Party!!!

We tried to explain to Estin that on his next birthday he'd be 4...Well, when Saturday came(the day of his cousin party), he woke up an said, "Today I'm 4!!!" Wow!! That was a quick year! :)

My sister, Staci, painted this AWESOME poster to use as a backdrop!

The party started and away we went...(due to the weather we had to set up indoors), first station...arts & crafts. The kiddos decorated picture frames with Thomas & Friends stickers...Then it was off to the cookie decorating station with a stop for a sack lunch...

Time for presents & pictures with the train himself! :)

Party favors to take home. What a FUN day!!!

Birthday Boy!!!

Is it possible my baby is 3!!! Where does the time go? Estin was just a LITTLE excited for the BIG day this year!!! (can you tell?)

Estin wanted GREEN baby chocolate chip muffins for breakfast. Eli liked them too!

Estin's birthday surprise....ELI!!!

Opening the cool packages he got in the mail from GG, Grandma & Grandpa!

He was SO excited to ride the "Lectric Train" (TRAX) for his big day!

Eating lunch & taking a ride in a giant mushroom before heading out to the "Children's Newseum"

He had a BLAST at Discovery Children's Museum...& since he was wearing his special birthday hat, he got in FREE!

Eli liked it too!

A stop at Clark Planetarium on our way back was worth it! Just look at that wonderment! One BIG day = 2 tuckered boys!

A special Thomas cake made with love from mommy

Happy Birthday Buddy! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

Update...

So I'll post about my birthday boys adventures maybe sometime tomorrow..but for now it's late and I'm tired. Just thought I'd give a brief update of what's been going on. Last week, during ANOTHER ER visit, I was referred to the urologist on call at the hospital. He chose to try a Lasix Renal Scan of my kidney (something that up to that point no one had considered). A blockage of sorts was found so he opted to put in a nephrostomy tube. Basically it's a small catheter that runs through my back into a small bag I have attached to my leg (lovely eh?). So far, it's been GREAT! I actually feel normal again (despite the fact I have this thing coming out my back and attached to my leg). I did go to the ER again last Sunday (what is it with Sundays?) because I was in a TERRIBLE amount of pain. Aparently, there was a kink in my tube which caused a bacterial infection...However, once the kink was out, and I was put on antibiotics, I've felt pretty good! The only other thing I've noticed is, I can't keep a lot down. I've been getting REALLY sick for the past 10 days or so... I'll be fine one minute, and in the bathroom over the toilet the next. Don't know if it's all related or not... (for those of you who are wondering.. NO, I'M NOT PREGNANT!!!-Plenty of tests have ruled that out!) Tomorrow morning I go in to have the nephrostomy tube internalized. I don't really know too much about the procedure other than they'll basically go through my back to insert a tube from my kidney to my bladder. It's actually pretty common. I'm guessing I'll have it in for several weeks while everything heals. Lets just HOPE this will do the trick!!! For now, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!! Life is good but it's about to get better!! Until next time...

Drama...

So when my show aires on "Mystery Diagnosis" I'll be sure to take you all to Disney World! :) Without going into too much graphic detail, here's the scoop: About 2 months ago, I woke up to some unusual things going on. I wasn't in pain, but thought "Hey, that's weird" so I went to the Dr. to see what they thought. I was treated for a UTI and sent on my way. 10 days later after I had finished the antibiotic, the symptoms were still present so I went back. My Dr. (who I love!) scratched her head, said she's never seen anything like it, and refered me to a Urologist. After meeting with the Urologist, he too scratched his head and told me that in 18 years he's never seen anything like it. A bladder scope showed that whatever it was, it was coming from my left kidney. The strange thing was, I had NO infection, my blood and urine tests/cultures all came back NORMAL. I was sent for a CT scan that also came back NORMAL. I then underwent a kidney scope which showed NOTHING... ZERO...ZIP. That's when the fun started... after my 2nd scope, the Urologist placed a stent to keep the area open just in case I did have a stone or something to allow it to pass through. I have NEVER felt so much discomfort and pain as I did during the 10 days I had the stent, or so I thought... When the Dr. removed the stent, the nurse said I should be feeling back to normal wthin a few hours... NOT! I THOUGHT I knew what pain felt like... but the first 2-3 days preceeding the removal was UNBEARABLE... It's gotten better over time, but I still have "attacks" that come out of nowhere. I'll be feeling fine one minute and doubled over the next. I went to the ER Sunday night (the 2nd time I've been to the ER) for a fever and pain attacks averaging every 5-10 minutes. I was admitted and stayed through Tues. night. I saw 6 Dr.'s including a Nephrologist (kidney specialist) who all scratched their heads in wonderment. The latest CT scan shows some swelling in the kidney, but that's likely from the stent and will eventually subside on it's own (or with medication). I wasn't impressed AT ALL by the Nephroligist who spent a total of 10 minutes talking over my head... so I will be seeing a new Dr. in the upcoming weeks. Meanwhile, my general Dr. is great and is working hard to find SOMEONE who can help figure this out. I'm on a good dose of pain med. that I try and only take when I absolutely need it, and I'm appreciating more than ever the moments I feel good and can play on the floor with my boys. I have faith, that in time, this will all work itself out. I'm just grateful for the prayers of others, the support of my good husband, decent insurance and the knowledge that "This too, shall pass."

Random Pics....

Estin's new found fun in the sun... driving his trains through mountains of snow! (ok... so it's really a load of flour dumped on a cookie sheet) :)

He's getting big! Finger foods and all!

Look at those cheeks!!! I just wanna kiss 'em all the time!

Justin built this table for the Girls Camp Auction. I LOVE being married to a handy man!!!

General Conference...

How grateful I am for a living Prophet of God to guide and direct His people. God loves us and wants us to know His will, He has not left us to walk in darkness, He has blessed us with a latter-day Prophet as in times of old. I KNOW President Thomas S. Monson is a TRUE Prophet of God. How grateful I feel to live in a time that allows my family and I to "sit at his feet" and hear the words of the Lord.

General Conference Weekend....

Saturday, in an effort to actually LISTEN to General Conference, we took a LONG drive to Heber (ok it didn't take too long) to the train depot. We got to listen in peace (mostly) as we drove. Estin was so excited to see the "Big steam trains and locomotives" and we picked up Thomas the Train tickets for Estin's bday (shhh!). What a fun day!

We stopped at Dairy Keen... the train restaurant for lunch. Of course, Estin couldn't get enough!

Easter 2010...

Easter was nice this year, but a little uneventful. I've been really sick as of late so although my heart was ready and willing, my body was not. Needless to say, we kept things pretty simple (we still have a dozen hard boiled eggs in our fridge waiting to be colored!)

I missed the egg hunt (sick :() but Justin was kind enough to tape it for me to enjoy later!

Justin's 31st Birthday...

Happy Birthday Babe!!!

Estin was excited to help daddy open his presents!

I found a recipe for Jamaican Tastee Patties. Justin said they were just like the real deal!

Justin and his twin brother, Jordan

Jarom's Wedding...

My nephew, Jarom and his beautiful bride, Aleena. Congratulations!!!

Payback time! When Justin and I were married, Jarom lovingly drew an elephants backside on our car... we finally got to return the favor!

Eli's First Haircut...

7 months old (when this was done) and way past due for a haircut! (3" inches high) Justin's been trying to get me to cut it for awhile but I didn't want my baby to grow up too soon... oh well....ready or not!

Isn't he so handsome! He went from baby to little man almost instantly!