Family Pictures

I finally decided that we needed new family pictures.  I waited until after Christmas to post them because we were giving them as gifts also.  Well, I ordered the pictures online at Walmart and I have still not received those pictures.  They said they were mailed on the 16th and they even charged my card, and still no pictures.  Well, I have blogging to do, so I can't wait any longer or I am going to be really behind.  So, I guess if my loved ones see this then so be it, SURPRISE.  We went out to my friend Becky's house and she very kindly took the pictures for us and it was freezing!!  But, I think they turned out pretty good under the circumstances.

Needless to say they were not very happy that I was making them sit in the snow.  I don't know what they were complaining about, at least I let them sit on their coats since I wouldn't let them wear them.

I did give in at one point and let them warm up a little.  I am so nice, don't you think?  Rays head for some reason, blended in with the sky on a lot of the pictures.  But, they still look pretty good.

For some reason Ray has a habit of tilting his head during pictures.  Becky had to keep reminding him to keep his head straight.  But, aren't they cute?

Another Day in the Life of the Youngs.....

So, here are some of the details of Rays visits to the hospital recently.  I knew the week of Thanksgiving Ray wasn't feeling very well.  He had called me several times and said that he felt he had another kidney stone.  He came home on Wednesday while I was still at work and took some pain pills and went to sleep.  He was asleep when I got home and slept until about midnight and then he starting tossing and turning.  At 2:30 a.m. he finally decided I needed to take him to the hospital.  He knew what the problem was and so they gave him pain meds as soon as he got there and then they did the tests.  They found out he had a 9 mm kidney stone and told him that he should probably stay in the hospital so he could stay on morphine until they could get him into the urologist in Idaho Falls (nope Rexburg doesn't have one) and kidney stones really aren't an emergency so they weren't going to get us one on Thanksgiving.  Anyway he stayed until Friday morning at Madison Memorial and then I took him to EIRMC.  They admitted him and then the doctor came to see him and they decided to put in a stint and then go from there.  The best option was to wait until a Thursday when the lythotripsy (laser) machine comes to town so they could break it up.  So, that is what we did and normally they can go home the same day of placing a stint, but they couldn't regulate his oxygen levels so he had to spend the night.  I brought him hom on Saturday and he stayed home from work for the week.  On Thursday I took him back down to the hospital and they did the lythotripsy to break it up.  That went much better and I was able to bring him home that day.  The worst part about it is that we heard that the procedure will cost $10,000 and we got the bill for his first stay at EIRMC and it was $9,600.  Thank goodness for insurance.  He was able to go back to work the week after on light duty and now he is feeling better.  They did call him during this last week and he has something wrong with his liver so he is going in the day after Christmas for an ultrasound to figure that out.  So, yes the saga continues.  But, we are thankful for all the blessings we have received and we realize how truly blessed we are each day.  Thanks for everyone's prayers and well wishes, you are all amazing.  

Thanksgiving?? Yes we are thankful!!

So this is where we started Thanksgiving this year.....yet another Holiday in the Hospital.  One of these days I will post all of the hospital visits on here for you all to see.  It has been quite the fun at many times I must say.  Kinlee really struggles when her dad isn't feeling well, so we didn't stay long at the hospital and then went up to moms for Thanksgiving "dinner" (lunch).  Ray was fine with that, because he was doped out on Morphine.  I guess I should tell those of you who don't know that Ray had a 9mm kidney stone and the morning, early morning 2:00 a.m. I took him to the hospital because he was in so much pain.  I will continue with the rest of that story on my next post, because it was over a week long battle, different hospitals....different procedures and lots of fun, yes I am calling it fun!!

 

All of us kids were at moms except Merrill & Linda and their family.  Also, Ashlin had to work on Friday, so she stayed in Utah.  But, we had so much fun, including the baby there was 25 of us in all.  Ray would have made 26 if he would have been there with us.  We cooked or should I say mom cooked 2 turkeys and several pies.  And of course all of the other yummy stuff. 

KaReena, Kelsie, Sydni, Jerika, Gma, Gpa

Brayli, Gaven, Kinlee, me and Kelsie

We all ate in the big family room.

Tragen, Peyton, Lydia, Dax & Brayli looked like they were all ready first.

Kelsie, Some Weirdo, Nakia, me & Another weirdo

Blake & Cindy

Shelby & Anita

Ma & Pa

KaReena & Brian

All of us kids, minus Merrill.  (The picture is just a little off center, but I won't judge, I obviously can't take all the pictures.)

All of us with mom and dad.  I am pretty sure I am trying to look like I am not the shortest.  Nakia was up on the couch, and I was on my tippy toes.  But, it is the sad truth that I am the shortest sibling.  At this point we hadn't starting eating yet and some people were getting a little frustrated.

Rylen & Cody.  Hopefully I was able to get pictures of everyone!!  It was a really fun day.  We each brought a craft for the little kids to do, so that kept them busy and the big kids kind of helped.  Then when we got done with all of that, we went back to the hospital to spend the evening with Ray.  He was still pretty tired and a little out of it, but we stayed for a little while and then went home.