Birthday Boy, Benny!

As I mentioned earlier, Ben turned 6 on the last day of our trip over Spring Break.  He got to open presents that morning from Grandpa John and Grandma Jamie and then he got to spend about 5 hours in the car – isn’t he lucky?  He was a good sport about it.  Although patience isn’t something he loves to practice, I thought he was going to explode in anticipation of the gifts awaiting him at home.  He managed not to explode, but was very happy to get home and tear into his presents

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That night he picked Café Rio for dinner and he and Nate spent hours working on his new Legos.  He is such a sweet six year old.  We just love Benny.   I honestly cannot imagine life without having that radiant smile, gigantic blue eyes framed by ridiculously long eyelashes, and bouncy body to look at each day.   He is independent, but likes to check in and make sure he’s still on the radar, he is a natural protector and guardian of anyone who needs protecting or guarding.  He is perceptive and coordinated and kind.  It hasn’t occurred to him that he might not be able to do something.  He just goes for whatever it is he’s set his mind to.  He loves to be noticed and approved of.  Watching him play soccer if so fun because he looks at us every few minutes with a huge grin just making sure we’re watching.  He’s such a fun person to be with, we all love Benjamin George!

The very next morning he got to go with my parents on his birthday date to Home Depot for a bird feeder workshop.  He was so thrilled with his bird feeder and loved having one on one time with Grandpa and Grandma.

That afternoon we had an Olympic birthday party.  It turned out so well, it was really fun.  We had such a darling group of boys that totally embraced our theme and activities. 

Here’s the Olympic Ring Cake

We made up a country for each boy, example Ben’s was “Bennsylvania”.  When they arrived we had them each decorate a little flag for their country.  I was shocked how much time they spent on their cute flags, I wish I would have taken a picture of how cute they were. 

Then we went outside for a very brief “Opening Ceremony” while I hummed the tune and they paraded through the yard with their flags and cute little self-conscious smiles.  Then we the games began.

 

First we did a “discus throw”.  I had a little floppy frisbee for each of them and they took turns seeing how far they could throw them.  After a lot of over-the-fence retrievals and one from the roof, we wrapped that event up.   I think next we did the long jump.  I marked a spot on the grass for their take-off point and then we marked where they landed with their frisbee (which had their name on it).  They were so cute and competitive, but were totally okay when they didn’t win the event.  Then we had  the “shotput” event which consisted of trying to throw a water balloon into a hula hoop we had laid on the grass.  They loved that one and amazingly, except for my little nephew no one got wet.

We did a few races, and then we did where they ran and jumped on the mini-trampoline and did an awesome dismount.  I loved how seriously they took themselves.  My favorite was we spread a blanket out and told them this was the mat for their floor routine for gymnastics.  I told them they had to stay on the blanket and could do three tricks.  They really took it seriously and did some pretty awesome stuff.  So, so cute.  We had so much fun, time flew by.

We rushed back in for cake and ice cream and presents and just like that it was over.  It was totally painless!  So grateful for good weather, my sister’s major help and Anna, Abby and Nate’s help.  It was really fun and a perfect way to celebrate such a cute boy that we love!  We love Ben!

Spring Break

We had a great trip down South for spring break.  We headed down on Tuesday first thing, I believe we were on the road by about 9:30 am.  Very impressive for us!  We stopped for lunch and made it to our destination by late afternoon.   We were very warmly greeted by Grandma Jamie and Grandpa John.  The next day we met up with some neighbors (who along with the rest of the State was there) for a hike and afternoon by the pool.  It was a blast.

The girls scampered right up to the very top like little mountain goats.

 

Thursday Brennan met a friend for a day of golf (what a nice wife he has!).  Jamie and I, and our niece, Alexis, took the kids to a farm supply store to see lots of baby chicks and bunnies.  The kids LOVE this.  I have to spend a half hour before hand making them promise that they will not ask me to buy them.  They kept their word, but it took every ounce of restraint in their little bodies.

The first farm supply store we went to wouldn’t let the kids hold them, so we went to another one.  It’s definitely a highlight for the kids. 

After that adventure sweet Jamie had all the kids cut out sugar cookies and decorate them.  They LOVED it and made them so pretty.

Emily, my sister-in-law, and her kids came over for pizza and cookies.  It was a fun night.

Friday morning we got up and celebrated Ben!  It was his 6th birthday, so he got to open his presents from John and Jamie, which he LOVED.

Ben was a great sport about driving home on his birthday.   I think it helped that he had presents waiting for him at home.  It was a fun filled trip.  Jamie always feeds us so well and works so hard to make sure everyone’s having fun.  We love to visit!

Joshy’s Miracle

A few weeks ago Josh was running around after shoving a handful of nuts in his mouth.  I heard him coughing and gagging and went running for him.  I knew he wasn’t actually choking because he was obviously getting some airflow, but I could tell he was panicky and couldn’t swallow or cough himself free for a few seconds.  I got him calmed down, he stopped coughing and drank some water.  I was relieved and went about our day until, I heard a high-pitched wheeze coming from him.  It persisted for a little bit so I called my pediatrician’s office.   They said I needed to take him to the ER at our Children’s Hospital so they could determine if he had aspirated a piece of nut into his lung.  I called my sweet friend (a nurse practitioner) to ask her all the questions I forgot to ask the nurse and decided I really had to take him in.  The thought of them having to do bronchoscope made me really sad for him, but I tried not to think about it and drove to the hospital.

By the time we got there Josh had, of course, stopped wheezing.  The good news was that they got us right back, it was less crowded than I had ever seen it.  Several nurses and doctors listened to him and couldn’t hear anything.  They explained that sometimes just the coughing fit can cause inflammation and that’s why he was wheezing.   They also explained that given that they didn’t hear anything, they didn’t want to do anything more invasive (like a cat scan, I think?).   So they sent me home with instructions to come right back if we heard any more wheezing or he developed a cough.  Our copay was $200.  We were there for about 20 minutes and we paid $200.  Ugh.  I hate that that becomes a factor, but it absolutely does.  They acted like I should just pop back in if I was the least bit worried.  I was relieved that besides the $, it was a painless visit to the ER, but couldn’t help feeling like this wasn’t over.

Over the next few days I’d hear Joshy wheeze for a little bit, but then it’d stop.  He also developed a cough.  Several of my other kids had a cough too, so I didn’t know what to think.  Brennan and I decided we’d take him to our pediatrician.  I took him in and as he listened to Joshy’s chest he could hear a wheeze in one spot in his lung.  He told me that was not a good sign.  I asked if there was any way it could break down or work it’s way out and he said there wasn’t it had to be taken out with a bronchoscope.  He explained that an x-ray just wouldn’t show it since it wasn’t metal and it’s all soft tissue in his lung.  He told me it wasn’t urgent so to wait and watch over the weekend and to report back Monday morning.  Unless his cough went away we needed to call him Monday morning so he could arrange getting us in at the children’s hospital for the bronchoscope.   He told me to plan on having to do that.  I called Brennan as soon as we were out of the doctor’s office.   We were worried.  We knew it wasn’t life or death, but it would require putting him under a general anesthetic and sounded like he might be sore and kind of miserable for a few days.  We were also worried about how much it would cost since we have a really high deductible insurance plan. 

I went home with Joshy and worried.  Brennan went right to the Temple.  I emailed our families and asked them to pray for Josh and to fast with us that Sunday.  They were so sweet and supportive.  I found out later that our Elder’s Quorum Presidency announced it in their meeting on Sunday and asked all the men to pray for Josh.  Our own sweet kids prayed hard and were so concerned about their little brother.   Sunday our neighbor helped Brennan give Josh a blessing.  Brennan blessed him to be healed.  I wasn’t sure how to interpret that, I thought that it could mean that the procedure would go well and he would be fine.  Brennan was more optimistic, or should I say faithful.  He went with Josh and me on Monday to our pediatrician.  His cough had stopped, but we wanted him to listen to him again.  The doctor put his stethoscope on Josh’s little chest and listened intently for a few minutes, then said, “Who gave him a blessing?”  He told us there was no sign of any wheezing and that that wasn’t what he had expected. 

We felt so relieved and so blessed.  That night Brennan taught such a sweet Family Home Evening as he bore testimony to our kids that the Lord had intervened and we had all been part of a miracle.  He told them they needed to remember this and that if they had needs in their lives they should ask for His help.   Sweet Anna said she’d been praying to have her testimony strengthened and that she felt like this answered that as well as her prayers for Josh.  It was just a sweet, sweet night.  My kids felt something and they were definitely touched by this.  Sweet Josh remained happily oblivious to any of it, except I’m sure he wonders why we’re all so in his face whenever he’s eating anything . 

I wanted to write this so we’ll have it on record for my kids, especially Josh to read someday.  Have no doubt, my kiddos, that your Dad and I love you, and that your Dad has great faith, and honors and uses his Priesthood.   Have no doubt that there is great power in prayer and fasting, especially when we combine our voices and hearts in a righteous cause.  Mostly, have no doubt that  Heavenly Father loves you and can do all things.   He watches over all of us and loves to help and lift us.  We’ll always be grateful for this miracle!