It's a GIRL!

I am so excited for my little brother Bryan and his wife Nicole. They had their very first baby yesterday! It sounds like everything went smoothly, and their sweet little angel is adorable! They are naming her Abigail. What a cute name. We are all dying to go see her, but have to wait because of the hospital's rule with this whole swine flu thing. Abigail we love you already!

Fifteen

I'm not sure how it happened, but some how I have become the mother of a fifteen year old. I swear I was just fifteen, counting down the days until I could date and drive. That was just a couple of years ago. Brennan is the hairy one on the first row, far right. He is really enjoying playing Hockey for the High School Team. I enjoy him getting hair cuts! This week we went to pick up his learners permit. AGH!!!! This can't be happening to me. He is still my little five year old running around in his soccer uniform, and falling asleep in a laundry basket. Now he is eating me out of house and home and I have to look up to talk to him. Four years from now he will be on his mission. Anyone know how to slow time down?

What do you mean you have Swine Flu?

My cute little (pregnant) sister called my yesterday to tell me that her daughter has Swine Flu. (The same daughter that spent a half hour sitting on my lap on Saturday afternoon, and playing with my daughters at our house all afternoon.) She is pretty miserable, but is doing okay. Today my mom called with the update...... My sister Joanna and her whole family have come down with the Swine Flu! Wow, that didn't take long! They are all doing alright, but Joanna was having a tough night tonight. She is due in about 10 weeks. Isn't the last trimester of pregnancy miserably enough without having the famous swine flu?? We are all doing fine here. I have a cold, but no fever, so I'm sure it's just the old fashioned flu. Joanna has always been more in style than me.

A week for Jacob

It was a busy week this past week for us. With the passing of Jacob, we had lots to do. On Monday, the day after Jacob died, we had all the Young Men and Young Women over to our house, just to be together and remember good times with Jacob. It was a good time. The kids wrote notes to Jacob's family and also wrote on fabric squares that were to be made into a quilt for the family. Last night was the viewing. It made it so much more real to be at the Mortuary. It was a sad time.

Yesterday morning I had the awesome opportunity to go to the temple with the Parks while they did Jacob's Temple work. There was an amazing spirit there. It was a sweet experience. This is a picture of some of the people that attended the Temple.

Here is the finished quilt. I cried when I saw it. I feel so blessed to live in this ward, where we are so close, and everyone looks out for one another. I know how much work these quilts are, and the women who pieced and quilted this quilt are amazing. Everyone was reaching out to the Parks, and my heart was full just to see all the wonderful service.

Jacob

On Sunday night, October 4th our Sweet Jacob passed away. He had just too much brain damage for his body to survive on it's own. Our hearts are so saddened. We told the kids a little after 9:00 at night, and then sat on our bed crying for the next hour and a half. Cute little Ashlyn didn't want to be alone, so she slept on our floor. We love the Park family so much. They are an example of strength and faith to all around them. I can't imagine what they are going through. I pray I never know. Please remember them in your prayers. Below is a link to an article that ran in the Standard Examiner today about Jacob.

2 families mourn young bicyclist | StandardNET ? Ogden, Layton, Brigham, Weber, Davis, Top of Utah News

2 families mourn young bicyclist | StandardNET ? Ogden, Layton, Brigham, Weber, Davis, Top of Utah News

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Brooklynn's hospital visit

So our friends the Park's were up at that hospital with their son in the PICU, and we wanted to visit them. Brooklynn was so helpful in getting into her sisters medicine and eating some of it for us so we could go stay the night at Primary Children's. Ya right! Here are Cher and I sporting our fashionable "Pink Parent Bracelet's." You have to be part of a special club to get these. I know you're all jealous.

One of the few times Brooklynn slept during the night. She was hooked up to all sorts of monitors and wires which made her totally uncomfortable. It was a tough night for both of us, although she must not have eaten too much medication (between 1 and 2 pills) because she was only restless, and wouldn't sleep. That was good news. She could have ended up with seizures, so we were really happy.

Here is Brooklynn getting her EKG. Thirteen different wires hooked up to her.

These were some of the wires Brooklynn got to have attached to her for 24 hours. Always a fun thing for a 21 month old. I felt very lucky to only be a short term visitor at the hospital. We met some the friends of Jacob's family that also have a son in the PICU. He was shot during a hunting trip. I helped them with a blog, too. (I know I'm crazy.) You can see Andrew's info on his blog at http://www.spilksmiracle.blogspot.com/