Mar 19 - 25

Monday, March 19 - The kids and I went over to spend some time with Jake so his mom could get a much-deserved break and go to bowling. They played Sorry! and spent time with their cousin. We're just so thankful he is home and doing well!

Tuesday, March 20 - It seems hard to believe that winter may actually be at an end and that baseball season is upon us. This is Nick at his spring baseball tryout. We are excited and hopeful for another great year!

Wednesday, March 21 - Simon and I have talked a million times (in this house and the last one) about getting nice window well covers. He asked me to stop and take pictures of these ones because they are at the top of our list of companies to use. We should have window well covers in the next month or so. Our goal is to have them on before spring when the kids want to be outside playing. I know it's expensive but we are so excited to get this done!

Thursday, March 22 - This is our ward Youth Conference kickoff. We did a service project filling a need for students in Utah that don't have enough food to eat over the weekends when they do not have access to free school lunch. It breaks my heart that so many kids go hungry when we have more than enough to go around. Our ward is amazing and either donated all this food or raised funds to buy this food to provide for these needy kids. The effort that our youth put into this was amazing and I am proud to be associated with each and every single one of them!

Friday, March 23 - We are at Snydermill Lodge in Park City. It's a huge beautiful cabin made for things like youth conferences. Marisa and Jeremy Olson were the committee chairs for this and they did a wonderful job! We have played games, eaten tons of yummy food, and gotten to know these youth better. This is the bishop's devotional before bed.

Saturday, March 24 - I was able to pull a few strings and get Austin Collie, previous BYU and NFL player, to come speak to our youth. He drove clear up to Park City for us and delivered a fun talk about his time in the NFL and his plans and goals for life. I think the kids were really enthused to listen to him and get to ask questions. There were a few leaders that felt that way too! :) After he spoke, we piled into cars and left the lodge for an all day "Amazing Race" back to Herriman. It was super fun but everyone was pretty tuckered out by the end. What a fun youth conference!!!

Sunday, March 25 - Don't mind the silly picture but it was the only one I had to represent what we did today. Bishop held a BYD (Bishop-Youth Discussion) tonight at the Mortensen's house. It took watching Jackson Nyholm (Nick's good friend) walk in to make me realize that Nick should be there too! It feels so weird to have a child in the Young Men's organization! Oops! I would have just run home and gotten him but he was at my parent's house having a sleepover so...he missed it. :(

Mar 12 - 18

Monday, March 12 - My mom went over to Jenni's house today so that Jenni could go bowling and have a "normal" day. I went to bowling with my sister to sub for my mom. As I pulled into my garage, my odometer changed to 40,000 miles. I couldn't help but grab a pic on an even number like that! Jake is improving each day. He still has a ton of pressure behind his left eye that they are concerned about but they are also hopeful that it will return to normal once more of the pressure in his brain goes down. In the meantime, he's really glad to be home.

Tuesday, March 13 - It was my day to drive carpool home and both Marisa and Julie were running a few minutes behind. These cute kids, instead of just sitting and waiting, sparked up a game of duck, duck, goose on the fly. I am so grateful to have good friends in our ward/neighborhood and that my kids are blessed in the same way!

Wednesday, March 14 - For YM/YW tonight, we had a Family (History) Feud night. The kids had a blast and I spent most the time serving nachos and drinks...it was "Nacho Family Feud Night"! Haha! It was extra fun for me because it was my first mutual activity with Nick. This is going to be fun!

Thursday, March 15 - Even though the weather is beginning to warm up a bit, we keep having these tiny snow storms that are just cold enough to stick to the grass and flower beds but not the roads or sidewalks (my kind of snow). I thought this was an interesting sight - seeing the tulip blades poking up through the snow. It's signs of spring and I LOVE SPRING...mostly because it leads to summer!

Friday, March 16 - Today was the actual battle day for Battle of the Books. I got to be a judge and I loved every minute of it! The bonus is that I get to spend the day with these cute kiddos! Tonight, Nick finally had his birthday late night. He invited Trevan and Jake but with all that has gone on with Jake, they didn't make it. Nick had a blast with these dudes anyway though!!

Saturday, March 17 - Simon has taken both Nick and Kendra to sporting events with MACU so he promised Zack that he would take him on the next one. He was offered Real soccer tickets at work yesterday and Zack was beyond thrilled! They were in the box suite which was way good because it was a freezing cold night accompanied by rain that turned to snow. They stayed cozy warm in the suite though and had a lot of fun! Go Real!

Sunday, March 18 - For Viv's birthday, all of us kids went in on 3 huge family pictures. Alexis arranged it all and even bought picture frames to match the one she already had. Happy Birthday Viv!

Mar 5 - 11

Monday, March 5 - Jake finally seems to be on the path to healing. They started him on a new medication to hopefully help with intracranial pressure and get his vision under control. This is the sign posted at Jake's school. I can't believe how amazing his school is being throughout all of this! They are fully committed to helping him finish the school year from home and are already talking about a plan to send teachers over to tutor him and help him finish the work he needs to do. Of course, that is a while down the road when he is better recovered but they are being so great! This evening, I finally got around to making jam. I just hate buying store-bought jam and my kids prefer homemade too. This supply should last us a couple of months...I hope! 

Tuesday, March 6 - Happy Birthday to Nick!!! I can't believe that I already have a 12-year-old! We are super excited for him to go to Young Men's, get the priesthood, and move from elementary to junior high. Wait...did I say excited?!? Freaked out is more like it! Haha! We couldn't help but kidnap him from school and go to lunch at Iceberg. He loves their food and ice cream so we took him and lived it up on his bday!

Wednesday, March 7 - Marisa FORCED me (not really) to go to a book signing and meet Sarah Eden. I bought this book of hers which she signed for me. I am excited to read it and share my thoughts with Marisa. I'm glad I have cultural friends to do these things with.

Thursday, March 8 - Jake is improving a lot each day. He's able to go to physical therapy in the gym and he's finally started to get his personality back. There was even talk about him coming home Friday or Saturday, which was exciting (even thought it didn't happen until Sunday). The top picture is of the kids getting ready to record the Happy Birthday Song for Uncle Gary. :) This was right before 3 of the 4 went to school for the day.

Friday, March 9 - Poor mom...and Jake! Since he's been doing so much better and also having to wear an eye patch, mom dressed up like a pirate (so Jake wasn't the only pirate in the family). However, he had a setback with pain and was pretty out of it when mom went to visit. This poor guy had to endure another MRI to make sure that the extra pain he's experiencing is from swelling and pressure and not new infection. Luckily, it was just from pressure but it is hard to see this sweet gentle giant in so much pain. There are so many praying for him and a swift recovery!

Saturday, March 10 - Well, I'm glad I got some pictures...even though I never got pictures of the honorary guest! :) I threw a baby shower for my visiting teaching partner, Emily Harenberg. She's having a baby boy and I couldn't be more excited for her! We did a woodland creatures theme...if you can't tell. :) 

Sunday, March 11 - Today was SUCH A BIG DAY!!! First thing this morning, Nick was ordained to the office of a Deacon and given the Aaronic Priesthood. Then, as if that wasn't exciting enough, we found out that Jake would be coming home from the hospital. Jenni made a bunch of cute signs and we were all outside waiting for his arrival. We are so happy that our Jakey Boy is well enough to come home and continue his recovery in the comfort of his own home!

Feb 26 - Mar 4

Monday, February 26 - They are finally home! I picked my parents up from the airport this afternoon and drove them straight up to the hospital. It was an emotional reunion and I know everyone exhaled a collective sigh of relief that they were home and here for Jenni and BJ. Jake is continuing to improve now and we couldn't be more thankful for that. He has a long road ahead but things are looking up.

Tuesday, February 27 - Jake had a pretty good day and they were finally able to move him out of the PICU and back to the Neuro Trauma Unit. He has been in so much pain, it breaks my heart. The surgeon explained that the reason for all of the pain is because they pulled the skin away from the skull in the front near his forehead to complete the sinus surgery. He can't hardly stand to take his ice pack off his head and uses his arm to apply pressure which relieves some of the pain. We are hoping they can quickly get his pain under control.

Wednesday, February 28 - It was important to get Jake up and moving to help his recovery along (it seems SO soon!) so the Physical Therapist came in and got him up. I was a little terrified when Jenni sent me that second picture but also so proud that he was up and moving. My poor mother! I can't imagine having to watch your child go through something like this with your grandchild. It is just so devastating but we are continually thanking our Heavenly Father that Jake continues to improve.

Thursday, March 1 - Jake went to the gym for physical therapy for the first time today. Just small amounts of activity completely exhaust him but his baby sis has been by his side and keeps his spirits up. She has been so sweet through all of this. She loves her big bro!

Friday, March 2 - First thing this morning was "Dads and Donuts". :) Simon went with the kids and they enjoyed breakfast together. After he got home from work, we took the little kids to Dave & Viv's and took Nick up to the hospital to visit Jake. Nick hadn't seen him since his last surgery and he's doing so much better now. Simon and I took Jenni to dinner while Nick sat and played video games with Jake. Jake got a little tired about half way through so Nick stayed by his side and just hung out. It was good to see the smile on Jakey's face when Nick came in. However, by the time we left, he was in a lot of pain and super irritable. I'm glad we got some good happy time with him though!

Saturday, March 3 - One more little setback. Jake has been seeing double-vision and blurry. The eye specialists think it is because of the pressure that is still in his brain from the infection and that it will go away with time and when the swelling reduces. For now, they patch one of his eyes to help with eye strain. Later this afternoon, the Pearson side of the fam went to get professional pictures done. Aside from a little dispute with the photographer (she made me mad), I do like the pictures! :)

Sunday, March 4 - I finally had to take my daith piercing out of my ear. It kept getting infected and hasn't had any affect on my migraines so I took it out. It's kind of a bummer but it was worth a try. My parents went up to the hospital after church for a visit and were pleasantly surprised that Jake was feeling well enough to go to the cafeteria.