Trooper

It's that time of year when Bella and I seem to spend quite a bit of time downtown at 

Phoenix Children's Hospital. 

Smiles for cookies and a bear. Tears for the blood withdraw. 

She's a trooper. 

These appointments seem to be harder and more exhausting for me! Phoenix Children's treats Bella like a star and she feels the love. We are so grateful for her team of specialists and all those that help and support her as we try to get some answers to questions that have us puzzled.  

And since we are on the topic of Bella... here's my favorite quote of the week from her during a conversation she was having with her daddy!



Bella: "Where are you and mommy going?"
Jon: "On a date."
Bella: "Why are you dressed up?"
Jon: "Because we are going to the temple."


Bella: "What? I thought you already got married in the temple!"
Jon: "We did but we still go back."
Bella: "Why?"
Jon: "We do work there and plus, it's the house of the Lord."
Bella: "I thought that's what churches were."

                           Drop the mic Bella.
                           Drop the mic!

Needle Man

Bella... poor, poor Bella!  

She started out Spring Break with a back-flip into a pool of foam balls which lead to some staples in her head.  Already we are winning right?!

Then, towards the end of the week Bella started complaining that her toe was hurting.  And, following in her moms footsteps {no pun intended} she had an ingrown toenail!

We met with the podiatrist.
He got the numbing needle ready to inject into the infection.
As you can imagine Bella did NOT appreciate this process.

After the injections the doctor left to let the numbing medicine kick.
Bella made it clear that she was okay to never see the "needle man" ever again.






But the needle man came back.

Bella didn't understand that everything from this point on was a breeze and she went into a little panic when that needle man retuned.

In her little panic Bella shouted "hold on, wait a minute... HOLD ON! Can we say a prayer?"

The needle man and I looked at each other and smiled.
We bowed our heads as Bella prayed her little heart out asking that it wouldn't hurt!

And, as prayer would have it, it didn't!

{until we went to the urgent care right after and had her staples removed - poor thing!} 

I love CHRISTmas

I'm laying here in bed.  It's 2:30am on Christmas morning and I'm feeling a bit nostalgic... peaceful... happy... excited.

I feel like this Christmas has been better for me.  I have been able to focus more on the true meaning of Christmas.  Christ's birth.

This Christmas has felt very special.  Like maybe, just maybe, I am growing and starting to understand.

I love CHRISTmas. 

By the way, I'm riding a "brave wave"... I'll ride it until I can't I suppose! 

Happy Birthday Dad...

Yesterday, July 14, my dad turned 51... yikes! And his brother Rod turned 56. So we went to dinner to celebrate... I was the third-wheel because I'm still without hubby.

Did I ever tell you what we got my dad for his 50th birthday?!?!