I am blogging from my cell phone. How stinkin' cool is that?

In the Background Right Now...

I hear Morgan, jumping up and down saying, "Look at the plant...it is growing...the water is falling down on it and it is growing!!!"

45 seconds ago I told him that it rains in the Spring so that the flowers, plants and grass can grow.

60 seconds ago, he looked out the window and said, "Mom, it's raining today because it is Spring!"

Glad someone is excited about the rain!

A Quick Update on Brynnie's Battle

I have Easter pictures and posts to come, but I wanted to share a quick update about Brynn while we are in the midst of it all. Last Tuesday we were able to see an Ear Nose and Throat specialist to see what is causing all of the trouble in Brynn's nose and ears. They did a scope and found that everything was as it should be in her sinus cavity and throat, it was just extremely swollen and red with milk residue in multiple locations. Based on these finidings, the doctor felt very strongly that both the congestion and the ear infections are stemming from reflux because it is so violent that spit up comes out of her mouth and nose. He thought that if we could get the reflux to clear up, the congestion and ear infections would clear as well. Another test found that there is still fluid in her ears, though, so we go back in next Monday to follow-up with the ENT and if there is still fluid we will have to proceed with tubes.

So, after much time spent on the phone with our insurance company and doctor's offfice, I was finally able to get her Prevacid perscription approved. Our insurance requires special authorization from the doctor which he has been ready to provide since she was 2 weeks old and we knew this was a problem. Despite my numerous calls to have the form faxed to the doctor, it never went through until finally I made them fax it while I was on the phone and follow up to make sure it was received. Then, they never received the approval that the doctor's office faxed them - 4 times, but wouldn't verify that until it had been 24 hours since the fax was sent...blah...blah...blah...so after yelling at them on the phone numerous days in a row, they finally made a special exception and approved it for my Doctor over the phone. Insurance is SO annoying! Still, the prescription cost us $45 (the insurance covered the other $130) for one month - normally we don't pay more than $10 for anything.

Unfortunately, even with a very agressive treatment of twice daily Prevacid and 4 times daily Reglin, Brynn is still spitting up violently after she eats, wanting to suck on something all the time, and so congested she sounds like a little piggy and has a difficult time eating and breathing. Last night, Seth and I were talking about it and discussed some of her symptoms and Seth researched some possible causes of all of this. We called this morning and upon hearing her symptoms, was concerned about the same possibilities that Seth had researched, so he is working to schedule some x-ray/ultrasound tests for us up at Primary Children's. If it is what we suspect (which I would tell you the name of if I knew it), she will be going in for surgery.

So, that is our update...I will try to keep everyone posted as we move forward. Keep Brynnie in your prayers. She is such a little sweetheart despite all of this and we just want her to be healthy and happy soon!

My Life on the Silver Screen

That's right, friends, if you ever wanted to watch the movie of my life, rent Marley and Me. Seth and I saw it last night for the first time and it was hysterical! Callie is pretty much the black and skinny version of Marley in that movie. Sure, she didn't get kicked out of obedience training, but our teacher couldn't get her to calm down for anything! I laughed when she chewed the couch cushions up because, well, I've been there. I laughed when their little girl gave Marley her lamb and said, "She can have my lamb if she promises not to chew the other ear off." I almost fell off my bed laughing when Marley stole the necklace and they had to chase her around the house...and when she ran through the screen door and jumped the fence...and when she tried to jump out the car window...and...and...and...and even when Jenny (how fitting) was losing it and screamed, "Get that dog out of here!" and meant it. Then I felt bad because I have been there and done that - more frequently than I care to admit!

Then, I came to the realization that I am not really cut out to be a dog owner. I am utterly unprepared for the day when my sweet and energetic puppy isn't energetic anymore. I will never be ready to explain to the kids why Callie isn't peeking through the blinds waiting for us when we get home. I cried for a very long time during and after the movie, and I hugged my sweet companion a little tighter - and even tolerated lots of doggy kisses - afterward. So, to my unconditional friend and very tolerant little puppy - I love you! You are not a bad dog, or intolerable, or stupid - despite what I may say in moments of frustration and being overwhelmed. You are the best dog our little family could ever ask for and completely irreplaceable. You will always be our first little baby and we are so glad that you get to play with us for a long time to come!

If you haven't seen this movie, I am sorry if I ruined it for you, but it is totally worth seeing: hillarious, uplifting and very sad, but inspiring.

Today I am...

feeling rejuvenated. All because...

I went on a fantastic last-minute-change-of-plans-because-we-really-needed-it date with my honey last night.

I love, love, LOVED conference yesterday and today. Just what I needed to hear! My new favorite way to listen to conference - on my MP3 player - why have I not thought of that before? Excited to put the whole thing on there and listen over and over!

Brynn slept a solid 8 1/2 hours last night which means I got 7 1/2 hours of uniterrupted sleep - woo hoo!

Enjoyed a beautful day today - free of cloudy, gray skies, rain and snow. We went for our traditional conference drive up the canyon and had to turn on the A/C! Yippee!

Love our family so much! Got to cuddle with the kiddos in our bed this morning. Had yummy lunch with the Tate Clan. Had yummy dinner with my fam. Sang Happy Birthday to Seth twice - complete with cake on both occasions!

Isn't it amazing how much difference sleep makes!

A Better Night = A Better Day

Last night Brynnie slept from 11:30 pm to 6:50 am and Morgan and Chloe slept through the night too...Chloe in the Pack and Play outside Morgan's locked from the outside door. While this is clearly not a good long term solution, it sure changed my morning mood. I actually woke up happy which has set the tone for the rest of the day (with an added boost from the wonderful conference sessions we have been enjoying).

Your suggestions, help, and advice are still needed, so any of you out there with successful solutions, send them my way!

My current idea is that Chloe and Brynn should share a room because Chloe would do great with that and down the road that is likely going to be the shared room arrangement anyway, but the layout of our house just doesn't permit. My next best idea is to get a second crib mattress to store under Brynn's crib and rig it with pull handles (trundle bed-esque) for Chloe to take naps on and to quietly read books and relax on while I put Morgan to bed (Oh how I wish my cute hubby wasn't gone all the time when it comes to this one-woman-bedtime-routine). We are starting from the beginning of the Flop Game again to get him back in the routine of falling right asleep, so his "fall asleep time" should go back to about 15 minutes after lights out. Then, as soon as he is sleeping, I'll take Chloe down to her bunk in their shared room to go to sleep. Does this sound crazy to you? I think so, but it seems like the best option at this point. I hope it works so I can finalize the layout of their room and finish making it cute and functional. I keep telling myself we only have to make it through one year of this "shared room chaos" and then Chloe will be old enough for the Flop Game and everyone can go to sleep happily, peacefully and quickly in their own beds! These are the things that make me wonder why exactly we keep having kids!

Happy Birthday Seth!

Today is the big 29 for Seth! He had to work all day - so we went out to Birthday Breakfast with my Mom and John this morning. Seth got very spoiled and was surprised by every gift despite his best efforts yesterday at getting the secrets out of Morgan. I have not kept ALL of the presents a secret yet, so this was a very exciting accomplishment! I guess it is a lot easier to keep things under wraps when we only see each other in passing and for a couple of minutes before falling fast asleep!

But, I think the best present of all was the card that Morgan made for him. I wrote happy birthday on some scratch paper for him and then off he went to do the whole card himself while I worked on the card from me. He wrote out "Happy Birthday (with a few shorter versions - which he also included on the card) Dad (heart), Morgan" and cut each phrase out and glued it on the big card. Then he drew a picture of Dad and Morgan on the front of the card and labeled them so Daddy would know who it was. Chloe made a card for him too, scribbling on her paper as she said "D - A - D" just like her big brother, but I didn't capture a good picture of it. The kids each picked out a Wii game for him (we helped Brynn pick one while she dreamed away), and my family and I got him a camera flash that he has been wanting for a while. He had lots of help opening his presents, and he was actually surprised by every gift he got, which is a first...and a miracle since he was quizzing Morgan yesterday to try and figure out what he was getting! With my help, Morgan kept the secret safe!

So, Happy Birthday to the best husband, father, friend, entertainer, adventurer, handy man, tickle monster, book-reader and cuddler that this little family could ask for!

LOVE YOU SWEETIE!

The Upside of the Snow

There is one good thing about this chilly weather we are having around here - Brynnie finally got to wear her puffy vest! I was expecting her to grow much faster than she has, so it was looking like the puffy vest may have been a waste of money, but here are some adoreable pictures to prove otherwise. And check out this smile! I can't get enough of it and I can't get enough of her!
Neither can Morgan. Brynn's face is just screaming - Mom, put the camera down and HELP!