Yeah for Linen's N Things

Since I have been house hunting, I have also been window shopping and making plans for how to make whatever new house I get, cute. Well I have been struggling for bedrooms because I had a very specific image in my head of what i wanted, and I havent been able to find it....until last night! I was being bored, so i went window shopping online just looking through ads and stuff. I havent shopped at Linen's N Things for a very long time because I havent been able to find anything I really liked, and Bed Bath and Beyond always had it cheaper. I decided just to look and see if they had anything....holy cow, they had everything! They had these amazing deals on bedding super sets....i found these two sets and together it was cheaper and way cuter than what I spent just to find a basic bedspread for the new king bed! So we ran out to the store and I got the last ones! Actually these were pretty much the very last ones, the online ad now says out of stock for the green one! I am so glad we went. Now I just need to return the boring brown one I bought to tide me over until I found what I was really looking for. Unfortunately, I wont be using the new bedding until we find a house a move, so the cuteness will have to wait, but I was just so excited for the awesome deal! If we get this new house (see post below), Then the red one will go in the master, and the green one will go with the queen, and the brown and blue that is the master now will go to the other guest bed. And for my amazing husband who hates this stuff and still came with me to the store last minute so we could get them! He loves me!

Here we go again

Well, we found another potential house. This one is much bigger, and actually cheaper than all the rest we have been looking at. Ironically, I looked at the listing for this house in the very beginning but because of the size and price, I figured there had to be a catch like it was in need of a lot of love, or in a bad neighborhood or something! So i completely ignored it and kept on with my search. Well this house kept popping up with my searches, so finally I decided it was worth at least taking a look at to see what the catch was. So here is the catch.....I cant find one! This house was in awesome shape. It is pretty new (2001), huge (2200 sq ft) with 5 bedrooms, it has beautiful tile and nice carpet (i wish the color was beige instead of grayish brown) but in good condition and it backs the park. No neighbors on 2 of the 3 sides because it has a wash right next to it on one side, and the park to the back. It has a nice walk in closet in the master, a walk in pantry (impossible to find in new homes), and a really good size loft upstairs. The backyard is in some need of TLC, but that isnt too tough, and we are actually coming into it knowing the highest bidder (and its not at our max yet!) This one actually feels like we have the best chance out of all the homes so far. Who knows what will really happen, but here's to hoping this one works!

Scrapbook Convention!

Yahoo for the CK Scrapbook Convention! (my friend says i have become really domesticated because i went to a scrapbook convention) but it is amazing. this is my 3rd year in a row going and i love it! you can sign up for really great classes that help you make super cute projects in a very short time, and that teach you new things and give away free prizes. It is wonderful! Just look.....

my first class was learning new techniques for layout and using different products. its kinda hard to see in the pic, but i made 4 super cute scrapbook layouts. I probably wouldnt have come up with this own...the paper colors and patterns totally didnt match at first, but once they are on the paper, and once i put the pictures in the right spots, i think it will be so cute!

my next class was creating this cute little stand alone piece. it is not together yet, but it will be a mini accordion book (just 3 pages). but it is so cute, and i definitely got some new ideas and learned some new techniques that i hadnt thought of before.

My last class I was most excited for....scrap carding. I have made scrapbook pages, and I have moved on to signs, but i hadn't ventured into cards yet. with my cricket cutting machine and some of the super cute fonts and pictures out there, I think it would be really fun to start doing my own cards! So this class we made 3 cards and had enough for a 4th one that i haven't started yet. it was so each and super cute!

The best part of all is the .....shopping!!!! They have a vendor fair that makes the whole thing worth it. it is like 100 scrapbook stores in one and everything pretty much is on clearance! I tried to be good, so I only got things I really needed....he he. Well at least I tried! But there were somethings i definitely couldn't resist! I am so excited for the new projects.

We struck Out!!!

We were all jazzed about getting a new big bed (see post below) and then we got the bad news. We didnt get the house! We are so bummed! We really liked this one! We have really liked a bunch, but this one had been the best so far! The bank accepted another offer over ours. Its a real bummer but we are sure it just wasnt meant to be....as much as i hate that! We have put in the work and been praying to find a house that we could afford that would meet our needs....so apparently this one wasnt it and third time wasnt the charm at least not for this. But so we went back out this weekend and actually found some more really great ones. we have to wait until tomorrow to speak with the Realtors and find out the scoop on the homes, but we found a home that is H-U-G-E for way cheaper, so we will see what happens. When it is supposed to work out it will, so we just have to patient....which is really hard for me! But at least in the mean time, our apartment complex offered us to go month to month. we have a little less than 2 weeks until we have to sign up for a least one more month. we will see what this next week brings I guess.

New Bed!!

Well one of the few good things that have come from Eldon's injury was a new King Size Bed! Why you ask, did a king size bed come from this....well with Eldons arm in a sling and the position of his cast because of his elbow, he and I didnt fit together in our queen bed. for the past almost 3 weeks, I have been sleeping in the guest bedroom! Let me tell you, it really stinks to kiss your husband goodnight and then go into the next room! I was not about to sleep apart from him anymore than I had to! We wanted a bigger bed, but were just trying to wait to move into a new house before we got one. This made the situation seem a bit more urgent. Thanks to some friends of my parents, we were able to get a killer deal for the bed, which made it even better. We are so glad to be back in the same room, and to have so much space! Who knew! j/k. but it is really nice and we are super grateful for the amazing deal and for wonderful friends who helped to move the queen to my parents house and to help pick up the King. Thanks Dusty and Jason! We definitely couldnt have done it without you!!

Edward Scissorhands or Football?

You tell us....we cant decide. Eldon got his stitches out! Yeah! But his hand looks gross! normally with stitches and scars (well smaller ones anyways) it doesnt look like you were cut up and sown back together....this is not one of those times. Actually, it completely looks like they did just that! Kinda gross! But he is doing really well. He is still in a lot of pain, and now feeling new pains. The Doctors said that as the bones heal it will push the pins out a bit, so he will feel the pins pushing against the inside of his skin. He is definitely starting to feel that, and it is not fun! But on the bright side, the swelling has gone way down, he is starting therapy and working on his range of motion in his hand, and he actually was able to play video games for a very small time period on his new PSP. He was very excited for that part!

Lia Sophia

Hey girls! Have you ever heard of Lia Sophia? I hadnt until this past week. My friend Brittney took me to a Lia Sophia jewelry party! It was so much fun! The jewelry is awesome and you get free gifts just for going without even buying anything! That is always the best part! Just check out my door prize and the prize i got for throwing my own party. It wont be a little while because we are hoping to get out of this apartment first. but i thought i would give you ladies a heads up! You definitely want to come to the party. besides the sweet deals, and the awesome jewelry....you get to have a girls night out and that is always fun! If you arent in good ol AZ, you can check out thier website at liasophia.com and just let me know if you find something and it can count towards my party credit! Fun Shopping!

Olivia the super star

Our little niece Olivia had a piano recital. She also takes voice lessons from the same teacher (her very talented mom ;) So I got a chance to catch part of her song on tape. She did really well and didnt seem nervous at all! She sang beautifully, and I really liked the song! I had never heard it before, but it was a song that correlates to the poem and picture of the 3 white dresses (blessing, baptism, and wedding). It gave me goosebumps just watching it again! So enjoy! P.S. sorry i dont know how to turn it the right way, but i thought it was cute enough, even sideways!

Round 3?!?!

Ok, so keep your fingers extra crossed for us. We are going into round 3 and hope not to strike out! If we don't get this one, it will probably be a little bit, because there aren't that many homes on the market that are fitting into our parameters. There could always be the perfect house that comes on the market tomorrow....but we are hopeful, this will be the one. It is a one story house with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a little under 1700 sq. ft. It has a beautiful backyard that is already landscaped (although the dead tree needs to go and have a live one for shade) but its actually in really good shape. This is the first house that we have found that should meet FHA standards so we can qualify for the loan. it will still need an inspection, so who knows! But the best part is that it is right across the street from the community park and playground! Its not our picture perfect dream house....but it would be a great starter home for us for sure! We should know in a couple of days.

Tarzan? Really??

My family has this very strange little inside joke/tradition. My grandfather does it, my uncles do it, my dad does it the most, and even my brothers have started it. Well now....Eldon will be able to join in as well. Its one of those stories that you tell little kids while they are innocent, trusting and naive, and they eat up every word. K, so here is the joke/tradition. For pretty much every big scar they each have, they have a story of how they got it. Only, its not the real story....its better. My family lived in the jungle with Tarzan! They each spent time with Tarzan and his ape friends, and swung from trees and fought leopards and snakes, etc. All of their scars are from when they were in the jungle with Tarzan and they different battles. Its actually pretty funny, and also explains how they know how tie knots, and make tree forts, etc. Both my brothers served their missions in South American (my older brother went to Brazil, and my younger brother is currently in Honduras). They think they have more claim than anyone to this story because they have actually lived in the jungle.....just not with Tarzan, but they do have pics of them in the jungle to make it more believable.

So, how does Eldon fit in??? Well, this past week, Eldon had his first follow up appointment following his surgery. We didnt know how they did the surgery or what is hand actually looked like, etc. Well they took the cast off, and he has huge cuts that someday will make quite a nice scar i'm sure, and now he can join in the fun and create his own Tarzan story of how he got the scar. maybe he fell out of a tree instead of off a ladder. :P Anyways.....can you believe the cuts!! They pretty much cut him in half to do the surgery!

Thank you, Thank you!!!

I just have to publicly thank our amazing families and friends for all their love and support....if you dont know what i am referring to, read the next blog. I just dont know what i would have done all by myself with such a scary situation! I was pretty much ready to cry when Nolan and Michele magically appeared without me even calling them at the hospital to keep me company and then sure enough, Hollis and Shireen were next and were able to give Eldon a wonderful blessing, that even if nothing else, gave me the sense of security that everything would turn out ok. Eldon's mom drove straight down and has kept me company and watched over Eldon for me, so i could go back to work. My mom did the shopping and even cleaned my apartment so i wouldnt be embarrassed with visitors. We also had so many visitors both at the hospital and since Eldon has been home, and I dont think my phone has stopped ringing from the texts and phone calls. Even in trying times, I absolutely know that we are so blessed and so I am so thankful for the amazing people that Heavenly Father has put in our lives to brighten up even the darkest of days! Thank you so very much!!!

Aprils Fools??? We Wish!!!

For those of you who dont know, Eldon's birthday is April 1st, Yep, April Fools Day. This year he turned 25, and it was a birthday to remember for sure! And unfortunately, not in a good way.

This is Eldon the day before his birthday, and he definitely wished his finger was a gun, only he didnt even know the half of it yet. Let me explain. Its kind of a long story but i will try to sum it up for ya.
Eldon's current profession is a window washer. He frequently has to climb ladders to get to windows. So far, no problems, until Monday that is. Eldon was inside a house cleaning some window over travertine tile (can we say slippery?) Normally, the feet on the ladder is really sticky and has no problems even on the slippery tile. Well, today, not the case so much. The ladder actually slipped out from under him until is hit the wall about 2 feet back and jolted him down and off the ladder.....from about 10 feet up!

Amazingly, this is all that happens....its hard to see from the picture but his wrist is super swollen, and very painful. He doesn't really remember a whole lot, but his wrist gave them an idea something wasnt quite right, so Eldon and his boss rush to the local urgent care. Well about 2 1/2 hours later, we were just about to leave the urgent care with a sprained wrist. We couldn't believe it....no breaks! They started putting Eldon into a sling, but then...it started to hurt really bad, and even his fingers and whole hand were numb (the numb like when your hand has been in freezing cold water and kills numb). The urgent care doctor didn't think much of it, but just because of the amount of pain, they sent us to the ER. So we head down the street the Gilbert Mercy hospital. About 2 more hours we are sitting in a room and have seen about 3 different doctors and few nurses. Guess what, still no breaks and thankfully, Eldon finally got some drugs. But even after vicodin, morphine, and 3 rounds of stronger than morphine, the pain was still at a 10! Eldon's boss said his facial expressions looked like ones he remembered on his wife's face during labor...nice! So finally another doctor comes to us and says he found a small fracture on Eldons elbow. We werent even worried about the Elbow, well neither was the doctor, it was so small they weren't going to do anything besides a splint. We explained the pain and the numbness, which sent the doctor in to check the x-rays again. He came back and said it looked like one of the bones in Eldon's wrist was dislocated, not broke, just dislocated. He wanted to consult a hand surgeon, but said it was pretty simple to snap, crackle, pop it back in. He comes back and said the surgeon wanted to see Eldon himself, so now they are going to transport Eldon to St. Joes in Phoenix by ambulance.

This is his bosses face at the news of another hospital. So we head over to St. Joes. About 2 more hours later, and 2 more doctors, we are finally speaking with the surgeon and his assistant. Guess what.... there is a break, and its the worst break you can do to the bones in your hand! The bone that connects the thumb to the wrist (the scaphoid bone) was in several pieces and many of the pieces were pretty much crumbs. He was going to need pins, screws, and 8-10 weeks at best without movement of his wrist! Oh and remember the dislocated bone in his wrist, yeah the one causing the big bump...it was not only dislocated, it was on top of the bone next to it and was pinching a nerve. Eldon was going to need immediate surgery and because of the situation, they didnt have all the equipment they needed to do everything....so he had to stay overnight at the hospital and have a second surgery the next day (on his birthday). They did the first surgery and things didnt look so good. The bones were in bad shape and there was nerve damage. They said it could take up to a year or more for him to get all the feeling back in his hand if it ever all returns. So he stayed overnight (0ur first night apart from each other :( The surgeon didnt know when the surgery would be so we waited all day. Thankfully visits from friends and family made the day go by a little quicker, but finally at about 7pm, he was headed into the second surgery. If this surgery didnt go well....there could be many many more. Thankfully, the surgery went really well and he only needed 3 pins and 1 screw, but they had to fix 3 ligaments in his wrist as well as the bones.
Because it was 9pm and because of the amount of pain he would be in, he would have to spend the night at the hospital again so they could give him pain medicine. They said he could be discharged the next morning. Well, discharges always take forever, so the morning came and went, and so did the afternoon. Finally at about 7:30pm, Eldon was on his way home!!! He is actually doing really well considering everything. He is pretty drugged, and not happy about not being able to play the new PSP he got for his birthday, but he is safe and will recover. And the good news is.....it was only his wrist and his elbow! Falling from 10 feet, it could have been his neck! So we are so grateful for a broken wrist, even if it is a pain. We are also incredibly grateful for the power of the priesthood and the amazing gift it is in our lives. We are also thankful for all the family and friends that rushed to his side to show their love and concern! It wasnt so much of a happy birthday and we will have to celebrate later, but we definitely have things to be thankful for!