Ever have a moment when watching something triggers an intense emotion that you didn't see coming?

I had it happen last night - not the first time and probably not the last.

Every once in a while I see a situation on t.v. that causes me to reflect on how close I came to losing my life 2 1/2 years ago.  At the time I wasn't aware of how serious the situation was, but after talking to the doctor and looking back at what was happening, I realize how lucky I am to still be here.  

The first time was only a couple of months after - I was watching ER and a husband and wife came into the emergency room, she was pregnant and was hemorrhaging - they couldn't control it and wheeled her into an emergency operation leaving the husband standing in the room with the evidence of her situation all over the floor.  I remember crying and calling David on the phone (he was at work) and trying to explain, through my tears, what I was watching and how it hit me so hard and how I realized how he must have felt when I was taken away for my surgery.  I couldn't believe how similar our situations were - she ended up dying and I was so grateful that my story had ended differently.

Last night on Grey's they were trying to save a man and his blood pressure was falling and they were panicking at 60/40 - how would they have reacted if he didn't have any at all?

How grateful I am for the doctors that saved me - for their experience and knowledge to know what do to.   For the divine intervention that kept me from being on the road, driving with my kids when the world started falling apart.  Every day is a gift I should appreciate more.  

And today - I really do.  

I love that I am still here to witness all the accomplishments, triumphs, heartaches, disappointments and everyday ups and downs of my family.  That I had the opportunity to bring one more precious life into our family.  That I can take the time to really reflect on the blessings I have received and have another day to start with a clean slate and do things right.  

And one more day to be grateful!

25 Things I'm Thankful For

1.  An amazing husband who works really hard to allow me to stay home with my kids

2.  My 5 wonderful kids

3.  Parents who raised me right - and gave me 7 siblings friends who keep me crazy sane!

4.  A roof over my head, with warmth and a cozy bed to sleep in

5.  School - and the bus to take them and deliver them home safely each day

6.  The Gospel

7.  A great ward family

8.  Good neighbors who treat my kids like their grandkids

9.  In-laws who treat me as one of their own

10. Easy babies - I would have never survived if they had been anything but

11. Diet Coke

12. Hot showers

13. A car - that lets me travel to see my family whenever I choose

14. Grandparents that I can call my friends

15. A country that allows me my everday freedoms

16. My kids first words - is it bad that "diet coke" is one of their firsts?

17. Hugs and kisses

18. Laughter and the humorous things my kids say

19.The holidays that give me time to reflect on my life and what is important to me

20. The quiet after bedtime

21. Good books that I stay up all night reading - and have to read again

22. The gift of music

23. My Savior

24. Good advice

25. A listening ear - for both the triumphs and complaints

Maddie's Baptism

We had Maddie's baptism last Tuesday - on her birthday.  We didn't wait for a stake baptism because it falls on the 4th of July weekend, and there were lots of family who wouldn't be able to make it.  We are so proud of her and the girl she is becoming.  She is very loving and wants to do things right.  We love her very much!!!

My mom made her dress - it is similar to my wedding dress and the accent color is from my prom dress - she loves it!

Even though it was just family, we had about 65 people there (thanks everyone for coming and supporting her!)  I spent the day, with the girls, making birthday cupcakes to share with everyone (only 105) - they turned out super cute!! (Thanks Gen for sharing the idea) 

Caleb's Trophy

Tuesday night we heard a very distinct cry come from the boys room and Caleb headed to David to be loved better.  After a few minutes, I realized that this was something abnormal and decided I'd better check it out.  Caleb usually is satisfied with a band-aid or kiss to make things better, but he was really hurt this time, so he took some ibuprophen and I wrapped him up in a blanket with an ice pack in tow and headed to the urgent care in Tooele. 

3 x-rays later and they determined that his arm was broken (a buckle break in the radius of his left arm).  They splinted it up and sent us home - we would need to have a cast put on the next day at the drs office.  We had a pretty rough night and morning, somehow it kept getting bumped ( I cannot really imagine why since Caleb is so fearless and the boys like to play rough). 

We got into the drs office that afternoon and Caleb spent a lot of time debating which color he wanted.  He was great about everything and such a trooper - the dr was amazing too!  They even provided him with a sharpie (color of his choice) for everyone to sign his cast with.

He thought the cast was great until about 9:30 that night, when he woke up and wanted me to take him back to the dr to have it removed - his arm was all better and he didn't need it anymore.  He is getting better about having it on, but I don't know how well he will survive the next 4 weeks.

Coloring Easter Eggs

Just a few pictures from the night before Easter.  The kids had lots of fun drawing pictures on their eggs and then creating all sorts of color combinations with the dye.

Paisley just chilled on the sidelines - next year she will be right in the mix!

Breaking News

We begin tonight's broadcast with breaking news out of Grantsville.

(Hey, that's where I live!)

A 3-year-old boy was found wandering near the elementary school and main street around 6 o'clock.

(I have a 3-year-old boy and we live near there - hmmm...)

Luckily a kind neighbor recognized the boy and took him home to his parents who had just realized that he was missing.

(Whew, that WAS lucky - what kind of parents don't realize that their 3-year-old isn't playing with all the other kids?  That will NEVER happen at my house!!)

A Crafty Momma?

So...we are celebrating Grammy's 80th birthday this weekend and having family pictures (red and black required).  My sister (GeNille) had the brilliant idea to make matching tutu's for our baby girls (her daughter, Nellie, is 3 months old).  We spent some time on Thursday in SL looking for the tulle and had some help from a couple of website on how to do it - one said it would only take 45 minutes - easy, right?

Well, I started mine at about 3 on Saturday afternoon and finished around 8 - not 45 minutes, but it wasn't hard at all, just a little time consuming - and I LOVE the results.  She even wore it to church on Sunday - with a shirt of course.  I am super excited to see the two girls together, although Nellie's is just plain black.  I hope these cute girls grow up to be the best of friends! 

 I will post a pic of these "two" in their "tutu"s

The Great Debate. . .

It's always been a debate around here as to when we should get the girls ears pierced - I did Haylee's when she was just a couple of months old, but David thinks we should let them decide when they are older - originally he thought 12, but gave in to Maddie this last year when she turned 7 - after already suffering through infections and discussions on how long we need to wear earrings before we have to worry about the holes closing, I still stand behind my timing.  We have had more problems with Maddie's ears in the last 8 months than I have ever had with Haylee's ears in 12 years. 

Needless to say, we totally went to the extreme with Paisley (but only temporarily).  We did this to her and then I told the girls that dad had consented to let Paisley get some piercings - and then showed them this:

Do you think it is too much?

One For The Books

 Yesterday I had Luke, Caleb and Paisley into the Dr for check-ups.  Paisley got her 6 month shots and Luke had to get his kindergarten shots.  After Luke was done, Caleb said it was his turn and I told him he didn't have to get shots, so it was Paisley's turn.  He looked at me and said, "Please mom, please!!"  I asked him if he really wanted shots and he said "yes, please mom!"  I don't know if they've ever heard that at a dr's office, but it's a first for me.  Do you think he will still want them when it's his turn for his kindergarten shots?

Paisley

I can't believe that she is already 6 months old - how the time has flown!  She is so much fun and growing so quickly.  She is sitting up and talks your ear off if you'll pay just a little bit of attention to her.  She is such a happy girl, even wakes up in the mornings all smiley and laughing.  She is ticklish just like the rest of the kids, and loves all the attention she gets.  She doesn't mind being carted all over the house by everyone - even Luke (although she is getting too big for him and is almost too long and heavy for him to carry).  She loves to snuggle up to her blanket to fall asleep.  What joy she has brought into our lives!!!

That's Gonna Leave a Mark!

Luke got a real close look at a metal baseball bat while playing with his 6 year old cousin - this was taken about an hour after it happened.  He was hit on the cheekbone where it is pink, but it gave him a black eye anyway.  I don't think it will be his last one.

This is what it looked like the next day.  He woke up, took a look in the mirror and said "Mom, I gotta call dad and tell him it's getting worser!!"