He's Here!

My handsom new nephew was born yesterday afternoon. Bryce Hunt Greer weighed in at a whoppin 9 lbs, 9 oz! I am not real sure on his length, but I know it was 20 in., something. (1/4 I think.) He is so cute! Cauley and I both think he looks a lot like his older brother, Parker, but some people are quick to dissagree. (Over all, they do because they have that Greer face shape, but some things are a little different like the shape of his ears and lips.) Anyways, both mom and baby are doing fabulous and I am so happy for them. I might go visit and take something I have made for Steph over, but it will be a long time before I actually get close to Bryce as I am terrified of small babies this time of year. (After Tyli catching RSV at 6 weeks old- exactly a year ago yesterday, I think all babies born during the months of Oct.-April need to be wrapped in a plastic bubble and not come out until the RSV season is officially over!) Dallin sent in a penny with me he found while out with his Dad for Bryce to put in his piggy bank. (I soaked it in hand sanitizer for about 5 minutes!) Anyways, Congratulations, Stephanie, Brad, and big brother Parker! Thanks for making me an aunt again!
Pictures will follow when I get some!

Happy Anniversary, Luke and Jeni!

Happy 8th Anniversary!

The Foster Family, established January 28, 2000 in the Bountiful, UT Temple includes Luke, Jeni (my id twin),Carson (7), Colton (4), and Brooklynn (1).

I am so sad to hear the passing of our beloved Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley. He is the first prophet I have personally known as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am greatful for his example and for all of the things he taught us. Although I am sad, I know that where he is now is a much better place, and best of all, he is with his beautiful wife, Sister Marjorie Hinckley. I will miss him, but already love and support our new prophet, whoever he will be.

Why didn't Cauley just become a doctor!?

Ok, so that question is silly, but for reals, it would save us bunches on medical bills! After Tyli went to the doctor on Friday, Dallin woke up to go to the bathroom at 11:00 p.m. and ended up throwing up at the same time. We went running in to discover he had made it in the toilet (YEA!!!) but was burning up, so Cauley sat with him in the bathroom (Dallin's choice) for about 20 minutes while I prepared his bed with towels and a bucket "just in case." He was up again about 20 minutes later doing the same thing, but this time didn't want to go back to bed, so I "slept" with him on the couch all night. (He actually slept while I tried deciphering his moaning and wriggling as sleeping or being ready to puke again.) Lucky for me, he was done with the throwing up, but the fever continued. The next day he said he was ok, but that night at dinner he got the shakes real bad because his fever was so high. A Tylonol/Motrin combo knocked it out and Sunday he was fabulous. So far, nobody else shows any signs of getting sick here, but with our luck it won't be long. I am going to be sending a note home with all my preschool parents this week reminding them to NOT bring their child if he or she is running a fever, feeling ill, or has a bad cold. I feel mean about it, but something's gotta give- we have never been this sick and for such a long period of time!

UpDate: As I am writing this update a day later, most of what I said above changed about Dallin. He was up most of Sunday night/Monday morning crying because his ear hurt, so of course, me being the wonderful mom that I am, took him to see Dr. Jones this morning. ANOTHER ear infection! Something good did come out of this dr. visit though, and that is that since we were once again prescribed a heavier dose of antibiotics which cost way more than the $4 amoxocillan at Walmart, I was told to try getting it filled at Costco because it's cheaper. It was too! Ty's cost over $42 for the exact same medicine, smaller dose and we got Dallin's for under $35! Plus, we got another discount for being a Costco member- so it came to $32 and some change! (I guess you don't have to be a member to get your prescriptions there?) PLUS, we only had to wait 20 minutes as opposed to 1 hr., 40 minutes at Walgreens and Walmart! Dallin still has a pretty high fever and is hurting real bad so after FHE tonight (which just happened to be on the Priesthood :) Brother Bunker from down the street came over and helped Cauley give him a blessing. Thanks, Cauley for being such a wonderful example for your kids!

Poor Ty!

Drama, Drama, Drama!Our family has been racking up some serious medical bills lately! When I took Tyli in for her 1 year appointment at the beginning of this month, she had an ear infection, which we treated with antibiotics. Done. Today I took her in for a three week re-check, which I was going to call and cancle because she's fine and frankly, I don't want to pay another Dr. bill this month. Anyhow, we went and the dr. started to look in her ear and she started screaming. Then the next words out of his mouth were "Oh, wow." Which he explained as Tyli not having an outer, inner, or middle ear infection- it's a very bad ALL ear infection. WHAT!?! So they immediatly gave her a big shot of a super antibiotic (no, Mom, not just the penicilian one like we used to get.) and had us wait an additional 30 minutes to make sure there was no side effect to the shot and then sent us with a prescription for the $42 antibiotic which she'll take for 10 more days and then we have to back again in 2 more weeks. I feel aweful for Tyli who has been taking a super long nap so far. I should have seen the signs- fevers (but who's kids haven't had a fever lately!), (heat)rash all over her little body, not eating much of anything, crying while sleeping (which I thought was teething- which she is). I should cut myself some slack, afterall, I'm doing the best I can! But Tyli, Mommy's sorry!

What a day in preschool!

No, it wasn't catastrophic, but it wasn't exactly the best day either! I have prepared this fun day of learning about the 5 senses for a while now, but it started with 2 kids not showing up because they were sick. OK, no big deal. The, Lexie shows up announcing she's sick too- up all night throwing up and a bad, bad cold, but that her mom gave her medicine so she could come to preschool. (Mental note to keep her as far away from my kids as possible and to set everything she touches aside to lysol!) So, we go on as usual- no big deal. We were laughing hysterically at Lexie because when we did "Blast Off" today, I changed things up and had us count in Spanish. Going up was great, but I couldn't count backwards in Spanish and when I got confused, Lexie said, "No, not cinco- it's Blegh!" Yes she was serious! Anyways, while we were laughing at Lexie's Spanish help, I wripped my pants up the backside! Ya- everyone could see everything! (The jeans I was wearing were real old!) Ok- move on. So we had a real laid back day and I let the kids paint which is their favorite thing to do. We had three spilled waters, ruining everyone's pictures 3 times! TRAUMA! (For 4 year olds it is!) Not to meantion every time someone spilled their water it always somehow ended up on Emily who was SOAKED by the time her mom came! Ok, so it wasn't a very bad day in preschool at all. It could have been worse- Lexie could have thrown up every where or worse, but according to Dallin, "What a day in preschool!"

McKade Goes To The Eye Doctor

For those of you who have been thinking McKade has had somewhat of a lazy left eye lately, you're right- well kinda. After waiting for almost a month, we finally got in with the Pediatric Eye Specialist here in the East Valley, Dr. Salevitz. McKade was actually real excited and made all the nurses and doctor laugh with his enthusiasm to have the doctor look at his eyes. The nurse dialeted them and then the doctor checked for cross-eyed and lazy eyes while the dialation drops set in. Then we waited another twenty minutes and with the special drops, the doctor was able to tell exactly what was wrong while McKade sat on my lap. He is VERY far-sighted in his left eye, and only slightly in his right eye, causing the left eye to lose muscle control and not want to work- causing his left eye to turn in-ward. So, treatment for now includes glasses and waiting. We will go back in a month to the Specialist and see if the glasses have allowed his eye to straighten itself out some. If not, we do a patch over his right eye to strengthen the muscles. So, after our trip to the Eye Specialist, I met Cauley at Kathy (my mother-in-law's) house and then we went to the Seville Eye Center to pick out glasses. McKade had had enough by then, so it didn't go as great as the doctor, but we found a cute pair that fit (which is hard for this age and size!) that are mocha colored. (bronz) They looked really cute on and wrap around his ears so he can't just pull them off like usual. We should be getting those within 7-10 days. he says he's not going to wear them, but he'll have to. I am just so greatful we caught it early!

I LOVE BROCCOLI

This is Tyli's first adventure feeding herself broccoli, and, as you can see, she loved it!

OUCH!!

McKade has a hard time not climbing on things. Poor little monkey thinks he can climb anything, including climbing from one couch to the next, which I catch him doing often. Well, hopefully tonight he may have learned his lesson. He slipped and fell while he was directly between the couches and smacked his face on the end table which sits back aways between the two. Cauley and I both saw it happen and immediately ran to his aid. I got there right in the knick of time, catching the first drops of blood in my hands as I coaxed McKade into the kitchen for inspection. It took a while, but we think we found that the only cut is on the inside of his lower lip. He's fine now, but has a giant monster lip that he's excited to show his friends in preschool tomorrow!

Preschool Resumes

And we're back. To me, the two week vacation from preschool didn't seem very long at all, but to all of my students, "it seemed like we didn't have school for 17 years!" (Emily Noel, 4) This semester I have added another student, Emily Alger, making my total 5 4-year olds, 1 2-year old, and a little girl who crawls around trying to eat everyone's shoes and backpacks!

(the photo order goes: McKade, Emily N., Lexie, Emily A., Hunter, and Dallin)

PeanutButter Popcorn

This is a great easy recipe my cousin Heather sent me that was a big hit at our home for our FHE "treat" this week:

1/2 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Light Karo Syrup
1/2 Cup sugar

Mix all ingredients together in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil just until the sugar melts. Pour immediately over popped popcorn and stir it in. Let it cool and- enjoy!
We used microwave popcorn, but you can use air popped as well. (My sister likes it better with air popped.)
*just a hint- I put my popped popcorn into an old icecream bucket and it was much easier to clean after we were finished eating the PB popcorn.

Stomach Flu at The Clark House

Yep, it got us! Tyli threw up twice last night before bed, Dallin in the middle of the night, and Tyli and I this morning. Uncle Ray came over last night to help give Tyli a blessing and said it is really going around his ward bad, but what's funny is we haven't had any contact with the people in our neighborhood since we've been home. Somehow it found us!

Tyli Turns 1!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TYLI! Tyli celebrated her first birthday in Idaho at Grandma and Grandpa Ruth's house. Aunt Jeni, my twin sister, made her a castle cake that was adorable! (and Ty really enjoyed it!) She was spoiled by getting some My Little Ponies from my parents, a new dress from my sister's family, and new binkis and the hand-me-down bike that all of our kids have gotten for their 1st birthdays. (Except for Dallin- we got it later at a garage sale.) She is our second child to not be walking by the year mark, but has improved a lot this past week by standing up and cruising along things. She's even getting brave enough to walk between things now. No worries- Dallin didn't walk until he was 15 months old and he's perfectly normal. Anyways, she just had her 1 year appointment the other day and she's right up to par- according to Dr. Jones. She is very tall measuring in at 31 1/2 inches; 21 lbs., 1 ounce which puts her right on the 50% mark for weight, and still has a big head at 17 inches-or cm, I don't remember what they measure it in. She does have an ear infection though, so she is on antibiotics for that. (I love Walmarts new $4 perscription plan-I just wish they had more stuff on it!) She has a few words that are a funny combo, like mama and dada, ball, hi, by-by, and touch down! (This she displayed for Dr. Jones, which was funny.) Tyli is a happy (most of the time) 1 year old who loves to torment McKade by taking his toys away, and makes us all laugh a lot of the time!

Pictures will follow later!