Football Saturday! :)

I don't know about this.. See the intensity.. Uncle B would have fun watching with Henry. :)

Got my lucky shirt on Mom :)

Oh and can you see the BLACK eye brows growing in!! Maybe he will be my dark haired blue eyed baby.. I will miss the bright blond though!

Watchin' the game, laughing at mom dance around the room after he team lost!!!

I can't watch.. it's too close! Tell me what happens. ahaha

What kind of call was that?!?!?!?!!?!

Enduring Trials

I have been thinking about how often I hear people say, they don't know how I get through this or they feel like they couldn't do this. Every day I see people "doing" this, living every day in the hospital, watching their children go through painful things, or seeing the progress they are making. Every day brings something new, but one thing stays constant, everyone goes through challenges in this life. We are in complete control of our reaction, and how we deal with the trials before us, but we also have to remember that we are always able to receive help, not just from friends and family, but from our Lord and Savior. He who controls the seas, the elements, the creation of the earth and everything on it. An omnipotent Savior, who not only lived upon this earth, but endured many challenges of his own. We are taught that through the atonement the Savior not only endured the pain of sin, but the pain from every physical, emotional and spiritual challenge all of us would face. He's literally gone through everything and thus knows how to succor us.
I can stay cheerful through this whole experience because of the knowledge I have received through the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know I have used these scriptures before but really it's what I know and believe, Mosiah 24:14-16 "I will ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs..; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions."
"..the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."
"...Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage."
I think a common problem we have as humans is seeking out help when we can't do things on our own, which I believe some times carries over into our relationship with the Savior. Maybe we feel like we are strong enough on our own, or maybe we think our problems are too small to bother with. Either way we have to remember during our trials that the Lord is there for us, and we are able to call on him for help with anything, no matter how small or big. Not one sparrow falls that the Lord does not know about. Not one tear falls with out him knowing as well.
We can endure our challenges with ease and cheerfully, if we seek the Lords help. I am daily comforted and uplifted by friends and family, doing what the Lord asks them to do... uplift the weary or down trodden...when we follow the Lords command to help those around us, we become the instruments to strengthen those seeking help from the Lord.
Some times the Lord may literally mean 'on the morrow' but perhaps not, perhaps when we look back on the trial we endured we will feel like it was only yesterday it happened, so it feels like the Lord did deliver us on the morrow. :)
We each are given trials only we could endure, there are so many others out there enduring something they may feel isn't a big deal, but to someone else it's a big trial.
The Lord has been so loving and merciful. Everyday we receive a miracle, and every day Henry makes some progress. When we have a small set back I automatically start to seek the Lords forgiveness for my weaknesses or my sins; like my failures make him worse. I know it's silly, but I can't help it. I know that whatever happens is the Lords will, and that although it seems like a set back, there is a reason it happens something I don't necessarily understand until after I look back, but everything gets us closer to our goal of health.
There is a reason we endure the trials we do, and we can grow from them and learn and gain strength, but at the same time, we are able through our trials to help those around us, to be the instrument in the Lords hand, for someone else. The Lord has helped me endure this trial with cheerfulness because of the strength he has given me, the support, the peace and the knowledge of our purpose here in this life. I am so grateful for the gospel, I am grateful everyday I have with Henry and the time I have to watch him grow and develop and to witness the miracles everyday. The Lord is so kind and loving and always present in our lives if we will stop pay attention.

I just talked to our neighbor in the hospital, he and his daughter have been in patient for 165 days!!!!!!!!! The Lord is certainly very good at humbling and chastizing in a way that is loving and very effective. They have high hopes to be out of here in 9 days. So I'm praying hard for them. Truely the Lord only gives us that which HE knows we can handle!
Henry slept most of the day yesterday, so he was up late late. I haven't ever seen him so excited to talk on the computer. I called Mom's house and had to nag Uncle B until he would let mom use the computer to talk to Henry. See the Boise and Oregon football game was on, and he has his computer hooked up to the big screen TV he just got. So after a bunch of begging.. he unhooked the computer for us and Henry got to talk with Annie and Elizabeth and Grandpa. He was soo happy, and playful. I kept trying to put him back down to sleep but he would pull himself up using the railings on the bed. And would babble and laugh so much that I had to talk to him it was too cute to resist.
His ANC is 1472 this morning, white cells are still at 1.6, but he's workin on it. Tuesday is our bone marrow test and placement of the central line, today they are doing the ultra sound to check out his upper veins to see which ones look the best. The other GREAT thing the Doctors suggested today was talking to ID team and figuring out a way that Henry could go for walks OUTSIDE!!! Oh my goodness he's never gonna want to come back in.. but he'll be so happy to be outside. I will be happy to be out side. Fun fun.
His goal is to reach 2500 with his ANC and I think reduce the need for blood and platelet transfusions. On top of which he needs to get back on his formula feeds through NG, but I don't think his stomach is handling the pedialite very well. So we'll see.
I went running this morning and at my two mile marker to turn around this lady goes by in the other direction.. the direction I'm going to be heading, and she's definitely a marathon runner, has all the equipment all that jazz. Anyways, I'm just a very competative person so my goal is to pass her.. well she got a good distance between us before I turned around at the two mile marker. If any of this makes sense.. if not just disregard. :) So I'm keeping my pace until the last mile and I start pushing it a bit, and then a little harder, I'm determined to pass her before my run is finished.. well what does she do.. she quites running before I can pass her!!!!! UGH!!! I was very disappointed.. which made me push myself even harder the last half mile. Silly I know but I think it helps me train a bit.. trying to catch up with other runners or pace myself with them. Good times. So nice outside. There are soo many blackberries wanting to be picked and I can't bring myself to spend the time to pick them.. one of these days. I want more blackberry jelly or at least some pie!
Alright, I'm going to run upstairs for lunch while Henry is asleep. Much love to you all. Thanks for all your support! Can't wait to get home and see all my friends and family!

Sleepy Baby

Not much new to report today, Henry's ANC continues to climb, 1186 this morning! YEAH Henry! His bilirubin normal again, his weight seems to be dropping a bit, and he's not having any major issues with retaining fluid after dropping the Lasiks to every six hours. He's still having issues with coughing and throwing up thick mucus, but they are hoping that will subside, if not they will call it GvH, nice little excuse card in their pocket that covers everything they can't explain. haha They did a chest x-ray today, just to check and see how things look. They were hoping to start him on formula today, but with his nausea being bad, they are starting him on a bit of pedialite very very small amounts per hour. We'll see how he responds. I'm hoping it will help him adjust back to normal feeds.

Yesterday was a bit of a lonely day. I went running and Henry and I played, same daily routine, and then we took a nap together at 4pm after his bath. I woke up at 6:30pm and got some dinner. Henry woke up for a bit and then went back to sleep which was really nice. However, then I was up most of the night bored out of my mind. I didn't want to watch TV and I was getting texts from Joel about the fair and movie night... so missing home!! Sadly I think I'm a bit jealous he gets to be home leading a 'normal' life...but I have to tell you he's the greatest husband ever! He's at home finishing the house for me! Always working hard to make me and the kids happy and to give us a beautiful home to live in! Thanks Joel I love you so much and I am grateful for ALL that you do for me!

I'm reading a book called the Nazi Officers Wife. A book about a Jewish woman who married a non Jew and lived in the heart of Germany among the Nazi's, through out the war, always living in fear that she would be discovered and all those that helped her would be killed. Hitler loved the Nazi wives, and they were second only to those that died on the front lines in honor. They were supposed to have babies, lots of them, and they were given more than anyone else because they were all about the repopulation of Germany. A very interesting book, and a true story. I think I need to get back into reading some upbeat books, that won't make me so sad.

I'm taking a lazy day today, not working out, just hanging out with Henry and relaxing a bit. I am totally craving sweets. Oh how I miss baking!!!

Henry is doing great! A bit more comfortable and happy and active, yesterday in the bathtub he scooted around on his butt all over the tub it was soo fun to watch! He watched himself on a video from July and was laughing and I think he decided he wanted to be able to move around like that again. Silly boy. He's incredible!

It's Official

So I may have jumped the gun a little.. but the Doctors declared today was official engraftment. His ANC is 630 :) They stopped two of his antibiotics, switched another back to meds he's been on before and are slowing down his lasiks. (The lasiks helps regulate the fluid in the body) We may have to up it again, but we're going to watch and see how his body responds. Oh and his CMV levels are dropping, his FA, which is a nasal wash that tests for viruses, has come back negative so far. He is getting better and stronger every day because of all your prayers! Thanks! He plays hard every day, and refuses to take a nap most of the day.
Next week they will do a bone marrow biopsy to look at his bone marrow, and to test for LCH. That's the big one! Please let it be gone!!!! They are hoping to replace his Central line at the same time they do the biopsy. So he won't have to fuss with the line on his arm much longer yeah!
I'm going to the Temple today with Juliann, and I'm so excited! A big thanks to Sister Romish for sitting with Henry and to Juliann for taking me. The Seattle temple has been closed for a few weeks, so Joel and I couldn't go while he was here, well he had to get the temple recommend renewed anyways, so that's alright. Now when he gets back we can go together hopefully. So if you have a minute, pray that Henry will do well today while mom is gone.
I am so grateful for the miracles I see every day! While the technology and knowledge we have about medicine is advanced, I know that the Lord's hand is in all things. He has blessed little Henry with a very strong spirit, a sweet one too! He gave me the sweetest kiss yesterday, grabbed my face with both hands and kissed me with out me asking for one. Made my year!!!! hahaha
Well I'm going to play with little man a while before I have to leave. Much love to you all. We miss our friends every where and family too! Thanks again for your great faith and your prayers in our behalf.