Caromal'd Crib Set

Back in June, Elise, my Mom, and I headed to Cornelius, OR to pick up a crib set that Elise found on Craigslist. The pictures looked good, the price was OK, and Elise needed it for the new baby. When we arrived at the house and saw it in person, I wasn't too impressed...but after making the 1.5 hr trip, it was hard for Elise to turn down the deal. We packed it up and headed home. Nobody said much about the set on the way home, but I just couldn't let my new niece or nephew sleep in such a disastrously painted crib. It had been spray-painted and rolled black over white. There were drips everywhere and the "artist" used different finishes of paint to complete it. Since Elise was dropping me off at my house first, I told her to just unload it in our shop so that I could re-paint it. I had nothing fancy in mind. I just wanted to give it a good sanding, paint it, and seal it properly. She tried to protest, but I had made up my mind.

I was too busy at the time to begin the project so it sat in the shop for a few weeks. During that time, the idea came up that I should distress it with Caromal Colours. The idea excited me, but I didn't know if Elise would be up for paying for it. She was totally up for it and we ordered Peppercorn, Parchment, toner, and chipping cream. I was eager to start, but had to wait for a decent slot of time where I could devote several days to the project without too many stopping points. Elise helped me sand it some of the really bad drip spots...but, because it was being distressed, major sanding wasn't necessary. The project took several days and a few very late nights. In the end, Elise loved it...and that made it all worth it to me :)

Because the set was already black, I didn't feel the need to do two coats of parchment. In the end, I wished that I had (the perfectionist in me).

We actually ordered two jars of peppercorn because I thought everything would need two coats. That wasn't the case! I couldn't believe how completely black the set was after just one coat! This is a shot of what it looked like just after I sanded off some of the black.
It's hard to tell the subtle change from sanded to finished, but this is after I toned it with the antique brown stuff and applied two coats of Wipe-On Poly (LOVE that stuff!)

This shot of the crib headboard shows the toner a bit better...

Complete, and in Evelyn's new bedroom

Her black, white, and yellow bumble bee bedding (MY idea...ha!) compliments the set quite nicely.

This was my second project with Caromal Colours and I can't say enough fantastic things about the product. I ordered some Candy Apple Red along with the paint from this order, and I'm looking forward to finding some time to do another fun project!

Some helpful links:

Caromal Colours website

Patty Henning's Blog

Blog entry on my dining room table

Miss Evelyn Colleen

After much anticipation, my niece finally arrived on November 25th! Poor Weesie endured a long labor...but she did great. After a whole week of contracting, she didn't gain any progress and was "lightly" induced Thanksgiving night at 9. It didn't take much to get her going on regular contractions, however she didn't deliver until around 5:30 PM the next day. Mom and I were privileged to be present through the entire process...THANKS WEESIE!


Evelyn Colleen Bigelow was a big girl at 8 lbs 8 oz and a 14 inch head! There were no major complications and Chris and Elise were able to bring her home Sunday morning. I'm sad to say that I've only been able to see her three times since. We've had colds and we've been too busy to get away. I'm looking forward to the Christmas break...maybe I'll get to snuggle her some more :)

Elise at around 1:30 in the afternoon....4 more hours to go!

Getting to hold his daughter for the first time...


I like this pic...we were all texting like crazy. Everyone was waiting to hear if the baby was a boy or a girl. Grandma was waiting in the waiting room, while Dad and Henry were en route as Evelyn arrived.

Grandpa and Uncle Henry

Grandma

Auntie!

Evelyn 1.5 weeks old

Soren's Tummy Revisited

Last fall/winter/spring was rough for Soren. He was getting sick all the time and his occasional tummy troubles turned into an all-the-time misery. I wrote a short bit about it HERE. Anyway, it would take me a long time to write every detail of the last year, so I'll try my best to give you the abridged version.

After a handful of unsuccessful visits to the doctor, Soren was referred to OHSU Pediatric Gastroenterology. I was getting desperate for answers. Not only was my little Soren in misery, I was a stressed-out ball of anxiety myself. I dropped a good 15 lbs without even trying! Still, the thought of going to OHSU didn't settle with me completely. Our family doctor told me that if OHSU didn't call within a week to give her office a call. Over a week went by and OHSU didn't call. I was sort of relieved because I had already started Soren onto the path to what I was hoping would be some recovery. Soren was already feeling better! So, I said a big prayer..."Lord, if we're not supposed to go to OHSU please shut the door...please, please, PLEASE!" Still, I decided to call our family doctor to tell her that OHSU hadn't called. The nurse said that they were a few days late in getting the referral sent out, but that it was definitely sent out. She said to call in a few days if OHSU still didn't contact me. To this day, they have never called...we haven't been to the doctor since.

During our month of visits to the doctor and visits to the lab, I was busy at home doing my own research. I had recently gotten involved with a company called Young Living Essential Oils and was already having great personal results with the few oils that I had. Although, I hadn't begun using any for Soren and his tummy. I was also trying several diet changes for Soren. I would try one thing after another with no success whatsoever. Most advice was telling me he was allergic to something...but that was proving untrue. His tummy hurt all day...all day! It would hurt from the moment he woke up till he went to bed. For some time it didn't affect his eating too much, but as it got worse, he began to eat like a bird. He still pooped daily...and it was neither diarrhea, or hard/compact. Forgive me for the TMI, but it was usually several long, skinny poos. In my research I learned that your poo should be fairly firm/formed and the the size of your colon. Soren's was too small.

I was learning a lot about the products offered by YLEO through my friend Shari who had introduced them to me. She has been using the oils for almost 20 years and 30 years ago, through diet and herbs, she helped cure her husband of advanced Lymphoma in the span of 7 weeks (no chemo or radiation)! In fact, he had a tumor the size of a volleyball in his gut that was absolutely GONE in that 7 weeks! When she was introduced to the oils 10 years later and learned that they were exponentially more powerful than the herbs, she was sold. All that to say, she is a wealth of knowledge and testimonies. I had discussed Soren several times with Shari, but it took me a long time to fully be "on-board" with what she had to say. She told me to put him on a cleanse of raw fruits and vegetables to see what would happen. I was reluctant at first, but desperate enough to give it a try. Fortunately, Soren is extremely compliant! It only took two days for me to discover that he wasn't digesting his food...at all. I could see his breakfast in the toilet at lunchtime in full color (didn't look like poo)...and his lunch in the toilet at dinnertime. He was also starving! I thought that maybe his body just wasn't accustomed to the diet change, but Shari was adamant that regardless of diet change, his poo should look like poo!

She suggested enzymes. Again, I was hesitant. The product labels have dosages for adults. I was worried his little tummy couldn't handle it. But, after even more research, I found that most all the oils and supplements are safe for all ages. I also found that I couldn't really overdose him either...the worst that could happen is that he would throw them up. The labels are put on the bottles to appease the law/FDA. Also, because none of the products/oils are FDA approved it's hard to find information about them. Much of the info is shared through testimony. ANYway, it was during this time that YLEO was having a promotion on their probiotic, enzymes, and oil used to aid in digestion. I listened to an informational conference call and took copious notes. After that, I was convinced that these products were going to help my little guy get well. I ordered them ASAP!

At the time I finally received the products, Soren had been enduring tummy pain for over a year and had been enduring CONSTANT tummy pain for at least 2-3 months...all the while, catching every virus on the planet! I immediately started him on the probiotic and enzymes. Each capsule was able to be taken apart so I gave him 1/3-1/2 a capsule at each dosing. He took enzymes with at least two meals a day and the probiotic before bed. I also applied the oil blend on his tummy for times of extra discomfort. I was prepared for a gradual change to start happening over the period of a couple of weeks. His pain was greatly subsided and his poop was normal within TWO DAYS! I was floored! It's been an uphill roller coaster ever since. I say "roller coaster" because there have been several changes to his daily regimen.

YLEO offers several enzymes and enzyme blends, so I experimented with many. Only after a few weeks of splitting the capsules he was on a full dose with better success. He was on the probiotic for 3 straight months and then gradually weaned off by early summer. By August his tummy pain started to return on a regular basis. I was discouraged...but had done even more research and finally settled on the right enzyme. BUT, just as I was about to re-do his routine, YLEO introduced a new dual-capsule enzyme. One capsule releases in the tummy to break down carbs, and one capsule releases in the intestines to break down proteins. After having Soren on the new enzyme for just 2-3 days, his 6-week bout of tummy pain was over. He's been virtually pain-free ever since.

Yes, Soren still gets tummy aches...usually when he has too much sugar or other simple carbs...OR when he spends the day without mommy and forgets to take his enzymes! But, I couldn't be happier with the results of this journey so far. As I have learned more and more, I have discovered that Soren's problems likely stem from his time in the hospital as a baby (story HERE). He was put on extremely high doses of the strongest antibiotic his little body could take and it destroyed his immune system. I have learned that your immune system stems from your gut. If your gut isn't working properly, then your body has a harder time fighting off disease. I also learned that the average person's enzyme stores in the USA is virtually nil by age 30. Our diets are filled with an overabundance of processed foods (including our "healthy" produce) that have little nutritional value and fill our overworked livers with harmful toxins. Those toxins build up in our bodies and manifest...creating disease and cancer. Enzymes, I'm learning, are the keys to optimal health! They are what break down and assimilate the nutrients we eat. BUT, because we eat "dead" foods stripped of their good bacteria and enzymes through pasteurization, irradiation, and canning...we are not replenishing our enzyme stores. Make sense? Well...it's the best I can do for now.

Here is some information on a few of the key products that helped Soren's tummy:
Life 5 Probiotic
Essentialzymes 4
Di-Gize Essential Oil

Please note that not all essential oils are made alike. The ones from the health food store have little to no therapeutic value and canNOT be taken internally. All YLEO are safe to take internally, unless otherwise noted, because of the pureness and are of the highest therapeutic value because of the way they are distilled. If you are at all interested in starting a journey of your own, I'd be happy to help steer you in the right direction. Oh the stories I can share! Email me at nicolelouiseb@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: The information on this site is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Anyone suffering from any disease, illness or injury should consult with a physician. 

Waiting...

I've been waiting since Friday for my little sis to have a baby. It's almost like torture, really. I'm super excited for this little one to come and the days have been dragging on and on and ON! She started contractions on Friday afternoon and she stayed home from work Saturday laboring at home. We thought for sure we'd have a baby by Sunday! Not the case. Arg! On Monday I spent the day babysitting her because everyone had to go to work and we didn't want to leave her alone in case her water broke. We thought that since she had been contracting for days that she could be dilated quite a bit and if her water broke the baby might not wait for the hospital! Elise had a doctor appointment at 4 and we were all sure that she would at least be at a 3 or 4 and they would admit her. Again...NOT the case! She was only almost to 2! She went to work today in the hopes that some regular activity would encourage some contracting. However, I've lost hope that the baby will make it's arrival by Thanksgiving.

Halloween Part 2

Halloween is difficult when it's on a school night...especially when you're doing your trick-or-treating 1/2 an hour away from home. The kids and I got an early start and got to my mom's house at around 4. The plan was to hang out for a while, get ready, have dinner, and trick-or-treat. Unfortunately, dinner was pork roast and it was taking forever to reach temperature. We didn't get to head out until after 6 or 6:30.

We went out to my sister's neighborhood this year. She lives on a new street with lots of new houses and it's about 2 minutes from my parents house. Mom and I took them. I felt bad that we couldn't drive around Warrenton visiting friends and family like we usually do, but there just wasn't enough time. With smaller children, it is imperative to get them to bed at a decent hour. We ended our trick-or-treat run on my parent's road and ended up seeing a coyote race right passed us!

Synnove wanted to be a witch this year. We improvised her costume with some cute witch-like pajama's with fun striped legging pants, a little velvet shawl-type sweater (not in the pics), a big feathery hat, and fun hair-pieces. The makeup part was the most fun. She was a pretty witch...not an ugly one :)

I was happy that Soren decided it was ok to wear his hat to complete the astronaut costume. His light-up shoes were the perfect addition to his attire.

While waiting for dinner to be done, some friends and family showed up. Little Avyrie was a welcome treat.

Brielle and Tay (the Little Mermaid)

Halloween Part 1

The kids had the opportunity to carve pumpkins twice this year. Grandma and Grandpa just couldn't resist buying a few pumpkins. They really got into it and enjoyed being able to use the carving knives by themselves.

Synnove's pumpkin patch pumpkin from school

I helped Soren carve two of his 3 or 4 pumpkins. He liked making crooked mouths on purpose :)

Halloween just wouldn't be complete without a preschool field trip! The kids got to go to the Jasper's farm this year. They fed the cows, chickens, and goats before heading to the patch to pick out their pumpkins. After snack we headed back to the school to do the annual pumpkin bowling and "bobbing" for doughnuts.

Soren and Kaden were both astronauts, although I couldn't get Soren to wear his hat. I think it's funny that they are both wearing crocs too :)

Many of the kids waited to put on their costumes until after the pumpkin patch. Of course, they all looked so cute!
Top: Kaden (land astronaut), Noah (a samurai of sorts?), Soren (space astronaut), Alondra (ladybug), (crouched is Annalise...Alondra's sister), Kendall (supergirl), JR (Bumblebee from Transformers),
Bottom: Rowan (dressed in orange and black), Jake (Woody), Hannah (Sleeping Beauty), Lily (Butterfly), Taylor (Rapunzel)

Some October

After an incredibly busy September, we were finally able to breathe a little bit in October. Although, Adam has been busier than ever at work. In late September his boss resigned and Adam was put in charge in the interim. So far, he's been doing two very important jobs at the mill for 6 full weeks...with no end in sight. He works 12-hour days and comes home to work on the computer after the kids go to bed. Too bad he's not getting paid for two jobs! We miss him, but he has still found moments here and there to spend quality time with the kids.

October is mushroom season, and Adam took the kids out three different times to search for chanterelles. We didn't hit the jackpot like last year, but we still found a bunch. Adam and the kids were even able to take Grandpa out to show him the secret spot!

Soren is an excellent mushroom finder. He found these under a log all by himself!

As usual, we had some gorgeous October days. I hosted my ladies bible study a couple of weeks in October, and it's always perfect when the sun is out because the loud children can go outside. Soren looks forward to his sister coming home from school (even though he denies it) so that he has a buddy to play with outside. I recall one afternoon, however, that Synnove played outside while Soren was engrossed in playing with his train set inside. This never happens. Synnove was determined to climb the maple tree higher than her brother can...I think she succeeded...

The kids also spent some good time with Grandpa in October. It's nice to have my parents in Warrenton because my kids like to spend time at their house while I grocery shop. One day, while I was shopping, Grandpa took the kids to the dollar store and then let them carve a couple of pumpkins. They were rotten by Halloween, so (of course) they carved more! Halloween pics to come.

These balloons were a dollar store find. Synnove had fun making her own clown creations!

I. will. NOT. give. up.

I enjoy this whole blog thing. Originally, I saw it as a way to cure some boredom, and document life. The problem is, I'm not bored anymore. I used to be that mom of little ones that never left the house and had few friends. Quite frankly, it sucked. I tried to be that mom that was happy to be at home with her kids. Don't get me wrong, I would not have had it any other way....raising my babies was a must! But my time with them was work...lonely work. Do I wish I could go back and smooch on Synnove and Soren's chubby little cheeks? Yes. But I certainly don't wish to go back to that time in my life. It is so freeing to have children that talk, go to the bathroom on their own, and can be active contributors to daily chores. In fact, right now I'm sitting in a freshly cleaned basement that my kids cleaned yesterday while I was painting upstairs. No, they didn't do it out of their own goodwill, I asked them to. But they cleaned it on their own without me going down to check!

One would think that I now have more time on my hands since my babies are now more independent. So untrue, because now they both have active lives outside the home. It's pretty fantastic, really. We are constantly going, doing, learning, and having fun! The kids have made friends with other kids, and I have made friends with their parents. And the friends I have made are great friends...friends I want to spend time with, work with, share with, have Bible study with, go on trips with, pray with, have one-on-one coffee with, etc. It's my kids, and these friends that have filled my once boring life with endless things to do. And, unless something drastic happens, I'm not leaving! I, along with my friends and family, get to watch my kids grow up here...a place where they are loved, supported, and cared for by many. What a blessing that is!

So, the blog suffers...and that's OK with me. I will persistently continue to document our lives, just less often than I or you would like.

"B"irthday During "B" Week...again

Last Wednesday, October 5th, was Soren's actual 5th birthday...his golden birthday! Adam and I had decided to get him a new bike since he had outgrown his old one, so we picked one up on the long drive home from Whistler, B.C. (we were at a wedding there in late September). We didn't give it to him at his party because we wanted him to thoroughly enjoy the gifts everyone had given him. Plus, we thought it would be fun to surprise him on his actual birthday. So, that morning, he woke to find it waiting for him upstairs. He promptly put on his new helmet (gift from my mom) and went outside to try it out in his jammies before school.

He wasn't outside for long because we needed to head out the door. Miss Kara had asked the kids to wear "B"lack for "B" week...so he dressed accordingly. I was snack helper that morning and Kara had planned to "B"ake "B"iscuits, but I was planning to do "B"rownies and "B"lueberries for snack, so the kids helped me "B"ake those instead of the "B"iscuits. We got to work right away so that the "B"rownies would "B"ake and have enough time to cool before making them into "B"at "B"rownies with a cookie cutter.

While waiting for the "B"rownies to be ready to eat the kids learned about "B"ats and made "B"at cut-outs with wings made out of their "B"lack hand prints. They turned out pretty cute :)

Of course, last year, Soren's birthday was during "B" week as well...only they made "B"rown "B"ears :)

"B"aker "B"irthday "B"oy "B"aking "B"at "B"rownies

"B"lowing out his candle

The "B"rownies were almost a disaster. Cutting them out with a cookie cutter was difficult, but the kids didn't seem to mind that a couple of the "B"ats were "B"roken. I had also ordered more than enough Candyland stickers for all his preschool friends to have one so Soren passed those out as well.

After school, I thought it would be fun to take him out to lunch at the Logger. It surprised me when he said he just wanted to go home. Duh...he wanted to ride his new "B"ike!

Soren's 5th Birthday Party

Oh how I love throwing birthday parties for my kids! Although, it will be sad when they no longer want family parties anymore and they only want their friends over. Family parties are a fun and relaxing time that everyone seems to enjoy. Like many of Soren's birthdays, this one was was quieter than usual. Many folks were hunting in Eastern Oregon, but we still had over 25 people come to celebrate.

Soren chose a Candyland theme this year. He's been a bit obsessed with Candyland since last winter when I did a Google search on how long the game had been around and found a blog on it. He became very interested in all of the different versions of the game that have been made over the last many years. We found one at Goodwill a while back and Soren enjoyed discovering and sharing the differences between that one and the one we already had. For a while, it seemed to be all we heard about! He loves playing Candyland, and he loves winning...but most of all I think he loves talking about he game characters. Anyway, he chose his theme a few months ago and I was having a very difficult time finding party supplies online. Most of the Candyland themed supplies I found were homemade. I ordered stuff here and there when I found it over the period of a couple of months. Then, about 3 weeks before the party, I was happily surprised when I found a company that had some commercialized supplies!

The party turned out great. Soren wasn't too optimistic that any kids were going to be there, so he was surprised when Alice, Cash, Faith, and little Khol were there to pass favor boxes to. Soren also received some fantastic gifts...and I think all of them were hits!

I couldn't believe it when Aunt Suzi showed up with this gift. Soren had actually asked for this type of ball when Suzi asked him what he wanted at Elise's baby shower. I didn't think he had ever seen one before...so I wasn't sure he even knew what he was talking about. Well, Aunt Suzi found one...he loves it!

I had found a Candyland beach towel complete with game pieces and water-resistant cards on Ebay. He thought that was pretty cool.

I found a lady on Ebay that made personalized cake toppers. Because of some miscommunication, I actually ended up having to buy two of them. At least I had a back-up in case one tore...I guess...*sigh* Soren really loved his cake this year...as I was decorating it with candies he said "this is going to be a really good cake mom!"

Soren ended up with 4 dart guns and they were a source of great entertainment for kids young and old!

Enjoying playing some Rock 'em Sock 'em by...himself?

Baby "B" Will "Bee" Here SOON!

I don't think it really hit me till last week...the excitement, that is...that my little Sis is gonna have a baby! Quite honestly, I can't wait till little baby B comes in November. I've been an aunt since I got married, but now one of my siblings is having a baby! WOOT!

Of course, it was only fitting that I throw her a baby shower. With all of the busy-ness of my life, I was actually having a hard time devoting enough of my energy to making it great. I thought about it all summer, but knew I still had time so procrastinated. After Labor Day Camping I kicked it into high gear and eked out slots of time to work on it. I was thrilled that Elise had chosen a bumble bee theme for her nursery. I had never been to a bee-themed shower and was excited at all the possibilities. After much searching I found a fantastic custom jpeg kit on Etsy.com and went from there. Everything that I couldn't print, I had to make or find supplies for. But, I enjoyed every detail...especially the embossed bee and honey stamps (dug up from some old Winnie the Pooh stamps I had as a kid) on the outside of the invitation envelopes. When you have a great theme...it's easy to go the extra mile :)

The shower was set to take place on September 18th, so I spent all of the day prior, my birthday, getting things ready at my Mom's house. Sounds kinda sad, but it really wasn't...I got to sleep in that day, Adam and the kids took me to lunch at "The Logger" and then mom and dad took me and the kids to dinner at "Fultano's" (only the BEST pizza place EVER)! I stayed late at my mom's that night prepping and baking. I was saved my my Grandma Barb who pitched in and bought all of the fruit for the event and then stayed to help cut it up. Writing it all down makes it sound like a lot of work...it was. There were close to 50 people invited!

The morning of the 18th I skipped church to head back to my mom's to finish up the cupcakes. I was making special pudding-filled "Boston Creme Cupcakes" and they had to set for at least an hour before serving. Then we started carting everything down to the basement. We had no choice...the basement was the only place that would accommodate that many people.

Of course, several didn't show, but we still had a large crowd. We played games, and enjoyed the food. Elise had fun, and that's what matters :)

Boston Creme Cupcakes

Party favors...honey sticks

Chris and Elise's friend Heidi Fastabend brought her this creative crown that says "preggers" on it :)

Aunt Alice and Fi Fi made her a diaper "cake" loaded with goodies

Vickie Howe (pictured left)made this beautiful bee quilt for the baby. Vickie owns the hair salon next to Elise's coffee shop and she used to live across the street from our house when we were kids. Vickie made both Elise and I beautiful teddy bears when Elise was born that we still have :)

With all the games and visiting, the shower lasted quite a long time. Weesie got lots of great stuff including lots of green, yellow, and white clothes. It's fun not knowing if you're gonna have a boy or a girl!

Our Car Accident 1 Year Ago

It happened September 25th, 2010. We were on our way to the Enchanted Forest when only 25 minutes into our trip, Synnove decides she needs to go potty. We take pull up to take a left into the Clatskanie boat launch when an oversized late 70's model Chevy Blazer (stopped to pull into traffic) misses seeing our little car and rams right into us. If you've ever been in an accident you know that you can recount ever moment as if in slow motion...and that's how it plays in my head. Minus a few details, I look back at the kids and see they are stunned to silence and then blood begins to pour from Soren's head. Adam has to force the door open to get out while I reach over and grab Soren to pass to Adam once he gets out of the car. Bystanders immediately begin to help while I frantically think of what to do next. 911 has already been called so I call my dad cause we're gonna need a ride. He's about 45 minutes away...but is on his way as fast as he can go.

Synnove is silent. By now I've assured her that everything is OK and have gotten her out of the car. I can hardly think straight. I just stand there by the side of the road listening to Soren's crying "daddy daddy daddy..." over and over again. I can tell that he's going to be OK. The driver of the other car is sick with grief over what he's done. He's only just a couple years younger than I with kids of his own (not with him). I talk with him and calm him by trying to lighten the situation with smiles and pats on the back. I notice Synnove going back to the car ever so quietly. She grabs the blanket in the back...for Soren. She is still silent. The police are taking forever to get there and the ambulance/fire rescue finally arrives. By now the traffic is successfully being directed by bystanders and we have a fairly large crowd of people. A nice older woman has grabbed several towels (for the blood) from the restroom and is helping to calm Soren down. She was a breath of fresh air. I stand with Synnove as Soren is being strapped to the board and onto the gurney. I look over at Synnove...she is white...fading. I yell, "she's going, she's going!" and have to literally force her to lay down. She is in shock. I am appalled by the apprehensive volunteer fireman standing right beside me who does absolutely nothing until I have her down and resting. He checks her vitals. We caught her in time and I force her to stay completely down for the next half hour.

The ambulance leaves for Longview's St. John's hospital with Adam by Soren's side. I stay and talk with the police officer (who I'm pretty sure arrived AFTER the ambulance left) with the other driver and wait for the tow truck and my Dad. Synnove is still laying on the ground on the side of the road. I have already refused several offers from bystanders and the other driver's wife (arrived after accident) to drive Synnove and I to the hospital. I'm waiting for my Dad...not only will he take me to Longview...but he will make it "all better."

I watch as the tow truck driver loads up our little car and drives away. I think of the many recent discussions Adam and I had had about which car we were going to purchase after the new year to replace the little Civic. That little Civic was purchased as a commuter for Adam until a few short months later when a lady hit him in our Ford Explorer. Money was tight, so I drove that little car for 2 whole years...weird that the Explorer was also totaled in September two years prior. Adam had actually put quite a bit of time and money in that little car for maintenance...in fact he had just put in a new alternator the week before and we had JUST sent in the check to renew our tags...arg! It's not important...my little Soren is on my mind.

While sewing up the details with the police, my dad finally arrives. He is a welcome sight. Synnove is still on the ground and he sits with her while I finish up. She is happy to see him and in a few minutes feels well enough to sit up and eventually stand. We get in his truck to start heading to Longview but stop a few hundred yards away at a service station to grab a snack. I run into a bystander from the accident...he makes it clear he doesn't like the other driver too much and is glad we are OK.

Once at the hospital I get stopped to do a bunch of paperwork. I'm the only one allowed in, so my dad and Synnove sit and wait. I enter the exam room to find a lady literally poking and prodding at Soren's heavily gouged forehead. She's feeling for tiny shards of glass. I wrote a bit about it in a prior blog HERE. Adam and Soren had already been there for quite some time and I was there with them for at least an hour more...that's a lot of poking and stitching! Soren was an angel.

We left the hospital. Soren was in a dazed state...tired, yet wide awake. We decide to head to Rainier to find the car and photo the damage and get our belongings. It was sort of on our way, so it was going to save us a trip later on. Here are some of the photos from the accident...

At the accident site. It doesn't really show much other than the rear tire seal is busted and the rear window is shattered.

You can see why Adam had a hard time opening his door...

Soren received all of the impact. I'm pretty positive, from the injuries he received, that he was looking right at the Blazer when it hit...he calls it a "monster truck" (that's what it looked and sounded like!)

His carseat was bent and saved him from a lot more hurt

After the accident we endured a LOT more headache with the insurance. It was kind of a mess that I'd prefer not to delve into. Soren followed up with a couple of visits to a laser dermatologist in Portland. He healed up nicely and didn't need laser but had another small procedure done to improve his raised scarring. We have been religious about keeping him in hats when in the sun and today his forehead looks amazing. I credit that to God and the amazing ER Dr. who sewed him up.

It didn't take us long to decide that we needed to opt for a full-size SUV instead of the mini that we were discussing prior to the accident. We found one with top crash-test ratings and excellent reliability.

I feel very blessed...it could have been so much worse...especially in that little car.

Labor Day Luau

We were certainly blessed this camping season with lots of decent weather and very few raindrops. We were especially blessed for Labor Day camping! The weather was warm and sunny the entire time! The last camping trip of the season is always bittersweet, and this was the first year that I had a kid going back to school the very next day. In the past, Synnove has started school the week after Labor Day...but now she's a big first grader!

I think that every camping trip has something special about it. We were all excited for this trip because we were actually going to bury an entire pig (small one) in traditional khalua fashion. Doris Warren (Aunt Alice's mom) provided both of the animals. Alice's sister and bro in law prepped the pig while the rest of the men devised the best ways of cooking the lamb. They chose to put half of it in the pit and cook the rest on a spit over the fire. While we all waited for everything to get cooked up, we dressed up in leis and listened to luau music. We had a lot of fun with it. In the end, every little morsel of meat was incredible...it really was awesome!

I had too many fun pictures from the 4-day weekend, so I selected a good handful for a slideshow...enjoy! You'll have to click on the link to view them...can't get the slideshow on blogger for some reason...

https://picasaweb.google.com/101845145426293001798/September262011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

The Enchanted Forest

From August 31st

It was the week before Labor Day weekend, and we were swamped with things to do. Adam had taken the week off to do some deer hunting (never happened) and to do the large scheduled maintenance project on the Honda. I had endless things going on...I recall some MK, school orientation, canning tuna, getting last minute parts for the Honda, and getting ready for camping. So, it greatly surprised me when Adam announces on Tuesday night that he wants to take the kids to the Enchanted Forest. He wasn't even halfway done with the car, and I was planning to be out camping by Thursday. I really wasn't keen on cramming one more event into our already packed week. But, despite my protest, Adam's stubbornness won (that's the nicest way I can think to describe it...lol!)

I was already set to meet my dad at his house at 9:00 the morning Adam had intended to leave to can tuna, so I convinced Adam to leave a couple of hours later so that I could be a part of the kids' adventure. He was happy to wait. It was just last September when Adam had decided he wanted to take the kids to the Enchanted Forest and we got into a car accident on the way. He wanted to make sure the kids got there before they were too old to appreciate it. I had never been, but Adam really enjoyed it as a kid.

So, at about 11:00 we began our 3-hour trek to Turner, OR in our 1980 Mercedes Benz. The kids, including Adam, thoroughly enjoyed themselves while I played photographer.

Entering the park...

Once we got through the whole park, the kids wanted to do it again

Date(s) of Loss: July 19th and August 18th

It was the week the kids were going to vacation bible school when I was getting frustrated with my car. Adam had ordered the factory manuals and was planning on doing a very large overhaul of several "engine-y" things that were strongly suggested per the Honda Pilot scheduled maintenance plan. On top of that, it had been making a myriad of clunky noises in the wheels/bearings/brakes...really, the issue was a mystery. The issue was getting worse and more noticeable with each day and I wanted to just park it and drive the truck until Adam had a chance to give it a good look. To that suggestion he replied..."just drive it!" So, the day I had suggested to "park" it I drove it to drop off and pick up the kids from VBS and got home sometime around 9PM.

The next morning (July 19th) I had some errands in town so we all packed in the car only to find that it wouldn't start. REALLY?! I was irate. I knew it wasn't something I could fix (battery) because it was actually trying to start. So, I just left the car, hopped in the truck, and shed a few ticked-off tears. I had been "giving my car to God" for a few weeks already because I was allowing the issues to continually chip away at my sanity. This time I said an even bigger prayer.
That evening when Adam came home from work he got in the car to try and start it (duh...it didn't start). He opened the hood and started snooping around for problems. After about 1/2 a minute Synnove pipes up and says "I hear a squeak!" The hairs on my arms stood straight up as I began to realize it was a RAT! Not even two months before, my friend had a rat get into her truck that did some damage and another friend had told me a story about a rat that had gotten into the walls of her Explorer and die. I had suggested to Adam that maybe we needed another cat for the shop since Charlie seemed to do a pretty good job in the garage. In fact, I had JUST cleaned the garage the week before and found zero rat/mouse droppings.

This rat was the biggest rat I had ever seen in person that wasn't a pet. AND, it was a momma! It probably had 8-10 fresh babies she was protecting from our reaching hands and tongs. Long story short, we ended up pushing the car out of the garage to try to hose the thing out. We never caught it, but by the next day we were sure it was gone.

Momma Rat

Baby Rats

Because of the contents of the rats nest, I was sure that the rat had only been there since the night before. And, from what was visible, it looked like she had done quite a bit of damage to several wires. Not thinking of the insurance option, Adam thought he would need to rewire everything himself. It seemed daunting, especially with all of the other work he needed to do. It took us a couple of days to get our heads screwed on straight and go the insurance route. We were sooooo happy to discover that "varmint damage" was covered under our comprehensive policy less a small deductible. I didn't get to drive my car for roughly 10 days. The total bill including towing, parts, and labor was about $1800!

A month later (August 18th) I ventured downstairs to go on the computer. During the summer, we spend very little time downstairs and I hadn't really been down there much at all. As soon as I reached the bottom of the stairs I smelled something rather foul. It wasn't overwhelming, but it smelled like dirty garbage. I started going around the basement sniffing for moldy sandwiches left by the kids. I couldn't find the source until I stepped over to the play area. The carpet was thoroughly soaked. Grrrreeeaaat. It seemed like it was a drain leak, but I wasn't sure if it was that or the outside hose. I had a lot going on that day and couldn't really deal with it. I pried off the panel that exposes the kitchen sink plumbing. The pipes weren't wet but there was a bunch wet sand everywhere complete with earthworms...gross! I pulled up the carpet, set up fans and left the house. I didn't even check Synnove's room for water (too scatterbrained I guess) but I was positive water had gotten underneath her new laminate floor.

Again, like with the car, I wasn't thinking of insurance. It wasn't until later in the afternoon when I was at my sister's coffee shop that I was convinced by my mom to call insurance asap. After a crazy series of phone calls the water was cleaned up and the claim was started. That evening Adam tested the drain and it seemed to be working. I took that as a go ahead to do some dishes the next day...but I shouldn't have. I found lots more water an hour later. I cleaned it up with my little carpet cleaner and ripped out even more pad. Because of some miscommunication, a plumber wasn't called until 2 days after I first found the water. The plumber was from Knappa, so he stopped at my house after work on Friday to inspect. He was sure it was a cracked drain pipe under the slab and he couldn't fix it till Monday. I was OK with that. He gave me a write-up to send to the insurance company to get things moving.

Bright and early Monday morning, the plumber showed up and fixed the crack within 2 hours. I was so happy because I was hoping that the smell of garbage that was now permeating throughout the house would finally subside. Unfortunately, he deduced from the look and smell of the surrounding sand that the crack had been there for several months and was allowing water to pass through for a while until it got too clogged. Insurance doesn't cover old cracks. So, my dream of having new carpet in my basement literally went down the drain.

What the playroom looked like when the plumber was there

The cracked pipe removed...

UPDATE on the car: Adam spent all of last week (he took a week off) doing the scheduled maintenance. He did a great job and I'm very impressed with his skills! However, most, if not all, the creaks and clunks are still there. The issue is still a mystery.

UPDATE on the basement: There is still a smelly hole that needs to be cemented. I'm hoping Adam will be able to fix that before I host Bible Study next Tuesday. Unfortunately, he's leaving for a 3-day bachelor party tomorrow.

Adam is just ONE man...and he can't do it all! Poor guy :( If only we could hire these things done!

Pit Pig Weekend

(From 2nd weekend in August)

On Saturday, we were invited to an Adoption Party for Keirra and Kellan Quale. Tom and Sherry Quale are long-time friends of my mother-in-law and their 4 kids are all grown and range from college-age to early 30's. Sherry has done childcare in her home for several years and a situation arose where a couple of siblings Sherry cared for needed a permanent home. Of course, the process has been long and messy...but Keirra (9) and Kellan (6) were officially adopted earlier in the summer. So, they had a BIG party to celebrate at Sherry's mother's home in North Plains, OR. They buried a pig and had a luau-themed celebration that was SUPER fun! The kids enjoyed a large bouncy house, lots of lawn activities and crafts, two pinatas, and incredible food!

The flip-flop/hat decorating station

The kids brought home TONS of loot

On Sunday we were invited to Craig Weaver's 30th birthday bash in Brownsmead, OR. My preschool/Bible study friend Andrea (Craig's wife) invited us along with about 30 other Knappites. They buried a pig as well...a fairly large one in fact. It was their first time, and unfortunately, the pig came out only partially cooked. Adam (somewhat experienced in pit BBQs) dug right in and helped cut up the pig to finish on the BBQ. It took a while and we were all quite hungry by the time it was finished. It turned out pretty good though!

Unearthing the pig