PINK EYE + CROUP IN 2-YEAR-OLD=AWFUL!

THIS PAST WEEK HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING TO SAY THE LEAST. IT ALL STARTED LAST SUNDAY WHEN I FOUND A LUMP IN HALLE'S NECK (KNOWING SHE HAD 2 COLDS LAST MONTH...)I FREAKED OUT. I TOOK HER IN ON MONDAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND I WAS JUST A SWOLLEN LYMPH NODE BUT IT WAS A BIT SCARY, THIS IS WHEN THEY PUT A SHOT IN IT WITH SOME ANTIBIOTIC TO KILL SOME OF THE INFECTION IN IT AND ALSO TO RELIEVE SOME OF THE SWELLING-SCARY AND HALLE WAS IN A BIT OF PAIN, SHE WAS A TROOPER. THAT NIGHT, WE WATCHED A LITTLE BOY FROM THE WARD-OVERNIGHT. HE WAS A GREAT KID AND ALTHOUGH HE IS ONLY 3-THEIR IS SO MUCH HE COULD DO WHICH WAS NICE. THEN OUR WEEK WENT ON. WEDNESDAY AFTER HALLE'S NAP, SHE WOKE UP TO A RED EYE WITH GREEN OOZING OUT OF THE CORNER, I JUST KNEW IT HAD TO PINK EYE. ONCE AGAIN, I CALLED THE DR. THEY SAID THAT IS WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE AND THEY WOULD CALL IN SOME EYE DROPS FOR HER. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY THOUGHT I WOULD GET THOSE INTO THE EYE OF A 2-YEAR OLD 4 TIMES A DAY-MISERABLE! BUT WE DID IT. THEN SHE ALSO HAD A BIT OF A RUNNY NOSE AND A LITTLE COUGH. THURSDAY, IS WHEN IT HIT. WE PUT HER TO BED AND ALL WAS FINE AND THEN SHE WOKE UP AT 4AM. SHE WAS WHEEZING AND RASPY SO BAD SHE SOUNDED LIKE DARTH VADER...IT SCARED ME TO DEATH! JARED WOKE UP AND HELPED ME PUT HER IN THE TUB. ALTHOUGH SHE SOUNDED AWFUL-SHE WAS STILL HERSELF. WANTED TO PLAY, WATCH CARTOONS, YOU NAME IT. SO WE LET HER DO THIS FOR ABOUT 1.5 HOURS AND THEN DECIDED TO LAY HER DOWN AGAIN, THINKING SHE JUST HAD A BAD CHEST COLD. I STARTED THE HUMIDIFIER, GAVE HER SOME MOTRIN AND WE ALL SACKED OUT FOR ABOUT 2 MORE HOURS. THAT MORNING NO RELIEF! I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DR AND WAS TO GET HER READY AND TAKE HER IN. WE DID JUST THAT. WHEN WE GOT THERE, WE FOUND OUT HALLE HAD CROUP. IT IS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER HEARD AND THE BARKING SEAL COUGH-LET ME TELL YOU IS JUST THAT. THERE IS NO MISTAKEN IT. THEY GAVE HER A STEROID ORALLY FOR THE VOICEBOX AND WINDPIPE SWELLING TO HELP TAKE IT DOWN FASTER THAN NORMAL. ALSO, THEY GAVE HER A BREATHING TREATMENT-IT BLEW STEAM IN HER FACE FOR ABOUT 30-45 MIN. SHE THREW A FIT THE ENTIRE TIME. WE HAVE TAUGHT HER STEAM IS HOT AND SHE WON'T GO NEAR IT AND NOW I WAS EXPECTED TO HOLD IT IN HER FACE, NOT! NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE GOT THROUGH IT AND SHE CRIED SO HARD AND LONG SHE PUT HERSELF TO SLEEP. THE LAST COUPLE DAYS AND NIGHTS COULD BE HARD SO GET PREPARED THE DR SAID. HALLE HAS BEEN A TROOPER AND DONE VERY WELL. ALSO, THE EYE THING-NOT PINK EYE, JUST PART OF THE VIRUS SHE HAS. SO THANK GOODNESS NO MORE TRAUMATIZING EYE DROPS FOR HER. SHE IS GETTING BETTER SLOWLY AND STILL SOUNDS BAD BUT DAY BY DAY WE SEE IMPROVEMENT. SHE HAS BEEN COUPED UP IN THE HOUSE SINCE FRIDAY WITH HER MAMA AND IS BORED OUT OF HER MIND SO WE HOPE IT GOES AWAY SOON AND WE CAN GET SOME NORMALCY AROUND OUR PLACE. HOWEVER, ON FRIDAY NIGHT WHILE HOME WITH HER, I WATCHED THE CHARITY EVENT FOR HAITI ON TV. THAT IS DEVASTATING! I LOOK AT SOME OF THE KIDS DYING OF BROKEN LEGS OR SIMPLE THINGS BECAUSE THEIR IS NOONE THERE TO HELP FIX THEM. WHAT A SHAME! IT MAKES ME COUNT MY BLESSING WITH OUR DAUGHTER. LET ALONE, IN HAITI, THEY CAN'T FIND FOOD OR WATER, BUT THE MEDICAL CARE IS OUTRAGEOUSLY SAD. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR DR'S, ESPECIALLY THIS WEEK, AND THE FACT WE ARE A BLOCK AWAY FROM OURS AND THEY COULD GET HALLE IN AND TREAT HER SO FAST. REALLY PUTS THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE AND MAKES ME COUNT MY BLESSINGS: NOT JUST FOR FOOD, WATER, SHELTER, HEALTH, EVERYDAY THINGS I TAKE FOR GRANTED, BUT AMAZING DR'S WHO DO ALL THEY CAN TO HELP US WHEN IN NEED. WE LOVE THEM!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

THIS NEW YEARS, WE WENT UP TO THE BERNT'S CABIN IN LAVA WITH MY FAMILY. WE HAD A GREAT TIME UP THERE AS USUAL, AND THANKS TO THE BERNT'S FOR LETTING US BORROW IT. WE WENT UP ON WEDNESDAY EVENING JUST IN TIME FOR DINNER AND CHRIS AND JARED TO GET OUR TRUCK UNSTUCK, WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN TIL THE NEXT MORNING BUT WE HAD A FUN NIGHT. WE THEN WENT TO SLEEP AND WOKE UP AND DID SLEDDING, EATING, SNOWMACHINING AND HALLE GOT TO RIDE THE KITTY KAT BEFORE ANYONE ELSE GOT THERE. HALLE THEN WENT BACK FOR A NAP, WHILE THE MEN BURNED SOME WINTER SLASH PILES AND MY MOM AND I PLAYED ON THE SNOWMACHINES AND KEPT TAKING TURNS CHECKING ON HALLE. THAT EVENING EVERYONE STARTED TO SHOW UP. BY THE TIME WE ATE DINNER, GOT EVERYONE UNPACKED AND RELAXED. WE PUT ALL THE KIDS TO BED AND GOT TO PLAY A FUN GAME WITH ALL THE ADULTS, IT WAS A BLAST. THEN WE DID WHITE ELEPHANT GIFTS WHICH AS ALWAYS, WAS A TON OF FUN! TRYING TO STAY AWAKE TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR, THAT'S SAD THAT WE ARE SO OLD IT IS HARD TO STAY UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT....BUT WE DID IT! AT 12:01 WE KISSED EACH OTHER GOOD NIGHT, WITH OUR EYES HALF SHUT! THE NEXT DAY, IT SNOWED A TON AND WE PLAYED IN THE SNOW ALL DAY, BETWEEN THAT AND WATCHING FOOTBALL AND EATING, WHATS A BETTER WAY TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR. WE HAD DINNER AND DID GIFTS FOR EACH OTHER THIS DAY. THEN SANTA SHOWED UP TO SURPRISE THE KIDS-THEY LOVED IT. THE NEXT DAY WE GOT UP AND CLEANED AND WENT HOME. THANKS AGAIN BERNTS FOR THE FACILITY! ALSO, THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR WORK AND GETTING ALL OF US THERE. WE LOVED IT AND HAD A BLAST WITH EVERYONE! (PS KEEP GOING, THERE IS ANOTHER POST.)

PAPA CHRIS HELPING HALLE TO GET STARTED. THANKS PAPA FOR ALL THE TIME AND MONEY (AND EFFORT) YOU PUT INTO THIS LITTLE THING. THE KIDDOS LOVED IT TONS-WHAT A HIT!

HERE IS HALLE DRIVING THE KITTY CAT, ALL BY HERSELF-SHE LOVES IT!

HALLE AND NANA HANGING OUT IN THE SNOW WITH JARED~

MOM AND CHRIS CHILLING AT THE CABIN....

THIS POST WOULDN'T BE NEARLY AS COOL WITHOUT THIS PICTURE OF MICHAEL. WHEN PLAYING THE GAME THIS IS WHAT HE CHOSE TO GO THROUGH. ARE COURTESY OF MCKAY-NICE GUYS! MICHAEL WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND WE ENJOYED SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH YOU BEFORE YOU LEAVE SOON ON YOUR MISSION! WE LOVE YOU!

MERRY LATE CHRISTMAS!

I HAVE TOTALLY TRIED TO HOLD OFF ON THIS POST UNTIL JARED WENT OUT OF TOWN FOR BUSINESS AND HALLE LAID DOWN FOR A LONG NAP DUE TO THE LENGTH IT WILL BE. I AM SORRY ABOUT HOW LONG IT WILL BE IN ADVANCE, WE HAVE DONE ALOT OF FUN THINGS LATELY AND I AM JUST NOW GETTING TIME TO CATCH UP ON ALL OF THEM. WE GOT TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS FOR IT SEEMS ABOUT A MONTH THIS YEAR, BETWEEN WORK PARTIES, FRIEND PARTIES, CHURCH ACTIVITIES, AND FAMILY THINGS, IT TOOK UP PRETTY MUCH ALL OF DECEMBER, BUT IT WAS A WONDERFUL TIME. ALWAYS GOOD FUN TO SEE FAMILY AND SHARE GREAT MEMORIES AND HAPPY TIMES TOGETHER. THE MONDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS, WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE SLED TEAM (JAREDS BUDDIES AND FAMILIES) OVER FOR A PARTY AT OUR HOUSE. IT WAS A BLAST!! WE HAD BREAKFAST FOR DINNER MADE BY THE MEN-YUMMY AND WORE PAJAMAS. THE WE TALKED FOREVER CATCHING UP ON THINGS, SINCE MOST OF THEM COME TO POKY ONLY ABOUT 1 OR 2 TIMES A YEAR, AND THEN FINISHED WITH A WHITE ELEPHANT EXCHANGE. HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF OUR FESTIVITIES (SOME CONTAIN ADULT CONTENT-BEWARE!)

MOST OF THE SLED TEAM, MISSING MIKEY, HAGLER AND BECKSTEAD. THE BOYS WHO STARTED IT ALL.

SOME OF THE SLED TEAM WIVES GETTING CAUGHT UP AND EVERYTHING.


OH MAN! THIS WAS JARED'S WHITE ELEPHANT HE GOT FROM THE MARSHALL'S AND BOY, ISN'T THIS AWFUL. IT WAS HYSTERICAL. WHAT A CUTE ELF! HAHA! (AND THE FACE, SAYS IT ALL!)

TREVOR AND CARTER!
ALL THE KIDS IN ATTENDANCE.

L TO R: HALLE, ADDIE, CARTER, AND AMIYAH

THAT WEDNESDAY WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO MY DAD AND KAREN'S HOUSE IN LAVA. THEY MADE US A WONDERFUL DINNER OF HAM AND FIX-INS AND WE GOT TO SIT AND TALK FOR A BIT WITH MY GRANDPA AND GRANDMA MENDENHALL, THEY ARE ALWAYS GONE TO ARIZONA FOR THE WINTER BUT DUE TO THE POOR HEALTH OF ONE OF BETH'S SONS, THEY STAYED HOME THIS WINTER. IT WAS A PLEASURE TO BE AROUND THEM FOR CHRISTMAS. WE GOT TO TALK ALOT ABOUT CHRISTMAS WHEN THEY WERE KIDS AND GOT TO REMINISCE-SO FUN. THEN WE FINISHED WITH A GIFT EXCHANGE AND KILLER PEPPERMINT PIE, WE HAD SO MUCH FUN AND IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT.

GOOD FAMILY PHOTO, HOWEVER, HALLE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF GRPA MENDENHALL.


HALLE IN HER NEW LIFE VEST FROM PAPA AND GRMA MENDENHALL

GRPA BOB WITH HIS DIET COKE AND GREEN (YELLOW)BANANAS. GOOD JOKE WITH HIM, HE NEVER THINKS HE'LL LIVE TO EAT GREEN BANANAS. SO WE GOT HIM SOME MORE RIPE ONES....
HALLE RIDING THIS TEENY TINY HORSE THAT IS GRMA KAREN'S DECOR. IT WAS HILARIOUS AND HALLE LOVED IT!

THE FOLLOWING EVENING WAS CHRISTMAS EVE AND WE SPENT IT WITH MY MOM AND STEP DAD. IT WAS A BLAST. WE HAD A MARVELOUS PRIME RIB DINNER AND GREAT COMPANY AS USUAL. THE KIDS WENT OUT AND RODE THE NEW KITTY KAT SNOWMACHINE FROM PAPA CHRIS-THEY LOVED IT AND HAD A TON OF FUN, HOWEVER, THE PARENTS HAD JUST AS MUCH FUN WATCHING. WE PLAYED AND DID GIFTS AND AFTER THAT, WE ALL WENT HOME TO GET READY FOR THE BIG DAY. WHICH ENDED WITH JARED, HALLE, AND I GOING TO LOOK AT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON SANTA CLAUSE LANE AND GETTING SET FOR SANTA TO COME. WE HAD ALOT OF FUN.

PAPA CHRIS HELPING TREVOR AND HALLE ON THE "KITTY KAT"

KIDDOS ON THE KAT AND LOVING IT!

HALLE ON HER NEW SIT AND SPIN FROM UNCLE TROY, AUNT NIKI, AND TREVOR!~

WHEN WE WOKE UP ON CHRISTMAS, SANTA HAD CAME. WE HAD A WONDERFUL MORNING, NANA AND PAPA, GRUMPY AND NAISY, AND EVEN AUNTIE BOO AND UNCLE JOHN CAME AND SHARED THE MORNING WITH US. IT WAS FULL OF FUN TOYS, CHRISTMAS CASSEROLE, AND LOUNGING AROUND. THE REST OF THE DAY WE SPENT HANGING OUT, TAKING DOWN CHRISTMAS DECOR, AND TAKING A NAP. THAT EVENING WE WENT TO AUNTIE BOOS AND UNCLE JOHNS FOR AN AMAZING PRIME RIB DINNER. THE WHOLE AURA OF THE EVENING WAS RELAXED AND BEAUTIFUL. WAY TO GO RASMUSSEN'S-QUITE THE HOSTESS AND HOST. THANKS FOR SO MUCH FUN! (SORRY NO PICS, OUR BATTERIES WERE DEAD!)

SO, YES OUR CHRISTMAS WAS BUSY BUT WE HAD A BLAST. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL BLESSINGS, ESPECIALLY EACH OTHER AND THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR ONE AND OTHER. MERRY CHRISTMAS!