"Sweet Rachael"

On Sunday right as church was getting over, Rachael came down the stairs from primary crying and saying that her side hurt really bad. We took her home got her something to eat and put her down for a nap. When she got up she said Oh Mom now I feel better. So Mike and I didn't think anything about it. She had played with a friend earlier in the week and the little brother had the stomach flu, so we thought oh just a twenty four hour flew. After about 1 hour she started just screaming that her stomach was hurting, she said it felt like hammers in her tummy. Once again we gave her some tums and she took another nap.
Monday she was feeling fine, she got ready for her first day of school, no problems. Tuesday the same thing, until I received a call from the school that she didn't feel good and she didn't want to ride the bus home. I went to pick her up and Brianna told me that she found her doubled over in pain and just screaming that her tummy hurt. I got her into the doctors that evening. He was a little concerned, that he sent us over to the hospital for some tests. At this point I cant do anything to make her comfortable, she has 103 temperature, and just not doing good. Once at the hospital they did some blood work, what a trooper Rach was, she didn't even cry when they poked her with a needle to take her blood. Then off to the ultrasound room we went. By this time we have been at the hospital for over 1 hour. All Rachael wants to do is go home. We have to wait for the tech, so I was holding her and she fell asleep in my arms. We woke her up to do the ultrasound and we tried to explain to her that they were going to take pictures of her tummy to see if they can find out where the pain is coming from. Well Mike kept teasing her that he could see what she had for lunch, he starts saying "I can see your hot dog and the pickle" Rachael's response after she say the screen was "Dad I think that is lake water in my tummy" bless her little heart. As crappy as she felt she still had her sense of humor. The tech finally finished the ultrasound and went to call the doctor to let him know what he found. I leaned over to ask Rach how she was feeling and she said "I felt better while he was doing the massage". How Sweet. Well the doctors says it can be one of two things. First she does have some inflammation of the lymph nodes around her intestines. But they think it could also be her appendix, the only problem with that is that they couldn't get a good look at it because she couldn't relax her tummy enough. She was having such a hard time breathing that it hurt to relax. So they sent us home at about 9:30 p.m. Rach was asleep before I even left the room. She slept pretty good, we did have another episode around 5:00 a.m. where her temperate went back up to 103. But as of now she seems to be doing better. She is a little rundown and doesn't want to do much. At this point it is a waiting game. They say that the inflammation could last up to 10 days, and there is nothing that they can do for her except for Motrin. I think she kind of likes everyone wanting to take care of her.

First Day of School

Well it is official. The girls started school this week. It has been a good adjustment. It is actually keeping our lives on a schedule. Addie just started 6Th grade in the A.L.L program (advanced) and she is really loving her teacher and the kids in her class. Brianna just started the 4Th grade and she too is loving everything about school. I am so glad that it isn't a fight to get them up and ready in the mornings and that they are enjoying the new year. Rachael will be starting kindergarten next week and she cant wait. Ever day she asks me if today is the day. I also started my first radKIDS class today, My friend and I are teaching two 5Th grade classes back to back. This is a program that I am very passionate about, so I really enjoy teaching. It is great program that our PTA has sponsored for our kids at school.

Our vacation to Houston

Thursday Addie and I took an adventure to Houston to visit Erica and her sweet family. Addie and I had to be up at 3:00 a.m. to catch a 5:25 a.m. flight. Wow is that early or what. We arrived in Houston at 9:30 after an interesting flight. I don't think I have ever been in a smaller plane. But the flight was good. Thursday Erica took us to downtown Houston to the Galleria Mall. Now keep in mind that I am thinking this is a normal mall, with Nordstroms, Bath and Body Works, etc. Oh no not quite. This had Kate Spade, Neiman Marcus, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, etc. A purse in Kate Spade was $345.00 and it was small. I finally decided that I couldn't afford to even walk in the stores (especially with little girls who might break something). It was neat however they have a ice rink in the basement near the food court. We then went to The Cheesecake Factory for lunch. What yummy food and at a good price. We went and had the kids pictures taken, and we were also able to spend a little time with my Aunt Nancy. Houston has some fun thunderstorms, there were several everyday that we were there. It was a little weird not seeing any mountains, I got lost really easy. We had a great time with he girls, I think between Addie and I baby Rebecca became very spoiled. Addie and I kept fighting over her and I usually won. Thank you Erica for letting us come and visit. We had a wonderful time. We miss you and the girls already.

Deer Creek

Well since we were already in Park City for the night, why not stop at Deer Creek Reservoir and go boating for the day. I know I keep putting pictures of the kids on the lake but that is all that we seem to do now a days. I promise once the weather gets cold we wont be at the lake so much. What are we going to do? Tim and Holly Shanto meet us at the lake for another fun day. The weather was beautiful the water was beautiful how can you not take total advantage of all of it. The girls are really enjoying the boat, tube and knee board. It is getting to the point that we need to take the kids only one day and then the adults another. We are all starting to fight about who goes next. It is usually Mike and Rachael, and of course Rachael always wins.

The "BOYS" (Mike and Tim) thought they would get a little creative this time with the tube and the knee board. Mike and Addie were on the tube and Tim was on the knee board. All out in the water together. Tim decided that he wanted to be on the tube and that Mike needed to be on the knee board. So while I am driving the boat about 18-20 MPH they swap places. Tim scoots over to the tube and pulls himself up on with himself still strapped into the board. Him and Mike then trade places and now Mike is on the knee board and Tim is on the tube. Well since the did it the first time they needed to see if they could do it again just as good. We spent the next 30 minutes watching these two continue to trade places. I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard. Then when they were done with that they had to see who could out due the other on jumps over the wake. You be the judge. I wont tell you who got hurt the most

Thanks to all you for a great weekend

PARK CITY GET AWAY

Mike had a business meeting in Park City last weekend and the district manager paid for all the agents to stay the night in Park City. Of course we jumped all over that, having someone else pay the hotel bill, free night stay. We thought how nice it was going to be to "GET AWAY". Now most of you know me well enough to know that a "GET AWAY" for me is a night or weekend away from the kids. Well after much thought and guilt from the girls we decided to take them with us. Boy was I surprised at how good they can actually be. I took them shopping for 7 hours up at the outlet mall. We went school shopping so since it was for them they were a little better. We found some of the best deal around and now we are set for school to start. One more week.

After the meeting we went with 4 other couples to the Alpine Slide and Alpine Coaster, I had promised the girls all day that when dad was finished with the meetings we would go. Rachael kept trying to convince me that it would be OK to go without dad, he could just meet up with us later. She was very patient. For those of you who haven't heard of the Alpine Coaster, it is definitely something that you need to try. It is in the same location as the Alpine Slide but much more fun. You sit in a cart if you will and it pulls you to the top, once there you push down on two handles as far as they go and you zoom down the mountain. It was a little intense for me. Rachael and Addie went together and I thought for sure they would both be in tear at the bottom. Brianna went with Mike so I wasn't to worried. Much to my surprise I found them all down at the bottom laughing hysterically. I asked Rachael if she had fun on the Slide and the Coaster her answer to me was "The slide was a little boring but the coaster was awesome, can we go again?" What a fun activity.

We finished off the evening with a fun dinner with friends only (no kids). All in all it was a wonderful "GET AWAY" and I would do it again.

Grandma and Grandpa Lamb

A couple of weeks ago Mike's parents came in to down for a little get together with family. We had the opportunity of having them stay at our home with us and spend a little time with them up in Heber. The girls really love it when they come in to town. Grandma painted with Addie and sewed a bag with Brianna, and did a little game with Rachael. Thank you for being such wonderful Grandparents we love you.