Process of Elimination

Hi everyone!

Sorry for the lack of updates recently.  It's been a crazy week!

Jason had scopes and tests this week.  From what we can tell, the doctors are working their way down his digestive track eliminating suspects in the search for what's causing all his health problems.  His scope came back negative for anything at all, his stomach looks perfectly normal.  We did a small bowel follow through Monday morning (this a test where you drink a barium solution and then have a scan done and the barium shows up and shows any abnormalities).  At first glance it looks ok, but we are waiting to hear the final ok in a couple of days.

The day of the scope was pretty traumatic.  The doctors wanted to try to put in a larger NJ tube for Jason so it would hopefully not clog and kink so much.  Shortly after they put it in however Jason's body (small intestine and stomach specifically) freaked out and he basically threw the tube back up.  His Mom, Jenn, says it definitely makes the list of most traumatic days ever.  So they took that tube out and put the smaller one back in and we are carrying on like we did before.

The next step is a colonoscopy.  But Jason needs to gain a little more weight before he is healthy enough for that procedure.  In the meantime, he continues to slowly but surely gain weight as we try to determine why his body seems to be rejecting food and solids.

The tests were long, but we partied hard this weekend.

We are blessed to be a part of the Manila YSA ward here in Cedar Hills.  This Friday a huge group from the ward came to Jason's home and played video games, sang songs, and enjoyed delicious heavenly treats with him.  Jason hasn't been this happy in a long time:

**having technical difficulties with my phone, will post pictures as soon as we have them!

Jason absolutely loves the movie Frozen, as well as the music that goes with it.  We finished the night with a rousing chorus of "Let it Go".  It was kind of symbolic in a way.  Afterwards Jason commented how loved he felt, and how lucky we are to have so many wonderful friends who would spend their Friday night with us.  Thank you so much to everyone who came; you have no idea what a wonderful night that was.

Jason loves music, so does his buddy Piper

We've had to push back Jason's riding lessons by a couple of weeks, Sam the horse has an infection in one of his feet and can't be ridden for a little bit.  We are also keeping a close eye on Darwin the beagle, he hasn't been doing well this week but he has some new medications and we are hoping for the best.




I like ending with an uplifting thought:

"A story is told that during the bombing of a city in World War II, a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged. When the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a beloved symbol of their faith and of God’s presence in their lives.
Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but its hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored. Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to leave it as it was—a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war. Ultimately, the statue remained without hands. However, the people of the city added on the base of the statue of Jesus Christ a sign with these words: “You are my hands.”

Source: You Are My Hands

I was thinking how beautiful hands are the other day. Sometimes in our world we judge each other so critically on things that don't truly matter. Height, weight, physical appearance. But one thing we all have in common is a set of hands, or rather, the power to choose to uplift each other and create beauty and healing in this world, or the power to destroy and tear down things around us. How beautiful a world would it be if we all recognized the power each of us has to change someone else's life? I work in the medical field and get to see people literally using their hands to bless someone else's life. Whether it's something literal, like a medication administration, a surgery, or helping with a meal, to something less concrete, like comforting a mourning family member, I get to see these miracles everyday.




We all have this ability though. We all can be the Savior's hands. My family and I have been the recipients of those acting in place of the Savior, those who have been His hands. It makes all the difference in the world.

The talk above also shares this story:

"One woman who had been through years of trial and sorrow said through her tears, “I have come to realize that I am like an old 20-dollar bill—crumpled, torn, dirty, abused, and scarred. But I am still a 20-dollar bill. I am worth something. Even though I may not look like much and even though I have been battered and used, I am still worth the full 20 dollars.”

All of us has an infinite worth, just like that 20 dollar bill that can never be devalued, or decreased. This is a beautiful truth. And we discover this value losing ourselves in the service of others.

No act of kindness is so small that it goes unnoticed. What can your hands do to bless someone's life?


Top of the Muffin to you all, have a good week!

-LeAnne