GMAC=nothing but trouble!

I hate my mortgage company!!! I wish that I could chose who controlled it. We've been with GMAC since we refinanced about four years ago. We've had very few problems with them until recently. The last few months we started getting notices about GMAC going into bankruptcy but it would not effect our mortgage. YEA RIGHT! After these notices started then we started having big problems. They've charged us late fees for our payment that was not pulled from our account when we've been enrolled on the automatic payment program, they pulled our payment early, the payment amount changes almost monthly. AHHHHH Its enough to make my gray hair fall out! We have been talking about refinancing anyway because the interest rates are even lower than the last time we refinanced. Well I was talking to a friend at work and telling her my story and she told me her dad does mortgage loans. She gave me him number and we called him. We are now in the process of refinancing and hopefully we will be free of GMAC! Sometimes I wonder if the dream of owning a home is worth it!

The Miracles of fasting.

I have always believed that fasting can work miracles. Truth be told I am not very good at fasting with a purpose in mind. At the end of May our ward held a special fast for Coleton. When the bishop told me about it I was so shocked and humbled and at first forgot the date that he told me because I was trying not to cry at the news. I know there were quite a few people including the teenagers in my ward that fasted for Coleton. I was touched at the outpouring of love for our family and my sweet little boy.
Yesterday we went to meet with the Primary Children's Orthopedist and after telling her our story and watching Coleton walk and testing his hip movement and looking at his x-rays she told us she doesn't think he has Perthes. Yes he does have a SMALL flat spot on the top of the ball part of his hip joint and she wants us to come back in 3 months to have another x-ray and see if anything has changed. She didn't seem worried about it and told us to "turn him loose".
I consider this a answer to the many prayers said in his behalf and a miracle because of the faith of our family and so many special people in our ward.

4 words little words.

Yesterday was quite the adventure. I went to the instacare twice and ended the day at the ER. My first trip to the instacare was because I knew that Coleton had more than just a cold. Sure enough an ear infection and sinus infection. The DR wrote him out a prescription for antibiotics and we were on our way. In and out in about 1/2 an hour. I like going in the morning when no one is there :)
The second trip was a little different.
Coleton had been acting fine all day. Around 5 pm he started telling me his hip hurt. I was asking questions trying to figure out what kind of pain it was and exactly where it hurt. I was trying to determine if he was his appendix. It was his left side so no appendix. He then started screaming in pain and I was panicking a little because if you know Coleton this is VERY unlike him. I ended up calling the Primary President and neighbor to ask her medical opinion (she is a nurse) she could hear him and was asking me questions then told me she thought I should probably take him somewhere. So back to the instacare we went. However when we got there the wait was an hour. The thing about the instacare is its first come first serve. There were 3-4 people ahead of us and I kept wondering if I should just say forget it and go to the ER. There was a Lady and her daughter ahead of us and when the receptionist called to check them in she told her to let us go first and they could wait. Thank you to that stranger!! When we got back the DR could tell that Coleton was in pain. He asked what had happened. I told him nothing he just started screaming in pain. He told me that he really was unequipped to help him and urged me to go to the ER so, after a LONG wait in the waiting room we saw the DR for about 2 seconds and off to the ER we went. I should have just gone there to begin with.
We got to the ER and got right back into a room. The Dr's and nurses are so nice there. They took some blood and urine for tests and gave him some morphine for pain and had us go for an x-ray. We were at the ER for 3 1/2-4 hours.
The x-ray shows that Coleton has Legg-calve-perthes disease. You can click here to read about it. Basically it is a degeneration of the femoral head (ball part of the hip joint) caused by blood loss. Its most common in boys aged 4-10 and is hereditary which makes sense. My Father in law had it as a child, only his was worse and he developed it in both hips.
We will be meeting with a pediatric orthopedist from Primary Children's. I call them on Monday for an appointment and to see what the treatment is and where we go from here. For now we keep him off it as much as possible and PRAY!!

Bridal Veil Falls

Yesterday we decided we would go for a drive up Provo Canyon to Bridal Veil Falls.

It was beautiful up there and I think the rest of Utah County had the same idea because it was very crowded. However the boys had a blast and it was good family time.

This morning Gage was asking to go to the waterfall again.

Nice words

I am lucky enough to be on the enrichment board. I LOVE it!! There is a great group of women that I work with and I feel very fortunate to associate with them. We had an activity Thursday night that was awesome. Our bishop feels that the women in our ward do not realize how loved they are. Our ward has been focusing on Elder Uchdorf's talk from the past conference. So we took the 5 points from his talk and each of us read part of it and then shared some feelings and then after we had all the women write down things that related to that section. For Example the part of be happy now, we had them write down things that they had in their lives that they are grateful for. The part that is be patient with yourself we had them write 5 things that they loved about them. The why of the gospel we had them write the ways that they had seen the hand of the Lord in their lives or in the lives of other people. The last part was one of my favorites and I think that it is something that every woman should hear more often. It was the Lord loves you. We had each sister write her name on the top of a paper and then we sent the papers around the room and we all had a chance to write something that we loved about that person. I got tears in my eyes reading some of the things that others wrote about me. Things that I often don't see in myself. Things that I don't realize other people notice about me. I am so grateful that I could participate in this and feel the spirit that was there. I am grateful that I got a little glance into the way that God sees me because really NONE of us give ourselves enough credit for the amazing women that we are.

Coleton's talk

A few weeks ago Coleton gave a talk in Primary. I had a few people tell me what a good talk it was and how impressed with Coleton they were. The primary president even used his talk as an example in senior primary, so in light of their praise I thought I would share his talk.

In 2 Nephi 2:27 we read..(start with... And they are free to choose)
Today I am going to talk about Agency.
{hold up the letter A}
A is for ability. God gave us brains and hearts that we use to make choices.
{hold up letter G}
This is a gift. Everyday we make choices, they can be good or bad.
{hold up letter E}
If we make good choices it will lead us to eternal life. Sometimes because of our agency we make bad choices. We have the ability and agency to choose repentance
{hold up letter N}
and we can remember that everyday is a new day.
{hold up letter C}
I hope we all remember to Choose the Right.
{hold up letter Y}
Your choices are your decision because of the gift of Agency that God gave us.

Pixie Dust

Sunday after church I was trying to round up kids to get in the car to head to my brother Caleb's house for the blessing of Adam. I had gone to my ward to sub for my friend's primary class. As I was herding boys toward the car I noticed that Coleton didn't have his shoes on so we sat down in a class room so that we could put them on before heading outside. While we were putting them on we had the following conversation...

C: Mom did you know that my teacher has real pixie dust?
M: She does?
C: Yes.
M: What do you do with it? Did you make a wish?
C: Yes we blow it off our hands and wish.
M: Cool. What did you wish for?
C: I can't tell you... but if Christmas comes everyday don't blame me.

I LOVE that kid he cracks me up!

Roasted Broccoli

I always cook broccoli the same way. My boys will eat it but not always enthusiastically.

So I decided to try it a different way tonight for dinner. I thought I'd share with you my faithful readers the way I did it in case you would like to try it. By the way all the boys big and little were fighting over it. I obviously did NOT have enough to go around. After some goggling and reading a couple of different websites this is what I came up with...

Turn oven on to 400 degrees

Cut about a pound of broccoli {I think I had less than a pound} into bite sized pieces.

Put in a bowl and add,

 about 3 TBSP of olive

 chopped garlic {I used the stuff from the jar}

sprinkle with Salt & Pepper

generously sprinkle on Parmesan cheese {I used the powder Kraft kind}

Stir to coat and distribute ingredients

Place on a cookie sheet sprayed with Pam

roast for about 15-20 minutes until edges of broccoli are browned

Ryan told me I found a new way to make broccoli.

The only one who didn't enjoy it was Gage and he is going through a picky eating stage.

I will definitely make this again and next time use a bigger batch of broccoli!

The up hill battle called..

LAUNDRY!!

This morning Remington comes to me and says,

I don't have any clean socks

Did you check your basket?

Yes I don't have any. Can I wear a pair of yours?

I guess so.

I probably should have taken a hint when I say him wearing a pair of his brothers socks over the weekend and then yesterday when he had a pair of soccer socks on for church. I didn't so today he wore a pair of my socks. I'm sure I just did laundry yesterday last week. As I was sorting laundry having a de-ja-vu feeling I realised. Laundry is like those stair machines. You keep climbing never getting any where sometimes falling behind and climbing like crazy to catch up. Wanting to just give up but you can't because you know what will happen if you do. You keep climbing never getting anywhere. Never an end in sight.

I hope you all have a happy Monday! Me I'll be under a pile of clothes looking for a way out!

Dream

Someday I would like to be able to send my husband to a NFL game. He has never been to one and I would love to be able to do it. He LOVES the Steelers so that is where I am going to send him. He would also like to go to a NHL game. I could kill 2 birds with one stone because Pittsburgh has a hockey team too. I'm going to have to save a little bit of money to get this done, may be by his 40th birthday. This gives me 4 years to save.

Silly kid stories

#1

Coleton has had a pretty bad cough so I took him into the Doctor. While there he asked if he was going to have to get a shot. I told not today but before kindergarten starts in the fall we'd have to go back and get his shots for school. He looked at me and I told him I was sorry but everyone who goes to school has to get shots. He was quiet for a minute then looked at me again and said "I don't want to go to Kindergarten"

#2

The boys were watching a movie and I was getting ready for work. They asked if I would make them some popcorn. I went in the kitchen and put a bag in the microwave. (yes I was being lazy) Gage walked into the kitchen and asked what I was doing. I told him I was making popcorn he says...
"oh for your kids?"

#3

A friend of Ryan's at work gave him a box of whoppers that was decorated like a reindeer. There was a cute little poem about reindeer and the surprises that they leave behind. They had cut out a little hole in the back of the box so you could get the whoppers out. We asked the kids if they wanted to try a reindeer poop. Gage got a funny look on his face and when he tried it he smiled big and said "I love reindeer poop!"

A little update on us.

It has been a bit of a crazy month....
*Ryan's aunt passed away from a LONG fight with cancer. Her funeral was beautiful and we got to see some family that we don't see very often.
*Erin and her kids came for a visit.
*School parties for Remington and Coleton
*Singing programs for Remington and Coleton
*Caleb, Laura and Evelyn all had birthdays and then they had a new baby who had a little stay in the NICU.
To top it off I am at the tail end of a bout with SHINGLES!!
December may not have been a "good" month but it was memorable!
January will be here before long. Which means a little down time after Remington's birthday of course.

3 boys + a visit from Santa =

Merry Christmas!!

Thanksgiving

Ryan had to work Thanksgiving morning so I spent the morning reading and the boys watched TV. In the afternoon we headed to my mom's and had a fantastic feast! It was great to spend the day with family. We played a couple of games and then gorged ourselves with 5 different kinds of pie. Coconut Cream, Razzleberry, Chocolate, Oreo Cookie Cheesecake, and of course Pumpkin!  OH SO GOOD!! I love this time of year and the chance to spend with family. We defiantly missed those who were away and they are in out thoughts often. We pray for them and hope all is going well. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!! We have much to be grateful for.

Happy Halloween!!

Ryan had a great time going trick or treating with the boys. He even scared a few kids along the way. The best was after they got back. I had the boys in the tub and was scrubbing away the makeup that was in layers on their faces. I was closing the blinds in the boys room and I saw a HUGE group of older teenagers. coming across the lawn. I yelled down to Ryan that they were coming. He put on his mask again and when they knocked on the door he opened it yelled and scared them. It was hillarious to hear all those girls. HA HA HA!!  Any way we ended up with a zoombie, a skeleton zoombie and a soccer player zoombie. I'm glad the weather cooperated and the snow stayed away until yesterday. I don't think I am quite ready for snow but ready or not it is here.

Update on Gagers

Well I took Gage into the ENT yesterday and here is what I learned. His tubes that he got when he was just 9 months old are just now coming out. The one in his right ear is about half way out of his ear drum and his body is reacting to it as a foreign object trying to get in. Thus creating a paulup (sp??) around the tube there for causing the bleeding. According to the Dr. this is perfect normal. She has him on steroid ear drops and wants to see him again in 4 weeks. Hopefully this will take care of it.

FUNNY story!

My two youngest boys are funny! Today while gathering laundry I hear a bedroom door close. Instantly I know its trouble. I finished what I was doing and went upstairs. Gage's bedroom door is locked I knocked and I hear who is it? (Really who do they think it is?) I told them it was cookie monster and they said cookie monsters are not allowed in the operating room. I knocked again and they said who is it? I say its shooter. The door unlocks and slowly opens a few inches. I push it open the rest of the way and low and behold there is Gage laying butt naked on the floor with his little private area covered in band aids. I started to giggle. Where do they come up with things like this??

Poor Poor little Gage

Poor little Gage had a rough day which also means that mom had a rough day too. I know he had it rough because Gage LOVES baths and would take one anytime of the day. After dinner tonight while I was finishing up the dinner dishes Gage brought his pull up and pj's in the kitchen. I asked him if he wanted to get in the tub first and he said NO I want to go to bed. He then preceded to get himself dressed. The next thing I know he was in his bed covers pulled up and fast asleep. I had to put drops in his ear so I did it while he was sleeping. Why does he need drops in his ear you ask?? Well...
Today while Coleton was at school I was in the kitchen doing the dishes {I'm constantly doing dishes} Gage was in the kitchen playing. All of the sudden he came and showed me his finger and it was covered in blood. He wasn't crying and so I wondered what he had cut it on. There are usually tears when blood is involved. I picked him up and was rinsing his finger off and trying to see where he had cut it. Surprise no cut. He then tells me his finger wasn't cut but it was from his ear. Low and behold his ear is bleeding. I panic {which is usually what Ryan does}. I called Ryan and he says "its no big deal he probably just scratched it." You can't see the blood I say. "just irrigate it with some peroxide" Alright fine. So irrigate I do. For 15 minutes I irrigate and finally I think its stopped but no a few minutes later his ear is filled with blood again. I took a picture and sent it to Ryan he called and said "Take him in" So after Coleton was done at school {which was only about 20 minutes later} we picked him up and headed to the instacare. THANK GOODNESS the line was short and we didn't have to wait long. The DR came in and looked in his ear and said he couldn't see where it was bleeding from and so he irrigated again. He looked and said it was still pretty bloody but it looked like there was a cut on the ear drum. He told us he wanted us to see a ENT {ear, nose and throat} DR in the next couple of days. So I called one and we have an appointment on Wednesday morning. I can't figure out what he did and lets face it a 3 yr old doesn't hand out a lot of information. So we'll see how bad it is on Wednesday. Yes Gage had a rough day. Visits to the instacare are draining. I'm going to get on my PJ's get the other 2 in bed make a mug of hot chocolate and cuddle up for some Castle.

No leftovers tonight.

Most nights I have leftovers but tonight the boys devoured dinner. I like to try new things and I will for sure make this again. I found a package of seamless crescent roll dough. I flattened it a little and filled one half of it with layers of ham and cheese. I folded over the other half so it was like a calzone and baked it for about 14 minutes. Then in a sauce pan I added a little olive oil, garlic and some red pepper flakes and sauteed that for a minute then added a can of italian diced tomatoes. I mashed it up a little threw in about a 1/4 tsp of italian seasoning and some parsley then simmered for about 10 minutes for instant marinara. I had dinner done in less than 30 minutes. I think I will try to keep these ingredients on hand for nights when I need a fast dinner. The boys were raving and asking for more. What will I do when they are teenagers?!

CAR TroubleS!!

I think its been awhile since I have told of my trials in the car area of my life. We have loved our pathfinder. It has been a really good vehicle. It has about 208,000 miles on it. Recently it has decided to not start. There is power in the car but when you turn the key there is nothing. We took it to the mechanic thinking that it would be the starter or the alternator. He couldn't find anything wrong with it. So we kept it but every time it starts then you wonder if you are going to get it started again. I made Ryan drive it because lets face it. I am NOT going to be stuck somewhere with 2 little kids and a car that won't start. Am I being selfish?? Anyway we decided that we would start looking for a new-ish car. We decided we still wanted a SUV and I wanted a little more room. Ryan wanted something that he could take hunting. I researched online and compared multiple vehicles. We had narrowed it down to either a mercury mountaineer or a chevrolet trailblazer. I called my Uncle Garth who is knowledgeable about cars. My budget did not stay where I wanted it but SUV's are not cheap. We finally settled on the trailblazer. After many hours online I found a 2005 and it has 64,000 miles on it. We test drove and made an offer and signed to loan papers. On the way home the check engine light came on. WHAT????? Are you kidding me?? Yes its true so we took it into the dealership to have it looked at. They did a whole diagnostic check and it cost $100. They found that there is a cooling engine thermostat that is bad. They told us it would be $250 to fix it. Other than that everything else is looks great. We called the guy we got it from and told him about it and he said he'd get it fixed. I am hoping we get it back today. I wouldn't being without a car so much if the weather was a little warmer so that I could walk Coleton to preschool rather than finding him a ride. However there is another family in our ward who happens to have a son in the same class as Coleton and they are taking him today. I have no where else to go until I go to work later so I'm home bound once again. Since I don't have our "new" car around to take a picture I found one that looks just like it. I will try to post pictures after I get it back.