Hospital Discharge!

(that could be really gross)

This one is good though...Brent AND Jacqui were discharged from Utah Valley Regional Medical Center on Monday!

When I go home from work, Brent was having a much needed nap and Jacqui was reading a book online. I need to get the name again so that I can start reading the series...she highly recommends it so I will pass the title on when I get it again.

We played Phase 10 while Blade was running all over the place because of his excitement to have "his cousins" over.

Blade wanted to play Kerplunk and so the agreement was that after we played our game, we would play Kerplunk. He agreed, entertained himself and then when Phase 10 was over, Kerplunk was ready.

Jacqui looks like she could be a member of the Dahli Lama family (because we know that Grandpa could be the Dahli Lama's twin)

TUESDAY

Jacqui and Brent picked up Craig from the airport and then did some shopping. Jacqui has some pictures she will need to blog from today. Apparently Brent couldn't handle the shopping and had to sit down and blend in with the mannequin displays.

He's looking so much better than he had (and I mean when he was sick and in the hospital...)

He has so much more energy.

It was said that he had lost 10-15 pounds but it was more like over 20. None of his clothes are fitting...his jeans were bagging on him. He tried on the pants that Sharon and family altered and they were too big. I wanted to get a picture but he was too quick to change into his scrubs. I'll get some though Sharon.

Time to play games again...

Brent needed more rest... Jacqui multi-tasked and read and kept up with 'words with friends'.

Brent then moved to the couch to nap and missed the call from the partying family in Calgary with 1/2 of the Takahashi family there, I think 1/3 was here. (okay, don't do the math, I was just throwing out numbers..)

We FINALLY learned how to play Dutch Blitz and it seems that Craig and Nicole were not on the same page about something, Jacqui was okay with it though...

I was in the game so I didn't get any action shots, again, Jacqui did. And it seems that I am like my sisters when it comes to these games--competitive and intense.

Then it was on to a calming game of Phase 10 again.

I'll get more pictures to share. Time to go get Chay from Show Choir practice.

Visiting the sick

Elder Brent Neilson

We spent part of the Sabbath Day doing one of the standard Primary answers about what we can do on Sunday..."visit the sick".

Not knowing when Elder Neilson will be reentering the MTC, I wanted to make another visit while I could. We made it a family affair but, I didn't want to disturb the nurse to have her/him take the picture so Dave took the picture.

Blade has a cough and congestion so he wore a mask to prevent spreading germs...he was concerned because no one would be able to see him smile. He WAS smiling behind that mask.

No NG tube for Brent anymore and that yellow fluid by Jacqui's head is Brent's TPN, his IV nutrition. He's was on a liquid diet but Jacqui let us know that he was vomiting again after we left. Either he can't tolerate the liquid diet or he can't tolerate the Gathers...

AND, that last two times that I have visited Brent, he has pushed his PCA morphine button a couple of minutes after I have walked into the room. (I wonder if other people would jump at that chance if it were made available....)

It seems that Jacqui has been great company for Brent and they are enjoying each other. There's nothing like family.

Jacqui is looking great sitting beside Brent...

We don't know what life has in store for us but thank goodness we have family, and know that no matter what, they are there for us.

Tonight Jacqui was invited to supper by Josh (Carol and Brad's son ) and his wife...again, family right there to help out. ( I had forgotten that Josh was down here).

Mentally Brent is more than ready to reenter the MTC but physically he isn't quite as ready so we all need to keep him in our prayers!

Outtakes and found lost pictures

Here are some of the pictures that you didn't see with the 2010 Christmas card.

This next picture is a classic Blade pose. He has seen the picture of Chay posing like this next to a life size cowboy cutout when we were in Arizona a couple of years ago and he has claimed it as his own.

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY NICOLE

5.5 months late but here they are...

Pictures to prove that Nicole did turn 19!

Sadly, not a homemade cake decorated by loving hands but, it was personalized with "Nicole".

Nicole chose to eat at a place at Gateway.

(Dave apparently had too much to drink...)

Her food had great presentation.

Chay's presentation was just watching him trying to fit the burger into his mouth.

Blade just being Blade.

Nicole's place of employment was right next to the restaurant and I made her slow down and pose for a picture. Juicy Berry is a self serve frozen yogurt place that you pay by the ounce. They also serve smoothies and coffee drinks.

For the party game we moved into the parking terrace...

Chay was mastering some height in his jump.

This next shot is a recent treasure that I found on the camera...

...Blade just being Blade...

More candids from my birthday.

So, that's what I've been able to find as I play around and try to figure out how to use a Mac.

AND

CONGRATULATIONS Alana on getting your green card!

Surprise! An update

Mid December, Dave and I did something that

we haven't done since Nicole was a baby.

We went on a little get away without any children.

Dave's best friend, Jeff, from North Carolina was on a business trip to Vegas and we haven't seen him for over 20 years, so Dave decided that since he was that close, we had to go see him.

We walked around and ate at the Ballagio. The Christmas decorations were amazing...so many flowers.

There was a lot of eating as they caught up with each other.

Next we ate at the Venetian, and it was like being outside with clear blue skies (we were there the week end before the area was flooded because of the heavy rain storms).

Christmas came and went quickly, and we had to take the traditional "putting out cookies for Santa" picture. I can't remember what Blade decided to put out for Santa this year. That Chay...always a character...

We're finally starting to become an Apple family like the rest of the family.

Everyone is coming out with 3D movies!

These glasses however, were the nicest ones we've used though. They are so valuable that you pass through a scanner and if you have your glasses with you, it beeps. No, I did not try to sneak a pair out, I had to go get a refill of popcorn, had the glasses on the top of my head and was told that I had to leave the glasses with the attendants and pick them back up when I returned.

We didn't have a formal family picture taken this year ( just the one of the kids as we ran/drove around downtown SLC at Sunset) but, we did manage to snap a group shot.

We purchased a season pass to the Clark Planetarium (for a great price of course) and apparently the boys weren't too happy about hanging out on another planet...

Nicole made an amazing discovery! The buffalo wool sweater that Grandpa knitted for her is the warmest thing EVER!

She couldn't get over the fact that she could wear just a tank top under the sweater and no matter how cold it was, she was VERY warm!

Packing things up until next year...

Blade loves to shovel the snow! (This was in January) As people walked/drove by, I felt as if they were looking and thinking "I can't believe that that mother is making her little boy shovel the snow as she just looks on!"

He did do a fine job.

And with the snow storm yesterday, he couldn't wait to go out and shovel not only our sidewalks but the neighbors also!

Blade was watching a show on the Food Network and he was eager to try one of the recipes.

Sugar cookies dipped in chocolate and nuts with a scoop of ice cream and a cherry on top.

What's not to like?

(for any of you wondering why I haven't posted pictures of our traditional cookie decorating for different holidays, it's because our oven isn't working properly and baking just doesn't work out too well, so I didn't bake any).

I was impressed with Dave and his Super Bowl food though. His presentation surprised me, I was so impressed.

Our computer has been dying piece by piece and we finally needed to give in and get another. We took advantage of the student/staff discount at the Univ. bookstore and became more of an Apple family.

Automatic payroll deduction is the way to go for us...I don't even notice the payment coming out.

And Doug is right, I think I CAN tan sitting in front of the monitor.

On Feb. 15th, we picked up Brent from the airport.

(his eyes aren't closed, it's the Asian in him shining through).

Blade was so excited that I think Brent thought Blade was crazy.

(there is another picture of the 3 boys at the airport that I wanted to add but with the iMac, I don't know how to add a picture and move to the spot I want. I did use my "call a friend and lifeline" but no one was home. I tried Doug and Sheila).

Proof that Brent was filling out the required paperwork before entering the MTC.

Again, I am amazed with technology. We were able to get needed info immediately with scanning, emailing and printing.

This picture is out of order but again, none of my lifelines were available to help me.

It's Feb. 16th and my BiRTh DaY!

...and time for Brent to enter the MTC...

We ate at Tucanos in Provo before the drop off at the MTC. ( I had a free meal coupon for my birthday and so happy to use it...that was the only birthday coupon I used this year). With the car rental that we have, there was only room for 5 and so we had to take 2 vehicles. Nicole and Chay went in one and the rest of us in the rental.

Poor Nicole AND Chay.

The google directions did not help Nicole and being directionally challenged, she got very lost and I found out later that when she would ask Chay questions, he would just sit there quietly (smart boy). We started to eat without them so that we wouldn't run out of time and they did get there with time to eat. (I think Sharon forwarded some of the video that Blade took).

I'm not Sheila and so I didn't get the "perfect" picture. BUT I did get a picture.

Trust me, that is NOT a halo around Nicole's head...

...it was the fire pit...

I had Dave stop at the University Mall because I had gift certificates to use and I bought Blade some icecream so that he would keep busy in the the car while I made a quick trip into the mall.

It amazes me how he can get the ice cream to cover so much surface area (the face had more than what shows up in the picture).(I know, not the correct use of safety restraints.)

I was concerned when we arrived at home before Nicole and Chay and when I called and no one answered Nicole's phone. I called Chay's and Nicole answered and they had stopped to shop also. I thought it was just to Target but they obviously made another stop.

I was surprised with a wonderful display of cake and cupcakes!

My precious kids...I sure do love them.

...my finest work....

And I love it when the 3 of them get along and I hear them laughing together.

This is the beautiful display.

We each picked the cupcake we wanted and them I HAD to have a bite of everyone's because I NEEDED to know what each one tasted like.

My birthday was complete,

I got calls from my family, I had a cake and Happy Birthday sung to me.

The bonus this year was being able to spend time with Brent and take him to the MTC!

The day was windy, and reminded me of Southern Alberta.

The evening surprised me with a heavy snow storm and huge snowflakes (I sent Chay out to take a picture).

And now you are caught up.

...hope to blog again before 3 months pass again...