Kierstie came home from school two weeks ago and said mom I think Kaylynn should be a Jr Vike for our Spirit Week assembly. There is a small cost with three days of learning from cheerleaders for Kaylynn. I said ok because Kaylynn was excited and wanted to do this. The practice was last Wednesday through Friday. The teacher involved told Kierstie to go ahead and learn the cheers and dances as well with Kaylynn. Wednesday this week was the assembly. Here are the videos that were showcasing Kierstie and Kaylynn.

Kaylynn's Scary Experience

Sorry we haven't posted for a little while. It is amazing just how quickly the time flies. Looking at the date on the calendar today we are now at just about the middle of February.

I would like to thank our families for being there for us! Monday January 26 was a crazy day for our family. Especially for Kaylynn. Emotionally and physically draining.

Kaylynn the prior Thursday wasn't feeling well. She was sick, which for me was surprising because our family has had the flu shot. Over that weekend she was fine so I assumed it was just a twenty four hour bug.

Monday was a different story. I begin my workday very early (four am) so I wasn't home when Kaylynn first began complaining about how she was feeling. She told her dad that she felt her tummy cramping and was uncomfortable. Todd asked if she wanted to stay home from school. Her reply was no---our children don't like to miss school at all! She went and at about nine that morning the school called and asked me to come pick up Kaylynn because she had been vomiting and not feeling well. About ten minutes later Kaylynn came to me bent over and barely able to walk, complaining of her right side hurting really bad. I immediately thought appendicitis. I loaded her up into the car and drove over to the insta care. After signing in the thought came to mind, if this is appendicitis the insta care will be unable to help because they don't have ultrasound. I told the ladies at the desk my thoughts about Kaylynn and to never mind checking me in. We left and headed to Primary Children's. She was checked in about 10:00am and after about half hour of waiting admitted into a room. They had Kaylynn rate her pain 0-10 with 10 being the worst pain in her life, which she told the nurse was a 10. The nurse and doctor both decided morphine was neccessary and began looking for a vein they could start IV and morphine in. Kaylynn was dehydrated so it took the nurse about 15 minutes to get the needle into her hand. The morphine wasn't helping so they gave her another dose and she finally fell asleep. Every few minutes Kaylynn would writh in pain. It was so hard to sit by her watching the pain in her face (especially her eyes). I knew she was in alot of pain and I wished I could have taken her place.

Heavenly Father gives each of us trials for our faith to grow. I know this was not only a test for me, to watch my daughter suffer, but also for Kaylynn in learning how to cope with what was happening to her at that moment in time.

I kept Todd updated on Kaylynn's progress and we decided it was time he come to the hospital to be with us. The hospital couldn't do an ultrasound till she had a full bladder. Once she finished a full bag of IV fluid, they asked Kaylynn to keep them posted of when she needed to use the restroom (of course discouraging the use of the restroom). The nurse also couldn't decide if she should start another bag and said lets just wait and see.

Kaylynn finally felt the pressure and urge within her bladder so I notified the nurse. They took all of us to the ultrasound room. Todd and I both tried to comfort Kaylynn, she was in alot of pain and the pressure was only adding to the pain. The technician kept looking at her ovaries and then called a radiologist doctor into the room to ask if she should look at the appendix or just stay with the pictures they had. Todd and I kept looking at each other trying to figure out what was on the screen. The doctor said yes and then said, ok, take her back to her room I will notify her attending doctor.

It was only a couple minutes later when back in our room that the doctor came in. Kaylynn had a right ovary torsion. Her right ovary had turned on itself 360 + 180 degrees and the blood supply to the ovary was cut off. Kaylynn would need emergency surgery to untwist the ovary and restore blood flow. They were hoping the ovary would not be dead or damaged.

First thought was why? How? What about her fertility future? Would my little daughter when grown up be able to still have children, and would it have to be with a chance using only one ovary? So many thoughts and emotions.

I called my mom to keep her posted. She asked if I would like dad to come and be with us and to assist Todd in giving Kaylynn a blessing. Of course! I am very blessed and comforted to know Todd and my Father are both worthy and willing to provide blessings.

Dad and Todd gave Kaylynn a blessing and not long after that she was feeling alot better. I think the morphine was finally helping her. We continued to watch movies in the room and wait for an operating room to open up. Kaylynn went into surgery at 5:45pm. I paced the floors. My mom came up, so I went for a walk to bring her up to the waiting area. The doctor came in about 45 minutes later and told us the surgery went well. He was able to untwist the ovary, restore blood flow, and her ovary returned to a nice pink color. He was very confident they saved her ovary.

Dad and Mom, thanks for being there with Todd and I. We love and appreciate you! Kaylynn says thank-you for the nice cuddly heart shape pillow. Kaylynn sleeps with it every night now.

Kaylynn was a trooper and woke up from surgery eager to see us. She did really well and kept her over night. I stayed with her. Her sisters and brother missed her very much.


Kaylynn's incision sites, each side of her belly button and inside her belly button.

Kaylynn home from the hospital, relaxing and watching tv. Thanks Claybaugh family for the big balloon bouquet and teddy bear.

Kaylynn had her ultrasound and checkup at Primary Children's yesterday. The technician said Kaylynn looked so much better than the last time she saw her. We then saw the doctor and was told her ovary looked great and that her incision sites were healing nicely. Kaylynn was even more excited to be released to enjoy recess again. She missed a week of school and about three weeks of recess.

Thanks to our family, ward, and friends. We appreciate your prayers and support. We love all of you!!!!!!

My Love

On February 8 Todd and I celebrated our eighteenth year anniversary. On Friday evening February 6 we went to GoodWood BBQ for dinner. It was yummy.



Part of me can't believe it has been eighteen years, however I would never trade any of them. Todd and I since day one have never been able to say good-bye. Instead we say see you to each other, because no matter what we will always be together and will see each other soon. In fact you might notice when we talk to you in person or on the phone we say the same thing at the end of the conversation. We also have another little saying. "I love you", "I love you more", "I love you the most", "I love you always and forever".





I met Todd at a country dance hall, known as the Palladium (which is no longer in Sugar House - movie theatre is in its place). He was sooo sweet and we became instant friends. After a few weeks, I gave him my phone number (because he would never ask me for it). Our first date was on February 8, 1990 and a year later we were married on that wonderful date in the Salt Lake Temple.

Todd is such an amazing husband and I couldn't ask for a better father for our children.

During our eighteen years together we have almost always worked together at a common employment, but within different departments. Todd and I both still work outside the home. I miss working with him, however we have both grown within our own working environments. Todd has his associates degree in computer science. He has obtained needed certifications within programing. I know he would like to go back to school and obtain his bachelors, hopefully soon we can work on making that happen for him.

Todd and I have both held many wonderful callings within the LDS church. Most recently within our Taylorsville 39th Ward, Todd is the Elders Quorum President adn YM Basketball Coach. I am Primary 1st Councelor, YW Camp Director, and acting Activity Day Leader.

We enjoy doing things together as a family. Camping, fishing, and playing games. Todd is a great dad to our four children and loves to tease them. He enjoys shooting hoops with each of them, even if just a friendly game of horse or I guess it is numbers they have drawn around the parameter on the driveway. He supports them in all they do. He enjoys speaking with our children about their day around the dinner table.

I am very greatful that Todd is a worthy priesthood holder and presides in our home. I, as well as our children, have been able to ask him for blessings of comfort, sickness, and many other type of father blessings.

I love you sweetheart! Thank you for being who you are, for being my rock, and for accepting and being forgiving of my faults. I look forward to many more wonderful anniversaries and eternity with you.

I love you! I love you more! I love you the most! I love you always and forever! XOXO

Mommy Tag

Here you go mommies - a different kind of tag for a change - it's all about your first born!




Let's see how much you remember!

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?
Yes
We had two mis-carriages before finally having our first baby.

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
Yes

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
I was very happy. Being a new mom is a neat spiritual and physical bonding experience.

4. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
24

5. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
I kept very good records of my cycles. I knew I was due for my cycle and I just knew I was pregnant. I had a prenancy test available, took the test and confirmed was feelings that I was pregnant.

6. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
My hubby Todd

7. DUE DATE?
December 3, 1993

8. ACTUAL DATE BABY WAS BORN?
December 19, 1993

9. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
Nope

10. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
jalapeno
I made sure to eat alot of mexican food while I was pregnant.

11. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
leg cramps in the middle of the night, car exhaust, and the taste of toothpaste.

12. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX?
Baby Girl

13. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
Never

14. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
If I remember right I gained 35.

15. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?
yes lots of them

16. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
No surprise for pregnancy (I knew the second I was pregnant each time) and no surprise showers. :)

17. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
No

18. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Holy Cross Hospital (Now Salt Lake Regional)

19. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
My water broke at 2am Sunday December 19. I gave birth at 12:52. about ten hours of labor although I was only in pain for about four because I received the epidural about six am.

20. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
Todd

21. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Todd, Mom and Dad Johnson

22. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
Natural

23. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
Yes, epidural

24. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
7 lbs 13 oz 20"

25. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN?
12:52 pm

26. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Kierstie Martin

27. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?
15 years