I must be old fashioned or small town or ... something...
because when I go to an upscale department store to buy a specific piece of under-garment (hint: the title should help you out) I never expected to have so much "help."
Little did I know that when I asked to be measured for this specific under-garment that it would entail so much "help."
Really, a salesperson should be able to measure the area around my back, under my arm pits to the front without asking me to remove my t-shirt. I also do not need to have the same said salesperson (who was at least 60) in the dressing room with me to place the under-garment on me like I am some kind of princess who has never dressed herself and then flip me around into the mirror, put her face next to mine as we both look at my reflection and say, "I think it fits lovely. What do you think?"
She's smiling at "me" and I am looking at her like a dear caught in the headlights... ha! headlights!
(insert here: boisterous and hysterical laughter)
Yes, yes, I know.
I should have excused the sweet lady from my dressing room and informed her that I could handle all of this myself but, what can I say... I felt trapped...
booby trapped
Yes.
I bought it.
It was on sale from $30 to $14.99.
(At Dillard's, if any of you need to know. Just don't ask to be measured... they want too much information.)
(smile)
Our Life
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Mr. Advocate and Mrs. Delicate
Marc and my Dad had the awesome opportunity to go to Washington D.C. to represent Fragile X Syndrome on behalf of our state. Marc went as a father of children with FX and my Dad went as a grandfather of FX--I was excited to have my family representing that side of the FX family.
I was able to do this about 2 years ago and I loved every tiring minute of it. It was so awesome to meet other families who relate to my everyday life and to feel the inspiration and excitement of so many parents and advocates together. Not to mention I also enjoyed the sight-seeing.
This was both Marc's and my Dad's first time to D.C.
Now, as we all know, men are of few words when we try to get anything out of them about their experiences so the pictures will have to tell most of it. I will say this: he loved the experience and was glad to have been there for the cause of advocating for Fragile X Syndrome.
Here are some of my faves:
I am going to piur
;xvzvnzlkj
These next two pictures are funny to me because they were taken in the same place that I was two years ago. The first is at the Roosevelt Memorial, we thought it would be funny to stand in line with the statues so Marc copied the idea to be funny... ha ha!
Marc
Me
And this is at the Hard Rock Cafe. They ended up sitting in the same place that we did, and Marc and I must like the end seat...
Marc
Me
Getting ready to lobby on Capitol Hill with all the other 140 FX Advocates!
I was able to do this about 2 years ago and I loved every tiring minute of it. It was so awesome to meet other families who relate to my everyday life and to feel the inspiration and excitement of so many parents and advocates together. Not to mention I also enjoyed the sight-seeing.
This was both Marc's and my Dad's first time to D.C.
Now, as we all know, men are of few words when we try to get anything out of them about their experiences so the pictures will have to tell most of it. I will say this: he loved the experience and was glad to have been there for the cause of advocating for Fragile X Syndrome.
Here are some of my faves:
 |
| Washington Memorial behind Marc (dig the sunglasses, dude) |
 |
| Read this about Abraham Lincoln's watch -- it is pretty darn cool! |
 |
| They traveled on the metro most of the time and Marc thought it was cool. |
I am going to piur
;xvzvnzlkj
 |
| They went to Mt. Vernon, which was one of Marc's favorite stops. He said you could feel a good spirit all through-out it. he couldn't remember for sure, but, I thought it looked cool. |
Marc
And this is at the Hard Rock Cafe. They ended up sitting in the same place that we did, and Marc and I must like the end seat...
Me
This is the booth at Ford's Theater where Lincoln was shot--he was sitting in that rocking chair.
A view of the Washington Memorial from the Lincoln Memorial
My Dad in front of the Lincoln Memorial
 |
| Jefferson Memorial |
Getting ready to lobby on Capitol Hill with all the other 140 FX Advocates!
And while my hubby was out sight seeing, advocating and lobbying I was at home.
It started off quite nicely. The kids weren't too hard on the first night while I was alone.
The next day, Sunday, was a different story.
We'll skip all the stuff that went on during Sacrament Meeting and skip right to the part where I gather all the kids and leave 10 minutes early because my back is starting to ache and so I want to get to my mom's so she can help me with the kids and give me some relief.
Everyone gathered at my mom's and we were having a fun time. I was trying to, anyway. My back pain seemed to be getting worse. I am sure I was looking older by the minute as I was walking around the house hunched over like a granny.
Well, with much effort I got all the kids in bed that night and even managed through my back pain to get Brother and Sister off to school, and feed and water all the animals. Now, let me say that throwing a third bale of hay to the horse, lifting to open a 12 foot metal gate section and leaning over to gather eggs are all not easy on your back.
I called my Physical Therapist and they got me in right away.
Now, because of my back issues I knew I needed help with the kids so my mom and Jessie came over to help out with everything. Jessie took me to the Physical Therapist so I didn't have to drive and then my mom was going to come join me there later to take me home.
As he was examining me he realized that we weren't dealing with my typical Sacral Iliac Joint (SI) problem... instead he was thinking it was a bulged disk or nerve damage. Anyway, my pain was continuing to get worse even as he was working on it to give me relief.
When I went to stand up, I couldn't. The pain was excruciating and wailed out loud in pain and agony and hung onto my mom and the wall and then my PT wheeled an office chair underneath me so I could "sit" on it. I couldn't really sit, more like lean.
I started to cry. It was so painful.
My mom was there with me at this time and I could tell she was really worried. My PT shares a building with my Family Practice Doctor so my PT ran over the Dr to see if he could fit me in right away so that they could give me a shot of morphine...
PT comes back to tell me that I can get over there right now that there is time for my Dr to see me.
But, I can't walk.
"That's OK." my PT says, "I'll just push you in this chair."
The office chair with wheels...
Through me tears I start to giggle because I am sure I am a sight to behold.
As I am crying and laughing I told me mom to take a picture of me being wheeled on an office chair down the hall to the Dr so I could put it on my blog. We didn't take one, but we laughed about it. Just try to picture it. I don't even have any props to re-enact it this time...
... maybe this will have to do...
Tee hee!
Anyway, I guess I am a bit delicate at times, but I am doing much better now.
My mom slept over for 2 nights until Marc was home so that she could deal with everything while I was in my pain med induced coma/zombie stage for a while.
By the time Marc got home, he didn't know what all the fuss was about...
(smile)
It's 15
Ya, I can't believe it. Our marriage is fifteen years old!!!
What?!
I feel old.
Not that that is bad, but, really, 15 years! Wow! So many marriages don't even make it past 10 now-a-days. Sad, isn't it?
Marriage is hard, but is one of those hard things that are so worth it at the end of the day.
You have to work at it. It doesn't just come easy. In fact, it is never "easy." But isn't anything that you've worked hard on mean the most to you?
Between the hard times there is laughter, miracles, inspiration, growth, love, compassion, dedication, and trust.
On our 12 year anniversary I blogged major happenings for each year. I thought since many of you are new to my blog I would repost it (while fixing all the typos) and then add on the last 3 years. So if you already read the first 12 years you can skip down to 13 - 15... Although it is kind of fun to get a refresher.
Year 1- Married and living in a little Apartment (been torn down since and replaced by the city office buildings). Buy our first car, Toyota Tercel (still running). We went to CA 4 times that year including our honey moon. Soon we moved into an apartment above an older couple's garage--they became like grandparents to us. Went hiking all the time. Yellowstone and Jackson Hole, river rafting. Hiked to the top of Mt. Timpanogos.
Year 2- Still in same place. Hiking on the mountain behind our home. Snowshoeing and camping in the nearby canyons. Yellowstone trips. Family Reunion in Oregon. CA 3 times. Wanting a baby but no luck. Young Men and Young Women's counselors and advisors. Love our ward, making lots of friends. Our landlords are wonderful-we become like part of their extended family.
Year 3- Go snow-shoeing, hiking, camping, Glacier National Park for a week. Get pregnant. Buy a house in another town for $98,900. Get a dog. Enjoy callings in Primary. Make friends. Landscape Yard. Camping, exploring, fixing up our 1938, 12oo square foot home. Buy a truck.
Year 4- I go to Young Women's camp in Koholowo when I am 5 months pregnant. We have a baby boy 4 weeks early and still 6 pounds 14 ounces! Bless our baby. Go to California the first time with our new little one--interesting trip, but he was good. It is the first time for Marc's family to lay eyes on our new little one.
Year 5- Y2K scare! Anyone remember that? Start working as graphic designer from home full time. Brother gets RSV at first of year and is in hospital for 5 nights. Brother has his adenoids removed and tubes put in his ears. We find out he is delayed and he starts early intervention (Kids Who Count) at 13 months.
Year 6- This year is a blur of Brother's Doctor Visits, hospital research, ER visits, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Play group, and teaching Brother how to walk, talk, sit up, play, respond, roll over, make eye contact. Oh, and by this time Brother has had his 2nd set of tubes in his ears. With money I got from a big design job I buy a Palamino Quarter horse for Marc as a surprise for Christmas--he was VERY surprised.
Year 7- We go horse riding, Marc more often than I, but we went a lot. Graphic Design at home is going very well. I end up getting design jobs for a local LDS movie filmmaker. I designed a book cover and movie poster that year (this started a long relationship with movies in this area). Our Tercel was too small and only a 2-door, so we sell our truck and get a Honda CRV. So nice to have 4 doors! Thank goodness we got a bigger car because our nephew, Bryan, came to live with us in middle of summer, then his sister, Kelsey, came at the end of summer. We all go to Oregon in our CRV for a family Reunion that Marc and I planned. Now I have one kid in Junior High and one kid in elementary school. Then Brother goes for his first time ever on a big, yellow school bus to his EI preschool at age 3!
Year 8- We give our dog away because he is just too big-sad day. 3 kids and 2 adults in a 1200 square foot home begins to get a little squishy, especially with the 2 older being 12 and 10 at the time. We decide to sell the house. It sells to someone in our neighborhood within 2 days before we even get the sign up. It sold for $107,000! (Those were the days, huh.) We lived with friends for 3 months while our new home was built (we can never thank you enough-'wink'). We have .5 acres and are able to have our horse there in a fenced corral in our back yard. Our house is 2500 square feet and we are spoiled--we bought it for $149,000! We are so excited because Brother is now talking. We love our neighbors and area church members--we want to be here forever. Brother breaks his shoulder when he falls off our horse, Golden. We buy another horse from a friend for $100. She was a 2-year old paint and she needed to be trained, we named her Puzzled Look, Puzzle for short. Marc trained her himself. He broke his hand when she kicked him. But, he still kept going and she is now the best behaved horse we own.
Year 9- We trade golden for her 2-year old foal Sparks-R-Flyin'. We call him Sparks. He was trained when we got him. J.R. comes to live with us in the fall after a stay for the summer. We go to Glacier National Park for a Reunion and for fun. We now have 4 kids.
Year 10- We finally get pregnant with our next child. Sister is born 5 weeks early and weighs 5 pounds 4 ounces. We now have 5 children. Her time to come home was delayed because of jaundice. She comes home on the billy lights for a week. Then she ends up in the hospital again for going blue in my arms. We are there for a week as we try to figure out what is wrong. She comes home on oxygen and a heart monitor for a couple of months. We find out Brother has ADHD. Marc's mom and dad move a block away from us.
Year 11- Brother and Sister are diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome. Bryan leaves to go live with Marc's parents. We now have 4 children. We go to Sacramento for research to be done on me, my dad, Sister and Brother. We learn a lot and it is confirmed that I am the carrier and that my dad is also the carrier. Tough year but very informative. Marc and I go to St. Goerge for a work water conference. Marc's parents have the kids all this time.
Year 12- We buy a camp trailer. We go camping almost every weekend--or at least 2 times a month from April to October. We love it. Brother gets baptized--an amazingly spiritual experience for all who attended. I start working at Kids Who Count and became the Utah County Representative for the Fragile X Association of Utah. I go to Missouri for my first experience flying and attending the National Fragile X Conference. Kelsey turns 16 and starts getting ready to date! Aah! J.R. turns 12 and becomes a deacon and gets to pass the sacrament.
Year 13- I go on my second ever plane trip to Washington D.C. for Fragile X Advocacy day to lobby for FXS funds on Capitol Hill. Bryan graduates high school. J.R., Kelsey, Brother and I join a local singing and dancing group. Our horse Spark's dies of colic. We buy a new horse, Blue ID Baretender, we call her Blue. Our horse, Puzzle dies of colic. We go camping a lot in the summer. Bryan gets called on an LDS mission to Chile. Bryan leaves for 2 years on his mission.
Year 14- Kelsey makes the elite choir at school and gets to go on tour in California and Disneyland. We are surprised and find out we are pregnant with our 3rd child, Baby. Amy and Frank (Marc's sister) move to Utah. Baby is born 6 weeks early 5 lbs 7 oz., 19 inches long. She is in the NICU for a few days and I stay there with her. We get the test results back and learn that Baby also has Fragile X Syndrome. We now have 5 kids again. Kelsey turns 18! My brother and his wife move to Florida (the first of any of us to move out of state). Marc and I make the tough decision and decide to send Kelsey and J.R. to live with their birth parents. We now have 3 kids.
Year 15- We go on our first REAL vacation ever to visit my brother in Florida. It is the first time for all of our kids to fly and they did great. First time for Sister and Baby to see the ocean. First time for me and Marc to go snorkeling. Kelsey graduates high school. Camping. Brother is in fifth grade and Sister starts all day kindergarten! Baby turns one! The first time in 8 years to have spent a Christmas with only our biological children. Bryan returns from his mission having served a full 2 years. Marc goes to Washington D.C. with my dad for Fragile X Advocacy Day to lobby for funds on Capitol Hill.
Whoa! that was quite a bit of reading huh?
But, it was really fun for me to relive all the memories.
Even the hard ones.
Without the trials we wouldn't be the family we are today. Marc and I certainly wouldn't be the people we are today without each other. He completes me. (I know, isn't that some cheesy line from a movie or something?)
Check out the pictures along the side bar --------------------->
if you want to see how we have changed over the past years. Kinda fun.
What?!
I feel old.
Not that that is bad, but, really, 15 years! Wow! So many marriages don't even make it past 10 now-a-days. Sad, isn't it?
Marriage is hard, but is one of those hard things that are so worth it at the end of the day.
You have to work at it. It doesn't just come easy. In fact, it is never "easy." But isn't anything that you've worked hard on mean the most to you?
Between the hard times there is laughter, miracles, inspiration, growth, love, compassion, dedication, and trust.
On our 12 year anniversary I blogged major happenings for each year. I thought since many of you are new to my blog I would repost it (while fixing all the typos) and then add on the last 3 years. So if you already read the first 12 years you can skip down to 13 - 15... Although it is kind of fun to get a refresher.
A lot happens in 15 years:
and these are just the highlights and lowlights...
Year 2- Still in same place. Hiking on the mountain behind our home. Snowshoeing and camping in the nearby canyons. Yellowstone trips. Family Reunion in Oregon. CA 3 times. Wanting a baby but no luck. Young Men and Young Women's counselors and advisors. Love our ward, making lots of friends. Our landlords are wonderful-we become like part of their extended family.
Year 3- Go snow-shoeing, hiking, camping, Glacier National Park for a week. Get pregnant. Buy a house in another town for $98,900. Get a dog. Enjoy callings in Primary. Make friends. Landscape Yard. Camping, exploring, fixing up our 1938, 12oo square foot home. Buy a truck.
Year 4- I go to Young Women's camp in Koholowo when I am 5 months pregnant. We have a baby boy 4 weeks early and still 6 pounds 14 ounces! Bless our baby. Go to California the first time with our new little one--interesting trip, but he was good. It is the first time for Marc's family to lay eyes on our new little one.
Year 5- Y2K scare! Anyone remember that? Start working as graphic designer from home full time. Brother gets RSV at first of year and is in hospital for 5 nights. Brother has his adenoids removed and tubes put in his ears. We find out he is delayed and he starts early intervention (Kids Who Count) at 13 months.
Year 6- This year is a blur of Brother's Doctor Visits, hospital research, ER visits, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Play group, and teaching Brother how to walk, talk, sit up, play, respond, roll over, make eye contact. Oh, and by this time Brother has had his 2nd set of tubes in his ears. With money I got from a big design job I buy a Palamino Quarter horse for Marc as a surprise for Christmas--he was VERY surprised.
Year 7- We go horse riding, Marc more often than I, but we went a lot. Graphic Design at home is going very well. I end up getting design jobs for a local LDS movie filmmaker. I designed a book cover and movie poster that year (this started a long relationship with movies in this area). Our Tercel was too small and only a 2-door, so we sell our truck and get a Honda CRV. So nice to have 4 doors! Thank goodness we got a bigger car because our nephew, Bryan, came to live with us in middle of summer, then his sister, Kelsey, came at the end of summer. We all go to Oregon in our CRV for a family Reunion that Marc and I planned. Now I have one kid in Junior High and one kid in elementary school. Then Brother goes for his first time ever on a big, yellow school bus to his EI preschool at age 3!
Year 8- We give our dog away because he is just too big-sad day. 3 kids and 2 adults in a 1200 square foot home begins to get a little squishy, especially with the 2 older being 12 and 10 at the time. We decide to sell the house. It sells to someone in our neighborhood within 2 days before we even get the sign up. It sold for $107,000! (Those were the days, huh.) We lived with friends for 3 months while our new home was built (we can never thank you enough-'wink'). We have .5 acres and are able to have our horse there in a fenced corral in our back yard. Our house is 2500 square feet and we are spoiled--we bought it for $149,000! We are so excited because Brother is now talking. We love our neighbors and area church members--we want to be here forever. Brother breaks his shoulder when he falls off our horse, Golden. We buy another horse from a friend for $100. She was a 2-year old paint and she needed to be trained, we named her Puzzled Look, Puzzle for short. Marc trained her himself. He broke his hand when she kicked him. But, he still kept going and she is now the best behaved horse we own.
Year 9- We trade golden for her 2-year old foal Sparks-R-Flyin'. We call him Sparks. He was trained when we got him. J.R. comes to live with us in the fall after a stay for the summer. We go to Glacier National Park for a Reunion and for fun. We now have 4 kids.
Year 10- We finally get pregnant with our next child. Sister is born 5 weeks early and weighs 5 pounds 4 ounces. We now have 5 children. Her time to come home was delayed because of jaundice. She comes home on the billy lights for a week. Then she ends up in the hospital again for going blue in my arms. We are there for a week as we try to figure out what is wrong. She comes home on oxygen and a heart monitor for a couple of months. We find out Brother has ADHD. Marc's mom and dad move a block away from us.
Year 11- Brother and Sister are diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome. Bryan leaves to go live with Marc's parents. We now have 4 children. We go to Sacramento for research to be done on me, my dad, Sister and Brother. We learn a lot and it is confirmed that I am the carrier and that my dad is also the carrier. Tough year but very informative. Marc and I go to St. Goerge for a work water conference. Marc's parents have the kids all this time.
Year 12- We buy a camp trailer. We go camping almost every weekend--or at least 2 times a month from April to October. We love it. Brother gets baptized--an amazingly spiritual experience for all who attended. I start working at Kids Who Count and became the Utah County Representative for the Fragile X Association of Utah. I go to Missouri for my first experience flying and attending the National Fragile X Conference. Kelsey turns 16 and starts getting ready to date! Aah! J.R. turns 12 and becomes a deacon and gets to pass the sacrament.
Year 13- I go on my second ever plane trip to Washington D.C. for Fragile X Advocacy day to lobby for FXS funds on Capitol Hill. Bryan graduates high school. J.R., Kelsey, Brother and I join a local singing and dancing group. Our horse Spark's dies of colic. We buy a new horse, Blue ID Baretender, we call her Blue. Our horse, Puzzle dies of colic. We go camping a lot in the summer. Bryan gets called on an LDS mission to Chile. Bryan leaves for 2 years on his mission.
Year 14- Kelsey makes the elite choir at school and gets to go on tour in California and Disneyland. We are surprised and find out we are pregnant with our 3rd child, Baby. Amy and Frank (Marc's sister) move to Utah. Baby is born 6 weeks early 5 lbs 7 oz., 19 inches long. She is in the NICU for a few days and I stay there with her. We get the test results back and learn that Baby also has Fragile X Syndrome. We now have 5 kids again. Kelsey turns 18! My brother and his wife move to Florida (the first of any of us to move out of state). Marc and I make the tough decision and decide to send Kelsey and J.R. to live with their birth parents. We now have 3 kids.
Year 15- We go on our first REAL vacation ever to visit my brother in Florida. It is the first time for all of our kids to fly and they did great. First time for Sister and Baby to see the ocean. First time for me and Marc to go snorkeling. Kelsey graduates high school. Camping. Brother is in fifth grade and Sister starts all day kindergarten! Baby turns one! The first time in 8 years to have spent a Christmas with only our biological children. Bryan returns from his mission having served a full 2 years. Marc goes to Washington D.C. with my dad for Fragile X Advocacy Day to lobby for funds on Capitol Hill.
Whoa! that was quite a bit of reading huh?
But, it was really fun for me to relive all the memories.
Even the hard ones.
Without the trials we wouldn't be the family we are today. Marc and I certainly wouldn't be the people we are today without each other. He completes me. (I know, isn't that some cheesy line from a movie or something?)
Check out the pictures along the side bar --------------------->
if you want to see how we have changed over the past years. Kinda fun.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Go Cougars! Go Jimmer!
Had so much fun going to the last home game for the Seniors at BYU and to watch them get the trophy for the Mountain West Conference.
We were given tickets and were able to go with some friends. We were on the eighth row! Hello! I could almost smell the sweat!
Jimmer rocks! Really. He is amazing to watch in action! Wew!
My favorite part, other than the game itself was watching the whole student section dance... it was sweet!
Watching the whole senior section dance at the game... just caught the tail end of it.
We were given tickets and were able to go with some friends. We were on the eighth row! Hello! I could almost smell the sweat!
Jimmer rocks! Really. He is amazing to watch in action! Wew!
My favorite part, other than the game itself was watching the whole student section dance... it was sweet!
Watching the whole senior section dance at the game... just caught the tail end of it.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The real pictures
Here are the official pictures from the Valentine's Dance.
I was having way to much fun with the decorations and my hubby.
Oh, and we got our friends in on the fun too.
I was having way to much fun with the decorations and my hubby.
Oh, and we got our friends in on the fun too.
 |
| We were running high off a adrenaline from dancing and were acting a bit goofy. |
 |
| I am trying to "hide" behind the balloons, and, I think, Marc just doesn't know what to do... tee hee. |
 |
| I had to show you a close up of my hair because I did it myself. Wish I had a better picture but I think you get the idea. I just LOVE flowers. They are so fun! |
Monday, March 7, 2011
Stop Using the R word
Here is a great video that a good friend to the Fragile X Community was involved in.
Share it with everyone.
Check out thesocialchallenge.org
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Sweet 16
Baby is now 16 months old!
I believe that Baby has truly become a Daddy's girl. Lately her thing is to climb up into his lap and lounge while he reads to her or watch TV with him.
I think she knows how to melt Daddy's heart.
She has also been walking around more frequently and for longer stints of time. She can make it across a room! yay! She also goes up and down stairs easily and she really enjoys being able to be where her brother and sister are.
My mom taught her to count to 2. She'll hold here pointer finger out and say "one... two" in her baby talk way and it is completely amazing!!!
She now says:
Ya
Uh uh
Dadadada
One
Two
Hello
Whoa
Oh
I get such a kick out of her wee little voice. (smile)
I believe that Baby has truly become a Daddy's girl. Lately her thing is to climb up into his lap and lounge while he reads to her or watch TV with him.
I think she knows how to melt Daddy's heart.
She has also been walking around more frequently and for longer stints of time. She can make it across a room! yay! She also goes up and down stairs easily and she really enjoys being able to be where her brother and sister are.
My mom taught her to count to 2. She'll hold here pointer finger out and say "one... two" in her baby talk way and it is completely amazing!!!
She now says:
Ya
Uh uh
Dadadada
One
Two
Hello
Whoa
Oh
I get such a kick out of her wee little voice. (smile)
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