Thursday, July 21, 2016

Camping With a Few Accidents

Last weekend we went camping with Liz, Julie, Chris, and Jean and all of our families. It was SO MUCH FUN!!! Lance was the only one who wasn't able to make it (because of work) so there were 12 kids and 9 adults. We headed to Lake Spokane which is about 40 minutes west of our house. The campsites were nice and big but the dirt was such a fine powder that everything got dirty and I mean DIRTY!

Aaron took 8 of the kids on a bear hunt around the campsite. They each looked for things they could use to catch the bear with or to scare the bear off with. It was so cute and Kimball still asks if he can go on another bear hunt.
 Lots of marshmallows

 And goofy faces of each of my kids






We played lots of games and I found my new go-to camp food: a crescent roll cooked over the fire on a roasting stick, then dipped in melted butter and then dipped in sugar and cinnamon. SO yummy!! The outside is crunchy and the inside soft and a bit doughy - delicious!


About 40 minutes after the kids went to bed I could hear Cora crying in the tent (the adults were around the camp fire eating and talking). I ran over to the tent and found her huddled in the corner looking scared. I snuggled her up for a few minutes and laid her down to go back to sleep. She started crying again. That's when I noticed a string hanging down that I thought was from her pajamas so I pulled it but it wouldn't come loose. I shined my flashlight on the string and found that it was floss wrapped several times around her neck!! She had gotten into the duffle bag and went through all of the stuff, I think she put the floss around her thinking it was a necklace. I had to call Julie over to help me get her untangled and by then I decided it was time for me to go to bed. The kids actually slept great and I didn't sleep at all.
The next morning we had to roast more marshmallows and crescent rolls so everybody got all sticky again. Kimball and Liz's dog, Sadie, were best pals the whole trip. As we were just sitting around talking, I started to change Cora's poopy diaper by Liz's trailer. Kimball was playing with the dog and out of nowhere Kimball started screaming and fell to the ground and was scurrying away from the dog. I thought the dog just barked loudly and scared Kimball so I continued wiping Cora's dirty bum which I held in the air. As I'm pulling up Cora's pants I saw all the adults rush over to Kimball who's face is covered in blood; Sadie bit him in the face! I didn't realize he was bit at first so I felt bad that I couldn't get to him right away. Kimball was crying hysterically and was so scared. There was blood dripping from his face and he started to instantly swell up. I cleaned the puncture wounds with an antibacterial wipe, put some neosporin on, and put a few bandaids on his face. The bandaids were soaked in blood in a matter of minutes so I switched it out to some gauze. I took him over to a chair by the fire and put an ice pack on his face.

Just then Daddy surprised us! He drove up for the day and we were so surprised to see him which was great timing because all Kimball wanted was his dad.

Then we headed down to the lake for some water fun.


 

By sunday morning, this was Kimball's face - so red and hugely swollen. He cried all during breakfast because he couldn't open his mouth to eat. He was in a lot of pain. I toyed with the idea of taking him into urgent care and decided to go after church. Boy am I glad I did! The doctor said he had a bad infection so he gave him two shots of antibiotics in his legs and sent him home on a liquid antibiotic. He said if the swelling and redness continued within the next 24 hours to take him into the ER for a CT scan and to be admitted. Apparently the infection was BAD! I felt so bad for him because the swelling was causing him so much pain, he couldn't open his mouth to eat, and couldn't even smile.

By the next morning the swelling went down a lot. I think the Lord was watching over him because the dog missed his eye and sinuses and if I hadn't the "just in the case" feeling to take him into the doctor, he would've ended up in the ER by the second day. Tender mercies!


Latest Happenings

I'm new to the whole raspberry business and my bushes have quit bearing fruit. This was my first year making jam and I made about 35 pints! Doesn't it look so pretty? I made about two batches every week and I'm curious to see if they'll start growing berries again toward the end of summer.
 Riding bikes and scooters at the school
 My kids have THE BEST father EVER!!!
When the kids and I got home from Boise, Daddy surprised them (and me) with this trampoline. They have been in heaven!


 Cora's complete terror and fear of the car wash.
 The face of a winner! I taught Kimball how to play Uno and he's pretty darn good.
 Afternoon BBQ with friends
Cora started a new therapy-pool therapy. This was the first day, she wouldn't even take her shoes off nonetheless get in the water. But toward the end of the session she was about waist deep and now she LOVES it!



Quality Time With Mom & Christine

After the reunion Mom, Christine, and I stayed in Boise for 3 extra days to spend a little more time together. We all stayed at Debra's house and unfortunately, half of us ended up with the stomach flu. I got it really bad and it pushed our plans back a day so that I could recuperate. Mom and her siblings were asked to be with Grandma for the day that Grandpa was in Seattle with his heart surgery, so she missed going to the zoo with Christine and I.

Cora loved the monkies the most, Zander and Kimball got their faces painted and rode the merry-go-round, and after a long two hours at the zoo we finished it off with lunch and rock candy. The kids shared half of their lunch with the birds and ducks near by.
 
 
 
 











  
  


The next day we shopped at Gordman's where Christine and I both made a good haul from. I miss Mom and Christine so much and was SOOOO thankful I got sick at Debra's and not on the road back home. They helped me take care of the kids and let me nap and shower and rest as I needed. I'm so thankful for them!! Our kids have the best grandma! How many grandma's do you know will sit in the sand box?!