Monday, August 30, 2010

Oldies But Goodies

"It takes a long time to grow an old friend." - John Leonard

It is so fun when friends can go many years apart, and yet re-connect in a matter of minutes. Last week I was able to meet up with some of my best friends from high school at a baby shower to celebrate the upcoming arrival of our friend Sarah's little boy.  It's been six years since we were all together, and it was so fun to catch up with each other.  Definitely brought back alot of memories!

With Morgan Peterson, Savannah McCoy, and Sarah Cali
What a coincidence that Sarah, Morgan, and I are all due within 3 weeks of each other!  Definitely NOT planned.  Even more fun, we are all pregnant with our first and are all having boys!

Me at 33 wks 0 days, Sarah at 33 wks 3 days, and Morgan at 35 wks 6 days
Thanks girls for a great time!  It was so fun to see you all again.  I've missed you!

"Friends are always friends no matter how far you have to travel back in time. If you have memories together, there is always a piece of your friendship inside your heart." - Kellie O'Connor

B is for...

...babies, boys, and boats.

I feel so blessed to have such amazing in-laws that truly are my second family.  Being in Arizona, we really miss them all and look for every opportunity to catch a quick visit.  Brett was busy busy busy with work, so I took a solo trip to Utah for a combined family shower with Bridget and a family reunion/bbq out by the pool.  Although I was only there for under 48 hours it was still so fun to be with the family again.    
Brett's cousin Sarah is starting her own party planning business and did all the decorations for the shower.  Bridget and I are both having boys, so Sarah did the whole thing nautical themed.  She is so talented and everything turned out A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!    Thanks Sarah for such a cute shower!
No pics of the family reunion except this one.  I couldn't resist sharing it, because I thought it was absolutely ADORABLE.  To say my nephew LOVES swimming would be an understatement.  Look at that face!
Thanks again to the Blasers for such a fun short weekend.  LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Carpet Overhaul

Remember how we spent weeks destroying our house putting in wood floor so that it could look like this...?
Well, apparently we didn't like our rooms that clean and organized, because a month later we did this...
so that we could do this...
so that we could get this.

Yes, over the course of a week we moved EVERYTHING from our family room, office, nursery, and master bedroom into our living room, kitchen, and garage so that we could pull out our dirty old carpet and put in beautiful new carpet.  Was it worth it?  Definitely.  Do I love it?  Definitely.  Was it slightly overwhelming, distressing, and exhausting?  DEFINITELY!!

A few things I learned along the way:
1. We have WAY TOO MUCH crap!
2. Remodel your house BEFORE you ever move in. It's much easier to do when you're not trying to live in it at the same time.
3. Don't undertake a large project (or several) while pregnant. It just makes you MORE anxious, tired, uncomfortable, and emotional.
4. Don't EVER begin a large project when you are 7 months pregnant and still haven't chosen a name for your child, chosen a theme for your nursery, purchased a single baby necessity, read a single baby book, completed a birth plan, set up a registry, or researched a pediatrician. There is simply too much to do in too little time without creating more work for yourself. Talk about STRESS overload! (Note: I have since accomplished several of these things and am STARTING to feel just SLIGHTLY more prepared.)

Our house (and life) are back to normal and I couldn't be happier.  Happy that we are finished, happy that things are back in place, and happy that we have beautiful clean carpet to put our little man on.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Budding Photog

With so much going on the last few weeks, I've been slacking on several important posts.  Not only did I turn a YEAR OLDER over a month-and-a-half ago, but in celebration of that, I also became the proud owner of a new Canon T1i.  And as of a week ago, I am also a graduate of my very first photo class.  I still have SO MUCH to learn, but I'm happy to say I'm not ENTIRELY clueless anymore!  Here's to the many (hopefully half-way decent) photos to come!
P.S. All you amazing photography friends, I could use all the help/tips you want to give. :)

Friday, August 6, 2010

3D Sneak Peak

Baby Boy at 30 1/2 wks:
-Rarely holds still, even when he's sleeping
-Fights back when he gets poked or prodded
-Kicks so hard he makes his mom jump
-Measuring a week ahead of schedule (Yippee!)

Mom at 30 1/2 wks:
-Freaking out that she only has 2 months left baby-free
-Using a roll of toilet paper a day
-Contemplating sleeping for the next 2 months straight to "stock up"
-Still completely undecided on what to name this boy or how to do his nursery

Monday, August 2, 2010

Miracles Happen

To say that the last two weeks have been agonizing, stressful, and exhausting would be a great understatement. 
To say that the last two weeks have also been remarkable, miraculous, and joyous, would be an even greater understatement. 

Twelve days ago, on Tuesday, July 20th, my 19-year-old brother Spencer suffered a very severe brain injury after falling off his longboard and landing on his head.  Spencer was rushed to Scottsdale Osborn Hospital, where the initial prognosis for his survival was deemed very grim.  He broke all the bones in his left ear and suffered too many skull fractures to count.  He spent several days in the ICU under coma-like sedation, connected to every conceivable monitor, tube, and wire; and endured brain surgery to remove a hematoma from his skull that was putting too much pressure on his brain.  While in the hospital he also contracted pneumonia and meningitis.  Spencer's body suffered a great deal, but I am overjoyed to report that this afternoon Spencer was cleared to go home!!  He is off all the monitors and machines, and the pneumonia and meningitis have been eliminated.  All 70 staples (minus one they missed :) ) have been removed from his head, and he is off all pain meds other than ibuprofen. He is walking (with support), talking, and definitely still has his same personality.  We are ECSTATIC and SO THANKFUL!! 

I haven't had the words to describe my feelings until recently, but now, two weeks after the accident and as he is headed home, two words specifically stick out in my mind: gratitude and awe.

Gratitude for the modern medicine and science that helped keep Spencer alive and will continue to help Spencer recover (hopefully eventually to his perfect old self)
Gratitude to the A-M-A-Z-I-N-G doctors and staff at Scottsdale Osborn who gave Spencer the best care we could have ever wished for
Gratitude for Spencer's amazing ability to fight and endure
Gratitude for the overwhelming love, support, and concern we received from innumerable sources, including many of you
Gratitude for the power of prayer and fasting, especially in massive numbers
Gratitude for the comfort and assurance the gospel brings through very trying times
and most importantly
Gratitude to my Heavenly Father for hearing our prayers and preserving Spencer's life

Awe that Spencer could start to recover so quickly from such a traumatic injury (one ICU nurse said it's the quickest she's seen in 20 years!)
Awe of the significant improvements Spencer continues to make day to day
Awe of the limitless charity and compassion of others
Awe of Spencer's ability to deal emotionally with the challenges he's suffered
Awe of our infinite blessings
and
Awe of observing a true miracle

What's next: Spencer's amazing progress and recovery has enabled him to go directly home from the hospital, instead of to a rehab facility as originally thought.  He will still have to have daily physical and neurological therapy, but will be able to do this on an outpatient basis. The broken bones in his left ear will not be addressed for another month or two, to allow his brain to continue to heal.  At that time, the goal will be to restore hearing to his left ear.  Spencer still has a long road of recovery ahead, but it is one we are happy to deal with.  For those who would like to follow Spencer's progress, a blog has recently been set up chronicling his recovery at http://humptydumptyman.blogspot.com/.  All the daily emails containing his status and updates that were sent out during his time in the hospital have been posted.

Thanks to all who have given their support, love, and prayers over the last two weeks.  We could not have done this without you.  And thanks again, to my Heavenly Father, who answered our prayers more thoroughly than we ever could have expected.