Happy Anniversary!!

Happy anniversary to us! I can't believe we've been married for 7 years already. Time sure have gone by fast. I feel so lucky to be married to such a great person. Someone I love more then anything and someone I consider to be one of greatest friends and supporters. He laughs at all my stupid jokes and makes me feel like the funniest person around. We love to hangout together at home and watch our nerdy Sci-Fi shows. I love that we have the most fun just hanging out and being silly. I'm so proud of him to taking on his new business venture and for working so hard to make it work. I'm so honored and lucky to be married to someone like Chris. Love ya babe!

Favorite time of the year

It finally feels like fall! We're entering my favorite time of the year and I love it. I LOVE the cool weather! I love wearing sweat shirts, layers, fleece, flannel pj bottoms, and slippers. I love sleeping with the windows open and letting the cold air in and then snuggling under the covers. I love that fall means the Holidays are just around the corner.

The Deck

The long awaited deck is finally almost done! This has been a long and back breaking process, but we're very proud of it. We have a few more things left to do, but for now we can still use it. We doubled the size of the old deck and it's now 20ft x 20ft. We can't wait to have people over for BBQs and roasting marshmallows in the fire pit. A special thanks to Dad for helping us design it, pour the concrete, run the new electrically outlets and most of all, helping us build it.

Old deck just before being demolished:


Framing for the new patio:


Pouring concrete can be dirty work:


I got to help screw in over half of the 2,000 screws used:



Dad, Jason and Chris working on the frame:


The framing:


The 'finished' product:

A long awaited answer

I didn't get to spend a lot of time watching General Conference this weekend but I was able to watch the Prophet speak at the end of the first session yesterday. He talked about having hope and living and enjoying each day you have. And the importance of not looking at what you don't have. What he said really meant a lot to me and I really feel like I finally have an answer to something that Chris and I have been praying about for a long time.

Over the last 6 years I have slowly turned into an anger bitter person. I've never understood why we can't have kids and why everyone else around has been. The more time that's past, the more angry and bitter I've become. We did everything we could think of spiritual and sought out the best fertility doctors in Austin and still nothing has worked. Over the last year we've debated about fertility treatments vs adoption and which one we should do. Each one with it's own expense and neither one would be easy. Countless amounts of prayers were said as we pleaded to find out which path we should take. I've never felt so alone in trying to make such a huge decision. Each time a prayer wasn't answered I felt more confusion and anger. I couldn't understand why God wasn't listening and why he'd left me walk alone for so long. I felt my spiritual candle slowly fading down to nothing. After yesterdays talk, I finally feel that peaceful feeling that I've been so longing to feel. I finally have an answer to a prayer that I've waited so long to get. I finally feel a weight lifted off my shoulders and my anger and bitterness fading. I finally feel like I can move on with my life and live each day as it comes. I can really enjoy the time that Chris and I have together as a family.

Words I need to ponder

"The Lord gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain."
Elder Richard G. Scott

I had a really great conversation with a good friend of mine last week that really got me thinking about things. Then I found this quote on another blog and I thought it was to perfect to ignore. I guess sometimes I'm a little stubborn and don't always listen the first time.

Success!

Well the surgery was a success and the results are good; no need for further surgery. The pulmonary valve does have some blockage, but not enough to be to concerned about. We'll go back to doing a yearly follow up and hopefully nothing more. I've had enough pointing, prodding, electrodes and monitors to last a life time!

The heart cathaterization is another story. That is something I wouldn't wish upon anyone. It was a little weird being in the cath lab section of the hospital. I guess i always pictured that to be a place were old people go. I even had 2 nurses tell me that I was the youngest patient they'd ever had. I had great nurses, they just had a heck of a time getting my IV going. After several attempts of trying to get the IV into the vein (this included moving the needle in and out of the vein several times and moving it side to side to get the fluids going) I ended up turning white as a ghost and pucking all over. My hand is still sore from that! Being wheeled into the cath lab was very intimidating and a little overwhelming. Not to mention that fact that it was freezing cold!! They had already given me a Valium and benedryl right before they started to help me relax and they gave me something else through the IV that was supposed to be even stronger. Well let me just say it was to little to late because my worst fears came true. Not only did that numbing shot hurt more then anything, but the burning afterwards was horrible. They gave me another dose through the IV but not before they game me 2 more shots. That was just horrible!!! With that many meds in my system I really don't remember much after that. I'm just glad the whole thing is over and i don't have to do this again.

Fun Friday planned for tomorrow

Well, tomorrow's the big day and I have to say that I'm getting a little nervous. I'm not sure what I'm more nervous about; the fact that they'll be sending tubes through the artery in my groin or the fact that they keep you awake through the whole thing. Or the fact I HATE needles more then anything!!!!

This is an exert from the patient pamphlet they gave me:
"The normal points of entry are either the groin area or the forearm. The immediate skin area is numbed with a local anesthetic, administered through a needle. You will feel an initial pin prick as the needle is inserted, and then a burning sensation as the anesthetic is injected. You also may feel pressure when the catheter itself is inserted, and/or exchanged with other catheters during the procedure." I guess they don't like to give you any fluff. Doesn't this sound like fun?!!