Utah Trip The 30th Epic Celebration

So to celebrate my 30th birthday, Doug sent me to Utah to spend it with family and friends, most specifically, my sisters and mom. It was fun seeing all 5 of my sisters, and my special friends all at once! I also had a blast with some one-on-one time with Lindsay, my engaged sis. We had a good time putting on a 50's bridal shower for her. I also squeezed in a walk through the BYU Art museum, CAFE RIO!, See's Chocolate, Seagull Book, the Distribution Center, D.I., IKEA, breakfast at Kneaders...all my favorite haunts. Although our favorite part may have been the massages we all got! Most amazingly, though, was how special everyone made me feel. From the welcome signs on the door that my sister put up, the jump drive of music my brother made me, the CHI!! from my mom, the DVD from Linz and Karl, the box of toys for Monte from Aunt Allyson, the awesome pampering kit from Amber, and the corsage, purse, polish, and presentation from Amy and Allison...best birthday ever. Plus, Monte and Piper and Doug were so thrilled to see me at the airport, it made me feel pretty important!

Now whose ready for next year??!!

The Endangered Blue Mohawk

So I found out that they've been washing the blue gel out of Monte's hair at school. When i asked why, I was told that "if a typically developing kid wore it in their hair, ran a lot, and got sweaty, it could run into his eyes and hurt them. So Monte can't wear it either."

So many thoughts, none of them polite...

Any comments?

Oh, and a huge hug for Emilie, my awesome cousin, who shaved her son's hair into a sympathy mohawk! So touched and overwhelmed, what a friend!

Yippee!

After months of laying the groundwork, coaxing, and wondering how it's possible that so many grown-ups and their parents ever succeeded at the process...Piper is potty-trained! Here's the magic formula, hope it helps someone else! We bought the pink, comfy, cushy potty about 6 months ago, and waited for the magic to happen. We'd heard that the key was to be low-key about things, so we never pushed, forced, or demanded, we just went with her interest level. I also purchased a few pairs of Disney Princess Underwear and jelly beans. I also let her wear her pink princess dress everytime she did go on the potty. Then last Thursday Piper decided she was ready! Since then she's gone every single time on the "big girl potty" only having a single miss. That one was our fault, we didn't get her there fast enough. She's so excited about wearing her UNDERwear that she carries them around with her throughout the day and shows them off. Wow, Wow, Wow. Potty trained in just a couple days. I'm excited. So, all those with girls that are gearing up for this: pink potty, jelly beans, and princess dress, and princess panties. Good luck!

These pics are Piper in her blessing dress. I love the one with all her fairy godmothers helping her get ready. And look at that bald head! She now has gorgeous blonde, wavy hair that hangs down to the middle of her back. She's been a wonderful blessing and a true joy in our family. 2 1/2 and an amazing little princess. The other pics are at the St. Louis Zoo for spring break last week.

Memory Lane

I came acrossed these pics on a camera that we'd given up for dead...and was so thrilled to see them! It's Monte's 5th birthday, 6th Halloween, Piper and Monte together, he loves her so much! You can see the joy in his face everytime they are together. Also, some fun ones of me and Doug with the kids. I hope you're thinking what I'm thinking, "wow, she/I have great hair in these pictures!"
And, yes, Doug made that amazing cake!

Monte's New Look

Before:

So, we decided to embrace the terrible haircut that Neuro-surgery gave Monte, and use it to help us all laugh a bit. Seriously, the scars and stitches are so much worse this time, and it looked kind-of frightening. So, we cut the rest into a mohawk, spiked it, and put blue gel in it. Then we took it out for a test run...we got so many excited comments about the hair, only 2 noticed the scars. Whew! Now all the kids at school want one, we took him today for about an hour so he could practice getting back to his routine. Unfortunately, he cried for most of it, and then threw up on the way home. He clung to me after that for about and hour and a half, just sobbing. It breaks my heart, he loves school! I'm sure it's just been a traumatic experience for him this week, and it will take awhile for him to return to his old activities. He's sure an amazing kid, I'm having a hard time adjusting to being away and sleep deprived, and I didn't have any surgeries.

During...

Loving it! Thank-you for all of your prayers, it's been a really overwhelming time, and we're still trying to return to 'normal.' But we're thrilled that Monte's home, he's eating and playing again, and starting to feel better, improving everyday.

Update Monday 3/1

We were surprised when a lot of kids were suddenly discharged from the hospital on Friday, I guess they were clearing the house for the weekend. Monte came home late Friday night, but has been throwing up continually and dehydrating. However, the past few hours has been going well, so I think he's hopefully on the mend. We get the stitches out from the first surgery on Monday, and on Wednesday I can wash and shave the remaining hair. (Neurosurgeons give TERRIBLE haircuts! He has a mohawk of sorts, and two huge scars).
But through everything he's been patient, sweet, and so loving. He's an incredible kid.
We're trying to put our lives back together, and needing to catch up on some sleep!
We know that your prayers sustained us during this time, and enabled us to do as well as we did. We know that Heavenly Father is mindful of Monte, and that he has blessed him with this fast(ish) recovery and given him strenth. Thank-you all for loving him, and caring so much!

Monte Likes Helicopter Rides

So please keep our little family in your prayers...Monte had a huge uncontrollable seizure Monday morning, was taken by ambulance "red hot" (with lights and sirens) on a 40 ride to the better hospital, then life-flighted via Helicopter to St. Louis Childrens Hospital. Meanwhile, I drove like a demon to meet him up there, a 4 1/2 hour drive from the hospital.
On Tuesday the Neurosurgeons decided to do a surgery to place a "bolt" in his skull to test the CSF Pressure...then immediately rushed him into surgery when it registered 25. Normal is apparently 0-5. Since then he's still struggling. He hasn't been able to keep down any liquids since we've been here, and he retches all night and day. He's sleeping much too much...and no one can figure out why. The new shunt (Revision #28) is in a great place, draining well, and looks great on C.T.
Our Neurologist said today, "Sometimes when we don't understand something we wait awhile until it just goes away"
That seems to be the current plan, as soon as he wakes and starts eating and feeling better, we should be able to head home.
Thanks to our friends who helped arrange the driving and babysitting of Piper...she's hanging out with her dad this week, who is currently unemployed. Talk about great timing, right!?! So they're entertaining each other.
So, gotta get back to Neuro-Floor, humbly asking for your prayers for Monte...
Claire

Our Favorite Missionaries

We have loved our missionaries out here, they're all incredible! Great examples, furthering our Missionary efforts, and strengthening our testimonies. It's been fun to have so much time feeding them-in Utah we hardly ever saw them.

Emily Schlerf's Sugar Cookies

This is the ultimate, best recipe for sugar cookies, given to me by my sweet neighbor at Ricks College. Dorm 2 anyone? Try them, and let me know if you agree...or if you know her! It's the only one we use, it wins all taste tests hands down.

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup sour cream
6 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Mix sugar, butter eggs. Alternate adding sour cream with dry ingredients to the sugar mixture. Blend really well. Chill in refrigerator for about an hour. Roll out 1/4 inch thick, cut with cookie cutters. Bake at 375 for 6-8 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet. Don't overbake! Let cool on cookie sheet or wire rack. Frost with cream cheese frosting. (Mine is on the cinnamon roll recipe).

A favor:

Here's some pictures of Monte's favorite toys! They are all discontinued, but they are usually readily available at D.I.'s. And for so cheap! Ebay has a few occasionally, but they can't beat DI's prices. Or maybe you have some that your kis have outgrown. So, the game is on! We will reimburse all costs, shipping,toys, ect, and bribe you with all kinds of presents, ect! He so rarely falls in love with new toys, and these have been tried and true favorites. They've gotten him through so many ups and downs...but they're starting to break on us!

Since we don't have DI's or even thrift stores with them, we're relying on the sweetspirit of service and love. Can you help us? The toys are mostly Fisher price, there's two different pianos, a drum, a star stacker, a fishbowl, a cookie jar, a square shape sorter, a monkey flashlight, a tiger flashlight, a bert, ernie,or cookie monster (when you shake them their head open and closes). Bonus points for the ABC mirror toy, it's nearly impossible to find! (And I can't find any identifying labelson it). The Boyles gave him a Milestone alien looking fabric toy that somehow got lost during our move...and we miss it a lot!

Also, any Fisher Price musical toys, he loves, loves, loves them! Hmm, and Piper is very into Little People right now, and only has a few people/animals. Thank-you, and we love you!