Bienvenido A Miami

Welcome to Miami

So Carillisa and I made a relatively quick drive (4 days) to Miami, while Grandma Jane brought Lauren and Marissa out on the day we drove in. In fact, we got to our apartment just in time to unload the van and get back in and pick them up at the airport. Fortunately, the it's only a fifteen minute drive from our downtown apartment. In this skyline picture you can see our apartment two to the right of the tallest building. I took this picture from the bridge coming back from Key Biscayne.

The next morning we took a little walk around the block and down this ocean walk. It was pretty cloudy the first week we were here, as you can see this was no exception. Too bad too, Carillisa and Jane flew out the next morning.
This little pavement ledge was the only thing keeping the girls from investigating too far over the edge. Their exploration was short lived as you can see Rissie was the first to end up buckled back into the stroller.
Vaisalles (?) was delicious Cuban cuisine that made even better leftovers...for a couple more meals. After we stopped by the bakery and had some delicioso pastries and Jon and I were able to spit out a little of our Spanish. It's much more fun to use it when you aren't compelled!

Friday, Jon took us all on a little adventure to Key Biscayne where we visited the lighthouse and dipped our toes in the beach. This nice ranger is showing the girls how you can hear the coconut milk when you shake them at the lighthouse cabin.

The view from our bedroom window.
Lauren modeling her dress...and the apartment.

We are loving our time in Miami. I can't believe I considered missing this. For some reason, Miami in my mind was a city stuck in the 80's. Not that they didn't move on, but that's the only time I remember it being a big deal. After two weeks I can see why this place was such a hit. It's BEAUTIFUL. I'll be posting more soon.
Did I mention how much I LOVE being downtown? When C and I drove in it was night so the city was all lights and to get to our apartment was seriously such a rush (can you tell I'm a small town girl?). ANWAY - it was awesome! Our jaws dropped as we saw the city and then DROVE through the city anxiuosly hoping we were going the right way through the spiderweb of freeway. We found it and I couldn't stop grinning with my first impression of my new home.

Farewell to Utah

Hello Blogger Friends - I am heading out for our next adventure. See you in a while with our pictures from across the US. My sister and I are traveling together. I am so excited. Miami - HERE WE COME!!
I am sad that I didn't get to see everyone here that I wanted, luckily out adventure isn't too long. Only 12 weeks.
UPDATE on Lauren, it will take her several months to fully recover and will always have a scar, but her follow up visits are done and we've been given the OK to head out. Hence this message. :)

If any of you can recommend anywhere to eat along our way, PLEASE send me a note. I'll check this before we leave.

Happy Birthday Jon

Today (the 17th) is my dearest husband's birthday (pardon the sap, I just watched Becoming Jane) and he is across the country away from us. He is thirty today.
He has been gone since Saturday night and everyday seems to get harder and harder. I am not sure if his being gone on his birthday was harder for me or for him...I think it was me.
The original plan was for me to stay here with the girls and save some money on the outrageous rent in Miami while he went on his own for twelve weeks in smaller accommodations. I was thinking economically, but seriously what a DUMB plan!!! My heart goes out to the wives of soldiers. I don't know how they do it, December for me seems impossibly long. I realize that I will basically be on my own anyway with the girls in Miami, but it's worth it to see him even if it's a few minutes a day or asleep at night. Families are meant to be together, they just are.
SO - This one is for you Babe!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! We LOVE you and MISS you. XOXO Your GIRLS
I'll keep y'all posted on when we're headed out to join him...Lauren's appointment with the surgeon is this Friday. We're hoping he has good news.

Back to the Hospital

Ya ever heard the doctor say it gets worse before it gets better? Well, Lauren got better (almost) and then much worse! She spiked a fever Sunday night and by Monday morning (Labor Day) her injury had gone from the healing mild pink to a purple red again and the swelling was returning drastically. So, we left the Jenkins' party in Park City and took her to the on call doctor in Provo who suggested that we take her back to the hospital for the IV antibiotics again. When the infectious disease doctor saw her again he ordered an ultra sound (which has not and still didn't show an abscess) and later a CT scan. They finally found the hiding abscess and scheduled her for surgery. Tuesday morning Papa Lee and her daddy gave her a blessing and she had a successful surgery later that afternoon.
I was comforting her on the bed before they came to get her and suggested that I stay with her for the ride to the OR. We waved to all of the people on the way down and most of them smiled and waved back.In pre-op she got nervous so they gave her some stickers and a couple of Beanie Babies (they gave her the cute teddy blanket for her wagon ride to the CT scan.) They let me stay with her until the anesthetics started to put her to sleep...VERY wise!
Waiting for the surgery wasn't bad. I got a little anxious when they didn't come and didn't come when they estimated they would. Then having Papa Lee there, then Grandma Jane, Aunt Missy and her friend Alexis, and Aunt Marci (it was her 20th birthday), and then Grandma Lee come helped ease the stress. ALTHOUGH, there is something about being in a stressful situation like this that when the burden is shared all of the pent up emotions find their escape.

After the surgery, she was excited to wear the crown she had made. What a relief to have to her back on the road to recovery.
Jaro, the beautiful Newfoundland, came to boost her spirits. Debbie, from Child Life Services, got to be good friends with Lauren and helped make her hospital stay enjoyable.
Like painting butterflies out of coffee filters with A. Carillisa. Debbie later added pipe cleaner antennas and strung them from her ceiling.
Aunt Carillisa spent several hours with her one evening while her mom and dad took a mini break back to Park City for their belated anniversary celebration. Grandma Jane came to relieve A. Carillisa and SPENT THE NIGHT with Lauren. There were lots of worried friends and relatives that came to visit - THANKS to all of you who made an effort to show Lauren how much she is loved. (I didn't always remember to take pics, sorry)Going to bathroom was QUITE the ordeal. One night I had to call Papa Lee to come help. He has a great relationship with Lauren and has a way of explaining things to her so she isn't so afraid...like going to the bathroom even when you think it's going to hurt! As you can see with the IV and catheter - it's not an easy task.He was here to visit everyday and sometimes twice, when Gma Lee came too.She stole the hearts of her nurses, especially Dennis who brought her stuff as often as he could.
After a WEEK in the hospital she is discharged and ready to go HOME...catheter and all! Dennis took her out in the wagon and she waved good-bye to everyone on the way out.
She went back yesterday to get her packing changed for the fourth time since her surgery and will go again tomorrow. She is getting better but I've said that before! Let's just pray this is really the END.
I've posted a couple of videos of her coming off the drugs (from the packing procedures). If your interested in seeing more click on "Cracking Up!" and "One More" on Aunt Carillisa's blog

Boogie Down on Drugs

Lauren's coming home movie

Summer Days

Lauren's Hospital Scare

We had a bit of a scare with Lauren this past week. Last Friday, she fell into a filter hole along the outside edge of the pool and the cover gave way catching her fall between her legs. She started bleeding, (and screaming) immediately. Little did we know we would end up taking her to the emergency room the next day from an infection that had grown and was getting worse. It spread as cellulitis up her pelvic region and around her side beyond her belly button. They admitted her and kept her over night with an IV and antibiotics. By Monday she was still in the hospital and not getting better. The right side of her little girlness had swollen to at least three times it's natural size and the cellulitis was very tender. On Tuesday they looked at her and after consulting with the infectious disease specialist decided to treat her for MRSA, a nasty bacteria that is resistant to most antibiotics, so they strengthened her antibiotics. This kind of freaked us out (beyond our stressed out heartbroken state), but we were so glad they were taking care of her needs. Wednesday they checked her and ordered an ultrasound to rule out an abscess and also learned from her culture test that she did NOT have MRSA, but with the big gun antibiotics she was finally improving. The ultrasound was clean of the abscess so she was able to come home Thursday morning. Friday, her doctor ordered another ultrasound after her checkup, which was thankfully still clean. Her appointment yesterday went well and she'll have another one on Friday that will hopefully be her last.

The nursing staff was fantastic. I was very pleased with the care she received. She melted their hearts, especially those who tried to give her the IV. It took three tries in the ER and five or six in the pediatric unit when her first collapsed. They finally had to bring in the life flight nurse with thirty years experience to get her second one to work. It probably didn't help the Lauren was screaming and using anything she could to prevent being poked...again.
Thanks to all of her visitors and the love and support (shoulders to cry on) we received. We are so grateful to have been home and together for this. We are even more grateful that she is recovering and her happy personality has returned.