SAYING GOODBYE TO LITTLE EMILY

     We have had an emotion-filled, tender, difficult, sad, joyful, sweet 24 hours.  Our 7th little grandchild was born prematurely in the early evening of April 16th (as we all had known was possible).  Becky's pregnancy has been a problem one from the beginning.   Amniotic fluid was very low and without it a baby is cramped and has almost no opportunity for lungs to develop normally.  Becky was at 6 months and was to enter the hospital on the advice of her doctor to be monitored and to remain there until the baby was born.  Infections are very common in pregnancies where there is a tear in the sac which holds the baby.  Becky's case was no exception and she went into labor yesterday afternoon.

     A little girl (we had never known the sex because low fluid also prevents clear ultrasounds) came about 5:45 p.m. and was immediately surrounded by an expert team of doctors and nurses who struggled to help her stay alive.  Lauralyn Emily (named after Charles' sister - but they will call her Emily) was barely 2 pounds.  She was only 13 inches long.   But she was totally formed, lots of hair,  and even had a look about her that was like her brother Ethan's at his birth.

     At Becky and Charles' request the NICU team continued to try all they could do until it just was apparent that even the heroic measures could cause complications more than she already had.  Becky and Charles made the difficult decision to let her "go home."  How grateful Victor and I were to get to share this intense and tender time with our sweet daughter and her husband who showed strength and love and faith during the 6 hour ordeal.   Little Emily received a blessing from her father and grandfather.   They removed all the machines and laid her in Becky's arms where they gave us privacy, unrushed, to be with her.   Becky called us to come in so we could help sing songs to her, which we did with tears flowing freely.  We talked to her and loved her and reassured her....and then did it all over again once we knew she was gone.

     Already it is apparent that her presence and the circumstances of her situation and subsequent death have had an impact on many people.   We are grateful for even the little time we had with her.   I, for one, will wait to see how her heavenly presence will continue to affect all of us who still have to stay here a while.

Those of you who know Charles and Becky well might wish to follow the link on the sidebar of this blog to hear about it in their words.   Goodbye for now, little one. 

Update:  A short service for family & very close friends was held at Palm Mortuary, Friday Apr. 22nd.  at 3:30 in the afternoon.   Beth Hunt, my nephew's wife, made a beautiful little burial dress for Emily.  It is a hard thing to see such a tiny little casket.   The family is doing well even though there are moments each day when a sadness just seems to rest with us briefly.   So many people have lent support.  Thank you everyone.

Charles got to carry Emily out to the infant area of the cemetery.

In the photo below he is talking with Audrey about Emily and the picture they now have in their home.

     

CAN YOU STAND MORE WINTER PICTURES? - Forest Damage

On our way home from the cabin today we were astounded at - and mourned - the incredible destruction to the trees that ocurred during the heavy, wet snows of this past winter.  So many trees snapped and broken as well as the hundreds and hundreds that are bent to a full arc under the weight of the snow which still holds them in that position.   It was a blustery, windy 28 degrees on the mountain.  By the time we got to Cedar City it was Spring, 57 degrees,  with sunny, blossoming trees all around.   Snow melt is showing itself with a full Virgin River flowing thru the gorge.   It could yet get pretty nasty.  But the earlier and more gradual the snow melt the less devastating the flow will be.  Our cabin is high enough that we probably would be protected from any flooding of Mammoth Creek (which is predicted).

I wish you could see more clearly the huge number of arc-ed trees at this spot  (By the turnoff to Duck Creek Campground)

Another patch a few yards down the road.  Duck Creek Village is NOT looking very inviting yet.  Twenty foot high mounds of plowed and blown snow that may still be there in June.

Here you can see all the snapped off Aspen - also at the juncture with the Campground Rd.

This was not even the worst view of downed pine trees - but this is NOT a part of the highway where you can ask your husband to stop so you can take pictures!

Navajo Lake - Still completely frozen and snow-covered.  Don't think I'll take my beach chair and sit on the banks any time soon.

Had to snap a perspective picture!  This is how high the snow banks are in some spots.  Victor is 6' 3".  Granted, part of it is snow-plow blow off, but you can see why we will still have some snow in June!   He is dressed this way because we know that by the time we reach Vegas it will be hot.  But he didn't love the 28 degree wind and blowing powder.  What a loving spouse to put up with my photo moment requests!

WINTER/SPRING - Which IS it exactly???

We awoke Sunday morning to a glorious snowstorm!   Thick, heavy flakes that created such beauty!  Two hours later the sun came out and the new snow was all melted by 11 a.m.!   But worth posting pictures:

Snow like this is so lovely - - - from INSIDE a warm house!

And now, two days later we both have sunburns from sitting on the deck in 60+ degree weather.  We read, we had lunch, and we watched the snow melt before our eyes.   What was 3 feet high when we arrived a week ago is now mostly cleared in front, the deepest part less than 6 inches.   We are glad about that, but would be a little gladder if the ice lake under the deck would melt and release the septic system back to normal.   My friend Margene wondered how we were coping without an outhouse or an inhouse system.  Fortunately when Charles came up he brought the portapotty they made me buy after my hip surgery.  It has been a real blessing (and about time, since I resented being charged for something I never even used before this week!

Remember the view out the kitchen window from a couple of posts ago?  (Asmall hole).  This cute table formation is what is left.  And now we can see the fire ring and our Cousin Tree (the one we planted during cousin camp last July.  It was buried except for about 3 inches at the top)

With the afternoon sun still in the Northern sky the view out the back is glorious!  I will be sad to go back to Vegas in a couple of days.  In spite of the sanitation deprivation we have had a wonderful time.

Happy 32 Anniversary to us tomorrow!!!!!!

Winter is more fun with granchildren around

Even after explaining that conditions were not exactly great at the cabin where sanitary needs were concerned Charles still wanted to come and bring Audrey and Ethan AND his stepfather Scott Mayfield!!!   Now that has to be a determined guest to put up with such conditions.   But Becky was happy to have the break and let Charles be the 24-7 parent and Scott was grateful to be out in nature after nearly 3 years of being at home for various surgeries, recuperations and illnesses. 

Charles rigged up a great sled from a storage container lid he found on one of his dumpster diving excursions. My attempt to upload a video failed but I will give it a try later.

It is so amazing how simple little ice crystals can be so fascinating to a child.

Couldn't find any kids boots up here so Charles made plastic sacks and duct tape serve just fine!

Audrey and Ethan are at a great stage right now.  They play well together and he mostly likes her running him around everywhere and being his guide and friend.

"Dad, how do you expect me to carry this stuff without fingers???"

Ethan had to go check out where everybody's legs had gone!  The snow was a lot squishier after a few hours of 60 degree sun beating down on it.

I really like being at the cabin, Bama!

We didn't stay outside the whole time.  We read books and spread toys all around the cabin and colored and ate and watched Conference and had a couple of naps.  Grandpa did puzzles;  Daddy and Grandpa Scott talked and did computer stuff.  Grandma cooked.  She does that a lot!  The snow melted a lot while we were here.  But the line to the Septic tank never did unfreeze!

We tired Daddy out pretty good

I wish Mommy could have been here with us too! We love her a lot!

Don't try this at home

If you are going to wear white fuzzy slippers and you might drop pasta when you are trying to hurry dinner onto the table, don't be surprised when things look really funny the next day.  (I didn't notice until mid way thru the following day)