First Time on the Swing

Well we have been in Utah at my parents house for the past couple days and Maddi has learned a lot of new things by being around her cousins her age. She is saying more and being so much more polite (Thank you Season!) She has also learned how to swing on Grandma Bryson's swing set. Here is a video of her first time on a swing. (My brother Kenny is video taping on my phone.)

Tiny Dancer

So Maddi has taken after her mom, and has learned to watch Dancing with the Stars. But little does she know, I don't watch it to watch celebrities dance. I watch it to watch my baby girl dance. It is quite fun and I laugh a lot. She is so good at dancing. :)

Just a Thought

I guess I just want to ramble for a moment, so please bear with me. This has been a week for me emotionally. I got news this last Monday that there are complications with Tyler at Fort Sill, OK. There are concerns with a subdurall hemotoma (sorry if that isn't spelled correctly) that Tyler sustained to the right side of his brain by a 90 mile per hour baseball a few years ago. Well we go through all this drama sending him off and they put a hold on him for more medical testing. He could be sent home but we don't know when, and we lose insurance, and retirement, and such. I feel like I'm on a tilt-o-whirl and I don't know which way is up or down or who has just thrown up on me. Then I find out that the son of a woman I visit teach was killed Monday night. I feel so helpless as to what to do for her. I'm her visiting teacher but I don't know what to do or say to help her through this. Then I've been dealing with some clients of mine that haven't been (for lack of better words) the greatest parents. As I sit back and look around me I have this overwhelming feeling of unfairness. I look at a family who has just lost a son, who is a good family who loves him dearly. Then I look at a family who could care less what happens to their kids, and or does things that harms their child. I don't understand the will of God. I guess all I can do is have faith and keep in mind that this world is not the end goal. I was talking to Tyler who said, "I have to stop asking why, and start asking 'what can I learn from this?'" I need to keep that in mind. Leave it to my wise and loving husband to give me words of advice, without even knowing it. To all of you who read this, I just ask a small favor. Kiss your child goodnight tonight. Kiss them for those who can't anymore, and kiss them for the children who yearn for goodnight kisses and will never get them.

Small Triumph

Well for those of you who know me well, you will understand this. I did not grow up in the country. No I wouldn't consider Lehi, Utah a major city or anything, but it is nothing compared to the country life I live in now. All these people know everything about tractors, and big farm equipment. Heck, I have barns. So to make a long story short, I am not very good with machinery. It isn't my forte. In the past when I have had to mow my lawn, Tyler would go around the house, trees, and pipes so I didn't ruin something, then I would mow the rest. Well, he is not here now and my poor lawn needed some help. So yesterday I jumped on the trusty lawn mower. It took me a while, but in the end I did it. Plus I ran out of gas AFTER I finished. No it is not pretty. But I managed to mow the lawn without breaking the lawn mower or any pipes. I was quite proud of myself.

Soldier Boy

Here are some pictures of Tyler at drills with the National Guard. Tyler is the one on the left hanging on the log.

The soldiers have to climb to the top of the tower.

If you couldn't tell it's Ty pulling the guy up by himself.

Tyler is the one by the door with the gun.

Ty is bent over on the planks in the middle helping set the boards.

Happy Mother's Day

Well, I guess it's mother's day. It doesn't really feel like a special day to me, but it does make me grateful for being a mom. I would like to take a moment and express my gratitude for this amazing blessing. In early 2005 I had very severe endometriosis. I was seeing a doctor in Rexburg. To make a long story short, I was treated with a chemotherapy medicine called leuprolide that is more commonly used to treat prostate cancer in men . I was treated for a year with this medicine which caused problems with my reproductive organs. (I'm trying not to be too graphic). So when Tyler and I went to the doctor asking what our chances of getting pregnant were, I wasn't surprised to hear years to never. I think deep down I had accepted the fact of not having children a while before that, but I knew it had crushed my husband. So I talked to a friend at work and she suggested a doctor who was a fertility specialist. We made an appointment and with grateful hearts she told us we would be able to get pregnant. Long story jump again, Madelyn was born after a hard pregnancy and delivery. Now my baby girl is here saying "Momma" and giving the best hugs anyone could ask for. She loves to give big smiles, and kisses. We spend all day together, and she never seems to get sick of me. When I cry she grabs her "blanky", sits on my lap and pats my back. She is my life and my joy. I never thought that I would have her and am so grateful for the opportunity to hold and love the baby I thought would never be mine. So I am so grateful for being a mom. Because I have the greatest blessing, my daughter.

Hello all. It's me Tyler, well I am on my way to boot camp in the morning, so I am in Boise just waiting until morning to get on the plane to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. I have been pretty bored all day it has been a long, tiring day that started at 4:30 am, most of the day was spent waiting at the MEPS office at the Federal Building. I am already missing my beautiful wife and daughter like crazy, I have had a lot of time to think about them and wonder if I made the right choice by joining the military, it has always been something I felt I needed to do. As I sit and think about it though I know it is what I am suppose to be doing and where I need to be. Although as hard as it is to be away from my family and to have had to say good bye was heart wrenching for me, it will be worth it in the end. I just want to say thank you to everyone who supports me and my family and who is helping my Jilinda, it means so much. I want my wife to know that I love her with all my heart, and I will miss her dearly, it will go by fast, "piece of cake" right?! Take care hun, I love you, give hugs and kisses to Maddi for me everyday. Love, Ty

XoxOxXXOo (big Kiss, little hug, little kiss, big Hug, little Kiss, big Kiss, Kiss, big Hug, little Hug)

Goodbye

So I sometimes struggle with saying goodbye, especially to those I love very deeply. So for me this weekend is extremely difficult. As you all know Tyler flies out on Monday for training with the National Guard in Oklahoma. I know he will be back, but I know that this time away will be difficult for him mentally, and physically. As a wife, I want so badly for everything to go well for him. To have him succeed more than he ever would think he could. But I can't be there to help him, or to encourage him. I barely will get phone calls, if I get phone calls. He is so strong and I know he will do well and get through it no sweat. But I want him to know I stand behind him 110%. I want him to know how much I respect him and am proud of him for his decision so many others would never make. It will be a hard 17 weeks for both of us, but it will go quickly. But I must admit this is by far the longest we have ever been apart from each other in our marriage, and the longest he will go without seeing Madelyn. It rips my heart out to know he won't be able to hold her or kiss her goodnight. She loves him so much and calls for him all the time. But the time will go fast and will be forgotten when he is home. But how do I send my husband off with as much support as I can muster without bawling my eyes out because I will miss him? As I stated before, I struggle with saying goodbye.

Daddy Daughter Nerd Night