an update: hailey style

two weeks ago-

after this post

Brett got on the phone as a worried father.

the next day

we got a phone call from the neurology department at Primary Children's hospital

she was in!

We met with a doctor - then scheduled another EEG.

Totally sleep deprived- we arrived at the hospital the next day.

ready

she was up most of the night the night before messin' around with Tiffany - thankfully Tiffany's mom let her spend the night so I didn't have to stay up with her- then go to bed at 12:00 AM- just to get up at 4:00 AM- and keep her awake! No offense hailey, but I'm a grandma now and I need my zzzz's.

Have you ever seen a cuter tired girl getting hooked up to an EEG?Of course not! She did great & had two seizures just as we had hoped. Not that you ever want your daughter to have seizures.. but during a test- ya. Let's figure out what's going on here.

The results are back- we haven't talked to the neurologist yet, just the nurse. Just as expected she has conversion disorder. Nothing more. This is good news- just not fun. She is not having epileptic seizures- but seizures that are brought on by something else. In this case, anxiety. Anxiety runs on both sides of the family.

poor gal- she is so positive & lovely & frankly I don't think her anxiety is any worse than most girls her age- it just comes out is such a dramatic way.

She is seeing a new therapist & still on anxiety meds & learning how to work through that anxiety. Some of us dust our anxiety under the rug... then everyone around us suffers. Hailey is learning young how to live with & cope with anxiety. In the long run- she will be the lucky one.

YES

I asked her permission before writing this.

Thank you for your prayers & love.

It is very much appreciated.

On a positive note-

Hailey played the most beautiful arrangement of Come Thou Font of Every Blessing today in sacrament meeting. It was breath taking.

I love this girl.

why dad is sleeping with one eye open...

Today Brett & trent ran some errands & went for a run together. Later they walked down to get snow cones then walked/ran 3 miles on the Legacy trail. They mowed the lawn & played some soccer. Here is a bit of the conversation.

Trent- dad, don't forget to put your seatbelt on or you might die.

dad- I might die? what would you do if I died?

Trent- thinking hard- well, could I have your laptop, blue tooth & cell phone?

later... same day

Trent - Dad, can I drive the car in the church parking lot?

Brett- Trent if a cop drove by, he would pick me up & put me in jail. Do you want me to go to jail?

Trent- thinking again- could I have your lap top?

an update: missionary jack style

Missionary Jack writes every Wednesday.

His emails are a highlight for the whole family.

I anxiously get up every Wednesday morning & start clicking on my email inbox- over & over & over throughout the day- until Brett calls & says- Jack emailed!

(I never click at just the right time.. but I won't quit trying!)

You may not know-

but last month there was severe flooding in the State of Alagoa, Brazil. They received a months worth of rain in two days!

Very scary & very quick rising water. Many people lost their homes & even more sadly those homes were in the poorest areas. Last week our R.S. President called to say (her daughter is married to jack's mission president's son) that President Beynon had emailed an article with photos about some service the missionaries were doing.

SQUEAL OF DELIGHT!!!

We quickly got on the computer & she forwarded the article to us.

Pictures of the missionary working- helping- serving.

All the things he went to Brazil to do.

He wrote & said it is hard some days (surely this was one of those days) but that he loves it.

This team of members & missionaries are helping a community of flood victims clean out a school for temporary housing. I can't even imagine- it makes me shudder to think of it.

I asked jack if it "smelled" he said-
ya.
There was debris & garbage up to the rafters in the school so you know that flood water (mixed with you know what?) was high. This week he wrote of teaching the gospel to 3 young men who are scheduled for baptism tomorrow. Of taking an old train to a park that was really a jungle & looking for alligators (ya they found some little guys) while humming the Indiana Jones theme song. Last week- he wrote of all the people (especially in the flood areas) staring at his tallness & red hair. Of kids dropping what they are doing to run & get their parents to see the red headed new guy in town. Of kids riding their beat up old bikes through town with little monkeys on their shoulders. He mentioned that whole families (whole families?) ride on one bike to get places. He nicked name the bike- Brazil's suburban- and said he will have to get a bike when he starts a family- who needs cars? He said the food is good- no one sleeps with blankets- he hasn't been cold once since he left & doesn't even know if you can buy a blanket anywhere.
wow
I'm so proud of my missionary
and again
so happy to be the mother of a servant of the Lord.
we love you missionary jack!

a fourth of july recap

I love Independence day!

Everyone who knows me...

knows- it is my very favorite holiday- by a long shot!

I love the flags flying, the patriotic music, picnics, parades & all things red, white & blue.

This year as I write this post- I can't help but wonder??

where are the photos of the flag?

I didn't take any photos of my sweetheart & me together?

dang it!!

oh well, it was a great weekend & these will have to do :)

Around 4:00 on the 2nd- my sister Johnna & BIL Clyde arrived for the weekend.


They had their daughter Aimee with them & I was so EXCIted & SURpriSed that I got all teary & nearly started to cry!!!
I hadn't seen aimee in way too long.
She's Lola's mom. (I sent her the Lola quilt a while back, if you remember?)

Marcus, Brittany, Brit & Aimmee

Ruthie's family came too.

We headed over to the concert in the park. With fried chicken, my special 4th of July shrimp salad, veggies & dip, glass bottles of soda, and these- mmmm

I have to admit- I was really missing Jack.

Missionary Jack loves the 4th... and all that goes with it. He is a history major & knows American history better than anyone I know.

BUT-- It was SO GREAT TO HAVE...

Brian with us!!!

This is his first- 4th home & it was glorious to have him here. Just think- last year I was missing him? Only one more 4th until Jack is back- (speaking of the missionary, I am working on a big Missionary Jack update to publish soon, hopefully tomorrow.)

Marcus & Brian posed for Jack

the concert was amazing.

The band made up of 15-18 year olds from around the state.

YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE they were teens!

They played big band music- a lot of michael Buble type stuff, it was fabulous.
They were so good & so talented.

Brittany & Marcus

Last year they were engaged- they celebrate their first anniversary on Sunday!

The fireworks did not dissapoint. they were specatcular - although

They usually go off to patriotic music.

NOt this year...

we were sorely dissapointed.

Actually I was pretty ticked off- Brian too.

WE had talked earlier in the day about how beautiful & emotional it is to watch fireworks while listening to America The Beautiful & the like...

they played movie show tunes? BLAH- Maybe it's a good thing Jack missed it?

Bright & EArly

on the 3rd- we were in our spot for the parade!

Trent sported his coon skin cap-

if you want one? RuN down to a gas station between here & St. George- hurrry quick!!!

(that was sarcasm)

hey-

there's some flags!

There were service men & women- love that- and great floats.

Cool cars with kids throwing candy to the audience.

and this exterminator type company with this guy in a bee suit.

I took his picture because I could just imagine Jack making fun of him...

Oh funny

I'm sure that was the "old jack" not the new & improved missionary jack?

It was perfect weather & so fun to be all together.

After the parade we headed home, then off to the park for the carnival food & quilt show.

Clyde & trent had a GREat time.

Trent spent their whole visit being Clyde's shadow. so cute.

He spent the rest of the 4th washing all of our cars.

Or should I say, putting extremely hard to get off water spots on all of our cars?

While the boys were watching a movie- the girls ran to target. When we came home trent had filled up the back of Brett's truck with water- house water-? So not cool. Brett backed up the truck & dumped it on the lawn. He had just a little too much water freedom & two old burned out parents. I guess that's what you get as the youngest of six- periods of freedom we would have never let the older kids have to get into mischief.

We went to sacrament meeting on the 4th-

what a delight

Then after lunch it was time for the gilsons to go.

dang

Brian took this lovely photo of Johnna & I.

lookin' good- or drunk?

no, we were not drinkin' after sacrament meeting.

better!

It was so GREAT to have you guys here!

we miss you

wordless wednesday- charlie edition

a scouting kind of week...

In the past week- we have had 3...

count them

3 scouting activities!

A week ago- pack meeting.

The next day- webelo day camp

Then today- a candy factory tour.

Day camp was AWESOME.

Every year I dread going.
SuPEr dread going- like I can't sleep- I get really crabby...
Then-
I get there & it's totally fun.

This year I spent the whole day thinking I never want to be released from this job! The boys were so good & we had such a fun time.
Then it started getting late in the day & hotter... & hotter.
I don't do heat very well.
I was absolutely exhausted when I got home.

Pack meeting is always good.

The candy tour...?

well- let's just say- my own son & one other fought the whole time.

lovely

maybe it's a good thing we don't meet again until August?

I don't even want to upload the photo I took

still- the boys had a GREAt time & that's what matters!?

*have you ever been a cub scout leader?

because the first grand child can never have too many quilts!

Last week I sent this little quilt off to Charlie.

I pieced it together then gave it to my machine quilting neighbor to finish.

She did a fantastic job!

I have named it

Happy Camper

I think that's what the fabric is called?

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this fabric.
I bought extra for Owen.
I love it- love it- love it.
Megan & Tony love to camp & I know Charlie will too.
Camping & girl's camp are some of my favorite memories growing up.
I wanted to marry a man who loved to go camping & loved the out of doors and-
I did!
I always knew I would be a "camping" type of mom...
but alas-
I. am. not.
Brett was the scout master for nearly 8 years & spent so much time with the boys camping & teaching them all the skills to do so.
BUT
I have learned that camping as the mom & camping as the kid are very different things. Unfortunately for my kids (especially the girls)- we don't go enough.
Of course, camping in Washington state- where I grew up- I was just plain, spoiled!
Washington state has the best camp grounds with all the important stuff -
beautiful views, marked trails, gorgeous lakes and canoes to rent.
Most importantly there were-
great bathrooms
with showers,
mirrors with plug ins near by,
and
flush toilets.
Those were the good ol' days.

I think vintage type, children's prints are my very favorite fabrics.
I wish I had some Dick & Jane fabric.
I need to search for some.
It's so sweet & reminds me of the readers I used to learn to read with, even though they were not that old...
***
*do you like to camp?
*do you know of any great places to go in Utah?

ballet recital photos

Ballet Recital 2010

I feel like I am worlds behind on posting anything after that massive field trip post!

So this week I am just posting some things I don't want to be forgotten as I try to catch up.

***