And the cast came back...

I'm going to warn you.  This is a rant, rave, complain, whine post.  Read on at your own risk.

Russell got his new cast on Monday.  We've had mostly good days since then, but today was a bad day.

However, I should clarify that he has been doing SO MUCH better this time than he did back in March.  He started walking with his cast the same day he got it on.  He did great through the whole surgery.  He's been walking and getting around pretty well.  He's just so sad and mad.

And so am I.  Can I tell you how much I don't want this cast back on? It's heavy.  It's a pain to deal with (can't get wet, or dirty, can't stick things down the front of it...) And we can't go swimming anymore.  Can't be outside in the heat too long, or he will sweat alot and get sores.  Ugghhh.  And it makes him so frustrated/sad/mad/but mostly sad.
It's pretty understandable.  I would be too. He has hardly eaten anything since the cast.  Sometimes he sees food and starts screaming.  Or he sees his highchair and starts screaming.  I was so excited when he ate almost a whole bowl of oatmeal this morning, but at lunch we were back to not eating.  And when I say not eating, I mean he'll eat one cracker during meal time.  Or one bite of chicken.  Literally.  Scott and I feel that his cast is ok, that we won't have to get it cut off, but I'm wondering what is making him not eat.  I've tried popsicles, ramen noodles, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, cheese (he's not allergic to dairy anymore!!), but I might make him oatmeal again for dinner since it worked so well this morning.  I think he has a sore throat from the intubation during casting, but should it last this long?  I'm guessing he'll get better in the next couple of days though.  I think we just have to get through this. 
And now I just looked over at him and he's eating the cup of cereal I left out on the table for him! Maybe all I needed to do was complain... Yea! He's eating!

He's been so sad today.  He's cried almost the whole day, and I don't know how to help him.  He didn't sleep much last night, but he did take a nap.  He didn't nap yesterday.  I know he's just getting used to the cast, and it's so much better than last time, but I really hate going through this.  I just ache inside as I watch him grunt and groan just to get to a standing position.  But he does it! And he's just happy he's up!  I ache as I watch him try to figure out how to cuddle with me, and he's so sad that he can't hug me and lay his head on my shoulder, or sad that he can't reach his toys on the floor unless he lays down flat on his tummy and plays with them by his side.  He can't lift his head and shoulders off the floor when he's on his tummy, so he just lays by the side of his toy, with his head on the carpet and plays.  I watch him try to stand when there's nothing else to hold on to, and he can't do it.  He tries and he tries, but that cast makes his center of balance off, and he's too top heavy.  I know he'll figure it out eventually.  His determination and persistence is a wonder.

The therapists came to our house today.  We were really excited to tell them he can walk, so he doesn't need the walker.  He really is doing awesome, all things considered.  But there is this part of me that wouldn't mind so much if he got a cold again the next time we need to change his cast...

Happy Happy birthday!

I had a great birthday! Scott made dinner-yummy taco salad, Russell went to bed, and then they all gave me presents. I felt so blessed and so loved!

I love my kids!

Just so you know, that is a gel-bike seat above my head there, and yes, that's a monkey on my card. 

We each got to decorate our own cupcake.  I'll let you guess which cupcake belongs to which member of the family.

Here's all of us holding our cupcakes (so basically a hint for the above challenge)

I really did have a great birthday.  I had some wonderful chats through out that day, the next day, and the next day with family calling to wish me a happy birthday.  Thank you!

Jensen Family Reunion

The Jensen Family Reunion was last week.  It was so fun and it lasted three days at Ron and Nancy's house.  The biggest surprise, was that Jason got to be there with all of us.  We found out that they were being re-assigned to the US a couple of months ago, so Christy and the kids would be able to come, but we all thought that Jason was going to have to work.  He secretly flew in on Sunday, only Christy knew about it.  He was able to stay a whole week.  It was a great surprise!!!

 On Monday, all the guys went golfing, while the moms and sisters stayed home with the kids, and Jesika did everyone's hair.  She made us all look so beautiful, and I still don't know how she lasted all day long standing, doing something like 14 hair cuts (I think that was the last count).  The older kids got to paint ceramic banks, in different shapes all from Grandma.  The younger kids got to play with "touchable bubbles", something Jason and Christy shared with us from Japan.

Russell, enjoying the bubbles.

Some of our cousins painting.

Krysta painting.  I couldn't get her to tear her eyes away from her train long enough for a picture.

Tyler, squinting into the sun behind me, showing off his boat bank.

Emalyn and a couple of cousins painting their banks.

 On Tuesday, we all went to Hogle Zoo.  There was this cool ball-fountain that you could push and make it rotate in the water.  Of course it was like a magnet to all the kids.

Showing how well it works when everyone tries to measure up at the same time.

This one worked much better

Standing in front of a huge sculpted elephant.  This elephant would spray anyone standing in front of it's trunk.

Giraffes-my favorite exhibit.  I liked how this one posed for us.

He just kept his mouth open for at least 10 minutes.  Nice to have enough time to get a photo.

And then we forgot to use the camera for the rest of the reunion.  Tuesday afternoon, we went to Carolyn and Jeremy's house, where the kids did a little swimming and we had a dutch oven picnic.

Wednesday, some of us got up earlier than others and went on a hike up to Bridal Veil Falls.  It was beautiful, the water was freezing, and some *crazies* took their shoes off and waded in that freezing water.  We had a picnic near a park, and then went home to go swimming at the Payson pool.  Then our family had to leave, but we heard the festivities that night were really fun.

Jesika made this cake.  Isn't it beautiful? She showed us all how to do a fondant cake.  I'm still not sure I could come close to her talent, but it was fun to watch her.  The numbers on the front are to celebrate my birthday and my brother-in-law's birthday.  I let you guess which numbers belong to which person. ha ha.  Thanks Jesika!

Thanks to Ron and Nancy for planning and hosting a GREAT reunion!

Ride biking

That may sound like a phrase one of my kids would say, but it's not.  I'm the one who keeps saying it that way.  I think I've lost some brain cells through my children, and I cannot get some phrases straight anymore.

Scott was able to get himself a bike about a week ago.  It had a flat tire, that took us a few days to try to repair, then give up and just buy a new tube, so we didn't get to try it out until Wednesday.  However, we've been biking everyday since then.  Seriously, so fun.  We went a few times, just the two of us in the evenings, and my legs are STILL sore.  And then yesterday, we went for our first family bike ride, where we were all on bikes.  

We went on a family "bike" ride a couple weeks ago, with all of us on bikes, except Scott, who rode Tyler's scooter.  I thought that riding a scooter was going to slow him down compared to biking, but Scott and I had a race (he on the scooter, me on my bike) and he totally beat me. 

I could not believe it.  So we traded, me on the scooter, him on the bike, and he still beat me. ha ha.   Apparently, he's just better all around.  But riding that scooter was WAY harder than riding a bike.  It was a lot more physically exerting (and challenging for me).  

So it was nice that he got a bike, and we could leave the scooter in the garage.  His bike is nicer than mine-it has shocks on the seat, a cushier seat pad, and is just in better condition-so he let me ride it yesterday.  We had so much fun.  Brought back SO MANY memories of family bike rides when I was growing up. 

A visit to the zoo

The kids and I went to the zoo on Friday.

First, we had to see how they measure up.

Riding a tiger.  Russell is not too sure about the wisdom in this.

Love the personalities here.

My vogue girls

Playing in the zoo playground.  My little hatchlings.

I couldn't get Russell and Krysta to face the same way.  So I took a photo from each side.

Krysta was not too happy about sharing her nest.

Even less happy about it here.


We had so much fun! Daddy had to work, and we missed him.  But it was fun to take Russell for his first time (that he was old enough to enjoy it anyway).

Being in the moment

Well, trying to be anyway.

Russell gets his 2nd cast on July 9.

 I get tears in my eyes every time I think about it. I know he needs it, but I don't want it. He's so happy again right now. We laugh and play every day. I am better at living in the moment than I used to be, because I know that cast is coming on again in less than two weeks. He is soooo much happier right now. We can do so many more things as a family. We've been loving the pool, loving water fights, going everywhere. And then we're going to put that cast on again, and he's going to be so sad. And mad. And not understand why. I hate that part of this.

I hate to complain. We are so blessed. And I know it. But I'm still DREADING that day.

However, the following are pictures of us trying to "Live in the Moment":

I had the idea to put the pool at the bottom of the slide.  That was fun.

Love the expressions here.

And here.

Mischevious brother...

A little apprehensive of what her older brother will do once she gets to the bottom of the slide.  See the picture above to get a glimpse of what he will do.

And I believe we have a fish in the making here.

A little blurry, but kinda shows his excitement of being in that cold cold water.

Russell's progress

I cannot believe how much progress Russell has made in the last couple of weeks.  Neither will you, once I explain.

I already told you that he started walking a couple of weeks ago.  That was just two days before the global assessment.  At that time, he still couldn't say more than 5 words total, and he didn't really babble at all.  He never repeated what I said either.  Really not normal for a 20 month old.  So when they did the global assessment, he was behind in both how he walked (he brings his knees up really high with each step) and his lack of speech.  I have been trying to teach him to name parts of his face (like nose, eyes, mouth, ears, etc) for over 6 months, and he has never once tried to repeat my words. 

I think you all must have been praying for him.  I don't know how else to explain what happened in these last couple of weeks.

He started last Tuesday, talking.  He added about 5 new words to his vocabulary in the next couple of days.  Then by last Friday, he could put 2-3 words together to make phrases.  On Saturday, he said, "I can see you now" over and over as I was putting him into bed.  He can say probably about 20 words now, on a regular basis, and has started just today repeating words he has heard us say.  Like today, he said, "It's slippery", when he was trying to walk all over a pile of unfolded laundry.  So cute.

And he is walking everywhere.  I'm so proud of him. 

The developmental therapist and the physical therapist came last week, and he passed the developmental tests with flying colors, and the physical therapist was worried a little about his high stepping, but they both think he's right on track with his speech now.  I do too.  The physical therapist talked to us about using a walker for him when he first gets his new cast on, to help him keep walking once the cast is on.  But we'll see; I wonder if he'll just start walking on his own.  He's made so much progress, that I think anything is possible at this point.

Father's Day

We had a great Father's day.  We had an awesome meal, of turkey burgers, sauteed mushrooms, mashed potatoes, and cream puffs that only slightly resembled normal cream puffs.   The cooking took longer than I'd planned, as did all the game planning and present wrapping (both done by the kids), so we didn't eat until late, and started the games even later.  Meaning that Russell had had it by the time dinner was over, so he gladly went to bed while the rest of us PARTIED!

The kids made a treasure hunt for Scott.  Just like they did for Mother's day, except it was "longer" and "way cooler" (as I was informed). 

Finding one of the clues of the treasure hunt

Finding the treasure at the end of the treasure hunt

 The "treasure" at the end of the treasure hunt was all of the presents and the huge card they'd picked out for him.



A Lotta Love

I am so blessed to belong to this family!!

A Lotta Love + Presents = A Happy Father

We had a great Father's Day! We love you so much Scott/Dad! 

Global Assessment

I just think that title is funny.  Sounds so ominous.  But no, we didn't actually assess the globe.  ha ha. I'm so funny.
We did a "global assessment" on Russell.  Turns out he's a little behind.  Which is what I already knew.  I just didn't know in what areas.  We were referred to Idaho Infant and Toddler program because Russell wasn't walking, and he's old enough that he should be (he's 20 months in four days).   So we set up this appt today for a development assessment.  Then, two days ago, he starts walking.  Really walking.  All over the house, and the yard, and the deck at the swimming pool during swim lessons...etc.  I can't keep up with him!  I was so happy, I thought, I wonder if they'll even need to do anything for him now...
So we did part of the assessment today.  We still need to meet with a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, and a speech and language pathologist.  You know, if certain family members would just move to Idaho already, we'd have an OT and an SLP available already. Hint, hint.  :)Anywho...
Yes, he's got some things he's not doing as well as he ought to.  I knew his language skills were coming along slowly, but it turns out he's more behind in that area than I thought.  Thus the need for the SLP.  And there are concerns with how he's walking, and the effects of what a new cast will be for him, thus the need for the PT and the OT.
I'm really happy we're getting into this program.  I think it will give us more support and better odds of this next cast going better than the first one did.  I wish we'd done this sooner. 
And then there's part of me that's wondering where I'm going to fit MORE in.  It feels like we're just so busy and we already have so much going on.  And all of this news is so overwhelming tonight.  Part of me wishes we'd been told that he's doing great and there's no need for any of this.  I'm so overwhelmed with thoughts of another cast, and more things that we need to work on with him.  And I'm trying to be there for my other kids too.  Wouldn't it be nice if everything else, and everyone else in life could just be put on hold when things like this happen?  You know, just until we've got a handle on it and we can take a deep breath and say, OK, life can begin again! ?  But life doesn't happen that way does it.  Life is about learning what we are really capable of.  Even when we're content with what we already know we're capable of and don't feel that we need to be more capable.

Ughh.  So stressful.  So not what I really want to think about tonight.

That's it.  I'm just going back to being happy that he's walking.

Joyful moment!

Russell's new cast date is the same day as the first day of summer science camp for Tyler and Emalyn.  That is awful, because it meant Scott and the kids couldn't come down to UT with Russell and I.  I DO NOT like surgeries.  Especially surgeries for my children.  They're awful.  I've done one by myself without Scott, and I hated it so much that I decided I would never do that again. 

What's funny, is that I had 4 weeks to choose from, with the science camp.  I could have chosen ANY of them, but I happened to choose the same week that ended up being the only week we could do Russell's cast.  But that's life right?  Just what happens in life.  There are 12 weeks in a whole summer, but the two things that we are only doing one time each during the whole summer have to be at the exact same time!! Yup.  That's life.

So today, I called the summer camp and they agreed to change the weeks we signed up for, so Tyler and Emalyn don't have camp until the NEXT week.  YES! Joyful moment at my house!! 

I called Scott to tell him the good news.  And he says, "ok so let me get this straight: In July, the first week we have a family reunion in Utah, the second week we have Russell's cast in Utah, the third week we have Science Camp, the fourth week I (Scott) will be gone to Scout Camp.  Then comes August: the first week we have Emalyn's baptism, the second week we have another family reunion in Utah."  Yes.  But we like to be busy!  And all of those things, except for one, are really good things.  In looking at all of that, I realize we're very blessed.  Blessed to have wonderful things filling up our life.

We had a checkup for Russell yesterday, and I talked to his dr about his not walking.  We're starting physical therapy with Russell this Friday.  They're coming to our house to do it.  How nice is that? We don't have to go to them, they are coming to us! They're doing what they call a "global assessment" this Friday, which is testing in all areas of development.  I'm happy we're doing this.  Maybe we can get him walking before all the craziness happens in July and August!