Just so you know.

We will be posting a great picture of our family later this week. I have decided that I am going to have pictures taken. Joe doesn't look quite so battered so might as well take advantage and get them done. Even if it is just the kids. So Rachael prepare. We are coming this week and the kids will be smashing because I think it will be kids pictures first then if Joey and I can ever be somewhere together that a camera is we will get a whole big family picture.
I read these blogs that are amazingly crafty and think poor Joey. I don't do anything but the regular mundain stuff. But at least they are done mostly. I don't love grading dirt or pulling huge weeds in the fall. I will do it in the spring. Until then, and maybe then we will get grass next year in the back yard. I told Joey we should have hired the Latin man who wanted to put in our backyard for $400. Joey said it would be taking advantage and I said he quoted us from off the street. I think I will save my money and hire it out to someone who can grade then I will lay the seed.
Well here to rambling and I need to go.

Bangs

I got bangs. Enough said.

Except I think my eyes are better looking now. How vain am I.

I am also trying to figure out the android world.

Best of all Joe was given full clearance to go back to school.

Sodium

Last Thursday Joe went back to the hospital in the ambulance. His sodium level dropped about 10 points below the 10 point range it is suppose to hang out in. Causing lethargy and focal seizures. Super scary for us. He was seizing on his bed as we were calling 911 and then threw up blood. OMGOODNESS!!! We were freaking out. NOT again kept going through our heads. Please don't die.
Joe ended up staying at the hospital until Saturday morning.
He is now home and better by a long shot than when we brought him home the last time.
Just a little upkeep on the blog.
Good day or night whenever you are reading this.

Joe came HOME

Joe came home on Sunday afternoon. He had a good day. Monday had a good day. Tuesday had a worse day. Today is having a sleepy day. I guess we wore him out. Over stimulated if you will. I have to take him to the pediatrician to see what he thinks Joe has 3 symptoms that are alarming only problem is that Sophie and Gus both had that virus that was going around. Sophie had the throwing up part and Gus had well you know the other part. Yuck, poor babies.
I am feeling like a mom who just brought home a new baby and is having to readjust. My family and ward have been super supportive and helpful. I just don't know when someone asks what they can do what to tell them. This is why I never ask I give suggestions when I try to help someone. It makes it easier for the person on the receiving end and then you don't get asked to do something that you have zero skills in.

Our check list for the day!!!

Today our goals have been to
1: wake up
2: use less narcotics for pain
3: take a bath
4: go for a walk
5: take a well you know

We have accomplished ALL OF THEM!!!

Joe's goal 1 and 2 go hand in hand. We can now piggy back motrin and acetometaphen, so much easier to stay off of the narcotics that way. We have yet another great tech who told us that Joe will be taking a bath. At home we bathe daily but in the hospital it is so hard to get a bath for the patient. Our tech said that he thinks kids do better when they are clean kids. I agree now because Joe is loving life now that he is bathed. After the bath we went for a long walk. Joe and I decided that when the goats are gone we are going to grow a healing garden, not only are they beautiful they are therapuetic. So donations can be made anytime. Just kidding we don't want them I am just trying to be funny. So far this has been a beautiful day.
Factual thing. We were told that Joe's skull fracture was only small, WHATEVER, the nuerosurgeon showed me the scans and the fracture goes from just under his right ear to his hole scar from the brain tumor removal and through it about another inch or two just above the left ear. NO wonder the poor kid is bruised on both sides of his neck.
I feel blessed and feel that I know why this had to happen. Or at least on of the reasons.

Eugene Event

Joe got a new name as he entered the Emergency Department on Wednesday. CMoonEugene. When a person is brought to the ED without identification they give them a object and place combined name. I loved that Joe was Eugene. We have had an awesome tech named Awesome and he said he was working at IMC and a gang fight group of victims came in and they all got flowery names to try to lighten the situation. I was laughing just try to fill in the blanks if you don't understand what I am saying.
Update.
Joe is doing better today. He woke up around 10 and has been awake and asleep mostly asleep since then. We are going to try to ween him from the oxygen and start to feed him. I am sure he is loosing weight but his face is still puffy from swelling. He is a fighter. The doctors and nurses have been very accomadating especially considering I am one annoying interfereing parent. If I don't agree I push and issue, I am to prideful to think that maybe they are right and I am wrong. I am trying to learn to budge. I know things that haven't work in the past and I am just not willing to try them again, especially those things that have had scareyness related before.
I would like to express thanks for those who have helped and offered help to us through this ordeal this week. I know it is nothing compared to what others are going through, but people have stepped up to help. Once again I am reminded of how I need to do better. I am hoping it is a short road to recovery but Only God knows and I will need to have faith that like I always say there is something to be learned and something that will enrich our lives out of every adventure in life.
Good thing I started posting again so I had somewhere to let the feelings fly.
Thanks for coming to visit Joe we really feel so supported by you all.
Love, Us the Di Regolo family

Joe Update from Aunt Nannie...

This is all second hand and I am not good with medical stuff but I thought all of you would want the latest update on what I know.

So Mom just talked with Chel for a few minutes when she called to talk with the other kids and we got a real update. I guess he isn't doing great but the hospital says some of this is to be expected with any head trauma. He hasn't woken up yet from all of this and the Drs say it could take a week or so for him to. He is puffy especially in his face and it is basically blue. He hasn't been able to keep any food down even though it goes through his feeding tube. And his oxygen level is in the 70s which isn't good. Please continue to keep their family in your prayers. Thanks!!!

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. Chel and Joey, I hope you don't mind that I put this up....if you do just delete and I won't post on your blog. Love you!!!!

Joe Man vs. Home Depot

Yesterday Joe had an accident at Home Depot. The cart and him fell over together. I am afraid that the concrete won. Joe now has multiple skull fractures and some brain bleeding and a couple narly purple bruises. I am trying to write this with some humor although I am shaking all over. I feel like we are having de ja vu from three years ago when Joe got the cancer. I keep thinking how was I so positive and well PTSD. I think I don't remember the first couple of weeks after we found out about the cancer. I do remember the sick feeling now that we are just a room over in the PICU and as I watch his face get puffier and puffier. He is in a lot of pain and has goose eggs all over the right side of his head. Let's be real I am nervous. He is still not woken up all the way, partly I am hoping is because of the morphine we are having them give him so he isn't feeling a lot of pain. He has to have another ct scan to check the bleeding. One positive because that is where positivity starts is that I have never been in and out of AF hospital's ER so fast I think it was maybe and hour, hour and a half tops.
Please pray for him. Love, Joey and Michelle

Biking

Sophie got a new bike for her belated birthday from Papa Joe. Unfortunately I don't have a picture yet. Although we toke video when we brought her home to the bike after her last day of preschool. She was so excited. And since she now LOVES to bicycle we have gone everyday except for maybe one because of weather. Last Friday Gus decided that since Sophie could ride a bike he conned her into teaching him on her old bike that happens to be a boy bike. He is so stinking cute on the bike. His little bum goes back and forth with each pedal. So in the last week he has potty trained, learned to ride a bike and finally is sleeping through the night.














Now for some catch up. We went to Yellowstone the last full week of May. It was fun but we ended up coming home 2 days early because we saw everything and well Gus and I kept throwing up. I held it down and he chose to spew. The potty training got started up in Yellowstone and I broke Gus of Soy milk. Part of the spewing was from the soy milk. Every time we gave him some he threw up. I now want to sell soy pediatric drink because I have so much and my kids have soy issues. With no soy or dairy being drunk by Gus he is becoming a much better behaved child. He is still two but not so terrible and the sleeping through the night has been nice. He is now a rice milk drinker for those wondering. Speaking of alternative milk sources I have tried a few and if you have input let me know. We have thus far tried: coconut, almond, rice, lactose free, soy (of course.)




More catch up. Harriet and Stella the goats are now in a new home. Hip, hip, hooray! I am so thrilled. The other three should be gone with in a month or so. I am so excited. I am trying to simplify my life. I would love to be able to go on vacation and not worry about the animals at home and have to always find someone to take care of the animals.
Enough of random thoughts and ramblings, I should get back into a good writing groove again soon.

Pregnant

Just kidding! I am seeing if anyone ever looks at my blog anymore since I have become one of those blogger's whose blog could put a person to sleep. I was at Target yesterday and noticed that, that particular store is full of pregnant women around lunch time. I would suggest not going into the hormone zone at that time.
Good news is that we started potty training Gus this week. Although I was against using pull ups when I potty trained Sophie, Gus has gone only a handful of nights waking up dry and then the other times he pees so much at night that I do laundry more than a laundromat. I should take a picture of my laundry day pile that I am saving for tonight after the kids go to bed so that Gus doesn't use the piles as castles to tumble over.

Mother's Day

My Gus is the funniest guy. On Sunday at church he decided that he wanted to sing with the primary kids. Since he is still in nursery Joey told him no. Gus was determined. He begged. Finally during the closing hymn I put him down and he ran to the front of the chapel. He stood just where Sophie had stood and stared at the audience. As soon as the song was over he ran down the handicap ramp and came to me, proclaiming, "Mimny (his word for mommy) I sing."
I told him good job! as I wiped the tears from laughing so hard. I am honored to have the children I have and feel blessed to be their mother.

Pictures

I need new pictures. Obviously the ones on here are out dated almost 19 months since the last ones. Joe has hair and is healthy now. Gus is 2 in two weeks and well Sophie looks like a little girl now not a baby. So until I get my self in gear and get new pictures we will all endure a fabulous picture of Joey posing.
The end.

Home Impovements

The other day I was at Lowe's and we were walking by the knob section and I took off while Joey went to get a bolt. I found knobs and handles for my kitchen cabinets. I will post pictures later. I am so excited Joey is installing right now. The best part is the knobs were only 52 cents and the handles 75 cents. Yeah for a GREAT deal.

Bald Eagle in Lehi

Yes you saw it right I was driving home from dropping Sophie off at Preschool last week and saw a bald eagle, just up the street from our house. It was so gorgeous. No wonder it is the National Bird.

This was the coolest natural thing all week. Forget the snow and show me Eagles.
People drove by and I tried to point it out to them like I was at Yellowstone, but they didn't care.

Bedtime

I am going to be catching everyone up on what has been going on, since well people responded to my last post.

Gus has moved into a big boy bed. This occurred in November after the sweet boy fell on his head yet again (remember he is a real boy now), while climbing out of the crib. I told Joey that I would rather have him fall a short distance out of a big boy bed than a high distance from a crib. And lets be real I was not loving the crowded feel of the boys room with two twin beds and a crib. I hated going in there and totally understood why they didn't like sleeping in there. I now love the open feel of their room.

With no crib I can no longer confine Gus. So we try to do the taking him back to bed but sometimes kids just think the siblings bed is so much better. At our house Joe's bed is the coveted bed. Gus was struggling since he decided to nap this weekend and late at that so I asked him if he wanted to sleep with Joe and he said, "Ya". I put him in there and wow 2 minutes later I went in there and they were both asleep. Yay!!! Easiest bedtime in ages, the thing is kids move in their sleep and therefore Gus gets woke up and comes into my bed. Always some sleeping problem, but thus is life.

Circus

Joey is so good about giving our kids experiences. So last night we went to the circus. It definitely helped that the school and Joey's work gave up discount tickets. It was fun, but it was no Barnum and Bailey I have to go to another one of those. I remember going to the DELTA Center at the time and seeing them. One of my siblings had a program go missing because I stole it so I could look at it each night before I went to bed. Sorry which ever sibling I robbed.

This is Joe and I having an awesome time. He danced and clapped and was so darn cute the whole time.

This is Joey's mom (Mema), Gus and Sophie. Sophie was telling me in the van that Mema is her grandma because it is her name. So I explained that no it is because she is daddy's mommy. Then I asked why Grandma Lori is her grandma and once again because it is her name. So I explained that one. Then I asked her why Grandpa Jeff is her grandpa. She told me with a bit a smugness, "Because he is cute!" I just laughed and let the subject go.

Sophie riding a pony. I told Joey that we should get rid of our goats and get a pony. The kids would have so much more fun with one of those and hopefully it wouldn't kill trees.

OMG!!! Talk about a glare. Yes our happy baby hit terrible two's about the time I took a break from blogging, this is one reason, no point fighting him to post. Behind him is a live black bear. I told Joey not to get to close, these animals may be able to do trained things but you never know if they will decide to rogue.

Joey wants to have me blog more so if you do too, let me know.