Best Birthday Present...See Above

Shhh, don't tell Kyle, but my very talented oldest sister Natasha, created me an awesome header for my blog for my birthday, and it is my favorite present.  By the way, Kyle did a great job of getting me just what I wanted (exercise clothes, tennis shoes, triathlon watch, Schwann's ice cream).  I LOVE what she made for me, and she came up with everything all on her own.  Thanks Tash for making it for me, it's just what I needed and wanted for this family blog of mine!  I know it took a lot of time to get it just how she wanted.

A little bit of background for those of you who are wondering why the name of our blog is Big Chief Little Chief (by the way, Natasha also gave me the idea for my blog name).  Kyle is the chief (his grandfather and dad have both passed away) of his Maori tribe in New Zealand called Ngāti Porou and because he is the oldest son, of the oldest son (lineage). Michael by birthright will also be the chief (when Kyle kicks the can). However, that being said, we don't live in New Zealand so Kyle's great uncle is the acting chief. Both Kyle and Michael have the middle name Porourangi. Try teaching that name to your child. You'll notice the New Zealand Fern Leaf on Kyle's shirt. Awesome!

Today I am in my LATE 20's

Today is my 28th birthday.  Time flies when you're having fun, that is for sure.  Seriously, I can't believe I'm 28.  Not that I don't want to be 28, just that I can't believe I'm already 28.  This morning I started my day off at the pool training for the triathlon (yeah, still not sure how I'm going to finish that thing).  For lunch my mom and dad are taking me out, and my sister is watching the boys.  I'm excited!  Tonight we're going as a family to Red Robin for my free birthday burger.  It's going to be a great day, I can already tell.  If only the sun would come out!

Happy Birthday to my sister-in-law Emily, my good friend Stephanie, my niece Clara, and Happy Anniversary to Grandma and Grandpa Lybbert!

Hop on over to Make You Over to see my birthday post and to vote on your favorite finalist!

What Preston Puts up With

I have a million more pictures from this incident then what I put in the collage, and they are all equally funny to me.  Maybe they aren't funny to anyone else but us, but seriously these pictures sum up life with my boys.  Preston puts up with a lot. He wasn't annoyed that Michael was in his bed, he was annoyed that I wasn't getting him out of bed.  Preston has been having a rough time sleeping lately.  I put Preston in bed, and I turned my back for one second and Michael had bolted in Preston's room to save him (he was crying).  Michael LOVES to get in Preston's bed.  If you'll notice he's in all of the pictures, just some of them he's hiding under the blanket.  Preston was not happy this time.  Pretty funny.  Michael does not sit still for even half a second.  I guess that's why he's so much fun.  Someone in our ward told me this week that she loves Michael and that he "just loves life."  That is a perfect way to describe him, except for maybe tonight when he was hysterically mad for NO reason. I mean, he threw a tantrum like I've never seen him throw, and I think it went on for an hour.  During FHE, scripture study, and family prayer.  Let's just say he wasn't exactly feeling the Spirit!

Michael tries to wrestle Preston ALL day long.  Preston doesn't seem to mind, and actually he usually can be found laughing hysterically.  I think I'd be crying hysterically.  Michael does not take it easy on him that is for sure.  Check out the positions he's got Preston in.  Hilarious.  Michael is always asking me where Preston is.  He does not want him far from him.  They are best friends already, which I love.  By the way, don't mind the Christmas PJ's in April (almost May).

Lady in the Night

Last night was not a good night for me.  At 3 am I had reached my limit!  There was a barking dog that had been barking for a good hour already.  I didn't know which house this dog belonged to, but I was about to find out.  It was barking a MILLION miles an hour (one of those yappy,really annoying, loud, piercing barks)  So in my bathrobe, in the rain, I marched up the street until I could find out which house this dog belonged to.  I wasn't certain before, but now I knew which house this annoying dog belonged to.  A couple of times the dog has been going around in the middle of the night and barking at other dogs, which creates even more fun for those of us trying to sleep. I have called the police many other times before on this stupid dog, but they've never come to check out the situation.  Now that I had an address, I was not letting this one go.  I went back, called the police and told them of the situation.  "okay ma'am we'll send someone right out."  A hour hour later, still no police, so I called again.  An hour later, still no police.  I called one more time, and finally they said someone was in route.  By this time, I saw three neighbors turn their lights on trying to see where the problem was with the dog.  I was met by two of my neighbors in the street in their bathrobes.  They decided to have a smoke and a drink to drown out the noise.  By 4:30 am the police officer finally came and the people finally brought their dog in the house.  I told the police officer I was going to shoot the dog if he didn't show up.  I don't understand how people can be so inconsiderate.  I'm not sure what he told the people, but I sure hope they got a citation.

Friday Night at the "Merc"

Come enjoy a night out on Friday night at the Country Mercantile (one of the sponsors for the Mother's Day Makeover).  Should be fun!

Check out the details HERE

Will I see you there?

I Love Lamp....and Miggy

My dear friend Miggy (not her real name, but her blogging name) has a sweet story to tell.  She is a strong woman that is for sure.  This story will make you sad, but happy at the same time because of their optimism and hope  A company decided to do something really sweet for them, so go check out the story.  You might want to read the links she posted at the bottom of her page which will explain things.

A pic of myself, Miggy, and her man when I visited NYC while traveling for work (by the way Miggy, I have a million pictures of you and your man from this trip, I must have thought you guys were cute newlyweds). Anyone recognize her husband from somewhere? I'll give you a hint. Smith Fieldhouse. 

Just A Stage? Please, Please, Please be the Case!

Not so innocent folks.....
Preston is going through an "I don't want to take a nap" stage.  It is really annoying.  He has been crying for over an hour and 40 minutes.  I know that this is the only way I'm going to cure him of this by letting him cry it out, which I had to do last week, but usually I caved.  It all started when he learned to stand up in his crib last week.  He will stand up and get "stuck" in that position.  Yesterday he didn't take any naps at all.  He is still happy, but all babies need naps, happy or not.  Or maybe all mommies need their babies to take naps (two at this age).

I'm going to go crazy.....

Date Night

Nothing better than getting a babysitter at the last minute and going on a date.  Seriously, I LOVE it and we need to do it more often.  I swear we're not as pale as this picture make us look, well at least my perma-brown husband isn't.  

I better go to bed because I have to run 5 miles in the morning!  I don't know how I'm going to do it!

Brownie Points

Michael is a one-of-a-kind kid.  Maybe I just think that because I'm his mother.  Lately he's been learning the art of buttering up to me, and trust me he needs to learn that art very well right now!  He'll tell me I'm pretty or cute and then play with my hair (when he's not playing with it he's pulling it....hard).  Last night I had a church meeting so when I came downstairs after getting ready he said, "Oh mom,you're a princess?"  He said it soo cute too.  Then he could tell I was extremely happy with him for saying that, so he said, "Oh mom, you're a pretty princess!"  He probably repeated that 20 times last night.  Teach 'em young (especially when you're the only female in the house!)

Over the River and Through the Woods To Grammy's House We Went

We made a quick trip to Vancouver last weekend for a baptism (forgot to get the camera out until the last day). How is it that everytime we go there I gain weight? I think it has something to do with the endless supply of sweets at Kyle's mom's house. I don't have self control when it comes to Pineapple Lumps and Coconut Rough. 

Am I the only person who take 4 days to unpack from a trip where we were only gone for 2 days? That's the problem with an upstairs. I come downstairs and don't go back up until it's time to put someone down for a nap.  Today I need to do some serious laundry.  

I am sooo tired because Preston is teething and waking up at night, I'm going to bed way too late as it is, and then waking up so early to exercise. Swimming feels good, but it also makes me tired.  Needless to say, I need a nap myself!  Too bad that won't be happening today, or the next day, or the next day.

This picture cracks me up with the kids hanging all over the swing set.  This has been around since Kyle was a little boy.  

Payton is the best babysitter in the whole world.  He just loves babies so much, and I love all of his help.

Sticking Preston outside in his highchair was the only thing that made him happy yesterday (of course as soon as dad gets home he's happy though).  I gave him treats to snack on and when I went out to check on him his brother had thrown pea gravel all over his tray.  I'm sure I'll find some pea gravel in his diaper.

No explanation needed for this boy except just looking at him makes me want to take a nap!  He is ALWAYS up to something.  His two year old anger problems have been coming through lately.  I'm not enjoying that so much.

Michael loves tools, loves his dads measuring tapes, and loves making messes.  He is on the go that's for sure.

Mother's Day Makeover

Are you sick of me talking about "my other blog?"  I just wanted to remind you that I have the Mother's Day makeover going on over there right now.  I had multiple people tell me last time that they didn't hear about it until it was too late, so get the word out!  It is valued at over $2,400!!!  Last time I picked a reader of this blog to be in the top 5 (hint, hint) and the readers get to vote on the top 5.  Plus anyone who gets in the top 5 gets a free meal at the Country Mercantile.  Do you remember how amazing my last one turned out?  Well this one should be even better!  Plus, you don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to go to the news station.  So go enter your mom, grandma, aunt or even better, go get your husband or someone else to enter YOU!  

I'm also doing a great giveaway for some clutches, so go enter that!

Easter 2010

The Easter bunny didn't bring Michael any candy this year because he got plenty the night before at the Easter egg hunt, but he did get an apple and pear which he was equally excited about, and potty-training supplies, which I'm not looking forward to using, but at the same time SO ready. The best part about having a 2 year old is, he doesn't care that I re-gifted him the bunny he got last year.  I also threw in some items from my shopping trip to Target, such as, socks, undershirts, shampoo and soap.  He didn't care that there wasn't any candy in his basket, he was just excited that there was a basket with stuff inside.

My Friend Meg

I feel like a 3rd grader saying this, but I'll say it anyways.....I love my new friend Meg!  Seriously she's hip, she's cute, she's talented, and we have children the EXACT same age, except she's got girls and I've got boys.  A play date is in order....after this wind is done whipping its way through town.  


Meg snapped some photos of me while we were waiting for Sarah to get ready for her photo shoot.  I must say, these make me feel pretty.  Not something I often feel while I'm a nursing stay at home mom.  You know she must be good if she can make me look decent after running around "like a chicken with it's head cut off" all day for the makeover.    

You better go check her out....

Please check out Sarah.  She looks amazing!  Click HERE.

Tired

I'm tired, and I need to go to bed, but there is still a lot to do before we have to go on Good Morning Northwest.  I hope you all are checking out the progress!

My favorite lines from the makeover:

Sarah looking at herself in the dressing room mirror when we first went shopping, "wow, I look middle class!"

Sarah talking about Spanx, "they  must be good if Kathie Lee and Hoda wear them."

Her husband seeing her for the first time since makeover, "looks like I've got myself a new girlfriend."

I called them on their way home from Cameo Heights Mansion, and I asked how things went.  Sarah said, "I feel like a new bride."

My least favorite line:

"you really have to cut it? Why don't you just give it a trim?"  Don't worry, we won that battle.

I just got some pics from the photographer, and I'm beside myself.  Amazing.  Amazing.

In the Spirit of Easter

In the spirit of Easter I'm forgiving everyone involved in the situation with Preston. The nurse practitioner called me on Saturday to apologize. She said after my sister came in and sorted things out for her, she decided that I had a "mommy moment" and she had a "crabby menopausal moment." I guess it took someone close to me for her to understand that I didn't do anything on purpose. I told her that people make mistakes and I accept her apology. Also, her boss who wrote the letter called this morning to make sure that I had spoke to her and that they will make some changes in the future. Also, his boss (president of Kadlec clinic), called me today to make sure I had talked to both of them and that they had apologized. Sooo......I'm moving on. I think everyone hopefully learned their lesson that in the future it's best to give the patient the benefit of the doubt. I'm glad to be done with the whole ordeal.

This makeover business has been taking some time and WORK. It has been difficult to find clothes that fit well, but I think I finally have some good options to pick from. We went shopping together on Friday, but didn't have much luck, but I was able to figure out what worked with her body type, etc. I'm exhausted that's for sure from all the searching I've had to do. I'm really hoping and praying that the items I picked up today fit. Please, please, please!!! Sarah has been great to work with. I hope everyone checks the makeover blog tomorrow. It should be an exciting day.

Happy Easter To All

Update

So I emailed my blog post to the 4 Presidents at Kadlec.  I didn't hear back from anyone, so I decided to call the President of the Kadlec Clinic to see if he received it, which he didn't for some reason, but someone who did, told him about it.  He was very, very nice to me and he told me that he would be "ticked off" if he got a letter like that.  He completely understood why I would feel the way I do.  He is going to get to the bottom of it, and get back to me Monday morning.  He said today was the first he'd heard of the incident, and now he was going to be handling it himself. He wanted to know what I wanted out of all of this.  I told him that I'm not trying to get anyone fired, I'm not trying to ruin someone's career, but I do think policy should be changed, I do think that she should have called me to ask for them back, I do think she should have apologized to me, and I do think that the letter should never have been sent.  Also, the person who sent the letter, should be held accountable.  I think that if someone is going to be denied medical coverage that it should have to go through a system, not happen the same day the incident took place with no phone call.  I really have loved the care that we've received there, and want that to continue! (as far as using the hospital, etc)       

My sister went to the nurse practitioner today because that is the only person she could get into.  Her daughter had a bad ear infection and they needed some medicine.  Anyhow, she brought up the letter to her, and said she was my sister.  The Nurse Practitioner (I won't mention any names) told her that when she left the room that the blocks were on the ground.  Maybe they were, maybe I grabbed them because she gave them to him and I didn't think twice about it.  The point is, I would have brought them back THAT day if I had received a phone call.  Trust me, I have enough toys to not want two stupid little blocks that don't belong to any set.  Regardless, today she was telling my sister that the blocks were on the ground.  Meaning she took notice, didn't pick them up as she left, and assumes I stole them and that is why she wanted us to be dropped from the clinic.  Nice.  It makes me think she was baiting me.  Also, she told my sister that I need to call her so we can sort it out.  I am not about to call her, she can call me and I'd gladly talk about the incident.  When they give my kids stickers, do they expect me to give them back at the end of the visit?        

Anyhow, the reason for this post is to let you know that I do think Kadlec is going to handle this correctly, but I just had to talk to the correct people.  Heck, maybe I'll start having some of the upper management following my blog now.  Maybe they'll want to check out my makeover blog.  hahah

You won't believe this.

So I wasn't going to post this, I really wasn't, but now I've decided I HAVE to post this.

Last week, Preston received the following letter Priority Mail letter. I read the letter with confusion, shock, and then anger. I could not believe what I was reading. At first I had NO idea what they were talking about. What are testing blocks? Unauthorized removal? What in the world? Then it dawned on me that during the visit the Nurse Practitioner left the room and came back in with two little blocks (maybe worth a couple of pennies). She gave them immediately to Preston and he played with them the rest of the visit. She even picked them up off the floor when he'd drop them and give them back to him. He slobbered all over them, and I didn't even think twice when we left with the blocks still in his little hands. I figured she gave them to him to play with and keep.  She NEVER asked for them back. She didn't ask for them back when she saw us before we left, the front desk person didn't ask for them back when she said goodbye to Preston. Not a word was said to us, until we got this letter denying Preston coverage at the Kadlec Clinic.  Seriously, I was so mad when I got this. I've calmed down a little bit about it, but not enough to not post it on my blog so that other people can be aware.  We have spent many thousands of dollars with the Kadlec Clinic, and they are willing to terminate our relationship over this (no, he didn't steal the battery, just showing your for size)......

Notice that there isn't ANY contact information (except for ours, which I blocked out).  There's nothing saying that I can dispute the claim.  No bill for the two blocks (which I offered to immediately bring over), no phone call asking me to return them.  Also, the letter was written the same day of his appointment.  I didn't even know we had brought them home until I got the letter and searched through all of the toys.  I didn't find them, but when I looked in the car they were still in there from his appointment.

Preston was wearing these PJ's the day we got the letter so we decided to take his mug shot.

I have called and spoke to management (it took them about 4 days to get back to me) and they have told me that the Nurse Practioner will not apologize to me and does not feel that she was in the wrong, although they feel the letter shouldn't have been sent.  The man who sent the letter isn't apologizing either.  They explained that I will have to accept their apology on behalf of her. I'm pretty sure that if I was her boss I would make sure she apologized.  Then they told me that I'm welcome to go to another one of their clinics (clear in West Richland).  No thanks!

Can you believe that a provider would think that the 9 month old that she GAVE the blocks to was in the wrong?  Can you believe that they actually reuse those cheap blocks on other snotty nosed kids?  Speaking of that, a couple of day after Preston's appointment he got a cold, and it passed through to the rest of us.  We are all still sick around here.  Not saying that's how he got sick, but I'm wondering what their "sanitizing process" is with those blocks.

So, now I get to find a new doctor for my boys.  So much fun!