My day in the hospital and more fun stuff

Well, to say I'm a bit behind in blogging is an understatment! I lost access to my external hard drive. The connection was broken (I think Miss P knocked it off my bed while I was uploading pics to Costco). Anyhow, I am back in business thanks to my wonderful husband who took apart the hard drive and held the connection long enough to retrieve all of our photos, literally held by his own two fingers while being slightly electrocuted. He later put on a rubber glove that lessened the pain and then he found a c-clamp that Santa gave him last Christmas. So, I'm back in business.

Tyler took all of this week off while the kids are out of school for Spring Break. We had high hopes and dreams of taking them all to Disneyland, but it just wasn't in the stars, or in the budget. So we planned on just doing something fun and inexpensive each day. I had been having some pretty bad low back paing for the last few weeks and then I thought I had a bladder infection, no pain, it just felt like I had to pee ALL the time. I put a call into my Dr a week ago yesterday, Friday. I never heard back. Monday morning I took my sister and her baby to his Dr's appt at 9am. Right after that we were going to kick off our week with something fun. Well, by 9:30 my back pain had gotten so bad I was crying and it quickly escalated to the point where I knew we had to leave Dustin's (my nephew) appt and get me into urgent care. My Dr. said they had nothing until 1pm. I asked my sister if she could drive, that's how bad it hurt, my sister has no license. She declined and I somehow managed to drive us to urgent care. By this point I feel like I am literally dying, a slow painful death. The lady at the window hands me some forms and tells me to fill them out and bring them back to the window with my insurance card. HA HA HA, I don't know exactly what I said, but I handed them to my sister and told her to fill them out, she did what she could and I set them back on the desk. By the hords of people I could tell it was going to be a VERY long wait. I was pretty sure I would be dead by then. Morgan called Tyler to come pick us up, drop her and the kids back at home and get me to the ER. NOTE: if you are in severe pain or need to be seen immediately, don't bother with urgent care.
Ok, so we go wait in the van, I climb into the backseat amid several mismatched shoes, dirty socks, trash, wrappers, a sandwich bag (this is fortunate, I'll be needing that in just a few minutes). I make a mental note that if I live through this we will be cleaning out the van. The pain has actually gotten worse by now and I feel the need to vomit, remember the sandwich bag I saw and use it. You see, although the bag is small, the day before had been fast Sunday, and I wasn't feeling well, so I had hardly any dinner and I hadn't eaten yet this day, so it was plenty big enough to hold the contents of my stomach. After what seems like hours Tyler arrives and we're headed for home. Peyton held my hand all the way home and it really did help, I no longer wanted to just die.
We arrive home and I deposit my baggie in the laundry room sink on my way to my room before escaping inside myself to become one with the pain. Somewhere along the line it was decided that we would call an ambulance and I waited again for what felt like hours. 4 men arrived and questions were asked and answered and I was put onto a gurney and wheeled out right before my kids shocked faces. Peyton was crying a little but I later discovered that the boys were merely entertained. The 2 men that rode in the back with me were very nice and tried to calm me down. They said it sounded like it could be a kidney stone or my appendix. My sister mentioned it could be a kidney stone earlier, so that's what I was leaning towards. I got to the hospital and went straight into emergency (benefit of taking an ambulance). They pretty quickly got me hooked up to an IV after some minor difficulties, asked more questions and then decided it was probably a kidney stone. They gave me morphine to help a little immediately, and then an anti inflammatory to help more but not for another 20-30 minutes, and they gave me something for the nausea. 20 minutes later I was feeling good and feeling a bit embarassed about my dramatics. I must say though, that was way worse than labor pains because it was constant, absolutely no relief. They made me give a urine sample (which I had to go into the ER restroom for BAREFOOT, twice, because they lost the first one) found blood in my urine and determined that I was not pregnant so they could do the CT scan. They did the CT scan and found a stone 4mm around. Any bigger and they woulkd have had to operate. I was a little scared to be sent home, scared that the pain meds would wear off and I would be in severe pain again. They sent me home with Zofran for nausea and Norco for pain and a "hat" to pee in and strainers for my urine. I passed my stone late that night and I definately did not need to starin my urine to see that there was a stone in it! I was going to post more about the rest of our week, but that was pretty long so the rest can wait.

Have any of you passed a kidney stone before?

Thanks Aunt Jan!

Well, I'm still here and life is still happening, I am just not doing very good getting it all recorded! I am finding it harder and harder to get on the computer.
Anyway, I have been doing a Healthy Living Challenge with some other women at church and working really, REALLY hard on losing weight. It IS coming off, but very, very slowly. I have had a problem with my seratonin levels (I don't produce enough) for about the last year or so, which means I have episodes of severe vertigo from time to time, sometimes a few times a week, sometimes none for a few weeks. Anyway, I just found out a few days ago that this could also be affecting my weight loss, or lack of! I will not give up though, I just wish my body would work right.

So, Peyton had her 2nd birthday last month and Aunt Jan sent her the cutes sweater and hat set. Here are some pictures of her in it. She also got a package of 3 little puppies. That was her favorite, she plays with them in the doll house and the Barbie house.

She does her own make up now too.

She loves Nana Paula.

Thank you Aunt Jan, we love you and miss you and hope to see you soon. I hope you aren't feeling too down with the weather in Connecticut!

The haps

Life has been busy lately. Today I am home from church with a sick baby. Miss P has a cough, it's occasional but sounds awful, very croup like, and her breathing sounds yucky. She seems herself and has been playing all morning but we thought it wise not to have her around other children. Christmas preparations have taken over a majority of my time, this year we made the decision to spend as little money as possible, which means spending more time and putting more thought into our gifts. When I am not making Christmas gifts, I am spending time with the kids and trying to stay on top of the laundry and meals. If any of you think my house is always clean you should see it now, it isn't. I wish I could post some pictures of my latest projects, but they are mostly Christmas gifts, so it'll have to wait. I did finish a Barbie kitchen and it looks awesome. I made a beaded chandelier for it (which does not light) and tiled it with sample tiles from Terra Olsen (thanks Terra!) I'll try to get pics of that soon. Anyway, I am really enjoying sewing and crafting and Tyler is sick of the machine being on the kitchen table, but seeing as it is in constant use I just can't put it away. Yesterday when I was on my way home from taking the kids to a primary activity I happened upon a yard sale and found a perfect little desk for my sewing needs. It is in desperate need of a sanding and painting makeover, but it will be perfect. I knew I couldn't fork over even $20 for it, but I probably would have. I asked how much they wanted and they said $5! I took it, I kind of feel guilty though. I am going to start on that project tomorrow if I can find some sand paper for my little mouse sander. I will get before and after pics this time! Oh, this past week I also had the Jefferey kids all week while their parents were in Vegas, so I was taking kids to and from school all week which I am not used to. I have gotten spoiled having kids that ride bikes! Anyhow, that's what's been going on here, for the most part. Hopefully I'll have some project pictures up soon!

Please, help yourself!

Is it any wonder that illness is constantly spreading itself through my family? I always catch everyone with MY water. I'm always having to search for it and I find it in places I definately did not put it. Peyt looked so incredibly cute though I had to capture it on film.
May 5

The Plague November 12, 13, 14 and 18th

I am including a variety of pictures from our last round of sickness that swept our house and then went on to the Stutzman's house. Peyton and I were the only ones spared the wrath of strep throat. I am not one to jump into the doctor's office easily, so, sadly, I waited a wee bit too long and the kids got pretty sick. Micah is not a very good sleeper, he sleeps very little, but he actually got to a point when he would ask me for a sleeping pill (Benedryl), Micah got several good nights sleep in a row, hallelujah!

Ben always sleeps pretty well.

My poor sickies, Jake was still fine at this point.

These next pics were taken at urgent care, Jake had a staff infection in his thumb that had to be lanced and drained. He freaked out so much that he threw up 3 imes in the room and he had to have his throat swabbed, not easy.

This is him after he puked, I didn;t take a pic of that, I thought I'd spare you.

Ben had diarrhea in his pants, I just threw away his undies and let him go without.

On the bright side, Micah got a lot of reading done while we had to wait and wait and wait. He is a much more quiet sick, don't worry, he makes up for it when he's well.

Anniversary Day Thoughts

Well, it is mine and Tyler's Ninth wedding anniversary. In so many ways it feels like it was just a moment ago that we were married, yet, more than that I feel that my whole life thus far has been with him. I guess in many ways it has, not that the previous 21 years don't matter for they shaped who I have become, but In a sense I feel like my life truely began 9 years ago. Happy Anniversary Ty!



I have lost the use of my laptop, so have not been uploading pictures or doing any digital scrapbooking, so sad. For some reason the battery will not charge. It isn't the battery, but maybe the power cord. Anyway. I hope to have that remedied before I go crazy, until then, all I can post are my words! All of the boys in my house are sick with strep throat. Tyler was out of town from Monday until last night and I took the boys to urgent care and spent 3+ hours there. I got some pictures that I'll hopefully be able to post sometime with the full story. There was Diarrhea and vomit and puss involved, I bet you can't wait to hear that story. I am going to the Twilight premier tonight and Tyler is sick, so hopefully we'll celebrate tomorrow night. I had our doctor call in some antibiotics for him, so they were waiting on his nightstand for him when he got back into town. I am assuming since all 3 boys tested positive for strep and he has the same symptoms that's what it is, right? I also have to add this great quote from Boyd K. Packer (thanks Janet). I made my favorite part big, so if you don't want to read the whole thing at least read that.



"Now words can be used as weapons against you. If they throw the word diversity at you, grab hold of it and say, "I am already diverse, and I intend to stay diverse." If the word is tolerance, grab that one, too, saying, "I expect you to be tolerant of my lifestyle—obedience, integrity, abstinence, repentance." If the word is choice, tell them you choose good, old-fashioned morality. You choose to be a worthy husband or wife, a worthy parent.The whole Church may stand alone in defense of these standards. But we are not the first. Moroni, the last of his people, said: "I even remain alone. . . . I fulfil the commandment of my father."32 Do not be afraid.33When I was young and very new in my calling, I was sent east to meet with powerful, prominent officials who were blocking our work. As I left for the airport, I stopped to see President Harold B. Lee and asked, "Do you have any parting counsel?""Yes," he said, "just remember this isn't 1830, and there aren't just six of us."That erased fear. I pled our cause. The problem was resolved.Society is on a course that has caused the destruction of civilizations and is now ripening in iniquity. Civilization itself is at stake. You, our wonderful youth, are an example to untold millions of good people worldwide.I think of the joy and happiness that await you in this life and the work you are to do, and I cannot be discouraged.Peter, the Apostle who stood next to the Lord, said of you, "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."34Remember this great prophecy:"The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; . . . the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."35

When life gives you lemons...blog about it!

I have dozens of other posts that I should be doing before this one, but this is what's going on in my life right now and I feel like blogging it!



Yesterday after Micah's piano lesson Micah and Jacob were playing in the backyard at Jennifer's and Micah was doing some trick on the scooter and somehow the scooter handle cut Jacob's head open. It was not a big cut and it hardly bled, so I really debated taking him in to urgent care. I finally decided I would take him only because of how open it looked. Jacob was very scared that he'd have to get stitches. I told him he probably would not have to because it was small. I thought they might put a butterfly on it or some of that glue they use now. I was wrong. They no longer stitch things, they staple. He got one little staple. The Doctor, who was very young, was very nice and got Jake on the table and cleaned him up and clicked it closed without even mentioning what had to be done. Jacob wailed for awhile and then was over the pain part of it. He doesn't want anyone to know he has a staple in his head, he wants me to delete the picture I took and forbids us to speak of it. He thinks people will make fun of it or say how gross or bad it is and it will scare him. Hw went to school today and told Micah not to tell anyone at school about it.

I took Peyt to the doctor this morning and she had to get a steroid shot. Tyler and I were up with her all night, literally. She's got croup and wants to be in my arms and no where else. I am trying to enjoy this because she is not a cuddler usually and I am now getting lots of love from her. I just think of all my chores piling up and all that I'm not getting done. I am sleep deprived and grouchy and emotional, but like they say, babies don't keep! This morning she fell asleep on Ben's chest and I've seen little else in my life more precious than that.

Outside the Urgent Care, Jacob is upset with me for photographing his stapled head.

One little, shiny staple.

Peyton after the doctor's visit, she really needs to be held.

This morning before the doctor's visit, my two sweet babies. Peyton is so loved by her big brothers!

On the same note, another event...Our closet was emptied of clothing when I got home and the washer and dryer were going and there were many other piles waiting to be washed because Ty went to get dressed for work and there were red ants all over our clothes and in the bag of dog food we keep in our closet, great, as if we didn't have enough to deal with! When it rains it pours!

Happy Birthday Ty!

October 2





Someday I'll catch up on my blogging, maybe. Poor Tyler got that cold that was going around and was sick on his birthday. He came home from work early and was still feeling really lousy when it was time to go to my parents for dinner/birthday party. The kids and I ended up going without him so he could have a quiet night at home resting. He wanted brownies with white frosting for his cake, so I made them, and another batch with powdered sugar on top to take to my parents for dessert. It was pretty weird to be without him on his birthday! When we got home from my parents house we had him open his gifts. I got him a new suit and 2 church shirts, exciting, I know, but that's what he needed, I also got him some candy and he bought himself a watch online.

There were bat shapes on the inside of the box of brownie mix, so, why not?
Crazy swimmer Ben, he loves the water so much! What are we going to do all winter?
Jacob and Ben braved the cold water to get their fix, Micah opted out this time.
They all warmed up in the hot tub. After I took this picture, Ben climbed out to get back in the pool and fell on the cement right on his head. He rarely cries when he gets hurt, and this time he wailed, so I know it really hurt. My sister came running from inside because she heard his head hit the concrete! What a blessing, he was fine in just a few hours, good as new!
Happy, um, 30 something honey!

Poor Tyler!

Thursday night Tyler was trying to be a good boy and get some exercise in hopes of lowering his cholesterol. He went to the church to play some basketball, and guess what happens... He sprains his ankle, really bad, the worst he's ever sprained it. He's got a brase and some crutches but is still in a lot of pain, to top it off, he's in charge of the Elder's Quorum activity tomorrow night!

Nebulizer

Last week Peyton got put on a nebulizer. She takes Albuterol every 4 hours and with the Albuterol she takes Pulmicort in the morning and at bedtime. She is such a good baby. She sits so still for it and takes deep breaths, almost like she knows it's helping her. After she had just 2 treatments the crackling in her chest was just about gone. She sounds so much better now! Yay! I got sent home from the pharmacy with a very large bag of meds and her little machine. I asked the girl at the pharmacy how much it would have been had we not had insurance. The machine is a little over $100 and each container of meds is about the same. It would have been just over $800! I paid $22.50, thankfully we have insurance.

Sick

Yep, this is me 1 week ago. I was trying to get a good shot of how goopy, nasty, and bloodshot my eyes were. I know these pictures look pretty bad, but to be honest, in person, it looked much worse. I had an eye infection. Micah had one, then Ben got it, then Peyton, and lastly, me. The kids just had a few crusties and some goopies. My eyes looked like a runny nose with a sinus infection, does that make sense? My right eye was swollen almost shut and both of my eyes were really red and watery. Anyhow, hope that wasn't too much info!

I brought a friend in the tub!

I've spent the last 3 days at home feeling like death. I have a throat infection and 2 ear infections and we thought a possible appendicitis. I was waiting for my insurance to approve a CT scan when I decided to just call my OB office and I talked to the back office girl there and decided that I did not need the CT scan. The Dr usually sews up the uterus on the right side so it is common for people to experience pain there, so, to make a long story short, I have been really, really sick. My mom took work off today so she could come take care of me and the kids and help get the house back in order. Oh how I wish she could do that every few days! Just a few minutes ago she got Jacob and Ben in the tub for me because we let them play outside and make mud! Well, somehow he brought a friend with him in the tub. My mom came in to me and said that Jacob wanted to show me and Micah something. *I went in there and he showed me this little boat bath toy that he got from the treasure chest at school and said he had a little friend in there. I said what is it, well, as I was saying this he tipped the boat a little and something came out and landed on his leg, it was a worm! A real live worm! I said, "Oh, Jacob, he isn't in the boat anymore, he's on your leg." He had him crawling on the side of the tub and everything, it was very cute. I'm ok with my kids taking bathes with friends!