March 1987
We have settled into our apartment, and Jared and I are better from the parasites.
I still have to be careful what I eat. The doctor told me that my stomach lining was damaged, and it might never be the same again. Luckily for Jared, he is so young that he seems to have made a full recovery.
Mom has talked to her Bishop and told them she needs to make her basement into a separate apartment so we can move in. I really don’t want to!
Richard said he has talked to Mom, and this time it will work out because we will have our own space. Richard and Mom agreed that we would pay $250.00 a month. And half of the utilitiesare just like before. That was half of the mortgage payment each month. Richard said if I babysat, we could save up for a house.
When I went to Mom’s place, I was surprised to see all the work that had been done. The members have donated their time, and Mom’s Bishop has donated the material. The basement had everything it needed to make it a separate apartment. Complete with a fridge, stove, and a finished bathroom.
I do not want to move back in! I know Mom too well! Richard told me it would be just until we had saved enough money for a down payment on a house. Since there was an end in sight, I reluctantly agreed.
April 1987
We are now back at Mom’s place. It’s nice to be near Beth again, and Mom has been nice. But who knows how long that will last.
I started to babysit some kids, in my Mom’s words. Richard said I was to give him all the money that I made so that he could put it aside for a house. I agreed as long as I could buy one new dress and some clothes for Jared.
Saturday, July 11, 1987
Bent Ramsdahl drove down from Canada and stayed at Mom’s place.
Mom and Bent seem like they might get back together again.
Saturday, August 8, 1987
I took a cake decorating class. I am excited to decorate Jared’s birthday cake.
Jared will turn 2 on Monday. We had his birthday party a Libertly park.
We had been wanting more kids. And since things were going well at Mom’s place, we decided to have one more child.
September 1987
I am sick from my pregnancy, but not as bad as I had been with Jared. This time, the heat isn’t as bad, and the basement is cool. I am just so tired!
Babysitting is hard because I need to sleep when the kids I babysit take their naps. Jared has outgrown his naps a long time ago. I lie down whenever I can try to rest.
I read stories to Jared so that I could keep him quiet while the kids I babysat slept. Reading to Jared makes me even more tired. The baby was due in May. I felt like May couldn’t come soon enough.
October 1987
Since it didn’t work out with Bent, Mom has gone to a few singles dances to find a husband. She met a really nice man named Arnie. They are engaged and plan to get married next year. I am excited for Mom and for Beth to have a new husband/dad. But I felt sorry for Arnie, because I am sure he has no clue what Mom is really like.
February 1988
Mom and Arnie got married in the Manti Temple. Later that day, Beth, our cousin, Arnie’s daughter, and I decorated the cultural hall. They had a beautiful wedding reception. Arnie’s grown children are all so nice.
Mom and Arnie. The picture was taken just after they were married in the Manti Temple.
A few days after this picture was taken, Bent Ramsdahl sent Mom a picture of us standing outside the Temple. He had driven all the way from Canada and had stood across the street,
Beth was hurt that her dad had been there and never even said hi to her.
Mom’s wedding reception.
March 1988
Mom had a lot of peanuts left over from her wedding. Before nap time, Jared was playing with Legos, and the two 18-month-olds I was watching were crawling around, playing. I leaned back against the sofa and fell asleep.
When I woke up, Jared was still playing with his Legos, and the two babies had crawled over to the kitchen drawer where the peanuts were. They were sitting on the floor, having a good time, eating peanuts. I hurried and put the peanuts up high, out of reach. Man, was I glad they had not choked on them while I had been asleep!
The next day, when I changed their diapers, whole peanuts had come through. I sure hoped it only happened at my place, so their parents wouldn’t worry that I wasn’t watching them. Their parents never said anything, so I hope this was the only time they had pooped out whole peanuts. After this happened, I will make sure never to fall asleep on the job again.
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