allie

Just wanted to share a few pictures I took of Allie tonight. It is so much harder to get a picture of her now- I set her where I want her and hurry and back up and try to get one quick before she starts walking towards me. I had to bribe the older kids to help me- I told them I would take them swimming if they would help me get a few pictures of Allie first.

We have had Alesa staying with us this week, it has been so much fun! We love having cousins here.

Football

I have been cleaning, organizing, de-junking, etc. and found some pictures of Tyler when he was young. I love looking at old pictures of him- he was so cute! He looks SO MUCH like my boys, I can't believe it. I especially love this picture. Football was a huge part of Tyler's life and I know he really wants our boys to love it like he did. Oakley played last year and he "endured to the end" but didn't love it. We told him he had to finish out the season, and if he didn't want to play next year, that was okay, but we weren't going to let him quit. He didn't want to play this year, and Preston wanted to play, but can't. So I know Tyler is disappointed that we don't have any boys playing football this year, but don't worry honey! I know Jaxon and Parker are going to be little maniacs. :) Just like you!

Look Who's Walking!

She started taking a few steps a few weeks ago, but now she will take about 10 steps on her own and she is so proud of herself! My BABY!!!!

I thought it was thunder

and then I realized someone, something, or SOMETHINGS were running on my roof. I ran outside to check it out and couldn't believe what I was seeing!

These goats make us laugh every day, but I think this has to be the funniest thing they have ever done. They were having a blast running and jumping over all the different levels and roof lines!
They have been running through the new part of the house, running up and down all the stairs in the house. They must have found an open window that they could jump out and onto the roof. I just hope they get off the roof before I try to go to bed so I don't have to listen to them play all night!

Update on Preston

I forgot to update on Preston's test results....everything came back okay, meaning they don't think he has any type of cancer or autoimmune disease. They are still calling his ITP "idiopathic" which just means that the cause is unknown. We have to keep getting his blood drawn every month, and going back to the hematology/oncolory clinic every three months. That was great news....basically nothing has changed. I had a hard time believing it could be anything serious, because he is generally so healthy!

Thanks Sarah!

My friend Sarah just told me about this blog, and I just read the entire thing and have never LAUGHED so hard in my life. Oh my goodness. If you want a good read...

http://seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com/

I started my new job yesterday and LOVE IT. I have to say thanks again to Sarah, she really pushed me to apply for the job when I told her about it. I feel very fortunate right now! I am also SERIOUSLY SO BLESSED! ;-)

Parker

We have been going swimming (almost) every day at East Canyon Resort- they have two pools there and the kids love it. Sometimes I swim with them, but this time I was just watching and taking pictures, and Tyler was holding Allie in the hot tub.

Parker gets in his float ring (and sometimes puts on the arm floaties too) and just kicks and swims around the entire pool. He loves to jump off the edge with his ring on. Well, the older boys were goofing off and trying to jump off the edge of the pool INTO Allie's float ring. As I found out later- Parker tried to do this too. He jumped off the edge of the pool, without his arm floaties, and tried to jump inside his ring (which he left in the pool), but he missed.

And I was RIGHT THERE, watching all the kids, taking pictures.....I heard Oakley say "Parker" and I looked around the pool to count little blonde heads.......I saw Parker's little hands flapping above the surface........and his head was all the way under the water. I felt like I was moving in slow motion......running towards that side of the pool.......taking the camera strap off my neck........throwing my camera down.......yelling for Tyler........and jumping into the pool (fully clothed) to pull Parker out.

He choked and sputtered and burped and I held him on the edge of the pool and I was SO THANKFUL that I heard Oakley say "Parker" or I could have lost my little buddy.
I decided I am done taking pictures of the kids swimming, I have a TON of them and will share some more later, but for the rest of the summer, I am going to leave my camera at home and just enjoy my kids. And count all those little blonde heads.

Preston

My kids look so goofy in their goggles. :) I love it.
I took Preston into Primary Children's on Wednesday. He was examined by two doctors and had his blood drawn twice. They are doing some blood work to see if he has an autoimmune disease, they think that is what is causing his ITP. They are checking for things like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. They said they should have the results back on Monday. But they were sure to emphasize again- NO FOOTBALL for Preston this year! :(

new job

Last week I applied and interviewed for a new job as a Labor and Delivery RN- much different than what I have been doing for the last 14 years, which was working in the Pediatric ICU. After not hearing anything for a few days, I assumed that I didn't get the job, but yesterday I got a call from the HR department offering me the position!
This is really the only other area in nursing I have been interested in, besides pediatrics. I am a little nervous, but really excited to be making the change!

Happy 4th of July!

We were going to go camping this weekend but had a few health problems with the kids, so we decided to stay home.

Preston had a doctor appointment for a sports physical on Tuesday. He wants to play football this year, but it doesn't look like he is going to be able to. He was diagnosed with chronic ITP almost 4 years ago. His platelet count was 64 on Tuesday, and normal is 150-400. His hematologist said that he absolutely cannot play sports if his platelet count is below 100.

So, that was disappointing. Then when his doctor got the results back on the rest of his CBC (complete blood count) there were several other things that were abnormal and his doctor is worried it could be something much more serious and wants him to go back to Primary Children's for further testing.

Jaxon also had a few trips to the doctor this week- the pediatrician thinks he has mono and so he had to have his blood drawn for that (not fun!) and we should get the results tomorrow. They also sent a throat culture since he has had 2 negative strep tests. He is miserable- I feel so bad for him!

Since we had to stay home, Tyler wanted to get some work done. He dug a big hole for the second septic tank needed for the new house, and then he was lowering the huge cement tank into the hole with the excavator. Thank goodness I wasn't watching when this happened.....because I would have FREAKED out......he always scares me so bad when he is working on his heavy equipment.....he tipped the excavator on it's side.

I can't believe he didn't get hurt at all. The glass all shattered, there is oil spilled everywhere, and who knows how much damage there is to the excavator. I am just so grateful he is okay.
It took two big tow trucks (the ones that tow Semi trucks) and several hours to pull the excavator upright.

What a day...what a week! It is always something, right?