Boy meets ... OUCH!

This is what happens when you are chasing your big brother through the house and he moves... leaving your face to meet the edge of the coffee table. OUCH ...
Day one (yesterday)
Day Two (today)Not as swollen today, but much more colorful!

Boy meets couch

It's tough being tough... Wyatt's lip met the couch and his front teeth cut through the lip. (He was running down the hall and jumping onto the couch... so I guess it was self-inflicted!) But a "blue" makes everything better! ("blue" is Wyatt's word for Popsicle... you can read about that here.)

He sure is our bulldozer... full speed ALL The WAY!!!

Give Thanks

I'm thankful for...

1. My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

2. My amazing hubby!

3. My 3 little blessings

4. Our health... this is close to my heart right now... Hayden spent 30 hours this past Monday and Tuesday in the hospital. He had early stage of pneumonia and his asthma flared up really bad. He is doing much better... but still not back to his old self. He actually ASKED to take a nap the past few days. Even though Carter has a cough and Hayden still isn't 100% there are a lot of families dealing with a lot worse than we have!

5. Time with extended family... even if it is eventful (come on don't you all have Family times like that!)

6. Snow ... we had a foot fall before we left for Thanksgiving break!

7. How God provides for all our needs!

8. Christmas... I just love everything about it! I even decorated before we left and before Hayden was in the hospital (all the decorations except our tree and outside lights)

9. Hugs and kisses (but I also like my space too!)

10. After Thanksgiving shopping without the kids... what's not to like about that?!

What top three things are you thankful for?

Boys-Bruises-Boxing-BOY OH BOY!

The past few days have been GORGEOUS!!! I should've taken a picture of the sky... so clear and beautiful today! Yesterday was still nippy when I took Wyatt and Hayden outside.
Don't you LOVE how Wyatt's got style! Today was warmer than yesterday and just as beautiful. Hayden spent most of today (after a LONG trip down to SB because my wonderful hubby forgot to get his meds yesterday when he was down there! I guess it would've been a bigger deal if it had not been for my shopping buddy Judith. She went with me on my errands today! Thanks!) Back to the outdoor tale... Hayden spent most of his afternoon playing with his buddy Joel! He has such a blast with him! This is the face Joel made when I asked him to make a funny face! It made me laugh so I guess it worked! (This is BIG - Joel usually doesn't speak to me and just looks at me. SO getting him to do something and say something was HUGE. I think Hayden is wearing him down for me ;)

Wyatt played outside too (while I was inside with Carter... that's a story yet to come!) Anyway he suffered his first facial injury with visible blood! He's officially a big boy now!

Here's a great video of Bryan and the big boys boxing before bed... why is that? Why do dad's get them all wound up right before bed? Oh well they LOVED it!

Now the Carter tale... He walked up to me as I was heading into the house after looking for him. (See I thought he was with Bryan and Bryan had sent him back home to me!) As he walked up he said, "I have to tell the truth" (OH NO!) "I sprayed paint" Of course it's all over his hands and clothes. Oh yeah -- He's tagged again! He got his hands on a yellow spray paint can and painted some stuff under the Lodge steps! Luckily you can't see it... unless you climb behind the lattice fencing and crawl under the steps! He also sprayed a little on the picnic tables so he gets to spend tomorrow sanding them down! We are at a loss on what to do with him! He spent the evening sitting on his bed or on his floor reading books and doing puzzles while his brothers had all the fun outside! (I think a lot of his mischief is his desire to get people to like him and think he's fun! ) I AM proud of his honesty, but good grief! I sure do LOVE that kid! (I guess this isn't over... I've got 2 more coming up after him!) Prayer request - Our assistant pastor's wife was in a car accident earlier today... The boys were fine, but they took her to the hospital to monitor the baby (she is due the end of May). Anyways, after 5 hours of monitoring they decided to do a C-section! As far as we know everyone is doing well, but keep the Slabaugh family in your prayers!

I'll end on a happy note... I figured out how to get rid of the mouse smell in the bathroom...(read about that here) GET RID OF THE MOUSE! YEP a D-E-A-D mouse in the trap under the sink! YUCK! (The smell is now gone! :)

My Monday Moment - a day late:)

So I was going to post yesterday, but Hayden has been REALLY sick. On Saturday he started running a temp of 102 then Sunday was OK, but had a low temp. Yesterday after his nap it was back up to 102-103 and he could barely move! He just laid around from the couch to the chair to the bed. I was VERY worried about him! Even with meds it only got down to 100! At 6 this morning he was coughing so hard (my fault I should've gotten up at 4 to give him his breathing treatment since it's every 4 hours!) Anyway, he was coughing so hard he threw-up... YUCK! BUT after a treatment he went back to sleep until 10:30am... so hopefully the extra rest will do him good! Better this Monday than next Monday on his b-day!

I didn't forget my Monday Moment... Here it it is... Carter "reading" a book to Wyatt.

Last night for dinner I made something new... always a trial at my house. If you know my hubby you know he eats junk and only junk! No veggies, only meat and potatoes (only baked, not mashed).. in fact if any food looks odd he WON'T eat it. So last night I realized just how much Carter is like Bryan! They ate their food EXACTLY the same way... down to separating the sauce from the chicken and putting only a little sauce on their spaghetti! Thankfully Carter will eat green beans and a few other things Bryan doesn't. It just confirms what I already know... He's just like his dad! (Wyatt too! Except Wyatt will eat ANYTHING, but then again so did Carter when he was little!) Hayden however is more like me! I would say they are like dad in more ways than just that though! I still love them all!

My Monday Moment

So after that horrible picture of Wyatt's hand I thought I'd post a little more upbeat piece!
I've been reading some blogs lately that fun things like THANKFUL THURSDAY and WORDLESS WEDNESDAY! I thought I'd do my own one... MY MONDAY MOMENT! This will be a time to realize maybe, just maybe I haven't ruined my children and they may REALLY grow up to be the godly men I pray they become. It won't be anything too deep, just a moment I (and you) may see the "sweeter" side to my boys! (Well that's the hope anyway!) Oh, and if I forget to do it, please remind me! I'll start off with a video of Wyatt "playing" the "piano". He was so intent on it! I thought when I saw him that my in-laws would be so proud! There's hope for a muscian after all! (Carter does love his guitar... and Hayden likes to sing/dance) OH and the banging you hear in the video is my hubby splitting a piece of wood for the fire! (sorry I had to catch the moment anyway!)

One more thing before I go... Pray for the boys... Carter threw-up when we went to the DR's for Wyatt's hand! (doing good by the way) After our week last week I'm just praying that no one else catches whatever he has!

Pictures and one of Wyatt's Burn

Things have been so crazy around here that I never got a chance to post pictures of when Matt got to spend the night... Last WEEK! Oops! They had a great time... expect that was the night Carter started running a fever and had to go to the DR the next day! We'll have to do it again sometime!

Joel came over on Friday to play with Hayden so that's when this picture was taken. On Saturday Judith and I took Hayden and Joel for a "quick" trip to Meijer... not so quick, but we found AWESOME deals on toys (50% off some clearance prices... it was great... I'm getting ready for Christmas 08!) Anyway, I didn't realize what Hayden calls Joel... every time He wants Joel's attention he says "Joel David, Joel David" in a singsong voice. (I guess he's heard Joel's siblings say it a lot!

Yesterday Bryan took all three boys on a four wheeler ride... not like pictured of course! I think Wyatt enjoyed it the most he was laughing the entire time! Don't let his face in the pictures fool you... he really was smiling! He WHINED all afternoon until he finally got to go outside... he even got his shoes and brought them to me! He is TOTALLY Carter's personality, but more persistant! The word "No" or "You can't" doesn't exist in his vocabulary!

Then the boys came in and started wrestling! OK the picture looks bad but seriously Wyatt started it and WOULDN'T quit no matter how much I tried to stop him!

After getting a bath (yeah they do get them!), We had to re-do Wyatt's hand... so I snapped a quick picture with the dressing on! If you are squimish... CLOSE your EYES!

24 - infections, x-rays, burns, bruises!

I've watched the show "24" for the past couple years. Every time I watch I think... "there is NO WAY one guy goes through all that in ONE DAY!" I'm starting to believe it's possible after all!

Let me fill you in on the past 48 hours of our life....

On Wednesday I took Hayden and Wyatt (Carter came along too) to the doctor. They both had a nasty cough just like Carter had a week ago. The steriod treatments helped clear up Carter's lungs, I thought maybe they needed one too. The treatments on the nebulizer 3xs a day weren't helping much. So I off we went to the DR. I was right, but wrong too. Turns out Hayden had the start of an ear infection in one ear and Wyatt had a major ear infection in BOTH ears! Talk about feeling bad!

Well we had been home about 2hrs when Carter injured his knee off one of the ski jumps he's made here at the camp. (For all you moms out there I DO make him where a ski helmet.) We iced it then waited since he COULD walk on it a little.

SO on to yesterday! When Carter woke up it was really swollen and he couldn't put pressure on it at all! I made an appointment at the DR's office. MIRACLE OF MIRACLES - by the time we got to the Dr office at 1:30pm it was MUCH better. They did an x-ray anyway and said it was a BAD bruise and to RICE it (Rest Ice Compression Elevation).

After getting home I RUSHED getting things together because we had to leave for GCC where I teach the 2nd-3rd on Thurs. nights. We were all ready to head out the door when DISASTER... Wyatt tripped over who knows what and fell onto the glass door of our wood-burning stove! (It was like slow motion - I was only two steps away when he fell, but in the time I saw him falling to the time I got to him I could HEAR his skin sizzling on the glass door! The sound still haunts me!)

So I called Bryan (thankfully we were ready to head out anyway so all we had to do was leave). We rushed to our local walk-in-clinic. I've always had to wait, but NO waiting for this little guy! They hurried us back and checked it out. He has a Serious 2nd degree burn to the side of his right hand. It was like one HUGE blister from just below the little finger to below the wrist. (thankfully it wasn't on his palm, fingers, or any other body part!) So they wrapped it up and we will be going BACK to the DR today and prob. each day for a while!

They did put him on Tynol w/ codine so he's a little "happy"! He's kind of crazy... running around and spinning around for no reason... He was into a lot before, now he's into EVERYTHING!

I think I'm ready for a break!OH YEAH - Happy Valentine's Day! Love you all!

First- Second - Third

I thought I had experience a lot with my first child. If you look up adventure in the dictionary, I'm sure that Carter's picture is there! By the time he was 4 he had: broken his arm 2 times, a scan of his head, busted lip,and had stitches once... not to mention the thousands of bruises, scrapes, cuts and bumps. If it can be tried he will try it.
Then came the second. Hayden's theory in life is "if Carter doesn't get hurt... maybe I'll try it... ONLY BETTER!" He's cautious, but tries to be adventurous too. So all that he's had are bumps, bruises and cuts.
On to the third... poor child! (I'm feeling more sympathy for all you third borns out there!) Wyatt has experienced all the things Carter hasn't! Not yet one and a half and he's had... a bloody nose, busted lip, AND NOW a cut-bleeding head.
One interesting thing to note is that ALL the THIRD's injuries are the result of the SECOND born! Today Hayden decided to pull all the toys off the shelf (YEP mom I know pay back for all the times Kelly and I "emptied" out our kitchen set!). However, Hayden emptied it onto Wyatt's head! Carter came to the steps and said," MOM, Hayden's pulling the toys off the shelf". Just then Wyatt screamed, so Carter checked.. He came running back, " Mom, Hayden pulled the tow truck down and it hit Wyatt and there's BLOOD!" Sure enough blood running down his face and all over the tan carpet! (The cut wasn't bad, just like all head wounds it was like a fountain!) So anyway... my new friend is SPOT SHOT! It took two treatments, but it really worked! I tried the "Wal-Mart version" first and got Lori's Spot Shot! I don't think I'll ever buy anything else again.
What a day... nap time! YEAH!

7 things!

I know I know I haven't posted FOREVER! My computer is broken. I didn't realize how much I use the computer as an outlet for my life! It's been crazy! There's still no word on the computer! Several things have happened (I'll continue Meet the Staff once my computer is back)
1- My parents are in town until Tuesday! YEAH! Bryan's brother (and his family) come here on Friday! It's nice having family come visit.
2 - Hayden has pneumonia. They almost put him in the hospital. (His oxygen level was so low.) They also found he has asthma! So now he's on anti-biotics, steroids (for four days), and a nebulizer (as needed once it's under control.) Poor baby... only 2 1/2 years old too! If his Oxygen level is low tomorrow for his follow-up they may put him in the hospital!
3 - Carter turns 5 on Monday! We are having a party... hot dog roast and hayride.... FUN! I'll take pictures and post them when I can. (I want to do a birthday post like Judith does... I missed doing Bryan's post on the 26th!)
4 - Happy 29th Bryan.... love you more today than ever before.... even with your crazy obsessions!
5 - We went bowling yesterday with my parents and Judith and her kiddos... (Amy beat everyone, except my dad. She even beat Bryan... of course he had to bowl left handed because of his finger.) We let Wyatt "bowl" (he pushed it off the bowling helper thing for little kids) and he got a STRIKE! It was quite funny! I took some pictures, but can't post anything until my computer is working again.. SORRY!
6- Bryan got his splint off FINALLY! He's still got a long road with rehab, but at least he's moving forward! This has been going on since MAY!
7 - I think that's enough excitement for now! We go back to the Dr. tomorrow for Carter/Wyatt to get flu shots and Hayden's follow-up! Pray all goes well!
I'll post when I can...

Two Questions for YOU

Tonight I went to an Arbonne party at my friend's house. It was really interesting! If you've ever used any of their products I'd love to hear about it. It's always good to hear "real life" testimonies about a product before you get too involved in it!

In other news... Bryan is still in his finger splint for three more weeks... I think I already mentioned that... but NOW I have a picture... pretty huh?! Please keep him in your prayers... that it will actually heal. It's been very frustrating for him!

We have new pets up here... three deer. They are just wondering around at all times of the day. So far they have been down by the volleyball court and just today over by the snack shop which is directly in front of our house. I think we should name them... but what?

So there you go two questions to comment about... have you used Arbonne and what should we name our three "pet" deer? I think I need to get a life!

New Friends

Carter has a new friend! That's so exciting - except that today's Friday and his family leaves to go home tomorrow! It was so cute... he spent the ENTIRE day playing with Evan and when he wasn't playing with Evan he was wondering where Evan was! Just before Hayden's nap I let Hayden and Carter play at the volleyball court with Evan and Shane. They had a GREAT time and then Carter got to go swimming with them! It was a fun day! I don't know how tomorrow will be when Evan has to leave! :(

On to child #3 - Wyatt is just weeks (or days) away from moving forward! He is trying so hard. He rocks back and forth fast like it will make him move. He also does this thing where he lifts his bottom up and is on his toes and hands (like the downward facing dog in yoga... not that I do yoga I've just seen this particular one before and that's what he's doing!) I tried to get a picture of him doing it, but the little booger stopped once I got the camera!
Wyatt is also just a week or few days from getting his top teeth (the bottom middle ones are already in). That's not as much fun as the crawling thing. One more thing... he can sit up on his own... until he tries to move and kicks his feet which knocks him over! He's getting so big so quickly!
I guess I should update on the big boy... Bryan. He went to the hand specialist on Thursday. They took out the stitches and have him still in a hand splint. He's not allowed to use that hand (or supervise children... that's a whole other story in itself) for at least two more weeks. THEN he gets the pins out and has to start physical therapy on his hand. I could take pictures, but I think I'll spare you... lets just say that it looks better than it did, but he'll have QUITE a scar! They did say he may never have 100% use of that finger again! He's doing well... trying to be careful, but also needing to do some things since we are in the middle of Family Camp!

Fun, Friends, and Surgery?!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! HE'S 55 today!

First the Fun..

Yesterday we had the "fun fair" here at Family Camp... This happens every Thursday during the summer. I snapped a few pictures of the boys with their friends. Carter had to get "WAL-MART" on his arm for the face painting ... the story is Brendan Toledo (Adam and Karen's little boy... for those LAM people) was getting a smiley face painted on and someone said that looks like Wal-mart. Carter said that's what I want WAL-MART! (He's so spur of the moment sometimes!) It cracked me up! He had it written on BOTH arms. It was so warm 93deg. but we had winds of 50MPH. The firetruck that came out couldn't raise the ladder! We had no power for about 3 hours! Praise the Lord it came back on about 3pm so that I could shower before heading to GCC for Thursday night teaching.

Friends...

Hayden and Bradley Herdklotz were so funny today. (This is a paraphrase of what Lori Herdklotz told me happened) They were playing outside when Lori said," Come on Bradley let's go!" to which Hayden replied, "Me-Bradley" Lori said, "Bradley has to go" Then the little stinkers moved over next to each other as if to say... you take one you take us both! Tonight Hayden stayed back from the service to play with Bradley and ended up taking a bath over at their house. Like I said they are so funny... just watch out when they all get older (Bradley, Hayden, Brendan, Jonathan... that's just the ones that are Hayden's age) and are a "pose`".

Now SURGERY...

(not for the squeamish )

Bryan went to the orthopedic Dr. on Wednesday -who sent him to a hand specialist yesterday-who scheduled surgery for 7:30am TODAY! I was going to be a good wife and go with him (even though he had to be 30 minutes away by 6:30am and I have a six month old to take too) but when I told him I had worked out for me to go he said No. He worked it our for one of the team member guys to drive him. I must say I was thankful that I didn't have to work out the kid problem, but I also felt guilty that I wasn't there for him. On the other hand (HA HA HA) When he got home at 12:30pm I rushed the boys out so that he could sleep in peace... we spent most of the day away from the house (except for nap time) and Bryan has slept most of the day... so that's been REALLY good for him! (Pray for him... it's really hurt him) When he smashed/broke his finger a couple weeks ago he really did a job on it. (at the time they put 8 stitches in it and splinted it) They had to put two pins in his finger today. He's not allowed to use that hand for two weeks and will have the pins taken out in six weeks! After some physical therapy he should have full use of his hand 12 WEEKS from now! (If you know Bryan you know that this will be REALLY hard for him... he has a hard time doing nothing... Carter got it honest ... always a project going on.) This is ACTUAL pictures of his x-ray following the surgery.. the X is the pins and the straight line is a side view of his ring finger (it's being held by some sort of scissor like pincher things... technical terms..)

Spring is here- OUCH!

Our annual spring tradition has taken place... Bryan was injured on Thursday! It happens every spring ... last year it was stitches over his eye (after almost cutting his eye with a very SHARP carpet knife!) the year before it was stitches in his finger... This year he has his VERY FIRST EVER BROKEN BONE... and stitches too! Without grossing those with weak stomachs out lets just say that his right ring finger was a sandwich between a beam and a tractor! He required 8 stitches on the one finger and it's broken too! (He goes to the orthopedic surgeon on Wednesday- pray all goes well. He has only been to our local walk-in clinic.) Pray that it will heal correctly and not cause him too much pain... He has bumped it quite often which REALLY hurts.

The first picture is Bryan trying to let you know how much it hurts, but instead it just looks like a bad picture!

The day after Bryan's accident I went to the walk-in clinic (faster than an appointment -sometimes anyway) for a sinus infection (which I do have) On a whim - by God's prompting - I took Wyatt and found out that he too has a sinus infection and an ear infection... That always makes a mom feel great that she didn't notice, right!

On a lighter note Wyatt is sliding backwards now! Not much longer before he moves forward and then there is NO STOPPING HIM! He also got his first tooth!