Wednesday, September 14, 2011

My first ER trip

As I was getting ready for bed on Monday night, the little whiteboard on our fridge fell off and the corner of it cut my foot.  Somehow it cut pretty deeply, because it immediately started squirting blood, but the bleeding easily slowed down after applying pressure.  After James examined the cut, he concluded that it had gone through all of the epidermal layers and into the "retinaculum." (He was thrilled to be able to review the information he had just about the epidurmas.)  He graciously offered to superglue it together (what a dear he is!).  I opted out of that however, and decided I'd rather go to the urgent care to get it stitched up.




Unfortunately the Urgent Care was closed by this time, so we had to go to the Emergency Room.  Luckily it wasn't busy by that time of night, so it only took about an hour and a half to get the 5 stitches and tetanus shot.  (One of my nurses had gone to BYUI, which made me feel right at home.  It sure is a small world!)



Even though the whole experience was an unexpected annoyance, I was able to see plenty of ways that the Lord had blessed me which made the situation go much smoother.  The first huge blessing during this was- earlier in that same day, I'd finally been approved for Arizona's Medicaid.  (Its funny because at the time I was not happy about doing this- I'd already waited in a 3 1/2 hour line to be approved over a month ago.  After a one on one interview, the lady approved me, but said that she just needed one more document in order to get it the Medicaid going.  So, I had faxed in the last document to them the next day, but a month later, had still heard nothing back from them.  That is why I went in on Monday (the day I cut my foot), because I figured that they had lost my fax, which they had.  So, I had to wait in the long line again, just to hand them one piece of paper, that they had already received through a fax, but lost.  This time the wait was only 2 hours, but I was annoyed to even have to go back in the first place!)  After having to go to the ER that same day though, I realized how kind the Lord had been to me in saving me A LOT of money by getting the Medicaid going that day.         

The next huge blessing was that our neighbors across the sidewalk were willing to watch Benson for us while we were gone. It was suppose to be a really simple task- they just listen to the 'baby monitor' (i.e. our cell phones) while everyone slept; Benson at our house, they at their house.  It didn't go as planned though.  My friend told me that Benson had waken up right after we left, and not fallen asleep until right before we got back.  So when we got back, she and Benson were asleep on our couch.  I felt so bad for keeping her up for so long, and was shocked that Benson was awake almost the whole time...he never wakes up in the night!  I felt so grateful though, that the Lord gave us such awesome friends, who were willing to hold our crying baby in the middle of the night.   

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Summer 2011

Highlights of the summer-
James graduated!  Bachelors of science in Psychology
My parents came down for it as well his parents and the Phelps grandparents.  Jessica and Vicki through him an awesome party the next day.

Pre-graduation dinner






Benson loves Grandpa Phelps

Benson was SO proud of his dad!
Enjoying ice cream after the long ceremony

James's graduation party

James's friend, Colton Reeding

James & Gay Brogdon
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Dave's, Ali's, & my kids at the grad party
We didn't really graduate the same year, just did this for a cool pic

John signed us up for the Salt Lake Half Marathon.  Although I hadn't trained nearly enough (only 2 long runs, done the week of the race) I enjoyed myself.  It helped that I ran into Chelsey (my cousin) and was able to run it together.
The race ran right by our apartment.  Vicki was tending Benson there and we both stopped for a picture with him.




My graduation present to James was getting one of my parents time share condo's in Brian Head (near Cedar City), UT.  We got two birds in with one stone for this vacation- first we went down to Phoenix and scouted out the area, and found an apartment to live in.  Then we drove back up to Brian Head and vacationed for a week.  My parents came for a few days as well as Ali and Mike.   
Kolob Canyon

Hoover Dam

 We went to Zion's one of the days and decided to do Angel's Landing.  I forgot how difficult of a hike it is, and James was practically carrying Benson and me all of the way up.  James went all of the way up- even the last little stretch of really dangerous stuff. I opted out and waited at the base of that section with Benson. 
Zion Ntnl Park, Angels Landing

Angel's landing trail
Florida trip- Jeff's graduation:

Disney World Marathon- the humidity was rough on Benson
Jessica came along when she was 8 months pregnant!  What a trooper!










Epcot Center





rAnDoM sUmMeR eVeNtS-
Ethan asked to go to Pocatello for his 8th birthday party, so Katuska threw him a way fun "Kung Fu Panda" themed party.  All of the cousins had a blast dressing up, hitting the pinata, and eating their hearts out.  

Spanish Fork Hot springs with Ali & Mike







Ali & I's 1st triathalon.  Put on by a one of the stakes in UT, so the best part about it was, it was a mini tri, and free! Only 275 meter swim, 6 mile bike ride, 2 mile run.


2nd year Anniversary- James surprised me and got a fancy hotel room up East Canyon. We spent the next day baby free, doing their stay & play package. Thanks Vicki & Jon for watching Benson!

Racing down the alpine slides

Bungee trampolines


Eliza's Baby Blessing
Baby Blessing

Baby Benson stealing Payden's binki

Eliza's baby blessing
John signed us all up for the 10k 4th of July Freedom Run in Provo.
bath time with Anson
Family pics
James's brothers and sisters all got together during a weekend in August.  We did family pictures up Sundance Canyon. Unfortunately, James had already started school in Phoenix before his family got in, but he flew up to SLC for a little bit over a day anyway.  Benson and I put off moving to AZ for a couple of weeks and just drove down to Phoenix with James right before his first med. school test.  It was a busy weekend, but so worth it to get to have the whole Brown family together.   



Hiking to Bridleveil Falls


 Saying goodbye to Anson :(