The time when T.J. and I got really sick…

Yesterday, T.J. and were in Salt Lake (a post about that will come later). We ate at the Red Rock Brewery and everything was very delicious. About two minutes after we had started driving home, T.J. told me he wasn’t feeling too great. He kept saying things like, “Hmmm… something is going on in there… uh-oh… something is not sitting right.” I asked him if he wanted to me to pull over at the gas station and he assured me it would be okay, so we got on the highway.

About five minutes later my stomach started churning and I got a really bad stomach ache. I got in the HOV lane, and put the pedal to the metal… trying to get back to American Fork as fast as I could because I knew I would need to be using the little girls’ room shortly.

T.J.’s stomach ache got worse too. He just kept grunting. Whenever he’d try to make conversation, I would “shh” him because the noise would make me feel even more sick.

I kept thinking, maybe we should pull off and go to a gas station, but I decided to continue being in the HOV lane, speeding back to T.J.’s parents’ place.

We got to the point of the mountain and I told T.J. I thought I should stop at JCW’s and use the restroom. He agreed and just kept moaning, and so we got off the exit… both of us feeling like we’re dying.

T.J. said, “Will you judge me if I go to the bathroom in my pants?”

I started laughing so hard, but it just made my stomach cramps even worse. He told me he was seriously asking because he thought it might happen. Oh gosh.

We were about to pull into JCW’s parking lot but there was a car just stopped in the middle of the road. I was about to honk when T.J. yelled,

“WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY DOING.” (Sorry to use that language on my blog, mom… it just was so funny!)

I’ve NEVER heard T.J. use language like that ever. He never EVER cusses so it made me laugh even harder, making me feel even more sick. We pulled around them and decided to go to the gas station instead. T.J. jumped out of the car and headed straight to the bathroom. I was right behind him. What we thought was the bathroom turned out to be just a storage room which REALLY ticked T.J. off. It looked like he was about to cry. Or pass out. I just kept laughing out of control.

We found the bathroom, but it turned out it was just the women’s bathroom.  T.J. didn’t notice so he followed me in. I hurried him out and he ran across the store to the men’s bathroom.

Twenty minutes later… we were back on the road again. Still feeling kind of sick but feeling muchhhhh better.

It was awful. But so funny. I’ll never forget it.

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Perspective

Last night I was singing some children’s hymns to Eva to try to get her to fall asleep. She was crying pretty hard but what I’ve learned is that she won’t relax if I’m not relaxed, so the hymns really help me out.

I got to “I Love to See the Temple” and could barely hear myself over her cries. When she finally settled down a bit, I was singing the part of the song that said, “A family is forever.”

It hit me right then that the four months that T.J. will be gone is not very long when you put it into perspective. One day we’ll look back at this summer and laugh at ourselves for thinking it was a challenge. We’ve got a lot ahead of us, I’m sure. And in the scheme of things, four months is nothing.

But, I’ll tell you what… I’m sure going to miss having this handsome guy around.

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And the updates continue…

I have learned something about myself this week. When I am going through a lot of stress, I close myself off, and I even try to ignore it. Thankfully, the stress is alleviating, so I feel like I can blog again.

T.J. is officially leaving Wednesday night (the 25th) on the redeye to New York City. So, that means we have a week and a half to really live it up. We searched for two bedroom apartments, like I mentioned earlier. But an opportunity for T.J. to live with two other guys in a studio apartment for really cheap (well, NY cheap) came up and we jumped on it. Because it is so cheap, we’ve decided I’ll come visit for about a week in July and stay in a hotel. I’m obviously really excited about the trip… but when it hit me last night that I definitely wouldn’t be with T.J. for the summer, I kind of had a breakdown. One of those embarrassing, laying on the ground, full out cries. (Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this on occasion…)

T.J. and I decided to say a prayer and that helped me calm down a bit. Then this morning at church, one of the people who talked mentioned one of my favorite quotes from Elder Wirthlin.

I almost started crying again. But this time it was because I knew Heavenly Father was answering my many prayers and pleadings. These next four months are going to be hard. But it’s necessary that T.J. goes out there because it will be extremely beneficial for his career. I need to accept that he’s leaving and be excited for this journey in our lives. And most importantly, I need to be optimistic.

Here is what I’ve come up with to help me see this as a positive experience:

  1. I will be here to watch The Bachelorette with my friends this summer (yeah… I know…).
  2. I’ll get to hang out with T.J.’s family and see little Holly grow with Eva.
  3. I’ll get to visit Lacey and Josh in Boise over Memorial weekend.
  4. I’ll get to go to Enterprise, Utah for the 24th of July and Eva will get to meet her Great-great-grandpa.
  5. The pass of all passes will be used to it’s max capacity.
  6. We’ll save a lot of money.
  7. When I visit T.J. I’ll get to have a great time instead of having to scrimp all summer if I was there.
  8. With T.J.’s new computer and my phone, we will FaceTime/Skype everyday.
  9. I have an amazing ward with a Relief Society, Visiting Teachers and Home Teachers who will look after me.
  10. I’ll get to visit my family in Kentucky .
  11. Nanna Hannah Banana Fontana (Hannah Judd) and I will get to play together everyday.
  12. I will have the luxuries that I’m used to, such as our large condo, our car, and cheap living.

There you have it. I’m pretty sure I’ll have to refer to this list often. Maybe I should even print it out and hang it on my fridge. Can you think of more positives I can add to the list? Will you take care of me when he’s gone? Pleaseandthankyou!

 

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Listen, folks…

I barely have any motivation to blog. The time change has thrown Eva for a loop so I’m pretty exhausted and the free time I do have, I don’t want to be spending it writing. But I’m forcing myself to write a little more today because I’m so behind.

It seems like everything in my life is changing. And really fast. We don’t have much time to think, we just have to make decisions and make them quick. So, let me catch you up to speed.

A month ago, T.J. went to New York to interview for internships this summer, one at a studio called ThinkSo and another at Johnson & Johnson. He was excited for either but reallllllly hoping for J&J because it seemed like a better opportunity (plus paid double!). We prayed and we fasted that whatever happened would be best for our family and that we’d feel confident in our decision to send T.J. out there for the summer. Well, he got the ThinkSo internship a couple weeks ago. It felt SO good just to know he definitely had an internship but I could tell he still was hoping to hear from J&J. Days and then weeks were going by and we still hadn’t heard from J&J. Emails were exchanged, T.J. almost gave up and was about to say yes to ThinkSo. But then last Friday he heard from J&J who welcomed him on board.

T.J. was ecstatic. I was ecstatic. Eva was even pretty happy.

What comes next? He starts first week of May. As soon as I heard that it started that early my happiness turned into complete sadness thinking my husband would be leaving in just a matter of weeks for the ENTIRE summer. We’re talking about four whole months.

But, I’m slowly convincing myself it will be okay. We are going to rely on Skype this summer and have me visit at some point. He will be living with another couple in his program in a two-bedroom apartment (which we have yet to find) and so I can come visit and have a place to stay with Eva. But I definitely am not going out there for May… so I say farewell to my hubby in two weeks for at least a month, most likely longer.

More changes. I’m going to have a friend of mine live with me for the summer so I don’t get too lonely, scared, or in-over-my-head with Eva. It will be nice to have her around and I’m grateful she is willing to put up with me for the summer.

So, there you have it. Wish us luck and please send me your tips/stories of when you and your spouse spent time apart and how you coped!

 

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Ya Gotta Be Kidding Me

… I cannot believe it’s March. MARCH! I swear T.J. and I were just shopping last week on Black Friday. But no, that was over three months ago! And March is my birthday month, which I also swear I just had my Justin Bieber surprise birthday party last month. But THAT was almost one WHOLE year ago. Where does time go?! SLOW DOWN!

Well, as usual, here is a list of random stuff going on in my head/life:

  1. I need to get in shape. And lose weight. At this rate, I’m going to have to wear a baggy wetsuit to Seven Peaks this summer. I’m considering logging everything I do/eat like I did last time I wanted (and was successful) to lose weight. Hmmmm…
  2. T.J. got two interviews for (paying!) internships in NYC this summer. Please pray that things work out! It also would be wonderful if he got the one at Johnson & Johnson because it would mean I’d be able to stay out there longer!
  3. This week had its ups and downs being alone with Eva, but I think I’ve finally gotten into a routine without T.J. which gives me hope that this summer I’ll be able to do it. The best days were when T.J. and I would say a prayer and read the scriptures together over the phone. Thanks for the suggestion, Mark and Kelly (T.J.’s parents).
  4. I have the greatest friends and family. I had so many friends text me, ask me to go out with them, and visit this week while T.J. was gone. And T.J.’s family checked up on me and had me over to give me a little break with Eva. My family back at home called often, as well, just to make sure I was doing okay! Thanks everyone! I made it!
  5. In less than three weeks, I’ll be home! I cannot wait to visit and have all of my siblings and nieces meet little Eva!
  6. T.J. comes home in just a couple of hours. I’ve got butterflies!!!
  7. I went to this little French Bakery (See number 1) on State Street last Saturday and I cannot stop thinking about it. Everything was delicious and it was so fun to try new food!
  8. I finally gave the TV show The Big Bang Theory a chance and it turns out that I actually really like it.
  9. I haven’t been to the movies for three months. Depressing.
  10. My friends shared this video on YouTube. I’m obsessed with it. And her. It’s hilarious.
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Single Mom

(I wrote this last Thursday when T.J. left but took it off because I (and mostly my mom) was scared that someone would read this on my blog and come and get me since I was alone.)

Welp, I am now a single mom for the next week. T.J. worked all night long on his portfolio so it would be ready for his interviews in New York. He got home at 5:10 am Wednesday morning, then I dropped him back off at school at 5:50. On the way home, Eva was screaming because she was hungry and I was sobbing because I was sad to see him go. Eva and I, crying together. It was kind of pathetic. But also, kind of cute.

I was going to go to the zoo yesterday with the other moms in my ward to distract myself, but on the way up there I decided it was too much of a hassle and probably too cold for Eva. I stopped by my in-laws instead since I was already on the highway. At least I’ve got them around to help me and give me some company this next week.

Other than that, nothing much is going on. Just hanging out with the babe, cleaning the house, and praying that my husband will come home with a paying internship.

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Heart Broken

Yesterday, T.J. was trying to put Eva to sleep but she was screaming her head off and not settling down. I didn’t want to interfere for a couple of reasons, mostly because it was “his turn.” But eventually I asked if he wanted to switch off because I know the crying gets frustrating. As soon as he passed her off to mean, she stopped crying, nuzzled in, and fell asleep.

I immediately started to bawl. I don’t know why it made me cry so much. I guess I was flattered a little bit that Eva knew me and that all the time I spend with her actually has made a difference. But I also felt so sad for T.J. I knew it must have hurt him a little bit. I reminded him that I do put her to bed for all of her naps when he’s gone during the day, and to bed at night when he’s not at home so she’s probably just used to the way I do it.

But still. It made me sad.

Fortunately, when we picked him up from work today, Eva stopped crying and smiled at him when he said hi.

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Oops…

Remember how I started a blog for my scripture journal? Remember how I completely forgot about it? Turns out keeping two blogs is way too hard with a newborn. But I will share with you the newest thing we’ve been doing in our household to make sure we are making time for the scriptures in our home. Because everyday T.J.’s schedule is different, at night we plan out our day and set aside an exact time when he will be home so we can read together.

What are some of the ways you guys make sure you all read the scriptures together as a family? Any tips about how to do it when you are away from your spouse?

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Would YOU survive a zombie apocalypse?

The Walking Dead, a really creepy show about zombies that T.J. is obsessed with, is back on TV.

Because of it, almost every conversation we have ties back to zombies and how we’d survive in a zombie apocalypse. He’s already planned where we would go and what we’d do if it happened. (Apparently our house is pretty bad because of all the windows, but we could live in the basement storage room if we had to.)

Here is the most recent example: Today we were driving by a friend’s house who lives at the top of a hill. I told T.J. who lived there and we talked about how nice the couple was, how they live so close, and how we should have them over. Then, out of no where T.J. said, “But they do live in a great place if there was a zombie apocalypse.”

I looked at him, like, “You have GOT to be kidding me.”

He continued, “See… it’s on a hill, so they can see all around them. But they probably would want to put up a fence or a barrier of sandbags because zombies could climb up that hill just as good as humans.”

Oh, what a crazy boy.

One of THOSE Mornings

There’s a Modern Family episode where everything is going so good in everyone’s home, they realize that something bad is bound to happen soon.

That’s what my morning was like yesterday.

We have church at 9 am and Eva woke up around 6:30 am. Around 7:30, after feeding her and playing a bit, she was getting sleepy, so I put her back to sleep. She went to sleep wonderfully. It was about 7:45, too late to go back to bed, but early enough for me to eat some breakfast, listen to some MoTab, and read a little from the scriptures. I showered and was ready to go by 8:30, so I thought I’d iron T.J.’s church clothes. Great morning, right?

All of a sudden, mid-ironing, the iron fell to the ground for just a moment. I didn’t think twice before I went back to ironing, but I soon realized the iron must of melted a bit of carpet, left residue on the plate, then transferred it to the pants.

It was awful. The pants are BRAND new. Like, worn-them-once new. They’re for his interviews in New York this week. I immediately rubbed them with a really good stain remover, but I knew deep down it wasn’t going to do a thing because it looked like the residue had been burned on.

Well, needless to say, T.J. wasn’t thrilled, plus he had nothing to wear to church since his suit is at the cleaners for his trip. He had to wear old slacks that are now floods. There might have even been tears on my account, perhaps even some irrational yelling, that I blame on getting up so early. The tears then led to Eva waking up, screaming, since she hadn’t been asleep for very long. It turned into madness.

Fortunately, we got over it, but were ten minutes late to church, just in time for the Sacrament. In the middle of the meeting, I told T.J. that one day we’d look back and laugh at the whole morning. Then we started to chuckle right then because it was already pretty comical.

Oh, and to wrap it all up… thanks to my wonderful parents, I drove back up to H&M and bought the pants again. Hopefully this time he will be able to wear them more than once.