Back Again - Are you confused?

Is he home or not? These posts are getting confusing. As of yesterday - Kenyon is back at the BMT unit at University hospital. He really probably should not have come home Monday. He definitely did not get any better the two days he was home so back he goes. And hopefully they can really treat him this time. They finally did an x-ray (which they should have done last week - I think). That showed some perforation of the intestinal walls that is leaking the gas into the body. It is hard to explain but it isn't a great thing. I know that much. So they are trying to get that gas released with a tube that goes down his nose into his stomach. They are also taking him off food again - and this time for a long time. The gut needs some serious healing. We'll keep you posted.

Home

Kenyon got to come home today. I wasn't really expecting that but we are happy to have him home. He still isn't feeling as good as he would like but they figured out he could continue his recovery at home. Hooray. Thanks for all the prayers on his behalf.

Update

Kenyon is STILL in the hospital. I hate it and he hates it even more. But, he really isn't feeling well enough to come home yet. The doctors are still trying to figure out how to make him better. They are trying some adjustments in meds over the next couple days and hopefully that will work! As much as we miss him, I am grateful for the good care that he gets up there.

Yesterday was our 11 year anniversary - although it wasn't much of a celebration. I am grateful for our marriage. He is so patient and good!

The highlight of the day was coming home to a CLEAN home. My neighbors made it happen and it was a so great. Too bad it can't stay that way forever.

Obsessed

First of all an update -- I am not loving life right now. Kenyon is still in the hospital. Hopefully tomorrow (Thursday) he will be able to come home. I am anxious for him to be home but I don't want him going back so it would be better that they make sure he is all the way better. He is back to eating and taking meds orally. He seems to be doing pretty well.

Gavin and Elise both have strep. Gavin is doing so good now that he has been on antibiotics for a few days. Elise, on the other hand, is struggling. I sure hope tomorrow is better.

Nothing very productive is happening around here. While bouncing the baby on my hip and waiting for the doctor to call me back, I got HOOKED on a website that I have heard about for quite a while now. I don't know why I was so slow to check this out.
The Pioneer Woman is a great blog - whether you like photography, food, hilarious stories about raising children, interested in homeschooling, or life on a ranch. She is gorgeous and her kids are so cute. She was just named by Time as one of the top 25 blogs. It makes life on a ranch and homeschooling look VERY tempting (except that I not much of a meat or animal person). I do think there is potential for much better work ethics, family relationships, and maybe even less sickness. Anyway, happy reading. My only warning is be prepared to waste a lot of time (especially if you start reading her Black Heels to Tractor Wheels story.

And check out the Parmesan Crusted Chicken recipe. Sounds devine.

Copy Cat

I am a copy cat. I admit it. My sisters and I have been having this discussion this week about copying ideas. Cool or Not Cool? I certainly hope I always give credit to my ideas. And you can always be quite sure that whatever it is - it wasn't my idea. I wish I could be more original. I wish that I could even take a good idea and change it enough to make it mine. But I can't. Or Don't. Or something. Maybe I am just lazy. Anyway - here are a couple of things I copied this week that I really liked. I found them on this blog. Matchbox Valentines. Gavin LOVED this project. He loved emptying the matchboxes and filling them with candies. He loved writing his G on each one. And I think he loved passing them out to friends at preschool. And it was a cheap project. Always a good thing.

I fell in love with these cute little party favors and it was perfect for valentines and so easy. Plus really what could be better than sour grapefruit balls and cinnamon heart candies. Yummm.

So there you have it. I copied and I loved it. It was nice to have a little creative outlet this week but it didn't require too much time, money or running around.

Read This

My friend Heather sent me this talk by Elder Holland. I remember the story he tells at the end but I had forgotten some of the important principles he teaches in the talk. It is short and really good if you are looking for a little uplift.

"An High Priest of Good Things To Come" Elder Holland, October 1999 General Conference

"Every one of us has times when we need to know things will get better. Moroni spoke of it in the Book of Mormon as "hope for a better world."2 For emotional health and spiritual stamina, everyone needs to be able to look forward to some respite, to something pleasant and renewing and hopeful, whether that blessing be near at hand or still some distance ahead. It is enough just to know we can get there, that however measured or far away, there is the promise of "good things to come."

No Love!

Not much to love today. Kenyon is back in the hospital. It seems like his gut GVHD is back. Really frustrating. Who knows how long he will be back in there - long enough to get better. He is starting all over on the IV nutrition and then will work his way back up on the liquid diet to food. It is depressing and frustrating but necessary. We definitely want him completely healed. I'll keep you posted.

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you. We love you!

A Few Things I Am LOVING

I Love Quinn - but I am not loving that she is already 3 months old. I want her to stay little for longer. She is starting to talk to us in her cute little baby language. She is also giggling and it kills me.
I also LOVE this spot of my house. I LOVE the wall color, the bedding, the chair, the framed art (thanks to Kristine). I love the little white bowl with headbands. I LOVE sitting there with Quinn E.

Speaking of rooms, I had Kristine make these wall hangings for the boys room. I LOVE them. Gavin was especially excited to make sure that I hung it just right.



I am also LOVING that H&M is in Las Vegas. Apparently I am a little behind the times and it has been there for a little while but I just barely found out. I really want to make a trip down there.

After a couple of recommendations, Kenyon and I finally made a trip to Five Guys Burger and Fries. (We ate out in the car) I am LOVING those fries and even the fresh hamburgers - and I am not a hamburger loving girl.



Am I loving this? Kenyon's hair is CURLY. And it is seriously long. I think it is ready for a little cut. But we are LOVING that he is home and generally feeling better.

And last thing I will mention in this post... Even with GLASSES - I am LOVING this girl.

Home Again, Home Again

Kenyon is home! Thanks for all the prayers, fasting, concern, visits, calls, food, childcare, help, etc. It takes a lot to take care of this family.

Kenyon is definitely feeling better than he did 2 weeks ago. There is still progress to be made. And there are A LOT of meds he now has to take. Probably for the next several months. The biggest pain (for me) is that he is still without an immune system so we can't go out in the public yet. Darn it. Someday we will be able to go out and do something fun.

The kids love that he is home. The only problem is that they can't all sit by him at the table. He has been a good sport with all of this.