35 weeks 4 days and counting

Time sure flies when every time you try to use the computer on your lap your hands become numb!  I have tried to sit down to post or really do anything on the laptop and find my fingers and hands getting numb after only a few minutes.  Just another fun side effect of pregnancy I hear :).

There isn't a lot to tell about the babies until this Thursday's Ultrasound.   Since my last update we met with the doctors and decided to schedule a c-section for sometime between 36-37 weeks.  The only date Dr. Sean Esplin was available was July 8th so that is the special day. (Which is also the birthday of another dear friend!) He is one of the perinatologists we have met with at IMC and happens to be the cousin of a dear friend in our ward.  After meeting him a couple times we felt very comfortable with him delivering our babies since my regular OB is not able to deliver at the U hospital.  At first we were hoping for something closer to July 2nd but after discussing Baby B's condition further we all agreed giving both babies another week would make them stronger to fight any aliment that they may face.  Also, July 2nd -5th is holiday time and some of the best doctors at Primary Children's would be on vacation. So we are hoping I don't go into labor on my own before July 6th just in case we need those doctors.

I met with Dr. Esplin yesterday to discuss the day of delivery and what to expect with a c-section as well as what to expect with the babies care after delivery.  He said that Baby A will have a pediatric team in the same room as us to look him over and see if he needs any additional help breathing or if he is ok on his own.  If all is ok we will be able to hold him right in that room.  Then he said Baby B will be handed through the "window" into the care of the neonatal ICU doctors to see what issues he/she will have and we should know within 30-40 min if there were lungs enough to sustain life or if the baby will pass away.  If there are enough lungs developed, then over the fiirst couple days we will find out if the kidney's are slightly damaged and will be ok or if they were severely damaged and the baby will need a transplant.  They will also try to find the blockage to take some pressure off the kidneys as soon as they can.  We meet with a neonatal doctor this Thursday to find out exactly what they will do and how they decide what next steps to take depending on multiple outcomes. We also want to find out how long we can anticipate baby B being in the hospital for each outcome.

As you can imagine, we have experienced many emotions throughout this journey and in the past week we have experienced many more.   The anticipation of this day is finally here, we have a set date for delivery which makes the end more real.  We are so excited (and nervous) to be parents and can't wait to meet these 2 spirits that have been growing inside me the past 9 months but at the same time a bit cautious knowing the outcome of baby B could vary so much.  Brad and I have talked a lot the last few days about what we have experienced so far and what we have learned.  First of all, we have learned we have no control over what happens next, it is all up to our Heavenly Father and His will for us and our family.  Second, we have had good days and bad days, answered prayers  and unanswered prayers, hope and fear, faith and discouragement.  And what we determined from all this, is that without trials we wouldn't learn anything, we wouldn't know or understand our purpose in this life, we wouldn't develop faith or have a reason to strengthen our testimony in our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  Life is definitely a test and how we react to each challenge or trial we face helps determine who we are and helps us to become stronger.  As much as we want life to be easy it wouldn't help us learn and grow.   I feel like I am rambling but I hope this makes sense to at least one person or that our children will look back on this and learn something from our experience.  I know our marriage has been strengthened throughout this experience as well as our testimony of prayer and the power of the priesthood.  Every day we both look at each other and think we couldn't love each other more and then a day later we feel that same way again, as cheesy as that sounds it is true. What a blessing to be married to my best friend and love him more today than I did almost 8 yrs ago on our wedding day, even with each of our faults.

Finally, we are so blessed to have a gracious Heavenly Father who loves both of us and lets us know on a daily basis that He is aware of us and knows what we are experiencing. A caring and inspired home teacher that has, on many occasions, given both Brad and I priesthood blessings when needed.   I am grateful for a loving husband that helps me to be calm when needed, exercises his priesthood when needed, helps me to talk things through, and will also share his feelings so we feel like we are a team walking side by side throughout this journey and not going through this alone.   Family and friends that continue to inspire and support us as the time draws near. We are lucky to have so many wonderful people in our lives and the knowledge of the gospel to remind us we are not alone and that our Heavenly Father's plan is perfect.

We will have the majority of our family there on the 8th - parents, siblings, etc... just in case.  We are still hopeful for a miracle but we have faith that whatever happens is in the best interest of our family. Thanks again for the continued prayers and support... keep them coming!

Every calling has a time and season...

I was released as Young Women's president in my ward this past Sunday. I found out last Tuesday and since then a flood of emotions have filled my heart. While it was definitely overwhelming at times, the opportunity to see the girls grow in their testimony of the gospel, discover who they REALLY are and the love they shared with me made it all worth it!

I knew the Sunday before camp (June 14th) as the girls stood to say the theme that this would be one of the last times I would have this experience with this group of girls - and of course I cried. But I don't think you can ever be prepared to be done, after putting my whole heart into this calling for the last 2+ yrs it will be hard to just stop doing it. I know that my time has ended and I already feel the mantle of this calling leaving. It is interesting that after so much focus I didn't realize how tired I was. Heavenly Father really does bless us in our callings to have all the energy we need to accomplish everything that is required. Now that it is ending my body is telling me that I need a break. So, it is a bittersweet end and a new beginning for myself and the girls. I will miss them dearly. I am so grateful I had one more camp with these girls, (it was my 3rd) we had a great time! I also hope my service was pleasing to my Heavenly Father and that I did all I needed to in the time I was given. I gained some incredible friendships as part of this calling and will be forever grateful for the lessons I learned and the experiences I had both personally and spiritually. I am excited for the new presidency, all are dear friends, I know they will do a fantastic job!

A special thanks to my presidency, advisors, & specialists over the past 2yrs, some have come and gone but have left their footprint on my heart! They were each unique and brought a special spirit to the Young Women program while they served. They made countless sacrifices to serve faithfully. I love you and couldn't have made it through without you!

Thanks to all my friends and family who supported me throughout the past 2+ yrs. The phone calls, guidance/advice, emails, hugs, and kind words. They were appreciated!

On to my next adventure...

"Spiritual home storage..."

I have felt spiritually exhausted the last couple weeks. I have been thinking of ways to fill my lamp in addition to the regular "basics" we all do. And I came to the realization that I have been filling my lamp all along! I just need to tap into my spiritual reservoir when I feel empty and He will carry me through.

I just received this quote from our stake leadership via the weekly newsletter. Which was great reminder for me!




Click here for the link to the entire talk.

“Brothers and sisters, we each have moments of spiritual power, moments of inspiration and revelation. We must sink them deep into the chambers of our souls. As we do, we prepare our spiritual home storage for moments of personal difficulty. Jesus said, ‘Settle this in your hearts, that ye will do the things which I shall teach, and command you.’

…Challenges, difficulties, questions, doubts—these are part of our mortality. But we are not alone. As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have enormous spiritual reservoirs of light and truth available to us. Fear and faith cannot coexist in our hearts at the same time. In our days of difficulty, we choose the road of faith. Jesus said, ‘Be not afraid, only believe.’”

—Elder Neil L. Andersen Of the Presidency of the Seventy

Precious moments...

In the 6 years we have been married, I have spent almost 5 of those years in the young women program in our church and I have loved every minute of it! My first calling in the young women program was as Camp Director and I had 3 of the best youth leaders anyone could ask for. They were organized, had great ideas and were such a joy to be around. They made me a better person even though I was supposed to be influencing them. Shortly after camp I was called as the Laurel advisor (16-18yr old class) with these same 3 girls and 2 others. Again, they taught me more than I taught them.



We have kept in touch over the last couple years since we moved from that ward and were able to attend Lindsay's wedding last summer and attended Kelsey's wedding last weekend Sept 27, 2008. What a blessing it is to see two of the girls I served reach the ultimate goal of marrying in the Temple.

This is Kelsey and her husband Bryan.. they met in Cedar City while attending SUU.

Alli and I waiting for the happy couple to come out after the ceremony. She is still dating around and is on the ballroom dance team at SUU. She will finish college in a year and so far is planning to go on a mission. She has always reminded me of myself when I was her age. (throughout young women's and now) She is darling!

L-R Alli, Me, Kelsey and Lindsay.

The 3 girls have also stayed in touch, it was so great to catch up with all of them after the ceremony and at the dinner that afternoon. They have always made such great decisions growing up I remember having conversations about kissing and at the time they were all 17 and 2 of the 3 had never been kissed. So many great memories... love these girls!

Here is Lindsay's little sister Ashley. After serving in the laurels with Lindsay for a few months I was called as 1st counselor working with the Mia Maids (14-16yr old's) and worked with Ashley for over a year and a half before we moved. She is already a senior in high school! Crazy how time flies!

This is Kelsey's little brother Caleb who is now 17 but was one of Brad's 1st scouts at age 13 when Brad was Scout Master. Boy has he grown! He and Ashley are not dating now but plan to marry after Caleb gets home from his mission.. they are best friends! hee hee

Precious moments that will forever live in my memory..... Any precious moments you would like to share??

Remembering a great example to us all..

This past Monday night, I stopped by Hilary's house to drop off some items for our young women activity last night. Brad was still working so she invited me to stay for dinner and FHE. The lesson she taught was a review of the talks by President Hinckley at our last general conference. It was a perfect way to celebrate his life while at the same time mourning his departure.

She started with a review from his talk at the General Priesthood Meeting about being "Slow to anger"
(http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-775-23,00.html)

In that talk President Hinckley spoke of a a proverb in the Old Testament that states: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32).

He also spoke about how anger contributes to divorce or separation.. I found this quote interesting..


“More than half the Americans who might have celebrated their 25th wedding anniversaries since 2000 were divorced, separated or widowed before reaching that milestone” (Sam Roberts, “Most U.S. Marriages Don’t Get to Silver,” Deseret Morning News, Sept. 20, 2007, p. A1).

"Widowhood of course is beyond the control of the parties, but divorce and separation are not."

"I think of my own marriage. My eternal companion passed away three and a half years ago. But we lived together for 67 years. I have no recollection of ever having a quarrel with her. She traveled with me and spoke on every continent, pleading for the exercise of restraint, kindness, and love."


I love the way he spoke about his dear wife and can only imagine the joyous reunion they had on Sunday night. I pray that I can equally be as kind and loving - as a wife and one day a mother.

He goes on to say that sometimes...

"Anger may be justified in some circumstances. The scriptures tell us that Jesus drove the moneychangers from the temple, saying, “My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13). But even this was spoken more as a rebuke than as an outburst of uncontrolled anger."


Hilary also reviewed his talk about the First Vision, the growth of the church, the power of the Book of Mormon and the promise in Moroni to all who read it. I have always been touched by the way President Hinckley bore witness of the Restoration and the the boy Joseph - his mission and vision. His testimony of the Restoration was always so powerful!


"The Bible had stood for centuries. It is a precious and wonderful book. Now there was a second witness declaring the divinity of Christ. The Book of Mormon is the only book ever published, of which I know, that carries in it a promise that one who reads it prayerfully and asks concerning it in prayer will have revealed to him by the power of the Holy Ghost a knowledge that it is true (see Moroni 10:4).

Since its first publication in a rural print shop in Palmyra, New York, there have been more than 133 million copies produced. It has been translated into 105 languages. Not long ago it was named one of the 20 most influential books ever published in North America.

Recently a first edition sold for $105,000. But the cheapest paperback edition is as valuable to the reader who loves its language and message."


She ended with reading President Hinckley's closing remarks - that is when the tears started to flow..


"My beloved brothers and sisters, we now conclude a great conference. We have been edified, uplifted. We have been inspired and lifted to a higher appreciation of this wonderful gospel. The music, the spoken word, and the prayers have all been magnificent.

We now return to our homes. If we are driving, let us be careful. Let no tragedy mar the experience we have enjoyed.

All of the proceedings of this conference will appear in a subsequent issue of the Ensign and Liahona. We encourage you again to read the talks in your family home evenings and discuss them together as families. They are the products of much prayer and meditation and are well worthy of careful consideration.

Now the conference is adjourned for six months. We look forward to seeing you again next April. I’m 97, but I hope I’m going to make it. May the blessings of heaven attend you in the meantime is our humble and sincere prayer in the name of our Redeemer, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen. "


When he finished his remarks, I remember thinking that he would not make it to the next conference. I guess it was the Lord's way of preparing and comforting us, as members, that his time was short with us. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to live at the time when this great man served so valiantly as our dear Prophet. I am also grateful I had the opportunity to shake his hand and feel of his sweet spirit face to face. I will never forget that experience.

Thanks to Hilary and her family for allowing me to participate in their Family Home Evening to celebrate the life of our beloved Prophet.