September 2013

We went on one more razor ride in September with Grama and Grampa Gause. We have some really cute pictures of Jax riding with his grandparents but I think they are on Justin's phone... I'll have to get them and update soon.

 Justin went with his Dad to do electrical work in New York for 5 days. So me and the kids just hung out--i don't think I made dinner even once while he was gone...:) 

 We played and we ate out a little bit which was kinda treat. Below are the kids thinking i'm pretty cool for taking them to get sandwiches. :)

 AND THEN...

Rod went down the slide with Justin while we were at the park for family night. And Rod's leg got stuck and BROKE!!
And of course, as these things do, it happened at night--which is After Hours Clinic or ER, and we don't have insurance. So After Hours it was--which almost turned into ER as well but the doctor took pitty on us and just put the splint on in his office at 10:30 at night. He was really nice. So we were expecting a pretty large bill from it all. But it was okay because it's still cheaper than the premiums we would have to pay if we did have insurance.

 It looked like this. It was very, very sad.

So the plan was to have the splint on for 4 days and then get a full cast (toe to thigh) on Friday.

Those 4 days were seriously, the WORST 4 consecutive days I can remember that dealt with one child. He was in SOOO much pain. We had him on Tylenol and Ibuprofen every 4 hours and still he would shake, and shutter and squint his eyes closed and moan...and he is a very tough kid. He couldn't sleep and he couldn't get comfortable--I couldn't sleep, it was horrible.

 I called the doctors office a few times--once at like 4 in the morning, telling them "He is in SO much pain, are you sure it's okay?" and they would just say "He DID break his leg...blah blah blah" And I just couldn't believe it was normally so painful, I even asked the nurse if I could bring him in to see if his hips were broken as well, because I knew there had to be something they missed--there had to be a reason why he was in so much pain. They finally prescribed some Loritab for him. Which helped only slightly, but wired him and did NOT help him sleep. I just didn't know what to do about it, I just knew something had to be wrong, I just didn't know what--or what to have them check. It all felt so out of my control, and in the end, we made it to Friday.

 

 So Friday morning I'm very excited to finally get that STUPID splint off, and get a more stable cast so that he would hopefully feel more comfortable and eventually be able to walk with his cast on. 

We go to the doctors and the doctor takes off Rod's splint and kind of gasps. Because this is what was under his splint! They are called Pressure Ulcers.

I was HORRIFIED. And felt SOOO GUILTY.
THAT was why Rod was in SO much pain, why he would shutter and shake and whimper, suddenly everything made sense, oh the guilt...I almost lost it.

The doctor, bless his heart, was as horrified as I was. I could tell he felt really bad, I think he knew I had called in at least twice complaining of Rodrick's pain level, because he was the one that wrote the prescription. But he said this kind of thing never happens. He was very shocked.

The one on his heel was the deeper and more severe wound. The doctor got me in to see the wound specialists at the hospital, and sent us to get another x-ray to make sure he didn't miss anything else. He was very nice and is very graciously covering the entire cost of all of this. Which is a huge blessing, tragic happening, but still a big blessing. 

As a result of the those darn wounds they could only cast to Rod's ankle. This means that Rod can not put any standing pressure on that food/let. This has been a HUGE pain for me and for Rod. He needs to be carried EVERYWHERE. It's been 5 weeks, almost, and he has gotten REALLY good at scooting on his bum quite quickly. But that also puts pressure on his heel wound, which is not helping it heal faster. 

A few things have happened to Rod because of all this, one I find really interesting. He can just sit, and play, with 1 toy, and be very content for quite a while. He did not used to be able to do that...His current disablility has really made him very easy to watch, because he doesn't really move and he is a LOT more content just playing in one spot with one thing, because that is his life, and he has accepted it. It's amazing to see how he has totally adapted.

He has also become SUCH a momma's boy. Like even more than before. I think he kind of felt like his life spiraled out of control and I was the constant, so he really is clingy now, even more than before--which is really saying something...:)

This is what the wounds looked like at like 3 weeks (we are almost 5 weeks now) :

They are gross-and they are taking forever to heal.
 The wounds do look like they are getting better--I just can't believe how slowly they are healing. And the specialists say that they children's wounds heal WAY faster than older adults. Thank heaven.

And Jax finished his soccer season...My children are so beautiful.:)

August 2013 Quick Re-cap

We did TONS of stuff in August...Here are pictures of a few.

A beautiful absolutely PERFECT hike with Jason and Brooke and kids up Payson Canyon.

Darling kids!!

This picture MELTS me...

Justin at the top top of the waterfall.

 

We also did some babysitting of some REALLY cute people...

  We spent a lot of time at Seven Peaks during the summer--the picture below is my only picture.:( By the end of the season Jax has almost taught himself to swim and refuses to wear his "floaties", He also loves all of the water slides. Rod refuses his floaties as well--however, Rod is no where even close to being able to swim...so you have to watch him--he is like a rock--sinks straight to the bottom in less then a second.:) Rod does not like the slides. They both LOVE the water and love going under the water (especially with goggles) and splashing and playing for hours and hours.

 

 Jax played fall soccer which started in August. He really liked it. He is a very fast little runner. The concept of which goal is who's is still fairly lost on him...but he loved playing and loved the treats at the end. :) 

He had a really cute, fun little team.

 We had a garden this year which really started to put out in August...Jax LOVED to pick in the garden but did not like to eat anything in the garden. This is one of our massive cucumbers--we were over run this year with them--mental note to self to only plant 1 cucumber plant next year...!

 And SOOO exciting was the arrival of James Fredrick Mix. What an ABSOLUTE doll of a child. The chunkiest kid to grace the Judkins clan, ever. He is SO beautiful.

And at the end of August Jax started preschool again with Mrs. Merlene. He loves preschool. He goes 3 times a week, from 9-11:30am. He is SO smart and learns so much. He has started to write words when we tell him how to spell them. He has his name, Mom, Dad,  and Rod memorized. It's darling.

In particular this year his interest and ability in fine motor activities has just grown in leaps and bounds. He has become such a good artist. His teacher glows about him all the time. :)

And while we are talking about preschool, I wanted to include this little note from his teacher because I want to remember it, I am SO proud of Jax. He is a all around good kid. I love him.

Gause Family Pictures

We got extended Gause family pictures back in the beginning of September. We needed it--it's been 3 years...! :) 

They turned out super cute, a BIG thanks to my dad for taking them!!

And thanks Debbie for organizing and buying matching shirts for everyone!! :)

 

  Okay--these kids are SO CUTE!!!

 

 

 

July 2013

My only pictures of July were these. And they are only on the 4th of July. So here they are.

Chanel killed it at the freedom run. 

 It was raining this year so they couldn't do the air balloon like normal, it ruined our plans and a gazillion other peoples.:) But on the bright side--people called and told us BEFORE we woke our kids, so they got to sleep in, and I think it made for a much pleasant-er 4th of July. :)

 This cute kid is SUCH a ham, I love him so much. If you ask him to smile for the camera he ALWAYS obliges. He usually has a really good attitude. He is a lot of fun to be around, as long as there is something to do and people to be with! :) He is a GOOD kid.

 And here is me and Rod, Rod is Rod is Rod is Rod. And that is just him...It's the "Rod Face"

 

 And they are brothers, and it's hilarious.

Some CUTE spectators below...!

 

 Okay, and I LOVE this picture!! Ethan and Jax both wanted pictures but they were both pretty dang nervous about it...can you tell...? :)

 And this is the transport on the 4th of July. It's really the ONLY way to go in Provo on that day. Traffic and Parking are nuts. Plus the kids love it.

 Oh, my little nephews of JOY!!

 Vivint gave this awesome party at the CEO's house. I've honestly never seen ANYTHING even come close the amazing-ness of all of it. Here are the only 2 pictures I have... They had professional face painters--amoung so many other things-- and Jax got done up pretty cool.

I stole pictures from Justin's Facebook account to document my birthday. Justin did a darn good job. It was really fun. Thank you mom and dad for Babysitting ALL DAY LONG!!

We went to the breakfast buffet at the Little America in SL. I've been wanting to go forever because of the good reviews we've heard. And it did NOT disappoint. I will forever dream of that bacon...And I've always been an on/off vegetarian--that should tell you something about that bacon... However this is not a picture of my plate--this is Justin's, him and I eat different things--except bacon...:)

Then we went up to Park City to do some mountain biking. That was an experience. I can't even begin to tell you how bumpy it was. Like SO bumpy. But fun and different and we got to rid the tram thing up and look at the view so it was all good. It was just SO bumpy.

Then we went to the outlets. That is always fun when you have no children with you and a husband that loves to shop. :) And they just put in a Bare Minerals store up there so I got some really awesome beauty products for such a steal. Woot!

Thanks Justin! I'm 28!

And I missed this small note from June:

We went on the Pioneer Trek. This was NO small feat. We were the "Trek Masters" for our ward. THAT was an experience. LOVE the youth, LOVE the ward, but I will NEVER, EVER, do that again. I'll help plan one, but I will NOT go. And that is all I will say about that...