Now Playing, This Halloween

We were wanting some Halloween sound effects to play in our window while the trick or treaters visit us tonight. Last night we got the kids together and mixed up a bunch of home made Halloween sounds. The result was this 4 minute Halloween soundtrack. So, if you need any scary sounds this Halloween, download our kids!

To download the soundtrack and listen to it, click here.

Another update

Sorry I didn’t write here last night, I was so tired. The doctor called me last night at 7 to tell me that she had interpreted test results incorrectly, and with the help of another doctor, they have decided to do another procedure (one that she was thinking she would do anyway). I had been to a checkup at my doctor who is also dad’s doctor. He asked how mom and dad were doing. I said I thought mom was doing ok for now, but that dad was in the icu. He had no clue, the surgeon was supposed to call him, but hadn’t yet. So he literally ran down to the icu to see dad’s status. They ran an ultrasound of his legs, and did find clots. They want to put a filter in his inferior vena cava….(spelling?). They are too nervous to put him back on Coumadin to manage his blood. He usually has this problem with anemia like now. But with nothing he would clot uncontrollably. So this is the best thing they can do now. She will do it today about 11-1130. And while she is in there, she will repeat the egd (upper scope), to see how things look a couple of days after the first one. My work schedule this week is kinda weird. I won’t be able to spend too much time with mom. I work tonight (Tuesday) from 7pm to 7am, Wednesday 11pm to 7am, Thursday 8am to 430pm…and Saturday 7pm to 7am. I would appreciate if you have any time to call and talk with mom and dad. They could really use the company. Visits would be great too, but it is really short notice so I understand if you cant. Mom’s number is 878-2868 and dad’s is (while in the icu 677-6136 or 677-6503 to the icu desk). He may be well enough in the next day or two to move to the medical floor. When he does you can call at 678-4444 and ask for him. When I find out his room number I will let you know.

Love ya lots, Carina

Glen Again

I just wanted to let everyone know that yesterday morning, dad (Glen) stabilized enough that the doctor felt that it was safe enough to do the scope. His numbers were not where she would normally like them, but he was still losing way too much blood, so she felt it safer to check than to wait. She found a big blood clot at the fundus (top) of his stomach that she could not get out. There was a lot of blood in his stomach that she was able to suction out. And at the pyloris (bottom) of his stomach, it was bleeding pretty good. She sprayed some epinephrine (spelling?) on it and watched it for a while. It didn’t start re-bleeding so she felt ok about it. She was nervous about going further into the duodenum (small intestine), because she didn’t want to stir anything up. She went ahead and everything looked ok there. She will probably re-scope him before he leaves or shortly after (as an outpatient), just to make sure nothing has changed. The finally started giving him some diuretics because he has had so much iv fluid, he is very puffy. They gave him that late tonight and is doing good. They didn’t want to give it to him till now, because his blood pressure has been so low, they didn’t want him to bottom out. They also have found that on his chest x-rays that his lungs are looking better, they were looking a little full of fluid, but today’s looks better than yesterday. His sleep apnea is also worse now, sometimes he goes 20 seconds without breathing, so they put him on a cpap machine, and told him he needed to start using his at home again. His heart is also at least 1/3 bigger than it should be, so they are a little worried about that. But feel that they can give him some medicine to help. He has quite a bit more color today than yesterday. He was looking pretty gray. They are hoping to start him on a liquid diet maybe tomorrow. They are thinking that within the next day or two they can also move him to the medical floor out of icu. Thanks for all your prayers, I’ll try to keep you updated.

Love ya, Carina

Glen

Just wanted to let everyone know that we put Dad (Glen) in the hospital last night. He is in the ICU at Cassia (in Burley). Don’t know what is wrong quite yet. We met with the surgeon last night, and we need to get him stable before she can take him into the OR. He has lost a lot of blood. They gave him 6 units of blood and 2 units of plasma last night. They are doing more labs today to see if he will need more. His blood pressure last night was low about 90/45 (lowest about 70/25). It is a little better this morning. He was throwing up digested blood, so we need to do a scope to see where he is bleeding from. He is in serious condition. He is finally getting a little sleep, but not much. They have to wake him up every 15 minutes to do vitals, so just little cat naps. But he is able to talk and visit with the nurses some. Keep him in your prayers. I don’t know if he will be able to talk on the phone (maybe) he is in room 136 (677-6136). I will probably have my cell 312-5741 (I’ll try to keep it on as much as I can). Love ya lots, Carina

Backwards Day

This week is Drug Awareness week at the school. For the week, the school is having dress up days or theme days.

Today's theme was backwards day. The kids had a great time putting their clothes on backwards and heading off to school. Even Alayna got involved and did the backwards thing even though her audience was Amber & Jace.

All Tied Up!

Now this is the way to control kids!
Tie them up!

The Pledge

Wow...was I surprised when Jenna all of a sudden blurted this out! I had no clue she had ever practiced it!

New Job

I just had to tell everyone that I got a new job at the hospital. I will still work in Same Day Surgery/OR, but now I will also work in the Birth Center. I am so excited. I will have more hours, but they will be at night, so I can work while the kids are sleeping (I hate finding places for the kids to go during the day - I feel like I am burdening people). Anyways...I will be working as a CNA and get to assist in deliveries and take care of the babies too! I'll let you know how it goes!

Snow-FALL

This morning we woke to a blanket of snow. It was quite the experience for us to have snow this early. I am not ready for winter to be on the horizon already.

The kids begged Amber to let them go out in the snow. It being Sunday, Amber said that they could go out for just five minutes or so to build a quick little snowman. The kids were dedicated to the task and quickly built their man of snow.

I was surprised in that the snowman lasted all day and into tonight. I guess we can always hope for an early ski season!

Blanket

Ok everyone! I went to the store and bought this pattern. We all know that I don't sew...well not so straight! Anyways....these will be made for Christmas....I'll keep you updated!!!
Carina


Simplicity 4993 One Size Rag Quilt Wall Hangin
One Size Rag Quilt Wall Hangin

When We're Helping We're Happy

I worked from home today as Amber went to volunteer at the school. It is a little more tricky now on these days that I work from home because we have an infant. Today, Jace woke up while Amber was gone and was hungry.

I didn't know how I would be able to continue working and feed Jace at the same time, so I asked Alayna if she would like to feed Jace. She was ecstatic! I got the bottle ready and plopped him on her lap. Jace was satisfied and Alayna was in Heaven!

The End of an Era

Today marked a sad end to a multiyear chapter in my own history. I have been preparing for it for the last few weeks, but it will be a hard transition I'm sure. Today Jake and I diverge in our career paths. As of tomorrow, Jake will no longer work at Novell with me. I'm excited for that career change the Jake will begin in the next few weeks. But it will be hard to go without yelling out of my office and having him reply to random comments and thoughts. I don't know who I will sit with at company meetings and get-togethers. I don't know with whom I will express frustration or laugh about funny things within the office.

I remember that I was very excited the day the Jake got hired on at Novell. It was almost a dream come true for me. I had gone from working on the farm with family all of my youth, to the lonely world of city life. I was thrilled when Jake was excited to interview for a position at the company where I worked. The rest is history. It has been a real enjoyment for me to be employed with my brother and work side-by-side.

I'll let Jake give you all the details of his leaving Novell, and his thoughts, but I just wanted to say thanks to Jake for making Novell a much funner place to work. Who knows, but we'll cross paths again in the professional world. In the meantime he does remain in Provo and I'm sure we'll get together often.

Now I wonder what it will take to convince Joe that he wants to come work with me at Novell.

Alayna Singing to Jace

The other day I was holding Jace and Alayna came in and started to sing songs to him. I realized that I was missing a kodak moment, so I grabbed the camera and filmed her singing "I am a Child of God". Of course, once I got the camera pointed at her she would look to the camera instead of Jace, but it was cute none-the-less.

If you can't see the video, click on the following link:

http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-4478280120313811274&hl=en

Jace gets Involved

It was fun to share conference with the kids this Saturday and Sunday. Jace was especially fun to be with on Sunday. Sunday was probably the very first day that Jace really interacted with his eyes. He started giving us intense gazes and would follow our movements. He was pretty dang alert and even acted like he enjoyed some Boy time with Johnathan and I during one of the conference talks.

Jace continues to endure the constant requests to hold him and play with him. All the kids love to be near him. Now that he will look at you and even give a hint of a smile, it is even funner!

Tree Planting

Mom, Dad, Jen, Chloe and Joe were down to see Jace on Thursday and Friday. While they were down here I kept Dad pretty busy. One of our activities was to plant our free tree from Provo City. Alayna wanted to help Dad and I, so she headed out to supervise. Didn't take us too long, but it will look great in a year or two.

Other odd jobs that got done were fixing the scooter and evaluating the latest repairs on the truck.

We had a great weekend with everyone down here.