Swimming!

(If you look closely you can see Dane's shoulders, Ben, and part of Symi's head.)

There was a discounted night at our local pool. So we took the kids.
After having a baby things have gotten tighter and we haven't been able to get the kids to the pool like we'd hoped. But they swam and had such a good time!
(We left at dusk so most of these pictures look orange, because of the setting sun.)

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from Us!

Symi modeling her Easter Dress.

Ben modeling his Easter Outfit

An attempt at getting Symi to look and smile, and Ben to stop being silly.

It finally worked! (i just won't mention how many pictures I took.)

Finding Hard Boiled eggs.

Success!

Here's another!

Oh right here!

Symi looking at her new "Pretty-Pretty"!

Wearing their new CTR rings!

Ben was thrilled to get Tangled! He couldn't wait to watch the "lizard", horse, and bad guys fight! Along with trying to sing along to songs he doesn't know yet, but soon will. Symi will watch the first few minutes and is done.

New Princess kite!

Ben was excited that he got an Angel Jet Kite!

So I was up all night with spuratic contractions. I was so tired when the kids woke up that I forgot it was Easter morning. Dane was up most of the night with Symi who wasn't feeling well. The kids woke up bright and early. So while I tried to roll over and go back to sleep Dane sent the kids down stairs. We heard lots of squeals and excitement followed by rattling eggs. Suddenly it dawned on us that they were in their Easter stash and we were still in bed. I don't know if anyone's ever seen an 8 1/2 month pregnant woman get out of bed so fast. And move like lightening down the stairs. We got a few pictures, after we put everything back together. It's a memory I hope we treasure. :)

Dying Easter Eggs!

Daddy helping Symi.

The kids with the final product!

Mommy with the final product.

Daddy thought they looked good enough to eat right away!

Ben so excited that he could do it by himself! He cruised through his stash of eggs and was disappointed when it was all done in 5 minutes.

Over all we had a wonderful Easter together. We enjoyed talking about our Savior, attending our wonderful meetings, and coming together with a small nice dinner to share. We then went to the Temple to enjoy some time together and chat about what Easter really is all about. It was a perfectly beautiful day.

Memories

Ben (3) and Symi when she was just a few weeks old.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Who knew that "green pancakes" tasted SOO good! Along with Green Kool-Aid.
Ben made sure that we were all dressed in green too.
He didn't want anyone to get pinched!

Yummy!

Delicious!

For dinner we had Green Chicken Enchiladas, with "Rainbow" salad that Ben made, more green Kool-Aid, and dessert of Grasshopper Pie.
(Ben was worried that we were going to eat Grasshoppers.)

Red Strawberries, Orange Oranges, Yellow Pineapple, Green Kiwi, Blue Blueberries, Purple Plums, and soft White Banana clouds!
(We didn't even have to have Skittles to taste the rainbow!)

Daddy and kids in green. (Symi was giggling so hard.)

Mommy and the kids in green.
(The picture was taken really fast and none of us were ready.)

Daddy always like to pull faces. Here's a classic that he taught our kids!

Hope your St. Patrick's Day was full of fun memories and green!
Because ours sure was!

Looking Through Our Window

Ben doing his chores. He loves to vacuum under the table, stairs, and in his room.

Just can't seem to get him to do it without the tongue thing. ;)

He told me,"Watch out Mom! Or I'll suck you up into the vacuum!"

Whenever Symi get's fevers her little lips crack, peel and bleed so bad. So I taught her to put on some chap stick.
She's all girl because now she's obsessed and I have to hide hers and mine or she'll put it on all day long!
When she's done she always smacks her lips and says, "Ahhhh".

Doing it all by herself!

And putting it on again, taking the lid on and off, and apply yet another coat!

Enjoying Valentines Cupcakes! They were so yummy and WAY too much fun to decorate!

Ben was a little upset that decorating cupcakes was messy.
He did get into it and eventually didn't mind that he got sticky as long as he got to wash when he was all done.

We invited our neighbor over to help us! We all had a blast!

Family Home Evening on Nephi's Bow. Ben thought it was awesome and wanted to go hunting like Nephi. He shot this little bow several times in the house. Enjoying every minute!

Symi didn't want to shoot the bow. But really wanted her picture taken!
She loved watching Ben, Daddy, and Mommy shoot! She even clapped for us.

Their new favorite way to watch "Movies". I don't get laundry folded very well. But that's ok because they both won't fit in that basket together for much longer.

Ben has been praying for snow since Christmas. We had a big storm that we missed during Christmas because we were in SV. We've been wearing jackets and watching our grass turn green! Finally a few weeks ago snow came. Aunt Shawnee took Ben outside and helped him make a Mini Snowman with his name on it. (done with raisins) He was so excited and loved being out in the snow!

Despite all the rough news we've had these last few weeks there is still "Sun shining through our window and giving us joy and light". So grateful for all the help I had while on bed rest. And grateful to have 2 wonderful kids that make being a sick Mommy so easy. We're blessed.

Oh Mommy.

Today shortly after lunch was nap time. Symi seemed so tired, and had been teary over many things this morning. I was hoping that she would crash. I laid her down and let Ben sleep next to me.

About every 10 mins. Symi would cry out. Wanting to be held. Wanting her "Mee-Mee" (pacifier). Wanting her blanket. Holding her again.

I came in with a sigh and tried once again to get to sleep. Just 20 mins. I thought. After a brief moment, I must have dozed. I heard the door squeak and looked up to find Ben coming back into the room.

"Ben, where did you go?"

"Oh Mommy. You looked so tired so I decided to help you. I went and gave Symi her "Mee-Mee" and told her that she needed to take a nap, because Mommy was tired."

I scooped him up. Kissed his forehead. Told him thank you so much. How do you express to a 4 year old that something so genuine meant so much.

I love you, and that made Mommy so happy.

Fevers

Here is a moment when Tylenol kicks in and Symi's Fever is going down. She was even willing to eat something! Both of them were too cute to resist.

Ben insisted on wearing jammies because Symi was. Constantly. They both wanted a snack and to eat in my room. I agreed, on one condition. That they sit against the wall and can't move until their food was gone. They agreed and you can tell my floor was very messy.

I have been trying to get her to nap "normally" for days! She doesn't want to. So as a result, the last few days I keep catching her asleep on our couch.
Too bad the naps only last 30 mins. She's exhausted.

Here is another "Happy Moment" that only a few minutes later was followed by tears.
At least she's cute! I can hang onto those precious moments when her personality comes shining through!

Crashed again.

This was a fever of 103.8. Her cheeks were so rosy and she was just burning up! She wants clothes on all the time, and constantly wants to be in a blanket. Both don't help fevers go down.
At least she'll tolerate a cool cloth to her forehead and back. Help keep the fevers at bay, but she cries the whole time, while I'm wiping her down.

Here's the story. Just after Thanksgiving Symi started to get fevers. At first the Dr thought that she had Strep. She never tested positive for the test, but had all the other symptoms. So he put her on some antibiotics to help. They did help for a few days. But then she was back to the fevers again. When she has fevers, she refused to eat and drink. (Note: She did this last year and we were sent to Primary Children Medical Center.) The Dr kept thinking she was just fighting a virus. I wasn't so sure. It all seemed like a daja vu. We ended up in the InstaCare just after Christmas. She had spiked to a fever of just under 104 and getting higher. With Tylenol she wasn't going down. They tested her for any kind of infection: Strep, Ear, Sinus, and even Bladder. Nothing. So they told us the same thing. She's got a virus. No other symptoms, just a fever. We followed up with the Dr a week later. He was concerned and immediately sent us to the Lab for a multitude of blood test. Checking for blood disorders, cancer screenings, and to see if her blood was infected. We waited for a week. Results were nothing.

She still had fevers. She was also becoming dehydrated and the Dr debated on putting her in the hospital for a while on IV treatment and monitoring of her fevers to get a record. I didn't agree. He let us go home. I've always wondered if Symi really had "food allergies". She was diagnosed too quickly in my eyes. And never showed any "normal symptoms" to the food allergies. But the formula helped her to grow, gain weight, and develop. We know how crucial that is in the first year. I'm grateful to have had it and that it worked for her.

Now what? Our Dr want's us to monitor her fevers still. They seem to cycle in and out. Since she was born, but they always thought something else. I've always thought differently, but I've listened and patiently done what I've been told. Just always felt like it wasn't right. Like a big bandaid was being put over the "real" problem. Our Dr also sent us to an infections Disease Specialist at Primary Children. They are booked until Late April and sent us to Rheumatology. I've left a message and they will get in touch with us shortly.

So why is this post so long and just growing longer? I'm babbling. Frustrated and confused. And just wanting relief for my daughter. I just feel like life for her can be better than this. That there is more about it that we just don't know. I've been praying as a Mother what to do. What more can I do? Where do I need to go to help her? I feel like this is right. That maybe each thing that's happened in the past has slowly brought us to where we are today.

Ben has been so patient through all of this. Kindly trying to give her kisses to help her feel better. Praying for her. Sharing all his toys while she screams and throws a fit, because she just doesn't feel good. Holding her hand while the Dr exams her for the millionth time. Waiting patiently, with knots in his stomach, while Mommy and Symi step into the next room for blood work. When we came out he was in tears asking if she was going to be alright? Then wanting to just hold her when he saw her again.

Why does my 4 year old have to be so grown up?

We will keep you posted.