Life is Good

I have had a pretty good week and I am so thankful. My heart is full that life is good for me and for my little family right now. It seems like there is sadness all around me. So many prayers have been said for good people in my life. I have had them on my mind non stop this week.

My Grandpa dying of lung Cancer, and my sweet Grandma taking care of him. So hard to say goodbye to someone you love.

My Uncle Jerry with Prostate Cancer, and my Aunt Judy "my friend" who is the best wife and friend Jerry could ever ask for to stand by his side.

My Mother in law who broke her back snow machining. So hard to not be able to do the things you want to do, and to have to rely on someone else's help. But so blessed that you are not paralyzed. It will be a long road but worth it!

My friend Shalyce who (is only a couple hours older than I am) I shared a hospital room with her when I was born, so really a life long friend. She has a baby due April 1st, her kidneys are in trouble and she has a drain coming out of them until she has the baby. Shalyce has been in horrible pain and not feeling well. She also has a one year old to take care of. In the meantime her sweet husband is in the military serving our country and being shipped out on Monday. So hard to not see his baby boy born. I am so sad for her. Her husband is so courageous and we are lucky to have men like him in our country.

This sweet baby Gracie that I have talked about has just broken my heart this week. I have cried many tears for her and her family. She got a new heart and it has failed and she is on life support waiting for another heart. If she doesn't get a new heart in time she will not make it. How can you not hurt for this dear family and their baby. How can you not read their story and grow from it and hug your babies a little tighter and be so grateful for them. I cannot imagine facing the thought of maybe having to say goodbye to my sweet angels. This family has great Faith and courage and that's what it takes.

Too much sadness in this world and yet so many blessing from each one. We are blessed for knowing that we can be with our families again someday. That has got to be the greatest gift we have been given. I could not live each day if I didn't know I could be with my family again forever if something happened. Life is Good!

Sometimes we don't always understand why things happen the way they do, but the Lord works in mysterious ways. There is a reason for everything that happens. I am a living proof that miracles happen and the Lord blesses our lives if we do our part in the Lords plan. I have always had a testimony but it just gets stronger everyday. I put a new quote to the side of my blog, it is now my favorite and is so true. I also added some new, very peaceful songs to my play list at the bottom. One is "I love to see the Temple" and I truly love to see the temple and it is the one place that I feel at peace and gain the Faith I need to start another week. Life is Good.

Say a prayer for this sweet baby and her family today!

http://thegledhillfamily.blogspot.com/

A new heart for Gracie Girl!!!

Have you ever thought about being an organ donor? I have thought about it many times but for some reason it is scary for me. It is no longer scary. I came across this families blog quite a while ago and I have been so blessed by reading it. They want everyone out there to know about organ doning and how it saves lives. I thought this was the least I could do for this sweet family. This little baby Gracie girl has been needing a heart transplant. My heart has just ached for this sweet family. I cannot imagine having a baby and knowing that they needed a heart and waiting for some one else's baby to die to get a heart for mine. But what a miracle that can be. This little Gracie girl is getting a new heart today!!!! I am so happy for this sweet family, I cannot imagine the Lord's love by their sides today. How amazing! If my baby was dying I would want to save one of those precious babies that could be healthy if they had a new heart. I would want to give life to that precious spirit, because I know what I would be feeling as their Mother wanting them to be able to live. You can read their special blog here http://thegledhillfamily.blogspot.com/ I hope it strengthens your testimony of faith and enduring likes it has mine. We never know what others may be going through in their lives but it makes you grateful for your own trials. I hope that you all will think about organ doning a little more and remember how many lives it could save. There are way too many babies waiting for a new heart, sooooo sad!

Watch out for running naked girls at my house!

It is official that this child of mine will not keep clothes on. It doesn't matter what I do she will take them off and run around naked. I even went to drastic measures and cut the feet off of her pajamas and turned the pajamas backwards so the zipper was in the back and still off they go. I chase her around everywhere trying to get her diaper and clothes back on. So the other day Maddy came to me to tell me Kenna was naked again and Kenna just happened to be right there and heard Maddy telling me so she took off running before I could get to her and she had this pink cowgirl hat on and ran for the couch and I grabbed the camera and this is what I got. She was trying to hide from me under that hat and then she gave me a look like "don't touch me Mom!" O she keeps me so busy some days. I love that girl a ton ♥♥♥♥

Best Valentines Day Ever ♥♥♥

So I can honestly say this years Valentine's Day will be one I remember forever!

It started off earlier in the week by my husband telling me that him and the girls needed me to get out of the house because they had something they needed to do without me there. Well I was thinking yeah right...those of you who know my husband know that he very rarely remembers any of the important, special, lovey, holidays, you know the ones that women really enjoy and look forward too :). This has always been a sore spot to me, so I couldn't imagine him doing anything that was thought of before hand for me for Valentine's Day. He insisted that I leave the house, so I did. Well while I was gone he took the girls, ALL three to the grocery store and made these strawberries dipped in chocolate. I was so impressed!!! Well the funny thing is, is that he used ice cream syrup chocolate and heated it up and dipped the strawberries multiple times because the chocolate would not stay on the strawberry, then he put them in the freezer. So that is why the strawberries are sitting in a puddle of chocolate. Yes this is very funny and came from a man who will not ask for directions or help with anything he does, not even dipping strawberries in chocolate. And the strawberries on the cookie sheet say Happy V-day can you see it? He is so thoughtful I am completely shocked. Love you Honey!



Then he also took the girls to the mall and each one of them handed me one of these....How sweet is that!



And something I have always wanted and its even red for Valentines Day!!!!! It was like Christmas at my house. I had a smile form ear to ear seriously it was the best day ever. It was the best day because he took the time to think about me and planned out something fun for the girls to be involved in as well, we were all very happy :)



Then I stayed up very late the night before Valentine's Day and decided to make heart shaped cakes for everyone!!! They turned out so fun and Josh and the girls loved them. I am not a baker or a cook so I was so glad they turned out okay♥♥♥



I put the initials for each of the girls so they had their own special cake!



My parents always made sure we were loved on Valentines Day and I want to do the same for my kids. I want them to know it is a special day and we should feel loved and love others back. I put together a cute bucket full of treats and gave them a special card with a little note from me.


The girls loved the cards!

And Kenna loved the chocolate :) She must be a Momma's girl for sure :)

She was very happy after eating that chocolate!
So I saved the best for last! We got to go to a special baptism for a friend of my sisters, his name is Rodger. I have never been to a converts baptism, O boy have I missed out! This was the most special day for him, and I was so happy that I got to be there. I watched as he came out from being under the water and he had the biggest glow around him, it was amazing. I was with Josh and the girls and we all felt the same feeling, it was like everyone just stood very still for that moment and we felt the spirit in the room. My sister spoke on the Holy Ghost and did a wonderful job :) She is amazing to me and has the strongest testimony, sure do love her. I would not have wanted to spend my Valentine's Day doing anything else, it was wonderful and very happy!

This is my sister Katie and her friend Rodger :)

Good News for Me

So I am thinking it is about time for some good news in my life. I am so excited about this I can hardly stand it. Remember how I told you that I had to be on blood thinners to get rid of the blood clots in my liver? Well I have a nicely bruised belly from being poked everyday, it was a pain to go in there everyday, I worried about it everyday, and it was all worth it because.... I just found out that it worked!!!! I had a re peat ultrasound on my liver and all 25 blood clots are gone!!! Not only that, but the Dr. had told me I would have to be on vaso dilator injections once a day for who knows how long to keep the vessels and arteries open since they have been collapsing. Well.....it looks like they might just be staying open on their own and I don't have to have the vaso dilators. I am going to go in weekly for ultrasounds on the liver to watch it, but it is sure looking good. My blood tests have also come back looking tons better since the clots have disappeared. The Dr. is completely blown away by how fast they got rid of all the clots and how much better I have been feeling. I truly have had a miracle happen to me. I feel so blessed! I can testify to the power of prayer and faith! I am hoping this will only get better from here. I am so lucky I finally found an amazing Dr. who took the time to figure out what was wrong, I was watched over by angels, I know I was and am and always will be. Today is a good day, I love days like today!!!!

For my Grandpa, my friend

How do you prepare yourself when you are told someone is going to die and within a couple months? How do you make yourself remember that you will see them again? How do you tell your children who have grown to love that person so much? How do you focus on the good things that person has taught you and not be sad that they will be leaving? How do you shut the tears off? How do you remind yourself that the Lord has a plan? How do you try to stay strong for your Mom who's heart is broken and your Grandma who's heart is also broken and who's life will change? How do you go on with life knowing this and not letting it consume you everyday? How do you explain dying to your children when you don't understand it yourself? How do you remember that life doesn't end in this world?

I wish I had the answers and the many more that I need at this time! I am so sad and the lump I keep in my throat blocks the tears (I swear by it). I need to just let it go and relax and know the Lord will take care of us all but it is so hard for me. I told you before about my dear Grandpa and how he has lung cancer...well we were told he only has a month or so to live. The emotions are overwhelming, it is so hard because it is out of our control there is nothing we can do. I hate it when I have no control over situations, I always want to be able to fix it somehow and this one is not fixable. I have to put it in the Lord's hands. I hate to see my Mom so sad and there is nothing I can say or do to make the pain go away for her, for her siblings, or for my Grandma. My Grandpa is so strong and he has taught me how to be brave. We have been so blessed in our family, the Lord has given us extra time with my Grandpa because he was told five years ago that he was dying of cirrhosis of the liver. We were able to spend five more wonderful, happy years with him. My children got to know the wonderful grandpa that I have had growing up. My kids have loved him and thought he was so funny at times. We have so many good memories together I will hold tight to those and be thankful that I had a wonderful Grandpa in my life. Life will change for us, but my hopes are that we will all change for the better and that we hold tight to the ones we love. This earth life is really so short and we need to show and tell our family and friends how much we love them and how much we need them in our lives. I love family, I love that the Lord knew we would need each other and couldn't do it without them. Each one of my family members have a special place in my heart and have taught me and loved me. I am thankful for the atonement, what a gift to us, I will see my Grandpa again I know I will. I am so lucky that I have been taught the way I have so that I have the comfort in knowing I will see him again someday. I know my Grandpa is probably needed for something better and I have no doubt that he will watch over me and comfort me in my life, I am sure he will take my little ones that are waiting to come down, and he will put them on his lap and love them, like he has done to me and my little ones here. I love you Grandpa, and I know you will be waiting for all of us!

Funny Girls!

My girls can do the funniest things sometimes! Kynzee came up the stairs and was laughing so hard trying to call for Mom and when I came around the corner this is what I saw. I laughed so hard I couldn't believe how funny she looked. Then right behind her was sweet little Kenna trying to follow Kynzee in what she was doing only the ball was much much smaller. Kynzee said she was trying to hide the balls from Maddy....um I don't think they were hidden very well, what do you think? Kids are so fun I cannot imagine life without them, they make my day a real day. There is always a new adventure waiting for us and I love it! I don't have a picture of it but the other day Maddy sucked a toy around her mouth, and made a huge red and purple hicky I don't think I have ever even seen a bruise as bad as this thing looked, it was terrible and it stayed for a long time. I should have taken a picture it was bad! I showed her in the mirror what she had done and she almost started to cry it was that bad and every morning it was still there she thought it would never go away. She still has a small red ring around her mouth but not as bad as it was. Thank goodness it went away. I am glad I have them to make me smile everyday.

Can you see that tiny ball in Kenna's shirt?

Kenna has been really sick you can see it in her eyes, I hate it when kids get sick it is so hard on them and Mom

I got the girls ready for school and they wanted a picture I have trained them well if they are asking for their picture taken, hey at least I don't have to fight for a picture :)

Miss Maddy is growing up and I sure wish I could make it stop!

I am so blessed

Today is fast Sunday, one of my favorite days of the month. I didn't get to go because I have kids sick with croup, not fun at all. But I am feeling this strong spirit by my side today and it has been there for so long, for as long as I have needed it. I feel so close to that spirit it is almost like a partner who walks by my side leading me around the house to get things done everyday. I am so blessed, I really am. There have been times in my life when I have thought I really cannot handle one more thing, the load is too heavy and my backpack is going to break. But the Lord takes a few things out of my bag for me and lightens my load and lets me know I am loved and that he is here. I don't know how I take care of my family or myself some days I know without a doubt that I have help with me each and every day. The warm feeling of love that follows me is so real and so near to me. I know that my Heavenly Father lives and loves me so much. My prayers are answered in ways I cannot explain. I have so many good people in my life who always know when to call or when to stop by, I am so blessed. I have such a strong testimony and through trials it becomes so much stronger. I look at other people's trials and think to myself "mine are so small I can handle them" but to me they seem so big at times. I think the Lord never gives us more than we can handle and I am a testimony to that. I am still going and I am still taking care of my family and myself and it is because of the Lord by my side every day, it is absolutely amazing to me. I have no doubt that he has not left me alone not even once or there is no way I could have taken what he has given me and kept going. I am so blessed! I have such a good family and extended family who I love so much and who take such good care of me, I was born into a wonderful family, I am so blessed. The love that is given to me by neighbors and friends is worth crying over every day. They are all so good to me and honestly I could not do what I do without you. I feel so blessed today and everyday. I am so thankful for my testimony that as a young girl was made very strong by good young women leaders, family, and friends. I am so thankful my testimony had a good foundation so when the storms came in my life my testimony stayed firm and grew amazingly strong. I love life and I love what I have been given because it has made me who I am today. I have the faith that is needed to make it through this life.

My plan this far for those of you who have been following my crazy medical stories.

Blood thinners shots once a day for a week to thin the blood and get rid of the blood clots in the liver.

Vaso dilators once a day injected into my blood stream for who knows how long to try to open up the vessels in the liver and keep them open so the blood can run through properly and so my body will be able to function normally again. After time the vessels should learn to stay open unless they are too damaged, then I am in trouble, but that just isn't going to happen.

Once they get the liver fixed the gall bladder has to come out!

So many worries yet so many blessings and prayers and most importantly FAITH to know it will work!