from 95 to 0 in 20

On Sunday I got to see both the oldest and the youngest members of my family. My family had a 95th Birthday Party for my Grandpa and then we drove about 20 minutes and I got to meet my little nephew who was 12 days old for the first time. (I didn't get to meet him sooner since he was in the NICU.) He is so tiny! I always forget how teeny tiny newborns are! And as you can see, I went back to my roots and am now a brunette. (I had to fit in with the Malouf's after all) I am still doing double takes every time I look in a mirror. I'm definitely still getting used to it.

My favorite shot of the night.

 

A birthday kiss.

 

Right after my grandpa blew out his candles. Maggie, our family pastry chef made a delicious carrot cake. Maggie and Aneesa were the party planners and of course they did a fabulous job and made it all look so easy!

Me and grandpa. I am his oldest granddaughter.

 

 My contribution was the invitations. I got the easy job:)                                                   Me and Finn.

Wreckless and Irresponsible

I will probably regret posting this because I am posting this while I am still upset about this issue. Recently a popular blog author posted about her pregnancy and that she probably won't get an ultrasound. Lots of people commented voicing their approval and lavishing praise on her for her thoughtful attitudes towards birth. There were several who left comments and shared stories, as did I, of babies whose lives were saved because of medical intervention that took place as a result of having an ultrasound. I was very polite, but after thinking about it more, what I really feel like saying right now is ARE YOU A COMPLETE IDIOT?! What is wrong with you? And why are you spreading your ignorance to others? Please don't be stupid about this! But I would never say that, that would be so rude. I really really really really hope that you will seriously consider the many problems that can be detected and treated successfully with the help of an ultrasound. I would feel terrible if something happened to your baby. I have had a baby in the NICU. I have felt the heartache of wondering if he will live. It is not something I ever thought would happen to ME. But it did. And especially since you are such a popular and respected blogger, please consider the impact that your opinions and actions can have on others regarding this important issue and the lives of babies and families.


I have many friends and family who have gone the natural route and have had great experiences. Great. That is wonderful. Namaste. But even if you choose "natural" that doesn't mean you should opt out of an please get an ultrasound that could save the life of your baby and you.

Just as there are women out there exercising their right to express their opinions about ultrasounds being unnecessary or unwanted intrusions on their perfect birth plan, I am here expressing mine which is: I think all pregnant women, wherever possible, should have a diagnostic ultrasound for the health and safety of their unborn child.

My cousin-in-law recently shared her birthing experience on her blog and I think that if I were ever to go the natural route I would do it like she did, in a hospital and with an ultrasound.

This child, my child, would not be alive today if it weren't for an ultrasound and the medical intervention that followed as a result of that ultrasound. I just cannot imagine the guilt and grief and emptiness one would live with for the rest of their life if their own child were to die or be injured as a result of opting out of a procedure that can save lives. Why!? Why why why would someone choose to do this? I have a really hard time understanding why someone would put their baby at risk by avoiding an ultrasound in this day and age with all the medical advantages we have. Does anyone ever think that they will be that 5% or that 1% or that .25% statistic?

I know I didn't.

I am so grateful for the amazing medical care that Talmage received that saved his life. I am so grateful for the skilled hands and the brilliant mind of Dr. Kenneth Liechty who operated on Talmage twice.

I am so grateful for Talmage's sweet face, his cheeks that just beg to be nibbled on, his big blue eyes to gaze into, his perfect little nose, his beautiful blond curly hair, his infectious smile, the funny things he says, the cute way he walks, and the way he snuggles with me.

I can't imagine my life without him.

EDIT: See, I told you I would regret writing while I was mad about this. (Brianne, I guess I should keep my feisty side to less public forums like your kitchen:) I feel very strongly about this issue. When I wrote this I was feeling angry about it as I'm sure you can tell. The approach I took when writing it the first time was sort of like imagining someone sitting on a fence and walking over to them and shoving them over (onto my side hopefully). Hmmmm...that doesn't quite sound like me and I don't want to end any friendships over this post. But I do want to save babies. Rather than pushing anyone over onto one side or the other I would like to try to persuade those who are not sure whether or not they will get an ultrasound to seriously consider what I, and many others have to say about this topic and to get a diagnostic ultrasound. I have edited the above post to communicate my position without calling people who don't feel the same way about ultrasounds names. I apologize for offending some of you by the way I communicated. And as for the post title, that could very well be referring to me:)


(posted by Rebecca)

adventures with emily jane

never a dull moment if you hang out with emily...this was our adventure today...we went to the Spiral Jetty. thanks for taking me along on your adventures emily:) i think the highlight of the trip for talmage was laughing and screaming with cousins in the car on the bumpy gravel road on the way home. emily's friend molly supplied those ridiculously cute suspenders. i love them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 Fav's

Still having issues with focusing with my lens...hmmm...(thank goodness for those sharpening filters in Photoshop)... looks like an excuse to upgrade from the $80 prime to the $350 one? That one is a lot more doable than the $1200 lens that would really be amazing...I don't think Santa Clause has that much money in his budget at the moment though...darn.

These pics are of my sister and her kiddos. We ran out of light, otherwise we would have kept taking pictures. I love this spot so much!

Derrick and Mykaeleigh

 

 

Rachel, Emily, Adam and Lucy

and... in case you were wondering, Derrick is Em and Steve's adopted son and Mykaeleigh is Derrick's daughter. And Steve is not in this picture because he is busy running not one but TWO restaurants. His newest restaurant that he runs is called Rickenbacker's. Tyler and I tried it out tonight and it was fabulous. I asked Steve what I should order and he suggested the Chicken & Waffles. Say what? Strange as it sounded, his recommendation was amazing! You should try it out sometime. Delish.

Never goin' back...RAW is awesome...take a look

I was so lucky to have the fabulous Whitni Parker tutor me on the finer aspects of photography before we left the great state of Texas. I have been lazy about putting my new-found knowledge into practice (I hate learning new technical things) but tonight, armed with a room full of cousins playing Jenga and watching Horton, and some time to play on my computer, and some great shots from this afternoon I decided to go for it.

Let me tell you, it is so worth it to have huge chunks of my memory eaten up...I think you will agree...
and tomorrow, Emily and I are going back to the same spot with a canoe! I can't wait!

 

the carrot that was a carrot

tonight sydney and talmage kept getting up from the table and wandering around while they were supposed to be eating dinner, which was pizza. i decided it was time for a threat. i told them if they didn't get back to the table right that minute and eat their pizza that they would not get any vegetables (which were still in the microwave – so fancy, i know). i was serious and they knew it by the tone of my it's-the-end-of-the-day-don't-mess-with-me voice.

two little kiddos came scampering back to the table to gobble down their pizza so they could get their reward,

vegetables.

then, sydney finished her vegetables and decided to come take some of talmage's vegetables after asking him for some and receiving an answer of "no!".  a fight ensued. talmage never ended up finishing his vegetables, but the very idea that sydney would take his vegetables was very disturbing to him.

and that was dinner.

p.s. i took some fabulous Fall pictures of the kiddos tonight and i will post them very soon. the lighting was awesome!

p.s.s. i have a new nephew! his name is finn. he is so cute! but he is also in the nicu so please pray for him. his mama is also recovering from an emergency surgery following his birth so please pray for her too.

she said

Last night as we were driving along I pointed out the full moon to the kiddos.

Sydney responded that it must have eaten a lot of food.

:)

I love that little girl. {sigh}

And lately, when she looks at me, she will study my eyes and then tell me,

"You have Sydney eyes."

:):)

Yes, it's true, I have a little clone.

And I love her

soooooooooo

much!

BOO to YOU!

An Asian Princess
& her Ninja brother

Uncle Ryan came to visit and Hanging out with the Cousins... as you can see, S&T were not happy about any sort of delay in getting the promised candy.

Happy Halloween!

Today Only!

Text Oprahshow to 242424 and you can get 50% off anything at Payless. Today only.

EDIT: I got these cuties for Sydy, these bad boys for Talmage and a cute new bracelet and wallet for me. Tyler didn't get anything because size 14 shoes just aren't big enough for his ginormous feet.

Lately I've been...

Watching the kids play in the falling snow in our backyard.

Collecting leaves in the canyon.

Hanging out with my sister while the older cousins entertain the littler kids (Thanks Rachel and Lucy!!!) so we could...

...take pics of Baby M (her name is not a secret...I just can't spell it).

Making apple crisp from apples my gpa grew in his back yard.

Getting stuff done while the kids play with all the toys that came with the house. (We love this place we are renting!)

Finding new songs to buy on iTunes to make my treadmill workout fun ('SOS' by Rihanna is my new fav...keeps me moving) and being so happy that our house has a treadmill...how lucky!

Carving a pumpkin with Tyler and roasting pumpkin seeds.

Finding Talmage a Ninja costume.

Making our Fall favorites (Nettie's Minestrone, Stuffed Peppers, Kacie's Chicken Soup, Whitney's Beans).

Spending hours scouring name blogs and other resources on behalf of Sam and Kacie's bebecita who will be arriving on TUESDAY...still looking. I am obsessed and can't wait until they pick a name!

Making some homemade gifts for the unnamed child. (pictures to come)

Shopping the 50% off Clearance Sale at Old Navy...Sydney now has some winter clothes.

Designing a bday party invite for my gpa's 95th bday. (I found out that as a general practice doc he delivered over 2,000 babies!)

Keeping busy while Tyler is in Bountiful or Utah County or on the phone for long conference calls on his iphone. (and deciding I want an iphone).

Being glad I don't have to obsess about decorating since I'm living in someone else's home.

Negotiating two offers on our home and learning that it is against the religious beliefs of some people to pay interest so their cash offer can go no higher (the house is still on the market...we are holding out for a higher offer)

Designing an ad for a lunch special at the Sonora Grill (do you know what a Mexican Coke is?)

Starting on designing a logo for a local beauty salon.

Working on some Christmas presents. (did you know that you can get MyPublisher Photo books through Costco.com?)

Finished listening to The Help (and now I have a southern drawl).

Trying out the bread maker that came with the house (the owners left all their kitchen stuff and they have lots of great toys).

Thinking about getting back into the couponing game. (PYP is great out here)

Wishing I would have shampooed the carpets in our car before it got cold. (They are really really bad.)

Realizing I have a lot of photo shoots to do if the 2010 Calendar is going to happen (the last calendar I did is here)

Thinking I really need to call Shriner's Hospital to get an appointment for Talmage (he has some scoliosis that needs intervention) but I keep putting it off. Maybe I am in denial about this.

Planning our Christmas gift giving.

Thinking about doing Spanish pre-school for my kids.

Getting stuff done while the kids watch The Polar Express.

Discovering and reading up on DSPS and realizing that my night owl tendencies have a name and hopefully some solutions.

Thinking that this is the coolest bookcase.

Thinking I have a really great family and am grateful that I have the opportunity to live close to them...it's been a long time.

And...getting behind on all of that because I am doing this.

:)

Blogger Big Picture Follow-Up

Awhile ago I posted about how to make your pictures bigger on your blog. (See here). Since that time blogger has made some changes and you can now go under basic settings (scroll to the bottom and look under 'Global Settings') and get the updated editor which allows you to re-size your images (and a bunch of other things-see here) without having to mess with the HTML. However, I think that if you want your images as big as you see the ones on my blog you still have to go into your 'Layout' and 'HTML settings' and change the width of your blog to allow for the larger pictures.

This is what the settings on your blog probably looks like right now:

And this is what you want to do to make it wider (see below...just change the numbers and save!)
...be aware that this will definitely change the orientation of things on your blog and it may look a little weird at first, but, as someone who has lived in Texas, I can truly say, Bigger is Better!:)

*I am sure there is probably a better way to do this, so if you know of one please post a comment and reveal your secrets:)

Goldilocks

I love this little boy.

{and these locks are now quite a bit shorter}

This llama picture really cracks me up...

I updated our private blog with a few more details that I didn't want the entire world to know about, so if you aren't already on the list, let me know and I can add you...there is a limit of how many readers you can have on a private blog though, so if I run out, sorry in advance!

Here are some random photos that aren't recent:)

Don't these llama's look like they are police llamas just waiting for someone to speed by so they can give out a ticket?:)

I don't even need to ask...

...I already know that many of you are praying for us. In some ways it reminds me of how I felt when Talmage was in the hospital and his life was hanging in the balance, yet somehow we were strong and o.k. We don't have our lives hanging in the balance right now, but moving is definitely a stressful operation and so many things have happened to help make it a smoother process for us.

So first of all, to all of you who have prayed for us and who have kept us in your thoughts and who have done things for us recently, thank you. Sorry to thank you this way, but I wanted to send out my thanks to tell you that so many things have just fallen into place and so many good things have come our way and I know that your prayers have made a difference. I can feel it. I am once again reminded of the power of prayer and the blessing of having such wonderful people in our lives.

One of the great things that happened happened just today. We were looking through Craigslist for a furnished home for rent after rolling into town late last night and up popped the perfect place. The first place I called, the first place we looked and it was a perfect fit for both sides of the deal. Couldn't be more perfect had we been searching for weeks. Located smack dab between my parents house and my sisters house...or pretty close to it...3 miles from one...5 miles or so from the other. I am so grateful to not have to live in a non-furnished place for the next few months. Perfect.

Another thing...I was packing up the suitcases and it was very obvious that Talmage was going to need an completely new wardrobe. Shorts just weren't going to cut it in our new climate. My good friend Kristen was watching the kiddos as we were packing up on Saturday and I mentioned that we were heading over to the Carter's outlet to get Talmage a coat and do you know what? She gave me an entire winter wardrobe for Talmage that she was planning to sell at her garage sale the next weekend. 5 pairs of shoes, a coat, some jackets, lots of pants and lots of shirts (and all super cute and in great condition). Kristen made my day and now every time I get Talmage dressed I think of how great Kristen is and how blessed I feel.

Another great thing...call it Karma..call it a silver lining...call it a tender mercy...I think it is all of the above. I contacted our Realtor who represented us when we bought our home to tell him that we were selling our home ourselves but that if he had a buyer we were paying a 3% buyer's agent commission. Seriously, this guy and his entire company are just first rate. He told me that he would do whatever he could to help us...like list our house on the MLS...like loan us a lock box...like do an open house for us...like let us use their answering service...for free...
No.
Strings.
Attached.
You might think I have been fooled and that there actually are strings attached, but there are indeed none. What a blessing. (and we had five showings on Sunday alone!)

And there are even more great things...like the fact that our friends who moved to Texas are renting our house while they look for one...perfect timing and I can't think of nicer people to watch over our Texas digs.

So, thank you for your prayers on our behalf.
They are working as you can see:)

In search of the Boom Bands... (Fav thing #74)

#74: Dr. Seuss
"Oh the Places You Go" is definitely one of my favorite books as is "Green Eggs and Ham" (what a great story of persistence and not giving up). It seems that so many of the pages ring true right now...how can you not love Dr. Seuss!


{a selection from 'Oh the Places You'll Go'}

...You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose....

...You'll look up and down streets.  Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town...

...You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted.  But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both you elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out?  Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF  you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
           The Waiting Place...

  ...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a  train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a sting of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

 
NO!
That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

On and on you will hike
and I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never  mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

---Dr. Seuss 

3...2...1...BLASTOFF!

3...

friday

2...

saturday

1...

sunday

blastoff!

monday

We haven't been keeping you in the dark...we just found out too! Things are pretty exciting around here and change by the hour.

We are moving to Utah on Monday! 

CRaaaaaaaaaazy!

Just our car with our suitcases and computers. We'll be back for the rest later. And in case you want to rob our house, don't try because our friends who are moving here from Chicago will be here starting on Saturday. Perfect timing. And also, our house is for sale, so if you want to buy it let me know:)

Our adventure is taking off...hold on tight!

mommy!

If my kids are trying to get my attention they start with a simple:

"Mom"

If I don't respond they say:

"Rabeccah!"

If I still don't pay enough attention to their request they say:

"Ma'am"

That gets my attention every time:)

PIBE + random sites

We've got a lot of PIBEing going on 'round here.
Play
It
By
Ear

(I love friends that bring new acronyms into my life:)

I love this site...thanks KWalker!

and I love Michele's site and blog...she is the designer of Sam and Kacie's house and is amazing I tell you.

that's all for now:)

i heart SSH

I am grateful for a living prophet.

I love conference weekend and I can't wait to read it all when it comes in the Ensign.

a word of thanks

Thank you dad for the spray bottle of very clean tap water and for the blue paper towels and hand sanitizer and for washing our windows a lot and for driving us to the insta care and for going to the Farmers Market with me:) Thank you mom for making it possible for me to feast and feast on cherry tomatoes straight from the vine...

Thank you Mindy for that book. And for everything else:)

Thank you Sam and Kacie for your hospitality in your gorgeous work of art that you call home. Even messes look beautiful in your home:)

Thank you Em and Steve for dinner at The Sonora Grill...again.

Thank you Anayansi for getting our mail and Diana for putting the towels in the dryer. Thank you Maggie and Aaron for the bread and milk...but not for the ice cream. I actually kind of hate you for that:)

Thank you Sydney and Talmage for loving "Thomas" and Jerry and Curious George the movie soooo much and for drawing a constant stream of family pictures on your Doodlers.

Thank you John Grisham for having books on CD to make a long trip seem shorter.

Thank you Tyler for driving. The. Whole. Way. And the whole way back.

Thank you Grandpa for making 95 look so good and for cooking us a divine dinner.

Thank you Bridgette for the warm Brownies and the delicious food, and the snacks for the road:)

and especially thank you to everyone I forgot to thank.

5 stars

The Peacegiver: How Christ Offers to Heal Our Hearts and Homes by James L. Ferrell


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read this out loud on our car ride from Denver to Dallas yesterday. It is one of those books that will stay with me forever and that I will want to read over and over.  This book has really opened my eyes to seeing Christ and His Atonement in a fuller and deeper way than ever before. Amazing. I think everyone who believes in Christ and desires to understand the Atonement in a deeper way should read this book. Thanks Mindy for your excellent recommendation.

View all my reviews >>

R.I.P.

Sydney told Nana, "My mom is dead." Nana assured her that I was not dead and we all got a little laugh out of it.

Later on we were sitting around wondering where this came from when we realized it was probably because this morning when the kids were eating breakfast and I was still asleep, Tyler announced that he was going to go upstairs and wake the dead:)

I am indeed alive and well, and well rested:)

Beware of Flarp at high temperatures...

...it can be quite messy:)

while you were probably watching football...

...we were cheering on our favorite quad rugby player, #17.

just a quick hello

from a cutie pie named Talmage:)

What the World Needs

 

Less pink slips and more sweet kisses.

When one door closes, another opens

Last Tuesday Tyler pulled up to the house with his car full of the contents of his office. His firm laid off 10% of their associates in it's second round of layoffs this year. As one might expect in this economy, real estate lawyers have been particularly hard hit and Tyler's department has laid off almost half of its associates over the last 9 months. Tyler has stayed busy with bankruptcy work for the past 6 months, but the huge case the firm had been consumed with just dried up so there aren't any positions available there either.

We have experienced the range of emotions including the recurring desire to get in the car and drive to Disney World:)

It has been fun to have Tyler home but I hope that he can find a new job soon. We're hoping to stick around here and he is looking for openings in bankruptcy and real estate. Let us know if you hear of anything!

(there is an online legal tabloid that follows the happenings of Big Law and they have a few articles talking about the layoffs at Tyler's former firm here: http://abovethelaw.com/2009/08/nationwide_layoff_follow-up_mo.php)

{photo taken about a year ago in Virginia, on a rainy day, at the Zobrists...oh I miss Sharon!}

Love

This is Whitney & Justin and their family.
Whitney is Tyler's sister and she just had her 4th baby less than 4 months ago. While we were vacationing in Breckenridge they got word that a foster baby needed them. This little guy was only about a month older than their baby and he is in a body cast and has some other problems due to being in an unsafe home. Since Whitney is a nurse and has experience working in both the E.R. and NICU she is an expert in all things baby and all things medical.

It was not until several days after this little baby was with us at our family reunion that I held him. The night before I held him I lay awake wondering why it was that I hadn't made an effort to hold him. I just started crying and crying because I realized that I didn't want to hold him because I didn't want to feel that body cast against my body and think about how he got hurt.

I didn't want to think of his suffering and all the other innocent children who suffer every day whether it is in our neighborhood or on the other side of the world. I didn't feel strong enough to absorb that impact.

But then
I also thought about the fact that even if I pretend it's not happening, it still is.

I just felt like I just wanted to hold that baby and give him some love.

And I also just felt so grateful for all those generous people, with huge hearts, who refuse to pretend it's not happening and who open up their hearts and their homes and who give so freely of their love and make a difference in a life.

I am so grateful for this opportunity to see the Foster Care program at work and it makes me want to try harder to give a little bit more, no matter what the situation.

One thing at a time...

...we'll start with this...more excitement to come...