Kate and Art's Wedding

This past weekend, Kate and Art were married in California.  We left Thursday night and drove to Mesquite, the woke up Friday morning and finished the drive.  Once we arrived, we met up with J and Chris, then headed up to were the festivities would be the next day.  We had a nice time chatting with family and new friends.  After, we had dinner at Red Robin, followed by the group heading their separate ways for the evening.  J and I stayed up practicing on my hair for the wedding.  I wanted an up do, since it was suppose to be 99 degrees the next day for the outdoor wedding.  The rest of the crew made it in late Friday night. 
The day of the wedding, those of us that we staying at the hotel got together for breakfast in the hotel lobby.  Then the women folks were off for a pedicure.  We enjoyed the bonding and fun times together.  At thie point, again the crew split.  Everyone was off to get lunch and then get ready for the events of the evening.

Kate and Art had a wonderful wedding.  They are such a beautiful couple.  We really enjoyed the wedding and then the reception.  There was dancing and pool time.  It was a great day.  The best part is that Kate said "it was a perfect day."  I am so glad that we could be there to watch them take their vows. 

The next morning we woke up and drove to St. George where we crashed for the evening.  We finally finished our trip yesterday making it home.  We were glad to be home as our rear ends were very tired and aching.  We love you Kate and Art!  We hope that your life together is one of joy and happiness.

Friends

I high school, I was in choir.  In fact, from 5th grade on I was in choir.  There are a few songs I remember singing and that once in a while will pop into my head.  This song "Friends" is a song that A cappella Choir sings the last performance every year, and the last song of the performance.  It is a tradition of Murray High School.  The music teacher invites all the Alumni of MHS to come up and sing this song with the choir.  I remember my senior year, last song just crying.  I couldn't believe this part of my life was done.
Well, today, as I am getting Coli ready for his last day, this song popped into my head.  I love this song, so I thought I would put it here on the blog.  So, maybe one day I can sing it for my kids when they are graduating from high school.

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Can't believe the hopes he's granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

CHORUS:
And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say "Never"
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

With the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you'll live in
Is the strength that now you show
But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

CHORUS

REPEAT CHORUS

Music: Michael W. Smith
Lyrics: Deborah D. Smith

Colin's Birth Day Story

I have been thinking about Coli's birth day story all day, so I thought I had better get it typed, so that one day when I have no memory, the memory will be safe.
After 3.5 long, painful years we found out Mr. Colin was coming.  Now, we were so excited until I had my first ultrasound and they could not find the baby.  I left the hospital crying.  However, the blood work revealed I was not as far along as I had thought.  So, after multiple tests and ultrasounds we finally saw his little heart beating.  October 31, 2006 - we went for our first prenatal visit.  We saw that little one and knew we were really in love. 
About a week before Christmas, Bri and I secretly went to our Well Fetal exam and found out we were having a boy.  I was totally shocked, but thrilled all was healthy.  That Christmas we suprised the family with the news that we were having a boy.  The next 2 months went by without a hitch.  Then late February, I started seeing spots.  I called my doctor, she ordered labs and put me on bed rest for the weekend, thinking I had over done it and would be back to work on Monday.  I turned in my labs Monday morning and went to work.  Tuesday morning came and I received a call on my work phone from my doctor's office.  My labs looked bad, I was to go home and stay in bed until Friday when the doctor could see me.  Bri and I both went to that visit.  We found out I had mild Pre-Eclampsia.  At this point Colin was fine, but he could have to come at any point if my condition got worse.
I spent the next several weeks in bed except for a shower, eating and my doctor appointment.  I remember the pain my body felt as I just laid there, lucky my doctor sent me to Physical Therapy, so my pain level decreased.  I believe it was week 32, my doctor was at the hospital delivering a baby, so a midwife saw me.  She didn't like how things were going so they sent me to the hospital to see my doctor.  They ran tests and gave me a big fat shot of pain reliever and sent me home.  Things went along fine, until week 35.  My doctor walked in an told me I looked like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man.  My symptoms were very bad and she did not know what to do.  In fact, she called another doctor and discussed what to do with me.  They decided since Coli was a boy, to send me home with strict instruction that if I got worse in any way to go to Labor and Delivery.  Well, luckily things went along ok again.  Finally, week 36 came and they told me I could schedule my induction for week 37, no more bed rest.  Taking the first opportunity to deliver Colin, I choose Friday, April 27.  
The blessed day arrived and we went to the hospital around noon.  I changed and got into a gown, crawled into the bed and waited for the nurse.  She came in and asked all the admission questions and stated she needed to call my doctor to get orders to start labor.  FABULOUS, right?!?!?  WRONG!  A few moments later, the phone in the room started to ring.  Brian answered and it was my doctor.  She informed me the NICU was full and if Colin had any issues at all they would have to Life Flight him to Primary Children's Hospital.  So, they were going to send me home and have me come back on Monday night.  So back to bed I went.  I cried.
Monday, April 30, arrived and I hoped and prayed that this was really going to happen.   I laid in bed until late afternoon, when Bri's grandma came to visit before I went to the hospital.  Bri was at work and then had to take a final after.  SO, my mom and sister agreed to drive me up to the hospital, where Bri would meet me.  I arrived at LDS Hospital just after 8 PM.  I got upstairs and checked in, just as they started turning people away.  They showed me to my room, where I changed and got into bed.  I found out they would not send me home this time.  YAY!!!  Mom and Lindsey left, as the nurse said I had to take oral medication before they could start the Pitocin.  I sat there waiting for the drug.  At about 2 AM, I finally received my first round of the oral medication (suppose to thin the membranes and help effacing). 
The next dose came later that morning and the third dose came early afternoon.  At 4 or so they checked to see how the meds had done.  Well, I did not dilate or efface at ALL.  The nurse then told me she would call my doc and see what she wanted to do, but most likely I would have another round of oral meds.  I was so done.
Well, it turns out my doctor knew I was at witts end and ordered that my water be broken and Pitocin started.  I this point I had been have contractions all day, but was not considered to be in labor as they were too far apart and not dilating me.  I decided at this point I needed my epidural.  So, once the doc gave me that, they started the Pitocin and broke my water.  Around 7, my doctor came in and stated "Let's have this baby tonight."  I of course agreed.  At that point, I had effaced and dilated some.  But for a new mom, I still had a ways to go.  Bri cleared the room and let me sleep.  Then, the nurse came in, I needed to wear oxygen, because the baby's sats were low.  I continued to sleep until about 9:30 PM. 
The nurse came in and checked me.  I was were I needed to be, FINALLY!  So, the moms, sisters and Brian filled the room.  The nurses started getting everything put up.  About 9:40 PM, she had me push.  After, just a few pushes she had me stop.  You could see Colin's head.  She called the doctor and we waited. 
15 minutes later my doctor showed up and saw were Colin was and felt so bad for making me wait.  Just a few more pushes and at 10:06 PM our little baby boy was delivered.  What a wonderful day.  All of the waiting, pain and bed rest finally over.  He weighed 6 pounds 15 ounces and stretched to be 21 inches long. 
Now, here it is 5 years later, and I don't know where the time has gone.  I can't imagine my life without my Bug.  We love you buddy, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

A Lifetime of Memories

This past Saturday, Aunt Tammy & Uncle Craig, Uncle Greg, Chris P., Lindsey, Dad & Kel, and Brian & I, gathered in Pleasant View to clean out the storage unit and take things that we had interest in from the life of Lynn and Mary Nelson.  We went through boxes and boxes of stuff.  Somethings, treasures from my Grandmother and Grandfather Nelson, other things just regular everyday items.  The weather cooperated wonderfully and we were able to get everything out and moved to the DI, dump or someones home.
That night I was laying there and thinking when I am gone, what will my family think are treasures.  What will mean something to one of them.  It has made me think, what I may think are treasures now, my children and grandchildren may not believe that they are treasures.   And things that I think are modern everyday items now, one day maybe be a treasure.  I hope that I can pass somethings down to my family that will touch hearts the way that my grandparents stuff has touch mine.

Family

Yesterday, was Papa Lynn's funeral.  As you can imagine, we were able to see lots of family members that we have not been able to see in quite some time.  I know I did not get everyone, but I got most people I think.

Some Treasures

Over the past couple of days, as we have been getting ready for my grandfather's funeral we have come up with some treasures of pictures.  I loved them so much I thought I would post some of them to the blog, so they will one day go into a book for my kids. 

10 Years Ago Today

Many people on Facebook and blogs have been posting what, when and where they were when the "world stop turning on that September day."  So, I thought I would record my own experience and feelings, so one day when my children are old enough they will know what I thought and felt.
The night before, I had been up late, as Brian had proposed to me.  So, needless to say I was a little too excited to go to bed.  I remember that morning, my alarm going off and I turned it off knowing that I would have to skip the shower.  I laid there sleeping, when Garry came into my room.  He said, "Stacy, you might want to get up, this could be the start of World War III."  I remember thinking, what are you talking about.  The world was fine just 6 hours ago, what did the politicians do.  I walk out to the TV room and sit on the coffee table.  Since, I am blind as a bat without my contacts, I had to sit close.  At this point.  I watched a rerun of the first airplane fly into the tower.  I remember thinking oh my gosh!  I watched the people run from the building and streets, to watch the rerun of the second airplane fly into the second tower.  I was so stunned, I could hardly believe what I was seeing.  It felt so surreal.  I couldn't even imagine what was going on.  I sat there just watching the TV play the rerun over and over.  Garry at this point told me that the government thought Bin Laden was behind this attack.  I watched the building collapse.  Then the news that the pentagon had been hit.  I sat there just watching the horrible images and thinking it was so surreal. I watched until I was suppose to be at work.  At that point, I rushed to get dress and put my make up on, then I drove to CNS. 
When I arrived at CNS, my mom had the radio on with the reporters just going on and on about the attack.  It was just about this time that the fourth and final plane went down in the field.  I could not believe the events that day.  I just remember not much work was done on my part.  I listened to the radio all day long, just hoping that the attacks would stop.  Being so grateful that the planes were out of the air. 
That night, I watched the events over and over and over.  I sat thinking, how is this going to affect my life?  I am still getting married on October 4?  What is going to happen?  I remember being scared and just wanting to wake up from the nightmare that I continued to watch. 
Ten years ago, was the saddest day our nation has faced in my memory.  I am grateful, that I have been to NYC and have seen the missing towers in the skyline.  I am grateful to have been living in Salt Lake City and to not have had any loved ones in the air or buildings that day.  I am grateful that I have been blessed and will forever remember the events of that September day.

Hawai'i 2006

About 4 years ago, Bri's mom called us. At the time we were living in Irvine, CA, Brian was enrolled at Whitter Law School. She told us that she and Steve were taking us with them to Hawaii for their 10 year wedding anniversary. She said that we were going to the Big Island and staying on the Kona side. I was so super excited, I couldn't believe it. I had never been to Hawaii I had just seen pictures and movies, I knew that I wanted to go. The hard part though, was we had to wait until June.
June finally arrived and we were suppose to be going on a flight with a lay over on one of the other islands and then hopping to Kona. However, when we got to the airport, the direct flight was not full so we were able to get on that flight and flew straight into Kona. It was so weird, the airplane landed on the tarmac, which is next to the ocean and they wheeled the stairs up to the plane. There was no building, just pavilions. It was a very different airport, but it smelled so good.

We enjoyed so many wonderful experiences while we were there. We went to many of the beaches snorkeling, we saw eels, beautiful fish, turtles, etc. I really loved the snorkeling there, the water was so warm and clear, nothing I had experienced before. We went golfing one day, on this course they have peacocks and turkeys just walking about like we have ducks in Utah. There were several males that would just follow us around. The course was beautiful it was unlike any other course I have been on, Brian, Debby and Steve all LOVE to golf, I just go along for fun, I am not a huge fan of golf, but I can hold my own. We did some sight seeing in town and shopping. We also attended a Luau it was fun to see the dancing and try the food. We also went on a submarine and we went down a 104 feet. That was pretty cool, we saw a boat wreck and a reef shark. That was awesome!

My favorite part of the Hawaii trip though was toward the end of the trip and we went snorkeling with Jack's Diving Locker and the Manta Rays. A manta ray is like a sting ray, but larger. These animals can get up to 16 feet wing tip to wing tip and weigh about 100 pounds per foot. These animals are massive. So, we started our adventure about 4 pm, we had an afternoon drive and saw some mantas playing on the surface. We also saw some fish and an eel. As, the sun was setting and we were eating our sandwich dinner, we saw spinner dolphins in the distance. What an amazing sight to see. After dinner and it was dark it was time to go play with the mantas. So, snorkel gear, life vest, and flash light and off into the dark water we go. The company that takes you on these tours had put a giant spotlight into the water a ways off, but we had to swim to that. The plankton are attracted to the light, and this is what Mantas eat. We waited a little bit and soon here were the mantas they were spinning and twirling in the light, it was a spectacular show. The mantas started at the bottom of the ocean and worked their way to the surface. I was doing just fine watching these massive animals dance until one got literally 4 inches away. Steve who was about 30 feet away popped his head up and asked if the manta brushed my knee, I told him no, but after that I was a little bit nervous about being ran over by a 1600 pound animal. But I still stayed in the water until it was time to go back to the boat. What an adrenaline rush. We found out on the ride home that there had been 5 mantas that night and they all were female. It was so worth the $200, for the experience. I look forward to going back to Hawaii and seeing more. It was absolutely beautiful. I just would want more time there.

A stroll down memory lane

I have seen a couple of blogs that do a post on Mondays that are a memory that they want to record. I don't know that I will do this every Monday, but when I think of something I want to record I am going to post them. That way when I turn the blog into a book our children will have some of our memories recorded.
Brian and I were newly weds, his aunt Dorrie and cousin Marissa were living with us. We were renting my parents home in Murray. Bri and I were in our room, getting ready for the night and Bri was in his underwear and I noticed that there was a hole in his underwear. I told him that he had a hole in his underwear in the back. Bri grabbed the underwear where the hole was a ripped his underwear exposing his butt. I giggled a little and but that is not what SHOCKED me. Before I had time to even think about anything else, he opened the door and mooned his aunt and cousin. Then shut the door. It had everyone rolling on the floor and continues to be a joke that Brian bared his butt to his aunt and cousin out of the blue.