Pioneer Day

Sunday was a day that changed the Hadlock family forever. I got a call from my mom around 7:30 and instantly knew something was very wrong. She was hysterical and told me she couldn't come to see me talk in sacrament meeting. I asked her what was wrong and she told me Poppy had a stroke. She didn't know anymore, but was on her way to the ER right then. She actually beat the ambulance to it. I started crying to Seth and we both were so worried. Then I realized Susan had been there and more then likely knew what was going on, so I called her. She answered by saying she was just calling me. Granny needed Seth to come down immediately to give Poppy a blessing. Seth got up and left and I sat with Gaygay and Abby (who had come over in their pjs to start a fast) waiting to hear word. While we were sitting Donald called and told Christine she better come down. The boys and I all jumped in the car still in our pajamas, no teeth brushed, breakfast, or anything. Seth called me while I was driving down and he was crying. That is when I really knew the gravity of the situation. I called Ryan and Jennifer and told them Poppy wasn't going to make it through the day. I could barely believe what I was saying. Everything was so normal the day before. When I pulled into the hospital I saw the row of cars in the ER parking was all my family cars. Not a sight you see very often and one you never want to see. When I got into the ER the first person I saw was a paramedic from my ward. He was going to be taking Poppy down to the Provo hospital. I rushed in the room to talk to Poppy. I whispered in his ear letting him know how much the boys, Seth, Ryan, Jen, Brooks, and I all love him. It was so hard seeing him like that. The doctor said he had a massive stroke and that it was continuing to bleed. There was absolutely nothing that could be done. They moved him down to Provo because it is a better facility. Once there they did more scans. Both hemispheres of his brain were filled with blood. I couldn't believe my Poppy, who was so active and healthy was fighting to breath. It still doesn't seem real now. As the day passed I was so grateful for Seth. He was so strong all day. He helped Poppy throughout the day. He held his jaw up for hours helping keep his airway open. He was so tender with him. He also jumped to help suction him when he vomited and that saved him from choking to death. I will never forget how amazing he was. Poppy passed away at 5:47 on Pioneer Day, his favorite holiday. As painful as it is to have him gone and the pain of missing him, it is equally as painful to see Granny in pain. She has been with Poppy since she was 16. She is such a strong and amazing woman, but she is so sad and heartbroken. I feel helpless that I cannot do anything to ease her burden and pain.
The viewing was last night and the funeral was today. Last night at the viewing before it even started there was a line almost out the door. Everyone loves Poppy. I guess they also had heard him say if you aren't 5 minutes early, you are late. The funeral today was beautiful. There were flowers everywhere that were sent from all over the country. The church was packed full of people. My mom spoke first and gave a beautiful life sketch. She said Poppy made her feel like she was his favorite child, but she knew all the other kids felt they were each his favorite child too. He had the ability to make everyone feel like they were the most special person there has ever been. Lisa, Susan, and Donald all spoke next. They all said beautiful things about Poppy and you could really feel the love they had for him. His brother Lyle then played a beautiful piano number he had put together for him that was a compilation of songs that were Poppy. It was impossible not to sob during it. He played hush little baby at the beginning and end of it and we were all sobbing. Poppy has always taken the baby grandkids into his arms, holds them to his chest, pats their back, and sings hush little baby don't say a word, Poppys gonna buy you a mockingbird.... It is hard to think we will never hear that again. If there are anymore babies, they will not be blessed with Poppy's sweet comfort. I am so grateful that my boys knew their Poppy and I will never let them forget him.

Lonnie spoke next and shared a story I loved. He said how in highschool Poppy and his football team were on the bus heading back from losing a tough, close game. Some team members were crying. Poppy said it was the best bus ride he had ever had because he sat in the back of the bus trading horses with the janitor! He loved horses his whole life. The bishop spoke last. He said, "Don't let this create an irreplaceable void in our lives, but a gentle invitation to follow his example." It is comforting to know that we can see Poppy again. I am so grateful for him and will strive to be as faithful as he was. What a great example Poppy was for all of his family who loved him dearly.

I am so grateful I have pictures of both of my boys doing hush little baby with Poppy. He was always so funny, but he was so sweet and loving.
Today when I got home from the funeral I pulled my lucky horseshoe Poppy gave me out from under my mattress. He gave all of his grandkids a horseshoe 12 years ago and told us whoever still had it in 75 years would get $1000. I tucked mine under my mattress as a good luck charm and have brought it with every move. I could do the math when he gave it to me and knew it would never actually get me $1000, but it has always been a special token of Poppy.

the dash

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning... to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between these years.

For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars... the house... the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;
are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile...
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read
with your life's actions to rehash,
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent your dash?

by Linda Ellis

Eggs

When Doran was 12 months old Seth and I went to Boise with Ryan and Emily to look at houses. The morning of the day we were leaving we stopped at a restaurant to get some breakfast. We gave Doran some eggs from our plate since he was now old enough to eat it. With in minutes his face was bright red and he was throwing up all over the table and floor. (I felt so bad for our waitress when we left. We tried to clean up, but throw up sucks!) Seth took him into the bathroom where he continued to throw up. Finally Seth brought him back out. He threw up again. It was awful. We decided we wouldn't try egg again for six months. He had not eaten any birthday cake on his birthday so we had no idea that he would react. Six months later I gave him a little egg while I was at my mom's. He threw up. Then I started realizing when he would eat a baked good like a cookie or muffin he would do this funny swallowing in his throat, his face would turn red, and his eyes would water before he would throw up. I talked to his doctor and she said he definitely was allergic to eggs. So for the last 4 years we have tried our very hardest to avoid eggs. Every once in awhile we would see his face turn red, hear him swallow hard in his throat, and watch him run to the toilet. Sometimes I would be shocked that something had egg in it. At Christmas time we got a can of mixed nuts from Granny. I let Doran eat some one day. Within two minutes he was so red, watery eyes, and swallowing hard! He ran and threw up and I knew then that he had an allergy to some random nut as well. He has always eaten peanuts and almonds and been just fine, so I was really suprised. At the end of the preschool year he got really sick one day from a granola bar I sent with him. After I picked him up and apologized to Miss Julie about him throwing up on her carpet, I came home and checked the ingredients. Sure enough, mixed tree nuts. The last month it seems like he has gotten even worse. He has gotten more sensitive and I realized that I need to be more cautious and more aware because he really has dangerous reactions. I took him into the allergy doctor to do the food allergy tests. While we were there he checked Doran's asthma. He was wheezing in his lungs and had hayfever. He said that we have been having really high grass count right now and that is one of the many seasonal allergies that he has. We are hoping that this year now that he has an inhaler that we can keep his allergies and asthma under control better than last year. Then we did the skin allergy testing for eggs and nuts. He was so brave during it! When I looked at him after he had tears going down his cheeks, but he didn't even cry or make noise when she was doing it. I took these pictures right when she left. I wish I would have taken one after 15 minutes! The egg prick had swelled up so huge and had a welt bigger than a penny on it! He also reacted to hazelnut, walnut, and pecans. He prescribed him an epi pen because he scored 4+ on the egg yolk. He said he knew before the results though that he would need an epi pen because of how it effects his throat when he does encounter it. He said you never know when the time is going to be that the throat swells shut! I was so scared seeing how bad it was. I have been careless and have let him eat things that I know could be questionable, but I will not now! I have ordered him a medical alert bracelet in his favorite color so other people know, but he is really good at warning people of his allergy. He rarely takes food from someone without asking them first if there is egg in it. He is such a good boy! Hopefully I never have to administer the epi pen!

Hiking

Seth and I took the boys on a hike to Stewart Falls this week. It is a hike I did a lot while growing up and I always loved it! I knew it was a pretty easy hike and would be good for the boys. It was so green and beautiful! Greener than I have ever remembered it being. There are parts of the hike where the trail runs along pretty steep hills. At these parts we would always hold their hands and make them walk on the inside. At one part Doran held his heart and said, "I just want to go back to the good and nice part. I only like good and nice things." So cute!
It took us quite awhile to get to the falls. Once we came around the corner and the boys could finally see it they were so excited! They loved it!

Once we started to head down we realized there was a big problem! The water fall was so full and heavy it was like a shower standing so far away from it! There is so much run off that the water fall was bigger and faster then normal. I remember always playing in the river at the bottom, we couldn't even go down there! The trees were all crushed from the snow pack and there even was still snow! It was crazy! It was still a beautiful hike though. The boys had a lot of fun and so did Sharky!

The boys did so awesome the whole time. It was a 4 mile hike round trip and Doran did all of it but the last ten minutes! Brock had Seth hold him at the rockier part that is closer to the water fall and at the end, but he did awesome too! The last ten minutes of the hike Doran started saying that the inside of his legs hurt. We need to get him some new shoes before our next hike. We want to hike Timp cave, the Y, and dry canyon with them this month. They are already asking for our next hike!

July!

We have had a busy month of July so far! Yesterday Seth and I did an obstacle race called the Super Spartan. It was so so hard! We ran up and down mountains! I think it should have been advertised as a hike race! There were 18 obstacles over the course of 8 miles. Seth stayed with me the whole time, so his time wasn't as great as it could have been, but for me it was great!
This is us on the course with only one mile to go! We had just done the gigantic monkey bars! Seth did them in one second and one of the workers commented on how fast he is! I got half way through and then dropped, so then I had to do 30 burpees! I did 210 burpees over all through out the race as punishment for messing up on obstacles. I was pretty dead once the race was over. Seth and I both loved it though. We can't wait to do another one together!On the 4th we went to Salt Lake and hung out. My Dad, Coleen, Jacob, and Sacky were in town and we went to the movies to see Transformers. We happened upon a little restaurant in SLC that we had seen on the show Man Vs. Food and we had to stop and eat! (or I did anyways!) It was so delicious! It is a good thing it is so far away or I would be eating Belgium waffles and the machine gun sandwich every day!


Jen, Blake, and the girls came in town this week too! Jayce came up to Primary's with us to get Doran's cast off. We stopped at temple square after and walked around. It was so beautiful! I love the flowers.


After Doran got his cast off we got him a little toy for being so brave and luckily it is a good one for sharing. They sat at the table playing with Doran's new legos for a few hours!
Doran's arm is still really crooked, but the bone is really strong now. He has lots of new bone growth on the inside of the bone. It will still be crooked for a year or so, but atleast it is strong now.
We had a barbeque at my Mom's this week for the 4th as well! Brock loved the strawberry shortcake! He was giggling while he spread the cream on his face and wanted me to take his picture. He is so cute!

It's off!

Doran finally got his cast off on Tuesday! He was so excited all week to get it off. He got nervous once we were there and he was scared while the nurse cut his cast off. Having the extra 4 weeks in a cast made his bone really strong. The doctor was really happy with all the new bone growth and Doran doesn't even need a splint.
After it came off he was trying not to cry because he was so stiff and sore. She asked him if he wanted it back on, assuming he would say no, and he said yes!
He got pretty pale for a bit after and wouldn't move his arm all day. I felt bad for him, but now he is doing great!