Did You Know?

I love my dogs!

Nixen's baby blessing is this weekend!

Bahama Bucks is our favorite!

Kylee loves her uncles & aunts!

This girl is amazing!

Today was full of fun! We're excited to have another day like it tomorrow...& are so happy that Lincoln has the next 3 days off!!!

Super Busy...

We have been super busy lately! We have A LOT of road trips coming up, as well as Lincoln & Kylee's birthdays this month. Add in lunch with multiple friends, family coming to town, a baby blessing & a bunch of other stuff...& I'm starting to wonder how we will survive it all! :)

Linc & I are trying to perfect our role reversal...meaning that I'm the mom now, instead of Lincoln. It feels so good to finally be doing what I need to do, so that Lincoln can focus on other things. I'm still trying to get in a groove with grocery shopping, cleaning, meal planning & everything else that goes with taking care of a household & baby (& two dogs who need to be walked multiple times a day), but I'm getting there!

Lincoln also started studying this week for the MCAT. He is taking it in August. We have decided that instead of studying for the test over the course of a semester, he will study for the next month and a half instead. We know we are crazy, but we have our reasons. I'll share those reasons someday soon. :)
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I do have one more insight to share about my health...I know you were hoping for one! :) I was really worried that my relationships with people would change drastically when I started feeling better...but in a not-so-great way. I kept asking Lincoln "What will I talk to people about now that I'm not sick?" I was SO used to people asking how I was doing & that being the main topic of conversation. Totally sad, but true. By being this "new person" I was starting from scratch. Most of my everyday experiences during the past years have involved me laying on the couch & watching tv, doctors appointments, surgeries, and other things that don't make good conversation topics & aren't experiences that are easy to relate to.

However, I have realized that my relationships now that I'm healthy are exactly the same as they were when I was sick...except that now I can actually spend time with people & do little things for them, instead of them always helping me. And I discovered that for the past 10 years I have sometimes thought that people didn't know who I really was & what I stood for, that all people saw was someone who they felt sorry for, & that my personality was hidden beneath all of the pain. But then I found out that I wasn't giving people nearly enough credit.

Thanks to all of you for seeing past the fact that I didn't work, didn't have children, didn't have much to give to you, and was never very put-together. I know those things don't make me who I am, but by the world's standards they do. I learned a great life lesson through all of this...don't underestimate those around you. They probably see a lot more in you than you see in yourself.

MCC Musical Theater

On Friday night, Kylee & I went to Megan's MCC Musical Theater Workshop performance. Meg did such a great job. She has a beautiful voice! I did the same workshop when I was her age and loved it. I still hang out with friends that I met there, 14 years ago. I also went to Megan's matinee performance on Saturday with Lincoln. What a dedicated sister I am. :) Lincoln has gone with us to see these shows every summer for the past 6 years. It's definitely not his thing, but he is a good sport about it.

Here we are after the matinee...

Good job Megan. We love you!!!

This Past Week

We've done lots of fun things this past week including:
Games with friends in Queen Creek
Swimming
Bahama Bucks
Spending time with our nephew Jarod
Family dinners

Kylee keeps us busy...whether it is running to close the bathroom door before she can play in the toilet water, or running up the stairs after her before she falls down them. (Yes, we definitely need to buy a baby gate!) Ah, the joys of parenthood! She is a really good baby, and loves her schedule. As long as I keep her on it, she is very happy.

A few of my favorite things that Kylee does right now are:
Saying "Mmmmm" when something tastes good
Group hugs with Dad (she grabs both of us & pulls us in)
Dancing to "The Hot Dog Song" from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

She laughs a lot, which I LOVE. She gives huge slobbery kisses that my whole family begs for. She thinks she should be eating table food for every meal and cries on days that she doesn't get to spend enough time with Daddy...annoying, but sweet! :) She is such a joy to have around. I love the feeling that she brings into our home.

She is constantly getting stuck in my parents' couch...

Every morning, she plays songs for us on the keyboard. She has a talent for picking up the beat and for appreciating good music. I'm not kidding. If she isn't a musician, I will be surprised.

Kylee used a pacifier for a few months after we got her, & then decided one day (about 6 months ago) that she didn't need it anymore. Well, ever since she saw her cousin Nixen & her friend Blake with their pacifiers, she has decided that she wants one again. She wants to have a pacifier, but she doesn't want to use it. So here she is holding it while she eats...

And sucking on the wrong end of it...

It's fine with me! I just think it is weird. :)

And I just have to throw in this picture of Nixen saying "What's up?!"...

Feeling better is starting to feel more normal to me. I have gotten a lot better at realizing just how much I can really do & not questioning myself anymore. I'm feeling more confident, more able, and am a lot more patient with the limitations that I still have. Lincoln is still learning that he shouldn't feel bad that he isn't doing everything for me now. What a sweetheart. :)
LIFE IS SERIOUSLY GREAT!

Trials

Back in April, CJane had "Men's Week". During this week, she asked a different man to blog each day about a trial that he had supported his wife through. There were 5 posts: life with a newborn, losing a baby, adoption, infertility, and childbirth. At the end of the week I realized that Lincoln & I had experienced ALL 5 of these trials. It was an eye-opening realization.

I am so thankful for the things that we have been through during our 6 years of marriage. These things have shaped us. They are part of who we are...individually & as a couple. I know that trials make us stronger. I know that life is sweeter when we've gone through really hard things. I know that Heavenly Father knows EXACTLY what we need, and that He gives us trials not just to test us, but to teach us and to make us better. I am overcome with gratitude when I think about what He has done for us.

I am so relieved that I don't have to plan my life by myself. I'm glad that the Lord is in charge. I feel SO loved because of the help He has given me during my trials.

I had my final post-op appointment today. My doctor gave me the go-ahead to do whatever I want to do. She told me she would see me next year. This trial is over. I am still giddy about it. :)

Fun In The Pool

Some of my family went swimming last weekend & invited Kylee to join them. She has loved having Uncle Shawn here...

This was Nixen's first time swimming. It looks like the tongue thing runs in the family. :)

Grandma & Kylee enjoying each other...

Zoo Trip

On Saturday Lincoln, Kylee & I took another trip to the zoo. We saw my cousin's wife Tiffany as we were walking up, and found out that she was waiting for my cousin Christine to meet her there...so we ended up walking around with them the whole time. It was so much fun!I really enjoyed being able to talk to them & getting to know their cute kids better.

We saw a lot of animals, including the giraffes...

Kylee was using Lincoln's ears to steer him toward her favorite animals... :)

I'm totally obsessed with the orangutans. Kylee loves them too.

A peacock with her babies...Christine's daughter Annie is Kylee's age. They had fun playing in the water together...

Christine, me, Kylee, Tiffany...I love these girls.

Lincoln ended up being the one who got tired first and asked to leave. I've always been the one to do that. I immediately started talking about what other active things we were going to do that day. Linc just looked at me like I was crazy. It was awesome. :)

P.S.-I can't post two of my favorite pictures because they are posting sideways. I've tried everything I can think of to fix them. I read online that other people with Canon cameras have had the same problem. Anyone have any suggestions on what to do? Thanks!

Jealous

Kylee doesn't appreciate the fact that she isn't the only baby on my side of the family anymore. Can you tell?

I guess it's a good thing we aren't planning on having one anytime soon, huh? :)

ANOTHER Recovery Update

I know I've posted a lot of recovery updates since my hysterectomy...but that is a big part of what has been going on with us! I am doing GOOD. I no longer have good days and bad days...I just have harder parts and easier parts of each day, which I'm assuming everyone has. :) Mentally, my recovery has been a lot different than I thought that it would be. While I am INCREDIBLY thankful for my "new life", I realize that adapting to a "normal" pain-free life is going to be somewhat challenging.

The other day I read about a guy who lost a ton of weight on The Biggest Loser & is really skinny now, but still finds himself walking sideways, in order to "squeeze through" a huge space. It reminded me of myself. The other night I made commitments to three different people for the next day. As I lay in bed, I thought "I have to do THREE different things tomorrow. How is that even possible?" Then I finally realized that IT WAS POSSIBLE. I also realized that for the past 10 years, I have woken up in the morning feeling the same way that I felt when I went to bed the night before...in a lot of pain. Because of this, now when I go to bed feeling completely exhausted and sore, I think, "How am I going to do what I need to do tomorrow when I'm feeling like this?" Then I wake up the next day and realize that I feel good and ready for a new day. It's kind of crazy.

I realize new things every day. Things like the fact that I don't have to struggle to get through all 3 hours of church every Sunday anymore. Or that I will be able to go months (maybe a year!) without having a doctors appointment. Or that I need new clothes because I'm not going to be dressed in pajamas for most of the week now. :) The list goes on & on.

I hit my 6 week mark on Wednesday. I can tell. I feel good. My energy level still isn't where I want it to be, so I'm lucky that I have the luxury of being able to nap when Kylee naps. Lincoln still gets up with Kylee most mornings, but I'm working hard on taking over that duty very soon! I will say that I have been BUSY...a little too busy for my liking. Now that I feel good & have more energy to use, I need to reestablish my priorities and decide where to put that energy. As we all know, that seems to always be a struggle.

So those are my feelings. Probably not as interesting as I think they are, but thanks for reading them anyway. :)

Pine

This past weekend, we took a trip to Lincoln's family cabin in Pine. I should have taken some pictures of the actual cabin...it is beautiful. This was only Kylee's third time at the cabin and she was actually old enough to enjoy it this time! (Going up 3 times in a year may seem like a lot, but when Linc & I got married, we'd spend almost every weekend up there.) We enjoyed spending time with Lincoln's parents and grandparents during this trip. The weather at night was PERFECT.

Kylee had gone up the stairs at our house but hadn't tried to go down yet. She decided to try it at the cabin, head first...

She got to spend lots of time with Dad, which is always her favorite...

They even spent time reading on the new porch swing...

We do love our dogs but don't usually take "family pictures" with them. Oh well, there's a first time for everything!

The dogs loved running around outside and exploring while we were there. Here's Daisy with her cute hairy face!

Kylee had her first piece of steak while we were there. Yeah, probably not the best...but it's tradition!

Kylee also enjoyed making her usual messes while we were there...

We built a fire & roasted marshmallows, played games and watched murder mysteries that made me afraid to go outside to look at the stars with Linc. :) Lincoln & I also went on a "date" on Saturday to the gas station in Pine. We got ice cream bars and candy...hey, anything where it is just the two of us is considered a date, right? Sunday night we drove home & ate dinner with my family, who had been out of town for 9 days. They were having serious Kylee withdrawals. It was a fun, relaxing weekend!

P.S.- You may have noticed a lack of bows on Kylee's head lately. I put them on and she pulls them off. I swear it is because she got used to not having them on while Lincoln was taking care of her after my surgeries! Don't worry, I'm determined to make her like them again. Call it torture if you will...if the girl won't grow some hair, then she needs bows! :)

Summer Plans

Our summer plans include spending lots of time with my siblings, who are all in Mesa for the summer! Kylee loves sporting her BYU shirt for Uncle Aaron. The ONLY reason Lincoln lets me dress our child in BYU clothing is because Aaron is on their track team. :)

We're also excited to spend a lot of time at the zoo this summer! During our last trip to the zoo, Kylee quickly learned how to use Linc's CamelBak and couldn't get enough of it!

We are so excited for trips to the cabin & Snowflake, seeing Linc's siblings who live out of state, celebrating birthdays this summer, & so much more! We also started a Biggest Loser competition with my family to see who can lose the most weight by the middle of August. Lincoln & I had already decided to start eating super healthy, so whether or not we lose weight, we'll be much healthier by the end of the summer. Here's to our big plans!!!

Kylee 10 Months

I recently found this picture that someone took of us very soon after we got Kylee. It's pretty clear that we were in love with her from the beginning!

Kylee turned 10 months old at the end of May. Things she learned this past month are:

-Waving
-Saying "mama" and "dog"
-Pulling herself up to stand against everything and walking along furniture
-Crawling up the stairs
-Opening cupboards
-Looking around when we say "Where is....?" (ex: Daddy)
-Kissing herself in the mirror
-Very aggressively trying to kiss other kids...it's more like an attack!

She's at an age where she learns something new pretty much every day! She is keeping us very busy, but is at SUCH a fun stage!

P.S.-I've had 5 good days in a row & taking care of Kylee is much easier for me this week. I can hardly believe it!!!