We were so saddened by the loss of our heart friend Hannah. She was hypoplastic left heart too .. had underwent a transplant and fought till the end. What an amazing example of love and courage she is to us. Hannah's mom taught me a lot about being knowledgeable and being your child's best advocate! I know Alaska will miss you Hannah ... what a beautiful angel you will make and I'm sure you will help Hatcher on his journey! Hatcher and Jaxyn sent heart balloons up to Hannah with the wish of finding cures to help heart kids!

Jaxyn is so exited to be getting baptized July 23 at 4pm! What a wonderful example of Faith, Hope, and Love she is to me!

THANK YOU to everyone who helped give us a yard! The kids boot prints were my favorite part!

We made it home and I can't believe how time has flown by! We drove in Late Friday, June 10th to a driveway full of family, friends, and a new yard! Much to our surprise we found grass, curbing, rock walls, gravel, a new patio, what an amazing labor of love! I was overwhelmed with emotion, just pulling up to the house with Hatcher would have been enough to make me cry, let alone a yard! Thanks to amazing family, friends, and community Hatcher and Jaxyn have grass to play on this summer! We don't even have words to express how much this touched our hearts. No matter what happens we will always have the picture of Hatcher running on the grass returning home! THANK YOU to all that helped, we know it took many to make this happen!

Hatcher is doing well. He ended up at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake a few days after we got home, but continues to amaze us with his determination to fight plastic bronchitis. He scared me to death when he struggled to get a cast out and ended up limp in my arms ... something I never want to experience again! He went to the ER ... and then to SL ... and then to ridding his little plastic car around the hospital! He is one tough cookie! We are so happy to be home and love seeing Hatcher being able to take tractor rides and play cowboys once again! I am exhausted keeping up with being nurse and mom, but what can I say ... I asked for it! Thanks again to everyone for their continued love and concern.

Goodbye California!

What a sight, not a spare inch! We are packed to the brim! It feels like we are leaving California with another child (namely plastic bronchitis) we have so much stuff! Hatcher's appointment went good and we got the clear from Dr. Roth to head back to Idaho. Both Randy and I can hardly believe we made it out of here with our little cowboy. We will cherish everyday with him and hope to make some wonderful memories this summer. He was not wanting me to take his picture, he just wanted to go home! When we were heading down the elevator leaving the apartment Jaxyn looked at me and said, "don't tell me your gonna cry again mom!" I simply feel blessed for all the wonderful experiences we have had here at LPCH ... I hope I never lose this feeling of amazing hope and faith that I have felt here daily. Goodbye California!

The kids and I decided it would be fun to take Randy to a SF Giants game for an early fathers day! We had a blast, what a fun park! It turned out to be a beautiful night and went into extra innings (13). We didn't stay for the whole thing ... tPA calls, but they ended up with a W. I have to say seeing Hatcher run the bases at the mini ball park was pricless. Both kids were so excited I couldn't help but do a little claping and cheering myself! The best part of the night was hearing Hatcher scram out, "GO SEHOME." (My dads baseball team that just played in the state championship game.) It was too precious. We love you Randy, thank you for being such a wonderful father and husband! You are my rock and best friend. I love you more and more everyday, happy early Fathers Day!

Boyd and Bryce were definitely the best part of our last night in California! We have become great friends with my favorite Dr.... Thanks for all the support! She was my favorite when Hatcher was a baby and is still my favorite! We look forward to many fun times together! I know she is a doctor for a reason ... and has blessed our family and brightened our days more than she will ever know! (Not to mention those cute girls of hers, Jax and Hatcher are still talking about them!)

I was trying to get some cleaning and packing done at the apartment and the kids were trying to entertain themselves with no TV and little toys. They were board and all of a sudden Jaxyn had an idea. They used their parachute men for hats, TP, Randy's shirts, and anything else they could find and came up with these pirate outfits. So funny and boy did they have fun in them! They played pirates the rest of the afternoon!

My sweet cousins Shane and Katelyn took in a Paul Cardall concert at BYUI and got him to sign this poster for Hatcher. We have listened to his music over and over.... what a wonderful uplift! I'm so thankful for examples and stories like Pauls. And thanks my two cousins, you are two of our favorite people! I also wanted to send a huge thanks to my sweet friend Jessica ... the scrap books are beautiful! Only another scraper knows just how amazing this gift is! Also Lamar and Jamie we had so much fun visiting on Sunday, cookie dough and all! What a blessing to have so much support!

MEDS

What do you get with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Plastic Bronchitis? A lot of meds and supplies! Not to mention vest, nebs and oxygen! Oh bud it's days like this you have to take it one day at a time and enjoy the small everyday joys of not being in the hospital!

Hospital Prom 2011

Although there have been many things about this trip I don't want to remember, this is not one of them! Hospital Prom 2011 was hands down one of the neatest things I have been to. Jaxyn has been able to attend the hospital school and I can't even begin to describe just how amazing it has been for her. She received an "airplane ticket" and invite to prom and was absolutely thrilled! They traveled all around the world getting stickers in their passports. The entire cafeteria was transformed into a prom wonderland. I couldn't help but be emotional watching so many sick children getting to go to prom. A few weeks ago at school Jaxyn was able to try on dresses that people had donated. It was so sweet seeing her excitement as she showed me the dress she picked out. I have to say the best part of the night was having such a cute date! Rachel, you are such a good friend and Jaxyn was so excited you two were able to make this memory together! I have often wonder if Hatcher will ever make it to his high school prom, get his drivers license, or be able to do those things a mom looks forward to seeing her children participate in. How awesome that I got to see it ... they brought prom to us! From all you could eat candy, dancing, games, prizes, a casino and fun, it was a night I hope I never forget. Hatcher had all the girls attention on the dance floor ... what a ladies man bud!

"The Best Day Ever!"

We decided to pack up all the meds and neb and head to the beach! We were able to do the afternoon treatment in the car on the drive. I am sure we looked silly driving down the road with our windows open, safety masks on, and Hatcher doing his treatments! This was the first time Hatcher has ever been to a sandy beach. Both of the kids were so excited, it makes me smile just thinking about it! We spent the day running from waves, digging , chasing, shell finding, picnic eating, and enjoying the moment. I turned to Randy as we were walking on the beach and told him that I wished I could freeze time. To think of all the obstacles Hatcher has overcome is amazing. To have watched him fight so hard for life is humbling. I watched as this little boy stood and looked out over such a powerful ocean and couldn't help but think of the remarkable miracles we have witnessed. One the way back we came upon a little ranch that was doing pony rides. Of course we had to stop! When we got back in the car it was time for another treatment. Hatcher said in the sweetest voice, "This is the best day ever!" It sure was bud, thank you for reminding us just how good life is. When we got back to the apartment we had a pajama party, made a fort, watched The black stallion, and dad tickled the kids till their belly's hurt! I loved hearing them say, "Do it again dad!" And to end the night Randy told them a bed time story about two kids their same age that went to the beach ... it was hilarious, and we were all laughing so hard, I don't think he will ever be able to top that one! It was so wonderful to forget our worries and have the best day ever!

Hatcher had this little smile on his face the entire time.

Howdy!

Hiding from dad in the closet.

The kids and Randy built a fort and played pirates! So fun to hear their happy little shrills as the mean old pirate (Randy) came to get their tummies!

GOING TO THE APARTMENT!

We were all so excited to get out of the hospital and go to the apartment! We had all the meds and equipment to get it done, but of course like this entire trip something had to go wrong! When it came time to do the nebulizer meds and tPA guess what didn't work! So it was a call to Apria and about 10:30pm one of their reps came and brought us a new one. Little did we know that each treatment would take us an hour and a half! With four treatments a day you can imagine what has taken up our time. We are working on getting the same neb as the hospital to help speed up the treatments, so hard for a busy cowboy to sit still for that long. We have learned how to take it in the car, so that has helped! Even with the long treatments we are enjoying every minute together and love not being in the hospital! A cowboy hat and swim shorts always help the treatments go by faster! We never moved Hatcher's car seat this entire time ... I just kept hoping for the day he would be in it again .... and yes, I cried and cried when we walked out.

Jaxyn was just as excited as the rest of us, jumping for joy! No more hospital food!

Two thumbs up for getting out of here!