Too Much for Catch Up!

There is too much to catch up on for one post. I will just have to post a few things that have happened in the last few months.

Richard finally got his cast off on November 3. He got pretty good at moving with it on, but he was glad to get it off. I took him a week or so to start walking again, and now he isn't hampered at all by his leg. Occasionally he will limp. I think it is just a matter of still needing to redevelop the muscle. We went to the park right after getting his cast off, and he enjoyed burying his legs in the sand.

He is such a happy little guy, and talks all the time. We just don't understand much of his language. He does end every statement with "yeah". He sure is cute.

The latest game is to get him to say his vowels. I will include a cute video to demonstrate.

Ian is doing well in High School. He ran cross country, his marching band won more awards than they ever have (thanks to a new director, not just because Ian is in it ;) ). Ian auditioned for All state on his trumpet and made Jazz All state. Not bad for a freshman.

Kelly is doing really well in 7th grade. She is now 5 feet 8 or so. She is getting very tall and beautiful. She is playing the French horn in band, and also played volleyball for her school.

Erin is growing up way too fast. She is in 4th grade, and keeps us on our toes. She got her braces off in October and loves to smile.

Kenna is in 3rd grade and keeps all of us hopping. She is still on the jump-rope team and enjoys playing with her friends.

Andrew is in 1st grade. He will be our little ball player. He loves to play ball with his dad whenever he gets the chance. He is doing well in school and loves to rough house with Don

Don is quite the kid. He constantly says fun things. He has a tie that has a zipper in it and he calls it his ziplock tie. He also has a hooded sweatshirt that has a zipper that is his ziplock jacket. I would do better if I wrote down all the funny things he says, but I don't do it and then forget. He keeps me on my toes.

Marlin has been going crazy at work. There is a big job going on that has kept him working very long hours. Thank heavens for the inspiration. Heavenly Father has helped him out many times recently and helped him complete his tasks. Hopefully it will ease off some, but probably not for several months.

Well this is a really long post, and so I will end it with Richard dancing. We got a cd of dance music and the kids were dancing this morning with their cousins. Richard had to groove to the music too. It is too cute to leave out!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our family and friends.

Ian's Summer Surgery

At the end of this summer, Ian had to have a growth removed from his toe. I took some pictures to document it. It cut in to the end of summer swimming, but now it won't bother him for cross country or marching.

This is Ian's toe before surgery. It is hard to see the growth, but it is on the 4th toe. It was some cartilage growing off the end of the bone.
This is at the first check up after surgery. UGLY.
This is getting the stitches removed. Better.
All the stitches out. Now just needs healing.

Now actually the toe looks normal. No more pain, except when Don steps on it. ;-)

Richard's Broken Leg

Life has been different for the last 2 1/2 weeks.

Richard has a broken femur, and is in a spica cast. It makes life a little more challenging.

The Story:

We took all the kids to an Albuquerque High football game to watch Ian march in the band. We had a great time, and were there from just before half time until the game ended. (Ian did great by the way, and you can watch his band perform at http://ahsmightybulldogband.org ) We were leaving the game and walking through the parking lot. Marlin had Richard on his shoulders. Don wouldn't hold on to my hand. He would just pull and pull when I tried. He would hang on to Marlin's hand though. So instead of breaking Don's wrist, I let Marlin deal with both boys. We did great until about 15 yards from the van, and no more traffic between us and the van. Don began to hop or do something (I didn't see it because I was distracted with Andrew opening the van door. We had forgotten to lock it.) The next thing I know, Marlin calls out for help. I turn around and see Marlin leaning over, and Richard laying between his elbow and back barely hanging on. I go over and grab Richard. Marlin said he heard a pop in Richard's leg.

We were hoping it wasn't his knee. He wasn't crying at this point. We put him in the van, and drive home. That drive was miserable. Every bump caused Richard to cry harder. We finally got home. We carefully got him out of his seat and brought him in. We laid him on the floor to change his diaper. We were very careful in removing his pants. Marlin did the first aid stuff, and checked his ankle, and then knee. In the process of checking his knee, he saw movement in the femur. He then knew the femur was broken. He stabilized the leg, and I called 911. The paramedics, ambulance, fire truck, and police came. It was quite the mad house when Ian got home. Thank heavens he had a ride.

I ended up riding in the ambulance with Richard (my first and hopefully last ambulance ride). At the hospital, x-rays confirmed the break. That began our hospital experience. I was there for 2 nights with Richard. Thank heavens for friends and family which stepped in to help us take care of all our kids.

It has now been 2 1/2 weeks. Richard will have the cast for 6 weeks total. He has figured out how to roll around, and is pretty happy most of the time. Nights are the hardest. I don't think he gets completely comfortable. Which makes it hard for both of us. It is amazing how fast little kids adapt to their experiences. He should have no lasting effects from this. The Doctor says occasionally broken bones like this tend to overgrow. So his left leg may end up a little longer than the right. We will have to keep an eye out for that when he is about ten I guess.

All hooked up in the hospital. He didn't like it much, and I was still a little afraid to hold him. Not to mention, it wasn't very comfortable to hold him.

Ricahrd was pretty miserable in the hospital. I don't know whether it was residual pain, or just the medications that made him feel yucky.
Richard was getting the iv removed here. He was so cute covering his face while he cried.

Richard in his special borrowed car seat. He is pretty happy for the most part. It is a good thing that Don has a bunch of shorts. In order for Richard to have pants on, he has to wear size 4.

Kenna's Baptism

Marlin and Kenna ready to go.

Kenna got baptized last Saturday. It was a very nice baptism. Our Stake does Stake baptisms, but because Kenna was the only one being baptized in August, we were able to arrange things to be more personal.

Kenna chose the songs, and the speakers. Sister Berger gave the talk on baptism, and Jessica gave the talk on the Holy Ghost. They both did a great job. It was nice to have people other than family give the talks. She hears from us all the time.

It is exciting to watch Kenna grow up. She has such a strong spirit and personality. She can do so much good, it will be fin to watch how she helps others.

The time before the baptism was crazy. Between trying to find out what was going on with band camp for Ian, and the little boys being wild, I was stressed. Don and Andrew ended up covered in marker, so a bath was required. Then after the bath and getting dressed in Sunday clothes, the poured an entire bottle of syrup on the carpet in their room. Someday I will laugh, but I am still a little put out.

Good thing they are cute boys. Some days it is all that keeps me from drastic measures.

Erin and Richard

Don and Andrew being their normal selves. Not the most reverent, but they did well during the baptism itself.

Didn't get a picture of Ian and Kelly, but they were there too. I am sometimes delinquent.

Philmont

Here are a few pictures of our Philmont experience. I don't know why I didn't actually gt this posted in July when I wrote it, but better late than never.

Another Don Moment

Just so you know Don is not always funny I will include this story. When we were up at Philmont Training Center, we were exploring the grounds of the Villa Philmonte, which is the mansion where Waite Phillips and his family would live on the ranch. There is a really nice gazebo type part of the building where you wait to go on a tour. We were looking around there and Don looked up and said "This looks like Heavenly Father's house." Then he went and sat on one of the chairs and said, "this is where He sits and talks to people."

Then the next day Marlin was walking him around the gardens and he said "This looks like Heavenly Father's backyard."

He is quite the little boy. It was beautiful up at Philmont.

Kelly just came in and said that Don said "look it's snail polish". He keeps us smiling.

More Don Funnies

OK, so having a 3 (almost 4) year old is fun.

Yesterday in church, Don leaned over to me and asked "Where are your Sunday clothes?" Well, considering I was dressed in church, I said I am wearing them.

He repeated "No, where are your Sunday clothes?"

I said "Right here."

He thought for a second and said, "But where are your beautiful Sunday clothes?"

I couldn't hear well enough to figure out what clothes he was talking about, but apparently it wasn't what I was wearing. The only thing I can figure is that I had to change shirts before church because Richard slimed me. I guess the first shirt was beautiful, the second was not. hahaha

Then after church we were making dinner, and the girls were cutting up fruit for a fruit salad. Don asked where we got the fruit. I said from Sunflower Market. Don must not have heard because he then said, "Oh, you got it at the fruit salad store?" What a cutie. I think I'll keep him.