Quietly Coloring

Every Mom can appreciate a quiet evening of coloring.

Race to Robie Creek

Can you spot Jess?  Hint: He is near the front.

This past Saturday Jess, along with 2,400 runners, competed in the Robie Creek Half Marathon.  Jess was the 280th runner to cross the finish line at 1 hour 57 minutes making it into the top 12%.  Race to Robie Creek is different than most half marathons in that there is a 2,100 ft.climb in 8.4 miles to the top of a mountain.  This race has been dubbed "the toughest half marathon in the Northwest." 

Having run in a handful of races, Jess always reports back to me on food and goods that are given to the runners at these competitions.  At the 8 mile marker of this particular race, there was a "Temptation Station" set up with cookies, brownies, cheesecakes, cigars, and alcohol for the beleaguered runners.  More food tents awaited the runners at the finish line with pasta, breadsticks, and stuffed potatoes.

Our favorite race (as a family) has been the Pocatello marathon.  Not only did Jess receive running equipment, but there was cotton candy, Great Harvest bread, Texas Roadhouse meals, ice cream novelties, and gatorade galore served at the finish line.  Music blared over loud speakers, and the kids enjoyed playing in the bounce houses.  It was like being at a carnival but for free!  Well, almost for free.  There is the actual fee to run in the race. :)

Strains of the Stomach Flu

This past week has been horrid with a capital “H.” Let me begin my “adventures in hell” by backtracking a week ago when I (very heavy with child) had the crazy idea of taking my children to the YMCA indoor aquatics center. The kids loved it, and I would have loved it more if Brahm wasn’t so darned confident in the pool. He observes my oldest two in swimming lessons and thinks that he can jump into 3 ft. deep water and perform back floats. It’s hilarious, but while I was trying to keep an eye on Ava and Simon, Brahm was sneaking his way into deeper water. He’s such a stinker! At one point during our playtime in the water, the lifeguards shouted and motioned for everyone to evacuate the pool and shower off immediately. I wasn’t sure what happened, but I later was told that a child had vomited in the water. The pool was “shocked” and left alone for 30 minutes. We spent the rest of the afternoon wading in the shallow water of the kiddie zone and eventually made our way back to the shocked pool.

The following day, I woke up to the sound of Simon throwing up in the bathroom. I didn’t associate it at all with the prior day’s vomitous pool fiasco. Simon seemed just fine with the exception of diarrhea. When Jess caught the stomach flu, I began to put two and two together. Brahm was the next victim. I don’t know what was worse- Brahm vomiting every 30 minutes throughout the night, or changing his explosive diarrhea diapers. I was next. I felt as if I had morning sickness all over again but 30 pounds heavier.

Ava has been our last to catch this weird strain of stomach flu. She threw up more often than Brahm during the night. This morning she has refused to eat or drink anything, but she has been pleading for milk. We have Gatorade, Sprite, and Pedialite to soothe her stomach and to combat dehydration, but all she wants is her precious milk. I am a stickler when it comes to the BRAT diet when my children have the stomach flu, and dairy products (with the exception of yogurt) are off limits.

As you can imagine, I have a laundry room full of dirty linens, rugs, blankets, jammies, and other clothing. I cannot say that my house is ever spotless or even close to clean, but it is bad news as I write this.

Surrounded by all of this chaos and sickness, I began thinking about how I would love to escape it all. A trip to a warm climate sounds enticing. A vacation, where a maid changes your linens and makes your bed and cleans your bathroom. I then started to think about all of the trips that I have gone on with my little family. We’ve been to quite a few places together. And, we have very fond memories of traveling with one another. And you know what? A lot of these trips included vomiting in the car, or vomiting on the plane, or vomiting on a boat. I guess you can never escape vomiting even when you are on vacation.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 2006.  Jess threw up on this scenic ocean boatride.  The crew offered him Mexican dramamine (Tequila) to which he kindly declined.

Hawaii 2008.  Ava threw up on the red-eye flight to Hawaii.  I didn't pack any extra clothes for her in our carry-on bags.  So, she ended up wearing an oversized shirt that belonged to her uncle.

Ava vomited not once, but twice on seperate car trips to Las Vegas (2008, 2010)

Howard, the newest member of our family

Our newest bundle of joy, Howard, joined the Warren family last night at 7:30 pm.  Because of his size, he was carried into our home by 4 able-bodied men.  The kids adore our sweet Howard.  In fact, they won't stop playing with him.  Oh, the noise Howard makes when the kids pound on him.  But, when Mommy tickles his sweet ivory keys, he is in much better spirits. 

Brahm takes a beating

My son Brahm is following in his cousin Henry's footsteps.  In his short 2 years on this earth, he has been to the ER three times and to the quick care center once.  At 11 months old, we rushed Brahm to the hospital for a spinal tap to test for Meningitis.  No spinal tap was performed, and Meningitis was ruled out.  But, we did get to sit around for 4 1/2 hours!  At 18 months old, Jess took Brahm in for a possible arm fracture after a bad fall off a chair.  X-rays were taken and we followed up with an Orthopedic surgeon.  No bones were broken.  But, we spent more than $600 for the ER and specialist fees.  Last summer, Brahm somehow fell backwards into the corner of our end table and put a good sized gash in the back of his head.  It was 4th of July weekend and we were headed out the door to go camping.  Jess drove to Nampa to the only quick care center that happened to be open.  An hour later, a chipper Brahm returned with two staples in his head. 

Finally, Brahm was with a group of kids outside playing last week.  One of the older boys randomly threw the base of a T-ball stand and it happened to hit Brahm in the head.  Brahm literally looked like something out of a horror movie.  Blood was gushing out of a half-inch gash under his hairline.  Back to the ER we reluctantly went.  He was treated by a physician who was wearing Utah Jazz scrubs and who sang to Brahm to settle him down while he sutured his wound.  I'd like to think that this man was a member of the Church. 

Brahm was given 2 types of anesthetics to numb the area that was being treated.  I knew that he couldn't feel a thing.  But the nurses had to wrap a sheet around his body to confine him and then hold him down while the doctor closed his wound.  The whole time Brahm just looked at me and cried big alligator tears.  I immediately thought of the Prophet, Joseph Smith, who endured a very invasive surgery without anesthetics all the while clinging to his Dad's hand.  I wasn't fearful of Brahm feeling pain, but it saddened me to see him cry for me.  I can only imagine how Joseph's father felt. 

To treat his newly sutured wound, I was given strict orders to daily scrub off any sort of scab that formed.  I can handle a lot of things--  blood, vomit, feces.  But, to scrub off a scab gave me the willies.  It was definitely not an easy task. 

One week later, we returned to the ER but on happier terms.  Brahm's stitches were removed and we went merrily on our way.

A little upset after the stitches were removed.....

But, with the gift of stickers he immediately perked up and was good to go.

Warrens in Review

Last night, I spent an hour reading over my past blog entries.  I am so glad that I decided to start this blog back in August of last year, because it has been a wonderful way of journaling.  I also realized that I haven't been quite as diligent posting current events in the Warren family.  So, here it goes:

I enrolled my two oldest children in swim lessons back in January.  I knew that this summer would be tough with a newborn, so Simon and Ava have been learning all the essentials at an indoor private pool.  It has been a wonderful experience for all of us.  Both of them have progressed so much with the help of their swimming coaches.  I've already enrolled them in another 9 week session that will end once school gets out. 

Simon is doing well in school.  He reads anything and everything now.  When we study the scriptures at night, he does fairly well reading verses out loud on his own.  He told me the other day that he wants to marry the little girl who lives across the street from us.  When asked why he didn't want to marry one of his other friends who happened to be a girl, his response was, "She doesn't go to our church, and I won't be able to marry her in the temple."

I've nicknamed Ava, "Funny Girl."  You would never guess it, because she is very quiet and almost withdrawn in public places.  But, Ava makes me laugh every day with her quirky comments.  One day, I encouraged the kids to go outside and play.  I checked the digital reading on our outdoor thermometer and it was 52 degrees.  The sun was brightly shining, and I was practically pushing the kids out the door.  Being skeptical of the warmer weather, Ava cracked the sliding glass door open, stuck her hand out to feel the temperature, and announced, "It is not 52 degrees out here!  It's more like.... 51 degrees!" 
Ava is also my little helper.  She does a great job of folding clean towels and wash cloths, clearing her place setting, rinsing her dishes off after each meal, and making her bed.

Brahm is all boy.  He is aggressive, and independent, and fearless.  He is finally beginning to talk a bit now that he is almost 2 1/2 years old.  Mommy, Daddy, and No are his favorites.  Most parents hate hearing their toddlers scream, "No," in contempt towards them.  But, I am just happy that he is talking.  He can say "No" all he wants.  Just like his Daddy, he is happy and chipper very early in the morning.  And just like his Daddy, he is in foul spirits after 8:00 pm. 

I am 22 weeks pregnant and still plugging along.  I do not have that 2nd trimester boost of energy with this baby.  In fact, I can easily take a 2 hour nap in the afternoon and then go to bed at 9:30 pm and sleep for 9 hours.  I am getting older.  My body is getting older.  And, there is a noticeable difference with this pregnancy. 

I've written a short children's book.  Nothing special.  I'm revising it right now, but I plan on sending it to a publisher soon.  I have 5 other ideas for children's books up my sleeve. 
With my calling in the Young Women's Program, I'm currently working on earning my Medallion by November.

Jess is still running.  His wet, sweaty running clothes give the whole family the willies.  Ava loves to help me throw dirty laundry into the washing machine.  But when it comes to Daddy's running clothes, she will not touch them with a ten foot pole. 
Jess has planned a surprise get-a-way for our 10 year anniversary in April.  I don't handle surprises very well.  I've been hyper-ventilating, because I have no idea where we will be going and who will be taking care of our children.  I trust him, though, that all will turn out well.

And the gender is.....

For the past few months, I've researched nothing but baby girl names-- Gale, Helen, Catherine, Josephine, Gwen, etc.  I haven't taken any interest in boy names.  I thought for sure that my last child would be a girl.  Almost 2 weeks ago, Jess and I went to our ultrasound appointment.  This entire time I've wanted this child to be a girl.  But, in the back of my mind, I knew I was carrying a boy.  I was too sick not to be carrying a boy. 

Lo and behold, I am having another boy. 

Which means, this will not be my last child. 

I think I've soured Jess on the idea of conceiving another child from my most recent bout with morning sickness.  Hopefully, all is forgotten a year or two down the road. 

My due date is July 7th, but the professionals think that I will give birth around the 26th of June. 

Any suggestions for boy names?

P.S.  I really am thrilled about having a boy!