Hospital #2 and #3

 In 2019 I made a goal to have a year of health-meaning- take care of health-related things for myself and my family. It went well. But in 2020 I still felt like the "year of health" just had a lot to accomplish still. So-I kept the goal. "Year of Health" has been no joke let me tell ya. Our very plump HSA is now almost gone. We've had more medical-related appointments this year than ever. Lately, we've had the flu, urinary problems, sore throats, lots of headaches, I had a minor surgery, Hospital Visit #2-and as soon as I got home from the hospital-Dave started feeling sick. 

He insisted for days it was just a cold-I kept trying to tell him to stay home from work and take care of himself, he wouldn't listen because he was trying not to lose a ton on incentive money.  He went to work for the next three nights with fever and chills. It never registered on a thermometer so he somehow got past the temp checks at work. Well, it's been 10 days. Day 3 of Dave in the hospital. Hospital visit #3.

It's been a weird week. The kids were immediately quarantined from school.  I've been stressed to the max-because I've been covering primary, covering FUSE, texting, updating everyone, phone calls, prepping a sacrament talk, and cleaning and sanitizing like a crazy person. Literally following everyone around with a Clorox wipe. I've been busy-and cried. I cried a lot the day we had to tell the family Dave's went to the hospital. They won't allow any visitor to set foot inside. Patients only. Things have now settle down and we are getting our quarantine grove on. 

But it's weird-I feel totally fine with Dave being this sick. It's weird. Yesterday we had the nicest day at home together. The rest of us are healthy! I prayed the other day that I told Heavenly Father I would serve these kids and serve in my calling and serve anyone I could if I could just stay healthy. I absolutely believe he granted my request and blessed me and the kids with keeping cool. I've been SOOOO grateful for the prayers of SOOOO many friends and family! They are all wonderful, we are so blessed and have felt so much love and concern.  God hears their prayers on our behalf! He hears my prayers! I just am not that worried about it all.

Well, here we are hoping David will show some improvement and come home soon. Today would be awesome! I'm hoping! The Kolstad ladies were literally Santa Clause to my kids and dropped a million things to keep them busy-God bless these women! Let's hope the kids don't fight and happily do their chores! (not even the almighty can do that!!)

I've been helping a little with primary activities. It's been fun! You would think I wouldn't have much to do in primary right now-but I've been keeping busy! There are always so many ways to serve! You'd be surprised!

After a day of crying the girls invited me to have a girl's sleepover in their room instead of sleeping on the couch (since our room is full of covid). I've actually been quite happy with the setup they did for me. 

Before we were down and out, we at least got to have our first fire night with Beth and her kids. 

Halloween

When in Corona Shut Down-sew your Halloween costume. I sewed my costume a number of months ago-I've always wanted a Minnie Mouse.  Will's costume won at the Boo Bash-it was pretty funny I have to admit. I was so happy my Cinderella lives on with Sage and my girls were just so cute. 

 

Dave's Vacation

A number of weeks ago, Dave knew he had a rare break from school and work-so he asked the Kleins and Milletts if they would like to do a Mexico trip. Our family arranged a trip at a very unusual time randomly just for him! It was a great trip! We had a private beach most of the time, the weather was perfect (after the Mexicans figured out our ac!) The kids had a blast with their cousins on the beach! It was all dreamy until the last night-when EVERYONE started getting diarrhea.

Thankfully I packed the pharmacy and started shelling out the good stuff just for us all to start a car ride. And OH! It was a LONG Car ride. The borderline was bad-I'm mean it usually is-but I mean BAD. A 5.5-hour car ride turned into 11.5 hours. It was painful. Dave was cursing on our group chat, Bert was putting political rants on the group chat, Tyler Klein was whining on the chat. That's how bad it got. 

Let's just say Monezuma's Revenge lasted a full 14 days. Between that and the car ride-we all swore off Mexico for a while. But I'm SO glad Dave got a break and we made awesome family memories. 

 

October

My sweet Olive Whitney turned 1 this year. She is actually not screaming her guts out when she comes to my house. It's because I immediately offer her a popsicle when Kasey leaves. I got her a Cinderella-her first that she absolutely

 needed to have

Steph and I were both looking for ways to keep busy with the kids during October "Break". Even though it wasn't a break from school because the kids have literally been home since the beginning of March. So-my brother paid for a hotel in Tuscon. We did 24 hours and stayed in the same hotel that we went to every year growing up. I felt like I was walking through times of yesteryear. We did a lot! Goofy golfed, museums, ate out, and the zoo. I was pooped but it was really nice to spend time with just Steph and her kids. Every time I spend time with Steph-I'm just so grateful Tyler married her-he was smart enough to convince her to marry him. 

Crazy Hair Day

I've been trying to be a fun mom-just one of my Halloween food attempts that no one wanted to eat or appreciate

 A little costume for school one day

Hospital #1 of 202-Elbow

 

On a Saturday, October 10th we had nothing to do at night so I made the kids hop in the car and go to the park. William insisted he didn't want to go but I didn't want him laying around the house and encouraged him to bring a ball or scooter.

He brought his penny board (a small skateboard). We were playing a friend of mine who happened to be there said "Whitney-that's Will crying I think he's hurt" As I started walking over I said "Oh he's kinda dramatic-he's fine" but as I saw his arm at one glad I knew it wasn't. "Ok honey let's go see Dad at work" and we immediately got in the car. My friend yelled, "don't worry I got your girls!" Whoops! We left all our stuff-including my children

I called Dave immediately and by some miracle, he answered and prepped for our arrival, William was calm and strong. He just kept saying "If Micah can do this so can I." Kasey answered immediately

 and grabbed my girls and kept them overnight. 

We didn't even have to wait a single minute in the ER. Dave is wonderful and even got to spend a lot of time with Will even though he was still working. Will was in good spirits, he asked a MILLION questions to EVERYONE. He loved being put under when they shoved his dislocated elbow back in and thought it was the best thing ever.  Kinda funny-but I really think he kinda liked being in the hospital. I especially loved seeing my handsome hubby in action. 

This happened right before his first day at a new school, Lumos Arts Academy, and also right before our beach vacation. He let me be the first one to sign his cast. It's been a lot of doctor's visits and now we have begun physical therapy. He's incredibly and stubborn when it comes to doing his physical therapy. 

He had a great time at the beach despite his limitations-but really-he splashed and played and was wild all week (even though he had times of feeling like he couldn't enjoy fully.) I have been so proud of him. He has had strength of emotion and character these past weeks. 

He was mesmerized watching his cast get cut off. He asked a MILLION questions again.