update

SORRY! I didn't manage to get any updates while we were at the hospital. We're home now and all is well-back to normal anyway, with the kids fighting. A ton of test later, they never did find Gage's infection. The infectious disease team decided the bumps were sterile absesses. So, Thursday morning they pulled one shunt completely out and internalized the other. We stayed the night, had more CT scans and x-rays and they sent us home with a much happier kiddo, with 62 stitches, covered in iodine which we can't wash completely for 2 weeks. Claire and Judd had their surgeries on Thursday also. Three kids in surgery in one day has got to be some kind of record. There's was so quick. They both came back screaming mad (they say the anesthesia messes them up), but they seem happy now.

Surgeries

Gage is in Primary Children's Hospital. We brought him up Monday evening. It's early for his shunt revision that was already scheduled for the middle of next week because the infected area started bleeding and we didn't want to take any chances. The surgery Late Monday night went well. They took out both shunts. They replaced them with external shunts-the spinal fluid drains into a bag instead of into his body. This is temporary while they do tests and fight the infection. Once the Dr.'s are satisfied that it's gone they will replace one shunt (the other is no longer needed-at least that's what we're all thinking). We don't know exactly how long this will all take. We're planning about a week.
Judd and Claire are still scheduled for Thursday morning surgery. They will both get tubes put in their eyes to fix the clogged tear duct issue. This is same day surgery, so we should be in and out in a few hours.
Thanks mom for staying with the kids. What a weight off our shoulders to know you're there taking good care of them. And thanks to all of you for your support and prayers.
I'll try to keep updates here so you know what's going on in our crazy life.

Spring break in Kanab

We (Amy and the kids) went to Kanab for spring break. I feel a new freedom now that I have been down there by myself (actually my mom helped for an hour on the way down and my parents hitched a ride up with me, then bought a car to drive back home). We went to Zions National Park with Grandma Brown and the Federkeil family. It was fun to do with the kids. My family practically lived growing up.

We enjoyed relaxing, visiting with family, and I watched a bunch of BYUTV with my dad. Now I see why he's addicted. :)

I look forward to doing that during the summer serveral times, well at least once.