Update

Just thought I'd update so I'm not leaving all of my avid readers hanging out there... I flew to Utah last week to be with my dad and family after a call from my mom which went something like this, "Dad has taken a turn for the worse, and is in ICU." That was my answer, and I hopped on a plane a few hours later. My dad spent 4 days in ICU where he stabilized and got the medications out of his system that were causing him problems. When he came out of his fog, he realized that he was unable to feel his legs. A neurologist assessed him and diagnosed him with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which is an auto-immune disorder in which antibodies that attach viruses start attacking the myelin sheath around your nerves. It is something that usually comes on after a stomach virus or a respiratory infection, both of which my dad has had in the weeks preceding his hospital stay. Most people with GBS make a full recovery, and we are praying that that will be the case with my dad. He has been moved to the rehab wing at the hospital and is doing rigorous Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy several times each day to regain his strength. He is sick of the hospital and is having a hard time sleeping, but considering last week the doctors were saying things like "possible stroke or brain tumor" we are all feeling very blessed to have this diagnosis. My dad is a fighter and will get strong and healthy again sooner than the average Joe, I just know it!

Thank you to all of my great friends who took care of my family in my absence. There were meals coming in and playdates being had every day. Jon was very relieved for the help. I was a little conflicted about that, since I secretly hoped he could see what life is really like when he travels and I tow the line, but my friends are too kind to share my vengeance.

I am home now, and putting the pieces all back together. And missing my dad and Utah family like crazy!

praying for him...

My dad's in the hospital. He's not been doing well. I am having such a hard time being away right now, and was just looking through pictures on my computer and came across this one that made me smile and wish he could be here now to read to my kids. I love you, Dad. The kids send all their love, Papa. And we are all praying for you.

The flour game

I thought there should be documentation somewhere of us playing "The Flour Game" (with powdered sugar). Here's how it works. We go around the table, clapping a rhythm and naming things in a chosen category (i.e. forest animals, cousins, Thomas Trains) and if someone messes up the rhythm, they have to cut the flour from top to bottom. As the tower gets smaller and smaller, you have to be really careful not to let the coin drop (or for Easter, the candy). If it drops on your watch you have to go in after it with your teeth. It all makes for great fun and lots of silly laughter!

Here is Jon showing Molly how to have a steady hand.

She goes it alone...

I force Max to get the dang jellybean.

Olivia gets it. (Ian wants to know WTH?)

Good times...

Easter-y stuff...

Easter was super fun and low-key this year. We colored eggs Saturday with friends, and woke up Sunday morning to filled Easter baskets and eggs hidden all over the house. The kids had a great time hunting for eggs, and playing with their little goodies. You might have thought it was Christmas by the ridiculous hour they woke us up at, but we were (mostly) good sports and let them have their fun. Max got a nerf gun, because what says Easter like shooting...

Funny Molly, she's always posing this way. Don't you love the way she wears Easter?

Olivia got The Princess and the Frog and was so excited, although she was a little miffed that the Easter Bunny brought her a boy chocolate bunny. That hare has some nerve.

And, here's my baby. I think this says it all. He ate two of these on Easter, and we finally found someone to pawn off all those darn jellybeans on...

After the morning festivities, we had cinnamon rolls and watched General Conference. (Ask Molly and she will tell you that the Prophet says we have to have cinnamon rolls for Conference.) It was a very uplifting, happy family day. Notice that I am not even mentioning the fact that it has been raining for 9 days straight.