On the Mend

After doing a heart cath and placing two stints, Gracie seems to be improving. They were able to extubate Gracie again and she seems to be doing well. She has even began smiling and looks adorable as ever. We are so grateful for her speedy recovery, and know she has been blessed with strength. We love you Gracie and pray for your recovery so you can come home.

Update on Gracie

So as I posted yesterday, my sweet niece hit a bump in the road. Mike's brother and his wife Deanna got a call to head up yesterday morning at about 4:30am because Gracie was not doing so great. They headed up, and when they got there, they had had to re-intubate Gracie. They also had to sedate her and give her a paralytic so that she would allow her body to get some much needed rest. So she rested through the day. Her heart rate had gone up to the 200's and had hung there along with some crappy o2 sats, and so they decided that they will not push her for awhile, they are just trying to figure out why this is happening. It is frusrating because it seems like she is constantly facing an up-hill climb. So please continue the prayers. The unknown can be so frustrating. We are praying for her to be able to kick out of this, and soon. She hates the tube, and it makes it difficult because she is easily over-stimulated.

Gracie

Gracie hit a bit of a bump, early this morning, and so your prayers are again being requested. We know that the Lord is mindful of her and her family and that our family has seen some great miracles wrought in our behalf because of the prayers of all of you. Thank-you. We will try to post later.

Getting Healthy!!!!

Well, this was the first week of the G Family Fitness Goal! You are probably wondering what the G Family Fitness Challenge is. Well, I will tell you. My in-laws are doing each putting in a bit of money, making three goals, and if we stick to them, our in-laws will match our money. This goes through Thanksgiving. I have three goals. Exercise 3-4 times a weeks, drink only 3-4 cans of pop a week, and only 2-3 desserts. This may not seem like hard goals to anyone else, but they are HARD for me!!! I can say that I honestly met my goals for this week, except I had one more pop then was allowed, which means I only get three next week. Anyways, I also joined weight watchers. So, to get me more accountable and make me meet my goals, I am going to follow some ideas I have seen and create a blog, strictly to help me to meet my weight loss goals! I only 6 pounds away from when I had Lilly, and have gained 45 pounds since Mike and I were married. So here I come weight loss goals, it is time for me to get healthy!!! The website is: http://emilysweightlossblog.blogspot.com/!!! I have to ask that you please not judge me and that any relatively skinny individuals that have NO understanding of what it is like to have unwanted weight please do not view! Wish us luck to a healthier life!

Soooo Excited!!!

Our adoption profile is officially online! If you go to itsaboutlove.org, go to the link for birth mothers, click on the search adoption profiles, and the enter this exact phrase(no spaces and yes the A in and is capitalized) MichaelAndEmily you will be able to view our adoption profile!!! We are so excited, and ever eager to continue to get the word out that we are adopting. We even have "pass-along-cards" (so to speak) if you would like some. I know it seems weird, you just never know who you will meet who is in a postion and have a desire to have their baby adopted. We can not wait to continue our family! Spread the word!!!

I know, two in one day!!!

Wow, I go one whole week of not posting, and then all of a sudden post twice in one day! I just wanted to thank my family for coming yesterday, it really meant a lot and I know that had you not been there, the day would just not have been the same! So Mike's Dad and Mom, Shell and Caden, Kat, Deanna and Morgan, Courtney, Abs and C.J., love each and every one of your stinkin' guts! Also, to all the G family, best of luck on your fitness goals! Remember we start tomorrow!!!!!

Fun-Run, Heather's B-day, and Family Dinner

(This is Ryker's poster that we did for him. The darling little boy above is Noah, and he actually was across the hall from Ryker and passed away while Ryker was there. His Dad actually assisted with an LDS priesthood blessing with Ryker once. If you double click on the picture, it will give you a better picture!)

We participated yesterday in the first Fun Run/Walk event for the Intermoutain Healing Hearts group we are in. We are also part of the angel group. These are awesome support groups, and not only do they lend their support to families, they also assist in the education and awareness of Congenital Heart Defects (CHD'S). We (Mike's parents, my two sister in-laws, my sister-from-other-misters Courtney and Abby, Abby's hubby, and I) walked/ran a mile yesterday to help raise awareness of CHD's. There was an awesome turnout, and it was overwhelming the support all of the families that are affected by CHD's felt. My sister-in-law also came and brought our adorable niece too. We had a special presentation to honor our angels too. It was beautiful and sweet. We read the angel's name, rang their individual bell, and released a balloon in their honor. It was interesting because as the balloons were launched, even though we did each balloon separately, they all congregated together in the sky. I liken this to losing our angels. Even though they have left this world individually, I know that on the other side they come together, and are close friends. It really was such a wonderful experience.

My sister Heather turned 24 yesterday. She and I will be the same age for about the next 5 weeks (yes, my Mom had us about 11 months apart, Heather literally about walked right out.) Heather is one of my best friends. She and I spend a lot of time together. Since I have started school again and with my work schedule, we have not been able to spend as much time. She is having a baby boy (his name will be Tatum) right around the first of January. She always is smiling, and is rather spoiled, as a result of many years of giving in to her and now her husband too. I once complained to my parents about her being somewhat spoiled, and their reply was less then sympathetic. It went something like this: "Mom and Dad, Heather is spoiled." (their reply)"Well, you have to deal with it because you made her that way." Heather is so funny, when she laughs, you have to laugh with her. Anyways, Happy Birthday Heather!!!

To close off my pretty-near perfect day yesterday, Mike's family got together at the Texas RoadHouse in Sandy. Mike's Grandma treated from all the way in California, in honor of our birthdays! It was really yummy, really loud, and we all just had a great time. This is the picture of half of Mike's family as the other half was at a table across the way. (Mike is the one in the blue by-the-way!)

And this is the picture of the other half of the table. Mike's family cracks me up. We all love each other, and get along (for the most part, unless you break out a game of Monopoly!!!) I always wanted great in-laws, and I seriously could not ask for better. Mike's sisters are very much my sisters, and I call his parents Mom and Dad. This family has seen soo much togther. Through those rough times, we rally around one another. Sorry this was such a long post, but I really just wanted to share a piece of the wonderful day I had.

P.S. I will admit the biggest let-down of the day was Mike's name being called at the raffle, and because he was not there (he sadly had to work) the Grand Prize IPOD touch was passed into the hands of a two year old. That was a sad day in the G home!!!