Happenings of Summer/Fall

Mom put together a "dinner theater" with our girls for their parents, grandpa, Aunt Laura and Uncle Adam. We got to see Little Red Riding Hood with Erin as "Red", Morgan as "BB Wolf", Shannon as "Grandma" and Lauren as " Woody Cutter".

We also saw the girls perform Goldy Locks and the Three Bears. Morgan was "Goldy", Erin as "Papa Bear", Shannon "Mama Bear" and Lauren, of course, was " Baby Bear". The girls helped make their costumes and I had some face paints to complete the look. So much fun!

I've taken the week off because Mom and Dad went to visit Kellie and Ryan in New Hampshire and I've really enjoyed spending all this time with the girls. I miss being able to take pictures on a whim and run around having fun with them. Luckily I got to transfer to a hospital closer to home and won't have to drive so far.

Shannon started Preschool and Lauren was sure she was on her way to class too. So we primped and gave her a backpack too. She was so excited to go to " Grandma school" that day!

I sent Erin and Morgan to school with "good grade" incentives for their teachers on the first day of school. I needed an excuse to make these cute cupcakes and Erin and Morgan's teachers really liked them! Erin's teacher liked them so much she took pictures of them. I think they're adorable and they were fun to make!

the things my kids say and do...

I don't have pictures yet for my stories because I'm at work tonight and nothing else to do, so I'll tell you what's been going on at home. Morgan has had trouble lately with some cousins and not feeling really good about things, so I've been trying to encourage her in things she enjoys. She loves to sing her own songs at the top of her lungs. So a asked her "Morgan, do you like to write your own songs?" She said yes, rather shyly. I explained to her that some people do make a living writing songs and composing music for those songs. She got excited and said " I want to do that! I could do it on my days off from the circus!" For as long as I can remember she has aspired to be a trapeze artist and still wants that as a career. So now she wants to work for the circus AND write music/songs on her day off. I got Morgan her own little note book so she could write her songs down (as best a 6 year old can) and she felt pretty special! She also imformed me that she is planning on having 10 kids so she is going to be a very busy lady when she grows up!
Our dog Sam redeemed himself, I think, for the rest of his life. Lauren was outside playing with her sisters in the back yard last weekend. She usually stays put, but has been known to go back into the house while they stayed outside. I was asleep from having worked the night before and Derek was in the garage working on our suburban. Lauren left and the girls assumed she went into the house. Derek heard Sam barking but didn't think much of it because he barks at birds all the time. But he kept barking rather adamently, so Derek went to see what was up. You have to cross a bridge that goes over a canal to get up to our place and Lauren happened to venture down to the bridge. She hadn't crossed it but had gone up to the opening next to the bridge that allows you to go to the canal! Sam was barking at her because he couldn't get to her due to his shock collar perimeters. Derek ran down to grab her thank goodness before anything happened. So needless to say I don't like to sleep during the day when she girls are outside because I'm afraid she will wander off again. Im very glad Sam barked up a storm and Derek checked on him because it makes me sick to think of what could be. I love my Sam for that! Every kid should have a dog like him! And to thank him for this he's getting fixed in August. Sorry Sam!

HELLP!

Sorry, all my life seems to be revolving around these days is work and kids, so that's what I have to blog about. Anyway I had a crazy night at work a few weeks ago and four words pretty much sum it up...hellp, blaauuggg, goosh and waaaah..(I'll explain) I had a patient come in complaining of contractions. She was crying from pain and just didn't look like she felt well. I did her assessment. Nothing really stood out except that she was in pain and couldn't really pin point where her pain was, just all over. No cervical change, no contractions, etc. The doctor said to send her home with tylenol!! I was uncomfortable with that so I asked him if he was ok if I sent her down to the ER for some more workup but she checked out with us on Labor and delivery. He said you can if you feel it's necessary. I did, so I sent her down. Then I picked up another patient. It was her second baby and she wasn't feeling well and nauseated. I checked her and she was dilated to 10 cm and ready to deliver. I called the doctor and went back to the room. My patient said she was nauseated and had to throw up so I set her up a little and she threw up, then we heard a gush when her water broke and then a small waaahh! I look under the sheet and we have a baby on the bed! So she delivered without a doctor! FUN STUFF! So we get that taken care of and a little bit later one of our nurses comes up to me and says that the patient I sent down to ER is back on our floor because she has HELLP syndrome. HELLP stands for hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets and is a very serious condition to have especially during pregnancy. She was a very sick lady and I'm so very grateful I followed my gut instincts and didn't send this lady home to who knows what. She was c-sectioned that morning because of it! So Yeah for me! (and her too)! So those of you I love, who are pregnant, go into the hospital if you think ANYTHING is wrong and don't let them tell you everything checks out and send you home if you really feel something is wrong.
Derek went to a Daddy Daughter dance that the elementary school held for the students and their dads or other special men in their life. They had pictures done for the girls and treats (a chocolate fountain much to derek's surprise). Morgan said her dad lifted them up in the air and slid them under his legs and out again. Other kid's dads where lifting them up, but not as high as her dad, according to Morgan. The girls had a great time and loved being with their dad!
The girls are learning their articles of faith before we will take them to disneyland. Shannon has to learn all 13 too so I think we are safe for a little while, I thought! She has just about mastered the first 3 and says them over and over to anyone who will listen. I'm proud of her! Lauren is even picking up words here and there.
Erin got a live bunny for her birthday and I'll have to tell that story later, but it's my own darn fault for not understanding someone with a thick accent. So now we have a dog and a bunny, a show bunny none the less!

Update...

I do way too many of these, but that's all I seem to have time for these days. Christmas was great since we got to stay home and just relax... not much of that going on these days. The girls told us that they didn't get what they wanted but that it was the best christmas ever. I think Santa just didn't care to worry about what the girls WANTED, but more of what he thought they NEEDED! 'nough said! I've been working a ton and really enjoying it, the actually work itself. Some of the staff are a little hard to take when a lot of them are so set against "Utah Mormons" and how they would never raise a family here! Yeah, I was the one out of 5 sitting there at the nurses desk listening to this and not really believing what I was hearing. Because I know for a surety that if I can hear them, their patients can hear them too and most of them are likely to be LDS! Anyway, enough of my soap box! Shannon is now 4 as of yesterday and she loved being queen for a day, but had been up late the last few nights and needed constant reminders of how we treat and talk to people (namely our sisters) when we don't get our way. Lauren is the snuggliest little thing and loves giving hugs and kisses to those she loves. Shannon was giving hugs to those who had given her presents yesterday and Lauren decided to get in on the action, so she just started giving hugs left and right to anyone who would take her...and who wouldn't take that kind of lovin'! Erin and Morgan went back to school today and Morgan promptly informed us that she didn't learn a thing today. Nice. Erin brought a book home from the library and has been reading it none stop! I must say I like seeing that. She also informed me that she wanted to walk the treadmill while watching a movie so she could get healthy. I guess that works. As long as it's not because she decided she was fat. I'm just praying that this year goes better than the last two we have been through, but I'm feeling optimistic about this one! Happy New Year to everyone, we love you....(and good luck!)

Happy Halloween

As always the obligatory Halloween pictures. Lauren had to be piglet this year because she's the last to fit in it and then we are done with it. Morgan was a jack-o-lantern because she has lost 3 teeth since school started! Shannon wanted to be the care bear. We've had that costume kicking around for years, but no one wanted to be the care bear until now. Some of the paint has worn off their faces because we dressed them up THEN had dinner. I was in a time crunch. Erin went as the 50s girl; not sure she wanted to be that for Halloween. She always wants to be the spooky villian. Last year a vampire, this year she wanted to go as a devil; what happened to my girlie girl? I went as tigger but no pictures here. Shannon had to tell everyone her life story and pet their dog and so forth while we were out! I looked at Derek and said "Who's child is this and where did she come from?" Those of you who know Shannon well, know she can be rather quiet when she doesn't know you well ( and that's putting it gently)







Just some fun pictures we tried to take before all the leaves fell from the trees because we have had no time to do any of this stuff lately. But the sun went behind the mountains, the leaves weren't as bright and the girls were getting cold. I thought these turned out fun though; just need a little brightening up! Lauren was playing peek a boo with Daddy while he was trying to get her to look at the camera!

Morgan is 6!

My girls are growing up too fast! Morgan Louise Kobe turned 6 yesterday and had a great birthday! She has been asking to get her ears pierced and I told the girls they have to show me they are responsible enough to take care of them and Morgan is a pretty responsible kid so I gave in. I took her to the mall after school yesterday and just the two of us went. It was fun to do a one on one with my girl! She was sure that this was what she wanted. She got into the chair and I asked her "Are you sure?" She nodded her head yes and the girl pierced the first ear. Morgan didn't make any sound, but they look on her face was a little shocked! After we finished I told her I didn't want to hear anything about flu shots ever again!
We had a family dinner that night and I had been working on her birthday cake for two days because I had other things going on at the same time. I had an itch to make a "fun" Halloween cake for her birthday....let's just say that I am cured of that itch for a while. I am far from getting the fondant making technique down (I struggled for some reason, even though I followed the recipe) I don't know how you do it Lauri! And I had a lot of unsolicited "help" wanting to make "dough"! The cake got a little heavy on the front due to the rice crispy mummy so it started to droop, but the kids loved it and that was all that counted! I tend to pick my projects apart too much instead of enjoying the effort! My bad. I figure I need to take advantage of Morgan enjoying the Halloween themed birthday as long as I can because I remember Kellie getting sick of it after a while.

Labor & Delivery here I come!

A little over a week ago I was sent an email, out of the blue, asking me to apply for an L&D residency at Jordan Valley Hospital. I wasn't even thinking of working any more than I am and put it on the back burner for a couple of days. Derek and I talked about it extensively and prayed about it. We felt good about my interviewing for the position. I interviewed and was offered the job on the spot! The supervisor that I interviewed with said she hardly ever does that but when she saw someone who had something to offer the team and would do well in this position she wanted to offer it to me. They are only taking on 6 new RNsa and she had already hired 3. I will be starting my training in November and I can't wait. I will get to scrub in to C-sections and tubal ligations; some emergency hysterectomies. This is the reason I went into nursing and now I have the opportunity to do what I've gone to school for. It is a long commute, but after 2 years I will be able to transfer somewhere up north closer to home. So thank you, in advance, to those who will be helping me to realize my goals!