Finally a NEW post

Ok so apparently people are checking this blog and are upset that I have not posted anything in a REALLY LONG time!! So I will try to bring everyone (Heather, Jeremy, Melissa...) up to speed.

The last post is from June so I will start there.

In June... Drake finished up T-Ball. He had a great time and thinks he wants to play again next year (Ross is not so sure) we will see how that goes. Also in June we hosted Backyard Bible club at our house, think VBS but in a neighborhood instead of Church. It went well, did not have as many kids as we thought but still had a good time worshiping. I am sure we did more stuff but that was a long time ago!

July was full of fun stuff. We went to the Springdale Rodeo. Drake and Mason had a blast and we even got to see an old friend of mine, Justin Koon, ride a bull. Drake was very impressed that I knew a bullrider. The week of the 4th we had our annual Smith-Drake-Wolfenden-Bickford-White family vacation in Branson. On Friday night Melissa, Jared, Lane and the Wolfenden's stayed at the Cove Inn (do not stay there) it was terrible. At about 3 am we were all woken up by the song Baller Shot Caller, you remember the one. There was not even a phone in the room to call the front desk, like there would have been someone there. I thought Melissa was going to break down their door. Jared went next door and I guess they were a little intimidated by a 7 foot dude so they immediately said "the music is too loud isn't it" Needless to say we checked out early and changed hotels the next night. We had a great time. On Saturday night we all watched the fireworks and then on Sunday we went out on the boat for most of the day and tubed. Lane had his first tub ride and then went to sleep. Drake loved the boat but Mason refused to get on it so he stayed at the condo with Mom and Dad and swam. Tim showed us his mad tubing skills and Jared held on way longer that he should have!!
Also in July Dad retired from the Navy. We had a nice ceremony and a great time. The cake was very good, you all know the cake is the reason I go to weddings, showers and other types of ceremonies!!
Ross and I went to Raleigh, NC for out annual Poultry Science Conference. We had a great time and ate some really good BBQ. We were able to catch up with some old friends and make some new ones.

In August some big changes happened in our house. I was able to take off the first 3 weeks of August to stay home with Drake and Mason. We spent a lot of time at the pool with Heather and Cooper. Mason is learning to swim and will be a pro by next summer. Drake and Mason spent a good bit of time with their grandparents during this time so I had time to relax!! Drake started kindergarten and is having a great time. Mason started school at Mrs. Becky's and is loving it. They both have adjusted very well to the changes. Drake has homework a few times a week and wonders why I can't just do it for him since I get to stay up later that he does!

September has been pretty full too. I went to Beijing for a few days at the beginning of September. It was a quick trip so I did not get to do very much sight seeing so hopefully I will have a chance to go back. My Mom came and stayed with Ross and the boys while I was gone. I think she ate breakfast and lunch with Drake everyday at school he really loved that. On Friday after I got back I went to have lunch with him. We had rectangular cheese pizza (it was exactly like the cheese pizza I had when I was in school) mixed fruit and chocolate chip cookies! I complemented the lunch ladies on the cookies so I got 2... Johnnie was eating with Kamree that day too and he was upset that he only got 1 cookie, he said that he would remember to tell the lunch ladies what "Tall drinks of water" they were next time!!! Heather had the baby that Friday too. Cash is here and healthy. He has a head full of black hair and his momma's mouth!! We are glad that he and Heather are doing great and are going to be able to go to Florida in a couple of weeks for girls vacation week!!
We tailgated this past weekend with Ross' buddies Adam, Jeremy and Melissa and Chris and lil Chris, from High School and AGR days. We grilled some bison burgers and they were huge and awesome, thanks Melissa!! We had a great time despite the weather and losing the game. By the way the Hogs need a kicker and a defense if anyone is interested!! Ross thinks he has 2 years of eligibility left and he might walk on...

I think that brings me back up to the present and I will try my best to keep this updated with funny stories and other stuff that is going on at the Wolfenden's.

Now for the latest Drake and Mason story...
So last weekend we spent most of the day inside because of the weather. So everyone was tired of everyone else so the boys were playing in Drake's room. Drake comes out with his box of Knex (think legos but smaller pieces and a lot of them in a small storage box) and says Mason peed in the box... Ross and I just look at each other like WHAT? You have got to be kidding me. So he comes into the living room and gives me the box. I asked Mason why did you do that and he says that Drake told him it was a toilet. So I spanked both of them and sent them to their rooms. Still Ross and I could not believe that this just happened... Welcome to my life with the boys!!!!

Drake's T ball game

Picture this...

Sunday after church most of our Sunday School class went to eat Mexican at the Acambaro in Pea Ridge, there was like 35 of us. I had already taken Mason to the bathroom once and then he needed to go poop so I asked Ross to take him. They were gone for a while and when they came back to the table Mason was crying. I asked him what was the matter and he told me that he bumped his head. This is where it gets funny. Then Ross starts telling all of us what happened. He said that Mason was sitting on the toilet and he was using the urinal. Mason said he needed help so Ross went over to help him. Apparently Mason had peed a little in the floor and Ross slipped in it and was about to fall so he caught himself with Mason's head, which resulted in pushing Mason's head into the back of the toilet and bumping it. Everyone started dying laughing!!!

5K

Saturday, Heather and I did our first 5K. Heather is 6 months pregnant and did awesome. She won her age division and got a medal. She claims she beat me but we did cross the finish line at the same time. She turned in her tear off before me so technically she did beat me!!! But we both know I could have ran off and left her in my dust!! Next year we won't have to worry about upsetting the baby, who got really mad about a mile in to the race!! We are going to run the whole thing next year.

Silver Dollar City

Tuesday the boys and I went to Silver Dollar City with Heather and Cooper. We had a great time. Drake really loves all the rides. Mason on the other hand hates them. Last year when we went we took Mason on Fire in the Hole and it scared him to death. He remembers that and would not get on any of the rides. I even had to make him go on the little kiddie rides, he ended up liking them. The highlight of Mason's day was finding a rock while waiting in line for the lost river. He still has it!! Drake and Cooper wanted to ride Powder Keg, a roller coaster, but Heather and I said they had wait for their dad's to come before they could ride it. Heather is pregnant so I had to ride all the rides with Drake and Cooper while she waited with Mason... it worked out pretty good. We rode the train last and Mason took a quick power nap and stayed awake the whole way home, I could not believe it. We had a great day with great friends!!!

Today in History...

So today is the 4^th anniversary of the worst day of my life!!! Most of you know that Drake, Ross and I were involved in a head on collision that broke my ankle 4 years ago… What most of you don’t know is that I think about it almost EVERYDAY. It has affected almost every aspect of my driving and my life… what I drive, where I drive, what I think about while driving, my kids, my husband…

Most people, Ross included, do not like to talk about or hear about that day… so if you are one of those people STOP reading, otherwise continue reading (this is helpful to me)

Okay here is the story

Our anniversary in May 31^st and Ross and I usually try to spend at least one night together somewhere special. My mom and dad had taken Drake (18 months old at the time) home with them for a week. During the week Drake got sick and Mom took him to the doctor. He had an ear infection which was common for Drake at that time, however the once the ear infection was discovery the doctor stopped looking for a problem. Come to find out Drake also had a sever throat infection.

On Friday night, Ross and I and Aaron and his girlfriend (at the time) Crystal all went out to the Olive Garden for dinner and then to the Drive In movie in Fayetteville, we saw Hitch. During the movie my Mom called to say that she was taking Drake to the ER at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Ross and I immediately left from the movie and drove to Little Rock. When we got there Drake and my Mom were still waiting in the ER. Once we got in they had to give Drake an IV because he was dehydrated from not being able to swallow. He also had to have an X-ray to make sure there was not a mass growing in his throat that was causing the obstruction. Once it was determined that he had an infection he was put on IV antibiotics and fluid and we had to stay the night and most of the next day. Late on Saturday we were able to leave. We all went back to Mom and Dad’s in Sheridan.

On Sunday, we had lunch at my Grandparent’s house. Everyone was there, my parents, Tricia, Aunt Mary and Uncle Bill… Melissa was working at UAMS then and was at work. We usually have lunch and then would hang out at Grandma and Papa’s for a while and visit but Ross and I were ready to get home so we loaded all of Drake’s stuff in the TRUCK and put Drake in his carseat (my Dad made the comment that he thought the straps were too tight on Drake’s seat and I told him that you were only supposed to be able to fit one finger between the strap and the child) and we left at about 2:40.

We decided to go through Sheridan, which was unusual because we had a full tank of gas and we only go through Sheridan if we need gas. I was driving and I turned towards Sheridan out of the driveway. We were almost to HWY 167, the road through Sheridan to the interstate, and Ross and I were trying to figure out what the guy in front of us had in the back of his truck (it was a deer stand, imagine that). When we turned on to 167 from 35 I saw a log truck coming, my Dad always told me that if you can see a car coming it is too close to pull out there, but I did, so I gunned it to get out of the way of the truck. From Crossroads to Sheridan the south bound lane has 2 lanes and the north only has one. Less than a mile after turning on to 167 I saw the truck with the deer stand swerve out of our lane on to the shoulder. Then I saw a Toyota Corolla driving south in the north lane, my lane. I remember Ross yelling “OH SHIT” and I tried to swerve and stop but it was too late. They hit us almost directly head on at 60mph. I passed out and when I could open my eyes I did not want too. I could still hear the radio, Sugarland Baby Girl was playing. I said a prayer for Ross and Drake and then looked. Ross was all bloody from his nose and Drake was silent but fine. Drake’s cup, pedia sure, had hit him in the head and he had a knot. Ross’ ankle was hurt, nose was bloody, and elbow was hurt. My foot had broken the brake in half and crushed my ankle. Soon after I saw all of this Onstar came on and asked if we were hurt and if we needed help. She called 911 and then called my Grandma’s house to tell my parents. Both mine and Ross’ cell phones were dead and we could not have found them even if we could have used them. My Grandma answered and the lady asked for my Dad. Then I got to talk to him. I told him that we had an accident and where we were and that we needed but we were OK. He, my mom and Tricia left immediately. Tricia did not even have shoes on when they left. My grandparents and aunt and uncle followed too. Just after we got off the phone a lady came to my side of the truck and said “Give me the baby” my first response was no you do not move anyone after a crash, especially a head on collision. But then she looked down and there were all kinds of “liquids” running out of the truck and she said I am a nurse I need to get the baby out. So Ross reached around and took Drake out of his seat and I handed him to the lady. In the next few minutes lots of people stopped and tried to help as best they could. Our windshield was busted and we could not see in front of the truck.

It did not take very long for my family to arrive. I think they got there before the paramedics even. Once they saw that we were alive and not in serious danger, my dad started trying to help with the other car. Ross and I did not know what was going on with the other people, but Ross knew they needed more help than we did. When the paramedics arrived they checked us and told us that they had to get the other people out first that they were more seriously injured. I have to admit I was mad that they were not working on getting us out. It was not our fault that this happened and it was hot (~100 degrees). Finally, they got us out of the truck and in to an ambulance. One of the paramedics asked what hospital we wanted to go to. All we said was just not Jefferson. She agreed and got on the radio. Once we were in the ambulance I heard over the radio that there were children in the other car and that at least one had died and the other was coding. The helicopter was landing in Sheridan to pick the child up.

There were not enough ambulances to take everyone so Drake, who was not seriously injured rode to ACH with my parents.

We were taken to UAMS because it was the only hospital in LR that had neurosurgeons on staff. Remember Melissa, my sister was at UAMS when this all happened. Once we got to the hospital we were taken into a trauma room and they tried to figure out what all was wrong with us. Ross did not get any meds on the way because he did not want an IV which would make him have to get a catered. I had some morphine. The first thing that I remember happening was they were checking me for bleeding and found none. The whole time I am asking them to page Melissa because I did not want her to leave before she found out what was happening with us. Next a doctor came in and without any notice pulled my ankle back in to place, the worse pain I have ever felt. He told me that if I had went much longer without setting it I would have lost my foot. Then they took Ross for a CT and such. He was mostly fine, nothing broken, but messed up his elbow, shoulder, ankle, and nose. Then finally my Dad and Melissa got to come into the trauma room after they took Ross. My Dad told me that my mom and uncle had taken Drake to ACH and he was fine. The Melissa said something that I will never forget. Remember that we did not have any clothes and we had been at the hospital with Drake, so I was not looking my best when the wreck happened. So this is what she said “Wouldn’t you know this would happen on a day when you don’t have good clothes on and you hair is a mess and I have been in surgery all day and now I (Melissa) have to go out there and see all those people” oh yes she did say that to me while I was lying on a table. Oh yeah while I was still in the trauma room they were working on a guy who had unsuccessfully tried to commit suicide. They took me for scans next and when I was done there were no rooms left for me so I was put out in the hall on a gurney, naked by the nurse’s station. Ross got the last room. Lots of people came to see us and make sure we were okay. People from my parent’s church and out family filled the waiting room. The youth director and song leader came back to keep me company in the hallway. We had been talking for quit sometime and I was still nauseous from the dye I received during the scans. Told him, Cedric that I need something to puck into but the nurses were so busy that no one could help him find something. So he held out his hands so I would not have to puck onto the floor, lucky for him Melissa showed up with a pan.

Because I could not stop pucking they held us overnight in what used to be the morgue of the hospital. We were in between and couple with a baby that were driving from AL and had a wreck in LR and a psychotic woman, really! The baby screamed all night. They did not have any food or diapers and no one was helping them. Finally then next day Ross and I got to go home. Mom and Dad stayed at the hospital with us and got us some new clothes since what we had was cut off of us. Drake was fine he had a bump on this head and a burn from the strap on his carseat.

After we were stable we learned that no one from the other car lived. A whole family perished that day. Joe, Leigh, Micah, and Emma Byars died four years ago today. They were from El dorado and he was the associate pastor of a church there. They had been away for the weekend visiting family and best we know she fell asleep while driving and crossed into our lane. Both of the children were in their carseats.

Many people have told us how lucky we are, but it was not luck, it was GOD. For whatever reason GOD saved us that day and He has a plan for our lives.

So now on to my soap box… ALWAYS buckle you kids up… CORRECTLY. You NEVER know when an accident is going to happen and you will not have time to react.

Busy Busy...

So it has been too long since my last entry... We have been very busy to say the least. I finished my last class the first part of May. I am so happy. I love learning but classes and studying takes up a lot of time and when you work full time, are doing research, have two little boys and a husband and a life classes get in the way. I am so glad to be done with them!!!

We have been busy the past couple of weeks. We went to Chicago at the end of April to a meeting and were fortunate to get to visit Ross' family that live near Chicago in Pecatonica, IL. The boys had a blast playing with their cousins.

We have had graduations (Taylor's high school and Drake's pre-school), Mason's 3rd birthday and Ross and I celebrated our 6th anniversary yesterday.

May is a very busy month for us so I am glad it is behind us now. The summer is going to be pretty busy too.