A whole lotta nothin'

Today I finally got to meet with the surgeon. He assessed my condition, looked at my old MRI, and decided that he needed to have a new MRI before we can discuss treatment options. They have to get preapproval from the insurance company for the MRI, and then they'll hopefully call me on Monday to set up that appointment and my follow-up appointment with the doctor. All in all it was a frustrating appointment because although he confirmed that I have pain and disc problems, we didn't discuss treatment options. I'll just have to keep busy so the waiting game won't seem so long!

Cute baby

Kent has been hard at work on HUGE project, and on Wednesday he wasn't sure when he could leave the office. I decided that the kids and I would go do something fun, and since it's so dang hot an indoor activity was preferred. I gave the kids a choice between a few different movies- Fantastic 4, Nancy Drew and Spider-Man 3. Justin wanted to see SM3, Trevor wanted to see F4, and Natalie wanted to see Nancy Drew. So it came down to Drew to break the tie. Each kid pitched their movie choice to him, hoping to get him to choose the movie they wanted to see. As he considered them he said, "Spy-man free," "Fankasik Poor" and "Nancy Me". The kids all started roaring with laughter as they tried to get him to say "Nancy Drew." He wouldn't, which made them laugh even more. If you ask him to say it he'll probably still say Nancy Me. He is so cute!

(We ended up seeing F4, and they all really liked it.)

The boys' new toys

I think I mentioned in a previous post that Santa brought an ATV and motorcycle to our boys. They were totally excited, and loved having Kent take them out to ride. He wouldn't let them venture very far because he wanted to be able to see them in case of an accident. About a month ago, he began searching for an ATV to rent because he and his buddies from high school were going to go on a guys' trip, and they all needed an ATV. Kent tried to rent one, but was unable to find one suitable for his trip so he started looking to buy one. He found one that was a great offer, "too good to pass up" according to him, so he got it. The boys were absolutely thrilled because they were going to be able to go on longer rides.
Not wanting me to feel left out they made sure that I got something too. Just before Mother's Day I was able to get my MINIVAN retrofitted for a hitch. And, to sweeten the deal, I also got a trailer to haul the toys! I am such a lucky woman. Who needs diamonds when you can have those things?! No, I'm just teasing. I really don't want a bunch of diamonds. I wouldn't have any place to wear them!
I just want them to be safe and have fun with their dad. I think this will be something fun for them to do together. And as long as no one gets hurt I'm fine with this activity. Now we just need to find something for Natalie and Drew to do. They totally want to go on these rides with the boys. Maybe I'll just give them a Popsicle!

Hawaii trip

One of the things that we did during the time I last wrote and now is go to Hawaii. Kent and I went with another couple, and we had a blast. We took a cruise so we could see the islands. We were on the Pride of Aloha and left from Honolulu. We were able to visit Kauai, the Big Island (both sides- Hilo and Kona), Maui and Oahu. We took some awesome excursions, and just loved it. I think I want to retire there. It is so beautiful!

This first picture is of us at the luau we went to in Kauai.

This picture is from when we were in Maui. We were on our way up to the top of Haleakala (one of the volcanoes), and we were able to stop and have our pictures taken. We were up so high that we went through the clouds, and then kept driving up for about another 20 minutes. It was pretty chilly at the top, which is why we were dressed in layers and had jeans on.

This picture is of me trying to act like Tarzan.

Kent and I when we were in Oahu at Pearl Harbor.

It's been awhile...

It's been a while... a lot longer than I thought! Almost 3 months have passed since my last posting. Things have been absolutely crazy during this time. The kids finished school last week. It seems like just yesterday they were starting school, and now it's summer, and they're out and having a very busy summer so far. I'd like to say it's all been fun, but the boys are giving me an ulcer! I think it has something to do with them being close in age, but I don't know. Maybe it's just a case of testosterone! I have one brother, and he was 8 years younger than me, so I didn't deal with him the same way my 2 oldest boys have to deal with each other. Everything is a competition between them. It's enough to do me in!

Yesterday things were going well. There was no fighting, no bickering, just the sweet sounds of children playing nicely with each other. So when there was screaming coming from the game room around 8:30 p.m. I wasn't expecting it. I figured since they had gone all day without fighting that it would be a great day. I was wrong. They were punching each other and yelling. All because of a little misunderstanding! I decided that my goal for the summer is this: They are going to learn to get along with each other this summer.

As a punishment for this latest round of fighting they are supposed to be grounded from their friends for a week so they can learn to get along with each other. I made Justin cancel a sleepover that he was going to go to tonight. (I say supposed to be grounded because he got an invitation to another sleepover, and Kent let him go while I was taking a nap! Kent and I clarified what was and wasn't supposed to happen while grounded so when Justin comes home tomorrow morning the grounding will start anew, and he won't go to another party!) They are good boys, but for some reason they just nettle each other until one of them gets angry and they start fighting. Why can't they just get along?!

Anyway, despite the frustration with their fighting, we have been doing other things. Natalie is turning 4 on Wednesday, and she is so excited about it. She and Drew have been planning out a little party for her birthday for weeks now. She lets Drew know that he doesn't get to have a birthday party because it's "her" birthday party, NOT his. This gets him upset because he just doesn't understand why he doesn't get to have a party too. So she's working on being nice to her little brother.

He has already decided that he's going to have a Buzz Lightyear party. Drew's birthday isn't until January 13, but at least he has plans! 2 weeks before his birthday this year I had another set of injections in my back so I didn't do anything with our extended family to celebrate. Only my mom, Kent's mom and one of my sisters remembered his birthday. I feel bad that I didn't do more, but I know that he didn't realize that we didn't have a party for him. So, my goal for next year is to make sure we do something to celebrate!

Besides that they have been playing with each other a ton, and have even gotten in the water when we've gone to Grandma's house to swim. Last summer if I took Natalie in the water at all she would scream bloody murder and dig her fingernails and toenails into my arms and back just so she wouldn't fall. She was absolutely terrified. Drew was a little frightened, but he did okay. We just had to be mindful of his ear tubes not getting too wet. Recently, though, they have both let me put them in the water and walk with them in the pool. They now use the floaties and pool noodles to kick and try to swim. They have had so much fun, and I'm so excited to see the progress they're making. Trevor and Justin are also swimming well, and both try to encourage Natalie and Drew as much as they can.

Also, the day before we went to Hawaii, Trevor got baptized. It was very exciting for him, and he feels like such a big kid now. He got baptized with one of his good friends! Kent baptized him, and Duane (Kent's dad), Gavin (Trevor's uncle) and a few friends were in the circle when he was confirmed. Allan (my brother) moved to CA the day before Trevor's baptism so he wasn't able to attend. We came to the house afterwards for brunch. We got a 6' sub from Subway to feed everyone. Trevor ate 5 subs. He was pretty proud of himself. Needless to say we had no leftovers! Until recently, Trevor took great pride in being thin and being able to eat very little. That changed a couple of months ago when he suddenly developed an appetite for the first time in his life! He is starting to grow like crazy, and hopes to be taller than Justin soon. He still prides himself on being thin, and doing exercises to stay that way!

Here are Kent and Trevor just before the baptism. Trevor was so excited!

Here is Trevor with Justin, Natalie and me after he was baptized and confirmed. He beamed for the rest of the day. He had so much fun.