Sam Man in the Emergency Van

A few weekends ago, our family was supposed to go to Salt Lake for a wedding reception and birthday party. Trisha had been to the doctor a few days before and he told her that she was not cleared to take the trip, so Sam and I ventured off on our own. Sam had a little cough as we started the trip, but nothing more. We got to SLC without incidence and played with Grandma and Papa. Friday night was the reception for Trisha's cousin, Katy. Sam and I went and stood in the hour long line of people. By the time we got to the greeting line, it was past Sam's bedtime and he was just plain grouchy. I tried my best to make him say "Hi" to everyone, which he generally loves to do, but he wouldn't have any part of it. He just turned his head and cried at me. We got to Bob (Trisha's uncle) and Sam reached his hands out for Bob to hold him. It was really cute. I didn't catch the picture in time, but Sam really did like his uncle Bob. The reception was beautiful, and I am glad Sam and I were able to go and represent.

After the reception we went to Texas Roadhouse with my mom and dad. Sam wouldn't eat anything and he was just tired. I knew he didn't feel well, when I picked him up and he fell asleep in my arms, that just doesn't happen anymore. We got home, gave him a breathing treatment and put him to bed. He nor I slept well that night. He kept coughing and turning and waking up and crying.

Sam at playland

Saturday, we went to McDonald's with all of Sam's cousins and played. We spent most of the day with family. Saturday night was the birthday party. Sam was getting more and more cranky by the second. Probably because of exhaustion and being sick. He wouldn't eat anything, not even cake and ice cream. He just wanted me to hold him the whole time. We had to leave because he was so cranky. We went back to my moms house and I fed him some real food, which he later threw up all over my mom and dads couch. Then I went to give him a bath because he had thrown up. I got really scared because when I took his pants off his legs were a blue/gray color, the color of dead people. It freaked me out. I thought maybe he wasn't getting enough oxygen to his legs. However, his arms and other parts of his body were colored normal, so I didn't know what to think. I called my mom into the bathroom and she looked and got scared as well. Then we called my dad in and he took one look at him and said, "It's probably from his pants." He was right. He had been wearing brand new blue jeans that had dyed his legs. What a relief that was. He seemed to feel a little better so I put him to bed. He then woke up every 2 minutes coughing and crying. I decided it wasn't worth trying to put him to bed on his own, so he came up and layed on the couch by me. He was having a really hard time breathing. I gave him a breathing treatment but the didn't seem to help at all, just made him more upset cause he hates that stupid machine. His chest just kept working harder and harder to breath and his heart was racing and he was so miserable. I was gonna wait it out until morning, but finally decided to take him into the ER. Just before I decided to take him to the ER, I get a text from Trisha that says, "hey, keep your phone on. I'm having some contractions. I'll call you if they continue." Oh great; a night at the ER and a laboring wife 3 hours away, not what I wanted...

Sam sick on the couch

We (Sam, my mom and I) got there at midnight. They got him right in and started doing things immediately. His heart rate was definitely elevated and his oxygen was a little bit low. Mostly his chest was so tight. They gave him a steroid and started a series of breathing treatments immediately. About 15 minutes after they gave him the steroid, he fell asleep and stayed asleep for most of the time we were at the ER. We ended up being there for 5 emotional and exhausting hours. Each hour, they would give him a breathing treatment of sorts then wait a while then the doctor would come in and check out his lungs. The doctor was never satisfied with his lungs and his oxygen kept dropping to 85. Luckily, our good friend, Esther, who works as a social worker at IMC, walked by our door about 3:00am. She kept us company, got us drinks, made us feel good and told us all the good stories about her crazy night in the ER with several level 1 traumas and a few deaths. Poor Sam was still just miserable while we sat in there. The diagnosis: Bronchiolitis, possibly viral pneumonia, but they didn't care to examine that further. About 5:00am the doctor decided it would be best to transfer him to Primary Children's by ambulance. I hesitated, but it's hard to go against what the doctor says. So, a 15 minute ambulance ride up to Primary Children's it was.

When we got to Primary Children's, they did an initial assessment, and acted like they didn't know why we had been transferred there. By this time Sam was acting more like himself and all his stats were showing it (of course). We just sat at Primary Children's for about an hour and a half and they monitored him before they finally discharged us and sent us on our way at 7:30am. We went home and got a short 3 hour nap. Sam was acting so much better at this point, but still had a lot of congestion. The doctor at the ER told us to come back to Primary Children's later on Sunday and go to the respiratory "Suction Shack." So, I took him there and the respiratory therapist analyzed him and confirmed that he still had a lot of congestion, but he didn't really need a suction. He said that because he was acting so great it seemed like he would be fine on his own, just watching him closely. So, after a long weekend, and a really long night at the ER I drove home to Vernal in a zombie state.

Sam in the ER, you can't see all the wires he's hooked up to. We had to hide those under the blanket so he would stop getting irritated with them.

Luckily Trisha didn't go into labor that night, and we kept the ER visit a secret from her until morning when we knew everything was okay so she wouldn't go into labor. Sam got progressively better on his own after that so we didn't have to do anything else. We are lucky since he has already had RSV and pneumonia and bronchitis that it wasn't more than it was and that he didn't need to be hospitalized.

All is well that ends well. Let's hope we don't have to do that again!

To The Rescue

My february book, "To the Rescue: The biography of Thomas S. Monson.

It was Saturday, February 25, and I was sitting on the couch with Trisha at my side. I express my frustration at the fact that I cannot get into this biography and that it may take me a year to finish. I was somewhere around page 200 of a 530 page book. She looks at me and says, "Yeah, sorry, there is no way you are going to finish that book by the end of February." That's all I needed, sounded like a challenge to me (Thanks, Babe!). Lucky for me, later that night, I reached chapter 19 which lead to 20 and 21. These three chapters are the best chapters in the book and the only reading that helped me stay interested and continue reading.

First of all, let me quickly tell you what I didn't like about the book. #1- Not organized. It did progress in a relatively chronological order but even that was all over the place. Ideas were scattered and not fluid. #2- Repetition. The author seemed to forget that she had already told some stories, and repeated them. I guess it's hard to remember what you've written if there is no organization to it. #3- Lots and lots of lists of names. Oh my goodness there was a lot of name dropping. Some, I agree, are very important people, but sometimes I got so bored reading name after name that I would skip to the next paragraph when the names were done being listed. Overall, I think that the information and stories could have easily been written in 250 pages.

Looking past the writing style and technique, the content of the book was awesome! I learned so many things about President Monson's life, how he was destined to become a prophet, how he was raised to be a great man, how he worked to be successfull and how he labored to support and uplift those in need. Let me share some of my favorites from the book.

On vacation in Vivian Park with his family, Tommy and his friend Danny cleared an area that was going to be used for a bonfire later that night. They lit the June grass on fire and assumed that it would just burn a small circle and then they would be able to extinquish it. To their amazement, the fire kept burning up the mountain side. All the family and townspeople came to the rescue to extinguish the fire. After the event he says he learned a valuable lesson that he has kept with him all his life: Look beyond the immediate to the possible conclusion of an activity. Simply stated, think before you act.

Giving a speech to a group of university students, he once said, "During the last half century, there has been in this country a gradual but continual retreat from standards of excellence in many phases of our life. We observe business without conscience; politics without principle; wealth without works...Refuse to compromise with expedience. Maintain the courage to defy the consensus. Choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong. By so doing, you will not detour, but rather will ever remain on the way to perfection."

As he was becoming a well established business man in the community and a righteous leader in the church, he came up with what he calls "Wisdom's Seven Watchwords" which he used to ensure that he remained successfull in all that he did. They are as follows: "Vision, Patience, Balance, Effort, Understanding, Courtesy and Love."

While he was serving as Bishop of the sixth-seventh ward, he had a pamphlet published titled, "A Guide to Happiness through Gospel Service." It outlined 5 principles to aid in teaching the gospel. 1- A personality filled with religious quality. 2- A genuine interest in people. 3-A knowledge of the gospel. 4- A wholesome attitude. 5- A utilization of good teaching methods.

Now come the best chapters in the book. Chapter 19- Weary Not, Chapter 20- Faith of the People, Chapter 21- The Wall Comes Down. So just when I was started to lose any faith in finishing the book by the end of the month, I got to the best cliff hanger of the book. At the end of Chapter 18, it says, "It would become a most significant chapter in his ministry- the rescue of the East German Saints." I know it's not really a cliff hanger, but it was an introduction to a story, and a story is what I needed to read.

President Monson was called as the apostle to supervise the European countries in 1968, about 7 years after the Berlin Wall had been put up. He was amoung one of the first civilians to be allowed to travel into East Germany, and he was definitely the first general athority to enter for decades. He frequently passed into the country through checkpoint charlie and he describes some of his thoughts as he drove through it for the first time. "As he and the Reeses drove toward Gorlitz, they passed through rural areas where farm machinery was horse-drawn, with not a tractor in sight...The autobahns were void of traffic, indicating the scarcity of automobiles in East Germany. Those who did have cars, wrapped themselves in blankets because their vehicles, for the most part, had no heaters." It is so crazy to imagine such a primeval and suppressed country and people! He continued saying his hotel was "the most archaic" he had ever seen with "a bed that resembled a box." President Monsons influence on the people of East Germany and the country would span many decades and would be an incredible blessing for the Saints that endured such hardship. On one of his visits, he delivered the following message to a gathering of Saints, "If you will remain true and faithful to the commandments of God, every blessing any member of the Church enjoys in any other country will be yours." It's hard to imagine that those words would come to fruition in a country imprisoned by a strong communist government. However, that promise was accomplished when the Berlin Wall finally came down and the church was allowed in to the country and a temple was constructed.

President Benson once said, "Only with a faith in the ultimate consummation of the Lord's purposes can people, with all their earthly possesions swept away, continue with spirits sweet and hearts free from bitterness... I promise you the richest of blessings of eternity inasmuch as you continue faithful." That seemed to be a motto for the Saints in East Germany, ever hoping and praying for the fulfillment of the Lord's promises. They were continually asked to abide by the laws of the land and be patient. "That kind of attention to the laws of the land and respect for the governement leaders and the rules they imposed would benefit the Church in years to come..." No doubt it would have been hard to live through the hardships of the time, but the Saints followed the councel of the Church and the laws of the land and in the end, they found freedom. There are countless experiences told in regards to his supervision of East Germany through the decades of change. President Monson was huge in influencing the government but more importantly in directly touching the lives of those members.

Another long term project in the life of Thomas Monson started during his experience in East Germany. The "clothing project" as it is called. His secretary has said that she estimates "he has given away up to ten suits a year for forty years, not to mention the other items of clothing he has shared." That is quite the humanitarian project in itsself for one man to accomplish. And how great for all of the recipients of those articles of clothing. Pretty cool, I think.

At the conclusion of his work in East Germany, he stated, "I have learned from my experience...that man's extremity is but God's opportunity. I am a living witness of how the hand of the Lord has been made manifest in watching over the members of the Church in what once were Communist-ruled countries." Isn't that true? Doesn't it always seem that we learn so much and gain so much strength and insight in times of trouble and hardship? It is an interesting concept, but one that I believe to be true. The hard moments in our life are the ones that really shape and define us!

If you are like me and don't really have the desire/ambition to read the entire biography, you should just pick it up and read chapters 19, 20 and 21. They are interesting, thought provoking and inspiring!!

My final thought of the book comes fittingly from the last chapter. "[President Monson] counsels those just starting out in their families and careers to seek 'the abundant life.' Wishing will not make it so, he says. 'The Lord expects our thinking. He expects our action. He expects our labors. He expects our testimonies. He expects our devotion.' He cautions: 'To measure the goodness of life by its delights and pleasures and safety is to apply a false standard. The abundant life does not consist of a glut of luxury. It does not make itself content with commercially produced pleasure, the nightclub idea of what is a good time, mistaking it for joy and happiness.' He measures the abundant life by the capacity 'to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility.'" I would add that the abundant life is also measured by the amount of lives that have been changed as a result of our own. I am inspired by President Monson's ability to reach out to the one person in need. It is a quality becoming more and more rare in our complicated world but one that could change the world completely.

Now, for my next book...."The Power of Six"

A Christmas Carol, revisited

I found my favorite quote from A Christmas Carol

"It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humour. When Scrooge's nephew laughed in this way; holding his sides, rolling his head, and twisting his face into the most extravagant contortions; Scrooge's niece, by marriage, laughed as heartily as he. And their assembled friends being not a bit behindhand, roared out lustily.
"Ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha, ha!"

It reminds me of the many times that I have laughed myself silly, until my stomach hurt and all of the muscles in my mouth were sore.

Baby girl is coming soon

It is only a matter of weeks and our little baby girl will be here and until this week we were not prepared at all. Nothing was ready. We had only a few clothes that were given to us by various people. However, this week has been nothing but getting ready. Trisha has been sewing every waking minute and my project was painting the nursery.

It started out months ago with some ideas: argyle, polka dots or plaid. Trisha really wanted argyle, so argyle it is. I bought all the paint and tape and started at it on Friday. I worked on it all day Friday, Saturday, a few hours Sunday, all day Wednesday and most of the day today. I am mostly done, just have a lot of touch-ups to do and pencil to wash off the walls. It has been quite the project and I think I will take a break from it for a few weeks. I knew it was going to be a huge undertaking, but I had no idea how much measuring and taping I would have to do. Oh, man.

Before pictures:

I didn't want to bore people with the million pictures I took of the process, so I did something different this time. I put together a little movie that compiles a hundred pictures in a few seconds. You can now enjoy the transformation in a short amount of time and still get the idea.

After pictures:

It turned out pretty sticking awesome if you ask me, but I may be biased. I'm glad it's mostly done. A few touch ups and it will look so cute for the little girl. We are going to add some more things, including her name (once we decide what it is) in vinyl letters across the yellow stripe on the wall. 

Trisha made all of the bedding, she recovered our bumpers, made the valence and is currently working on a throw blanket for the rocker and a pillow for it as well. She is still going to make a skirt for the crib, a cover for our changing pad and maybe some other things. Stay tuned to facebook, pinterest or her blog http://cheneybopper.blogspot.com/ for all of her projects.  

January Readings

One of my New Years resolutions was to read at least one book per month this year. I started reading "A Christmas Carol" in December and wasn't able to finish it until January, so I will count that as my first book of the year. I read it because I was looking for a book to read, it was close to Christmas, and I needed something on the shorter side since the month was close to over and I wanted to start a different book at the begining of January (that didn't work out). Overall, I liked reading the book okay. It is a classic so I'm glad that I read it. However, the language of the old day was not my favorite part of the book. I had a few quotes that I really liked from the book, but I have lost them somewhere. There were some parts of the book that were enlightening but overall, if someone were to ask me whether it was worth it to read the book, I would most likely tell them that they should just watch the play or the movie. I have seen those many times, in many adaptations. I don't think that the book had anything at all in it that is not portrayed in the thousands of plays and movies out there. Go rent it at Redbox and save yourself hours of reading.

Book number two in January was one that I got for Christmas, "I Am Number Four," written by Pittacus Lore. I had heard of the book when the movie came out last year. I didn't know much about it but it looked intriguing. While I was still reading "A Christmas Carol" Trisha picked up the book and later that day told me that she could not "get into it" because it was too "sci-fi" for her. That worried me a little because I am not the biggest fan of over the top sci-fi. I gave it a chance anyway. I started reading it and loved it from the very beginging. It is in the sci-fi category but it is not over the top. I got hooked on the book and several days after starting it, I was done with it. I loved it! I liked it because although the main character is an alien from a different planet, that is not really the focus of the book. I like the characters a lot. I liked the character development and the interpersonal relationships between them. I also really enjoyed the suspense of the story line. The plot was well developed and it reminded me a little bit of reading the first book in the Harry Potter series. Lots of background information and very little action until the very end. Partial closure by the end, but enough of a cliff to pique interest in the next book in the series. After I finished reading it, Trisha picked it up again because I liked it so much. Two days later she was done with. She loved it too. We went right out and rented the movie from Redbox. I liked the movie as well, but it was interesting to watch it while the book was fresh on my mind. There were many small differences in the movie that dissappointed me, although I still enjoyed it. I think that one of the biggest differences between the movie and the book was the action. I know that hollywood has to sell movies, and action is a good way to do that. That is one of the reasons that I was first interested in the book. However, I feel like the less dramatic book was much better written than the movie script. It still had action, it was still intense at times, but it was fitting of the story. One of my favorite characters and story lines in the book was that of Sam and his father. He is especially funny in the book and I really hope that the next book can resolve his story. What I really hope is that he finds his dad, but we shall see what happens. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a good, clean, exciting read. It is a really good book! "The Power of Six" is now on my list.

My goal was to read 1 book each month, alternating between a church book or non-fiction book and fiction books. I chose "To The Rescue: The Biography of Thomas S. Monson." I realize that I only have a few more days to get it done but it has been rough for me to get into and keep interest in. I will finish it, so stayed tuned for my thoughts.

Ice Fishing

There is a lake, Matt Warner, about 40 minutes North of Vernal. I fished there last summer and the fishing was awesome. I have read many reviews and talked to some people that said the ice fishing there was also extraordinary. Usually the reservoir is only accessible by snow mobile because of all of the snow and snow drifts. This year however since we have had next to no snow at all, the lake is completely accessible with any vehicle. So, I convinced a friend of mine to head on up with me. We were both really excited for some great trout fishing. It did not disappoint.

We arrived at 8:00am, got all set up and put our lines in. It took about 20 minutes to get our first fish but after the first one, it was one after another for the next 2 hours.

Right when we got there

First catch of the day

The tent, so warm inside!

Justin

The holes. It is intriguing to look down the hole (when you have a tent) and see all the fish striking your bait.

Inside the fishes mouth...

 One of my female (and very full of eggs) friends

My 3 keepers

My biggest fish! >18 inches long

The ice

 The lake, it was really busy that day

At home just before this fish became a filet-o-fish

A delicious trout meal!!

In the end, we were at the lake for 5 hours and Justin caught 22 fish and I caught 8. Don't worry, lost about 8 fish right under the ice as I was reeling them in. They kept getting off the hook. I also lost 3 fish when they broke the line. So I may not have brought out as many fish, but it was still the best fishing trip that I have ever been on. I really hope it doesn't snow so that I can keep going up to Matt Warner. It is fantastic fishing!

Favorites

My favorite thing that Sam does lately.

1, 2, 3....

Actually he just says "two, tee..."