Happy Birthday Mike..

The Big 50!!

This is what Mike wished what he got for his birthday... a HARLEY!
But no such luck... It is really because I love him and need him in my life!

50 Reasons why I love Mike:

1. He is my eternal sweetheart

2. He loves my laugh
3. He tucks me in bed early
4. He honors his Priesthood
5. He has listened to me for 26 years of marriage
6. He loves to go on trips
7. He lets me drive my car when he is with me
8. He loves the Beach
9. He loves skiing with his boys
10. He loves an adventure
11. He calls me several times a day
12. He always gives me a kiss and tells me he loves me when he leaves the house
13. He has taught me the fun of camping
14. He loves being with my family
15. He is planning ahead for fun things to do with our future Grandchildren
16. Our family is his Treasure
17. He is the perfect size for me
18. He loves the outdoors
19. He loves to walk and talk
20. He gave up Diet Pepsi
21. He loves my cookies
22. He thinks I am a good cook
23. He loves movies
24. He will watch chick flicks with me
25. He reads his scriptures faithfully
26. He loves to take me to the temple
27. He loves to Boogie Board and is happy if I never get in the water
28. He prays for me and our family daily
29. He is grateful for me
30. He is the joy of my life

31. He honors the covenants he has made

32. He is a good example for our boys

33. He adores our daughter Katie

34. He taught our kids how to play catch

35. Cause he is awesome

36. He loves to hear my ideas

37. He supports me in my callings and will even come clean up

38. He is calm in a crisis
39. He loves the Gospel

40. He loves guns and he knows I don't so he keeps them locked in the safe

41. He supports our favorite missionary, Sam

42. He is fun sized

43. He works hard for his family

44. He loves to wrestle with the boys

45. He is very protective of his family

46. He strives to keep the commandments
47. He will laugh with me

48. He takes his vitamins

49. He is fun to live with
50. He is my best friend

Happy Birthday Mikey!
xoxoxo

Sadie's

Riley had a great time even with the brace on,

He tried it on under his shirt and decided he did not like the robot look.

Riley Update...

We went to the Doctor yesterday. The MRI showed no disc damage and no intrusions of any sort into the spinal canal. He gets to wear the lovely brace for three more weeks till we go back to the doctor. Riley asked the doctor if he could take off his brace for the Sadies Dance this weekend. The doctor told him a better solution would be to get a size bigger shirt and wear it over the brace. Riley faithfully wears the brace 24/7. It only comes off for showering.

The four vertebra that are broken are t8, t9, t10, and t11. He can walk better and no longer takes lortab. He is able to manage the pain with ibuprofen. We might not make it for the end of season skiing. But diving starts the end of March, that might work!

We are grateful for the continued blessings in our life.

What a miracle that he is okay and walking!

Sam the Missionary

Makes my day to get a disc from Sam...

I know Katie and Jeremy love the pictures

I sure love this boy too.

Riley Report

Riley has been going to his calculus class since Tuesday.
He doesn't want to get behind.
His mother makes him go in a wheelchair so he is protected.

We went to the Dr. Thursday.
The report was:
MRI next week,
Low chance he will need surgery,
Wear the brace for 1-2 months,
Has 3 fractures,
should heal up fine,
we go back in 2 weeks.

Riley went to almost a full day of class Friday...
then had a 3 hour nap.

He is mending well!

We sure love the boy!

Tender Mercies

This has been a weekend of Miracles, Blessings and Tender Mercies.

This sweet boy who I most often refer to as "Baby Riley" even if he is 18!

had quite a skiing accident. He was trying a new jump and went too fast...bad landing.

Mike and I were having a busy church Saturday, I was at the Church and he was on the way to the temple for a sealing when we got the phone call.

Riley had a skiing accident and they were lifeflighting him to UMC.

Panic...

Mike & I were grateful that this morning when Riley left

We each gave him a kiss and told him we loved him
and I told him to be careful...(he must not have heard that part)

We dropped what we were doing (Thank you to those who stayed and cleaned up)

and headed to UMC.

On the way to UMC we got a phone call

and they had decided to fly him to the Cedar City Hospital, it was closer.

So we turned around and headed to Cedar City.

So Many Tender Mercies...

Connor, Kendall and Payden were skiing with Riley

they immediately sought help, offered first aid, and said a prayer.

They quickly called us and continued to keep us updated
as we drive the 180 miles to the Hospital

The Good news that he could move his fingers and toes.

The multitude of Friends and family who immediately added his name to prayer rolls
and said many prayers on his behalf.

A home teacher who filled up his car with gas and ready to come to Cedar City if we needed him.

A righteous Priesthood holder, Mike, who could give Riley a blessing.

Sweet Mallory who lives in Cedar heard the news and came to the hospital

Riley's Friends who camped at the hospital and stayed with Riley till we got there and then
ended up staying till he was released.

The many phone calls and texts of love and concern.

Katie and Jeremy ready to head down and being the relay system with info.

The news that he had some fractures in his vertebrae
but they were not at risk of injury to the spinal cord.

The blessing of knowing we are an Eternal Family.

Getting to the hospital and seeing this cute boy!
(I forgot to take a picture with him all hooked up)

Being able to bring this cute boy home.
We will go visit an orthopedic surgeon in town
for the rest of his care.

He is happy in his brace, it helps the pain,
he was happy to take a shower.

WE are blessed that he is alive and not paralyzed.

He did the ask the Doctor how soon he would be able to go skiing...

But I love him and all my children dearly!