May 2014

Carter had several milestones this month.  He got his 3rd tooth (top left) on the 7th and his 4th tooth (top right) on the 11th.  He has also been trying to walk ever since Memorial Day and on the 13th he took 3 steps.  At only 10 months old, he was my earliest walker! Isn't that just typical, the first child you try and try and try to get them to walk and they take forever, the last child you want to wait and they are the quickest!  I hate that my baby is growing up so fast!!! On the 19th, Talen had another appointment with Dr. Such-Neibar.  This appointment was actually one of our most productive ones.  I was a little discouraged at first because as soon as I arrived at the appointment, Talen started to wiggle.  Because he was wiggly, I didn't think that we would be able to do much.  So, when they took us back to the room, I tried my hardest to get him to stop, but he just wouldn't.  Which, in hindsight, was a good thing because we spent most of the appointment talking about the wiggles.  Eventually, Dr. Such-Neibar asked if she could try to examine him even though he was wiggly.  I told her that would be fine.  As she was looking him over, I told her that the wiggles can start and stop for no reason at all.  Just then, she moved his legs and whether he was just unhappy or didn't like her moving him, he started to cry, which stopped the wiggles.  As soon as he stop crying I said, "See look, he stopped."  She couldn't believe it.  She said, "This is no way to live, not for him, not for you.  We need to get this under control and get your family to live again."  I wanted to cry right there.  She expressed the words that I have been feeling for a long, long time.  We talked about several options (medication) for trying to minimize the wiggles.  We finally decided on Clonazepam.  Even though it is a sedative, in smaller doses, it is a muscle relaxant.  She gave us free range to play with the dosage and see what works best - get the wiggles to stop, but not knock him out for days.  She also talked about acupuncture and acupressure.  She said that she would look into it, but it is something to keep in the back of our mind.  When I walked away from the appointment, I was so relieved because I finally felt like someone was sincerely trying to help.  I just love her!!  Dr. Such-Neibar is definitely one of my favorite doctors!!

Kennedy's singing recital

Since Kennedy's last singing recital at the Dicken's Festival, she hasn't made it to very many singing lessons.  Not for lack of wanting too, but our Fridays are just so busy we keep forgetting to send her.  So, on Tuesday when Angie told me that they would be having a recital on Friday, I was a little worried for KiKi.  Thursday night we got the specifics of the recital so I figured that she better get practicing.  She decided to sing "Human" by Christina Perry.  Friday morning she went over to Angie's for a quick run-through.  So, really, Kennedy only had a day and a half of practicing.  We dropped off Talen and Carter at Cathy's house and drove to the recital.  All of the sudden, Kennedy's nerves started to kick in.  She kept saying that she didn't feel good and she thought she was going to throw-up.  She asked a couple times if she could just not do it.  This was so hard because I knew that she was just nervous, but she kept insisting that it was something more.  So, feeling like a terrible parent, we told her that she needed to go through with it.  When it was her time, she got up on stage.  You could tell she was a little nervous, but she did AWESOME!!  I was so proud of her.  I was near tears the entire time she sang.  She even messed up a time or two, but she was still the best singer there!  And, as soon as she was done, she said that she felt much better.  I'm so glad that we pushed her to do it.  She did great and she now knows how to push through a difficult situation.  I love you KiKi!!

Elton John look-a-like

Memorial Day

For Memorial Day this year, we decided to spend a little time with both sides of our family.  First we got everyone ready and stopped at the store for some flowers.  Then it was a quick trip to the cemetery to visit Grandma, Grandpa, and Chris's graves.  I wish we could have stayed a bit longer, but there was a huge group of people camped out right next to the plots and it was hard to have a "moment" with so many people staring at ya.  So, we took a couple pictures, delivered the flowers, and left.  (Man, I sure miss them!!)  Anyway, then it was off to Cathy's house for some swimming.  We even got Talen in!  He just loves the water and since he has been having baths on a more regular basis, he can control his excitement for the water a little better.  He didn't even get wiggly until he got out.  We swam for an hour or so, then visited with Cathy and Cory for a little bit.  Then it was a quick trip home to grab our stuff, then over to Robin's for a barbeque.  We ate, played some volleyball, watched the kids play in the water, and chatted.  All in all, it was a nice memorial day!!  Loved every minute!!

Daxton's Drive In Movie (on the I-pad)

Kennedy's last day of school

Robin Fielding, Kennedy's friend Taylor's mom, had asked me the other day if they could pick up Kennedy on the last day of school and take her with them to Larsen's Frosttop to get a treat.  And the best part was that they picked them up in their old fashion school bus.  Kennedy absolutely loved it!!   

Apparently Duane likes to listen to his music really, really loud!!

 

Talen finishes 1st grade!!

I can't believe that this school year is already over.  The last month or so was really tough on Talen - he had all sorts of wiggle/seizure problems.  So, as much as I like the routine of school, it is probably a good thing it is already summer break.  Here are a couple pictures that Lisa sent me of Talen during the year.  

Look Mom, I caught a bubble on my knee:)

All tuckered out :(

Our class listens to this musical book every morning, sung by John Lithgow.

Listening center

I went to 1st grade music and lasted the whole time so I earned a book to keep!

Look Mom!  I went around the track twice for the Relay for Life!

Stuck in the piano!!

4th Grade Program

Dax, Carter, and I walked down to the school to watch Kennedy sing in her 4th grade program.  When we got there, we saw Talen and Lisa watching the program too.  Daxton's favorite part was seeing and sitting by Ben Colvin.  Great singing KiKi!!

First time home in 2 years!!

Can't believe that it has been 2 years since our last trip to Idaho.  Man, that was a terrible experience, so we were praying this time was much, much better (couldn't have been much worse!).  Anyway, the true purpose of the trip was to see Cheyenne and Alex.  They flew home to see Alex's sister graduate from college, but I'm gonna pretend it was to see us!!  hehehe!!  We left pretty early on Friday and the kids did so good traveling.  I was shocked at what good time we made considering that this was Carter's first big trip.  Jeremy & Karma arrived Friday night as well.  On Saturday, we had a baby shower for Cheyenne.  We drove over to Malad and participated in the routine baby shower games, ate dessert, grabbed a Cherry Ironport from the Drive-In, and went back to Holbrook.  After the shower, Cheyenne & Alex came out too.  On Sunday, Jeremy, Kyle, Kennedy, and myself all had the opportunity (look at me putting a positive spin on this!) to speak in church for Mother's Day.  After Sacrament, we took some family pictures, then went back to my parent's house for lunch/dinner.  This time we decided to spend Sunday night and head home Monday.  Before leaving Monday morning, Jay & Dax went up to Zolinger's to help my dad brand a couple cows.  Karma and I decided to ride up really fast to take a couple pictures.  Daxton loved the cows!!  He'd love to be a country boy!!  It was such a nice visit (other than the speaking in church part!)  Kennedy had a blast with Donelle, Rylie, & Regan.  I haven't seen her laugh so much in a long time.  We really need to get these girls together more often!!  I loved being able to see a pregnant Cheyenne!!  And everyone got along great!  Hated when it was over!!