Thankful Day 30

Today is the last day of the thankful challenge and I'm thankful I did it... Some days I had a hard time coming up with something that wasn't ridiculous or repetitive. But it taught me something... It's okay to be thankful for the small things, the silly things, and it's okay to be repetitive. Every day I am overwhelmed with gratitude for my amazing husband and son. 

I have so much to be thankful for! I have an amazing life! 

Thankful Day 29

I'm grateful for modern medicine! It's amazing the ways I've been blessed by this...

1. My father had a brain tumor removed

2 my father has had both of his knees replaced

3. My father-in-law has had both knees replaced

4. My mother-in-law has had radiation and chemo for brain cancer

5. My grandmother had radiation and chemo for throat cancer

6. I had a nearly painless labor with Lincoln (once the epidural kicked in)

7. We actually got pregnant! We had to use IVF and ICSI but I was worth it!

The ICSI technology is only about 15 years old - I'm so thankful to live in this day and age where two infertile people could miraculously bring an amazingly adorable little boy into this life!

Thankful Day 28

Today I'm thankful for hot showers!  I've showered twice today. Once this morning before work, and once after work when I smelled of cigarette smoke so badly I couldn't stand being around myself! The hot shower was SO nice and made me feel so much better!!! 

Thankful Day 27

Today I'm thankful for family time. It seems as though now that we are grown it's hard to have family get togethers. But when we do, I love them!

Today is thanksgiving so my sisters and dad and I scoured the Black Friday ads. None of us decided to go because the shopping began tonight, about 40 minutes ago- and id rather spend the evening snuggling my boys! 

Afterward, we had thanksgiving dinner/lunch... Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, yams, rolls, cranberry sauce, and pie. It was super delicious.

My favorite part was just chatting with different family members about random memories, and of course playing Conners new game. I love family time!

Thankful Day 26

I'm thankful for Mountain Dew... Nothing makes me feel better when I'm stressed at work than a big cold Mt. Dew. Of course when I go home my husband and son make me feel better.

I'm stressed at my job because I feel like I'm not catching on as quickly as I had thought I would... 3 different computer data bases working together in totally different ways is harder than I expected :)

But I love it! Until I'm more comfortable, I love Mt Dew. 

Thankful Day 25

I forgot to post this last night - but I am thankful for my family... My parents and siblings... We may argue and fight and hate some of the things the others do - but we are family and love each other.

I've been out seeing patients this week and I'm amazed at how many people don't have contact with their family. It breaks my heart!

Thankful Day 24

Today I'm thankful for other people's talents - specifically photography. Pictures help me remember so many amazing things, and I am an awful picture taker :) 

However, we have been lucky enough to have some amazing pictures taken - Heather Nan Photography did our birth story - and it's amazing! And we have taken Lincoln to FotoFly for Newborns, Easter, 3 months, 6 months, Halloween, and soon Santa and Family photos. They do an amazing job - even when lincoln refuses to smile!

I'm so glad there are people with these talents who are willing to share - it benefits my life immensely and I'll forever be able to remember my tiny guy!

Thankful Day 23

Today I'm thankful for Dallin and Jer. They are our best friends and Lincoln's godparents! They are amazing people and we are so lucky to have them in our lives!

Thankful Day 22

Today I am thankful for DVR... There are several shows that Travis and I love to watch (um, the Goldbergs is hilarious!) - unfortunately, Travis and I work all day, and I need my sleep! So, we use dvr and record the shows to watch them later... Usually on the weekends.

On a stormy day like today, it's nice to be able to catch up on our shows while Lincoln naps :)

Thankful Day 21

Today, I'm thankful for my nephews. I have 4 nephews - and one due in March.

Billy is a sweet kid. He will be 18 in a couple of weeks and will graduate in May. He's such a good kid. He's going to go to UVU and study culinary arts and he's so proud of his job at Zupas.

Austin (almost 8), Conner (almost 5), & Will (2) are so much fun! I love spending time with them. They are so sweet to Lincoln and love playing with him. I'm glad they live close enough to see each other regularly. 

Thankful Day 20

Today I'm thankful for my nieces Alex and Avery. Of course Avery is only 1 month old - but she's adorable as ever! Alex is 11 1/2 and I love hanging out with her. She's so funny. It's so awesome to be an aunt. I can't wait until Avery is big enough to get pedicures with me! Alex and I get them together on occasion. Love those girls!

Thankful Day 19

Today I am thankful for my bed. Travis and I got a new bed this summer... A temperpedic king size mattress with the box spring that raises on the head so we can sit the bed up... It was way too expensive, but it's really comfortable, which is handy since Lincoln sleeps in bed with us and makes sleeping super uncomfortable!

Thankful Day 18

Today I'm thankful for blankets. It's a silly thing, but it's chilly in our basement and one of my favorite things to do is snuggle under the blankets with my boys!

Thankful Day 17

Today I started my new job. I had New Employee Orientation from 8-3 today and I left feeling so excited about my new job and this new opportunity!

I am SO thankful for this opportunity! I'm going to be able to strengthen my clinical skills, and help people who are at the end of their lives. It's a unique and special opportunity and I'm really excited to start!

Thankful Day 16

Today, I'm thankful for my mom and my mother-in-law. They are very important women in my life. 

My mom Kris - we have had SO many problems, disagreements, arguments, fights, and times we really just didn't like about each other - especially in the past year. However, there are so many things I love about her. We are colleagues! We share a profession and are able to talk about it in a way I can not take about it with a coworker. We share a love of music - good music! I always say I'm a music snob because I am picky about what I like and I hate it when people are off pitch - and I can blame that snobbery on her :)  She is supportive in my career and my personal life. She loves Travis, and is obsessed with Lincoln! She's a great grandma and I love how much she loves my son.  

My mother-in-law Annette - she raised an amazing son. The most amazing man ever actually. She has struggled in the past year because last October she was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer. She's had chemo and radiation since and has lost all of her independence, but she always tries to look on the bright side and it's pretty admirable!

I'm lucky to have two strong mother figures in my life!

Thankful Day 15

Today I am thankful for my marriage! Travis and I spoke at a marriage symposium today. He talked about finances and I talked about behavior. But, the keynote speaker was Matt Townsend who is super popular around here and does a lot of marriage seminars.

As Travis and I sat together holding hands, listening to the speaker, I was overwhelmed by the fact that we have an amazing relationship! We love each other. We support each other. We communicate with each other. We are parents, lovers, and best friends - and we have an amazing marriage.

Thankful Day 14

Today I am thankful for the arts. Tonight, we took Lincoln to see his cousin Billy in the play Footloose. The play was just alright, but Lincoln was amazingly well behaved and loved every second of it.

I have loved music and plays for as long as I can remember. Travis and I have season tickets to Broadway Across America and are able to see several shows each year. It is one of my favorite things to do.

I feel so blessed to live in an area where I am able to participate in arts and am able to expose my son to them as well!

Thankful Day 13

Today I am thankful for soft toilet paper! Silly? Yup! But when you're sick it's the small things that are the most exciting! I'm still sick and seriously... Soft toilet paper makes me happy.

So, from the bottom of my heart (and my bottom) - thank you Quilted Northern 

Thankful Day 12

Today I'm thankful for water... And yogurt... And chicken soup... And toast... And a husband who will make me eat these things when I'm sick! 

I'm also thankful for my health! Overall, I'm pretty darn healthy! But when I get sick it kicks my butt! Luckily, Travis is amazing and lincoln is a great snuggler :)

Thankful Day 11

Today is Veterans Day - it is customary to talk about being thankful for those who have and currently served in the military.... I am very thankful for those men and women - specifically my father and my father-in-law.

Bill - my dad is a kind, patient, sensitive, and loving man... And even more so as a grandpa. My dad has been so supportive of me and everything I do. He is such an amazing man and I love him so much! 

Bob - my father-in-law is a wonderful guy as well. He has raised a wonderful man. He is supportive and kind and loving - and I'm lucky to have him in my life. He's also a ham and lincoln loves him to pieces!

Both of these men served in the military and are worthy of being celebrated today!

Thankful Day 10

Today I'm thankful for my cell phone. Stupid right?! But here's why:

1. I can communicate with my family and friends over email, text, phone calls, fave time

2. No matter where I am I can take pictures of Lincoln

3. It holds my music

4. It provides entertainment for myself and my son

Those things are all important to me - thus, I am thankful for the thing that provides all of these things!

Thankful Day 9

I was so busy yesterday that I didn't have time to post my thankful stuff for the day.

I'm thankful for my mom. I went to church to be supportive of my mom singing a solo.... It was wonderful! One of my favorite songs - I know that My Redeemer Lives. It was beautiful!

I've always been super sensitive to music. It speaks to me in a way that nothing else can. I'm thankful for that!

Thankful Day 8

I am so thankful for my sisters and sisters-in-law. 

Melissa: Melissa is wonderfully smart, fun, and is expecting her first child. I'm so excited for her and know she will be a great mom! She and I have become good friends and in so thankful for that!

Shayla: Shayla is smart, childlike, fun, and so silly. She loves to do just about anything and is willing to do anything for anyone! Shayla and I have always been friends and I love her to pieces.

Sarah: with an H... Sarah is such a great mom to her crazy boys and sweet girl. She is such a good example of patience to me! She loves my little guy and I adore all of her kids! I love that our children are growing up together!

Sara: no H... Sara and I aren't super close but I love her kids and she loves mine. She is always willing to watch lincoln and we love being able to spend time with her kids whenever we are able.

I'm lucky to have some amazing sisters!!!

Thankful Day 7

Today I'm thankful for my dogs Baxter and Lucy. They are a huge part of our lives and I can't imagine sleeping in bed when it's cold out, without them :) 

They are SO good to lincoln too. I'm one lucky dog momma.

Thankful Day 6

Today I am thankful for my friends! I am so lucky to have some amazing friends!

Some of my friends go way back to my undergrad program... Some from my first real job with the State... Some from grad school... Some from other jobs.... Some I've met through friends of friends... Some from my mission... Some from my neighborhood growing up... Some from my birthing class... I've been lucky enough to meet some amazing people and to call them friends.

I'm lucky to have friends who are supportive, encouraging, nonjudgmental, and amazingly wonderful and fun. 

I love you all! You know who you are!!!

Thankful Day 5

Today, I am thankful for my car. Our cars really. It's a silly thing - but today, as I took lincoln to daycare, drove up to Park City, then downtown for work - then to pick up lincoln from daycare, then went home and back downtown for dinner - I was just kind of overwhelmed with how lucky i am that I am able to do all of those things because I have a car. It's silly i know - but I'm still thankful!

Thankful Day 4

I am thankful for the right to vote!

Yup, today is voting day and I stopped by the polls this afternoon between work and getting some lab work done to do my civic duty and vote.

It's amazing that not too long ago women couldn't vote and now that we can, many people chose not to. We have the opportunity to choose the people who will represent our wants and needs and it's astounding how many people just don't do it.

Granted, my votes are not for the majority in utah - but at least i vote!

Thankful Day 3

Yesterday's was posted but didn't publish and I just noticed that... Oh well ;)

Today, I am thankful for my education! You see, I grew up always knowing school was important and that I would go to college. It seemed natural to get a bachelors degree and even a masters degree. I think I could be a student forever...  But I am thankful for that education. It makes me happy to have gone to college. I met my husband because I was in college.

Not only that - but it has given me many amazing opportunities! As a result of my education I have had some amazing jobs,  I've met amazing people, I've taught college, I've published papers, I've presented at conferences, and I've gotten a couple of licenses and certifications.

But above all - I've learned to look at people without judgement. I've learned to listen rather than speak. I've learned to work hard and never give up. I've learned to think critically. Above all, I've learned that I can do anything I put my mind to.

November 12th is my last day at Chrysalis. I decided I needed a change, and because of my education it was easy to make! Starting November 17th I'll be doing social work for Intermountain Healthcare Homecare and Hospice. I'm SO excited!

Thankful Day 2

I am thankful for my son Lincoln. Travis and I struggled with infertility and conceived Lincoln through IVF on our second attempt. It was an expensive and  exhausting (physically and emotionally) year trying to conceive - but it was worth it!

It is amazing how every little thing he does makes me happier than I ever thought possible! Every smile, every giggle, every hug... I can't imagine life without him anymore! 

I love his snuggles, I love watching him play, I love watching him grow, I love watching him experience new things, I love everything about him!

Thankful Day 1

I'm  going to try and say one thing I'm thankful for every day this month. I think it will help me keep things in perspective.

Today, I'm thankful for my husband Travis! Today is our 6 year first date anniversary. 6 years ago we went on our first date - after knowing each other for a few months. We knew there was a connection and we enjoyed each other's company- we just needed to see if there were any sparks... Obviously there were!

Travis is an amazing man! He works so hard! He is amazingly supportive of everything I do and everything I want or need. I decided I needed to change jobs and even though it would mean a $10k decrease in pay, he was supportive of me doing what I wanted. 

Travis loves our son! He is an amazing father! He changes diapers, makes and cleans bottles, does laundry, plays with him, and snuggles him. And lincoln loves him! 

Travis is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. I can't imagine my life without him and I am always amazed at the way things fell into place to put in in my life! 

Travis, I am SO thankful for you and love you more than you can ever imagine!

Looking

It's official... I'm looking for a new job. I'm an LCSW and a BCBA so if you hear of anything, please send it my way!

Labor Day Project

I decided to paint my front door this weekend... It is a vast improvement to the ugly black with gold fixtures... But I learned a lot about myself by doing this. 

1. I seriously overestimate my abilities

2. I seriously underestimate the time commitment

3. I rely heavily on my amazing husband to bring me back to reality and to help out

4. I am the worlds worst spray painter

5. That grease and orange sticky stuff is supposed to be there so the lock actually locks.

Some pretty good life lessons I think!

Before:

After:

My supplies:

Mothers Day

This was my first Mothers Day and it was wonderful! My little guy gave me a card that had me in tears. Of course Travis picked it out, but it was the sweetest card I've ever received. 

There was a time I didn't think I would ever be a mother and so Mother's Day was always a day I celebrated my mom - I never thought I'd be the celebrated one.

It felt like any other day really - but it was also amazing to finally be able to celebrate that part of life. I spent the day in awe of my little man and how much I love him and how much he has change my life for the better. Someone mentioned to me yesterday that I looked and seemed so much happier now. I feel so much happier! How could I not?!

I'm so lucky to be a mom to the sweetest little boy alive.

Update

It's been a while I know! I didn't post much during my third trimester because I was pretty exhausted and trying to work super hard to get everything ready for our new arrival. There was also a lot of drama in my personal life and I wanted to ignore it and focus on being healthy and pregnant instead of the stresses.

My last trimester was also pretty challenging - I had gestational diabetes that was nearly impossible to control with diet and exercise and I ended up on medication during the day and injectable insulin at night. Additionally, my blood pressure went up as well. I had weekly appointments and twice weekly non-stress tests. We were worried he would be a huge baby!  

Lincoln came on March 5th and he's perfect! It has been a month and I'm so in love with him! I hate the thought of going back to work but I have no choice. We need the insurance that I carry, especially now that we have a little boy. He has made me happier than I ever thought possible and I didn't know I could love someone so much. I love Travis so much - who knew I would love him even more every time I see him snuggle, change, feed, or kiss our son. It's beyond anything I ever imagined!

I feel so different now that I'm a mom... It's amazing! But how could you not fall in love with this little face 

30 weeks and counting...

I can't believe I am 30 weeks pregnant. It's insane!  Time has seriously been flying! I can't wait to meet this little guy!

Let me rephrase - I can wait to meet him. I don't want him to come any earlier than he needs to - but that may be sooner than i expected. I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes at the beginning of December. I've been working on controlling my blood sugar by watching my diet and exercising. Unfortunately, despite my efforts, I was put on Metformin at night. No big deal - I used metformin when we were trying to get pregnant. I'm familiar with the ugly side effects but if it means the baby will be healthy - I'll do it.  At the beginning of my 30 week appointment this week, my numbers were reviewed and for some reason, my fasting number is always high. I can't get it into normal range no matter what I do. So, the doctor put me on a second dose of metformin in the mornings - and then very casually said, "we'll probably be putting you on insulin at your next appointment - but try to follow the diet and we will see what happens."  WHAT?!

My blood sugar won't go down, my blood pressure keeps going up - they are watching my bp really closely as it's flirting with high levels.Then the doctor said, "you know, with these problems you are at risk of having a stillborn. Let's have you start weekly non-stress tests. If you pass the test, it means you have less than a 1 in 10,000 chance of having a stillborn that week."  WHAT?!