I get more because ...

The boys were serving up some leftover finger foods from a Christmas Party Jaley had last night with her friends in our home.

Kendall asked for more.  I told him he could have 3 more pieces.  Kerst put one more on the plate for himself while it was heating in the microwave.

Kendall was upset.  He didn't want to share the plate during the heating process (he is going through a stage).  I told him that Kerst might think it wasn't fair that Kendall got more than he did.

"I get more because I'm more cute."

Love the explanation.  Love the self confidence.  He is pretty cute even when he is being a booger.

Ahhhh .... It's that time of year - THE CODE

Time for so many fun traditions ... and it is a busy time with the upcoming wedding too!

I actually came up with the code for the gifts this year early!  I haven't even wrapped.

The past several years we have decided to torture the kids by writing a code for the gifts.  Each child is given a number.  They have to crack the code to figure out who gets which gifts.  The child who cracks the code gets a lunch date with Mom or Dad.

This year's code:
0
Almost 1
1
2
5

We will give the kids one hint each day when we get closer to Christmas.

Get a crackin'!

Why me? Answered

Tonight Jenna might have received her answer to "Why me?" regarding the car accident she was a passenger in back in March that involved 4 surgeries, put her in a wheelchair for 3 months, boots for yet another 2 months, a lot of physical therapy and even more time in the pool to get back in shape for competitive swimming.

At our local fitness center after her daily 2 1/2 hours swim (over 4 miles), she discovered an elderly man who was purple and nearly unresponsive.  She pulled him from the hot tub putting him in the rescue position and remained by his side while staff and EMS arrived.

She's my hero .... and the hero to this grandpa and his family.  Sometimes you might never know "why me".

This was a sweet moment to see that even though she went through a long difficult experience, she blessed the life of another (although, I'd argue that she has touched many lives with her determination and positive outlook through this whole ordeal).

I love to see

I saw this on Julia's facebook page today.  This is pure joy for a parent.  Pure.

Julia wrote:  I love to see the temple, I'm going there ... today :)

More Fortunes!

The kids received fortune cookies this past weekend.

I had to laugh when Jenna read her fortune.   How true it is!!!  And yes, she did her chores on Saturday!

Kendall was excited when he read his.  The last time he received a fortune, he interpreted it a bit differently than I would.  He knew EXACTLY how it would come true!  (Fortune:  Soon a visitor shall delight you).

Buddy Club Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Kelly and Uncle Mike arrive tonight!!!  Julia and Jared arrive on Wednesday!!!

World Prematurity Day

In 2001 Kerst entered our family - a bit early.  2 months early.  He was 5 lbs 4 oz.  Thankfully he was breathing on his own - they were able to give me one dose of steroids to develop his lungs.  He still won a 1 month stay in the NICU.  We had many ups and downs during that time.  I journaled my experience on our family website.  It is amazing to see the emotions that occurred during that time.  It was a time of many blessings, tender mercies and miracles.

 Jaley with her life-size baby doll.  He was a perfect size for her!

Jenna with Kerst. 

Julia with Kerst. 

 Kerst having a spa day in the NICU.  

Kerst was in the NICU for 3 weeks and weighed his birth weight (5lbs 4 oz) when he arrived home.  He doubled his weight in a week when he was finally allowed to eat when and how much he wanted!

Kerst 4 months old

Fast forward to 2006.  To prevent a premature birth, I was monitored more closely and given steroid shots.  It was yet another time full of miracles and tender mercies as Kendall arrived 2 months early.  I almost didn't survive.  Jaley was a chronic sleep walker.  She came into our room in the middle of the night.  That woke me up.  I was in labor and didn't know it.  The doctors felt that with my blood pressure levels, toxic blood levels, etc, I probably would not have awakened and passed away in my sleep.  Jaley is my guardian angel :)

Kendall arrived weighing 4 lbs.  He would not have gained any more weight even if he lasted the final 2 months.  The placenta had stopped doing what it needed to do.  I developed preeclampsia overnight.  It was under control after several days in the hospital and then it spiked again and they had to do an emergency C-section to deliver Kendall.

Kendall was also in the NICU for 3 weeks.  He should have stayed longer, but since I was a "repeat offender" and they knew I knew how to raise a preemie, they sent Kendall home.  Kendall weighed 3 lbs 13 oz when he arrived home.

It took him a LONG time to gain weight.  We had to go in for weight checks weekly for awhile.

So thankful for modern medicine!  So thankful for my family!

Dedicated

Jenna has been working hard to prepare for high school swimming and to be competitive to make State Qualifying times .... and hopefully a scholarship!

The accident put her behind physically.  Three months in a wheelchair, 4 surgeries (2 on each foot), and walking boots for most of the summer made getting into shape a very long process.

She is currently getting up at 4:15 a.m. to go swim for an hour.  She gets to school by 6:30 for early morning seminary.  She is at school from 7:50-2:55.  When she gets home I head out with her to "coach her" for yet another 2 1/2 hour swim workout.

Jenna swims 8,000 yds in the afternoon.  That is 4.5 miles!

She's dedicated.

The family is very supportive while I am helping Jenna.

I thought musical season was busy.  This takes the cake :)

Fortune interpretation

Kendall's Fortune:  You should be able to undertake and complete anything you desire.

Now when I tell Kendall that he can't do something (like eat ice cream for breakfast), he reminds me that his fortune says that "I can do anything I want".

I need to point out the word "should" to him and request to the fortune cookie manufacturers to add ... "if Mom says so".

First

Woke up the first snow fall of the season and the sound of the heater running.  I love it here!

Ask me again in a month when I can't get out of our crazy driveway because of the snow :)

Spelling

Kendall (age 6 .... 1st grade) was given a new spelling list.  A more challenging list.  Harder words.  I mean hard.  They are kicking our butt :)

Here are his words ... and remember, he's only 6 (barely)
mail
stay
green
remember (I often times type this wrong ... rember - maybe I type too fast)
seat
keep
garden
plain
clay
idea
grandmother
mean
answered
chief
dream
serious

We have been making up ways to have him spell the words.  If we use the words in a sentence, he has to spell the word.

Last night it was just me and the boys for dinner.  We were reviewing his words for his pretest.  I asked the boys (John, Kerst and Kendall) to spell garden.

John replied  "f .... a ..... r ..... t ...... e ......d"

I think we need to get his ears checked.

Oh boy ... I am surrounded by boys.  Save me :)

Time Out

Jenna was being Jenna.

Kendall insisted on us putting her on timeout.

"Where would you put her on timeout?"

"In her room."

He thought a little and added

"with no iPhone and no napping."

He thought a little more and changed his mind.

"She should go on timeout in my room."

(Overheard from Jaley - "Timeout for teenagers is the best.  Perfect naptime."

Kendall - "There is no sleeping allowed.")

Asked to homecoming

Jenna was asked to attend homecoming (at another high school).

How was she asked?  He just came out and asked after taking her to a movie.

Jenna answered.  In a more creative way ...

She gave it to him at work.  Nick counted for hours.  Nearly four hours :)  Jenna's co-workers LOVED this torture treatment they saw inflicted on him.

 Total:  3,050

We asked her, "What if it was an odd number?"

"Then I'd reach in the jar and eat one."

So .... what does Nick do with 3,050 m&m's?

And shared them with Jenna :)

Spelling Sentences

Kendall is a rock star with his spelling words.

"WAHOO!" is what is written on his tests if he gets 100%.  His teacher is so fun and energetic -I love hearing hear him say some of the phrases she does.

Here are the sentences he had to write at school for his spelling word practice.

Sentence #3 is my favorite.  Such a boy.

Love notes :)

At the end of July we took a quick road trip to Chicago to visit family ...

Before we left, I left some notes for John.

To remind him to water these:

On the TV/Computer monitor in the family room

On the bathroom mirror

In the kitchen

Just before we left, I went in the fridge to grab the sandwiches for our trip (top left of the picture below) and discovered this note.





I had a good laugh.  She keeps things hopping and fun around here.  We sure miss her now that she is back at BYU!



And counting ...

So thankful for insurance ....

Bills submitted by healthcare providers to our health insurance for the accident Jenna was in is totaling (so far, not finished yet) .... drum roll ....

$42,428.86

This doesn't include the PIP insurance and our Medical Coverage auto policy - like PIP ($8,000 total) medical bills that were paid before our health insurance company would even touch the bills.  (I guess that makes it over 50K.

Hopefully no more surgeries.

6 more weeks of Physical Therapy and more visits to our DO of OMM (neck and back).

Oh ... and we are thankful for home owner's insurance.

The hail storm that hit our area back in June .... our rental house needs a new roof, new paint, refinish deck and fence.

Our home we are living in right now ... new windows and refinish deck.

Thank you hail.  Thank you insurance (that has a replacement value policy).  Oh, make sure your home owner's insurance is replacement value :)

Vrrrrmmmm ....

This is what John and I did this past Saturday morning.  We joined a motorcycle gang (approx 30 bikes) ... we rode on John's Honda sport bike ...

The Harley's were pretty neat!  My favorite was the pale yellow one.

I'm not brave enough to drive one - just ride on one.

After a 2 1/2 hour ride, I felt like I had been riding a horse.

I can't wait to do it again.  Colorado is a great place to ride!

Rubbing shoulders - or fins

Overheard from Jenna (referring to this meet)

Jenna diving in

"I totally swam against Missy Franklin last year... She passed me like, 5 times... But still."

I was there.  Jenna was amazing :) Jenna's 6:16.16 500 yd swim is much faster than mine.  Just sayin'

Back in the saddle/boots

Jenna did great with her surgery.  She is wearing a boot on her left foot to protect it while it heals.

This past Thursday while walking down the stairs, her other foot - the right one ... the one that had surgery on May 7 that required re-breaking a bone, taking off a tendon and stitching it to the bone and 6 more weeks in the wheelchair - had a terrible pain while walking down the stairs.  She describes it as a ripping feeling.  Her tendon and ankle area is very sore.

The doctor put her back in the boot.  Now she is sporting two boots - AGAIN.  Poor girl!

He will see her tomorrow.  He says it could be the tendon detaching from the bone ... or it could be scar tissue breaking up.  We hope it is the scar tissue.

Wildlife in our front yard

I heard wrestling/movement outside the office window on Saturday night around 10:45 p.m. It was too dark outside to see anything. Within moments, Julia pulled down the driveway and quickly came in. "Mom, do we have black bears?" "Yep - there have been sightings". I heard it. She saw it. It climbed up the side of our driveway to the neighbors. So fun living in Colorado!

This is what I imagine the bear doing during the day :)

Barf Brigade

Jaley is  hard at work with her friend, Kathleen. They are so cute! They stepped up to the plate when someone left a HUGE throw up mess in the men's bathroom at the pool while they were life guarding. It was funny to hear Jaley retell this story and how she felt like barfing while cleaning up. It made me think back on Chunk's confession in the movie Goonies. 


I Love Chunk. 


I Love Jaley and Kathleen.

Jenna surgery - July 23 - update

Jenna was super excited for the surgery yesterday.   She couldn't wait to be around the hospital staff (in fact, she filled out a form Sunday night online to volunteer at the hospital).   She also couldn't wait to get this part of the healing process over.

Dr Field told us that he was going to go in through the original incision sites and see what was going on since Jenna has a very large odd bump on the top of her foot towards the arch on the left foot.   We took pictures today before the surgery of that bump.

Dr Field said the mass could be a bone spur and if it was he would shave the bone while in there.   He also said it could be build up of scar tissue which means there might not be much we could do about the malformation.

Jenna was in surgery for just under an hour.   Dr Field said she did great and was slightly awake during a part of it and was quite entertaining.   He came out and brought me to a consulting room to tell me about the procedure.   He discovered that the screws were placed a little differently than what he envisioned in the xray.   The large mass was actually one of the screws working its way out.   That is the screw placement he wasn't aware/sure of.   He hopes that with the removal, the mass will be a lot less.   He also pointed out in the xray that is was difficult to tell a specific area on the foot (joint between big toe and the toe next to it - metatarsal 1 and 2 I believe).   Once the screw was removed he was able to see that the gap between the joints was a lot larger than he realized and than what is normal.   He wants to keep an eye on this and he says it might need to be monitored for years.   He said that the discomfort of her movement would most likely be because of this large gap and the screws.   He said that with the trauma, he is not surprised.   He was pleased with how the bones are lined up with the edge of of the joints.   He said that she will also be able to tell when storms come in :)   Who needs a meteorologist when we have Jenna's feet?

Jenna requested to keep the screws.   They are huge!   I was shocked. They look like screws I could have picked up at Home Depot for pennies rather than who knows what they charge at the hospital hardware store.  I should have picked some up from Home Depot and installed them myself and saved some money :)

She has to wear a boot for at least 10 days, maybe 2 weeks.   Dr Field said that Jenna will have throbbing in her foot for a couple of days.   He said this is because the bone has a void where the screw was and it is filling with blood (the holes) and will begin to fill with bone.

She's doing great.   I didn't see her for the rest of the day yesterday - only when I went down to give her pain medicine.  She is resting today.

Julia sings - A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief

Today we heard an angel sing.  Julia.

The first counselor in the bishopric came up to me before Sacrament Meeting and told me that if he could, he would have her sing this song over and over the entire Sacrament Meeting time.  I'd have to agree!

I was in heaven.  John cried (like a baby as he would describe himself).  I would have too, but I was trying to keep Kendall quiet.

It is long ... the arrangement is amazing - piano and violin and Julia

I recorded the audio ... so enjoy listening in this window while you surf the web in another one!

A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief

A poor wayfaring Man of grief

Hath often crossed me on my way,

Who sued so humbly for relief

That I could never answer nay.

I had not power to ask his name,

Whereto he went, or whence he came;

Yet there was something in his eye

That won my love; I knew not why.

Once, when my scanty meal was spread,

He entered; not a word he spake,

Just perishing for want of bread.

I gave him all; he blessed it, brake,

And ate, but gave me part again.

Mine was an angel’s portion then,

For while I fed with eager haste,

The crust was manna to my taste.

I spied him where a fountain burst

Clear from the rock; his strength was gone.

The heedless water mocked his thirst;

He heard it, saw it hurrying on.

I ran and raised the suff’rer up;

Thrice from the stream he drained my cup,

Dipped and returned it running o’er;

I drank and never thirsted more.

’Twas night; the floods were out; it blew

A winter hurricane aloof.

I heard his voice abroad and flew

To bid him welcome to my roof.

I warmed and clothed and cheered my guest

And laid him on my couch to rest;

Then made the earth my bed, and seemed

In Eden’s garden while I dreamed.

Stripped, wounded, beaten nigh to death,

I found him by the highway side.

I roused his pulse, brought back his breath,

Revived his spirit, and supplied

Wine, oil, refreshment—he was healed.

I had myself a wound concealed,

But from that hour forgot the smart,

And peace bound up my broken heart.

In pris’n I saw him next, condemned

To meet a traitor’s doom at morn.

The tide of lying tongues I stemmed,

And honored him ’mid shame and scorn.

My friendship’s utmost zeal to try,

He asked if I for him would die.

The flesh was weak; my blood ran chill,

But my free spirit cried, “I will!”

Then in a moment to my view

The stranger started from disguise.

The tokens in His hands I knew;

The Savior stood before mine eyes.

He spake, and my poor name He named,

“Of Me thou hast not been ashamed.

These deeds shall thy memorial be;

Fear not, thou didst them unto Me.” 

James Montgomery

One more - and hopefully the last

Jenna is scheduled to have surgery on Monday, July 23 to have the screws in her left foot removed.  Hopefully this will be the last surgery for the car accident.

She is looking forward to making more friends with the hospital staff.

I love her optimistic attitude.

Jenna 5' 8" ... and walking :)

It's been a long road for Jenna.  Nearly 3 months in the wheelchair.  Two surgeries with one more in the very near future.

In June she was able to start using crutches - but still non-weight bearing on her right foot until mid-June.

When she could finally use the crutches, she still preferred the wheelchair because she could do more and move around quickly.  She did enjoy standing up on one foot.  She forgot how tall she was.  5' 8"

She was finally given the OK to put weight on her right foot and walk in the boot.

Here are her first steps - caught on camera by Julia - ... and these are tears of joy.  Pure joy.



It's not over yet ... now we are doing Physical Therapy.  Her feet get tired, swollen and sore very quickly.  They have an odd shape to the top and sides with the surgeries and hardware.

This week is the first week back to work as a life guard.

This week is the first time she can finally get in the pool.  It took 2 months for her incision to completely heal from her second surgery.  Now it is safe for her to swim.  She tried a flip turn the other day.  Fail.  It hurt too much.  Hopefully the physical therapist can work some magic and help her get back into form so she can be competitive enough to qualify for state with her 500 free style.  It is her senior year.

She's still her happy bubbly self.  She has the PT staff, hospital staff and doctors/nurses constantly laughing.  They love her. She loves them.  She wants to be a nurse.  She'll be a great one - there's no doubt in my mind.

This has changed her - for good.  For the good.

My Dad

Best. Dad. Ever.

A girl couldn't ask for a better Dad.
He listened to me as I cried in his office over my frustrations on friends, self confidence, and life.
He's sentimental ... kept my brother's graham cracker hand print on the glass of his model boat frame for years
He's a wonderful example of how to be a wonderful husband, father and friend.
He loves to play with the grand kids.  Kendall can't wait to play "buddy club" when he visits - snuggling and reading books in a homemade fort.

I love my Dad.

My Dad playing with his grandkids ... tickle bugs!

It feels like Christmas around here

I've been doing tons of yard work.  TONS.  The boys and I work together in the yard each morning.  John and I worked 6 hours in the yard today.  I keep telling myself, I should do a before and after picture, but by the time I get started I don't want to go back in the house to get the camera.

As I was raking pine needles, I unearthed a "dry rock bed" that runs along the side of our property that helps move the water run off that runs down our crazy shared driveway/street before you reach our even more crazy driveway.

I told John that it feels like Christmas.  I'm "unwrapping" so many cool things ... landscaped areas - that once were landscaped - dry creek beds ...

Wish I could say that the yard looks amazing.  We have more to do.  At least I can see improvement.  Not sure if anyone else can, but I do.

The trash man is not going to like us.  Not one bit.  We have over 20 black 55 gallon trash bags filled with pine needles, etc.  And there will be more ...

You should see the pile of limbs I have stashed in the back for next Spring when our community does the annual brush pickup.  That's still growing too.

Anything you can do ...

This is Kerst and Kendall's favorite song at the current moment



(Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better from the musical  Annie Get Your Gun).

They do have a bit of a competitive relationship at times.  It is cute to hear them start singing this song when they start showing a bit of competition in what they are currently doing together.  My favorite is when Kendall pauses and asks Kerst what his next line is in the song.  It's pretty cute!

Ahhh ... it smells like ...

"I know it is summer because of the smell," said Jaley as she applied sun lotion.

I know what summer feels like ... Kendall and I are both sporting sun burns.  We had a great day at the pool yesterday.  We still have sensitive winter skin.

Investing in Real Estate

I think I want to own real estate in a surgical center, just one room would be fine.

Jenna's outpatient surgery on May 7th ...

Anesthesiologist - $1,200

Surgeon - $1,050.19

Using the surgical center for a 45 minute surgery - $7,821

Jaley's favorite quote

I love this girl ... she has such a gentle spirit.

She loves this quote ... and another reason why I love her - her faith.

"I believe in God as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."  ~ C. S. Lewis

Shoe, not shoes

Tomorrow is Jenna's last day in the wheelchair and two boots at school ... tomorrow is the last day of school!  She is looking forward to not having the maneuver through the hall ways, elevator, and all of the stares (yes, still).  She doesn't complain.  I just know she is glad it will be over.

Today the doctor gave her the "go ahead" to wear a (one) tennis shoe and use crutches!

We got home and she wanted to try out her crutches.  "Wow, I forgot I was this tall!  Did I grow?"  She makes me laugh.

Still no weight bearing on her right foot for several more weeks.  Oh, and the stitches are STILL not ready to come out.  Maybe 3 weeks will be enough ...

We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel ... a very long tunnel.  She's been so positive all along this journey.

Workin' girl

Julia landed a life guarding job back in March.  (Thank you Jenna for being such a great hard worker).

After Jenna's accident, she is unable to work at the indoor swim school.  Julia picked up her shift there as well as another one.

When Julia returned home from BYU back at the end of April, she started working for someone in our neighborhood as her "personal assistant" - since the pools wouldn't open until Memorial Day Weekend.

She was also offered a job as an office assistant at her friend's parent's company.  Trip TV.  She can work up to 40 hours a week there (or even at home).  She gives her advice regarding music (syncopation, looping, etc), searches for music (she wishes she had more options as she is passionate about so much music!), tags videos and a variety of other things.  She is also to go as an assistant (and model) on some of their trips to video tape some vacation/resort places.  Where?  Alaska.  Rome.  Hawaii.  Brazil.  She was supposed to go to Puerto Vallarta  last week, but they didn't have enough rooms in the hotel - and we are waiting on her updated passport.

What a summer this girl is going to have!

Goldfish

Another cute thing I won't change with Kendall ... "Goldfish"

We played a very exciting, fun, giggling game of "Go Fish".  Kendall even surprised me by telling me that he had a "book" - 4 matching cards - ... huh?  Where did he learn that?

He knows what a book is, yet still pronounces the game and phrase to draw a card "Goldfish".

Gonna keep that.

Famous in the Washington Post ...

Julia is in the Washington Post!!!

Check it out here.  It is a story about Mitt Romney and BYU.

Julia was walking from her Book of Mormon class with her friend Derek D and Katie G.

Heal Jenna, Heal

We had a follow-up appointment with Dr Field today from her surgery last week.  He took xrays of both feet today.  The xray of the area from the surgery is looking as expected to him.  He said that it is repositioned as well as can be.  He did discover that the bone (metatarsal #2) in her right foot is not healing - this is the bone that has the plate on it that was a displaced/compound fracture.  Thankfully this is in the foot that requires her to stay off of for another 7 weeks.

She has been given the OK to start putting a little weight on her left foot.  He warned her to be careful as she will have shooting pain that will take her breath away and might knock her over is she is not stable.  Not a good thing with a non-weight bearing restriction on her other foot.  She will start putting a little weight on her left foot at home over the next week and go from there.  He told her to make note of how she feels at night regarding her left foot and to compare it in the morning (she should be stiff in the morning) and if it doesn't improve, he will have to look into why she is not improving.  He just wants her to be aware of what to look for and to not worry.

He is also looking into seeing if our insurance will cover the cost of a bone stimulator to help Jenna's bone with the plate heal faster.  It is showing very little improvement compared to the other bones that were injured.  He explained that this could be because the break is in the narrowest part of the bone where the blood supply is less.

Jenna will see him next Tuesday to have the stitches removed and more follow up.