Kail's injury

For those who have not heard or don't know much, last Thursday, the 28th, Kail broke his left radius. If you don't know what that is, it's one of the two bone in the forearm. We took him to the Instacare clinic where they took x-rays and confirmed that he broke his arm and that the bone was bent. The doctor there splinted his arm, gave his some Motrin and told us to follow up with our primary care doctor within the next few days. The problem with that is that the doctor at the Instacare clinic didn't set Kail's bone. He gave the excuse that Kail would probably need anesthesia for the procedure of setting it.

So I took him to a doctor the next day who is now our primary care physician. He reviewed the x-rays from the night before, looked at Kail's arm outside of the splint, and set it right then and there. He didn't warn either of us, he didn't ask, he didn't even blink when he grabbed Kail's arm. He just grabbed Kail's arm right out of the splint, tugged on his hand a little and squeezed Kail's arm where the break is to set it back. Kail cried his little heart out, but he was a champ. He didn't fight or kick, he just let the doctor do what he needed to do.

After the doctor set his arm, they splinted it again and gave him some sticky wrapping stuff that they usually use when blood is taken around the splint to make it look cool and because he was so good. That's what's on his arm in the picture above. Jason and I are not happy with the doctor from the Instacare clinic. It's basically a sign of laziness.

Today we took Kail in for his cast. He's doing really well. The bone was at a 22 degree angle when it was first broken and is now set at a 17 degree angle. The doctor said that they don't do anything to a broken bone that has an angle less than 20 degrees because it will heal correctly on its on. We go back in 3 weeks to have this cast taken off and a cast that will cover just his forearm put on. Today he was much happier with the doctor. There was no squeezing of his arm and the cast went on fast and painlessly.

Paramedic decision

I received the decision in the mail this week, but only got it today because of being out of town for my brother-in-law's wedding. I was placed on the wait list. This at least tells me that I did well enough in the tests that I didn't fail anything. There were probably close to 75 people who applied, if not more, and there are only 20 spots in the program. I had a few things working against me. I have not gone through the fire academy yet and I have no real world experience. If I am unable to secure a spot from the wait list in the spring, I will be working on the real world experience as well as doing all I can to attend the fire academy in the summer and do more preparation such as, more cardiac rhythms and medications, to help my application for the paramedic program next year. I will let all know if there are any changes.

Paramedic application update

Okay, I called the school back and will be doing my interview and skills test on the 20th. I may have to miss Chris' wedding, but this is an important step in my family's and my future. I have a written test I also need to take before the 15th, so I will be doing that as well. I sure hope I get in the program. The skills test is a tough one. I will have to carry 2 40lb bags down then up a flight of stairs, put them down, then drag a 165lb dummy down and up the stairs. Then I will have to put some nuts and bolts together and do some math problems. I'm tired just thinking about it, but I'm hoping that I won't fail on the dummy part. He's a heavy one. If they do not accept my application, I will know that it is not for lack of trying.

August and September

August and September were busy months. We moved at the end of August as I wrote in my last blog and this time I have pictures.

Front yard


Back yard. The kids have so much fun here. It's huge!



Our living room. We love our new couches.


My fridge finally gets to be inside and we bought a new stove because the other one was breaking.


This is the computer/kids' tv room. They spend a lot of time in here watching tv.


The boys' very untidy beds in their bedroom


This is Stacey's very untidy bed. She loves having her own room.


Our bed is almost dwarfed in our bedroom. We also have a huge walk-in closet and our own bathroom with a jetted tub.


One thing I've not told most of you is that Stacey was baptized on Saturday, September 26th. If I didn't tell you before, I'm sorry. It was extremely short notice as we had to kind of force our records to our new ward and get her in to see the bishop. Jason baptized her and she said the water was freezing. She stood on her tiptoes for a while when she first got into the water. Jason confirmed her on Sunday in our sacrament meeting, so now she is a full fledged member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Otherwise, we have been enjoying the new house. The kids are well settled in at home, church and school. I am now only 3 minutes away from the emergency services campus of school and I'm taking EMT Intermediate. I'm really enjoying it. We've done IV's which were not all that different from blood drawing and we will soon learn how to put tubes in people's throats. I'm excited. I've turned in my application for the paramedic program and I'm praying hard that they will accept me.
Jason is enjoying his job. The company is growing quickly, so there are days when he has to go next door and get Travis to calm down because he gets way too stressed about the fact that they are going so quickly and having a difficult time keeping up with the demand.

The Move

I'm sorry I'm a little late to announce our move. We signed the lease and started to move on August 21. We have a house with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. We live in Provo now. I am only about 2 minutes away from the building I go to for school, which is quite nice for me. Stacey and Jayden have the Gollahers next door to walk to school with. They started school on Tuesday last week and have so far enjoyed it. I've been unpacking, organizing, and cleaning all week. We are mostly moved in except the few things left at my Mom's that I still need to pick up. We're almost done. It's been a long, tiring process and I have to admit that it's been wonderful to have our own space, even if it means finding out that we have entirely too many toys.
Stacey is very excited to finally have her own room. The boys are still sharing, but they don't seem to mind it. Kail loves the big, fenced back yard that he can go in whenever he wants. He also has the youngest Gollaher, Ashton to play with too. I don't have any pictures yet, but if anyone wants them, just let me know.

Family fun with the Gollahers

Yesterday we went to Hogle Zoo and Millcreek canyon with our good family friends the Gollahers (pronounced Golliers). It was a fairly nice day. Temps were in the upper 80's and there was very little breeze, which would have helped with the heat when we were outside in the blazing sun all day. The kids had a lot of fun together. We even got to be there for the baby elephant, Zuri's birthday celebration.

Jayden is waiting patiently on Jason's shoulders for Zuri to come out from her bath.

We stood and watched her play for a good 10 minutes.

Then the kids went on the carousel. Kail was not too pleased to be on there, but he went with Jason.

Trevin (Gollaher) and Stacey having some fun.

Kail's grumpy look.

Trevin, Jayden, Braden, Jason and Kail looking at lizards, snakes, turtles, and spiders.

They have a train ride at Hogle Zoo where we got to see buffalo and some other animals they don't have a walking path to. They were pretty. That's Travis' excited smile.

After the train, we went and had some very yummy lunch at Rubio's Mexican Grill. The kids enjoyed it as well. Even the youngest Gollaher made a very big mess. Then it was off to Smith's for some hot dogs and s'more makings and on to the canyon. We drove as far up as we could before we had to turn around and were able to find an empty picnic area.

This was a very pretty picture of a mountain from the parking lot in Millcreek canyon.

Trevin, Braden, Jayden and Kail actually stopping for a moment to get a picture.

We were right next to the creek and the kids had a blast playing in the very cold water just at the edge. Stacey ventured once or twice, but that was enough for her.

Summer semester

Well, today was officially my last day for the summer semester. I had a total for 4 classes; physiology, fire behavior and combustion, personal health and wellness, and emergency services capstone. I finished physiology back in June and got a C in that class. Today I took my final for my health class and got a 92%, without studying! So, for that class I'll probably be looking at an A- for a final grade. Yesterday I wrote a 10 page paper for my capstone on code of ethics and got my grade this morning, 100%! I was so excited. I will probably get an A in that class as well. The only other class I am wondering about is my fire behavior and combustion grades. I've done everything that needed to be done, but the instructor has only graded 4 assignments since the beginning of the semester in May, so I have no idea what I'll be getting in that class.
I'm really excited to have done so well in my classes and just wanted to share it with everyone else.