sad, sad boy

Gage with Chicken Pox.

I don't think I should have to pay for that immunization. :)

a sunday surprise

for dad.

this is not the first time this week.

he loves pooping on his dad. :)

what a week we had

We definitely had a crazy week. Last Monday my mom was babysitting Gage all day. DUstyn and I are co-chairs for the County Commissioners Art Show. I spend from 8AM-10PM working on stuff for the show. We went to my mom's house to pick up Gage. He felt a little warm to me. We checked his temps and they were pretty high. I watched him all night to make sure it didn't get any higher. We called the doctor on Tuesday and he told us to take him to ER. I took him in and they started all the tests. They took blood, x-rays, urine samples, booger samples, and just about anything else they could do. After all those tests, a lumbar puncture was next. I was hoping and praying they found something before that (it just doesn't sound fun). I was a little excited when they come and told us that he had a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection). I was happy he didn't have to have anymore tests. Because of his age, they admitted him to the hospital so they could administer a series of antibiotics and watch him close. Once we were all checked in they came back and said he was anemic. They started treatment for that and we got settled in.

I think Gage has missed the hospital bassinets because he obviously likes them more than his at home. :)  Really he was just so tired of being poked and screaming that he slept a lot.

 

Poor kid got lots of shots (that I now know are super painful and terrible for adults, let alone a less than 4 week old baby!!) He didn't know what was coming in this picture. :(  Good thing grandma was holding him. They tried 5 times to give him an IV, but his little veins kept blowing. The nurses felt terrible. As a result, he got shots. :(

We hung out in the Sevier Valley Medical Center for a few days. I played on my iPod while Gage slept. He was still a happy baby and a cute one too!

I mostly only have cell phone pictures. My camera battery was dead most of them time. 

On Thursday, our doctor came in and talked to me. He said that his anemia had gotten worse so he wanted to send us to Primary Children's just as a precaution and to make sure he got the tests that he needed. (it's hard when you live in the middle of nowhere) They wanted him to see some specialists and try to find some answers about the UTI and anemia. 

So off to SLC we go. In the Ambulance, of course. 

We arrived at Primary Children's and the nurses took care of Gage. Of course they all fell in love with him and couldn't get enough. I was happy to have such great nurses taking care of my baby. 

Dustyn and I were able to take a break and go find food! I hadn't eaten for a long time and was so, so hungry. They did more tests while we were gone. We came back for a little while, talked to the doctors, and then we went and checked in to the Ronald McDonald House. I was sad to leave Gage at the hospital overnight, but I also knew I was ready for a good nights sleep and there was no way my back was going to agree with sleeping in a chair. The Ronald McDonald house was great. What a wonderful resource for families! We had a beautiful room in a beautiful house and I was able to get a shower! YAY! We will definitely be looking for ways to provide service to them. 

Gage went through a lot more tests, ultrasounds, and blood work. They all came back normal. They decided it was safe to send us home on Friday. The doctor said it isn't very scientific, but it was all just a case of bad luck. We are hoping that is the case, but we still have a few test results to come back. 

We are glad he is home and healthy! 

Stuffed head? No titles are coming to my stuffed head.

Being sick stinks.

Really, it does.

I thought I was getting better today, it seems I might have been wrong. School might be long tomorrow. Pooh.

I was so excited to blog this month and I have so many posts swimming in my head but once my head started stuffing up all my ambition disappeared. But rest assured there are some posts coming soon... as soon as I feel up to it.

I'll leave you with a picture that we took in Logan. I thought it was quite funny.
Have you ever seen a handicapped parking sign in the shape of Utah?

My family needs help.

This is a letter that my Aunt sent me about my cousins.  Some of you may know Mistie (Mistie Borg Myler - RHS class of 1979).   If you are in the position to help, please contact Aunt Teresa.  Please feel free to pass along the information to anyone you know.

Thank you so much.  It means a lot to my family.

Mistie Myler is the mother of 5 young children. For the past several months Mistie has been suffering from headaches which despite physical therapy continued to grow in intensity. The Doctors finally ordered an MRI which is when they found a tumor the size of a golf ball they scheduled surgery for the following morning and due to the rapidity in the tumors growth it was now the size of a large lemon----over night! The tumor was located on the left portion of her cerebellum. Following a biopsy it was determined to be a very deadly form of cancer (Medulloblastoma) due to the invasive nature of the cancer it is going to require at least 6 weeks of Radiation (5 days per week) AND Chemo therapy on her head and spine. She will get radiation sickness & rash (& pealing skin); hair, memory, math skills loss as well as an impaired immunity system. She will be extremely sick & weak from the aggressive treatments & will need to stay in Cedar City for the radiation therapy and the beginning of her Chemo treatments. They are hoping to be able to complete her Chemo in Gunnison which would allow her to be with her husband and older children during this scary battle. Her 2 1/2 year old daughter is with family (Justin’s sister Lisa) in Arizona. Justin will bring the other children to visit Mistie in Cedar City each weekend if they are healthy. But the youngest will remain in Arizona until Mistie is strong enough to be able to take care of her. Although it is HARD for their little Laura to be gone they knew that it was easier on her to be in one place and not shuffled back and forth between homes while Mistie is gone and Justin is working and taking care of the older kids.

Justin has been struggling with debilitating headaches and seizures the past several years, and yet he has still worked hard and been able to support his family. Mistie and some of the children suffer from asthma which has lead to periodic hospitalizations and on going treatments. These factors may seem small but when put together they have prevented them from being able to fix up their small 3 bedroom mobile home as quickly as they would have liked to. But it is theirs and they love it and it was sufficient for their needs until a few months ago when Mistie's aunt came to live with them; after they learned she was not being cared for properly. Mistie’s aunt is a very kind person but suffers from several health conditions which require daily assistance and Justin and Mistie could not stand the thought of her not being properly taken care of so they invited her to move in with their family. However with her moving in this has put their 3 sons out of a bedroom and they are now sleeping on the couch, recliner and floor in the small front room until they finish the basement. Finishing the basement seemed like an easy thing to do, however, in light of what is now happening in their family the time and money has to be spent elsewhere. When the basement is finished there will be enough room for a bedroom and a food storage room. Right now the only entrance is from the outside so there needs to be some light carpentry work done so it can be accessed from within the home.

Despite there circumstances both Justin and Mistie have served each other, their children and their communities. Because of their love and service there have been many that have been blessed, and never have they expected a return. Both Justin and Mistie serve diligently in their respective callings in the church and refuse to let these problems get them down. However as many of us know it can be consuming trying to do it all and with the fear of the unknown staring them in the face their time and efforts have just become more complicated. BUT their attitude is great “What good would it do to just sit in bed and cry”. Their faith and determination WILL get them through this trial but family and friends can help ease the burdens. If we can lighten their load even a little it will be received with open arms.

I am asking for you & your children to contact all your friends, family, co-workers etc. and share Mistie's story. Ask for a small donation for them.
Also, ask them to contact their friends and family for donations too. Explain that we are only asking for small donations ($5 to $10 per person in most cases). This way no one is burdened and many can help. Please forward this to anyone who may want to help, if a lot help a little miracles can happen.

I will bring the donations to Justin and Mistie the last week in December when I come to help watch children and do some repairs and painting to make their home feel more comfortable. If you have any questions or can offer any help I can be reached at 480-704-4333. We will need helpers to help with light carpentry work and painting. Donations of supplies can be dropped off at the Myler home in Sigurd or we can pick them up if you are in the Richfield area.

May you and your families be blessed during this holiday season and remember to cherish your loved ones and never take them for granted; we never know what the future may hold. Merry Christmas, and thank you!

With Love,

Tess Teeples (Justin’s Mom)

Donations can be made out and sent to:

Teresa Teeples (Justin’s Mom)
3400 S. Ironwood Dr. Lot 348
Apache Junction, Az. 85330

Cold/Flu

Sadly, I think it is finally hitting our house.  I am NOT excited.  Bleah.  

Stinkin' Ears!

So this past weekend was kinda crappy for me! I had a bad ear ache all day on Saturday and Sunday. It was so bad. They say that earaches are a childhood disease... but i beg to differ. This is the third bad earache that I have had in the past three years (and I would almost consider myself an adult by now). Every time I go to a doctor they just tell me, adults don't get earaches... ha ha ha . . . very funny! Oh well... now I just can't hear much of anything out of my right ear! Dustyn is getting sick of me saying, "What?". Oh well, he'll learn to talk louder sooner or later!