Calder's Day spa.......

Crystals really do have healing powers!!
(even if they really are just glass)

Strawberry Fields

We have a huge crop of strawberries this year, at least 300 ripening right now and many blossoms promising more to come. It is quite a sight. Ansel just found one fully ripe Strawberry today and we had to document the event! There is nothing better than the first strawberry of the season!!

Ansel and the Strawberry
(part of the strawberry patch behind Ansel)

The first bite.............

It was a yummy one!

Can't wait for more.



But, it looks like we don't have to wait too long!!

Mmmmmmmmmmmm..... Pears are good!

Now if only I could eat it in one bite!!

Play hard.............Sleep Hard

That is Ansel's motto.

Bubbles....

When you are serious about bubbles, take a lesson from Ansel. He will set you straight on how to go crazy with bubbles. He knows ALL the tricks.

This one is called bubble arm.
Don't try this at home. He is a professional!

Just because little boys are so sweet.

And come up and give their moms hugs for no reason, and then hug and kiss and hug and kiss until your face is covered in slobbery smooches.

Here's to all messy baby kisses!!
May they always be as gloriously juicy as they are now!!

How to know when it is time to change a diaper.

Another “Little” trip to the ER

Unusual circumstances, strange happenings, weird illnesses, bad reactions…… those are all a part of a day in the life of Cami Severson. If it is weird I have experienced it, strange – and I have lived it, unusual – and I have breathed it. This past Thursday was no exception.

I went running as I usually do, the only difference being that I went at 5:30pm instead of first thing in the morning. Apparently, that was a BIG mistake. I usually run about 3 miles, and it takes me around 25-30 minutes to do so. I ran fast, up and down hills, that day, and I was parched and tired by the time it came down to the last few minutes. Being dry in the mouth, I didn’t think anything of a lump beginning to form in my throat. I kept swallowing, thinking “It feels like something is stuck in my throat” as I ran the last stretch. Alarm bells started to go off, though, when I started to get intense tingling and itching in the palms of my hands and in my lips. Fortunately, by then, I had reached the house.

All I could think about, as I burst through the front door was that maybe taking a shower would help. I ran into my room and hopped into the shower. Things weren’t getting better. Now I couldn’t swallow at all, and it felt like someone was choking me. My lips were numb and swelling and my eyes were almost completely swollen shut. A little panic set in at that point. Joe was on a plane coming home from Colorado and I had to be to Young Women’s to teach them how to paint in about 45 minutes. What’s a hypersensitive freak-out girl supposed to do??

Just then the phone rang. It was my YW partner in crime (Michelle) calling to see if I could go it alone tonight because she was in a bad way right then and in a lot of pain. I mumbled something about maybe cancelling YW because somehow I needed to get to the ER. Michelle, being the amazing woman that she is, popped two Percocet, grabbed her daughter and mother, and raced to my house. We left her mom at my house, to watch the kids, and then her daughter drove us to Sunnyside Kaiser Hospital. (Being the responsible person she is, she didn’t drive under the influence of a narcotic!)

It is amazing how quick you get into the ER when your throat is closing off. I didn’t even get to fill out the paper work! They got me back into the room and started ripping off my clothes. “Whoa!!” I mumbled, “ what is this all about??” We need access to your skin, they told me. “he, he” …”okay” I say, as my shirt practically rips off my ears.

There is no permission asked, or explanations given as they continue on with the procedures. In goes an IV and a quick mention of Steroids and high doses of Benadryl being administered. Michelle is in the room with me now, commenting on how red my ears are…. and my nose. (nice that she doesn’t mention the swollen eyes and lips though) In about 2 minutes the drugs hit. “WHOA!” I slur…. “I think I am going to pass out”, huh, I feel a disconnect with reality… “I think I am a little loopy”, I keep repeating.

After about an hour the effects of the medication are evident. No more swelling, and I can start to swallow a little bit now. Yay, for meds!!

The diagnosis??? Food-related Exercise-induced Anaphylaxis. And there’s another Weird Illness written down for the books.

For those of you that are curious about what that entails…… It means that if I eat a certain food (for now we don’t know what that food is) and then exercise within in 24 hours of eating it, I will have the above mentioned reaction. But only in conjunction with exercise, not alone…… Weird? Yes,…. Normal for me…? Yes again. Fun for me.

I didn’t get to get a copy of the picture Michelle snapped of me, at the ER, so here is a quick illustration of my loveliness:

Severson Family Personifications!

My sister-in-law, Emily, is organizing a Family Reunion T-shirt for us, and has asked each family to draw a picture of their own (family), for inclusion on the t-shirt.

This is my offering. I had so much fun with it, that I thought that I would share it with you all. If you know my family, then this will really ring home true for each of the personalities in the family. I can't wait to see it on the T-shirt!

Thanks Em for organizing this.

I can't wait!!

The Wheel of Time series is my all-time favorite series. I am not exaggerating when I say this either. I have read the whole (incomplete) 11 book series 5 times. This is quite an accomplishment, (or extremely obsessive- how ever you want to look at it!) considering that each book is 700+ pages. I encourage one and all to give this series a try. It is fantastic.

Robert Jordan is an amazing author. He paints the story so vividly, that you feel like you are right there with the characters. The premise of the story is so creative, and yet familiar, that it gives you a new perspective on the real world. He has drawn from all the religions and cultures of the world to create a complex/three dimensional society that really helps bring the story to life. Another thing that I really like is that he writes women so well. The women in his book are all strong/smart/powerful and deep characters. VERY fun to "read" the women in his books.

There are so many main characters that I can't believe how many of the characters are so well developed in the book, and how well this complex story meshes together. It is so intelligently written, I often marvel at how one man could pull off such a intricate story weaving!! Every time I read this series I come away with something new I hadn't seen in it before. I never get tired of reading it. So, there is my secret weakness out in the open and also my plug for the books. READ THEM!!

The very exciting news is that the long awaited 12th book is due to be released this November.

Whether there would be a 12 book, or not, was up in the air when Robert Jordan passed away in September of 2007 of Cardiac amyloidosis. It was a very sad day for those of us who are big fans of Robert Jordan, the author, and great admirers of James Oliver Rigney Jr., the man. (That is Robert Jordan's real name). If you read his books, you can't help but admire the person behind it all. A great man, who will be sorely missed.

Robert Jordan 1948-2007

A few months after his death, TOR books announced that Brandon Sanderson would be completing The Wheel of Time series from the very detailed notes Robert Jordan left behind.

Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson is my age and a member of the LDS church. He was at BYU with me (though I didn't know him) and currently does some teaching on and off there now too. I decided to read his books, so I could imagine his style in finishing up R.J.'s books. I was pretty impressed with his works, thus far. He is MY age, keep in mind.... What have I been doing with my life??? First Stephenie Meyer (who is also my age and LDS) makes millions with her Twilight Series, (see my Twilight post), then comes along Brandon Sanderson, also my age and making mucho bucks writing stories. I am definitely having self esteem issues right now, so bear with me.... :-)

It was just recently announced that there would be no way that Brandon Sanderson could possibly fit all of Jordan's ideas into one book (haha, no surprises there!!), so the decision was made to split the last book into three. The first of which is The Gathering Storm, due out this fall. (And each consecutive book following a year behind the preceding one.)

Yes 3 MORE books!! Awesome. Look out November, here I come!

My life is about to get even better..... I can't wait!!

You know that it is going to be a good day when....

You wake up to sunshine, run 3 miles, and.....................

your toddler ASKS for a nap!

Yes! Today Kaelan found me and grabbed my arm, pulling me down the hall while saying "come, please". So I came. It was 10:30 in the morning. He pulled me into his room and up to his crib. "Night, night. Please" he said. Wow! Well, okay! No problem, KK, what ever you want! Big smile!! Up he goes into the crib, grabs his new doggy (thanks Eli), and binky, then turns over and goes to sleep. I walk out of the room feeling like I just won the lottery!

Yes, it is going to be a good day!

How to Get the Swine Flu.......

Hahaha! Yuck!!

Seriously, though.... Oregon reported it's first case of the Swine Flu today, in Multnomah County (Portland's county). This whole frenzy over the H1N1 virus, seems a little overkill to me, personally. I mean sheesh, coverage 24/7, reporting every hour and we watch live as another state bites the dust. They make it seem like Armageddon. It is just a bit overblown. I mean, sheesh..... Egypt is killing all of their pigs????? Balance people... what we need right now is balance. But, that said... I do believe in caution. After all, the first victim of Swine Flu, in the US was a 23 month old toddler boy...my KK's age. SO sad. Anytime something like that happens, a child of similar age to one of my children- dying, it makes it seem a little more "real" to me. I could picture myself as those grieving parents, something I am sure, every mom does.

So, while I was at the doctor's office today, picking up prescriptions, I couldn't help but fret a little when Kaelan ran around touching things and socializing with all the sick people in the waiting room. When Kaelan dumped his snacks onto the cushioned bench there, and then started to pick them up to eat them, instead of the usual "oh well", it was "Aaaah! Don't dump them .... (and) ..... don't eat those!" Followed by a quick gathering of all contaminated snackies, before he could plunge one into his mouth. Not more than a minute later, he found a Goldfish cracker on the ground and announced, happily "mom-mom, fishy!" And promptly popped it into his mouth! I didn't bring Goldfish! They were some other swine flu-infected toddler's snack.... I was certain!! I quickly did the "mommy" mouth swipe, and retrieved the offending fishy from his mouth. I know that if it had been swine flu infected, it would have been too late.... but it made me feel better, anyway!

Eventually, my number was called and I approached the Swine Flu infected pharmacy counter, eyeing it dubiously. I could almost see all of those little virus entities just waiting for my touch, ready to pounce!

H1N1 Virus-
kind of cool looking actually!

Kaelan was oblivious, running up and down the Kaiser Pharmacy stalls. Occasionally he would crouch down to push the little buttons on the ground that help the "cage" door latch into the floor at closing time. He was the cutest thing there, so naturally everyone was watching him. (okay, so... he was the only child there at the moment.... but that still qualifies for the cutest thing there!) It is amazing how many people want to tell you about how their kids (who are all grown up) were just like that, when your kid is acting cute. I wonder why that never happens when they are screaming tyrants??! ;-) Maybe you block that part out, when you get older.

After we had filled our prescription, we needed to make a pit stop at the ladies room. As we approached the door, Kaelan gleefully asked, "Mom-mom... Pee Pee??". I always love my private business being announced for everyone to hear...don't you?? Actually, to be honest, I was secretly pleased that he recognized a random bathroom door, and put two and two together. It's so great being a mom.... who else could be so proud while having their need of a toilet being so joyfully announced?

Yay! He knows what that plaque of a little stick person, by a door, means!

Yes, I am easily pleased.

Unfortunately, that feel good experience was short lived, once we entered the "uni-sex" bathroom (the Women's - the one where KK had recognized the sign- was closed). Uni-Sex bathrooms always seem more contaminated to me, and today that feeling was amplified. So, of course, what does Kaelan do? He runs straight to the toilet and puts his hands on the dreaded "in between" part of the seat:

Don't you love the Internet for really great "stock" photos?

GROSS!!! "Ack....KK NO!!" I screech and run over to him. I hold his arms as far away from his face as I can and rush him to the sink, washing his hands for at least a minute. Then I put him down to hang up my purse. Immediately, he runs over to the small bathroom trash can and plunges his hands down into it. Yikes!! Who knows what it lurking below the surface of all those crumpled, sodden paper towels! Once again we wash his hands. This isn't going well. Now would be a great time for one of those stall kiddie seats.

In fact, I am almost sold on this idea: HAHAHAHA! Kiddo hanging from the toilet stall! What next?!

I had to wash his hands two more times before we were through, and then I couldn't get out of there fast enough! I even hesitated taking my purse down without the aid of a paper towel. The hook could have been contaminated after all! (I had just recently watched a news story on how purses are really germ infested, which didn't help) But I courageously take it down bare handed.

At last, we are on our way home. Kaelan falls asleep in the car. When we get home, I park in the garage, empty the car, help Ansel and his friend Blaise with their snacks, then go back out to get Kaelan. He is awake and crying (darn it!). I quickly rescue him from his carseat and bring him upstairs. He feels hot.... and I wonder.......Is it the Swine flu??

I Need Attention!

Another Ansel post again. I apologize for posting so many about my little man, but he is such a huge resource for blogging material that I can't resist. This is really Remi's story, but it was so funny that I had to write about it.

Ansel is my touchy, feely, needy kid. AKA high maintenance. While sometimes it can become a HUGE annoyance, most of the time I love giving him the attention that he requires to survive. He is such a loving boy, and so generous. He is always looking out for others needs, in part, I believe, because he needs so much himself, and knows what it feels like. He is a gem. That said, I do not neglect him at all, on an average day I will spend about 5+ hours with Ansel sitting on me, touching me, worming on to my lap, hugging me, patting me, demanding back drawings and gardens on his arm. CONSTANT touch. Sometimes it can get to be too much, and I crack, "Ansel! Please, mom needs some personal space for just a few minutes. Why don't you......... for a little bit" This only lasts for a minute or so (when he is in a touchy mood, he cannot be dissuaded!), and then he is back with a vengeance. The problem is that most of the time it isn't a gentle hug or pat, it is more demanding than that. Usually it is a forceful climb under your arms, pushing things out of the way and hurting the target of his affections in the process. I do have to give it to him though. When he knows what he wants, he goes for it full gusto. We are working on turning demands into soft requests, but is definitely a work in progress. We have worked out a way to let me know he needs me (instead of the usual smack to the arm or his face in my face) now he just calls out "Mom, I need attention please!" Most of the time is works, other times he just likes the old way best. He is pretty bossy and sometimes his "requests" get a little out of hand and out there. (I have mentioned before how creative he is, verbally)
Here is an example how of he asks for things to be done...

Ansel: "MOM! You forgot to tie my shoes!" (Said in a curt, demanding, VERY loud voice.) (Keep in mind that mom doesn't know that his shoes have become untied, and thus could not have forgotten to tie his shoes)

Mom says "Can you ask in a nicer way please?"

Ansel "Okay......mom, you forgot to tie my shoes" (said in a more upbeat softer voice)

Mom: "Well, that wasn't exactly what I was aiming for. I need you to ASK nicely, remember to say please."

Ansel: "Mom, you forgot to tie my shoes Please."

I laugh, "Okay, how about this...... I didn't forget to tie your shoes, since you never asked me to I wouldn't have known they were untied. I need you to use different words and ASK not demand. Like so.....'mom can you tie my shoes please?' That is what I am looking for."

Ansel "Okay..... Mom, can you tie my shoes please?... Since you forgot!"
This is where mom loses it and starts laughing uncontrollably!

But, I regress, I am off subject. See?! So many stories to draw from! I could go off on tangents all day long! He is a walking humour mill.

Here is a photographic example of Ansel "needing" attention:See his hand in the bottom left hand corner? More pictures have been ruined this way. (and no, it doesn't help to take lots of pictures of him before hand, he wants to be in every one!)

The other day, I needed to run errands, so Remi graciously agreed to watch Ansel for me. All the other boys were at school, and Kaelan was with me. ( I was getting Easter gifts/candy) When I got home Remi had a great story to share.

I had forgotten to warn her of the "neediness" of her babysitting subject, beforehand, and it turns out that this was very crucial information to her. She needed to take a quick shower (we were leaving right when I got back). So, Remi informed Ansel that she would be taking said shower and would be right out. Ansel was playing so she hurried into the bathroom. About a minute into the shower there came a loud banging on the bathroom door. Now I have been a witness to this door banging, so I knew what she was talking about. This is no light "knocking", it is earth shaking, hinge ripping, door breaking banging. The frame even vibrates! It is all or nothing with Ansel. Remi calls out "Ansel, I am taking a shower right now, I can't come out right now." Silence.... a minute later KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK, Remi tries to ignore. But they keep coming. Finally she says "Ansel, PLEASE STOP!" He stops. Phew......

A couple minutes later she is done with the shower, and turns the water off. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK, comes again. (I can just imagine Ansel sitting-or laying right outside the bathroom door, just waiting to pounce) "Ansel, I am not done yet" says Remi. Ansel pines.."But the water is off.........What are you doing?!?" Poor Remi, being stalked by a 5 year old while taking a shower! No privacy in our house, whatsoever! At this point Remi was thinking fast, she needs to get this kid off her back so she can get dressed in peace. What to do...... Well, as so often happens in desperate times, genius strikes. "Do me a favor," She says "Go run into the kitchen and tell me what time it is." 'Okay' is followed by the sound of little feet running down the hall. Peace for a few precious seconds, then... "It says 1- 2- 0 -4 , no 9" he informs her. "Okay, when the clock says 1 -2- 1- 2 then I will open the door" Remi says. Off he goes again, .. silence! Meanwhile Remi is rushing to at least get her clothes on before he comes back because she wants to be true to her word. In no time at all, here come the knocks. "Remi, it's 1- 2- 1 -2!!" He shouts excitedly. Remi has to see for herself,..... sure enough it is time. "It is 1- 2- 1- 2!!" she exclaims! "Yeah," Ansel sighs perplexedly "But sometimes it changes and sometimes it doesn't!!" This is said in earnest puzzlement! Remi cracked up! I can just imagine him sitting there, staring hard at the clock, watching and waiting for it to change. Then it does!! 1-2-1-0 And...... then in doesn't, for a long time,..... same, same, same, same and then it does again! 1 -2- 1 -1!! Pure mystery!

Ansel! You are SO cute! I love you.

Happy Easter!

Traditions are so great! Everyone should have a few. One of our little traditions is the Easter Egg hunt, in our house, on Sunday morning. Yeah, I know it is every one's "little" tradition. But even still...... It's a tradition. Ansel has been asking when Easter was going to come, everyday, for about two weeks. Exhausting, I tell you. After all the anticipation, it sure is over in a flash. It took them all of 10 minutes to find all the eggs. And yet, as Calder put it.... "This was the best Easter Ever!!" It takes so little to impress a 7 year old!
(But, I think that he was just flattering his mom! He is REALLY good at that! My favorite flattery that Calder offers up is the oft repeated "Mom, look at that beautiful sunset! It looks like you painted it!" Yes, it gets me every time! He is so darn cute!)
The Severson Boys in their Easter Sunday attire, after a good, fast and furious hunt for Easter Eggs! They are all donning their new "Easter" ties. Girls get pretty dresses......boys get ties..and tie tacks. But that's okay since most boys could care less about what goes on their body. If it covers up and is comfortable, then it is perfect, no matter the condition, color, or style.

Here is the tradish:

First of all the boys wake up to Easter baskets filled with little gifts.....
or not so little as in KK's case.

Most of of them are things like the new Easter ties, Sunday games, Easter books, or Sunday books, etc. But I did throw in a Poke'mon figure for each boy as a surprise.

The boys.... inspecting their Easter baskets:

KK loved his Easter Lamb

Calder loved KK's Easter lamb:

Levi was REALLY surprised that his gift was a much anticipated Book that he has been eagerly awaiting. Mom got major brownie points for that one!

Getting right down to business:
(this book hasn't left his side since Sunday- in fact I think that he is almost done with it)

KK being his cute self.

Later, after the boys are all dressed in their Sunday best, the Easter Bunny pays a visit and the hunt is on!

Here is Joe, passing out the Baskets for the hunt!

The boys running down from their hiding place:

Getting their baskets:

KK finds the first egg:

The basket is as big as he is!

WE could only convince him to find a few eggs, then he just sat and opened them and ate the candy inside.

Ansel! The big day finally came! He was so excited for the hunt.

Calder liked finding the unique eggs. He would pass up plain ones, not wanting to waste time on them.

Isn't he so cute in his missionary tie?!


It is funny that no matter how hard you try to make it fair, the oldest always ends up with the most and the youngest with the least. But at least, in my case, they didn't care. Especially KK, he would have been happy with just one!

Yay! Now all of the "Candy" holidays are over! It will be a good long while until Halloween starts the whole process over again!!!!