Sierra's Biopsy Update

Sierra and I went to California Monday for her biopsy. She got a 1A, which we were rather shocked, because she has looked and acted so good. This just means she is in a tiny bit of rejection and gets us a trip back to Cali in two months instead of 4. We were supposed to return home Wednesday the 22nd, but Sierra had a little bit of fluid around her heart that they wanted to keep a closer eye on. So, we moved our trip to Thursday, which gave us another day to spend with the Stockwell's (yeahhh!!). However, we got to the airport and after waiting for 45 minutes, they canceled our flight due to mechanical problems. So, we were shuddled up to SanFrancisco and they put us up in a hotel for the night and we caught the early morning flight from San Francisco to Boise. Making our trip almost a week. Thank you Jason and Leslie for being the Mom to Hunter, Lindsey and Megan while I was gone. Unfortunately I have no pictures of the house while I was gone. But, I am sure it was immaculate. We are so glad to have made it home.

While we were in Cali we got to be there for Haley's birthday. She turned the BIG #6. Haley is Shawn's little sister. Unfortunately, it was celebrated in the hospitals ICU. Shawn had another seizure the morning we got to Cali due to another allergic reaction to the immunosuppressive drugs. He is looking much better now and was moved out of the ICU Wednesday and up on the 3rd floor. They are going to keep an eye on him for a few more days in the hospital. Stockwell's thank you so much for letting us hang out with you. WE love you soo much! Trista you are my hero. You are truly amazing!!!

Unfortunately it never worked out to meet up with Angel and Ben. We will hopefully catch you guys in December. WE love and miss you.

Yesterday we had a ward Halloween party. Hilary you did an AWSOME job. It was very fun!

Haley and Sierra in Shawn's ICU room having some of Haley's birthday cake.
Haley's beautiful princess Halloween costume.

Sierra, Haley and Shawn with Gage when he was a little more awake after his seizure.

Haley's sparkly shoes that go with her costume.

Sierra and Shawn with their mustaches.

Shawn, Haley and Gage in Shawns room on the 3rd floor. Trista in the background.

The eat the donut from the string was one of the many games Hilary planned. Here is DaleeJo and Lindsey eating their donuts. The smaller kids got a little confused about wether you were supposed to use your hands or not.

Megan taking a jab at the donut contest.

Hunter could care less about the rules he just wants the donut.

Lots of kids, lots of fun.

October update

Just to confuse you, this is Hunter in Calif about 2 weeks old in Oct of 06. Sierra was on the heavy med's, and Shawn now finally has his new heart and hopes to be going home to Alaska in December.

Gage is doing great. Loves to eat, sleep, and poop.

Stacy, Sierra, and Gage have left for California. Sierra has her routine biopsy and check up with the Calif heart doctors. They are VERY exited to see Shawn, Trista, Ben, Angel, and the rest of the gang. They fly out Monday morning and will be home Wednesday IF everything goes will. We don't anticipate any issues. There has been the MRSA virus going around the school. If you know anything about it, it can be very scary, expecially for immune compromised kids. So we are glad for the checkup.

Couple of update items to report. 1st picture is for Justin. Justin, when you see this give me a call. Jake and I need to explain the deer hunt and this picture of Log Creek show's it all.

Log Creek at Deer camp. For Justin's reference.

Started putting the tar paper on the roof of the shop. Will start roofing this week, I hope.

Went and got fire wood up behind Wolf Creek. Notice the girls, Roper and Stacy lifting the 8 ft logs into the truck. Hunter and I are watching from the lawn chair.

Hunter is saving my seat.

Our favorite Aunt Garrity, also helped us. Somewhere, Gage is sitting in his car seat.

Roper, Megan, & Lindsey playing Indians with scaps of tar paper from the roof.

A Hunting We Will Go!

We are all adjusting to a family of 7. Gage is a wonderful little baby. He only cries when he is hungry and is putting the weight on like a champ.

Jason went on the deer hunt this last weekend with his two brothers and Sierra. Justin you were missed (these pictures are for you). Jason didn't have a tag but his brother Jacob did. As with any hunt there is a great story that goes with the buck. It was cold and as Sierra put it, "I had to hold on to Dad to keep from falling over from the wind." She was a trooper though.

This first picture of Hunter is on here because of the story that goes with it. Hunter was on the counter "helping" Sierra and Jason make an orange julius. After a few of the ingredients went in he thought he would turn the mixer on. However, he didn't know that it needed a lid first. So, orange julius went all over him and the kitchen. What a helper!

Hunter and his orange julius.

All the gang visiting for the deer hunt. Justin and Emily you were very missed.

The big buck and mighty hunters.
Notice the grade of the hill. The horse says it all. It was definately steep.
Sierra faring the windy and sometimes rainy weather.
The mighty hunters at the top of the hill right by deer camp.
The real men of the hunt. Jason's dad-Dale, Uncle Allen, Nick, Jacob, Jason and Josh.

A picture of Gage in the onsie Stockwell's got us. Thank you!
Gage after a bath. He does not like being naked.

It's a Boy!!

Gage Merrill Bingham was born Oct 1, 2008 at 5:38 AM. He weighed 6 lbs 3 oz. and was 21 inches long. Jason was glad it was a boy (but would have been fine with a girl HaHa!) Hunter loves his new brother when their aren't distractions around. We will see how it goes though since he has only had two encounters with him. The girls all love him. Lindsey new it was a boy, because "she is smart." So, here are some pictures of the wonderful event.

Gage Merrill Bingham. There is a hat that matches this outfit. Hunter's big head has stretched it out beyond fitting.

The las belly shot before the baby was born. Taken at 4:10am when we got to the hospital.
An hour and a half later. Mr. Gage.
Proud Papa
Gage a few hours old.
The whole gang. Hold on tight Gage, it's going to be a long haul.

Our life of Birthday's and Sheds!

Well, we made it through another week of birthday's and working on our shed. No baby yet. Which is a good thing. We have a few more things we want to get done before it's arrival. Wednesday was Hunter's 2nd birthday. I worked, and it was my last day of work. I am officially on maternity leave. Yeahh!! We celebrated his birthday on Thursday the 25th not that he would know any different. We are very close to putting on the roof of the shed. We can't wait.
Saturday was deffinately a family day of working on the shed. Everyone helped from Hunter to Sierra. It was fun being together.

Megan holding boards for her Dad from the inside of the shed.

Megan and Sierra had to place screens over holes I drilled in boards. They are called "bird blocks" and they are for ventilation in the attic. Or something like that.

Lindsey's turn to hold the boards for Jason. I cut and drilled holes while the girls held the boards for Jason.

Hunter dressed for his 2 year old pictures.

Hunter #2 birthday cake and party.
Hunter enjoying his toys he got along with his cousins.

Last but not least. Jason snapped a shot of me up on the ladder nailing some hurricane straps. He was loving the belly hanging over the tool belt.

One Busy Week!

Here is the latest update on the shed. Jason and I were able to finish the sheeting around the outside of the shed during the week. Which allowed us to get a crew together for Saturday, and we hung trusses. Yeahhhhh!! Thank you to everyone who helped. It was one rainy day and we had a great crew.

Saturday was Sierra's 9th birthday. We still are greatful for each birthday we are allowed to celebrate with her.

Lindsey had her first week of preschool. I think that she was the only child crying Friday morning because there was no school. So, to say the least, she loves school. She doesn't go to school until 12:30pm, so, all morning it is, "What time is it Mom?" She's just too funny.

No baby yet. We have two more weeks until this little bundle of joy joins our family. I don't know who is more excited, the girls or the parents. We are all getting pretty excited for it's arrival.

Part of the crew helping with the trusses. You can see 4 legs up in the raftors. It is Jason and Nick who stayed in the middle nailing that part of the trusses together. I was glad it was him and not me. My center of gravity is a little off kilter.

The lovely rain that was a continuous down pour all day. Notice the man made fork lift with the nifty tractor. Who needs a crane?

The night before we started hanging trusses, but the wind started blowing. So, we got three up and fininshed the rest on Saturday.

An updated picture of the belly. It has grown a little since then. Notice the trusty bale of hay that we used to sit the sheeting on. It worked beautifully.

Lindsey and her first day of preschool. I couldn't get her to stand normal. There always has to be some pose.

Sierra's #9 birthday and cake.