November 14, 2011 - 5:07 pm

I'll spare you the details of why it has been so long . . .

However, I do want to introduce the newest member of our family

(now that he is 6 months old!!)

Stockton James

Stockton because I really wanted to name him Brock but knew that I would be the one calling him 'brock-le' (broccoli) and with a 'kale' and a 'tray' already, I didn't want Kayson to feel left out of our 'vegtable tray' theme!!  So, in honor of my Mom, and in memory of my Grandma & Grandpa Hunt being loyal Jazz fans, Stockton it is!!!  (p.s. if anyone ever comes across a Stockton 12 jersey PLEASE let me know!!)

James after Matt's Grandpa (James Hosmer Leak) and my Great-Grandpa (James Lorenzo Prince).  Stockton was blessed January 1, 2012 and that just so happened to be James Lorenzo's birthday (not that anyone cares but me!!)  (Another fun fact:  Trey was blessed January 1, 2006!)

Stock weighed 8 lbs 10 oz and was (and will be) my only baby born without anesthesia!!!  His blood sugar was low so he ended up in the NICU for a day but was otherwise a very healthy baby.  We were so excited to bring him home and feel grateful the Lord entrusted us with another little boy!

I had carpal tunnel in both hands while I was pregnant (never had this happen before)  It made my hands and arms week and I didn't have much grip.  Thankfully a few weeks after he was born, the symptoms started to subside but it made nursing hard because my hands would fall asleep so easily.  I was not able to nurse long at all and it took a while to get him adjusted to a good formula.   I have lucked out up to this point to not have fussy babies . . . he broke the mold! 

A lot of things happened in November in the Platt Family . . . Whitlee was born just 10 days before Stockton.  Justin & Chelsea were married on the 19th (We didn't make it because Stock was just 5 days old.  I cried . . . a lot, but knew it was what was best for Stockton).  Kylan was baptized and Whitlee was blessed Thanksgiving weekend.  A lot packed in to a month!!

*Stockton, Grandma G, Whitlee*

Names we call him: JJ, Stockie J, Little Man, SJ

Here is the whole crew now!!!  Matti is seriously outnumbered . . .

I am so blessed to have such good kids:)  I wish I could FREEZE time. 

 I am enjoying each of them at the stage they are in!! 

EPIC MELTDOWN

Last Thursday my Trey-man started school. I have dreaded this day for the past 8 (+) months. When the other kids started (they started a week earlier) I had decided everything would be OK. He met his teacher at back-to-school night and felt better about everything. I was feeling better about it too! On Wednesday I was making lunch and Matt came in the door and asked me what was wrong. ( I was not aware anything was at that point). but when I turned to look at him the tears started rolling down my face. "T" has been my little buddy through so much. He was able to spend an extra year at home because of a late birthday and I truly rely on him way to much. He helps me keep track of all the cows and calves and is more responsible than most adults. I even had to tell the older kids "now that Trey is in school we all have to grow up!" (including myself). Matt and I took him out for our traditional "kindergarten dinner" on Wednesday night and when the waitress asked if it was a special occassion, I couldn't even tell her without bawling!! Thursday produced buckets of TEARS!! As soon as he got off the bus, Kase went running right to him and threw his arms around him. It was so precious!! Trey is liking school so far and even has an opinion about who should be in his class and who they should trade with the other class. So funny!

My school kids!

Matti and Kael are doing well and I believe enjoying not having so much "mom" around. It is fun to hear their stories and not so fun doing homework. Joys of school! I really love to watch them grow and learn throughout the year. So . . . here is to another school year!!

(Insert Kase and I having a Pepsi and a snickers here!!)

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

I realized this was the first Labor Day in my short life that I did not strenuously work

all - day - long. It was a great break!! We took a quick trip to San Diego to spend time with Matt's sister, her husband, and new baby! It also happened to be her birthday weekend so we kept it a secret and had a blast with the SUPRISE!!!

This is in the parking lot of their apartment. Grandpa is texting Mitch to tell him we were there. Mitch did a great job keeping it a secret for weeks and killing time while some of us were caught in traffic! Sonnie was very suprised to see us all :) It made for a pretty sweet trip!

Yay! We finally got to meet baby Cora. Ya, she was suprised to see so many strange faces when she woke up! It didn't take her very long to warm up though. She is a cutie:)

I really enjoyed the ocean this trip! It was so peaceful and relaxing! I really think I could become a beach bum . . . however, I am feeling like I am at the beached whale stage right now so I will hold off for a while still. The kids loved playing in the water. We could have stayed there for a few more days and they wouldn't have minded!

On Labor Day we went to the Padres vs. Giants game. This picture sums up the experience. Matt was so excited to take them and none of them shared his enthusiasm. Kase slept. Trey bounced off every chair - couldn't sit still. Kael couldn't see and didn't share that info with me until half way through the game. Matti just enjoyed playing with Cora! I, however, was entertained by the fans in front of us. Good Game! Giants won :)

We had to hurry and catch our flight after the game. Then of course it was delayed. I snapped this pic of the sunset after we took off.

We had a great time with family and made lots of memories!! Thanks Sonnie, Mitch, and Cora for being such gracious hosts!!! We love you!

Dash

The time between Trey's Birthday and Today will have to be a 'DASH' for now. Maybe throughout the year I can catch up on Chrismas, Matti's birthday, Make-A-Wish, and other vacations.

Mostly today I want to vent about 'TONSILS', yes, tonsils.

Random I know.

Today is day 10 of the Tonsilectomy Recovery Process.

To back up a little, since I had strep multiple times (3) in a short period of time (5months), a tonsilectomy was voted 'Proceedure of Choice' when it came to fixing the problem.

I agreed.

What could be worse than having strep for 10-days at a time with a husband out of town each time and leaning on a GREAT mother-in-law and sister to take care of you, your four kid, 5 horses, 80 cows, 12 calves, 2 dogs, ect. . . . every time!?!

Fastforward to the 24th of February.

Matt took me in to the Specialty Hospital to have my 'proceedure' done.

I felt 'tuff' and was ready for what had to happen.

They took me into, for lack of a better term, a stall.

The stall had a curtain that covered the front of it.

The male nurse asked me to dress into the appropriate gown and he would return.

*Note: Matt tied double knots on all strings holding me into said gown.

Upon his return, male nurse takes me down the corridor, through the crowd, to the SCALE.

No biggie . . . I am secure with my heaviness.

I step onto the pad . . . wondering in my mind where the digital readout is . . . I start to panic when it is not in the usual spot.

I look above me just in time to find it blinking my weight in bold 12"x 12" numbers above my head!

I turn around to see other patients and their loved ones STARING AT ME & THE SCALE!

I was ushered back to my stall and had another set of nurses come and ask about my addictions and any other abuse I was recieving.

Then out came the needles.

Of course the first one doesn't work, so they go ahead and use the vein that was visible the whole time.

At this point I was wishing I would have brought Kael instead of Matt for comfort.

I verbaly express this.

Matt tells me "it's okay, don't be a wimp".

I immediatly regret anything I ever said to Kael about it "being okay" or "you have to do this".

Kids having the same proceedure are screaming in the background.

I am seriously considering yelling in the same fashion.

The anesthesiologist comes in.

I pretend I hear what he is saying.

I get up and walk down the hall with him.

It takes him and a nurse to untie Matt's double knots.

I laugh.

I feel the meds in my hand and have an unbelievable urge to rip the whole IV out of my hand.

OUT!

As I start to wake up they roll me back to my stall, dump me into the chair, hand me 1/2 a popsicle and ice water.

Wait for 30 min. and I am cleared to go home.

I immediately feel like I am breathing better and WOW am I relaxed!

Day 1-4 goes well.

Diet consists of 4 tsp antibiotic 2 x day, 1-2 tsp pain meds every 4 hrs.

That is a serious diet for someone that LOVES food!

Matt and I are irritated with our new form of communication . . . a whisper.

Day 5 one kid starts in with a fever.

I am feeling more pain.

Kayson is a out of control on a good day - worse when you have no voice to get his attention.
Matt and I continue to be irritated with our new communication skills.

Having to whisper it once is bad enough - don't ask me to repeat what I just whispered!

Hungry.

Grandma Platt comes, not a moment to soon!

(Things were going well enough on day 4 I emailed her and told her not to worry about coming! Glad she didn't listen)

Days 6,7,8 pain continues to increase.

Three more kids down with fever.

Pain meds are keeping me up.

Sick kids are keeping me up.

Irritable.

Hungry.

Tired.

I like to be busy, therefore, I am going crazy.

The hardest thing I do all day is eat.

And yes, it is a project.

Day 9 Grandma leaves.

Turn over reign of the house to the kids that are feeling better.

Take a nap.

Day 10 talking better.

Pain is still intense.

Update blog hoping to have some contact with the outside world.

Continue taking temps and dispensing meds as-needed to kids.

Sent Matt all the way to Juniper-Take-Out for a dessert I am craving.

He is happy to do so.

Lucky ME!

*I am not responsible for any of this making sense while under said pain medication*

Halloween and TREY turns 5!

So . . . because I wasn't feeling well and Halloween does not rank in my top 25 favorite holiday's this is all you get from us! Thrown together costumes and the "tiny" one asleep on the couch with mom and not experiencing any of it! Thanks to Grandma Shauna for making sure the kids at least got to the Trunk-or-Treat.

Matt let me go home early with my sister for Grandma's Funeral. He brought the kids a few days later and I was able to enjoy some great time with my nieces and nephews - I was actually Aunt Lena for a few days! We took the kids up to Grandma G's for Trick-or-Treating and found the old "Winebego" complete with the toys we played with as kids! The memories are priceless! Here is Crystal, Merr, Rhonda, and I posing!

"T" always gets the shaft. Just saying. Having a birthday right after Halloween - lame. I knew I wouldn't have much time to put anything together for him because it was the day of the funeral and then we had to head home. I called and begged my friend to make Trey a cake for me. He is so into school buses and that was the only criteria . . . it had to have a number on it! It seriously makes me smile everytime I see it! It was such a huge hit with all of us and a great way to end the day! Thanks Ashley!!!

We couldn't eat it for days! It was just to cute to cut into!!

We added another animal to our crew! ya, because we needed it!

A blue-heeler we named Zeke.

Lost

The later part of October I caught strep . . . again! While I was trying to recover, the news came that Grandma Hunt had been put in the hospital. Unfortunately, she was unable to recover and passed away just a few short days later. What a blessing it was to have spent the weekend with her just a few weeks before. I truly feel the Lord played a huge part in our trip that weekend because I tried to cancel it many times. What a great trip for the kids to experience with Grandma-Great and for me to witness, again, what a great heritage I have been blessed with!

I LOVE YOU GRANDMA!

Matti & Grandma @ Grandma's Birthday Party, January 2010

Bill & Edith Hunt children

Matti & Brit
I spent many hours with Grandma and Grandpa on the Mountain, @ Jackson Wash, ABe's, the Ranch, the BenCh and many other remote area's of the Valley. Their example's have had a huge impact on my life and as I reflect back on my memories with them, I can't help but smile! Grandma and Grandpa didn't leave a lot of earthly possessions behind but their example of hard work, support, and unconditional love is worth more than anything they could have given!

So grateful for the MEMORIES!

Finishing Treatment!

October 22, 2010

Kael finished his last dose of CHEMO!!!

We had a Rootbeer Party in his honor! Family and friends from all over the country participated in our Party!! We are so proud of him and are so fortunate to have such a happy outcome:) Thanks so much to all of you who played such a large role in HIS fight!!!

WAHOO!!!

A little boy's DREAM come true

We were very fortunate to have a unique experience with our very own

UTAH STATE FOOTBALL TEAM!!

Grandma Shauna used her connections (thinking at the most we would witness them practicing) and gave us all an experience to REMEMBER!

Matt happened to be out of town that day and couldn't join us but they made up for that too!

I tried to keep it a secret for the kids (myself not knowing the extent of the suprise)! They were confused about being pulled from school, going to town ("mom, you always get groceries while we're in school"), and having to put all their AGGIE attire on. I told them we were going to go pick up basketball tickets and we would get a discount for wearing our Aggie shirts. That worked until we pulled up to the football stadium. They were confused about being at the football stadium to get basketball tickets. I had to tell them "the same reason we go to the Spectrum (basketball arena) to get football tickets". They went along and of course it was natural for Grandma and Grandpa to be there!

We met Karen on the third floor of the new Jim and Carol Laub Athletic Complex. She took us out on the balcony and let us watch the team practice for a few minutes. She then looked at Kael and said "Do you want to go meet the players?". Kael was so nervous he told her "No"!

We made our way to the field and Steve met us. He gave Kael a new hat and took him out on the field to meet Coach "A".

Honorary "Support" Team!

Coach Andersen took Kael around to all the different'teams' practicing. They gave him a whistle and let him call some of the shots. Then Coach 'A' came over and visited with Matt's parents and I. He spent over 20 minutes asking questions and just talking with us about Kaels diagnosis and experience. I was very impressed with his concern and respect for all we had been through. He asked if I would take a minute to share with the team some of what Kael has been through. Of course I couldn't do it without crying so I hope I didn't make to big-a-fool of myself.

The players gave the other kids 'practice balls' to play with. They were lovin' it!



Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for our own little Make*A*Wish-Aggie Style!!!
(Keep reading the following post - pics aren't in order!)

He followed coach and the boys all over the field. Learning new plays and

how/when to blow his whistle.QB

Coach had the team come out to the middle of the field and kneel down. This is when I told them about Kael's story then Coach and Steve presented Kael with a ball (signed by all the players) and a "Hit" hat. They have only given 4 away this year and Kael got the 5th! They are given to players that have struggled but stepped up and made the neccesary 'plays' to succeed.

Go Kael!!

Coach 'A's' wife showed up at the end so I spent a while visiting with her. She lost her dad just 5 months ago to cancer (he has battled the last 13 years). I enjoyed the visit. As we were leaving one of the players stuck his head out of the locker room and said that Coach wanted to see us in his office! Gary and Shauna had to leave so the kids and I went up to see what he wanted. He led us into his office and then gave us t-shirts and sweatshirts! He told me he was glad that we came and that it is something his team needs to see. As we were leaving one of the other coaches stepped out into the hall and gave the kids a pizza. What an unforgettable experience! It truly was AWESOME! That Saturday the Ag's played Hawaii (in the pouring rain). Steve invited Kael and Matt down to the sidelines to be with the team. While they were warming up they let Kael out on the field and had him lead them in the 'Haka' (Hawiian war dance). They had him do the team cheer and then hoisted him on their shoulders to pack him off the field! I am so glad that Matt got to experience some of it. He really is the BIGGEST Aggie fan (even his dad admits that Matt may be a tiny-bit bigger fan than he is . . . I think it's a toss-up!)

In the hall stood the famous 'wagonwheel' (BYU and the Aggies pass it back and forth according to who wins when they play. BYU has had it for the last 17 years. Ya! Pretty sweet victory this year so I couldn't pass up the chance. I think I let out a squeal when I saw it!! To bad the two BIGGEST Aggie fans (Matt and his dad) were not even there to witness it!)

Thanks again Grandpa and Grandma Leak for this AWESOME experience!

The Road Trip continues . . .

Remember the road trip I started in August?

Remember I got strep and had to come home?

Remember Matt promised he would take me out to the Basin (Roosevelt area)?

. . . well, I remembered!

I talked him into taking me out there over UEA. I scheduled Kael's surgery for the 14th so he wouldn't have to miss school. We stayed at Crystal's that night, then headed out Friday morning. My mom happened to talk to my Grandma about coming and of course she agreed to it. (Grandma has always been a traveler)! So mom, Grandma, and Aunt Julie met us at my cousin, Jessica's, house.

I had two reasons for going. Matt's Great-Grandparents came from that area and my Grandma was born and lived there until she was 7. (K - maybe three reasons - I love spending time with family!)

My Grandma, Jessie Edith Graves, was born January 30, 1925 in Moffat, Utah to Claude Charles Graves and Martha Maria Weiss. Her father came from Indiana and worked in the mines, her mother from South Dakota and was a cook for the mines in Idaho. Grandma was the fourth of seven children, 3 brothers and 3 sisters. She remembers so much for being just seven when they left the area. The next few posts will give you a glimpse into her life while living there.

School Days

Grandma attended primary in this building on occasion. The Graves' were not members but permitted the kids to go with their friends once in a while. Across the street from the church sits this building, the school. Grandma attended the 1st and 2nd grades here. It is now used as a stock yard.
Jess, Me, Crystal. We have always been close and it was so AWESOME to all get together again (twice this year. that's a record!!)!

Great-Grands with Grandma.

Kael, Dallie, Trey, Matti, Kase, Jaicee, Ty, Hayden, Tad
Better than anything to me . . .

Aunt Julie, Dallie, Ty, Jaicee, and Jess

My mom, Sis, and I. Wish the other girls could have been there.

Milk Barn

My Grandma milked cows in this barn when she was just five years old. She remembers bringing the cows in from the meadow and her dad teaching her how to milk on the cows that were going dry. They had a small tin cup that they would drink the warm milk from.

The hay was stacked in the loft above so they could push the feed into the bunks below.
Full Circle. Everyone had a milk cow back then. Everyone milked.

This picture hold a special place in my heart. Our barn is built with cinder blocks. Has electricity. Pipes, pumps, compressors, and a tank. However, the milk is still made into the same basic staples it was then.

The home she was born in no longer stands. This was taken in the general area of where the old homestead stood. The present owner was nice enough to take us down where he thought the home was but after we left grandma said that was the neighbors house!

Grandma and her siblings and friends would roll their Easter Eggs off this hill for fun!

This was one of the farms that Grandpa Graves leased. It is now used for the oil industry.

Meacham's cabin. The Meacham's were close friends with the Graves'. This home stands less than a mile away from where Grandma lived. She remembers riding her horse down to their place all the time. She also recalls the home being much larger when she was a child! When Grandma was seven she went to San Diego with her mom, sister, and younger siblings while her Dad and older brothers loaded the wagons and left for Oregon. The Meacham family went to Oregon with them. Grandma attended the 3rd Grade in San Diego and then her sister took them to southeast Oregon to meet up with the rest of the family. From there she remembers riding the horse until they would come to a town. The she would get off and ride in the wagon because she was to embarrassed. They finally settled in a few different places near Portland.