The first day of March we enjoyed a virtual tour of the Mormon Battalion Historic Site by the good sister missionaries. It was fun to visit briefly with Dantzelle and Brad at the end. We were both eligible to receive the COVID vaccine beginning March 1, but it was next to impossible to schedule one. We tried getting up at 3:45 am to log on. Our only option was an appointment in Creswell Oregon, two hours south. Gratefully, Bronson, who works for Epic, and who has been involved in the online health charts available to patients, was able to give us some clues that helped us secure an appointment in Hillsboro (50 minutes away) in a drive-through site.
March 6th was a big day as Elder Scott D. Whiting, a General Authority Seventy and member of the Area Presidency, who was connected virtually from Salt Lake, and Elder Lawerence P. Blunck, our Area Seventy, interviewed leaders in our stake to call a new stake president. Crismon was at the church house the entire time facilitating those being interviewed. He returned home in time for us to drive to Hillsboro to get our vaccine.
Sunday, March 7th, Crismon was released as the stake president of the Mount Hood Oregon Stake, after serving for nine years. He conducted the stake conference and gave a wonderful talk. I was thankful for the opportunity to bear my testimony. Tyson Pappenfuss, (36) exactly half Crismon’s age was called as our new stake president, James Anderson (our dentist, and former Bishop of the Damascus Ward) was called as the 1st Counselor, and Derek May (our former Bishop in the Walters Hill Ward), was called as the 2nd Counselor. It felt right and we gladly sustain and pray for them. Elder Blunck asked Crismon to stay after and assist him in the setting aparts, since Elder Whiting was not there. It was a sweet experience for Crismon, as it brought his service to a close. I can witness that Crismon truly served with ALL his heart, might, mind and strength. We loved this choice opportunity, and we saw the Lord’s many tender mercies and blessings in our lives.
I flew to Utah on March 9th to help Alice-Anne with her baby who at the time was 10 days late. I was excited to get the word while at the airport, that he was born that morning. It was so wonderful to be there when the children saw their little baby brother for the first time that afternoon on Zoom. We were all so surprised when they pulled his cap off and learned he was a redhead! He is definitely my grandchild.
About the time Alice-Anne and Gary were preparing to leave the hospital the next day, a nurse noticed something not right with little Oliver’s breathing. He had already been cleared to come home, but this was a tender mercy to recognize a problem. During the night he had to be moved to the NICU as his oxygen levels were dropping too low. It was a difficult week trying to determine what his problem was and how they would take care of him. Our hearts went out to Alice-Anne & Gary who had to leave the hospital without their precious baby.
Crismon flew in several days earlier than planned, on Saturday, the 13th, to help me. It was wonderful to have him there. Sunday evening, he and Gary were able to give Oliver a blessing. Alice-Anne and I sat out in the hallway of the hospital and we listened over the phone to the blessing. Sadly, I never got to see Oliver while I was there. COVID restrictions have changed many things, and this was one of them. Only the parents in the NICU, and only one parent at a time. The exception was made for the Priesthood Blessing.
After two weeks in the NICU in the hospital in Murray, Oliver was transported to Primary’s Children Hospital as he wasn’t improving. He had to have anesthesia to have an MRI, and a scope put down his throat below the vocal cords. The MRI showed no problems, but sadly, they learned that both vocal cords were paralyzed. One is partially open, but paralyzed. They are observing him over the next week or so to determine if they need to do a tracheotomy or not. They are hoping they can bring him home soon. For sure he will come home with a feeding tube directly into his stomach, and oxygen, or a tracheotomy. We have felt that he is a very special spirit, and our love and prayers go out to him, Alice-Anne and Gary constantly.
We were grateful we could be there to help the Johns during this difficult time. We enjoyed attending Spencer’s first in person band concert one evening. We were fortunate to attend the “Lamb of God Concert movie.” It was spectacular! For those of you in Utah or some areas where it is being played, we encourage you to attend.
Thanks to Zoom we were able to hear Preston and Asher’s excellent violin recital and Bryson and Paxton’s piano recital where they both did very well. It was a treat to have Durelle come by before going to the airport. She and Jasmin brought journals from Great-Grandfather Lewis’. One afternoon Janae and her three younger boys came by. It was great to visit with her. Also, all my siblings and their spouses got together for a dinner at a restaurant in West Jordan. It’s been too long since we’ve done that and we loved the chance to get caught up on their lives.
While in Utah, Julia, Austin and their 2 ½ yer-old, Dallin arrived for a mini reunion with the Doutre family. As Crismon and Danielle were also in Utah at that time, we had a nice “mini-reunion” with them. We were especially happy to see Crismon & Danielle, as it had been almost 2 years since we had seen them.
I appreciated Crismon teaching my SS class virtually. It’s amazing how you can still participate long distance.
We returned home on Tuesday, March 23rd, and then on Thursday we left for Cannon Beach for a 3-day, 2-night stay at the Inn at Haystack Rock, thanks to a Christmas gift from our children. We had a terrific time. It was cold, but the sun was shining most of the time, and we had no rain.
We are grateful for our Heavenly Father’s generous blessings. We seek a miracle for our little Oliver if it could be possible that he will not have to have a tracheotomy. We appreciate many who are praying for him, Alice-Anne and Gary, and their family.
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