Miracles Exist...

Story Time: (Warning! This story is LONG and confusing. I ramble on, but wanted to record each little bit, because it was a miracle to me! I put what I was thinking or saying in green in an attempt to make it more clear.)

On Fri June 18th I was on my way to volunteer for our church in Orlando. I was feeling sad because the next morning one of my REALLY good friends was getting married in Utah, and I wasn't going to be able to make it...flights were too expensive. Well at 3:30 pm I had this genius thought, "I wonder if I have enough sky miles built up for a free flight?" So I called Southwest Airlines. I had enough for TWO free round-trip flights!! But sad news, Orlando to SLC was booked. Dang. Why couldn't I have thought of this sooner? Then George suggested I fly into Vegas and hitch a ride up to SLC since my bro-in-law is down there for work all the time. It just so happened he would be in Vegas that night. I called Southwest back to find out if that was an option. YES! By that time it was 4:18 pm and the flight was leaving at 5:20 pm. I had two minutes to book the flight over the phone before it would close out. The lady and I spoke really fast and she was able to book it seconds before it timed out! Now at this point I was about 30 minutes from the airport and the flight was leaving in an hour. Oh Great!! George was amazing and maneuvered through awful traffic on I-4 to get me to the airport in time. I had no luggage, no toothbrush or anything and I was wearing a dress and heels...ideal travel for a prego lady! I tried to print off my boarding pass, but it wouldn't let me because the flight was leaving too soon. So I tried to rush through security as fast as possible. My flight was leaving in 15 minutes and I was DYING waiting in line. I made it through and ran to my gate. The guy there tells me I'm the luckiest lady alive because the person behind me would have gotten my seat! I was the last one on the plane. After everyone was seated, they started calling people to get off the plane....what the? I guess they were having weight and balance issues because of the high temperatures in Orlando, so they had to kick people off the plane even though there was enough seating! They kicked off two families that were flying stand-by. I felt lucky I didn't get kicked off. Everything was so last minute, I didn't even know where I had layovers. At least I had my bag of snacks to make it through! So we headed to Mississippi and then on to Chicago. In Chicago I had to change planes and as I got off the plane in the gate all the kiosks said 'DELAYED'. There were tornadoes there and all the planes were grounded and had been all afternoon. Why did they fly us here then?? Our flight was delayed, but just an hour, so I though ok, no big deal. But then it kept getting delayed an hour, then another hour, then another. After 4-5 hours (it was then 2 am) I realized I didn't have enough time to physically drive from Vegas to SLC anymore...I would miss the wedding after all. At this point I was SO exhausted and wondering what the heck I was thinking by coming. I went up to the gate to see if something could be done, (if they could route me to SLC or something). Nope, nothing. Tired and hungry and alone in Chicago (and a little bit pregnant), I start crying and moved off to the side. After a bit I decided I'd see if they could get me on a plane back to Orlando and I'd just chalk this whole thing up as a bad last minute decision. That is when it was a plus to be showing my pregnant belly because the lady at Southwest felt so bad for me she ended up calling her supervisor and getting me a free flight from Vegas to SLC! It was awesome and I'm SO grateful to Southwest for being SO wonderful! I was deliriously tired. Our flight finally left Chicago and I got a two hour nap on that flight, and then another hour on the Vegas airport floor. My flight arrived in SLC at 9:35 am and the wedding was at 10:00 am. It was close. Fortunately I have my Aly that lives right by the SLC airport, so I tried to get a hold of her to see if she could pick me up at the airport and take me straight to the wedding. I couldn't get a hold of her, so I just sent her a text with my flight info and prayed she'd be there. I landed in SLC with a message from Aly...she was at the airport to pick me up! It was a miracle!

She rushed me to the wedding and after 16 hours of travel I made it to the wedding with 7 minutes to spare to. I was so relieved and thankful it had worked out I couldn't stop crying. I blame pregnancy on all the tears :) It was SOOOO good to see Elaine get married to her sweetheart Clinton. It was a mini-reunion for all the moters that served in Albania together. Elaine was jaw-droppingly beautiful and it was so fun to see her in love....they seem like a perfect fit! I'm so happy for you Flake-bore!!

I was in SLC all of 5 hours and then hitched another ride to southern UT. I got to see my sis, Sara, and her family as well as Kate and her family. Then my flight left Vegas on Monday afternoon and I made it home to FL at 2 am...just enough time to get some shut-eye and head to work Tuesday morning. After work on Tuesday I fell asleep at 7 pm and didn't wake up til 7 am the next morning, fully recovered from my adventure. It was awesome. I didn't take many pictures, and I felt like I didn't have my brain with me on the trip, but it was wonderful to be able to make it! Sara loaded me up big time with baby stuff, so exciting!! I wore actual maternity clothes for the first time last week too. I'm feeling great! No vomiting, and no nausea as long as I snack. It's wonderful and I'm SO grateful and happy about this change! I'm sorry I didn't get to see everyone I would have loved to see in UT. Next time I'm there I'll plan ahead a little better :)

The happy couple :)

Moters reunite - Lewis, Carter, Flake, Hansen, Robi, Sanchez!

Elaine looked so gorgeous!

My miracle taxi driver, Aly, and her cute baby boy Ben :) Thank you!!

Adorable Grace & Evie :)

Kaden representing Albania "Ole, Ole, Ole kampion jemi ne" -Go Shqiperia!!

The mischievous K bros

I came just in time to realize I never want to potty train my children. I will call Sara to do the job, thanks gu :) Sadie just started potty training. Sara spent two hours in the morning trying to get her to go in the potty...

Anyway, if you made it this far...I just wanted to document what a miracle it was that I was able to make it to Elaine's wedding - so many connections worked out for me last minute, and so many of my friend's were willing to help me out. It was a miracle, thank you!

CFI - WOW this feels like an acomplishment!

This piece of paper may not mean much to you all but it represents the grace of God on this poor mortal. I am officially a Helicopter Flight Instructor. My brain has been overwhelmed with acronyms and lists and regulations for the past year and this was a test to see if any of it stuck. Thankfully it did and now I am allowed to pass on my knowledge. I haven't been doing it long enough to pass on wisdom. There are things I still must learn and relearn, but it now feels like I can relax for the first time in a long time. The relaxing will be short lived because now its really time to find a job and start paying back all this money I've spent. I have had a ton of support through all of this as well. Thank you to my great wife, our families and friends.

Half-way There!!

It's official, I'm 20 weeks along today! Definitely cause for celebration. Some weirdos keep requesting a belly pic...so here it is...let the fattiness begin! It's surprising how uncomfortable it already is. I can only imagine how great it'll be when I'm gigantic. Haha. I'm just happy to be feeling better, as of Friday I've gone a whole week without puking, yay! I made it half-way, I know I can survive the next 20 weeks. I hope they fly by! It is a little scary to think that we're half-way there though...we have a lot of preparation to do in the next few months, but I promised myself not to worry or think or plan until after George finishes school...which is very, very soon, by the way :) Here's to 20 more weeks of healthy fattiness, woot woot!

Ichabod's first video debut!

This is mostly for the grandparents - we got a DVD of the ultrasound. Our baby boy flexes his muscles, hides his face from the camera, is an exhibitionist, beats his heart 140 times a minute, weighs in at 11 oz, (it's hard to measure his length since he's mostly scrunched up) but approximately 9-11" long head to toe, yawns, sticks his little tongue out, has cute little hands and feet, etc. etc. We can't wait to meet this little guy!

Ichabod covering his face...it's a BOY!

Ichabod in 4D - it's a BOY!

Ichabod's heart beat ♥

Ichabod's foot and a yawn for the camera.

Ichabod baby's heart ♥

Ichabod's heart continued, and blood flow.

Ichabod's spine.

Ichabod's kidney blood flow.

Baby Ichabod

Happy Two Years :)

George and I are celebrating two amazing years together! It's strange to think that two years have gone by...time flies when you're having fun :) Since our actual anniversary fell on a Monday we celebrated the weekend before. On Friday after work we went to the Orlando Temple and then out to eat at Outback Steak House. We went there because we had a gift card to use, but we were pretty disappointed in the food. I didn't even finish my 6 oz. steak. I know what you're thinking...pregnant lady you don't even like food! Well since I'm not reliable, George didn't like his either. But it was pleasant to eat out with just the two of us, it seems like we haven't done that in a long time. We got a hotel that night just outside of Orlando so it'd be a short trip the next day to Blue Springs State Park. Florida has some amazing springs bubbling up from beneath. Manatees use them during the winter so it's off-limits to humans, but in the summer the manatees go elsewhere to play. The water was a refreshing 72F. The head spring bubbles up from 120' below and then flows down stream. It's so clear and beautiful...we spent a very relaxing day lazily tubing in the water, with a nice picnic break in the middle. We stopped for milk-shakes on the way home. It was delightful to get out and I felt good most of the day! I have to give props to George. I've been so busy with work and my church callings (and pregnancy) that I haven't had time for much else, so he planned everything for the weekend. He packed all our clothes, picnic foods, and booked the hotel. Pretty much all I had to do was get in the car. It was perfect and so relaxing!

The head spring - there is a hole beneath George that goes about 120' straight down, there were a few scuba divers that went to the bottom while we were there.

George lazily floating down Blue Springs.

I had to get a picture with us together. Our camera isn't water-proof, so here is one of us together...I'm just about 30' above George :)

I made this collage for our anniversary. Props to my brother, Mac, for building the frame. He actually made it for another painting we have, but until we get matting done it doesn't fit. I think it works nicely for our collage tho!

By far, the best and most exciting present this anniversary was finding out that Ichabod is a BOY!!! Now to just figure out some names and get ready for our cute bundle :) We are SO excited for this little baby to join our family. It was really fun seeing how excited George was with the news :) Beforehand we decided that if it was a girl I would teach an Albanian word to George each day for the rest of the pregnancy, but since it's a boy it looks like George will be teaching me Spanish! In just a few days I'll officially be 'half-way' YES!! We have a lot to look forward to in our lives with a baby boy on the way and a new career for George. We look forward to the adventure!