Tamara, Jessie, & Bruce-grandparents!

CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE!

I added a new section on the side of my blog with links to slide shows and our family You Tube site. Take a peek at the many pictures in Messie Jessie!!!!!! She has surely kept us busy!

I am celebrating my 42nd birthday tomorrow.  Mom and Dad took me to Elephant Bar and Mom made the family a tasty meal today-Sunday. I had a horrible headache after church and wasn't up much for celebrating. I love my parents-they always support me in all I do and love all their grandchildren.

Brad and I went to dinner and had a delightful meal at The Bristol and then I drug him swim-suit shopping. I restricted the event to only 1 HOUR as I HATE to shop for swimsuits, but fear my old, worn rag of a suit will fall apart the next time I swim with the kids. He had great suggestions and did not seem to mind!!!!

 We then welcomed a VERY excited Brandon from a Youth Conference in Nauvoo. He stayed up until 12 PM telling us all the tales of the 3-day event. I am so grateful that we have so many great and dedicated leaders to be with these fantastic youth to feel the spirit of such a historical place.

A Chance to Improve......

With the craziness of the summer, I have been really trying to work on positive reinforcement with two of my children who tend to ARGUE much more than is necessary. No, I am not positively enforcing that they STOP arguing, rather giving SHORT positive comments when I do see them cooperating with each other. 

Given the fact that they are older, I fear they will get the reverse psychology of the situation and only rebel by fighting longer and louder.

When I keep my comments to only one word and move on, they have been responding with cooperation and kindness.

Oh yeah! Did I mention that the oldest sibling has been gone A LOT this summer? I believe that this plays a HUGE factor in me being able to inflict positive reinforcement instead of negative! There is less of them than usual!

Jessie's Medical Diagnosis

Sunday, we enjoyed watching the girls gymnastics Olympic trials. What awesome feats those young girls perform under pressure. Also, Carson and Hunter are currently practicing everyday at 7 AM for their summer swim team. It's an EARLY summer start to our day and I LOVE when it rains and practice is canceled. Sleeping in never felt so good-except my body has finally accepted the fact that it will get up at 6:30 AM everyday. Thus, I am writing this blog at 6:30 AM.

Because swimming and gymnastics are on my mind, I thought I'd share a medical diagnosis that we received concerning Jessie several months ago. It appears that she will not be able to compete "competitively" in swimming or gymnastics as she has a birth defect called "proximal radial ulnar synostosis". Although she can learn and perform these 2 sports, the inability to rotate her left elbow completely so that the palm faces up will limit her competitiveness and as she ages, cause pain and discomfort to the area. In doctor lingo, she does not have full supination and is approximately 70 degrees. There is no radial head visible that is consistent with normal anatomy.

In March, Brad discovered that Jessie could not rotate her arm and was concerned. Having not remembered any TRAUMA to the area (possibly inflicted during one of the many wrestling matches with her brothers) Brad said not to be to concerned and that he would research the injury when the BUSIEST season of the hospital came to an end. 

In May, we finally got an X-ray from the pediatrician's office and her opinion was that the elbow was dislocated!!!!!!!!!! Feeling like LOSER parents, we immediately got into the pediatric orthopedic surgeon and he put our minds to ease with the above diagnosis. Of course, one would not know that this active 3-year-old couldn't rotate her left arm so the palm faces up because she runs, jumps, wrestles, moves like any toddler and compensates when necessary.

Doctors currently do not perform surgery to correct the rotation as they have discovered that it is ineffective. "At sketletal maturity, their may be recommendations for excision (surgery) of the proximal radius in order to reduce pan and discomfort with bumping this structure." Doctors words!

So now I will be looking for a SOCCER club for Jessie!

Look how CUTE she is anyway!!!!!!

ICE CREAM NOT HEALTHY? Not in my HOUSE

Ok. I confess. It is 2 PM and I am still in my PJ's. I just finished watching a Lifetime movie ( I folded laundry while I watched). I anxiously await the arrival of Brad and Hunter from Scout Camp and ALL their gear after a week of outdoor exposure!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every weekend of the summer so far has been spent packing or cleaning up after boys stuff that has been outside or spraying Permone on camping gear and clothese in order to prevent TICS with lyme disease. 

Although I am more than happy to do these tasks, today I am rebelling from mothering! 

Did I mention that I have no milk, bread or kid friendly food! Jessie is eating THIS for lunch:

It IS a DAIRY product people!!!!!!!!!!!

Brandon earns his Eagle Scout Award

This has been a thrilling week as our oldest son, Brandon (16) just earned his EAgle Scout award and will be awarded the honor on Sunday, July 27, 2008. I so appreciate all the honorable men in his life who have contributed to his success in this program. For all the complaining I do concerning the organization, they do a good job of teaching boys useful skills and taking them away from their natural desires to waste time-ie. video games, computer, TV. Brandon has had some inspiring leaders and was aided in this honor by them.

Pictured for his Board of Review are:  Joe Fackrell, James Allen, Jason  Bagley and Daryl Ward. John Naylor was instrumental in helping Brandon over the last 4 years. 

Colorado Hiking/Repelling/Camping

Buena Vista in CO was the site for this year's High Adventure for OP 1. 5 boys and 3 leaders braved the cold temperature-lows of 30 degrees at night for sleeping--and had a memorable experience. Even though our tent was destroyed by high winds, the leaders managed to make due sleeping in cars and under the dining fly. Most likely, they are paying for those sleepless nights this week as they adjust back to work.
You may not notice Brad as he is the guy with the beard. He took the wilderness theme to heart for the week.