Chad's Birthday Party...from way back in march!!

I know I've fallen behind, but I can't not post Chad's birthday party. Since Chad was going to be gone on his birthday, we decided to celebrate on Wednesday the 21. It was a fun celebration and we had a fun time together. The kids were thoughtful and made him a card and picked out his favorite candy to give to him. He loved the whole thing. It was a bummer that we didn't get to celebrate with him on his actual birthday but at least we got to celebrate. Oh an we also planned a little surprise with our neighbors the Shepherd's who made him some cookies and the kids and I made him some sweet homemade cards and wrapped them up and gave them to Jake, because he was going to Wood Badge with Chad as well, and then Jake would surprise him with the cards and treat and party with him that night. It was so fun and Chad was so surprised.

I made a book for Chad on Shutterfly of all of his accomplishments with basketball in his high school years. There were pictures and newspaper clippings and it turned out so stinking AWESOME. He loved it.

Opening his cards from the kids.

T-Boy Trauma!

 This is Trevor in the ER after they told us he'd be admitted and they hooked him up to his IV and oxygen.Sad scared little boy.

Trev had to go to the hospital and stay for almost three days. This is how it happened. He had had a cough for about four days only at night but we were able to get him relief through his inhalers and medicine. Then on Friday he was coughing more and more throughout the day. Friday night he was coughing all night and having a really hard time sleeping and breathing. We gave him his medicine but nothing seemed to help. On Saturday morning he woke up really struggling to breath and he was complaining that his chest and heart hurt. We decided to take him to insta care. I took him and on the way he threw up in the care and then again when we got to the doctor's office.The doctor checked him out and took an x-ray and concluded that he had pneumonia. So they gave him a breathing treatment and checked his oxygen again and it hadn't changed. It was staying at 90 percent. He prescribed him some antibiotics and gave him two shots in his bum of another antibiotic and sent us home. We filled the prescriptions and started him on it right away. He was exhausted and not feeling good. I monitored his breathing and retraction and oxygen with a pulse oximeter. It kept getting worse and worse throughout the day. When his oxygen level got down to 87percent and he was still struggling to breath (about 6:00), I called his normal pediatrician to get his opinion. He said to bring him right into the ER. I really didn't want to because he has been this bad before and we just always made it through at home. But I had a feeling that I should take him. So away we went. Chad was at Riley's soccer game with the other kids in Brigham City. We got to the ER and checked him in. His Oxygen was down to 85 percent. They put him in a room and the ER doctor called our pediatrician and they ordered another x-ray and also said that they were going to admit him. UGH!! Trev was so scared at this point. He had no idea what was going on. He was so tough though. He tried so hard not to cry or show emotion. He just didn't want ANYONE to talk to him. Every one of the six different nurses that came in tried to talk to him and he'd just look at me like "Please make them stop mom." It broke my heart when he just couldn't take anymore and his chin would shake and his lip would poke out and the tears would come. He got hooked up to the IV and also had oxygen in his nose. They moved us up to a hospital room upstairs and they started a breathing treatment. He was so scared and unhappy, until Chad and his sisters showed up around 9:30 that night. It really lifted his spirits to see some familiar faces come into the room. I was relived to have them there as well. Chad stayed the night and I took the girls home. They started Trev on steroids and breathing treatments every four hours. His pediatrician, Dr. Eberhard came in and checked him out and looked at the x-rays and concluded that he did not have pneumonia but was having a massive asthma attack. So the treatment from the other doctor at the insta care was doing NOTHING!! Thank goodness we brought him in. He ended us having to stay two nights and half of Monday. We came home Monday at 3:00. Needless to say we are all tired and stressed out. Trev is doing much better and is on some heavy artillery to maintain his oxygen level and keep his asthma under control. We had some really neat experiences and I know for a fact that Trevor's testimony of prayer and priesthood blessings grew leaps and bounds. There were multiple times where we'd find him kneeling in prayer all by himself. Or he'd ask if we could say a prayer out of nowhere just so he could ask Heavenly Father to let him get better so he could go home. I love this little boy and I love my family. I am truly blessed for the examples that are all around me. I am also blessed for my friends and family who were praying for Trev and who came to visit us and bring Trev toys and treats and those who brought us dinner. We are truly in debt to these people and I have learned so much by their examples.What a blessing. These are a little out of order, but here you go:

 This first one is of him with his oxygen in. He was happiest on Sunday so we were able to get some smiles.

Blowing bubbles to try and expand his lungs...This was on Monday after they removed his oxygen for a trial run.

His IV

His sisters on Sunday morning. His sisters were a great support the whole time. They wanted to go see him first thing in the morning and they never wanted to leave him.

Getting a breathing treatment

Sleeping Sunday night. When Jake and Lea and their kids came to visit he was asleep and didn't even care about all of the noise. Tired boy.

His oxygen monitor was on his toe and it made his toe glow in the dark.

Playing with the trucks that Jake and Lea brought for him. Thanks a ton you guys.

He just got told he could go home. So happy!

A much deserved vacation from the bed with a purple popsicle by the window for some fresh air. This was right before we left.

This was in the ER. Two oxygen monitors on his fingers. He was not happy.

This is after the oxygen and IV were started. So done with all of those people at this point.

It's Official...

We belong in West Point. We now feel like we belong in West Point. We have chickens!! Everyone out here in West Point has some kind of farm animal they are raising or some kind of farm equipment or four wheelers or something to make them countryish. We settled for chickens. Why chickens you ask? They're small. They live outside in a coop. They don't mess up your yard. They are cheap to replace. No vet visits. And the number one reason...They give EGGS!! We're becoming more self reliant people. By the way, this in no way affiliates us with any of the following terms: hick, hillbilly, white trash or red neck. We're just trying to fit in and do our part in providing for our family.

The yellowish one is Zoe and the black one in Stella. They are growing so big so fast. They have to live in this box for a few more weeks and I don't know if they'll make it that long. We might have to make an early retreat to the coop and put the heat lamp in there.

Hoppy Easter

Our Easter this year was simple and fun. The Easter Bunny came visiting and left some treats for the kiddos. At our house the kids wake up in shifts. First at 6:30 ish, Paityn opens her eyes and instantly wants to get out of her bed. We put her on the couch that morning to watch a movie hoping that she wouldn't notice the Easter baskets and eggs hidden all over the place. She didn't notice. Then around 7, Trev desperately wants some food for fear of starvation and Riley climbs out of bed as well. They came up and we told them to go wake up Cami, she usually sleeps in the longest and we love that about her.They went downstairs and woke Cami up and then came back upstairs to search for their baskets and eggs. They did pretty good finding all of the eggs and they loved their cheeto carrots. Those were a big hit. The Easter Bunny will definitely have to remember that one.

Cheeto carrots

Riley got a new shirt to wear to her soccer practices

Trev got some new summer jammies

Cami got a new shirt just like Riley

Paityn got a new jumper to wear for the summer.

Hiking Bird Song Trail

During Spring break, we wanted to do some fun family stuff. One of the things we knew we wanted to do was hike. So we headed to Ogden's Bird Song Trail and off we went. The kids were really good and had a good time. Riley had gotten her braces off earlier that day and we hadn't told Chad because we wanted to see if he'd notice. He didn't for about an hour and by then it was killing Riley and I so we ended up giving him a hint. We hiked the whole mile long trail. We had snacks, tried to catch some butterflies, explored beyond the trail boundaries and just had a good time together. We will definitely be doing some more hikes in the future.

Daddy and the kiddos

Me and the kiddos

Cami was a poser on this hike. She wanted a ton of pictures of her.

Trev exploring

Little P

Riley trying to get Chad to notice her braceless teeth...He took this picture and still didn't notice.

Exploring the deep dark forest

Braces Free!!

Last Monday, Riley got her braces off!! We were so surprised. We were just expecting to go in and have Tad look at her and change her wire and she'd pick her colors and we'd be off. But he said that she was done. So she got them off. On our way out, the Dr. and assistants through her a celebration complete with music and balloons and even a blow horn. She got a candy bar and popcorn and rootbeer. She was a happy camper. Her teeth look so much better. As you can see from her smile in these pictures.

Dear Baby Quincy,

Hi sweet girl. I have been thinking a lot about you. Who are you going to look like? When will you come to meet us? Will you have hair? Will you be healthy and will everything be ok? I am more worried about how things will turn out this time around. I feel like my chances of having another healthy little baby are running low since I have been blessed with your four healthy siblings. Nothing has gone wrong so far. Is my luck running thin Quin? Will you be ok? Will there be anything wrong? I hope not. I hope that you are a healthy little girl who loves life and loves to smile. I hope that you will always know where you came from. You are a daughter of God and I believe that he has chosen your Dad and I to raise you on Earth for a great purpose. Your Dad and I are very excited to meet you. I can hardly wait. The doctor tells us that I have 13 more weeks until you will be ready to join us. I say it's more like 10. Will you be ready in 10? I hope you will be. You will learn that I have very little patience. I hope that you will be blessed with at least double what I have. Your brother and sisters can't wait to meet you. Paityn is working on potty training so that you can have her diapers when you come. Riley and Cami are moving back into the same room together so that Trev can move downstairs and you can have the room closest to Mommy and Daddy. I'm a little worried about having Trev downstairs but I think he'll adjust quick. He's so excited to be a big boy and be downstairs with his big sisters. We're getting ready for you Quincy. It's almost time. We hope that things go smooth on your arrival. Everyone will be there to meet you, hold you, kiss you. Be safe little girl. Give everyone a kiss and hug before you come, they're going to miss you while you're here.  We love you so much.

Impatiently Waiting,
Mommy

Wood Badge Part 2

Nothing much to report for this weekend of wood badge. Chad left on his birthday, so we celebrated on Wednesday. We had a good night together eating good food, opening presents and having dessert. When he left I was a little worried of the events that would follow but I knew that we would be protected. Chad gave me a blessing before he left just to calm my spirits a little bit. This time was easier to handle I think because I knew he wouldn't be able to call me. Last time I kept thinking, "maybe today he'll call." and it never happened. This time though, he took the ipod touch and was able to email me a few times so that was much better. The kids and I had fun enjoying the nice weather and doing our normal day to day things. The kids miss their Daddy when he's gone. I felt bad for them. Especially Trev. He's a big time Daddy's boy. On Thursday night, it was late and I was bored but not tired. I tend to not want to go to bed when Chad is gone, so I was thinking of something I could do. I had been painting a dresser for the baby earlier that day and I thought, "Why don't I paint some walls that are in need of a touch up?" Am I pregnant or what? So I went out and gathered all of the painting supplies and away I went. I taped and edged and painted those walls with primer. I painted three different walls with primer that night. I let it dry over night and then I started again on Friday morning with the color. I ended up painting another wall that I just couldn't let slide this time.Four walls primed and painted in two days. I felt good until Saturday morning. I got up and got the kids fed and ready to go to Cami's soccer game. I was coaching since Chad was gone. My back just got worse and worse until I got to the point where I really was struggling to walk. By that time it was the afternoon and it was time to go to Riley's indoor soccer game. On the way there, Chad called and said that he would meet us there. Thank goodness he did because when I tried to get out of the car and walk into the field, I could barely make it. Needless to say I won't be painting any time soon. My back was really bad for about four days and then it started getting a little better each day. I am bummed that my body is not as tight and strong as it used to be during other pregnancies. We are happy that Chad doesn't have to leave for camp again anytime soon. We love having him home. I love having him home to help and to hug and to talk to. Thank goodness nothing too bad happened this time around.