August 16

This week went so fast. It seems like two days ago I was writing about my week.

Physical therapy was enlightening, but not helpful this week. I have been having a little more nerve pain. It started about 3 or 4 weeks ago, when we were in Visalia. I had 2 days where I had pretty bad sciatic pain in both legs. I haven't really had much of that--it was new for me. I can't think of what I did that would have set it off, but one time Bob was trying to make Seth stand up and dropped him, so I kind of twisted funny trying to grab him. But now I've been having a little pain and tightness down into my hamstring and calf and that alternates with hip pain. Throughout the day it'll cycle through hip pain, hamstring/calf pain, or no pain at all.

My physical therapists said SI joint pain never goes into the calf and my hip isn't rotating right now anyway. What I have is probably where my torn disc is pinching my nerve. Bummer. I was so close to healing. I had about two months of no pain and was able to do most of what I want to (I never tried running). It was so great. But that was short-lived. So now there isn't much to do for it. I'm hoping it was kind of a fluke and will go away, but my doctor thought it's probably something I have to live with. He said I can have a block done again where they numb the nerve with big needles and that may help. We'll see. Bob's going to give me a blessing today. I was still able to go to yoga and spinning this week and those didn't seem to effect it, it hurt the same after as it did before. And so far, it's not nearly as bad of pain as it was before.

We went bowling and swimming this week. We had fun at both. We went swimming at the Hoeffgens again. And while we were there Seth pooped in the pool. Out of four kids, he's the first one to have done that. His diaper leaked a little so I was frantically scooping it out and then I had to go clean him up. I guess I was spoiled that it never happened before.

Seth had his 6 month appt. this week. He's 20 lbs already. He's quite a chunk to carry around, but so adorable! He's pretty much exactly the same size as Danny was, but 4 lbs heavier than Aaron at the same age.

Rachel had her birthday on Friday. She had 5 girlfriends over and they made necklaces and did their nails, had cake and presents and a pinata, and played musical chairs. It was a fun little party. We went to circle K and got icees and had norwegian pancakes for dinner, as she requested and had a family movie night and watched Mary Poppins. She seemed happy with the day.

Aaron is doing great with keeping his thumb out. He doesn't even try anymore. But his tantrums have definitely increased. They're getting better, but still not fun. I hope it'll all even out soon and he'll be able to cope with stress in new ways in stead of sucking his thumb or throwing a tantrum.

August 9

My hip was hurting more this week so I made an appointment for physical therapy. It didn't really help at all. My hamstring is still really tight. I think I'll have to go again this week. That's a bummer because it costs $75 each time because our insurance doesn't cover it.

Seth got sick this week. It's a pretty bad cold. So we've been up most of the night the last two nights because he can't breathe very well. And he's so sad in the day with his runny nose and puffy eyes. I hope it gets better soon.

The cold started with Aaron, then I got it, then Seth. I realized that Aaron got sick right after he started sucking his thumb again. And before vacation, he got sick when he was sucking his thumb. I was going to just let him suck it and wait a few months until I could figure out my next move because we've failed twice now at keeping it out. But once I realized that Seth and I were sick because Aaron sucks his thumb, that was the last straw! I want to be done with the thumb. So I went to the internet again and found some bitter nail polish stuff that tastes horrible and they can't just lick off easily. We started it on Friday and so far it's been great. On it's website it said to use if for a month straight because a couple of weeks isn't long enough to fully break the habit. So we'll see how it goes. I'm hopeful it'll work.

We had the Deans over for a barbeque last night. We had a great time. The kids played together really well and it was fun for Bob and I to hang out with them.

August 2

This weekend was girls weekend. Mom and Kristal flew in for the weekend. Mom got here Thurs night and then Saturday Kristal got in at 8 am. We picked her up and looked around some Hotels until shopping opened. Then we shopped from about 10:30 to 3. We went to lunch at Maggianos. Then Bob brought the kids down and we all went swimming. Seth did great taking a bottle while I was gone. After the kids left we went to see Blue Man Group. Then in the morning we slept in a little and then came home for the 11:00 sacrament meeting. They fly out tonight. It's been a nice weekend. I'm so glad they were able to come visit.

Bob did great with the kids. He was so nice not to complain about the kids tantrums and being up in the night with Seth. He's such a great dad. He even got them all ready and took them to church this morning. And they all looked very presentable.

Also this week we found a pool in the ward that the kids love and the owner, the Hoeffgens, said we can come over whenever we want. So we swam there a couple of times. We also went to a YMCA pool with the Deans. I really like Kata. She reminds me a lot of Amanda.

July 26

My kids are driving me crazy today. Things have really been pretty good with fighting and tantrums, but today we're all tired and it's making it really hard. Rachel's whiny, Danny is teasing and Aaron is tantruming. I was up a lot with Seth because he was sick last night. And it seems like there are more fights on Sundays anyway.

This weekend was our first regular three day weekend since Bob changed to his new 4 -10 hour schedule. It was nice, but by the end it was a little boring. We didn't plan anything to do. The first day I had lots of jobs for Bob to do around the house since we've been gone so much lately. Then that night we had a family movie night and watched Peter Pan. Then Saturday, we should have gone somewhere or started a project, but we didn't. I did get to go to exercise classes at the gym both days, so that was really nice.

Then at night after the kids went to bed, Bob and I watched part of a Harry Potter movie since we're going to try to go to see the new one at the theater next weekend. But then Seth started throwing up all over the floor. And then he dry-heaved for a while after that. Poor little boy. Then he's been fine today and he never had a fever. And I'd just nursed him and he ate some peas earlier in the day, but he's been eating peas all week. I don't know what was wrong.

This weekend will be "girls weekend" for me. My mom and sister are coming and we're staying at a hotel and shopping and eating and going to a show. I'm excited! I hope the kids are good for Bob.

Today

It's summer vacation, so I don't really have a typical day right now, but I thought I might like to remember what the days were like when I read over this years from now.

• Got up 3 times with kids last night and my hip has been hurting a little, so I decided to sleep in and skip the gym this morning.
• The kids started coming in around 7, but I didn't get out of bed until 7:40. At that time I got dressed, said my prayer (asking for patience with the kids), and went out to the kitchen. There I found the kids watching tv. The fridge door was wide open with a chair in it and a spilled strawberry smoothie all over inside and on the floor. Aaron had tried to get it and slipped and then didn't know how to clean it up so he just left it. It looked like it had been there at least 15 minutes.
• Served cold cereal to the kids
• Told everyone to get dressed and we went to go check out the Target that just opened.
• We bought the kids all new backpacks and lunchboxes because we need them, and because it's easier to get out of the store with happy kids if they get something.
• Figured out how to use the food processor I got for christmas and grated zucchini from my mom to make zucchini brownies.
• Made peanut butter sandwiches for lunch
  
• Danny had a friend over and all 4 kids played rain trampoline while I hung out with Seth inside.
• Worked on websites for a little while
• Made pizza for dinner
• Put Seth to bed around 7:30
• Put other kids to bed around 8:30
• Watched "So you think you can dance"
• Read "Jesus the Christ" for about 20 minutes
• Went to bed at 10:30
  

8 Years

Bob and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary this year by having my mom stay with the kids while Bob and I went downtown and stayed at the Venetian hotel. We had a great time. We had a super nice room. We ate at a nice Italian restaurant in the hotel and walked around and looked at things. We stayed on a Tuesday night and Bob had to be back at work the next morning at 9. But the nice lady at the desk let us have a late checkout so I went home and got the kids and my mom and we went back and spent the day in the pools. It was a great time.

I love Bob so much. He's my best friend. And he is SO good-looking. I am so in love with him. He's such a good, fun, loving man. I'm very blessed.

Summer Vacation/Family Reunion

We had a great summer vacation this year! We went to Midway, UT for a Woolley/Barnhart family reunion and for Grandpa Gene's 80th birthday. Bob and I especially like Midway because we spent some of our honeymoon there. Here's the quick run down of what we did.

• Stayed in a great cabin and the weather was perfect.
• We had a great party to celebrate Grandpa.
• Went fishing with Uncle Ryan. Rachel loved the worms most and liked to rip them in half for the fishermen.
  
• We did some fireworks for the 4th of July and watched the Midway fireworks from the hot tub.
• We went to BYU and the kids bowled. Aaron won.
• Rode the Alpine slides
• Went on a great kid-hike organized by Ryan
  
• Rented a boat and water-skiied/rode the tube. The kids loved that!
• We went to church and Elder Holland was there and bore a powerful testimony.

Summer Vacation '09