Happy Anniversary

3,652 days

315,532,800 seconds

5,258,880 minutes

87,648 hours

521.71 weeks

10 Years married.....

Tonight we were all in Tyler's room giving him a little bath and looking at his battle wounds. As Dallas was holding down Tyler's legs and Grayson was giving him a kiss, I was wiping off the iodine and and hoping to curb the itching, I looked up into this sweet mans face and saw tears. He said it broke his heart to feel the muscles want to move but us telling him not to move.

The man with tears, the sweet, gentle and caring man..... he is the one I married 10 years ago.  He is the one that I want to curl up to at night. He is the one I want to snuggle with in the morning. He is the one I want to nudge when everyone is up way to early. He is the one I want to be there when I have hours to wait in a hospital room. He is the one I want to hug when life is just a little to tough for me to handle on my own.

I am so thankful that I am married to this amazing person. I am the lucky one!!

The Vizio Fiesta Bowl - University of Arizona vs. Boise State

Last year was our first fiesta bowl. We loved it. We are not " follow every week or we will die" people but we thought we would try it and we liked it. When we were offered tickets again this year we gladly accepted.

Because we knew more about what to expect we didn't wear all of our "winter" gear and just wore our jackets. We knew the roof would be closed and so it was no big deal. But this year, we FROZE!! This year we were also not up in the upper bowl either. We were on the lower bowl in row 38.. That is right... 38!!! They were great seats. But the big doors for the smokers were behind us and we were so so cold.

Before the game we hit up a yummy Gyro/ Greek place to eat before we went to the game. It was so delicious. And I DID take a photo of our yummy food!

We headed in and got our seats and waited for the fun to start. Since it was a local team it was PACKED! And Boise isn't that far away so it was even more fun. However, sitting in the lower bowl no one wanted to sit down in front of us. 

The game was pretty good. However, we ended up leaving a bit early. Dallas has had such an awesome year that he has lost so much weight he has NO body fat to keep him warm. So despite our good time, we headed out and watched the last of the game in the warm. 

*Hopekids is an organization that provides us with amazing opportunities to go to games and events and fun activities for kids with disabilities and life threatening and one of a kind illness'. We are very thankful for the tickets and the fun times we have with them.* 

The year of 2014

I love doing years in review. It makes me go back and reflect on what we did and what we learned. Sometimes, you don't remember everything that happened. I think it also helps you look back and say that you did a hard thing. I would rate this last year as nothing big and nothing horrible. Just a year to get through. And get through we did.

January- We decided that we would try and hit our deductible in the first few weeks and we did surgery on Tyler's eyes AND hit him up with some botox. It was a long month with those casts but we did it. It meant sponge baths and extra therapy and a really ticked of buddy, but we got through it. We learned that we can do hard things ( again) and that we can get through it ( again) and we didn't need anything but our little family, some respite and our ward family for physical help ( again), but that we needed the love and support that our extended family was willing to offer (again).

And the fun part, me and Dallas were able to go to our very first Fiesta Bowl. It was great!! We are not over the top football fans but we were able to enjoy it.

We saw Daniel Tiger, loved it and got our casts off!

Febuary- Tyler had very bad behavioral issues and we were unable to figure it out. It would take a few more months before we got someone to listen. But we got it done.

Valentines came and went and other than a few kicked out of schools, nothing happened that I can think of. ( Which is AMAZING~)

March- We found a awesome family that wanted a bike for their little Lucy, and were able to give back a gift that we had been given. It was a great experience for us.

We went to the zoo with Tyler's school and had a wonderful time. It, however, was confirmed that this is not the zoo for a visually impaired kid, but we had fun anyway. Our vision teacher went and Grayson came with us and we were able to FINALLY ride a carousel. (Meaning, that was all Tyler knew was there so he would repeat it for days on end until the day of the event!)

April-  We attended Bumble Bee Ranch, in which we were able to ride horses, bucking bronco's and play cowboy games. It was a great place for both Tyler and Grayson. Grayson LOVED the Horses and was pretty sure he would ride all day. He still talks about Bumble Bee.

May- I started my official Senior year of College. I am to the point where I only have 2 classes or so left in my major. All family therapy ( which I love!) and still have the grade point average to get into Physician assistant school. I have to update my math and science because it has been a long time since I took them, but if not, masters program for Marriage and Family therapy so I can have a job when Grayson is in school. ( EXCITED!!!) We also played because we had time off for Easter,. I am a single mom when Apple announces anything. Since Dallas company has a close relationship with apple they know when major updates and releases are coming or when the company has a final date and he lives at the office, literally. Sometimes a bed it taken. So I become mom of the house and do my life alone. We also hired a new worker. LOVE her!

June- Seizures. UGH!! We had another botox injection and he had a seizure, putting us into the adverse reaction team at PCH. It also meant no injections for six months. It was hard and devastating and very sad for us. But, we can do hard things ( again) and we can do them on our own ( again) and we will gladly accept any prayers from friends and family that they can or want to offer. ( again!)

Oh and we can't forget our Pine Wood Derby!! Sweet!

July- We had to move. Our house was being sold. I spent the better part of May, June and July looking for the perfect house. We found one that was pretty close. It was a one story, had enough bedrooms and a few other bonuses and the biggest is that it is RIGHT next door to the park. So we packed up our stuff and moved 4 roads away, into the same ward. See!! Perfection!

Grayson turned 3 and we had our Grandpa here to celebrate. He loved it. Next year a big boy party. Who knows, maybe we will celebrate in Utah! ( not to live, sorry. It will never happen. )

August- We learned a little to much about CBC's, hematocrit and Iron levels. We also learned that Grayson has Thalassemia Minor, a blood/absorbtion disorder. We also learned that we can do hard things ( again) and we can do them alone, (again) and we gladly take any prayers that our friends and family are willing to give ( again) ( see a theme here!) Oh and I grew older ( and chubbier, again!) Oh and School started for our 3rd Grader

September-  Tyler turned nine!! Yep, 9! He is in third grade and loves it. He is hitting all bench marks for his grade level. He LOVES science and loves music and Gym. He shares his time in his small class, and his typical class for all his specials and because he does really well in Science he goes with his typical class for that. He also gets some extra vision this year and FINALLY we are behaving MUCH better. ( we have still yet to grow from 55 pounds and what we were height wise at 5!)

October- I tried my first drive to Utah with the boys by myself. Yep, you guessed it, I can do hard things ( alone!!!) and we can do it as a family ( or with myself) and we can have a GREAT time! ( after we drive for 12 hours we need a hour to destress!) But we did it. We spent a great few days in Orangeville and a great few days with the other family in Salt Lake and as much time with Nicky as we could. And we had Halloween and loved it. Trick or Treating was great this year and Tyler won best costume and Grayson kept changing his mind. I can officially say, I have a great costume bucket!

November-  Oh November!! We spent an overnight stay at Cardon's children because of an accidental overdose on Lamictal. We had a nasty rash and it was bad enough our neurologist wanted us in, ASAP! We also did a sleep study for Grays and we dealt with the Nasty thalassemia rages that come with not enough iron. We lived through Thanksgiving with no extra family here and had a really great time.

December- We started off with a visit from our grandparents and we LOVED it. We had something planned every day they were here. Grayson and Tyler LOVE visitors. It was also one of the first days that we were able to go to the Lights in Mesa and not have Tyler freak out. We had a wonderful Christmas and aside from the nasty throw ups we each passed ( every 12 hours) we had a wonderful time and to end the month we had the OTHER grandparents come. My sisters kids came with them and my kids LOVED it. I have never seen Grayson cry when someone other than me, left the house. But he SOBBED when Koy was leaving.

This year we have learned that " We can do hard things. That we can do them as a 4 family. We can ask for prayers but we can't expect anything more or less unless they want to give it, and we can offer what we can. And lastly, not judge but support and love. That is what we want so that is what we will give!"

We are excited to see what 2015 brings to us. We are celebrating 10 years of this little family, we are making it COUNT!!

Happy Anniversary to Us!!

On June 4th 2005, Dallas actually showed up in Orangeville Utah where we were married at my parents little town. We had a great reception and we went to Price for our first night. And awkwardly enough, the town of price has 3 hotels and his Grandma and Grandpa were our Neighbors.  It was awkward.

Our awesome room had a Dumb and Dumber heart shapped tub, and I had a million and one bobbie pins in my hair. We ran and got food and brought home a pizza, and just crashed.

It was the start of the most emotion filled and hardest year of my life. It hasn't really slowed down and we have the WORST luck in the entire word. But we have made it.

One year late on June 10th 2006 we were sealed in the Manti Temple. Less than 4 days after our son had another brain surgery. The room was filled with supportive people in our lives and in walked my mom carrying my miracle baby into a room so he could be sealed to us forever.

Dallas was in San Fran and I was home but we went out, enjoyed some time as a family wile we waited for our dad to get home. But over all, I love my life.

 For eternity and beyond!!!

• 284,169,600 seconds
• 4,736,160 minutes
• 78,936 hours
• 3289 days
• 469 weeks (rounded down)

Mother's day

We kicked off our summer with Mother's day. We had a wonderful Saturday where I got to sleep in until I woke up. That is seriously the best thing ever and rarely happens. We try to allow each of us a morning to sleep in for 2 hours and then we switch on the weekends but I try to allow Dallas to have the Saturday because I can always take a nap on Sunday. So it was great!

Sunday I woke up and we went to church and stopped and got the mail on the way home.  In the mail was a cute bracelet from my mom with my kiddo's birthstones on it. It was beautiful. I need to remember some day to get it re sized but till then I will just look at it and admire them. It truly was so nice of my parents.

The only part of having just 2 beads is knowing that there is a finality to it. The feeling of the last one not ever coming makes mother's day so hard for me. The years of infertility don't disappear. But seeing 2 and not just one was enough. 

The boys gave me a card that they wrote on themselves and Dallas and the boys gave me the BEST present EVER. 

In the last 8 years I can count on ONE hand I have been away from my children. It just doesn't happen. Someone is always with me. So I get one night, in a hotel room, with no kids or husband. Where I can watch movies, have my own food and eat it warm and sleep... alone. Not sharing a bed with anyone and sleep in, until check out... which can be a late check out!! And Thanks to a amazing Friend, the newly remodeled Crowne Plaza will be my destination. She got D a great deal when I am ready to go (which won't be till mid August) but I am going to  LOVE it! 

January

January was a bit more eventful for us. We started the year off with a trip to the infamous trip to the Fiesta Bowl.  That's right, we attended a football game. Dallas and I do not watch sports unless it is lacrosse but we were given tickets and decieded to go. We got a sitter, planned for an open ceiling and dressed for cold weather and ended up needing..... NOTHING. It was closed top and warm!

We had a blast. The tickets were decent and the game was not won by those who it was suppose to.

We had a great time and we enjoyed having a date. We even enjoyed the fact that the team that was suppose to win didn't. Sure made for some angry fans that actually cared. If AZ ever gets into the bowl, or a Utah team, I bet we could get a few of the grandparents and uncles down to visit us.

At Christmas I got SUPER sick. Like I had THE FLU!! The real flu. After our Christmas festives and breakfast and lunch was started, I achingly got into bed and literally slept the entire day. I got sicker and sicker and sicker. I was so worried that everyone would get it, but I was so thankful that this year that I made everyone else get flu shots, even Dallas, and then I didn't get one. I was SICK. So even during this football game I was misrable. I am pretty sure that I drank more nyquil than I ever have before.

We celebrated our Dad's birthday by having this awesome party here at home with yummy cake in which we ate deliciously. Our sweet neighbor watched the boys and I took him out to dinner and a movie.


That was the fun stuff of January

The Aftermath

The aftermath of the storm has been horrendous but seems to be hitting a good spot.

Kinda.

Tuesday was HORRIBLE with vomit every ten-20 minutes. From other reports of this nasty bug recipients we were lucky he was dehydrated enough that it wasn't coming from both ends. HOORAY for us! He was snowed from the seizure drugs, snowed from the seizure and vomit made for one sad little boy.

He went to bed about 7 and slept till 3 am.

Wednesday at 3 am Ty woke up and said mom it is time for me to go down stairs. I got up and was realizing that I wasn't feeling so hot so Dallas went while Grayson slept. I went down when Grayson got up, made some breakfast and realized it was NOT going to stay down. Dallas went BACK downstairs and held the fort down till about 8 when Grays was hungry. I dealt with all that stuff and we slept off and on till about 11. Took a anxiety pill and TADA all better. Ty was MUCH better and we ventured out later in the day.

The adventure went south QUICKLY. We got about 15 minutes into it and Ty got super anxious. He started just repeating " We go home now." We got in the store and we were the only ones there and I tried to get him distracted. Didn't work. For the whole time we were in the store he was scared, sad and anxious. We got home and got him settled. D went and played a lacrosse game so I did the honors of putting them to bed and he did great. He likes the idea that he gets to sleep with us but in his own bed. I have even asked him if he wants to go into our bed and he says " No. I sleep right here in my mickey mouse bed in Your room." So far, the right choice for us.

Today MUCH better. Ty was up at 6:30 but Grayson had a blah night. Ty asked for food, ate a LOT of food. Took his meds. Was a happy camper and seemed back to normal. Grays was pretty normal. Not a great napper.

Tonight.... Dallas has the aches. He has slept since 5 and just says he doesn't feel good. I am guessing we didn't miss the boat and we are in for a long day tomorrow. I hope if I am going to get it I get it on Sunday when he doesn't have to work. But for now, hand washing central.

New York

My husband is a GENIUS.

No really. He is a genius.

A computer genius. He is a web developer who has self taught how to program stuff for the Iphone and Ipad. He is really good at what he does. He loves coding for that kind of stuff. While it is all foreign to me, he is able to work contract jobs and his own stuff right now and is basically at home MOST of the time but he is working ALL the time.

He is very active on social network sites ( except facebook.. he thinks it is stupid) like twitter and has way to many geeky friends on there that do the same thing as him. We even send him to the Apple Conference. Which is a week long, in California with Geeks and Apple stuff. HEAVEN!

Recently, after starting to do contract work again and working from home he was in contact with someone who worked at The New York Times. They were interested in him and asked him to "come in" for an interview. He got all excited because he has never been and they were going to fly him out there for an interview.

He left on Tuesday and I went and got him Wednesday night. He had a wonderful time and got to see a few things. But most importantly his interview went well. We will hear what they have to say in a few days. Probably next week.

No worries. He didn't get mugged but he did invade the Disney store where he bought both boys Mickey mouse stuff. Ty loved it and was so excited to wear them to bed today.

Wish us well.... and wish us LOTS of money to be able to afford the living there!

Dallas

Since he is trying to sleep and I am still awake waiting for Grayson to decide he wants to move I thought I would get this up for his long week with out us!

We finally made it to six WHOLE years of being married. Though we didn't "date" much longer than that I couldn't have asked for a better person to be married to. I couldn't ask for a better person to have a family with and one to go through Hell and back.

Starting a journey that will take us a million other places.

A journey of watching our son, and then decide to live. Over and over. His sick body couldn't make up his mind. But we loved him. And stood over him for months. As we waited to see what he would become.

As a husband I saw him transform and have a special place for this little boy. Always willing to help him to get where he needed to go. Be by his side. Love him.... always.

Teaching him the right things to do to be happy. The things that make them both happy. Each other .

And last but not least, his patience, love and genuine LOVE for this little boy. Makes me so glad that baby Grayson will get to be loved by my sweetheart.

Through the last six years we have had to sit back and watch while our sweetest little man literally walked the line of living and dying. So many times we sat and watched as he would stop breathing and with tears in our eyes, start begging him to breathe again.

We have watched Tyler have brain surgery after brain surgery after brain surgery just to get him stabilized enough to be OK. Reconstructive surgery for his brain to not be pressed to tight and then of course, the luck of the draw getting the recalled shunt.

Ty was in the hospital 2 days before we were suppose to be sealed together. We had to leave him with my sister the DAY after he had brain surgery to go to the temple for Dallas. We had to work so hard to get what we needed and wanted.

An Eternal Family.

Together we have worked through both of us having stressful jobs, Never seeing each other to pay off debt, money in the bank to money NOT in the bank. Car accidents, shunt revisions ( brain surgeries). Living a wonderful, amazing journey in Arizona. Feeling like we are/were near poverty back in Utah and then fertility problems. All in the last 4 years.

Today, we have each other. We have that piece of paper we worked so hard to get and are working even harder to maintain. We have a sweet, hard, overwhelming little boy. One that is spoiled by everyone. One that will be in our care for the rest of our lives. And one that is truly ours. He is a JOY in every sense of the word. He is strung a little tight around the edges but loves just like his dad.

And last by not least, Sweet Baby Grayson. He is as calm as he could be whenever Dallas is around. NO moving, no kicking no nothing. Just calm gentle movements. I am SURE we are raising a daddy's boy on this one.

I feel so lucky and so complete with T, Dallas and Grayson. They complete me. Though the wedding was about us, the marriage is about them. About living a life together that is a nurturing, caring and respectful of each other and a partnership to those 2 kids and to each other.

A really big thanks should go out to his mom ( and dad).... Who raised the most sweet, caring, loving and devote husband. To them I will always be indebted.

Happy Anniversary Dallas.

May the next year be even better, calmer and involve less insurance :)

I really think I have the best

I really have the best husband in the entire world. I don't think that I could really function daily without him in it.

I have a stomach bug. I have no idea or HAD no idea that you really could tell a difference between morning sickness ( which really does last all day for me!) I have really great days and I most days I just lose lunch or dinner. No big deal. I throw up, put Ty to bed and have a snack and feel fine. This morning after a really LONG night with Ty he was up for good at 4:30am. Around 7 I went up an asked Dallas to take him. I was NOT feeling well. I had actual pains in my stomach.

I got up when D came up to shower and started throwing up. It was different than just throw up and feel fine. D took off to work ( he had some extra stuff to do today) and I tried to clean up around the house. Finally at one I asked him when he was coming home. After he got home and I had another round of the pukes, he sent me to bed.

He took Tyler ( yes I know he is the dad) for the rest of the day. He had a lot of work to do and he let me sleep. Tonight I asked for a blessing. He always makes me feel so much better and so much more loved.

He makes me happy. He supports me so much more than I could ever have imagined. Together we are strong. We have been together through so much more than I could ever have imagined doing together.

We are so in love with the cute BIG boy we created. He has so many attributes of his father that he melts my heart! I can't imagine what Tyler or I would do without D.

D is the best dad. He is the best father. I love him.

"You have a problem"

Today was one of those long lost days where I have to get up and get going days. You know, the ones from a LONG time ago, when it was WARM! I have gotten all the appointments in my head all messed up and on the wrong days and times.

We made our appointment for this weeks appointment with Dr. A for Monday the 24th. They had me down for the 25th and D asked that I change it. So I went this morning at 9:30. Our OB is in Payson. Which is about 45 minutes from our house. So Ty got on the bus, I got in the shower and off I went.

After my appointment I stopped in to see D and decided since Ty was our other appointment that a trip to "Burger king" was in order and I went to school to get him.

Oh how my heart melted. Apparently he is the class commentator during A.P.E and when it is another kids turn Ty cheers " you can do it * insert name* Kick the ball" and if the *name* didn't get it then he says " oh no you miss a ded the ball.. try again *name*."

He is always happy for them to be able to do the task that is asked. When I got there he normally would have left his spot and sat on my lap but he is growing up and doesn't want to leave his friends.

Ty's appointment was with the dreaded sleep doc. She is a great doc and has just allowed us to keep using the meds that we are using. But she asked we come in this time for the refill. I HATE going to her office. I feel like half the time, out of desperation, I am the problem to his sleep issues.

He goes to bed at a set time ( unless Nicky is here and then that is just messed up) but he falls asleep in his own bed with usually no issues. Some days we will have a hard time getting him to stay asleep and he drags his mickey mouse bed stuff into our room and asks his dad if he can please sleep with the daddy and offers a peace offering kiss. When that happens we let him fall asleep in here and then take him back.

He also wakes up during the night in which he doesn't just turn over and go back to sleep. He gets up. He walks into my room and out of desperation to not have him STAY awake at 3 am I put him in bed with us.This generally sends me to the bigger bed or Ty's bed for sleep the rest of the night. Ty will come find me when he is done in my bed.

In general, when he sleeps with me he sleeps WAY late. Like 8 am. For him that is HUGE. It seems the only time he sleeps really good is when he plays all day with the "kids" or his Grandpa. But 9 out of 10 sleeps he is with me or Dallas. As we were going over his issues she asked if we felt that some of them were behavior. In which I answered probably.

If he starts talking and asking for movies or activities then he is up for the day. If I can get him to not talk first thing by just putting him in my bed then we gain about 2 hours of sleep. So in desperation he is in my bed. Sleep Doc answer: Seems you have a problem.

I laughed. I am the ONLY one not fully sedated in this house. His dad has the worst insomnia ever. His mom.. sleeps any where at any given time. Since I am pregnant the sleeping issue is the cause to a lot of morning sickness days. If I don't get enough sleep and am tired. Watch out toilet bowl.

So solution. There isn't one. She said "I hope your new kid gets your sleeping issues and not the dads. Good luck." Offered to refill his script, said call her if we need anything see ya in a year.

Yep, I have a problem. He sleeps in my bed.

What do others do with their hard to sleep husbands and kids?

Tyler went to the CIRCUS

*Oh MY GOODNESS!! This will totally have picture overload so I tried to limit them but Grandma would be mad if I didn't include SOME.*

On Tyler's birthday we were offered 2 tickets to the circus. I told Tyler we were going to go to the circus and he was so excited. We were waiting to see if we could get an extra ticket and were worried that D wasn't going to be able to go with us. LATE the night before the Circus we were offered one more ticket. We were so excited to go.

The next morning I woke up throwing up and sick, sick, sick. I spent the whole morning throwing up and was REALLY not sure if I could make it. I was so sad and upset. Come afternoon I was feeling MUCH better and Tyler couldn't stop talking about the circus. When he got off the bus he asked for the circus, when he went to bed the night before he asked about the circus.

We had no idea where we were sitting but were told it was "handicapped accessible." Normally that means that it is pretty easy to get to but not at the ES arena. So we arrived in time for the pre-show which gave Tyler a chance to be out on the floor with some performers up close so he could see.

While we were there Tyler and Dallas stayed and I needed to run and see if we could get our seats changed. The handicapped seats were very far away and he wouldn't be able to see. When I went down to the problem ticket counter and asked if they could change our seats. At first they said no because the tickets were comp'd by the show and not purchased by anyone. I thanked them and left.

We got some yummy dinner food from the concessions ( blah.. ) and of course popcorn. Ty ate the WHOLE thing. We sat down and got a tap on our shoulder from the problem ticket dude who asked us to follow him.

He offered us seats in the 4th row. It was seriously amazing being that close to all of the performers. I was VERY impressed. What made it even better was Tyler and his expression as they did their thing.

The Ringmaster was very good, but very loud. He rarely stood still for longer than three seconds.

As the circus started Ty shoveled in the popcorn. I am not sure if he was nervous or what. He ate almost the whole container of popcorn. He was VERY good through the whole thing.

This is the lady that twirls on a really high rope by her hair! so incredibly NUTS.

The crazy motorcycle riders.

Ty decided to sit with Dallas through the last part of the show. I think he is excited a little bit.

I love the Elephants. They are such HUGE cute animals. There is something majestic about them and I really liked them. At the end of the circus they brought out the newest member of the crew and it was a baby elephant. Ty pointed and said " Baby Elephant and his mommy."

And the end of the show! It really was the best show on earth. Ty loved it and he was awake and aware of everything around him. It was a show of wonder, awe and most of all SEEING!

We have just recently noticed that his vision is something that really does impact so many things. Something small, like sitting close to the circus, means SO much.

Special thanks to those who gave us the tickets to go. At the cost of the seats that we needed it would have cost us well over 300 bucks. We had the best time and Ty still talks about his trip to the circus.

*Click on the pictures if you want them to be bigger.*

Stubborn Standoff

Tyler VS. Dallas

Who will win the battle of wills?

Since birth we have had a stubborn and FIESTY little toot. He has fought to no end. As he has gotten older his stubborn ways have not changed. In fact they have put us to the test more times than I care to count ( or recall OR blog for that matter) but this one was kind of funny. ( Probably because it had nothing to do with me!)

Since Tyler was little we have FOUGHT to get him to eat. In general it turns into something that resembles a Chuck- a - rama and me be being a short order cook. I have, at times, made him 4 different things, all of which goes to waste. He tends to eat in front of the TV and eat really bad food because he won't eat anything else.

Since we have decided that for the school year we were going to try extra hard to sit down and eat. We made a menu and all things this week are items that he will eat. We aren't sure if he will eat them together but on those days cooking some chicken nuggets is not a big deal.

Tonight I made baked ziti. Super easy, yummy and all things he will eat. (Noodles and cheese!) We had corn on the cob which he loves and applesauce. Pretty well balanced if you ask me.

Ty is learning ( yes I know a little late!) to eat on his own but his hands don't rotate correctly. He is also getting a crash course in drinking from an open cup. ( generally we have straws in this house!)

We sit down to dinner and Dallas brings over the garlic bread. Ty eats that and applesauce and won't touch anything else. I offer it from my plate which generally does the trick. It didn't work. Dallas eats his meal and encourages Tyler to eat. I finish my meal and encourage Tyler to eat.

( don't judge my kitchen. My house keeping skills are NOT up to par but are not a hoarder house yet! and YES that is a shot glass. He is learning to drink from a cup)

NOTHING is working so we start taking away the things he LIKES in an effort to get him to TRY the main dish. No more drinks or bread till he has ONE BITE!

He was so upset.

He would reach for me because he figured I would " Save" him from the wrath of Daddy. I was NOT getting involved. I would have just offered him some oatmeal and be done with it. BUT, daddy was having none of it.

The face off started. Dallas in his chair armed with an IPhone to pass the time. Tyler on his chair with his head down being sad.

I went about my mother/maid business and did the dishes and they sat.

After Ty would reach out for me to save him I finally decided I needed to walk away. 25 minutes into it I decided pictures would be great!! They sat for another 15 after that.

I came up stairs to wait out the fight. I was SURE D would not cave.

A few minutes later I hear T and D coming up the stairs. Tyler in tears and his dad ALMOST in tears. You see, D is a softy for all things T. He can't STAND the idea that Ty is upset. Tyler is not allowed to play or splash in the water and taking his medicine on a somewhat empty tummy means faster action. The worst punishment, the Mickey Mouse Movie he was going to watch all cuddled up in my bed was canceled.

We got his bed stuff ready and Dallas, the softy, offered 2 books to be read before we went to bed.

So the winner.............................

Tyler!

Like always!

When you are spoiled and as amazing as he is, ( oh and the ONLY kid in the house) one can't help but see how stubborn he is and smile. It is why he is here with us!

PS. His grandfather was the MOST stubborn man I have ever met in my LIFE. I am SURE it skipped a generation from my mom because I am not stubborn.

Genetics don't lie. D and T might look alike but Tyler is a LOT more stubborn

Is August over?

The month of August started out really blah.

REALLY blah.

Quite frankly the summer has kind of sucked. Like a lot. But the Month of August so far has taken the cake. I hope to wake up and have it be September 1st... ( literally, cause T is back in school then)

So the ONE date that I got to go on with Dallas started by us realizing that we had failed yet MISERABLY at getting pregnant and ended up with Dallas having a gal bladder attack. An attack that has lasted 3 weeks, an Insta care visit, and ER visit, 2 outpatient scans and a general surgeon visit. It has resulted in Dallas first surgery EVER in his WHOLE life, in which we have come to the conclusion that he is a HUGE baby when it comes to pain. He will even admit that he has a HUGE pain issue.

As this crappy week has progressed I, YEP ME!!, the mom of the year decided it was the best time to finally just tell Ty he was not a baby and he goes to the bathroom in the toilet. In which we have had 3 wet underpants and one poop pants which resulted in carpets having to be cleaned, a bath taken and Clorox ALL over the house and random poop pieces picked up. Not to mention holding his arms down because he had put his hands in his pants when he realized he pooped and started to cry.

After several happy trips to the potty which Dallas attended, we had no pee success in the potty. On the way BACK down the stairs Dallas grabbed the spare cups that I had been meaning to take down. As Ty got off the stairs I turned around and D was falling down them.

The said cups in hand ended up on the landing at the bottom, broken in LOTS of different large pieces while my broken hubby was sitting on the floor. In horrific pain. I let him sit there so that he could gather himself together. ( I fell off the deck steps a few months ago and I was half embarrassed and half in so much pain I could DIE!) I took out the trash and started to clean the glass around him so we could get him up. In the mean time we realized his leg was bleeding. A LOT.

We got the glass up and Dallas up and the wound was big. He needed stitches according to his wife doctor ( who is generally RIGHT) and I called my sister for help. I needed someone who was able to put Ty to bed, deal with his meds and understand without frustrating him for his night routine. She was perfect.

She let him watch a movie with her and then lady right down next to her and fell asleep. I knew she loved it and I knew he loved it. Off we went to the Insta care.

Because of the location of his "owie" and the location of the surgery owies he couldn't lay down in order for this to really work for anyone so it was kinda a pain. But he is now the proud owner of 7 stitches in his upper leg and on the good side that he could lay down on because of the pain from the surgery.

It puts a damper on my idea of a laid back Birthday and temple trip I wanted to take.

BOO

Hopefully I can at least get some shrimp scampi!

Surgery

For Dallas that is!! I know, what a turn of events. Usually it is the little tyke and not the big one. The pain that was making Dallas sick turned out to be his Gall Bladder. I totally called it about 2 weeks before (and a few hundred bucks of tests and copays) the doctors would even talk to us. And if I hadn't been such a pain and just got him an appointment with a general surgeon we would STILL be waiting.

So he got an xray when we went to the insta- care ( the IHC monopoly version of urgent care.) the day after he got sick. He was then given an ultrasound and it was negative. The next day he ended up in the ER. It was a Friday but I was so mad that no one would take us serious that I had already called a General surgeon's office and made an appointment. He couldn't see us for a week and in between that time we were given a Hida scan and results were that it needed to be out.

So Monday morning we got a sitter for Tyler and we left the house around 7:30 am and he was in surgery around 9. He has never had surgery before so him waking up was really hard. The doc said he did well in surgery and that the gal bladder was in need of coming out. Gave me the instructions and then I Waited.... and waited some more.

Once back to the room Dallas was not loving that he still hurts. The pain is different so I guess it was a good thing to get it out.

Tyler did great. He LOVES the neighbors house. He loves Payton and Logan and the girls. I swear he would live there if I would let him. It is nice to have such amazing neighbors and amazing friends in this ward.

Tomorrow is a new day. Dallas is currently asleep, Ty is currently asleep and I am enjoying the sounds of nothing. Tomorrow is a gonna be filled with errands, slavery and love!

5th Anniversary

On June 4Th I married my best friend. He has become MORE of my best friend as the years have gone by.

This last week we were able to get away from real life for a few days. We stayed in Logan at the Anniversary Inn. We were able to go to my favorite little restaurant and have 2 days of just us. That hasn't happened in a while.

What I appreciate most is that he is riding our roller coaster together. The first night after Tyler was born we were sitting on my hospital bed after going to see our very sick little boy and a sweet nurse brought in cookies and juice. She sat down and said that this will either make or break your marriage.

I can honestly say that it has made our marriage. Neither of us would ever think of going at this alone. I can honestly say that I wouldn't want to do it alone and I am glad that I have him to wake up to every morning.

He is a hard worker and does everything he can to provide for Tyler and I. He does an amazing job at it too. He sometimes works to hard ! He is the best dad. I love the look of love in his eyes when he looks at our baby.

He is more than willing to make sure that I am happy and have everything I need or want. ( Including some high priced baby making drugs and I am NOT talking about clomid!) I am seriously so happy.

I love him.

I think I love him MORE everyday.

The Vintage Pearl

My mothers day present from Dallas and Tyler was so perfect. I LOVED it and I think it is incredibly perfect.

I finally got my camera out today and decided to try and get some pictures of it.

Perfect huh.... The only thing to make it EVEN more perfect.... one more name to the list!

* Side note* The day after we were at the docs getting blood drawn and the nurse saw my necklace and told Dallas he did the best job ever and it was the cutest thing she had EVER seen.

I have to agree.

No medical Emergency

Ty honestly has me always on edge. Those nights like last night make me TIRED!

He was up crying or crying in his sleep for most of the night. Lots of crying, gagging and just plain yuck. He was up early and since then has been fine. I often get that knot at the pit of my tummy when he acts like he is just not feeling well.

Because of the nature of his issues I can't just ignore it or not think the worst. BUT for now we are back to good old FUN and hungry Tyler!

I do have to say... His dad is amazing and is SO helpful. The only thing that really makes me sane in my world is his dad. I love him SO much and he is the most amazing person and is PERFECT for us. Without him I really don't think I could survive!

Dallas turned 28!

It has been a week so I thought I would add his Birthday stuff. A ton of blog posts are floating in my head and a few are on my other blog but for now but here is the goods.

The Sunday before Dallas' birthday we had the traditional Sunday dinner at his parents house. They do one every week but the birthday person gets to choose. His mom had called earlier in the week to try and brain storm a present but frankly Dallas is HARD to shop for. His favorite things tend to cost a little more than birthday budget would allow ( think Apple store galore) and so some gifts tend to be cash... or nothing :)

After a yummy dinner we had presents from his sisters and his parents. I was saving mine till Monday where I had tried ( and failed miserably) to produce a surprise here and there. Dallas' mom did an EXCELLENT job of finding something he could and would and did really want.

They gave him a REALLY nice BBQ tool set. Complete with carry straps on the bag and a luggage claim slip! His current set was washed in the dishwasher a few times ( by yours truly) and a new set was very much needed. Thanks to his others sisters he also received some cards and cash!

Dallas isn't a huge cake fan but you can still blow out candles on Brownies so after the traditional songs he was able to enjoy a big brownie desert. All in preparation for the real celebration the next night!

Monday was his birthday and I decided to try super hard to have ONE surprise. So since he is hard to buy for we agreed he should have a massage. But instead of just a nice massage envy he would go to his friend Jenni who does some amazing amazing work.

His favorite food is Sushi and so we decided to go back to the little more classy downtown restaurant that seems to have the best quality of raw fish that he likes to eat. So off we went. We invited his mom and dad if they wanted to go and anyone else was welcome. Kids aren't very "appropriate" so we had to find a sitter. ( I won't go into sitter drama) but we had Auntie Sheena watch him. Tyler LOVES LOVES Sheena. ( Side note: Sheena is also the only name Tyler will say.. So every night at prayers he says thanks for SHHa.) So she was more than Happy to take him for the evening. So with Pizza in the oven and Sheena here we took off.

I had made some arrangements earlier in the day for a surprise desert that the Brown's introduced me to when I first met for the first birthday dinner ( Which was actually Crystals) and I KNEW that I would surprise him with a box of delicious Oreo mint cookies from Schmidt's bakery. So After Shriners therapy and a funeral viewing, Tyler and I went to the bakery and got his dad some really yummy cookies.

I wrapped the box ( pretty much Ghetto) and then ordered a one our photo print of a gift certificate. The certificate was for his massage. I upgraded the massage to 2 hours. Ty and I left to get it at the LAST second to make sure that we would have it for the dinner.

Low and behold Might walmart screwed up and it wasn't printed. I was so sad. I literally cried when I had nothing Tangible but my credit card receipt for his massage. But at least we had the cookies.

Once Sheena was there we were off and we were ready for a yummy dinner. Dinner was great. It tasted wonderful. We had great company and most of all I got to spend it with D.

We headed home and he will be enjoying his massage when he decides to take 2 hours out of his busy life working WAY to hard and go get one.

He also got to hear the Happy birthday song a million times and Tyler and Barney practiced blowing out the candles and hearing SHHH we don't talk about the cake a BILLION and one times.

It was a Great Birthday~

*Thank you mom and Dad Labrum for the gift card to red lobster ( I totally stole it.. but don't tell Dallas) And Barrett and Chantel for the extra EXTRA effort to mail ( ON TIME) a gift card for him ( that hasn't been hijacked from me yet) your extra effort meant a lot.*

Happy Birthday!

Today is my best friends birthday. He is the MOST amazing best friend a girl could ask for. I honestly feel like I am the most luckiest person in the world. Here are a few reason why I love this man!

He is Tyler's Hero. His best bud. MY best friend.

A protector of all things. His strong arms and hands are always ready to do the protecting.

He has gracefully lived up to the challenge of having a special kiddo. He has learned how to move him, help him and make him be better. Watching him father this special little guy has made my love grow TEN fold.

After shunt surgery placement it was HARD. Tyler was never happy. He was crying all the time. I was losing my patience. This picture captures them perfect. He is so calm, gently and caring no matter what. They have a look about both of them. When they are together my heart skips a few beats.

He is my best friend. My world. And he holds OUR world in his hands. I couldn't ask for a better partner in life than Dallas. I thank my Heavenly Father for giving me Dallas EVERY single day.

Dallas is unselfish. He always has been. He always puts Tyler and I first.

After we moved to Arizona we were solely relying on each other. There were times that he would come home only to work all night to get his business going. In fact he STILL does that. He got a job here in Utah because he was unselfish. He has worked hard enough in the last 4 years of our marriage to keep me home with Tyler. He has put so much extra effort in that he has made a successful business and we ALWAYS have what we need.

Now back in Utah he is even more my best friend. There is not a moment that goes by that I don't miss him when he is gone to work. He is there when I need a hug or a sounding board or a place to vent my frustrations and anger.

He is Handsome. Oh is he handsome. I smile when I look at him. I LOVE his dimples. I love the way he looks at me and smiles. I love when he taps me on the shoulder to smile at something that Tyler is doing. When I look into the eyes of my child, though they are blue like mine the soul is that of Dallas. It is Caring, loving and unselfish to!

He is supportive. His house is looking like a craft store and he NEVER complains because he says it makes me happy. During my Grandfathers funeral he was there holding my hand and giving me comfort when I was sad.

He is an amazing father. Though all circumstances were not in our control when we were in the NICU he has proved time and time again that he is the best father that I could ask for my child(ren). He has proven that he will step out of his comfort zone to be there for me and our child in any way he can.

He trusts me. As a wife and mother he trusts my gut instinct. A few times it has failed us but he never loses that trust in me. He always listens when I say something isn't right.

Most of all he is mine for Eternity. No matter what happens in this life he is mine in the next. He is a strong and worthy priesthood holder in my home. He is loving, caring, sweet, gentle, understanding, protective, a father and a provider and most of all he is mine.

D, I love you so much and hope that you have a wonderful day. I can't thank you enough for traveling this journey with me. I love you... even without lap band :)