Gratitude!

On December 31, 2008 I fell on the ice while I was nearly 18 weeks pregnant and tore my placenta, I spent new years eve in the ER at Jordan Valley. It seems that this night was the beginning of a very long 2009 with many days spent in hospitals and at home in bed for me and the family. In January Keo was dancing around and fell and broke his collar bone. It was not too serious but it required an ER visit and weeks of a sling. The next week Ku'uipo was having extreme abdominal pain and was diagnosed by a CT scan with acute appendicitis. She was admitted to Primary Children's and was later found to have a bilateral kidney infection while they also monitored her appendix. She was later released and the next few weeks there were many doctor visits, priesthood blessings and lots of prayer to aid her complete recovery. In the meantime, I was put on bed rest due to pre-term labor and was no longer able to work. Over the next few months I was hospitalized three different times and monitored to help protect the baby from coming to early and me for my clotting disorder. The stress was immense on Kevin, myself, and the kids. Our income was decreased significantly due to me no longer working. On April 22, 2009 Ka'Lya was born nearly 8 weeks early. She was in the NICU and step-down unit for 8 days. She was tiny but doing well when she came home. Kee'Onu had his bout of illness this summer but recovered quickly. On October 15, 2009 Kev had surgery on his hip due to severe pain over the past several years. Dr. Zeluff agreed to do a surgery that is rare and he had never done before, hoping to fix and help Kev with is pain. So far Kev has felt an improvement and we hope that when he is fully healed his pain will be completely gone. On November 15, is when I was hospitalized for the guillain barre and am still recovering today. Just last Friday Keo woke up in excruciating pain in his tummy. Kev took him to Primary Children's and they found a small bowel obstruction, they gave him an enema and it helped. They took another x-ray and found that his large bowel was mostly cleared but his small bowel was still blocked. They gave him medication and sent him home. He was in extreme pain for several days, and he sees the doctor tomorrow to make sure that it is all cleared up. He was able to go back to school on Tuesday and seems fine right now. Kevin went off light duty on Thanksgiving and I am doing much better than I was when I came home from the hospital.
I write the above for journaling and because there is so much that this year has brought. I must lay the story for all of you above, so as to allow the rest of this post to explain the immense love and gratitude that this year of trial and triumph have brought.
When the kids were sick, that was hard, and my heart ached for them. I wished that I could take away the pain and all the fear that they were feeling. I knew that I could not. I am sad to admit that I, at times, rushed them to the doctor before I went to my Heavenly Father. It was when Kevin and my Dad gave them a blessing that not only did we get answers and help, but I too was comforted in knowing that they would get better.
On Thanksgiving, the night before he went to the ER, for 3 hours Ke'Lao cried in pain, Kev was at work and I had only been home a few days from the hospital unable to take him to the Doctor. I gave him the normal children's pain reliever all to no avail. It was then when I knew there was nothing more that I could physically do to ease his pain. I realized that a priesthood blessing was the one thing that I knew and I had faith would help him. I said a short silent prayer before the blessing, asking that Ke'Lao be taken from his anguish at least until we could get him to a doctor. I knew that this was all that was needed. My Dad placed his hands on his head and gave him a blessing of comfort. Within minutes Ke'Lao layed down and fell asleep for the next 3 hours. He awoke at dinner time and was out of pain, which lasted for the next day and a half. I think back and realize what else in this life can you rely on when you have exhausted all other options? Where else can you turn when no tangible person or thing can comfort you? Our Heavenly Father. There is a peace that envelopes your soul when you turn it over to Him. When you ask for help and it is given freely what gratitude it stirs.
This same gratitude and love I have felt from Angels who have served my family. By Angels I mean all of you that took the time from your own busy life and families to serve mine. Meals, babysitting, messages of love and encouragement, phone calls, and cleaning. I have had a lot of time to ponder all that has been done for us and tears are evident. I sit here and realize that you who have served us were thinking of us while preparing a meal, or watching my kids, or writing that card. It is overwhelming to think how many hours of your time was given to lighten our burdens. What a sacrifice you and your family gave. Although many of you say it is no big deal, I beg to differ, the impact and the lessons that have been taught through this year are priceless and cannot be learned without these trials. I say this is a year of trials and triumph because the trials for obvious reasons, but the triumph from all that we have gained. I have a most wonderful spirit that was added to our family. She was a sacrifice for so many to get her here and yet worth every hospital stay, illness, and worry. She is a triumph, proving that we can make it through adversity as a family, luckily the reward is tangible and forever giving.
I have wondered why the illness, why the pain? One of many answers that I have received is the ability to show one another that we can overcome, but not alone. Each bump in the road has taught us that we cannot do this alone, whether it be the need for a parent to care, a doctor to treat, a blessing to heal, or a loved one to serve, we cannot do it alone. That is where the testimony is gained. It is a group effort to live to tell. I cannot teach my kids all that they have learned this past year. By others serving our family they have learned the importance of giving back. They have seen the tremendous blessings that have come from all of you. I hope that this will pave the way for them to live a life of service. If that is the only lesson learned than it is worth it. Fortunately that is not all that they have learned. They know that the power of prayer is real. They pray for help, health, and strength. They know they are not alone and that there is a higher power. They have seen it through the miracles of the year.
I also have to say that there are those that are answering a prayer and yet do not know. Kevin was on light duty due to his hip surgery a few weeks before the day I was admitted to the hospital. His job allows him to dress casually and answer what they call telephonics when they are on light duty. He is not allowed to drive his police car or carry his gun. The day after I was admitted Kevin got permission from his Captain to work from my hospital room due to the fact that he was on light duty. He later told me that it took such a huge burden off of his shoulders. He was able to be there everyday with me and did not have to use sick time, much was already gone due to his surgery. If he was not on light duty this would not have been the case. A prayer was answered. Ku'uipo was having a hard time at school and this was evident to her teacher. She asked Ipo to have lunch with her and even gave her a brownie. A comfort she needed and that I prayed for. A prayer was answered. The night before I went into the ICU due to complications, my Mom felt she needed to be with me. She wrote a note on facebook and asked for help with the kids. My visiting teacher offered to have them. My Mom was able to be there when my illness took a bad turn.
Another prayer was answered. Many fasted and prayed daily for me. I recovered and was able to go home more quickly than others. Many prayers were answered.
In the end, I love you all and the gratitude that fills my soul is overflowing. What love I have for you. What compassion you have taught me and my family. Please know that when you serve others it becomes a chain reaction. You instill in others the need and desire to pay it back. I only hope that the rest of my life I can teach others through service what we have been taught. I love you!!!