A Night in the Emergency Room

Thursday, February 19th was a bad day. Corynn stayed home from school with a stomach ache and I was bummed that the flu had finally hit our family. Around noon she started throwing up and I wanted to keep the other kids away for a while so I took them (Christian, Chloe, and Sadie) to see a movie right after school was out. After the movie I went running and for some reason did the rough 5 miler... little did I know that was stupid because of the night that was ahead of me. After returning from the run, I found her moaning, throwing up, and saying how much pain she was in and holding her side. That's when the red flag went off... not the flu, something more.
I took her to the pediatrician night light clinic about 7 pm who then sent us right over to the emergency room. She was examined by the doctor (who happened to be Dr. Larson, my neighbor) and he thought it might be an appendix attack or even maybe an ovarian cyst. They did a CT scan. The surgeon on call was my other neighbor, Dr Myers. I felt like I had a lot of support because these doctors knew us and were our friends. Turns out it was a cyst, not the appendix.
We waited and waited for the OBgyn on call (who happened to be the doctor that delivered Sadie, another coincidence) and he finally came around 4 am... I was exhausted. He said that I could take her home and give her some pills to try to shrink it but I didn't like that plan. Mothers instinct told me it needed surgery, the pain was too sudden and too intense. Corynn told the doctor that she was too miserable to go home and I said I was too worried about it since it was huge (the size of a golf ball). So we decided to operate. Welcome to womanhood sista!
I was alone in the waiting room at 5:30 am, trying not to cry (not because I was worried, I had faith, but because I get weepy when I'm tired) and mad at myself because I needed to be strong for her. The doctor came out to talk to me at around 7 am and said he was so glad they operated. The cyst had wrapped around itself 2 times cutting of blood supply to an ovary, if he hadn't operated she would have lost the ovary for sure, it would have died. So relieved! We came home at around 9:30 am and slept. She is still sore a couple days later, I think we will try sending her to school tomorrow though.
All is well. No more all nighters in the ER for a long time (or ever again) I hope! This picture (above) was taken of Corynn on the tramp the night before she got sick. We swear she flipped too much and tangled up her tummy!

My Tiny Dancer

Sadie is in love with dance class. She must get it from mom, I fell in love with it in 2nd grade. She lives for it all week and leaves her dance clothes on the rest of the day after she goes to class. She had her studio pictures the other day and was loving it- this was her in the recital tutu, can you see the heaven?! I love it!

Friday the 13th

Today was the Valentines Party at school for Chloe's second grade class that I volunteered to help with. Complications arose as they often do. The day before the party I was called to go pick up Chloe at school because she was sick- she had a 101 degree fever. Then that night I HAD to be at a 4 hour scouting meeting (insane) and came home to a message that the room mom called and is stuck in Salt Lake so I am in charge. I called her back and got the scoop and discovered that not only was she stuck up there, but the teacher Mrs Carlson, was stuck also. There was a road closure due to a bad accident. I knew what we had planned on doing over the phone earlier in the week so I wasn't too upset, just hoping I had some moms show up to help because now 2 of the 4 helping were unable to be there. Must be the fault of it being a friday the 13th!

Chloe woke up this morning still sick, still feverish. It was Dads and Doughnuts today and she went to school loaded up on Tylenol with her dad and I prayed she'd make it there till the party. Now, because I can pull things off when I need to, sometimes I am actually competent, I called my neighbor also with a kid in this class and had her come in to help. Thank you Chris! Sadie was so excited to come and "help" also. (She was an angel!) It all worked out just fine. Two other moms showed up as well and we had tons of food which I wasn't sure we'd have. The kids were very good and the whole thing was pretty calm actually. SO we filled them up with sugary treats and sent them off to lunch and recess. The poor substitute is gonna have some fun afternoon with those monkeys!!

Genetics

I found Sadie sleeping like this the other day. It is an exact, classic position that I find her dad in all the time when he's sleeping. Now imagine it x20 and the "wing span" spreading across the bed- one elbow knocking me in the head. Tony has no idea why I am always pushing his elbows out of my face, someday I WILL be delivered a bloody or broken nose without a doubt. I have been lucky for these 18 years somehow. Just an occasional bonk in the head and I'm pretty tough I guess. Must be genetics... not sure I'm a big fan of this one being passed on but for now it's adorable.

Fabulous 15

Somehow, however it is possible, Christian turned 15 on January 25th. I'm thinking back on when he was born and remembering all the emotions and how horrible the weather was. That day school was canceled because everything was coated with a sheet of ice and people were going off the roads all over town. He was 2 weeks early, induced because I had toxemia (spiked blood pressure)- a little bit of a rough start. He was born on my Grandma Schepke's birthday and was given her fathers name (he was Christian Rachow). He was only 6 lbs 1 oz when I brought him home from the hospital. He was the cutest baby, then became an active little guy, then became my best buddy, and somehow now he is taller than me, almost driving and almost dating. I guess it's all part of the growing up whirlwind, but the thought of him graduating in 3 years makes me sad... once your baby always your baby.

All my kids contribute their own special piece into our family puzzle. Being the only boy, he tends to get all the rough jobs, the hard and heavy ones, because he is so dang strong. He is actually a really good little artist, (a sensitive guy- he would hate that I said that), a little on the clumsy side sometimes, usually doesn't need to be asked twice to help, very musical, and better at way more things than he thinks he is (and is so much fun). I will even overlook the gang of boys he brings here nearly every day to clean out my refrigerator and pantry... a grocery nightmare. Since we were only blessed with one boy- I feel like we definitely got one of the best!

I just have to add... he tolerates the Barbies in his bed, the crayon drawings on his homework, and the girl drama/giggles most of the time without complaining. He has his own space and definitely uses it. (His sisters just adore him- someday he might even notice the hero worship).

PETROGLYPHS in my backyard

I was hiking the other day with Corynn and some friends and we came upon some petroglyphs on a few big boulders. I was so excited. As we were looking at them another man came along and said that they were real and told us where more were. Just thought I'd post these since it was such an exciting find. Less than a mile from home and ancient!

First Night 2009

For the first time in a long time we went to a New Years Party. It was downtown at the city center- the St George First Night Party 2009. Yippee! and BRRRRRR! It was chilly!

It took 2 cars to get there because of our load of kids. I brought Chloe and Sadie, along with Corynn and 2 of her friends around 8 pm. The big girls ran off and I took the littles to the bounce houses, rode the train, tried to see the magic show, found a clown that made balloon critters for the girlies, and met up with Tony.

We watched the Karaoke singers and bought a big giant scone to keep warm. There were fireworks at 10 and then the little ones were done and ready to go. Tony had brought a car load of boys- Christian and 3 friends. He ended up bringing all the big kids home somehow in his truck and I just had my two youngin's. No one lasted till midnight at first night. It was unusually cold.

Came home, warmed everyone up, and put them to bed. Corynn fell asleep on the couch and Christian came home from his friends house around 1 am. Tony and I celebrated in a quiet house with a fire and a few noisy poppers that made a mess.

As for 2009- let's be hopeful!
*May it bring better economic news
*May it bring happy times
*May we find health
*May love fill this home and yours!!!

Duck, Duck, Ewwwwww

What to do when your cat drags home a duck that is almost as big as he is?

1- Rename the cat CUJO
2- Witness the dog's jealousy of the kill and carry around a stuffed duck
3- Hope the duck flew into the window and died instead of being Lucky's toy

Answer? The last two of the list.
Problem with #1- I already had a cat named Cujo growing up who more accurately fit the bill.
As for #2- the dog really did get jealous and run over to pick up his stuffed duck.
#3- Still checking all our windows for hopes of a duck collision and not that Lucky discovered the duck pond and will repeat this occurrence more often in the future. We're all still grossed out.

CHRISTMAS TOGETHER TIME

A quiet Christmas... it was just us for the holiday. No guests, no big dinners, no big party, just together time. It was really cozy. We had dinner together Christmas Eve by candlelight. Just candles and Christmas lights with happy music playing. Tony bar-b-qued some chicken and steak in the rain/snow flurries. Brrrr... then we played games. Later in the evening we read the Christmas story from the New Testament and said a family prayer. After all, isn't it all about our Savior and His humble arrival on this earth? The greatest gift of all. Then, as tradition dictates we had to then watch "The Snowman" and then they were off to bed. With things wrapped and ready to go we got a fairly early bedtime this year. On Christmas Eve Chloe began the wake up train and gathered everyone at about 7:15 am. All gifts were opened by 7:45- that is just too fast and I hardly got any pictures because of how fast it happened. The important thing is that everyone was happy which made mom and dad feel pleased! At about 3 pm we went for our traditional "fa ra ra ra ra" Chinese dinner. Then it began raining hard, blowing wind, and lightening outside. In the evening after wearing ourselves out playing Wii and Guitar Hero we popped popcorn and watched "Scrooge". What a happy, peaceful holiday. I wished it hadn't been complete chaos and stress right up until Christmas Eve! Ahhh... now we sit back and let them be kids.

Snow Day!!!

For the first time in 10 years the kids did not have school today because of the 4-5 inches of snow that fell overnight. It even snowed in Las Vegas which is even more unusual. The kids will return to school tomorrow and then they are off for Christmas break. What an exciting day.

Thanksgiving 2008

Each Thanksgiving in St George seems to be active and this one was no exception and then our Christmas is always too strangely quiet. We had many people come in to town this year. Thanks to Angie and Micah for hosting Thanksgiving dinner! There were about 50 this year total for dinner on Thanksgiving day- yikes! There were seats and people in every corner of her house. Here are a few shots of the chaos that ensued over the holiday. We were able to pack in a crowd here to "hang out" where there was space.

Chaos-R- Us... This week brought a lot of it! We once again swapped bedrooms-3 of them. I can't even count how many times we've done this. It's a ton of work and I pretty much got zero help. It feels good to get organized though. Tony has been in MI and the meeting he went for was canceled and his flight home got canceled. I kept the t.v. off every night and it made for very productive and peaceful evenings! I recommend it.
My parents have been in China for their 50th Wedding Anniversary (which is actually next Nov) and just got back today. They had a good time which made me happy because I've been worried.
I am just gonna throw some random pictures on here for your viewing enjoyment... Always looking for joyful moments!