What the Crazy?

So I have no pictures to go with this post...basically it is because I was not thinking about pictures as I am sitting for 9 hours in the ER waiting endlessly for results from test that only take 10 minutes to perform. This story gets interesting and hey kinda mysterious so you can maybe take guesses at the end. I don't even have an answer yet.

So it all started Wednesday with me getting sick. Really tired, achy (especially around my back and rib cage area) and a low grade fever. Classic for the flu which I thought I was getting. Sit on the couch for two days chillin and resting. My friend Cynthia calls to see how I am doing and informs me that my eyes looked really yellow when she saw me on Wednesday. Yellow? Really? And if you want to rewind a couple of months ago she told me the exact same thing when I was sick before. So I call my mom and ask if this is normal. Answer of course is no and I should go to the Dr. But why does my body and mind wait till Friday to decide to go? Mom think it is important so I travel on down to the Urgent Care.

I thankfully can call Cynthia and she comes over with her gracious hubby to watch the kids and she comes with me. They look at me at the Urgent Care and send me to the ER. Ok, that was odd. So we drive downtown and stand in line to register. It is packed and so we wait to get seen. We get there around 6pm and I don't get out till 2am. Yeah it was a long time. Lots of sitting and doing nothing. Thanks to Cynthia during the long waits she talked to me and it went pretty fast. She stayed till my hubby got there around 9 pm and then she went home. Corey stayed will I left.

So they took the blood, then sent me in for an ultrasound. Sat for hours then the Dr. comes in with two cups with straws and Cynthia and I both look at each other and think what a nice Dr. for bringing us some water. Nope, he tells me there is something weird about the ultrasound and they want a CAT scan and I have to drink this crappy stuff that makes me want to puke. So they have to put an IV in for the CAT scan which they proceed to do. And all of this because my Belerubin levels (don't know if I am even spelling that right) are abnormally high. Basically it is called Jaundice for those who had babies with it. Means something is wrong. So I get the scan then we wait for about 3 hours to get those results which are inconclusive. Yep you heard it everyone, I have something wrong but no answers. So I have to go to a specialist on Monday so he can take a gander.

So as of now I still feel slightly achy, I still have slightly yellow eyes (grr I look like a cat almost) and I woke up with night sweats last night. Go me. Lets just hope that this Dr. can figure this mystery out so this Scooby Doo can get on with her life.

New York: Day 3

Our last night at our little cabin went much better. I think we were so exhausted from the previous night that we all just conked out. I woke up early to run my scheduled 9 miles for my training. I loved how pretty it was, but I forgot that when you eat things you are not used to and then run it can cause havoc on your digestive system. Needless to say I was so sick that morning when I got back. I was stuck in the bathroom for most of the morning and it was a public restroom with lots of people in there getting ready. Not my most memorable experience of the vacation. So breakfast was a no go again and Corey just made the kids drink the rest of the milk we brought and some cherries. He said we would grab breakfast in Palmyra since we were going there anyway. Well Palmyra is tiny and has absolutely nothing there. So Corey said we could wait till lunch. I really needed to eat because I hadn't eaten anything and I was beyond grumpy. I tried to warn him, but he didn't think it was that important. So we went to the Visitor Center on the Hill Camorah first.

It was so busy, but well worth the walk through and video. I loved the Christ statue and that we got to take a family picture in front of it.

After we were done with the Visitor Center we drove up to look at the Moroni statue on top of the hill. It was so beautiful that day. The sky was blue, the landscaping was so nice. The actual golden statue is 10 feet 4 inches to symbolize the promise in Moroni 10:4.

Kids at the bottom of the monument.
Picture of the statue on top.

Logan took this for us.

Next we took off and tried to find something to eat down on main street. Of course there was nothing there that took credit cards, so we had to tour the printing shop before we found something else. I tried not to be really grumpy but I was beyond hungry at that point. The building was restored beautifully. It was cool to see where all the first Book of Mormon's were printed. I had no idea that they were so expensive for the people to buy. It was compared to a book being about 150 dollars today. Wow.

Front of the building. We didn't know the tour starts from the back. They had the front door sealed. We looked like idiots trying to get it open.

In front of the sealed door.

The back of the building. They built another building around the original one to preserve it. They had doors on each level and they used a pulley to get the paper up and down the floors. The staircases were too narrow to get it up that way.

After that we found a Subway and got sandwiches and headed over to the Sacred Grove and Smith farm. They had picnic tables there and we were all famished. I don't think I tasted any of my food. It was just so nice to get something in my gut. Corey was worried I would be stuck in the bathroom afterwards, but I was just fine. While we were standing in line to start the tour we were chatting with a one of the workers and come to find out it was my Great Aunt Turner. She is my grandma's youngest sister. We had a good laugh and she asked about my family. First we toured the remake of the Smith's log home. This was not the original one, but it is built on the exact location of where it was. I still can't believe 11 people lived in that house.

Going in to look at the house.

Inside the house, just had to post this cutie.

The backside of the cabin. The little add on is where they put another room to put the new baby that was born to the Smith family before getting the bigger house.

Next we toured the frame house that Alvin started for his new wife. It is 80 percent original and it was so amazing to walk inside it. We even saw where Joseph hid the plates in the fireplace.

Picture of the house from the front.

I loved the story behind this tree. Alvin died before he could finish the house and the family were so sad about his passing they planted this tree to remember him. It still stand today and it is huge.

The cellar of the house.

After the frame house we took the walk through the Sacred Grove. There were so many paths to take, which you had to stay on. We wandered around for awhile. Just feeling the atmosphere and spirit of what took place there. I still can't believe that the Smith's owned 100 acres of land. It was huge.

Sacred Grove

Kids taking a break on a bench

Us in the Sacred Grove.

After we were done walking around it was time to head back home. We stayed later than we thought, but it was so worth it. We drove the 6 hours back without any problems and are safe and sound now. So many wonderful memories to cherish. I hope we get to go back some day when the kids are a little older to understand the importance.

New York: Day 2

Thursday night the kids slept like logs, and Corey and I hardly slept at all. That bed was just a foam mattress on a wooden board. It was the hardest thing I have ever laid on. So Corey and I tossed and turned all night long. I finally got up at day break to go for a quick 4 mile run up by lake Superior. It was so nice, I loved it. By the time I got back everyone was up and about and I got my stuff out to make breakfast. I even bought a cast iron pan to cook pancakes and bacon on. I got everything ready and went to flip that first pancake and it wouldn't come off the pan. It was stuck and mutilated. It was pre treated it said and ready to cook on, but I think they lied. I tried cooking some bacon hoping the grease would help, but nope it just got gloopier. So I sighed and filled the pan with water and soap.
So needless to say the day was not off to the best start, plus it was thundering and raining as well. Hence my look of defeat already.

But thank goodness for McDonalds down the road aways. It was on our way to Niagara Falls anyways so we made a little pit stop. The kids were excited to go to McDonalds for breakfast anyways so it all worked out. Plus I had a sausage McGriddle which I haven't had in a long time and oh it was yummy. Plus it had WiFi which Corey needed to turn in a homework assignment. Don't the kids look just as happy as can be?

It was a two hour drive from our campsite to Niagara. It really didn't take that long and the time went much faster maybe because I drove most of the way. The sun made an appearance as well and it turned into a beautiful day. I took way too many pictures to post them all, but I tried to get my favorites on.

Corey and the kids at the overlook. Lexie was scared to death.

Mom and the kids, this time Hailey was not helping.

Oh and the happy in love couple overlooking the falls.

It really was breath taking.

I love this picture. See how Corey is explaining something to Logan? Well Logan asked a pretty scientific question to which I knew Corey did not have the answer. But he tried to sound convincing as a professer explaining it. I laugh everytime and he gets annoyed everytime.

The walk way over to Goat Island where our water tour was at.

Sitting and relaxing by the water. Of course Gabe had to make a "what did I do" face.

Corey hates it when I take lots of pictures of him, this is my strained face while Corey is trying to not look to annoyed with me.

So the tour gave you these sexy sandals to wear so you don't get your shoes wet and you don't slip all over the place. You got to keep them afterwards, I threw mine away but the kids actually still wear them.

Oh yeah, and the poncho. You can't go wrong with these.

Cave of the Winds tour, although they had to blast the cave shut due to cave ins. Not so much a cave tour anymore.

WOW

Just getting sprinkled at this point. And the amazing part is they tear down the walkway every year and rebuild due to the ice that accumulates during the winter. What a job huh?

Yep, it was really wet at the end where you go right next to the falls coming down. The poncho did no good. But the kids had a blast.

This is where the falls meet the walk way. Crazy people, I just edged along the back where all the people are standing with Hailey. If I let her down the force of the water would have knocked her over.

Cool rocks at the bottom of the falls.

Hailey still got wet, and she really liked it.

Lexie did get wet, and she loved it too.

This says it all

After our tour we headed over to some gift shops across the way from the park. The American side was a big let down compared to the Canadian side. We didn't have our papers so couldn't cross, but they had all sorts of cool stuff over there. I settled for a quick snap shot of the Statue of Liberty. Right in her armpit.

We still had some time before dinner, so we went to the Niagara Falls Power Plant which has some cool displays that you can push all sorts of button and learn about energy. It was free and the kids had fun looking at everything. This is a picture from the walkway over the road to the building on the other side.

Lexie trying to power up some appliances, but her legs were too short to reach the petals.

That didn't stop me, I powered up a refrigerator.

Hailey thought the listening device was a phone, so she stood there the whole time picking up and saying hello. It was too cute.

After the power plant we headed over to Texas Roadhouse to have dinner. The kids love to throw their peanuts on the ground. Corey and I love the rolls there. Plus we did have a gift certificate which helped us decide. Then on the way home we had passed out girls. They were so exhausted.

When we got back to our campground, we had promised the kids we would do s'mores. Which I love when camping. I can only eat about one before I feel sick, but I love just roasting and eating the marshmellows. So we took to it. The kids ate so many I thought we would have sick kids on hand. But everyone turned out fine.

Corey and I put the kids to bed around 10 and then we sat by the fire just talking and relaxing. I was fine till I realized that I got like 100 mosquito bites on my legs that night. It was so quiet and we got to cuddle a little bit as well.

Day 3 to follow.

New York: Day 1

Corey and I have been in sight seeing land ever since we moved here last September. There are so many things to see and do it gets overwhelming sometimes. But when we were deciding where to go this year for a family vacation Corey and I jumped on the chance to see Palmyra and also Niagara. We were not dissappointed.


It took us about 6 hours to get to our campground. We looked at hotels, but they were really pricey during the Pageant so we chose the cheaper route. The cabin was tiny and there was only room to sleep, but that is ok considering we were out and about the whole time. We got there around 4:00 and checked into our cabin. Still too early to eat dinner and get ready for the Pageant, so we took the kids for a quick dip in the swimming pool at the camp grounds.

Hailey on the front porch of our little cabin.

Gabe gearing up for a quick swim.

Hailey wasn't supposed to get in, but we just stripped her down and let her sit on the steps.

The Pageant was about 30 minutes away from our campsite, so we got there early enough to get decent seats. It was so surreal to be there. This is the stage from the other side of the street. The worst part was going through the gautlet of protestors to get onto the church's grounds. They were horrible, and as if them screaming at us would make us decide to turn around and go the other way. But we got our seats and then talked with the actors who walked around before the show chatting with everyone. I even met a second cousin while sitting there who was in the Pageant.

View of the stage from the field where we parked.

Family picture

Some of the actors walking around.

Corey took this at one point, so cute.

We were getting excited for the show as darkness started, and of course we couldn't watch without getting some popcorn. Who knew such excitement could stem from popcorn. And this was Hailey's first popcorn experience and you can tell from her picture that she loved it. Whole handfuls were placed in her mouth at a time. It was a miracle she didn't choke.

Gabe chowing on some popcorn.

Shovel that stuff in.

I had a hard time getting really good pictures of the performance. The flash wasn't bright enough to light up the stage so it looked really dark. I did get the shot from Lehi's dream of the tree. The Pageant really was amazing and if you haven't made a trip there yet, you really should go and see it. They do such a great job. It didn't end till 11pm and the kids were shot. Hailey finally fell asleep on Corey and the other kids followed suit on the ride back. Day two to follow.