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.

Happy Birthday Nicky

This year is a hard year for Miss Nicky poo. She didn't have a good weekend but we hope that tomorrow she has a good day.

Some of the things that make Nicky Nicky is her amazing love for her family. She is so protective of the six kids that she is an Aunt to and she is so protective of her siblings. She has so much love that she just can't get enough of them.

She is always willing to do pretty much anything ( like drive 12 hours) to get one of them closer to her. She is thoughtful, caring, loving, selfless, compassionate and any other caring word you can think of.

A few stories I have of Nicky.

This year she is giving all the kids Build a bears. She is in love when they play and laugh and hug them. This last week we have seen Ty playing with this bear all day. He gives it hugs, he makes it dance. She has provided him with LOTS of love.

One of my most thankful times as a mom came in the midst of a shunt malfunction we didn't know about. She baby sat for me so I could go to therapy. She knew he was gonna be fussy and cry the whole time but she did it any way knowing that I really needed to go and she was willing to do it.

Another time was when Ty had one of his many brain surgeries. ( I am thinking it was one of his skull reconstructions because we were in the PICU) I had been up there all day and I was exhausted. I had held Tyler all day and I really needed to go potty and eat. All of a sudden up shows Nicky. All ready to take pictures and cuddle with Tyler. I am pretty sure she sat there for 2 hours just holding him. I couldn't have asked for a better and more grateful person to sit there for a sick baby and a needy sister. I was very thankful.

A favorite face and a time a tear was shed ( or two) was the first time she got to hold Tyler. She was so shocked and so excited. We put the little 3 pounder into her arms and she was just staring down at his sweet little face. After a few minutes she asked for a pillow because she was afraid she would drop him.

I think since then she hasn't been able to get enough. I know she can't get enough of the others. She is a great Aunt and a great sister. We hope she has a better day today and a great birthday.

Happy birthday Nicky

Its my "little" sisters birthday today. She is officially OLD!! So as she celebrates her day I wanted to leave her with the "facts" of Nicky.

The Nicky facts:

• She is the youngest and is the baby of the family.
  
• Her nick name is Peanut. She even gets mad if someone else is called that.
  
• Grandma Labrum died on her birthday. That is kinda a bizarre fact but it is a true one.
  
• I call her Sticky because she was always so skinny.
  
• She wanted a middle name and got mad that she didn't have one so she adopted grandma Olsen's' name. So her name is Nicky Melva
• Lexi distinguishes Nicky by calling her Nicky the girl and not Nicky the cat.
  
• Our sister has a cat named Nicky. Hence the need to figure out if it is Nicky the girl or not.
• Nicky has an hateful relationship with buses and 911.
  
• She is one of the most loving and caring people we know
  
• She LOVES her nieces and Nephews
  
• She is always there when we need her. If she can get there she will be there.
• The first time she held my son she asked for a pillow because she couldn't feel him.
• She has NEVER missed a surgery or a chance to love on her "kids" and we all love her.
  
• She is Aunt NINI and we hope you have a good day!

We hope you have a wonderful birthday. We hope you enjoy eating some cupcakes/cake and watching a movie. Thank you for always being there. You are a great person and you deserve to have a happy birthday... Happy BIRTHDAY!!!

Happy Birthday NICKY POO!!

Some people call her *peanut*, Sticky, Poo Poo, Stinky butt, Nicky the girl and when we can convince one of kids to call her NINI she will be all set. But none the less it is her birthday today.

Some amazing things that we love about Nicky

1. She doesn't like School buses. Especially ones numbered 911. She tends to hit them with her car. * despite the joke she was VERY lucky that she leaned over or she would not be here to laugh about it*
2. She is the only person I know that didn't need to unzip a size 0 dress for junior prom.
3. She is very caring and is willing to do almost anything to help.
4. When I was in labor, my mom called Nicky to let her know I was having Tyler. Because it was so early Nicky thought my mom was kidding. Nicky was living in Provo and she had taken sleeping pills. She had her roomates bring her up and she went from LDS hospital to The U waiting for this baby to come. ( the docs couldn't make up their minds where we were going) She waited all night and finally sometime after 2 or 3 am Ty was admited to LDS and Nicky was able to see this little guy.
5. After having Ty I had some major complications that included a nurse coming to my house 2 times a day. A few times the nurse couldn't come. She had made sure that someone was trained to do what she did. Well, Nicky was one of them. Now, let me explain this wound. It was DEEP and it was in a *private* place. There was no way to sheild the *private place* from view. So here was my little sister dumping saline in my wound and shooting me up with lydocaine in hopes I wouldn't beat her up * it hurt like hell* all the while my * private place* was open to her. Sad... I have no secrets. ( I was also pumping during that time so she has seen ALLLLLL my private places. POOR Nicky!!
6. Nicky came up to the hospital all the time. Even during the times that she could only LOOK at Tyler. BUT the day that I told her he was able to be held. I am almost sure she dropped everything to come over to PCMC and hold him. I got him out of his warm *condo* and put him in her arms. She was crying so I had to warn her that he was VERY light. She asked for a pillow. She felt like she was holding just blankets. She just sat there Looking at this little boy.




7. She has saved my sanity LOTS of times. There were times Tyler wouldn't stop and I needed a break and fast. She would come and sit there and play with him even when she knew he was going to cry the whole time.
8. She calls when she needs a buddy. Ty is more than willing to say I love you and blow kisses and quack like a duck for her. He laughs and *Fake laughs* for her everyday.
9. Last but no least. She is my sister. I have some pretty great sisters if I do say so my self. She will make someone a great wife and for sure a mother. She will find the person she will marry and that warm bread and Jam will be waiting for them. What a great person.
( Aunt Nicky's 2 boys!!)

Happy birthday NICKY POO!!!

My heart is so full!!

I wish I could describe to you just how happy I have been the last few weeks and months. There are so many things that makes my day and my world. I listed a few yesterday but there are so many more.

Today I sent Dallas out to "go get lost" in the city. Just drive. Clear his head. Figure things out. Be alone.. ya know. The stuf you want to do when you feel BLAH....He ended up in Pheonix and then on his way home stopped for sushi and found a place to shop. He bought lots of very THOUGHTFUL things. He bought a few toys for Tyler ( including a Barney singing set and a new baby Einstein.) Harry Potter for me and a few things things for him. It was so thoughtful. Especially the toys.

During the week I wasn't feeling to well and Ty had his new OT come over. She is going to be amazing. I can tell allready. She was helping us with some sensory issues that Ty has. Dallas has become VERY interested in helping us work on these things. It is an interest that I am not sure I have seen in him in a long time. ( Don't get me wrong.. he is interested in Tyler but the therapy has usually been my thing) Although Ty didn't jump for joy for one of the toys I am glad he liked the playdoh and can't wait to try the other things on Sunday.

Life tends to play games with our emotions. Dallas has had some pretty down days and I am glad he is finally getting back to himself. I have had some pretty down days but have realized that NOTHING changes. Life goes on and we can be happy or we can be sad.

With this new realization I have really started to enjoy watching Tyler try so many new things. He is such a busy body. He is such an amazing kid. Everyone deserves to have a child with special needs... JUST so they can feel of the Spirit. That EXTRA something that they bring. ( NO one deserves the heartache that comes with it.. but those extra something... Its amazing)

I have loved and been so grateful for my realtionship with my sisters. Tammy has changed a lot. I told her the other day that I thought she use to be bossy and it was good to see her finally start standing up for herself. Nicky is so sweet to be willing to take my baby whenever she could. She longs for the kisses of these sweet kids. I have ached with Crys when poor Noah got sick. I felt horrible that she would have to experience the NICU and to join that group of moms that spend HOURS on end for weeks and weeks wondering if the would go home empty handed. She is truly a example. For Jenny and her selfless service to help. Dallas's other sisters are so in love with TyTy. They always ask for more pictures. I couldn't ask for better sisters in the entire world. I am so blessed.

Our jobs are such a blessing to us and make my heart so full. I LOVE my job. It is hard to be away from my family but having more than we need is such a good feeling. I am glad that Dallas likes his job. He has really enjoyed his work here and LOVES living in Arizona. Although we are apart more than we thought we would we feel so blessed with both jobs that provide so well for us.

For my friends. I talk to Steff everyday. I use to spend so much time with her. She was my best friend. I finally feel like I am back to knowing my best friend again. For T, K and H. We have so much fun. When we all get together our sides hurt from laughing. Who could forget Pearl. She watched Tyler the other day for us and She is truly one of my closest friends here.

I can't wait for my family to come visit. I miss Lexi and can't wait to see how big she has gotten. She is such a tender heart. My mom and dad are so supportive and I am glad to see them. When they come it is a great time to finally feel like I can have a good conversation with them ( Yes mom even when you drive me CRAZY!!!) I feel like they respect me as a parent. Its nice to have them around.

We have come a long way in 2 years and I am very grateful to what we have become. Hopefully next year we can be in our own home and have even more to be grateful for.