My "Happy" Birthday

This is how my birthday (Tuesday) went: Woke up to a phone call from the relief society president in the new ward asking to come over and meet me, in 2 hours. Well I had to clean, do the dishes, and shower but somehow got it done before she came, oh maybe because she was 20 minutes late. Took Ty to school and got pizza to eat for lunch. Played Super Mario with the kids for a while. Picked Tyler up came home and Connor actually took a nap, which should have been a sign of things to come but I'm not too bright some times.

Finally got everyone ready and actually in the car for the planned trip to Idaho Falls. Connor screaming bloody murder the entire time. Asked what was wrong and all we got was more screams and him grabbing his belly. Which he has been doing about once a day for about a week. Well I spent 2 hours at urgent care, the Hospital for abdominal X-rays and back at urgent care with Connor. He has strep and needs a LOT more fiber. So I got to wait in line at Walgreen's for almost half an hour for his antibiotic to be filled and to buy some chewable fiber gummies and laxative that is "chocolate" flavored, aka spit all over when given to him.

After all the waiting he was feeling much better and wanted to go hang out with his super cool aunt that was going to watch him while Brian took me to dinner for my birthday so we decided to still go. We went to Famous Dave's for dinner, BBQ isn't usually my thing but they make really good pulled pork and cornbread muffins. We ordered an appetizer and I was too full to eat much of my dinner but it was really good.

We went to Barnes and Noble and bought 4 of the pigeon books(Don't let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, and our favorite, The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog), my kids are obsessed and our library hardly ever has any of them in. I also bought 5 books by my current favorite author so it cost way more than dinner but oh well, I tried to buy less and Brian said since it was my birthday I should just get them all.

And that's how I spent my birthday, sounds fun huh. But mostly it was actually a pretty fun day except it was way too cold for this time of year. I just want to wear capris and flip flops is that too much to ask at the end of April?

Well last night as I was making dinner at my sisters house and Connor starts screaming. Tyler came up to tell us Connor had bent his hand too far forward or too far back. Brian ran down to see and checked him out and since he could still move it figured it was sore but fine. Connor didn't stop crying so I got him some candy and we went to my sister's new house (they are moving this weekend) in an attempt to distract him he cried for most of the 30 minutes we were there. Well he really wanted to help but used his left hand very little. We went back to my sister's old house and ate dinner and wrapped his arm up because he said it was pretty sore. We spent the next 2 1/2 hours helping my sister and went home around 10. Gave him his antibiotic (for the strep we found on Tuesday, but that's another post) and some ibuprofen and sent him to bed with it still wrapped.
This morning it was still sore so I made an appointment with his favorite doctor. I dropped the other 2 kids off and I took him in. I unwrapped his arm in the waiting room and about 10 minutes later when the doctor looked at he noticed some swelling and said it was likely broken and he needed an X-ray. So we went to the radiology center here in town where a client of my dad's did the X-ray. Because she knew me she showed me the X-ray and told me it was fractured and would need a cast. The doctor had told us to take our time getting back because it takes a bit to get the X-rays sent over and read. Well I was supposed to make Tyler's teacher a teacher appreciation door decoration so we went to the craft store to use the dye cut machine and cut out what felt, to Connor, like 1 Million little Music notes for the "Mrs. Barton Rocks" door decoration. It ended up taking WAY longer than I had thought it would and Connor was SO done by the time we got out of there.
Well the doctor pulled up the X-ray and said that actually both bones were fractured and we DEFINITELY needed to cast it, which I had prepped Connor for and he was actually excited. Well as soon as they were ready to cast it Connor had to go to the bathroom so then they had more patients come in and it took another 15 minutes for the doctor and nurse to both be free. We made it out just in time to run Ty to school and then Connor.
Now that his cast is hard he is letting anyone who wants to sign it or decorate it. He doesn't seem in too much pain but he said his arm was really tired by the time we got home tonight so we put it up on pillows and watched a movie. Luckily it's his left hand so he can still semi function but seat belts, dressing, undressing, and potty trips are much more challenging. 2-3 weeks and we will get this cast off X-ray and then another 2-3 weeks in the next cast so when we get back from our week long family reunion trip to South Dakota, and hopefully before gymnastics and swim lessons start the next week.

Oh and how did it happen you may wonder, he said he was doing a dance move, "you know like how an airplane spins around," and he jumped to do it and fell and caught himself with just the 1 hand. At least it wasn't something actually naught but since it took me until we were going to get the X-ray to find out what happened you'd have thought it was something really against the rules. Oh well, I guess dance is more dangerous than I thought.

Accidents Happen

First know we are all fine. I have a few scrapes from glass and we are headed to the chiropractor this afternoon to get all checked and adjusted because being upside down does funky things to your back.

This is how we landedThe tow truck driver putting in the hooks to flip it onto its wheels again

The front after it was flipped back up

The side we rolled onto

My awesome dad was there to retrieve car seats and kids in his suit!!

I was headed to drop my kids off at mom's so I could go to work (around 11:30) when I saw drifted snow and started to slow down. I obviously didn't get slowed enough and hit the slush/slick and started fishtailing (I have no idea how to spell it or if it's even a word really). I knew I was out of control and told the boys to duck toward Bailey (in the middle) because we were going to wreck and I couldn't stop it. The passenger side rear end hit the barbwire fence and drug on it for a few feet til we hit a large enough pole or slope enough to flip onto our passenger side and then land on the roof. I tried to open my door and couldn't. The passenger side window was shattered and my phone and purse were laying in a pile of glass. I unbuckled and talked to the kids to be sure they were ok and called mom and dad. My dad headed right out and I called 911. As it was ringing a man came to check on us and helped us all get out and stop hanging upside down. He told me he had been one of the 1st on seen to a fatal accident the week before and was considering never leaving his house again but was very glad we were all ok. He helped get my purse and the diaper bad gathered and given to me. David Parker (from mom and dad's ward) and his kids were there and let the kids climb in his car to wait for dad to come. We were all out and safe by the time dad got there. He was soon followed by the police officer who again checked to be sure we were all ok and took my license and began working the scene. The firefighter/EMS arrived soon after to assure that we were ok and cared for the truck since I had never considered checking the engine just putting it in park, always a necessity on an upside down vehicle right? I then called Brian who was in Utah with the ROTC to let him know he needed to call ASAP it was important. After I finished filling out the accident paperwork Shelleen and Ken came and took the baby to mom and the boys to church with them. Brian called back and I told him I'd rolled the truck but we were all ok, I don't think that helped his feeling of being too far away but he texted a lot until he got home. We waited about 15 more minutes and the tow truck came but the police officer had another accident to go to so I filled out the towing paperwork and we went to moms. I cleaned up the few minor cuts I had and we left for a friends baby's blessing. It is now 7 and I just filed an online claim with USAA. We have GAP coverage on our loan so it should totally pay off the truck and give us 1000 toward a new vehicle (if it's totaled, which Brian is sure it is with the roof damage). But we are all a little sore and stiff and planning on chiropractor visits very soon. The boys were pretty scared but don't want to talk about it. Bailey just hates getting back in her carseat now. So now we wait for insurance information so we can buy a new car to go with our new house, couch, and bed.

Moving, AGAIN!!!

Well I know we bring this on ourselves but when we moved here there was no storage and that hasn't changed and we are to the point that it is driving us NUTS!!! There is like no kitchen space at all and the oven cooks too hot so even if I had space to cook it gets ruined in the oven anyway. So that means DIing(I know not a word but you get my point), organizing, storing, and packing. Oh and working 3-6 days a week raising 3 kids, keeping Brian's head above water in school and not killing each other. Oh well CHAOS, here we come. We are moving by the end of semester break, which is less than 6 weeks and I have to get this house ready for people to look at it and not notice there is NO storage and NO kitchen. Wish me luck. I'm going to need it because I SUCK at packing, organizing, cleaning, and keeping things clean.

Sickness Sucks!!!

Well our house has been a whirlwind of nasty germs. Our doctor is loving us right now. Last week I took Bailey and Tyler in and Bailey has a double ear infection and nasty cold. Tyler has a nasty virus they could only give him a cough med for. Connor had a killer cold. Well I attempted to avoid the illness but today I went in and I have a sinus infection and an upper respiratory infection. Yeah so needless to say our window is full of antibiotics, cough meds, decongestants oh and pain meds for the baby who is getting at least 6 teeth. So our trip to Jackson was not nearly as fun as we had hoped but the boys did go sledding with their friends and hang out with Grandma Booma.

I have barely gotten off the couch and Bailey has slept for most of the last week and eaten very little until today so I'm hoping this torture will end soon.

On the up side we have only 6 weeks left in tax season and the semester. We can hardly wait for it to all end and give us a break from the chaos we are currently thriving on. Tyler has decided to start wrestling tomorrow too. Oh and we are considering moving to a new house in hopes of storage and parking. My sister is moving soon too so we are hoping our kids can end up at the same school so I will only have to do 2 school runs instead of the 3 in 1 hour I do now. And to be home every night to put my kids to bed sounds like a dream, you know I'm sick if I'm saying that. Well I am off to help a friend with his homework as soon as my kids are in bed.

CHAOS!!

Well I had thought I'd post about Christmas and traveling, and the many days and nights of flu for all of us thrown up (I will soon with pictures too) but that pails in comparison to the tax season chaos at my house right now. Which doesn't even begin to the chaos my sister is experiencing. I got a text yesterday while in a training meeting that there was a fire in my sisters house earlier that day and everyone was OK but they would be in a hotel up to 12 weeks and to call my mom for information. With my dad also at the meeting, the second we had a chance we called my mom to get details. The details weren't all to clear that night but as time has passed and details have come out the story makes a little more sense.

My sister has a small daycare in her home and has 2 of her children at home with her all day and 2 in school. Well the youngest of her children somehow got her zhu zhu pet like animal into the bottom of their oven, which happens to be a gas oven so where she put it is actually the broiler. My sister was preheating the oven to make muffins and the battery operated toy in the broiler exploded leading to flames. My sister ran the 4 children to the closest neighbor she could find and went back to the house to attempt to put out the fire that had grown even larger. Details of exactly how the fire was extinguished I'm not sure of. I do know the fire department came and made sure there were no hot spots and it was safe to reenter, with face masks and gloves they have since done so. To retrieve what they could or wanted to try to salvage. They do have good insurance on the 18 month old home, a great blessing. They are living in a hotel suite for as long as the next 3 months while the smoke and ash damaged parts are removed and cleaned, replaced, or restored.

I was telling my boys about it this morning and I could see they were quite upset because we had been there just 1 week before the fire. And their son Sam has a VERY special place in my kids hearts. Connor was very worried that Sam and his family were OK and had what they needed. We are working on how to help from 800 miles away. My kids really want to help and there isn't much we can do but pray.

Yes CHAOS is reigning supreme in my family right now. Oh and the fire also happened to be on one of my brother's birthday. We vote for smaller candles for his next birthday. No houses necessary.

Santa

I'm not sure if you can tell exactly how nervous Tyler is in this picture but he REALLY didn't want to go anywhere near him. I said that was fine but then he realized that the only way to get the candy cane his brother had was to go near Santa. Connor on the other hand has no fear about Santa so here he is loving it, but don't worry he didn't want to talk and even when he finally did no one else could understand what he said, a pillow pet and chuggington trains.