Is this Real Life?

Last Saturday one of those scary life things happened. I was at work going through the storage room (aka the dungeon) and had no cell service. When I surfaced from the dungeon my phone beeped that I had a voicemail. I was busy setting up stuff for work so I didn't really think much of it. I kept thinking I should check my voicemail. Even though I HATE voicemails. Really, please don't leave me one. I usually never check it for weeks.

It was a voicemail from my mom's husband Blair telling me that my mom was taken to the Emergency Room at Riverton Hospital.

On Saturday my mom got a migraine so severe that it messed with her frontal lobe and caused her to lose her short term memory. She couldn't keep facts straight or anything. My mom's husband took her to instacare where they immediately told her she needed to go to the hospital. She was admitted to the emergency room immediately and was given a CT scan to check for possible stroke.

Luckily, there was no sign of stroke but they found some abnormalities in her blood vessels. So the doctor decided to proceed with an MRI. The MRI showed that there was deterioration in blood vessels to her brain. The MRI also revealed a small mass in her brain stem. She had to be transferred to a larger hospital that had neurologists on staff. After being admitted to St. Mark's hospital she was kept over night for observation. In the morning her short term memory had returned. But she didn't remember much of Saturday except Blair leaving for work and then waking up at the hospital wondering how she got there.

She met with a neurologist who informed her that the medication she had been taking was restricting blood flow to her brain and had caused her severe migraine and memory loss. He prescribed her new medications, physical therapy for her neck (from a previous injury) and recommended a neurosurgeon specializing in that particular part in the brain. She was sent home that night. And has made a 100% rebound. My mom has already submitted her CT scans and MRI results to the University of Utah neurology department and she should be hearing back from them within the next week or so.

As much as it should make me angry that doctors can prescribe medicine that restricts blood flow to a persons brain. I'm so grateful that it happened. Without this horrible reaction occuring, my mom may never have found out about this tumor until it was too late. Fortunately, the doctors are saying this is a very slow growing tumor.

The whole thing was pretty intense. But I felt nothing but comfort through out this whole ordeal. It's hard not worry sometimes. I just don't think I could handle being 25 and having already lost both of my parents. That's the worst part about being an only child. When you lose a parent there is no one else there dealing with it like you are. It's just you. Of course my husband would be a great support but I just don't think it would be quite the same.

My mom has such a great attitude about everything. She says she knows everything is going to be alright. Plus she has already tried to pull the "brain tumor" card on me.  I guess she figures if she can beat cervical cancer and kick ulcerative colitis in the butt (who needs a colon anyway?)... a little brain tumor is nothing, right?

I'll let you know more as I know more.

songs

I teach the 6/7 year olds in my wards Primary. This past Sunday in sharing time we were practicing for the Primary Program that is this coming Sunday. One of the songs we are singing is, "I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus". And I just about lose it every time we sing it. My kids think I'm nuts since they are bored off of their behinds from singing this song over and over. But how can you not get emotional every once in a while when listening to this sweet simple message?

I’m trying to be like Jesus;
I’m following in his ways.
I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say.
At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,
But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,

Chorus 
“Love one another as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,
For these are the things Jesus taught.”

I’m trying to love my neighbor;
I’m learning to serve my friends.
I watch for the day of gladness when Jesus will come again.
I try to remember the lessons he taught.
Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts, saying:

Chorus 
“Love one another as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,
For these are the things Jesus taught.”

Hair Today....

I need a change. My hair is driving me nuts. It has reached hippie status. It's to my waist and the ends definitely need a trim. My long hair is becoming a burden. It's constantly getting in my way and in my food. Gross. I know if I cut it I will be sad because it's looong and taken me awhile to get this looong. But I need CHANGE people! CHANGE!! So What should I do?....

I know this isn't the most flattering picture of me. However, I entered a contest to win a makeover and I needed a picture where I didn't look fabulous but not so hideous that I didn't show potential... I feel like this picture says both? Maybe? Or maybe it just says "scary". You choose.

Maybe I should keep my hair long but put more layers and add some bangs like this....

Or perhaps this medium length....

or maybe I can get some serious guts and just chop it all off...

Tell me what I should do. one, two, three.... GO!

Thoughts on a Thursday

The debate. I watched and I loved it. I don't know why but I love politics lately. I hate how stupid it makes people on Facebook though. I hate how disrespectful people can be when it comes to opinions.

I think sheets have an average life span of just over 3 years. Troy and I have only owned 2 pairs of sheets that we were given to us when we were married. Both have become thread bare and holey in the last month. Or maybe we're just really rough with our sheets? Now that didn't sound awkward at all....

I think that grasshoppers and praying mantis are two of the scariest bugs on earth (right after spiders). Both of which have been in my yard lately. A praying mantis was actually trying to climb on my foot yesterday and I screamed and ran inside.

If you are laughing at me, seriously, think about it. Grasshoppers can land on you at any moment and jump REALLY far. Praying Mantis are just evil.

I want to play a "walker" on the tv show The Walking Dead. That would be fantastic.

Speaking of, I am so excited for season 3! Too bad I no longer have cable.

I really wish it were a year from now.

How excited are you for Halloween? Can I get a whoop whoop!?

And.....

That's all I got.

Lame post signing off.

mindless musings

I absolutely hate shredding cheese. It is such a hassle. I also happen to loathe the saw dusty grossness of pre-shredded cheese. It is a conundrum.

I have learned to never get too comfortable as a mother. I thought we had moved out of the diaper blow out days. Until tonight when Izzie and I were snuggling on the couch watching Monsters Inc. and she happened to have EXPLOSIVE diarrhea all.over.me.

The other night I had a dream that I had quadruplets (3 girls, 1 boy) and I was trying to figure out how to breastfeed them all. Waking up from a dream never felt so good.

Izzie's new favorite word is "ummmm". It's kind of hilarious to hear her use it correctly.

I swear everyone and their dog just announced they are expecting baby number 2.

Speaking of baby number 2 everyone keeps asking me when we will have another baby. Especially the daycare ladies at work. I will have another one when the thought of having 2 kids to look after doesn't cause me so much stress my eye balls want to explode.

Good news for those of you who know about my "problem".... I think it's finally fixed! woot woot!

is there anyone out there who has some free time and some good statistics skills? I need some help with a work thing.

I have a horrible addiction to chocolate ice cream with peanut butter milk shakes. It was a habit I started when I was running regularly. Then my jogging strollers tire blew out so I stopped running. But I keep devouring milk shakes. I think you can guess how this could turn out.

Someone please come fix the tire on my jogging stroller before I have to be rolled out of the house.

Some time in the very near future I am going to attempt my very first pot roast. I am excited!  I don't have a pot roast recipe so feel free to share them with me.

I think I finally figured out what I want to be when I "grow up" but I'm not going to share it with you just yet. Just in case I change my mind.

I shall sign off with a quote from one of my favorite movies Julie & Julia...

"What is it that you really like to do?"
"Eat."

Gratitude

To put it lightly I have been a little ungrateful lately. 

Why? 

Why me?

Why this?

Why that?

I don't have enough.

All of these words had become regular thoughts in my head.

These thoughts left me feeling irritable, grumpy, depressed and tired.

My prayers had become nothing more than a mindless recital.

That is, if I even decided to pray that day. 

But I kept getting this nagging feeling. 

you know the one...

that little voice, that whisper

pray

just pray about it

Yesterday, I gave in. I prayed. I told God every selfish thought I had. 

I gave him my worries, my concerns.

I told him how helpless I felt.

And then I went to work and didn't think anything of it for the rest of the day.

Today however, I noticed something different.

Today was no different than any other day, 

But as I sat and watched Izzie play with her sidewalk chalk,

 I realized how much I enjoy my life. 

Honestly, I can't even describe to you the emotions that over came me as I played tic tac toe by myself and Izzie scribbled on the patio furniture. 

I feel so blessed that I am able to stay home with Izzie the majority of the day.

I know that if I worked more it would take away a lot of financial stress,

But I love knowing that I'm the one who taught her what a cow says.

I taught her how to lick sauce off of her fingers

I taught her how to say "shoes".

I have been blessed with so much.

I have a fantastic husband, a beautiful healthy daughter, a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food in my cupboards.

What more do I need?

lately

I have fallen off of the blogging planet. Apologies. But I guess I should only apologize if you missed me. If you didn't then... you're welcome.

Izzie is 19 months now. That is almost 20 months. Which is practically 2 years. I'm having a minor freak out. Has it really almost been 2 years? BAH.

Who needs a ladder when you can climb up the slide instead?

She is everywhere these days. And she has an attitude to boot. I call her the tantrum queen because I have to deal with a tantrum about every hour. She screams, throws things, runs away, scratches and she bites. BITES.ALL.THE.TIME. She bites hard enough to leave marks. And I am at my wits end. Help me please.

Now, so that you don't think I have given birth to a demon baby {even though some days I feel like I have}... Here are the good things.

Zoo Day August 2012

She dances every chance she gets. And she has the best moves. If I could figure out how to post a video of said moves I totally would. Just imagine a little girl spinning in circles with ballerina arms and random head bobs. She loves to growl and pretend to be "scary". She jumps out at random strangers and growls at them. Most people don't know how to react. She also loves to jump. If I ever hear her say "wah, twooo,...." I have to quickly turn around and catch her before she says "weeee!"She randomly likes to jump from places when we aren't looking. For instance, concrete stairs, couches, pools, etc... Luckily, I am basically cat woman and have awesome reflexes. I have saved her from breaking her neck at least a dozen times. She loves babies and is usually toting around her own baby everywhere. She takes her baby for walks, covers it with blankets and gives it kisses too. It's incredibly sweet and I am surprised at how early these gender roles have kicked in. I never even taught her these things!

Mid growl

She still loves her binky. And I have tried taking it away during the day time when she is awake but it has been a battle. And mostly because Troy doesn't think it's a big deal that she still likes to keep it in all of the time. I really don't want to have that kid who has her binky until she is well past binky-hood but you've got to pick your battles. And you've never seen a kid go to kindergarten with a binky, right? please tell me I'm right.

Add caption

We went to the doctor recently and she is doing well and on track. She is in the 60-something percentiles for height and weight and 90's for her head {as always}. I am a little concerned about her speech because I don't think it's quite where it should be. The doctor said she should be saying between 20-30 words. She says about 20 but several of them are in her own kind of language. She says things like "Be-dah" {thank you}, "dah dah" {all done}, "shhh" {fish}. As well as some others. Troy says I worry too much. Hopefully that is true. I've never had kids before... is this normal?

Playing at the park with dad

The doctor also mentioned that Izzie probably has a food intolerance to something. She still has very wet #2 diapers just like an infant does. So I've been busy trying to eliminate several common intolerances from her diet to try and figure out what might be causing it.

Zoo Day

So that's Izzie for you in a nutshell. Troy and I have been busy with work and school. Troy just started fall semester today and in the next week or two I will never see him again because Junior Jazz is starting up for Fall. By the way if you know of anyone who loves basketball and needs a job send them to Troy. They are hiring right now!

Oh and I ran that 10k. I really did. I just haven't blogged about it. Maybe I will... one day.

Family pics June 2012

So consider yourself updated.