Out of Touch

I haven't posted in nearly a month and I feel completely out of touch. It all started with our thoughts to finish our basement. We had several estimates done and had decided on a contractor the first week of July. He said he could start right away - WOW - ok to the township to apply for a permit. They said it takes about 10 days so we figured we'd apply and have it by the time we got home from our 2 week vacation out west. The application was submitted on July 7th and we had it approved July 8th!!!!! So the contractor was there the next day pushing all the stuff in our basement away from the walls etc... So now instead of just getting ready for a family of 6 to leave for 15 days we now had to move EVERYTHING out of the basement. We had a TON of stuff down there. We were storing stuff for my brother and M and J were using a whole corner for the stuff they couldn't fit into their apartment. We had a whole corner for toys plus a make shift office for Daniel with a good sized desk (loaded 2 feet high with papers) plus 4 bookshelves FULL of books and two 4 drawer filing cabinets. We had food storage shelves and camping supplies plus many rubbermaids filled with "too small" clothes belonging to the children. There were winter coats and boots and all our Christmas decorations. If you can think of it - it was probably in our basement that now had to be completely emptied out!!!

It was overwhelming and a few days I was about to cry at the drop of hat but we got it done and left on a wonderful vacation which I hope to find time to post about, but right now I can't find the card reader so I can't download any pictures. :(

Also the day before we left on vacation the Bishop asked to come over (NEVER GOOD). He asked if I would accept the call to be the new Primary President which of course I did but now I had to think about that the entire vacation!!!

So now that we've been home 10 days - I up to my neck in Primary things and finishing the basement. It was all drywalled by the time we got back from our trip which is good but that meant we now had some decisions to make. We had to pick out flooring - carpet and tile. We had to pick out cabinets and counter tops and faucets and paint. Sound fun but it is very stressful to do under a time line and then I second guess everything I pick out. Plus the fact that to save money we said that we would paint. So for the last 36 hours I have done nothing but paint. Yesterday the kids and I painted all the trim - baseboards and door trim and I started on the doors. The last two nights we have primed all the drywall in the basement (we hired our babysitter, Lizzie, to help with priming last night. I am happy to do it but again - it's on a time line which stresses me out.

I will post again someday soon. I can't find anything in our house because everything from the basement is now in our garage, dining room, living room, bedrooms etc... So some day I'll post vacation pictures and someday I'll check friends blogs again and maybe leave a comment.

Face Painting

The boys spent the weekend of the 4th with my Mom and Dad at the family cabin. Dan was on call so we had to stick close to home. We did have a little barbecue on Saturday with Dan's sis -M and J, and my bro, Brian and Stacy and their 2 boys. Dan had to work Saturday morning so I thought I would take Ainsley to do something special since the boys got to go and she didn't. We went to the Hands on House where got to do a little face painting.

I was holding the baby on my right hip with with my right arm and managed these little gems with my left hand:
Not to bad if I do say so myself, and yes, I did wear them all day and had to remember to wash them off the next morning before church. But in all reality - Ainsley really takes the cake. She did hers 100% by herself and was justifiably proud.


Somewhat patriotic as well - huh? I did try to do a little one on the baby. She would sit so still and be captivated with the brush on her cheek and then as soon as I was done -she would take the back of her hand and smear it across her face. She ended up with a yellow green smudge that looked like a bruise.

Pressure Wound

This poor baby! We saw the doctor again on Thursday. Her fracture is healing but you can still see the crack on the X-ray. He decided to unwrap it and actually look at it this time. When he unwrapped it, her heal was completely flat and had a quarter size black circle on it - basically a bed sore or pressure wound. I am so glad we had our appointment earlier than the 3 weeks he originally wanted. (Since we are leaving on vacation we came back at 2 and half weeks.) He said for sure he did NOT want to put another cast on her foot because this wound. Her heel and ankle are swollen and she won't walk on that foot at all yet, although I'm not sure if it's the wound on her heel or that the break in her leg is still sore. I hope she's walking by the time we get to Reid Ranch or we're in trouble.

The top of her foot had some pressure points starting to build as well. Where her foot meets her leg there was some yellowish bruising and these little red and purple pin points, like her pores were filling with blood. Her little leg is also chafed and the ridges from the cotton pads that were pressed into her leg took HOURS to fade.

Beetle Mania

No it isn't Paul, John or Ringo Star.
We found this special beetle in our garage. It was a BIG one! We had fun with it and took it for a walk - mostly riding on Piper's cast. Then we set it on a big rock in front of the house.


It's funny because Ainsley really has no fear. She loves bugs and worms and grasshoppers etc... We were at the pool and she found a beetle and picked it up and made it look fun to hold so her friend thought she might like to hold it as well - but her friend ended up pulling the "BRINN BUG SUPER FREAKOUT" - yes it has a name. Brinn was the WORST when it came to bugs.

White and Nerdy

Here's our new favorite song/video.

Daniel somehow heard this song and came home last night and looked it up. We've heard it non-stop since. The kids think it's funny even though they don't "get" half the stuff in there. I know some of you Hens are big Weird Al fans so I'm sure you'll get a kick if you haven't seen it yet.

And Amy - well since UHF was one of our most favorite movies ever - I'm sure you'll like this as well. I posted the picture below just for you!

Nothing like a mid-night run for a spatula!!! Oh - and what's with Donnie Osmond? Is he EVER white and nerdy!

Mt. Gretna

The weekend before last we had originally planned to go the beach. We were going to go down Friday night and stay with someone who had a house there. They called us the night before saying they weren't feeling too well and canceled. We then decided we might go just for the day. Friday night we were up late and by Saturday morning I was not feeling like a super long day including 5 or 6 hours in the car. So we decided to try a lake that is about 25 minutes from here. It was a terrific alternative. A bit pricey to get in but still cheaper than a tank of gas to go the beach.

We called some friends of ours (the Regensburgers) that have a cottage there and asked if they would be at the lake that day. They said yes. We played all afternoon with them. Emily and Ainsley were in the same dance and pre-school class and James and MacGregor were in the same class at school. John and Chase are only a little over a year apart. Everyone gets along really well. M and J tagged along too.

They have a sandy beach which the kids played in and built castles. Emily and Ainsley covered each other in it. I don't think Ainsley's bathing suit will ever come clean.


Beyond the shallow end rope were platforms you could swim out too. One was a high tower you could jump off. Chase showed no fear and jumped repeatedly. It was about 12 feet high. I made M and Robin swim out there with me and take the plunge. My body was fatigued after only climbing up the ladder. I've climbed ladders before so I don' t know why this was so hard - perhaps because the ladder was straight up and not at a slant or because we were wet and the ladder steps were round pipes but my heart was already racing. Then when you look down, you think to yourself, " How am I going to take that step and fall 12 feet?" I eventually did and you plunge so far down into the dark and freezing water. Kinda scary - not to mention the water that shot up my nose and into my throat. After you swim back to the warm water on top - it's not so bad. So I did it again!

There was another platform that had a giant swing that you could sit on and then jump off into the water and they had yet another platform that had a 2 meter diving board. It was about 6 feet off the water. I did a back dive (which I used to do all the time growing up) and I over rotated because I was so high up (I used to do it 2 feet off the water not 6) and slapped my thighs and tops of my feet against the water. My feet were sore for at least an hour afterward. How embarrassing.

They had a giant Adirondack chair that we thought was fun. So we took a lot of pictures in it. We had a great day and ended up ordering pizza and eating it at the Regensburger's cottage. We definitely want to do Gretna Lake again.

On The River

Two weeks ago, Daniel had the day off and wanted to take the boys fishing on the river. Chase ended up getting an invitation to a friends house so MacGregor got go solo. I think he really enjoyed having a day with his Dad without having to share a thing!

Times Flies

Can it really be 11 years? 11 years since this day? Have you really grown up almost as tall as your mom? Can we really be wearing the same size shoe? Where has the time gone?


Chase you are a great kid! I really couldn't ask for better. You are kind and helpful. You are smart and funny. You are the best big brother to little Piper - always so watchful and careful to protect her, always seeing to her needs. If everyone else is still sleeping, you get her up in the morning and turn on Elmo. You are honest and obedient. (Now if we can just work on your room *wink wink )

You are a talented young man - you just pick a sport and learn to play it. You have learned piano and trombone this year and have succeeded at both - I can't even imagine what would happen if you practiced a little more *hint hint. You are a good friend - never excluding kids who want to come over to play.

You are a born leader. You always have been. Kids seek you out and want to follow you. I remember in Iowa when we'd go to playgroup at the rec center. You were 3. All the kids would stop what they were doing when we got there and whatever you decided to do - they were on board as well. All of a sudden everyone was on a firetruck as you called out - Fire Fire, Let's go!! They were all running single file behind YOU. All ages are attracted to you. You're smart and easy going - that's why I look out my kitchen window and see 10th graders, 9th graders, 7th and 8th graders, 5th graders, 3rd graders and kindergartners all playing capture the flag, football, baseball or just sitting together at the patio table talking about Runescape. You have a way of bringing people together and including everyone. That's why our doorbell rings incessantly. I hope you realize the power you have and always use it for good. You are a terrific example.

So many parents and school and church teachers have told me how polite you are and how you always know the answers. I am so proud of you for learning the gospel and having that thirst for education in all subjects. I am so proud that you use your knowledge for good and share it with others. I know you will make an incredible missionary someday.

Thank you Chase! Thank you for coming to my family and sharing your life with me. Thank you for being a good example and a great kid! I love you! Oh and one more thing - You just stop growing right now!!!! Just stay this big forever ok? You're big enough don't you think? Oh it's hard to watch your kids grow up!

HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY CHASE!!!

Napoleon and Uncle Rico

If any of you know our family - you also know that we love "Napoleon Dynamite". Daniel practically has it memorized. The kids quote it all the time. Ainsley actually chooses to watch it all by herself when the boys are at school. (If you haven't seen it - you won't understand the following:)

This morning we were looking at an old photo album at my parents. The time period was the mid 1970s. MacGregor leaned over my shoulder and said, while pointing at my Dad's brother Wayne, "Hey, that looks like Uncle Rico!" He was right. My uncle in full 70s garb did resemble Uncle Rico.

A few pages later, my mother pointed to a picture of my dad saying, "Look at Dad's hair - the wind was really blowing" Chase leaned over and said - "Wow - it's Napoleon and Uncle Rico!"

My kids have a good sense of humor, huh? What do you think? Were they right?

Working with Papaw

Daniel went on a high adventure trip with some of the older scouts at church from June 12-14. We decided we'd spend the night with Mamaw and Papaw on Friday the 13th. We haven't been able to spend the night up there in a really long time because of school and baseball games/practices.

After dinner my Dad asked the kids if they wanted to help wash the car (my van) This is something that we did all the time growing up. The big bucket of bubbles, the wooly wash mitt, the hose with the spray gun, the drying shammy . . . oh the memories. We actually used to wash the car quite a bit in Iowa and Oklahoma but since we moved here we haven't washed the cars at home. We have a very steep driveway and it would be nearly impossible. So either we go to a drive -thru or we go extended periods of time with a dirty car, which was the case here. Ainsley and Piper have never had the "car wash" experience.

The kids loved it. I was worried that they were going to get my Dad soaked, which I knew he somehow would NOT find funny. They all worked hard though and kept the soaking to a minimum.

Did you notice that you didn't see any pictures of MacGregor working? I think that's because he was having to much fun "playing like a boy" with the hose. What do you think?

After the car wash, we spent some time playing with a butterfly (see post), we also got to see some baby mocking birds that had hatched earlier in the day. They were so tiny and cute. Then we spent some time playing baseball in the back yard. Chase and I were hitting the ball to each other while each of used our own bat. I would throw it up and crack it out to him with the bat and then he would return it by doing the same thing with his bat. I had a wooden bat and Chase was using an aluminum one. My dad had been working with MacGregor on pitching but when they were finished he walked up to Chase and I and said, "Let me crack one past the trees for Chase" I handed over the bat and my father threw it up and swung. He topped it so it only went 6 or 8 feet. He said, "Well that was a dud, let's try again". This time he threw the ball up and missed completely. I laughed a little because I had expected it to SOAR the first time and again the second time. He felt a little silly but picked up the ball again and gave it another go. Again he missed. He continued to rotate between "duds" and complete misses and each time I laughed harder. I continued laughing until my sides ached!! He was laughing too but after each time he became MORE determined that next time would be the one. He told me, "Now it's a pride thing!" Finally after 10 or 12 attempts - He gave one a ride past the tops of the trees. He was able to send several others out there too. But gosh it was fun getting to that point!! What's up Dad? You gettin old or something? :)

Fun with a Butterfly

After washing the car, Chase spotted a beautiful swallowtail butterfly. It was injured so it couldn't fly very well. Everyone was very excited to see it and Chase led the group to see if they could catch it. It kept bouncing from bush to bush as the kids tried to catch him and then he landed "plop" right on Gregor.


The fact that he landed on someone made everyone want a turn to "hold" the butterfly or at least let the butterfly sit on them. Ainsley wanted repeated turns which didn't exactly sit well with the boys. She was a bit rough in her handling of the butterfly. (We had just arrived home after cutting about 6 inches off of Ainsley's hair. We had let it grow until the dance recital in case she needed to wear it up. She didn't, they wore their hair down. Her hair was stringy and tangled constantly. Not a day went by that she didn't fight me when we brushed her hair. This style is much better for all of us!)


If the boys thought Ainsley was rough - they hadn't seen anything yet. Piper only got one time/one picture with the poor little butterfly!


The butterfly really liked Chase the most, perhaps because he was so gentle. He stayed on Chase and we took tons of pictures. He walked all over him.

We took soooo many pictures trying to get a clear shot of the proboscis, the little curly loop which is the butterfly's tongue.

As the sun set, we got this silhouette shot of the butterfly. The poor guy. He really did put up with a lot. I'm sure he was so relieved when we set him on a bush and walked away.

Broken Leg Update

Here's a quick update.

I was very unimpressed with the orthopedist who came in and sat in his little chair 4 feet away from the baby. He never felt her leg or unwrapped the thick ace bandage to see if there was discoloration or swelling etc... I assume he saw the X-ray that I had handed the nurse. He asked me, "How is she doing with that thing?" pointing to her wrapped leg. I said fine and he said "Great, then we'll just keep that on for 3 weeks" He said it should be easier on her than setting a hard cast and then having to cut it off with a saw.

So that's it. She still gets around by crawling and dragging her leg behind her. She still can pull herself up on things and balance with the cast. After the 2nd days she didn't complain about pain at all so now we just wait. We'll be going back a week from Thurs to get it checked before we leave on vacation. Please pray with us that she will have healed rapidly and won't have to wear the cast on vacation!!

The Best Joke EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back in April my mom and I were shopping in a fabric store. We found the funniest fabric and both looked at each other and started giggling. I don't know who had the idea first but we were both on board right away. We HAD to make a baby blanket with this for my sister who was having her first boy (she has 2 girls already). Boys love fireman, right?


Anyway - we decided it had to be a surprise. Shortly thereafter we found out that a friend of my sister's was throwing her a baby shower .... so our stage was set.

My mom told Brielle that she was sooo sad she couldn't be at her shower (which was true) so would she please have someone film her opening the gift from us. She told Brielle that we had made some receiving blankets... nothing fancy (which was true also).


It ended up just perfect. We did Dalmatian flannel on the back (to match the doggies on the front of course). We folded it flannel side out and put it on top so when she opened it that is what she saw. Then she pulled it out exposing the other side to her audience - they gasped and laughed and it took Brielle a minute to understand why.


Anyway - it's funniest from her perspective... www.idapete.blogspot.com

Check it out. It really was the best joke ever - she had no clue and I can't wait to see that video!

Oh - and it wasn't a total waste either. To quilt it - I free motioned stitched around each man, dog, truck, building and hydrant. I had never done that before and although I'm still not a great machine quilter (I get bunches on the back, it's really hard for me to keep all three layers tight) - I am glad I got some experience doing free motion.

4 times in 9 months!!!!!!

Chase will be 11 next week. In 11 years I have visited the ER only 1 time with my 3 oldest children. When Chase was 3 he fell off his bed during the night and kept complaining in the morning. We thought his collarbone was broken. I honestly can't remember if it was or not because they don't cast collarbones.

As of last night, Piper has now been to the ER four times in 9 months. Our latest trip? A broken leg! Yes - that's right a spiral fracture of the left tibia.

So here's the run down: Sept 2007 - McCall Idaho - upper airway obstruction (croup like)

December 2007 - Lancaster General - deep 2nd degree burns on hands

February 2008 - Heart of Lancaster - upper airway obstruction - this time she was admitted and spent 2 days in the hospital and came home on a nebulizer

June 2008 - Heart of Lancaster - broken leg

Not to mention that she spent her first 6 days of life in the nursery at the "Heart", where she was born, under bili - lights. She has spent more time in a hospital in 19 months than I have my entire life!

Yesterday started out as a great day. The kids and I picked 13 pounds of strawberries. We are making jam with my mom tomorrow. We came home and packed a lunch and headed out to the park. On Mondays we meet friends from Ainsley's preschool to play at the park. It's worked out well since many of her friends have older brothers so the boys don't mind going either. Piper fell asleep in the car on the way there so she actually slept the whole first hour. When she got up she followed the kids around and played on the playground equipment. It's pretty safe equipment for all ages.

We were packing up and I said to the boys - I'm going to load up the car, you guys go get the baby. MacGregor and Piper had been in a little tunnel. Piper came out of the tunnel onto a platform. She sat down on the platform and went down the slide where MacGregor was waiting for her. The slide was tiny, maybe four feet. It was made of hard plastic. I saw all of this going on out of the corner of my eye while I was packing up. Then I turn and see MacGregor carrying a crying Piper to me. He said, "Mommy, I think she broke her leg, her foot got caught when she was coming down the slide and I heard a crack." Well - he's 8. I didn't really think her leg had broken. I held her and tried to put her on the ground but her legs just turned to jelly. She wouldn't put any weight on it.

She continued to cry, not a screaming bloody murder cry, just a sustained cry while she leaned her head on my shoulder. That's not really like her. She usually gets over things and wants down. I knew she wasn't tired because she had only gotten up 45 minutes before.

I got in the car and called Daniel who told me to go to his office nearby and have Dr. Heise look at it to see if we should take her to the ER. Daniel was at a different office (across town) that day. Dr. Heise told me he didn't see anything obvious so I should take her home and see if she calms down. If she was still protective of it in the morning then call the Dr. So we took her home. She did calm down and seemed fine while sitting on the couch or in her high chair. But when she got bored she'd try to get down and then start crying and want to be held. She's very frustrated that she can't get around. We thought it was her foot but later I had her in the bathtub and was squeezing her foot and she seemed fine with it. I told Daniel I thought it might be in her leg because it only bothers her when she puts weight on it. So he started squeezing her shin and that did NOT go over well.

We decided to call the pediatrian and see if we should take her to the ER last night for an X-ray or wait until the morning. He said, we should go ahead and get the X-ray. So Daniel took her in. After looking at the X-ray Daniel said, "that looks broken", pointing to the crack on the X-ray and I don't know if it was the X-ray tech or the ER doc said, "No, that may be just a nutrient canal. Let's get the Radiologist to read it." So Daniel waited another hour with the baby to find out that indeed it was a spiral fracture, which is cause when the bone twists. As she came down the slide her rubber shoe got stuck but momentum carried her body forward causing her leg to get twisted behind her. The bones are not displaced at all. Nothing is swollen. The bone looks perfectly straight on the X-ray - it just has this little black line running vertically (but diagonal) through it.

Last night they just put a splint on it and wrapped it in an ace bandage. Today I have to take her to an orthopedist. I'm really not looking forward to a baby in a cast, especially on vacation! M told me that they make water-proof casts. I'm definitely going to inquire about that. Wish us luck.

And poor MacGregor who feels so bad, like it was his fault because he was standing there. I told him that many times while I've been there her legs have gotten stuck. Rubber shoes and slides don't mix.

Here she is - trying to walk but not wanting to put any pressure on the foot.

I'll give an update and a new picture after our visit today.