Tyler's eight day stay at Primary's

Right after Shaun's homecoming, Caden came down with a cold and promplty passed it onto Tyler via sticking his hands in Tyler's mouth ALL the time. Tyler managed it okay for a few days, but then started retracting and wheezing, so I took him into a night time clinic (why do kids always get sick on the weekends?) The doctor there debated on admitting him because he didn't sound good and was so young (only 5 wks and 5 days at this point.) But after the chest xray came back clear, he decided to send us home with strict instructions to bring him to the ER if he got worse or spiked a fever. During the night he got much worse and started running a temp, so Sunday morning I left all the kids with Bruce and took Tyler up to the ER at Primary Children's. They did lots of blood work, started an IV and put him on oxygen. He tested positive for RSV and was not maintaining his oxygen well and was requiring wall suction, so they decided to admit him. I thought he might be there for 24 hours, maybe 48, but they kept him for eight days! It was pretty much the longest eight days of life. The first night we were there, he crashed and was totally unresponsive. They had a whole team of people working on him and they brought in a crash cart, but thankfully they got him stabilized and he didn't require intubation. It was terrifying, but I am so grateful for the great care that he recieved. The little boy next door had RSV, too and he crashed as well, but had to get a trach and was transferred to the ICU.

Vivienne and Bruce pretty much had to take over as parents to Kenzie, Cierra and Caden because I was at the hospital and Erick was in New Mexico. Thank you both for your help. Viv came up at some point every day so at that I could go home and shower and see everyone for a bit. We also had a couple of people from our ward came and stay with Ty, so that I could be home a little bit more. It was quite the experience. I don't know how parents of chronically-ill children do it. Thank you to everyone for all of your prayers and for all of the dinners that were brought to us. Tyler is doing great now and hopefully will never have RSV again.

One very sick little baby :(


One very tired mom and Tyler

Sleeping baby


Sleeping with his new teddy bear from Build-a-Bear, "Charlie"

A view of our prison cell :)

Mama and Tyler


Finally starting to feel better

Nana and Tyler

Taking a test run without any oxygen

Finally on our way home after eight long days!

Back-blogged Cousins visit

I am so far behind on blogging, but I'm trying to hurry and catch up before the new year starts. Ben and Mary and their three kids came to Utah for Shaun's homecoming. It was so fun to see everyone and to meet their new baby boy, Gavin. The kids had lots of fun playing together. Caden was so confused that there was two babies around and kept asking which one was baby Tyler and which one was baby Gavin. Here are a few pics :)

Tyler and Gavin


Caden couldn't be left out of the picture taking with the boys

Caden and Livi

Just hanging out

Just Tyler :)

All of the grandkids

Little Snowdrop

Someone that I love very much, lost someone that they love very much yesterday.

Little Snowdrop

The world may never notice
If a Snowdrop doesn't bloom,
Or even pause to wonder
If the petals fall too soon.
But every life that ever forms,
Or ever comes to be,
Touches the world in some small way
For all eternity.


The little one we long for
Was swiftly here and gone.
But the love that was then planted
Is a light that still shines on.
And though our arms are empty,
Our hearts know what to do.
Every beating of our hearts
Says that we love you.

- Author Unknown -

Reflections

Kenzie and Cierra both entered Reflections this year at school. Cierra entered in photography and visual art and won an honorable mention in visual art. Kenzie entered in literature and photography and won in photography and went on to Council.



We went to the Council award assembly the other night and Kenzie won there, too. Her entry is now going on to Regionals and if she wins there, she will go on to State. Way to go Kenz! We are so proud of you!

Feliz Navidad, oh Barack Obama

I have a long list of things that I need to blog about, but this video is too cute to wait until I'm caught up. Caden's favorite Christmas song is Feliz Navidid. He sings it ALL the time. Today he put a new twist on it by adding Obama's name to it. Now it goes "Feliz Navidad, oh Barack Obama." He seriously makes me laugh out loud every single day. I don't know where he comes up with this stuff.

Back Blogged-Halloween!

Halloween was so much fun this year! Dave and Heather threw an awesome Harry Potter party and we had lots of fun dressing up and trick-or-treating. I bought Caden's costume in September, so that I wouldn't have to worry about getting it after Tyler was born and he wore it all the time. Then on Halloween, he refused to wear it, so he went trick-or-treating in his regular clothes. He was supposed to be Buzz Lightyear, but I don't even have a picture of him dressed up. Kenzie was a fabulous hippie, Cierra was a great Ginny Weasley, and Tyler was a skeleton.

Back Blogged-Shaun comes home!

On October 28th, Shaun came home from his mission! Two years is a long time and it was so good to see him and we love having him home. I am so proud of him for going on a mission and spending two years serving the Lord. Way to go Shaun! Here are some pictures from that day.