Max, Callie & Baby Scarlet Allen

Dear Scarlet,

2011-04-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

My dear, sweet baby girl... I cannot believe my journey of pregnancy with you is more than half over. I'm sure because I've been so insanely busy that the time has flown faster than it does for other mommies, but it still seems extra fast to me.

One of my FAVORITE bosses (Karyn Coward!) told me when she was pregnant that one of her favorite things about it was that it her time with her babies that was all HERS! No one else knew her baby like she did during that time and she loved that. It was like a private party for two. I feel the same way with you. I love that I feel EVERY movement, even if others - even daddy - cannot. I know when you're awake, I know when you're sleeping, and I don't have to share you with anyone. I don't ever feel like I'm alone. I always have a little someone tagging along with me.

I knew in my bones that I was pregnant with you before I could even take a test that would say so. I told your daddy and your grandma, but then I thought about it more and decided that there was no way I could KNOW so certainly so soon and I kind of talked myself out it because I didn't want to be disappointed when I tested and it was negative. But the day I did, even though it was a faint +POSITIVE+, it was +Positive+! Then I got SO sick for what felt like SO long and thought - just once - "I'm never doing this again..."

The faint, BUT +PoSiTiVe+ testS! :D

What I looked like the day I KNEW you were there!

The day you popped! It was Super-bowl Sunday and it was like - the day before, I wasn't showing and then I woke up and I was! :D Such a fun feeling!

The picture that we took (a billion times to get right! lol) for daddy for Vamlumtimes (I'll explain when you're older... lol) Day!

But here we are, 6 weeks later and I know that you are my little girl and I'm at the best part of pregnancy where I'm NOT sick, I'm NOT uncomfortable (Yet...) and I feel so energized and full of, well, Life! I can't believe how much I love you already. I see you on the ultrasound machines and I'm just bursting with pride for my little baby. I feel you kick me and I can't believe that we, me and daddy, made you. You have part of each of us and our families and I can't wait to see what you look like, sound like, act like... You already do little things that make me think, "Oh, she's stubborn like her daddy." Or "Ah! She's a night-owl like mommy!"

Having fun with daddy, painting your room!

Your first flowers from Daddy that he left on table for us to find after work this morning. He loves us very, very much!

There are times that you kick me and it's like you're saying, "Hey! Mommy! I'm here!" The other night at work, I'm not entirely sure what you were doing, but it felt like you were grasping your little fists in my uterus like you were tickling me and it literally made me giggle because it was such a funny feeling. Last night you must have needed to stretch like I do when I'm waking up because I had the most bizzare, pushing feeling up under my diaphragm.. It was like you couldn't get comfy or you were waking up and needed a really good stretch because I'd lean back and stretch myself out as much and I could and you'd relax a little, and then I'd lean back over my desk and you'd do it again. I love feeling all of this!

Much as I'm loving all this time with you, I still cannot wait until you get here and I get to hold you in my arms and see your face, hold your hands, and see your daddy look at you for the first time. I'm scared my heart might burst, but I look forward to discovering a new love that only mothers before me know and have.

I love you, sweet Scarlet, with all my heart and soul, and I cannot wait to meet you, baby.

All my Love Always
~ Mommy ~

The Nursery!!

2011-04-01T14:33:00.000-07:00

So last weekend we finished getting the office completely cleaned out so we could make room in our tiny condo for little Scarlet!

The week before, we went to Lowes and picked out some paint swatches. The two colors Max picked were perfection. "Umm... Duh. Of course they are!" He says. :) So I come home from my CRAZY graveyard shift after breakfast with Dara (we needed to decompress after that shift... lol) and I slept for a couple hours. We go get the paint, come home and get it on the walls, and it's even better than I thought it would be! The paint we got is the truest to paint swatch I've ever used! There was no need to go a shade lighter to make sure it didn't turn out too dark or anything like that. So then I get the idea for picture that I want to put up in Scarlet's room above her crib... When I do my maternity pictures in a couple more months I had the idea to have a picture of just my tummy with mine and Max's hands on it done in black and white. Then when she's born I want to have a picture of her with just me and one of her with just Max done. Then I want to hang all three in her room together. Cute right? :)

So that makes me think of a fun way to do the tummy picture and I tell Max to paint his hand yellow and my hand pink and we'll each put our "hands" on her! He took the picture and it's so cute! I can't wait to get it printed and up on the wall!

On Sunday we finished the painting and got all her stuff that we've been collecting since December out and put in it's place in there. Well sort of. I got her hung clothes in the closet and all her stuffed animals on her mantle. And oh lord, this baby has quite a few stuffed animals... LOL

When Max was a kid he didn't have a favorite teddy bear, he had a Funt (and elephant). So this baby is going to be what we call a "Funt Baby". Max and I want her to love funts like he did. So I lined them all up on her mantle and they almost go wall to wall!! :D So if you see a cute funt thing, let me know so I can add it to her collection. :)

See? LOTS of FUNTS!

Our families both want this baby to be a reader like her daddy so we're collecting books now! A couple of our faves so far. Where the Wild Things Are from Grandma and I'll Love You Forever from Granny. :) We take turns reading to her now, maybe she'll recognize them when she gets here...

FUNTS!!

The few things that we've gotten for her so far.

This is Scarlet's, but I got it for my birthday from Granny. Because of the whole funt thing with Max. I LOVE it! :D

Mommy's Dream Birth Plan

2011-04-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

This one will only be really funny to all my L&D friends, so this is for you girls! LOL

Today on my home from work I was talking to my mom, as usual. She talks me home from work EVERY day. (I know, she's the best mama ever!) She asks me, "So when do you think you'll deliver?" And I was like, "Huh?!? You know the answer to this question..." So she asked what the latest is I could go if I had to be induced and I explained that if I didn't have the baby before 41 weeks gestation (August 1st) that Dr. Macy would schedule me for an indicated induction due to Post-Dates (being overdue by more than 7 days). And then she said, "So you can't be sure whether you'll deliver in July or August huh? Because gramma JeanAnn is wanting to at least stitch a month onto the blanket she's making you..." Yep, don't know... I wish I could say! :) So then she precedes to ask me how I THINK it will go. Oh here it is ya'll, the funny part - My DREAM Birth Plan, seriously LOL girls, right?! :D

Ahem... Mommy's Dream Birth Plan:

I go to my 37 week appointment. Dr. Macy checks me and reports that I'm 2+ cm dilated and that I'm 60% effaced!! Woohoo for a primipara (first time mom)!

The following week I go to my 38 week appointment and find out that I'm not 3+ cm dilated and 80% effaced! WOW! This baby could come ANY time.

I go home and start to contract irregularly throughout the day. Max comes home from work that day and we have dinner and start really timing my contractions because they are becoming more painful and more regular. When it gets to be about time for bed my contractions are about every 5 minutes apart. I decide to get in the tub and see if they slow down. They don't, so I take a shower and get ready to go into the hospital.

We call ahead to give the girls a heads up and see how nuts it is at work. ;) We get to the hospital at about 11:30 at night and to my surprise I'm dilated to almost 7 cm and completely effaced!! So I get my epidural (because I'm not crazy and doing this unmedicated!! lol)

At 12:30, Scarlet's heart rate starts to have some variables (normal when someone is complete) and I start to feel some pressure. The nurse comes in and checks me and my water breaks and she tells us I'm completely dilated and effaced and I'm a +1 station!

They call Dr. Macy and decide to have me rest and descend for an hour and she'll come in and deliver me! So in an hour they come in and I'm a +2 station and ready for delivery. We start pushing and Dr. Macy gets there and I push for a grand-total of 30 minutes and I don't tear and Scarlet Eleanore weighs 7 lbs 15 oz! :D

YEAH, RIGHT?! LOL :)

We'll see how this really goes...

It's a gIrL!!

2011-04-01T13:27:00.001-07:00

So just as we thought, we are having a Scarlet Eleanor, not a Cooper James! It was quite the "thing" deciding whether or not to find out. My WHOLE family thought that I was spoiling one of life's greatest surprises by finding out, and I had to agree with them. However Max's entire family thought I was being a party pooper by not finding out. It was time to put our heads together and find a happy compromise. :)

So I told Max that I could be happy finding out as long as we did it in a very fun, exciting way. He wasn't sure about it but I explained to him that finding out was sacrificing a big part of this experience for me and so he agreed to do something fun and special and NOT spoil it like he does Christmas and birthday presents! :)

The day of the ultrasound (February 24th, I know, I'm a bad mom for not blogging before now... I gotta work on that.) we told the tech that we wanted to find out but we didn't want her to tell us there in the office. We wanted her to tell us when she was getting close to seeing "it" or lack there of on the screen and we'd look away, she'd take the picture, print GIRL or BOY on it with the little arrow and put it in a sealed envelope for us. Then we took the sealed envelope to build-a-bear and we picked out a girl and a boy outfit (that cost the same so Max couldn't cheat!) and then after we put the heart in and stuffed it, THEY would take it to the back and dress it appropriately and seal it up in the box. Then we could open with our family and everyone would know at the same time! The girls at the clinic thought it was the cutest idea ever, and the girls at the build-a-bear had so much fun with it and helped me make sure there was NO way Max could cheat and find out before anyone else. It. Was. Torture. ;)

So then we headed down to my mom's because she was hosting the party for us! She didn't care about peeking early until I put the box in the middle of the living room table and then she kept asking if we were going to cheat and look before the rest of the family came. LOL I couldn't believe that it was even torturing her!

So our family came and the SECOND everyone was there we sat down and opened the box. For a split second I still had just a TINY bit of doubt that it was a girl, but as soon as I saw the extra little bows that the girls at Build-a-Bear added (at no charge, so sweet!) I knew and I was so excited! I pulled her out and showed everyone and my mom ran across the room to give me a huge hug! We had my sis, my best friend Brittany, and Max's sis on speaker phone on 3 different cells so they could hear at the same time as everyone else.

It was so perfect! I'm so happy we did it this way. It was so fun for everyone to find out together and to have a big party for her now. :) I think we'll do the same thing for our next baby and then on #3 (Yes, Honey, we are having 3!) I'll get my birth-day surprise! :)

FINALLY tearing into the box!

I saw the sweet little bows that the girls @ Build-a-Bear added for free for us to dress her up a little more.

And there SHE is! It's a girl!

Look Baby, we get a little girl!! :D

Then Grandma swooped in for the first hug! I think she was the MOST excited!

Proud daddy and his GIRLS!

Talking to my sis and Brittany

Auntie Tracie on speaker phone, SOBBING, because she was so happy!

Max telling his sis OFF speaker phone, she and the kids were so excited!!

And there she is, Scarlet's first bear!

WOW! Pregnancy...

2011-01-22T11:31:00.000-08:00

So I've started my last semester of nursing and boy I cannot wait until it's over!!! Not as hard material as last semester but so much to do! The list is just never ending... On to the good stuff, well, mostly good ;), the pregnancy!

So I was really hoping I'd have a pregnancy like my mom. Very uneventful, NEVER sick, just easy. Sure don't! I felt really good until I hit 8 weeks... That's when the morning sickness started and it has not stopped... So then I got Zofran to help with it. GREAT! Takes away the nausea, oh but wait... gives me a headache and oh yeah... CONSTIPATION!!!! :( (I do use this blog as a personal journal of sorts, so if this is TMI, too bad for you, skip to next paragraph) :) I have never been constipated in my life and oh Lord I'll never make the mistake of letting it happen EVER again. I wanted to die right then, I kinda thought I might because I didn't think I'd get the crap out of me so I was sure I'd just explode on the inside... Obviously, I didn't. I got over it and have been on a stool softener, DAILY, ever since. And so we solved THAT problem.

I also had some back pain that was so different from any back pain I've ever had. Dr. Macy told me I was one of the lucky ones that developed this early bone/ligament/whatever pain that would go away at 18 weeks (if I was lucky) but probably at 20 and then come back at about 34 weeks. Yay. Well, I got really lucky and have been good about baby-ing my back ever since and have kept that pain in check and have been good. Phew! Problem solved, for now. :)

So back to the never ending morning sickness... Dr. Macy gave me a prescription for a compound drug called Pyridox and it has been glorious!!! It has a sedative effect so I have to make sure I have at least 8 hrs to sleep if I want to take the full dose and when I can take even a 1/2 dose, I'm feeling pretty good in the morning. I haven't taken it for a couple days due to the fact that I haven't been able to have 8 straight hours of sleep in the last few days. I wondered if maybe since I'm now in my second trimester if the morning sickness was over. WRONG!!! Oh it came back with a vengeance. So, I have surrendered to the fact that I just must be one of those women who have morning sickness the whole pregnancy and will thank my lucky stars for every day that I can get 8 straight hours of sleep and take my magic Pyridox.

And on to "Placenta Brain" as I like to call the lack of mental functioning during pregnancy. Wow did I have it this last week. I hate to admit it, but I totally forgot Max's birthday. Not like, "Phew, that was close, I ALMOST forgot"... No. I completely forgot. And the worst part is that just the NIGHT BEFORE, I thought, "Ok, list of things to do tomorrow: Get up, get ready, get Max's bday card (we just take cash and go shopping together for our bdays, so no present to worry about, simple right?!), go to PCMC orientation, come home, make dinner." Oh no, not what I did. Max said goodbye in the morning before he left and I was awake, NO happy birthday from me (although I was kinda comatose, so even he didn't think anything of it). Calls me a little late to make sure I'm up, NO happy birthday honey from me. Nope. I'm in the car with my mom 3 hrs later, she tells me she texted him today and put his card in the mail the day before. LIGHT BULB! Or what I actually said was "SHIT!!! Damnit!! Ah man, my own MOTHER remembers my husband's birthday, but do you think me, his crappy wife can?! UGH!!!!" Oh I've never felt so bad.... :( And the part that makes it even worse is he's so ok with it. "It's ok baby, you're so busy with 72 of work and school and you're pregnant and sick, it's ok!" Am I the luckiest woman on earth or what???

Now with all this being said, you might think that I am miserable and hate this whole experience. NOT TRUE. Because every time I go to the Dr. and see this little miracle that is 1/2 me and 1/2 Max I just melt. Hearing the heartbeat inside of me makes the whole world right and I'm just completely at ease and at awe with this whole thing. I still cannot believe how lucky we are to have conceived so quickly. None of our friends have had an easy time with conceiving and we decided to try (one time, seriously) and here we are. I know what's going on inside of me. I know what my baby is doing and looks like and what my body is doing but at our last US I was so taken back when I saw my baby. I couldn't believe how much the baby actually looked like a baby! I saw the little hands and feet and every little finger and toe. I could see the nose (which we both think is all Van Voorhis) and lips, and I watched this new life kicking and moving and I just could not believe that this was MY baby. I made this life and before I know it, this baby will be here, outside of me, living and breathing and Max and I will be embarking on this whole new adventure in our lives. We are just so blessed. And despite all the sickness, pain & all the other stuff that it takes my body to sustain this life, I am so grateful that I am experiencing this. WOW! Pregnancy...

Here's a look at the development of our Baby! This is what makes it ALL completely worth it. :)

This was our first US that we had to determine dates because I have an irregular cycle. Doesn't look like much but we got to see the heart beating and you can see where the little TINY leg is! So amazing! Based on my dates I was close to 10 weeks, but based on the baby's measurements, I was pushed back to only 8... darn it! Oh well! Healthy baby = happy mommy & daddy!

This was the first US for the NewMom2B Study that I'm participating in. I was 9 weeks along here. The baby had flipped in my uterus but still didn't look like much. The tech pointed out that they kind of look like gummy bears that this stage. They do!! My sis came with me to this one and we got to hear the heartbeat. It was incredible and I'm so glad she got to come with me for this since she lives out of state and won't get to be back until the baby is born.

And this is the US that changed it all. I know what babies look like at 13 weeks gestation, but until I saw MY baby, I had NO idea. My mom came with me to this one and we saw and heard the heatbeat. We saw the baby kicking and moving, then the baby flipped so we could get the picture we needed for the test we are doing. (Not the best picture of the baby's nose and lips) It was amazing. Max couldn't come because of work, but when I sent the pix on my phone, he vowed to not miss another US, ever! Proud daddy already!

Year-End Post!

2010-12-22T12:57:00.000-08:00

It's that time once again... Time for me to wrap it up. I'm such a bad blogger... lol
Well,
We've had a VERY busy year. It started with my second semester of nursing school in January and I was swamped until, well, NOW! Before finals were even close to over I was swamped with photography appointments, sometimes up to 3-4 a week! I did a few more weddings this year than I did last year and loved it!

This summer Max got a job with Harmon's and has been loving it ever since! He finally was able to quit working at the lonely, boring post office remote encoding center and is thrilled about it! Just 6 weeks into his new job a couple advancement opportunities presented themselves and Max decided to go for them. And in the end it paid off because he now the Payroll/Benefits person (along with his boss) for the entire Harmon's Company. He works Mon-Fri 8-5 and I couldn't be more proud of him! He loves the work and it keeps him challenged and learning all the time! Not to mention he got an office with a window!! :D

This fall was just as busy for me with my third (and roughest) semester of nursing school and busy photography schedule. But this fall was also very wonderful because we discovered just before Thanksgiving that we're expecting!!! That's right! Max and I are going to be having a baby next year! The baby is due July 26th and we can hardly wait to get out of our condo and into a home where we can start building a nursery! Max is a proud daddy and I'm a very happy (sometimes weepy ;) ) mommy. It's so fun to go to ultrasounds and see our little peanut growing! I'll be sure to keep everyone up to date on the latest with that.

I went to Florida just a week ago to watch my best friend graduate from college and the time has just flown since I've been home. I cannot believe we're through yet another year so quickly... We have been blessed in so many ways this year and are eagerly looking forward to what this next year will bring us! Love to you all!

Max, Callie & Baby Allen

Summer Wrap Up ~ Where did Summer go?!

2010-08-20T13:38:00.000-07:00

WARNING: Forever long post with lots of pix!

Jeeze! I need to not be such a slacker when it comes to my blog! Sorry! Been SUPER busy this summer! I did 4 weddings from April-July and just booked another one for December! My photography stuff has really taken off this year and I'm so glad! I've had a lot of opportunities to photograph a lot of different people and I've loved every minute of it!

My summer started off (technically) back in April with my finals, just three days after the first wedding of the season! Phew! Before Finals were even over we started remodeling our condo to get it ready to put on the market. We got new doors, new carpet, painted the walls, etc; you name it, we did it! It looks fantastic! We are so pleased with it and if it was big enough, it would be a pleasure to stay here for awhile longer, but we can't! We're selling our condo so we can move in with the parents (yes, again...) so we can save some moneys and get into a new place when I graduate school in the spring!!! The sale is going S-L-O-W... But we kind of knew it would in this market so we're glad we got it up on the market when we did.

After the remodel I was swamped with 2-3 photo shoots a week! I did babies, families, bridals, engagements, etc! I shot at some new places and have added a lot to my portfolio! (www.candidsbycallie.com) That kept me busy for most of May and June.

At the end of June I went to Seattle to photograph the second wedding of the season, my cousin's. It was SO MUCH FUN! She put us up in this FAB hotel on the 11th floor overlooking the beautiful town of Bellvue! We went out for drinks every night and just played, played, played! It was fun to see my mom's side of the family. We realized all 6 granddaughters hadn't all been together in 10 years!! So we took what used to be the annual granddaughter picture to commemorate the event! :D It was a great vacay with my sis and I'm so glad my cousin asked me to be her photographer! I took a short road-trip back to Spokane to spend not enough time with my dad's family over there before I flew home.

I came home just in time for the annual New Twilight Movie Premier Girls' Night! Eclipse! We had 40 women this time and the movie and dinner were a blast as usual! Love my Twi-hard Girls!

That week ended with a WEEKEND full of weddings! I did my friend, Leslie's beautiful wedding that Friday and wrapped up the week with a 4th of July wedding up at Millcreek. Gorgeous venues, beautiful weddings, LOADS of pictures! :D

July wrapped up with my sister coming home for TEN DAYS!!! We saw each other almost every day, went to a bees game, family bbqs, and then the trip wrapped up with the Mary Chapin Carpenter concert at Red Butte with my mom and Larry. It was great! We had wine and salmon and great bread with oil and vinegar. Ahhh... SO much fun! And then I was completely bummed when she left the next day. Like more bummed than usual. I cried myself to sleep the night she left. I think it's because we've seen so much of each other in the last 4 months and I knew that it would be awhile before I saw her again. It's hard when your only sibling lives so far away. :( But hopefully we will be able to make it up to Washington for Turkey Day!

And of course these loaded all out of order! But here's what I've been up to!

4th of July Wedding
Bride with her dad

4th of July Wedding
They wanted a couple fun pix to show they got married on Independence day!

Leslie's wedding!

Leslie's Wedding!

Leslie's Wedding

Weirdo we picked up at the MCC concert in August. He was nice til it was over and then he and his friend we're just freakin' creeepy!!!

Barefoot Muscato! My FAVE!!!

Me, Mama, and sis @ Theresa's Seattle Wedding in June

Sis and I waiting for the gates to open @ Red Butte for our Concert! It was so blasted hot!!!

One of my absolute favorite pictures I've done this year! (and overall)

One of Leslie's bridal pix from the Capitol Building. It was the first time I shot there and I loved it!

Another Capitol Bridal Picture of Leslie's

All 6 granddaughters on my mom's side!

Theresa's Wedding Cake. Beautifully Simple!

Theresa's flower girl and ring bearer

One of Leslie and Jordan's engagement pix! Love it! They were so fun to shoot!

The couple that is SOOO in love! They are so sweet to each other and love each other SOOO much! Never seen such a doting fiance/husband before!

One of my BFF's little sisters.

Max's best friend's son! LOVE this baby! :D

Sweet little newborn! Loved this shoot!

Another fave from the little newborn shoot I did in April

New paint in the bedroom!

New paint in the kitchen!

New carpet, new paint, new plant... Completely redone living room!

New entertainment center to go along with the new living room!

My April Wedding

My April Wedding Bride

More of her!

And here we are in August! Where did the time go? I'm all caught up with photo editing and just have one more shoot before school starts on Monday. Had orientation (if you could call it that... whatevs) last night and then today I reunited with a dear, long-lost friend (Torry) and tonight I'm going out with one of my best friends, Erin, to ride a mechanical bull at a trashy bar! Woot! Tomorrow I'm supposed to be going boating with Erin and her Fam and then it's getting ready for the real world to hit me hard, in the face, on Monday. I'll try to be a better about updating more often so you don't have to read such a crazy long post about 4 months' worth of things!

For Better, For worse. Four years.

2010-06-09T01:33:00.000-07:00

Four years ago, today, I married the love of my life. He's the most wonderful man. He's kind, thoughtful, strong, supportive, funny, good-lookin', and the list goes on.

As I sit here tonight thinking about all we've been through in the last four years I am so grateful that I've had him in my life to help me get through it all. He's been there for me with death, sickness, my only sister moving away, my acceptance into nursing school, and much more. And likewise, I've been there to support him in dealing with death, his mom getting cancer, illness, and I've had the opportunity to celebrate with him in his brother's missionary homecoming, the end of his mom's cancer treatment, getting through school, and much more.

I think back to the vows we made, "For better, for worse. For richer, for poorer. In sickness, and in health; until we are parted by death. All that I have is yours, all that I am is yours." And I realize, even in the short four years we've been married, we've been through ALL of that. And I know we'll see much more of all of that over and over in the years to come and I know that we can get through anything together and I know, even more than I did four years ago, that there is no one on this earth that I'd want to share my life with, except Max. You are the love of my life and my best friend, and I love you more than words can say.

Today, baby, I vow to you again, For better, for worse. For richer, for poorer. In sickness and in health; until we are parted by death. All that I have is yours, all that I am is yours.

Fighting Hard!

2010-05-10T19:23:00.001-07:00

Nope! Not this week! =D

I did NOT cry when I stepped on the scale this week! When I weighed on Saturday, I was down to 172.4 lbs! I stepped on and off the scale 3 times to be sure and then I took a picture on my phone so I could send it to my mama! (We're losing the weight together!)

So I'm down 4.1 lbs in my detox week. When I got on the scale after work this morning I was up to 174, but it was after a 12 hour night shift and I'm day 3 of that lovely monthly thing we women do so we can make life! So I am hoping that all that was playing into the weight this morning and I have to always remember that a person's weight can fluctuate up to 2 bls per day, so maybe I didn't really gain 2 lbs in two days. I think I need to NOT weigh on mornings that I come off graveyards...

So the battle continues.

My food restrictions are lighter this week and so tonight I treated myself to a skinny cow ice cream bar after my grilled chicken ceasar salad. I have my delicious fresh fruit to get me through the night and then I'm off for a couple days so lots of gym time (which I actually look forward to now)!

Thanks again for all the encouragement and support! It means the world to me!

Update on the Diet...

2010-05-05T03:09:00.001-07:00

So I haven't updated ya'll on the diet front because I got a little discouraged.

The week after I made my big resolve to get in shape I had finals weeks and it was the week of our extreme home makeover, Callie-style. So I didn't end up going to the gym at all that week. Our house was such a disaster that we didn't have any room in our "one-bum kitchen" to cook anything so we ate fast food most days. So needless to say, I gained back the 2.7 pounds I lost and then some. :( Boo.

Yesterday I had my appointment with my ONGYN to talk babies! Everything looks good except the WEIGHT! My doctor told me she'd really like to see me drop this extra weight before I'm pregnant. (My thoughts exactly) I've got the time to do it and I'm more determined than ever now because Max and I are beyond ready to start our family.

So. Here's the scoop, again.

On Sunday I weighed again. I've hit a new high, 176.5 lbs. UGH!

I got on the scale on monday Afternoon and I was at 175 lbs. Perfect! Down one lb, I'll take it.

Today at my appointment, the MA weighed me and I think she wrote in my chart as 174.5 lbs. WOOT!

So I'm dramatically decreasing the carbs in my diet. That's what my doc wants me to do and I'm going to the gym at least 5 days a week. I'm focusing on eating a lot more fruits and veggies and lean meats, and lots of eggs! (I've discovered a new love for eggs!)

I'm done with my "I gained the weight back" pity-party and I'm moving on to bigger and better things. If I want a baby I NEED to drop this weight. Done. There's my new motivation. I actually feel a lot better eating all this fresh food instead of the processed stuff and I feel like I could take on the world when I come out of the gym all sweaty and gross.

And so the war continues!

It's TIME!

2010-04-13T15:17:00.001-07:00

Ok, ya'll. I've decided the time has come for me to stop being fat! Yes, FAT! I'm way beyond what "they" say I should weigh for my height. And I know the BMI doesn't take muscle and all that into account, but I still do not like the number I see on the scale and I know it's not healthy for me to weigh what I weigh right now. And since Max and I are hoping to be pregnant in the next year, I'd like to start at a HEALTHY weight. I look back at pictures of me from my wedding day and our honeymoon (back when I thought I was "fat") and I came to the realization that I looked pretty damn great and that I would kill to be that size again. So that's my ultimate goal. I weighed 133 lbs on my wedding day (I know because I was desperately trying to lose weight before the wedding and I lost 8 lbs the week of my wedding because I was so stressed about my mom's emergency, exploratory bowel resection surgery she just "had" to have so she could have all the attention on her that week... ;) Kidding mom! (she lost 15 lbs that week, and not in a good way...)) Anyway... SO I'd like to get down to 130 lbs by December of this year. That's 45 lbs in about 8 months. I don't think that's an outrageous goal, especially because I'm setting smaller goals along the way. Little half-way goals, I guess. My first goal is to be down to 155 by our wedding anniversary on June 9th. I started all this on April 6th so that's 10 lbs a month, broken down to 2.5 lbs a week, a healthy pace.

With all that off my chest, here's the scoop:

I started Weight Watchers last week and now that I'm almost out of school (two more lectures and two finals....) I'm going to go to Zumba 5-6 days a week because I love it so much and it makes me feel good when I go! I get 26 points a day with WW currently but as soon as I lose a few more lbs, that will go down. And I earn about 5 points a day when I do Zumba.

Here's my progress so far. I only made it ONE Zumba class last week but I was pretty good with the points. And this is what I have to show for it.

Starting weight: 175.4 lbs
Goal weight: 155 by June 9th (our anniversary)

Weight today (one week in): 172.7
Loss: 2.7 lbs
Weight to lose: 17.7 lbs

SO, here it goes. I'm doing this for real this time. No more messing around. I want to be the healthiest, happiest me I can be! :D

Just a little cat nap...

2010-02-17T18:09:00.001-08:00

This is me and my sweet kitty, Icabod. He's taken a liking to the back of our new recliner because it has a perfect little spot for him to sit with us (not on us, he's not a lap-kitty). So this is his new favorite spot.

And our little cat nap. This is where you can usually find me lately. If I'm not studying or at work or school, I'm asleep. :)

V-Day.

2010-02-17T18:04:00.000-08:00

Nothing fancy to report about Valentine's day this year. My husband got me a couple very sweet cards and we had two glorious nights to ourselves with no distractions, no homework, nowhere to be. Just us. Perfection. We did have our parents and Max's gma over to our house last weekend for Max's homemade lasagna (DELICIOUS!) and I made bouquets for our mom's and gmas. Overall, nice weekend, and now it's on to finish the rest of the week!

Take that V8!

2010-02-17T18:01:00.000-08:00

This was my dinner tonight. How's that for getting my servings of fruits and veggies for the day. A homemade, all fruit smoothie and these fresh veggies! mmmmm!
I'm trying to be better about what I'm eating and I read about this girl who keeps a food blog so she literally shows anyone who wants to look exactly what she's eating and she holds herself more accountable for it. Good idea huh? So we'll see if I can find the time in my life to show you all how "healthy" I'm trying to eat... Here it goes! :)

Yearly Christmas Update!

2009-12-06T19:05:00.000-08:00

Once again, it's Christmas time and we're looking back at yet another year gone by. This has been quite an eventful year that started with Max continuing to work on his degree with Weber State University and me applying for nursing school with Weber State for the second time.

Fast forward to April which is when I got my letter from Weber informing me of my position as an alternate for the program that started this fall. My mom and I attended a meeting at the school to look at what my points were and see how close I was to the top of the alternate list (because they will not tell you specifically). As it turned out, my points were the same as the student who got the 90th spot so we knew I had to be close to the top! We asked the advisors what I should do and they said to relax and know that if I didn't get in this year that I'd for sure be in the next year. So I patiently waited and on Tuesday, April 28th, Max brought in a small, uneventful looking letter from the box that turned out to be the letter I'd been waiting for 5 years to come - the letter telling me I'd been accepted to Nursing School! It seemed that it was never going to happen, but it did and I along with all of my family are so glad it has! Two days later, my sister got HER letter of accpetance to NIC's Nursing Program so not only do we both want to be nurses but we get to do school togther!

The next month was all about dad and his new wife, Mona. They married the last weekend in May and it was quite a party! It was a beautiful ceremony with a wonderful reception full of fun and dancing. His family came and it was nice to have some time with them over the weekend. The fantastic four (Gary, Carli, Laura and I) had a great time together. We haven't all four been together for quite some time so it was wonderful.

This summer Max and I went up to visit my family in Idaho, including my sis and her awesome boyfriend, Scott. My mom and her new husband met us up there and we all had a wonderful time together. Laura, my mom and I were lucky enough to be able to scatter my Grandma Carol's ashes while we were there and that was a wonderful experience.

In July, Max's mom celebrated the end of cancer treatment!!! She had her last round of chemo and threw a fabulous party to celebrate! That was a long, hard fight and we're all so proud of the attitude Connie had the whole time and are so thankful for the support from EVERYONE!

The rest of the summer was filled with a few weddings that I photographed and I'm looking forward to shooting many more next summer too! My photography has really taken off and I'm so grateful to all my many subjects (especially the regulars, Karalee!) who keep me in busniess!

The summer wrapped up with mom's fantastic wedding! She and Larry got married the last weekend in August (literally two days before nursing school started for both Laura and me!) and it was wonderful! Laura and I gave mom away and stood up there with her as she married a man that loves her more than any of us knows. The ceremony was perfect and the reception ("It's not a reception, it's a party!" as mom puts it) was a party in a can! We danced, drank, ate, made toasts and had a great time! It is so nice to have both of my parents happily married and loving life.

I started Nursing School with Weber State two days later and am finishing up my first semester with two finals tomorrow! It's been a lot of work but I've enjoyed it and am still so grateful to finally be in! Max is also finishing up tomorrow and the one-year countdown to his graduation begins! He'll be graduated this time next year and we are looking forward to it!

As I said, it's been a busy, wonderful and eventful year. We want to wish all of our friends and family a wonderful Christmas and happy New Year and will make sure to keep you all updated through our blog as our life unfolds! We love you all!

P.S. I decided not to post pix with this particular post - but scroll down to check out older posts and see the pix from this very eventful year! :)

ThAnKsGiViNg!

2009-12-02T15:18:00.000-08:00

Max and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with his family at his sister's home! She put on a wonderful spread and we ate til we couldn't anymore and spent a nice afternoon with some of our favorite people. I just want to take a minute to tell all my family and friends (the family you choose) that we are so thankful for all of you! We are so lucky to have people to go to when we're having bad days and celebrate with in times of joy! This holiday reminds me that I have infinite blessings from God to be grateful for every day. A few of the best blessings are pictured below, and I'm so thankful for these and many others.

Hope you all had as wonderful a holiday as I had and I wish many blessings upon you all as well.

A wonderful husband who never ceases to make me smile and laugh!

The love of my life

My brother-in-law and his wonderful girlfriend (who is also one of my FAVORITE friends)!

My Fantastic sister-in-law!

My loving mother-in-law who would do anything for me.

Max and his awesome dad who loves us very much!

I know, I've been such a lazy Blogger...

2009-11-05T13:23:00.000-08:00

But once again, I remind you that I am a very busy girl! I have been going 90 miles an hour for the past 6 weeks! I have been in school 18 hours a week and at work 36 hours a week, plus I've had 1-2 photo shoots every weekend since October began! But It's been so great! I'm doing wonderful in school and if you'd told me I'd be doing this well 2 months ago I would have told you you were nuts and must be thinking about my smarty-pants sis, Laura! But Seriously, I'm doing well, the best I've ever done in classes like this, I guess it makes a difference when you like what you're studying huh? :) It's finally all making perfect sense and I'm getting it, not struggling through it! So I'm happy about that! Max is changing his schedule soon so he can resume the normalcy of working days, not nights. I guess I'm the only weirdo that actually LIKES working nights! :) So I'm happy for that because I think he'll feel better in general because he will be getting good sleep for the first time in a year! A couple weeks ago we went to our wonderful friends' Halloween Party and had a blast! I dressed up as a roman emperoress and Max went as Maximus Decimus Meridius (well a Roman gladiator anyway :) ) and we looked great! Our friend (and fellow photographer) has been wanting to go out together and photograph each other with our hubbies, and we finally nailed down a date and did it.! It a was blast and the pix turned out great! Now I just have to decide which one to use for our Christmas card... Hmm... I'm taking votes on the ones below!

Option #1, My fave!

Option #2, my other fave!

Option #3

Option #4: Max likes this one because he says it looks like I'm pouting, I didn't mean to, I think I look ridiculous! :)

Option #5: I love this one because Max is always making me laugh. God, I love this man!

This is a picture I took outside of my condo a couple weeks ago. It was the most PERFECT fall day. All the leaves were literally falling off the trees all around me, it was heaven!

This is just a picture I took while I was waiting for one my photography shoots to start. I just love this leaf. There is some tree up here in Bountiful that has these leaves that change into this blazing red color in the fall and I LOVE it! I love looking up into the mountains and seeing sprays of this color. It makes my soul sing!

And here's one pic from the party, can't really see our costumes, but I'll find a better one and post it soon! :)

It's been awhile, Sorry!

2009-09-18T12:13:00.000-07:00

So I haven't blogged since my nephew's birthday... But when I update you, you'll understand why! The following weekend was my mom's wedding! It was FABULOUS! We had such a wonderful time! Everything turned out great and I've never seen my mom happier! Larry is a wonderful man and is part of a wonderful family and it's great that our two families are now joined together as one.

First dance as husband and wife

Tailgating, again! :) We make weddings way fun!

Larry and his boys

Mom and her girls
(we're just one boy and one girl short of the Brady Bunch!)

The Happy Couple

Two days after my mom's wedding, I FINALLY started Nursing School at Weber State! Ugh! It was rough that first week! I cried so much and wasn't quite sure if this is really what I wanted to sign up for, but we're finished with week four now, and A+, A- and B+ test scores later I'm feeling like I can actually do this and I'm remembering that, "Oh yeah, I DO want to be a nurse and all I wanted this year was to be in Nursing school, so I better shut-up and get studying!" Thanks to all my friends and family who have been so incredibly supportive, especially Max and my mom. Baby, you are my rock and you keep me going when I think I can't anymore. And ma ma, you are just so proud of me, I can't even stand it right now! You never miss an opportunity to tell someone what I'm doing and how excited and proud you are that I'm doing it. Thank you! Thank you! Thank You!

Many, many, many more books than this, but this is all I was studying at the time...

My awesome patch that cost $3.00 on my unisex scrub shirt that cost $50.00!!! But I'm in school, I can't complain too much; it'll be over before I know it!

Cason is One!

2009-08-17T00:32:00.000-07:00

My little nephew had has one year old birthday party today and so we went and did presents and cake and ice cream! He was so cute and had a good time with his cake! I'm so glad Joe and Jerry invited us so we didn't miss it!

GlItTeR ToEs!!!

2009-08-06T16:20:00.001-07:00

Hooray for glitter toes! They are the newest, fantastic, fun thing to do with your toes! I've seen tons of people where I live, and tons of people, including my fave aunt and her daughter with them up in Idaho and Washington. So I decided I wanted to have mine done too! I found a blog in which a woman shares her little secret of how to have glitter toes without spending a ton of money and having to have the gel on your nails that is very hard on them and hard to get off when you're done. So here they are!

All you do is get loose glitter (I got a huge pack from Walmart with EVERY color I could possibly want) and then you paint your toe nails with a coordinating nail color, and while the polish is still wet, cover your toes with glitter. Then take a clear top coat and paint over the glitter to seal it in. I did a couple coats to make them extra sparkly and shiny! Then take a small paintbrush or make-up brush and brush away all the extra glitter that sticks to your toes. Make sure to do it over a peice of paper so you can save the excess glitter that spills. I'm thrilled with the result! I think they look great and now I just have to see how long they last! I posted a pic, but you can't laugh at my ugly feet! I hate my feet, but I wanted you to be able to see the finished product because the woman I got the idea from didn't. Here are my Glitter Toes! :)

HoMe AgAin

2009-08-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

Max and I are back from our yearly vacation up north. We go up to Coeur d' Alene, ID every year to see my family and spend time at our wonderful lake cabin. We didn't actually make it to the cabin this year but we had such a great time with ALL my family, literally. My mom and her hubby, my dad and his wife, Max and I and the rest of the bunch were all up there at the same time this year! We got to spend at least one night with everyone and a few with my sis. We played in downtown Cd'A and went to Spokane, I did family pictures for my Aunt and Uncle and my mom, sis and I had the wonderful opportunity to go spread my G-ma Carol's ashes at a lake that she and my grandpa used to love to go fishing at when they were alive. It was the most beautiful funeral/memorial, or whatever you'd call it, I've ever been a part of. It wasn't formal or anything, it was just the way it was supposed to be, the way my beloved grandma would have wanted it. Just the people she meant the most to remembering her and celebrating the wonderful woman she was. It was a rainy, cool day and right after we finished spreading the ashes, mom said a prayer and we were just sitting in the boat and the whole lake got really peaceful and calm and it felt like all was right with the world. Even though it was a sad thing to be doing, it just felt like it was happening exactly how she would have wanted it to. We were all at peace. I love her so much and I think about her often. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to do this with my mom and my sis and to have had my Grandma in my life for as long as I did.

Mom being silly with the airplane hat

Laura and I dog-piled on mom!

Laura and I made penis pasta for my mom! He He!

Laura and I riding a moose in downtown Cd'A? Yep!

My sis, mom, Jeff (her step-brother), Leah (Jeff's niece) and me on the beach at Lake Curlew, G-ma and G-pa's favorite place. Be at peace G-ma, we all are.

The peaceful and calm lake after we spread the ashes

Looking out at the lake from the dock

The beautiful Spokane River. I think I'm going to have this one blown up and framed!

NO MORE CHEMO!

2009-07-18T23:41:00.000-07:00

My mother-in-law was diagnosed with the worst type of breast cancer over a year and half ago. She has been doing chemo and radiation for 18 months and is FINALLY done! She had her last treatment on Thursday, July 16th and we are all so thrilled. She has been a trooper through it all, keeping our spirits up by being upbeat and positive. I love her so much and I'm so proud of her for making it through this so strong and I'm glad to say she's beating cancer! She hosted a party to thank everyone for the support she's gotten over the last year and half. She got 100 pink balloons and we all took one, yelled "Save the ta-tas" (a breast cancer awareness organization), and let them all go to signal the end of this! It was a beautiful day and so many people came to show how much they still support not only Connie, but the rest of us as well! I thank God for all he's done for all of us through this trial and for pulling us through to other side of it!

Connie (mom-in-law) and her husband Dave (father-in-law)
He's been wonderful through all this and he loves her so much!

Max, Tracie (his sister), Art (his brother) and Dave and Connie
What a wonderful family I married into!

Connie and Me
I love her dearly!

"Save the Ta-Tas!"

All the wonderful women who worked at her cancer treatment center who were there every step of the way! They were magnificent and we were so happy they came!

Summer!

2009-07-15T03:17:00.000-07:00

I was at my mother-in-law's house the other day and just shot a couple cool pix of the bees enjoying the summer flowers in her beautiful garden! I love summer!

iNdEpEnDeNcE dAy!

2009-07-05T15:47:00.000-07:00

So we went down to South Jordan and had a bbq with my mom, Larry and his son's family! It was so much fun. We played with the baby and the kids, ate good food, had some drinks and watched some darn good fireworks! Max helped the older boys fill and tie water balloons and in the process got totally SOAKED! (front and back) But he dried out nicely because the weather held and didn't rain like the silly weather man said it would. Hooray for that! The hightlight of the night was probably when Cayson, the youngest got ahold of Larry's wrapped cigar and knawed on that for awhile (pix below). It wasn't anything fancy or big, just friends, family and good times! What a great way to celebrate our wonderful country! God Bless America!

Look ma, No Hands!!

Cayson with grampa Larry's cigar enjoying fireworks.

Carter with the LAST water balloon that all the big boys wanted him to pop.

Carter thoroughly enjoying his hotdog that he DIDN'T drop on the ground.

Max & Baby Cayson!

Thank God for Best Friends

2009-07-03T15:46:00.000-07:00

Isn't she just gorgeous? Beautiful Bee!

Kiss, Kiss!

I wish I didn't look pregnant in this one, but it's my fave!

Trying to keep it together to do a serious picture. Not happening!

So my best friend, Brittany, surprised me and flew in from Florida a couple weeks ago. We got to get together and took pictures and had dinner and we talked into the wee hours of the morning like we used to when she lived here. She was my maid of honor at my wedding in 2006. Max hasn't seen her since then and I've only seen her for a couple too-short visits since then so it was so fantastic to see her for more than a couple hours this time. Thanks to my wonderful husband for taking pictures for us! I've missed her so much since she moved away 6 years ago. She's the best friend I've ever had and even though we live so far apart now, when we get together nothing's changed. We have things to catch up on but it's like we just saw each other yesterday because we are so close. She's talking about moving back to Utah in about a year and half and I hope it works for her to that! It would be so great to have her close again. I love her so much and I'm so thankful that she's in my life. Love you Bee!

Great Day - Party AND a New Camera!

2009-06-07T14:41:00.001-07:00

So yesterday was a great day! In the morning I decided that with two weddings and bridal sessions coming up this summer that it was time for me to upgrade my camera. I was just going to have mine cleaned (because it NEEDS it) but that would take my camera out of commission for at least two weeks. So I talked it over with my wonderful husband (of three years on Tuesday, June 9th) and he said he thought I should even though it would be pricey. So I did it! I bought a brand new Nikon D300 and I LOVE IT! I took it to the family shoot I did yesterday and it was AMAZING! It cut my editing time in half so I had more time to just work on enhancing! I'm so happy I did it and it is already way worth the money I spent because it will make for even better pictures! I'm keeping my other camera as a back-up (my hub says it's his now) and now I have the time to take it to Foresters to give it some TLC. I'm posting some of the pix I've taken with my new camera at the end of this post.
The other great part of yesterday was my party my mom hosted for me! She wanted to celebrate the fact that I got into nursing school and so she decided to throw me a party! Not everyone who said they were going to came, but to the people who did, THANK YOU! Thank you for coming to celebrate with me last night, thank you for the cards, and thank you for encouraging me to keep reaching for my dream! I couldn't ask for better friends! I love you all! And a big thanks again to my mom, my biggest fan! I love you mama!

Cute Jameson at my party, being much more interested in the humming bird feeder. :)

My kitty, Binx.

My mama's beautiful clematis.

Lily the cat.

This is our friend's son, Mikey, who wanted to see me through the lens of my camera.

Our cute friend's family that I did pix for yesterday, right after I got my camera!

Mikey and his Daddy!

Mikey and his Mommy!

Dad's Wedding!

2009-05-28T22:26:00.000-07:00

So Dad and Mona tied the knot Memorial Day Weekend and it was great! The ceremony was beautiful and the party was fun and we got to spend 4 days with our fun family! We had lots of fun having BBQ's, golfing, pampering, etc. And I danced so much at the wedding that I was sore for two days! All of my family finally got to see where Max and I live and that was nice. I got to spend more time than I thought I would with my sis and that was fantastic! We went and got fitted for our dresses for my mom's wedding and had a nice brunch with my mom and gma. The weekend flew by and we didn't get enough sleep but it was all worth it! I'm very happy that my dad has found the love of his life and that we got to be there for him and her when they took their vows.

Me and Max, not a great picture of us. :)

The Final Picture! (scroll down to see take one and two... We couldn't be serious)

The second try, still not even close...

The first Try for a picture...

Me and my Cuz! Love him!

Max kissing the Bride! Uh Oh!

The Fantastic Four!

A blonde, a brunette and a redhead walk into a bar...

The girls

Sis & I with our corsages (and beer) :)

Waiting for the toast to be over so we can clink and drink!

I AM IN!

2009-04-28T15:20:00.001-07:00

Finally after 5 years of college I am starting nursing school at the school I wanted most! I'll be starting Nursing School this fall at Weber State University!!! I've wanted to be a nurse for 9 years now and I'm finally going to be able to achieve this dream. Nursing School has felt so unreachable, so far away that it all feels a little surreal to me right now, but I'm sure once I'm "balls to the wall" busy with Nursing classes and clinicals that it will feel plenty real. :) My mom is throwing me a party on Saturday, June 6th, to celebrate! I want anyone who can to come and celebrate with us! It's because of all your encouragement and support that I kept reaching for this star. Most of all I want to thank my mom, my biggest fan, for all the love and support and encouragement she's offered to me, not only my whole life, but particularly these last nine years. She believed I could do this from the moment I said I wanted to when others doubted me. She's the one that helped me figure out what classes I needed. She's the one that took a half a day of vacation to come the meeting that just simply told me what my score was. And she was the one who cried tears of joy with me when I called to tell her I was in.

Viva Las Vegas!

2009-04-22T19:51:00.000-07:00

Max and I just got home from fabulous vacay inVegas! We went down there last week and stayed with my dad for four days. We played on the strip, gambled, had good food and even visited the TITANIC exhibit at the Luxor. (which was amazing!) I also finally got the guts to pierce my nose. It's something I've been contemplating for almost a year. I've been worried about how bad it would hurt and honestly it wasn't any worse than an ear piercing! The worst part was when he put the actual stud in the hole after he put the three inch needle through my nostril! So here's a picture. I LOVE IT! I'm so glad I did it. I think it's cute and my hubby does too. My dad didn't even notice it til I stood right in front of him and pointed it out and my mom will grow to love it. :) So what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas...

14.5 is my new favorite number!

2009-04-02T18:51:00.000-07:00

So we went to the meeting today up at Weber and I found out what my score was. I got 14.5 points. The average this year was 17.36, almost three points higher than last year's average. So they explained where the points come from and all that. They also shared with me that the person who got the 90th spot also scored 14.5 points. So I am THAT close. They told me to be patient and hopefully I'll get a call soon. They said they wouldn't be suprised if I get in this year and if I don't, they said, "next year, you're in; so just ride the wave". (direct quote) :) So now I'm just playing the waiting game. I know that whatever happens is what's supposed to happen but obviously I'm hoping that that is Nursing School. I'll be sure to post a great big HOORAY and the date for the party that my mom insists on throwing for me if I get in! (she really is my biggest fan!)

Not a "No" yet...

2009-04-01T22:44:00.000-07:00

So just over a week ago I got my letter from Weber State telling me that I have been accepted as an alternate for their Nursing Program that starts this August! Hooray! I really wasn't expecting to get in this year and I didn't even consider being an alternate so when I read my letter, needless to say, I was beyond stoked. I have been dreaming of this for almost ten years now and I can't believe it might actually happen for me this year, and at the school I want! So I need lots of prayers that someone won't be able to accept their spot so I can take it. I talked to an advisor last week and he said that last year they accepted 30 of the alternates and he has a feeling that they will be accepting a big group again this year. He also said that if I don't get in this year I am basically guaranteed a spot next year. My mom and I are attending a meeting tomorrow about how they score the applications and all that good stuff. So now I'm just waiting for a phone call. It could come in the next few weeks, the next couple months, or even the first day of class. So here's crossing my fingers and toes to get into nursing school in the fall! A big thanks to everyone who's kept encouraging me to stay with it and do it, especially my mama, because she is my biggest fan.

We all have much to be thankful for...

2009-03-26T03:16:00.000-07:00

I AM THANKFUL:

FOR THE WIFE

WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,

BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,

AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND

WHO IS ON THE SOFABEING A COUCH POTATO,

BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME

AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER

WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES

BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,

NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY

BECAUSE IT MEANS

I AM EMPLOYED .

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE

BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG

BECAUSE IT MEANSI HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK

BECAUSE IT MEANS

I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,

WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,

AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME .

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING

I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT

BECAUSE IT MEANS

WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. .

FOR THE PARKING SPOT

I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING

AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL

BECAUSE IT MEANSI AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH

WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS

I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING

BECAUSE IT MEANS

I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES

AT THE END OF THE DAY

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN

CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFFIN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!

10 Things...

2009-03-14T04:24:00.000-07:00

Ok, here's what ya do. Copy this and paste it into your own post and change my answers to yours! Then tag anyone whose answers you think you'd like to see!

10 Kisses
1. Do you remember the person you first kissed? Yes
2. Have you ever kissed someone you weren't dating? yes
3. Ever kissed an ex after you broke up? Yes
4. Have you kissed anyone in your top friends list? Yes
5. Ever kissed two people at once? Nope
7. Ever kissed someone younger than you? Yes
8. Older than you? Yes
9. Have you ever kissed someone you didn't like? No, I don't just give kisses to anyone.
10. Ever made out with someone who was a really bad kisser? Yes. - Who? Evan

10 Facts
1. Full Name -- Callie Michelle Allen
2. Nicknames - Cal, Bestie, Baby, Girl, Wife
3. Birth place -- SLC, UT
4. Hair color -- Natural? Brown, but I just dyed it Red!
5. Natural hair style -- Naturally Kinky-Curly
6. Eye colour -- Blue
7. Birthday -- Jan. 20th
8. Height -- 5'1"
9. Favorite color -- For the time being, Green
10. Status -- Married to the Love of My Life

10 Things About Your Love Life
1. Have you ever been in love -- Yes
2. Do you believe in love at first sight -- I haven't experienced it, but I believe there are people who have
3. Have you ever been hurt emotionally -- Who hasn't?
5. Have you ever broken someone's heart -- I don't know about breaking a heart, but I hate to admit that I have hurt someone emotionally
6.Have you ever had your heart broken -- Yes
7. Have you ever liked someone but never told them -- No, I'm too honest
8. Are you afraid of commitment? -- Depends on what I'm committing to...
9. Have you ever fallen for your best friend? -- No
10. Have you ever had a secret admirer? Not that I know of... If I knew, it wouldn't be very secret now would it? :)

10 Choices
1. Love or lust:- - Love
2. liquor or beer - - Liquor
3. Cats or Dogs - Both!
4. A few best friends or lots of close friends?-- Best Friends
6. Friends or Family -- Both are family, friends are the family you chose to have.
7. Wild night out or romantic night in -- A wild night out!
8. Money or Happiness -- Happiness
10. IM or phone -- Phone

10 Have You Evers?
1. Been caught sneaking out -- Nope
2. Purposely hurt someone -- Never
3. Done something you regret -I look at my mistakes as learning experiences and that way I don't have to regret them, I appreciate what I've learned from them.
4. Bungee jumped - - No, and I never will!
5. Been so embarrassed that you actually cried -- Yes.
6. Skinny Dipped - - Every summer at our cabin. He he!
7. Gotten stuck in an elevator -- Not that I can recall
8. Wanted an ex bf/gf back -- Yeah, even though I knew it was completely wrong.
9. Cried because you lost a pet -- Yes, I get teary-eyed thinking about it.
10. Wanted to disappear --Yes

10 Preferences In A Partner
1. Smile or eyes-- Smile
2. Light or dark hair -- Dark
3. Hugs or kisses -- Gotta have 'em both!
4. Shorter or taller -- Taller
5. Intelligence or attraction -- He doesn't need to be Albert Einstein or anything but I like smart guys
6. Romantic or spontaneous-- Gotta have both!
7. Funny or serious -- Funny, but serious when they need to be.
8. Older or Younger -- Age is just a number
9. Outgoing or quiet -- Outgoing
10. Sweet or Bad -- Sweet

10 Lasts
1. Last person you were on the phone with -- My mama!
3. Last person you hung out with -- Artie, Brittany and my hubby
4. Last time you worked - - Yesterday
5. Last person you tackled -- Couldn't say...
6. Last person you IM'd -- Don't know
7. Last person you texted? My mama
8. Last person(s) you went to the movies with - Hub - Friday the 13th! Fantastic!
9. Last person you shared a bed with -- My Hubby
10. Last person you were in a car with -- My hubby

10 Are You's?
1. Missing someone right now? -- Yes, my sis
2. Happy? - Yes!
3. Talking to anyone right now? -- Nope
4. Bored? - - No
5. German? - - Don't know
6. Swedish? - -Don't know
7. French? - - Don't know
8. Italian? - - Don't know (as my hubby says, "I'm American, I'm a mutt, I've got a little of everything in me probably"
9.Your parents still married? - - No, but they are both getting married this year
10. In love with someone right now? -- Yes!

10 Minutes
1. Thinking about? -- being cold!
2. Are you eating? -- Not at the moment
3. What are you listening to? -- Boston Legal
4. What were you doing an hour ago? making cupcakes
5. What are you wearing? -- black sweat pants and my "I'm not Irish, but kiss me anyway" shirt
6. Are you cold? - -YES!
7. Are you excited? --I'm looking forward to the baby shower for Dara and Brittany today
8. Are you upset? -- No
9. What is your current mood?--Content
10. Is anyone going to reply? -- who knows?

I tag Brittany, Alexis, Dara and Face!

For you, Face! :)

2009-03-05T01:43:00.000-08:00

Rules: It's harder than it looks! Copy to your own note, erase my answers, and enter yours. Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real, nothing made up! If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You must put the first answer that comes to mind! You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name twice for the boy/girl name one

1. What is your name: Callie
2. A four Letter Word: call
3. A boy's Name: Cooper
4. A girl's Name: Claire
5. An occupation: CNA
6. A color: Cerulean (it is a color, by Crayola, it's blue and it was my favorite when I was little)
7. Something you wear: camisole
8. A food: cantalope
9. Something found in the bathroom: conditioner
10. A place: Couer d' alene
11. A reason for being late: caught a cold
12. Something you shout: Crap!
13. A movie title: Chicago (I know it was a play first but it's a movie now too)
14. Something you drink: Cozmopolatin
15. A musical group: Cranberries
16. An animal: cat

Ok so I tag Brittany, Alexis and Lisa

Praise the Lord!

2009-02-28T20:50:00.000-08:00

I had a great night tonight. My church dedicated our new building and it was a party! We had a wonderful worship service with communion and then we played music and danced the rest of the night! Besides being so much fun it is so amazing to be a part of this church. My church has been meeting, growing, and surviving through the Grace of God for almost 20 years now. I became a part of it (much to my dismay at first) about 11 years ago and I'm so grateful for it. My church is truly my extended family. I was so overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude for all that I've been through with my church. I remember when we got the permission to meet in another church's fellowship hall, and that was pretty great. I remember when my dad was the head of the building committee and headed the building campaign to get our very own building to worship in. With the help of many people from many religions all around the Salt Lake Valley we got our building up. It's where I met some of my dearest friends while writing scriptures on the framing wood and concrete floor before they were covered and placing each and every stone on the outside with our very own hands. We've come so far from meeting in any building we could to having our own small building out in a field to now having our building with the sanctuary and the new building that is our fellowship hall (that isn't just a hallway) with lots of new rooms for the kids and youth. This church has come so far and has been such a blessing in my life and I'm truly honored and overjoyed to be a part of it. Praise the Lord!

Yay Green!

2009-02-14T16:51:00.000-08:00

So as you all can see, I'm done with sappy V-Day and it's onto to awesome St. Patrick's Day. Don't get me wrong, I like Valentine's day just fine. In fact, we had a great V-day this year. My bro-in-law's awesome girlfriend and I made a delicious dindin for our guys! It was fun. We dipped strawberries and made pasta with a homemade alfredo and I made Max and I lobster tails and Brittany made Art halibut. And for dessert we had chocolate mousse pie! Yum. But as much fun as is was, it's not at the top of my list as far as my favorite holidays go; so bring on the green! :)

I know I was born to do this.

2009-02-09T21:46:00.000-08:00

Had a really, really, really hard day at work last week. Hardest day I may ever have in my career and I'm not even a nurse yet. And it was an event that some nurses that have been doing nursing in Labor and Delivery for years have never experienced. I couldn't be more grateful for the team that was on that night; the Doctors, RN's, etc. I wish things had worked out differently but they didn't and we all have to accept that. I pray that all the others that were there that night are coping and I pray for the family of the patient. We don't have all the answers but this did bring me comfort in an odd way. I have always said, even in my essays for nursing school apps, that even after the longest night of the hardest shift that I still want to come back to work for my next shift. And guess what... I still do. Even after this I know in my soul that I was born to do this job and I still want to go back to work tomorrow night.

Self-Shot Family Photos

2009-02-01T04:21:00.000-08:00

Me and my awesome sis, Laura. She's one of my best friends.

Three generations of strong women

My sis, mom and I. And for some weird reason, it always ends up that I'm on mom's left and Laura's on mom's right every time we take a picture like this...

Me, my hubby, my gma, mom, Larry and Laura

Mom & her soon-to-be hubby, Larry

My sis, Laura, Max and I

So these are being posted a bit late but here they are. We decided to do some family pictures while my sis was in town for Christmas because we haven't had them done since before I got married. We tried to get a lady from our church, who does photography, to shoot them for us and then I would take the raw images and enhance them on my computer myself. But when I called her to make sure she was still coming, she didn't answer or call me back. So I decided to set up my tripod and try out my camera timer and shoot our family photos myself. And guess what... They turned out pretty good. So here are a few of the images; my family shoot that I shot. :)

A Historical Day!

2009-01-20T03:26:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to say that I'm so excited that my birthday this year will go down in history. Not because it's my birthday, but because we'll be swearing in the first African American President! I am excited to see what Barak Obama is going to do with this country and I love that I'll be able to tell my kids and grandkids that I remember this day in history; and it's my birthday to boot! Best Birthday Ever! Go Obama!

My New Year's Resolution

2009-01-10T03:25:00.000-08:00

So my New Year's Resolution is different than it has been in other years. It's usually to get in shape and lose weight and I have a specific number I want to get to on the scale and all that. This year I want to get my LIFE in shape. I want to do more than be physically healthy. I want to be healthy emotionally, spiritually, financially, physically etc. I know I won't be able to accomplish all of this every day, but I'm taking it one day at a time. I don't have specific numbers I need to get to or certain deadlines to meet. I just want to focus on being the best me I can be every day. I want to be better today than I was yesterday. I want to take care of myself so I can be a good wife, daughter, sister, friend, student, employee, etc. I know this will take work but I'm up for the challenge. I hope you all have come up with what you resolve to do this year, even if that means resolving to not set a specific, cliche resolution. ;)

Another New Year!

2009-01-10T03:14:00.000-08:00

Well, yet another year of my life has flown by even faster than the last. I'll be 23 in 10 days and I can honestly say that I am very happy with my life. Tonight I went to the bridal show with my dad's fiance and I told her the same thing. Everything is good right now. Both of my parents are happily engaged, (yes, Mom and Larry got engaged on New Year's Eve, their two year anniversary and my dad is engaged to the Love of his life too, Mona) my sister is the happiest she's been in a long time and has a great boyfriend that adds to that happiness and Max and I are happy and healthy. I am just so blessed. There isn't anything I'd change. Max is busy with school again and I'm getting my application together for nursing school hoping that THIS time I'll get in... I'll be sure to post the results of my application at the end of March/beginning of April! So keep your fingers crossed until then and check back!

2008 Year-End Wrap Up

2008-12-19T10:20:00.000-08:00

Hello all my dear friends and family. A friend of mine gave me the terrific idea of not sending a printed Christmas letter this year. Instead I've decided to post one on my blog to save paper and ink and this way, you all can read in a lot more detail, if you choose, about what happened this year. Our year started out pretty uneventful. But in March, Max's mother, Connie, was diagnosed with the most aggressive, least responsive to treatment breast cancer there is. She immediately had an operation to remove the tumors and started Chemo-Therapy in April. She's done many different kinds of chemo and just finished up 6 weeks of radiation last Tuesday and is doing great! She's a trooper. This summer we traveled up to Cd'a, Idaho for my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. They had a vow-renewal ceremony that was very sweet. Then it was off the to cabin for a week of just us and it was wonderful. This fall we both went back to school for yet another semester. I officially graduated with a General Education Associates of Science degree. (say that 10 times fast!) So now, hopefully when I apply for nursing, yet again, in January, this Degree will give the leg-up I need to be accepted to WSU's fall program. (And that's Weber for all you Washington Cougar fans) So keep your fingers crossed. Max went back and began taking the classes he needs to become a high school History teacher. He should be done sometime in 2011. We both passed all our classes and are relived to have a small break before spring semester. I also discovered my love for and skill of photography this year. I accidentally got a job with Lifetouch Portrait Studios in April and I left them in August to pursue my own freelance photography. I call myself Candids By Callie and there is a link to my website on my blog if you'd like to check out my work. I have just fallen in love with it and it has kept my very busy even up until last weekend. I've got some weddings booked for next year and I'm looking forward to them. Just in October, Max and I moved back into our cute condo in Bountiful and it's wonderful to be home. We also adopted two kitties. Icabod and Binx and they are great. We did have a recent misfortune of having to put to sleep our sweet puppy, Roxy, just this week. She would have been two on Christmas Eve and we will miss her dearly. We'll think of her often and know that she's in a better place now and we're so grateful for the time we did have with her.

So there it is; our 2008 wrap-up. Please let us know if you've got a blog we can follow to see what's happening with you. We love you all and We wish you all Peace, Joy and Love this Holiday Season and in the New Year!

A Sad Goodbye...

2008-12-15T18:33:00.000-08:00

Roxy snuggling with her dad after we came home from our week-long vacation to the lake cabin. She didn't leave this spot for hours. She was always so happy to see us when we came home.

Her First Vacation. She was about 3 months old.

Her having a girls' night with me and some friends.

Me just being silly with her. She was such a good girl.

Her with my sis. She was a few months old and this is when she won over my sister and she said, "Oh ok, you can keep her and never have kids, I'll just be her aunt."

This was he night we brought her home. I didn't put her down once that whole night. I just snuggled with her.

Her sleeping with me. Not just on top of the bed with me but literally WITH me, ON me, on my pillow or she'd sleep under the covers snuggled right next to me.

Sorry I haven't posted for awhile. I've been busy with finals and work these past few weeks and just this last week have been taking care of my broken puppy. Her name is Roxy and she would have been two years old next week. We took her to the vet on Monday and found out that they suspected she had a slipped disc in her spine. So they put her on an anti-inflammatories and pain killers hoping that if she took it easy for a few weeks that scar tissue would form and she'd be back to her normal self. That unfortunately wasn't the case. Yesterday she was stumbling around on her back legs like she didn't have control of them and when we took her in this morning she could barely stand on them. Also they discovered that she had lost her sight. So they figured this morning that there was something affecting her neurologically because of the blindness and numbness in her legs. The only way we could find out more of what was going on was to do a very expensive MRI and even then the Vet said that neurological disorders are very hard to reverse or fix so even if we did decide to do that and find out more certainly what was wrong that we might still not be able to fix her. So we had to make the devastating decision yet again, (we had to put our cat down just a year ago due to inoperable heart problems) to put her to sleep. I know that it was the right thing to do and the Vet assured us that we did everything right and that we were doing the right thing for her, but I'm struggling. I'm so glad that she's not suffering anymore but It's so sad to know that she won't be waiting at the door for me anymore. I won't have her leap into my arms and cover my face with kisses when I come home or bite and pull on my pants when I don't immediately scoop her up. She was like our first baby. We got her when she was just barely eight weeks old and got up with her at night when she cried. She slept with me all the time, day or night. And it wasn't enough to be on the bed with me, she had to be under the covers snuggled right up to me, always. I will miss that tremendously. I will miss her curly tail and floppy ears. She was the cutest chihuahua I've ever seen and she will be missed. Be at peace my sweet puppy, and know that I will love you and miss you always.

Things Max & Callie are thankful for:

2008-11-25T05:38:00.001-08:00

Great jobs that help us pay the bills
Our Cute Home!
Binx and Icabod, our kitties, and Roxy, our dog
The love of each other
Our wonderful families
Our fantastic friends
The smell of Fall (our favorite season)
Great Football Games (Go Utes!)
Good Gym Workouts!

Thanksgiving

2008-11-25T03:00:00.000-08:00

In this week of Thanksgiving I just wanted to send out a special thank you to all my dear friends! I love you all and I wouldn't be able to get through the tough days without you! I'm so grateful to have people that I know will be there for me anytime, people that will laugh and cry with me and be there to pick me up when I'm down. Make sure to take time this week to thank your friends.

"If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them, I would be at the bottom to catch them." - Anonymous

Twilight!

2008-11-25T02:48:00.000-08:00

OMG! Let's just say I've never been so blown away by a movie! I will definitely be seeing this one over and over again! And when It's in the dollar theatre, let's just say you'll know where to find me. :) Anyway, really great movie and I had a great time with all my co-workers. What a fun night! We're planning on doing it again for the next movie!

Quickly!

2008-11-16T06:23:00.000-08:00

Hey All! I thought before I head off to church this morning that I should post some pics of the condo and the kitties. So here they are! Hope you all enjoy!
~Peace~

Lost but Found

2008-11-12T05:45:00.000-08:00

So lately I've been disappointed in a certain area of my life. And the saddest part about it all is that I never thought I could feel this way with this. So I guess you could say I've felt lost. However, there is a silver lining to this cloud. I've been found. I'm at a point in my life that even though there are disappointments right now, there are also some great things happening. My sister is happier than she's ever been in the last year and part of that is due to her new boyfriend, Scott, who seems very nice. She seems very grounded and sure of herself and just ready to take on the world. Also, she and I have never been closer and I love that. I cannot wait for Christmas to get here so I can see and meet the man who is adding to her newfound happiness! My mom is amazing right now too. She divorced my step-dad the year I got married and it was very sad and we all miss him dearly. However, she found love in an old friend she's known for more than 20 years! He's wonderful to her and Laura and I and I'm so glad they are together. And she is the happiest I've seen her in years! She's graduating a class this month that will make her a Certified Project Manager at her work and she's worked so hard for this achievement and I'm so proud of her! She's also making all kinds of little improvments to her house. It's all turning out so cute and she's just delighted with it all. She seems to be almost shedding a skin and turning a new leaf and I couldn't be more proud of her or happier for her. And finally, my dad has finally found his soulmate! Really and truly this time! She is a wonderful that makes him laugh, but mostly she makes him happy and that's all I really care about. They got engaged a few weeks ago and I'm so happy for him! So as you can see, even though I've felt quite lost, I've actually found so much goodness that it makes life better.

"True friendship is like sound health, the value of it is seldom known until it is lost."- Charles Caleb Colton

FINALLY SETTLED!

2008-11-04T03:40:00.000-08:00

I know to some, taking a week to get completely moved in doesn't seem like a lot of time, but to my hubby and I, it is! We moved in on the 26th of October and as of Sunday we are officially out of boxes, everything's on the walls, etc. We're in! And boy it feels sooooo good to be home!!! We brought home our new kitties, Binx and Icabod, and so now we're all setttled in and loving life! I'll post some pictures soon! (when I have a second without homework or work to worry about...) ;)

We're Home!

2008-10-28T00:58:00.000-07:00

Hooray! Our renter moved out early so we are back home for good!!! We are so excited! We moved in on Sunday with the help of Max's wonderful sister her family and my mama and her fantastic boyfriend. We're still trying to get everything out of boxes and in it's rightful place and I think we'll be done with that just in time to relax and enjoy our favorite holiday, Halloween!!!! We're going to be bringing home our new kitties, Icabod and Binx, this Saturday and we're very much looking forward to that!!! =) I'll post some new pictures of our home and our kitties soon! All our thanks and love to everyone who's supported us these last 14 months to help us get back home.

Maybe This Weekend...

2008-10-21T00:47:00.001-07:00

I haven't blogged for awhile, but I haven't really had much to report on. I have been very busy with photography this month. I'm doing lots of family shoots and I did my first Latino wedding last week and let me say this: They know how to PARTY!!! It was very fun! Salsa dancing, cherring, loud music, tons of people; very good time.
I talked with our renter yesterday and it looks like, if all goes well, that he may be out of the condo this weekend instead of next week!!! So keep your fingers crossed for us! We're praying that it works out so we can move in on Sunday. That's about it for now. Hopefully I'll have really great news in a couple days...

Can't sleep - I guess I'll just babble...

2008-10-05T02:11:00.000-07:00

Well, ever since my hubby moved to night shifts, for some reason, I can't sleep at night anymore. Like ever. I think it's because he works two more nights a week than I do and so I stay up late so I can sleep late with him but this has turned into me being a COMPLETE night person instead of someone who works nights but switches back to days the other 4 days a week I don't work... Hopefully this won't be the case these next couple weeks because I have 8 photography sessions coming up! I think part of my lack of complete sleep - I've been up for over 24 hours now and I'm not sleepy at all - is that I've got too much on my mind and I can't turn my brain off even if I want to! We're moving back into our condo in 3 weeks and 5 days and I am so excited, obviously. It's all I can think about. I go through everything I can do in the condo every minute that I'm not thinking about something else... And today my renter completely threw me for a loop when he brought over his barely on-time rent check and mail that he's had for 3 weeks!!! One of the pieces of mail was informing me that because I hadn't made a payment on my home-owners insurance policy (that I didn't know was due because it went to the wrong address and we didn't get a call >=[ ) that my policy is cancelled. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I, as of right now, do NOT have home-owners insurance and won't until at least Tuesday because my stupid renter didn't simply call me to tell me I had two pieces of mail that had been sitting there for 3 weeks!!! Can ya tell I'm a little bent about it? Anyway, that's stressin me, but it'll all be fine as long as my renter doesn't decide to do something crazy like burn down my condo in the next few days, right? I went and had my gallbladder scan this week and I'm waiting for the results to see if I'm going to have to have surgery and I can't stop thinking about that either. Ugh... Really, I don't have too much to complain about. Things could be worse. I think, no, I know that what I need is some good sleep. Thanks for reading my babble, I feel better. :)

"Crappy Genetics" make for unhappy guts...

2008-10-01T01:26:00.000-07:00

Well I had my follow up appointment with Dr. Doxey, my GI Doc, and I'm still having right upper quadrant pain that he's not happy about. The ultrasound showed a very normal looking gallbladder but my doctor says that a dysfunctional gallbladder can look normal on an ultrasound. So I'm going in for a Hydascan (gallbladder scan) on Thursday to see how my gallbladder is functioning. So we'll know more then. My scope came up with mild chronic gastritis, mild esophogitis, and a mild hiatal hernia (my stomach herniates up into my diaphram; it's a genetic thing). My doctor says that some people just have crappy genetics which make for sensitive guts... I will definitely post more when I know more.

Almost October...

2008-09-30T03:35:00.000-07:00

For anyone who knows even just a small amount about me, you know that I LOVE Halloween and all things scary! ;) Well, tomorrow is officially October which is my FAVE month of the year but it's also the last time I have to collect a rent check from our renter!!! He's moving out on Halloween (now it's going to be and even better day than it already was!) and we are moving back in!!! Can ya tell I'm just a little excited? 1 month and counting and if we want to get really specific - which I do because I really just can't wait - 4 weeks and 3 days til were back! I'm hoping these next 4 weeks fly by and I think they will because I've got about 6 photography sessions already scheduled this month and a couple more that want the classic "fall colors family picture". So hopefully I'll just be so caught up in photography and school that I won't even have time to be counting down the hours til we get the keys back...