Blue and Gold

Tonight was the annual Blue and Gold Banquet. Rhett is a Bear now, so he was able to wear his Blue neck tie...and we finally got his patches sewed on. J ended taking him because we didn't have a sitter and it was very repeated rule...No Kids Allowed, unless you're a Scout! It was fine, because Rhett enjoyed having some Dad time.

  They enjoyed a Fried Chicken dinner with Kirk and Kade.

It was a good turn out and Rhett really loves Scouts. I'm glad they keep up this tradition to honor the boys and more so that J takes the time because it means so much to Rhett. He's such an awesome Dad!

...And Stitches Too

This morning the kids were out of school for President's Day, so we had appointments lined up all day. First, I was taking Rhett in for an Ortho appointment. I love Coleman...not only because me and J go there, but they'll let Rhett join their kid's club for free. They'll examine his teeth every 6 months to keep a history and then when the time is right, they'll put braces on. I know he's a few years out, but he has J's teeth and it'll be nice to have them keep an eye on them.
Right after that appointment, we had Dentist cleanings scheduled. So we got up like any other day, except Ry wanted toast instead of cereal. So J went to open a jar of freezer jam, and the whole top of the jar ripped off. He went Incredible Hulk on the jar. And it wasn't that the lid was frozen, the jar was just so brittle the whole top came off.

So not thinking it had cut J's hand too bad, I put it under the water to rinse it and get the pieces of glass out. Yup, one look and I wanted to pass out. I immediately called Tanner Clinic because I didn't want to pay for an ER visit. The receptionist said, "You need to call our appointment line." So I hung up, and called the appointment line. The girl there said, "We don't take appointments for lacerations. Just walk in and they'll fit you in. Try to get there close to 830am." Well it was 827am, so I hurried and drove him to the clinic. We got there at 833am. I walked up toe the receptionist and again she said, "Didn't I tell you to call our appointments?" I told her I did and they told me to just walk in and you would fit us in. She seemed really annoyed, but what do you do?
She had us wait in the waiting room for an hour!!! I was astonished, because usually we never have problems with Tanner Clinic. J was looking quite pale and he kept trying to put his arm down. I made sure to let him know to keep it elevated so the blood wouldn't pump and bleed out.
We finally got called back to the OR where the nurse cleaned and sterilized his laceration. She asked if we had been waiting long and we said about an hour! She was so annoyed as well. She said the receptionist didn't even tell her right away that we were there. I don't know what her problem was, but Wow!
The Dr came in and examined the wound. He said he had cut all the fat and tissue from the muscle and he was really lucky he didn't cut the muscle. It took 5 internal stitches and 7 outside stitches to close up the cut. I am glad I was able to keep him calm and we were able to get in and get J back home so he could rest.

I packed up the kiddos to take them to the dentist. I'm very proud to say, No Cavities for any of us. I even got extra credit for how clean I've kept my braces. And usually I don't like to boast, but it takes me a long time to floss and brush my teeth every night...18 minutes!
It was a good day, weird day, long day, but in the end...everyone is happy and healthy once again!

Surgery, Hair, and Trauma...Oh My

Yesterday was such a weird day for us. My Mom went in to the hospital early that morning to have surgery on her Thyroid because the Dr found cancer in it that had been growing bigger and bigger these last couple of years.
After the kids got out of school, I got them packed up to go visit my Mom in the hospital. Since I was going to be up in Ogden, I decided to stop by the Scout Store to pick up Rhett's patches, tape, and belt loops. While we were there, an autistic boy, about 18 yrs old, was there and pretty loud. I tried to keep my distance because he seemed pretty agitated. While I was checking out, and signing my credit card slip, Kenna was standing next to me. Before I knew it, she started to scream and cry and hyperventilate. The autistic boy had grabbed a hold of her hair and wouldn't let go. I didn't know what to do...I just stood there. I knew he was autistic, so I didn't want to try to grab him or hit him...not only because I wasn't sure what he would do, but I didn't want his parents to freak out by me hitting him. His brother kept hitting his hands, trying to get him to let go but he wouldn't. It seriously felt like forever but he finally let go...after he ripped out her hair, root and all.
The Mom was astonished, and immediately had the brother take him outside.
I just sat there stunned with a shocked and traumatized Kenna. She just sat on my lap crying over and over, "That mean boy. He messed up my hair. I want it back..."
I felt sick...how do you let someone just hurt your child and feel powerless against it? I felt like such a failure of a mother. I decided I needed to leave and get to the hospital...around family.
We got to my Mom's room and shared our sad incident with them and Amos and Kyle. Luckily, it made Kenna feel better to get loves form Grandma and Grandpa. And even better news, was finding out the surgery went well, the Dr. predicted 99% non-cancerous, and Mom looked soo good. We sat in her room and talked a little bit until J came by to take the kids home.
Then we went downstairs and joined Dad for dinner in the Hospital Cafeteria. And man, it was some really yummy food. It felt so good having us all at the table, eating together, and enjoying each other's company. After dinner, J took the kids home, and I went back to visit with my Mom and Dad and Dawn. We stayed until about 10pm, and then decided we ought to get home, especially because Mom had fallen asleep.
As I tried to sleep last night, I just couldn't. I kept re-playing what happened to Kenna. And I felt like a fool for not staying and filing a report. I know the boy didn't mean to, but I kept thinking there should be a report in case he does it again. That way, it's on record for the future.
When I woke up, after a sleepless night, I decided I had to call the manager and file a report. He said right after I left, he had arrived to take my statement but I had already left. They tried finding me by my credit slip, but to no avail they didn't. He was so happy I called and wanted to straighten it out. He even said the Mom was just devastated and had collapsed crying because she felt so bad. The manager had said he has seen autistic boys come in the store before wearing mitts or gloves. I'm thinking this must be a side effect they don't have control of, so he was going to pass that tip onto the Mom. I typed up my statement, and I'll take it in next week. It gives me a lot of peace that I was able to stand up for my daughter in some way. But I just hope her hair grows back quickly and that it won't affect Kenna for too long. All day today whenever I tried to brush her hair, she was too traumatized to let me. She just cries and says, "Owie hair..."
Poor girl, but a strong girl. I love my Kenna!

Happy Valentine's Birthday

I cannot believe it's already Valentine's Day...and Ry's 6th Birthday!!! Yesterday, Rhett and Ry decorated their boxes for their Valentine's party. Rhett's was a pirate ship and the sails said, "ME Hearties Go Here!"

Ry decorated her box to be a pink love caterpillar.

This morning, I got Rhett and Ry up and ready for school. Ry wore her new skirt for her birthday.

When she got home from school, I made sure to get the girls together for some cute pics in their new pink clothes. After all, it's also Kodes 1st Valentines Day!

After Rhett and J got home, we packed the kiddos to go to dinner early...before all the crowds came out. We decided to go to Golden Corral because kids eat free with an adult purchase. And there was so much yummy food....salad bar, fruit, corn dogs, steak, fish, potatoes, Chinese food bar, and rolls. Not to mention their delish dessert bar with pie, cake, cupcakes, cotton candy, ice cream, sherbet, and a chocolate fountain with marshmallows, strawberries, and rice krispies. The kids loved it!

Kodes especially liked it because she got her first taste of sherbet...which she totally LOVED!

Ry then told the waiter we were celebrating her birthday, so he got his other buddies to come over and sing to her. She thought it was pretty funny...

After dinner, we went to Target to walk around and just relax. We then decided to head home to sing Happy Birthday and open presents. I was glad we ate early, because there were so many people waiting outside each restaurant we passed.

We got home and Ry opened her card Rhett made her and then opened her present from us...we got her a baking set for her kitchen.

Annie, Bryonna, and Brooklynn even got her an apron set to use with her new baking set. She was so cute using all her gifts!

Super Bowl

Today was Super Bowl which we celebrated, along with Crystal and Ry's bday...also with Haylie in spirit. We went over to Dawn's and we all brought yummy food. We had cheese bread sticks, veggie tray, chips, pizzas, cocktail wienies, shrimp, and homemade chicken nuggets. We had so much food, but it was all sooo good.

I also made Ry's bday cake out of a gingerbread silicone mold Mom gave us for Christmas. We then decorated it with frosting, fruit roll-up, red hots, jolly ranchers,smarties, m&ms, and a ring pop!

The game got stalled by the blackout for a long time, so everyone was getting silly with the pics while the NFL figured a way to get it going again. J LOVED his Payton jersey from Mandee and Craig. The Ravens ended up winning in the end.

We then sang to Crystal and Ry and opened presents and ate cake.

Grandma gave Ry magnetic fairies with magnetic clothes and accessories and also a pack of Zoobles. As always, it was a great night with the family.