Boys...and their broken bones.

So this isn't Miller's first broken bone, he broke his collarbone two years ago, but it was our first trip to the ER. I sent Miller and Denton and Sawyer downstairs to pick up the toys they got out, and I heard Miller start crying. I look over to the stairs and he is getting to the top holding his arm and telling me that he hurt it. As you can see, it is clearly broken. I stared at it for a second thinking it didn't look right until it really set it that he was seriously hurt. I tried to get him to lay on the couch, but he kept trying to get up and was flinging that poor arm all over the place. I made a quick call to Bret and he headed home right away. Miller cried until Bret got there and then he was okay. Bret got him to take this picture. Bret took this one on the way to the hospital.
They got us right in, and luckily the ortho surgeon was already there because he was just finishing putting a cast on another little boy with the same break. The only other time Miller cried was when they put in the IV. They had to poke him twice!

The staff was amazed at how calm he was. They went ahead and did his x-rays and exam without any meds he was so cooperative. They did have put him out so they could set the bone and they don't allow the parents in the room for that. These are his before and after x-rays. Nice job, Doc!

When we got back to the room he was higher than a kite on the drugs they gave him. He was so funny to talk to. I asked him what he wanted for dinner and he said, "I want smarties! Wait...Mom, what are smarties?"

It was very entertaining.

Home from the ER. He is one tough kid. When I asked him how he did it he said, "Well, Denton and Sawyer and I were jumping off the couch. They jumped and didn't get hurt. And I jumped three times and didn't get hurt. Then I got hurt on the last time I jumped." Bret told him that he has broken his arm five times and told Miller how each one happened. That's the first things he tells anyone who comes to visit. Hopefully Miller won't have the bad luck his dad did.

Gone Fishin'!

We went to Sun Valley with some friends and took Miller fishing. This is his first fish!

Notice the pinky sticking out. Very proper!

Before this fun moment, Bret spent a good half hour figuring out his new pole. I think our frinds kids had caught about their 20th fish by the time Bret's hook hit the water. This was how much fun he was having.

Caught in the bushes.

Caught in the bushes...again.

He had to fasten his hook at least 3 times before he actually got the thing working. But it was all worth it in the end!

Slip 'n' Slide!!!

Aunt Gina found us the funnest place to have FHE. This family has two giant slip 'n' slides, a zip line, and playground for the kids. It was so much fun. Miller kept his eyes closed the first time he headed down the slide.

The adults had as much, if not more, fun than the kids on that slide. We tried to see who could go the furthest down the slide on their feet. This was Justin's attempt.

So funny.

We also tried to see how many people we could get on the tubes at the same time. This was the first try. Of course, it always ended with the tube flipping over and all of us flying. The last time we went, we had 12 adults on that thing.

We spent the whole night trying to act as childish as possible. I think we succeeded!

Everyone had the best time and we will definitely be going back next year.

And thanks to Annie who always comes prepared, even for my kids. Who forgets a towel? I do!

Porter's first haircut!

Bret finally convinced me that Porter needed a buzz. I wasn't happy about it, but looking back, he was looking like Krusty the Clown from the Simpson's. His hair is so kinky and course, it was growing in puffs on the top and the sides of his hair. He looks very excited for what's about to happen.

He was very good through the whole thing. He just couldn't figure out what was making all that noise.

Bret uses that hand vacuum to clean up all the hair. Porter wasn't quite sure what was going on.

His reward for being so good was a Popsicle which he insisted on holding all by himself...

He quickly decided that wasn't the best idea.

This is the after shot. I am glad Bret talked me into it. It was desperately needed. Sorry Grandma!

He's even had one since this first one. Last buzz of the summer and then Bret is banned from the clippers.

Roaring Springs

For Miller's birthday, he wanted to go to Roaring Springs with his cousins. He got this great snorkel mask for his birthday. Too bad they wouldn't let him use it at the park.

He had a great time...until he couldn't feel his lips anymore.

As we drove toward Boise, we knew the forecast was saying the high for the day to be around 78 degrees. The closer we got, the darker the clouds became. But we still held out hope.

Turns out, we picked the day that Boise set a record low. The high for the day was 58 degrees! By lunchtime, Miller's lips were so blue, we sent him and the other kids to the car with Annie to warm up and watch a movie. But we adults were determined to stick it out until they closed the park and we could get free tickets to come again another day. By 2:00 pm, the lightning was striking, the rain was coming in sideways and they closed the park. One of these days, we will actually enjoy our trip to Roaring Springs. Hopefully next year will be better!

Five years ago today...

For some reason, this birthday of Miller's has really had me reminiscing of the first day I met the little man that changed my life forever...

I was woken up by the phone ringing. I answered and my case worker from LDS Family Services had news that Amy had gone into labor and that she was in the hospital. Amy and I had spent time together in the last weeks of her pregnancy and she invited us to be at the hospital when Miller was born.

So I got ready and packed a bag and headed to Boise. I was to be making this trip solo because Bret was at Scout camp at Red Fish Lake. He had taken the truck, so I was left home with our Jeep Wrangler with the biggest tires you've ever seen, which didn't travel well on the freeway, so I called my parents to ask if I could borrow their car for the drive. They offered to drive me so I didn't have to make the trip alone. I was grateful for that, since my mind was racing and I was really wishing that Bret could be with me. I spent the next two hours trying to get a hold of Bret with no luck.

When I arrived at the hospital, I found the waiting area where I was met by Amy's sweet mother who gave me the best hug and told me that he was here. I thought she was talking about the doctor and she looked at me again and said, "He's here, Miller is here." I was in shock. I was expecting a pretty good wait, so I wasn't really prepared to be seeing him upon arrival.

Amy's mom lead me to her room and when I walked through the door, I saw him for the first time... ...it took my breath away. I wanted to cry, I wanted laugh, I wanted to shout to world my excitement. I think what I ended up doing was just staring in silence. I can't really describe what that moment was like. The only thing that would have made it sweeter was Bret.

Amy was so gracious to allow me to be with her that day in the hospital. I remember it like it was yesterday. I followed that baby everywhere he went. Now that I work on the OB floor, I see how annoying that can be. ;)

So after many, many phone calls and a trip by the county sheriff, Bret heard the great news and headed for Boise ASAP. He finally met Miller about 12 hours after he stole my heart. We did placement the next day on the Boise Temple grounds. It was amazing. When I think about the emotions of that day, I have a hard time not crying all over again. I will never forget how my heart was overflowing with such love and joy and I could see Amy's heart breaking. I was not prepared for that. I think about that often. I will never be able to fully express my gratitude and love for her and her family.
I remember on the ride home that Bret and I kept looking in the back seat and laughing that there was a car seat with a baby in it and he was going home with us. We had dreamt of that day for so long and it was finally here. It was like when you think your dreaming so you pinch yourself to make sure it real.

Introducing Miller to our families was almost surreal. It's funny how your life can change in a day.

I can't imagine my life without Miller, and I hardly remember what my life was like before I met him five years ago. Happy birthday, Miller! I love you bunches, and bunches, and bunches, and bunches, and bunches!

Happy Birthday, Miller!

Miller turned 5 today! I can't believe he is growing up so fast! For a long time he promised me that he would stay little forever, but I don't think that will happen.

Miller wanted a Star Wars birthday this year. He loves the Clone Wars cartoon and specifically wanted an R2-D2 cake with several characters on the cake. And since Miller is the resident prince at our house, he got exactly what he asked for.

I made Miller wait all day long to open his presents (I know, so mean). We spent the day together making his cake and talking about all the memories we have made together. I was glad that I hadn't given him any presents in the morning, because he would have spent the entire day playing with them and I wouldn't have had all the great conversation and time spent with him on his special birthday.

I put trick candles on his cake, which were sparking all over the place like crazy. When he couldn't blow them out the first couple of tries, he tried to spit on the candles to get them to go out. Luckily, the spit missed the cake and we were still able to serve it! I did have cupcakes for anyone not daring enough to try the cake after the candles!

Miller wanted a bike for his birthday, so that's what he got. One that he can learn to ride without the training wheels. And one that dad won't run over this time, hopefully!