Thanksgiving with cousins

We spent Thanksgiving with the Parker's this year, it has been about four years since we went to the Parker's so we decided it was time to change things up a bit.  It was really nice to visit with all my aunts and uncles that I don't get to see much. I also put together a few games for the kids to play before and after we ate dinner. I can't believe that I didn't take any pictures of the games that I put together or of the amazing dinner we ate. I did take a few pictures of my kids with their cousins. They really had a lot of fun goofing around with them.

 These silly kids kept going upstairs and throwing things off the top floor.

 Madelyn really doesn't like when Samantha tries to hold her. 

If you tell Samantha to give you a smile, this is what you get! haha

 Samantha adores her little cousin Emma. She's the only kid around that will take orders. 

They are so cute together.

 Andy and his favorite cousin Collin. It is so funny to watch them play because they are like polar opposites. Andy loves playing swords, pirates and being crazy and Collin just like to "work." He loves building and fixing things just like his daddy.

 This is Lyllee and one of her favorite Abi's. She has an Abi on the Taft side that is six months older and this Abi that is three months younger. She loves they both so much!

 Madelyn found the dog kennel right before we left. It was much easier to get inside than to get back out.

 Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Update on Madelyn

Madelyn had her EEG and EKG test today. We had to keep her up an hour later last night and get her up an hour earlier than normal for her test. That was a fun little drive to Riverton keeping her awake. 

Madelyn really liked the the waiting area. She kept running back and forth across the whole room and then watching the bubbles in the tubes. 

The technician took us back and started attaching the little electrodes to her head. They had two helpers in there playing with toys and blowing bubbles to try to distract her. However, she was determined not to get those things stuck on her head. So it took a few extra minutes.  She wasn't anymore excited about getting her head wrapped in gauze either. (Although she kind of liked when the tech taped the wrap on top) 

As soon as the tech turned out the lights for the EEG Madelyn was asleep. Mom and dad almost fell asleep waiting for the test to be over. 

After the test we met up with the doctor to talk about the results which turned out to be normal. Wahoo! So, they think that the seizure was probably caused by her being sick earlier in the week and was still kind of fighting it off. So that was good news. The doctor then suggested we pop over to cardiology and get a quick EKG just to be sure there was no problems there. Madelyn liked getting all the stickers put on her chest and belly so we didn't have to hold her down for that one. The tech says that the results looked normal. Thank goodness!

 The tech gave Madelyn a new blanket to take home with her. She really loves this blanket!

I am thankful for this little girl.

Our life was turned upside down this morning when my precious little Madi had a seizure. We had just got home from dropping Lyllee and Andy off at school and I told Samantha to go lie down because she wasn't feeling good. I started cleaning the dishes from breakfast when I heard Madelyn walk down to her room. I went down the hall to see what she was doing because I didn't want her to bother Samantha. Just as I looked into the girls room Madelyn just bent over like she was going to pick something up and then fell over on her side and started shaking. When she didn't get up I went to her and tried to talk to her. She wasn't responsive. Her body just kept shaking and her eyes were going up in the back of her head. I picked her up and ran to the front-room. I kept trying to talk to her and when nothing changed I called 911. After talking to the dispatcher, I unlocked the front door and called Hyrum to let him know what was going on. Everything happened so fast. No more than five minutes past when the paramedics came she finally stopped shaking. She looked around for a second and then went right to sleep. They took her vitals, her heart rate was starting to slow down. They said that going to sleep was normal after a seizure.

Hyrum came through the front door soon after that and we put the girls in the car and headed over to the hospital. We decided to go to the nearest hospital because we were a bit afraid of Madelyn possibly having another seizure if we drove to Primary's. Hours later, I feel that it was a waste of time going to Davis and should have gone to Primary's anyway. The six hours we spent there were torture for Madelyn. She fought with the nurses trying to draw blood, put in an IV and absolutely freaked out when they tried to put a catheter in (which was never successful).  It broke my heart to see my little baby have to get poked with needles and have to hold her down to get a ct scan twice. I kept thinking all day what would have happened if I would have just stayed in the kitchen cleaning. I was freaking out so much that I gave the dispatcher the wrong address. Luckily, on Sunday Hyrum registered our house up on Layton's new 911 program and they were able to tell the paramedics where to go. . Luckily, all the tests came back normal. Unfortunately we still don't know what triggered it so we have an appointment next week at primary children's seizure center for more tests. By the time we finally left the hospital Madi was starting to feel better and has been acting herself more and more.
She has brought so much joy and happiness to my life. I don't know what I would do without her. 

Day Six

I am so thankful for these cute girls!!

In February I was called into the Young Women's as a Beehive Adviser and I love it! These girls have such cute personalities and strong testimonies. Every week I get to teach the lesson I am amazed at their participation and their knowledge of the gospel. These girls are so awesome! Now I better go, it's Wednesday, time for Young Womens!

Day five

Today I am thankful for..

the gym. Yes, this is a pretty silly thing to be thankful for but, it is a place for me to let off some steam and to get my body back into shape after having four kids. I always feel so much better about me and my life in general. My goal at the first of the year was to lose twenty pounds in time for family portraits in the fall and the week we took our family pictures I was only two pounds away from my goal! Since then, I lost the last two pounds and feel awesome! The only problem now is that I need new clothes. I tried looking for some pictures I could use as before and after but, I forget that I never let people take pictures of me. I'm usually behind the camera.

Thankful thoughts..

Day Four

Today I am thankful for my mom. She is always there for me when I need her. She is a wonderful Nana to her grand kids and they just think she is the best ever! She let Hyrum and I take off for a week to celebrate our ten year anniversary while she stayed with my kids and took care of them. Of course they had so much fun that they didn't even care that we were gone.

So thankful for.. (Day Three)

My father in Heaven and his son Jesus Christ. 

I am thankful to have the gospel in my life and to have a living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson here today to help guide me and my family in the right direction. 

I'm thankful for.. (Day Two)

This guy right here!!

My best friend and partner in crime, Hyrum. The best husband in the world.

I am so thankful for all the things he does for me and our family. He works so hard everyday so that I can stay home and raise our kids. He is such a great dad and the kids just adore him! He says that he is lucky to have us but, I think we are more lucky to have him! Love you Rum!

What am I thankful for?? (Day One)

I was having a hard time finding things that I was thankful for last year (I was pretty down on myself at the time), fortunately, things picked up and this year has been awesome! So, to start out month of November I want to say that I am thankful for...

the beautiful fall season that the lord blesses us with each year. I love to see the leaves change in the mountains, however this year I have been noticing all the trees around my neighborhood. I never stopped to see the change in color up close. It is just beautiful. I love the trees that start out with green leaves at the bottom and gradually change to a deep red at the top, it is just gorgeous!