Tim & Vanessa Lorentzen Family!

September 2nd - I don't EVER want to have a weekend like that again!  Zion had been feeling not quite right on Wednesday and Thursday (off his feed, running a fever and napping) and on Friday he got worse.  He started developing a stiff neck and after Vanessa did some research we decided to take him in to emergency (at 11:00 at night of course).  When the ER doctor finally got to us he became quite alarmed thinking that Zion had spinal meningitis and called in a pediatrician who also thought that. They drew blood right away and did some tests that showed a slightly lower white cell count.  He also had a slight 100.2 fever.  Then they put in an IV and then did a spinal tap (which had clear fluid which was a good sign) and of course since Zion had not been to a doctor since his circumcision he was quite traumatized (as were his parents) by all of this.  They admitted him and gave him some pain and relaxation medication plus some strong antibiotic through the IV.  The doctor did say it could be a viral or bacterial infection also but we would not know until they got the test results back.  Anyway Vanessa stayed with him and I went home at 3:15 and got some sleep.  Then on Saturday I took the kids down to see him.  He had been doing a lot better and was glad to see us.  After supper the nurse came in and said that the tests had come back and were all fine.  The doctor had said earlier that if he continued to improve that we could take him home Sunday but Vanessa asked if we could take him that night so the nurse called the doctor and the doctor said he would come see him after supper and we could take him home and to take the IV out.  Was he ever glad to get that out!  Things took a while but we finally left at around 8:00 and stopped by K-Mart to pick up some things.  Got home around 9:30 and slept in the camper with him (we had been sleeping in the camper Friday night when we decided to go down with him so the first thing he said Saturday morning in the hospital was that he wanted to sleep in the camper) and he slept great!  He is doing very good but still fighting something - he lost a bit of weight but is very chipper and actually went to the lake with Jasper and Starlit and I yesterday and had a good time but tired out sooner than he would have.  When the doctor discharged him he said he was VERY pleased!  Especially since when he first saw him the night before he was "deathly ill" and said that most kids that look like Zion did are just hours away from death!  Thanks to all of you who prayed for Zion!  Like my buddy Rick said, whatever happened, it was a miracle!

September 8th - 95 above!  Wow that is some hot stuff!  Zion is doing fantastic.  We went to the river and the lake it was so hot!  Should be cooling down this week.  Getting settled in for the school year.  Music lessons are coming along.

September 15th - Fall is here!  Cool nights and nice days.  Went to the lake with the boys on Thursday and had a great time!  Both Hollis & Jasper figured out how to do a 360 on the kneeboard so they were pretty psyched!  Starlit & Jasper have been riding quite a bit and loving that.

September 22nd - All is well!  Other than some down right cold weather!  Finally got some rain but sure good use more.  Zion cut his hair (helpful little guy - NOT!) so has a much shorter "do" now than he usually does (not quite as short as an Aunt Becky do!) Things are crazy at work with year end (Cloverdale Fiscal Year End) this coming week end and auditors all over the place.

September 29th - Had to scrape the windshield this morning!  Fall has fell I suppose.  Jasper, Hollis & I helped my good friend Rick move his shop on Saturday, what a chore!  Vanessa and Starlit went to a baby shower on Sunday afternoon for Sarah (the guitar teacher) and the boys came to Hazen with me as the quartet sang at a fundraiser.  In the morning Zion wanted to learn how to fish so I took him down to the river and we fished for about an hour.  Did not catch anything but I told him that is how fishing goes sometimes. He had a good time anyway.