December Going on's

Thank you everyone for the prayers and sweet comments.... we really appreciate them. We did her blood work at Phoenix Children's on Tuesday. It was another unpleasant experience. It took three ladies plus me holding Ella, 35 minutes to take her blood. It was 35 minutes of tourniquets, heating pads, feeling her arms, hands, and feet for veins, and poking in both arms (not only poking, but searching around with the needle for the vein.) They finally ended up taking the 7 vials from her foot. Now let's hope they don't lose the vials...... this has happened before. But thanks again for the prayers.......... the phlebotomists kept commenting at how well Ella did. I'm praying that we will figure this out.

My December has been pretty crazy, but mostly due to myself....... buy, return, buy, return..... seems to be my motto this year. I keep finding a better deal or product, and have ended up at Target (5 times) and Costco (3 times) in one week (and other stores as well).

I also tried to take our annual 'in front of the Christmas tree' picture this morning. Let's just say the spirit left the room quite quickly due to:

• crabby Ella
• not being able to figure out the weird (blurry) mode the camera is in
• kids not cooperating
• me being IMPATIENT (this was the biggest reason)
• Thayne responding to my impatience with impatience

Would you like to see a few......

Fabulous, huh? (Sadly, she felt like she was falling when we put her on the chair....this is part of her eye/balance issues. I think it's sweet how my kids just love Ella-- sometimes a little too much).
Ella just caught a glimpse of these pictures-- she said, "Mom, look, I sad." Then she left the room and came back with her blue dress. She said, "Mom, I ready to take the picture now."
And the one and only semi-cute one, that turned out blurry! Do I dare try this again?



It actually has been a very festive and fun December. I love being busy.

Some of the fun-ness:

• Hailey had a small school performance



• Kaden had a piano recital



• we saw "A Christmas Carol" at the Hale theater (thanks Rich and Crys for watching Ella),



• fabulous R.S. dinner at a beautiful clubhouse



• two more parties this week, and a preschool performance by Ella

Hailey after her performance with her adorable teacher.

And for the grandparents: Kaden performing "The Entertainer". This was one of the songs he played at the recital, but my video didn't upload right. This is from last May at the school talent show (which he signed up for on his own). Enjoy the blurry video.

And while I'm posting video's for the grandparents....... Kaden wants to show you his goal. Watch his smooth move

Updates on Ella

I am once again petitioning your prayers. Also, if anyone is fasting this Sunday... would you mind including Ella in your fast? After another three month wait, we finally returned to our endocrinologist today. I was very glad Thayne joined me, because I have been emotional about Ella lately. The second they weighed her, I started to tear up. She has gained 15 more lbs since May. What three year old gains 15lbs in 6 months??-- that makes it more than 25lbs in one year. This is HEARTBREAKING to me, to see my baby gain uncontrollably and not be able to do anything for her. There is absolutely no way she is eating the amounts of calories it takes to gain this much weight.

The good news is that the endocrinologist felt our pain. She sat with us for thirty minutes discussing everything and anything. She wants to re-do the MRI, and focus in on the Thalamus and Pituitary. She wants to test and retest (using different methods) some genetic diseases, and may refer us to a geneticist. She will also do all of the basic testing and some more indepth testing related to the pituitary (which 70% of ONH kids have issues with).

Here's to hoping. I am hopeful that we will figure this out. I am also grateful........ grateful to be Ella's mom. When Thayne gave her a baby blessing, he mentioned that Ella will have many trials. My sister-in-law and I gasped.....thinking, who says that in a baby blessing? As any mom knows, when your child suffers, you do to. I hope and pray that I will be the best mom to Ella that I can be. I know that she has been given to our family for a special purpose-- this was also revealed in a blessing. I am thankful to Thayne for honoring the priesthood....what a blessing this is to our home. I testify to you that it is real.

And to my Mom- HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I love you. Thanks for always being there for me.

Thanksgiving week in pictures

Pre- thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day

Post-thanksgiving

This wasn't even half of the drawings by Hailey and Kamrie.

If you want more details of our Thanksgiving day (who wouldn't?)- go to my cousins blog. (Ok- I can't remember how to add a link. go to richandcrys.blogspot.com )