Ear, Nose and Throat

What is the best way to spend the last week of your Christmas break? Surgery? That is what we did to Camden and Jackson. 

Jackson was happier when we got there. Not super happy, a little nervous but doing great.... then the IV came. They put it in and he pulled his arm back which made it not take. So they had to do his other arm. Needless to say, he was not happy at all.

 Quick change, but I don't blame him. They took both boys back at the same time and once Jacks was ready they got Cam ready. I stayed with Jacks until he went back. It was okay until he realized he was going back and I couldn't come. He started to cry and grabbed onto me. I was able to walk to the door with him then he had to go. 

 I was there when they put Cam's IV in. It went a lot better but he could not stop shaking. He over thought it and got very nervous. We stayed with him while Jackson was back. The double doors in the back of the picture, they are where he was going and he knew it. Every time someone opened them he looked and thought it was his turn. Once the Doctor came in to tell us Jacks did fine Camden got nervous again. He started to cry when they came in also and just kept looking at him to take him away. I kissed him and told him he'd be great.  (at the same time the CRNA was giving him versed, so he calmed down quickly). Today was not a good day for my mom heartstrings. 

 Little later Jacks was back with us and not happy at all.  I guess for a backstory on Jackson. 

The school does hearing tests at 1st,3rd and 5th grade. I got a call a few months ago stating Jacks failed and needed to take a better test. We didn't think much of it because he has never had an ear infection, strep, hard of hearing... nothing. He really doesn't even get sick often. We went to the district office and took an actual test. Failed. So we had to go see and ENT. There they found fluid in his ears. If it doesn't drain, it can lead to infection. Normally kids have a hard time hearing but Jacks didn't, at least that we ever noticed. For about 6 weeks we did things to try and get it to drain, but no luck. So that meant tubes. Since he is over 5, the doctor just takes the tonsils and adenoids out as a precaution. In reality, Jackson had the problem, fluid, but no symptoms. For him this surgery isn't taking a problem and making it better or one that he will notice. So when he woke up and is in pain and angry because the way he feels, it almost feels like it's for nothing. It was rough at the hospital but once Brad got him home, he was much better and has been doing great. We'll see tomorrow, but so far so good. 

 Camden's surgery is a quality of life surgery. Since probably about age 5 or 6, he hasn't been able to breath out of his nose. He may have a day or two where it is okay, but majority of the time it is plugged. Since I had surgery, and Jacks had to have surgery, it was definitely the year to get it done. He's a little young for a septoplasty, but being able to breath will be more than worth it. So far he's been doing great. He has stents, so in a day or so when they are clogged from draining, he'll be miserable until the stents come out. He was mostly tired after surgery and took forever to just stay awake. 

This was either a smart idea to have 2 crabby kids the same week and not 1 for a week and another a week later. As for now, they are all comfy. 

 And pretty happy

 Camden gets sweet mustache gauze pads. He was very proud of his first bloody one for some reason. 

Christmas 2019

Another year has gone by and like always, way too fast. 

The kids semi slept in, they got up about 630 or 7 ish. 

One thing Brad got me. It took forever for him to put it together, but it looks awesome and it fun to look at all of the pictures. 

Beck got a guitar, pops and new PS4 headphones. 

Jacks got lots of horror characters, Legos and a tablet. 

Emery also got a tablet and a polaroid camera.

Camden got climbing shoes and other climbing things and pops. 

Our last Christmas in Twin Falls. Next year we'll be in Boise. 

Christmas Eve

This year before Christmas we did a service challenge again. This year we drew a name from the family and you had to do 1 bigger act of service for them. There were card and books made to let them know how much they mean to the family, or a dinner date or free dates. Brad had Camden and for the musical this year the school is doing The Seussical and Camden got The Cat in the Hat. So Brad made in Cam in the Hat. 

 Camden had me and made me breakfast in bed. He cooked it all alone, Brad didn't even help.

We did our annual breakfast on Christmas morning then had to wait for Grandpa to get off work to do our gift exchange. The kids were more than excited to see him home. It is always fun to do this little exchange and see what the kids get for each other. 

 Bryan and his family came over for dinner that night. It was nice to have everyone at the same table. 

 Jackson told me to take a picture and was trying to make a weird face but moved just right when I took it. It is actually a really good picture. 

 Then we did a white elephant BINGO. I think everyone had a lot of fun with it. 

The kids opened their ornaments. These ones came all the way from Ireland, and it is amazing that they all made it back in one piece. They are one of my favorites. 

 Merry Christmas from the Barnes/Arrington clan. 

Random

A few random pictures from my phone.

Camden has been doing climbing club at school and goes to the Rock climbing place in town with a friend. It has really helped his upper body and can now do pulls ups. Instead of jumping up to hit the tops of doors, he hangs off of them. 

 The dogs are more than happy to lay with Jackson, or anyone who will be on the chair with them. 

Girls Weekend and Football

This has been sitting in my drafts for a few weeks... finally posting it. 

A few weekends ago Brad took the boys to a BYU football game in Utah, so Emery and I had a girls weekend. We went to the library so she could get more "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" books, Jimmy Johns for lunch, walked around the mall, then crafts with Grandma.

 She liked the glasses. 

 We made Christmas Countdowns and glowing snowmen. It was fun to just hang out and watch a movie and talk. It was fun to just have time with Emery and I without boys around. 

The boys went to a mall and had Dragon's Breath. When you bite them, smoke comes out. They thought it was pretty cool.

 The Game.

They went to Scheels and got some weapons. With all of the sharp things the boys have, we can fight off anyone who tries to come in our house. 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was fun this year. We had Uncle Bryan and his family for the first time in a long time. It's always nice when family gets together for the holidays. The kids waited by the table for the food to be ready. We went and saw Frozen 2 after and we all loved it. We ate too much but it was all really good. 

We set up for Christmas too. Emery and Jacks wanted a tree in their room. They have a little Christmas Spirit in their room. 

Random

Kids copy what they see. Emery the other day wrote with dry erase maker on the mirror for us. The this past week they left a note for Grandma in the bathroom after their showers. They get the water pretty hot and took advantage to leave a  note. Grandma loved the little surprise. 

Jackson had to get a cavity filled last Friday. I just kept him out of school because a numb mouth is the worse. He could only half smile, which was super cute to see. 

Well I'm back at it. I decided to do the medical coding program. With moving to Boise, I think for me having a job where I could possibly stay home and work from home, would be the best. So far it is a lot of work and reading. I have had only a few tiny melt downs, thinking I'm not smart enough to get it. It's slowly getting better and better. 

With reading all of the school things, I haven't touched my book in awhile. While I think the fact that I read so much has helped me read and understand the coding book, I really miss my 'fun' books. It's calling to me.