Alpine Slide

the Family Picture . . .

We had a company party at Snowbird tonight - for J.D.'s work. It is beautiful up there this year - still a bit of snow, which is a little unusual, but our winter was more normal than it has been in awhile and I'm sure the snow level is more normal too. We had a great dinner, and then got to ride the alpine slide, which Master S thought was great - "like real live Mario Kart" he said . . . J.D. kept warning him to watch out for the turtle shells (he was behind him). So, we got a family picture - I thought I'd post it for those of you who are anxious to see what 10 years looks like on us :) Hopefully not too bad - a little extra weight, but we have beautiful kids to show for it! I keep reminding myself that time will take it off, (the weight that is) and well maybe a little walking, or more likely running, oh I should just be completely honest -- a heck of a lot of sweating my guts out . . .

10 years of wedded bliss . . .

So, yesterday J.D. and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary! Where does the time go?! We actually got out of the house without children - had a wonderful dinner and came home to chaos, but it was worth it! Our kids were happy and so were we. Amazing how life can crawl at a snails pace and all of a sudden in a blink of an eye 10 years is gone. I have to say that this last 'blink of an eye' has been a huge growing experience for both J.D. and I - and we've learned enough to know that it's just the tip of the iceberg. I'd like to think that we've come a little closer to becoming who we truly are. There is a lot more to learn and become in the next 10 years and all the life that follows. I love Pres. Hinckely's quote about life . . . “Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. “The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride”. What a great blessing it is to have J.D. - for the joys that come from loving, living and working together despite struggles and frustrations, to look past each others flaws and love each other even more despite them, for the beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed that are all that much more exciting because we've gone through the jolts, sidetracks and delays in the process. May the journey continue for years and years to come . . .

Tooth Fairies

Amazingly enough, Master S lost his first tooth while he was in the hospital, the second time around. And we were lucky enough to discover that even in the hospital the tooth fairy visits :) Of course she might be called a tooth fairy nurse or a tooth-childlife fairy, they need special training to work in the hospital, but they exist all the same, and they give very generously - a specimen cup full of quarters. The tooth fairy at home is going to have to do some major work to come up with that kind of cash for the next tooth (which came out today - courtesy of Master S' new found 'brave' & courageous spirit! When you've been through 8 IV sticks in the last two weeks, its a lot easier to be brave while pulling a tooth out!) All in all, our stay at Primary's was a black cloud with a sliver lining, as most difficult things in life are. We learned a lot about our 'brave' and incredibly 'silly' 6 year old - he loves to make people laugh, he loves to joke around, he hates IV pokes, and stomach aches and he loves his mom more than his dad -- well, at least that is what he is saying today. I'm sure it will be different tomorrow, but it is always wonderful to hear "you are the best mom in the whole world" and "I love you more than anything". There were definitely times over the last few weeks when I felt like I was anything but the best mom - it is so difficult to know what is best, when it is best and how it is best when you have a child in the hospital (heck, that's hard just with normal life!) - and you never have enough time for all your children to meet all of their needs. But, it is nice to know that one of your children is noticing that you are at least trying. I think through this whole experience that I've learned once again that we are all here to help each other. None of us can get through this experience of life without the help of others and if we are willing to recognize that and embrace that we will experience a life much more rich, exciting and wonderful than anything we could have accomplished on our own. From the people who helped with our other kids, who came at a moments notice, who fed & rocked an unhappy 4 month old, who brought in meals, mowed lawns and listened to me cry, to the people at the hospital who provide music therapy (an incredible hour of music, forgetting, and healing for children and parents alike), to the child life specialist who helped Master S get out some BIG frustrations (pinching by IV starts, hurting tummy, difficulty walking & going to the playroom) by using syringes as water guns and making a homemade target of fears and frustrations to shoot them at, to the nurse who took the time to talk to me and Master S, to be on top of his pain and make him laugh when he didn't feel like it, and even the other kids in the hospital who shared the nintendo in the playroom when they didn't have to and talked to Master S, or who were willing to play with Master S when he asked them. All of us want to be validated and appreciated as people no matter what we are doing or experiencing and when we help each other and just look for ways to make life a little easier for each other not only do we validate others, but we also in the process validate ourselves. We discover that we are truly important, that we are truly children of God with a purpose and reason for being here and that we can do GREAT things by doing small things, to bless the lives of others. What a blessing to have each other - what a blessing to have tooth fairies in our life no matter where we are!

Another visit . . .

Well, Master S went back to the ER at Primary's on Saturday night and Sunday morning was in surgery again. He developed an abscess and had to get 'cleaned out' and will be on another round of antibiotics for several days. We are hoping to get out of there by mid-week, but we'll see what happens. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers - we need them right now!!!

Stomach Ache Ambulance Ride . . .

Well, it has been an adventurous last few days and a Memorial Day we will never forget! Master S had a stomach ache Sunday morning, and of course his mom made him go to church - - - having a nurse for a mom is just the pits sometimes, no sympathy! But, we ended up coming home early because he just wasn't feeling well. So, later that afternoon, J.D. took him to the Urgent Care Clinic because he had a fever too. They did a strep test, but no positive and in the process he threw up and wet his pants, so they couldn't do a urine test - thinking it might be a bladder infection. J.D. brought him home, and went to the store for some clear fluids (apple juice and Popsicles), put Master S to bed and we tried to sleep. But, he moaned all night long and needless to say, no one slept in the house. In the morning I gave him some Motrin, J.D. took the urine sample to urgent care and we waited. He seemed to feel better, so I took off shopping. About 1 & 1/2 hours later J.D. called, panicked. Master S' pain had spiked and he was taking him to the ER. The urine had come back inconclusive and his pain rebounded. At Jordan Valley Hospital they started an IV, did more tests - blood, urine etc. It is pretty rare to have appendicitis, espeically at 6 years old, so it took them several hours to rule everything out before they knew what needed to happen, plus it takes a few hours to drink the contrast that is used in a CT. Needless to say it was a LONG day at the hospital. Finally they did the CT scan, based on his white blood cell count, which was elevated. At that point I panicked -- another drawback to having a nurse for a mother, either I'm not sympathetic at all or I'm freaking out about the life & death possibilities! Four hours later I was riding in an ambulance with Master S to Primary Children's Hospital with a diagnosis -- ruptured appendix. At about midnight he went into surgery and at 2 am was wheeled into his room in the surgical unit. He was pretty sick for the first 48 hours, but rapidly improved and is finally home!!! YEAH!!! The nurse today, actually said he was discharged in record time -- most kids with a ruptured appendix are there for at least 5 days. Amazingly enough my mom was able to be here for a few days and I don't have to work this weekend, so I can be at home with him. He's got to take it easy for the next two weeks - lots of wii time I'm afraid. But, I'm incredibly grateful for a healthy boy, an amazing Children's hospital and the prayers, blessings, meals and thoughts on our behalf in the process.

Big D's Smiles

SMILE! If you can't raise the corners of your mouth, at least let the middle droop!

I love it when babies smile! And Big D is full of them lately - he even smiles at Miss Lilly when she is being a bugger to him. Crazy kid, he'll regret that later in life :)