Deja Vu...(Visiting Elder Neilson) and I Love You

He's OKAY!

Elder Craig Neilson recovered amazingly from General Anesthesia.

Dave and I drove quickly but, safely down to Provo to see Craig in recovery at the Surgical Center before the MTC van took him away. Martha, the nurse, was very kind and I know she kept him there until we arrived because when I saw Craig, he was alert and talking (met the requirements I have for discharge).

Okay, the next picture doesn't look like he's so alert but...

He had received some pain medication shortly before we arrived but he didn't remember any of that. The left side of his face is alittle droopy because of the block he received to numb his left shoulder (face, arm, hand...)

Shhhh, don't tell...

I called Sharon and let Craig talk to her and Darren so that they could rest assured that Craig was doing well. I'm sure all of this is fine under these circumstances...I've concluded that after the "Brent incident".

Craig's little piece of Heaven.

The cooler looking thing on the floor has ice in it and circulating water that keeps cool/cold water flowing through the pad that is wrapped on Craig's shoulder.

Craig had a companion with him while at the Surgical Center, not his regular companion but one from his District. I've read and heard that Craig has had a Hawaiian companion and also one from Tonga. I wasn't too surprised to hear that because while in recovery, Craig was talking with an accent and it was kind of Islandish. He was FUNNY too! It could have been the drugs but whatever it was, I thought he was funny.

Good Bye again...

I have more to blog on another topic but again, technical difficulties are preventing me from doing that now. AND I'm sure they are "technical" difficulties.

I problem solved and got the pictures I needed!

I had forgotten to blog Brent's final send off.

Brent had a follow up appointment with his surgeon and it was impressive walking into the office building (business is good...). I made Nicole and Brent stop for a picture because I wanted family to feel like they were there.

The wait was not long and the visit was almost as short, and Brent passed the test and was on his way back to the MTC...after stopping for lunch of course.

Checking in at the front desk.

Brent and the MTC President just before the final departure.

They take things very seriously there...that's all I'm saying.

Nicole and Chay both had their phone contracts end about the same time and were up for free updated phones. Here they are playing with their new toys AND very pleased with them.

Over Conference weekend, Calvin's (my cousin) and Trish's daughter Cleah and her boyfriend were guests of ours. We didn't see them too much as they kept busy doing things around the area but, we did get to visit with them a little bit and enjoyed getting to know Cleah better and meeting Carlos.

I treated them like family while they were here and just left them fend for themselves.

Between Conference Sessions on Sunday we played Dutch Blitz and for me, it was intense playing. I started the second game but had to drop out when the intenseness had me rushing to the bathroom...

So, we know that Brent is the whiz (no pun intended) in Sharon's family, Chay seems to be the quick one in my family, and heard that Calvin is the one to beat in the other Takahashi family (although Cleah is up there with the top). We'll be practising Dutch Blitz at my place so this summer when we come up, we'll be ready!

Cleah came with her boyfriend Carlos but she left Salt Lake City with her FIANCE Carlos!

The status change occurred on Friday.

A lot can happen in a few weeks.

Just ask Elder Brent Neilson.

This was the first Sunday that we visited Brent in the hospital, he put on a great face for the camera.

(error: This was when Jacqui arrived. He has the oxygen on, he wasn't wearing that when we first saw him. But he still put on a great face for the camera...check him out a few pictures later).

Chay and Blade keeping themselves entertained on the way home from the hospital.

Blade then had a cavity that needed to be filled. He was an ideal patient while getting the work done. TVs above the chairs really do make the time pass more quickly. Times sure have changed since I was a child getting fillings; and I'm talking about more than just the "spit bowl".

Jacqui's arrival to her brother's bedside.

This picture show more accurately how Brent was really feeling.

It was Dr. Seuss' birthday and a local grocery store had cookies to decorate as part of their celebration.

March 8th, brought a winter surprise overnight.

In Provo, Jacqui didn't receive any of the snow.

Last Sunday Brent was feeling so much better and stated he had been craving a strawberry/banana smoothie since he go there and so we found one for him.

That was the meal he needed because the smell of the cod that was served for supper made him nauseated.

Chay's show choir at school had a performance and it was nice to have Brent there. I told Brent that we needed to hurry and eat so that we could get there in time to at least get a seat because in the past it has been packed. Well, this time it was just the show choir and no other group and so it was pretty much empty when we got there and not too full when it started (I'm sure Brent thought I was crazy).

March 19th and getting ready for a return to the MTC in the near future.

Brent needed a haircut and his Mom wasn't around to give him his usual haircut and since I only trim my kids' hair, I made an appointment for Brent where I have taken my boys before and I liked Brent's comment as we parked, "it's a real barbershop, this is legit!"

Chay was laughing at me after I made the appointment because I was wondering who I should make an appointment with and I told the person I didn't need a black haircut, I needed a white haircut.

The owner is Ray (seen with Brent) and he is white but the barbershop is known as the place that you go for a "black" haircut.

I don't think Brent got the "black" haircut though....

He did have a great time there though. He had his neck shaved with a straight edge razor, his hair vacuumed (to remove all the cut hair) and had a shoulder massage....

By the way....Brent is an EXCELLENT tipper!

Time to go and get ready to watch Troy's basketball game online!

Breakfast...the most important meal of the day.

We wanted the Neilson's to experience things that are unique to Utah and so it was decided to have breakfast close by at the Blue Plate Diner.

Jacqui and Craig saw the place as we pulled up and were not shy about expressing how "questionable" the place looked. Hence, one of the "Dives" that appears on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" on the Food Network.

Uncle Doug, Candi, Jamie, Jenelle and Chay went there for lunch last April and Chay liked it and he said that Uncle Doug was excited to see the person that was on the show.

I found the food to be good and the servings are large and filling. But if you get the belgium waffle, it only comes with one and the whipping cream is not automatic...strange because how do you have fruit without whipping cream?

On the way out Chay spotted something that brought a smile to our faces...

and Craig was more than willing to pose for pictures! Jacqui has a great shot of him.

Loading up...

...oops I did it again...

(steeple out of the head)

The Three Neilsons

The Two Neilsons

The One Neilson

Another Single Neilson

Me and the boys.

Nicole was working so she wasn't able to join us for the trip to the MTC.

Here are some shots from the MTC drop off. I have a short video clip but I can't get the videos to load to the blog. And Sharon, sorry, I had a small hand held video recorder and then realized that it was full and wasn't recording and had to rush in the truck to get my camera to capture what was left.

I'll keep working on the video. Since Brent was dressed in his missionary attire, we had a scene played out where Brent would act like he had changed his mind about leaving on a mission and would get back in the truck saying he wasn't ready but would come back next week. Of course there was more drama in the dialogue as we talked in the truck.

We really didn't have to reenact the scene because the Elder there automatically thought Brent was the "Host" and was going to move on until I told him and indicated that Craig was our missionary and needed assistance, then Brent explained the situation to him to minimize his confusion.

Look for more and improved pictures from Jacqui.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JAMIE also!

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!