Sharing Our Gratitude

As many of you know, on the afternoon of February 23, our 2½ year old son Gilbert survived a fall from the second story window of our home to the concrete driveway below.   What has followed was a trip to the emergency room, worried days in the St. George pediatrics unit, and finally a lifeflight trip to Salt Lake for additional medical attention. 

 

On Saturday February 28, through a miracle of our Heavenly Father, the dedicated work of caring doctors and nurses in St. George and at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake, and the faith, prayers, and support of family, friends, and neighbors; Gilbert has been released to our care with virtually no visible scaring, bruising, broken bones, or damage to internal organs, with the likelihood of no long term complications.  He is incredibly sore and does have a lung contusion/ aspiration and resultant pneumonia that will heal with rest and time.

 

From the depth of our souls and in sincere humility, the Lamoreaux family would like to thank everyone who has added your faith and prayers, kindness, and service in our behalf during this time.  We are so grateful to have such wonderful family and friends, and live in a community where so many people are willing to serve in such a timely unselfish manner.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  We want to thank most of all our Father in Heaven, who we know lives and is mindful of us.  We know that it is through the faith and prayers of all of you and the power of the priesthood that our beautiful Gilbert has been returned to our family.  Thank you and Hallelujah!

 

The Lamoreauxs

update on gilbert

its kennan again...

today, after being in the hospital for 2 days gilbert was life flighted up to primary children's hospital from st. george. he was life flighted because his lung(s?) have not gotten any better, in fact today have gotten worse. after another round of chest x-rays the decision was made that he needed to be at a children's hospital and needed a rigid bronchoscopy done. there was a mass in his upper right lung that was unidentifiable and his lungs needed to be scoped.

brooke and i met robyn at primary childrens while bob, nannie, and the rest of the lamoreaux children caravaned up from st. george. gilbert was taken in for surgery at 6:00pm. after the surgery/procedure was done the surgeon came into to say that he didn't find any mass, meaning gilbert did not aspirate anything in the fall. he said that he found a lot of fluid and mucous in his lungs and removed what he could. still no answers as to why gilbert is not getting any better. gil is doing okay, but still requires a significant amount of oxygen and is in pain from a lot of deep tissue bruising from the fall.  tomorrow the lamoreaux's hope to meet with a pulmonologist to see if he has any answers to this puzzle.

 gilbert has gotten to have 3 ambulance rides and one plane ride throughout this journey and i think his life flight ride was his favorite one yet. he told robyn when they landed that he wanted to go again. sweet, sweet boy.when he woke up from the anesthesia he asked for sucker and was delighted when nannie came in carrying 3! bob got there around 8:30 after driving from st. george and dropping off the kids at the mitchell's and gil was SO happy to have his daddy-o there. gil is ready to go home and keeps asking to see judee and minie. he really is the most adorable little boy. poor robyn needs rest and is totally and completely drained both physically and emotionally. 

keep this family in your prayers and thoughts. we will update this when we know more and hopefully the next update will be when sweet gilly bear is home.

prayers for gilbert

hi its kennan.... robyn's sister.

i just thought i would sneak on her blog to let you know about our sweet gilly bear. last evening around 5 pm, gilbert was playing upstairs at home with his dad and brother abe. and because of st. george's amazing weather the window was open with the screen in place and gilbert somehow while playing pushed through the screen and fell 2 stories below onto the cement, landing on his head.

bob rushed him to the emergency room bleeding from his head, nose, and mouth. gil was quickly admitted and many tests were run. miraculously, no serious damage was done (ie. broken bones, head wounds, internal bleeding). he does however have a very serious concussion and his head is quite swollen and misshapen because of that. he also his having trouble breathing and the doctors fear that he either aspirated something or damaged one of his lungs. gil is on morphine and is in a lot of pain (wonder why?). he is currently still in the hospital and today more tests are being run. he is being watched very carefully and if he gets worse in any shape or from will be life flighted to primary children's hospital in salt lake city. 

sweet gilbert needs your prayers so he can come home quickly and have a speedy recovery. he is the sweetest and somehow toughest 2 year old you have ever met. he wants to go home and to see his gwynnie and nannie. someone will try to keep this updated.

we love you gilly bear!

She is my Valentine!

Yesterday at the park, my heart broke for my Gwynnie. As she was playing with the kids at park day with a few of our regular park day friends she met a new friend. The new friend was wearing stripes and she was really cute maybe a year older than Gwyn. They were playing on the stage when I heard Miss Priss crying. I saw the little girl in stripes run back and she had a really guilty look on her face. Gwyn came over crying crocodile tears telling me that the little girl had kicked her in the cheek while she was on the stage. I hugged her and comforted her. But I am a parent to 4 kids, I know the ropes. In truth I was glad it was not my child that had done the hurting, I know kids will be kids. Just normal kid stuff, nothing to get worked up over. It was when I was buckling my darling squishy girl up that my heart stopped for a minute. Our conversation:

Gwyn: I told that girl that she hurt my feelings.

Me: Because she hurt you?

Gwyn: No, because she told me my face was chunky.

Me: What?

Gwyn: She said "You have a chunky face." It really hurt my feelings. Is my face chunky?

Me: No baby, you are beautiful. You have a beautiful face. ( I am screaming inside)

-Later that night in bed as we are laying a talking-

Gwyn: Mom, what does it mean to have a chunky face? Does it mean my face is brown like Emee's? But Emee's face is beautiful, I like Emee's face. (truly this was a conversation with herself reasoning)

What do you say?

So I said:

I don't know baby, but I do know you have a beautiful round healthy face that mom and dad love to try to kiss off..... (then the kisses start and last until she is giggling)

I hate the image thing. I hate that we will soon enter the stage of what everybody looks like. She will never be a petite thing, but who cares? She is AMAZING to us. I look at her and I think, if only I could be as beautiful as she is!

She is a walking Valentine today!

I love her because:

She prays that I will have a baby EVERYDAY!

She loves her little brother so much.

She sings all the time. Taylor Swift, and Pink are her favorites.

She likes daddy's ipod more than mine.

She would rather tend the Weston twins at the park than play.

She is a great eater and has a very adult pallet.

She loves to tell you stories about princess, the princes name is always Bob.

She climbs in bed with us every night and pushes her way in between us.

She loves to play dress up.

She tells me she loves me 20 times a day.

When you tell her she's beautiful she says, "thank you, and I know"

She starts the day off with bows and a bracelet and ends the day with purses, necklace, chap stick, 2 more bracelets, and a doll.

She is always proud of me when I dance around the house.

She makes sure her older brothers kiss her before they leave for school.

She totally pretends to not hear you when you are telling her not to do something. ( I don't love it but sometimes is strikes me as funny)

She always wants to know what are plans are for the day.

She told a neighbor today that I was her only Valentine.

She is my girl.

She has my eyes.....

It's Farm Girl's Birthday

1. She has naturally almost black hair that has never seen a grey hair.......NO DYE!

2. Her eyebrows and eye lashes are 10 shades lighter than her hair.

3. She is a mood eater. You can ask her what her favorite food is but it will always be different because it totally depends on her mood.

4. She loves chocolate....almost more than her children. I said almost.

5. She is a Never Nude.

6. She loves to clean. I mean hand her some rubbing alcohol and she is one happy camper.

7. She is really truly a farm girl. She grew up on a farm and still believes in early to bed early to rise.

8. That being said I can always talk her into a late night movie, Walmart run, or night time chat!

9. She likes to have her self a little power nap in the afternoon.

10. She has the longest legs, and when she is REALLY walking it is hard to keep pace with her.

11. She is the most generous person with her time that I know.

12. She loves children. Not just hers but every one's children. For any of you that have had her watch your children, be assured they are in the best hands.

13. She has an amazing amount of patience.

14. Because she is so kind and giving, I have seen people take advantage of her - she always has the most forgiving heart.

15. She has the best sense of humor. She can get giggling and you can't help but join in.

16. She is a Fabulous writer. If you haven't read her blog you should.

17. She LOVES to make delicious treats. We LOVE for her to make delicious treats.

18. She makes the best chocolates EVER during the Holidays.

19. She is the fourth of eight children.

20. She isn't a huge music lover. She enjoys music but it has never influenced her much.

21. She had one of the worst haircuts of all time. Thanks to Mike we all got to enjoy it on facebook.

22. She LOVES her sisters. I hear Molly stories all the time.

23. She is a happy and optimistic person by nature.

24. At any given point of the day Mary Ann's house is spotless, and smells like cookies.

25. She Loves Napoleon Dynamite...Preston is her home town.

26. She is the nicest wife ever! Mike gets to do what ever he wants.

27. She admits she might be a bit June Cleaver-ish, and is okay with it.

28. Her car is always clean.

29. She actually says things like: Asta-la-pasta and Anywho.

30. She has a serious love for PB M&M's.

31. She loves to read and loves her book group.

32. She once was tricked into stepping waist high into cow manure.

33. She ran the St. George Marathon in 2005 with Mike. I have never seen a husband as proud as Mike was. I have never been so proud of her myself.

34. She is the best friend anyone could have and that means she has your back all the time. I can think of MANY times Mary Ann has saved me. She never fails to be there at all the right times, in happiness, sorrow, and just because moments. I love you dearest friend of mine. I hope that this crazy year will bring you great things. Thanks for all you teach me.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Oh no you di-'nt.....

To whom it may concern (you know the one who payed my power bill): I love you! Because of you I could now provide you with these pictures! No really....Thank you, it was such a sweet gesture.

Amberly is 33...errrr I mean is 31

A little walk down memory lane with you. The infamous Jackson Hole Trip...sorry my friends for my brattiness this trip.

I don't know where I found this little gem....but that is what it is. Your Welcome!

My 15th birthday. We went to SLC and saw a movie and slept over at the Marriott Hotel. I thought it was fun but maybe you didn't? You don't look so happy. On a side note, isn't my mom's hair GREAT?

Another picture from that great Jackson Hole trip.

More Marriott pictures.... Here is the the thing. How is it that you look exactly the same?

Ahhhh....Lake Powell Watkins style. I loved Sand Hill. Amberly is the foxy one in the florescent swimsuit on the far left.

The Ambers.

I don't remember you as a grumpy person...but you seem upset in this picture too.

Riding in the front of the boat as your dad showed us the sights. You were so into Bob Marley at that point. Why?

We have been pregnant MANY times together. I had just had Abe and you were just about to have Ben.

My 17th birthday....I actually love this picture of you.

Here you are now with your 4th child in arms. You are a fantastic friend who I love dearly. We have been friends since the day in 8th grade I sang into my deodorant to you in PE. You thought to yourself who in the hell (no you would would have said heck because you are way better than me)is she? After that we were tight! I admire you so much. You are a fantastic mother and wife. I am so glad that you have been in my life for more than half of it. You have never been anything but a influence of good to me. Thank you for your friendship I hope the next 31 years will be as fun as the last. Happy Birthday true blue friend.

xoxoxoxox

Need Something Sweet?

Look at my newest endeavor!!!!! This is my photography blog, my website is in the works.

New Years Eve Weston Style......

Every year the Weston's have a New Years Eve party, and you have to be pretty special to be invited to this party.....you have to be able to embarrass yourself real good:) The party theme was iconic dances....yep that left the door wide open.
So here are the Sullivan's doing the little Napoleon Dynamite dance!

Oh yeah, you had a name drawn to see who your back up dancers would be....the Jackmans won this round. Travis made a fantastic Kip.

The Gerhets did a little cheer number to Hey Mickey!

Turns out Bobi is a GREAT cheerleader.

The Westons were so gangster as Kris-kros.

I just had to document all of the sweet jumps I got on film.

Mark is amazing don't you think?

Mark little brother Sarah was great too.

The Broughs with a little Hokie Pokie...

The Jackmans with Saturday Night Fever.

Anne told us that Travis made them practice quite a lot. He takes these things very seriously.

I am so glad he does.

The Leach's had a great number that involved some serious choreography....

Impressive! So was the fact that Mark and Sarah are pretty much getting it on in the background.

The Layton's did a dance piece from "So You Think You Can Dance" It was the mattress dance. I have to say that I am always impressed with Steve's commitment.

Action shot of Sara!

The Buntings were the infamous Millie Vanilli.....

I especially liked the paper they layed out in front of them to help them remember their moves.

Here we have the Edwards(who we are related to.) Yes, that is Sam in a Speedo.

We did a little synchronized swimming with them to Titanic's "My Heart Will Go On" It was beautiful...let me tell you.

We ended the night with a little River Dance.....

And I think I will end this post with this picture of the One and Only.......Lord of the Dance!
(thank you Mom for the shirt you whipped up for Bob)

Thanks Weston's we love your parties....hope we are here for next years!

Jobless.....

When you hear that word doesn't it just make you sad? I makes me sad. It makes me sad now that it is our reality. Last Wednesday just before he came home from work, Bob's boss came into talk about a project that they were working on. When the conversation was finishing the boss dropped the news that he would be letting Bob go in a couple of weeks. He told him that if it weren't so slow they would not be letting him go but with the economy......He also said some things to him that I just want to kick his boss in the teeth for, but what can you do? Engineers for the most part, aren't always known to have a lot of social/personal skills. I think that when you are telling someone that you are taking their lively hood away, and aren't giving you any kind of severance package, or health insurance, and good luck taking care of your wife, four kids, and mortgage.......you might feel a little shitty about it. (excuse the language...but only kind of excuse it) I feel bad for the boss/owner but really I just feel bad for us.

*Bear with me while I vent for a moment....What is with companies that beg for your loyalty, and want things to feel like a family, when in the end they will kick you to the curb without much thought? What is with co-workers who are your friends that KNOW you are going to be let go and don't give you any warning. How about a little "things aren't looking good, maybe you should be looking around." Nothing. Just acting really weird at the strange Christmas Party.....It's not like we didn't know that this was coming, we just didn't think it would be us first, or so soon.*

I do know that his boss is a good person, I know that the economy is terrible especially in our small town. I know that they would have kept my husband if things weren't slow. But nothing like being let go in the first round. It still makes me want to call up the boss and give him an earful of how wonderful my Bob is and what he is losing, but I know that would do nothing. I am just FIERCELY loyal, and I don't want to lose my house, my friends, my little life we have had so much fun building.

All of that being said, I have faith that the Lord is mindful of us. I also have total belief in Bob. He has taken care of me since I first let him into my life.... it started with him taking my broken watch and having it fixed when we first started to "hang out" and then was shortly followed by him calling Adam (old-boyfriend) and telling him to leave me alone. I know he will make sure we (our family) is taken care of. I hate to be the damsel in distress but with four kids they are MY job. We are looking at all possibilities. Going back to school may be one of them.

I can not thank the people in our lives enough that have been so supportive. We have had phone call after phone call from friends and family to let us know we are in their prayers. We have had treats and bread brought over from our friends. We have had some very generous offers made to us. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We love you all so much. The thing about living away from family is that your friends become your family. We have "Our Peeps" that we know we can always count on. Who will help in a seconds notice. I really will be sad if we have to leave you. You are family to us. I know we are not in this boat alone. I am sorry to my friends who sit right along side of us, my heart goes out to you....

One of the hardest things about this situation is having to tell your kids. Our two oldest boys cried and cried. Abe kept saying "I don't want to have to leave Braden (his best buddy), and I am the top of my class we can't move". Tucker hasn't been able to sleep well since we told him. I probably shouldn't have let them see Kit Kitteridge.....they are certain it's going to be just like that movie. In the end we convinced them that they had no worries, that we would continue to be the parents and they are the kids and should just be the kids and let us worry. Those words seemed to help.

We are trying to see this as an opportunity rather than devastation. Bob has never been that happy in Engineering so this is the time to decide where he will be most happy. We will get through this. We are so grateful for our beautiful, healthy, loving children. We know we are blessed. We love each other, and we really pull together when things get rough. We are good like that. I feel so humbled. I am willing to do whatever it takes. I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that this is a short time in our lives and we must make the most of this situation. I fight the urge to just stay in bed in the morning and just read a book....I am fighting off the depression. I am grateful for my children who help me, I am mostly grateful for my AWESOME husband who is a worker who is not afraid to get his hands dirty.....who comes from working stock. I am trying to count my blessings people!

I hope we don't lose our house. It's not like we live in anything grand....it's just a simple home. But it's our home. I would love to stay here but the more I think about it I don't know how that can happen. I hate to move my kids, but I have been thinking about when I was a child and my parents moved us (many times) I never really minded. I was just happy to be together. My mom always made our homes comfortable, I never knew we were struggling. I never knew when we were wealthy. I just knew my parents loved me and that we were okay. I am trying to let go....this house and all that encompasses that are just things and that is not what's important. It's about my family.
So there it is people, the good, the bad, and the ugly.....how's that for real life!

Wiggly Car Posse'

Requirements:

-Age 2-4 years old

-Snotty nose

-Ghetto shoes

-Cute as can be