Where the Wild Things Are

Picture for Paul.... Finally

2009-07-28T16:38:00.000-07:00

Paul- use this picture instead of the tattoo one....

Never a Dull Moment

2009-06-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

For those of you anxiously awaiting an update the last few days... my apologies. It would seem that it's hard to keep all of these balls in the air at once. Something had to give, so I spent some time with my mom and my family, instead of on the computer.Last Thursday, Claudia was discharged from the hospital and admitted to Orem Nursing and Rehab. My first impression of the place was terrible (I don't think my mom was impressed either). There were signs on the doors asking you not to let the residents outside even if they asked politely, and that horrible nursing home smell. The nurses and aids on staff that night were cold, inattentive, and moved at the speed of cold tar running uphill. It took a full 45 minutes to get the polar ice buckets filled. They lost her prescriptions for painkillers and blood thinners, which they didn't seem to care too much about. I never once saw them empty her catheter that night, and I was there for a long time. When I left her, I was worried, and she wasn't sure what she had gotten herself into. Thankfully, things picked up with the new day and the new shift of nurses. Friday, the PT team came to walk her down to the "workout gym" for her evaluation and to work her over. She made it successfully down the hall, into the right room, where they had her take a seat. She was feeling a little dizzy, and the next thing she knew, she was lying on a cot with her feet in the air. She passed out on them! YIKES! Someone called and told Averie what had happened (I was with a client). She relayed the message to me, and we took off. My client, Garrett Muse has a son Brock's age, so he took Brock to his house, while Corbin, Averie and I rushed to Claudia's side. By the time we arrived, she was happily eating her lunch like nothing had happened. After lunch, they decided to give PT another go. We were walking with her down the hall, when I realized I had missed a call from the Muse's, and now had a message waiting for me. I dialed up my messages, only to find out that Brock ran into a brick pillar and was for sure going to need stitches. Seriously, there is never a dull moment...

Cathy (Brock's friend's mom) met me at his pediatrician's office (who was able to get me right in) with a bleeding Brock. She had two bandages on his forehead, and he was dripping blood out of the bottom one. We went right back to the room and pulled off the band aids. He has two cuts above his left eye. One was about a half inch long with a puncture wound in the middle making it about a quarter inch deep and the other was maybe a quarter inch long and kind of gaping. He got six stitches, a couple of Tylenol, and we headed back to the rehab facility. By then, the nurses were concerned about how red and hot my mom's right leg had become. They had the wound specialist look at it and draw circles around it, and they were trying desperately to contact her doctor. The area continued to grow and was spreading up her thigh. After hours of unsuccessfully calling Dr. Jackson, it was finally late enough to call the on-call doctor. By this time, the nurses and I were both calling relentlessly, trying to make some kind of progress. Eventually, I got Dr. Fox who was kind, and listened intently to what was happening, but then decided he would need to discuss it with Dr. Jackson before making any decisions. He was thinking about sending her back to the hospital, and wanted to know what Jackson thought. After three and a half hours of waiting, I called him again to see what he'd decided. He couldn't find Dr. Jackson either, so he ordered an antibiotic and said that if there was no improvement by the morning, she would have to go back to Utah Valley Hospital. Later that night, Dr. Jackson did finally call. Turns out, he was camping with the scouts and wasn't getting great reception. He wasn't terribly worried about the infection, and dismissed it as cellulitis. The good news is that by the next morning, the red area had receded some and it was looking and feeling much better. YEAH ANTIBIOTICS!! She was able to do a lot of PT yesterday. They taught her some great tricks for getting around better with her legs, and she is feeling much more confident in herself. In fact, she even got in trouble with the nurses for getting up to go to the bathroom by herself (you have no idea what a big accomplishment this is!). Paul and Jeri stopped by with their kids to check on her after lunch. Jay and Josie came with Jenna, Nate and Preslie at dinner time. I'm sure she enjoyed seeing someone other than me and my kids. She called me this morning and asked me to do something for her. This is the first time she has asked me for anything, since we started on this journey. She asked me to stay home and enjoy my family today. She said it would be the last time I would have them to myself without her for a while, and she wanted me to make the most of it. What can I say? My hands are tied. Of course I will honor her request- it is the only thing she has asked me for. So, right now I am wasting precious time on this computer and I am going to stop. If you think about it, give her a call so she won't be too lonely. She is coming home tomorrow!

A Rehab? Really?

2009-06-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

I haven't been to the hospital yet today, but I have talked with Claudia a few times. This morning the pain specialists came and removed her femoral blocks. Woo-Hoo total feeling is just around the corner! The nurse took out both of her IV's yesterday, leaving her with just the catheter to lug around when she goes out for her twice daily walks (which, by the way, she is getting much better at). Yesterday, she was able to make it all the way around the nurses station with braces on both of her legs. Today, she did it again, minus the cumbersome braces. That is the first time she has been able to stand without the braces since the surgery Monday. Way to go Claud!!! She is going to kill me for mentioning this, but since it has been a fact of life lately, I'm going to throw it out there anyway... (spoiler: the following will contain discussion of a disgusting adult nature) Apparently, there has been some concern about whether or not her bowels are working properly, and some talk about nurses "helping her along". I am very happy to report that will no longer be necessary. While that is admittedly gross, it is a FANTASTIC sign, that means she is more ready to leave the hospital than she may realize. In fact, the hospital's official statement was something along these lines: If you are going home to your daughter's, we will wait and discharge you tomorrow. If you choose to go to a rehab facility, we can discharge you today. Based on the title of this post, what do you think she chose? That's right, people. She is headed to some rehab facility in Orem later today. Since she won't be reading this any time soon, I can tell you what I really think. I feel bad. I realize that she has to do what she thinks is best for her, but it makes me feel badly that she thinks this is better for her than letting me help her. I cannot imagine that a bunch of strangers can do a better job of taking care of my mother than I can. Part of my problem is that I am trying so hard to be so many things to so many people right now, that this is making me feel like a failure. I can't seem to balance my life right now, and I was hoping that getting her home would help that. (If it seems like I am speaking in tongues, let me try to explain.) I am trying to be a good mom to my kids and falling short- Brock told my mother in law that I don't love him anymore because he has to go to her house and I don't want him at the hospital. I'm not with them, because I am with my mom. I am trying to be a good wife, but honestly, right now, Scott is at the bottom of my list, because he is the most self-sufficient. He is picking up my slack at home as best he can. I am trying to be a good daughter by spending time with my mom and trying to help her with this, but because I am it, as far as our family goes, I feel like I also have to step up and try to fill my dad's shoes. That means, where the daughter in me would maybe hang out with her an hour or two, I feel pressure to stay longer- to not leave her alone too much. I am only one person. I CAN"T be in all those places at once. I was just hoping that I could get her home to my house, where all of the different roles I am playing right now can work together instead of clashing. I'm sure this rehab thing will turn out fine, and this is only a tiny speed bump in the road. I am over-reacting and wallowing in a little self-pity. I need to put on my happy face and go help her get transferred. She is happy about this change, and I will buck up and be happy for her (and cross my fingers that it is short lived).

One Step Forward... Two Steps Back...

2009-06-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

I just got off the phone with my mom. She is having a harder time today, feeling a little depressed, and struggling with the pain. Apparently, when she decided that her spinal had worn off yesterday (because she wasn't itchy anymore) she was wrong. It really wore off last night. She could tell because of the horrible pain she suddenly found herself in. It would seem the femoral blocks by themselves don't actually block that much pain, or perhaps without them she would REALLY be a mess. She was beating herself up because she has regressed. She has reduced her bending to 60 degrees- 10 degrees less than she was doing yesterday, and she was only able to walk out to the nurses station- which a few posts ago I mentioned was just a stone's throw away. She is also having dizzy spells when she gets up. Mark, the PT says she is right on schedule for one knee, and is still doing phenomenally well for having both of them done, but she is still disappointed in herself. So, ladies and gentlemen, here is my thought: give her a call. Tell her she is doing GREAT! Let her know that you are thinking of her and pulling for her. Lift her spirits a little, and take her mind off of her problems for a few minutes. I'm sure that hearing from those she loves will buoy her up and help her get through this!

No Plopping!

2009-06-23T18:36:00.000-07:00

Corbin and I went to the hospital and spent about four hours with Claudia. She is doing remarkably well. Her doctor has even told her that he will probably be sending her home Thursday or Friday, instead of Saturday like he had originally thought. She was also scheduled to phase off of her femoral blocks onto a morphine pump tomorrow, but they are going to forgo the pump and go straight to pain meds. That is GREAT news!! When we got there, she was eating and bending (gotta love the CPM- it's her new best friend). I have a sneaky feeling that will be what her life looks like for a while to come. She was ready and eager to go for her second walk of the day, but the PT kept putting her off because every time he came to her room, he would find someone else from the hospital staff had beat him to it. Quite frankly, I don't think there are too many employees left at Utah Valley Hospital that she hasn't met. She had the Occupational Therapist, the Physical Therapist, the Pain Specialists, the Discharge Nurse, the Hospital Bishopric members, her own doctor, her nurses (numbering 3), and the cute little girl who delivered her meals all visiting her at one time or another. Finally, things calmed down enough that her physical therapist, Mark, and his assistant of the day, felt they could come and take her for a walk. Before she could walk, she had to be prepared to walk, so they stretched and pulled and pushed her legs until she was ready. They tied her into a brace per leg to keep her legs from buckling underneath her and then spun her legs off of the bed. She put her feet down and the show began. She stood and began walking, or rather shuffling, but moving in a forward direction none the less. She cruised right out of her room and made it all the way down the hall before her leg buckled. Mark demanded she turn around immediately and return to her room, since she had already exceeded his expectations. When she got back to her bed, it became evident that the real issue was how she was going to bend her knees enough to sit back down. After thinking it over, she announced she was going to just plop backwards and let her legs pop up instead of trying to bend. Mark, his assistant, and I jumped in and screamed no right before she was able to put her ridiculous plan into action- thank heavens. We were able to brace her and steady her enough that she could sit, not quite like a normal person, but at least she didn't just plop. Since she is worried about losing her femoral blocks tomorrow, she is trying to push herself hard today while it isn't as painful. She had Mark put the CPM back on (he thought she should rest first) and upped the degree to 70. Needless to say, by the time we left, she was hating life. I switched the machine to her other leg (which the nurse did not really appreciate) and headed out the door. Hopefully, she took Mark's advice and rested after that last set. It should be interesting to see what tomorrow brings, with the feeling returning to her legs.

She Walks!

2009-06-23T09:18:00.000-07:00

I was exhausted last night, so I didn't get around to updating again. By the end of the day yesterday, Claudia was doing better than anyone expected. She was lifting her legs up and twirling her toes around. The nurses were amazed. The physical therapist came in and put her on the continuous passive motion machine, one leg at a time. She tried to convince them to do both at the same time and to up her degree of bending beyond what her doctor recommended. They said no way! Not being able to feel your legs, tends to make you think you can do more than you really can. She was eating mushy foods and keeping everything down. In fact, she didn't throw up once- HURRAY!!! When I left her last night, she said she was going to crash and try to sleep off the anesthesia. I spoke with her this morning around 8:30. She was a million times more coherent than yesterday and doing great still. She was bursting with pride that she had just gotten up and been able to walk to the hallway (with only two people assisting her). She said that trying to stand created the weirdest sensation in her toes. It felt like the she was pushing the floor out from under her. She tried over and over to put her heels on the ground, but couldn't quite manage it. It seems to be a common problem, because the PT got her some braces designed to help with that and they were off. She told me it was a little frustrating to have your feet not keep up with the rest of you, but she was so happy to be able to start healing and improving. Her attitude is unbelievable! I wonder if it will still be that good when she can actually feel her legs... (all of the nerve blocks are still in place and working beautifully) She is hoping to be able to skip the morphine pump and go straight to pain meds for the pain she will soon be feeling. Her blood is done recycling, so they have disconnected her from the machine. That's awesome since it eliminates 3 of her tubes that keep tangling up. Also, they were able to quit monitoring her pulse ox levels, so she's actually down 4 tubes. That's making her life a little easier for now. The physical therapist is coming back between 12-3 for a second walk, and I intend to be there for the show. I'm off for now, so I don't miss it.

The Patient Has Arrived

2009-06-22T10:45:00.000-07:00

Claudia is in her room now. They tried to settle her in as best they could, but she just wants them to leave her alone. We have decided that it is completely retarded that they wake you up to tell you to go back to sleep, only to wake you up again. She is having a hard time keeping her pulse ox level above 90 right now, so the machine keeps beeping at her waking her up. To add to that, she seems to be having a reaction to the spinal block they've given her, and she can't stop itching- especially her nose. The itching is made worse by the oxygen they have up her nose. It is a vicious circle: itch, yank out the oxygen to scratch, fall asleep, oxygen drops, machine beeps, wakes her up, puts the oxygen back in, itch, and around we go again. I had a similar reaction to the spinal block they gave me when I had Corbin. I keep telling her she needs to give in and get benadryl, but it is awfully difficult to reason with someone who is so drugged. She has all sorts of contraptions and tubes attached to her. There are the basic ones, like the IV, the catheter and the pressure cuff, and the more specific ones like the pumps on her feet, the ice machine circulating cool air on her legs, the wires feeding into her groin that are blocking her nerves, and the machine that is circulating her own blood out of her knees and back into her arm (that is kind of neat). True to form, as soon as she was awake enough to check, she pulled the covers back to check out the damage. She was disappointed to find her knees were too bandaged to see anything. She spoke to my kids for about 20 seconds- just long enough for them to know that she is okay then closed her eyes and drifted off. She can point and flex her feet, which I thought was almost as exciting as seeing a pig fly. Her toes keep changing colors- purple to pink. I guess she was right about not painting them before surgery. You know what they say... Mother knows best. For now I am going to let her rest and sneak off to the cafeteria. It has been a long time since 4:30 this morning.

We Have a Room!

2009-06-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I still haven't seen her yet. In fact, I am not sure when she will be joining me in her teeny tiny closet, er, I mean hospital room. She is in room 480 East. The direct phone is 1 801 357 5480. The phone number to the hospital is 801 357 7850. I doubt if she will be up to taking your phone calls until a little later tonight though. She is almost right next to the nurses station. She's close enough that if she loses her nurse button she could just yell. She just arrived. I will post more later.

Off to Recovery-

2009-06-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Dr. Jackson just came out to speak with me. He says she is now "bionic"! He finished the operation successfully and they are finishing up getting the bandages on her right now. He says she will be off to recovery in a matter of minutes. They will keep her there for one to two hours and then find her a room. The knee replacement is so traumatic that they keep those patients in the recovery longer than they would for other procedures. That's okay with me, because it gives her more time to puke on them instead of me. The first 24-36 hours following this surgery, they do a nerve block to help manage the acute pain. Dr. Jackson said she should be pretty happy as far as pain managment goes, until that wears off. She will be in the hospital until Friday or Saturday and then it's home to Rita's Rehab Facility. Maybe I'll even let her borrow my mantra for a while- she can do this....she can do this....she can do this.....she can do this....she can do this...

Half Way Baby!!

2009-06-22T08:57:00.001-07:00

Nurse Connie just graced me with her presence! She says they have finished with the left leg and began working on the right one at approximately 9:45. If the left is any indication, she should have another hour and fifteen minutes in surgery, then off to the recovery room (where I hope she will get all the vomiting she needs to do out of her system)! As of right now, she does not have a room assignment. I think they will try to find a space for her after she comes out of the O.R. Guess that means that I am stuck sitting in the waiting room with these strangers whose faces are becoming increasingly familiar to me. Does it make me a baby to say that I wish my dad were here to help me with this? All of the people in this room have someone with them. Someone to talk to- Someone to keep their spirits up- Someone to share the responsibility with- Here I sit and wait alone, (not that my kids wouldn't have loved to come with me- they would have, but it is not the same) eagerly waiting for the tiny bits of information they offer me every so often, watching the seconds hand pass on the clock. Let me just start to repeat my all too familiar mantra... I can do this.... I can do this.... I can do this..... I can do this.... I can do this....

Update Numero Uno

2009-06-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

Ask and ye shall receive.... I asked to know something, anything, and Connie the liaison nurse showed up within minutes to update everyone in the waiting area. Apparently, the surgery began shortly before 8:00. They are working on her left leg right now. The total knee replacement can take anywhere from one to one and a half hours per leg (on average). Upon completion of the first knee, they have to remove everything from the OR and replace it with sterile equipment. That creates a lag time of 15-30 minutes between legs.
In lay man's terms, 50 minutes down, 2-3 hours to go. So far, so good. Connie says she will let me know when they finish the first knee. Can't wait....

...And We're Ready For Take-Off...

2009-06-22T06:29:00.000-07:00

Here we go.... the journey to Claudia's new knees has begun. The kids and I spent the night at my mom's last night, so she and I could get up and make it to the hospital by 5:30 a.m. this morning. For those of you who are interested, we didn't make it. We were 10 minutes late, which the check in nurse was only too happy to remind of us when we arrived. My mom got her fashionable, blue bracelet and we sat down to wait. After the small fit about our tardiness, we fully expected that she would be whisked back to pre-op immediately, but no. We waited a good 20-30 minutes before my cell phone rang. That's how they do it these days... instead of walking out to the waiting room and calling your name, the nurse stays at her station and gives you a call. I just got a new phone Saturday, and couldn't figure out how to answer it (the ridiculously early hour may have contributed to my confusion) so the lazy nurse had to get up and come get us anyway. We trotted back to the weigh in/ blood pressure station to get the party started. She must have passed because from there we were shuffled down the hall to our very own room. Claudia stripped, put on her lovely blue gown, (to go with the jewelery they had just given her) and climbed into bed. A very kind nurse, named Nadine (just like my grandma) came in to start her IV, give her some meds, and keep her circulation going with snazzy foot pumps. She, was apparently a bit more skilled than the nurse my mom had on Friday, (for her clot filter procedure) because the IV went in easy as 1-2-3 on the first try (she was super happy about that since she looks like they used as a pincushion last time). Nadine left us alone, and we made stupid small talk... the kids this, and the kids that, instead of me telling her that I love her and need her, so she would know in case something were to happen. I don't know why I am such an emotional retard. I think I would tell her if I could go back and do it again. The incredibly handsome male nurse, Brigham, came to take her away to "holding", (which she said makes her sound like she's cattle,) where she was to hang out with her anesthesiologist until her surgery started at 7:30. I was redirected to the surgery waiting area. When I got here, there was one other person, now it is almost overflowing. Some in here are sullen, with worry lines creasing their faces, and others are joking, playing their game systems and eating greasy McDonalds take-out. I wonder where I fit in this room... Can these strangers see the panic I'm feeling written across my face like a cheap paperback novel? Know what stupid thing I said to my mother as they wheeled her away?!? "Be good Mom. Don't give 'em too much trouble." Why didn't I say I love you? Why didn't I remind her to come back to me in a few hours? What if something bad happens, and the last thing I got to say was "Be good"? Will I be able to live with myself? In case you can't tell, I have a lot of angst about this surgery. She is excited, and happy, and not nervous at all. I am nervous enough for the both of us. It is now 8:20. Nearly an hour since they started. I have not heard any updates yet. Nadine told me to call if they don't update me by 9:30. Only an hour to go until they can tell me something... anything...

We've Had Better Days....

2009-05-08T07:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, as I was in the middle of a haircut, Corbin walked in with sweat and tears pouring off of his face. He looked at me and said "Mom, I fell off my bike. I think my arm is broken." I was busy, but I looked it over real quick, and thinking it was fine, sent him upstairs to put some ice on it. I went back to work, joking with my client (who came all the way from West Virginia to get her hair done) about how every time there is any pain, something must be broken. About a half hour later, as I was finishing up with her, Averie walked in. She told me that she had just put Corbin's bike away and that it was a royal pain because the front tire wouldn't spin. She said that whatever Corbin had done ruined his bike. That was about the time the little alarm bell went off in my head.... If Corbin had crashed hard enough to destroy his bike, maybe he really had done some damage to himself as well. I hurried my client (Amber) out the door, and ran upstairs to assess the damages. Corbin sat calmly, quietly whimpering, on the couch with ice on his arm, patiently waiting for me. To put it mildly, he was a mess. His face was still red and beaded with sweat, his knees were hamburger and had been bleeding down his legs, blood puddling in his socks, the bottom two inches of his shorts were also soaked in blood, his shoe was ripped from the ankle to the sole, one of his hands was scrapped up, and his arm hurt to touch, twist, or move. I took one look at him and called the doctor to let them know we were on our way and that Corbin had a possible break. Vicki (Dr. Wynn's nurse) had a room ready for us and took us back to it as soon as we arrived. She and I began cleaning Corbin up while we waited for Dr. Wynn. We scrubbed the blood from his legs, took off his socks (they were pretty gross), wiped off his hands, and she flushed his knees with a saline solution (THAT WAS PAINFUL). Dr. Wynn came in and removed a rock or two from under the skin on his hand. He then started to poke and prod around on his arm. It didn't take long before Corbin was in a LOT of pain and NOT happy about being touched. Dr. Wynn said that he felt there was a GOOD chance that his arm was broken and that we needed to get X-rays and go from there. At that time his plan was to splint it and send us to the hospital, then have us wait a day to get into an orthopedic for casting if necessary. He got the splint out and started wrapping his arm, but something made him change his mind. I don't know what, or why, but he put the splint down and said he wanted to contact the orthopedic doctor right then. He placed the phone call and came back announcing that if we hurried the doctor would wait for us and fix Corbin up immediately. He drew me a pitiful map to the next doctor's office on the crinkle paper that covers their tables, and we flew out of there, in a rush to the ortho's. After minimal searching, (thanks to the map) we found the next office, where they were actually waiting for us. Corbin went with the nurse and had X-rays, while I waited for him filling out the paperwork. He said that the X-rays hurt quite a bit, since he had to twist his arm and put it in uncomfortable positions. Dr. Barker came right in, flipped on his screen and ...... couldn't find Corbin's X-ray. Somehow, it had gotten lost in cyberspace. He checked a few other computers and relocated it- YEAH!!! He looked at it for a split second and said the dreaded words: This arm is fractured up through the growth plate. UGH!!! Did you say growth plate?!? That puts a whole new spin on things. That is more serious- more concerning- more worrisome- more SUCKISH!!! I took a deep breath and said let's start over. What EXACTLY is the story with my son's arm? Apparently, Corbin fractured (broke) his radius bone from about an inch above his wrist, on a slant going up towards his hand, up through the growth plate and out the other side. The break is all the way through the bone and through the growth plate. When there is a break involving the infamous growth plate, the break gets a rating on a scale of 1-5, one being the best, five being the worst. Corbin's break scored a 2. Could be worse... Could be better.... As of right now, the break is okay. It is lined up nicely and didn't need to be set or manipulated at all. Because of the kind of break that it is, his bone could displace at any time during the next three weeks (that's how long it will take to set up and get sticky enough to stay put) even inside the cast (which is a lovely shade of blue). If that happens, he will probably require surgery to put things right. Also, because of the stupid growth plate involvement, we will have to monitor that closely to make certain it heals properly. Once all of those factors are taken into consideration, Corbin becomes the winner of weekly X-rays and doctor visits, for the next little while. Oh joy! The best part of all of this, is that we have a trip to Disneyland and the beach planned (and payed for) in 9 days. We tried to talk the Dr. Barker into a waterproof cast for the vacay, but it was a no go. The waterproof variety apparently does not offer enough support for our particular, special kind of break. Poor Corbin will get to watch while his brother and sister happily swim in the hotel pool. He will get to wrap his arm in plastic when we go to the beach, and he can kiss goodbye his plans of body surfing in the ocean. I think we (ESPECIALLY CORBIN) have had better days.....

Gracie Jean Gledhill www.thegledhillfamily.blogspot.com

2009-03-06T07:16:00.000-08:00

I just can't get over this. I am so sad today as I think of my friends the Gledhills. Michelle is a former client of mine. We were in the same ward and neighborhood for a while. 11 months ago, they welcomed their fourth child- a beautiful, brave, baby girl named Gracie. Gracie had HLHS, a heart defect, that would require multiple surgeries to keep her alive. She had her first surgery at 3 days old. What was to be an easy, routine surgery (as easy and routine as open heart surgery can get anyway) turned into a nightmare when Gracie flat lined. She was kept alive on life support for the next 9 days. Her family was told to say their goodbyes ever and over, only to be teased with with glimpses of hope. When they took her off of it, she literally rewrote the medical books by surviving. Apparently, after about 7 days on the ECMO (life support) machine, the situation is fairly hopeless. Sweet Gracie, defied the odds. She was able to recover enough to go home and gain weight for her next surgery (not an easy task since she was unable to keep food down). Last fall, when it was time for the second surgery, her heart wasn't healthy enough to endure the repairs she needed. Instead, they put in a stint to help bring her pressures down and get her heart healthy enough for the surgery to come. Eventually, as they were waiting, her heart began to fail. Her fingers and toes were turning blue. Her pressures dropped so low that she sustained some brain damage (she lost the use of her left arm and left leg). The doctors determined she couldn't wait any longer, but she couldn't survive the surgery either. Gracie was listed at the top of the heart transplant list to save her life. I can't even begin to detail all of the struggles that went along with that- her antibodies, the insurance, etc. After a short three day wait, the Gledhills got the news that would change their lives. Gracie was getting a heart! The joy was to be short lived. When the left ventricle was unclamped, it was obvious there was a problem. Her parents were told that her heart was in rejection. After further testing, it was revealed that it wasn't her at all. They transplanted a bad heart into her tiny body. She was put back on the ECMO (life support) machine, and re-listed for another heart. She had some pretty heavy bleeding that the doctors were struggling to control. At one point, the doctors were prepared to switch out her bad heart for a Berlin Heart (artificial) which would be used purely to buy her time until another heart could be found. The Berlin Heart isn't approved in the US yet, so to do this, they needed to fly in the Berlin Heart team from Canada (I think). When the team reviewed her situation, they said it was simply too risky. They were certain that Gracie could not survive another procedure, and that she would never be able to survive off of the ECMO. In a week's time, my poor friends went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. They went from thinking Gracie's life would be forever changed for the better, to realizing that they had to let her go. Gracie Jean Gledhill was taken off of life support last Monday, March 2, 2009, and returned to her Father in Heaven. Her viewing is today, and her funeral tomorrow. I know that her family can use all of the prayers they can get during this difficult time. I am asking that any and all who read this, pray for the Gledhill family. Keep them in mind in the next little while, because they will need all of the prayers they can get. Feel free to check out Gracie's blog. It is worth your time- trust me. It is a detailed account of her journey and battle to the end. What a precious little girl she was! What a blessing she has been to her family! What a miracle her short has been! I will be forever changed by the example of this great family. http://www.thegledhillfamily.blogspot.com/ or just link to it from my blog "Baby Gracie".

Mom I Want a Triplet...

2009-02-23T06:41:00.000-08:00

This morning as we were wrapping up our family scripture study, my sweet Corbin looked at me and said, "Mom, Why can't I have a triplet?" WHAT????? Son, you are a little young to be thinking about having babies. Averie and I (we were the only ones left at the table) looked at each other with our mouths open and immediately started trying to explain why he must be completely out of his mind. Poor Corb. He listened politely, then told us he had no interest in babies, he just wanted a triplet scripture. He has a triple and a bible, and what he meant was that he wanted a quad. He wanted everything in the same book. WHEW!! Crisis averted... for now anyway!

Family Pics!

2009-02-18T15:00:00.000-08:00

Okay. I tried my best to load the shots that turned out cute, but the family shot looked better in my tiny thumbnail, than it does here. I couldn't tell that someone was having an issue keeping their eyes open... My friend Emily came over and took shots of the Hampton clan for our Christmas cards this year. I think she did a great job. It's funny- you'd think that not making the famiy get pictures taken for the last four years would be enough to make them want to cooperate, but I guess not. Averie and I sat around with our perma-smiles on, just hoping that everyone else would get caught smiling sooner or later. I guess it worked out fine enough, that I have no real complaints. It was a beautiful day, good company, great memories. Aren't they beautiful?

The First Snow of the Year

2008-11-29T19:52:00.000-08:00

This was the very first snowfall of the year. Corbin and Brock were so excited about it that they got together with some of the other kids in the neighborhood for a good old snowball fight. Corbin was so cute. Since he was the biggest kid there (and the oldest) he let all of the little kids gang up on him. It was Corbin against the world and I am not too sure
who won. It doesn't matter. Either way, they all had a blast!

Better Late Than Never...

2008-11-29T19:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Belated Birthday! Actually these pics made it on relatively close to my Mom's birthday. It is just the text that is a half year late. Hey- the rule is it's not late until an entire year has past, Right?!? So In an effort to celebrate my fantastic Mama, I have decided to honor her with a top ten list...... Drum roll please......

THE TOP TEN THINGS I LOVE ABOUT CLAUDIA

10. I love that she will think this is just as great as if it had actually occured on her birthday!

9. I love that she loves my children and is supportive of their interests.

8. I love that she is so eager to learn, whether it is how to grout tile, or how to teach sunbeams to sing, she is always game.

7. I love that she constantly searches for the good in others, even when they don't deserve it.

6. I love that she knows the value of having good chocolate around at all times.

5. I love that she can help Averie with the math and science problems I can no longer remember how to do =D

4. I love that she is amazingly easy going and just rolls with the punches.

3. I love that she is a great sounding board for all of my looney ideas.

2. I love that she thinks of others before she thinks about herself.

1. I love that she believes in living in the moment and living each moment to it's fullest.

She is an awesome woman. I am blessed to be her daughter. My children are blessed to have her as their grandmother. We are all lucky to have her in our lives. We love you Nana.

I Heart Halloween!

2008-11-15T17:03:00.000-08:00

Halloween is my absolute favorite. It is the best holiday on the planet- maybe because it is the day after my birthday, so I get presents and candy all at the same time....... This year we had a blast! The day started off, with me substituting Brock's second grade class. His morning teacher, Mrs. Earl, had family in town for her daughter's baptism, and wanted to be with them, instead of at school with a bunch of rowdy 7 year olds (go figure). I graciously came to the rescue and agreed to work for her (how could I not? It is a full day of partying).

I got dressed up as one of those tattooed biker chicks on LA Ink, and headed off to elementary school with Indiana Jones and Prince Caspian in tow. Averie, being in jr. high, and a whopping 12, almost 13, was far too cool to bother with dressing up for school, so she went as herself. I hung out with Brock's class until noon, when I switched off with his afternoon teacher, just in time to hook up with my mom and watch the boys in the school parade. I checked them out after the parade, picked up Ave, and drug them around to local businesses for free candy. After suckering Albertsons out of large amounts of chocolate and sugar, we returned home so Averie could get ready for her very first boy girl party (YIKES!!) and so we could take Scott along on our trick or treating adventure. As we left home, it started raining. O well- we couldn't be detoured by a little rain. We headed up the road to Scott's brother Mark's house, for his annual spook alley and doughnuts. Every year they are amazing! That is the highlight of trick or treating for my kids. By the time we left, the rain stopped and the weather was perfect. We dropped Ave to her PAR-TAY, and hit every house we could find within a mile radius. The official Hampton Family Halloween Rule is: you don't go home until your bucket is overflowing (there has to be enough in there that I can steal what I want without anyone noticing...). About the time the buckets were getting TOO full, Brock thought he was dying of thirst and walking too much (funny, since we drive the golf cart from house to house). We bummed a drink of water from my good friend Stefanie, just to keep him from whining, and called it a night. Averie thought she would tire of her party after about a hour and call us to come pick her up, but (SURPRISE) she had too much fun to even notice the time. She said she even flirted a little (HOLY COW!! I hope not.). All in all, it was a great Halloween night. Any time I get free chocolate I seriously canNOT complain.

Holy Happy Birthday Batman!

2008-11-14T22:05:00.000-08:00

It was my birthday- YEAH!!! I LOVE- LOVE- LOVE my birthday. My sweet hubby got the kids up and ready and took them to school, letting me sleep in. Oh my goodness, I can not even tell you how freaking amazing that was. I think it was one of the best birthday presents I have ever had. Normally I have to get up at 7 am to get everything ready on time, but I didn't bother to open my eyes until almost 10.

Once I woke up, I found that my terrific family decorated the house. They didn't have streamers or signs. Instead, they used twisted scotch tape, and sticky notes. It was so creative. I think it was way better than the real thing.

I found sticky notes saying happy birthday EVERYWHERE! They were in my makeup, in my wallet, in the drug cabinet, in the silverwear drawer, by the cereal, in the shower, everywhere. I think I will still be finding those sticky notes into 2009.

I had the luxury of taking a jog, doing some shopping, and going to lunch with good friends (Mo and Teri- you are the best!). Scott also bought me a new camera, that I have enjoyed using and learning to use. My mother came for dinner, games and cheese cake. The kids picked out some cute gifts (Thank you sweet babies!) The night before, my angel of a mother-in-law brought over happy birthday wishes, and secret presents that I am forbidden from talking about. It was a fabulous birthday! Thank you to everyone who had anything to do with it...........

Pumpkin Party

2008-11-14T21:32:00.000-08:00

After much begging and pleading, the boys convinced me that we could carve pumpkins on the back porch. Scott was in the garage working on his truck, and Averie was hanging out at a friends house. Corbin and Brock carried the pumpkins out, gathered their knives, and began to carve. This is about when I caught them. It seems like they want so badly to be independent
and cut up the pumpkins on their own. They did a pretty good job on their own too. I was only allowed to help loosen the top and pull it off. I wish they would stop growing up. Soon they won't let me help at all. We had a great time together, and the night went amazingly well. Scott was thrilled that he didn't have to help or get pumpkin guts all over his hands. Averie was sad that we didn't wait for her, but she had fun at Lauren's and she was still able to create a fantastic pumpkin a couple of days later. Good times... Good times...

The Toilet Bowl

2008-10-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

The football season is officially over. The league ended by having a playoff for the best teams. Corbin's team played well, but not good enough to get into the playoffs (they won 4 lost 4). Because the boys have loved it so much and because the coaches are such die hards, they decided to arrange their own playoff among the teams who didn't make it to the official one. Our playoff was lovingly christened THE TOILET BOWL. The boys played amazingly, and came in second. I have to say, I was a little disappointed we didn't win. Instead of a trophy, they winners got a real toilet with vinyl lettering that read "Toilet Bowl Champions 2008". Can you imagine? A real toilet. That's priceless! Maybe next year....

Grrrrrrrrrr-iffan!

2008-10-29T12:25:00.000-07:00

This is my sweet 4.5 pound yorkie Griffan. Scott and the kids gave him to me for Mother's Day a year and a half ago. He is the kindest, easiest going dog ever. Over the summer he was hit by a car on Center Street. He had a concussion and needed stitches, but he survived....... YEAH!!!!!! Mostly, I am just posting this because I really liked how the photo turned out. Isn't he cute?

Hee Haw

2008-10-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

My mom took took the kids to Hee Haw farms
last Saturday. They had so much fun in the corn maze and kissing pigs. Yup, that's right. I said KISSING PIGS. Apparently, they were all chosen (in their individual age brackets) to compete against other kids chasing, catching and kissing pigs. The beauty of this story is: once Averie caught her pig and was holding it, trying to turn it around for smooches, it responded by emptying it's bowels all down her front. I guess as a natural defense mechanism,it works well, because she dropped that pooping pig as fast as she could and it ran happily to safety. Averie, on the other hand, was stuck wearing pig pooped on pants for the rest of the day. On a happier note, Brock won his division, Corbin did well in his, and Ave was given a free baby pumpkin to make up for the naughty porker.

I Love You WildCat!

2008-10-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

Averie's orthodontist, Dr. Swenson, rented out
three theatres opening night for High School
Musical Three. He held a contest for his patients to determine who would go, and HURRAY! HURRAY! Averie won two tickets. She really wanted to invite her friend Lauren, but I put
my parental foot down, and made her take me instead (besides, Lauren couldn't drive her to and from the theatre). We went early and had dinner at Thanksgiving Point before. We had great seats, and so much fun making fun of the movie together. Secretly we bothed liked it, but it was cheesey enough that we wouldn't have been able to look at ourselves in the morning if we didn't throw out a few comments here and there. All in all, it was a perfect girls night out. Sorry boys.......

I'm a Genius!!!

2008-10-19T16:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my mom brought over the board game 1313 Dead End Drive. The kids and I played it for hours with her. In this game, you can move any of the "people" in an effort to keep your "people" a secret. Every time someone would start moving any of Brock's pieces, he would try (with no success) to control his facial ticks, bust out laughing, and then cover his mouth while he laughed, as if that would keep us from noticing, and realizing exactly who he was. Finally, we asked him what he was laughing at. He looked at us, and said "I am a genius! You guys have no idea who I am." What a funny kid. He truly thought he was pulling one over on us. We had no choice but to agree with him. Yes Brock, you ARE a genius!!!

(Almost) Teenage Angst

2008-10-19T15:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I am a blog-slacker. It just seems that my life is not always interesting enough to write about.
Averie has been SOOO moody lately. The other day, she was in rare form (it was bad enough that my mom overheard her while talking with Corbin on the phone, and tattled on her. If you know my mom at all, you will realized this is COMPLETELY out of character for her.). Anyway, Ave already had plans to go to the movies with her friend, and I was burnt out from spending the day in my salon, so I let her go, with the understanding that we would address her issues when she got home. When she got back, Scott and I invited her into our bedroom for a little come to Jesus meeting. Apparently, she didn't appreciate it, because when she was excused, she stormed off to her room, slammed the door, and then made all these signs to let us know EXACTLY how she was feeling.

Notice the cute bums on the top sign

When I walked down her hall to tell her goodnight, I found her door closed, covered in these signs. They said things like, NO RULES ALLOWED, NO BOYS, PARENTS GO AWAY, and ENTER AND DIE. She had also drawn pictures of pirate skulls and what I can only guess were light bulbs, but they just looked like fat people mooning me while they pulled up their pants. I know I should have taken her anger seriously, and been super offended by her nasty signs, but I couldn't stop laughing. Honestly, the effort it took to make all of those signs, and the fact that her mean and imposing light bulbs were actually bums... it was just too dang funny. Thank you Averie- for being so entertaining when you are angry.

In The Immortal Words Of Junie B. Jones, "I Have Tension In Me!"

2008-10-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

Translation (for those who don't understand seven year old writing):

10-6-08

Dear Mom and Dad, I am having a hard time finding friends at school but I want you to know that I love you Mom and Dad. Love Brock

Usually I love SEP's (snazzy new way of saying parent teacher conferences). I go, the teachers rave on and on about how great my kids are, and I leave thinking I must be the best mom in the world to have raised such amazing little people. Imagine my surprise, when I went yesterday and was handed this letter from my son. Mrs. Earl (Jeanie) looked across the table at me and Scott, told us that Brock was doing phenomenally academically, and then said "he wrote you a letter, but it broke my heart when I read it." I'm sure that was intended to give me some kind of warning about what I was about to read (since when I asked her earlier that day at the book fair if she was going to tell me anything bad when we met for SEP she conveniently left that warning out and said it would all be great). Honestly, it was all I could do to keep myself composed and not start crying. How can my baby be having such a hard time and I had no idea?!? This is my kid who still cuddles with me and talks with me about everything. How did this not come up in our conversations? His teachers (there are two who split the day down the middle) both said they were baffled by his feelings. They told me he was friendly and outgoing in class and that the kids seemed to like him a lot. He always has a partner when they split off into groups, and they thought that he had tons of friends. I am constantly at his school, volunteering or subbing and I have always seen him with friends and felt he was well liked. He doesn't have a bunch of kids over to play, but that is entirely my fault. We are always so busy running from practices and games and scouts and whatever other project I have going on, that friends (for all of my kids) usually hits the bottom of the list of priorities. I know that makes me a loser mom, but truly, they ARE with their friends at most of the activities I just mentioned. Perhaps Brock was just having a bad day on Monday, but I am still devastated that he was hurting enough he wrote me a letter about it. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to fix this for him. I need suggestions. Please comment (and be gentle, I am already a mess over this) and give me advice. Thank you friends and family for all of your love and support. It means so much to me. Looking forward to hearing from you....

The Sport of Champions

2008-10-08T14:54:00.000-07:00

My sweet Corbin has been playing tackle football this fall. I have to say, that originally I was opposed to this. Corbin is so tender-hearted that I thought it would make him feel badly to knock people to the ground. Not to mention, the fact that they have to practice 6 days a week, 2 hours a day. He has LOVED it. Corbin is one of three X men on his team. That means he is too big to carry the ball and have the game be fair (the official max weight is 95 lbs.). He plays nose gaurd, left gaurd and sometimes center. He is amazing to watch. He works hard, and plays great. I am not just saying that because I am his mom. His coach usually has him play the majority of the game, and he told me that he gave Corbin the offensive position he reserves for his best lineman... (maybe he tells all the moms that.) If I had known how good football would be for his self esteem, I would have put him in years ago )when he first started begging) He stands up for himself more, he's made 26 new friends, he is more confident in himself and his abilities, and he looks great! They work so hard at practice that he lost over ten pounds and developed muscles we didn't know he had. This has been such a good thing for him. I couldn't be more proud of him. I love you Corbin!

Party Animals!!!

2008-10-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

For Scott's 35th birthday I decided to throw him a party. True to my form, I wanted to invite anyone and everyone that we know. You know, it isn't really a party unless there are more people than you can count in attendance.... Scott vetoed that in a BIG way. I narrowed my list down to something like fifteen families. Again, he put his massive foot down, and we ended up with "the short list". It seems that Scottie wanted a smaller, more intimate gathering of his closest friends. FINE!!! It was his birthday, so I gave him what he wanted. I invited only the closest of the close friends, which included the Wellman's, the Melling's, the Munoz's, the Robbin's, the Hansen's, the Luke's and the Peterson's. Let it be known now that the Hansen's and the Robbin's are officially dorks who didn't show up. Monique didn't want to come minus her hubby, and the Hansen's couldn't seem to empty their house of the spare kids hanging out there. The rest of us had an AMAZING time!!! The kids (assisted by Brittany Peterson -THANKS BRITT) decorated the way down to the creek and the creek itself. We started a bonfire and bought tons of food. We BBQed hot dogs and hamburgers. Roasted marshmallows, ate cake and ice cream, and played a rousing (unplanned) game of where in the heck are the golf cart keys. It was a FANTASTIK night. Thank you to everyone who came and helped to make it GREAT!!! And a great big thank you to all of our friends - long list, short list, and everyone in between. We love you all. Thanks for making our lives a little more fun!

Is This Really How They Dress In Jr. High?

2008-10-01T10:41:00.000-07:00

So the other day, Averie came into my bathroom to do her hair for school, and this is how she was dressed. I guess I should have taken a picture of her standing so it would show the full effect. She has on her Ernie shirt (yes, Ernie, as in Seasame Street), yellow yoga sweats pulled up to her knees, stripped socks, and Elmo slippers on. If I had never been to the Jr. High to see that, indeed the girls do occassionally dress this way, I might have tried to convince her to change. Fortunately for her, I have been, and I have seen how it is there. I know it is super cool to wear your slippers instead of real shoes. All things considered, I think she looked fantastik! I love you Ave- and I love that you know who you are and that you are confident in yourself!

And the Award For the Muddiest Player Goes to.....

2008-09-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

BROCK!!!!! Okay, the object of the game is to make a goal, not a mess. Brock (who thinks he is David Beckham) plays soccer on a field with the worst drainage I have ever seen. This patch of land should be a swamp, not a soccer field. He started the game trying very hard not to get too muddy, but when the whole field is a mess, that is too tall of a request for a seven year old boy. One push later, he was rolling in the mud like a pig. He had mud
EVERYWHERE! He was covered in it, but when it got on his hands, he walked around like they had cooties on them. We kept yelling at him to just wipe them on his shirt, so he could run normally again, but he would not do such a naughty thing. At the end of the game, he had to strip daown to his underwear before we would let him in the truck. It's a good thing I love this kid!!! Otherwise, I might have left him sitting on the sidewalk in his dirty uniform. I love you Brock-o! Thanks for making me smile!!!

Hippo Birdie Two Ewe!!!

2008-09-24T08:24:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to my man, Scott, who turned 35 today! Wow! 35 is half way to 70. I think that makes him ALMOST old. Scott, thank you for being you. You make the world a better place! In honor of your birthday, I am going to post a double issue of top ten's.drum roll please...

The Top Ten Reasons I Love You

10. You are such a hard worker (and I am usually the one who benefits from it)

9. You always let me pick the movie, even if it's a chick flick

8. You are a great father (and I know you secretly liked coaching Averie's team- even if you won't admit it

7.You are amazingly good to your parents. I know I tease you about being a mama's boy, but really I find it adorable that you try so hard to keep them happy.

6. You are a superior judge of character. (I just need to learn to listen to you more)

5. You have the BEST butt I have ever had the pleasure of checking out!!!

4. You can fix anything (which is good, because I can break anything)

3. You make it a top priority to come, support our kids at all of their (sometimes tedious) events.

2. You have great taste in women (you picked me... more than once)

1. You put up with me, love me in spite of myself, accept my flaws, laugh at my bad jokes, share my crazy sense of humor, fill up my snap cup, help me be a better person, and did I mention you put up with me?!?

The Top Ten Interesting Things About Scott In The Last Year

10. After many many years of not going on cool vacations, Scott took us on several. We stayed in a beach house in Wahington State, hiked through Arches, enjoyed Zions, visited his parents at Cove Fort, and he and I enjoyed a blissful week holed up in a hotel in Salt Lake, just the two of us for our 10 year anniversary.

9. He read the entire Doctrine and Covenants while sitting on the pot at night (maybe that is how I should prepare for my class)

8. He is planning to go back to college and started all of the crazy red tape to get registered at UVU.

7. He coached Averie's competition soccer team. He handed it off to the assistant coach for this year, but he misses it. At the games, he always ends up doing the subbing and coaching from the side. The girls really like him, and miss having him around all the time (he misses them too).

6. He changed jobs, within the company. He is now a project manager, instead of just a member of the engineering team.

5. He single-handedly installed (half) of our yard (it's almost an acre, so we are doing it in incriments). Yeah!! Green grass at last!

4. He is the king of hot dog roasts with friends. Our families creek property is right behind our house, and we have taken full advantage of it, inviting friends over whenever our schedule allows.

3. He is obsessed with watching educational shows on tv. It drives me nuts. TV is for entertaining, not for learning.

2. He discovered he could still wake (or is it wave) board, thanks to our friends the Robbins, who took us boating with them. It really was awesome, right up until he turfed it.

1. He has been a great husband and father!

I love you Baby! Happy Birthday!!!!!

A Shout Out To My Three Favorite Kids!

2008-09-20T19:01:00.000-07:00

Aren't they the cutest?!? My kids are the light of my life. They all bring me so much joy and happiness. Right now, as I am typing, Brock is calling himself from my Mom's cell phone to my cell phone. He just sang a snazzy little song into the reciever of one, so he could hear it on the earpiece of the other (that should be a fun message for me later...). Averie is an amazing girl. She has a tremendous sense of what is right. She is always looking out for the underdog and tries to treat everyone kindly. She seems to know just who she is, where she is going and how to get there. Corbin has a heart of gold. He goes out of his way to include everyone and always gives 110% at whatever he's doing. He likes to pretend that he's a tough guy, but secretly he is all mush (he lets Brock sleep with him every night, and even reads him bedtime stories). He is the most easy-going guy, and so much fun to hang out with. Brock is the peacemaker (which is ironic, because he can hold a grudge like nobody's business). He is funny and charming and keeps me on my toes. He changes his mind and emotions like girls change their clothes. He knows he is hot stuff and he is not afraid to tell you about it!

Me and My Hubby

2008-09-19T14:29:00.001-07:00

Scott and I have been married for just over 10 years, (this time)! Yup, we got married then divorced, then remarried. We've been together for 14 years all together. Seems like it's been forever... Sometimes it is a rocky road, but it is always worth the effort in the end. We like to go to dinner, go to the movies, watch our three amazing kids play whatever sport they are currently involved in, hang out with our friends, and hang out at our family creek property. All in all, we have a good time together and I am so glad he is my friend on this journey through life.