A Little New News

First i want to share this wonderful video that my Brother-In-Law Bryce made of Austin for our fund raisers. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBq72bfp9DA&feature=player_embedded

Today has been kind of been hard. We found out that the Dr.'s will have their conference about Jacob on the 29th, so another week more of waiting. I cried when I found out, I JUST WANT TO KNOW! They told Jacob that the surgeon was concerned with his bp (just the diastolic) and the history of diabetes in the family. The BP is just slightly elevated. I am so nervous, and have been kind of holding it all in. So now I just cry. There is still a possibility of a no answer, and I am nervous for it. It will be okay, this whole thing is a roller coaster ride. Up one moment and then plunging to what feels like your death the next. When can we get off? I just don't know. I do know that if Jacob does not work out then I am going to be actively campaigning for a donor. I will be disappointed indeed if I can not find him a live donor. I am going to try my best though, and do everything I can to find that kidney he needs. My Mother-In-Law
is coming down on the 30th so if we get bad news she can be here to help. Last time was horrible. If we get good news then she can celebrate with us. I know that the right kidney will be found, and the Lord's plan is a perfect plan, but it is hard to have very righteous desires and feel like you get sucker punched instead. I really want to just surrender myself to His will. It is a balancing act, you need to pray for what you want (knock and it shall be opened) but be okay with what is given. I hope my faith can build to that.

We also found out today that Austin will be starting on growth hormones. It includes a pen injection in the arm, abdomen, or leg once a day. Kind of scary, I don't think this will go over very well with him. He is pretty afraid of shots. Ugh. I will have to remind myself that he will thank me when he is older, and taller. The growth hormones will probably be stopped post transplant, but since it is still somewhat hazy when that will happen it will be probably be good to start him.

Now for some really great news. You know how I said this was a roller coaster? Well in order to go down you have to go up sometimes huh? My friend Crystal Harris had a drawing that raised over $700. It was great to see perfect stranger unite for Austin's cause. Thanks Crystal! Then there was a garage sale that Crystal Bruce and Tracy Furhiman organized that raised $2700. Amazing. These three lovely ladies have been with us for everything. Thanks so much, can't wait to come up there and give you a hug.
There was a Dinner Auction for Austin in Moses Lake, Wa that was amazing. All 150 tickets were sold and more people came to the auction since the dinner was sold out. All the food was donated and yummy. They served Cafe Rio salads (I SO wish I could have some). Thank you all for organizing it! LaRee McNese was the committee head and we will be forever in her debt. As well as to all the other people who have been involved, there are so many! I am sorry that I can't name them all. If I did this post would be a mile long! People donated all sort of things from an oil change to a Jimmer Ferdet autographed jersey, nights stay at resorts, and sport tickets. There was a hand made wood bow from the Payne's, oil paintings, a hand made quilt, loafs of bread and pies. I think there were over 3 dozen items. I tear up just thinking about the generosity and sacrifices that were made in behalf of our family. More than the money the support we felt was so good. It is what gets me though days like today when things feel crummy. The raised over $32,000. That's right, your eyes do not deceive you. $32,000. Wow. I kept getting texts through out the night "We are over $10,000" , "Now we are over $15,000", "Getting close to $25,000". I was speechless. I mean wouldn't you be? I was overwhelmed, overjoyed, relieved, and I will admit that I felt a little guilty. All of that for our family? There are many people that are in tough situations too. The strongest emotion that I felt was gratitude. I am grateful, and humbled. This is one less thing that we have to worry about. When I say 'thing' I mean a HUGE overwhelming thing that would prevent us from doing normal family stuff not to mention maybe limit some of the extra medial stuff we want to do for Austin (like growth hormones) that could help him. We are almost to our $50,000 goal. So I want to say thanks to everyone including those who have helped drive online donations, organized events with local restaurants, helped place and pick up donation and recycling boxes, organized dinners, sold t-shirts & bracelets, and many more countless acts that have been done to support Austin.. We are so grateful!

Goings On

I never put up the kids birthday party pics. We first had a mini party for Austin on his birthday. Our friends the Quigliey's and Albert and his girls came. We had a lot fun visiting.


Our friends Kyle and Samantha Miller moved from Thousand Oaks to Rosedale, Or. We were (and still are) so sad! We drove over to visit them to see them at their house one last time.






Then a couple of weeks later we had joint birthday party for Austin and Emma. It worked out great sine they are only a year and a month apart. They are into the same things, and have the same friends. They had a lot of fun with some families from the ward that came over to hang out.