• Oct. 20, 2009 - 5 Years

• Oct. 14, 2009 - A Rather Blustery (and Rainy) Day

We had a storm come through yesterday which brought us rain and cooler weather (hooray), and a lot of wind (booo).  A couple of trees were blown over in the orchard and LV's small green house was blown off the front patio which resulted in a bunch over broken flower pots.  Needless to say, we spent the day inside. Because we are studying the classical period of Ancient Greece, LV fixed us a "Greek" snack. Apples, pomegranate seeds, grapes,and fig newtons (ok, so the Greeks probably didn't have fig newtons, but they ate figs and whole grains, so we opted for whole grain fig newtons. ) And Missy chose to spend most of her day curled up on her blankets on the couch - yes she is spoiled rotten! The day also included a lot of time playing with Legos and reading. When the storm passes we will have to go see how many more trees are down in the orchard.

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• Oct. 12, 2009 - One of THOSE days

You know those days when it seems all you do is "discipline promplty" and the kids just want to dawdle, and someone doesn't get the hang of their math and they just wanna cry, and everyone is fighting a bug which makes everything in life that much harder?  That was my day today.  Because all 3 boys are still a bit under the weather they just seemed to struggle with everything today.  We stopped a school a lot to deal with issues, and all 3 of them were easily distracted.  But we did get a lot of time on the coach reading, and they are currently in getting ready for bed so we can read some more!  Reading is a favorite activity around here.  Then LV didn't get the hang of his math right away and just curled up in bed and cried.  I let him calm down and read (see, more reading) for a bit, then he went out to the garden for awhile.  After this break I sat down with him and we tackled it together.  And by the time he was finished with his page for the day he had it!  After dinner we loaded up in the van to take LV to scouts, but just before we pulled out of the driveway, his stomach decided it was not the night for him to leave.  : (  So we are now all relaxing at home and enjoying being together.  Maybe tomorrow will be better.  And if it isn't we'll still count our blessings. LM and D taking a break and getting some fresh air.

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• Oct. 10, 2009 - Cub Scout Conservation Project

LM and D had a conservation project with their Pack today.  We went to River Partners' site and planted Blue Elderberry, then had a small bbq afterward.  LV was with us because he had no other options (H and Nana were both gone), but he felt sick and sat in the van the entire time. The intro to what we would be doing (given by one of the scout's dad, but unfortunately that scout was home sick) Filling buckets with sawdust.  After planting we would put the sawdust down to act as a mulch. Here the boys are getting exact instructions on how and where to plant. We were to work in teams of 2 or 3 kids per 1 adult.  D (on the right) and his buddy Spencer are off to plant! D doing the digging. I'm guessing my boys are good with a shovel because... LM is digging as well!  (And with his eyes closed, even!) LM working with his team. D and Spencer hard at work. Need more plants? D and another buddy making the trek (and I mean trek - it was like a 10 minute walk) back to the parking area for lunch. The boys worked for about 3 hours digging, planting, and hunting down the next planting spot, so they were ready for their bbq hot dogs!  And LV had a fever by the time we left.  He spent the rest of his day moving from his bed to the coach and back again.

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• Oct. 10, 2009 - Has it been that long?

• Jul. 27, 2009 - Funnies

• Jun. 21, 2009 - Happy Father's Day!!

• May. 12, 2009 - So very busy

• Apr. 12, 2009 - Vacation?

Last Saturday we loaded up the trailer and headed to Sand Mountain for a week of family fun.  Things did not start off well at all.  H parked the trailer on street along the edge of the orchard so we could finish loading and the sprinklers were turned on to water the orchard.  He moved the trailer across the street, dried it off, and jammed the sprinklers down the driveway so we could finish loading without getting soaked!  We finished our packing and headed out, caravan style.  We do not yet have a truck big enough for our family, so we had to take the van as well.   The drive there was looonnnngggg.  We had to make a few little stops along the way to drag the trip out.  And something was up with the truck so every little bump made it and the trailer bounce all over the road.  That was quite scary when driving over Donner Pass!  I am so glad H can handle that kind of stuff, along with the paranoid wife following behind him.  ; )  When we got into Fallon, NV. we had to make a stop at the RV park to dump the tank since H had forgotten to do that after our last trip (don't even ask how long ago that was, we're rookies), then we were on the road again.  Only 30 or so miles left!  When we could finally see Sand Mountain, H slowed down and pulled over.  I came up alongside to see that his truck had a flat tire!  A half a mile from the entrance to the park!!!!!!  He called our friends who were there, and they came out to help.    While the guys changed the tire, the boys got out and ran around. There was snow on the mountains. After a long trying day, we finally made it into camp, and got to just relax and hang out with friends.  Sunday the boys got to ride and H did some minor things to the quads.  Of course D's quad decided to die, and LV's had a few problems, but H did get a chance to do some riding.  There was a great little track in the camping area that LV took to right away.  LM and D were not too far behind, and they took turns riding LM's quad.   I even managed to get a ride in with H that day! All 3 of the boys gathered rockes for a fire ring.  And LM and D had a great time playing in it. They have had this thing lately about dressing alike.  Sometimes planned, and sometimes not.  And here they are doing a little work on LM's quad while H was trying to figure out what was wrong with D's. H got up early Monday morning and headed back home with the truck.  He had a meeting he had to come back for, so he brought the truck home and put new tires on it and did a few more things to it.  While he was gone, the boys and I played.  LM is not as interested in riding quads as his brothers, but he did hop on a few times.  LV and D were tearing it up!  I took them out on the dunes for a ride until our thumbs got tired.  Then we headed back to camp.  Late that night another RV came in and parked across from us.  H joined us again ealy Tuesday morning. Check out the moon! (I have no idea whose camp that is.) I let the take a few pictures. LM watching Greg push his (wife's) quad back to it's parking place in camp. Greg An oh so flattering picture of me. LV had a tire with a slow leak, so he had to pump it up a few times during the week. D stopping to pose for a picture.  Notice the thumbs up. Tuesday we spent relaxing and riding. It was pretty windy, so we didn't spend too much time hanging out outside.   Even though we were short 1 quad we managed to go out on a family ride.  D and LM took turns riding with me while the other would ride LM's quad.  It rained all night.  Wednesday morning it had stopped.  People were out riding, and the mountain looked pretty neat with the fresh tracks. LV and D decided to take advantage of the lack of wind and rain and go ride.   H slept in, and finally managed to drag himself out of bed and get dressed to help D get the quad started.    LV had become friends with the boy, Wyatt, staying in the camp across from us, so all 3 were out riding together.   H was heading in to put his shoes on (he was in his slippers), and I was heading in to change out of my sweats and grab the camera to go take pictures of the boys riding, when Wyatt came riding into our camp telling us that our "kid got hurt!"  H took off running and when I looked I saw D sitting on the ground with Wyatt's dad and LV.  I tried asking Wyatt what happened but he kept telling me to hop on his quad and he would give me a ride.  I think he mentioned something about D's quad flipping, and I just took off running.  I met H who had D in his arms by that time and was on his way to the van.  He told me they were going to the hospital.  My first thought was internal injuries!  Then he said, "his leg is broken."  LV was still out with Wyatt, Wyatt's dad, and the quad.  I walked over to see if I could get more information.  LV handed me D's helmet and boot then rode back to camp.  LM hopped on the his quad and rode it back to camp.  Wyatt's dad did tell me that D had flipped and the handle bar landed on his leg.  And his leg was broken. I ran back to meet H, who by this time had D loaded in the van and was getting ready to leave.  He went and told Greg what happened.  I handed LV a bag and told him to fill it with ice.  I then grapped some towels, but I didn't have anything else to use as splints.  I hadn't even seen his leg, so I didn't know what I was dealing with.  When I got to the van I saw D's little leg.  No doubt.  It was broken.  I tried to splint it so it wouldn't flop around on the way to the hospital, but what I had wouldn't quite cut it.  I asked Greg for more towels.  He brought them out and told me to just get in the van and sit with D.  He said he would watch the other 2 boys (that means LV was in charge so both boys had ice cream and cookies for lunch.  No joke!).  So I climbed in the back and just supported D's head and foot, and we prayed.  I ran back in to get my purse with our insurance card, and we were off.  It was about a 25 minute drive, which probably seemed like hours to D.  He just layed there and moaned.  I felt so bad for him!.  We did a lot of praying and talking on that drive.  We were checked in to the ER right away, and met one of the best hospital staffs.  D was taken into x-ray, where we found out it was a tib/fib fracture, and he missed his growth plates.  Praise God!!!  After x-ray, he finally was given something for the pain and the doc came in to talk to us.  D's IV Look at that frown. : ( Just waiting.  But the pain meds were taking effect. They called in an orthopedic surgeon who was going to put D under and set his leg and put 2 pins in it to hold it.  Two nurses came in and splinted it for him until he went in to surgery.  The nurses and doctors were wonderful!  They explained everything to us, and to D so he would know what to expect.  The anesthesiologist gave H and me cards for free lunches.  After the visit from the surgeon, D was moved to his room upstairs where he could watch tv while waiting for surgery.   A respiratory therapist and phlebotomist came in to see him.  One of the guys who was riding with us was leaving to go home in the afternoon, so he brought LV and LM to the hospital on his way.  They were just in time to see D before he went into surgery.  We went downstairs where he was prepped, and had one more talk with the Dr.  He is ready to go.  He has a little grin on his face, so the morphine must have been working! H and I each gave him a hug and a kiss before we were sent to the waiting room and D was wisked away.  D and I had prayed for peace and all to go well just before he was taken downstairs.   And he was totally calm.  Surgery took about 45 min., and then it was about another hour before we was awake and ready to be moved to his room for the night.  He asked to see H first.  Then it was my turn to see him.  He was sucking on a blue otter pop, and feeling drowsy, but better.  He was put in a cast from the ball of his foot to mid thigh so he can't put any pressure on his foot. The first to sign his cast I stayed with him until the nurses came to move him back to his room.  When we got up there, dinner was waiting for our entire family!  D wasn't hungry, but he was ready for some ice water.  After dinner, H and the older boys went back to camp to get clean clothes. While they were gone I asked D to tell me what happened again (he had only told the drs and nurses a dozen times already).  His words were "I was going over a bump and trying to get some air and when I landed I turned to the left really fast and the quad flipped and the handle bars landed on my leg.  I was pinned there until LV and Wyatt came and lifted the quad up.  I only screamed at first.  Then I just cried.  The pain felt like a 12."  And he told me that before he flipped he was having a lot of fun!  H and the boys came back to the hospital late so H could take a long hot shower and bring D and me clothes for in the morning since I was staying the night with him.  Almost every time the nurses checked on him throughout the night they would comment on what a great patient he was.  And how adorable he is!  (I wasn't going to argue.) When D woke up in the morning he was feeling quite a bit better.  When he came to the hospital his pain was at a 10.  By Thursday morning it was at a 3.  I'm sure the pain meds helped a lot with that.  The Dr, anesthesiologist, and ICU nurse who met us when he came in to the ER all came to visit him first thing in the morning.  The nurse and Dr both signed his cast.  I was given orders by the dr to make an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon at home to see D within a week.  We then had to wait for the physical therapist to bring crutches and teach D how to use them. While we were waiting, 2 of the OB nurses came to visit.  They had heard about what a great little patient D was, and had to come say hi.  One of them even brought him a chocolate milkshake!  Of course the hospital didn't have any crutches small enough for him, so we had to wait for them to be delivered later that morning.  H and the boys came and the boys each took a shower. H talking to D Playing on his DS, waiting. Isn't that just the cutest hospital gown? The PT came in and gave D a lesson on how to use the crutches. Dressed and waiting for discharge. We were fed lunch before we left, but he still didn't have much of an appetite. Finally, we were free to go!  The nurses came in with a wheel chair for him. Before we could go back to camp we had to stop in at Game Stop to get D a new game for his DS, and Walmart to get his Rx filled, and a few new movies since one little boy wouldn't be able to do much for the rest of our trip. D got hurt at 9:30 am., was checked into the ER at 10:30 am, went into surgery at 5 pm, was moved to his room a little after 7 pm.  We left the hospital Thurs. at noon. Back at camp, the boy was showered with attention.  It was pretty windy outside so all 3 boys spent the day inside the rv watching movies.  They had a great excuse now.  That night we built a campfire and the boys roasted marshmallows even though it was drizzling. LM worked at cutting wood for us.   D joined us for a short time. Friday was more of the weird weather.  H and I went for a ride together.  LV chose to stay in camp.  He wanted to ride with Wyatt instead.  So we went out on our own for a bit.  It was sunny, so we brought D outside for a bit. His t-shirt says "I do all my own stunts" The black thing on his foot is H's sock to help keep his toes warm. LM chopping more wood. Some of the crew. Getting used to the crutches. Later in the afternoon, the adults in camp went riding together.  Except for 1, so she was in charge of the boys.  We went over to comp hill.  We were there long enough for Kristina to kick some butt a few times.  Then it started to hail!  Everybody took off for camp.  H and I decided to go ride in it!  We had a blast!  We were soaking wet and our fingers were numb, but we had a good time. Saturday morning Brian got up and hid Reese's eggs on the quads for the boys.  We gave D a head start finding them since he moved the slowest. And the little stunt man on his quad. After the egg hunt, it was time to load up and head for home.  It was a much more uneventful trip, thankfully.  We did stop on Donner summit and LV and LM got to play in the snow.  D was bummed he couldn't participate, but his brothers filled water bottles full of snow for him to enjoy.  Despite all the trials we still had a good time.  But now I feel like I need a vacation.

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• Mar. 21, 2009 - Sun and Rain

Yesterday was gorgeous!  It was something like 80 degrees.  Beautiful! We went on a field trip with our homeschool group to the Oroville Visitor's Center, then headed over to Riverbend Park for a picnic lunch. At the Visitor's Center we learned about the CA water project, the Nor Cal railroad, saw how the Oroville Dam was built, how the minre's lived, and how the Indians lived.  We also watched a video about baby animals. Yes, the Indaians were topless.  Afterall, that is how they dressed.  But they were covered by their hair. See... The whole gang.  Well, at least everyone who was there. A whole table labeled "Please Touch" Some of the local wildlife.  : ) We went to the park for lunch, and then the kids went for a swim in the river.  But I didn't think we would be swimming, so I didn't have my boys bring suits.  So they improvised. D doing his Karate Kid imitation in his soaking wet pants.  Yes. Those are his socks on his feet.  The socks helped protect their feet, or so they told me. A group of the kids building their own dam. Moms This is Joe, the little guy with Leukemia.  We pray for him everyday. LM just having a blast in the sand in front of the dam he helped to build. I guess the water was a little chilly. The older boys built 2 small dams and they were going to an experiment to see which pool of water warmed up faster.  But we had to leave before we could get the results. It was a great day.  A much neede break for our family, as this week has been kinda rough for some reason.  We came home, watched movies, and ate pizza.  Today was rocket day for cub scouts.  How disappointing for the weather to take a turn this morning.  After such a beautiful day yesterday, today was rainy, windy, and didn't even make it to 60 degrees.  Not really the best weather for launching model rockets.  Then just before we left, Missy stepped on D's R2D2 rocket and broke it.  So that put a damper on his morning.  Especially since he wasn't feeling well. So we went down to the park to check things out.  We had burgers and chips while they tried to find a place to launch rockets where they wouldn't be blown into the neighboring orchard.  It took awhile, but they got it (mostly) figured out.  Out of 7 practice launches, they got 1 rocket back.  After we were finished eating it started to rain pretty hard, so I never bothered to get the rockets out of the car.  D spent most of the time there in the van anyway.  And LV ran around the entire time in a t-shirt and sweat pants!  Brrr! Needless to say, I didn't shoot many pictures.  It was not a good day for a picnic and launching.  I did get our cooks hard at work. Maybe next year will be better.

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