Week in Review...

This week started out differently than any other week that I've ever had, and I hope to never experience another week like this again in my life. On Sunday night I was talking to my parents on the phone and my nephew Mathias had been throwing up since Saturday morning. The last update that we had from my brother Randy, was that he had stopped throwing up. When I was on the phone with them they got a text from Randy saying that Mathias had relapsed ad he was taking him to Urgent Care. Then about an hour later, we got an update that Urgent Care had wanted to send them home, he wasn't dehydrated and they thought he was fine. This kind of threw us for a loop, how could he not be dehydrated? We were all very happy that Randy then decided to take Mathias to the E.R. that was the last that I heard until I woke up to run at 5 a.m. Monday morning. I woke up to a text from my mom saying that they had found a massive tumor in Mathias' brain and that they were ambulancing him to Oaklands Childrens Hospital. My heart dropped when I saw those words, and I kept thinking am I dreaming this? Is this really happening? Has their been a mistake? I drove over to my friends house and we set out for our run, I was in a daze. I told her that I just received some really horrible news! I started crying and couldn't stop. My friend told me that her sister had had a brain tumor as well, so she was able to empathize with me. She was just who I needed to talk to that morning. As they day wore on, we got more updates and Mathias started showing symptoms of having a brain aneurysm. So he was rushed into surgery. What was supposed to be a 2-4 hour surgery to remove the tumor, turned into a 9 1/2 hr surgery. The surgeon told my brother Randy that if he had taken Mathias home and not to the E.R. that Mathias would have ended up either blind, paralyzed or dead. I've never been more grateful for the Holy Ghost guiding my brother than I was in that moment. I've never prayed more, cried more and had more heartache than I have this last week. They were able to get the majority of the tumor but there is still a small part that they couldn't see, it's by a major blood vessel. There's also a blood clot at the back of his head that they're watching. Currently Mathias doesn't have any sight in his right eye, or movement in his right arm. We are fasting today as a family for him. I also have many friends that are fasting and praying for him that have never even met Mathias. They have all been touched by his story. We are praying for miracles! Thumbs up for Mathias!

This week Abby made a little witch in preschool...

We also went to go and see My Little Pony in the theaters with her preschool friends...

We also had our ward Halloween Carnival on Saturday night, Jacob was a skeleton, Ashlyn an Egyptian and Abby was a monster:)

Here is our Activity Days booth, Toilet Paper Toss. Ashlyn is at the back of the booth retrieving the tossed in toilet paper rolls...

Abby actually had fun at this carnival because Haley took her around to the different booths with her best friend Lexi...

Haley was a big help!

They loved the bubble machine and smoke machine..

Some of my activity day girls with Ashlyn...

Cute pic of Mathias. I hope to have a great update on Mathias for next week!

Week in Review

This week we had a very full week! We had Parent Teacher Conferences, Early out, piano, Activity Days, Mesa Celebrate Festival and a playdate.

The Activity day girls put together a toilet paper toss booth. It should be pretty fun! Abby playing with her friend Holly...

Both Jacob and Ashlyn made it onto the Honor Roll! Yay!!

We went to the mall on Saturday to watch our good friends play the piano! They basically had their recital at the mall, it was pretty fun to watch them in a cool location. 

Abby and I had lots of fun at the Mesa Celebrate festival. They had a really good band playing and there was this guy that was dancing all by himself and he was so hilarious. He inspired us to get up and dance, and Abby actually danced! She was running all over the field, it was so fun to watch her. The older kids were off playing on the rides and going through the haunted bus. 

Saturday morning I ran the farthest that I've ever ran! 7 miles! I actually ended up running the whole way too! We had to stop at a light for about 15 seconds, but that was the only break that I got, it was amazing to know that I can do hard things! Next Saturday it's 8 miles!!

Fall Break!

We had a jam packed fall break! On Monday, we went to Scottsdale to jump at AirZone on our Pogo Pass. We invited some friends along, and the kids had a great time! Abby literally thought she was in heaven, she could've jumped all day long!

Our sweet neighbor always gets Abby a cute dress for her birthday. This year it came a little bit later than usual, which makes it even more fun! Such a cute dress!

On Tuesday, I spent the day cooking and we had a dinner at the park with the families that Rick home teaches. I made pulled pork, homemade rolls, carrot fries, potato fries, chips, soda, and gluten free brownies (one of the guys he home teaches has celiacs) and regular brownies. It was a busy day of cooking, but it turned out yummy. On Wednesday we went to the IDEA museum across from Ricks work and he met up with us for a bit. The kids love the IDEA museum. Haley was at the mall with her friends.

They have a cool light board that the kids loved.

Abby could've spent the whole time in the vet room, taking care of all of the animals. She loves to pretend and has the best imagination! I just love hearing her play and talking to her animals and pretend friends.

She also loved the kitchen area...

On Thursday we got up and drove to San Diego, poor Jacob wasn't feeling well but he was such a trooper the whole trip. He said that his mouth, gums and throat hurt, so he didn't eat hardly anything the whole trip. We took him to the dr. this morning and it turns out he had a mouth ulcer and strep throat! Poor buddy!! The first thing we did when we got to San Diego was go boogie boarding!

Ricks parents met up with us and they were very happy to escape the smokey air where they live. Several fires are up by them and they're letting a family stay in their RV who had been evacuated.

Abby thought the ocean was hilarious, she would run down to it and then the water would come up and she would laugh and run away from it. She thought it was hilarious!

That night we had dinner at P.F. Changs because we had a gift card and a coupon:)

Ashlyn tried some of Grandma and Grandpa's Calamari, which is fried squid! She's so brave!

On Friday we went to the San Diego Zoo, we were able to get discount tickets through Ricks brother in law who is an Air Force Reservist. Thanks Mike! The first thing we did was ride the bus that takes a tour of the outside of the zoo. It's a great way to see the zoo and not have to walk!

Poor Jacob, just wasn't feeling well the whole time but he stuck with us! We went on the Skyfari ride, which takes you across the park.

It was pretty scary being so high up, but pretty too!

Abby loved getting to pet the goats...

On Saturday we went back to the beach for a few hours and boogie boarded again and then traveled home. It was a great quick trip!

Ashlyn boogie boarded the whole time we were at the beach, on both days. She's hooked! Here she is riding a wave in...

Grandma Johnson was teaching Jacob how to boogie board, he caught a couple of waves. He's becoming braver and had fun!

We always drive by this space motel on the way to San Diego, so I finally caught a picture of it on our way home. It's so cool!!

Abby playing with the chopsticks we got at P.F. Changs on the drive home...

It was a great fall break!