Giving Thanks

I have seen this going around Facebook so I thought I would implement it into my blog and update it every day.

What are you thankful for? Every day this month in honor of Thanksgiving, post what you are thankful for.

Day 1: I am thankful for my husband. Despite our ups and downs, he is my eternal companion and I love him more than I can express.


Day 2: I am thankful for my two wonderful little boys. Noah and Kolsen are very different in their personalities which is why I love them so much.  They make my life complete and I can't imagine a life without them in it. 


Day 3: I am thankful for all things church related. My Heavenly Father, my Savior, my church family, the gospel and for the joy they all bring to my life.  I am certainly very blessed to know the gospel and for it to be implemented into my life.


Day 4: I'm thankful for my family, my little family and extended family, and my in-law family. They have given me so much love and support and I couldn't ask for a better family.


Day 5: I'm thankful for the scenery of the earth, for mountains, rain, snow and sunshine. We took a road trip to Beatty, Nevada and ran into rain and saw lots of snow on the mountains. We were able to capture some magnificent sights.


Day 6:  I am thankful for learning and teaching. I taught Noah how to fold laundry today and he had so much fun. I gave him several items to fold and left him alone with them. When I came back to check on him, he had folded everything correctly. I'm so proud of him for wanting to learn, for learning, and that I am able to teach him.


Day 7: I am thankful for music. There is always a way to express yourself through music. For me, there is always a song that I can find that either makes me feel better or corresponds to an event in my life. For that, I am thankful.


Day 8: I am thankful for technology. Computers, phones, TV, etc., what did we ever do without these things?!  I love that I can keep in touch with all my family and friends that I wouldn't normally be able to stay in touch with, without the help of technology.


Day 9: I am thankful for movies, whether it be a feel good movie, suspense, drama, period film, family movie, or fantasy.  I love movies!!!


Day 10: Today I am thankful for love. The love of a child, a spouse, a family member, a friend: there are all kinds of love. Unconditional love is never ending and I love that I can love and be loved in return.


Day 11: I am thankful for my mother-in-law, Candy. She came out to Vegas for my heart surgery and helped me out with my boys when I was not able. She went home today and I am thankful for her help and support.


Day 12: I am thankful for having a home of my own. We bought a house and moved in 2 days after Kolsen was born in May 2011.  It is nice to be able to paint and personalize our home to our liking. We still have a lot that we want to do to our home but since it's our home, we can do it in baby steps. What a great investment! 


Day 13: Today, I am thankful for my health. Despite the fact that I have an abnormal heart, I could be a lot worse off than I am.


Day 14: Today, I am thankful for my job. I have such a great job that I love and I love my boss and the girls I work with. I couldn't ask for a better work family.


Day 15: Today, I am thankful for medications when they are truly needed.


Day 16: Today, I am thankful for the fall season, for the leaves that turn colors and the cool down of Vegas' hot temperatures.


Day 17: I am thankful for smiles, especially the smiles of those who instantly make me feel better, especially the smiles of my two boys. 


Day 18: I am thankful for laughter. As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine.


Day 19: I am thankful for "me" time. I don't always get time to myself but when I do, I make each minute count.


Day 20: I am thankful for naps. I don't always get naps and when I do they are short but they make me feel so refreshed.


Day 21: I am thankful for shower's. After my surgery and not being able to take a shower for 3 weeks, I forgot how much I love the convenience of a nice hot shower. Don't get me wrong, baths are wonderful, but not everyday.


Day 22: I am thankful for the health of my children. Both of my boys are happy and healthy and such a blessing.


Day 23: I am thankful for the conveniences of living in Vegas. No matter what you need, you can get it at almost any time of the day or/night.


Day 24: I am thankful for all  my many blessing and for everything there is to be thankful for. I am truly a blessed woman.

Reflection

While watching yesterday's IndyCar race, we saw a horrible crash which took the life of one driver, Dan Wheldon. He left behind his wife and two sons, 2 year old Sebastian and 7 month old Oliver. It was so very sad to see the events unfold. Such a tragedy makes one reflect on their own life and serves as a reminder that life is short and precious.

With my surgery coming up in about 10 days, it made me reflect on my life and how quickly life can be taken in an instant. Since I have had children, I've always worried "what if something happened to me?" This worry only just intensified with yesterday's event. I hope and pray everything goes well with surgery so I can continue to cherish precious moments with my children and family.

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." ~Abraham Lincoln

I Could Not Ask for More

There is nothing I love more than my two little boys and their cute little faces.

Noah: Some of the things Noah does at his age amaze me. He is so smart for a 3 year old.  He knows his ABC's and can correctly identify each letter, upper and lower case. He can also count to 20, although sometimes he says his numbers out of order after 13.  Every night with Noah, Josh and I alternate reading him a bedtime story. I do something extra with him. We have our own little "I love you" dialog and it goes something like this:

Me: "I love you"
Noah: "I love you more"
Me: "I love you the mostest"
Noah: I love you the mostest like a Hostess"
Me: "I love you to the moon"
Noah: "I love you to the moon...and back!"
Both: "And I love you FOREVER!"

It's a special little moment that he and I get to share and I love it. With every I love you, my heart melts and I fall in love with how innocent my little guy is.

Recently with the issues with my heart, when I am feeling bad, Noah will ask me how I am feeling. After a really rough day, he could tell and came over to me and grabbed my chin to lift my head and said, "Mommy, it's okay. You'll feel better".

My morning today was out of the ordinary. I woke up to Noah yelling at Josh and I to come downstairs. I had no idea he was even awake. I told him I would be down as soon as I checked on Kolsen. He continued to yell, "Mom, Dad, come downstairs." When we didn't answer him, he said "Guys, you understand my saying?" TOO FUNNY!!!!! I came downstairs to turn on the TV for Noah to get him occupied and then went up to get Kolsen, only to discover that he peed a river in his crib. So first thing, I got his bath ready, got him undressed and bathed him. What a way to start a morning! The rest of today has been pretty relaxed.

Kolsen: he is a dime a dozen. He is the most laid back baby I have ever encountered. Nothing much bothers him and he laughs at everything. I love that he is so happy go lucky. His little smile and laugh melt my heart. It is hard for me to believe that he has been in this world for 4 months now. He recently started eating baby foods. It took him a few days to get used to but now he has the hang of it.  I can't imagine my life without that little bundle of happiness.

My boys give me so much to live for and inspire me to push through. They are the best little boys in the world...and I could not ask for more!

Classic VW Car Show

I've been trying to do as much as I can with my little family prior to the big surgery. One of the things we have done lately is go to the Classic VW Car Show at Town Square shopping center on October 1st. There were so many cool VW's and I never thought in a million years that I would ever want a classic VW until I saw some of the ones that were there. There was a VW Beetle that was pink and white on the outside and the inside was just as girly. LOVED IT! Noah really enjoyed all the Beetles and buses and all the classic cars. It was nice to see his little face light up at every car we looked at.

Times, they are a changin'

Lots of things have been happening in our household lately. First and foremost, there's the issue with my pacemaker which you know by now. Josh's mother is generously coming out for a week and a half to assist with the boys so I can recover. I don't know how long recovery will be but I am grateful for the time she will be here to help. I only wish my mom could be here as well. It will be difficult not having her here but I know she will be thinking of me and praying for me, which is enough for me.

Secondly, last Saturday, we adopted a cat from the NSPCA. His name was Charlie. Unfortunately, Charlie only lasted two days in our house due to an allergic reaction that never existed before. I contacted the NSPCA this last Monday and explained the situation and was able to return him the next day. We felt horrible and Noah had the hardest time with it. So with the allergic reaction came a lot of deep cleaning because any hint of cat hair was NO BUENO!!!! After hours of cleaning, I think I finally de-allergized the house (if that is even a word). Nonetheless, I have my fingers crossed that all is sanitized and clean.

To make up for us not being able to keep the cat, I took Noah today to buy two new fish for his tank. He ended up getting a yellow barb and a zebra barb. He is so very proud of them. So now his tank consists of the two barbs, a pleco, a snail and upside-down catfish. I am hopeful they will have long lives.

Furthermore, Kolsen rolled over for the first time last week. I have video proof of his 2nd rollover (its about 1:46 in the video) and it was AMAZING!!! My baby is growing so fast....already at 15lbs., 11 oz.  It is hard to believe he is already 4 months old.

Next, I got the green light from the pediatrician for Kolsen to start solid foods. I started him off with rice cereal yesterday but he didn't want anything to do with it. I tried again this morning and he got frustrated, my guess because he didn't understand he had to swallow. My third attempt was with sweet potatoes. At first I had the same problem but then he got used to it and ate about 1/4 of the container. I guess the third time IS the charm.

As far as other changes, they are coming, albeit I don't know what they are or when they'll come but I have faith that no matter what the change, all will be as it should.

Scary Situation

Well, the time is coming up for me to have my surgery.

Just a little recap for those of you who don't know, I was born with a congenital heart block, which basically means my heart does not beat normally. At age 11, I had my first artificial pacemaker implanted in order to keep my heart in working order. In 2001, I had my pacemaker replaced due to battery issues. This is normal as I will have to have surgery every 8 to 10 years to replace my pacemaker.  In 2009, I had my pacemaker replaced again. Recently I started having problems with pain and lost of discomfort in my chest.  After a visit to the emergency room, it was determined that my pacemaker had shifted and was causing the discomfort. After a follow up visit with my cardiologist, it was also determined that the lead wires that connect my pacemaker to my heart are not in great condition and therefore, the electrical current is not staying in the wires, resulting in me feeling the pain and multiple jolts each day. At this point, surgery is imminent and needed to re-position my pacemaker and replace the wires that connect it to my heart. This surgery is invasive as they have to remove the wires from my heart and replace them. As with all surgeries, there are risks, but with this being my heart, the risks are high.

My surgery is scheduled for October 27th. I am extremely nervous and yet hopeful that all goes as planned and that I don't have any problems during my surgery. It is very scary when it comes to surgery where my heart is concerned. All I can do is hope and pray that things go well and that I recover with ease.

More "Heart" Times

Well if it's not one thing it's another. A few days ago I began to have health issues. For those who know me, I have a heart condition which is treated by an internal pacemaker. The area where my pacemaker is located began to hurt and be extremely uncomfortable. I went to the ER on Monday to find out my heart rate is all over the place and my pacemaker may have come unsutured and need to be fixed. To make matters worse, while in the ER, my IV blew during my CT scan.

Because of my insurance, I have to wait to get my referral processed in order to get back to the cardiologist. I am so terrified at the thought of having to have surgery again. Once I get into the cardiologist I will know more so in the meantime, I'm saying lots of prayers, taking my meds, resting and hoping for the best.

All is well....all is well.

Kolsen had his cardiology appointment today and the verdict is......ALL IS WELL! His heart murmur is a normal murmur for infants so no worries whatsoever. So thankful that Kolsen doesn't have to endure what I endure regularly.

On a much larger note, I am taking things one day at a time and hoping for the best. While most do not know what I'm talking about, just know that for now, I'm okay.

Terrible 3's

I honestly don't know what has gotten into Noah lately. It seems like he is testing Josh and I to the point that our patience is wearing thin. If anyone reads my blog, perhaps you could give me some insight on this. Whenever he doesn't get what he wants, he screams the most unbearable high pitch scream and then whines and whines until he gets what he wants. WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO DO???!!!  Of course, our answer is always no to what he wants once he starts this. It has gotten to the point that I cannot take him to do things as I planned because he acts out. For example, we were supposed to go to Utah this last Friday but almost half way there, Noah got sick. We turned around and came home so he could get better. To make up for not getting to go, I planned on taking him bowling for the first time.....until the terribleness took over! He starting whining and crying because he wasn't getting what he wanted at that particular time. We stood our ground, disciplined as best we could and then forced Noah to take a nap. When he woke up, he was much better, however, we didn't go bowling.  I really wish there was something more I could when he gets into these moods. Tantrums are no fun and I can only hope it gets better as time passes.

"Heart" Times

I took Kolsen to the pediatrician yesterday for his 2 month well check. It is hard for me to believe he is already 9 weeks old! While the pediatrician was checking Kolsen's vitals, he turned to me and asked me if I was familiar with what a heart murmur is. I immediately thought, "oh my gosh, something is wrong with his heart! What do I do? What do I say?" Holding back tears, I told him that I was very familiar with it has I to have a heart murmur and congenital heart block. As I understand, heart murmurs are common in babies but because I have a heart condition, Kolsen needs to see a specialist to make sure there is not a larger problem. I said okay but in my head I was terrified for my son.

I was born with heart issues and continue to deal with my heart. Surgery after surgery after surgery...it's a never ending cycle for me and may ultimately be my demise. It is not something I want my children to endure. Kolsen will be going to the cardiologist on August 29th so we will know more then. Josh tells me I need not worry but all I can do is hope for the best while expecting the worse. I know Kolsen will be fine no matter what happens but it is scary nonetheless.

Kids Say (and do) the Darndest Things....

Never a day goes by that my 3 year old, Noah, doesn't say something endearing or just plain funny. I just thought I would share some of this sayings as no matter how I was feeling, he made me feel better when he said them:

"Mommy, I'm proud that you're home"
"My book's broken. Mommy, I just need a piece of tate to fix it" (he meant tape).
"That song is really cool"
"I love my baby brother"
"The volcano is going to rupt!"
"The ladybug needs to get out of the house and fast!"
"I fart!
"Can't eat the guinea pig...that's nasty!"
"That's really terrible."
"Why ma'am?"
"That's a hard landing in the water" (while watching "Wipeout").
"Oh my heavens"
"It's good that you're home Mommy"
"That shark's gonna eat me"
"Mommy, where's my butt?"
"It's really very cloudy"

It amazes me how a 3 year old can come up with these phrases. I am sure it is just the beginning of more phrases to come.

Noah also does the funniest things. Example #1: Anytime there is a song on TV that he has heard before, he sings along. Example #2: He loves the AT&T flash mob commercial...so much that he does the dance too. Kolsen loved watching him dance last night and he made his little coos and smiled as he watched his big brother be so silly.

While these are just some of his funny and endearing phrases, and just a few things he does, Noah really knows how to bring a smile to my face. I get excited every day just thinking of what he will say and do next!

"Expecto Patronum"

Josh and I celebrated our anniversary 5 days late so we could watch "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" in IMAX 3D. IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!! Never before have I seen a movie that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, made me laugh, and made me cry all at the same time. I am so excited to see it again, but unfortunately it probably will not be until it comes to DVD. The whole Harry Potter franchise has been superb and I am sad to see it come to an end. It was brilliant while it lasted. For those of you who have not seen any of the Harry Potter movies, I encourage you to give it a try. You will not be disappointed.

11 Years and still going strong

Josh and I celebrated our 11 year anniversary on July 11, 2011. It is hard to believe it has been 11 years since we married. Everyone always looks at me strangely when I tell them how long we have been married. Josh and I got married when I was 18 and Josh was 23. Yes, I married young and I wouldn't change anything. Anyone who knows us, knows the story of how we met but for those who don't: Josh was a chaperone at Youth Conference and just returned home from his mission about 6 months earlier. I was a youth attending the conference. We were introduced by a mutual friend and became friends ourselves. 5 months later, in December of 1999, we began dating. We were engaged a month later in January of 2000, and married 7 months later. The rest is history!

Even after 11 years and 2 kids later, Josh still gives me goosebumps: that is what an everlasting love is all about!

What a Difference a Year Makes

Well, it has been a year since I last blogged and I can't begin to tell you how much I've missed it. I love to write and nothing pleases me more than to write about my family. I am going to try really hard to stay current on blogging as a lot has happened over the last year.
Shortly after we celebrated our 10 year anniversary in 2010, we found out we were expecting our 2nd child. On May 22, 2011, we welcomed our 2nd born, another son, Kolsen Briggs Collis, into the world. He weighed 8 lbs., 1 oz., and was 22 inches long. The labor and deliver was just as easy as I remember (shocking, right?), however, there were some differences this time around. The anesthesiologist had a difficult time administering my epidural and then I had a side affect after deliver of uncontrollable shaking and being cold. Other than that, it was easy peasy! Noah is so proud to be a big brother and he dotes on his little brother all the time. We were also very blessed to have our mother's here to witness Kolsen's birth and help out after his birth for a few weeks. Having two kids has proven to be a challenge at times and I am sure it doesn't get any less challenging as they get older.

Shortly before Kolsen was born, we decided that after being in Vegas for 6 years, we would finally purchase a home. We found a home in a very short time, made an offer and it was accepted! We hit a few speed bumps trying to get everything finalized before baby arrived and we ended up closing the day after Kolsen was born.....AT THE HOSPITAL! That was definitely an experience. Two days later, we packed up a moving van and moved across town to our new home. We are now proud homeowners!!!!


I have to admit, since my last blog post, most of the excitement in our family has happened in the last 10 weeks. From watching our boys growing fast to personalizing our new home, there is always something to look forward to...and that makes all the difference in the world.