Saying Good by to Redlands

 So the whole last part of June was consumed with packing our house. It was a huge job that I am very glad is all done. We did take a few moments out to do some important things before we left. 

We went to Cafe Rio for Taco Tuesday one last time and enjoyed playing around the fountain on one of Redlands warm summer evenings. We went to our park and played and swam. We spoke in church, yeah the timing of that was a little stressful, not my best talk, and said good-bye to everyone there. Did one last Disneyland day, San Diego day, and Chrystal Cove day. I will miss Orange County and San Diego a lot. We spent most of Caleb's days off as a family going on some sort of adventure through all those areas. 

 We took snuggle breaks from the madness of packing, and then the kids would steal my phone and take millions of random pictures :)

I had to take a break for one more photo shoot of the kids in my backyard. The pictures aren't fancy but my yard was my favorite part of our home and I have so many pictures of the kids back there. I just can't believe how fast the time has gone. They were so little when we moved in. Abigail was nine months and Joshua was only 3. Our time in Redlands was wonderful and I am so grateful that we were able to be there. When our house was finally all empty Caleb and I went back in to say good bye. All I could do was think about all the wonderful memories we had in that house. All the times we ate dinner in our kitchen, or read our scriptures and stories on the floor of the office, or played in the sprinklers in the backyard. I cried pretty hard. It was hard to let it go and turn it over to someone who you hope will take care of it and be as happy in it as you were. We have officially closed, so all we have are our pictures and memories. Luckily we create and bring our "home" with us where ever we go.  

 

Moving On

We have packed and packed, and have nothing but the absolute essentials left to pack. The good news is we've done enough already that I'm left with a very nice down day to relax and play. As I have been walking around my house with our vacant walls and piles of boxes everyone I got a little sad. I am going to miss our home. This is our very first house and we put a lot of hours of labor into it to make it look just the way we wanted to. We have a lot of memories, and for Joshua it will be the first house he will actually keep memories of; maybe even Abigail too. 

So farewell little house, Mill Creek Ward, Market night, Taco Tuesday, Temple only five minutes away, our park and pool. 

We have loved our three years here and will miss all the wonderful people we have met and grown to love. I find that every place I have lived along our journey through medical training I have left that place a better more rounded person.  I have met people who have been examples of strength, love, service, or dedication which have inspired me to be better. In the Mill Creek Ward I have met so many people who welcomed me and taught me by there amazing examples.  I have truly been inspired. 

Joshua's Birthday

 Joshua has never watched a super hero show like Batman, spiderman, superman, etc. Despite that he LOVES super heroes especially Batman. So for his Birthday he wanted to have a Super Hero party. Caleb made him this awesome Birthday cake, and we decorated everything super hero style. We have never had a friend Birthday party for her and figured since we are moving it would be a good way for hime to kind of say good by to all his little friends here in Redlands. Daddy was working on his actual Birthday so we had his party and all his celebrations on the Saturday before his birthday. 

 We had our traditional birthday breakfast. Dressed as Super Heroes. 

 And opened family presents. 

 Then all his friends arrived. We had them all dress up like super Heroes. Luckily Caleb's mom was visiting. She brought us some of her great costumes to use and helped come up with all the games and activities. It was so wonderful to have her there to help. 

 The day before Joshua's actual Birthday Joshua lost his first tooth!

                                                    

On his Birthday we did whatever Joshua wanted. Which was to go to the park and have a picnic and swim. I can't believe my sweet little baby boy is six! He is so wonderful and funny. I fully enjoy him everyday, he keeps me laughing with his sweet funny personality.

                                           

One last Cousin Visit

My sister Elizabeth and her family came one last time to our house in Redlands. It was so great to have them come and visit. It was a wonderful distraction for Abigail from her casts and everything. We went to the Orange County Train Museum. Her four boys had a great time. It was a fun day and a fun weekend. They are so excited to be living near each other very soon! 

Caleb's Birthday

For Caleb's Birthday we did the usual stuff. I made him breakfast, fruit pizza, and Banana cream pie. Joshua gave him a matching Batman shirt for his Birthday! He was so excited to be matching with daddy. It was a fun relaxing birthday, and we were very happy to be able to celebrate together. Caleb had to work a swing shift but at lest we had most the day together.

Abigail's Ordeals

Abigail has Metatarsus Adductus. It is fairly mild foot problem that causes in-toeing. We have taken her to the orthopedic surgeon several times since she was little and everyone told us that it is not a problem and she will grow out of. So before we changed insurance with Caleb's new job we decided to take her again just to double check things. There was not very much improvement since her last visit so the doctor decided to try a month of casting.  Basically they wanted to see if they could get her feet to stretch enough to hopefully give her a boost in the right direction. She got them switched at 2 weeks and then Daddy took her into his ER and took them off himself at 4 weeks. We took advantage of the casts and went to Disneyland so we could cut in line, which was a nice bonus. Overall though the casts were pretty terrible. We tried to live life normally but basically it was like having a gigantic 7 month old baby. We had to carry her everywhere and set her up with toys all around her. Amazingly by the last two weeks she was able to walk around in the casts! That made it a little easier, but by that time she was pretty much frustrated and done. That is why daddy took the casts off instead of waiting an extra couple days for actual appointment to take them off. The hardest part is after the casts were taken off she took about a month to get back up to walking normal and running. Even now her legs tire easily and her ankles are weak and roll in more than they should. So it was four weeks of torture with unfortunately not a lot of benefit. 

Abigail has always snored. I mean not just a little heavy loud breathing, it was like your 90 year old grandpa you could hear down the hall with loud gasping and all. She would wake up at least 3 times a night, and sweat profusely all night long...she and I were exhausted most days from the lack of sleep. So I started googling "toddler snoring". I found millions of sites hood sleep apnea caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids. She had every symptom, and on all the sites it had a huge list of very serious side effects if the problems goes untreated into adolescence. I talked to Caleb about it and he checked out her tonsils to find that she had no more than a 1/4 an inch between them for air to get through. So we set up an appointment with the Peds ENT.  

The ENT checked her out and was amazed at the size of her tonsils. They were so large that he showed me how they were actually visible on her neck. I just figured she had kind of a chubby chin and neck, but apparently that was just all tonsils. He also explained how most of her speech problems were being caused by the tonsils as well. Basically we had no choice and had to take them out. we got her scheduled for the surgery. A few days before the Surgery daddy brought home a lot of hospital things. We played Doctor, and gave her baby dolls "Sleepy Juice" and stuff. I think all the prep really paid off because she was so calm and brave going into surgery. She did an amazing job. the results of the surgery have been wonderful! No more snoring, sweating or waking up. Her whole face and neck look totally different, her speech is improving, and even her temperament has improved. The surgery was quick and easy and recovery was only about four rougher days. I am so proud of her. She was so brave through her casts and surgery, and I am so glad it is all done.