our life together...

Family Date Night in Leavenworth

2011-10-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

Tonight we had a night on the town in Leavenworth...our VERY touristy town 20 minutes from us. It is so fun with their horse draw carriages adorn with autumn decor. Each of the beautiful shops look like they are straight from a picture book. We have been coming to Leavenworth together for years and have our routine of what stores we love to hit. I was a tiny bit saddened that the toy store was no longer on the list. They said they had "baby" toys and weren't interested...hmmp...when did that happen??? Logan saw the hat he is sporting and was knew it must be his...He is a funny kid.We went to a new restaurant this time that served crepes...oh my. We were all in heaven. We ended at the old fashioned candy store where Logan got his usual sucker with a bug in it and had no problem chopping away at it's head... Again...a funny kid. We blasted music all the way home and danced and sang at the top of our lungs. Alternating from Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Veggietales I love my Lips, YMCA and Christmas songs. (Logan's pick) I love these kind of perfect evenings with just my family. They are heaven on earth.

Escape to... Oregon?

2011-10-09T19:03:00.000-07:00

We had planned to go camping this weekend however the forecast was rain, rain, and more rain. So we pulled out the map and looked for places that may not have rain. We got further and further until we ended up in Oregon. We drove 6 hours in hopes of escaping the rain.

With no success. I know we are nuts.
We drove up to our KOA spot in the rain. But it didn't rain on anyone's parade...literally as NOTHING stops them from camping. We did rent for the first time a KOA cabin, which was very cozy, clean and warm and would recommend. They fell in love with Oregon, and were sad we were only there for such a short time. We MUST go back.

We missed the bus all around though....

We missed the sand castle competition. (they rescheduled because of rain)

We missed any food left at the world renowned bakery. We got their at noon, they laughed at us and told us everything is usually gone by 8am.

We missed the chance to climb the Lewis and Clark tower, they were doing fire rescue drills. We missed any sun...it really did rain. 24/7
I missed dry socks.

But we STILL loved it there and of course we had a blast together.

Love these dirty wet socks...

Starburst Smores....Our family specialty.

First time using special fire powder that makes your camp fire turn colors....oohh aahhh...

April Fools!!!

2011-10-09T18:27:00.000-07:00

This years April Fools was meticulously planned out by Matt and I this year. The kids weren't suspicious at all because April Fools happen to land while we were up visiting Grandma and Grandpa...so they forgot. Bwhaaaa... (evil laugh)
We just needed one thing in preparation...jelly donuts. So we called ahead to see if Grandpa could pick us up some for our arrival. However...as you can see in the background we received every other kind of donuts EXCEPT the jelly filled kind.

But we eventually got some and Matt spent the night sucking with a straw OUT the jelly and replacing it with

KETCHUP....Bwwahhaaaa.....

It was PER-FECT!!! Another April Fools for the books.

Summer Fishing

2011-10-08T18:40:00.000-07:00

This summer was filled with many lazy summer nights fishing. It is something the kids and Matt absolutely LOVE to do after he gets home from work. I skipped out on these adventures this summer as I was absolutely swamped with work. I tried not to do a lot of work during the day with the kids around while they were out of school, and switched my work hours to the evenings. So Matt used these evenings to head to the fishing hole. They go to a spot where they are catching up to 15 fish each in an evening...a kids dream! It is nice that there are still activities that stand the test of time...like fishing.

Seattle Temple Trip

2011-08-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

Our ward all made the 2.5 hour trek to have a ward temple trip at the Seattle Temple. There is something so peaceful about walking the grounds of the temple. We happen to all dress in white which was SO not planned but just happened...go figure. When I TRY to do these things....they NEVER happen! Anyway, I really think the kids enjoyed seeing also those in the ward there as well. What a great experience.
Afterward we went to the
Lego store (for the kids)
Disney store (for me)
Cheesecake Factory (for Matt)

What a fabulous day...the only glitch we had was getting VERY stuck down a long driveway to a parking garage when we realized that our over top carrier on our Tahoe wouldn't fit in the parking garage. So there we were, stuck with a line of angry Seattlites cursing at us 6 cars back. I manged to direct the cars away with my profuse apologies and smiles and we finally got out of there!

Blueberry Picking

2011-08-07T17:15:00.000-07:00

Fresh Blueberries....ahh....I just love living here.
U Pick this...U Pick that.

We are just so darn lucky.

Hunter Graduates!!

2011-07-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

My baby graduated from Elementary School....woah.

Immediately I think of me...

When did I get so old?
How come I didn't see the years past by so fast?
What will I do know that my little boy is getting older?
I am not ready!

Then... I thought of Hunter.

He is growing up to be such a wonderful little man.
He is so sweet.
He amazes me how smart and talented he is.
He is ready for this.

Cherished Mother's Day

2011-07-23T10:22:00.000-07:00

Well I am baaaccck.

Isn't it funny that we let things slide to the way side even when they mean so much to your life. Like...

Eating healthy,

Exercising,

Scripture Study,

Fervent Prayers

Staying up on that paper pile...

and of course

BLOGGING!!!

Even when we can SEE how wonderful the benefits are.

But then for some reason we either get....

Lazy

Busy

Tired

or whatever.

So just like I need to put less cookies in my mouth and more roughage...I am getting my behind in gear and returning to my family blog.

I miss so much reading "as it happens"

about my crazy little family. And our journey we are having all together.

Jess for Mothers day gave me a scrapbook.

I had made completed all the pages when she was a baby,

but hadn't finished binding it in album.

So she took the liberty to put it all together for me and finish it.

Matt says she worked long and hard on it and finished it all of by binding it all together with one of her brothers belts.

So for the sake of having all these memories neatly bound in a nice little blog instead of strewn around the house in random half finished scrapbook pages, I return to my blog!!!

Biking to School

2011-05-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

Biking to school is a right of passage that only the third and fourth graders are given. Jessica being at this ripe ol' age felt the need to follow through with this given privilege and bike to school with her brother.

It lasted one day....we have many big hills.

At least she can look back and say she did it...once.

Happy Love Day

2011-02-18T23:08:00.000-08:00

Lovey Dovey Day was Fabulous...
the kids got their annual candy gram when they woke up
Matt and I had an wonderful lunch date
and spent the entire day together. I love this man so much.
and we had our annual family Valentines Dinner.

We all had a great day full of love.

Jess worked all week making sure she had something for everyone in the family for Valentines this year. After she proudly delivered her handmade cards and carefully purchased treats to each of us (she got me a rose :)

I asked the boys if they had something for her?

Logan ran to his school stash and carried a treat behind his back and then told her to shut her eyes, he then shoved a candy in her awaiting hands and said..."Happy Valentines Jess, love ya."

Hunter climbed up on a chair and then announced that his card for her was oral....he then said....
"Dear Jessica,..." and proceeded to "tell her" what he would of written in a card and dutifully ended it. "Love Hunter."

Then Hunter looked at Logan as he was climbing back down and said.
" r'member when I let you go first yesterday on wii, that your valentines, k? Let's go play"

That satisfied Logan as that was more than he was giving Hunter and they were off.

I Love it.

Jess and Hunter had to make their own mailboxes for school. Jess my little competitive gal...HAD to start planning it the minute we learned of this...as they would be judged. So she stewed and glued and came up with this heart pillow man that held a mailbox that when it opened and it sung "Makes you Wanna Shout" which she cut out from a musical card and rigged it so it would sing when the mailbox opened. Clever huh?

She REALLY wanted to win, she said she had to write up a plan of her project in school and she wrote how much she wanted to win even though her mom told her winning wasn't was important. Well at least she heard it. So...

She stressed.

We tried to de-stress her.

She won.

Hunter made his without much discussion with his mom. About 20 less discussions than Jess and I had about hers. He was busily making his box about an hour before bed the night before and was very content with his shipping box mailbox and could care less if he won or not.
I thought is was great too.

He didn't stress.
He didn't win.

Hmm. Man, parenting would sure be easier if they all came out the same, but not near as entertaining.

Am I Pregnant??

2011-02-18T22:41:00.000-08:00

Wednesday I hit the 6 week post liberation CCSVI surgery.

It is a wonderful time, but tough time!

I feel amazing.

But until I hit that second milestone I always wonder?? Is it coming back?

There is a fear until about 3 months of scar tissue creating a new valve. Also we are unsure of what the long term road will be for this procedure.

No, I am NOT pregnant, and don't hold your breath. But it is the best way to help explain it. There is a time in the early weeks that it is too early to see the stick turn colors to confirm, that you could honestly go either way. Sometimes during that time you feel, "ya, this definitely feels like all the other pregnancies" then you find out you aren't and you aren't really surprised that you aren't pregnant. You just don't really know for sure.

So that is how I feel now. I am not really sure???

So unless I had another venogram to confirm (like taking a pregnancy test) I seem to continue to analyze my symptoms.

But as for now. There is no denying that my leg pain is completely gone. My energy is great. My vertigo, tremors and morning headaches are still gone.

Tingling is still there, but hey, no complaints.

So I am trying very hard to continue to put my faith in Heavenly Father and know that whatever may be...is supposed to be.

And just be grateful for each blissful moment I am given when it is there.

(UPDATING THE BLOG: I have been slacking with family blogging so I am going to catch up the last 6 months and post them out of date order for now and post them currently, and then plop them back where they go later. Because I HAVE been taking pictures like usual just need to post em.)

Day Three: Recovery Day

2011-02-18T19:14:00.000-08:00

Today we just hung out and recovered.

I had a very easy day.

I didn't hurt...yet. (that came later)

I had to be careful with my site at the femoral vein, being on blood thinners it was very important I didn't pull or stretch that area causing it to bleed. And they had to put my IV in my hand so I got a doosy of a hematoma bump there, but I am used to being a freak with the IV it happens with all my baby births.
But it was this little bump that when they wheeled me out, Matt took one look at my hand, got so faint I couldn't even talk to him about how great I felt, until he caught his breath and seriously bring color back to his face and take deep breathes.

No exaggeration here either I am afraid... I am totally serious. I actually said, "are you for real!?" The nurses always say (as he has had this reaction with all 3 babies) and says they are brought on by seeing someone he loves in pain.

Good thing he wasn't allowed in while they were destroying my valves!

Other than that I felt really really great. When I woke up the after surgery my head felt so clear and I had for the first time no headache behind my eyes.

I felt so refreshed I would of done our Disney Day today...but Matt just gave me his,
"Jenn your talking crazy talk again" look.

So we just hung out on the bed and watched t.v. and just chilled.

It was actually pretty nice.

Finally in the afternoon we had our appointment with Dr. Arata. I couldn't wait to tell him he was gave my life back and how great I felt. I walked into the waiting room and found a gal that I had seen at the pre op appointment. When we were both in the waiting room two days prior, she was in a wheelchair. Today...she walked in to her post op appointment.
I wanted to jump up and hug her. We started talking and like excited school girls about all the symptoms that have gone or are changing.

It was incredible to see.

When I met with Dr. Arata, he just sat and listened as I joyfully explained every detail of how I have felt the last 24 hours. He sat with a smile on his face and just listened as I happily erupted all my excitement as fast as I could. I apoligized for being so excited, as anyone that knows me it was a very animated moment. But he just chuckled and told me he was thrilled for me. We discussed further about blood thinners and other details and then told me he would like updates regularly for as long as is convenient for me.

So we then felt it was a good time to go celebrate and go to In and Out.

When we go to Disneyland we always stay at the Candy Cane Inn.
I HIGHLY recommend it.

Clean (and I am freaky about that)-Great Great Price-Free shuttle-Free Big Breakfast-Nice Pool-Clean (it deserves being said twice)-Close, one block from Disney Main Enterance-and so Gosh Darn Cute!
...it has a beautiful cobblestone road, gorgeous flowers and ivy climbing up the walls...my favorite.

Our room was right behind this cascading ivy...love it.
So it made hanging out really nice.

My Disney Day

2011-02-17T20:09:00.000-08:00

Ahh..Today was just wonderful.

Two days post vein surgery

and I feel like I am 19 years old and

full of energy.

And here at Disneyland I feel full of childlike excitment...
I just want to keep pinching myself because I can't believe how amazing I feel.

How different I feel.
What better place to share this awesome new energy!

Matt was amazing making it the

happiest day for me.

We ate at all the fancy restaurants I have always wanted to eat at.

We strolled through the shops, again and again.

We rode the rides a couple times in a row sometimes.

(which we learned was a little ambitious as I was SORE

afterward and it brought on a serious headache)

It was just so fun to laugh,

smile until our cheeks hurt and just spend the day hand in hand.

And just celebrate this day of amazing miracles.

It was just a really great day.

First Doctor Update

2011-01-27T09:29:00.000-08:00

Dear Dr. Ararta,

Hello! I wanted to update you at my two and three week mark. Overall I have feel more wonderful than I can explain!

Procedure Date: January 5

Pre Procedure	2 weeks	3 weeks
Tremor in foot, especially bad in the bathtub	Tremor is faint, doesn't act up at all in the bath.	Tremor is still weaker, but occasionally it will freak out. Still not affected with heat. I hope in time it will go away more as it can occasionally cause painful cramp in my calf.
Body Tingles and Twitches and all the time, like ants having a party	Tingles and twitches aren't as crazy and feels more the ants are having a siesta.	same as week two.
Fatigue- EVERYTHING was an effort, extremely debilitating. Felt like I had mono everyday. I NEVER felt refreshed.	Fatigue totally gone! This was so drastic for me. I feel like my head is so CLEAR!!! Feel like I can get 10 times more accomplished in a day. Happily, this is my biggest symptom improvement.	Energizer bunny still going strong. If I restenosis I think it will be the lack of my head clearness that I will notice most. I am still amazed at how clear my head feels. It has been so since day one and never changed.
Morning headache behind eyes and back of skull. Felt head was full. Felt it the minute I woke up, resolved as the day went on.	The MS morning headache is gone!! However I have been getting headaches but they have felt different and seem to be related to my neck pain.	The MS morning headache still gone! The neck pain is much less and my headaches associated with them have gone. I have found if I bend over with my head down too it will cause an instant headache behind my eyes.
Leg Pain, my worst symptom other than fatigue. Spasticity. Prescribed baclefen for pain and spasms.	I haven't had pain in my legs. So after week one I tried going the Baclefen pain was bad the next day. At week 2 I tried again and have no pain.	Been off Baclefen for 10 days and still no pain. This is amazing as I have been struggling with this the longest.
Freezing feet! Discoloring of feet	Went skiing and still had warm feet and didn't feel like they were frostbitten! Never never happens.	My feet are kind of strange. Once in a while they get spots of incredible warmth almost too warm. They also are a nice pink but a splotch pink, like they are working their way there. Still warm though!
Heat Intolerance, another very bad one for me. I needed to lie down after I stepped out. A day I had to shower, was always a bad day.	I can't believe how different I feel even after a hot hot shower! I am not tired and it doesn't affect me at all now.	Same as week 2
Bladder- periodically painful spasms, urgency	No spasms less urgency.	Same as week 2
Insomnia I was beyond exhausted but could NOT ever fall or stay asleep.	I no longer take sleeping pills. I naturally get tired and can fall asleep and sleep through the night. Changed my sleeping posistion from off of my stomach which keeps me stirring a bit but always fall back asleep.	Still sleeping well without any pills. I raised my bed it seemed to help with my sore neck.

Post Procedure Symptoms

When getting just about any other procedure done, for example when I had and ovarian cyst removed, you receive a page print out about what to expect, what to avoid, and when to be alarmed post procedure. The disadvantage of being one of the early ones to receive this particular procedure, there isn't a gold standard yet of what to expect post procedure in terms of recovery. I understand why this wasn't available to me. However it became tough when you are already pre occupied with the fear that your valve didn't tear during those first 2 weeks. I hope with my account and others maybe there can be a more detailed future "post procedure care" paper.

Personally, I didn't experience any pain in my neck for a couple days. However if I did anything that would put any to strain to that area it would be quite painful. Almost like spasms. I would really ache and sometimes it would cause a wicked headache at the base of my skull. That lasted on and off for about 3 weeks. I learned quickly that my beloved position of sleeping on my stomach was not helping and once I gave up that position my neck pain and headaches greatly improved. Which I had read that sleeping position does a number on your jugular veins and should be avoided anyway.

It didn't take much to strain it either, lifting a laundry basket, scrubbing the counters or a stubborn pot would irritate the muscles surrounding the collarbone and up the neck, and it would radiate up to my skull in a form of a headache. I also felt deep aches in my chest.

Seeing my MS is relatively minor compared to many who undergo this procedure I was probably a lot more active and did more regular things than most. Therefore more aches and pains would follow. So I would suggest mentioning to your patients that they may feel neck pain and even headaches for several weeks. I of course was alarmed that maybe there was a problem but I wasn't having any regression in symptoms so I hung in there. Sure enough they went away.

Dr. Arata, I am overjoyed by my progress and feel extremely blessed that I was able to be your patient. Thank you for all you do and your diligence for moving this forward. You are truly saving lives, by bringing quality back to them. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Jenn

First Milestone Achieved

2011-01-23T13:49:00.000-08:00

Usually keeping up with the blog
has been tough because
I haven't felt well enough and most of all have enough energy.

Now...

I feel like I have so much energy
I haven't slowed down long enough to update.

So I am now
18 days Post liberation Procedure.
It hasn't been smooth sailing all the way.
I didn't just wake up and turn into the biotic woman...
although it would of been nice to wake up to a new ripped body.

I have been struggling with neck and chest pains and headaches
from all the tugging and pulling and balloon tricks that went on in there.
Which leads to some
big headaches.
But I am trying to keep remembering it should be normal...

I say "should" because....

who know's?

unlike anything else "medical"
they send you home with an aftercare sheet
that tells you what to expect and
how to take care of yourself.
Well this being such a new procedure,
for my sons stitches I received more post procedure information.

So there is no gold standard of what to expect yet....

a little more lonely out here when you are one of the first.
But that is the trade off.

I will take it.

I needed to get past my first milestone.
The doc said if I went back to square one
by two weeks then we know that the
right valve didn't tear or break.

I am confident to say,
I believe I am out of the woods as things have been
progressing forward not backward.

And by the way my neck has been feeling,
if he didn't break it... then something else in there did.

So....Yippee!

My next milestone is at the 3-4 month mark.
There is a possibility scar tissue from the
surgery that can cause another blockage.
So I would know by all my symptoms returning.

So I worry. Every time I get a little tired,
or my foot twitches ...so...
I worry.

New Me

2011-01-22T14:24:00.000-08:00

So I don't even recognize

my new unblocked self.

I keep surprising myself...
a few things I have noticed.

Before:
I found waking up early the death of me.

Now:
I naturally wake up early...and REFRESHED!

Before:
I hated to cook, I loathed it because my legs hurt to stand there, my brain fog made it confusing, and my fatigue made me wonder why people called this a "hobby".

Now:
I have honestly baked and cooked more in the last
two weeks than I have in the past year.
Just ask my neighbors, and....I find it enjoyable!! No kidding.

Before:
Exercising was never enjoyable, nor is it for a lot of people. But I used to try and I don't know if it is because my poor tiny vein was trying to get blood to quickly rush through it as I worked harder, but it would cause debilitating fatigue after a short while. I used to wonder what people were talking about when they said they would become more energetic afterward. Ya..no. Not me.

Now:
I have been speed walking in my cutest form everyday on the treadmill for a half hour for the last week. I now sweat more than ever, which the doctor said I would notice. (don't ask me to explain why?) And I feel really good afterward! My fatigue isn't there like it was, I am tired, but not I have mono kindof tired. Incredible.

Before:
Showers always made me exhausted. So if I was clean that day...I was wasted for hours. I noticed it most the last couple of months, but I could say I have always done poorly in heat. When Matt and I were in Florida, Mexico you name it, I always had a bout of debilitating heat stroke. I always thought it was stemmed from my sisters red hair gene in me that made me intolerant. Also the hot bath would always help my leg pain, but in return my foot tremor would go from mild to crazy when I was in the heat.

Now:
What a difference! I can actually jump out of the shower and run downstairs to grab something out of the dryer, race back up the stairs without holding the handle, and still feel normal. This may all sound weird, but it is a huge deal to me. And my foot tremor remains unchanged when I have baths now.

Before:
I had horrible fatigue but what's worse, I had insomnia. Horrible all night insomnia for years. I have had to take Advil PM for the last 4 years, with little help. Which I have now discovered is one of three CCSVI classic signs.

Now:
I get naturally tired, (all that baking and running up the stairs catch up with me) so I no longer need anything to help me sleep. And I sleep all night long.

These all seem minor to some...
but for me I went from

tolerating life to loving life.

Support

2011-01-21T15:51:00.000-08:00

My first day back to the office
the gang threw me a surprise party...

I was so touched.

I am so incredibly thankful to everyone for
the support and all the
encouraging cards,
uplifting emails,
listening ears,
a hilarious "going away package" (wink wink)
and even beautiful gifts sent my way...

I have appreciated it so much.

This has been as big deal for Matt the kids and I
to go ahead with this new procedure
and it has meant so much that you
all have been
so supportive.

So a big THANK YOU!

Day Two- Liberation Day

2011-01-10T23:31:00.000-08:00

(this picture is showing how the vein isn't flowing,
in fact it started to break off and make alternate routes
and highways in order to get more blood flow.)

So the morning went fast,
and I don't remember much up to after I woke up.

I learned my lesson from yesterday
and asked everyone wearing a badge

when were my drugs coming??

So I will start there.

Dr. Arata found that my left and right jugulars were blocked/narrowed/ or stenosed. My right being the worse.
He said a normal vein size is approximately
19mm

Mine is 8mm.

Yaaa, now I know why I didn't score higher on my ACT.

He was able to snap/pop/destroy my left jugular valve.

But he wasn't' sure if he got the right side as it was so much smaller which made it thicker and harder to snap.
He said he might of or might not of.

Because it is a guided procedure, the only way to know is by feeling it snap or hearing it...

I know, gross eh?

So the bad news is within the next two weeks, if my symptoms all return we know it didn't snap open and I will need to return to get the procedure again to try again to get it to break.

These are pictures of the balloons pumped up in my vein.

So the verdict.

I feel flipping fantastic.

Leg Pain:
Mostly Gone

Fatigue:
Gone

Brain Fog:
Gone

Bladder "Issues"
Mostly Gone

Tingles
Mostly Gone

Limb Weakness
Gone

Foot Tremor
Almost Gone

Morning Eye Stabbing
Gone

Intention Hand Tremors
Gone

Heat Intolerance
Gone

Burning Skin Neuralgia
Gone

I feel like I am 15 years younger. I just feel "normal" again, and it feels amazing. I do have a doosey of a daily headache but we heard is from the blood thinner injections. He also said it could take months for your body to see all the positive symptoms.

I feel so blessed.

Day One - Part 2 consultation

2011-01-04T22:37:00.000-08:00

So after my

big bad test.

We had an consultation that afternoon
with Dr. Arata about the procedure.

In a nutshell.
(I will try to explain this the best I can.)
As I mentioned before, they find in almost ALL cases of people with MS, they have CCSVI
(a narrowing in your jugular or azygo veins)
But unlike other doctors performing this brand new procedure. Where they focus on angioplasty of the vein. They are focusing on the valves.

He compared it to a toilet flapper.
Ever seen on of those? When you flush it goes up and down.
This valve is what opens and closes allowing your blood to flow freely from your brain.
Well Dr. Arata is one of the few doctors who is focusing on the malfunction of this valve not working properly.

How you ask?

Well by destroying it.

Um... Don't I need that valve?
so... I don't know, my head doesn't fill with blood?

He continues to explain that by doing this, the valve is stretched open until it snaps open. And stays open. Like a rubber band. Doctors now, and how he previously preformed the surgery, they only stretched it to normal size through angioplasty.

However they were finding in 50% of the cases it made it's way back to original size because of it's rubber elastic qualities. Therefore by snapping it open it restore flow permanently.
Allowing my poor brain to BREATHE!

I need all the IQ points I can get.

So am I blocked. Will this help me??

He said that I showed a blockage in both jugulars
but would be able to see even better during the venogram.

(inside happy dance)

Since they started to use this method
in July their restenosis rate (the elastic shrinking again) has been only 1%.

So still unsure how my head won't fill up with blood??

As unlike a gall bladder or tonsils,
you kind of need this flap.
But he explained that my need to get my like back
from the grip of Multiple Sclerosis, that trumped needing the flap.

Well put I say.

Okay so I don't need it, but does my body know that?

We discussed how standing on my head is a big no no.

No prob. I can do that.

But actually you put your head upside down a lot more than you think.
-bending down to do
yoga
(well ...when I get that spurt to get back into it)
-bending down to
throwing your head under the tub faucet to wash your hair.
-bending down to
look for your kiddo's lost shoe in the big mess in the closet.
-bending down to
hair blow your hair upside down to get that voluminous look.

So I can't be a yoga master, wash my hair in a flash,
be the house shoe finder and have cool knockout hair.

That is okay. I will manage.

So after our questions were answered.

We were ready.

Day One- MRV

2011-01-04T17:30:00.000-08:00

As we were waiting to go in to get my MRV,
Matt says so how is the test done exactly? I said, I wasn't sure....

Oh boy. I should of checked.

It was probably good I didn't do the research on this one, because I would of never attempted without sedation as that is just plain crazy.

It is much like a MRI but this particular machine is
4 times stronger
than the best MRI machine and is so specified, they won't be missing anything.

But the process...
well there needs to be some advancement as I believe I can sign up for that again.

He begins telling me to lay down on the skinny table and asks if I am claustrophobic?
um...YES.
(but I immediately realize I should of made prior arrangements to get some
"you do anything and I won't care" drugs,
and was afraid I would prolong the test if I needed to get any so...)

I followed up with,

"But I will be fine"

phuhh... ya right.

Then he said I just have a few gadgets for you then we are all set.

Gadgets?

So we began with
gadget number ONE:

He placed a hard plastic neck brace snugly placed around my neck.

Then gadget TWO:
He proceeds to place a hard plastic cage
around my face with slits to see through.
(Man in the Iron Mask- ring a bell?)

Finally gadget THREE:
A heavy blanket/contraption to lay on my chest.

Finally he says,
"Your all set! Don't take deep breathes,
you need to stay steady and still.
And the test
will take approximately 2 hours."

Are you kidding me?

So after a few panic attacks and some MAJOR pep talks I went to my happy place.
When that didn't work,
I spent the time doing simple math, reorganizing my cupboards, and reevaluated my budget all in my mind,
and anything I could do to keep my mind busy in order to keep from
going seriously mental from my new worst nightmare.

It was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

Now when I am asked if I am claustrophobic. I need to say

"yes, where are my drugs?"

Day One...Complete. (barely)

What If's

2010-12-30T22:34:00.000-08:00

Just 4 more days until we leave...

I can't wait.
but I am really nervous...very very nervous.

what if
I am not blocked and they say "sorry lady, no problem here."?
what if
they tear my vein or some other freak incident occurs?
what if
it really really hurts?
what if
I need a stent and I have to tell them no, is that the right decision?
what if
after spending over $10,000 for this procedure, our car gets in a wreck, our house floods or the kids cause a freak accident and all our furniture is ruined...(okay that may be a stretch) and then we need that money for such emergencies?

and my biggest fear of all...

what if it doesn't work?

I have felt that Heavenly Father has been holding my hand through this entire experience
...since the beginning...
but my hand is still shaking with fear's...or tremoring. (a little MS humor)

I am trying to squeeze all the faith I can out of that mustard seed.
Allowing me to be able to stand and have the courage to conquer these fears.

Matt told me tonight that

Real faith is when you get off your knees,
and then you do everything in your power
to bring about what you are praying for.

So...even with all of my what if's?
I will now have faith AND courage to stand up and do my part.

even if
my legs are shaking...
but with fear this time and not from MS.

The Big Day or Days...

2010-12-22T15:22:00.000-08:00

So I have my date...

my date to get

unclogged
router routed
unstuck
rerouted
cleared up
get things flowing again

January 3rd
Fly down to Costa Mesa, California
January 4th
My test day to see if I am plugged
January 5th
The big day of unplugging
January 6th
Follow up appointment with Doctor.
January 7th
My day to go to Disneyland.
January 8th
Fly home

Yes I said Disneyland...
So it HAPPENS to be only 11 miles from the doctors office.
And Disneyland HAPPENS to be my one of my favorite places to go...really.
So Matt said this trip is for me...so he is going to make sure going to Disneyland HAPPENS.
I love that man.
Technically I am supposed to stay in the area for two days after the procedure, so might as well make the best of it right?

Bad Plumbing?

2010-12-14T22:14:00.000-08:00

Well I need to update, I would love to say all is well and I try REALLY hard to put on my happy face, but I just seem to be getting worse it seems...

I had my first fall a couple weeks ago. The connection telling my brain to pick up and move my right foot seemed to just not make it and down I went. Left a potato sized bruise on the top of my foot when I hit the vacuum on my way down to the floor. It happened so fast I didn't even understand it, but I knew my leg wasn't supposed to do that.

The spider crawling tingling and numbness that used to hang around only my feet have moved up to include my calves now in both my legs as now a daily constant companion.

The stabbing pain behind my eyes was a once in awhile symptom but now seems to have become a regular.

And now the new addition that has crept in lately is the jello legs. A weakness and balance disturbance in my legs, that seems to mirror the sensation of carefully walking across a log to cross a river, as each step needs concentration and focus. Bruises across my arms and legs attest to the fact that I have lost balance and wammed myself into a nearby wall or door.

And as recent as two days ago when making cookies with the kids, I was using a spatula to scoop a cookie up and all of a sudden in my right pinky finger I felt an electric pop, then a burst of spider tingles and finally it went completely numb for about 4 hours.

Someone sitting right next to me wouldn't have a clue that when I go to reach for my fork my hand tremors so bad that it is difficult to pick it up and sometimes I even drop it. It just looks like I overshot it and people drop things all the time.

MS is a very lonely disease and can be extremely depressing as you have no idea what each day will bring and have to thrown on a smile day in and day out. All the while having the greatest fear that all MS patients face, is wondering if this is the morning when you wake up and the numbness and tingling doesn't restore and we become wheelchair bound.

More times than not as I make my way across the soccer field to watch my boys games, and watch all the parents flow to the fields, I think, will one day I have to arrive in a wheelchair?

Or I think as I watch the kids dance around the Christmas tree, wondering will one Christmas in the future will have my sight have left me?

I didn't write this
to be Mrs. Gloom and Doom but to help understand the incredible blessing that Matt and I have prayerfully decided to embark on. This controversial treatment called The Liberation Treatment, has taken the medical community by storm and turned it on it's head. Essentially in a nutshell the theory is they have found a large number of MS patients have blockages in their veins, particular their jugular veins. Which in turn causes a backup of the flow of blood or a reflux back into the brain, which according to their theory may cause these lesions. This isn't a voodoo weirdo stuff. The best way to understand CCSVI in a nutshell is to watch the videos.

Now for the neigh sayers, we have not made this decision lightly. Through prayer and educating ourselves we have decided to fight aggressively in order to have the best quality of life while children are young and before I get any worse.
It is right for us.

And simply only those living with MS torturing their body or watching a loved one live day by day live with this disease would understand why this minimally invasive procedure is truly a blessing if it could help even one of my symptoms

so why wouldn't I try it?

Jessie our Cowgirl

2010-10-27T10:15:00.001-07:00

Jessica wanted to be Jessie the Cowgirl this year for Halloween.
Her all time favorite Disney character.

"Mom, you can make it right???" she says.

Ah...yup....?

So... for under ten dollars.

and armed

with a
glue gun,
liquid glue
red yarn,
cowhide,
yellow fabric...

and a couple hours on Saturday morning.

Jessie the Cowgirl Was Born!!

BEFORE...picture day

2010-10-19T16:48:00.000-07:00

One day we looked at the kids hair and thought.

When did they take on the
"Swiss Family Robinson
left them in the jungle for a year" look?

Did that happen over night?

Then we saw that picture day
was on the calendar for the
next day and told them the big news
that hair cuts were on the adjenda for that night.

Everyone turned on us quickly so I decided to do a "mock" photo shoot
the night before because they didnt' believe me that
the look they wanted to keep, wasn't one they were going to love later in their photo's.
But what do I know?

Hunter said we could go just a TINY bit above his eyebrows but that was IT!
I had other ideas....

Logan said "What?! He thinks he looks AWESOME!"

Jessica, well she doesn't really do hair cuts. Just hair maintenance.

So the end result??

Aren't they just cutie's!!

Dang Canned Pineapple!

2010-09-27T09:29:00.000-07:00

All from an altercation with a self peel can of pineapple. Those are wretched things. Hunter almost lost his thumb. Well not really. But my stomach thought so when I took at look at it hanging there feebly as he turned and looked at me and screamed.
I would like to say he took it well, but when he was waiting to get the seven stitches the anticipation was all too much for him. They had us waiting in that little room for what seemed like forever I think they were waiting for the little silk worms to spin the thread for his stiches before they could come, for that is how long it felt we sat there.

You would think I was sitting there comforting him, which I was, for a good long time. But finally after one of the moans I told him to just go towards the light....

Finally after his thumb was good and numb he took another position. He perked up and was extrememly interested in what the doctor was doing and if she would of let him, would of stitched up his own thumb. Amazing how once your pain leaves what you can do.

When it was all done,

Hunter says to the doctor,

"Woah that was a lot of blood eh?"

She looks at the tray with the three pea size dots on the tissue, less than a nose bleed and says,

"That?!"

He says, "Ya, all that blood there."

She says, "Yaaa."

He seemed content with her answer. But didn't seem to pick up on her sarcasm thankfully.

Hunter made it through his first set of stitches. Logan greeted him later and asked him how it went. Hunter told him all about the blood and the whole ordeal.

Logan who is our veteran stitch man of 4 sets of stitches just listened wide eyed and intently.
Never stealing his thunder, what a sweetie.

Dusting Myself Off

2010-09-15T19:37:00.000-07:00

Okay....

I wiped the dust off...
slowly picked myself up.

And now.
I am going to

Rock THIS.

Like I know I can....

Like I have in the past.

as long as I have my

Heavenly Father.
Attitude.
Humor.
Family and Friends

I will be just fine.

Soo....

I grabbed my purse and headed to

Fred Myer.

I know they have a few aisles of health food items that according to my pile of books are of interest of me now. Previously I have never set foot in these aisles. In fact they had a particular smell that wasn't too inviting.

Do you know what the difference is between a health food aisle and a regular aisle?

Regular Aisles have Pictures.

I like pictures.

This aisle had tons of words and numbers.
And....here is a question for you...
if a mulit vitamin says it has 500mg of a particular thing.
And you need 1200.
Then do you buy a SEPARATE bottle of the difference? How much do you calculate you will get from food?

My head hurts.
Now I am thinking I need a special budget just for all the vitamins.

I think you need to go to school to just GO into this aisle.
I stood in that aisle for literally 45 minutes.

There are a lot of interesting people that frequent this aisle. Another reason why I don't.

I kept getting confused.
I hadn't really decided what team I am on yet?

pro PROBIOTICS no acid, no sugar diet
pro Extreme Low Fat, NO Gluten, No Dairy, No Sugar
pro Paleolithic Diet (I dunno if this is the same? see the confusion?)

So I pulled out my blackberry and thought,
"who could I google that should tell me what to put in my body and be healthy?"

Dr. Oz?

This didn't help much.

Finally after the sales associate asked me for the third time if I needed help, seemed upset that I wasn't finding what I needed, I decided to give up and go home.

And you know what I think.

There is far too many products out there...
some one could get hurt.

Reality Punching Hard

2010-09-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: This isn't a pity post: I just want to document my journey, good and the bad.

It has been 11 days since I was diagnosed and I think at about 1 week it hit me.

I don't want to be in a wheelchair.

I REALLY don't want to be in a wheelchair.

Then I started to cry and I haven't really stopped since.

I think it sunk in...
and it hit really hard.

I got a cold or something too
so that is probably compounding the problem because a regular cold feels like mono for me. So I spent a lonely last 4 days in bed.

Thinking.

My happiness and peace over the diagnosis lasted a big 7 days.

Big woop.

Now I am Devastated.
Scared.
Confused.
Angry.
Alone.
Frustrated.
and find new ways to hide tears from my kids.

I have pleaded to my Heavenly Father to guide me to ways to help myself in this journey.

It could be the recent loss of complete feeling in both my heels.
When I walk I can't even feel the carpet when my heels touch the ground. Eventually people that end up in wheelchairs, their legs become so numb they have no other choice.

I want to have a choice.

to not end up in a wheelchair in my 30's.

So as I mentioned to a friend the other day.
If I have to eat tree bark and sap everyday I will do it.

Growing Horns

2010-09-09T22:06:00.000-07:00

Tonight we told the kids that I had MS.
Well Matt, did.
I sat there with a really big smile
trying to look as
happy, normal and un-sick-like as I could.

Jessica said "oh." holding a pillow.

Logan we weren't sure heard and kept tossing the pillow in the air.

Hunter buried his head in the pillow and started to cry.

We were both unprepared for all of their reactions. They had heard the word MS floating around the house the last few months and that basically the mood was that we were all rooting for
mommy NOT to have it.
Soo....

We decided to quickly explain what it was and I whipped out a
computer cord showing how it
represented our nerves connected to our spinal cord and brain.

I explained how the coating around the nerves (or cord) in my body are breaking down and the Myelin sheath is getting destroyed. Thus MS.

(Which causes insane pain as you end up getting down to raw nerves without coating, the chance of eventual immobility to a wheelchair, chance of blindness
but we skipped that part we were on a need to know basis.
We didn't need them all blubbering. )

We then told them.

Mommy won't die.
MS is not contagious.
There is no cure yet, but they are working on it.

and we want to work together as a family on this.

and most of all
Mommy's won't grow horns.
So stop looking at me funny.

I think they silently wondered if the prayer, song and treat were going follow it all seemed very similar to a family home evening lesson. I think they all were pretty satisfied and ran off to play.

A little later. Hunter came outside and sat with me out on the swing. He asked me a lot more deeper questions and basically wanted to know how he could help and
felt perplexed about it all.

He had decided he was going to find a way to save money for a cure and then he said.
"Mom, if it get's really bad, I will sell my swords."

This was a big deal.
Because these were the swords he recently inherited and found out were worth a lot of money.....AND fell in love with.

I wonder if "really bad" was when I grew horns?

MUD

2010-09-06T22:12:00.000-07:00

(this is one of the earlier clean shots)

FREE

CREATIVE
ENTERTAINMENT FOR HOURS
all in our own backyard.

Come on over. Send your kids to play in our

MUD.

Jess and Logan literally took 5 baths in 48 hours this weekend.
(I have been known to exaggerate..sometimes...but not this time folks)

Due to their new OBSESSION with

MUD MADNESS.

Clever Cutie

2010-09-06T21:56:00.000-07:00

I mentioned I needed to look into getting a maid.

I don't know if I could get anyone as clever as this cutie?

And, I know I would kill myself trying to clean before the maid came.
So we didn't look like we weren't really as dirty as we really were.
Because I am cool like that.

Diagnoses Day

2010-09-02T23:27:00.000-07:00

Today Matt and I drove up to Virgina Mason in Seattle to see the head of the
MS department of neurology and get some answers.

All morning I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest.
I kept suggesting the idea of ditching the whole idea and going to do something more fun...
I am sure there were a million better things to do.
Matt said he would drag me by my heels if he needed to.

We were greeted by an enormous board of doctor's names that could of been close to a thousand and made me start to feel dizzy and tired just looking at it.
I was close to bolting...if I could just walk.
After getting lost we finally made it to the right place.

We met my Dr's nurse who cheerfully said,
"Are you a new patient?"
I said yes.
He then happily says
"Welcome to Virginia Mason we are happy to have you here!"

I thought how he could of replaced "Virginia Mason" with "Disneyland" and it would of sounded the same. He was very chipper.
I didn't feel his same enthusiasm to be there.

After he left and Matt was flipping through a magazine I quietly sat waiting thinking,
"What if she comes in and tell's me I AM crazy....I have started down this road, and it ends up her saying it IS in my head."
I thought I was going to throw up.

My doctor comes in and sits down and casually says.
"What can I do for you?"
Like I am needing to order curtains and need assistance.

She sees my confusion and says,"Just start from the beginning"

I felt scattered and nervous trying to explain and summarize years of symptoms and agony for the next 20 minutes. And thinking after explaining every symptom, I must of lost her by now and I am sounding very crazy.

She thinks I am crazy. I just know it.

Finally I stop and ask, "Am I totally confusing you?"

She answered, "No you are doing very well actually."

I liked her after that.

She pops in my my brain MRI DVD and mumbles how great and clear the images are. I instantly think...Oh great, here it is... she is going to say, "Looks normal to me.... I don't know what is wrong you."

After more medical mumble and very impressive unspellable big words come from her mouth.

She sits back on her chair and says that she can see 8 or so lesions in my brain scan and that I have Multiple Sclerosis.....

She said it. Just like that. And then sentence didn't end in crazy.

She also didn't say...
nothing here buddy...nope can't see anything....or what are you doing wasting my time lady, get outta here!

Nope, she said it is Multiple Sclerosis.

I then said... "could it be migraines?"
She said...."do you get headaches?"

no.

I then said...."could it be lyme disease?"
She said...."did you get a bite at anytime?"

no.

She went on to explain why she believes it is multiple sclerosis and not anything else and that according the brain scan it is at the beginning and mild.

However my symptoms are bad and severe....

glad she noticed.

She said you can show mild lesions and have severe symptoms and the symptoms don't match the symptoms just help confirm the diagnosis.

Ya whooo. I am not crazy.

I knew it! Sort of.

So then she ordered a spine MRI because she was worried it was going to show the rest of the lesions, and a spinal tap to be done right away so she can find out what kind I have and how severe it is.

Bring it on.

So there you have it. I have Multiple Sclerosis.

I am not crazy,
I am not just lazy,
and I am not just a really slow walker.

So what to do first?....

1. First thing I need to do is figure out how to spell it right because I have had to have "spell check" fix it each time I write it.

2. Second thing is look into a getting a maid.

3. Third...google search "cool looking wheelchairs"

How do I feel?
At peace.

I have been suffering in silence with SOMETHING for a very long time. And just haven't had a name. How do you tackle a nameless trial?

Now I can take Multiple Sclerosis by the horns...

In the Waiting Room

2010-08-31T22:04:00.000-07:00

I feel like I have been
in the waiting room
for awhile now.

I have been waiting
to go to the Seattle MS clinic
for my appointment to
FINALLY
see the neurologist and
get some answers.

My waiting ends this Thursday.

September 2

I have been on a roller coaster of emotions.
So don't hang around me in the
next day or so before my appointment
or I may end up in a pile of tears
then to laughter
and then back to tears,
a couple times through the conversation!

Not sure what I
should feel, so I have
been trying them all out.

Sigh...
just filling
you in for those who
wondered if anything happened
from my lack of blogging...

Nope...just in the waiting room.

Jelly Bellies

2010-08-11T05:26:00.000-07:00

Early this morning...

way before I would of liked to awaken....
I was greeted to a charly horse cramp in my left leg
accompanied with electric pulses shooting up it.

Shortly after I received
a numb left ring finger and pinky with some buzzing.

Next, a feeling like somebodies finger was jabbing the top of my left eye.

Yesterday it was a numb tongue and side of face and fingers that would tremor when I typed.

It's like all like eating a
bag of Jelly Bellies...

You never know what you are going to get
and some are worse than others.

Except I think I am eating the Harry Potter ones...
as they aren't too pleasant.

Finally Made It

2010-08-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

Finally 10 years later.
Matt and I return to visit my grandma in
Cardston, Alberta.

Also where 13 years ago two crazy kids were married.

For Forever and Always...

I remember growing up each summer and
driving the 12 plus hours to visit my Grandma and Grandpa.

We would arrive most often at night.... blurry eyed and half asleep...we then would be welcomed after what seems like days of farm land, shining brighter
than would ever seem possible
amongst the black of the night....
the temple.
It was a welcomed visitor in the black night
a piece of heaven just glowing with all it's might.

And it meant you had
finally made it.

Now years later as I drive my children in what seems like days of farmland and remember how I used to feel the first time seeing the temple each time I came, and being able to watch them experience that now too...these are now the
moments I cherish.

Now as I am older it has become more to me than just a symbol of beauty and majesty.
The temple especially now is both literally and spiritually
my bright spot in my darkness.

Blasting It

2010-07-29T18:27:00.000-07:00

Press Play...
(mom...it is the one that is the shape of a triangle)

In high school...

I would love to drive around the city
by myself blasting my music singing at the top of my lungs...

In a city of millions,
I could disappear in the crowd of people and they wouldn't even notice or care
as they see me using my thumb as a microphone.
(Actually it was probably was pretty normal.)

It made everything I was thinking be put on pause and
go away...just for a moment, leaving just me and the beat...
always putting me in a really good mood.

In college...

I used to love to run on the track when it was dark
(okay... the "love" wasn't for the running)
by myself and blast my music in my ears.
but I refrained from singing...I might have classes with these people.

Now...

when life gets where I just want to be able to just slip away
and take time to just
breathe, smile, and sing loudly
with my thumb mic.

So last night I got in the car, all by myself
and blasted the music nice and loud
smiling the whole time.

I hope I don't recognize any of the people who passed me...this town is small.

Staying Put

2010-07-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

"We all face those times
When our confidence fades
And the path of our life

seems unclear."

I saw this quote yesterday.

It about sums up how I am feeling.

I am not sure I have the strength to fight this one.

Since publicly bring to the surface
what has been common life
for me for quite some time.

All the different responses, reactions, discussions, and words sent my way....

I am more lost than ever.

I really just feel like standing still.

Can I do that?

I know in most scenario's standing still and doing nothing doesn't work out.

weight-
eventually you end up ten pounds heavier and completely flabbergasted how it ever got there?

testimony-
do nothing and you will get exactly what you put in. Dive in, and the rewards are heaven sent.

garden-
leave this one alone and you wonder if your neighbor came in and sabotaged it because there was no way you left that many weeds.

raising kids-
not a lot of standing still happening. But sometimes you take a" break" from certain areas and before you know it you can't believe they just performed the alphabet in burps, hasn't changed their socks in 3 days, and their flimsy attempt at teeth brushing will lead them to a smile that involves 14 quartet gold caps across the front and a backwards hat...then I realize some reteaching is in order.

eyebrow plucking-
do nothing on this one and one morning you look in the mirror and then instantly turn to yell at your husband for not telling you the state of eyebrows before going out in public, which are taking on a similar look to your garden.

your failing health-
can I break the rule and just do nothing?

I think I am going to try and see what happens.

I am not up for the fight or challenge...

I am just too tired, twitchy, hurting, dizzy and can't see too well.

so it really isn't a fair fight.

Recipe for Tears

2010-07-20T14:29:00.000-07:00

Everyone has something that makes them cry.

Mine is my body....
I think I got a lemon.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to take a fun filled ride in the
ambulance to the hospital with a severe dizzy attack that landed me on my back with the world going around like a tilt a whirl on speed...
out of the blue
while walking on the track with some friends.

Constant marry go round dizziness
is common daily practice for me these days.

a few others too....

like...

electric buzzing in my legs
like I am standing on a vibrating machine, along with the occasional body tremors popping up under my skin feeling like little ants doing the macarana. They especially like to come out and play when I am typing or trying to put on eyeliner, surprising you all of a sudden by moving my finger round about like I am some miniature mechanical bull ride for them.

throw in a...

a little face numbness every once in awhile. Feeling constantly like your face is coming out from a trip to the dentist but clear up by my eye.

then add a pinch of

memory loss, loss of focus, brain fog
giving you a funny tunnel vision feeling.
So if I forgot your birthday let say this is why.

heaps of

body fatigue and muscle weakness, you know the kind that you are left with after you completed a marathon or walked through the park with those 5o pound weights strapped on your legs...except without the benefits of saying you completed a marathon and tone abs. Dang.

don't forget the...

Muscle cramps.
Where would I be without those dang muscle cramps in my thighs?
The ones that leave consistent bruises the size of golf balls on my thighs from trying to pound them out.
Ever have one?
Oh they are just great fun... Just take a seat on the couch, then lift your leg out straight and I will check in with your in about 5 hours.
Got a cramp?
Ya, me too.

Finally top it all off with...

the lovely bathroom surprise.

What is it, you say?
As soon as you sit back down after coming from the bathroom you are greeted with
a hot poker burning in my lady parts just to feel extra peachy.
Surprise!
And you don't even know if it will last 2 minutes or 2 hours.
Surprise!

Mix it all together...

Then what are you left with?

A recipe for big fat tears.

I think it is okay to cry

and say "this really sucks!"

once in a while.

Why?

Because it is then Heavenly Father is waiting for you with open arms to say.

I know and I am with you.

I think we all have our own recipe for tears.

Just different ingredients.

And I think
Heavenly Father is waiting for us to come to Him
with what we have. Waiting to cry to Him.

Some of these things have been happening
for awhile.
some came and went
and are back again with gusto
and others are new and very scary.

I had an MRI done a month ago...

they found spots.

high signal lesions was the techno term.

But they tell you...

it may be from migraines...

You know...the ONE ingredient I DON'T get.

Or they say it may be the big

MS

or they say...

it might not.

They have
poked, prodded, tested, & medicated

for a couple months,
then left me finally...

with less blood in my veins then when I started...
having read ALL the People magazines in the waiting room wondering what is going to become of Lindsay Lohan?
and ten pounds heavier thanks to these stupid little pills.

This has been a fantastic recipe.

finally my doc says....

she don't have all the pieces yet...call me with any new symptoms
(more ingredients!! My recipe is chalk full already.)

and...
you have my complete cooperation to go to the BIG city for more...
poking, prodding, testing, and medication...

can't wait.

Love it when they can finally admit the town is fabulous for
family values
great parks
low crime
strong community.

But if you have something more going on than a fish hook stuck in your toe.
(Doc Hollywood movie)

you best be moving on.

I decided that I shouldn't be punished for their lack of knowledge

So...pursue I will.

but...tomorrow.

For today...

I will just cry.

Perks

2010-07-10T11:55:00.000-07:00

One of Matt's perks knowing
lots of
orchardist's
is
buckets and buckets of
FREE fruit fresh
off the vine...or tree.

Yum.

I ate more than I picked.

Grandma's Gold

2010-07-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

"Look Hunter GOLD!!" my mom says.

"Ya...fools gold Grandma" Hunter replies

"Hmmm...I don't think so look at that piece right there. And look how it reflects the light. And ooohhh....LOOK it matches my ring so it MUST be real gold!" she says

"Really?! Wow Grandma you really think it is real?" he says

"Yup." Grandma replies.

"MOM! Look Grandma says it really IS real gold." Hunter says

"mom?" I say

"What?! It could be. You never know."

Tales from the Crypt

2010-07-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

Grandma has something to check off of her list.

She had never experienced a peel off face mask.

She wanted to find one that peeled off, preferable green.

We found a great one and had a great time peeling our face off.

Grandma can know check it off her bucket list.

Jess and I had a great time trying to keep up with Grandma.

Death by Repetition

2010-06-23T22:21:00.000-07:00

Time: 9:35 am
Place: In the kitchen unloading dishwasher.
Logan: "Can I have an ice cream?"
Me: "No honey, it is too early, and you just had breakfast."

Time: 10:35am
Place: At the computer trying to write an email.
Logan: "Can I have an ice cream?"
Me: "No, we are having lunch soon."

Time: 12:45pm
Place: Watering plants outside.
Logan: "Can I have an ice cream? I've eaten lunch."
Me: "Yes, but that is your only one, okay...OKAY?"
Logan: "okay, pinky promise"...(already in the garage going to the freezer)

Time: 1:55pm
Place: In the living room talking on the phone.
Logan: (whispering) "mooom...can i have an ice cream pleeaassee?"
Me: "huh, what...hold on. What?!"
Logan: "Can I have an ice cream?"
Me: "No! Geesh Logan, I am on the phone. You can have something healthy."
Logan: "if I have something healthy...then can I have an ice cream?"
Me: "LOGAN!"

Time: 3:40pm
Place: Making a snack and getting kids ready for quiet time.
Logan: "Mom, can we have an ice cream for quiet time?"
Me: "Lo-gan!!! Really?"
Logan: "Soooo....no?"

Time: 3:55pm
Place: Kids still having quiet time...
Logan: "Can we have an ice cream now?"
Me: "NO!"

Time: 6:10pm
Place: Sitting at the dinner table finishing up dinner.
Logan: " So mom what is for dessert?"
Me: "Um, nothing.. we don't have dessert every night sweetie."
Logan: "Can we have ice cream?"

Some days it is multiplied by three...I just know you will find me pecked to death by repetition.

This is Why...

2010-06-20T22:32:00.003-07:00

Daddy's gift from the kids this year....a homemade DUCK TAPE TIE!

The kids and I worked together and made this beauty...

Because Matt is in the bishopric I was a teency weency worried he would not want to wear his handcrafted necktie from the kiddo's and I waited with baited breath as he opened it up and they all asked him right away...

"So you are going to wear it daddy?"

Enthusiastically he responds "Oh ya!"

THIS is just one of the billion reasons Daddy is superdaddy to the kids and to me.

As we walked to our seats this morning at church, the kids immediately looked to see daddy with his tie...and there he was, sporting his big. fat. brown. duck tape tie.

This is (and a billion others) why I just LOVE this guy.

Happy Father's Day Sweetie.

Smiling

2010-06-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

My near 70 year old Dad
spent his time with his grandchildren this year...

... tubing down the raging river with us while we all feared for our lives....all with a smile on his face the whole time and not an ounce of complaint.

... jumping on the trampoline...because they asked him too.

... ice skating hand in hand with my children...because they wanted him to come.
(well this one ended him in the ER needing a cat-scan, and losing a little of bit of his memory but he was still smiling...didn't know where...but still smiling)

... throwing all the kids in the car and telling them...we will go anywhere you want to go.

... going to the park until THEY wanted to go home...so in other wards...HOURS!...and still come home smiling.

... telling stories to them...every time they asked.

... watching them...every time they said, "watch this!"...and still doing it even after the 102nd time.

(and that was just this year!)

My dad doesn't even know how to complain and always brings a smile with him where ever he goes. He exemplifies so many wonderful traits that I admire. I absolutely cherish when he comes and spends time with me and my family.

It is hard for my heart to even think that each year my dad has to sit it out a little more than the last. But even so, one of my favorite things to do is to find him on his bench where he is "sitting one out" and just "be" with him. To me, he just exudes peace, love, and joy and I love to be in his presence. I love you dad.

My Little Guy

2010-06-16T22:45:00.000-07:00

Logan...my baby. My littlest one. My little guy. He is my last little baby. I can't believe he is growing up so fast.
We are launching a new product (details to come!) and now graphically drawing from scratch our designs. This is just my first rough sketch...what do you think? It isn't finished, I am still working on the pattern and colors.

I put my little guy into this design, his most prized possession is his little elephant he has had since he was a baby. This little elephant I made just reminds me of my little guy.

WHAT A WEEK!

2010-06-13T18:04:00.001-07:00

MONDAY: Make 18 teacher Gifts, (I don't like to leave anyone out, which ends up getting carried away) This year...Personalized WATER BOTTLES!

TUESDAY: Field Sports Day volunteering at the relay running station.
Just like Sport's Day when I was a kid, without the first, second and third ribbons and adding the water...lots of it...oh and the gigantic blow up slide...they added that too.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Jessica's Activity Day Derby Father Daughter Race

WEDNESDAY: Jessica's 1st Grade Bowling

WEDNESDAY VERY LATE... Finding out Wednesday morning Hunter being a summer birthday can bring a treat for Thursday morning...oh goodie.

They DID NOT...end up looking like this...but more of a smashed "kids helped roll them out" version...but Hunter loved them. Mission Accomplished.

THURSDAY MORNING: Logan's 1st Grade BBQ Picnic

Even though Logan checked all morning that I was for sure coming, didn't see him other than for this picture, he was so busy playing.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON: Hunter's 3rd Grade Swim Field Trip

It was tough coming to Hunter's day because parents weren't really invited...
but I wanted to be there, so I just showed up.

FRIDAY MORNING: Present Jessica's Retiring Teacher of 30 years with a special book the class and I put together. (every teacher should be remembered)

FRIDAY AFTER-SCHOOL... Baskin Robins Double Scoop Ice Cream Treats with Daddy for Lunch

FRIDAY LATER ON... Mommy's Annual Scavenger Hunt for the kids.

Each year I put a scavenger hunt together that ends off with a big pile of fun loot for the summer. I am very proud of them and how well they all do at school. This year they are all way above the norm and all are in the 90th national percentile for their grade. I don't think I have been in the 90th percentile of anything academic.
When Matt and I joked and complimented them that they don't get their brains from either of us. (probably Grandpa Matkin)

Hunter decided it must be that his brain is like both or ours put together...

This years scavenger hunt questions were a little harder, I made them work out math problems and then follow a key to decode the letters which spelled out where their next clue was. It was much harder for my brain then it was for them completing the problems...maybe Hunter was right.

This years theme for loot- hiking! They are set with their fanny packs (there has GOT to be a better name?!) head lamps and compasses. I had to update their water gun artillery. After they found their loot it was so hot, I had a full on war with the boys and we all got drenched, too wet to take any pictures.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Yummy Dinner at Katie's! Yes...no need to cook!

SATURDAY MORNING: Yucky medical tests in small cramped places....go to a happy place...happy place...happy place.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Finally taking our boat out for the first time! (Matt inherited it over 5 years ago) We renamed the lake/pond turtle lake. There were tons of them! I caught the first turtle, but was too chicken to get it out of the net. We of course let him go after we probably gave it a near heart attack and rocked his little turtle world.

We got out on one of the little mini islands and explored all 10 feet of it so more like a clump of land in the lake.
Also where Hunter announced he was going to go to if he ever ran away...good to know.

Whew I can't believe I made it to today, Sunday...usually Sunday is pretty hectic, but today was breeze compared to the last week of school. So a lot of slugging around today. I am POOPED!

Being present for my kids and family is what makes my world go around sooo...
I can sleep when I am dead.

Now the week is over, and my house is a mess. I hope I can finally clean my house when I am dead too.

Blessings of Friendship

2010-06-07T22:40:00.001-07:00

Life's been a little worrisome lately for me...don't worry

...just I have to.

but anyway a good friend of mine decided to take one less worry off my mind for me and made dinner for me tonight. She knows me so well, cooking is sooo stressful.

And it was soooo good.
Dang, I wish I enjoyed cooking.
Katie, and I need the recipe...

not that I am going to cook it, (it looks above my skills)
but it is usually customary to ask right?

and maybe Matt will cook it.

I must say if Rachel you are reading this, I know you offered a ton of times lately. But I am holding out until you follow through and clean my toilets like you offered....

No, really. I don't need dinner or my toilets cleaned...well I do, but anyway.
I just saying that it means a lot...that's all.

Bubbles

2010-06-07T21:49:00.000-07:00

1 glass of pink chocolate milk + 1 straw = blissful entertainment....

ahh... can you hear the peace and quite and the sound of a babbling or bubbling brook?

Time for Tie Teaching

2010-06-06T21:55:00.000-07:00

Bzz Bzz Bzz

2010-06-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

Logan kept busy today buzzing around the yard. Every two seconds you hear "bzzz bzzz bzzz". Hunter heard the bzz bzz-(I am sure all the neighbors did too...) and ran down to have a ride too. Jess would of too if she wasn't sick.

Still getting used to all the "boy stuff" and trying to not to be totally clueless about boy things, as I didn't have brothers. But I hate to say in this department they have WAY exceeded me and I know there is no way I could make it one time around the tramp without injury.

(coming from past experience and scars to prove it. )

"Picture Taker"

2010-06-04T20:35:00.000-07:00

I love taking pictures...

I don't know all the rules... or even some of them really.

I don't like learning them, I would rather be out taking the picture than
reading about taking the picture...well duh.

But I DO love looking through a camera and trying to capture a personality.

That is what I love.

I think you need to know what you are doing (thus following rules) to be called a photographer...me? I am just a picture taker.

Maybe someday I will graduate to "photographer"

but for now, I just LOVE it when what I am trying to capture... turns out.

It would probably happen even more if I followed the rules.

Let's Go Fly a Kite

2010-06-01T23:21:00.000-07:00

3 Busy Munchkins

2010-05-27T22:48:00.000-07:00

Three little munchkins busied themselves last night upstairs in the Christmas closet.

When asked what on earth they were doing...

"We are ornaments." they chimed!

okay...

must had to been there.

Birthday Hike

2010-05-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

Each year for my birthday we usually go for hike.
(well...we have done it twice, so that pretty much makes it a long time tradition in my books)

We found an awesome spot only a half hour from home. It was awesome being out with the kids and Matt without any blackberries, laptops or dishes in the sink calling my name.

I get to hear the kids really talk too, not just make noise.

I even collected some more heart rocks.

I really like to hike...well...nice leisure ones that aren't too strenuous.
So, more of a walk...with pretty scenery....I like that.

a perfect day...

.................

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

2010-05-24T23:08:00.000-07:00

Today I turned 33.

I had to actually take a few seconds to do
some simple math to remember....(well you would think it was simple)

33 Years Has Brought Me To ....

1. breaking down finally and buying teeth whitner.

2. asking my doctor why a certain spot on my nose hasn't gone away only to find out it was an age spot and soon I will get more... hmm that's nice...

3. finding that my much like how I grew up...my children can work the electronics in our house better then me.

4. admitting that it is okay that I hate to cook, not everyone can be good at it or you wouldn't truly appreciate the ones that are.

5. that my body REALLY likes to stay stuck at a certain weight...or the scale is stuck?

6. that I can't do everything, all the time, for everyone....I just haven't figured out how to let everyone else know that?

7. that watching your kids go through some of the bumps in life, is sometimes harder then going through them yourself.

8. having kids old enough to do chores beyond dusting and diaper retrieval is....FA-BU-TASTIC!

9. realizing the teens walking around today, were born the year I graduated from highschool....(but I FEEL like I am only a few years older...like that cool senior amongst all the freshman...as I blast my cool music...just with a car full of booster seats...okay never mind... now I feel old. )

10. that all my friends and family who made efforts to wish me happy birthday, or surprise me on my birthday (thanks mom!), or dropping off gifts, cupcakes, cakes and MORE cakes either love me a lot... or want to see me in a larger size...(I am pulling for the first of the two) The love I felt is better than any material item any day...

Wow look at what 33 years has brought...
who knows how wise I will be next year...
or what spots, lines and wrinkles will appear too.

Meet Slick...

2010-05-23T22:03:00.000-07:00

Not the brightest pup in the litter....what else can I say...

Snip Snip

2010-05-20T21:58:00.000-07:00

Ohh...what a sad sight. We have been counting down the days until we could have Bodie snip sniped...apparently it helps dogs calm down. We are up for anything that will work.

Today was the day. Oh he looks so sad...
There is nothing funnier and more sad then watching your puppy sport one of these head cones. It seems like such cruel torcher but oh so funny... all at the same time.

Before his big surgery, Bodie was a busy boy.

His preference is Logan's little league hat.

We found the first one destoryed after Logan's first game, he was devestated.

I told our sad story to the coach, hoping he could get us another one...he had ONE extra....whew.

Last week, Bodie found the NEW hat...oh no.

I got on the phone again, but this time to the head of the little league...

I pulled out my most pethatic begging and told him we had a very naughty puppy...I failed to mention we had already had his first hat replaced.

She had another one stitched up for him....bad puppy, very bad puppy.

We have two more baseball games to get through, hopefully in Bodies current state Logan's baseball hat will be safe.

We are Live!!

2010-05-19T23:28:00.000-07:00

We have worked VERY hard getting our new site up. We changed over from a different host, which is similar to moving houses. It was A LOT of work and A LOT of effort from A LOT of people but it is FINALLY done.

Today was our first day live on the new site, only one major glitch. None of the products had the color chocolate...only one of main colors, no biggie. We are working on it...received a frantic call from a customer tonight upset that all our chocolate was sold out. She was very happy when I told her it was just a computer glitch, she even praised the Lord.

It feel so good to be able to say our new website is finally finished.

Now we are putting all our efforts into ...our NEW TOP SECRET product. This product is so cool, we have been working with the manufactures and we can't wait to launch it!

Stay tuned...

My Mom

2010-05-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

Don't you love this picture....so do I.
It is my all time favorite picture of my mom.

It encompasses everything I love her....

I love her infectious energy for life, she makes everything we do together REVVED UP!!

I love how she makes your "big things" in your life her "big things" when they would be small things to everyone else.

I love her ability to make my children feel like they are her number one superstars and light up with so much excitement every time she speaks with them...(and how she does it with me too.)

I love how comfortable she is in her skin.

I love how nothing will stop her and she will try anything at least once...(even tubing down the raging river.)

I love how fun she is to be with.

I love how kooky she is....ha ha...

I love how creative she is in solving any problem.

I love how stunningly beautiful she is.

I love how strong she is.

I love how in-tune she is to helping out another.

Mom, Mother's day just gives me an excuse to tell you how happy I am you are my mom. You mean so much to me and I am so blessed to have you for my mom. You are such a big part of my life and I am so happy we can go through life together. I love you.

Building Rome

2010-05-06T21:56:00.001-07:00

I am sure everyone can relate.

I feel like paperwork is like dishes. If you don't stay on top of it, you are one step away from being casted on the reality show "Hoarders".

I am not that bad...but I think a forest of paper has come and gone from this home.

Jessica, my hippie love child (who knows where that trait came from, I guess she is following her Canadian roots, all she needs is to wear some socks with her sandals), reminds me often that we should be recycling all this paper and save the trees...I agree.

She also thinks we should never eat at fast food restaurants and only eat all natural foods, live outside with the trees and flowers, and take in all stray animals and raise them as our own....

I tell her to add it to my to-do list and that she can find a bunch a paper on my desk to start one.

Rome wasn't built in a day. However if I could use paper and dishes. it would be...

Comfortable in His Skin....or Hair.

2010-05-05T21:53:00.000-07:00

Logan's personality is just wonderful, I just love it. He is so much like his dad in so many ways. For example, although shy, he is so comfortable in his own skin and doesn't care much what people think as long as he thinks it is great...like when it comes to his hair. He loves to disappear to the bathroom each morning and make it look as crazy as he can. The more "I have just been electricuted look" the better. And each morning I drop him off at school he jumps out of the car and proudly walked to the playground like no big deal, while I look on wondering how he doesn't care that he looks like his hair has it's own time zone.... Just love that kid.

Apple Blossom Run

2010-05-04T22:46:00.001-07:00

Another year, another Apple Blossom Run. Matt always volunteers to run the mile with the kids. His once a year jog. I don't fight him too much in protest. I am also MUCH better at cheering from the sidelines. Hunter of course pushed himself to make it in the top twenty he was in the group that they divide off by the ropes so we think he might of made it. He was the second fastest in his school mile run so it energized him to push it as hard as he could.

The kids sure don't get their love for running from Matt or I...I can barely stay up for straight taking a picture.

Dog For Sale

2010-05-04T22:17:00.000-07:00

I made enchiladas tonight for dinner and cupcakes for dessert. Those who know me well, cooking isn't enjoyable for me, so because dinner tonight was more than 3 ingredients I was very MIFFED when I discovered our new puppy we now call "the terminator" ate the rest of the enchiladas right from the pan and the 4 left over cupcakes right from the counter. Man, this puppy should of coming with a warning label.

He is just adding to his menu of stolen foods...he recently stolen 12 rising rolls off cookie sheets on the oven and a half a loaf of bread.

Amazing Race Primary Style

2010-05-03T20:51:00.000-07:00

We had our first Saturday Primary Activity a couple weeks ago. I just LOVE the gals in the Primary Presidency with me. Rachel, Tara and Katie have made it so much fun it feels like when we get together for meetings it is more of a treat than a "meeting".

The activity we planned centered around the concept of the Amazing Race. Each of the kids received a ctr armor shield and a starting envelope for each class. Each envelope had a clue that guided them to one of the 4 main rooms. once they found their way to the rooms they had to complete the task in order to receive their "medallion" for their shield and their next clue. It was a hit...at least we thought so.

Rachel's Room- Modest Relay- in the gym they had to do a fast relay by quickly putting on all the clothes and accessories and go through the obstacle course. At the end they had to "fish" for a fishy that was properly dressed before they were finished. So cute....

Katie's Room- Healthy Kitchen- Katie had the Mr. Apple (as we are the Apple Capital of the World...so they say) come talk to the primary kids about what is good for our bodies to eat and then they made fruit yogurt skewers....yum.

My Room!!- The Tree of Life- I taped an real iron rod all around the Primary room for the kids to walk through and try to follow just like Lehi's dream in the Book of Mormon. I thought it would be even more fun to have the darkness and mist so I rented a fog machine and turned off all the lights....hee hee... that was fun. Well...until the sunbeams (4 year olds) were coughing and acting like they were fighting for their lives as they walked through, maybe even a few tears...and I think some of them still have trust issues when they see me at church. But overall it was great fun. I had them try and accomplish tasks as they walked along the rod but told them they couldn't let go of the rod. (representing the gospel) and I tried to replicate the large and spacious buildings and then they made their way to the end where they made it to my big felt tree of life. (which representing making it to be able to live with our Heavenly Father) Honestly I think a lot of it went over their heads. I think some kids were walking away from mine a little confused and maybe even frightened...but hopefully when they do read it in the scriptures some day they will remember they once had a primary activity with a kooky Sister West and got to walk in fake smoke...I can only hope.

Melinda's- Scripture Stories- Melinda our awesome singing leader played a couple fun games with pictures from the scriptures in order to receive their next clue.

After we cleaned up from the activity Hunter disappeared with one of the big building boxes... I found him walking across the stree on his way home with it....an odd site I might add.

Did You Miss Me?

2010-04-01T22:25:00.001-07:00

I AM BACK!!!! Did you miss me??

Well I could list a bunch of excuses why I haven't blogged in a while...but I won't bore you.

But I am back...hopefully!

January to March we were busy in ski lessons and heading up to the mountain every weekend. Not a peep of complaints come from the kids, you would think we were going to Disneyland.

However, I have a handful of them every year that float freely in my mind.

To Name A Few...

"I am very cold and I haven't even left the bed."

"Boy it sure takes a long time to gather everything, there can't be another sport out there that takes more "stuff" than skiing...nope."

"Do all the kids have all 20 plus items each in order to ski today?"

"Hmm...which kid will be the one needing help getting through three layers in order to go pee at the top of the mountain?"

"Am I going to make it up the 40 year old chairlift alive today, or will THIS be the trip that it breaks and we all fall to our deaths?" (I know that is grim but I am very afraid of heights)

"Will my toes freeze before or after lunch?"

"By some miracle will Matt decide to NOT want to hike anywhere to ski today?"

"Wow...all that time to get to the top, and we are already here at the chairlift again? "

"So what year will the kids surpass my skiing skill and I can assume the position of official "hot chocolate greeter" at the end of the day. At home. Inside. Where it is warm."

Never knew I was such a downer eh? I hide it well with skiing...oh and I can go on and on! I am always secretly jumping for joy when the kids are ready to go home early, never happens though. But really, it becomes ALL worth it because seeing how much they love it and how much I love being all together makes it all worth it and keeps my complaints to myself. I clearly do not share their same passion for cold..I am mean, skiing. BUT....

My favorite part of the day is driving home together, (cuddled up against the car heater I might add) and hearing the kids and Matt (he is like a little kid after skiing) all buzz about all the cool jumps and runs they had is all worth it. I LOVE that part and not just because I am warm again...and I guess you have to endure all the other stuff in order to get to the good stuff.

But I knew I was getting into this when I married Mr. Extreme Skier Matt....so I guess I will continue to bite my tongue and complaints...it is bad I am a little giddy inside that ski season is over?

Happy Valentines Dinner

2010-02-11T22:17:00.000-08:00

Okay so I was all ambitious this year....

You know how on Christmas Eve the stores all ready have the Valentines stuff, well I kept grabbing things here and there... I wasn't quite sure what for?

So since we are going to the Olympics over Valentines, tonight we had a Valentines dinner...so I could use all the cute stuff.

The kids loved the heart plastic champagne glasses best because they could drink it all in one shot, and clink them with each other.

Matt surprised me with two of my favorite plants...I LOVE orchids. Almost every year he gets me one, and we don't have any in the house that are currently alive. So...I told him I would take care of these two if he didn't mind.

Good Ideas?

2010-02-10T23:56:00.000-08:00

Another year of writing the kids names x 26...

Jessica had big plans again.....let's not be ordinary...heck no.

Let's bring cupcakes mom instead of plain ol' Valentines...

Sure, sounded like a good idea 3 weeks ago.

Horrible idea the night before.

Derby Race and President Play

2010-02-09T21:09:00.000-08:00

Double night for us tonight. Hunter, Daddy and Logan went to the Derby race. Jessica and I headed off to her music program for her big night. She was one of the narrators. I was so proud of her because she had about 8 lines to memorize, and she didn't miss a word! Hunter did wonderful again this year. He placed first in his pack...AGAIN! Three years in a row now!

All week Jessica kept hinting she would sure think it would be neat if she received flowers after her big night. (she is funny like that, gotta love it) I tried to pretend I wasn't listening. Then she again brought it up in the car on the way there. I again acted dumb. Then I heard he quietly say, "I guess there is no flowers?". ...hee hee. I actually got her a big daffodail bouquet with a giant pink ladybug chocolate. She was overjoyed! Hee hee. Kids are so fun to mess with.

I had gotten the boys chocolate bugs too, Jess helped me put a sticker on one side that said "Congratulations!" and the other said "Better luck next time, we love you!" Because we didn't know how he did on his derby race.

Happy Third Birthday To Us!!!

2010-02-07T22:37:00.000-08:00

Our business has made it three years! Woo hoo!

Three years ago on Superbowl weekend our business was created and born. Lots and lots of hard work we are overjoyed at where we have gotten to. Each time we make specific goals to try to reach for that year. This year we hit our goal out of the park! AND we were able to do a couple things that we hadn't even imagined.

In 2009 We...

Hired 4 people!!

Moved into an official building with a lease! (scary!)

Signed our first extremely LARGE reseller!

Was interviewed for the first time frome the Business Journal!
Was featured in another magazine!
Got a bookkeeper! whew, smart move.
More than exceeded our Sales Goal made last year!

This year we dreamt REALLY big, just for fun and we will see what this next year will bring. We wrote it all down, put it away to unveil next year.

Money For Haiti

2010-02-01T23:58:00.000-08:00

Jessica came down the stairs with this today.

It says "Haydy Mony" (Haiti Money) and then an arrow pointing to the top "here".

She had transferred her previous jar of money that she was saving for the humain society to help those in Haiti. The kids are always teaching me more than I probably teach them anything.

Comfort First

2010-01-28T00:02:00.000-08:00

Hunter has walked around all day today wearing this around his neck. (a vibrating travel pillow) If I picked up the camera, he would run. I was able to snap a picture when we were all playing cards. He cracks me up.

Early Morning

2010-01-18T21:00:00.000-08:00

Usually when I wake up I will find this little one on the wii. Who knows for how long, they have to get off as soon as I awake. (the power I hold) I got a kick out of his attire to keep warm.

Life With Our Puppy Bodie

2010-01-13T22:42:00.000-08:00

Bodie is pretty cute eh?

But he is a very busy boy these days...

A little "animal kingdom" playtime with Powder.

(yes that is Powder sitting on his face.)

then time for a nap...

lots and love and kisses...

then time for another nap...

Curiosity gets Bodie in trouble...like eating my plants.

what goes in, must come out...

Lots of IT!!! Hence, Jessica's sporting her new back yard shoes...(plastic bag pumps)

a little get to know you time...

Yes, time for another nap...

We love our little puppy Bodie...he is apart of our family now.

Don't hit a Tree!

2010-01-11T22:25:00.000-08:00

We have an on going joke in our family. Whenever we go skiing and I always say to the kids,

"I love you and don't hit a tree!"

Well today Logan hit a tree.

After ski lessons the kids always take us down a run called castle. They love this run because is full of little jumps all along the trees.

The kids were all going down the tree line on the side of the run however Logan was going a little too fast and went smack straight into a tree full speed. Matt and I witnessed the whole thing. My heart dropped to my toes and I raced over to him bracing to see his face torn up or something worse. I couldn't get there fast enough.

His face didn't have even a scratch, so I assumed he must of taking the impact on his legs and broke something.
Nope...all good there too.

The ski patrol came and checked him out head to toe. They asked him his name, what day of the week it was, and who the President was. He got 2 out of three.

He then got to take a fun ride down on the
tabbogan with the ski patrol to the first aid office.

All checked out great, he keeps us on our toes!

Later that day, Logan asked me who WAS the President...

Day One- Part Two

2010-01-05T22:34:00.000-08:00

So after my

big bad test.

New Year's Eve MURDER!!

2010-01-01T20:59:00.000-08:00

Karly- Butch Chasity ....................Kevin- The Outlaw

.........Villy- An Indian Chief ..........Tara- A Mexican Widow...

Jenn- Elvira, Brothell Owner................Matt- The Sheriff

Heather- The Rancher........Alex- The Gay Cowboy

This year we went to the Judd's for New Year's Eve. We thought it would be a perfect opportunity to do the Murder Mystery I have been dying to do. It was SOOO fun, if you are thinking of ever doing one, I highly recommend it. This group was a blast and really got into character which made it that much more funny!

I being the town slut had fun trying to come up with a modest/harlet outfit to wear.
Matt was the town Sheriff, oh it was so funny....

I ended up being the Murderer... and I didn't even know it....so watch out!

The food was amazing, Kevin caught tons and tons of fresh Crab. YUM!

What a great way to bring in the New Year.

All the kids giggled and played the whole night without a peep of complaint or whining, I couldn't believe it...we didn't even leave until 1:30am!
Hunter chatted non-stop the whole way home excited as can be, he kept saying,
"I'm not tired, I'm not tired."
Then as soon as his head hit the pillow, he was fast asleep.
Matt and I thought it was hilarious because Hunter seems to have only on and off buttons.

Emmy, Jessica and Maisy
These girls are so cute together.

Christmas Surprise!!

2009-12-30T14:43:00.000-08:00

All the kids wanted for Christmas was a PUPPY.

We told them Santa doesn't bring live animals.

However, as we thought more and more about it,
it would be nice to have a little buddy for Powder to play with.

So several months before Christmas we picked out this sweetheart and reserved him until Christmas. He looks EXACTLY like Powder. On Christmas Day he was only 9 weeks old.
SO CUTE!!

We secretly went to pick him up on Christmas Eve and he stayed at the office until the kids went to sleep. We bathed him because he apparently slept with a goat and then
we introduced him to Powder...I think Powder is still waiting for him to leave.

We slept downstairs with the dogs waiting until Christmas morning. Everything was going as planned until....

about 1 minute before we were going to tell the kids they could come down Powder thought it would be a good time to get rid of this new intruder and took a little nip at him, which sent puppy yipping and crying loudly! The kids were very confused but still didn't know it was a puppy.

Once they came down the stairs...

Jessica saw the puppy right away
The boys completely didn't even notice him!

But once the secret was out, they were very EXCITED!

CHRISTMAS HIGHLIGHTS

1. Grandma, Grandpa and Shauna coming.
2. Bode our new Puppy (named after Bode Miller the Olympic Skier)
3. Bode peeing all over Jessica's picture from Santa of the reindeer.
4. Jessica's reaction from Boddie peeing all over her picture from Santa.
5. Watching the kids more excited to watch their siblings open the gifts they bought for them.
6. Having a full on nerf gun war with everyone.
7. Watching Logan move play with all his "experiments" and wearing all his different glasses.
8. Watching everyone (especially Shauna) try to beat the highest scorer (ME) on BOPIT.
9. Eating Christmas Dinner made by Chef Daddy...ahh yum.
10. Just hanging...watching Bode pee on everything.

Predictable Jammies

2009-12-24T23:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve night the kids opened their predictable jammies...

they now say, "Can we open our jammies?"

instead of ...."Can we open our present?"

it's getting harder and harder to pull anything around here.

Christmas Eve

2009-12-24T22:16:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve we went to our Annual Dinner at the Roses. YUMMY! Camilla slaved all day and made a beautiful traditional Swedish Meal. We look forward to it every year. We had a gift exchange, Camilla spoiled us this year. Thank you! We love you guys!