Trying to Catch Up!

Sorry for the way behind blog! We've have been just crazy busy lately and the blog is one of the first things to be left behind! So we'll try and catch up on things that have happened over the last little bit!

This is a goofy picture of the family and the 4 older boys on their father/son camp out! They had a lot of fun! The twins stayed with me....but next year they are going! When they came home, Comptyn especially, was literally dirt from head to toe! That is the sign of a fun camping trip!

Yesterday Bryce had his Kindergarten Promotion. He is so excited to be a 1st grader! He was one of 4 kids who hoola-hooped! He is getting pretty good. They did a "hoop-ercize" in their class and he really picked it up fast! Tomorrow is Ryan & Comptyn's last day and then we are done for the summer! YEAH!

We have been having a TON of rainstorms (which is about unheard of around here) over the last 4-5 days. Last night when we pulled into our driveway, we saw this rainbow. So these are my 6 little pots of gold at the end of the rainbow!

I have updated Daniel's www.caringbridge.org (type daniellords in the spot of 'visit a caring bridge website') and his Blog at www.daniellords.blogspot.com. Each has information on his 'stuff' he has been going thru!

Is It Working Yet?

We've been having some contention in our home lately. Bryce just seems to have been intentionally mean and thinking it's funny. He grows use to the discipline we dish out. "Mom, that soap tastes like watermelon!" or "If I keep running I am going to be really fast, huh?" In fact, it was so bad that Bryce didn't get to celebrate his 6th birthday. No cake, no ice cream, no presents, nothing! In fact, he got pink eye on his birthday. I like to think that was a little help from above of reinforcing his punishment! :-)
Anyhow, Kevin's mom and I went to a Time Out for Women in Fresno over the weekend of Bryce's birthday. TOFW is put on by our church for (obviously) women. We had wonderful speakers, singers, food, etc! Kevin's sister came up from Salinas, CA and spent some time with use, too! We had fun! We were told how to get rid of 'mom guilt', how amazing we are even though we only dwell on the negative a lot of times, etc. I came away refreshed and feeling like I am not too bad of a mom! I went over with a prayer in my heart that I would find the answer to Bryce's problems! :-) Well I felt impressed to read directly from the Book of Mormon. 3 of the kids are reading now. We usually read from our Book of Mormon stories book and rotate that with the Old and New Testament stories. So we sat the kids down Sunday night and explained to them that we were promised by a prophet that if we read daily from the Book of Mormon as a family we would have the Spirit in our home, less contention and more love and unity. We were about 2 verses into the 1st chapter and Bryce whispered to me, "Mom, is it working yet?" I said, "Yes, Bryce. Can't you feel the love?" He shrugged his shoulders and said, "Sortof."
I have to admit, though, over the last 2 days, he has been doing a lot better! It's nice to be promised something and see the fruits of those promises!

Another Bryce-ism

Bryce has been giving these REALLY great hugs lately! (He would plough you over with the hugs he use to give.) We have been trying to get him to be 'soft' and he has finally mastered it! They are just wonderful hugs! The other day I was looking for a recipe on line with Bryce standing next to me. He said, "Mom, don't even look on the internet for a recipe for my good hugs. I have the secret." It was pretty cute!

Yes, I am Blonde!

OK......when I was posting Ryan's baptism, I posted a blank one, too! So, since Grandma Stewart commented on Ryan's baptism, I can't delete it.....so I've decided to put a picture on it of Ryan and I. We didn't get a picture of us at the baptism...plum forgot! So daddy went and picked up a jumper and Ryan and I did pictures at home! My big boy!

Ryan's Special Day

Yesterday Ryan was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was so excited! It was fun to watch him and see that. He got his new set of scriptures, a hymnal, a Baptism book, some scripture stories, his own subscription to The Friend, and some nice cards congratulating him. He had many friends and family there to support him. Thank you for coming and remembering him one this day!

The water was a little cold, Ryan said. And when daddy went to go fill the baptismal font, it leaked a little, so the water wasn't very deep. Only about middle of Ryan's thigh. Ryan's foot slipped up when he was immersed, so they got to do it again! We are very proud of Ryan and his decision to be baptized. There was a great spirit at the baptism which many people commented on. Comptyn is already counting down his baptism for next year!

Wal-Mart Scare

Ryan, Comptyn, Nathan and I (Amy) had an interesting night the other night at Wal-Mart. We were leaving the store when we heard a lot of sirens. We decided to stop and wait to watch them go by. One police car drove by. Then 5 police cars turned down the road next to Wal-Mart. We still thought is was something behind the store in the housing section or something. We walked out to our van and as the kids were climbing in, another police car came by and actually pulled into the parking lot and drove to the other side of the parking lot. So, OF COURSE, we all hurried and loaded up so we could drive over and see what was going on! Sure enough, there were 7 police cars over there!
Come to find out we were in the store with a gun man! UGH! OK, so we found out it was a pellet gun, but we are still very grateful to have been protected and watched over. The thought of maybe passing him and him hurting one of the kids or something.....
When we had Family Home Evening Monday night and were talking about the Holy Ghost and how He protects and warns and comforts (Ryan is getting baptized on the 23rd of this month) I talked about the Wal-Mart experience. I pointed out that the Holy Ghost could have told us to get out of the store, but instead he protected us. That the police closed the store, got everyone out and caught the man without anyone getting hurt. At this point, our Bryce, ever so observant, said, "But they never close Super Wal-Mart." We are hoping he got the 'bigger' picture of that story!

Calling all kidneys!

We are currently looking for some people who would be willing to donate a kidney for Daniel. If you would like to be tested, or know of someone who would like to be tested, please contact me. Below are what it entails:
1You need to be 18 - 55 (although they said nothing magical happens at 55, so a few years over would be considered)
2. Body Mass Index of 30 or less
3. No history of diabetes
4. No history of medicated hypertension/high blood pressure
5. No history of kidney stones within the last 5 years.
6. If you have been pregnant, you must be at least 6 months post-partum
7. Access to a primary care physician.
If you 'pass' the above list, here are some things that would happen after that. You will have your blood and tissue tested to make sure it's compatible with Daniel's. You have to be O+, we do know that. If you 'pass' that and it is determined that you would be a good candidate as a donor you will then have chest x-ray, EKG and kidney ultrasound to make sure you are healthy enough for the surgery. You'd meet with an Andult Nephrologist and then have a CT scan and meet with a social worker. I don't know what those last 3 things do!
After the surgery: You will be in the hospital for up to 5 days at Stanford University Hosptial. After you are discharged you can't lift anything heavy or exercise for up to 8 weeks. It is suggested to talk to you HR department and arrange for disability during this time if you don't want to 'waste' vacation time. Stanford will write help in this process in any way they can.
You will be checked every 3,6,9 months after surgery to make sure your incisions and healing is going well.
So there it is! I am going to be starting some fund raising to help pay for costs for not only our family, but hopefully get enough for the donor, if they need help, too. We know this is a lot to ask of someone, but let us know if you are interested and we'd understand if you back out at any time. If you'd like to talk to the transplant coordinator to answer some questions, her name is Kim Miller and her number is: 650-498-4905.