Oh No, Not Again

Just got back from the hospital ER. I got a phone call earlier today that my grandfather had fallen at the nursing home and was taken in for x-rays. Well, a few hours later, I get another call that his CT scan came back showing two bleeds from his brain and that they were calling around Tucson and Phoenix for a hospital to take him in case he needed surgery. Now, my grandfather is 91-years-old. He has fallen quite a bit this year, but this is by far the worse. Upon arriving to the ER my father stops me to tell me that they also found an Atlas vertebral fracture. According to the PA seeing my grandfather, this was the worst kind of fracture. So, my poor grandpa had to be placed in a neck brace and on a back board. He was so uncomfortable, he looked miserable. The miracle was that he had fallen, was helped up, and was placed back into his wheelchair, where he sat for a couple of hours before he was taken to the hospital, all without a neck brace in place to support the fracture that was found later that evening. After waiting for a couple of hours and still no word on which hospital he would be going to, it became evident that my grandfather was having a hard time breathing due to the stationary position he had to be in. They then decided to intubate him, putting a tube down his throat, and connecting him to a ventilator.

So it turns out that he is going to the Barrow Neurological Clinic in Phoenix, which is another blessing. Although we all wish we could be there with him this evening, it helps us to feel some comfort in knowing that he is going to a great facility and that my Aunt Dodie and cousins live in Chandler and will be waiting at the hospital for his arrival. So now we play the waiting game. What will happen in the morning when the neurologist evaluates him? What will the next CT scan show? Will he have to have surgery and for what? Will he make it through the surgery, again he is 91?!?! I am trying to stay calm, because I know at this point it is completely out of our hands.

It is hard to think about anything else, but him tonight. Alisa, my dad, and I were there to see the helicopter take off. It was so sad to think of him lying in the helicopter, sedated, taking a ride to another hospital because of his questionable condition. I am just so grateful that I had the chance to see him alert and oriented before they sedated him for the intubation. I kissed his cheek and told him how much I loved him.

We are so grateful for the MGRMC ER staff that were there to offer support and information when able. My sister and I kept feeling like we were in the way, but they did everything they could to make us comfortable, offering drinks and chairs since we were waiting for so long.

Well I love you Grandpa Lito. My thoughts and prayers are with you tonight. See you later alligator.

Happy 29th B-day Lucas!!!

Yes, it is that time. I have to spend a few moments writing about my wonderful husband on his birthday.

Lucas and I have been together almost 14 years, yes 14. For as long as I have known him, he has always had a wonderful heart, very loving and giving. He is the best father, husband, brother, and son. I have been so blessed to have met him when I was so young. I didn't realize when we first met all those years ago in gym class that he would change my life. I do recall though that I thought he was cute back then and still think that I snagged myself a pretty good looking guy, the best looking of the Johnson boys! Lucas has taught me to be more assertive and confident in myself. He has taught me about love and life. Lucas was the first one to say "I Love You" and is never afraid of showing some PDA.

We have so much in common, I can truly say that he is my best-friend and soul-mate. We bring out the best and the worst in each other. He has given me two, almost three beautiful daughters that we both love and cherish. He is always wanting to find fun things for us to do as a family. He has such a big heart. He is very dependable and loyal. I know that his friends depend on him when they are in a bind or just need advice. He has had the same group of buddies for as long as I have known him.

I could go on and on. I will end this though with a quote from our song:

"...I will love you, baby - Always

And I'll be there forever and a day - Always

I'll be there till the stars don't shine

Till the heavens burst and

The words don't rhyme

And I know when I die, you'll be on my mind

And I'll love you - Always..."

-Bon Jovi

At the Renaissance Festival last year. Lucas took the girls on an elephant.

At the Graham County Fair this year. Lucas got a bracelet too, so that he could act like a big kid and ride the rides with the girls.

Every day I am reminded of how lucky I am to have him for a husband. I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world.

I love you Luke, Happy Birthday!!!

"Bedtime Stories"

We just got back from taking the girls to see the new Adam Sandler movie "Bedtime Stories." Really cute movie!! It had a great story, very funny, and fabulous 80s inspired music.

Lucas has started this tradition of laying the girls to bed every night. Well tonight they wanted a bedtime story:

There were these two princesses that fought all the time. Well, one day they princesses wanted to go out and play. Princess Avery wanted to pick berries while Princess Andie thought that was stupid and wanted to climb trees instead. So, Princess Andie is swinging around in the trees like a monkey and spots her sister Princess Avery, she decides she is going to try and scare her. Then she noticed that behind Princess Avery, a big troll was sneaking up behind her. Princess Andie had to then decide if she was going to try and help her sister, or if she was going to worry about herself and run away. Princess Avery continued to pick berries, not knowing the troll behind her until the troll tried to grab her. Princess Avery took off running just as from the trees Princess Andie jumped onto the trolls back. Together the two princesses defeated the troll and ran off together, deciding from that day forward to be nice to one another and help each other out.
The end.

Well, if any of you have seen the new movie, after Adam Sandler's character finishes a story, his niece and nephew always add something at the end. In the first story the little boy says, "and then it starts to rain gumdrops".

So Andie decides to tell Lucas that his way was a boring way to end the story. Avery then adds in, "It starts to rain gumdrops." Lucas just thought that was the funniest thing!

1st Snow for Christmas Dinner

Well it happened yesterday. We actually had snow fall yesterday afternoon and into the evening. There is a blanket that covers the ground this morning!

Lucas and I like to joke that the snow has followed us here from Flagstaff. While we were in Flagstaff, it snowed like crazy. All three years it snowed so much that the campus closed down for snow days. That hadn't happened in like 15-years, or something, I am just throwing out numbers. Then a few years back, the Thatcher/Safford area got like 12-18 in of snow in January. So in the last 6 years, we have had snow for 5 of them!

There is just something magical about snow around Christmas time. We may not have had it on Christmas, but we got it before New Years. The girls were so excited! Mt. Graham looks beautiful. I had Lucas take a few pics to remember it by, because I know as soon as that sun comes up this afternoon, it will all be gone.

We had a little family get together yesterday afternoon for Christmas dinner, because I had to work on Christmas Day. My grandma was there, my mother, father, and sister. It was so nice to be all together. My grandpa is still at Infinia, but doing so much better. We all can't wait for him to get to go home. Especially my grandma, then she won't have to stay at my Aunt Nathalia's anymore. Andie learned how to play her new Hannah Montana guitar game and we couldn't keep Avery offer her hopper ball. Her little pigtails were just flying all over the place.

I am still having a hard time believing that it is almost the end of the year. Lucas' b-day is tomorrow! Don't really have too much planned, but hoping to get to go out eat just the two of us. My parents are planning to take the kids tonight, which would be fabulout because I think that Andie is getting cabin fever. No school right now, plus she has Bronchitis. Stinks being sick for Christmas.

Mini Vaca & Christmas Cookies

We just got back from Phoenix today. We decided to take the girls to see Santa Claus. It was ridiculous. We were in line for two hours. The girls were really excited and couldn't wait to ask for what they wanted. Andie wants an EasyBake Oven and Avery asked for a bouncy ball, you know the one that you sit on that has the handle. Anyway, Santa told them both that they could have what they wanted. Andie then asked Santa to make this the "Best Christmas Ever." He told Andie that she could help make it the "Best Christmas Ever" by helping out others and keeping good thoughts in your heart. We all really had a great time!

Tonight I made my Christmas Cookies. This year I made Sour Cream Cookies. They are so yummy. They aren't too sweet, too heavy, but just right. Even Lucas likes them. So, I am sharing my recipe in the hopes of not losing it again and having to bug my mother. Thanks Mom!!!

Sour Cream Cookies
1 1/2 C Sugar 1 C Sour Cream
1 t. Vanilla 1 t. Salt
1 t. Baking Soda 4 C Flour
1 C Shortening 3 Eggs

Cream shortening, add sugar, eggs, & dry ingredients. Mix well. Add vanilla & sour cream last. Place on cookie sheet by dropping from spoon. Bake at 350* for 15 min. Frost when cool. (I use cream cheese frosting & then decorate with sprinkles or add dye to the frosting.) This recipe makes about 4 dozen/2 in diameter cookies.

So, the cookies are ready for Andie and Avery to frost for Santa tomorrow!!! Can't believe that Christmas is almost here!!!

Andie and Motherhood

I just got off my third night shift tonight and had to get this down, so I won't forget it.

After my nap this afternoon, Andie, Avery, Lucas and I were all hanging out in my room on the bed. Avery was being a little pill and I said, "I can only imagine how she will be when she is a teenager." Andie then looks at me and says, "I can only imagine how she will be when she is a mom." I then asked Andie how many kids she thought she would have. Again, Andie is only 7 1/2, I know this is a really premature discussion.

So, Andie turns to me and says, "Well, I think that I will start off with one. If I like that one, then I'll have a few more, if I don't like that one, then I'll probably only have one." Lucas and I thought that this was so funny, but how insightful for a 7 year old.

So I guess in Andie's eyes, I really like her, because here I am having #3.

December Performances

Se we have had a busy week. On Saturday was Avery's Christmas Recital with the Safford Dance Academy. She did so well! She knew her dance, and where she needed to go. She knew that she was supposed to stand on the orange heart. She got to dance with a teddy bear and just looked adorable. She had a bow in her hair and it looked (on stage) like she had a snowflake on her head!

Andie just had her Christmas Music program for the Primary School today. She had a dancing part and had to dance with a BOY!! She was so excited and disgusted at the same time. She was so cute and the crowd just loved it. The last song that the entire Primary School (k-3) sang was "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and Avery sang it at the top of her lungs along with everyone on stage. Avery was so proud of sister, she said the rest of the day what a good job Andie did.

Lucas and I have come to a decision. Avery is our little athlete. She can pretty much do anything after trying it once. She learned to ride her bike very fast. She catches on to dances quickly and loves to be on stage. She loves swimming lessons in the summer, we can bearly keep her head above water. Andie, on the other hand, can be a little clumsy, but is so creative. She loves to draw and has been coloring in the lines since like 2 1/2. She loves to sing and write songs. We are so proud of our little girlies and can't wait to see what talents and gifts this third one will bring to our family. We only have 56 more days until we get to meet and see her.

What I'm Thankful for!

I know that this is a day late, but I needed to extra day to compile my thoughts. First of all, I am Thankful for my family. I have a wonderful loving husband and great little girls. I also have wonderful sisters. I am Thankful to have two parents that love and care for my family as much as I do and for my Grandma and Grandpa Tellez that are still here with us. Unfortunately, my grandfather had to spend Thanksgiving in the nursing home rehabilitating from his fall, but I am so Thankful that he is still with us.

I am Thankful for my wonderful job and the great ladies that I work with day to day. They are like a second family to me. I am Thankful that Lucas has a job that he enjoys and that we are able to have a lovely house to keep my family safe and food on the table.

I am Thankful that my older sister Angela is coming in from Hawaii on Saturday, we have not seen her since Aug.

I am Thankful for books. I love to read and so does my husband. I got the reading from my Grandpa T and am grateful that my daughters love to read and hear stories.

I am Thankful to live in a country where we are all equal, we have equal rights and freedoms. I am grateful that my family is all in the same country, minus Angela thousands of miles away. I am grateful for the armed services, for the hardwork they do to keep us safe here at home and I pray for my brother-in-law Garret. I pray that he remains safe once he is deployed early next year.

I am most Thankful for My Savior Jesus Christ and my Heavely Father. I am grateful for their love toward me and my family. I have comfort in knowing that when I go to heaven, I will be surrounded by those who have passed before me. I am so grateful for prayer and the holy spirit. I love this time of year and love the growth of my spirit as I read about Christ's birth and share in the joy that is Christmas time.

My Thanksgiving was spent among my families, the Provencios and the Johnsons. I am so glad that all of Luke's siblings had a chance to come in for Turkey Day and pray they all make it home safely. I have shared many holidays with both Luke's family and my own. We often get both families together and I am grateful that they get along so well. We are so blessed to be surrounded by so many loved ones on such a special day. My best Holiday Wishes go out to all of my friends and family this Christmas!

End of a Crazy Week

So, we got back into town last night after my cousin's funeral. It was a beautiful funeral. We were all so touched by how many people paid their respects and attended services.

On top of dealing with a death in the family, the night we left for Show Low, Thursday night, my 91-year-old grandfather and 89-year-old grandmother fell. Yes, both of them fell. My grandma was trying to help my grandfather up and they both fell down. My grandfather then crawled across the room to get to the phone to call for help. I was not prepared for his appearance when I went to the hospital to see him that night. He looked like he had been beaten up or hit by a car. He was all cut up on his face and his left eye was black and blue. My grandmother was not hurt badly, but my grandpa is still in the hospital. It sounds like he will have to go to the Nursing Home for Rehabilitation.

Last, I took Avery to the Dr. on Thursday afternoon because of a cough that she has had for the past 1 1/2 weeks. It turns out she has an Upper Respiratory Infection and so they had me start her on breathing treatments. She looks so sad when she has to do them. They take about 15min. It is so hard for her to stay patient for that long, but it seems they are working.

On a positive note, the THS Spiritline that I help out with from time to time went to Cheer Competition. They placed 1st in the Show Cheer and 2nd in Stunt Group. The Pom routine that my sister Alisa and I choreographed for them got 1st place! I ran into one of the cheers last night while coming into town and we were able to watch the performance. It was great! They did such a good job! So, this means that come January, they qualify to compete again for a State title.

I am so glad that this week is over and we are starting into Thanksgiving week. I have so much family coming into town and some fun things planned. I am also just looking forward to spending some quality time with Luke and the girls. After this week, I will be 30 weeks pregnant and only 10 more to go before this newest member of our family makes her appearance. All in all, I have so much to be thankful this year and I plan to focus on that this week.

Time on Earth

I found out this morning that my cousin Dennis Yeager was killed in a car accident. He is the oldest cousin on my dad's side, the son of my wonderful Aunt Jenny. Dennis leaves behind a wife, two step-children, and three precious little boys. Since I don't have any brothers, Dennis was like the big brother that I never had. I will always remember him as being strong. Strong in mind and heart. I will remember the time that we went to visit his family in Show Low and playing in the creek out in Verden. I remember that he could eat a whole package of hot dogs in one sitting. I can think back and smile at all the times he and my dad would pick on eachother and wrestle around. My thoughts and prayers are with his family wife- Joelle, step-kids- Justin and Shelby, sons- Tyler, Jacob, and Colton, also with my Aunt Jenny and Uncle David, and my cousins, Danielle, Diane, and Donovan.

In this time of great loss, I am thinking about life. In this troubled time of our economy and political change, I am hopeful. Hopeful that we are able to grow, learn, and rise in these hard times. It makes me so grateful that I believe in a Heavenly Father that can comfort and heal broken hearts. I think that there are many people today going through times of uncertainty. I am so grateful to know that beyond this world, there is a heaven, where we will be together again. I know that Dennis was welcomed into warm embraces by my Grandma and Grandpa Provencio and my Aunt Mary.

I want to take a moment to state all that I am blessed to have. I am blessed to have a wonderful, loving, and caring husband. A husband that provides and comforts us all as a family. A husband that cooks and cleans with me, as well as wakes in the night to care for scared or sick children. He is my bestfriend, my soulmate. I know that we were put on this earth to find one another. I am so grateful for two healthy, loving daughters and a third on the way. They are the light of my life. I love to cuddle with them, read bedtime stories, and watch them explore and learn in this crazy world. I am blessed to have a beautiful home, food on the table, and plenty of love to go around. I am blessed with a job that reminds me of the wonders and powers that our Heavenly Father has. Nothing is more magical than watching new life be born into the world. I am also blessed to have two wonderful sisters, two sisters that I know I can call and count on when needed. We may fight from time to time, but every second we are together, we are stronger. Alisa is so creative and strong willed. She can get through anything and I know that she is destined for greatness. Angela is so compassionate. When I need a pick me up she is there for me. She has been through so much in her short lifetime, I know that she can overcome any obstacle. Last, I am so blessed to have wonderful parents. A mother that has taught me to use my head, to never give up on my goals and dreams. She makes me want to be all that I can be. A father that has shown by example what it means to truly give. He is the most giving and caring man I know. He would give the shirt of his back in a time of need. I know that besdies Lucas and I, my father loves my girls the most.

Sorry for rambling, one last thank you. Thank you Heavenly Father for the opportunity to live this life and to learn from my mistakes and trials. I am grateful for your love and know that I will one day be in your presence again, along with my Savior Jesus Christ. Our time on this Earth is so uncertain. I plan to make the most of it while I am still here. I am so grateful for prayer and I will be praying for my family at this time.

My 27th B-day!

So tommorw is my b-day!! Yeah!! Well, I just worked a 12-hour shift and then headed to cheer practice (for those who don't know, I help out the THS Spiritline when I am able to). Every evening that I work, when I get home from work, my girls meet me at the door. Usually Avery is so excited, she meets me in the garage. Well this evening I see both my girlies dressed up in pretty play dresses. I walk into my house to smell some very yummy burgers, made by my hubby, they were very good!! On the table is a bouquet of beautiful orange flowers.



Andie hands me this great homemade b-day card that read: Cover - "We (heart) U My Wondrful Mommy. P.S. Dad Think You a Good Wife." Inside - "Mom we love your madness and nicenes but we still love you."

Avery made me a wonderful birthday hat!!

I also got Smallville Season 7 and a great card from my husband reminding me that we have been together for more than half of my bithdays now! It is hard to believe that Luke has been around for 14 birthdays. Thank you my fabulous family for a wonderful birthday!!!!!!!!

New Pics!!

I am so excited to debut some new pics from my wonderful and talented friend Leah Davis. She was recently down and we had a bunch of family pics taken. These are some of the pics that I got off of her photography blog leahdavisphotography.blogspot.com. Check it out sometime and see how artistic she is. A big thank you goes out to Leah. I love what I have been able to see so far and can't wait to see the rest. I have added a few of my favorites!!!!

Beauties and the Beast

So last night I was supposed to work, but was put "on call" due to lack of patients. Luke has been talking about taking the girls to see the THS play "Beauty and the Beast". It was last night as well. I wasn't really too excited about going to the play myself, being 25wks pregnant, it is not too comfortable sitting on hard chairs for long periods of time. So, I got the girls ready and off he went. 2 1/2 hours later, I get a phone call from Luke letting me know the play had just ended. The girls loved it and to his surprise so did he! Avery came home saying her favorite part was when they yelled, "kill the beast". Andie's favorite part was when the actors had to stand very still in the background. After the play, they were able to talk with Belle. I already know how lucky I am to have such a sweet, caring, and loving husband, but when I came to work tonight I was reminded. Some of the gals I work with were ranting about how my hubby took his two little girls to watch a play and how they could never get their husbands to do that. They also informed me that he looked like he enjoyed the play as much as the girls did. I now wish that I had gone, but am glad that they had that night, just Luke and his girls!

First Blogspot Post

This is my first blog, thanks to Annie Taylor! I hope to share my wonderful family with others and hear from friends as well. Pics to come!!