And After

Look, a uvula!

Why They Had to Go

This is a picture of EmmaLee's throat before her tonsils were taken out.  The slightly lighter pink thing in the middle is her uvula, but you can't clearly see it because her tonsils are so big they are practically blocking her whole throat opening!  I don't have an after picture yet because she is still a bit sore and can't open her mouth that wide yet, but I can tell you that as miserable as her recovery has been, it was SO worth it!  Before she snored SO loud, and not just snored, but STRUGGLED to breath.  It was the most horrible sound and thing to watch, especially for a parent who already struggles with paranoia when it comes to her children breathing!  The first day or two after the operation, she did snore a little due to swelling in her throat from the surgery, but now she breaths WONDERFULLY!  She is so quiet and peaceful that I sometimes have had to put my face almost on top of hers before I can hear her!  It is a night and day difference!  

One funny side effect from the surgery that is suppose to be temporary (about a month long) is that her voice is different.  I don't know how to describe it, but it is different!  It's cute too, though, so if it goes or stays, we're okay with it!  Another side effect that I wasn't expecting was how much weight she ended up loosing.  I don't have a scale, so I don't know officially how much weight she lost, but she did loose several pounds at least!  Pants that used to fit snug or even tight are super loose on her now, and you can see it in her face how much thinner she is!  She ate almost nothing for a week and a day before she finally turned the corner and started eating.  She drank just enough to keep her hydrated enough, but it was very disconcerting as her mother to see her not eating!  I'm sure she'll put the weight back on, thank goodness, because she is making up for her lack of food by wanting to eat all day long now!  But, it's one time I am happy to oblige her!

Overall, it was a much tougher recovery than I had anticipated, but the long term results are definitely worth it!

Expecting!

It has been, ahem, a few months since I last updated.  It has been a bit of a trying few months for us, with my kids struggling at school, the decision to homeschool Isaac, getting EmmaLee's tonsils out, and still looking forward to getting some pretty good dental work done in the next couple of weeks for Eden and Isaac.  All this combined with Rob and I still going to school, and let's just say time has gotten away from me!  

And, as you can see from the picture, we are also expecting baby #6!!  I am 12 weeks along, and due June 14th, 2013.  I have not felt very good with this pregnancy, surprise surprise, but luckily my doctor gave me some medicine pretty early on, so that has helped!  I am already into maternity clothes, and already feeling some of the pregnancy inconveniences, such as tendon pain, and my hips going out so I can't walk, etc.  It will be interesting to see how I feel as I actually get bigger!!  We are excited, though, and it has been fun to see the kids reactions this time around.  Everyone else came so quickly after one another that it was often hard for them to understand what was really going on.  Now it is fun to hear and see their excitement!  They love trying to come up with baby names ("Giltrude, mom, it is a beautiful name for a baby girl!" EmmaLee)!  It is nice to have Children that are old enough to understand better what is going on, and even help out when needed!  Eden is such a helper, even with Ammon when I need her to.  It makes it feel a little more possible that I just might survive with my sanity in the end! 

Time is Flying!

Time just keeps moving, whether I'm ready for it or not!  Rob and I are getting ready to start another semester of school, as well as three of our kids starting back in school!  Eden is going into the 3rd grade, Isaac 1st grade, and EmmaLee is starting Kindergarten this year!  CRAZY!  If Caydin was here, 4 of my 5 children would be in school!  I would like to think that now that the "crazy summer days" are almost over, I should be able to keep up with my blog better, but I'm afraid that my "crazy fall and winter days" are, well, just as crazy!  I'm planning on tutoring again at the school, which should be starting sometime in September, so between pretty much every member of my family being in school, me working, and just trying to have family time together, I'm not sure I'll be much better than I've been!  Someday things won't be as crazy, but then it won't be as crazy for a reason, and I'm not sure I want that either!  So, for now, I guess I'll just take things as they are and do my best to survive them all!

I had to throw this picture in because I love it!  We were at Antelope Island, and Rob got this great shot of Isaac, who is doing some kind of happy dance while walking, and Eden with a great smile!  Love my family!

Cascade Springs

We decided to take a short day-cation this week and rode up to Cascade Springs.  We took all the back roads and came home through American Fork canyon.  On our way home, we saw a mama moose and her baby just off the road!  Rob got a few pictures on his camera, but he hasn't downloaded them yet.  We also saw a few deer, and lots of squirrels and chipmunks!  

The kids all loved walking around on the path.  In fact, Ammon was upset that we were making him stop for even a picture!

 The kids set this one up all on their own!

Cascade Springs really is quite beautiful!

Summer

I've been horrible at taking pictures lately, but have a couple!  Summer is going well, and the kids are enjoying days spent out in the backyard, swimming, or just playing with friends!  Rob and I are getting a lot of projects done around the house, which has been good, even if we are probably the only ones who would notice what we've done! 

 Our nephew Alexander, who is about 2 1/2 weeks younger than Ammon, has been spending a lot of time with us this summer! 

They are a lot alike, including nap times!

We were able to go to the Syracuse City Heritage Days parade last week.  It was in the morning, but it was already pretty hot, and since we got there later than many, our seats were facing the sun!  But, the kids had  a blast catching candy and watching the parade! 

For the 4th of July, we were able to spend time with my family riding a four-wheeler and swimming in my parents backyard.  Did I think to take pictures?  No!  We did some fireworks in the front before it got dark, and the kids loved being with their cousins and family!

Isaac Turns Six!

June 20th was Isaac's sixth birthday!  I love this boy so much!  He is such a boy!  He loves fishing, playing video games, playing with friends, getting dirty, exploring, discovering new things, playing sports, wrestling with anyone, but especially his dad and little brother, and making people laugh!  He is also a sweetheart and loves to cuddle and give hugs!  He can be sensitive and can get upset if he thinks he has hurt someone.  I am so grateful everyday that I get to be Isaac's mommy!

Isaac got to have a few different birthday parties and adventures this year!  He had a party with Rob's side of the family, one with my side of the family, and then for his actual birthday, we spent the day up at Teapot Lake fishing!

 Isaac got a new fishing pole from his Aunt Bonnie that he loves!

 It's kind of hard to see, but his tongue is sticking out as he was opening this present.  I think it is so cute how excited he gets about presents!

 Blowing out the candles!

 One of his favorite presents was this bow and arrow set.  We didn't really show him much on how to hold it, but apparently he is a natural at it!  Look at that form and concentration! 

 EmmaLee gave Isaac a bunch of fake mustaches.  So, of course everyone had to try one on!  This picture of Isaac makes me laugh!

 As does this one. . .

 . . .and this one. . .

 . . .and especially this one!  Who else thinks Eden looks like the guy on "Enchanted" when he was in the Italian restaurant? 

 Isaac at Teapot Lake.  He decided to walk down the path a bit from where we were and cast his line in.  He caught a fish, all on his own, about 2 minutes later!  I guess that's why he's a Fischer!

 Ammon loved seeing the fish as well, and eating suckers!

 EmmaLee perched on her rock!  I think she also ended up tripping over this same rock later on, and the tree root, and the other rock, and that little piece of dirt. . ., but she had lots of fun anyway!!

 Eden loves her new flip flops and had to show them off in this picture!

Eden's Field Day

I figured out how to download my phone pictures, so here comes a catch up! 

 Eden is the blond one on the end doing a relay.

 The airborne girl in the pink shirt is Eden's best friend, Regan.  In the bottom corner with a red jacket on is Ammon.  He made a new friend from our group, the little girl in the yellow jacket!  They were so funny!  She (and I can't remember her name!!) loved getting hugs from Ammon, and Ammon loved giving them to her!

 See!

 Eden and Regan passing the time while waiting in line!

Eden getting ready to toss something!

 

Another shot of Eden, Regan, Ammon and his friend!

Catching Up Part 2

In April I was able to go on a girls weekend with all the married girls on my mom's side of the family.  I was horrible at taking pictures and didn't get one with all my family, but here were a couple I got!

This is a picture of my mom, me, my sister-in-law Kimberly, and my sister Melanie!  My 12 year old sister Laurie is the only girl sibling missing (well, except for a future sister-in-law from my 14 year old brother as well).  I sure love all of them!

 

My sister, Melanie, and I at the condo we stayed at!  I had a blast at the get away and hope it becomes an annual thing!

 

Both Rob and I volunteered for Isaac and Eden's field day at their school this year.  Rob went with the Kindergarteners and I helped with the elementary.  I've got to figure out how to download the pictures from my phone of the elementary one, but here are some from the Kindergarten field day!

Isaac is the tiny, blond head straight back.  The tall lady with dark hair on the right was Isaac's kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Revo.  We loved her!  She was fabulous with Isaac and helped him to have a great year!  He struggled a little with separation anxiety, and I think he would have gotten as bad as Eden had it not been for her!  I hope EmmaLee gets her next year!

Isaac in line with all the AM kindergarten!

I thought I took more Easter pictures, but I guess not!  So, here are the couple I got!

 EmmaLee in her Easter dress.  Eden had the same dress, and I think I was trying to get a picture of all of them, but somehow it didn't happen!  The candy necklace and bracelets were from the Easter Bunny!

 This is all the grandkids on my side of the family (except Caydin).

The rest of the pictures are just random pictures.

I just LOVE this picture!  It makes me think of a picture of my older brother, Nick, when he was about this age!

We took a ride up a nearby canyon before all the snow melted, and Eden decided she wanted to climb this snow bank.  The only problem was that she hadn't brought a coat!  So, she borrowed Ammon's!  So yes, those are the white sleeves of her shirt from the elbow down!!

Maybe it's because they are only less than 14 months apart, but Isaac and EmmaLee have always had a cute relationship with each other!  Again, this picture reminds me of a picture of my brother and I when we were little!

 My kids love the Aquarium in Sandy!

 Finally, a few months ago we took a ride and saw the "Up" house in Herriman.