Thought

When we look at a statue

OF SOMEONE GREAT,

we think they've got something we don't

We are trained to think that only a tiny percentage

of us have the stuff it takes to be a hero.

Not many of us will cure any diseases,

or slay any dragons, but every single one of us,

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US,

is called to be a king, a queen, a hero in

our ordinary lives. We don't build statues to

worship the exceptional life, we build them

TO REMIND OURSELVES WHAT IS

POSSIBLE IN OUR OWN.

New pics

Thanks Nicole! This little family is not easy to photograph, and I think she did great!

Thanksgiving

Nana making gum-drop apple Turkeys

For Thanksgiving we had both of my brothers, my mom, and our cousins the Petersons. It was Wonderful!!!! I love Thanksgiving

Halloween Party at Nana's

Kid Table

Adult Table

Vinyl pumpkin decorating vs. carving...so easy!

Halloween (a little late)

Nana, Polamalu from the Steelers and Corinne from Barbie and the Three Muskateers

Master went with Indy to the Ute football game so I just had the two little ones. My mom came out to answer the door and after trick-or-treat I just layed on the couch in my pregnancy miserableness.

"Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies"

We live in this little culture where people greet you and say, "Hi, how are you?" the usual response is; "fine thanks" "good thanks, how are you?" etc. etc. I've struggled with this lately because when people ask me, I want to be honest and say "awful" "I'm about to puke because your gas station smells like old grease" or "I am nauseated and my head is pounding" MyBF Steph said to be honest and yet positive I should say, "I feel pregnant, how are you" and let people figure it out from there. Today Zoe and I were at McDonalds because she had lost her strawberry shortcake stamp from her last happy meal and we needed another one. Forget the food we needed the toy. It's 4:00 and I am about at the end of my nauseated patience. The guy at McDonalds says the usual, "Hi how are you?" I was honest and said, "I am sick to my stomach, I'm not contagious just pregnant." He says, "Really at least you're not really sick, I just had bronchitis and I was so sick I could barely talk, my throat was all swollen with all of this puss and mucus coming out." .....SICK! He continued but at this point I cut him off and ordered the happy meal. He hands me my debit card back and I try valiantly to get it back in my wallet without really touching it. I'm starting to believe debit cards should be sanitized on a regular basis. Not that I don't feel sympathy for the guy but I really didn't need to hear about his puss and mucus. I'm going back to LYING and saying, "fine thanks"....and I'm perfectly good if the people asking, lie in return and tell me they are fine. FINE is sooo much better than puss and mucus at McDonalds....sick..sick...sick..

Eyes on the Prize!

I've been trying to figure out how to stay positive when I feel like UTTER CRAP and today I had a friend respond to a my txt that the end result makes it all worth it. (Thanks Shelly) I may be sick and really hate being pregnant but I have easy deliveries and I do so love those little babies. I love how they smell. I love how soft their little heads are. I love kissing those little open lips. The thought drifted across my mind. "Eyes on the Prize" I should be working but I went to my files to pull out these pictures and I have to admit I do feel a tiny bit better. Master
Sport - ok this is a little stressful to look at but I remember specifically looking at him and thinking, he may have Downs but he is stinkin cute!!!!

Princess Pie

"What the Hell?"

I got a txt the other day from my nanny that my 3yr old Pincess said "What the Hell". And again this morning as I was listening to her play with her dolls I heard another "What the Hell" Indy looked at me and asked what I had to say for myself and all I could answer was that everyone has their favorites and that just happens to be one of mine. Plus it's not my fault, I'm pregnant, grumpy, and hormonal, I seriously get a pass on this.

90 minutes

Me and Tiff

Me and Indy

All DONE!

Cousins

Sara Sargent, Tiff, Me and Indy

Hopefully I'll have more actions shots to follow. This turned out to be an awesome race. 90 minutes is for sure NOT the fastest but for having NEVER done this before and being completely unfamiliar with the course and the transitions, 90 minutes isn't' bad. Note Indy did beat me by 6 minutes. Goal: Next year shave that time by 10 minutes. Oh and I won't be pregnant next year that might help as well :)

Why Why Why?

I have a love/hate relationship with the 'Why' question. When you ask the question 'why?" you want an answer...and sometimes there just isn't one. Why do people do triathlons? Sometimes it's a lifetime goal, or maybe it's to loose weight, or maybe someone challenged them. Why am I doing this triathlon? In this case I can tell you exactly why..... his mom
A year ago Jack's mom Tiff (cute cousin Coby's wife) in the thick of dealing with the grief of loosing Jack decided to do this triathlon and put the question out "I'm dedicating this race to Jack who will do it with me"? At that point I don't own a road bike, pretty much detest running, and have never done any lap swimming in my life. Right then and there I committed and said I would do the race with her. I know this show of support is small, but oh how I admire the strength, character ,and courage Tiff and Cob have shown. In my own life I think about my Sport and how often he has danced with death. When you have watched your son code and literally be only sustained my the life-support machines breathing for him, it changes you. It changes your perspective. With any of these precious little gifts that God sends us, be that perfectly healthy like Jack or not so perfect like Sport there are no guarantees on the amount of time we get with them. Lately I've thought a lot about 'why' I'm a Mormon. That's another question I don't have all the answers for. I will say one of the for sure reasons is the blessings of the Temple. I love the fact that each one of my babies are born under the blessings of the covenant and they are sealed mine forever and ever no matter what happens.
So..long story short....Jackie Ju this race is for you and your mama too!

morning sickness....

Caution this posts keeps it real and will probably read a tad on the negative side:

Morning sickness should not be called 'morning sickness' It should be called "All day freaking AWFUL sickness" I seriously think the 'morning sickness' is a lure to get women pregnant. Some ancient OB probably realized if they called it "all day freaking awful sickness" less women would get pregnant and he would be out some income.

It's my fourth so you would think I would be accustomed to it, but without fail, after each baby amnesia sets in and I forget how really awful it is. Not only do I know this is my last pregnancy in this life. It's my last one EVER and EVER even in the eternities. I told Indy if he wanted to have eternal progression in the next life he would need to hitch his wagon with one of those women who 'love' to be pregnant because I am NOT doing this again.

For those of you who never get sick or or maybe get a little dizzy let me paint a picture for you. The room is spinning my head is splitting and I know if I even open the fridge I will barf. Over the past 3 pregnancies I have learned a couple of tricks that help to avoid the actual throwing up. Typically saltine crackers are not my thing, but I thought I would try them the other day....NOPE they all came up and when I blow it is a total body convulsion over and over again, there are no little urps involved. And the real treat is after that lovely experience I don't feel any better. And to think I get to feel this way for 10 more awesome weeks!!!!

Monday of this week I was done. When you get to the point where you are not functioning as a mom or in your job, and frankly you don't care, because you are so miserable....It's time to call in the drugs. Zofran became my friend with Sport and Indy. It's a drug they give cancer patients to deal with their nausea. It doesn't take it away but it makes it bearable. Its $455 for 21 pills and you can take 2 or 3 a day. Worth every penny. Lucky for me insurance picks up all but $15. It doesn't make you feel wonderful or normal, but it keeps it manageable. Late afternoons and evenings are the still pretty bad. I am slowly without too much anxiety or depression realizing I just can't 'do' or 'get done' what I normally do and that's OK because bless us and save us this is the LAST time I'm doing this.

Pregnant Woman Division

I'm pretty sure this triathlon does not have a prego ladies division but I'm doing it anyway. I have slowed down the intensity of training in the past couple weeks. My OB is not crazy about me doing it. The nurse asked me if I was competing to win or to finish. I just want to finish the thing. I don't want to come in dead last, but I don't need to come in first either. I'm not worried about the swim or the bike. The run is where I'm a little panicked. I pulled a groin muscle last week and running is most uncomfortable. Oh well wish me luck!

Gratitude Nov 1

Today marks the first of November. Tis the Season of Gratitude. I challenged my RS today to write down something simple they are grateful for every day. I told them to FB, Tweet, or Blog it, but did give them old-fashioned note-pads just in case. Today I am grateful I made it through church without puking. I prayed the prego sickness would break just long enough for me to give my lesson and it did. Thank Heavens!