You are My Sunshine

Reading other peoples blogs humbles me. I am constantly amazed at all the fun and exciting things people are doing with their families, homes, and lives. And the even more amazing fact that they always have their camera with them. Note to self- Keep camera in purse,

This past week was a busy week. It will always be remembered.

We have had a lot of experience with hospitals in our lives here in the Tilton household. Mostly me. Thyroid Cancer, Kidney Infection, Blood transfusions, Iron transfusions, Double Hernia, and January 2007- June 6th 2007; 6 Trans uterine blood transfusions for Hayden, 29 Ultra sounds for Hayden, 3 hospitalizations during transfusions, Haydens 5 days in NICU with one blood transfusion in the NICU..

Unfortunately this week Hunter's health decided to add to the Hospital stay list.

Hunter is an incredibly healthy, active 14 year old. Last week she went to Girls camp with our Stake Young Women's program. When she arrived home she told us she was having trouble sitting. We didn't think enough of it to immediately take her to the hospital. It progressively worsened. By day three following her return, she had a temperature and was in severe discomfort.

Doug took her to the ER. After a questionably qualified ER Doc finished her discharge papers the triage nurse went to take her temp one last time. It was 102. They immediately sent her to CT followed by surgery. She had an abscess (sp?). After removing it they kept her in the hospital for 3 days. Her white count and temp were down enough to send her home on Wed afternoon.

What a scary week. There has only been one other time I have felt as helpless as I did this past week.

On day three of Hayden NICU stay I arrived early in the morning to see him with his IV sticking into his head, he had three lights on him, bruises from where the IV had been before, bandages from needle sticks and blood transfusions. I couldn't bear it. I fell apart. His little 5.5 pound frame looked so overwhelmed. I was sobbing trying to hold his innocent little body, Doug came and reassured me that was the easiest yet scariest looking way to get a good vein in a newborn. Any way about it I couldn't help my baby to understand what was going on, I couldn't guarantee that everything would be ok.

Doug and I have never had to watch one of our older children suffer and knowingly not be able to make things better ourselves. To not know if things could be made better. Although Hunter looks like she is in college she is only going into the 9th grade! She is still our baby. It was heart breaking to hear our baby repeatedly asking for reassurance. She was as strong as any child could be- yet scared out of her mind.

While laying there watching her sleep, so many wonderful memories of our baby Hunter,were triggered by this experience.

When she was only 13 month old we bought her a Little Tykes golf set. She could barely stand up. But she had an audience of Mommy, Daddy, Uncle Colin and Auntie Heather. She stood tall and repeatedly took the golf club in her tiny hands. With her stubby little arms that could barely reach above her large toddler size cranium, she would hit the golf ball, throw the club to the ground, and clap her hands wildly with the rest of her adoring fans in the living room. By the fifth or sixth time she was throwing the club to the ground mid swing to acknowledge her great accomplishment with frantic clapping. We laughed and clapped for what seemed like hours. Knowing the attention spam of a 13 month old though, I know it couldn't have been for more than 3-7 minutes.

During undergraduate school we lived within 4 blocks of a new Barnes and Noble. Hunter would beg to go to Barnes and Noble. Each time we went we would try to finagle a book for her out our piddle wages. She would glow with excited anticipation as we walked to the store. The staff always gave her a green Balloon to carry home- and a pencil. It was like gold to her. Those were the days...

One of our favorite songs to sing to our children when they were toddlers throughout their snuggle with mommy years has always been You are My Sunshine. Hunter knew this song by the time she was 16 months. During undergraduate at BYU we lived in a fourplex. We were blessed with and upstairs apartment- We had friends, the Patreezies, that lived in one of the lower apartments. The Patreezies had one son, Davie. He was Hunters first love. She loved to; play with him, eat lunch with him, and serenade him. One bright August afternoon in Orem, Utah, Hunter set herself on the back of our tattered couch. The couch backed the large picture window on the front of the apartment. She saw Davie arriving home with his parents. She proceeded to sing You are My Sunshine to Davie. If that crazy, older, man in her life- I believe he was at least 26month old- she was a mere 25m/o- wasn't smitten before that act of adoration I am sure he was soon there after.

I am glad to report that our little sunshine is doing well. She is happy to be home. Unfortunately this has spoiled some of her plans for the summer. Plans that she has been looking forward to since we moved here 12 months ago. We will do our best to make the best of whatever it is we have been handed. We are praying it is a one time deal God gave us to keep us on our toes and humble. We are grateful for all that we are blessed with. Thanks for your prayers and help.

TT