"Big Storm" of June 2012

Very large storm that hit our entire state on Friday, June 29th a little before 6pm left us without power for 5 days. That seemed like a long time, but there were some in our area that were without even longer, so 5 days wasn't so bad. The top of a tree laid itself down directly behind our camper, in front of our dog cage, in a space only 2 to 3 feet wide. It brought the power lines down with it. If it had veered only a matter of inches, it would have smashed our camper. I'm so glad we still have a camper to go to convention with! We did a lot of cooking on the grill, so thankful Mom Karen bought it for us. It has a burner on it so we could still use pots and pans! Also found out ready made pizza's that are thawed out completely cook in 5 minutes on the grill and they are really good! The power crew that restored our power came from Alabama, they told us they drove for 24 hours to get here!

Camping trip pictures

We took a quick week-end getaway camping trip in June. Tad and Emily took Dad's camper and joined us. Even though it was over so soon, we did enjoy ourselves. Noah learned to ride his bike, (with training wheels). The camp ground also had a very nice water park!

Happy 13th Birthday, Hannah!

Happy birthday to our dear daughter! Wow a teenager, so hard to believe you are that old!!!! What a wonderful young lady you have become. You are such a blessing and we're so thankful God gave us you!

To remember

Last night Josh had a scooter wreck, and as he lay helplessly crying(it's a Josh thing) in the yard, Noah ran over to help him up. He of course did not succeed since Josh is bigger than him. Suddenly Noah burst into tears. Shawn went to get both boys, when Noah made it to the house, he sobbed "Josh looked like he had a hole through him!" It was in reality a very small scrap, but I guess in a 4 year old's eyes that went through a traumatic incident 2 weeks prior, it looked worse than it was. Sigh.....

Almost healed

The trunk, a little more than halfway up the hill near the other trunk was where Noah was at.

The tree

Our little buddy at Grandpa's, 4 days before accident

This is his side, day after the accident

This is his side, one week later

Shirt Noah was wearing.

Noah is doing very well, it is amazing watching how fast his little body is healing itself. Thank you all for your comments, we are very thankful for the safe keeping and know we can never say Thank you enough to God. I can't even tell you the number of times I pick Noah up and say, "You know what Noah,.." before I can finish he will(most of the time anyway) cover his little ears and say, "Mommy you can't say that!" and I say, "What??!" and he will reply, "That a tree fell on me." I reply, "You are so blessed Noah, God protected you and Mommy is so thankful that you are safe," He has this cute little eye roll he does and says in a very exasperated, I don't quite get this because I am only 4 years old way, "I KNOW, Mommy!" Looking at the pictures, it amazes me I can say a tree fell on my little one, and that is the only mark it left. It wasn't an incredibly large tree, it wasn't a stick either.

Farm accident, Noah recovering

Noah and Josh were involved in an accident on the farm on Tuesday, May 22 at 1:10 p.m. when a tree fell on both of them. We went to watch Dad(Grandpa) do excavation work with a bull dozer. He was fixing up a dirt road and I went to take pictures. While he was running the dozer, Diana and I was picking up rocks. I thought Dad was finished pushing over the trees, and told the boys we would go to the bottom of the hill to watch. The 2 little ones took off running down the hill, with myself and Zach following. I watched Dad pushing a pile of dirt up the hill and at the last minute I saw his blade cut sharply to the right and had a sick feeling that he was going to take out a tree. I screamed at the boys to move, Josh took off down the hill which saved him, only the leaves of the tree hit him in the head. Noah wasn't so lucky, however, we are very fortunate that he wasn't hurt more seriously (or even worse), than he was. When I yelled, Noah turned around and came running back up the hill toward me, while I ran down the hill toward him. The tree fell faster than his little legs could carry him and the top part of the tree slammed into his back and knocked him face first into the ground. I was scared to death that Dad would take out the tree right next to it, which was significantly larger, and that it would get both of us. So, I ran to my baby and picked through the branches and leaves to pull him out, certain it would be horrible, even visions of him gone. I know I shouldn't have moved him, however, I wasn't going to let another tree fall on him if I could help it. He was blue around the lips when I picked him up and faintly crying. I carried him up to the top of the hill where Diana and I examined him and saw the marks on his back, I imagining pun chard lungs and hollering call 911. Diana was so cool and collected and we finally decided I would drive him to our FD 6 minutes away. I take off with him and Zach went to keep an eye on Noah. He stopped crying and went blue then ash gray so I called 911 and explained I was taking him to the FD. They sent me on to the ER. After we were there and examined Shawn was able to meet us at the hospital. They did a CT scan and told us he had a small leak in his lung. Called for squad, transported him to Children's. About 6 minutes into driving the Dr decided he wanted Noah on oxygen and to run 27 status, or with lights and sirens. The driver kicked it up and what would take us close to an hour, took them a little over 20 minutes. Then the Dr decided to put him on a heart monitor with an IV, so the squad had to stop in the middle of the interstate to change drivers so the medic could take care of him. When we arrived, there was a staff of 18 waiting in the main trauma room of Children's. After a very thorough exam, the Dr there reviewed his CT scan, and determined he did NOT have a punctured lung and if the xrays they were going to take were normal we could go home. They were, so Shawn ,Hannah, Zach, and Josh came to pick us up at 10pm. He does have a heavy friction burn from the branch hitting his side, and had a hard time walking today, he is limping on his right side, but we are so thankful he is alive and that is all the injury's he  has. God surely protected him, and we are so thankful to have both boys to tuck into bed.  

Happy 7th Birthday, Joshua!

Happy happy birthday to Josh. We started his day at the doughnut shop, just what we need:). Then we went to visit Grandma Hattie in the hospital. She is losing blood somewhere and required 2 blood transfusions, and testing to see what is going on. Then Grandma Karen picked up Josh and Noah and took them to KFC for lunch. Josh picked Reese Peanut Butter Bars for his birthday treat, and I also made a mayonnaise cake for the adults. Grandpa, and Grandma and Papa Chris, Aunt Diana and Aunt Angie, and Uncle Tad and Emily(and us of course) helped Josh eat his birthday cake. He received JD boots from Dad and Mom, playmobile jet from Grandma Karen, and a nice JD 7930 tractor with a 6 bottom plow. He was very happy with his gifts. Thanks everyone! We are so thankful we have been so richly blessed with our 4 young ones.

Wonderful privelage Special Meeting Visits!

9 workers with my children

plus Em!

Visiting

Instruments

I love this picture, see how tight Noah is squeezing Randy? :)

I wonder if that is a painful smile because of the jab from Noah's elbow???No, he didn't really jab him!

Enjoying Randy

Lunch at Dad's

Silly Zach

Very Brave Dan

Watching, so much better than receiving!!Little guys really enjoyed the show!

Tired out Noah with silly glasses.

We have been so blessed with special meeting rounds. We had 2 sisters on Thursday for supper and night, 1 brother and 4 sisters for lunch on Friday, with 4 more brothers coming in the afternoon, and 2 brothers for Friday supper and night. We enjoyed lunch @ Dad's with all 9 and my sisters and brother on Saturday. So very special, love the visits and the meetings! We trimmed Beauty, Peanut, and Snow on Friday with help from Lynae and  I also had a very unique experience in giving Dan a haircut on Saturday. I have cut my little boys hair since they have been old enough for haircuts, but have never attempted an adults hair. Dan was pretty confident I would do fine, and after my nerves finally calmed, I got my clippers and gave him a haircut. It didn't turn out bad, and Dan isn't bald! :) My children enjoyed the time the workers shared with them like playing and listening to the guitar with Dan, arrow hunting with Randy, bow shooting with Dan, flying an airplane with Carlton, and so on. Such wonderful memories made.

Fun new Sunday adventures

Since the weather has basically been beautiful for so many months, we started taking Sunday afternoon adventure walks in January. A couple of Sundays ago, Shawn said we should try flying the kites we got for the children. We did and we all had fun in Dad's field flying kites. The next Sunday, we had more wind so we got Diana and Angie in on the kite flying fun. Long walks and even mushroom hunting has been our focus as well, with only 8 mushrooms found so far. The woods are so dry, we are hoping to find a lot more in the next month.