June

Well, against all odds, we finally made it to the end of June. I thought it would never come. Longest and hardest month of my life, for sure. It was a struggle, but we still found some good times in the midst of Daryn's recovery. 

After coming home, she slowly felt a little better each day. Her cousins sent a care package and these mustaches really lifted spirits.

She felt well enough to go to her last tball game, hit the ball, and walk slowly around the bases. 

And to attend her first weekly cooking class with Maddie!

Reagan has art class at the same time.

I took all the kids to Salt Lake to meet Lance and so Reagan could get her ears pierced (an early birthday present).

Before and during:

She was a little nervous but very brave.

After:

Feeling better every day!

She was even up for a scooter ride eventually- she's committed to getting stronger. 

I bought passes for Reagan and I to go rock climbing this summer. It's a forgotten hobby of mine and Reagan is a natural- she flies up the wall and really loves it. It's been so fun having her for a climbing buddy!

They must be related...

Reagan took a sewing camp and learned how to use a sewing machine. She made a pillowcase, a heart pillow, and a drawstring bag. I was so impressed!

As you can see, she also had a mishap. She was "practicing swinging without holding on" - don't even get me started. She flipped backwards off the swing (of course) and ended up with a very small buckle fracture. They actually couldn't even tell for sure if it was broken for a week. 

I thought for sure our summer plans were toast (goodbye, rocking climbing buddy) but it turns out she can still do basically everything with it on- including rock climbing! Can't keep this girl down. We bought a waterproof cover but haven't done swimming anyway because of Daryn's recovery. So far the worst part is I have to help her shower and the itching. 

After a week her pink cast was coming apart and they had to do another x-ray to confirm the break, so they took it off and then we ended up with a blue cast for the next two weeks. 

We got a new fence on the side of our yard to replace the wood one that was falling down and it was the most exciting thing to ever happen to the girls. They spent multiple days on out there non-stop, talking the workers' ears off. They love a captive audience. 

Aunt Cassidy and baby cousin Travis came for a visit! It was so fun to meet this little cutie. I forgot how much work babies are!

We went to Temple Square to visit while they were here.

The next morning Reagan and I went back again to attend Music and the Spoken Word. We watch it every Sunday morning and she's been asking to go for years. Now that she was 8, she could finally go! It was an awesome experience. 

Helping a neighbor friend walk her dog.

Daddy rescued a baby bird from the window well! He's such a softie. 

Daryn practiced her photography skills and took these adorable pictures.

Reagan and I got attend Activity Day camp (me as a leader, her as a member) and it was so fun. Lots of new things to try!

I  love this group of girls!

Lance had a good time with the younger kids and even made it to the park! (More than I can say these days...)

 I was at Target late one night and it's possible that I was just tired, but this reminder made me laugh and laugh.

These girls are adorable but so silly sometimes. 

Even with a cast on, she can climb better than me.

Lots of sweet cherries from our tree finally! This was 1/4 approximately of what's on the tree.

Facepainting at a fundraiser while Reagan was at a birthday party.

 Getting our patriotic look on. We're ready for July! (In more ways than one.)

Daryn had one of her tubes removed last week and we are now using a catheter to empty her bladder every two hours. This is our new normal and for now, it's seems her surgery was very successful! We are so grateful she has to opportunity to stay dry. Time to turn our faces to the future!

Daryn's Surgery

Exactly one week after her 6th birthday, Daryn was scheduled for major surgery, consisting of taking part of her intestine and augmenting her natural bladder with it, closing off her bladder and creating a channel to the outside of her body with another piece of intestine. Among other things. She was nervous but good natured going into it. Two days before, we had to get an enema x-ray done at the clinic near our house, which was a fun new adventure. 

And the next day, the day before her surgery, she was on a clear liquid diet all day. She handled it like a champ and really enjoyed all her popsicles and jello. 

Dance party the night before to keep our spirits up!

Joy came to watch the other kids and Lance and I took Daryn to Primary Children's Hospital early in the morning on Thursday.

She helped pack her suitcase full of fun things to do in the hospital and insisted on pulling it herself. 

After lots of check-ups and waiting, it was time to go!

They took her back at just after 9, and we didn't get to see her until around 7:30. The surgery itself was around 9 hours long (they had estimated 5-8). It took longer than anticipated because her intestines had a lot of adhesions that the surgeon had to separate before he could start to work. It was a long day for Lance and I in the waiting.

It took her a while to come out of it and she was not feeling great.

I was just relieved to see her. 

After about an hour she was awake enough to leave post-op and go to her room. She brought her dolls and blanket with her and they gave her some comfort.

We were so grateful for all the calls, texts, visits, and gifts from friends and family. One friend that just moved out of state even had this delivered. We are so lucky to have our support system!

Lance and I took turns staying a day and night at the hospital and switching in the morning. It was exhausting but manageable. I stayed the first night and she for most of it. Somehow Lance always seemed to get the bad days- one step forward, one step back. 

Meanwhile, the kids at home were having a blast playing, first with Gigi and then with Grandma. 

Reagan even got to go see the new Aladdin with her cousin Grace. 

On Sunday, Daryn was feeling well enough that Joy came to stay with her so Lance and I could take the kids to church, and then we all went to visit after. 

I was surprised and impressed with how tender and sweet Reagan was with her. 

Monday morning was really hard, she was trying to eat but felt so sick. Her IV got clogged and they had to put a new one in, which was pretty traumatic. She was screaming and they had to hold her down. But they immediately got some Zofran in her and within 10 minutes it was a night and day difference. 

"I look like Cat in the Hat!" (with her throw up bag).

And just in time, because she had some visitors! The Daseks and the Petersons came to visit, with her good friends Alex and Jackson. 

Later that afternoon, she wanted to go see the hospital's private screening of the new Aladdin movie. They got her all loaded up on a stretcher and wheeled her down. 20 minutes in, she decided she didn't like the movie and back to the room we went. 

After trying for days, we were finally able to convince to walk around. She hobbled a few steps around her room with support, and enjoyed sitting in the sunshine by the window. 

Trying to get her to eat and drink was another huge battle, and basically what we were waiting on to go home. She just had no appetite, and would rather play with toys. It was so nice to see her happy personality come back, after several days of crying, uncooperative sass, and angry defiance. 

On Tuesday she felt well enough for a ride to the playroom!

She really enjoyed painting a snail picture, making slime, and racing the cars down the track. 

On Wednesday, they finally said we could leave! After waiting HOURS for the discharge papers, she was homeward bound! She came home on Tylenol only, and we've slowing been weaning her off of that.

What a difference a bath and some clean clothes make. Although you can really see how skeletal she is in this picture. She lost over 5 pounds- 15% of her body weight :(. Her appetite has gone back to normal here at home, so we're hopeful she'll get back to a healthy weight soon. 

She's steadily been improving at home, and even felt well enough to get up and play!

We're grateful for her improvement. The next month is going to be very long. She has two drainage tubes coming out of her new bladder with bags on the end to catch her urine while she heals. One comes out on the 26th hopefully, and the other a week later, and then she can resume normal activity. Until then, most physical activity is off-limits. She is already bored and I can imagine that's only going to get worse the better she feels. She's down to about 1/3 of a regular tylenol dose now and is getting around pretty well. Wish us luck for the next 3.5 weeks...