Whit's Wedding!

Way back in March I went up to Utah to help throw Whit's bridal shower for college friends.  It was so fun! She got great gifts and it was tons of fun spending time with her.

Then a month later (I don't have pictures to prove I did anything during the month of April before the wedding, so it's like nothing happened then! I really made some awesome friends and we hung out every day, but no one actually takes pictures...I'll work on it!) I went to Utah for the wedding! It was so fun.  I'm incredibly blessed to have the family I do, and here is my family for now! 

A few weeks later I drove to Washington for the Manson reception and Apple Blossom.  This is the sign that was waiting for me on the door when I got home.  Rock made sure to ask if I knew what that said.  I'm the proud aunt that taught him how to spell! :)

We got right to work making homemade apple cider.  SO good.  It did feel weird to be making cider and not be freezing, because we usually make it in November, but it was just as good! 

This kid is a character. Seriously, he's always in costume.  His imagination is amazing to me haha. He can even talk in his "Batman" voice, which sounds pretty dang accurate.  

So now I'm back in Arizona, more job interviews and having fun. I am loving it here!

Spring!

I have LOVED the last couple months in Phoenix!

 In February I ran the Ragnar Relay with family and had a blast.  The house was crazy with people sleeping everywhere and at random times, but I loved the chaos.  I never thought I'd go running at 4 am in the middle of the desert, but seeing the outlines of the cactus against the moon was definitely a cool sight while I was all alone. I got to hang out with Whit all weekend so that was an added bonus!

The week after Ragnar my dad, Aaron, KC, Nick, and Rock came down for their annual Mariners' Spring Training trip.  I was lucky enough to get to spend the entire time with them. I love my family!

My friend Ashley had a birthday and took the day off of work, so we went with Wendy and got pedicures, had lunch, and I swam while they lounged by the pool.  I got multiple warnings by people there not to get in the pool because it was so cold, but it was 90ish degrees outside and the pool was warmer than Lake Chelan in August, so it was still warmer than what I was used to!

Joel just left yesterday morning, and I miss having him here already.  I'm so grateful to have a cousin so close in age. He got to meet some of my friends and stayed up until who knows when just talking like we always did growing up.  I love this kid.

Last Saturday I went hiking with a couple friends and realized that Arizona hiking is a LOT more rocky than in Utah and Washington! It felt like a freaking stair climber the whole time. Ha I'm excited to try some more hiking trails here soon though!

Next weekend I get to make a trip up to Utah and I can't wait to see more of my friends and family.  I feel so incredibly blessed in life right now!

Small Things

I was lucky enough to be able to be home for Christmas for about three weeks and I loved every second.  It made it so much harder to leave though.  I love the little ones at home.  Rock and I went sledding a bunch in our "sledding park" and even invited the rest of the family out to experience the ride. I seriously love these kids more than anything right now. They are the best.

I'm so incredibly grateful for my family.  I honestly feel blessed every single day to be born into the family I was.  As I've been away from home and see more things, I realize more and more that not everyone is as lucky as I am.  Having such great support is definitely something that I will never take for granted.

Just a warning, this part gets long, and probably kinda gross. Read on if you want!

I flew back into Arizona on Saturday night, and then on Tuesday morning at 4 am I woke up with an awful pain in my right side.  I've become pretty good at recognizing kidney stone pain and knew that's what it was. I took some meds that I had from the doctor from my last one and waited for the pain to go away.  It didn't. I called my mom at about 5 am because who doesn't want their parents when they feel sick? haha She told me to go to the ER and get it fixed.
 I woke up Janae (sorry!) and she was able to take me right in.  They asked me the usual questions, and finally got me in.  They blew a vein in my arm which gave me a pretty sweet bruise, and Janae was having a hard time with the needles, which didn't bother me at all. haha They finally got an IV in and started the morphine and fluids.  I waited for the pain to go away. It didn't.  It was so awful, I couldn't get comfortable in any position.  I think they thought I was a drug seeker, saying the morphine wasn't working. haha I also couldn't pee when they wanted me to give them a sample.
 I had a CT scan and the doctor came and talked to me about it when the results were in, and told me it was a teeny tiny stone and I shouldn't even feel it, and that there was a weird pressure behind it.  They kept me on a regular schedule of morphine, even though it was doing absolutely nothing for the pain.  Finally after 4 hours a new doctor came to see me and gave me Motrin and Flomax.  It was the greatest haha. I could literally feel the pee fill my bladder and relieve the pain. It was so great. The doctor came in after the meds and commented that I actually looked human now. I gave them my sample and waited for the results and then we were free to go.  I got sent home with a nice toilet hat to pee into and a strainer.  So lovely. Then the doctor and nurse went on to tell me how I probably wouldn't even notice the stone because it was so small and if it didn't pass that day it would definitely pass the next.
I had instructions to see a urologist, and was able to get in two days later.  The stone still hadn't passed, but I wasn't in pain like I was before, mostly just at night when I wasn't constantly drinking water. He made me feel way better about my pain, explaining that the CT scan doesn't always get all the stone, it could have cut some off and that most likely it was bigger than they thought. He got me set up with some awesome tests to figure out what it causing these dang stones, and a follow up appointment.  Then sent me home to pass this sucker.  Well, I waited. And I waited. And I waited. A week went by. Then finally by the next Friday I woke up at about 5 with a very sharp pain.  I peed and YAY! I saw my little stone. So happy to get it out of me! It's not a large stone by any means, but definitely bigger than they told me it would be! And it's poky. So, now I get to finish up all the tests and see why I'm the lucky recipient of these gifts. Hopefully I find something out to stop them!
I completely understand the scripture, "That by small and simple things are great things come to pass."

Sorry if you read all that, I just wanted to get it down in writing. :) Weird I know.  Life is good right now, enjoying the 75 degree days and sun right now.  Excited to see what else happens down here!