Yesterday we had the fundraiser luau for fixing up our house. I am very grateful for all those who attended and helped with this activity. Thank you to all who have participated in every way. It was a great success. We feel very blessed to have inspiring friends willing to help. Mason was unable to attend but was watched by brother and sister Perry from our ward. I hope that we are able to pay it forward down the road. We are so thankful for everyone.

Mason is doing so good. He is growing strong. He is also a happy little boy. We are thankful to have such a blessing in our lives. Thanks to his donor family for giving us these wonderful memories.

Wow its been a while Mom and Dad have been stressed, trying to get mason to eat better has been lots of work. He now has a feeding tube (tube we place threw his nose down his throat in to his stomach). we started out bolus feeding him ( gravity feed done through a large syringe) but he threw more up this way than we could keep down. So now we are feeding him what he will throughout the day then doing a continuous feed ( we use the same tube but have pump that feeds him slowly through the night) for some extra calories. Mason is pulling himself up to his feet trying to crawl and is growing so fast. We have been out for walks in the sunshine. Mason has a new car that we push around with him in. I think he likes it. He always has a smile on his face. Dad went home for a few days this last week to get some spring cleaning done. He tried really hard to get everything done. But he was most impressed to come back and see how much his little man had grown.

We learned today through Face book that another Mason received a new heart during the Easter weekend and now his body is rejecting his heart. As soon as we found out we were praying for him. We pray that all goes well and that he will heal quickly. We were very fortunate to be blessed with such a quick recovery with our son. We feel so badly for this other family. We can only imagine what stress they are under. We will continue to pray for this little Mason until we hear otherwise in his behalf. We know and understand prayers work and do not hesitate when someone asks in their behalf. We had so many people praying for us. We could spend a year on our knees and never compensate for the prayers in our behalf.

We have some friends putting together a fundraiser in our behalf to help fix our house so that it is healthy for Masons return home. We are so grateful to all those involved. We will do everything in our ability to help repay the debt to all those that are extending their assets and abilities in our behalf. We feel a great debt to those who are so willing to help us. All that we can say is THANK YOU!!! We hope to extend a hand to others in need.

Here is a poem I love written by another heart mom.................


WHEN I BECAME A HEART MOTHER

ONE DAY MY WORLD CAME CRASHING DOWN,
I'LL NEVER BE THE SAME.
THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CHILD WAS SICK.
I THOUGHT, "AM I TO BLAME"?
I DON'T THINK I CAN HANDLE THIS.
I AM REALLY NOT THAT STRONG.
IT SEEMED MY HEART WAS BREAKING.
I HAVE LOVED HIM FOR SO LONG.
I WILL NOT GIVE UP ON THIS CHILD.
I WILL LISTEN TO YOUR ADVICE.
I WILL GIVE MY CHILD ANY CHANCE.
NO MATTER WHAT THE PRICE.
I WILL LEARN ALL THAT I NEED TO HELP MY CHILD THRIVE.
I'LL EVEN USE THAT FEEDING TUBE.
MY CHILD MUST SURVIVE!
WILL HE NEED A LOT OF THERAPY?
WILL HE GAIN THE NEEDED WEIGHT?
PLEASE GOD, HELP ME DO THIS.
I WILL ACCEPT OUR FATE.
WHEN THE MONITORS BEEP AT NIGHT,
IT SERVES AS MY REMINDER.
HOW MANY PARENTS WOULD LOVE THAT SOUND.
TOMORROW I WILL BE KINDER.
AS ANOTHER ANGEL EARNS HIS WINGS,
I RUN TO MY CHILD'S BED.
I WATCH HIM SLEEP FOR QUITE A WHILE.
I BEND DOWN AND KISS HIS HEAD.
I CRY FOR THE PARENTS WHOSE HEARTS HAVE BEEN BROKEN.
I LOOK TO YOU WONDERING WHY?
OH LORD, I JUST CAN'T KNOW YOUR WAYS....
NO MATTER HOW I TRY.
AND YET, I TRUST YOU HOLD HIS LIFE,
AND GUIDE US THROUGH EACH DAY.
MY MIND SAYS SAVOR EACH MOMENT HE'S HERE,
BUT MY HEART BEGS, "PLEASE LET HIM STAY"!
FROM PACING THE SURGICAL WAITING ROOM,
TO SITTING BY HIS BED.
FROM WISHING FOR A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP,
TO LEARNING EVERY MED.
FROM WONDERING, "WILL HE BE ALRIGHT?",
TO WATCHING HIM REACH OUT HIS HANDS.
WITH EVERY SMILE MY HEART JUST MELTS,
DESPITE LIFE'S HARSH DEMANDS.
FOR ALL WHO SEE THAT FADED LINE.
I LOOK TO THEM AND SMILE.
YOU SEE MY CHILD IS LOVED SO MUCH.
I WOULD FACE ANY TRIAL.
THAT SCAR I TRACE WITH MY FINGER
(IT'S THE DOOR TO HIS BEAUTIFUL HEART).
GOD MUST HAVE KNOWN HOW MUCH I'D LOVE HIM
(JUST AS HE LOVED HIM FROM THE START).
A HEART MOM IS ALWAYS A HEART MOM.
NOW WISE BEYOND HER YEARS.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ANGELS IN HEAVEN,
OUR HEARTS SHARE IN ALL OF YOUR TEARS.
EVERY DAY I WILL TRY AND REMEMBER,
I WAS CHOSEN FOR HIM (AND NO OTHER).
I WILL ALWAYS EMBRACE THAT BEAUTIFUL DAY.......
WHEN I BECAME A "HEART MOTHER"

Nevada

I want to get mommys tounge!!!

We have a problem. Sitting in this little apartment going nuts is not doing any of us any good. Trying to get out and do something in a big city with no one around is impossible. Janita wanted to see something new. I wanted to see something used. Mason wanted to see something. So we drove to the Bonneville Salt Flats. Oh, and since Wendover was just ten minutes away, we kinda snuck over the boarder. Although we didn't go in anywhere we were just able to sight see a little. Helped us ease our craziness from just sitting all the time. So here are some pics from our little trip.

Here is a video of Mason Enjoying his bouncer. I hope he doesn't grow wings and fly away!!!

What's In A Name

Mason, your name was chosen with careful consideration and openness between your mother, father, and your Heavenly Father. We had talked many hours about what we should name you should you be a boy. The only name that sounded right for you was Mason Daniel Bartholomew. At the time of your birth we only new what your name would be, not what it would represent. Now I know why your name is what it is.

Mason means skilled laborer or sculptor of stone. From the time that you were born you were sculpting peoples testimonies. Teaching people to know and understand the foundation for which their faith rests upon. You were able to teach the principles of fasting and prayer to not only you parents but for many people whom your spirit had touched. You have been teaching your parents the importance of relying on your Father in Heaven. Asking for Blessings, and putting all faith in the Lords hands in your behalf. We pray that as you continue your journey in this life, that we as a family and as friends can put the tools in your soul to sculpt yours and the lives of people around from firm foundations of faith to everlasting temples of righteousness.

Daniel was chosen for your middle name, not just for you, but also for your father. This name is to help your father know and understand that you are following him in this life. It is ultimately your choice to follow Gods plan. But it is your fathers obligation to teach you what your heavenly father wants you to know.

Bartholomew is the final part of your name. This name has been handed down many generations, and will continue to be so till the end of time. You as well as I have and obligation to our forefathers to uphold this name in righteousness. To carry it on into the millennium with honor. I pray that you will take this name and cherish it as much as we cherish you.

We have had a fun couple of days. It is very nice to make memories as a family like a long extended vacation. Yesterday we snuck up to preston, all of us, to see the house and visit with family. I also filled a WIC check while I was there. We got back to SLC around 2:30 AM. It was a lot of fun to see the excitement on families faces to see little Mason. Mom was happy to finally see her house again.

Today we went to Walmart and bought a loaf of bread and some sandwiches and went to Liberty Park to feed the ducks. We were able to get the ducks to come just a couple of feet from us. Mason was so cute, when the ducks quacked Mason would do his grunt. It was so funny. We even got the seagulls to come and eat bread. The seagulls would try to catch the bread before it hit the ground. Some were pretty good at it. My dogs won't even try to catch anything with their mouth. When Mom was throwing bread Mason reached out and grabbed the slice of bread from her and pulled it apart putting some in his mouth. I wonder if this means he is ready for real food. A sign is a sign.

Well here it is clinic day again. We thought all was well. Mason seems to be doing good. Janita is still sick. So I took Mason to clinic myself while Janita stayed home to keep from getting anyone else sick. The doctors, I think, were more concerned for Janitas heath than Mason. So they said they would try to find a cheap place for Janita to go to get checked out. Mason took five pokes from I.V. Team to get enough blood for testing. My poor little boy. I felt so bad. After the fourth time I told them they get one more shot. No blood, No more tries. So they got it the fifth time.
Janita was told that she has a cold virus and that antibiotics would not help her. She still has a mild fever and has been wearing a face mask 24 hours a day since Saturday. I hope she gets to feeling better soon. So while Janita was at the doctors getting her check up, Emily Bullock called to inform me that Mason now has a clot starting to form on one of his sutures. So now we will b giving in an injection to thin his blood and to break up the clot. We are a little scared for his health but were informed this isn't too uncommon. Mason did get to drop his Calcium Carbonate permanently. WOO-HOO!! Home health came to show us how to administer his new injection. She was very professional. She also made sure we felt confident in what we were doing. I hope things start to settle down. This up and down emotional roller coaster is getting old. I just want my boy healthy and safe. Today I feel like I am just overstressed with all that is going on. All the drugs, take one away, add another. When does it end. I hope it gets better.

We went to the 25th anniversary for heart transplants on saturday. Janitas sister Jeanna drove down from preston to watch Mason while we went. It was an awesome opportunity for us to see other patients young and old, to help us know and understand that this really was a good idea for our little man. It was awesome to see how well all the doctors from four hospitals work so closely with each other to learn and teach amongst themselves for greater successes in the future. Dr. Evverett and Emily Bullock were both recognized at this dinner for their expertise. Two of which we work so closely with. The dinner was $40 per person, but ours were already paid for. Dad spent most of the time holding back tears of excitement to see such success. Mason was unable to go but we took a photo of him with us. The advancement in heart medicine is progressing in leaps and bounds. We also took a moment of silence for all of our donors and families. What a great opportunity to show respect for those who were willing to share their lives with us. I can honestly say that I have been grateful for this time to learn and understand the transplant process in great depth. I don't wish this on anyone, but I do know that it is not impossible to get through. We have grown in knowledge and spirit during this time. We also hope to continue to grow in the future. One thing we have found that really helps us get through this is to speak with other families who have gone through or will go through this. You learn to become a family with many other people. You understand some of what they are going through and they know that you kinda understand. We have met many new friends through this experience. We had no idea there were so many families struggling with CHD. I now know and understand that we are not alone. We are grateful that even families who have lost children to CHD don't give up. They still work hard amongst the group to help the rest of us. We really admire their strength.

Today we received a phone call from Emily Bullock that Mason can quit taking his lasik. We are so excited 1 down 13 more to go. Thanks for all who pray for us and keep us going strong.

to be continued

STORY TIME

Oxygen

BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE

SAYING GOOD BUY TO MY OXYGEN!!!!



GOING GOING GOING AND GONE!!!!!!



Yea it is finally gone it would have been gone when i got out of the hospital but we didn't have a prescription for them to come and pick it up so we had to wait to get a prescription but it is gone know and we are all so happy!!
Mason hated his Oxygen he was on it for about three months he would suck on it or put it up on his nose so we had to tape it to his face. It was a pain for us to untangle him from the hose carry the tank everywhere when we had to go so we are as happy as mason to see it go....
YEA!!!!!!!!!

one good day!!!

Today Has been a pretty good day mason woke up happy, and

ready to play!!! Mom and Dad was still real tired so mom moved

me over to there bed hoping to go back to sleep!! But I got them

up when i had a blow out all over there sheets! I have a way at

getting what I want, they both got up in a hurry! I never thought A kid could poop so much

these meds make it bad I poop and spit up all day the doc said the meds make me. I will change

meds in about 3 more weeks so it should get better, mom hopes. I

could play all day I am loving my new heart. I have so much

energy I squeal and talk and kick, and play all day!! My mommy

and Daddy love me so much!!! And I have to say I love them too!!!

This has been a fun morning for me (Daniel). Mason has been awake since about 8 this morning. I have been up with him so Janita can sleep. All he wants to do is coo and caw. He enjoys playing and sitting on dads lap. He is in such a good mood. He had a little bit of Tylenol yesterday. But he really doesn't even act like he is hurting. He is so amazingly tough. And a lot of fun. I love to hear him squeal.

We have had a wonderful day today. We had a writer for the Idaho Preston Citizen newspaper come to our apartment to interview us on the behalf of Masons transplant. I hope that they are able to understand how we feel and can properly write those feelings for us. We are very grateful for our blessings in our life. We understand that it is Gods will as to what happens with our son. We are grateful for friends and family for all their help. This has been an interesting challenge for our family. We have also been invited to go to a dinner celebrating 25 years of heart transplants. The price is $40.00 per plate. But luckily our dinner was paid for by someone else. Mason will be babysat while we attend. We have decided that we will take a picture of Mason with us and place it on the table. I am amazed at how well Mason has healed and how far we have come in the advancement in heart medicine. I found a video on webmd for heart transplants where the heart is still beating on an artificial machine. Reducing the chances for rejection, and also the amount of damage done to the heart from being transported below 50 degrees. I think this is way cool. if you can you should check it out. Mason is being fussy today, I think because he is still teething. He doesn't want to eat. I hope this goes away soon.

The following is a story we found on someones blog. We don't know who wrote it but we do feel like we should share it. It doesn't fit our situation perfectly but find it a very beautiful story. Be prepared with a box of tissues it is a tear jerker.

Its a beautiful day up in heaven. Jesus is rounding up his tiniest angels, to go live on earth, and be born. One of the sweetest angels say to Jesus "I don't want to leave, I like it here, and I will miss you." He reassures the scared little angel that everything will be okay, and that he is just going for a visit. He is still not swayed on this idea. So Jesus kneels down and says, "how about if you leave half your heart here with me and you take the other half with you, will that be okay?" The angel smile's and says, " I guess that will work." But the little angel is still scared. He asks "Will I still be okay with only half of my heart?" Jesus replies "Of course you will, I have other angels out there that will help out, and you will be fine." Then Jesus gives the angel more details about his plan. He says "When you are born, your Mommy will be scared, so you will have to be strong, and when you feel weak just remember that I have the other half of your heart." " Enjoy your time with your family, play and laugh every day." "And when its time to come back to heaven, I will make your heart whole again. Always remember that you are not broken, just torn between two loves."

Author Unknown

WE ARE GOING HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am all dressed and ready to go in my new outfit and hat that I got from a really nice nurse. Yesterday was a big day. We got all packed up and out of the hospital. We are officially out of the hospital with Mason, and boy does it feel good. Mason got some visitors as soon as we got home. Mandy and Jon Winn stopped by and we had an excellent visit with them. Then Jeana showed up and she was able to spend some time with us and see her nephew. Then Jacyn and Nicole. Wow quite the crew. But it was so much fun.We then found out that our good friends from downstairs have found a house in Ogden and are moving today. We will miss them but know that it is the next step in their journey. Matt donated his own kidney to his son Henry. So we all have become good friends and understand each others feelings pretty good. We even went to the temple with them. What an excellent experience that was. Now we have to find new friends.
One of our new friends are Raychel and Cody up a PCMC. Raychel is 19 and waiting for a Heart transplant. We pray for them and hope she gets her heart soon. We hope that things that we have said have been helpful to get them through their journey. But sometimes just having a friend to talk to is helpful. At least for us. Good luck to them.

SMILE

We have been preparing for our discharge from the hospital TOMORROW!!! We are so excited for Masons speedy recovery. Six months left till we go all the way home to Idaho. We also got to go and watch the KSL Radiothon today, here at PCMC. What a great world we live in when so many people can come together for a great cause and make every miracle count. We are so impressed with the amount of dollars that came in. $81,860 from 4pm - 12am. Mason sure has left an impression on all the nurses here. They think he is way cute and they have never experienced a baby so willing to take medications. Mason, your parents are proud of you. We love you and pray that you will recover quickly, so you can return home with us. Congratulations for the quick recovery so far.

He still is sucking like crazy on his hands, and if we can see correctly, there may be another tooth on its way. Can anyone say steak and potatoes? He is awfully noisy when he starts sucking on his hands. We have brought up his teethers but for some odd reason his hands taste better. Dad don't like his hands in his mouth, cuz that where germs come from. but the nurses told him to get over it. Thanks! He even had a cookie today as you can tell he REALLY enjoyed that.