Just kickin' it

This last January I slipped on the ice after I put Israel on the bus. I hurt my ankle and knee. My knee seemed to heal up well. My knee didn't heal so well. I went to a doctor and was getting treatment. We were trying to avoid surgery. We had a trip to California that I didn't want to be messed up for. They also told me I wouldn't be able to walk for 6 weeks. I couldn't figure out how to do that. Finally I couldn't walk on it anymore. So I had surgery back on Sep 15. I had to stay off of it completely for 5 weeks. Then I was able to use crutches and work back onto it with some pressure and learning how to use more over the next two weeks. Now I am at almost 8 weeks out. I still have a big old ugly boot on it and am going to physical therapy twice a week. They make me work. I got an award yesterday. It was so great! They give it out to patients who have shown hard work...yep that was me! My husband and kids have had to do so much to pick up all the slack. Also I have had such great neighbors and friends. For the first few weeks, they brought dinner over almost every single night!! Plus some more here and there. Not the mention the rides I bummed for my kids and myself. Oh did I mention I just got my driving privileges back last week??!!?? How amazing was everyone who stepped in to help. My siblings, mother, nieces, nephews, mother in law. Thanks so much to everyone!! I really appreciate you all! If I didn't thank you, I might have been on pain killers and forgot, but I really do appreciate you!!!!

This was my cast for a couple weeks until I got my boot and my stitches out.

My sister thought this would be funny to bring over. I liked freaking the kids out with it.

Biggest fan

Nikolas is playing tackle football. It is just starting. He has tryouts all this week and gets placed on a team this Friday. It is his first time ever playing any organized sport and we throw him right in the big leagues...hahaha!!! He is excited to play. They had a practice on Saturday and ran them really hard. He was tired!! It is really good for him! As soon as he brought all of his equipment home the other day Israel was so excited. He kept wanting Nikolas and Rob to go out and play football so he could go out with them. He made Nikolas put his helmet, pads, and cleats on and then take them off so he could try them on. Then he charged right at Rob! It was pretty funny!! Israel wants Nikolas to put his football gear on everyday and anytime we have a visitor over he takes them into his room to show them the gear. I'm pretty sure Israel is Nikolas's biggest fan! We can't wait for Israel to turn 8 in a year and a half so he can be in the Special Olympics. He has such a love for sports. It will be fun!

Nikolas trying on his gear.

Israel copying his big brother!

Look a likes

Twins? Sisters? Cousins? Friends? This is Alexis and her cousin Breanna. They are six months apart. They have always looked alike. Every once in a while I have to take a picture of them together because they look so much a like. One of my best friends is a police officer at Breanna's school and new she was Lexi's cousin before she even said anything to her.

Parade Floats

I am always up for something fun to take the kids to. Especially if it is free. Before the Days of 47 Parade they display the floats at the South Towne Expo. Rob and I took the kids along with some of my sisters, sister in laws and nieces and nephews to see them. The kids had a fun time going through and looking at them up close. They also let you vote which one is your favorite. I only took a couple pictures. I didn't even get the cool floats...oops!

I had to take a picture of Israel with his name.




Maddison loves mermaids! This one gave out shells and let you take pictures with her.

Of course Israel had to take his picture too!

GNO

Once a month I get to go to with some fun girls and have a great night! No matter what we do we always have a great time. We have done, spa nights, dinner and movie, window shopping, fun craft nights, fire pits, Christmas parties, etc. This last month our really creative friend helped us make these cute flip flops! So cute huh?!?

Daddy's Hands

Quite a few years ago on Father's Day my seven sisters and I sang a song to my daddy. I think it was called "My Father's Eyes". I still remember standing there singing that to my daddy and the smirk he had as he was proudly watching us sing that to him and us ball babies with our watering eyes and noses red and runny trying to make it through the song. Well I don't think I have my father's eyes, but I do think I have his hands. Or at least the inside of my hands. Kind of weird, the outside looks like my mama, but the inside looks like my daddy. Right before he passed away a few years I took a picture of our hands together.

Blue and Gold

Nikolas is almost 8. That only means one thing...more free time for mama! Just kidding. It means he gets to start the scouting program. He will be going to scout camp this summer and I can't wait!!! So tonight we were invited to the Blue and Gold dinner and cake auction. The money earned at the cake auction goes to pay for the scout camp. Nikolas and I made a cake. My sister-in-law gave me a couple ideas for some cute cakes we could do last minute. So we made this one and were glad it sold for a good price of $19. YaY!!!

Cars...Cars...Cars...

Yes, this is what makes him happy!

WHAT A DEAL!!!!

I was walking through Walmart and passed a clearance rack of boys clothes and since Nikolas happens to need some shirts I looked at the rack. All the shirts were marked at such a good deal, I just about bought them all. Take a look at the regular price then the sale price and tell me how you could resist this sale...

Loving Brothers

For some reason Nikolas has had a hard time sleeping on the top bunk. So he asked if we could take down the bunks and put up a bed for both the boys to share. Rob went to check on them and called me in to look. Nikolas had his arm around Israel. So cute!

Festival of Trees PCMC

Every year hundreds of amazing volunteers put together the Festival of Trees. People put together all kinds of trees and donate them and everything they use to decorate them with. Some are simple and nice. Others are so extravagant with t.v.'s or couches or firplaces. They are really neat to go look at. They actually have more than trees now. They include beautiful quilts, gingerbread houses, wreaths, On Tuesday night they have an auction and sell all the trees and other things. Some go for $10,000 or more. It is really neat because 100% of the donations go to Primary Children's Medical Center. This is such a fabulous hospital. Almost all of my children have spent some amount of time there. But Israel has been there the most. I am grateful for this hospital and all the amazing services they offer. This is a fun tradition Rob and I love to participate in every year. Sometimes we take our children, but lately it has been our date night.

Never too old...

I guess you are never too old for footsie pajamas. Yes, this is my oldest child Alexis and my youngest child Israel. Funny thing is that Alexis is 13 years old. She is so excited to wear these pajamas tonight. As soon as she put them on, Israel ran to his drawer and grabbed his out so they could match.

Israel's surgery

Last Friday Israel went in for his second eye surgery. His first one didn't work like we had hope, so this time they put stents in his tear ducts. We went to the Primary Children's outpatient at Riverton Hospital. They are so great there, it is brand new, and it is 5 minutes from our house...bonus! They put those cute baby gowns on him. Then they have a lady that is supposed to make surgery not scary. She gives him a hospital buddy. He draws on it where he is going to have surgery, takes it's temp, blood pressure, listens to it's heart, and puts on oxygen mask. Israel knew exactly where to put everything. Then Israel spotted the little red cars. He loves those cars. The hospital just got these about a week ago. Last time he came in they didn't have them. He rode them for about an hour and a half up and down the halls causing havoc for all the nurses. Then when it was time for surgery they let him drive it back to the O.R. ...so cute! He came out of the anesthetic right after they finished the surgery. He was still in the O.R. They were a little surprised by that. Because he didn't sleep it all the way off, he was SO grumpy the rest of the day. He looked extremely pale to me this time too. As the day went on he had some trouble with his breathing. He was so tired so we gave him a little pain medicine and put him to bed really early. Poor baby slept 14 hours of restless sleep that night. Every time I went in during the night to check on him, he was tossing and turning. He is doing better now. The doctor said he will just take out the stents in his office in 3-6 months. Hopefully this one does the trick!!!

Look out for doors!

Maddi was over at a friend's house when the mom called me in a panic. Somehow, Maddi had accidentally gotten her finger smashed in the front door. The mom was driving really fast over to my house to drop Maddi off. I couldn't understand what the big emergency was. I finally got out of her that it was a bad smash. So I asked her if I needed to take her to a Dr. She said yes! I asked was it a break or cut. She said cut. I asked if it was bleeding bad. She said YES! I had just put dinner in the oven and was getting Nikolas in the shower. I had to hurry and put the boys in the car. Rob was at softball and Lexi was gone somewhere too. We hurried to Jeff's office. He took real good care of Maddi. Cut off the top layer of skin and stitched the next layer with two stitches. We are over a week now. Hopefully we don't have too much longer caring for these stitches.

Deja Vue...

Remember my post on July 26? If not go look at it! Ok you don't have to I will just tell you. It was about Israel's eyes and how he had to have eye surgery. Well he had it and it seemed to have gone ok. He did well. It wasn't that fun after. When I went in to see him I didn't expect to see the blood pouring out of his eyes and nose, but he was happy. We got to go home and just take it easy for the day and keep watch on him for a few days plus put drops in his eyes for a few days. Well after two weeks of his eyes still watering I started to wonder if the surgery worked. Not only were they watering, but now they were getting gunky. They weren't doing that before. I was waiting for the dr. to call like he said he would after a month to check on him. Yesterday was the month point. He called. He wants to do surgery again. This time he wants to put shunts in his tear ducts. Doesn't sound to pleasant to me...poor baby! So now surgery is scheduled for October 8th. I think the surgery will probably be just a little bit longer and maybe a little bit more painful. But this better solve the problem! I don't know what time the surgery will be yet. They will call the day before to schedule.