Coburn Kids

What a fun week we had. We were able to go to the West Fest Carnival. The girls had a blast, it was hot but we went earlier in the day so no lines. So that was worth it. Genevieve was quite sad that she’s now too tall to go on a lot of the kids rides though. You have to be 48″ or smaller and she is a solid 50″ now. I can’t believe how tall she is, no one believes she’s only 6! She was “comforted” by the fact that she now qualifies to ride all the big adult rides at Lagoon this year.  She plans on taking advantage of that. Adessa is right there at average at 40″ tall.

The girls got a sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa’s house as well. Which they love. They also were able to go see Wall-E this weekend, another big treat.

I have been on a cleaning spree as well. Made my laundry room pristine. Cleaned and organized the game closet. I’ve been pulling up our ground cover in front because it’s horrid looking. I know it’s supposed to be this wonderful drought-resistant ground cover but it looks like weeds to me if you aren’t close up to it. The girls have been helping with that as well and have been a big help! So we’ve definitely been keeping busy this summer so far.

So I bought Daniel a Wii Fit for his Father’s Day present. He’s really wanted one and my girls just love all things “wii”. So I stepped on and tried it tonight. (Forgive me for sounding like a commercial now). It makes you input your age, height, birthdate, does your BMI for you and everything. Scary. Let’s you set goals if you want to. Gives you a Wii Fit age, I got 29… just as old as I am so good news.

It covers Yoga (my 2 girls are Yoga fanatics overnight), Strength Training, Aerobics and Balance. So I decide to try some of it out, thinking that this would be pretty easy. I’m on the Beginner level with everything. IT KICKS MY BUTT!! The balance games I’m okay on, I can get to about level 5 on them. I get 2 out of 4 stars every time. The strength training… NO ONE DOES LUNGES THAT SLOW. Got 4 stars on that one though. Yoga, it watches your balance and the Wii Fit Board is incredibly sensitive. My girls are doing better at the Yoga then me. Aerobics? Yes, they are very aerobic. I did the running, stayed with my “trainer” the whole time and got 44%. WHAT?! I did the hula hoops, Gena beat me on that and my calves were burning by the end of it. THIS IS THE BEGINNER LEVEL!

So I’m either in really sad shape, or this Wii Fit is indeed living up to it’s name. Reading online reviews, they concur. The Wii Fit will challenge you. It’s fun, don’t get me wrong and at no point did I feel I was exercising. I was working muscles, was engaged, and was getting very hot and uncomfortable after just 20 minutes. So a thumbs up. If anyone out there was thinking of getting one (and you can actually find it), it’s worth it.

In addition, my 4 year old can do any of these games, especially the Yoga and she loves it. My 6 year old is very adept at the games and is beyond excited to be doing this every day. So I have a VIDEO GAME that actually promotes strength, flexibility and aerobic exercise that my kids are loving. I can’t think of a better bonus then this.

Yesterday was Caden’s appointment to replace his PEG tube with the new Mic-Key button. Daniel was able to come which was a treat, because I always seem to be the only one with the kids when something traumatic to them happens!  No more though. We got to Dr. Jackson’s office at 2 and they weighed Caden.  He comes in at an even 18 lb.’s now!  What a big boy. They put some numbing cream around his stoma (hole in the stomach) and then they came in to remove his PEG tube.  Yeahhhhhh…. that didn’t go so well.  Caden was crying big ol’ crocodile tears and frantically shaking his head while crying. Then the blood came.  I was holding Caden’s arms and Daniel his legs. Dr. Jackson was able to get the new feeding button in without a problem though and fill up the balloon (its what holds it in his stomach so it doesn’t fall out or in.)

Then came the words “cauterize”. Caden has what’s called granulation tissue around the hole in his stomach.  It’s common, it’s the body trying to heal the hole up but it’s beefy and red. It has to be cauterized so that it will stop growing. The doctor used silver nitrate sticks to do it and our instructions included the words “every other day do this until he starts crying…”  Translated, “do it until it hurts him enough to cry then you know you’re doing it right”.  Talk about tearing your heart out. I mean, the NG Tube was bad.  Having to phyically restrain your child to shove this piece of tube up your nose (ow), down your throat gagging you, into your stomach is bad enough as a parent to do to your child.  Even worse when it becomes second nature because you’ve done it for months.  My only comfort at this point is Caden will remember none of this.  He does have a remarkable pain tolerance though… which shouldn’t surprise anyone.

I’ve got the pic of his new button below though (he looks scared in this picture, I think it was the flash)!  I know there were some really interested in seeing what it looks like.  So I present our new blow-up baby, complete with an air hole:

All right, lots to tell you about over the past 2 weeks. First off, I’m fully recovered from pneumonia. That was a terrible experience I never hope to relive. No one else got sick except Caden is a bit congested with a cough. No fever or anything though.

Adessa had her preschool program on June 10th and was so excited for it. She was very excited to be going up on the “big stage” and singing with her classmates. Grandma and Grandpa came as well and she was a cutie.

Adessa doesn’t know how to smile spontaneously. She clenches her teeth, it’s also impossible to get her to look AT the camera.

Getting her participation certificate.

With her teacher, Ms. Heidi (again, she can’t connect that you have to look at the camera).

After the program!

Then Genevieve’s school had their annual carnival on June 13th, which we went to and the girls loved because of the blow up rides. Caden was a doll and just enjoyed being outside and hanging out.

Action shot!

Gena coming off a ride

Caden being a cutie!

Then the girls had their Stake Primary Activity on June 14th during the afternoon, it was about the Book of Mormon and they had to dress up. So I got a bed sheet and made little costumes for them. I wasn’t able to see it but apparently at the activity Adessa had to be a Flamingo and watch over baby Jesus. I guess they were short on farm animal costumes!

Don’t they look cute! They both said they were Mary.

Then it was Adessa’s birthday party later that day! She’s turning 4. We decided to go to a park this year… easy, simple, don’t have to clean up the house. The girls loved it and they all had a good time.

Getting ready to leave for the park.

The girls with their cousin Ethan eating dinner.

Adessa with her cake.

Blowing out her candles!

Opening presents

More presents!

So it’s been busy, busy. Later today I am taking Caden up to Primary Children’s in the GI clinic to get his PEG tube replaced with the Mic-Key button. Uncle Jason is coming over to watch Gena and Adessa which is so sweet of him. I’m very excited to get rid of the tube and have something that will sit more flush with his tummy. As an eating update, Caden is doing worse and worse on the bottle. His first feeding of the day we can barely get 2 oz.’s in him. We are having to do the feeding tube more and we can’t figure out why he doesn’t want to finish his bottles. He’s doing okay on solids, seems to enjoy them but has a very strong tongue thrust so we’re working on that.

Mommy’s been ill with 100+ fever since monday. I came home a little early that day and she was a trooper Tue and Wed. I decided to stay home today and am sending her off to the Dr. I’m getting work done which is good, and I’ll get to spend some quality time with my kids. We are supposed to go to Carol Anne’s Birthday today, so it might just be me an the kids, but she needs as much sleep as she can get. And don’t listen to a thing she says, I did NOT wake her up every 30 minutes (More like 40).

**Updated**   She has pneumonia!

****UPDATED UPDATE**** Adding insult to injury she’s allergic to the antibiotic they gave her.  She has hives all over her body (Side note she looks like she’s been tanning and got sun burnt, maybe she’ll have that elusive tan she’s always wanted)