Two in Eden

There's nothing like being in the middle of nowhere with your favorite hottie hubby. Cody's sweet aunt Kim & uncle Vance let us hide out in their cabin for the WHOLE WEEKEND in the lovely little town of Eden. Just what we needed. Not even nursing homework could find me! And there is no internet. Just the two of us in a cozy cabin. I even left all my make up home, part on accident, but wonderful. We just hung out in our PJ's except to visit the Eden 1st ward (and perhaps the only ward for how small the cute town is) on Sunday morning.  What did the two do?

Played pool. 

Played pingpong. 

Watched a movie in the theatre room.

Played Tic-Tac-Chek-my win. YES.

Played Guillotine. Cody's win.

Juiced some veggies. 

Watched another movie.

Cuddled. Talked. Giggled.

Played SkipBo.

Played Settlers of Catan x 3. 

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. 

Love. Love. Love. 

Now we are home. But today is great because we are celebrating day 7 of the juice cleanse. It's very hard, but we're excited because we're told it gets easier right about now. Day 1 and 2 were almost impossible---so hard emotionally, physically, and mentally. I had to add a few fruits to keep my blood sugar up, and a few whole veggies to keep down the nausea. That helped me a ton. But Cody is strictly juices per nutritionist orders. It's so hard to listen to his stomach growling at night. Cody is dropping weight like I drop my cell phone---which worries me. Our bodies feel good. Energy is low, but hopefull feelings and determination are high. We love to plan healthy recipes that we can eat after it's over.

On the way home from Eden, we visited the new Whole Foods Market at Trolley Square in SLC. Wow. I felt like a rat at a circus~~HEAVEN! We had to leave quickly. But holy cow we are going back when we're done. It was amazing. Lots of healthy foods there I hadn't even heard of, and had no idea how a person would go about eating it. Can't wait to try it all.

Green Juice

plug your nose for the green stuff

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!!

This weekend we visited a doctor recommended by a fellow MS friend. A very big change is coming, it's just LOOMING! I have mixed feelings--ya know, the same feelings that come with any big change: Excitement, fear of failure, determination, mourning old habits etc. etc. What is the big change?
The goal is three fold:
1. out with the bad. 
2. in with the good. 
3. channel energy expenditures.
That doesn't sound so bad eh? What body wouldn't like that?

Let's just say the new change involves excessive use of this big guy: 

The Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer. Never thought I would have one of these. Sure, we like how he looks sitting on the counter...we're just afraid to taste what he'll make out of spinach, kale, and dandelion greens. Pure vegetable juices for 3 weeks is the foundation of the cleanse. This will help cleanse the colon of toxins, and pave the way to eliminating some of the 52 stressors they said Cody has in his body. My favorite stressor listed under "heart" was "excessive joy." Haha. I hope he keeps that one.

Anyway, this all starts Tuesday night.

Until then, we're saying our goodbyes. Like so: 

Tonight we'll eat a farewell to Enchiladas and take "before" measurements, just for fun. Haha. I'm not exactly sure if this is my idea of fun... but if saying goodbye to old ways means goodbye MS symptoms, hey, we'll try it. We have great motivation. Besides, together I think we can do anything. 

  

Raindrops and Happy Thoughts

There is something about being home with Cody when it's raining outside that I like. It sure is a drizzly night...cozy. I'm nervous for clinical tomorrow, nervous I won't even bat an eye until 10 o clock AM and that I would have missed 4 hours of clinical.
Tonight I will pray extra hard to wake up on time.
Cody said our prayer last night. He thanked Heavenly Father for me and he told Him how much he loves me. Hmm I wish EVERY girl had a GREAT guy so she could hear him pray for her whenever it's his turn. It's the most humbling/best thing there is. But you see, Heavenly Father and I both know, I'm the lucky one.

The other thing I like about being in my house tonight: the new happy things I have around. Cody let me pick a plant from IKEA (they have SWEET ones...real orchids, and cactuses that are RED, it took me forever to pick one). Here he is:

and the Sunflower canvas we got togetha (Sunflower's are my favorite...they are symbolic). Cody took this pic and captured some of the Sunflower canvas...the rest of my messy desk I cropped out :) 

"Happiness is not a destination, it is a way of life." This sign was given to us on the condition that we put it somewhere we could read every day. I do read it every day, but I haven't picked a location yet--I have two possible spots. Then Cody will hang it for me. "A little to the left, no higher, higher, no too far! Back a bit, no, other way" haha love it.

Oh and tomorrow is all things GREEN.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Just another great reason to celebrate.

Walk for MS--Celebrate with us

It just so happens this week is MS Awareness Week, the week after Cody's official diagnosis. It also just so happens that the 2011 Walk for MS in SLC is on our first anniversary: April 30, 2011. Save the date! We walk in hopes that someday MS will have a cure; that it won't be able to take away physical function we now take for granted. We also walk to celebrate what MS can never take away from us--our choice to love, our choice to be happy. 

The walk is approximately 3 miles {with fun a long the way}. Come join our team! I want Cody to see his supporters. It doesn't cost anything to do the walk, but our team will be raising $$ for the MS society. To join our team, strongWIL, click here
 
Here's the agenda for the walk
April 30th 2011
8:00 a.m.           Check-in Begins at the Union Pacific Depot Grand Hall (Gateway Shopping Center @ 900 S. 400 W. in SLC)
8:00-9:45 a.m.    Breakfast Snacks & Festivities at the Olympic Legacy Plaza including
                             -    Kids Zone
                             -    Mission Tent and Team t-shirt voting
                             -    Team and Sponsor Tables
9:45 a.m.           Program Begins
10:00 a.m.         Walk MS Starts with the approximate three mile route heading north from The Gateway. 
-    Snacks, festivities, and bathrooms will be available at rest stops along the route.
-    Walk MS will end to the cheers of supporters and a huge "Thank You”!

To read more about the walk you can click here
More team info to come! :) 

En la Chateau d' Amoure 2011

Life is a roller coaster, that is for certain. It's a good thing though, that roller coasters have two seats. One for the screamin' joy rider {me} and one for the crazy thrill-seeker {codes}.  They say, the trick to life is enjoying the ups and downs.
Cody reminded me that in the craziness of late, I hadn't blogged about one of our "ups" {we have plenty} this year, our first Valentines day as a wedded couple :)
Valentines day was blissful this year.
Cody and I celebrated the love holiday all weekend long.
Friday: shared a salad at Cafe Rio and watched a movie on the love sac.
Saturday: We had a blast making kiss-ka-bobs for our siblings. He took me dancing. He wore his suite, I wore my pink dress. I felt like a little girl in giddy in love, as I so often do with Cody around. We had a great silly time. We danced in the swing contest, we didn't even get disqualified for lack of skill.

Sunday: Visited the Wilkes & Wilson families. Dished out the kiss-ka-bobs. Candle light dinner for Cody's family monthly event. We always draw names and decorate a giant sugar cookie in a way that would describe that person. Then we guess who drew who. It's so fun.

Monday {valentines day}:
I had no school.
Cody and went to the gym together.
I kissed him goodbye and sent him to work.
Then I went to town; I decided to turn our house into the Chateau de Amore! {cheesy, yes; fun, double yes}
I decorated.
I decided on a menu, and got started cooking and preparing.

Fresh spinach berry salad topped with feta cheese and candied almonds, 

drizzled with blackberry poppyseed dressing. 

Chicken Cordon Blue served on a bed of wild rice

 a side of fresh and seasoned green beans. 

For dessert, chocolate covered strawberries, courtesy of my mother. 

It was so yummy :)

My favorite salad....yummm

Dessert: thank you mother

Believe it or not...Cody kisses me like this EVERY day :)

Enjoy the ups. Survive the downs. Love through it all. Bring it on!!

Your Prayers are Our Tender Mercies

It is so interesting we can see little blessings in the midst of something that may seem so big and overwhelming. It is the little blessings that helps me to know that God is in it all. And each one I feel is a gift sent to us because someone faithful prayed for God to give it to us.

Cody had to have an MRI, but we found out yesterday his insurance paid for it all--- 100%


Cody had to have a lumbar puncture, but it wasn't too painful for him like he thought it might be...he's so tough.


Cody had to stay flat for the first day, but my mom was able to take care of him while I worked so he could have proper royal treatment :)


He developed a spinal leak, but the doctors were able to get him in for a blood patch.


Cody was nervous for the blood patch, but this time I got to be in the room with him, and the head anesthesiologist did it.


He had to miss 2 1/2 days of work, but they were so flexible and understanding. 


I had to miss class, but my sweet friend took notes for me so I won't miss a beat.


I started to have a pity party, but then I met someone who had a new diagnosis of breast cancer, and I was immediately humbled and filled with compassion.


In the middle of all of this, I started to cry, but someone gave me a big hug and told me we're stronger than we think, we got an email of encouraging words, and received a letter in the mail full of testimony and truth. 


I pray to thank Heavenly Father, and he fills my heart with love and gratitude for all those who exercise their faith in our behalf. Thank you. We will love you forever.