Memorial Day

If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life

And I had to start again with just my children and my wife

I'd thank my luck stars to be livin' here today

'Cause the flag still stands for Freedom, and they can't take that away

And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me

And I'll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today

'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land

God Bless the USA

From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee

Across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea

From Detroit down to Houston, and New York to L.A.

Well there's pride in every American heart, and its time we stand and say

That I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me

And I'll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today

'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land . . .

God Bless The USA

amazing!

The picture isn't super clear, there are other videos on youtube with a clearer picture, but they don't have the audio commentary. Just one more example of ordinary people doing extraordinary things!

11 down . . . 29 to go!

Ok, I think I'm pretty much past the miscarriage point now, so I figure we can tell everyone now. I'M PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are SO VERY excited. We've been trying for over 2 years, and had a miscarriage just over a year ago, so this is really so special for us! We were worried about miscarriage since I've had 2 of them, which is why we decided to wait until we were past that point before we told everyone. With my first miscarriage we told everyone pretty much the day we found out, and I miscarried a week later. You'd be surprised how fast some news travels, and how long it takes to get other news out! It was really hard the next few weeks telling people that I wasn't pregnant anymore.

I have been SO sick. I mean, I was sick with my other two pregnancies, but I didn't throw up much. I can hardly keep anything down now. I've lost 10 pounds in the last 3 weeks alone. It's crazy! My abs have been getting a serious workout from all the dry-heaving! It's so worth it though! I mean, being sick like this is so much easier to deal with because I know its for a good reason! I was actually pregnant when I went in for surgery in March. We didn't know it at the time of course, but I was about 3 weeks then. When I think back about that it makes me realize just how very blessed we are. A lot can go wrong in any pregnancy, but surgery, especially in the abdominal area is not recommended when you're pregnant. The fact that I didn't miscarry this one just amazes me!

Things have changed alot. I'm not working at the hospital anymore, my leave of absence ended before my dr cleared me to go back to work, and my supervisor couldn't hold the position. I was supremely bummed. I really loved my job. But maybe it was a blessing in disguise. I have been so sick that I wouldn't have been able to work anyway. (Patients don't really like it when you throw up on them. It tends to get negative feedback!) I was approved for unemployment benefits, so that has helped. I'm looking for another job, but I'd really like to go back to a hospital. I really feel like I'm in my element there.

Steve's job is the same. He doesn't really like it, but he's a trooper! He's (hopefully) enrolling at the University of Phoenix soon. We really need to get his degree. We can't live in this apartment forever! We talked to a counselor who walked us through the requirements and stuff, and it looks like all of Steve's credits from UVU will transfer over, and he already has 48 credits there. Also, he'll be going for his bachelors instead of his associates like he was at UVU. It feels right, but a lot of things have to happen before its final. (Like the counselor calling us back for one! we've left 2 messages and she hasn't replied.)

Jenni and Joe-joe are great, as usual! Jenni likes her new school, but really misses her old one. She asked me the other day why we couldn't just move back in with grandma and grandpa again. She liked that. Try explaining self-sufficiency to a 7 year old. Kinda difficult. But she's still doing really well in school. She is an AMAZING reader! And she likes to read, which really helps! Joe-joe is so excited to be a big brother. Every time its his turn to pray, he always blesses mommy and the baby in her tummy. (He also always prays that no one will "get in a crash and die". We're not really sure where that came from! He just started saying it.)

Anyway, I'll end my novel now. I'll try to post a little more frequently! I know it's been a while! :)

ok thats all.

later~

chelle

Happy Happy Birthday!!!!

Dear Jan, Jenn, Ry-ry and Ethan-

Happy happy birthday from all of us to you, we hope you had a great day, and all your dreams come true!!

Jan, Jenn, Ry-ry, and Ethan all share today (the 25th) as their birthday. April is SUCH a busy birthday month for us!! Not only are the four above April birthdays, but we also have Joe-joe, Alisha (Ry-ry's wife), and Melissa (Dave's wife). (I'm pretty sure there is at least one more, but I can't remember who right now. If it's you, and I forgot, SORRY!!)

Anyway, it's late and I'm uber tired, so I'm going to be now!

Later all!

Chelle

What to write about . . . .

Just so you're all aware, I don't like april fools day either. I didn't really want to do anything, but Steve really did, and he thought all y'all's responses were so funny!! He says the only reason you guys don't like April Fools is cause you all fell for it! I have to admit, I didn't think people would actually believe it. Go me!

As of this week, I have officially lost 37 pounds! Woo Hoo!!

Really, I can't think of anything to write about. Things are going well for us. I had my surgery, which went well. They found some endometriosis, which they removed, but I was still having a lot of pain. After talking to my Primary care dr. and my psychiatrist we (finally) decided to go back on Subutex. I have taken it before, with great success, but my Dr's were hesitant to put me back on it unless it was totally necessary (long story). Subutex is generally used to treat heroine addiction, but they've found recently that it very effective when treating chronic pain. Granted, most people who use it for heroine addiction treatment are on 3-4 times the amount I'm on. But I've found that a really small dose works really well for me. It's nice to not have to stress about being on narcotics, and the roller coaster ride they put you on. When I would miss a dose of the Lortab, I noticed it almost immediately. With the Subutex, I've missed one or even two days in a row before, and didn't even hardly notice. And I only have to take this once a day. What a blessing!! It's so nice to feel good again! Really, what a blessing!!

Speaking of blessings, my niece Emma said the cutest thing the other day! (Ems, I hope you aren't mad that I'm blogging about this, but I was just so impressed by it! It's totally stuck with me!) We went over to return Daniel's truck that we borrowed, and Daniel, Emma and Matthew were outside doing some yard work. I noticed Emma had a scratch on her face. It started on her cheek and went diagonally up past her eye and up in between her eyebrows. It really went RIGHT next to her eye. Almost scratching her tear duct. I asked her what happened, and she told me she fell into a bar. Daniel explained that they were doing some concrete work (I think) and they had rebar sticking out of the ground in a few places. Emma was running to the house, and tripped, falling straight into the rebar. If she had fallen even a centimeter to the side, she very well could have lost her eye. After Daniel told what happened, Emma turns to ma and says "It was such a blessing because it didn't hit my eye. I was so blessed." It was SO cute! It's just amazing how she recognized it! Even if she was told by someone, the fact that she knows and remembers that is just . . . just great. I told her that she was blessed like that because she was such a good girl. What a cutie!

ok, it's time for me to go to bed now. Again, sorry Ems if I stole your story! I was just very impressed with Emma!

ok, I can sleep easier tonight, cause I finally did a post! Yay me!!!

k, thats all. Later!

chelle