EPIC MELTDOWN

Last Thursday my Trey-man started school. I have dreaded this day for the past 8 (+) months. When the other kids started (they started a week earlier) I had decided everything would be OK. He met his teacher at back-to-school night and felt better about everything. I was feeling better about it too! On Wednesday I was making lunch and Matt came in the door and asked me what was wrong. ( I was not aware anything was at that point). but when I turned to look at him the tears started rolling down my face. "T" has been my little buddy through so much. He was able to spend an extra year at home because of a late birthday and I truly rely on him way to much. He helps me keep track of all the cows and calves and is more responsible than most adults. I even had to tell the older kids "now that Trey is in school we all have to grow up!" (including myself). Matt and I took him out for our traditional "kindergarten dinner" on Wednesday night and when the waitress asked if it was a special occassion, I couldn't even tell her without bawling!! Thursday produced buckets of TEARS!! As soon as he got off the bus, Kase went running right to him and threw his arms around him. It was so precious!! Trey is liking school so far and even has an opinion about who should be in his class and who they should trade with the other class. So funny!

My school kids!

Matti and Kael are doing well and I believe enjoying not having so much "mom" around. It is fun to hear their stories and not so fun doing homework. Joys of school! I really love to watch them grow and learn throughout the year. So . . . here is to another school year!!

(Insert Kase and I having a Pepsi and a snickers here!!)

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

I realized this was the first Labor Day in my short life that I did not strenuously work

all - day - long. It was a great break!! We took a quick trip to San Diego to spend time with Matt's sister, her husband, and new baby! It also happened to be her birthday weekend so we kept it a secret and had a blast with the SUPRISE!!!

This is in the parking lot of their apartment. Grandpa is texting Mitch to tell him we were there. Mitch did a great job keeping it a secret for weeks and killing time while some of us were caught in traffic! Sonnie was very suprised to see us all :) It made for a pretty sweet trip!

Yay! We finally got to meet baby Cora. Ya, she was suprised to see so many strange faces when she woke up! It didn't take her very long to warm up though. She is a cutie:)

I really enjoyed the ocean this trip! It was so peaceful and relaxing! I really think I could become a beach bum . . . however, I am feeling like I am at the beached whale stage right now so I will hold off for a while still. The kids loved playing in the water. We could have stayed there for a few more days and they wouldn't have minded!

On Labor Day we went to the Padres vs. Giants game. This picture sums up the experience. Matt was so excited to take them and none of them shared his enthusiasm. Kase slept. Trey bounced off every chair - couldn't sit still. Kael couldn't see and didn't share that info with me until half way through the game. Matti just enjoyed playing with Cora! I, however, was entertained by the fans in front of us. Good Game! Giants won :)

We had to hurry and catch our flight after the game. Then of course it was delayed. I snapped this pic of the sunset after we took off.

We had a great time with family and made lots of memories!! Thanks Sonnie, Mitch, and Cora for being such gracious hosts!!! We love you!

Dash

The time between Trey's Birthday and Today will have to be a 'DASH' for now. Maybe throughout the year I can catch up on Chrismas, Matti's birthday, Make-A-Wish, and other vacations.

Mostly today I want to vent about 'TONSILS', yes, tonsils.

Random I know.

Today is day 10 of the Tonsilectomy Recovery Process.

To back up a little, since I had strep multiple times (3) in a short period of time (5months), a tonsilectomy was voted 'Proceedure of Choice' when it came to fixing the problem.

I agreed.

What could be worse than having strep for 10-days at a time with a husband out of town each time and leaning on a GREAT mother-in-law and sister to take care of you, your four kid, 5 horses, 80 cows, 12 calves, 2 dogs, ect. . . . every time!?!

Fastforward to the 24th of February.

Matt took me in to the Specialty Hospital to have my 'proceedure' done.

I felt 'tuff' and was ready for what had to happen.

They took me into, for lack of a better term, a stall.

The stall had a curtain that covered the front of it.

The male nurse asked me to dress into the appropriate gown and he would return.

*Note: Matt tied double knots on all strings holding me into said gown.

Upon his return, male nurse takes me down the corridor, through the crowd, to the SCALE.

No biggie . . . I am secure with my heaviness.

I step onto the pad . . . wondering in my mind where the digital readout is . . . I start to panic when it is not in the usual spot.

I look above me just in time to find it blinking my weight in bold 12"x 12" numbers above my head!

I turn around to see other patients and their loved ones STARING AT ME & THE SCALE!

I was ushered back to my stall and had another set of nurses come and ask about my addictions and any other abuse I was recieving.

Then out came the needles.

Of course the first one doesn't work, so they go ahead and use the vein that was visible the whole time.

At this point I was wishing I would have brought Kael instead of Matt for comfort.

I verbaly express this.

Matt tells me "it's okay, don't be a wimp".

I immediatly regret anything I ever said to Kael about it "being okay" or "you have to do this".

Kids having the same proceedure are screaming in the background.

I am seriously considering yelling in the same fashion.

The anesthesiologist comes in.

I pretend I hear what he is saying.

I get up and walk down the hall with him.

It takes him and a nurse to untie Matt's double knots.

I laugh.

I feel the meds in my hand and have an unbelievable urge to rip the whole IV out of my hand.

OUT!

As I start to wake up they roll me back to my stall, dump me into the chair, hand me 1/2 a popsicle and ice water.

Wait for 30 min. and I am cleared to go home.

I immediately feel like I am breathing better and WOW am I relaxed!

Day 1-4 goes well.

Diet consists of 4 tsp antibiotic 2 x day, 1-2 tsp pain meds every 4 hrs.

That is a serious diet for someone that LOVES food!

Matt and I are irritated with our new form of communication . . . a whisper.

Day 5 one kid starts in with a fever.

I am feeling more pain.

Kayson is a out of control on a good day - worse when you have no voice to get his attention.
Matt and I continue to be irritated with our new communication skills.

Having to whisper it once is bad enough - don't ask me to repeat what I just whispered!

Hungry.

Grandma Platt comes, not a moment to soon!

(Things were going well enough on day 4 I emailed her and told her not to worry about coming! Glad she didn't listen)

Days 6,7,8 pain continues to increase.

Three more kids down with fever.

Pain meds are keeping me up.

Sick kids are keeping me up.

Irritable.

Hungry.

Tired.

I like to be busy, therefore, I am going crazy.

The hardest thing I do all day is eat.

And yes, it is a project.

Day 9 Grandma leaves.

Turn over reign of the house to the kids that are feeling better.

Take a nap.

Day 10 talking better.

Pain is still intense.

Update blog hoping to have some contact with the outside world.

Continue taking temps and dispensing meds as-needed to kids.

Sent Matt all the way to Juniper-Take-Out for a dessert I am craving.

He is happy to do so.

Lucky ME!

*I am not responsible for any of this making sense while under said pain medication*

Halloween and TREY turns 5!

So . . . because I wasn't feeling well and Halloween does not rank in my top 25 favorite holiday's this is all you get from us! Thrown together costumes and the "tiny" one asleep on the couch with mom and not experiencing any of it! Thanks to Grandma Shauna for making sure the kids at least got to the Trunk-or-Treat.

Matt let me go home early with my sister for Grandma's Funeral. He brought the kids a few days later and I was able to enjoy some great time with my nieces and nephews - I was actually Aunt Lena for a few days! We took the kids up to Grandma G's for Trick-or-Treating and found the old "Winebego" complete with the toys we played with as kids! The memories are priceless! Here is Crystal, Merr, Rhonda, and I posing!

"T" always gets the shaft. Just saying. Having a birthday right after Halloween - lame. I knew I wouldn't have much time to put anything together for him because it was the day of the funeral and then we had to head home. I called and begged my friend to make Trey a cake for me. He is so into school buses and that was the only criteria . . . it had to have a number on it! It seriously makes me smile everytime I see it! It was such a huge hit with all of us and a great way to end the day! Thanks Ashley!!!

We couldn't eat it for days! It was just to cute to cut into!!

We added another animal to our crew! ya, because we needed it!

A blue-heeler we named Zeke.

Lost

The later part of October I caught strep . . . again! While I was trying to recover, the news came that Grandma Hunt had been put in the hospital. Unfortunately, she was unable to recover and passed away just a few short days later. What a blessing it was to have spent the weekend with her just a few weeks before. I truly feel the Lord played a huge part in our trip that weekend because I tried to cancel it many times. What a great trip for the kids to experience with Grandma-Great and for me to witness, again, what a great heritage I have been blessed with!

I LOVE YOU GRANDMA!

Matti & Grandma @ Grandma's Birthday Party, January 2010

Bill & Edith Hunt children

Matti & Brit
I spent many hours with Grandma and Grandpa on the Mountain, @ Jackson Wash, ABe's, the Ranch, the BenCh and many other remote area's of the Valley. Their example's have had a huge impact on my life and as I reflect back on my memories with them, I can't help but smile! Grandma and Grandpa didn't leave a lot of earthly possessions behind but their example of hard work, support, and unconditional love is worth more than anything they could have given!

So grateful for the MEMORIES!

Finishing Treatment!

October 22, 2010

Kael finished his last dose of CHEMO!!!

We had a Rootbeer Party in his honor! Family and friends from all over the country participated in our Party!! We are so proud of him and are so fortunate to have such a happy outcome:) Thanks so much to all of you who played such a large role in HIS fight!!!

WAHOO!!!