Hair Does and Swim Suits

It's been so nice the last few days, that yesterday I put the kids in their swim suits and filled up our new water table that Mason got for his birthday. They had a blast! Mason was having so much fun, he stayed out there a long time, and I really enjoyed making homemade bread and lasagna while watching him play outside. It was perfect!

Another new thing is that Brenna now LOVES to comb her own hair. She's always liked combing mine, but now she likes doing hers. It's so cute, but irritating when she takes out whatever I just spent 10 mintues doing to her hair so that she can comb it some more. She always does a hugely big comb over too, which makes me laugh.

We just had a wonderful week with my mom, dad, and sister Karli here, and it's always a hard day when we have to say goodbye. I had a good cry, and now I'm trying to think positively! I am one lucky girl, that's for sure! Lots to be thankful for! :)

Oh, and I hosted a Pampered Chef party for my friend Olivia the other night, and it went awesome! I can hardly wait to get my stuff... like seriously, I'm having dreams about it! Please come soon new kitchen items!!!

The Epic Story of Jeremy's Finger

A few months ago (quite a few now!) at the stake turkey bowl flag football game on Thanksgiving morning, Jeremy jammed his finger playing football. He said it was a really bad jam and it hurt quite a bit, but he did finish out the game. He, nor I thought much more about it for a while. Then during December, he was still unable to move it. I was still pretty sure he was being a baby, but, I did tell him that if he was thinking it was something else that he should go to the doctor sooner rather than later. Alas, it was the holidays and time slipped away... it was near the end of January before an actual doctor visit was planned. Jeremy went to the doctor, and we were both surprised to learn that he needed surgery that next Wednesday to fix the tendon which had been snapped during the game two months prior. The doctor was hopeful to reattach the tendon and fix Jeremy's finger good as new, but since it had been so long since it happened, he warned he may have to just sever the tendon and put a screw in the top knuckle, never to be bent again. As everyone knows, the screw had to be put in place as the tendon was dead and couldn't be stretched.

So, unfortunate, but glad to be on the way to feeling better. Jeremy had to wait almost two weeks to get the stitches off (and his gigantic bandage) but that was supposed to be the end. He was trying to move it more each day, but seeing no progress. He was sent to a physical therapist to work it out, but after a few sessions, it was decided that the remaining tendon attached to the second knuckle of that finger, had gotten stuck in all the scar tissue and was no longer free to move. So, surgery number two was planned.

Two days ago, surgery number two happened... we were both sort of dreading it since the first one was such a huge ordeal, and this time I had to take the kids, and yaddayaddayadda... It's been two days now since the surgery, and can I just say... Hallelujah! They gave him less sedation this time, so the initial waking up was unbelievably better (the first time he was very grumpy and tired for a long time), and going home, instead of going straight to bed like last time, he was able to stay up for a long time and even do a fair bit of moving around. He is taking no pain meds this time, and is in no pain either! That in itself is a miracle, and one we're both thankful for! He went to the doctor today to get his big bandage off and to try and move it. He was sort of scared to do this since it would most likely hurt, but he called me and said that it didn't hurt all that much, and he already, two days after surgery, has so much more range of motion in his finger than before. He is a happy camper, and I am amazed at the difference this time around. We are very thankful to have this all figured out, and lesson learned: if you think you should go to the doctor... GO! Now Jeremy just needs to be diligent in moving his finger often so that the tendon isn't caught in the healing process again.

Here are some pictures... they are yucky.

Toys

On Saturday, Brenna and I went to clean the church in the morning with the primary. On our way home we decided to stop at some garage sales, mostly to look for clothes for Mason (he is in dire need of some t-shirts since it's already almost uncomfortably warm here!). We didn't have much success, but at the last one, they had a pile of toys, so while I looked around, Brenna looked at all the toys. When I came back to get her at the toy pile, she had picked out two toys to buy. First, the Incredible Hulk, and second, a little school bus. I was sort of surprised, but she was adamant that those were what she wanted. When we got in the car she said that she got one for Mason and one for her. I asked if the Hulk was for

Mason... it wasn't. She has stuck to that too, the bus is Mason, and the Hulk is hers. She really likes the Hulk too... she slept with him last night, and I have found her often flexing his muscles and making straining noises like he's flexing... it always makes me smile. Mason likes his bus too... sorta.

This evening, Brenna is up late for whatever reason, and she was watching Glee with me. Rachel was singing her solo in the sectionals or whatever (I only saw this one part since I was trying to get her asleep during the rest) and Brenna looked at me and said "Mommy, she sings like you!" Now, given she's obviously deluded, how sweet! haha

Last side note... do you think Mason will be a baller one day? We have high hopes, but this will have to change... good form, looking good... only problem is the direction of the ball. In time, in time...

Collages

I am inconstant in my blogging lately, but I want to have certain pictures tied in with this journal, so I am going to put up a bunch in collages of what's going on with us!

First of all, a couple of Sunday's ago, Mason wore his first fancy church outfit (besides sweater vests) and he decided he looked good and wanted to model for me. He was so funny, and quite a stud if I might add. And Brenna was doing a combo of her potty dance and sticking out her tongue.

Also, my sister Jessica was able to come visit for a few days, and we loved having her! Brenna was attached to her hip the whole time. Jessica asked for hoody footy pajamas for her birthday (she arrived on her 20th birthday) and as you can see, she got some! Brenna wore all of her footy pajamas each night she was here so that they could match. Jessica and I got a little carried away watching The Cake Boss on Netflix, and decided we wanted to try and make some cakes with fondant on top. We had fun messing around, and it helped me get my visiting teaching done too since we didn't want to eat the cakes. Loved having her visit! Can't wait to hang out more in the summer!!

Lastly, we had a rare family date night last weekend, and had a really good time. We ate at Johnny Rockets (kids eat free!!) and the kids loved their hats (but not as much as daddy loved his!) and their balloons (which we forgot on the roof when we were leaving :( ). Then we walked around in the brisk night air at Westgate with one of Jeremy's old ward members from Oregon.

All in all, we are having a good, busy life and loving it! Mason has been teething (he's getting all his top teeth at once, I swear) but is starting to get back to his happy, adoring self. He Loves his mommy right now, and I love that he does too! Brenna is more independent every day, and she wants to tell me how she wants her hair every day, and if she said braid and I do a twist instead, she gets mad and makes me do a braid. I am ok as long as she keeps sitting still and letting me do it, because I'm having tons of fun playing with my little girls hair!!