A New Year

Our little family has had many changes these last few months.  We'll go backwards and come to our current position.

December: We wrapped up our little apartment in West Stadium Villa as Dane finished his Master's in Education.  After feeling prompted by the spirit that we need to be in Star Valley we prepared our family to move.  Christmas was celebrated with lots of family and fun.  We enjoyed sharing it with Grandma JoDee and Grandpa Bryan through Skype.  Shortly after we all got terrible colds.  Jayden struggled with breathing and eventually ended up spending a night in the hospital with RSV.  I also got RSV along with clogged ear ducts and had a horrible infection in my head that made m loose my hearing for a month.  I appreciated being able to be a part of a conversation again and to be able to hear again.  But it was a lot of pain, swelling, and discomfort.  Symi followed up her cold with a terrible double ear infection.  She was a trooper.  Ben struggled with his cold and eventually got strep and the beginnings of pneumonia.  Dane had a cold that didn't last too long.  But his blood poisoning came back in his leg and he was put back on antibiotics.  

January:  I don't quite remember much other than we didn't really sleep.  Dane didn't have a job.  Living with family was a LOT harder than I had anticipated.  Sick kids.  Sick parents.  Struggling with finances.  Trying to come out on top.  All of this was more than we were up for.  Dane was faithfully trying to fix up his parent's basement while we were living in it.  All of this was just too much for me.  I asked Dane to help me find us a place of our own for a while.  He graciously agreed and within a week we were moved into the Porter's place.  A small barn that was turned into a small 2 bedroom apartment.  

February:  We moved in!  It was small but it was all ours.  We were happy and becoming more and more healthy.  After a few weeks we were starting to celebrate our health when we noticed a lump on Symi's wrist that was rapidly growing.  After tests and exams they thought that it was just a cyst and we would have it checked every year.  I was ok with this. Slowly she started to stop using her hand.  She wouldn't feed herself, color, wipe her bum (big deal for her as she had just started), and other fine motor skills.  She was frustrated and we were too.  

March:  So we went back into the Dr's and they were concerned too.  They wanted to remove it right away.  So surgery was scheduled and we were preparing our family for this change.  Time seems to fly when you are so busy with health issues.  I felt like a nurse in a war zone!  But alas it was all worth it.  Anyways, Symi had her surgery and all went much better than expected.  Originally they thought that the cyst was growing down into wrist joint.  And that there was an artery running in the middle of it as well as a tendon.  They had prepped us for a 2 hours surgery, but it ended up only being 20 mins.  I was grateful to hear that it was all much better than expected.  The artery was lying under the cyst.  The cyst was on the surface and didn't even go down into the join.  But it was wrapped around her tendon and "shoe stringed" down it.  It was an abnormal looking so they sent it to pathology to make sure.  Test results came back as a ganglion cyst and she was cleared!  It's been a long week.  We have struggled to keep her nausea and pain under control.  Her mornings are the toughest and we struggling until the afternoon to make her comfortable and to keep her puking at bay.  At her first check up they changed her bandages and splint.  We took her home and she seemed fine.  That night she was up most of the night screaming and crying.  Begging for pain killers and her bowl.  Throwing up till there was nothing left and crying throughout the next morning.  She struggled all day to be comfortable.  Finally I was able to get a hold of our regular Dr before the weekend.  We started to notice that her hand kept turning blue.  She asked us several times to fix her hand.  It's hurting me so much.  When we got in we found out that both the first and second brace were cutting off the artery to her hand.  We adjusted to yet another brace and a sling to keep her from rearranging the surgery and sutures.  After that she changed!  She no longer threw up or asked for pain killers.  She started to eat well again and wanted to get down with the boys and just play!  It's been a huge change!

April:  I suddenly realized that we've had so much going on that I haven't had time to focus on Taxes.  Oops!!  I don't have much time left.  So Dane and I started to spend some late night's together working on putting together our taxes.  Hopefully the return will be a relief.  To top it off for the last several months we have been applying for jobs and spending time researching areas we've applied too.  It's been a challenge to say the least and has been tough to work out between the two of us.  We are hoping and praying for ANY job and to be where the Lord needs us to be.  I personally am SOO ready to settle down and to have a home.  One where we don't have to move again!  

Love you all and hope you are all well too.

Thanks for Giving

This month has been full of ups and downs.  It's been long and I'm so grateful that it's almost over.  Come on Christmas!!  

Dane gave us a scare when he started to get a sore knee that started to become red and hot to the touch.  We took him to the ER.  He has blood poisoning.  It was quite scary.  They wanted to admit him, but he wanted to just take oral antibiotics because he has a lot to do with Student Teaching all day.  Classes at night.  Family to help take care of.  He was concerned about getting it all done.  They pumped him FULL of antibiotics and had him checking in with our Family Dr. daily.  He is now doing so much better and we are grateful for all the prayers, help, and support.  

Jayden struggled on and off for the past 3 months with sicknesses, teething, and ear infections.  We spent many nights and long days trying to soothe a very upset little boy.  He is doing much better and we hope that once his teeth come in all the way his ears won't bother him anymore.

We enjoyed our Thanksgiving Feast in Nevada with the Cook family.  We enjoyed food, games, giggles, gifts, passing a baby around, Discovery Museum, family, colds, and sleep!   I sure wish that we could enjoy each other more than once a year, but I'm grateful to even have this time together.    

Once we got back I was put in charge of our Relief Society Activity for the month.  I had a few days to plan a meal, prepare the meal, and only had 2 other ladies to help me do it.  Needless to say the Lord was with us and we were prepared and ready to serve.  It was a neat experience and wonderful to see so many others step up and help us out.
  
We are slowly starting to sell of things and pack up.  Dane is finishing up this semester and Graduating!!  Yeah!  We are so excited for him.  But saddly we have to leave Campus Housing once we graduate.  So we are living with Dane's parents for a while, until we can find a job and settle down somewhere.  We are excited, nervous, and anxious for the change.  But we are grateful for a place to stay and to live while we are transitioning.  

This month has brought a few heartaches and many blessings.  We are grateful for all that the Lord has given us.  

Gutting the pumpkins.  We started by cutting the top open.  Ben was so excited to start with, but he suggested that we just wear our underwear so that it doesn't get on our clothes.

Then he started to bawl.  It was so gross and he couldn't take gutting the pumpkin. Jayden was waiting patiently for his turn.  Ben gave up and we gutted it for him.

He was still very upset and didn't want to do it anymore.

All of us together.  FHE carving pumpkins and watching the debates.

Ben trying it out again for the 3rd time, and tried for about 5 minutes.  Then asked Dane to finish it for him.  Symi wasn't liking it at all.  She would daintilly pick out one seed at a time and cringe in she touched the slime.  Until she started gagging.  Then quietly asked to be done.

Jayden started to play Peek-A-Boo.

Laughing because he thinks he's funny!

It's "Red Ribbon" week at school.  Today was "Wear a Hat Day".  Ben wanted to wear his cowboy hat.  Symi wanted hers too.  Jayden doesn't have one and keeps stealing Symi's.

He just wants a hat, he doesn't care that it's pink or his sister's.  He's got it now and won't give it back!

Just the normal.  Unload tupperware drawer. Check.  Pose for Mom. Check. Say cheese. Check.

Today has been a movie day.  Symi woke up with a fever and a tummy ache.  So she's just vegging.

A few weeks ago, Jayden was woke up that morning at 5 am.  WOW.  I was not ready to be up that early, and he'd been up most of that night. Finally at 8:30 I couldn't take his whinny, clingy, sobbing stories anymore.  I set him up with a bunch of toys and took a shower.  He was too quiet so I looked out to find this.  He was so tired and slept for 3 hours.

Symi was right where I left her as I showered.  She loves to sit so close because we have 1/2 of a speaker that works.  So we always hear 1/2 of a show.  But the kids don't know that, they are just excited to watch TV.

Please forgive my photography skills.  Our original camera eats up batteries in less than 5 mins. (Not exaggerating)  And so my parents kindly sent one of their older cameras for us to use.  On the first day here Dane sat on the camera and the screen broke.  So we have no idea what kind of pictures we are getting other than most of them the kids are cut off or we get a partial picture.  At least we have some way of taking pictures for future generations to laugh at. :)

Summer 2012

Practiced taking aim and shooting.

Went fishing early one morning.

Dad caught a fish and so did Ben.   But Ben's fish got away before we could get a picture.

Wearing Dad's old fishing hat.

Symi followed Ben around the pond, but never got anything.

Jayden sat and played in the rocks and dirt.  He was happy to watch from a distance.

Jayden started a habit of falling asleep at lunchtime.  Playing hard is tough work!

My long lost love was sold.  I've had this beauty longer than I've had Dane.

Ben reading his 1st chapter book.  Symi and Jayde have to be right by him.  Now that he's in school all day they miss him and won't leave him alone.  EVER!!

Jayden has started to put everything on his fingers.  These are his favorites.

Ben made his "Halloween Mouth" snack and assembled it all by himself.  He was so proud, that he insisted on a picture.

Symi is working on her letters.  And so far she's can correctly name 12 of them.  Ben's teaching her, she won't listen to me.

Symi pointing to her letters.

Yet another item on his fingers.

Trying to throw it at me.

Can you find the children?  They love having a room with just toys.  Even though we have only 3 rooms it's nice to have a toy room.

This summer has been lots of fun.  With running through sprinklers, going to the Willow Park Zoo, going on walks, playing in the park, watching lots of movies while I rested, camping, fishing, watching fireworks right in our back yard, riding bikes, and so much more. 

Ben claims that he was bored a lot, and yes I'll admit, we did spend a lot of time inside.  But I'm grateful that we at least had some fun memories to share together.

Symi's 3rd Birthday Inverview

1. What is your favorite color?
Pink
2. What is your favorite toy?
Stroller
3. What is your favorite thing to do? Why?
Play. With my shopping cart.
4. What is your favorite food?
Blueberries
5. What food is gross? 
Hot food.  It burns me.
6. What is your favorite animal?
Tiny Bird
7. Who is your best friend?
Ben
8. What is your favorite book?
Curious George
9. What makes you sad?
Getting in trouble.  Cuz Ben does it to me.
10. What makes you happy?
Outside.
11. What's the hardest thing you did this year?
Learn to go potty.  Uhh. (disgusted noise)  It not fun.
12. What are you really good at?
Putting my rainbow shoes on myself.
13. What is something scary?
Monster faces
14. What is something funny?
I DON'T KNOW!! 
(personally she laughs whenever someone falls down and gets hurt.  She laughs. So. Hard.  I guess she gets that from Aunt Kerri.)
15. What do you want to be when you grow up?  
A Big Sister

Ben 6th Birthday Interview

1. What is your favorite color?

Green

2. What is your favorite toy?
Eagle Plane 
3. What is your favorite thing to do? Why?
Going camping. Because we see lots of things.  And we can cook dinner outside and eat outside too.
4. What is your favorite food?
Grapes
5. What food is gross? 
Celery
6. What is your favorite animal?
Cheetah
7. Who is your best friend?
Hailey Rassmussen
8. What is your favorite book?
If You Give a Moose a Muffin
9. What makes you sad?
When Jayden hits me with a toy.
10. What makes you happy?
 Riding my bike.
11. What's the hardest thing you did this year?
Not having recess be very long.  It was just a little one, and I wanted to play for longer.
12. What are you really good at?
Running!  I can go like super speed 3!!!
13. What is something scary?
Climbing up a huge ladder.
14. What is something funny?
Jokes.  Like why does the alligator cross the road?  Because he wanted to get his head smashed.  Hahahaha!
15. What do you want to be when you grow up?  
A teacher and a Dad.

Symi Girl

A few days after her 3rd Birthday we were watching a neighbors little girl (she's about Jayden's age).  Symi was following her all around the house and dotting on her.  It was so cute to watch.  

She suddenly stopped playing and said:  Mommy!!  I'm not your baby girl anymore!

(choking on tears trying not to cry)

Me: What?

Symi: I'm all grown up now!  I'm a big girl!  I won't be your baby girl anymore! I go potty in the toilet.  I put my clothes on myself.  I clean up.  I help you do dishes.  I'm a big girl now!

Me: ok

Inside I was thinking.  

NOOOOO!!!!  

Symi you will always be my baby girl.  

You will always be my daughter that I held for the first time.  

You will always be my first baby that I painted her toes bright pink.  

You will always be my baby who kept me up the most at night, and always brought great joy when you would finally sleep.  

You will always be the sweetheart who would growl.

You will always be my little girl who I held for hours and hours while she cried and wailed in pain.

You will always be my little girl who followed her Big Brother Ben around everywhere copying his every move.

You will always be my little girl.  

Always.

Folding her arms for the prayer.

Cool shades.

1st Birthday attacking her cake!

Only 4 days old.

Kisses from a big brother.

Mom meeting Symi for the first time.

Sleepy baby only 1 month old.

In the cutest little blue dress that Grandma JoDee made.

Growling at someone because she didn't get her way.

Wearing Mommy's shoes, typing like a "mad woman", pretty hair, and in her favorite Tinker Bell jammies.

Tinker Bell Cake

Having a "Tea Party" with Ben at 6:30 in the morning.  She was SOO excited!

I made her mad.  I wanted a picture by her shopping cart and she had to leave her "Tea Party".

She was so excited about her cake.

Dad was being silly and she was laughing so hard.

She even blew out her own candles for the first time.

 She had a wonderful Birthday.  She laughed almost all day.  Played hard with all her new toys and sang everywhere she went, singing all of the Primary Birthday songs and the original Happy Birthday song.  It was a good day.

Happy Birthday Symi Girl

You will always be

our Baby Girl. 

Summer Time

Ben and Dane in our old trailer.

I know that this photo is from a long time ago, but I found it and couldn't help sharing.  :)

Update:
Dane: Working on a week long course from 8am-4pm everyday.  He had to take off work to finish it.  It was pure torture. ;)  He traveled all over and learned about "Water Shedding".  He got to hike, canoe, and have take out lunch everyday.  But did have a lot of follow up homework.  He was sunburn and tired when he got home.  He did try to catch a rather large frog to bring home and show the kids.  But he was unsuccessful.  He is now working on finishing up this semester and going to start training with his "Student Teaching" for this coming Fall.  He is excited to start putting things together and working with the kids.  :)  There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Britt:  Well her kidney is giving her a hard time and she's just trying to keep up with Dr's visits, tests, and Dr's orders.  Tomorrow I will be going to have a VAUG done and will look forward to the results.  (Not the test, but the results.)  I have been pretty lazy.  (It's kind of hard to be motivated when you're in pain and walk around like a crippled up old woman.)  But I am slowly trying to keep up with my small apartment and have cleaned out a few boxes.  My goal is to have my storage unit cleaned out and organized by this fall, so when we move this winter.  I don't have to do all of that, just pack up and move a storage unit.  ;) (I'll let you know if I get it done.)

Ben:  Has been bored to tears.  He has gone to friends houses to play games.  Water Birthday parties.  Riding his bike with his new helmet and bell.  Playing on the play ground out back.  Catching up on "Phineas and Ferb" from the Disney channel.  Eating popsicles. Reading books.  Laying around crying because he's so bored!  Working on curriculum work books. Watching "Red Box" movies.  Going to 3D shoots with his Dad.  Annoying his siblings.  Putting his nose in "time out".  Singing at the top of his lungs.  And of course going to the grocery store with me. (pure torture that last one.)  He has "kindly" informed me that I am a boring Mom.  That I need to have something for him to do "ever time of the day!" because that's what they do at school.  Too tall of an order.  He'll just be extra excited when school starts again!

Symi:  She is talking, bossing, and taking charge in our family.  She sure likes to put everyone in their place.  For the good as well as the bad.  She is our first one to cheer someone on, as well as the first to tell them what they did wrong.   She has been Ben's little shadow this summer.  Following him and doing all the fun previously mentioned activities as well.  She loves to play with her babies and has nearly destroyed her stroller she got a Christmas.  She likes it.  A LOT!!!  She also loves to sing at the top of her lungs and run around the house.  Tangled is a new found love and she is happy that she has "Rapunzel Hair".  It's a blessing because everyday now she wants to have pretty hair like Rapunzel.  So I finally get to do her hair everyday and make her cute.  Sure it doesn't last very long, but at least for a few hours in a day she looks cute.  

Jayden:  He has turned from my little lump of chunk.  To my little monster of terror!!  He loves to MOVE.  This new discovery has gotten him into some tight situations.  He was trying to get a toy he had dropped into the tub.  As he was reaching I saw him.  Like slow motion he teetered and slipped over the edge just as my hands missed him.  He landed on his head with a *SmAcK* and started crying. Tub without water by the way.  Poor kid had a bruise and bump to prove his craziness.  He also pushed our little "potty" over to the sink.  Climbed up the potty.  Grabbed the edge of the sink and with legs dangling and arms clinging to the sink tried to lift himself up onto the vanity.  I caught his just as his arms gave way and he was heading back to earth by sheer gravity.  He likes to push things around and walk behind them.  He has started to jabber a little.  Not much of a talker, but always a giggler at his siblings.  He says "Da-Dee" (daddy), "Ahh-DUuu" (All Done), "Uh-Oh", "No", "Uv-Oooo"(Love you), and "Bye".  This kiddo loves to be outside and laughs when someone picks him up and takes him out the door.  He now waves "Bye-Bye" and blows "kisses".  

He loves to tackle his siblings when they least expect it and sit on them.  I was laughing so hard at him the other day.  Symi had been teasing him all morning and he took it.  And took it.  And TOOK IT!!  He was so patient.  When she laid down to watch a movie.  He struck.  He was sitting across the room and grabbed his hands together, tucked his chin to his chest, and giggled evilly to himself.  Then he took off doing his fast crawl and grabbed a huge handful of her hair and PULLED!!  He got some and crawled off in the other direction.  Then later that day Ben was teasing him and he was done.  He waited until Ben was watching the movie with Symi.  Shortly after getting her he came back and attacked Ben.  He ended up straddling Ben's head and farting on his face.  Laughed to himself and fast crawled away.  Both of the older kids were upset and I was laughing.  They both deserved it for all the put him through.  So how do I get mad!!

We are doing well and having a "FUN" summer.  I know it's not ideal, but I'm trying to do the best I can.  So far we've had some fun memories that I'll cherish.

Longer Update

Longer update:

1. Ben had been complaining for days that his throat hurt and I took him in to get that checked.  He had a double ear infection so bad that they were draining down his throat and he was developing strep. Antibiotics later and some rest.  He started to feel better.  Then it hit like a rock.  

Saturday night, just before Easter Sunday, he started to break out in a horrible rash!  He was itching and scratching it so bad it was bleeding and he was screaming and writhing on the ground.  Dane and Symi had just left for a Daddy Daughter Date to and Archery Banquet.  So I called the ER and asked them what we should do.  The suggested some Benadryl cream.  Along with a large dose of liquid Benadryl.  

They gave instructions that if he didn't make any changes within an hour we were to head to the ER.  Well needless to say it worked, but I slept next to Ben for the night.  The rash went away for the night, but the next morning it was starting to come back.  So we dosed him up again and stayed home for the day.  He was pretty miserable for a few days, but did improve.

Easter was totally forgotten.  No dying of eggs.  No egg hunts.  No Easter baskets.  No wearing of new Easter apparel.  Instead we sat down together as a family and went through our "Resurrection Easter Eggs" and had a FHE lesson on our Savior.  We fill baskets with a few treats on Monday Night and are still trying to find some time with Dane to dye some eggs, and then have a mini Easter Egg Hunt in our living room.  

2. Due to the Still Small Voice.  We sold our van.  Not once did I feel bad about doing so, and it all happened so quickly that we weren't quite ready for the outstanding response!  Yet we were blessed and found that our Heavenly Father was in deed guiding and directing us at this time.

3. Along with that voice to sell our van another voice came along to purchase another newer vehicle.  This too happened quickly and without any complications.  We were blessed in the price.  We were extremely blessed in the condition (still smells like a brand new car and it's only 5 years old!!).  We were blessed to fit all the car seats.  We were blessed in saving gas money and extra expenses to on fixing a vehicle.   Truly it was what we needed to do.

4. Dane isn't home much.  The time home is spent either eating, showering, or sleeping.  He'll take a few moments each day and give them specially to us.  For instance today he sat down and was reading books to the kids.  Now he's play his old Nintendo games with Ben and Symi and Jayden are watching intently.  He's a wonderful, amazing, and kind father.  He's always an outstanding husband too.  He keeps me grounded even when he's stressed and overwhelmed.


5. Well from the last post that's pretty self explanatory. Jayden is now mobile. Busy. Into everything. AND teething. (he's a little grumpy when he gets teeth.)


6. Symi is indeed potty trained and is so proud of herself!  She doesn't have accidents unless she wants to do it all by herself and can't get her pants down fast enough.  But she has a cute little bum now!!  It gets pinched and patted all the time from EVERYONE!!  Jayden even likes to tackle her and lay on it.  It's cute.


7. Life is increasingly getting harder.  Meaning, Dane is gone more and more.  Dane is working more and more.  And I'm home alone more and more with 3 kiddos.  nuf said.


8. We are currently surrounded by a neighborhood breaking out in chicken pox and shingles.  Jayden and Symi are not vaccinated for those and haven't had the chicken pox yet.  We are working on avoiding that right now. 


We went to the Dr's office. again.  I talked with my Dr about Symi and he was very concerned about her getting chicken pox.  We've talked about it before.  He's concerned that she'll get it 3-4x's as bad as a normal child.  He's concerned about it effecting her health in the future.  So he's prescribed a vaccine, (and so far it's going well)  and complete lock down.  He doesn't want us to contact or bring in the chicken pox to Symi for the next 2 weeks.  No socializing.  No church.  No carpools. No No NO!  Until the vaccine can take effect or she contracts the chicken pox.  We will  know within a week if she has the chicken pox.  And in 2 weeks her body will have an immunity to the chicken pox.  So even if the neighborhood is still sick she will hopefully be able to play with them.  Without worrying about getting them.  

9.  We will rejoin the world again on May 7.  Until then we plan on movie days, Nintendo, books, homemade play dough, cookies, coloring, legos, dying Easter Eggs, hunting for  the eggs, etc.  

Friday the 13th

Just thought I'd give a brief update.

1. Ben has been sick, but is now better.

2. We sold our van.

3. We purchased a new vehicle.

4. Dane has a few more weeks and the semester will end and another busy semester will begin.

5. Jayden is now officially crawling EVERYWHERE.  And now trying to pull himself up onto anything.

6. Symi is officially potty trained now!  She doesn't even wet the bed at night.  

7. Life is getting better in some ways and hard in others, but we are all doing well.