James' first (hopefully last) trip to the ER!

We had such a wonderful time in Utah with our family and friends I knew it would be hard to come back to 'real life'.  Our first week back Dave was still on nights.  It was an especially busy week too.  He was at the hospital for at least 16 hours every night.  Needless to say he was exhausted and I had little (okay I'm being generous) no help with the kids.  By Sunday night we were both pretty spent.  It was our first day and night together as a family in a month.  Dave was still, understandably, tired from his week and I was ready for a good night's rest myself.  I was so excited that both kids were down for bed and asleep before 8:00 I wanted to cry.  Dave and I crashed not too long after that.

And then the fun began.

At around 2:00 am Maddie woke up.  She will do this occasionally at night and usually if it is before 5:00 I leave her alone and she sings herself back asleep in just a couple of minutes on her own.  I didn't know what time it was so I was fumbling around feeling for my phone on my night stand when I knocked off a heavy drinking glass I didn't know was there.  It happened to fall directly on James' face who was sleeping on our floor.

As soon as I heard the thud I was sick.

I screamed before James.  I reached down to find him still in the dark and came up with a hand full of blood.  By then he was crying hard.  Dave jumped out of bed and took James from me to pull him into the bathroom.  As soon as I saw his little face I started to cry too.  He had a deep gash under his eye that was bleeding heavily.  Dave said right away he would need stitches.  Maddie was up in full force at this time too.

I told Dave to stay with Maddie and get some sleep, he had a VERY full day ahead of him that started at 5:00am and wouldn't end until after 10:00pm (he was on call, this is not typical).  James and I took off for the hospital about 15 minutes away.  It was 2:30a when we left.  By this time we had cleaned James up and put on fresh clothes that didn't look like part of a murder scene.
James was unbelievable.

He was calm for the whole ride to the hospital.  I told him not to touch his eye and he was very, very obedient.  Occasionally he would point to it and say 'ouch' or 'yucky eye' but he literally left it alone.  When we got the the ER Dave had called ahead and spoke with the attending pediatric ER doc who met us in triage.  He was super nice and he and the nurse swept us back to our room right away.

James' pointing to his 'owie'

James was still being super brave.  He let them clean, close and bandage his eye with out a fight or much crying.  We were back home and in bed by 4:00am.

Hats off to all the mom's out there with chronically ill children or whose children have suffered severe injury or illness.  It amazes me what a wreck I am when my kids are sick or hurt. Especially having been a pediatric nurse for several years now.  It is so much easier to be calm for other people's kids than your own.

Of course James was fine and running around the very next morning.  I am grateful for the many tender mercies in this experience.  First I am grateful that Dave was home and not working that night.  Second I am grateful Dave knew where we should go and who to call, such a blessing when you are new to an area.  Third I am grateful to the AMAZING staff at Sunrise Children's hospital.  They were so kind to James and me.  And so fast and efficient.  I have had well child check-ups take considerably longer than this ER visit did.  We were in and out in under an hour! Finally I am extremely grateful that it was not worse.  It could have easily landed on his eye and done some very serious damage.  In the end all is well.

I did not take any pictures when we were at the hospital.  It really was the furthest thing from my mind  that night.  So instead here are some pictures of James enjoying an apple at the park about a week later. His black eye has already healed and the gash is closing up nicely.  I think he has forgiven me too.

Utah week 3

We have made it back home to Las Vegas.  It still feels a little strange calling Nevada home...especially after just leaving a wonderful trip to Utah filled with lots of family and friends.  However as soon as we saw Dave/Daddy we definitely felt like we were home!  Our last week in Utah was just as busy and fun as our first two weeks.

We started our Final week off meeting these two fun ladies, Aunt Nancy and Bonnie, at the children's museum in Salt Lake.

Once James woke up the kids had a ball!!

James was too 'busy' to look at me, even for a moment....But Maddie hammed it up!

A couple of days later my mom took us to the This Is the Place Heritage Park.  I had not been there since I was a teenager.  I couldn't believe all there was to do there.  

Maddie, Granddad and I.  It was so great getting to spend time with my sweet Granddad.  I just love him so much.  He is so much fun and kept me laughing everyday!

James LOVED the mini village.  We had to trick him to leave.  And after being at the park for over 4 hours he still wanted to go back and play in the "baby houses".

"Peek - eee - boo!"

Oh my little Maddie and her 'firework' pig-tails.

Crawling on her hands and feet

 The park has pony rides.  I thought James would LOVE this.  However, he wanted nothing to do with it.  The first time he freaked out when I went to put him on the horse.  So we put Maddie on instead.  She was a great sport.  

 The petting Zoo with the baby goat that followed us everywhere.

 This turkey was really into Maddie...Maddie didn't quite return the fascination.

 After James saw Maddie and a couple girls around his age ride he had to have a turn...then another, and had to ride the other pony, he was NOT happy to get off when it was time to move on!

 Mini-train ride.  James again was not excited for this one to end.

 Panning for gold

James with a replica of the eagle in downtown Salt Lake that was carved by his Great-great-great-great...grandfather Ramsay.

 We had a Ball at the park I want to go again with Dave!

 For our last weekend we had our First Annual Johnston Olympics. 

 Here are most (but not all) of the competitors.  

It was a BLAST.  I can't wait for this to become a regular tradition.  I really could (and should) do a separate post for this one. We started off by running a 5k.  My sister-in-law basically killed us all in this.   I was happy to take 2nd. Then we had several events that we each chose including; push-ups, bum-wars, leg wrestling, arm wrestling, cartwheels, a sprint....and I am sure there is more but I can't remember off the top of my head.

It was so much fun being together as a family and goofing off.  It was also fun having all the kids/cousins playing together.

We were also able to see the Witches at Gardner Village.  My mom and I love going to see the witches and I have had to miss them quite a bit since living out of state so when we found out they were being put out the Saturday before I left town we went out of our way to go!

 Cute mom and Maddie.  She is the Happiest little baby and boy does she love her grandma!

 My brother Dallin and his wife live really close and were able to meet us there.  These are their handsome boys David and Carter.

 James loved checking out the witches, but this is the only picture I have of him looking at a witch where you can see his cute little face.

 My brother Dallin and I are very....passionate people.  People (the rest of our family) often misconstrue our conversations as being argumentative, when in-fact we are usually agreeing with one another in a rather boisterous manner.  My mother did a rather good job capturing one of these conversations while we were walking through the village.  No we are not arguing.  This is just how we talk.

James and a pumpkin.  

Our final night the kids and I went back to Orem to Celebrate Grandpa Phil and Uncle Jerry's birthdays.  It was a yummy dinner and lots of fun playing with the cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles, but I forgot my camera!  So you will just have to take my word for it.

Overall we had a GREAT time in Utah.  Thank you to all our wonderful family and friends who went out of their way to see us, play with us and make it such a fun trip.  We miss you all, but we are happy to be home with Dad!!!!!!

Utah week 2

Our Second week in Utah I took the kids down to Orem so we could play with Bonnie and Grandpa.  They took the kids to a place near their home called The Kangaroo Zoo.  With schools back in session we had the WHOLE place to our selves!  

 James was a little timid at first, but once he got the hang of bouncing, climbing and going down the slides he was in heaven and did NOT want to leave!

 Maddie also had a ball.  There was a small baby section she could crawl and cruise around.  She especially loved this tunnel she went back and forth laughing and squealing with joy.

 Grandpa entertained Maddie while I tried to keep up with James

 So much fun, thanks Bonnie and Grandpa.

While we were in Orem we also got to see Uncle Jerry, Uncle Kenny and Aunt Jill and their beautiful girls Emma, Katie and Eliza. It is always so much fun being with family.  But next time I will be better about getting some pictures!

When we returned to Bountiful we spent lots more time on the farm picking Veggies.

 My kids LOVE being out doors and James has a ball every time we take him to the farm.  I hope one day Dave and I can have one just like this!  We picked so many yummy fruits and veggies that we had far too much for ourselves so that night my mom, the kids and I took veggies around to the neighbors with James, Maddie and I riding on my Grandma's Jazzy (they LOVED it!).  Unfortunately we did not get any pictures of that adventure.

 A couple days later my mom and I drug the kids shopping and then took them to the park for a picnic and to feed the ducks.  James was chasing the seagulls around calling them "baby ducks" and trying to have them eat out of his hand.  He also walked right out into the pond and got very muddy.  Anyone who knows James well can understand how traumatic this was for him!  He kept screaming for me to get him a wipe.  My mom and I were having a hard time showing much sympathy while we were laughing.

 Maddie had a ball too!

 We also found Maddie's new favorite food, mashed potatoes!!!  YUM!  She is in heaven when we feed her these!

We have just a couple more days here.  It has been so much fun!  But we really miss Dave/Daddy!

Utah week 1

Dave is on Night Shift this month.  We both felt that 80 hours a week of straight nights and two small children in a small apartment with 100+ degree weather would not be good for any of us, especially Dave when he needs to get some sleep!
  So my mother, very generously, brought the kids and I to Utah to stay where she could help me, we could play, enjoy some nicer weather and best of all be with family.  If only Dave were here!!  We have been here a little over two weeks and we have already seen and done SO much I thought I should probably start blogging about what we have been up to a week at a time so I don't forget anything!

The Flight to Utah:

Without trying to sound too conceited (though when people start a sentence that way they inevitably are going to!) I consider myself to be a really well traveled mom.  I have taken James on nearly 20 plane rides and many car trips most of which have been on my own.  We have even traveled a bit with Madeline.  But I have never been on an airplane alone with both kids.  Needless to say I was nervous, really nervous.  I think I played out every possible problem we could have had in my head, over and over.  However, all my worrying turned out to be a HUGE waste of energy.  The kids were perfect! PHEW!  Maddie slept most of the flight, and didn't vomit once (that alone is a miracle)!  James just sat nicely in his own little seat watching shows and snacking away.  Many people commented on how great they were. 

 

 Maddie making this almost too easy and

James anxiously awaiting his turn to go on a plane!

Our first day in Utah my sister-in-law Cami came to Bountiful to see us and have our kids play together.  We took them all to Mike and Grandpa's "farm" where they picked lost of yummy fruits and veggies.  Cami (my brother Dallin's wife) has a son just 5 1/2 months older than James and a baby just 5 months older than Maddie.  It is so fun having the cousins play together! 

 Little Davey and James digging away!

 

 Hyrum and Maddie Crawling around together at Grandpa and Lady's house.

A couple of days later my sister-in-law Mariah (Justin's wife) suggested we take the kids to the Dinosaur park in Ogden Canyon.  It was super fun, the boys especially LOVED it!  She also had kids really close in age to James and Maddie.  Max is just over 9 months older than James and Wyatt is about the same distance from Maddie.

 Cute little buddies holding hands through the park

 Caveman James

  Maddie seemed to enjoy it too!

And Handsome Cousin Wyatt is always happy!

The next night I got to go out with this sweet woman:

Jess and I have been friends for YEARS.  I am truly blessed to have such a dear friend.  We have always had so much fun together.  It was so great reminiscing and catching up!

On Thursday my dad took the kids and I to their very first University of Utah Football game!  I grew up going to football games all the time with my Dad.  I have so many happy memories cheering on

our Utes.  It was so fun bringing my kids to the game!

They did really well, better than I anticipated, though by this point in the game (the end of the third quarter) James was more interested in playing with Maddie and she was more interested in nursing (they do not have mother's lounges at football stadiums, weird...).  So when the rain came we headed home.  It was a lot of fun!

In the meantime this little one figured out she could do this:

 Yes this is my crazy 6 1/2 month old standing ALL BY HERSELF!  I am hoping she will hold off on the walking thing for a couple more months....

Long before we came to Utah and the first week we were here my siblings, dad and I had all been plotting a surprise party for this pretty lady:

 Fifty never looked so good!!

I told her we were going to go take 6 month photos of Madeline to get her to the park where all our family (sans dave :( ) and some of mom's closest friends were waiting to surprise her.  Despite some sprinkles, strong winds and cool weather it turned out great!  She was very surprised!

 My siblings and I did 50 gifts for 50 years.  Our final gift was 50 random acts of kindness/service that we all preformed in honor of mom. There were LOTS of tears so I think she liked it. 

 Mom with her cute dad (89!) and her two brothers.

 Our family.  

We just love our sweet mom!  I am so grateful for such WONDERFUL brothers and sisters that helped me make this happen. 

Along with surprises, gifts, family, friends and food the party also had lots of CUTE babies!

 Like this one

 and this one

And my personal favorite!

That is week one of our trip to Utah.  LOTS more to come!