Recovery

The recovery for my mom is coming along. Things are slow but she is doing so well. There are only a few little things that I have noticed that we think won't last. She is really tired and trying to gain her strength back. She is going on walks and now taking care of herself for the most part. Her head is getting healed and I can't believe how fast her hair is growing. By the end of summer I'm sure she will have a full head of hair. I'm sure by then you won't even be able to see the scar. Keep it up mom!! You are doing great!! The bad thing is she has been band from driving for 3 months. The doctor doesn't want to take any risks. She was told next week on the driving and then the doctor called back and told her 3 months. She is really bummed that she doesn't have that little bit of freedom. What's 3 more months as a driver to me???

Mom and Todd are having a hair growing contest. Moms is actually longer than Todd's you can't tell because his looks so much darker here.

Spring Break

Ok this wasn't the best spring break in history. With the snow and the rain and then Grandma, not the greatest week. We did get to do a couple of things though. For Braydon's birthday activity he wanted to go ride the firetruck with dad, so we took a rode trip to Dugway to go for a ride in the firetruck, and visit with old friends.

On Saturday we got to go to the Zoo. It has been a year and a half since the last time we were there and the kids have been dying to go. It was such a nice day too. We also went over to this is the Place but the buildings were closed, we did get to see the monument and talk about the Pioneers though. After that we decided to head down to the Life Science Muesum at U of U. This was a lot of fun. They have a frog exibit there right now. The thing I was the most impressed with, is how interactive it is. This is a great place for kids to go explore and learn about the world.
This is the brood of kids from the zoo. Looks like way too much fun.
Hunter and Kolton navigating the map of the zoo for us.
Trying to make a really good earth quake.
Poor little Hunter in the witches froggy stew.

Braydon's Birthday!!

I can't believe that my Bubba is 9. Even with the rainy weather I think he had a pretty good birthday. Just didn't get to ride his bike as much as he wanted to. Happy Birthday Bud!! I love you.Braydon trying out his new bike.

Braydon with his new batting gloves and bat.

Braydon's rocking cake
Making a wish.

My Heros

This weekend was one of the scariest experiences of my life. Saturday was my birthday and conference so Eric went to the priesthood session while I went to my moms with the kids to play. At 10:00 I told the kids it was time to go. We needed to get home to bed. Sidney, as always, was stalling for time, she never wants to go home from grandmas. Sidney asked grandma about her bandalo from Young Womens so mom was looking for it when she got a tremendous headache. Right away I could see that she wasn't feeling well. She admitted that she wasn't ok, and then she said that she was scared. Once she said that I knew something was wrong. She laid down on the floor and Sidney sat with her while I called 911. By the time I got back to check on her, her neck was hurting and she couldn't lift her head up at all.

We went to the ER at AF hospital and they did a CT scan and found that she had an aneurysm burst. They transported us to Utah Valley hospital at that point to see their nuorological team. They decided to do an angyogram on her to see how bad the bleed was and to see if there were any other anurisyms that might be affected. When that came back we meet with the Doctor for options. This was not an easy thing. None of the options seemed that great when you are looking at the what ifs.

A family prayer was called. In my family this is huge. All of my life when anyone in my extened family has been faced with anything we have had prayer. I know that there is power there because I have seen it. Just as in my mom case. We had a small family prayer with just my sister and brothers and their spouse. We felt that the brain surgery was the best option. So when it came time for our big family prayer we were given permission for all of us to stash into her room. 19 of us gathered in a circle for prayer. After all the men in the room gave her a blessing. I could feel the strength of the priesthood, not just that I felt like if I had opened my eyes my dad would have been standing there.

Well, amazingly enough yesterday she had surgery. The name of it was right frontal craniotomy, clipping of the anterior communicating artery aneurysm. She came through like a champ. The nurses said they have never seen anyone do so well with something this serious.

She is my hero. My other hero is my daughter. Without her I would not have a mom any more. Heavenly Father has blessed us so much this past couple of days. I don't know what we would do without the power of prayer, family, and the knowledge of the gospel that lets us know that if my mom hadn't made it we would still have been just as blessed because He has a plan and we just have to have faith to live the best we can.

Young Womens General Meeting

We had the best experience on Saturday night. Our ward had tickets to go to the Young Womens meeting at the Conference Center. I took Sidney and her friend Olivia, my mom and Alex. I was afraid that we would never have tickets again after Alex turns 12 so I took her with us. It was amazing. Our tickets were on the 10th row right in front of the First Presidencies wives. From where I was sitting I could see President Monson standing in the hall waiting to come out. I have had the chance to go to meetings in the Conference Center before but I have always been in the upper balcony. So when they started pointing us forward my heart started racing. The spirit in that building was so amazing. When you are in the presence of the Prophet there is no denying this is the true church. I know that my girls could feel that same thing. The General Young Womens Presidency did an amazing job on their talks as well. It was so uplifting and they made me want to be better. They challenged all of the girls, mothers and grandmothers to work on the new personal progress value, Virtue. Thanks Sister Eads and Sister Griffin for the tickets. It was amazing. I'm sure that this is something my girls will remember forever. Their favorite part is after the meeting when President Monson was walking out, that he turned and waved and blew them kisses, along with all the girls standing by us of course. I wish I had a picture of that.
Alex and I in the Conference Center. Waiting for the meeting to start.
Alex is on the bottom, with Sidney and Olivia on the bridge up above. Waterfall at the Conference Center.
Cute picture. This is afterwards when we were waiting in line to get out.

Our clan.

The Bean Museum part of a month of museums and Trips

It has been years since I have been down to the Bean Museum. We had so much fun seeing all of the animals and doing the scavenger hunt provided by the museum. It was very educational in a fun way. One of those that you are learning while having fun. After we went to lunch at the Brick Oven. Very Yummy, the kids ended up getting really cute balloon animals and one machine gun. Fun time. Now to see where our next adventure lies. Alex is dying to go rock hunting so as soon as the weather changes I think we will be off.
Sidney and Braydon looking at brother bear.
Alex with the butterflies. This was my favorite display. If you have never been this butterfly is made up of hundreds of other butterflies.
This is Braydon with Shasta. I wondered what happened to her when they remodeled the cat house at Hogal Zoo, now I know.

Hunter with a wolf.
Braydon explaining one of the animals to Grandma.
Alex and her elephant.
Sidney and her monkey. I wish the flash would have reflected in a different spot. This is the cutest of the balloon creations.
Braydon and his dog.
Dinner with Grandma and Grandpa.

MY New Do

When Eric called me Friday morning and told me to pick him up in Tooele and not Dugway I asked him to ask his friends wife to do my hair. I felt like I needed a change with the change in weather. So here it is. She called it a Sassy new Spring look. Me Sassy? Sure???