What Have We Been Up To?

Life is so busy that time seems to fly by and escape me! I just haven't been able to keep up with blogging or much else lately besides Mason's "rotovirus laundry"! I spoke too soon, 2 weeks ago, when I said Mason's tummy seemed to be on the mend from that awful virus.....

At least 5 weeks now into this virus he still isn't completely over it. The docs believe he is no longer contagious, but his little tummy is just super off balance and messed up as an after affect from the rotovirus. He is better, but definitely not back to normal! Puking and diarrhea-ing still sometimes several times a day (some days are much better than others) he was down another pound at Tx clinic this week to 28 lbs. Poor LITTLE guy can't afford the weight loss! The good news is that his echo this week looked good and his heart remains unaffected by the rejection. So the docs' main concern right now is the weight loss. Mason's body just needs to kick these rotovirus after affects so he can gain some weight back!

I also heard back this week that our insurance has denied covering the specific antibody blood tests that we were hoping to do through Stanford. I won't give up though! Now I will be working on an appeal. In fact I will appeal it however many times it takes until they approve it! Insurance can be so frustrating!!!

Here's some pictures to show what else we've been

up to in our family the last couple of months.....

Since April was National Donate Life month Mason

and I participated with my Heart Mom friend Shuntelle

 and her beautiful daughter Kaidence in a special event

at Primary Children's. We visited, with 2 represtatives from

 Intermountain Donor Services, the PICU, CICU, and 

Cardiology doctors and nurses. We gave them Donate Life pins

to thank them for suporting organ donation and for 

taking such good care of all of our transplant kiddos.

Mason started to get his chubby cheeks back

for a short time while on higher doses of 

steroids earlier in the spring, but it didn't last

 long because he's now on a low maintenance

dose of steroids and he's lost weight from the

nasty rotovirus.

Chubby cheeks or not Mason is truly one silly boy.

He coninues to be very picky about what he wears

and gets attached to certain outfits for several 

days and sometimes several weeks. He will cry

when it gets wet or dirty and will sit by the washer 

until its done and he can put it back on!

This here is Mason's 'Hawaii Five-O" outfit. It started 

with the just the Hawaii shirt, but then each day he

added new things to his belt. And, each item had

to be in its place even while he was sleeping!

The collection of items hooked on his belt

included 3 squirt guns, 6 orange bracelets (which 

he said were handcuffs), and 5 highlighters (these 

were his flashlight laser guns). Creative little boy!

Springtime always means lots of sporting events

to watch and support.With soccer, baseball, and

 lacrosse we had up to 7 games a week to attend!

Ammon always makes soccer a fun and comical event.....

at times having to be reminded to focus on the game,

with sweet coaches and team mates who allowed him 

to join his team and have a great time! Thank you!!!

Mason of course was Ammon's #1 fan.

Mason also looks forward to Braiden's baseball games 

(his season still isn't over) each week. Here he is with

his sweet big sister Kaitlin and his darling cousin Madeline

enjoying a little time on the swings in between games.

When Mason follows all the other young children over 

to the sandbox during the games I'm always a nervous

wreck about germs. But he's got to be allowed to be 

a kid right? And, thank goodness for hand sanitizer!

Braiden continues to be a valuable talented player

on his Clutch baseball team. He plays catcher and

 pitcher a lot, but can really play any position

on the field.

For Memorial day Braiden's coach gave the boys new

jerseys. Each boy has a different name of a military jet 

on the back of their jersey in memory and support of

those who fight for our country.

His kind and thoughtful coach even had Memorial 

 day jerseys made for Ammon and Mason!

So I'm sure you can imagine what trumped Mason's

'Hawaii Five-O' outfit and became his new favorite!

With this "AH-6 Little Bird" (aka: little bomber)

I have spent many times, even several times at 2 or 3am 

sitting in front of the washer waiting for this special

jersey to wash because he got it dirty or threw up on 

it! Spoiled? I guess, just a little bit! It's usually just

a battle I'm too tired to fight!

Mason is also Braiden's #1 fan and gets 

very upset if we have to miss a game!

Go Miracle Mason and go Clutch Baseball!

Next is Preston's lacrosse, which is always 

super fun to watch!

Go Lone Peak Lacrosse and especially#15!

Preston loves lacrosse almost as much as skiing! Both

at which he's very talented. He scored many goals, attacked,

and helped make his team one of the top 4 in the state!

He also has rallied up many friends and neighbors

to join this great sport.

And can you guess who Preston's #1 fan is?

Of course! It's Mason!

As springtime has come to and end, Mason is

dressed and ready for some outdoor fun this summer.

And, look who already lost 2 teeth!

In fact he lost them both in 1 week.

This handsome 12 year old graduated from 6th

grade. It's so hard to believe that my second

kiddo is off to Jr High! 

Congratulations Preston!!!

It's hard to believe another school year has gone by!

Kaitlin and our neighbor Cason were more than

ready to start the lazy days of summer.... so like

  most Jr. high kids they skipped the last day of school.

But, Ammon would never skip the last day of school!

He was way too excited for the end of the year party!

Ammon and Mason started off summer vacation by

attending an outdoors community safety fair. There's

no way these 2 boys would pass up a visit with 

their favorite heroes! 

With the Life Flight helicopter, ambulances, 

fire engines, and police cars all in attendance

these 2 boys were in absolute heaven!

Mason shocked us all by letting the firefighter

dress him up in his gear! All though Mason is

obsessed with firefighters and police officers

he usually likes to watch from a distance!

Kaitlin, my niece Natalie, and I had a fun girls 

night out at the Taylor Swift concert!!! 

As I posted about briefly 2 weeks ago, 

our kids started off the summer with a 

super fun cousin's camp. We are grateful

for Aunts and a Grandma who take the time

to plan this and make it all possible!

With the cousins all numbered from 1-43

our kiddos are numbers 8, 12, 18, 24, & 31.

Good times!!!

I ran my 2nd annual American Fork Canyon 1/2 half

Marathon on June 15. It felt so good to cross the finish!!!

I love this race because the theme is Live, Survive, Thrive 
and its proceeds go to help those fighting cancer. 

I dedicated my efforts that day to my own super hero

 and fighter, Miracle Mason (Heart Transplant Survivor),

all of our Heart Buddies, and my new little friend Adler 

(and his parents, Jaime and Sara Utley ) who is fighting 

against cancer at this time. Never give up HOPE!

 LIVE, SURVIVE, THRIVE

Now, after a few very busy months, we are headed to California for a fun week at the beach for the 4th of July. The drive is always long and exhausting with all the kiddos, but much worth it once we get there. Here we come Cali for some much needed sun and sand!!!

 My quote of the month:

"But first, you must believe."   -Peter Pan