Robb Birthday Bonanza & Hot Dog Extravaganza!

Last Saturday was exhausting! We started off with Josh grocery shopping while I did something else that I can't remember right now! Then, we were off to Brooklyn's soccer game, which was previously posted about. Following that, we headed to the Clearfield recreation center for a Robb Birthday Bonanza. ALL of my parent's grandkids were born in August except for Brooklyn!! So, the kiddos swam and we ate cake and rice krispy treats. It was super fun. After that, we headed to Farmington for Uncle Brandon and Aunt Carrie's Hot Dog Extravaganza. It's a super fun time. They do it annually and it's great. This year, there were games to play and, as always, yummy food. Josh and my dad played bean bag toss, then all of the kids joined Josh and Uncle David for a little football. Brooklyn played on the playground with little Delilah Mae. Brooklyn was super cute with her! It was a super fun Saturday for everyone!

Braxton is 13!!!

Dear Braxalot- Happy birthday Peanut. You were seriously THE cutest baby. You were really laid back, easy-going, always a comedian. You ALWAYS put your pacifier in your mouth upside down, then you would give us looks with one eyebrow up. It was hillarious. You also carried your blankie around like Lionus on Charlie Brown. You would drag that thing every where, with your binky in upside down. I wanted to eat you up all of the time. You've always been a bit on the clumsy side... you know, like walking into running chain saws, falling down every set of stairs you have ever attempted to climb, tripping over air, finding open cupboards with your head... just to name a few. When you were little, you were just chill. As you have gotten older, the past has come back to haunt you just a bit. At times, you have struggled with your emotions, your feelings, your anxieties, etc. But, the last four months have been the best for you. You are smiling and happy. You laugh and joke. You talk to us. You are AMAZINGLY compassionate. When I cry, you are the first one there to make it better. When I am sick, you tuck me in. When I am tired, you tell me that you'll take care of everything and you do! You are an amazing brother to your sister. Oh my goodness, you love that girl and she loves you. You love music. You love bacon. You love bacon a lot. You wish you could drive right now. You love living in the country. You are pretty into girls right now, and they are into you also. Ugh. Brax, we love you dude! We are so thankful to have you in our family! Happy birthday Peanut!

Jackson is 15!!

Dear Jackalacka- I remember the day I knew I was pregnant. I ate a banana and an apple and threw them up within 3.9 minutes flat. Done and done. I was in labor with you for 12 hours. The doctors tried twice to give me an epidural and both attempts failed. I pushed for three hours, then had a big slice "down there." They grabbed a vacuum device and sucked you right out. You had two heads for about one week. Pretty sure that's why you are so dang smart! You're welcome. You were my side kick for the first few years of your life. We managed apartments and you were with me every step of the way. You loved Baby Einstein videos, being held, eating, and Elmo. You hated sleeping, car rides, and not being held. You have been through so much in your fifteen years. Gosh, I am so proud of you. You are courageous, resilient, spiritual, on point all of the time, and smart. You are funny and so much fun. Your smile lights up our house. You are the best brother. Brooklyn always knows right where you are. She makes sure of it. You make her feel safe and secure. I am so grateful that I am your mom. I am so lucky to have you as my son! Here's to another year of happiness, laughter, and fun!!!

Back to School

For our boys, today is the first day of the new school year. Jackson is a ninth grader at Central Davis Junior High. Braxton is a seventh grader at West Point Junior High. Kaydon is a sixth grader at West Point Elementary School. Colton is a fifth grader at West Point Elementary School. Brooklyn is a kindergartner at Heritage Elementary School. Brooklyn started a couple of weeks ago because she is in year-round. Last night, Josh grilled up some amazing steaks, corn on the cob, asparagus and fat boy dessert. He also introduced our theme for the school year. "Do you measure up?" We will be using this theme in our family home evenings and in our dinner talks. More on that later... Last night, while I made sure that the boys' backpacks were ready to go, Josh made sure paperwork was signed and boys were ready to go with their schedules and locker locations. He also put new tubes in bike tires so that the two youngest can ride their bikes to and from school. While Josh was at coaches meeting last night, I wrote each of the boys a letter and left them on the kitchen counter. When I got up this morning and got ready to leave, I noticed that Josh had taken a red pen and signed "dad" next to my signed "mom" on each of the letters. The love this man has for his five kids is out of this world. They are ready for this school year and they will succeed this school year in large part because of him. He amazes me. Here's to a great 2014-15 school year!

Ordination & A Phone

Kaydon was ordained to the office of Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Sunday. A few weeks ago, I asked Josh to find out who Kaydon wanted to have ordain him. Kaydon immediately said, "YOU." I asked Josh what he told Kaydon. Josh said, "I told him I would be ready to do it." My cup runneth over. Josh was baptized a member of the Church, and was active in activities and scouts. He was ordained an Elder several years ago, but has never been "active." His mom comes from a Protestant background, and his dad is not an active member. I have never asked Josh to be active, or to participate, as I have always wanted him to do it on his own. Before we were married, he would go to Sacrament Meeting with us on Sundays, which I was always grateful for. Since we got married and moved to West Point, he has only missed one day of church and it was because he had to work. He always gets the boys to their priesthood activities, always makes sure they look appropriate and act appropriate. He makes sure we pray before meals, and participates in our family home evenings. He went and got Kaydon a new outfit for his big day. It IS a big deal when a young man chooses to be ordained to the Priesthood. The Priesthood is the path to Heaven. We, as sisters, are equally blessed by the Priesthood. Having the Priesthood in our home is essential to the Spirit being as strong as possible. Sunday was a beautiful, exciting day. Kaydon looked so sharp. He was so excited. My dad had sent Josh the wording that he needed to memorize. He spent quite a bit of time working on that. The ordination was beautiful. Again, my cup runneth over.

On a separate, but also exciting note, Braxton got his first phone. He has earned it. In our home, the rule is that you have to be 13 and getting a 3.0 to get a phone. Braxton was in no way going to get a phone when he turned 13 one year ago. He was really struggling in every aspect of his life. He was a miserable kiddo. Josh worked and worked and worked with him. When we got married and moved, it was like a switch was flipped with that kid. He is a totally different Braxton and we love it! He is responsible, helpful, service-oriented, loving, clean, kind, patient, and just good. He was set apart as the Deacon's Quorum President last week. This title doesn't make him a good kid, but the characteristics that he has taken on do. He earned this phone and I as so happy to get it for him!

Kaydon Turns 12

Dear KK, You made it twelve years on this earth! I remember your birth, probably more vividly than any of my other births. At 36 weeks, I went into labor. I had a two year old and a one year old at home. At seven inches dilated, you thought it would be a funny joke to do a flip and put your foot down the birth canal. C-section it was. Dr. Pead and Papa gave me a blessing, then whisked me into the delivery room. I was very scared. Papa sat at my head, rubbed my hair and quietly sang "Love at Home." This was Grandma Robb's favorite hymn. It brings me such peace. Suddenly, I saw Grandma in the room. She passed away three years before your birth. But, she came to bring you to me. She handed you to the doctors, who then handed you to me. Papa saw her too, which made me so thankful. She was with you often throughout your first few years. You had cute red hair, which was adorable. Just weeks after you were born, things took a big turn for the worse. You were very, very sick. You were losing a lot of weight. I was losing you. I put NG tubes in you all day, everyday. This was how you "ate." But, you would pull them out constantly, so I was always putting them back in. At six weeks old, you had a Nissen operation. They wrapped your stomach around your esophagus and tied it there. This would prevent vomiting. Then, they put a permanent G-tube in your stomach to feed you that way. You were in the hospital all the time, usually in isolation. You were so sick. The doctors would sometimes tell me that they couldn't do anything else to help you. I would hold you tight, rock you, sing "Love at Home," and tell you how brave you were and that if you were done, you could go home. You would just fight a little harder each time. Soon, you had a para-esophageal hernia repair, a tightening of the Nissen, and a G-J Tube placement. You had multiple procedures done over your first three years. You had physical, occupational, and speech therapy. You had a hospice nurse who loved you and adored you. You had multiple blessings, multiple prayers, multiple fasts done on your behalf. At three years old, I was tired of seeing you suffer. I asked the doctor to remove your feeding tube. He told me that you would surely die, as you had never taken anything by mouth to this point. I told him that I had faith. He removed it. You began to thrive. You began eating and jabbering and walking. You slowly learned to assimilate into the life of a toddler. You have never, ever had it easy. Everything has been a struggle for you. Academically, you have always been quite behind. Socially, things are a little awkward. But, oh Kaydon, you are a fighter. The most brave kind of fighter. You fight everyday to get to where you need to be. You are thriving. You are creative, imaginative, funny, and sensitive. You love your mommy, movies, legos, and animals. I love you to the moon.

Mommy

Last night, my big boy needed his mommy. He didn't say that he needed his mommy. He showed me that he needed his mommy. It was one of the greatest moments in recent memory. Jackson had a rough day/night. I can't be sure if it was just yesterday, or if emotions have been building in his mind and heart. He is a pretty quiet dude. He talks to us, but it's never too detailed. He broke last night when we got home from his orthodontist appointment. He hunched over the kitchen counter and sobbed. I rubbed his back and told him how much I loved him. Josh kept asking him what was wrong. He just cried, unable to speak through the sobs. Finally, he stood up and told us a few things that he is struggling with right now. We told him how proud we are of him and how much we love him. Josh got him a plate of food and I went into the Living Room with the other kiddos. It's so rare for Jackson to show emotions that his younger siblings were swarming him, asking him what was wrong. Colton and Brooklyn did not like seeing him so emotional. When he was done eating, he came in and sat on the couch right next to me and laid his head on my shoulder. His 6'1" frame had to slide way down on the couch so that he could cuddle with his mama. I didn't ever want that moment to end. My big boy needed his mommy and he was letting me be his mommy. He was silent, with muffled sobs now and then. But, he was with his mommy. I just held him for a good hour while the family played and talked all around us. I thanked my Heavenly Father over and over again for this moment. These moments are so very, very rare now. These kids of mine grow more and more independent every single day. But, we all need our mommy. I thought about my Heavenly Father, too. How many times do we just break and want our Father? For me, it's just about daily. And when this happens, He comes and holds us every.single.time. I never want my kids to stop needing me, and I never want to not be there for them when they do. I'll love you forever, I'll love you for always.

Colton is 11!

This cute boy is 11 years old! I went into labor with him at 30 weeks gestation, was given two steroid shots to jump start his lungs, and was on "hotel stay" at LDS Hospital until he was taken by c-section on August 4. My sweet OBGYN, Dr. Pead, gave me a blessing with my dad before I was wheeled into the delivery room. Colton was 5 pounds even. His breathing was great, thanks to the steroid shots. He was taken right to the NICU, though, for temperature control and feeding issues. Sweet Becky came up to the hospital, wheeled me to the NICU and handed my little guy to me. He was so sweet. He was in the NICU for three weeks before I was able to take him home to join his three brothers. Colton's middle name is Walter, named after my Grandpa Robb. Oh, how I love that man. Colton has had four sets of tubes put in his ears, a hernia repair, and a tonsilectomy (with the adenoids being taken out too). He was diagnosed with severe ADHD and pediatric anxiety a couple of years ago. He is on medication to help him, and has lots of help at school. He loves legos, cars, and horses. He has always loved horses! He loves to have friends, no matter what age they are. He loves to be social and to play with other kids. Colton is going into the fifth grade this year at West Point Elementary School. He is so excited. Colton is so sweet, kind, compassionate, sensitive, and loves life to the fullest! We love you Sweet Colton!!!!

The Boys are Home

I am so screwed when these boys leave on missions, or for college! Braxton was gone at scout camp for an entire week. It about killed me. Jackson was gone for three days. I missed him a little less. :) But, seriously, he's almost 15 and not always the most pleasant person to be around. Anywho, they had a great time! They learned a lot and had spiritually uplifting moments. When boys come home from scout camp, I have advice for all mothers... DO NOT listen to their stories. Just ask them if they had fun then leave it at that. Why? Because I have learned that it is a miracle that boys come home alive from scout camp. They come home with the most terrifying stories that are "cool" to them but NOT to moms! Just a little piece of advice from me to you. SO glad my boys are home!

Missing My Boys

My big boys have been gone this week, well Braxton has been gone since last Saturday and Jackson left Wednesday night. They have had scout camp this week. I miss the beegeebers out of them. Yes, that is a word. Last night, we took Kaydon and Colton to dinner and today after work, I will take them swimming so that they feel like they are a part of something fun. I cannot believe that my boys are so big. I am sure that they haven't thought about me for one minute, but I can't stand it. I so hope that they are making friends that will last them a life-time, that they are learning life skills, and that their testimonies are being strengthened. I can't wait for them to be home!!!!