Biker Boy!

We have graduated to compression gloves for Ty! He still has to wear his splints but gets to take them off a couple hours a day and be free with just the gloves! He is much happier when he gets to use his fingers. The gloves are so tight but are doing the trick in flatening out his scars. He doesn't like the stretching much and neither do I but I know it will be for the better in the long run. We are also able to use lotion now and massage his scars to help break up the scar tissue. He is quite the trooper! We don't even have to go back to Utah until March! We can't wait to get our other two sets of specially measured and made gloves. They get dirty and stinky very fast!

Heart Day

Love this guy!

A few days before Valentines Day Valerie and Hailey started saying, "remember last year when mom told us to leave the house and when we came home there was candy on the floor and a surprise dinner? I wish we could do that again." "That was the best dinner ever, " on and on they went. So yes I got the clue and got up really early and had them wake up to a surprise breakfast for Valentines. Later on that day Dave came home with a dozen roses for me and 3 roses for each of the girls. What a sweetie! I really do love my man!


I guess the breakfast was memorable because it has almost been two weeks and Valerie has still been saying, "thanks for the best breakfast ever" in her nightly prayers.

Random happenings

This is why I always hate dishing up ice cream! Dave doesn't seem
to mind cutting it with a knife!

Mikayla loves doing Ty's hair in spikes and faux-hawks. Problem is is his hair is too long on top. This led to his first ever haircut on top. I couldn't bare to cut off the back and sides yet because he has a little bit of curl. Now he just looks like his dad in the 80's with a mullet!

Hanging out with the Shirley cousins (Olivia & Alex) after Alex was baptized. Seeing our cousins so often is one good thing about the many trips to Utah. Ty has also taken a special liking to Grandpa Shirley. He will go right to him the second we walk in their door.

Elle, Valerie, Evelyn

Ashley's just for fun meet for tumbling
Hailey did hers too and was able to do her back handspring all by herself!
(we only have it on video)

My friend Melanie and her girls and my 2 girls were still able to squeeze in a few snowboarding trips amongst our many trips to Utah. It is always fun having 1 on 1 time with the girls. This was Mikayla's first year snowboarding. Cade and Ashley each bet her money that she would cry the first time. She did not! She was a rock and caught on really fast! I was even surprised.

Kierra, Maycee, Ashley, & Mikayla

Dave serves in the Spanish Branch so we have been lucky to get to meet with and feed the Spanish missionaries often. Our whole family just loves Elder Manrique. He was just transferred to Nampa. (Look out for him Cam and Erin).

The little things

Today I cleaned my big mirror in my bedroom and patio door windows. I was expecting to see little Ty fingerprints but only found dog paws. Its funny how some of the little things that would often bug me - I now seem to miss. I can't wait to see him pick up a cheerio with two fingers or to have to clean up a big mess under the high chair because he got to feed himself. I wouldn't even mind having to pick up all the stuff he used to empty from my kitchen drawers. Only 1 month ago I was tripping over things or complaining that the dog was going to chew up stuff left out and now I would just be happy to see it all out because I would know his fingers put it there!

Font color?

Anyone know how to change the font color on your blog? The old way is no more!

We can see fingers!

Yesterday's trip to Utah has been the happiest one yet. Grafts are healing and puffiness decreasing. Ty's dressings are not near as big - in fact we can see his fingers now! Last night is the first time he was able to wear levis (steri strips are off groin sites and stitches mostly dissolved) and a regular size t-shirt. We also got the news that we only have to go to UofU once next week. We will be doing our own physical therapy 3-4 times a day and daily dressing changes. His braces were trimmed and customed fit for him. His appetite seems to be coming back and last night was the first night he has slept through the night since the accident.

Since the accident Ty has gotten really good at using his tongue to make noises. He also is always trying to copy the girls and make faces by sticking out his tongue.

Weapons (hand braces) for Ty

Another tender mercy - made it home from Utah right before the snow storm hit.

Ty did so good at his burn appointment Tuesday, Jan 18th. He is a tough kid. He was premedicated which helped immensely. It is taking me a bit but I am learning some tricks that help him out. First off, thanks to Pages for watching kiddos again. And thanks to Marilyn for coming with me. It helped to have someone to entertain Ty while driving and while getting dressings changed, especially since he can't hold any toys in car or feed himself any snacks! Of course Marilyn came prepared with camera and nail trimmers! Ty's nails were longer than mine have ever been. They said they couldn't cut them but they would let the nail pro Marilyn.

Yesterday as the "champ" sat so still while they changed dressings.
5 days post skin grafts to both palms

The right hand was looking fairly good. There was a swollen patch in the middle and a blood blister by the palm of his thumb. They tried to drain the puffy part with a needle thinking it was a blood clot. Nothing happened so we are just watching it close until next appointment Saturday.

We were excited to see that the left hand was not white anymore like it was 2 days post op. He is starting to get good blood supply and new skin forming around the edges.

This visit he was fitted with some plastic braces they formed to his hands up to his elbows. The braces are supposed to help keep the fingers stretched out straight so he doesn't develop contractures. He really likes to keep 2 fingers on his left hand bent and one on his right hand.

We soon found out that the braces are hard and hurt when he tries to give hugs or accidently catches you in the face! He has built in weapons and doesn't even know it! Another thing to get used to.

We had to retire the left hand brace after the first night. I don't know how but he kept getting it off. He has learned to use teeth in amazing ways.