He's Finally Here!

Kamdon Bradley Spaulding (both his grandpa's names are found in his name) joined our family this week! He weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. and was 20 in. long. We welcomed him with open arms and are SO glad he joined our family.

OUR HEARTS ARE FULL OF LOVE AND GRATITUDE FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS IN OUR LIVES!


Our new arrival...

Dad changing his first diaper

One happy family!

Getting ready to go home

Mom and Dad love him so much!

On the billilights w/ his new blanket
(crocheted by Aunt Kaitlin)

Picture with "Grandpa Great"

Radiation - Week 1

Well, it was a long week, but we all survived. Jeep took Tay up last Sunday and stayed at my cousin Rachel's house (THANKS RACHEL AND JASON!!! YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!). He took Tay to LDS Hospital every morning, where they put her to sleep, gave her radiation, woke her up, and made her eat. She did really well on most days, except for the ONE day they didn't give her anti-nausea medicine, and she threw up. She recovered, though.

Then, Wednesday night my mom and dad took Kinley, Trexton, and me up to meet them. It was so wonderful to have our little family together again. We just hugged, visited, and hung out for the next two days of Tay's treatment. We took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese, got to see Charis's new house, and hit the Provo mall on the way home.

We're very glad to be home and together. Jeep and Tay go back up for Monday and Tuesday, but we are on the downhill stretch!

P.S. Week 38 baby check up went well. The baby is still high, and so I was approved for my trip this week. No more traveling from now on for this large mama. We are anticipating the birth of our fourth child!

CHUCK E. CHEESE PICS

Tough Tay w/ her baby hairs :)

HaPpY BiRtHdAy kAiT!!!

My little sister turned 20 this weekend!!! Where does the time go? All I know is that I am so thankful for ALL of my sisters (and family) and don't know what I'd do without any of them, which reminds me of a story...

When I was 13, Kaitlin had her tonsils taken out. She had an allergic reaction to the medicine and had to be Life-flighted to Primary Children's Hospital. My mom and dad went on the plane, and I was left home with the rest of the kids. Luckily, the community helped out, and we all survived. The significance to this story is that this was the first time in my adolescent life that I remember being so scared - scared enough to pray for help. I prayed with all my heart that Kait would be okay, and I that I could give her a hug again. A few minutes after my prayer, I felt the overwhelming peace that all would be well - it was like a huge calming to my heart. It was still difficult to see her in that hospital bed a few days later, and it took a while for her to recover. However, I will always be grateful that she stayed with us and continues to be a source of sunshine to our family.

I LOVE YOU, KAIT!!! I HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT BIRTHDAY!

Our Journey Continues...

We just got back from Salt Lake yesterday, and Tay survived FIVE appointments. She is such a trooper and an inspiration to her mom. Here's what we found out.

Appt #1 - Tay met with the Make a Wish Foundation. They let her grant a wish in the "Wishing Tower," and she told them she wanted to go to Disneyworld to meet Mickey Mouse and Ariel. Her doctors and others have to approve first, but it was a neat experience to go there - what a special place and program.

Appt #2 - Tay got her regular X-ray and ultra-sound, which both turned out clear! No new tumors as of right now - whoo hoo!

Appt #3 - Tay got her first echo to test her heart. She did NOT like this and pretty much cried the whole time, which made it hard to get a good look at her heart. They did get what they needed, and her heart looks good, too.

Appt #4 - Tay got her next chemo treatment. They actually gave her a new kind, which made us all kind of nervous - it's a rough one. We also found out we have 12 more weeks of chemo (every 3 weeks, so 4 more treatments), which is not thrilling but bearable. She threw up a couple times on the way home but is doing much better today.

Appt #5 - Tay met with a Radiation Oncologist at LDS Hospital. She will start her 7-day (not including weekends) treatment next Monday with Jeep :( I'm sad I can't be with her all the time to see how she tolerates it, but I have limited sick days and I'm 37+ weeks pregnant. That's how life goes, I guess.

We are hanging in there. Some days are definitely more difficult than others. I just feel tired ALL THE TIME, but I am so grateful for all that I have.