Mr and Mrs Awesome

I got some decorations for Halloween when Porters is having their 75% off of Halloween decoration sale. That's super cute decorations their butt they are very expensive, so I only buy their decorations during the sale. One of the decorations I got was some skeletons in yoga poses. They're ceramic, but my kids haven't broken decorations for at least a year, so I thought I was good. Well I found them broken and then ask my kids about it and they both started freaking out and saying they were so sorry. Once Gratton was calm enough to tell me what happened, I got the story. He said they were battling with the skeletons and only one survived. I said, "and you just thought you could break my skeletons?" "No mom, I  thought they were WAY STRONGER THAN THAT!"

David and I were talking about pokemon, and he started singing the dugtrio song, which reminded him of how Gratton taught him the right words to the song. Then he said. "My son is correcting ME on pokemon?! Best day ever!!" In the voice of Rupunzel, from Tangled.

Were moving to Idaho Falls, so we're getting the house ready to sell. While prepping the house, I have discovered some amazing products at the dollar tree, that I never would have expected to work. Magic eraser- it comes in a 2 pack. Having gone through many clean checks as an undergrad, and when renting houses, I'm a huge fan of magic erasers. These at the dollar tree worked just as well! I'm never buying them anywhere else again. Painters tape. I've always hated how expensive painters tape is, when you need to use so much of it! Dollar store painters tape works just as well! Drano- yup! Dollar store Drano works! I was amazed. Plumber's snake- my husband said it worked really well. Paint brush- it worked great. And since it was only $1, I threw it away instead of washing it out. After painting, i HATE cleaning out brushes.  Who knew you could trust the dollar store for so much. If you don't like saving money, this isn't so exciting. Made my day

Kahlan said the prayer for dinner and when she said "tonight" Gratton thought she said "to die" so she said the prayer all over again, but this time emphasised "tonight" and then said "see, I said tonight!" They can be really frustrating some days, but they can also be super cute -David

Kahlan came into our room, while we were watching Castle, and was bursting to tell us something. She said,  "Mom, Gratton says he loves me!" She was just so excited and happy. Then Gratton said, I love you kahlan. Then she said, "I love you more!"

We got to Minnesota safe and sound! We got to our hotel and were able to get 4 hours of sleep before leaving for the hospital. We're in the taxi right now. We got a great deal on a hotel, and I slept like a rock. David had a hard time getting sleep, but hopefully he'll sleep better tonight. Update on July 10. 2021- they only did the endoscopic ultrasound (EUC), no ERCP. After this happened, it was just one more letdown and I went back for another 5 years of pain before I finally got an ERCP in May 2021. There was a stone in the duct and it was removed. The gi Dr said over and over to our faces that there was no stone. The records he sent to insurance show otherwise though. Who knew Dr's can straight lie to you?

The second plane, taking us from Seattle to Minnesota,  is much nicer than the first one. I really was worried that last one would fall apart mid flight. Before takeoff, the pilot said that we had to fly at a lower altitude due to maintenance issues, so the flight would take longer than expected. Due to the altitude and slower speed of the plane, we barely made our connection! This plane though is much nicer, and makes up for the first one! There is even an outlet to charge your electronic devices! This is the first plane I've been on with that particular amenity. Unfortunately, due to the connection being so rushed, we didn't get to eat dinner. I'm starving, and might even cave to these ridiculous airplane meal prices. I can't eat after midnight, due to my surgery in the morning, and we're supposed to land right before midnight, Minnesota time. Hopefully I'll catch some food either on the plane or at the airport! The first flight was pretty aw

We drove to Utah this morning, and just got on the first plane. This plane goes to Seattle, then we have a 30 min layover, and then we fly to Minnesota. My pancreas is apparently angry today, and hurts really bad. Luckily tomorrow morning, they will remove that stinky little stone from my cystic duct. The Dr said it likely won't take away all the pain, but I'm hoping it at least helps a little. Well we're about to take off. Here's hoping this flight goes ok. We're sitting behind the emergency exit row, and it doesn't even look like the door is completely sealed. It's awful. With the prices they charge, you'd think they could afford to keep their planes in good shape.

Monday morning, after 5 years of constant pain, I'm finally getting an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). It's usually a very routine procedure to remove gallstones from your bile duct. I should've been able to get it with my first pancreatitis attack, in 2011  but for some reason the Dr treating me in the Hospital decided not to do it. The surgeon just took out my gallbladder, and they said I'd get better. So they removed my gallbladder, but the pain continued. The GI Dr wouldn't believe me though because the pancreas numbers went back to normal after a few months.  All my other drs (primary care and my hematologist I see for my blood disorder) said this is the first time they've ever had GI Dr's refuse to do it. We've been trying to get it done for 5 yrs, because they have thought there must still be a stone there or sludge or something causing the pancreas pain. We even went to the university of Utah. My PCP and my hematolog

This mothers day was awesome! David made me am omelet and jonny got me my favorite drink and candy. We all went to Yellowstone with Bill and Kirstie and their kids, and Tyson and Chelsea and their kids. We had lots of fun. Gratton learned how to say hi in Chinese today. While at old faithful, we met a few people at from Beijing, China and he said he liked them a lot. He took pictures with them, because he said he wanted to remember them  it was so cute. It was a good day!

We're driving home from visiting my cousin and his family. The kids and I stayed there for a whole week. It was a blast. Now we're on our way home. Gratton asked David how cars work, and how you make them go faster. David explained pistons and stuff, and asked if he understood. Gratton said yeah, I understand. Then he had his thinking face on for a while, and said- "Dad. Tell me more about engines." It's really cool how Gratton is so curious and wants to learn about everything.

We've been visiting my cousin Ryan, and his wife and family. It's been a good week; I've gotten lots of rest, and the kids have been having lots of fun with their cousins. Tyler and I playing magic. He's 12 and awesome. A snowgie I made for little Daisy. She wanted it to have a red bowtie.

I got my results back from the Dr's visit in Minnesota. The Dr said that the MRCP with secretin showed evidence of a stone in my bile duct. He said it likely wasn't causing all of my problems, but that it probably was the cause of my acute pancreatitis, and we need to remove it. When we had the appointment with him, we got the impression that he wasn't planning on finding anything on the MRCP, so I was a bit shocked that there's a stone. Especially since I had my gallbladder removed 5 years ago. I don't know if it's been there the whole time, or what. We're scheduled to go back to Minnesota on May 16th for an endoscopic ultrasound to confirm the stone, and then an in tandem ERCP to remove it. I'm a little nervous, but also excited and hoping this can help the constant pain.

I just saw Dr. Amateau, and it went well. He upped my Creon (pancreatic enzymes) dose by 50% and then put me on another new med too. He ordered an MRCP with secretin (to see my pancreas and ducts), and labs. I just got finished with the labs, and now we're waiting at the pharmacy for the new medicine. The nurses are setting up the MRCP, and the Dr said we should be able to get it done today. I'm hoping we can, since our flight leaves tomorrow morning. After he gets the tests done, he said he'll have a better idea of what to do next. So for now- Increase pancreatic enzymes, take new medicine for pancreas, and labs and imaging. Also I have to have my primary care Dr follow up with my blood sugar problems, and to have a stricter low fat diet. The paper I was given by the hospital when I got pancreatitis said that I didn't have to be on a low fat diet, if I was on pancreatic enzymes. I guess I need the enzymes and a low fat diet. If I have another flare up with elevated

We got to Minnesota safe and sound. I got really sick on the first plane ride, so they got me a wheel chair cause I was so weak.  That's the way to go though, because then we got to board the second plane first, and got the first row seats with leg room. The hotel is awesome and the city is really nice. I'm glad we chose this hotel because it's near everything, and then they also have a shuttle that will take you anywhere. So that saves tons of money, not needing taxi's. I haven't seen the doctor yet. I had scans scheduled for today, that he knew he wanted, so that he could read them at my appointment tomorrow. Since we came up from Idaho, he wanted to be able to get as much out of the appointment as possible. However,  at the last minute my insurance decided they wouldn't pay for it without talking to the doctor for a peer-to-peer consult. But the Doctor can't talk to them until after he's seen me. So today I'm just laying in bed sleeping. I w

Lately, it's felt like I'm getting exponentially sicker. I walk to the end of the hall and back and feel out of  breath and tired. I don't sleep all day, but I need to rest so much. It seems like for every 5 minutes I'm up doing something, I  need at least a 15-20 min rest. It's very frustrating . My pancreas pain has gotten steadily worse. It now hurts constantly, and gets worse when I eat or drink. The pain itself is exhausting. In January my pancreas numbers were elevated again, so I was in the hospital for 6 days. David and I are going to Minnesota April 4th and 5th to see a pancreas specialist. I really hope they can help me. The constant pain is getting really hard and depressing. It's been 5 years of pancreas pain, and sometimes it just feels like it's never going to end.

Kahlan- Dad do pull ups. Him get stronger.  I just eat cookies to get bigger.

Gratton- mom I will make you sind orange juice, so you can feel better. I will just need you to cut the orange in half!

"Kahlan, did you just wipe a booger on my table?!" "No Mom, there was just some gold in my nose..." That's what I get for always asking her if she's digging for gold....

Gratton loves playing video games, and says he's going to be a video game Maker when he grows up. He likes the games where he can create things- Little Big Planet, and Minecraft. He can do some impressive stuff. Too tired to explain it now, but I'll write more later. This week we also taught him how to do multiplication. He quizzes us all day long, and we quiz him back. I think school will be a breeze for him

Kahlan loves playing with her toys, and is so cute when she does it. She makes voices for her different toys, and comes up with the funniest stuff. She also tries being just like mommy! So David and I were playing magic, when we heard kahlan saying to her doll, "Go to sleep baby, and don't wake me up!" Then a second later, in an exasperated voice, "Baby, mommy needs to sleep, go back to bed!" It was so cute and funny. And it's good to know that she does hear us and remember what we tell her, even though she doesn't always listen Having kids is hard work, but pretty awesome.

Kahlan gave her dolls a bath in orange juice last night when i was gone. David said she asked for his empty cup but he didn't know why she wanted it, so he just gave it to her. She poured herself a glass of oj, and her dolls had a spa party.... When I got home, there was OJ everywhere..... We all survived, but only barely.

I'm at the Rexburg tabernacle, watching Nancy Mauery Tietjen's symphony rehearsal. It's pretty amazing, I'm glad I came. This, along with my coloring book is making me feel much better. The pancreas pain is still there, but it's helping in other ways; music therapy is real. I'm glad David encouraged me to venture out of the house!

Kahlan and Gratton are staying with Kirstie right now, because David has a broken leg, and I am in the hospital with pancreatitis. Kirstie just told us: "Tonight Kahlan said "I want to go bug my dad" haha. Not go see my dad but go bug my dad." She is so hilarious! And crazy!

Kahlan- "I like Gratton" Me- "Then why aren't you nice to him?" Kahlan- "I don't know! "