Afternoon Picnic at the....Cemetery??

We packed a lunch, loaded up Ayla and headed to the Caldwell Canyon Hill Cemetery to find some relatives we had discovered during an online genealogy search. It was a beautiful overcast day and we were up for an adventure!

It was going to be a challenge locating the Call family headstones (we had a general idea) so we put on our walking shoes, grabbed Ayla's terrain stroller and began the search!

We looked, and looked and walked amongst the MANY headstones until finally.......

.......Ayla fell asleep during the search (sweet pea!)......

......we found them! Elbert Call & Hannah-Tolman Call. Their son, C. Dale Call was buried next to them. They had 17 children- 17 CHILDREN!!

These are Ryan's 3rd great- grandparents and Hannh is a Tolman which means I am related as well. Yes, Ryan and I are DISTANTLY related. That's a another story and one that kinda creeped us out 2 years ago when we discovered it; whole new meaning to a "small world".

After the long search we stopped for lunch at the ala-back-of-the-car-restuarante (very fancy and trendy) while Ayla continued to snooze and enjoyed the luxury of eating while sleeping.

Before we left, Ayla awoke and we were able to get a picture.The cemetery is situated atop a hill and very beautiful- we were pleasantly surprised how busy it was (Memorial Weekend...duh!). The weather was perfect and it was a great way to spend a relaxing, fun Saturday as a family!

It brings genealogy closer to home when you are able to physically touch an ancestor- even if it is just a headstone.

It's Strange....

One year ago today (on the 26th) would mark the 'official' due date for Ayla & Zoey....they would be 1 years old.

That feels strange!

Today Ayla had an eye appointment downtown and afterwards we took her over to the NICU to visit the RN's, RT's and Doctors that worked with her during her 4.5 month stay. It was almost surreal to see everyone again because Ayla is 3x her size (literally) from when she left. She's been an NICU "graduate" for almost 11 months yet it feels like we were just there. Odd how you never forget some things......

The St. Luke's staff present were happy to see Ayla and couldn't believe how big and beautiful she is- of course! As we watched other parents walking in and out it was difficult not to stop them and say, "See? Look! Your baby will leave too- it feels like it may never happen but it WILL!"

It's bittersweet to look at Ayla and imagine another 1 year old baby- what would Zoey be doing? Surely they would be friends and steal each others toys? It's a thought that is constantly lurking in the back of our minds and oftentimes we'll look at one another and say, "Wonder what Zoey would be doing- the same things as Ayla?" It's sad yet we are at peace because we know Zoey is where she needs to be.

Sometimes, my arms miss Zoey although I only held her once......

Blessed and Blessed!

This is one of my favorite pictures of Zoey- she is so small! This teddy bears head is roughly as big as my palm and yet it looks huge next to her. Now imagine: Ayla was smaller....

Do you ever get that overwhleming feeling of being blessed and grateful for your life? You know that feeling? It's when you look around and express thanks for where you are.....and you're even grateful for the challenges and trials because you are where you are because of them.


It's been one of those.


It's cool when those moments of clarity bless my life and I remember how short and fragile this life is. Today is just another step towards eternity, right?


God is truly aware of us....He is merciful and loves us even when we sometimes feel otherwise. After all, I'm only one soul in a bazillion of others.


I am grateful for where I am and where we're going. I am blessed with beautiful family and friends. I am inspired by those who are experiencing such harsh trials and yet they choose to turn towards God instead of away from Him. They spiritually inspire me and honestly make me want to become a better person, a truer Christian, a humble servant.


Like my Friends Tripp and Jonah- their stories will inspire and bless your life and perhaps, bring a tear. The great faith of their parents in adversity will bless you and hopefully, bring you into a moment of thankfulness. Thank you for being my inspiration Tripp & Jonah!



Tripp & Jonah (click on their names for their stories)

I couldn't imagine being a parent to a child with a horrible disease in which there is no cure...yet these parents show faith and courage and hope. They never give up, there is always hope, there is always God.

Please take a moment to say a prayer for them....and a prayer of gratefulness for where you are in your life....

The things about germ.....

....there are a lot of them and they are everywhere up in everything! Most germs are good, we cannot live without them. Others....not so good. I am not a germaphobic (I swear!).

I don't recall giving much thought to bacteria and proper sanitizing until Ayla & Zoey were born. I knew the usual; wash your hands often and don't rub your face. HA! That is just the very tippy-top basic to fighting germs- but it works and it's better than nothing.
In the hospital we were given a crash-course on bacteria and how even the most benign of bacteria can be deadly to Ayla and Zoey. Really? That is scary! The NICU is as germ-free as possible; to the point that everyone has to participate in a 2-minute hand/arm scrub-down before entering the NICU. The doctors and RN's wash their hands before and after handling the babies and were constantly applying hand sanitizer and using disinfecting wipes on everything they touched. It became a habit for us to do the same. Wash and sanitize, wash and sanitize.....

We sanitized EVERYTHING; our cell phones, cameras, books, bags, laptops, anything that came into the NICU was wiped down with disinfecting wipes. When it was time to bring Ayla home, were informed to keep the same procedures; scrub our hands when we came home from work, change our clothes and disinfect everything. Our house has never (literally) been so clean and 'germ-free'! We should seriously own stock in Clorox....

Germs are not for sharing!

Now it's a habit and people think we're crazy with our signs posted on the doors and our nazi-way of marching them into the kitchen sink for a scrub before they can even look at Ayla. We have hand sanitizers in our cars, at work and in every room of the house and we use them- constantly. Since Ayla has been home- we haven't been sick, nope, not once. Weird, huh?

So here are some interesting facts we learned about our hands;

~Right Handed people tend to wash their left hand more thoroughly than their right, and visa versa.
~We have between 2 and 10 million bacteria between our fingertip and elbow.
~Damp hands spread 1,000 times more germs than dry hands.
~The number of germs on your fingertips doubles after you use the toilet.
~Germs can stay alive on hands for up to three hours.
~Millions of germs hide under watches and bracelets, and there could be as many germs under your ring as there are people in Europe!

~One of the most germiest things in your house is the keyboard to your computer.

Now doesn't that just want to make you go and wash?

Surprise Visit!

My second year getting to celebrate Mothers Day- how cool! I love being mom to Ayla and angel-Zoey. Everyday on my way to work I drive past the cemetery and see Zoey's headstone and cute little solar butterfly and say; 'good morning' and 'good night' to her. It always brings a smile. What a privilege!

On Mother's Day weekend we took Ayla on her very first "official" road trip out of town to Twin Falls...it was literally, a last minute decision.


I was headed to Twin for a work meeting on Friday and Ryan took the day off to watch Ayla and we thought, "Let's go surprise grandma!" Ayla had yet to meet her great-grandma Coral and it was good timing. Who knew you had to pack SO MUCH stuff when transporting a baby overnight?? Feeding Pump, tubing, oximeter, formula, medicine, bags, extra clothes, gauze's, travel crib, toys, ect....wow....it took forever to pack!



We arrived late Thursday night and happy to report that we TOTALLY surprised grandma- it was great! She was tickled!

Me, Ayla (who was sleeping) Grandma Coral and Ryan
Grandma rocking Ayla to sleep- so sweet!
Ayla was such a good girl and was fascinated with grandma's buttons and bracelets.

Grandma Coral is an accomplished organ player- her music abilities are a joy to listen to. Whenever we visit (which hasn't been for a loooong time), grandma gives Ryan music lessons and Ryan can now play/plunk a few songs on the organ. I enjoy sitting back and listening. The music also put Ayla to sleep (Bonus!!)....
It was a fun mini-trip and we are so glad Ayla did well and stayed healthy!!

Last Saturday Ayla's cousin's, the Curetons, came to play in the backyard. Ayla is still under quarantine but she did get to watch them through the back door....
Cousin Tristan taking a picture of Ayla

Playing Bocci Ball...Brayden, Ryan & Tristan

Playing the Washer Game

Who are those monkeys? Ryan and Landen climbing trees!

Later, we had a lunch BBQ outside and the kids oogled Ayla through the window before heading home. It was a fun afternoon visiting and playing!

Pick-me-up

This was sent to me from a friend and I LOVED it!

It seems as though Ryan and I get busy between obligations from work, home, church and community that we forget to stop and take it all in...to appreciate and be grateful. This video inspired and reminded me to stop and breathe (and go kiss my babies).

Take a few moments to watch, relax, turn up your speakers and re-focus....

http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

Of course I had to include a cute picture of Miss Ayla- she is such a doll and one of the reasons we work so hard!!