Swensen Sentral

(PICS AREN'T WORKING RIGHT NOW, SO I'LL UPLOAD SOME LATER) We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We stayed home in Boston and enjoyed Christmas as a small little family of our own. On Christmas Eve we took the kids to see Christmas lights (a tradition in my family growing up), and Santa must have thought they were good this year because he visited our house and brought Chase exactly what he asked for, a Transformer. Amelie got what she wanted too (with a little prodding from mom & dad), a baby doll. Both were happy and excited about their Santa gifts. Dad got an iPhone, something he's been drooling over since they came out, and I got......A PIANO! Totally unexpected, but wonderfully accepted. Our Christmas day activity was to go sledding, and boy was it fun! We went last year but Chase doesn't remember, so it was his first experience and he loved it! He got a big smile on his face and said AGAIN! Hope your Christmas was as Merry as ours! We love you all!

Chase just said the funniest thing, so I had to write it down somewhere. He's watching an old Looney Tunes DVD that we checked out from the library. You know, the classic Bugs Bunny, and Tweety Bird and stuff. Anyway, there's a part on there where this bad guy is trying to kill Bugs Bunny and he keeps saying "shut up". Rick and I picked up on this and looked at each other, not sure whether to turn it off or let it go. So Rick decides to do the following. He says, "Hey Chase, I don't like this movie. They're saying bad things. How about we watch a different one. Like Transformers (the cartoon version)." Chase's response: "Daddy, how about you go work in your car if you don't like this movie so I can stay in here and watch it." Hahahaha! I'm cracking up. Rick and I looked at each other and figured that was a pretty good answer.

I just thought I would let you all know the good news........WE HAVE NO NEWS!!! Yeah that's why I haven't posted in a while. Luckily, we've had no more bumps, bruises, cuts, or trips to the hospital. We are enjoying our unexciting, extremely ordinary life right now. Woohoo! Chase did say something cute today. He told me that he thinks he should get some superheros (you know the figurines to play with?). I told him he should keep that in mind and ask Santa Claus to bring him some for Christmas. Later in the day, we were driving and he was contemplating in the back seat. Then he randomly said to me, "Mom, I was just dreaming about those superheros he's going to bring me when it snows." I thought it was so cute, the "I was just dreaming" part, so abstract for a 3 year old. Ok now that I told something about Chase, I need to add a quick story about Amelie. I caught her playing with her baby doll all by herself, holding her tight on her shoulder...

"You're Fired!" I felt like I was going to hear those words today at church! I don't think parents can get fired, but if you take a look at our kids (physical appearance) you might see how I'd feel this way. Between Chase being in the hospital for this...getting stitches for that....and Amelie thinking she's indestructible, we're a pretty sad lot at the moment. ~Rick

Amelie is constantly jumping off of things and she is addicted to climbing. She's more active than I think Chase was at this age. The only problem with this is........her poor face!!! She is getting bumps and bruises all the time. Today during Sacrament meeting she jumped off Amber's lap and hit her eye on the hymn book holder on the bench in front of us. She came away with a nice black eye. Do you think this would inhibit her enthusiasm for her next brush with death? Of course not! She wanted to climb the stairs right after church and jump some more. So to all who may worry we beat our children, we do love them.....we are trying to keep them out of trouble ....but we can't make any promises as to their physical appearances when they get older at this rate. ~Rick

Yes, so Chase just can't seem to stay away from that hospital. We have now made 5 visits to the ER in the last 5 1/2 months, and 5 overnight stays. Can anyone beat that? I hope not. When they said kids were expensive, we had NO idea. (so tired after a long painful night) So a week ago Friday night, Chase had another episode of Intussusception. For anyone who doesn't remember from the last time he had it, back in May, it is a medical condition in which a part of the small intestine slides into another section of intestine, similar to the way in which a collapsible telescope slides into itself. It blocks passage in the intestine and is very painful. If it is not corrected quickly, the tissue can start to lose blood circulation and eventually die, causing a SERIOUS problem. Anyway, luckily this time we found it early since we've already gone through this once. (watching movies, keeping George close) So went straight to the ER, did the routine X-ray and Ultrasound, go...

On our way back from DC, Rick surprised me with tickets to Phantom of the Opera in New York City! It was a total surprise! While we were getting ready to leave DC, he asked me to look in the trunk for one of his books. When I opened the trunk, right there on top of the luggage lay a perfect red rose with a black ribbon tied around it and this message. I'm embarrassed to say this, but I cried. Seriously. I didn't even cry when he proposed. Can you believe it? It's because I had told him in the past that it was one of my dreams to one day see this musical. Isn't he the sweetest? He's always making my dreams come true. I love you babe. (sorry I didn't get a picture before the rose died)

So Chase got to have his stitches taken out yesterday. He was pretty excited. He was so brave and didn't even cry this time. On the way home from the doctor's office, we had to stop by Gabe's house to show him the "no stitches" Chase (and also pick up Amelie). As I said in my last post, boys will be boys, and Chase certainly didn't let a cut to the head stop him from playing rough. I don't know how he did it, but he bumped his head AGAIN while playing and SPLIT open half of his cut. Aaagggghhhh! I called his doctor immediately who told me to take him back to the ER for possibly more stitches. Aaaaggghhh! I pleaded with him not to make me go back to that dreadful place again and reluctantly, he said to come back to his office. It turns out Rick was home from work by this time and took over since he could see I was losing it. He took Chase back to the doctor who GLUED his wound SHUT! Now we have a "no running, no jumping rule, no anything rough...

So Chase decided that 3 ER visits this year just wasn't enough, so he decided to go for #4. Last Wednesday, he decided it would be fun to try on some really cool Lightning McQueen rainboots, and then run down the aisle in them. Sure enough, he fell and hit his head on the corner of a metal shelf and sliced it open. Conveniently, this took place one hour after I dropped Rick off at the airport, so I had to go it alone. I smacked a diaper on his bleeding head, laid him in the carriage, threw everything I hadn't purchased out of the carraige, picked Amelie up off the floor who was in the middle of trying on her own cool spiderman tennis shoes, and raced out the door, only to realize after I was halfway to my car that Chase was still wearing the Lightning McQueen rainboots. So I did a U-turn and ran back inside to drop off the boots at customer service. While I was already there I decided to ask for a First Aid kit since I knew Chase wouldn't hold that diaper on his head al...

Over Labor Day we took a trip to see DC for the first time. We stayed with our good friends the Hulings and saw as much as 2 families can see with 5 young kids. Mount Vernon~ George Washington's house, estate, and farm land. Checking out the view from Pres. Washington's back porch. Our wonderful men pushing the children. Wax replica of General Washington accepting his election to Presidency. Washington's tomb. Washington Monument -erected as a Memorial to our first president, George Washington Wandering away while waiting to go up to the top of the monument. At the top!!!!!! World War II Memorial ~Can you see which states are right next to each other? Lincoln Memorial ~built as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln The view from Lincoln Memorial of the Washington Monument. Tickle Time !!!!!! There's always time for laughing. The White House "Let us in!!!" How can they say no to these cute faces? After walking for so long, we took a rest on the grass. Amelie wanted ...