More Updates on Dakota

Buzzmania!!! A friend of our family Debbie Haggard made him that cute blanket, Doug and Vicki got him those sweet pants, and we have three Buzz Light Year Toys for him to hold onto. He is in heaven! :)

I first just have to thank all of you for your sweet comments, love, prayers, and faith! I would love to comment back to each one of you but even though I’m sitting in a hospital 24 hours a day, I just can’t seem to find the time. So please know that we read and love them all. You give us so much strength and encouragement during this hard time.

It is official as of today that they are going to place a trach via a tracheostsomy in Dakota’s throat and a g-tube (can’t remember the official name) in his stomach Friday morning. Some of you are saying what is that???? Well, the tracheotomy tube that will go in his throat is our next step to help him make some more progress. It is a tube that is inserted into the airway in his neck so his breathing bypasses his mouth and allows him to breathe from his neck instead. (I’m sure lots of you have seen them before) He has been on the breathing ventilator since we got here and there is high risk for unnecessary infections and problems if that is in too long. He is able to breathe pretty much on his own now but the problem is that he is not swallowing. Because he is not swallowing, he has a lot of secretions that normally we swallow that he can’t get rid of. This makes it hard to breath and allows the secretions to go down to the lungs which obviously causes problems. So pretty much the only option is to do the trach which will allow him to get the breathing tube out (which has already caused an infection), help him begin breathing on his own, and allow him to get the rehab that he needs. The g-tube will replace the feeding tube that goes through his nose right now, so he will be fed directly into his stomach which will decrease the chance of that tube becoming infected.

I know all of this doesn’t sound like that great of news and believe me as his mom it still sounds very scary to me but it is the only option we have to be able to get him out of the PICU and begin getting him into rehab to help him relearn all those things that he needs to learn again like swallowing, eating walking, talking, etc. The good news is that if he begins swallowing and doing those things on his own again both the tracheotomy and the g-tube can come out. They are not permanent and so we hope they will not have to be in for long. He will have to stay in the PICU for ten days after the surgery so we are still looking at at least two weeks in this hospital. It is hard to imagine that it has only been a week and a half because it feels like forever, so two more weeks was hard to take in at first but we will just take it day by day. The nurses, doctors, and staff here have been great though and have made us feel very comfortable in our “home away from home.” The doctors are hoping that after those two weeks they will be able to transfer him back to Utah to a rehab facility there which will be nice to get back home again. (We will miss this great weather though and of course my amazing family here) We still need to work out all the kinks with insurance and things before it is a go ahead but that is what they are looking at right now.

It is all still really hard to take in and we understand it is going to be a slow process in helping our sweet Dakota get back up and running again, but it feels so good to know that it is possible. We know Dakota has chosen to stay with us as he has fought so hard to be here, so we will just keep fighting for him and staying strong.

My understanding of what faith is has grown so much throughout all of our trials and especially this one. I have truly come to understand and know that true faith is COMPLETE trust in our Heavenly Father, even when you don’t know what lies ahead. It is easy to say that but when you are faced with something like this you are definitely put to the test. It is hard not knowing what lies ahead but I have come to trust in my Heavenly Father that whatever it is we can do it. It has been amazing to feel the love of my Heavenly Father through all of this and the peace and comfort that He has provided me. As my heart has been poured out to my Heavenly Father all day every day for the last week and a half, I have felt his love and know that He is there, He hears me, and He loves me. As I have watched other mothers with their babies come into the PICU and seen their tears, it has opened my eyes. I realize that I’m not the only one that is going through tough times and that all of these other mothers I’m sure are pouring out their hearts to Him as well. But the amazing thing about it is…I know that He hears each and every prayer that I’m saying and not only does He hear it He is there comforting me and giving me strength to keep going…and doing the same for everyone else. I know that He loves each and every one of us and his heart aches even more than ours does for the pain that we are going through.

We were able to go to the temple last night and that was so neat. We have only physically left the hospital a handful of times and although it feels good to get out of that environment, I always get an anxious feeling about being gone too. Today at the temple we both felt so much peace and comfort and we know “all is well.” Like I said before, we don’t know exactly what lies ahead, how long it will be, and even how hard it is going to be, but we know that with the Lord’s help anything is possible and all things will eventually work for our good.

Keep up the prayers and faith please!!! We continue to feel your strength and we know that Dakota does too. He is still the cutest little guy ever and we love him SOOO much!! Keep fighting buddy!

I finally decided it’s time for pics of our little sweetie. So here you go!

Helping the nurse give him a bath.

 Does Dakota have the best mom or what? (This caption is from Ashley, not Tessie :))

 The ASU music therapy student singing and the occupational therapist working on him. See how dead asleep he is?

When he opened his eyes for Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam. So awake!!!

 Wearing his new Toy Story cowboy boots that Grandma and Grandpa Rhees sent him. The doctors want him to wear them every couple hours to help his feet stay in good position. I know he is loving it! :)

 Holding daddy's hand. Zach's favorite thing to do.



Dakota Update

MRI reports are still showing the same thing which is great news. The doctors thought that maybe more damage was done and it just hasn’t showed up yet but of course they were wrong! ;) We have had some very spiritual days these last few days and have felt the strength and love of the Lord so much.

He is continuing to make progress little by little but to us it seems so huge. It is amazing how as a parent you take for granted every tiny thing your child does like being able to breathe on their own, look at you, smile, move, and yes even cry. I can’t wait until I can hear Dakota do all these things, even cry.

Wednesday was a huge day for us. He has been pretty sedated on drugs and his face and body swollen. So to open his eyes before was very rare and when he did it was like half way and not for long. Wednesday was the first day that he opened them wide and for a long period of time. It was amazing and I could see my little Dakota in those eyes. Since then, he continues to open them for shorter periods of time but he is still not focusing on things. He continues to make little movements which we LOVE to see. He has started to cough on his own which sounds so simple to all of you but is so exciting to us because he was not having a cough or gag reflex on his own before which was concerning to the doctors. His vital signs are all going down and they are beginning to decrease the breathing ventilator and oxygen and if he continues to do well will hopefully be able to take it out in a few days. That will be great. It is so sad to see a huge tube in his mouth and I know it is uncomfortable for him.

On Friday Doug and Vicki (Zach’s parents) were in the room with him and his head was facing forward and tilted to one side a little. Vicki was on the opposite side above him and started talking to him and he turned his little head all the way over to her. This was so huge for us because for one, he doesn’t move his head a whole lot and two, we know he was responding to her and he hasn’t shown a lot of signs of response to stimuli yet! It was SOOOO good to hear. He hasn’t done it since but we know he hears us every time we talk, sing, and read to him.

Yesterday was so special as well. They have an ASU student come once a week to do music therapy and she came yesterday. She was LDS so she knew all of the primary songs and she came in and sang a lot of them to him. We loved it and she had the most beautiful voice. She came back a second time so we could all hear her sing to Dakota and she asked me what his favorite song was. Of course…it’s Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam…he sings it so dang cute. So she started out with a couple of others and he had been totally asleep through the whole thing. Even the physical therapist was moving his little legs and arms around and he was still out through it all. As she finished some of the others she started singing Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam and immediately his eyes opened. It was the most beautiful sight in the world and the spirit was so strong in the room. Even one of the cute nurses had to step out because she was crying. He kept them open for most of the song and then he was asleep again. It was a tender mercy of the Lord and I know my little Dakota is going to be just fine. I am so grateful to that sweet girl and for her sharing her beautiful talent with us.

It is still just a waiting and watching game as we wait on Heavenly Father and Dakota to decide how fast and what they want to do but we are here trying to be as patient as we can.  It is hard because I just think of all the cute things he does and says and I just want to grab him out of that bed and hold him in my arms but I know that it will come so I will be patient and trust in the Lord because He knows what is best.

Please keep up the faith and prayers. I know that they are being answered because he is here with us and miracles are happening daily. We feel all of your love and prayers and it has given us strength beyond our own. The first day that all of this happened I was SO empty inside. I thought I could never feel happiness again. It was the worst feeling in the world but I feel so much joy and even though things aren’t perfect right now, I feel that happiness inside that I didn’t think I could. This is the beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I feel my Saviors’ love for me!

We love you all and are SO grateful for all you do for us!

Dakota's Story

I know so many are calling and texting wondering and worrying about our sweet little Dakota. It has been too hard right now to answer you all back so I thought it would be easier to post on the blog all that is going on and let you know as well how much we appreciate all of the calls, texts, emails, and especially the prayers and the fasting that is going on for Dakota. He means the world to us and it means so much to us that so many people care so much about him. Our heart is SO full of gratitude for all of you. We have truly and honestly felt the strength from your prayers and I know our Heavenly Father is aware of every prayer that is offered in our behalf.

So to get to the hard part…

We came down to AZ for Thanksgiving the Monday before Thanksgiving and were having so much fun. Dakota LOVES to come to AZ and always talks about coming here. It was honestly like Christmas day every morning that he woke up. He would wake up earlier then normal (no matter what time he went to bed) and would just be so bright eyed and smiley and say, “Let’s go to Papa’s house. Get up!” (My parents have a little guest house attached to their house so that’s why we had to “go” to Papa’s house when actuality we were there.) Thanksgiving day was so fun and Dakota had a blast with his cousins. They all got to go on a hay ride with Uncle Riley. He had so much fun that when it was time to leave my sister’s house that night he told me, “I’ll be sweet. I’ll stay.” (Which is what he says whenever we leave him somewhere…so basically he was just telling us to leave and he would stay there.)

Friday morning we got to work setting things up for my brother’s reception that was in my parent’s backyard. My mom had a few friends over helping. My sister Annie and her kids were there so we could help my mom. Zach, my brother, and dad were all outside helping as well. I had been in the house cutting up food and Dakota was outside playing with cousins. I went out to check on him and that is when I found him (hardest thing in the world to see). An aluminum fence that was leaning against a built in fence was on top of his little body. He was completely unconscious and not breathing. We immediately called 9-1-1 and luckily (not really luck, I know she was guided by the spirit to do so) one of my mom’s friend’s had stopped by unplanned to help who knew CPR. She immediately started and the ambulance arrived soon after that. He was taken to the closest hospital which is like a mile away and by that time they had gotten there his heart got going again and breathing with help. They then life flighted him to the county hospital that deals best with trauma injuries and this is where we have been since then. It has been a VERY difficult time for us but we know God’s hand is over it all and miracles are happening.

The first report we got from the doctor here that day was not good. They believe that something on the fence had cut off his airway and that he had been without oxygen for 26 minutes (which is similar to a drowning incident). The doctor did not think he would survive the first 24-72 hours that is when the brain swells from the lack of oxygen and if he did there would be definite brain damage. Well, our tough little guy defied all odds and not only survived but has stumped all the doctors. His brain had much less to very little swelling then they were sure that they would see. His heart was not damaged at all which it should have been, and the blood vessels in the back of the neck that they thought would surely show signs of damage were not. All of these things are what you typically see from a lack of oxygen and all of these were spared. We know that God has protected him and His hand is definitely evident in this whole thing. One of the doctors even mentioned to us that he has been a doctor for 31 years and freak things like this make him believe that there is a God.

The tests have shown some damage near the brain stem but miraculously the outer part of the brain that is normally damaged first from lack of oxygen has shown no signs of brain damage at all. Because Dakota’s condition is not the norm the doctor’s are not able to tell us how he will recover from this all. At this point it is all a waiting and watching of Dakota to see what he does over the next days, weeks, and even months. The doctors believe there is a chance that the brain may be able to compensate for the damage that has been done but there is no guarantee.

We know that it is all in the Lord’s hands as it always has been so we will continue to pray and have faith in our Heavenly Father’s will. We thank everyone for their prayers and all we ask is that you continue to pray with faith in our loving Heavenly Father. Dakota is such a tough boy and is teaching us sooo much.

Thanks again for all your love and prayers. Zach and I are completely amazed at the unselfish and sincere love and kindness that has been offered to us by so many!!! We love you all!!!

For all you parents out there…hold your little ones so close to you! They truly are a GIFT from God.

Happy 60th Birthday MOM!!!!!

So Tuesday was my mom's 60th birthday!!! My sisters and I (my sisters did most the work since they could all get together in AZ) planned a surprise birthday party for my mom. It was SOOOO much fun and boy was she surprised! It all turned out so great and was decorated sooo stinkin cute (thanks to Annie not being able to sleep at night because she couldn't stop the great ideas flowing into her mind ;) ). We chose to do a superman thing because our mom is truly a SUPER WOMAN!!! I know what your thinking...sounds like a little boys birthday party...but it definitely was not! It was so cute and classy and most of all my mom LOVED it!!! We invited old friends, new friends, neighbors, family, all the people that have made a special impact on our mom. She loved seeing everybody and was definitely surprised to see me there since we are leaving back there tomorrow for Thanksgiving. I am SOOOO glad that I was able to go though because it meant so much to her and I wouldn't have missed it for the world! My mom is truly the BEST!!!

So here are some fun pics of the party and all the cuteness!!!

This was right when you walk in. We did it at a church as you can tell because we had too many people to fit in a house and renting somewhere was super expensive. But after it was all decorated it was still AMAZING!

LOTS & LOTS of pictures of my mom everywhere! So fun!

My aunt and cousin put together a slide show of pictures and music of my mom.

The food table! Yummy food! (Not sure what I am doing in this pic)

One of the cute tables. The pens were party favors for the guests to take home. Such a cute and fun idea.

The boxes were to put memories of my mom that people wrote down in.

Her amazing cake!! It doesn't even look real! It was dang good too!

Don't those chandeliers rock! Annie you are amazing!!!

The best part of it all...my mom's face!! Her friend Fran was in town staying with her and she thought she was going to lunch and pedicure. We had the relief society president call her and ask her to stop by the Church to pick something up for her. Worked out great although she came a few minutes early. Fran tried her best to hold her off...but there is no stopping this superwoman!!

Putting her superwoman apron on her!

Birthday girl!!!

My cute dad serving cake. I think he enjoyed it just as much as my mom!!

My mom and her cute sisters!! They match so well...you would thing they planned it! :)

All the sisters and my cute parents! We missed Heather and Ty.

The BEST parents in the world!! Happy Birthday mom!! I sure love you and am SOOO blessed to have you as my mom!!!!

Goodbye Snowflake :(

So like I have said before Dakota has the BEST grandparents in the whole world!!!

So in case you haven’t noticed from some of Dakota’s pictures…he is such a little cowboy. He LOVES anything to do with being a cowboy-the hat, the boots (no doubt), horses, belt buckles, EVERYTHING!

I grew up with horses my whole life doing the whole rodeo thing and my parents of course still have many horses so every time we go down to “ZONA” as Dakota calls it, we get to ride and he always has a blast.

Well, because I have the cutest and best parents in the whole world, they decided to bring one of their horses up to us and board it in a place really close to our house so that Dakota could have a horse to ride, whenever he wants. So in July they brought up Snowflake and Dakota and I have just LOVED having her here. (I’m not sure who loved it more…me or him. :) )

Our first day with Snowflake!

He started taking charge and learning to do it all.

Well, since it is getting colder Snowflake had to go back to Zona for the winter. We are sure going to miss her but luckily we will be down there for Thanksgiving so Dakota will ride again soon.

We had one last photo shoot with Snowflake on our last day to ride. As you can tell it was a FREEZING day but we didn’t let it stop us.

Sorry for the millions of pictures. Vicki came so of course we got A LOT of pictures thanks to her and I don’t want to forget about them!

Helping Papa get Snowflake

Just waiting patiently

Exploring with Nana while Snowflake is getting saddled

We started out outside in the arena.

The weather took a big turn! COLD is all I have to say!

We took it in the barn. Papa was so nice to keep walking and walking and walking. Whenever we would stop Dakota would say, "Let's go!"

My cute little cowboy!

So big riding all by himself.

Petting Snowflake

Zach is the farthesest thing from a cowboy and never would of thought his son would be into all of this. He is a cute dad though and loves how much Dakota enjoys it.

Papa fixing his hat.

Dakota and his pretty Nana

What?! We are done already?!

Found a new friend.

Thanks Nana and Papa for sharing Snowflake with us! We have loved every minute of it!!!!

Funny/Sweet Moments:

1. I was asking Dakota if he wanted to go get his haircut and then go to the library and he says (in his exact words) “That’d be sweet.” I was like what?! Did he seriously just say that??? It was hilarious. Usually he says, “That would be fun!!” But sweet was a new one! :)

2. Sometimes, mostly in serious conversations when Zach and I are disagreeing, we call each other babe. So the other day in a very serious voice Dakota says, “I don’t think so babe.” It was so funny to hear the word “babe” come out of his cute little voice.

3. Whenever Dakota falls and gets hurt Zach always tells him…your tough, don’t cry. So the other day he got hurt and was trying so hard to not cry but in his sad little whimper he says, “I’m tough. I don’t cry.”

4. For Halloween he was in his sherriff costume and in my cowboy voice I said “hey partner!” He looks at me with a serious face and says, “I’m not a partner. I’m handsome!” If you can’t tell we often tell him he is handsome! :)

5. Sometimes after I fix him a meal he says in his most excited and sincere voice, “Thank you mom! That’s so nice.” You would think I never give him any food to eat he is so appreciative.

6. One of the cutest…The other day he all the sudden started singing these words, “Jesus wants to help you. Jesus wants to help you. He can help you.” The tune sounded like the song, “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam” but I have never heard those words before so I’m not sure if he just made that up or if there is another song out there that he learned at nursery that I’m not aware of. Either way it was super cute and I hope he really know that Jesus will help us!



Halloweeeeen

Halloween has been SO fun but I have to say I am exhausted and glad that it is over. After dressing Dakota up in his costume for 4 days this week I am glad I don't have to do it anymore.

So as we were deciding what he should be this year, we knew we didn't want to spend much money, and he wears his cowboy hat and boots every day...so we decided to just go with what we had. We couldn't just do a plain cowboy because that is what he is every day :) so we decided to dress it up a little more and so....

we got ourselves a real live sheriff! Is he not the cutest sheriff you have ever seen?! We think so! The best part about his costume is that the jacket he is wearing was my mom's when she was a little girl. And his belt buckle was also one that my mom won! How cool huh?!

He sure LOVED playing the part too!

He is in a duel!!! :)

So we started off our Halloween partiness with our ward party. Zach and I weren't able to go because he had A LOT of homework to get done so our sweet neighbors volunteered to take Dakota with them and he had a ball with his buddy Tanner.

Tanner and Dakota

Friday both sets of Zach's grandparents had trick or treaters at their assisted living homes. The first place only has like 20 residents so it was pretty low key and all of the residents were in one room in a circle and you just walked around and they passed out candy. They were sure cuties.

Us with Grandma Minnie and Grandpa Ed.

We then went to Grandma Nannie's place and I was not prepared for the intensity of this place. The line was out the door to get in. The residents were all outside their rooms and you had to go through the whole place and you couldn't take your time because people were lined up behind you. They had a spook alley and everything. It was pretty crazy but really fun. Dakota LOVED it!

Us with Ashley, Beau, Monkey Houston, Vicki, and Doug is taking the pic.

Us with Grandma Nannie

After the grandparents trick-or-treat we took Dakota to the Treehouse Museum for their little non-scary Halloween thing (I can't remember what it's called if you can't tell). Doug, Vicki, and Houston came with us. It was pretty cute but a little long for Dakota.

Waiting with Daddy for it to start.

Taking a cowboy break, eating an apple.

Grammy and Houston

Of course Saturday we had to dress him up again to go trick or treating to the other Granparents, a couple neighbors and friends. We were pretty trick or treated out by that time so we went home and passed out soda to the trick or treaters that we didn't miss. Dakota thought that was pretty cool too to see all the kids come to our house.

Sunday was the Friedli Halloween party and that was SUPER fun! We all dressed up, had dinner, and played a few games. There were some pretty good costumes...everyone got pretty creative!

The whole gang! Grandma a Gypsy, grandpa an "old cowboy", Jenny as Wonderwoman, Bobby as aquaman (yes he has underwear over his thermal pants :)), Olivia was a ladybug, Beau, Ashley, and Houston were little gangsters (Houston looked so cute), Zach was a chic magnet (wearing my tight shirt, while pumping some iron :) )and I was a babe magnet (last minute idea), Dakota of course a sheriff, Ryan was Bob Marley (SOOOO funny) and Lindsay was his girl, Vicki a witch, and Doug was Elvis. It was so fun!

Playing our parts!

So game #1. Us wives hid gummy worms in whipped cream and gave the boys 40 seconds (cuz it was Bobby's 40th birthday party as well) to find as many as they could. It was great fun to watch. Zach, Beau, and Ryan all tied and got all 12 of them.

The aftermath

Game #2- The boys had to throw little pumpkins into our mouths. The ones who caught the most win. We were at a clear disadvantage...my partner was blind...no fair! J/K That is just my excuse because we didn't win. :) Ashley and Beau won that one, despite Vicki's criticism that Ashley wouldn't catch any! :)

Game #3- Who could eat their doughnuts the fastest. Of course Ryan won! He said he has lots of practice! :) But I beat all the girls, that counts for something right?! I am good at one thing...EATING! :)

Overall, it was a great time!!! Just being around friends and family is the best!

Happy Halloween everyone!!!