Our Animal Kingdom

Our yard is quickly becoming a kingdom of "crazy" animals - each day we are finding more. We have had a lot of deer from day one. The best part now is that we have expanded our yard into their regular daily path so we now have deer found footprints on our trampoline in the mornings. I am waiting to catch one jumping and enjoying the tramp. We have a mother and baby bunny that have been living in our front yard since the spring. We always look and see the baby waiting for us when we get home. But try as they might - that bunny is too fast for the girls to get very close. Chipmunks have now made their homes in our rock wall. They come out and play with each other - chasing and jumping tree to tree. They are actually quite entertaining to watch. Piper gets so excited to see them when she is outside! They are really cute. And of course we have the occasional snake here or there, too. New this week (just in time for Thanksgiving) - TURKEYS. There are 7 that roam the yard and get up into the trees that line the driveway. So cool!! But I won't let my brother-in-law and his gun anywhere close to them. I don't want a thanksgiving dinner from my backyard - I like to buy my turkey at the store. (Stayed tuned for pictures - I have not been able to get a good one yet...) Today we we found this:

A tiger salamander - cool, huh? Mia has taken over feeding it and researching it online to learn more. The girls are really pushing for a dog, but luckily with all of the "natural" animals running around we have put that on the back burner for now!! Besides, with mountain lion sightings in the area a little dog would not be safe in our yard. Now onto the FALL colors around here!

I have really come to love this time of year here in Utah. The mountains look like they are on fire with the red and orange glowing in the sunlight. Fall is in the air. And now comes the anticipation of the first big snow...and lots of cold weather (and skiing). But for now I will just continue to enjoy the amazing colors at our house and keep an eye out for any additions to our animal kingdom!!

We Love SPAIN!

Jason and I just returned from an amazing week in Spain! It has been on our "places to visit" list for a while now. Some of our good friends (Christine and Fred) moved there three years ago and we have wanted to go visit, but with having a third baby and moving to Utah we kept putting the trip off. Well, Jason was invited to a conference in Seville, Spain so it finally was our time to go! We had a few days in Madrid, and a few days in Seville. No kids, no real schedule and lots of time to eat, explore and enjoy being together. It was just what we needed!! And I loved every minute of it. Some of our favorites parts of our trip in ESPANA: - Spending time with Christine and Fred - Discovering my new favorite dessert - churros con chocolate! - Eating our meals at outdoor cafes on the quaint Spanish streets - Enjoying olives before each meal - Joining in a Madrid city running race at Retiro park like we were locals - Visiting old churches, palaces and buildings with incredible architecture - Spanish tiles (awesome colors)! - Taking high-speed train from Madrid to Seville and seeing the beautiful countryside - Going to a bull fight - and realizing how gruesome those can be! - Sleeping in and staying up way too late! - Sitting by the pool in Seville while Jason was in his conference - Being with Jason (and no kids) for a week!

The time went way too fast, but I was ready to get home to my little girls. Not that they missed us much - they had a fun, young couple with their cute little boy staying with them that kept them entertained all day. And then my mom came in for the last few days and spoiled them. It is always so fun to go away, but even better to come home and be all together again. :)

Piper's Surgery

The big girls had an exciting first week of school, but Jason, Piper and I had a more anxiety-filled week. A few weeks ago I spotted a lump on Piper's stomach, and soon found out that she had an epigastric hernia. Those won't heal on their own so she needed to have it repaired with surgery. We met with the surgeon last week and Thursday was her big day. I have been a wreck thinking about them taking my baby from me, putting her to sleep, cutting her open and then stitching her up - and I couldn't be there to comfort her and she wouldn't understand what was going on! Thursday morning came and we were off to Primary Children's Hospital for the procedure. Piper was one of the youngest so her surgery was early in the morning, which was good since she couldn't eat or drink anything that morning. She got changed into her hospital pajamas -

Then we waited in the waiting room (with a tv and coloring books to keep her busy) for the nurse to come and give her a dose of meds that would "relax" her and make separating from me and dad not so hard. I really wish they could have given me some, too. Since the meds made her loopy and dizzy she had to get into a wagon and be pulled around. Jason circled the floor and it wasn't long before you could tell the drugs were kicking in.

Once they came and took her to the operating room it was time to WAIT (which I am NOT good at doing). It was supposed to take 20-30 minutes, but we waited for 45 minutes before the doctor came to talk to us. He explained that the hole in her abdomen was larger than expected so it took a little longer to repair, but she had done great and was still asleep. I was supposed to WAIT again until they came to get me (only one parent could go back until she went to recovery) when she started to wake up - another long waiting period for us! But soon a nurse was taking me back to see my baby. But it wasn't what I was prepared for - Piper was one of a few that didn't come out of the anesthesia well. She wasn't really opening her eyes, and she got very restless and mad. I tried holding her but she was thrashing around, kicking, and screaming. I got so upset that they went and got Jason to come and help me. He held her tight so she couldn't hurt herself. After this went on for a long time (and the nurses tried a few reversal drugs that didn't work) they got the anesthesiologist. Piper was sweating and exhausted but couldn't be calmed down. He explained that sometimes this can happen - she was stuck in an in-between state (a state of delirium) and they would need to put her back to sleep. I was so scared. No one had told me about this...but within a few minutes she was back to sleep. There is nothing worse for me as a mom than to be completely helpless in easing my child's pain. Again, I sat a WAITED. But this time I could watch my baby sleep and hold her hand. Within 30 minutes she woke up again and, thankfully, was back to our sweet little girl. They wheeled her to recovery and she hung out in her bed watching tv, drinking water and playing while the nurses kept checking on her. She was fine, so we were released a little while later. Finally, I could take her home and get out of that hospital.

We cannot believe how quickly she seems to be healing. Within a few hours of being home she wanted to go outside and play - she even jumped on the trampoline. Her incision and stitches don't seem to bother her at all. She has slept great and seems to be in very little pain. What a relief! Some people from Jason's office sent her some balloons and a doll and that was a great distraction on Friday. She played with those outside for a long time. She has discovered the bandage over her stitches, but hasn't been able to get it off.

I am so grateful for healthy children - and hope to not have to go through anything like this again for a long time! But very grateful for good doctors and nurses that helped us through the whole experience. And most grateful for a husband that handles stressful situations much better than I do. I couldn't do anything but cry. He was able to hold Piper and remain calm. She is so lucky to have a dad like that - and two parents that love her so very much!

School Days

Well, school finally started today for Mia (3rd grade) and Lily (kindergarten). Mia was super excited, and happy to know she got the teacher she wanted and had one of her good friends in class with her. Lily was up at 6:30am and ready to go! She has been counting the days/hours for weeks. And today she finally got to go to Kindergarten. I am just so bummed that it is only 1/2 day kindergarten here in UT. But we will make the most of what we've got. She has a great teacher and several friends in her class. Today I took the girls to school and got some pictures (which Mia hated - she wouldn't let me come in and take any of her in her class), but tomorrow they want to ride the bus together. I am just praying they contain the sisterly fights to home and not display them on the bus. :)

Lily in her classroom -

Since Lily is out of school before Mia, I picked her up today and we went to lunch and she filled me in on all of the details of her first day. I cannot believe she isn't going to be around as my little errand helper and shopper anymore. She has always been such an easy-going and cute helper. Now its just me a Piper (who has a little more energy than Lily did).

Tri Time

Mia, Lily and Jason completed the Labor Day triathlon today! This was the first one for Lily and she finished great!! Mia was an old pro - and ran the race by herself. She got 3rd place in her division and her price was a silver lunchbox! Lily was bummed that her time didn't get counted, but they only place ages 6 and over (and she is only 5). But we were so proud of her and this great accomplishment. Jason did the race next to her and said she was quite a competitor. The girls are a few hours from finishing and are already talking about the next one they can enter. Piper was a tropper, too. She stayed with me and watched the whole race - and cheered for her sisters and dad!! My triathletes after completing the race!!

Next up for my competitors - the first day of school is tomorrow!

Tooth Fairy

Finally, it was Lily's turn to have a visit from the tooth fairy! She has had a loose tooth for months, but was too chicken to pull it out. We tried several times to do it for her (as you can see - Jason got creative and tried non-slip gloves, but still couldn't get it). Finally she got enough courage to get it out! So now begins the toothless smiles again for Lily - just in time for her first day of kindergarten.

We also took one last summer trip to the zoo - a new exhibit with seals, sea lions and polar bears opened up and we were waiting for the crowds to die down before we went to see it.