HELP!!

Unfortunately there are SO many horrible things that  happen to people ALL the time (especially as we just witnessed in CO ;() BUT these give us SO many opportunities to reach out, serve, help, and love in ways that we otherwise wouldn't.

So I am asking for help from anyone that is willing and able! Sweet Mckennlie who I mentioned earlier (the little girl that got in the 4 wheeling accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury) is recovering quite miraculously! She is still at Primary Children's Hospital in their rehab program progressing each and every day.

A sweet family has organized a 5k in her behalf this Saturday the 28th in Hooper. I have volunteered to organize a raffle to be done at the 5k and am looking for ANY type of donations possible to give out as prizes. It can be a gift card, an item, a service...literally the possibilities are endless. So if there is anyone willing to help me out or know of any businesses that would help out PLEASE let me know! I need to have it all done and gathered by Friday. And even better come out to the race and support this sweet girl. Even if you don't like to run just walk half of it or just participate in the raffle. Being in their shoes I know that every little bit helps!!! Here is a link to sign up for the race.

ANOTHER amazing event is happening August 7th in Layton that is a DEFINITE go to!!! My sweet friend Chelsea (aka: Dylan's aunt) has gotten together with another sweet family who lost their son in a fight against cancer (Tyler Smith) and Anything for a Friend to do a benefit concert and dinner to raise money to organize giving trees to kids who are fighting for their lives. I won't go into all the details because Chelsea has already done a great job of that...so here is a link to her blog with all the details of how it came about and what is happening Chelsea. PLEASE COME and support this GREAT cause!!!

Dust off those running shoes!!!

Alright people...the weather is getting beautiful out there and there is not a better time for some racing then now!!!

Race #1...BIAU (Brain Injury Association of Utah)
We had the BEST time last year getting a fun group together to come and race for this great organization. In case you forgot I will give you a little reminder!

TEAM DAKOTA!!! We rocked it!

The sad news is I signed up for the Ogden Marathon months ago because it filled up in 3 days so I made a quick decision with some friends...and later found out it is the same day as the BIAU run, walk, stroll which is May 19th. ;( Seriously I was so bummed...I want it to be a yearly tradition...so next year we will be there FOR SURE! So, since I can't go I can't force anyone else to go ;)...but if you want to go support this great cause you still can. If you don't have a Dakota shirt then I will find you one if you want to go in behalf of us. Because I was so bummed I emailed the organization to find out if there was anything else that we could do. They said we could still form a Team Dakota and just have a donation from our team. SO...I set it up and am asking anyone and everyone who can to help out...even if it's just a couple bucks.

I know there are a lot of opportunities to donate money and we can't do it all...but before you say no here are a few facts about brain injuries I took off the BIAU website:

Every 23 seconds, one person in the U.S. sustains a brain injury

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a silent yet serious epidemic currently leaving 5.3 million Americans with disabilities. This represents over- 2% of the US population; 56,000 victims in Utah alone!

Every 7 minutes, someone dies of a brain injury

An estimated 1.7 million people sustain a TBI annually.

52,000 die

Those are serious and I bet you know at least someone who has sustained a brain injury...if you are reading this you know at least one! ;) But seriously...this is a serious issue and it could happen to anyone...a car accident, a stroke, a fall. Zach and I have talked and decided that a brain injury is by far the worst injury anyone can sustain. Your brain controls EVERYTHING! There is SO much more to learn about the brain and SO many lives could be saved if they figured out a way to help heal this vital organ...the brain...or even understand it more. So basically what I'm saying is...every little bit helps...so do what you can. If you want to actually go and run the race here is the link race. To donate online with Team Dakota click here team Dakota.

Last year my AWESOME friends from South Dakota State that live in the midwest obviously couldn't come down for the race. So instead they all gathered in MN from Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota to run in Minnesota's brain injury race. So if you live in a different state that is definitely an option as well! Here are their pic from their race...LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

Race #2: If you read my blog you know about my angel friend Dylan Shaw!! I LOVE Dylan! He came into our life for a brief time when we needed him most and touched it in a way that no one else could. He is our angel! He passed away from a brain tumor but we will ALWAYS still be "Doin it for Dylan!" Last year before he passed away they did the Dylan Shaw Warrior Run...a 5k in Pleasant View and a kids run. I can still picture Dylan in my head driving around on the Razor with his Grandpa. He was SO cool!
WELL...I was SOOO excited to hear they were gonna keep the race alive and do another one this year. They even asked us if they could do it for our little Dakota man. I was so hesitant at first because we have already been helped tremendously and have never felt once that we deserve any of it...BUT because it is Dylan we said YES! It is an honor to be a recipient of someone whom we admire so much! SO in honor of our hero Dylan and for our sweet angel Dakota...we are inviting any and all to dust off those running shoes and join us in Pleasant View on May 12th! We will be there for sure and I know Dylan will be too...we just won't get to see him beat us all to the finish line!
So to sign up...here is the link https://dylanshawwarriorrun.webconnex.com/2012  HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!!!

So does Dylan and Dakota!! My heroes!

The cute girl that is setting it all up is also looking for anyone that would donate prizes for raffle or food for after the race. If you know of anybody let me know and I will get you her info!

Thanks!

This Little Miggy

So this amazing mother of a beautiful little girl with disabilities has a blog. Every week she highlights a different kid with a disability and she asked to spotlight Dakota. So this is a little late but he was spotlighted on her blog last Friday. Check it out here. Dakota was the first kid ever to be spotlighted that wasn't born with his disability. If you have time take the time to read about some of the other amazing kiddos and their families! Also she just posted about an AMAZING benefit concert coming up this Thursday in Murray. I have been meaning to post about it but haven't had the chance yet. Check out the flyer. I already have my ticket and can't wait to go!!!

Where did July go???

I can't believe July is almost over! This month has flown right by but it has been filled with a lot of business and activity. We just finished up our 3 week break from the hyperbaric chamber and decided to do one more round (40 treatments) starting tomorrow. So today is kind of my last day of freedom...last day to have a little time to myself while Dakota naps (he naps so good at home in his bed)...last day to just be home and not have to be somewhere every day. It is bittersweet though because I do LOVE the people that work at the hospital and especially back in the chamber with us. I have missed their smiling faces and visiting with them every day. In a way it is nice to get out of the house for a little bit every day...and of course we continue to hope and pray that it is helping our sweet little cowboy's brain heal and help him get back in the saddle again! So 8 more weeks of the hyperbaric chamber...here we come!!!!

I have been really spoiled the last few weeks because I had my AMAZING sister Annie and her three kids here with us for a couple weeks and then my mom came for 10 days and left yesterday. It has been so nice to have an extra set of hands around at all hours of the day and night...when they are here I wonder how we do it without them...but somehow we do and we do just fine. My sister and I with all the time we have on our hands ;) decided to give my house a little makeover. Our two biggest projects were the hallway (since we have pretty much had nothing down the hall) and the dining room wall. After four years of the same thing it is nice to have a change and look at something new.

Annie is always filled with great ideas and we had a lot of fun...I must confess she did most of the work while I was busy with Dakota but we had so much fun together. There really is nothing like sisters! My mom did so much too...so much cooking and preparing some of Dakota's food so we could freeze it and I wouldn't have so much work to do. She got all trained with his trach and watched him by herself several times so Zach and I could run errands and go on a date. She even had the trach come out while she was babysitting and did great! I'm already going through withdrawals without them but it makes me SO grateful for the wonderful families that both Zach and I have! Couldn't do it without them!

Don't mind the mess on the table. The 3 things have chalkboard paint...I have yet to write something fun on them though! :)

My new hallway...yes it is doors...Zach thinks it's a stupid idea but I love it. SO fun!

We did a little celebrating for the 4th and 24th...nothing too crazy except the Perry parade of course! :) Since Zach and I moved to Perry we have always gone to the Perry parade. It is seriously the funnest little parade ever! It is just the right amount of time, it is not crowded (at least at our favorite spot), and you get a TON of candy.(Elder L. Tom Perry was even in this year's parade) It was fun to have my sister's family with us to watch their kids get all the candy and be so excited. I missed seeing Dakota out there but I was so grateful at how well he did during the parade. He just sat on my lap content as could be. The night before the parade we did fireworks with Zach's family at Ashley and Beau's house. Dakota was pretty fussy the whole night and it took everything I had to not let the tears flow. It made me so sad that not only he couldn't do what all the other kids were doing but he didn't even enjoy doing the things he used to. Zach and I were both feeling a little down that this might be the reality of our lives. Wondering if we would ever be able to do or go anywhere as a family again and have fun. Will we ever be able to see Dakota enjoy something and just have fun like kids do?? I prayed a really sincere prayer that night (not that my others aren't sincere) that Dakota would just be happy the next day (as we had plans for the parade with Annie's family). I just wanted to have one good experience as a family together instead of regretting going. I needed it so bad. So when Dakota sat contently on my lap and watched the parade it meant more to me then anything. He wasn't smiling and laughing like the other kids but at least he wasn't crying and it made my whole day! I even let him suck on a fun dip and he LOVED it. (His swallow therapy is going awesome and last Tuesday was his best session yet. He is really getting interested in the tastes and beginning to use his mouth and tongue a lot better. Now when i stop doing the taste therapy stuff at home he starts to cry and just stares at the tupperwares. It is exciting to see him start to have an interest in it.)

Here they come with their flags to start the parade!

Me and the kiddos!

Sucking on the fun dip.

The big boys!

Trai and Grandma showing Dakota the sparkler at  Ashley's house.

Last night for the 24th we did fireworks at Ryan and Lindsay's house with Zach's family again and Dakota did better. He got a little fussy during the loud ones but it wasn't too bad.

Grandma Nannie and Zach's Aunt Karen (who lives in Texas) got to come too so it was a special treat!

Kisses from Nannie

More lovin!

Snuggling with Aunt Karen

I have begun feeding my addiction again...running a few races. I ran the Perry 5k and got first for my age group 2nd for girls and 13th overall. I finished in 21:03 so I was pretty pumped. I also ran a 5k for a fundraiser for a little 3 year old girl named Faye who has leukemia...these are by far my most favorite races to go to. I ended up third overall and first for girls. After the race they had a kids carnival. My sister and her kids came with me and watched Dakota while I raced. After the race we let the kids go play some of the games and then we decided to let them go down the big blow up slides. Dakota was in his stroller and we just parked in front of the slide to watch. He was pretty intently watching the kids go down so I began thinking...I wonder if he would like to go down it. It was of course a little chaotic and loud with so many kids and I wasn't sure I could make it up those wobbly stairs holding him but Annie said she would help me so I thought well lets give it a try. The worst thing that's gonna happen is he is gonna cry and hate it and then I'll know. As I started up the stairs going side to side and bouncing I looked down at Dakota's face to see if he was doing ok and he had the cutest little grin on his face. I thought WOW, he likes it. Going down the slide was even better...he had the biggest smile ever and even gave me a little giggle. We of course had to do it again! :)

Peyton and Trai keeping Dakota entertained while I raced.

Aunt Annie taking such great care of our little man!

Telling me how proud he is of me for winning! ;)

Ready or not here we come!

So fun!

I think I have lost my mind though because I am officially running my first marathon in September...The top of Utah marathon. I have ran 2 half marathons and they have completely satisfied my desire for distance. I have always in the back of my mind said I would like to do a full marathon someday just to do it but I have NEVER had the desire to actually do one up until this last month. A couple of girls I run with were signed up for the top of Utah half marathon in August and I decided to do it with them. Well, when  I went to sign up it was already full so I was completely bummed! I started looking at the course for the full and thinking...what if...I contemplated for a couple weeks and finalized my decision after talking my friend Emily into doing it with me. So we are on the countdown now and have 8 more weeks til race day! My goal is just to do it since this is my first experience but in the back of both of our minds we are secretly hoping that we could qualify for Boston...not that I would go and do it but just the fact of knowing that I could if I wanted to. :) I have decided  I need to see a psychologist to find out the real reason behind this insanity. Do I want a challenge that I know I can control? Or do I think if I do this I can do anything? Or has all of this just made me completely crazy?! Probably a combination of it all!

We got to spend an evening with the Western Wishes group a couple weeks ago. We finally got to officially meet the amazing people behind this wonderful organization and we had such a good time. You couldn't find more wonderful people who genuinely care about others and who have a sincere desire to just help. They are so great. We had dinner and got to meet John Wayne Shultz from American Idol and got to hear him sing. He made it to the last round and got cut right before the top 20 but not only is he an AMAZING singer (of country...my favorite) but just one of the nicest, genuine guys around. He took the time to talk to everybody and just really cared about being there. We got to meet some other incredible kids too. It was just a great night overall...so HUGE thank you to the Western Wishes whole gang for putting it on!

All the Western Wishes kids and their families.

All the Western Wishes kids and me...Dakota wouldn't let anyone else hold him without freaking out.

Us with John Wayne Shultz (Dakota is doing his dystonia thing so it was hard to hold him for the pic...all stiffened up)

Dakota is still making progress...slowly but surely (at least to me it is slow...therapists and doctors tell me otherwise but I am ready for him to be walking and talking again). He is really beginning to try and communicate more and more with his body language and facial expressions. You can definitely tell if he is not wanting something...it's a little bit harder to figure out what he is wanting but we are learning. I had a cool experience with him the other day. This last month he has really started loving his blankies again which to me is just another sign that my little Dakota is still in there. He has always LOVED his blankies (any that we had that were soft although he did prefer two which were similar fabrics). I don't remember at what age but the binky thing just never went over well  with him. He liked them but never could keep it in his mouth when he was a newborn...it always popped right out when he sucked. So eventually he gave up on it and started sucking on his blanky like his cousin Lane used to. It was kind of nice for me because instead of needing a blanky and a pacifier we just needed a blanky. That blanky worked miracles. Anytime he was sad or upset his blanky could soothe him like no other. We never went anywhere without it....

Mmm...that's good!

Trying to share it with his cousin Houston

Can't let it go!

Cuddling with grammy!

Now, he won't settle down and go to sleep without it. He doesn't suck on it...yet...but he likes it to be cuddled around his face. Anyways the other day he was just fussing for me (which is not uncommon). I tried cuddling him...no good...I turned a cartoon on for him which usually does the trick...no good...so I asked him if he wanted to watch Diego cuz that is another of his favorites...no good. Finally I asked him, do  you want your blankie...SMILE...duh mom...I got it and he was happy and content as can be. It was so amazing to see how much he wanted to tell me and communicate to me what he wanted but he couldn't physically tell me besides crying. I just wish I could jump into that little brain of his and figure him out. :)

Snuggled with Dad and his blanky getting ready to go down for his nap.

We still are on the fence about in home or outpatient therapies as we are waiting for the insurance to make a decision if we can still keep in home so he hasn't had any therapists coming in for awhile now except for early intervention ones that come every so often. We are still staying busy though with our NACD program which is a ton of work but I can tell Dakota is getting stronger with his head and trunk and starting to push down the slide better and better.

Doing a little tummy time watching a show!

He is getting stronger and stronger holding himself in this position. We pretty much just keep him from going side to side or pushing out of it but he bears most of the weight on his own. Look at that strong head. Buzz is our big motivator during this and he will stay pretty happy...doesn't even realize he's working. :)

Resting with mom after holding the crawl position.

Trai was a great helper with Dakota's therapies while she was here. He had some of his best pushes down the slide when she was helping and she was our little "timer girl."

The hardest part about this month was losing two precious little boys...Gage (who I posted about awhile ago) and our sweet little angel friend Dylan who I have talked about quite a bit. We got to spend a little time with Dylan over the fourth weekend but I had no idea that would be my last opportunity to be with that sweet boy. My heart has ached for both of these families and attending those funerals was really hard on both Zach and I. We were able to put ourselves in their shoes as we were there and I literally felt as if I could have been at Dakota's funeral for how much my heart hurt. These along with dealing with the pain of Dakota has me often wonder why our loving Heavenly Father would take these precious little children away from their parents who love them so much. Growing up you have this perfect picture of what it will be like to be a mom and have a family and none of it includes watching your child suffer or die before you...that's just not how it's supposed to happen. We are all just supposed to grow old and die. When it doesn't work out like that it throws you for a loop and you just aren't really sure how to handle it...at least me. Both of these funerals were beautiful and inspiring. I know these two boys are in a FAR better place and especially Dylan who was suffering from the tumor is free from all pain and sorrow. This is so comforting to know and I know this will probably sound so weird but  in a way I wished Dakota could be free from all of his pain too. Not that I want him to die but at times my heart hurts watching him cry and be unhappy and not able to control his body how he wants it to be. I want him to be able to run and play and be happy again like he used to. So in a weird way I was envious of Dylan and basically so happy for him. It doesn't take away the pain and sorrow that his family and all of us who knew him have because we miss him but I am grateful to have known him and that I had the opportunity of learning and becoming a better person from him. So thank you Dylan and the Shaw family for touching our lives.

Dakota and Dylan...Friends forever!

As Dylan's Aunt Chelsie said..."We will forever be Doin it for Dylan!" Trying to live up to the example he has set!

Olson Family

So all tragedy especailly involving kids really hits home for us. Many tears have been shed at our house for the sweet Olson Family. Zach went to school with Brandon (the dad). The whole family was involved in a VERY bad car accident in Provo Canyon recently and both the husband and wife were in critical condition but are recovering pretty good. There little 1 year old was just fine but unfortunately there 5 year old son Gage died. My heart is broken about this because I know the feeling of what it is like to lose a child. Although Dakota survived those first few days were so unsure and I experienced all of the emotion of losing him and although he is still physically here I struggle every day with the loss of what he was and trying to accept what we have. It is hard to explain but I know how much these parents hearts are aching right now on top of all of the physcial pain and struggles they are going through themselves. I know money can not heal them but it can help with the stress of all of the expenses that they are going to have to face due to all of this.
SO...there are 2 different accounts opened for them at two different banks. If everyone that viewed this page even donated $1-5 we could all make a difference and help this family out. So do what you can and please keep them in your prayers!

The other account is at Mountain American:

Mountain America Credit Union account#9237216

 

I'm sure you can call either bank and transfer money if you do not live close enough to go to one of these banks. Thanks!!!

Randomness

Well, there are a few little things that don't tie in together that I need to write about so in no particular order here we go.

Random #1...AHHHHHHHH

So in 24 hours we had two emergencies that we had been trained and told could happen but have never happened and I kind of started thinking...oh this will never happen. Think again...they did...and within 24 hours of each other. What the heck!!! So the first one was in the middle of the night about 1 a.m. We didn't have a nurse that night and we were feeding Dakota. His tubing was hanging from his side rail on his bed to the pump. I noticed on our video monitor (which has been a lifesaver!) that he started waking up and moving a lot. I then didn't see his tubing in the monitor so I thought he must have hit it and it came disconnected from his extension out of his Mickey button (g-tube). I go in there and low and behold the whole button had come out of his stomach and the balloon that holds it in his stomach had popped so it was no longer usable. Now for all of you out there who don't know much about this stuff which is probably most of you (which is a good thing...I wish I didn't know about it either) it is not a life or death situation but if you don't get something in there soon the hole can close up and they would have to surgically go back in and open it back up. Luckily they prepare you with an emergency kit for these kinds of situations. Ours was in the car so Zach hurried and grabbed it and we got the emergency catheter in and all was good again.

Well, it didn't end there though I wish it had. The next evening I got an invite from my cute neighbor Terra across the street to come sub for the Bunco group that I used to play with before Dakota's accident. (Sure miss those cute girls) Zach was home with Dakota...he does an awesome job with him even without his sight...he's AMAZING! So we are nearing the end of the night and Zach barges in there door and calls out my name. I of course come running up and he informs me Dakota's TRACH came out. Are you kidding me...panic mode! This of course is a much bigger deal since it is his airway we are talking about. Poor Zach had him in the tub and somehow which I don't know how since his chain is tight, his trach came out. Zach rushed him out of the tub and attempted to undo the chain to get the trach loose to put it back in. Well, the chain is hard to undo even with a perfect set of eyes so he gave up wasting time and was gonna call me but he couldn't find his phone. Luckily, I was just across the street so he was able to grab me. I freaked poor Dakota out running in and rushing around his poor little neck. Luckily he was still breathing okay out of the hole in his neck and his mouth and nose so he wasn't without oxygen or anything but it was still not good. We survived it all though and are now better prepared and will no longer think that that would never happen! :)

Random #2 Baclofen Pump Trial

So Monday we were at the hospital all day for a Baclofen Pump Trial. So because of where Dakota's brain was injured he had SEVERE spasticity that he slowly developed over the first few weeks in the hospital. This is where his muscle tone was so tight that you couldn't even bend his leg without breaking a sweat or straighten out his arms. Baclofen is a medicine that helps with spasticity to relax the muscles. Well, Dakota was put on pretty much the highest oral dose you can take because his was pretty severe. So, the doctors wanted him to have this trial where they inject the medicine directly into the spine to be more effective. The benefits is that he would be on A LOT less Baclofen because it goes directly into where it is bbeneficial instead of being absorbed throughout the whole body. The pump would be inserted into his stomach like an insulin pump for someone that has Diabetes. Anyways, over these last few months his spasticity has improved drastically to the point that that they rated him at a normal persons level. His arms, legs, and hands have all improved and are loose and have a good range of motion. This is due to his healing more then to the Baclofen at this point. He needed the initial help of the Baclofen to even make that possible though. The problems that he still has is what they call Dystonia. This is where he makes certain abnormal movements of his body and "postures" his body in certain positions that are due to the brain injury. These are not all the time but they are just throughout the day. That has improved though over time. The Baclofen does not treat dystonia as well as spascticity so the trial went okay. It helped some and so they still think it would be beneficial for him to get the pump but it doesn't totally eliminate it. So they also recommended seeing a neurologist that specializes in abnormal body movements to talk about a different procedure that they do something directly to the brain. So we will meet with him hopefully soon and talk about all the options. Bob the director of NACD believes that through his program these symptoms could hopefully be eliminated through his therapies so to hold off on it all. I personally have seen these symptoms all get better gradually over time so am hoping that as his brain continues to heal and that they will continue to get better and eventually go away on their own. Overall, we have a lot on our plate to think about. These are some major procedures that take a lot of thought. It is hard being the decision maker over something so serious. I just pray we will make the right decision for what is best for Dakota!

Random #3 BIAU 5k

So I found out about this organization that is a non-profit organization to help research and learn more about brain injuries...prevention...support...just all about the brain stuff. Every year they do a 5K run, walk or stroll  to raise money and it is coming up on May 21st at Liberty Park in Salt Lake. So I thought I would put it out there for anyone runner or not runner to come out and support this great cause. I will definitely be running in it and hopefully it will be a nice day we can bring Dakota out and if I even have enough strength maybe even push him in the race...we will see...he is chunking up these days. :) But we would love to have as many people come out and support this cause and Dakota. I was thinking it would be fun to do shirts or something so that everyone who came because of Dakota could all be united. Not sure how to go about it or what to do so if anyone has any great ideas I am open to whatever. I am not a good planner with stuff like this so any ideas or help is appreciated! :)

Random #4 Speaking of 5K's...

So everyone who read my last post about sweet Dylan...if you haven't already gotten on their amazing blog...which you are missing out if you haven't...on May 2 they are having a Dancing for Dylan in Layton. It is going to be an amazing dance performance by some amazing dancers. They will also have a silent auction and kids carnival. It will be fun for the whole family so try and go. Then on May 7th they are doing a fundraiser 5K in Pleasant View. I am planning on being to both so you should too! :) They also have cute shirts and bracelets for sale on their blog that say Doing it for Dylan. Please support this cute family in their great cause to keep fighting to help Dylan. All of you parents out there know...you would do ANYTHING for your child and that is exactly what they are doing. You just can't give up and neither are we. Go to their blog for more detailed information. dylandshaw.blogspot.com

Random #5...Speaking of blogs

Someone commented that I linked Ashley's (that I wrote about from my last blog) blog wrong so I wanted to correct it for anyone that was interested. Sorry...I can't even keep track of my own blog let alone others. patrickandashley.blogspot.com

Random #6 Western Wishes

Dakota  has been chosen to be a part of this amazing organization called western wishes. They sponsor kids that have been given major challengers that love the western way. Well we all know Dakota is a little cowboy so this is so perfect for him. They are kind of like Make a Wish Foundation in that they will pay for you to go do something or just do little things for you. Tonight they dropped off a cute basket for Dakota that had THE CUTEST western shirt in there...(I will have to get a pic of him in it), a little horse, books, signed autograph of Tuff Cooper, and a cute little rope that I was excited about. ;) Thank you to Rachel for letting Dakota be a part of this amazing organization.

Random #7 Wonderful Family

I have been thinking a lot about Zach and I's family lately especially because of some comments some people have made to me. Now I have always known that we both have the COOLEST, FUNNEST, SWEETEST, ALL AROUND BEST families in the whole world. We are so blessed to have both of them in our lives. Through all of this they have been our lifesavers. Zach's family is always doing something to help us out whether it is driving Zach around for us, cleaning our house, bringing us meals, doing our laundry, making or buying things for Dakota, getting us groceries, babysitting Dakota so Zach and I can have a chance to be alone, even sleeping over so we can get some rest, or just visiting. My family although all the way in AZ are constantly doing things too. My mom and dad have been up here several times to help out, my sisters and brother are calling, texting, or sending me sweet letters to strengthen me and lift me up. They have also been out to to visit and give me hugs. Without them we would never make it so I just have to say a HUGE thank you to them. A couple of friends of mine have commented when I tell them all that our families do for us how lucky we are and that they are not as close or wouldn't have that kind of support from their families and it makes me realize even more how blessed we are. I know I can ALWAYS call on any one of them for anything and even if they were in the middle of something they would drop anything to help. We Love you FRIEDLIS and WINTERTONS!

That about wraps it all up for the moment...I know when I post it I will realize I for got something but that's ok!

WE LOVE YOU DAKOTA!

Daddy wants you to feed him more birthday cake!

GRATITUDE

Because I am so behind on my writing I decided I better make two posts to get it all down instead of one REALLY long one. I know when they get so long it is overwhelming to read...even for me.

These past few weeks I have been trying to focus on my blessings and there have been several things that have happened that have impacted our lives so much and has touched my heart that I can't help but share.

It all started with this book my sweet mother-in-law gave me called When you can't do it Alone take the Savior's Hand. It is an incredible book if anyone is looking for some good reading. The author had a whole chapter on blessings and thanking God. It really hit home with me because I am down and struggling it is REALLY hard to see and focus on my blessings. It's a lot easier to see how much we don't have then to focus on what we do, especially since our life has been turned upside down for the second time. Here is just a tiny sample of what he says,

"I learned that one of the most important ways to focus on Christ is to focus on the multitude of tender mercies He extends to us in our lives. It takes real effort to "count your many blessings" when the natural man wants to wallow in self-pity and focus on pain and problems. Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to look at life as a glass half full instead of a glass half empty when we are discouraged and depressed, beset by hardships and heartaches? It takes effort--spiritual and emotional effort. While it may be easy (and almost always a waste of time and energy) to dwell on all of our problems, it takes conscious effort to think about the many ways God has blessed us. It takes faith to think about, really believe, and then live in a way that bespeaks "because God has been so good to me.""

I have been trying my best to focus on the blessings but I'm not gonna lie...some days it is hard.

After reading and pondering this I read a comment from a sweet girl named Ashley (who I have never met) on my last blog post. (I hope she doesn't mind me sharing this) Her and her husband lost their only little 18 month old precious girl named Preslee in a drowning accident. She wrote to me: "My heart is so incredibly happy that you get to hold him, feel him, love him, and experience life with him. Something we drastically miss." WOW! After reading her comment I of course had to get on her blog and read the story about her precious Preslee. Reading it brought back everything with Dakota and our first week in the hospital. Their experience was SO similar to ours except the outcome was so different. I don't know why it was Preslee's time to go and why Dakota got to stay. Probably because he knew his parents weren't as strong as Preslee's or any other parent who has lost a child, but I realized that even though every day is hard I need to thank God every day that I do get to hold him, feel him, love him, and experience life with him. Every day is a blessing and miracle that he is here. Although we miss how he was, we still have him and he still brings us so much joy just in different ways at the moment. So thank you Ashley for opening up my eyes and pulling me out of my own self-pity. If anyone wants to read about some amazing people just visit their blog http://www.ashleyandpatrick.blogspot.com/

My heart did not stop there. In March we were blessed to be the recipients of not just one...but two fundraisers in Dakota's behalf. They both happened to be on the exact same night in two completely different states. It was incredible to know that people were gathered together in two places all for Dakota and in helping him progress. One of them was a dinner and auction that my sweet parents in AZ put together at their house. Of course we didn't get to be there but we heard it was AMAZING! Soooo many people were there and were so incredibly generous. We could feel the love all the way over here in Utah. So thank you to ALL of you who helped plan and make things run so smoothly. Thank you to all of you who donated SO much stuff for the auction. My parents had to put together a blog just to list all of the things that were donated, and that night they just kept coming. Thank you to all of you who came and supported Dakota and this crazy journey we are on.

Here are just a few pics that were sent to me of that night:

Amazing angels in the kitchen

Papa entertaining the kiddos

My amazing friends and their moms helped with the money. I hope you slipped some for yourself! ;)

More angels helping serve the food

And more

The silent auction tables

The REAL DEAL auction...grab a number...they had some sweet stuff!

Some of Dakota's cute cousins! Love you girls!

Dakota's cute picture

So many people

The second benefit was an alumni tournament at Box Elder High School. An incredible man...now a dear friend named Trek Lyons who started the tournament 18 years ago and has kept it going every year and does it all to donate proceeds to help a child in the community. It was so impressive to meet ALL the people behind the tournament who do so much just to help someone else in need. They are an amazing group of guys! Thank you to them, to all that participated in the tournament, and all that came to support Dakota.

Along with this amazing tournament this incredible family the Huff's who were recipients of the tournament last year, put together a dinner at Sonora Grill to help raise funds as well. It was incredible getting to meet them and their adorable daughter who had a brain tumor and has had several surgeries and is doing so well. It helps so much to get to know people who understand the difficulties of facing tragedies that involve your children. You can't fully comprehend how hard it is and how much it changes your life until it happens to you...at least I couldn't. So a huge thank you to the Huff's for their hard work and time to help our little Dakota.

Zach and I with the Shaws (who you will learn about...keep reading :) )

The best part about the whole thing was that Dakota got to be co-recipients with the most AMAZING (this word does not even do him justice) nine year old boy named Dylan Shaw. You talk about a family and a boy who are going through so much and have touched my heart deeper then they will ever know. Getting to know them has been a life changer. Dylan has a tumor in his brain stem that is inoperable. Despite EVERYTHING that he is going through the first time we met him he asked us how Dakota was doing. SERIOUSLY...first of all...what nine year old kid cares about someone other then themselves...especially one who is going through something no child should ever have to go through. At the basketball tournament that night he had the most sincere conversation with me wanting to know all the details about what happened to Dakota, to what surgeries he has had, to how he is doing. Then to top it all off...after all is said and done he shows up at are house with his beautiful and sweet mom to give Dakota a basket of fun things that he bought with his own money!!!! Dylan showed me how to be Christ like and taught me how important it is to serve and focus on helping others instead of focusing on are own problems. I have tried each day to be more like Dylan...to look for opportunities to help someone else instead of wasting so much time worrying about my problems. Their family motto is: "Don't waste today worrying about tomorrow." I do my best to remember that when I find myself worrying. If you wanna be truly inspired by some incredible people read there blog and follow Dylan's journey. http://www.dylandshaw.blogspot.com/ He could use some prayers and faith too!

During half time when they presented the award they gave us the opportunity to speak. Zach and I had agreed before hand that if that happened I would talk. I was feeling up to the challenge. As you can see...that is not me behind the microphone. As soon as Trek started introducing us and telling a little about Dakota's story the tears just started flowing and I knew I couldn't talk. Luckily I have an amazing husband who had my back and did an amazing job. I love you Zach! :)

Getting a kiss from Daddy

Us with the Shaw family and the championship teams

The hardest thing is just coming to the realization that I can't change anything that has happened to us but  I can make the very best out of what I have been dealt. My life may not look like what I had imagined it being like but it can still go on and it can still be WONDERFUL! It's just gonna take a lot more effort and a lot more reliance on the man upstairs!

So after all of this blabbering on and on...my point is I know that I am SO very blessed and I want to thank all of you for playing a part in blessing my life. For teaching me by your words and examples. I thank you for your prayers and faith. I thank God for ALL of the blessings that he has given me!

To all you parents out there I beg you to enjoy the blessing of having those kids of yours on the bad days as much as the good. When I used to go to the store and see and hear a kid screaming and throwing a fit i used to think...I'm so glad that's not Dakota. Now when I see it I look at that mom with such envy and adoration and think...I wish so bad that was Dakota. I would honestly give a lifetime of tantrums in public to have Dakota healthy and whole again. Until that time I will keep working and praying that they will come. So PLEASE embrace those moments and enjoy them!

WE LOVE YOU DAKOTA!

 My cousin made this incredible video of Dakota to play during the night. It makes me bawl every time I watch it but I love it so much! Thank you Sandra!