HERE WE GO AGAIN!

🎵 "All my bags are packed and I'm ready to go.." 🎵

~ John Denver ~

Salt Lake City here we come!

For the second time!

(click here for the 1st trip)

We leave on Aug. 13th and 

driving (caravan) down.

This time we are staying in Park City,

where the 2002 Olympics were held.

Don't know much about that area but,

 I'm sure I'll find out!

Nathan is having 

Cranial Vault Remolding Surgery.

Nathan was born with his skull fused together, no soft spot.

The Dr.'s will open up his

scalp, remove and remold his skull,

then put it back.

This surgery is, an all day operation.

Whew! 

Big surgery for this very special and happy little guy! 

Below are views from the top of his head. 

See his elongated head?

He crawls everywhere, stands and really, really wants to walk.

But nothing stops him!
Not even getting stuck on the bottom shelf!

We haven't seen Kimmy and family for over three weeks.

Even though they live just down the street.

For two of the three weeks, we were in Seattle.

The third week we sequestered ourselves.

Coming back from Seattle, we didn't want to bring anything back, that might be passed on to anyone in the family.
Not taking any chances, this time.
Plus, we wanted to rest up from the Seattle trip before we go to Salt Lake City.

We've stayed in contact with the family by using 

Marco Polos (video texting) and Face-timing. 

I like technology for this reason.

Tom and I have continued with our juicing.

Keeping healthy has been really important.

Cheers!

We all have been preparing for this second trip, 

especially, Kimmy. She has thought of everything!

Nathan is growing so fast and needed clothes that will be able to go over his head, after surgery.

New Outfits!

Only outfits that zip or snap 

down the front will do!

He's going to be the best dressed little guy in Salt Lake City!

I won't be blogging for few weeks.
Tom and I are on "Grandparents Duty", while Kimmy and Mark are in the hospital.

Nathan will be in the hospital for 5 days and

 recovering for another 5 days,
at the home we have rented.

I will try to keep you updated.

Kimmy will be posting at her blog.

click here.

We are asking, again, 

for prayers;

Travel safety

Health and safety for everyone

Successful surgery (August 15th)

All the Doctors and Nurses 

To be able to share our story with others, in need of hope

Quick recovery

Back home safe and sound.

Thank You!

~~~~****~~~~

💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓

"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will surely help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

In The Mean Time...

We have a new surgery date for Nathan!

AUGUST 15th

So many of you have showered us with
 your prayers and it has warmed our hearts.

We will be going back to Salt Lake City.

But in the mean time...

Trey 6 yrs.  and   Scarlett 3 yrs.

Tom and I are going to Seattle to see these two 

cuties and meet their new brother!

Baby # 3 (we call him Rockey),

 due July 21st. 

Stephanie (daughter-in-law) and Todd (son)

have asked me to be their Doula, again!

This will be our 9th grandchild  

and I have been a Doula

 for all of them, so far.

Truly Blessed!

Not knowing when Nathan's rescheduled surgery would be,
I wasn't sure where I'd be...

Seattle or Salt Lake City!!!

Now I know ...BOTH!

But we did have another surgery!
It was
Ila May.
Here she is leaving hospital.

 It was Lulu's turn to help Ila, recover.

The picture, below,
was taken when Lulu had her surgery,
 a few months ago!

♥♥♥♥

So, I'm resting up for a power packed
 end of the Summer.

In the mean time...

I've visited my girlfriend, Didi in McCall...

Spent time in the pool...

Admired my roses...

Watched clouds...

Enjoyed looking for funny signs...

But best of all,

I've spent time with my very funny, husband, Tom.
You never know what he will do next.

This morning I looked up at our kitchen table and
he was ironing a pamphlet that was wrinkled.

Thank you. ALL,
 for supporting our family
during this season of surgeries!
You never know, until you go through something like this,
how much it means!


~~~~****~~~~

"Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but to the interest of others."

Philippians 2:4 

The Best Made Plans...

Here's Nathan with his Pre-Surgery haircut.

During his haircut,

many hands were helping.

After his haircut.

Hummm...Nathan and Papa 

have the same haircut!

Ready!

Salt Lake City here we come!!

Bags are packed.

Cars filled with kids and food.

Trailer stuffed and wrapped with all the toys.

Nine o'clock AM arrived and we took off. 

caravaning the whole 5.5 hours!

Arrived in the late afternoon.

😎😎😎😎😎

The next day, Thursday,

 Nathan had his blood work done.

Something is wrong!

Nathan has a temperature!

But we continued, as if Nathan will have surgery the next day!

 Early morning prayers and a good-by picture.

Mark and Nathan outside the

Children's Hospital.

We stopped and prayed right before
Nathan was supposed to head in to surgery.
But....

NO SURGERY!

The Doctor said "No". 
He even consulted 5 other Doctors 
and they all said no, too!
Nathan still had a temperature.

The emotions were all over the place.
What do we do now?

Well, we were thankful!
We praised God for an answer,
even though it wasn't the one
we wanted.
We gave thanks for a clear answer.

Then we went outside and played!!
Mark set up the slip and slide.

It turned into a water fight!
Levi and I had a good time
getting wet.

We are home now waiting for the
Doctor to call for a Reschedule Date.

And when we do get a surgery date,
we'll do it all over again!

Please stop by Kimmy's  blog
for more...

Please Pray For Nathan

It's Nathan's turn for surgery!

It's called, Cranial Vault Remodeling Surgery.

Nathan was born with no soft spot, a closed skull.

This surgery will allow his brain to grow properly, within his skull.

Here's a explanation:

The cranial vault is the space within your skull that contains your brain. Cranial vault remodeling is exactly what the name implies. The craniofacial surgeon will remodel or reshape the bones of the skull expanding and enlarging the space within the vault to allow room for your child’s brain to grow while attempting to restore a more natural appearing shape of the skull. The craniofacial surgeon and the neurosurgeon work together to perform the surgery as safely as possible. The goals of surgery for craniosynostosis are to allow for normal expansion of the brain, relieve the pressure caused by the early suture closure, and restore or improve your child’s appearance and head shape.

(https://www.texaschildrens.org/blog/2013/06/cranial-vault-remodeling)

In preparation for Nathan's surgery he received a Care Package

from a group called Cranio Care Bears

Cranio Care Bears are two mom's who sons had cranisoynostosis surgery.
They wanted to help other parents through this hard and scary time.

He's so excited.

Kimmy has prepared for his surgery, too!

New outfits that don't go over his head,

but snap up the front or zip up.

Nathan has gotten so big,
along with his personality, also!

 This picture below shows the shape of his head.

Some say his head is shaped like a football, but

we all think it's cute!

Nathan's surgery is

Friday, June 14th

The surgery will be about 5 hours long.

There is so much, in preparing for a surgery!

Mentally, physically, monetarily, emotionally and

spiritually.

Both Kimmy and Mark have prepared well!

Tom and I will be traveling to Salt Lake City,
with the whole family.

We have rented a house and Nathan will
have his parents, siblings, and grandparents
with him while he recovers.
 Kimmy and Mark will be staying in the hospital with Nathan,
while he is in the hospital, about 5 days.

When Nathan is released,
 he'll be with us at the rented house
 until the Drs. say he can go home.
Which should be another 5 days.

Please pray that the surgery goes well.
Recovery is quick.
Nathan can sleep (sometimes its hard for these little guys to sleep)
For the Doctors, Nurses and staff.
For Mark and Kimmy.
For the rest of the children.
And for Tom and I.


More pictures:


Nathan's eating real food.


He's crawling, too!


Grammie-goo (me) right after Nathan was born.


Papa on nap duty.

Thank you for praying!
I will return with an update as soon as I can.


~~~~****~~~~

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."

2 Corinthians 1:4

Prayers Please

In the next few months our family will be experiencing 

two, very, important surgeries.

Kimmy and Mark have 6 children.

Two of them will be having surgery, shortly.

Lulu is 11, soon to be 12 years old, will be having ASC,
which is a non fusion spine surgery to correct her scoliosis.
It is a new type of surgery, only been around for a couple of years.

Lulu's surgery is on April 1 and taking place in New Jersey.
Kimmy and Mark are flying back with Lulu
(and Nathan because he is still being breast feeding), for 10 days.
Tom and I will be staying in Idaho to take care of the other children.

Nathan and Lulu

Nathan ( 6 months) was born with a closed skull or Craniosynostoisis.

His specific type is called, Sagittal. 

He will be having surgery to open his scalp and repair his skull.  

Giving his brain room to grow, normally.

Nathan's surgery will be in Salt Lake City,
on June 14th.
Tom and I will be traveling to Salt Lake City,
with the family.


Prayer requests:

Lulu's surgery is a complete success.
Recovery is quick and comfortable.
Kimmy and Mark will be comforted before, during and after surgery.
Traveling to and from, will be easy.
Tom and I will be able to care and comfort the other children to their needs,
They will come home safely.

Nathan's surgery is a complete success.
Recovery is quick, that he will sleep well and be comfortable.
Kimmy and Mark will be comforted before, during and after surgery.
And that God's hand will be on all of us before, during and after wards.

~~~~****~~~~

While we were gone to Seattle, 

Kimmy and family, went to

Salt Lake City.

Baby Nathan had an appointment the

Neurosurgeon and Plastic Surgeon,

He's been diagnosed with Sagittal Craniosynostosis.

Basically, his skull in closed and he doesn't have a

soft spot on the top part of his head.

He is a very happy baby.

 He is surrounded by the love of

his parents, brothers, sisters

and grandparents.

Praise God, it's not an emergency surgery.
Nathan is scheduled for surgery
June 14, 2019

Will you put Nathan and family on your pray list?

Stop over at Kimmy' s blog for more of this story.


~~~~****~~~~

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6 




♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Grandma's Brag Book