Caitlyn's surgery and Bridget's debut into the world

In the last newsletter I showed Dan and Nick with a huge mushroom.  I didn't realize it was heavy.  I was told it probably weighed 10 lbs.  Dan was brave and fixed the mushroom for eating:  He said it was all right, but I didn't get the impression he'd be out looking for more.  The reason he is researching mushrooms is for an App he is developing for  people to photograph and identify mushrooms.  He said that at first they were going to have "edible" and "not edible" as the first identifier, and then decided that the liability would be too great.

 Last weekend Roy was involved in his annual HAM Radio camp and contest.  He's always takes a lot of responsibility upon himself.  He brought all the meat, all the breakfast, and helped cook everything.  He's chaired this event every year for several years, now.  Nick and Dan and their families, and Caitlyn and I, went up to the camp for dinner Saturday night.  Most years they camp at Monte Cristo, because it's a high point where they can work to get lots of radio contacts.  This year there was still snow in the usual camping area, so they went to Hooper, which was a lot closer for us to visit.

Roy and Effie

My daughters are all very creative with their cake making abilities.  For Max' birthday, Elise followed a Mine Craft theme.  She invited all Max' new primary friends (thank goodness for the church, you can make friends wherever you go).  Max is 6!

This past week has been very intense.  Caitlyn went into surgery on Tuesday afternoon.  They told her 12:30, but big surprise, her surgery didn't actually start until 4:00.  Roy took the day to be with her at the hospital while I went to Costco and Smith's to try and find food she could drink when she got home.  The surgery was over around 7:30, but we didn't get to see her until she was out of recovery and assigned a room.  She told us that when she woke up she was mad and tried to get up and out of the bed.  They had to restrain her.  I'm surprised she remembered.  All we were told was that she had been emotional.  When they brought her to the room we almost cried she looked so beat up.

She was in high spirits in the morning.  We took one last before picture.

Still feeling fine

Not so fine, here.  This is when we first saw her
following surgery.

           1st day home

2nd day home (Thursday).  Her face is much less swollen.

I am not sure everything that went into the surgery but I know she has 24 screws in her jaw now, along with Titanium plates and a new chin (not sure what that's made out of).
Caitlyn spent the first 12 hours following surgery throwing up the blood that was in her stomach.  It was heartbreaking.  It's pretty hard to throw up when you can barely open your mouth.  Roy was the saint that spent the night at the hospital with her.  After 10:30 Wednesday morning her stomach settled, until Friday, when she spent another day throwing up--probably because of all her pain meds. Maybe  her antibiotic contributed as well.  Roy called the doctor in the early afternoon and we were able to get some things to help her nausea.  Saturday she seemed much better, but today (Sunday) she has been a little discouraged that she is so weak and that her diet is sooooo boring.  We hope that the surgery will fix her bite so that she won't have so much tension in her jaw--then maybe that will help with the arthritis as well.  If so, all this will be worth it.

Even with all the difficulties of Caitlyn's week, we had a wonderful blessing thrown in!  Bridget Carina Vance joined our family--2 1/2 weeks earlier than expected.  She was 6 lbs. 11 oz. and 20 inches long--TINY compared to Ruby and Greta, both over 9 lbs.  She is absolutely beautiful and already adored by everyone.  Obviously, I was a little disappointed that I couldn't be available to help Crista at this time, but thankfully, Jana Vance came up and tended the girls while Crista was in the hospital.

Apparently, Ruby has been calling the baby "Watermelon Leaf." She informed us Saturday that the baby's first name was Bridget Carina Vance, and her middle name was Watermelon Leaf.  I thought maybe she got Watermelon from the size of Crista's stomach, but maybe not, since there was a Leaf added to the name.

Greta, Ruby, Bridget and Jana Vance

Nick and Sara were able to meet her on her birthday!

Roy and I drove to Logan Saturday afternoon to see the baby.  Nick came over and took care of Caitlyn.  That was much appreciated!  I think they may have had a little too much fun.

The video above was really just a moving picture Sara sent us.  Avie was really enjoying the raspberries in their garden.  She must have not have been fed fast enough to make her happy, because she took matters into her own hands.