Day 2: Baby Beach and Lighthouse Walk

 Day 2: We woke and headed straight to the Parkinson's place where Emily and Lily were surprised to see Hazel walking around outside.  While adults got organize and the little jumped for joy at being together,  Marley went to work opening up a coconut Laurie had found on the beach.  Greg said it looked kind of old but Marley made quick work of opening it and releasing an absolutely foul smell, a smell so powerful that we were able to smell it outside their place the duration of our trip.  Everyone was happy to leave the smell behind and begin our adventure.  We had a bit of a drive to get to Hanauma Bay for snorkling.  Along the way Greg made Andrew's week by spotting this Monk Seal on the beach but the drive went downhill from there.  We had long traffic delays taking way more time than anticipated, which unfortunately, meant Hanauma Bay was full for the day and we couldn't get in - so sad.  That was our first snorkle failure.

So we stopped and ate lunch at this beautiful viewpoint on the side of the road and created plan B.

Beth drove the older girls to take in a few sights and grab these delectible yummies which I endulged in numberous times over the week; oh yes, malasadas.

This beach was so fun for the little kids; it was shallow with almost no surf.  So shallow that it was impossible to swim in.  Natali, Greg, and I walked at least half a mile toward the ocean hoping for deepth and snorkling options but it never got above my waist.  We did manage to get deep enough to snorkle a little and swim a bit but it wasn't worth it and we walked back.  At least the walk through the water gave us a good thigh workout.  

The boys quickly tired of the shallow water of Melli, renamed Baby, Beach and were scheming ways to get to Panda Express.   I send them on their wondering way while I thoroughly enjoyed my book.  We soon realized everyone was hungry so Greg and his sisters headed to Costco to get supplies for the week and pizza for dinner.  They also picked up the hungry wondering boys.

We had to drag the littles out of the water to eat pizza and head to the car.  We gathered all the gear but when we got to the car we found that the road was blocked for a Chinese New Year Lion Dance.  We couldn't leave so we just set back and enjoyed the show, complete with dancers, drums, and fireworks.  Laurie, Beth and the boys were trapped on the other side of the display so when it was all done we had to find each other and get situated for the long drive home - or so we thought.

We'd been in the car about 15 minutes when Laurie called and said she stopped to do the lighthouse walk but we'd need to hurry because they closed the gate at sundown.  Off we went on another adventure.  The hike was a bit less glorious because the sun was nearly set and it was getting dark quickly but it was lovely to get a bit of excercise and see what we could of the views.  We ran into Brett headed back down the trail-  to park his car outside the gate so he wouldn't be locked in.  With that realization Greg turned back with him to repark Beth and our cars.  The kids, Beth and I continued our journey. The kids proptly turned around when we caught up with Laurie but Beth, Nat and I made it to the top.  We learned that the boys, the first to the top, saw whales on their way up.  So cool.  

We got all the exhausted little bodies home and put them to bed so we would be ready for more adventure tomorrow.

To Hawaii - Travel and Day 1: Cousin Surprise, Pearl Harbor and Dole Whip

 Laurie was house swapping with some friends in Hawaii and she invited us to join.  Greg in his travel deprived state said yes.  We bought tickets and tried to keep it a secret from the littles.  The plan was to wake them up the morning of and have them figure out where we were going on the way but those plans were foiled.  Emmy overheard Natali mention our trip on a Marco Polo a few days before but Emily promised not to tell Lily.  In order to travel to Hawaii we had to have negative covid test results.  72 hours before our flight we were tested.  When the results were emailed Greg ran upstairs and said,"Guess who's going to Hawaii?" right to Lily and I while she was getting ready for ballet.  She looked at him with a question in her eye as he realized his slip.  It all came out.  She was so excited and we did manage not to slip that we would be meeting cousins over there.

We were up around 4:45am to get on our flight to SLC for our 5 hour layover.  Thankfully, Natali crossed our path while we were there- a wonderful distraction and chat.

Greg and Lily got a nice view of Oahu as we landed.  These pics were fun to look at when we got home to identify some of the places we had been.

By the time we landed, got through Covid screening, rode to the rental place, got a van, a bunch of KFC and got to the hotel the kids were exhausted and went to bed.  Greg went right back to the airport to pick up Beth and her kids, got to lay down for about 20 minutes then went back to get Natali.  It made for a long day and short night (especially for Greg) but we all made it.  

The next morning Beth and her kids knocked on our door.  Emily and Lily were so surprised to see Piper and Gus standing there.  Excited to be together, we all headed to check out Wikiki Beach.  We had to do a little maneuvering through hotels and over walls but we eventually got to the beach.  It wasn't long before the kids were soaked; there is something magical about the beach wither you have clothes on or not you get sucked in.

We headed back to our hotel, grabbning breakfast on the way, so we could get to Pearl Harbor on time.

February 12th was my parents 50th wedding anniversary and as part of their gift all of the kids, spouces, and grandkids (49 in total) shared a memory about mom and dad.  It was just the kids on the phone, conveying these stories.  I called in and just enjoyed listening as we traveled.  It was wonderful to hear all the different ways we love and appreciate my parents.  I am so grateful to have them in my life.  It was a special call.  But enventually, I had to hang up so I could experience the Arizona.  

It was humbling to gain the scope of the attack and to learn more details about the battle and the lives lost.

The boat is still leaking oil; little amounts drip out each day.  It was interesting to put into perspective how that battle is still impacting the world today.

Sadly, this may be the only photo all together from the whole trip.  By the end of our Arizona tour and wondering around the museums we were all hot, sweaty and hungry.  

We managed to find a lunch spot that made everyone happy.  So happy in fact, that Mack requested to go back nearly everytime we ate lunch.  I guess the street tacos were that good.  While we ate we discussed how to spend the next hour or two before we could go to our place.  Beth was inspired to read the fine print on the Dole Plantation website - free admission to the garden where you can see pineapples growing.  We promised the kids Dole Whip and we were on our way.

I learned so much about growing pinapples and had convinced myself to try it when I got home until I thought it all through and realized a pot large enough was unrealistic indoors.  The kids loved finding lizards, Natali loved learning about the plants and Greg called Grandma to tell about when she worked there long ago.  The pineapple plant takes 22-18 months to produce one pineapple - wow right?  It takes another 12 months to produce the second pinapple.  After that the fruit produced gets smaller each harvest so one plant rarely produces more that 2 or 3 pinapples.

Everyone's favorite part was the Dole whip.  Shareing one wasn't enough so the boys bought a second with their own money.  So good.  Emily, of course, didn't want Whip so she got a bag of taffy - also quite yummy.  We enjoyed the fun, informative and oh so yummy, pineapple cutting demo as well.  

From there we grabbed some groceries and checked into our place.  We explored a nearby beach where Andrew went eploring and thought he could swim back but cut on his hand on some coral and needed me to rescue him. He was worried about stepping on sea urchin -I didn't think they were sea urchin but he didn't want to risk finding out while he was barefoot and I am no expert so I brought him some shoes and helped get him back to shore. We made a quick dinner and everyone fell into bed exhausted. 

Another Quarantine Birthday

Since Andrew tested positive for Covid we were all in quarantine on Lily's bday.  So she got to share the joy of quarantine bdays like her spring siblings - we let her pick five things as queen for the day.  Her first and second pick was to eat almond rolls for breakfast while watching a movie.  No one complained about that (although we did have to take breaks when live class time overlapped with the movie).  

Her next pick was to open her presents in the morning since dad was working from home.  He had a break at 10 so she dove right in.

New swim suit and some supper warm leggings.

Adorable stuffies from Mack - Groot has been especially loved.

Her own scriptures! Beautiful homemade doll clothes from Grandma Dame, doll stuff from Kate, a kitty stuffy from Emily, craft pom poms from Andrew and a fairy doll from Libby.

Lily recieved cake inspiration by merging several internet ideas into this master piece.  I loved that it was so simple yet adorable.

These weird fake desserts were from Val - the kids loved messing around with them.

She also chose to have screen time to play games on her computer and she opened one present early - a game called Camel Up which is really fun for all of us to play becuase anyone can win.

This is her Valentine box for school - so cute right?  We got really good at tissue flowers.

Lily keeps us all laughing and smiling.  She may be 8 but we all still treat her like our baby - I guess she will always be the youngest and have all the extra love that goes with that.  Our house wouldn't be the same without her snuggles and smiles.

Appendectomy

Thursday morning, the 28th, Andrew texted me from school saying his stomach hurt.  We texted back and forth for over an hour- trying water, going potty, time, nurse, heating pad...I finally went and got him around 10:00.  He laid on the couch uncomfortable while I went about my day.  He hardly ate anything for lunch, and wouldn't even watch tv becasue it hurt so bad.  The pain got worse and worse.  By 6:00 pm he was in enough pain that it hurt to move at all.  He had hardly eatten a thing and he was shaking with chills.    I contacted the health joy app and while waiting for them to call me back I started looking up appendicitis. 

Quick care closes at 8 so we just decided to take him in.  Greg gave him a blessing and he had an uncomfortable ride to Quick Care.  We hobbled in.  Andrew unable to sit just laid on the floor.  The receptionist immediately called the nurse.  The doctor saw us quickly; a few questions and a light push on Andrew's appendix sealed the deal.  We were off to the Hospital.

He hated the drive and could barley walk in.  They got him a wheel chair.  At this point he was shaking in pain and really struggling.  He was admitted and started the ER process.  Urine sample, doc eval, IV, Covid test, blood samples, questions, pain meds, ultrasound... We were really grateful when the pain meds finally kicked in.  This first pic is before and the second is after.  He had totally shut down, no talking, blood shot eyes, shivering, moaning, and then suddenly he started asking questions, talking to all the nurses - such a relief.  Then the news came- needs the appendix out, can't do it at this hospital because he is a pediatric patient, gets to ride in an ambulance and positive Covid test!

Totally shocked by the Covid results.  No symptoms but it definitely threw a wrench in everything.  We got to the hospital around 8:00 and Andrew finally got in the ambulance a bit after 12:00 am.  I drove to Boise and met Andrew there.  They pumped him full of antibiotics and took him back for surgery around 1:00.  I waited and read my book, and waited and waited.  So tired but unable to sleep.  Finally at 3:00 the surgeon came and said all went well.  The appendix was gangrenous, which is the step before rupture, so he needed to stay 24 hours and take more anitbiotics.  30 minutes later they took me to him.  He was still pretty out of it, but even half asleep he told all the nurses thank you when they moved him around.  It took a while to get him settled in the Covid wing of the hospital, answer all the nurses questions and get myself ready to sleep.  It was 4:30 am and I was exhausted.  Annoying alarms got me out of bed several times before they woke us at 7:00 am for breakfast (why so early?!).  Andrew woke right up ready to face the day.  He contacted friends and I read while we waited for the doc.  Then his phone died and we borrowed an iPad.  We watched tv while we waited for the doc.  Then the nurse told us the doc would come soon but we should plan on staying another night so Greg brought us some supplies and I wished I was napping but we were still waiting for the doc.  Dinner ordered, phones charging, teeth brushed, when at 3:00 pm the doc finally came and told us we could go home- what a pleasant surprise!  We were home by 5:00. 

We joke that Andrew got a very expensive spray tan becuase his whole stomach looks orange.  I'm amazed that they just took his appendix out of his belly button hole but he is worried that it will kind of be a half outtie now.  I slept for 12 hours Friday night.  We are all quarantined at least till next Monday.  So far no major symptoms.  He had a bit of a runny nose and I had a headache, but my test from yesterday came in negative so we will hope no one really gets sick.  It was a very crazy adventure full of twists and turns but I'm so grateful he isn't in pain anymore and we caught it before it ruptured.  His name on Among Us now is 'No Appendix'.  He is proud to be in the 10% of people without an appendix.