The Wilhelmsen Botanical Blog

Monday was a pretty good day.  We went to a nearby park for a picnic lunch.  It was a little chilly because of the wind but Aiden really enjoyed running around in the big open space.  We also took advantage of the warm weather to fill Aiden’s sandbox with sand, which he enjoyed playing in later in the day.  In the evening I took the boys for a walk up the street to the elementary and let Aiden play on the playground.  He really liked that there were several different slides to go down and was even brave enough to climb a short height on the climbing structures.

Tuesday there was not much to report except that Aiden and Lucas sort of “played” together a little bit.  I had set Lucas down in his crib and had turned his head away from the wall (trying to encourage him to lay on both sides of his head) and was using his toy elephant to keep him entertained.  Well, Aiden came over and started to pull on it (it pulls down and then vibrates as the string shortens) and Lucas would get excited so Aiden would do it again.  They played that way for 5 or so mins. and it was fun for me to watch them interact with each other.

Wednesday was .31 cent scoop night at Baskin Robbins.  Yippee!  My mom came over after teaching her student and took us to get our ice cream.  The line was long as usual but went quickly.  Because it was chilly Aiden and Lucas waited in the car with my mom for a bit and then joined me in line.  I got cherries jubilee, some fudge something or other and this really yummy peachy raspberry.  It was surprisingly good.  We got Aiden pop rocks sherbet and my mom forfeited her ice cream so that Brandon could have some.  Thanks again mom!

Thursday we planned to go to Walmart to pick up our site to store order because it arrived (finally)!  Instead we had a different adventure.  As I was doing the finishing touches on getting Lucas ready to go for the day Brandon was on his computer doing some work when he heard WHACK/THUNK and then heard Aiden crying.  He looked over to see Aiden laying on the brick hearth around our fireplace.  Thankfully he was quick thinking and acting so he went over picked Aiden up, saw that his head was bleeding and took him in the bathroom to get a wet washcloth so that he could apply pressure to the wound and get it to stop bleeding.  I peeked out to see what had happened (Aiden’s cry was not the normal “I am upset” cry, and I could tell something was very wrong) and at first I thought Aiden had a bloody nose.  Wrong, Aiden instead had a big gash (one inch long) on the back of his head.  I had no idea what to do, we both knew that it would need stitches but I didn’t know if we needed to just show up at the pediatrician’s office or instacare or what.  Brandon suggested I call the pediatrician so I did.  They sent us to Primary Children’s because of Aiden’s age.  They thought he may have to be sedated to get the stitches and that it would be good for Primary Children’s to do it.  As you can see they did not shave his head or do stitches.  When we got there they simply put on a topical numbing ointment and let it numb the area.  Then (after waiting for what seemed like forever with an impatient toddler) they came in, washed the area out really well, and used six staples to close up the wound.  I was not in the room during that part so if you have questions about details you will have to ask Brandon.  The nurse came and got me when they were all finished and Aiden was sitting there with a popsicle in one hand and a brand new plush shark laying next to him on the gurney.  He had thoroughly calmed down by the time I arrived.  We were very lucky this day on several counts.  1. Brandon was home because he is working the swing shift.  2. The car was home.  3.  Aiden was still covered under medicaid and thus our trip to the ER will likely cost us nothing.  (Thanks to paper work screw up his coverage ended April 30.)  4.  Brandon was able to get home and have an hour to spare before he needed to leave for work.  So there’s our Thursday.

Friday was uneventful, except that we finally got to Wal-mart to pick up our site to store stuff.  Brandon broke open his food processor right away and used it to make strawberry syrup.  🙂  My bike waited a little longer before we pulled it out of the box to put it together.  Saturday we spent the morning in and then made a quick field trip to WinCo after lunch.  I felt like a kid in a candy shop.  We had put a few items in our cart that we wanted to buy, until we saw the line which was from the front of the store clear down the aisles to the back of the store.  Yea, we had to be home for nap time so we put the stuff back and planned to return for our regular shopping trip next week.  While the boys napped I worked on some dress up projects for Aiden.  I made the felt crown you see below and I finished up two grey capes (they were white and cream and I tried dying them black) and his blue and maroon cape (also shown below).

Today was stake conference.  We have not attended stake conference very regularly since we got married.  I knew it was going to be difficult with a toddler (and it was) but it wasn’t that much more difficult then a regular Sunday sacrament meeting.  Brandon took Aiden for a walk around the church when he would get antsy and we had our usual bag of tricks.  What I noticed most about conference (because let’s be honest it is hard to hear and comprehend much with kids) are the families that were sitting around us.  They had kids of varying ages doing various activities to keep themselves occupied.  I had to smile when I saw a child two rows up playing hang man, and the boys one row up playing rock, paper, scissors and tracing words on each others backs.  Also on the row in front of us a brother and sister were exchanging  back rubs.  Across the aisle a family had a board book about following the prophet and in another family the daughter was drawing in a notebook.  All things that my sister and I used to do to keep us occupied at church.  🙂  I also had a sense of feeling “I’ll go where you want me to go dear Lord.”  If he would but guide us there already…  :p I also felt like it was important that I share my testimony again because the church is true and it is not right of me not to share that with those that I love.  So, please know that I have a testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I know that it has the most correct and accurate revelations from God of all of the religions on the earth.  It has the fullest amount of truth and the largest collection of revelations of any other religions on earth.  It may be imperfect because it is subject to the interpretation of man,  but I know that it is here on this earth to help us imperfect beings on our paths to perfection so that we can return to live in Heaven with our Heavenly Father and our brother Jesus once again when we die.  It is a marvelous work and a wonder brought forth through the hands of a young 14 year old Joseph as guided and directed by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ themselves.  It will not be squelched out for it is like a rough stone rolling forth “cut without hands” and will roll forth gaining momentum until it fills the whole earth (Daniel 2:44–45).  It will continue to grow, people will continue to be baptized and join the church for eternity.  I am glad to be part of such an amazing religion.  I bare these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lastly, a friend of mine had this to say on her blog about her relationship with her husband when they were dating…”The relationship is easy.  It just works.  No games.  No worrying or wondering.  It just works and nothing stops it or gets in the way.”  I have this to add, that is how it was with Brandon and I.  Things just fell into place and it never felt like one or the other of us were pushing the relationship along.  That is how it should be.  Speaking of Brandon, my grandma mentioned today how wonderful and blessed I was to have a husband who is so helpful with the kids.  She said that not everyone is so lucky.  I agree, I am lucky.  My husband is a pretty special and wonderful guy and he is incredibly helpful around the house and with our boys and I appreciate it.  There are no words to express how grateful (eternally grateful) I am for the burdens of mine that he eases.  I only hope that I ease some of his as well to make things somewhat even.  I know that I try.  🙂  Have a good week everyone and thanks for reading…