live...laugh...love...

Or how about this one of Maddy!!!

She was 8 at the time...

She amazes me!

I know I haven't posted in FOREVER...

I will try to post soon about our "10 states in 12 days" trip we took a couple weeks ago,

but for now, enjoy Macee singing "Lotor Boat"

(I just found this video from forever ago)

I remember back to a day in Kindergarten, we were having "career day". It was a day to come to school either dressed in or to share what we wanted to be when we grew up. My choice that day was to be a nurse. I'm not sure why I chose a nurse so young, but I think I have always known that I wanted a career in something that would help people and one where I could make a difference in someones life.
When I started into college just after high school, I headed straight down the path for Nursing school. But little did I know that I would find the love of my life and my path would lead another way for the time being. We started our family and I focused on raising my kids and enjoying being their personal nurse. I would take every opportunity to look up anything that was going on with my kids and learn about what to do for them. Even though I wasn't officially in school for Nursing, I tried to build my knowledge base on my own. I knew that when my kids were all in school that it would be my turn to go back. Then something happened in my life to catapult me into my schooling earlier than I was planning on returning.
In October of 2007, my niece, aged 7, was hospitalized due to a seizure she experienced at school. Since she had never had a seizure before, they took her in for tests. The results were disheartening. They found a mass on her pituitary gland, and it needed to be removed. She went in for surgery and it was a success. They had her progressing to eating some semi-solid foods, but then she got sick. Spinal Meningitis is what they called it. She ended up mentally and physically disabled. She could no longer talk. She could no longer move on her own. It was difficult to see this healthy active little girl laying in bed needing complete assistance. I would go visit her as often as my schedule would allow and I got to see what kind of care she was getting from her nurses. Luckily she had great nurses, ones who really cared. I admired them and I reaffirmed my commitment to become a nurse.
I enjoyed visiting her in the hospital. Singing songs, reading books and helping with anything the nurses would let me do. It made me sad that she didn't have very many visitors and I knew this little girl needed love and support if she was going to get better. When I would come up, each and every time I would squeeze her hand three times while saying the words "I love you." I would usually just get a smile from her, but the day she squeezed my hand three times, I knew that my Dakota was still in there and she was fighting to get better, but that wasn't meant to be.
About two and a half months from the time she was admitted into the hospital, she passed away. My sweet Dakota left this earth and the handicapped body she was in, and I believe she became my angel. She is the one who silently pushed me to go back to school to become what I had always wanted to be. I want to be able to be a ray of sunshine in someones life. I want to be there to help when I'm needed. I want to be that smile that someone needs to see when they are in pain. I want to be someones angel and bring happiness into their hearts. I want to be a nurse.

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*this was written for an assignment in my first Nursing Course

This is what happens when you put an Arby's wrapper in the microwave...

Lesson learned :)

When Maddy was 20 months old, she slid a 25 lb weight (the one that goes on a bar) towards her and it dropped on her precious little toe! It sliced it open and fractured her toe. We had it taken care of then, but when the bone healed, a bone spur grew at the fracture site... just under her toe nail! So for quite awhile she has been dealing with a toenail that doesn't grow normal and pain that comes and goes. This was a perfect year to go figure out what was going on (insurance-wise), so we took her into the Podiatrist and he said surgery would be the way to go!

Maddy's toe before

Side view

Hair in braids ready for surgery! It's still dark outside!

The nurses were loving having a pediatric patient!

She even got a new friend... she named him "Spur"

(like her bone spur)

Making sure to do surgery on the right toe!

All ready!

Except daddy needs to give her a kiss :)

The surgery only took about an hour. When she was all done, they called us back to come see our little girlie.

Coming out of dreamland

She looks so lost and confused here. She didn't remember any of the pre-op stuff. She had no clue where she was!

A little more awake... and thirsty, so they gave her a juice box!

She was playing around with her pulse-ox monitor on her finger and making the pulse line go crazy!

Watching the screen pictured above :)

Maddy's IV

All dressed and ready to go home! She will sport this shoe for a few weeks.

I just loved this picture :)

Her Post-Op Nurse was named Kara... we liked her!

Excited to ride in a wheelchair!!!

Thanks dad for hefting her into the Suburban!

As soon as Maddy was settled, Toothless made himself comfy on her! That's his favorite spot... anywhere near Maddy!

Mrs R (Maddy's school teacher) put caution tape on her shoe to warn others to stay clear :)

Our first look at what was done. No toenail and stitches in the tip. No sign of infection and everything looks good!

Another view

Stitches out and now we wait for the toenail to grow back... oh, and treat the fungus that was among us (on Maddy's toenail bed)! The Dr says it was a nasty one, luckily it wasn't in her bloodstream! Other than that everything was just as expected.

While this crazy guy...

Hiked this crazy hike...

... I drove from the North Rim to the South Rim in Bertha (our big red van) to meet the group. When I got to the South Rim, I had time to spare, so I walked the trail skirting the rim and had a fabulous visit with an old friend via the phone. Then my parents showed up, so I took my dads awesome camera (I now own one just like his) and started taking pictures.

Like of the Grand Canyon!!!

And beautiful cloud formations!

Then out came Chuck with Tyler at his side. Tyler came with Karen, Dallin and my parents. He started down when Chuck gave him the OK to meet up with him. He was so excited!

I'm so lucky to have these 2 great guys in my life! Next year Tyler is signed up to hike with Chuck! It will be such a neat experience for these 2 boys!!!

Most of "The Group". We are grateful to be numbered among these wonderful people!

Billy, Karynn and Chuck... all Rim to Rimers!

And last, but not least, our good friends, the DeSpains, who hiked in the group. It was super fun to have them along in the group with us! Good job guys! I was impressed! Chuck and Duane are already planning a Rim to Rim to Rim trek... Royann and I are planning a nice hotel stay ;)


And good job to all Rim to Rim hikers... you are all AMAZING in my book!

And I'm doing my CNA this semester... so if I don't seem super social, please understand :)

... you cross a newly sharpened knife and a finger???

A trip to the Payson ER!!!

Macee came with us (not happily, but I used bribery). She thought it was fun to try on a kid-sized mask.

I made sure the staff knew we were camping... she looks a little homeless right now!

Watching some TV

The wrapped up finger. When we got into Payson's ER Chuck removed his rag and it was still bleeding! He said a band aid would fix it right up... whatever!!!

You can't really tell where the cut is. It was a nice clean (deep) cut!

They said because it was a nice clean cut that they could "super glue" it back together. That will make for a smaller, not as noticeable scar!

Some added Steri-strips to hold it together.

A Tetanus shot... it's been awhile since the last one.