Medical Miracles and Answers

Medically speaking- our family has had our share this last month. For those of you who hadn't heard, my dad was diagnosed as having a tumor on his pituitary gland. It was larger than an inch around and affected his vision, hormones, and mood to name a few. They moved rapidly and scheduled surgery to have it removed. They went up into his nose, broke a bone, and cut it out. He had a few complications and spent a few days in ICU recovering and has since been able to come home. He is still having problems with his vision, balance, and connecting thoughts at times, but we are so grateful for all the prayers and fasting in his behalf. We truly felt that it was a miracle that the tumor was found and taken care of as quickly as it was.

Also during this time, Shelby and I had decided to follow our Developmental Pediatrician's advice and have Wyatt tested before he enters school next year by a Neuro-pyschologist to determine an official diagnosis. We have had many 'guesses' on Wyatt over the last six years, but this was the real deal. Wyatt and I traveled back to Boise and he spent a long 5 hours doing various tests. Then this last Friday, Shelby, Wyatt, and I returned again for 2 more hours of testing and the results. Wyatt's official diagnosis is 'Acquired Brain Injury'. According to MRI's we've had done in the past, Wyatt probably suffered from a stroke when he was in utero, or during the birth process that has injured his brain. All of the things he struggles with and his various symptoms, all stem from this brain injury. He doesn't have Autism or ADHD, which actually might be easier because I would have more information and know exactly what to do to help him best. Instead, every brain injury is different. We don't know exactly what Wyatt will learn to do and when. We have some information now on exactly what he can and cannot do at this point in time and ways to help him, but we have to be creative and find ways teach him at home and at school. One of those ways is through a medication we've started giving him to help with his over-sensitivity to stimuli through his senses. We're hoping that once we can help him not get so over-stimulated we might be able to help him learn through his difficulties.

I'll be honest- it wasn't what I thought I was going to hear. It wasn't as clear-cut as I wanted. Instead- I'm terrified of how to best help Wyatt. On the other hand, being creative and learning as we go is how we've been doing things so far- but school will present a whole new set of problems and hurdles.

I so appreciate all of my friends who have brought meals to my family through this trying last month- have called to check in me- have remembered the days of Wyatt's appointments and called to find out the results. I am so very blessed in the people that my Heavenly Father has sent into my life. I love you all!!!!

Zoo Boise

While my dad was in the hospital, we spent as much time in Boise as we could supporting my mom and taking turns visiting my dad in the ICU as often as they'd allow us in. We managed to squeeze some fun out of the trip and spent a few hours at the zoo with Afton and Weston and my cousin Ashley and her two cute kiddos. The kids loved the zoo- it's improved so much in the last two years since we were there! We'll have to make it an annual trip for sure.

Fallon's Graduation

My little sister Fallon graduated from Bear Lake High School last week. Wow!!! We're so proud of her and she looked beautiful doing it!

Fallon with Afton and Aaron- such a cute picture!
My sweet Dad- he'd had brain surgery just over a week before this- but he would not miss Fallon's graduation for anything!
Fallon was trying sooo hard to get all the monkeys to smile.

Batter up

We spent an afternoon with some of our best friend's and their kiddos at Hop 2 It in Twin for a birthday party. Wyatt loved the new baseball game they had- he actually did really great at it, but this time that I recorded him was too funny not to post :)

Farm kids

Shelby is teaching the kids so much with all of the animals that he has brought around our home. He is raising baby pheasants from eggs this year and the kids loved watching them hatch. Actually, even though I am a farm girl myself, I'd never seen a baby chick hatch from an egg. It really is fun!- So for your viewing pleasure -----

A few more pics of Graduation

Fun at Chuck E Cheese

My kids and I have never been to Chuck E Cheese. Sad I know- but the closest one is in Boise and we hardly ever go to Boise. Since we spent much of last week in Boise with my dad in the hospital, we needed a fun way to burn lots of energy for the kiddos- they absolutely LOVED the place. Couldn't get enough of it- so much so that we went twice :)

Happy Mother's Day!

Rea mothers don't eat quiche;
They don't have time to make it.

Real mothers know that their kitchen utensils
Are probably in the sandbox.

Real mothers often have sticky floors,
Filthy ovens, and happy kids.

Real mothers know that dried play dough
doesn't come out of carpets.

Real mothers don't want to know what
the vacuum just sucked up.

Real mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'
And get their answer when a little voice
says 'Because I love you best.'

Real mothers know that a child's growth
is not measure by height or years or grade....
It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother...


Happy Mother's Day everyone. I am so grateful for my wonderful mother, mother-in-law and grandmothers. I am in awe of all that they've taught me and the amazing women they are.

Field trip to the Firestation

The kids had a field trip to the firestation with their preschool class last week and I decided to tag along. Below is their entire class.Mr. Wyatt chillin on a fire truck
This is seriously how he spent the majority of the field trip (sorry for the funky white spots in the picture). He was so worried about the fireman turning on the siren. I promised him (upteen millions of times) that we would run outside when the man got ready to turn it on. They didn't end up turning it on anyway because one of the boys in Wyatt's class has seizures. Wyatt promptly told the fireman -"Thank you so much for not turning on that noisy siren :)"
Miss Livvy waiting patiently to be told to say 'cheese'.
Dang- those smiles make me smile too- Aren't they contagious?