Boy or Girl?: Mom's Letter, February 5, 1961

Feb. 5, 1961

Dear Mother and Dad,

It was so wonderful to hear from you.  It was also a surprise.  It has been so long since we had heard from you that I just didn’t expect a letter.  It is Sunday evening and the children are in bed after our regular Sunday night Family Night and we have the Choir’s records on.  We have attended two sessions of quarterly conference today and I feel so humble and blessed tonight.  Actually inasmuch as this is a student stake much of what was said couldn’t apply to us now as the theme was marriage in the temple, chastity, and choosing a mate but there was a wonderful spirit there.  This morning our ward choir sang and Bruce let me sing with them.  That sounds so generous doesn’t it – it wasn’t supposed to sound that way but in order to do it I have to remain after Sunday School while he takes the 5 children home and starts dinner and then this morning I had to leave at nine for a practice and he had to bring the children down and sit alone with them during conference so I could sing.  That could be the bitter end for many husbands.  We did leave Stacey and Brett with Auntie as our conferences are held in the Assembly Hall and they are our trouble makers in church.  He is awfully good to me and I do appreciate him. 

Just think.  This baby is due in about three and a half weeks.  I feel fine except for some back trouble and my temper is getting shorter and shorter.  The doctor says all is well and I go every week now.  Bruce keeps teasing me saying I’ll deliver early but I don’t think I’ll come for another 4 weeks.  My reasoning is that this baby is a boy (even tho the doctor keeps saying he’s a girl) and I have been late on my two boys and early on the girls and also I have alternated each time – late with Roark, early with the twins, late with Brett, and early with Stacey, so it’s time to be late again and to have a boy again so I figure on the 4^th of March.  That’s a good time to have a baby don’t you think?  The children are getting more and more excited but it’s interesting – they haven’t seem anxious.  They talk about him all the time and the other day Roark looked at me and said “Mother the baby is sure getting big”.  How’s that for a smooth way to let me know I’m huge.

Uncle Kenneth called tonight and they are having a family party next Friday night including the children.  I think it sounds fun and interesting but I’m not sure if we will be able to go.  Bruce is on Pediatrics and when he is extra busy he just can’t get away and then I don’t have a car but we’ll just have to wait and see.  He is up to the Primary Children’s Hospital and he so enjoys it.  He does get depressed when he sees some of these children who are so very ill but he loves medicine.  He has been feeling quite good lately and all of the rest of us have too.  Bob has been quite sick for two weeks – not sick in bed as he can’t afford to miss school but he just feels lousy all the time.  They aren’t sure what’s wrong with but he is going to the doctors again tomorrow and we hope to figure it out.  They have had so much sickness lately.  Since Christmas all of them have been have been sick once or twice.  Did I tell you Scot is having his tonsils out on Valentine Day.

Stacey is still trying to train herself.  She is so funny and inconsistent.  We just love her and she is well aware of it.  She teases the children unmercifully and loves it.  She is growing so tall.  She is becoming a spunky little two year old.  Jeanne and Jayne are developing so fast.  I don’t know if Auntie will ever have their picture taken so the next time a photographer comes around I am going to have him take their picture.  I wondered why you didn’t send more of David’s letters and I also wondered why you didn’t send them to me but that would cause feelings.  I know Auntie doesn’t like Jill and she really likes Jerry but I doubt if either will wait so there’s no problem.  David doesn’t write to us has he shouldn’t but I still write to him two or three times a month.  We do like to know what’s going on with him so I wish you’d figure out a way to let us know.

How’s your back?  What’s causing it anyway?  Have you ever been to a urologist?  I wish you would take good care of yourself.  Have you been misbehaving to the point that Dad has to swat you every once in a while. No that wouldn’t be it because he did buy you the chair.  That was awfully nice of you, Dad.  We want to have two or three of them someday.  How is the school coming?  I do wish you would hurry home but then I would like to come over there too.

I go on and on and I am getting so tired.  I just have the energy I used to have.  I do take good care of me tho so don’t worry.  We’ll see if a telegram will get thru to you this time.  What address or how do we send a telegram?  Answer me quickly so I can get it written in my address book and put in my suitcase.  I still don’t plan on having this baby for a while but I have washed all my lingerie and baby things already.  I wish you were here to crochet me a new blanket or at least teach me how.

We love you and do so love to hear from you.  The children send their love especially Brett to “Grandpa Trump”.  He still gets mad at me ‘cause he can’t visit Grandpa in Hawaii.  

Love, 

All of us (written in pencil)

Mom's Letters: Christmas 1960

January 15, 1961

Dear Mother and Dad,

Happy New Year and the best to you. I'm sorry I am so slow in writing. I just can't get motivated since Christmas. I was so busy up until Christmas and then Bruce was home until the 2nd and I just relaxed and did not much of anything. We had a lovely Christmas and the Children were so cute. The day after Christmas we went out to Keith and Bette's and had a lovely time. Thank you so much for the monkey pod. It is the prettiest piece I have ever seen and we are so pleased with it. You know, sometimes I find it hard to really express my appreciation and the enjoyment I find in the things you send when I write a letter. We are so pleased with the monkey pod and I was hoping you would send a piece and I didn't expect anything quite so lovely. On new years eve Maxine and Bob came down and we put potato chips in the large side and two different kinds of dip in the two smaller compartments and it was so fun. I hardly know where to start it's been so long since I've written and so much has happened. I did get a letter off to David so he would get the the day before Christmas but I didn't get one off to you. We bought the twins a pretty little slip and some mittens from you, Brett some levis and a shirt, Stacey a darling little two piece butcher boy outfit, and Roark, a book, (his first "long" book with chapters and all) a shirt and some mittens. Aunt Lyda bought all the kids together and electric train (an inexpensive on, thank heaven, but a nice one) and then they got books, I made the twins their skirt weskit and they got a blouse and sweater to go with it and they got a book and a puzzle and their doll with a trunk to put her in. I made a little mattress and pillow and blanket to put in one side of their trunk so they could put her to bed and then each of the dolls a pair of pajamas, a robe, a skirt, a bonnet, and a cute little dress. They are slender 8 inch dolls so it was hectic making such small things but they are thrilled with them. The clothes for the dolls to buy are from $1.75 to $3.50 an outfit and I don't thing I would pay that if I had the money. Julie got a doll and trunk like it and the three of them have a good time. The girls also got some play dishes which Stacey is playing with right now. Brett got a suitcase to put his animals in and many play animals with a truck. He spend hours playing with them and is really cute. Stacey got her doll and a little cradle and I made her a blanket. (I wish you had been here, mother to help me make things) and she had a mattress for her cradle. Stacey had a hard time deciding whose toy she likes best. She is so cute.

Brett and Stacey

 She is trying to talk but not very hard and I think that maybe by the time the baby comes she will have trained herself. I haven't really tried to press her at all but she is trying to learn a little. It seems like all of a sudden she has grown up. She will go get her coat and ask me to put it on (by grunting) and then she will charge outside for a few minutes and then come back in. We have had the driest December on record but it has been cold, it doesn't get much above 35 degrees during the day but she will go outside for a few minutes and that is all. The other day we had one of Brett's little friends in playing with him and his mother didn't know where he was. She put on a sweater and went to look for him and stacey was outside. When Stacey saw her she started to grunt "uh uh uh uh" and  point at our place. Finally Margaret caught on and ask (sic) if David were playing with Brett and Stacey calmly nodded her head and then went on her merry way. I have let them have several tea parties on their play dishes and one afternoon the twins were at Julie's and Brett was at David's and Roark was outside so she brought me one plate so I fixed her a piece of bread. Then she brought me another plate so I fixed another piece of bread. She took them in to the little table and then brought me a cup and I put milk in it and then she brought me another cup so she and an imaginary friend had a play party all their own at the little table. She is really a quite a quite little girl and she just  trips around getting into everything and everyone's things. Roark got clothes, books, a puzzle, pajamas, pick up sticks, and a good magnifying glass. We thought of getting him a microscope because he has enjoyed looking at Bruce's but the cheap ones Bruce didn't want to bother with and of course it is foolish to spend a lot when we didn't even know if he would like it. A friend of his got one and he was quite impressed with it so we told him if he really wanted one and would save his money we would pay half of it. The one we thought we'd get costs $30 and I really doubt if he wants it enough to work that hard for it but we thought we'd give him the chance to get it if he wanted to. He is a hard child to know what to get him. He likes books but he doesn't like sitting down and building things. He will built a few things and then get bored and put them away. Scot got an erector set and he just loves it but Roark never has liked things like that. He can't sit still long enough to make things. He does like his pick up sticks tho and other games. I don't remember too much but I do think he is a lot like I was. If so, as Bruce says, he doesn't know how you stood me for so long. Scot has worms so to diagnose it when he fell asleep they took a piece of Scot tape and with the sticky side pressed around his rectum to get the eggs as the worms come out at  night and lay their eggs. They then brought it down for Bruce to look at under the microscope. Sure enough there were several eggs and Bruce let Roark an Scot look at them. It was really interesting and they were fascinated. They gave the whole family some medicine and of course everything is fine now. A good percentage of people do have these pin worms and these aren't serious.

Thank you for the birthday letter and money. I have put it in the cedar chest and am not going to spend it until the baby comes. I did the same with Stacey's as she doesn't need things right now but she will this summer. I had a lovely birthday but I did spend a time feeling sorry for myself. I'm just glad I have such a good husband and such a sweet family. Bob and Maxine went to Wyoming to see about a job, Dad N. was out of town so Mother couldn't come down, I didn't hear from you and Auntie's friend was who is now living with her came that day and Auntie didn't want to leave her so we just had a party with the family. They were so cute tho. Bruce brought me a lovely blouse, some earrings, and a journal to write in. Mother and Dad gave me money and Maxine and Bob and Lyda gave me a full (gathered) half slip which is really pretty. Bruce bought me a beautiful shortie nightgown (this was for Christmas) for the hospital. It is blue and white and so pretty. I have the hardest time keeping spoons and I was really low on them so Roark whispered to Bruce that I would like some spoons. They bought me eight inexpensive stainless steel spoons and Roark was really pleased with himself. Aunt Lyda gave me a blue purse and I bought me some brown heels with the money Mother and Dad N. gave me and Bruce also bought some perfume. Bruce got shoes, three shirts, two ties, stockings, a pair of cotton pants and a tie pin, He has to wear dress shirts all the time now and he was getting pretty low. I gave him a record of opera highlights and we had a really fun Christmas. It was funny, our priesthood meeting at 7:45 a.m. and then Sunday school at 9:15 so Bruce got up at 6:15 an shaved and then went in and woke up the kids so we could open the gifts and see the toys before he had to leave. That was so unlike him that I really had to chuckle. He had been so cute with the children and he took them al the see the movie Swiss Family Robinson. I had to go to the doctor and Stacey was asleep but he took the four of them and he said they were really good. He was gone so much last quarter that Roark would get up at 6:30 a.m. so he could visit with him for a few minutes and then he would go back to bed. This quarter is much less demanding. He is over to the Veterans Mental hospital just across the highway from here and he is home at 6 in the evening and home for lunch and doesn't have to leave until 7:45 so that is a far cry from last quarter. He quite likes psychiatry but he thinks it is too depressing. I go on and on about us. How are you. I'm sorry you have been ill. Are both of you well now. I worry about you and I do wish you would take better care of yourselves. Do you think you will be here for Christmas in a couple of years. We love you and do wish you were here. We are proud of you, tho, and are thankful for your call. Judy Hill's mother called me and said how much she appreciated you goodness to Judy. I kind of envy Judy to be there and see you. I have gone on and on. Auntie is well and as full of big impossible dreams as ever. She is enjoying her retirement and the children have had fun the few times I've left them there. I do appreciated her and feel sorry for her. It would be awful to be alone. Please write and take better care of yourselves. Love,

All of us.

Note from Jeanne:

That Christmas Roark would have been a little more than 5 1/2, Jayne and I would have been 4 1/2, Brett a little under 3 1/2, Stacey just turned 2,, and mom was pregnant with Shelley who was due in February. Dad almost always gave mom a set of pretty pajamas for Christmas. We often saw a movie after Christmas, many times on Stacey's birthday,, usually the latest Disney movie. The other times we saw a movie as a family was the day school got out for the summer at the Drive-In on Riverdale Road. Dad came home for lunch almost every day of their married life. I remember mom always wanting more spoons. In fact she always had a pretty cut glass red container the size of a small glass called a spooner that was filled with spoons on the counter.

Mom's Letter to Grandpa Trump: December 14, 1960

Note: Mom's mother Eva Cowley Willey Hill, married Charles Trump after bing a widow for 9 years. Mama loved Grandpa Trump and I never heard her say anything negative about him. She always said he was so good to her and Uncle David. He was always Grandpa Trump to us and I never thought of him as a step grandpa. In fact it wasn't until I was a teenager that I realized that I had another grandfather, Guy Phillip Hill, Mom's father.

Uncle David Grandma Trump, Mom, Grandpa Trump

December 14, 1960

Dear Dad, 

Happy Birthday!  I ask this every year so here goes again. Do you feel a year older? the children are quite disappointed that they can't come to your birthday party. So am I. Maybe on your 73rd birthday or so you will be home. I guess Hawaii is almost like “home” to you by now. How are you feeling? Bruce still can’t get over how good your blood pressure was that day he took it. He says you’ll probably live to be a hundred. I’m glad. What celebrating are you going to do. do you have any poinsettias now like you had on year? They were so beautiful.

We are all well in this part of the country. we have been so blessed with good health. Bruce never feels really well be we are hoping he will “outgrow” this condition he has. He actually feels better than he did a year ago but he still has these attacks. They are not serious and as painful as his few but they still slow him down. Of course he is working awfully hard. He puts in about 12-16 hours a day at the hospital. Some days it isn't as bad and other days are really busy. He is often in surgery for 6 hours or so and that is tiring ‘cause he can’t move around and he has to keep his arms above the waist at all times and generally is holding retractors which holds the skin and muscle apart. He has decided he down’t want to be a surgeon but he doesn’t mind it for just a little bit. Of course they don’t let him do very much so if he has the chance to do more actual surgery he would like it better. I went to the doctor the other day and he said I was “healthy as a horse”. I am feeling good and am getting all the things done that I have to do which is unusual for me. I am making doll clothes and blankets for the childrens’ dolls. Those blankets Mother made for the twins last year are so cute and have been used and enjoyed so much I thought I would make Stacey one similar to them and then the twins dolls are small and I thought I would make small ones like them. Stacey can’t decide if she wants to stay our or in and she is making an old woman out of me. All she does is say uhh uhh and I just can't understand what she is trying to tell me. Actually she is learning to talk a little but she still has a long way to go.

Roark really enjoys kindergarten. They are learning to count to ten in Spanish and he is quite proud of that. He is such a good little boy. Stacey thinks he is just about the only one. She is now hanging up her coat and putting her boots away so I guess she decided to stay in (I hope, we did that a minute ago and then she decided to go out again so I put them on her again.). Roark and the other children are really on a story binge and so I have to read to them every night. If I ask them if they want a story or TV they always answer a story so each of them chooses a story and we read for a while. Roark loves to retell the stories so he goes over to the couples who do not have children and tells them all the stories he knows. Brett is so funny. When he gets upset or mad he’ll say “I’m mad - I’m mad at everybody in the whole world - ‘cept Grandpa Trump”. I can’t figure out how come he’s developed such an attachment to you but he sure has one. He keeps asking me why we can’t get on the airplane and go to Hawaii to see Grandpa Trump. He is really a cute little boy. He is our hardest child to figure out but he is sure smart as a whip. Stacey is trying so hard to be a big part of the family. On family night she has to stand up and sing with the rest of them and she will raise her hand along with the others. We have so enjoyed her. Jeanne and Jayne are getting so mature. Jayne wants to have her hair cut again but Jeanne doesn’t ‘cause she wants me to curl hers so this afternoon Jayne is having her hair cut. I’m making these little skirts and weskits for them for christmas and they both know it but they aren’t sure of the material I tried Jeanne’s on Jayne for fit and the first thing she asked was if I was making one for her and if they were the same. They like things similar now but they would rather they weren't just alike. The[y] are so really good and really try hard to please.

Well, Dad, I wander on and on and still don’t say how much we love you and how much we truly appreciate you. We received the Christmas for the children and thank you very much. We got the twins a blouse and slip which will be from you and we still haven’t finished the rest of the shopping for the others. With Bruce gone so much I do’t have the car but he will be thru Saturday at noon and we will finish up. We feel it was very generous of you and we do appreciate it. We would rather have you here tho so please get things done and hurry home. I am so thankful you wanted to marry Mother and the rest of us. David has been singularly blessed because of your marriage and, of course, so have I and ours. The children can’t wait to go sleigh riding on our big sled. Have a wonderful day and take care of yourself. Tell other to give you a big kiss from all of us. Oh, yes, this book we sent we so hope you’ll enjoy it. It’s the type to pick up and read for a few minutes and then put down and think about it. I think you might enjoy reading it with Mother out loud for a few minutes every once in a while. We have one and are sending David one for Christmas. I can see myself so often in the description Screwtape gives Wormwood of potential “patients”. 

We love you and wish you the best in this coming year.

Love, 

All of us

Labyrinth Canyon and Mosquitos

OWe went on a river float in Labyrinth Canyon on the Green River the 4th of  July weekend. Our trip two years ago was so great we thought we would go again. The river was running 2 feet higher than last time which gave the mosquitos a perfect hatching ground in the river willows as the water receded.

John invited Rachel, Roger and Craig again. John told Craig he could invite any of his children that might want to come. Surprisingly enough Lingards came to fill up an entire permit: John Bolke and three of his children, Arianne and Mark with their 5 children, Justin and his twins and Kevin and Marianne. That left the Nevilles with a separate permit: John, me, Annie, Thomas, Clay and Leslie and their three children, and Erin and Danny and their 3 boys. Two permits meant that the groups should not share campgrounds and not have contact with each other.  We didn't share a campground but did float together part of the time.

It takes a lot of gear for over 30 people: 7 boats, 2 paddle boards, 1 kayak, food, and camp supplies.

We drove into Ruby Ranch, the launch site, during a large monsoon rain storm. It got a little scary when the washes started running over the dirt road. We waited in the car for an hour waiting for the rain to stop before we set up our tent in a drizzle after which it started pouring down again.

Labyrinth Canyon is a great float for paddle boards and kayaks without any rapids or rocks.

Tappan finally relaxed on the kayak. The paddle board made her a little anxious

When it got time to find a campsite they were few and far between. Plus every time we stopped to check one out the mosquitos swarmed around us. We found one that was against a cliff that seemed probable but wasn't big enough for both groups. We offered to let the Lingards stay but they decided to go on so we stayed. (Unfortunately the Lingards had to go on for another hour before they found something). The mosquitos were still bad but we worked on getting tents up and dinner started. We heard thunder rumbling around us but didn't pay much attention. All at once it started pouring. As we scrambled to get rain flies up and gear stowed, water started pouring off of the cliffs. I have always wanted to see waterfalls off the red rock. As Annie and Thomas said, "it was one of the top ten things we have ever experienced."  

Pretty good tent placement!  It is visual memories lik these that keeps me going back to the river!

After another fun day on the river we started looking for our next campsite. Once again mosquitos swarmed whenever we checked one out. Everyone was covered with bites by this time and the Lingards were running out of repellent and dreading another mosquito infested night on the river. We had to decide if we would stay another night on the river or press on to the takeout. The vote was to finish up that day. I think the Nevilles would have stayed, but the Lingards would have been miserable. We tied the boats together and motored the last five miles. It seemed like a pretty good decision as  a micro burst hit as we reached the take out. 

Mom's Letters to Grandma and Grandpa Trump

While we were going through things after dad died we found a file with letters mom had written to Grandma and Grandpa Trump while they were on a "work" mission to Hawaii. I am so glad grandma kept these letters and gave them back to mom because they are a fascinating look into mom's life while she and dad were in medical school. Imagine starting medical school with five children and having two more while in school. All the while living in a tiny cinderblock apartment in Stadium Village, the student housing for the University of Utah.

A couple of years bfore med school.

I would have loved to have read these when I was a young mother and told the nieces and nephews I would record them for all to read.

Dec. 5, 1960

Dear Dad and Mother,

Merry Christmas! We have about 6 or 8 inches of snow outside and it is about 25 degrees. We really had a storm and all the roads were slippery ad right now the world is just beautiful. I am finally getting ready for Christmas. I haven't heard from you for so long I still don't know what to send you but i guess you are even busier that I. Bruce si working hard on finals which come in two weeks. He will be out of school the 17th and i thing Roark will be out of school about the 22or 23. it is really fun. I finally got a skirt and vest made for Jeanne and now I have to get Jayne' made. Their dolls this Christmas are so small it makes me swear every time I start to sew for them but it is fun.

We were quite upset about David when we heard of his sickness. That would be so miserable and we do hope all is all right with him now. The first six months are the hardest according to many returned missionaries. 

We are all well and fee so blessed. I had a stomach upset and stayed down for most of one day but i am fine now. If i just wouldn't gain so much weight i"m sure I would feel even better. I haven't really gained an awfully lot but it is too much and fora more than is necessary. I finally finished my maternity outfit and it is so pretty. In fact I like the material so well i hate to see it in maternity clothes. We went to Mother and Dad N's for Thanksgiving and it was very nice. Nancy had a little baby boy (I think I told you) and Ann and Bob were there so were 14 grandchildren and the oldest was 5 years. That is quite a collection. The children were remarkably good and, of course I thought ours were the best behaved. Stacey is so cute. We just love her but she is really becoming a little hellion ofa two year old. The other day I was changing the bed linen and I had the clean sheets on the bench. she was awfully quiet and when I checked on her she had spread a sheet out and was sprinkling it with the milk in her bottle. She was doing a very good job I might add but I didn't was milky sheets. Right now she got into the crackers and was passing them out to Jeanne and Jayne and their tow friends they have visiting them. The children have such a hard time because there just isn't much room and they just don't know what to do with themselves. Brett is visiting his friend and Jeanne and Jayne wanted to go. I thing three children is too much to invade any one household, in fact two children are a lot but these girls that are here are quite close in age and the older one couldn't come because the younger one put up such a fuss and then wouldn't have anyone to play with. So they both came and have been good. one is the twins age and the other is Brett's age. the children are growing up so much it doesn't seem possible. For the first time the other day Roark said he wanted to be a doctor. Bruce tied a piece of narrow rubber tubing around his are, (you know how they they do when they draw blood from your arm) and showed hi how to find the veins and then did it on Scot and me and Roark was quite impressed. Roark is quick but actually too quick and doesn't take enough time to observe. Scot is very slow and observes everything. Both of them decided after Bruce left that they would like to be a doctor. Bob gets a little discouraged because Scot isn't at all impressed that he is going to be a lawyer but he is very thrilled with the fact that Bruce will be a doctor and can do thing on him right now. I wish you could see this Stacey and watch her. She is the cutest thing. She is learning to say a few words and she is just a mast at facial expressions. She has picked up so many actions and expressions from Brett it is funny. That Brett is a joy too. He'll come up to me and say "I love you Mama, I lobe Grandpa Trump too." He has asked several toe when Grandpa Trump will be home and why he is in Hawaii. He is the hardest on of all and yet in many ways he is so easy. All he wants for Christmas is a "cockin rifle". He wont be able to cock it, but that is what he wants. His little mind just amazed us it reasons so well. He is a quiet little boy most of the time and then it seems as if all hell breaks loose.

Stacey just saw the bus is waiting to go outside to meet Roark. She is so thrilled when he gets home. Brett just came home and seven children all talking at the same time is just too many so I will close and get the two girls off to their homes and get lunch for mine before they starve to death.

We love you and would so love to hear from you. We know you are busy. I don't think I have ever wanted you to be home as much as I have this Christmas and for this baby. We still don't know quite how we are going to manage the children. We have been so blessed I really don't worry but I do wish you were going to be here. Take care of yourself and write. (I just wrote to David and I have written him two letters. Don't worry about my writing. I will try to write once a week. Now That i know he gets his letters twice a week I will try Harder. If I didn't get a letter off in time to get to him on Saturday I just wait until the next time.

You have a birthday coming up, Dad, can you thing of anything you'd like us to send you. We love you so much and would like to show you in some tangible way. How are you feeling. Is your weight down enough for me to make some candy for you?

Love,
All of us

Healing is Hard

I wrote my last post about Dad's funeral at the airport as I was waiting for a flight to St. Louis to be there for Matt and Erin and family after their car accident.  It was almost three weeks after the funeral and this post is almost three weeks after I got back. I am just a little slow.

Matt texted us on Saturday, February 13 to say they were OK but had been in an accident and were in an ambulance on the way to the ER to have Ian checked out. Along with the text he sent this picture:

They were going about 30 mph through a green light and the car on the right had a flashing yellow light. The driver was on his cell phone and got confused when the car behind him honked. He turned into Matt and Erin's Pilot, hitting them head on.

As soon as Ian got out of the Pilot he collapsed to the ground and said his stomach really hurt. The EMTs checked them all out and decided they needed take Ian to the ER and have him looked out. The next thing we heard was that they had decided to send Ian to the St. Louis Children's hospital and have him checked out there. The doctors thought they saw some fluid in Ian's belly on a CAT scan but they weren't sure, he was still in a lot of pain, was throwing up and started to run a fever. 

The doctors there decided to admit him and watch him overnight. By late the Sunday morning Ian's fever was higher, he was still throwing up and morphine wasn't helping the pain. The trauma pediatric surgeon told Erin he thought he needed to go in and take a look. He could do it lapriscopically and the best case scenario would be there would be nothing wrong, but he was worried there might be damage to an intestine.

Almost three hours later Matt called us and said that Ian was out of surgery. Of course we were waiting anxiously for news. I have to admit even though I knew Matt would let us know as soon as he heard something, I texted a few times for updates. The surgeon had to repair a hole in Ian's lower intestine and his colon was crushed up against his spine. The surgeon spent a lot of time making sure there were no holes in the colon as well. Thankfully there were not. Matt sent this picture of Ian in the recovery room.

Those are restraints on his arms so he couldn't pull out his nose tube and IV lines. 

I was ready to jump on a plane that afternoon, but Erin wanted her sister Cathy to come first and then I would come to help when Ian got out of the hospital. I waited until the next Saturday to come, but it was hard.

Ian was in the hospital for eight days making, what seemed at the time, slow progress as we realized how severely injured he was. They had to put a PIC line in to get him nutrients because he couldn't eat anything. He had to be sedated while they did this and for some reason this put us all on edge. While they were putting the PIC line in they found he also had a collapsed lung so pneumonia was a worry until he could get it re inflated. This required all kinds of respiratory therapy that was very painful to Ian's poor abused belly. It was harder that anything a nine year old should have to do.

I finally got there late Saturday night. As I worried, prayed and worried some more I needed something to do. Ian's favorite quilt was an old ratty whole cloth tied quilt that Mom and I made for Matt's bed when he was Ian's age. I refused to mend it any more the last time I was there. I had started a scrappy "Trip Around the World" quilt last year but didn't like the way it was going, so I put it away for while. After dad died I figured out how to fix it and worked on it as kind of therapy for myself. It was almost three quarters pieced when we got the news about the accident. To take my mind off of the worry I finished the quilt so Ian would have a new comfy cozy quilt to recuperate under. I decided to use fleece for the back so it would be soft against Ian's skin. I figured I had over 60 years of scraps in that quilt: vintage fabric from the 40s, fabric from mom's stash and from my own stash. I used Halloween, Christmas, Easter, baby, Charlie Brown, Hawaiian, and tons of florals and prints, at least 150 different fabrics. I called it "I Spy" because every time you looked you could find something different. This is the only picture I got of the quilt, but it says it all.

Furnerals and Family Reunions

I have to finish dad's furneral before I can write about Matt and Erin 's accident. 

The best part of furnerals is the family reunion that happens. Lots of pictures were taken as cousins reunited. Dad's furneral was as much a time to celebratie as a time to mourn.

It was totally unplanned, but John and I ended up sitting by mom during the fureral and my children and their families filled in the row behind us. When I heard Ezra, Travis, and Lily singing the opening song together and turned to see the sharing the same hymn book I became a little teary. 

We even got a pretty decent family picture taken by Leslie. It doesn't happen very often that everyone is in their Sunday best at the same time.  

All the cousins that could come did, even though some of the spouses had to stay home. Colby and Seth were the only one who couldn't come. Seth just left for Germany and Colby had a new rotation he could leave. 

Most of my cousins came to the fureral.. Guy picture: back row; Roark, Brett, Chris, Scott, John; front row; Uncle Bob, Aunt Maxine, mom, Steve Engebretsen, and Brad Ipsen ( Suzanne's husband.) 

I think mom looks so alone in these pictures even though she is surrounded by family and has been without dad for so long. It seems the death of a beloved spouse is even more lonelier than the mere separation of illness and dementia.

Girl picture: back row; Barbara Gustavesen, carol Van Wagoner, Julie, Ann, Melanie: front row: Susan Gustavesen, Suzanne, Aunt Maxine, mom, Jayne, me, Shelley: floor: Stacey. 

I love this picture with the Scott and Julie Nevilles: left to right, Jayne, Julie, me, Scott, Roark, Brett, Stacey, Chris, Shelley, Suzanne, and Ann.  We were very close as children even though we only saw each other once or twice a year. Julie was one of the rare individuals who was able to join Jayne and my twinship with no perceived slights for anyone.