Today in sacrament meeting the topic was to "Bare one another's burdens."
The past year I know that I (we) would not have made it through our trials without the amazing friends, family, and even strangers that came to our rescue. I wonder daily if those sweet angels that came to our aid know how appreciative, how incredible, how changed we are because of the sacrifices, encouragement, love, and kindness.
I do not know if I will ever be able to repay the debt to you all. I truly have been blessed and my burdens truly were made easier.
T
I love you all!
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Little V
Our little V is 6 months old and I can scarcely believe it! In many ways it seems like she has been here forever, but 6 months is also such a short time. We love her. I honestly have 2,000 pictures on my phone alone and I believe at least 1900 of them are of her!
So a little bit about V. How about an acrostic?!
V is her nickname.
Is always laughing or smiling!
Enjoys sucking on her hands, playing with crinkly items, and being nakey!
Never cries except for when she is hungry and/or tired.
Needs a little help to sit up and loves to roll around.
Adorable dimples and chubby little cheeks that I have to kiss at least 100 times a day!
This past Thursday was her 6 month appointment. At her forth month appointment in September she weighed she weighed 11 lbs. and was 23.5 inches long. She is now 14.7 lbs and 24.5 inches! Her little thighs are simply scrumptious and I just love her little squishy body! So far she has been a great little sidekick. I take her everywhere and she just chills or plays with her toys as I cart her around or when we play at home.
I went to my (old) office on Halloween to visit and show off my chubby little bumble V (hehe). Admittedly it was a little hard to feel like an outsider looking in, and for a moment I longed for the time when my days were full of morning radio shows, Diet Coke runs, listening to tunes all day, going to meetings, working on projects, all while swapping entertaining stories with my peeps SJ and MJP. However, despite a little "worksickness," being home with little V has been nice. My very domestic sisters have coerced me into assisting with all sorts of Home Ec. projects which include, but are not limited to: making homemade bread & cinnamon rolls, canning peaches, canning apples, bottling grape juice, making raspberry and strawberry jam... and sCRAPbooking.
Who knows? Perhaps they'll make a Martha Stewart out of me yet!?
So a little bit about V. How about an acrostic?!
V is her nickname.
Is always laughing or smiling!
Enjoys sucking on her hands, playing with crinkly items, and being nakey!
Never cries except for when she is hungry and/or tired.
Needs a little help to sit up and loves to roll around.
Adorable dimples and chubby little cheeks that I have to kiss at least 100 times a day!
This past Thursday was her 6 month appointment. At her forth month appointment in September she weighed she weighed 11 lbs. and was 23.5 inches long. She is now 14.7 lbs and 24.5 inches! Her little thighs are simply scrumptious and I just love her little squishy body! So far she has been a great little sidekick. I take her everywhere and she just chills or plays with her toys as I cart her around or when we play at home.
I went to my (old) office on Halloween to visit and show off my chubby little bumble V (hehe). Admittedly it was a little hard to feel like an outsider looking in, and for a moment I longed for the time when my days were full of morning radio shows, Diet Coke runs, listening to tunes all day, going to meetings, working on projects, all while swapping entertaining stories with my peeps SJ and MJP. However, despite a little "worksickness," being home with little V has been nice. My very domestic sisters have coerced me into assisting with all sorts of Home Ec. projects which include, but are not limited to: making homemade bread & cinnamon rolls, canning peaches, canning apples, bottling grape juice, making raspberry and strawberry jam... and sCRAPbooking.
Who knows? Perhaps they'll make a Martha Stewart out of me yet!?
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Beginnings & Endings
When we arrived at the hospital at 7:00 am on May 7th, the nurse asked what my goals were for the delivery. She listed them on the whiteboard as I named them. By 10:24 pm we had our little Vienna and only one of my five goals came to fruition, but it was the only one that mattered: V was here and she was perfect! Our 4 days in the hospital passed quickly and it was truly a bit of heaven being with my two loves and having visits from friends and family. When we got home from the hospital on Friday I was sure that I was in heaven and for the first time since I became pregnant felt the peace of which I'd been pleading.
We were just three days home from the hospital when Adam's dad, Tracy, was released to come and stay with us. The following weeks he bounced back and forth from our home to the hospital due to fevers caused by infections in his body. His liver was being damaged by the chemo so the doctors stopped the chemo in an attempt to diminish/control/abolish the infections throughout his body. However the damage was done. No more treatments were available and his body was too weak. Cancer cells had taken over and during our visit on July 4th we were told it was time to place Dad in hospice care.
In order for Tracy to come home, he needed to be on a ground level room to accommodate the hospice bed. That night Adam and I began to box up the nursery. It was surreal seeing all of the valley lit with fireworks. It seemed as though everyone in the world was celebrating while our world was falling apart. We packed up all of V's things and moved the changing table and some clothes into our room. I admit that night I was sad and scared. I was sad that a room I had created for this new little life was going to be a room where my father-in-law would die. I had a lot of emotions and fears that night and in the coming weeks. Being a new mommy and having a bit of postpartum depression I was a mess which compounded quickly when I had 9-21 people living in my home from July 2nd - July 27th. I know that the Lord blessed me. I knew I needed to be strong for Adam and was miraculously able to hold it together.
The night before Dad passed I sat in his room with Ana, his wife, and her daughter Ali. Dad looked so frail. His breath was so shallow and labored. At one point in the night we heard some gurgling and I held a flashlight as Ana used little sponges to soak up some blood in his mouth. It was awful. He was in pain. He had not been coherent for days and it was heartbreaking to watch him fade away. He passed about 8 hours later. I don't know how to express the loss. We miss him and his absence from our home and from this world is tangible.
The days that followed were some of the worst and most miraculous that Adam and I have ever experienced. When Tracy was diagnosed two years ago they lost everything. He had to give up his job, their home, a truck, and liquidated their savings to help pay for the treatments he would receive. Needless to say two years later they had nothing and Adam and his siblings were faced with the overwhelming task of coming up with $11,000 to pay for the funeral expenses.It seemed impossible. It was impossible. By the time we exhausted every resource we had only come up with half and were desperate for a miracle. We had done everything, followed every lead, liquidated what we could, and pleaded with the Lord to help us find a way to cover the other half.
I cannot tell you how humbled I am due to the outpouring of love and kindness we received. Our friends and family were tools in the Lord's hand and came to our rescue. Adam and I were overcome with emotion. How did we get so lucky? How were we so fortunate to have such generous, loving, thoughtful, charitable, Christ like people in our life? How can we ever repay such kindness?
I pray that no one has to go through the struggle we have gone through, but I also pray that if you do, Adam and I will be in a place to help others as we have been helped these past weeks.
We love and thank you.
 |
| Vienna - 4 Days Old |
In order for Tracy to come home, he needed to be on a ground level room to accommodate the hospice bed. That night Adam and I began to box up the nursery. It was surreal seeing all of the valley lit with fireworks. It seemed as though everyone in the world was celebrating while our world was falling apart. We packed up all of V's things and moved the changing table and some clothes into our room. I admit that night I was sad and scared. I was sad that a room I had created for this new little life was going to be a room where my father-in-law would die. I had a lot of emotions and fears that night and in the coming weeks. Being a new mommy and having a bit of postpartum depression I was a mess which compounded quickly when I had 9-21 people living in my home from July 2nd - July 27th. I know that the Lord blessed me. I knew I needed to be strong for Adam and was miraculously able to hold it together.
The night before Dad passed I sat in his room with Ana, his wife, and her daughter Ali. Dad looked so frail. His breath was so shallow and labored. At one point in the night we heard some gurgling and I held a flashlight as Ana used little sponges to soak up some blood in his mouth. It was awful. He was in pain. He had not been coherent for days and it was heartbreaking to watch him fade away. He passed about 8 hours later. I don't know how to express the loss. We miss him and his absence from our home and from this world is tangible.
The days that followed were some of the worst and most miraculous that Adam and I have ever experienced. When Tracy was diagnosed two years ago they lost everything. He had to give up his job, their home, a truck, and liquidated their savings to help pay for the treatments he would receive. Needless to say two years later they had nothing and Adam and his siblings were faced with the overwhelming task of coming up with $11,000 to pay for the funeral expenses.
I cannot tell you how humbled I am due to the outpouring of love and kindness we received. Our friends and family were tools in the Lord's hand and came to our rescue. Adam and I were overcome with emotion. How did we get so lucky? How were we so fortunate to have such generous, loving, thoughtful, charitable, Christ like people in our life? How can we ever repay such kindness?
I pray that no one has to go through the struggle we have gone through, but I also pray that if you do, Adam and I will be in a place to help others as we have been helped these past weeks.
We love and thank you.
 |
| Four Generations: Great Grandpa, Grandpa, Adam with his crazy pre-Spartan mohawk, & Baby V |
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Stationery Card
Fresh From Heaven Birth Announcement
Announcements for every life event: graduation, wedding & baby.
View the entire collection of cards.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Baby Watch 2013
Well my due date has come and gone! Today was my last doctor's appointment and if I am still prego on Monday I get to go to the hospital for a stress test and ultrasound to see how little V is doing. Depending on the results we will either be induced Tuesday or if things are still looking good, he'll let her cook until Friday. We shall see!
This past week we've been getting as much prepared as can be. I've done some organizing, we've rearranged furniture and taken trips to the D.I. I still have some finishing touches in the nursery, but all in all (aside from the day to day cleaning/upkeep) we are 'ready' to go.
I don't really know what to do with myself in the meantime. I find myself wishing that I just would have kept working for one more week. Being home alone the next few days is going to be strange. What do people do? I must not be very imaginative because I am not inspired to do a single thing except maybe take another nap. LOL.
I suppose I will try and enjoy this time. After all, I suppose I won't get much alone time in the future. It's really so strange to think that for sure by May 10th I will have a child. Mind=Blown!
I really appreciate all of those who have patiently and kindly listened to my fears and struggle these past months. The end is near!
Loves! And wish me luck!
This past week we've been getting as much prepared as can be. I've done some organizing, we've rearranged furniture and taken trips to the D.I. I still have some finishing touches in the nursery, but all in all (aside from the day to day cleaning/upkeep) we are 'ready' to go.
I don't really know what to do with myself in the meantime. I find myself wishing that I just would have kept working for one more week. Being home alone the next few days is going to be strange. What do people do? I must not be very imaginative because I am not inspired to do a single thing except maybe take another nap. LOL.
I suppose I will try and enjoy this time. After all, I suppose I won't get much alone time in the future. It's really so strange to think that for sure by May 10th I will have a child. Mind=Blown!
I really appreciate all of those who have patiently and kindly listened to my fears and struggle these past months. The end is near!
Loves! And wish me luck!
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