Savou's 1st ER Visit. . . . .

Savou had his 1st trip 2 the ER last Thursday. He's given us quite a scare since then. We're here @ Primary Children's & Savou's vitals are looking GREAT so they're considering sending him home. :D It's been quite the weekend experience.




We rushed Savou 2 the ER @ Primary Children's Riverton Hospital last Wednesday night because he spiked a fever & was wheezing a lot. His breathing also increased quite a bit & when my dad looked him over, he diagnosed Savou w/bronchiolitis. Which is exactly what he has. They ran a bunch of tests on him 2 see what exactly was causing his bronchiolitis & everything came back negative. They gave him a breathing treatment called albuterol & sent us home when his breathing came back down 2 normal as well as his temperature. Savou slept well all night, but in the morning we headed back 2 the hospital's respiratory clinic so he can get suctioned out cause he was having trouble breathing, again, which was causing him 2 not be able 2 eat. After he got suctioned, he sounded a lot better, but his heart rate was fairly high. We were sent over 2 the ER 4 the doctor 2 look him over. Because all his tests came back negative, they sent us home again. We ended up back @ the ER that night due 2 Savou's breathing. Which was abnormally fast. We were sent home once again after he received a suction as well as another breathing treatment. He slept through the night & did really well all day sleeping off & on as well as eating. We had planned 2 take all our other kids 2 watch the 'U' Women's Gymnastics meet against Georgia, which is a WHOLE 'nother post, lol. When we returned home, Savou seemed 2 be breathing really really fast. This time we took him straight up 2 the Primary Children's up here @ the 'U' & as soon as they hooked him up & they saw his heart rate, it was so CHAOTIC. It seriously took me back 2 my ER watching days. You know, that show. I used 2 watch it all the time. I never actually thought I would experience my own real life episode in my own life. Let alone w/one of my children. :( Savou's heart rate went all the way up to 230 & the norm 4 infants is between 110-130. They were racing 2 see what was going on. I pretty much broke down. I've never felt so HELPLESS in my life. I had a constant prayer in my heart 4 my son that I LOVE so much. Tears fell helplessly down my face as I watched Savou get poked 5 different times w/needles as he was calling out 2 me & looking @ Hoko & I with that look on his face like, why are we letting them hurt him?? I almost lost it. I was so devastated. I knew that everything that was being done 2 him was necessary in order 2 help him, but I couldn't help thinking of the Savior & his pain he went through in the garden of Gethsemane. I said a quiet prayer in my heart & asked Heavenly Father 2 please spare Savou the physical pains that he was feeling @ the time.





Savou was so dehydrated when we took him in that it was so difficult 4 the nurses 2 draw blood 4rom him. They had 2 call the IV team in 2 come & get his blood as well as 2 start an IV on him. I was thinking of how painful & uncomfortable it is 4 me when I would have 2 get IV's on me everytime I gave birth & I cried even more. This 5 month old baby of mine having 2 feel that kind of pain?? But not once did I complain or asky 'WHY' because I know that there are a ton of children in this world & in this very hospital that are going through a lot more pain than Savou. And I was very careful not 2 complain or come off ungrateful 4 fear of offending my Heavenly Father.





I am very happy 2 report that Savou is on the road 2 recovery & we have HIGH hopes that he will continue 2 get better & that we will be able 2 take him home 2morrow. :D It's been a rough couple of days 4 our baby boy, but he's fighting his way through it & we're EXTREMELY hopeful that he will recover fully in time. :D Aww, 2 reps 4rom the church just came in 2 check on Savou & 2 see if we needed anything. They left a copy of the Ensign which I haven't had a chance 2 pick up so this totally made my night. :D They also left info on the Branch they have here 4 the patients & their families. How AWESOME is that?? :D Wow!! We will definitely be attending the Branch if we're still here by Sunday. This is just one of the many updates going on in our family right now. Keep us in your prayers. :D

'Turn Up The Music' :D

So I heard this song by Point Of Grace a long time ago, but never got around 2 looking it up. I heard it again this past week & put it on my 'TO DO' list that I was going 2 YOUTUBE it & lo & behold. . . . . :D I was able 2 locate it w/no problem @ all. And when I say 'no problem @ all' I truly mean it. I didn't know the name of the song or even the group that sang it so I thought it would be a little bit of a challenge, but it was the 1st result that came up & I was so HAPPY!! :D And I mean, it's 10 o'clock @ night & I've played it over & over & over cause I love it so much!! Lol. With our older kids being asleep 4 a couple of hours now, it's just me, Savou in my lap, baby Hoko behind me standing on the same chair I'm sitting in & Sila dancing around my desk singing her little heart out as if she knows the words!! Hahahaha. . . . .definitely a kodak moment that's being put away mentally in my sub-conscious 4 those hard times I come across very rarely, but in all honesty. . . . .they do still come when I sit & think about the 'PRE-EXISTENCE' & it amazes me how emotional I get & the peaceful feeling that comes over me & I feel nothing, but CALMNESS filtering throughout my whole body. :D And along w/that CALMNESS comes feelings of GRATITUDE 4 all that I am continually blessed with on a day 2 day basis. I have a very CONSIDERATE & HARD WORKING husband, very HEALTHY & ACTIVE kids, very SUPPORTIVE parents & AMAZING siblings that are always there 4 me in whatever I may need. :D

The lyrics 2 this song is so 'ON POINT' 2 me cause it's everything I've always practiced w/in my own life. I've always believed that how you live says a lot more about you then 'who you know or what you did' The Savior always taught by example & it's been the best way of teaching because you are living your beliefs & others around you will take notice. :D As a member of the church, we've always been referred 2 as being 'peculiar' In the dictionary, this is defined as: strange or odd; unusual. And ain't it the truth?? We may live in this world, but we are strongly encouraged 2 not be of this world. And 4 good reason. 'For the natural man is an enemy to God & has been since the fall of Adam' For no man other than Jesus Christ is perfect. But it doesn't mean that we can't & shouldn't strive 4 perfection. The Savior is a perfect example of CHARITY & LOVE 4 all despite the many many weaknesses we all have. One of the many stories that comes 2 mind is the one about the adulterer that was taken 2 Jesus & told that she was 2 be stoned 4 her adulterous actions. The Savior draws a line in the dirt & tells them that whosoever hath no sin, cast the 1st stone. By the time he stood up, there was no one there. And he told the woman 2 go & sin no more.

There have been 'many a times' in my own life where trials & tribulations have come up & there have been many ways that I've wanted 2 respond that wasn't Christlike & I find myself always talking 2 my husband 1st & I am eternally grateful that he has the insight 2 be able 2 advise me otherwise. :D We've found great comfort in knowing when we need 2 turn 2 the Lord whether it's through personal & fervent prayer or through his ordained servants, which in our case is our wonderful Branch President. :D Life without the gospel in our lives would be meaningless & I can honestly say that we would be utterly lost. So 4 that I am always GRATEFUL 2 have the gospel in our lives. Being able 2 renew our covenants every Sunday as well as being able 2 live higher standards in our lives in order 2 be worthy of our temple recommends means more 2 us than any worldly or material thing in this life. If that means that we are labeled w/the rest of the saints as being a 'peculiar people' than we'll proudly stand by it & declare that that is exactly what we are. :D These were my thoughts & here's the lyrics 2 my MOST FAVORITE SONG right now. I think we could all 'TURN UP THE MUSIC' in our own lives & the results would be very rewarding in our own rite. :D

How You Live (Turn Up The Music)

Wake up to the sunlight with your windows open

Don't hold in your anger & leave things unspoken

Wear your red dress, use your good dishes

Make a big mess & make lots of wishes

And have what you want

But want what you have

And don't spend your life looking back

Chorus:

Turn up the music, turn it up loud

Take a few chances, let it all out

Cause you won't regret it

Looking back from where you have been

Cause it's not who you knew

And it's not what you did, it's how you live

So, go to the ball games & go to the ballet

And go see your folks more than just on the holidays

Kiss all your children, dance with your wife

Tell your husband you love him every night

Don't run from the truth

Cause you can't get away, oh no

Just face it & you'll be okay

Chorus

Oh, wherever you are & wherever you've been

Now is the time to begin

So, give to the needy & pray for the grieving

Even when you don't think that you can

Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you

So, think of your fellow man

And make peace with God

And make peace with yourself, oh yeah

Cause in the end there's nobody else

Chorus

1st FHE Of 2010. . . . .

With this past week being the 1st official week of 2010, I thought it really important 2 start a family tradition w/the kids in 'GOAL SETTING' :D It's something that my parents always did w/us throughout the years & so I thought it'd be great 2 carry on this tradition in my own growing family.

We started out w/a story out of the Friends Mag that was just issued out this month. I love that magazine. It has FHE ideas in there that are kid-friendly & really keeps in mind families that have a LOT of younger kids in theirs. Such as ours. :D It also has enough activities/lessons in it 2 last the WHOLE month. :D So back 2 the story that we started out with. It's called:

Amy's Goal

When Amy R. decided 2 read the Bible all the way through, her 1st thought was, "Wow, this is going 2 take so long."

It was 2006, and Amy had just finished President Gordon B. Hinkley's challenge 2 read the Book of Mormon. Because she felt so good when she accomplished her goal, she decided 2 read the Bible next.

"When I 1st opened the Bible, I thought maybe it was too much," Amy says. "But I also knew that if I never started the Bible, I would never finish the Bible."

Amy began reading a little bit every night, just as she had done with the Book of Mormon. She did that for the next 2 yrs.

Sometimes Amy's schedule was busier than usual. Sometimes at night she was tired & just wanted 2 go 2 sleep. But even when these things happened, she kept going.

There were times when Amy didn't understand what she was reading. She would pray 2 Heavenly Father & ask Him 2 help her understand. Amy says those prayers were always answered. She also says reading the scriptures helped her know how 2 use words such as Thee & Thy when she prays.

In December 2008, when she was 10 yrs old, Amy finished the Bible. As a special Christmas gift, she wrote a letter 2 her dad about her experience. When her dad read the letter, his eyes filled w/tears. "I almost felt like crying too because I was so happy," Amy says. "I knew I had done a good thing."

Does Amy have a favorite verse from her reading? No, but she often thinks about the people in the scriptures.

"Knowing stories from the scriptures has helped me w/my problems," Amy says. "When I start feeling bad for myself, I compare my own problem 2 the problems of the people in the scriptures. That helps me 2 have a better attitude & be more thankful about my situation. The scriptures have changed my life & helped me be happier."

What an AMAZING story of this little girl who is DEFINITELY on the right track 2 arming herself w/the BEST tools in life 2 keep her on the 'straight & narrow' path. :D After sharing the story w/the kids, we asked them a couple of questions & were pleasantly surprised that they answered every question correctly. With Sila & Baby Hoko, who have no kind of attention spans whatsoever (lol), we were EXTREMELY happy that the 3 older girls were able 2 still catch the example Amy was setting in this story. :D

Our activity afterwards consisted of us taking 5-10 min 2 think of a bad habit that we each have & set a goal that for 21 days we would turn that habit into a good one. We were given another set of SURPRISES when all 3 older girls' bad habits that they set a goal 4 & would turn into good habits was 2 stop lying. WOW!! I was really caught off guard & in that moment. . . .said a quiet prayer in my heart & thanked Heavenly Father 4 placing such an IMPORTANT factor & always EMPHASIZING fhe in the church through our wonderful prophet as well as many other leaders of the church. After we all stated our bad habits that we were going 2 work 2 break & turn into good habits, we took a little time out 2 talk 2 the girls about lying & how it makes them feel & how it always starts w/just a little lie before gradually getting bigger & bigger as the years go by. We're so so GRATEFUL 2 have the gospel in our lives 2 help direct us & give such specific instruction on how 2 lead ourselves as well as our families in these TRYING times. It had NEVER occurred 2 me in the past that my kids ever struggled w/lying. And I'm eternally grateful 2 the concept of FHE that we've faithfully been consistent in holding every week that we were able 2 address this issue while they are so young. They've never LIED 2 us about anything major, mind you they're all still so young, but we had a pretty 'IN-DEPTH' discussion w/them about how even little lies like saying they've already cleaned their rooms when they haven't can become 2nd nature 2 them & as they grow older, the lies will only get BIGGER. Suffice it 2 say, we're EXTREMELY proud of these little girls 4 stepping up 2 the plate & owning up 2 their wrongs & 4 even taking it a step further & accepting the challenge 2 track their goal that they have set in turning this UGLY bad habit into a good habit by not lying for 21 days. I printed out a GOAL TRACKING CHART that they're able 2 mark off every single day that they accomplish their goal. If any of us mess up, we have 2 start our 21 day trial all over again. And I have 2 be honest. . . .Hoko & I are already starting ours again as of 2day. Lol.

It was a very successful FHE & we were both so happy w/the outcome & excited 2 be getting rid of our bad habits one habit @ a time. :D This weekend I'll be working on 'REWARD BOARDS' that'll track the kids' chores, homework, scripture study & so forth w/cute stickers 4rom the dollar store. An added incentive 4 the girls 2 be able 2 actually see their charts up & know where they stand & what needs a little more attention & working on. :D I'm so EXCITED!! :D It'll also help me a lot in being able 2 know when 2 reward them. It's great. I came across this idea when I was googling the goal charts online. :D I'll be sure 2 keep you all updated on how it goes. :D

'Out With The Old & In With The New'

It's a new year & I've officially put my blog on PRIVATE. :D It's been kinda weird & maybe even a little bit scary that I had upwards of 21 followers & I don't even know half of them. :( Also, I've been quite the 'BLOGGER' & so w/so much of my family information being shared through photos & so forth. . . . .I thought it best 2 keep such things under a more CONTROLLED environment. :D Consider yourself 'LUCKY' if you got an 'INVITE' There weren't many that were sent out. Lol. So kidding. . . .on the LUCKY part, that is. :D

2010 Is Here & In 'FULL SWING' :D

New Year's Eve day & night were filled w/nothing, but FAMILY FUN!! :D We started out our day cleaning house so that we could welcome 2010 feeling REFRESHED & hittin' the ground RUNNIN' :D I'm happy 2 report that this was definitely ACCOMPLISHED!! :D Hoko took the kids TUBING @ our neighborhood park w/his brothers & nieces & nephews. They had a BLAST. I stayed back w/Savou & threw down in the kitchen Betty Crocker Style, LITERALLY!! Lol. Out of her cook book was born 'Fiesta Chicken Lasagna' :D It was my 1st attempt in making this wonderfully easy & quick meal & it tasted DEE-LISH!! :D

We had a couple of hours before our ward New Year's Eve dinner/dance started so I took the opportunity 2 sit back & really think about some 'NEW GOALS' for 2010 & I honestly couldn't come up w/any. I pretty much have gotten myself in the 'GOAL SETTING' mindset this past year & so it's been a continuous & ongoing thing 4 me. It took me a couple of days 2 put my list 2gether & I'm very HAPPY & very EXCITED about it. :D

We got 2 our dance & had dinner 1st. The food was soooo YUMMY!! :D We socialized w/family & friends & then we got our BOOGIE on on the dance floor!! We had a BLAST & were so GRATEFUL 2 be able 2 'RING IN' a NEW YEAR w/our dear friends & families. :D We danced all night long 'til the kids were all POOPED. :D Then we headed home & went 2 bed feeling very BLESSED 2 have each other, our health & the gospel in our lives. :D Life has definitely been GOOD 2 us & we're so READY 4 this another year. :D Happy New Years Everyone. :D