So Much to Post So Little Time...

Hey everyone!!! Sorry it's been so long since I've posted--I decided it was pretty bad when I had to update from my halloween background to Christmas! Haha!
Anyways...I do have lots of fun pictures and stuff to post--Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc...But things have been pretty busy (and I'm slacking too, I'll admit it! :P)! However, the semester is coming to an end...this week is the last week of classes and next week is finals! YEA!!! Then, however, I'm having back surgery for a bilateral fracture in my low spine.
Before than I will catch back up with my blogging, and then I'll have time while I'm home resting to stay caught up with all the fun holiday adventures! :)
Hope you are all doing well and having a great holiday season!!! :)

Fall Semester, Colorado, and a Baby Shower...

So, again, it's been awhile since my last post, and I know I always say things have been crazy, but I almost think that may be a bit of an understatment! Haha! But that's okay...having things stay crazy at least keeps me busy and on my toes! :)
First off fall semester is now in FULL swing!!! It's definitely keeping me super busy, but I'm loving it--I love school! I'm a nerd, I know--I'll admit it! I'm taking a pretty full load--11 credits (which is good for me) and that includes my wonderful research methods class (love the teacher--hate the class...this would be why I'm not going into doing research everyday--too complicated!)...I'll stick with my clinical psychology! Exciting news too, I'm on track right now to hopefully graduate with my bachelor's next fall (Dec. 2012), and I'll be putting in my applications for grad school next fall as well! Yea!!! I'm so excited!!!! This semester's been very busy between school and health stuff, but I've had amazing professors who've been so great to work with me, great doctors, my awesome family who's sticks by my side through everything (especially the last like 2 months that've been pretty crazy), and my Heavenly Father who truly blesses me through it all...I know that without Him, my family, and everything I wouldn't be where I am!
So the semester started the end of Aug. and the first weekend of September I had to go down to Colorado for a check-up with my hip surgeon. My mom always goes with me--it's usually a pretty quick trip when we're just going down for check-ups, but we thought since we were going the end of the week this time we'd stay a day or two longer and they had a fun farmer's market that we wanted to go to. Well, my sister Jodi was able to come with us too, so we made it a fun girl's weekend! We had to leave Wednesday, drove straight to Vail, CO (about a 7-8 hour drive), had a LONG day of appointments the next day, Thursday, (appointments started at 6:45am with an MRI, had physical therapy and strength tests, and ended at about 10:00pm when I saw the doctor...no joke when I said a LONG day!)!!! The appointment went great though and my hips are doing well...just have to continue working on keeping getting them stronger, being careful what I do, and not overdoing my range of motion! Friday we went shopping around town--they have lots of fun shops and the town is just cool to walk around, and then there was this lake by our hotel so we walked around it...very pretty and fun! Then Saturday morning it was off to the farmer's market and then our drive back home! Lots of fun!

The city where the farmer's market was....

Down one of the streets in one of the towns we shopped through...(I think this one is in Edwards)...

Views from off the deck at my doctor's office at the hospital...up along the mountains of Vail, CO...very pretty!!!

We also got to have a shower for my friend Sarah Wiser as well, this past month! She just had her little baby Zachary--he's so stinkin' cute!!! So the middle of Sept. we were able to all get together at my house to have a shower for her! It was so fun to just visit, see everyone, see all the cute, fun baby stuff, and eat lots of yummy food!!!!

Party favors...little diapers with tootise rolls in them....

DELICIOUS cupcakes that Kelsey brought--they were banana with chocolate frosting!!! (sorry the pic's sideways...my computer was being lame and wouldn't let me turn it)

Sarah opening up presents....she got lots of super cute stuff!

Annie cheating at the game where you guess what chocolate candybar is melted in the diaper--she decided to taste them!

Sarah Nielsen trying to figure out what candybar is melted in the diaper...

Taking a group pic of everyone at the shower--had to get a funny pic in! :)

And of course a cute pic of everyone there for the shower!!! :)

Bear Lake, New Camera, Girl's Night, Swimming, Institute Activity and Surgery

So much has been going on since I last wrote (as you may very well be able to tell by the title), so lets start from the first of the title...(sorry this post is pretty long)
BEAR LAKE! In July I was able to go on a fun trip with my mom, my little brother Taylor, my four older sister's and their families (Janeice and Bryan and their kids, Jodi and Jack and their kids, Jessica and Jake and their kids, and Jill and Sheldon and their kids), my Aunt Eileen and her whole family (her, my Uncle Gordon, their kids and their families), and my Uncle Ralph and part of his family (him, my Aunt Julianne, Maryann and her family, and David...my Uncle Ralph's family just came up for the day to go to the beach)all up to Bear Lake! It was so fun! We stay at the KOA up in Garden City, go to the Lake one day, they have a pool at the KOA, I played with my nieces and nephews (at the playground and then at night they'd do a little tractor ride thing we'd take the kids down for), we took our electric scooters up to ride around and then one night we have a big "dessert bar" over by where my Aunt Eileen's campground is and everyone brings different treats and we all just visit and eat yummy treats! It was lots of fun!
My nieces and nephews playing at the park...












The boys (my brother, brother-in-laws, and a couple nephews) playing horse shoes...





Waiting for the "tractor-ride"...





Bear Lake was tons of fun, so as for the "new camera" part, I just got a new camera this summer and am absolutely loving it! My old camera was like sucking the life out of my batteries--yes, even the rechargable ones--and it was driving me crazy because it'd always be dead when I went to use it. So I found this great digital one at Shopko that came with a case, memory card, the computer stuff to load things on, and everything for like $70...yea!
The end of July a bunch of my friends and I went over to my my friend Chandra's for the ever popular "Girl's Night"! It was tons of fun and always much needed--taking a break from things, catching up, eating yummy food, and laughing tons!
Chandra's trampoline is right by her house, so Jill climbed up on the roof to jump off onto the trampoline. However once she climbed up, she was a bit hesitant of actually jumping off, so she sat up there for awhile while we were all down there yelling up to her (some of us yelling 'just climb down' and others 'you can do it, just jump')...Here's the pics of her just sitting there and then when she finally jumped...


Denise and Sarah Nielsen's flips...


Kelsey rubbing Sarah Wiser's cute prego belly (sorry not real clear pic) and Sarah posing for me with her cute belly...


All of us who were there...


My sister Jessica and I went swimming at North Shore with her cute kiddos, Kaleb and Sammy, one day during the summer--it was super fun! Her kids slept over the night before, I took them to Denny's for breakfast in the morning, and then Jessica came over and we went swimming!
Taking a break from swimming and eating our lunchables...



My friend Denise and I went to an Institute activity this summer that was out in Hooper--it was an 'Institute Rodeo'. It was lots of fun! My goal this year is to try and come out of my 'shell' a little bit--go to more activities, talk to more people, etc...
On our way there we got a little lost (not too far--just kinda drove past the area a little ways), we pulled over to call my brother for the exact address, and while we were pulled over, across the street, this goat was tied to the fence...I tried walking over to it to pet it and feed it (we wanted to take a picture with it), but it kept walking away; so we had to just settle for a picture of just the goat.

At the activity they had 'horse rides', so we went for a little ride around...it was so fun--I loved it!!!

Finally, about a week and a half before this fall semester started, I had surgery on my right thumb to fuse one of the joints and remove a cyst. The surgery went great and I now have the stitches out and am just in a cast for 4 weeks, so that the bones can grow together and heal.
A picture the doctor gave me right after surgery of the x-ray of my thumb following surgery...


Pictures right after my surgery of my splint I had on for a couple weeks...



A couple of my cute nieces and nephews came over to see me after my surgery--they brought cute little cards they'd made for me and sat and talked for a little bit...little kids are so stinkin' sweet! Here's some pics of my fun cards and two of my nieces and nephews (Jill's kids--Abbie and Nixxon)...




Finally, after about 2 weeks I was able to get the spint off, stitches taken out, and a cast put on...



Well, it's only the second week of the semester, but it seems to be in full swing, so I better get off here and working on homework! :)

Mi Familia!

First off, I know it's been like forever since I've posted (like 3 months), but things have been kinda crazy and well...just read on and you'll figure why.
So the beginning of April I started not feeling too well--just feeling sick and having a horrible headache going down my spine (I've had that before), so I just rested lots. As the month went on the headache would not go away and school was getting harder to make it to. By the end of April, the week of finals, I ended up in the ER and they did a spinal tap (I'd had that headache going down my spine for 3 weeks at the time)...well, the opening spinal pressure was slightly elevated so they drained some, gave me some medicine for that night, and had us call my neurologist.
I was supposed to have my psychology final the next morning at 7am, and I had no clue how that was going to work out with having just had a spinal tap the evening before. My mom called the psych department while I was in the ER to see if I could take it later or something, and she left a message for my professor. My psych professor called us back the next morning while we were on our way down to the neurologist and told us that he would just give me the grade that I had going into the final (an 'A') and that he hoped I'd feel better. Oh my heck, can I say "THANK YOU DR. GROW!!!" and "THANK YOU TO MY MOM for taking me to the ER, down to the neurologist the next day, and for always being there for me!!!"
Anyways...The neurologist put me on some medicine to help decrease the spinal pressure, she had home care come and do an IV overnight of some other medicine, started me on the IV meds orally to help stabilize thing, and wanted me to see a specialist neurologist at the University of Utah that deals with spinal pressure problems. After another month (all of May) of being down in bed, not being able to drive, starting to at least get the headaches under control while waiting for my appt at the U, and a few scary moments...one of my medications caused me to become very confused so when I'd take my dose during the day I'd forget what was going on and things (it was so frustrating and it was hard on me and my family...they said it was hard to see), but we finally got things fixed to where now I take that medicine at night and it wears off the confusion while I'm asleep! So with my meds finally under control, headaches somewhat in control, and things, May finished out okay--I was just resting each day.
so in the beginning of June I had my follow-up with the cardiologist that I see (for my low blood pressure due to my Ehlers Danlos), and I told him that I'd been very lightheaded and things and he said that the medicine I was on to decrease my spinal pressure could cause my blood pressure to drop lower...since it was a diuretic. We talked to my neurologist and long story short, I went off the medicine but it had already dehydrated me too much and a week later (the middle of June) I had to stay overnight in the hospital to get IV fluids and medicine. My cardiologist was so sweet...I had called his office because I was still not feeling well and he called me back personally, told me to come up to his office to see him, and then he admitted me overnight and came to check on me in the morning...amazing doctor! Love him! The fluids helped great and I was feeling much better! My mom, Taylor (my little brother), two oldest sisters (Janeice and Jodi), and their families all went on vacation up to the Redwoods and along the Oregon Coast the next day.
I'm doing well...getting better each day and just keep taking it a day at a time!
So now you know why I haven't updated for awhile, but you're probably wondering how all of that ties in to my title of this: "Mi Familia," well here you go....
My family is the greatest!!! They have helped me and been there for me through EVERYTHING!!! Through all of this the last three months, my mom has been by my side, there to help me, called me everyday they were on vacation, helped me in figuring things out for school, she'd sit and play Yahtzee with me every night (even though when I was on the one medication during the day I couldn't remember when my turn and things were part of the time), and she was always there to talk to. We were sitting talking the other night (I was having a hard day about some changes going on with some people in my life and she was telling me how many people are only in our lives for so long) and I told her how the Lord is our one support who is always there whenever we need Him and that He had sent her to me, because He knew I needed someone tangible to help me through things too. I love my mom!
My sisters...oh where to begin...they would call everyday almost and talk to either my mom or I to see how I was feeling, if I needed anything, and some days they'd come over just to give me company! While my two oldest sisters were gone with my mom, and brother on their trip, two of my other older sisters would come over and spend the day with me, let me go hang out at their house, fix me dinner, I slept over one night, call and check on me everyday to make sure I was okay, and take me to doctor's appts. I seriously couldn't ask for better sisters--you are all the best!!!
My little brother...He's so awesome--especially for being a teenager! He'd get home from school, let the dogs out for me, check and see if he could do anything for me, and then he'd just hang out with me (which was great especially from being home all day alone)--talking, laughing, or watching TV (NCIS or Law Order)!
My extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins)...These guys are awesome too! While my mom was gone they would call and check on me (I seriously wasn't going to get away with anything with so many people there for me...haha), bring me dinner, and invite me over to their houses for dinner or to hang out. I am so blessed to be so close with my extended family as well as my immediate family!
Last but not least my nieces and nephews...I saved them for the end for a reason...these 10 little monkeys (7 boys and 3 girls) are some of the most amazing and Christ-like individuals I know! I don't know how to even begin to express my love and appreciation for them! When all my family came over for Easter and I laid in the recliner, two of my nieces came and sat on the piano bench by me to talk, have me paint their toenails, and just be with me. When I slept at my sister's house while part of my family was gone on vacation, my nephew told me I could have his bed to sleep in and he'd sleep on the floor by me. When one of my sister's would come over to see me and I was down on the couch because it made me sick to get up, her kids pulled chairs into the living room, brought cards, and sat and played games with me so that I could stay laying down. One of my sisters picked me up from a doctor's appt, and we put the front seat back so I could recline, and my little nephew had his pillow and blanket in the back and asked if I'd like them. Another one of my nephews always will come in and find me to see me--whether I'm in bed, in the recliner, on the couch, or anything--he'll give me a hug and ask how I'm feeling. My little monkeys always come and give me hugs when they run into the house, give me hugs when they leave, they tell me they pray for me, sometimes I get super cute pictures that I've had hanging in my room and when I was in the hospital, they've been on those walls. I love these kiddos and I can't ever tell them that enough! My sister's have raised amazing kids!
I'm so grateful for such an amazing family!!! My family truly are some of my greatest friends I could ever ask for!

A Trip to the Ogden Temple...

Since the Ogden Temple is now closed for renovations, my mom, Taylor (my little brother), and I decided to go down right before it closed, so that we could walk around the grounds and take some pictures. It was so fun and so many mixed feelings...I'm super excited to see the temple when it's finished (I love the pictures of how it's going to look) but I'm sad to see this one be torn down at the same time!
I love the feeling of just being around the temple--it's so peaceful and the Spirit is so strong! I am so blessed to live where I do and have so many temples that are within so close of a distance!