Visit from Jill

While living in Salem, our next door neighbor for several years, was Jill Shitamoto.  She graduated from law school and moved to California, but still owns (and rents) her home in Salem.  She came to check up on things last month, so called to see if she could stop by and see us.  We're so glad she did!  And the extra bonus: she just got engaged, so we got to meet her fiance', Craig.  (He is wonderful!)  We had a wonderful time visiting, laughing, and catching up.  The kids loved playing with them and eating the yummy donuts they brought.  Good times!
 

Mommy's "Get Away"

Kyle had a trip to Denver for training this week and since my oldest sister, Alyson, lives there, I decided this was the perfect opportunity to go!  Kyle left last Sunday evening to start training Monday morning, then I flew there on Tuesday.  We both flew home Friday, although unfortunately didn't end up on the same flight.  But we had a wonderful time and I am so thankful I was able to go.  My sister, Jana, was a saint and willingly took my other three kiddos.  She had to get Kylene to a neighbor's house each morning by 7:30 a.m., so I really appreciate her doing that!  Then she picked her up each afternoon at 2:30.  The kids had a blast having a sleepover with their cousins for three days.  Hopefully having nine kids wasn't too stressful after you already have six!  I think Jana had to get pretty creative on getting all the kids where they needed to be, though.  And I'm sure meal times were an adventure.

It definitely felt like a "get away" for me.  The flights were not very relaxing--trying to keep Andon (my oh, so busy boy!) entertained for the flight--but the time at Alyson's was wonderful.  We had so much fun visiting and trying to solve all the problems of the world!  Well, at least the problems of raising children in today's world:).  The time visiting was my favorite.  We also were able to keep busy working on sewing projects.  Alyson got her huge mending pile done and worked on a couple of other sewing projects she had.  I made six pair of matching pajama pants for my family, which they will receive on Christmas Eve.  I am so thrilled to have them done, except for hemming them.  (I'm not sure how I'm going to keep them a secret when I have to have them try them on to know how long to hem them, but oh, well!) 

It was so fun to finally see Alyson's home and have time to see her, Brent, and their six children.  The kids absolutely adored Andon, of course, and couldn't stop telling me how fun it was to have a baby in their home.  (Her youngest is six.)  It was so cute.  They helped watch him, played with him, and laughed at the mess he made eating.  One evening, Brent, Alyson, Kyle and I went out to eat, which was also really enjoyable.  So it was an all around fabulous trip.  I did miss my sweet children dearly, so it was nice to come home Friday evening and hear about their adventures while I was gone.  The only bummer to the trip was the cold I got.  It seems like I always do when I fly.  It settled right in my throat so I haven't been able to talk--besides a hoarse whisper--for about three days.  I hope it won't last much longer.

I didn't bring my camera (too much to try and take already), so I'll have to get some pictures from Alyson to post.

Our Beautiful Girl from Heaven

Kylene Noelani (Noelani means "Beautiful Girl from Heaven" in Hawaiian.)
We took these pictures before our ward's Primary Program.  Isn't she such a beautiful angel?!

 

 

 

 

 

It's Hard Being One!

Andon had a rough week.  (Besides just the bump you'll notice on his forehead in the pictures below.)  Friday he experienced his first second degree burns covering both palms of his hands. 

We were outside working and playing in the yard.  Right when I was cleaning up to go inside for his nap, he crawled over by the front door.  He seemed to be fine, so I ran to put away the yard debris can on the side of the house.  I heard screaming and knew something was wrong.  But it still took me several minutes to actually figure out he had been burned.  I thought he had fallen so was looking all over his face and head for blood/bumps, etc.  Finally I looked at one hand and the skin was all red and shriveled.  Apparently, he had placed his hands on the metal part at the base of the door (the threshold) which was hot from the sun!  I started running it under cool water but the skin was so distorted, I didn't know if that was the right thing.  He was still screaming and writhing in my arms in extreme pain. 

I frantically tried calling the advice nurse but was on hold for forever.  While on hold, I called some family to ask for advice (thanks, Logan and Jana!) then rushed him to the doctor's office.  It's right next door to the hospital, so the whole way there I was wondering if I should go to the clinic or the ER.  I finally decided to go for the less expensive option.  He screamed the whole way and we made quite an entrance.  The receptionist casually asked if I had an appointment!  I had already been crying but totally lost it at this point.  "NO!  And he needs to see someone right now!" is basically what I told her.  They hurried me into a room and I kept running it under water waiting for the doctor.  They also gave him some Ibuprofen.  He told me they were second degree burns, that the pain would be basically gone in 1 to 1 1/2 hours and prescribed some ointment to keep infection out of it once it broke open. 

With Andon still screaming, we hurried home.  When I got home, I was still frantic and trying everything I could think of to get him to calm down.  That's when I discovered that his other hand was burned, too!  The doctor nor I had even thought to look!  I felt like the most horrible mother in the world.  I went over the edge again, and was bawling hysterically on the phone to Kyle.  He was 1 1/2 hours away at work but headed home.  I gave Andon some Tylenol this time, still trying to help the pain.  But he was still out of control and I knew he needed a blessing, so I called my visiting teacher's husband (whom I just happened to know was home that day watching her kids) and he gave me the name of some retired brothers in our ward.  I called one and he said he'd find another brother and be right over.  That was such a huge gift.  They blessed him that the calming influence of the Spirit would come upon him.  Within five minutes, he finally calmed down and was able to fall asleep for about two hours.  But I held him most of that time because his body was so upset, he kept shaking in his sleep.  And every time he did that, his hands would try to go to his face, so I held his arms down.  I had covered them with a sock at this point.

Anyway, we are much better now.  The first blister tore opened that night and really hurt him, the second one opened on Saturday, and we're still waiting for a third one to break.  The skin underneath is so pink and raw, but it seems to be beginning to heal. (It actually looks brighter red than in the picture above.  The pinkness near his fingers is also burn, but not quite as deep I guess.)  I worry about scaring and infection, but we're doing our best to keep it moist and clean.  We have the ointment, then gauze, then a sock with holes cut in it for his fingers.  His little "boxing gloves" are darling and without them he grabs at and removes the bandage, so they definitely help.  Besides treating it gently, he is pretty much back to normal: picking up things and trying to climb on and get into whatever he can get into.  He surely is one busy boy!

This is my favorite picture of our sweet Andon with his little gloves.

 

Andon's First Birthday Festivities

Andon had a happy first birthday on September 20th.  Since he's our fourth child, we kept it low key. (Sorry, Andon.  No huge extended family party like we did for your sister.)  After dinner, we opened his one present (from my parent's; I know, I'm pathetic), sang him happy birthday, and had cake.  Ta da!  I know, aren't we exciting?!  But he was very happy about it all and won't know (until he reads this post) that he missed out on a big "shin dig".

The top, left picture is of him opening a card from my parent's in Japan a few days before his birthday.  The rest are on his birthday.

He loved his cake.  He grabbed at it right away but then wasn't sure what to make of all the sticky icing.  He played with the texture of it for a few moments before Kyle stuck Andon's finger into his (Andon's) mouth so he could taste it.  From there on out, he had no qualms about what he was doing.  When Kyle would lean in close, Andon was only too willing to share; it was darling.

This last Thursday, Kyle's parent's came over for dinner and to bring Andon a gift.  We had a great time visiting with them and Andon loves his new little airplane/ball toy.  I was surprised at how easily he figured out the unwrapping part.  He will definitely be ready to go at Christmas this year!

We love you so much, Andon!