OUR MISSIONARY UPDATE

Our missionary update is long overdue. Elder Lavin completed his first year in the mission field on July 25, 2008 -- complete with a stuffed camel (for the "Hump Day") from the family!! It was about then that he received the call from the Mission President to be District Leader. We at home were pleased to hear that and felt confident in Ian. But then, about a month later (just about the time we were waiting for little Matthew to come), we get a phone call from a woman in the ward Ian was serving in. She called to check on the baby and to let us know what a wonderful son & missionary we had! She also wanted us to know that he had been transferred and was being made a Zone Leader! Oh my! I hope he can put that zealous nature into weed pulling at the homefront when he comes home, ha! Seriously, we are pleased that the Mission President sees such potential in Ian.

BUMPS IN OUR ROAD

Life does provide bumps in our road. We had this wonderful blessing of having Matthe
w born last Friday. He is just about the best baby I have ever seen (& that is not his grandmother bragging). This sweet little guy hardly cries at all. He is alert and healthy and seems to know that his mommie and daddy need a easy baby at this time.

Brianne's caesarian section went well but she has had severe neck and head pain that just won't quit. Apparently, the epidural needle had been left in all day. Unfortunately, the pain medication has been making her ill and unable to eat much. She is valiantly trying to nurse, but due to the illness, she is pumping mostly. At this moment, she is in the Emergency Room, trying to resolve her problems.

Kenny is Super Dad! He took off the past few days to take care of his sweet family. Matthew had Dad wrapped around his finger!

Now yesterday, another bump in our road, arose. Michael & I were out to dinner, celebrating our 31st wedding anniversary. But, due to a stomachache I just couldn't eat dinner. Within a few hours, the increasing pain told me it wasn't a stomachache. By midnight, I was in American Fork Hospital. Acute appendicitis. By 9am, I had had a laparoscopic appendectomy. (I'll tell you, it was scary to find it took quite awhile for the morphine to kick in & give me relief). Fortunately, I was able to come home the same day. I should have a faster recovery. However, the help I was going to give Brianne is now limited. Our Relief Society and neighbors are going to be helping us out with meals and the baby. How blessed we are!

OUR FAMILY GROWS!

On Friday, September 5th, 2008, our first grandchild was born! Brianne and Kenny are the proud parents of Matthew James Roseman! He was born by emergency Cesarean Section at 9:16 am, due to fetal distress. Matthew arrived weighing in at 8 lbs. 2 ozs and measuring 20 inches long. He is a cute little guy and a very good baby!

Brianne has had some post-surgical difficulties but is doing much better. Kenny took on his new role as Dad with gusto! He (who is a man of goodly size) and Matthew (and small little bundle) make for quite a picture together! Tentatively, on Monday, mother and son are coming home....to OUR HOUSE! (What fun for us!) Kenny & I will be sharing the nursery duties while Brianne recoups this week. (In two weeks, I have foot surgery so Matthew and I will both get waited on!!!)

Just now getting back to post

It seems that right after I created our blog, things became very busy here. I would say that I have experienced the extreme -- highs and lows. Actually one of the lows happened before I set this up. Without warning, but not far from my mind, I had received word of my only brother's impending death. Before I could leave Utah, he quickly slipped away. My sister-in-law told me that after all he had suffered (liver transplant, dialysis, and then prostate cancer, he went quietly. No service was to be held as my brother had no friends that he regularly associated with and did not associate with family. This was sad to me, but I could only respect the family's wishes.

On the upswing, that very day I had the privilege to work at the Missionary Training Center. Our dept. had done the flowers for the Mission President's Seminar. What a treat it was to eat breakfast with all the missionaries that morning. It was fun to watch the MP's come to the MTC (as the missionaries do), saying goodbye to their families.

Then, our family celebrated birthdays - Brianne and Ian. Ian is now 20 and almost half way through his mission. He loves his mission and tells us every week about the great time he is having. His outgoing MP, Pres. Gessel & his wife, returned home to Utah. Last Sunday was their homecoming. What a wonderful experience! They are fabulous people. I am so happy Ian had the chance to work with them. The highlight of the homecoming was when the former Oregon Portland missionaries were called forward to sing the mission song. To my amazement, close to 200 missionaries filled the stand! Talk about a spiritual lift!

Something New

Well, it just goes to show that anyone can do one of these things!! Now I have no excuse for not getting my Christmas newsletter mailed. This is better and hopefully easier too.

I hope our family and friends will find it and keep in touch with all of the Lavin Family!