Boys, boys and boys

Lets be honest, I am a little left out over here, 3 boys to 1 girl. I have to say though, I love my boys and couldn't be happier with anything different. I love the rough housing, running around constantly (seriously they don't stop), bathroom humor, superheroes, aiming into the toilet ( I mean getting somewhat close, wait I mean.... not paying attention at all and I use lots of clorox wipes), building forts, cars and trains, hot lava. I love it all. Raising kids is the toughest and hardest thing I will ever do. I know one day my kids will be grown up and I will have all of the "me time" in the world. Showering without the curtain getting opened, sleeping in, only cooking for myself...sometimes I miss being selfish but I wouldn't trade being a mom for anything! I love my boys. I love the fact that I get to raise my boys. I love that I teach them right from wrong and teach them what is important in life. My boys and I have a great time together. I cherish every kiss I get, every cuddle, every hug. I am so glad my kids and I truly love each other.

P.S. Darrin makes it possible for me to be a stay-at-home mom, and it is the best blessing I could ever have. I am very thankful for him and the ability to be with my boys.

Pioneer Courage Park


 
This park is in downtown Omaha and is only blocks from Union Pacific. The park has gorgeous bronze statues of the Pioneers. The sculptors are both from Utah.



Posing the same, cheesy, Yep! That's me!!





I had the boys do a tough pose, Colby and Ethan are showing me their muscles. Sooo handsome!


My Craner boys. I love them so much!

Family Day

Once a year Omaha features "Family Day" where a family can experience lots of fun places for 15 bucks. Awesome deal! We went to the Lauritzen Gardens, Durham Museum, Dodge House and the Joslyn Art Museum. I am fascinated with all of the museums and how much I can learn. Okay, I might learn a little bit more without a 4 and a 2 year old.......... but they are still super fun and we had a great time.





The gardens had a train the kids could ride, the weather was ridiculously hot and humid and I was wishing it was acceptable to wear a bathing suit while waiting our turn. The kids really liked going on the train and made the wait worth the profuse sweating. : ) 



H.F.M.


 Colby and Ethan just wanted to be held a lot and they slept a ton. So sad, I hate when my kids feel miserable.


About a month ago, I found out that hand, foot and mouth disease has been going around the area and at church. ????? Yeah, I didn't know what that was. Darrin and I have been super careful, washing hands, sanatizing, not being around kids we don't know, we have been doing all of the precautions.
This last week we went to a nice splash pad and on Saturday we went to a really fun pool, the deepest part was 2 feet and we had a blast!
Saturday night I went and gassed up the car and bought groceries for Darrin, for the week, I was planning on driving up to see my brothers family in Rochester, they just moved for his residency (at the Mayo clinic, my brother is awesome!!! He doesn't brag so I will do it for him, he will be totally embarrassed if he reads this :).
Saturday night the boys were doing just fine, than it hit. Colby was awake most of the night with a super high fever. I figured it was just a little bug and it would go away, I wish!! Ethan started getting a high fever Sunday morning. Sunday was a pj, zombie day! The kids laid on sofas all day wanting to cuddle and be held. We watched A LOT of tv. By Sunday afternoon I started wondering if it was a little bug or if they contacted hand, foot and mouth diesase. I looked in Colby's mouth and didn't see anything but when we looked in Ethan's we saw the start of it. He has a ton of red dots on the roof of his mouth and the very back.
Side note: I totally understand that kids get sick. Little stuff like a runny nose, little fever; it's not the best BUT it's manageable and expected. When it comes to more serious stuff like throwing up, or H.F.M.D. or strep or things that you might need antibiotics for- why would you let your kids be around other kids!!! RRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (that's me trying to express that I am super frustrated about this)

I had no idea what H.F.M.D was: "Hand-foot-and-mouth disease — a mild, contagious viral infection common in young children — is characterized by sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is most commonly caused by a coxsackievirus.
 -may cause some or all of the following signs and symptoms:
  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Feeling of being unwell (malaise)
  • Painful, red, blister-like lesions on the tongue, gums and inside of the cheeks
  • A red rash, without itching but sometimes with blistering, on the palms, soles and sometimes the buttocks
  • Irritability in infants and toddlers
  • Loss of appetite
The usual period from initial infection to the onset of signs and symptoms (incubation period) is three to seven days. A fever is often the first sign of hand-foot-and-mouth disease, followed by a sore throat and sometimes a poor appetite and malaise. One or two days after the fever begins, painful sores may develop in the mouth or throat. A rash on the hands and feet and possibly on the buttocks can follow within one or two days.
 Although your child is most contagious with hand-foot-and-mouth disease during the first week of the illness, the virus can remain in his or her body for weeks after the signs and symptoms are gone. That means your child still can infect others."

Bleaching the toys and everything else in sight!
We will be home bound and in quarantine for a while. :(


Millers Hollow

At the Kanesville Tabernacle stands a statue of my Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather Henry Miller from my Mom's (Byers) side. His brother, Daniel A. Miller, is my Great, Great, Great Grandfather on my Dad's (Miller) side. Hmmmm... AND Daniel Miller's wife, Clarissa Pond, is who I am named after! :) Both Henry and Daniel were Captains of several hand cart companies. Legend has it that they always timed the trips right and never lost a soul. In fact, a journal entry tells the tale of one particular company crossing a swift river.  A pregnant woman and her wagon were caught by the current and dragged down stream.  Suddenly, Henry jumped on top of the wagon, cut the top open with his knife, and pulled the pregnant woman to safety! Wow! I am proud to have some great family heritage. It was nice to be able to visit my ancestor's home.

Kanesville was originally named Millers Hollow! How cool is that!