Evey in Galilee

Our dear friends (Paxton's parents) were traveling throughout Jerusalem last month.  It must have been an amazing trip for them to trace our Savior's mortal life, and to remember Paxton, who is now reunited with our older brother and Savior.   While there, they visited the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.  On a specific tree on the Mount this is what they saw:

Evey will probably never make a trip to Jerusalem during her mortality, but just knowing that her name is there on the Mount of Beatitudes is perfect.  Hopefully Nate and I will go find that same tree one day.  For now, because we know there's no such thing as coincidence, we feel grateful that Shannon and Dave captured this perfect picture for us.  Most importantly, thank you for still looking out for your lady, Paxton.  We love your parents and we miss you and can't wait to meet again.

Mosiah 10:9 - Yea, and are ^awilling to mourn with those that ^bmourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as ^cwitnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the ^dfirst resurrection, that ye may have eternal life.

Best Laid Plans

Today I had lots of great plans.  Last night as I was trying to fall asleep, I planned out my Monday.  It went something like this.
-Wake up, get the kids off to school.
-Unpack more boxes.
-Go to the grocery store.
-Pick up Christmas Cards to mail.
-Go to the gym.
-Make an asian dinner I've been craving.
-Pick up Evey's prescriptions.
-Call over some Insurance bills.
-Cancel and reschedule Evey's overnight seizure study
-Eat said delicious asian dinner
-Have family night
-Put up Christmas decorations and let kids decorate their gingerbread cookies.

Instead, this is what really happened.
-After being up all night treating Evey's fever and stomach virus. We had a late morning start and finally got the kids out the door with much coercing (aka yelling)
-Took Evey to the doctor again after 10 days of a stomach virus and 4 days of fever(never mind the fact that we were in the ER over the weekend - sore subject).
-While getting home from the doctors visit and laying Evey down in her crib for a nap, her g-j tube got snagged on my purse and came out....again.  Seriously? (it's time to get her a belly band wrap)
- Waited for the boys to get home from school and we all drove up to the hospital to get it put back in for the umpteenth time. That's a couple hour ordeal.
- Ate corn dogs, cheetos, french fries, and gummy worms for dinner at the hospital cafeteria.
- Came straight home for bath and bed.
-Icing on the cake, I got a cold sore :(

    This probably happens to us twice a week.  Nate always says plans for us are a complete luxury and a pure miracle if they even happen.
     I guess I'm writing this to vent a little, but even as I'm writing I feel quite petty.  Look at all my first world problems.  Oh poor me, I didn't get to sit in my warm house and put up my nice christmas tree and cook my delicious dinner or go to the gym.  It's kind of embarrassing, but I suppose I'm posting this more as a reminder to myself. While we were eating dinner in the hospital cafeteria Eli exclaimed, "this is the best family dinner ever!"  I think Cheetos have that effect on most kids and lets be honest, most adults.
    Now, if I really take a hard look at my day, I can find some of those small miracles.  I remember that our favorite Aunt called and came over just in the knick of time to play with Zoey so Nate & I could run and get the last of the stuff from the house, that we didn't get over the weekend because of Evey's hospital stay.  There was an extremely nice southern gentlemen checking us in at the hospital who we love and tells the best stories.  The insurance lady I talked to while waiting for Evey's procedure was extra nice today and we talked about moving and hoarding and laughed about it.  Our favorite radiologist was on staff and made Evey's replacement much more pleasant.  And as Eli proclaimed so wisely, Cheetos do solve all problems.  Plans are overrated, good thing I've never really liked them anyway.  We are blessed.

Tender Mercies

   With Evey, I feel like I can easily recognize the big mercies the Lord sends our way.  However, I was reminded this week that sometimes the small tender mercies are the ones that deserve the most recognition.

     This last week we headed down to Southern Utah to spend Thankgiving with my parents.  It was a long 4 hour ride in the car and Evey's first long road trip post spine surgery.  The kids all got a little antsy, seeing as how they've been spoiled with flying lately.  The second we got to my parents house and I laid Evey down to change her diaper, I noticed her g-j tube had been pulled out.  No bueno.  The problem with the tube being in her jejunum (intestine) is that it can only be replaced by an interventional radiologist in a radiology room which is only found in a big-time children's hospital, or big city hospital.  Southern Utah has neither, so I immediately cursed, cried, and then after the tears went away, we got on the phone to find out if we could go to Las Vegas to get it put back in, or if we had to drive all the way back up to Salt Lake City - 4 more hours on the road, while Evey went without any food, driving in the middle of the night.
     I was so bummed, I just wanted a Thanksgiving, especially because last Thanksgiving we were in the hospital recovering from her skull surgery.  After an hour or so on the phone we realized our best option was to turn around and drive back up to SLC.  We packed up the car and my parents offered to take the other 3 kids and meet us up at home the next day.  As we were driving away, I got a call from our radiologist back home that said he called and found a doctor in St. George that could put in Evey's g-j tube.  Four hours later, after an almost fight with an idiot ER doctor, and talking the radiologist through replacing her tube, we were on our way back to my parents' house for Thanksgiving.  My mind was scrambled eggs by the end of it all, and my parents wisely told me that they were praying for a tender mercy, and when we told them we could stay in St. George, they were immediately so thankful that the Lord gave us a tender mercy.  It was a tender mercy that I didn't even recognize because it still felt like such a fiasco.

     Two days later while still at my parents' house, Eli woke up at midnight coughing up a storm and couldn't catch his breath, while turning blue.  Thankfully we had Evey's steroids, gave him a few puffs, and ran him down to the ER.  Turned out to be pneumonia.  Three day Thanksgiving trip with only 2 trips to the local ER.  We are now infamous down at that small town hospital.

     Although small in the scheme of things, these are the tender mercies from the Lord.  Not having to leave abruptly and abandon our trip.  My dad letting me cry in his arms in pure frustration after seeing Evey's g-j tube pulled out, having extra medicine lying around to give to Eli when he needed it most.  And as always,  Nate and I continuing to be blessed with the energy we need, despite sleepless nights.  This thanksgiving, I was extremely grateful for my wise parents that reminded us of the small things that we are blessed with, even amongst the chaos.  Best thanksgiving in a long time, despite it all.  We are blessed.