Basketball

Wow the months have flown since Christmas!!! A lot of those things I’ve been saving up to do "after Christmas" haven’t even been started yet. We enjoyed going to a lot of Rickey’s basketball games these last two months. He had a good season, and by the end, I would try to sneak away to the games because usually kids don’t want to go to boring games, but no one wanted to stay home, so we all went to his games. (Homework and piano suffered, but it was fun to watch.) They took 4th in the 9th grade State tournie. I’ll post a few video clips of Rickey below for Grandpa Shumway. He is number 22 (orange) and 15 (white). Mikelle and Trevor also played basketball and Jeff enjoyed coaching Trevor's team.

Mikelle's Junior Jazz team

The Moms of the Basketball boys

Rickey's team

Jeff went to play basketball with Spencer and Rickey on Valentines Day and I knew something was wrong asI saw the look on his face when he walked in the door after playing. He said he "jammed" his thumb, but I knew better. He was pale, cold, clammy, and in shock. I predicted right then that he was going to need surgery. He endured the long President’s day week-end and then Shauna Miller squeezed him in to see a hand specialist where after an MRI the need for surgery was confirmed. Dr. Richards did surgery for Jeff to repair his torn ligament connecting his thumb to his hand. He also discovered old basketball injuries in that thumb from college ball days. Jeff could kind of use his hand before the surgery, but now it’s completely immobilized. It has a pin poking out of it to hold it steady. He has new challenges like: buttoning pants, tying shoes, driving, typing, writing, and eating (it’s his left hand and he’s left handed.) He’ll get the stitches and pin out in 2 weeks then get a hard cast for 6 weeks, then a brace etc. All in all, a four month detour away from basketball which is killing Jeff. He has been diligent with his exercise and he doesn’t enjoy running quite the same.

Winter Fun in the backyard with friends. (Sarah, Timothy, Quincy, & Aby)

Soldier Hollow Sledding fun

Spencer with his girls choice preference date, Rachel, (purple Dress) and Boys choice Valentines Date, Shannon, (Black Dress).

My beautiful mom with her oldest sister Geraldine.

Christmas Letter turned to Valentine Wishes

Dear Family and Friends, January 2009
Happy Valentines Day! It’s been a couple of years since we’ve written, so here’s an update, including summaries of our kitchen remodel, open-heart surgeries for our son, and a study abroad to Spain.
January 2007 started out with Timothy’s 2nd open heart surgery when he was 4 months old. He was born with a serious heart problem (hypoplastic left-heart syndrome) on September 6, 2006 and had his first surgery at 5 days old. In the summer of 2007 Kathy’s brother, Alan Shields and other family and friends, kindly helped enlarge and remodel our kitchen. We also added a basement bedroom and storage room under the remodel. The process pretty much destroyed our back yard so we had to redo the grass and sprinklers. It was quite a job, but it was well worth it. We now have a permanent guest room, so come and visit us any time.
In early 2008 we all spent four months in Europe while Jeff directed BYU’s Study Abroad in Spain with 37 students. We were going in 2007, but Timothy’s surgeries prevented that, and we were blessed with another opportunity a year later. We lived in Alcalá de Henares (near Madrid) and traveled extensively throughout the country with the students. After Spain we spent a week and a half in Austria with our friends and former ward-members, Philipp and Kehau Malzl (he’s from Salzburg and she’s from Lai’e, HI). They were so nice to put up with our invasion (literally). Both Spain and Austria were absolutely wonderful. The kids still beg for Spanish pastries, fresh bread, drinkable yogurt, paella, and the gelato from Vienna (among other things). In fact, the kids want desperately to go back to Spain. Now here’s a quick person by person update:
Spencer (17): A junior at Timpview who is now six feet tall (leaving Jeff behind), he drives everywhere in our 1994 Plymouth Grand Voyager. He was on Timpview’s football team that took its third straight state championship. He plays the bass in the school Philharmonic Orchestra. He still loves reading and enjoyed the unabridged Don Quixote while in Spain, but his all-time favorite is still the Harry Potter series. He has recently re-started piano lessons and is learning "Claire de Lune" and aspires one day to play "Dance of the Gnomes" by Liszt.
Eric (Rickey) (15) A freshman at Timpview, he is also taller than his dad. He loves playing the acoustic guitar and playing football and basketball. He was injured for much of the football season but still managed to catch some touchdowns. In basketball he is averaging about 20 points per game on his freshman team. He’s very close to receiving his Eagle Scout Award!! (yippee!) Rickey thoroughly enjoyed his 3 week trip to visit Jeff’s parents in Tonga with Spencer and his cousin Isaac. Thank-you Grandpa and Grandma Shumway!
Mikelle (11) Is excited to enter Young Women’s this summer and join girls camp. She loves piano and her piano composition, Joy, won the "Reflections" contest at the school, district, and regional level, and is now at the state competition. Plays on a AA soccer team and a community basketball team. She also stays busy with flute, pre-Algebra, and voice lessons from her aunt Jennifer Shumway.
Trevor (9) Loves school and sports and takes piano lessons. Played quarterback for his flag football team and currently plays basketball on a community team. He likes drawing and building things at home, like card-board armor suits, or dragons made out of paper and sticks. He’s very determined and always finds a way to accomplish his ambitious designs.
Aaron (7) Is taking off in his reading and other school work. He loves basketball, football, and soccer, and is quite the acrobat. A few weeks ago he stood on his head for 33 minutes, breaking his old personal record of 30 minutes (he was a bit disappointed to learn the world record was 12 days). He is a pro-bowler on the Nintendo Wii.
Sarah (4) Is s a great sister and a wonderful helper in the kitchen. She’s discovered that she doesn’t have an "official" night to cook like the other kids and is pretty bugged about that. She has been the best helper with Timothy through all of his surgeries and is "still addicted to her thumb and blankie" as she put it last night. She still gifts Kathy with naps most days.
Timothy (2): Timothy had the final (hopefully) stage of his open heart surgeries on December 4, 2008 (thus the Valentines letter instead of Christmas). He is a delight and charmer to all he meets. He prays for all the babies in the hospital, for Grandma and Grandpa Shumway in Tonga, and he has a special love for his Grandma Shields. He always watches out for her and scolds us if we forget to pray for her. He loves riding his scooter and trike in the kitchen and playing with the toy animals he got for Christmas (he even blesses them in his prayers). He is still on oxygen at night time, and has been since 3 months old.
Jeff hit the big 40 last August. He spent last November in Argentina researching his current book project. He is usually coaching one of his kid’s teams and is also the second counselor in the bishopric. He tries to play basketball 3 times a week during his lunch hour. He will return to Argentina in April and May as the cultural advisor to BYU’s dance group, Living Legends, on their 3-week tour of Paraguay and Argentina. He is especially excited because Kathy will join him for the last 10 days of the tour (she’s never been to Argentina).
Kathy is just grateful to have survived the last two years. Some of her great accomplishments include: enduring all the emotions and various displacements of Timothy’s three surgeries and a home remodel; teaching a heart baby to nurse, (so much work); getting 9 people across the ocean and safely home, (can you say way too much luggage?!); managing Spanish busses, trains & subways with strollers and young kids; home-schooling 5 different grades while in Spain; and working with the Bear scouts.
We are grateful for the many blessings the Lord has bestowed on us and we hope His blessings will be upon you in 2009 and always. Love the Shumways.

True Talent

We've got some talented friends and extended family. Here are some of my favorites that I happened to catch on video. Asher, Jeff's nephew, worked literally for hours to teach himself this song from August Rush. Doug's talent comes naturally as he can keep us all in laughter with his abilities. This clip is a short clip taken from "Nacho Libre." No one can quite make me laugh like Doug can.

Here's Mikelle after getting her award for the piano song she wrote this year, called "Joy." She won at the school, district, and regional level. I might add a video clip of that or the song she played in Sacrament Meeting a few weeks ago (If you could Hie to Kolob). But Mikelle doesn't love to perform when asked by her mother, so you'll have to check back to see if I suceed.

Merry Christmas to All!

Wonderful stockings we received from Aaron and May with the beautiful banks that Lynn made

Grandma made little blankets for many of the grandkids.

The three daughters with Mom.

Spencer's Orchestra Bass section & others at Christmas Concert.

Christmas Eve Eve Slumber party. (above) and Christmas Morning (below)

Kathy sledding with Spencer, Rickey, Trevor, and Aaron and Sarah.

This is Sarah and Timothy dancing to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas special that Grandpa and Grandma sent us from Tonga. We all loved it.

Timothy is Home!

Timothy back at home after a long week.

Sarah and Timothy enjoying some books with Grandma Shields.

With some of the Remund cousins on Sunday: Dallin, Joanna, and TaylorSarah finally got to come visit Sunday night. She really liked the setup and begged to sleep over.

Kathy and Timothy heading to church at the hospital Sunday morning.

Timothy in his recovery room after leaving the PICU.

We are so happy to report that Timothy came home today. He left the intensive care unit on Sunday and moved to the regular recovery room. He was doing very well except he was not eating or drinking. The doctors and nurses warned us that they wake up from their surgery wanting to eat and drink everything, but then after a few hours they lose their appetite. Well Timothy lost his and was nauseous. When Jeff brought Sarah for her first visit Sunday night, he ate a few tater tots and some brownie brought by Kaitlyn Morgan, one of our Spain students. Doctors thought they might send him home Monday, but he began throwing up again. So they kept him another night, although by Monday night they were pretty sure he’d go home on Tuesday. On Tuesday the nurse practitioner, Bonnie Clay, and Dr. Kouretas, one of the surgeons, came by to see him and they really liked what they saw. Timothy even told them he wanted to eat paella (a Spanish rice dish), which was one of Timothy’s favorite foods in Spain, which he frequently requests. The doctors felt that being home would be better for his appetite and for his recovery in general. Home is the best place to be if at all possible.

So Timothy is home and he will hopefully continue to recover. He is on oxygen day and night for the next week, as ordered by the doctors. After a week or so his normal oxygen levels should remain in the mid to high 80s, and perhaps even into the low 90s. Tonight, Timothy ate essentially his first meal since last Wednesday: a quesadilla and some salad. We are grateful to all of you for your thoughts, faith, and prayers. We are thankful to the Lord for His comfort and blessings.

Nog leaves not only lasting impression, but NAUSEA!

Just trying to get comfortable, or throw-up, or taking a little snooze waiting for it to come.

Sibling Visits

We enjoyed visits from his Great-Grandma Merrill, his Auntie Heather, his sister, Mikelle, and cousin, Natalie Shields today. Yesterday I was grateful for visits from Mehana Jansen, Rachel McDonald and Timothy's four brothers: Spencer, Rickey, Trevor, and Aaron. Also, Julie Ahlstrom and Grandma Shields spent the day Friday. Thursday night we saw Zach & Liz, and Lynn & Lisa and appreciate all the time and effort spent by those who have come to visit.

As of today, poor Timothy has not been himself quite yet, although they assure me he's doing wonderfully and these are typical recovery steps. He actually progressed enough to get all of his chest tubes pulled out and stitched up. He got off the milrinone and was moved to the floor, where he's literally enjoying the floor. (see photo)

The best thing I packed (next to the mound of picture books from the library) was the egg shell carton mattress so I can lie next to him and comfort him on the ground. We're both also glad I packed the red Christmas lights for the ambiance of the room. He loves both and I loved getting to hold him today once the chest tubes were gone. He slept in my arms most of the day and he also really liked being up on his knees, rather than on his back. He often fell asleep while sitting or kneeling while in the most uncomfortable positions.

Timothy was very nauseous, tired, and worn-out though today. He had one of his throwing up sessions while in transit from the PICU to the 3rd floor and was unfortunately laying flat on his back. We tried to quickly roll him, carefully of course, but he doesn't like his bibs getting dirty. We got a blue one for him this time. The way they're talking, it looks like Timothy might be on the fast-track home--like maybe Monday or Tuesday. We'll see, but things are looking positive. He of course doesn't look so good to me, but I'm hoping that will improve before I'm left to take sole-responsiblity for his care. Enjoy some photos and real life clips of his days in the hospital.

Thanks again for all of your love, prayers, and support!

Love, Kathy

Neck and Nog leaves lasting impression

Last Monday night we invited our Spain students to our first annual "Neck & Nog" party. We all had (or tried to have) Christmas sweaters, turtle necks, egg nog, hot chocolate in decorative Christmas mugs (thanks to Kathy's nephew, Marcus) and cinnamin rolls. It was delightful, but little did we know what an impression it made on Timothy. This morning at 4 am when we called to check on Timothy, (they don't let us sleep by him in the ICU, but we did get a room in the hospital) the nurse asked us, "Do you give him egg nog?" Apparently the fasting, the surgery, and the drugs combined to make him very thirsty. All night he kept saying "egg nog, egg nog," even in his morphine stupor. He only slept one and half hours, but everyone around him got a kick out of hearing him plead for egg nog, and a lot of people heard about his OBSESSION ( as the nurse worded it) with EGG NOG!!! He would not be calmed, but he could not drink yet either. Finally at 6am, they tricked him with some vanilla milk and told him it was egg nog, and he was pacified while he had it.

We came to visit him at 6:30 am. He seemed fine drinking his "egg nog," We had to leave at 7:00 for shift changes. Little did we know what was going to happen right after we left. We don't know if our leaving caused it, but whatever the case, Timothy proceeded to get totally out- of-control for one and a half hours. He screamed, thrashed around, and pulled at all of his tubes. He bled from his chest tubes and nose. To calm him they had to use a different drug, Versed, which they had informed me the night before that they don't usually have to use after the this surgery (the Fontan) like they did after the second surgery (the Glenn). The night nurse stayed 2 extra hours and he took 4 nurses attention to calm him and re-dress all the lines he had loosened. By the time we returned, he had calmed somewhat. The nurses made it pretty clear that we should lay low and let him sleep. That hasn't really worked because when he sees me (Kathy) he wants me right by him. I assured him that I have no plans to leave him. It was interesting when he rejected one of his bibs because it was bloody. Fortunately, I always keep a stash of bibs handy.