UPDATE!

Ok, so I have been totally lame at this blogging thing.  But, I think I might have a little more reason now to keep up with it than I have had in the past.  Curtis and I have had a life changing experience the last couple of weeks.  One full of scares, trials, ups, downs, and lots and lots of happiness. 

It all started about a month ago when my Mom came to us (in Farmington, New Mexico where we were living) and said to us, "Hey...I think you guys might need to move back to Orem sometime soon."  Curtis and I were like...."Uh....ok...?"  We had been living in New Mexico while Curtis worked on an apprenticeship and I worked for my Mom and Dad.  We were in a good spot and our home in Orem was rented out until at least August.  I was a little upset when my Mom first told us this.  I didn't want to move.  I liked living close to Mom and Dad.  We were making good money.  We were just in a really great spot in life!  Then after discussing it...for days...Curtis and I started to make a plan.  We decided to move.  We called Mama and Papa Jackson and made arrangements for them to come and help us move and also for us to be able to live with them until August.  Curtis packed everything into our moving truck (being 7 months pregnant...I wasn't much help.) and on the 27th of April, Mama and Papa Jackson with Spencer and Shane came to New Mexico to help us move.  We had a rough move (moving truck problems....etc.) but finally made it to Utah on the evening of the 27th. 

We spent the next couple days unloading and making our room into our home.  I had visited the midwives in Farmington on the 22nd (just a week before we left) and while I was there they ran blood tests, urine tests, and everything in between.  Everything came back and looked awesome!   I was as healthy as a horse!  My feet/ankles started to swell soon after the appointment, but I just thought maybe it was normal pregnancy stuff.  Then, I started feeling sick...most of the time.  I had been a little pukey for a couple of weeks before moving, but after getting to Mama and Papa Jackson's it started to get worse.  In my naivety I just thought that maybe feeling sick was normal pregnancy stuff.  I puked every night from the 27th until the 3rd.  On the morning of th 3rd I woke up and got in the shower.  I got out and went upstairs to get a drink.  Papa Jackson took one look at me and said, "Geeze...you are looking kinda rough.  Are you ok?"  I told him I didn't feel well and that I might go to the Dr that day.  (We had only been in Utah 7 days and I hadn't even found a Dr. yet!).  Then I went back downstairs and got in the bathtub.  After like 15 minutes I decided to get out.  As I stood up I suddenly couldn't see anything.  I went in and woke Curtis and told him we needed to get to the Dr. now.

Curtis woke his brother Spencer and he drove us to the Mountain View Hospital in Payson, UT.  I don't really remember much from this day (Friday the 3rd) until the next week (Monday the 6th).  This is what I have been told happened.  In the Mountain View hospital I suffered a severe seizure, and a couple of smaller ones.  They ran a CAT scan to make sure I hadn't had a stroke.  Then, they put me in the ambulance and rushed me to Provo.  When we got there they got me stabalized and decided that the baby needed to come.  Dr. Anderson was the Dr on call and he delievered little Jocelyn River Jackson at 29.5 weeks by c-section.  Curtis was by my side the entire time (though I don't remember...)  I stayed in the hospital until Monday the 6th when they decided to discharge me.  Come to find out I had suffered a very awful case of Eclampsia (or what used to be called Toxemia).  The Dr's do not know why some women have Eclampsia or what causes it.  But mine was the most severe case you can have.  Here is a link to what wikipedia has to say about it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HELLP_syndrome

Anyway, little Jocelyn River Jackson came into this world fighting and hasn't quit since!  Even for being born almost 10 weeks early she is a little fighter with lots of spunk and a sweet little personality.  Curtis and I have the chance to hold her nearly everyday and we also have the chance to change her diaper, take her temperature, bath her, and many other things.  She is still really little but she is growing more and more everyday.  She has gained 8 ounces since being in the NICU.  She is the sweetest thing I have ever seen and Curtis and I are both super proud of her!  We just love her and feel that she is the greatest blessing we have ever gotten.  I appreciate my Mama and Papa Jackson for allowing us the chance to live with them.  It was a real blessing to be with them when we needed to be.  I also appreciate my Mom and Dad for sending us back to Utah when they did.  The story would have played out a lot differently had we still been in New Mexico.  Little Jocelyn and I might not have made it.  I am grateful for a parents intution! 

We are so proud of our baby girl and cannot wait to bring her home and show her off!  We love her and Curtis and I are both very grateful she is such a little trooper!  She is the best baby!!

        

It's been a while!

For my Birthday (which is March 12th) Curtis made a scavenger hunt for me to go on to find where my present would be.

The first piece of paper I found said, "Here we are to start your treasure hunt for something small wrapped in a large box. I love you Whit, good luck!"

The second "clue" was in a card that Curtis had given to Emily, to give to me.  It said, "This one's easy.  Just think vampires! Because I'm a vampire you won't find an impression of me here." It took me a while, but I finally figured out, it must be the mirror.  Here is what I found.

The second clue I was given said, "Love made from scratch." Of course that led me to the bread maker where I found....

The third clue was, "Of all the movies we've watched, ya know how a copy of a copy isn't always as clear as the original?" We had just watch Mulitiplicity the night before so I knew just where to look.

The next clue was a little bit tricky for me, and I had to text Curtis a few times to get it.  It read, "If I said mine were bigger, I would be reffering to....."  I looked about a thousand places before being led to...

I found this CD between Curtis' shoes.  As I put it into the CD player I wasn't sure what I would find...it turned out to be the song "Dirty Laundry" by Don Henley and that led me to...

It was another CD and once again I wasn't sure what I would find.  Come to find out it was the song "Cold as Ice" by Foreigner.  This was the easiest clue by far!

 

But the next one honestly took me like an hour to get.  It said, "Here I'll build you something to cuddle with when I leave your bed and heart bare." Finally after texting Curtis like 50 times I figured out that he wanted me to go to Build-A-Bear in the mall here in Orem.  So I went to get in the car and....

There was one last clue.  It said, "But before you go I hope you find your gift in this giant box at rest where rubber and concrete meet while we sleep.  Be careful, I'm fragile."  It took me a minute, but I finally made my way out to the garage where I found...

This HUGE box.  I started to open it, and much to my surprise, out hopped my AMAZING husband, to wish me a happy birthday!  Can I just say, BEST gift ever!  It was so fun and I am so glad that he was my gift at the end.  

Here is the end result of our trip to the mall.  It was an amazing birthday!  Curtis made me a website, led me on a crazy scavenger hunt, took me to Build-A-Bear, and then out to eat at Texas Roadhouse.  It was  so awesome!  Also, my way awesome sister-in-law took me out to get a pedicure!  What a great day!

And here is my final picture.  Curtis and I had the chance to go to the Holi festival of colors and it was so much fun!  Here we are, covered in colored chalk celebrating with the Hindus.  I love my life, and my sweet husband!!

Good food, good meat, good gravy, let's eat!!

Curtis and I had to go to Indiana for a week for my grandpa's funeral (see last post) and since then we have been kind of poor.  Not really poor, but kind of poor (since we had to put a lot of money into plane tickets).  And when you are poor you come up with some crazy awesome ideas for food and meals.  Curtis is my chef, that is for sure.  He always has good ideas about what we should eat and what we should try.  I am not gonna lie it is pretty awesome to have such a good cook around for the meal preparations.  Here is a little sample of what we've had this week!

First we started out with a 8x11 pan, putting a layer of bread crumbs in the bottom (I had to make the bread crumbs because they didn't have any at the store, thank goodness for ovens!)  Also a coating of egg and apple soda (or juice) was put over the top of these, just to make sure they got crispy!

Next we cut up some purple onion to put into the mix.

Next some Gala apple was sliced as well, to put in with the onions and bread crumbs. 

Curtis browned a pork chop on the stove with some brown sugar and apple sauce.  Then we put the pork  chop on top of the bread crumbs, the onions and apples were put on top of that, and all of it was baked in the oven for about 45 minutes. 

Curtis was happy with his creation of "caramelized apples and onions over a bed of bread crumbs with browned porkchops with a side of apple sauce".

Here is what happens when it is too cold to go outside and actually cook something.  Curtis and Shae get creative in ways to make the wintertime feel more....well, more like summer.  We decided last night to make "hobo" or tinfoil dinners. 

We started out with a few potatoes and added some corn (from some of the frozen corn we had in the freezer).  We had to slice it off the cob, which was awesome!

Next we added a little celery and mushrooms to the mix, just to make it interesting!

Curtis decided a red bell pepper would taste good too so it was thrown into the mix as well.

Here is a very crazed looking Curtis.  He can't wait for his food to get done!

Next a little salt and pepper, plus a lime squeezed over the whole thing, and a spoonful (or two) of cream of mushroom soup.

And an ice cube and voila! You have a tinfoil dinner that the neighbors will be jealous about!

Adding the finishing touches!

So very happy with our food choice!  (Everything we put into the hobo dinners we already had here at the house! Here's to thinking ahead, and planning a little for those times when you will be poor!)

Now they are in the oven!

Here is the completed meal.  I like mustard on nearly everything, and here you can see I put a little on my hamburger!

Curtis was happy to finally be eating.  :D The only other thing we ate yesterday was cereal!  It was about time for a real meal!

Curtis on the other hand likes ketchup on most things, so that is what he put on his.  I will tell you, this is probably one of my most favorite meals we've had since we got married.  It for sure made me feel like it was a little closer to being summer.  Oh and we treated ourselves afterwards by going to the store and buying ice cream!  :D

Busy February

We have had an extremely busy February so far.  We have had lots of ups, and a few downs.  But through it all Curtis and I still have each other to hold on to, and for that I am most grateful!!

We had the chance to go over to Midway, UT to see the "ice castles."  Here is Curtis with his amazing smile.  It was freezing!  Here is the website for the castles (http://www.brentsicecastle.blogspot.com/).  Anyone living in the Valley should take the chance to go over, but remember to wear something warm!

Curtis "impaling" himself with the icicle . 

Me "impaling" myself on the same icicle.  Notice it hits me at my chest and not down by my legs!

Curtis in front of one of the biggest castles.

Me freezing my butt off!

And dancing like a fool!

We were the only people at the ice castles (come to find out they actually light up at night, when most people go.  But I am not gonna lie I was grateful we went during the light because it was so cold!) so I had to put my camera up on one of the ice castles to snap this picture.  That is why it is a little crooked. :D

We had to make an emergency trip to Illinois and Indiana because my Grandpa Bill (my Dad's, Dad) was very sick and in the hospital/nursing home.  He sadly passed away on the morning of Wednesday the 9th.  I love my Grandpa and he will be missed!

He has a military funeral because he was a member of the Army during the Korean war.

All of the Pall-bearers were members of my family.  Cousins, Uncles, and my own Father.

The American Legion were all there.

This is the covering of his vault.

And this is his beautiful casket that he picked out himself. 

This is what my Grandparent's headstone says.  It reads, "A lifetime of love, began on February 12th, 1952 and will continue when we meet again one day."  It just so happens that my Grandpa's funeral was on February 12th.  He was layed next to his sweetheart on the same day that they were married, some 59 years later.  What a cool blessing!

Here is my sweet little grandpa.  He was so sick.  But he still had the strength to muster up a smile (though I was too slow to get it on camera).

My Mother is such a loving care-giver. (And blogger won't let me turn the picture...) :(

My sweet Sister with our Grandpa. 

This is the scene that I found when I came home on Monday (you know Valentines Day!)

And this was what was at the end of one of the trails of rose petals!

Curtis has also decorated the bedroom.  I seriously have the BEST husband ever.  :D