Medical Mysteries

So much for having a calmer year!! Jayden ate pecans on Superbowl Sunday, and broke out in hives that lasted until Wednesday. He got tested for tree nut allergies, but isn't allergic. I guess it was just some funky virus.

Then, I went to Lincoln's 6 month well check the next Tuesday, and he got a bunch of shots. Wednesday he had a fever of 102, but I figured it was the shots. Thursday it was 104.5. I called the nurse line, she was useless and said I should watch him and see what happens. I didn't like that and took him in, they quickly admitted him. I got there at 11:30, by 1 we were at the hospital putting in an IV. That night, his fever spiked to 108. Took blood, urine, and Xrays. Not pneumonia or UTI. Then his soft spot was raised so they did a spinal tap to test for meningitis. Thankfully, it wasn't, and his soft spot didn't stay raised for long. Finally his fever went down about midnight Friday night, and we were released Saturday afternoon.
I guess with babies a lot of times they don't ever find out what it is, just what it isn't. They said it was either a virus, or some kind of blood infection that they got with the antibiotic in his IV (although the cultures came back negative). We had a follow up appointment today, and all looks well. Now we are just taking it easy, recovering, and getting back in our routine. They said that high of a fever wouldn't have been caused by the shots...You can bet that I will take his 12 month shots one by one though.

Phew! What a weekend! I am grateful for competent doctors that took great care of Lincoln and answered all of our questions (multiple times). I am grateful for my hubby that knew I couldn't handle the spinal tap and he was able to take some time off work to be with us. Our ward really stepped up and took care of Jayden (he wasn't allowed in the pediatric wing), and brought us dinner. Brian's mom decided last minute to come to the states a week ago, so she was able to rent a car and drive here to help. I am also grateful this didn't happen two months ago when our insurance was in limbo, and most of all I am grateful it wasn't meningitis, and my little trooper is on the mend. I was a bit of a mess on Friday, but it's good to be grateful to keep me grounded!

How was your President's Day weekend?

Valentine's 2012

Today the boys and I picked up some balloons, Snickers/Cream Soda and chocolate covered strawberries to deliver to Daddy & Papa at work. I tied the balloons to the Snickers and Cream Soda. When I told Jayden to hand Papa the balloon with the Snickers, guess what he did? He slid the ribbon off the Snickers, handed Papa the balloon, and curled the Snickers into his chest with his other hand.

Wow, someone (besides me) sure has a sweet tooth!

Catch-Up

I have a few pics I need to catch up on. Moving has been busy, and Brian and I are doing online work for Wasinc, so my "fun" computer time has been replaced by work. My mom took Jayden to the museum this morning, so I have a few quick minutes to post.

Here is the pic I took of the boys with Santa at our ward Christmas party.

This is how Jayden fell asleep one day watching Umizoomi.

I've been trying to do some more inexpensive craft projects as my "me time". These two lovely ideas are courtesy of Pinterest.

I took an extra pallet from when my parents re-did their fireplace, painted & sanded it, and we screwed a bunch of different hooks and knobs for a coat rack! I love that Jayden can now hang up his own jackets.

I saw this idea on Pinterest several months ago, and then when we moved into the townhome we are renting, these three homeless drawers just happened to be sitting in the garage, and it was meant to be! Same story, painted, sanded, instant shelving that cost me $2!

I've been cleaning the tile grout, and again, on pinterest, I saw a pin that someone used baking soda and peroxide to clean baked on cookie sheets, and I decided to try it on the grout. With a little elbow grease, it worked! I've done the kitchen and am working my way into the hallway. Here you can see the difference in what I've cleaned and what I haven't.

That's it for now, Lincoln is crying and a shower is calling my name... ;)

Sorry

I'm so sorry I haven't posted in a while, returned phone calls, etc...

Things are always crazy, but things really have been! We are getting settled, still trying to unpack, Brian started his new job, and we are hanging in there. We've had three ear infections, Bri and I are both doing online work for Wasinc, Lincoln is crawling now, and Jayden HATES putting his diaper on, and never wants me to change it or put one on, but has no interest in actually going in the potty! What do I do?

Anyway, I will get a handle on my life soon and will update my blog later! Forgive me for neglecting you!

Christmas Day

It's getting late but I really want to finish catching up on my blog, but I need to go to bed. So this will be brief!

Christmas Eve we tried letting the kids act out the Nativity, and of course Chloe had to be Mary. Therefore Jayden had to be Joseph because a) he's the only boy and b) I was told they are the same height so otherwise it would be silly. I didn't get a picture of Jayden, but he sure made a cute Joseph. Why didn't I get a picture, you ask? Because when it was his turn to hold Jesus, he took off and threw Jesus down the stairs! Chloe trailed behind crying, yelling "Joseph, come back!" I'm sure you can figure out how the rest of that activity went ;)

Jayden absolutely loved throwing (I mean sprinkling) reindeer food on the lawn, but had a rough time leaving the cookies out for Santa. When I woke him up Christmas morning I told him Santa came and he sat up and said "Santa down down down, eat a cookie, presents for Jay Jay!" I just love him more than I can say!

The rest of these pics are from Christmas Day, I'll let you figure them out.

That's it for my marathon of posts to catch up on life. Well, actually, I just thought of one more thing to post about but I'm way too tired for that right now.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Truffles & Stockings

I showed Hannah how to make Oreo and Nutter Butter Truffles. She loved the Nutter Butter ones, and did a great job! She did most of the work, I just supervised, which is the best when you have someone as awesome as Hannah helping!

It was so crazy and hectic getting to NM for Christmas that we didn't bring any stockings. So, we went to the dollar store and picked some up along with some iron on letters, glue, and glitter. It was such a fun activity, the kids loved it.


Here Jayden wanted Nate to iron some on his socks. What a goof!

The finished products:

The Polar Express

We got to ride on The Polar Express! And it was awesome! We got the kids coordinating gingerbread pajamas, and the mommies got zebra pj's. The men were too lame to even wear pajamas.

Jayden LOVED the train, and would not let go of his ticket. The conductor came around and punched the tickets just like the movie, and Jayden held on to it the whole time (until Santa gave him a bell, of course). He stared out the window and was fascinated with the whole experience.

Lincoln was extrememly good too. He pretty much looked out the window at the Christmas lights the whole time and didn't make a peep.

Most of the pictures we took are either too dark or blurry. But it was so cute, when we got to the North Pole, we saw Santa and his elves standing outside the workshop waving to us. As we passed by in order to turn around so Santa could get on the train to give out the bells, Jayden yelled "Santa, wait!!"

We will have to go again, it was a blast!

That night, as I was laying in bed after getting up with Lincoln, Jayden rolled over in his sleep and said "Choo-choo train!" He's such a cutie!

Sledding in Purgatory

A friend of Mom's let us stay at their condo at Purgatory, and we had a blast! We hung out, played games, took naps, and played in the snow! It was a first for Hannah, Chloe & Jayden!

Lincoln had a stuffy nose, so I didn't even bring him outside, even though we got him a snowsuit. He'll use it eventually.

Poor Hannah had a big wreck that scraped her face pretty good. She's a trooper though and went back for more the next day!

Grandma Kathy Young

Okay, I am going to try and recap our crazy life the past month...

We were super busy packing up the house (long story I'll fill in later), getting ready to drive to my parents for Christmas, and I got a call from my dad that my Grandma had suffered a heart attack and wouldn't make it through the night. The doctors said she wasn't in any pain, and once she fell asleep she wouldn't wake back up. Fortunately, I was able to call her, and although she couldn't talk she could listen as I told her how much I loved her and what was going on with our family. She passed on December 12, 2011.

I have had mixed emotions, as she had been in a lot of pain for decades, and my Grandpa passed a year and a half ago. I knew she was in a better place, was with my grandpa, and wasn't suffering anymore, but I would miss her, and even though I was able to say goodbye, I just wasn't ready. The last time I saw my grandpa, somehow I just knew it was going to be the last time I'd see him, but I didn't get that with my grandma, so it was harder in that aspect.

Floral arrangement from the great-grandkids-25 of them!

A few days before she passed, she told her bishop that her Christmas wish was to be with my Grandpa again.

The phrase "I'll be home for Christmas" has a whole new meaning to me now.

There were a few bumps along the way, but luckily my mom was in between her chemo treatments, so she was strong enough to stay home alone while the rest of us attended the funeral. It was a very nice service, and even though we will miss both my grandparents terribly, I am particularly grateful for the knowledge and testimony I have of eternal families and the Plan of Salvation.

I was asked to say the opening prayer, and aside from my wedding day, I have never felt so nervous and anxious about anything else before. I felt sick to my stomach the whole day before and couldn't keep my food down the night before. Once the service was over I felt better, but I'm usually pretty mellow and easy going, it surprised me how worked up I got. Anyway, it was a wonderful service for a wonderful lady. I love you Grandma!

My Uncle Craig, my dad, & my Aunt Linda

Merry Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas! We have had a wonderful Christmas holiday so far. My mom hasn't been very sick this round of chemo, and it was her last one! She still has I think two infusions of the supplemental drug, but not the chemo! Hooray! Thanks to everyone's prayers and thoughts, she has had two PET Scans, and there aren't any visible cancer cells anymore! It will still be a long road, and nothing is a guarantee, but we are so blessed and grateful so far.

Mom has been up and doing stuff with us every day. We've completely worn her (and everyone else) out! I'll have more pictures later, but here are just a few. I have had our Christmas cards and letters stuffed, sealed and ready for almost a month now, but can't mail them out yet. I can't say why I can't mail them yet (I'm not pregnant!), but just know that I haven't forgotten everyone, and I have a good reason!

Love,

the Turners