Surgery for Annalise

This coming Wednesday, September 5th, Annalise will have her first surgery and hospital stay.  Up until a few days ago when we met with the orthopedic doctor, we were planning on just an achillotenotomy which would be an outpatient surgery and only leave her with boot casts for 6 weeks.  However, as we, her physical therapist, and her physical medicine doctor feared, her adductors have also become so tight that she will need an adductor tenotomy as well.  This will require an overnight stay and she will be in a cast going from her hips to her feet and separated with a bar like this one      

that Bryce wore for 7 weeks when he had the same surgery done almost 2 years ago.  I am seriously not looking forward to going through this again!  I think the time in the casts will be especially hard for Annalise because she is still mobile...and she LOVES her bubble baths.  6-8 weeks without walking or taking a bath...she is not going to be a very happy camper!  We are really hoping that this surgery will release the tightness and pain that she has in her legs and hips and ankles.  We are also very hopeful that when the casts come off, Annalise will be able to walk a little easier and with less scissoring and pain than she has now.

Ryder and the Other Side of the Ryan House

I have written many times about how wonderful the Ryan House  has been for our family.  It is a place of respite where doctors, nurses, child life specialists, and many volunteers tend to the medical needs of Bryce and Annalise, and to the mental and emotional needs of our entire family.  I love that place and am so thankful to Ryan and his parents for opening the Ryan House here in Phoenix.

The Ryan House is also a place where children can go to receive end of life care when that is what is needed.  The staff there provides support to the child and their family as the child moves from this life to the next.  It is a private time for them.  The other families staying at the Ryan House are not involved.  However, there have been two different times (that I know of) when we have been at the Ryan House while a family has said their final good-bye to their child.  Those times have brought many different emotions to me.  Neither of those families did we know well, one, not at all, and yet I felt a sorrow for them at the pain they were going through.  At the same time I felt joy for the child who was now able to run, laugh, talk, and play like other children, although I am sure they miss their earthly family as well.  One of these passings occurred while I was sleeping, but the other was in the middle of the day and although the staff does their best to keep other families from knowing what is happening, I knew what was going on.  I could feel it.  The veil between this life and the next is so thin.  I was not even in the room and I knew that there were messengers from Heaven who had come to welcome this young child back and to be with him throughout his new journey.  I could feel the spirit so strong!  

It was a wonderful feeling and yet at the same time a feeling of sadness, wonder, and even fear for the time that our family will be on the other side of that wall.  This past week, some very close friends of ours faced their time on the other side of the wall.  Denise, Les, Tyler, and Noah said their final goodbye to little Ryder last Wednesday morning.  They now know exactly how it feels  to be in that situation.  My heart aches for them.  I want to take their pain away, but I know that is not possible.  I do not have that power.  My only hope and comfort is that I know that in time, with the help of a loving Heavenly Father, they will feel peace again and that one day, they will be with Ryder again.  As long as we are on this earth, Ryder will always be missed and will be in our hearts forever!  We sure love you little man!

Spencer's Special Day

Yesterday, Saturday August 18th, 2012, was a very special day for Spencer and the rest of our family.  Spencer was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  As he would tell you, he was "finally" baptized!  He has been looking forward to it since July 1st when he turned 8 years old.  

It was a beautiful day and we were so blessed that many friends and family members were able to share the day with us.  Grandpa Stephens said the opening prayer, William gave a great talk on Baptism where he used a picture of Spencer and talked about how we are clean when we are born, but as we grow we make mistakes, or sin.  He used peanut butter to put little smears on the picture that represented the sins that we all make.  He then took a paper towel that had the word baptism written on it and wiped the picture clean, showing that through baptism, Christ has given us a way to become clean from all our sins.  He then went on to explain that even after we are baptized, we sometimes sin and that we can be forgiven and "wiped clean" by repenting and partaking of the Sacrament each week.  He did a really good job with it.  Then William, Jacob, and Nathan and Kaitlyn Peterson sang a Primary Baptism song, sister Ray (the Primary President) talked for a few minutes and gave Spencer a white embossed Baptism towel.  Then Spencer was Baptized by John.  It was so cute to see all the kids gathered around the font watching as Spencer entered the water.  The baptism was beautiful and then as Spencer left the water, Annalise announced, "now I get in the water!" She was not a happy girl when I carried her away explaining that only Spencer was getting in the water now, but that she could go swimming later when we got home.  

After the baptism, Grandma Stephens spoke about the Gift of Holy Ghost.  She had many objects to help explain how the Holy Ghost can help us.  All of which she gave to Spencer after her talk.  Included in these, was his very own set of Scriptures with his name on them!  He was also super excited about the flashlight, compass, and bag of candy that was included!

Then Spencer was confirmed a member of the church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost.  It was neat to  see such a big circle of friends, men who all hold the priesthood as they conferred this gift to my son.  Wonderful moment!

Then Brother Cooper and Brother Walker officially welcomed Spencer into the ward, we sang a closing song and Jacob gave the closing prayer.  It was a beautiful ceremony!

Spencer and John before the baptism. 

Jacob, Nathan, Kaitlyn, and William practicing for their song.  They did a great job!

Annalise hanging out with her favorite man...next to her dad of course.   

Annalise and Brother Layne Peterson.  I love this picture!  So sweet.

Spencer all dressed in his white clothes and ready for his baptism.  He was so excited! 

After the baptism, we had everyone over for a light lunch/party for Spencer.  Not everyone was able to make it over, but it was nice to visit with those who did.

My fresh, perfectly clean boy next to his cake! 

Shellie and Mark Patton, Layne and Becky Peterson, Eric Crandall, and John. 

A blurry, but happy Bryce.  He had a great time watching little Isaac Patton (6 months old) roll around on the floor next to him.   

Annalise, Emma Crandall, Jenn Crandall, Jacob Crandall, Anna Crandall (I think), Jeffrey Bates, and our wonderful home teacher Brother Jared Bates. 

Swimming after lunch! 

Joseph Crandall and Annalise.  They played really well together with these trains.  It was amazing to watch Joseph walk around on those casts.  They didn't slow him down a bit! 3 year olds are amazing! 

I kept trying to get a picture with them looking at me, but they were way to busy to be bothered with that! 

Congratulations Spencer!