Ashlynn vs. the Fireplace...

Round 1 goes to the fireplace!

Daddy and Ashlynn!

Ashlynn and Daddy watching TV

Ashlynn right after they cleaned out the gash in her head.

The doctor gave Ashlynn the staple gun they used on her head. She had a blast getting the remaining staples in the little plastic thing.

The blanket the hospital gave Ashlynn for coming in...she also got to wear the gown home as well.

This morning...still sleeping.

You can see the staples...I didn't want to put a closer look for those of you who are squeemish.

She looked so cute in her hospital gown, I decided to take a picture this way so she wasn't all hanging out.

She has a little headache this morning (to be expected), other then that she is the same silly, cute, tough, amazing Ashlynn!

This is why kids should listen and go to bed when they are told. We told the girls goodnight, tucked them into bed and those sneaky little kids had something else on their minds. NOT GOING TO SLEEP! They decided it would be fun to bother Ember, so they ran up and down the hall, and when that got them tired and thirsty they came upstairs. This is when everything happened...

Ashlynn always comes up for one last drink of water. For some reason it HAS to be out of my water bottle. This time instead of being in my room it was on the kitchen table. Kenzie being all goofy decided she would hide the water bottle and put it out of Ashlynn's reach. Ashlynn as determined as can be, jumped for the bottle, missing it and not landing on her feet, landed her head right on the fireplace rocks. Donovan and I were in our room at the time when this took place. So he headed out to see what was going on and get the little ones back to bed. Ashlynn was grabbing her head (not crying at this point) as Donovan tried shewing her back downstairs. Ashlynn moved her hand and that is when she lost it...saw the blood and just went into panic mode. After getting dressed I came out, looked her over, placed a towel on her head and pressure. Called a friend to come sit with the older two and headed off to the E.R. It was now just a little after 10pm. We arrived at the Hospital and waited in the waiting room for 35 minutes, then moved into her room and waited for another 30 minutes! She was such a trooper! Once we had her calmed down at home she didn't cry at all the rest of the night. The nurse came in evaluated the site. Told Ashlynn that she needed to clean it and it wouldn't hurt, that it would just be cold. Amazing kid, she was getting her gash cleaned with soap and all she would say is "tickles, cold, tickles, cold." I would be screaming by now! The doctor FINALLY comes in, looks her over, did all the eye tests making sure there was no concussion and went on to say she was doing so well that he thought we would be able to put the staples in her head without any numbing! WHAT?!? To me this alone sounded painful. So, I opted not to give her the numbing and just have the doctor put the staples in. She did so good! Holy cow this girl is tough! The doctor had to put 3 staples in...she didn't cry, yell or scream once! She just sat there taking it! After that the doctor gave her the staple gun and let her pop all the staples into a little plastic thing. She had a blast.

The doctor was so surprised by the way she handled everything. He said that just before her there was a little boy that split his head open and was so uncontrollable it was hard to put the staples in. After the doctor left the nurse came back with a blanket for Ashlynn. So she now has a cool yellow blanket from her experience...they also let her come home in the gown! She loves it and thinks it way cool. I will take a couple pictures of her in it today...she looks so cute. Even though she is adorable in it, I don't want to do this again!

So that was our night in the E.R.

Timeline...10pm hit head...10:07pm out the door..10:15pm at the E.R...midnight home...

Update On My Dad...

Today is a good day! My Dad called to let me know that he was now home and feeling better. He sounded tired, but sounded good. It was reassuring hearing his voice on the other end of the phone. I am very happy that he is home and resting. I am also excited that he has decided to quit smoking! If he wouldn't have told me, I would have talked to him about it, and I know Janet and my Sister had the same thing in mind. This time even if he didn't want to he didn't have a choice in the matter, he HAD to quit.

I want to say is "Thank you for all the prayers and support". It was needed and felt and I am truly blessed to have all the support I have had. Thank you!

My Dad Had a Heart Attack This Morning...

My Dad and my niece.

My Dad and Janet

My Dad and the Dumb Puppies

MY DAD!!!

If today hasn't been hard enough, I received a call that I wasn't planning on today. My Dad's wife Janet called to let me know that my Dad had a heart attack this morning. Had open heart surgery, they were able to remove the blockage and he is in the ICU recovering. I haven't been able to get in touch with Janet since she left the voicemail so this is all I know at the moment.

I feel so bad right now...me being in the slump that I am because of my Mom's Birthday (taking it pretty hard) I have had a nasty sinus headache and I don't like answering the phone. I wish I had...my Dad tried calling me last night and then today Janet. Me being the way I am didn't answer. I sure wish I had. I would have been able to talk to him, at least before this. Anyway, I guess what I am trying to say is answer if some one calls. You never know what might happen.

Happy Birthday Mom...I Miss You and Love You...

 

Gramma Newman came down for Ember's 5th Birthday.

Ashlynn and Gramma. This was the last time we were up in Idaho visiting my Mom. 

June 2009. 

Donovan got this picture of her at Christmas a few months before she passed away. I'm so glad he did, this was the last time we saw her before she died.

I didn't realize how hard today was going to be. I am missing my Mom so much right now. I just wanted to post this for her Birthday today. I wish she knew how much I really loved her and still do.

I love you and miss you Mom, Happy Birthday! Today we are celebrating you!

Daddy Daughter Adventure with Jon and His Girls...

Cougar track outside of the mine entrance.



Cougar track over top the track Donovan left the week prior. No one else had been on that road since we hiked it. It is also dirty, which means the cougar came from inside the mine...creepy!

Donovan taking Ashlynn up to the mine entrance to see.

Reagan, Kenzie, Morgan, and Ashlynn. McGarry and Allphin Girls Adventure!

Donovan and Jon exploring the mine...yes, even with the cougar tracks Donovan went into the mine! Not smart since neither one had a gun with them!

Ember about to go off exploring!

The little snow bunnies again.

Ember waist deep in snow.

Girls over the frozen river.



I wasn't feeling well last Saturday so Donovan decided to take the Girls out for a Daddy Daughter adventure. He took them back out towards Ophir and Merkur to the mine that we had found the week before. This trip he invited his good friend Jon McGarry along. So Jon brought his two little girls while Brittany stayed home and rested as well. These are some of the pictures they took while on their little adventure. Looks like they had a lot of fun wish I could have gone...next time.

Ashlynn's Visit to the Allergy Specialist...

After 4 years of break outs, flare-ups and really bad eczema and finally having insurance I took Ashlynn to the Allergy Specialist. I am so proud of her. She was such a big girl! We sat there talking with the doc, she got 16 pricks all of them with no reaction where the prick sites were on her back...except for a little reaction to dog. Eventhough the reaction on her back was not there her eczema flared up even worse. So when the doc saw that he was really interested. Ashlynn had to have blood work done as one last thing. This will tell us how much histamine is in her system. Because of the reactions she has to milk and the reaction she had there at the office he prescribed her a epipen jr. So we will be avoiding milk, soy and peanut products from now on. The doc said that you never know when one allergic reaction could be the one you have to use the epipen on. I am hoping I will never have to use one on her. So they pricked her...Ashlynn's response...ow...ow...ow...tickles...ow...tickles...ow...ow. With this she had the nurse and I laughing. I told her that while she was going through this a mom should not be laughing but how could I not with the way she said ow. The nurse said the same thing...ow. They also drew blood and she was such a trooper. She sat in my lap, the nurses preped her and she just sat watching...didn't move, cry, say it hurt, she was a brave big girl! I couldn't be more proud!

She even got to pick out of the treasure box and she chose the teddy bear that had the same color bandage she had around her arm! She loves it. Says it's her best bear!

Next week is mommy's turn...will she be as brave? To be continued next week...

Bucks and Does Everywhere...

I have really loved living out here. With in 5 minutes from our house you are looking into the eyes of one of the most magnificent creatures. I have made it almost a nightly family adventure driving out to see about 20 head of deer grazing in the sage along the hill sides. We have had a lot of fun, out of the heard there are 4 bucks ranging from a little spike to this monstrous Buck that has 6 points on one side and 5 on the other. The girls have had a blast trying to see who can spot the deer first. I have to give all the credit to Ember for seeing this monster! She did a great job finding him and one other big one. I am hoping to get better pictures once the sun starts staying up a little longer. It has been difficult shooting in low light. This is a typical Allphin family night!

My Home...

For my family and friends that have been dying to see our new house...here you go! I have all the before and afters for you in the following posts.

Also, outside remodels will be done this spring...it got way to cold before I could do the updates I wanted to do.

Front Room Remodel...

Wallpaper that I spent HOURS removing!

Before tearing the wallpaper down.

In the process of tearing the wallpaper down. It was a big mess!

Lucky for me some of it came off in huge sheets! That was the fun part!

Having so much fun!

Loving this!

My friend patching up the ceiling where they took the bars out.

Texturing the walls after I made a huge mess of things...what I do best!

Ashlynn even got involved with the painting. She was a big help.

After!

I LOVE MY NEW FRONT ROOM!!!