Sweet little boys...

So we got home yesterday and Chris had taken Taylor and Rhett to Seven Peaks to meet up with my family. Jenner and I brought Grady home from the hospital and called the oxygen people and got everything all set up. We just hung out, the three of us until Chris and the kids got home about 6:30. We all watched Fool's Gold together and Grady and Rhett decided they wanted to sleep on the blow up mattress together. As they were going to sleep, Grady was explaining how he had to keep the oxygen "thing" in his nose so he could breath better all night. They were having this sweet little conversation about how Rhett wasn't able to sleep the entire time Grady was in the hospital. I sat there and bawled and bawled. Chris was laughing at me cuz I was so emotional but I just couldn't help it. You've got these two little boys with their hard outer shells that are admitting to each other how much they mean to one another, and they're 7 and 6. I then started to realize how lucky we are to have escaped this hospital stay unharmed and pretty much recovered. You take for granted just the little things in life like being healthy and being able to play and have fun whenever you want. We are such a lucky family and it was so neat to witness my little boys' love for each other. I will never forget that night and I hope to witness many more interactions like this one in the future. I love my kids and I am so proud of them for what they are accomplishing in their lives. I feel blessed that they are healthy enough to lead a normal life and to be able to have friends and family around them.

There, I am off my box!

WELCOME HOME!!!

We're home and more importantly, Grady's doing much much better. We came home with an oxygen tank and some strict orders but we are home. You can already see a huge difference in his attitude and energy. At the hospital he was so mopey and depressed and now he his giggling and happy. Yeah!!!!

Another Update...

Well today Grady made some major improvements...He started out at 6 liters of oxygen and he has been turned down to only 1...WooHoo! He is very hydrated and so they also turned down his IV fluids. His color is back, he is talking and sort of eating, and he even giggled and gave his dad a nice smack on the head, one of his "things" that he does to Chris. The first picture you can just tell how sick he was and then the picture with Jenner shows some major changes. They took another x-ray today and the pnemonia looked the same, but not worse. I guess they were very pleased with the outcome and said that at least it hadn't gotten worse. Hopefully we will be home either tomorrow or Saturday morning...After looking at these pictures bigger I realized that he still looks like crap, but alot better than he did Tuesday night.

Update...

Well, it's about 9:00 pm and we just got home from the hospital. My mom headed up here from Richfield and is going to stay the night with him. I feel horrible because I can't stay over night, Jenner is still nursing and is so unpredictable at night. There is NO update, he is exactly the same as last night and this morning. He is still on a high amount of oxygen and they haven't been able to turn it down all day. We think they will do an x-ray tomorrow to see if anything has changed...let's hope so.

Grady hospitalized...

It's Wednesday afternoon but still feels like Tuesday night. Grady got the Gamboo last Monday and Tuesday and never really got back to his usual self. He wasn't eating very good, sleeping more and wanted to be in the house with me...not himself. He started coughing at the end of last week and we blamed his asthma. I did the usual things and the asthma meds weren't working like they usually do. I gave him some prescription cough medicine and that seemed to help Saturday and Sunday night. Monday he still coughed pretty bad but the night wasn't as bad as we had anticipated. Then came Tuesday, He was coughing really bad and was really not himself. I called his doctor, who just happened to be out of town, so I decided to wait it out another day. Tuesday night before bed he just started coughing so bad and couldn't stop. We gave him his inhaler treatment and a nebulizer treatment and went to the hospital E.R. They said we were smart to bring him and...he has pnemonia. I feel horrible. We had been blaming his cough on his asthma which we have learned to control pretty good. I felt like we were doing all of the right things just to find out that we weren't. I know, I'm not a doctor and I don't have x-ray vision but we both still feel so bad for him. They admitted him and pumped him full of fluids, antibiotics and steroids. They are going to take another x-ray tonight to see if the pnemonia has "shrunk" a little. Poor little guy. Please pray for him and keep him in your thoughts. I will keep you posted as I learn more. We love each and everyone of you.

Amy

Oh No...Jenner's sick???

Oh my...isn't she the cutest. So at about 3:00 pm she sort of spit up and I was a little worried, and then she did it again about 10 minutes later. I am freaking out thinking that she is getting the Gamboo which would be so sad for her. She seems to do fine the rest of the day. We put her in the tub and when Chris was holding her in her towel, she started to act like there was something coming up. We hurried and put the "bucket" under her mouth and she just started to laugh. After I got her dressed I put the bucket next to her and this is what she did. Where does she get so smart. I just had to snap a picture, it was so funny. The last picture she is starting to realize that her knees and arms just might help her crawl and get somewhere...oh the day she starts crawling should be a very interesting day for sure...I just might cry!

So I went out of my way to make roast chicken tonight and I had this awesome recipe and everything. I took pictures when it came out of the oven and it looked so fabulous. And, yes, I even touched it before I cooked it...Gross!!! Anyways, we sit down to eat and I was so proud of my doings and then it was just "alright." Not mind blowing or anything. I was going to post the recipe, but I decided not to waste your time. Tomorrow night's dinner will be something else and I promise I won't let you down...Mexican Chicken over Rice...Yumm Yumm!!

Grimely's wedding...

Okay, I have to talk about our cute friend Kristen. She is the biggest Tomboy I have ever known and there was talks about her not getting her hair done and putting on a dress for her mom's wedding...but she came through and she looks so great. Whatever you do, don't tell her that she looked cute, she doesn't like the word cute.

Grimely trying to get a kiss out of Grady...Good luck with that!!!

This would be Doug doing what he does best...Nothing!!! Ha Ha!!!!

Grimely and Rhett, do you think he was nervous???

Me, Grimely and Nikki...Oh how cute!!

Grimely and her girls, Kristen looks so cute, I mean Fabulous!!!

Emily, Grady, Rhett and Weston

Me and my two most Handsome boys.

The view from the top of the mountain, Beautiful!!!

This week was kind of crazy. On Monday, Grady and I had the Gamboo. That night our friends from Iowa came over for some chatting, us still with the Gamboo. Tuesday, I still felt yuck but I was way to excited to spend time with Nikki so I just pretended to feel good. We hung out at our house and visited. By Wednesday, nobody elso had the Gamboo so I thought we were in the clear. We went to Nikki's hotel to swim and then ended up back at our house for some pizza and a good ol' visit on the driveway...ohhh the good ol' days. Thursday was our friend Grimely's wedding and so we talked about our plans for the day. In the morning we were going to get our hair and nails done and then we were going to head up to Snowbasin around 2:00 for the wedding. At about 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning, poor Taylor ended up with the Gamboo, vomiting all morning. We cancelled our hair and nail appointments and prayed that Taylor's virus would be a short one. Not so much. She had been looking forward to the wedding for months and months. I had to tell her that she couldn't go and it was so sad. She just cried and cried. Chris ended up staying home with her and the baby and I headed up to Snowbasin with Doug, Nikki, thier two kids and my boys. I have never been to such a wedding, drinking and dancing and all of that stuff. It was absolutely beautiful and elegant. Grimely looked stunning in her dress and the wedding party was also beautiful. It was a nice wedding and I think the boys had a good time with Nikki's kids. Like I said, it was a wedding like nothing I have ever seen. We rode the Gondola up to the top of the mountain for the ceremony and then hurried back down for the "reception" which meant drinking and appetizers. My only idea of a reception is when people come and walk through the "line" and congratulate you. This was way more casual and laid back. At 6:00 we had the formal dinner. When it was time for dessert, they passed out champagne and had a toast. I toasted with my Diet Coke. It's now Saturday night and Chris has been in bed with the Gamboo since yesterday. When our we going to catch a break. I keep putting Rhett to bed with a bucket and explaining to him that if he has to lurch to make sure he gets it in the bucket. So far we are 0 for 2 on the making it in the bucket. Lots of laundry. Hopefully, hopefully...knock on wood...we're done with the Gamboo. I am sooooo over it!!!

New background...

So I was trying to add a new background and in the process I lost all of my page elements from before. I was trying so hard to remember everything but I know I missed some things. If I accidentally lost you from my blog list, please let me know. SORRY!!!

Coffee Cake...

So my boys absolutely love this coffee cake, well at least they LOVE the topping. Check out the pictures of Grady's plate when he had eaten 2 pieces...funny huh?

Coffee Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray pan:

2 cups Bisquick

2 Tbsp. sugar

1 egg

2/3 cups milk

Struesel topping:

1/3 cup Bisquick

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

2 Tbsp. melted butter

Note: When I was little, I used to make this for my family all of the time. We decided we liked the topping so much that I used to triple it. It was so good but it might be a little too much for the faint of heart, I would strongly recommend at least doubling it.

Mix cake ingredients together and put into either a bundt pan or a small casserole pan. Prepare stuesal topping and put on top of cake. Bake for 17-22 minutes. Eat while still warm with butter on top. Yumm!

Its Over...

The Celtics finally won another championship since 1986...CELTICS..Hoo Haa...CELTICS Hoo Haa...CELTICS Hoo Haa!!!! Yesssssss

GO CELTICS!!! GO GREEN!!!

So here are a couple of my favorite guys watching a good ol' b-ball game. The CELTICS are seriously wiping the floor with some Laker *$#!! Whoooo Hooooo!!! Rhett absolutely loves to watch basketball. He is such a little cutie...

Father's Weekend..

We went to my mom's this weekend for a double hit...Father's day and also Becky hosted a clock party. The clock party was a hit...we made 19 clocks!!! Check out the cute pics. As for Father's day, we decided to have a dinner on Saturday night because Chris and I had to head back up to Bountiful to celebrate with his Family on Sunday. The latter pics are at Aunt Sally's having dinner with the Barton/Palmer crew. We had a good time.

And now it's Monday morning and we had a night of the pukes with Grady...and I don't feel so well either. We got the dreaded GAMBOO!!! Yuck...wish us luck for the next couple of days...I have a feeling we'll be doing alot of laundry.

New World Record

Okay, somebody call Guiness because I think we set a world record today. All three of my older kids lost a tooth today. Have you ever heard of such a thing? Taylor lost one this morning and then Rhett was jumping on the tramp and got hit in the mouth and lost one. Grady has had a really lose tooth for awhile and he worked on it until it came out. We couldn't believe it. Also, when I was little I heard that if you and your siblings all lost a tooth on the same day, the Tooth Fairy brought extra $$$$$...Hopefully what I heard is true!!! Ha Ha!!! So if you know anyone at Guiness, let me know if we set a record...

My boys...

So my two boys are so stinking funny. They seriously keep me laughing all of the time. We just put everyone to bed, including Chris (he's got a fever bug) and I was in taking Chris' temperature when the boys came in our room. Grady holding his shoulder and Rhett holding his hand to his head. They both explained that they were hurt. Yeah right. I know them better than they think...They are such fakers. I said "you guys just want some motrin," and Rhett busted up laughing...those little stinkers. We sent them back to bed and I told them I would check on them in a few minutes. I went in their room and they were all set up holding their wounds. Rhett said "we don't want motrin." So I asked them what they thought would help their pain and Grady said..."Bread!" I almost fell over laughing! I guess they should have practiced their act a little bit better to fool us...Motrin...Bread!!! So funny!

Tostada Pizza

So my friends little sister posted this pizza on her blog and I decided to make it since it looked so good. She didn't post a recipe so I just winged it, and like always I changed a few things cuz that's what I do, I change recipes.

Tostada Pizza

1 roll pillsbury pizza crust, cooked for about 10-14 minutes

Layer in order given:

Refried beans

Cheese

Grilled chicken, cubed

Cook for another few minutes until cheese is nice and melty.

Top with:

Lettuce

Sour Cream

Olives

Salsa

Guacamole

Crushed torilla chips

Delicious and so fast and easy!

GO CELTICS!!!!

I forgot that on Sunday we had everyone over for dinner and the game. This is how we looked...pretty funny. I tell Chris and Tyler that I am rooting for the Laker's for the ever yummy Kobe Bryant, but I am secretly rooting for the Celtics...SHHHH! Oh and Kobe's not all that, it's just my cover. I am secretly hoping that the Celtics sweep the series...Go Green!!!

More Pictures...

More pictures of swimming. The little blonde is our sweet niece Amanda, she calls me MiMi. The other little girl is the Fiesty Kelsey. Jenner in her carseat not being very lady like and Grady trying to get warm on the cement, nobody told him he was in the shade.

Swimming...

So today was a pretty good day and we decided to go swimming. We are lucky enough to have a pool within the family. Chris' brother, Tyler, has a pool and we get to swim with them quite a bit in the summer. They are so nice to let us over all of the time. It was about 76 degrees and just warm enough to swim. Each of the kids are finally learning how to swim. Taylor can swim the width of the pool alone. Rhett can dog paddle a bit but sinks like a rock and Grady can dog paddle too. I taught them all how to float on their backs. Here are some fun pics.

Vacuuming out the car...

So I decided that I needed to vacuum out the suburban after the camping trip Chris had with the kids. I have pictures of the trip being e-mailed hopefully so I will post those later. Back to the vacuuming...I am a klutz...there is no other way or nicer way to put it...I fall all of the time...I trip all of the time...I am a klutz!!! Well...so...umm...I was at the super vacuum place (free) and I was cleaning out under the seats and everything. I was in the back of the car cleaning and had just started to get out...the hose to the vacuum somehow came out of nowhere or something and I landed one foot on it instead of the ground...next thing I know I am face down on the asphalt...yes, in public where there were alot of other people there...I hurried and found my footing and hoisted my hurt self back to the vertical position...I didn't even dare look around to see if anyone was laughing, I just went on vacuuming acting like nothing had happened. The pain hit me about 10 minutes later and I realized that my knee actually hurt pretty bad. I attempted to look at it but my pants were stuck to it with blood...I had skinned up my knee like a little kid falling off of a bike...I am such a klutz. Hopefully I made someones day at the vacuum place, maybe I'll be the butt of someone's joke for awhile. Ouch, my knee hurts! Yeah I know it doesn't look like much but I am not a kid anymore...and I don't bounce back like I used to, geez I sound like my grandma.

My little Indiana

So Grady came up to me yesterday before they went camping and he had this scratch under his lip...the same exact scar that Indiana has...I keep teasing him that he did it on purpose just to look like Indiana...what a cutie.

I think we're home free...

So last night went really well with Jenner. She didn't cry at all when we put her down and didn't wake up until about 3:30 to nurse. She woke up again at about 6:45 and Chris put her in our bed. Naptime is a different story though...It's 1:45 and she is in her crib for the second time crying. We'll see!

1st night in crib...

So this was the first night Jenner slept in the newly assembled crib. She cried for about 10 minutes and then went to sleep. She then woke up 3 times to nurse in the night...I was still so exhausted. The second night she only cried for about 7 minutes and then went to sleep. She woke up at about 12:30 and nursed and didn't go back to sleep until about 1:30 and cried for about 15 minutes. She slept until 6:30 in the morning that time until Chris went and got her and put her in our bed. It's the third night and we put her down at about 8:30 and she didn't cry at all. I am praying that we have a good rest of the night.

McDonalds again (ugh)

Everytime we go to Richfield to visit Grandma, we end up at McDonalds for lunch, every single time we go. (I am so sick of McD's.) The kids absolutely love it and they make sure to remind all of the moms that we haven't been yet. The other picture is Mason pushing Jenner around in a toy baby stroller, she didn't think it was very fun.

Tagged

So I just got my first tag, that sounds really weird doesn't it.

5 Things...

5 things I was doing 10 years ago
1. Finding out my first baby was a girl
2. Moving into our first house
3. Working for Beneficial Life
4. Owning only 1 car (it was brutal)
5. Enjoying being pregnant (the only time I enjoyed it)

5 things to do on my list
1. Laundry
2. Watch my recorded shows
3. Get Milk
4. What List?
5. What are we talking about again?

5 favorite snacks/foods
1. Cheesecake
2. Animal Crackers
3. Diet Coke (why wasn't that #1)
4. Pizza
5. Mexican food

5 things I would do if I was a billionaire
1. Buy dream home
2. Pay off houses for siblings
3. Retirement
4. Invest
5. Get a pedicure

5 bad habits
1. Using the computer too much
2. Watching too many shows
3. Pulling my hair
4. Picking at my kids food
5. Drinking too much Diet Coke

5 places I have lived
1. Richfield, UT
2. Provo, UT
3. Orem, UT
4. Kaysville, UT
5. Syracuse, UT

5 people I tag
Since I am not familiar with too many blogs...
Michelle D.
Carrie H.
Heather E.
Jimi N.
Lisa B.

Chocolate Cake...Yummm

We made this cake for my sister in law, Lupita's birthday and everyone loved it.

Chocolate Cake

Sift together:
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar

Mix together and bring to a boil:
2 cubes butter
1 cup cold water
4 Tbsp. cocoa

Add flour and sugar mixture to chocolate mixture.

Mix together and add to the other mixture:
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour milk (I use regular)
1 tsp. soda
Add 1 tsp. vanilla to whole mix. Pour into greased 9x13 pan and bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. (20-22 min in mom's oven)

Icing
(Ice while cake is hot)

Bring to a boil:
1/2 cube butter
2 Tbsp. cocoa
3 Tbsp. milk

Add:
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup nuts (I never add nuts)

Enjoy...We all absolutely loved it.

Indiana Jones...

So when I was a kid, my favorite thing to do with my dad was watch movies. They included, Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Rambo. I know, Rambo? We loved it. I wanted my kids to experience Indiana Jones with grandpa so we started the series while we're here. I forgot how scary Raider's of the lost ark and Temple of doom really are. Oh well, we survived it and we can't wait for the Kingdom of the crystal skulls....

Tea Time and Shoes

Taylor decided we were long overdue for a tea party. The little girls munched on candy and had "tea." Sophie tried to crash the party and was stealing all of the treats, where are your manners, HAHA! Sophie also likes to try on everyone's shoes, she happened to get Rhett's on the right feet and everything. Let me tell you a little bit about Sophie. Ashley asked me to watch her for a little while and these are the events that took place in that little while: Sophie calling out for "Gra Ga" in the front yard; Sophie taking my hand and leading me to the neighbor's house where she last saw her mom; Sophie finding some mud to stomp in and rub onto her legs like lotion; Sophie finding a marker and painting her hands and lips; Sophie finding some sticky tack and chewing it like gum; Sophie bringing Pa Pa and diaper because she was wet...She is such a busy, adorable little girl but I seriously don't know how Ashley does it. She wore me out in that little while (maybe 30 min.).

Poor uncle Brandon...

Our poor uncle Brandon felt so bad after the little girls toppled over in the wagon. Katelyn and Zulema had bruises and road rash on the right side of their faces, but they were really brave. Brandon ordered flowers for the girls the next day because he felt so bad...what a nice guy!

Hanging Around...

The kids just having fun at grandma's. Rhett going down the slide. Grady being silly in the baby swing, Jenner having a ball. Ellie, Katelyn, Rhett, Connor, Jenner, Taylor and Grady.