Wake up! It's time for your sleeping pill!

Hospitals or as I like to call them my second home. There is no sleeping in these facilities. I mean seriously the doctors and nurses tell you to get sleep but they come in every two hours to check your vital signs and then there is the constant beeping of all the monitors. In my family we have this little inside joke thanks to John Bytheway. In one of his stories he talks about how hard it is to sleep in hospitals. He had donated his kidney to his brother and he made a joke that my family and I now use all the time. He says how the nurse came in and woke him up from his sleep to take his sleeping pill. This does happen from time to time I am not going to lie. My parents and I are always kidding around about this. If you couldn't tell by now I am in the hospital a lot.

The waiting and the procedures done there are nothing new to my family. At one point a majority of the ER nurses at Primary Children's Hospital knew me and my parents by name. When I was about 9 years old I had a surgery for my acid reflux disease. It was called a nissian and what the do is they take a part of your stomach and the tie a knot around the esophagus making it impossible to throw up and to reflex. For those who don't know what happens when you reflex this is what happens. When someone reflexes the acid in your stomach makes its way up to the back of the throat and then back down. Its very uncomfortable because the acid burns the esophagus. If it goes on to long with out treatment it can cause esophageal cancer. Because of this surgery when I get the stomach flu I must go to the hospital to receive fluids and medications to stop the nausea.

 With the P.O.T.S I become dehydrated very easily even if I drink enough water. Its just something that happens and I have to go into the hospital and receive fluids to rehydrate me. This happens about three to four times a year, and it takes just a couple of hours each trip. My most recent hospital visit was because I had an allergic reaction to one of the many medications that I was on. Thankfully I have a fast acting family and we got to the hospital in a timely manner but lets just say that the night crew at Alta View Hospital could drink a little more coffee or an energy drink to wake them up a little more. Not only were they very slow in getting me the treatments that I needed they also gave me FOUR liters of fluid in the amount of three hours! I had to pee every twenty minutes. I got very puffy because of all the fluid that was in me and it was not fun. I was then transported by ambulance to Primary Children's so my cardiologist could take over. She wasn't to happy to hear about how much fluid they pushed through my body. 

The ambulance ride was way cool. Oh fyi I want to be a surgeon so I love anything and everything about hospitals, they are very interesting to me. We spent three days in the hospital and got about 10 hours total of sleep for those three days. My mom and dad always make hospital visits fun. We watch movies all day long and just "relax". Even though its not the most exciting thing to do in the world it most definitely is the most boring. My parents and I have a pretty good time talking and joking around with the nurses. I usually get to know them pretty well while I am in there. Well unless its in the middle of the night and we've gone to Alta View's ER. Like I said earlier their night crew isn't the liveliest of the bunch. Their day crew are much nicer and more efficient. I have only been exposed to the day crew once or twice but those visits were much better than the ones that were late at night. Don't get me wrong I give them props for working such long hours at such a late time at night and early in the morning but it really shouldn't take three hours to get the medication that I need.

I am not a big fan of their work. This one nurse... I can't remember his name but he was a piece of work. He just went on and on about how BYU was better than the U at medical stuff. This all started because I had a Utes sweater on, my Utes fleece, and my favorite Utes slippers. If my memory serves me right it was the weekend after the big game between the two. Me and my dad think that he was still bitter about how the game turned out. Anyways back to my story, so he was going on and on about the Y and what not and me and my dad were joking around and having a merry ol' time. Well when he put in my IV he wasn't as gentle as he should have been, and the dope didn't secure the thing to my hand before he took my blood. So naturally when he let go of it to put the three vials of blood on the counter it starts to slip out of my vain. So what does he do? He shoves the thing back in! Let me tell ya it was quite painful and because of it I had a big bruise for about a week and a half. I am an easy bruiser and I usually get small bruises that last a couple of days but usually not the big dark ones that hurt to the touch. I wasn't the happiest of patients after that to be honest. I hope I never get that nurse again.

Oh and a heads up if you are going to go to Alta View they normally put the IV's in the elbow. I don't know about you but I like them in the hand better. I know that the medicine and fluids get into the blood stream faster through the elbow but it's so much more uncomfortable. At least with the hand one you can use your arm. Its a pain to wash your hands but having the ability to use you arm is more of plus to me. I guess that is something that you need to decide. I hope that you never have to make that decision, hopefully you'll just have to take my word for it. :) OH! One more thing! always bring your own pillow to the hospital their pillows are really flimsy and don't have a lot of padding in them. Also if you have an electric heating blanket that you can plug into the wall or something like that I advise you to bring that along as well. Hospitals run unusually cold and they have those blankets that sit in the hot oven but those don't last very long. Those are just some of my hospital tips to you. They might come in handy some day, but hopefully you will only need them when you are experiencing the wonderful day of bringing a child into the family. Weather its you bringing the child and doing all the hard work or it's your wife.
WARNING: I have some pictures below and some of them if you are queasy at the sight of broken limbs or needles don't look. Other wise enjoy!

This is when I broke my pinky in October

This was the last hospital visit that I had

My dad and Me

My mom and Me

My IV being flushed

I have a million of these

Nothing but smiles cause no on likes being with a negative Nancy

Like I said we are always messing around

Torn Tendon after sweethearts of '10

Do you Believe?

Seeing as yesterday was Christmas I thought I would post about someone that I love very much. That man would be Santa Claus aka Grandpa Pete. Yes that's right my grandpa is Santa, pretty cool huh?

Well this wonderful man died about three years ago and I want to tell you about the great man that I had the honor of calling grandpa. His name was Henry Luther Newman but he liked to go by Pete. He was truly the most amazing old man in the world. He loved everyone and made us all feel special. He died a fighter of cancer. This sweet man hardly ever had a frown on his face. There wasn't much that could take the warm welcoming smile off his face. He served in the Navy in WW2 on the USS Turner. He left for the war before he was able to graduate high school. He never got the chance to walk across the stage with his friends and fellow classmates to receive a diploma. In 2009 my grandma was able to get her hands on that diploma and on June 4, 2009 my grandpa walk across the stage with my brother and received his HS diploma. It was a very special day for all of us and a big surprise for him. If you lived in Utah at the time you may remember seeing the news reports of the grandpa graduating with his grandson. Or maybe you remember reading about on the front page of the Salt Lake Tribune.

 So now that you know a little about this wonderful man I can tell you about how he brought joy to a ton of little boys and girls. He played as a mall Santa for many years and put smiles on more than my families faces. If you have ever seen a Miracle on 34th street you know how adorable this man was as a Santa. He spent more than just a few minutes with each child. He made sure that the child felt comfortable and he listened intently and showed interest in each child. He treated each child that sat upon his knee like his own grandchild. It was the most glorious thing to watch, there is nothing that brings the Christmas spirit to ones holiday like seeing the eyes of that man sparkle as each adoring child told this magical man what it is they wish for Christmas. A lot of sweet children asked for toys and material things, but there was always those few children who asked with tears in their eyes for something to eat, a warm place to sleep, and for their mom or dad to come home from the war. My dear grandpa not being able to make some of these things happen just took these children in his arm and gave them a giant hug of comfort.

 I believe that this man was guided my angels in his work. He let the light of Christ shine brightly through him and you could not help but love this man just by the sight of him. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to have this man as a grandfather, let alone to be able to know him. As I got older my belief in Santa never dwindled, as it does for many, it got stronger. For those who don't believe in Santa, I challenge you to look at the type of man he is. He is a heck of a lot like Jesus. If you believe in Christ I think that you also believe in Santa. My grandfather was a really good example of being Christ like and if anyone can turn out half of the person he was you are going to be in good shape with the man up stairs. With this I wish you all a happy new year and pray that all of your dreams come true!

My family

My family is not your typical family, we may seem normal but.... were not because being normal is super boring. My mom and dad are the two most amazing parents that you will ever meet.. sorry but its true, my parents will kick your parents butt any day. I am the only girl out of three boys, I am also the youngest.  So there are the four kids and my two parents pretty normal looking from the outside looking in. Well that's where you are wrong... the oldest is Jeff, he is the only child in our family who wasn't cool enough to be adopted... just kidding..... about the not being cool part. As I like to say he is the only homemade biscuit, the rest of us are all store bought. My brother Jason is next he is the dark one ;). Johnathan is next and then there is me. My mom couldn't have any more kids after Jeff was born but she has always wanted a big family so she and my dad decided to adopt. Like I said they are the best parents out there.

Couldn't have asked for a better family, even though we have our moments of insanity and hardships. We get through anything together. What makes us so strong you ask? Well my parents raised us under the gospel and taught us to love the man up stairs and his son Jesus Christ. With their help we have been able to conquer our crazy life of ups and downs. Mom and dad gave us nothing but love and knowledge. They taught us all how to love and respect, be grateful for all of out blessings, and the most important to stick together no matter what. My brother Johnathan has decided to take a different path than the rest of us and that was hard to handle, but we got through it okay cause we had each other to lean on and care for each other when he decided against us. Things like this happen and that's okay because I still have a wonderful family, two brothers and two parents, who I know have my back and will support me no matter what I decide to do in my life.

From left to right: Johnathan, Jason, Me, and Jeff.

Here is the back story to my family, it's a good one I promise. My mom and dad met while my dad was an LDS missionary in Portland, Organ. It was love at first sight! With permission from his mission president my dad proposed to my mom and the October after he got home they were married. October 9, 1981 was the day my family began. The where, was St. George, Utah. They were married in the beautiful temple that is there. My parents have been married for a long time now and that makes me a true believer of lasting love.

Aren't they the cutest couple of all time?

Well like I said earlier my parents adopted me and two of my brothers. Me and my brothers all suffered from prenatal alcohol and drug abuse. Because of this we have had some significant health issues. Thankfully we were blessed to receive the best parents in the world who love us more than life itself. For the past twenty seven years my parents have suffered along with us as we have seen doctor after doctor, had shots and needles poked and prodded into us, and for me surgery after surgery. No matter what we kids had to go through our parents were always there right beside us to hold us while we cried in pain 100% of the time. Without their love, support, and strength none of us would be the people we are. They have set the perfect example to all of us who a good person who loves God and Jesus is and how they should act. I am so grateful for them and my siblings who have seen me through the darkest of nights to the brightest of days. Without them I don't know how I would survive in this world.

This is my mom, dad, and me in a recent hospital visit.

Love at First sight

Hi I am Aubrey and this is my story. Two years ago I was diagnosed with a condition called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (P.O.T.S). It is a very debilitating disease and it has changed my life entirely. Thankfully I have been blessed with a very supportive family. My family has gone to infinity and beyond by helping me through this struggle. They are there for me whenever I need them and give me anything I need. Throughout my childhood my family has always had a dog. The first dog that I new in my life was Jordy, my older brother Jeff's dog. My brother received him as a birthday present when he turned 8. Then my brother Jason got his dog Aphrodite aka Dittle.  When had them for a very long time and when Jordy passed my brother then got his other dog Sparky. Soon after that I was diagnosed with P.O.T.S. My whole life I wanted a dog and had begged and begged my parents to get me one. A year latter around on the 20th of  December a west highland white terrior had her first litter of puppies.

 Without my knowledge my parents and brothers went and met with the owner and arranged for me to pick the dog that my heart desired. On January 20th of 2010 my parents and brothers surprised me in the middle of a parking lot.

  That was when the best friendship that ever has been and ever will be was created. I then looked at each puppy and when I laid eyes on this special little guy I knew for a fact that he was the perfect little fluff ball for me. 

I picked him up and he was mine. 
One thing that you need to know about me is that Aladdin is my favorite movie of all time. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place.. i couldn't chose a name for this little ball of fluff and love. Should I name him Raja or something else. I was wanting Raja but it just did not fit this little guy....then it hit me like a big fat, freezing cold snow ball. His name is to be forever more Abu. Yes as in the stubborn and mouthy little monkey that is Aladdin's sidekick. Then it finally sunk in that my Christmas wish that I had for many years had finally come true. As I realized this I couldn't hold back the tears. 
I then became the biggest mess of all time. I cried tears of joy the as the sweet lady told me that the dog is now mine. That day my brother had given me the best present that I have and will ever receive. 

My brother giving me a hug

As we drove home my brother then explained to me that he had bought the cute little sleeping puppy as a therapy dog for my condition. 

This blog is to tell people about my condition to get it out into the world so it gets to be known and to share the very happy times between two best friends and the healing powers of love. I hope that you enjoy the ups and downs of a girl and her dog.