Friday, December 18, 2020

Good/bad week

The week after we got home was my birthday!!
It was a simple day, but that's all I wanted!

I was SURPRISED when I received a package that was delivered 
that contained MAGNOLIA BANANA PUDDING shipped
straight from their store!!

Casey is the BEST listener. Ever.
I probably mentioned once to a friend that I have really wanted to try this pudding.
But since it's back East, it was kind of impossible.

He is so assertive and this is one of the things I love about him.
I think I squealed so loud when I opened it!
Best birthday present I could have gotten.



We went to a Hibachi grill for dinner!
I had never done this before so I was pumped.

We loved it and have been back a few times since!

It was a WONDERFUL birthday!




The next day, I had an unexpected turn of events.

It's a little TMI, but an interesting story non the less.

My sister and brother in law just finished their major
 (and awesome) pool install.

We were all excited to go check it out and swim!
It's a massive pool with a big waterfall ledge and a rope swing.

I was outside with the kids while the other adults were in
 the house getting some food.

I wasn't planning on getting wet, but last minute decided why the heck not!

I was sitting in the shallow, baja area watching everyone flying off of the
ledge from the rope swing and having a great time!

My mind was thinking how fun it looked and I never did the ropes in UT.
Why not be a fun mom/aunt and show these kids what is up!

*worst decision of my life*

I'm up at the platform getting tips from the kids on how to hold on.
I don't have upper body strength, so I didn't want to belly flop.

I knew NOT to put the rope between my legs.

I grabbed ahold and off I Tarzan-ed over the water!

I let go to fall, but right when I did, the rope somehow whipped
under me and I felt the biggest tug and instant PAIN. 
In my crotch area.
 I knew I did some damage. Just not sure what exactly.

I put pressure "down there" and just sat in the water, quietly moaning "ouch".
And praying I didn't pass out in the water.

Remember, I was the only adult outside!
Nobody knew I had hurt myself, either.

It was probably a good minute before I swam to the edge and climbed out,
still applying pressure. 

It was still hurting, but the major pulsing pain had subsiding slightly.
I barely undid some pressure to see if I could check things out.
When I did, I started GUSHING blood.
Clots even. And it was not stopping.

I grabbed my towel and yelled to Lane and Rusty to go get dad.
The blood was enough to put them on high alert and dash inside.

I wrapped the towel around me like a sumo wrestler diaper
 and started waddling to the house.

The adults came running out meeting me halfway with confusion on
what the heck just happend!!

There was a trail of carnage and me bleeding profusely. 

They thought it was my leg.
I informed them it indeed was NOT my leg.
Just my girls parts.

I told Casey to take me to the hospital, NOW!
I KNEW I did some damage. 

I somehow made it inside the car.
On the way there Casey reminded me that they wouldn't
let him in the hospital with me because of covid.
I wanted to cry right then and there.

We arrived to the ER
I was a soaking wet, bloody, in only a swim suit, barefoot mess.
The looks I was given.
And the first thing they ask, do you have a mask?

NO, I don't have a mask!!
I don't even have clothes!

They put a paper one on me.
I didn't dare let go of the towel!
I was still bleeding pretty badly.

Another laugh was when they needed to see my wound, in the waiting room.
I loudly said, "its not my leg, its my v@^*#@!"
Boy did I start getting sympathy then:)
In fact, enough to let them say Casey could stay with me until they could get me back.

I didn't have to wait long, thank goodness!
I loved retailing the story over and over again.
To every nurse, PA, insurance person.

I was a spectacle!

Sure enough, I majorly lacerated my left labia.
17 stitches bad.

Luckily my doctor was amazing and SO nice!

They stitched me up and was done a few hours after arriving.
The doctor said I would be swollen, sore and bruised for
a couple of weeks.
And luckily, after much asking, no long term damage of any sort:) 

They discharged me and asked if I wanted to be wheeled out to the waiting room.
I was feeling pretty good at the moment.
Probably because I was laying down with no pressure and numb from the shot.
So I said I would be fine to walk.
Plus, I always walked myself to my recovery room after giving birth.

They gave me a size 5XL paper pants to put over my swim suit.
I got up and started to hobble out  to the waiting room.

I went about 5 steps before the pressure started kicking in and it felt like
every stitch was about to BLOW!

I was basically crawling at this point and had to laugh because this was the worst walk
of shame of my life!! I was such a sight!



My sis in law text me this picture of one of the blood spots I left behind.
Gah!!

Long story short, I was in bed a solid 2 weeks.
My sisters took care of my kids and I am so SO grateful for them.

In all, it was a month before I felt somewhat back to normal.

I got so much love during my recovery.
Smoothie, cookie, dinner drop offs.

It was beyond frustrating that I did this to myself!
So STUPID of me!!!
Yes, it was an accident.
But never again will I ever touch a rope swing!

I am famous at my OB's office, though:)






 

Last leg of the trip



The Whimers were all here, and Casey was back.
We had a few days left to get it all in before heading back home!

The Whitmers had never been to Lagoon.
The kids were excited for a second round!

First, I think the number 1 thing they wanted to do was check
out Zac Efron at East High!
Hey, Sharpay!















I wish I could see who cut Lane off, LOL!
A glimpse into his teenage driving years, yikes.



All sweaty and tuckered out.


Casey took the big kids up to the Y.





And relaxed at the rec center.

I miss that place so much!!!



They played some major pickleball the last couple of hours.




And ended our trip at non other than, Leatherby's. 
I miss that place so much, too!!!


With many hands, packing up the house took no time at all.

Loved having the Whitmers join us for a bit!


I couldn't believe the month was over.
We truly enjoyed every second we had.
An experience we will never forget, that is for sure!

Goodbye Utah house!
You were good to us.
Broken shower head that ran all night long, wasp infested playhouse,
propane leaking stove and all. 

Ha. don't get me wrong.
I would stay there again in a heartbeat. 


We had Anna and Amber in our car on the way home. 
I think the kids were ok with that:)

I loved finding these selfies on the ipad a few months later.



Lunch break in Kanab. 
The drive home went smoothly.

Minus no inside eating OR open bathrooms.
A lot had changed since we left.
Peeing behind gas stations was an excitement. 

I will never quite understand how our world got so out of
control over this virus. 





 

Nothing like pulling up into your own home.
We sure missed it!


Sunday, December 13, 2020

Exploring some more!


It was such a treat to have fruit trees in our front yard!
One of the things I really wish I had at home.
There were 3 apricot trees dripping with fruit!
The ground got most of them.

On the other side of the house were pears.

We had a few days with just us before Casey and the rest of the Whitmer's came.
We sure made the best of it!

We showed them around BYU.
Luckily we were experts by now, thanks to Stephanie!

You can barely see the "Y" to the right of the tree on the mountain behind them.



Unlike the Alamo, there IS a basement in the Wilkinson Center!
And even better than a bike, there is a bowling alley!

Thanks to covid, we had the place to ourselves.




I got everyone settled at the house, then when to Pleasant Grove
for the BEST MASSAGE OF MY LIFE!

Purify Wellness Center had been on my radar, thanks to Just Ingredients on instagram.
Truly, a magical place.

I ended my visit in the salt cave.
If I only would have thought to book this earlier in the month so
I could have gone back! 



Grabbed myself some sushi before heading back.

I needed to document our daily lunch making ritual.

The kids had it down solid.
Every morning after breakfast we would get all the fixings out 
for sandwiches. We we would load up the
cooler bags with granola bars, chips and such, and be ready for our days adventure!

We have never eaten so many sandwiches in our lives in that 1 month!
But with Grandma Sycamore bread, nobody was complaining!




We drove up to SnowBird for a fun filled day on the "slopes".
We had a pass that let us do all the activities we wanted in 3 hours.
I thought we would be done earlier than that, but nope!
These kids kept cruising until the last minute!


Love my cute lift buddy.























I love it at the top of this tall mountain.
So peaceful and happy everyone was enjoying themselves.
These 2 girls are like sisters to my kids and do so much for us.
Grateful they were able to experience this with us!


I saw an Iceberg restaurant on the way home and you better
believe I screeched into a parking spot! Why does UT have the best food places?


Wednesday Darl, Miche, Aaron and Avery would arrive by dinner time.

We took the girls to Splash Summit since it was close to the house and we could easily 
get home quick when they arrived.









This girl chilled in the chair for a bit with snacks.
So of course I joined her:)