The Sum of Last Week

Last week was a very emotional whirlwind/roller coaster kind of week.
My Uncle Stephen passed away on Easter morning. He was a good man, one of the best I ever knew! My thoughts and prayers go out to my Aunt Kathleen, Amy, Becky, Mike, and Tammy.

Stephen Eugene Nielsen

1943 ~ 2010

Our beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, & Friend, Stephen Eugene Nielsen, passed away April 4, 2010 in Provo, Utah.
Stephen (Smasher) was born October 31, 1943 in Provo, Utah to goodly parents, Eugene Leon and Mary Ardith Olsen Nielsen. He attended Franklin Elementary, Dixon Jr High, Provo High School, and graduated from BYU in Business Administration. In his youth, he enjoyed pony league baseball and basketball. Sports as a participant, spectator and coach were enjoyable past times for him.
A love and testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ was the center of his life. He served an honorable mission to the Florida LDS Mission. The scriptures were his constant companion. His life exemplified the gentle qualities of unconditional love, faith, service and kindness. He truly was a man without guile. His smile and laughter warmed the hearts of those around him. He was a man who gave great comfort because of his willingness to listen with his heart. He chose to play second violin in the orchestra of life, bringing peaceful harmony into the lives he touched.
On June 30, 1971 he married his eternal companion, Kathleen Benson Nielsen in the Salt Lake LDS temple. His sweetheart, four children, and 12 grandchildren were his life. His family was his treasure and he lovingly served them daily.
Integrity, commitment to unselfish service, patience and choosing to treat others with kindness were exemplified in his willingness to serve in many church callings and in his work profession. Over the years, he was employed at Capwells, ZCMI, 25 years as an employee of Brigham Young University and 34 years in the Utah Army National Guard.
As a family, we feel honored and blessed to call him Sweetheart, Dad and Papa Steve.
He is survived by his wife Kathleen, Orem, Ut,, his children: Amy (Ryan) Lind, Santaquin, Ut; Becky (Richard) Cameron, Fairfield, Ut; Michael Stephen, Orem, Ut; Tammy (Merrill) Worthington, Ephraim, Ut, 12 grandchildren: Madison, Morgan, Megan, Brenan, Mackenzie, Hailey, Katie, Jacob, Brookelyn, Kelsey, Kiley and Kinsey. Surviving Siblings, whom he dearly loved: Dave(Gail) Orem, Ut; Mary (Barry) Volk, Highland, Ut; Grant Kim (Jane) West Jordan, Ut.; Dean (Pat) Benson, Orem, Ut; Arda (Scott) Fjelstrom Kearns, Ut; and Nyra (Jamie) Ward, Pl. Grove, Ut; and mother in law, Blanche Benson, Provo, Ut.
Funeral services for Stephen will be held Friday, April 9, 2010 at 12:00 pm in Celebration of His Life at the Cherry Hill 5th Ward Chapel located at 135 East 2000 South, Orem, Utah. A viewing in his honor will be held Thursday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Cherry Hill 5th Ward Chapel and an additional viewing at the church on Friday morning from 10:30 to 11:30 am prior to services. Interment, East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery, 4525 North East Lawn Drive, Provo, Utah. Funeral Directors - Warenski Funeral Home of American Fork, Utah.
In his honor and memory, please choose to serve with kindness your family and friends. Take the opportunity today, to let those around you know through your actions that you love them.

Uncle Steve I will always remember you for your funny sense of humor and your kind heart. I don't think I have ever met a more patient and good-natured person. My fondest memories of you took place in your home when we would all get together as cousins and watch Commercial Crazies. I remember the Wendy's "where's the beef commercials" would always crack you up! I remember your laugh so clearly, I remember your smile, I remember your funny jokes and I'm going to miss having you around.

On Thursday April 9th, I discovered a walnut sized lump on Isaac's neck.
After a frantic call to Mr. Giovannoni at work, and some good solid advice (like hello Michelle...Call the Doctor!) I called his pediatrician and got an appointment set up to get it looked at ASAP. My mom just happened to show up at my house minutes before I was leaving for our appointment and took little Miss Alivia home with her. I'm so glad she helped out that way!
I was able to go to the appointment and focus on what the Doctors had to tell me.
After the nurse got through examining Isaac, he wasn't sure exactly what Isaac's lump was and asked me if I could wait a few minutes so that he could confer with the Pediatrician.
Once Isaac's Pediatrician arrived he asked me a few questions and examined his neck. He said that Isaac had a tumor...But I shouldn't freak out over the use of the word tumor...and that tumor means a hard mass and nothing more. He scheduled an appointment at the hospital to have Isaac's tumor ultrasounded, and referred us to a specialist at Primary Children's.
We headed over to the hospital later that afternoon and had an ultrasound preformed. The technician said she wasn't quite sure what she was looking at and then she said she was going to grab another radiologist to see what they thought. After the second gal finished ultrasounding Isaac's neck they both went to get another Doctor. He came in a few minutes later and asked to examine Isaac so he could see and feel the mass. He did a third ultrasound and then patted me on the shoulder and said "Well we don't see things like this very often, I'm not sure what it is, I'm going to go hit some of my textbooks and we'll figure this out".
I was feeling rather discouraged and upset after the ultrasound, so I went to my moms to await the phone call from the Pediatricians office on a diagnosis.
After what seemed like an eternity, the doctors office called me back.

DIAGNOSIS....Fibromatosis Colli
(also known as "Sternomastoid tumor of infancy") is a benign proliferation of fibrous tissue infiltrating the lower third of the sternocleidomastoid or shoulder region.

Isaac is going to see a specialist at Primary Children's Hospital this Thursday, so hopefully I'll learn a little more about what this tumor is. But from what I've read on line this tumor isn't so scary and it should go away on its own and I'm so relieved.

So even though this last week was filled with loss, grief, (and fear, on my part), I have felt the calming presence of a Loving Heavenly Father, I have been blessed and edified!
How lucky I am to know and believe in the Plan of Happiness, how lucky I am to have the Gospel in my life. How lucky I am to be part of such a great family. How lucky I am to watch others who are grieving and mourning, strenghthen my faith. How lucky I am to be blessed with insurance and the awesome wonders of modern medicine. How lucky I am to be this beautiful baby's mother!

Three Weeks Old!
P.S. This little outfit once belonged to his father! 30 year old hand-me downs....awesome