WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!

We bought a home! It was a process that we were told would talk awhile and we were totally for it taking awhile, but no worries it happened in a month. Tayce and I have decided there are very few things we can plan in our life. And buying a house was not one of them, we had a different plan and it worked out this way, which is A OK with me. 

That is an excellent picture of me pulling the for sale sign up! Some say we live in the country now. Part of our decision of buying this house is that it does feel like we are heading to Grandma Jo's, but we are only about 6 miles from the middle of Cedar City.

Our first family picture at our house. This is when we put the key in for the first time! Riley did a great job taking this picture, I love it.

So now here is your virtual tour of our new home, dedicated to my sister Misty!

We have a coat closet!

This is the upstairs living room, no TV or computer or video games, just a peaceful room that I can't wait to have furniture for. :)

This is our home! It is green. I have been driving by a house for almost 5 years and telling Tayce when we buy a house it has to have green siding and look we got it! :)

Olivia cursing through the house. She loves it here. This is the view from the front door.

Oh and a linen closet! I am so excited to have so much storage.

Tayce and I's room.

Olivia's room

Upstairs bathroom

The kitchen

The dining area

The stairway with a star included

Riley's room

The family room

Downstairs bathroom

Wood burning stove, Tayce is very happy with this.

This room was the selling point for me... a fruit room (That's what my grandma calls her's).

The huge garage. (this garage is bigger then our previous house!)

Our land, we are on almost a half acre and we are so excited to have a garden and a fence and chickens and grass and so many fun things. We even have trees! 

There it is! I hope you love it because we sure do! We will be hosting all kinds of BBQ's this summer and parties for DoTERRA and just for fun parties and birthday parties, let's just say it is going to be fun!

The Journey of 4,050 Miles (Approximately)

This is the story of my journey.
As I tossed and turned in my bed awaiting my alarm to start chiming, my thoughts went to what the conference I was about to leave for was going to be like. I was nervous and tired, but 2 beautiful ladies and I left for Las Vegas before the sun came up to start our adventure.
Las Vegas gave us smoggy air, a bit of a chill and of course more slot machines we could handle. (Well if we only knew how they worked). As we were attempting to use slot machines we suddenly noticed our gate was empty! Oh my goodness, then we heard on the loud speaker: "Fisher, Neilsen, Robinson..." It was as close to Home Alone we could get too. :) We flew to Chicago and had Pizza of course! (Note to all: If you want Chicago Pizza you might want to leave the airport.) Eventually we got to on our plane to St. Louis, it was miniature and made us feel tall, since our head's almost hit he ceiling, well some of us. I experienced my first taxi ride with a man who probably told us some really nice things...

Our hotel was huge! 12 stories and pretty fancy, I was so excited to get the top floor... I got floor 3 :) Our rooms were wrong and in smoking rooms which was a pain, but it all worked out.

Friday morning was the first day of the Sharing and Caring Seminar (Conference) and it was such a great size group. We got to hear the stories of many parents and caregivers who have a passion to help and assist families. There were amazing people from all over the United States and it was great to find out that I am not crazy, parents all over the world care about and miss the babies they said goodbye to. They love their pictures and go to memorials and all kinds of things to remember their sweet babies. So all you angel mommies reading this, you are fine if you want to do things to remember your babies. They deserve to be remembered.

 During the conference I learned so much and was reminded of much. Getting to know the National Share ladies and their stories were inspiring. Realizing that we in little Southern Utah can make a difference in others lives was so empowering. These woman are amazing and know their stuff. We learned so much and I am even writing this post for one of them, my new friend Zen Jen AKA Jenny :)

It was three days with wonderful people learning and growing. I have so much more courage now to go and give these families the choice and the opportunities that many have not had. I have the energy to put something together that is bigger then me. One of the things that stuck with me is "What am I doing with all the LOVE." The love I have for Graydin and Alice. Am I turning my love for them into anger and resentment or am I doing something positive and wonderful with. Something that when I get to be with them again they are proud of and excited about. So, I am going to do good things with my love, thank you Heidi for teaching me that.
What a wonderful experience and I would like to thank the woman that put it together and came and presented their passion to us. You are all a blessing to me and to my small community. I am truly blessed to have crossed paths with you. God bless you and thank you!

P.S.
On the way home I got to ride in another Taxi, with a man who was great and funny. I hope that St. Louis taxi driver is having a good day. Steph and I got our names called again! It was awesome. Steph and Christie learned things about me that maybe you know, maybe you don't, but I exaggerate a lot. :) It made lots of conversations and a lot of laughs. The best part of the way home was the plane from Denver to Las Vegas, it had mini TV's on the seats in front of us and we got to watch Food Network!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I go to run my credit card in the cool take your money slot in the seats in front of each of us, but we watched Direct TV the whole way back, awesome! The worst part was that we were a million miles away from our gate when we landed in Denver so we truly got to do Home Alone booking it through the airport, even got to be all legit and speed walk on the walking sidewalks! All in all it was awesome and even though the 3 of us are not the worlds best travelers we are home safe and sound and ready to conquer the world! 

18 Months!!!

 18 Months Old

 9 Months Old

3 Months Old

OLIVIA

• 20 Pounds
• 30.5 Inches long
• 18.25 Head Circumference
• Size 3 diapers
• Size 9-12 months colthes 
• Sleeps in her bed half the time, but waking up less in the night
• Loves music and dancing and TV w/ music and dancing 
• Loves to eat toast with jam, cheese, crackers, chocolate chips, pinto or black beans, grapes 
• Doesn't like carrots, beans, peas, grape juice, mashed potatoes
• Crawls real fast
• LOVES puppies and babies 
• Says a lot of words, here is just a handful: Mommy, Daddy, Riley, Puppy, Baby, Purple, Please, Hi, Buh Bye
• Uses some signs like, Please, more, food, drink
• Being around people makes her happy, going to the store or church makes her one happy girl
• She loves Tangled and The Lorax 
• Loves looking at pictures of people we know
• She spends time with her books and only she can turn the pages 
• She is a professional at talking at the phone 
• Loves her pink blanket Aunt Monda gave her
• Loves being in the water

Pretty much she is amazing and beautiful and I love her so very much. She is so much fun and she hasn't loosed her sassyness!

Share Familes of Southern Utah

This post is not about Olivia, but it is such an exciting post that I hope you like it anyway.

Since going through the loss of Graydin and Alice I have really wanted to 'Pay It Forward'. So many people have helped us and guided us through two of the hardest times of our lives and we have wanted to do something. I have been able to be apart of an amazing group, called HALO (no we don't play video games), it is Helping Angels Live On and it has been such an amazing experience. The woman and families I have met have changed my life and because of some of their stories I have wanted to pursue something that would allow me to help, to serve, to love.
So, because of many Heavenly Hugs and amazing people who have been put in my path and the paths of others I, with the help of so many wonderful people have started a chapter of Share in Southern Utah.
Share is a national organization that has been around since the 70's. It started because of family decided to ask questions about their baby that had passed and a woman who had the initiative to stand up and spread the word that these babies are part of families and are missed and loved. Now it helps families throughout the United States to grieve, cope and remember their babies that have died. Not just full term babies, but any baby.
A dear friend had an experience with a Share chapter in northern Utah and after hearing what they do and did for her and her family I had to make it happen in Southern Utah.
So, it's starting! Two friends and I are leaving next Thursday for 4 days to go to a training in Missouri!, we will then come back and do a training here and then get to move forward with the hospital here in Cedar City. This is all a dream come true and I know it is meant to happen because so many prayers are being answered so it can work out.
By the summer time Share Families of Southern Utah will be up and running and helping and serving families in our community. What a wonderful blessing! I hope that you all can spread the word for me. If you would like more information shoot me a line, call me and/or go to http://www.nationalshare.org

Share Mission Statement

The mission of Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, Inc. is to serve those whose lives are touched by the tragic death of a baby through pregnancy loss, stillbirth or in the first few months of life.

The primary purpose is to provide support toward positive resolution of grief experienced at the time of, or following the death of a baby. This support encompasses emotional, physical, spiritual, and social healing, as well as sustaining the family unit.

The secondary purpose of Share is to provide information, education, and resources on the needs and rights of bereaved parents and siblings. The objective is to aid those in the community, including family, friends, employers, members of the congregation, caregivers, and others in their supportive role.

Thank you all who have supported me in doing this, have helped me and are helping me. It means a lot to my family and I. Have a great day!

Superbowl and Popcorn

 Had ourselves a little Superbowl party. Riley made 'King Nachos', which are Nacho Cheese Doritos with nacho cheese sauce with cheddar cheese... not the best thing I have ever tried or the healthiest, but a fun Superbowl tradition. Olivia enjoyed the cucumbers and crackers for sure!

 Olivia LOVES popcorn, she shouldn't eat it but it breaks her heart if she doesn't get any and she doesn't choke, but mom still worries the whole time.

 She is a popcorn eating, movie watching cutie pie, that is for sure. She likes to be like the big kids, so she enjoyed having a bowl all to herself. With Woody of course (while watching Tangled).

Had to add this cute picture. Dad and Olivia playing with the Tupperware drawer. :) She was giving him some pretty cute loves before the picture. Love them both!

Post 2: More pictures!

 I find Olivia in all kinds of places asleep. This time she was hugging the pillow. The other day she had fallen asleep standing up next to the foot rest eating snacks! Didn't get a picture before Riley saved her.

 That look is, oh no did I get caught. Most the time I don't know what she did, but I am bound to find torn up paper or shoes close by and sometime toilet mess.... She has many characteristics of a puppy.

 She was putting my hat on so we did a little photo shoot. She's such a doll!

 Trying not to look at the camera. Sometimes she thinks it is silly to look away instead of smile!

 But, some days we catch a grin! Happy as can be eating her crackers and drinking her milk.

 We call this her art!

 Riley looking handsome!

 I sometimes just give her a magazine and she will entertain herself forever looking at all the pages, tearing the pages out and looking again and finally tearing it up into smaller pieces.

 A masterpiece... right? :)

 Playing with her toys! She loves babies and legos and books (any stuffed animal, doll, etc. is a baby).

 Clean up clean up!

 We figured we would have fun while doing dishes! Now every time she sees the sink she gets really excited!

 Just chilling in the sink.

 Daddy and Olivia. She is a daddy's girl.

 There are days that this is the only way we can get this kid to go to sleep. Give her a snack and all of a sudden it is quiet, and she's out.

Bath time is always fun. She loves bath time, but it is always short and sweet. (Which is good, her sensitive skin does not do well with too many baths or too long of baths.)

Each day she is getting bigger and smarter and I love her more and more. She is such a joy and a continued blessing in our lives. She heals hearts, brings smiles and creates joy when you think it wasn't possible.

Post 1: A few things we have been doing....

 What a dramatic difference! So crazy how small she used to be. She is growing so much!

 Olivia is doing so well. She is pulling herself up and walking around the furniture. She even attempts to climb over things if she can get her little legs over it.

 She is bit of a mommy's girls, but mommy is probably more attached then her. :)

 First time she got her diaper off. She was crawling around and it got quiet and I walked into the living room and there she was proud as can be that she was naked.

 She loves books and loves to sit and look at them. She is not quite patient enough to sit through a story, but she loves looking at books still. 

 Playing with Grandma Nae and Lucy!

 Playing with the girls. They all were trying to play with Olivia's Christmas present. It was adorable.

 

 Sunday's are chill. Dad and Olivia love taking Sunday naps.

 Loving her some applesauce for the first time. Every other time we have gave it to her she has spit it out and cried, this time she loved it.

Mom got caught.

We are doing great. In January we added to our family.... :) Riley came to live with us, and we love it. He is a great addition to our home. He helps us stay on the straight and narrow. We pray more and read more as a family. He's a blessing for sure.
Olivia is learning and growing everyday. She reached 20 pounds in January which was super exciting. She is getting closer and closer to walking, but it might be a little while.
She is learning signs and words. She loves to talk and thinks if she says please it gets her anything she wants. She loves Tyler and Riley and it breaks her heart if they ignore her. :)
Tayce is still working a lot and finishing his last full semester of his masters degree. He sure is an amazing man.
That's us!