Happy Birthday, Colby!

I cannot belive that my oldest child is 12. A Deacon!?!? When did that happen? It's crazy! This year, the kids bought him gift cards and his favorite candy bars. That way he can buy a DS or Wii game using the gift cards. It was a great day! He was a little disappointed because he thought we would take him out to eat right after school, but there's too many after school activities on Friday, so he had to wait until dinner time. We let the kids choose where they want to eat for their birthday and he chose K.F.C. We allowed him to break his gluten-free diet for this dinner, but that's it.

Here he is with some of his fun gifts!

He's into medieval books and really was excited to get this set.

(It's a model, but he wants it to sit on his windowsill)

I was really bad and forgot to get a picture of him with his cake. Happy Birthday! We love you!

Hansen Family Birthday Party

Sunday night, my side of the family (Hansen's) celebrated all the Feb. birthdays at my house. Denise had just gotten out of the hospital so that was one less thing we felt she needed. I have a nephew with horrible allergies, and Denise's home is the only place that is central without pets, so we usually celebrate everything at her home.

Colby loved all his new gifts!

These are the family members who have a Feb. birthday.

(Taylor, Taegan, Siena, Colby, Isaac, Jon & Rachel)

After opening gifts and cake and ice cream, the games began. We played "Curses" which is so funny. I love getting together with the family. We get a long so well and have so much fun!

What More Can Happen?

Last week a good friend of mine decided to help me make some freezer meals for Denise and her family. She said if she could help with anything, it would be this. We spent all day Wed. and Friday preparing quite a few meals. This got me really excited about doing freezer meals. It's the way to go, especially when you have crazy hectic and busy days. We are actually going to do some for her neighbor who just had a baby and has to go in for surgery and will be down for 6 weeks. It's a fair trade. But it is wonderful to have such caring friends around to help with kids or housecleaning or whatever it may be.

Denise got home from the hospital on the Monday after her surgey. Her staples were removed on Wed and Thurs morning she broke out in hives. She has had a difficult time kicking them because she wasn't sure what caused them. About two days later she got the flu for a day. This morning I had a phone call from my mom a little before 7:30 and asked if Casey would be able to get the kids off to school. I asked what was going on. She said Denise was in a lot of pain. I said I'm on my way. I got off the phone, told Casey what was happening, and headed out the door. When I got to Denise's she said she was having a hard time breathing and was in pain from her lower back up to her shoulders. I said we'll get the kids off to school and drop Taegan off at preschool and head down to the hospital. Well, mom showed up 15 minutes later and was able to take her down. I got the two little ones ready and dropped Taegan off to preschool and brought Kambree home. It ends up that Denise has 2 or 3 bilateral clots. They are going to keep her in the hospital for 2 or 3 days for observation and put her on Cumadin (blood thinners). I knew when this all started happening that she would be ok, but it was going to be a long road. I didn't expect her to have difficulties like these while she was still recovering from surgery. I guess that whole thing of "bad things happen in 3's" is true. However, I say it happens in 5's. (Aren't we at #4?)