Trip to Utah and Carters Surgery

Our 10 day trip to Utah was fun and exhausting. Here are a few highlights.

First we had Carters check up with the surgeon and later that night we went to Tim's nieces b-day party at the bowling alley.




The next day we went to the zoo. We packed this stroller in our van, which wasn't easy, and our kids ended up not even using it after this picture. They were both insistent on being carried and acting like the stroller was the plague. ugh won't be doing that again.



Then came Surgery day. I knew Carter would be fine. I had a good feeling about it the whole time, ever since I heard we got approval from our insurance to go out of state to Primary Children's. why did he have to have surgery? basically: we have a blood condition that causes the spleen to get enlarged and therefore needs to be removed because it pushes on other organs in the abdomen and also munches a lot of our red blood cells. Also this blood condition can cause gallstones , so with a check of an ultrasound the Dr. decided he needed his Gallbladder out also.) Surgery went well and recovery was great.





The only complaint I would have about his experience was he was getting very dizzy off the morphine and didn't tell us. we just thought his incisions were hurting him and that is why he wasn't moving, but really he was spinning so bad he didn't dare to move finally after day two he was coming off and was able to tell us. once we stopped the morphine he recovered quickly.

Popsicles really are the best part of being in a hospital right? Primary Children's really is the best place to get your child's surgery. They have so many things for kids , that it almost gets annoying how they come in to your room several times a day to make sure your kids is not bored and offer to bring them toys or video games etc.. They even had a very good dog that loves to have the children pet it.
We were so tired from the hospital stay, we were so glad to be going to my Mom and Dad's house for some R&R.

I was also able to spend a few days with my niece Jasmine and nephew Jordan, which was so great and I really needed it. I worry so much about them and being with them makes me feel close to my sister.

Then we went on down to Sand hollow to see the rest of my family. we were all there so I guess you could call it a family reunion.

Jasmine posing in the sunset for me.

Jaxton and Solayna (my brother Brooke's daughter) playing in the sand. She ate some of the sand and she loved playing in it. Jaxton didn't like any bare skin to touch the sand lol.

Tim and my brothers and Carter and Nephews caught some lizards including a horned toad lizard. We took 2 fence lizards and the horned toad home with us, and set them up in a cage. They are thriving well. I will not touch the things cuz that is gross, but they are interesting to watch. Especially the horned toad, when we feed him he wags his tail like a dog, it's so funny!!

Haven even caught a caterpillar.

We did our Easter egg hunt down there also in t he bushes.

I don't know why Haven gives these grumpy looks sometimes.

We had a good time and it was great to see my family.

Going a little green..

Carter wanted to set a trap to try to catch a leprechaun. So I helped him a little but he came up with an idea: Make a rainbow I asked why? " because they like pretty things" we baited him with a spinache leaf. why? "because they like green things" the cottonballs are "like the sky"
so the idea would be that the little guy would try to take the leaf and get trapped in the cup.....

But those darn leprichauns are too smart, he got away with the leaf and left some gold and silver chocolates. Which is at the end of every rainbow, so he taught us a lesson too. lol

can you see the gold glitter that came in the door with him??

For lunch we made white shells and cheddar pasta roni and added green food coloring. Green Shells and Cheddar.

Here is Jaxton's 9 month Tie picture.

Hey! We are surviving the winter.....I can't think of a good title that isn't redundant lol

.........even the lol is redundantin today's world I guess. anyways Here are some things I have taken pictures of lately.....


Do you ever get tired of your necklaces getting all tangled up?...
when you are in a hurry but want to put on something cute, you can't because of this big jumbled up mess???

Well now you don't have to struggle with the all new (my sister in law Kelly's idea) super cute! home made Jewelry board!!! go to the nearest craft store or walmart to pick up your supplies today!!! he he ok but seriously my jewelry box has some berathing room now and I have a cute organized way of storing my necklaces.
p.s. Kelly's board and especially her jewelry is much more cute, but it has inspired me to go buy some new jewelry since I have a cute way to store it. :)



My attempt at doing Haven's hair with ribbons and in a heart. She has been impatient with me diong her hair lately. She lets me do it maybe twice a week! but I hope when she gets some thicker , longer hair she will let me experiment and do it all cute!
Jaxton's 8 month tie pic.
He started crawling at 7 months. I think it is so cute when babies start crawling and their little knees gear up for the abuse they are about to take. Here is a picture of his little red knees starting to get the "tougher" skin on them, I just think it is a cute little sign of a huge milestone.
Crawling.......But crawling isni't good enough for a" go-getter" I started finding him like this after naps. Now he pulls himself up to anything he can grab. It won't be long before he is scaling the furniture then walking.

He is so happy. I think he looks like Carter did when he was a baby in this picture. in fact that is Carter walking in the background.

Jaxton likes to pull all the silverware out of the dishwasher for me now too. So much fun!!

What will ever be enough?.....

About a year ago I wrote in my journal all the things I want to be for my kids and myself and husband, things like... a good cook, an wise mom, a friend, trustwothrthy to my kids, in shape, kind, a good example,crafty,smart, have lots of gospel knowledge, fun, creative.. etc etc etc..... my list went on for TWO pages! It sounds rediculous I know, but really it is how I feel every day, that gives you a small look into my stressed out brain.

I feel so unorganized but too lazy to do anything about it, that about sums it up.

I heard this poem once and thought it was good, now to really adopt this way of thinking is another thing.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final goodbye.
*By Bob Perks