Just Us as of Late

Jayden's smile was so contagious in this one.

3 little cuties

CHEESE!

 

Oh Hi Mom.  (I'm about to be shy.)

Yes I'm laughing and being so shy.

Still being shy.

I'm squished in here.

Just chilling.

My nose disappears when I turn sideways. 

Just a cutie!

Giggles about a baby in a box.

More giggles.

I pulled a face and they were trying to copy me.  This was the result.

Ben pulled this face on his own.

Getting teeth.

Yes I'm cute and chubby.

Did you want a bite Mom?  I'll share mine.

Oh wait I'm taking it back!  I'm a tease!

I caught them all with their fingers in their mouths!  Ben and Symi had peanut butter dip and Jayden is teething.

Roseola and Pink Eye

 Poor Symi Girl has been ill lately.  She got pink eye and brought it home from nursery to share.  Ben, Jayden, and now Dane have all had it.  Ben got it twice.  Poor kiddos!  Then afterward Symi got Roseola.  She spiked that high fever and scared us to death!  But she is doing so much better now.  Here are a few pictures of her so sick and how she looks now. 

She was done with pictures.

  


She's trying hard not to smile!


 

She really has a cute little grin.  It's just so hard to get on camera.  She is now back to her spunky, bossy, and quirky self.  It's wonderful to have her feeling better. :)

ifrogz

 Where Christmas was going to be spent on a Sunday.  We decided to call Santa early and ask him to come on Saturday.  We were excited when he agreed.  We woke up early and started to open gifts to each other.  Dane and I were so excited because this is the most that we've gotten for our kids this year.  We thought we were spoiled when a "Secret Santa" left more gifts for us to open on Christmas as well.  We didn't think there was anything more we could ask for.  We had been given so much and were so grateful to all those who thought of us. 

Then it happened.

A quiet knock on the door.  Ben opened the door and gift after gift was brought into our tiny apartment.  More and more started to come.  AND MORE!!  I didn't know if there would be enough room for all of it.  

At first I didn't know what was going on.  Then it hit me that they were bringing in gifts for our family.  For us.  We had done nothing to deserve it and they were blessing us with their thoughtfulness and kindness.

It was a Christmas we will always remember.

 Here is the ifrogz team that brought Christmas to us.  

Ben didn't wait long to start opening gifts.

 Here is a pile of some of the gifts.

 Here is more.

 Here is more on chairs, down our hall way.

We could never thank you enough for what you have given to our little family.  We are so blessed and grateful to be though of.  It has helped us out so much and we are forever grateful to these kind people.  

Thank you just isn't enough.

Unplanned Adventures

Our lives have been full and unexpected.  


Grandma Hepworth came down for a quick visit. We went to the Hardware Ranch and got to go on our annual sleigh ride to see the elk.  Afterwards we had a picnic lunch and enjoyed visiting and spending time with Grandma. 


Symi woke up the next morning with red eyes that turned goopy.  We took her to the Dr's and she had an eye infection (not pink eye) and a some fluid on her ears that was turning into an ear infection.  Antibiotics, eye drops, and some rest later she was feeling better.  Ben caught the eye infection shortly after Symi and was also put on some eye drops.  They were both pretty upset about having to have the eye drops.  


We were grateful to have them both better in time for Aunt Cheyanne and her family to come and visit.  We haven't seen Chloe since she was born and were so excited to be able to see and hold that cute little bug!  The kids had a blast playing with cousins and giggling!  It looked the their bedroom threw up toys, and we laughed when we asked them to clean up and later found it all stashed under the bed.  :)  It's a "new" way to clean up, according to Ben.  We have since talked about it and decided that you can't find your toys if they aren't put away in their right places.  Thanks Cheyanne for the laughs and good time.  :)


That night Symi spiked a high fever of 104.2 * F.  She was very miserable and wanted to be by me.  So Dane slept on an air mattress while she slept with me.  That morning we took her to the Dr's office.  He suspected that she might have a UTI and was given some antibiotics to help combat the high fever and some Tylenol.


We came home and laid her down for a nap because she was soo tired.  Ben crashed and so did Jayden.  GOLDEN opportunity for me to catch a nap as well.  :)  Not long after I heard Symi screaming at the top of her lungs.  I ran to her side and found that she had striped off her socks and pants. (she has never done this before)  I picked her up to try to calm her down and realized that she was extremely HOT!!  I quickly grabbed the thermometer and she had a temp of 107.1* F.  I freaked out and thought that my thermometer was broken!  So I took it again and it was the same.  


I quickly called the Dr back and he said to take her into the ER immediately.  He also instructed us to give her some more Tylenol.  We got there and didn't have to wait to be take back.      They took her temp and she read 104.8.  I was grateful that she had gone down.  The Dr's were still concerned about her fever.  They gave her an IV and also started to run some blood tests.  They did a catheter and got a sample to see if she had a UTI.  She was not happy about the test or the IV.  She was upset that her "bracelet" was on her foot and not her hand.  


We waited and watched all of Finding Nemo.  Some of the test results came back as normal.  Others came back as abnormal.  They thought that she might have leukemia, but another test result came back as negative.  So she doesn't have leukemia, but her immune system is really low right now.  And her body is fighting hard to get better.  


We were released and went home.  She's been pale and not wanting to eat much.  Tortilla's and banana's are a staple food right now.  


On Sunday she broke out in a rash and was still fighting fevers.  She was pretty clingy and has cried over EVERYTHING!  (do you blame her)  The test results all came back this morning and she was diagnosed with Roseola.  So we are hunkering down and staying home for a while.  She is acting better this morning and actually had some breakfast and has finally wanted to drink.  


I guess things come in 3's.  Or in our case just seem to be a steady stream.  Our washing machine died on us yesterday.  I called the Appliance Man.  He said that to fix it would cost the same as getting a new machine.  So we are in the market of getting a new washing machine.  


Despite it all we are doing well and our spirits aren't down yet.  We are all tired and looking forward to naps today.  


We did have a good Valentine's day.  We had pink hot cereal.  Dane came home for lunch because Tuesday's he's gone all day with working and school.  So we had a nice lunch of Porcupine Meatballs and some pudding with heart sprinkles.  We even put a pink table cloth on and had some sparkling cider colored purple.  :)  The kids got small chocolate boxes. Dane got a card and a Bueto's Burrito.  I got some pink tulips and a card too.  It was a good day full of food and fun games with the kids.


p.s. My kidney is doing better.  I'm still sore and having a few problems here and there, but doing better.