Post Christmas Bowling

We found our kids love bowling as much as anyone. So, we hit the lanes with Scott and Shelbi on Friday. It was a blast. Jensen got a little frustrated because he's used to beating us all on the Wii-- the real thing is a little different. After two games, $10 worth of fries and $8 worth of soda, we called it a success.

Seriously, this much snow

Proof that there was more snow than extended family at our house this Christmas.

Annie-- I'll be heading down your way if this doesn't let up!

Mamam Mia! All the talk at church...

Rich has it in his mind that he MUST surprise me with one totally unexpected gift each Christmas. The surprises have ranged from diamonds to phones to furniture. But this year, he really out did himself. Two weeks ago he planned a party at our house for my friends the Saturday after Christmas. Not one person gave it away! I didn't know about it until Christmas morning when I opened my invitation inviting me to my own Mamma Mia! sing along party. We had a blast and those of us who were brave and dressed up even posed for a picture. We did sing--very loudly. Talk about a gift to remember. Ten-want-to-be-singers belting out Broadway songs (and one very little Anja who loves an audience). Thanks Rich-- you did it again.

Christmas at the Coombs!

Talk about a rush! It's all about hurrying to get ready for the big day and then-bam- it's here and then it is over. This year, thanks to mother nature and the 3 (yes, that is a 3) feet of snow that fell between Christmas Eve and Christmas day, we didn't go anywhere. We finally peeled the pj's off our kids on Christmas Day night and made them get in the tub.



Scott and Jensen doing their usual rough housing. It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt!

Santa brought Carter a this huge Star Wars lego ship.

Three hours later (and a massive headache) Carter and Dad finished it on Christmas Day.

Anja got her first American Girl doll--Bitty Baby--which she loves to death. Santa brought all the accessories for her to become a little mommy.

The boys both got many Wii games but Jensen got this DS system and couldn't have been happier.

Our Neighbor Gift

No cookies no candy-- just this note. It was one of the best teaching moments I've had with my children this year. Here's the letter we left on our neighbor's doorsteps. Merry Christmas to all our friends-- even those we don't get to see much.

December 2008
On Christmas Eve each year, Rich and I talk with our children about the Saviors’ birth and the many miracles he performed on earth. This year, we will focus on God’s love and the power of prayer as our family experienced our own little miracle this month.

On December 16, 2008 Anja fell against the glass on our fireplace. It instantly burned her little hand. In less than a minute it was covered in blisters and started swelling. It was a long and horrible day as I held my baby screaming in pain with first and second degree burns and wanting nothing more than to take it all away. Then it happened, the teaching moment came.

Despite her current pain, she would heal. The scars on her hand would fade until they were nothing more than a memory of a childhood accident. But, most important, she was coming home from the doctor’s office and we needed to be grateful for this blessing, not focused on the injury.

There are many parents who can’t take their burned children home. There are mothers who hold their children in pain day after day without seeing relief. There are children who are reminded every time they look into a mirror of their accident.

This is why there is no plate of cookies or box of candies on your doorstep from our family. Instead, we took the money we were planning to use for neighbor gifts and donated it to Camp Nah-Nah-Mah (camp friendship) that is held every year at Camp Tracy for young burn survivors. The camp offers 6 to 12 year olds the chance to interact with other victims, find strength in numbers and feel normal in a crowd.

The donation was made on behalf of the Oquirrh Highland Estates neighborhood. We hope this donation will help a child feel joy in being just a kid at camp this summer, not another patient at the University of Utah burn unit. It’s a small gift that we hope will make an impact on a stranger we’ll never meet.

We have been so touched this year by the many talks we’ve heard while sitting in our church congregation. The message we hear over and over is to simplify and enjoy this season. Don’t dwell on what you don’t have but celebrate what you do have. We are celebrating our own miracle and are grateful our little one is home with us.

We are so grateful for you—our neighbors and friends who help us see the light at the end of the tunnel, the power in prayer and the joy in a bag of chocolates when it’s been a really bad day.

Thank you for your love and support. Life really is a journey that is more enjoyable when traveled with friends. Merry Christmas and may you see the little miracles happening around you every day.

Love, the Coombs Family

No news

Rich got his test results back. No news is good new in this case, I guess. Everything came back normal. The doc's he works with have a theory for the pain and he talked to his doc about it. So for now, we are treating it with diet and prayer. Maybe it was a fluke. I'm just glad it wasn't something life threatening. The stress was enough to kill me.

Sunday Best

We try it every year; the Sunday before Christmas we get all dress up.. and take a million pictures hoping to get one where everyone is smiling, looking at the camera and genuinely looks angelic.

We didn't get an award winner again this year-- but we got some fun memories. Note to grandmothers: Yes, the boys do have suites, but I forgot to iron the shirts (really I didn't get them to the cleaners this week) so we went with something else. We'll redo this picture shoot next Sunday with their Christmas ties.

Taking Flack

So I'm taking a little flack on my last post. Yes, I was dancing the happy dance. Not because someone else failed, but because the pressure of dealing with it is off my shoulders. Sorry to those who thought otherwise.

Update on Anja-- took the bandages off yesterday for most of the morning. The burns look gross, red and raw but that is how they are supposed to look while they heal. She wears the bandage when we go out in pubilc to keep germs off it and protect her hand against whatever mischief she can find. Overall, it is doing well. No more pain med's.

Christmas shopping. Rich and completed the shopping for the oldest two last month, much of it online. Yesterday we STARTED Anja's stuff. We left the kids with a sitter and ventured out. Target was crazy, but manageable. The mall was a zoo and the lines were soooooo long. But, it is done! Few stocking stuffers and one return and then the wrapping. I like that part so no worries there.

The Happy Dance

It's time to do the happy dance. The weight that has been on my shoulders over the past six weeks has been lifted and handed to someone else to carry (State Charter Board).

Today we presented our case against Monticello Academy's school's director and several members of the board of trustees. According to the State, this is a first (lucky me). Never has a case been presented with the solution being that the State step in and remove the two people who started the school. They didn't give us their decision but we had a very strong case and presented solutions that will turn our school into a healthy, thriving charter. The State's investigation starts now-- January 15th they vote.

I wasn't there when the "defendants" presented their case but I will say this, I feel good about what we did. It was hard, it was sickening, it was time consuming, but it was the right thing to do.

Already we've seen changes. For the first time the BofT put public comment on the agenda at last nights meeting. They "invited" the principal to sit with them for the meeting. They also moved the meeting into a bigger room and set up microphones. Simple changes.

For those that read this and are convinced I am personally trying to bring down the chance of a high school-- the State once again stated we are not responsible and even if those we've accused are found guilty, the high school remains untouched.

And no, fellow charter families, this will not be in the news tonight--- we'll wait.

Deal with it..

I had to post this picture. I think the caption should say: "Just deal with it and wave, just deal and wave.. he's got presents... so just deal with it and wave but don't look him in the eye."

Perspective

It's been a less then stellar month for us. There is the drama with the school, my resignation on November 6. The car accident on November 8. Half a dozen trips to the physical therapist. Rich's mysterious abdominal pain. Half a dozen trips to the doctor and hospital for tests, ultrasounds and finally the exploratory scope on Thursday with two biopsies. We're still waiting for those results. It all came into perspective yesterday...

Jensen stayed home from school sick. After lunch I got him comfortable on the couch before I took Anja up for her nap. I turned on the fireplace, walked over to hit "upload" on the computer and heard a scream. We figure she fell into the glass, but no one saw it happen. Her entire palm on the right hand is covered in 2nd degree burns. The sound and smell are in my memory forever. I ran to the sink, called my girlfriend Stacey to come over and she called the doctor while I held my baby under the water twisting and screaming in pain.
Stacey drove my car, as I held Anja in the backseat, to the doctor's office. I couldn't focus on what was being said so Stacey took mental notes. I couldn't watch at they pulled the dead skin from my daughters swollen hand or even talk as they asked me questions. I was in shock.
There is no prescription pain medication for a child as young as Anja to curb the searing pain that she feels unless you go to Umed for morphine. She didn't qualify because the burn was on less than 1/4 of her body. We are using Tylenol and Ibuprofen, that's it.
I will never forget the hours of sheer torture as I held my baby screaming on my lap. No song no kiss no jester of comfort would help. Only time. It took four hours. This morning her diaper was dry. She cried every ounce of liquid out last night.
There will be scars, there will be more pain. But today I am glad that it is not her face, her leg or more of her body. How does anyone survive a burn? How does a parent care for a child in that much pain? I don't know. On top of it all, you deal with the mommy guilt. She will be fine over all. Her hand still moves and she wont loose her ability to do anything. But it is still hard to see.
Perspective. I got it yesterday whether I wanted it or not.

School Drama Update

So if you know me you know the drama that's erupted at Monticello Academy. No, not the charter school that laid off their entire sixth grade, but another one. First, I love the building, charter and education my kids are getting. But, I've got issues with the director and several members of the Board of Trustees (okay, all of them but one). When we (the PC) resigned on November 6th I had no idea I was in for the fight of my life. I've spent more time reading legal documents, interpreting policy and dreaming about the school than I care to remember. We sent the state our 24 page document outlining the policy, procedures and regulations that have been broken one month ago. They scheduled a meeting with us for this Friday. Brian Allen is the state chair (does anyone out there know him??) he's who we are meeting with. But before that happened, we were asked to attend a meeting organized by parents at the library last Saturday. Can I tell you how amazing it was to see 75 chairs filled plus 20 other parents standing against the wall? And they all came despite a blizzard! We presented our case to them-- they asked the one and only board member there for some answers. He sounded cool and collected, but dug his own grave when he admitted he never reads his emails because he doesn't have time.
None of this has been turned over the media, yet. But it will. We'll give the state one chance to clean up this mess, or we'll head to the press. Let's face it. This isn't the week that the state wants more bad press on charter schools out there. Stay tuned. And if the person calling him/her self A.G.Tator feels the need to read this, bone up-- use your real name.

He came, he came--and no one cried!

It's true. Santa made his yearly visit to the Bywater Christmas party tonight and NO ONE cried. It was amazing. Anja was a little nervous until she saw him handing out gifts then we had to hold her back! She tried hard to monopolize his time (even trying to sit on his lap over an over). But Santa knew her well and kept her busy pulling candy canes out of the bottom of his sack. I can't believe we've been doing this for eight years. I love it and so do the kids. Carter is nearly nine and still gets excited. Nadia (Kristin's daughter) and Jensen are both five and Anja is the youngest. I love family traditions. Even the goofy ones.

Their First Ballet

It is something Rich and I do nearly every year but this year we did it with a twist. We took Carter and Jensen with us to see the Nutcracker ballet at Capital Theater. We weren't sure what their reaction would be but decided this was the year to make the leap from small community productions to the real thing. Luck for us, they loved it. They spent the first 20 minutes we were there exploring the theater with all of its little nooks and crannies. Once the show began, they were mesmerized. We sat in the middle on the front row of the first balcony. They were amazing seats. We could see the entire stage and all the musicians below. Can't wait to take them to Hale Theater this week for A Christmas Carol. That should be just as fun. I consider this as yet another step down the path of raising up cultured, polite and educated boys (not an easy task when you are competing against the Wii).