An Update on Auntie Heather

Saturday, February 13, 2010
Dear Max,

Hi Sweetie, I'm so happy that I'm updating you today on Auntie Heather. It has been an absolutely wild ride, that I will try to depict to you. But know that as we are here on the other side of this journey for her, things are well. Last Thursday a diagnosis was finally given, only a week after being hospitalized. Ecoli. The infection entered her blood stream and went directly to the weakest part of her body, her heart and lungs. In November she was diagnosed with a shorten aorta. Of course having the infection go straight to the most vital parts of our bodies was not good. Hence, ICU, breathing tubes, 10 day coma etc. On Friday, February 5th, Grammie came down to Vegas and picked you and me up so we could head up to St. George to see Heather. Daddy had to work on Saturday and would not be able to leave until late Saturday night. I was so worried, that I didn't want to wait, and luckily Grammie really likes to spend time with you so she was happy to come and get us! Seeing Auntie Heather in the hospital was heart breaking. She looked so sick. I was surprised that Chris was handling everything so well, on the outside I'm sure. They only let 2 people in at a time, so it did take some coordination being the weekend and several friends and family all coming to town to see Auntie Heather. But that gave lot's of extra hands to help entertain you in the waiting room while I could spend some time with Heather. It was surreal to be back in an ICU environment and under such different circumstances. I remember talking with Daddy when we spent those day's with you at the ICU, and even though you were healthy by then, the tension on the floor is really high. To be there with Heather, her being so sick, and knowing that a lot of that tension was due to her condition, it was very different. Although she was stable, things were still uneasy. The ICU does have strict visiting hours. Which I think in part is a good thing, it forced the family to leave the hospital, otherwise they would have been their 24/7. We did take advantage of being all together, and stayed up late Saturday night visiting and playing games. Sunday we went back in the afternoon to see Auntie Heather. No real change to her circumstance at that point. However, by Monday it seemed like she was making LEAPS of improvement. The antibiotics were starting to do her job and her body was finally reacting. And when it decided to react it reacted quickly. Monday, February 8th (Chris' Birthday) she made a big improvement and by Tuesday they had taken her breathing tubes out and she was trying to breath on her own. By Wednesday (her mommy's birthday) they had moved her from ICU back to the regular floor and she was on the mend. I talked to her on the phone on Thursday, it was hard to understand her, her speech was really slurred, but it was so wonderful to hear her voice. Our family went back up to St. George yesterday (the 12th). We went back to spend some time with Auntie Heather. They will be moving her to a rehab center were she will spend the next few weeks re-learning how to walk, talk, eat and getting back her fine motor skills. But she is a fighter and she will be back to as good as new! I felt like a new mom seeing Auntie Heather today. It was such a vast difference from the last time I saw her. I would look at her feet, and say "oh look, your feet aren't swollen anymore" "your coloring is SOOO much better! Your not gray anymore!" it just goes on and on. Autie Heather doesn't remember being in the coma for 10 days. She was quite shocked when she came out that their was such a "to do" over her being sick. We are so grateful for her recovery and will be cheering her along the way as she continues her road to full recovery. Max, it is a true answer to prayers. I'm so thankful for all the prayers and faith of our friends and family, even mommy and daddy's friends that have never met Heather had the faith to pray for her recovery. I'm so grateful!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Auntie Heather - ICU

Grandma Hein and Olivia helping you walk

Such great entertainment in the waiting room

You are so proud of yourself!

Thank you for entertaining me!


Saturday, February 13, 2010

Olivia sharing her juice box with you.
Olivia pushed you up and down the hall's. She was a really good babysitter!

We got a Walker!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Dear Max,

You Walked! You did it! Tonight you took your first steps! I can not believe that both daddy and I were home to witness this! Daddy sat you down on your feet just a few steps away from the couch. One of your favorite toys (a wooden train) was on the couch. All of a sudden you took one step, then a second, then fell towards the couch! Daddy and I both started jumping and screaming for joy. Our reaction scared you to death. You immediately started crying. While I calmed you down Daddy grabbed the video camera and it all began. Taking a few steps between us. What an incredible dream! I can't believe our baby is walking. Frankly, I can't believe we are parents and get to experience this joy. Max, I can not explain to you the excitement and gratitude we felt. Max, I think our dead giveaway will be when you watch the video and hear our high pitched voices. I'm amazed that you took your first steps, when both Daddy and I were home! I thought for sure, this would be one of those moments that would happen at Jaime's, all hazards of being working parents. I know that we are being blessed and I truly believe that you decided to walk when you did for a reason! We love you so much Max! Welcome to the world of walkers... it will be nice to have you off of all 4 and onto 2's!

PS - I won the bet! Daddy said you would be walking by Christmas. I said Presidents Day.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Dear Max,

You make me Happy!

Love Mom

Max 1st Birthday Pictures

Thanks Auntie Emilie and Uncle Brian for making Max this cool slide show of his 1st Birthday pictures.

Page Family Pictures

A Heavy Heart

Tuesday, February 1, 2010
Dear Max,
My heart is so heavy tonight. I don't have a lot of information to share with you Max, but I felt like I wanted you to know what is in my heart. For the past 5 days, your Auntie Heather has been really sick, and things are getting worse. When Grammie Hein and Uncle Wes came into town on Sunday, they were worried, but hopeful that she would start feeling better. She was admitted to the Hospital last week, and Sunday night they made the decision to move her to the ICU. The worst part is they do not know what is wrong with her. They have ran test and test and can not figure it out. Her body is shutting down, and I'm so scared.

Max, you know how much Auntie Heather and the Hill family mean to us. I feel like the Hill family was sent to my family for a very special reason. You see, Mommy grew up in a small family, just an older brother. We did have cousins, but only on Papa's side. The cousins on Grammie's side were much older than Uncle Geary and I. So you can imagine the sheer excitement when Mommy was in the 5th grade and this family moved in next door with FOUR kids! Our families immediately meshed and we were either eating dinner at one house or the other. Usually Uncle Geary and I were headed to the Hill's and all the Hill kids were headed to our house. The Hill Family has been a part of every momentous moments of our lives, they have shaped who I am and have given me experiences and memories that I cherish. Their acceptance is beyond friendship it is family. Heidi and Heather are the two sisters that I never had. It was truly devastating in the fall of 2006 when we got word that Dr. Hill was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I will never forget the day. I was driving home from work when I got the call from Heidi, it wasn't moments later that Heather was on the phone. I immediately left town for St. George. We were all in shock, disbelief, it all happened so quick. I made the decision to fly up to SLC to the cancer hospital there, I'm so glad I did. Daddy and I were leaving for a trip back East and it was uncertain if we would be back in time. All of us laying around in the hospital room, reminiscing about our childhood stories, laughing and crying. The last time what I consider to be my "big" family was all together. Dr. Hill and Papa were such close friends, as a matter of fact, if you look in Papa's phone, he still has Dr. Hill's cell number programed in. I remember asking him why, he said, "you never know when your going to need your best friend." Daddy and I didn't make it back in time. Next to loosing my grandparents this has been the hardest lose for me. Still as I write this to you tears run down my cheeks. Daddy and I feel that Dr. Hill was instrumental in your recovery. I know that he was by the Dr.'s side's when they operated on you, making sure that you would be safe to come to our family.

Chris and Heather were married the summer of 2006, Daddy and I quickly found a fun "couple" friend in the two of them. We were both ready for adventures! So in the fall of 2006 we made the decision to start traveling together it was the perfect match. Not always do you find a great couple that like to do the same things and are good travel partners. And they are ours! We have had some great times and lifetime memories. The call came this morning that things had taken another turn for the worse. Chris was called at 5:00 am to come back down to the ICU, things are not looking good. She has turned septic and they had to put a breathing tube down her throat. I am so scared. I have not stopped praying for her and the great doctors around her. Papa went down on Sunday to give her a blessing. I'm trying to have faith, and praying that our Heavenly Father will show mercy on this family.

Auntie Heather and Max

Diya, Wes, Heather, Chris, Mommy and Daddy at the 2007 Daytona 500


2008 Daytona 500

Heather and Mommy

Swimming with the Sting Ray's in the Cayman Islands

Chris and Heather on the Safari at the Wild Animal Park

Dunn's River Fall's in Jamaica

Dining on our Cruise

Auntie Heather and Grammie Hein at your birthday party

Sunday, January 31, 2010
Dear Max,
What started as a fun weekend, sure ended with an "explosion" Thursday night Grammie came to town. She came down, cause Papa had a doctors appointment on Friday. Daddy actually had to go to traffic school on Thursday night, so Grammie, you and I got to hang out. You ask, why traffic school for Daddy? Well, he got a speeding ticket, I'll have to tell you more about that later. Anyways, we enjoyed a night at home. Grammie was so happy to see you!

Friday, Grammie and Papa went to the doctors, mommy went to work, and you and daddy met up with Grammie and Papa after the doctors to come join mommy for lunch at work. We had a celebration lunch at the Burger place inside the Paris. A celebration that Papa is still showing a low PSA count, which means that his cancer has not come back. We are so grateful for that! I've decided that it's not a good idea to have everyone come to lunch on a Friday. It made it really hard to go back to work after lunch! Later Friday night - Grammie and Papa agreed to stay home with you and give Daddy and I a date night. We decided that we would go see Advatar on the IMAX in 3D. It was AMAZING! It is unbelievable to me that this technology exists to create a movie like this. You will most likely be reading this in the year 2025 and laughing. By that time I'm sure the movie Advatar will be my generations ATARI. But it was so cool. So cool, that we came home that night and said to both Grammie and Papa, that they had to see the movie. And they had to see it in IMAX and 3D!

Saturday, we started the morning making arrangements to have Grammie stay another day and have Papa come back, get a babysitter and go back to see Advatar again! We got everything coordinated and Daddy headed to work. Grammie, you and I had a fun day. Grammie and I love to spend time together and we sure love "bumming"! We ran to Target, Costco and to the make-up store. We had a good time. You are a good sport to hang with us two ladies. I will say when we went into the make-up store, you were a HIT! All the ladies just loved you! And you are becoming quite the charmer with your sly wave, blowing kisses and smiles. That evening, we all went to the movie, even Aunt Andrea joined us. You got to hang out with not one but two babysitters! Pretty lucky kid! Grammie and Papa loved the movie, and Aunt Andrea said it was totally different seeing it in IMAX and 3D than on the regular screen. What a fun treat to hang out with Grammie and Papa.

Sunday morning started our fairly normal. Grammie decided to stay in town, Papa went home after the movie cause he had to give the prayer in church. Grammie stayed, cause Uncle Wes was in town from Florida and Grammie Hein was coming down so we could all have dinner at the house. When I woke up, I didn't feel all that great. My belly kind of ached, but nothing that I couldn't "power through" When you went down for your nap around 9:45 am, Grammie suggested that I lay down too and get some extra rest. The next thing I know, I hear Grammie over the monitor saying "OH NO!" I run into your room and you have had the most explosive diaper and it is EVERYWHERE! All over the crib, bumper, sheet, blankets and you are covered head to toe. I can't even think if you got it in...I can't even say it...
I wrap you up in a towel and take you into the shower to hose you down, then clorox'd the tub to bath you. While Grammie finished the bath, I proceeded to Clorox your crib. Took everything apart and cleaned every inch of your bed. We get everything cleaned up, you dressed and Grammie picks you up to walk into the other room... and... BOOM! Again, you have exploded - diarrhea! Suddenly... DING DONG. Here is Uncle Wes and Grammie Hein. Grammie runs down stairs to let them in. Here I am with you on the changing table, diarrhea everywhere. An upset stomach and...then... you guessed it... Tossed my cookies! I couldn't leave you - cause I couldn't put you on the ground with your mess, I couldn't walk away, for fear that you would fall off the changing table, so I grabbed the closest thing, the bucket of Clorox I had just used to clean your crib. I'm sure you are fully damaged by watching this exorcist move. You were so upset. How could you not be. I knew that the monitor was on and of course everyone could hear all the "excitement" happening up in your room. This is when the words came out of my mouth... "Mom, I need your help!" What would we do without Grammie! Oh my! After round two of clean up - I called Daddy and he came home to assist. This is the challenge with being a mommy - you can't call out sick! And it is not a good combination with both the mommy and the baby are sick! Everyone left for the evening, Grammie and Grammie Hein headed back to St. George and Uncle Wes back to his Hotel. We have spent the last 24 hours recovering. We are in much better sorts this afternoon and will all be headed back to our normal routine tomorrow.