100 Bottles of ROOTBeer on the Wall

A few weeks ago we had some friends over for pizza and a movie and they brought the really good rootbeer in the glass bottles. Michelle decided that she needed to get in on the fun too.

She never ceases to find ways to make me laugh.

Spring Time

Here are some pictures of our first walk OUTSIDE this Spring.

Michelle decided that using her sunglasses to play peek-a-boo was a great idea. What a goofball.

Such Long Hair

I guess that I hadn't realized how long Michelle's hair has been getting until everyone started commenting on how long it was. I had been contemplating giving it a little trim to try and even out some of the spots that were growing in unevenly. But since it was so long, I decided to try a new hairdo---PIGTAILS!!!!!!

The best part was how excited Daddy got with seeing his little girl in piggy tails. And I am pretty sure this amazing little girl will never cease to amaze us with her cuteness.

Lets Eat Healthy

So I was eating a fruit and veggie plate that some of our good friends brought over. Michelle was interested in the food, so I did what all our therapist keep reiterating, I let her play in my food. The best part was when she decided to share her new found toys with Tory. She fed him all the grapes and then I decided I better take some pictures of her feeding Daddy.

It was pretty funny when she had given him all the food and then tried to open his mouth to try and find where everything had gone. How silly.

What a Sweet Girl

So here is my attempt to take some eighteen month pictures this week. I didn't know at the time she was starting to get a nasty stomach bug. Well, she did pretty good.

Even if she was sick, she is always such a cutie.

Just Some Funny Pictures

So I finally got around to downloading our camera and found some pretty funny pictures of Michelle that I had forgot that we had taken this last month.

Here she is doing her new closed mouth smile.

Enjoying the cool keyboard she got from Grandma Thornton.

Thinking it is okay if she feeds herself. I am just not allowed to put the spoon in her mouth, sigh.

Giving Daddy a head rub. My favorite is how she lets him know the massage is over, by smacking the top of his head.

There you go, just some funny pictures.

My Brother-A Superhero

So I have to admit that even though I consider myself an intelligent person, recently I did something really stupid. I fell victim to a spam comment.

Some name I didn't recognize had a link on my sister's comment section of her blog and I thought it was one of her friends that had something funny to say. The half a second it took me to click on the link red lights were flashing in my head "Don't open something from someone you don't know, Don't go to unknown web sites, Don't talk to strangers, " and other such ingrained warnings were blaring in my head. Did I listen? Nope, and the second I clicked on it I knew I had a made a really really really big mistake. A bunch of viruses and other unwanted garbage were downloaded onto my computer, only because our antivirus program had just expired a few days before and I hadn't gotten around to updating yet, ARGH.

Well long story short we tried everything. We got the best antivirus program on our computer immediately and it didn't work. We tried a million other things, and nothing was fixing the problem. So I called the one person who had could always save the day, my dad. Well the solution he gave me seemed very grim and made me really sick. Then he decided to call the one person who he knew would save the day, my brother. My brother had the perfect answer and it fixed the problem immediately.

Of course my brother knew the answer. He is one of the smartest people I know and has always had the right solution for even the biggest problems. And once again, he swooped down with his phenomenal superhero big brother powers and saved the day. So here is a big thank you to the most amazing person ever, my brother. THANK YOU!!!

Tagged---

10 Years ago:
I was a nerdy freshman in high school, trying very hard to not embarass my sister who was senior (I know you don't believe, but I really did try).

5 Things on my "To Do" list today:
Wash dirty laundry
Dry clean laundry
Fold clean laundry
Put away clean laundry
Take a nap

What I would do if I were suddenly a BILLIONAIRE:
Pay off our house and car, pay off Tory's schooling so he didn't have to work and go to school, help our family where needed, and save most of it in a cool foreign (probably Swiss) bank account.

Places I have lived:
Idaho-not very cool. But I think between Tory and I, we have done quite a bit of traveling

Things most people don't know about me:
I really love to build or put things together (i.e. Michelle's bedroom furniture)
I love to sew, just don't have a lot time or resources to do it.
I love to drive fast.
I hate spit, it is the one no-fail way to make me throw up.
I love to can and bottle fruit and veggies, but I am way too itimidated to feel comfortable cooking.

So I have to tag some people: Shellie, Jana, Tino, your it.

He LOVES me, he really loves me

What a great guy I married.

All Tory would tell me about his plans for yesterday were: I was to be showered and dressed nice by noon. Just after twelve, he told me that our sister-in-law, Tammy, was coming over to watch Michelle so he could take me out to lunch. He took me to our favorite Italian restaurant. When we got there he already had reservations and they took us to a fabulous table right by the window. I didn't even notice the roses on the table until our server (He even requested that we have the head server) told us how excited he was to get to serve us after finding out that Tory had gone to such lengths as to have our friend deliver a dozen roses the day before. At the end of dinner Tory gave me his gift, beautiful diamond stud earings. What a wonderful afternoon. When we got home Tammy asked if it was okay if she came by that evening, since Toby was in a class, to take some pictures of Michelle. Pictures of Michelle, of course I'm okay with that.

Well, I tried to surprise Tory with a homemade meal with recipes I had never tried before that turned out so yummy(the new recipes were the surprise). When Tammy got there that evening, they told me the real reason for her being there was so Tory could take me out for one more surprise. I figured it was for dessert or ice cream. NOPE. He finally spilled the beans as we got into town again and told me that we weren't going home again that night, we had reservations at a really nice hotel that evening. Tammy and Toby were actually spending their Valentine's Day watching Michelle. The best part about this is, a few days before we had been talking with some friends and he had just done the same thing, set up an all night babysitter and went out. When I heard their story, I told Tory, "That would be the best present ever!" He just laughed and agreed.

Does the story end there, nope again. Tory set up another babysitter for today so that we could go to the temple. Well, I think I picked out a good one. I am also so thankful for Tammy and Toby for giving up their Valentines and a whole night of sleep to take care of Michelle, and for Dan and Angela for running some of Tory's errands and watching Michelle today. What a perfect two days.

First Comes Love

Well, I just asked Tory if he remembered what we were doing right now FIVE years ago. We were getting married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is my simple homemade gift for the Love of my Life, a little photostory of our life together.

Our Mended Hearts

The last few days Tory and I have constantly been saying to each other, “Do you remember what we were doing right now a year ago?” We have been saying that because a year ago from Saturday, a turn of events made our already fragile world shatter.

I must explain a few things before I start our little story. My sister and her family had just flown in from Oregon and were meeting my parents at my home, so my sister’s family could go back to our hometown to attend a funeral. It was Friday evening, February 9, 2007, I had spent all day in Michelle’s hospital room (which was my daily routine) with my sister and mother. We left to do some quick shopping for my upcoming wedding anniversary and on the way out of the hospital I ran into Michelle’s Cardiologist. We talked for a brief moment and he said he would drop in to to see her.

I did my shopping quick so that I could hurry and pick Tory up so he could go to work. Tory met me in the driveway in front of our home and told me that he just had a call from the hospital saying we needed to come in and discuss Michelle with the Pediatric Intensivist and Cardiologist. My heart broke.

The Intensivist told us that Michelle had had another “spell” just as her cardiologist had come to see her. I don’t really remember much of the conversation, I just remember crying. What I do remember was that they were giving us the option to attempt one more procedure, but we would need to leave immediately for Doernbecher Children's Hospital. They told us she most likely would not survive without it. We discussed how they felt she would do well if we chose to go. We wanted to give her one more chance to fight and so we went.

There are no coincidences in life, my sister and her family were there by chance, my parents only there to pick up my sister, Tory had two sisters that had just come to town for a visit, and Tory’s twin brother and sister-in-law had chosen months ago to move here from warm and beautiful Las Vegas for school. We were not alone that night, we were surrounded by our loved ones who gave us the support that we so desperately needed.

The transport team that took us were two of the most wonderful people that I know and work with. My dad drove all night with Tory to help him get to the hospital. The nurse that admitted Michelle that night in that hospital so far from home was a nurse we knew from our last time there and was one we loved and trusted. The next morning they took our little Michelle to the Cardiac Catheter Lab to try and fix her heart. They seemed very calm and assured that they would be able to go in, do what needed to be done, and bring her back to us. If only life really worked that way.

They came back rather quickly and no longer looked so calm and assured. They told us that they had called the on-call Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon and he would be in that night to discuss our options. What?!?! They were supposed to be the option to fix our problem.

Tory and I felt as if our hearts were being ripped apart, no one should have to make the decisions we had been making for the last several months and especially not this decision. The surgeon came in that night and told us about the surgery they would need to do, what it entailed and the risks it had for our little girl. We had previously decided that we were done with surgery and would not go through with it, but when we looked at each other right then, we both knew that this had to be done and we gave our consent.

That morning, a year ago today, we sent our baby off to surgery one last time. Before she had left, Tory and my father, blessed her that she might choose if she wanted to stay here with our family or return to heaven. You can understand how nervous we were during that surgery. Knowing how it could end, but not knowing how it would.

Well, we all know now how it did end. She is such an amazing girl. We count everyday that she is with us as such a blessing. We love her and we love how much she has made our family grow. Her little heart may have been born broken, but she has healed all our hearts through her love. Here is a little slide show we made of her during this last year, starting the morning of February 11, 2007.

I know that we have to thank so many people for what they have done and given to us. We have felt all your prayers, and appreciated all of your kind thoughts, words, and service. All three of us thank you all, our friends and family and even some whom we have never met before, for everything.

It's all about Heart

I just found out today is the first day of Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Week. And like I told you all last time, our little family is celebrating the heart this month. If you know much about our family you will find the idea of this week specifically being the National Awareness Week amazing. Here is the link to the web page.

It's Amore'

For those of you who do not know the complete, noncondensed history of our little family, you might like to know that February, and most importantly Valentine's Day, is incredibly important to our family. We celebrate the month of Love along with the rest of the world, but specifically we celebrate the Heart. You will have to stay tuned to our days of celebration.

Here are some pictures to start the month off.

We love February and we are definitely suckers for love itself.

Standing on My Own Two Feet

HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Today during therapy, Michelle's wonderful PT had her standing at the side of the couch to play with some toys. I was supposed to support Michelle at the hips so she would not fall. I started to notice that she really didn't seem to be leaning too much into my hands so I pulled them back to see if she would immediately fall (like she usually does). NO, she just kept standing.

In the picture right above she actually pulled one had away from the couch and started waving at Tory since he had the camera, such a camera happy girl.

I will have to admit if it weren't for this cold I have and the fact that the therapist was right there I would probably have started crying. Funny thing though the therapist told me she was going to get teary herself just because this is such a huge step for our little Michelle. It is amazing the developmental leaps and bounds Michelle is making now. What a girl.

Sleeping in My Big Girl Crib

Yes, Yes. I know. Michelle is almost 18 months old. However, until last Monday she had never slept in her crib. We had taken her on adventures into her room and let her sit and play in it. But she had never slept in it. Since she has to sleep in our room with us she had only slept in her pack and play bassinet. Well Tory decided last Monday that since we paid so much for this beautiful crib, we (or should I say Michelle) should use it.

Well here she is after her first night sleep in her crib.

It is actually really nice because as soon as we lay her down at night in the real crib she just rolls over and goes to sleep. Doesn't she look like soooo comfy sleeping in her crib?

These feet were made for walking

Michelle got this walker for Christmas and at first I think she thought it was just another jumparoo of sorts. She loved being in it and would play with the toys and bounce like crazy, but as soon Tory would help her move she would cry. Well the other day we decided to see what she would do if we put her on the kitchen floor. Voila, she scoots. Unfortunately, I think we have watched "Cars" one too many times because she drives Mater style, backwards. I guess we have always known she marched to the beat of a different drummer or I guess drove to the rhythm of a different radio station.

Nothing is as Cuddly as a Buffalo?

While we were visiting family, my cousin Marcie a.k.a. Mimi with her mom Diane a.k.a. Dine gave Michelle this little buffalo from Yellowstone. Michelle likes stuffed animals, but hasn't really had a favorite. Well, this morning I was washing dishes and gave her some toys to play with and that included the buffalo. When I looked over at her a little later she had laid down and was hugging the buffalo. I was in awe. She had picked the buffalo out from all her usual favorite loud toys and was quietly and cutely giving it a hug. Of course as soon as I pull out the camera to document the occurrence she tries to lay it back down but I think I still caught her in time. So I guess we found her favorite animal, the only problem is I am not quite sure what the sign for buffalo is.

There's No Place Like Home

Well, a year and half later we finally made the trip back home. It may only be a four hour drive, but until now it was an impossible trip. Things just started falling into place and working together so that we could travel to visit our family. It was definitely a wonderful vacation.

While we were visiting we did the somewhat courageous adventure of playing in the snow with Michelle and her cousins. We went cross country skiing around a park near my brother's home and then went sledding. Michelle enjoyed being pulled in the sled behind Tory and we enjoyed being outdoors again.


Here's Michelle in the sled that Tory pulled while skiing around the park.

Here's our cute little niece ready for our adventure in the park.



Here's my nephew ready to go, and lead the group around the trail.

Michelle being cute and just enjoying being outside with everyone, enjoying not being left behind.

A picture of us all together, enjoying being in nature.

Here are some pictures of the new Rexburg Temple while walking around campus. This was one of the main reasons we had been planning and trying to work out all the bugs in our equipment, so we could go through the open house. We were completely amazed by the beauty of this building. As soon as we were done with our tour all we could think was, "We have to go see it again."

Michelle with Grandma and Grandpa Thornton.



Here is a picture of four generations of McCrackens.

Here is picture of the Temple at night. Again I will say, it was so incredibly beautiful. Even though this trip took lots of planning, fixing, planning, and more planning, it was worth it. We don't have ruby red slippers that magically take us home when we become home sick, but we found out that it is not impossible either. There's no place like home.