Family Easter pictures

Easter weekend

On Easter weekend we had all my siblings in town. Noelle and I ran the SLC half marathon. I was going to try and PR but after the first 3 miles were up hill I realized that might not happen. It was a hard course. I am use to canyon half marathons where the majority of the course is down hill. This course had a lot of up hill. On sections was over a mile gradual up hill from mile 7-8. That was killer. Noelle was nice and ran with me the whole time (she is a lot faster than I am). Noelle finished in about 1:55 and I finished 1:57. Noelle started having back spasms at mile 11. She had to book it to the finish other wise she didn't know if she could keep going. I felt so bad for her. She had carried Miles all the way from Maine on the plane a few days prior and I think that is what triggered it. It was fun to do a race with her. I miss running with her on a weekly basis so much!
After the race we went to Hoggle Zoo for their Easter activity. Of course the line for the Easter hunt was huge. Noelle and my mom took turns standing in line. Noelle made it to the front and her phone died. We didn't know and didn't make it back to the line before she gave up and got out of line. Alyssa was disappointed but when I told her we would have an Easter egg hunt at home she was fine. The kids loved seeing the animals.

Disneyland

We had such a fun time a disneyland. The weather was perfect. The crowds were a bit more than I wanted but still not bad.

California

We bought season passes to Disneyland this year because we already had a few trips to California planned and we thought it would be fun. We went this time for my mom's Bday. We spent the first two days at the pool and beach then went over the Disneyland.  We normally go to Hungtington beach but we decided to try out Newport beach to walk around, find seashells and have dinner. When we were there we remember why we like Huntington Beach so much. The crowd at Newport is different a little more rough, the sand area is steep to the ocean. It was still a lot of fun to enjoy the nice weather. Alyssa collected 100+ little sea shells. I really need to do a craft with her with all the sea shells we have saved from the past 4 years. Kate is timid of the water but once she realized she could stay far enough away she loved running around finding sea shells with Alyssa. The beach brings me so much peace and joy. Just stepping on the the sand and feeling the ocean breeze is wonderful to me. Here are the beach pictures. I'll post Disneyland pictures later.

Alyssa is 5!!

I still can't believe that she is 5. Time has gone so fast. She has been excited to turn 5 since she could talk. She knows that when she is 5 she gets to go to school. We have registered for kindergarten and she is so excited! This year I learned from my mistake of last years birthday party. Last year I let her invite anyone she wanted. Everyone came and there were 15 kids! It was crazy. This year I told her she could invite 5 people. It was perfect. Much more enjoyable (for me at least). It was a FROZEN themed party (of course). We pinned the nose on Olaf (I made him and am proud), pained ice crystal snow flakes, had a piñata, and cake. It turned out perfect.

Kate loved the bubbles!

Piñata fun

I found this idea on pinterest. You mix epsom salt and hot water together and then paint the solution on the paper and it turns into crystals when it is dry. 

Kate's Kidneys

Kate has been suffering from a kidney infection since Christmas. At first we thought it was a UTI. But every time she stopped antibiotics the infection would come back. After the 3rd time the Dr ordered an US and a VCUG. The US showed a severe kidney infection on her right kidney and a mild infection on her left. The VCUG is a test where they put a catheter in her, injected dye into her bladder and watch to see if the dye stays in the bladder or goes up to her kidneys. It is not suppose to go up the ureters to the kidneys. Kate's does. This is called vesiculouretral reflux. Untreated this can lead to kidney damage, scarring and kidney failure. We were referred to primary children urology. About 50% of kids with Grade 3 reflux (kate's grade) will grow out of it on their own. The other 50% require surgery to fix this. If we can keep infection out of the kidney then we can protect it and wait to see if she will grow out. For now Kate is on a daily antibiotic to prevent the growth of infection. If she gets an infection while on the prophylactic antibiotic then she will have to have the surgery soon. If she doesn't get any infections while on it then she is going to have a test in a year to see if the reflux is gone or still there. She has been on the prophylactic antibiotics for 3 weeks. I have tested her urine twice in that time thinking the infection was back. She complains of pain when she pees and holding her stomach. So far both those urine cultures were negative. For now it is a waiting game to see what will happen. Poor girl has been through to much in her short 2 years. But I keep telling my self at least this is curable unlike other terrible things that kids can get (i.e cancer, diabetes)

Before getting the ultrasound

Before any test were done

A pretend fish tank in the lobby of primary childrens radiology