Close Call...

This is how we spent our Christmas morning...let me explain!

First, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas yesterday. Ours was a little abnormal and I thought I would share our very special Christmas miracle.
Christmas Eve the kids went to bed a little later than normal and then Ricky and I set up Christmas and went to bed kinda late ourselves. It would have been very easy for all of us to sleep in Christmas morning. Boy am I glad we didn't!! Kassi came in our room about 7:15 so we got up. The first thing I said to Ricky was..."do you smell that?" there was a strange smell when the heat kicked on. I figured I was crazy so I went into the kids' bedroom to change diapers before we started opening presents. I changed Tyler's first and by the time I was done Kassi had been out to the tree and didn't want her diaper changed. So I didn't worry too much about it, and we headed to the living room. Tyler started acting really weird. He started walking and just fell down in the middle of the hallway and sat there with his blanket. I figured he was just a little tired and had stood up too fast or something. I noticed that I was starting to get a headache, but it was CHRISTMAS MORNING!! so again...thought nothing of it and was enjoying Kassi's excitement of all the neat presents. Ricky was going around the house trying to figure out what smelled and where it was coming from. He went downstairs and when he came back up he said his head was starting to feel weird. About that time, Kassi asked for a tissue. She and I came into the kitchen to get one and she completely fell over into the cabinets while she was walking. I asked if she was ok and she turned to walk back into the living room. When she did, she fell into the piano and completely over onto the floor. By this time Ty had made it to the piano, and tried standing up but completely fell over too. They both started crying and I have to say that I have never felt more scared in my entire life. I started screaming to Ricky and asking him what I should do. He told me to get the kids out of the house! I grabbed my shoes and a coat and wrapped Kassi up with me. He grabbed Tyler and we headed out into the Christmas morning blizzard.
When we got the kids out to the car, we were all in our pj's so I put my coat over Kassi and the blanket over Tyler and Ricky called 911. Within 5 min a cop car showed up to our house and we explained the symptoms and we thought we might have a carbon monoxide problem. He phoned for a medic and the fire dept, and within another 5-10 min (it's hard to tell when you're mind isn't thinking clearly) we had two ambulances and a fire truck with all of their lights going show up in front of our house. We told them what happened and they took us into the ambulance to get us hooked up to oxygen. Kassi and I were in one, Ricky and Tyler in the other. We were in there a few minutes when the fireman came and said that as soon as he walked in the house he could smell it because it was so potent, and that the reading downstairs was 220. (this is how much carbon monoxide per square foot or something...) Both the medics in the ambulance sighed and told me that was a pretty high number. A few min later the fireman came back and said the upstairs (where we had been sleeping and where we live) was 350. Without hesitation the medic called to the driver and said "ok we're taking them to the hospital".
We got to the hospital and I could feel the lightheadedness and my headache increase as I stood up and carried Kassi into the ER. Ricky and Tyler came a few min later, and all 4 of us spent the next 2 hours hooked up to oxygen. When talking to people later, I realized how close we all were to not making it. They said that the upstairs was at 350 and if it had reached 500...we would all be dead. Ricky had called his parents and they were with us the whole time. Our Relief Society President lives down the street from us so she had seen all the lights, so she called the Bishop...and everyone knew! They were able to go in the house once it was cleared by the fireman (they had to completely shut our gas off) and got underwear, clothes, diapers, coats, etc...everything we would need. They even loaded up all of the unopened Christmas presents and we took everything over to my in laws. What great people we are surrounded by!
About noon they released us and we had driven about 5 min from the hospital when Ricky started feeling nauseated again. So we turned around and I dropped him back off. He spent another hour and a half in the ER with oxygen. The kids and I went to my in laws, got some food, and when Ricky got there we opened presents! (about 2:00) We stayed the night over there (no heat) and came home this morning. The heating guy is here now and they are looking at our furnace.
I am so incredibly thankful for our lives this Christmas. It makes me sick to think that if we had slept in for another half hour, or just stayed in the house another 10-15 min...that we may not have ever been able to get out. I am glad that you are able to read this from my own account, and not from last night's news....ya know..."Family of 4 all dies in carbon monoxide leak..."
The HVAC guy is here checking out our furnace right now, and then we will have the gas company make sure we are safe again.
What a Christmas miracle! We are sure counting our blessings. This really was the best Christmas ever.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

What a year 2008 has been! So much has happened, and yet so much has stayed the same. It has been a tough year with hard life decisions, but we made it. Our marriage has grown so much and we have grown as parents, people, and as a couple. Life is wonderful! May each of you have a very Merry Christmas and best wishes to all of you in 2009!

What a week!

Ok so the last week has been...eventful to say the least!

It all started Friday. This year, our ward decided to have a Christmas party breakfast instead of dinner. Oh yeah, and that was my idea since I am the head of the Activities Committee. (YIKES!) So really the whole week was full of activity trying to prepare, but Friday is when it started....

The family had gone to Ogden to do some Christmas shopping, and we had a really fun night. Tyler didn't eat any dinner, but I really didn't think much of it. We got home and got the kids ready for bed, read stories, brushed teeth, and were getting ready for prayers when Ty threw up all over. YUCK! So I threw him in the tub, put new jammies on him and tucked the kids in bed. I was hoping it was just a one time thing. I had to head to the church to help set up for the Christmas party the next morning, so Ricky stayed home with the kids. I was gone for 2 1/2 hours but when I got home...Ty had JUST fallen asleep. Yep, he had been throwing up the whole time I was gone. Ricky was so great and had it all cleaned up and Ty back in bed. Lucky me, I missed all of it! :) I threw everything in the wash and went to bed around midnight.

Saturday it snowed! Of course, since that is when I planned the party!! Just my luck. I woke up long before any other signs of life in the house and headed to the grocery store for napkins and then to the church to start cutting fruit. Ricky decided to stay home with the kids just to make sure, and I was at the church from 7-noon. It was quite the ordeal. I have never been in charge of anything this HUGE (breakfast for a whole ward!) so it was pretty stressful and I kept thinking that I am jealous of all the other 23 yr olds that get to be primary workers!! The party went well (I think!) and when I got home, Ricky had been cleaning up the house. Ty had pretty bad diapers, and had needed another bath, but he wasn't throwing up anymore.

Later that day, Kassi had her first daddy-daughter date! It was pretty special! I took pictures, but Kassi found my camera and deleted them all before I could upload them to the computer! Sad! :( Ricky took her out to a "Ball" at the studio where Kassi takes dance. It was best dress, so Ricky wore a nice red button down shirt and black pants with a black tie (he looked pretty dang hot!) and Kassi got to wear one of her really pretty dark purple Sunday dresses. They looked great! Kassi had lots of fun dancing with her dad...and I think Ricky even enjoyed himself. Tyler and I slept while they were gone.

Sunday...ok we went to church then to dinner at my grandma's house in Clearfield. We hadn't had anymore signs of sickness, so we thought it would be ok. Sunday night proved me SO wrong. Ricky, Kassi, and I spent ALL night taking turns with the same bug Tyler had. It was hard enough being sick, but trying to take care of and give loves to a sick child at the same time was really tough. Lucky for me, my mom is visiting from Colorado this week, and she made chicken noodle soup and reminded me to feed Tyler since he was feeling better at that point. She's been great! Gotta love moms!! From 11:30-4 am I did 4 loads of laundry and changed Kassi and her bedding 5 times. In between I was also sick. I HATE being sick, but I REALLY HATE when your kids are sick! Cute little Kassi kept asking for medicine because her tummy hurt and kept telling me that she "choked" in bed.

Monday we did nothing. (Tammy...I am sure you are thankful that Ashley was already planning on watching the girls!)

Tuesday we went shopping! Thankfully it was just a 24 hour bug, and I was able to go shopping with my mom and sister yesterday, and have fun! They volunteered to watch the kids and put them to bed, so Ricky and I even had the chance to go out on a much needed date last night. Thanks mom and Laura!

I have spent the day today dis-infecting the house. The party is done, and I really hope we are all done with being sick so we can now just enjoy Christmas!

School...

Okay...here's the scoop!
Ricky and I are both going back to school in January to begin our higher education! YAY! This has been quite the process. When we got married, Ricky showed no interest in going to school because he REALLY doesn't like it. I didn't care if he didn't want to go, but where he is the provider for our family, I did care that he decided what he wanted to do and how he was going to care for us. For almost 4 years the answer has been, "I don't know." He loves, loves, LOVES his job now!! I can't stress that point enough. This is what makes it tough. As much as he loves it now...he also knows that his body can't handle it forever and that it won't provide the income to give us the lifestyle we are both seeking in the future. He also does not want to take over his dad's business. So...what to do? About the end of August it was like a light bulb clicked and he realized that something needed to change if we wanted our "lifestyle" to change. This may sound little, but it was a milestone! He has decided (for now) to pursue an education somewhere in the field of computers. This may change...but for now he is enrolled in school and starting the long journey to finding what he wants to do.
For me on the other hand, school has always been a goal. Since high school it was expected that I would further my education in some way. I planned on attending college. I applied to Weber, enrolled in classes, went to pay tuition...and found out I had to pay out of state tuition since I hadn't lived in Utah for 2 years yet. So I decided just to work for another year and save money and go the next fall. Well, I met Ricky in the spring and got married October 9...right in the middle of the semester I was supposed to start school. I looked into school after we got married, before Kassi, but we didn't have the money and I didn't know what I wanted to do. What we did want to do was start our family. So...9 months after we were married I found out I was pregnant. 9 months after that Kassi was born. 9 months after that I found out I was pregnant again...and ya know...9 months later Tyler was born! Needless to say I have been pretty busy. When I was looking into Utah State in Brigham City for Ricky, and talking to the counselors, I learned that they have many "helps" for students with children. After many long conversations with the counselor I have learned that I can go to school now without abandoning my kids. I just never thought I could go and still be the type of mom I want to be, but I can! Starting in January, the adventure begins. I will be working on my Bachelors of Nursing. :)
We will both be attending the Utah State Campus in Brigham City and for this first semester we are taking it easy with OSS 1400 (a basic computer skills class) and math 0900. (it has been WAY too many years for either of us to jump into even 1010. I think this will break us into the college atmosphere easily without being overwhelming. Because our house payment is right, and we have been able to keep other debt out, we thankfully will be able to stay in our house while we go to school.
We both feel very blessed to begin this journey and know that it will help our family in the future!

8 Things

Thanks for the tag Loretta! 8 is a lot more than you may think!

8 T.V. shows that I like to watch....
1. Biggest Loser
2. Dancing with the Stars
3. American Idol
4. So You Think You Can Dance
5. The Office
6. The O'Reilly Factor
7. umm...


8 thing that happened yesterday....(yesterday was boring...so this is today too)
1. I took Kassi to dance class! (so fun! 20 min of ballet, 20 min of gymnastics...and it's a mommy and me class)
2. I called everyone on my Ward Activities Committee to make sure things are going to go well for our ward Christmas party next week
3. I cleaned my bathroom
4. I ordered textbooks for school
5. I got a UPS package from my mom with TONS of books for the kiddos for Christmas! thanks mom!!
6. My mother in law brought my nephew over to stay with us for a couple of days! Surprisingly... all 3 kids went to bed really well
7. I cleaned up all the toys and vacuumed
8. I took care of, played with, read stories to, and LOVED my kids!


8 of my favorite places to eat...
1. Tepanyaki (this is where Ricky and I met...on dates with other people...but we met!) ;) loretta
2. Olive Garden
3. Pizza Plus in Tremonton...the best pizza and breadsticks!!
4. Red Robin
5. -TL Steakhouse (I am also a server here)
6. El Parral in Tremonton....super good Mexican food
7. Chilies
8. my mom's house :)


8 things I am looking forward to...
1. Christmas!! We already got a piano and this is the only thing Ricky and I are going to get for eachother this year...but what's not to look forward to when you have a 2 1/2 year old at Christmas time?!
2. Starting school in January...I can't wait!!
3. when my kids wake up tomorrow morning
4. getting in shape! haha
5. someday graduating from school and being a nurse!
6. going on missions for the church with Ricky (the BEST companion I could ever have!)
7. bringing more babies into our family...when the time is right
8. getting to see my mom in a week!


8 things on my wish list...
1. to find the financial security that I know is coming our way
2. to be able to travel....British Isles, China, Mexico, Hawaii...just to name a few
3. another amazing pedicure with Connie...:)
4. a full day at the spa
5. to get outta debt completely! (no more house payment...that would be so nice!)
6. FREE TUITION
7. that Ricky never had to work out of town again...that we could be together EVERY night!!
8. that life will always be as good, if not better, as it is right now!


8 people I tag....
I don't think I'm going to tag anyone...:)