The Boaz Beat: February 5, 2013

Wow, it is February already! Since my last update we have been able to spend some really great time with each other and with Austin's parents! Austin had the entire ML King day off and we went and explored different parts of the city we don't usually frequent. Towards the end of the month I turned one year older and was royally spoiled by Austin. We celebrated all weekend and on to Monday! Austin just kept saying, 'Well, it's your birthday month.' That is a nice thought :)

It was so great to have Austin's parents come. We were able to do some fun things and spend some quality time together. Unfortunately we all had a turn at getting sick (bad colds with fever), so it made us refrain from being quite so adventurous. In fact, we are still recovering! Poor Evan got it the worst and actually had to spend some time in the pediatric ER. I had been 'afraid' of Evan getting sick like this all year because of what happened last year (pneumonia/bronchitis/double ear infection, 3 days in the hospital, same week even!), so I was extra cautious with him. In fact, the day before we took him to the ER, I took him to see his Dr because I could tell his sickness was going down the same road as last year. Even with all our effort, his bad cold turned into the croup, which caused his breathing to get really bad (noisy, labored), really fast. We put him in our bed to sleep next to him at night because I know that night time is always the worst. Sure enough by around 3 am his breathing got so loud and rattled that it woke me up. From 3-6 am he was in and out of sleep, very uncomfortable and his breathing was getting worse. We couldn't wait any longer and had to take him in. Austin packed a bag and took off with Evan. We decided it would be best for me to stay home with Grant.

Let me tell you, staying home with one of your kids while your husband takes your other child to the ER is no easy task. I was surprised that I only broke down crying once! I of course was on my knees and saying constant prayers in my heart that the Lord would allow Evan's body to be strong and fight this sickness. Deep down I knew that taking him to the 'hospital' wouldn't be the cure. Last year with him in the hospital and not responding to any of the treatments for the first day and a half was all too fresh on my mind. A virus is a virus. When breathing gets bad, everything gets bad. And he didn't respond to the breathing treatments...He didn't respond to the breathing treatments. I didn't want that to happen again.

Austin kept me updated via text and calls. Luckily after a few hours (!) we found out it wasn't pneumonia yet, just a bad case of the croup causing his breathing to be bad (which is exactly how everything started last year). They tried the breathing treatments, and he didn't respond to them (just like last year). Eventually they decided to release him and hope he got better because his fever had broken (thankfully!). When Austin brought Evan home, Austin's parents came over and Austin and his dad administered a priesthood blessing to Evan as he laid in his bed.

From that moment on, I knew Evan would be okay. I felt peace and love and reassurance that Evan's body would be able to fight this sickness. And from that moment on, Evan has been recovering. By the Mercy of God, Evan has gotten better. Slowly, but progressing.

It's amazing how traumatic life circumstances can make us think about things we don't normally allow ourselves to think about. And how hard that can be! My heart was filled with so much love for my sweet little boy. I didn't want anything serious to happen. And if anything did, I had the overwhelming desire to dedicate my whole life in order to make it back. And if of course then, then why not now?

I have felt a renewed desire to DO BETTER and BE BETTER. To do better and to be a better person, more faithful, more kind, more patient, more loving, more thankful. More thankful for each day, each smile, each giggle, each cry. Each moment I have to be a mommy to two amazing little boys.

Here is our recent life in pictures. Enjoy!