Our sweet angel

Harper is such a blessing to our family!!! We love to play with her. The whole family fights over the chance to hold her, play with her, even change her diaper!!! I can't imagine our life without her. She is just delicious!!!











Harper turns 6 months this week and that's hard to believe!! I will post more about it later, but I wanted to put these pictures up now!!!

Not fair ;)

August in Washington County means FAIR TIME!!!! The fair is always a blast and we look forward to it every year. Randy and I started a tradition when Maddison was a baby that we go out on $1.00 Wednesday. The fair rides are only $1.00 on the opening day of the fair, so our kids know that we go out that day, ride the "live or die" rides and then we don't go back out to the rides the rest of the fair. It's always hot, it's always dusty, the wind blows and you always wonder if you're going to die on the rides (my favorite part).

So, Wednesday afternoon, we piled everyone up and went!!! I was still tired from my surgery and I knew the heat was going to kick my fanny, but the worst part, because of my heart surgery, I would not be able to ride the rides this year. I WAS TICKED!!!! My goal in life is to ride the rides longer and more than anyone else. I'm kind of stubborn that way. I don't get sick on the rides, so it's all thrill for me!!! But here I am, sitting, yet again, while my family goes on rides (4 trips to Disneyland last year when I was pregnant with Harper has me a little bitter).

Here's Randy's family that went out to the fair with us.

Tyler, Randy, Harper, Cory, Mazie, Maddison, Naomi, Cambelle, Jamie and Elijah

I guess I wasn't too bitter because the kids were having A BLAST!!!! This is one of my favorite rides. Gee Wiz!!! I love when you're on a ride and your stomach drops!!! MY FAVORITE!!!

Naomi, Cambelle, Mazie and Maddison

And then we have the BIG ride!!! This ride spins upside down for a long time and I LOVE IT!!! Tyler ended up going on this, like, 5 times in a row!!! He's a die hard. I'm so proud!!!

Naomi and Tyler.... dare devil cousins!!!

You always have to do the kiddie rides! Look how red the kids were, it was about 100 degrees!

Mazie, Elijah and Cambelle

Even though I pooped out easy, I still had a great time listening to the kids giggling!!! The fair is always fun... butt cracks, tramp stamps, missing teeth and all!!!! I love the loud music they play on the big rides, I love wondering how many years the carnies have been in prison, I LOVE IT ALL!!!! Sometimes you just have to lighten up and go with the flow, that's what the fair reminds me to do every year!!!
Happy Fair time y'all!!!

Cambelle turned 6 (gasp)!!!

This Tuesday was Cambelle's 6th birthday!!!! She wanted to have a swim party at Gina's so she could, "show her friends that she can swim under water"!!! haha!!! So cute!!!

Tyler, Randy, Ashley, her cousin, Ky, Cambelle, Lexi, Reagan, Kelsey, Maddison, Whitney, Odin, Brittney, Cort

Thanks to Gina for being a good sport (again) for using her pool, Cambelle got her wish!!! She invited some friends and some family. We BBQ hot dogs, ate watermelon, chips and Capri Suns before we sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY and had cake. It was a great time!!! Exactly what she wanted. I think by having a summer birthday, she might have a lot of swim parties!!!

I love this picture of Anna and Hadley!!!

Liam and Harper chilling out on the blanket!!!

The kids eating dinner and birthday cake!!!

Time to open presents!!!

Her new, silky, purple nightgown that Grandma Clyde made for her!!! She was SO excited to get this!!!

I think it was a great day for Cambelle!!! She is such a sassy, little blessing to our family!!! She adds spice and I LOVE IT!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!!!! Mom and daddy love you!!!

More to thank.....

I have been through so much this last 2 weeks. I don't want ANYONE to feel left out of the loop when I am showing appreciation or thanking people. I failed to mention in my post about my surgery, that my Aunt Iva, and cousins Danielle and Elizabeth came after my surgery to visit. It was so fun getting to see them and I appreciate all the love and support they give me. I really hope I have not forgot anyone in this crazy time of my life. I'm sure I have and for that I am truly sorry.

The decision.

So, after much thought, prayer, hours on the computer, phone calls and doctor appointments to discuss this, I have decided I will breastfeed my baby while I am on Plavix. I believe that we can feel the Holy Ghost (or as some people call it, "mother's intuition")

Fluttery

This is a copy of the ECHO I had done on my heart in the operating room while I was still in surgery. See the spirals? That's the patch. The white lines from top to bottom, that's the wall of my heart that didn't heal. See the dark, big things from side to side? Those are my ribs!!! Cool, huh? Oh yea, and the lead they used on the left side of the picture. This device is in perfectly!!!




So, it's been a week since my surgery. In fact, as I type this post, one week ago, I was laying in a hospital bed in the cardiac recovery floor in St. Mark's Hospital 300 miles from my home. My baby, husband, oldest daughter and parents were in a hotel room 5 minutes away and I just wanted to get the hell out of there!!!

This week has had it's ups and downs. My new heartbeat is weird to get used to. When was the last time you felt your heart beating? Not when you're running, but EVERY-SINGLE-BEAT? It's one of the main side effects that people complain about and I'm learning now why that is. It feels like I'm having a constant anxiety attack. Fluttering. My heartbeat is in my throat. EVERY-SINGLE-BEAT!!! It's not comfortable. But, it's not been a bad recovery.

The drive home was Hell. But being home was Heaven!!! Being with all 4 of my children was exhausting, but exactly what I needed. I've been really tired. And when I hit my wall, there is no words to describe the fatigue. But everyday, the energy lasts longer and my headaches go away for longer too!!! Within a couple more days, I feel like I'll be back to business!!!

I still see stars when I pick the baby up from the ground. I wonder if that has something to do with the blood thinner and asprin I am taking? Could be, I guess? I can tolerate one outing a day, without severe backlash!!!

I have to give a shout out to my ward. They set up meals for Saturday (my visiting teacher, Lori), Sunday was great (Kellie is such a great supporter) and I told the RS that we would be fine. I am so grateful for a RS president that was in tuned and listened to the Spirit. She brought dinner to us on Monday, Tuesday, my sweet friend Theresa brought dinner and then last night Becky made dinner for us. I can't even tell you how grateful I am for this. Let me explain, about 3pm everyday, I TANK OUT. I can't move a muscle. That's when Randy is getting home and I need his help with the baby. So, who cooks dinner? THANK HEAVENS my friends in the Relief Society knew what to do to help. I am all about saying NO to help, but this time, to help RANDY out, I knew we needed to say yes!!! We are so beyond grateful!!! What a blessing!!!!

This week I got all the kids registered for school and some school stuff bought. Cambelle's birthday is Tuesday. I guess I better get some invites out!!!

There's a lot to do, but I feel like I'm getting there. I know I'm slow, but I'm feeling better every day. I am so grateful for Randy taking such good care of us. What a sweetheart!!!

So, one week out..... exhausting, but not too bad!!! I'm glad it's over and I wont be having any strokes!!!

More weeks to come!!! WATCH OUT!!!!