Brian Grandkids

Sherry wanted a picture of her with all the grandkids to send as a New Year's card. It was quite a challenge to get all those kids (23 of them...)to smile or at least look the same way at the same time. It's quite a herd I'd say!

Indy's early Christmas gift and a really long story...

So this month was a crazy one as usual. I thought we were going to get through it without anything too out of the ordinary but no!

A week or so before Christmas, Indy mentioned to me that he was SO thirsty all the time and peeing a ton. I would go down to his room in the morning to wake him up for school and notice 3 or 4 empty glasses in his room. So the day before the kids got out of school for the break I took him in to the clinic at Vivint. He was fasting so they could get a blood test. While we were waiting to be seen the nurse mentioned that they would need a urine test so she gave him a juice box. I thought that was a little weird since they had told him not to eat anything but didn't say anything. We met with the doctor and did all the routine exam stuff. Then she told us that they had messed up by giving him the juice box and he would have to come back in to get a blood test. Since Kurt and I were leaving the next day to go out of town we decided to bring him in again the following Monday morning.

Kurt and i spent the weekend in Las Vegas for our anniversary. We ate lots of good food, finished up our Christmas shopping and relaxed. Thank goodness we got away when we did because it seemed like all hell broke loose as soon as we got home!

Monday morning was a mad dash to get Indy back to the clinic, Montana off to the airport to stay with Sunne and the boys packed and ready to drive to the ranch. It was chaotic for a few hours but, once all the kids were gone, Kurt and I were able to do some last-minute wrapping and pull together some things to leave to the ranch the next day. We went to the England family Christmas party (with no kids, how sad...) and had a fun night hanging out with the family.

Tuesday morning I was going about my business when I got a phone call from the doctor at the Vivint clinic. She said that she was 99% sure that Indy did have Type 1 diabetes and we should try and get in touch with an endocrinologist as soon as possible. I immediately got off the phone and called Mike Young for a referral. He said that there aren't any pediatric endocrinologists in Utah County but said he would do some research and call me back. By this time I was a wreck. When Mike called me back he strongly recommended I get Indy home from the ranch and checked in to Primary Children's. I started to panic a little knowing Indy was kind of far from a hospital and worried that he might get really low or really high blood sugar and no one would know what was going on or what to do. We finally made some arrangements for someone to take him to the clinic in Bicknell, have his blood sugar tested and have those results sent to Mike before we drove down there to get him. When all was said and done, Jake drove him to Scipio where Kurt and I met them. From there we drove straight to Primary Children's. Mike had already called and made all the arrangements by the time we got there. We had to check in at the emergency room and by 11:00 that night he was in a room.

At this point, we knew that he did have Type 1 diabetes and our lives were certainly going to change. Normally with this diagnosis a patient has to stay in the hospital for 2 days to learn how to dose your insulin, count your carbs and everything else. But with Christmas only a few days away, Kurt really pushed for us to get out of there after one day. And boy was I glad he did. Sleeping with Kurt on a single roll-away bed in the room with Indy was no fun. None of us had any pajamas or toothbrush or anything!

So Wednesday night, after less than 24 hours and our brains a little overwhelmed with diabetes information, we were checked out and headed home from the hospital. We got home and Kurt gave us one hour to pack and be in the car to drive to the ranch. All I wanted to do was crawl in bed and go to sleep!! By 11:30 that night we were in Grover.

We had a wonderful Christmas with the Brian clan. The ranch even had a couple feet of snow so we got to have the white Christmas that we wouldn't have had at home! We ate well, started our Harry Potter movie marathon and enjoyed spending time with family. It will definitely be a Christmas to remember.

Although this is not the kind of thing I would ever wish on somebody, I feel so lucky that diabetes is a manageable disease and Indy can continue to live his life as he always has. He doesn't have to stop doing what he has always done. Now he just has a few added steps in his routine. I am really, really proud of him and the way he has handled this. And I am so grateful that he is an otherwise really healthy, active kid.

Merry Christmas 2011

21 Years

Hard to believe it's been 21 years that we have been married. I really do feel like the luckiest girl around. Kurt is thoughtful, patient, kind, talented, creative, loving, righteous, honest, non-judgmental and too many other good qualities to mention. Looking forward to growing old(er) together. Love you babe.

Christmas Sewing Project

I have been wanting to get new Christmas stockings for quite a few years now. But I can never find any that I love enough to justify paying such a high price for. So I decided to make some this year. Why I thought I could handle a sewing project in the middle of December I am not sure. But I love how they turned out! I still have plans to put mustaches on the boys' and black ribbon the girls'.

Recent

The girls after doing baptisms at the Provo Temple.

It's already the 10th of December and the days continue to fly by as we get closer to Christmas. We have been busy as usual. Trying to blog and post some every day events isn't high on the list of things to do! But here are a couple pictures from recent weeks that I loved.

Can you tell how comfortable these boys are with each other? This is the scene in the lobby each Sunday before they head off to priesthood. What good boys they are!

Day 30 of Gratitude-Self-Portait

I am so not a fan of seeing myself in pictures. I always have some criticism of my face, my nose (getting longer and pointier....) etc. I need to learn to get over that.

Day 29 of Gratitude-Light

Day 28 of Gratitude-Nighttime

I asked Kurt the other day if the sunsets are always this spectacular or if I am just not noticing them until now. Amazing what you can see if you just stop and take a minute to look....

Day 27 of Gratitude-Daily Routine

I am the kind of person who likes a daily routine. But I like to be spontaneous as well. I think a good balance of both is what works best for me.

My daily routine these days is to wake up about 6:50 am, wake up Indy and Emerson, do what they need to be out the door by 7:30 and then enjoy the peace and quiet when everyone is gone! As soon as they are gone I can do my studying. Then I start laundry, pick up the house or do any other little things that need to be taken care of. By 9:30 or 10 I am off to the gym or out the door on a run.

If I can do that part of my daily routine, I don't usually mind how the rest of the day goes. And once the kids get home from school there is no real routine at all!

Day 26 of Gratitude-Transportation

I am so grateful for my car! I love my Tahoe. I think it's the most favorite car I have ever owned. It's not too big but big enough to haul all the kids and all the junk I need for work.

Day 25 of Gratitude-Artwork

When I lived in London for BYU Study Abroad, we visited a LOT of art museums. It was pretty amazing to see so many famous works of art in person. I couldn't really name a single favorite artist---that would be too hard! But I love art. Here are a few of my favorite works:

Cassandra Barney-Fleur

Vermeer-Girl with a pearl earring

Vincent Van Gogh-Starry Night

Day 24 of Gratitude-Thanksgiving Day

Today I feel blessed to have a family--not only my immediate family but extended family to spend the holiday with. I am so grateful for the anticipation of spending uninterrupted time with them. I feel so lucky that we have an abundance of blessings; that we have more food that we could ever want or need; that we are healthy and able to physically do all the things we want to do; Mostly I am grateful to know my purpose here on this earth. How lucky I am to have a loving Heavenly Father who loves me in spite of my weaknesses and shortcomings.

Day 23 of Gratitude-In My Closet

My closet is SMALL! With a closet this size I have to stay pretty organized. Thank goodness there are lots of drawers and shelves to help me stay neat. I just wish I had a little more room for shoes....

Day 22 of Gratitude-Clothing

I have always loved a good cardigan sweater! That has been the case for many years. Maybe I'm just a grandma in a 42-year old body. My favorite outfit is a white button-down shirt of some sort and a cardigan sweater.

Day 21 of Gratitude-Where I Sleep

Our bedroom is pretty boring----not much color, furniture we have had almost our whole married life and even lack of a real bed. It has always been the last room in the house that we really decorate or pay any attention to. But I am grateful to have a place to sleep in a warm house.

Day 20 of Gratitude-Seasonal??? (not sure what that means)

Since I'm not exactly sure what it means when they say to be grateful for something seasonal, I am posting a picture of Lake Powell. Our family LOVES to go to Lake Powell. It is such a beautiful place. We are so lucky that we got to spend some time with the Holmes' there this summer! And we are so grateful for great friends!

Day 19 of Gratitude-Best Friend

Day 18 of Gratitude-Something New

Okay, so maybe I'm being shallow but I am so grateful for these new shoes! I love them! They remind me of the oxfords I used to wear in high school. They are so comfortable----and what's so wrong about being grateful for comfortable shoes???

Day 17 of Gratitude-Memories

Since the actual day of Thanksgiving is a week away I thought I would look back at our first year of Thanksgiving at the ranch (2009). It was also our first time using the new ranch house. Crazy how fast time flies. These boys look so much older now.

That's quite a memory! I'm sure this will be a good blackmail picture when Noah is a teenager!

And, of course, this was our last Thanksgiving with Pat. He sure loved that ranch house. I'm so thankful for all the wonderful memories we have had and continue to make in Grover.

Day 16 of Gratitude-Pets

Day 15 of Gratitude-Technology

Technology is pretty amazing these days. I am grateful for my cell phone for sure!

Day 14 of Gratitude-Movement

I am grateful that I have a healthy body and am able to do the things I want to do---especially running!

Day 13 of Gratitude-Written Words

I am so grateful for written words in the form of the Ensign---especially the General Conference addresses. It's so nice to be able to go back and read over those talks and be reminded daily of what we should be doing. As I read I can hear the voices of those General Authorities in my head saying the words. And how nice is it to be able to access the Ensign and all other church materials on your phone!! There is no excuse to not read your scriptures every day.

Day 12 of Gratitude-Hands

Day 11 of Gratitude-Something Old

So I guess old is relative... I'm sure my kids would look at these and say they look old! Boy I remember these "lip lickers". I think peach was my favorite. These were popular about the time I was in junior high----right about Emerson's age now. How time flies. I am grateful that I can still remember that far back!

Day 10 of Gratitude-Nature

Mt. Timpanogos

I think it's pretty easy to have gratitude for nature when you live in Utah! There is such diversity here.

Capitol Reef

Hawaiian rainbow

Is the color on these flowers not amazing!!

More Capitol Reef

Capistrano Beach

Day 9 of Gratitude-Inspiring People

Maybe this is not the greatest picture of these two but it typifies their personalities---happy! Pat & Sherry are two of the happiest and most positive people I know. And even though Pat is not here with us anymore, we feel his spirit every day. And Kurt is more like him every day also! I'm grateful for their influence in our lives.

Brace Yourself!

Today was the big day for Emerson. Those teeth are in serious need of straightening! In a few weeks she'll be getting the top braces on. Lucky girl.

Day 8 of Gratitude-Something Funny

If I want a good laugh at the end of my day, I hop on Pinterest. I am always able to find something funny.

Day 7 of Gratitude-Favorite Color

Wow-today is a hard one. Not to find gratitude for color but to determine my favorite one. I would say that I have different favorites at different times. I love browns, purples and oranges. But then I love white too which really isn't a color. I think I could wear a white shirt everyday as long as I was pairing it with some color. So I am grateful for many colors and the option to choose any one of them!

Day 6 of Gratitude-Books

If you read this blog at all, then you know how much I love to read. So today I am especially grateful for good books. My favorite genre is historical fiction but I will read just about any other genre besides horror. And the longer the book, the better in my eyes---nothing better than a nice, long book. Maybe that's because I don't like the let down that happens when a good book ends. With a long book I can prolong the let down...

Day 5 of Gratitude-Morning Sky

photo courtesy of Kurt (and Instagram)

I love mornings when it is still dark outside but the sun is starting to come up. It's so peaceful and quiet. If I'm awake at that time I love to just sit and watch it get lighter outside.

Day 4 of Gratitude-Leaves

Oh how I love fall! It's probably one of the biggest reasons I love living in Utah so much. I would be missing out on so much pleasure if I couldn't enjoy this beautiful season of the year. I know I already posted this picture but it was worth reposting to fit into my subject for the day...

How is that for a stunning view of Sundance!
(thank you Instagram for helping me remember to capture such things....)

Day 3 of Gratitude-Happiness

Happiness for me is my white blanket and a good book on this cold fall morning.

Day 2 of Gratitude-Smile

This pic makes me smile because everyone (but me...) is trying so hard NOT to smile!

Day 1 of Gratitude-Favorite Food

Since November is the month of Thanksgiving, I will try to post one thing I am thankful for each day. Yes, I am thankful for cheeseburgers! No, they are not healthy but I sure love them.

Halloween 2011

I was so dreading making the doughnuts this year. I couldn't quite figure out why until I remembered that I just made them in June for girls camp! They require so much time and effort that making them more than once a year really wears me out. Kurt suggested I just not make them. Well I know that we would have had many disappointed neighbors and trick-or-treaters if I wouldn't have made them. They turned out great and I was lucky to have Montana home most of the night to help me which made a HUGE difference. Thanks Tan! Last year we had a bunch of leftovers but not this year! By 9:30 pm there was not one doughnut left!! As it is I make 400+ of those tasty little things...

Nobody was interested in carving pumpkins but the girls.

This was as close to a costume as the three of us were going to get this year. Kurt ran in to Walmart last minute and got these cute Halloween shirts.