Note to self...

if you spill Tylenol in the middle of the night on the stove and it falls down under the burner, pull it out right then. Even if you think you are going to die. Because you will not remember to tell someone the next morning to get it out and when you turn the burner on the next time, your house will fill of smoke, setting off all your smoke detectors even though the ceiling fans are already on and the smell of burnt plastic. That's right...1 tiny burnt Tylenol produces MASSIVE amounts of smoke and smells just like burnt plastic.

W00T for Me!

So I enter to win things on Oh Sweet Sadie! and that other blog with the craziness, Seriously Blessed. I never win but today...well yesterday... I did! Guess that means I actually have to go do the boutique to get my prize this weekend. The swelling in my legs better go down by then or Rick is going to have to go into the Lion's Den.

Are You Smarter Than a Doctor?

While laying on death's doorstep these past week, I composed some pretty funny blogs. Of course now that I am totally coherent again I don't really remember a single thing. Let me tell you about this HORRENDOUS illness that befell me.
Tuesday Night - muscle aches and pains woke me up several times during the night
Wednesday Day - muscle aches and pains worsen but I chalked them up to tennis from Monday
Wednesday Night - more intense muscle aches and pains woken me much of the night
Thursday Day - I am thinking, I have the flu cause my body is just hurting, joints and muscles
Thursday Evening - I notice a rash on my lower legs. Similar to the one in the photo of my arm
Thursday Night - the fever kicking in around 101. It broke at least once
From here on it is just a mix of swollen joints, muscles aches, fevers coming and going, a headache that wouldn't stop and a rash covering my legs and some of my arms.

Saturday morning Rick had to work so I went to get some Tylenol myself, bad idea. I ended up passing out in the kitchen. Fortunately, I knew it was coming and helped myself go down.
Rick took me to insta-care on Saturday. The doctor there couldn't figure out what was wrong so he ordered several blood tests. The MA couldn't get my vein because I was slightly dehydrated. He poked around a bit and found it BUT he couldn't get all the blood that was needed because the vein collapsed just as I told him he needed to stop and get me some juice because I was about to pass out. Then an RN came back and she found a vein on the other side with no troubles. The immediate tests came back saying that my white cells were morphed...which was good cause it meant they were working but everything else looked just right. We waited to get the rest back on Sunday and were told again that all but one of the tests were good. The ESR though was 55 and it should only be 20. This told them that either I have a viral infection, lupus or rhumatoid arthritis.
Monday morning Rick took me to our regular clinic. They took forever to wait on me, until I started getting light headed again. The problem this time, the vomitting had started Sunday night. I couldn't keep down literally a teaspoon of water. When Rick told them that I was going to pass out they got me in a room pretty darn quick. Again though, the doctor couldn't not figure out what was wrong but he was sure it was a virus rather than anything worse. He told me that I would not die.
I was given a shot for the nausea and I am very grateful I had enough fluid in me that I really wasn't dehydrated enough for the hospital. Rick was actually getting pretty worried that was where I was headed though because I was NOT improving. Poor Rick was even losing sleep worrying about me because really it was just getting worse every day until Tuesday.

I think I might have been awake for 4 hours total from Sunday night until Tuesday morning. Tuesday morning I finally felt like I was back in the land of the living. Here it is Wednesday and I mentally feel great. I am still swollen enough that I can't stand or even sit up and my rash is fading drastically BUT I am not going to die.

So if you have any ideas of what this virus is please let me know cause the doctor's sure couldn't figure it out.

My Easter Scrapbook Pages

Kenzie in Ads Now

This is my brother...

Easter 2009

What would Easter be without an Easter Egg Hunt then some Rock Band?

Lindsey Gardens

I spent countless hours at this fun park in the avenues. It is located next to the cemetery. You can even see a funeral going on in the background where the little green tent it. Maybe this is why cemeteries have never bothered me.
There are several baseball fields and the summer before 7th grade I LIVED at the park watching the boys play ball.
They also have THE best swings in the entire valley. They are higher than any other I have ever found. Not to mention the merry go round type toy. So great when you have lots there to play with you so that you can sit on it and have other push.
Then of course the covered picnic area where I went to 4th of July parties. This park was also within walking distance to my elementary school so in kindergarten we walked here and went "hunting" for pumpkins.
If ever given the opportunity, I high recommend spending some quality time at Lindsey Gardens!

My Homes

Ever since I started really working on genealogy I have wanted to put together photos of all of the homes I have lived in. Today I was able to take photos of 3 of them.
The second home I lived in we moved into when I was about 18 months old or so. It is located on E street in the avenues. I could write volumes on living there. Especially since we lived there twice. Most of my memories come from the second time.
I had the bedroom in the front of the house on the second floor. I had wall paper that was red roses. My closet was really long and skinny and I used to play in it all the time. It had a scary basement. There was a cold storage under the porch and it wasn't finished at all. The garage has since been rebuilt...the one in the photo is not what was there when we lived there. It was a small one car garage. It looks like all sorts of other yard work has been done too. We did always have the porch swing but there used to be more oak trees in the front of the house in the parking strip. (The home was built in 1920 and they are currently asking $389,000 for it. Apparently the basement is now 80% finished but no interior photos are listed.)

We moved to this home when I was 5. My bedroom was the room all the way to the left. This home is located in Arlington Hills up by the cement U on the hillThe fence from the front door has only fairly recently been added. There used to be all sorts of boulders where we played Star Wars for hours and hours. I wonder if when they removed them they found all of our lost guns and other accessories. My mom's bedroom ran the entire length of the porch on the right. There is a waterfall in the center of the house too.
(This home was built in 1978 and the asking price is $1,200,000. There are interior photos on the listing but they have added walls and all sorts of things so it is not even the same house. I have tone of interior photos though from when we lived there.)

After here we moved back to the blue house...which was blue when we lived there...for a few more years. This photo is our view straight across the street. This alley lead to the home of our best friends, The Clawsons. You can see LDS Hospital in the background too. We spent LOTS of time playing there as well.

We moved into this last home when I was in 6th grade. We lived here for about 18 months. It is located on I Street. This home had a HUGE back yard. It was long and kinda skinny. It does have a basement and the back had been cut out so that the rooms in the basement on the back had windows. My bedroom was located on the main floor in the south east corner.
In doing family ancestry I have learned what a treasure it is to have photos of our homes. I recommend that anyone who can takes photos of their homes and labels them for future generations. Afterall, you never know when they house might change drastically or even be ripped down.

Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree

Spring has brought me such a nice surprise...

50 Things About Me

I just like filling out surveys as most of my readers know so here goes...

1. If your doctor told you TODAY that you were pregnant, what would you say?
How in the *#@! did that happen? (Thanks for the response DG!)

2. Do you trust all of your friends?
Heck no, oh wait, Friends... most, Family... no

3. Would you move to another state or country to be with the one you love?
Yep almost did at least once

4. Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?
Yes but I think we influence what happens by our choices

5. Can you make a dollar in change right now?
Oh yes, I have a change jar

6. Which one of your friends do you think would make the best doctor?
Uh...Darci because she would have a good bedside manor. LaDawn because I know she is good at shots!

7. Are you afraid of falling in love?
No, just falling out of it

9. Is there someone who pops into your mind at random times?
Well yeah...my life is random so most things I think about, people included, are random. Maybe that is why I emailed the girl who does my nails today. Even though I haven't had nails on since October 2007!

10. Whats your most favorite scar?
I don't like my scars at all but if I have to like one...the one on my left wrist where I blew the skin off with a power washer. It was awesome to watch it happen but oh the pain!!! It was wicked bad!

11. When was the last time you flew in a plane other than over seas?
Last September to Seattle - Yes that is our plane and I was taking photos as we walked towards it

12. What did the last text message you sent say?
"I have more info on your taxes please call me about an installment plan"

13. What features do you find most attractive in the preferred sex?
BUTT! I love Rick's butt! I have a thing about eyes, I do NOT like blue eyes. They give me the creeps. Teeth! Teeth are a big thing to me.

14. Fill in the blank. I love: Rick! Nuff said

15. What is a goal you would like to accomplish in the near future?
To become employed again but since that isn't 100% dependent upon me I would like to scrapbook all my photos for 2008.

16. If you were to wake up from being in a coma for an extended time who would you call?
My girls friends who weren't there with me and then my nieces and sister in law

17. How many kids do you want to have?
Whatever I can get at this point

18. Would you make a good parent?
Yeah

19. Where was your profile picture taken?
Um I think the one I have on here was taken at my brother's house last summer while eating a purple Popsicle...hhmm I wish I had one right now!

20. Whats your middle name?
Anastasia ~ Seriously that is what it is. It was the first name in the baby book AFTER I was born that my parents liked.

21. Honestly, whats on your mind right now?
Thinking about taking a bath, what I am going to read while I am in there, that I still need to vacuum the house, that my feet are sweaty and that I wish I had something sweet to eat in the house right now

22. If you could go back in time and change something, what would it be?
Nothing at all. If I had lived a different life, I wouldn't be as happy as I am right now

23. Who was or will be the maid of honor/ best man in your wedding?
Marissa was my maid of honor and Maddy was my matron of honor. They didn't do anything I can remember to help me though other than Rissa held my bouquet while we did our ring ceremony and Maddy helped me decorate the joint the day before. Rissa did go with me on my bridal photo shoot and helped me get into and out of my dress as well.

24. What are you wearing right now?
A t-shirt and gym shorts

25. Righty or Lefty?
RIGHT!

26. Best place to eat?
I like food that others cook for me

27. Favorite jeans?
Seeing as the only ones I own are Layne Bryant the answer is Lucky Brand haha just kidding

28. Favorite animal?
Elephants - I have a goal in life to ride one some day I hear you can do it at the animal park in San Diego

29. Favorite juice?
Apple

30. Have you had the chicken pox?
Yeah - The day Maddy, my sister was born, I broke out in them giving them to Jimmy and then to Maddy. I got them again when I was 12 but only had 7. Both my sisters had them at that time. So Maddy and I have both had them twice

31. Have you had a sore throat?
Yeah but not for many years

32. Ever had a bar fight?
LOL no, but I got in a fight with a girl at Wheeler Farm's Haunted House deal one year. That's right full on punches.

33. Who knows you the best?
Rick!

34. Shoe size?
7.5 - 8

35. Do you wear contact lenses or glasses?
Nope

36. Ever been in a fight with your pet?
I have no pets

37. Been to Mexico?
Yes

38. Did you buy something today?
Alas, no

39. Did you get sick today?
Nope

40. Do you miss someone today?
Nah

41. Did you get in a fight with someone today?
Again, no...anyone want to have one with me?

42. When is the last time you had a massage?
Oh too long ago. It was in Cancun in Nov 2007

43. Last person to lay in your bed?
Me, Rick was up before me

44. Last person to see you cry?
Rick

45. Who made you cry??
No one, it just happens

46. What was the last TV show you watched?
I have Princess Bride on currently

47. What are your plans for the weekend?
Let's see, we have Jazz tickets for Saturday night and then Church Sunday with probably some visiting family after

48. Who do you think will re post this? Maybe Maddy

49. Who was the last person you hung out with?
Rick, I did go to dinner with a friend last Monday for my birthday!

50. If your significant other asked you to marry them TODAY what would you say?
Yeah cause no one else is going to come along ;-) hahaha

I Think I Figured it Out!

I think I figured out how to motivate myself to try and lose weight, again.

Work out with friends? No

Realize that you don't fit anything in your closet? Nope

Have 2 different doctors tell me I need to lose 20 pounds? Sure did NOT work

Try going different support groups? No, try again

Having Rick lose 40ish pounds so that he now weighs less than me? No again

Having someone tell me that I probably wouldn't be hired at a job because I am not a looker? haha No

Look at photos of yourself over the past 9 years seeing that you have gained and lost over 130 pounds?

Yep - I think that might finally be the ticket!

It isn't that I don't know how to lose weight, I just haven't felt the need to really do what I need to do to accomplish it. But now, I think I might have found it.

Spiritual Overload

This post is something that really is a bit new to me. I have been hesitant to post it but decided I would.

I felt today like I was having a Spiritual Overload. I have had some incredible experiences since Rick started working for the Church. I feel that I have become more sensitive and intune to the Spirit. As I mentioned in a previous post, I was on anti-depressants for a very long time. During that time I was so numb to so many things that now I feel like I cry over the simplest things. Today when President Monson stood up in morning conference to name the new apostle, I started crying.
I busied myself the rest of morning conference while having it on in the background. I did sit back down to listen to President Eyring. Again, the tears came.
I remember going to different singles wards. People would get up and talk the week before conference, so usually a fast Sunday, about how excited they were about upcoming conference. Honestly, I would just ignore those people. I used to think...whatever! It is a good chance to stay home from church and all that. Only the last few years have I begun to think differently.
In 2000 I was in England over spring conference. We were only able to see one session live and one session that was previously taped. The internet was around but the connection wasn't what it is now. I remember coming home thinking how blessed we are to have it on tv.
So this weekend, as I sit back on my couch (yes Rick had tickets but we decided since he had to work Saturday morning that Sunday we would stay home rather than deal with the crowds) we will be enjoying the Spiritual Overload which we are so blessed to have.

The top photo is what Temple Square used to look like. The thatched roof area on the right is what was known as the Bowery where conference was first held and the building prior to the Tabernacle.

Twilight

Rick bought me the Blue Ray of Twilight for my birthday. I have watched it twice this week. Not only that, but Rick watched it the second time with me and he liked it! That's right, my husband likes Twilight. He was relieved to know though that the Volvo in the movie is not the one he has to have as his next car as we both agree that it is ugly!

No Joke

None of my posts today are April Fools. I do not believe in doing them so you need never worry that I am trying to pull one over on you.

Another New Temple

I love that we live in Utah where there are so many Temples. I can't believe that in just a few more months we will have another one in the Salt Lake Valley open for us to use. Last weekend Rick and I were near the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple and I was able to take a few photos. I wish I could get one from the side to show the neat shape of the Temple but until then, these will have to do for my friends who don't live close enough to drive by.

Cup Muffins

I made some cup muffins.
They tasted really good!

I don't remember when it was exactly but I think it was just before my nephew, Little Jimmy turned 3 that he was here and he wanted to "eat those Cup Muffins" aka
Cup Cakes! Ever since we no longer have cuppy cakes or cup cakes, we have
Cup Muffins

Baby Dolls

Before there was American Girl, there was Madame Alexander. I used to receive a new baby doll every year for Christmas. A few weeks ago I stopped by my mom's house to pick up some of my dolls. I wasn't able to find clothing for the babies but I did for some of the others.
I brought them home and cleaned them. On the M.A. website they say to use ivory soap and a soft cloth. I used comet! I can't believe how dirty they were! I would never let a child play with them being as dirty as they were. It was gross. My babies sat on the footstool in our hall for about a week, naked. Rick told me that I needed to do something with them because their beady little eyes were staring him down.

April Fool's

I am not an April Fool's person. I just don't like the holiday all the way around. Granted, I like a good joke and do laugh at them, but there is a part of me that really doesn't like it when people joke about serious things in life. I am probably too serious and take life to seriously but at the same time, I think there are some things people just shouldn't joke about.