Cletus and Clareese Strike Again!

This time we were accompanied by Claud.

Cletus and Clareese were invited to host the Cub Scout's Blue and Gold Banquet on February 27th. Claud wore Cletus' old Cub Scout belt, though you can't see it in any of these pictures.

We had fun, though there were so many little (loud) kids that it was just chaos for a lot of it. We hope everyone else had fun too.

Mark's Surgery - Didn't Happen

So, Mark was probably going to have surgery. Thankfully, it didn't happen. That is good, right? Of course right.

Mark went in to visit with the surgeon on February 25. By that time, Mark was starting to feel better. The surgeon talked to us for quite a while. He poked around Mark's abdomen. And he talked to us truthfully about the situation.

He told Mark that since he was feeling better, he probably wouldn't need to have his gall bladder removed. He told us that it could have been a virus. He told us that yes, it probably was problems with the gall bladder--but not that the gall bladder was bad. It just could have been something, something that caused pain.

He sent Mark for some blood tests to rule out some other possibilities.

And, he told us that if Mark got worse again, even in the future, that we could just call him up and he'd be okay with scheduling a surgery for Mark.

So, no surgery for Mark.

Oh Poop!

Funny question: Is it bad that the first recognizable thing I've seen come through Zachary's system is newspaper? Hehehe...

Happy Valentine's Mark!

I didn't get Mark a "present" for Valentine's this year. Instead, I had him serenaded. Yes, I really did. I had a women's quartet come sing to him. It was brilliant (other than the fact Mark was sick and not very chipper).

I got an email from a friend from one of my Provo wards. She had posted an ad on KSL. She said her group was trying to earn some money for a trip they want to take. I thought to myself, "Self, that is a good idea!" So, I booked 'em.

They sang two songs, gave Mark a rose, and a Valentine's card. Totally worth the money.

I also got them on video--which I will post later. I happened to have the video camera set up...to video Zachary...hehehe!!!!!!

I LOVE YOU MARK HALES!

Gall Bladder Surgery

Mark has to have gall bladder surgery. He's going to have it removed. We're not sure when, but hopefully soon.

Almost four weeks ago Mark starting feeling yucky. It started with a feeling very much like heartburn. Maybe it was even. But, it has since moved down into his abdomen on the right side. It causes him pain, mostly when he cramps there. The cramps come and go. But they make him cough/gag. It's disgusting and uncomfortable to me--but it's nothing compared to how it is for Mark.

I made him finally go to a doctor last Monday. The doctor originally thought it was an ulcer. But the lab results came back for no ulcer but there were elevated markers (???) for his liver function. So on Friday Mark had an ultrasound. The ultrasound didn't show much unusual, other than some "sludge" in his gall bladder. Yes, "sludge" is the word. Ew, gross. Apparently sludge is the forerunner to gall stones. Not good.

Mark's doctor said that Mark could have his gall bladder removed, but he wasn't sure if it would help or not. That's really comforting to us.

Over the three day weekend, Mark was miserable (which made me miserable). It was really bad. The coughing/gagging was terrible. Mark was exhausted. No good. No good at all.

We asked Mark's doctor for a reference for a second opinion. He gave us a name for a gastroenterologist. But that doctor wasn't available for an appointment until APRIL! Mark called our insurance and found some other names. After making quite a few phone calls, he found one who could see Mark today. Hallelujah!

So anyway, the gastroenterologist today agreed that gall bladder removal would probably help a lot. He said with all the symptoms Mark has and with the blood and ultrasound results, he thinks gall bladder removal is the best option.

Mark will meet with the surgeon NEXT Wednesday. (He actually had to make an extra phone call to get an earlier appointment there too. He was originally scheduled for MARCH 5th. Sheesh!)

We'll let you know what happens next week. But, as of this afternoon, I feel so much better with the news and with everything. I've been really worried about Mark. I don't like having Mark sick.

Dear Zachary - 5 Months

Dear Zachary,

You are FIVE months old today! Five! Man, time is flying.

You have had a really good month. You have been creeping all over the floor lately. I learned that term today: "creeping." That means you are kind of crawling, but not exactly hands and knees. You really are all over the floor. Occasionally you get stuck because you don't always know how to back up.

One month ago you were rolling. But now you are really good at rolling: over both shoulders and both front to back and back to front.

You've been sitting for just over a week now. I think the longest I've seen you sit is about four minutes--today. That's pretty good in my book. We even got you on video two minutes straight a few days ago.

At church you are passed around to lots of people. Thank you for being such a good baby. All the ladies in the ward love your smiling face.

Two weeks ago I took you with me to stake young women basketball. A few things happened there. Your dad was there with me because he had a stake priesthood meeting. Since he was early, he was playing with the basketball in the gym. You totally busted up laughing. It was so the cutest and funniest. Tonight I went to basketball again and you busted up laughing again. You're totally going to enjoy sports.

The one bad thing that has happened this month happened just yesterday: YOU STARTED BITING ME. You got in trouble. We put you to bed before you passed out from the milk. But I gave you a whole bunch of times to redeem yourself, and you kept biting me! I hope you stop that. I don't appreciate it. Your dad has now nicknamed you "Chompers." Let's not keep that nickname, shall we?

I love watching you play with your toys. Sometimes you wrestle Woods (your teddy bear). And sometimes you throw all your toys off your high chair as fast as you can. Other times you just gnaw, gnaw, gnaw on your connecting rings.

You've been teething for two months now. But, no pearly whites yet. We go through bibs super fast because you soak them with your drool. I hope you stop biting me before your teeth break through.

You finally met your cousin two weeks ago. He's cute. But, I have to admit--you are cuter.

Anyway, it's been a good month. You are so smart. You are so cute. You are so funny. You are so wonderful. Thanks for choosing our family!

Love,

Your Mom

Mark's Hand Book

Mark wrote a book a few years ago about the symbology of hands. I finally finished reading it yesterday. But a few days ago, I found my favorite passage in it. I want to share it here. Mark wrote:

Once Jesus Christ reunited with His physical body, He ascended and presented Himself to the Father. Not knowing much of this event we can be sure it was a glorious and wonderful reunion. It would not be hard to assume that Jesus appeared before the Father in humble similitude, and stretched out His hands and showed the Father the prints in His hands that evidenced His great and last sacrifice. In acceptance of the Son’s sacrifice, the Father may have stretched out His hands and took a hold of the hands of His Only Begotten Son and pulled Him close in a loving embrace.

I've been trying to know the Savior and Heavenly Father better these last few months. This Christmas I focused my thoughts on the miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ. So reading this passage really touched me. It really made me so grateful that I have a Savior. It made me so humble to know that I am a daughter of a Divine Being.

This passage was on my mind Sunday night when I went to a fireside presented by David Christensen, a counselor in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Presidency. He testified of a lot of things. But the thing that vibrated in my soul was when he testified of our Heavenly Mother. The thought came to me that it was probably not only a glorious thing when the Savior returned to Heavenly Father, but I'm sure it was glorious when the Savior returned to His Mother as well.

I am so grateful that I am a daughter of God. I am so grateful that I know of the plan of happiness. And I am so grateful that if I live my life the right way, I can return to my heavenly home and to my heavenly parents.

My 31st Birthday

I turned 31 this year. And I've been celebrating it most of the month. We just went Tucano's for dinner on Monday to use one of the "free" meals I signed up for. Let's see...I went to lunch with a friend and got a free noodle bowl at Noodles & Co. I got a free ice cream at Baskin Robbins. I got a free ice cream at Cold Stone. I got a free meal at Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill. And we went to Red Robin for dinner on January 7th with a bunch of friends because I got a free burger.

Mark told me I wasn't going to get anything for my birthday since I got a great camera and all the works for Christmas. But, he lied. He got me a gift certificate for a massage. Bless him! He's so great!

On my actual birthday we cooked dinner together. We made Monte Cristos. What are they? They are battered deep-fried ham, turkey, and swiss cheese sandwiches. After they are fried, they are dusted with powered sugar. They are generally served with currant jelly or some other fruit jelly. We used a raspberry jam my parents made. It was good. But what was even better was the jalepeno jelly that has been in our fridge for a very long time. Jalepeno jelly and Monte Cristos are made for each other!

We also made a yellow cake and chocolate frosting from scratch. I tried making it in a bundt pan--but I didn't grease it enough. So, we ended up piecing it back together. Mark also carved the "0" from last year's "30" to make a "31". I was cracking up. I loved it.

It was a great, great birthday!