Fall Break- Wednesday /Thursday

With a bit of discussion with Grandpa, we decided to go spend the rest of the afternoon with Aunt Titi in Salt Lake so that we could spend some time with Dallas' family. We were going to spend time with them anyway, but not until later Thursday. But what is one day with Aunt Titi.

Aunt Nicky didn't get much alone time and she is pretty cool, so we went up and met her at Toys R Us. We had promised Tyler a movie and he did SO so Good at being disappointed. So we ended up spending way to much money at the stupid toy store. But all in good spirits. 

We hung out, got pizza and I finished my school test! We got the boys set up and they slept on the same bed and they loved it. Oreo also decided that he was going to protect my kids and hung out on their heads. There was zero complaints from them. 

Early Thursday we took Nicky to work and dropped off her car to get a fix and spend the morning with our Aunt Sheena. WE LOVE AUNT SHEENA!! 

Not sure if we have mentioned just how much we LOVE Aunt Sheena, but we do. I love her! I loved having her live with me. I love her just like a sister. I also LOVE her baby. And I love we get to have another one soon. 

We decided to met up at Gardner village and check out the Witches. We didn't have a ton of time and we weren't sure what was there, but we did see a lot of cool witches and did a few events. 

Our favorite Witch was the pooping witch! It was in the outhouse and we LOVED it and we all giggled. Because Ty can't see we went into the exhibits. We didn't ask and we didn't get in trouble either . 

And the best part, dancing with the witches. Ty loved it. And we let him go at it. 

Grayson is the best at following and enjoying the stuff that his brother does. Our Cousin Emery was dancing with us and we LOVED it. It was so much fun. 

After Gardner Village we headed to my Best Friend Stephanie's. We opted to play at a park. We played at the park for 3 hours. Yes, three whole hours of them playing. it was amazing. I miss her so much that I was so thankful to talk to someone who I totally just get, that I just wanted to be with her. WE watched the kids go nuts at the park and  we had them -playing till their heart was content.

We ran up to get Nicky because we had dropped her off. Then we went ahead and took her home and head with our Grandma to a hotel with them.

Grandma got us checked into a great hotel, after a dashing and fab dinner at Chick fil A :)

Getting in a hotel, was like heavenly. two beds. Me in my own. Grandma just to hang with. We loved it.

We got our plans for the next  day. Friday was going to be spent visiting out papa in the hospital in hopes he gets to go home and then an afternoon with all of our cousins again!!


It was a good day. We enjoyed our trip to this far!!

Fall Break- Day one!

Arizona has some strange school schedules. However, we love the breaks. We get a shorter summer and longer breaks. Fall break is about a week and a half, Spring break is 2 weeks and Christmas is 2.5 weeks. Sometimes that is good, sometimes... well not!

Originally we had plans to go to Utah so that we could have some work done on Tyler's legs. But Shriner's and our schedules got all messy really fast. So we have plans to do it again in a few months. We were a bit bummed and frankly I was so frustrated. It is so hard to be stuck in one place. We haven't been anywhere in almost 2 years ( for fun, not for surgeries) and I was struggling with needing a break. I decided to bite the bullet and go ahead and TRY to drive the 12 hours on our own.

The "break" for myself never seemed to happen. I never got a chance to be alone in the entire week, but I didn't cry either. I always cry!! When I talk to D on the phone while we are gone, by day 2 or 3 I am in tears wishing we had never left. But I survived until the trip home, right around Page, before losing it!

The boys had a ton of fun and I tried to make sure they got to do things, but not get to overwhelmed. It was a pretty positive trip. On the  HUGE, fun ,plus side, we saw all of our cousins and the boys played till our heart was content.

Day one: Driving-

We left around 3:00 am. I have never driven so I was a bit nervous going. D and I had hoped that the earlier I left the more the boys would sleep, and well, that didn't happen.  They were awake the entire time to our first stop. We stopped for Breakfast in Flagstaff. Getting out when your temperature says 33 degrees is the BIGGEST shock to your system. Add that to a little boy that is Severely anemic and the fact that we left the Valley at 3 am and it was STILL 65 degrees. Needless to say we were a bit chilly.

About Page the boys fell asleep so I pushed to get to Kanab before they woke up. I was SO thankful to get to Kanab. I had researched every single town on our way and had the city parks of every single town so we could stop. It was the first time in my entire life that I was thankful that we have food issues and that I didn't have to stop to take little bladders to the bathroom. The park was heavenly and we were able to push out lunch till we found a McDonald's with a play place. ( In case McDonald's reads my blog, I wish they would make more places with amazing play places.... but nope. You sucked!)

* SIDE NOTE: *While at the park, the boys were met with 2 other little boys who lived there in Kanab. Tyler tried really hard to get them to play with him, but they were SOOO mean. I was so frustrated but needed the time to stretch out. But the grandpa was raising the boys and he had a dog. Oh boy did the boys LOVE that dog. It was a bitter sweet thing to watch. I was thankful when the grandpa stepped in with the mean kids so I didn't have to.

We pushed to Richfield where I KNEW there was a McDonald's with a killer play place ( thank you All Star Basketball teams) and we were able to stay there for an HOUR. Yes folks, I stayed at a McDonald's for ONE HOUR!! I knew what the last stretch held and I just hoped we made it with no more tears.

From Richfield to Orangeville was about 2 hours. Grayson decided he was all done and took off his seat belt more times than I could count. Finally I stopped pulling over and just let it go. Letting him go meant that I had a SEVERE anxiety issue but getting into the good old EC ( what us cool folks call Emery County and what we call it to make it sound WAY cooler than it REALLY is) and realized there were NO cars on the road and we were going to be OK. ( Longest part of the trip was the last 20 minutes. I could have fallen asleep then!!)

We pulled into my parents drive way in just enough time to hug and kiss on grandpa before he had to head to Priesthood conference. Aunt Nicky came down to see the kids and brought her dog, Oreo, aka our "cousin" so that they boys could play and she could kiss on a few faces. We were sad to miss my sisters kids but they would come the next afternoon.

I was so thankful to not be in a car any more. Had a great chat with my mom and was SOOOO thankful to go to bed.

The Fun Part

While we were in Utah it wasn’t all meant to be doom and gloom and sadness and surgeries. Our whole plan was to do the surgery and happily play the REST of the week with every person that we could pack into our lives that loves us and we love them.

Wednesday was the day that I was planning on going to UVU and U of U to get my transcripts and get them sent to ASU. You see, I am going back to school. I have about a year before my bachelors is complete and I am aiming towards the Physician Assistant schools here in Arizona. I have passed all the classes needs, my GPA doesn’t suck and I need to do 2 classes and take the GRE as I apply around. So that is our “goal.”  Well, that didn’t work out to get to the schools. Do to some poor management of time I ended up doing nothing that day until my mom and dad got up to the city.

Us at Grandpa Browns. Ipads were the BEST invention in my entire lifetime. THANK YOU STEVE JOBS!

We pulled into my sisters house and I just started crying. I had had a very emotional 2 days and between Tyler’s  surgery and the accident back in Arizona I was a mess. Just low, low. My dad had been invited to a basketball game with my brother and his two cute M and M’s. We were hoping that his wife would come down with the other 2 boys, but they didn’t. So, we all packed up into 2 cars and went to Chuck A Rama Buffett. ( and eatting at a buffet ensured I could eat my feelings:) )That way I didn’t have to worry about finding food for my kids, neither did anyone and my kids are insanely picky and loud and crazy. So why not let them go someplace that had room enough and people enough to make sure no one died!

We had the BEST time. I LOVE my sisters. Holy crap are they insane people. We are like every other family and we have sister fights and we are mean and terrible sometimes. But at the end of the day, we have all three come to realize that we are sisters. We only have each other. And my mom was there.. laughing harder than she has in a long time. My kids LOVE her!

On top of my awesome sisters, Tyler was the lively hood of the party. He has a wonderful song about Becky. He will sing it if you ask him.  Her name is Becky from Sir Mix A Lots “I like big butts song” and that song is his favorite to start singing in public. He has so many things he says that just makes everyone giggle.

Every time someone would ask him to stop, he would say “ Hammer time” or “Stop collaborate and listen.” Just making the rest of us bust up longer.

After dinner we dropped off my sisters kids and we went to Nicky’s house. We were lucky to catch a glimpse of M and M before they were dashed away to Logan. We sure miss them, when we are all together. Little Max is my best friend. I love that kid. His little sparkle in his eyes really just melt me.  And I REALLY miss my Brother a lot. He is such a smart and loving guy. He has helped me so much and been a great inspiration for wanting to go back to school and excel. He is a great guy.

It was getting late, and so my sweet dudes were ready to go to sleep. Nothing horribly exciting, just emotional. But I was exhausted and needed a good nights sleep.

The Bowling Alley

When Dallas went to New York Ty and I went to the bowling alley with my sisters kids. I wasn't sure how it would go so I wanted others to come to help him get excited. We called the "kids" and we stopped by and picked them up and headed in.

Tyler loved it. There was an arcade there and he loved that and really liked bowling. So much so that he hasn't really stopped talking about it when he asks ( like he does daily) "where are we going today?"

Since summer is winding down I called my sister and asked her if they wanted to come down and go to the jack and Jill bowling alley here. After they hit up their weekly trip to Seven peaks, they headed down to pick us up.

This bowling alley ROCKED. We bought our lane and game and headed into the arcade. Ty knew what he wanted to do. We threw the balls and then headed to the wheel of fortune game. Ty won the jackpot and ended up winning 250 tickets. He kept racking up the points and the tickets. At the end we got all the boys the same thing and gave the remainder of the tickets to Lexi.

Of to bowling we went. We ordered our pizza while we started and headed off to play. Tyler LOVES bowling. The last activity I have ever thought he would like. He likes it so much he doesn't really care it is his turn. So if someone isn't on their feet he picks up the ball and throws it down the lane. Even without one of those ramps he still sends the ball flying. Lucky for me, Tammy was there and she was nice enough to let me just watch and feed the baby. A few times she wasn't fast enough and Ty sent the ball rolling. With only a few frames left Koy was tired of playing so Tyler happily took his turn too!

When we were leaving he was crying because he wasn't done yet. He was so sad. When we walked outside he asked if he could go to grandma's house. He was melting down. He kept asking when he could go back and play. So we called grandma when we got home and he cried that he couldn't go to her house and couldn't go bowling.

I guess we will be adding that to stuff Ty loves to do. Next time I think I will just pay extra and give him his own lane so he doesn't have to share!

Merry Christmas

This year Christmas was MAGICAL! After 5 years we had a talking child and he has talked non stop about Christmas wish boxes, Santa and most recently about the reindeer, the Sleigh and Santa. Not to mention he really wanted " Handy Manny big job!" With much consistency too!

Ty was out of school most of the week so I got to have him home with me. We had last minute stuff to get all week and a few days we were planning to go out we found our self trapped by morning sickness. ( No worries, we are happily taking the morning sickness because then we KNOW we are still growing!) Ty was a trooper and even braved Salt Lake a little.

Come Thursday and the poop incident I knew that Christmas would be anything but boring. Friday we looked forward to the grwanpa's truck bringing signs of Santa, More Christmas and most of all GRWANPA and Grwanma!

After they went to drop off the other Christmas eve gifts, they came to join our house and get ready for bed. We opened the amazing grandparent gift of pajama's ( Thank you traditions!) and got ready to put the reindeer food outside. It was then that we realized he has misunderstood some of what was going on.

Ty thought that the reindeer food was going out to reindeer already IN OUR YARD! When that didn't happen the ensuing drama of not ACTUALLY getting to go with Santa and the Reindeer and the sleigh started. Oh he was SOOO sad. It took an awful lot of convincing that Santa comes when we are asleep and that we will have to take a ride on the sleigh another day.

The bath was short lived, his tears long lived but he went to sleep quickly and seemed to sleep well ( after coming to my bed anyway) I woke off and on through out the night and heard my dad get up around 4 am. I was up at 7. We spent a little over a half hour or so just talking, me and him. ( I love him. He is such a great person. I forget how much I loved the time we had when we did floors.) Ty woke around 7:30 am and was incredibly happy. He loved his tool bench that was put together and LOVED that it had a "cuckoo clock."

We soon got down to business and started opening presents. He slowly was losing interest and so with MORE presents to spare we went ahead and had him open his Handy Manny Big job. It took him the rest of the day to open some of the other stuff.

We started our big traditional Christmas Breakfast. ( Dallas' family did them forever, and we started doing them when we were on our own so we have kept doing it!) Quickly our house filled with people.

My Aunt Linda came with us and shortly after my brother and his 2 kids came. His wife didn't come due to some personal issues but we happily took her kids! My sister Nicky came and Tammy and her family came LATE as usual and they were all here to eat a yummy breakfast.

We had a few super fun gifts to open and was able to spend some time with Max for his "birthday" that is coming up. We haven't been able to get a time slot to do anything else with them while they are here so we packed it on in.

Soon everyone trickled out and we were left with our little family. We had Grandma and grandpa relaxing and trying to debate if they wanted to beat the weather or wait it out. So they gradually left to fight the weather. Leaving us to ourselves and our little family.

Ty finally finished opening presents and the best used present of the day was Nanni and poppi's island adventure Thomas set. It has been played with non stop for 2 days. Thank you.

Christmas was wonderful this year. It is bitter sweet. Next year we will be a family of 4! How exciting. It was the first year that Tyler got it. We are so excited to see what happens next.

The spirit of Christmas and the true meaning of Christmas is not something we find under a tree. It is what is AROUND the tee, not UNDER that makes our world go round. It makes the true meaning of Christmas come alive.

Merry Christmas family! Especially those who decided not to come or that we couldn't be with. May you know that you and yours are always in our prayers.

Tyler says the cutest stuff

This whole speech thing is AWESOME. I can't even begin to tell you how much easier this whole parenting a preschooler is when you have yourself some speech. Seriously, if I would have know I would have made him talk a heck of a lot sooner.

There are things that never get old. I don't think hearing him say momm-e gets old or I love you dad-e. But lately he has been saying and doing the funniest things. Here are a few for your laughing pleasure.

(Please use the potty before. We are NOT responsible for incontinence.)

At Thanksgiving he was telling my Aunt Linda about the pizza story. He gets this pucker on his face and lowers his voice and says " Once upon a time....." Then laughs at himself when everyone else starts laughing.

( the pictures is of him playing at the mall yesterday! he is so stinking cute!~)

He points to his Aunt Nicky and says " Nicky poo poo" Repeats until we can get him to do something else. Like tell us a story.

"Wexi to play baketball" is a big one. He says it like 900 times a day. When I say we have to ask her mom he hands me the phone and says Tammy. I didn't even know he knew her name.

He asks "What da kids doing?" and means he is looking for Kayden and Koy

When Kayden and Koy were over they wanted to get in my big jet tub. Well we knew the boys had gotten water every where. Tyler came down and he was covered from the top of his head to about half way down his back. He looked at me and said " What happened Tywer?" Then laughed.

He totally gets Christmas this year. He keeps asking to go buy a "Christmas wish box for dad-e"

He came trotting down the stairs and said " Tywer hungry." When asked what he wants he does his little Think thing. Responds " Hot dogs" I tell him we dont' have any hot dogs. He said " Go to the tore to get a hot dog." He said the same thing about going to the tore in grandpa's truck to get some toaster struddles too. He really thinks if we don't have it we can buy it.

And my personal favorite. If he isn't asking for Lexi to come play he is asking to go to the store and "get a bwter or sister to play." It is really cute and heartbreaking at the same time. I sure wish there was a store like that!

Happy Birthday Nicky

It is my baby sisters birthday today. It started 21 minutes ago. She was born on a Tuesday. She kept the tradition of the 26th because if not mom cant' remember when we are born.

Nicky has a mind of her own. She is a good person and she tries her hardest to be thoughtful and giving to those around her. She doesn't like feeling like she is taken advantage of and if she does have that feeling, she steps away.

She is a very pretty women. She forgets it sometimes. She forgets it and lets herself be treated in ways that make me want to punch people. :)

I am the family band-aid and will fix all I can for Nicky in as many ways as I can. She is the baby. She will always be the baby. She will always have to be the last one to do everything.

She is great with all of our kids. She is a wonderful Aunt/mother to my child and to my other siblings children. Everyone needs that Aunt that means the world and moon to them. Nicky is that for 6 of them. Some day.. we hope to return the favor.

Thanks for being a pain and making me steal. It was RUDE of you to do that. But I hope you have know that even when you are a pain you are my baby pain. I hope to give you all you want soon.

"Regardless of whether or not a woman is able to have children, she is nevertheless - a mother. A woman - is a mother to all she knows and loves."

A mother is someone who cares for others. Always be that Other mother!

Pumpkin Pants

My mom is a MASTER educator. She is such a good teacher. She makes me laugh. She is at school till 6 ever single night and can be found there as early as 7 am give or take an hour. EVEN when she calls me wondering why I am not answering at 7:3o am we forgive her diligence.

UEA rolled around and this year I was so proud of her for attending. She is such a good teacher and she always looks for ways to better herself and teach those kids in her class. The best part, she keeps us on our toes in ways we can to do better for those sweet kids she loves more than me! (aka grand kids)

Also with UEA comes a time that I am SURE will become traditions because we like it and it leaves something to be talked about for days and days. ( and DAYS!!!!!!)

My mom and dad got a hotel in Salt Lake that has a water park. YES! A water park. And POOR super sad baby who HATES the water. ( NOT!) He was ecstatic to play in it. It also gave him a chance to do something he has never ever ever done in my obsessed and paranoid and demented mind... Chuckie cheese.( EWWWW GROSS!!) Seriously, I could feel the infestation of ecoli and rotovirus and chlamydia ( OK, maybe not chlamydia... but something way, way worse) all over. I almost threw up. But I allowed my child to enjoy the games of throwing balls, getting tickets and turning them in for a cheap blow up hammer toy that he runs around screaming BAM BAM with! He did love it. He loved playing the games. The balls and basketballs were a great addition for him

( The down fall of chuckie cheese other than the germs... It is NOT a handicapped accessible place. Several children were in wheelchairs and they are very limited to games and the space between those games was, well, not wheelchair friendly. But giving our tickets to them made them excited.)

My dad enjoyed the games at chuckie cheese almost as much as the kids. He would be founds shooting hoops, throwing balls, playing games and there would be no such grandkid around him. Always a kid at heart!

He took turns getting his picture drawn by the chuckie cheese machine and he helped Tyler do all he wanted to do. Grandpa also rocked at the basketball game.

We sat down to eat pizza, played the rest of our tickets and coins and headed off to the above mentioned hotel with a pool. Ty was so excited.

When we got to the hotel we had a minor Poop incident ( NOT by Tyler) that we were glad to have been able to get in a chlorinated place quickly. ( We washed it off before but it was still stinky!) ( again NOT Tyler!)

Ty was in the water before anyone else was in there to keep him safe. He had such a great time. He swam, went on the slide, wanted to go in the water that was too deep and splash, splash splash.

He was the first one "done" in which he declared " Tywer Sweepy" and he sat on the chair trying to get warm. Then off we went home.

The next day was so, so, so much fun. D is sad he had to work and missed all the cool stuff.

We went to Wheeler farm for their pumpkin and corn maze and fall festival. The tickets included a pumpkin, access to the maze, a hay ride and if you wanted to spend a little extra a horse ride.

When we left D that morning we told him that we were going to go to a pumpkin patch. Tyler couldn't say patch so he kept telling D we were going to the pumpkin pants. Then we were off.

Wheeler farm has a lot of things for kids to do. We went one time when Ty was little and he was afraid of everything. So we were hopeful that he would have a good time. When I told him that we could feed the ducks he was on a one track mind.

Ty was fine without putting his hand in the fence but his cousin, Lexi, wanted to try but would get nervous as the duck came forward so I tried it out a little bit. Ty really liked them.

Next we walked towards the cows. There was a few stops we needed and wanted to make before then but Tyler and Koy weren't really into walking around a house that you can't touch anything and run and jump so we played outside for a minute.

Then it was off to the real fun stuff. The boys wanted to see and ride the horses so we headed toward the horses. Tyler was not sure at first if he wanted to ride one so as Koy and Lexi got on, we ( me and Kayden and Tyler) walked down to were we could feed the horses. He loved it. He was fine with me putting my whole hand in the horses mouth and he got close enough to pet them .

As we were walking back my dad asked Tyler if he wanted to ride the horse and he said yes. Plain as day. So my dad was nice and paid the 3 bucks for him to ride. I was so worried that he would pay the money and Ty gets put on the horse and a freak out would start that he would have paid the money for nothing.

But to EVERY ONES surprise he LOVED IT!!

My dad told him to put his his hands "Right here" ( on the horn) and he did. It was so sweet. I love that kid! Everything is SOOO literal sometimes.

Tyler did ride side saddle. Those cute, darn legs wouldn't separate enough to fully "ride" the horse but Grandpa, who is a farmer at heart, was more than willing to walk next to Tyler. I am not sure who was more excited, Grandpa or Tyler!

We headed back toward the hay ride and Tyler went to see the cows. He loves the animals. He for SURE didn't use to. He stood and watched them for a while. Then it was time for a hayride. But first he had to drive the Tractor!

Kayden asked if we could go ride on the red one. I kindly told him we don't ride red tractors in this family so he would have to stick to green. ( Sorry Aunt Chantel, fact of life. We bleed green!)

Lexi was so helpful with Tyler. She was trying to "teach" him how to drive. He was OK with her helping but he really really wanted to do it himself.

We finally got to the part where he could go to the pumpkin "pants" he was so happy.

Grandpa helped him threw the corn maze ( what a TROOPER) and into pick himself a pumpkin.

(The last photo and the light was way off.. so you have to get a different color one. Sorry!!)

After the LONG day Tyler was exhausted but he went with Grandma and grandpa so that mom and dad could go attend a temple session. ( Which by the way was amazing!!) He finished the night off with his cousins swimming and then he crashed while waiting to get picked up. He had the best time. He came home, ate oatmeal and we all went to bed.

It was wonderful to see him enjoy so many new things. We learned have learned a lot the last year and are thankful we are willing to have a possible meltdown in order to see Tyler like new things. One thing I did decide. We are getting way to desperate for a new stroller for Tyler. ( Not to mention my sisters kids who would prefer to ride!! )

A Special Delivery

Tyler has some SPECIAL friends in California. 3 of them ( maybe more! One of them has big ears and wears Red!) But he got the most incredible gift for his birthday.

On Saturday we had Tyler's party. He was SO excited. He talked about his birthday LITERALLY all week. He has never talked for any other holiday so we really made sure that he understood. He totally got it.

A little bit before his birthday my former mission companion, Amber, and her twin sister Robin said they wanted to get Tyler a gift. They came to visit Tyler in August. They adore him and he loves them. The only thing I could think of was some Mickey Mouse Ears. Amber said she had the perfect idea and then she texted and said she had overnighted a package for Tyler.

Saturday it arrived in True Amber fashion. Cute and red with Mickey Mouse EVERYWHERE!

Dallas helped Tyler open the package and the whole time he kept saying " Oh my goodness!" It was super cute. I wish I had pressed record. He kept asking Dallas to " open Dad-e" and he waited, SUPER excited. Inside was the cutest Mickey Mouse ears. He was SOOOOO happy!


He kept really still so he didn't make the ears come off. He would dance around and say " Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness!"

He got a SIGNED Mickey Mouse postcard RIGHT from Mickey Mouse himself. Amber and Robin told Mickey Mouse about how much of a Miracle Tyler was and so Tyler became the recipient of a post card.

He got a few other goodies including Mickey Mouse clothes and some Birthday pins that he wore all day.
He had such a great time opening the box from them. He was so proud of his new hat and wanted to look in the mirror.

We ended the day with family coming over for a little party. All his cousins that live in Utah were here and we horribly missed Max and Morgan and can't WAIT till we have a birthday with them ( in a YEAR!!) It meant a lot to Dallas and I that people came.
Tyler also had Erin and Issac over. Issac is the little brother of the cutest little Angel Girlfriend a little boy could have. We were VERY thankful that Erin and Bryce are a part of our family. Though we don't get together near enough, we LOVED having them there. Issac helped Tyler open his presents when Ty was having a meltdown. ( Oh and Erin, we have read the sticker book a MILLION times.)

His birthday cake was Mickey Beach and they were great cupcakes. He got to pick it out himself and has asked for a birthday cake all weekend. Luckily there were some left over so we could hand it on over.

Today, he had cupcakes at school with Mickey Mouse toothpicks and stickers for his friends. Later we had a play date with Hope Kids and had a wonderful time.

Tomorrow, the CIRCUS. Tyler has talked about it all DAY. He even had a meltdown on the way home from the play date. He wanted to go to the Circus. The tickets include a preshow on the floor with the performers. I hope that it goes well but we are SOOO excited.

I ♥ Faces- yellow

I haven't done a I ♥ faces for a while on this blog. I usually participate in the fix it Fridays over at my Photo blog. But I thought this photo was worth putting on this blog.

This is Daphne. She is 3. She was just diagnosed with ALL leukemia. She was diagnosed on her moms birthday. She had a small procedure in which she had a little bit of trouble and they ran a few tests and she was transferred to the local children's hospital where she was started on Chemotherapy. (Her entry explaining the diagnosis is HERE!)

Her hair is naturally curly and she has NEVER had a hair cut. Her mom asked me to take pictures of Daphne and their family before her ( the mom) and Daphne cut their hair and before Daphne losses all of hers.

Our first session was canceled because Daphne was put in the hospital. But we were able to get Daphne in some pictures that turned out pretty darn cute! Daphne's mom is my cousin so Tyler gets the chance to pray for " Fee" at night and we feel super lucky to get a chance to take her picture!

So, this is my "official" entry in the contest. For more Yellow entries head on over to I ♥ faces for more.

Happy Birthday Alexis

Today is Lexi's "Special" birthday. She is NEVER going to be a one digit again. She is the cutest and sweetest thing. In the last 5 years we have seen her grow up so much. She LOVES Tyler. She takes care of him. She is so sweet. She helps him all the time and Tyler LOVES Lexi.

Happy birthday Lexi! Thanks for being such a sweet girl! And thank you for loving Tyler

Broken nose

Playing on the play ground- ( 1) Tyler's nose- ( -1)

Tyler is one heck of a trooper. This week has NOT been kind to his face! I said I would get pictures so I tried a lot of yesterday. What I got wasn't that "great" but today.... well today Ty got round 2.

Round ONE!

There is a large park by our house. ( There is a small park too) But today we ventured. He went with his cousins and there were 2 other boys there. This park has swings. Ty isn't quite strong enough to keep himself up so we still us the baby bucket.

Ty had had enough but the other boys still wanted me to push them. I told Ty to stay where he was and he did. Till I moved out of his eye sight ( which isn't really that far) and off he toddled RIGHT into the line of fire. His cousin couldn't stop and I didn't get there in time.

Down he went. Face first into the sand. I said a swear ( I did! In front of the other moms kids!) But the mom freaked and ran to get towels because we were quite bloody. Ty's little nose started bleeding ( which doesn't take much these days) and he had sand rash on his nose and arm.

Round 2!

He was crying and blood was all over. I am pretty sure it ruined my shirt, but he calmed once we started to walk away.

Later he did go back to the swing but he was pretty content climbing up and down the stairs to the big boy slide.

It wasn't any ones fault.

Ty didn't hold any grudges.

But then, he never does.

(p.s. I did apologize to the mom who had freaked about the blood. I said I was sorry for the swear.. She laughed. )

Easter and Conference weekend

Easter and Conference weekend ended up being the same weekend this year. I was some how invovled in getting some of the word out for our mission reunion. For those not "aware" of what missions/reunion are we get together with our mission president and chit chat and see what we have all done over the years since leaving. Interesting really!

My little sister ( who is 27) babysat Mr. Toot for Dallas and I so that we could go. We were going to color eggs on Friday but due to an unforeseen accident Granny and Gramps didn't make it up in time. So instead Nicky took my kid and my sisters kids went with the G's ( grandma and grandpa) and off they went to the magical world of hanging with the G's.

Apparently this included playing at Mcdonalds and then subsequent swimming where Aunt Nicky said that Ty played till his heart was content. He also got a little "confused" when my OTHER sister got there.

So the "other" sister story....... We apparently look alike. Which we do. But for some reason no matter how long we have been apart if Ty doesn't have me there he thinks that I am here. To the point of being jealous that she is helping her own kids!

YES Tyler does know who his mommy is. BUT she looks like me and to a visually impaired kid we look alike. She is a good sport. But I think it ticks of the OTHER sister :)

Anyway, Saturday we spent the day in Logan having Easter egg hunts. The Smart me deleted his first Easter egg hung but he was doing great till he found an egg on something he really wanted to play on and then it was done.

Afterwards we drove back to my parents hotel room. They stayed in a hotel that had a small water park in it. I didn't have my suit so you get spared the photos of my CURVY body!

Ty LOVED the water park. I had Meanly told him all week when the G's got there he would be able to go swimming. Sure enough, he asked for swimming almost the SECOND they go there.

Here are the swimming photos!!! FUN!

I

I am not sure who had more fun... Grandpa or Tyler. I know that Ty NEVER stops.. so I am thinking they both went away tired. Thanks mom and dad for the great hotel and pool and LOTS of energy!

You can have them back!

Growing up I wanted 12 kids. YEP not kidding. I had it all planned out. I was going to have a football team. It was going to be all boys and there was no way I was going to have a girl. Girls would turn out to be DRAMA and my mom wished that I would have someone "just like me" and well.. Since I am a princess and a COOL person I will opt for NO!

So when we found out we were expecting and found out we were having a boy I kinda chuckled. BUT about this time and when 25 weeks rolled around ( and more so after our "issues" " 12 was NOT going to happen. And as of now, 5 years after the fact, Tyler is STILL an only child. ( yes part of it was by choice the other part NO.... a WHOLE other post)

Anyway, yesterday my sister called and asked us to come with them to an Easter egg hunt by the Make a wish foundation. And I would be taking my sisters kids home with me. Her are SO freaking hilarious. So we get there after the main event and my kid was still freaked out by EVERYTHING. We met up with his cousins.

Ty FREAKED because they had their face painted and it scared him. So we spent driving to our next destination listening to Ty scream. When we FINALLY figured out what was wrong little Kayden would cover his eyes and say "TY TY it is JUST me Kayden."

We decided to get lunch at BK's and let the kids play till their heart was content. The only picture of the day was Ty and Kayden. He was so excited to get Ty up to to the top of the play place. We had Koy pushing Ty and Kayden pulling to get him all the way to the top but then getting them all OUT of the play place was the hard part.

(sorry about the photo.... taken on my iphone)

When we got home we borrowed a wagon and walked to the park where we played for 3 hours. Then we walked home and PLAYED outside. Ty was fine with the face painting as long as they were all busy.

We took them home. Koy was EXHAUSTED and he ended up crashing. Ty was exhausted and ended up crashing.

The more time we spend with his cousins the better they are with Tyler. They are REALLY good with Tyler. Lexi wasn't there but she is SO protective of Tyler. Koy thinks that Ty is smaller than him and tends to try to carry Tyler. They know that Tyler is different than them. Kayden is especially "concerned" and asks a lot of questions. Kayden is 5.

On the way home from Burger King Kayden asked if when Tyler gets bigger will he walk better and not walk funny? When I explained that when Tyler was born he was really really little and sick and that he was the size of a barbie something happened to the inside of his head. He didn't understand why "they" can't fix it.

But in true Kayden fashion he said that "it is OK that they couldn't fix it cause we would help him right Nana..." And he is right. We can't fix it. We can only encourage him to keep up with the boys. Those around him that love him and want him to succeed will help him. The little kiddos will be his voice when Ty needs it.

Black Friday

For the last 3 years I have worked black Friday. I am so thankful that I have a job right now that can help provide and that gets me out of the house a little bit. Though I am sad to say, I am sad that people are so mean and rude. Is a good deal really enough to make you not be nice any more. The first dude I checked out today 542 bucks worth of 2 dollar movies. FOR REAL.. What are you gonna do with that many movies.

There were no brush at deaths and just a few bad names exchanged and my register broken by a disgruntled customer but I survived and was overly NOT interested in one item. If I had a little 3 year old girl I would have been all over those cute dress up clothes.

The rest of the day was great. I got home in time to play with Tyler, lay down for a nap ( thank you baby) and put in a Turkey. It was cooking for a fun filled afternoon of nieces and nephews running all over my house!

My brother and his wife surprised everyone with a trip to Utah for the holidays. I am so glad they came. I have not really "met" Max but a brief dinner when we moved. Overall we have both been in a different state and we have 4 year old ( or almost 4) and yet we have not been able to be together.

I was privileged enough to take their photos and we tried SUPER hard to get one of all the grand kids and grandma and Grandpa. Sadly, we had a sad Tyler so the grand kid picture didn't really work so hot BUT we got a few pictures of all of the kids with Nicky, with grandparents, and just cute cute ones all together. They will be coming up.

We had a little turkey dinner at the house and we went on up to Salt Lake and had a family swim party. Ty and Morgan were so cute. Morgan had her own fan club and she was happy to oblige him! I wish they lived closer :(

We left as grandma and Grandpa were in tears because the brief time everyone was together was over. The look on Max's face was so sad as he was getting out. He is so sweet. I want to keep him. He was getting out of the pool and he smiled at me and said " I love you" and I got a sweet hug. Ty kept waving at him and Lexi and Morgan just look at each other. I hoped I would get to spend some time with their mom but maybe next time.

I want to go see them :) and I want them to live here with us :)

I forget that though family times are overwhelming and crazy! They are full of little kids being connected and LOVING it. I remember my cousins and how much I loved them. I can't wait for that same feeling to happen to my kids.
I can't wait to show you the cute photos I have of these Sweet kids.

Thanks for a great afternoon. Family... and Thanks mom for giving me brother and sisters.

I thought the roller coaster was over?

A phrase frequently used in the NICU was that it was a Roller coaster. Some days were HIGH HIGH and others low low. Some days were just OK and others were fine. You didn't have the drastic changes in emotions all the time. Some days were so "OK" that it was "no big deal." The closer we got to the end of our stay the "no big deal" days were more and more frequent.

Often during the crazy time I really wanted to get off the ride. Like at the amusement park, as you are heading up knowing that the drop is coming, the anticipation is a killer. What are you anticipating? Was it the drop? Was it knowing at some point that there would be a drop? I don't know. I don't know what makes the anxiety flow.

It has been almost 4 years into our journey. ( So crazy to think 4 years) And most days the journey is fine. It is " no big deal." But with all the changes coming up the roller coaster ride has taken a jolting turn. What am I anticipating? What is making me anxious? What if I want off?

Dallas is not working for a company so the safety net of a nice set of insurance benefits is running HIGH on our list of anxiety. Ty HAS to have insurance. A lapse in insurance could great impact us for the rest of our lives. Because of his Cerebral Palsy and hydrocephalus a lapse in Insurance could result in him being considered uninsurable. Those conditions alone make insurance companies run for the hills. But without insurance we would surely drowned in the expense of an unforeseen shunt revision and even the day to day care of a child with Cerebral palsy. His botox, speech, physical therapy and occupational therapy, most of which is out of pocket expenses as seeing insurance companies don't always agree that maintaining a functioning body is applicable to children with CP, are sure to cost way more than anyone is able to make even without working on their own.

The long term care system in Arizona, though very broken, is a FAR better cry than what we are looking at in Utah. Because we do have a job the idea that we DO have some sort of income crosses us out for medicaid. Because of that insurance has to be done privately or through a company that you work for. Again, causing a stressor. What do you do? We are even looking at me going to work for a few companies that I worked for before in order to get insurance benefits for the family. I am happy to do so. I am just overwhelmed with the idea that we will yet again be facing no long term care options. We have had it REALLY good in Arizona. A broken system gave us insurance, Therapy ( of all varieties) and respite providers. While the respite was nice I am fine with taking care of Tyler. It is the other necessities of insurance and therapy that plaque my thoughts.

Though I am sad to be leaving those behind my biggest concern is getting him into some sort of speech therapy. Speech is a HUGE concern for all of us. A lot of insurance companies won't provide services to anyone who is just delayed. There has to be a reason. Like a stroke, or brain injury. So unless someone is nice enough to put his speech delay is from a brain injury then we are just out. We have been pointed to a few free ( ok one) free service but there is a waiting list. This next week we are looking at Shriners and what the school offers.

Though we are leaving behind some of his therapies, we are gaining family. Since Ty doesn't have any siblings and with no plans in the works FOR one then cousins, aunts and grandparents, we hope, are going to help us with some interaction on a pretty regular basis. That he can learn how to model those that are doing the things we want him to be doing.

We are looking at what the deaf and blind school has to offer. Though the actual school is to far away for him to be bused I do feel that they might have some services that will be of benefit.

One of the major stressors that invoked this lovely downer topped with upper was a call from a speech therapist that treats kids with Apraxia. She was given Tyler's information and based on his most recent evaluation and what he is doing right now she was giving us a "guesstimate" of what we have to look forward to! She said that general speaking kids that are not talking by 5 can still talk but generally have unintelligible speech. Meaning no one but their care givers can understand them. Causing "normal" society functioning to not be very... um easy. There are a lot of communicating devices that we can try but given that we are moving the testing for it isn't going to be as available.

While we feel as his parents that he will talk and that getting him to family and friends is the best thing we can offer. If we do that and do what we feel is right for him that he will be blessed.

What is really hard is how much as a parent we desire him to be the best him and someone who is telling us he won't do certain things makes you a the deficit. For example: Dallas and Tyler were swimming in the pool. We are trying to get him to learn new words or sounds. It seems that his mouth tries to form it and nothing come out. Its heart breaking to NEVER hear dad, or I love you. Yet in his own way we KNOW he tells us that he loves us. He signs Dad. He signs and loves both of us so much. It still doesn't make that heartstrings hurt less.

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched ... but are felt in the heart." Helen Keller. She said it perfect. At this point we want him to be exposed to EVERYTHING. Take it all in. Adapt it to his needs and hope in his sweet, larger than life way he KNOWS we love him.


He KNOWS... He knows he is loved. And he IS loved.

I guess after a down day yesterday and a GREAT day today we won't know know what the future will bring and what services we get BUT we do know that in his Larger than life way we want him to be LOVED and feel loved.

So, for now we are coasting. For now the up and down is gone. We can do it! I will stay on the roller coaster ride.. If only for a while!

Happy Birthday Lily

Today is Lily Princess' birthday. She is 4. I remember when she was born. We were heading out of town when they called and said Lily was coming. What a long few years it has been. We are glad you are growing and learning and being a good girl. Happy birthday.

Thank you Cousin Max and Morgan ( and Aunt Chantel and Uncle Barrett)

Since Max and Morgan can't read we will thank Barrett and Chantel for sending an EARLY birthday present for Tyler (despite my lack of timely cards/gifts for Barrett, and major early ones for Little Morgan)

A special thanks for the cute little froggie for Tyler. Once we got it out of the box my naked nudist decided he wanted to try ( after I unlocked the door) and he went out in the buff.

I sent a few photos to the Labrums, but I really wanted to show everyone just how cute the gift was and how much Tyler LOVED it.





I have a TON more but unfortunately he is VERY in the nude and the neighbors saw the streaker so I had to be selective...

THANKS A MILLION!! He loves it! ( even with no Grass Barrett)