Lupe Pino Salinas

84, a resident of Corona, California, passed peacefully at home last Thursday, February 23rd. Lupe was born in Corona, California.

Lupe was proud of her work ethic. She worked at the Sunkist Packing House, Colton/Chino Auction, Gains, and eventually became a homemaker.

Lupe was preceded in death by her parents, Libor and Eladia Pino; brother, Libor, sisters, Rosie, Jenny, Virginia, Evelyn, and Jessie.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 62 years, Gilbert; daughter, Jean Johnson, sons, Libor and Lyn Salinas, Bill and Casey Salinas; grandchildren Corinne and Scott Steinman, Claire and Steve Adams, Luke and Kyle Salinas. Lupe was blessed to see her family grow to include two great-grandchildren, Bradley and Matthew Adams. Lupe is survived by her brother, Tony Pino.

Funeral services will be held graveside at Riverside National Cemetery on Friday, March 2^nd at 9:30am.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org

THOMAS MILLER MORTUARY (951) 737-3244

Life

You know life is really difficult right now in our house. I am so thankful that Bill and I are a great team. We literally are giving smooches left and right, saying I love you and thank you more often than not, and giving high 5's as we pass in the day and night. The flood came and went last Friday - literally, the IRS is haunting our dreams, Bill's mother has hours left to live, my niece is fighting for her life in Children's Hospital LA, Bill has his knee surgery consult this week, and Kai has his upper GI testing this week. I am so thankful that we both have secure jobs because we both have had to take and will be taking days off not out of wants, but needs. But, in all and all we have the Lord. My eyes are on him as I try to not drop tears each and every hour of every day. So many plans have gone by the wayside, conversations with dear friends that never seem to have the time to happen, let alone the motivation to smile and move forward. I pray every day that all these prayers will be answered and resolved in the Lord's timing. It's so hard to give up control.

Kaitlyn Joy

Kaitlyn update from my SIL Kelly: God answered our prayers today and gave the Dr's wisdom. We found that there was a release of fatty buildup that was in her chest cavity that was putting pressure on her lungs. This was coming from her feeds...the reason why she would clear up then get worse. It was connected with the fat that goes through the lungs after nutrition. They put in a chest tube today and instant improvement. We almost lost our baby girl last night and today she looks like a different kid. Please keep the prayers coming! God hears us and is doing mighty things.

Update from my twin Carey: Well, it has been a couple days since the last update. Kaitlyn was transferred from Children's LA back to Kaiser Sunseton Thursday. Things have been quite a roller coaster since that time. Kaitie continues to have quite a bit of fluid in her lungs (especially the right side) due to the pneumonia As of right now, they are draining her lungs with a needle. Ouch! After that, the doctor will run some tests on the liquids to see if he will have to add a dain to allow for Baby Kaitie to dry up.

Kaitie continues to be on the ventilator. Her blood oxygen saturations goup and then drop dramatically whenever medical personal touch, move, poke or prod her. When they do this, Kaitie gets irritated and begins to cry. When she starts to cry, she has a lot of difficulty catching her breath due to the decreases in oxygen flow in her body. A full breathe at times on yields between 25-75% of an actual breath that you and I take. As she continues to gasp for air, she gets more irritated and begins to spiral. At some point she runs out of breath or energy and releases. Her pathway back to adequate breaths again are taking much longer after each spell.

Needless to say, this has been difficult for all of us...but especially my wife Kelly who has been bedside since the transfer on Thursday. It looks as though Kaitie will continue to be hospitalized for weeks rather than days.

So now for some prayers: Please pray for Kaitie first and foremost. This little girl has battled and is irritated that she has to be intubated and handled so much. She just wants to be back in mom's arms resting and cuddling. Pray for her lungs and her pulmonary arteries and that God would completely remove the pneumonia from her body. Pray for her energy and that God would make a way for her lungs to be filled with oxygen. Please pray for Kelly as all of this trauma on our precious little girl is very hard to watch. I pray for energy and strength and faith in Christ that He knows exactly what is best for Kaitlyn. Please pray for our other children who have had one 2 hour visit with mom in just under a month. They are doing well, but struggle to understand why this process looks the way it does. We also ask for prayers that God would continue to cover our needs as we move forward. It has been a tough journey, and looks to only be about half-way over.

Above all, we ask that Jesus Christ receive the glory for every piece of our lives. Through our pain and struggling, through late night conversations with nurses, doctors and staff in the hospital, through the doorway conversations we have had wit many of you who have stopped by and loved on us, for it all. We pray that the suffering and heartache that we are experiencing now will result in a trust in Him that is incomprehensible, for everyone involved. And I know that it will result in greater love and patience... I will definitely find it hard to ever take for granted the precious gift of children that God has placed in our lives and our care.

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:6-11

Thank you friends,

Carey Smith

Valentine's Day

Today is Valentine's Day. I really don't have any expectations for this day. Weird. My anniversary is on the Feb. 19th. Since it is so close we usually just combine the events. That being said, I did go visit Luke in his room for his quick party, we exchanged in my classroom, I DID have a roses delivered to me at school from Bill, and I will be sure to kiss on my Kai Kai soon. Bill unfortunately is working the night shift tonight so Ali and our munchkins are headed to Anchos!

This is one of the boxes a kid made in my class to exchange valentines in. Isn't it cool!

This is the loot that was spread throughout my room today! And...I did not even have a party! All they did was exchange.

Biking 101

Last Thursday we headed up as a family on our bikes to pick up Kai from preschool. Upon leaving there we headed over to the park where not only did I fall off my bike (with no injuries), but Luke went literally sliding through the dirt on his side with his bike. Needless to say it was DRAMA getting home. People were watching us ride home as he SCREAMED at the top of his lungs. We doctored him up as he cried for his cousins and Auntie Eryn. Go figure. Hopefully, this week we can get back on track with our 100 Mile Club walking since both he and I are at 22 miles. We want to earn our shirts this week by achieving 25!

Bed Making 101

Here is Kai's 1st attempt at making his own bed! He will be 4 this June! I sent him into his room kicking and screaming as he cried saying he couldn't do it and this is what I found. Good job buddy! I knew you could do it!

Happenings

I just found this draft from last week and realized it never got posted.

It's pouring on the Salinas family right now, but you know there is always a rainbow after it rains....somewhere.

Lupe has been put on hospice and has been moved to a floor in her assisted living facility that gives her 24 hour care. She has now been moved back into her apartment with Gilbert with a higher level of care. The nice thing about hospice is that the medical team comes to her. She no longer has to venture out in the car to be seen. She is hanging in there. Thank you for your prayers.

Bill found out yesterday that he has a torn meniscus in his knee. He needs arthroscopic surgery sooner rather than later. Awaiting his surgery consult.

This past Tuesday we attended a funeral for a very dear friend who camps with us who lost his life, at the age of 60, within 4 months of getting brain cancer. Amazing, amazing service with wonderful friends and family that have truly celebrated Dale's life.

We have been chosen by the IRS to have a 2009 and 2010 audit. We have an apt. later this month. Ugh.

On Feb. 8th my niece, Kaitlyn, will have open heart surgery at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. My mother was able to donate blood that she will receive during her surgery. She even sealed the bag with a kiss! Kaitie had her surgery yesterday and things seem to be going well. She is in Children's Hospital LA currently and is in the process of weaning off her vent. Please continue to pray!

Kai threw up last night in a restaurant lobby and had the flu all night. He is home with Bill and appears to be doing a little better. It was the 12 hour flu. I had it yesterday. It hurt, but passed rather quickly.

This past Wednesday a dear friend of ours lost her young mother to toxic shock after being in the hospital with pneumonia. Was unable to attend her funeral, but heard it was wonderful. I guess everyone brought a craft that she had made for them to share. How cool is that?

We do have a lot to be thankful for. GOD is in CONTROL and I will continue to rely on HIM for STRENGTH!

Ali's Baby Shower

This past weekend several of Ali's girlfriends and her wonderful mother got together to celebrate Cooper and Corbin's birth by throwing her a baby shower. We are all so excited for their arrival! I know lots of people are pros at throwing parties and such, but this is the first one I have done with personalized decorations, circle punches, etc. It was all very colorful and fun. Thank you to all who participated in this wonderful day!