Never thought it would happen to me!

   We are getting ready for our staycation that we have decided to take this year.  We are taking a week and spending it in Salt Lake City.  We rented a hotel room right in the heart of the city and have many fun things planned.  We are all very excited especially since this is close enough to home that CJ can come with us.  We leave tomorrow, because my birthday is on Thursday, and I thought it would be fun to celebrate my birthday while we were on vacation.  So last Saturday we are busy, busy and it gets late and we haven't had dinner so we pick up some Little Caesars pizza and eat around 9:30 at night.  I think nothing of it until I wake up at 3am with cramping.  It happens every now and then when I eat pizza real late so I am regretting the decision now (don't know why pizza is the trigger but it is.)  Usually I just lie flat on my stomach on the floor and the pain isn't as bad so I am able to wait out the cramping and eventually go back to bed.  After over an hour of no relief no matter what I do I start to panic a little.  It's getting hard to breath and I feel like I'm going to pass out.  I can take deep breaths yet I feel like my lungs just aren't getting any air.  I had a thought that I wasn't expecting, I wondered if I was going to die.  I really didn't want to die on the floor in the middle of the night from intestinal cramping...that just isn't how I thought I would leave this world, or how soon.  I decided to get on the computer and look up which side is the warning sign for appendicitis since the pain just wasn't going away.  I didn't want to go to the hospital and have them tell me to take some tums and call them in the morning because it was nothing.  My pain was in the area that was described but again I didn't want to look like a fool so I thought I would just wait a little longer.  I think it was about 5 minutes later that the thought that I might die came back in to my head and I realized that even if it wasn't appendicitis I couldn't breath and that made me nervous too so I woke CJ up and asked him if he would take me to the hospital.
   I decided to go to the hospital that is 5 minutes from our house even though it isn't on our medical insurance because I didn't know if I would make the 20 minute trip to the hospital in Provo before I passed out (or worse) from no oxygen.  I was taken back right away.  My pulse ox showed that I was getting too much air, not too little, and that is why I felt like I was going to pass out.  I was in so much pain that I was hyperventilating, go figure.  They gave me some pain meds and as I began to feel better I started to feel soooo stupid for going in.  I was breathing just fine now and I didn't hurt near as bad so I figured what ever had caused the pain had run it's course and this was just going to be an expensive reminder to NOT eat pizza so late at night. I never said I was the brightest crayon in the box.  I had a chest X-Ray just in case there was a reason behind my breathing scare...all looked good.  Then I had a CT scan to see what had caused the pain.
   The test came back positive for appendicitis.  It's really sad that I was GLAD I had appendicitis...I didn't feel stupid anymore for bothering everyone in the middle of the night for nothing...even though what I had was life threatening.  Anyway, I did need surgery as soon as possible but since it wasn't about to burst I was allowed to let CJ drive me to the hospital that my insurance did cover.  With the pain under control I had no worries making the 20 minute drive now.
   My surgery kept getting bumped for one reason or another so it took 13 hours for me to get the surgery that I needed "right away".  I wasn't worried, in fact I was just fine every time they bumped it back.  I finally had time to think about the fact that I was going "under the knife" and a piece of me was going to be removed.  Just kidding.  Surgery doesn't scare me near as much as the anesthesia does.  Even worse though is that I know what goes on in the OR when the patient (in this case...me) is asleep and it's not very positive to the self esteem.  That honestly is what I feared the most!  I just had to completely block any thought of the OR from my mind and keep telling myself that I am going to go to sleep in one room and wake up in another...nothing more.  A task that is made a little easier when the surgery is spur of the moment and not planned months in advance but hard to do just the same.
   I woke up from surgery groggy and on oxygen but out of danger.  CJ was finally able to go home to the kids and get some rest.  Not the way I planned to spend Sunday at all.  The incisions are very small so there isn't a ton of pain but I did actually have trouble getting enough oxygen this time so I had a respiratory therapist work with me to be able to take the oxygen off and get ready to go home.  I'm really sad that they didn't offer to let me bring the appendix home in a jar like they used to.  It would have been fun to gross out the girls.  Well, before I went home the surgeon let me know that I had begun to abscess around the appendix and that he had found a rather large ovarian cyst that he drained (that was unexpected) so it was a good thing I came in when I did.
   CJ asked me if we should postpone the trip since we leave so soon but I told him that I feel good as new and I'm too excited to wait any more.  It's amazing how quickly we heal now from what used to be a major surgery that would hospitalize you for at least 2-3 days with another week of recovery at home.  I am so grateful for modern medicine!

Even Shorter

Well, I wanted shorter hair because I just can't take the heat on my neck anymore.  I liked my haircut but something just didn't seem right.  It felt like the sides and back didn't match (looking back they were fine.  I think I just wasn't used to it.)  So I went and asked for an even SHORTER hair cut.  Can you believe it?!  It is so short that I spike it in the back.  I like it more than I thought I would.  Anyway, here is my even shorter hair.

Pioneer Day Parade

With Lizzie and Rebecca

in the marching band we find ourselves going to the parades instead of forgetting like we usually do.  Today is Pioneer Day so I took the kids to the parade in Spanish Fork.  Megan and Alex still haven't been to too many parades so they loved seeing all the "floats" (they are really just people putting a sign on their truck and some streamers and calling it a float.  Disappointing but in this economy it is understandable.)

Unfortunately it is during the week so CJ couldn't come with us.  I do love going to parades.

Dakota got chosen by a Karate place to break a board.  She is so excited.

Look Mom...

they're just throwing candy at me.

I taught Dakota how to cheer and be loud to get the candy thrown her way.  

Rebecca and her best friend JoLynn ready for their first parade.

I'm a big frog now, I'm 5!!

Can it really be that Megan is 5?!

This little girl is growing up so quietly.  She was so teeny tiny at birth and it took her so long to start growing that it doesn't seem possible that she could be 5 already.  She will be starting Kindergarten and riding the bus with the big kids.  She just seems too little to send away to school on the bus.  She doesn't think so though.  She thinks she is a teenager just like her sisters.  When she's not playing dress up with her toys in her room she is putting on make-up in the bathroom and looking at her self in the mirror pretending she is all grown up.  She is soooo happy to be turning 5.  I am happy for her but need to remind her to be little for a while longer.  My last little girl is trying to grow up way too fast.

Happy 5th Birthday Megan!!!

All she wanted for her birthday was a mermaid tail.  She couldn't wait to put it on and she looks so cute in it.

Big Change for Me

This may not seem like a big change to anyone else but for me it was significant.  I have had long hair ever since I can remember.  There have been a few times where it was cut shorter but I always grew it out long again.  I have also been a heater ever since I can remember. I am almost always hot, even in the winter.  That is the main reason I had to move out of Arizona.  I don't think people understood just how hot it was for me there.  This summer has seemed to be worse than any I can remember.  I just can't seem to cool off.  One thing that does help though is having my hair off my neck.  I am not one who likes pony tails because my hair is so thick and heavy that pony tails usually give me a head ache.  I have been toying with the idea of  cutting my hair for some time now.  I guess I wanted to finally stop talking about it and actually chop it off...for good this time.

I feel naked with out all my hair.  I am having a hard time getting used to it but I did it.  Here is my new shorter hair.  Not exactly what I was picturing but not bad.  I do feel cooler though so I don't have any plans on growing it long again.  Only time will tell.

Happy Birthday Lizzie!!!

 One year closer to 16!  This girl is growing up way too fast.  I remember this tiny little baby in my arms with a perfectly round head, so beautiful, just thinking about what she would be like when she was older.  In Kindergarten she was the smallest child in the class and her skin was so light that her teacher said she was afraid the other kids would break her because she looked like a little porcelain doll.  Now she is a Sophomore in high school!  She is so happy and loves to help out where ever she can.  She is planning for her future which is wonderful and scary at the same time.  I love seeing the woman she is becoming even though it means my little baby girl will leave the nest sooner than I like.

 She has had the black and white cookie decals and candles since the week after her last birthday.  She was planning a black and white theme this year until she saw the really cute Pooh cupcake.  She is a HUGE fan of  Winnie the Pooh so she decided to combine the two this year.  I love her creative thinking.

Happy 15th birthday Lizzie!!!!!

Of course the little ones find more fun in the container than than they do the fun that came in the container.  I just love how these two can make me laugh.

Oreo Birthday

I can't believe it's birthday time again.  Especially since this means that my little Rebecca is 14!!  She will be a freshman in high school this year!  That just blows my mind.  I am happy for her though because she is growing into such a beautiful young woman inside and out.  She is super helpful to everyone, loves her brother and sisters, tries hard to do her best at everything she does and really enjoys her young women activities.  I love you so much my sweet Rebecca!!

She has been dreaming about and planning this cake for almost a full year.  Her favorite food in the world is Oreo cookies so she couldn't wait to make her giant Oreo cookie cake.  I tasted as good as it looks.  Great job Rebecca.

You have to wait for the singing just like everybody else crazy girl.

Happy 14th Birthday!!

The last of the tile is IN!!!

This has been one massive undertaking but it feels really good to be able to accomplish such a big project together.  We've always talked about projects but this is the first time we have really been able to do one.  Anyway, here is the finished floors in the laundry room and the bathroom.

CJ showing the new laundry room floor.

Just need to put the trim back on and we can put the laundry room back together.  I was going to paint in here, but I think I am done with painting for now.

Here is the new bathroom floor.

Here are the colors in the bathroom. 

The cream on this wall is what was intended for the hallway...unfortunately the cream turned out to be yellow because I was still so new at picking paint colors for the wall.  Chris did a nice job though and the bathroom looks great!

Putting our house guests to work

My sister Christina, and her husband Jose came to stay with us for a bit while they attend trucking school.  It didn't take long for us to put them to work.

Christina actually jumped at the chance to paint the bathroom.  I must say, she did a fantastic job and she was quick too.

Joe is an all around handy man so he was able to help on all the detail work to help get us finished.

We are so close to the end of this remodel I can hardly stand it!

"Big" Birthday Surprise

A few months back when the girls and I went to the Women's Expo there was a new company there that I had once thought of starting.  It was a company that has large rooms with game systems hooked up to projectors so that you are playing your video games on huge 20' screens (just the white wall, but it was really cool.)  They were signing people up for two hour play time for a really good deal so that they could get the word out about their company.  It was a deal I couldn't pass up since one of the days available happened to be CJ's birthday.  I thought this would be a really fun place to spend his birthday so I booked the building and told the girls to keep it a secret.

This morning we acted like nothing was different than any other Saturday morning.  We made no hint that it was Dad's birthday.  We all got in the car and headed towards Orem to run some "errands".  What CJ didn't know was that the errand we were running was going to the Big Game Center to play video games on gigantic screens.  We pulled into the parking lot and he wondered why we were there.  We all yelled, "SURPRISE!!!!" and let him in on the secret.


We all had a great time!  We had the whole building to ourselves for two hours.  We played all kinds of games from dancing to hunting to rock band and more.  He thought it was a pretty cool birthday present. To take the pictures I had to use the flash but without the flash the games really were cool.

CJ had fun trying out all different kinds of games on the XBOX 360 with Kinex.

Xander playing with his Dad.

Xander playing with Rebecca.

Dakota in the huge room all by herself.  Don't get her wrong though...she is enjoying every sibling free moment she can get right now.

Rebecca sporting her knew knee high boots.

Poor Alexander.  The sensor bars were just too high to see him for nearly all of the games that he wanted to play.  He finally just gave up stared finding ways to entertain himself.

Lizzie had fun just switching back and forth between games.  You can see, we worked up quite a sweat.

It was really fun at the Big Game Center.  I'm just glad though that CJ had a really good time considering this was his birthday present.

After games we went home so the girls could make their dad his birthday cake.

The girls made a special cake for their dad.  They like to try and be creative with his favorite flavors.  This year they made a two layer marble cake with white chocolate mint icing.

Here's the old man with his camp fire or a cake.  You should have seen the amount of smoke in the air after the candles were all out.  (Okay, so it probably didn't help that the kids got him re-lighting candles that create more smoke than normal.)

More floor work

So on to the bathroom we go.  I have never taken a toilet out before thinking it to be complicated.  Admittedly, it was much easier to remove the toilet then I thought it would be.  Ripping up the floor was the pain in this room.

The last room in the house that we are tearing up with this project is the laundry room.  It isn't a big room so it wasn't too bad.  The tiny linen closet was a pain but by now it's just added to the list of difficult areas and dealt with.

Soon we will have tile floors in ALL areas of the house!  I can't wait for this massive project to be over.

Abracadabra!!

Our friends Brian and Rebekah South own their own business.  It's a business that they started and it is unlike any business that we have ever thought of.  Brian is a professional magician.  He doesn't perform anymore (except for us since he is our Home Teacher and his lessons always have a magic trick that illustrates the message very well) but he does invent magic tricks for other magicians to perform.  His business is selling those magic tricks to magicians all over the world.  One of the tricks he invented uses a magic wand that increases in size.  We were asked if we would be willing to make some of those wands in four different sizes for them, the catch is that they needed thousands of them.  I don't think it took our family 2 seconds to say yes.  We were so excited to be able to help "make" magic with them.  

These are hundreds of tubes of pipe insulation that will be cut down in to individual wands.  This isn't even all of the tubes that we used.

Dakota couldn't wait to play in the pile of tubes.

After the tubes were cut into the proper length we would stuff them into a "sock" and sew the sock closed.  We had to be ever vigilant with Megan and Alex because the boxes of socks were just too tempting for them.

Alex burying Megan in the wand socks.

Who needs sand and a beach to have fun being buried up to your neck.

This is what happens if you take your eyes off of the kids for even a minute.  They are just as fast and damaging as a tornado.  ( There were four different sizes of socks organized in that box they mixed together.)

One of many piles of wands that we made.

Again, Dakota couldn't wait to get in the middle of the huge pile of wands.

Strawberry jam...I think

I went with a friend to a grocery store in Salem that had a killer deal on strawberries.  I bought 5 flats of strawberries for next to nothing.  I couldn't have been more excited.  The plan was to do all things strawberry...jam, frozen berries, fruit leather, etc.  I was in the preserving mood.  Well, if I had just done one or two flats of strawberries it probably wouldn't have been so bad but I jumped right in and got 5.  It took me FOREVER to process that many strawberries.  I think I have learned my lesson.  My fingers are permanently red and I am hating the smell of strawberries right now.  I got a bunch in the freezer but not as many as I thought I would.  I made 6 pint size jars of freezer jam.  I would have made more but I guess I processed the strawberries a little too much because it's more like an ice cream topping than jam since the stuff just rolls right off the bread, and don't get me started on the fruit leather.  I got out my dehydrator and happily filled the trays with my strawberry slurry that tasted pretty good but to my dismay I kept burning every batch. I am still new to the dehydrator but come on.  Nothing I tried seemed to work. I tried drying the slurry in the oven hoping to get at least one good batch of fruit leather to put away...no such luck...I burned it too.  I give up.  I am going to have to beg one of my friends to come help me next time I get in the preserving mood so I can learn all the things I did wrong.  Unfortunately the way I'm feeling right now, that may be YEARS down the road.

5 flats of strawberries on my table.

They looked so good, I was so excited.

I rarely get to use my processor.  I used it a ton that day.

Prepping the strawberries for the freezer.

This is only a small amount of the slurry that I made.