1st for Everything

Sunday started out with a very excited newly 5-year old little girl.  As is our tradition, we had cake for breakfast.  Thanks again, Kimberly:)  We got ready and made it to 9:00am church with moments to spare.  We quickly realized that Randy would spend the entire Sacrament meeting out in the hall with a very boisterous Ty.  The Youth speaker was amazing, the next speaker was wonderful, the musical number had me in tears.  It was going perfect after missing church so much this year.  However, my head started to feel quite weird.  I've had moments over the past 6 months where I get extremely dizzy, even while sitting down.  So, knowing that I was probably going to pass out, I got the heck out of the chapel.  The last time I passed out in the chapel, it was during the water prayer during the Sacrament during Ward Conference with us sitting on the row directly behind the Deacons.  To make matters worse, I was beached-whale pregnant with Brennon so it took SEVEN men to carry me out of there.  SEVEN!!!  I was so traumatized by that last incident, I bee-lined it to the doors.  I made it out just in time for Randy to catch me as I went down and had a seizure.  My body couldn't stop the convulsions, so an ambulance was called.  That's the first 1st!  I did NOT want an ambulance called.  It turned out to be a good thing.  More on that later.  So, here I am getting lifted onto a stretcher (only two arms instead of seven men!), actually getting strapped to the thing, and fed into the ambulance.  As we're pulling out of the parking lot- literally being jostled enough for the medic to need to hold the handle bars- he's telling me that he needs to start an IV to get meds into me to stop the convulsions before I had another seizure.  UM... EXCUSE ME?  Does he not know how stressed out I get having one put in when I'm laying on a bed in the hospital?  Not moving?  That's the second 1st!  Actually getting an IV put in while I'm riding in and ambulance on my way to the hospital.  Not my favorite.  We made it to the hospital, got hooked up to all of the machines, and waited for the results to come back.  However, in walks a cute little nurse with that wicked "blood work" cart.  The sight of that evil cart instantly made my hands sweat.  "The blood that was taken while on the ambulance didn't work."  Um... What blood?  I didn't know he'd taken blood.  That's the third 1st!  I had blood taken while in a moving vehicle.  Yikes.  So, this cute little nurse went straight to enemy of the year as she attempts to take my blood a second time; first time for her.  Then she was upgraded to Satan incarnate when she has to prick me a second time because she couldn't get the vain to cooperate the first time.  That's 3 pokes in an hour, folks.  Talk about seventh circle of hades!!  On Shelby's birthday no less!!  The results came back normal.  Of course they did!  The Dr. sent me in for a CT scan.  This is where the story gets good.  It turns out that I have a problem with my brain.  No jokes, please.  It's called Chiari Malformation.  To make a long story short, I don't have enough space at the back of my head/top of my spine for my brain.  All that reading has finally gotten too much:)  I'm not getting enough spinal fluid to my brain.  Or something like that.  I now know why I've been so dizzy.  I now know why I have been having vision problems.  I now know why I get dizzy even sitting down or simply turning my head too fast.  There are more symptoms that are starting to show up.  Some show up in adolescence, mine in adulthood.  I like to consider myself an adult!  I will be getting an EEG this week and talk to a neurologist about my condition and hopefully get more answers and meds.  For now, I'm trying to get past the fatigue and exhaustion of the past two days.  It's great to finally know that I do not have a brain tumor (what I've wondered for the past 6 months as more and more symptoms have come up) and that it's not life threatening.  So, with all of my 1st that I never wanted to EVER happen, I'm thankful for it just the same!  Here's to technology that allows me to start getting healthy again!!

Happy 5th Birthday, Shelby!

Shelby turns FIVE today!!! 

 Happy Birthday Shelby Girl!!!

 Kimberly made her AWESOME cake.  It was so moist and got SO many compliments.  We wish you could have heard them all, Kimberly!  Thank You So Much for such an amazing cake!!!

 The Gang minus Carter.

 It was so much fun watching her blow out her candles.  It was like she was whispering to them.  I didn't realize they were trick.  It didn't matter, she blew them out like a champ!

 I had to get a pic of her in that hat.  Please excuse the pizza face:)

At one point she asked someone to hurry up and eat so she could open her gifts!  Um... hold your horses girl!  Thank you so much Kennedy, Braden, Haylie, Brooklynn, Laci, Carter, Cade, Jackson, and of course, Caden, Keilie, Brennon, and Tyson! 

Happy Birthday Shelby!!!

Class 31 Valedictorian

Randy got home yesterday from his last 2 weeks of training with Boston Scientific.  It was HARD, to say the least, to have him gone, but a few things that happened made it all worth it.  Mostly.... This!  Out of 22 reps in the class, Randy got Valedictorian.  His total percentage for the 10 tests applied was 97%.  He got 633 points with the runner up getting 623.  He worked hard and achieved his goal!  Congrats, Randy.  I'm so proud of you!!  Some of the other awesome experiences are as follows.

1.  He was asked by a pretty well-known rep if he was a "Mormon."  Someone overheard Randy say yes and asked how the other guy knew.  "Mormon's just have a glow.  My best friend growing up was a Mormon.  Randy just has the glow."

2.  "You're the best Mormon I've ever met."  This coming from a girl that had dated a "Mormon."

3.  A girl was struggling with the class.  She called her manager in Oregon to talk about it.  He said, "I've heard about a rep that's doing well. Search out Randy Dirks and ask him to study with you."  This is a man from Oregon that Randy has never met before!  We're still unsure how he heard about Randy.

4.  Countless people would thank him for his comments, ask him to help them study, or simply want to be around him.  He really did help people out.  Many night sacrificing his own sleep or time to help others.

5.  After everyone had been tested, a trainer had a meeting with all of the reps.  He told how he'd done everything he could think of to mess Randy up.  He said, "That type of knowledge only comes from experience in the field."  He was amazed that Randy could multitask by telling one person how to do something and catch a mistake from another person all within seconds.  Things were coming at him at an accelerated speed that would never happen in real life, so it impressed them that he could really do it.

There were many prayers, sleepless nights, and stressful situations these last few weeks, but we're glad to have this out of the way and know that he did his very best.  Congratulations again, love!  YOU ROCK!!!

Happy Valentine's 2012

After looking at my pictures of pictures, you can now see why I call Kimberly for EVERYTHING!  Thanks for the wonderful Valentine's Kimberly!!!  We LOVE them!  Happy Valentine's Day!

  In 2 weeks of course!  I just couldn't wait to show you:)

Shelby Stage

"Mom, did you know that when I'm in my bed and I close my eyes, I can't see?  ANY.THING!"

"Mom, did you know that mom's are girls and dad's are men?"

"Mom, this is seriously the most wonderful day!"

While looking at anything but me, "Mom, you are so beautiful."

"Brennon, you are my big brother because you are so big.  You can write your name and that makes you big."

"Mom, don't you remember?  I don't like yucky food!"

Shelby has been in the stage I love the most about kids.  She has been saying some of the funnest things.  Since her birthday is Sunday, she's been getting cards in the mail.  Wednesday, she got her first one from Grandpa and Grandma Dirks.  I opened the envelope and handed her the card expecting her to look inside.  She squealed and just stared at the card.  She walked around for 10 minutes before Caden asked her if she'd opened it.  When she saw the money fall out, she did another high-pitched-little-girl squeal.  However, the card was enough for her!  I love her innocence so much!  Still can't believe she's going to be five!

Slaves

A woman came to my home for the first time this week to talk about food storage and Shelf Reliance.  Her first question was if my "income" with Shelf Reliance allowed me to live in our big home with nice furnishings.  Um... no!  Her next question was if I had any kids.  Um... yep!  I was surprised by her question.  How could she not know that I had kids???  I looked around the front room and had to admit that it was pretty clean on the surface.  I could easily see the hand prints on the piano, the dirty mess that is our microfiber couch, the sheer curtains that are no longer sheer do to the stains, and on and on.  I loved how her eyes bulged when I told her I had 5.  Then, as if a light turned on above her head, she said, "Oh, with five kids to clean, your house must always be clean."  Um... no & yes.  I have at least one toddler at all times in this house.  Most of the day there are three children under the age of 4 (3 more days!) running around.  Then, for the rest of the night, I still have 5 kids that make their own kind of messes.  I'll admit, not all of the messes are caused by the kids.  So, it feels like there is always something going on in this house; from making forts, to emptying the toy box ("playing"), to simply just investigating the house, there is always noise and mess at the Dirks'.  So, no, the kids aren't the reason the house is always clean.  Just the opposite in fact.  However, they are the ones that help clean up said mess.  We have our "games" to help "the medicine go down," but for the most part, it's still a struggle.  Brennon's "stomach hurts when he as to clean out the silverware from the dishwasher."  Keilie ALWAYS has to go to the bathroom when it's her turn to clean out the dishwasher!  Shelby ALWAYS says the mess is too big.  Ty just walks around taking out what the kids' put away.  Caden really should be complaining because he doesn't do most of the mess, but I still make him clean.  Tonight the house was pretty trashed.  Before our bedtime routine, I said we all had to clean up 100 things.  Shelby cleaned the 4 decks of cards she threw all over the front room.  Brennon cleaned up all of the toys from the toy box that he'd emptied.  Ty just walked around.  Caden cleaned out the dishwasher.  Keilie did random stuff.  Let me tell you, the house is clean!  So, my argument is this.  5 kids made a HUGE mess.  However, 5 kids are wonderful slaves.  After all, why else would a sane couple have so many?!  That's how the world views our choice!  We've heard as much.  Maybe not in so many words:)

In Bed...

This morning Shelby was SUPER excited to tell me that she hadn't thrown up in her bed.  Funny, since that hasn't been and issue for months.  Now, if she would have said she hadn't had a bloody nose in bed, that would have been monumental.  She has one almost every night.  Winter is the worst!  I'm just glad that we're finally getting snow!

Over-thinking

 I love that these two haven't come to the stage where they over-think their smiles.  Handsome devils!

Green?

When we started the photoshoot, Kimberly commented that she'd never seen Shelby's eyes so green.  Look at those emeralds!  Her eyes change drastically depending on the day.  Blue, Grey, Green.  No matter which, she's always so beautiful!

Spring 2012 Photoshoot

 Spring 2012

Aren't we the luckiest parents in the world?  Do these not scream "BEAUTY"?  Could these kids actually be mine?  Thank you Kimberly for once again capturing these memories!

Hard work produces "ulcers."

"Mom, my belly hurts because I have to clean out the dishwasher."

Middle School

Last night I had the surreal opportunity to take Caden to a Middle School Open House.  He is SO excited!! Me, not so much.  I felt so old walking around, meeting the teachers, looking for the library & gym, and just being there with him.  I still can't believe that my oldest is so old!  I know he'll do well, I know he'll be fine, I know he can't wait, but a serious part of me wanted to take him away from that place and hide him away from the world forever.  I'm scared for the influences that will be introduced.  We're entering a new chapter in our kids' lives and I'm just a little nervous.  He was counting on his fingers as we were on our way home.  I asked him what he was trying to figure out.  He said, "When I'm in 8th grade, Keilie will be entering middle school."  I'm not ready for that either!  The year Caden enters High School, I will be enrolling my youngest in Kindergarten!  I know I'm getting ahead of myself by a couple of years (like 3) but man, reality hit me pretty hard last night as I was taking my sweet baby boy to a big boy school!  It's like his short life passed before my eyes and I was powerless to stop him from growing once again.  I remember thinking that time was going by so slow when I was excited to be grown.  I remember hearing that it would go fast.  I've blinked and now my son is old.

Uni...?

Last night we had some friends come to play while their mom went to a Dr. appointment.  Shelby was so excited to show Claire her Pillow Pet she got from Grandma & Grandpa Dirks.  It's a seriously cute Unicorn.  Shelby was showing her every square inch of that thing.  When she was showing the horn, she actually called it a "corn."  Claire said, "It's actually called a 'Horn.'"  Shelby said, "If it was really called a 'Horn,' it would be called a "Uni-horn" not a "Uni-corn."

Master

It always amazes me how each child learns differently. Caden does well with song while Keilie does well with watching and doing. Shelby just kind of always watches. There have been many times I didn't think she was listening and ended up surprising me with her answers. After our 10 Commandments Lesson, she was always asking to play a game for her to remember them. She was spot on each time. It surprised me. Today, Keilie said, "Number One- don't say the Lords name in vain." Shelby said, "No, Keilie, that's number three. Number One is 'No other Gods before me." She then proceeded to remind Keilie that you put three fingers over your mouth for the Lords Name in Vain. She listened! She learned! She teaches!

Skin

Randy surprised me with a 90 minute couples massage today. It couldn't have come at a better time for me! This week was so stressful while he's been gone. I got a total of 13 hours of sleep in 3 nights. I don't know why, but when he's gone I simply just stay awake. I lay on my pillow totally awake. When he gets home, it's like my adrenaline shuts down and I'm exhausted. So, with the stress of having him gone, plus the stress of not sleeping, this massage was perfect. I've had 3 others in my life and can honestly say this was the best one yet!! Randy needed his for another reason. The winters are always the roughest on his skin. I mean wipe his leg see the "snow" bad! So, he was excited to get oiled. About 75% into his massage he asked if it was lotion or oil that she was using. Oil! She needed to use what my girl was using because his skin was soaking hers up too fast. She said, and I quote, "Your skin is the driest I've ever worked on. Hands down!" So, I'm the "scariest patient imaginable" when it comes to blood draws and Randy is "the driest skin a massage therapist has ever worked with." We know... We're extreme!

Braids

  Love me some braids on two cute little girlies!

Feelings

Today in school the kids were learning about telling others' feelings by the look on their faces. The teacher had 5 different pictures with different expressions on each picture. One was of a man leaning over his car looking under the hood. Mrs. G asked what this man might be feeling. Some of the answers were "mad," "angry," and "frustrated." Brennon raised his hand and said, "heartbroken." I had to smile. He didn't learn that from me. Since these last few months have been filled with car troubles, I thought he would have said, "TICKED!" He'd have learned that from me.

New Specs

It's been two years since Shelby got her first pair of glasses. We've loved the little round ones she's had, but needed to get new ones to fit her face. It actually shocked the doctor to hear that she'd kept them that nice for two years. And at age 3 no doubt! Every night she'd rub her temples for a few minutes because the frames were pressing on them the whole day. She had indents:( So, with her yearly checkup last week we ordered some new frames. We tried to stick with the round frame- I just love how they look on her face- but the company had discontinued them. She really didn't care which ones we chose as long as they were pink. She's in love! I asked her if she could see better (her Rx had changed a little), to which she replied, "Yes. They're huge!" I guess she can see more because they cover more of her eye:) I'm still stunned at how we found out about our kids' eye problems, but grateful we caught hers when we did instead of at 8 like Caden! Shelby's isn't as serious as his, but it's still nice that she can see. "All the better to look at you my dear!" She has an appointment to get her Kindergarten shots in March and we're all set. She's going to Kindergarten!! *Sigh*

New Ride

The day we left for Utah Randy sold his Dodge Charger to a woman from Colorado. We thought we'd leave by noon, then 1:00, and then finally at 4:00. It made for a long day of waiting and then driving, but it also allowed us to get a larger family vehicle while in Utah. Randy had to work, so it only left us about 4 hours to really look for something. My cousin works at Larry H. Miller- Riverdale, so we took our business there. This is what we came home with! We love it!! It's a 2004 Yukon XL Denali. There are a few cosmetic scratches, but for the most part it's super clean. They had added DVD's to the headrests, so the kids are happy. Caden commented that the drive home felt shorter than it's ever felt. Now we just have to convince the kids that we don't need to watch TV while driving the 1 mile to school! It's nice to have the space. My only stipulation was that it had to have bucket seats for the center so that the kids could walk through the "isle" instead of crawling over the center seat to get to the two in back. Now, we have two in the center and three in the back. Perfect! New project? I just need to learn how to park the beast:) It's always so much fun to get a "new" car.

Undies

Ty has been in undies since after church yesterday. I thought he'd LOVE being in them since he's been asking for a few months to "go to potty." Nope. He's fought me with every "potty time." We'll see if this works. With Shelby and Brennon being potty trained in 1 to 2 days, I might just be lazy and wait until he turns 3. Anyway, this morning he slipped in the kitchen and fell on his bum. He came crying into me, "I fell on my undies." Cute!

Boots

I HeArT cute little skinny legs in big pink fluffy boots with sweet skirts in the winter. Or summer. Or when we're staying in. I'm going to miss these legs! I remember loving them just as much on Keilie!

10 Commandments Lesson

For Family Home Evening this week we taught the kids some hand signals to help them remember the 10 commandments. It went so well, we thought we'd show you, too!

 1- One God

Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me

 2- Bull Horns

Thou Shalt Not Make Unto Thee Any Graven Image

 3- 3 fingers covering your lips

Thou Shalt Not Take The Name of The Lord Thy God In Vain

 4- This is the Steeple

Thou Shalt Keep The Sabbath Day Holy

 5- Sign Language for Mother and Father

Thou Shalt Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother

 6- Guns

Thou Shalt Not Kill

 7- Keep all others out of your marriage

Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery

 8- 8 Fingers "bars" in front of your face

Thou Shalt Not Steal

 9- 9 Fingers "telling" lies

Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness

10- Sign Language for "Want." 10 Grabbing Fingers

Thou Shalt Not Covet