Stupidity of Youth!

I shouldn't be surprised, but there are times when it hits me all over again how 'dumb' teenagers are. And put a bunch of them together and dumb doesn't even begin to describe it! Even really good kids, in the right setting simply lack the common sense it takes to make rational decisions. WHY? I wish I knew.

Thayne and I had just gotten home from dinner and a movie. Thank goodness we were home when the stupidity took place! Kinzee had gone down to bed. I was feeding Nate and all was calm and quiet. Until.... until we heard the most horrible scream you could imagine. Kinzee came running upstairs, shaking, crying and screaming. We finally got her to tell us what happened. There was a face in her window. Not just a face, but somebody in black with their hands and face pressed against her basement bedroom window. You know the kind... where they have to climb down into it and look in. She was completely freaked out.

Thayne and Jace immediately grabbed flashlights and ran outside. I was in front as they ran around the back but nobody was there. Thayne is barefoot and still headed down the road to where I could hear neighbor kids and a bunch of their friends. By the time Thayne got there it was silent and no kids were to be seen. But I had heard them and knew who it was. Jace drove around the road behind our house. The only problem was, there was an incident at work that left Thayne a little bit freaked out and we decided since no kids were around that we better call the police in case this had anything to do with the incident. By now Thayne is just MAD. Don't mess with his family. This isn't just an innocent prank. What they did was against the law! So he walked down to the house and this time found about a dozen kids (all kids of our friends) and he let them know that what happened was not okay. They admitted it was them and came down to apologize. Thayne talked to the dad, who was fuming too. I almost feel sorry for what they will be facing when they get home. The deputy also found them and took names, birthdays and phone numbers and let them know that they were hitting curfew and they BETTER not be out past then. Hmmmmm... just goes to show that smart kids can turn really stupid when they don't take time to think about their actions. Well, isn't that true for adults too!!!???!!!

Let's just say that there are a lot of sleeping bags upstairs tonight!!!

The DMV....

There is no place in the world that can bring people from every walk of life together like sitting in the DMV. There is also no place in the world that can be more infuriating than the DMV. Today I got to once again experience the.... um.... joy of sitting in the DMV. There was the silver haired grandma who looked like she wanted to cry when they told her she could register her vehicle on the computer (what??? a computer? How do I use the computer?) or the gangster wanna-be who had to keep pulling up his pants and giving us all a wonderful view of his underwear. Or the guy sitting next to me that is now my new best friend, complete with mohawk, piercings and the nude woman tattoo on his arm but asked oh so politely if he could borrow my pen. There was also the new dad (who also borrowed my pen) excited about his 5 week old child. And the kid who had something poking out of both sides of his lip that reminded me of a catfish somehow! There was the lady with the walker there to get her handicap sticker and the two guys trying to get their license reinstated (I didn't even want to know what they did to lose it in the first place. From the looks of them I could probably guess... except you can't always judge them by their appearance!) There was the clean cut businessman, several construction workers, an old cowboy with a nice, big belt buckle and an old hippie. There was the grumpy 60 something woman who chewed out the workers for allowing somebody to go to the front of the line (hey, they had a pass!)... and let me tell you about the line. Several months ago somebody there came up with the brilliant idea to make two rows of chairs.... long rows! You sit on the last chair available and then as they call somebody up, everyone gets up and moves. Imagine musical chairs, only there is no music, and no running around to keep your chair... just an endless row that goes on and on and everyone shuffling to the front of the room.

Another really fun thing is to see government in action... Everyone WILL take their break even if there are 75 people standing in line! They did and there were! Yep, when we walked in there were 6 women at the counters. Within a 30 minute time period we moved ONE chair and 4 of them went on break while 2 stood in the same cubby helping each other!

Another entertaining thing is to watch the faces of those that walk into the DMV during this time. Some expressions are utter shock and dismay. Still others who haven't been in since they changed to the music chair routine walk in circles for several minutes trying to figure out where they are supposed to be. Some are full of fear because they only have so long to be there and they look at their watch a million times, sometimes to have to turn around and leave when they realize that only one person has been helped in 30 minutes! Some show nothing but anger and disgust. It feels kind of like being in grade school. And then you FINALLY get up to be helped and the women there usually treat you like you are in grade school.

So, we FINALLY make it to the front of the line. After signing my name on several documents I am told to go back and get in line again........ YES... I AM SERIOUS! And the line is twice the size of when we got there the first time and waited 2 hours to get through. I get back in line and wait, and wait. Finally Garrett shows up and asks if I want to take the kids and go and he will wait in line. I say YES... YES.... YES!!!

For what reason did I suffer through such torture you might ask? Well... today Kailee is officially 15 and a half! In this state, being 15 and a half is very special. Because it is the day you can get your learners permit! So, I gladly took my punishment so I can proudly say that my 6th child is now learning to drive! Remind me to call my doctor and get something to help with the nerves!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations Kailee!!!!

Time flies, whether we're having fun or not!

I just realized that we only have a day and a half left of school! Ummm.. when did that happen and who said the year could be almost half over already? Maybe it is because life is so extremely busy that the days blend into each other and then months and then another year has passed us by. We have so many half done projects that it makes me want to scream. A couple of weekends ago Thayne started one project (finishing the last bedroom downstairs) only to realize that before he could do that, he had to fix our bathroom floor. So he tore up the carpet, put a new subfloor in, tiled the bathroom and moved on. (Which is actually kind of impressive when you consider he tore up the old floor, built a new one and we went to town, picked out the tile and he got it completely finished... except for the trim... I have some real issues with unfinished trim. It has been a year and I am STILL waiting for the trim to be finished in my kitchen and living room. It's a constant thorn in my side... why, why, why do we have such a problem finishing trim in this house??? And can I mention that at least 2 of my sons at any given time are working for a contractor building houses???!!! UGH!) Of course we desperately need new carpet in the 3 bedrooms upstairs. We were even going to get new carpet. But the money we were going to use to do that was needed to get us into a new vehicle since we have too many people needing rides to work, and not enough vehicles to get us all there. I can keep dreaming! I may have to do it one room at a time, which of course in the end will cost more money, but it may be the only way it actually gets done. And don't get me going on the deck. It only took us 11 years of being in this house to get it going. It's framed now. Please tell me it won't take another 11 years to actually finish it! I have decided that by the time I have my home done, I will have no children left at home. I"ll just use the rooms to enjoy my grandchildren by then I suppose! Or something! :) Maybe when it is all finished I will just wander from room to room (and then onto the deck) and smile knowing it took most of my life to get it done! Or maybe I will just move and forget all about it!

Speaking of moving. Before Nate was born Thayne was offered a new job in Utah. We kept it quiet because we didn't know what we were doing. But the kids had said something to a friend that had moved to Utah who then said something to somebody here (you know the drill... rumors, rumors and more rumors, though to be fair, Thayne actually enjoys rumors and figures if a new one hasn't been started he should just start them himself! Weird!) and it seemed like everyone was asking if we were moving. That was in December! Yesterday I saw a lady that I haven't talked to in months, comes into the video store to rent a movie and asks if we are going to stick around or if we were moving. HUH? It's been 6 months, we are still here. A little behind on the rumors! Guess it's time to start some new ones! :) haha And speaking of work.... (my mind wanders, what can I say!) Thayne brought home 3 certificates that were given to him at work with $200 of chamber checks on each. Yes, that equals $600 in chamber checks, which are like money that you can spend in a number of stores in the community. But that isn't the funny thing. The funny thing is what the certificates said. They had sent Thayne out to recruit guys from his old company to come to work for him. 3 of the 5 or so he talked to came to work for him. The 'certificate of award' said it recognized him for "soliciting and recruiting employees from ********** and volunteering numerous hours to convince employee to come work for *******. Thank You! ****** wishes to Thank You for helping fulfill our company's vision and values." I guess I am in a strange mood because I found that really funny. I can't complain because it is an extra $600 which I will promptly use for groceries!

Ugh... adult children can make a person crazy. I guess I don't have to wonder anymore why it seems at times that my mom has lost her mind. I'm well on the way! And that's all I am going to say about THAT tonight!!! :)

The days have flown by and another summer is almost upon us. I am actually looking forward to it. Remind me that I said that when I have a half dozen kids standing around telling me they are bored!

My little man graduates from preschool

I don't usually get really emotional as my kids reach milestones in their lives. I am usually just excited for them and love watching them grow and experience life. But my little Hyrum is mama's boy. He's been a mama's boy since birth and loves to tell people that he is mama's boy. I turned to watch him walk into the room in his cap and gown and the tears came. Maybe it is because I was a young (very young) mom when my older boys graduated from kindergarten and I realize that by the time he graduates from high school I will likely be a grandma a few times over. Or maybe it's because I know that while he says he will always be my boy and never cause me any stress, I know that just by growing up, there will be stress... :) or maybe it's just because he still loves to get into his soft warm jammies at night and runs to me for cuddles because I LOVE cuddle jammies! Maybe I was just being sentimental that day and while I love having my babies grow up, I really HATE having my babies grow up!!! Who knows... but he was as serious as could be and didn't even want to give me a smile during the ceremonies! I'll try not to blink because when I do, he will be graduating from high school!!!

8th grade social...

Kassi has waited and waited for the 8th grade social. She has been excited about going to this first 'big' dance for years! She's kind of a social butterfly so that might be the reason. She also loves to dress up and look pretty and what better excuse than a dance! Kassi is the most amazing, beautiful young woman and I am so grateful to be her mom!!!

We just monkey around!

Most of the time I feel like I live in a very crazy zoo. So it seems right that Nathaniel's most favorite toy is a MONKEY! Thayne brought me the monkey home from the airport in New York while he was stuck in a snow storm. It makes this awful screeching noise but Nate loves it. He grabs it from us and wraps his arms around it. He sleeps peacefully with it at night.

It's amazing how quickly he is growing. I can't believe he is already 5 months old. And yet it feels like he has been a part of our family forever. I can't help but think of the miracle of his life everytime I look at him. And I think the rest of the family feels the same because there isn't a day that goes by that somebody isn't found just staring at him, telling him how much we love him. I was putting pictures into an album the other day. Some of them were of the day that he was sent by life flight to Primary Children's Hospital. He looked so sick that day. And the feelings came rushing back, all of the feelings I was feeling that day. A nervousness that wouldn't let me relax, a fear that left me wondering if I would have to say good bye to this incredible little boy. What a great blessing to have him here with us, to watch him grow. To be blessed with his incredible smile... and he is always smiling. He can light up a room with his smile.

I guess living in a zoo is a good thing... Hanging out with monkeys is at least entertaining and brings me lots of joy!!!!

Pity Date.... :)

Jace jokingly called his date to the prom with Caitlyn a pity date... to which Caitlyn replied it sure was... she had pity on him and let him take her!!! Of course it is her senior year and she should go to her last prom. I didn't get to go to my last prom. Thayne and I were engaged and going to be married the day after graduation and we were both working but I would have liked a pity date!!! haha! He didn't rent a tux this year (he did the previous 2 years) but they still looked nice and had a good time.

Hayden's Baptism Day!

We always look forward to 8th birthdays in our house! 8 is the age of baptism and we look forward to it for months before it happens. Hayden's great day was Saturday May 3rd. His dad got to baptize him and it was wonderful. He was confirmed a member of the Church the next day. I can't believe he is 8! Time sure flies and these kids grow up so quickly. It's not fair!!!

We did manage to get everyone to stand together for a picture but we had tongues sticking out and other strange faces going on, but hey, it was all 17 of us and you really can't blame the faces since there were tons of people standing around staring as if we were some kind of side show at the circus! :)

He wants to nurse!

Nathaniel wants to nurse. I have pumped until my back aches (it really does ache between my shoulder blades from sitting on my bed pumping!) and hoping that I would be able to nurse my baby boy again. We started him on feedings but he kept snuggling in like he wants to nurse. I thought it was crazy but decided since we monitor him to make sure he keeps his oxygen up while eating, why not try. The first few times he latched on but only nursed for maybe a minute or two at most. Today he acted like he really, really wanted to nurse and wouldn't even take a bottle. He nursed for 15 minutes several times today. He doesn't even want a bottle anymore, he wants to nurse!!! I am so excited. I am SO excited. This is the greatest blessing. I was so sad that I wouldn't be able to nurse him, but he is pretty serious about nursing. Yippee Naters!!! What a great thing this is!!!!

Over one hurdle, working on the next....

What a week it has been. Tuesday Nate's tube came out again. I was frustrated knowing that once again we were facing a mess trying to get it back in. In our town there is no such thing as an NJ tube. Nobody has one. We've asked!!! I met Thayne at the hospital hoping we could get there before the radiologist left because there would be no way for us to get it replaced. We spent several hours AGAIN in the emergancy room only to be told that they could put an iv in and keep him till morning and then see if they could replace it. Because... get this, the radiologist did not WANT to come back in. He was on ON CALL but didn't want to go in until morning. Isn't that sweet of him???? (I'm going to let it go or I would blow just thinking about it). The problem was, they didn't know if they could even put it in. So our option was stay and hope, leave and know. We left for Salt Lake. We got there Wednesday morning at 1:30am. The radiologist left at 11pm. OF COURSE!! They needed to put the iv in so he would stay hydrated until we could get it put in. Amazing how they could put the iv in and Nate did not even cry. Nothing, not a tear. Had they tried here it would have been a nightmare.... we know that because we have seen it happen too many times to count. Of course this happens the day BEFORE we had to be there for his FEES test and GI clinic appointment!! But.................

HE PASSED HIS FEES TEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What does that mean you may ask? (Well... somebody may ask!) It means that his epiglotiss if FINALLY working like it is supposed to. It is finally protecting his airway and we now have the okay to start thickened feedings. That is the first hurdle!!!! We can now start oral feedings every 3 to 4 hours for 5 to 10 minutes so he doesn't get tired out. This is the GREATEST news! The new hurdle is teaching him how to eat. It seems strange, it seems like eating would be a natural thing but nothing has been easy with Nate! :) He now has to learn how to control his tongue, how to move the food and how to coordinate swallowing/breathing. He's like a newborn all over again, maybe even worse. He always had feeding issues and it is worse now that he is older and has had the tube down his throat for close to 3 1/2 months. On top of that, the tube seems to make him more congested. When the tube was out he did not have any issues with swallowing or rattling in his throat. As soon as the tube went back in the saliva started to build up again. The ENT said that it didn't matter, it would cause that. Funny, when the camera went down his throat, it clearly showed that around the cord there was saliva built up. The problem is that we can't take the tube out yet because there is no way he would get the nutrition he needs without it and since he is only 11lbs he can't afford to lose any weight. Next month after his evaluation and more tests we may be able to go to an NG tube and see about letting him do without for a while and eat without the tube. He is a little fighter, tough and amazing and I know that we will overcome this too. He's going to come out on top. The strange thing is, he nursed for just a minute today and he actually does better nursing than taking the bottle.

I am constantly amazed and upset by the medical care we are getting though. Nobody wants to work together to heal the whole child. The ENT doesn't work with the GI clinic, the GI doesn't work with the pediatrition, nobody knows what the other is doing. They told us it wouldn't be a problem to have an NJ tube inserted, but nobody has one in town. We definately have to fight for every babystep we take but this little man is so worth the fight!!!!

Our little trooper will overcome all. He already has!!!