Farrell Family Moments

Marcus's Trip to the HOP-SI-TAL!!

2009-03-12T10:25:00.000-07:00

We have had an exciting week, not the kind of excitement any parent wants but still... exciting!

Sunday and Monday Marcus was sick so Monday morning, I took both kids to the pediatricians office. Marcus's tonsils were really swollen and he said he just had a cold, he gave us some antibiotics and sent us home. All afternoon I watched him and he slept for like 4 hours, and he just kept getting worse he seemed weaker, and weaker and was so pale. I thought to myself.. this doesn't seem right. He wouldn't eat any dinner, and finally about 7:45pm he got up off the floor and said he had to go potty. So he went and I went in to check on him and the whole toilet was full of blood!! I panicked just slightly... Jeremy came running in and we immediately called the Doctor, and they said take him to Primary Childrens ER immediately, so we did. After a 2 1/2 hour wait Marcus went to the bathroom again, we gave the nurses his urine sample and they immediately rushed us in, and started running tests! I thought did you not believe me.. I told you it was blood---- But they started an IV and and drew a bunch of blood. He was the bravest little boy!! He just sat perfectly still while they put the IV in and he didn't even cry!! We waited for another few hours while they tried to figure out what was going on... Marcus watched Shrek and all of the nurses loved how brave he was. He wowed them all with his Optimus Prime Transformer Jammies!

First they thought it was his kidneys but then determined it was something going on in his blood. Very scary--- you kind of need your blood!! So they admitted us to the hospital and about 4 am we got into our room and went to sleep for a couple hours.

The next morning we waited for the doctors to come in and tell us what they found, they came and drew more blood! Very traumatic to a 3 year old! The kidney doctors came in and said that his kidneys were okay and they were turning it over to the Hematologists, the blood doctors. The blood doctors came in and said they were looking at his blood through microscopes to figure out what was going on, but it looked like a hemollytic anemia. His hematacrit had dropped very low and they were concerned that he had lost so much blood. Dr. Yaish this great Blood doctor said he felt like he knew what it was and he was going to test his blood again later that day and the next morning to see if it matched up.

Marcus started to improve on his own, his urine started to lighten up and his color strated to improve, he turned a yellow color, like a little jaundice baby! They kept him on fluids and monitored him but he was getting better. They did an ultrasound on him to check and ran more tests. In between all of that, his grandmas came to visit him and brought him toys and balloons. He got to visit the hospital Playroom which is a little slice of heaven to a sick kid! He loved the race car town and he got pretty good at playing with an IV pole hooked up to him. He loved walking around the hospital looking at the fish. Tuesday afternoon he went to the bathroom and got so excited and shouted... "I'm all better now, I have yellow pee!!" Tuesday night Uncle Sean and Aunt Kara came to visit, he was so excited.. he got another present and then he proudly escorted Sean and Kara to the playroom! Grandma and Grandpa Brenda and Dave also came back to visit! He loved having visitors and was so proud to tell them all about his IV and his ouwies!!

On Wednesday morning we met with the Hematologist, Dr. Yaish again and he said after all of their studies he had determined what type of Hemollytic Anemoia it was, It's called Paroxzyzmal Cold Hemaglobinuria. Basically he got a cold virus, and his body made antibodies to fight it and those antibodies started attacking his red blood cells, making them explode and come out in his urine. But the rare thing about this case was that the Antibodies that were attacking his red blood cells were only made in his body when he was exposed to cold. On Saturday he helped Jeremy clean out the garage and he was in the cold a lot that day. The doctor said he published a study about this particular thing about 25 years ago, and he hadn't seen a case like his in 5 years. There were 3 other children recently that had this same type of thing but they were all much worse. Most of the time kids have to go on steroids for weeks to suppress their immune system enough to get this under control. Some kids have to have blood transfusions, and all kinds of things. Needless to say we have witnessed a miracle in his quick recovery!!

Wednesday by noon they were sending us home, with strict orders to keep him out of the cold and keep him eating and drinking! He said a sad goodbye to his nurses and they gave him toys and a blanket. He got to visit the play room one last time and then we were on our way!

We feel so blessed to have been given such a wonderful gift as a little boy! What a Champ he was at handling all of this! We know that we witnessed a miracle watching him recover so quickly! Primary Children's Hospital is a very awesome place, all of the volunteers, and staff were amazing! We are happy to be home and have him doing better. Now if i could just get him to eat! He still seems weak and tired and has no appetite, but he is on the mend! Here are a few pictures from before we left the hospital....

It's about time!!!

2009-01-26T15:48:00.000-08:00

It's about time! I know I have basically dropped off of the blogging planet for a while, but i've had good reason! We are expecting baby number 3! I have been sick since Thanksgiving I swear! So I am sorry to all of my fellow Bloggers! I will try to do better! Here are a few posts from the last few months! Enjoy!

Family Pictures

2009-01-26T15:41:00.000-08:00

Around Thanksgiving... A little late I know! We had our AWESOME BROTHER IN LAW come out and take pictures for us! We took them here in Daybreak, in not the best lighting but they turned out great! Here are a few of our favorites... Thanks again Dustin you are the best!!

Every girl neds a tutu!

Where is the frame... This is my favorite!

The Farrells--- minus one...

2009-01-26T15:29:00.000-08:00

In December we had to make the heart wrenching decision to find a new home for our Dog, Makita! It nearly killed me, but it was the best decision for our family, with another baby on the way it was just to much! And this dog, was way more than a dog...He was a destruction unit!! We found a great couple who was so excited to have him and had another dog and a big fenced yard! The guy loved huskies and had hired a trainer for him! It seems like it will be perfect for him!! We will always have a special place in our heart for Makita, but we hope he will be happier in his new home!! Here are some pictures of him! Now I need a tissue...

Temple Square at Christmas!

2009-01-26T15:19:00.000-08:00

On Sunday night in December we took the kids down to Temple Square to see the lights! It was so much fun! The kids loved it. They had never been there before, so it was neat to tell them that was where we got married and show them all the cool stuff there! I think this will be an annual trip for us! I wish we had better picures, but here is one of Jeremy and the kids!

Christmas 2008

2009-01-26T14:54:00.000-08:00

We had a great Christmas this year as always! December was filled with the mad rush of Christmas parties! Jeremys family has like 8 !! But we try to make it to as many as we can, and it is always good to see family! Christmas Eve my parents came down and spent the night at our house! We went to a movie and had dinner with my parents and Grandma Mietchen, we let the kids open there PJ's, and then we tucked them in Bed and watched Christmas Vacation. I love that show! Christmas morning I was too busy with the Video Camera and didn't get any pictures but Grandma gave us tons! Santa brought a sleigh full of presents for everyone! We had to move the couch back to make room! Cambry got a Kitchen and Marcus got a huge toy Barn! (Thanks Grandpa Dave!)We had a huge snowstorm at our house on Christmas morning. We got stuck in the truck getting out of the driveway. I don't remember much else about Christmas Day because in the afternoon I came down with a horrible Flu and was throwing up all night! But really Christmas was GREAT!

A Random Sunday Night!!

2008-11-18T14:40:00.000-08:00

On Sunday we got home from church had dinner and we were bored so we made pumpkin cookies and delivered them to some neighbors! It was fun, the best part was how cute the kids looked when I let them lick the beaters! It was one of those moments, that as a parent you wish you could just freeze time. Our kids grow up so fast and if we don't take the time to stop every once in a while and just look at how cute they are we are going to miss it! Marcus adn Cambry you bring so much joy to our home! We love you, we love watching you grow up! Sometimes as a Mom you need those reminders every once in a while and this moment with my kids covered in cookie dough was one of those for me....

Unexpected Snow Day!! November 5th!!

2008-11-10T21:12:00.000-08:00

I knew it was going to be a good day last Wednesday when I was woken up at 7:15 am by Marcus yelling-- "It's snowing Cambry!!, Wake up, It's snowing!" Sure enough we had a few inches on the ground and it was coming down! It made me want to bust out the Christmas Tree and bake something yummy! (But I didn't) We had some of the neighbors kids over and all they wanted to do was go out and play in it! They were making snow angels and eating snowballs! It was pretty cute!! I couldn't resist grabbing the camera!

October 31st--- Halloween!

2008-11-10T20:48:00.000-08:00

We had a great Halloween this year! In the morning I made Halloween cupcakes with the kids, then we took them to Jeremy at work, He took us out to lunch at Chick-fil-A (my favorite!)! Then he came home early we had dinner and got the kids ready for trick or treating! Marcus was so excited!! We painted Cambry's face and she looked a little bit like a ghost instead of a bunny! I had the boring job of handing out candy while Jeremy took the kids around the block! Marcus came home wearing almost nothing of his costume but he had a huge bag of CANDY! Then he helped us hand out candy to the trick or treaters all night and that might have been more fun for him than going trick or treating--- every time someone came to the door he would run to the door and say "I'll get it, I''ll do it Mommy!" Halloween was a blast this year, we had so many kids come to our house I ran out of Candy! It was everything Halloween should be!!

Preschool Halloween Program!

2008-11-10T20:37:00.000-08:00

Oh- My goodness!! This was so much fun! Marcus had a Halloween program with his preschool class, they sang songs, wore their costumes and went trick or treating! Jeremy and I were cracking up... all other 9 kids are standing there singing and following their teacher and there is our kid- dressed as a cowboy riding a horse, smacking the kid in front of him in the head the WHOLE time with his costuume! He didn't sing a word!! It was really cute to watch!! The kid in front of him didn't seem to mind and went right on singing! See the picutres.... For proof!

Carving pumpkins! A family tradition!

2008-11-10T20:28:00.000-08:00

I am a little late... But here are a few halloween pictures. On the 30th of October we went to my Mom and Dad's for pumpkin carving!! The kids are still a little to young but Jeremy and I had fun! Jeremy always creates the coolest pumpkin ever, and this year was no exception! We each carved our own pumkin and then we made one for the kids, Jeremy made Cambry the cutest girl-y pumpkin!! By the end the kids were so dirty we took Cambry's clothes off and took her picture in the HUGE pumpkin! It is always fun to get really messy and cut open a pumpkin! We look forward to it every year!

JIMMY BUFFETT here we come!! Look out Las Vegas

2008-10-27T14:31:00.001-07:00

We went to Las Vegas this weekend with my family! There were 51 of us that went! It was so much fun! We went for the Jimmy Buffet concert at MGM! We went with my parents, Sean and Karaden and Karaden's Mom and Dad, Brad and Kris! We hung out by the pool, and went to the Paris hotel for dinner the first day! After dinner, Sean and Karaden and Jeremy and I went to the Bellagio to see the gardens and the fountains! On Saturday, the the girls went shopping at the Venetician and then we went to the pool again! We ate some fantastic Gelato at the Venetician!! Saturday night was the concert. Jimmy Buffet Concerts are nuts... Everyone wears costumes and hats and it is crazy! We love listening to all of his older songs!! We had a great time in Vegas... it was fun to be there with all of our family! We loved the Lazy river at the MGM, and just being with everyone! It was fun to see Brad and Kris again too!!

The girls eating Gelato!

Sean and Kara at the Bellagio Fountains!

Kissing in front of the Eifel tower!! Yeah!

Karaden and I at the Paris!!

Our flight left really early... my family sleeping on the plane!

Pumpkins and The ZOO!

2008-10-14T13:50:00.001-07:00

I have a few pictures to post from the last couple weeks! I have been a little behind!

We went to the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins with Grandma Sheryl last week! It was fun! I nearly broke my back, every year I pick out the COOLEST pumpkin for Jeremy, this year I picked this HUGE one and I could barely carry it!!

Last week we went to the Zoo! October is the perfect time to go to the Zoo! The weather was perfect, it was not crowded and the animals were active! We had a great time! Except for the horribly mean bee that attacked me from behind and stung me on the arm!! My arm hurt for 2 days! Marcus and Cambry and I were just going to go, but Marcus saw Joslyn that morning and they both insisted that they had to be together! Becasue all day the day before was not enough! So we brought Joslyn a long and it was really fun! A little crazy when they both headed in different directions, but fun!

Fall is Here!

2008-10-08T19:29:00.000-07:00

Sorry... it's been a while! I got a new camera and I had to figure out how to work it!! Fall is here and we are very happy for the cooler weather! We have been busy, going to the pumpkin patch and decorating for Halloween!

You know its fall in the Farrell family when all the girls and 8 kids invade Grandma Brenda's house for CANNING! Grandma grows a huge garden of very yummy foods and so we help can it and then we eat it all year for free! This year we went out on a limb and made homemade spaghetti sauce even the herbs and spices that went in it were home grown!! We of course made grandmas famous salsa, peaches and pears. It was a lot of work! I have never seen so many tomatoes in my life!! I kept thinking.. you know you can get Ragu for a $1.00 a bottle... what are we thinking!! But it's always fun to be together and get really messy!

Beautiful Scenery does your body good!!

2008-09-11T09:40:00.001-07:00

Jackson Lake

We went to Jackson Hole last weekend to watch Jeremy's Dad in the LOTOJA bike race!! He completed the race in just over 11 hours!! Go DAVE! We had fun watching him finish! Then we spent 3 days in Jackson with Jeremys family! We went to Jackson Lake and to Teton National park! I packed Cambry in her backpack thing and we hiked up the mountian to a water fall at Jenny lake! You feel so small standing next to those huge mountians and surrounded by those huge trees! It was a great trip! The best part was when the kids went to bed at night and the adults got to hang out together! Thanks to Jeremys Dad for working his butt off for the race so we can all go to Jackson every year!! 208 miles in one day on a bike-- thats pretty good!!

Happy 1st Birthday Cambry!!

2008-09-04T10:21:00.001-07:00

We celebrated Cambry's first birthday last night! We had our parents and brothers and sisters over! It was really fun to watch Cambry! She got into the whole thing! She had a a zillion presents, all kinds of girly things!! Its so much fun to have a girl!!! She got a Disney Princess car and 2 baby dolls! I don't think I will have to buy her clothes again for another year, she got so many cute things! Aunt Kara and Uncle Sean gave her a purple tutu!! Every girls gotta have a TUTU! Right?! I need to get her picture in it!! She loved the cake and Ice cream and she thought it was pretty cool when everyone sang Happy Birthday to her!

I am so happy to have Cambry home and healthy now-- after what we went through a year ago!! She is 17 pounds of trouble, and it is so fun to watch!! We love you Cambry! Welcome to being 1!

Preschool and Toddlerhood Here We Come!

2008-09-02T14:54:00.001-07:00

My little Boy started Preschool today!! It was a little sad but he was very excited! He blew me a kiss and went on to play with play dough! He looked so cute in his new clothes. I put on his new shoes this morning and he said to me "Mom, wait till Joslyn sees me KICKIN' down the street in these new shoes!" Yes, my little boy said kickin' I was trying not to laugh, but it was so cute! I think his Uncle Sean taught him that! Today Sept, 2nd is also Cambry 1st Birthday! She is totally, blissfully unaware, but we are having a party for her Tomorrow! Its been a little bit of a nostalgic day! Happy Birthday Cambry and Good luck Marcus!!

The Best part about kids.... Reliving your Childhood!!

2008-08-30T10:03:00.000-07:00

To those of you who knew me while I was growing up I was the QUEEN of Bounce Houses!! My mom rented them for my birthday parties when I was little, but it didn't stop there! I rented one for dances in High School and my 18th and 19th Birthday parties!! I think I was refusing to grow up!! I can honestly say that they were way more fun in High School!!

So when Grandma Sheryl gave Marcus his very own bounce house for his 3rd birthday it was CLASSIC!! We have been setting up on the front lawn this summer and letting the neighbor kids play in it! It has been so fun! Last night we set up just for Marcus and Cambry and I couldn't resist climbing in!! It has a weight limit of 350 lbs. so I figured it was safe! Instantly the fun times I had playing them came back!! Some of the best moments of being a parent are doing the fun things you did, with your kids!!

THANK YOU to Grandma Sheryl for the Bounce house and for allowing your 19 year old daughter rent an inflatable lion for her birthday!!

If any of you friends who knew me in high school have any pictures of the bounce house parties, please send them!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Marcus!!

2008-08-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

I can't Believe its been 3 years!! But my little boy turned 3 on July 18th! We had a Lightning McQueen birthday party for him with all of the neighbor kids! They swam and played water games in the back yard and the our neighbors The Clark's brought Snow Cones!! The funniest part was when I tried to get 8 three & four year olds to Finger paint. They had big papers out on the patio and it was going good until a SLIGHT breeze came up--- You would of thought that a hurricane came through instantly- 8 screams of terror because the wind was blowing there papers! I was all by myself trying to tape the papers down and calm the children! It was great!! I just had to spray the patio off for an hour to get all the paint off! Thank goodness for Crayola WASHABLES!! Happy Birthday Marcus! It is fun to watch you grow up!!

Blogging... A New Adventure!

2008-08-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

Well after 2 days at the computer and lots of CHOCOLATE, I have created a blog! Please be patient with me, I'm learning here!! My poor children have been entertaining themselves today while I have been working on the blog, I fear I may never find my family room floor again! Last time I checked the dish towels from the drawer were in a big pile in his fort!! Welcome to our new blog! We will blog some past events and then move forward and try to keep up!