Kimmie's Broken Arm

For the very first time in her life Kimmie had an injury that didn't have to do with a seizure. She fell on the playground. She broken her growth plate. The doctors told us that her bruise rivaled some hockey players. It healed nicely without any major things. But it sure caused drama in our home.

Help Mom it is an Emergency

This has been a really crazy week. My kids are off track this week, so that should say it all. I really would like to start it all over but I really don't want to go through this week again. Monday Johnny got sick. So I stayed home with him. He still wasn't feeling too great on Tuesday but he was really fine just a little clingy and not eating a lot yet. I have been feeling really extra tired lately and keep falling asleep at a drop of a hat. I didn't know what was wrong with me so I went to the doctor Tuesday after and got a work up done. I happened to have had to take both kids and they climbed all over me during the visit. The doctor said that she would be tired dealing with those two. She ran everything imagionable and ordered a sleep test for me. A funny side note is they went to take my blood and Kimmie says I want to help so the guy givers her my other arm and hands her the elastic band thing and gloves and said go ahead. Not realizing Kimmie really knows what she is doing. He took my blood right as he finished she asked for the butterfly (a type of needle) to do her side. He told her next time. Believe me next time I will make sure not to take my daughter. Anyway, yesterday I got up to go to work and Erik said he didn't feel good. He was a little pale so I told him to call into work (he was suppose to close) and I went to work. One hour later I got a call from Kimmie,

"Mom it is an emergency help."

Me, "Kimmie what is wrong?"

Kimmie, "Daddy it throwing up bad. He really needs your help."

I grabbed my stuff and out the door I went. When I arrived home Kimmie had everything under control. She had taken her little play laptop and wrote Daddy Hansen on the top. She put an X for every time he had throw up. She put on the rubber gloves from the whole taking mommies blood the day before thing and was taking his temperature (with her doctor kit therometer). Erik looked like please help me. She was so cute. I wish I would have gotten a photo of her all cute.

My doctor called back checking on me from the day before's experiences. I said I am fine but here is my problem and I told her all about Erik. So she said bring him in. His blood sugar was sky high and he was starting to go in and out of small seizures. They would start at his fingers and move up his arm and go away. But he had a lot of them. The doctor gave him shots and kept him for a while to monitor him. They told me if he still didn't keep anything down to go to the emergency room. Thank heavens we didn't have to go there last night. He is finally doing a little better. Also thank heavens for the new neighbors I have that dropped everything to help me yesterday.

Oh, BTW the test results came back and I am fine I have a very big vitamin B12 deficiency and so I had a shot yesterday I am scheduled for another in three weeks I have new vitamins and if it doesn't come up in six weeks we will start a more rigerous shot schedule.

I can't wait for school to start again.

Easter Clothes

While I was in DC my mom took my kids Easter clothes shopping. Like I have posted before, Kimmie won't wear a dress that isn't made by my Mom or given to her by Aunt Lara. So my mom took her to pick out the material and pattern for the dress. I had a conversation with Kimmie the night they went shopping. It went a little like this...

Me, "Kimmie did you pick out a pretty purple dress for Easter." (we discussed this before hand and she decided that she wanted purple cuz her last one was pink)

Kimmie, "Mom my dress is black and white spots with a pink nose and pink bunny ears."

"What"

"Grandma likes it she will make it so pretty and I will look so cute."

Apparently I looked very frightened. Margo said that she will never forget the look on my face as I was talking to Kimmie.

Kimmie now has a black and white Easter dress. Grandma took Johnny shopping a few days later. I didn't have any suprises there, thank heavens. Although they both look really cute.

Hopefully she has forgotten about the bunny ears and nose. She hasn't brought is up and I really don't want to go there. I listened to the Today show the other day and apparently black and white are the new IN thing. I just didn't know it.

Happy St. Patricks Day!!!

Just a quick note to wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! I feel like we already celebrated St. Patrick's day because we went down to see my niece Adrianne in the parade in downtown last weekend. We never have been a very big St. Patrick's day family. Every few years or something my Mom made us green pancakes for dinner, but that is about all we ever did. I didn't realize how BIG this holiday really is. So I will be posting photos later from the parade and of my daughter who got herself dressed for school today. She really doesn't match but it was all green. I managed to talked her into taking off the Sunday dress that was on the top. This morning when I was so frustrated at her I couldn't laugh but by this afternoon the fact that I let my daughter go out looking like she does. So I will have to take a photo when she gets home from school. Two years ago Kimmie had a friend in her class who's father was Irish and he came in and played the bagpipes and everything for her class and did a big party. Kimmie really wants me to throw a big thing today and I am just wanting to enjoy the day! So it will be an interesting day.

Field Trip with Kimmie

I took the day off last Wednesday and went with Kimmie's school class to Chuck e Cheese and Bowling. I had so much fun. It didn't matter if I got a gutter ball or a strike these kids were just excited! Plus I pulled it out in the last frame with a stike and a spare and ended up getting the best score I have had since my bowling class in college! We ended the day at Chuck e cheese. I bought extra tokens. So when Erik came to pick me up Erik, Johnny and I stayed after Kimmie's class left and finished off the tokens! It was a long day but really fun!

We are stuck together

Our family being new in our ward had to speak in church yesterday. Kimmie was soooo mad that the bishop didn't ask her to take part of our family sacrament meeting. I don't think the bishop was prepared for someone getting mad at him for not asking them to take part of a sacrament meeting. Welcome to our life. Anyway, we decided that we would have the kids sing. Kimmie is really good and Johnny is usually okay in public if he isn't by himself. He doesn't like the primary programs because he has to stand up there by himself. Last year they put the cute little girl he likes right behind him so there was no way he wasn't going to do his part with her standing right behind him. Anyway, as of Saturday morning they decided they didn't want to do the song I am a Child of God. They wanted to do I love to see the Temple. We have Draper Temple tickets for this next weekend so they wanted to do the temple song. Anyway, they only really know the first verse really well. So we were only going to do the first verse! Until we practiced Sunday morning. Kimmie said, "hey, there is more words here." She knew there was a second verse but we discussed this before. So at the last minute both Kimmie and Johnny decided to sing both verses. I wasn't about to cause a fight 5 minutes before we had to be out the door. I just thought this should be interesting. We get through the first verse and most of the way through the second verse when Kimmie sings, "we are stuck together." I couldn't help but laugh, neither could most of the ward. Then right as they get done Johnny being an extra big help says you said the wrong words. What a helpful brother. They were really cute and I am really proud of them.

Nativity

I have to tell you that my Dad's family (the Palmer's) are not really big into the Christmas thing where religion is concerned. I don't remember very many times even hearing the Christmas story out of the Bible with Palmers. But this year Grandpa and Grandma had a party at their house. The grandkids did a nativity. Thank you to my aunt Susan for the costumes. The kids had a great time and Kimmie has been trying to talk everyone she knows into doing the nativity with her. Johnny and Kimmie made great a great Mary and Joseph. Baby Jesus was played by my cousins baby Timothy.

Festival of Trees

Every year Kimmie's school class attends that Festival of Trees. The kids really have a great time. Erik and I seem to be taking turns every year and going with their class. So here are photos of Kimmie at the Festival of Trees!!!

Christmas Tree Dress

I really don't understand this thing that my mom and Kimmie have. I love it although I don't really understand it. My mom has always been really good at making dresses. Kimmie is such a girlly girl that she is the recipient of many of her creations. In fact Kimmie has a hard time wearing any dress that Aunt Lara hasn't bought or Grandma hasn't made. My Dad asked me to stop the two of them about this time last year. I asked him which one started it and which on is willing to end it. With that being said Kimmie is the receipent of two dresses a year, an Easter dress and a Christmas dress. Plus anything else the two of them come up with. About three or four years ago my mom made Kimmie a dress that has Eggs on it for any Easter party that Kimmie goes too. Well this year Kimmie asked for a Christmas tree dress to wear to parties. First of all how many parties does this child go too and who needs a Christmas tree dress and what in the world is that anyway? So here is a bad photo of my kids but my mom's latest creation the Christmas tree dress.

Halloween Update

I am updating everything and I am doing it all today, before I forget or get involved in something else!!! I finally have internet connection so I am going to take advantage of it. I never did a Halloween update. We have a very uneventful Halloween for once. I am really grateful! It was so calm and fun. Danielle let me borrow a costume for Johnny and Kimmie was Sleeping Beauty. Thank you to Grandma's pink Easter dress we were set.

Grandma came over and the kids made cookies with tons of frosting and sprinkes. Erik and Kimmie did the pumpkin and we had pizza. It was really a fun and relaxing Halloween. I hope for every Halloween to be this calm.

This weeks hospital trip

Not that moving isn't enough stress in a families life. But Kimmie had another hospital trip this week. I have to tell you that no this isn't what you are thinking. Tuesday after a very long hard morning I finally made it to work. Although the moment I put my purse away, hung up my coat and turned on my computer the phone rang. It was Kimmie's school teacher. She said, "Kris I didn't want to call and tell you this." I don't think that is a good way to start a phone call so I asked, "What has happened?" Kimmie had crashed heads with another student and fallen to the ground. The teacher exclaimed that she was bleeding really bad and was fine but she would probably need stitches. I turned myself right back around and put my coat on and left. I picked her up, by that point the bleeding had pretty much stopped. I called her doctor and he couldn't see her for another two hours. So I took her to the nearst instacare. Bad mistake. Don't take a child with seizure and a head injury to someone who doesn't know her. They were too scared to see her. So therefore we ended up at the emergency room. As we walked in the door. The nurse at the front desk says, "Kimmie it is nice to see you standing up and walking, and not in an ambulance." I think it is pretty bad when the ER nurses know you by name and what your condition is. Finally two hours and some glue later we finally headed home to put her in bed and go on seizure watch. Notice I could have saved myself some money waiting for her doctor. She had a few small seizures as a result although nothing horrible. Her cuts weren't very long but deep. So if she will leave the glue alone we can avoid stitches. Tuesday we head to the doctor to have her head injury checked out by her pediatrician. So this is a photo of her with the cuts by her nose and on her forehead before Laura does her little touch up with them and makes them disappear.

HEE HAW farms

Every year Kimmie's school goes to a pumpkin patch. This year it was HeeHaw farms. Erik went with Kimmie. They had a great time and Kimmie is ready to go back. From the photos I wish I would have gone with them.

Fun Run

Sorry that it has taken me a little bit to put up a new post. Things have been a little crazy. Two weeks ago on the same day no less both Johnny and Kimmie brought home school fund-raisers. You would think with them going to different schools they would at least be on different days. Usually I just order something from my kids, I may ask my Mom but that is about the extent of our fund-raising school skills. But this year was a little different. We couldn't afford to do both fund-raisers and Kimmie's was so cute that I asked both Grandma's to donate one for each child and I bought one thing from Johnny and donated to Kimmie. Kimmie's was so fun that I had to blog about it. Her school is really big on physical fitness. I lot it! They do a great job! So they did a Fun Run and each child got sponsors to donate for them running around the outside of the school boundaries. Kimmie did great! They gave each child that participated a tee-shirt! I was so excited to see them out doing something rather than selling cookie dough or wrapping paper or something. Congratulations Kimmie for going around twice and raising $23.04!

Before and After photos

Football Time

Every year around my anniversary it starts... FOOTBALL SEASON. When we got married I didn't understand just how serious this football season thing is. Although over the last thirteen years I have gotten use to most of the football stuff. Even leaving for the BYU games four hours early. My Dad for my birthday about eight or nine years ago gave me a sign that says, "We intrupt this marriage to bring you Football season." Boy is that the truth in my home. To Erik's defense things have gotten much better over the years. He now only checks the scores of most games and watches certain games. Then he listens to the after news sports programs and sports talk radio to catch anything he has missed. Only when I am not with him that is. But I thought we would have a few years before these type of photos would show up. At least until Johnny was old enough to play. For our yard sale we had football pads given to us to sale. I don't know what ever happened to them the day is still kind of a blur. But here is my daughter in football pads.

Back to School

I am so very grateful that it is that time of year again! Kimmie started school today. Johnny will go in for Kindergarten testing tomorrow and then start next Monday. I am really grateful that my kids love school as much as they do. Here is photos from Kimmie getting on the bus!

Chicago II

I will be posting a lot in the next couple weeks about Chicago. It was an amazing trip and so incredible. I learned so much and am really grateful for all the prayers, work, donations, love and everything else that helped us get there. I have more hope for Kimmie in the last week than I have had for years.

Some interesting things I learned...

Denial buys the fime needed for a person to find the internal strength and external supports needed in order to accept that loss has occurred.

Pain is the solution not the problem.

One doctor told us he doesn't like the term "brain damage" especially in children. He likes to think that after seizing for so long that the children's brains start to re-decorate. Kids can regenerate and do things that adults can't do. We just have to figure out where they placed everything. So Kimmie may put the forks in with the bathroom towels. All the info is there we just have to re-train or find where they put it.

This photo was taken by my friend Karen at the Nature Museum dinner the last night we were there.

Chicago

I can't belive how much this trip has changed me. It was worth everything we had to do to get here.

Kimmie is doing okay. She is really frustrating today. Lara came in town last night! Mainly to help me and she took Kimmie to the Shedd Aquarium this morning. She got there and was only there 2 minutes before she told Lara she was too tired and needed to go back. She complained enough that Lara took her back. It cost $75 round trip with tickets and cab fare for her to see two minutes and take a nap.

I have learned so very much. The doctor that we ended up seeing was Dr. Catherine Chiron. She was amazing! She has given me advice on how to improve her eating habits! She also complimented me on the amount of things we have tried to help get her seizure free. She is about 60-70% sure with changing one med that we have with one med that we bring in from Canada may change the balance of things and make her "SEIZURE FREE!" I can't believe those words came out of her mouth. For a doctor to tell us there is any posibility that she could be seizure free would be huge. Apparently she is the world's expert in seizure medication combinations. She is just an answer to my prayers.

There is so much more information although I am suppose to be in class already so I am going to cut this short.

Thank you everyone for helping make this possible.

Camp Spike and Wave

This week is the annual Epilepsy Association camp. This year Kimmie is old enough to attend. Due to the Chicago trip and her getting worn out so easy lately we decided to have Kimmie attend the first 24 hours and the last about 18 hours. I have to work the camp anyway so it wasn't a big deal for me to be there in case of any problems.

My big suprise is that I can't believe how much her balance improved again after horse back riding. She was only on the horse 15 - 20 minutes. Her balance improved tremendously. We took her riding about five years ago once a week to help her walking. It made a major difference. I can't believe just how fast she took to it again. She got the chance to ride a horse that she rode all those years ago. We stopped taking her due to lack of funds. Although I am thinking I will have to take her again even if it is only for a session or two a year. She was absolutely amazing!

Kimmie's KFC trip

I still haven't written much about Kimmie turning 10 at the end of May mainly because I didn't download the photos until a couple days ago. She is turning into such a beautiful young lady. One of the big things she wanted to do for her birthday is go to KFC. She really wanted to go to KFC with her cousin Adrianne mainly because Adrianne said she had never been before. Although I don't know that I completely believe her but regardless Kimmie wanted to go to KFC. She actually wanted it for her huge family party. My Mom and I totalled up the cost for just the chicken and it was going to run us $175.00 just in chicken. So we told Kimmie she could invite one person and go with Mom and Grandma to KFC on her birthday. Adrianne wasn't able to make it to the main party so she choose her. Plus the idea that Adrianne had never been to KFC floored Kimmie. So these are the cute photos of the two girls at KFC!

Last Day of School

Kimmie had her last day of school today. I am so proud of all of the things that she has accomplished in the last year. One of the things I am most proud of is that she accomplished her goals in physical fitness this year and got the "Presidential Participation Physical Fitness Award." I am really proud of her! Way to go Kimmie!!!