One Year!!!

Ok so I realize it's a year, a month, 3 weeks and 2 days (ish) but I didn't have a chance to post during the anniversary weekend. I truly cannot believe it's been a year already but at the same time it feels like we have been together since the dawn of time. We had a marvlous anniversary. Nick planned the entire thing and can I just say he did the most fantastic job! Though we were a little down and nervous about the plans because he lost his job the week before and we knew we shouldn't spend the money. But as most of it was already paid for we decied to continue anyway and not think about all that for the weekend. We started the morning off doing a sealing session. It was beautiful! I loved kneeling across the alter with my sweetheart and sharing our special day with those who have gone before. I think this was my favorite thing we did. We've decided to make it an anniversary tradition. I was so curious where he was taking me for the evening as he said he got the idea for something I had said when we were first married. Needless to say my interest was piqued! Especially as we are driving all around downtown. I thought for sure he was looking for Armstrong Mansion where we had my bridals. After driving around for a bit we turned into the Anniversary Inn. I thought for sure he was either messing with me or just stopping to figure out directions as we had passed it several times plus for some reason he had me convinced that was not where we were going. It was and I was thrilled! We had spent our honeymoon there and we both really enjoyed it, I especially love their breakfasts (ask Nick, I crave it often). We checked in but I didn't get to see the room yet as it was a surprise. Then Nick whisked me away to dinner at Olive Garden. We had so much fun going all out; getting appetizers, several drinks, and even dessert (that's the great thing about gift cards, all you have to worry about is the tip). The food was divine and the staff was incredible! After stuffing ourselves to the point of ridiculousness we headed back to our room. I opened the door to a pirate ship covered in rose petals! It was the sweetest thing! However we've decided that we will never again stay in the pirate ship room as it was rather creepy. The wood kept creaking, and at one point it sounded like someone had opened the door and was moving around the room. It made for a restless night to be sure. Poor Nick woke up so sick. I just glad he was feeling better by the evening for my final surprise; improv at the Off Broadway Theater. Where he won us tickets by getting on stage and doing one of the skits with them. It was a riot! Needless to say it was the most wonderful weekend. I am so grateful that I married Nick. He is the love of my life, my companion, best friend, confidant. He is my everything. I am so blessed!

Away

It's been a long time since I last posted. Not that there hasn't been anything to say, it's just that I have been going through some struggles and didn't want to just blog my complaints. Of course there is not a whole lot going on in our lives to blog about. With it being just the two of us living in my parents house and not being able to really go anywhere or do much of anything, we are the definition of boring. I've been having a very difficult time with my health and with that my self confidence. We have missed several things both with family and friends because of this and I am sorry if this has upset or offended anyone. I hope that you can forgive me and bear with me during this time. I truly am grateful for everyone in my life and am so grateful that I have Nick who is my rock. Thank you all!

Brought to You By the Letter "P"

Last night was such a blast! It was a night full of fun and laughter. First we went to Wheeler Farm where I attempted to take Manda & Scott's pictures. They crack me up! I couldn't stop laughing. Especially when Scott would lick Manda at random intervals. And as I wasn't the subject of the pictures everything went smoothly. Then we headed over to the Clayson's for pizza and some crazy pumpkin carving. There was even a bit of blood...Scott sliced his finger. I think my favorite one was Manda's...Batman rocks! All in all it was a pleasantly perfect evening! Thank you to our wonderful friends for having Nick and I over! We loved it (as usual)!

Our Pumpkins!

Nick's (The Andork)

Mine (Lace Face)

Manda's (Batmanda!)

Scott's (Super Scott)

Medical Mystery

So as you know I am a bit of a medical mystery. I am always sick and the doctors are always saying, "There is something wrong with you but I'm not sure what it is." This has gone on for years with not much hope about finding whats going on with me in sight. This past year I seem to be doing worse and it's been a real struggle. I've seen at least 8 doctors, been to the ER, and had countless tests run. Everything keeps saying that all is normal. I admit it has brought me down and has caused frustration at times. But I have been lucky in that I have found two new doctors who are determined to get to the bottom of things. They listen to me and not just to my test results. It's quite refreshing. The latest in all this is that they do not believe I am a celiac, whew! That means not more gluten-free diet which has made me extremely happy. Last week I went to a new doc who is fantastic. After talking with me and looking at all the tests I've had and their results he believes I have endometriosis. And that it has spread to my colon and possibly other organs as well. I will be going in for more tests to find out for sure here in a few weeks. I admit even though I've always known it was a major possibility I would have it (it is very predominate in my family), it is a little scary. The treatments for it can leave you sterile but if you go without treatment and it gets worse you can become infertile. My grandma, mom and aunts have all had it and have been able to have children but the things that concerns me is that I am older than they where when they were having kids. Plus the fact that it is moving to other areas of my body. It has always been my dream to be a mom, I even got reprimanded in school for putting being a mom as my career choice. I know some would say that I'm jumping the gun a bit as I haven't been officially diagnosed however I can't help but be a little shaken up. I am just so grateful I have such a wonderful and supporting sweetheart. Nick has been such a rock and amazing with my poor health. I am so blessed!
*Here is a link that explains endometriosis better than I could...
http://www.endometriosis.org/endometriosis.html

Gluten free...the way to be?

This past year has been really trying, especially with my health. I've been from doctor to doctor. And earlier this month I spent a good 6 hours in the er. But to no avail, every test has come back as inconclusive or normal. So I've had two doctors suggest I try doing a gluten free diet for a couple of months and see if it helps at all. I started it this week. And I tell you it's the hardest thing I've had to do. I always eat wheat products. When I am hungry I turn to breads (especially toast) and pastas to fill me up. It was so hard yesterday when I went shopping to find food I can eat. I nearly cried. The gluten free products are so expensive; over $5 for a tiny box of pancake mix, nearly $6 for 4 muffins, $5 for a tiny loaf of bread. I have no idea how we are going to afford this. I have to admit, I am rather discouraged and it's not even been a week. I am hoping the CT scan I'm going in for next week will finally shed some light as to what is going on with me.

Celebrate!



This past week was both Nick and my birthdays (we are 4 yrs and 4 days apart). So we decided to celebrate. We took the weekend off and spent Friday night to Monday morning at a "hotel" in Taylorsville. It was actually an apartment complex that lent out some units on a per night basis. I think Nick liked it better than I did (the place that is). I didn't like the staff that helped us the first few times and the place was SO noisy. But it was wonderful to just get away and have our own space. The first night we got KFC for dinner, watched a little TV and played scrabble and clue (Nick won both). Saturday we went to Golden Corral and ate some yummy breakfast and spent the day relaxing watching "Chuck" until Nick whisked me off to the Olive Garden for a delightful diner. We rounded off the evening seeing "Inception" which we both enjoyed. Sunday was our total lazy day. We stayed snuggled in watching "Chuck" most of the day, only stopping to take a quick dip in the hot tub (it was full of leaves and bugs so it was rather quick). Unfortunately I started feeling really sick in the early afternoon and was still so when I woke on Monday so we spent our time at the doctors instead of going bowling. But all in all it was quite nice. We really needed the recharge!



From Nick



Better shot of Nick's flowers to me



From my Dad



My sweetheart @ Olive Garden




Enjoying Ihop



Motor On!



Meg with one of the classics




Me :)

Last month was MINI takes the states (it's a huge road trip for all MINI owners to gather together and have a blast) in Denver. While I was not able to go on the adventure (sigh...someday!) I did go to the big party they had here and drug poor Meghan with me. It was crazy! Tons of MINIs and people from all over. They celebrated all that is Utah by passing out green jello and "Utah Beer" which was a bottle of water. And I had to get the t-shirt of course! It has a picture of a MINI in a cube of green Jello on the Salt Flats with seagulls flying around. They had lots of MINIs on display including some classics. But the pièce de résistance was the unveiling of the new MINI Countryman. I wasn't sure if I would like a 4 door MINI but boy was I wrong! It is super cute! It has 4 doors, 4wheel drive, and lots of room. I've decided it should be our new family car (no this isn't an announcement). Nick's been fighting me on it, he thinks MINIs should only have 2 doors and no more. We shall see what he says when I take him to do a test drive after January when it is available to the public. Needless to say it was great! I'm glad I went (and that Meghan was able to join me) and I will one day do the full shebang!



Signed by the man himself



Nick's dream car-the John Cooper Works 







The Countryman *sigh*



Roomy interior





Sittin inside!