News from Dawn and Harry

I’m sure some of you may have noticed a change in Dawn’s appearance, she is not challenging David for the “Potbelly of the Year” award . . . we are happy to announce that we are expecting baby number 5! Even though we were excited to learn of this development, we were concerned to find out several weeks ago there was a possibility of a chromosomal abnormality. Because of Dawn’s A.M.A., “Advanced Maternal Age” (she loves that term, I prefer O.L.T. “Old Lady Test”) she had a first trimester screening test. When we received the results of the first test they told us there was a 1 in 7 chance we would have a baby with Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21) and a 1 in 21 chance our baby would have Edward’s Syndrome (Trisomy 18). We began several weeks of anxious waiting (because Dawn had a bad experience with the CVS for her last pregnancy) and had to wait a few extra weeks for the amniocentesis. Last Monday Dawn went in for the amnio and pre-amnio ultra-sound. She went with Trudy Atherton, who is a saint and was there to hold Dawn’s hand and support her. I could not go because I had to stay with the other kiddies.

The results of the pre-amnio ultra-sound were not good. The doctor told Dawn our baby had a host of abnormalities – bilateral cleft lip and pallet, short femur, distended kidneys, and calcification on the heart, to name a few. The doctor was very kind and understanding, he told Dawn it looked like Trisomy 18, but we would not know for sure until we got the results of the Amnio. Dawn called me and told me the news. The first few days were very hard. We got the results of the Amnio two days later and found out our baby has Trisomy 13 (Patau’s Syndrome) which is very rare.

Dawn and I feel this baby has been sent to us for a reason. We feel honored to have been chosen to be the one family in ten thousand to welcome this baby. We know it will be a tough road for us all, but we are ready for the challenge. The baby will have an uphill battle just to make it full term and survive the birth process. We hope and pray that we can have the chance to hold him in our arms even if it is only for a few moments. That’s right, we broke the Terrill tradition and found out the gender . . . our little baby is a BOY!

I posted a link to a video that Dawn and I really like. If you would like to learn more about Trisomy 13 www.livingwithtrisomy13.org is a very insightful and supportive website.

I hope no one is offended that we did not call everyone individually, however, we felt this would be the best way to share the news and provide information.

Thanks for your prayers and support.

Love,

Harry, Dawn, Eve, Porter, Harry William, Isla and Baby number five.

A Happy Easter Day

Frances has been here this past week to help Grandma Helen. She left today, after coming to church with us. We only saw her briefly, since she came right after we left, but Noah enjoyed his visit with her and Dee - they stayed at our house part of the time. It's always good to visit with her - however brief!

Bonny requested the Apple Cake for Easter - I think the last time I made it was for Annika's blessing!! But it was fun to do again - I don't often bake cakes from scratch - it's good to keep my skills sharp!

We thought maybe it was car sickness, but it turned out that Eve was truly unwell - it's tough to be an invalid when all the other kids are outside having an Easter egg hunt!! But she was a trouper.

Plenty of volunteers to fill the eggs for the hunt! Marjorie is here visiting too.

Harry, Bruce, and Noah gave the kids a run for their money with their egg-hiding. Of course, their yard has lots of really great hiding places - and they are often in plain sight!

Keeping an eye on Miss Isla!

Some "sharp" hiding places!

What would some people do without their iPhones?? But a sharp, loud whistle can do a great communication job too!

Didn't take Miss Isla long to "catch on!!"

A round of Golf, a Terrill grandkids' fave!

Didn't get a shot of Harry William or Bonny - but they were there - and Bonny put on a great feast!!

Back to school now (Bonny's girls had a 2 week Spring Break!)

"In your Easter bonnet . . ."

Charlie is here in town visiting with Mom and Donna. He wanted to get her an Easter dress, so they all came out, and we went shopping.

I think Charlie thought it would be simple. I could have told him it wouldn't be, but we did have a good time. Charlie said, "Where do all the General Authority wives get their clothes?" I don't have much confidence in "shopping" per se. I depend on catalogs and my favorite consignment shop.

And we had a nice lunch together.

And we eventually found a skirt, two tops, and a little cardigan that Mom liked.

Wrapping up Boston

A few random shots to wrap up the trip report. Here we are at Boston Common, awaiting Harry's arrival after completing the race. They had a very slick texting program that allowed you to receive informative updates on just where your "athlete" was!!

It was gray and overcast at the end, but there were some blue skies during the race too. It was actually perfect running weather according to Harry.

Near Newton, we stopped to cheer Harry on at the 16 mile mark - that is Matt holding Ida.

Here's Theo playing with his "helicopter" at the Orchard House. He was a real trouper.

Lining up for treats in the hotel room. Every other motel I stay in has a microwave and a fridge - when I don't need one!! La Quinta Inn was a bit chintzy - thin towels, few amenities, hard old pillows, and a very small room - and no fridge or microwave!!

On Sunday we drove to Nashua, New Hampshire and attended church at Sister Elva Lopez's ward. She served in the Arcadia Mission from 2006 to 2008. On a side note, Dad was recently released as Ward Mission Leaders after over 6 years of service - now we can maybe track down all the great sisters and elders who came through our doors!! Sister Lopez and her family emigrated to New Hampshire from Cochabamba, Bolivia, and it was indeed delightful to meet her family and renew our acquaintance with her.

Another great Boston year comes to a close - it had been 4 years since I had come, so it was nice to get back into the swing once more!!

On the Art Front

A couple of years ago, I went with a friend to the Pasadena Museum of California Art to see a Maynard Dixon showing. I must have signed up somewhere, because I am on their mailing list. I don't really mind being on their mailing list, since sometime again they may have a showing of something I would like to see.

This did catch my eye - not that I especially want to go see their work, but the "Clayton Brothers" certainly caught my eye!!

(For those not in the know, Clayton is my maiden name - and I have 6 Clayton brothers. But I'm pretty sure not a one of them is an artist.)

Happy Birthday Bruce!!

I probably post this photo every year on Bruce's b-day - it just looks like a perfect birthday post photo!!

Here's one a tad more current.

But any way you look at it, Bruce is one great guy - and we are certainly grateful that he is part of our family!!

We bless the day he and Bonny were wed.

Have a great day - and a wonderful year ahead!!

Boston - for the 7th time!!

Boston is a great town - and they certainly "embrace" The Marathon!!

I think back to the first time we went to Boston - 2003 - and so much has changed. For starters, we are no longer there alone - it is so great to have family with you!!

And grandkids make it fun.

Snuggling in bed and eating chocolate chip cookies!!


Seeing the sights - even in the chill!


The traditional "on his way to the race" shot of Harry. Looking calm, well-rested.

And a "guy shot!!"


A "midway" shot at mile 16, near Newton, where we gathered to cheer him on.

And then enjoying a well-deserved lunch at Boston Common at the end of the race.

As we wound our way through the Back Bay to Boston Common, we of course saw many runners and finishers. I am always amazed at this sea of people who have just run 26.2 miles - and they are upright and talking about it with gusto!! (Perhaps those who are feeling less perky are not out on the street!!)

Eliza and Hannah have both posted other photos on their blogs - and I will post more tomorrow - but we got in very late last night - and I didn't get to bed until after 1:30 a.m. I am dragging.

But it was certainly worth any lost sleep to go and spend time with Eliza, Hannah and families - and to watch Dad complete Boston Number 7, and marathon number 15!!

Not bad for an old guy!!

Happy Birthday to Eliza!!

This was the first photo I came to on Dad's file - since my files aren't with us - and it seems almost fitting since it's from the last Boston Marathon I attended before this one, when Theo was just a babe in arms! And I think Robbie changed the settings so that we could post that very large photo of Harry F. But every time I try to change it, it posts instead. So I will just say for now that it was a great day when Eliza joined our family!! And it was also a Tuesday that year!!

Have a great day and a great year - it was a treat to spend the days before your birthday with you this year!!

Boston Results!

Harry finished in 3:52:10 - not too shabby! The rest of the crew drove to Wellesley and rang our cow bells and cheered him on! It's pretty inspiring to watch 27,000 runners cheered on by half a million spectators!!

We met him at the end at Boston Common - and he was in good enough shape to eat a sandwich and soup - and to call his mom!

Now to "sleep, perchance to dream!!"

The other running Harry!!

The other Harry - Harry the son - had a race this weekend too - the Baker to Vegas Relay. He ran a leg for Burbank P.D.

He ran his leg 47 seconds faster than his goal was. Not too shabby.

The running just goes on and on, doesn't it!!

I will "run" now to get ready for church!

Boston Update!

Harry did not bring the cord I need to upload the photos - so the photo report will come later!!

Suffice it to say that we are enjoying our time with Hannah, Robbie, Eliza, Matt, Theo, and Ida.

We did Orchard House and Walden Pond yesterday. We hit the Expo today - Harry in his hurry forgot his registration and bib!! But a photo i.d. did the trick.

We feel like we've paid a small fortune to the Mass Turnpike toll road stands.

We have checked out numerous eateries - some better than others.

Dad and I did an REI run with some nice results. (Why is it so much fun to shop a chain store that is across the country from the one you go to all the time??)

There is not much on the hotel's T.V. channels.

Fortunately we enjoy one another's company and the conversation has not lagged.

Hannah, Robbie, and Harry are doing the Freedom Trail as we speak.

The rest of us are kicking back. (The little ones are getting bathed and ready for bed.)

We wish you were here though!! It would be fun.

It is cold - very cold - at the moment - and it is supposed to rain tonight. But it was sunny and warm yesterday - and is supposed to be sunny and warm tomorrow and Monday - but their idea of warm is high 50's.

Not sure where we are going to church tomorrow - maybe Cambridge? Or New Hampshire - if Dad can find a phone number he needs to connect.

We still wish you were here - this would make a fun Terrill reunion spot!!

A whirlwind weekend - a great way to start Spring Break!

I left right after school on Friday and flew up to Portland. The next day was full of BASEBALL!!

And it was chilly and cold as you can tell by Agnes' attire.

Phoebe's neighbor and friend Mandy and her husband Michael welcomed twin baby girls on March 23rd - so we had to stop by and help out for a bit!! Agnes, by the way, was in HEAVEN!!

Back to baseball - or should I say T-ball - that's Calvin in the back, getting ready to run!

Sully and Agnes are great little spectators!! And Agnes knows her way around the snack bar too!

Phoebe's job is to sign up snack contributors.

Calvin with his Bruce-made bike!! A hit for sure!

Henry had two games - one was the season opener - which they won 10 to 0 - and the other was a Pitching Machine Tournament - which they also won - but by one run!

The happy team with their medals. Going into the bottom of the last inning, Henry's team just had to hold on to their one run lead - first batter struck out, 2nd batter got on base, 3rd batter struck out, another batter got on base. A line drive to left field - which Henry got and threw to first to get the third out. To say there was excitement is putting it mildly!! What a great way to start the season.

David is a busy man - and this is the only shot I got of him!!

Phoebe and Mandy with Evelyn and Amelia - identical twins. Mandy is in the same complex as Phoebe - and her husband is finishing up his residency, so they are moving back to Logan. All the Fillmores will miss their neighbors and friends - there is one to go with each Fillmore!!

By the end of the visit, Sully was warming up to me - naturally at the end!!

Phoebe always has projects for me - this was a tunic top she'd seen on a blog - it's a Lisette pattern from Simplicity. We were up late Monday night finishing it - only to find that it was too snug through the hips.

So we turned it into a "shaperon" instead!! It's still pretty cute. It was hard to make - the directions were quite vague and unclear - or maybe it was the fact that it was after midnight!! But Phoebe went online and found a woman in Australia who had made it and done a tutorial on it!! The day - or should I say night - was saved! (I did some of the work - but Phoebe did most of it - she's planning to start another one with more fulness in the hips - I can identify with that!!)

Just before heading to the airport to come home - of course Sully smiled when I held him!!

Agnes with friend and neighbor Zia - and Lourdes the Hippo - the little stuffed toy I'd started last summer when Sully was born - finished at long last!! (I had made a little stuffed dog for Calvin then.)

It was a great trip - brief but fun. Sunday Phoebe taught in R.S. and did a fine job - I'm glad I got in on that. Also - and I think this a record - I did not do any laundry!! (But I did catch up her mending - maybe that will be my new job!)

At dinner Monday night, Phoebe asked the children the best part of their day - Calvin said, "Playing Golf and Mormon Poker with Grandma!"

Can't wait to see the gang when they come to LA in July!!

change it up

I thought it was time to change up the top post. sorry mom for being a slacker.
this is a pic from christmas - when eliza came to visit.

Can I just say . . .

that I LOVE General Conference Weekend!!

In fact, I'd vote for it quarterly!! (If they were taking a vote!)

What was your favorite talk, story, quote?

Commemorations of sorts for the first of April

Happy Birthday today to Debbie!! (No fooling on this one!)

Kelli, Mary, and Debbie at Phoebe's wedding.


Happy First Anniversary to Hester and Andreas!!

Hester and Andreas at their wedding in Switzerland a year ago.


On a sadder note, Fred's mother passed away this morning. She would have been 91 this year. She died peacefully after just one night in the hospital, and she had her daughters with her. Fred and Joan were scheduled to leave on the 2nd for a Mediterranean cruise, so the timing was good - and they had insurance to cover if they had to cancel - Fred is pretty thorough. We extend our condolences to the family. I only met Fred's mom a few times, but every time I did, we had a nice interaction.
Joan and Fred at Joey's wedding in Bountiful.


And the new truck? Well, Harry decided against all of them - said it would be April Foolish!