Our First Karren Reunion

In preparation for our mission, we wanted all of our children and grandchildren to consider being here for the Christmas holiday just prior to our leaving for the MTC and Chile. We were thrilled to learn that all would be able to make it.
Richard had just returned from Afghanistan and was planning a trip to Utah.He was bringing his dress uniform for the farewell talks at church. Louise had just taken Stephanie to BYU-I and would come with Nathan and Patrick. We hadnt seen Pat for about eight years. Stuart is serving his mission in Ohio, so wouldnt be here in person. Leighann and family were going to drive, but ended up flying here. Lori and family drove up from San Diego. The other five live in Utah and volunteered to share their homes with the out-of-towners.
In preparation for the large gathering, everybody came over and cleaned out, cleaned up and rearranged furniture in the family room. We were able to comfortably hold 41 of us for a nice surprise birthday party with sambusas and fanta for Jay on the 22nd of December. On the 23rd Belle was baptised and most of our family was there. Lynette and Randon hosted a really nice potato bar supper afterward. Two days later, after church, we had dinner at the church for family. All but three were there. Lori's family and Roger, and the young girls entertained us with music.
All during the month of December Jay and I were Skyping with the MTC Spanish tutor three days a week, and studying the reams of reading material. We started seriously thinking about packing suitcases. Not only did we do this, but were trying to empty out the house so that Lorna and family could move in. It was hard to find the time to do it all, and we failed in completing the task. We left quite a bit for her to do and sorry for that.
The last week went by too quickly, visiting with family, tutoring, packing, and emptying. Jay got desperate, and his daughters packed his suitcases for him. What a relief! I struggled along, trying to pack up three rooms plus all the above.
On New Years Eve day, we drove to Brigham City to Maddox' for lunch with Robert and a few other family people. On the way back, we received a very frantic cell phone call from Leighann. She said Richard had fallen and was having a hard time breathing, and we should go to the hospital. We rushed there to discover that Richard had fallen 20 feet out of our dead tree. He was using the chain saw to cut it down and in the process, had sort of been knocked off his perch. He tried to check his fall, but it didnt work. He then gave the saw a shove, tucked his shoulder and fell to the ground. Leighann's family and Jadyn had driven up just in time to see him fall. Richard sat up but was having a little trouble breathing. It didnt get better, so Jamie took him to the hospital. When we arrived, he had had x-rays taken and it was found that he broke and rib and punctured his lung. The medical team inserted a chest tube and he was admitted for observation. He was on morphine for pain, and it seemed to help. Then the itching began. He couldnt get relief. They clamped the chest tube, he didnt do as well as they liked, so did not remove it.
This is where we had to leave for Provo. Our son is in the hospital, things are getting complicated, and we have to leave. It turned out that the sent him via quiet ambulance to Ogden to the lung specialist. Now, Richard had received a blessing two days before. When the Ogden Dr. saw him, he found nothing wrong, and wrote a discharge from the hospita, and removed the chest tube. Richard's recuperating just fine. We were able to set up Skype a tchurch and at the hospital so Richard could hear the talks and musical number by Lori, Arianna and Samantha.
Gradually our children have now left for home and the house is being prepped for Lorna and Ryan's moving in. We are flying out at the end of the week and will be gone for two years. We are glad for Skype so we can stay close to whats happening at home and family.