May Update

...sorry for the LONG post...

Wow, it's been quite the month! It looks like my last update was about Angie. Well, we prayed and prayed and she's doing great! She is recovering really well from the surgery. She had the surgery at Utah Valley hospital and then they moved her to University of Utah hospital, where they took really good care of her and not too long after being there, she was able to come home. She started her therapy this week (occupational, speech and physical therapy). She is walking well and her speech is getting better every time I see her. She came to family dinner the other night and made us all laugh, by being her cute sarcastic self. Last night we took her to get glitter toes. It was great to get a little pampering! We put together a small fundraiser to earn money for a wig for her (as a Mother's Day gift) and were able to get enough money for a wig and we also have some left-over, which we are going to use to get her some much needed FLAT shoes! Angie had a pretty big shoe collection, but pretty much had no flats. Throughout this whole ordeal, I think our family has gained an even stronger bond. It's incredible how much we depend on each other.

So, updates on my little nest...

Jake is still just a work-a-holic. But, he has managed to get the base-board done in the bathroom that we've been remodelling and has also been working on a fundraiser for Chad and Angie (more to come on that later). He started playing indoor soccer with Rachel and some of his old teammates. I think it's great that he can get back into it after a good 9-month hiatus. Other than that, he (like me) has just been super busy going to games, performances and competitions!

Tyson has been playing baseball like a maniac. He has 5-6 games and 2 practices a week. So, he basically has baseball everyday. I keep thinking he's going to get sick of it, but NOPE! And in fact, when he's not playing or at practice, he'll try and play with us at home! Or watch baseball games on TV to 'study'. I think the best part of baseball has been the friends he has made. He considers his teammate his best friends and I think that is so cool. I know that when you are a part of a team and have to work together, it really creates a bond that no one else understands. Some of my best friends are people who were members of a team with me.

Tyson also has a lot going on with it being the end of the school year. They assigned state projects in the busiest month of the year. His state was Wisconsin...because we are all big Packer's fans! We managed to get his project done in time (I even typed his report while sitting in the stands at one of his games!) and he is now just ready to cruise into summer!

Brecklyn had her last couple of dance competitions and her spring recital this month. She took 1st place for her solo in both competitions. I am so proud of her for that. At the Releve Nationals, she took 4th place overall (for all soloists). It was a HUGE accomplishment and she is considered one of the Releve "all stars". At all of her competitions, she won tiaras, too (because she took 1st place). She thinks they are so awesome and has them displayed in her room. I think we are going to have to build some sort of trophy shelf for her, with all these trophies and tiaras! I can't help thinking of all those little tiny girls on 'Toddlers and Tiaras' with all their big giant trophies and tiaras in the background. Good thing we don't have to enter her in those crazy things to get some awesome awards!

She also had her piano recital this month. She played 'Feelin' Happy'. She stuck with it for a year, but I don't think piano's her thing. Every time it was time to go, she would complain that she didn't like it. I remember those days fondly from my childhood, so I'm not going to force her to do it. Music wasn't my thing and I guess it's not hers either.

Logan has been playing t ball and soccer. He also had another breakdance performance. He's just an all around coordinated kid! I did a post on him previously, so I won't brag too much about him, but he's really been great! He scored a hat trick in his last soccer game of the season yesterday. I made the kids candy leis and they were so stoked. Jake won't be coaching anymore, because we decided to put Logan in the Rangers Academy. He's so excited! They already had one training session and he said it was fun, but challenging too. We also signed him up for tackle football in the fall.

He also just had his graduation from kindergarten. I know he's super stoked about that. He can't wait to finally be a BIG kid. He was so cute in his program (singing). They had these graduation caps on (made out of paper bowls) and he had this look on his face...some major concentration going on. He did NOT want his cap to fall off!! It was hilarious.

So I know that with the three kids listed above, my life sounds pretty nuts, but I can't complain. If my kid has talent, I'm willing to put in the time and money to support their talent. We are so blessed!

Grayson is cute. That's all I can say! He makes me smile and laugh everyday. He loves to make messes, play with the dogs and watch Bubble Guppies. He's been a trooper this month, going from one thing to another.  He loves to watch the games, but isn't too excited when we have to sit and be quiet (like at CHURCH!)  I can't believe he is going to be 2 next month! Time really needs to slow down around here.

And now, some pics!

Ty playing L. field at a Dodgers game

Batting

More batting

Logan at tball.  So READY!  I love that both Tyson and Logan are on the Dodgers and are both #1!  We didn't plan that, but it was cool!

Tyson batting at a Knights game.  He loves his Super League team!

My beautiful dancer

Her final pose!

Performing "Say Hey, I Love You" with the Petites (she's in pink)

Check out that hip action!

VIBE pretty much swept Releve Nationals! 

My little #1 Girl!

Ty's first scout camp was also this month.  We managed to squeeze it in and he had a blast!

As a family, we eat out a lot.  This month, well...let's just say I haven't done too many dishes :/

With his stinky, sweaty cast on.  We pulled it off on Monday, because I didn't want to take him to the doctor and have him traumatized for life from that scary saw thing.  It slipped right off...thanks Amy!

Had to throw in a little baby bum for good measure.

This was when we visited Angie at the U of U hospital.  Doesn't she look amazing without hair!?!?

And here she is with some hair, ha ha.  That hat is the coolest!

This was the same night we visited Angie and then we all went out to dinner at Market Street Grill for a Mother's Day treat!  I had a 'hairy' salad, as Arden called it and Arden had some weird black stuff in her Creme Brule, but they were nice enough to comp. my meal!  Oh and I love this picture.  I love that my two moms are in it with me and Farrah.  I have to say that I'm the luckiest girl to have TWO amazing mothers.  I mean, seriously...mother-in-laws aren't really meant to be cool.  Lucky for me, mine is.  And my mom is so kind, thoughtful and helps me any chance she gets. 

Post-spring recital.  Her dance was "Surfin' USA" and they also did "Say Hey" again.

Brecklyn had her end of the year program at school.  She, as always, did great!

We won't say how old this guy is, but happy birthday to my daddy-o on the 17th. 

Logan in some soccer action

Letting everyone know the goal we need to go for.

Where there's a ball, there's a Logan

Jake, Logan and their team.  Aren't they adorable!!??



Logan and "Coach Daddy"...Jake loved coaching Logan.  It definitely brought out a sense of pride, watching them in action.  But, Jake was definitely harder on Logan than the other kids!



Notice the new 'do?  He wanted a nice sweaty-free head for the summer!

Going for the ball.



Praying

Arden called me on Wednesday and said to say a prayer for Angie, who was in the ER.  The doctors were running some tests, but they were thinking that maybe it was a stroke.  I found it pretty hard to believe that it was a stroke, but I told her I would pray and I felt like things would be ok.

Late that night, Arden called again and said that it was in fact a stroke and it was a very severe stroke.  Apparently one of her arteries had somehow become severed and this caused her to get a blood clot that travelled to her brain.  She was admitted into the ICU.  They watched her closely that night and decided that the next day (Thursday) she would need to have a drain put in to relieve the swelling in her brain.

After they placed the drain, Jake went to visit her (Thursday night).  He said she seemed to be doing pretty well (for the circumstances).  They were hopeful that the drain would work and they would see improvement in the swelling.  We were all very hopeful at that point.

Friday morning Arden called again to let us know that things had taken a turn for the worse.  So Jake immediately went to the hospital to give Angie and Chad a blessing with his dad and Shawn.  About an hour later, Bryan text me saying that Angie would need surgery to remove the damaged portion of her cerebellum.  It was shocking news, to say the least.  So shocking that I actually had a panic attack and had to call my mom to have her help calm me down.  And afterwhich, I called Jake and he clarified to me it would probably only affect her balance and maybe speech...and a little hope was restored (in my mind).  Jake stayed at the hospital all day.  I went down during the afternoon, but she was still in surgery.  Poor Chad looked so tired and upset.  It was hard to see him like that. 

After I left, she came out of surgery and they said everything went well.  The doctors said that she would definitely have problems with balance, but weren't sure about other things.

At this point, the doctors want to keep her sedated, because she needs to REST.  It's a time where any and all prayers are needed.

Life.

Sometimes it's just so hard.  Sometimes I just want to be able to see the BIG picture now.  I don't why this had to happen to Angie.  And to Chad...and the kids.  It's unbelievable to me that someone so young and so healthy could have something like this happen.  I wonder what the Lord's plan is for her and what lessons all of us are supposed to learn.  I mean, there's a lesson to be learned, right? 

Anyway, maybe one day we will know, but as for now...we will wait.  And hope.

And Pray.

This Kid

Today I have to give some bloggy love to my little Logi Star.  It sometimes amazes me that he's MY kid.  This week has been pretty insane (as you can tell from my post above).  Between Logan and Tyson, we will have 7 baseball games a week and we're lucky if we can get dinner, most nights.   Tonight is our lucky night...it's 8 PM and I'm just starting dinner.  Anyway, Logan has seriously impressed me with his mad skills this week.

 Tuesday was his first T ball game.  We all know that everyone gets a "hit" in T ball, and no one gets "out"...however, Logan was NOT having it.  He played "pitcher" in the first inning and got everyone he could out.  He's watched a lot of baseball over the years and knows just where to throw the ball and when to tag people.  He was so intense and just wanted to play hard.  When the other kids on his team would run after the ball, he'd get mad, because they weren't staying in position.  He's hilarious.  My dad calls him his protege.

Making his "embarrassed face"...

  In March he begged me to sign him up for a Breakdancing class that 2 of his fellow kindergarten classmates were in.  So I did.  When I took him to the first class, I thought...well, there's something he's not so good at.  But, when I saw him perform on Thursday night, I realized that wasn't the case.  He picked it up so fast and was absolutely adorable...and BRAVE!

 

And this morning, when only him and one other kid showed up for their soccer game, he still dominated the field, scoring 5 goals...winning the game.  One of the mom's from the other team couldn't believe it.  She was like "Where did that kid come from"?

After games Jake and I sometimes look at each other and wonder what we're gonna do with him.  A lot of time I get "looks" from parents that make me wonder what they're thinking...

"Where did that kid come from?"
"How OLD is that kid?"

I've thought those things about kids Tyson's played before...but Logan is actually the youngest kid on his soccer team.  And honestly, I don't know where he came from either!

  So,  I don't know what to do.  A lot of people have told us to play him up a year, so maybe next year we will.  He has an intensity for sports that is beyond most 5-year-olds.  In fact, he practices sports daily, just for fun and if it's raining or he can't go out...he lifts weights or does push ups in the house.  If he knows he has a game, he gets ready 2 hours early and practices.  Game day is always the best day.  Every morning he wakes up and asks me if he has a game.  Love it!

I just love him and it's so fun to be his mom.  Today, he just randomly told me "Mom, you look cute today".  He just knows how to make me smile and I love his guts. 

Seriousy?

So Saturday was a really busy day.  We had a soccer game in the morning and then 2 baseball games.  While we were at Logan's soccer game, Brecklyn wanted to take Grayson to the playground, which was right by the field.  So I said yes, as long as she doesn't take him on any thing high, like a slide.  Famous last words were..."I don't want another broken arm".

So after towards the end of the game, Brecklyn brought Grayson to me and he was crying hysterically.  I thought maybe it was because he bumped his head.  It's hard, because when babies get hurt, you have to try and figure out what's wrong...they can't just tell you.  I held him and tried to figure it out, but wasn't too sure.  He kept fussing and Jake looked him over and noticed that when he touched his arm, he was very sensitive.  So, I took him home and gave him some Tylenol and let him rest a little while Jake took the rest of the kids to the first baseball game. 

We discussed taking him in to the instacare, but weren't sure.  It looked a little swollen, but we just didn't know what to do.  We thought about it and decided that if he wasn't getting better by Monday, we should take him in.

Yesterday was Sunday and he still wasn't feeling good, so we went to the Orem instacare and they had an hour and a half wait (with all sorts of germy people in the waiting room) so we decided to try another instacare.  So, we got all checked in and were waiting and the lady came out and said their x-ray machine had just fried!  So we decided just to wait one more day and see...

Well, this morning he woke up around 10 am and his arm was even more swollen and he was still favoring it.  So I made an appointment at my doctor's office (since his pediatrician doesn't have an x-ray machine).  I took him in this afternoon and was SO nervous.  I knew that getting him x-rayed was going to be kind of a nightmare since he pretty much screams when they so much as take his temperature. 

And as luck would have it, he did alright...he screamed bloody murder, but I could hold him enough for him to actually hold still.

Right after we got the x-ray, the tech came out and said "Well, it's broken".  Usually they let the Dr. decide that, but he was 100% sure.  And when I looked at it, I knew it too.

Can you believe that?  So that makes 3 broken arms in the last 18 months for my 3 boys.  It's crazy.  The luck we have...or I guess I should say don't have.

My poor, sweet baby :(

Hope of America

Tyson performed (along with what seemed like the rest of Utah County schools) in the Hope of America program at BYU.  We spotted him in a sea of kids in this large US flag.  I was lucky to have my mom along to help wrangle kids, since Jake was...in St. George (where else!?)

12 years

Woot Woot!  Jake and I just celebrated our 12th anniversary on April 14th.  It's hard to believe sometimes that we've been together that long.  We had such a fun day.  Jake planned it out...he made me breakfast in bed and then we went to Park City for lunch and shopping at the outlets.  We ate at a place called Good Thyme Bistro and I had the best chicken pot pie ever.  Jake had some amazing fish tacos.  Shopping was so fun.  Jake insisted that we don't even walk into a children's store...we were there for US!  When we went into the Volcom store it was pretty difficult to resist, but I managed.  We did some retail damage at the outlets and then headed to this warehouse that my friend, Emily, told me about called Fashion Corner in Draper (to do some more damage).  They had an endless supply of colored jeans, which I could have easily bought every pair...but didn't ;).  We had an amazing time and I couldn't help feeling especially blessed.  Not only for being able to have a fun day and get a bunch of new stuff, but for being together these past 12 years.  I'm so lucky to have such a great husband.  He is my absolute favorite person on the face of the earth.  I couldn't imagine my life without him to make me laugh.  He puts up with a lot and does so much for me and the kids.  He's my best friend, who knows me better than anyone.  He knows all my quirks that no one else knows (thank goodness) and has seen me at my absolute worst...and still loves me.  What would I do without him?

I love you Jake!!  Here's to many more years with you!!!

Grandma's Funeral and a Different Easter Weekend

This past weekend we went to Las Vegas for my Grandma Nishimoto's funeral.  It was Easter weekend too, so I decided that the Easter bunny should probably visit our house a few days earlier so that we didn't have to haul a bunch of stuff to Vegas with us. 

I was still trying to recover from the previous weekend in Bear Lake, so I took Monday "off" to REST!  I really never do that, so it was kind of nice.  I just spent the day relaxing.  But, once Tuesday came and I realized how much I had to do, I really regretted it!  Not only did I have to pack 6 people (and we all know a baby pretty much counts for 3 people alone), but I had to get pictures and other items for Grandma's memorabilia table, purchase all the kids' Easter presents, get outfits for everyone to wear for the funeral (which I doubled as their Easter outfits, phew), track down a couple of bday presents and get my kids to birthday parties, baseball practice, dance and piano.  Oh, and Jake was out of town...lucky me. 

Wednesday evening we crammed in an Easter egg hunt at my parents house and the guy who's working on our bathroom cabinet came in the midst of that craziness.  He said I needed to get the faucets, so we hurried and did the egg hunt and I ran to Home Depot.  But the second I got there, he told my dad never mind...I didn't need them after all.  Seriously.  So I ran to Cafe Rio, fed the kids, gave them their Easter baskets and then we went to bed early to get ready for a long drive...again no hubby.  After all that...it pretty much looked like a bomb went off in my house.  So, I spent the next 4 hours cleaning it oi!!! 

Thursday we headed to Vegas without Jake.  Thankfully, my parents caravanned (not sure if that's a word) with us, so they could take chatty Kathy (Brecklyn) and I had the boys.  Which were all little dreams.  What would I do without a DVD player in my car?!  And an iPad...and DS's...etc.  Ha ha.  How did my parent's do it?  I don't even recall getting A/C til the late 80's.

Anyway, the funeral was beautiful.  The viewing was nice and I thought they did a perfect job on her makeup.  Sometimes people look fake, but she looked natural and just like grandma.  Because Grandma Nishimoto is my first grandparent to pass away, and my kids were too young to remember Grandpa Hofheins' funeral, they were pretty torn up.  Brecklyn had lots of questions.  Which is an indication of nervousness in her.  But it was good for them to be able to ask questions and understand more about eternal life.  The program was filled with people mentioning how wonderful grandma was.  That she lived up to her name...Grace.  She was a dedicated mother, grandmother and friend.  She loved crafts and sewing and I'm sure I get that from her.  My aunt said that she HATED to cook, but I always thought she loved to cook, because she was so great at it.  It surprised me and I had to chuckle, because I hate to cook too!  But I don't think I'm a bad cook.  Must be another thing I got from her.  I'm so grateful for her legacy and all the things she did.  She will be missed.  It was touching when all the primary aged grand children and great-grandchildren got up and sang I Am A Child Of God in English and then in Japanese.  Jake and I started to tear up, and then Tyson looked at us and started to tear up while he was singing and then Brecklyn looked up at Tyson and also started to cry.  She then couldn't stop and basically couldn't finish the song.  We're a bunch of babies in the Hofheins' family!

Saturday we went to the strip for a few hours and swam a bit at our hotel.  Then we had an Easter egg hunt with all the cousins (children).  And then had a dinner complete with my favorite Inari (sp?) sushi...yum!  (No fish, just rice and some veggies).  I remember my grandma making that all the time when I was growing up.  Oh, how I missed it!  Jake was like "Wow, you need to learn how to make this!"  So, I hope I can inherit some of grandma's old cookbooks!!

Sunday was a different kind of Easter...a 6 hour drive back home.  Kind of a bummer, but oh well.  We wanted to go to the condo in St. George, but Jake had to be back for work by Tuesday and it was too expensive to pay a cleaning lady for one night.  Rules are rules, I guess.

Aaaannnd pics...

Kimono Grandma

Grandma and Grandpa on their wedding day

Halloween, ha ha!

The kids with their baskets

Hunting for eggs at Grandma Sonja's

Logan's face is priceless here...

My aunt Erin and I decorated this table with memorabilia from Grandma's life.  She sewed that vest while she had a broken arm!

Grandpa Nishimoto, Brian and Me

Brecklyn with her cousins (once removed...they're actually MY cousins!) Esther and Eleanor

Grayson enjoyed every minute of it, ha ha.

Dear iPad, thank you for keeping my kids entertained through the funeral program.  And isn't Grayson handsome in his new tie!

Burial services

My dad, his dad and his brothers

We were all given lei's to wear and tossed them into the grave.  Here's my mom tossing hers in.  We kept Logan's and Grayson's.

Esther, Emma and Brecklyn (Emma is TYSON's age!!)

Grandpa tossing in his flower.

Doesn't my dad look like his dad!?

Uncle Wells and my dad's cousin from Alaska

Me and my Daddy-o

This picture is the most precious picture ever!

If Logan still had his tie on, this picture would be PERFECT!  But that's why we hove him!

Again, Logan making our picture "perfect", ha ha!!

My folks

The hunters

Tyson helping Grayson the snail get a few eggs

Easter and palm trees...a first for us!

Happy hunters

Ball!!!