Snow Buddies

Jack and Dallin LOVED playing in the Utah snow! These two Vegas boys couldn't wait to make snowballs and snow angels -- the stuff they'd only seen kids do on TV. They also loved playing on Grandpa Skidmore's newly finished playhouse, especially sliding down the "snow slide."

Happy Birthday to Jack!

Jack was so excited to turn 6 -- his favorite number! We celebrated with friends and family at Chuck E. Cheese's. Our party started at 10 a.m. so we had the place all to ourselves. The kids had a blast! Even Cameron got into the games, dancing around and yelling, "Whoa! Whee!" Auntie Lindsay made an awesome Spidey cake and Jack was super excited about getting Martian Matter Alien Maker and a bunch of art stuff. One of the best parts of the day was a phone call from dad!

The George & Cameron Show

We have LOVED having Lindsay and George with us for the past week and a half. George and Cameron have become fast friends -- taking baths, playing outside and getting into mischief. My favorite "little buddy" moment was Cameron getting out two cereal bowls and two spoons for him and George. Cam also loves getting George's jacket and shoes for him. George is hilarious, and keeps us laughing with his amazing energy, funny vocabulary and great dancin' moves.

The Boyz

The Taylor Boyz are hanging in there. Jack still loves school and passes off two to three sight word lists each week. He loves visiting the "treasure box" and brings home all kinds of plastic "treasures." Dallin loves preschool and is a great helper when at home. He is such a good babysitter and has helped me so many times when the babies are fussy. Cam likes tasting all kinds of food -- constantly. He also enjoys sitting on his brother Carson and getting into mischief.

Cameron also loves watching Baby Einstein movies. Fortunately, so do his brothers. Here they are having a movie party . . .

(Jack and Dallin thought they were so cool holding the babies -- they demanded that I take a picture.)

6 Months & Sitting Up!

Carson is one happy boy. He loves people and will do anything just to look you in the eyes. He has a huge, open-mouth smile and a funny little laugh. He loves taking baths with Cameron and is getting pretty good at eating big boy food.

Major Taylor!

Today I officially pinned on the rank of major. They had another ceremony and Brandon (roommate & Army dermatologist) administered the oath of office and pinned on my rank. It was cool to have him do that. He has become a really good friend. We work out every day and talk constantly about family, football, politics, religion etc. He has kept my sanity here. He just found out that he gets to go home before Christmas. I’m really excited for him but I have to admit it will be tough seeing him go. After the ceremony they had a pot luck at the break room with Popeye’s chicken and cake and ice cream. The ER crew are so good to me. I won’t miss Afghanistan but I will miss all of them.

Two Months Down!

We celebrated our two-month anniversary apart on Nov. 5. Jason was so sweet and sent me flowers! The time is finally moving along and we are getting so anxious for the holidays and Jason's homecoming.

I need to send out a BIG thank-you to so many people. Our family and friends have done so much to help us these past two and a 1/2 months. We have loved having the Grandmas and Grandpas and appreciate the time, energy, love and surprises for the boys. My neighbors have been wonderful -- helping me clean pool filters, washing my car, coming Sunday mornings to help me get to church, watching the boys so I can go to YW, and calling from the store to see if I ever need anything (Thanks, Jen!!!) My sanity has been saved thanks to my cousin Tally. She and her husband Taylor moved here last spring and are so much fun. Tally always seems to know when I need help the most, and will spell me for a few hours so I can take a breather. Last but not least, I need to thank Marie Callender for making a mean frozen dinner!

So much for my "Oscar speech," but I truly am feeling grateful and very blessed! Less than two months to go!

The Mustache

Knowing how much I love Magnum P.I., Jason decided to grow a mustache. Actually, the New Zealanders are sponsoring the contest so all of the ER guys jumped on board. Jason says, "It looks pretty ridiculous but this is also a pretty ridiculous place so it’s a perfect match!" The boys thought Dad looked cool but kind of funny. I guess you do what you can do to make the time go by!



Jason sounds good, but says after the two-month mark you really start getting tired of the place. Here's some of his latest journal:

Another week has gone by. It seems to be going by fast enough. I have been busy with lots of different projects. I bought an external hard drive and have downloaded a ton of music onto it from our morale drive. That will come in handy on the ride home. I was also called as the elder’s quorum instructor so I have been preparing my lessons in my spare time. I have read more novels that I ever have in my life. I’m currently reading a book called “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” by Khaled Hosseini. It tells a story about Afghanistan through the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. It tells about the brutality of the Afghan regimes and the way women are treated here. It makes me so mad at the men here. Many women are still wearing Burka’s and the men refuse to allow them to receive medical care from a male doctor. I don’t feel so bad when we get these enemy combatants in all shot up. It sounds terrible but I feel they are getting what they deserve and I wish we could refuse medical care to them just as they do to their own women. However, I can’t do this so we take care of them despite. When they come in I have to put mental blinders on and just do my job. If I think too much about it I just get mad and would be in danger of letting my emotions affect my decision making.

The dust off pad is in between my dorm and the hospital. Everyday you can hear the helicopters take off and land bringing in patients. It’s kind of like the TV show MASH in that respect. If you hear a bunch of helicopters you had better get over to the ED to help out. The past few weeks the fighting has slowed, probably due to the colder weather. Sundays are generally busy. I think it’s due to the fact that Friday is their holy day and they get all riled up and then fight on Saturday and Sunday. I haven’t worked a Sunday where I have seen less than five traumas.

Church was good again today. After sacrament meeting we all went outside and took a picture in front of the chapel. They have been asked to send a picture to church headquarters. Maybe it will end up in the church news. Next week I have to speak in sacrament and teach my lesson. I’m kind of glad to have some more projects.

This Is Halloween!

After what seems like a million Halloween activities this month, we finally celebrated the actual day of Halloween. Here I am with my "super" kids: Jack as Spiderman, Dallin as the Red Power Ranger, Cameron as Batman (obviously the Adam West version!), and Carson as Super-Baby.

Visit to the Bazaar & Stories from the ER

Jason finally found time to visit the bazaar. You can find all kinds of crazy things there -- from rugs and jewelry, to giant spiders and scorpions encased in plastic. Luckily for us, Jason didn't send us any area rugs, just the giant insects! The boys got a kick out of them, but I'm still creeped out and don't know where to put them!

Jase sounds good. I get to see him every day on the web cam, and talk to him on the phone every other day. He hasn't had a day off in 40 days! Here's some of his latest journal entry:

"The crew in the ER are a good group. Everyone is very diligent and works hard. We have been able to take care of everything that has come through the door, even the mini mass casualty two weekends ago. There are some people who make me laugh. Two of our techs are my favorites. They are very enthusiastic yet a bit on the slow side -- all at the same time. They are all military with high and tight hair and mustaches to boot. I can count on them to come and inform me on official information, like trauma coming in about 5 minutes after I have been officially informed. One of the sergeants has a knack for losing things, particularly important things like all the training records for the unit. He also comes by every night to let me know the coffee is ready even though I tell him every time that I don’t drink it. Very thoughtful nonetheless.

They other day we were examining a trauma patient and Sergeant B. was at the head of the bed. I asked him to hold c-spine so we could roll the patient and look at his back. It was his responsibility to count to three so that we could roll him simultaneously to maintain alignment of his spine. I said “Okay sergeant, on your count.” He gives me his professional look and barks out in his best drill sergeant voice,”On my three! Oone, Duu, Tree!!” I looked up at Dr Savage, our trauma surgeon, with a surprised look on my face. Did he really do that?? I said, “Sergeant, would you now please put the patient at parade rest?” That didn’t even phase him. I checked his back and then told him we were ready to roll him back. He barked it out the same way. We all were cracking up. I decided not to have that sergeant hold c-spine anymore after that.

One Happy Kid

Carson is the happiest guy. He smiles his huge smile at anyone and will talk to you as long as you look at him. He is cutting his second tooth, can almost sit up, and is trying to crawl!

Summer in October

Our weather is warm again! We celebrated by making Dallin's favorite "Wemen Swush" (lemon slush). Dal loves sipping his slush out in the sunshine. Dallin is such a sweetie. He loves to be cuddled and has such a tender heart. He also says some pretty funny things, such as calling Indiana Jones "Alien Banana Jones," and the transformer Optimus Prime, "Octapus Crime."



Cameron "Punkin Head" Taylor (Jason's nickname for Cam) was living up to his name. He kept running around with this pumpkin bucket on his head, falling on the trampoline and laughing. Cam apparently ate the Super Saturday Children's Class out of house and home. The leaders were amazed. They said, "He finished his plate, then went around and cleaned up the leftovers from the rest of the children!" We love our sturdy guy!

Love Those Visitors!

Jack Literally Loses His Tooth

A landmark day has occurred for the Taylor family: Our first lost tooth! Jack's tooth had been wiggly for a few weeks, then while brushing his teeth, he spit his tooth down the drain. He didn't even realize it was gone until I checked his mouth! So we wrote a little note to the Tooth Fairy. Jack: "I lost my tooth down the drain. May you get it for me? Love, Jack" Luckily Grandpa and Grandma Skidmore arrived that very night. Handy Grandpa took apart the drain and found the tiny tooth in the trap. The tooth fairy gave it back to Jack since it was his first lost tooth. He was thrilled!

Fore!

Here's Jason hard at work. One of the sergeants arranged to have this donated. Anything to break up the monotony!

Jason is doing well. Here's an exerpt from one of his latest journals:

It has been less overwhelming this past week and the trauma numbers are decreasing a bit. I have had time to watch a few movies while I have been at work which has been nice. I went to church today. The spirit is always really strong there. It is pretty amazing to be around so many good brothers and sisters serving in the military and working as contractors here. Today was testimony meeting. One private stood up and said he was so thankful because he was able to get married in the temple on his mid deployment leave. Another major stood up and spoke about how he got to watch his dad ordain his oldest son a teacher on web cam. These guys are here for 12 to 15 months. They and their families are making great sacrifices to do this. I will never feel sorry for myself as long as they are around and they will be.

Dal's New 'Do

So Dallin has a new haircut. I honestly didn't request a buzz, but didn't have time to stop the woman in time. Jack was in shock, "When is Dallin going to look like Dallin again?" Then, Dallin in tears: "I don't wook wike Dawin!" Yet, a week later, I think it's growing on me. After all, if David Beckham can pull it off, why not our Dal?

Cam's Antics

The Caminator strikes again. From sitting in the freezer eating ice cream, to sprinkling garlic salt and oregano on his toast, Cameron has a creative way of making mischief. He's figured out several ways of getting my attention. His favorite is to sit directly on Carson. (Luckily Carson is a sturdy 20 lbs. -- it hasn't phased him yet.)

Jason's Adventures in Afghanistan

We've survived one month without Jason! We miss him so much, but love Skype-ing with him. He is doing well and we've all gained a new perspective on what really matters in life. He frequently sends journal articles. Here's one of my favorite entries:

After my shift tonight I went back to my dorm and changed into my ABU’s. There was another fallen comrade ceremony on the flight line. This time it was for 7 soldiers. Another touching ceremony. I looked over and in the front of the line were a handful of their buddies who had been wounded standing at attention in their hospital pajamas. They had been allowed to attend the ceremony. It was really moving to see them there. When we were commanded to present arms as the coffins came by I saw casted and bandaged arms being raised to salute. It was one of the most moving things I have ever seen.

We have had a rough month with casualties. None of these men made it to our facility so they must have died in the field or at a forward operating base hospital. The sergeant playing the bagpipes played “Abide with Me” and “Amazing Grace” again. I kept thinking of the lines “O thou who chang-est not abide with me” and “Thru cloud and sunshine, Lord abide with me.” I thought of their families and the sorrow they are going through. The first verse ends with, “Help of the helpless, Lord abide with me.”

As the back of the massive C17 was being filled with these 7 flag draped coffins I thought of how helpless their loved ones must be feeling while they wait days or weeks until the bodies finally arrive and can be laid to rest. I prayed that the Lord and his comforting spirit would abide with them. I will never forget some of these images.

Almost 5 months old!

We just love our peaceful little Carson! He sleeps well, eats well, and loves hanging out with the boys. Carson is a chatterbox and will talk to you as long as you look at him. He can roll over, almost sits by himself, and can't get enough of the bath. He also enjoys playing in the saucer. (Our first child to actually enjoy the thing.)

Carson thinks Cameron is hilarious and will laugh out loud while watching him take a bath. He's almost started eating solid foods, thanks to a fruit snack courtesy of Jake Chugg!

At his last well-baby appointment, Carson took honors at 105% height, 98% weight and 60% head size. Sound familiar?

Daddy Gone!

This image just about sums up the way we feel with our Daddy gone. Jason began his journey to Afghanistan on Monday, Sept. 1. He finally made it there on Saturday, Sept. 6! He took the scenic route: Calif. to Virginia to Canada to Iceland to Newfoundland to Finland to Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan! He sounds good, though, and gets to call me (for free!) every day from work at the hospital. (And work he does -- every day from noon to 3 a.m.)

School Daze

Jack and Dallin both started school last week. After some ups and downs, Jack has finally decided that he loves all-day kindergarten. He really likes his teacher, Mrs. Combado. (We really had to work with him on pronouncing it "Combado" and not "Combottom.")

Highlights of Jack's first few days include being amazed that there was a "restaurant" at the school! He also came home in awe of the "movie sheet" that movies are projected on.

Dallin absolutely loves preschool. His teacher, Ms. Heather, is adorable and does the cutest crafty things with the kids. Dal brought home an "I Am Special" book. Here are some excerpts from his little interview . . .

1. Favorite color: red
2. Favorite toy: My Superheroes
3. What do you want to be when you grow up: A Superhero
4.What is your favorite food: Cheese sandwiches and pizza
5. What scares you: witches (we had to laugh at this one!)

"Camcake" Taylor

Cameron "the Caminator" Taylor is obsessed with pancakes. Every morning he finds the griddle in the pantry then pulls out the Bisquick. This afternoon he took it a step further, attempting all by himself to flip his own powder pancake. This picture is not posed. He found the spatula, sprinkled the pancake mix on the griddle, then started cookin'!