Toe Lancing; Home From Hospital; Sarah's Family in California; Candy Factory; Bellagio; Arcade

We got some shocking and good news the next morning. Rebecca reported that the night before, after ongoing debate, the doctor decided to lance her big toe and squeezed the pus out. 

Rebecca then slept better and reported, "Toe feels better without the five pounds of pus surrounding it." She was still suffering with headaches.

Then she shared she was getting released from the hospital that morning.

After nearly a week of hospitalization, Rebecca was finally on her way home. We were relieved, yet still apprehensive about it. 

She was still so sick and very immobile. I was happy to hear several people had offered to bring in meals to her. That would get her through until we got back home.

While Rebecca was busy doing...nothing, Sarah had met up with her friend's family in California. Kenz, Joe and their son Wells joined the Excells at Universal Studios for some fun adventures together.

In Sarah's family's absence, Ben and Haley decided to take their boys to Red Rock Canyon. The temperature was around 100 degrees the whole time we were in Vegas, so we opted out of that excursion since we had already been there before.

We decided to go somewhere air conditioned--the Las Vegas Temple.

We met up with Ben's family for a meal at Olive Garden.

The next day Ben's family went off on their own. We went on a tour of the Ethel M. Chocolates factory. 

We could pick a free sample out of all the chocolates on display in their showcase cabinets.

Part of the tour was a walk through the adjacent cactus garden. They were starting to get the garden ready for the Christmas season by stringing lights all around the cactus plants. 

After our hot walk through the cactus garden, we went back in the cool factory and picked out a chocolate treat for each of us. Yummy!!

We ate lunch nearby at the Chicken Shack. It was entertaining reading all the famous quotes on the wall changed up a bit to reflect chicken humor. 

I was happy when we made a stop at the Bellagio so I could see what the indoor botanical garden was decorated like for the fall season. It is always so amazing how they change up that space with new and different themes and flowers and decorations. 

I just love admiring the creativity and can only imagine how many hours go into setting up and then taking down each season's botanical masterpieces.

This display is called The Garden of Time. Along with clocks all around, there were also flying fairies and dragonflies overhead.

There are huge, beautiful flowers arrangements throughout the Bellagio as well. 

We met up with Ben's family at an arcade. We all got cards that we could use to play any of the games for an hour. When Kade and Levi's hour ran out, Glen and I gave them our cards to use so they could continue playing. It was a little boy's dream come true!

Maverick slept through some of the gaming time. But soon he was up and wanting to play right along with his brothers.

Our dinner that evening was at California Pizza Kitchen.

Bouncy World; Dino Safari Walk; Fire Alarm! Bowling; Rebecca Gets MRI

 The next day we went to Bouncy World, an indoor bounce playland.

We had to walk through a casino to get to our next destination. The little boys spotted this transformer and thought it was pretty cool.

Our destination was Dino Safari Walk. We all knew Levi would love it! The other boys enjoyed it as well. 

Dinner that evening was at a Japanese steakhouse. 

We had some excitement in the middle of the night... FIRE!!!

Well, fortunately, it was not a real fire, but everyone at the resort woke up in the wee hours of the morning with the fire alarm going off and we all had to evacuate the building. WHAT??!!?? 

I felt so bad for the families with little children who had to wake them up and take them outside to wait for the all clear signal.

As annoying as it was, this would soon become one of our favorite memories of the vacation. I was just happy Sarah's family was there to enjoy it with Ben's family and us.

The Excells were leaving the next day to go to Universal Studios for a couple of days. But before leaving, they took another dip in the pool--or should I say in the hot tub because that is where everyone mostly hung out together.

That afternoon we went bowling with Ben's family. Kade and Levi loved riding the long escalators.

They got a green dinosaur bowling ball ramp to use for kid bowling. 

We all benefited from the gutter guards put up for the children. It was a fun game, but took forever with three little children all wanting their turn to roll the ball.

Now for an update on Rebecca's progress. 

Her stabbing headaches continued, she had a hard time sleeping, she had no appetite, she got weaned off oxygen, she had an MRI "to make sure the big toe wasn't dying on us. It isn't. It just looks like it."

She said it was the first time she heard them use the word "amputate."

Thankfully, it was a positive MRI so good news despite her big toe getting blacker and more disgusting with each passing day.

Another good thing was the redness going up her leg was getting better. We just kept hoping and praying for the best for this girl.

Quotes of the Week

 The temple is a place of revelation. There you are shown how to progress toward celestial life.

-- Russell M. Nelson

Become new creatures in Christ and see things differently.

-- Matthew O. Richardson

He yearns to bless with His grace and mercy every single person who now lives, who has ever lived, and who will yet live upon the earth.

-- David A. Bednar

Let the adversity and affliction that are part of every good story be a means by which you draw closer to, and become more like, Jesus Christ.

-- Camille N. Johnson