Family Collage

Most of the pics were used in our Christmas card.
I was trying to make a collage for our house
to conserve on space. I am still working on the picture...
Adobe photoshop is great oh the possibilities!!

Brumbaugh House 6:10 p.m. Sunday

Sam Sheep Can't Sleep

Sam Sheep Can't Sleep
What does Sam Sheep do?
Get's up at midnight..
Hula Hoops on Wii Fit
Then blogs about it!!
Maybe Sam Sheep will be able to sleep now.

"Home Depot!" - "Battery powered!"

It was a snow day today...
The kids were already at each others throats.
Apparently, Jackson and Reuben couldn't
think of insults quick enough.
So, tonight Jackson started calling people "Home Depot!!"
Reuben's response "Your battery powered!!"
Really?? I guess I would rather "Home Depot!"
and "Battery powered!" Other than
"Stupid" "Cheese Head" etc.
It should be a great Christmas break!

Concerts, Laptop, and Random Reuben

We start with Reuben's Christmas Concert.
Reuben is the second from the end.
All reports were he didn't sing!!
I'm sure Lloyd and the girls had fun
watching him stand there!!

Reuben has informed us when he grows up he wants to be a dad.
Great!! here he must be practicing for twins...
Nora is growing up way to fast!!
She was trying to help me type in my journal.

On to Emma's holiday concert.....
She was so excited, the school splits the concerts
by grade. It took longer to drive to the school
than for the concert :)

Emma is on the bottom row, one person from the right.

This is the Sunday I was in the hospital.
Lloyd knows I want the kids to look nice for church.
So.... he took a picture to get my approval!!
Great job Babe!

Reuben's spikey hair!! I'm not sure what this was for but
isn't that smile worth a million!

I wish I could take credit for some of this...
Lloyd has done all the concerts, activities,
and anything else the kids need!!
Thanks Lloyd for pulling everything together!

Christmas Card!!

Happy Holidays to Everyone!! I won't be sending out a Christmas picture but this is what you would have received. A huge thanks to everyone who has prayed for our family this year. We could not have made it this far without your prayers. Our family wishes you the best in 2009!

You might get a christmas picture

The picture is designed waiting to be sent to the printer.
Only problem is I am back in the hospital with another
Kidney infection, bladder infection and extra small kidney stones.
Hopefully this time they will be able to really figure out what is wrong.
I promise the next post will have pictures of the kids and something fun.
I am so thankful for an amazing husband, friends, ward member, and of course
doctors, nurses, and drugs, (lots and lots of drugs.)
When I get over this I will send the christmas picture out.

If you want to know...

Final Pre-trial: February 11th 1:30 Ann Arbor Circuit Court
This is where we will say we are ready for trial.
Trial: February 23rd Jury Selection then trial
Bob says to plan on a week long trial.

Music Moves Me

Sooo..... as you read, you are hearing,

begging, pleading, shameless pleas!!!

I really want to extend my music repertoire

here is where you come in please advise me of any great music

my rules are...

I have to be able to understand the words

the music must either have a good message,

be relaxing,

or

motivate me to get things done.

I wish I could make this into a contest... hmmm.

I'll have to think on that one. ........

Maybe I will pick a winner and make them some

cinnamon rolls!!!

That's it you feed me good songs

I'll feed you junk food!!!

(At least cinnamon rolls don't taste like junk :O )

If you want to know..

We are scheduled to be in Ann Arbor Circuit court December 3 at 1:30 p.m.
There is also a possibility we will be back in court a week later on December 10th.
Our Judge is Honorable Archie Brown our lawyer says he is fair.

In the mind of a 5 year old....

Yesterday Jackson came up to me and said....
"Mom when you are a Hippopotamus and carry a sword..."
That is where the statement ended what do I take from it???

Love

I just finished an EMDR session where we focused on the flashback of the lady pulling Jackson away from me and telling me I couldn't have him. YUCK!! Really it makes me kinda want to throw-up! But it was a good session and I want to share a couple thoughts that
I ended the session with.
Just because something horrible happens it doesn't automatically mean I am a horrible person.
Have you ever thought about Christs' love being perfect?
Have you ever thought that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are the only ones who have achieved "perfect" love?
Have you ever thought maybe we aren't suppose to be perfect yet?
Have you ever thought that love even imperfect love might just be the best we can do for now and that is just fine?

Halloween Fun!!

Sweet witch Allie

Jazz Baby Emma

Batman Jackson

Reuben: Superman

Nora:Cutest Lil' Flower Ever

Update

We finally got the transcript from the pre-trial hearing.
The pre-trial has been postponed from November 19th until December 3rd.
If patience is a virtue...then I will be a virtuous woman when we get through this!

4-4-4 Tag

How fun: Emma's first time on roller skates.
Shortly after this picture I found roller blades for $4.96 for her.

These are the rules:
1. Go to your pictures.
2. Upload the fourth picture from the fourth folder.
3. Post.
4. Tag 4 friends. I don't feel like tagging 4 friends but if you want to feel free!

EMDR

I am sure I just heard you say, "What is EMDR?"I will try my best to answer your question.
My counselor through LDS Family Services suggested trying EMDR. It is used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous to last Thursday I would have flashbacks of Lloyd being tasered 15 to 20 times a day.
This doesn't include the other flashbacks of the group yelling at me, sitting in the police car, etc. etc. I was willing to try almost anything but very nervous.

Here is what I have learned: In normal life you process events during REM sleep. Sometimes if you experience a trauma your brain can have a hard time moving the event out of the Fight, Flee or Freeze part of the brain. When this happens for an extended amount of time (over a month) it can be considered PTSD. Once you become somewhat stable you can simulate REM by
doing EMDR in a controlled situation.

My experience: On Thursday I met with my counselor, Linda. I knew we were going to try EMDR. I had to start by getting the most vivid picture/sound of Lloyd being tasered in my mind. Then I would follow Linda's fingers as they passed back and forth in front of my eyes. There is a set number of times she does the pass but that wasn't my part. After she does the passes then
she would ask what thought or feeling I was experiencing. Amazingly there was always something pretty clear. I have to admit things got worse before they got better. At the end of the session I thought we had been doing EMDR 15 maybe 20 minutes.

It had really been 2 HOURS!! That my friends is a lot of brain processing!

When we stopped I just felt sad that Lloyd was tasered but I no longer had the sense of imminent danger and the need to run. I could still get a picture but it seemed far away.

Today: I don't even feel sad. I am down to a couple taser flashbacks a day. The flashbacks are very different, it is more of an acknowledgment that Lloyd was tasered If I want to get a picture I have to work pretty hard. It is like my brain wants to check one spot and then has to go searching.

Tomorrow: I can't predict the future. I don't know if the trial will bring things back up. I do know that we will be doing EMDR for each flashback scene and then the whole park scene. It may take more sessions to experience permanent relief.

I am thankful for the relief of the past two days.

I actually cleaned my house today!

Quirks Tag

6 Quirky things about you.

• Rules: Thank the person who tagged you and mention these rules on your blog.
• Tell 6 UNSPECTACULAR Quirks about yourself and tag 6 fellow bloggers.

Thanks Heidi!!

1. I have had 5 kids and only one epidural. NOT by my choice. Allie and Emma were born in Montana and they didn't do epidurals at that hospital. Jackson we got to the hospital to late. Reuben the anetheologist didn't make it in time. Nora was the winner we knew it was the last chance so they gave me the epidural almost before I was in pain!!
2. I hate the dark. If I have to go outside and I am alone I will run. If someone is around I have to control myself and do a brisk walk. The light is soooo much better.
3. I pride myself in being able to do little girls hair but can't comb my boys hair to save my life! Lloyd often re-combs the boys hair after my attempt. :0
   
4. I can't stand having my fingernails painted (other than clear polish) but love having my toe nails painted.
5. I love to be barefoot. Thus in the summer I spend hours using a pumice stone on my feet so they don't crack and hurt.
6. I have to be on time. Lloyd always jokes that if I am not 5 minutes early then I'm late.
   

I tag: Tiffany, Ann, Janeal, Jake, Janette, Kelli and anyone else who reads this

Perspective

Since the first part of August I have been hearing:
"You've done your share, things can't get worse."
Then something else would happen.
Sometime comical some heartbreaking!
Then today a dear friend posted this:

After fiery plane crash, a sister is held even closer

I remember hearing about this on the news.
That was another family and I had my own problems.
Then I found out, I knew people related to them.
A little closer to home....
Things can always get worse...
Sometimes we all need to be carried....
We all need prayers...
We all need family...
Our understanding is limited...
Heavenly Father's understanding is eternal...
Thanks Ann for helping me to think about my Perspective!

Emma's Baptism

Emma's very special day was last Saturday. She was able to be baptized by her dad.






Ms. Schroeder is Emma's school teacher. She said she felt honored to be invited to such a special day.





Even the boys made it through the day. Thank-you to all the friends who came to be our family. I know family would have loved to have been here if it would have been possible.

Wow!!

So, today as I was taking a nap and my phone kept ringing and I didn't answer. When I get up I have a message from a friend who moved a couple year ago. I love hearing from friends. Another message is from our asthma/immunology doctor for Reuben. I just saw him last week and Reuben had a great visit. I call him back, he left for a satellite office. He calls me back within a few minutes. What does he want?? He just wanted to know if I was okay and if Lloyd was okay. He wanted to let me know he knows we are good parents who want the best for our kids. The media will do there thing but it doesn't change his opinion of us. If either Lloyd or I need to talk to please call or come in because he would like to do whatever he can to help us. Finally, he will call back in a couple months to check on us. WOW!! There really are great people out there.

Media Links...not for feel good reading

Judge orders father in Ypsilanti Township Taser incident to stand trial
Father Stunned By Taser Will Stand Trial
Father Stunned With Taser

Losing the Battle to Win the War

We had our pre-trial hearing today. Two things had to be proved: 1 That a crime (resisting, obstructing or assaulting a police officer) was committed and 2 That Lloyd was potentially the person who committed the crime. This does not have to be without a doubt and what the police officer says could be enough. The police officer involved was the only witness called today. Based on her testimony the judge ruled to "bound" Lloyd over. This means we will go to pre-trial on Nov. 19 at 1:00 p.m. Our lawyer was able to cross-examine the police officer and we feel there were some inaccuracies in the testimony when compared with the police cruzer video and the police report. Also, Ann Arbor News, was there today with a camera. I'm assuming a story will be running in tomorrows paper.

More Media...

I guess this is our 15 minutes of fame... I only wish it were for something else.
I laughed when I read this one... I don't even know who this is
A Single Stupid Coercive Premise
I didn't see the media on Wednesday but apparently they still found out
Hearing delayed for father who was Tasered by deputy

Gratitude

So many blessings...... (In no specific order)
Family
A dad that does bedtime
A house to live in
Innocence of a baby
Food to eat
Relief Society
Friends who care
Prayers
Bed to sleep in
Clean Laundry
Healthy Kids
Scriptures
Formula
Marriage
Extended Family
Smiles of kids
Cars that run
Gospel
Employment
Telephones
Internet
Education
Repentance
Life &
Hugs
Just thought I would share a few of our blessings on my mind this morning.

Not so perfect life....

So, most of you realize I have made our blog private. I was determined to not post anything until life got better. Then I was thinking maybe it is good for others to know life isn't always perfect in the blogging world. I'm not blogging this for pity but we will accept prayers. You really need to read all three reports to know the truth is somewhere mixed in with the untruths.

Deputy zaps dad with stun gun during confrontation over lost boy at park
Father Stunned With Taser While Reclaiming Lost Child
Deputies Taser Man Who 'Lost Control'

So, what have I learned......

• Sometimes life really stinks
• The church is true and amazing people step in to make life a little more tolerable.
• Everyone makes mistakes
• What a blessing it is to be alive and have our family together!!

Today's update: We were at court for a pre-trial hearing. Our attorney ask us if we would mind delaying a week. I can't explain it but it really felt like the right thing to do, so we will be back in court next week.

Hair Time??

I want to ignore my housework today, you know the laundry, dusting, bathroom, kitchen, I don't even want to make a meal. So, what do I want to do today.... I guess Emma's hair.
















Thanks Sara for leading me to these awesome girl hair websites: http://shedoeshair.blogspot.com/
http://girlydos.blogspot.com/

Kids Say...

Here are my three quotes of recent things my sweet children have said.

Jackson: "I don't love it!"

Conversation of Emma and Jackson:
Jackson talking, "Rain, go away I don't want you!"
Emma "Jackson you can't talk to the rain to make it go away. You have to sing to it!! Rain, Rain Go Away Come Again another Day!"


Emma: "Mom, why does your face look like that?"

Crying in the other Room!!

I hear crying...
I am sure Reuben is involved....
I walk in the room to see.....Reuben says, "I hold Nora, she loves me!!"
I did not know love sounded like crying.

Smile

Nora is almost 2 months old!!

I want to go too!!

Reuben really wants to be a big kid. I took this picture on the first day of school at his insistence. Thank heaven I decided to send him to preschool it starts next week.
Do you see our sneaky Jackson in the back?

I just became a great MOM!!

I sent my kids to the first day of school... I love them dearly and I love them
even more when they get home from a long day at school!! Oh, and a cute
picture of Nora she has lots of grins for Grandma.

Lloyd got a new project

The Problem...somewhere in there

The Victim

The Solution

The Result

Teaching Jackson.... wait Reuben to Ride a bike!!

I set out this afternoon to teach

Jackson to ride a bike. As you
can tell I had better luck with
Reuben.