He is here! May 30, 2009

Our newest blessing has arrived! What a fun, fun day.
Friday night, Ellie was having contractions 5 or 7 minutes apart.
They went to the hospital that night, things progressed slowly, but
Ellie did so incredible.
After a long day and long night of labor, Dash Camron Johnston
was born on Saturday morning. He weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz and is 21
inches long. The amazing thing is that he was 3 weeks early.
Ellie asked me to be in the room for delivery. Wow! Thank you Ellie
for giving me one of the most amazing experiences of my lifetime.
I will never forget the joy I felt the moment he was delivered.
You and Brandee are my heroes! Thank you both for blessing us with
grandbabies!

This is the happy dad! You could not wipe the smile off his face!

Three!

That's the magic number for Ellie....Dr says a baby will be here within 2 weeks for sure. He weighs over 7 lbs already!

Hello benefits!!

Wow....l am feeling incrediblly happy. Ellie goes to the doctor today to see what's going on "down yonder." Yikes! I am so so thrilled. Just think in a few days or weeks, little baby Johnston will be here for Grandma Julie to kiss and hug. Sweet little guy. I can hardly wait to see what he looks like.

I love my job. It just keeps getting better. PEHP here we come! I got the scoop on what to sign up for and what to do with my FLEX account from my buddy. Now, we are ready, set and go! Houston we have lift off. I also think I know what I want to be when I grow up. I finally figured everything out. I just need to make it happen, right!

Remember what the Reverend Mother told Maria.....when God closes one door, He opens another. Thank you for opening those doors to the "big guy upstairs!"

Frontotemporal Dementia = Sadness

The diagnosis is in. Dad has frontotemporal dementia. For those of you that have no idea what that is...like me, there are 3 big hitters in the neurology world of alzheimer's. There is Alzheimers, Lewy Body dementia and then frontotemporal dementia.

After many doctor visits at the University of Utah, many tests, many talks to social workers, we are learning to deal with this disease. There is no medicine to help. There is nothing to make it slow down. It is a fast moving dementia unlike Alzheimer's that takes a long time. He knows me sometimes and sometimes he asks if I am his daughter. That is the time it makes me the saddest. He doesn't remember his grandkids very well. He remembers names, but then does not recognize them when they are with him.

What to do now? That's where we are at. We are not sure of where we are headed or what lies in the future. Day by day, is the way we are handling it.

This I know. Family is the only thing that matters in this life. If you have a bad relationship with family members, then shame on you. Family is the frosting on the cake of life. I am so grateful for my family...extended and immediate. They are my strength and they are the reason for my happiness. Whether it be spending time in Vegas splashing in the pool with them, the road trip there-laughing with my husband and talking just to him with no interruptions, or quiet moments in a backyard where families are joined, it doesn't matter. I am grateful for each and every one of you that are part of my family. Family is all that I need in my life (along with some diet pepsi and chocolate). Ahhhh, that is perfection.

Fun Family Times!!!

Ellie's Big Day!

Everyone was so generous....thanks to all!

My Homies!! Heidi, Brands, Kate and Abbs!! Love you girls

Grandma Donna and Ellie Belly

Ellie Ann

My boys. Lance and Blake Tyrell and Cam. Best buds!

Grandma Donna was such a trooper that day! We love her.

Sisters forever and ever!

My gang....always there for me.

Spencer and Burton.....ahhhhhhhh, cute little Burton.

Grandpa Frank and Cam

Was this the cutest cake ever? Yes! It was yummers.
The awesomely awesome tent Grandma, KayKay and Gabe built!