What do we do in the summertime?

Well, we do lots of things.....

We play dress up. This is one of Taylor's favorite outfits. His exact words were "Fweeze Stumbag". Daddy calls him Pancho Villa.
We go swimming. We've tried to go swimming as much as possible which means that Annie has to wear her backup suit whenver her main suit is dirty. She hates her backup suit. Two years ago it was cute...now she feels silly and her brothers like to laugh at her.

And we find new and interesting ways to descend the stairs. I knew this day was coming...I really did...darn it.

Taylor's turn! Don't you love the Darth Vader outfit?

And, Annie's turn.

I'm sure as the summer progresses, we'll find more new and interesting ways to amuse ourselves. :)

What dignity?

Tyson does not like Sundays. He doesn't like getting up early, or putting on his fancy clothes, or being forced to sit quietly. Yesterday was no exception.

Kevin (who is usually the "go to guy" when Tyson gets naughty) was up taking care of some clerk duties so I was wrestling Tyson by myself. He got to the floor behind our bench and wasn't minding, so I got up and went to pick him up to take him out. He thought he was going to get off easy since I still can't quite bend over all the way and he was laying on the floor. Unfortunately for him, I can bend part of the way and he stuck his foot in the air. I was so desperate to get him out and quiet that I just grabbed his foot, hauled him up and dragged him out of Sacrament meeting while he was hanging upside down.

It was not my most dignified moment, nor have I heard the last of it from the amused members of the ward who thought it was pretty dang funny. I hear the look on his face was priceless. :)

What happens at Grandma's stays at Grandma's

Troy, Annie, Taylor and Tyson went to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a sleepover on Friday night so Kevin and I could have at least a little bit of anniversary time. Grandpa was due to irrigate and was more than happy to let the kids "help".

Here are Annie, Troy and Tyson "helping" Grandpa's water spread out from the spout.
Annie and Taylor still "helping" the water get moved out to the trees.

And Tyson "helping" scare the water into place by running through it naked. Grandpa had so much "help" that he was able to irrigate in record time and rewarded the kids with a treat.

The kids had fun and couldn't wait to tell us of their adventures in irrigating. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for watching them for us. We appreciate you! :)

Typo...

Yesterday Kevin and I were standing in line at our favorite little Farmer's market waiting to check out. There was a display for this licorice...Australian Style Gourmet Red Liquorice. Nothing interesting about that at all is there?
Until you look closely at the advertising sign:

Do you see any mistakes? Look closely. Yes! They forgot the "U" in Aussie. So, instead of buying Aussie licorice you are buying Assie licorice which just sounds gross. Funny, but gross. We had a good laugh and Kevin got in some good jokes, then we nicely informed the employees there of their mistake. Our cashier was embarrassed but our bagger just grabbed a pen and added a "U". It didn't look very good, and really highlights the mistake, but it solved the immediate problem. I kind of wonder how many people will notice. :)

Sweet 16

Today is our anniversary. Kevin and I have now been married for 16 years. It's been an interesting and occasionally wild ride. We shared a lot of love, laughter, tears, joy and sorrow and have grown to love each other more and more each day.

We had special plans. The kids were going to Chateau De' Grandma's for 2 nights while we went to Chateau De' Petersen. We were going to go to the temple, to dinner, to a movie, to whatever we felt like doing. Due to my health issues and stuff, plans had to change, but the most important thing is that we'll be together and that we are both healthy and still very much in love.

Thanks sweetheart for the best 16 years of my life. I love you!!!!! :)

Wipeout!!!!!

Apparently the fates decided that it wasn't enough to have me in the hospital and out of commission, but we had a scare with Troy as well.

He went mountain biking with the scouts on Tuesday night and hit a bump at the bottom of the hill and went airborn. No helmet, no protective gear, nothin'.

I had called Kevin to see how things were going and he let me know that Bro. Hoffman, one of our bishopric had called to tell him that Troy had a nasty accident and they were bringing him home. He got there while we were talking and I could hear Bro. Hoffman in the background saying that if Troy had to go to the emergency room to let them know so scout insurance could cover it. That was pretty scary. I wanted to be home to take care of Troy, but I couldn't so I just bossed Kevin from my hospital bed (that was actually kind of fun). :)

Luckily, he wasn't injured badly. Lots of roadrash, some cuts to his head, sore, swollen and bruised fingers, and lots of pain, but overall, he's fine.

Here is the backside...I guess he rolled a few times after he hit and went across some rocks. The scratches actually go down his rear end and his thighs.
He has a nice scratch on this side of his face and the cuts to his head are on the other side. His face makes me want to cry...he looks like he really hurts.

And, his bike. This is the bike he got for Christmas. You can see the

back end is kind of messed up.The back wheel. He won't be riding this bike for a while.

We are so thankful that he is ok and that his accident didn't cause the injuries it could have. Blessings have sure come from above in protecting our little family. :)

Gall Bladder Be GONE!!!!!

It's been a wild ride. All last week I just didn't feel well, was nauseated, had pain in my stomach. On Saturday, I was sooooo tired. I slept in, took a morning nap and then an afternoon nap. This is very unusual for me but didn't cause any concern since it had been a tough week emotionally.

Saturday evening, Kevin and I went to dinner and then to Lowe's and finally stopped off at my folk's house to visit with my grandma. During our visit, I started getting an ache in my gut. It wasn't bad, but I asked Kevin to take me home. Halfway there, I pulled over and let him take the wheel. This really concerned him since I don't like anyone to drive my van...even him. :)

After we got home, I layed on the couch trying to relax the pain away and Kevin ran a couple of errands. While he was gone the pain that hit was AWFUL!!! I wanted to die..literally. I have had 4 children, one by C-section and have never felt that kind of pain and I really never want to again.

By the time Kevin came back I was curled up on the floor in a fetal position just sobbing. Annie had been sitting by me rubbing my hair and looked up at him and said, "Dad, it's not going so well". (looking back, that's pretty darn cute AND funny...at the time I was ticked that she told on me) He ordered me into my shoes and into the car and took me to Urgent Care. Right before we left, the pain went away and I felt better, but he made me go anyway.

When we got to Urgent care, I explained what I had felt and they took me right back, had a doctor come in and check my belly and referred me straight to the emergency room. He even called ahead to let the doctors know I was coming and sent paperwork. I should have been alerted by about then that this was no easy fix, but I was in serious denial.

Once in the emergency room we had to wait all of 10 minutes before I was put in the back. They did an ultrasound, took blood and gave me the GI cocktail (which is gross) to help the lingering pain and heartburn and told me to wait patiently...which I didn't. For heaven's sake I had things to do!!! :)

Finally the doctor came and and let me know that I had gall stones which weren't really a problem, but my liver was not functioning properly, which was (hence the exhaustion). The plan was for non emergency, emergency surgery. Basically that means that they won't do it right away...just as soon as they can. I was given an IV and admitted. By this time I was pretty ticked at my body. I had visiting teaching stuff to do, meetings, classes, church issues...I just couldn't take a break, but I didn't have a choice.

Sunday morning at 11, I went into surgery and woke up at 1:30 with 4 small cuts in my stomach held together with Durabond (superglue) and a horrible thirst. I asked for some ice chips or something, but they wouldn't let me have any. That's when I found out that the dye didn't go through my bile duct leading to my liver and I would have to have another surgery...less invasive, but still a surgery. I'm ashamed to say that I cried. A lot. My poor nurse (Nigel...a big english lad and totally awesome) was so sweet and caring and he and Kevin got me though it, but it was still a hard blow. No food, no water, lots of pain.

I needed to have an endoscopy on Monday morning. Basically, they knock you out, put a camera and small tools down your throat and through all your pipes and clean your ducts out. Luckily I don't remember a thing but still thinking about it gives me the eebie jeebies. I have pictures showing my liver, the tools going into my liver and them taking out the stone. I was going to post them, but I've been informed that it is disgusting, so I'll spare anyone that scene. :)

Things started to pick up so by Monday at lunch I could have jello and broth and thankfully all the water I wanted. Aaaahhhh. Then for dinner I had jello and broth. On Tuesday I was sure I would get out, but my liver and pancreas were putting out elevated enzymes which is bad, so I had to stay. And I had jello and broth for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I got up this morning, had jello and broth for breakfast and lunch and finally the doctor came in and said that everything had gone down, that I could go, and that I was free to eat anything. YAY!!!

I got dressed, got discharged, and made Kevin stop at Arby's on the way home where I enjoyed a sandwhich, cheese sticks and a chocolate shake. I have never tasted anything so good in all my life.

So, finally home and very sore still I am enjoying being pampered (which I'm sure will stop soon) and letting the ward bring in meals (which I wish wouldn't stop...good stuff) and being lazy. I can't wait to finish healing so we can return to our summer plans of swimming and stuff. Our anniversary plans were put off track due to this little bump in our road so that stinks, but we will still get time together and we are healthy, so that's lots of blessings to be counted.

Thanks to everyone for your love, support, prayers, visits, flowers, happy thoughts, cards, gelato (yum!), and smiles. I love you all! :)