Eight is Great!

Saturday we celebrated the birth of our sweet little Lahna Lou. I can't believe she is 8 years old!

She had planned this birthday for months. She had menu's, schedules, the works. We started the morning with presents, then had a yummy breakfast and headed to Glen Helen water park where we spent most the day swimming lounging and just having a good time! After Glen Helen we came home to watch a movie that she had picked out, eat dinner and have cake (or ice cream, because her cake didn't actually have any cake in it.)

Happy Birthday Lahna. We love you!

My Newest Love

After 10 wonderful years my old griddle became a fire hazard and had to be retired. And thanks to some amazon rewards money I got this one and it cost me zip, zilch, zero! And I LOOOVE it. (even more so because of the zip, zilch, zero thing.) I just used it and the picture is no lie you really can fit 9 pancakes on it (or 6 pancakes and 3 eggs or whatever....the possibilities are endless!)

The only problem....where to store it? It's HUGE!

gum, theft... and some confusion

Let me start by saying that gum is a favorite with my kids. If they ever have money to blow they buy gum (sugar free, of course) and if I ever need to bribe Robert, gum works the best.

But, we also have a problem with gum. Well.... Robert has a problem with gum. He can't resist it's powers. They are drawn to each other and no matter where you hide it..... he will find it. So I guess you could say the girls have a problem with gum too; their little brother is always finding their stash.

Which brings us to the most recent gum theft. Anna was outside with a friend, Robert found her gum, mommy found Robert chewing the gum. Now, we have tried many things to deter him from stealing gum, but so far nothing has worked. This time I decided to have him earn money to pay Anna back. I was amazed when he said okay and completed his job with little complaint. Then I paid him and he turned around and payed Anna.

That worked well, I thought.....but then came the confusion. Robert demanded Anna give him the rest of her gum. After all he did pay for it.

That kid is just too smart some days. (and no, he didn't get the gum.)

An Early B-day Outing

Yesterday I took Alahna and Anna to get their hair cut and then we went to the mall to get Lou's ears pierced for her birthday.

She suddenly looks much older too me. And a couple more weeks she will add braces to her look.

An Invitation

We will be having some light refreshments at our home afterward. Hope to see you there!

Still My Baby

After a long day of cars, trains, legos, and all other things that little boys love, William climbed in the top bunk and crashed! Notice the Lightning McQueen slippers; one on his foot and the other being used as a pillow? They are his most prized possession. He would wear them all day.... every day if he could.... and some days he does just that.

And the best part of this picture..... he looks more like a baby than a 2 year old fully living up to the terrible twos moniker.

Scared Ya!

Alahna's face paints that she won from the library (We love the summer reading program.) were put to good use.

My Favorite Pirates

When William was wearing the eye guard Robert said, "Hey, he's wearing a patch just like me!"

Except for the tear duct area where the stint is,
William's eye looks great.

Results are in

Robert had his MRI and mostly everything looks good.

The only thing that they want to keep an eye on is a small syrinx that has grown since the last MRI.

Dr. Krieger didn't seem too concerned so we are trying to follow his lead and not worry about it. They will do another MRI in 6 months to see how it looks.

Looking Good!

William's eyes is already looking so much better! I can't believe how much the swelling has already come down. And the stitches are so tiny (you really can hardly even see them) I don' think it will leave much of a scar. He is still wearing the eye guard, but we have to take it off 3 times a day to put medicine on it, which is the only time he really complains.


Here is the official story if you haven't already heard....

He was standing with a ball point pen when he got knocked over by some rambunctious siblings (and I won't name who). The pen stabbed him in the eye and the rest is 12 hours worth of ER history! And since many people have already asked me I am assuming many more are wondering.... yes, it was bleeding and very gruesome, but no, I did not have to pull the pen out. Thank goodness. I'm not sure I would have handled that very well.

You'll poke your eye out!

Did you hear that a lot when you were growing up?

Now as a parent do you hear yourself saying it?

Well....here's why....

• 1 pen
• 1 two yr. old
• a cat scan
  
• 12 hours spent in two different ER's
• 12 stitches
• 1 stint in the tear duct
  
• many tears (by mommy and baby)
  
• some sedation
• and lots of prayers
  

Thankfully, it appears that there is no damage to his actual eye and they were able to get the stint in without a separate surgery.

Ahaa!

I just recieved a copy of the letter sent to the medical group from Dr. Krieger.

Let's just say, I now understand why it was so suddenly approved...

... and why I received a very apologetic phone call from the said medical group.

HIP HIP HOORAY!!!

Robert's MRI has been approved!

After all the hassle, I wonder what made them change their minds so suddenly?

All I can think is... answered prayers.

Happy Campers

Jim Gaffigan said, "A happy camper is a camper going home."

Well, I don't entirely agree.... We did have a lot of fun camping last weekend, but it did feel good to go home. Camping with little kids is a lot of work and very dirty. And very tiring when a certain little boy cries all night long. William wasn't crazy about sleeping in the tent. (I'm sure everyone around us were happy campers after we left.)

The best part of camping though is zero distractions. There is no phone, TV, projects to be done, etc, etc. It's just good quality family time.

Just playing with my camera, but I love the sun poking through the tree.

I love dirty faces!

There was a beautiful sunset through the trees. If we camp there again I want to find a spot where we can get a better view.

I just love campfires...

...and roasted marshmallows!

Aren't they cute in there hats and shades? That tent they are standing in front of was their tent, and they were thrilled to have it all to themselves!

And of course... cry baby William. (I think I already mentioned that I love dirty faces.)

The Battle Rages On

So we are still working on getting an authorization for Robert to have an MRI and my frustration with our medical group continues to grow. So much so that David has taken over the job of making phone calls. Something to do with me not being able to stay calm.... I don't know.

Today we got a call from Dr. Krieger's office. Dr. Krieger is a very smart man. He is a neurosurgeon at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA). Children from all over the world come to see him. Well, he had a little chat with a lady from our medical group, who may be a nice person but at the moment I'm not liking her very much. Anyway.... according to the nice woman at Dr. Krieger's office this "conversation" included much yelling and Dr. Krieger madder than she has ever seen him. The MG told him they would have a Dr. call him and explain it to him. Can you believe that? What doctor here in the high dessert is going to tell a neurosurgeon at CHLA they know more than he does aout this. What a bunch of quacks!

You know while they're at it, they should quit authorizing him to see the pediatric optho. He doesn't really need to see.

(Sorry for the sarcasm, this has put me in a bit of a foul mood.)

An added note: David just talked to the MG again and apparently their doctors say that if he was toe walking then he wouldn't be able to walk up the stairs or run. Okay, so are you saying he wore casts for 3 weeks and now sleeps in braces because... he wasn't toe walking? And anyone who ever saw Robert walk can attest to the fact that he DID toe walk and he COULD walk up stairs AND run. Oh and it has nothing to do with the money, it is about what is medically necessary. Whatever.

Man or Beast

That is the question.

We all knew that William could be a bit, well.... strange sometimes, like walking around with his shirt up rubbing his belly against the wall.

But with Jack around he has gotten a little confused.

He like to eat Jacks food and drink his water.... right out of the doggy bowls, lay in the doggy bed, and here's the worst one.... lick the floor. UGH!

(what I wouldn't give to have my camera ready to catch some of these moments! That would be priceless. )

Countding Down

Alahna will turn 8 in 26 days!

She has made herself a countdown.



Every day she takes one heart down until it is her special day!

I hope they call me on a Mission...

With David's new calling we are seeing a lot more of the missionaries and Robert has really taken to them. Today he sat with them for a few minutes in sacrament meeting and one of the elders drew this picture for him. He carried it around all through church and insisted on sharing it with his primary class.