Finding Fun in the South

Saturday was such a great day.  Many of you know one of my favorite things to do is go out to breakfast!  Well, honestly,  I love eating out period, but breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.  We started our day out at Cracker Barrel, eating breakfast at noon.  Yeah, we all slept in...it was awesome!!  

Afterward, we literally drove across the street to our new amusement park, Carowinds! For my California peeps, it's owned by the same company that runs Great America and Knott's Berry Farm. The weather was a bit gloomy and it was supposed to rain, resulting in a ghost town of a place! There was like nobody there! It was nice being our first time (Josh went when he was like 6!), we could see everything going on. 

I took Charlotte on a kid ride, that she absolutely hated! I think we will be sticking to the water park side most of the summer!

Josh rode a couple of the roller coasters because there were literally NO LINES! According to him, they "knocked his socks off!" 

On our way out, we noticed everyone straddling the state line. I hopped over and took my picture. Then, much to our surprise, Charlotte walks over and straddles the state line! We were laughing so hard! She is one observant little girl! 

We are looking forward to many days at Carowinds, since it's only 4.9 miles from our front door! ;)  

I also put together the play group schedule at church and found a ton of things to do with little kids!  Now that the weather is warming up, we are going to be having a lot of fun here!  When I ask Josh why he fell for me, he says it's because we had fun together. I'm all about having fun...I don't think that will ever change! 

       

Feelin' the Love

I have to say that the response to my last post has been so overwhelming and very unexpected.  I appreciate all the text, comments, messages, and love that you have all shown our way.  What amazing friends and family we have!!  I hope that you feel our appreciation.  Like I said before, that although this may be a sad thing to happen, we are trying to stay focused on the positive.  On Friday, we ran to Target after Josh got off work to look at some patio furniture.  As we were walking back to our car, an older couple came out of the store the same time and were commenting on Charlotte and said, "you need to have another one soon.  She needs it."  We just laughed and agreed.  Once they left our side we said to each other, "if you only knew!"  Were we offended?  Not at all!  They had no clue the news we had just received but were trying to give us general advice.  I can see though how people could be hurt by others words.  I hope that if I have ever been insensitive to someone you can forgive me.  You never know how others feel until you walk in their shoes.  With each experience we go through, we learn more valuable life lessons.  I am learning each day.  I am not perfect and have much room for improvement. We are excited for our future and look forward to our lives continuing in Charlotte!!          

One of My Saddest Moments

I've been thinking about this blog post pretty much since I heard the news...news I wasn't expecting, news I had heard before but was in my past, news that I thought had changed.    I have had my fair share of sad moments.  Who hasn't?  But this top the list.  Maybe because it doesn't just affect me, but my family I've created...Josh and Charlotte.   While my family was here, I met with my new Cardiologist (which I love).  He is originally from Chile but just moved here a few months ago from Phoenix.  He agreed with our decision to move and kept telling me that we are going to love it here.  He had to ask all the social questions...Do you drink? Do you smoke? Do you take drugs?...in which I finally said, "I'm Mormon!"  He laughed and said, "oh they have you in line."  We both had a good laugh.  I expressed my want to get pregnant this summer and explained that my last pregnancy went perfect.
After doing an echo and looking over all my past history, he came in and told me NO MORE KIDS.  Wait, what? But my last cardiologist told me that because of how well my last pregnancy went I could have one more.  As I cried my eyes out in his office, he continued to explain something called, moderate decreasing function (on a scale from mild, moderate, severe) in my right ventricle.  That if I get pregnant again, it will basically quicken the time when I need a heart transplant and that heart transplants, on average, last ten years.  So why quicken it if you can avoid it.  I did tell him that this wasn't new news.  But I was only expecting to go in, have him say everything looks great, and leave.  My heart surgeon, Dr. Lambirdi, had told my parents, "ONE KID and if that goes well, consider yourself lucky and move on."  And due to the fact that my last doctor said I could have another one, it got my hopes up and now, just confused.  He also said he was going to contact my last cardiologist in Orange County and get her thoughts.  Although, if he came back and said, oh nevermind, go ahead and have a kid; I'd be a little skeptical.  Yesterday, I went and met with my new OB/GYN.  I asked him, "If I was your wife, what would you do." Regarding my want to get pregnant (he knew my medical history).  His eyes got super wide and started shaking his head no and said, "of course we will support you in whatever decision you make, but I don't recommend it."  It's really a risky thing.  The fact that Charlotte's pregnancy and birth went so well is truly a miracle.    Josh and I are trying to focus on the positive and the many blessings that we have right now.  I am so grateful that I do have a healthy daughter, who continues to make me laugh and surprises me everyday.  The doctors could have easily told me no kids at all!  I had a wonderful time being pregnant and loved every minute of it.  I'm glad my one time was such a great experience to look back on.  We know there are other options to join children into our family, but as of right now, we haven't felt an overwhelming feeling to do anything specific.  We would love to do surrogacy, but the cost is rather high and may not be able to do that for a few years.  Luckily, Charlotte is still young and we have time to figure some things out.  I feel the most for Charlotte.  For not being able to have that close sibling relationship with a sister or a brother.  Josh and I are close to our siblings and I think that's what makes this situation that much harder.  Another thing that makes this situation hard is the fact that my body can get pregnant and can have a great pregnancy.  But of course, who knows how it would go the next time around?  We will try to give Charlotte a wonderful life and give her opportunities she may not have been given with multiple siblings.  We have to just keep looking at it in a positive light.  One thing I do try to do, when she is acting "naughty" (I don't like that word at this age because they don't really know the difference but you get what I'm saying), is nip it in the bud right away.  I don't want people to think just because we have one child we let her get away with everything or have it her way.  No, no, not in this house.    This is a very intimate blog post but I try to be honest and real.  I know people are always wondering when the next child is coming and I thought this might be able to answer questions without having to tell every person...and cry every time I talk about it (because I do).  I also know that people care and wonder about my health, especially family.  They want to know what is going on and we appreciate your love and concern.  You all know I'm an open book, so if you do have questions, please don't hesitate to ask :)     

Life According to My iPhone

I caved and we bought Frozen.  She. LOVES. IT!

Josh FINALLY sees Frozen.  We took her to see it but the two of them were in the hall the whole time. 

That face is priceless.  Oh the joy a swing brings.

Springtime = Popsicles

Love a baby girl in a sundress

Pop-a-collar.  On the way to see the new Muppet movie. 

Let's just say that this didn't last long.  We ended up getting our money back.  She was waving and blowing kisses to everyone in the theater.  We left shortly after it started.   

Stake Relief Society activity.  Such a fun Saturday.  I'm glad I ended up going. 

Sneaky, sneaky.  Charlotte now knows how to twist off the top of my lip gloss.  She painted herself and then did it AGAIN the next day.  How does she find it?!

Made sugar cookies after church.  These are the same ones my mom made growing up.  They turned out amazing!  Frosting and all!  Finally, I got it right!

My ever changing guest bedroom.  It's going to stay like this for a while until I finish everything else.  I know I am posting pictures slowly, but I am a little obsessed with getting it right. 

We've been touring model homes when the weather is bad.  Most of the time it's a great way to get decorating ideas.  EXCEPT this house.  It was the weirdest decorating I've seen.  At the top of the stairs, there was a life-size ZEBRA!  Charlotte loved it!

First Day of Spring

We were welcomed by the first day of spring with AMAZING weather! We started the day off with a walk around the neighborhood with Patty. That was an experience! All Patty wanted to do was lay in the sun!

Afterward, we headed over to the park for another walk and play time with some friends! I don't think I've ever put Charlotte on a swing before (they are always taken) and oh boy, did she LOVE it!! 

Now that she is up from her nap, we decided to eat Popsicles on the driveway. I can't get enough of this weather. Me. Sun, please don't go away!!

Visitors Galore!

Last Monday, we got our first visitor...my mom! She stayed until yesterday morning and it was really fun! She helped with Charlotte and was here when we added a puppy to the mix. She also helped a ton with some home stuff I had been putting off. Charlotte also started a "mommy and me" gymnastics which was a lot of fun! 

The first dog we were supposed to get...until he tested positive for Parvo :(

 

At gymnastics! (No picture during the class because I had to put all my stuff down)

Love the leotard!

We finally brought home a puppy!

Friday morning, Tahnee and Tyler flew in. We had lots of fun with them while thy were here. We did dinner and a Charlotte Bobcats game on Friday night when Josh got home from work. We got free tickets for the Monday night game as well but never ended up making it.

Saturday, all of us went to the U.S. National Whitewater Center for the St. Patrick's day celebration. They turned the river bright green. It was basically a huge party. Everyone was sitting around drinking beer and eating. We want to go back and take a picnic and do some of the activities. Anything outdoorsy you can think of, they have it; from rafting to zip lines to walking trails.

After we went to the outlets and did a little impulsive shopping :) 

Sunday was super rainy and gloomy, we played hookie from Stake Conference and went to tour a couple model homes around us. We live in an up and coming area of Charlotte so there is a TON of new construction where we live. And of course, found my dream house. We went to lunch at this burger joint by us that is my new favorite place. Their shakes are amazing. I think we went a total of three times while everyone was here! New date night place! 

Monday, Josh had to go to work, sadly, so I left Charlotte with my mom and Tahnee, Tyler and I went to the NASCAR Hall of Fame museum. It was so much fun! A little pricey, but I'm glad I've done it once. It was very interactive with simulators and other activities to do. It started out with a movie of the history of NASCAR. Now I feel very un-American for never watching. I have a gained a new respect for the sport and now that I live in the South, want to start watching it (a little). 

Best time of the day! 10 seconds.

In the simulator, we all raced each other (with more people) and I got 3rd place.  I was a little proud.

Inside a semi that transports the race cars.

Monday night we hung around the house. Everyone's last night :( 

Tuesday morning, I took my mom to the airport at 5:30! When I got back I fell asleep until 10:00! Holy cow! After we all woke up (around the same time), we got ready and went for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. It is seriously one of the best places to eat and sooo southern!

The rest of our day consisted of a mall tour and relaxing at the house. 

We are missing our guests!!  Charlotte and Patty the puppy are going through attention withdrawal!  I loved having my family here and I really needed it. Sometimes it can get a bit lonely and I can be a little home/family sick. I can't wait until I see them again in May when we all meet in Orange County. Thank you for coming and our door is always open to those coming to North Carolina!!