Double Whammie!

Right after Thanksgiving, Tate started complaining about a stomach ache. This went on for several days and he started missing school and crying at night because his stomach hurt so bad. I took him in to get checked out and they ordered an abdominal x-ray. They also told me he was a classic case of gastro-esophogeal reflux. What??!! Heartburn? Then the doctor started naming off characteristics of people who have this. Kids who are overweight, kids who sit a lot, kids who drink a lot of soda and caffeine, kids who don't exercise, kids who were major spitters as babies, kids who have it in their genetic history. Ok so far NONE of them apply to Tate. He also said that he was really constipated so I dutifully put him on Prilosec and tried everything under the sun to make him as loose as possible. That proved not so easy as I thought it would be. After another 10 days of trying these things he still had a terrible stomach ache. I took him back in this time to our favorite doctor and he agreed with us- most likely not acid reflux. He thought it could be stress related and to see how he did after the Christmas holidays and he was able to relax. He also told me (knowing that I am Celiac) that we could get him tested if I wanted to or I could wait and see if it clears on it's own. He says he's ordered 100's of these tests and they all come back negative. But he did order another abdominal x-ray and it revealed that he was no longer plugged up. My worries of a positive celiac panel were rapidly rising. But I did wait till after Christmas because he did seem to start feeling better. But sure enough the stomach returned and just as bad as it always been. I finally realized I had better have him checked for Celiac Disease not realizing that Tate this whole time had been worried that it might be cancer. Poor thing. Here I was holding out because I was pretty sure it was celiac. I wasn't worried about it being anything else. I was also holding back because I know how hard it will be for him to have to miss out on the fun things to eat. You know - birthday parties, going out for pizza, etc. Sure enough his test came back positive. I'm the one who cried though- me, the one who has already been on a gluten-free diet for over a year. I am the one who cried and Tate simply said, "Mom, it's OK I'll be your celiac buddy!"

Oh but that's not all. . .

Then there is Joe. I have secretly suspected him to be celiac since about April or May. He has the worst burps and stinkers- they often smell like rotten egg. It's horrible:) He also often has a stomach ache. I have not said too much but just watched him and he usually seemed to bounce back pretty quick and then not complain. Well, since New Years Eve he has been complaining of stomach trouble also that would not go away. But I didn't drag my feet as long with him and took him in to get tested. And YUP- positive. Even though I was expecting a positive panel I was still shocked by his levels.

Joe's numbers were off the charts high!
IGA < 4 is normal Joe more than 100 they couldn't even graph it, Tate 14
IGG < 6 is normal Joe 98 Tate 56

So two more bite the dust. Now there are 3 of us Celiac Buddies:)

Pinewood Derby Time!

Not a lot of fan fare for derby time this year. We were all sick and the cars were started 2 days before. But they finished the highest rank they ever have before. Tate was inspired by Tim Tebow of the Broncos and Joe of course picked red hot FLAMES! The funniest part was the "everyone's a winner certificates" that said "The Sportiest" and "The Shiniest"!! What?!!! Next year we're down to one car. I can hardly believe it.

Merry Christmas!!

Ok so this year I was totally lame about taking pictures. I am so disappointed! But we had a great day anyway.

This year it was on a Sunday and I must say I wish it was on Sunday every year. We let the kids see what Santa brought and open their stockings and then we got ready for church. We only had Sacrament Meeting so it was short and sweet. But it was so lovely to be able to really feel the Spirit in the beginning of the day.

The boys have been wanting their own jar of cheese balls ever since the first Alvin and the Chipmunks. I finally relented. They are pretty nasty. I sooooo prefer Cheetoh's, especially Flamin Hot with lime. UMMMMMM!!!!

Amy in her dress up tutu from her Tater-tot!

Emma and Amy loving their Pillow Pets!!!

Amy even got jewelry from her cousin Kate!!

Jarom came for Christmas!

Jarom came the week before Christmas and we surprised the kids. I wish I had a picture of their faces when he walked in the door. They were beyond thrilled and couldn't belie it. They went to school on Tuesday but I pulled them Wednesday so they could play with Jarom. We got quite a bit of snow Wednesday and Thursday when he was here which always makes things so much more fun.

Jarom's trauma

On Thursday, (to enjoy the snow) we went over to the Goldsberry's. Everyone went sledding and messing around on the 4-wheelers. Jarom unfortunately had the misfortune of dislocating his shoulder while trying to snowboard behind the 4-wheeler.

He has pulled his shoulder out 4 times previously so he was telling Ted what to do to put it back in while they were still out in the snow. He was starting to go through shock so he brought him in to get warm. We borrowed a book from the neighbor that showed how to put a shoulder back in. So Carol and I got down to business while poor Jarom lay shivering on the ground trying to relax while these two novices yanked on his arm. I had my foot (legs extended) in his armpit and was pulling on his arm as hard as I could while Carol was pushing on his shoulder. We tried for probably over an hour. I was becoming exhausted. I could only imagine how Jarom was feeling. I was also starting to realize the gravity of the situation and did NOT want to take him to the ER as they were our only option at this point. I was praying so hard that we would be able to get it in. We decided we needed someone stronger (Ted had to go to a meeting.) so we called her husband Brad in to help. Now there are three people working on him who have no idea what they are doing. Brad had an ace up his sleeve though as he works with orthopedic surgeons. He started texting ones that he knew and asking their advice. Finally one texts back and says, "I'm in surgery with Dr. Behr, why don't you bring him in and Dr. Behr will set it for him." MIRACLE!! So they load him up and head down to the MCR where the doctor comes out of surgery, throws Jarom down on the ground in the staff room, puts his foot in his armpit, bends his arm at the elbow, yanks it out and rotates it up and in. Exactly what we were doing except without the strength:)

Best part of Christmas

On Friday before we had to take Jarom to the airport, he gave the kids their Christmas presents. Let's just say that we could have stopped there and not even had Christmas because there was no way they would get anything more COOL!! The boys each got a knife- like knife, as in cut your finger off knife. A real knife!- one that is Army Rangers issue, navy seal issue, and delta force issue. When Ti pulled his out I had flashbacks of Crocodile Dundee. "That's not a knife, that's a knife!" The girls received bracelets with their names on them.

THANK YOU JAROM FOR COMING TO SEE US!!!