Bracken's Farm Experiences

Bracken spent some time with Grandma and Grandpa while me and Lexi went on our date the other day. He had a great time driving the tractor around, although now he is going to want to drive it every time. He loves to go and get the eggs from the chicken coop, but there was a bit of a mishap today. When I got back he said, "Mom...roost get me." This is the reason Carli eats the roosters. Bracken now takes a stick with him when he feeds the chickens or gets the eggs...smart boy!

Date Night

Yesterday I took Lexi on a little date. It is her birthday next week and I thought she could use a little one-one-one time. We went and saw the move "Up" in 3-D and went to eat at Red Robin. It was a fun time. It was really fun to just be able to spend time with her.





Dinner at Red Robin
Cute litte Lexi with her balloon

Lexi at the movie theater

Me and Lexi with our oh-so-cute 3D glasses on.

Feeding the Horses

At least once every day (if not two or three or four times), Bracken will call my dad on the phone and every phone call starts the exact same way, "Grampa, you feed the horsies?" He is always checking to make sure his horses are fed. Well today I walked upstairs and this is what I found...





He says, "Mom I feed the horsies!"

Summer fun!!!!

It is no wonder I can't get any work done. After the 2 hour downpour today, I looked out the window and saw Lexi walking around in the mud in her white skirt. After convincing her to change before "swimming," here is what her and her friends did this afternoon.

Bracken testing out the water
The girls "swimming" like mermaids.
All the kids...
Lexi "surfing" on a rock.

The day ends with ice cream cones... YUM!!! (I guess it actually ended with some baths, but whatever!)

New Family Pictures

Me and the kids did some updated family pictures today. Here are just a few to start with...

Just a quick rant...

So I just have a quick complaint. In the past I have passed five kidney stones (3 on the left side and 2 on the right side). These are probably the five most unpleastant times of my entire life. They are horrible. When you are in the middle of passing a kidney stones I dare say you would rather die on the way to the hospital than have to wait to get there. Needless to say, it is the most painful thing I can ever imagine. I passed the first 4 when I was preganant with Lexi and the most recent one was last September. When you feel the pain come on it is the most panicky feeling ever, knowing that you can't stop the pain and shortly after my pain starts comes the violent vomiting. Again, not a pleasant time. Well since my last kidney stone my left kidney has been painful/sore on and off ever since. Well since last Saturday the discomfort has been constant, not the pain you get when you are passing the stone, but painful anyway. I held out making a doctor's appointment because since I am self employed my insurance SUCKS! But my sister made a good point that a doctor visit is much cheaper than an ER visit, so I broke down and thought I would go see what they have to say. I went into the office and the doctor walks in. Basically I tell him that I have a history of stones and my left kidney is achey. He immediately orders a CT scan. AHHHH!!!! Do you know how much those cost? Well I don't, but I am sure to find out very soon. So I go down for the CT scan and go back up to the doctor's office. He comes back in and says (and I quote), "Your left kidney looks fine, I'm not sure why it is hurting. There is a stone in the right kidney that you will pass at some point." THE END!!!! Roughly $1500 later I am told that he's not sure why my kidney has hurt for 9 months and there is another kidney stone/ER visit in my future. Well thanks doc! So frustrating!