My three hour staycation!

I have to just say that I have the most wonderful husband!! One of our favorite things to do here is go up into the canyon. We usually do this several times during the spring and summer but this year it just wasn't happening. Jason had gone up quite a few times while he was hunting but I hadn't been yet. Well, one of my favorite things to do is to go up and see the changing colors. Jason tried to get as much of his work done earlier this week so we could go up Friday. He still had to work but he got home a little bit earlier than normal so we went and drove the Alpine Loop. It was just what I needed. This is pretty much the first thing like this we have done since Abby was born so I am calling it my "3 hour staycation". I just love being in the mountains. It is so peaceful and relaxing! Abby must think so too because she pretty much slept the entire time. Hopefully short trips like this will start getting easier. Abby went through this phase where she would get too distracted to eat away from home so I planned all of my outings to fit in between feedings. She is starting to get better though. We really wanted to get out and go for a short nature walk but unfortunately it started raining. On the way home we stopped to get a Maverick Soft Serve ice cream. They are my favorite and in times past when coming home from the canyon, that is where we always stopped.

The view from one of the roadside stops.

A random mama cow and her baby hanging out at the trail head at one of the rest stops.

And in other news......

Prime example of why expensive baby toys are so unnecessary. Abby found this paper towel roll absolutely entertaining, especially when I used it as a telescope or a horn.

This picture truly does not do justice to how messy of an eater Abby is. If you can't tell, Abby has peas on her forehead, eyelids, eyelash as well as up her nose and all over her arms and legs. I even found food in her hair the next day. She loves to try to help feed herself. She will grab the spoon when I am holding it and shove it in her mouth. Unfortunately, she grabs it where the food is so most of the food gets all over hands and smooshed on her face rather than in her mouth. She is getting better at eating solids. So far, plums appear to be her favorite. We are still working with her to try to get her to take a bottle but she now thinks they are chew toys. I have decided to try out a cup with her and she is actually doing pretty well. I decided to try it after she kept grabbing for my cup of water. She can take sips from it and not really spill (while I am holding it of course). She still can't drink large quantities from one yet but we are definitely on the road to success! Hopefully we can just skip sippy cups altogether. (I read that it is best to just go to regular cups because it helps the muscles for speech develop but I have come to the conclusion that no matter what you choose, there is probably an expert out there who agrees and one who disagrees).

So Abby is teething again and she is getting four, count them FOUR teeth. The good news is that it doesn't seem as painful this time. The two front top teeth are poking through and it looks like the ones to the sides of those are close behind. Her bottom two are already all the way in and I can see some white spots next to those as well but they don't really seem as close as the others. At this rate, this kid is going to have all of her teeth before all of her hair grows in. By the way, her hair is getting thicker and longer but it is so light you can still hardly see it. My mom is thinking she may have strawberry blond hair and I think she may be right. In the sunlight her eyelashes have a red tint and her hair doesn't look straight blond. We will see.

Hopefully I will get some more pictures up soon! Love you all!

Answers to Easy Post Questions

Allison asked who the famous person I met was. I have actually met a few. When I was in junior high, I was friends with Tiffany's younger sister. I went to her house several times (which used to be Sylvester Stallones) and went to her wedding. I helped Marie Osmond find something at Rite Aid once and she called me "hon". Also both Donny Osmond and Lindsey Lohan came shopping at Rite Aid too. (Now you all know where the hot spot in Utah County is). Yes, I was fired from a job. I worked at Farmers Insurance when I was in high school. It wasn't the best job. Once my boss tried to pay me with a dog instead of money so being fired wasn't all that much of a loss. Oh, and if Y mountain really counts as a mountain, then YES I have climbed a mountain (it looks more like a hill to me when you compare it to Mount Timp or say Kilimanjaro).

Goals!

So I have been a little bit bad at making my monthly health goals. Maybe I should make a goal to be better at making goals :) Well I just want everyone to know I did make it a month with no soda. When I was trying to decide on a goal for this month I considered giving up either ice cream or fried foods but honestly, that would be cheating because I rarely eat those (you think no soda, no ice cream and no fried foods i'd be pretty skinny but oh well). So then I started thinking about what could make a real difference. (Warning, I am about to regurgitate some of my college education) There are 5 areas to health, they are physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social. I decided to do something that would help my emotional health. How many of you out there say on a regular basis "I'm so fat" or "I can't stand my (insert least favorite body part here)". Well, I do and it made me think about what kind of impact this will have on Abby as she gets older. I could go into a lot of detail about different things I have seen and heard but it would take me a long time. So, my goal for the next month is to not say anything negative about my body. This may be the hardest goal ever but I feel it is really important. If anyone is interested in learning more about encouraging our daughters to have healthy self esteem, go to www.dove.com and check out the campaign for real beauty and check out this video http://www.dove.us/#/features/videos/default.aspx[cp-documentid=8354359]/. Wish me luck! Jason will be holding me accountable!

Easy Post

I got this from my friend Angela's blog. All of the Red/Highlighted are things that I've done in my life. Want to play too? Just copy the list to your blog and bold or highlight your experiences instead of mine. And link back so that I can see your list!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

The Silver Lining

Before I dive into this post I have to first preface why I am writing it. I belong a FOD Support Group (fatty acid oxidation disorders, a family of disorders that includes Abby's MCAD). In their most recent newsletter, they asked for submissions of our silver lining to the FOD diagnosis. This has had me thinking alot and I decided to share my thoughts on here. In the newsletter I can't share any religious views but as I think about it, many of the silver linings are blessings from Heavenly Father so I decided I would write them here since this is my blog and I can write whatever I want so here goes.

If you had asked in the very beginning to tell you what the silver lining was to Abby's MCAD diagnosis I would have probably given you a dirty look or just started crying but time and education can really do alot to change you perspective. The very first blessing is the obvious, because of the type of diet that Abby will have to follow she will start out her life on the healthy eating path I always wanted my children to be on but I probably would have given in easily to convenience. Our health will also be affected for good by eating a low fat diet. (Jason says he is too far gone but I am going to prove him wrong!!) It is interesting that I always said before that I didn't want to have potato chips and junk food in the house when we had children and now it is not just a good idea but a necessary one.

The next blessing is a knowledge that Heavenly Father really does know what is best for us even when we think we know what is better. I was devastated when we were told that we would not be able to take Abby home at the normal time. I knew my baby wasn't eating well but we had no idea she had a medical condition. There was nothing more heartbreaking than coming home from the hospital and instead of bringing our beautiful girl home, we were just making a quick trip to pick up more clothes. Now I cringe when I think of what would have happened if we had brought her home as planned and had her go into a metabolic crisis at home. She was most likely already in a crisis state that morning because usually a blood sugar drop is a late sign. Now I know that it was better for us to stay in the hospital, for Abby to get an IV and for her to have the time and the energy to learn how to eat properly.

The next blessing is more from just having a child rather than from an MCAD diagnosis. It is a renewed sense of the importance of families being sealed for eternity through the blessings of the Temple. It is comforting to know that as our family grows, we are all sealed together for eternity. I am so thankful everyday for this blessing.

I am also thankful that I decided to pursue my education in the health field. I always found an interest in health, especially in nutrition. I always found it interesting how the body systems worked and especially how what you ate worked in the body. However, if I had become a nutritionist (if I ever get my masters, that is what I want to do) and stayed on my old path, I would have become one of those "practice what I preach, not what I do" nutritionists. Now is the time to put my education into play. Instead of hating to look at recipes and knowing my child can't eat them, I now look at it as a fun challenge to take recipes and make them healthier and also to make meals for Jason and I that are healthy but also so tasty that we won't miss the fatty foods we used to eat.

I think that having a child with any type of a health problem opens your eyes and your hearts to those who have similar or worse trials. Just for example, the very first time we took Abby to her appointment at Primary Childrens, it was like I had blinders on. How could anything be wrong with my child? What kind of life is she going to live? Questions like this flooded my mind. On our second trip, I really saw for the first time all the children who weren't there for a quick check up, the children who couldn't walk and run. It was heartbreaking. Now it makes me want to do what I can to help support the childrens hospital and in turn help those children. It also helps you realize that it could be worse. As long as we fuel Abby's body correctly and take care of her properly when she is sick, she CAN walk and run, she CAN live a normal life!

The last silver lining is a selfish one. I do have to say that now I feel a little vindicated in the fact that I told Jason when we were first married that I didn't want us to own a deep fat fryer. (Fried foods and foods with coconut, coconut milk and coconut oil are the foods that Abby absolutely cannot have).

So while it is going to be a challenge and there are still days that I dread flu season and feel sad for Abby that she may never know the joy of eating an onion ring or worry how she is going to feel when she is older and all of her friends can eat junk food I know that we have been truly blessed by Heavenly Father. I hope this post will prompt each of you to think of the challenges in your life and look for the silver lining.

Long time, no blog!!

It has been too long since I have written. These pictures came up out of the order I wanted but I will just jump in and roll with it. In the above picture, you can see that Abby loves her reflection. The one on the front of the entertainment center is her favorite because she can get up close and personal with it!!

This is my new hair cut. The picture isn't fantastic, I hate those "self portraits" but it seems like whenever Jason was around this week, my hair wasn't at it's cutest. I love my haircut. I wish I could go back in time and tell the past me to do this earlier. I had been thinking about going shorter for a long time. It is so much easier and faster to do (20 minutes total from blow dry to final hair spray versus 30 minutes just to blow dry it before) I am very happy with it and Jason even likes it even though he always said he liked long hair.

Here is Abby gearing up for the big game! It was a pretty good day since BYU won. Jason was hoping for it but wasn't expecting it! Go Cougs!!

Abby is so interested in the camera lately. She will drop everything (literally) if she sees it out. I was trying to take a picture of the fact that she would rather play with her toy than eat but obviously, she would rather have her picture taken than anything else!

And last but not least, these are the peaches from our tree that I canned. Actually, I should say I helped can. My friend Beth was teaching me how to can but Abby started crying so while I took care of Abby, Beth did most of the dirty work. I mostly just made the syrup and filled the jars. Beth peeled and cut most of them. I have such great friends. So far the plan is on tuesday to make some jalapeno jelly with my friend Erienne. Hopefully those turn out great too!

In other news, Abby turned 7 months old this past week. I can't believe how fast the time is going by! She is learning to do so many fun things I don't even know if I can remember them all. She is almost sitting on her own. I just have to be very close by because she will eventually fall over. She makes these cute clicking noises with her tongue and she can also clap her hands. A few times she has scooted or creeped but not that far. She mostly goes backwards. She will roll all over the place if you let her. I know she is still a baby but it is hard for me to imagine that not too long ago, she was a newborn who didn't smile and play like she does now.

It seems like we have been super busy lately. Jason had been going out most evenings after work to go deer hunting. It seems like for about a week and a half we hardly saw him. I'm glad he gets to go out and have some fum but I am also glad we get to see him again! I have a new job that I am doing from home now. It isn't too much work and I won't be making a ton of money but every little bit helps. I am working for our friend Ryan submitting insurance claims for his business. He always likes to say "Hey Johnny (Jason's friends nick name for me), It's your boss calling" every time he calls.

I'm sure there is other stuff going on but I can't really remember right now. I will try not to let so much time go by before my next post. Love you all!