Croup Fun

So I just got home from spending the night at St. Mary Hospital with Kamryn. She has croup. Carson does too - but not as bad - so he got to go home last night with Dad. They sure hated being apart from one another.

Let me just say, this was our 1st experience (and hopefully our last) having a child admitted to SMH. I was very pleased with the doctors & nurses on the floor & in the ER. How nice it is to have such competent folks working on our children.

Other Moms have always told me that croup can come on really fast. Kamryn's came on in 15 minutes. I almost pulled over to call 911 on the way to the hospital because she wasn't able to breathe.

15 minutes. That is all it took before her breathing spiraled out of control. Craziness.

Give your kids an extra hug & love today.

Pillow Moments

What do you keep under your pillow at night? Would you like to see what the twins keep under their pillows?

I went in to change their bed linens a few days ago. This is what I found.

CARSON'S BED:




We have a rule that Carson can take only 2 cars to bed with him at night. Otherwise we would find seriously 40 different cars in his bed. He was upset the other night because he said he just couldn't pick 2. I swear I put him to bed with only 2 in his hands. Turns out the boy had more ... now I know where he hides them.

KAMRYN'S BED:




Are you scratching your head about this one? Yes people - those are Kamryn's panties. Yes, she loves them ... a little too much. She often gets her feelings hurt when I make her take them off at night and put clean ones on. So apparently after I left the room for the night, she dug them out of the hamper and hid them under her pillow. Sweet? No - I don't think so. I mean for heaven sakes - if you are going to sleep with extra pairs of panties - at least make sure they are clean!

a hole in our hearts ...

we sure miss our little karleigh girl



Karleigh Ann Stimpson
October 16, 2002 - April 14, 2005

Welcome To Holland

My sister Tracy shared this poem with all of us when Karleigh passed away. It has been going through my mind a lot lately and of course every time I see a tulip I can't help but think of sweet Karleigh. So I just had to share it with you.

Welcome To Holland
by Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It’s just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away...because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

PT Cruiser ... Mini Cooper ... OR? ...

We were in the car at a stop light ... and Carson & Kamryn started fighting about the car next to us. Carson insisted that it was a PT Cruiser and Kamryn insisted that it was a Mini Cooper. (Carson is usually correct if it involves vehicles.) The argument increased in volume so I decided to settle it and tell them it really was a PTCruiser. They were satisfied with the answer.

However, the new argument now is the correct way to pronounce it:

Carson = PT Cruiser
Kamryn = Titty Cruiser

What would you like to drive? A PT Cruiser or a "Titty" Cruiser?

Stop the Hate People! Just enjoy the pictures.

Okay people … no more angry emails (YOU know who YOU are!), no more threatening phone calls from my 5-year-old niece (MARCI/MORGAN), no more trying to turn my children against me (AMY), no more sob stories from all of you that live in France (KRISTEN) or Scotland (GRAMMY/PAPA) (okay, those sob stories are probably the most legit) ... I am updating the family blog. Loves Hugs and Kisses ... oh and Pictures - lots and lots of pictures.

OCTOBER:

Uppasna & Samir's engagement party in Reston, VA. Fabulous party, a great time with wonderful people.



The cutest boys EVER! Carson always wants to sit how dad is sitting.


Baking with Mom.



Playing with Dad's gloves.


Naptime with Mom.













Kamryn loves curls!


NOVEMBER:

Carson showing off his new tie. He LOVES to be like Daddy.

Going to Short Pump to see Santa with our bestest friends Samantha & Peyton.


Of course - watching DORA. What else is there?



THANKSGIVING:

***Check out Tracy’s blog – she has all the great Thanksgiving pictures.

Carson, Kamryn & Chloe enjoying some water time at Grandma's house.


Of course, another night of bowling - Kamryn & Carson's favorite thing to do at Grandma's house.















DECEMBER:

Chopping down our Christmas tree. After Ryan finished chopping it down, Kamryn informed him that she didn't want this tree because there weren't any lights on it.


Putting the lights on the tree.


Snowman pancakes.













Stockings were hung by the chimney with care. (THANK YOU GRAMMY! We LOVE them!)














Carson enjoying speech therapy with Amanda - his favorite therapist.


Refusing to smile and corporate with us for a decent Christmas picture.



Ward Christmas Party - As always, our ward did a fantastic job with the ward party. Carson was so excited to sit on Santa's lap. Kamryn thought the candy cane was great but Santa didn't rank so high with her. All Carson wanted from Santa was a "Sally" car from the movie CARS. Kamryn just wanted to be a princess.


Christmas Eve party/dinner at the Jones - a wonderful night!


















Christmas Morning - Santa ate his cookies!




***Confession Moment: So we don't actually have any pictures of Kamryn & Carson opening Christmas presents at our home ... they are all on our camcorder. We sort of forgot to take actual pictures with our camera! OPPS!

Opening presents at Grandma & Grandpa's house.

Cadberry Eggs - The REAL Egg Mother Nature Intended

I have a problem. I admit it. I am in LOVE with Cadbury Eggs. Only the original, large Cadbury Eggs will do. My mouth is watering as I type. Tell me, how in the world is a girl suppose to train for the Monument 10K with Cadberry Eggs currently for sale?! I had my first Cadbury of 2009 last night when Ryan bought 6 at the grocery store. I was so excited - it was Christmas all over again! Of course I immediately shoved one in my mouth on my way up to bed (it is very good on the teeth!) - had another 1 for breakfast (wholesome) - Ryan stole one for school (do you blame him?) - I ate another 1 for lunch (seriously, I can't help myself) ... leaving 2 for dinner and bedtime. As the eggs dwindle in numbers, they become more and more precious.

And my lovely twins wholeheartedly agree. This afternoon I came downstairs to find 2 of the happiest little chocolate faces you have ever seen (and nope, I wasn't looking in a mirror). I am not kidding that I actually choked back a tear when I realized they had found my last 2 precious eggs.



Quality Nutritional Facts:
Fat 7 g
Saturated 4.5 g
Cholesterol 5 mg
Sodium 15 mg
Carbohydrates 28 g
Sugars 24 g
Calories 180

Cadbury Dispute

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8gL83wBRIl8&feature=related

Lesser-Known Facts about Cadbury Eggs:

*Did you know they come is several varieties?
Mini Creme Eggs (bite-sized Creme Eggs)
Caramel Eggs (soft caramel filling)
Mini Caramel Eggs (bite-sized Caramel Eggs)
Chocolate Creme Eggs (chocolate fondant filling)
Orange Creme Eggs (Creme Eggs with a hint of orange flavor)
Mint Creme Eggs ( green "yolk" and mint flavor chocolate)
Dairy Milk with Creme Egg bars
Creme Egg Fondant in a Narrow Cardboard Tube (limited edition)
Creme Egg ice cream with a fondant sauce in milk chocolate
Dream Eggs (white chocolate with white chocolate fondant filling)
Cadbury McFlurry (British and Canadian McDonald's Only) McFlurry soft serve mix with Creme Egg & chocolate filling.
Creme Egg Twisted
Holiday Ornament Creme Egg

Homemade Cadbury Eggs
Ingredients:
1/2 cups light corn syrup
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teas. vanilla
1/4 teas. salt
3 cups powdered sugar
4 drops yelllow food coloring
2 drops red food coloring
1 − 12 oz. bag milk chocolate chips
2 Tbls. shortening

Directions:
Combine corn syrup, butter, vanilla and salt in large bowl. Beat well with electric mixer. Add sugar, one cup at a time, mixing by hand after each addition. Remove about 1/3 of the mix and place in small bowl. Add yellow & red coloring and stir. Cover both mixes and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

When mixes are firm, roll a small ball from the orange filling and wrap around it a portion of the white filling that is twice that size. Form into the shape of an egg and place onto a cookie sheet that has been brushed with shortening. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Refrigerate 3−4 hrs.

Combine chocolate chips with shortening in glass bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Then stir and microwave another minute. Use a fork to dip each center into the chocolate. Place candy onto wax paper to dry. After 1−2 hours of chilling, dip each candy one more time and chill.