Our week's adventures

This week has definitely presented us with a unique set of challenges and blessings to say the least. I worked over last weekend, and work has been especially crazy lately. Sadly, sometimes work is my "break away from it all." (Because my own life can be so crazy sometimes). When work gets crazy like this, and we end up with high-acuity, difficult patients...it can be especially taxing on me (because then it is constant go-go-go without much relief for this poor girl). Last weekend was especially trying at work. I came home Sunday morning, helped Jonathan get the boys ready for church. (We didn't think Grandma should go to church this week because she has been coming down with a cold, so she stayed home with me while I slept.) We went to my mom's that evening for supper and had an enjoyable visit. While I was there, I started feeling a headache coming on. We got home, finished Kyle's Egypt project and before I knew it...what was once a headache developed into a migraine. I did my usual remedies, but without much success.

I spent most of the day Monday in bed with this same migraine...intensifying instead of dissipating. Luckily, our census was low enough at work that even though I was scheduled to work on Monday...I was able to get the entire night off. That same night, my girlfriend called and shared with me some of her "marital troubles" and the possibility that she might need a place to stay. I mentioned this to Jonathan. Instantly Jonathan said "Tell them they are welcome to come and stay with us...we don't have much, but we've got couches they can use." We extended the invitation to her and her two children to come and stay with us if the need arose.

On Tuesday, we became a household of ten! The kids were elated. They have grown up with my girlfriend's children and loved the idea of them staying. Grandma didn't seem to mind the added commotion, but at the same time she was acting increasingly more and more confused. I was keeping a close eye on her, since she has come down with a cold and wasn't seeming like her self. I was trying to establish if her confusion resulted from the added commotion to the household, her cold, or if something else might be going on.

I worked Wednesday night.

When I arrived home Thursday morning, Grandma was becoming more and more confused. She also had absolutely no strength in her legs at all. She would struggle to get to the bathroom even with a walker, and then had difficulty re-dressing herself afterwards. I found her on the floor a couple of times, because she had fallen and didn't have the strength to get herself back up. (At this time, I was also trying to get the kids off to school). I kept trying to convince her to stay put and I would take care of her as soon as the kids were gone. Next thing I would know, she would be calling out to me because she couldn't move or had fallen again. ~Sigh! I would then try to help her back up and back into bed, but she was so weak that it would turn in to me practically picking her up and carrying her. It was really starting to hurt my back and shoulders, so I was pushing her to work with me to get her back to bed.

We finally manage to get her to bed and feed her breakfast. I walk back in her room and she is laying down where I left her initially sitting up on her bed. When I asked "why she was laying down when she was trying to eat breakfast?" She replied, "I don't have the strength to sit up on my own. I'm just too weak." I then helped her into a chair where she could sit up and eat breakfast, took her morning medications, and vitamins. I then helped her back in to bed. I put her warm packs on her legs, gave her some Tylenol for the pain and tried to lay down for a couple of hours to give the medications time to kick in and see how she does then and to try to at least get a couple of hours sleep under my belt.

I left my door open, so I could hear her if she needed me. I get up at 12:15 to get her lunch and check on her, and discover her on her bedroom floor. She explained to me that she had to go to the bathroom, couldn't make it back to the bed...so she grabbed her pillow and blanket down and laid on the floor and waited for me until I got up. I immediately called her doctor's office and explained what was happening. They recommended I take her over to the ER.

We then spent the day sitting in Toledo Hospital ER playing the waiting game and having tests done. They admitted her with a urinary tract infection (which doesn't surprise me). Our hopes are that now that she is in the hospital, we can help expedite some of the procedures and surgeries we have been waiting on for so long. These last couple of months she has lost more and more of her ability to care for herself because of this chronic pain and weakness in her legs. She is desperate to have the doctors "do something", so that she doesn't continue to suffer like this. Please keep Grandma and all of us (for that matter) in your prayers.

With all of the adventures of the day...I ended up having to call in sick to work Thursday night. There was no way that I was going to be a safe practioner with only 2 hours of sleep. Which in the long run was a blessing in disguise, because I was running on empty and had nothing left in me...I knew if I tried to force myself to go in to work after our day, I would surely end up sick myself.

Jonathan has been absolutely amazing through this entire process. Having Grandma come and stay with us and then allowing my girlfriend and her children to come and stay with us has put a lot more stress on him, too. He has to take over the care for Grandma when I'm not here on top of taking care of the boys and all of their activities and needs. My girlfriend works second shift...so when she has had to work this week and I've been called away with work or taking care of Grandma, Jon has stepped in and valiantly and cheerfully taken on all of the responsibilities of Grandma, our kids, and my girlfriend's kids. I know it has been exhausting for him as well, but he has tried to help however he can. I came home last night to homework done, kids fed, and the house picked up. He was concerned for me and made sure I was fed and cared for when I got home around 8 pm...absolutely exhausted! He then got the kids off to bed and then we were able to spend a little time together. Now that's romance!

New 2008 Presidential Candidate

With the upcoming election coming closer, I have many inquiring just who I am favoring in this Presidential Candidacy. I think I may have found the one :)

http://www.tsgnet.com/pres.php?id=370743&altf=Mftmjf&altl=Mblf

(Click on the address and you'll see who)

Kyle's Egypt Project

Kyle is doing a school project on Egyptian Gods and Goddesses for his Social Studies class. He is writing a report on the religious beliefs of Egyptians. As part of the assignment Kyle needed to create a visual model. Kyle and Daddy rolling out the clay
This is Kyle's representation of the symbol that typically identifies "Ra" the Egyptian Sun God

Good job Kyle!

Meet Panda

Nicholas was quite distraught over the loss of Gerby. When he was initially informed of Gerby's passing, the only thing he said was "Awww!" Immediately followed by, "Can I still play on the computer?" But as time progressed, the reality hit him and he was very sad to lose his little friend.

The sadness intensified the next morning when he discovered Gerby's babies had died as well. He requested that we go back to the pet store to get another hamster friend for him. He went and picked out another hamster. (We can only hope that this one isn't pregnant and is indeed a boy.!It is hard to tell the sex. They almost look like they have both parts.) "Panda" is a Panda Bear Hamster and he is very sweet. He enjoys crawling all over Nicholas and tolerates Nicholas' handling better than Gerby did (perhaps because she was pregnant). He is very cuddly with me and likes to curl up in my hands and fall asleep. Nicholas is definitely enjoying the adventures that he and Panda are able to have now.

Nicholas showing off his friend
They are called Panda Hamsters because of their resemblance to a Panda Bear
Nicholas watching Panda explore my bed

RIP

We were faced with a tragedy of sorts today. As many of you know, Nicholas' Gerby who turned out to be a girl had a litter of 8-10 babies on Sunday. We checked on her a few times a day to see how she was doing...and she was trudging along. She was always with her babies unless she was eating or drinking and those babies were ALWAYS nursing. Today we found her not moving and away from the babies. Upon investigation, we discovered that Gerby had passed away. This was distressing for many reasons...but primarily because we still had six surviving babies that we haven't the slightest idea how to care for. Jonathan took the whole cage over to Pet Supplies Plus to find out what happened and what we could do. They speculate that Gerby died from so much demand on her...she just couldn't keep up with it. We asked if there was a surrogate mommy we could put the hamsters with? Nope. Would they take them? Nope. They suggested we could give them to someone who has a snake and they could be a meal for the snake. According to the pet store that would be more humane than allowing the babies to simply starve to death. We didn't stomach that option very well and didn't think that it would go over well with the kids at all. So we tried syringe feeding these tiny naked hamsters every 2-3 hours, trying to keep them warm on a warm pack, and seeing what we can do to try to save them. It is helping distract Nicholas from losing Gerby. Poor little guy! (We didn't have much luck because they were all gone by morning...*SIGH*at least we tried)

Poor Jonathan! This would happen on my weekend to work...therefore, I'm not even at home to help deal with all of this commotion.

The girl has skills

I have developed a skill over the years, that many of you may not know about. I have been cutting the hair of the boys/men in my family for the last few years. It started with only being able to use clippers and cut bangs...and through a little experimentation and watching others. I have gotten to the place where I can do this. (It helps to have such a good looking model to work with :)

Due to the curse of being prematurely gray and not wanting to pay salon prices for hair coloring, I have gotten good at hair coloring my own hair and the hair of others, as well. Grandma is grateful for this skill...since she hates how washed out her gray hair makes her appear. Pretty cool, huh?

What makes a good parent?

(Luke's teacher sent this paragraph he wrote in school home...knowing we would love to know what he wrote.)

"What makes a good parent?" "My parents are good parents. My mom and dad cook dinner. My mom helps me with my homework. My mom and dad buy me everything I need. This is why my parents are good parents."

These words might seem simple to you, but in this sometimes thankless job we do as parents...these moments when what we do is acknowledged feels nice. Over the years, Luke's little gifts like these have always been tender and heartfelt.

Luke is my child that often times feels slighted, or claims that "things aren't fair." I've said for many years that "if Luke could've been an only child...he wouldn't ever had anything to complain about and would be the perfect child." I learned long ago not to kill myself trying to make things fair in Luke's eyes...because regardless of what I do, "not fair" usually means "he isn't the only one getting everything that his heart desires or things aren't exactly the way he wants."

In these moments when he says "Hey mom and dad...thanks!", we basque in the momentary gratitude. We are thankful for you too, Luke!

Say what?

We spent a lovely Sunday over at Jeff and Denise's watching General Conference together, having brunch, visiting, and following everything up with a yummy supper. This is one of our many family traditions. The kids love any time that we go to Jeff and Denise's place and they can spend time with their cousins. Everyone enjoyed themselves!

We arrive home around 8:30 pm and the boys went in to check on the hamster first thing...as always. Nicholas comes running out yelling "Mommy, Mommy...Gerby is a girl, Mommy! She had babies!" Stunned, I asked "You're kidding me right?" (Remember this hamster was supposedly a boy). I went in to discover that the hamster was indeed a mommy and without being able to actually count...we believe there are 8-10 babies. GRRRR!

I am later informed that when Jonathan went to PetSmart they stated that all of the hamsters were boys...so customers wouldn't have this problem. He assumed that Pet Supplies Plus (where he ended up getting Gerby) had the same policy. Apparently not! I wonder if I can hold them responsible for taking in these babies when they are old enough...since this is obviously their fault? Why do you think we only got one?

So now we have to not only read about raising these little critters, but find homes for all of them (I imagine the likelihood of Pet Supplies Plus taking these babies is pretty slim). The kids want to keep them all (of course)...Jonathan and I both simultaneously responded with an emphatic "NO!"

Anyone want a hamster? Come on...you know you do :)

Gerby watching over her babies
Little naked, rodents...I mean babies!

A couple of handsome boys

Dylan and Kyle ready to go to Priesthood session with Dad, Uncle Jeff and Uncle Mike
Kyle
Dylan~as close to a smile as I could get. He claims "he doesn't smile anymore."

Date Night

Today, to my pleasant surprise, after I arose from sleeping the day away (I worked last night)...I discovered that Jonathan had arranged for my mom to babysit the kids, so that we could have a date night (we haven't been able to go on a date since before Grandma came to stay with us).

We made sure Grandma had a yummy supper and then we took the rest of the fam to Burger King (we are trying to avoid fast food as much as possible for Grandma and her poor, aging ol' body). We enjoyed a scrumptious Burger King Steakhouse Mushroom Burger and then dropped the kids off to my mom. In all of Jon's graciousness, Jon recommended that we go watch "Nights in Rodanthe", a recent movie that has been released starring Diane Lane and Richard Gere, based on a Nicholas Sparks novel (one of my all time favorite authors). If you haven't already figured it out...it's a total chic flick, but Jonathan knew that I was very excited for this movie's release. This movie would be far from Jonathan's first choices in movies he would want to see for himself..but the man is quite "soft" for me and wants nothing more than for me to have a little pampering and be happy. So "Nights in Rodanthe" it was.

I read this novel back in 2002, when it was first released. So, I knew the basic story line of the movie, but it had been long enough to make much of the movie very enjoyable...vaguely familiar, but not predictable. They chose perfect actors to portray Nicholas Sparks' characters. The minute I saw the trailer for the movie...I knew it was going to be good. They did a nice job with the movie and we both enjoyed it...or at least Jonathan pretended to enjoy it. I cried during the ending, which doesn't even make Jonathan flinch anymore...he is so used to my "sensitivity" by now.

As the movie ended, I was struck with the profound sense of what a great husband I have. After a couple of years of focusing on all of this man's downfalls...I am overcome with the many thoughtful, kind, quiet attributes that he has. Much of his "greatness" is revealed when he simply does things, because he wants nothing more than for me to know of his complete devotion and endless love for me. I am one lucky girl! (Once again...I'm sure glad we made it!)

Case of the missing hamster

Nicholas named his hamster Gerby...even though he isn't a Gerbil. We have tried other names with him, but this seems to be the one that sticks.
The home and gym of Gerby

It is traditional for the boys to each get birthday money for their birthdays, therefore they get to decide what their birthday presents will be. This year for Nicholas' birthday, his choice was to get a hamster. Friday night...after taking Dylan to mow the lawn at my mom's. Dad and Nicholas traveled to PetSmart to choose a hamster. Nicholas made his selection, purchased some cage supplies, bedding, food and exercise toys for the hamster and they were on their way home. The hamster was desperately trying to get out of the box it was in...so while we waited for the cage to be assembled, we placed him in an empty laundry hamper. The hamster ran in circles over and over. The kids got a kick out of the several poops the hamster managed to have in such a short period of time (10). When the hamster peed and it had a white appearance...Nicholas disgusted said "Ewww! That hamster must be a girl after all, since it is peeing milk!"

It took a while, but eventually we were able to get the hamster into its new home, fed and watered and the kids off to bed (late of course). The next morning as we began to arise at an early hour (due to Nicholas' baptism), we discovered that the hamster was mysteriously missing. Surprisingly, there weren't any openings on the cage...none of the kids had any idea what had happened to the hamster (of course), and yet the hamster was no where to be found.

With places to go and people to see, we needed to leave...with or without the hamster being located. When we arrived back home, we kept the kids outside and the adults came in the house and searched high and low for the hamster, but to no avail. We assumed that the hamster had found its way outside and was gone forever. Much to our surprise, while Jonathan was laying on the couch in the family room...he heard scratching on the garage door. Voila! Gerby has returned to his warm comfy home and Nicholas is happy once again.

University of Toledo Rockets Football Game

Make a Smilebox postcard

While Grandma and Maria went to the General Relief Society Broadcast at church, all of the boys went to a University of Toledo Rockets football game with their scout troop.

The University of Toledo Rockets lost to Florida International University (16-35)

Nicholas' Baptism

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Nicholas' big day was today. He is now a baptized member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is hard to believe that the last of my little ones is baptized now...making it a very bittersweet experience for me.

We hope you enjoyed the slides of 1. Nicholas with his mom and dad 2. Nicholas ready for his baptism 3. Nicholas with Dad, Uncle Jeff and Uncle Mike (his confirmation circle) 4. Nicholas with his primary teacher Sister Sheffer 5. Daddy and Nicholas in front of the font 6. Aunt Tiffany and Nicholas (Aunt Tiffany spent hours compiling a labor of love baptism video that was played at Nicholas' baptism. She is awesome!) 7. Rice Krispy Treats...Yum!! 8. Nicholas and his Grandmas 9. Nicholas with his new scriptures and scripture case. CONGRATULATIONS NICHOLAS!

Nicholas Baptism Video

We wanted to take a moment to thank our very talented friend, Tiffany Richter. She spent many hours compiling the pictures, quotes, and music that we requested to create this labor of love masterpiece. We will treasure this video for years to come. Thanks Tiff!

Nicholas 8th Birthday

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Nicholas had a very busy day today. First it was a birthday breakfast with donuts and a birthday balloon. At school Nicholas celebrated his birthday with his school friends by bringing cupcakes in to share. The Panther Prowl also took place at school today...a fund raiser for the school similar to the walkabout. The kids had a good time doing that and raised lots of money for their school. After school, we were off to Build a Bear Workshop with our boys and Nicholas' best friend, Azavia in tow. (Dylan was told he was too old to participate, so he came as an observer). Afterwards, we picked up Grandma and then we went to Red Robin's for dinner. Nicholas enjoyed all of the attention of having a birthday. He told everyone he saw that today was his birthday. Happy Birthday Nicholas! We love you!

Dylan's new look

Dylan is usually a t-shirt and jeans kind of guy. He likes to be casual whenever possible. The last few weeks, he has been asking if I would get him some button down shirts with a matching t-shirt underneath...so he can try this new style on for size. Today was his first day for his experimentation. He seems to like it and according to his report "so do the girls" ;)

Homework, homework and even more homework

I am convinced that most moms of school aged children encounter one obstacle, greater than all other obstacles that might be encountered in a school year...and that is the obstacle of HOMEWORK. (A close second would be fund raisers).

I literally dread when the school year starts...for that very reason. Every school day the kids come home from school and we get right on homework. Some times things run really smoothly and other days I know my hair is a little thinner from tearing it out. GRRRR! The three older boys have actually been very cooperative so far this year about getting their homework accomplished in a timely fashion. Nicholas on the other hand wages a battle on most days. We try to make it fun for him, bribe him, and even time him out (when we have to)...but he still gives us a run for our money. On the days that I work, this time is literally the only time that I get to spend with the boys. Often times with four boys trying to talk to me all at the same time...(Good thing I can multi-task pretty effectively)...Homework Time can be pretty chaotic! I have observed Grandma sitting amongst all of this commotion many a time...just taking it all in. I'm sure it brings back memories for her, too.

On top of the usual homework, also comes the fun of "assigned projects". The projects can be fun to do (if you have a willing participant)...but most often, it turns in to one big hassle for mom and dad...running around town collecting all of the "requirements" to complete the project (on top of everything else). Luke has been working on an autobiography for his teacher and we just finished Dylan's first project for social studies. Dylan had to do a timeline starting from when he was born...or "when he first came to the planet" (as he puts it). Apparently, I am the UFO that assisted him here to earth ;).

We never had a chance to get a picture of their projects before they turned them in...but we came across many of their pictures. I thought it might be fun to reminisce about how little they once were...

Luke at about a year old thinking he is hot stuff trying to answer the phone
Our first professional family picture with Dylan 3 months old.

(Dylan should be grateful I chose that picture and didn't put the presentation of Dylan when he was first born--or should I say first descended from the UFO? :)

Adventures in Pain

September 14th, 2008

This past week was very hectic to say the least. Keeping up with the kids' school assignments and projects, the house, taking care of grandma, and working full time is an adventure within itself. Early in the week, Jonathan, Dylan and I were asked to give sacrament meeting talks in church. Nicholas, Luke and Kyle were asked to give a talk, be the spotlight child, and read the scripture and give the prayer in Primary. It was a challenge, but we were all prepared to fulfill all that was being requested of us.

Early Sunday morning (shortly before 6 am) I awoke with pain in the right side of my back. Initially, I figured that I had been sleeping in a bad position, and attempted to roll over. The pain worsened and therefore, I assumed that I had pulled a muscle. Jonathan got the heat pack and Ibuprofen for me and I attempted to go back to sleep. 20 minutes later, I felt another spasm which was much more intense than the first. I immediately knew that "this was much more than a pulled muscle." The pain came in waves, and when it came, created so much pressure and cramping in my back it was difficult to even breathe. We attempted moving around and even getting into a warm tub, but to no avail. If anything our efforts seemed to worsen the pain. With my medical background, I knew I either had appendicitis, an ectopic pregnancy, a torsion of my ovary (which is when your ovary twists around kinking the fallopian tube), or a kidney stone. Any of these diagnoses would require medical intervention. Therefore, I had Jonathan call my mom to have her come.

By the time my mom arrived, I was in tears from the pain. My mom took me over to Flower Hospital ER (it's the closest hospital and would most likely have the least amount of waiting). Jonathan got the kids and Grandma ready and took them out to Nicole and Craige's, not sure if surgery might be indicated. Jonathan joined us in the ER as soon as he could get everything taken care of at home. (Needless to say, we wouldn't be making it to church after all).

As time continued...I consistently had an aching in my right flank, but then I would get these intermittent waves of pain that would cause me to just writhe in agony. I couldn't stay still. I would move into every position I could think of, without success. The pain was so intense that it would create this heat to pass through me...I would flush and begin to sweat...then the nausea would come causing me to dry heave...and then I would feel so much pressure in my bottom that I would swear I needed to use the bathroom (but never could) .

There was no question in the doctor's and nurse's mind that I certainly had "something" going on. We all leaned towards a kidney stone...especially because of my inability to be still when the pain would hit. They did insist on doing a pregnancy test...along with a battery of other blood work. We kept teasing if they came back and told me that I was pregnant that there was going to be "a lot of explaining to do."

As is typical in ER, there was a lot of waiting that went on. I have often joked that the phrase "we'll be right back" translates to at least 45 minutes of waiting and if they say "we'll be back in a few minutes" then you are looking at least an hour. By the time the nurse had checked me over, I had been registered, the doctor had come in to assess my symptoms and establish his plan of care, and the nurse returned to start an IV and give me Morphine for pain and Zofran for the nausea...I was beside myself in agony and begging for an epidural :) (Hey, it works for the girls in my field!)

The Morphine helped quite a bit. The pain went from a raging 10 to a 4-5. I could still feel the spasms, but they weren't as intense. They took me for a CT scan (my very first ever) and when I returned she gave me some Toradol, which helps with the pain, but is also known to help reduce the spasming. The combination of Morphine and Toradol made me completely pain free. Ahhh! Now, that was much better.

The CT scan showed Right Mild Hydronephrosis (hydronephrosis is a dilation of the kidney usually due to an obstruction of the free flow of the urine from the kidney), but there wasn't any evidence of a stone. They also took a urine sample. Once the urine sample results came back and they saw blood in the urine, it was confirmed that I had either passed a kidney stone or was in the process of passing a stone and it just wasn't visualized on the CT scan. They diagnosed me with Renal Colic which is the spasming and pain that results often times from passing a kidney stone, gave me a prescription for Vicodin and Toradol and sent me home.

I spent the rest of the day, feeling completely exhausted and "beaten up". I felt some pain, but struggled more with a whopping headache/migraine and nausea. Therefore, I slept for a good part of the day and was relieved when they called me off of my on call hours at work.

Once again, my compassion for patients with any kind of kidney pain has expanded exponentially. Unfortunately, kidney stones generally like to present themselves in the pregnant population. We get quite a few of these patients on our floor. My understanding of what they are experiencing has become much more personal now. OUCH!

Maria's Birthday

September 2, 2008

Today made me another year older and wiser too!

Although, if you ask me I'll swear to you that I am going backwards now and I am now the youthful age of 34. I am not keen on the dangerously close ages that I seem to be marking off nearing 40. There's no way I can possibly be getting that old!...so I've simply decided I'm not going to ;) Wow, that was easy!

The temperature was in the 90's, so when I was asked what I would like to do for my birthday? or where I would like to go? TGIFriday's popped into my mind. Dinner was quite yummy! And the company was even better :)

~The birthday celebration gang~ (Jeff, Denise, Parker, Samantha, Carly, Mar, Grandma, Jonathan, Dylan, Kyle, Luke, Nicholas and the birthday girl...Maria)

The kids got so excited when they would see the staff singing for another birthday person... Parker would lean over to me and excitedly say, "They're gonna do that for you too, Aunt Maria!
Everyone very happy with their selections
Mar and Grandma enjoying their meals...Mar graciously agreed to pay for supper as my birthday present to me. I liked receiving a present that I could share with everyone. Especially, Dylan who decided he needed to order two entrees. Growing boys! Hmmph!

Labor Day Carnival

I was called as Activities Chairperson for our ward in the beginning of August (This is a very fun calling to have...mainly because you determine, coordinate, and bring to fruition fun activities that creates a social environment to further develop the christian relationships already being established together through weekly worship.) Immediately my mind began thinking about what my first activity as Activities Chairperson might be?

My labor of love and first activity as Activity Chairperson was the Toledo II Labor Day Carnival held behind our church on Eastgate Avenue.

As always, Kyle was more than willing to help with setting up. Here he is catching a ride from Dallas Barnett and Nate Higley as they are bringing a rack of chairs and tables out for use during the carnival.

Thanks to the help of many others we were able to have games, water balloon baseball, bobbing for apples, donuts on a string, popcorn, ice cream bar, face painting and charachitures.

Grant drawing a charachiture of Dylan.

This was a very popular station and long after things were packed up and cleaned...there were still people waiting for Grant to draw a charachiture of them.

Thanks a million Grant!

Kyle's messy face after eating his doughnut off of the string

Luke had a great time at the carnival and especially enjoyed getting himself soaking wet.

Interestingly enough, he was the only one who ended up that way....Hmmmm!

Water Balloon Baseball is always a favorite amongst people of all ages!

Here Kaylyn Johnston is helping Cami Kijowskit hit the water balloon after several unsuccessful attempts on her own.Lexi Lauder collects her prize after feeding the elephant his peanuts.

My dear friend, Susan Rapp was asked to utilize her artistic abilities and make an elephant for the "Feed the Animal" game. She came through with shining colors! Thanks Susan!

Kyle and Nicholas racing to see who can blow the first bubble during "Whip Cream Bubbles"

This activity would not have been possible... without Jonathan serving as my loyal side kick.

He exhausted himself helping me behind the scenes and with the games.

In this picture he is working the "Tic Tac Toe" game.

We sat Grandma in a shady spot and she enjoyed watching the carnival from set up to clean up.

Somehow she still managed to get sunburned. We aren't sure how that ended up happening?

Christina Regan bobbing for an apple

We asked the Youth to help too! Kyle very willingly helped at the "Bobbing for Apples" game during the first hour.