S.L.A.C.K.E.R

..I know. I've totally slacked at blogging lately. Here are some of the reasons why...

I graduated from college!! YAY - after 5 years!! It was such a roller coaster but I'm so grateful I finished! I started out as a nursing major and did one year of generals then one year of nursing pre-requisites. I had been battling with my decision, if nursing was really for me or not. The summer Brennen and I got enganged I knew I needed to change my major because I wasn't happy with what I was doing and would be doing for the rest of my life. So, I changed it to Elementary Education. I'm SOOOO GrAteFuL I changed my major. I love elementary and it will not only help with my career but in everyday life. I know nursing would do the same, but it was so not for me. Gag. There is not a day that goes by that I regret that decision! I'm grateful there are people that can be nurses because my nerves and stomach can't support that career! So, I commuted the last 3 years - 1 year, prego, 1 year with a newborn and one year with a 1yr. old.... and I'm finally finished!! YAY no more tests, 30 page papers, and no more 45 minute commutes everyday!

Brennen has been busy umping and playing baseball/softball. He has been playing in a league in Milford but is getting ready to start the mens and coed leagues up here! YAY for summer!

I started managing our families DQ. I was a little hesitant at first..after all I've worked there since I was 14 so I knew what it was all about..or so I thought. But it has been really good. With the economy the way it is and jobs..I'm so grateful to have a good job right out of school!

Dav finally got eartubes! After 5 or 6 antibiotics in the last 2 months...it was time! He did pretty well with them. He was crying when they took him and I warned the doctors he was pretty tough and it was going to be quite the task to get him out. They laughed and acted like no big deal. When he came in after the surgery, he said, "Well you weren't kidding he was tough! Probably the toughest one I've had to get out in a long time. He is really strong." Then once they had given him the normal dosage and thought he was out, they started to do the procedure and his legs started kicking up and down. They had to stop and give him more so he would stay out! I was so glad Brennen was there because he didn't want a thing to do with me! All he really wanted...Grandma and Grandpa Orton's dog, Sandy. Seriously, he kept crying for Sandy! He has done really well with the tubes and I sure hope they continue to work!

Last but not least...we're trying to get things ready so we can build a house! It has already been stressful getting the loan application and floor plans all figured out! We're not exactly sure when we'll be starting but hopefully soon (like next month or July)!

I hope everyone is enjoying this CraZy BusY time of year! We are so excited for summer to be here! Dav turns 2 next week, sad. I'll try and post an update about him. He is keeping us on our toes for sure!

BacK tO NoRmaL!!

And....we're back to normal!!! Woo-hoo! Brennen is doing fantastic. He looks great, you can hardly tell he was burned! He didn't have to have any skin grafts and the doctors said everything looked great! He did get a staph infection that was pretty crazy the week after Easter. I had no idea what staph looked like so I thought he was getting bad achne from the medicine he was puttin on his burns. Well, it started to spread. It started at his neck and then covered his body. We went in and they put him on an antibiotic 4 times a day and an ointment 3 times a day. He also had 2 roseffin(sp?) shots. He went out each morning for 3 days to get looked at and make sure it was getting better. It took all his energy. He basically slept nonstop for a few days. The first day we went to the doctor for it, we came home and I had noticed a dot on Dav's back the night before but didn't think to much of it, well the next day he had it all over his back. So I called back out to the clinic, at this point feeling like a hypochondriac, and they wanted to see him. Sure enough...staph. He had gotten from Brennen so he went on antibiotics and ointment as well. They started me on one too so I wouldn't get it. Thankfully, I never did! They both got over it pretty quick and it didn't make them too sick! We're finally back to normal! So...he played softball Thursday night and played in a basketball tournament in Milford Friday and Saturday! I knew he wouldn't stay down for long! Once again, thanks for all your love and support during that crazy time! It is my last week student teaching this week! I really should be finishing up my ohh 25 or so page report right now but I needed a break! It's such a bitter sweet feeling! I'm graduating on May 1st. CraZy! Anways, here are some updated pics.

We just got a new puppy! I was a little hesitant about getting a dog but the 'boys' wanted one soo bad and the family we rent from just had lab puppies so I gave in and we bought one! I think Brennen is more excited than Dav but I think they're both pretty happy! His name is Drake. He is actually pretty dang cute!





The weather has been nice and I have been dying to get the lawn mowed..well for Brennen to mow the lawn I should say;) Dav decided he wanted to help, imagine that!

Dav decided to color on the floor so I made him clean it up. Mean? Maybe-but he will clean up after himself!!

Finally...."the story."

Well, it's taken me forever to finally get "The Story" on here. Sit back and relax if you want to read all of it because it could get preetttyyy long! Here's how it all goes..
The Phone Call: Friday the 26th I was at school when I got 'the phone call'. The one you always dread! My mentor teacher answered it and talked for a minute. I could tell something was going on so I was a little nervous to even pick up. It was Brennen's co-worker Shaun. He said I needed to come to the hospital that Brennen had been burned at work. I didn't ask where. How bad. Or if he was okay. I just left. When I got out to the hospital I was panicking, obviously, but initially didn't think it was that bad. I immediately said, "Oh thank goodness! You're blue eyes are still there and you're still hott." Trying to lighten the situation.
Brennen preceded to tell me what happened, and this is how it happened: Brennen was working on a 4-wheeler at the shed and had been cleaning a filter with some gas. He decided to throw the old gas on a fire they have there. Something they do everyday. When he went to throw it in, it hit the side of the bucket and splashed on his face. However, he initially started on fire on his leg. Not a big deal. So he bent down to pat it out and the vapors blew up and started him on fire. He was on fire from his waist up. The guys at the shed said it was just like the movies. A ball of fire running through the building. They couldn't see any part of his body from his waist up. Thank heavens he was a quick thinker and reacted the way he did. He immediately went to pat it out with his hands but realized he didn't want to burn his hands. So he took off for the door, immediately threw himself on the ground and was rubbing his face in the dirt and throwing snow on his face. Meanwhile, Shaun followed him out and patted out his side and back. He said he felt like someone put their hands over his eyes so he could see where he was going. And I believe it. He was burned right about his eye and his brows and eye lashed were singed.(sp?) I know. Chilling. He said the adrenaline was pumping so fast he hopped up and didn't really feel any pain. Then he started to feel hot so he had Shaun drive him out to the hospital. He said it was the scariest feeling in the whole world. He could see flames all around him on his face.
At the hospital- Like I said before, when I walked in I didn't think it was all that bad. Then I heard them talking about the burn center and started to kinda panic. I called Brennen's parents and they immediately headed to the hospital. Wade Hollingshead was the doc on and he came in and said the U wanted him up there and we would be going by life light. I panicked. I was trying to call my mom. No answer. The Chevron. Busy. I don't know what it is about those words, life light, that made me panic so bad but I did. I needed my mom!! Anyways, I finally got a hold of my brother and they all came right out. In the meantime, life light called and said they wouldn't be able to fly because the weather conditions were so sporadic up north. So they paged the ambulance and had them transport us up to the University of Utah. Brennen's dad Troy and my brother Troy gave Brennen a priestood blessing before we left the hospital. I'm so thankful for the priestood..a whole other post! My mom followed the ambulance to be with me. Jackie and Troy stayed behind because it was Rustin's Junior Prom and they kept Dav. They were going to get up and come first thing Saturday but we were discharged on Saturday so they didn't. The ambulance ride was good. We had fabulous EMT's and a soon-to-be EMT! It made the ride go by pretty quick. They kept Bren pretty drugged up so he wasn't in alot of pain.
The U:When we arrived there they quickly got him in and went to work! They explained what they were going to do, moved him into a bed and hooked him up to all the fun machines. They began by washing his face. Yeah-nasty! Then after they had it all cleaned up, they put shaving cream all over his face and shaved him! Ohh I wanted to pass out about now. I felt soooo bad for him. He had to keep stopping them to give him more drugs. Not to mention, it was a girl shaving him that acted as though she was shaving her worst enemy. Up and down, side to side, and quick! Right after that they put him on some oxygen and just let him rest. He looked really good then. I could hardly tell he had been burned he was just really red. Then we discussed the reason he was up there. First. He was burned up his nose so that created some concern. Second - It takes 18 hours to hit peak of swelling and there was a possibility he could swell so badly it could shut off his airway. Third - They wanted to make sure he didn't have bad scars. So we sat there. I stared at him. Watching to make sure he was still breathing. Thankful I got to watch him breath. Then came night time. He was swelling but not too bad. They told me I could sit in the room but I couldn't go to sleep. Yeah-I'll spare us the time and words on how I really felt about that. I was freaking out wondering if I dared leave or if I should sit in those not so comfortable chairs in the waiting room all night. My mom and I decided to leave and get a motel so I could try and sleep. Pointless. I was up all night checking my phone making sure I didn't miss a call. Praying thanking Heavenly Father for all the blessings. I knew it could have been soo much worse. The night went really well and when he hit his peak of swelling he was off of oxygen and they felt like everything was going really well. I got back to the hospital at 8:00a.m. and it was very evident the reason we were there. The swelling was alot worse than when I had left the night before. He wasn't in alot of pain and things were going really smooth. We then got fabulous news-we got to go home! I had to show them I could change the dressing and properly care for his face. I was quickly reminded why I changed my major. Never one day have I regretted that decision and I was soo reassured I did the right thing up there! Then he had to do physical therapy. A real treat for me to watch. It was pretty entertaining. Not him. Or the pain. The therapist that was telling him to say EWWWW - WEEEEE!! Funny. They were concerned about one area on his neck that was the deepest burn. They said we would have to come back and they would determine if it needed a graft or not. They unhooked all the IV's, we packed our bags and headed home! He has been doing good since we have been home.
Home: It is looking soo good and is healing quickly. He started cleaning his face himself, thank goodness, probably 2 days after we were home. He has to clean it 3 times a day with gauze pads and then apply an ointment. He has to shave every other day and I seriously can't watch. I know. Whimp. But I feel soo bad it looks so painful even though he reassures me it's not that bad. We went back up this last Saturday and they said everything looked pretty good but it was still to early to tell about the graft. He now has staff infection. I'm kinda freaking out. He started an antibiotic today and we're going to go to the clinic tomorrow to get it looked at. We go back up on Monday to find out what the future holds.
Extra stuff:
*I have been amazed at how well Brennen has handled all of this. He has seriously been a trooper. Not ornery. Not bossy. Not irritated. He thanks me all the time for taking good care of him and has really been awesome. He has held up better than me.
*Garments-Oh how I love them. You always hear neat stories about garments and now we have our own. Brennen was on fire from his waist up. It burned his sweater, to his t-shirt but didn't touch the garments. The burns on his neck are a definite line at the garment top. (you can see in pictures) His leg hairs were singed all the way up to his garments and then stopped. It is amazing! My testimony has been dramatically increased through this experience! I am sooo thankful for the gospel and the protection of the garments!
*I'm sooo thankful for my mom. She held me together. She'll never know how much I love and appreciate her - for everything!
*I think it's ridiculous the doctor had a dog right there in the unit. The burn floor has the nurses station in the middle then cubicles for the patients all around it, seperating them with a curtain. Yeah-she had her dog at her desk and totally talked to it like it was a kid. No offense dog lovers, I just found it weird.
*We have the BEST family and friends around! We have had dinner every night since we've been home. Some nights 2 dinners. Goodies, prayers, hugs, texts...the list goes on! THANK YOU!
*His left ear and his lips are the most painful. The ear is nasty. Gettin better but still nasty.
*It could have been sooo much worse. Being up in the burn unit is an extremely humbling experience. We were sooo blessed.
*Dav didn't know what to think about Brennen at first. He wouldn't go to him and kept looking at him, puckering his bottom lip to cry and saying, "daddy have owee". So sad. He was up all night with diarrhea. Poor little guy. Next day right back to normal. Being the biggest daddy's boy ever. He has been really good about not touching him. He often kisses it better.
*They told us Brennen has to wear a cowboy hat or a fishing hat this summer to shade his face. I died laughing-thinking she was kidding. Not at all. So, when you see him sportin some stying hat, control yourself - he is mine!
*To make the week a little better: I took Dav out on Monday(a week ago) because he had a horrible cough and I didn't want him to get Brennen sick. Double ear infection. Again. So he's on another antibiotic. You know what comes with ear infections-no sleeping, no eating, irritable, FUN! Wednesday I woke up with a sore throat and my ears hurt. So again, to be on the safe side I thought I better get checked to make sure it wasn't something Brennen could catch. Double ear infection. They gave me a shot of rossefin(no idea on spelling). Brennen was with me so we walked over to talk to Dr. Oakden. I started feeling really light headed and like I was going to throw up. We were talking to Dr. O and I kept thinking it was going to go away but it didn't. He looked at me and asked me if I was okay. I told him no. He said I was as white as a ghost and they needed to watch me for a minute because I was having a reaction to the shot. I came home that night with a horrible headache. Jackie took Dav because I was soo sick. Thank you-totally saved my life and possibly his too! I drank a Pepsi, took some Excedrin, went to sleep and woke up feeling much better! I feel great now. I'm not so convinced Dav is better yet. We have to take him back in in 3 weeks. But we're managing.
Today: I went back to school. Brennen went to work for about 3 hours. He has to do really light work and can't be in the sun. Now with the staph infection I don't know what the work situation will be like for him. I have 2 weeks left of school so I have to keep plugging along. Somehow.
There you have it. And..I left out lots of details! Sorry for such a loooonnnng story but I need this for documentation:) So teach your children: DON'T PLAY WITH FIRE AND GAS!! and if they do, remember to STOP DROP AND ROLL. There you have it - my shpill!

The latest...

Dav playing in the hut him and dad built

Brennen and Dav playing in the hut

We pulled the sleds behind the rhino and 4-wheeler. It was still kind of cold so Dav and I didn't last outside too long.

Dav n' Kayz

Dav n' dad

Sleeping pics never get old..He still has his chubby cheeks..

Going on a 4-wheeler ride with dad..he love the 4-wheeler and screams everytime he sees it..he calls it a "bour wheeler"

Update....
We have been pretty busy lately! I can't believe February is already over! As for me, I finished up my first placement of student teaching in second grade. It was fabulous!! I couldn't have asked for a better group of kids and an AMAZING mentor teacher. I taught with Mrs. Dalton and she is seriously amazing. I was soo lucky to learn so much from her. I was sad to leave 2nd grade but excited to move on to kindergarten!! This is my second week in kindergarten and I am loving it! It is alot different than second grade but I love it! I am also in 3 clubs. It's nice to have a night out, or three, a month to socialize with the girls! Brennen has been playing city league basketball and their team took 2nd place. They won 2 games, I think, all season then came back to play in the championship. I love to watch Brennen play sports, he's such a stud! It was also his birthday February 10th. I'm a horrible wife, I should've made a special post for that. I am so lucky to have such an awesome husband! I could go on and on but I will save you from the mushiness and just say a few of my favorite things about him:
*He is the BEST dad! I love watching him and Dav play. Dav loves his dad so much. He could care a less when I leave but when Brennen leaves, his world comes crashing down.
*He lets me know he loves me. He sends random texts and is always reminding me how much he loves me.
*He screams at the top of his lungs, randomly, to scare Dav and I jump like someone dropped a bomb in our house. He loves to do it and we both get quite the laugh out of it.
*Whenever I try to get mad at him he makes me laugh. I seriously could maybe count on one hand the times I have really been upset and held a straight face. He knows how to break the ice.
....anyways on to Dav. Oh Mr. Dav! I could go on and on about him too! He is talking like crazy! He is so funny! He is starting to put things together and is saying some cute phrases. He is so full of it and I've said it before but he is a boy through and through! So, here are some things about Dav.
*He likes to play rough. I've been in the nursery since June and I just got called to the Sunbeams. I was nervous because normally I'm getting mad at Dav several times for being mean in nursery. Sunday was his first day without me..we went to pick him and asked how he was. They said he did really good except for the chest bumping! He was trying to chest bump the kids and due to his size..he plowed them over!
*He has a thing with monsters right now. Anytime he goes in somewhere dark he says, "ohh monser mom monser" He is scared of them and is sure they are real. He won't go down the hall if he thinks there is a 'monser'. So we have pulled out the guns a few times and shot them so he could go to sleep...seriously he's 20 months!
*He has "go away" and "no" mastered. Probably not good but sometimes he says them at the perfect time and it is funny!
*He loves to shoot his guns. He uses his finger and shoots things all the time. He is definatly his father's child when it comes to hunting. He watches coyote calling or a hunting movie to go to sleep. Anytime he sees a horn he freaks out and has to hold it!
*He was trying to get Brennen's attention and Brennen wouldn't answer to "daddy" so he yelled "BRENNEN". It was so funny.
*My favorite thing he says, "where'd it/he go". He says it in the cutest voice holding his hands out.
*He is ambidextrous right now. He is pretty much a south paw but sometimes he throws the ball with his right hand.
*He says, "guess what", "no I not", and "I dunno" all the time.
*He is getting really good at telling me what he wants. He either says "want..." or grabs my hand and says "c'mon mom" and takes me to it.
*I have been trying to keep up with all the things he says but it is impossible. He has quite the vocabulary and is getting so fun! He loves to play catch, drive his trucks, shoot guns, and do the animal puzzles.
*He had double ear infection this month. I feel like we've been a frequent flyer at the doctor's office this month but he's had a hard time getting over it. He is on his third round of antibiotic and has to go in again to see if its cleared up..
Well, hows that for an update! We hope everyone is doing great and we're looking forward to the summer! Softball, camping, fishing, going to the park, warm weather...ohh how lovely it will be!

Picture Update..

New Year Resolution #4 - keep the blog updated (since it is the only scrapbook I am currently keeping...) Humm....can you see how well I do with New Year Resolutions? Well, January has been crazy! Where did it go..seriously? I started student teaching this semester and it is great! I am super busy and lots of preperation goes into teaching. I am in second grade and with the a fabulous mentor teacher! I have 3 more weeks of second grade and then off to Kindergarten I go.. Brennen-staying busy as always.. Dav- super super busy. He is starting to talk like crazy and putting things together..love it! I have been trying to write down some funny things he is doing and saying but I'm having a hard time! He has quite the personality! I have so many things I want to write about but I need to do some lesson plans so I'll have to wait:) So I am doing a quick picture update..
Dav's first burn from our wood stove..he has been so careful to not get around it and he says 'hott owee' but his ball went under it and he tried to get it.

We finally converted Dav's bed to a toddler bed! He will actually crawl in it and go to sleep! MiRaClE! However, he can't be too miraculous so he doesn't stay there all night. About 3 hours then he comes in our room..one pillow over his shoulder and his blanket over the other.

Playing hide-n-seek. His dad helped him hide under the chair. I was yelling where's Davin and he replied, "I dunno". Quite funny!

Hide space #2- the horse box, left from Christmas. He likes it as much as some of the other toys..unfortunately it took up a little too much room and had to go.


Dav loves to get in the bath on one condition - leave the tap running! He seriously would freak out everytime I turned it off until....I invested in some bubble bath. Is that sad I just barely bought some, is he deprived??



It snowed here today, quite a bit if you can't tell. I decided to let Dav play in it so we bundled him up and gave him his shovel, that is supposed to be used for the beach, and away he went. He had a blast shoveling and eating the snow.

Christmas 2009

Christmas was great this year! We definately got spoiled...all of us! We started by having dinner at Mark and Robins. We have done it every year and we love it! Robin makes a great dinner and we just sit around and visit while the kids play. Christmas morning we went out to Brennen's parents. We left Santa a note and asked him to deliver Davin's presents out there so he could open them with his uncles:) So we went out there around 6:30a.m. At first, Dav was thinking 'This is way to early' but once he noticed his horse, he was ready to ride! Santa brought him a horse on springs that makes noise. I think if it wouldn't have been on springs, they would have went to Cedar and back that day! He was going crazy on it, he had it coming off the ground he was going so hard. Then he would push the ear and bounce to the beat of some of the songs it sings. It was great fun! He didn't really care to open his presents, which suprised me. He sat on his horse and had me hand them to him on his horse. He finally got off and dad helped him a little. He got a horse, a basketball hoop, clothes, books and puzzles from santa. Grandma and Grandpa Orton gave him a little tykes car and some clothes. (ThaNks) Brennen got a spotting scope this year! It's been on his list for 3 years but I kept telling him we just didn't have money for one, he would have to wait for a few years. I don't think he really expected it so it was fun. Brennen is just like a kid on Christmas, he loves it! His parents gave him a camera to take hunting and camo which was super nice. He is spoiled. I got a cricut expression and a maurices gift card from brennen. Then his parents gave me a nice indoor grill and photoshop! Not spoiled-well loved:) After we opened presents there, we went up to my parents. All of us kids went up there and had a FaBuLous breakfast! Thanks mom, it was great! Then all the grandkids opened their presents from my mom and dad. Dav got an outfit, a super cute pair of DC's, and a big horse to sit on and hang out! He thought it was pretty awesome! He got a stick horse and a see n' say from his cousin Lindsey and a tee ball set from my brother Cody and his kids. Then later Christmas day, Brennen's grandparents and aunt came over from Parowan so we went out to his parents and had dinner and visited with them.. We definately had a great Christmas. It was alot of fun with Dav and we're grateful we get to be around both families during the holidays!