A good visit

Well, we're back in the land of the heat again. We got back from our week in San Diego at 10:30 on Saturday night. Over the duration of our 6 hour drive, the temperature changed from 72 to 107. Going from heaven to somewhere else? We sure are happy here in Vegas, but that was a bit of a downer, to say the least.

We had a fabulous time in San Diego. We came home tan and tired. . .and finally over the flu that nagged at us for snippets of almost the entire week. I'll post pictures of that tomorrow, if time is on my side.

Today I'll just report that we went to visit Livi at the hospital. It's been almost two weeks since we last saw her. She's back in the oncology department at the hospital. She's off all her machines except the TPN (basically liquified food that goes straight to her blood). She's lost most of her hair, but she looks so much better than last time we saw her. She smiled and laughed and was wide awake. She did a craft project with Todd and Ben and then played war (card game) with Todd. Somehow she always dominates Todd in every game they play in the hospital. And Todd is never, ever mean or grouchy about it. He just smiles and takes it all in stride. We took a picture of them together before we left. Todd put his arm around her and she got this silly shy expression on her face--so cute. It was great to see a bit of the Livi we first met.

Cannon Barfing

We went swimming on Saturday and again tonight for Family Home Evening. It's really about all you can do to beat the Vegas heat. Todd has developed his own signature move, the "Cannon Barf", pictured here
He really is quite the fish. Ben isn't exactly a fish yet, but we could classify him as a minnow--he's finally willing to get in the water, as long as he can choke hold me for the first five minutes until he relaxes enough that he doesn't even realize he's having fun. Ryan is still a shark. Glad to be in the water so much lately. It's nice for the bishop to have a pool!
And what of me, you ask? Since I am the trusty photographer, it would seem that I never actually participate in family activities. Never fear. I do actually get in the pool now. I'm swimming laps three mornings a week at 5:00 a.m. Keep in mind that lap swimming in my case isn't an olympic event, but I can at least put my head under water now.

Livi Update

I spent an hour hanging out with Livi and Rachel today at the hospital. She looks much better than she did on Sunday, but she's still a very sick little girl. On the positive side, she is off her heart meds, and they are weaning her off the ventilator. She was breathing on her own while I was there today.

I guess it's the mom in me, but I think of little else besides Livi and her family right now. I have stopped myself several times when I would have been frustrated with my children and just reached out and hugged them instead.

I have also had a beautiful experience watching Todd and his compassion for his little friend. A few months ago in Sunday School we were studying in Mosiah 3:19, where it says we should be like little children. I made a smart remark wondering whose kid they were talking about. Because, honestly, my children are just like everyone else's. They have moments of glory, but we also have plenty of teasing and poking and picking on each other. But as I have watched Todd's gentleness, concern, faith, and prayer concerning Livi, (not just this past week but in the past few months as she's been sick) I have truly felt the reality of that scripture. Children see and feel things that we so often forget. And they do it naturally and instinctively when they are faced with some of the harsh realities of life. I'm so grateful for my growing up boy who is such a fine example for me.

Our stake president has taught us many times that it is important to pray for specific things. So I asked Rachel what specifically we could pray for to help Livi. She said to pray that the doctors will be guided and inspired in their challenges as they treat Livi, that they will know what to do. So that is my prayer tonight.

Gender in Nature?

Ben and I were driving home after dropping Todd at school this morning. I noticed just how vibrant the colors are on the purple bushes around our development, so I pointed it out to Ben.

He said, "I don't like those princess bushes."

"Princess bushes?" I queried.

"Purple princess bushes," he clarified. "I like the green boy bushes."

So there you have it. Ben is boy to the core.

Please Pray

Well, my little friend Livi is in the hospital, and this time it's quite serious. She's sedated, intubated, on kidney dialysis, and has about a thousand other tubes coming out of her body (actually 19 different machines/tubes/things according to her mom). It was hard to see her tiny body laying in that bed. I came home and found this picture from her fourth birthday in February just to remember her lively Livi self.

I just had to write and tell you to hold your kids tight and tell them you love them. Then get down on your knees and thank your Heavenly Father that your family is healthy. And while you're on your knees, please pray for a miracle for Livi.

I told Todd that he needed to keep praying for Livi in his head and in his heart and out loud. He informed me that he has prayed for her 17 times today. Would you pray for her, too? I know our prayers are heard.