Marco Island, FL

Every year Ryan's work hosts an Annual General Meeting, in which they fly all of their employees (& families, yea!) to a resort and have lots of meetings (parties & fun). This year we went to Marco Island, FL from May 8th to May 11th.

Sadie, being the big, grown up girl that she is, was left at home for the very first time! I thought that it would be really hard and that I would worry lots, but, surprisingly, I really didn't worry at all. And although I love her dearly and I did miss seeing her, I have to admit that it took me a day or two... or all of the days we were gone... to want to come back. It was a much needed couples only vacation. Although, not so romantical seeing as we were surrounded by all of Ryan's co-workers. Thank you to my friend, Heidi, & my mom and dad for watching Sadie. I didn't have to worry while we were gone because I knew she was getting the best care possible. If I worried at all it was because I wasn't 100% sure that she was being on her best behavior...

We spent our days lounging pool side or strolling the white sand beaches. I even got in a beach run (I love beach runs!!!) And we spent our evenings partying it up with all the Fasties (this is what the employees of Ryan's work have named themselves...they work for Fast Enterprises...)


The first night is always just a meet and greet where you can catch up with old friends that work on other projects. This is the first year that we actually knew people that had been transferred. It was so fun to see all of the ex-Utahans. (It is scary to think that in not the too far future we will be the ex-Utahans!!!)


Day 2 we spent pool side, and it just happened to be mothers day. I can't ask for a better mothers day gift than being able to spend the whole day by the pool reading a good book! That night was the big formal dinner. My date was so hot!


The last day is the big family event. This year it was a big carnival down on the beach. They even had jet skiing and sailing available. The party wasn't much fun because Ryan and I spent the whole time standing in line waiting to ride the jet skis, but it was so worth it! We got to see dolphins pretty close up, ride some wild waves and see the beauty of the 10,000 islands.

All in all a fabulous first trip away from the Sades. A wonderful time with Ryan. Lots of sun, way too much food and a good time seeing all of our friends! Can't wait until next year.


We only took our camera to the formal event, so that is what all the pics are of. Kinda sad, because it was a beautiful beach and resort. I wish I wasn't so terrible at remembering!

All of the Utah project in their awesome green attire!

My hot date!

And we aren't the drunk ones.... Every one should try sitting our table and then they will know how much fun you can have even when you aren't drinking!

Fieldtrip Friday: Gym Cats

April 30th... I know, I know! I have seriously been slacking in the blogging, which means all you all are going to get a whole bunch of post dated blogs. So don't read 'em if it bugs you.

Anywhoo! April 30th the Sades and I headed on over to Gym Cats for a gymnastics class. We started in a small room and walked on the balance beam, hung on the uneven bars and flipped into a foam-filled pit. Good times!

After this room we went into the big gymnastics room and did trampolines and mats. This room was so big it was a little overwhelming to Sadie. She had a hard time staying focused on the group activity and wanted to go play with the other groups.

Still, lots of fun!

Miracles

It has been 3 years since I went to Ryan and said, "Honey, I think we need to have a baby." I 110% totally thought that Ryan would say, "No, let's wait a while longer." It was a miracle when he said, "I think you are right!" So, here we are today, the proud parents of an independent and cute little two year old girl.


3 years ago I never could have even fathomed how tiring and hard the next 3 years would and have been...or how overwhelmingly rewarding and filled with joy they would be. I feel so blessed that I would be selfish not to acknowledge how many miracles have come my way. Some are huge and others seem so small some might call them coincidence, but they were huge to me and I know them as miracles.


I learned what real worry was when they found choroid plexus cysts on Sadie's brain at our 20 week ultrasound. In many cases, these cysts don't mean anything and resolve on their own. But in other cases it can be a symptom of more severe birth defects. We had to wait until I was 6 months along before they could recheck to see if the cysts had resolved. Those were some long months waiting and worrying. That is one of my biggest miracles - the cysts resolved and Sadie was born a very healthy and strong baby.


Then when Sadie was about 8 months old she started having seizures. It was like someone would switch an off button in Sadie and her whole body would go limp, her head would drop and she would lose all muscle control for just an instant and then she would be right back to normal. This would happen almost every 45 minutes. It came on suddenly and lasted for a week and then disappeared just as suddenly. The Dr. said it was probably just a severe symptom of development...but who knows. One thing is for sure, it taught me to have faith and to pray like I have never prayed before. Miraculously, the seizures have not returned, nor do they appear to have harmed Sadie in any way. A modern day miracle.


I see it as a miracle that I am blessed with such an amazing mother who was by my side every day for a month after Sadie was born and has come to babysit every week since.


The fact that I found a husband who is so patient and understanding and such a great dad is a blessing. And the fact that he still loved me even through postpartum depression is a miracle too.


Finding Sadie's current pediatrician was a miracle. Especially after dealing with her first pediatrician for 6 months. He was a complete joke.


Then there are just little tiny miracles every day - one night Sadie was so sick and she was screaming and in pain. I didn't know what to do and I didn't think I had any Tylenol left. I said a little prayer and suddenly I remembered a bottle of Tylenol that I had forgotten about. I even found it in a drawer where it doesn't normally belong. That bottle of Tylenol was a miracle.


Other days miracles are simply when Sadie sleeps for an extra hour or two, or when she falls off the couch or the bed, misses completely braining herself on the table, and pops right back up like nothing happened. Or when amazing neighbors or friends lend a hand without being asked.

Saying Sadie is attached to her binkies would be a massive understatement. Alas, the time has come. I have been slowly phasing them out one at a time (at one point she carried 5 around with her at once) by cutting small holes in them. She says, "They bowken" (broken) and I say, "Ok, go put them in the garbage." The first binkie, she just couldn't do it! She said, "Help, pwees" (please). I threw it away and off she ran happy as a little bug. Today, however, we came to the Very. LAST. Binkie. I knew she would be ok throwing it away. She thinks that part is fun. I just didn't expect her to be ok when she asked for it before she went to sleep and we told her that they were all gone. Yeah, here is the miracle: She didn't even ask for it! Just got in her crib and went to sleep.

Miracles do happen. And I have proof.

Half Marathon Numero Dos

August 7, 2010

Crazy things that happened today:

• my alarm went off at 3:45am on purpose
• a deer wandered past close enough for me to touch. Did I mention I was standing in a group of 500+ people? That deer was not shy!
• I seriously considered peeing in the bushes (I probably should have. Waiting for the porta potty added 10 minutes to my time)...(some days it would just be easier to be a man)
• I ran a 7:45 mile!!! That was mile 3. We won't mention that it was the steepest portion of a mostly downhill race
• I finished 13.1 miles in my goal time of under 2 hours. 1 hour 58 minutes to be exact
• my legs no longer function

...ahhhh, good times running the provo river half-marathon!

Sadie's Day O' Fun

Sadie and I went and had a super, duper 2nd birthday day o' fun.

We started the party by taking dad out to lunch. Of course we went to a bakery that did cookies as well as sandwiches so that we could have a yummy treat.

After lunch we headed over to Liberty Park. I wanted to play with Sadie in the fountains...but they were out of commission because they had been struck by lightening (What!!??!!) So on to Plan B.

We headed over to the rides and checked out the carousel, airplanes and the Ferris wheel.

Carnival rides just aren't complete without some popcorn and a cherry Slurpee to wash it down.

We finished off the afternoon by blowing gigantic bubbles.

Evidenced by the awesome chocolate mustache, Sadie enjoyed her chocolate chip cookie from the bakery on her way home. And a birthday just wouldn't be complete without a birthday nap.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SADES.

We love you lots & lots & lots!