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New Postings

2010-01-28T21:51:00.001-08:00

I finally got around to posting the latest cupcakes on myblog!(http://justbecausecupcakes.blogspot.com/) Still waiting to get pictures from one party but its been a lot of fun!

Our Little Elves

2009-12-19T16:40:00.000-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Snow in Folsom

2009-12-07T09:06:00.000-08:00

We had a once in a decade snow in folsom the other day. The kids stayed home from school and made a snowman. The snow melted so fast that it was gone before noon. Jonathan took the kids up the mountain and filled up the trailer with snow and brought it back down to our house. We then made a 25 foot snow sled run that lasted for about 4 days. The kids loved it.

More Cupcakes!

2009-11-14T13:16:00.001-08:00

I made these for our Enrichment party last week. I am on the committee so I volunteered- a lot of work but a lot of fun! Especially since I love the ladies in our ward! The Christmas trees are lemon cake with a white choc meringue buttercream and the others were pumpkin and chocolate. I tried making the cupcakes from scratch this time and I realized Lemon is tricky! My first try turned out more bread than cake so I had to resort to a cake mix with add ins. The chocolate and pumpkin were Martha recipes and turned out great. I love doing these but need a reason- who wants 60 cupcakes sitting around the house? Not to mention the 100 mini ones that went along with them.

"LIFE IS NOT FAIR"

2009-11-13T19:29:00.000-08:00

That is what I tell my kids all the time-
When they are complaining that someone got TWO cookies and they got one- or someone got to stay up later- or go to more birthday parties- or do less work..... the list goes on and I try to remind them it would be CRAZY if we tried to make everything exactly fair.

So how come I dont remember that when Ty is coughing so hard his whole head is red and I am afraid he wont stop-
Or when I am carrying him up at night and have to avoid looking at his little neck because I dont like to see the trach hole-
Or when I cant take him out to the park to watch his brothers and sisters because his lungs might get too dry and then we are back to the coughing-
Or when Ben has had his trach out for a year and 1/2 and is doing SO well and his doctors tell me he needs it back in. Whaaaaat? How is that fair? How can that be what we need to do to him?
He is already fighting so hard in his little body that cant keep up with his mind.
Why cant I take all their troubles for them?

I know life is not fair-It is not SUPPOSSED to be fair. I just need reminding sometimes.
Because usually I can remember how blessed I am that these little boys are even still here.
They remind me that they dont even see their lives in anyother way but loved and wanted.
Their faces remind me that WE get their sweet spirits and faces and bodies in our home.
That they NEVER get tired of hugging us and loving us.

They are not complaining that life is not fair.
But sometimes I just want to stomp and yell for them.... "ITS NOT FAIR!"

Et tu Pierre?

2009-11-03T17:01:00.000-08:00

Not often you see this much facial hair on a Walburger boy.

It weighed 165 pounds......

2009-11-01T22:51:00.000-08:00

"Well, while you all were divvying out candy I was baking, pureeing and cooking down the flesh of a 165 pound pumpkin that Natalie won from Trader Joe's. We carved it and had it out for one night then started cutting it and feeding it to ourselves and the chickens! I now have 15 little bags of puree in the freezer- pumpkin pie in the fridge and a whole slab of cooked pumpkin I am going to cut up to make pumpkin soup. So what did YOU do all weekend?"

I am not sure I would recommend doing this- it was quite a messy project but I guess it was satisfying putting all those little bags in the freezer!

Spooky Halloween Night

2009-11-01T17:06:00.000-08:00

Natalie- same costume as last 2 years- spider queen!!!
Jack - scary vampire "mom- with my black hair I could be ANYONE, no one will know who I am!"
Scott- poor car accident victim
Ben and Ty- not cooperating for the picture in SCARY spooky Halloween shirts.

Turning 10

2009-10-11T17:44:00.000-07:00

Scott just turned ten last month and watching him I am reminded of how GREAT it is to be ten.
Life is good when you are ten. (I still remember being ten!)
He is getting so grown up yet he still likes to play outside and still loves cartoons.
The conversations we have are so fun!
I love his questions, his jokes, his thoughts.
I am lucky to have a boy who LOVES to talk.
From the time he was in preschool he would just follow me around talking about EVERYTHING,
and he still does.
I will be walking around cleaning and he will just follow me with sweet little boy chatter.
I love our afterschool afternoons when he does his homework in the kitchen with me
and will interrupt every other math problem with.... something!

No teenage angst- no girl troubles (besides his sister)
No wanting to do anything major we have to say no to.
Still thinks I am SO smart.
A quarter is still a lot to pay to the money jar when he is in trouble.
Still yells "love you!"while blowing me kisses when I drop him at school
and is NOT to big for hugs.
So happy with his life- so happy with his family!

When I think of Scott growing older and more "teenagery"
I am clinging (grabbing on with both hands!)
to the words of a past Prophet- President Benson when he said:
"there need be no generation gap, and the key is love"
Scott we LOVE LOVE LOVE you!

The Party!

2009-10-11T16:10:00.000-07:00

On the even years the kids get to have a friend party- Scott has such great cute friends. Grandpa Gary helped Jonathan take them to laser tag and then back for the cupcakes he had requested way back in February.

Fat Sweet Little Feet (nightlight included)

2009-10-09T18:37:00.000-07:00

SO many nights we look over and see one of Ty's fat feet just draped over the side of his bed. At night in my bed it is one of my favorite things- a little foot plunking down from the co-sleeper onto my bed. His little monitor lights up so some nights we see little lights flying around. I can't give those little feet enough kisses, those are the moments when I look at his sweet fat legs and squishyness and wish I could freeze the moment. I know it will fly by and he will be too big too fast!

IT'S A DIRTY JOB. (But I'm glad to be the one to do it!)

2009-10-05T23:12:00.000-07:00

Some nights I go to bed and glance in the mirror at my shirt and see spots on my shoulders from baby drool etc. Some days it worse than others. I took a look at my black t-shirt after holding Ben and Ty while they snacked on crackers and it was literally covered from top to bottom.

(why do I EVER where black? It shows everything!) Even my jeans fell victim.
Little faces rubbing, little hands and this picture is the proof they just cant get enough of me. The feeling is mutual.

Farmer Jon(athan)

2009-10-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

Finally! Farm fresh eggs! We think only one of the chickens ("Champ") is laying right now. (Dont ask me why we have given our hens "boy" names and call them he.) We love going out to search for the eggs. So far Jonathan has been hoarding and eating them all, after all- they are his present. (BEST present ever! Right honey?)

Ben Walking

2009-09-15T21:18:00.000-07:00

Of course this is BIG NEWS at our house!
Ben boy took his first steps and surprised us all. He is tickled about it and while we don't know when he will actually be walking, we already know that for him, slow and steady wins the race. And we are all cheering him on! Go Ben!

Count your blessings

2009-09-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

So after being overwhelmed this week- thought I would go back and think about all the little things that have happened to help us stay sane (that may be up for interpretation) and get through this rough patch.

Last Friday when Ben was collapsing- the last time he did it was in the ER and I just "happened" to be on the phone at the time with our ENT. The resident was supposed to call but instead Dr Senders took the time to call me. He heard the whole thing and I cant help but think maybe that helped Ben get on the surgery list as quickly as he did, or at least that episode helped the doctors see what was going on instead of guessing by my explanation.
(I also have to remember the blessing of Jeanette Harrison- she is the clinical specialist that works with Dr Senders and is our "go to" person whenever things get crazy- I had called her from home that morning and she is the one who got the ball rolling with Dr Senders. Thank you Jeanette- we love you!)

Perspective of a 9 year old-
Scott (just home from school) "hey mom I learned that your most important organs are your heart and your brain"

Me- "yep thats right"

"so if you had to injure one which would you choose?"

"hmmm, that is a hard one! I dont know"

"You should choose your brain- cause if you have some brain damage you'd just be like Ben and that'd be fine- but if you hurt your heart you could die"

Wednesday (today) is the only weekday this week we dont have a nurse to help with Ty- so I am at home and not able to be at the hospital yet- Of all the days for Ben to be sedated this week this is the one. Jonathan is able to work a little and Ben is sleeping through it all. We couldn't have scheduled it better if we had tried.

That reminds me of another blessing- Jonathans job- he is able to work from the hospital when he has too and his bosses Mel and Scot are simply fabulous. Instead of complaining about Jonathan's spending time at the hospital they ask him WHY he is at work! (of course when he is at office Jonathan's hard work makes up for his time away I am sure- hey another blessing- hard working husband!)

FRIENDS
that make sure I have all the help I need and don't feel alone- what a huge blessing- Jack has more requests for play dates than he has days in the week. Thanks friends!

Just Because

2009-08-08T23:40:00.000-07:00

Oh my..... I get the whole jar????? Ty is SOOOOO happy with any taste of food!

So brave- Ben is showing off his IV from his last hospital stay- once it was in it didn't seem to bother him. (the getting it in... not so fun!)

Can YOU do this?

SHASTA (almost)

2009-08-08T23:17:00.001-07:00

Jonathan took the kids to our family reunion (Gambee side) which usually takes place in Oregon at Loon Lake- but this year we tried something new (thanks Aunt Sarah!) and went to Lake Syskiyou which is near Lake Shasta. The kids helped pay for their own fishing poles because they really wanted to learn how to fish! Each of the kids caught a fish. Now we need to teach them how to prepare and eat the fish. They gave them to Grandpa Jack, we are not sure what he did with them....
They also had quite the adventure on the Lake when the boat died (now renamed "Old Reliable") and Jonathan had to swim, drag it for two hours till it finally started. The kids said their prayers were answered cause the boat started just when it started to get too dark to see anymore. Overall they had such a great time with their cousins.

Way to go Jonathan- taking the kids camping by yourself for 3 days!!!! We were missing you guys here at home!

COUSINS!

2009-08-08T23:10:00.000-07:00

We were so lucky to have Mimi, Aunt Louise and cousins Clark, Elizabeth and Will come visit for a couple days. We had so much fun, one of the highlights was visiting the State Capitol and going on a little tour- actually pretty interesting, and timely since our fourth graders will be getting into this at school.
Gov. Arnold bought the bear in the picture for the children who come to take pictures in front of his office.

Evil doers beware!

2009-08-06T22:50:00.001-07:00

Does someone have four brothers?

Truely Inspiring

2009-08-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

A friend sent me the link to this guys videos and they are amazing.
Had to post it for anyone who might be interested in watching some really inspiring short videos.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=davidkat99&view=videos

The first one ("Sea of Faith") on his page is about "preparedness" and this is the background he gave on the video:

"There was only one time in history, where men were given in marriage to men, and women given in marriage to women. Want to venture a guess as to when? No, it wasnt in Sodom and Gomorrah, although that was my guess. Homosexuality was rampant there, of course, but according to the Talmud, not homosexual marriage. What about ancient Greece? Rome? No. Babylon? No again. The one time in history when homosexual marriage was practiced was during the days of Noah. And according to Satinover, thats what the Babylonian Talmud attributes as the final straw that led to the Flood. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.ph...

"The generation of Noah was condemned to eradication by the flood because they had sunk so low morally, that, according to Midrashic teaching, they wrote our formal marriage contracts for sodomy and buggery--" Leviticus Rabbah 18:13. Quote from "Jewish Bioethics," Dr. Fred Rosner and Rabbi David Bleich, Ktav Publishing House, Israel, December 1999, page 219:

Now, the video is not about same sex marriage, but is interesting that we are experiencing all of the same things that happened in the days of Noah. Samesex marriage laws have been passed recently in Connecticut and Iowa. Vermont and Maine will honor same-sex marriage in September and New Hampshire in January 2010. but rather about the need we have to prepare both spiritually and temporally for what is to come.

But as it was in the days of Noah, so it shall be also at the coming of the Son of Man; For it shall be with them, as it was in the days which were before the flood; for until the day that Noah entered into the ark they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage; And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. JST Matthew 41-43.

Now this video is NOT about same sex marriage, but rather about the need we have to prepare both spiritually and temporally for what is to come."

Total Cheese (but true)

2009-07-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

Jonathan found this song and I love it -
I wanted to post the words because they fit so perfectly what I want to say to him. I know I'm so lucky to be in love with my best friend. Cant imagine life with out him!

(from the group Plain White T's)

give me more lovin then i've ever had.
make it all better when i'm feelin sad.
tell me that i'm special even when i know i'm not.
make me feel good when i hurt so bad.
barely gettin mad,
im so glad i found you.
i love bein around you.
you make it easy,
as easy as 1 2,(1 2 3 4.)

theres only one thing two do three words four you.
i love you.
theres only one way two say those three words
and that's what i'll do.
i love you.

give me more lovin from the very start.
piece me back together when i fall apart.
tell me things you never even tell your closest friends.
make me feel good when i hurt so bad.
best friend i've had.
im so glad that i found you.
i love bein around you.
you make it easy as easy as 1,2,(1 2 3 4.)

theres only one thing two do three words four you.
i love you.
theres only one way two say those three words
and that's what i'll do.
i love you.i love you
(i love you)

Busy Summer!

2009-07-16T16:40:00.001-07:00

Since we have been so slow at blogging I just wanted to post some pictures from this spring and summer.......Ben is SUCH a happy boy- cannont be unhappy around that kid, he is learning to walk and uses his walker really well- Jack learned to ride a bike- Ty was at UCDavis (home away from home) a couple times for his colds- but not as much as last year since we now have Oxygen at home which has been great. And of course we always look forward to Jonathan's yummy conference doughnuts. Kids have loved tubing and skiing on "Yellow Fever" (aka Big Bird)and swim team is definitely keeping us busy.

Chicken Farmers

2009-07-15T19:54:00.000-07:00

Jonathan got 3 chicks for his birthday in May which he was NOT thrilled about- but he warmed to the idea, (after all, eggs are his favorite food,) bought 2 more chicks and built the most fabulous chicken coop! Complete with roosting bar, nesting boxes, doors, windows, - I am so impressed, our chickens are living in style. I knew Jonathan was handy but this was way better than I could have asked for. The kids have loved the chickens, they let them out everyday and play with them, who would have thought? They can tell them apart with out giving it even a thought- let's see there is "Champ, Jed, Roxy, Midnight and Carmel." (hmm, maybe its not such a good idea to name the livestock....) Its great responsibility for them and we are looking forward to free range eggs in October!

Happy Birthday to me

2009-07-15T19:22:00.001-07:00

Ty turned 1 on the 13th and we seriously cannot believe it! This last year has flown. I remember the little newborn he was so vividly and now he is the biggest fat lump of sweet love. (Ok, he is still below 10th percentile but to us he is SO big now.) His little pleased smile just melts us- he works so hard with a serious face to put the lids on things and when he gets it, he immediately grins this contented, pleased smile that just melts us. We did not have cake, we chose instead to have snowcones and ice-cream since Ty can have some of those!

The last few times we tried the "passez muir" valve over his trach (it allows him to breathe in through the trach, but not out, he has to breathe out of his mouth and this allows vocalization) it did not go well- it was really hard for him and he would cough so hard it would just pop off. So it has been a long time since I have tried it. I decided to try it for his birthday (a present for ME really) and we were shocked- he did SO well! We could not believe it, you can tell it takes a little getting used to still- he kind of holds his breath sometimes before forcing it out- but he has been wearing it all day today which is huge. Usually kids with trachs have to build up to that over a period of weeks. (!!!!!!! good boy Ty!)

We are discovering he may be a bit of a whiner or maybe he just likes to hear his voice- he sounds like a whale- I will try to put a short video on . It is so cute. Lots and lots of little voice now and we love it. First time we have ever heard him laugh and hearing him cry... i love it! (does that make me a mean mom?) Losing his voice was the saddest thing to me almost about a trach- so happy he has found it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYBO!

Favorite Toy

2009-07-05T16:39:00.000-07:00

Ty loves his feeding tubes and is almost always holding one. This is the pose we see him in the most- he will be happily playing on the floor but the second he sees one of us...... PLEASE pick me up!