Look what Emmett's been up to...

I would love to say that this a bragging post of all the great accomplishments Emmett has made. Well I guess in a way it kind of is. I will let the pictures illustrate what Emmett's been up to.

Look at extension of Emmett's tongue! This is an accomplishment. He has been able to stretch and move his tongue a lot more since having his surgery. Go Emmett!

Now, it's just fun to stick out his tongue!

I put Emmett in the pack-n-play in my room when I get ready in the morning. Emmett can't be left unattended. You will see why in the below pictures. So here Emmett is expressing to me that he would like to get out.

Since I wasn't quick to get Emmett out. He is trying to get out himself!

Okay, so I panicked here. Oh no he now knows how to get out of the pack-n-play. I am not going to be able to take a shower or get ready while Emmett is awake and unattended. Luckily for me, Emmett got scared like that and fell back into the pack-n-play. Yay for me!!!! Sad for the day when he gets it that he is already out, he just needs to let go.

Holy Eggs!!!!

What can I say about this picture? It still makes me cry whenever I look at it. I am not over it yet, where I can look at this picture and just laugh. Emmett loves to empty the drawers in my kitchen. Apparently today, he was bored with just opening the drawers and emptying them. Instead, he thought it would be more fun to open the drawer, stand on it, reach to the counter and pull the container of 12 eggs to the floor. Oh, they all didn't break on initial landing, so Emmett took them one by one and cracked them or by the next picture, tried to crack the egg open with his teeth.

What the Foil?!

Paige talked Emmett into going downstairs with her while I was on the phone upstairs. Before I could get down the stairs, Paige was yelling for me to come quick and see what Emmett did. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "Watching". Are you kidding me?!!

So this what 250 sq feet looks like rolled up after being strewn all over the floor.

As if the foil wasn't enough, Emmett went into the "forbidden" room and moved around furniture, tossed the pillows brought in all of his stacking toys.

Emmett's accomplishments - 

• tongue extension (sticking his tongue out)
• upper body strength (pulling the body out of pack-n-play)
• cooking skills (cracking eggs)
• designer (draping foil and toys all over the floor)

My mother asked when I am going to learn that I can't leave Emmett alone. The thing is, he isn't always alone when he does these "accomplishments". Apparently I haven't learned the lessons that I need to learn. Thanks Emmett for keeping your mom on her toes and helping her learn patience, patience, patience and tolerance. I love you Emmett!!

Bloody Valentine

Today I got up to put the kids' Valentine packages together (cause I was too tired the night before). As I was reaching up in the cupboard pulling out my bag of goodies, I knocked a can of refried beans off the shelf and to the floor. Apparently I didn't move my foot quick enough, because the can bounced off my foot. Surprisingly, I didn't scream obscentites. I did a lot of quick breathing. Man it hurt!!!! As I reached down to rub it, my hand was covered with blood. That's not good.

I called up to Garhett, who was the only one awake upstairs. He woke Scott and had him come to my rescue. I don't do well with any bodily fluids. So Scott took a look at my foot, determined it was the toe next to the big toe. Since it wouldn't stop bleeding, we decided I better to Urgent Care.

Here it is Sunday morning at 8am. Luckily our friends down the street were awake and willing to watch our kids while Scott ran me to the doctor. It's been almost an hour and my toe is still bleeding and it hurts so bad. I am such a wimp!!!!

Turns out the can split my toe nail in half. The doctor had to remove the whole toe nail. I think the numbing of the toe hurt worse than the pain the can inflicted on my toe. He shot both sides of my toe and then removed the nail. While the doctor was working on my toe, the nurse was giving me a tetnus shot in my arm. The doctor gave strict orders to stay off my foot all day today, along with a prescription for Vicodin.

Normally, I would be ok with the doctor orders, but now that I am the secretary in Primary and I missed last week due to Mexico. I felt horrible. Not horrible enough to suffer through church though. Scott took my bags passed them along to the other secretary, I took 2 vicodin and went to bed.

What a day! Not the Valentines day I planned for the kids. Fortunately, the friends who took our kids made them heart shaped pancakes, bathed them, and got them dressed for church. All Scott needed to do was get ready and go.

Scott was so awesome to take care of everything for the day. He made dinner, did the dishes, and did all the laundry. I rested for the day.

Pre-Valentines Day
Scott brought me beautiful roses today. I was completely surprised because 1) He hates this "Hallmark" day 2) He hates to spend money on flowers because they die and 3) The obligation

SO with that, I love my roses and I love you, Scott. Thanks for the thoughtfulness.

Post Valentines Day
I felt bad for not being able to celebrate Valentines with the kids, so for Family Night we had chocolate fondue and dipped strawberries, rice crispy treats, bananas, and apples. The kids loved it. I have to say it was very yummy!!!!

Mexico

Scott and I just got back from a much needed get-away. My favorite place to vacation is Mexico, so we were able to book a last minute 5 day get-away to Cancun. We arrived at our hotel and had a beautiful ocean view. I love to hear to the sound of the waves crashing on the beach, it is so relaxing.

Our first day we decided to take a day trip to Cozumel, we haven't ever been there. So we took a 40 minute ferry ride across the ocean over to Cozumel. After arriving, we got on a little fishing/glass bottom boat and rode out to the reefs. We snorkeled on 3 different reefs. The ocean was so clear and warm. As we snorkeled we saw a barracuda, a sea turtle, and some beautiful amazing fish. Here is a picture of Scott and I under water with the fish.

Our second day, we thought we would take it easy. Just lay around, eat, and then we took a trip over to Isla Muerjles. We rode the city bus through downtown Cancun over to another ferry to take us across the ocean to the island. The weather was a little windy and a rainstorm was brewing, so all the water sports had been cancelled for the day. We decided to rent a  golf cart for the day and go around the island on our own. We watched people zip line across the sea, walked to the top of a light house and looked over the sea, watched an iguana, found our vacation home "Casa de Morgan", laid on the most beautiful beach until it started to rain, and had the best fish-n-chips. What a great day (aside from the rain).

After snorkeling, Scott felt like he had water trapped in his good ear. That made it hard for him to hear and he had lots of pressure. So after our day in Isla Muerjes, Scott was feeling crummy. He went back to the room to rest and I hit the beach for some reading and relaxation. I am so proud of myself, I read 1 1/2 books on this vacation. I never read, I never had time to read or haven't really found anything to keep my interest.  I  read on the plane, laying out at the pool, sitting out on the window seal of our hotel room. I laughed and I cried, I forgot how much I do enjoy reading (the right book when I have time).

We have been to Cancun three times now and I can tell you I am not tired of it and we haven't seen everything there is to see yet. The main thing we wanted to do on this trip was visit the ruin Tulum. So we took an excursion group down to Tulum. This is the only ruin that was built on a cliff's edge over looking the beautiful Caribbean Ocean. Below the ruin is the most gorgeous white sand beach. We love visiting the ruins and learning about the history.

Cancun was heavenly! Poor Scott ended up having a massive ear infection and lost hearing in the only ear he can hear out of. His airplane ride home was miserable.

We owe a huge thank you to grandma and grandpa for watching the kids. They love to spend time with them. We have a great time, can't wait to go again. I love the warmth, the sunshine, and the beach!

4 Years in a Row Baby!!!!!

Well winners for Presidents Club were announced today and Scott did it again!!!! He rocks in sales! This is Scott's 4th year in a row to win President's Club!

So where are we going this time you ask?! Year 1 - We went to the Bahamas. Year 2 - We went to Mexico! Year 3 - The company went back to the Bahamas, we took our own trip and went to Europe for 10 days. Year 4 - The company has changed their rewards due to the economy; now instead of an all expense paid trip for you and your spouse with the company, they give you cash!!! Cash is GOOD!

I am so proud of Scott. He works so hard to provide for our family. We are truly blessed with his job and the effort that he puts into maintain success at his job. Way to go Scott! I love you.

Where would you go?

So long kids, work, therapy, housework....

Good luck Grandma and Grandpa. 

Hello alone time with the spouse. 

I am freezing, feeling the winter blues, and feeling stressed so a sanity trip is needed. My parents are going to be traveling with my niece's college softball team mid-February through April, so my usual Spring vacation has been foiled. Scott and I quickly squeeze a little R-n-R in before they leave on their travels.

We are on our way to Cancun, Mexico!!! No kids, no electronics, just sun - warmth - white beaches!!!! Hello Tan!!!

We all have it now....

I joke with Scott that when we are on vacation he has A.D.D. (Activity During the Day), we always have to be doing something. The joke was made clear to me today that we all have it. Every Saturday morning when the kids wake up around 6:30am, they come in and ask, "What fun are we doing today?". Are you kidding me, we need to do something fun every Saturday. So I always answer with, "Saturday is a special day, it's the day we get ready for Sunday. We do our...." They always stop me and say, "Mom stop singing, we are tired of doing chores." I say, "me too, but somebody has to do them".

Well today, we decided to forego the chores and take the kids sledding up at Bogus Basin. So we dug out the snow clothes, packed snacks and headed up to the mountains. It was a great day! Probably not for Emmett. Here is were you can judge me for being a bad mom (cause I probably am). the poor kid has an ear and sinus infection, but we took him up to the snow anyway. He wasn't able to go down the mountain, so he and I hung out in the "warm house", then Scott and Emmett hung out while I rode down the mountain with the kids. It was great fun.

Milestones

What a great day today was! Haven't had one of those in a little while. Before dance, while I was finishing getting ready and Paige was finding her dance shoes. I lost track of Emmett for a minute )well 7 to be exact) which isn't a good thing because that means something is destroyed and needs clean up. So I panic a little and start to yell out "where is Emmett", "Paige have you seen Emmett". I hear a faint "Mama Mama". There he is......Emmett is playing in the play closet downstairs all by himself. AMAZING!!! Of course I just ruined it by calling out his name and distracting him, but a milestone for Emmett to stay focused long enough to play by himself in a room by himself.  What a start to a great day!

At dance today, Emmett was his usual terror, but the great thing (a tender mercy) I didn't lose patience. I actually held it together, even with the other parents and grandparents asking me if he ever stops or sits down. I laughed it off saying only when he sleeps. Then the under the breath comments came, which I have heard them all before. I get it from people at church all the time. But today I laugh in your face and say WHATEVER!!!!

After dance, we rush home for therapy with Joan. I love Joan! She is one of Emmett's many therapists. Joan comes into our home and works on occupational therapy. Today I asked Joan to help me work with Emmett on his feeding and putting things in his mouth to help get him to work on the movement of his tongue. I have tried but haven't been very successful. Emmett usually bites me or spits the food out.

Today a milestone (and probably a tender mercy), Emmett climbed up into his chair and was ready for snack time. Emmett let Joan and I both put snacks into his cheeks without biting us. He moved his tongue a little side to side (which is progress) and was able to move the food out of his cheek to chew. AMAZING!!!

Later in the day, I was trying to get somethings put away and decided to try something new with Emmett. Paige was playing on the computer upstairs so no distraction there. Not thinking that Emmett was listening to me, I said, "Do you want to watch cartoons?" Emmett looked at me, nodded his head, and then went and sat on the couch. WHAT??!! Oh my, you were listening and you want to watch cartoons. So I quickly grabbed the controller and went into the DVR and put on a pre-recorded Backyardigans.

Yet again, another milestone (and most likely a tender mercy). Emmett sat on the couch and didn't move for 10 minutes. He sat and watched the show. He even did a little dancing and humming along to the music. How blessed I feel today!!!!!

So as if it couldn't get better, I let Emmett help Paige and I make cookies and it was an enjoyable experience. See the post "Making Cookies".

What a great day today was!!!!  I am so happy with Emmett's milestones that he has reached. He is getting better. It is a slow process, but with days like today it makes it all better. Emmett's attention span was able to stretch a little, Emmett stayed focus a little longer, and Emmett was able to play by himself for a little bit. Huge milestones and blessed tender mercies.