Things that make me happy

Sometimes we just have to find the silly or bright things in life and laugh.

Debbie calls these dresses the Sombraro dresses--Everyone said that they
made them happy--and I heard that they even made someone hungry reminding
them of rainbow sherbert.  Thanks Deb for your talent in sewing and not letting
anything in life be to bright and colorful.

 

Maybe it is SPRING--that really makes me happy.

Pre-Mother's Day Dinner

 

The Waddoups family got together at Sally's for a special dinner for Mother's Day. 

The moms got to visit while ALL the kids got to play outside.

Oh No--I've been caught!

Have you ever have one of those "I only turned my back for a second and an I thought this house was child proofed"  Well I got one of those the other day.  I guess I didn't get my makeup put up like normal and William found it a perfect play toy---he thought that Mascara would make great lipstick and lipstick wonderful lotion.

This same day proved to be one of those--"Can anything else happen to throw off my day"  I shouldn't have asked,the answer was yes and this is how Jeff found me when he came in from work and he couldn't resist taking a picture for me to post on the blog...Let me explain a bit..I had put an apron on when the grease started splatting on one of my half way decent shirts,  I needed to get something out of the freezer in the garage and my kids had been playing with my boots so they were easy to slip on quick, then as I hurried in to finish what I was doing for dinner I got the mom the toilet won't flush--so it all happened so fast and here is a picture of a real mother at work...luckily not caught on film often.

Idaho Weather

They say wait 5 minutes and you might get what you want--meaning the weather in Idaho--lately it rings true.  One day you go to bed in a snow storm and then you are mowing the lawn the next day....

WOW.. I hope soon spring will just come and STAY! 

Miracles do still happen today

           I read a talk on Miracles by Elder Dallin H. Oaks given at an LDS Church Educational System Fireside back in May of 2000 recently and wanted to start this post with a small part of it.  He said a miracle has been defined as “a beneficial event brought about through divine power that mortals do not understand and of themselves cannot duplicate.” ^…….

            He then said Although we are generally counseled not to speak of sacred things like the miracles we have witnessed, there are times when the Spirit prompts us to share these experiences, sometimes even in a setting where our account will be published. The miracles written in the scriptures were obviously intended to be shared, usually to strengthen the faith of those who already believed. Modern servants of the Lord have also felt impressed to describe miraculous events to strengthen the faith of believers. Many of these have been published……”

            I feel that I, Emily’s mother, need to share our Miracles with all that want to hear and believe.  First let me thank all of you who joined with us in a special Family Fast and Prayer for our Emily.  And now let me share a bit of our long journey (in as short a summary as I can) for those that are not aware of our story.  When Emily was 18 months old she started to walk in a unique way and would have times where she acted like things hurt.  After a visit for her 18 month check she was sent to a Neurologist and that is when things got scary.  My mom said she had never seen a Dr. with so much fear on his face and I had never had a Dr. ask if I had family in the area (we were at Primary Children’s Medical Center 3 hours from our home at the time).  We then had 3 days of MRI, C-Scan, blood work, and bone biopsy.  The doctors prepared us for what they thought to be a very hard to treat cancerous tumor.  Life seemed to stop and everything went in slow motion for a week while we waited for a complete diagnosis to come back.   Our family and friends together fasted, prayed, put Emily’s name in LDS temples, and she had priesthood blessings. Our first miracle was then witnessed.  Doctors could not explain why it was not what they were so sure of at first.  Instead, we got to be thrilled when they found what was believed to be a tumor was really Osteomyelitis (a bone infection) that could be taken care of with surgery and IV antibiotics.  That worked for a bit, but flare ups kept coming and a decision of CRMO (chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis) was made.  Which we could still deal with, but meant many doctors, lots of different medicines, lots of imaging, and many prayers.  She had another surgery when a flare up was showing a new lesion and uncontrolled inflammation.  That helped and we seemed to have almost a year of remission.  However, it was short lived and pain came back with a vengeance and we hospitalized her for pain control and to look into why she was not responding more like other patients.  It was then found that she had another diagnosis to go with the CRMO, LCH (Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis).  This normally responded to CHEMO so then we started on that.  In the end it did nothing to help and we lost a head of hair, almost a life, and were again reminded that miracles do still happen.  Emily came back strong for a while, but was still having pain so we started another new medicine after a time and all seemed to go well until it was time to do another MRI and see how the medicine was working.  It was done on December 27^, 2013 a Friday evening.  I figured I would hear all was okay and stable (as most of her latest ones had been) sometime the next week.  Imagine my fear when the call from the doctor (not a nurse) came Monday early afternoon to tell me they found a new lesion close to the spine where the hips meet that appeared aggressive.  They needed to see Emily sooner than her next appointment.  A forum (group meeting with Doctors and Radiologists on certain cases) would be meeting on January 8^th and an appointment was made for us on Friday January 10^th.  The tears came and I scared poor little Emily, but I would not let this happen.  I asked for family and friends to join in a special fast and prayer that the Doctors would see what they needed to see and that they would know what to treat her with that would work for her.  I felt so lost, but I knew that we had been blessed with Miracles in the past and surely we could get another.  Well we got our MIRACLE when I went with Emily and met with her Doctor things could not be explained and were almost ignored because there was no answer they could give for calling me earlier.  At the forum there was no new lesion mentioned and it even appeared that things were looking a little better (a first in 8 years of imaging).  We were told to keep with the medicine that we are doing and to just keep following up as needed.  There is damage from the first flare up that is not repairable, but we all have our flaws that we can handle and live with. We are just feeling so blessed to be allowed to be part of God’s modern day miracles.  I hope that this story may be a testimony to others that God is still in charge, He does still listen and speak to His children, and He does still perform MIRACLES.  Again I want to say Thank you to all who have prayed, fasted, put a name in the temple, and loved us—You helped to allow God to perform our miracle—don’t ever forget the power and testimony you have—we won’t.

Wow--almost a whole year without writing--too bad this is not something new for me.  I just wanted to post this here to keep as record to truly remind me of our miracles.  I wanted to put pictures too, but it is not working today--or maybe I just forgot how to do it right.  I might just better get back to posting and keeping some family history.

A Sad World We live in

I hope that all my friends and family will still enjoy getting on to view our blog since I changed my page being from an anyone can view it to only people that I entered their email address.  I know  I may have missed many that normally take a peek, but the world makes us sometimes limit what others can see.  Every so often I look to see the traffic of who has been looking at my blog and today the three listed sights of recent trafficing on my blog were all porn sites.  I have to do what I can to protect my family even if it means limiting others from viewing all the good my family has to share.  Thanks to all that still will go to the trouble of logging in to view us.  HAVE A HAPPY DAY and please be one of those that adds good not bad to this ever moral declining world we live in.

Trials with Smiles

You never know what a new year is going to bring.  Last year brought Chemo for Emily, but it also brought 2 Make-a-Wishes come true.  Emily's prayers and many more were answered and she was able to make it through and is back in school.  Baby Christian was born so small, but now he is home and doing well.  Another baby in the family--Morgan Mae--and Jeff got to bless her.  These were hard and blessed times and I thought this year might be a little quieter, but not so we are always having the trials--and I hope we can continue to see the smiles through these new trials. 
Grandpa Waddoups is dealing with a new health challenge--that is the reason for the vacation.
We lost Great Grandma Hanson. 

I guess we have seen the smiles though.  We were able to say our see you laters and short goodbyes to Grandma and feel of her love and spirit as she slowly and painfully left this earth to be with Grandpa and our Heavenly Father.  IT was not to hard at first because I so felt her spirit as it grasped between earth life and life beyond, but each day gets a little harder and I find the tears streaming down my face as I know she is now needing to be about our Father's work.  Oh I am glad to have had her in my life and I am glad she is on the other side to be with Grandpa and be able to now help him comfort my family in our trials--at the same time I pray we will not need them too much this year--I could use a break from the medical trials.  However, Emily has some wierd bruises on her knee and those feelings of confusion and dispare are creeping back in.  Like I said who knows what each new day or year will bring.  I just must thank my Heavenly Father for tender mercies, smiles through trials, and especially for family and friends that stay strong when I am weak.  To my Mom--you are the very best of being strong and holding me up--I am so glad to have you by my side.  May you always be blessed for your testimony and sacrifices--Grandma is so proud of you--you deserve all the most beautiful rose bouquets in the world.  I LOVE YOU!  It is sad that losses are what truly make us live and love as if it were are last day--I will continue to strive to live everyday as if it were my last.

 I didn't get any pictures, but cousins and others were taking some and when I get them I will post them.  Lets just say it was the warmest most beautiful day I have seen in the winter.  Thanks Grandma.  We love you and will miss you, but know we will hug you once again.

Tea Parties, Snow Fun, 100 Point walks--JUST a BUNCH OF SMILES

Tea Party with Waddoups

Jonathan's 100 AR Point Walk

Heidi gets to see and hold her Nephew--THANKS!

Kids forgave me after they got to see pictures and were promised when he is bigger and RSV season is over they will hopefully get a chance too.











Snow Fun--it seems to never end for us

 

 

 

Getting Valentines Cards Ready

 



 

Grandpa Waddoups B-day

 

 

It was fun celebrating and spending time with Grandpa and Grandma Waddoups before they take a short vacation and deal with new challenges in their life.  This is when I really treasure every moment.  And I am glad that all trials bring smiles--Look at grandpa's shoes.  He was already into his day when he noticed and he just kept going.  What an example--if Life gives you Lemons make Lemonade and don't stop stepping forward.

 



SURPRISE

Life is full of Suprises and I never know what to expect for the next day.  And I don't know if it is just me or if others are feeling that our days are getting shorter and time keeps going by faster and faster.  Some days this is a blessing, but many times I wonder how I even got through it and where all the time went and I sometimes feel very unaccomplished.  Luckily for these fast days there are so many tender mercies and smiles that help me remember  It may not be easy--but it is worth it.  Oh how my children and family both immediate and extended let me know IT IS WORTH IT.  Well I best catch you up on our happenings and let you enjoy my tender mercies.  (It may take a couple of blogs so my computer doesn't freeze with overload of all the smiley pictures.)

William's 4th B-day

Look at these good sports play pin the head on the Lego-Man.--Lillian let us bother her sleeping mask.

 Isn't that a Happy Birthday Boy!!

Uncle Trev's B-day

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wow it is amazing that the year has gone by so fast.  So much has happened.  So many emotions have accompanied this year.  BUT I have to say that it truly has shown that BLESSINGS really do come with every TRIAL.  I am so very blessed to have my family and to capture so many smiles each and every day.  Life is precious  and I really wish that I could live every day like it was my last--it is sad, but true that we love more, speak kinder, do more important things with our time, and just live more Christlike when we think it may be the last day with someone or the last day for us.  I hope that I can treasure everyday of this year as it was my last.  I am so grateful to have the Gospel--The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in my life so I know that I have eternity to get to perfection--maybe with that long I just might make it.  Thanks for sharing all my blessings with me.

Here is a few pictures from the past to remind me and you of our blessings--then the smiles of our new year celebrations.

Veta's Make-A-Wish Vacation

Hanson Family Reunion

Trip to the Brigham City Temple Open House

Hair Cuts of Love and Support!!!

 



HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Good Aim you got them



Belly Bumping to Celebrate

Snow Fun on New Years Day

Pulling the sled--Jeff harnessed them up like sled dogs and gave rides--FUN

Warming up my little Will.  He came in and said that we were on the beach and gave me these cool sunglasses and told me to warm him up on the beach with the warm sun.  I love all my Little ones and their precious smiles and those precious little thoughts.  It was a warm beach day--I love IMAGINATION.

HAPPY NEW YEAR