6 Years Later

Justin had his annual check-up with his Cardiologist today but, Last night while he was getting ready for bed we had this conversation:
Justin: Mom, are we going to the doctor tomorrow to get monkey brains (Thanks Adam).
Mom: Monkey Brains?
Justin: Yeah, the one that gives us new monkey brains.
Mom: Justin, I have know idea what your talking about. We are just going to the Dr. to let them listen to your heart to make sure everything is okay with it still.
Justin: Oh, (thinking... thinking... thinking...) what if everything isn't okay?
Mom: It will be.
Justin: But, what IF?
Mom: It will be!
Justin: Would they have to cut me open again?
Mom: They would have to so that they could fix it and make everything better again, but everything would okay, I promise!
Justin: thinking... thinking... thinking...
Mom: I love you, Justin!
Justin: I love you too!
This is the first time Justin has every shown any concern for what might lay ahead in his future. Up to this point he has never acted as if he actually realized what he had been through as a baby. Each year the Dr. does an EKG (monitoring his heart activity) and like every other year everything looked great. He does have a slight murmur, which was caused after the surgery when the arteries where re-attached to the heart, causing some narrowing in the artery. The Dr. said that typically if the narrowing was going to cause problems it would have done it by now.
Today they also decided they wanted to double check everything with, an echo cardiogram (an ultrasound on the heart). He was very good and was very patient while the lady took her time. Also for the past 6 years, anytime Justin had to go to the dentist (even just for cleanings), get stitches (which has been twice)or have a surgical procedure (once) done he was required to take a high dose of antibiotics prior to any work done to prevent infection of the heart. But he no long is required to do that either! YEAH! The Dr. said that he is officially a normal little boy, with the exception of still needing his annual check-up.
Back when Justin had his surgery, just after birth, the surgical procedure he was having performed was only 15 years old. People prior to that had, had a different "fix", but they were seeing complications and where redo-ing them. So we have been little curious how those in the beginning where getting along. Gladly to hear, 21 years later they are still not seeing any major complications. GOOD NEWS for us thus far!
WE LOVE YOU JUSTIN! We are so thankful to our Heavenly Father for watching over you during this time in your life. I am so greatful for the strength he gave me during this time as well and for the testimony that I gained from it. I KNOW his spirit was with us both for comfort and healing.

New Beginnings

We, as the Young Women Leaders decided we wanted the girls to plan the New Beginnings this year. We told them to get into groups of 2 or 3 and each group was in charge of 2 of the values. What they had to do was come up with was a tablecloth, a floral arrangment, a food/snack along with something that represented that value to go on there table. We invited the parents, bishopric and stake yw leader to come to

"flavor their world" through the colors of the Young Women Values.

The girls did a fantasic job. They were very creative, we were all very impressed.

Faith - White

The snack for faith was wintergreen mints

Divine Nature - Blue
Cupcakes
Individual Worth - Red

Cinnamon Candies
Knowledge - Green

Green Rice Krispie Treats
Choice and Accountablity - Orange

Orange Slices and The Orange Reese's Pieces
Good Works - Yellow

Lemon Bars
Integrity - Purple

Purple Sugar Cookies
and the Young Womens newest value
Virtue - Gold

Golden Rolls

And us leaders took care of the drinks, complete with water, 6 different flavors of Kool-Aid and apple juice.
It was a really fun night.

Valentines Projects

The very cute Valentines box we made for Justin to take to schoolHe wanted a lion, he got a lion.Justin's Valentines he made for his teacher.

Logan's Valentines he made for his mommy.

It's a good thing I didn't see it.... It was a sweekwit!

Ogden's Tree House Museum

Derricks cousin had her wedding reception in Ogden this past week and Mel and I were in charge of the decorations for it. We had to set up on Wednesday and then we couldn't take down until Thursday evening. So we were left with nothing to do, but play all Wednesday evening and Thursday day.

We ended up spending Wednesday night eating dinner at Cafe Rio, swimming at the hotel

(which I didn't get any pictures of) and watching movies in our ajoining rooms.

Thursday we went to the Tree House Museam and the kids loved it!

Logan off to fight the fires

Sydney and Croydon ready to help

Justin being the Ruler, he thinks he really is...

Allie learning all about our wonderful nation.

Is this what the future hold for my Logan?

Or maybe my Justin? We shall see...
Sydney, Logan, Croydan, Justin and Allie

What do you get...

When the kids get a hold of the camera?

"Maybe next time Jesus will be home!"

The boys were so excited when I told them that we were going to the temple and they got to come with us. "Oh, finally" was Justins actually comment. Once there, Justin LOVED the baptismal font and said when he turns 12 he is only going to do baptisms at this temple because of the oxen. His face lite up when I told him that ALL the temples had oxen under the font. The next funny thing happened when Justin asked "When are we going to see Jesus' tomb?" ME: "We aren't going to see his tomb silly"! Justin: " But Kally (8 year old cousin) said we were going to get to see his grave". That Kally is always good for a laugh.... What a tease! But best of all, my heart was touched when we walked out of the Celestial Room and Logan said "Maybe next time Jesus will be home!" Apparently, when we were getting ready to go into the Celestial Room Derrick wispered to Logan to let him know if he saw Jesus. Last, but not least, when we got home I asked Justin if it was what he expected. He said "No, I thought all the walls would be made out of Diamonds and Crystals, but thats ok it was REALLY pretty still". I love the special spirit these kids are born with. I am greatful for the opportunity we had to take them to see the Lords home. They have begged many times to get to go inside, so it was wonderful to see the excitement in there eyes and comments. I hope they are always that excited to do the Lords work!

Justin's 6

Justin was so excited when we took him to Game Crazy to buy the Lego Batman Game for his birthday. We then took the kids to Cold Stone and let them create there own ice cr eam. Which ended up being Cotton Candy Ice Cream with Gumballs, YYUUUMMMMMMMMMYY (they thought so anyways)! The whole evening Justin kept saying "This is the best birthday ever, you're the best, thank you, thank you, thank you"!
We had a Hendrickson Family Party for him over New Year's, while we were at Grandma H's house and he was pretty excited once again when Grandma pulled out the Spiderman Pinata for all the kids to take a whack at.
We had his friend party scheduled for Saturday the 3rd, but when I came down with the stomach flu friday night, plans had to change and it was posponed until the following Saturday. It turned out to be alot of fun! The party started when the 'real live Indy' (aka: Uncle Cameron) showed up at the party and needed help finding a treasure, but all he had was a map with 1 clue, that led him to the forest where they had to chip away at the cyrstal skull (block of ice) to find there next clue. They then had to cross the raging river (a big piece of blue material with 2x4's propped up, going across it that they had to get over without falling off) and wrap up the birthday boy as a mummy to find the next clue. Which led them to the spider cave (Allie's room with black plastic table clothes making a hut with spider webs and spiders everywhere. I also made torchs for the kids to hold out of paper towel rolls, with yellow and orange tissue paper sticking out on end with the little batterie operated candles stuck down inside to let off some light). Once in the Cave they had to fill inside the bowl of monkey brains (a bowl of spagetti noodles) for there final clue, which led them to the grave yard to find the treasure. Indiana then had to leave the party so he gave the kids his hat, jacket bag and wipe to play with while he was gone. It was so funny to see all the kids trying to be just like him. Over all it was a HUGE success. Thanks Cameron for being such a good sport to help me out. You made the Day!