Yay conference!

If you don't get conference at your house (LaDale? Samuel?) you can watch it online with byu.tv . Enjoy!

I enabled comments--you can add any comments about conference you like! Consider this our first open comment thread!

Re: QOTW and other things

I would totally be LaDale the Lucky Ladle. My finance is the Brave Little Toaster.

Dule- by the way- is already the cutest little baby. He will definitely be my favorite nephew born after the 18th of December.

This is an added weather note. It snowed here last Friday. It was incredibly difficult NOT to put on Christmas music. My goodness- it is only September. I am used to feeling this way at the end of October but this is a month early. Thank goodness the weather heated up again. We will be close to 80 again this week. (I know, I know and thank goodness I am not in Vegas or Phoenix. No doubt you are tons hotter!)

Just thought I'd drop a Merry Christmas note.

Dulé!

Ooops. Forgot to tell you all that Dulé (see the nice little accent mark?) is the baby formerly known as June or June-bug. Bradley was having a hard time with June for a boy, no matter Brother June McAllister in our ward, and so he renamed him Dulé. Why? Why not, really.

Dulé Hill is the name of an actor who (among other things) played Charlie in the West Wing. I can't remember why, but everytime he would appear in the opening credits we would shout "due-LAY!" You might also remember him as Sam the Onion Man in Holes, too.

Don't worry, it's just his womb-name. We'll figure out his real name will be someday.

That's wonderful!!!

Keryn,

That is just the best news I have heard in a long, long time!!! I am so glad that Baby is going to be doing so much better then we thought before. Maybe you won't have to move after all! I hope that you are feeling better, too, Keryn.

My friend brought her babies home this last Saturday. They are not expected to survive for long unless they can get two infant hearts, but at least they don't have to stay in the hospital.

Last Friday, I had the busiest day I can ever remember. First, the kids were all home for fall break. Second, the Cherrydale Farms fund raiser deposit had to be done. Over 500 checks, mostly for under $20, all had to be individually listed for the deposit. It took me about 5 hours to do properly. Thank goodness for the experience I got at Uncle Wendel's store. The bank was EXTREMELY impressed! Third, Jeff and I went out for our date night, so it was also a late night. I was very tired.

I loved the women's conference last Saturday. It was great. I wasn't able to go to the stake center, Jeff's car still had break problems he was working on, but I watched it at home. Very inspiring.

Baby Dule

We had our second perinatalogist ultrasound this afternoon, and the news is very encouraging! First of all, the placental problem--it was low-lying, and our doctor was worried about placental previa, which is a pretty scary, pregnancy-compromising condition--has resolved itself, and we don't have to have any worries about anymore. That is a relief.

Second, hydrocephlus (water on the brain) can develop even before the baby is born, and the early it develops, the more brain damage can occur. Although his ventricles are measuring near the top of the range, they are not quite in the abnormal range yet, and in fact are pretty much the same as they were a month ago. That is VERY good news, in that it's a big worry and sometimes they have to deliever the baby early just to put the shunt in early enough to save brain functions. Dr Dizon-Townsend was quite relived to see no real change there, as were we.

Third, and pretty cool, the lesion is NOT as high as we were told on our last visit. Our first ultrasound, in our doctor's office, indicated that it was about level with the hips, or in the lowest lumbar region. Then the following Tuesday at the perinatalogists, it looked very much like it was in the highest lumbar region, or even higher. The higher the lesion is, the more damage is done to the spinal cord and the worse the disabilities usually are (although it is not a one-to-one correlation). Today we were able to see much more clearly exactly where the cord comes out of his back, and it is MUCH lower--the lowest lumbar region! The problem before was that the sac is floppy, and it was flopped in such a way that it looked much higher than it really is. This is FABULOUS news, in that the lower it is, the more nerve function is possibly preserved. He might still be in a wheelchair, but it is a much better chance that he will have more mobility than we were fearing.

I'm still on cloud nine over such a lot of good news--we found out yesterday that Brad's dad doesn't have to have bypass surgery, and now with our good news about baby Dule, well--it's great. Also, the ultrasound machine we were on today could do that awesome 3-D stuff that they do at the mall ultrasound places, and we got some really awesome pictures. So, everyone, meet baby Dule! (He's squashed up against the side of the womb.)

QOTW

So, this isn't my answer to the current QOTW, but to the last one. I'm kind of slow in answering these...sorry! The age I would like to be is probably 21...you know, in my vast experience of different ages, that was my favorite. I was healthy, very thin, and just altogether happy with my life. I'm happy with my life right now too, but since Katy was born, I've been having more problems with my body. Teenage life wasn't the best, and I'd really rather not go back to that. So, 21.

new qotw

We bought adam an elmo costume for halloween. Kip is going to be wearing the tigger costume that Adam wore 2 years ago.

With different characters in mind i thought up this question of the week.
If you were a cartoon character what name would you create for yourself?

i would be kooky the krazed kid.

Update on Tyler

I'm sorry that I didn't post this sooner. I understand I'm in big trouble with some of you for not posting it and I'm sorry. I honestly just didn't think about it.

So, last Thursday, Tyler and I went to Salt Lake to see Dr. DeWitt about what she thought about the results of all the tests. She told us that most likely it is MS, but there is a slight chance that it could be something else called Acute Dessemintaed Encephalomyelitis (ADEM - or as we like to call it - Adrenaline Drugs Elephant Morphine). ADEM looks and acts exactly like MS, even in the results of the spinal tap. However, it is caused by a viral infection, which Tyler did have, and it only occurs once. The only way to tell if it was ADEM or MS is to wait three months and then get another MRI and see what that shows. Apparently, something will be different in the MRI if it's ADEM. If Tyler has another episode before then, it's definately MS. Most likely, however, it is MS. The only cause for concern is that he did have that virus before the symptoms showed up. ADEM usually shows suddenly and severly, and Tyler's symptoms weren't as severe as normal ADEM patients show. We are hoping that it's ADEM because it will mean that he doesn't have to inject himself at least once a week for the rest of his life. But, we're not counting on it. Please keep us in your prayers and we'll keep you updated on what happens next. Right now, it's a waiting game.

We love you all!

Chess

So, Bradley and I played chess this afternoon. I console myself by thinking it would have been worse if I was playing with Samuel, but in reality, I'm not sure that it could have been much worse. Losing your queen in less than twelve moves can't be good. A chess player I am not. At least we had a rule that if you lost a piece, you could then--and only then--eat a peanut M&M. So I got a lot of nutty chocolately goodness. Hee hee.

I think I would like to be about 25 when I am resurrected. I was quite slender then (but I hope we can eat sugar in heaven without gaining weight, because that was why I was so slender!), and I don't remember too many aches and pains. But who knows. Maybe seventeen was a good age, body-wise too. Except the shin splints.

re: qotw and other topics

Well, I'm totally with LaDale on this one, 27 or 28. I'm not altogether sure exactly why, it was just what popped in my mind when I read the question.

In other news, for those of you who don't know, we got a puppy. She is very cute and round and loves toes and balls and alot of other things, as long as they move around and she can chase and pounce.

Heather's baptism is officially scheduled for Dec 16.

A while back I wrote about my friend who was expecting conjoined twins. Well, she gave birth yesterday. The girls are stable, but not expected to survive. They share one seven chamber heart. In order for them to live, they would need two infant heart transplants. So I'm sure you can guess that their odds are not good.

QOTW

28 or 29.

Up until then I never had to remember how old I was. Since reaching 30 I've had to actively think about my age. I forget all the time how old I am. I have even found myself having to add number together to figure it out. I hesitate to think what I will be doing at 45 or 65 or heaven's 85! I can see it now, "Let's see. 29 plus 2 years there and 5 years, then 10 years since that happened. I must be 40 something. But wait. Hasn't it been some fifteen years since..."

Oh dear!!

Re: QotW

I have been thinking of this question for a while now. I know that whatever age my body will appear to be in will be fine by me. I will enjoy being resurrected. That being said, I think I would like a body around the age of 35. I think that by that time I will have a schedule to keep my body is a great shape, including exercise, a healthy diet, and a good sleep schedule. I also picked 35 because there is a good chance that I will no longer be in school by then.

As a side note, I feel really out of shape. I still look like the twig that I am but I do not have the stamina that I used to have. I get tired quickly and breath deeply if I want to play sports. Ah, the good life. - SKT

Happy birthday tyler!!!!! and new qotw!

According to what i wrote on my calendar assuming it's correct, Tyler is 23 today right? So anyway Happy Birthday!!!

So i was talking to LaDale on the phone a few days ago and she told me about a very interesting qotw from Aunt Sherry's family web site. So i thought i would post it.

When you are ressurrected, what age do you picture yourself as? {i am paraphrasing because i can't remember the exact wording}

I think i would be 22. I just remember that being the last time my body didn't hurt every day. My decisions in life were a lot wiser than say even a year or 2 before. I also would still be young enough to be able to get away with having a hello kitty purse and seat covers. {Which i still have anyway} Mainly for me it's about being physically whole again.

wow, I'm just not having luck...

Okay, try this link instead. The last one apparently didn't work. Hopefully, this one will. If not, I give up. You guys just aren't meant to see that picture if this one doesn't work. =)

Oops

I meant for there to be a picture of the new Satin Hands set on my post, but apparently, Blogger didn't like my picture. If you want to see a picture of it, go here. I love you all!

Where is everyone?

I keep checking the blog with nothing new for three days now! =) I just want to make sure that everyone is doing well. Also, I have a proposition for you all. Before I tell you what it is, I just want to make sure you all understand that I don't expect you to do it, nor should you feel like you have to just because I'm your sister. =) In case those words haven't already given it away, it has to do with Mary Kay.

As all of you are aware, Tyler and I are a little strapped for cash these days and we have to make another payment on our credit card by next Wednesday. I have given myself a Mary Kay Challenge that's, well, kind of scary to me, but I know I can do it. My goal is to sell 50 of the new Satin Hands Pampering Sets, which are $30 a set, by Tuesday, September 19. Now, there is no way that I can do this by myself, so I have created a contest that will run from now until 6:00 pm on the 19th. Everyone who sells a set will receive 10% off their own set. If you sell 2, you get 20% off, and so on. When 10 are sold, you receive yours free. The first person to sell 10 will receive an additional $150 worth of free product, whatever they want. The second to reach 10 will receive $100 in free product and the third will receive $50. Because I love you guys more than anyone else, I thought I'd let you in on it. But like I said before, don't feel like you have to. It will be harder for you to sell them because you don't have samples to give people to try it out, but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway. Attached here is a picture of it. For those of you who know the old set, they've basically combined two of the steps and added a peach scent to it. If you'd like to to participate, let me know, and I'll email you the form that needs to be filled out with the info of the people you sell to.

I love you all and I hope that everyone is doing really well! Have a great day!

Pictures of Katy

I just thought I'd share a few pictures of our baby girl. If you look on our site, you'll see even more. She's grinning up a storm these days, so we've been getting some pretty cute pictures. And this little blue outfit was just too adorable on her. The hat doesn't actually go with that outfit, but it worked. =) Anyway, just wanted to share! I love you all!

P.S. Oh, and Tyler's appointments are now both next week, Monday and then on Thursday. The one that was supposed to be tomorrow rescheduled. We'll keep you posted.

Memories of Dad

I have way to many memories to try to narrow it but I thought you would like to see these pictures. I recieved them in the mail from someone we were friends with at the university but have very seldom seen her since. These were taken before we were married but we were engaged.

Why go?

Today we had stake conference. It was our turn to do the broadcast regional-stake conference thing, and so we went to "a different church" as Ezra put it (not the Catholic Church, but just the stake center). Our stake is pretty huge, and we don't really fit in our stake center chapel-cultural hall. They set up TVs in all of the classrooms, and we ended up in the Primary room--along with many other families with small children. Hmmmm. You can guess at the noise level in that room. I have to admit to not getting much out of the last hour, as Bradley was in the hallway with Mercy, and I was wrestling with an increasingly-tired and bored Ezra. I even thought of leaving a time or two--what was the point of being there if I couldn't even hear?

Then (finally!) came the closing hymn, sung by the choir: "Redeemer of Israel". When the choir sang, "How long we have wandered/As strangers in sin/And cried in the desert for thee" and then "Fear not, and be just/For the kingdom is ours/The hour of redemption is near"...I just felt all my frustrations of the past two hours (or the past two weeks) melt away, and it suddenly all became worth it. Fear not! The kingdom is ours, and the hour of redemption is near! What a wonderful message--and I would have missed it if we had left early. I'm really glad we stayed.

I remember Mema telling me that there had been months at a time when she felt like she got NOTHING out of church because of her small children. But she kept going because a) she'd made a covenant to attend her church meetings and b) she needed to set an example to the older children. I've discovered a third reason for myself--you never know when a seemingly small thing, maybe even at the very end of the meeting, will lift you up and make all the trouble worth it.

Re: many things

First, Amy and David, how cute! I love your family picture! I'm sad about the shine on your glasses, but your kids are so adorable!

Second, I agree, Caren, pictures! I would love to see all your shirts. They sound like a lot of fun.

Third, I thought you all might like to know that we definitely have a doctor's appointment with a neurologist in Provo next Wednesday. However, we're still trying to get in to see the neurologist that we saw in the ER. It's really starting to irritate me that we can't get through, no matter what time of day it is. I swear I have called about 50 times in the last three days and I'm still getting nowhere. Oh well, at least we have an appointment somewhere.

And fourth, the QOTW. I've thought long and hard about this one, because I have so many memories of Daddy that I love. But, on Tyler's suggestion, I've decided to share these. When I was younger (probably around 9 or 10, because everyone else was either out of the house or attending Mutual) Daddy used to walk with me down to the Thrifty's to get ice-cream. It wasn't every week, but it was often and it was always just the two of us, while everyone else was gone. He also used to buy treats (usually frozen ones) and hide them in the back of the freezer and tell me "Now, this is between you and me. Don't tell anyone else about them." It always made me feel so special. I also have lots of fond memories of eating Cream of Wheat in the morning with him, buying steak for dinner whenever mom was out of town, waking up to music blasting through the house and knowing that the day was going to spent working in one way or another, and water fights with cups and hoses instead of water guns. Those are just a few of the memories I thought of as I comtemplated this QOTW. Thank you Caren, for asking this question.

Re: Celebration

Pictures, Caren, pictures!

in celebration of passing the comps

We bought t-shirts and tie dyed them and bought the special computer print and iron paper.
So all 4 of us have a special t- shirt in honor of samuel passing the comps.

The boys each have the same saying on theirs.

"My daddy passed the Physics comps of 2006 and all i got was this lousy t-shirt"

Mine says, "Life is better as a Physicist's wife"

and samuel's shirt says "in loving memory of my sanity"

Amy's Hair

Amy wanted me to scan this new picture for her and post it. They just got these pictures done at Wal-Mart. Except for the shine on the glasses it is a great picture.

Re: QOTW

So here is my favorite Dad memory:

This memory is when I was learning how to ride a bike for the first time without training wheels. We were still living on Banjo and Dad was taking me out to ride the bike. Dad would hold onto the back metal handle while I would pedal. I was doing really great. I would look back several times to make sure he was still holding me up. One time I looked back and I realized that he had let go and I was speeding away from him. I became very frightened but I could not stop. Next thing I know I rear end a parked car. Dad came running to my rescue. I ended that day with a few scratches on my knees. Somehow we got home and I do remember that Dad was trying not to laugh. I did not see what was so funny. He was trying not laugh because of the instant change in my bike riding as soon as I saw he was not behind me.

The next day or at least the next time he took me out to ride the bike he had to run next to me even if he let go just so I know he was there if I needed him. With his guiding help I was able to learn how to ride a bike. And to this day I have never forgotten how to ride a bike. ;-)

Amy's hair

I totally agree about Amy's hair. It looks so cute--I want to see a better picture. And how cute is Arabella with those piggie tails? What a sweetie! Happy birthday big girl!

Peripheral picture

Um, Amy? When did you cut your hair? I saw you in the corner of one of Arabella's birthday pictures. From what I saw, it looks totally cute! Personally, I think you should take a full on picture of it and place it on the blog for us.

As to the question of the week- I missed the last one. I could not think of a single funny news blurb. I know I've read some, but none came to mind to write about. The same thing happens when everyone it suppose to share their most embarrassing moment. Suddenly, my mind goes blank. I know I have embarrassing moments, I get embarrassed just thinking about embarrassing moments but as soon as they happen, I immediately dismiss them because they are so... well... embarrassing.

For this week, I'm not quite ready yet. I have way too many stories. Over the next few days I hope to narrow the field and then share one with you all.

Again, Caren, thanks for having constantly answer these questions. It's one of my favorite parts of this blog.

Our June-bug

Well, I'm finally ready to post some info about our little boy. Couple of things to start--his spina bifida is not the same as Aaron's, but more like Joey's. From what little I know, though, Joey's lesion--the place where the spinal cord comes out of the back--was lower down, and his disabilities are likely less severe than our June-bug's will be.

Our June-bug's lesion looks to be as high as the L1 vertebrae. That's pretty high up, and there is a possiblity that it extends further up (the ultrasound is unclear on that). This means that there is a very very high probability that our June-bug (that's his womb-name) will be paralyzed from the waist down, at least. We already know there is nerve damage, because both of his feet are clubbed. Because the lesion looks to be pretty big, he will have to have surgery to close up his back very soon after birth--probably within hours. This will take place up at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City--so I will be delivering up at the U of U Medical Center. So far they don't think I'll have to have a C-section, so keep your fingers crossed on that one! Because they don't want me to have the baby down here in Utah Valley--because that would mean a life-flight up to Primary's for the baby--they will probably induce me around 39 weeks, after they check to see if the baby's lungs are developed. Which is right at Christmas--we have such great timing!

June-bug has the malformation of the brain associated with spina bifida--it's where part of the brain is being pulled down into the upper spinal column. This is also associated with hydrocephalus (water on the brain). Either of these can create brain damage, but neither of them always mean brain damage. However, chances are extremely high that June-bug will have to have a shunt drawing the fluid from his brain for the rest of his life. This will mean operations every couple of years at least until he's grown, and then occasionally thereafter.

On the upside, his heart, kidneys, etc, are great. He's measuring about 15-16 days small if the circumference of the head is used, but the perinatalogist doesn't believe that number because of the brain malformation. His torso and femur, though, are measuring right on, so we're still using end of December for his due date.

Anyway, that's about what we know right now. It's been a tough week all around up here in Utah Valley, but I know that with the Lord's help, we can rise to the challenge. I love you all!

Arabella's birthday

Last Saturday, we celebrated Arabella's birthday. This was because Grandma O'Connel's family could only come on Saturday. Here are some pictures of Arabella at her birthday.

Finally Back On

I know that I talk to all of you often and I love that but I also need to keep up on the blog. So, I hereby pledge to try to write at least once a week. I do have some pictures to show you all so you may have to weed through at least two posts. The first pictures are of the fire bowl at Del Webb camp ground. This is a project that dad had planned while still feeling pretty good and that each ward was a part of making. The totams were carved by the boys and their leaders in each ward. When Dad started to get bad and it was apparent that not only would he not be at camp but may not even be alive by then (he died two months before camp)one of the men asked if they could dedicate the fire bowl to him. So here are the pictures of the fire bowl.

qotw (my first in a while)

So, homecoming Senior Year; Telima and I were not dating at the time (though I had planned that night to change that) and I was running late because of work. I got to that house only a few minutes before we were suppose the be seated for the start of the show. I know, not a good start for winning the girl back, but it was going pretty well. Telima was doing what girls do,letting me wait after I arrived. So, I was standing in the door way and waiting. Dad walked in to the room and noticed me standing there (I think he knew I was there before but tried to act like he did not know he would run into me). So gathering himself he walk up to me and said "So, we still have not had that talk." I was not prepared with anything to say, we weren't dating and there was not a way for him to know that that night that would change (now I know that it is not reasonable for him not to know, he's a father; but I thought it illogical). The only thing I could think to say (thankfully footsteps on the stair cued me to the fact that Telima was comming) was "We're running late." He graciously accepted the true though very lame excuse and said that we would have to talk later. We never did have that talk, but after asking to marry his daughter I think that he decided that he knew how it would go. "What are your intentions" "Marry your daughter" I think he took it better after the mission; it would have been the only true answer before my mission and that would probably not gone as well as "We're late".

By the way, it is also my favorite embarasing moment to share with people too.

new qotw

Happy Birthday to dad! I find that it's only fitting to pay tribute to him in the new qotw.
So the question is what is your favorite dad memory?

mine would have to be shortly after samuel and i were married we had gone back to las vegas for a lot of different events. During one of these i was vaccuuming out our car with their trusty vaccuum out there in the garage and dad was working on something out there too. And all of a sudden he turns to me and says"follow me i have something for you" and he starts to run literally back in the house and up the stairs and so i run after him past a very confused Telima. He then presented me with a coupon book created by Samuel for him many years ago, probably as a teen . For it had on their in small print "and this could be all yours for the low price of 12.95" or something like that. Dad was s0 excited to be able to pass that on to me.

News for those who haven't heard

Well,I havec spentroughly 24 of the last 72 hours in the hospital an another 2 in clinics. More then would ever wish on any of you. I have had a CT scan, two MRIs and a spinal tap (a close friend of the epidural; though you never want it to happen durring a epidural). Why? If you have heard it looks like I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It is not confirmed yet, but it is pretty certain. We will meet with a nuerologists at the end of the week to comfirm it. So you know, this is not linked by family or blood, though very little is know about it. Other then relapsing episodes that will happen from every few weeks to every few month I will still that samemethat you all know. There is no cure though there are many medicines that helptokeep it at bay and get me past episodes quicly. It will be a rough road but we are hopeful. For those of you who knew and include us in your fast, thank you. it all is God's hands now; and what capable hands they are. We just have to trust in him. If you would like to know more feel to ask or you can visit the National MS Society or googlefor other sources of information. There are many support groups out there forMS patients and family. I just wanted you to know and I will keep you posted after the meeting with the neurologist.

By the way, congrats Samuel with you exam and good luck with finishing everything else off.