So, it all started with a doctor visit...
Owen & Adee had been fighting a lame lingering cough for like a week so we felt like we needed to take them in & make sure it wasn't something else too serious. Of course they were both basically fine & our doctor said that we didn't really need anything since they were over the worst of it. WHEW! But Owen needed to have his right ear flushed out because he had a large wax blockage that looked impacted & attatched to the skin & hair follicles. YUCK! Owen hadn't even had trouble with his ear-weird- but they said the sooner we get it out the better. So they gave us some ear drops to use everyother nite for a week to soften up the ear wax & then come back in a week & they would flush it out. Simple right? Wrong...the couple of nites we used the drops were torture! Owen was miserable-he would only sleep for about 30 minutes & then wake up crying & thrashing. We tried everything we could think of to make him comfortable-but nothing worked. It was a long couple days! Something just didn't seem right. So we decide to take him to the instacare (because of course now our regular doctor is gone for Spring Break). Can I just say how NOT impressed I am with the staff at the instacare-they are SO not kid friendly...but that is a whole other post...anyway the doctor there said that Owen could be allergic to the ear drops & that he could now have an ear infection behind the wax blockage. He told us to stop using the drops, gave us an antibiotic for his possible ear infection & said that we should just go to an ENT (Ear Nose & Throat) doctor because they can suck out the wax much easier. Okay. The next few days weren't too bad...
We went down to Vegas to stay over nite with Danny's parents at their swanky RV resort. The weather was awesome! We even went swimming! The nite was so nice that Owen & Danny slept outside under the stars. Besides the yummy food at PF Changs- the highlight of the trip was the Live Mermaid show at the Silverton Aquariam. The kids were completely mesmerized-even Owen! They loved it-Adee cried when we had to leave the mermaid. It was so cute- wish I had my camera!
We came back friday nite just in time to make it to the Nashville Tribute concert at Tuacahn-it was awesome! I just love those guys-they are so talented! They even surprised us & had the actress who plays Emma in the new Emma movie sing a few songs-it was amazing! Even Danny agreed that it was the best show we had seen at Tuacahn. Apparently he isn't a fan of musicals, Colbie Calliat, or Thriller :0) Anyway...it was a great nite!
Back to the ear drama...we finally had our ENT appointment on tuesday. The doctor was great & very personable. He decided to put some hydrogen peroxide in Owen's ear for a few minutes to help soften the wax before he sucked it out. Then he gives us the option to either strap Owen down for a few minutes while they suck it out, or sedate him-which you never know how that will go. He said if it was his kid he would just strap him down & deal with the screaming for a minute & be done with it. Okay. So we get him strapped down & of course he is screaming his guts out & breaking my heart- the nurse is holding his head still & he hates that. The doctor starts poking around in his ear & says "wait a minute....I think....yeah...that is a popcorn kernel"
WHAT?!
Yup, he had a popcorn kernel in his ear, right next to the ear drum. How did he even get it in that far? How long had it been there? WHO KNOWS! Crazy! So after more intense screaming, some blood & a teary mom...they finally got the popcorn kernel out. I wish they had sedated both of us! The doctor said that his ear drum seemed fine-no damage done. But he said that explains why the ear drops were so painful-they were causing the popcorn kernel to expand-right next to his ear drum! Poor guy! I felt so bad for the kid! He even had popped blood vessels all over his face that looked like little red freckles from all the screaming. :0( After we got Owen calmed down we showed him the popcorn kernel & asked him if he put that in his ear & he said yes & started crying again. Needless to say-he was asleep before we even got to the car. Anyway...after a long painful week, we both survived & now we can finally move on with our lives...popcorn kernel free!
Interesting side note...he is now sleeping thru the nite...YES!
I think it is so crazy that who knows how long that had been in there & would have stayed in there if we hadn't gone to the doctor for a whole other reason. His regular check up wouldn't have been till the end of June & since the popcorn kernel wasn't bugging him we wouldn't have known anything was even in there till then. Plus, they would have just told us it was a wax blockage that needed to be flushed out some time-yeah...that would have gone well!
Somehow things always work out when we follow the promptings of the spirit...thank goodness!
Thanksgiving weekend we did a fun hike called Yankee Doodle Canyon. You repel down into a slot canyon-it was gorgeous! Then there were a couple other repels & mostly a slight down hill hike till the end when we had to hike right back up out of there-awesome! I hadn't repelled in years so Danny made me wear a helmet :0) But it was just like riding a bike. Danny has really gotten into it. He has gotten all the repelling gear & goes quite a bit so I am excited to have this hobby we can do together. 
Who's that hottie? :0) 
Not my best angle ;0) 
This is the beginning of the hike-the repel down into the canyon-what a rush! 
Our corn isn't quite as high as an elephants eye- but this is the best our corn has ever done! Maybe we are finally getting the hang of this gardening stuff. Our peas have come & gone & they were delish! We also planted tomatoes, pumpkins, peppers, & cucumbers. Can't wait to see how they all turn out this year. 
Yes- this mess is also a garden on the other side of the house- and it drives me a little crazy! If it were up to me our gardens would all be in perfectly straight rows, labeled with type & variety. Ya know-somethig real Martha Stewart-ish. Most of you know how particular I can be :0) But since Danny does most the work I can't complain right? At least not to him ;0)
Before baking-they still look yummy!
We got him a Spiderman Bike & he LOVED it! He was so excited & couldn't wait to get on. But he wasn't really diggin the helmet. Sorry Bud-safety first!
As most of you know Danny owns a landscape business. A year ago one of his maintenance clients mentioned that they might be getting rid of their dog. Danny had seen the dog a lot & liked him, so he told them that he would be interested if they did decide to give him away. Well, we didn't hear anything else about it till a couple weeks ago. They tell Danny that they are going to give him away because they just travel too much (they have 4 homes including a ranch in Idaho). So we had him over for a few days to see if we liked him & he liked us. Well, it is a match made in heaven...he is the perfect dog. He almost never barks, never chews on stuff, won't get on the furniture, doesn't shed & is great with the kids. He is totally laid back & easy going. Not at all like the hyper & annoying dog we got rid of a year ago- but that is a whole other story... 
This is how they groom Wheaton Terrier's for dog shows. I like Katch's cut much better. Although I would like to try his ears short just to see... 
She came fast & furious- we had only been at the hospital for 2 hours when she was born. Reese is kind of our miracle baby cuz the cord was wrapped around her neck TWICE, and the cord was attached to the placenta in the 'wrong place' (whatever that means!) and the nurse said that if my water had fully broken then we wouldn't have been able to even get to the hospital in time! Scary! We are so lucky & so blessed! My water actually started leaking around 8 thursday nite-but it was so minimal that I just kept thinking that it was just an increase in discharge or something like that. But I couldn't get it out of my mind. All nite the contractions got stronger but they were like 30 minutes apart. Finally, in the morning I decided we better go in just to be safe. The contractions weren't very consistent but they were really strong. Anyway- we get there & they check me & I was already 6+ (hooray!) then they test to see if the water is leaking- & sure enough-it was! By this time my contractions are every 5 minutes or less & I am more than ready for my epidural. Why do the nurses just laugh when I ask for my epidural right when I get there? :0)
Of course my body didn't want to cooperate-AGAIN & the epidural didn't take on the right side. This happened with Adee & Owen too. Luckily with Owen they had time to adjust it & it started working. This time with Reese everything happened so fast that by the time they got it to start working on my right side it was time to push. Thanks for nothing! :0) Anyway- long story short- it was quick and painful. I didn't have to push for too long & I have NEVER been more relieved to have something over with!
We were a little worried at first cuz she didn't start crying right away-all the other kids have been screamers right from the start. She just layed there-looking around- it was kind of unnerving. She exercised her lungs shortly after that- she's got pipes to match the other 3! We also noticed how much she looks like Adee-although Adee weighed a little more. What a cutie! 
Anyway- that is scoop in a nutshell. We are both doing great- I think this has been the best recovery I have had so far. I feel really pretty great, considering :0) The kids are just loving her-so cute to see them together. Even Owen has done really great so far, which is a relief cuz I was kinda worried about how my momma's boy was going to react. They all want to hold her constantly, & help take care of her. They even ask what chores & jobs they can do to help. Averee has been making everyones beds & getting anything I ask of her, Adee does whatever Averee is doing, & Owen is on official diaper duty. They have been great. Although, they are quite concerned about her 'yucky-owie-belly button' so it will be a relief when that falls off so they will stop talking & asking about it. Funny side note- Owen thinks it is hilarious everytime he sees me nurse Reese. He just starts laughing & laughing- must be a guy thing? :0)
That is it for now- I am going to try and sneak a nap in before lunch. I will try to keep you updated with pics & stuff...but I make no promises! :0)
In March, Averee turned the ripe old age of 6! Crazy huh? I can't believe my little princess is already 6! She had a party with all the girls from school- they made personal pizzas, decorated cupcakes, & played games. Man was she spoiled this year-she has Little Pet Shops & Barbies coming out her ears! 
In April, our little Adee Patty turned 4. What a cutie! After seeing Averee's festivities- she just had to invite all the girls from her preschool class. They had so much fun- they decorated princess crowns & cupcakes, & played games. And just like Averee- she was totally spoiled too! 
As for Owen, his major milestone has been potty training. I am proud to say that we are past that hurdle-other than he still wears a diaper at nite-but otherwise he is totally potty trained. Even poop. HOORAY! :0) Way to go OJO! He also got to go on his first Fathers & Sons campout. Danny said he did great & almost slept thru the nite. He was so super excited to go camping with Daddy & Papa. I just love that pic of them in the sleeping bag together-too cute!
Averee's Kindergarten Graduation was so funny. Kids just crack me up. Each child was dressed up as something they want to be when they grow up- Averee was a nurse & she delivered her lines perfectly. I was super impressed by all the songs they had memorized. She has learned a ton this year-especially reading & writing. She loves to read to Owen & Adee-so cute! Watch out 1st grade-here she comes! 
Adee & Mrs. Nobis
Adelyn graduated from preschool this month as well- can't believe the school year is over. It has flown by. Adee has learned & grown up so much. The program was so cute- they sang all their songs-really quietly-but they sang. :0) Adee was one of the only kids that didn't need help with her lines. She even announced that "No, I don't need help..." and continued on with her part. Too funny. She still has another year of preschool before she moves on to the big leagues-Kindergarten. Which she can't wait for- she really wants to ride the bus with Averee & have recess like the big kids. Oh, the joys of childhood! :0)
