Seizing the Moments

I think I said this last year, but I try to start my blog out with a new name each year.  Since I make each year's worth of posts into a book changing it up seems better than labeling them vol. I, vol. II,.... vol. XXVI..... that is if I get that far!  Last year's title seemed to sound a bit on the "surviving" mode, which I have to say I didn't really feel that way.  On New Year's Eve I was contemplating 2010 thinking at first I was glad to have it over and had great hopes for 2011, but then it dawned on me that 2010 was a really good year.  Yes, we had challenges, but we were blessed in so many wonderful ways so to think that that year wasn't worth much was silly of me.  Hopefully I have grown and become a stronger person from all that 2010 offered me.  Now on to 2011.  My goal is to seize the moments whether they are big or small, keeping a better record of our lives and enjoying it as we go..... well, most of the time, anyway. ;)

New Year's Eve

Originally we were going to go visit my sister and her family in Rexburg for New Year's, but they ended up getting snowed in at a cabin in Island Park earlier in the week then catching some bad colds so we stayed in-town and went to my parents to party in the new year.  We played games, ate goodies, watched movies and had lots of fun.  Eliza ended up throwing up all over me.... what is it with my kids and the need to barf all over mom or dad (or both of us at the same time)?!  F.Y.I.- The vomit was not included in the "fun" in case I confused you there.  Nate ended up with Eliza and Haley falling asleep on his lap in my parents room as the New Year rang in.  What a good daddy.  Happy 2011!!

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas.  I have to say Christmas Eve is my favorite.  A turkey dinner, reading about our Savior's birth from the scriptures and acting it out, the luminaries around the ward, hanging the stockings, opening one gift from mom and dad (pillow pets this year... a big hit, I might add.)  I love the anticipation and the excitement I can see in my children.  Christmas morning the kids woke up at 5:45 a.m.   We made them go watch t.v. for one more hour.  We always make them eat breakfast first, then take turns opening gifts.  They all got what they wanted and everyone was happy.  Success.  We had brunch at Nate's parent's house and played games.  We went to my parent's house that evening (Shut up all of you who are laughing at my "evening" word... you know who you are!) and played games.  Good old times.  Merry Christmas!

Eliza's First Birthday

Where did the year go?!  Eliza turned ONE on December 22nd.  She has really been such a good baby and you can't help but smile when you see her big brown eyes and cute as a button face.  She just recently decided that scrunching up her face is how she smiles.  I didn't post even half of her scrunched up faces. :)

Opening Grandpa and Nana Bishop's present.  Her first Build-A-Bear.

Opening Grandpa and Grandma Swensen's present..... with lots of helpers.  She really had no idea what she was supposed to do.

She also had no idea what she was supposed to do with the candle.  I should have practiced with her because the day after her birthday I blew in her face and she blew right back!  She only ended up with a cupcake to dig into because the miniature cake I was making decided it would rather just fall apart.... figures.  She wasn't too sure about it at first....

 

.... but then decided to go for it.  Yum!

Happy Birthday, Eliza Joy!  We love you!

Swensen Christmas Party

To kick off our Swensen Family Christmas party on December 18th we went on a little train ride that had a Santa stop then it focused on Jesus Christ's life.  The kids all told Santa what they wanted for Christmas.  Even Haley sat on his lap.  She was terrified of him last year and I could see in her eyes this year there were still some reservations.  With the help of an auntie pointing out the candy he would give her, she sat on his lap.  When he asked what she wanted for Christmas she said, "Candy!" and looked at his pile of candy canes.  He was happy to give her what she wanted.  The train ride was fun, but got really exciting when Nate's caboose seat (for special needs people.... he was only a week out of his knee surgery) jumped the rails and he had to balance himself and our nephew, Luke, from falling off.  Luckily a lady could tell something was wrong and they got them back on track!

After the train ride we went to my parent's house and had a delicious dinner, program, gift giving, and fun.  Grandma and Grandpa's new pajamas they give the kids is always the big hit of the night.  Tye was being very naughty in the pajama pictures... sorry to all who were trying to take a tame picture.

December Miscellaneous-ness

A lady in our ward organized a Christmas play for our ward party and Tye and Rachel were in it.  Tye was a cute little sheep.  Aren't they adorable?!  (Aimee, I stole this picture from your blog.... hope you don't mind.)  Rachel was in the Choir of Angels (no picture).  They had a really fun time being in it.  I actually helped backstage so I never got to see the whole thing, but I heard it was great!

Rachel is usually the mastermind behind the dressing up and wanting a picture taken.... hopefully she's not a gangster at heart!

Rachel and Kaden had a Christmas piano recital December 4th at Nate's parents house along with their cousins.  Rachel's main performance was Jingle Bell Rock and Kaden's was Happy Holiday.  They did great as usual.  Haley had had a high fever earlier, but we thought we would watch the performances then quickly head home afterward, but as soon as it was over she threw up all over Me and Nate on his parents couch.  Not a grand finale we wanted to see!  We cleaned it up then hurried home.  She was fine after that, but we should never have dragged her out. :(

 

Rachel is in the Manila Magic Chorus.  They had a Christmas concert at school and at the mall this month.  She loves to sing and to make it even better her very best friends are in chorus with her. 

Kaden  got sent home with a "think sheet"!  I was very surprised.  Now if Tye came home with one, I would be less surprised, but Kaden I never would have thought.  I guess he and his friend, Ryan, get talking and playing around too much while they are supposed to be doing their work.  I told him if he can't control himself I'll make sure they aren't in the same class ever again.... then I gave an evil laugh.... not really, but he didn't like that option.  He was really sad about getting in trouble and promised to not let it happen again.  Let's hope he gets it out of his system in 2nd grade instead of starting it in 9th!

Couldn't resist posting a picture of Nate in a lovely gown!  Getting ready for knee surgery.

Surgery complete.

Yes, it's December, but my 3 year old thinks it's July!

Visting Great Grandma Swensen.  She's 95!  I think I answered the same 5 questions at least 4 times.  That was about all our conversation consisted of, but that's okay, we still love her!

 

Visiting Great Grandma Bishop.  Nate started out talking really loud since that's what we have to do with my grandma.  He said his grandma looked at him like HE was off his rocker.  She's 93 and going strong.... for a 93 year old anyway.

I was a sewing MACHINE this month!  I haven't done any serious sewing in years and years, but I bought a used, but new to me Bernina sewing machine last month and needed to use it.  So I decided to make Christmas skirts for the girls.  Rachel's and Haley's have 6 ruffles each..... why didn't I break myself in with something a little more simple?!  Eliza's I only did 3 - much easier.  I must admit they are pretty cute.  With all the hours I spent on them I deserve to brag a little, right? :)

I didn't get the skirts done in time for the Sunday before Christmas which is technically "Christmas Sunday", but they were ready for the 26th.  Good enough for me!  My little dudes look rather handsome as well.  Tye was doing some serious posing.  He makes me laugh.

Living Nativity

We went to the Living Nativity at the Provo Tabernacle December 2nd with some of my family.  The kids had fun running around afterward and looking briefly at the stinky animals.  It's a nice way to get into the holiday spirit and remember the reason for the season. (Please excuse my cell phone camera!)

And afterward we went to Grandma's for hot chocolate and cookies!

We've only gone to the nativity for two years now and were planning on making it a tradition until on December 17th the tabernacle caught fire.  I was so devastated.  That's where I went with my family for stake conference all growing up and the few years Nate and I lived in Provo.  My parents and a few of my sisters still attended stake conference there.  I loved the spiral staircases as a child and would walk on the skinniest part of the steps.  I only remember once sitting on the main floor, but I'm pretty sure we all threw a fit about it.  All the rest of my memories are in the balcony!  I had no idea I felt so attached to that building.

I remember the night of the nativity looking around and enjoying the memories that came back to me.  It's not that I knew something horrible was going to happen, but I especially enjoyed the building that night and I'm grateful for that one last visit.

December 11 - Nate Update

Well December 11^th came upon us.  Nate had his knee surgery today.  They told us we needed to arrive at the hospital at 5:00 a.m.  Ugh!  So we did.  His doctor does Saturday surgeries every so often to accommodate people (very nice of him), but that means Same Day Surgery is closed so he had to be admitted to a regular hospital room.  The nurses were very nice and got Nate all ready for surgery, but that took a total of about 30 minutes so we waited and waited.  They finally wheeled him to the O.R. around 7:00 a.m.  I was lucky enough to meet and chat with an older gentleman who was also waiting for his spouse to come out of surgery.  He kept me entertained.  It’s funny the things you find in common with complete strangers even when they are more than double your age.  Anyway, the doctor finally came out a little before 9:30 a.m. to tell me the surgery was done.  And to both of our surprise the PCL (post cruciate ligament) had some damage, but it wasn’t the thing causing all the problems.  It was actually his ACL and meniscus.  The radiologist or whoever reads MRI’s didn’t do a very good job at it!  Seems really weird.  The funny thing is when Nate first saw the orthopedic doctor he thought it was the ACL by the way it moved and all the manual tests he did, but he changed his tune because the MRI said otherwise.  So instead of using a cadaver ligament they used a couple tendons out of Nate’s hamstring and cleaned up and took out about 20% of the meniscus (cartilage) that was hanging around.  So the good thing about it not being the PCL is the ACL replacement has a quicker over-all recovery…. Yay!  Nate was in recovery for a good hour and a half before I got to see him.  I was told he requested Christmas music when he woke up and they were happy to oblige. :)  Then they took him back to the room we started in.  He was determined to get out quick.  I don’t think the nurses let him go as soon as he wanted, but they were busy with actual patients who weren’t just same day surgeries and of course doing their job not letting him go until they were certain everything checked out.  We left the hospital around 1:00 p.m.  The kids were all happy to see their dad’s arrival and that he didn’t look too hurt…. just a big brace on his leg.  Rachel has been his little sidekick since she came down with a fever last night and doesn’t feel well today.  Nate has done really well today, but I know the next day or two will be the worst.  He starts physical therapy Monday.  It’s great to have one more surgery checked off the list.  We had to add Eliza to the list of surgeries earlier this week.  She needed tubes in her ears so that was done on Wednesday.  It’s nice that ear tubes are done quick and with minimal discomfort.  She’s as happy as can be now.  As for the jaw surgery, it’s still planned for February.  We’ll keep you posted.  He picked out some glasses yesterday.  His vision is still giving him grief especially when he’s tired.  So he decided to just go ahead and get glasses to help him when he’s really struggling.   His vision is 20/20 in both eyes, but one eye was moved slightly as a result of the accident so they don’t communicate like they used to and that’s why he see’s double.  But Nate is still just going strong.  Can’t get that guy down and if you do, you can’t keep him there!  And now it’s time for me to catch some shut eye before I fall asleep on the keyboarddddddddddddddddddddddddddd…. Oh sorry….. or my alarm goes off to give meds.  And I’m sure a child will wake me for one reason or another as well.  Thank you for your continued love and support through our trials and seemingly same old news.  :)

Myringotomy with Tubes

That sounds fancy, doesn't it?  Eliza had to have tubes put in her ears today.  She had to be at the surgical center by 6:45 this morning with no breakfast.  She was a happy little thing before the surgery and melted all the nurses hearts.  I thought she looked so cute in the little hospital jammies, so naturally I snapped a few pictures....

Afterward she wasn't so happy, but as soon as we got home she was much better.  Hopefully this will help stop the ear infections.  Poor girl already had another one.... that makes 4 in 8 weeks plus all the others she's had previously. :(