Miller Time

CHD Awareness

2012-01-29T21:00:00.000-08:00

My teenage years were full of sports and exercise. There was not a day that went by I didn’t have some sort of game or practice. My days consisted school, track, soccer, a jog, and finished up with some strength training. Never would you have guessed my heart was broken. I was older, married and about to have my second child, Cache. I was off to my usual 32 week check-up at my obstetrician office. That was the day our lives changed forever. It was that exciting moment when you get to hear that slushing heart beat and know that the big bump in your belly is this living being in your body. That slushing sound turned out to be my nightmare. My doctor explained to me that the baby’s heart rate was far too low and that my son had something wrong with him. This is something you never expect to hear when you are having a baby. Babies don’t come out sick? At least that was my naive way of thinking. My doctor told me to walk over to labor and delivery and he would meet me there as soon as he was finished with patients he had in his office. When I got to Labor and Delivery, they strapped me up to all these machines, and I had instant panic around me. Nurses were rushing around and almost screaming. All I could do was sit there and wonder what was going on. Next thing you know I was being prepped for an emergency C-section. That was until my doctor walked in the door and told them all to calm down. It was a sigh of relief. My doctor performed an ultra sound along with what felt like another 30 doctors. They all agreed with one thing, my baby was fine for now and needed to stay right where he was. He stated that there was something defiantly wrong with his heart, but until he was born they would not know what. After 36 weeks and lots of daily monitoring and doctor visits, I was induced and my beautiful little boy Cache came into the world fighting like a champ. The next few hours were about to change our lives forever. Cache was diagnosed with Long QT syndrome a few hours after birth and was immediately transferred to Sunrise Children’s Hospital. I was discharged and headed there to figure out just exactly what was to happen next. There we were greeted by the pediatric cardiologist who had done an ultrasound on Cache’s heart in utero. He began to explain the details of Long QT syndrome and how they treat it. He then told us they could not treat Cache because his heart rate was already dangerously low. To fix this, our son was to have open heart surgery and have a pacemaker placed. A pacemaker, isn’t that for old people? We were numb and just in a really bad dream. Three days after our perfect son’s birth he was placed with a pacemaker in his little tiny tummy. I remember that day clearly and as I held him waiting for the surgeons, Landslide by Fleetwood Mac was playing on the radio. It was a Saturday morning and we meet the surgical team. They answered all are questions and we walked my infant son down a long hall. We gave him a kiss and we said good-by. The hospital waiting room was a ghost town. We waited, and waited, and waited, and then did a little more waiting. I clearly remember seeing the whole surgical team walk into the deserted waiting room. My heart sank and I think my knees nearly hit the floor. Why were all of them coming in? Why did they all need to talk to us? As we approached them the head surgeon said “Everything went great.” The best words we had heard our whole lives. I am not the “reach out and give a hug to a stranger” kind of girl but I did just that.The next few weeks, after Cache’s pacemaker placement, had its up and downs. His heart rejected the pacemaker and fluid began to build around his heart. They eventually had to go in and put a drain in to his heart to relieve the fluid. We had trouble with feeding and jaundice. It was three weeks to the day that my son was able to come home and have his two older brothers hold him for the first time. Life with Cache has proven to be a challenging one. Cache never passed a newborn hearing screen and while most parents would be freaking out about this, we had much bigger fish to fry. We were told at the time of his birth that Cache could have a very rare form of Lonq QT Syndrome called Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome. This rare form of Long QT Syndrome causes sever to profound hearing loss. At about the age of three, this was confirmed through genetic testing but Cache also carries another genetic strain as well, Long QT Syndrome type 1. No one, as of then, had ever carried these two genes on the national registry. He had a double dose. It was also confirmed that I too had Long QT Syndrome type 1 and so did my other two biological children. Through the years Cache has had many obstacles he overcame. At the age of 2 ½ he had a deadly arrhythmia and was lucky to be alive. After that arrhythmia, it was then decided Cache needed his pacemaker replaced with an Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD) and have a left cardiac sympathetic denervation. It was a little over a year after the ICD placement in his stomach that it became infected. The ICD was removed and he was placed in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for a week until it was decided that he was big enough to have an ICD implanted in his chest. A few weeks later he had to go back in and have pieces removed that had been left in him on accident. Cache is a thriving child and plays like any other child. We have been very blessed and we all consider him our life saver. He not only saved his Mom, brother, and sister, but his Uncle and three cousins. I am the luckiest Mom in the world to be Cache’s Mom. He has given me far more then I could ever give him. Cache inspires people with his amazing smile, big blue eyes, and love of life. Cache has taught us and everyone surrounded by him that life is far too short and life is more than just the daily grind. It is about living life to the fullest and making sure those who you love, know you love them. It is about today, and living in today, not about what can happen in the future. We have today and that is all we need to get to tomorrow.http://pinterest.com/ruth_h/the-faces-of-chd-congenital-heart-awareness-week-f/

I debated on posting this...

2011-12-29T14:01:00.000-08:00

I obviously choose to do it. I wrote this paper for my English class. I remember him sitting there on his recliner chair late at night watching television with the volume as loud as it possible could go. Maybe it was to drown out the sound of us four children. The constant call for my mother to get him a drink or to get him some food would make us all turn our heads. He was a quiet man, but when he spoke, we all listened. There was no question of when he was mad; you ran the other way as fast as you could. He never did engage much in my childhood. I remember thinking how odd it was that he was going to school to become a teacher when he hardly ever focused on my studies. It seemed the television held a much greater interest to him. Maybe he was just tired after all; he was going to school, holding a full time job sometimes two, to keep our family running. Maybe his lack of engagement into my life was just that, he was trying to make sure I had what I needed to stay engaged. The perception I had of my father, as I grew up changed, but after his passing in May 2010, I knew my father more than I ever had. After my father received his degree in education, he seemed to be gone more than ever before. I often wondered why he sat at school all night. Could a teacher possibly have that much work to do? I thought it seemed strange, and at times, wondered if it was just an excuse to not come home to his family. There was no doubt in my mind that my father cared and loved us; I just often wondered if he knew how to show it. I had now grown older and my high school was far behind me. My father, who seemed to be at his work far more than his home, let me drop out of high school. I never understood how a man, who said he cared so much about education, let his own daughter drop out of school. My reasoning for dropping out of high school far exceeded just the lazy teen who did not want to go to school. I was not into drugs, I did not drink, and I was not pregnant. I had issues far beyond that and my issues were emotional having lost a close friend pass away tragically. Maybe I misjudged my father, maybe, just maybe he knew exactly what he was doing. Maybe he knew me better then I knew myself back then. Maybe he knew it would work out if he let me get out of the one struggle I had in my life. As I grew older, got married, and had a family of my own, my father remained teaching at the same school. Not much changed either; he still stayed at the school all hours of the night. My mom still got his dinner when he got home, and he still watched television on his recliner as loud as it could be. He never change really with one exception, he was an amazing grandfather. I think my father went to more of my children’s school functions then mine. I think he interacted more with them then he ever did as I was a child and you could see the love in his eyes. It was my Dad’s long eight month battle with esophageal cancer when I learned more about him then I ever knew. As I watched my, now frail Dad sit in his bed, whether he was at the hospital or at home, he was surrounded by little notes given to him by his students and co-workers. It was his fight to get back to school and be with his students that made him gain strength. It was his track team that got him through the last few months and getting to see the trophy his debate team won just a day prior to his passing.With each day, week, and month that passed he had one remaining goal in mind, to see his students, to be with his class, and to be doing what he loved most, teaching. I remember getting mad at my father for wanting to work while he was so frail and sick. I told him he needed to stop, gain his strength and get better, and that his students were just fine without him. He disagreed with me and went back to school every chance he got.It was my father’s last day here on earth when I started to understand the big picture. It was when all his colleagues old and new came pouring in to say good-by to my Dad. It was the school janitors that came to say how much they loved him, and how he helped them by just his kindness. It was when two old students came to see him, and one of them became a teacher and was substituting for my father while he was ill. It was their stories of my Dad, who was this guy I never knew.It was all the kids who gave me hugs, told me stories of my father, and cried when they heard he was gone forever. It was the Mother and daughter who came to his school because she knew I was going to be there; to tell me thanks for having such a great father. That he had helped her daughter through some of the hardest times of her life. It was the story that my Dad would help all the kids that needed help, the kids that struggled, and the kids which no other teacher could reach. It was the story that my Dad secretly bought a boy shoes because his parents could not afford them due to his Dad losing his job. It is the bench that now sits outside the school building where my Dad taught in his memory.Standing on that church pew talking about my Dad at his funeral, I instantly became proud to be his daughter. Looking out and seeing all the young faces of the kids my Dad had touched moved me. My father knew all along he had instilled more in me then I ever knew. He knew I would be fine and make things happen for me. He knew I did not need him at all my school functions or sports events. He knew others needed him more than we did. He knew he needed to help kids that didn’t have a Dad like mine.

If you would have told me...

2011-12-29T00:33:00.000-08:00

If you would have told me that last year would be the last Christmas with my Dad, I would not have changed a thing. It was a good Christmas.

This I Believe...

2011-09-28T23:08:00.000-07:00

I believe motherhood is the hardest job a human being can have. Motherhood is not giving birth; it is when having a child turns your world upside down. Life, as you have come to know it, no longer exists, and your perspective on the world is changed forever. It starts when nothing matters more then this small, innocent, child you have graciously and courageously brought into this chaotic world. Motherhood begins when you have untiring sacrifice, untold influence, unfailing faith, and undying love. Motherhood is the greatest sacrifice. You no longer worry about yourself, the things you want or can't do. These take a back seat because your child’s needs always come first. That trip you wanted to take, the outfit you always wanted, or the sports car you can no longer fit a car-seat in, has now become nothing more then a washed away silly dream. Your time, money, and desires are now filled with changing diapers, carpooling, appointments, practice, homework, cooking, and other motherly duties. Most of all, making sure they have food on the table, a roof over their head, and are as healthy as a child can be. The desires you have now are to see them grow, succeed in life, and be happy. Your actions now, being mother, are more important and have more impact. Your actions shape future generations and have a larger impact on the world. How you are as a mother, a neighbor, a friend, a wife, is placed under a microscope and watched very carefully. Your child idolizes who you are and will want to become just like you. You are a super hero and do great and wonderful things such as make ouch-ies go away, bedtime tuck-ins, throw great birthday parties, rides to the mall, pay for their college, and baby-sit their children. You wear an "S" on your chest, even when at times; you feel it is not there. Your actions have a lasting effect on them that one day, they too, may wear an "S" on their chest, because great mothers, raise great mothers. No matter how bad the world is, no matter how bad your child makes mistakes; you always have faith in them. You know they will stumble, you know they will make mistakes, but they know you will always be there for them. You will pick them up when they stumble, brush them off, and tell them to do it again, because you have faith. When they make mistakes, you will tell them they were wrong, you will help them fix it, and you will make sure they know you still love them, because you have faith. You have more faith in your child then you do in all of humanity. The strongest love, the undying kind, is that of my children. There is no one on Earth I will ever love more, would ever do more for, or would ever give up so much for. I am now more vulnerable, more scared, when I send my children out into the world. I have never had a stronger heartache as when they hurt, because seeing them in pain, is far more painful then anything I have ever felt. I never feel as connected, so together as one, as I do with my children. A mother’s love, long after they are gone, will linger in their heart far deeper then anyone. A mother’s love will live on in them, and in their children, and in theirs. It is a life cycle of undying love that will never end with me, this I believe.

My Dad's Eulogy

2011-09-25T22:31:00.001-07:00

It was a monumental year in history for our Country; February 27, 1945. Robert Banks Lindsay was born to Ezra Reed and Marva Banks Lindsay in Salt lake City, Utah. Next to all the illustrious events of that year the birth of one small child, it would seem, would be very insignificant. His world would consist of education, travel, education, family, and education. One can see a reoccurring pattern here. To prove a point, his first TV program was “The State of the Union Address” given by Harry S. Truman. As the years continued he found he could take on anything his mom insisted he learn: Dance classes Playing the clarinet Foreign language Studies Scouts (getting his eagle at 11) Football (not mom’s choice) ROTC (not her choice either) Finally, after years of making sure he accomplished what was asked of him, he graduated from East High School. Now, the hard choices were to be made…where to go from here. His first option was taking the appointment he received to West Point or serving an LDS mission. Ok I need to back track that would come after studies at Kings College in England, the University of Innsbruck in Austria, and University of Mexico in Mexico City. There was really no choice to be made, a LDS mission was his next adventure of his life. Robert received his call and away he went to serve the Lord in Southern Germany. He had the pleasure of being the cook and chauffeur for President Ezra Taft Benson whenever he came to Germany. When it was time to return home, yet another event changed his life and he would be asked to stay and help open the Italian Mission. After 3 years of serving, he returned home with well deserved pride. Again, decisions were going to have to be made; where to attend college?! Now, if you know Robert at all I could stop the story here. Obviously, He chose The University of Utah. GO UTES! Robert began his college experience studying Business Administration while also playing football and marching in the school’s band. However, he was about to be detoured by another set of events. He met a young woman, Mary Wegloski. After finishing their first date, Robert knew he was going to spend the rest of his life with her, telling his mother he knew she was “the one”. Little did Mary know, she was hooked for life. They were married August 18, 1969 and later solemnized their marriage in the Salt Lake City Temple. From there, it was a routine of school and work. That is, until Mary made the unexpected announcement they were going to be having their first child, Adam Banks Lindsay. Although unplanned, they knew they could make it work. Robert was then left with more choices, following hard decisions. He decided to leave school and become self-employed. He started up his own business being a contractor and realtor. This career path continued through three more children, Callin Reed, Amanda Marie, and Melissa Michelle. Within a short time, the couple of two was transformed into a family of six. These four children then, unknowingly, prompted his next career choice. As his children grew older, he began coaching them in all their desired activities, football, basketball, and baseball. From there, he spent countless hours coaching, not only his children, but hundreds of others. He also stood by Mary’s side as she pursued her dream of running her own dance studio. Hand in hand, they traveled throughout the Pacific Coast with her company. Backtracking a little, Robert’s mother was a school teacher. She wanted nothing more than for Robert to follow in her footsteps and begin teaching himself. Robert was not so enthused by the idea. However, after being given an opportunity to teach his son at the private school, he decided to retire from building, and give it a try. With teaching, he continued to coach where he took the baseball team to state, taking second. After a few years of both, he had found his passion. He then made another life-changing decision, and went back to school where he received his degree in Secondary Education. With that, he started his public teaching career at Wasatch Jr. High, where he spent the next 20 years of his life teaching and coaching. There, he taught Math and U.S. History while also starting the school’s first wrestling team, coached track, cross country, basketball, and even the academic team. His awards and acknowledgements are far too numerous to list. Robert not only lived to coach, he also had a passion for educating the young adults around him, instilling knowledge, core values, and love for learning. His success is well succeeded. Robert, or Mr. L as he was fondly known, was loved and respected by both colleagues and students. Aside from his professional life, Robert’s personal life persisted of raising his four children. Like his students, he raised his children to become productive, honest, adults. One of his most recent joys in life was spending time and being involved with his 13 grandchildren who looked up to and loved him unconditionally. This August, Mary and Robert would have celebrated their 42nd Anniversary where, without a doubt, there would have been many more to follow. Robert lived a life of integrity, honesty, incredible work ethic, unconditional love, and humility. He will be missed by everyone he knew, for he touched every heart in which he met. He will be mostly missed by his wife, children, and grandchildren. Robert, you are a special person who leaves behind an amazing legacy, and who, as one small child, had no idea the impact you would have on so many lives. You will be in our thoughts and hearts, forever and always.

Making It Count

2011-03-15T22:42:00.000-07:00

What would you do if you knew you only had a short time to live? I guess you could call it a "Bucket List". I have tried to think about this, since I may just have a short amount of time left with my dad. I have decided it didn't matter what we do, just make it count. I wish he had the strength to go do some crazy stuff, but for now we will do the simple things, like learn ASL together or go to a movie. I would love some great ideas to be able to spend time with him. What would you do with your dad? It's been a hard week for me, harder then I thought it would. I honestly don't feel sorry for me, I mostly feel sorry for him. The pain he must feel everyday and the thoughts that must be going through his head. I feel sorry for my kids who will probably have a hard time remembering him. They love my parents to death and to think that they won't remember that kills me. I feel sorry my dad will never get the chance to see my kids grow up, what kind of kids they turn out to be, and how Eric and I raised them. So he could be proud of his daughter that raised so many great children. I feel sorry for my mom, who has to see his pain everyday and try to stay positive though it is probably killing her inside. I am sad that he never got the chance to walk me down the isle with my soul mate. I am sad I wanted to wait until our 10 years to re due our voes so he could. I hate seeing my family in pain and sadness. I feel like I should be strong for them, because that is who I am. I want to take the wheels and steer the train on the less painful path for all of them. I can't change these things I want to, but I will do all my power to make sure I get a few things right. I will make sure we stay a family and will never let that slip. I will make sure that even if he can't be here, he will still be proud of me and his grandchildren, because I will be a better parent then he was, because that is what he wanted me to be, as my children will do the same. I will be a better sister and make sure my family knows I love them. I will make sure my mother never gets lonely and knows she always has us. I will make sure to make every moment count! I will squeeze my kids a little tighter, hold my husband a little closer, and make sure the people I love know I love them. I will make sure my family spends as much time as we can with my dad, just Making It Count.

My Heart Hurts...

2011-03-09T20:18:00.000-08:00

My dad's cancer is now un-opritable. They will try one more round of chemo to slow or kill it but it has now travled to his lymphnods. They are saying 6 months if the chemo does not work and 12 if it does. It just hurts so bad. I don't have that much more to say, other then it hurts...

Still Nothing

2010-12-06T17:52:00.000-08:00

We are home now which is wonderful. Except the fact, I have a million in one things to do and no time to do them in!

I still have no answers as to why Cache was so sick. When we left the hospital Sunday they had no answers for us. They thought he had e-coli, but all the test today came back clear. When we followed up with my pediatrician today she told me that she did not feel that a few days of diarrhea and 1 day of throwing up would make him that sick and that dehydrated. I would really have to agree. Cache got really sick really fast, I mean in the matter of hours. He was just eating and drinking the day prior. It seemed to have her stumped, but still wants us to follow-up with a GI doctor, which I wanted to do anyway. Cache has always had a sensitive tummy and it would just put my mind at ease to have him checked for the bloody stools. Cache was still really anemic when we left the hospital so they want him on a iron supplement. Today his leaves were up and the doctor feels that they will get back to normal, but we need to follow up in a few weeks to make sure.

When I left the doctors office I started to have low blood sugar. Something we all have and I never think twice about it. I just eat and I am better. That is when I remembered that when we first moved back to Utah, I was diagnosed with borderline Addisons disease. I never thought much about it, until now. An Addisons crisis can cause some major changes to the body, much like Cache had, and make you very sick very fast. So I called the doctor back on our way home. She feels that may very well be a possibility. Tomorrow morning we our going to have more blood work and see if my random thoughts could be right. As much as I hope not, I sure want some answers. I want to know why my little guy got so sick, so fast. It scares me, I was very lucky we made it to the hospital when we did.

Cache Update

2010-12-03T22:20:00.001-08:00

Late on Wednesday Cache came home from school with a fever, which soon lead to diarrhea. Yesterday he still had a fever and diarrhea, but he was still eating and drinking fine. Late last night he started to have bloody diarrhea. When we woke up this morning he started to vomit and still had bloody diarrhea. I started to get concerned so we went to the Riverton ER. On our way I could tell he was progressively getting worse and that his sugars were getting low.

When we arrived, I told the triage nurse he has seizures from low blood sugar and she said after the vitals we will get it checked. We get into a room and his doctor and 2 nurses came in. Again I told them he has hypoglycemic seizures and I am worried about him. They say ok and attempt to start an IV. At this point I am thinking it is to hang dextrose on him. Well they cant get a line but get enough to draw blood. They then proceed to try to find a line. I ask again,

"Can he have a soda?"

"No, the doctor wants to wait to see what we find out."

"The blood you drew, did you get a glucose on it?"

"Yeah but we won't get it back for a little bit."

"OK, I know getting a line is important, but, see how he is getting sweaty and cold? See how he is not fighting you now and he is falling asleep? He is about to seize on you and I promise it is not pretty. And seeing as you can't get a line right now and you are going to have to use a bone marrow line if you don't hurry!"

"He drops that fast? OK I will go get it"

So guess what his sugar was???? 36! No, he did not seize, thanks to me, but he got a soda in him barley! Yes people, I know what I am talking about! I am not some dumb mom, I am pretty "seasoned" to say the least. What was his sugar when they drew the first time...46. So it dropped 10 points in less then 30 minutes.

So what wrong with him? They don't know why he has bloody diarrhea yet with his fever. They are working on that. They do know that he is severely dehydrated and his electrolytes are all messed up. His sugars are up and down but not dropping really low. So they admitted to Primary Childrens for awhile. Or at least until they can get him back to normal. We must be past due for our visit here. He seems to be doing better, but he blood work is still not normal. He is however bossing myself and his nurse around very well. He is defiantly keeping her on her toes! Let's hope for home tomorrow, but expect the worse. The only way I know how to get threw it!

MOBT

2010-11-16T19:48:00.000-08:00

November 16, 2010

Steady income, a roof over our heads, and food on our table... Sounds like common sense, right? Well today was a little special for me. I was on my daily grind of running around town trying to get things done. I was tired and just wanted to be home getting house work done. That is when I saw something that I have seem many times. This one, some how, pulled at my heart strings. I was getting off the freeway, and the light had just turned green so traffic was moving. I was in the far lane when I saw him. There stood a man holding a sign that read, "Out of work, desperate, I have kids." Although his sign would make any mother sad, it wasn't the sign that got to me. It was the way he was standing there, the way his head was hung, and the shame on his face. He didn't want to be there holding that sign. It brought tears to my eyes as I drove away. There was something in me that wanted to turn around and give this guy some money and tell him things would get better. I never give money to people on the side of the road and I am not sure why this man touched me so much. I didn't have cash, so I decided I was going to go to the store and get some. By the time I got back on the freeway and off the exit again, he was gone. I felt horrible that I never got the chance to help. Yes, maybe he would have just bought his next fix, a pack of cigarettes, or a bottle of vodka, but I was willing to give him that chance. Because it may have meant that he made his rent, or bought some milk, diapers, or a loaf of bread. So today I am grateful to the man holding the sign who reminded how fortunate I am, and that I do not have to see my kids go without.

MOBT

2010-11-15T20:53:00.000-08:00

November 15, 2010

My 7 minutes of quite in the tanning bed and Eric's car FINALLY passed inspection...It may have only been 7 minutes, but it was the best 7 minuets today! It has been one of those days. Also in addition to my 7 minutes, Eric's new, but used, car finally passed inspection. We have learned lots of things about this car, but I think we finally got everything fixed and running awesome. It really is a sweet car, but it is expensive.

MOBT

2010-11-14T21:17:00.000-08:00

November 14, 2010

Are you sick of reading these yet?

Lazy days... I did nothing all day. Took a shower late and got nothing accomplished. I have a love hate relationship with these days. I love to do nothing but hate the feeling of getting nothing done. I figure there is always tomorrow!

MOBT

2010-11-14T08:55:00.000-08:00

A little catch up...

November 12, 2010

A strong marriage... I am so very grateful I found my soul mate. Eric and I make a wonderful team. Sure we have our ups and downs, but overall we make things work and have fun doing it. My kids will always grow up with both parents in the home and always know we are on the same team. I never want my children to have to experience that. I can't imagine a day without them, and it would be so hard on me not see their smiling faces everyday. This is such a rare thing these days, but I am pretty confidante that Eric and I are life long partners. We are not quitters and we have made it through some already tuff times and I can't see anything breaking us now. I am not saying it will always be easy for us, but I know both of us are willing to try. Love ya Babe!

November 13, 2010

Spending time with the parents... Even if it is just watching my Utes loose, it is still a great time. My kids absolutely love my parents and they enjoy every time they come around. This is irreplaceable time.

MOBT

2010-11-11T20:07:00.000-08:00

November 11, 2010

Veterans...Of course, it is Veteran's Day! It goes along with my freedom post, I am grateful for those who served and are serving. They have given so selfishly to protect the freedoms we have everyday. I am grateful for their family's who have also give selfishly. Mommy's and Daddy's raising their children alone while their loved one is away at war. That is a true hero. Those family's are amazing to me. I could never be that strong. I have a dear life long friend that is an Officer in the Army. If you would have asked me 10+ years ago, that she would be in the Army, an Officer, and one of top ranking women, I would have laughed at you. She has made me so proud to call her my friend. She will probably never read this because she is way too busy to read my blog! But I want you all to know that she has overcome many things in her life and is now doing something far more then I would have expected. Giving her life for others, protecting our freedoms, and being one of my role models. If you do read this, dear friend, I love you and very proud of you! xoxo

MOBT

2010-11-10T21:20:00.000-08:00

November 10, 2010

My baby girl...My life can now be full of sassy girl things. I love my boys and they are, at times, much easier then my little Princess. I always wanted a little girl and was so sad when I found out we were having another boy. Eric kept on telling me Miller's did not have girls, because that is what his father told him. Much to my surprise God knew what he was doing! I needed my boys, I needed to have Cache first. He needed to save all our lives, and then he would give me the little girl I always wanted. It is amazing how God works that way. So now my day can be full of getting my hair done, dressing Barbies, holding babies, and dance class. I love it! She is so dramatic at times I want to scream and laugh at the same time. Girls and boys are so different, but they each have their special qualities. I am grateful to get the chance to raise both!

MOBT

2010-11-09T20:08:00.000-08:00

November 9, 2010
Yes, I got lazy and decided to abbreviate!

Life... It is so short! It seems like I have been told this my whole life. Not just now, not just as an adult, but since I was a child, teen, and now. Maybe God was preparing me for my future. I hope he now knows, that I do not need anymore reminders. I truly love life. I love the people in my life. I have so many things that I am grateful for in my life. I am surrounded by a wonderful husband and amazing kids that all make me a better person. I have wonderful parents, in-laws, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Every single one have you has contributed to the person I am today. You have made my life complete and brought joy and memories that I will cherish forever. I wish I had a chance to tell each of you how much you mean to me and the qualities I truly love about each of you. That would be an awful long post, so please, you know who you are! I am sure I don't say it nearly enough, but thank you and I love you! Thank you God for giving me life and the wonderful people in it!

A Month of Being Thankful

2010-11-08T19:45:00.000-08:00

November 8, 2010

Medicine...It has been a long day for our family today. Today my father started his chemo today. I haven't yet blogged about my father and his cancer yet. A little over a month ago my father was diagnosed with stage 3 esophageal cancer. I really did not know how to even start. I have really tried to stay positive so I figured blogging about would show some un-positive emotions. I didn't want that and still don't. So I will try to remain positive and keep talking about all the things I am grateful for. While he was receiving the medication to save his life, he had a heart attack. The most positive thing was that he was in a hospital. They were able to control it, and prevent anything fatal from happening. Unfortunately this has put a hold on his chemo. His heart will now take precedence over the cancer. I hope it turns up nothing and he can go back to receiving his chemo. We have long road ahead of us and I am not sure what that road looks like.

A Month of Being Thankful

2010-11-07T20:03:00.001-08:00

November 7,2010

Firefighters... I have called them a few times in my life, but always for medical reasons. Today we got to call them because we smelled something burning and could not find what it was. Neither did they. So we will wait out the night and see if it goes away. Glad they came, but I wish they had some answers. I don't think I will be sleeping much tonight.

A Month to be Thankful for

2010-11-06T21:58:00.000-07:00

November 6, 2010

Hubby and Family Time... I got to spend the morning with the Hubby and I. Time we don't get very often. Then later tonight we took the kids to a movie in their PJ's. It was a good day, besides the U of U getting their butts handed to them.

A Month of Being Thankful

2010-11-05T06:52:00.000-07:00

November 5, 2010
My Hubby... For many reasons, but today he is going to watch the kids while I go out for some girl time with my sister-in-law. Dinner and the spa!!! :) Thanks Babe, I love you bunches!

A Month for Being Thankful

2010-11-04T07:15:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine had started this, and I thought it was a wonderful idea. For the month of November, I will post everyday, what I am most grateful for and why. This will be a wonderful way to blog and enjoy the true spirit of November. So to make up for the days I missed...

November 1st, 2010
Facebook... Yes laugh it up! But we have had some pretty great things come from Facebook. I get to communicate with our extended family more, which I never had the opportunity to do. I get to know what is gong on in their lives, where as before, it would be play catch up when we got the chance. It has also given my family the opertunity to get to know some family members of Eric's that he had lost contact with. Sunday, we got to spend time with them and enjoy the company of some really great people that I am a glad to have in my life now.

November 2nd, 2010
Freedom... Today we all had the choice to vote. I took advantage of my freedoms and performed my civic duties. I wish more people would take advantage of their freedoms and voice who they would like to run our government. Never forget the men and women who had and are fighting so tirelessly for our freedoms we all enjoy.

November 3rd, 2010
My nap... It's the little things that count, right? I should probably come up with something better, but it was great. I never take naps, but I really needed one yesterday.

November 4th, 2010
Heath Care Technology... Today I watched a video of a man who suffered a cardiac arrest on a soccer field. He was saved by the EMT's and it was very heart wrenching for me. I have been told that I may never see Mason and Dylann have a cardiac arrest as long as they stayed controlled on medication. They could not, however, give me a guarantee for Cache. The comfort of him having his ICD for me is amazing. I know that if it does happen, and I can not be there, his little mechanical heart will kick in and save his life.

I promise...

2010-10-28T18:49:00.001-07:00

To never blog in the morning, put in my contacts, and reread my posts....Dang the last one was horrible. I hate when I post stuff that is sooooo boring to read.

Reminder Of So Many Things...

2010-10-18T07:39:00.000-07:00

A few lessons learned this weekend....

Family is so important and is the MOST important thing to me
Life is short
Life is fragile
Be grateful for all things
And the biggest lesson learned...
Wear your seat belts.

Overall, it really was a great weekend. We have so many thing to be grateful for this weekend. Not that I needed any more reminders of how fragile and short life is.

This Friday we went up to my sister-in-law, Starla's, cabin with their family. We ate some yummy food and just hung out and talked. Eric's brother, Doug and his wife Lori, also joined us for a little while. Later, Eric and I had fun playing Peanut with York and Sebastian, and for some odd reason we lost?

The next morning Eric, myself, and the little kids took a drive. We saw a mamma moose and her baby. It was such a great way to start a morning. When we returned to the cabin, everyone ate breakfast and we headed up the canyon on the 4-wheelers. We were going to play with the air soft guns and shoot the shot gun. I have to say I love the air soft guns and I think we will be getting some.
My kids enjoyed shooting them and hitting the cups over. I think the best part was when Starla told Eric to run so she could shoot him and try out the new automatic air gun. The funny part was that he did actually run.
He now has 3 welts on his back. We did have one more accident when Cache put his hand in front of the air soft gun and Eric did not know and took a shot.He has a little hole in his hand it is a little bruised. Uncle/Dr. Scott fixed him up good and was perfectly fine once the bandage was on. We soon brought out the big shotgun. This was my first time shooting a gun. I am not a huge fan of guns, but I have to admit, it was fun. Mason also had a chance to shoot his first gun as well. The boys all did great and hit their pigeons and cups. I did not do so well, but that is ok, maybe next time. When we got back the little ones all took turns riding the horses.

That is when the chaos began...

The 3 teenage boys, York, Brandon, and Sebastian, went down the road to get some gas for the 4-wheelers. This is where the reminder that life is fragile and short. As we were all sitting outside watching the kids ride the horses, Starla received a call from Sebastian. He had said that they had gotten into a wreck and they needed us to come over. The cell phone had bad reception and it kept cutting out. I told Strala I would go with her. We defiantly had a different image of what we thought we would see and what we did see. We thoughtit was going to be a little fender bender. When we pulled up we saw something much worse. Something, at the time, I could not even process. I saw a truck flipped over, but I just could not get a handle on the fact it was their truck. We had almost ran into the down electrical wire. There where so many fire trucks, cops, and ambulances that my mind was trying really hard to process what had happened. I saw Sebastian, York, and their 2 dogs, Bear and Romeo, but we didn't see Brandon. He was in the ambulance getting checked out. He was fine; they all were. From there, things just seemed to happen fast. Everyone who saw said they where all lucky to be alive. They were alive for one reason and one reason alone, SEAT BELTS. Before they had left the driveway, Brandon told the other 2 boys one thing, "Put on your seat belts or my mom will kill me!" I bet he never knew those words would save his life, his brother's life, and his cousin's life. It takes a lot for a teenager to listen to their mom and also tell their peers to do it. I can't tell you how grateful and proud I am of him. He may have been driving that day, but he saved 3 lives by doing one simple thing. Listening to his mom! We really do know what we are talking about. The accident was not his fault. It was on a road, where in my opinion, the speed limit is too high. He was going under the speed limit from what the by standards had said. There was a curve where the road forks and in the middle of the fork, is gravel. Some of the gravel had made its way onto the road. When he hit the gravel he fish tailed. He over corrected and hit the electrical pole which sent them flipping. It was just an accident. He was not doing anything wrong, his eyes were on the road, and he was paying attention. Brandon had said that once he hit the pole they all kind of blacked out and thought they where dead. The other 2 boys said that, in the truck, Brandon took control when they came to and acted like an adult. Asked if they were ok, and told them they needed to get out because the car was full of smoke. Brandon kicked out the first window got out, helped his brother out, and then York had to kick out his window to get out. They all walked away alive. It was a miracle and I truly believe this was from Brandon telling the boys to wear seat belts and God. There is no other reason for it. I am forever grateful to have them all alive. We are very blessed.

I have not known Brandon and Sebastian long, but I have had an instant love for them. They are my nephews and I would have been devastated to had anything happened to any of them. I am so grateful to have them and their family in our lives. All 3 of them will forever share a bond that will never be forgotten. I will always be grateful for Brandon and his courage to listen to his mother. They are such a wonderful family and I am so happy that we have had a chance to get to know them and I look forward to the wonderful more memories we will create together.

Long QT Syndrome

2010-09-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

Well, after many fights, with many insurance companies, we finally got our genetic testing completed. First, Eric came out negative. We were a little surprised, because this means Cache's second gene was spontaneously mutated upon conception. What are the chances? VERY slim! I obviously came back positive for Long QT1 as well as Mason and Dylann. So we all take our Nadolol together. I have to say that is the crappiest medication. It makes you completely exhausted! Mason has gained 10 pounds in 8 months from taking it. The poor kids now has to go on a diet. I guess we should all be thankful we are alive. It seems to be just the norm to our crazy life!

York's Foto Fly Pics

2010-09-01T08:31:00.000-07:00

Mason's Foto Fly Pics

2010-09-01T08:22:00.001-07:00

Cache's Foto Fly Pics

2010-09-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

Dylann's Foto Fly Pics

2010-09-01T07:40:00.001-07:00

Dear Cache,

2010-08-31T21:34:00.000-07:00

My new adventure just for my monster. I will update this one soon!

www.dearcache.blogspot.com

A few things on my mind....

2010-07-27T22:01:00.000-07:00

I don't want summer to end. This has been one of the greatest summers with the kids. Maybe it is because they are getting older, but I love it. I just want another month or two. Is that too much to ask?

Cache will be starting kindergarten this year. He will be going to his new school, JMS, which is an all sign school. It will also be all day long. So many things I am worried about there. I can't even count them right now, it needs to be a whole other post. Just thinking about it can bring me to tears. I am going to miss him and I know his sister is going to miss him more.

Karma, I am a full believer. What goes around comes around, so try to be good to others and be a good person. It will come back to you! Of course, you will always have your trials but it is the little things that get you through them.

Our little family, I love it and I think we are pretty cool. We have our flaws but I think we are darn near close to as good as it gets!

Missing the extended family. I wish we could be there more but it is just not possible. I would love to have G-ma Patty and G-pa John see the kids more and in the daily grind of things. Play cards with Aunt Robin and Uncle John. See Rylee rock the V-ball court and Jake graduate from the fire department school. Have Aunt Sue be late, loud, and lots of crazy fun, while Uncle Frank just shakes his head. Uncle Steve and Aunt Kathy roll in on their awesome Harley's. Only 2.5 more weeks till we see them all again! I can't wait to sit on the beach and spend the little time we have with all of them. It is always a great time.

Wishing I could be a part of others lives more. I guess you can't make people want to hang out with you and get to know you as well.

I love where I live and we really lucked out. I could not have pick a better place. I love ALL my neighbors and I have made some really great friends.

I have a pretty great life. I think of all the things that could make it better but they are so little. I feel pretty blessed to have my amazing husband and four wonderful pain in the butt kids!

Family Pics by Fotofly

2010-07-26T23:35:00.000-07:00

Fotofly is an awesome new photography studio in Draper. They take some great pictures and do it and a very affordable price. I will post all the pics of the kids on another post soon. I would highly recommend them for pictures if you are in the market.

Dylann's Dance Recital

2010-07-26T23:02:00.000-07:00

Dylann's first dance recital was probably more fun for me then her. Of course she did fabulous! She performed a hip-hop dance to a song called Big Bad Wolf. She was so excited to go up and dance she kept asking if it was her turn. I thought for sure she would freeze when she saw all the people because the place was packed. It was a Cottonwood High School and the whole bottom was full of people. She didn't freeze in fact she went right up and shaked her booty! It was so fun and I can not wait till next year!

Cache's Birthday

2010-06-22T22:12:00.000-07:00

Another wonderful time. We raised an insane amount of money for SADS in honor of Cache. I am amazed at how many good people there are in the world, and that many more that is inspired by my little guy! On Cache's birthday we went to his school and had a huge pizza party for the class. It was so fun and he had an awesome teacher that let us crash his class. That night we ate at Chilli's for his fundraiser. When we got home it was so late, but he opened his presents and ate cake. We all still managed to get up in the morning.

Mason's Birthday

2010-06-22T22:04:00.001-07:00

It was the best birthday party ever! It was so much fun. I am sure we will never ever have another one like that. It was great because even G-ma Patty got to be here. Mason was completely spoiled and invited his whole class. Scales and Tails is awesome and if you have a little boy wanting a cool birthday party, I totally recommend them. Here are a few pics, I have 400 but I just pick a few.

Help Me Save Lives!

2010-05-06T08:00:00.001-07:00

I received an e-mail last night from the SADS Foundation. It was a letter (see below) from Dr. Michael Ackerman, President of the SADS Foundation, requesting help to raise money for a $50,000.00 match Medical Educational Grant from Fed Ex C.E.O. Fredrick Smith. Mr. Smith holds the SADS Foundation close to his heart as well, due to the death of his daughter from Long QT. The SADS Foundation is $6,000.00 short from their $50,000.00 match to get the $50,000.00 grant money from Mr. Smith.

Once I saw this e-mail, I sent an e-mail back asking if the money we raised could help go to the Medical Educational Grant. I can’t think of a better way to use this money then to help educate those who can properly diagnose SADS conditions. Many children go miss-diagnosed with other conditions until it is too late. Typically they are diagnosed with seizer disorders and placed on seizer medication. Yet they continue to have syncope, and at times, die. It is a sad truth that many doctors don’t know what Long QT and other SADS conditions are, or how to diagnose them. As I have said many times, we are very blessed to have had our son diagnosed shortly after birth, which saved his and many others in our family’s lives.

Please help me sore to our $2,000.00 goal, as we are almost half way there! Let’s save lives together and get this much needed money to the SADS Foundation.

With all our hearts,
Melissa, Eric, Cache, and family

www.firstgiving.com/melissamiller6

Letter from Dr. Michal Ackerman:

As many of you know, I serve as President of the Board of the SADS (Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes) Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that works with families who are affected by Long QT Syndrome and other sudden death predisposing, genetic heart rhythm disorders.

Recently, the SADS Foundation was offered a challenge grant of $50,000 by Mr. Frederick Smith, President & CEO of Fed Ex. Mr. Smith lost his daughter, Wendy, a few years ago, due to a medical misdiagnosis of Long QT. He has become a staunch supporter of the work of the Foundation, and has offered this grant to the SADS Foundation in order to advance our Medical Education Program.

As you know, there is a great need to bridge the knowledge gap regarding SADS conditions. This program will facilitate early recognition and accurate diagnosis and treatment of Long QT and other genetic heart rhythm abnormalities by implementing strategies to ensure that healthcare providers have all available current and relevant information. With the establishment of this program, we also hope to increase the education of primary care physicians that would be able to then identify possible SADS conditions and refer them to the appropriate expert.

We're only $6,000 shy of our $50,000 challenge goal. I have set a personal goal to try to raise $5,000 on behalf of all of the families that I serve. I am hoping to raise this sum by May 10th so that we can announce the launch of the Medical Education Program at the Heart Rhythm Society meeting in Denver.

Tax-deductible donations to the SADS Foundation can be made securely by clicking on the "Donate Now" button below. These gifts will be matched by Mr. Smith until our challenge goal is met. I also have pledged to match the first $1,000 of personal donations in addition to my annual gift to the Foundation. Although I have not actively solicited for support for the SADS Foundation before now, many of you have learned about SADS and have already made generous gifts to the Foundation. I am deeply grateful for those gifts and for all the contributions that have been made to support this important work.

I am proud of the outstanding work of the SADS Foundation, and continue to be hopeful that as awareness grows, not only among the general population, but also among the medical profession, needless deaths like Wendy's can be prevented.

Thank you for your support of this important program.

Michael J. Ackerman, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Pharmacology
Director of Mayo Clinic's Long QT Syndrome Clinic and Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory
President of the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) Foundation

Celebrate Cache's Birthday

2010-04-29T19:31:00.000-07:00

http://www.firstgiving.com/melissamiller6

8 Years and Counting

2010-04-20T07:25:00.001-07:00

Today marks the day that 8 years ago Eric and I said “I do.” In the 10 years, we have been together we have had many, many ups, and many downs. I can’t say they have all been happy ones, but I can say we never stopped loving each other. We have never lost site of what was important and the commitment we have to each other and our children.
In 10 years Eric and I have lived in 8 homes, 2 states, spent approximately 40 days in a NICU, approximately 9 days in a PICU, had an appendix out, and many, many more hospitalizations. We have had cardiologists, pulmonologists, neonatologisits, cardiothorascic surgeons, ENT’s, audiologists, general surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, orthodonisists, pediatricians, physical therapists, speech pathologists, neurologists, and that list goes on and on. We have had sick parents, have had to handle split families, been well off to broke, we both have had demanding carriers and gave them both up for our children, I had a job that required me to travel all over the country while Eric took care of our new infant and other children, had an unexpected wonderful little girl, I have worked full time, part-time, many nights, many weekends, to staying home and going to school.
We have also been very fortunate to have each other, and been blessed with five of the most important days of our lives: April 20, 2002, October 8, 1994, April 11, 2003, May 18, 2005, and September 12, 2006. We have had many great healthcare workers that have saved the four most important things to us. Have great parents who have helped us and supported us through the 10 years we have been together. We have siblings that are always helping us when we need them the most. Extended family that has been great supporters. Wonderful friends who have seen us through it all and new friends that have begun to help us through the rest of our journey.
Eric and I have defied many odds and managed to make it through many obstacles that would have broken other marriages. The journey so far has been hard and lots of work, but been worth every bad day, tears dropped, little fights, smiles made, love grown, happiness made, laughter heard, and the memories made and the many more to come.
I love you, Eric, more then anything and I could not have picked a better life partner and a person to raise four of the most amazing kids! Happy 8 with many, many more to come!

Here comes Peter Cotton Tail

2010-04-08T23:00:00.000-07:00

Easter time again. This year things were a little more scaled down, but we still had a great time. We spent Saturday with some of Eric's family. We went bowling (I beat Eric on the first game! hehe). Although Starla's husband, Scott, dominated the second game and bowled over 200. Then we went over to his sisters, Starla, who is totally awesome had things all ready for the kids to dye eggs. She had all sorts of things for them to use and they were loving it! They then hunted for eggs in their back yard. Her older ones are so great and helped my little ones find them all. Nothing like seeing BIG guys caring around little kids. Starla has some pretty great kids and I have really enjoyed getting to know them. We also played some Rock Band, but I am a little rusty at the singing. I need to get back in the swing of things since our XBox is all fixed now. We dropped York off at his mom's house on our way back home. We got home so late, Eric and I made the kids some grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner. Not fancy but the kids loved it. We were all beat and the kids finally crashed so the Easter Bunny could come.

The next morning Mason was the first one up. Which is no surprise he is like his Dad and is an early riser. We told him to wait but he could go look at his basket, but of course he wanted everyone to wake-up, so we did. The kids loved their baskets. The bunny brought them all some clothes and the boys a game, and Dylann some Princess hair supplies. Of course he brought a bunch of candy too. The bunny hid eggs all over the house so the kids raced to find them all. Dylann only wanted the pink and purple ones. We usually have my family over for dinner and we do a HUGE hunt with all the kids. This year everyone had plans so it was just Eric and I with the little kids. It was kind of nice but lonely all at the same time. The bonus of this was that Eric's mom sent us a wonderful dinner from Honey Baked ham. So all I had to do is warm it up and put it on plates. It was very nice and super yummy. None of us got dressed up in our cute Easter cloths which I had bought. It was a good Easter, but I wish we could have gotten my family together. It is kind of sad how life gets so busy and you can't make time for what matters the most. I hope you all had a wonderful Easter, as I know I have been blessed so much this year already.

Dylann may have a lil' Lindsay in her

2010-04-08T22:53:00.000-07:00

So my beautiful spunky little girl started dance. She LOVES it. She is also pretty good considering it is her fist time. Here are some shots from her first day...

Quick Cache Update

2010-04-08T22:51:00.001-07:00

We were in and out the next day! All went great and he has healed up nicely. Tuesday was his first day back to school and loved it. Then we woke-up the next day with croup like his sister, so he has missed the rest of the week. I hope they are all better by the weekend. Other the the croup he is doing awesome and back to his old monster self. Love that strong boy!

WERE BACK....

2010-03-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

In the hospital that is. After being discharged they found another wire casing that was left, but this one was in his tummy. They decided that one needed to come out. Since they were already going to go in they decided to take the previous one out as well.

Everything went well and Cache did great, of course. It took a little longer then we were told and made us worry a little, but it all turned out good. We thought we were going to have to stay all weekend, but Dr. Kaza said we can probably go home tomorrow! Yay for us! It has been a long road but I think we are almost done. I can't wait to be 100% back to normal.

101

2010-03-12T08:20:00.000-08:00

So I messed up the blogging traditional 100th post. So in honor of that I will call this 101 things about me. So here it is in no particular order….

10 Things I Love
1. Kids
2. Husband
3. Parents, Siblings, Nieces, Nephews, Aunts, Uncles…You get it family
4. Friends
5. House
6. Healthcare and the people who work in it- You have saved my son’s life more then once, Thank you!
7. Great neighbors- I could have not picked a better place to live, we lucked out!
8. Money- kind of have to love it, yet I never have it
9. Good food
10. School

10 Things I Cannot Live Without on a Daily Basis
1. Coffee
2. Diet Coke
3. My computer/internet
4. Cell phone- I never really talk on it, but I feel naked without it
5. Daily Facebook checks- Did I say that? Yes I am an addict, but I love staying in touch!
6. Sleep- I am so grumpy without it
7. Toothbrush/paste
8. Make-up- even though I only wear it if I am going somewhere
9. Car
10. Hubby

10 Things I Hate
1. Health insurance- a necessary evil!
2. Ignorance
3. Prejudice
4. Being broke, but hey we have love!
5. Not working, I miss the money and the sanity it gave me
6. Getting ready, it takes too long, and when I do spend the time, I still look the same
7. Migraines, I can’t stand them and I have had them most my life. It is the worst!
8. Being sick
9. Being bored
10. Hearing my kids cry and fight (yes, that is what I am doing right now!)

20 Things I Love about my Kids
York
1. He is an AWESOME, TERIFFIC, KIND, big brother
2. He is a good Friend. He is nice to everyone.
3. Despite all his trials, he has turned out to be a really good teen.
4. He is funny and even funnier to tease.
5. He is a pleaser and will do anything to make you happy.
Mason
1. He is the sweetest kid ever.
2. Plays with his little brother and sister as if they were best friends.
3. He too is a pleaser and will do anything to make you happy.
4. His love for all animals, we would have a zoo if his Dad would let him.
5. His random acts of kindness. He is always bringing something home for the babies or doing something nice for his Dad and I.
Cache
1. His smile and eyes, they are infectious.
2. His strength and courage, so brave for a 4 year old.
3. He is a Mama’s boy and I love it!!!
4. Nothing stops him, not pain, not the inability to communicate with everyone, NOTHING!
5. He is a spitting image of his Dad, looks, personality, and even food.
Dylann
1. All her cuteness!
2. Her determination to get what she wants, and if you don’t help she will get it anyway!
3. All her girly-ness and her ability to keep up with the boys.
4. When she says “SURE” with her cute little voice instead of yes.
5. Her love for Cache, her best friend.

10 Things I Love about Eric
1. He is the BEST father.
2. He is a GREAT husband.
3. He is always willing to help others even if they don’t ask.
4. He always lets me sleep in. This benefits him too, because I am not grumpy then!
5. He loves his family more then anything and always puts them first.
6. He always calms me down when I am stressed and makes me feel better.
7. He is competitive, and I loose most of the time, but I love when I get in a win!
8. When we have fun, we have FUN, and he is always good company.
9. When he has to admit I am right, oh it kills him. I think we both have this in us!
10. He loves me and all my flaws!

10 Things I Want to do Before I Die
1. See my kids grow old and have their own lives no matter what that is.
2. Have grandkids, I am super excited about this!
3. See all 50 states.
4. Go to a Superbowl
5. Go to Italy/Rome with Eric and see as many countries as possible
6. Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro before the ice caps melt
7. Go to Madri Gras
8. Go to a World Series game
9. Be financially stable
10. Have a degree

20 of my Favorite Things to Do
1. Hang out with my family
2. Sleep in
3. Play games
4. Rock Band
5. Eat good food
6. Get a massage
7. Get a pedi
8. Date nights with the hubby
9. Dancing and shaking da booty
10. Having people over/parties
11. Redue furniture, except the sanding part
12. Cook as long as I have time and someone to help cut, chop, and peel
13. Beat Eric at anything
14. Facebook stock
15. Finding good deals
16. Making my family smile
17. Go to Mexico, my home away from home
18. Going to Cali to see family
19. Taking pictures
20. When my kids behave

10 Things I Hate to Do
1. Bills
2. Look at my bank account, it is just depressing! LOL
3. Clean bathrooms, love it when they are clean, just hate getting there
4. Mop floors
5. Take my kids to the grocery store
6. Or grocery shopping for that matter
7. Potty training, thank goodness that is over for the most part!
8. Sit in a hospital, but I am happy they are there when we need them
9. Doctors appointments if I have to take more then the child being seen
10. Yell at my kids, another necessary evil

And 1 random thing you would not know about me…
I work for the FBI…OK I don’t but I could not think of anything fun!

Valiant Hearts with Rhythm Part 2

2010-03-08T10:54:00.000-08:00

Well they have posted his story. Now I need everyone to convince them that he is worth making a shirt for. I have attached the link, so go and tell them just how great Cache is! I am super excited about it. I hope he gets picked.

http://1life1legacy.blogspot.com/

Home is Where the Heart is

2010-03-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

That's right we are home. Have been since Friday, but I have been too busy/lazy to blog about it. Cache is so happy to be out of that joint and is doing pretty well.

When I got the clear to go home, I asked Cache if he wanted to go home. He looked at me reluctantly and said yes. Then when I said do you want to go see York, Mason, and Dylann, I got a huge smile. I don't think he really believed he was gong home until he saw our car pull up, and I got a screech with a big smile. He was all grins the whole way home.

He did over due it the first day and was in a little more pain then usual. He is doing really great, still sore, but I think he is on his way to recovery. He is my strong boy.

Dylann is happy to have her playmate and best friend back, and they are fighting now as if he never left. I love having all my kids in the house and sleeping in bed with my hubby.

Through all our trials in life, we have learned our family is the most important. These trails have kept us strong and has not let us forget how important it is to just love each other. Although life gets in the way, and we tend to forget what may be important, we always bring it back to home and family. We are a strong family for many reasons and we are a stronger family because all our trials. Home is where are heart is.

We are a home full of hearts that all beat to a different drum, but big hearts we have.

5th One Down and Hopefully No More for Awhile

2010-03-03T22:38:00.000-08:00

As much as I wanted to get him better and out of here, I was still a little worried when he went back into surgery. It just never seems like it gets any easier. His surgery went well and he did great. They were able to get in and they put it under the muscle to protect the ICD more since he is so skinny. This will make him a little more sore, but will be better in the long run.

They moved us up to the 3rd floor after. He woke up drank some Sprite and tried to eat a little dry cereal, but that did not go down so well. He has been in and out sleeping and even tried to play some video games for a little bit. This kid can recover from anything it seems. He is amazing. About an hour ago he did have some ventricular tachycardia but his heart went back into normal rhythm. It gave us a little scare and has now made me worried. They did call cardiology and he said that he was not too surprised due to what they had just done. He wanted to wait and see if it happens again. If so, they will draw labs and do a little more work-up. His ICD did not fire because he has to have 45 abnormal beats before it shocks him. He only had about 20-25 before it went into a normal rhythm. It did gives us a scare still and really made Eric not want to leave. I promised I would call him if anything else did come up.

A few thoughts in my head right now...
I just want to make it through this night without any issues. Well all nights, but you get what I mean.
I am worried about the piece that they left inside. They said they had left it in because getting it out would have been very invasive. He said it was sewn to his diaphragm and that he would have had to gone in through another incision and that it would have been incredibly painful. The surgeon was very addamit that it was fine, but it still worries me. A few others doctors have brought it up more then once. I don't want to have him go through this again. I have faith in our surgeon and he is a great doctor, but there is still the unknown.
The infection...besides the piece still in him, we still have to beat this infection 100%.
He will now have to heal from this new surgery and pray that it all works properly.

I am still scared out of my mind. I know he is such a strong boy and has so many people who love him and are thinking and praying for him. I know there are other parents and kids that have it so much worse. But none of this makes it easier. I wish I could make it all go away. Sometimes I just feel like this is a bad dream and I am just waiting to wake-up. But until I do...we will push on, be strong, and everyday is a new day. This too, shall pass.

Valiant Hearts with Rhythm

2010-02-28T10:02:00.000-08:00

Today I submitted a story about Cache to the website called One Life, One Legacy. I can not think of a better way to share Cache's story and show him just how brave and special he is. This web site picks a few special people and makes a shirt with their "slogan". Cache's is "Valiant Hearts with Rhythm". He has nothing short of a brave heart and lives his life full of rhythm. They will soon post his story to there blog. I hope all of you go on and tell them just how great he is. So when they do make his shirt, we can all get one. Here is the story I submitted.

Cache is an amazing brave child! I call him our life savor and hero. I can not begin to describe how much this child has and will endure in his life time. Cache was born at 37 weeks, 7 pounds 14 ounces, 19.5 inches long, and came out fighting.

When I was 32 weeks along his heart rate had dropped dangerously low. After many tests and a big scare they decided that he could be monitored for a few weeks until he was ready to come out. When I was 36 weeks they decided to induce me. They knew something was wrong with his little heart, but they were not sure what. Less then 12 hours after birth he was being transferred to the pediatric hospital, and I was being discharged. When we arrived at the hospital we were told that my son had a genetic heart condition called Long QT. Enable for him to be on the medication to save his life, he needed a pacemaker. Three days after birth, my son was going in to have open heart surgery. A few days later his heart began to reject his pacemaker and they had to go in again and drain the fluid building up around the heart. My superman made it though the first month of his life in the NICU and was soon able to come home. This is where his journey has begun.

Cache has two genetic dispositions of Long QT. Long QT1 and Jervell Lang-Nielsen syndrome. When Cache was 2.5 years old he was diagnosed with sever to profound deafness. This is a side effect from the Jervell Lang-Nielsen syndrome. Although his ability to speak is a challenge for him, he does not let anything stop him from living his life.

In July 2008, Cache had a deadly arrhythmia, but we were blessed by angels and his heart bounced back. In November 2008, another surgery was performed to place a defibrillator and have a sympathectomy performed. He did well and has never had another arrhythmia since.

Today, I am sitting in a hospital room because my son’s defibrillator was removed due to an infection. We will be in the PICU (pediatric intensive care unit) for 2-6 weeks trying to get rid of the infection. After the infection is gone he will be having his 5th heart surgery to place a new defibrillator. When I saw this website, I knew this would be a great way to tell everyone what a brave and amazing child my son is. By him enduring so much in his short 4 years of life, he has saved his brother, sister, uncle, and cousin’s lives, as they too all live with Long QT. Without his trials we would have never known about this silent killer that takes so many young ones lives. It is now our mission to inform people about Long QT and try to save lives. We are truly blessed by him and he is our brave hero and life savor. He lives his life to the fullest and never lets all his trials get in his way. Anyone who has met him will tell you he is an inspiration and full of courage. He has made our world a better place.

Valiant Hearts with Rhythm

http://1life1legacy.blogspot.com/

www.onelifeonelegacy.com

Day #4 at the Hospital

2010-02-27T13:28:00.000-08:00

Cache with his Froggy after surgery

Eric and I are trying to tag team it. Yesterday was the first time I ever left any of my kids in the hospital since they were born. I know we have to prepare for the long haul, so I know I need to make sure I am getting some rest. I am no good to anyone tired. I think the last 3 days really wore on Eric and I. I think now we both have had some sleep and are ready to tackle this long journey ahead of us. So for a brief update from where I left off.

I honestly cannot remember everything that happened yesterday. I know he was drugged up most the day and did not have anything major happen. I also know it was a much better day then the one before. They did move us to a new room in the PICU that is so much better. I even got a little couch to sleep on, which they don't do too often in the PICU. It is so nice; the night before last I had to sleep in the bed with Cache and we were right next to the tube station. It was so loud!

Today Cache woke up in a good mood. You can tell his little personality is coming back. He had a pretty good night and only woke up about 3 or 4 times. They were a little concerned with his bladder and that he was not going potty. They completed and ultra sound and found it was pretty full. Before they cathed him we decided to let him try to stand and pee, and it worked. Another concern this morning was his lungs. His oxygen levels were getting a little worse. This was also causing some fevers. So the plan was to get him to stand and sit in a chair. He was very scared the first time he stood, but after that he was ready to get out of bed. He went for two little walks about 20 feet. He also sat up in a chair on and off the whole day. This got his oxygen levels up a little better. It also helped him to start tooting, which is good thing. He thought it was pretty funny too! Later in the day they said they found some gram positive bacteria growing on the old pacemaker and the tissue where it was. They said it was very little, but growing. I am not sure if this is a good thing or bad thing. Some of the Infectious Disease doctors said they wanted something to grow out so they knew what they were treating, while others said that if it didn't they could do the new ICD placement sooner. So we are still at the hurry up and wait stage. They are still saying anywhere from 2-6 weeks in the PICU and they are just guessing. I don't think anyone really knows what is going to happen. I think we should have a better guess on Monday.

Eric and I tag teamed it today. He got here in the afternoon and I went home to be with Mason and Dylann. I had not seen Dylann since Wednesday night so it made me so happy to see her. She gave my a big hug! I also got in a much needed 2 hour nap. Tonight we had one of York's friends babysit them while Eric and I hung out at the hospital together. I think juggling the other kids will be the hardest thing. They seem to be doing very good, but they miss their brother lots. Mason keeps talking about Cache and Dylann saw his picture today and said hey it's Cache. I asked her if she missed him, and she said yes. They are best friends. All my children are very close. We are trying to get our video chat to work so the kids can see one another. They are not letting anyone under the age of 18 in the PICU right now due to a major RSV breakout. I think it will be good for all of them, including Cache.

It was a good day today, and Cache hit some good mile stones. We still have this infection to fight, but I think we will get there. Although it seems like we have been here forever, I am sure when all is said and done, it will seem like nothing. This too shall pass.

Cache sitting up for the first time since Wednesday

And a few quotes from Mason

2010-02-27T12:59:00.000-08:00

Today Mason made me laugh and cry. Here is just a few of the things he told me...

Mom: Hey bud what are you doing?
Mason: Oh, I am just thinking about Cache.

How cute, he loves his brother

Mason: Mom who did Caches surgery
Mom: The doctors
Mason: You are a doctor
Mom: No I just used to make the medicin for the sick kids
Mason: I am going to be a doctor
Mom: I thought you wanted to be a police officer?
Mason: Well I want to be a firefighter, police officer, rock star, or doctor. But it is just so hard to decide.

Really, a rock star? Where did you get that? And I think we have some time not to stress over this.

Mom: Mason did you take you medacin today?
Mason: Ummm I don't know.
Mom: Ok I will call Dad and ask.
Mason: What would happen if I took 2?
Mom: Well that could be scary and you could die.
Mason: Well I don't want to die.
Mom: Well that is good because we don't want you to die either.
Mason: That is because you love your son and you love him more then anything else in the world. You can't love anything more then your son.

Oh baby boy you are so right. I love all my son's and my daughter more then anything else in this world!

I can't promis this will make sence

2010-02-25T21:24:00.000-08:00

I am sleep deprived and just emotionally beat. First of all I want to say that I have the best family and friends ever. You all have helped me through this difficult time. Even people I have never met have given me good thoughts of encouragement. There is so much good in the world and I wish it was not at these times when you always see it there.

Cache has had a rough day. He surgery took about 3-4 hours. There was an infection at the sight of the defibrillator and was starting to creep up the outer wire. So everything was removed and he was flushed out. They placed two drains, one by the heart and another in the stomach where the defibrillator was. They then placed temporary lines and are currently pacing him externally. Cache was still very out of it when we finally got to see him. He was pale and clammy, but we thought it was just the medication and he would be bouncing back soon. Eric and I decided to grab something to eat while he was asleep. When we cam back Eric and I both thought he looked worse and more pale. I then grabbed his hand and it was blue and cold. The nurse at the time had another child she was trying to take care of and I think she was way too busy to have Cache and the other child. Once we got everyones attention they were on it. This now holds a tie with my other worst day ever. Cache began to seize and his blood pressure began to fall. Seeing someone seize is not a pretty sight. It is horrible! They found out that his blood sugars were low. It brought back a lot of memories from last summer with Dylann and her blood sugar doing the exact same thing. That is the day that ties this one for worst day ever. They are not sure why his blood sugar dropped, but I think it is probably a combination of things such as stress and medication. There is a chance for infection in the brain and/or spinal cord, but all the tests are showing negative. Which could be a good thing because we can manage the sugars without anymore problems.

Cache is now sleeping quietly next to me and is all drugged up. We have a awesome nurse tonight and he is so on top of his care. God should bless good health care workers!

Keep us in your prays as our battle is only 1/3 of the way there. Lots of love to all you!

Heart Surgery Number 4 and Counting

2010-02-24T21:55:00.000-08:00

Well we are here again, sitting at hospital awaiting another surgery. This one came on a little rapid. To give those who may have missed out on my updates...

Cache has had his old scar from his ICD (internal cardiac defibrillator) looking a little red. It then proceeded to swell up. I took him to the pediatrician and they tried to lance it to see if fluid would come out. Nothing did, so her initial thought was that it was scar tissue building up. So she referred us to a plastic surgeon to possible have the scar removed and then re-stiched.

Shortly after our visit his scar became worse and then proceeded to swell more and the fluid was very visible. Two nights ago it exploded and began to drain.

Today we visited the plastic surgeon, Dr. Warnock. He was awesome and said that he felt we needed to go to cardiology. (This is what I should have done from the beginning, but I tried to not panic.) So then came our visit to cardiology. Which they had already been forewarned by Dr. Warnock. What a great doctor. He took the time to call cardiology and the surgeons to tell them about us. He was so worried about Cache and did not want anything to happen to him. (If you ever need plastic surgeon, go to him, he obviously cares about his patients! I love great doctors!)

So here I am sitting at Primary Children's surgical floor awaiting our surgery tomorrow at 9:30 am. They will go in and take out the ICD and check to see how far the infection has spread. Antibiotics will not help infected foreign objects in the body. Once they are infected they stay that way. The only way to get rid of them is to take them out and let the body heal. They will then clean him out and place temporary leads. These leads will keep him paced externally. They will do this until the infection is gone. After the infection is gone they will place another ICD. Their hope is that he is big enough to have in go under his clavicle and the leads will actually go into the heart. They feel this will have a better success rate then putting another one in his belly. What we can hope and pray for is that the infection has not spread far and that it heals quickly.

My thoughts are just overwhelmed. I can't believe I am here again. I have the strongest child in the world. He amazes me everyday and always puts a smile on my face. God blessed me with a wonderful son and I can never imagine a life without him. He is my inspiration in life. God has been with him through all this and I know he will be with us tomorrow. Good luck Cachers, be that strong boy that everyone already knows you are.

WE LOVE YOU!

Just a thought...

2010-02-18T11:28:00.000-08:00

Since I have lost a hearing aid today, I thought of one random thought.

Cache walks around with about $79,000.00 on him.

$4,000.00 in hearing aids
$75,000.00 in his tummy (ICD)

That is a lot of money for a 4 years old to be carrying around!

Lunch with Mason Highlights...

2010-02-17T16:39:00.000-08:00

-His more then willingness to grab his sister and mine hands and proudly walk down the hall...how long does this last?

-The 3 little girls eating with us and them wanting to know all about eating healthy such as: what is the 1% mean on milk or what are carbs and "carrotts are good for your eyes". (Just incase you were wondering!)

-The little girl that turned to me before leaving and said she wanted to have a playdate and that she will ask her mom.

-The fact that I said I was going to beat Dylann in the hall if she did not stay put, maybe I should rethink my threats while in the school. Hopefully I do not see CPS tomorrow. THEY ARE JUST THREATS!

-And finally...the mom volunteering for recess duty all dressed up as if she was going clubing with highheel boots and all. I think good kicks are appropraite for recess duty. REALLY!

Family Night...

2010-01-20T21:35:00.000-08:00

It is now Eric's and my goal this year to make time for family no matter how busy and how tired we all get. So we are now scheduling Family Night every other week. We want to be realistic and achieve our goals. So tonight was my night for planning and Eric said he wanted it to be educational-ish.

I decided to do fire safety. This was just before the 10 year old in SLC died in a fire. That only confirmed it was an important topic. Eric made fun of me for of it, but he makes fun of me all the time.

We watched a little movie on fire safety that I found on the net. I then gave the kids a quiz I also found on the net. After that we went into each room and pretended I was the fire and they had to get out. So they crawled all over and found each escape route. They loved it...well the little ones. It was kind of boring for York, but a good refresher. We also marked the calender for each month that we need to check the fire alarms. Lastly we made a little fire book. I found a cool little story book that you could color on the net. We all colored pages. Cache and Mason thought it was super cool so they are taking it to school to show their class.

I also got to pick dinner since it was my night... we ate pancakes, homemade strawberry syrup, scrambled eggs, and bacon. Super YUMMY!

We had a great first family night. Eric plans next so we will see! :)

Cache Living with Long QT

2010-01-15T17:35:00.000-08:00

What would life be like…

2010-01-13T21:43:00.000-08:00

If I didn’t have Cache to blog about.

He just seems to be my most exciting child. So to what do you ask is deserving of a post? A school affair. This year we were fortunate enough to get an amazing teacher for Cache. She has been so great and is always trying to stay positive but by no means hides the truth. A little over a month ago she had told us that Cache had potential for speech but she could not seem to get him to where he needs to be. We started to push things pretty aggressively and he is now in speech, physical, and occupational therapy in and out of school.

Last week while meeting with his teacher, she felt that he still seems to be having a hard time. We are at such a crucial age and we need to have him proficient in a language. He seems to be a much more proficient signer than he is a verbal communicator. So officially the game plan has changed. We are now going to fully focus on sign but still have speech therapy. We decided to send him next year to the all sign school here in Utah called JMS (Jean Massieu School). There they teach in ASL with written English.

Eric and York are going to start ASL classes next week. York will also be taking ASL in high school next year. We also have a great Deaf Mentor that comes to our home every week and teaches us sign and about Deaf Coulter. He is a great guy and we always look forward to him coming.

I think Cache will be at peace and feel at home in this new school. I think he likes to sign and he feels comfortable communicating in ASL. It just seems to come more naturally for him. I can tell when we are in speech therapy that he wants to have speech but it is just so hard for him. I can see how much he struggles to get it out. Sometimes to the point I just want to say no more. He is such a great kid and I just love him for everything he is and is going to be. I do not think that child could ever disappointment me.

Good luck Cachers, my monster, on your new endeavor. We love you!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T11:25:00.000-08:00

When Part of You Dies

2009-12-19T15:23:00.001-08:00

It always seems that when someone you love and are close to dies, they take a little piece of you. My Grandmother was one of those people. She was an amazing woman, horrible cook, but amazing woman.

It’s been over 10 years since she passed away and I still think of her now and again. It may have been a song or something as simple as Campbell’s soup but a memory still sparks every now and then. When we went to see the lights at Temple Square this was by far, no exception. Everyday life with my Grandmother consisted of waking up to a hot bowl of Cream of Wheat while my sister, Amanda, cousins, and I fought over the lumps. You could guarantee that lunch and dinner would consist of soup out of a can and bread with butter. Like I said, she was a horrible cook but she made a mean bowl of Cream of Wheat and Campbell’s soup.

The trips down town were no exception. Calling for the bus schedule, fighting over who got to pull the string to tell the bus driver it was our time to get off. That ding would ring and off the bus we went. Our first stop would be to the ZCMI center to eat some lunch and get ice cream. We would usually get to pick a treat out of the big bulk candy to take home. Then off to Temple Square to walk around. We would walk all over and she would point out everything and tell us stories. She would never fail to know all about our ancestors and tell us everything they had done and all the trials they had gone through to just live their lives without prejudice and prosecution. It is those stories that have died with her. I can seem to remember the trips up there but the stories are gone; such a sad thing to have lost. I will forever miss her and hope to someday see her again.

Temple Square at Christmas is such an amazing sight. It is so beautiful and breathe taking. We listened to a choir for a few songs and the sound was amazing. Music can really move the soul. We had just missed the chance to go see the amazing statue of Jesus. That is my favorite thing at Temple Square and remember just staring at is as a child and not quite understanding it but feeling overwhelmed by its beauty. Maybe next year I can take the kids to see it. We had a great time as a family and hope my kids never forget such unforgettable memories.

The Catch Up...again!

2009-12-18T09:18:00.000-08:00

My board-ness today has sent me to blogging. No school and no car with the lack of ambition to clean lead me to get a little caught up on blogging. So what is up in the last oh 8 months? Lots!

First off, I don’t work anymore. This has been great for school and the kids. I have had time to work more on my studies and have really been trying to get things done for the kids. Although I am pretty sure we miss my pay check. I think that has been a hard adjustment for us.

We recently just bought a house and we love it! We put tons of work into before we moved in. We are still working on a few things, but it is sooo close. We live in the mountains and it is so beautiful. I will even take the feet of snow we have! We have great neighbors and we could not have made a better choice.

Umm, I changed my major. Yes believe it or not I have made a full turn for something completely different. I decided I am done with health care and I am going to do something different with my life. I should have my business degree by the end of next summer or fall at the latest. Then I am off to the U of U, GO UTES! I am thinking engineering with an emphasis on alternative engineering. My only other thought is to stay with business and have an emphasis on project management. I think I am going for nerd and staying with engineering! School has been great and I love it. I wish I had not done it he hard way, (having kids first) but it has been so worth it.

Eric works his little butt off to support our family and helps with the kids while I am at school. I am a lucky wife and my kids have a great dad!

York is growing up fast. Although sometimes he makes me want to pull my hair out, he has turned into a pretty good young man. I think we are pretty lucky. He is a great brother to his little ones. He has found some really good friends around our new house and the new school, although new, he seems to have really adjusted fast. Of course we are now in the stage of girl friends but I think he has a good head on his shoulders. I don’t worry too much and I always get to meet the girls.

Mason has the best teacher this year. We love her. She has really helped him get his reading going more and, of course, loves him. She always tells me she wants to take him home. He is such a sweet boy! He has made a few new friends also.

Cache is Cache! He is always an adventure. He is such a funny kid. We were very fortunate this year to get a new teacher. She has been so fabulous and has really helped Cache. She has given all of us hope that one day he will be able to verbally communicate. She says he is the best kid in her class. He has now started therapy outside of school and we are pushing hard to get him to his aged appropriate levels. He has physical, occupational, and speech therapy on a regular basis. His heart has seemed to be fine and has had no shocks from his new and improved defibulator. He has had no signs of another seizer and we do not think that he will.

Dylann, my little princess is such a fun girl. I love having a girl. She is growing up fast too. She is learning lots and almost has her numbers down and we are working on her alphabet. She loves princesses and fairies and goes crazy the second she sees one anywhere. We did have a scare with her this summer while in Disneyland, California. That is probably a whole different post. I really should post about it and maybe I will next. But to make it as simple as we can, we found out the hard way that her medication can cause low blood sugar. She was near death by the time we got to the hospital and they worked their magic and saved her life by giving her dextrose (sugar) through her bone marrow. I think out of the all days I have had, this by far was the scariest. God was defiantly watching over us that day. I feel pretty blessed to still have her. She has only had 1 episode since and we caught it in time and gave her that yummy dextrose gel. Other then that she is great!

Wow, that is a lot to write! I wish I had more time to blog. I am really going to make it a goal this year to at least post once a month. It is such a great way to journal and share. Life is good, hard, but totally worth it!

Come What May, and Love it?

2009-09-16T22:32:00.000-07:00

Yup I felt like blogging tonight. Not for anyone but myself. Maybe you have followed my link on the side of my page maybe not, Come What May and Love It. I am not a church going person, but I love the message. Now more then ever...

This last weekend my 13 year old nephew, Marshall, rolled a 4-wheeler and broke his back. After having pins placed in his back and has yet been able to move his legs, he still wears a magical smile. You go to see him in the hospital and hopefully raise his spirit, yet you are the one that leaves lifted. His amazing attitude and determination is so inspiring. He is 13 and has a future now that is so unknown, yet he still laughs. He doesn't say he wants to walk again he says he is going to walk again...and "by the end of the football season I will walk on the field with my team!"

Marshall is not a kid (I call him a kid because he is my little nephew, but he is more of a young man!) that sits around. He is in 8th grade and managed to make the sophomore football team. He is an even better baseball player. He has a huge future in front of him. He is incredibly smart and is a wiz on the computer. He has to be the nicest, sweetest, teenager out there. He has done everything right in his short life and he is the one who gets to face this trial. This video explains his attitude toward this trial in his life. It is amazing and inspiring.

I love you Marshall and we will all be there cheering for you! And when that time come you get to walk on that football field, I will be there. I will be there screaming and crying! I will not miss it for the world! XOXO

Almost...

2009-04-07T22:26:00.000-07:00

I am almost cuaght up on blogging now! 1 more I need to post. You will have a little light reading now if you are bored. Have fun!

Silly Boy!

2009-04-07T22:19:00.000-07:00

He is so funny, but man this does worry me a little!

Note Dylann's flip flops!

Cache Always has a Flare the Dramatic!

2009-04-07T21:54:00.000-07:00

Ambulance rides are fun, but not when they are with your child! March 26th, was a long night. I had come home from work and was playing on my laptop. Cache was sleepy so he crawled on my lap and started to drift away. A few minutes later he did a huge jolt, which at first I thought was a defibrillator shock from an arrhythmia. Then he started to do what I like to call a seizer. Rapid eye movement, funny mouth movement, and very stiff like. York was super fast and very good when I told him to get the phone and call 911. I am glad he was there. When we got to the ER, because I love to be at work, they were very focused on it being his defibrillator. The next day in clinic we concluded it was not a shock. After discussing this with his pediatrician she wants him to see a Neurologist. We have an appointment next week. Let's hope it all goes well and I don't have to deal with another issue! That kid will be the death of me, I love that little Monster!

Cache and his IEP

2009-04-07T21:25:00.001-07:00

I have come to the conclusion that some teachers in Special Education need not teach Special Education. There is a reason it is called "Special Education" and that is because the kids need extra care. Hint to teachers... that is why you spent all that time in school... to work with kids that are in need of extra help. We all know I have issues with Cache's teacher but I think this one has topped them all. I wasn't expecting much and I they have successfully pist me off. To sum up the meeting in a quick sentence... They pretty much told me that he was mentally retarded. (Not to offend anyone, but that is what was said)Last time I check being Deaf did not qualify as being mentally retarded. Let me recap a few things for you.

Cache was diagnosed as being Deaf at the age of 2 1/2.
He has had his hearing aids for a total of 18 months.
He has been in school a total of 9 months but there was a 3 month break in between.

So they can't figure out why he can't speak? Hummm! Do you know of many 18 months old that can speak clearly and well? Yeah me either. I am also pretty sure that it is pretty hard to process language when you are not used to it.

They want to just give up on him and send him to a full sign school with no English speaking language. Let's put this on record, I will never care if Cache can not speak a single word, he can but... He is Deaf, who cares? Seriously! He can be and do anything he wants in life and he will. This kid has more drive than any child and some adults I know. He is amazing.

Cache has more then just a hearing loss, he is a heart kid too. I am grateful to have him and grateful for every day he gets to have another day at life. I am not going to worry about if he can speak like the hearing world. Don't get me wrong, I will do all I can and what I think is the right thing to do, but this is the last thing I will worry about.

Cache can speak and he tries so hard. You just need to be patient and work with him. I do not understand why they don't see it. To just give up, it has been a great disappointment.

Cache with my glasses, he is so silly!

March 20th 2009... A day not forgotten

2009-04-07T21:17:00.001-07:00

The day Mason lost his first tooth!

He even let me pull it out. It was pretty funny. The Tooth fairy brought him a whole $3.00. He lost another the next week, but the Tooth Fairy paid out big, a big $5.00.

Once upon a sonwy day...

2009-04-07T21:04:00.000-07:00

Here are some shots of the kids on the slide Eric made one day when it snowed like crazy. This was all done when I was at work. I think it took forever to finally melt. The kids had a blast!

Yorky and Dylann

The boys... Mason, Thomas, Callin, and York

For All Women

2009-03-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_4qwVLqt9Q

Perspective

2009-03-02T10:09:00.000-08:00

http://thegledhillfamily.blogspot.com/

This is what matters nothing else! I am so greatful for what I have. Thank you! Please pray for this family as I am sure they need it!

Blogging Bore!

2009-02-26T20:08:00.000-08:00

So I have been horrible at blogging. I haven't had much to blog about really. We are just living life and staying busy. The kids are good, school is good, and work stinks. So I will give you a brief boring run down...

York- Same old teenager filled with drama. I never thought boys would have this much drama. All I have to say girlfriends are lame!

Mason- Is just Mason. Not too exciting, but he is becoming quite a good reader...FINALLY!

Cache- He is all healed from his surgery and running around like his old "Monster" self. He has been signing sentences now and even trying to say the words. His teacher even comment that he was doing good...SHOCKER!

Dylann- This girl is drama! OMG I can't take it. I just want to beat her at times! Really! She is such a snot! I can't imagine having more than one girl. I know what god was thinking now! It is all too clear. It is a good thing she is so stinking cute or I may have beaten her!

As for Eric and I, we are good. Just living our crazy life. I am going to school and he is watching the kids... a lot! I feel bad because that is all I do on my free time. But he is awesome and helps me a ton! Other then that life is pretty much the same. Yes I know this is boring!

A Fellow Heart Friend

2009-01-25T10:22:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take a minute and see if everyone would vote for a fellow friend for a day of pampering. Emily has lost 2 children to heart defects. She is now attempting to adopt but this is well deserved. She has been through so much, as I am sure all of the women on the web page have, but I have a special place for those heart kids! Please go vote for her! Thanks!

seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com

New Adventures

2009-01-17T10:20:00.000-08:00

Well I finally did it! I finally will start a new adventure! School here I come! That's right after years of talking about it I signed up. I am not taking it slow either! Full force, full time. I have a goal to be done a.s.a.p. and before all my kids are in school. Which means York will be starting collage! LOL! Not only did I decide to go back but decided what I was going to be when I grow up too! I know I am really turning the leaf here! Here it is... Drum Roll Please!... Nurse Practitioner. If I was young had no kids I would be a pediatrician in a heart beat. But I take things the long hard way, and got married and started my wonderful family first. So yes I am kind of settling but I still will be able to practice medicine which is really what I want to do. I obviously will go into pediatrics, I don't do adults, I would much rather the dirty snotty noses any day! I really hope to get on with the Cardiology department when I get done. I think for obvious reasons. The hart is an amazing thing, and I love it, and I love heart kids! the great thing is most of my schooling will be paid for through work. When I get done I will have next to nothing in student loans! YIPPY! I think that is the best thing I could do for my family. So my plate is full... full time work, full time school, and full time mom. I am sure there will be days I hate myself, hate work, hate school, and my family will drive me crazy, but I am excited for all that. I will accomplish something I have wanted for the longest time. I will have accomplished a life long goal. So bare with me if I am ornery, vent, or never post! And wish me luck because I am going to need it! One more added note... I am on day shift now so I will have a life again! Another YIPPY!

Christmas...Late

2009-01-07T11:19:00.000-08:00

I am determined to get caught up on blogging! I am so far behind and I don't think I will ever be caught up! So Christmas comes first. I was very nervous about Christmas and how we would ever be able to pay for it. We pulled it off by some Christmas miracle though. We actually received a check from a medical bill we over paid! For those of you who have medical bills like we do...you never over pay...in fact you are lucky to pay! I don't know how this happened, but it did and it was just in the "nick" of time. Between that and Santa Grandma we had a pretty good Christmas.
Every Christmas eve I make a turkey dinner. I invite anyone who is willing to come. This year it was my Mom, Dad, and my brother and his family. I have to say I make a pretty MEAN Turkey. I love to cook when I have the time and it usually turns out pretty good. Although we didn't have York this Christmas he was with his egg doner... I mean mom. I think this is the first Christmas in about 8 years we have not had him. It was kind of sad. He missed all our traditions... dinner and of course there PJ's we open for Christmas eve.
Christmas was fun and exciting for the kids. I think they got pretty much everything they wanted. The highlights were...
Guitar Hero III for York, Geo Trax for Cache, Airhog for Mason, and Dylanns Little Pony's. Of course all the kids loved the WII we got them. We bought that so long ago and it was just sitting in our closet for Christmas. So many times Eric and I just wanted to open it and play it ourselves!
It was such a great Christmas and I am so thankful for all of our many blessings.

Dylann

Mason

Cache

And my turkey... yes I took a picture but it do not give it justice to the taste!

A Mom's Sweet Surprise!

2008-12-02T07:46:00.000-08:00

This morning I woke up to a little surprise. Mason made me breakfast in bed all by himself! This consisted of a bowl of his favorite cereal Cheerios. It was so cute, I just had to blog about it. I need to get caught up but this couldn't wait. Apparently he had asked his dad last night if they could make me breakfast but Eric told him he had work so not tomorrow. I guess he figured he could do it on his own. He always helps me in the morning and gets his sister a bowl. He is such a sweet kid. I love him so much. He does not have a mean bone in his little body. He loves everyone and loves to play. He is getting older and it is so nice. He is so cute, handsome, and just a great little boy. Thanks Mason for making such a gloomy day great! I love you Pumpkin!

Not For The Non-Humorus

2008-11-07T16:27:00.000-08:00

This is the warning! If you can't take a joke don't read this! Especially if you are a strong Republican! I am not responsible for anything you may find offensive, because you decided to read it!

Dear Red States:

If you manage to steal this election, too, we've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren't aware, that includes California , Hawaii , Oregon , Washington , Minnesota , Wisconsin , Michigan , Illinois and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California.To sum up briefly: You get Texas , Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood.We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss.We get 85% of America 's venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama .We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay their fair share.Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22% lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single moms.Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they're apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don't care if you don't show pictures of their children's caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq , and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we're not willing to spend our resources in Bush's Quagmire.With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80% of the country's fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and lettuce, 92% of the nation's fresh fruit, 95% of America's quality wines, 90% of all cheese, 90% of the high tech industry, 95% of the corn and soybeans (thanks Iowa!), most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford, Cal Tech, UCLA, Berkeley and MIT.With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88% of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92% of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of the hurricanes, 99% of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia.We get Hollywood and Yosemite , thank you.Additionally, 38% of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62% believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the war, the death penalty or gun laws, 44% say that evolution is only a theory, 53% that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61% of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties.Finally, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Mexico.

Peace out,--Blue States

I love a little humor to all the seriousness!

Quick Update!

2008-11-04T07:28:00.000-08:00

We are now battling an infection! His stomach incison has an infection! Hopfully we can get it covered. If not... the out look is bad! He is on antibiotics and we go back on Wednesday. Maybe someday I will blog about something happy and funny. I miss my humor.

On a side note... GO VOTE! I did!

Were Home!

2008-10-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

My first night home! I am happy!

Yes we are home and all is well! As most of you know we did get bumped on Tuesday and rescheduled to Wednesday. I had to be understanding because the doctor had to do a heart transplant. If I were at work I would have been drawing up all the medications up for this, which is a daunting task and you don't want to be the one on shift when you get one! As I put it, the haunt me at work and at home! We left the hospital on Friday, much to my discouragement! Cache did excellent during his surgery. I am amazed at how great things went.

Look! I will show you!

We had an awesome surgeon, Dr. Kaza. At first, I was a little weary of him because everyone in the pharmacy told me to have Dr. Hawkins do it. When I met him finally on Wednesday, my worries were gone. He explained the surgery and how he did not have to crack his chest because he has studied a new method of doing this through the left side. He did name drop which I didn't mind seeing as he was taking my son into surgery in an hour! He attended Harvard Med school and practiced at Boston Children's and this is where they did this new practice of putting in ICD's. They would use a scope and collapse the left lung. I don't really know why this sounded better then cracking the chest but it did! Then they would put the leads in through that small incision in the left side. They would reopen the belly and place the ICD in. It sounded great to us! Especially when he said less recovery time!

They did inform us half way through that they were done with the leads although they could not use the scope so the small incision turned out to be a big one! He was doing fantastic! It was great to hear! It was only an hour into surgery. About 1 1/2 hours later I saw Dr. Kaza coming. He had a smile on his face so I knew it must have went well. It wasn't as scary as the first time! He said it went perfect and they were moving him to the PICU right now. We were so happy and releved.

This is when they moved me up to the floors, I really like the drugs!

It was a long night in the PICU. They have no beds for parents so I slept in a rocking chair. If you call it sleep! Eric left around 7:00 p.m. that night. I stayed the whole time. He did have some strange tracing on his monitor. The PICU attending would come over and then it would go back! They nurse and I would just laugh because he thought we were crazy. We did find his magnesium levels were low so they gave him a few doses. Overall for the very tiring night, things went well. They did find the monitor was malfunctioning with the pacer, but his pacer did need to be adjusted. We went up to the surgical floor the next day which I knew would be nice because I would have a bed! They took out the chest tube and up we went! Cache and I just maily slept in the bed together which was nice because I got to cuddle him! I never get too so it was nice. You could tell he was not himself bacause he is a "monster" and runs around like crazy! He wouldn't take any medication that was liquid although we tried. So I had to have them change all the orders to tablets. Yes he can swallow pills, they were all so amazed by this. The next day they said to go home! I was scared and did not want to leave. I am so worried he is going to get hurt or get an infection, but they reassured me he would be fine.

So he seems to be doing great. He is finally eating and he even pooped! He will be happy to show you his wounds if you come over and will sign hurt. He knows that there is something in his belly and keeps feeling it. You can really see it, it is huge compared to the last one, which we got to keep! Don't ask me what I will do with it, but it is cool to see it. He walks like a little old man hunched over. I can tell he is still in pain but he is trying to keep up with everyone.

See my tummy!

We could not be happier and thankful that things went so great. I want to thank everyone who helped, called, and prayed for my little boy! It must have worked. He is such a cute little one that is stronger then anyone I know. We are forever grateful that God has blessed us with him and has given him so many chances at life. Thank you to all the doctors, nurses, ok I must say pharmacy peeps, and technology that helps keep my little guy going. I am happy to report I have not taken Xanax since Tuesday night. Although I will never give up coffee. Once again thank you!

Here are the my wounds, pretty gross, hu?

P.S. I know it is long but I never want to forget!

"How do I do it?"

2008-10-17T20:12:00.000-07:00

This is the question that has been ask so many times this week! Many times at work! Here is my secret answer...

Coffee and Xanax!

No I am not strong! I depend on my favorite drug coffee and my newly added favorite drug Xanax! Without it I go insane!

It's Scheduled!

2008-10-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

So we are set for Cache's surgery. He will be having it done on the 21st. The day after my birthday. I do not have a time yet but it will be in the morning. All I know is that we are the 2nd heart case for that day and they start at six. He has a few appointments before hand so we can get him prepared. We will be up at Primary's all day Monday getting all sorts of test done. I am sure this will be one of the most trying weeks of my life. I think at this point I am so sick worrying about it that I just want it over so we can get him better. I am scared out of my mind! They are going to have to crack his chest in able to get the leads for the defibrillator in. They say if everything goes well and "perfect" he will be in the hospital about 5 days. I expect the worst and hope for the best. I have learned that is a better way to handle things when a curve ball is thrown at you! I am sure I will be at the hospital by his side the whole time and will not leave till he is coming with me! Thank you to everyone for all your kind thoughts and prayers as it helps us get through this crazy hard time! I know God is telling me that things will work out and that this is for the best, but it is so hard to understand. I am sure he will be with Little Cachers the whole way!

My Birthday Present... Or Was It?

2008-10-13T22:23:00.001-07:00

So Eric tried really hard to surprise me for my birthday! I can read him like a book! When he asked for me to make sure I had a weekend off I had my thoughts! Of course I was right! He did throw me for a loop when he told me New York and I kind of got mad! I didn't want to go to New York for the first time with only 2 days! Then he tried to be funny! Tease me! Well I told him do you want me to guess? Go ahead and try he told me. It took one quick search for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers schedule to see where they were playing. When I told him Denver he looked dumb founded. I told you!! I am smart! He could not believe I figured it out! Although I was very excited and I had never been to a Pro Football game, I think he was a little more excited! I love football but I haven't been able to follow it as much this year! Kind of a bummer! Well to say the least we had fun! It was are first time to Denver and I totally expected to be like Utah but it wasn't. It was a nice city despite the bums. They didn't bother you for money they were just there. Saturday I took a nap for about 2 hours as soon as we got there! I was so tired from all the stress and had not sleeped! It was nice. Then we hit the city, went to dinner, and ran into a Burlesque show. It was sooo funny! We had such a good time! We woke up the next day in full Tampa gear and hit the game! It was so cool to see the players that close! We had awesome seats. We were on the 12 yard line 6 rows up on the Tampa side. I saw all my favorites warming up out of there gear. I have to say they are huge and have the most fit bodies I have ever seen! Although we lost it was still fun and the Denver fans took it easy on us. They were very fun, nice, and respectful. We did however get a few glares when we got overly excited though! That night we bought some pizza took it back to the room ate, hung out, and just sleeped. Which can be nice without kids! Erics mom helped pay for the tickets for my birthday... So thanks mom! It was nice to get away!

Some freaky china doll in a "Denver" shop? Go figure they must have a large Asian community!

My honey and I at the show! Photography by ourselves!

The Burlesque Girls!

The "sexy" host and myself!

If front of that dang Denver Bronco Horse!

Getting to our seats... they were awesome!

Warm ups! Trueblood... he is huge!!!!!

Garcia... he must have know Griese was getting hurt!

The best defence in the league huddling!

Who's my favorite player Mr. Derk Brooks!- this is a song on a commercial for those who don't watch football!

The team huddle before kick off!

The owner! He is bigger in person! I always thought he was a short Irish dude! That is his wife and kids by him!

Things not to be forgotten...

2008-10-13T21:39:00.001-07:00

So I have a few things I wanted to blog about but I have been sidetracked with everything. Now the tricky part is remembering everything...

Mason was Kinderbug a few weeks ago. Which was super fun! The teacher gives you a list of things you do each day so this is how is went down. Monday we took in a very cute poster of pictures of him and his family. With a list of a few of his favorite things which included, pizza, soccer, cheeseburgers, xbox, and of course his family. Mason always says to everyone "I love my family!" It makes me smile every time! Tuesday Mason was so sick and had to miss which was the day you bring your pet in. It was also Green day and he was so upset me missed. Wednesday was your favorite book. He took Fish Out of Water, a Dr. Seuss book. Thursday was bring your favorite treat or food so of course we got 2 cheese pizzas from Little Cesar's. Friday was tell something special about your family. So Cache came with us to school and we told them all about him being deaf and taught them a few sings. It was so much fun! Mason always asks if Dylann can come to class now! The other day Mason asked how babies get in the belly. I was caught of guard and really didn't know what to tell him. So I said God puts them there, and of course a follow up question "How?". It's magic! Mom there is no such thing as magic! That's where I changed the subject! I need to come with a better explanation!

York won his first soccer game today! He was so happy he called me at work to tell me! I wish I could have been there. His dad said he played awesome! One reason I hate my job! I am a total soccer mom! I love to watch yell and cheer! I can't help it! I have a passion for them game since I used to play!

Dylann is getting so funny with all her talking. She is so sassy! Where did she get that from? She now tells you no! I will be like ok time for night night and her hand will go up and say noooo! In a very sassy tone too! I love her! It is so much fun having a girl! She loves her dolls too now. She takes them every where and they are called "babies". She also says "so cute" like "so toot". When we took Cache to the doctor the other day she let him carry the boy twin and she got the girl twin. It was cute and yes I let my son play with dolls!

Cache besides the obvious now says and signs uh-oh. It is funny! I love it! I swear the other day he said his version of I love you while getting on his bus for school which sounds sort of like "ahhh-uuuuu" in a yelling tone. Still super cute and almost made me cry! Probably was just him yelling, but I can pretend! LOL!

I am sure there is a million things I should have posted but didn't so that is all I can remember!

The One Thing That Could Make Me Cry

2008-10-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

So it's been a long week! I mean long! My job sucks, Eric has put in crazy hours, I only got to workout once this week, oh my job sucks, I have got nothing accomplished this week, I am going to miss Yorks game tomorrow, and my job sucks!

But today everything has been put into perspective. All those things above seriously do not matter. Ok Yorks game does, but you get what I am saying. Today was the most trying day I have had in 3 years. Yes 3 seems to be the magic number. Let see... Cache is my 3rd child, he had his pacemaker placed on his 3rd day of life, and now he is 3 years old.

Cache went for his pacer check today and what I wanted to be a quick get this over turned into a all day event. I was stressed because I had to take all the kids by myself, and these doctor appointments are not easy ones. They have to do all sorts of tests and it is long. My kids were out of control and wanting to leave by the time the doctor got into the room. That's when I got the worst news I have had in 3 years. Cache has had an arrhythmia. It happened on July 1st. I remember this day clearly because Cache and I visited the hospital this day. Cache had came in from the backyard screaming and signing that his head hurt. It looked like he hit it but he always does so I got him a bottle to calm him. I took him down stairs and turned on the tv. Not but 5 minutes later York found Cache lying on the stairs looking like he was sick. So York picked him up and he vomited. My first reaction was that he had a concussion. So off we went. Apparently it was not a concussion. Today we found out Cache had an arrhythmia and is a very blessed boy to have had his heart start back in sinus. I was a little on the shocked side when she told me. I don't know if Cache had his meds that morning and if he did he probably just had it. Then came the big hard to swallow news. We need to place a defibrillator. So we are looking at a trip to Primary's ICU within the next week or so.

I knew this day would come. I would have to face another surgery. I just thought I had a few years. Although the surgery scares the crap out of me, that is not what frightens me the most. What scares me is the fact that he could have died. I could have lost him on July 1st, 2008. It is a thought that just sits in the back of my mind all the time, but I try to think logical. Here is my reality check! I am a mom with a child who has Pro Long QT and there is nothing you can do. You can't fix him or make him better. You just have to hope that you are the lucky one who gets to see there child grow-up to be that great man you know he will be. I see kids die everyday at work and I never want to be those parents. I can't imagine the pain they go through. Every time I hear about a child that dies, I never forget it. I always have this thought that it could have been me. All I can do is sit here and hope and pray that he will be ok. It is a horrible feeling! I wish there was something that could be done to just make it go away. To fix him. For now, I guess will go with the hoping and praying.

I know you most of you know the love a mother has with there child, and with each child it is different. I love all my kids for different reasons. Cache is the one I admire, the one I want to be like. Nothing stops that kid. He is determined, challenging, brave, smart, enduring, caring, and can turn a frown up side down by a look. He is an amazing child. I have learned so much from him. He is my life lessons and has taught me so much more then any text book could.

I love you Cache with all my heart and I will be there for you every step of your life. You will never ever be alone. I will fight right along side of you!

What Would You Do?

2008-10-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

Mind you I do not like Cache's teacher! I try really hard but it is difficult! So there is a little note book that goes back and forth from home to school. We use this to write notes on anything we may need to communicate with one another. Well apparently she felt the need to let me know that my kid was whinny today! That's right, whinny. This was the exact statement. "Cache was really whinny today!" Wow a 3 year old was whinny? I always thought they were angels! So I want to write something really witty in the book back like... Wow a 3 year old was whinny! That is just crazy! Or maybe... sounds like your the one whining... Maybe you should have picked a different profession! Like seriously! When he woke up this morning I though maybe you will whinny at school, you should stay home! WHAT THE HELL posses you to tell a parent this? Even if you were thinking it! So what would you do?

6 Crazy Quirks...

2008-09-27T11:32:00.000-07:00

Tagged from Luara-Ann.....
Definition of quirk:
n.1. A peculiarity of behavior; an idiosyncrasy: "Every man had his own quirks and twists" Harriet Beecher Stowe.
2. An unpredictable or unaccountable act or event; a vagary: a quirk of fate.

Rules: Link the Person who Tagged you. Mention rules on your blog. Tell about 6 quirks of yours. Tag 6 fellow bloggers to do the same.Leave a comment to let them know.

I don't have 6 friends but I will try!!!!

1. I have to have coffee in the morning or I am worthless all day!

2. I like clean. Clean everything. Now I don't always accomplish clean because I have 4 kids but if I didn't my house would be spotless and I would be the most organized person in the world!

3. My laundry! Sorry Lisa and Chelby! I am forever grateful and don't feel you have to stop! I am just weird about it when I do it! I don't know what you do so it doesn't bother me! I must have it folded right and it must be folded as soon as the drier ends. If I am not home I restart it and then fold when done! I have to put the right things (soaps, etc.) in the right loads depending on color. I have to have the right setting for example... towels and blankets are always put on sanitize. I am a freak I know! This also goes for dishes! There must be nothing on a dish when put in the dishwasher. I must have things put in the spot where I like them! I use the dishwasher as a sanitizer not a cleaner!

4. I strive for perfection! I don't always succeed (at all) but I try! I want to be the best at everything and when I am not it bugs me!

5. When I DO get ready, I have to do it in order or I would forget to put on my deodorant or wash the shampoo out of my hair. I am with you on this Luara-Ann! I totally do the same thing!

6. Sleep! I must have it! I am, forgive me for saying, a bitch when I don't get it! I love to sleep in and it drives me crazy when I let Eric sleep in and he gets up at 9:00. That is not sleeping in! 10:00, 11:00 that is sleeping in! He waisted a perfect sleeping in day! I am a Lindsay, what can I say!

I tag,
Arg I don't have 6 friends... Lisa- don't complain just do it, Chelby- if she would ever blog, Julie- if you just so happen to read this, Kelly- I know you never read my blog, Jennica- she may pass by, Katie- it is her husband that blogs so this won't happen. K, I found 6 barly!

Hope you have fun doing this.........

Mom by Day, Striper by Night

2008-09-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

It's a rough life you know... being a striper at night. The house calls and the men, arg, it is a killer! Are you wondering what the hell I am talking about yet? Well get ready to laugh your ass off cause this is a good one!

The mood: Saturday night quite, chilly ,not much going on, it's a great movie night.

Lisa decides to come over for a movie.(Lisa is my sister-in-law and neighbor.) Well she also brought a big bag of cloths that was our nieces. We were going to give them to another friend and neighbor Chelby for her daughters. We decide to go through the bag for fun. We were bord. Let me tell ya the first thing that I pulled out that caught my eye... a red shiny "American Idol" short skirt that was hot! We laugh and throw it in the pile. What? Another thing that catches my eye? Knit stockings! Sweet! I am sure this is what the girls have always wanted! Finally the last thing that really grabbed me a black lacy top with velvet! Oh what a number! It was screaming my name! I had to wear it all together! All I have to say is WOW! I look hot! Like a striper! 2nd South and State here I come!
We took a venture to Chelby's house, you know, to show her the cloths we had in store for her girls! She really did appreciate it! She Always wanted the stripper life for them, and now they had the outfit!
Side note- Chelby would never even let her kids so much as try on this number!
Then it hit us, an adventure! Let's go see Jennica, she will find it funny. So off we went. As we are driving through the neighborhood we see Natalie is having a a party at her house. Well actually it is her husband Ben and it is guys night! Yes this gets good!
Phone call to Natalie... we are going to play a little joke on the boys! She is all game for it! FYI... I know none of these men but I do know most of there wives! And they are all very good boys and hold Temple Recommends. For my readers who don't know what that means... they are the cream of the crop Mormons. They follow all the rules and would never even think about stripers!

Melissa Walks to the door... knock knock!
Natalie answers, I am going to get Ben.
Ben opens door...
Melissa: Yeah I got a page to be here?
Ben: OH NO I AM SORRY!
Melissa: Really?
Ben: No I am sorry, I am so sorry NO!
Melissa and Natalie: Laugh!
Natalie: Ben it is my friend!
Ben: Oh thank you! Very relived! Hey please come down stairs I would love to do this to my buddies!
Melissa takes deep breath... believe it or not I was REALLY nervous.
We all walk to the top of the stairs.
Ben opens the door and says...
Ben: Who ordered the striper? I am trying not to laugh at all there faces! There jaws were dropped to the floor in amazement!
Natalie picking on a poor boy says Joel was this you!
Poor Joel just shakes his head.
Ben: I wanna know who did this!
Then it came out we could not keep it straight any more.

That my friends was classic! I will never forget those poor men's faces! I am so sorry you were the butt of the joke, but it was great!

I needed a drink and Jennica was not home yet. So off to the gas station. I contemplated just having one of the girls get it, then I thought, no this will be fun! I walk in and the 3 people that were in there just stared at me! Mind you I am in a mini van! I grab a bottle water and go pay. I finally just start laughing because I could feel the eyes staring at me in the back of my head! It was awesome!

Next we are off to Jennica's. She knows something is up we called her to see if she was home. Her husband just looked at me like I was crazy! He knew who I was! He grew up with my brother, so he was really no fun! He just said please don't get arrested! Words you should not take lightly!

Last but not least Julie and her poor hubby Trent. Trent is a seminary teacher and probably the nicest guy! We get there and knock but no answer. I was really nervous because they have teenagers! So we think about what to do. Then a cop drives by! OH shit, I am going to jail! Then I see Trent walk by! It is now or never, so I knock!

Trent: Hello.
Melissa: Yeah I got a page to be here?
Trent: Really? He is sooo confused.
Melissa: Yeah
Trent: Well would you like to come in, you look cold!
Julie: HI, nice outfit Melissa. Trent this is Melissa Lisa's sister-in-law.
Trent: OH!
Everyone starts laughing!
Now I actually feel bad for Trent. He did not think twice about me and that I may have been a call girl. He is this good! I really feel bad! I am sooo sorry Trent! As Julie put it... he was probably going to give you a blessing! I probably need one after that! Julie you have a good man! I am sorry Trent! Lisa put me up to it!

Overall it was funny and we had a blast being dumb! I will never ever forget the look on all the men's faces that were at Natalie's. I just keep laughing! Thank you for letting us have a good time at your expense!

Happy Birthday Dylann... My Dilly Bugs!

2008-09-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

Yup my baby girl is officially 2! I can't believe it. I remember the day we had her like it was yesterday. I knew she would be in the hospital a few day with all of our heart issues. I remember just looking at her and thinking how beautiful she was. Her dark hair with curls, and gorgeous skin. The day after I had her Eric left for Utah with the kids and I stayed in Vegas waiting to take her home. It was a long few days. Eric was supposed to come back that weekend to get us. When I finally got to take her home I was alone and came home to an empty house. I was so lonely so I decided the next morning I was going to pack us up and drive to Utah alone! Which I did! I bought 3 new CD's for the ride hoping I could keep her occupied with my singing! HA HA! I bought the Cars soundtrack, Carrie Underwood, and I can't remember the other one. Must not have listened to it long! She did great on the ride to our new life in Utah.

Dylann has grown so much. She walks, runs, and keeps up with those brothers anyway she can! She loves to play with older girls and Sassy Cassy is her favorite! They share the same curly hair and birthday! Dylann sings her ABC's and tries to sign them as she goes. She is starting to talk a lot and uses signs. She will now talk to her Daddy on the phone and tell him Hi and I love you, bye! She can yell all her brothers names and trust me they come running when she does! It usually goes like this... York where are you? She loves to give kisses to everyone that is around before going to bed and will not miss a brother. Even if they are not here she yells for them. Her and Cache are best buddies, they play, fight, and console one another when they are in trouble. It is the cutest thing ever! She has her tantrums of course and most of the time we laugh because she will go running in a different room close the door and scream and cry. Other times, the not so cute ones, she runs up to me and just takes a bite! Yeah that one is supper fun! She is a beautiful little girl and I am so grateful God has given her to us. She was such a surprise but the best one at that. She really completes our family and I could never imagine not having her. We love you so much thank you for completing our family!

Happy Birthday Dilly Bugs!

My Metro Sexual Kindergartner

2008-09-04T23:13:00.000-07:00

Yes my little kindergartner is a Metor Sexual 5 year old, but a very cute one at that! He is so handsome! He had his first day of kindergarten, and of course loved it. He has a great teach Ms. Keith! He made her a cute little card and we got her some Diet Coke and candy bars. (I was told she liked them!) So as he was getting ready he had to have some smell good stuff on. "You know the stuff that makes girls like you!" Yes he means perfume! He loves Axe spray and I have to say it smells good. My husband gave him a hug and then comes up and whispers to me does he have on Axe, yes! He is a silly boy, and did I mention HANDSOME! He is so excited for school. He loves it. I think he wins cutest kid in class award! REALLY!

Cache's Story

2008-09-04T23:04:00.001-07:00

Cache is an amazing child! I call him our life savor and hero. I can not begin to describe how much this child has and will endure in his life time. Cache was born at 37 weeks, 7 pounds 14 ounces, 19.5 inches long, and came out fighting.
We were living in Las Vegas at the time and I was about 32 weeks along. It was time for my appointment. I was excited another ultra sound to see the little guy. I was being monitored for my pre-term labor. There it was the heart rate, the thing you can’t wait to hear, and the reassuring drumming dance that comes out of your belly. You would think that this would be a happy moment, but the look on my doctor’s face said other wise. His heart is not fast enough. He is only at 90 beats and should be about 120. I am so sorry, but I have to send you to Labor and Delivery. What? How could this happen? I am not one to freak out, so off we went. Then the chaos happened. I was suddenly getting prepped for an emergency c-section. Heart block is what they were saying. Frantically we were trying to find babysitters and help. Flying grandma in from Utah, she could be here first thing in the morning. Then my doctor came in, it’s ok we are not going to take the baby. But they said, no, something is not right, but he looks ok. His ultrasound is great and if you were to show any doctor the heart strip and the ultrasound they would not think it was the same baby. Humm… special case, I am always the “special case”.
I was followed by so many doctors and so many tests. There were OB’s, neonatalologist, and pediatric cardiologist. It was a long 5 weeks. An amniocentesis was completed and the lungs showed mature. It was a wonderful 5 hours of labor total from start to finish. He looks great, but we are going to take him for tests. Not but 12 hours later he was being transferred to Sunrise Pediatric Hospital, and I was being discharged. When we got there we were greeted by the Pediatric Cardiologist, Dr. Acherman. He began to explain that Cache had a heart problem called Pro Long QT and bradycardia. He needed to be put on medication for the Pro Long QT but with the bradycardia there was no way because his heart rate would crash. He needed to place a pace maker in the morning. WOW! What a blow. What was supposed to be the happiest day turned out to be the scariest?
The surgery felt like forever. We were they only ones sitting in the waiting room because it was a Saturday morning. When all of a sudden 3 doctors came walking in. I think my heart sunk. Why 3? What happened? Then the surgeon spoke it went great. I think at that moment I was so overwhelmed with happiness that I wanted to just leap at him and give him a big hug. I could see he saw this on my face and just gave me the biggest smile and grabbed my hand. He is fine he said, still sleeping but fine! It was a long 3 weeks of recovery. A few set backs, his heart rejected the pacemaker and another surgery was performed to relive the fluid that was building up.
The day I took him home was the happiest day of my life. He wore the cutest preemie frog outfit that was so big on him from losing so much weight. My little guy came home.
We later found that this genetic syndrome was in my family, Cache’s uncle and cousins and sister all have it. He saved there life. By enduring so many challenges at the first of his life saved many others. A hero! Another side affect from one of the stands Cache has is hearing loss. Cache is also profoundly deaf. He has not once let these little challenges slow him down. He is not sturdy on his feet but he will keep up with you!
He is truly an amazing child that inspires me everyday. Just speaking of him can bring me to tears. I love him so much and that is why I have such a passion to inform others. I would never want to lose a child to such a fixable syndrome. Education is key and could save lives. Please visit www.sads.org to find out more on Pro Long QT.

It's SADS Awareness Month!- Please Read This Post!

2008-09-03T22:11:00.000-07:00

So as most know my family and children have been blessed with a genetic heart condition called Pro Long QT Syndrome. Well September is Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS) Awareness month. This is a very common undiagnosed syndrome that is also known as "The Silent Killer". So here it is! This is something near and dear to my heart and I would love to get the word out to as many people as I can! So if you love me you will copy this post and re-post on your blog with your own little ditty and ask all your friends to do the same thing! I know it sounds silly and lame but we do this with chain crap all the time, but this time it could save someones life!

So please help me for my cause! Thank you and I love you!

Here are some eye grabbing facts to help you along...

• Each year in the United States, 400,000 Americans die suddenly and
unexpectedly due to cardiac arrhythmia's. 3,976 of them are young
people under age 35

• Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) is 3 times more common than childhood
leukemia (ALL) in the US and occurs 1/3 as often as cystic fibrosis and
twice as often as PKU (an infant protein deficiency which causes
mental retardation)

• SADS occur in about 240 people per 100,000, with 20 having LQTS,
20 having ARVD and 200 with HCM

• 1 in 200,000 high school athletes in the US will die suddenly, most
without any prior symptoms

Hundreds of children and young adults die each year in the United States due to Long QT Syndrome.
Any young person who has experienced unexplained fainting should be tested.
It is extremely important that all family members be tested for these conditions once one family member is identified as having the condition.
SADS’ Mission: To save the lives and support the families of children & young adults who are genetically predisposed to sudden death due to heart rhythm abnormalities.
Long QT Syndrome
(LQTS)
What is Long QT Syndrome (LQTS)?
1. LQTS is a disturbance of the heart's electrical system, causing an abnormality of the heartbeat, or rhythm of the heart.
2. Because of this abnormality, affected people are vulnerable to sudden fainting (syncope) and even death.
3. Unfortunately, many times the cause of the syncope is overlooked and the events are called simple fainting spells or seizures.
4. Most often, these events occur during physical exertion or emotional stress. In some they occur during sleep.
5. Fortunately, most of these deaths are preventable if the condition is recognized and treated.
What are the Symptoms?
♥ Fainting episodes (syncope) during or immediately after physical activity
♥ Fainting as a result of emotional excitement/distress/startle
♥ Family history of unexplained death below age 40
How is it Diagnosed?
The diagnosis is made from an ECG that has been read by a cardiologist, not a computer. Usually a series of ECGs will enable your doctor to diagnose LQTS. In some cases, an exercise ECG or event monitor will clarify the diagnosis. Finally,a diagnostic genetic test is now available and is extremely useful for diagnosis and treatment.
How Is It Treated?
Treatment is very effective in the vast majority of patients. Medications called beta-blockers are effective in about 90% of patients. In the remaining cases, a pacemaker or automatic defibrillator is used.
A child should be seen by a doctor if she/he has:
• Family history of unexpected, unexplained sudden death in a young person
• Fainting (syncope) or seizure during exercise, excitement or startle
• Consistent or unusual chest pain and/or shortness of breath during exercise

Thank you to all who repost!
www.lissamousemm.blogspot.com

For more information contact...

Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS) Foundation
508 East South Temple Suite 20
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
800-STOP SAD or 801-531-0937
Fax: 801-531-0945
www.sads.org

Bribery... It may work!

2008-09-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

So this is something I never want to forget! Yesterday Mason and Dylann were playing. Mason asked Dylann to come help him. Dylann of course just sat there. So Mason says "Dylann come help me and I will give you a hug!" How cute is that! She didn't come help but he still did give her a hug. And when he did she wrapped her little arms and legs around him like a tree trunk! I love when my kids show they love one another. I always want them to be close and best friends.

Cache's First Day of School!

2008-09-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

So I am late posting! I have been busy and working! I have 780 pictures to go through from our trip... so 1 day you might see those! But first... Cache! He was so excited the second the bus got here! He knew right where he was going! He has a love for school like Mason. I love it! I could not imagine struggling and making him get on that bus! His "awesome teacher" (I am being sarcastic, I am not a fan of her, and I don't know how the year is going to go!) said he did good. Which I guess is a compliment coming from her. He took in treats the other day and was so excited to give them to his teacher! He is so cute. I hope this year we see some progress, but if not, then he will take his own little path. Which either way I will be so happy and proud of him!

York is back in school! I am a bad mom and forgot to get up an take some pics! We had just gotten back from our trip late the night before! He likes his school and his classes. York has a great group of friends he hangs out with. I am pretty happy he has found some good ones!

I think I am cool because I wear my girlfriends pants!

2008-08-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

Yes we have official surpassed the eights in the ugliest cloths era! Boys wearing the ugliest tight pants ever. I have yet to see someone that actually looks good in these. How this became fashion my friends I just don't know? Quick story before I go into the point of the post... I boy about 15 came into the hospital with a testicular infection. Why you might ask? Well he was squeezing those little guys a little too tight in those pants! He could barley sit and they were swollen to a size you could not imagine. Not that I saw them, I just heard from the mother! Let that be a lesson boys... don't wear your girlfriends pants! Anyway... so yes my son is no exception to this new fashion fad. He likes them and wants them. But I and his father are holding firm on this one, no girl pants! So as you can imagine school shopping was going to be an adventure. I had a mission to help York fix this fashion foo pah he was in. I was determined to get him to like something other then "skate" clothes. He is getting older and I want the chicks to dig him. Tight pants would not be the kind of girl I want for my son! Here is how shopping went... Yes this is a long post but I needed to inform!

Walk in and take a few things back to Sears. Go to Aeropostal and exchange pants. He is tall and skinny and I am ok with pants that "fit" but it was really hard to find. Score we had this cute little gay boy find us some. Next do you want anything else. Hum and ha, no, ok what about these shorts. Yeah there ok. I grab them, you need a shirt to match, how about this one. (it was a polo) NO! OK I settle for a brown t-shirt.

As you see it looks super cute. FYI these pics where taken fast late and he needs a hair cut!

Next Pac Sun. They have a ton of backpacks. Of course I think he looked at them all and found the most hideous one and picked it. HELL NO! That is so fugly! (if you need to know what fugly is ask me in person!) Of course pouts like a 13 year old boy does. No they never stop pouting so get ready! Do you want anything else in here? NO! SASSY!

Zummies, the store I dread. I want skate pants. NO, this is not up for discussion. You are not getting them. POUT. How about this backpack. It is white try again. FINE! Dad calls... a few choice words were said and a smile pops back up on Yorks face. Finds a backpack and it looks cool. I like it. Sales boy begs me to let him try on some pants. Fine go ahead. All tight girly and of course fugly! I find a pair that may work. Yes they looks cute. Volcom, he is thrilled. Found cute Reef sandals. Other sales boy says this shirt is "Sick". I like it, sure. This one is the "sickest"! and I quote "That shirt makes me sick, NO!" Finds a jacket that is cute. We find some shoes there a little later but I did not want to go over that.

The new backpack

The pants and shoes (yes one of them is not laced up, ran out of time)

The shirt and flipflops

We are now off to Buckel where I spent too much money! The little sales boy there was great and helped me a ton. I got York to try on a button up shirt with a whole outfit and he liked it. I even made this young girl shopping come check him out and of course thought it looked cute! It was super cute! It was the cutest Guess jeans and shirt I had ever seen! The pic does not give it justice. I find so many things there that I am just tossing them over the door to try on. We find a ton and he looked soooo cute. I am very proud of myself and him for being such a sport!

It was a rough go at first but we ended up having so much fun! It is kind of fun having a teen around! SOMETIMES! Also do you notice anything different about York? It is kind of hard to see with these bad pics but he got braces. He is happy because he will have them off before high school.

It's Raining, It's Pouring

2008-08-13T08:13:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday it just started raining out of no where. It was warm and the kids thought it would be fun to go play in it. I saw no harm in it and they had a blast!

Family Pic

2008-08-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

This was the recent family pic taken at my nephews baptism. York was missing this day because he was at his moms. Although Grandma took it, it is not too bad after editing! Also one of my Dilly Bugs in her cute dress!

Yellowstone Nationial Park

2008-08-07T09:29:00.000-07:00

We had such a blast Just hanging out and camping! The drive was way long but so worth it! It only made me wish we had camped more this summer. I hate when summer is almost over and you wish you had done so much more! Yellowstone was beautiful! I had never been there and it was my fist time. We stayed in West Yellowstone in Montana. It was super hot in the day and freezing at night! The first night we were so cold that the next day we went and bought a heater for the tent! After that the nights were smooth sailing. We took a few drives through the canyons, went swimming, went to the bear and wolf exhibit, and of course made smores! It was so much fun. Although I think Mason went through withdrawal from XBox, he had fun! The kids were great the whole time and true campers! I love my new dutch oven and we made yummy food in it! We will for sure make it back up there in the near future!

The Curse Of Sunset Links!

2008-08-06T09:10:00.000-07:00

You all know what curse I am talking about....
Who is next....

Ta Da...

2008-07-31T21:30:00.000-07:00

So we went camping in Yellowstone. Pics and blogging is to come soon! But I had to tell everyone the greatest thing about coming home. So as you know I have great neighbors! One just so happens to be my sister-in-law! The other my recently found sardine friend Chelby! Well Eric walked in and Ta Da...

A CLEAN HOUSE!

It was so awesome! I already had so much to do that this was the great bestest gift ever!

LISA, CHELBY, AND LITTLE SASSY CASSIE! You are the best ever! You guys are awesome! I couldn't ask for better friends! I am a little embarrassed you saw my house that way but.. it was awesome!

I will get you back Chelby and Lisa... when you least expect it! It will be this great and wonderful surprise! OK let's face it... I am not that creative but you will get repaid!

Love ya gals!

My Week Wraped Up In A Nut Shell

2008-07-20T20:14:00.000-07:00

1 long night on a tramp with 4 boys sleeping on top me
2 long nights of night games
3 nights of working
1 night out with friends
1 frighting phone call
2 cop cars
1 firetruck
1 ambulance
a few awesome neighbors
and....
1 tired mom!

Just Deleted Everything!

2008-07-13T00:15:00.000-07:00

Yeah all the stuff on the side of my page just got deleted! That is awesome! I guess I will have to retype everything! That sucks!

Surf or Die...and a Princess

2008-07-12T23:29:00.000-07:00

Well the kids had an awesome day! The church for our neighborhood put on a parade that the kids got to be in. It was nothing big but they thought it was the greatest thing on the earth. At first I have to say I was not too excited. So that morning I went to every store trying to find something they could wear. I was hoping to find old 4th of July cloths but no luck. I did score at Target on some really cute princess gear for Dylann and Emma. They were princesses in a pumpkin pulled my horses (Becca). Chelby made the cutest pumpkin carriage out of the bike stroller and I made some horses out of some faddodels. Then it struck me the Boys can be surf bums. So I painted some cardboard and put it on the back of there Mustang with signs that said Surf or Die. (Thanks Lisa!) They wore there swim suites and I bought them some shades. It was really cute and they looked awesome. The kids had sooo much fun thanks to Chelby! I loved watching her get soaked by all the kids. Sorry I would have helped you but I was in pain from my ulcer! Damn that makes me sound old!

The 4th!

2008-07-12T22:57:00.000-07:00

Well our 4th was less then enjoyable! I was sick the whole night before and I was just not in the mood. Plus, I am not a big fan of fireworks. So Eric wanted to BBQ and make some good grub. I went to the store bought the stuff came home and said I can't cook I feel like crap. So hamburger helper it was! Eric bought way too many fireworks the kids started to get bored. I think we lit them for a good solid 2-3 hours. It was awful, although the kids loved it... at least the first 1 hour. I wish I could have been more fun but it was just the 4th of July right?

I'm Picking up a Baby Bumble Bee!

2008-07-08T21:51:00.000-07:00

My mommy wasn't so proud of me! Yes my little Cacher's was stung by a bee this past Saturday! It was sad! Eric heard him starting to cry and pointing at his arm. When he got to me he started to sign hurt and bug! Poor little guy! I think he is the first to be stung! But after we cleaned it up put the home remedy on and he was good to go! But still signs bug and hurt together!