Pumpkin Patch

We have a tradition of going to a pumpkin patch for our Halloween pumpkins. It's been to a different one each year, but I think we found the one we may stick with from now on. It's right off 11800 So. and just west of Bangerter Hwy. Don't know what it's called, but it has a farmer's market and a huge pumpkin patch. They had a lot of fun things there and reminded us of a mini carnival with hay rides, corn maze, kids crafts, apple cannon, face painting, booths of cute things to buy and of course pumpkins. The kids had a blast. We went through the corn maze and I didn't think to take the picture til we were at the end of the maze.

 We let Michael ride in the wheelbarrow.

Here we are with several pumpkins we thought we might get. Michael looks unhappy here because he had just decided he didn't want the pumpkin he has in his hands and was mad that I wanted to have a picture with it. I also changed my mind before we left, but the little ones Karen and I have we took home.

Michael was very happy again when we did find the one he wanted. It was a fun time and we look forward to doing it again next year!

Bird House

One day Karen asked me if she could build a bird house. I told her we didn't have any wood. She said she didn't need any, that she just needed some card board. Well, we had some of that, so I told her sure. I gave her some cardboard and some scissors, showed her how to cut it, and left her to it. I honestly thought she would get tired of it or think it was too hard and give up. So I was surprised when a little while later she came to me and showed me her birdhouse.

I was seriously impressed. She had a hole for the birds and had even taped a piece to the front as a perch. Karen finished it off with a string taped to the top to hang it on the tree. I was so proud of her for finishing a project, not giving up, and for making it work. It even looks really good. She was also very proud of her project. I helped her hang it in the tree and she's excited for a bird to make a home in it.

Oooey Goooey

 My kids discovered the ooey gooey deliciousness that is cinnamon rolls. We bought a can at the grocery store once and my kids were hooked. They ate them all and begged for more. We got them again and they ate them all before I even got one that time! I decided that the store bought rolls just weren't cutting it, besides they are much better when they are homemade. We found a recipe online and away I went. This was the result.

They turned out delightfully delectable and finger licking good. Oooey goooey, yum!

All Better

Karen has healed phenomenally well. By the 5th day after surgery she was hopping around and wanting to do everything like normal. The doctor insisted that she stay down for 10 whole days and it was quite the battle to get her to sit or lay on the couch for the last 5 days. After 7 days she won more often than I did. But she is all better now and eating more than she ever has before. For example, the other day she had 3 cinnamon rolls for breakfast, a snack, 2 drumsticks for lunch, cookies, popcorn, candy (we went to a movie) and everything on her plate at dinner (can't remember what we had). She's like a bottomless pit. I know that she will be growing in no time. We feel that this will bless her life in many ways and we are glad we did this tonsillectomy.

We also had school pics taken of the kids. We love to have a local photographer take the pictures rather than get the real school pictures. The school picture packets are very expensive and you get a bunch of wallets that are never used anyway. The lady who takes their pictures get much better and cuter photos anyway for a much better price with a CD of 5 poses. We love it and are very grateful to her for them. Karen's pics are even posted on her blog because Karen is just that cute! http://capturedpix.blogspot.com/2011/09/more-dates-for-school-pictures.html Scroll down at this link to see them. I'm posting my favorite of Karen and Michael below.

It was a beautiful area where she took their pictures, so I took the kids back to get a few more of my own with both of them together. Mine didn't turn out quite as good as hers, but they did turn out cute.

Tonsil-less

Thursday was the big day for Karen to get her tonsils out. She was one of the first on the schedule for the day which means we had to be there by 6:45, which means a really early wake up time. Karen had been really nervous the whole week telling me that she was scared to get her tonsils out. We tried to reassure her and explain everything that would happen, but this only comforted her a little. She was most worried about how bad it would hurt afterwards, and the promise of ice cream after the surgery didn't give much more comfort.

When we got there they were really cute with her and she looked darling in her child size hospital gown that didn't even come to her knees. Good thing there were blankets to cover those long little legs. Here is a before picture.She was really brave about everything until they got this syringe out. They needed to put some drops up her nose to cause relaxation and amnesia so she wouldn't remember the ordeal. Little did they know that the syringe would be an ordeal for her. She got so scared and we had to hold her down to let them do it. After they got the drops in, I held her in my arms and tried to calm her down. It was amazing, we could tell exactly when the medicine started to work because she all of a sudden she stopped crying and her eyes were so droopy she could hardly keep them open.

The operation itself was really fast. About a half hour after they wheeled her away they called us back for a consultation with the doctor. He said that everything went perfectly. As he removed her tonsils they just oozed with infection and because of this he believes that her enlarged tonsils were probably caused by chronic tonsillitis. They sent the tonsils to the pathologist to make sure, but that's what he thinks she's been suffering from. Totally surprised us since she has never seemed to have symptoms of tonsillitis, but what do we know.

She's really been a trooper and been really good about eating and drinking the soft foods we are allowed to give her. We've been very surprised and pleased with how hungry she's been and how much she has eaten since her surgery. About every two hours she's been asking for more food. They told us we can't give her any dairy for 2 days so her options are limited, but she loves chicken noodle soup, chicken and stars soup, popsicles, punch, juice, and eggs. She's also loved being waited on hand and foot and being able to get everyone to get things and do things for her. Our beautiful princess. Here is a picture after surgery. Does she look different with her tonsils out? (j/k)
We love our sweet little girl and pray that this will help her in many aspects of her health. We also appreciate all the concern and prayers offered on her behalf by so many of our friends and family. Thanks.