tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51859867630692437522024-03-13T13:04:40.697-07:00The Prince & IOur journey through rich and poor, trials and blessings, faith and fortune.Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714509524623963900noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185986763069243752.post-92219065328815195312015-10-17T13:14:00.000-07:002015-10-17T14:04:23.706-07:00Alice's Birth StoryAfter realizing Alice turns one in less than two months, I figured I'd better post this.<br />
When we first found out I was pregnant we thought we were due Christmas Day. I was pretty bummed about it. After I progressed further into my pregnancy my date changed to December 15. We were relieved to say the least. We schedule an appointment at the hospital to be induced December 22. I would be a week overdue and we would still get out of the hospital by Christmas Day.<br />
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Once we knew we were in the clear for Christmas, we kept saying "as long as she's not born on Ryan's birthday" (December 2). As my pregnancy progressed I kept telling Ryan that I knew she was coming early. He pushed my worries aside and reassured me that it was very rare to have your first child early. On Sunday November 30, I woke up feeling strange. I told Ryan I felt really sick and that I was sure I was going in to labor this week. I was showing the same pre labor signs that I had been showing the entire week so once again Ryan assured me I was just excited to have her here and that all would be well until her due date. Monday December 1, I schedule a birthday celebration for Ryan. I was exhausted that day but my party planning obsession took over and I finished the food and decorations just before everyone got there. It was about 9:00pm when people started gathering coats and heading home for the night. I sat down on the couch and relaxed for the first time that day when GUSH. Yup, right there in front of all of our friends and family my water broke on my living room sofa. I sprinted for the bath tub while my sweet sisters in law cloroxed the couch. Everyone pitched in to get the house back in order while I sat in the tub helpless. After leaking in the tub for 20 minutes I shoved a towel down my pants, packed my hospital bag, hugged our loved ones goodbye and left for the hospital. We arrived at about 10:00pm.</div>
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My sweet mother was waiting at the hospital entrance with a smile on her face that gave me the confidence boost I needed. "Are you ready to have a baby?" She asked as I nodded my head. </div>
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I walked to the check in desk and told the nurse my water broke. "Are you sure" she asked. To which I replied something like "positive, it's still running down my legs". They whisked us to our birthing suite and got me prepped for labor. The nurse told me we were in for a long night. </div>
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After an hour with little to no dilation the nurse told me the doctor wanted pitocin administered because the longer I went with my water broken the higher the risk of infection. It was about 12:30am when she administered the pitocin and by 1:30am I was ready for the epidural. By 2:00am I was dilated to a 3 and by 3:30am I was a 5. By this time my catheter was feeling rather uncomfortable and I wanted to rip it out. I insisted to my mom that I wanted to sit up. The epidural was wearing off and at 4:00am we called the nurse in to discuss upping my epidural. I told her I wanted it to wear off a little because I wanted to be able to feel while pushing but I couldn't make it much longer. She checked my cervix one last time and said "oh, looks like you're ready to push" after one push her eyes widened and she told me not to do that again until the doctor arrived. I told her my body wanted to push and she told me I could start. Around 4:15am I started pushing and at 4:20am the doctor ran into the room, helped with the tearing, grabbed the baby and delivered her at 4:28am December 2, 2014. Ryan lost his birthday but gained so much more.</div>
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I will NEVER forget how it felt. Ryan and I just kept looking at each other saying "this is our baby, we made this". Ryan was smitten and I couldn't believe she was ours. All 6lbs 10oz 18 inches.<br />
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Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714509524623963900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185986763069243752.post-24127437222707571912014-12-16T10:45:00.001-08:002015-10-17T13:56:02.499-07:00The Name.The name Alice wasn't even on our radar until the very end of my pregnancy. We had a few names picked out, one was a little more modern and the other was after my great Grandma (Emma Jane Thomas). We loved the sentimentality of Emma Jane but the name Emma has been on the top charts for YEARS. I didn't dislike the idea of my daughter having a popular name (at least not enough to make up a name out of the blue just to keep her unique) but I didn't want her to be one of 4 Emma's in her class. After going back and forth between our modern name and our traditional name, I realized I felt stuck with these two names. So I grabbed a pen and some paper and started brainstorming. I showed Ryan my list of names and at the top it said Alice. He was pretty set on our "modern name" up until that point, but once he saw Alice there was no going back. Ryan's Grandmothers name is Alice. She passed away when he was young and he could think of no better way to honor her than to name our first child after her. (Plus we loved the name). The story behind her middle name Jayne and its unique spelling comes from my side of the family. As many of you know, my Mothers name is Pamela. What you may not know, is that all of her children call her Jayne. It's something my sister started calling her because of her likeness to my Grandma Emma Jane, and from then on it just kind of stuck. By naming our daughter Alice Jayne we were able to honor both of our families. Not to mention it totally suits her. I hope she can live up to her name and posses the many wonderful qualities of the women she is named after.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDsmha6KTfiA3zIn3SpEeXtjGQXucB90geMKpwzc2tcJ9JT4Zdnt70YAKAhMHfx0uP2b6bDZwsbIexgasbKLYaQFY3QsnXr6xcuYwrQrFzKA5_HJAcQ0Qd8_RvYo0gLABrQsQ2JGngEiu/s640/blogger-image--1262365095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDsmha6KTfiA3zIn3SpEeXtjGQXucB90geMKpwzc2tcJ9JT4Zdnt70YAKAhMHfx0uP2b6bDZwsbIexgasbKLYaQFY3QsnXr6xcuYwrQrFzKA5_HJAcQ0Qd8_RvYo0gLABrQsQ2JGngEiu/s640/blogger-image--1262365095.jpg"></a></div>Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714509524623963900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185986763069243752.post-82262874493749314482014-09-09T10:55:00.000-07:002014-09-09T12:40:00.055-07:00Pregnancy; I'm so over it.<div style="text-align: center;">
Patience is not one of my virtues, so nine long months of waiting is just not for me. I'm barely getting to the third trimester. I feel like I have gained so much from this pregnancy, but most of it on the scale. You know those girls who go the full nine months and don't put on a pound? </div>
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I'm not one of them.</div>
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Before I got pregnant I swore I wasn't going to be one of those pessimistic pregnant ladies that complained until they were blue in the face, though that is not my intention, I need to vent for a minute. First thing on my list: weight gain. Don't let this phrase fool you, you will hear it a thousand times at the doctors office but the truth is, it's just the nice way of saying 'getting fat'. </div>
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You cannot truly understand unless you have seen a morbidly obese person trying to tie their shoes. You watch them struggle for air as they try to hold their breath just long enough to get the bunny ear through the hole. That is how I feel every time I lean forward, or bend over or touch my knees for that matter. The saddest part, I'm not even a fraction of what I will become in the next three months.<br />
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On top of getting fat, I want to cry 98% of the time. Legitimately anything can set me off, I'm like a ticking time bomb. They could be happy tears, they could be sad tears, they honestly could be plain old water works. I hold back tears all day.</div>
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Oh fatigue, another perk of being pregnant. Every little task you complete expends all the energy you have. What I don't understand is how I can be so exhausted, yet the minute my head hit's the pillow I have a million things on my mind and sleep becomes a distant memory. </div>
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I won't go into detail about the swollen feet, acne or "glow" aka oily skin. All you need to know is that it's not pretty. </div>
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Let's talk about respect for a minute. Because I have major respect for women who can run while pregnant. Not only are you heavier and more exhausted than when you are not pregnant, but the pressure is unbearable. I'm not talking about mental pressure, I'm talking about the building pressure that starts below your belly button and with every step you take it worsens. My husband and I occasionally race from the car into our apartment (at least we did before I turned into a whale), and since getting pregnant I get about three steps into my sprint before it feels like something is going to fall out. </div>
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I used to think pregnant women waddled because their stomach made it difficult to walk with their legs together. I may not be waddling yet, but I have a good feeling it isn't because your stomach gets in the way. Stupid groin pain. It has almost surpassed my aching back.</div>
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One thing I inherited from my Mother is her exact pregnancy. She suffered from morning sickness for the full nine months and had an aching back through most of her pregnancy. </div>
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I've never had strong back muscles, maybe it has something to do with the fact that I NEVER work out those muscles, maybe it's genetics, either way, its a real beast. You are gaining weight at a crazy rate (all in your chest and belly) and your back starts freaking out wondering what the heck kind of test you are trying to put it through. So you lay down, only to find out that it doesn't help, so you sit up and readjust and roll over and stand up and kneel down and twist and turn all with no relief. </div>
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My last bone to pick; morning sickness. Some sick son of a B thought it would be funny to call it morning sickness. Let me tell you, I've thrown up in the "morning" of every time zone. It really is the worst part of pregnancy (at least for those who truly experience it). Everyday when you wake up, you have a choice to make. You can drink a tall glass of water only to throw it back up. You can eat food and throw up chunks or you can do nothing and dry heave until you fill the bowl with stomach acid. It's brutal and quite repulsive, but there it is.</div>
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I have enjoyed certain parts of pregnancy. I enjoyed the excitement of our first positive pregnancy test, and sharing that news with my husband. Mainly feeling my baby kick and seeing her little heartbeat on the ultrasound. I loved finding out that she is going to be a little princess who I can dress up in bows and glitter covered clothes. I thrive over the fact that I am lucky enough to carry my own child, and give birth to her, regardless of the fear that is linked with that thought. I look forward to nursing (after the initial pain and hatred wears off). I enjoy the major milestones of pregnancy, not so much the in-between. I think pregnancy has been harder than I anticipated because I am just so flippin' excited to meet my little girl. That day can't come soon enough.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINk8BNuMmrYUFckC4cucE6xRcqtmG_DrmKnzOkKhzq1-HYkjOztAidWFWiX-UteC4lpuSfUrUfSwUKforqSqkj0mPB6eQShhYsFVpY00OJA3SXcmhyTGkeFA55Qamvy88vCOJqsdG3sRw/s640/blogger-image-2002440077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINk8BNuMmrYUFckC4cucE6xRcqtmG_DrmKnzOkKhzq1-HYkjOztAidWFWiX-UteC4lpuSfUrUfSwUKforqSqkj0mPB6eQShhYsFVpY00OJA3SXcmhyTGkeFA55Qamvy88vCOJqsdG3sRw/s640/blogger-image-2002440077.jpg" /></a></div>
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When we had our first doctors appointment with the fertility specialist I was so hopeful. I still am. I just need to find that hope again, along with some patience. Because we struggled getting pregnant and I wanted it so badly, I felt like I couldn't complain about anything pregnancy related. I mean, I fasted and prayed for this child, and here I am whining that I got what I asked for? It almost seems ungrateful. I wrote a post after my first doctors appointment with the fertility specialist, and in that post I said this:</div>
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"So here is to the future. To fixing what is broken. To a positive pregnancy test. To morning sickness and sleepless nights. To a long labor that is worth every minute. To dirty diapers and spit-up covered clothes. To midnight snuggles and nursing my baby. To a complete family that finally feels whole."</div>
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It seems that everything I wrote here has come true so far. </div>
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Wish me luck with my long labor and spit up covered clothes.</div>
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I know it will be worth it.</div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSI-XbVcvOob5pA7XUsZcLCuInIKCGTCDN4WvpybTA95vv02avwVa1j8Wlk-NTN9IYsBNiBUXLwx3cJVPFBc-_Ih5l4vko-_iAUW8rHqvPlcUgfurPBhnCkeNwI1_wLuV6MYwpLtxepFc/s1600/signature.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div>
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So, it has been a while since I last blogged. Mostly because I don't feel that I have anything too crazy to blog about. Yes I am getting bigger, and I crave different foods, but nothing else is really changing in my life. (Not until December at least).<br />
Before my pregnancy I had every intention of taking those cute progress pictures, you know, the ones where you can practically see the belly growing? Ya, that has not happened. I have taken a total of like ten pregnancy pictures and I am already 6 months into it. How disappointing. But the truth is, I'm so busy enjoying every phase of this pregnancy, I haven't felt the urge to document all the private details to my social media friends. I know what it is like to be on the other side of the fence, wanting to see all the progress your friend or acquaintance has made. I will try to be better so you can all see my bump growing (along with the rest of me). But in the mean time, here are my previous pictures along with some fun pregnancy details. I promise I wear more than one dress, but I wanted to take most of my maternity pictures in the same dress so the changes were obvious.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lwkrFr2-mKMPHr8pZuRojf5qbFzR4Ri0YuBLCp9eVh6_rxi1XBRAghuHxVEG7b96zHATWSCXg9XpWJ0UANPke0Na839KMchIYCHcd8PkQDlWlcznEcJScrUYTqlW31kuayYEoP0OR2zn/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lwkrFr2-mKMPHr8pZuRojf5qbFzR4Ri0YuBLCp9eVh6_rxi1XBRAghuHxVEG7b96zHATWSCXg9XpWJ0UANPke0Na839KMchIYCHcd8PkQDlWlcznEcJScrUYTqlW31kuayYEoP0OR2zn/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This was the day we found out the gender. A precious baby girl.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIOjOWudp2k8qxrTCcKMYF5jksayi-Lu-IBYt-A-Aw1EnyowbJFMDXQgsWYMKkxB18OXemt-MQbGxVflrcxK7BaKLnc2TNz6z3jldAXx4nv1eoCpweiIjYG5UbUXbIW1AojOyG3DMSoo8/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIOjOWudp2k8qxrTCcKMYF5jksayi-Lu-IBYt-A-Aw1EnyowbJFMDXQgsWYMKkxB18OXemt-MQbGxVflrcxK7BaKLnc2TNz6z3jldAXx4nv1eoCpweiIjYG5UbUXbIW1AojOyG3DMSoo8/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Week 18</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJHUjsIBoIQ6QvoeS4roypevoZHYYKayA1Tj5wiz9K-W62raoyQxSg39PhxRdVbqN58YFzclaW31QR1c2lCEqi7_rJsBybG4V8m3oKTRtWcYVGjj-OzYVyXTKD0iI3vNFHr1VV82QQols/s1600/photo+1+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJHUjsIBoIQ6QvoeS4roypevoZHYYKayA1Tj5wiz9K-W62raoyQxSg39PhxRdVbqN58YFzclaW31QR1c2lCEqi7_rJsBybG4V8m3oKTRtWcYVGjj-OzYVyXTKD0iI3vNFHr1VV82QQols/s1600/photo+1+(1).JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Week 20</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeINCpAl8UeTZvKmferuRSYtac8te6l4of4SOq_s9-KC-NXgCszl083dhyd8AwBiieWMum4zc75t7MPenwxYv46UZiSrDTvXRK2xBkG9JwvlIqtf2a-KO_j3yiu6onm5GQk23rws1wnPD/s1600/photo+2+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeINCpAl8UeTZvKmferuRSYtac8te6l4of4SOq_s9-KC-NXgCszl083dhyd8AwBiieWMum4zc75t7MPenwxYv46UZiSrDTvXRK2xBkG9JwvlIqtf2a-KO_j3yiu6onm5GQk23rws1wnPD/s1600/photo+2+(1).JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYa3uQ0hgEa_UZTsABBth9Pg3xhgB5gdncInCvxLbu4Gm0F_OqTT6f23D3O36_ZLaBSvhsnYRZuHyjrVOJ47p_OlO8QYswIBGePQz0FVaotJDRBFI4NObCEVKsspxOrR-k68wWSLowjt6/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYa3uQ0hgEa_UZTsABBth9Pg3xhgB5gdncInCvxLbu4Gm0F_OqTT6f23D3O36_ZLaBSvhsnYRZuHyjrVOJ47p_OlO8QYswIBGePQz0FVaotJDRBFI4NObCEVKsspxOrR-k68wWSLowjt6/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Week 21.</div>
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Also the week we got to see our baby girl in her diagnostic ultrasound.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMbR8jOles5REEgP2rBSJzy5fA1jI3GF4lcet7Nde1uovgOLdz7krUP6F8iDOQNEbiihEVqZSA9V512ISwuT_kVdQtzZT0YYe8nPzHUMjCWpa6iUWmA9BilrkjE5ot9D6xKeCFsbAA2aB/s1600/photo+1+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMbR8jOles5REEgP2rBSJzy5fA1jI3GF4lcet7Nde1uovgOLdz7krUP6F8iDOQNEbiihEVqZSA9V512ISwuT_kVdQtzZT0YYe8nPzHUMjCWpa6iUWmA9BilrkjE5ot9D6xKeCFsbAA2aB/s1600/photo+1+(2).JPG" height="320" width="297" /></a></div>
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10 fingers, 10 toes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWDB32I00lf499HSPoyyGUi1DHw0fcWKuwEV8EtvGxUbbjc2tbSiEzOD_IBYAfkPxsqe1o9Kyvsgdhd5FWz1MPEtnwD8-94wbziFjFdWw7yMmybiTYZMFNvBOuP__EjphReFArlghE7v_/s1600/photo+2+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWDB32I00lf499HSPoyyGUi1DHw0fcWKuwEV8EtvGxUbbjc2tbSiEzOD_IBYAfkPxsqe1o9Kyvsgdhd5FWz1MPEtnwD8-94wbziFjFdWw7yMmybiTYZMFNvBOuP__EjphReFArlghE7v_/s1600/photo+2+(2).JPG" height="320" width="258" /></a></div>
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This is the week I had a craving for crab that wouldn't go away so my Hubby took me out. Spoiled.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzo5r_h34GlXeq9_S7yQZBo9tED-XGk7FtRDU2NTby1NiMi7om_2p1nKMJI1G_xsfEqdxoVJr45pWRw6wx4I4B6FauPW6ePyP7Sqzc90HOdJBrgAJw35Pm5dXUFfSJWlD3mQYRZriqZjq/s1600/photo+3+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzo5r_h34GlXeq9_S7yQZBo9tED-XGk7FtRDU2NTby1NiMi7om_2p1nKMJI1G_xsfEqdxoVJr45pWRw6wx4I4B6FauPW6ePyP7Sqzc90HOdJBrgAJw35Pm5dXUFfSJWlD3mQYRZriqZjq/s1600/photo+3+(1).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Week 21.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5YhyMrSs-QasFYue7i8K8fej6VDrgq9N6YfNHv_O6kx2kNRUIVq2h7_R5R37LR9XhGDqdpqfPkIPXvvAdH45j5jvsqwozIkQwdMvIeJ5H_cYacaYWjMpysLcCJrbvu3iz2XT48h6M_sl/s1600/photo+4+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5YhyMrSs-QasFYue7i8K8fej6VDrgq9N6YfNHv_O6kx2kNRUIVq2h7_R5R37LR9XhGDqdpqfPkIPXvvAdH45j5jvsqwozIkQwdMvIeJ5H_cYacaYWjMpysLcCJrbvu3iz2XT48h6M_sl/s1600/photo+4+(1).JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Week 22.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7jucU6XOZI9NvBUVh0bcsSJdGFA2o5mgxgSuEkPgCRmiVcp737BFJtSNTVRBNjt92PAVtqzx0LmAMYc4Nn7MMTEyALj7BYHDTBZbkFhxlv77yzRPnJa-_M6a_QjxcTB0ybGNps1ncduy/s1600/photo+4+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7jucU6XOZI9NvBUVh0bcsSJdGFA2o5mgxgSuEkPgCRmiVcp737BFJtSNTVRBNjt92PAVtqzx0LmAMYc4Nn7MMTEyALj7BYHDTBZbkFhxlv77yzRPnJa-_M6a_QjxcTB0ybGNps1ncduy/s1600/photo+4+(2).JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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So far I have been terrible about taking pictures and posting. I will try to get better but don't be too surprised if it doesn't improve.</div>
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Thanks for reading!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSJpsPUKTPBgxFsCVHvPkoRlQS5H6G74_BVERL1GR5U3APdNQ4b6dCBU4Jrn20wvpRngXpU5zR_zyC64if2F5b-ghaZZxqV8Gochw5T2359ZiXMbSPNIOl9Qpqnbn6yG7waQzYBuj6XrD/s1600/turkey+leg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSJpsPUKTPBgxFsCVHvPkoRlQS5H6G74_BVERL1GR5U3APdNQ4b6dCBU4Jrn20wvpRngXpU5zR_zyC64if2F5b-ghaZZxqV8Gochw5T2359ZiXMbSPNIOl9Qpqnbn6yG7waQzYBuj6XrD/s1600/turkey+leg.jpg" height="320" width="240"></a></div>
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I grew up in a family that loves to cook, and when you love to cook, you love to eat. Last year a friend of mine got pregnant and I was so judge-mental. She was very fit and always informed me if I was making a poor choice in the food department. She ate lean meals and very rarely consumed sugar. When she got pregnant she basically threw her health out the window. She lived off of Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and fried food her whole pregnancy. I remember she got a burger and fries for lunch and within an hour she was on her way to getting a second burger and fries. I couldn't believe she just treated her pregnancy as a hall pass. I kept thinking "pregnancy is a time to treat your body better, a time to give your baby all the nutrients you can" I got so angry when people would have the mindset "I'm going to get fat anyway, might as well snarf it down while I can." Boy was I wrong! Not only are you hungry enough to eat your own foot, but sometimes, healthy doesn't sound good at all! I have been the opposite of most women. I gave up a lot of my sugar cravings and most of my fried food faves when I got pregnant. I love eggs, fruit, whole wheat bread, sandwiches and salads. I would be lying if I didn't say I craved cereal on a daily basis and I cannot stop thinking about this turkey leg from Disneyland. I'm sure this health kick craving will be short lived, but I hope I can balance out cravings and nutrition throughout my pregnancy. One thing I've learned the hard way, don't judge that pregnant woman you see scarfing down a chili dog, she needs it. <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSI-XbVcvOob5pA7XUsZcLCuInIKCGTCDN4WvpybTA95vv02avwVa1j8Wlk-NTN9IYsBNiBUXLwx3cJVPFBc-_Ih5l4vko-_iAUW8rHqvPlcUgfurPBhnCkeNwI1_wLuV6MYwpLtxepFc/s1600/signature.png">
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For any new readers just tuning in, my sweet husband Ryan and I have been trying to get pregnant since December of 2012. We found out shortly after that we would struggle through the infertility journey as so many others have. It was a long painful process, that consisted of needles, medication and embarrassing moments. Our doctors were amazing and made the entire process manageable. But did you notice the past tense word choice? On April 15, 2014 we found out we are no longer going through the infertility process...</div>
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It was the hardest thing we had to overcome, but we did it together with the Lord's help. It seemed that the closer we became to the end of our trial, the more thin our patience was wearing. It wasn't until we fully accepted the trial that the Lord could free us from it. We learned that it is truly out of our hands. I am so grateful for our trials and the way they strengthen us. I look forward to the future. We<span style="text-align: center;"> couldn't be happier or more excited to get to know our little bundle of joy! </span><br />
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Last night I snuggled up to Ryan and told him how grateful I am for the Lords hand in my life. Even though I don't understand why we are going through the things that we are going through, I am trying to stay positive and see the good in the situation. I had several "tough" days last month when getting out of bed seemed like more of a chore than anything. So I cried, and watched way too much TV. But at the end of the day I felt worse, so the next day I prayed, and prayed and prayed. It seemed like my only option was to exercise my faith. As I searched the scriptures and thought about what I should do I made the connection, I was <i>exercising</i> my faith. So I looked up the definition of exercise and found this: "something done or performed as a means of practice, mental exertion, especially for the sake of training or improvement". I knew we came to this world to be tried, I knew we came here to find our faith, but I didn't know how we would achieve that.<br />
Ryan and I had our trials before marriage, trust me. I was a rebel in my youth, I was determined to defy God and all his plans for me, then I met Ryan. My sweet Ryan filled me with a desire to become better, this desire shattered my defiance. I knew after a scary two weeks time that he was the roots to my crazy willow tree, he would be the one to keep me grounded.<br />
After our pre-marriage trials were over and we were sealed in the temple I knew we were in for a rocky ride. We are happy, faithful members of the church, but there is no room for growth. In order to grow we must be tried. As I was reading the scriptures thinking about what it meant to exercise my faith I had the thought; a body builder cannot bulk up without exercise, a pianist cannot play flawlessly without practicing and exercising their skills, and I cannot return to my Father without being tried to my very core and exercising my faith. I'm not saying I am perfect, or my life is perfect, far from it in fact. But there were very few things that could try me to my core.<br />
Not being able to have children was my biggest fear growing up, it still is. But when we decided to start trying and failed, my life was shattered. With faith and prayers I have come to accept that we will just have to try harder and push through this trial. I am so grateful that we have gone through it together. It has made our relationship and our testimonies stronger. When I think about our future children I have to swallow the lump that appears in my throat and picture the Lord with our children, sitting on His lap waiting to come down to their family, and to them, this is just the blink of an eye. I look forward to the day when I can meet them again.<br />
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I had my first visit with the Doctor in January and he said it was pretty much going to just be a waiting game. In February my sweet husband and I took off to Mexico for valentines day, the down side; we missed our window for that month! With long faces we looked toward the next month with hope and no scheduling conflicts. Out of the blue I got my period 2 weeks earlier than expected so I went to the doctor and he told me the excruciating cramps were normal when you haven't had a healthy period in a while. He also told me that we could continue with the rest of our plans! So I started another medication and just finished it yesterday. I will go in for an exam Wednesday with the doctor and if everything looks good I will go in for another exam Friday. If everything looks good Friday I will be going in for another exam the following week that will be full of shots and blood samples and medication. I think it is safe to say that we have a busy March ahead of us! Since it is St. Patrick's Day we are stealing all of the luck from this special day to make all our dreams come true! Fingers crossed, eyes shut tight, making hopeful wishes.<br />
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Wish us Luck!<br />
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I don't have any new updates from the doctor, but for those of you who are wondering how everything has been going here's a little update on my thoughts.<br />
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I thought that I would be okay to have several bites of ice cream while on this medicine, I thought wrong.<br />
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I thought I would enjoy all the meat in a no carb/no sugar diet, I was wrong.<br />
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I thought that the pounds would fall off when I started the medication, I was wrong.<br />
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I thought I could go a day without thinking about our future child, I was wrong.<br />
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I thought I could skip a meal without passing out, I was wrong.<br />
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I thought we would be okay snow shoeing without toilet paper, I was wrong.<br />
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I thought I could hold it long enough to make it back down the mountain, I was wrong.<br />
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I thought I was skilled enough to balance on the side of the mountain and touch my bum to the snow, in the dark, while wearing snow shoes, I was wrong.<br />
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I thought I could beat my score on Flappy Bird, I was wrong.<br />
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I thought I was all alone in this process, thanks to my Mother and supporting husband, I was wrong.<br />
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I thought being this miserable would make me want a baby less, I was wrong.<br />
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I thought Ryan would get sick of my constant complaining, I was wrong.<br />
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I thought I would quit after feeling this gross, I was wrong.<br />
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I thought Ryan would make me take back the first gender neutral outfit I purchased for our future baby, luckily, I was wrong.<br />
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Thank you everyone for your love and support through our trials, it has made them much more bearable.<br />
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Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714509524623963900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185986763069243752.post-30344790344559627722014-01-29T10:29:00.001-08:002014-02-05T12:43:17.694-08:00The Doctor's appointment that will change our future.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know this picture is awkward beyond compare and according to my sister Rachel it makes me look like I have a "uniboob", but it was the only picture I have of the appointment.<br />
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Regardless of the odd angled picture, I finally have some updates for you. If you have previously read our blog you know that Ryan and I have been struggling with some fertility issues (by struggling I mean trying for over a year with no luck). Read more <a href="http://theprinceandeye.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-little-piece-of-my-heart.html" target="_blank">here</a>. After several appointments with my regular doctor I made the gutsy move of meeting with a fertility specialist. I felt strangely calm walking into our first appointment, like it was meant to be, Ryan on the other hand, could not stop talking about it the week of. The closer we got to the actual appointment, the severity of his nervousness became apparent to me. He kept asking me, "Are you sure I need to go? Can you please just go without me? Can you call the doctor and make sure he needs me there?" He and I both knew what would be required of him and he was not having it.<br />
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For those of you who don't know my husband, you should know that someone uttering the word "sex" makes him blush. Even sexual innuendos make him turn the color of his fiery hair. It is really quite humorous that I chose to marry such a reserved individual considering my family is open about all of the above. I am sure you can imagine his feelings toward a Doctor's visit based solely on sex, babies and every detail therein. DREAD is about the only word I can use to describe it, pure dread.<br />
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Nevertheless, Ryan attended to show his love and support. Shortly after arriving we were called back to a room where we sat down and discussed the hopes and dreams of our future with our caring Doctor. After a year of trying, weeks of waiting and urinating on several hundred sticks, our high hopes were short lived.<br />
Dr. F. was a breath of fresh air. He was blunt, educational and refreshingly hopeful which I am utterly grateful for. He gave us the thing we had been robbed of, that which was missing for a good portion of our journey, HOPE.<br />
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We tried to remain faithful through our trial, but I cannot express how hard that is to accomplish when you lose hope. My heart goes out to the parents out there who have tried for several years with no luck of bringing a baby into this world. It is so emotionally straining to get your hopes up every month, to wait and wait and wait and finally have the guts to take a test knowing well before you open the package what the results will be. I have been refilled, and I pray that all of you who are trying to conceive can find this renewed sense of hope which I have recently discovered. For the journey can be long, and I know how weary you must feel.<br />
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During my appointment I had to get an uncomfortable amount of naked. At least my husband was there to <strike>comfort me</strike> laugh and take pictures of me in my gown. Soon the gown and nakedness was the least of my worries. What the doctor found was disheartening. My ovaries were filled with cysts, he said he could see around thirty of them. My heart dropped because I didn't know what this meant. The doctor then explained, I will spare you the details but essentially I have been infertile for around three years. Thanks hormones. Suddenly the uncomfortable situation didn't seem to bother me as my mind drifted to the issues before me. For three years I have been infertile, could I have prevented this? I was confused and angry. Luckily, doctors fix things. So he upped my medication, scheduled about a billion other tests, shots and medications for me to take. After handing my sweet Ryan a brown paper bag, we were on our way.<br />
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As we walked toward the checkout desk I thought, well this should be easy right? Just a <strike>bit more</strike> double the dosage of the medication that made me hate eating, a few shots, x-rays and some blood panels, this is at least a step in the right direction. I turned to Ryan with hopeful eyes and what did I see on his face? DREAD. The appointment was over, what was he so worried about? I followed his gaze down to his hand which clasped a brown paper bag with white knuckles. OH MY LANTA. I am going through immense pain, taking a ridiculous amount of medicine that makes me sick, and getting shots and his number one concern is the contents of this little brown bag. I leaned over to his ear and whispered "It's just a brown bag babe". He immediately scowled and shout-whispered "Don't talk about it, talking about it makes it so much worse!" I turned to the nurse next to me "He gets embarrassed easily, don't mind him". She giggled and I turned to Ryan who's scowl remained the same. Awe, so this is what he has been dreading all week. A little brown bag which contains direction and a little clear cup labeled "Semen Sample". I bit my lip and barely closed the car door before I erupted with laughter. I couldn't comprehend why a grown man would be so afraid of a little clear cup, but then it dawned on me. His fear is that he will contribute the same to our relationship that I have contributed. Weakness, infertility, more struggle. I only hope that he does not have to go through the same things I have gone through, the feelings of being inadequate. There is a pain that is brought with infertility, a sense of brokenness that cannot be fixed until you are fixed.<br />
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So here is to the future. To fixing what is broken. To a positive pregnancy test. To morning sickness and sleepless nights. To a long labor that is worth every minute. To dirty diapers and spit-up covered clothes. To midnight snuggles and nursing my baby. To a complete family that finally feels whole.<br />
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Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714509524623963900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185986763069243752.post-52718360702066970602013-12-19T10:15:00.001-08:002014-02-05T12:43:40.664-08:00An easy read.Tis the season and I would like to post some of my favorite Christmas quotes from both songs and movies to help us remember the TRUE meaning of Christmas. Yes, everyone goes on and on about the true meaning of Christmas, but clearly it needs to be restated because every year without fail, we get lost in all the hullabaloo of presents and Santa and reindeer. (and if you're like me Disney's Frozen is on that list too.)<br />
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I will try to share a favorite memory or story that goes along with each quote. The first on my list is a family favorite.<br />
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How The Grinch Stole Christmas.<br />
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Each year my brother Rick and I would watch the Grinch. I specifically remember one year watching it almost EVERY day. We would turn on the Christmas tree, get bundled up in our favorite blankets and watch The Grinch. Soon our eyes became heavy and we would doze off until the finishing credits would blast so loud they'd wake us up. No matter how many times we would watch it, I can still remember the part where the Grinch finally realized what made Christmas so special.<br />
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"It came without ribbons, it came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags." (Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before) "Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store, maybe Christmas (he thought) means a little bit more"<br />
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My next favorite Christmas movie is...<br />
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Charlie Brown Christmas.<br />
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If you don't know my Dad, you should. That's all there is to it. He is without a doubt the funniest person I know. He is also the one person I know who can be so annoying yet hilarious at the same time. He is the person in our family that can bring everyone together no matter how angry, spiteful or stubborn we are. But through all of his ridiculous games and jokes he has a tender countenance that resembles the spirit of Christ. My Dad has an unshakable testimony and undoubtedly cries during every tender moment in every movie. During Charlie Brown Christmas he would always rewind the loud dancing scenes then make all of the kids get up and try to imitate the Charlie Brown Characters dance moves. We would do this for hours and laugh until our sides hurt, but during the final scene he would quiet us all down, grab some tissues and watch Linus perform his tender scene in the Christmas play.<br />
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"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night, and lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid, and the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, tis Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts, praising God and saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men." That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."<br />
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Sheesh, this post is getting kind of lengthy, and here you are thinking "wow, she titled it an easy read, rookie mistake." But with that being said, I will post just one more quote, the lyrics to my all time favorite Christmas song. It is sung through the voice of the Innkeeper that turned Mary and Joseph away the night baby Jesus was born.<br />
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Let Him In (Forgotten Carols).<br />
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"I am a man forgotten, no one recalls my name, thousands of years will fail to fully erase my shame. But I turned a profit nicely the day that I turned the couple away, I turned them away. I didn't sleep that evening though I'd sold out my place somehow I felt uneasy something about her face. Why did I wish that I'd let them stay? I didn't think they could pay or could they have paid? Restless, I left my bedroom I walked the streets all night. Lost in the world I lived in, found by a heavenly light. Staring at one bright star in the sky I heard a baby cry and I knew where that cry had come from 'cause I'd told them where they could go. I didn't think I could face them so I walked slowly home. Missing my chance to share in their joy, I never saw the boy. He never would condemn me, I did that all on my own. He offered His forgiveness, and ever since then, I've known. That He lets us choose each hour of each day if we'll let Him in to stay, let Him in. And whether it be in your world today or a crowded Bethlehem Inn, find a way make Him room let Him in."<br />
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Find a way, we can make room for Him. Let Him in.<br />
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Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714509524623963900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185986763069243752.post-84857134447574099162013-12-18T10:38:00.000-08:002014-02-05T12:43:50.845-08:00A Little Piece of My Heart.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Your whole life you grow up thinking "Oh when I get married", and "when I go to college", or "when I have kids" but the thought never crosses your mind that you might not get those things. It started out as just a pregnancy scare, but that tiny pregnancy scare changed our marriage. October of 2012 Ryan and I stood over a pregnancy test waiting for the results. Negative, phew! A sigh of relief escaped his mouth and I couldn't help but smile, but a few seconds passed and we both frowned. A spark was lit inside and even though we weren't expecting a child or hoping for one, we soon realized we were disappointed to see that we weren't going to be parents just yet.<br />
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Two months later in December of 2012 we had officially decided to start trying. January came and went with no sign that we weren't pregnant, so we decided to take another test. Negative. February-Negative. It wasn't until March of 2013 that my belief of couples conceiving their first month of trying was shattered. Okay, so where do we go from here? Research, research and more research. We found out that it takes most couples 4-6 months to conceive. Phew, so we aren't the only ones trying like bunnies with no results! In April of 2013 I lost my period, as in it was no where to be found. I knew I had to be pregnant because I hadn't had my period for two months. I took another test-NEGATIVE! What the H! One thing you should know about me is that I self diagnose myself from the internet ALL THE TIME! So I got online, looked up missing periods with negative test results. After coming across several stories that say sometimes the HCG levels aren't high enough to be read from an "At Home PT" I scheduled an HCG Serum Test at the doctors because that <i>had</i> to be it.<br />
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I got my blood drawn on a Friday and it was the only Friday I ever dreaded the weekend. Come Monday I was greeted by the sweetest Medical Assistant who came to me with a straight face telling me that I was not in fact pregnant and that the Doctor had to go over the rest of my blood tests. Long story short I could not conceive in the condition my body was in, and changing my body was no guarantee that I could conceive at all. But I started the medication anyway with high hopes that it could change my future. After researching this medication I was terrified of the results. Nausea, diarrhea, fatigue and on top of all that, I was directed to limit sugar and greasy food because it only made the side effects worse. I decided to go gutsy and take the full dose even after my doctor told me I could ease into it. I told myself there was nothing stopping me from having a baby ASAP. I ralphed and pooped and puked and barfed and cried and pooped some more. It was like Hell on Earth guys! Needless to say, I cut the dose in half and dove in again the next night. The side effects gradually improved and now it is nothing but a little nausea EVERY night before bed and diarrhea anytime I eat the things I enjoy. No pain no gain right? I would do anything for a baby. More time passed and still no baby, but I was still receiving a monthly present which I was in fact grateful for.<br />
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In August of 2013 I returned to the doctor to get a blood workup. The results: worse than before. I called Ryan in tears after receiving the news. Why was this happening to us? I couldn't believe that I had put myself to Hell and back for months with no progress. For several weeks I completely turned away from the idea of a baby. I didn't want to look at babies or talk about babies or think about them. I told Ryan I didn't want a baby for a long, long time. Deep down he knew that I was simply hurting. If wanting a baby so bad only brought pain then I didn't want one, I didn't want that pain. I sunk into a deep depression. All I ever wanted to do with my life was become a mother, and that is what my body was made for, yet I couldn't accomplish that. Fertility issues are hard on everyone, but there is something terrible in knowing you are the cause. You feel guilty and depressed and most of all you wallow in self pity every chance you get. It's repulsive really, but there it is.<br />
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Everyone around me was either getting pregnant, having babies or planning them. I am so grateful for the new bundles of joy that have been added to my life, but I felt like slapping myself and yelling "Pull yourself together!" (Holla at your Incredibles quote)<br />
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<img 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" /><br />
<br />
I became envious of the people who got pregnant their first try, and I would get angry when people would say "Yeah, we didn't even try, it just happened" or "We were even on birth control and still got pregnant, I'm terrified, we don't even want kids yet!" and don't even get me started on abortion. Babies are a miracle and they should be treated as just that, a gift from God.<br />
<br />
December 2, 2013 on Ryan's 26th birthday I decided to call the Fertility Center and make the plunge. We had been trying to conceive for over a year and doctors recommend seeking help after 12 months. Our appointment is in January and our entire outlook has changed. I cannot wait for the incredible journey ahead. Our goal for 2014 is to stay positive through the process of getting pregnant and to have faith in the Lord's plan. I know that this will be one of the hardest trials we will overcome, but I also know that we will appreciate the ability to conceive and carry a baby from our first baby until our last.<br />
<br />
So here's to the future, wish us luck!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLgbIp3sLIwxYPgMpFE2Zta3Ooi7w5VFHyx-wd2OVFY0NvN1HmtsHx0kZiM81-QJPowJeBnqZlrFAZmp2W6zx5E5sKWeY2HtxLRP6LiAFg5P72uYu7qnaevlh02UQv0hqhv554XWRzptF/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLgbIp3sLIwxYPgMpFE2Zta3Ooi7w5VFHyx-wd2OVFY0NvN1HmtsHx0kZiM81-QJPowJeBnqZlrFAZmp2W6zx5E5sKWeY2HtxLRP6LiAFg5P72uYu7qnaevlh02UQv0hqhv554XWRzptF/s1600/signature.png" height="193" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714509524623963900noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185986763069243752.post-58354682802677621422013-09-19T14:12:00.001-07:002014-02-05T12:44:00.770-08:00Ridiculousness.<div style="text-align: center;">
So, my husband has this idea that I can't leave ANYTHING in our house alone. Yesterday we actually had a long discussion about his fears and he told me that one of his fears is that I will never be satisfied with our house the way it is. I could have told him that he was being ridiculous, but I agree with him, I will never stop improving our house because decorating is to me, what Call of Duty is to Ryan. With that being said, here is the latest and the greatest.</div>
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Before: Let's just say it had seen better days</div>
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During</div>
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VOILA! After.</div>
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I had originally planned on just painting it white but I had some left over Gold spray paint and what can I say? I was inspired!<br />
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Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714509524623963900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185986763069243752.post-62876472839279422702013-09-19T09:23:00.000-07:002014-02-05T12:44:18.825-08:00PARTY PARTY PARTY!!!Life has been NUTS lately! I feel like my weekends have been taken over by parties. NOT what you're thinking. I don't party hop from house to house or play "Mountain Dew" pong. I mean grown up, finger sandwich, sipping tea, playing afternoon cards parties (believe it or not THIS is the kind of party I live for).<br />
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I love to show my creative side and even more so pretend I actually have one. These parties have allowed my inner party planning beast to run rampant! As many of you know, every woman I know is pregnant right now, so I'm a baby shower planning fool. If any of you know me well you know that I will use ANY and ALL excuses to throw a party. Since all of my sisters in law are expecting their 2nd or 3rd children I decided a shower wasn't necessary, but a sprinkle was!</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red;">Take note: I AM human, I did not plan these parties all by myself.</span></div>
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Kiley, my sister in law, is expecting the middle of October so we threw a little retro aqua and red themed brunch "sprinkle" for her. </div>
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In case you couldn't tell by these pictures, we had candy GALORE. Ryan and I are STILL trying to finish off the last of it.</div>
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The next party I planned was another "sprinkle" for the lovely Becca who is due the first week of November.</div>
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We decided to throw a "travel" themed party. Globes, planes, maps, etc.</div>
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Last but not least, The Great Gatsby Party that Ry and I threw. (When I say Ryan and I threw it I mean he helped fold the Laundry and make appetizers).</div>
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More to come on Rachel Smart Elder's Shower. </div>
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Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714509524623963900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185986763069243752.post-9623534445415590232013-06-03T07:40:00.000-07:002014-02-05T12:44:36.665-08:00Where's the baby?<div style="text-align: center;">
Now that school and work have taken over our lives, my projects have been getting put on the back burner. But there is one project I could <i>NOT</i> put off any longer, the rocking chair from H! We found this bad boy at a yard sale for $15 buckaroo's! Seeing how I'm more hungry for a baby than any newlywed, I figured I'd start stocking up on baby furniture (things we could use now) so that we didn't have to spend as much money in the future when we actually have a baby. The chair looked disgusting (to say the least).</div>
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When Ryan saw the chair he asked if I was sure I wanted to spend (waste) the money on it. I told him it would be worth it in the end since nursery gliders are $150-$200. I found some darling fabric on amazon for around $7 a yard and ordered it immediately. The fabric was mature enough that we could have it in our bedroom but fun enough that we could use it to accent a darling nursery. It showed up at our new apartment days later and I (bursting with excitement) got right to work. </div>
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It took me all of 5 minutes to recover the foot glider/ottoman. I just measured and cut the fabric and stretched it over the ottoman. After I flipped the ottoman over and folded a nice seam I started stapling until it was done.</div>
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The Glider was a bit more difficult. I hated the thought of a loose cushion sliding around so I stapled the bum cushion right to the wood. Three sides of the cushion were fairly easy and I'm sure you can imagine how the fourth side turned out. I love this fabric but recovering all 3 cushions may have been overwhelming so instead I recovered the ottoman and the bum cushion but tossed the nasty tan back cushion in the garbage and purchased a small back pillow from Ross for $5.<br />
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After I decided it was done, Ryan decided it NEEDED armrests so I stapled on some fabric and stuffed the arms until it had adequate padding.<br />
The finished product...</div>
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Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714509524623963900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185986763069243752.post-61395167563583102772013-05-31T09:52:00.000-07:002014-02-05T12:44:49.154-08:00From Generation to Generation.<div style="text-align: center;">
Today is a day, unlike any other. Thirty-three years ago, on May 31st, my parents were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple. That's right, thirty-three flipping years! And through those 33 years, my mother has waited patiently to buy her own, brand new, top of the line furniture. As many of you know my darling parents have been refinishing their house from TOP to BOTTOM. This means all new everything for my mother dearest. What does this entail for Ryan and I? A house full of furniture projects. Today I'm going to show you my favorite refinish EVER, (and also the hardest). My Great Grandma Jane Thomas had the most beautiful table and hutch that got passed down through the generations of my Grandma, Mother and now myself. Unfortunately, it had seen better days. The hutch has slowly gotten dented, scratched and dinged over the years so that will need a refinish pronto. But today I would like to post about my now favorite kitchen table. </div>
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My Sweet husband knew that I wanted to do this project for a while and that I just needed a little jump start. When I came home from work one afternoon I saw our kitchen table out on the balcony, sanded and ready to go. </div>
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As you can tell, the table has a very antique feel about it. From the older "V" wood grain, to the rounded edges, it is all around pretty vintage. But I wanted to pump it up a notch so we went with a REALLY dark finish. The picture above shows the before (on the left) and the table after the first coat of stain (on the right). Neither one looked very pretty and it was at this point that I panicked. I didn't know how it would turn out and my husband had never worked with this particular stain/poly in one. But, I just waited, and stained and waited and stained until finally it looked just how I wanted.</div>
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After a big screw-up and a few tears I got the table to look exactly as I imagined.</div>
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Next up- The outdated hutch.</div>
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Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714509524623963900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185986763069243752.post-60456948750827442502013-01-29T09:29:00.000-08:002014-02-05T12:48:43.530-08:00The best news and the worst move.I don't know if any of you have moved recently, but it is the worst experience in the world. When Ryan and I first got back from our honeymoon my sweet family had moved the majority of our furniture and my Mom "set up house" before we had the chance to lift a finger. We slowly moved the remainder of our things to our tiny one bedroom apartment. Just before Christmas we got all of our decorations up and our house was set up how we wanted it. Ryan could finally relax and I could finally stop pestering him. A month later we got a call from my Parents asking if we were interested in living in their condo in Orem. Um, three bedrooms? Two bathrooms? YES PLEASE. Ryan wasn't too happy when I told him we had to do it all over again.<br />
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This recent move however, was a complete different ordeal. We found out we were moving around the 10th of January, however we had <i>no clue</i> when we would actually be moving in. The real kicker is, my sister Rachel was moving into our one bedroom when we were out, and guess where we were moving? Yup, you guessed it. Into her old apartment. We had to do the old switcharoo, and if that's not enough, my sweet Mother and soon to be landlord wanted to get the carpets cleaned before we moved in. Whoa Whoa Whoa, so not only did we have to switch apartments but we had both had to be living in the <i>one</i> bedroom apartment for a day while the carpets got cleaned?! Yes, you betcha. We moved all of Rachel's things into our family room while we packed our things up. Luckily we covered the tile at our new place with furniture or we never would have made it. Rachel's old roommate was out and we moved in right away. Late Wednesday afternoon we started packing. With the help of my lovely family, a few trucks and Ryans brothers we finished the last load before 10:00 PM. Needless to say it was <i>miserable</i> going back and forth in the muddy snow as I am sure everyone would agree. Ryan and I are still setting up house, but you can bet your bottom dollar when the house is all dolled up I WILL be posting pictures!</div>
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Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714509524623963900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185986763069243752.post-16723707809505012612012-09-25T15:47:00.003-07:002014-02-05T12:45:25.624-08:00I will follow.<div style="text-align: center;">
In a past semester I took a Sociology class, something basic but required for my degree. I thrived in the class and while taking the course I learned all about the development of humans and their organization, the way they function in society, and the fundamental laws of their social relations and institutions. It was probably my favorite class, up until the day about religion. I am not one to bash on the beliefs of others and I don't expect everyone to believe the things I choose to. After listening to my Professor talk for over an hour on how religion is a joke and how humans mentally "created" an all powerful being so that they would feel better about things like death, pain and taxes I was enraged to say the least. This seems like a logical excuse right? But that's the funny part, it is <i>all </i>logic. Religion is so much more. I had a dear family friend pass away due to cancer several years ago. Something like this could tear a family apart. Rather than getting torn apart the family grew and the entire community came together as a whole. The neighbors and ward members worked hard so that the family could celebrate their last Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas together as a family in early October. As our dear friend neared death he could have become afraid and questioned his beliefs. But instead he grew closer to the Lord and his sweet wife. He sought forgiveness from those he wronged and advised his children to hold firm to the gospel. In his last days he grew to become someone we were all proud to have known. As my professor would say, "this family created a supernal being to help them cope with their loss". But no one could ever assume that humans created a God if they felt the true spirit that I feel when I attend church every Sunday. If the greatest scientist in the world was an atheist with a goal to tear me from my beliefs and prove everything I knew about the church to be wrong, he could definitely try. But I wouldn't stop exercising my faith, and I wouldn't start partaking of the fruits of the world and nothing he said could make me<i> </i>deny Christ. I was so angry after my hearing my professor give us every reason to give up our faith that I wanted to drag him into primary to hear the children singing so passionately about things that they don't fully comprehend yet. I wanted to dress him up like a girl and sneak him into Relief Society to listen to the women talking about serving each other with such diligence that my "all knowing" professor would be in awe. I wanted to sit him down during sacrament meeting so that he might <i>feel </i>that which I feel every week as I listen to the silence. As I ponder while partaking of the bread and water that symbolize the selfless sacrifice of our Savior. Because I know if my professor experienced that, there is no way he could doubt the presence of God. </div>
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A dear friend of mine has recently denounced the church. Whether it is a permanent choice in his life here or something temporary. I want to tell him how true the church is, and how saddened I am by his choice. I want him to know that he is loved. Whether you are hurting from present choices or past decisions, there is one and only one who understands completely what you are going through. For I know that when we are apart from God, he weeps for us. Life is hard, but the journey seems a lot easier when I know who I've got on my side. I am so grateful for my wonderful priesthood holder and the example he is to me. After dedicating our apartment there is a new spirit that resides there. I cannot wait for the blessings to come in the future, whether they are back to school blessings, baby blessings or blessings to heal. I am grateful for them.</div>
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Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714509524623963900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185986763069243752.post-53982817717293826642012-09-21T09:25:00.001-07:002014-02-05T12:45:43.363-08:00The gift of life.<div style="text-align: center;">
You hear all about the gift of life and how <i>beautiful</i> it is but I don't think that rule should apply to dogs. They should have a birthing prep class for all who intend to watch the birth of an animal because it is <i>NASTY. </i>I'm grateful that I got to see it, but glad I never have to experience it again. Our dear friends Daniel and Aubrey had 1 dog to begin with. Then they adopted another of the opposite sex who was supposedly "fixed". I bet you know where I'm going with this. Yup, they now have six dogs (four of which don't count as <i>dogs</i> because they are itty bitty!) Luckily momma Tamika is nice enough to let me hold her puppies. They are the most adorable little things that make the most adorable noises and let me just say, I've never wanted a puppy so bad in my entire life. Unfortunately Ryan is the responsible one in our relationship and he say's "no house? no dog". I'm grateful for his wise decisions but it has cost us a lot of money in gas since I insist on driving down to Provo several times a week to see the little small things (and they will only get cuter).</div>
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Drum roll please...</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Can I just say... YUM!!!</span><br />
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Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714509524623963900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185986763069243752.post-4830678579158010112012-09-20T14:31:00.000-07:002014-02-05T12:46:15.479-08:00Waking up to reality<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm not much of a blogger, but after showing my family photographs of the new and improved, I was convinced to start a blog of yummy recipes, DIY decor and the start of a wonderful life with a <i>wonderful</i> hubby. </div>
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After "The Big Day" and a beautiful (short-lived) honeymoon we came home to our snugly one bedroom, one bathroom apartment,<i> chuck full</i> of our things. The apartment seemed rather spacious when picking out paints and imagining furniture placement. However, walking through the door was a challenge. Not only because of the narrow hallway leading downstairs (narrow enough that we had to give up several furniture favs), but because I wanted to turn and <i>flee</i> for my parents house which contained my old bedroom. Two closets, tremendous storage and my own bathroom. You can imagine why Ryan asked if he should just leave all of his things at his old apartment for space conservation.</div>
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Ryan woke up to me screaming to this "Little Guy". Say what you will, but this thing has got a jump in his step and he chased me down in the shower.</div>
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Our first meals may not have been gourmet but they hit the spot and looked <i>fabulous </i>on our boldly painted kitchen table.</div>
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I come from a family that loves to cook. So I've taken it upon myself to show Ryan how things are done "the Elder way". My Mother reads a recipe and measures each measurement precisely, my Dad throws the recipe out the window and combines things he thinks will taste good (that daredevil). I think I have found common ground. I typically stick to a recipe but try new ways of cooking to make it more flavorful, moist or just exciting to eat. I made my mothers traditional eclair dessert (to die for) with a twist. I poured it into individual mini muffin tins. It was more tedious but definitely more manageable to eat without a fork (Ryan ate like a hundred of these things!)<br />
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The greatest part of our new location is living beneath this doll baby. She has got sooo much personality and I'm pretty sure I could spend all my time with her! </div>
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My dear sister-in law Rachel is constantly dressing her up but for a split second I caught the child looking homely and I had to snap a pic of it. She still looks like a doll. But as my Dad would say, she looks white trash. The Elder genes in her are causing her ghetto booty to grow at such a rate that Huggies had no chance of keeping up. Now you know where they came up with the phrase "bursting at the seams".</div>
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So far it has been the best three weeks of my life. Marriage is fabulous, it's probably a good thing no one told me how fun it was before or I would've done it sooner. Ryan is <i>such</i> a good husband. The other day I was suffering from major feminine problems and asked him to bring a heating pad to my work so that I could make it through the day. He showed up to my work with chocolate and two hot pads :)</div>
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It has been a blast to spend every free second with my best friend and I cannot wait to see what the future holds. I could not ask for a better life.<br />
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Here's to eternity.</div>
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Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714509524623963900noreply@blogger.com4