Lego Batman, Leprechauns, and Lip Lacerations

1. Lego Batman: I did it once again. I conquered a Lego Playstation game. I've decided that one of my personality traits is the inability to have loose ends. I just really needed the game completion thing to read 100%-and now it does. For any of you fellow gamers out there, you can understand and appreciate the amount of work required to achieve 100%. For the rest of you, you are missing out if you haven't become acquainted with Lego games. Hmmmm....Next up would be Lego Indiana Jones. Let's see, isn't Mother's Day coming up?

2. Leprechauns: Carston really wanted to have a St. Patrick's Day party. Seeing how much fun the kids had with not too much effort made me want to celebrate every holiday like we did this one. Bron, Kade, Devree, and Emma helped us celebrate. We had a hunt for the pot of gold (Kade was definitely the best at this game), decorated sugar cookies (Devree wins for fitting the most sprinkles on a single cookie), searched for clovers (Emma found the elusive last one that night), played hot potato (I manipulated it so everyone could win), did a little Duck, Duck, Goose (interesting paths to get back to their seat), and ended with Freeze Dance (Bron's got the moves). I love how much joy kids can find in the simplest activities. It is definitely contagious. Aren't they all so cute?

3. Lip Lacerations: John was nice enough to arrange for his mom to come over later that night and babysit so I could go to his basketball game (he was playing on two teams this winter). I few minutes before the game ended, John took an elbow to the lip and ended up with a pretty good cut. You think he would have been upset about that, but he was actually more upset that a foul had been called on him with the conflict. Such a man right? Anyway, so headed over to the instacare only to be sent to the ER since the cut had crossed his lip line (really I think they just didn't want to get caught in a position where they'd have to work late). While waiting there, Randy called to say that Kate was crying (totally forgot in the chaos that I had an infant waiting for me-well actually my ability to feed her-at home). So poor John was left alone to get his shots while I went home to do what only I could do. I headed back a little while later, just in time to have the doctor arrive, conclude that the nurse didn't do an adequate job with the shots, and proceed with round 2 of numbing. Poor John. I started getting queasy just watching because I've never seen him in so much pain. Anyway, they stitched him up and we headed back home. Seven plus years of marriage and 4 kids, and it ends up being John who claims the honor for our family's first ER visit :)
P.S. Remember how I said John was a do-it-yourselfer? He took out his stitches himself. Who can be bothered with a trip back to the doctor right? I guess I'm an accomplice though since he used my tweezers and scissors.

John's So Old

John had his birthday a few weeks ago-31. Who knew that one day I'd be married to such an oldie :) I love John. I feel so blessed to be married to my best friend. I love spending my life and my time with him. As the years have gone by, we have had the opportunity to experience things that have made us closer. I love him more every day for the man that he is. I couldn't imagine a better husband or father.
31 things I love about John
1. He still laughs whenever I say "lounge hipper hopper."
2. He found a babysitter so I could go to his basketball game.
3. In the 7+ years we've been together I think he's left the seat up once.
4. He's held my hand every time I've delivered a child.
5. He was worthy and willing to give me a blessing yesterday before I went to the dentist.
6. He wrestles with Carston every night.
7. He didn't get mad when I backed up into his car, but gave me a hug instead.
8. He dances with Avery and Macy.
9. He lets me spend hours at my mom's for Sunday dinner and never rushes me to get home.
10. He reads scriptures with me each night.
11. He doesn't cuss on the court.
12. He always lets me have "bites" of whatever he's eating.
13. Our family is his 1st job, and is always the priority.
14. He takes care of the kids almost every Sunday and Wednesday night so that I can do my church work-sometimes all day on Sunday.
15. He watches American Idol with me.
16. He is generous with what we have.
17. He tickles me when I need it :)
18. He bore his testimony even though he felt like he was too emotional to do so.
19. He is patient with me when I'm struggling.
20. He still thinks I'm pretty-four kids later and a body to match.
21. He is a "do-it-yourself-er" like me.
22. He'll do the workout videos on demand with me because he wants to be supportive of my efforts to get in shape.
23. He is awesome at picking out presents for me.
24. I love hearing him sing, but it hardly ever happens outside of RockBand.
25. I like how kind he is to his mom, never hesitates to help her out or give her support.
26. "He's seen me at my weakest, but he takes me as I am."
27. I know he will always be there for me, no matter what happens.
28. He is easy-going.
29. He'll give me his jacket even though it is my own fault that I always think I'll be fine without one.
30. He went to store and bought clothes for Kate all by himself-didn't do a bad job either :)
31. He is always wanting to take care of me, and always trying to make things easier for me.

I love you babe.

Will The Insanity Never End-Part 2

So we left off with Carston having a blessing and saying his ear didn't hurt. He even wanted to go play at his friends house. Well, at 4:15, right when I was going to call him home, he walked in the door crying and saying his ear hurt again. So off to the doctor where he was diagnosed with a double ear infection (Count at this point is 8 ears, 5 infections). He is crying in so much pain that not only does the doctor prescribe antibiotics, but numbing ear drops as well. We trudge off to Target to get the prescriptions with only 1 hour left before I'm supposed to be at young women's. When we get there, they tell me that they haven't received the prescription from the doctor's office. I ask if I should call over there, they say to wait a bit. Meanwhile Carston is crying pretty hard and loud because his ears are killing him. They decide to call, only to get the message for after hours. Ugh. One of the techs starts feeling so bad for Carston that he goes out into the aisle and brings me some herbal ear pain reliever in an attempt to ease Carston's pain. Of course he doesn't want me to put it in his ears, so all these strangers are asking if I want them to help me hold him down. I decide to use my powers of persuasion instead and he eventually lets me. Not that it matters because it didn't do anything. Finally they tell me that they got the order from the doctor. Yeah, I think we can get the stuff, get it in his ears, and ease the pain. Um, no. Remember how this day didn't want to be uncomplicated? So the guy comes over to tell me that they are out of the generic brand of the numbing drops, they won't get more in until tomorrow (yeah right, do you hear my child), and that the name-brand one is like 150 dollars. Okay, seriously this stuff has to end right? So I ask if I can just take the prescription somewhere else. He's helpful and calls it over to Smith's. So we get the antibiotics and decide to head over there, only now it is time for me to be at young women's, and I don't think I can just not go because we need drivers and two other leaders already aren't coming. We're heading to the car and I'm trying to call my mom to see if she can help, I look behind the car to see if it is clear to back out, and there are seriously about 50 carts piled up behind my car blocking my way! Okay seriously. That was just over the top. Of all the times in the day, of all the aisles in the parking lot, the employee picked then and there? It was at that point that I felt like I was in a comedy where they are just so over the top showing how everything went wrong in someone's day. So I'm crying on the phone to my mom, trying to call John and arrange something about the other medicine, and trying to do a 360 point turn to get out of the stupid parking lot! I get to our house, leave Carston crying on the stairs, and run over to the church. So obviously when I get there, I've just had the climax of my day, and I'm pretty much in tears. After about 1 minute, my counselor tells me they have enough drivers and sends me home, this while the priesthood brethren and the young women are all staring at me like I've gone mental. Ah. So I go back and get the numbing ear drops and then head home to my house full of sick children and we try to get through a very difficult night. The rest of the night, I just kept thinking of the shopping carts and it would make me laugh. I realized that the thing that really put me over the edge was having to see my children suffer. To be with Carston crying in pain for over 2 hours was just awful. I could probably have handled all the other annoyances just fine, but it kills me to see my kids suffer. Anyway, so 2 office visits, 2 pharmacy trips, 8 immunizations, 6 prescriptions, and over 200 dollars later, the day was over. Crazy day, but I was thinking about it in the shower later. If I was dead and could only have one more day with my family, and it was this day, I'd take it in a second. Even though it was difficult and trying, I'd take it and be grateful to have it. Regardless of what is going on, there is always enough love and joy in each day to make you grateful for it. Still, I hope that we won't have another day like that for a long, long, long, long time :)

Will The Insanity Never End????

So we had less than 24 hours of healthy kids. Yesterday was the first day that Macy was back to her regular self. And then last night Avery started saying her ear hurt. I was already planning on going to the doctor today for Kate's 2 month check-up and Macy's 18 month one, so I figured I would have the doctor take a look at her ear while I was there. Um....that didn't end up being soon enough. Her eardrum ruptured in the night. Man, Avery and her eardrums. That is the fourth time it has ruptured (she'll probably be completely deaf in that ear). It is just so hard to tell because she hardly acts like she is in any pain, and by the time she tells me it hurts, it ruptures within a few hours. Ugh. It makes me feel like the worst parent. Anyway, so I have to take all three girls to the doctor this morning. DEFINITELY WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN WITHOUT BACKUP! It was awful. They were all crying and clinging around me. Poor Macy felt like I had betrayed her. She didn't want me to hold her and comfort her after, she ran across the room and laid down on the floor to cry. Poor girl. Turns out Avery has an infection in both ears, and Macy has one as well. So after the doctor we have to trudge to Target to get their medicine before we pick up Carston. The doctor called in 3 and I had a paper for 1. I turned in my paper and told them that 3 more were called in. They told me it would be 25 minutes. That would leave me with just enough time to get Carston. So we wander around, I come back, and it still isn't ready. I'm looking at my clock, starting to stress about being late to get Carston. I decide it is worth being a few minutes late rather than having to drag all the kids back out to get it. They finally tell me it's ready, but no, the day didn't want to be so uncomplicated. They only have 2 of the prescriptions. So I tell her I have four, and she goes into the back and gives me some lame excuse about how they must have been called in at different times and the other two aren't ready. Right. What really happened is that they dropped the ball and now I will be taking my business somewhere else. So off we go to get Carston, late, and no prescriptions to show for it. When I arrive, Carston informs me that his ear hurts and he's holding onto it. Mmmmm. Nice. So we trudge home and call the doctor to make an appointment for Carston. They can't get us in until 4:30. In the meantime his pain is escalating and he's crying pretty hard. Not fun to watch your child in pain and have nothing to offer. Finally I ask him if he wants me to call John to come give him a blessing. He said yes, and spent the next 15 minutes crying looking out the window waiting for him to come. So John, our knight in shining armor (actually skater shoes) came and gave him a blessing. It made me cry of course. Now, a half hour later Carston says that his ear doesn't hurt at all. Hmmm. I guess we'll still be going to the doctor to either have an ear infection diagnosed and get the medicine he needs, or, to have him say nothing is wrong with his ears and have him wonder if I'm totally crazy. Either way, I know that this will be a memorable experience for Carston regarding the power of the priesthood. Ironic that he just brought home a note from his Primary class that said, "Daddy, have I ever had a priesthood blessing. Tell me about it. Love Carston." When I asked John about it he said he remembered giving him some when he was little, but nothing really stood out. This one will definitely stand out. I am very grateful that John is worthy to hold and exercise the priesthood. Our family has been so blessed throughout our lives because of its power. Anyway, today was definitely one of those days where you have to laugh just so you don't cry. Maybe next week we'll be blessed with health. Or at least more patience, because I'm feeling like my bucket is just about empty :)

It's not funny anymore

So ever since we brought Kate home from the hospital, this is how at least one of our kids have looked (I've counted myself lucky if it was only one at a time). We've been through awful colds, throwing up flus, and most recently this horrible bug that I don't know what it is (extremely high fever and absolutely no energy). Everything just keeps cycling through the kids. I'm not exaggerating when I say there has maybe been 3 or 4 days in the last two months that no one in our family has been sick. I've been trying to keep a positive attitude, finding humor in how ridiculous the never-endingness of it is, but my humor and endurance for the whole thing has been depleted. I told John last night that I think I'll have a mental breakdown today :) I'm just exhausted physically and mentally. It is scary because we have this new little baby who definitely should not get sick. So I've become absolutely anal about germs (but it hasn't seemed to stop my kids from passing stuff around). And now with Macy, it is hard because she just wants me to hold her and be right next to her. What do I do when Kate is crying too? Ugh. Poor little Macy though. It just breaks my heart to see her so sick. She doesn't have energy to even hold her own food or even move her little body. When John came home yesterday he was trying to pinpoint what was different. It was the absense of Macy's cute little, "DA DA! Hi DA DA" She was just a little rag doll laying on the couch. Ugh. I'm crossing my fingers that this will be the last for awhile. Although Avery hasn't gotten this particular bug yet, so maybe her picture will be up here next. Hmm....

Kate's Blessing

Yesterday we had the opportunity to give Kate her blessing. As I was getting her dressed in her pretty white dress, I just really felt like she was a sweet little angel who had come down into our family. Sometimes baby blessings can seem like a place for parents to pronounce all their hopes for a child, but I know that John and I both feel the Spirit so strongly every time we bless a child. To me, her blessing was a special time for our family where Heavenly Father could tell us things about her before we can learn them ourselves. John talked about Kate surrounding herself with good friends, listening to the counsel of her parents, and learning how to recognize and follow the Spirit. I am grateful for him. I am grateful that he is worthy to hold and exercise the power of the priesthood. We are so blessed to have each other and our children. There really isn't anything else capable of bringing the joy that we experience in our relationships with each other.


Kate and her namesake's sweetheart-Great Grandpa Dick

Crazy Grandpa Danny-Video of his headstand will be posted soon!

"Darsus" aka "Bubba" aka "Carston"

The dress Avery picked out gives me flashbacks of a not-so-good day! Just Kidding!

All I can say is WOW

It happened today. I guess I'm lucky that with four kids I was able to go so long before experiencing it. I'm talking about the tantrum. The tantrum that had me completely embarrassed. The tantrum that made my eyes well up with tears. Yeah. It was a good one. I videotaped some of it in the car because I didn't think John would be able to fully appreciate its depth and magnitude with words alone. Oh yeah, and to top it all off, it happened in the worst place possible. The LDS Distribution Center. It is making me laugh now to think about it. It all started with the short trip to Dressed in White to get Kate's blessing dress. There were two there that I liked, and I thought Avery would think it was fun to choose which one we should buy. So we get the dress and head out so we can go get another manual next door for Young Women's. As soon as we get out the door, it starts. Avery does NOT want to walk. But I have two other babies who rightfully claim the seats in the double stroller. But NO, she is not walking. She starts crying and yelling and SCREAMING. And believe me when I say she can scream loud. After a few minutes of trying to get her to stop, I take her to the car for time-out so she can calm down. Meanwhile I'm stressing over how much time this tantrum is costing because we have to pick Carston up from school soon. After a few minutes, she stops just long enough for me to think it's over and head over to the store. Oh no. It was just so she could gather more steam. So I'm standing outside of the store with her screaming and not letting me touch her and all these strangers staring at me-the men with stunned expressions and the women with knowing smiles. Anyway, time is getting short. I weigh my options. I can forget about the manual, load everyone up in the car, and come back later, or I can just trudge into the store with her and her tantrum. I choose the later option. It's hard to get errands done with all the kids and I can't pass up the opportunity. So off we go into the sweet atmosphere of the distribution center. Except now it isn't so sweet. No one can hear the sacred background music anymore, just Avery screaming the whole time, and escalating that scream to her highest decibel every time I take a step. Part of me thought it was funny, and the other part of me had tears welling up as I waited for my turn at the cashier's desk. She didn't stop once we got in the car either. She was hitting the windows, kicking Carston, still screaming... And the whole time Macy was saying, "Avee....Avee....Avee..." She didn't understand what was going on. I think by the time she finally calmed down and we got out of the car (LONG after everyone else) it had been a good hour from the time she started. Oh....good times. And now she's upstairs sweet as can be.

3 Little Things

These are the things that have made the last six weeks enjoyable even though someone has always been sick during them. Can I just say how sick I am of winter because of all the illness that comes with it. I can not wait until spring :)

Carston
*How sweet his prayers are. He never asks for blessings but always just says he's grateful instead. Maybe that is evidence of his faith, already expressing gratitude for the things he desires. He is always saying "Grateful that Avery won't get sick, and Macy, and Kate, and Mommy, and Daddy." On Valentine's evening, he was grateful that "everyone could share their love."
*The fact that he is totally a boy now. A few weeks ago when I put Kate in the bath with the girls, she did our first poop in the tub. He thought that was so funny. When I picked him up from school the next day he was disappointed because he "forgot to tell his friends how Kate pooped in the tub.
*How sweet he is to his sisters. We were driving home late one night. He was sick and kind of sleeping in the car. Kate started crying a little. While he was still sleeping, Carston started saying her name like he does when he's trying to comfort her.
Avery
*She is all girl. She is adamant about having her hair blown dry each day. And she wants it down. And I can not curl it. And she doesn't want any little hairs, not even one, sticking up. She has also started trying on various clothes before she decides what she wants to wear that day.
*How animated and elaborate she is when she's playing. The other day I heard her telling Macy, "Don't ever, Ever, EVER change your mind Macy." Little does she know that women are notorious for that.
*I love the way she wants to make other people happy. She was playing fish with my mom and Carston yesterday, and my mom was trying to teach her that you don't want other people to know what cards you have. It didn't work though because she liked it when she helped someone get a match. She is a people pleaser. She got a big thing of gum for Valentine's and she kept telling me how she was going to share it with all her friends... "but I already ate it all gone so I can't"

Macy
*My little Moo-Moo. She cracks me up all day long. I love that she calls Carston "Darsus." She starts asking for him every day when we go to pick him up from school. Then as soon as he gets in the car it's, "Hi Darsus." "Hi Babies."
*She has started calling me "mom" when she gets impatient with me. "Mommy. Mommy. Mom. MOM."
*I love the way she talks to Kate. "Ohhhhh. Baaabee." She says it in this deep throaty voice. Our big baby has a baby voice for our little baby. Too cute.

Kate
*Every once in a while she'll go 5 hours at night without eating!
*I love when I'm holding her and look down to find her staring and smiling at me.
*I'm grateful that she is so calm and content as long as she has her needs taken care of.

John
*How much he supports me in my calling. He had all the kids by himself yesterday from 9-4 while I had to go to meetings and church. I popped in a few times to feed Kate but that was it. He is the best Dad.
*He doesn't make fun of me when I get scared. Well, maybe just a little. I hate scary movies, but I wanted to be a good compromiser, so I went with him to see Taken. Carston was sick that night with a high fever. In the middle of the night he came in and said he was scared. I put him back to bed, but then I heard him crying a few minutes later. When I went and asked him what was wrong he said that someone was talking really loud and waking him up and he wanted some ice water. Between the scary movie and that weird comment, I was creeped out. So I went back into John and told him I was too scared to go in the kitchen, could he please get Carston some medicine and ice water. He totally did.
*I love being able to snuggle up again without a big belly in the way. Just another reason why it's nice not to be pregnant.

One Month Birthday

One month sure goes by a lost faster with a baby on the outside rather than the inside! I love having sweet baby Kate in our home. I love how her little body just molds to mine when I hold her. I love that she makes grown men forget that baby talk is embarrassing and that they shouldn't smile without any reserve. And I love that she makes me slow down and linger over the simple pleasures of every day.

Ramblings

So my kids are sick once again. We haven't really been "unsick" since we brought Kate home from the hospital a month ago. We were commenting on how nice it was to have everyone healthy on Sunday, and then the next day, two of the four were throwing up. I keep joking that we need to move somewhere with no winter so we won't have to deal with this. The more kids you get, the more germs you bring into your house, and the more people in your house there are for it to spread around to. So I guess I should just plan on always having at least one person be sick. Then if we're all healthy it will be a pleasant surprise :)

I'm very grateful though for the life that I get to lead. I was laying in bed last night just thinking about how blessed I feel. I can't explain how much I love and appreciate John. I couldn't imagine a better husband or father. I'm a very independent person. I like to take care of myself and pride myself in not needing other people to step in and take care of my needs. But during my pregnancy with Kate and since she has been born, I have not been able to do that. I was physically unable to get it all done by myself. The day before she was born, my car got stuck in the snow right outside my house. My older neighbor was out shoveling her snow and tried to help me get out. She was shoveling and trying to push, but to no avail. Then my other neighbor who is also up in years came out and was trying to help. Finally after 30 minutes, I was able to drive away. As I pulled out of the street, I started to cry. Not because I had been stuck for so long, but because they had to help me. I hated that they had to help me. I hated it. But I felt the spirit in that moment. I felt impressed that one of the reasons Kate was coming right now (with Macy only 18 months old) was so that I could learn how to let people serve me. And I have definitely been humbled as that has happened. I've had to let John do a lot more for me and for our kids. I needed the service that my mom and sisters gave me. And it was hard to accept that. But I feel like blessings have come because of it. One of those was giving John the opportunity to show his love for me and our kids more. I was depriving him of that a lot by trying to do everything myself. I'm so grateful for him. Grateful that we get to share our life together. Grateful that he has the same desires and goals and priorities. You know, life is a little busy and crazy right now, but I love it. I love being a wife and a mother. I sat in my house the other day, surrounded by four little kids, and just felt so grateful for the opportunity. There isn't anything else I would rather be doing with my time, talents, or energy. I thought about it last night. My house is messier than it ever has been, I can hardly keep up with the laundry, our kids have been sick alot, my physical person is as unfit and unkempt as it ever has been, and I'm hardly getting any sleep, but I feel like I've never been more satisfied or happy. And I think that is because I have let go of the expectation that I can do it all. Because I can't. But I can do what God wants me to. I continually pray that God will help me use what time and energy I do have in the way that he wants me to, and I know that he does. That allows me to feel peace about what gets done each day and what doesn't.