Swaddled with Love

Recently two friends very dear to me have had babies born with little hearts. They were born with a condition known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Essentially these infants are born without use of the left ventricle, the chamber that performs the essential functions of receiving oxygenated blood from the lungs and then pumping it out to the body.

My friend Liz lost her little baby Jake after a few precious weeks and a very valiant fight. St. Joseph's Hospital has an incredible unit designed to help support these special infants and their families. One of the neat things that they do is give soft, minky blankets to the babies. With all of the hospital equipment. and at times because of the tenuous condition of the infants their families aren't able to hold their precious baby. It provides comfort to baby and family to have this soft, special, nurturing blanket. At times, this special soft blanket is the major comfort and nurturing item amidst the entourage of wires. Baby Jake's mom is raising funds to make more of these blankets in hopes of sharing the loving comfort she experienced during those tender moments of her son's life.

My best friend from nursing school delivered Ethan February 18 and he also has this heart condition. He has just had his first surgery of 3 to make the needed conversions of his heart.

He is still in St. Joseph's as he continues to improve from his first surgery and travels this essential surgical path that will enable him to go home with his loving family. The picture above is little Ethan. I would appreciate it if you could remember baby Ethan in your prayers.

Doesn't he just have the cutest little foot you have ever seen?

I know these are very difficult financial times, but Jake's mother made a plea for even $5 to help make these special blankets. She asked if we could add this request to our blogs to get the word out for their project. Liz, her family, and church friends will help her make the blankets. Let's all see what we can do to help. Their deadline is March 8th.

edennison78@yahoo.com with questions
You can address the donations to:

Bishop Anderson
Summerfield Ward (purpose: Jakey's Blankies)
2791 E Los Alamos Ct
Gilbert, AZ 85295

Make checks payable to: Summerfield Ward

This does meet tax deductable criteria for charitable donations.

Thank You!

The Man and Baby Lincoln

Kim posted a picture Tag. I usually don't do these, but my camera took a swim, and I just worked 72hours in the last 7 days, so I figured what the heck! My Pictures, folder 6, picture 6. I adore this picture, Brian looks extra rugged and handsome, and Lincoln is making a hysterical face!

I love this man! He's a leap year baby. I married him when he was 5 years old. He is the ultimate dad. Not many dad's have been home for 6-12 weeks to help care for newborns. He used to work for Chase Bank and had 12 weeks paid paternity leave with our 1st child. He to sacrificed and had just 6 weeks fully paid to stay home with Griffin. By the time Lincoln rolled in He was self employed and was home for 3 full months with him.

This man knows how to care for babies, make bottles, not waste breast milk, rumble with boys, give a mean foot massage. Yeah, he is the man. He has a fun, playful, easy going nature. He doesn't yell, he rarely gets angry, and he is very supportive of my favorites: movies, girls nights, shopping and scrapbooking.

Happy Birthday Brian!

Build a Bear

Last time we were in Vegas my Mother in Law took us to Build a Bear. I was naive enough to think that it was okay if my husband stayed behind to play with his brothers. Let me just say, I will not make that mistake again. We had 2 nieces and my 3 boys, and every child needs their own personal assistant to survive this place! Did I also mention it was Christmas time and someone was doing a 12 kid birthday party?

The bathing station was by far the favorite! Griffin carefully brushed and bathed each animal with pride. I was quite surprised! Who knows maybe he will want to take an active role with the new baby, the next time I am crazy enough to brave 8 months of puking.

The novelty of this experience had definitely worn off for the Build a Bear employees. They skipped right over hearts, and just started cramming stuffing as quickly as possible. I started to wish I was an expert so that I could ensure my children did not miss out on any of the little joys this adventure had to offer.

Initially, Lincoln was only mildly interested in his new bear. However, once he was all pimped out with skater wear, Lincoln was in love! He caught Griffin giving him a bath and had to rescue him. Brian named his football loving Dinosaur something that involved Rex. I came up with names I considered fantastic for the youngest animals. In the end Lincoln's bear is affectionately called, "Bear,Bear," and Griffin calls his penguin, "Happy Feet."

Although 2 sister in laws have sworn off having children for several more years, and Brenda and I grew gray hairs, we all survived the experience. Each boy loves their Build a Bear creation. I love that their grandmother thought of a special way for them to remember her. It is precious that Lincoln hugs his Bear Bear and sleeps with him every night. Many nights after putting Lincoln to bed I hear his bear singing "You are My Sunshine" in a distorted version of my voice. Each morning Lincoln ensures all special items are removed from his crib and he cuddles with them on the couch.

Happiness is Home Made!

It's Valentine's weekend and love is in the air.

I thought to myself, what fantastical, romantic thing could I do on this fine occasion?

As the fourteenth of February fell on a Saturday, and this is the only day of the week I can really work, my choice was simple.

Work!

What better way to show my family I love them than by helping to provide for us?

How could I share love with others in a more profound manner than attending to their every need while improving their health?

I did my best to make life a little nicer for my patients.

• I drew a heart on my patient's message board and wrote John Loves Allyce inside.
• I offered drinks to a patient's family and made a fresh pot of coffee for her son.
• I quickly checked blood for my coworkers and promptly helped them with their patients
• I was kind on the phone with all Dr.'s and staff and expressed thanks for all help received

By 3pm I had hung countless medications and blood transfusions. I had spent 7.5 hrs of the last 8 in direct patient care, sitting only long enough to chart absolute essentials. All of a sudden I heard the excited whispers of a coworker saying, " Over here, over here." I look up and see 3 adorable little boys dressed in red shirts. Each boy had I "Heart" Mom on their cheeks. Each boy carried a poster board sized, lovingly painted valentine for mom.

That was it, my Valentine's Day was officially perfect!

Little Brian and his Valentine Master Piece!

Lincoln had just as much fun painting himself!

Griffin had no difficulty expressing himself!

Yes, there is no question that I am loved. All of my friends at work were amazed that a husband would undertake an hour drive and finger painting with three spunky boys, just to shower their mother with love. In these tough economic times it is important to remember that Happiness really is Home Made!

What a Wonderful World

Everyone loves babies! I just went to the movies with my sister-in-law and held her precious little baby. He let out these hysterical laughs that even had neighboring movie goers chuckling. I was again impressed by the love that pours out of babies that envelopes you. When a tiny baby stares up into your eyes with such wonder, you realize the incredible magnitude of the human experience.

With our first child, I was the one with the look of wonder.

I wonder how I will survive.

I wonder what this baby wants.

I wonder if he will ever sleep through the night.

I wonder how I can be trusted with such a tiny and needy person.

Once I had fully recovered, 3.5 years later, I was thrilled to welcome Griffin to our family.

Now it was his looks of wonder that amazed me.

He was very thoughtful and expressive. In just the first few weeks of life he looked around his new world with such awe and intrigue. He really seemed to soak up each experience.

Griffin was such an easy baby that we were ready to embrace the new life cycle again after just one short year. When Lincoln was born I was again filled with wonder.

I wonder if this baby will ever stop crying!!!!

He cried almost continuously for the first 20 minutes of life. I had to wonder if he still remembered heaven, and was crying because he wanted to go back.

Amazingly, he came to realize he was stuck with us and he has hardly cried since.

There is just something about an infant's smile that makes you wonder how you ever lived without them. Everything stops and all you feel is the warmth of their love. My children have opened my eyes to the bounteous joys found in life's simple pleasures.

Hugs. Books. Laughter. Tickles. Jumping. Singing. Talking. Snuggling.

I am blessed to share in this wonderful world that they create.

In the Eye of the Beholder

Little Brian's eyes are sensitive to light from time to time. He will even complain occasionally about the light over the kitchen table while doing his homework.

"It burns my eyes," He says.

This was the complaint this evening.

I said, "We will have to take you to the eye doctor and get that checked out."

His response, "Will they pull off my eyelids?"

"No," I reply, "Do they do that sometimes?"

He said, "Yeah."

"That is pretty crazy," I say.

He said, "Yeah and that freaks me out!"

Apparently he watched an episode of "How It's Made" where they performed laser eye surgery. During this episode they actually slice of the top layer of the eye. He remembered the eye slicing as eyelid removal.

He does have a point. The idea of having my eyelids taken off freaks me out too!

I came in the office to record this hilarious interaction.

While I'm typing Griffin plops himself on my lap.

He looks up into my eyes and says, "Mom your eyeballs are going all crazy!"

Curiously I question, "What about them is so crazy?"

"Your eyeballs are breaking. The white is breaking out of your eyeballs, and your heart be's sad."

Now I suppose I will make eye appointments for Brian and myself.

The Wand of Frustration

I HATE FEELING LIKE I'M FAILING....At training, motherhood, my home, my job, my church callings.

This was a thought expressed in a message from a friend. She did share many of her successes. However, that nagging feeling like her best just isn't good enough hit home for me.

I hate feeling like I am failing. Don't we all feel that. If we take the wand of frustration and wave it over everything we do we think, Holy Crap I am failing at everything. We miss much we are actually accomplishing, such as serving others, exercising more,being nicer people or how we have sacrificed many of our desires and pursuits to focus our attention on raising little people. All of the joy from these successes are demolished as we take out that wand and pulverize ourselves.

We rob ourselves of the true rewards of our labors by beating ourselves up for everything that didn't exceed our wildest expectations.

We need to break that wand of frustration!

Instead?

Hang up the Mirror of Success.

Look at everything through that mirror! As I teach primary I realize the power of God's love for his children. It would break His heart to think a little child thought they were failing. He sees all of our amazing triumphs, improvements, kindnesses, desires, efforts. He loves and values all of them. When I think about these things in terms of children it is much easier for Me to get. It breaks my heart to think a little child hates their body, it is heart breaking to think a child doesn't know their special talents.

I will share a story about Little Brian and his friend I will call "Josh". Brian will come home and say, "Josh is the best colorer, Josh is the fastest runner, Josh is the best baseball player" It is funny because Josh believes all of these things, and he sells it. My sweet little Brian buys it hook, line and sinker.

I stop and make sure Brian hasn't missed the fact that he is an excellent runner, he is an amazing story teller and writer. If a friend is injured he immediately offers a hug.

Josh's mom told me, "Brian is welcome over anytime. he is such the complimenter, he always makes Josh feel so good."

It occurred to me, "What does Josh do for Brian?" On Sunday he said, "Brian, that is not a church shirt, and last week you didn't look right either." What? The week prior he was in a suit and tie. How swift is criticism to injure?

We must make sure our kids are built up at home. Praised for their talents. Noticed for their good works. Encourage relationships that uplift them. Ensure they know how to nurture others. Teach them how to be kind to others, and how to recognize good in themselves.

Seems so basic. Yet do we praise, uplift, and nurture ourselves? Our spouses? Our friends?

We easily recognize others who excel. We notice who is "the best" which is perfectly normal. Unfortunately, it is human nature to compare ourselves to the very best characteristics of others. Pretty soon we have pieced together the ultimate person. If we can not compete with this ultimate person then we have failed. How are we so effective at noticing brilliance in others, yet fail to see it in ourselves? Couldn't we all use a little more Brian's in our life? People praising and appreciating our talents, building us up to fight our next fights, always there with hugs when we fall. I love my friends and family that I enjoy through blogging. Each person teaches and inspires me. Other perspectives add to my ability to recognize the humor, beauty, struggles, and triumphs of life. It is nice to know we are not alone in our efforts, goals, and frustrations. Every venture may not succeed to our hearts desires, but it never hurts to share a chuckle along the way as we each overcome our own version of potty training mishaps.