Happy Father's Day

Our boys adore Abe! Abe is a fabulous father that has already planted the seeds of hard work, faith, and how to be a man. These are some lucky boys!!

To celebrate, they all got a new matching tie, we had a layered cake, and the boys gave Abe paper ties that they made in church.

Vegas, Day 4: Bikes, Palm Trees, and Pool Party

Vegas, Day 3: Pool Days

It is so nice that Darci and Frank have a pool! We were outside and in the pool at least once a day! This day our kids got in twice! Sawyer and Franklin had an impromptu underwear swim. After awhile the older kids came looking for us and they were completely jealous they hadn't been in the pool as well. A quick change of clothes later and everyone was in the pool.

Vegas: Day 2

Crew was so swollen this morning! This picture does not do justice. But after he sat up for awhile it helped lessen the swelling a little. Eating was really hard and he didn't want anything but yogurt. 

After I quickly threw myself together I took Crew to a very kind dentist. I wish we had thought to call him instead of the other dentist. He looked at Crew and said his mouth was already healing. He also said it was a rather bad laceration and he would have had it stitched if we brought him in the night before. Since Crew was already healing he didn't want to mess with it. Crew's bottom tooth is very loose and could die. He also said all his top teeth could die as well. We just have to watch.

The dentist reiterated what the Dr said: If Crew would have hit a tiny bit further up he would have had a broken nose; If he would have it a tiny bit further down, all of his teeth would have broken off.  I believe in tender mercies!

Crew and I stopped at Target to find his treasure at the end of his adventure. He picked a bubble machine that is the shape of Jake's pirate ship. We also bought some IB profen to help with the swelling.

Crew sang quietly on the way home from Target. It made me happy to hear his happy song.

Vegas: Day 1

 So our drive down started okay, but then it got a little crazy. We had some extra passengers with us to drop off at their families house. Braylee was not enjoying this trip like last time. We had to stop a lot and listen to a lot of crying! A. LOT! Even Sawyer covered his ears and whimpered at one point because he was sick of it. Since it was so hot it was also rather miserable to stop.

My kids hated their BK meals. We hardly ever get fast food and they were not fans. Goodbye $10.

We finally made it to Vegas. It took about 2 extra hours. But, the kids were soon on their way to having fun and playing. After dinner the kids were running and Crew fell and hit his mouth on a tiled step. It was full force to his face and made a horrible sound. I ran as fast as I could to pick him up. His hands immediately covered his mouth/nose and blood was pouring out of both. Since I went to Vegas without Abe, I knew I had to keep it together. I told Darci to quickly get ice water and a rag. She did everything I asked. I dipped the rag into the water and Crew immediately stuck in on his face and also in his mouth. After what seems like 10 minutes I told Crew I needed to see it. He didn't like the idea of that but he was as cooperative as he could be. It initially looked like his bottom tooth was split up the middle (Later I was able to tell that it was a piece of the gum scraped up and gave the appearance of his tooth being split.  His tooth did suffer some trauma, but it was intact) We called a dentist and two different doctors. The dentist was not kind and both doctors said it sounded like he needed to go to the ER because his mouth was still bleeding after two hours. (The upper lip and gum had been lacerated internally. About an inch in width and deep) I quickly looked up hospitals that are under my insurance and asked Darci which one I should go to.
Since this was my first experience, ever, with the ER, I didn't know what to fully expect. Crew needed new clothes on since he didn't like being covered in a wet bloody shirt. I quickly changed him, left my own bloody shirt on, packed a bag in thirty seconds, put Sawyer to bed, and was on my way. I drove down the road to an LDS members home, in hopes that Crew could receive a priesthood blessing before we went to the hospital. No one was home. I also called Abe at this point to let him know what happened. I almost lost it, but I kept it together. I told him to pray for Crew, but I couldn't talk because I needed my phone to tell me how to get to the hospital.
I kept on telling Crew that we were on an adventures, just like Jake the pirate. He liked the idea of that!
We got checked into the ER and had to wait longer than I expected. When Crew's vitals were being check, the gentleman informed me that Monday night is the busiest night in the ER- nation wide! I had no idea.
Crew wanted to see his mouth. I resisted but he was insistent. When I showed him he looked somewhat confused. I really think getting ice on it right away and tylenol in his system really saved him from a lot of pain and more swelling.
Darci had gotten a hold of some priesthood and they came to the hospital to give Crew a blessing. I was so grateful! One of them brought their wife and we made the connection that I actually knew her brother and his family. I knew her brother's family very well and felt it was a tender mercy to feel that connection.
Soon after Crew was called back. They really wanted to do xrays and Crew did not want to cooperate. But, when I told him he would get to see his pirate face we was ready! After more waiting the Dr finally came in to tell us that the xrays looked good. She looked at his mouth and chose to not do anything but have me do a peroxide/water rinse 3 times a day. She also said to see a dentist the next day.
The miracle to me, is that when she looked at his mouth it was no longer bleeding. At all. Just 30 minutes previous is was a pretty bloody sight to look at. The power of the priesthood is real!

We rolled back into Darci's at 1 am. Crew fell right to sleep. I was exhausted but needed to wind down. I had been up since 5am, worked out, drove all day, listened to a screaming baby all day, and was my child's rock and comfort as he went through his painful experience. Darci and I chatted for an hour when I finally said goodnight to by 22 hour day!

Tin Foil Dinner With Family and the Sones

Carmen invited all of us to have dinner on our new farm land. Carmen and I prepared tin foil dinner and then all of us rode atv's over. The boys were dirty in .5 seconds and happy as could be.  The horses came to check things out and hung around most of dinner. Sawyer thought it was pretty neat ... from a distance.

The Sones will be missed! Who knows what Abe will do without seeing Richard ten times a day. (Only slightly exaggerated for some days!)