Christmas Weekend Fun

This year, we (Trevor, Me, Kelson, Rebs, Andrea, Ivica, and Mom) went to the live Nativity at Tuachan on the 23rd.  I was kinda worried cause it would be cold and I didn't think Kelson would sit there for 15 minutes and watch it.  I couldn't have been more wrong!  Kelson LOVED it.  He watched the whole thing in awe.  He would point at the animals and smile during the songs.  We had a fun time and it really helped us feel the Christmas spirit.

We decided that with Kelson being the only grandchild this year would be an easy and fun year to stay Christmas eve at the Gardner home.  We enjoyed lots of good food, and played some games.  Kelson was a joke to get to sleep.  I don't know if he could sense the excitement of "Santa" from Brett or what, but Trevor finally (at 11:40) had to take him for a drive to fall asleep.  We got up at 7:20ish on Christmas morning.  We had a fun time opening gifts.  Kelson was so cute.  He would open one and want the toy out of the box and almost as soon as it was out of the box, he would want to open another present.  We all got spoiled this year.  Trevor got: a pocket knife, wranglers, back massager, gun cleaning kit, and candy.  Kelson got: Lots of toys, pajamas, clothes, and candy.  I got: cast iron dutch oven, jewelry, and clothes.  And together we got a canner, and a flip video camera! YAY!!!  Thanks everyone for the gifts they were perfect!

  After opening gifts we ate breakfast and just lounged around being lazy all day.  Later in the afternoon we came home and put Kelson down for a much needed nap.  After his nap we headed over to Andrea's house to enjoy Christmas dinner.  We had dinner, opened our gifts from mom, and Kelson loved eating Andrea's candy.  It was a great few days.

Ear tubes for my sweet tooth Kelson

 I decided I better do an update on Kelson, since it has been while, and a lot has happened in the last week or so.  I took Kelson in for an apt at the doc a few weeks ago for what I thought was another ear infection... And of course it was.  He was terribly sick that day.  At that apt the doc gave us the option to consider getting tubes in his ears.  But we had to decide quick.  His last surgery day was the following week.  After a weekend to consider we decided to go forward with getting the tubes.  He had surgery on Dec. 17th.  He was such a little trooper...  He couldn't eat or drink anything after midnight on Thursday night.  We put him to bed a little later than usual so he would wake up right around 8:00.  We ended up waking him up at 8:00 cause he was sound asleep and we had to check in at 8:45.  We checked in and went right back.  He was complimented by every nurse.  (of course when I told my mother in law every one thought he was cute, she told me "they probably tell every one that"  haha well I like to think he is just the cutest of all their patient!) 

Waiting to go to the operating room

 They gave him Tylenol and versed mixed (orally) about 15 minutes before taking him back.  He got really relaxed pretty fast.  He did so good.... the only times he cried before surgery which was at about 9:50 was when he couldn't reach the ball in the car and when we put the remote away in the waiting room.  The anesthesiologist took him back and he didn't even cry. I was so proud.  When then came to get us after the surgery he was in pacu (recovery).  As soon as he saw us he started crying.  I could see in his face he was so mad at us.  It was so sad... I almost shed a tear.  He cried and cried while the anesthesia was wearing off.  I had to get something at walmart so while I was in there I got him some m&m's.  That did the trick!  All he needed to stop crying was m&m's and then he was totally fine!  I should have known to give him sugar.  He loves anything sweet... cries many times during the day when he can't have a cookie.



The car ride home after the m&m's were gone



I took him in to his follow up from surgery yesterday and the doctor said everything looks good.  Now we just have to hope there are no more ear infections.

The Christmas Tree

I have been bugging Trevor to get me a tree for pretty much all of December.  He still had not got a tree as of Monday.  So, when we were over at the In-laws house on Monday night, I told Brett (he is 10) that he could go find me a tree, just as long as it wasn't a cedar tree.  So, yesterday right after school he said he HAD to go find me a tree.  He went for a hike across their private property and found one, then cut it down!  This is the cute Christmas tree he got.

Why is it....

"When it rains it pours?"
NOTE: This is NOT a post for you to feel bad for me, this is my venting!

So, a few weeks ago Trevor was pulling a flat-bed trailer behind the work truck and going around a turn he turned a little sharp and bent a stop sign.  "Oh well, it's still standing"  so he kept driving.  About 10 minutes later he gets pulled over "for leaving the scene of an accident"  The cop said someone had called it in with his license plate number.  He got a ticket!  So, a few weeks later I call to pay his ticket, and the clerk says "this ticket can't be paid, he has to meet with the judge."  We head down to traffic court.... low and behold the judge says he owes $614!  WHAT?!  For bending a stop sign and not calling it in?!?!?!  Anyway, Trevor was quite mad and said he would seek legal counsel and come back.  So, next Tuesday we will find out if he really has to pay the ridiculous amount. (By the way... the stop sign has since been pushed further in the ground and slightly bent back to straight.  No way it cost $600 to fix!)  Anyway... we have been trying to get into a house that is being foreclosed... it is going to the auction next week- hopefully it doesn't sale and we can put in an offer to the bank.  We want a bigger house, so we have more property and more room for baby #2.  Anyway... with baby #2 coming we don't have my good hospital insurance anymore and it costs a lot more when you have to meet a $2,500 deductible.  We decide to cut back on our spendings- try to save more. Then we can get the house if it becomes available in the next little bit.  So of course I forgot to renew my CPhT license on time... instead of it being $40 I had to pay $80. So much for saving.  Then, today I took Kelson to the doc AGAIN.  He has his 4th ear infection in 4 1/2 months.  The doc suggests getting tubes.  How much are those?  Around $2500 and Kelson has a $1000 deductible then we pay 20%.  And of course all this comes around Christmas.

Moral of the story... food storage and savings is for a reason... AND, I'm excited for this Christmas because other than spoiling Kelson we are going to save and remember the TRUE meaning of Christmas.  It's NOT about the gifts it's about Jesus Christ.

I hope your Christmas is full of snow and not POURING RAIN!