Family Update

Dane:  He is working hard.  He's gone for 40 hours in the week working.  Then he comes home for dinner.  Sometimes he doesn't come home for dinner because he's heading up to school for 2 nights out of the week.  He also is the Ward Mission Leader.  He's very busy with his spare time with his calling.    We see him a few hours in the week and are grateful for the time we get with him.  The kids enjoy their time with him every Wednesday night going swimming.  I enjoy the movie night once a week that we just sit down and snuggle.  It's hard to leave him alone to work on Homework.  So he'll wake up early to have time alone to dedicate himself to it.  Dane is so wonderful and works so hard for us.  We couldn't ask for more.

Me:  Well my kidney does well some days and then others it sure gives me grief.  Lately it hasn't been friendly.  With the antibiotics they had me on for a while have really made me loose milk.  So nursing isn't what it used to be and poor Jayden was just starving!  So we started him on some formula.  He's now satisfied again.  I just plug along keeping kids fed, house cleaned, and laundry washed.  

Ben: He's working so hard at school trying to read!  Ah!!  I just can't believe that he's ready for this!  I'm not!  But he's so excited about it and can't get enough of it.  He is constantly going around trying to read every letter and word.  Asking what this says and what that means.  He's also quite the artist!  He loves to color and does such a nice job for a boy.  He also had wonderful handwriting and I sure hope he keeps it for the rest of his life.

Symi:  She is finally feeling better!  Yes!  She is also sleeping through the night.  Which she has never done.  Eating well and playing hard.  Her spunk has really started to shine and she's also become quite sassy.  She loves baby dolls, strollers, bottles, and anything baby.  She also loves to sing about everything. Until you look at her then the performance is done.  She loves to count to 10, knows all her colors, and really likes to have you read her a book.  I put the book self back together several times a day.  She is still trying to go potty.  But can't decide from one day to the next if she wants to.  I know she can.  But she has to decide.  I'm not willing to let her get upset with me and poop her pants to make a point.  So I'll patiently wait for her, while encouraging her and giving her treats and stickers as rewards.  She is improving since the ER and they cathed her.  That really didn't help for  a while.

Jayden:  Is a rollie, pollie, little bundle of joy.  Except when he's trying to teeth.  Then he's whinny, clingy, and doesn't know what he wants.  Up. Down. Rock. Eat. Sleep. So far he has gotten 2 bottom teeth and his "dracula teeth" on top.  Poor Jayden doesn't want to crawl.  We were concerned about his foot again and got it x-rayed again.  But everything is ok.  He's just behind.  He doesn't want to put any weight on that foot for very long and we are waiting to see if that will change.  Until then I get to pack around a  23 lb ball of chub!  I just think he is happy where he's at, and doesn't have any motivation to move around more than he already does.  He is finally eating some solid foods and that helps to keep him full too. The other day he figured out how to pick up food and is excited to do that himself.  He gets so mad when he's so hungry and I give him cherrio's to start with while I get his food.  He usually stuffs them in and growls and cries while he's waiting for the real stuff.  He is also starting to sleep through the night!  My first baby to sleep!  Yeah!  :)  It's been so nice for me to finally start to catch up on some much needed sleep. 

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.

Please forgive my absence.

I haven't blogged in a while.

I have been pretty sick and in a lot of pain.  The Dr thought I was having kidney stones in the beginning.  Then he ran a few tests and said I had a very infected Kidney, but that my bladder was fine.  He started me on some antibiotics.  But they weren't helping.  So he put me on some stronger ones.  

After 2 days of being on it I am finally starting to feel better!  I have been in so much pain, achy, grumpy, and pale.  It's nice to feel a little better and hoping that this will do the trick!

We'll be back to updates by next week. :)

Hello!

Leave me a message saying that you've made it!

Thanks!

Last of 2011

Our lives have been a whirl wind!?  And we are still trying to sort things out.

Back in October we got back some test results stating that Symi was allergic to some mold in our apartment.  We presented it to our landlord who unkindly then gave us to the end of the month to move out.  

We had 6 days.  

To find a place. 
Pack. 
Leave.


I had 3 very sick kids at the time.  Ben had pneumonia.  Symi had the croup.  Jayden had bronchitis.  Dane was going to school full-time and working full-time.  We put our lives on hold and were trying as quickly as we could to leave. It was rough to say the least!  Thank you to Dane's Mom to put her life on hold to come down and help us pack up quickly!

We found a temporary arrangement in a neighbors basement.  They were so kind to offer and house us while we waited for our housing to open up.  

Shortly before Thanksgiving we were given the most wonderful news!  We could move in tomorrow!  We quickly packed up again, and moved. Again.  

We were in our new place only for a few days.  Just enough time to do some laundry, pack (again), and travel to Nevada to visit my parents. It was so wonderful to finally be all together on my side of the family!  We haven't had that for years!!  The break was just what we needed after all we were going through.


We have now enrolled Ben into a new school.  Transferred information to our new place.  S-L-O-W-L-Y unpacked. (still unpacking) Repacked to visit Cheyanne and Mitch because they had an early delivery of their baby girl. Came home.  Dane finished his finals!  
Celebrated Christmas and wanted to THANK YOU to our special secret Santa.  

Were extremely surprised by ifrogz. (to come later)  

Celebrated New Years early with sick kids and an all nighter with the toilet, bowls, and lots of laundry later.  


We are now looking forward to 2012.  We love where we have been.  The people we have met.  And look forward to what is to come.  

Come what may and love it!  :)  

TV

The kids are sitting down to watch TV for the first time.  They have only watched VHS or DVD movies their whole lives.

Ben got frustrated and said,"Mom!!  What is this junk!?!"

 

I looked and said," That's a commercial."

 

Ben,"Well it's dumb.  Can you just fast forward it for us please?"

 

Me,"No you'll just have to be patient, until it's done."

 

Ben,"I'm wasting my day watching that."

 

Well put son.  :)

Family Pictures 2011

 The 3 little ones. 

 

 

 

 He thinks he's a big kid.

 Trying to stand with help.

 This is how most of our pictures started.  A small grin.

 Hide and be shy.

 Then come up with a big old wide mouth grin giggling.

 Then smile sweetly.

 This is ONE of the MANY pictures we took that turned out with her smiling.

(She's just like me when I was younger.  A camera comes out and there is a scowl.)

 Family

 Ben and Symi just wanted to play.

 Momma's Boy!

Squishy Face!!!

We had a great time taking pictures.  It was like we were on an "Emotional Roller Coaster" the whole time!  One minute we were giggling.  Then we were wiping tears and boogers.  Then we were all trying to smile without the rest of us getting bored.  Then the kids were giggling gleefully as they played on the playground.  Then more tears when we told them we were done and going home.  It was fun and we are grateful to Grandma and Grandpa Hepworth who came down and took our pictures!  They turned out great!