I Am Thankful for Garrett & Gracie

I am grateful for a red headed little firecracker named Garrett and a gentle soul with darling dimples who goes by the name of Gracie. These two angels where born in into our family at a special time in our lives. Gracie was 3 1/2 months old and Garrett was just over a month old when my family started to deal with what was a challenging string of events. 

Around the beginning of April Janalee was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. We had a trip planned to Mexico so surgery was scheduled to remove her thyroid for when we returned. While there we got word from Tyler that he had gotten a hernia while working and was also going to need surgery. 

We were able to enjoy our trip and head for home. Dad, Marijka, and I were traveling in the truck pulling the trailer. The others were in the van following along. While driving toward home on I-15 near Fillmore a tire on the trailer blew. We rolled 3 times. The trailer was demolished.  Marijka scratched her arm, Dad checked out okay physically, and my knees went thru the windshield along with other scrapes and bruises on my head and hand.  

This happened late Sunday afternoon.  After extensive x-rays, and an excruciating hour when the picked all the glass and debris out of my knees. They had been cut down to the bone. They gave me 18 numbing shots inside each knee. Each one was hell. Even after the shots any pressure sent my pain levels off the charts. 

When I found out I was pregnant I was interested in seeing if labor would be comparable to this pain. Labor was very painful especially without an epidural. But the pain of my knees was almost as bad and went on much longer and I didn't get the cute baby at the end. So the most painful experience for me will remain the repair of the shredded tissue in my knees. 

Okay, I'll get back on track. After being discharged we got home late Sunday night. If I remember correctly Janalee's surgery was Tuesday. Tyler's was Thursday. Both went well. Now it came down to nursing everyone they their recovery. I had one recliner in the front room, Jan had the other, and Tyler was in Mom and Dad's room.

The Petersen family and several other friends were great during this time. They were there to take care of us and when the wreckage was sifted thru and what could be salvaged was brought home they cleaned it and helped figure what had been lost. They fed us, kept the house clean, and kept our moods up. 

Garrett and Gracie were our bright spots in a time when we were in a dark place. We got to hold and cuddle them. For me holding a little baby can take my stress away. Just having the babies in the house brought a special spirit. I really think they helped us all heal.

These cuties have continued to bring me much happiness and love as they have grown up. They are now 6 years old and in first grade. Garrett is very mischievous and adventurous. He has a thirst for knowledge. He picks a subject and learns everything he can about it. Ask him about Old Ephraim some day and be prepared to be awed. Today at dinner when Sean's mom walked in he said, "Hello Giselle, It's so good to see you." He has amazing manners and is growing up to be a true gentleman. Gracie is beautiful and has the cutest dimples. She is a little shy but warms up. She is a great soccer and t-ball player. Gracie has a tender heart. I love them both greatly. I'm so thankful they were born into our family.

I Am Thankful for My Friends

I am grateful for my friends. I am not a person who has a ton of close friends outside of my family, so I treasure those I have even more. I am fortunate that my Mom, sisters, aunts, and cousins are also my friends. My friends are all amazing ladies. We have the kind of friendships where you can go months without speaking and pick up as if we spoke the day before. My friends are loyal. Some I have know for more years than I can count and others just a few. I know they will be there to hold me up when I need them and I will be there when they need me. They have been there to celebrate my happiest days and my worst. They listen to their hearts and may stick a card in the mail unexpectedly, or randomly send an e-mail or text and it will be just what I need that day. They know who they are and I hope they know how very much I love them and treasure their friendship. Thanks for supporting and loving me.

I'm Thankful for My Eternal Family

I am thankful for eternal families. In my patriarchal blessing I was instructed to study and understand the plan of salvation.  At the time it seemed like a weird thing. I now see why this knowledge is important in my life. I am grateful that I know I will be with Kyle again and we can be together with Carter for eternity. It is so comforting for me to know that Kyle is no longer in pain. He no longer limps, he can hear and see perfectly. He isn't having to deal with the challenges of autism. His heart now beats steady and strong. He is in the arms of his Heavenly Father. I have watched others lose their loved ones without having the comfort of knowing they will be together again and my heart aches for them. If I didn't know we can be together again I don't know how I would have gone on after Kyle passed away. 

It is so comforting to me to know that Carter was able to spend the 4 months between when his dad died and he was born in Heaven with Kyle. I know Kyle will be watching out for Kyle as he grows and lives his life. Carter has a special guardian angel. I hope it can bring Carter some comfort as he has to grow up without his Dad. I hope as I teach him the plan of salvation it might bring him some peace as it has me. I am grateful I have an eternal family.

I am Thankful for Disposable Diapers

I am thankful for disposable diapers. Need I say more? I didn't think so.

I Am Thankful for Carter

I am thankful for Carter. This little guy is the best thing that ever happened to me. He was born at a time in my life when Heavenly Father knew I would need him most. He was worth the wait. I never thought I would only have one child but if this is the way it needed to be then I'm grateful my little sweet pea choose me. It is an overwhelming responsibility to be a Mom and I often wonder if I am up to the task. It doesn't help that I was expressing my doubts on this subject to Kyle once and he informed he wondered about that himself. Needless to say I was quite hurt and the silent treatment was administered to him. I try not to let this be something I constantly worry about but I admit it's something I worry about. A big help is that I have the best example in the world to follow in my own mom. If I can do even a fraction as well as she has I'll be happy. 

When I was pregnant I wondered how long it would take me to grow to love him. It is amazing to me how it happened instantly for me. I'm not known for my patience and wondered how I would be with him. Once a baby started fussing I immediately ready to give them back to their mom. People always told me it is different with your own and I thought they were full of crap. I now have to admit they were right. I know it won't matter what Carter does or the mistakes he makes I will always love him. I watch him sleep and he is so peaceful. He is such a wonderful blessing.

I'm Thankful for Angels

I enjoyed thinking of the things I am grateful for as I wrote about them last year on my blog so I'm going to write about some of the things I'm thankful for this season as well. I'm late getting started this year so it won't be an everyday thing.

I was thinking today that I am thankful for angels. The scriptures teach us of angels and I believe they watch over us. During Kyle's funeral Bishop Yates told my nieces and nephews that he felt prompted to tell them Kyle would be with them protecting and guiding them during certain times in their lives. I have taken comfort in knowing Carter was able to spend 4 months in Heaven with Kyle. Now he is here on earth with me I know Kyle is watching over and protecting him. It's a comforting feeling to know Carter will have a guardian angel watching over him. 

Carter - 4 Months Old

Carter is 4 months old. He weighs 14 pounds 12 ounces and is 26" long. He is getting way too big for my liking. I saw a newborn Thursday and I can't believe Carter was that small. He is so cute and his smile melts my heart. He puts his whole body into it wiggling and making cooing noises. His eye no longer runs, but now he slobbers constantly so I'm still constantly wiping his face off. He rolls onto his side but doesn't roll all the way over yet. It's not very often it happens, but he has a bit of a temper that comes out. I have to admit it makes me a little scared for what he may come up with as he gets older. Carter "talks" all the time. He loves when you repeat his noises back to him. It makes him smile. When he gets upset and ramps up his crying he makes a noise that sounds like a horse neighing. It always makes me smile when he does it.

We had lots of adventures this month. We went to the pumpkin patch and picked Carter's first pumpkin. The weather was nice and it was lots of fun. We went with Emily and her girls and I think they each came up with a perfect pumpkin for him. The patch is owned by my Dad's friend so we could get all the pumpkins we wanted and as a result we came home with the back of the van full. 

Carter got to go on his first UEA trip with the ladies and kids. Janalee had a doctor appointment in Salt Lake earlier in the week so we went early. We ended up spending a week in Park City at the condo we rented. Dad and Matt spent the first part of the week with us and then Karen, Marlee, Emily, Natalie and the kids came for the second part of the week. The place we rented was really nice. The leaves were turning and it was a beautiful time of year to be there.

The next week was the deer hunt. Marijka, Carter and I went up for dinner with the guys. Dad, Bruce, and Ron were there. Carter put on a good show and showed them his smiles. When we got there Dad and Ron were getting ready to go up the mountain in the Rhino. We put Carter in his snow suit and went with them. He sat between Dad and I and was perfectly content looking around. It was noisy and bumpy and he totally enjoyed it. He even fell asleep for a few minutes. 

Mom, Marlee, Marijka and I decided to dress up as witches for Halloween. I had planned to dress Carter up as Mickey Mouse but with this decision I had to of course dress him up as my black cat. We found a cute beanie with cat ears and a face on it. He looked adorable. With Tom as our escort we dressed up and went to Witchapalooza in Ogden the Saturday before Halloween. The weather cooperated and it was really warm. We had a fun time.