Promotion

This past Monday, Winder Farms, Marcus' employer, announced that Marcus had filled the role of Customer Service Manager. We are very excited. Marcus finished his Management Training rotation and moved into his new role this week. He will be shadowing the current CSM and then will take over completely in June. His promotion will keep us in Utah for the next few years, so we are able to start looking at houses. (We previously didn't know if he would be transfered out of Salt Lake upon completing his training rotation.) Just wanted to let everyone know so you can all be excited with us.

PS - We are currently accepting donations :) (Anyone who read this earlier, don't judge my spelling, I am often distracted while typing.)

Diapers

Lately Livvy has been very aware of her diaper. Not only does she like to pull off the tabs and then put them back on, (which she doesn't do very well,) she will also bring me a diaper when she wants hers changed and I haven't acted quickly enough. She will grab one out of her room or her diaper bag and walk over to me saying "di-di."

Yesterday, while we were hanging out, she walked over to the coffee table with her puppy. I looked over at her and she laid her puppy on the table and then took a diaper and started putting in on the puppy. Now, if this was a puppy who actually needed the diaper it wouldn't have helped him one bit. She is horrible at putting them on, but it is sure funny to watch her be a Mommy to her puppy. I tried to take pictures but she stopped. So when Marcus got home he had her do it again so we could take a picture. It wasn't quite the same, but you get the idea.



Last night I went to check on her before going to bed myself. She was totally out and looking very cozy in her bed. As I walked away I noticed her leg looked funny so I looked at it closer. I figured she had just pulled her leg up into the stomach of her jammies. Her leg, however, was out of her jammies. As I looked closer I realized I could see the picture on her diaper. Wait a sec, the picture is supposed to be on the front of her diaper and she is laying on her stomach, I shouldn't be able to see the picture. She had unzipped her jammies, pulled one leg out and undid her diaper. Luckily she hadn't had to go to the bathroom and her bed was still dry. Laughing I left her room to grab the camera, and went back in. Marcus followed me in so he could see what my issue was. (It was very late I so I was laughing hysterically.) We pulled her out of bed so we could get her situated again. I decided to put her in some new jammies since she was pretty warm. As she was sitting on her changing table waiting for me, she decided she needed to tinkle then. At least it wasn't in her bed!

The past 2 months...

Well, it's been a while since I blogged so I figured I should get on it before my next entry became even longer.

First of all. Livvy's only had her cast on for 3 weeks. We took her back to the doctor on Feb 13th and they said everything looked good and that the fracture had healed well. We took this right before heading up to the hospital.

A few days later I went into her room and was immediately afraid. "What happened to my baby? I laid her down for a nap. Did she figure out how to get out of bed?" During this 5 second conversation with myself I realized she was still in her bed, I just hadn't seen her.



The first two weeks of March, Marcus, Livvy and I found ourselves in the lovely city of Las Vegas. Marcus' company wanted him to spend a little time at the location their and Livvy and I decided to come along. I have family in Vegas and so we went and stayed at my Grandparents house. It was so much fun. We played games (the boys must cheat!) and went to dinner a few times. Livvy's favorite thing by far was the porch swing. She would go out with Granpma and Grandpa several times a day and they would swing together. We also were able to go out to Valley of Fire and walk around and have lunch one day. She also really loved Special Grandma Cindy's (that is my Aunt Cindy) hot tub. Livvy was not very happy when Mommy made her get out after 5 minutes.

One day while Marcus was at work Grandma and Grandpa took us to the mall to ride the horsies! Livvy loves horsies!


Livvy also helped Daddy help Grandpa with some yard work. Doesn't she look strong?

We had so much fun in Vegas, being able to visit family. Thanks again to Grandma and Grandpa for putting up with us for two whole crazy weeks.


We got our tax returns while we were in Vegas and when we got home we sat down to decide what to do with them. "Should we invest it all? Should we buy our pony?" After MUCH anylizing (if you know Marcus that won't be shocking) we decided to save most of it and keep some for something fun for us since we had been being really good and not spending money on crap. So we bought a TV. Extravagant? Maybe, but we got a killer deal. It was half off, and we love it. Plus it is something we use every day.


Well, after being home for a week, Livvy and I hopped on a plane a flew to Phoenix to visit my parents. It was so much fun. Livvy had been walking with the furniture for about two months and so we were really hoping that she would get the walking thing down. Poor girl had to relearn how to do it a couple times because of her cast, but when she decides she is ready she figures this out real quick. She practiced lots and got pretty good, but saved the finishing touches till we got home and she could show Daddy.

While we were there we got to visit lots of people. Aunt Kari and Uncle Scott, and Great Grandma Mita. For some reason we had so much fun playing with them that I didn't take any pictures. We also got to visit Great Grandma Susan and Great Aunt Katie. They have two dogs or "Pup Pup" as Livvy calls them. After getting used to each other they all became pretty good friends.

She also got to read a book with Great Grandma Susan.
Livvy with Great Grandma Sue and Great Aunt Katie.

We got to spend lots of time playing with Grandma Laurie and Grandpa Rob. We went for lots of walks, and read books, and went swimming.













After being away from Aunt Jessi and Uncle AJ for so long we had to see them. This past Sunday we went over to their house. Jessi and AJ made broccoli cheese soup and Monica and John brought over some yummy treats. Kate and Steve, AJ's borther and his wife came over for a while too. Jessi's neighbor has a 'pup pup' and they got to bring it over and we all played with him for a while. Livvy thought he was pretty cute, but was a little unsure. He is truely a puppy and is very hyper. Uncle John even sacraficed his hand to keep the puupy busy while Liv's petted him. It was nice to play outside though. It was a beautiful day! Once we went back inside Daddy thought it would be fun to play 'Bounce Livvy in the Air' on the love sac. She thought it was so fun. However, after Daddy and Uncle AJ decided to play together and my child soared for the celing (ok she didn't really but she did soar a couple feet) Mommy abruptly put an end to that game. After Livvy got over he inital fear and stopped crying she pointed at the lovsac and said 'Again!' Even though she didn't get hurt, Mommy had to say no. I know I'm a meany! BTW - I 'made' Liv a ribbon for her hair and I am in love with how cute she is!













So that is the story of the last few months. Although, Livvy has started trying to take off her own clothes recently. Well, I think that is what she is doing. Twice when I've gotten her up from naps she is all kabobbled in her shirt. It's pretty funny.

Battle of Wills???

Last week Olivia started something new. When she would be in a one piece pj she would not let me bend her left leg to change her diaper. She is often silly about diapers and so I didn't think much of it. Then, my sister asked me, "Why doesn't Livvy bend her left leg when she crawls?" I hadn't noticed this. I watched her play and sure enough she didn't bend that leg to crawl or play. When she would walk, it looked like she was mainly standing on the right leg and using the left to balance. I decided I would take her in to see the doctor.

Monday morning I woke up and called the office to see if we could come in. They were closed for Martin Luther King Day. I decided to send a message to the on call doctor to see if this was something to take her to urgent care for, or something that could wait to Tuesday when the doctor was back. The on call doctor felt it could be something bad and I should probably take her in sooner than later, but it was very likely NOT life threatening, so do what I thought best. Let me back up for a moment. When we woke up that morning we looked upside and it had snowed 8 inches or so and it was still falling. Taking Olivia to the doctor meant I had to take Marcus to work and go back and get him later. I DO NOT like driving when the roads haven't been plowed. I decided I would play it safe though and take her into urgent care. After taking Marcus to work, on unplowed roads, we drove over to urgent care (passing a car that spun out about 100 feet in front of us on the way.) We saw the doctor and the doctor felt that something was wrong and Olivia needed x-rays. She also thought that she might need blood work. Instead of doing to x-rays there and then most likely having to send us up to the children's hospital for blood work, she sent us up there for both. Primary Children's does alot more x-rays on children anyway, so they would probably be able to do them better. (Toddlers don't generally like to sit for xrays the way an adult will.) We got back in the car and drove through the still unplowed roads to Primary Children's Hospital. Olivia was admitted to the ER, and the testing began. First the x-rays. No sign of a break. Next blood work for different things, mainly an infection or arthritis. Clean. By the time we reached that point we had been in to ER for 3 hours and at the doctors for about 5. It was 3 in the afternoon and I had not come prepared. I usually bring enough food, drinks, and toys for several children, but I had not been planning on a day at the ER and had drastically underestimated our needs. Luckily, we were able to walk over to the hospital cafeteria and get some lunch. After coming back to our room and eating it we both felt much better.

Anyway, after 4 hours of tests and playing with the baby's leg the doctor diagnosed her, through the process of elimination, with a toddler's fracture. This is a fracture (a break that doesn't not go all the way through the bone) that is often just caused by learning to walk and the weight being put on the leg, or the falling associated with it. The breaks are usually so small that they do not show up in x-ray's until they start healing 7-10 days after they happen. They put a cast/brace on Olivia leg and asked us to come back in a few days to rexray the leg. So that is where we will find ourselves this afternoon, the fracture clinic of Primary Children's Hospital. At least I will be more prepared this time.

I will try to put on a picture of her cast soon.

Teeth

Yesterday Livvy and I were sitting on the couch together playing. I was tickling her and when she laughed I noticed something in her mouth. So like any mother (or just the unsanitary ones) I stick my finger in her mouth right then to feel it out. What did I find? She had had two teeth break through the previous night! Now she is up to four! (Three on the bottom, and one on top.) She also has another top one that should poke through today or tomorrow, unless it decides to go back down.

Hopefully there will be a picture coming. It depends on if I can get her to let me take one.

Also, later that night I was getting ready to go to an Enrichment Committee meeting. The baby saw me go down the hall and decided that she wanted to come too. I heard her voice getting closer, so I poked my head around the corner to see how close she was - she gets distracted when she crawls - but she wasn't crawling. She was holding onto the wall and walking down the hall toward me. I was excited. She walks all around the furniture, but she had never done that. (Sorry, the video is sideways.)

Missing Car Seat

As most of you know, when we flew back from Texas earlier this month, our car seat did not make the journey with us. After spending two weeks working with the airlines delayed/lost baggage department, I had all the paperwork filled out and ready to send in for a refund. The day I was going to put it in the mail I received a call. I was at Sam's Club and I didn't know the number, so I let it go to voice mail. When I listened to the message, this is what it said. "We think we found your car seat. It came in today on the flight from Dallas..." I confess my first thought was, "Crap, after two weeks it is probably in pretty bad shape, I would really just rather have a refund." I wasn't able to get ahold of the airline that day, but the next day they called back and I was able to speak with someone.

"We think we found your car seat."

"Ok, great."

"What does it look like?"

-I describe it to her.

"Yep, that is what we have here. Can we bring it out to you later today?"

"Sure, but I am in Lehi and won't be home for a while. Can you tell me what kind of condition it is in? I'm just a little worried it's been 'beaten up' while it's been floating around airports and airplanes."

"Actually I think it has just been sitting in Dallas. There wasn't a tag on it and they didn't know where to send it. Either way, it doesn't look damaged, or dirty."

"Super."

After making arrangements for the delivery company to deliver it between 5-9 I thank her and wish her a great afternoon.

Later that night...
I get home around when they say they will bring it. I sit, and I sit. Normally you don't need to be there for a lost luggage delivery, but I had a loaner seat from the airline that I had to give back. 9 pm rolls around and I still hadn't seen or heard anything. "I'll give it a little longer, they are probably just running late." At 10:30 I still hadn't seen or heard anything, so I decided to call the airport.

"Hi, I was supposed to receive my car seat tonight. It's ok that it hasn't come, I just wanted to let you know (in case your records show something different.)"

"Hold on, let me talk to the guy. Yeah, he is still out delivering."

"Oh, so he is bringing it tonight still?"

"Yes ma'am, it will be there tonight"

"Ok, thanks. I'll just wait."

A little after midnight Marcus and I decided it must not be coming and they didn't want to call and tell us because it was late. So we got in bed and started watching a movie. Around 12:30 my phone rings with a strange number.

"Hello???"

"Hi, Mrs. Cardon?"

"Yeah..." I'm very confused who would be calling me in the middle of the night and not think it is odd.

"Hi, I have your car seat and I'm just pulling into your complex. Cam you tell me where your unit is?

"Um, Ok..."

I tell him how to get to our apartment and we go into the front room to get the door.

After closely scrutinizing it I decided it looked just fine. Everything was there and working. Now scratches, dents, or dings. For good measure though, I did wash everything on it. No, I'm not obsessive, I'm thorough. :)

Christmas 2007

I figured it was about time to blog about our Christmas. Marcus, Olivia and I had Christmas on Sunday, the 24th. (We are cheaters I know...) We hooked up the web cam so that my whole family (they were all at my parents house for Christmas) could watch us open presents. Of course by us I mean Olivia. There is nothing exciting about Marcus opening up presents. :) Anyway, on Christmas day we flew to Dallas so we could spend Christmas with the whole Cardon clan. (Well, almost. At the last minute Marcus sister Kari got really sick and she and Scott weren't able to make it.) We had 15 people at his parents house and while it was a little hectic at times it was so much fun. We went shopping, we saw "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," and we had family pictures taken. On Sunday, Becca, Alison, and I sang at church. Olivia decided to get sick halfway through and we ended up having to take her to urgent care Monday morning. She had a double ear infection. We also got to go see animals; sheep, goat, a donkey, and a horse. Livvy had fun feeding and petting them...as long as she was watching mommy do it and not doing it herself. On New Years Eve and New Years we set off fireworks, and even managed to light one of Ann bushes up! (It never caught fire, but it did glow quite brightly for a minute or two while the firework was lodged inside it.) We were able to spend just over a week there. Fate apparently did not want us to make it back home. Our flight was delayed by a couple hours and when we finally made it home at 1:30 am our car seat had somehow not made the trip with us. Oh well.

Here are some pictures.

Livvy sitting in a pile of presents at our house.


Opening up presents at Grandma Ann and Grandpa Kirk's house.


Grandma and Grandpa got all the kids matching jammies. This is all of them sitting on the couch. Left to right...Seth, Johnathan, Robert, Megan, James, Livvy and Susie.


Ben has a blow up jumpy thing that the kids can play in. I set Livvy on the outside so that she could bounce but not get squished by her cousins. She loved it, and I loved what it did to her hair!



Livvy and Megan had lots of fun playing together.


This is visiting the animals. We are feeding the sheep!


With 15 people staying in one house hot water often ran out. Especially during specific times. One being bath time at night. Livvy really needed a bath this night, but we were out of hot water so this is how we fixed it. We heated up water on the stove, then put it in this big pot and washed the baby in there. She thought is was a little strange, but it worked.