Emotional Week

Sky had his latest surgery last Wednesday. Didn't go as well as we had hoped for. They went in and removed both bubbles and the buckle around his eye. Then worked around the retina, but there is so much scar tissue around it that Dr. Sipperley said that there was no hope of Sky seeing out of it again. I wasn't able to be there because I was at Stake Young Women's camp. Dave said the Dr. came in told him he wouldn't be able to help him and pretty much left the room. I am so ticked, this is a 15 year old boy your telling he won't see out of his eye again and you walk out of the room? What kind of dr. are you? I don't care if your nation renowned. You take the time to have compassion and help Sky out with this devastating news. Barnet/ Delany will get an earful from me on Thursday!!!! He is handling it really well though. We are sending his file to St. George and seeing if there is anything the Dr's. can do up there. Lance knows some of the Opthamologists there. I'll keep you posted on this.
I was able to go to girl's camp this year, it was the most awesome experience I've had in a long time!! Before I left, my bishop called me into his office and told me I was being released from the YW. I was so upset, I love my Beehives. They are so amazing and great girls. I cried, threw tantrums,  and screamed but to no avail. The Lord needs me to be a Sunbeam teacher! I'm still not sure this is where I truly am needed but I'm not going to argue with Him:) I will miss my girls soooooooo much, they have taught me so much these last 2 1/2 years. Change is something that is really hard for me, especially since I'm a nervous wreck when I even walk by the Primary room!!! I may never know the reason why this is happening right now, but I just have to trust in the Lord.
Bishop gave me 3 weeks to mourn this change, so I actually have 2 weeks left. This will be a great challenge but I will learn to love those special 3/4 year olds.  Plus I will be in the class with Autumn!!!
Well until next time-----

JUST SOME FRIENDLY ADVISE

When your in church bearing your testimony, NEVER say that you are glad you have friends who will go with you to get a coke when you need to talk! Especially when the 2nd councilor in the Stake Presidency is visiting your ward!! Totally blonde! Just a little FYI for you all :)

RANDOMS

Just a couple of things going on here at the Skousen household! We went down to the Valley this past Tuesday for Skylers surgery to remove the bubbles. The surgery was actually Thursday but I wanted to go down and have a little fun with the kids before the surgery. We went to the mall, drove around a lot, went to David's cousins house for dinner. It was so fun to be with Brian, Gina and the kids. We had a wonderful dinner with an awesome dessert:) Hunter and Clay went swimming, and we watched Avatar. It was such a nice relaxing evening. Thanks Gina--- LOVE you!
Thursday we went in at 7:30 am, got Sky checked in and they took him into the surgery room. I waited while Dave took the kids to breakfast. While I was waiting Dr. Sipperley came out and told me that he couldn't do the surgery because they couldn't get Sky sedated enough. He had given him 3 huge doses of Morphine and he wouldn't go under. He thinks that since Sky has been taking so many Rx drugs since May 19 that he has become immune to anything. He was afraid that if he put any more drugs in he could stop breathing. So we decided that we will do the surgery next Wednesday here at the  Show Low hospital so that they can put him completely out!!! I will be at girl's camp starting Tuesday, good thing there is phone service. I know Dave can handle everything, but Sky is still my little boy:)
Dave got our hotel rooms for Labor Day!! WOOHOO!!!! I can't wait to meet Shawn and Bill. It will be so awesome to finally meet my birth mom and give her a hug! To finally be able to thank her in person for giving me life and a wonderful family that raised me has been such a dream of mine. Pictures and posts next month on this:)
The Summer has been fun and as usual not long enough for the kids. Hope yours has been fun and has drawn your families closer together.

Family Update

A little update on my new family.  Shawn and I have been talking on the phone quite a bit lately! She is such a loving person and is so funny! We have had some really good conversations! I haven't been able to talk personally with the girls but we get on Face Book a lot!!!! We are still planning to meet on Labor Day. Not sure who will get to come this time, Shawn for sure, though:)

My mom found this picture of Amber when she was about 3 yrs old. I think I look just like her!! I wish I had the picture of me when I was that age but I can't scan yet so that you could see a side by side. Maybe my mom can help me do that sometime. Those of you who knew me, might see some resemblance.
Things are so awesome right now!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

I want to wish my awesome, amazing, spiritual, generous, caring, gorgeous husband, Dave, a happy Fathers day! I don't know how you have put up with me for 22.6 years of marriage!

I am glad that the Lord gave you a lot of patience to handle me and the kids! You are such a great example to us! Thank you for being on this new journey with me and for being a huge support. You are my rock and foundation!! I love you more each day and am thankful that I have you for eternity:)

I know this isn't a picture of me and my dad, but I love this one with Kandra! I just want everyone to know how much I love this strong, determined, hard working, spiritual,  and honest man. He has taken this horrible cancer and is fighting with all he has. He knows the Lord is in charge, but has kept an amazing attitude about it. I talked to his bishop one day, and he said he goes over to see my dad so that he can be uplifted! That says a lot about my dad. This Fathers day has been a little more meaningful to me. I guess I'm just reflecting how wonderful it is to be his daughter!  l love you dad, you're the greatest!
Also a special shout out to my father-in-law, Eldon. Thank you for being such an example to Dave. He is what he is today because of you! We love you and are grateful you are in our lives.

My New Found Family :)

This is a picture of my birth mom Shawn, and my half-sisters. Their names are Erin, Tiffany and Amber. I am so excited to show this to all of my blog friends and family. They are amazing women and even tho I barely know them, I already have such a love for them, its really hard to explain it unless your living it like I am right now. We will hopefully get to meet on Labor Day, that will be quite the birthday present to me!
Just wanted to thank everyone for all of your support through this. Mom and dad you have been amazing and I love you all the more for it! Thanks for embracing this with me. I love you both!!!!!!!! Also thanks to my sister's Kristal , Kandra and my brother Lance for being excited for me. Love you lots too!
My mom found a picture on Ambers facebook that looks like me when I was about 4 years old. Its so fun to see some resemblances in them.
More updates as they come in:)

New Adventures!!!

As some of you know, I have been searching for my birth family for quite along time. I have put so many hours on the computer and even enlisted my best friend Sandi. Actually she has been the one to push me!!!
In the past year I have had people come up to me and ask if I was related to the Davis'. (I have always known my birth mothers name, she is a Davis). I think this was my wake up call to really start looking. Sandi has been there to make calls for me (I'm a chicken) and pushes me to get out of my comfort zone!!! After months of brick walls, Sandi found a site called Search Angels. I actually went on there a couple of years ago, but didn't think they could help me. I went on last Tuesday and put my information in thinking that this would be just another road block, and that I wouldn't hear from them.
My family had planned a reunion in Oro Valley a few months ago. So we went there on Thursday. What an amazing time we had! My dad looked so good and we were able to get professional pictures done. On Saturday we were on our way to Kartchner Caverns, I got a call from Sharon, my search angel. She found my birth mother!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sharon had to e-mail her and confirm everything. On Monday my family was at the studio picking out our pictures, Sharon called and said that she had just spoken to my birth mother! I can't tell you how excited I was. She said that my birthmom was so surprised that I was looking for her! My mom started crying and gave me a huge hug! She has been so supportive in me finding my birth family. I LOVE YOU MOM:)
When I got home on Tuesday, I started talking to her on face book. I have 3 half sister's and 5 nieces and nephews! They have really accepted me. My birth mother told me that she never wanted to give me up, but she was so young and had no family support. She is finally at peace and feels that a heavy burden has been lifted!
I haven't told her I was going to blog this, so I don't want to use her or my sister's names until she is ok with it. I am so blessed, I have been putting her name in the temple prayer rolls. I have two wonderful families now!
The kicker to all of this is that she and my sisters are only 5'2! I have no idea where the height comes in. I can see some resemblances every time I look at their pictures. I'm not sure when we will get to meet in person, I hope soon:)
This probably sounds all jumbled but it has truly been a whirlwind for all of us. A special thanks goes out to Sandi for always being there for me and making me do things I didn't want to do! Love you girl:)
On another note-- Skyler is doing a little better, still has eye pain, but as always he's a real trooper.

Skyler

Well , I have been putting this off for too long! I guess I was wishing it was going to be a different outcome! We saw Dr. Graff last Wednesday and he agrees with Dr. Sepperly (sp?). I told him of my frustrations with Dr. S and he listened to what I said and then agreed that yes, Dr. S  doesn't have the best bedside manner, but is extremely knowledgeable in this field. Dr. S is the only Dr. that can do this type of  procedure on Skyler. So we will go in Wednesday to Summit Hospital in Show Low at 12:00 pm. Sky is not happy at all, but knows that Dr. Graff wouldn't do anything that would harm him. We trust his judgement (He prays before every surgery), so we feel its the best thing to save Sky's eye sight. This is the 3rd reattachment, so it should be the lucky one:) They will be scraping out the scar tissue and putting in two different oil bubbles. One will be on the lower part of the eye, which will be heavier to keep the retina from detaching and the other one will be on top of that. I don't understand all of it, but Dr. Graff assured me we are in great hands.
 On a brighter note, I failed to blog about my mom on Mother's Day. I just want her to know how much I admire her and love her endlessly!! She has been a great support in trying to find my birth mother. I am so touched by the way she is caring for my dad while he is facing his cancer head on! She has been such a strength to him. She is the best mom in my book!!! Love you always mom:)
Also I couldn't miss writing about my mom-in-law, Marlene! Even tho she doesn't read my blogs, I want her to know how much I love her!! If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have my best friend, David. She cares and loves her children endlessly!  She gives strength and courage to her family and accepts them no matter what.
She has always made me feel apart of this family from the very beginning, even tho she thought I was mad all the time! (Guess I should smile more often)!  Love you tons, Nan:)
Hope all you beautiful women had a great Mother's Day!

WAY BEHIND!!!!

First off I wanted to wish my "Season Daughter," Autumn a very happy belated 19th birthday!!! Her birthday was May 2, I can't believe its been 19 years ago that I gave birth to a 9lb baby girl. She was so cute (and still is)!!
Not much going on in the Skousen household, baseball season started!?!? Clay is in his last year of Minors and Hunter is in his first year of Juniors. They are both doing really well. Clay hit the ball clear to the fence last night! Hunter's team has lost both games, but they are really trying to work as a team, which I think is more important anyways.  He is also umpiring between games.
Skyler was going to go out for the Seniors league, but his retina is detaching for the third time, UGH!!!!
Dr. Graff suggested we see another doctor at Barnett/ Delany. He is nationally recognized. So we did and I was not impressed at all! He told us that we could take out the bubble and leave it alone ( he can't see without it in), or have another surgery and use 2 different bubbles. I asked what he would do and couldn't get an answer. His assistant came in and started talking about another case! I was not happy with him, I was so confused on what to do. So I decided that we will go see Dr. Graff  on May 12 and see what he says. I went ahead and scheduled surgery for May 19. I only want whats best for Sky, and I feel we have to do everything humanly possible to save his sight. He is so not looking forward to another surgery, I can't blame him! I feel so bad for him, I don't know if another surgery will help, but I told Sky that we would do what Dr. Graff suggests when we see him on the 12th. If Dr. Graff doesn't think surgery will help, I'll cancel the surgery. Just hope I'm being a good mom on this!!!?!?
Summer is doing well in Vegas , and Dave is still the greatest husband ever!!!!
I finally got internet so I will hopefully update more often.

HERE WE GO AGAIN:(

We went to Dr. Blair's office on Monday, he was so excited about how well Skylers eye was looking! He said that things were right on track, and that he should heal up quickly. So last night about 10:00 pm Skyler came to me and said he couldn't see anything but darkness. I raised my fingers to see if he could see any of them, but all he could see was a slit of light. He told me that since he got home from school at 3:30 his eye was starting to darken, by 6:00 it was totally dark. I knew we had a very early appointment to see Dr. Graff today in Show Low so I didn't call the office last night. We went in and sure enough the retina detached AGAIN! We are going to Mesa, AGAIN, tomorrow and having surgery. He will have another oil bubble put in and it will probably stay in for at least 4 months.
Sky is disappointed, but is happy to miss more school. He is still a trooper about things and just goes with the flow. Not sure how this will effect next years basketball season. Only time will tell.

SURGERY

We took Sky down to Mesa yesterday and they were able to remove the oil bubble!!!! He is in pain, but is handling it pretty well. At one point the dr. came out and told me that he thought he would have to remove Sky's lens. I was freakin out to say the least, but once in there the lens was okay and they were able to leave it alone!!! Dr. Graff told us that we are doing something right, because he should have taken it out. Dr. Graff is AWESOME!! He is LDS and really likes Skyler, so we are getting the best care for him!!!!!!
On another note, my dad is fighting cancer right now and it has gotten worse. My sister Kandra wrote about the cancer and treatments they are going to do on him on her blog--- http://www.kandjowens.blogspot.com/  She really did a good job explaining it. Please keep him in your prayers.

UPDATE ON SKYLER

I don't think Skyler thinks that this eye problem will ever end:(  He has been such a trooper tho. Last Friday night he came in to our room with his hand over his eye and in so much pain. I text his doctor in Snowflake, but he didn't answer, so I called the Phoenix office trying to get his surgeon. He wasn't on call so they told me that they couldn't do anything anyways because they were in Phoenix. So they told me that they would try to get a hold of the doctor on call in Show Low. Dr. Stewart calls me and tells me that he is in Phoenix, but that he would get a hold of his son, who is also a dr. He calls and wants to see Skyler right away! SO we go to Snowflake at 10:30 at night. Get to the dr's. office and looks at Sky. His eye is pretty irratated and suggests we use more drops and to call him the next day. By the next day, Sky is feeling much better finally!
His dr. in Phoenix called us personally Saturday night and wants him to get the oil bubble out right away. We are going to Mesa on Wednesday to get it out! WOOOOHOOOO- Sky is so excited. Hopefully, he will recover fast from that. He may need contacts in the near future, but thats better than no sight at all!!!
Skyler has had the best doctors, I know he has been watched over through this whole ordeal. We have been so blessed!
I have been going over to my awesome friend, Sandi's house to make homemade wheat bread!! She has a Kitchen Aide mixer, which mixes it so much better than doing it by hand. I love making bread! It makes me feel somewhat like Molly Mormon:) My kids really like it too, so that is great because they may have to eat wheat a lot more! Thank you Sandi for putting up with me all the time, your the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hunter finished his basketball season, they ended up even on wins and losses. He really improved through the season, which is great and hopefully he will get to play next season! He is such an athelete, and we are very proud of him!