Summer Fun!

I came home to find Derek and Hailey running through the sprinklers in their underwear! They were having a blast! Good thing their Dad is in charge sometimes because I would have never let them do that! :)

One thing I love about Arizona is all the swimming we do!

We spent most of this summer swimming with Emily's kids. They were having a blast with Uncle Keith!

Jayden at Swim Team!

Jayden turned out to be a really good swimmer! And he loved it!


Quite the Ladies-Man!


MaMa.... One of his many fans! Judd's mom.

MOM Get it Right!!!

Today, as usual, I was in a hurry to get my kids off to school. So I got both sets of their contacts out to put them in their eyes. Somehow, (this has never happened before) I put one of Jayden's contacts in Hailey's eyes. She was telling me, "Mom I can't see", over and over. I just thought she was trying to complain so I went on to put Jayden's contacts in. That is when I realized what I had done because one of Jayden's contacts was missing. So I asked Hailey which eye she could not see out of and fixed her problem. Then I put Jayden's contacts in. Then he starts complaining that he can't see. I thought he was messing with me but I was wondering if I hadn't got it right with Hailey. Finally, he convinces me to check his eyes. I had put both of his contacts in the same eye. Luckily it was nothing damaging. I was wondering if I was loosing it. Shhhhh, Don't tell the eye doctor that I did that. I will be more careful from now on.

Spring Break...Funny Story

Jayden loves his cousins so much!.... all of them. Well, during spring break he was with Megan and Kayla the whole week. One morning Jayden said to me, "Mom I have a crush on Megan." "What!" I said. Then I had to explain to him that he couldn't have a crush on his cousin. Funny! I know that he has had crushes before, but I didn't know he knew what a crush was. Yikes!

My sisters boy Jaxon is only two months younger that Derek and they are really starting to love playing with each other. So Cute.

My kids, Lena's kids, and Emily's kids at the park. I had them all by myself. They were so good that is was fun.

Snowflake Memories!!

Because it was Jayden's Birthday this weekend we went to snowflake to see one of Jayden's best friends and cousin. We all love Maeser because they have so much fun together!

Jeanette made these shirts for the boys. The front says Best Cousins and the back says Their names. Jayden loved the shirts and wanted to wear his shirt everyday. He wore it two days in a row, and then I had to wash it the night we got home so he could wear it the next day for his birthday.

This is all the kids around Rhett and Jeanette's huge beautiful table. I love how my kids have so many fun cousins!

Jeanette made awesome food all weekend, notice below! This is Judd and his cute brothers!

It was nice for Judd to have some time to play with the kids without distraction. He is such a good Dad, our kids adore him.

Thank you Rhett and Jeanette for a fun weekend!

So Nice of My Kids to HELP! It makes it go so much quicker...NOT!

My kids really love to help with everything! Only when your plumber loves your kids this much do they get to help fix the toilet and the bath tub!:)

Uncle Clint is a good sport, as I sat there and took pictures while he handled it!

Because Hailey threw the screws down the drain Clint had to turn this into a two trip fix and make a run to the store. These pictures are of the second trip....He still let them help:)!

Is your plumber this nice?????????????? Or Cute...from what I hear the women love it when they call a plumber and CLINT shows up....watch out Lyndi. Lyndi found this out in spin class when the instructor was going on and on about her HOT plumber only to find out later that her plumber was Clint. Be carful you never know when your plumbers wife is in your class...oops!

We LOVE Uncle Clint!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jayden's First School Program

Jayden's first school program was so cute. It was all patriotic songs to celebrate Veterans Day. It was nice that the 4th grade and the Kindergarten were combined for the program; we were able to watch Eden at the same time.

I was on the front row watching and during the flag ceremony I was trying to help Derek and Hailey and Jayden yelled out to me "Mom you are supposed to put your hand over your heart!!" It was really quiet and many around us knew who he was talking to. It was really embarrassing!

Detroit Trip Two!!!! Results! Emotions!!

This trip was full of sleepless nights, stress, and being on the Go! I am really glad it is over and WE SURVIVED!!!! This is how my trip went...

FRIDAY NIGHT: Halloween...fun, fun, fun, but we get to bed too late!! Way too late!!!

SATURDAY: 4:30 AM wake up to catch our flight!! WAY TOO EARLY!!!!!
We were traveling most of the day Saturday. Bonnie picked us up from the airport and we got to their house about 5PM.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Jayden and I were up all night. He was crying because his stomach hurt. NO SLEEP! Really, I mean none!!!! He said he was praying all night to Heavenly Father to make his tummy stop hurting.

SUNDAY MORNING: Go to Church!! Jayden slept through all three hours. NO SLEEP FOR ME. But church was a great experience! Bonnie and Lynn serve in a Downtown Detroit ward and it was fast and testimony meeting. I knew it would be interesting when the first testimony the lady was using the word Jack___ over the pulpit. After Church we spent the day hanging out with Bonnie and Lynn. I really don't know what I would do without them. Thanks for taking care of us again!!!!!

SUNDAY NIGHT: Jayden crying again, this time really bad about stomach pain. Jayden asking why Hevenly Father didn't make his tummy feel better. Lynn takes us to the ER.... after about 3 hours, a urine test, and x-rays.....we find out Jayden had lots of gas in his tummy. Poor Jayder-bug. RELIEF.....then anger...dang...how much will that cost us!!!! Our medical bill are enough already!!! We finally get to bed about 12:30 or so.

MONDAY MORNING: 4AM Hailey wets on their sleeping bag, blankets and floor!!!!! Wake up and wash her and try to clean up. REALLY, REALLY tired!!!!! Try to get more sleep.
We had to be at the Hospital at 11:30 for check-in.
The procedure went well and the staff was really quick. We got right in which was nice because Jayden and Hailey we both fasting!

The kids came off the the anesthesia really well. Actually, it was like they had the best nap in their life. They were full of energy and ready to eat then play!!! I was ready for bed!! Bonnie took us to Red Robin - Jayden's choice, and we got full, WAY TOO FULL.

MONDAY NIGHT: The kids get lots of energy out outside with Bonnie, THANKS BONNIE! At about 11PM the kids finally fall asleep and I think we will have a nice night to sleep...event free. PULL-UP for Hailey just in case.

TUESDAY MORNING: 4AM, on the nose, Hailey wets and it leaks onto the bed. Dang!!! Up bathing her and washing sheets. She hardly ever wets anymore, I don't know what was up. By the time I was done with that I only had 45mins until my alarm would go off. We had to be up, ready, and packed, to leave at 7:30AM. More tests at the Doctors office and then strait to the airport to go home.

TUESDAY: Hours of tests and waiting at the Doctors. The kids are restless and tired of being still. We grab Subway and then off to the Airport to catch our flight. Bonnie took me to the Hospital and the Doctors and stayed with me. SERIOUSLY an ANGLE!!!! I promise it wasn't as much fun as it looks!!

After a long flight we make our connection in Denver and I thought I only had a hour to go. When the flight attendant announced just under two hours for the flight I started bawling. I was tired not only from the lack of sleep and the traveling but from all of the mixed emotions. I didn't know if I could handle much more. Luckily, Jayden and Hailey fell asleep.

When we get there I was thinking YES.... finally!!!!!!! I had to pour water on Jayden to get him to wake up and we headed out to the curb. Judd was going to pick up the kids and then drive around while I got the car seat and the bags. We get to the curb there was no Judd. The kids were crying, they wanted me to hold them. Through the glass doors I see the bags coming out so we run in and get them. Jayden continued crying because he was so tired and I wanted to cry but I was too mad. We come back out to the curb ...still no Judd. My cell phone was dead, OF COURSE! We wait 41mins on the curb for our 15min ride home. Needless to say I was a little angry!!! Don't worry, Judd was really sorry and we already made up.

This is Jayden and Hailey waiting. If I could have fit I would have been on the curb with them. Too bad for Judd I have a picture ....one of his worst husband moments ever.

RESULTS: Hailey had no fluid behind one eye and only a little bit behind the other!!! One of her retinal folds had flattened out and the other was reduced by 50%. Yeah! The Surgery worked! Great news!! .... BUT....I understand something now that I didn't understand before. Hailey has an under-developed posterior (back) of eyes. This under-development is causing the pressure in the eye which is causing the Retina to detach.

I knew all that but this part I didn't know. Along with this under-development she has Fovial Hypoplasia. Which means under-developed Fovia. The Fovia is your central vision where your optic nerve leaves and where all vision signals come. This can cause reduced vision and there is nothing they can do about it. FRUSTRATION!!! I thought that if her retina layed back down she may have normal vision with her corrective lenses. She is seeing 20/100 right now and may never see better than that. I don't want to sound un-grateful, I am really glad that her retina is responding to the treatment, but just bummed to understand the other effects of her problem. Dr. Trese still can not tell me what he expects for her long term. He said there is just not any research to go by.

Jayden has the same structural problem with his eyes with the small back of the eye and the under developed fovia. He does not have the presser problem though, which is good news. I was not prepared to hear anything about Jayden. He is seeing about 20/60 right now. In the exact words of Dr. Trese..."He will live a very high functioning life, he may not want to be a micro-surgeon or a jet pilot but there are many other jobs he will be able to do. He probably will not drive." Disappointment!!

Good News: Hailey did so well at her office visit that Dr.Trese thinks he can do the tests next time without putting her to sleep. My next visit is on April 7th and I don't plan on thinking about this whole thing much until then!!!!!

Thanks to all of those who have been praying and fasting for my kids and their eyes. We love you all so much and have really needed all your support. Special thanks to Lyndi and Leslie for watching Derek and taking care of Judd while I was gone.

Happy Halloween!!!!! A Little Late....

This was my favorite Costume of the Night!! Michael Phelps!! This little boy was so cute in his little speedo and cap with 8 medals. Only in Arizona would this be possible.

My mom was here to pass out candy!! We really enjoyed having her for the holidays. We were so glad Vivi is doing better so she could come play. We miss you mom! We had fun trick-or-treating with my sister's family.

The Group!!

Jayden's class dressed up as Dalmatians for their school parade. He had fun making his costume!

Hailey had a party at school and she got to decorate pumpkins. Emily, Mom, Abby, Jaxon and Derek all came to celebrate with her. The Kids had fun!

Hailey and her friend Tanner

Beautiful Cinderella!!! Jill this picture is just for you:)!!

Our ward party is always amazing with horse rides....!

booths and games...!! A balloon-man....!!

Food....! Friends....! And much more...!!

Jaren, and Emily and their families were able to come!!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love all the treats and how it brings a neighborhood together. I only wish I didn't have a huge bag of candy to resist now!! Anyone what some candy????

MY YEAR SUPPLY!!!

I finally took time to get my year supply! The kids loved helping Judd and I fill the buckets. They played in the empty bags and loved melting the dry ice afterwards.

Swimming all Summer

Derek always says that he wants to go swimming but he doesn't like to get in the water. I don't mind at all, it actually makes it easier to watch him.

My kids love to play with their uncle Colt. He is awesome because he actually plays with the kids and you can tell he enjoys it...most of the time.

First Day of Kindergarten

Jayden had his first day of Kindergarten. He was very excited! He walks to the bus with his friend Casey and her big brother, he thinks he is such a big kid.
I am really excited about his class. There is about 8 kids in there that he is already friends with and he loves his teacher.