Utah Week 2

Some highlights from our second week here in Utah:

We got to go today and see Wade's niece graduate from high school! She did a great job! My nephew is graduating this year too in Tennessee. It's crazy to me that we are "old"...I remember when my nephew was born and now they are graduating!

We've spent every spare second in the backyard. The boys really love helping Grandpa with his garden or watering.


We found this funny shoe tree on our anniversary trip to Deer Valley. Podiatrist Wade had to have the picture!
A trip to Utah is not complete without a trip up American Fork Canyon to throw rocks in the lakes and play around in the dirt.

Wade leaves us this weekend for Tuscon. SAD!

Caves

One thing that Wade loves about being in Utah is that he can get away to the mountains with his brother Ted. They usually go repelling and hiking each summer in Zions National Park but this summer Wade wasn't able to plan the trip around his rotations. Monday they were able to do some caving up a small canyon. The location of the cave is actually pretty secret and so I can't post it or the location - they were only able to access this cave with a key to a locked door that they had with special permission. (I had no idea that this happened, but Wade assures me this is to preserve caves.) The cave had a short repel at the opening and a lot of stalactites and stalagmites that Wade got pictures of. The last picture of Ted is where they signed their name at the end of the cave - Ted was already on the registry from a few years ago.

Celebrate Eight

Our attempt to take a couple photo this morning! Notice the two little heads at the bottom of the picture

I always love hearing about how people met and fell in love. So since today is our eight year wedding anniversary I thought I would post it. Since I’m not at home I don’t have fun pictures that I can insert – only fun journaling to read. Enjoy.

Here is our story!

Background:
In May of 1999 the summer after my freshman year of college I moved to Lehi, Utah to live with one of my sisters, Kathy. The plan was that I would take a few summer classes at BYU and also be there to help her with her baby triplet boys. I also got to take single adult institute classes offered in Lehi once a week. (Think Bible study for single people over 18 if you aren’t familiar with what I just said.) Our little group had a lot of fun and had tons of activities – not just our weekly lessons. Not that I was paying much attention, but it just so happened that a handsome guy named Wade was in charge of all the fun activities.

Wade befriended my sister, Jenny and I. (Jenny had also been living in Lehi helping Kathy with the triplets). We joked with him about some of the girls he was dating and tried to set him up a few times.

This is where things get interesting(and the part that I usual edit out):
At the end of July I returned home to Arkansas where I was planned to start my sophomore year of college at the University of Arkansas, Monticello. That is when I made one of the most difficult decisions of my life. I was engaged to a guy in Arkansas and had been for about a year. He was a good guy, but not a member of my church. While I know a lot of couples make it work when they are two different faiths, but I was beginning to realize that that was not a challenge I was wanting to face in my life. I still feel like there are friends that don't understand why I made the decision that I did, but all I can say is that I prayed and prayed and the decision that I made included dropping all my scholarships and move back to Utah. I gave back the ring. I packed my bags. I’ve never regretted that decision, I only regret that I had to hurt someone’s feelings to come to my decision.

So, August came and my mom helped me drive cross country for the second time and I moved back to Utah and back in with my sister. I enrolled at Utah Valley State College since I had already missed the deadline that semester at BYU. I got a job and I worked hard. I didn’t plan on meeting anyone or dating anyone. I had some great friends I had made in our single’s group, which I still went to each week. Wade was a friend, a best friend, but only a friend.

Enter Wadie-poo:
September came and went and October came. Wade was always part of the group of friends that I hung out with. Wade was (and still is) one of my best that I had ever had. He listened to me and never tried to fix me. He was very understanding. I still remember when he asked me out on our first date – it was a group date with 3 other couples and I wasn’t sure if this was just an activity or a date. I had money to pay for the whole thing in my pocket! We went to eat at The Pizza Factory in Provo and then saw the play, The Arc at Thanksgiving Point. The end of October came and we went on our first date alone. We saw “For the Love of the Game” and I still have the movie ticket. I think it’s so funny we saw this for our first alone date because neither of us like baseball.

Christmas came and went. I moved from my sister’s house in Lehi to an apartment in Orem that I shared with 5 other girls. I had a blast at Courtland Ridge. They were crazy girls and fun friends. I love reading their blogs and catching up with them still today! Wade and I had fun hanging out and dating. We had dates at the library at UVSC while he studied for crazy chemistry classes. He tired to make biology make sense to me.

The proposal, engagement and marriage:
Super-Bowl Sunday, 2000, Wade proposed. I had just got back from church and was at my apartment in Orem when he called and asked if I wanted to go on a walk with him. I drove as fast as I singing Dixie Chicks, You Can’t Hurry Love, the whole way from Orem to Lehi. We got to his house and we went on a ride to the Timpanogos Temple for a walk. When we got there he asked me why I was so excited, because, he told me, the ring I had picked out wasn’t done yet.

Then, not even 3 minutes later, he dropped down on one knee and asked me to marry him. What a tricker! In fact, the wedding band wasn’t done, but right there in front of me was the engagement ring I had drawn for him!

I probably got the worst grades of my college years during that next semester. I worked, planned our wedding and went to school full time. We got married for time and all eternity Memorial Day weekend, on May 27, 2000 in the Mount Timpanogos Temple, in American Fork, Utah at 10am. Our parents, Wade’s four siblings, my six siblings and some family friends were all there for the big day. We had a reception that night in Lehi, Utah and then an open house a week later in Warren, Arkansas.

The Rest of the story:
I can’t believe it’s been eight short years! We started out poor college students living in a one bedroom apartment in American Fork. We are still poor college students – but now for professional school and for only one more year. I can’t imagine having it any other way. I love that someday I can tell our kids that we actually lived on Top Raumen and a $40 a month grocery budget! So far we’ve added two crazy boys to the mix (and increased our food budget accordingly). Wade is my best friend and such a great dad. He is patient and kind and takes care of me. He never points out my many faults. Happy big eight anniversary to my Wadie! You always make me laugh and I love you more and more each year!

Today we are off for a mini “surprise” honeymoon. Wade got a great deal with the resort we stayed in for our real honeymoon so he thought he would surprise me and take me back since we are in Utah. He lined up sitters, planned how he would blind fold me and drive me away and then I got the credit card bill back in March and almost canceled it when I saw the charges! (Wade went back and read the fine print and part of the great deal was they would charge you first!) Surprise or not, we are heading out. It’s going to be great to get some alone time before he leaves us this weekend.

One year from this weekend we will have the best anniversary present ever, Wade will be a gradute for the 3rd and final time during our marriage - this time from medical school. Here's to number eight! I can't wait till number nine!

Thomas Day

We surprised Gage and Noah today with a trip to see Thomas the Train. The real-life size one! They were so excited in the car when we told them where we were going. Gage has been wanting to see life-size Thomas for a few years now. It was a little rainy and chilly but the boys had a blast! They loved the imagination station where they could play with all the trains. They also were so excited to ride the "Annie & Clarabelle" coaches. Gage got to meet Sir Topham Hatt and Noah screamed because he was so scared! They had a great time and loved seeing all the trains and enjoying the day out with Thomas!

(I posted more of our first week in Utah below.)

Utah - Week One

We've had a busy first week in Utah. The boys and I got here safely Friday night,yes, to answer the comment from the previous post, I did fly Northwest airlines again - because they gave us travel vouchers from our horrible experience at Christmas.

Wade got here safely Saturday later Saturday night. He drove the entire 15 hours in one day and was sick. He is our hero!

Here are a bunch of pictures and fun highlights of our first week:

Noah and Keegan playing in the mini baby pack and play. They are so funny!

Gage, Noah and their cousin Charlotte had too much fun playing on the 4 wheeler and the new Rino around the yard! We can't wait for next week to get them out in the mountains.




We took a short trip up to SLC to visit Hogle Zoo and our Alma-mater the U of U. We got to see a white alligator at the zoo, it is one of 10 in the entire world! An elephant was also doing some really cool tricks for food!


Gage loved looking at where he lived when he was born. It was funny to us going back and the placed looked exactly the same - kids running everywhere in the play ground and the campus shuttle out front. We cried when we had to move in there and we cried when we had to leave because we ended up loving the place so much. We got the whole family decked on in red Utah clothes and are having some family pictures taken in them later!

I think Gage's favorite part of being in Utah is Grandma and Grandpa's back yard. He loves running free and playing with the water hose.

Of course, we also made a run to Cabela's to see all the fist and deer that they have on display. It was hard to know what the boys loved more - the zoo or Cabela's. We found some Mr. Twister for our little Noah - who has the nick-name of Mr. Twister.

I apologize for not commenting as much as normal, I don't really get to the computer, TV or even books while I'm here in Utah. We love being here and visiting all our family and friends! Hope you have had a great week!

Utah

Today's the big day! Gage, Noah and I leave this afternoon to visit family for a few weeks. I know we will be back in great Iowa in a few short 4 weeks, but there are many friends that won't be here when we get back. I'm very glad for blogs so we can all still keep in touch.I've loved getting to know new people and my only regret is that we felt we really started to get to know some great friends this past year. Last night when I was trying to sleep I had this song running through my head. I always think a little Sound of Music when we head back to Utah because there we can literally, sing and run in the mountains.

So long, farewell, we'll be in Utah if it's us you want to find,

We're sad to go and leave our friends behind.

We've learned so much, and grown up with you too,

Adieu, adieu, we really will miss you & you.

I'm glad to go, (see family & friends)

I cannot tell a lie.

I flit, I float, I fleetly flee, I fly. (Northwest airlines to be exact.)

If you're here in July, so will I

So long, farewell, we'll see you soon, goodbye,

Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye!

smells like fish & flowers

Yesterday Gage had a very busy day. He has two little girlfriends that he loves and won't see again after Friday. He told me he wanted to give them a flower (and since they were really cheap to buy) he got his wish. He picked out a red one for Brooklyn and a purple one for Ella. We then delivered them to their houses. He is really going to miss his friends. Some better pictures and the nicest re-cap of this occasion can be seen HERE. (Thanks Erica, I am speechless!)


Wade then took Gage for a special daddy/son outing of fishing. They headed out to the Pence's house. They are such a wonderful family, they are always so kind to us and such great examples. We are really going to miss them when we leave Iowa in July. I have so many pictures, but here are my favorite 3.

5.15.1998

It's been 10 years today since I graduated from high school. We had our graduation at the football field. My graduating class had 118 people in it and I could name each one. I love high school. I was captain of the cheerleaders, editor of the yearbook and newspaper, apparently I wanted to become a peppy journalist.

I've packed a lot of my fun memorabilia but I was able to find a few pictures I scanned from a scrapbook. Below is my senior class at Prom. I'm down in front if you can't find me!

My mom and I before the big night. I am sad I didn't have any pictures out of the actual ceremony, they are all packed away some where.

My senior cheerleading picture. I know it's dorky now to admit I was a cheerleader, but I really did love every second of it then. I lived, breathed and slept it. It was such the motivation to work out, I wish I had that kind of motivation now.

I remember my goals in my senior portfolio for 10 years were:
1. Have two kids - boy and girl. (Done - two kids, two very fun boys)
2. Live in Hot Springs, Arkansas (Nope)
3. Work as a journalist for a television station (Nope, but I did graduate from the University of Utah with my degree in Mass Communication, I just found out that I loved the Public Relations side of the field way more than the television side. I loved working in marketing before I had Gage, but I found out when I had Gage that I love the freedom of spending my time at home, being there for them every day, and not missing any part of their little bitty lives right now to continue in marketing.)

In no certain order, I have in the past 10 years:

1. Got married

2. Moved 7 times

3. Graduated from the University of Utah

4. Had two kids

5. Had 6 different cars - and am back to driving a mini-van, which I love now, but I loathed driving during high school

6. Lived in 3 different states

7. Supported my husband through undergrad and medical school

8. Changed my major 3 times

9. Decided that yes, all along, my parents were almost always right and are pretty cool to talk to every day

10. Met some of my best friends.

I can't believe it's been 10 years! Can't wait to see what happens in the next ten!

update

Busy, Busy, Busy. That is what we have been. I have been horrible at commenting so I'm sorry if I've missed important things. I have been reading and I loved reading every one's Mother's Day posts. I have been feeling better each day from my surgery. I am still not as fast as I want to be but I feel a lot better than last week. I am glad that I did it and don't have to worry about an attack at any moment.

Friday night we had a get together BBQ with all the members of Wade's clinical group. It was fun to see all of them and their families. I still wasn't feeling my best so I left early with Noah so we could rest but there were some pictures taken that maybe I'll post later.

Early Saturday morning Noah woke up with fever and had another seizure. It was much smaller this time, but still a seizure just the same. We got him cooled off and found out that our pediatrician was working Saturday at a different clinic so we were able to see her and found out he has double ear infections. The poor kid has been so sad. Monday I took him back in for a check up and his ears have started to clear up but he is teething on top of all this and really sad.

I spent Mother's day doing what mothers do best. Playing nurse to my sick Noah, cuddling and making sure he felt better. Although Wade didn't plan anything big this year he has really been a lifesavers in my life the past month. I did get some great drawing that him and Gage worked on and nice paper bouquet of flowers. (Usually he does homemade gifts, one year he helped Gage make me a crown and magic wand with paper, sticks and tin foil!) On top of getting his portfolio ready for the end of the year, working on a case presentation that he has to present in front of professors and classmates, he has played mom & dad so many days for me while I'm in bed and can't move. He sat next to me one night during my gall-stone attack and held my hand until I could fall asleep because that is all that would make me feel better. (thanks Wade, I do notice and I DO appreciate!)

I've been super busy packing and trying to get ready to leave. I fly out with the boys on Friday for four weeks. Wade is leaving the next day and driving. If anyone is interested in our contact info (cell phone numbers or Wade's email) and you don't have them send me an email at wadeanddebbi@gmail.com. I can't promise I will be so good with email, posting on my blog, and commenting while I'm there. It will be fun to be in Utah and see old friends and visit with family for a while. I can't believe that we will actually be leaving Iowa for good so soon.

I will try to post some fun pictures in between packing, cleaning and organizing before we leave on Friday.

The Host

Thanks everyone for all the nice comments and emails regarding my surgery. I am feeling better now that I'm not on hydrocodone any longer. While I had some really interesting thoughts/dreams/hallucinations and didn't feel much pain, I think I'll take some pain over feeling so drugged and stick with taking ibuprofen.

One thing I have been able to do the past few days is read, since I've been stuck laying down a lot. I finished The Host this morning. I have mixed feelings and would love for someone else to finish it so I can talk to them. I posted my feelings on it on My Reading Spot. I tried to keep it spoiler free, but I can't guarantee I don't give anything away.

I can't wait to hear what others have to think about it! Happy Reading! Have a great weekend!

Gall-Bladder Free

I am now gall bladder free. I saw the surgeon yesterday and he basically told me that if I don't have it out that I will have difficult pregnancies from here on out. If I never have any more children it might not bother me again, but seeing we want more, this was the decision I made.

Since I'm leaving the state next Friday today was the only day they could get me in. I am at home and feeling tired and my stomach kills when my meds wear off, but since some people already knew about this I thought I would just post that I am home now.

Don't be offended if you call and I don't answer. Wade is home with the boys and at times like these I am very glad he is in school and able to take off, because jobs sometimes aren't as nice. Thanks to everyone that has helped me this week.

{Heart}

(Look close - it's not what you think it is!)

Gage had his annual cardiology appointment today and he did GREAT! I find myself amazed by this little boy and how brave he can be. I have more anxiety for these appointments then he does - he was dancing in the hallway and having a blast. I was the nervous one asking if he wanted his special blanket or if he wanted to hold my hand.


His pulmonary valve stenosis and left pulmonary artery stenosis are still there but haven't changed, which is good news - the Dr. mentioned that if it were going to change it probably would have by now. We got cleared for another year - which means the next time we go we will be in RESIDENCY!

I take these pictures because we will use them next year when his appointment comes back up. I showed him lasts years yesterday and we talked about what and how they would be doing everything. I think it really helped him not be scared.

We stopped on the way home and got him a slurpie for being such a brave boy. That was the best part of his whole day!