Utah: Travels and Misc

It needs to be noted that the week preceding our family trip to Utah we started getting a yucky stomach bug that had been going around.  It all started Tuesday night when Kate woke up throwing up.  Then a few hours later Dylan woke up throwing up.  And so the two of them had a sleepover on the couch with mommy while they switched off throwing up all night long.  But by the next morning they were fine and mommy was exhausted.  Wednesday afternoon a call came that Tyler had thrown up at school and so I went and got him.  He did complain his stomach hurt but he never threw up again.  And by dinner he was ready to eat, he slept great all night, and woke up feeling fine.  So as he wished I sent him off to school.  Unfortunately I had woken up with a very soar throat and runny nose - but I'd take that any day over throwing up.  Anyway... a few hours later I got a call that Tyler had thrown up at school again and so I headed back to get him, again.  This time he seemed perfectly fine and once again didn't throw up at home.  Thursday night I got the double whammy... not only did I have my cold but I got the stomach bug as well.  Friday morning I was still pretty yucky but all the kids seemed fine and I really preferred it that way instead of vice versa.  I really didn't want to send Tyler back to school Friday but nothing was wrong with him so he convinced me to let him go.  Friday morning the school called AGAIN... thankfully it wasn't for Tyler though, Dylan said he wasn't feeling well so I went and got him.  I had had a hard time getting the house cleaned and us packed up while dealing with all of this madness.  But Friday evening (the 14th) when Preston got home from work we were loaded and ready to start our travels - which began with a 6 hour car ride over to New Orleans because those were the most reasonable plane tickets we could find/afford.  Everything was going great until about an hour into the drive when Preston started to feel sick.  We ended up pulling over several times for him to throw up and switch drivers.  It was a miserable, long drive.  But the kids did fine.  We finally arrived at our hotel just after midnight.  Preston slept the sickness off - very thankfully - and we set his phone to wake us up around 5:15am because we needed to catch our shuttle before 6am.  At 5:41am I woke up to realize that his phone had shut off during the night :{  So we scrambled and made it to the airport and hopped on our flight.  Everyone seemed fine but about 45 minutes into the flight Brynn (who had showed no signs of sickness) threw up on the floor of the plane.  Oh so lovely.  We gathered up those handy barf bags they provide and she used them a few more times during the flight.  In fact, it had been such a rough week that I think I carried one of the barf bags around in my purse the rest of the trip just in case, because I never could tell when it would hit one of us. 

This was our first plane ride as a family in a really long time.  And Dylan was a little nervous but he sat by his very excited older brother and it went well.  Tyler was very fascinated by everything (as usual).  Brynn aside, the flight went smoothly.  When we finally landed Lyndsay was there to pick us up.  We were all dirty and tired but so glad to finally be there.  The kids crashed in the car ride back to her house - they were all worn out and the fun hadn't even begun yet!...

I got a shower and cleaned up and a few hours later babysitters arrived so Lyndsay, Preston, & I (Jonah was traveling home from Europe and the others would be arriving later that night) could go to the temple while Kellie took out her endowments...

Brynn was perked up and feeling better by the time we got home.  What was a long 24 hours was ending on a high note.  And the week just got better.  We hadn't made any big plans because we mostly just wanted to be able to let the kids hang out and play with each other.  And they did.  And it was great...

Unfortunately we of course brought the sickness with us - but really, they wouldn't have wanted us to stay home, right?!!?  And while it didn't spread through everybody - which is a small miracle since everyone except mom & dad (23 people) were all staying at Lyndsays house, a few people did get sick.  But as with us it was short lived and ran its course pretty fast.  And thankfully it hit at the beginning of the week, especially for Steven, instead of at the end when we had all the big wedding events...

It also should be noted that when Lyndsay and Jonah heard about the engagement, and soon to be wedding, they started finishing their basement in order to accommodate all of us.  We were soooo thankful to them for this.  Their house looks amazing and it added 2 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a movie room, and several other smaller rooms we could throw kids in.  While they didn't fully complete the project given their short time frame they did get walls up, lights and most outlets in, doors hung, blinds up, etc.  But they also used the boys as manual labor to get furniture moved in and out and other little projects done - which they were more than happy to do.

I said they had included a movie room in their newly finished basement, but it wasn't exactly set up or ready to go.  In fact we moved the couch down but they hadn't even gotten a projector yet.  I was a little saddened by this and I may have inappropriately asked the kids to all draw pictures and write notes to Uncle Jonah telling him how badly they wanted to have movie nights together down there while we were all together.  And he was a sweetheart and caved to my craziness and by the middle of the week we had an official movie room done, surround sound and all!!

Basically every night (they may have lost the privilege once or twice due to lack of sleep) they had sleepovers wherever...

 Meal times were always fun.  I loved seeing the kids gathered around the table...

Other usual stuff went on:  Clay cut the boys hair.  Us adults poured and pondered and brainstormed about the kids confusing homework (they were all missing about 4 days of school since Monday they had off for Presidents day).  We drank lots of pop.  We stayed up late talking (doesn't everyone do that with a shot gun in their hands?!?).  The kids all got along so well and played all day every day.  We absolutely destroyed the Detroes house - and while we did pick up frequently I had to send Jonah a picture at work to prove it to him because within 15 minutes of our hard work the kids had stuff destroyed again.  There was lots of Mario to be played for Brody.  And TJ came clean on his SuperBowl bet with Clay.

Christmas & Valentines & Such...

So as I was cleaning off one of my cameras I realized I forgot to post a few of the things I wanted to remember from Christmas...

The kids sat down together all by themselves and made their own Christmas lists.  Some of it was surprising but some wasn't.  But we had to talk to them several times and explain that just because it was on their list didn't mean they were for sure getting it - don't know why they thought that.  Tyler did this one at school...

 A drawing Brynn did...

Our kids had been reduced to only taking paper on clipboards, coloring pencils, a few church books, and some Friend magazines to sacrament meeting on Sundays.  But even that was getting to be too much for them to handle.  So at the start of the year we decided they each got a notebook and a pen and that was it.  Here is what Tyler and Brynn have been up too with those...

Tyler's artwork from school...

Now on to Valentines!  The first two weeks of February were crazy busy trying to get stuff ready for Valentines and our trip to Utah.  It was a pretty lame holiday for us.  I didn't decorate or get out our love mailboxes at all.  And today, on Valentines I am sick and we are starting our travels to Utah as soon as daddy gets home.  So no celebrating today.  But here are the Valentines we all chose to hand out this year...
I did these for the primary kids at church:

The ones the kids gave to their teachers:

 Tylers:

 Dylans:

 Brynn made Rainbow Loom bracelets for everyone in her class:

Kates - and of course I had to get her a minion shirt to wear when she passed hers out at playgroup:

Mine - my friend Ashley does a fun girls night Valentines party:

Tyler's class was having a contest for the things they made to collect Valentines in.  And he really really really wanted to win.  So I came up with a few ideas for him and he picked the shark.  So I got the supplies together and he and daddy made it:

He loved it.  He was proud of it.  And he was SO sure he was going to win.... thankfully he did!

Oh and one day Kate came up and asked me if she could please play on the "puter" (aka computer).  I didn't think it would go well.  I hate teaching kids how to use the mouse and play games because its always so frustrating for both involved while they are trying to get it down.  But she caught on right away and its her favorite thing to do now...

And on another afternoon while we were outside playing she brought me Tyler's roller blades and informed me she wanted to use them.  So I dug around and found Brynn's first pair of rollerskates and we compromised...

My girls love to sing.  And Kate especially loves Wrecking Ball - no I'm not a fan of who Miley Cyrus has become as a person, but I still enjoy some of her music.  I tried to get a little clip of them singing it but of course once they know the camera is rolling they always seem to hold back a little... 

Hunters Blessing

This past weekend Preston got to make a quick trip to Boston for Hunter's Blessing.  He ended up being the only one in his family who was able to be there that weekend so I'm happy he could go and support them.  But I have to admit I am super jealous it was him and not me who got to go and snuggle these two cuties...

He left Friday evening after work - and its a miracle he didn't miss his flight.  He cuts things way to close and does not worry about it like I do and I don't know how he made it on time but he did.  Geez.  And then he was back home by late Sunday night.  Totally worth it though :)

More reviews on the Dr.

From Face Book Tyndall AFB Wives page:

I need to change my PCM. Anyone have any suggestions on a doctor they really like? I don't go to the doctor very often so it isn't that big of a deal, but I REALLY don't ever want to have to see the lady that used webmd to tell me that I had lupus 4 days after giving birth (which I DON'T) after not finding info she wanted when she GOOGLED "what is eczema"....lol

•  They all suck!! Lol I see someone different every time.....
•  Well hopefully the only time I ever need to be seen is when I am really sick and can go to a walk in off base or something lol
•  I love Wilson.
• I love Dr Sharp he is very informative and if something isn't working out (medicine,etc) he will work with you
•  I go to the ER or wait till the weekend and go to urgent care if its bad, I hope you find a better doctor
•  I have Wilson and I like him a lot
•  I switched to standard lol. The idiots on base can't even diagnose a severe kidney infection
• I thought I loved Wilson, but now I'm not sp sure. I had a mole like thing on my back removed and it has grown back. Im sure if a Dr off base did it, it wouldn't have come back.
• I like PA Watts. I had Hawkins and she sucks !
•  I see PA Watts and really her. She really seems to care about the whole person and seemed very knowledgeable without the aid of the internet. That, by the way, just blows my mind!
• Both my husband and I have been seen by one of the new docters-Dr. Autio ( I think that's how it's spelled) Anyway, she was very kind, attentive, thorough and knowledgeable.We both would go back to see her. The only other doc we've seen is Hawkins and we were not pleased at all.
•  I love Dr wilson. Avoid Dr Hawkins like the plague!
• Dr Hawkins is bad.... I switched to flight med when I got out of active duty thinking maybe they were better or smarter...far from the truth lol.
• She is one of the most judgmental uneducated women I've met in the medical profession. She was rude, mean, unprofessional... and the list goes on.
•  Dr Wilson is the best!! I love dealing with him.. He's super sweet and he cares about his patience..
• Dr Dispense is fabulous!!!
• Ive seen Dr. Wilson for the last 1.5 years. He is an amazing doc. I think he is the first doctor in my 8 years dealing with Military doc who actually takes the time to listen, evaluate the problem and really tries to fix it himself instead of just referring you somewhere off base. He doesn't just write you a prescription to solve the problem either. Great Doctor. I have also been seen by Dr. Sharp and he is right of there with Dr Wilson. Very caring, really listens, and does his best to help you, and he is great with following up to make sure things are good. Both are great doctors and Id rather see them over someone off base who doesn't care at all. I've seen plenty of those doctors in this area.
• Bad experience with Hawkins also. She completely ignored my blood work when it showed I was anemic. I ended up in the hospital for three days having a blood transfusion..
• PA Watts is the best!
• I've been seen by Hawkins as well and she is bad. I told her I had ulcers in my stomach and she sent me to get an EKG I didn't need she made me go to like five different doctors bc she told me I have a deadly disease that I don't have! She is also not very friendly and not knowledgable at all and I was not impressed.
• Also she was trying to drug me up she gave me like five different prescriptions I didn't need bc she didn't know what was wrong with me even tho I told her.
• I'm glad I read this bc I need to be seen ab my thyroid. I will most definitely avoid Hawkins. Has anyone reported her to the Patient Advocate?!
• Yes. I filled a full report. Even had me sit down and tell them everything. Nothing seems to have happened to her so idk
• Thanks for all of the great info! I did see Doctor WebMD get referred by a few people which I think is funny, but I'm glad to see that not everyone had the same problem that I did!
• Im another Wilson lover hes direct and honest. It may be off putting to others but I appreciate it. He has a great bedside manner and takes your symptoms and concerns seriously. He also really good at explaining what and why he thinks something along w giving you his resources. All of my friends like him as well. Good luck
• Ps I've seen Hawkins and I had to do everything in me not to lose my cool and im pretty mild mannered in those types of situations.
• WILSON
• Dr. Wilson in family practice is fantastic! I have very complicated medical problems and he is wonderful.
• Hawkins.....EWWWWW the things I could say! I filed a patient complaint against her I was so angry.

These wives can be infuriating.  They say the stupidest things.  I don't know what they are thinking - maybe that the military doctors go to different/worse medical schools then the rest of the doctors in the country?!?  Or is it really in their best interest or anyone else's for them to wait and visit random ER's and after hour clinics instead of seeing their PCM?!?  I could go on but I'll be done... at least Dr Wilson fared pretty well again.