Hospitals

So, in the past 3days I have been at the American Fork Hospital 3 times. On Friday I was able to go to the hospital only hours after my new neice, Addysen Capri Johnson, was born. She is a beautiful and precious baby. I am so excited to be there for another baby in the family. Mom and Baby are both doing great! It is crazy to see my little brother as daddy to two girls. Wow! Being in California for the last two neices, Hailey and Avery, was really hard for me. So, it's exciting to be around for this new little one. I went and saw little Addy Friday morning and then Ben and I went and saw her together Friday night.

That's twice, right? The third time wasn't such a positive experience. Today, I came home from my Relief Society meeting to find Ben lying on the couch with a wet cloth over his eye. He told me he had fallen. I looked at his eye and saw that he had definitely hit it on something, it was scraped and bruised. When I continued to ask for details he could remember nothing of the incident. I then proceeded to find out that he had been laying on the couch for two hours. I started to pry and found that he didn't remember even what day it was, why he was there, when I had returned, whether or not he had a bike (he bought a new bike yesterday). He kept saying the same things over and over and over again, "what day is it?" "what happened?" "my head hurts" "is my bike ok?"" "do I have a bike?" "what day is it?"...and so on and so forth. It was so scary. Anyone who knows Ben would have probably had the same first reaction I did, "Stop faking it, you're being dumb" because that is something Ben would totally do! It wasn't until he had kept saying the same things over and over again for at least 10 minutes that I realized this is for real. I called my mom, and started to bawl. I was scared. What a strange feeling it is to have the same conversation with someone over and over and over again and have them just not remember! I rushed him to the Instacare who proceeded to tell me they could not handle his case and to take him to the E.R, so off to AF we went. After 3 hours and a CT scan, we were told he had a concussion and some amnesia. Yes..amnesia. Scary! We were finally able to leave but, that was only after Ben had said to almost every nurse or doctor "You look familiar, do I know you?" Their response...."Probably because I was in here 5 minutes ago".... Ya, crazy! He didn't even remember Tiff had the baby. When I told him that, he freaked out. WHAT? REALLY, when? He is doing better now, but he is on close surveilance for 24 hours. I am just so grateful to have my husband back and acting "normal". I missed him!
Those are going to be our only hospital visits for a long while! 3x is plenty!

Ben looking miserable, it looks much worse in person! The culprit, this is what I get for letting him buy a bike!

Sweet little Addysen Capri, what a cutie!
The cute family. We love you guys.

Updates!

Me after completing my first organized bike ride..36 miles! Woohoo! Ben is on the phone congratulating me, what a sweetheart!
Justin and cute Avery in St George!
Ben and I at the Anniversary Inn
Ben's best bud, Jared.

So, I should probably take the time to tell everyone what we have been up to lately. It has been a VERY busy couple of months with a lot going on. I am not even sure where to start.

Medical: I am done with Lupron...hallelujah! Let's just say, there is a reason we only have to go through menopause once in our life. If you are ever curious about what it feels like to have a hot flash or what night sweats really feel like..ask me, the expert! Honestly, only 3 months of those shots and I was SO done. Good news was, no extra facial hair! Woohoo! I am just glad to be done. My blood test (CA-125) was normal(29), which was great after being in the thousands previous to surgery and the shots. I have since had both a regular ultrasound as well as a saline sonogram (WORST experience ever, I will spare you the details) and both confirmed that my ovarian cysts are back on both sides. We have started meeting with an infertility doctor and he insists that he will have to do another surgery before doing any kind of treatment. He also says his preference would be to do surgery and immediately start the IVF process. Since we don't have the money to do that, i think surgery will wait. Plus, who wants to have 3 of the same surgeries in less than 18 months? not me..
Ben is healthy as ever. Actually, he went in recently for a physical and his doctor could not stop raving about his healthy heart and how he could go out and run a marathon no problem!

KIDS: During the month of May we had the opportunity to start the training to be foster parents. I spent 36 hours in a classroom learning all about how to be a parent. i think everyone should have to take classes, they were so great! Ben only had to come to 12 hours, but I got all the good information. now we just have to finish our paperwork and a home study and we will be able to have kids in our home. We are taking our time. We want to do it, but we since it's summer we figure we have a few months. Since we both work, what would kids do during the day? Another thing we are doing to give us a taste of parenting..we got a job as weekend houseparents at the Family Support and Treatment Center in Orem. This is where Rachelle works and she referred us. We get to go once a month for a 24 hour shift and take care of kids. We did our first weekend this last week. It was great, but tiring. We had up to 11 kids at a time, all under the age of 11. We loved it though and it is great practice.

Fun: 2 weeks ago we had a great weekend! Ben and I went to a time share presentation (love em) and earned a free weekend at Anniversary Inn in Salt Lake. It was so much fun to just get away and enjoy time together. We got the Mountain Retreat room and although it was a bit dungeonish, it was just what we needed. The next day we met up with Ben's best friend, Jared, and his wife Amy and drove to St George to spend the weekend with some of my favorite people. My little sister, Jessica and her husband Justin and baby Avery are out there. we had a blast seeing their new house, swimming in the community pool, going on a bike ride and just being together. It was a great time and a much needed break. Then, this past weekend Jess and her family were in town, plus my very best friend and her husband were visiting. Kimmie was here, showing off her cute prego belly, and although I didn't get to see her much, I was so glad I got to see her at all. I wish all my friends were closer!


Oh ya....I also rode in the Little Red Riding Hood bike ride up in Logan last weekend. I only went 36 miles. My friends Tiffany and Jennica both rode 80...CRAZY! But, it was a big accomplishment for me. I might even try it again!

Sorry to share it all in one post, but life has been way too busy. Ben is in school full time and working full time. I am working full time. We both have pretty big callings and so on and so forth. I am sure you all know what I mean when I say that life has just gotten away from us lately. It seems like there is just no time to sit down and catch up.

Before and After!

So, everyone seems to think that I love my dog more than life. I thought you would all get a kick out of the fact that we both cut our hair this week. See below for before and afters. Let me know which you think is cuter?..

Archie Before...so shaggy and cute!
Archie after..still SO cute!
Carmen before....shaggy and cute!
Carmen after...not so shaggy, but still cute..right?

10 YEARS

I just had to quickly give a quick "shout out" to all those who started on one of life's greatest adventure with me 10 years ago today. May 20, 1998 I entered the MTC, called to serve in the Taiwan, Taipei mission. Before that day, I was scared to death of all that the future held. It was the unknown. But, once my family walked out of those doors and I was all alone...things all fell into place. I hadn't been in the MTC more than 5 minutes when I heard a sister behind me telling someone she was going to the Taiwan, Taipei mission. I waited for her and introduced myself. She was Susie Jackson; tall, smart and gorgeous (just ask all the Elders that asked to take their picture with her). We talked and got to know eachother on the way to getting our tags and room assignments and any missing immunizations. It was upstairs, after talking for at least 30 minutes that we were informed we were to be companions! Wow, were we excited! That was just the beginning. We had two other GREAT roomies, Sister Mecham who was going to a different Taiwan mission, so she was in our District and Sister Hutchings who would be going to Hong Kong. She was the only sister in her district. By the time we went to class to meet the rest of our district and our teachers, we were having a blast. Those poor Elders looked like they were going to pass out from fear and anxiety and then enter the annoying sisters, laughing and gigging like we had been best friends for years! That was one of the best days of my life. The MTC was one of the best experiences of my life. I loved every single second of it, and the people I met there are still my good friends today. I have lost contact with some, but never will I forget the people that were there with me as I truly gained my testimony and became a Missionary! Here's to you, Sister Jackson, Sister Mecham, Elder Scott, Elder McGrath, Elder Leavitt, Elder Diderickson, Elder Eastman, Elder Skousen, Elder Thrift, Elder Wilde! I hope you are all doing well and know how thankful I am for you and for the experience that started that day and changed my life!

The best district ever! Ya, we look a little crazy and i had to take pictures of my pictures, cause my scanner isn't working! I know, ghetto!
The 4 roomies, always finding a way to make things fun!
Me and Sister Jackson...told ya, she's gorgeous huh?!
The district in front of the Provo Temple!
The last night of the MTC with our great teachers! We loved them. (take a look at Guan Zhanglao's hair, (elder McGrath))

I ain't scurr'd

Thats right folks, that is me in the pictures getting my face, nails, and toe nails painted. I won't be ashamed to admit that is was very relaxing. I hadn't cut my toe nails in awhile and one of the girls got the privilege to cut, file, and paint my toe nails. She will be blessed for her kind hearted service. I can definitely see why girls love going to a Spa to get "treated", though my treatment wasn't 5 star I was more than willing to lay down and be pampered. So what if I had make up on and got my nails painted? If it meant 8-12 year old girls having fun and me taking a short nap, then BRING. IT. ON. Like I said, I ain't scurr'd. I would've even paid them had they given me a foot massage, I got no shame. I would've used my bartering skills to have my feet massaged for a quarter of the going rate. I'd have low-balled them saying something around 1 or 2 dollars for the foot massage, and then used them being high on all the sugar and sweets to my advantage and sweet talked them into believing it was a good deal for them. You may all question my sales-men skills, but let me ask you; how do you think Carmen ended up marrying me?? Huh? Huh? Yeah, I got skills. I got skills with a Z even! Like, skillz. Thats how gangstah I am.
So this weekend we all had the opportunity to watch/attend/listen to General Conference. I hope we all took some time from our schedules to watch or listen. It was as uplifting as it was sanctifiying. The men and women who spoke were specifically chosen to help lead and guide us in this dispensation. It was true when the speakers pointed out how strong the presence of the Spirit was. I know I felt it. Isn't it amazing how simple the Gospel works? Really, if you boil it down, it's all about having a broken heart and contrite spirit. Once we feel an impression or prompting from the Holy Ghost all we need to is be obedient to it and simply follow it. How can you go wrong with that? And if we do fall short, there's a way where we can change, be forgiven and start all over again. It seems those two simple principles are the two basic gears that run this whole process. We live in an exciting time. All around us there are many, many blessings being placed upon our brothers and sisters. I am so grateful for my wife, I've learned tremendously through her example. She keeps me grounded, yet acknowledges my goofiness and has the patience to let me be myself. She is my friend. She has taken care of me and helped me know that God does have a plan for us, that He lives, that his Son lives, and that I can be forgiven of my sins. My relationship with her has helped me cherish my testimony of the Restoration, of Joseph Smith, and continued revelation, and that I know this is the only true and living Church. I know all this because I love her. My love for her was born out of my love for the Gospel. They are one and the same, without either I could not survive. Thank you honey for everything you do. And yes, I'll be more than happy to walk the dog. I love you.

Party Time!

I never knew 8-12 year old girls could be so fun. we had my neice, Monika's, birthday part at my house last night. First we had all the friends and family over for Ice Cream Cake and then just the girls stayed for a sleepover. We had a blast! Monika blowing out her birthday candles (by the way, Happy Birthday Mom (Grandma))
Savannah, Me, Monika, Sara and Taylor, after gettin back from Wal-Mart buying junkfood and picking up chick flicks.
So, I gave the girls little "spa" baskets, with makeup and nail polish included. Looks like Ben got to be their model. What a good sport, I think he may have even enjoyed it!
Taylor was the first one to fall asleep...they warned her!
Sorry, this is a mistake picture, but I can't figure out how to get it off.

So, last night was a ton of fun. I have many more pictures, maybe I will put them on Facebook!

I love my neice and am so glad she came to my house to have her party! Thanks Monika, Happy Birthday!

Happy Anniversary Sweetheart!

Today is the anniversary of the best day of my life! I can say that honestly too. I married my best friend 2 years ago, on March 11, 2006. I didn't even realize then how very right the decision I had made was. I waited 28 years for Ben and he was worth it! I don't tell him enough, but I am so lucky to have him. He is the best thing that ever happened to me. There is a song that expresses perfectly how I feel about Ben. "He is everything I need that I never knew I wanted, He is everything I want that I never knew I needed". The Lord knew what i needed and what I wanted better than I did and he gave me it in Ben. Thank you sweetheart, for loving me and taking care of me. Happy Anniversary!

Cheesy, I know, but it was so fun!

That's Ben for ya!

I loved my cake!
I know, i am obsessed with China, but everything was so perfect!

Aiden and Regan, the life of the partyThe Crisanto Men

Throwing snowballs, no rice for us