The Rollover!!!

Rod -

So I got a lot of time off work and thought I could spend a long Christmas holiday with the family in St. George. So on the 12th Tiff went off with the kids and I was going to leave the next day. I was taking my truck so I could tow some things home and I was taking our old Saturn to St. George to give to some family that was in need of a car. Tiff and the girls made it fine which was good because a storm was coming.

So the next day I set out at about 7:00 in the morning. It had snowed some the night before but it wasn't bad at all at our house only a dusting really. It was really cold though and everything was frozen, so I knew I still needed to be cautious driving.

I got about a half hour away from home and was heading up a snowy hill when I suddenly lost traction and the truck kicked sideways, I attempted to compensate but the trailer with the car jackknifed and I was then just along for the ride.

I ended up going off the opposite shoulder sideways and then the roll over began. The truck rolled over twice, but luckily the hitch of the trailer wasn't strong enough to hold on so it snapped free allowing the trailer and car to stay upright.

After the truck settled, luckily on its wheels, I sat there for a second and used my brain to feel my extremities and realized I was really feeling any pain. I was then able to see that I could move everything and thought okay, that was lucky. I rubbed the dust away from my face and head and looked at my hands and didn't see any blood. Now I thought holy crap that was really lucky and blessed. My training then kicked in and I remembered I needed to shut the ignition off the cut power in case the electric components were to start any gas on fire. I then pushed a bit and the door came open and I stepped out. I stepped a bit away from the truck, looked at it, and again thought holy crap, how did I just walk away from that.'

I looked around and saw the huge mess of Christmas presents and other stuff that had been in the back of the truck but now was all over the side of the road. As I still sat looking at the mess I had created, a tow truck came rolling up. Again lucky, I didn't even have to call them.

I then called my wife to let her know what happened and that I was okay but I wouldn't be making it that day. Of course she thought I was just joking, so I had to let her know again I really wasn't. I then called 911 to report the incident and informed the dispatcher of where I was and what had happened and assured her I didn't need medical personnel. She then asked me. "You sound way to calm are you sure you're okay." I then let her know who I was and assured her I was fine.

The local sheriff's department showed up and took care of the accident report and even helped me pick up all the crap I had thrown about.

I called my older brother who lived pretty close and let him know I needed some help. Of course being one of the best people I know, not only my brother, he didn't even hesitate or waste time with questions, he just told me he would be on his way. He showed up and we loaded up all of my stuff into his truck. He let me know that even though I felt fine now, he was sure I would have all kinds of muscle soreness later that day and tomorrow. He was right. He took me to his house and let me sleep and he and his family took care of me.

It takes times like these to let you know just how much your family actually means to you. The sweetest thing was when I woke up and found two hand made get well cards from my nieces. They are the best and I love them so much.

The next day was full of phone calls with insurance and everything else. A few days later I had to go pick up the old Saturn from the tow yard and get it ready, so I could now drive it out. Luckily it worked and only needed some small tire repairs before being road worthy. So I loaded it up and finally made it to St. George. All in all quite an experience. I still can't believe I walked away with only a few scratches, bruises and some muscle soreness.

You never know how blessed you are until it smacks you in the face.

Enjoy the pictures - Have a safe and happy Christmas holiday.

Rod

Pinkalicious

One of Malia's favorite stories these days is "Pinkalicious". It is about a girl who helps her mom make pink cupcakes, she eats a lot of cupcakes while frosting them and also after dinner. The next morning when she wakes up, she discovers that she has turned pink. I told Malia a couple of days ago that we were going to have a pinkalicious day, and she was soooo excited. Today was the day. I put Brinley down for a nap and we started by making the cupcakes. Malia was a great helper, and even cracked all the eggs herself.We got the cupcakes all baked and totally cooled off, now for the frosting! Malia was the most excited for this part. She got the book out so she could try to make it look just like pinkalicious' s cupcakes. The frosting was a little messy and it wasn't as neat as I would have done ( I'm seriously obsessive/compulsive), but it was so great to see how proud she was of herself! It made all the mess worth it. We had a fun day, I kept telling her, " I sure hope that you don't wake up pink in the morning"!! She would just giggle and say, " I won't, I promise"!! She is getting to be such a fun girl to be around, not such a little kid anymore!!!Brinley thought the cupcakes were mighty tasty!!!!

99 Balloons

I saw this video on Oprah a few weeks back. It really touched me and got me thinking about how truly blessed I am.

Winner winner, chicken dinner!

Rod received an award this last Wednesday at a luncheon in Reno. The Northern Nevada Chapter of the American Society for Industrial Security gives out these awards every year. They contacted the Sheriff at Douglas County and asked him who he thought should receive it from his department. I guess Rod was it! It is basically an award for outstanding service to the community and the department. I mean, really, was there any question about who would get it?? Rod is one of the hardest working people I know. He genuinely loves his job and the people the he works with. He is so good at what he does, and I am so happy that he was recognized for all he does. Great job Roddy, we are sooo proud of you!!!
Don't look to close at the plaque . They spelled his name wrong on that and on the program. I don't know what would be easier, change the award, or go to the courthouse and have his name changed to Ron!!! Ha ha!

Halloween Madness!!

So, the computer has been down for the week, but we are up and running now!! Here's what we have been up to. I volunteered to do Malia's class Halloween party, so that went down on Oct. 30th. It turned out really well, and I think that all the kids (42 to be exact) had a great time. They did their little parade around the school thing and then we made a spider craft and played a few rounds of BOO BINGO, they ate some goodies and headed home.
Malia walking the halls at school during the parade

The next day my friend Casandra and I had a Halloween party for all the kindergarten kids in the ward. It was a lot of work, but I would say well worth it. We got the party started right by doing the limbo (with a witches broom), we then played pass the pumpkin (like hot potato), musical tombstones, and we had a skeleton bones relay.
Some of the yummy food that we served. The green ranch really rocked their worlds! It was like asking them to eat poison! Passing the pumpkin
Both of the teams holding up their skeleton after racing to collect his bones and then putting them together.

A group shot of the kids, I believe we were missing a couple here. All in all, a good time!!

Rod was actually with us this year for Halloween, but to my surprise, he wasn't to keen on walking the 'hood door to door with the girls and I. So I took Malia trick or treating with some friends and Rod stayed home with Brinley. It turned out to be a really fun night.
I wanted to get a picture of all Malia's candy, cause next time you see it, it will be on my butt, hips, and thighs!!!!

Trunk or Treat

Our ward had it's annual Trunk or Treat tonight and I just wanted to show off who I was lucky enough to attend with.
Belle was kind enough to let me tag along with her, and just when I thought I was the luckiest lady around.......
Minnie Mouse showed up and decided to come with us! What a night! Turns out these two gals know and adore each other, they decided that I wasn't half bad either, so they came home with me and let me tuck them in bed. BEST NIGHT EVER!!!!!!!!

Lattin Farms

Last Saturday, Rod and I took the girls to Lattin Farms to do some pumpkin pickin' and just have a fun day together as a fam. It was a fun day, even though Brinley slept through part of it. Rod and Malia did a great job picking out our pumpkins, and who doesn't love the bouncehouses and horse/cow ride thing.
Brinley enjoying an afternoon nap
Rod and Malia taking a hayride to the pumpkin patch
Looks like they found a couple of winners



I have to be honest, I am not really sure what they call this "ride," but Malia loved it. She rode it around 3 times. Brinley was not such a fan, and was done after the first go round!
Having tons of fun in the Bouncehouses!

Finally.... An Answer!!

We had an appointment with Brinley's Hematologist on Thursday and finally received a diagnosis. We were told that she has something called Hereditary Spherocytosis. Basically, her red blood cells are in the shape of a sphere, instead of a disk/doughnut shape, like ours. I found this article on the internet, it explains the whole thing better than I could.

Definition of Hereditary spherocytosis

Hereditary spherocytosis: A genetic disorder of the red blood cell membrane clinically characterized by anemia, jaundice (yellowing) and splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen).

In HS the red cells are smaller, rounder, and more fragile than normal. The red cells have a spherical rather than the biconcave-disk shape of the normal red cell. These rotund red cells (spherocytes) are osmotically fragile and less flexible than normal red cells and tend to get trapped in narrow blood passages, particularly in the spleen, and there they break up (hemolyze) leading to hemolytic anemia.

The clogging of the spleen with red cells almost invariably causes splenomegaly. The breakup of the red cells releases hemoglobin and the heme part gives rise to bilirubin, the pigment of jaundice. The excess bilirubin leads to the formation of gallstones, even in childhood, There is also often iron overload due to the excess destruction of iron-rich red cells.

Hereditary spherocytosis is most common in people of northern European ancestry. It often shows up in infancy or early childhood, causing anemia and jaundice. The bone marrow has to work extra hard to make more red cells. So, if in the course of an ordinary viral illness, the bone marrow stops making red cells, the anemia can quickly become profound. This is termed an aplastic crisis.

Laboratory studies show evidence not only of many spherocytes but also increased numbers of reticulocytes (young red blood cells), hyperbilirubinemia (increased blood levels of the jaundice pigment bilirubin due to the breakup of the red cells) and increased osmotic fragility of the red cells.

HS is due to a deficiency of a protein called ankyrin. Ankyrins are cell membrane proteins (thought to interconnect integral proteins with the spectrin-based membrane skeleton.) The ankyrin of red blood cells (erythrocytic ankyrin) is called ankyrin-R or ankyrin-1. It is represented by the symbol ANK1.

The HS gene, that for ANK1, has been mapped to chromosome 8 and, specifically, to chromosome band 8p11.2. HS is inherited as a dominant trait so, if a person with HS reproduces, their child (irrespective of whether it is a boy or girl) has a 50:50 chance to have HS.

The treatment of hereditary spherocytosis is to remove the spleen (splenectomy). Although the red cell defect persists, the breakup of the red cells (hemolysis) ceases. Splenectomy, however, is a hazard in young children. Young children without a spleen are at increased risk for overwhelming sepsis (bloodstream infection), particularly with the pneumococcus bacteria. Splenectomy is therefore usually postponed if possible until the age of 3 years. Before having a splenectomy, anyone with HS should have the pneumococcal vaccine. Persons with HS (or another cause of brisk ongoing hemolysis) should take supplemental folic acid.

The prognosis (outlook) after splenectomy is for a normal life and a normal life expectancy.

HS is also known as congenital hemolytic jaundice, severe atypical spherocytosis, spherocytosis type II, ankyrin deficiency, erythrocyte ankyrin deficiency, ankyrin-R deficiency, and ankyrin1 deficiency.

So, we are looking at getting her spleen checked twice a year until about the age of five, when it will more than likely be removed. I have to start giving her a folic acid supplement, and she will have to get a couple extra vaccinations. I'm sure that we will keep learning more and more about this as time goes on, but for now, I am counting my blessings and thanking my Father in Heaven that this is all that we are dealing with, it could have been much worse. Rod and I will be getting tested to see if one of us passed it on, or if it was just a mutation. If one of us has it, then we will have Malia tested to see if she has it too. We will keep ya posted.

Oh yeah, it turns out that I'm not such a bad mom after all. Brin's immune system just isn't what it should be!!

Malia's first crush!

As I was driving Malia to Ballet on Wed. she noticed the car next to us had a bumper sticker on it with a photo of Barack Obama on it.
M: Oh, it looks like they want Barack Obama to be our next president.
Me: Yea, I guess they like him. Who do you think is going to be the next president?
M: Um, I think Barack Obama is gonna win, but I really like John McCain.
Me: You do, huh?
M: Yea, I want to marry John McCain
Me: You what?
M: I want to marry John McCain
Me: Why do you want to marry him?
M: Because I think he is so handsome
Me: Oh, ok, what do you think makes him so handsome?
M: I like it when he is on T.V. and says, I'm John McCain, and I approve this message. He always smiles when he says that, and I really like his smile.
Me: Oh, that's nice. Don't you think that maybe he is a little bit to old for you?
M: No, I mean he has white hair and stuff but I still think he is handsome.
Me: Sweetie, did you know that he is married already?
M: He is?? What is her name?
Me: Cindy
M: What does she look like?
Me: She has blond hair and she is beautiful, but you are just as beautiful.
M: Oh, ok. I just want to marry him.
Me: Sweetie, I don't think it's gonna work out.

I think I'm in trouble with this girl!!!
Maybe she could campaign with John McCain??

Pucker Up!!

How can anyone resist these cuties??

I'm Back!

So I have been told by a few family members that I am a terrible blogger!! So thus commences the mother of all updates, you asked for it peeps!! I will go back about 7 weeks, Brinley had been sick and we were told also really anemic. Lots of iron and blood tests followed and there was no change in the iron levels. The doctor called me on a Tues. evening, I believe it was the 2nd of Sept., to let me know that he had done all he knew to do and that he was faxing her blood work to a Pediatric Hematologist at U. C. Davis. I was a little shocked and asked him why the concern, what are we talking about here? I already knew what he was about to say, I had done alot of research online, I just wanted him to confirm my suspcions. He let me know that they were testing and looking for Leukemia. My worst fears confirmed. I really don't remember the rest of the conversation, but I knew it would be at least a week wait until we knew for sure. How could this be happening? Rod was playing in the front room with the girls, so I let him know what the doctor had said. He was great to let me be alone in my thoughts and ponder what this would really mean for our family. That night I found that I did not want to be around anyone, especially Brin. I tend to pull away from people in stressful times and I felt that if I was going to lose her, then I didn't want to fall more in love with her. Thank goodness for routine, because the next day, Malia had school, I went to my regular class at the gym, and then we went to ballet. I had woken up with a new perspective. I wanted to be with Brinley every waking minute. I took more pictures, and found that I just let the little things go. It really helped me to focus on the more important things in life and let go of everything else. The next few days were long and full of a roller coaster of emotions. Late Fri. night I recieved a call from the Doc. He let me know that the Hematologist had ruled out Leukemia, and we were looking at a genetic form of anemia. We would meet with a Dr. Hastings from U. C. Davis to find out more about what we were dealing with. I hung up the phone and started to bawl!! I don't ever remember a time I have cried like that. I had no idea the stress I was carrying around until I let it go. It was such a relief to know that we would not have to go through the process of fighting leukemia, and as dumb as it sounds, I am so greatful for those few days when we thought that we might. It has really caused me to slow down, take each as it comes, and remember that our plan for our lives may not be our Heavenly Father's plan for our life. We met with the doctor on the 22nd of Sept. and it was such a waste of time. After talking to us and asking random questions for a couple of hours, he said that they don't really know much until they take more blood and test it. 5 vials of blood and alot of tears later, we were out of there. We meet with them again on the 16th of Oct. That weekend I flew to Vegas, rented a car, drove to St. George, and went to my 10 year high school reunion. It was pretty fun and interesting to see everyone again. I talked to alot of people more at the reunion than I ever did in high school. Weird how that works, huh?? It was great to see everyone and hopefully it won't be another 10 before I see some of you again. It was a fun, but quick trip, and it was also good to get back. It's good to be missed!! We have just been up to our normal routine lately, getting in the Halloween spirit, and planning a few Halloween parties! I have started some Christmas shopping and cannot believe that it is that time of year again. We are planning on spending the holidays in St. George and on Cedar mountain. I am so excited, I love Christmas!!!! A few photos for your veiwing pleasure. Enjoy!!
We went to a Halloween Festival last Saturday. Malia got her face painted and played a few games. I paid a dollar for a cupcake and all was well, A dollar for a cupcake!!??
This little piggy went to market......
This little piggy stayed home...... Easy way to get a good laugh, right??
The girls hanging out in Rod's patrol car
Brinley loves tomato's! We had turkey burgers a couple of nights ago for dinner, and she just wanted the cheese and tomato's. The first picture I took of her, she smiled so big that her eyes were squinted shut, so I told her to open her eyes. Here is Brinley with her eyes open!!

A little bedtime story from Brinley and Malia

Accessories

Sometimes I wonder where my dear sweet Malia came from. This girl is obsessed with anything gold and anything that sparkles. She has sparkly belts, shoes, purses, you name it. I have noticed the last few times we have been out shopping that she has had her eye out for a gold purse. She fell in love with one a couple of weeks ago that was huge and gold and hideous, I looked at the price tag thinking , really how much could they charge for this thing, $50.00 bucks!!!! I told her it was way to much, but we would keep our eyes out for something else. Well today as we were out strolling around town at a craft fair thing, there it was! I think this bag was calling her name, as we walked into the booth, she was slowly being pulled towards it, I could not stop it from happening. I just reached into my pocket and handed Malia the money. She paid for the purse, and walked out with a huge smile on her face. Although I do not love her love of gold, I try to support her inner ghetto! What's a mom to do?

It's gettin hot in here

Malia has wanted a ceiling fan in her room since she was old enough to ask for it. I thought that it was not necessary, and therefore kept saying, we'll see or let's talk to daddy about it. Well a couple of weeks ago as I was putting her to bed she says, "it's so freakin' hot in here, I'm sure if I had a fan I wouldn't be hot!" I laughed and told her to just change into some cooler pajam's. I told Rod about it later that night and he said, I'll just take her to Lowe's tomorrow and let her pick out the one she wants. So , as I was getting my hair done the next day, Rod was at Lowes with the girls picking out a fan. He put it in that evening and it works and looks great. Malia also wrote her daddy a super cute thank you note for putting up the fan. It says, Thank you for building my fan love Malia. She is a girl who knows what she wants, and knows how to get it!!