To the best sister

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!

I know you are probably loving me for this picture but it's the only one I can find on this computer because the other one is packed away. We look fat because we are, but it's because we are pregnant. I have the best sister anyone could ask for. She is not only my sister but my best friend. After our mother died she took the roll as mother and of course I wasn't very nice about it at all, actually I was quite mean to her. Now that I'm older, not wiser but older I look back and appreciate everything she did for me and know that she was just looking out for me because she loved me. I think our relationship grew stronger after she had brain surgery. My dad came home from the hospital and told me that she wanted me to come visit her. I remember being touched by that because I said some pretty harsh things to her before her surgery and was surprised that she would even want to see me. She is such a wonderful example to me and look up to her so much. I don't think I could be as strong as she is for everything she has gone through. Thank you Katie for being a wonderful sister and hope that you had a wonderful Birthday!

Where did my brain go?

Okay I wasn't born with a lot of brain, being the last kid I got all the crappy left overs that you would give to a pig. I know this because all my older siblings are very smart. Then what brain I do have I think after 3 pregnancy's I don't have any left. So tonight I had Jenna in the bathtub, and I was pulling my hair back, then I look over and she had pooped a whole lot in the bathtub. Not only did she poop in the bathtub but she apparently ate it. Seriously happen all within seconds. Got her out and it takes forever for the bathtub to drain so you would think "put a diaper on her". No didn't do that. Almost have the bathtub cleaned out before I hear a lot of cussing in the other room. Branon came in the kitchen and slid and almost feel on his face. Yea, slid on Jenna's poo. I'm still in the bathroom and here comes Jonas saying he has poo on his hands and on his socks. Really how much poop can there be? It was all over the kitchen floor, down the hall, and in Jonas and Bella's room. Apparently she has really bad diarrhea. Branon was so awesome and cleaned it all up. After it was all cleaned up we had a good laugh about it and will know next time to put a diaper on her, which I should have done in the first place.

Moving to the big town

We are moving and some it may come to you as a surprise and others not so much. We are known to move a lot and let me tell you it's one of my favorite things to do! I really should be a pro at it by now but I hope I can be a little more organized this time and have it go smoothly. Right now we are living in Loa, a population of 500 people we are moving to

Parowan.

The population is 2700. Branon applied for a job in Panguitch called Silverado Ranch. It's somewhat similar. Right now he works for a wilderness program and only works with the kids for 6-8 weeks. This place is a Therapeutic Boarding school and the kids are their usually at least 12 months. Parowan is 15 minutes North of Cedar City so we will be a lot closer to convenience but still have the small town which I have grown to love.

I will miss Loa a lot. I have made some really good friends that I hate to leave behind but I still plan on coming back to visit. When we first told our children they were not too excited but know they have no choice. I don't think it really phases them until we actually move. Bella says she wants to move our house. Really! That is one thing I won't miss, our next house will have two bathrooms something I'm going to look forward to.

Bucket Head

Here are some recent pictures of Jenna. It amazes me how different personality each kid comes with. I have to say Jenna is in one of my favorite stages. She doesn't walk yet but getting close, but she can speed crawl. She got tubes in her ears about a month ago, but that seemed to not work. The last few days have been extremely hard with her and finally yesterday I could no longer take her screaming. I held off a little thinking she couldn't have another ear infection but of course a double ear infection. My kids get there teeth a little later then normal, she has 4 on top and 3 on bottom and I noticed she is getting her molars in. I think that has to something to do with the extra fussiness and ear infection so I can't wait till they all break through.

The other day she put the bucket on her head and would talk and she thought she was so funny. Then she started to crawl and would run into the wall, the dog, and table. You would think I would have charged our video camera since I missed out on Jenna's birthday but that would have been another good video.

This is what Jenna loves to do most, go and pull Bella's hair. When I tell her "NO" she looks at me and starts to laugh and does it again. I think she also likes to get Bella's reaction. Bella has to put her toys up higher too because she starts to freak out when Jenna comes close to them. I can tell these two are going to get along very well!

I just loves this picture so I had to post it!

Popcorn Bead

This is a $65 bead.

Last Monday I was looking in Bella's ear and noticed there is something wrong here. I asked "Bella did you put something in your ear?" "No" was her reply. I asked if her ear hurt and she said no. Then on Tuesday I decided to take her to the clinic since I needed to take Jenna in and see if she still had an ear infection. The Doctor looked in her ear and said yes there is definitely something in there. She tried to get it out while Bella screamed bloody murder, and no success. She told me that I will have to go down to Cedar City(2 hour drive one way) to go to a ENT specialist to get it out. I asked her again did you put something in your ear, again she said no. I asked her "Did Jonas put something in your ear?" Of course she said "Yes". I had Branon ask Jonas if he had put something in her ear. He told him that Bella put a popcorn seed(kernel) in her ear and that she tried to get him to put one in his ear. Then the next day(Wednesday) Branon, Me, Bella, and Jenna took the 2 hour drive and went to the ENT specialist and he had the right tools to pop it out. She didn't scream has hard thank goodness. I told them that they were going to have to strap her down because the way she was at the clinic. After we got home I asked her if she put that in her ear and she finally said "YES". I asked her if she is going to ever put something in her ear again. She is such a smart girl because she said "NO". Jonas wanted to see what was in her ear and I told him that it wasn't a popcorn seed it was a bead. Then he told me, "Mom I said popcorn bead not seed." Whatever it was, it was expensive. Jenna still had an ear infection so we at least made more of the trip and did her pre-check up to get tubes in her ear. So on Tuesday morning she will be getting tubes in her ear. Hopefully this will help the process to walking. She is now 13 months and isn't even close to walking. Bella didn't walk until she was 15 months old but she had to get tubes in her ear too. Two weeks after she had tubes in her ear she started walking.

It's funny that Bella is wanting to be the big sister now and want to hold her. Bella did not want to touch Jenna when she was a little baby. Now that Jenna is on the go she hates it when Bella tries to hold her down. I have hope that those two will get along.

I love this expression of Jenna. I love this age when they are showing more of their personality.

"I want this for Christmas"

If I could go back 5 months and teach Bella that you don't get everything you want, and you have to work for things you do want, I would. Instead when we were in the toy aisle when she wanted something I said "maybe for Christmas". That would avoid the total melt town and she would agree to that. Now that it's March and we go down the toy aisle, all I hear is "I WANT THIS FOR CHRISTMAS! I WANT THIS FOR CHRISTMAS!" I get a lot of looks and laughs on that one. Oh and I love commercials on Nick, and she gets mad at me if I don't see what she wants for Christmas.

Picture this

1 adult, 8 kids(5 and younger), 1 dog, 2 cats, many many toys, in a 900 square foot house. Yes I watched kids last week and survived. It actually went really well because all the kids got a long but it's something I couldn't do day in and day out. Two of the women that babysit weren't able to do it for a couple of days so I help out once in awhile for those that need help. It was hard on the second day though because Bella was really sick and wanted to be held. I finally took her to the doctor and she had a high fever and a really bad throat. I requested the magic shot since I have to hold her down to take medicine. The next day she was up and playing again.

The pictures are flip flop because I forgot that the last picture you add goes first. You can guess what one I took while I had all the kids.