Make a Wish - Destination Florida Part 1

Words cannot describe how wonderful this vacation was!

Karin, River, Colt, Silver, Summer

Our favorite part of the entire trip was Give the Kids the World Pool!

It was wonderfully warm and everyone felt so good in the water we just swam and swam and swam.

Make-A-Wish took care of us every step of the way.  

The only decisions we needed to make were 

1) Date to go

2) How many of us were going.

I agonized over both decisions - we hadn't received our new chemo plan when we needed to schedule the trip.  We had finished the set course of chemo, gone to the end of the known path on our map and the future was unknown.  So...we picked a date and moved forward.  

From the moment we arrived at the airport, for the entire trip we were directed, guided, and taken care of every step of the journey.    

It was SO nice!

It reminded me of the scripture D&C 112:10 

Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand

River with Captain

Preflight checklist

Silver in the cockpit

At Give the Kids the World pool.

I was pretty bummed when we got close to our vacation and the weather called for every day of rain... thunderstorms every day.   Every day.  What!  While in Florida we realized this is totally normal!  It rains and thunders most every day and then blows over and is beautiful and sunny again.  

Give the kids the World had an Ice Cream Parlor that we just loved!  We had ice cream sundaes by the pool - how cool is that :)  Ice cream for breakfast is such a sweet memory~!

jumping into the pool!

All of the families at Give the Kids the World are Make a Wish recipients - it was so fun to make new friends and be able to understand in a small way what other families have gone through.  It makes me so grateful for friends we have made and to God for helping our paths cross.  

Mermaids!

L-R Summer, Silver and River

We even had a butterfly friend - special memories.

The very simple things of life are most often the most precious.

After fluttering away :(

Make a Wish!

And Let it Fly :)

Easter in the Hospital

 Easter is my favorite holiday!

Spring * Flowers * Bunnies * Chicks  *CANDY!

and General Conference - where we hear from the Prophet and Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

And most of all the resurrection of Christ

Easter 2015 was special for us in So So many ways!

River was in the hospital after her Major surgery (removed 80% of liver, right diaphragm and 8 parts of right lung).

Easter morning they had a Hospital Egg Hunt.  River had been struggling just to get to the bathroom and back.  We could occasionally get her to take a few extra steps to the edge of the bed or to the door and back.  She had thought about the egg hunt for a day or two and that morning said she would like to go see it.  We unhooked everything that could be unhooked and took the rest with us!

River started in a wheelchair and went to the big lounge on the 3rd floor with the piano.  There were eggs hidden all through the hospital - and this was a stash of hundreds of eggs.  River would point to where she would like to go and Colt would wheel her over.  I would then get the egg and put it in her bag.  She reached for an egg and opened it.  

There were quite a few kids and they were running around gathering eggs as quickly as they could.  She couldn't quite reach one, so decided that she would get up out of the wheelchair to be able to get this egg.  She hesitantly stood and reached for an egg.  And then another, and then another - bending and collecting.  All visible eggs were quickly disappearing.  

Volunteers have been amazing at doing crafts with River, visiting her, bringing in dogs and toy cars.  In general - bringing smiles and cheer with them.

One of our special volunteer friends is Joel.  He does bingo over the television every Wednesday morning with the kids in the hospital.  It took about 6 months for River to smile and laugh at his jokes :)  She was pretty sick for a long time.  She began looking forward to his visits and preparing jokes for him.  His laugh is contagious!

Joel (in green volunteer shirt above) came up to River and said that there was a hall with TONS of eggs still!   There were dozens upon dozens of eggs.  She WALKED slowly down the next hall - and gathered egg after egg.   We were all amazed at her determination.  

Once the throngs of children thinned and disappeared Joel told us that in the hope garden there were still eggs to find.  We went outside - Oh!  What a beautiful, Glorious day to remember Christ's Resurrection.  

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25)

When Christ rose from the grave, becoming the firstfruits of the Resurrection, He made that gift available to all. And with that sublime act, He softened the devastating, consuming sorrow that gnaws at the souls of those who have lost precious loved ones. 

"Sunday Will Come" Joseph B. Wirthlin (October 2006)

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

I know that our family is Eternal.  Temples hold the sealing power of eternity. 

River kept going around and around and around the garden gathering eggs.  The volunteers would place eggs behind her - and would encourage her to "Go around again!" And again.  And again.

They realized what a HUGE accomplishment this was for her to be up out of bed and kept her going.  How grateful I am to all the volunteers for their service in our behalf.  

River taking notes in her journal during General Conference.

Easter is also a time for General Conference - held twice a year.

Held twice a year in April and October - in fact October 3rd and 4th - yes today and tomorrow!

It is a special, sacred time for our family to be able to hear from the Prophet and apostles.  

Their messages from God always uplift and strengthen me.  

I invite you to watch it live with us Saturday from 10 - noon  (MT)  and again from 2 to 4

And Sunday the same 10-noon and 2:00 to 4:00

You can watch it live - go to lds.org for the link.  

Conference will also be available on lds.org after it is broadcast - so if you miss it, you can always catch it later.  I find the spirit whisper to my soul of important truths and messages God would have us hear today.

The messages from General Conference are available a month after conference in printed form.  If you would like a copy - I would be happy to mail you one.  Just email me at karin293@yahoo.com to request a copy.

What we believe:

The authority of God to organize His Church and perform ordinances of salvation was lost because of apostasy after the death of Jesus Christ and His Apostles in the first century A.D. However, it was restored by the Lord to Joseph Smith through heavenly messengers during the 19th century.

The keys of the priesthood are the right to preside and direct the affairs of the Church within a jurisdiction. Jesus Christ holds all the keys of the priesthood pertaining to His Church. He has conferred upon each of His Apostles all the keys that pertain to the kingdom of God on earth. 

Amos 3:7"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

Amos 3:7Apostles are called of God: ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you’ (John 15:16)

Here are some abbreviated snippets of a few talks of April Conference that meant so much to me!

Blessings of the Temple

President Thomas S. Monson

As I think of temples, my thoughts turn to the many blessings we receive therein. As we enter through the doors of the temple, we leave behind us the distractions and confusion of the world. Inside this sacred sanctuary, we find beauty and order. There is rest for our souls and a respite from the cares of our lives.

As we attend the temple, there can come to us a dimension of spirituality and a feeling of peace which will transcend any other feeling which could come into the human heart. We will grasp the true meaning of the words of the Savior when He said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. … Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

Such peace can permeate any heart—hearts that are troubled, hearts that are burdened down with grief, hearts that feel confusion, hearts that plead for help. …

My brothers and sisters, in our lives we will have temptations; we will have trials and challenges. As we go to the temple, as we remember the covenants we make there, we will be better able to overcome those temptations and to bear our trials. In the temple we can find peace.

The Lord Is My Light

Elder Quentin L. Cook
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

If the grim realities you are facing at this time seem dark and heavy and almost unbearable, remember that in the soul-wrenching darkness of Gethsemane and the incomprehensible torture and pain of Calvary, the Savior accomplished the Atonement, which resolves the most terrible burdens that can occur in this life. He did it for you, and He did it for me. He did it because He loves us and because He obeys and loves His Father. We will be rescued from death—even from the depths of the sea.

Our protections in this life and for eternity will be in individual and family righteousness, Church ordinances, and following the Savior. This is our refuge from the storm. For those who feel they are alone, you can stand resolutely in righteousness knowing that the Atonement will protect and bless you beyond your ability to fully understand.

We should remember the Savior, keep our covenants, and follow the Son of God as the young sunflower follows the sunshine. Following His light and example will bring us joy, happiness, and peace. As Psalm 27 and a favorite hymn both proclaim, “The Lord is my light and my salvation.”

Therefore They Hushed Their Fears

Elder David A. Bednar
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Trust and confidence in Christ and a ready reliance on His merits, mercy, and grace lead to hope, through His Atonement, in the Resurrection and eternal life (see Moroni 7:41). Such faith and hope invite into our lives the sweet peace of conscience for which we all yearn. The power of the Atonement makes repentance possible and quells the despair caused by sin; it also strengthens us to see, do, and become good in ways that we could never recognize or accomplish with our limited mortal capacity. Truly, one of the great blessings of devoted discipleship is “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

The peace Christ gives allows us to view mortality through the precious perspective of eternity and supplies a spiritual settledness (see Colossians 1:23) that helps us maintain a consistent focus on our heavenly destination. Thus, we can be blessed to hush our fears because His doctrine provides purpose and direction in all aspects of our lives. His ordinances and covenants fortify and comfort in times both good and bad. And His priesthood authority gives assurance that the things that matter most can endure both in time and in eternity.

The Best Medicine

Colt now has 6 girls!!

Lily, Kit (Summer) Tanzi, River, Silver, Mya

Our girls have wanted a dog for a long time.  We have tried a few out over the years.  Ally was okay...but when we caught her eating our dinner off the stove...we knew she wasn't for us.   I have tried many times to search dogs on the internet...each time felt...overwhelming.  I couldn't ever feel good about it.  

In hindsight - it wasn't the right timing....And I couldn't handle one more thing needing my attention.  Power of perspective:  Things that were just too much then are okay now.  Seasons of life.   

River has wished for a dog.  We said that after she was done with her major chemo and surgeries that she could ask her oncologist and surgeon.  They both said YES!  That that would possibly be the best medicine for her at this point :)  River was ecstatic!  

Doctors said the dog needed to not dig.  My requirements:  Already potty trained, not a puppy, and does not shed.  

River wanted a Yorkie!  She has been saving for a dog for a long time.  

Friends came to visit us right before our trip up to see if these dogs were right for us - and they happened to bring their yorkie pup with them.   It felt so right.

River has saved for a long time and had saved up $300.  She decided her max would be $250 so she could buy food and bowls, etc.  I didn't want to discourage her that she most likely would not get a yorkie for that budget, so I didn't say anything and let her dream.  

  

She searched and searched KSL and found several great ones - and we were disappointed when every time we called they said that it had already found a new home.

We were taught a great lesson:

Sometimes when the answer is no - it is that there is something better waiting for you.

We wanted to get the right mix for our family - so we spent some time and effort searching.  River was so diligent and it took several weeks.  We were driving home from St George and she says "mom!  I found some great ones!"  She had put in female dog (to not get a puppy) and her max was $250.  Mya and Lily were 3 years old and crate trained.  I was not familiar with this training - but it is WONDERFUL!   Their crate is their safe spot.

It has felt right and they have been such a great addition to our family.  

We had yorkies growing up and my favorite one was my brother Walt's dog.  He was BIG for a yorkie and they never docked his ears - so they flopped down.  I had wanted a dog like this but never dared hope for one - who finds big yorkies with floppy ears...the Lord has blessed us so abundantly.   

River's pictures of some of her meds.

Her caption:  He feels your pain.  

The SLC trip was full of new things for our family:  

A new-to-us van (as our old one completely wore out)

2 New Dogs

And a new chemo regimen.

Our surgeon and oncologist both independently decided to put us on an experimental chemo.  Their best study and research was to use this as our next step.  All we knew about it was that it had a test group of 9 in Germany and that one of the side effects was a strong possibility of diarrhea.  Diarrhea to the point of hospitalization.  

And we were traveling for Colt's brother Kin's wedding in Idaho.  I couldn't get any answers on this medicine.  The pharmacists were all unfamiliar and had never heard of it before.  We had no answers on how often or how much of a dose she would get.  And then there was the hangup of insurance authorization.  

I went to pick up the chemo and asked to talk to the pharmacist on this one.  Another experimental part of this is to put the IV form into her G-tube.  Directly into her stomach - they have found that it may be just as effective to do it that route with less side effects than going directly into your bloodstream.  

I started crying talking to the pharmacist.  There were so many unknowns and they went through so many precautions on how to administer it and how to handle it if it were spilled.  

Biohazard

Toxic

Side Effects - unknown how intense....

I was completely overwhelmed.

Their instructions:  Wear special purple gloves, and a special gown with a special spill guard just in case because we don't want to get a single drop on you...but pump it directly INTO her stomach!!!

More tears.

How to Proceed?  

Forward.  This isn't licked yet, and we still need to go forward.

So I administered the first dose.  5 days of chemo every 21 days.  

Then we went to Kin's reception.  There was a woman that stood out so clearly from the rest of the reception guests - she was in a bright red dress with white polka dots.  I felt strongly that I needed to talk to her.  So...I put it off for a few hours - how do you go up to a stranger and say "I like your dress"  Well, after several hours of thinking I really needed to talk to her, I did go say just that.

It turns out she swapped dresses with her sister right before the reception...AND she happened to be a cancer researcher who works with our Oncologist and Surgeon.  She had complete confidence in them.  She was very familiar with the chemo we had just started.  "Oh!  That's a great one!"

We learned that the experimental part was in children.  This is a great chemo for adults that is good for a variety of cancers.   

Speaking to her was an answer to prayer.

Ether (Book of Mormon) 12:6

Ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

Kit and Tanzi inside Lily and Mya's crate

Funny story:  

After picking up chemo and having a good cry - I needed to go to Deseret Book to pick up a few things we forgot to bring with us.  

I had these two cute helpers with me.  My 15 minute stop stretched into more than an hour as I was trying to concentrate to pick out what I needed and a 2 year old way passed nap time would squirm when I held her and pull things off the shelves when down.  Summer kept having to go to the bathroom...deep breath...I put the kids down to try once more.  Summer was doing a good job playing with Tanzi so I could give my full attention to this task.  

"uuuhhh Mom!" says Summer:  "I think you need to see this"

Tanzi is Just potty trained enough to pull off her diaper when poopy.

She had pulled off her poopy diaper and managed to step in it, getting poo on her shirt, pants and shoes.  I quickly did a quick mental check:  I had no wipes or diapers.  This was driving our new van and had just sent Colt on his errands with the truck - that happened to have all her diapers, wipes and clothes.

Okay, deep breath.  

First I'm going to need something to clean up the mess.  

An employee brought me sanitizing wipes for the floor. 

When I'm done I have a naked kid with a still-poopy bum.  

A mom with a stroller and a baby just happens to walk into the store right then.   

 God gives us answers to the prayers of our hearts - sometimes before we even know what we need.
God answered the prayer I didn't know that I had prayed.  I don't know what will lie before me today as a mom.  It may be chemo, or an emergency room trip or a poopy bum without a diaper.  God does know what the day will bring me - and he will help us through, and answer my prayers.  He knows our needs, and he will give us the courage to face it and the strength to get through.

River is a planner!  She always loves to know what is coming up on the plan.

Summer got her bunny.  She has 3 bunnies in heaven and one on Earth!

Silver got her kitty:  Oreo!

Roo Rat hunting:  A fun family tradition every year.

We drive until our headlights see kangaroo rats run across the road.

We all bail out with nets and catch them.  Then let them go again :)  We caught an entire tote full this year and let them all go at once.  Kangaroo Rat explosion!

Ripe strawberries from your own plants are a sure-smile!

While camping River found a hummingbird on a nest; 

It is directly above the very left of River's cap.  Middle of picture.

Observant and Patient.  

Traveling back and forth to SLC, there are so many treasures to find.

River loves to hunt!

And fish!

Flowers

And making sisters happy:  

She was on the lookout for sheep:  Summer's favorites - so that she could bring home a picture of sheep for Summer.  

Doctrine and Covenants 122:7
Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

I have learned that it is all about experience.
Experience has taught me  I don't know what tomorrow will bring, so make memories today.

Song by Lady Antebellum: Compass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlVVd9MVASQ