May Begins and California Part 1

May started with a final confirmation of Lowell's internship (hooray!), Spencer's first haircut, and a trip to California.

Spencer took forever to get hair.  He always had a small bit, but it was so light and fine you couldn't see much of it.  About January he started getting more hair and by April he had cute ringlet curls over his ears.  But then, with the ringlets came a mess and ratty hair after naps or rides in the car. It was time for a cut.  Unlike Tanner's first cut which I majorly botched with scissors, we went straight to the clippers.  He turned from my little baby into and adorable toddler.  And luckily, with an Oreo he was a happy sport with clippers buzzing around his ears.  

The trick - let him watch videos and eat Oreos...

On May 1, 2006, Lowell proposed to me at sunset on a bridge overlooking the Provo River.  Since this was the first time we have been in Provo on May 1st since that fateful day in 2006 - we decided to commemorate the occasion by taking our boys to the bridge. 

Sadly, family shots were hard to come by with uncooperative little boys.  We did get a couple of keepers.  (And thank you to Margie who drove over to the park to be our spur-of-the-moment photographer).

I need to work on my Photoshop skills - obviously, since our point-and-shoot camera was no match for that sun.  But it is one of the best of the 4 of us. 

My personal favorite

The next morning we awoke before the crack of dawn - literally- and departed for a fun week in California.  Lowell and I were finally able to attend the Redlands Temple, so we have now attended all of the Southern California Temples.  Yay for crossing that off our list!

Our next excursion was to Redondo Beach.  Yes, it was farther than other beaches - but there was a very special reason.....

Happy Boy in the Car

Typical Tanner - picking his nose. 

Now the reason for our Redondo Beach excursion....
Lowell went to Baltimore for a case competition during finals week.  He then spent a day visiting friends in Pennsylvania.  Every chance he could, he went to Rita's Water Ice and called to tell me.  Since I had been unable to enjoy the goodness that is Rita's, I did not enjoy said phone calls and actually hung up.  Exploring the Rita's website and lamenting the fact I couldn't partake of the goodness - I was shocked to find that a few Rita's had opened in California - the closest to Lowell's parents being Redondo Beach (it had just opened in April!!).  We took that as our sign and introduced Lowell's parents to the goodness.  Spencer was introduced and Tanner re-introduced.  I think it was a hit.  And - the best part - upon further investigation of the website, a Rita's is opening in Utah (on our 7th anniversary, I might add).  So exciting!

Then of course, we hit the beach.  Spencer and Doug enjoyed a nice walk along the beachfront and Spencer was lucky enough to get a nap.  The rest of us braved the sand and enjoyed an afternoon at the beach. 

 

 

   

 

 I love Lowell's expressions while talking to his mom in these shots.  :)

 

Spencer was not a fan of being left while Lowell and I went to the temple.  So he accompanied Lowell and me on our next excursions while Tanner enjoyed play time with his grandparents (and managed to lock himself in the bathroom and bleach the rug in the process).

Enjoying waffles and fries at Bruxie.

Lowell's fried chicken and waffles

 Goofy Boys

 Then we went to the LA Flower Markets, Fashion, and Fabric districts. 

Lowell bought this bacon wrapped hot dog covered in pico and avocado from a street vender.  He says it was better than JDawgs.

Loving the flowers!

And of course, the trip wouldn't have been complete without the purchase of some orange daisies.

That pretty much sums up our week in California...except for Tanner's favorite part. That will be our next post (I hope....)

Two Years

Two years ago yesterday, we left Pennsylvania.  While I always miss it, some days I really miss it.  Today is one of those days.

I am grateful for health

I am grateful for health.  This past winter was especially trying in the health department.  As a family, we have been sicker since moving here in August than at any point in almost 7 years of marriage.  I got sick the weekend school started with a nasty stomach bug.  Lowell battled the flu the next weekend - and missed the marathon he trained all summer for.  And then the boys began having problems.  Spencer didn't ever seem to be happy and was struggling with food, then one day he broke into hives.  I couldn't figure out the culprit so we had allergy testing done - he is allergic to eggs.  Then the ear infections started...Tanner has always struggled with ear infections.  He had several as a baby and they went away when I took him off dairy (apparently he had a dairy intolerance).  Last winter he had continual fluid behind his ears but only one true ear infection.  The doctor kept almost referring us to an ENT for a consult on tubes since his speech was slightly delayed and he always had fluid - but she waited.  Spencer was born and had several ear infections in his first few months but they went away with the summer.  Fall hit  - and it was downhill.  Both boys got a nasty cough/respiratory thing requiring a nebulizer in October.  Tanner had 3 ear infections in 4 months.  Spencer had 2 during that time, but one took 4 rounds of antibiotics, including the shots to go away. 

I had had enough and insisted on an ENT referral.  Immediately the ENT heard Tanner's history and said tubes would be recommended.  The ENT is not surgery happy, but with the speech delay and the fact he had 3 ear infections at over 2 1/2 years of age in a short span - as well as several in infancy he felt they were warranted in this case.  Since Spencer seems to be taking after his brother, the ENT also recommended tubes for him.  I was game after the torture of 4 rounds of antibiotics his last ear infection had caused. 

We had the tubes put in mid-February and they have been a lifesaver.   Prior, any little runny nose seemed to result in an ear infection.  Since, we have had one ear infection that cleared up with a few days of ear drops.  Hooray!  Spencer did have a little bit of a complication with dried blood completely blocking the tube, but after several checks by the ENT we seem to have gotten that resolved. 

The morning of surgery we had to report bright and early.  It was kind of heartbreaking to see my boys in little hospital gowns being taken away.  I did okay until they took a crying Spencer and then Tanner started crying for his brother to come back.  :(  Thank goodness Lowell was there to help. 

Slightly groggy and starving.  He was ready for milk but couldn't eat until after surgery.

Tanner enjoyed playing with the equipment in the room

One happy boy.  The hospital had a lady that came to welcome families.  She gave both boys the cutest wooden cars made by a local retired gentleman.

Much happier - after surgery.  He got his milk and was content.

A mere week and a half after surgery, Mr. Tanner broke his leg.  We have a window seat in our house that he decided to jump off.  Lowell told me he was being a boy, I said he was going to hurt himself.  We agreed to one more jump.  He jumped, and I heard the crack over the vacuum.  I tried to tell myself he was fine...but after 40 minutes of hysterical sobbing we were off to Urgent Care.  He was x-rayed and diagnosed with a distal tibial fracture.  It spiraled 2 times up his right leg.  He was given a splint and had it casted 5 days later.  Initially when asked what color cast he wanted, Tanner would say "Brown, like Stephen Brown" - one of our friends.  However, when I told him they didn't have a brown cast, he switched to orange.  Good boy.  ;)

He was in a full leg cast for 3 weeks, then a short red cast for 3 more weeks.  He adapted quickly and was up running and walking on his casts in a few days. 

The day before the orange cast was removed

Switching the casts

Modeling the new red one - sorry about the wonky picture

He got the casts removed on April 8th and started walking again the next day.  Unfortunately, he still favors one leg and has a definite hop in his run.  Last week, I took him for a physical therapy evaluation.  The therapist doesn't think it is a strength issue, but just his coordination was thrown off with the cast.  We have a series of exercises for Tanner and are supposed to work with him for the next couple months.  If there are still problems at the end of the summer I can take him back for more intense therapy. 

After this past winter, I am extremely grateful for health.  Our bodies are amazing things and can do so much for us.  When they break down, it is a bummer - but thank goodness for modern medical care that helps us when that does happen.

Now if only they could find a cure for seasonal allergies...that worked all the time.  (Both boys and myself have issues right now related to the cottonwoods outside our house.  Sadly, the air conditioner runs 24/7 and the doors and windows are kept shut to limit our exposure.) 

The Long Winter

It has been a long winter.  A long cold winter this year.  In January and February, we spent a lot of time inside.  Tanner enjoyed the snow out back.  Spencer decided to walk.  Tanner started potty-training again (and was doing well until the broken leg fiasco...more on that later). Lowell continued running and running and running.  As for me - I became more involved in MBASA and spent a lot of evenings discussing books, teaching classes, and helping run things behind the scenes. 

Investigating the walker

Eating strawberries on the couch

Spencer was finally weened.  He wouldn't take a sippy cup so we went to bottles (I hate bottles!!!)- not being able to eat eggs due to his allergy was not working well with this mom who likes to bake.

Our lovely city experienced several days of below zero and single digit temperatures.  Despite poor air quality alerts, Lowell insisted on running. 

He even came back with frozen eyelashes on several occasions

Tanner enjoyed sneaking licks of brownie frosting

Tanner also enjoyed lining up all of Spencer's super heroes to defeat the giant cat

In-N-Out Milkshakes

For probably the first time in his existence, Tannerr fell asleep on the living room floor

If I bake anything, I need to keep it up high or Tanner attacks it.  Case in point - the brownies were partially demolished.

Tanner decided he could pour his own beverages.  Orange juice all over the kitchen is not my idea of fun.

With the large quantity of snow this winter, some people created a giant snowman.  We took a detour one day to visit.

My boys

Mom and her sidekicks

Every year the MBA program holds a winter social.  This year the theme was "Stacherade."  That morning had been rough - I was supposed to take Spencer to a pediatric nephrologist at the Children's Hospital, but there was a freak ice storm that morning.  When I tried to leave, thinking I could make it despite the ice, the interior of my door handle went flying off.  I had to call my friend who was going to watch Tanner to come push my door open so I could even leave.  Then she warned me about the roads because she had just dropped her son off at preschool.  I called the doctor's office and there was an accident blocking entrance to the hospital.  I decided I better not attempt the trip and rescheduled (for various reasons it was rescheduled another 2 times).  Luckily, the ice melted and the roads were clear so we could head out for the party.  Lowell got us roped into the newlywed game, unlike the one on our cruise that we won, we lost - big time for this one.  In my defense - who watches marathons for sport?  Not me.  And to my knowledge, Lowell didn't either - until he announced it hat night. 

 

 Spencer is such a happy little boy.  Notice the bandaid - he had to have blood drawn earlier that morning and was a trooper!

Hi Mom!

My mom sent a Valentines package, well one for both boys.  Tanner was in heaven! (Spencer too for that matter)

MBASA had a playdate at a local jumping place.  When we first got there, Tanner kept trying to run from the gym area and screaming he wanted to go home.  After a fruit snack break he was happy and joyful.  He even swung off the high bar into the foam pit - I was quite impressed.  

Spencer even got in on the action.  He loved crawling across the mats

Mom and her buddy

The big "slide"

Dad and Spencer - running buddies

 Tanner enjoyed playing out in the snow as much as possible. 

 

Spencer watched from inside

 

Tanner enjoyed the pink frosting leftover from Valentines cupcakes

Tanner and his Thomas tent

One of the few times Spencer has actually gotten in the tent - he is kind of scared about being inside

Crazy kid covering his face with his hat. Tanner is quite attached to his hat - Grandma D. found it at Target on clearance and it matches his coat perfectly,

He eats solids again!  For a week, Spencer threw up all solid food in projectile vomit.  We even went back to feed him purees.  Those came up too.  After a week back on his reflux medicine, he was a happy camper and could eat again.  Hooray!

A beautiful sunset

Looking dapper for church

Macaroni in his hair and on the floor - that is how we roll.

 We had a few warm days that melted a lot of the snow.  There were still patches of snow and ice but we ventured to the park.  Good thing too - a few days later Tanner broke his leg and there were no more trips to the park.

Loving the outdoors!

The park has a huge hill. Tanner insisted on walking all the way up to the top and sliding down on his bum.  See that walkway between the trees- yeah we were all the way up there.  It was a long way down. 

That sums up the long cold winter of January and February - minus a few details that deserve posts of their own.

And I apologize if there are typos - it is late, and I am tired.