Till Next Year!

Christmas is now over and I am sad. It is my favorite holiday. I love finding the perfect gift and watching that person open them. I must say I think I outdid myself this year. All those I gave a gift to may disagree with me but I think I did good(and stayed in budget). We also had a secret Santa who would visit every night before Christmas leaving a gift on our door step. They were so good to us and if our Santa blogs I hope you read this and know how grateful we are to you, it was a wonderful Christmas. When George woke up Christmas morning we asked him if he wanted to go see if Santa had come and he ran to the front door. He love the many nights of Santa just as much as we did. We had too much fun so many party's to talk about. George and Scarlet got to sit on Santa's lap, as you can see Scarlet was not impressed!!

Scarlet got a perfect Christmas dress that she lived up to her name in!! I think she is beautiful, but all mothers think that of their kids!!

We did the usual things on Christmas Eve, put out cookies and carrots for Santa and his reindeer. Santa did not mind that we did not put enough flour in the cookies, he even likes them burnt like we made them!! George wrote Santa a letter and told him what he wanted (transformers and a Camera). Too cute.

Ruth gave Scarlet a dress up, only appropriate. She looks like Snow White! All the kids wore there new Jammie's Randi made to Nana's. Thanks Rand.

We go to a Christmas party every year that is called the Big Log Lodge Party. It started when Spencer and I were dating so we are the long timers and have been to every one. We started to wear tacky sweaters to the party and this year my husband took the prize!! He won this beautifully gold flecked wood clock, it also tells the temperature. Doesn't he look great in those plaid pants!!

Here Spencer is with the runner-up Callahan, as you can see the competition was tough!!

I have to give a shout out to Molly for the great outfits!! Maybe we should give you the prize!?!

Nativity

We went to the live nativity at my in-laws stake. It was so much fun although it was more a petting zoo for the kids than a nativity. Maybe some year they will get into it, but it was fun to see the animals and George even got to pet the Camel. He thinks they are the coolest animals. He even imitates their sound!?! I love Christmas!!

Teresa and I trying to get a picture of the kids but as you can see this in the best one we could get.

Like I said the petting zoo!

Cheese!! I had to keep telling people she was a girl, so sad to wear all your older brothers hand me downs and be mistaken for a boy.

George and the Camel!

The Camel.

Scarloo and dad looking at the Camel.

At the gates of Bethlehem with Grandpa.

Scarlet and Alex in their hand me down snowsuits!

Almost There

We went into Infectious Disease(nice name hu!?!) yesterday and they said everything looks good. So we are done with his antibiotic and will check his labs in a week to make sure it all still looks good. If they are still looking good we can schedule a time with Surgery to take out his Broviac and the poor kid can finally get in the tub and swim!!! I can not wait till we can officially wash the hospital off of him, we have had to give him wash cloth baths this whole time. Not a 3 year olds idea of fun for the tub!?! He is doing great in his bubble and we are going to keep it that way till he is 30.

Brag Time

So most of the time when people brag it is about their kids. Well this time it is about me, so brace yourselves. I just wanted to tell everyone that I passed my real estate exam on Saturday. I was so excited because I really did not think I was going too after having Thanksgiving and going shopping on Friday at 4 AM, thanks Randi. But I did it so I just wanted to let you all know if you need a real estate agent let me know. That is all my bragging I am allowed for myself, till next time!!

We are slowly going grazy...

...one two three four five six switch, Crazy we are slowly going six five four three two one switch!!
I am in need of all your help. I am not sending George back to school until Kindergarten so I am in need of some ideas. I don't want him to be behind in learning so if any of you have good ideas of learning things I can do with him let me know. If there was anything your kids loved in school, something you do with them. Also if there are any outings that he may enjoy too. Really anything would help, I have designated a cabinet for all of his learning things so they do not get used up like his toys, just to make them special. I look forward to seeing your comments!

Shark Bites

When George gets a little older and his friends ask him what all his scars are from I think he should tell them they are shark bites. He has too many for it to be a boring story like heart surgery!?! But I thought I would post the picts of his new war wounds. The one coming out of his chest is his broviac where the nurses can draw blood and don't have to poke him, we like that. That is also where I give him his IV antibiotic. The scar on his side is where they went in and spread his ribs to clean out the junk in the lining of his lungs. The one under that incision is his chest tube hole. He has a matching scar on the right side from when he was 6 months old, I know it was just George's OCD that made him get this Pneumonia so he could even out his scars.

Scarlet needs some blog time too. I have never understood the pictures of kids falling asleep in their highchair but now I do. I went into the other room and George yells at me "She's asleep" I came in to see this. Luckily she did not have any food in her mouth when she dozed off.

So Sad!!

Everyone who knows me, knows that I love Harold's and worked there for many years. Well the other day they filed for BANKRUPTCY!!!! I am so sad but on the other hand everything is on sale. So everyone who likes a good deal head to Harold's they will only be open till the end of December.

Harold's we will miss you!

HOME!!!

We are home!! I can not believe it, we all had a good nights sleep and I am getting this nursing thing down. George still has his central line that I have to give him his antibiotic and we have to give him shots in his tummy to prevent clotting with his central line. We think we will have to do this for about 4-6 weeks but who cares I am just happy to be home with my kids.

When we got home yesterday Scarlet came walking around the corner and George was so surprised she could walk. I set him down and they gave each other a bonk on the forehead and started to laugh. I think they were both so happy to see the other and they have just been playing ever since. George has been doing so good at home it is easier for him to forget that he is sick at home.

We are here in our little bubble and I am not leaving for the longest time, that hospital stay was miserable, I don't want to have to do that again!! Thank you all for all of your support and prayers, we love you all.

Doing Good!

Georgie is still in the PICU but he is doing good they had talked about sending him to the 3rd floor today but his chest X-Ray did not look so hot. So we did some serious respiratory therapy and he was coughing out some serious junk. We also took a walk around the PICU and took a wagon ride outside, it was such a nice day. They are weaning him down on his Oxygen and he is doing great.

They placed his brovac the other day and it looks good I can not believe they will let them go home on them. They are tunneled into his chest but they look like one good tug and it is out. But is goes right into his SVC which is basically part of his heart which is crazy. So our little Georgie will not be able to take a real shower or tub till it gets out. He has been eating great and hopefully they will not want to put a feeding tube in him because I think he is eating as much as he would usually eat. They are fans of the feeding tube so they may have a fight on their hands. But other that the fact that he is doing great no real big news yet but I can not wait to go home!! Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers they are truly appreciated, I know we have seen the effect of them!!

Love you all!!

No Surgery Today!

So there was no surgery today the surgeons do not want to place the Broviac until he is a little more on the mend!! Which is kinda good because he only has the central line in his neck and he can not leave the PICU until it is out. So we are going to be in the PICU until it is placed which is good, they have excellent care there.

He had a great day today really laid back and they were able to get some junk out of his lungs which is good. His lung collapsed today so they will not be extubating him any time soon. But he is doing good and continues to get junk out of his lungs, he is out little fighter.

"Oh that's better!"

George did great in surgery, they suctioned all the stuff out of his lungs. They said there were some pretty big plugs in there. They did a thoracotomy and cleaned out the lining of his lungs which is very painful, they go in through his side and have to spread his ribs. They did a surgery like this one when he was about 6 months old and it is painful. Because of the pain they have him in the ICU intubated and on lots of drugs to keep him comfortable. They are planning on putting a line in on Sunday that will be a more long term line that he will be able to come home on to keep up with his antibiotics. No real word on when we will be home, I don't even ask because I know it will be a while and I don't want to get my hopes up.

The title of my post is a funny story. They were taking him into surgery and they gave him some good drugs and they took out his nasal cannula to intubate him and he said "Oh that's better!" He does not like tubes and stickers!! George is doing great he looks so good and he can communicate a little here and there with head nods and pointing. We hope he is on the mend now and we can get home to normal.

George's Update

Hello!  This is Randi posting for the first time on a blog!  Aren't you so proud!  I am updating you on our little Georgie!  He is going in for surgery today.  He has to have a Boviac Port placed in his chest.  This is a way for the doctors to give him his medicine.  There is also a mass in his lungs that they are going to suction out, and drain the lining of his lungs.  It sounds like a lot and a little overwhelming.  We are very hopeful that George will work his magic and this is what he needs to do it.  Ashlie and Spencer are doing great. (maybe a little tired and miss their Scarloo)  The doctors feel like this is going to really help him fight off this pnemonia.  Your prayers are welcomed...we always seem to feel them!  I just want to tell you all that Ashlie is so great!  I love her and look up to her in so many ways.  What a sweet little boy she has blessed us with.  He will be charming us all again very soon!  I love you Ashlie!  

"P" as in Pneumonia

The title of this post is for all the Brian Regan fans out there!! Just wanted to let everyone know(who checks this blog) our little Georgie bean is sick. We are here at Primary Children's with Pneumonia. He is getting a chest tube placed right now to drain the fluid surrounding his lungs, which should go well. He has had a few chest tubes so there is not really any worries there. His oxygen saturation has been good so he does not have to be on Oxygen so that is a really good sign. He is on a whole slew of antibiotics to cover a broad range of infections, and some fluids. Other than all that he is good, his fever has gone down and he seems to be breathing easier so the tube should help with all that too. I will keep updating but hopefully we will be home soon!! Talk to you all later.

--Ash

Scarloo is how old?!?

My little Scarloo, who gets stuck in the funniest places, has turned 1 I can not believe it. I swear I just had her!?! We had a good day everyone was able to come to celebrate with us. We had some present opening and some good treats! I had to all the pictures of her getting stuck in the funniest places.

Here she is getting stuck under the chair!!

And getting stuck in the coffee table while it is on its side?!?

Here she is in her Birthday TuTu!!

Opening all her cute presents, George wanted to open them too.

Her cute new hat her aunt and uncle gave her.

Singing Happy Birthday, George and Hank blew out the candles for her.

She really enjoyed her cake, Bumps was there to make sure she got it all over!!

The cutest face I have ever seen!!

1st Day of School

I can not believe that my big boy is going to school. When he went his first day there were a lot of tears. It took until the third time going that he actually liked it. Now I get a quick kiss and a see ya later. It is so good to see him be social, he has not had many chances in his life to be social. But he says he has some friends and their names are Dimitri and Brooklyn. Gotta love school.





We have also taken on a new project at our house. We had lovely 70's wood paneling in out basement. We riped it off and the great glue they used to install it took off parts of the Sheetrock so we have been spackling(well Spencer has) and sanding. So basically we have been a dust ball for a while now. We are finally to priming the walls now and I will be painting it its final color any time now!!

Spencer and George getting down to work, George was actually not that bad.

You can barley see Spencer in this but this is how dusty it has been!!

You can see what Spencer will look like in a few years when his gray totally takes over!!

New Windows!!!

Spencer and I have been fixing up our house slowly, it was in sad shape, but I think we have done a pretty good job. Just recently we got 3 new windows, that was all we could afford. Eventually we will do all of them but it just may be in small increments. The first picture is of the old ugly aluminum windows that if you stand about a foot away from them you can feel the breeze!?!

Here are our nice beautiful ones, I think you can even see outside better that with the old ones.

Good Bye for 2 Years!

Georgie and Scarloo's uncle BJ is going to be gone for 2 years Serving in the Sao Paulo North Brazil Mission. I have to say I love missions that they just leave the airport and you don't have to do the MTC. My bro dane went to Brazil too and it was fantastic not having to go to the MTC. We will miss him so much but we love to color pictures to send to him. Good Luck Elder Little!!

Long Time

Wow it has been a long time since I have posted there is lots to update on. George is on a new soccer team and is loving it. They are the Red Volcano's and he plays with Hank, Tate, Cooper and other friends. The first game he loved it the last two has been very sketchy but what can you do. He likes the soccer gear so at least he likes some of it.

Georgie showing his muscles!!

Hank and George in action.

Oh yes George is actually kicking the ball, it is on Kick off.

Taking a break from all the soccer.

Coronado, CA

We just got back from a fantastic 10 day trip to Coronado, CA. It was fantastic, I wish I was still there. We did so many fun things I can hardly stand it. We swam, beached it, surfed, boogie boarded, went crabbing, went on a ferry and played so many games. Scarlet even started crawling on this trip.We went with our good friends and had too much fun. It was Whitney's grandma's place that they let her use as a Christmas gift. They were nice enough to invite us to come with them. We hope they invite us again, hint hint, wink wink!! The condo was fantastic. There was so much room for us all to stay comfortably. The condo's are right on the beach and the one we stayed at had ocean views from every window. I ate breakfast to the sound and view of the ocean. We slept with the windows open because the weather was fantastic and heard the ocean all night long, what is better? Here are a few picts of the trip, hope you enjoy, I did!!


This is us on the beach taking a break from crabbing. The weather was wonderful, it was 75-80!


Spencer and George trying to lure the crabs with cheese.


Scarlet checking out the crabs we caught.
George wanted to get them out and play with them.

Just one of George's crazy things he did on the trip. This is a Lloyds BBQ container he thought would make a great hat, it looks even better with just skibbs on!!
This is my pride and glory picture. Yes this is Risk, and I am yellow, and I WON!!! I beat Spencer in a strategy game, I can not believe it so I needed to document it!!
The kids playing in the pool it was great. Georgie learned how to swim by himself in his life jacket.
George jumping to Spencer.

We went to Sea World. George loved the Sharks, they were all named Bruce, thanks to Nemo.

George got to feed the Dolphins, he thought it was the coolest thing.
After you fed them they would let you pet them.
Just waiting for the Dolphin show to start, all the kids were mesmerized by the animals.

George and Spencer coming in from a great time in the Ocean.

The girls at the beach, Me Angie and Whitney.

Spencer tried to get George to Surf, it did not happen.
Scarlet enjoyed the beach, especially the sand she thought it tasted great!?!
Here is Katelyn, Scarlet and Benson. Scarlet and Katelyn love to eat sand.

We walked down the the Hotel Del one night and got the best Ice Cream, it had a brownie under it. The Ice Cream was fantastic, I can not remember the flavor but it tasted so good.
Here is the Norman's eating the Ice Cream too. Too bad we only went once!

I just had to add this picture of Scarlet, she cracks me up just playing in the sand pit!


Fun family photo when we went back to sea world for their night shows!!