25 August 2024
VOLUME 12 – NUMBER 570
Aura reviewing will with family
During the last couple of weeks, I have had several opportunities to be with Aura. Recently, I was taking care of her from about 5:00pm to 11:0pm. It was just me and her. Itzel was there for some of the time as well.
Aura was in a lot of discomfort and pain. It was really hard to see her in that state, and not be able to do anything to really help her. She had her medications, but those were causing her their own type of discomfort, as much as they did help.
Endia and Owen visiting Aura
So we would chat about her childhood memories, so that she could be distracted or stay awake when needed. I remember that she talked about a childhood memory with Yarima, driving around in toy cars, and getting ice cream with Yarima. She told me how much that childhood memory stood out to her—and she really liked that memory.
Also, when I asked her what she wanted for dinner, she told me she wanted pancakes. So I was able to make those for her, and she liked them. She ate more than I had seen her eat in the last several times that she had eaten.
At temple open house (05/02/24)
And during that evening together, even though Aura was in a lot of pain, she still cared so much about how Itzel was doing. She was focused on Itzel, making sure she was getting to bed, so that she would have the rest she needed for school the next day.
I think Aura is a great example of someone who just generally looks outward instead of inward, even during hard and dark times. She is someone that loves other people and cares about their needs and doesn’t get caught up in herself.
I was really grateful for that time that I was able to be with her and to learn more about her, and to learn more from her example. I love Aura so much. She is an amazing sister and she is an amazing mom. I know that she loves her family, she loves doing good, and she loves lifting others around her.
Cancer buddies—Caleb and Aura (12/06/23)
One time, when I was sick and Aura was sick—we both had cancer—whenever I was feeling really bad, she would usually be feeling a little better. Then, when I was feeling better, she would usually be feeling bad. We had a kind of back-and-forth arrangement, with each of our chemo treatments coming at different times.
One time when I was feeling bad, she brought over some of the food that she liked to eat when she was feeling bad. She is just a great example of someone looking out for other people that are suffering, even when she has her own problems, her own trials.
That’s one of the traits that I admire most about Aura—how much she cares about other people and their needs. She doesn’t get caught up on herself, or turn inward during hard times, but is so focused on everyone else during those times.
Aura reviewing will with family
Things never seem to slow down! On top of the daily care that we are trying to work out for Aura, we are now in the middle of a major home refurbishing! Fortunately, because my semester ended last week, I have a couple weeks where we are a little less busy than usual.
For years, Jenny and I have made plans to redo the main floor of our house, and our carpet in the upstairs is also in desperate need of replacing. So this week, we finally decided to move forward. We are putting in laminate wood flooring throughout the main floor, replacing the carpet upstairs, and repainting the main floor and the upstairs!
Early 2022 plan for new flooring and paint
On Tuesday, Mom and I met with Nate and chose the flooring and carpet. Nate schedule an installation for next Thursday and Friday. To help us save on cost, Nate suggested that we buy the product, and he and Natalie would come over with the rest of the family, and help install it.
So here’s the scary part. Before we can install the new flooring, we need to clear out all the old flooring and carpet, prep all the walls for paint, and paint the entire downstairs—and we only have a week to do all that. Then we’ll need to do the same thing upstairs before the new carpet comes just four days after flooring is done!
So for the past few days, I get up in the morning with a to-do list of about 1000 little items, add another 500 items that come up during the day, crash into my bed at night, and then wake up the next morning to do it all again!
Dad after painting with new sprayer
However, by the end of this week we have made good progress. Following Nate’s advice, we purchased a nice paint sprayer, and we have completed all of the main floor rooms, except for the high-ceiling rooms.
I do have to say that the children have been amazing helpers! They have all worked all day long with little or no complaints! I am so grateful for their help, and for the help of adult children that have just stopped in to help as well!
Next, we have a professional painter scheduled to come in on Monday to paint our high-ceiling rooms, and hopefully we will be ready for flooring by Thursday. Then we’ll have to scramble to complete the upstairs before carpet comes on Tuesday of the following week!
Gloria and Kai prepping kitchen wall
As you know, it’s been a busy couple of weeks, so let me backtrack a little to the weekend of Dad’s birthday. That was when I went in with Aura to try and help her get the care she needed. She was supposed to get a blood transfusion, which normally should have made her feel much better, but it didn’t do anything for her.
While we were there I continued to try and help the doctors to see just what type of pain and discomfort Aura really was in. They decided to do a CT scan. After they did that scan, they said they wanted to admit her.
I stayed with Aura the entire day. Sometimes I would just stand next to her with my hand on her head and her head on my stomach, so she had a place to rest her head. Sitting in her wheelchair was the only place where she could even get a little comfortable.
Mattias and Owen at Aura’s house
After she was admitted to Huntsman, they had a social worker and a doctor come in to speak with us. While they were talking Natalie came in, just as they were telling us that Aura had had what is called a contained rupture and that she had very little time left. It was a very emotional time, and I am thankful that Natalie was there. They kept Aura another few days to try and manage her pain.
As you know, Natalie and I had the very difficult task of letting the family know this news at Dad’s birthday party. We thought it best to share that kind of news when we were all together. I’m thankful for the strength that comes from such a large supportive family.
Mom sleeping with Mable in massage chair
This week is my birthday! I was so happy. I chose Wendy's for lunch. It was delicious! Before we ate and watched a show, I was able to open my presents.
First, I got a Star Wars Lego set from the Mandalorian series from Mom and Dad. My next present was from Troy—a Nerf Gun that I have been wanting for a long time!
Then I had to get shot with the gun first before I could use it. It is tradition. That night we watched Suits and then we had a delicious dinner. I had a great birthday!
Quinn’s birthday celebration
It was Quinn's birthday. We woke up and sang Happy Birthday during scripture study. Then when it was lunchtime we ate food. Quinn opened his presents after we watched a show.
Then we had cake during dinner time, and sang Happy Birthday again. Quinn got a Nerf gun and Nerf glasses. He also got a Lego set. Caleb and Ashton came over, and we also had cinnamon roles for his birthday.
Quinn and Joanna on field trip
It is Quinn's birthday! I got him a Nerf gun that he has been wanting. Mom and Dad got him a Lego set from the Mandalorian. It is like a crab robot.
This week is also the start of our home improvement project. Mom and Dad have chosen the carpet and the flooring. Now we have to get ready by painting all the main floor walls.
My job in all of this mess is to be the tool guy. I set up the tool boxes, keep the tool area organized, and whenever Dad or someone else needs a tool, I got and get it and bring it to them. That way we don’t have tools lost all over the house.
Children panning for gold on field trip
This has been a nonstop job because everybody has a job and they all need tools, so I have been running around getting tools all day!
Also, the upstairs bedroom children had to move outside to the backyard in the big tent, so we can redo their rooms with new paint and carpeting.
During this mess, we were invited to go on a school field trip to This Is The Place State Park. It is a place where we got to go and see old buildings, and how old townspeople used to live. It was very fun and fascinating to look at. It has been a busy week, but a fun one too.
Troy and Quinn on school field trip
This has been a major week for the ol' house. Renovations have begun, and boy are they crazy. Some of the main level walls have been completely painted white, as we prepare for our new flooring. The house already looks different, and it looks good!
I was also able to go to a Hale Centre Theatre play this week—The Addams Family. They showed this play a few years ago, but I wasn't able to go to that one. It was a pretty good play. I enjoyed it. Hale Centre Theatre plays are a major highlight for me throughout the year, and I'm very thankful for the chances that I've had to go.
Children on school field trip
Since the house is getting renovated, me, Gloria, Joanna, Isaac, and Kai set up a tent outside, so that we could sleep in it for the two weeks that the house was getting finished. The tent is split in half with a curtain, so the boys got one side and the girls got the other.
Isaac also set up a TV on each side with the Switch on the boys side, and a Roku to watch TV on the girls side. Each night before we went to sleep, me and Gloria would watch Raising Dion, and when Joanna was awake, we would just watch a Disney show. I liked sleeping outside. It was fun, but I do miss my regular bedroom a little too.
Me, Monte, Gloria, and Troy went to The Addams Family play. It is such a well-written play. One of my favorite characters was Frankenstein. He was just so funny.
Joanna on school field trip
Also, Utah Online School had a field trip at This is the Place State Park. Me, Gloria, Troy, Quinn, and Joanna went with Mom. I had a really fun time doing all of the fun activities.
We did leather making, panning for gold, and we got to see how the houses looked back in the days of the pioneers. They were so nice inside!
Brigham Young’s house was just so beautiful inside and out. Gloria and Joanna were both saying that they were going to buy it. Joanna said she was going to by it for Mom, but then Gloria said, “Not before I do!” It was really funny watching them argue on who was going to get the house.
Veidi and Gloria on school field trip
This week I went to a boys night/game night with some friends I made at Camp Helaman. It was really fun! We had nachos for dinner, and did an air hockey tournament. I didn't win, but I did better than the last time I played.
We also did a Smash Bros tournament, and I didn't win that one either, but I did win it last time I went. They usually do a boys night every month, and last month was the first month I was invited.
I had a really fun time. We also played a game called One Night, which is kind of like Werewolves or Mafia, but with it's own little twist. It was really fun. Sadly, I never won, and I was lost a lot of the time, but still had a lot of fun.
After that was over, I walked back and got to see that most of the main level of our house was all painted! I can't wait for everything to be nice and new, with new carpet upstairs, and new hard wood flooring on all of the main floor!
Isaac and Kai’s tent bedroom
As we've been prepping for renovating the house, we had to find temporary rooms while our old rooms were being renovated. Isaac had the idea to put our big green tent in the backyard and put our beds in that tent so it could serve as our temporary rooms for the week.
There were pros and cons to this plan. The pros were that we could have a TV in our room, sleep under the stars, and it was really comfy. One of the cons was that whenever we would go to our room at like lunch time, it was burning hot.
It also rained a little and we didn't put up our tent fly. Overall it was awesome being able to sleep on mattresses outside in the tent!
Temporary tent bedrooms