Last year I wanted to run this 5K so bad but I was prego and only days from having Londyn. So this year we registered early and I even got work off to run the Operation Smile 5K. We are part of a Cleft Lip group here in UT and have been very blessed by our involvement in it. We have been able to ask questions and get advice from people who have cleft babies and we have been able to help others with Londyns story.
Today we were in tears as we heard a mother share her experience with her son who passed away before his 2nd birthday (today actually) and was with them during the run last year. There is rare chromosomal disorders that can accompany a cleft lip/palate and she lost her baby to those disorders this past year. You have to see there family blog, click here and leave some love for his family on his birthday!!
It was great to talk with her and other parents and we feel an immediate connection to these select children and parents. We have been blessed to help children around the world just by running a race. There was snow... lots! (we had to walk single file down the hill to the paved trail in the middle of the race)
There was black ice too.. (ask Kate, she took a hard hit)
It was 25 degrees and the coldest wind you ever felt in your life.. (Mckenzie sat in the truck with Londyn until it warmed up)
But it was fun! (Go Team Londyn)
And that's all that matters! We love this little girl and have been SO BLESSED to have her in our lives!!
Cody had some business in Vegas so Londyn and I tagged along. I was skeptical because we had a very limited budget and traveling with him in the past it was never limited. Cody did a great job of finding deals. He got a rental car and it turned out to be a pretty sweet ride- With 1 free upgrade coupon, no cars available in that class and another upgrade we ended up with a brand new Ford Flex (SUV- hearse looking thing). It only had 96 miles on it when we started our trip. We loved all the bells and whistles.
We stayed at the South Point hotel in Vegas- it is known as the family hotel and comes with a warning that it is not a party hotel (= perfect for us!!) There is a movie theater and a bowling alley inside the hotel/casino, and all for a great deal! Really good food too. Steak and Shake, a buffet and a yummy Deli. I would recommend it to anyone! I really went for the pool and I wasn't disappointed~!
This pic was just for my Dad. All these guys at the casino asked if they could borrow her for good luck!
Happy as can be in our rental car.
The first day Londyn and I had a girls day out. We ate at the buffet, saw "Gnomeo and Juliet," got Londyn a birthday present in the gift shop and painted our nails. When Cody got back we went downstairs to get food, put baby to bed and watched tv while we ate.
Mmm.. Londyn likes vegas! Her first stay and buffet! Londyn really turned heads. Whether it was because people have never seen a baby or because she is cute and smiley, I don't know but everywhere we went it felt like everyone was looking at us!
This is her b-day present, but she got a sneak peak so I guess you can too. "See ya Mom- I am going out on the town."
She LOVED the big window and the view of Vegas.
This pic makes us laugh so hard! I was changing her diaper & clothes, she can't lay still right now and she got away- in the buff!
Tuesday was warmer but still a little windy. Londyn and I went on a run. After her nap we went swimming in the outdoor pool. It was amazing! She loved the other kids/babies in the pool. Londyn is a natural when it comes to swimming. She even puts her face in! When we got back to the room we were locked out! The Bellboy saved the day. As soon as we got in and showered we went to the deli for lunch. I shared my pickles with Londyn (that is true love) then she took a nap. We were all ready to go out when Cody got done that evening and we went to Fashion Show Mall. I love it there! We got something for all of us and even something for Samantha, Londyn's cousin, who just turned 1! It was fun to shop together and we finished the night off with Haagen Dazs- we get this everywhere- gotta love the dazzler!
Pool time!
She had a blast in the pool and loved all the other kids and adults in the pool. I swam some laps and pushed her little floatie around. It was so nice and warm (heated pool) and she couldn't have been happier.
We spent over an hour in the pool both days! Londyn loved it! Except when we got back to our room after swimming and the key didn't work! I was trying to entertain L until the bellboy came, she loves the camera!
Our ride for the week, A 2011 Ford Flex.
The Strip & Fashion Show Mall
Londyn's personality is really cute- video shows it best. Here are some random movies from our hotel room. L wore shorts and got to wear this cute outfit from her cousin Samantha!
Wednesday we got a late check out and ran to the pool for the last hurrah. It was great. We packed up, let Cody eat in the buffet, met the guy he is working for one last time and headed home. We got home late but it was all worth it! The best part was being with Londyn for 3 days straight and having Cody with us when we could get him!
I can't believe my baby is almost 1! Londyn weighed in at 21.5 lbs on our scale here at home. She is getting so big. She learned to climb up the stairs all by herself. She also got her first tooth this week. We are planning her party but dreading the day.
Had to look this up for an MD today. I thought you all might be interested to know...
After I posted this I was notified I need random drug tested. No worries.. I am clean!
Length of Time Drugs of Abuse Can Be Detected in Urine
Drug Time
Alcohol 7-12 h
Amphetamine 48 h
Methamphetamine 48 h
Barbiturate
Short-acting (eg, pentobarbital) 24 h
Long-acting (eg, phenobarbital) 3 wk
Benzodiazepine
Short-acting (eg, lorazepam) 3 d
Long-acting (eg, diazepam) 30 d
Cocaine metabolites 2-4 d
Marijuana
Single use 3 d
Moderate use (4 times/wk) 5-7 d
Daily use 10-15 d
Long-term heavy smoker >30 d
Opioids
Codeine 48 h
Heroin (morphine) 48 h
Hydromorphone 2-4 d
Methadone 3 d
Morphine 48-72 h
Oxycodone 2-4 d
Propoxyphene 6-48 h
Phencyclidine 8 d
But beware- we catch most of them using using a hair sample!!
My ward was invited to a fireside Sunday night and Cody and I were excited to go. Throughout Pharmacy School we had an awesome relationship seminar & Institute. Bro. Anderson would come to our school and feed everyone lunch and then share his thoughts- he is the best speaker I have ever heard my whole life, and because our class was small my friends and I knew him on a first name basis. I learned so much from him about work and personal relationships and he truly blessed my life.
Matt Townsend was such a good speaker. He was very accurate in the way he described men and women. The first thing he said was that in general studies show that with each child, marriage satisfaction decreases by 20%- (Bishop Buck sitting behind us wispered something about having 5 kids= 0 Satisfaction :o) But Family Satisfaction goes up. That is why when people become empty nesters their divorce rate increases by 16%. He stressed actively making Marriage satisfaction constant instead of like a decending staircase.
I love the way he talked about marriage. He said to share your stories by saying "my neighbors have this problem.." And he kept saying do any of your neighbors do this...? The funny part was all of our neighbors were sitting right next to us!
My favorite analogy he gave was about smoke and fire. He said that every marriage has its problems or its smoke. And most people who die in house fires actually die from the smoke. So everyday things you argue about are the smoke but the fire are the real underlying problems. The fire stems from feeling STARVED. Starved stands for 7 things every person needs in their marriage (He used Christ as an example throughout the lecture):
S- Safety- physical, social, emotional, financial. He talked a lot about our relationship with Christ and how Christ provides us with Safety.
T-Trust- Character, honest, decent, competent
A- Appreciation- House Chores, Work
R-Respect- Men feel much more shame, money, priesthood holder, father.
V-Validation- Woman with a blood issue who touched Christs robes- "You and your faith hath made thee whole."
E- Encourage- No more encouraging person than the Savior- "Go and sin no more" He didn't have to lecture the women who was going to be stoned for her sin.
D- Dedication- Don't wait for the other person to change.
He ended with having a covenant marriage and how it is different. He gave ideas for those times when you are soooo mad. Think about the Savior. Think of you and your spouse meeting the Savior at the gates of Heaven. Imagine what they would say and do. Write those things down and refer back the them to find peace at those times.
I have told my Mom and others about this seminar and wanted to share my notes with anyone who could benefit. Marriage is not easy but it is so great when you can figure it out and be happy. Cody and I have had a hard year. We have had many trials but with each trial we have grown so much. All I know is I would not stand to be in a crappy marriage. Cody and I have seem some good and some bad- and the good is what makes us the happiest so that is what we strive for.
There was snow... lots! (we had to walk single file down the hill to the paved trail in the middle of the race)
There was snow... lots! (we had to walk single file down the hill to the paved trail in the middle of the race)
