Party like it's.....

2010

Happy New Year friends!

(This is our sweet Bubba LOVING on one of his Christmas gifts. Yes, He LOVES to party and wanted a disco ball for Christmas! wink!)

UPDATE: Started the year off right. Collin started a new pain medication last night,neurontin. Guess what? It must have worked.... he slept in his own bed until 4am!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is the most sleep that he, or I have had in... well as long as I can remember! BRING ON THE NEW YEAR!! What a great way to start it!!!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was beautiful...
We ate
We laughed
We played
We acted
We sang
We opened
and we SMILED

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

My Christmas wish list

My poor husband, he keeps asking me what I want for Christmas. I can't really come up with much that I need/ want. If I come up with something he will respond with "No, I am not going to buy you your eye cream for Christmas!" OK, I don't blame him. What guy wants to deal with the clinque counter girl at Macy's? He LOVES to give good gifts and surprise me. I tried so hard come up with things BUT seriously I can't. I am so happy with where we are and what I have that I just couldn't think of much at all. Tonight while I was downloading these pictures off of my camera it hit me.

Jason, you have already given me the best two gifts in the world and that can never be topped. Collin and Regan are my treasures! You give me that gift of being able to stay home with them and enjoy them every day. You gave me the gift of an eternal family ten years ago when you took me into the temple to become your wife. Daily, you give me the gift of love. My cup is full!

These pictures are from our baking the other day. Jason was at work and we wanted to make Daddy and our neighbors some yummy treats. Collin LOVES to bake. Well, he loves the mixer. Even if we could get away with just mixing it by hand, we have to pull out the mixer to make him happy! :) He has even pulled it out of my pantry a couple of times and crawled to me, dragging it behind him.

So, here is my Christmas wish list:

Be able to enjoy days like this with my family

(I LOVE being a mommy!!! It is a hard gig BUT the most rewarding gift I could ever be given.)

I am one lucky gal!

I married into a GREAT family. I told you not long ago about my wonderful mother-in-law and all that she did for us while we were sick. Now I want to tell you about my AMAZING father-in-law. He has a very close and personal relationship with Santa Clause. Yes, VERY close relationship with him! wink! So, I asked him to arrange to have Santa come to the kid's school again this year. Luckily he was available. Santa came and surprised Regan's class first! He took his time with each child, asked them what they wanted for Christmas, cracked jokes, and took a picture with them. In the other Kinder class when we told the kids to get around Santa for a class picture they were so excited and tackled poor Santa moving his chair a good four feet until is stopped at the wall. Santa looked up at me and said "Help me!" Not just any one would do this, it takes someone pretty special!




After the Kinder classes we headed down to the special day classes. We have EIGHT special days classes and Santa went to see them all. I was brought to tears a couple of times when I watched how sweet Santa was with these special children. He opened the door and one sweet little friend with Downs syndrome came RUNNING to him and gave him the BIGGEST hug. Santa happily loved on them despite the drool, paint, or awkward equipment. To top it off Santa was not feeling to good BUT he stuck it out and saw all of his special friends. Not just anyone would do this, it takes someone pretty special!


There was only one person that had Santa figured out! Collin is one pretty smart little boy that LOVES his PaPa and would know him any where! Thank you Santa for loving my kiddos so much. It takes someone pretty special to do this year after year! You are one AMAZING Santa and we can't wait to see you on Christmas eve!

Should I be worried...

That my five year old is already forging my signature???

Regan got her first report card yesterday. Luckily she did AMAZING or else I might have to get upset that she took it upon herself to sign my name... MOMMY! Oh, I love that girl!

The good with the bad.....

Some days seem so good and almost easy, I forget that for a second about our challenges. Other days are so hard that I can not stop thinking about the hard plate that Bubba has been dealt. Every once in a while I experience both things in one day. Monday was one of those days.
It started out great! After school we went with Nana to Disney Land for FHE. Things were GREAT!

We enjoyed the Christmas decorations and....

we rode some of our favorite rides.

Collin was in awe of Christmas time Small World.

Regan and Nana fought over popcorn!

Nana went with Collin and I on Big Thunder Mountain for the first time.

I LOVE this picture because you can see pure joy on BOTH of their faces!!

Nana was so happy to see him so happy! :)

Collin LOVES roller coaster!!!

Regan found a REAL reindeer!!

We didn't stay long, it was a school night. We had a BLAST!!! Then on the way home Collin started making noises. I looked back and before Nana even knew what had happened I jumped over my seat and held his sweet little head as he vomited and seized. Collin had seizures until I gave him an injection when we got home. It is hard to think that this HAPPY little boy could so quickly be over taken with pain. That is one of the hardest parts of TTD. Most days are good days that we are "waiting" to turn bad. We just don't ever know how each day will turn.

I took Collin into the doctor on Tuesday. I LOVE his neurologist!! She is one very caring woman. Collin's seizures and pain are getting out of control. So, we decided to start him on a new treatment plan. Two new medications. One for the pain and one for the seizures. I left her office excited and feeling hopeful. Collin still wasn't feeling well so we spent the rest of the morning just the two of us.

This morning I gave Collin his first dose of one of his new medications. (I have to give them to him two weeks apart so that if he has a bad reaction, we know which one is causing it.) Today was his seizure med. I gave it to him with his other morning medications just as the doctor told me to. He seemed to be doing good. So, I went ahead and took him to school. I was at the kids school helping the principle in her office when Collin's teacher came running in to tell me that something was wrong with Collin. I hurried down and got my baby. It seems as though he was having a hard time with the new medication. He was out of it and when they went to put him in his stander he went limp and his eyes rolled around in his head. I took him home so that I could monitor him. I am afraid that it might have affected his blood pressure. This is the hard part about new medications..... you never know how they will effect him. He HATED the way he felt today. He was not a happy boy. It broke my heart.

I am going to give him a break from the new medications and let him finish this week at school. Then when he is home for the next two weeks we will start again and see how things go. Here is to better days! He has sure earned them. Please keep him in your prayers as we start this new treatment plan.

Target... you make him smile

The other day the kids and I were shopping at Target and I spotted a bargain. It was this Awesome Cicro toy. It was originally 30 bucks and was marked down to $13.97!!!! I wasn't sure if it was going to be a Christmas present or what BUT like Jason always says, I am a sucker for a good sale. So, I scooped it up. Collin LOVED on it while he sat in the cart. Then I left it in my van. Today after we got home from church it was apparent that Collin was in pain. Maybe it was his sweet little arthritic bones, maybe his nervous system, I just don't know. I wasn't sure what to do. Then it hit me. I have that awesome buy from Target just sitting in my van. I opened it up and he was so EXCITED. He watched me put every piece together. After I was done he was beyond excited!!! I think his smile says it all. This sweet little toy entertained him and cheered him up all afternoon. Just another reason why I love Target!





It is with a broken heart that I tell you that another sweet TTD child has earned their angel wings. Andrea lived and battle with Trichothiodystrophy for nine years. What a brave and amazing little girl! Please keep her family in your prayers.

Tonight when I have to wake up with my little boy in pain and give him meds., I will be grateful. Collin has made it longer than so many other TTD children. Each day, no matter how hard it is, is a gift.

Ward Christmas Party

Yesterday was our Ward Christmas party. Collin started shaking when he saw Santa... Can you say EXCITED!!! Oh, my!! Good thing we have a close and personal relationship with Jolly old Saint Nick. You see he will be in my kid's classrooms on Friday and then he will be in our home on Christmas Eve. We LOVE you Santa!!

All I want for Christmas

Is my bottom right tooth!
Oh, what an exciting day in our lives! Regan lost her first tooth, at Costco, while being coached by Uncle Bryan. She was beyond thrilled when she pulled it out herself!! So, she put in a baggy and then placed it under her pillow.


Then while my sweet little girl was sleeping the tooth fairy came and left her some goodies!

The next morning Regan was so excited!!! Regan then said to me... "Mommy... guess what!" I then replied.. "What??" Then with HUGE excitement in her voice she said "The tooth Fairy shops at Target too!!!!"

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas

and I LOVE it!!!!

We have trimmed our tree....

and started our shopping.

OH, my sweet little girl. She saved her money all year for Christmas. She managed to save $88 hard earned dollars. She saw something in an add that she just HAD to get for her Bubba. She knew that it would just be PERFECT for him. I took her to Toys R Us (the only store that carries it) and she was so excited when she saw it. It was over forty dollars, more than half of her hard earned money. I asked if I could please help her buy it and she said. "I love my Bubba way more than forty dollars Mommy... I can get it on my own!!!" Then she shewed me away so that she could pay all by herself while I stood off to the side. She is one SPECIAL girl!!!

Collin got his new Small World

ornament and was so EXCITED!!!

It has become a tradition that Collin gets a new Small World ornament from his Nana and PaPa every year. When the package arrived at our door step and I pulled it out Collin was so excited to see the box. Yes, he doesn't understand the ornament thing BUT he recognized Small World on the box. He would NOT let go of it!

We have decorated our

Ginger Bread House and...

We went and saw this Jolly Old Saint Nick!!!

Can I just tell you what an awesome experience this turned out to be. Regan had been bugging me to go and see Santa in the Mall. We picked up Great Grandma Jo and met Nana and Uncle Bryan at the Mall. They said that I could not take a picture with my own camera so I gave it to Uncle Bryan and he managed to get his one. Then the woman called me over. I was afraid that I was in trouble... maybe she saw the flash. She asked me if she could take a picture and give it to us for free. I smiled and said "Oh, that is OK" to which she replied "No, please let me." I am not sure if was the sight of me struggling to get Collin out of his Chair and into Santa's lap or maybe it was his smile. Something touched her and she decided to pass it on to us. The picture was VERY cute and her gesture made my day.

Thanksgiving part 2

Thanksgiving day was so much fun! Of course we ate way to much food BUT the fun part was watching Regan play with her cousin Shane. Jason's Sister and her family came from Reno. It was so fun to have them here!!!

We got to spend LOTS of time together!

There was LOTS of cuddling!!!

Played in the Hot Tub...

and played on the piano!

These two were so cute ...

hiding under the table...

Oh, I mean playing in their house! wink!

Did I mention cuddling??

Yes, LOTS of cuddling!

A little dress up and then to top it off....

OLD home movies!

(Doesn't Jason's dad look great wink!)

On black Friday we didn't wake up and go shopping. We went to the Aquarium of the Pacific!! Regan was so excited to show her cousin around!

She introduced him to her friend the sea lion....

and they touched sting rays!

Then it was time to go and see the birds.

They liked Shane......

a LOT!!!!!

Collin thought that it was pretty cool!!!

It was a GREAT weekend!!!! Collin was feeling well and we had so much fun playing with family and is there anything better to be thankful for than family???.... I think not!