Gracie Girl

This is Gracie post transplant. I hate this picture but it is reality. Sometimes life stinks! Sweet Gracie received a heart transplant on February 22nd, and she is not doing well. The doctors don't know what went wrong. She is now on an ECMO (full life support) machine...She can stay on this anywhere from 2-4 weeks while she waits for a second heart. We are still praying for Miss Gracie that she will receive a second heart!!! Gracie's mom and dad have been strengthed by everyone's love and prayers...Keep them coming!!!

Gracie's new heart!!!!!

Gracie's family got the call last night that there is a heart available for her. I just read her blog and saw that the doctors started her transplant surgery about noon today! What a miracle this is!!!! The faith of her family has been tested and tested. Faith always precedes the miracle. Gracie will still need a lot of prayers as she recovers from this surgery. My heart breaks for the donor family, and I am in awe of the love they have shown through their sadness and their loss. If they had any idea what happiness they have brought to Gracie's family and friends............

Vegas and Valentine's Day

Family picture at the top of the Stratosphere - 109 stories high

The kids at a Globetrotters Game
Alan and Meg
Derek and Hunter after a big game - Their basketball team went undefeated and are now getting ready to compete in a tournament. Yippee...more games! Now there will literally be no break between basketball and baseball.
I found this note in an envelope addressed to "Melanie Powel" in our mailbox without a stamp or an address. Megan told me she put it there so Melanie could have it for Valentine's Day. I took a picture of it before we gave it to Melanie.

Meg and her favorite person in the world...Mel

Meg's Valentine's Day party at school - She was excited to have dad there!

Just a cute picture of Meg

Jake and his dream car

Jake, Meg and Derek at the top of the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas - not a great picture, but that was some view!!! Nat and Alan - celebrating Valentine's Day in style Derek in his own personal heaven, the ESPN Zone store in Vegas (as soon as the camera came out, Megan ran up the stairs as fast as she could in order to get in the picture)

Prayers for Gracie

Gracie Gledhill is the daughter of my incredible friend Michele. Gracie has just been placed on a heart transplant list. This sweet little girl was born with a heart defect (HLHS) and has been through so much in her short little life. She has proven over and over again to be a fighter! She is fighting again while she waits for a new heart at Primary Children's Hospital. Her family has shown so much faith through this trial - faith during the good times and the bad times. We are all hoping for another miracle for Gracie...Please include her in your prayers. Gracie's story has touched so many lives, including mine. Michele and Tom have shared their journey with everyone through their blog - www.thegledhillfamily.blogspot.com. I can't wait to blog about Gracie's new heart!!! That will be a good day!

January stuff

Derek and Matthew and the favorite scout leaders, Mike and Lois Mortensen

Derek earned his Webelos badge (Thanks to the Mortensens)
Derek pinning mom after he got his Webelo badge (This mom didn't do anything to deserve the "mom" pin - I'm kinda lazy when it comes to scout stuff) However, I did let him pin me for all of the other many things I do for Derek on a daily basis (haha)

I like my neighbors so much that we go out to dinner to catch up. I guess it would be just as easy to walk outside and say "Hey" but not as fun.

Taco dressed up in a Hannah Montana outfit - It must have been a slow day that day.

Meg and Alan

The cheering section at Derek's basketball game

Meggie went to the funnest birthday party where they painted her face and did her hair in the cutest updo.

Meg at Taryn's party (She is in the front right)

Well it's basketball season again. There's our Derek "Lucky 13" going after the ball. Derek is also "Lucky 13" in baseball.

We got to visit with my 90-year old Grandpa McKell while the kids where off track. This sweet grandpa of mine is now recovering from being kicked and thrown by one of his ungrateful cows. He is recovering well and continues to keep his amazing positive attitude about everything that happens to him!

Megan's unique style

Megan is always coming up with crazy little outfits for herself. This one made me laugh because she did her own hair in a side pony tail and found an old purse of mine in the basement.

Adventures in Tubing

Meg, Jake and Alan on the tubing hill at Soldier Hollow. It was a really fun time with the exception of Nat and Meg crashing into a fence.
Jake and a long line of people - the lines were long, but we never had to wait more than 5 minutes to be hauled up the mountain again.

So fun!!!
Meggie being towed up the hill.
Nat taking a break
Jake and Derek taking a break

The kids in front of the lodge at Soldier Hollow
Midway in the winter is so beautiful!

A deer coming through...He was actually part of a pack (or herd?) of about 5 deer. The kids in front of the most beautiful, aqua-colored natural ice sculpture at the Homestead Resort in Midway.

Nat and Alan

Alan and the boys also swam in the crater at Homestead Resort...a 65-foot deep warm water pool at the bottom of a large crater. All of my pictures from that were pretty foggy from the steam...but they had a great time!

Jake, Bree and Braydon

Jake with friends Braydon and Bree - Warming up before they head outside again.

Geography Bee

Derek competed in the school geography bee today! There he is in the white shirt. The cute girl in the back row, green shirt was the winner. Congratulations Jenny!
He survived the first 8 questions...and placed 11th out of 26. He was bummed because the top ten people got medals. So close! We are so proud of him anyway! We did learn that Derek is very competitive in academic sports as well as regular sports. I can't imagine where Derek gets his competitiveness.

Derek and the beautiful Josie. Josie and Derek have been great friends since first grade.

New Fence and some more Christmas pics

Christmas party pics from our old camera
(Frost Family Party at Uncle Barry and Aunt Dan'L's house)Jake with Santa
Meg...I think she is the same age as "Santa". As soon as a camera comes out...Meg is posing.

Derek, Santa and Grandpa Guy

Can you see the potential?

What a muddy mess!

We decided to finally get rid of part of our charming old wood fence...so now we are in limbo. Fun colored flags and piles of junk all over our grayish colored snow. You know those neighbors that you always wish would just clean up their junky yard??? Yeah, that's us...at least for another week or two.