Memories

Ben (3) and Symi when she was just a few weeks old.

Nursing

I guess I should just go into nursing! I'd probably have my degree by now for all we've been through medically. Sigh.

Symi has been a trooper! She loves being able to go outside and enjoy the fresh air. It always helps her fevers and her attitude. I'm sure she's tired of being cooped up in the house, and now loving the freedom of the "Great Outdoors"! She gave me a scare today. :(

I laid her down for a nap and she slept for about 15 mins and started to scream! I panicked because I've never heard her scream like that! :( I ran to her room and scooped her up out of bed. She was clammy and sweating all over. She wouldn't look at me and was ridged as a board. I tried to wrap her up in a blanket and calm her down. Didn't work. It tired give her a pacifier. Didn't work. She wouldn't keep it in her mouth. I tried to give her a bear. Nope. Talking to her. She still wouldn't look at me or acknowledge me. For 30 mins I debated on taking her to the ER or waiting to see if it would pass. Ben was napping in the next room, and I was worried about waking him too. Finally she stopped crying on her own. Hopped down off my lap. And picked up a toy and started chatting at me like nothing had happened. I was shook up. Whatever happened was NOT normal and scared me to death!

I immediately called the Dr and asked what I should do, and if I should be worried. He asked if she had a fever. Well for the first time. No. If she does it again, or spikes a fever, or has a seizure to take her to the ER right away. Boy that helps me feel so much better. :( He also said to keep a close eye on her for the next 24 hours. So far she's acting and being normal. Except the sudden excessive thirst. She's drank over 6 cups of water and juice in less than 15 mins!! Not long after her "episode". Weird. I guess I'm still shaken.

Anyways, despite the moment, she is doing well. Fevers are coming and going, and she is dealing with them like always. I haven't had a kidney stone pass in about a week!! Yeah!! Celebrating! And am feeling much better. But just very tired now. Between Symi, my health, and being at the end of a pregnancy . . . I'm just tired. But grateful to feel better, and Symi to be able to get outside to play!

Ben is doing well too. Happy and also enjoying the weather. He told me today,"Mommy, I just wish Spring could come. We missed it over Spring Break and I don't know how to get it back! I was just hoping to pick you a flower so that you could smell Spring." Such a sweetheart. Yesterday he found the tiniest flower and was so overjoyed! So was I. :)

Dane is feeling much better and grateful that the infection didn't go far. Glad to have sicknesses gone and my family feeling better!

Happy Spring!

Medical Updates

Symi's blood test results came in. They were all normal. We are being referred back to our Primary Care Physician. I was hoping for some different news. This is our new life. We just need to learn how to deal with it I guess.

I am still continuing to pass kidney stones. But I can feel that they are much smaller, still uncomfortable. But passing. For which I'm grateful that none of them have gotten stuck yet, or needed surgery!

Ben is still growing and doing well. Since his "bad virus", surgery, and then pneumonia, he has finally caught back up to his original weight. Which isn't much, but good for him. (31 lbs) During that time of illness he lost almost 8 lbs. (Poor kid didn't have 8 lbs to loose!) We are hoping that he'll grow this summer and get out of 2T underwear. Poor kid will get mocked in Kindergarten when there is only Thomas the Train, Diego, and Wonder Pets to choose from?! He would much rather have Camo, Race Cars, or other "Cool" things to wear. He is still so smart and LOVES preschool!!

Dane is working on applying for his Master's Program. He is down to one more final exam, which will either allow him into the program or else he has to wait a whole year to reapply again. We're praying, he's studying, and all of us are hoping he'll pass and get started this year! Recently he had a bad, bad cold! He was concerned that he was getting strep again or Sinus Infection. Both of which are hard on him. He got to the Dr, antibiotics, and rest. And is now starting to get better.

Looking forward to warm spring and a baby coming soon!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Who knew that "green pancakes" tasted SOO good! Along with Green Kool-Aid.
Ben made sure that we were all dressed in green too.
He didn't want anyone to get pinched!

Yummy!

Delicious!

For dinner we had Green Chicken Enchiladas, with "Rainbow" salad that Ben made, more green Kool-Aid, and dessert of Grasshopper Pie.
(Ben was worried that we were going to eat Grasshoppers.)

Red Strawberries, Orange Oranges, Yellow Pineapple, Green Kiwi, Blue Blueberries, Purple Plums, and soft White Banana clouds!
(We didn't even have to have Skittles to taste the rainbow!)

Daddy and kids in green. (Symi was giggling so hard.)

Mommy and the kids in green.
(The picture was taken really fast and none of us were ready.)

Daddy always like to pull faces. Here's a classic that he taught our kids!

Hope your St. Patrick's Day was full of fun memories and green!
Because ours sure was!

To Family & Friends:

Symi spiked a fever of 101.3 and holding since yesterday evening. We are taking her in this afternoon for her blood work! (because the Lab is closed on the weekend, we wanted to get it done before it dissipated by Monday.)

She is acting like she does with fevers. No appetite. Sleeps awful and restless. Grumpy and cries over every little thing. I noticed yesterday that she felt warm, but not feverish yet. She certainly started the day out by being such a good little girl!! Full of giggles and smiles.

But by the afternoon she started to go down hill fast. We are grateful to have them coming again. (Most mother's want fevers to go away and for their kids to get better. And at our house we've been praying for them to return!) We are hoping to get some more answers and maybe some relief.

Looking Through Our Window

Ben doing his chores. He loves to vacuum under the table, stairs, and in his room.

Just can't seem to get him to do it without the tongue thing. ;)

He told me,"Watch out Mom! Or I'll suck you up into the vacuum!"

Whenever Symi get's fevers her little lips crack, peel and bleed so bad. So I taught her to put on some chap stick.
She's all girl because now she's obsessed and I have to hide hers and mine or she'll put it on all day long!
When she's done she always smacks her lips and says, "Ahhhh".

Doing it all by herself!

And putting it on again, taking the lid on and off, and apply yet another coat!

Enjoying Valentines Cupcakes! They were so yummy and WAY too much fun to decorate!

Ben was a little upset that decorating cupcakes was messy.
He did get into it and eventually didn't mind that he got sticky as long as he got to wash when he was all done.

We invited our neighbor over to help us! We all had a blast!

Family Home Evening on Nephi's Bow. Ben thought it was awesome and wanted to go hunting like Nephi. He shot this little bow several times in the house. Enjoying every minute!

Symi didn't want to shoot the bow. But really wanted her picture taken!
She loved watching Ben, Daddy, and Mommy shoot! She even clapped for us.

Their new favorite way to watch "Movies". I don't get laundry folded very well. But that's ok because they both won't fit in that basket together for much longer.

Ben has been praying for snow since Christmas. We had a big storm that we missed during Christmas because we were in SV. We've been wearing jackets and watching our grass turn green! Finally a few weeks ago snow came. Aunt Shawnee took Ben outside and helped him make a Mini Snowman with his name on it. (done with raisins) He was so excited and loved being out in the snow!

Despite all the rough news we've had these last few weeks there is still "Sun shining through our window and giving us joy and light". So grateful for all the help I had while on bed rest. And grateful to have 2 wonderful kids that make being a sick Mommy so easy. We're blessed.

Today.

Symi is doing very well. No fevers and she is eating, sleeping, and acting like a typical 18 month old. I couldn't ask for more! So now we wait. Will she get fevers again? Are they going away? I really don't know. But it's so wonderful to have her spunky personality coming back!

They finally diagnosed me with Kidney Stones for the last 2 weeks. I've been lucky and have been able to pass them all. I think. I hope. And I'm starting to feel much, much better. I don't walk like a crippled 100 year old women. It's wonderful to finally get comfortable in bed and get some sleep. And so great to be pain free!

Today I took the 4 hour glucose test. It wasn't a fun experience and I would much rather recommend a cruise to anyone! I'm hoping for good news. I think after these last few weeks to find out that I have gestational diabetes would put me over the edge. I might cry. But hopefully learn quickly how to keep myself and baby healthy.

Thank you so much for all your thoughts, prayers, and comments! They sure brighten my day and help to ease some of the pain.

Update

I'll be brief.

Symi hasn't had a fever higher than 100.9. So close but not enough. She wants fruits and veggies all the time. Which in turn is WAY to much fiber and liquids to help maintain and normal BM. Poor girl has the runs, but she's eating and starting to at times act better. She is sleeping better too.

So glad that she's sleeping better because I've been still struggling. I got my Rh factor shot. Lovely. They debated on doing it in my arm where my lower back and hips were hurting so bad. I told them to just keep it all in one spot instead of hurting all over. I also had blood work done for the Glucose test. We'll hear back on if I passed or failed. While they were taking my blood they ran some more blood tests for appendicitis, and also kidney stones. Still waiting to hear back from the last 2. Some days I start to feel better and hoping that I'll start getting back to normal. Then the next day comes with another bought of pain. Sigh.

I'm grateful to have Shawnee here for another week. She's been my salvation, and such a big help where I'm still on bed rest. Hoping and praying for a quick recovery.

Symi Update & New News

Symi's appointment went well. So far she no longer has food allergies. :) But they are unsure about what is still plaguing her. So we are waiting for another "cycle" of fevers to come along and then we are to do some more blood work. They are looking at comparing all of her blood work and charts together and hoping to see some changes while she's in the "cycle".

Today she woke up with another low grade fever 100.4. We were instructed not to do the blood work until she's had a fever of over 101 for 24 hours. Keep going Symi Girl!!

On a side note. I was in Labor and Delivery at 27 weeks on Sunday Night thinking I was having contractions. No contractions, but baby's heart rate kept dropping whenever I would have painful episodes. They were concerned about baby and wanted to get my pain under control. They gave me some medications and sent me home. Early that morning the pain came back and I scheduled an appointment with the OB for a check up. He informed me that I had 1 of 3 things. Either I was developing hernias, or I was having tendinitis from my lower back all the way around to me lower abdomen, which would explain why it felt like contractions as my tendons would tighten, or I was having an Appendicitis. (Not good news)

They started physical exams and ruled out hernia. Then some blood work, ultra sound for me and baby, for Appendicitis. More pain killers and complete bed rest for 1 week while we waited for test results to come back in. We called my sister-in-law and asked her if she could come down and help while I was on bed rest. The test results came in yesterday afternoon. No appendicitis! Now I'm just being treated for tendinitis and still on bed rest until Monday. I have a follow up appointment on Friday for my RH factor shot and my Glucose test. Lovely I know. :/ But I understand that these things need to be done. So far today's been my best day. I can walk a little more and don't look at the stairs and cry. I've spent most of my days and nights restless in bed trying to relax, maintain my pain, and "trying" to get some sleep. Last night was my first night since Saturday that I actually slept well. :) I'm feeling pretty good today, but will laying low.

I have to say I'm so grateful to have Shawnee here to help. What a huge blessing. And a tender mercy happened Sunday before everything went down. My neighbor asked me if I needed anything. I told her no we'll be ok. She called me back later that night to tell me that she'd scheduled meals to come in every night this week. I cried. I feel so touched to know that I have a Heavenly Father who is watching out for me and my family. For a neighbor who was in tune with the spirit enough to know what we would need this week, even before anything happened. And to know that I can just rest and things will be taken care of.

I am blessed. And looking forward to Symi's growing fevers and my lessening pains. Thank you for all those who have helped, and prayed for us and our family. We feel them. Truly we do.

Blood Test Results

Today we got results! The Dr has informed us that she has a significant immune deficiency. Meaning she could catch anything and get sick really fast. So our game plan: He is sending us to an Allergy Specialist down in Ogden. He's hoping that it's an allergy that's causing her to be so low. If nothing comes from the allergist, we are heading to an Immunologist. Who will test her further to see why she has an Immune deficiency. We're excited to have a start! Even if it's the beginning of a very long road.
Please keep Symi in your prayers!! We are hopeful that we are getting closer and closer to an answer.

Oh Mommy.

Today shortly after lunch was nap time. Symi seemed so tired, and had been teary over many things this morning. I was hoping that she would crash. I laid her down and let Ben sleep next to me.

About every 10 mins. Symi would cry out. Wanting to be held. Wanting her "Mee-Mee" (pacifier). Wanting her blanket. Holding her again.

I came in with a sigh and tried once again to get to sleep. Just 20 mins. I thought. After a brief moment, I must have dozed. I heard the door squeak and looked up to find Ben coming back into the room.

"Ben, where did you go?"

"Oh Mommy. You looked so tired so I decided to help you. I went and gave Symi her "Mee-Mee" and told her that she needed to take a nap, because Mommy was tired."

I scooped him up. Kissed his forehead. Told him thank you so much. How do you express to a 4 year old that something so genuine meant so much.

I love you, and that made Mommy so happy.

Fevers

Here is a moment when Tylenol kicks in and Symi's Fever is going down. She was even willing to eat something! Both of them were too cute to resist.

Ben insisted on wearing jammies because Symi was. Constantly. They both wanted a snack and to eat in my room. I agreed, on one condition. That they sit against the wall and can't move until their food was gone. They agreed and you can tell my floor was very messy.

I have been trying to get her to nap "normally" for days! She doesn't want to. So as a result, the last few days I keep catching her asleep on our couch.
Too bad the naps only last 30 mins. She's exhausted.

Here is another "Happy Moment" that only a few minutes later was followed by tears.
At least she's cute! I can hang onto those precious moments when her personality comes shining through!

Crashed again.

This was a fever of 103.8. Her cheeks were so rosy and she was just burning up! She wants clothes on all the time, and constantly wants to be in a blanket. Both don't help fevers go down.
At least she'll tolerate a cool cloth to her forehead and back. Help keep the fevers at bay, but she cries the whole time, while I'm wiping her down.

Here's the story. Just after Thanksgiving Symi started to get fevers. At first the Dr thought that she had Strep. She never tested positive for the test, but had all the other symptoms. So he put her on some antibiotics to help. They did help for a few days. But then she was back to the fevers again. When she has fevers, she refused to eat and drink. (Note: She did this last year and we were sent to Primary Children Medical Center.) The Dr kept thinking she was just fighting a virus. I wasn't so sure. It all seemed like a daja vu. We ended up in the InstaCare just after Christmas. She had spiked to a fever of just under 104 and getting higher. With Tylenol she wasn't going down. They tested her for any kind of infection: Strep, Ear, Sinus, and even Bladder. Nothing. So they told us the same thing. She's got a virus. No other symptoms, just a fever. We followed up with the Dr a week later. He was concerned and immediately sent us to the Lab for a multitude of blood test. Checking for blood disorders, cancer screenings, and to see if her blood was infected. We waited for a week. Results were nothing.

She still had fevers. She was also becoming dehydrated and the Dr debated on putting her in the hospital for a while on IV treatment and monitoring of her fevers to get a record. I didn't agree. He let us go home. I've always wondered if Symi really had "food allergies". She was diagnosed too quickly in my eyes. And never showed any "normal symptoms" to the food allergies. But the formula helped her to grow, gain weight, and develop. We know how crucial that is in the first year. I'm grateful to have had it and that it worked for her.

Now what? Our Dr want's us to monitor her fevers still. They seem to cycle in and out. Since she was born, but they always thought something else. I've always thought differently, but I've listened and patiently done what I've been told. Just always felt like it wasn't right. Like a big bandaid was being put over the "real" problem. Our Dr also sent us to an infections Disease Specialist at Primary Children. They are booked until Late April and sent us to Rheumatology. I've left a message and they will get in touch with us shortly.

So why is this post so long and just growing longer? I'm babbling. Frustrated and confused. And just wanting relief for my daughter. I just feel like life for her can be better than this. That there is more about it that we just don't know. I've been praying as a Mother what to do. What more can I do? Where do I need to go to help her? I feel like this is right. That maybe each thing that's happened in the past has slowly brought us to where we are today.

Ben has been so patient through all of this. Kindly trying to give her kisses to help her feel better. Praying for her. Sharing all his toys while she screams and throws a fit, because she just doesn't feel good. Holding her hand while the Dr exams her for the millionth time. Waiting patiently, with knots in his stomach, while Mommy and Symi step into the next room for blood work. When we came out he was in tears asking if she was going to be alright? Then wanting to just hold her when he saw her again.

Why does my 4 year old have to be so grown up?

We will keep you posted.

Belated Christmas Card to All

Another year has come and gone and we are still alive!! Our family has had many twists and turns this last few years, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We have tread a new road and learned so much along the way.

Dane’s career took a major change this last year. He finished Student Teaching for the CES program, but didn’t get hired. It’s been hard to take, when we’ve been working so long and hard to get him this far. Only to not get hired. We are grateful for the many opportunities that it has brought to us and for all the different windows that have opened up. Now it’s a matter of choice and seeking more education. So he is looking into getting his Master’s and possible Teaching Certificate. He made his first kill and only kill this year over Labor Day weekend. He was so proud to have his picture taken with his little deer mouse that he got with Ben’s little bow. He is working hard to help keep us financially in check during these hard times.

Brittany has been working hard at changing the dynamics of diets within the household. Her and Dane are working on less calories, while trying to increase Ben’s calories, and keep Symi far away from Milk, Eggs, and Whole Grains. So far she’s failed a few times, but has found a few family meals that suit everyone. She has been staying at home and faithfully keeping Symi in good health. She has enjoyed working on cross stitch and other small crafts(that are inexpensive) and meeting new friends in the Ward. She was recently put in as the Young Women’s Mia Maid Advisor. She is looking forward to working with the YW’s again. She’s also learned that gray hair don’t come when you get old, but rather when your body starts to age rapidly from stress, and sleep deprivation. Despite the rough year, she is still looking timeless and silvery on the edges! :)

Ben has grown so much! Not just physically which is amazing for him, but mentally as well. He is so smart and loves to learn!! Always asking new things and wanting to stretch his mind! He loves Primary and thoroughly enjoys being with his peers. He was very excited about going to preschool. He worries every morning that he’s late for preschool. But we’re always very early! He loves to sing and have us sing with him. He can still be very shy, but after a while will warm up. He still loves dinosaurs and has now found a love for guns! He is truly our son. He’s spent most of this summer camping out back with Dad, feeding ducks, playing with neighbors, shooting his bow, shooting his sling shot, pretending to fish in the backyard with a sinker, drawing self portraits, learning to write his name by himself, still loves to read, learning to dress himself, quoting from movies, been potty trained for a year, and is looking forward to turning 5 next summer because he gets a brand new bike. He also cannot wait to go with the big kids to school across the street! Ben also had Oral Surgery on Nov. 18th to correct the damage from his acid reflux. He also had his tongue clipped and is looking forward to licking ice cream cones when it’s done healing. He is doing well and each day is much better than the last.

Symantha (or Symi) has been an amazing addition to our family! Talk about being able to turn a whole family upside down and constantly keep us on our toes! This little girl, now that she’s feeling well, is so full of energy and spunk. She can be a little tease, and loves, I mean, LOVES to wrestle with Daddy and Ben. Nothing makes her more happy than to tease, run, and be chased down to wrestle. We have been in and out of the different hospitals and Dr’s offices trying to figure out what has been wrong with this little girl. It has been a long tough road, but always followed by a stronger testimony and a beautiful and new understanding of the Savior’s Atonement. She has strengthened our family in such a way that no one else could have done. We love her for all she’s taught our family. Symi is fascinated with babies and constantly has one in her arms. Symi loves to be with Ben. She follows him everywhere and thinks that everything he does is so awesome. She is not afraid to try new things and seems to be more fearless than Ben was cautious. Food is her passion and her worst enemy. We found out this year, through many visits to Dr’s, that Symi has GERD just like Ben. She is also allergic and intolerant to Milk, Eggs, and Whole Grains. She loves food!! She loves to eat!! It’s just so hard to find solid foods that don’t make her sick and help her little body to grow. She is petite and tiny for her age, but can hold her own!

Baby #3 is due on May 12, 2011, and we couldn’t be more happy to have another baby so soon! Ben is hoping for a brother, Symi will just be thrilled to have a baby in the house, and Dane and I, are hoping for a happy, healthy, and good baby!

Our lives our full, and so are our hearts. We love being together as a family and wouldn’t have it any other way.

We wish all of you Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and a wonderful New Year!

Love, Dane, Brittany, Ben, Symi, & Baby Hepworth

Merry Christmas!

Please forgive my blogging skills. Everything is backward. So if you want start from the bottom and go up!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!

The only Dr's visit we had was an Instacare visit the day after Christmas because Symi had a fever of 103. She was miserable Christmas afternoon, all night, and into the next day. After a 2 hour wait, and then many tests they concluded that she didn't have an ear infection, no strep throat, and no bladder infection. She was diagnosed with a viral infection that she would just have to fight off by herself. Later that day I found 4 canine teeth round, red, and swollen, trying to make their debut. So I conclude she was feverish because of her teeth.

Dane sporting his new Mini Scripture cover. And trying to send kisses to the photographer.

Me with my new key chain clock (Ben broke my other one that I loved, by dropping it on the floor while I rolled over it with a cart shopping. :(
And I got some new Pearls too!!
We also found out that we are having a baby boy in May.

Symi checking out her new "Barnyard" of animals.

Ben with his much anticipated Pirate Ship!

New File Folder Activities for church.

New Tub toys from Santa.

Waiting to go downstairs. Some of us weren't very patient. ;)

This year for Christmas Dane and I just wanted to be . . . . Home. We just wanted a normal Christmas of sitting together, giggling, opening presents, playing with new toys all day, and not one of us in the hospital.


We got our Christmas wish, and it was far better than we ever imagined!!