We have had a very eventful few weeks!

But I will fill you in as we go!

For my birthday, it was a Monday! WoooHooo! LOL not the best day for a birthday! Rich met me at Ty’s new Salon and took the kids after work so that I could get my hair done. Thanks TY!!!!! When I got home later that evening the kids had helped dad pick out an Ice-cream cake for me. It was late so they didn’t get to eat it any until the next night after dinner. I know... I am a MEAN MOM! Hee Hee!

Ellie having her Ice cream the next evening.

We took a Family picture before church on the 15th! The kids are so cute!

Monday morning, Presidents Day, we decided we needed to take Ellie to the Dr. she had two sores on her poor little bum that we were sure were MRSA, we have been fighting it since last July, this was her first go round with it. The Dr. said that they were too big, to infected, and that it would be to traumatizing to drain them in the office so he admitted her to the hospital. We went home packed a bag and waited for the phone call to go in. By 1:30 we were in the hospital, at 2:00 she had a room, and at about 6:45 they came to take her to Pre-Op. Ellie and I were there until late Wednesday afternoon.
This is her room!

After her IV was put in and daddy, her Favorite person, came!


Grandpa came and brought her a Monkey! Then Grandpa & Daddy gave her a blessing.
Me and my feet!
Just before Surgery!
Just after the "Persuasion Potion" She didn't even fuss when they took her from me and walked down a very long hall to the OR.
Rich and I waiting, we tried to keep out mind off of things by watching the bachelor, it didn't really work!

The next morning! She was feeling like herself again!

After her very first dressing change they took her to the toy closet and let her have her pick a toy.
She loves this little doll!

Her I.V. stopped working and had to be taken out. She didn't like being held down.

But she liked the bubbles!

All ready to go HOME!

We had a home health nurse who came to the house on Thursday and she got more green puss out of one of Ellie's incisions. But Friday it was looking better and I was lucky enough to get to go with Alex and his classmates to the Arizona Science Center for a field trip. Mom & Dad came down and stayed at the house with the other kids. The group I was “chaperoning” had a blast and it was nice to get to spend some special time with Alex.

My Crew!

PULL!!!!!

Ouch, a bed of nails no thanks!

One of the boys took this picture for me just before we got back on the bus!

Alex was so worn out that he could even keep his eyes open! He had earned the right to stay up as late as he wanted on Friday night but he played to hard on the Field Trip to last for long!

Saturday we spent a good majority of the morning cleaning and clearing out! We were determined to get rid of everything that could harbor the MRSA virus! All the extra stuffed animals, kids chairs, and even the throw pillows off my couch got put in trash bags and then put into the shed. A few months in the summer heat should kill just about anything!

All of the remaining stuffed creatures got washed. We washed walls and bed frames with bleach water, cleaned all the carpets, and took everything else we could put in boxes out of the house. Once it was cleaned then it came back in. This is still a work in progress!

Saturday afternoon rolled around, mom and dad had gone home, Rich and I went to change the dressing on Ellie's bum and found that the one sore was still full of puss and nasty green chunks. Sooooooooo we called the nurse and our Dr. office and after some good advice we decided not to wait to see if it cleared up and took her back to the Hospital.

Unfortunately we had to go thru the ER this time and it was 1:30 am before Ellie and I had a room. But miracle of all miracles, it was the exact same room we were in just a few days before. Which was actually nice, she had a good view which came in handy since she wasn’t able to leave the room, we didn’t have to give anyone new directions on how to find us, and Rich still had the telephone # to the room in his cell! We have to look at the positive right!

We were there until Tuesday morning before they decided to do surgery again, just on the one side and that one sore. So now she has three little ½ inch incisions’ on her bum that we have to keep packed, dressed, and covered. The packing is the hardest part for both Ellie and Mom. It is painful for her and I have to do it which makes it hard on my heart. But it is one of those evils that has to be done so that the incisions' heal from the inside out and heal properly.

We had to stay until Thursday afternoon, and we were so happy to be home. Since the other kids were still at Grandma’s and at a friends Ellie and I both had 3 hour naps in our own beds! It was the best nap ever! After 5 nights in a hospital chair nothing could compair!

I didn't have a camera but I did have my cell so when I get the pictures on the computer I will post them.

I have to post a special THANK YOU!!!! To my dear friend Staci and to my Mother and Father In~Law who took such good care of my kids and of me while I was in the hospital with Ellie! The kids were well taken care of, Rich didn’t have to cook a single meal, and we still have leftovers!

You are all WONDERFUL!!!

Thanks you & I love you!

Field Trip Video's

Uncle Ty & Grandpa playing a trick on Alex. He didn't even remember the next morning!

Thank Goodness it was all in fun!

Slow DOWN!

Movie ~ Zoo & No hospital! Wooohooo!

Mom took Jess, Ty, & I to see Ink Heart. While we were standing in line trying to decided which movie we were going to go see mom got fed up and said in a stern voice “Would you just make pp your mind already!” To which the guy in front of us turned around with a surprised look on his face. He was standing at the window getting his tickets and thought that mom had yelled at him! We all laughed and told him we were sorry and that she was getting after us. His wife was about to pee her pants she was laughing so hard! We had a good time and I think it was the first time we have all been to a movie together with mom since we were kids! Rich wanted to go but we couldn't find a babysitter to stay with the kids, maybe next time!

Grandma Hatch finally talked Topher out of his hospital bracelet! Yeah! He had worn it for two weeks! I couldn't get him to let me cut it off, and it was one of those “pick your battle” things. So this morning he let her cut it off in exchange for a DOLLAR! It was too cute! He accidentally ripped the dollar! I have had to awnser so many questions about that stinking band over the last two weeks!

Rich asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday and I decided I wanted to finish the trip to the zoo the little kids & I started before we ended up leaving because of Topher’s poor swollen face. Since my birthday is on Monday we went first thing Saturday and spent a few hours walking around the zoo and looking at the animals. Mom went with us, and somehow managed to evade the camera until the battery died and then it was to late! But she took a family picture for us and that was nice to have too!



Grandma's favorite animal!
Lions! Roar!
My monkeys looking at the monkeys!

Family Picture! Thanks Mom!

The zoo has installed a radar / sign that shows you how fast you can run. Rich got up to 13 MPH! Alex was around 10 and Topher & Dani topped out around 7 & 5! Rich was a little worn out after

a few tries! I took video too! LOL

Ellie liked the tortoise the best I think today. They were up, walking around, and eating their lunch.

The highlight for the kids today was this squirrel! They were feeding him popcorn and he was walking up and talking it right out of their hands. Ellie was standing there with Rich before the older kids noticed and the squirrel came right up to her stood on his hind legs and touched her hands with his.

She was so HAPPY! My kids do love the little

fuzzy things! Which is Why the

Guinea Pig cage has a combination lock on it!

Birthday Fun!

We had a great time today at lunch! I feel so blessed to have so many people who love and care about me! Thanks Ladies!

Trouble! With a Capital T!

Puddle Duck ALERT!

Ellie has been on a roll! Last night she decided that one shower wasn't enough and managed to get the door open and in the shower with the other kids! FULLY CLOTHED! She had just had her shower and was in her PJ's ready for bed! The older kids thought that it was GREAT! They couldn't stop laughing!

Tonight the sour cream got left on the table and she was more then eager to help herself to it! Using her hands of course! Dani was helping, but she was eating it with a spoon. What a mess she is! Looks like it might be time for another SHOWER! I wonder what tomorrow will bring!

Favorite Super Bowl Commercial

So this is my favorite super bowl commercial! I didn't get to see it last night but I was watching a few this morning online and I love this one!

Rich's Birthday & Super bowl!

January 30th 2009

I think that Rich had a good birthday! He turned 36 on Friday. I wanted to document it all! He was up until 1am on Thursday night so I started the picture taking then! Including him working on our Taxes which is why he was up so late.

A good morning hug from Dani when she woke up.

A tickle for Ellie, who refused to give Daddy a kiss!

Breakfast of French toast as requested. After he made a quick trip to the store for milk since Dani had snuck the last of it into her room and............... drank it straight from the jug! Thats my GIRL!





His good-buy hugs from the kids!



The phone call from out of state he got at the house and had to take as he was trying to leave,
it was work related!



Chris telling me that he can "FEEL THE POWER" that milk gives him when he drinks it!

So that evening we took the kids to his parents and they spent the night there. We shared a treat with the kids and grandma and grandpa before we left. It wasn’t cake but everyone enjoyed it! I’m not sure what to call it since I just made it! No recipe! LOL I have been doing crazy things like that a lot lately!

Rich blowing in Ellie's Face and her hair going everywhere! She thought it was sooooo FUNNY!

I think we need a few more Candles!

Anyway after we dropped off the kids we went to Olive Garden and had a nice dinner, with good food, and a nice quite conversation! That doesn’t happen at our house very often! Waiting for Dinner..........

He loves his Alfredo!

He orders the same thing every time!

Rich wanted to see “Taken”, it just came out this weekend, and it was sold out at the first theater we went to, but they have wonderful waterfalls and sitting areas so we took the opportunity to take a few pictures. We did get to see it at the 2nd theater and even got decent seats!

It was almost 12 by the time we got home and we were so grateful that the kids were sleeping at Grandma’s!

Saturday January 31st 2009

Saturday afternoon I got to spend some time with one of my best friends who was in town for a few days! He dog threw up on me! Yeah………………. it lighted the mood believe it or not! So after a quick stop by my house and a change of clothes we went to lunch and did a “little” shopping! I helped he pick out place mats, to make a church bag out of, at goodwill. Then we came back to the house and talked while I put it together for her. It was so nice to see her! It made me realize how much I miss her! Love ya GIRL!!!!!!

February 1st 2009 ~ Super Bowl Sunday!

Ellie is getting so big and loving to do everything BY HERSELF! Today she discovered that she could climb the ladder and go down the BIG side and her Aunt & Uncle's house! I guess I won't worry about her and our slide now, since it is shorter! There is a video of her at the bottom of the post doing her thing! LOL

Rich blowing out his Candles. We had to pause the game so that we could sing Happy Birthday!

The Cardinal's were winning 23 ~ 20 against the Steeler's with only a few minutes of play left, and the tension in the room was CRAZY! But then they lost and the room was quite once again.

Rich and I on the stairs. Even when we have hard times I still love this man of mine!

Ellie & Bridget