An overview

So, I was working on Ellie's Birthday slide-show-movie thing and decided to do a recap of this first year. I think it's amazing to see how much she's changed but also how much she's stayed the same. I think you'll get what I mean when you see the video. It was a good thing to do, also, because I found some pictures that I didn't use in the other videos. ...Oh my!... I still can't believe she is a year!!!

She's a Year!

Things have gone by so fast. It's hard to believe that Ellie is so big and learning so much. Just last night she showed us that she really knows the sign for 'pick me up.' Now she does it ALL the time. So cute.

Michael is getting over a sickness that took him out for about 3 days. I say three but he's had a hard time all week. Ellie looks like she might be getting it. I'm okay so far, but I am developing a cough.

Other than that it's all studying, cleaning and getting into things. We are so excited for Ellie's birthday on Thursday and her party on Sunday. Good memories.

11 Months

It's hard to believe that Ellie is almost a year old. Time goes by so fast. I hope that you all have enjoyed watching her grow up from afar.

Saying Goodbye to a Friend

This past week has been very...emotional. Michael, Ellie and I were going to house-sit for a week starting the 5th for the Nielsen's while my mom went to Arizona to babysit for my sister. We got a call on Monday the 4th asking if we could come a day early because Kim (my friend - she has breast cancer) was needing help and was thinking about calling Hospice. We went over and it was decided that Kim would go to the doctor on Thursday before deciding what she wanted to do.

It was immediately apparent that Kim needed help. We took over her medication to make sure that she was getting what she needed and when. We also realized that her right arm was too painful to move so we made a sling and started helping her change her clothes, etc. She seemed very uncomfortable and at times incoherent. Thursday arrived and we took the trip to the doctor's. After much discussion about possibilities and pain we took an x-ray of Kim's arm. We learned that her upper arm was indeed broken and that she had cancer in the bone, at that site, about the size of a golf ball. No wonder she was in so much pain.

That night I noticed that her breathing was extremely labored - like she'd been running a marathon. At about 5 am I couldn't take it anymore and asked my dad what should be done. A chest x-ray was scheduled for Friday. It turned out to be pneumonia and/or cancer in the lungs.

We admitted Kim into the hospital Friday night. Her 3 boys and 1 daughter-in-law drove through the night from California to be with her on Saturday. On Sunday we got the news that Kim has cancer in her lungs. She left for California on Wednesday.

Kim is a wonderful person. She taught me the gospel and helped my testimony grow in a time of my life that I desperately needed it. She wasn't the only one, but she was pivotal. I feel blessed to be a part of her life and blessed that I could give service to her in her time of need. It's an unpleasant feeling, knowing that you are truly saying goodbye to someone for the last time. I feel grateful that I had that chance. I really don't know what I'd do if I didn't know what was coming for her. If I knew I'd never see her again. But I will. I will see her. It's only goodbye for a little while. I wish her well in her journey.

Playing Cranium

We had fun tonight playing cranium at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Steven, Alysa, Becca (for some of the time), Grandma Jane, Grandpa Ken, Michael, Ellie and I were there. Usually, I'd make a cute video of some of the stuff I got on camera, but I am too excited to share. I think they are really funny. It was a great night.

This one is of Steven Acting out Robert Di Nero.


This is Alysa drawing a uni-brow.


This video is Grandma Jane acting out a Humpback Whale.


This is me acting out 'happy hour.'