Tuesday, November 16, 2010

My Man in Uniform

One of the bonuses I get with having a husband in the Marine Corps is that at least once a year, in November for the Marine Corps Ball, he gets dressed up in his "dress blues." I love this uniform. I love all uniforms, hence the military husband, but this one is my favorite. (The husband and the uniform!) Happy Birthday USMC and thank you for my present!!

He finds my picture taking a bore.
The thoughtful pose!

Bling shot!

Fall Soccer Highlights-2010

Spencer's Sight Words!

Monday, November 8, 2010

BAPTIZED!

Emma was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday.
As we pulled up to the church building her excitement was palpable. She kept whispering over and over, "I can't believe I am finally going to get baptized."
After she donned her white jumpsuit she merrily skipped around the church building halls, unable to contain the excitement.
We enjoyed a wonderful Stake Baptism presentation of song and a darling talk about the "three bears" of baptism.

*bear upon you the name of Christ
*bear your testimony
*bear the burdens of others

The 7 children participating in the baptismal ordinance seemed entranced by the story.

Emma was then baptized by her father and confirmed a member of the church. It was wonderful.
After Emma came out of the font I wrapped her in a towel and ushered her into the dressing room. She looked up at me and said, "I can't believe I finally got baptized. I feel so happy my face hurts from smiling!"
We are so proud of our little princess and so thankful to have a wonderful group of friends who support us and have become our family here in Southern California!!
Yep, just perfect!!

Testicular Contusions or Bumps In The Road!!

Being a mother of three 3 boys you would think that I have learned a bit about testicles. This is about all I know:

*they have lots of crude, rude, impolite and even hysterical (while I will never admit it) nicknames. http://alligatorwrestling.blogspot.com/2009/07/meatballs-and-cherries.html

*they get scratched a lot!

*they can "drop," especially and hopefully in infants.

*they can be "snipped" and in some worse case scenarios "removed."

*they are extraordinarily tender/ delicate/ sensitive, especially in the case of blunt force trauma.

*they are, very fortunately, absent from my own personal physique.


When my boys get hurt in their "parts" I just have to hand them ice, ibuprofen and look away while I pat their heads. Usually things are better within an hour or two. I say usually...

Last Monday, a whole week ago, my oldest "Dutch," as he now refers to himself, was kicked playing soccer. It was the kick you imagine...the gasp from the whole team, the fall to the knees and then to the side, the fetal position and whimpering. Nausea and stomach cramps immediately followed. He didn't move for 8 full minutes. All the males on the team stood uncomfortably around him unconsciously protecting their "parts" with their hands. When he did finally manage to crawl off of the field and then limp home he spent the remainder of the day slumped back on the couch with his legs spread eagle.

I gave him lots of sympathy, Motrin and ice...after all, that is really all I know to do. It is a helpless feeling...I didn't really want to look and even if he had let me, I wouldn't know what I was looking for.

The next day, while very sore and still walking "wide" he went off to school without much complaint. Wednesday morning he called me from school and begged to go to the doctor. I took him to Urgent Care. His diagnosis:

Testicular Contusion and Trauma Induced Epididymitis

(basically a bruise and an infection)

He got more Motrin and some antibiotics. The next few days he seemed to be getting better. He even played soccer on Saturday...scored four goals (GO DUTCH). He has been walking normal for the last three days. Aside from reminding him to take his antibiotics his injury has been all but forgotten in my testicle free world.

Alas, this morning Dutch rolled out of bed in misery. We went back to the Dr. and are now awaiting a testicular ultrasound. In the last few hours I have taken the opportunity to read up on testicles, especially the ailments that can be associated with testicles. Did you know:

*in the Middle Ages, men who wanted a boy sometimes had their left testicle removed. This was because people believed that the right testicle made "boy" sperm and the left made "girl" sperm. (I don't recommend this!)

*the testes work best at temperatures slightly less than core body temperature. This is presumably why the testes are located outside the body. (An obvious design flaw, as soccer was not taken into consideration.)

*testicular torsion and testicular rupture are medical emergencies, which can be caused by blunt force impact, and can lead to necrosis of the testis in as little as 30 minutes. (30 minutes? My kids historically have to wait DAYS before I get them to medical professionals!)


Your welcome!!

Anyway, I am still awaiting results from a testicular ultrasound! Dutch seems to be handling all of this rest and relaxation well. I think I will encourage school tomorrow. (He can "sit wide" as easily there as he can here.) I will let him carry an ice pack in his backpack just in case things get sore. Hee-hee!

This November be thankful for testicles, or as in my case, thankful you don't have any!!

Corey and Stacie's Wedding Video

Please check this out!! This is my darling sister's wedding video!!! It is AMAZING!!
http://kalefitchfilms.com/blog/
"I Never Knew" by Kale Fitch

Monday, November 1, 2010

HALLOWEEN!!!


BOO!!



Emma's pumpkin (cheshire cat)



Spencer's pumpkin!

Jasen's pumpkin face!

Cyborg!!


Zombie Outbreak Response Team

Howling at the full moon!


Snarly werewolf!!


Gr-r-r-r-r-r! Spooky!!


The Mummy lives!!


Spencer in his Kindergarten costume parade.

Costume box explosion!

Michael and his posse (sean and shawn!)


The motley crew!


Batman (uncle michael david) and Robin (aunt taylor)


Wow, a Storm Trooper at the Trunk-or-Treat!!


Mummy guts, green worms and eyeballs for dinner!!


Dear Halloween,

Thanks for visiting! Your sweet treats, great television and spooky ambience are awesome! We really enjoy most everything you have to offer. I am a special fan of slasher movies edited for television and gummy candy shaped like body parts. I also love the chocolate that seems to be everywhere I look. I think it's great that we can put aside our responsible, straight-laced personalities to become who-ever (or what-ever) we want for one evening without judgement or arrest. Unfortunately, I am tired of nightmare stricken children sleeping in my bed so...see ya next year!! (Here's looking forward to another year of violent and morale degradation desensitization and sugar comas!)