Spring Break Part Two

We had lots of fun activities planned for Spring Break.  This was not one of them…

After the Easter Egg Hunt at grandmas, Matti laid on the couch and simply could not breathe.  Recently diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma just weeks before, we rushed her home for several doses of medication from her inhaler.  It was not working.  After a few hours of waiting for her to get better, she didn’t.  I decided I couldn’t watch her body labor to breathe any longer and took her to the Emergency Room.   On a scale of 1-12, with 1 being “getting 100% oxygen” and 12 being “not breathing at all”, she was rated an “8” in the ER, with 5 being signifcant enough to be admitted to the hospital, and she was shortly thereafter. 

They immediately started her on oxygen and breathing treatments every 2 hours.  The only way she could leave the hospital was if she could breathe on her own with an oxygen level above 90 for 6 hours while sleeping, breathing treatments extended to 4 hour intervals, and she stayed hydrated.  (She didn’t want to eat or drink anything the first day and a half).  It took until Tuesday to reach these criteria.   

Although she was sick, Matti’s stay at Primary Childrens was as enjoyable as it could be.  They gave her a wand to paint, crayons, coloring books, an easter basket full of toys, puzzles and candy, a new teddy bear that she named, “Jellybean”, and unlimited slushies and drinks.  She said the chicken noodle soup was her favorite part of her stay. 

On Monday afternoon, Britney came to spend the day and evening with her sister.  She climbed into her hospital bed with her and they played Barbies, painted and watched a triple movie feature along with the Disney channel  all...day...long. 

It turned out that Matti had a virus in her lungs that caused the asthma.  We now know the signs, symptoms and what action to take if this happens again.   Although I am not thankful for 3 straight days with NO SLEEP, I am so thankful for modern-day medicine and educated doctors and staff that were so sweet to my daughter.  I heart Primary Children’s Hospital!    

Spring Break Part One

Celebrating Easter was a great way to kick off 9 days of school-free fun for Spring Break. 

We colored easter eggs.  I didn’t think Cameron would join in, but he did.  That was a pleasant surprise.  

The kids took such pride in their work…

We watched “HOP” in our theatre while the kids anticipated the arrival of the “Easter Bunny” that night. 

On Easter Morning, the kids opened their Easter baskets.  The extra sugar in the candy fueled their energy for sack races.  They come up with some pretty creative ways to entertain themselves!  

We didn’t really have time to take pictures Sunday before church, but I had the kids pose for a quick shot.  It was absolutely the wrong time of day with the harsh sunlight blinding them, but they’re still cute, squinty eyes and all.

That night, we went to Grandma Carmen’s for an Easter Egg Hunt since we don’t have a yard yet.  Brooklyn is always lucky.  She found the one and only golden egg. 

Matti was having a hard time breathing after the hunt.  Little did we know we would be taking her to the Emergency Room later that night to spend the next 2 days and 2 nights at Primary Children’s Hospital.  More on that in the next post!

Let me just put it out there right now.  Although the kids have fun with all the holiday activities, sometimes we are just plain tired of the commercialization!   Justin and I felt we needed to focus a part of Sunday on the Resurrection.  We watched a video, talked and read scriptures about why we really celebrate Easter.   I am thankful for the Atonement of our Savior and I hope the kids appreciate the significance and sacredness of observing this day.

The Coltonator

“Sometimes the most special souls are housed in the most fragile frames” Elder Ronald Rasband of the Seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints said during General Conference today.  Colton is not “fragile”,  by all means.  Grandma Carmen is sure he has magnets on the bottom of his feet, because when you go to pick him up, he just sticks to the ground because he is so heavy.  He is definitely a “special soul”. 

We still don’t know what is causing his severe developmental delay.  He still doesn’t talk or attempt to communicate.  His next step is an MRI.  Hopefully we will get some answers.  After administering a multitude of tests, the last (4th) doctor we saw said he just “can’t learn”.  If he does learn something, it gets stuck in his brain and he can’t access that information again.  He doesn’t process something as simple as the sign for “more” or “eat”, even though he has used those signs correctly in the past and we have used them at every meal for the last 2 years.   In the meantime, we have gotten him more one-on-one help in hopes that he will progress at a faster rate.  Justin and I are definitely “fixers”.  We want to know what’s wrong so we can just fix it. 

Here are just a few snapshots that I actually captured Colton smiling at the park. 

He has learned to like the slide since last summer.  What a good workout!

Bouncing up and down on this piece of equipment brought a smile for a split second. 

Swinging has always put him in a trance.  I can usually get his attention by grabbing his toes. 

Colton is the master of spinning.  He can put a spin on just about anything he finds, or will at least try.  This was the attraction of the day.  He would spin it, leave and come back when it slowed down and repeated this over and over. 

Boy, he is flexible!  I don’t think I can stretch my hamstrings like that!

When I took him to the doctor, he was entertained with spinning the doctor’s chair like this for 45 minutes straight while we were waiting. 

There’s nothing we want more than the best for this little boy.  One day we hope he will be able to communicate and catch up.  We love him so much! 

Duck, Duck, Goose!

I try not to waste food or let the kids waste food.  But somehow an entire bag of rolls from last Sunday was overlooked this week and were just about to turn moldy.  These rolls had no place in the landfill.  There were some very hungry ducks that enjoyed taking them off our hands…literally! 

Matti trying to make friends with a swan. 

It worked!  The girls had this swan eating out of their hands! 

Brooklyn and Wyatt weren’t so lucky with this duck.  She wasn’t buying it. 

This was the hottest day of the year so far.  The sunshine and 80 degree temperature felt so good! 

Cam was even enjoying this family activity.  He has not been interested in most of the things we do lately and just wants to stay home and hang out with friends. 

Everyone enjoyed our outing, and the best part is that it was absolutely free…

Looking forward to the next sunny day to spend outdoors with the kiddos and my hubby, especially since snow is in the forecast tomorrow…Goodbye Spring. It was nice getting to know you temporarily!

Growing Pains

My life this past month has been filled with activities like Jr. High registration and suit shopping for Cam.  I’m not quite sure I’m ready for this, but ready or not, my son is growing up.  He loves his new suit.  When he tried it on, he said, “It feels like sweatpants”.   The days of clip on ties are over.  Justin even gave him a Marine Corps pin which Cam proudly wore last Sunday, the day of his Priesthood Ordination. 

Cam is a great big brother.  He is always willing to help with his younger brothers and sisters.  His interests are expanding.  He has always been a good friend.  His teacher recently sent me an email letting me know that Cameron was a big help in making his new student feel comfortable.  He said Cam “was a sweet boy and he was glad to be his teacher”.  There’s nothing a mother wants to hear more than a statement like that.  It makes me feel that I have done something right although I have made many mistakes and spent a portion of Cam’s childhood as a single mom, .  I am blessed to raise an intelligent boy who has made me a proud mama. 

Girls’ Night Out

We want to hang out with our kids while they still don’t mind being seen with us.  Our original plan was to take the boys to the Monster Truck Jam and treat the girls to a night out on the town .  The girls were lucky enough to get in on both events.  We broke out the curling iron and got all dolled up to see Miranda Lambert in concert.   No boys allowed (except Justin).   

March Madness

March just got away from me.  We have had some major events, that we were and are still planning for which I will blog about later, but there has been a lot on our plate and in between all the big things we still wanted celebrate Cam’s 12th birthday, which we did ALL MONTH LONG, or so it seemed. 

It all began with a family party at Planet Play on his actual birthday.

I can’t believe I got him to put on this birthday hat for this pic. 

But the fun didn’t stop there.  Off he flew to Texas to spend a week with his cousins (he is a very lucky boy).  When he came home, he got to celebrate with a few of his buddies.

It was our first trial-run for a movie-themed party and turned out to be a hit.  It only took 4 pizzas, a 12 pack of Sprite, 24 ice cream sandwiches and unlimited popcorn and candy to entertain this group.  You can tell by these pictures they may have had a little too much sugar.

These “tough” boys even admired Harley, who joined in the festivities.