Thanksgiving 2008

Our Thanksgiving was pretty simple this year.

Last year we were in Snowflake at the cabin, which was a lot of fun. But...since Curt had to work the day after Thanksgiving and he's involved in a Christmas program this weekend...we opted to stay home this week. The two older boys (Luke especially) were sad that they couldn't be at the cabin for Thanksgiving with Grandma and Grandpa.

Ashlie and Katy came over the night before and spent the night. Luke and Ty were sooooo excited to "wake Katy up" the next morning. Luke had devised a plan to throw blankets on her head, but his mean mom wouldn't let him :)

The Scout troop in our ward did a fundraiser where they cooked turkeys in a pit. It tasted delish and I was happy to not have to worry about cooking it! Katy made her dad's famous stuffing, which was really good. Ashlie made scalloped corn (yum!) and also a pumpkin trifle, which I didn't try. We also had mashed potatoes, yams, salad, rolls, and of course, pumpkin pie! The food tasted so good and I'm excited to eat all of the leftovers for the next couple of days.

I also invited my friend Denae to eat dinner with us. It was fun to have us Nauvoo girls together! It's always comforting to have a little piece of home when we live so far away from my side of the family. Luke kept watch out the front window...waiting for Denae to arrive. He was so excited to see if she was still driving her blue Subaru (which she was!). He also got to talk "bus talk" with her since she drives a bus a few hours a week!

After stuffing myself silly, Curt was kind enough to let me go to a movie with Ash and Katy. We all wanted to see Twilight again....and I think it was even better the second time :) I can't watch a movie without popcorn, so I ate popcorn and drank Coke Zero until I wanted to puke.

The best part, was when I came back home!! My kitchen was SPOTLESS!!! The dishwasher was running and the sink/counters were no longer piled with dishes!! Curt got big hugs/kisses for that, as Ashlie hollared at us to "get a room". It's so fun to gross her out!

Anyway, although we missed the rest of our family, we were able to have a very enjoyable Thanksgiving.

Pills, Twilight, and Thanksgiving

My Grandpa Allen lived with us a few different times when I was younger. I remember his big "pill organizer" that was filled with his daily meds sitting on his nightstand. So when I finally swallowed my pride and bought my own purple one last week at Wal-Mart, I couldn't help but think of my cute grandpa. I am only 30 and I now have to rely on this purple beauty to let me know if I did, in fact, take my pills that day. Oh well. I am over it. It makes my life easier and that's all that matters!

Twilight...

We were able to see Twilight last Friday in a theater

that was rented out just for us! There were about 200 women and 6 men.

My cute hubby was one of those brave souls! I was surprised that he wanted to go see it with me, but even more surprised that he borrowed the books from his mom and has started reading book #2!!! A guy after my own heart, FO 'SHO!! If he becomes a Jacob fan, though, we might have some problems!! Curt kept everyone in stitches (while I was rolling my eyes, of course) and made runs to the concession stand for us!

Bev, Monda, me, and Curt (being dorky!)


Erica (Scott came too!), Candice, Steph, and Stacey

This guy was a little.....strange.

The funny thing is, we actually know him!

Curt was in the Elder's Quorum Presidency

with him in our last ward!

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

And since Thanksgiving is tomorrow...

here are some of the things

that I am thankful for.

...to be CANCER FREE almost 1 year later!

...for an AMAZING husband and father to our boys.

...for 3 pregnancies resulting in 3 HEALTHY boys!

...to have had 11 more months to be a mother to my boys.

...and 11 more months to spend with Curt.

...to have such an INCREDIBLE support system!

...to live close to Curt's parents

...for my Savior and to be a member of His church

What I've Been Up To...

It is crazy busy around here. I find my head spinning sometimes because I feel like I have so much going on. I know I'm not alone! Especially with the holidays coming up. This stuff is what has been piled on top of the other "usual" things I do daily.

1...Thanksgiving is this week and I'm trying to decide what food I want to cook. Ashlie and Katy are coming over, so it will a good time.

2...Luke's birthday party is going to be on the 6th. I have lots of things to get ready for that. Even though I get a bit stressed out, I DO enjoy doing parties for my kids!

3...I've decided that I want to start working again. So I have been talking with a new nursing agency and doing some online tests as part of the application process.

4...I have several sewing/craft projects to finish before Christmas! Finding the time and/or motivation has been tricky.

5...I have practically been pacing the floors waiting for a response from my insurance co. I received word on Friday that they have APPROVED my surgery!! The big day is scheduled for Dec. 17th @ 7:30am (check in @ 5:30). It is an out patient surgery, so I'll be going home that same day. Hallelujah!! I can't wait!

6...Jake is having his 2nd speech evaluation today to see if he qualifies for speech therapy. It is so nice that the therapists come to our house!

I'm really not complaining. This blog is my way of journaling and I want to be able to remember the good, the bad, and the ugly!

8 YEARS!!

I just want to let Curt know how much I love him!

Eight years ago today, we were married! I am amazed at what we have been through during our 8 years of marriage. We are better, stronger, and closer than ever.

Eight years ago, I would've never thought that we'd have 3 BOYS and be driving a MINI VAN today. But I am extremely happy and blessed to have had things turn out the way they have.

HaPpY AnNiVeRsArY, Babe!!

**For me, my day started off busy. No big surprise there. After I got Luke off to school, I volunteered in his classroom (I do this once/month). I spent the whole hour and a half in the "work room" making copies for Mrs. Boyd. After I was finished there, I headed to the lab to get my bloodwork done. Marla was kind enough to come to the house and watch Ty and Jake for me.

That night, Curt and I had a nice carb-filled dinner at Olive Garden while Curt's mom watched the boys (again!). Any alone time we have is few and far between these days so we always appreciate those moments when we can sneak away from the kids for a little while.

Carrie

Last week

marked the 4 year anniversary of my sister Carrie's death.

Not a day goes by that I don't think of Carrie.

Some thoughts of mine have been...

...how much I miss her and wished she were still alive...

...how proud she must be of Ashlie...

...how much I miss seeing her smile and laugh at my boys...

...how much I miss her little packages filled

with books, candy (for me too), and toys she'd send to the boys...

...how much I miss talking to her on the phone during the day

when my house is quiet...

...I miss her laugh...

...I love to hear Ashlie laugh because she sounds just like her mom...

...I'm happy she is no longer in pain and suffering...

...I hate that my boys don't remember her...

...every time I see pansies, I think of Carrie. She loved them...

...I really miss my big sister and I look forward to the day

when we can be together again...

The pic above is of Carrie holding me.

She had fixed my hair, like she always did.


Carrie holding Ty



Carrie and Ty on his blessing day

Carrie, Ty, and Luke

Carrie and I on Ty's blessing day.

Just 2 months before she died.


I am extremely grateful for the Gospel in my life and to know that my family will be together for eternity. We will all be reunited again and that knowledge is what keeps me going every day.

Saying Goodbye

The other night as I was tucking Luke into bed, he said to me...




"Mom, when you die, will you just come back one more time and say goodbye? Will you touch my shoulder or something?"




My heart seriously aches for this boy. Although my health is good now, he still thinks and talks about me dying. I don't think I'll ever have any idea of what goes on inside that handsome little head of his.

History in the Making

Although I think it is very cool to have the first black man elected as president, I am extremely disappointed that Obama has been elected as that man. I'm sure many black people feel empowered and have a renewed sense of hope...and I'm happy for them. I am ashamed that the people in our nation treated the blacks so terribly years ago (some still do to this day). Although, with so many red flags in Obama's past (partial-birth abortions, links with terrorists...not to mention his inexperience...just to name a few), I think most Obama voters ignored those facts because they either wanted to make history or to see a change in the government. It sickens me to think what could become of our nation, but just as I told Luke this morning, we still need to respect Obama. Luke voted in school yesterday and was bummed this morning when he found out McCain didn't win. But I explained to him how amazing it is to have a black president because of the way blacks were discriminated against in the past. He got sad when I told him how they had been treated. He knows that we don't treat people different...no matter what they look like or what color their skin is.

This is my first time voting for a president who hasn't won. It doesn't feel very good, but what can you do? I think Obama will change a lot of things which is what he has promoted with his campaign. But will things change for the better???

We will just have to wait and see.

BUT...I am ELATED that our Prop 102 got passed! That is definitely a victory.

Plastic Surgeon Update

I saw Dr. Boll yesterday. I was disappointed because we were not able to schedule the surgery yet. She said insurance companies have been giving them a hard time when it comes to coverage for additional reconstructive surgery where implants are involved. The reason why I'm doing implants is because the radiation shrunk the tissue on my left side, so it is smaller now. And I figured, hey, if I'm gonna have my boobs worked on, I might as well make them perky again!

So now we wait until a written response is received from the insurance company. It is a major deal for me to get this surgery done before the end of the year!

Good News!

On Thursday I went in for my Herceptin and also saw my oncologist. Dr. Kellogg informed me that my heart scan came back good, my blood work was good (except for my elevated sugar-probably from my love for Halloween candy lately), and my biopsy came back benign! My lump is the fatty necrosis, afterall. It will be nice when my plastic surgeon takes that out. I meet with her on Monday and am looking forward to it. I am hoping to be able to schedule my surgery while I'm there!

Before you know it, I'll be all put back together and looking normal (somewhat) again!