Our Pneumonia Adventure...

Being a mother for the past 18 years, we have to admit, we have been very fortunate and our hearts go out to all those families who have dealt with major illnesses with their children. We have had 2 ER visits these past years, with miraculous results, no hospital admittances and 1 broken bone with 5 active children, and getting it by jumping rope no less. This past week has been a whirlwind of emotion, highs and lows, lack of sleep, complete and utter amazement at the outpouring of love and support from all those around us!
While Alissa Sleeps I make this post from the Children's Unit at The Riverton IHC Hospital Primary Children's Ward.
Notice I mention Children's Unit, My Alissa is 6 weeks away from being 18, so we are extremely fortunate with this illness, she is considered a child still!!
My amazing daughter, who gives her all to everyone and then some, had the December of her life, helping the IRC, International Rescue Committee, in Salt lake City. The SBO's and Government officers at Riverton High School annually pick a non-profit organization in which they can help make a difference and fund-raise for that cause for 3 weeks straight. When I say 3 weeks, I mean exactly that, they do not eat, sleep or get homework done (rarely) and spend all there time in service of another. SO as you can see this amazing student body worked their tails off and earned $81,000.00 + for the IRC & what a life changing experience.

I think this is where our plight begins.

• So being so exhausted, Alissa slept for a few days off and on and was extremely worn out. The holidays came and went - Sickness was all around us, flu, colds, sinus infections, and extremely cold weather.
• SO back to school on January 4th - however Alissa on January 5th gets a flu, bug, as we think. throwing up for 2 days, missing school, she heads back on Thurs Fri, to try and catch up.
• Needless to say she was not better and the bacteria began to grow. So on Monday the 10th she went to school and within the first class, called and said she was racing home, cause she had to throw up and felt feverish!
• Solid throwing up til Tuesday morning, We take her into the Inst-Care knowing full well she is Dehydrated. after 2 liters of fluid, they think she's done, nope 1 more to go - We ask the on-call to check her lungs, he dismisses this and says he can't here any rattling, so send us on our way with Anti-nausea medicine, and cough medicine.
• Tuesday, Wednesday and into the morning of Thursday, still throwing up, fever and excruciating pain... Missing Term Finals and trying to get teachers to give her an extension
• Back to insta-care, Chris and I insist on a chest xray - Mind you, new Dr. and we know him and he is amazing - Within minutes the results are obvious. She has barely any lung function on her right side.
• Out-patient treatment is our choice, IV 3 days in a row with fluid and antibiotics and meds for home.
• Friday morning - back to Insta-care for the 2nd day of treatments, however her blood pressure is extremely low and her oxygen levels are dangerous - straight to emergency and then admitted to the Hospital.
• The weekend is a blur - Alissa has had good times and really bad times, crazy times and quiet times. She is in terrible pain, 2/3 of the right lung is filled with bacteria, 1/3 of the left and fluid is surround both.
• She's been poked with needles more than she can count, iv'd with antibiotics and fluids consistently, 48 hours of oxygen, and we are still in the air as to if she has to have a chest tube.
• Chest-tube, mind you, is the last resort, due to how evasive and painful the procedure and the recuperation time is lengthy.
• It is Monday Morning, Martin Luther King Day, no school is in session, so I didn't have to call in for Substitute again, Alissa is not missing another day today, however we don't expect her to go back this week, at least. We wait and see what results we get today on blood work and X-ray's. This decides our fate for the week... Good news we stay here and finish out her treatment's and healing, bad news we get transferred to Primary Children's Salt Lake and she gets a chest tube to clear all the fluid and bacteria - Out for another couple weeks.
• Like I said, My heart goes out to all those parents who have dealt with major illness within their Families, long hospital stays, cancer, chemo, and an array of things, You are my hero's! I am not sure how people do this consistently and make it through sane. All I know is the support group we have is amazing and we are very fortunate to live where we do and feel the love we do!
• Alissa is loved, not only by her family, but a community and we have had an outpouring of love, visits, meals and rides given on the Gibbons' behave and we thank you all!

New Year, New What?

OK, I have not posted since Christmas, and life still goes on - Can you believe it? We think time will slow down and get easier, but it just gets harder & busier. We look back and remember all the advice we were given when the kids were growing up and now we notice that we are the ones giving advice to others. Please, if I am telling you my life's experiences, take everything with a grain of salt... I never attest to being perfect or right at all times, but I do expect my children to think I am perfect and right all the time!!!

We made it through December with only a few bumps and bruises, SilverRush at Riverton High School was an amazing Success! $81,000.00 + earned and collected in 3 weeks time to donate to the International Rescue Committee - We are super proud or our girls and all the Students and friends who sacrificed sleep and homework to make this life changing event a Huge Success!

Chris and I celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary on December 28, 2010, going to a movie and dinner. We absolutely love going to the movies, and this year with jobs and changes we have only been a couple or times and really enjoy when we can go!

New Years came with Sickness in abundance - Jocey had been fighting off a cold/throat/sinus/cough thing for weeks - and decided to be her loving self and share the love with all of us. Starting with Stone, then Hunter & Zoey, Mom & Alissa (Alissa still battling the flu with 7 days under her belt (tightened 3 more notches) Chris - has been doing everything in his power not get the full blown thing so stays away from most of us and complains in quiet.

Jocelyn had her 2nd Drill Competition on January 8th in Sandy, Utah. This was the first one we could attend, seeing as the 1st was while Chris and I were soaking up the sun in Hawaii - Let's just reflect on that for a minute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OK back to reality - She was worried about the dances and how there were changes made in the final week, however she had a great time they saw some awesome competition and came home smiling - even though they did not place in most of their routines. Next one is this Saturday in Murray - I thought competition dance was demanding - Yeah Right - That was a cake walk compared to this - The things we do to give our kids Life Experiences???

Someone asked me the other day, "How do you keep up with 3 Involved High Schoolers and a multi-sports playing teenage boy and active Hunter?" My reaction is always Mom's can Multi-Task so I Divide and Conquer (At lesat I like to think that's what I do), and if that doesn't work, I get a 44oz diet coke, Hagen Daaz -Vanilla Swiss Almond Ice Cream, Jammies, Lock the Door to my room and watch Football in my Bed! Works EVERY TIME!

*** Pictures to Come Soon!****

Our Chirstmas Card 2010

So with all the changes in our household this year and all the craziness with Work, Job Search, Drill Team, Sports & SILVER RUSH; I decided this year to email our family Christmas Card and Letter; However I do not have quite enough email addresses of family and friends that I thought so I am putting this on the Blog and Facebook. If you did not receive this on your email, please send me your updated email address - Thank you!

Welcome to our life with 4 Teenagers & a little guy who seems to never get his way…..

Alissa, 17 ½ (18 in March)

Senior, SBO Historian, Avid Volunteer, Golfer, Piano Player, A’capella Choir, Main Other Driver, Ready for the College Experience, If she is not studying or sleeping, she is at the High School planning the next event. She is going to be an amazing Adult!

Zoey, 16 ½

Junior, Finally Driving, RHS Dance Company, Choreographer & Teacher at TDC, Dance Co Publicity Chair, Junior Class Historian, Keeping her grades up!, Stressed to the Max!

Jocelyn, 15

Sophomore, Silverline Drill Team, Mia Maid Class President, still trying to beat the Nasties, Did I say Drill Team, Oh, yeah that pretty much is her life or being grounded, as she would say! Boys, Boys, Boys oh yeah and she is pretty sure she is going to Marry Justin Beiber. (Definitely her Mother’s Daughter – we butt heads on a daily basis)

Stone, 13

Finally Middle School 7^th grade, Another Teenager – AARGHH! – Cooperstown Baseball, A-Team Quarterback, Super League Basketball, Deacons Quorum 1^st Counselor, 7^th grade Choir, Scouts (when he fits it in) Girls Calling all the time, Still fighting with Hunter ……

Hunter, 11

– Angels Baseball Team (Mom’s Favorite) – Lake Powell Fanatic – Friend Fanatic, Artist, Drawing Contest Winner, Boy Scout, Jr. Jazz Basketball, Still Mr. Imagination, Can’t wait to see TRON!

Mugsy, 5 (The Puggle)

Ok I think this is finally the year we’ve enjoyed having a dog. No longer a puppy, Kind of Lazy, very loving – STILL SHEDS – and getting so fat she has a hard time going up the stairs. (DAD feeds her from the table – oh yeah everyone feeds her from the table – Thanks DAD!)

Chris & Alice (40 something - feel 20 something)

Alice turned 40 and loves it, Celebrating the Big 20^th Anniversary,Chris still in Stake Office as Exec Secretary (6^th year), Stepped down from Cost U Less Carpets as an owner, Alice 1^st Couns in YW, Working as T.A. at North Star Academy, 5^th year, Went to Cooperstown, NY this year with Stone, Spent the beginning of December in Kauai, for our 20^th Anniversary. We are crazy busy, bussing kids to and from the High School, Charter School and going to various performances, assemblies, fundraising events, sporting events, awards events, youth activities, church activities and trying to keep up with 4 teenagers and 1 little guy!

We would not change a thing (even if we tried) !!!

Chris and Alice Gibbons Family

Christmas 2010

A little Christmas Message:

Th Gibbons have been humbled through out this difficult year and we are so grateful and thankful for all our Family and Friends who have stood by our sides with the changes and difficult times we have faced. Our message to all family and friends is that:

We are grateful to know the true meaning of this holiday and to have been able to teach our children and be an example throughout their lives so far. We hope and pray we can continue
to reer our amazing children to be loving, service oriented, and positive contributors to society and have them be a positive influence and example to everyone they may come in contact with. We recognize this is probably our last Christmas will all of our kids living under the same roof and we are surprised how fast the time has gone -
Remember "The magic of Christmas is not in the presents but in HIS presence."

Kauai: 20th Anniversary

This scrapbooking design made with Smilebox

Wow what a great week!

Tuesday the Blizzard of the Decade to come in....Wow 4 inches and Wind - Not a record breaker - But Keith's Family got here in time to miss the Storm? Wednesday after work and pulling into my driveway the Sander's Family arrive from Cali and can't wait to get into the snow....Well at least they thought it would be fun til they realized how cold it was! Picked up Brooke & Adam from the TRAX - Then Dad & Bryan showed up and it was one big party! With 25 people under one roof - We really had an amazing time! No fights, everyone had bathrooms - No running out of hot water, We all cooked, cleaned and just messed around! It was amazing and I wish I could do it more often. Tammy, Jim & Family joined us for Thanksgiving Dinner and Friday we all met up at Salt Lake Temple Square to see the Christmas Lights get turned on and met Lisa, Rick & Family. The only sibling not able to make it to Utah was William - But he will be forgiven - Someday....
We haven't all been together since Mom passed away 8 years ago and the time went way too fast and we feel very blessed to have had these 4 days with the siblings, Dad & the cousins. I am so Thankful for all of them~ Now off to Hawaii!!

Thanksgiving 2010 @ the Gibbons Home!

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