More exciting news

Joel has been nominated and chosen to receive a wish through Make-a-Wish! He was nominated by someone at the Children's hospital (I was surprised) and we'll soon have a visit from people who will talk to him about what his wish is!

You can guess it will have something to do with his favorite movies. Joel can quote movies and episodes of some cartoons all the way through, including the sound of light switches and all... he loves to act them out. Movies are his favorite thing, there's no getting around it. And, he loves to turn the pages of books-- big books, especially textbooks. He turns the pages and talks about his movies.

And he loves to watch movie trailers/previews on the "Pookater". This is how he gets used to the idea of watching a new movie; if he hasn't seen the preview several times then he has trouble accepting a new film. He also loves to watch little movies of himself over and over again on my blog. So I'm going to add a couple of his favorite links here so you can see where he likes to go...

Disney Pixar.

Dreamworks Animation.

Veggie Tales.

It will be interesting to see what he wishes for!

If you want to learn more about the Make a Wish Foundation and how it works, go to www.makeawish.org.

Big News!

Marty and Janina are expecting a baby! It's amazing to me every time I think about it. We waited to announce it until things were well under way.

Yesterday they came over and Janina sat down next to me and showed me several ultrasound pictures which announced the baby's gender: a boy! Technology just keeps getting better.

They've chosen first and middle names for him but I'll wait to tell you those until he's here. I'm going to post one of the widgets in the sidebar to tell where he's at in his gestational development. Her pregnancy this time has been different than the first, with more morning sickness but not needing the hormone shots, only the pills.

Please pray for Janina as she and Marty are also grieving the loss of their foster son after four years. He has moved to a relative placement, a very good family. Many emotions present at this time... Heavenly Father is blessing all involved.

Watch for updates on the new little start!

Important events in July

I can't decide which way is backwards... I decided to enter the first things first, which makes them show up last... I'm too tired to figure out how to switch them at this time... This is only part of our month, but these things are special and I wanted to remember them. I hope you enjoy seeing the photos.

JULY 13th: Katie's Birthday

Milly made a cake with three sides, for both birthdays and Garrett's blessing. Happy Happy Happy!!! Love to each of you.

JULY 12th: Garrett was blessed AND it was Milly's Birthday

Papa, Milly, Garrett, Ben, Katie

our grandson Garrett.

JULY 10th: Mike and Katie flew to MA

Where they got to visit with Milly & Ben and little Garrett.

JULY 8th: Lora checked in to Missionary Training Center

for six to twelve weeks... and then she'll go to the NY, NY North Mission (Mandarin speaking) for the rest of the 18 months that she'll be on her mission. She'll be teaching the Chinese people about Jesus Christ.

JULY 7th: Lora flew to Salt Lake City

and stayed overnight with the Hansens.

Goodbye Lora, we love you and will miss you!!! Pray always and serve the Lord!

JULY 6th: Timmy's Birthday

This first picture is Tim's school photo taken Spring 2009. We bought the rights to use it. Isn't he adorable?!

Joel shows up first on the video here on my preview screen, I don't know why that is... Timmy loved his SpongeBob themed birthday Party!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

JULY 5th: Lora was set apart as a sister missionary

By President Cummings. Papa in the circle. Mama, Grammy and Gabe also present for this special time.

JULY 4th: Independence Day

Fireworks were rained out, we took the day off at home.

JULY 3rd: Lora Jean's Mission Farewell Party

We hung Chinese paper lanterns and served cut up fresh strawberries, watermelon, cantalope and chocolate layer cake. It was well attended and an enjoyable evening!

Not my photo, but very similar to what we had.

JULY 2nd: ROBIN'S BIRTHDAY

Some of Robin's party guests: Missy, Ian, Megan, Taylor and Lora.

Playing a version of "Capture the flag" with squirt bottles.

The teams were Pirates and Indians.

Two of the Pirates: Tyler, Gabe.

Tyler got a little carried away with the eye patches.

Robin's birthday hug from Ian. Happy Birthday, Robin!

Email me

Soon after we brought Lucy home, my laptop was broken and I had to share someone else's for a while. I'm not as technically savvy as some... I know parts of my old computer memories are somewhere in this new system --somewhere!-- but it's a completely different kind of system I'm getting used to and I don't have a clue where everyone's email addresses are. So, if you're an old friend or wish to be a new one, would you please email me so I'll have your address? I've posted my email to the right... please no solicitations or fwd fwd fwds; I can only read in little bits of time. And if you have a blog, please send me the address for that, too!!! Thank you!

Watching Lucy grow

Eight months old!

Lucy can roll over all directions and sit up for about one minute. She's moving right along!

And she loves to interact with the other kids.

Setback with Joel's tongue, Looks like revision will be necessary

Unfortunately, it appears that it's healing separated after all. :o( This is a "softer" photo than some of them. So sorry! Poor kid!

Joel's latest hospital adventure

We went to the annual family reunion at the park and within 30 minutes Joel had tripped and fallen against the edge of a step on the playground. Because of the blood thinner he is on it was an especially scary sight to see Joel's face and hands when Gabe brought him to the pavilion. Although some thought he had a bloody nose, I immediately saw that Joel's tongue was split and Mike and I drove him directly to the hospital.

This photo is Joel's tongue after he was cleaned up and the bleeding stopped. Be glad you're not seeing the other photos. ;o)

Here is Joel in the ambulance because the local hospital didn't want to try stitching him without his heart doctors near, especially since he was already having lung problems and sounded awful. Children's didn't want to risk it either and postponed the surgery to get his lungs "optimized". They took him off the steroids and Coumadin and put him on Lovenox and a different nebulizer inhalent. He was put on a liquid diet. We were told that the surgery would have to be done or Joel's tongue would stay split.

Here is Joel the next day. His tongue is healing without surgery, praise the Lord!

Joel continued on breathing treatments. He allowed the mask which was very good.

Here are some visitors that came to see Joel Sunday evening. I think this photo is funny because it looks like one of those photos where a group of people tries hard NOT to look at the camera.

Gabe and Joel enjoy all of this face-making. Everyone asked to see Joel's tongue.

So many "toys" to ride and push! So many choices! Joel rode and pushed them all.

On the go in his favorite black car.

The toy room. Out of all the toys, what did he choose to play with?

A Madagascar coloring book.

His roommate had Madagascar 2 on DVD and Joel watched it so many times I lost track.

Here he is naming each of the characters on every page.

Joel loved pushing this little wheelchair. I had a hard time keeping up with him!

Pepsi Deb is one of the respiratory therapists. She's known Joel for many years and sends him Veggie Tales movies and related toys. She came in time to give Joel his last breathing treatment before he was released.

Joel began to figure out how to make the wheelchair move while sitting in it. Here he is trying to escape in the chair.

Waiting for Papa to come and take us home...

And here he is! With the kids! Time to go home.

And who would've known that this week I would add another nursing skill that I never wanted to my list? I am giving Joel his Lovenox shots at home. Twice a day, at least until his Coumadin levels are therapeutic again. Not as hard as I'd thought it would be but I hope they tell us he's therapeutic tomorrow... we went to lab today.