on steroids is slim to none. In fact, when I asked the doctor what he would do to lose weight while on steroids his reply was, "Wire your jaw shut." In other words, it isn't going to happen. It is tough for me to reconcile that I am going to look the same, and I have to get over it. It isn't about how I look. It is about how I feel. So, I am working on that.
This morning I ate one Omega-3 organic, free range egg and a piece of organic, non-cured, no additives turkey bacon, and a serving of fruit for breakfast. It wasn't bad. It wasn't great, but it wasn't bad. I just have to get used to the fact that my food won't be about eating. It will be like taking vitamins. Anyway, this is going to be my outlet because I know I am going to get frustrated. I know it won't be easy. I also know that if I don't do this then I am going to spend another year miserable and sick. I just can't do it. So between my "fun" new diet and getting up at 5:30 am three days a week for a boot camp class, I will probably be complaining a lot. But, I guess that is alright as long as I am doing the work.

Dinosaur Tails

It is just a week before Christmas now. I looked around at all of the crafts that we have made in the past few weeks and thought, "I want pictures." Then I thought about how everyone asks me about our craft projects and decided to create a blog about it. This can be, for lack of a better word, my new journal. My old journal ran out of pages. Don't you just hate that?! Anyway, I though I would start with the dinosaur tails I made (with the assistance of my good friend, Jenni K) for Carson's dinosaur birthday party. These are incredibly easy to make and inexpensive. I bought white pantyhose for $1 at Walmart. This project requires one pair of pantyhose per child. I had saved newspapers up until I had quite a few. I balled up pieces of the newspaper and stuffed them down one of the pantyhose legs. I did this in a graduating manner. So, the leg was smaller at the bottom and built up into a larger top, so it would resemble a tail. Then I painted the tail. This is the tricky part. I just used regular tempura paints. It took several coats of paint. I would paint one side and let it dry then flip it over and paint the other. It take a couple of days to get the paint just right. Then, when the tail is completed, I tied the non-stuffed leg around the child's waist while positioning the tail in the back of the child. It sounds complicated, but that is because I am not so good with the words!! :) Anyway, they were a total hit!! The kids loved them. They were an inexpensive, unforgettable party favor. I topped them off with foam masks from Oriental Trading Company, and we had dinosaurs running around everywhere. It was great.

Carson and Jordan's tails.

Since Jordan is only 15 months a made a half-tail by only stuffing half of the leg and tying it off lower than normal.

This is a great shot of the graduation in thickness. They really do look like tails!!

This was an incredibly easy craft to do. I would say that it was a bit time-consuming because of the paint, but it was worth it. It set the tone for the whole party. The kids loved them. And, none of the parents had seen them before. I give this craft high marks.

Happy crafting!!