We Are Family

Long Overdue!

2012-01-10T13:03:00.000-08:00

Alright, I'm going to jump right in to my hospital story. Some stuff you might think is TMI but I'm going to share it all:

Saturday, December 3rd I woke up and while laying in my bed I felt like I had wet my pants (gross I know) so I ran to the bathroom and I was bleeding a ton. Then I looked in the mirrior and just then my nose started bleeding and I saw I had blood dots in my eyes called petechiae (peteekia). I know what is wrong because I was diagnosed in 2009 with having an auto immune disease called Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura or ITP. So I woke Blake and took my time brushing my hair and teeth cause I knew I was going to be in the hospital for a couple of days.

We got to McKay Dee Hospital and they immediately shot 200 mg of prednisone into my arm. Ew! That stuff tastes like stomach bile. And they put an IV in my arm for this expensive medicine called immune globulin. It takes about 24 hours to get in what they were giving me. My blood was low and my platelets were 1,000 (should be 150,000 at least) so they put in a second IV to pump in fluids and do blood and platelet transfusions.

Each day for about 4 days we found no improvement. My body was eating up my platelets as fast as they were pumping them into me. But an 8 hour nose bleed didn't help. So my wonderful Hematologist said I must go to the Huntsman Cancer Hospital because they could help me because he no longer could. I was scared. I thought I was dying. So they sent me up via ambulance. The I had a whole team of people working on me like on House (but my dr was nice). They needed a bone marrow biopsy to make sure I didn't have certain kinds of cancer. That pain was horrific! I think the hospital thought I was dying by the amount of screaming I was doing. I remember it hurt so bad I said "shizzle ma nizzle!" that made people laugh.

Anyway, they said, "We need to take your spleen out. That is the part of your immune system that is killing your platelets." (btw spleens are as big as your fist and weigh about .7 pounds)
So they did platelet transfusions for a full 24 hrs and I couldn't eat. BLECK! Oh and this whole time this little nurse was pumping me full of morphine which makes me insanely sick (didn't know before) and I was puking my guts out. Anywho, feeling like crap I was ready to be put under for the surgery. They wheeled me down to surgery and one the way there my right arm got tingly and numb. It got stiff and I couldn't move it. WEIRD we still don't know why that happened. We also found out before surgery that it was the morphine that was making me so violently ill. But after surgery they hooked up a pain med thing to me which continued to make me violently ill. Later we found out they hooked up morphine. HELLO!!! So the very mention of the word makes me queasy. ECK!

Post surgery my platelets were rising with out the help of platelet transfusions. Yippee!
Now it's a month later and my platelets are above 600,000. Which need to be watched. If they get above 1,000,000 I will be in danger of blood clots.
But I'm mostly better unless they left a sponge in me.

I'm still alive :)

2011-11-30T14:51:00.000-08:00

We have the internet now :) I couldn't be more excited haha! Here's an update:

Grace:
2 and a half
loves my little ponies and mickey mouse
she loves animals especially dogs and horses
a pro at kiddie puzzles
she loves nursery
she loves to help mommy in the kitchen
she loves to help clean up the house
Gracie isn't even close to interested in becoming potty trained
She talks A LOT!
She has a great sense of humor. She is hillarious
She has a huge heart and cries when mommy cries or when an animal in a movie is in danger :)

Blake:
Works at Zagg in the refunds and exchange department
He wrote me a love note last night- so basically I'm saying he's still in love with me :)
He adores his little girl
Blake is a weblos leader in our ward (I do it with him)

ME:
I've lost 25 pounds since I've weighed my most :)
I'm the activity days leader in my ward
I dont know what to say about me... nothing much I suppose

Blake and I aren't in the process of adopting another child. We both feel content and so we take that as it's probably not the time to add more kids. Once we start aching for that missing someone in our family we'll get started.

An Update-yo!

2011-03-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

Blake:
He got a new job- He's a Private Investigator. He basically helps Law Offices track people and give them warrants and foreclosure notices. :)

Gracie:
She will be 2 in about 2 months.
She talks a lot
Loves girly things- pink, purple, fairies, my little pony, clothes, jewelry

Me:
I've lost weight- as mentioned before. I'm down 1.5 pant sizes and my face, stomach, butt and legs look smaller. My fingers have shrunk too- my rings are loose
I ranked #3 in sales for Park Lane Jewelry
I do love were we live now- it's nice to have everything all on one floor.

Us:
We are starting the foster care process. We should be licensed foster parents in about 3 months. Then hopefully we will have a tot in our home to play with Gracie! Ideally, we'd like to adopt one or more foster children we will have in our home. Time will tell. But our age group is 0-5 years and we good with any race and sex.
We are going on vacation in less than 2 weeks and I'm so excited. We're going to California and into the sun!! WOOT WOOT

I don't have pics right now

2011-03-12T03:11:00.000-08:00

so... since I've moved I've lost weight. I'm happy about it :) I changed my diet drastically and it makes a huge difference. I'll post pics some day :P

I found Hooty again!

2011-02-08T15:40:00.000-08:00

So just now, I was looking through my clothing catalog and the model is wearing Hooty. It looks like they turned it around so it didn't look EXACTLY like it... but I know better!!

This is my 3rd post of the day. I have two below :)

Hooty On Bachelor

2011-02-08T14:19:00.001-08:00

Look who was wearing Hooty!

Jewels by Park Lane makes this popular piece! You can have it too for $39. If you get 2 other people to buy it with you I will sell it to ya for 20 bucks each!

A Very Special Deal For you!

2011-02-08T10:04:00.000-08:00

Want a 69 dollar ring for 26 dollars?! I knew you did!! I'm trying to get as many people as I can to order their very own Signature Ring and each person will get it for just $26 bucks!! And that's with Tax and Shipping included!! Pick one you want then email me, comment on this blog or text me. I want to put the order in on Feb 16th!! So gather your spare change and lets spoil ourselves for cheap!!

Any color you chose: Green, Red, Pink, Purple, Blue, Orange or Black in sizes 6-10. I can't wait for all of us to have one!!

Day 7

2011-01-26T09:52:00.000-08:00

Me and the person I've been closest with the longest, my mum! Well we were pretty close pre-birth... and we've been close ever since! (just not THAT close if you know what I mean). Please excuse my face, this is when I was on Prednisone so I was Fat Face McGee... Anyway, love you mom!

Day 6- Favorite Book

2011-01-25T08:16:00.000-08:00

Well when I was a small tot this was my favorite book- It still is but I'll chose a grown-up book for this post.

I really LOVE Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Album. Everyone should read it... ok, go read it!

Bailey May

2011-01-24T15:31:00.000-08:00

My Boxer Bailey is a year old today. She's so sweet and great with Gracie. She has the softest ears and cutest monkey mouth. Love you Bay Bay

Day 5: My Favorite TV Show

2011-01-24T07:17:00.000-08:00

King of Queens

Day 4

2011-01-23T13:29:00.001-08:00

Photo of me as a child... I don't have any on my computer- I'll see what I can find.

I searched high and low- this is all i could find. bummer

Day 3 – My favorite movie

2011-01-22T07:54:00.001-08:00

Hands down, Clueless is my favorite movie- want me to recite it for you word-for-word? Sure thing!

Gracie got her hair cut

2011-01-21T16:33:00.000-08:00

Gracie's hair was very troll-like, as seen below. So I thought maybe a hair cut would fix it.

Grandpa (my dad) is a barber so he cut Gracie's hair!

She sat really still as long as she had Reese's Pieces in her mouth :)

She is so darling!!

Day 2

2011-01-21T05:34:00.000-08:00

My Favorite Song. Ya'll know it! Hold On by Wilson Phillips:

I know this pain
Why do lock yourself up in these chains?
No one can change your life except for you
Don't ever let anyone step all over you
Just open your heart and your mind
Is it really fair to feel this way inside?

[Chorus:]
Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then baby are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry
Don't you know?
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can you hold on for one more day
Things'll go your way
Hold on for one more day

You could sustain
Or are you comfortable with the pain?
You've got no one to blame for your unhappiness
You got yourself into your own mess
Lettin' your worries pass you by
Don't you think it's worth your time
To change your mind?

[Chorus]

I know that there is pain
But you hold on for one more day and
Break free the chains
Yeah I know that there is pain
But you hold on for one more day and you
Break free, break from the chains

Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then baby are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry
Don't you know?
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day yeah
If you hold on

Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day,
If you hold on
Can you hold on
Hold on baby
Won't you tell me now
Hold on for one more day 'Cause
It's gonna go your way

Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can't you change it this time

Make up your mind
Hold on
Hold on
Baby hold on

Personality Part 1

2011-01-20T09:08:00.000-08:00

Gracie is so silly most of the time. She thinks she's so funny, and she is. I went in her room to wake her up one Sunday morning and she was sleeping with her feet through the bars. That's typical Gracie. Always putting on a show. She's a comedian I tell ya!

I love her wedgie bum

There is a post below that I did today

Day 1

2011-01-20T08:45:00.000-08:00

Recent Photo of me.. I'm looking freaky. I just woke up.

I've been TAGGED!!

2011-01-19T18:47:00.000-08:00

Day 1 – a recent photo of you

Day 2 – your favorite song

Day 3 – your favorite movie

Day 4 – a photo of you as a child

Day 5 – your favorite television program

Day 6 – your favorite book

Day 7 – a picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest

Day 8 – your favorite quote

Day 9 – your dream house (description or photo!)

Day 10 – a photo that makes you happy

Day 11 – a photo that makes you angry/sad

Day 12 – something you are OCD about

Day 13 – a description of what's currently in your handbag/purse/diaper bag!

Day 14 – a photo of a person you’d love to trade places with for a day

Day 15 – a photo of yourself and a new friend you met this year

Day 16 – a song that makes you cry

Day 17 – your favorite website

Day 18 – a photo of your favorite memory

Day 19 – a picture of somewhere you’d like to travel

Day 20 – a talent of yours

Day 21 – a hobby of yours

Day 22 – a photo of your wedding/future wedding plans

Day 23 – a photo of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Day 24 – a recipe

Day 25 – your worst habit

Day 26 – a photo of where you live

Day 27 – a photo of someone you could never imagine your life without

Day 28 – your hopes, dreams, plans for the next 365 days

Day 29 – a picture of something you want to do before you die

Day 30 - a photo of yourself today + three good things that have happened in the past.

Tomorrow I will do day 1.

I tag- Krista, Emily, Jen, Audrey, Chelsi, Kalli, Aubrey

Be Mine Say Yes Ring

2011-01-15T17:27:00.000-08:00

I want this ring:

Sold only by Jewels by Park Lane. $119 value. Can be yours for only $14 if you host a show. MAN I WANT IT!

I did it! I actually did it!

2011-01-04T10:21:00.000-08:00

For some deep down weird reason I've been against new years resolutions. But I did it this time. I need to get them on "paper" to make them for real!

*Lose 10 lbs by March

*then Lose an additional 10 lbs by Mother's day

*Go to the temple once a month- we used to be so good at that- so we have to get good at it again... Gracie sitters??

*FHE every monday

*Adopt another child :)

What are some of your resolutions?

My 200th Post

2011-01-03T08:02:00.000-08:00

Yeah, you'd think this would be a happy post. But it's not going to be. I'm deflated. I feel hopeless and helpless. So much goes wrong in my life in 2010 and it's carrying over to 2011. I can't control all the crap that is going wrong and it's really eating at me. I hate it. My life, aside from my family, totally sucks and I'm not going to fake it. Can't something go good for once!?!?! I want to scream and cry. I must suck at living cause it's sucking the life out of me. Stupid life!

Gotta Laugh!

2010-12-17T10:35:00.000-08:00

Click here to laugh

We need a little Christmas!

2010-12-03T10:19:00.000-08:00

My house simply wasn't festive enough. I have been waiting since Thanksgiving to get a tree. Funds have made it difficult to get one. I was done with waiting- what if we could never get a tree- so I found this old fake tree in storage, it's used but I'd never used it

So I pulled it out, added lights, bulbs and a skirt, and this is what we got:

It's not way purdy or anything but I'm so happy to have something! :) And Gracie was ooing and awing- she loves it so that's all that matters!

Then I added lights to the window so something can shine through to outside (since the tree doesn't)

We don't have a mantel or anything so a little bit ago I splurged and got this stocking rack thingy at Tai Pan

I hope this Christmas will be a memorable one!

My Angel

2010-12-01T09:28:00.001-08:00

Gracie is 18 months old today. She is my angel. I love her so much. Everyday I think "Wow, she is my child!" I can hardly believe it. I have to look at her often to make sure I'm not dreaming. She is finally walking. Her talking is coming along very well. She repeats most anything I say. She tells us what she wants- no more guessing. And she tells us what she doesn't want. She is so friendly, she loves to say hi and bye to people and give hugs. She loves to color and draw. She loves to dance and sing. As soon as she hears music or singing she starts dancing- before I even realize there's music! She loves books. She looks through books and magazines and asks me to read to her. She has a cute book about giving baby kisses before bedtime and she kisses each page as we go through it. She loves pushing buttons. She loves playing her little piano, kazoo and harmonica. I can tell she is already very artistic- I always hoped my children would be artistic! She loves hair and plays with mine. I really think she wishes she had long hair. She helps me around the house. A couple days ago I was at the post office mailing invitations and I'd put the stamp on the invite then had it to her and she'd put them in a pile for me. She also hands me hangers when I hang up the clothes after doing laundry. I love my little girl. She is a blessing. I hope she is always as sweet as she is now.

I'm so thankful-

2010-11-25T21:46:00.001-08:00

-for Jenna. Each day that goes on the realization that Jenna actually picked US to adopt Gracie sinks in more and more as my love for Gracie grows more and more. Jenna is an angel. She is such an amazing, strong woman with a huge heart and an eternal love for Gracie. We will always be grateful for Jenna and her strength. We love her! We love our child she has blessed us with. I could go on and on because I don't think any word or phrase can do my love towards Jenna justice. I hope she knows how thankful we are for her. We hope for only the best for our sweet friend, Jenna.

Halloween

2010-11-20T07:41:00.001-08:00

Blake- cowardly lion, Me- Dorothy, Gracie-flying monkey, my mom- auntie em, my dad- the wizard, my sister Audrey-the wicked witch of the west- and her dog Lilly is Dorothy too
I stole this pic from my cousin's blog. I didn't bring my camera that night- surprise surprise...

Come one come all!

2010-11-18T10:58:00.000-08:00

click the title for details

Counting my blessings: 5

2010-11-05T22:10:00.001-07:00

I'm thankful for Bailey. She is soooo cute and cuddly. She makes me happy. She reminds me a lot of Junior but bigger! She is so sweet. A great addition to our family.

Counting my blessings: 4

2010-11-04T16:05:00.001-07:00

I'm eternally grateful for my sweet daughter, Gracie. She has brought so much joy and fulfillment to my life. I can't imagine life with out her! She has an amazing personality and an infectious smile and laugh.Gracie is such a smart and happy baby. She loves people and playing. She really loves books, drawing and music. She plays the harmonica and is trying out the Kazoo :P She can walk but doesn't EVER do it. She can talk but rarely speaks in full sentences- even though she has many times before. She's so silly and so loving. She loves giving hugs and when she does she says "Awwwwwww" until the hug is done. She plays with my hair and pats me on the back. She tickles my arms and holds my hands. She is such a gift. I love her more and more each day.

Counting my blessings:3

2010-11-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for my friend Jen. She is so beautiful, both inside and out, and I really admire her. She makes me want to look my best, which is saying a lot because I've become so lazy with myself, and she makes me want to be my best. I just love her so much.

Counting my blessings: 2

2010-11-02T15:20:00.000-07:00

I'm so grateful for people who think of me and my family before they give their things away. I enjoy hand-me-down clothes and toys for Gracie, I love hand-me-down furniture, decorations, blankets and even clothes for Blake and me. I'm so grateful for stores like the DI, Savers and Kid to Kid that provide me with a less expensive way to put clothes on our child's back and shoes on her feet. I love yard sales. They help me so I'm able to give a great Christmas to my sweet daughter. I'm not ashamed to shop second hand and to get hand-me-downs. I get excited for a sweet deal and am so thankful to those thoughtful people who give their stuff that they have no more use for, that we can use, to my family.

Counting my blessings: 1

2010-11-01T09:25:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for Blake. He loves me and his little girl so much. He's a great guy and to have him love ME is something to truly be grateful for. I feel lucky every, single day.

Growin Like a FLOWER

2010-10-18T16:07:00.000-07:00

Gracie went from soooo scared to walk to walking with in 24 hrs. She also went to nursery for her first time yesterday. She heard the kids playing upstairs at church (the nursery is upstairs) and she went right up and I put her in there then I left after a couple minutes- she was totally fine the whole time! What a trooper!

Yes I said walking! She is 16 and a half months old and ta da! FINALLY taking steps. I've been walking around with her holding her hand a lot the past couple days. Then I thought "I'll give her a toy, we hold onto each side, then when she feels steady I'll let go." That way she doesn't notice I let go.. the first time I tried it, she took 4 steps! The most she has done is 6. She's so big now!

PS the pics of her on the horse- I used to have a horse just like then when I was a lil tyke :)

How about an update!

2010-10-13T12:29:00.001-07:00

Blake was out of a job for 9 months. He now has 2! We have a lot of catching up to do on our bills. But I'm very grateful he now has a job, or two. His full time job is landscaping. He plants flowers and makes places look purdy. I think right now they are working on planting all the flowers at Ogden Regional Hospital. Long term goal: to own this company someday. His second job is the handy man at an apartment complex. He will be fixing things here and there but mostly re-painting all the apartments. I'm so proud of my man!

I've been looking for a job. I thought, daycare would be good so I could work with my lil girl. I got a job at Bravo Arts Academy in Clearfield.... but after a restless nights sleep and a rain cloud over my head kind of day, I came to the conclusion that I can't work at this place. I would have LOVED to work there and with the CUTE little kids, but it was the other stuff I couldn't settle my mind about. The year contract of only getting paid 7.25/hour, with no paid time off and no health insurance. I also felt like this place wasn't flexible enough for me. If I needed to get off early or need a day off I felt like that would have been hard to do. Therefore, making it tough to be a good mom, wife and family member all around. If Gracie was sick, if Blake needed my help with something, if there was a family get-together, I felt like I couldn't be there for my family like I want to if I worked there. So, I turned down the job today. I do feel soooo much better. This is what my last post was about. All the worries in my mind. But I feel awesome now! It's amazing how you think things would be one way but then turn out to be another. I rather my life be in God's time and way then mine. Maybe I'm not supposed to work at all? We will see as the days go on.

Gracie is a doll!! She is 22 pounds and 29.5 inches and is about 16 and a half months old. She is slow physically but she is as smart as can be! She just learned to go up the stairs. She only walks if she's holding on to something. I think she is too scared to walk by herself. She loves all her family members. She loves her daddy so much and her pup Bailey. She has a lot of fun playing with big Bailey. Gracie loves to dance and make music. Gracie is the best shopping buddy. She never fusses and is always willing to go any place I want :P I really love being home with my child, watching/helping her grow and playing with her. I do love all the time I have with her.

Who says-

2010-10-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

-all blog posts have to be positive?

I need to vent. So I'm going to. My blog listens to my every cry and doesn't judge me :P

I have to have a job. I don't want to go to work. I want to be home with my child. Even working in a daycare doesn't help. My heart aches for one on one time with my little girl. I have a broken heart. Although I have many great things in my life, the financial part isn't at all where I hoped it would be. Not even close. Without help, we would be homeless. So I'm grateful for the help we are able to get.

I wouldn't mind a part time job in the evening. At least that way I could be with my sweet girl all day. I'd really love, more than anything, a stay at home job.

I have a weight on my shoulders, the size of the world. My heart is so full of tears it overflows and streams down my face.

I feel despair. I feel stuck. Although, I do feel grateful to have the opportunity to have a job where I can still be with my baby all day, even if it's not the one on one time I crave.

I would LOVE a miracle right about now :)

Bailey Loves Blake

2010-09-24T20:32:00.000-07:00

Bailey cuddled right up to Blake and put her cute squishy face next to his. Aw! I love this picture.

My Prince Charming

2010-09-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

Blake's 27th birthday is today. He's the best! I'm very happy to have him in my life. And as my best friend! How lucky am I!?! He's so thoughtful. He loves to surprise me. He buys me plant-able flowers for special occasions so they will last longer. At least that's what he hopes (I tend to kill them :/) He's very supportive of my desires and hobbies. He encourages me to work on my talents and build friendships. AH! I just have the best husband!! He loves me, honors me and calls me Manda. He brings a smile to my face and makes me laugh. We have fun together. I'm so happy we have eternity together. There's no one else I'd rather spend my time and laugh until I cry with. I hope your birthday is a great one. I love you!

Swimmin Fun at Roy Aquatic Center

2010-09-05T13:36:00.000-07:00

Gracie and I went here saturday for the Christiansen Family Reunion.

She and I went down this twirly slide together. She loved it :)

Audrey Jean

2010-08-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

Today is my sister Audrey's birthday. She is the big Two Eight! Audrey is a traveler. She's gone to Europe, China, Hawaii, Caribbean- and other places too that I can't remember :) Audrey has her Bachelors Degree and a cute lil puppy, Lilly. Audrey is fun to be with. Everyone loves her company. She is a funny gal too! Happy, Happy Birthday to you from me! HUGS AND LOVES!

A Happy Post

2010-07-13T21:24:00.000-07:00

I made a post on my weight loss blog. Check it out here, if you'd like.

Life would be rough with out you!

2010-07-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

As a house wife and mother. The following makes life easier and I wouldn't want to do with out them!

A toilet brush JUST for scrubbing the bathtub. Keeps my back from the strain of scrubbing with a regular brush.

AWESOME! Easy time saver. And more sanitary then a sponge mop.
Great for the edges of the carpet and tile. Great for stairs.
A cheese cutter
Great for cleaning the bathroom. A sanitary wipe, instead of a sponge.

Makes my dishes sparkle.
Oxi Clean, gets out the worst stains.

Baby changing table, my hero!
Baby Monitors. I use them even now that Gracie is one

What household items can you not live with out?

How I Got Here

2010-06-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

Blake and I got married September 9th 2005.

We new we wanted to have a baby right away. After 9 months of trying with out success we decided to check into it. Doctors had found nothing wrong with either of us. So I tried fertility pills, taking my temperature ever morning and doing ovulating kits... still no success.

Each and every month I had my hopes up high. And each and every month my heart would break.

Blake told one of the doctors that he really, really thought I had Endometriosis. She insisted I didn't. One day, Blake told me I should get surgery to find out. So I told my doctor, and we made the appointment for the laparoscopy.

Friday the 13th of June 2008. I had the minor surgery. When I came to the doctor told me I had the worst case of Endometriosis she'd ever seen. My fallopian tubes were completely blocked. She said I wouldn't be able to get pregnant unless I did In vitro Fertilization. But the first thought in my head was "I can adopt" Although I was crying, I was so happy I could adopt and relieved to finally know what was wrong.

The next Monday I got on the itsaboutlove website and ordered a packet to get started on the adoption process. (just going to the website gets me all excited even now) I filled out the paper work and got it sent back. After many months of heartache and going through the loooong process of become eligible to adopt, we were approved at the end of January 2009.

My cousin Kaycee

told me her friend Shannon

wanted to talk to me because she had adopted too. So we finally got ahold of each other mid February and we talked about our situations and got to know each other. I totally loved her from that one phone call. Before we hung up she said she wanted to ask me a question, she then proceeded to tell me about her friend Jenna

who was pregnant, due in June and having a girl. Right then I had an excited, good feeling about it. She then asked if it would be ok if Jenna took a look at my adoption blog. And of course I was more then excited to have Jenna take a look.

Meanwhile, Blake and I would get emails about other possible adoptions. Most of them were little boys. I would have loved any child, but it didn't feel right. One of them was a little girl, due in June, and had down-syndrome. I thought about it for a minute, and the thought came to me, do not forget about Jenna. And then and there I knew, Gracie would be our little baby.

After a couple months of talking with Shannon and really getting to know her and hearing all about Jenna and her journey through her pregnancy, Shannon told me Jenna wanted to meet us. AAAH! I called Blake up right away and told him the exciting news. The day was set, April 15th 2009 at Firehouse Pizza in Centerville.

Blake and I went out and bought a gift for Jenna.

April 15th came and we were first at the pizzeria. After a few minutes of waiting Shannon showed up with her husband Mac and a cute pregnant girl, Jenna. We had a great time with each other and enjoyed the food. Afterward Shannon told us Jenna had told her she had such a great time she forgot she was even pregnant. I took that as a good sign!!

2 llllllooooooooonnnggg and tear-filled weeks later, I got the news that Jenna wanted to meet with us again. So that same night (April 30th), we met them at Robintino's in Bountiful. Before they showed up Blake spilled his water... a usual thing for Blake when he is nervous. He tried sopping it up with a bread stick. I was laughing my head off. It was a great tension reliever. Then Shannon, Mac and Jenna showed up. After a little while of talking, a the waitress came to the table and gave Blake and me a card in an envelope. It said

That tiny baby bundle

that you have waited for

Is here at last-a precious gift

to cuddle and adore.

Congratulations

With all my love and confidence

Jenna

I was speechless! I wanted to cry but no tears came to me. I was in shock. I felt horrible just sitting there showing now emotion. AH! But I had so much emotion, it just wasn't coming out!

A month later, June 1st 2009, Gracie was born. Jenna was sooo sweet and selfless to let me watch the birth of my little girl. It was the most amazing thing ever.

I can't thank Jenna enough for the wonderful gift of life she gave us. Gracie truly is a dream come true.

December 3rd 2009, Gracie was officially ours, temporally, done in a courtroom before a judge. December 5th 2009 Gracie was officially ours, ETERNALLY, done in a temple before family, angels and witnesses! December 6th 2009 Gracie was given a name and a blessing, from her father by the power of the priesthood. Gracie is so special and has been blessed with many great and wonderful things.

Something I Can Certainly Learn

2010-06-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad
and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.

Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?

Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

Wish List

2010-06-14T09:02:00.001-07:00

I think most everyone has a wish list. Well here is mine:

I wish I could eat whatever I want and not gain a pound- and maybe even lose weight!

I wish I didn't have to deal with the monthly visitor when I can't even get pregnant.

I wish I could get baby number two (not now, later) with out having to pay an arm and a leg. But it's worth it. Just stressful.

I wish I had money and didn't have to worry if I could pay my bills.

I wish I didn't have a 20,000 dollar hospital bill.

I wish my house would clean itself.

I wish we'd never get sick again.

I wish I had really sharp kitchen knives.

I wish I had a wagon for Gracie.

I wish the snow cone shack would get us LOTS of money.

I wish I had health insurance.

I wish wishes came true!

Check me out!

2010-06-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

My friend did a post on her blog about her quirks. Well, I thought I'd do the same. But I'm sure most people already know them since I'm pretty much an open book... I dunno, we'll see :) My "weird list":

I count: each step when I go up the stairs, how many brush swipes of mascara on my eye lashes, how many gulps of water I guzzle. Also, when I play a card game, I find myself counting my cards over and over!

I'm afraid to be organized in fear I'll become obsessed and never stop. (hence my unorganized house)

I must sleep with a pillow over my head

I feel guilty when I eat sweets

I love the movie Clueless and usually watch it when I'm sick

I say "how fun!" a lot and blake says it's fake, but I'm really sincere when saying it

I use and over use exclamation points!!!

Here's a couple gross ones: I like to clean out ears, mine, blake's, gracie's, the dog's- whoever's!

I like to see all the dots on blake's biore strip when he's done with it (EW I can't believe I admitted that!)

I sleep a ton! I always have. If I'm tired, I fall asleep

I'm a bad driver. I've never had a ticket but I've gotten in plenty of accidents- woe is me!

I can tell by looking at someone's fingers if they play the piano

I can tell by looking at someone's mouth if they've ever had braces. It's not the teeth, it's the upper lip!

I HATE the sound of popping fingers, toes, backs, necks- anything.. it makes me cringe!

I'm afraid of the dark, fish, birds

I like to say off the wall things or random/some times inappropriate things just to see people's reactions- it makes me laugh

Speaking of laughing, I laugh at pretty much everything. EVERYTHING tickles me. Laughing is my favorite. Just saying "tickles me" makes me laugh. ha. HA!

I procrastinate in fear of failing

I went to school for interior design but really really SUCK at decorating

But I must stop blogging cuz my dog is being a sick-o! Please do tell me your quirks. I want to know!

Low Carb Meals

2010-06-10T07:22:00.000-07:00

So... I constantly watch the Food Network. Blake thinks it's sooooo boring. But if it weren't for that I wouldn't have the inspiration and desire to cook and bake! It get my noodle going and I tend to make up foods. I'm really trying to eat low carb these days. And I must say, a low carb way of eating is the way to go for me. I've lost nearly 20 pounds :) I feel pretty good. Anyway....

I thought I'd share a couple of my creations with you. I wanted lasagna, but didn't want to use noodles. Now, with this recipe you can use any veggie/squash you want. I used eggplant. I've never had it before and it isn't half bad! Well anyway, I cut the eggplant into disks and then rinsed them in water and coated them in parmesan cheese (as apposed to bread crumbs. more protein, less carbs.) and then just fried them in a hot pan with a tiny bit of olive oil. Then I used that as the noodle part of the lasagna and layered it as usual. I use cottage cheese and mozzarella cheese in my layers and ground beef in my secret marinara sauce for added protein. It turned out pretty dang good! I'm not entirely sure I'd use eggplant again. It's good but I like other veggies more.

The next one, I made last night. I used spaghetti squash this time. I cut it into big chunks and boiled it. Then I took it off the skin, put into a bowl, added some parmesan cheese, mixed it, then formed little patties. Makes about 12 little patties (note, you should squeeze out the extra water before forming into patties) And again, I coated them in parmesan cheese. Then I baked them 350 degrees until the tops were brown. Then I heated No Sugar Added Hunts Spaghetti Sauce. Finally, I plated the patties and spooned the sauce on top. I loved it just like that. But Blake liked mozzarella cheese melted on top and some grilled chicken in the mix. I should have thought, grilled chicken! So next time I make it I will grill up some chicken tenders, then add the sauce to it just like the squash.

I hope my instructions make sense. If you try them, let me know what you think.

Gracie's Birthday

2010-06-02T17:21:00.000-07:00

Alright! This post is not cooperating with me. The pics are not in order and it really bugs me, but I'm unable to do what I want with them. Too complicated.

ANYWAY

Gracie enjoying her toys the next morning

Jenna

She loved her cake. I asked her if she was all done and she said "no no"

She's ONE can you believe it!! She had a bit of a Tinkerbell theme :)

Her Tink and Friends cake I made. I couldn't have done it with out the guidance of my mum.

Landon, with his BIG MUSCLES whacked down the pinata!

My lil lady can MooVe!

2010-05-28T15:59:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited. Gracie is nearly one and she is starting to crawl (finally :P) What a cute lil scooter! I love it.

http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=764675011&k=3YAZ52WZTT6G6BD1XB23QSSPW6BAXX6LSSHP&oid=1305448040433

I'm having no luck uploading the video, so if you'd like to see it check it out on my Facebook by following the above link!

MR LANDINI!

2010-05-26T17:16:00.001-07:00

I wanted to do a post about my cute nephew Landon! He is 6 and a great big brother to his sister Brinlee and will be a great big brother to his soon to come baby sister (In August/September). He's a great little student.

He is the son of Jeni, Blake's sister, and Matt. Landon was the first nephew I met when I became part of the Christiansen family. He has two older cousins but at the time they lived in North Dakota and the 7 other nieces and nephews weren't born yet. I remember the first time I met Landon he was 1. He showed his muscles and loved dancing with Uncle Blake. Yep, my first memories of Mr Landini! LOVE YOU BUD!

My Recent Creations: Pillowcase Dresses

2010-05-21T09:53:00.001-07:00

ChLoE

HaNNaH

BrinlEE

Abbey

Up in here!

2010-05-12T13:58:00.001-07:00

Updates:
Blake: We are working on opening up the Hawaiian Shaved Ice shack, right across from burger stop and sill's cafe. We hope to have it up and running before Memorial weekend. Come for a cool treat!! Blake has been going to TONS of auctions and buying wicked cool things for cheap and selling them on KSL

Gracie: Still not crawling :) She is so content sitting on her spread out blanket and playing with her blocks. We try to get her to crawl or walk but she just doesn't want to right now. Which is fine. She will eventually. She's saying some sentences: I did it! I love you. What's that? Who's that? Where's your toes? She says new words everyday. A new one from yesterday was Star. A couple cute stories. I was getting her dressed on Saturday and had just gotten on her onsie and was looking for her pants and she lifted her legs up in the air and said "I did it!" Another thing, yesterday, I was lying in bed with the blanket up to my chin and gracie was sitting next to me facing me and she said "where's your __" I couldn't understand her last word. She tugs on my blanket and looks like she's trying to see under it and said again "where's your__" then she lifted up her foot and wiggled her toes. So I lifted up my foot and said Toes! then she repeated "toes!" Yeah it was cute. Her birthday is in less than 3 weeks :) I'm excited.

Me: I'm halfway to my weight loss goal. 15 pounds down 15 to go!! I'm almost to where I was before the Prednisone made me gain 20 pounds. I did a 5k on Saturday with my pals and Ms Gracie. I walked with Gracie in a stroller and my friends ran it. I finished WAY after them but they were so nice to wait for me :) it was a great time with some great friends.

This Month: I'm going to my cousin's cabin in a couple of weeks for a weekend then over memorial weekend I'll be going to Montana with my cousins. Lots of fun to come! Then the day I get back from Montana it will be my baby's birthday!! AAAH! She'll be one, done with bottles and soon to be walking. She's growing so fast!!!

Sleep Talkin'

2010-04-14T06:32:00.001-07:00

Last night:

Blake came to bed after I was already asleep. When he walked in the room I said "Does your wife know you're here?" He said "What?" so I repeated myself "Does your wife know you're here?" He asked"Who are you dreaming about?! Who's the other man!?"

At that point I said "It's you." And he said "Yeah right, who is it?" Then I woke up and asked "What did I say?" He told me. Then my dream came back to me. I dreamt that I was laying on the bed and Blake walked in and I said "Does your wife know you're here?" I was "roll playing" in my dream laugh out loud HAHAHA

I used to think I was a great person to sleep next to. But my sister, mom, husband and sister in laws will all beg the differ... I'm a nut!

Gracie

2010-04-01T18:44:00.001-07:00

These are pics from when she was 9 months old. Now she is ten months old.. I'm SLOW

Lovin' her food!

Pictures

2010-04-01T18:40:00.001-07:00

The follow are some pics I found on my camera but I've never posted them:

Keepin' Busy

2010-04-01T18:35:00.001-07:00

I did a few small projects today. They aren't super special but they were fun to do.

This is for my kitchen
Gracie's room

AH

2010-03-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

There is so much I want to say in my blog but I don't know how to say it all... so that's why I haven't been blogging much. I have so much on my mind. My heart is heavy a lot these days and my mind is clouded with thoughts. AH! It's so overwhelming.

I need to re-decorate my house. So I need help. Who wants to help me?

Yet Another Side Effect

2010-03-26T18:44:00.000-07:00

The past few months I have noticed I've been losing a lot of hair.

LOTS!

And this past month I've lost even more. I never made the connection that it might be a side effect of the Prednisone until this week. So I just now looked it up. Yep, it's another side effect. Let's hope I don't go bald and look like the other people at the cancer doctor that I go to. So I'm losing hair and gaining weight.

hmm..

Total suck-ness

I'm going to be a bald fat woman before we know it :P

Well, lets hope not :)

Itty Bitty Update

2010-03-19T12:51:00.001-07:00

Here I go, It's time I blog again. It's been too long.

Biggest to littlest:

Blake- Still looking for work, his back has been REALLY bad!! He's been laid up for days. He just got a new calling... we have a little surprise venture that Blake's been wanting to start up for a while now- but once we buy it I will post about it...

ME- Still on my meds. My platelets are way good so that is great. I miss my junior still. I always will. I love being a mommy to Gracie and a wife to Blake. I'm ready to move into a bigger, newer house. But that won't be for a while. I really need to re-decorate my house. Anyone wanna help me? hehe

Gracie- So cute!! When I go out and about everyone stops and tells me how cute she is hehe I LOVE IT cuz I think she is quite adorable. She doesn't crawl yet. She rolls around. She is building her vocabulary daily. It's fun to hear her mock us like a parrot. She is still so smiley and happy :) She loves all food except mashed potatoes... which I think is unacceptable :P

Bailey- Our new lil puppy. She is a boxer. So sweet. But since she is a puppy we are working on training her to go outside and not to bite with her sharp teeth! It's been tough. But she'll get the hang of it.

I plan to post more pics of Gracie later...

Goodbye Junior

2010-03-01T12:37:00.000-08:00

I love you and will miss you so much

Paralyzed Pup

2010-03-01T10:49:00.000-08:00

Ok so the scoop on Jr. He started moving slow Saturday afternoon and that left me worried. Then Sunday morning I went to take him outside and he wouldn't use his back legs. So I brought him out to the grass and he was walking but stumbling around. So I thought he had what Lilly had. We then, a little later, noticed he was dragging his back legs when he walked. So to the vet we went. He has a herniated disk. He hurt it jumping off something high. Don't know what it was he jumped off of.
Since we don't have $3,400 for surgery we went with shock wave therapy. So he did that. Should have stopped the progression of the disk protruding into the spine... but it didn't. He's worse today. He's in so much pain. He tries to walk and be normal but then after stepping with his front legs and his hind legs not following he'll look back as if thinking "why the heck won't you move?!"
I haven't slept in two days because Junior is in so much pain he cries loudly all night. So I cuddle him to make him stop. But I have to sit still when I hold him to make sure I don't hurt him. Blake and I are very tired parents.
I'm so incredibly sad. Junior is my baby. I love him so much. Anyone who knows me would say I'm quite attached to my little boy. I just want to cry.
So now our choices are, since surgery is out of the question: To put him to sleep- which I would do if he was in lots of pain forever. But the pain should go away in a day or so- hopefully. The next thing is to get him a cart. It would attach to his hind quarters and he'd roll around and be as happy as can be expected, considering.... I wish I could know what Junior wants. Whether to be with us on Earth but rolling around. Or be in heaven running free but with out us.... I want him to be happy.

Bath Time!!

2010-02-12T16:40:00.001-08:00

Gracie is 8 months old, as of February 1st. She was really enjoying her bath today.
Gracie is soooo cute. She clicks her tongue on the roof of her mouth.
She's really good at kisses. She presses her lips together and makes a kissy noise.
She isn't crawling... she rolls and kicks a lot but she isn't close to crawling.
She is a flirt and a show off. I just love it!! She talks all the time and is super smiley and laughs at everything!!

Where to start...

2010-02-11T14:36:00.001-08:00

I have a lot to say cause I have a lot on my mind.

I think lately, the main things on my mind are:

My zit face

My weight

Adoption

First off, My zit face: The meds cause acne so my face is a mess- primarily my chin. I don't like it much at all. I will be more than thrilled to have my face be clear again. I'm still on my meds because my platelets have been dropping slightly. But I will to the dr again next week and hopefully my count will be up and I will be able to continue to get off my medicine. Which then brings my train of thought to health insurance. Blake no longer has a job sooooo no more health insurance for us. I can get Gracie on Medicaid so that is good. But my sick self, no insurance company will want me. So I assume I'll just have to wait for Blake to get another job with benefits. I don't want to stop going to the doctor cause I want to monitor my platelets so I don't end up in the hospital again- ya know...

My weight. I have nasty stretch marks- EW. I'm out of shape. I'm working out again but I get discouraged easily. I want results fast.. but I know it will take a loooong time. BLAH!!

Adoption: The end result is joyous and the best thing EVER but the journey to get a baby is stomach turning and heart wrenching. The long process of applying. The waiting for a sweet birth mother to pick us... fortunately the waiting part last time didn't take too long. It went smooth and it was really great. But I do know most times it takes a long time and I know myself, and my heart will break a little each day until I get a baby. Anyway, I don't know when we'll start the process again. We can't start until Gracie is 1 year old. But it's been on my mind. Oh also, the funds to adopt- outa this world expensive! Especially for us work-less folks. ANYWAY I'm soooo happy to have my Gracie so maybe my heart won't be so tender this time since I already have a sweet baby. But who knows....

Now that I've said all that's on my mind please don't tell me how I should feel- it won't make me feel better... Not saying you will tell me how to feel- but I just wanted to put that warning in there :)

I love this pic of my rockin' 8 month old!

2010-02-05T11:04:00.000-08:00

7 Months!

2010-01-19T10:04:00.001-08:00

The bear totally freaked her out

Almost done!

2010-01-06T08:36:00.000-08:00

Each week for the past 2 months I've been going down 5 mg of Prednisone and now I'm at 5 mg... so that means, next week when I go in to get my blood platelet count checked, if it still looks good, I will be off my medicine!! I'm so excited. Allow me to share with you the effects it has had on me:

Difficulty sleeping; feeling of a whirling motion; increased appetite; increased sweating; indigestion; mood changes; nervousness, swelling of the face, depression, dizziness, general body discomfort, headaches, joint or muscle pain, muscle weakness, prolonged cold, puffing of the face and stomach, unusual weight gain, weakness, acne, constant feeling of thirst, stretch marks... to name a few.

So needless to say I'm looking forward to getting off the medicine. OYE I'm just nervous that I won't go back to normal once I'm off.. but that's silly, cause I will go back to normal... right?? I've gained 20 lbs since being on the meds... I really hope that goes away quickly. It's so depressing

Quick Pics

2009-12-16T16:30:00.000-08:00

A couple more pics I like and wanted to post

Again, ignore the pudginess in my pudding cheeks

The Blessing

2009-12-16T10:48:00.001-08:00

Just a few pics from the blessing. Chelsi, Blake's sister, was so kind to write down the blessing as Blake gave it. So I have a copy! Thanks Chelsi. So thoughtful of you!!

Blake's Family

Blake's Parents

Gracie's Birthmom Jenna and Jenna's Mom

My parents

My tiny family (especially compared to Blake's big family) So sad, my brother Nick and his wife Shelly left before we got to taking pics so they weren't in any... :(

Gracie is 6 months old!!

2009-12-12T17:37:00.001-08:00

She turned 6 months on the 1st of December. She is so happy and smiley. I adore her!! Blake does too :)
She loves her baby food and wants to eat what we eat so when she watches us eating she stares at us with her mouth open like a little bird.
She's getting 2 teeth. I'm pretty sure they are her k9 teeth and she is going to look like a sweet little vampire soon.
My Sister in law Chelsi took these pictures of Gracie yesterday and I found it hard to pick out my faves to post on here. Anyway, Enjoy!

I love her little smirks and constant smiley face. She laughs so much. She makes me laugh too :)

Ain't she a doll!!!

The Temple

2009-12-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE!!

What more can I say?! It's so amazing. I'm so happy to be an eternal family!

Finalization!!

2009-12-04T10:33:00.000-08:00

It's official! Gracie is ours for keeps!! YAY Then the sealing is tomorrow and her blessing on Sunday. What a fabulous week!

Pictured above from left to right: Blake's sis Chelsi, his mom Denise, his dad Bob, Blake, me and Gracie, my sis Audrey, my mom Jenine and my dad Mike, my brother's wife Shelly, my Grandma and Grandpa and the nice Judge Kay.

Please ignore my fat face, I try to.

Gracie is 5 months old!

2009-11-06T12:20:00.001-08:00

Had a photo shoot in my front yard today. Gracie was really working the camera :P

She wouldn't look any other way... the leaves on the tree were fun to watch I guess

One for fun, my make-up-free face... at least Gracie looks cute :)

What's up with me you ask? Well I'll tell ya:

2009-11-01T15:06:00.000-08:00

Sunday the 25th I was hemorrhaging lots and lots and had red dots on my skin over my feet, ankles, legs, hands, neck, chest, face and eye balls. So I decided after lots of convincing to go to instacare. There they tested my Hemoglobin and found it was low, at about 13. I was there for quite a while and got really dizzy and lied down and they checked my Hemoglobin again and found it had dropped to 11 so they sent me to the ER. I think Hemoglobin is the oxygen stuff in the blood. Anyway, I got to the ER and they immediately did blood tests and hooked me to an IV. They found out my Platelet level was 4,000 when it should be between 150,000 and 400,0000. So they gave me a platelet transfusion then emitted me into the hospital. They did tests on me every 2 hours that night and I was a human pin cushion. My arms hurt soooooooo bad. I didn't hold back my tears, I let em go! I have a very low tolerance for pain and this was awful awful pain. Eventually they checked my platelets again and they were at like 14,000 and then went down to 2,000 so I got another platelet transfusion. After going up and down with platelets and getting 4 platelet transfusions I had lost so much blood they had to give me a blood transfusion. By the way, platelets are what clot blood. AH! I couldn't believe I was in the hospital for a week. I got my last transfusion about 2 days before they released me from the hospital. They kept me longer to make sure my platelets would make themselves on their own. And they were. Hopefully still are, I think they are good. But I have something called ITP. Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura is a bleeding disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets. The chances of it coming back are high but there are chances it won't. So time will tell. Until then, I will be very careful not to fall, cut myself and I will look for those little red dots on my skin. If this ITP persists they will need to take out my Spleen. OYE I would like to hold on to it. So there is my issue and why I was in the hospital for a week. A long, scary week. Oh, they tested me for different diseases including Lupus and I don't have any of them. THANK GOODNESS!! I'm happy to be home and with my little family again. Blake is such a great husband. He rarely left my side. More than I could ask for. I had so many visitors and flowers and people to help take care of Gracie. I am truly blessed. Thank you everyone :) LOVE YOU

I WON!!

2009-10-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

Shoppers-Sherlock had a give-away. $20 to Flowerz in Her Hair (both sites have a button on my blog, to the left). I won!! YIPEE This is what I got with my winnings:

A cream beanie,Close ups of the flowers and bows:

Cute as a Button flwoer, khaki Stretch Crochet headband

Curly Korkers, Thanksgiving turkey, and Monogram Bow :)

DO check out both of the sites :D

Yesterday my pal Krystal invited me to her house to make bracelets. She made one for her little girl and I made these two for Gracie:

One for Christmas and the other to match the shirt I want her to wear in our little family pictures. The picture doesn't do the colors justice. The bracelet matches the shirt colors perfectly :)

Needed some sprucing up :)

2009-10-10T12:53:00.000-07:00

I was in need of some sort of hair change. My hair looked dull and so I figured the change would be color. I didn't want to pay $70 to get my hair done (like I usually do) so I paid 8 bucks and got the box color- Loreal. I dyed my hair all by myself- which actually isn't the first time. But this is the first time it seemed to turn out really well- if I do say so myself.

Junior is bony

2009-10-09T03:50:00.000-07:00

I'm worried about my pup. He is just so skinny. He's always been skinny but he's a skeleton now. The pic doesn't even show how skinny he really is. I better take him to the vet. I hope they can figure it out and fix him. :( Poor Junior!

Halloween and 4 Month pics

2009-10-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

Junior was just dying to get in a pic!! Like how her shoes still have the DI stickers on the bottom! HA

Gracie is a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb. Gracie is a little lamb because she is so sweet! (I made that song up!)

4 Months

2009-10-01T07:44:00.001-07:00

*likes her rice cereal but she spits half of it out cause her tongue gets in the way
*now likes her baths for the most part. She kicks and splashes
*still sleeping through the night - what a girl!!
*loves it when we sing to her
*now holds her toys and sometimes sucks on them
*still loves her fingers
*teeny tiny girl, her 4 month wellness check up is on the 5th

This was just this morning. About an hour ago :)^^^

The shoes were cute, they were huge on her and she hated wearing them.

My latest craft. Gracie's Piggy Bank:

Strange Nursery Rhyme Thoughts

2009-09-25T13:57:00.000-07:00

Gracie has this CD with Nursery Rhyme songs on it. We listen to it when I'm in the kitchen and she's sits in her bouncer while I do my thang. Anyway, I get to thinking about the silly rhymes and a lot of them are super gruesome

Jack and Jill- they went up a hill and Jack fell and broke his head open

Ring Around the Rosy-

Ring around the Rosy
Pocket full of Posy
Ashes, Ashes,
We all Fall Down

This is about people back in the day who have the Black Plague or Bubonic Plague

One of the first visible signs of infection were red rings surrounding a rosy bump, all over the peoples' bodies and they stunk- also all the dead bodies lying around smelled pretty bad too. So they kept flowers (Posies) with them and in their pockets.... and ashes ashes- they'd sneeze so much- I believe the children thought "ashes" was the sound their sneezes made. We all fall down- Pretty self explanatory.. right?

Rock A Bye Baby- just listen to the words- yikes!

Another one that got me thinking and I'm just not sure what it's about but I came up with what I think they were singing about back in the day:

This old man- They say he played nic knack yadda yadda yadda then he came rolling home. I think the man was crazy and was in a wheel chair and he kept pestering the people in the town at night knocking on their windows and doors then roll back home to his loony bin. When he plays 7 he plays nic knack up in heaven then 9 he plays nic knack on his spine- like the crazy man died then started haunting the other guy and knocking on his spine.. anyway.... the next one is this:

Farmer in the Dell- They say the farmer takes the wife, wife takes the child, child takes the nurse... and then the animals start taking each other then the cheese stands alone. I think the Farmer has a disease and gives it to his wife, the wife to the child then the child to the nurse- they all end up dieing and the animals are left alone and have to each each other cause there is no one there to feed them- so then the cheese is all that is left cause the cat ate the mouse. Make sense? See I really wouldn't doubt if I was right.

They sound so fun and cute yet they are all so icky and sooo creepy.

Click here for a great deal!! WOOT WOOT

2009-09-18T08:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to My Sugar Bear!!

2009-09-16T06:43:00.000-07:00

Blake is 26 today!! He rocks!! He's such a hard worker. He loves his family so much. He's so sweet to me and Gracie. I hope his birthday is the bestest ever.... even though I haven't gotten him anything yet. I do know what I'm getting him though. :)

Happy Anniversary to us!

2009-09-13T07:14:00.001-07:00

We ordered pizza from The Pie, we watched some movies on TNT lol then in the morning we ate breakfast and watched Tom and Jerry... then I soaked in the tub until I was pruny!! LOVE IT ALL!!

This bathtub was AMAZING! It had a little water fall and a shower way up in the ceiling going down into the middle of the tub- LOVED IT!! and it had jets. AAAHHHH!

I didn't get a pic of Blake and me together- what was I thinking?!

If we go there again I want to stay in the Sultan's Palace.... It looks awesome!

Our Anniversary

2009-09-10T06:46:00.000-07:00

We were married 4 years ago yesterday. I wanted to at least go to dinner with my love bug but I was sick all day long- NOT FUN! But we do have reservations at the Anniversary Inn on Friday night. We will be staying in The Phantom of the Opera room! WAHOOO I've always wanted to stay there.

I thought I had some pics of us on our wedding day but I guess they are on my PC (not this laptop) But I do have pics of us while we were engaged... I guess it will have to do. Phewy!

I was so young and thin!

Gracie and the Bear, 3 Months

2009-09-08T18:12:00.001-07:00

Compare How She's Grown at this website http://gracieandthebear.blogspot.com/

Smilin and Lovin and Sleepin!

2009-09-03T08:50:00.001-07:00

SMILIN

LOVIN

SLEEPIN

I just liked this cute close-up of Gracie with her bright eyes and pudgy fingers.

My Little Craft Projects

2009-09-02T19:13:00.000-07:00

I've been in the craft mood these days. I love doing crafts!! This is what I've been working on the past 2-3 weeks...

I just now finished this.. ^^^ Like my toesies in the first pic hehehe. It's just a stool for when Gracie needs help to the toilet or sink when that time comes. And for her to stand on and help me bake :)

BFF Jen's quilt for her baby boy coming in December ^^^

This may look creepy, dunno-- it's the black hospital diaper bag from when Gracie was born. It looked boring so I spruced it up.. I love SPARKLES!!

Made this Trick-or-Treat bag for my darlin girl. I am going to make another one too just for fun. Get the bags at Michaels for 99 cents. I am having a lot of fun with my Cricut and paint these days!!

Gracie is 3 months old today!

2009-09-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

These pics aren't her "official" 3 month pics because I took them and as you can see I am not very good at taking pics... plus she didn't smile once!!

The 2nd meeting with our caseworker went well yesterday. She is transferring to the Salt Lake office though so we are getting a new caseworker. Anyway, that's that!

Anniversary and Adoption

2009-08-31T08:31:00.001-07:00

Blake said I can plan whatever I want for our anniversary. Something I've always wanted to do hmmm I wonder what I'll pick.. hehehe

We have our 2nd of 3 meetings with our caseworker today. WAHOO! that means the next one will be right around finalization and sealing :) that makes me smile. I can't wait to be sealed to my little doll!!

I forgot to mention

2009-08-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

Gracie is no longer stiff necked. At least my eyes don't see any more stiffness. She is moving her head around freely and looking good! Bye bye Torticollis!!

Gracie updates- sorry no pics of her as of yet

2009-08-20T04:40:00.000-07:00

Gracie is getting sooo good with sleeping through the night. I've been working with her so she can have it mastered in no time. She is about 9 lbs 11 oz and she is a shorty. Her eyes are super blue and her hair is still brown. She is so sweet and happy. She loves Patty Cake and loves any song that is sung to her. She's a music lover just like I thought she would be ;) She is 2 months and 20 days and I have yet had the time to get her 2 month pictures taken- shame on me :( I have some pics of her but I took them on a disposable camera so I have to get those developed then I can post them. Soon....

Well, now I want to list a few things I'm looking forward too... just for fun:

*The Fall and all the flavors and foods that go with it*

Pie, hot chocolate, pumpkin cookies and bread

Halloween. My first Halloween as a mommy. She won't remember it but I sure will :)

I have our costumes picked. Blake and I will be Woody and Bo Peep and Gracie will be a lil lamb. Junior is of course Slinky Dog. I make all the costumes.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Shopping with my mom. I love getting good deals and this year is going to be different cause I'll be shopping for Gracie too!! :)

Christmas movies. I'm ready to start watching them already because they make me smile

What are you looking forward to? Make a post on your blog if you'd like and comment on my blog so I can check out your list.

I was thinking

2009-08-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

So the doctor said the reason Gracie has Torticollis is because while in the womb her head was always tilted to the left side so her neck muscles on that side formed tighter than the other side. So that brings me to my thought... I noticed when Gracie was born her left earlobe flipped up and would rest perfectly on her left shoulder - this must have been because her head was tilted. It still does flip up in fact.

You can see how it flips up in the picnotice how it is flipped in this one:

Random Pictures of Gracie etc

2009-08-03T12:53:00.000-07:00

I took Gracie to her 2 month appointment today. She got 3 shots and only cried for like 10 seconds. She is so strong!! Well she weighs 9 lbs 5 oz and isn't quite in the 3 percentile for height. But the dr says she looks great... EXCEPT she has Torticollis: A contracted state of the neck muscles that produces a twisting of the neck and unnatural position of the head. Which is causing the left side of her head to be more flat and if it goes on too long it will deform her face... so anyway. I have to do neck stretches on her each time I change her diaper and she has to sleep on her right side. If this condition isn't fixed in 2 months then she will need physical therapy. My poor baby!!! Anyway, here are her pictures:

Gracie is punchin her cousin Jace :oP

Cousin Auklin

Auklin, Jace and Gracie- 24th of July celebrations!!

My Content Lil Baby

2009-07-18T09:39:00.001-07:00

Our first time holding Gracie & Placement

2009-07-14T09:25:00.000-07:00

I've wanted to post these pics for a while now, but just haven't yet. Enjoy!

Signing papers.

Jenna is opening the gift basket we gave her.

Gracie and New Cousin Jace

2009-07-12T09:06:00.001-07:00

They are 5 weeks apart :)

The Spirit

2009-07-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

April 9th 2009
Blake got the strong feeling and impression that he and I needed to tell our families about all this so they can help us pray for Jenna and the baby.

April 11th 2009
I got a phone call from Shannon saying Jenna wanted to meet us. So we set the date for Wednesday April 15th at 7:30 pm at Firehouse in Centerville. We told Blake's family. They are extactic. We put a note in an Easter egg saying "Blake and Manda are meeting a birth mom on Wednesday".

April 12th 2009
Jenna emailed me for the first time.

Jenna and I exchanged emails

April 12th 2009 (Easter Sunday)
Blake and I told my family about Jenna. We put a note in an Easter egg saying Blake and Amanda are meeting a birth mom Wednesday- they too are so excited and my mom was teary-eyed. My cousin told Shannon that Jenna had emailed me and Shannon wanted to know what it said. So I called Shannon and read it to her. Shannon called Jenna then called me back. Jenna read the email, I replied to her, to Shannon. Then Shannon told her how lucky she is because I actually gave out my phone number to her. And I want to get to know HER. Shannon said it's way more than she ever did for a birth mom and more than she's ever heard anyone do for a birth mom who is just considering them. Then she said how great it is that Blake has a good enough job that we own our home and that I don't have to work. She told Jenna to grasp it. Don't let us go. It's very fortunate. Jenna said that she hadn't thought about that before. So that's all just great news.

April 13th 2009
I was on my laptop at 9 am this morning and got another email from sweet Jenna.

We exchanged more emails

Welcome Jace Robert!

2009-07-08T08:42:00.000-07:00

Kalli and Derek (blake's sister) have a brand new baby boy!

Born 7-8-09 at 8:04 am 7lbs 5 oz and 20 inches long

BTW

2009-07-07T05:36:00.000-07:00

Gracie laughed for the first time yesterday- July 6th 2009

March 19th 2009

2009-07-07T05:30:00.000-07:00

I called Shannon to see if she had any info on Jenna. Shannon thought it was really cool that Jenna called then just 15 mins later I called her... Jenna was going over to her house after a RS dinner. she said she'd call me after jenna left. so I got a phone call at like 11 pm ish and it was Shannon. And she said they looked at my adoption blog and some other profiles. And Jenna said she liked me and Blake the best. she liked how we had silly pics of us and pics that weren't all perfect and staged like the others. she also likes how we don't have any kids yet and her baby would be our first. she is due June 16th! so less than 3 months away. she had Shannon write down our blog address so she could look at us at home when Shannon was telling me this she was so excited and really positive. so we'll see

How it began- FINALLY

2009-07-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

These are actual journal entries so the grammar may not be perfect:

Feb 19th 2009
my cousin Kaycee is friends with Shannon- she adopted a couple of kiddies- she was on the list at LDS for 2 years with out a single bite. well she moved on to a different agency and got her first with in like 2 weeks and now she just got her 2nd- anyway, Kaycee told her about me and so Shannon really wanted to talk to me. so Shannon and I had been playing phone tag for a few days but finally on Monday or Tuesday (i can't remember which day) she got a hold of me. well we talked for a about 20 mins and just before we got off the phone she says "so what are your thoughts on race, gender and disabilities" so I told her we don't care the race or gender and the disabilities it totally depends. and she said "well I have a good friend who is pregnant- she has epilepsy- her baby is fine and it's a girl and she is due in June- she knows she has to place her baby but is having a tough time. the drs say so far the baby looks great. I told Blake and he and I are feeling good about it as far as I know. Shannon asked if she could give Jenna our blog info etc and I of course said yes. so I told Kaycee about the convo and Jenna and Kaycee called Shannon and said -can you call Jenna asap and tell her and give her their info- Shannon said YES so she's been trying to call her. and that is where we are now. Shannon really wants Blake and I to adopt the baby so hopefully Jenna will feel the same way. Shannon said Jenna will feel comfortable because she wants to give her baby to a family that she knows will be a good and if Shannon pushes her towards us then that will help jenna. Kaycee says Jenna is tall and skinny. i want to talk to her so bad! i can't get my hopes up. I know Blake is freakin excited but he is trying to hide it ( I can see through him) 4 months- i could have a baby girl Grace- i think thats what we'll name her. yep, june- I'm gonna say mid june. june 13 is the anniversary of when I found out I can't have kids. oh i sure hope this is it!

A Milestone

2009-07-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

My baby is getting so big~ kinda

She has 5 newborn diapers left then she will be wearing size 1. So today is the last day she will be in her teeny tiny diapers. I've treasured every single moment of her being so tiny. I know they grow so fast so I wanted to take in everything. I love my little girl so much. She is the sweetest, most gentle thing.