Day 74 of 365

Today has been a funfilled day celebrating Carson's birthday.  Carson turned 7 today - she has been so excited and looking forward to this birthday for such a long time.  We decided to have a friends birthday party.  She invited five friends from school and four of them were able to attend.   She wanted to do some scrapbooking, have manicures, and a pinata.  She had the whole thing planned out - it was my job to be able to make it happen.  She is very particular about what she wants and I'm not so good at being a mind-reader at times.  However, I think this time I came through with flying colors.  Bryan came over and spent the day here for Carson's birthday.  He was able to my "gopher" during the day, running to Idaho Falls to get Carson's bike and then he put it together.  We were unable to surprise her.  She ran outside when I wasn't looking and saw Bryan putting the bike together.  We tried to convince her it was someone else's bike, but she wouldn't buy it!  She did love it though.  She has been asking for a bike for quite awhile.

My girl is finally 7!

Doing nails :)

Lighting the candles

Making scrapbooks

Opening the presents

The pinata

The rowdy party-goers

With her beloved new bicycle

After the awesome party, Bryan, Carson, Morgan and I went out to dinner.  Morgan left with dad to spend the rest of the week with him and Grandma and Grandpa Sant.  Carson and I will have some girl-bonding time this week.  She is really excited.

Day 73 of 365

Back to school and back to work after the holiday.  Carson is finally feeling better after her migraine headache episode.  She was very excited to go to school and looking forward to her birthday celebration tommorrow.  We went to Walmart tonight all by ourselves to do some shopping for Carson's birthday.  Of course, we went by the bicycle section so that Carson could longingly look at all the treasures they have.  Even though it is September and summer is almost over, they still had several bicycles that caught her eye.  None of them were the right size though - we are looking for a 18" bicycle and they only had a few models which happened to be boy's.  So this mom was in panic mode, because my girl's birthday tmw and I don't have a present!!!  Hopefully we can find something tomorrow in Idaho Falls or Pocatello.  Most of all, hopefully I don't disappoint my baby girl the most!

Day 72 of 365

Happy Labor Day folks!!!!  I was awakened at 4:45 am to the wonderful sound of a cannon going off in the street next to Brad and Mary Jo's home.  Apparently it is a Wellsville tradition, that someone drives around and shoots the cannon in the streets to wake everyone up on Labor Day and the Founders Day Celebration so they can get ready for the Labor Day breakfast.  Luckily the kids slept right through it.  I had a non-restful night as Morgan joined me in a single bed about ten minutes after I went to bed.  We cuddled all night and he got a lot more sleep than I did.  I finally switched him places after the cannon went off and I was able to get some good sleep then.  My little guy.  I have got to break him of this habit but it is so difficult.

We had a quick breakfast and then the kids patiently (sort-of) waited for the parade to start.  Morgan was a lot more excited than Carson.  She was okay but the sun was bothering her eyes and she didn't feel like running to the candy.  She sat in her little chair right by me.  The other kids, especially Morgan were great about giving her candy.  About half-way through the parade, Morgan started putting one piece of candy in his bag and then the next into Carson's.  I didn't even ask him to do this - he just did!  I love it when my kids are sweet with each other.

Waiting for the parade to start...

Gabby's float - she beaned me in the head with some
salt water taffy.  It hurt!

After the parade, we cleaned up the Nobles front yard and headed to the back for the backyard BBQ.  We ate and ate delicious homemade food, talked, laughed, listened to a spiritual thought from the missionaries Mary Jo invited to eat with us and just enjoyed the nice weather.  The kids played and played. 

Around 1:30 pm, I decided we should get our gear together, stop at a few shops on the way out of town and head home to meet Bryan.  This is where my crisis began!  We got the car loaded up and were about 4 miles from Brad and Mary Jo's house and Morgan realized his blanket was still at their home.  We turned around, drove back, got the blanket and were back on the road.  Our first stop was the mall.  After we parked, I decided to look for my debit card so I could make some purchases.  I looked everywhere and it was nowhere to be found!  Now I am in panic mode, because the last time I remember it, it was in my pocket.  It could have fallen out anywhere.  I have enough money to go into the mall so I decide to continue on my shopping sojourn.  I call Mary Jo to have her look in Gabby's room where I stayed to make sure I didn't leave it there.  They look and text me back, it is not there!  Now I am really starting to panic, wondering if I should call and cancel it but don't even know if anyone at the bank would be there with the holiday.

Both of the kids are terrible in the mall.  Carson is still not walking very well and requires me to carry her around.  She is getting big enough it isn't really comfortable anymore and I don't have a stroller at all.  I get her into the store I want and have her sit in the chair outside the store while I browse.  I was at Children's Place and Carson couldn't resist the urge to look at the clothes so she was soon in shopping with me.  Morgan wasn't happy about it.  I finally resorted to bribery and told him that if he was good, I would let him ride one of the 50 cent rides on our way out.  He finally was patient with me at least for a couple of minutes anyway.

We made our purchases and headed out of the mall. Carson decides she can't walk again and so now I am carrying her out along with a big bag of clothes and trying to keep track of Morgan.  I am getting grouchy.  I really wanted to stop at Hobby Lobby before we head out since it is the nearest one to us in
Blackfoot.  I am worried about how my two yahooligans will do.  I decide to chance it.  They have carts at Hobby Lobby so worst case scenario, I can push them around.  I needed to get some scrap booking items.  I am so glad we stopped because they were having a great sale and I was able to get 50 percent off my scrapbook albums.

After shopping, I put a movie on for the kids and finally head down the road.  When we arrived home, I started to unload the van and guess what I found?  Yes, that demon debit card that I couldn't locate earlier in the day.  When I picked it up, Carson said, "Oh, I saw that earlier on the floor Mom, when I had to pick something else up!"  yeah girl, thanks for telling me.  Crises diverted!

We had enough time to finish Carson's homework before Bryan arrived to take the kids out for a picnic and to later take Morgan to spend the week with him.  I had a few hours to myself (gasp) and I actually did some organizing downstairs with no television and no computer.  So proud of myself.

Carson came home, we got her ready for bed and then I stayed up too late watching television.  I need to start making it to bed earlier and not drinking so much diet Pepsi.  I swear it is running through my veins.

Day 71 of 365

10:00 am.

Day #3 of Migraine headache.  Carson made it out to the couch.  Another good sign.  She rested and was able to watch some television.  She has been eating more, always a good sign.  Before the migraine, we had plans to go to Wellsville to visit our friends, the Noble family and attend the Labor Day parade and have a fabulous bbq get-together.  I was unsure if we would be able to attend.  Carson has been feeling better, if she can take a shower, we should be good to go.  We'll see.

3:00 pm

Carson keeps telling me she wants to go to Wellsville.  I told her that unless she takes a shower, we can't go.  Now that she is older and smellier, when she hasn't showered for three days, it is not a pretty sight.  Fred the midnight hairdresser has wreeked havoc on on her hair.  I don't even know if I can get the tangles out!  After much discussion, she decides that she can stand up to take a shower as long as I don't spray water on her forehead.  I am happy to oblige.  We get her showered, lotioned up and smelling pretty darn good.  I was even able to untangle her hair.  It is time to go!

4:00 pm

I am in a hurry to pack for all three of us.  I did pretty good for the kids, but for me, not so good.  I forgot some key items in my quest to hurry and get on the road.  I am getting old!

5:00 pm

We are headed down the road to Logan/Wellsville.  So excited to see our friends and hang out for awhile.  Carson survived the trip and is excited to see Brigette and Gabby.  We stay up way to late talking and get the kids to finally go to bed around 11 pm.  Looking forward to a relaxing day tomorrow.

Morgan tried sleeping with the girls for
about 15 seconds.... then he snuck in with me.

Brigette couldn't sleep - Gabby
and Carson are fast at it.

Day 70 of 365

Day #2 of the migraine headache routine.  I am tired.  I don't know why it wears me out, I'm not the one in pain.  But I am tired.  I slept as long as I could.  Carson continued throwing up for awhile and then stopped.  At this time, she is very hungry as she hasn't kept any thing down since Thursday evening.  When she starts eating, she is on the better side of the headache.

Maggie came over for a little while.  To keep her and Morgan busy, I gave each of them a camera and let them take as many pictures as they could.  Am I awesome or what?  This is what they came up with (drum roll please....)

Looking so enthused!

The lovely light in our family room.

Half of Maggie and Papa, Morgan taking this shot.

 

Morgan taking a picture of Maggie taking a picture of him.

Maggie's so cute toes.

Maggie checking out her camera.

 

A nice picture of the fan (and a child's finger in the
top left-hand corner).

I think Morgan wears me out more than Carson.  I think in the last 24 hours, we have watched Tangled at least three times.  It is Morgan's favorite movie of the moment.  It is a cute movie, I just don't want to watch it again!  Melissa was so kind to let him go to her house and play with Max.  He came home after a couple of hours and was very hungry.  We ate corn on the cob together for dinner.  Morgan likes the corn on the cob - such a good thing since he is a picky eater and doesn't eat many different items.

I am starting to go stir crazy.



Day 69 of 365

Rough night last night.  Carson couldn't sleep so she kept waking me up.  Finally she was able to sleep for a short time when she woke up with the beginnings of a migraine headache.  Goodbye fun weekend plans.  Hello vomiting, dark rooms, no noise, carrying Carson around because she can't walk but most of all watching my baby in extreme pain and not being able to do anything about it.  We did get a prescription from Dr Clark for anti-nauseau medicine and it has actually helped with the vomiting.  The pain doesn't got away though.  I have to say my little angel is one tough cookie.  She has experienced pain that not many people do and she handles it like a trooper.  When I ask her how she is, she always says, "I'm okay, Mom."  She is t.o.u.g.h.

Day 68 of 365

This morning I waited for a few minutes and watched Carson get on the bus.  She is such a big girl now.  It is nice to have her ride the bus from home so I don't have to drive her anywhere.  She is the last one on the bus in the morning so she doesn't have a long ride to school, but it is fun.  Her bus driver, Mrs. Roberta Martin, was my bus driver when I was in school.  She has known our family for a long time, we were in the same ward for quite a while and she is always so good to our kids.  One of the perks of living here in my own home town!  Lovin' it!

We can watch for the bus from the house - when it
crosses the road and goes around the block, Carson
has enough time to go to the other side of the yard.

Happily waiting for the bus.

Getting on the bus and heading
to school.

Today was a crazy day at work.  I hope I make it through tomorrow.  Shireen has put in extra time helping me.  I just hope Friday isn't as crazy.  It always seems like Fridays are o.u.t. o.f. c.o.n.t.r.o.l.!

I was happy to come home and just relax with my kiddos.  Morgan has been begging me all week to just sit down and watch a movie with them.  We watched "Tangled", his new favorite movie!  It was nice to cuddle.  I think I slept through at least half of it but at least we were together.