My Mom and Laurel's Baby Blessing

We took an emergency trip out to Colorado at the end of September because my mom was going to have brain surgery.  We'd known something was wrong for several weeks, but had been waiting for a diagnosis and treatment.  A few days after Laurel was born (early August), my mom had a grand mal seizure.  She'd never had any seizures and seemed to be doing well, so it was a shock.  An MRI showed a growth on her brain, but it was very small. Over the next several weeks, she continued to have seizures and developed paralysis in her left arm and leg.  At the end of September, another MRI showed that the tumor had doubled in size over the course of six weeks.  Because it was so aggressive, the doctors determined that she needed surgery immediately.

We learned what the doctors were thinking one evening, packed the car, and headed to Colorado the next day to be have time with her before the surgery and to be there during it.

This was the first time my mom met Laurel.  She'd been so eager to see her new grandbaby, and so frustrated that she couldn't come to us.

We had a big family dinner that Sunday.

I think it meant a lot to her to have her family around her during the days preceding surgery. The kids were overwhelming at times, but mostly a great distraction for her from all the worry.

As we were packing to head out, Jim suggested that we might be able to have Laurel's baby blessing at my mom's house since she was homebound.  So I packed the dress.  While we were traveling I called our bishop to find out if we could do it that way (since this usually happens in church).  He said as long as a member of my mom's bishopric was there, we could do it.  So we made the arrangements.

Jim's brother, Ben, had just been ordained an elder that day, so he was able to participate in the blessing.

Jim's dad (who lives in Iowa like us) just so happened to be in Colorado then, so he was also able to participate.

My Uncle Dave and Aunt Marilyn (on the far left) were also in town to be with their daughter and grandkids who live near my mom.  We were grateful so many family members were able to be there for Laurel's blessing.

My mom said it meant a lot to her that we were able to have the blessing in her home.

The rest of these pictures came from my mom.  Prior to her illness, she'd put a lot of love and effort into making her home a fun place for her grandkids, so she really enjoyed having them there.

This really captures my mom's relationship with all of us.  We have so much fun with her.  She has always made such an effort to be close to all of us and to support us in everything.  We love her so much.