But first, an update on Seth. He was transferred back to the Las Vegas area and has been assigned by his mission president to learn Swahili. He is training a new missionary from Tanzania, Elder Kibubuta and the two of them are working with a very culturally diverse group of people, including refugees from Africa. Seth is really enjoying his new assignment and loves his new area and the people he gets to interact with. Learning Swahili isn't easy, but he loves a good challenge.
Autumn spent the entire month of January pretty dang sick. She was diagnosed with mono on New Years day and after being sent home from the instacare with instructions to rest and drink lots of fluids, we ended up in the ER with her 4 days later because her throat was so swollen and full of puss pockets that she couldn't eat, swallow, talk or sleep. I've never seen a sore throat like it. The ER doctor immediately put her on pain medication, fluids and IV steroids to shrink the swelling in her throat and ordered a CT scan of her neck to make sure none of the puss pockets were big enough to require draining (she had tons of puss pockets, but none were big enough to require draining). A few hours and several doses of morphine later, we were sent home with medicines to continue to shrink the swelling, moderate her pain and an antibiotic to help with a secondary bacterial infection. It still took a full 2 weeks for her throat to completely heal and she still gets tired easily and since her immune system is suppressed by the mono, she gets other viruses pretty easily, so she is currently battling another cold and sinus infection. It has been a yo-yo of feeling ok for a few days and trying to catch up on school work and then feeling sick and fatigued again. Yuck!
You can see half of her swollen and puss covered tonsils in this pic. This is about 5 days into mono and when her throat was starting to look a little better...
Since we were stuck at home most of the month, I roped Bryce in to painting most of the main floor of our house and then I have been going from room to room dejunking and reorganizing. It has been cleansing and feels good to sort through 20+ years of accumulated stuff and give away or throw away unused and unneeded stuff. Bryce says he is never painting again, but I've heard that one before...
Autumn went to the Girls choice formal dance, Preference, with her good friend Ryan but only because she asked him weeks ago and felt terrible at the idea of cancelling on him even though she wasn't feeling great. I think she had a good time despite not feeling her best...
Megan flew to Oregon this month to do a 6 week internship in the Portland area. She has been having a great time in Oregon living with Grandma Ririe and spending time with her. She loves the school where she is working and would love to have a full time job at a place like it once she is graduated. I think she would love to land in the Pacific northwest someday. Before she left, she and Mitch went up into the mountains on a snowy day to have their engagement pictures taken. They all turned out super cute. Here's a look at a few of them:
Devin is busy with 3 lab classes at BYU this semester (Organic Chemistry, Physics and Virology), so he is in the lab a lot, but he loves lab work, so doesn't complain too much. He's also still working at the MTC this semester and loves his job there. He is happy and stressed and pretty normal for a college student. :)
Here's hoping for a healthier February...
