Mike is starring in a bike video.

This is Mike riding this sweet bike called "The Madsen". Notice the cargo bucket on the back. That can be made into a place for people to sit in. " The Madsen" can carry up to 500lbs. It is super sweet. Who wants to go on a ride?

Nanny Hat's

The other day my friend Tiff came over to my house to take some pictures of my kids in these darling hats that she is making and selling. It was so much fun, Lizzie as you can imagine loved modeling for these, and I think she did a pretty good job. As for Charlie and Elliot, well they are just cute no matter what. So if any of you are interested in purchasing a hat let me know. She has a website with more hats on it and prices and stuff. She will do custom hats as well. It is www.nannyhats.blogspot.com

Happy Birthday Elliot!

Today we are celebrating Elliot's 1st Birthday. Wow, what a year. It has gone by so fast and yet if I think about each day it has been the longest year and days in my life. I have felt so many emotions, good and bad, happy, excited, overjoyed, sad, concerned, desperate, depressed, alone, and heartbroken. All of these are all so familiar. When I was making this slide show, I couldn't help but get sucked in to each emotion I felt at the time each picture was taken. Tears would fall, then I would be laughing out loud. I love Elliot so much and he is such a blessing in my life. It is so hard to put it into words how he has changed me. I feel like a different person, I look at life so differently, some of you might know how I feel. Living life knowing that your child isn't going to have a normal life, knowing that he will be sick about half the year, torturing him every morning and night by doing his therapy in hopes that it will prolong his life. Keeping me up at night thinking about hearing the rasp in his voice, or the difficulty of breathing at night. It breaks my heart. Going to doctor appointments and getting bad news, or being told that he isn't growing. Having a G-tube threat hanging over my head. It hits you like a Semi going full speed. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't change him for the world, it is just so hard. I feel like I am Fanny in "Fanny's Dream." It is a children's book, that I love. Her life isn't quite the way that I dreamed it would be, but the life that she got she would change it even when her Fairy Godmother said that she would. She loved short little Herby and wouldn't want her life any other way. I feel that same way, I have 3 beautiful children, a caring loving, and patient husband, a very supportive family, a good home, wonderful neighbors, great ward, and perfect friends. What more could I ask for?
This is suppose to be a post about Elliot, so here goes...... Elliot is such a happy little boy, and loves life. You won't find ones that is better natured. He loves his big sister and brother, and tries to be just like them. He loves to sing, and play with cars. He gets into everything and is great at making messes. He took 3 steps this morning before breakfast. He loves to eat sweet things, and has 2 new sweet little teeth that just broke through last week. He can say moma, dada, thank you, and a-ohh. He loves to try and mimic what we say, and is great at yelling as loud as he can to get our attention. Happy Birthday sweet boy! Moma loves you so much.

I have decided to try and make a quilt with the theme of "65 Roses". For thoses of you who aren't familiar with this phrase, I have posted a story that will explain. It is a sweet story, and have found it useful with my little ones. I hope to finish the quilt in time to enter it into the auction at the "Taste of Utah". A HUGE fundraiser for the Utah Chapter of Cystic Fibrosis. I will post pictures of the quilt as soon as I figure out how I am going to make it. Love to you all!

"Sixty-five Roses"
Have you ever heard the expression "65 Roses®"? Many haven't, "65 Roses" is what little children suffering from Cystic Fibrosis call their disease. As the following story illustrates, the words are much easier for children to pronounce....

Mary G. Weiss became a volunteer for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 1965 after learning that her three little boys had CF. Her duty was to call every civic club, social and service organization seeking financial support for CF research. Mary's 4-year-old son, Richard, listened closely to his mother as she made each call.


After several calls, Richard came into the room and told his Mom, "I know what you are working for." Mary was dumbstruck because Richard did not know what she was doing, nor did he know that he had cystic fibrosis. With some trepidation, Mary asked, "What am I working for, Richard?" He answered, "You are working for 65 Roses." Mary was speechless.
He could not see the tears running down Mary's cheeks as she stammered, "Yes Richard, I'm working for 65 Roses."

Since 1965, the term "65 Roses" has been used by children of all ages to describe their disease. But, making it easier to say does not make CF any easier to live with. The "65 Roses" story has captured the hearts and emotions of all who have heard it. The rose, appropriately the ancient symbol of love, has become a symbol of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Lost My Cell Phone in Disneyland, and I need your #!

So last week when I was in Disneyland with my family I lost my cell phone. Lizzie and I were on Space Mountain and having a blast. I put my phone in the pouch in front of me so that it wouldn't fall out of my pocket. As the ride ended we got out and decided to go on it again. Just as we were about to the exit where they show the pictures they take of you I realized that I had forgotten my phone on the ride. So I rushed back to ask if the ride people could help me. They were super nice and check the ride 3 times over. It never showed up. Total bummer. I borrowed my brother in laws phone to try and call my just incase someone picked it up and was willing to help me. Nope, someone did pick it up, but decided that they needed my phone more than me. Mind you it is one of the ugliest brick phones out there. When I would call it someone would pick it up, and then hang it right back up. So I called AT&T and asked them to disconnect the phone so that this person wouldn't use all of my minutes taking to someone in some other place in the world. Needless to say, I don't really care that I lost my phone I am just so upset that I lost all of your numbers. So if you would please send me you phone numbers, I am so sad that I have lost you. Please email me with them to my xmission account. Thanks guys!

It's Almost Done!

So we are so close to being done with our kitchen and I can't wait to finish. I will have to post some pictures of the old one. YUCK is all I can say. I find my new kitchen inspirational, and find that I am wanting to cook so much more. It is always nice to know that you are in a clean kitchen and know what is under those cabinets. What we found under the old made me sick for a week.

Mill Creek Canyon Fall Colors

On Sunday during the last session of Conference the kids were getting totally bored, so we decided to take a drive to see all the fall colors. We ended up going to the top of Mill Creek, and it was breath taking. The colors were so vibrant and beautiful. These pictures don't give it justice. We all had a great time, and I think that we should go out hiking more often. The kids were in heaven. To bad the weather is starting to change so quickly.

The Apron is Reborn!

So I have found a new love. Aprons! I am not sure how I got onto this, but I am fascinated by them. I love looking at the old vintage ones and reading about the women wore them. I have found some old ones that I am going to try and remake! I will post more as I make them. I have decided that I am going to start wearing them around. Let me know what you think! Or id you have any ideas!

"Welcome To Holland"

"Welcome To Holland", written by Emily Perl Kingsley, a writer for Sesame Street and the mother of a now-adult son with Down Syndrome
©1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved.

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you never would have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around and you begin to notice Holland has windmills and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say, "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away because the loss of that dream is a very, very significant loss.
But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to go to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things about Holland.

THIS IS MY HOLLAND
Dearest Friends;

This post is the best way I have found to explain what I have been feeling for almost a year. I know that Elliot has only been diagnosed for about 9 months, but ever since he was born I knew that something was different. He wasn't the same Italy that I had been to twice before. But I do want you to know that I learning to love Holland, I am starting to see the beautiful fields of Tulips, and I have found the beauty in watching the windmills. I have met many amazing people in Holland that I never would have other wise. I have found Heros that I want Elliot to look up to and emulate. I have learned how to deeply love without condition. I look at people in a new light. I have learned that each of us have our own battles that we will struggle with. This is what makes us the wonderful people that we are. If you read this and find yourself want to cry, don't feel bad, I am, have, and will continue too, but please feel embraced by knowing others are in Holland with you. We are never alone, just one kneel away and you will be embraced by someone who knows your heart. I love you all, and deeply appreciate all of your love you have shown towards me. We will hold on tight, and learn to love Holland together! We will be better Mothers, Fathers, Siblings, and Friends for it!
Much Love and Appreciation to you all,
your friend,
Alta

TRIPLED HIS WEIGHT! WAY TO GO BUDDY!

I would like to announce that Elliot has now tripled his birth weight! Hooray for Elliot. It has been a long time coming, but he finally did it. We went in for a check up with Dr. Jesse the other day, and I was so pleased with how well Elliot is growing. Whenever we come in and weigh Elliot all the nurses that are around come cheer him on. They are so cute and say little things like, "Think heavy thoughts", or "Sit hard little buddy." I always tell them our goal for the month, which this month was 15lbs. So far we haven't made our goals, but this month we did. As he sat on the scale and we were waiting for the final numbers to show up, I was holding my breath and crossing my fingers, eyes, legs, whatever I could, and it came out to be 15 lbs even. We all cheered for him. I am sure that the people in the waiting room were thinking some crazies were in the back room. We were all so excited. I also have felt so relieved since we was weighed. It is nice to know that were are doing at least something right. It has been hard worrying about him all of the time, which I still do, but not to the point that I get a pit in my stomach anymore. Life is starting to get to a normal. I can't say back to normal, but our life schedule is becoming a normal for us, I guess a good word is comfortable. Mornings are crazy though, trying to get Elliot's therapy done, while getting Lizzie and Charlie ready for school. Wow, by 10am I am ready to take a nap with Elliot. I just wanted to share that we are doing great, and are happy and healthy! Or little CF boy is starting to grow and that makes the rest of us overflowing with joy! Oh yes I also wanted to say that Elliot took him first step yesterday. He is so funny looking standing there so small, but you gotta love it!

1st day of Kindergarten!

So Lizzie and I have been looking on the internet for cute hair do's and this is the one that she picked for today. It is called a river runs through it. And No, I did not name it. As many of you might be thinking. She was so excited and was also pretty nervous. She woke up at about 6:30, and wondered around the house until it was time to go. That wasn't until 10. So pretty fun, also it looks like you are getting a sneak preview of Halloween. Charlie is going to be a spider again. So fun!

What a tender heart

The other day I was in the kitchen cutting up watermelon for our neighborhood lawn party, and I sat Charlie in front of my computer to watch a movie to keep him preoccupied. I put the Polar Express in, one of Charlie favorites. He was memorized by the movie which was nice because I was pushing it time wise. Hopefully you have seen the show so that you will remember the part about the movie I am about to describe. During this certain scene a little poor boy is on the back of the train singing about how he has never seen Christmas before, and the little girl is singing with him but telling him how wonderful it is. It really is a touching scene, but to my surprise Charlie turns around and looks at me with tears falling down his checks, and said in a soft choked up voice, "Mommy, This is so sad, the little boy has never seen Christmas before. It just is making me so sad." OK so that just made me brake down go over and give him a huge hug and shed some tears with him. Not because the movie is so sweet, but that my little boy is so sweet and tender that he was so moved a silly animated movie. He just might drive me crazy most of the day, but these are the moments that I will treasure forever.

The apple of my eye is a bit sour

So I'm an apple! Do I get to decide which kind? I prefer the crisp ones that are a bit tart.

I am an Apple

You are strong, powerful, and even a bit stubborn at times. You have enough strength to help those around you in trouble. You are adventurous and charming. Many people are drawn to you. You love life, and you enjoy traveling the world. You enjoy fine food, art, and culture. People have accused you of being a snob, but that's not accurate. You do enjoy the best things in life. Unlike snobs, you truly appreciate quality... not just pretend to.

What Type of Fruit Are You?

I had Mike take this little personality test as well and it turns out that I have a bit of a sour palette. I always did like Lemon Heads. They were only 10 cents a box. So I married a lemon head, what can I say. I must admit he was a bit of an acquired taste, but now I can't live without it.

Mike is a Lemon

You have a very distinct personality. And if you're not being sweet, you're a little hard to take. You're a bit overpowering, especially in one on one situations. And while you are very dominant, sometimes your power is needed and appreciated. You can liven up a dull situation, and you definitely bring a fresh outlook. You are a bit of an acquired taste, and you tend to grow on people over time. People feel refreshed and rejuvenated after spending time with you.

What Type of Fruit Are You?

I got the itch to sew, don't ask me why!

OK you should ask me. One of Mikes best friends is going to have a baby soon, and I thought it might be fun to try and make something for her. I usually try to make something for new babies. Anyway I decided to make a nursing bib i.e. "Hooter Hider". So I went on the internet to find a pattern and lo and behold an exact pattern. It was on someone's blog that lives up in Seattle. Love Love Loved her blog. I'll write about that at a later date. So this was the easiest pattern. I went to Pipers Quilting and found the most darling material. I fell in love with some many of the fabrics that I decided I would make a bib or a burpie or something or other and this is what I came up with. 1 nursing bib, 1 blanket, 4 bibs, 2 burpies, & 3 wash cloths. OK so I got a bit carried away. I was totally in the zone. Come look at my house and you will see total neglect. Its like I was reading Breaking Dawn again. I must say though all of it turned out pretty darn cute. And if any of you would like me to make you a nursing bib I will. Bring me the fabric and $15 for labor and it is yours. I really had fun doing it all, guess it shows that I do have other interest other than just being a mom. But I wouldn't go as far as calling myself crafty! That word just scares me. So here are the end products. I felt I should take some proof, I mean pictures to remind me that I do like to sew. Oh ya and here is a cutie of Elliot. He was a huge help by vacuuming up all of the scrapes of fabric and putting them in his mouth. Yumm!

The Retired Deso Queen Visits her old Canyon.

WARNING IN THESE PICTURES I HAVEN'T SHOWERED IN DAYS!

My cute brother JESSE THE RIVER GUIDE!

Jesse and I at Rock Creek Ranch

All of the Passengers on the trip. A family from Jersey, Denver, and Ohio.










Karen and I at our last camp Queen Nefertiti




















So my cute brother Jesse invited me to go down Desolations Canyon with him on his free trip. He is a guide down in Moab for the same company that I worked for. It was great fun! Karen, or better known as K-Love was on the trip as well. She and I were first years together. It was just like old times. I didn't realized how much I miss the river until the first night when Karen and I were sitting on the boats reminiscing about old times. I can honestly say that working on the river was the best memories I have. No offense to any of my friends, it is just that the river was the place that I found myself. I realized who I am and who I want to be. I was myself down there and didn't have to put up any fronts or pretend I was someone that I am really not just to look good. Sorry I know I am mumbling. I am so grateful that I had those summers to find myself. I consider myself lucky to have figured that out so young. Also I would be married to my cute hubby had I not worked down there. Thanks Jesse for taking me on a trip through memory lane. I loved spending so much time with you and getting to know you better. It was fun seeing you as an adult and a leader, you are a really great river guide and WWE is really lucky to have you working for them.

Lizzie's 1st Swim Meet!

We are so proud of Lizzie, she had her first swim meet today and was awesome. She swam the 25 freestyle and the 25 butterfly. I believe she took 1st in her age group on both of the races. After she told me that it was the best thing that she has ever done in her entire life. I am so happy that this was such a positive experience for her. We knew that it could either go really good or really sour. Yippee it was good. I think that we will continue on with this swimming stuff. Thanks Grandpa Rick, Grammy and Grandpa Lynn for coming. It meant the world to her and was so proud to have you there with her. Isn't she so cute! Way to go Lizzie!

Ragnar

I know this is a little late, but it was in June and a total blast! Thanks McQueen's! By the way you will need to pause or stop my background music for the slideshow music.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Her Helmet saved her Life!

On Tuesday Lizzie asked if she could ride her bike down to the bottom of the street and back. I let her go as I usually do, and was watching her. When she got to the bottom of the street it looked like she turned the corner and was heading around the block. I waited a second before I started after her. Just then I saw her trying to run towards me and got about 10 wobbly steps and collapsed. I ran to her and noticed that her knee was pretty scraped up and started to pick her up to take her home and wash it off when I looked at her poor little face. It was growing by the second. I was scared to death and I tried to run her home as carefully as possible with out bouncing her more. I got home and laid her on the couch and my neighbor brought an ice pack over and we put it on her face. I called Lizzies pediatrician to find out what to do, (by then she had a baseball size bump on her cheek. He told me to come over to his house so that he could look and her and see if we needed to go to Primary's. By then I had her somewhat calmed down. As we drove down to his house(about a block away) I was trying to ask her questions about what happened. She couldn't remember a thing. We got to Dr. Jesse's house and he looked at her and she was talking to him and she seemed just fine. He to take her home and let her rest, but if she complains of a headache and starts to throw-up take her up to Primary Children's right away. I was feeling so relieved as we were driving home until I heard her in the back starting to cry because her head was hurting. So I went home and got the other kids and packed them in the car, and got some tylenol for her head and headed for my parents house. Mike was in Arizona, so I thought it would be good to stay at my parents just in case she got worse. Well on the way up to my parents house she started to throw-up, and was crying even harder because her head was hurting so bad. So we went to the hospital and spent 8 hours their and had 3 different CT scans and found that no permanent damage was done, but she did have a pretty good concussion. So these are pictures of her the next morning. More than half of the swelling was gone by then, and she was starting to feel a little bit better. Today she wanted to play with a friend and is acting just like my old sweet Lizzie. I am just so grateful that she always wears her helmet. I hope that all of you have your kids wear helmet whenever they are on wheels. And if they fight you on it show them the pictures of Lizzie, and that she would be way worse if she hadn't been wearing hers.

Now this is Blog worthy

This morning Charlie was playing in my room as I was making my bed, he picked up the Baby Bijorn up and started to try and put it on. He had it around his neck and said,"mommy does it go around my neck?" I said "No", and I showed him how to put it on properly. All of the sudden it clicked for him. He said" Oh Mommy I get it, you put it around your pumpies!" I think that I about died of laughter. I guess he never really did see me nurse Elliot, because I only pumped and gave him bottles. I just love that kid.
He always has something to say that I love to laugh about.

Food Glorious Food!

Elliot is finally starting eat. This has been such a struggle and a major stress in my life. When a CF baby or child won't eat it usually means that they are sick or getting sick. Ever since he has been diagnosed with CF it has been torture trying to feed him. It literally would bring me to tears. I was so worried and frustrated. He needs far more calories than an average baby and I couldn't even get him to eat like a normal one. But this week has been a huge breakthrough. He has started to love to eat. He will take his bottles no problem and is totally loving solids. Most of you might know that he gets the majority of his medication via applesauce, so he kinda has a sweet tooth(gum), so I have to mix everything with it. Lately I have been giving him avocado, hummus, and applesauce all mixed together and he loves it. I personally love it because he is getting everything that he needs, all the fats, protein, and calories that he needs. This is what I call super food, and don't worry, I have tried it and it isn't so bad tasting. So hooray for Elliot!
p.s. He has also figured out how to craw. It is so nice to see him growing up, and doing everything so on schedule developmentally. We got a bit of a late start, but he has seems to catch up just fine. Now if we could do something about his size!

Big Thanks to All of ELLIOT'S ANGELS

Here is a little video to say Thank You to all of you hope helped us this year and joined us in the walk. We have been blessed with some amazing friends. THANK YOU!

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Oh, what a sweet big sister!

Yesterday Charlie fell outside and scraped his little knee yet again. It had just started to heal and then smack it is all bloody again. Poor little guy. So I went and cleaned it off and put on some snoopy bandades to make him feel better, but Lizzie on the other hand had a different idea. She went and got all of her heart stickers and started to put them all over his legs and his chest. She told him that these are little loves for his legs so the they will get better faster and make his heart so that it wouldn't feel so bad. Wow what a sweetie, she had him happy in 2 seconds. I love little children's tender hearts. I am so proud of you Lizzie, thanks for being the best big sister!

Check her out, she has CF and is amazing

This was posted May 22 in the Deseret News and I thought that is was totally inspiring and wanted all to have a chance to read it. Thank you to you all who told me about it and brought me a copy.


Mandy Rudd, the Hillcrest High School sprinter and hurdler, for instance. She's got rosy cheeks and pale green eyes and a smile that could cause global warming. An opposing coach said it best: "She glows." She's an A student and a National Honor Society member and an athlete on the Hillcrest basketball, volleyball and track teams.

Friends says that if someone is down or having a bad day, she seeks them out. Which is funny because she should be the one having the bad day. She's got cystic fibrosis, a gnarly inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems of about 30,000 in the U.S. A defective gene causes the body to produce a thick mucus that, among other things, clogs the lungs and leads to potentially lethal lung infections.
Mandy takes pills when she eats so she can digest food. She has to add salt to everything she ingests, even Gatorade. Twice a day she puts on a high-tech vest that uses pulsating air to pound her back and ribs to knock loose the mucus that collects in her lungs, which she then spits out.

"I'm good at coughing up loogies," says Mandy, whose younger sister and teammate, Natalie, also has CF.

With CF, it can be difficult enough just to breathe under normal circumstances, never mind sprinting 400 meters all out. "I feel blessed to be able to do sports because most people with CF are too ill to do that," she says. If nothing else, all that heavy breathing helps knock the mucus out of her lungs — she's always running to the sideline to hawk a loogie.

She qualified for state last year in the hurdles and qualified all four years in the 4X400 relay.

CF patients are typically hospitalized two to three times a year for one problem or another. Mandy has been fortunate — she has been hospitalized only three times, including once during her sophomore track season. She was given a pic line — a tube inserted into her arm and threaded up into her chest to deliver medicine directly to her heart. Eager to get back to the track, she begged out of the hospital and was allowed home treatment. Between treatments, she ran track as usual, with the pic line in her arm.
Talk about guts.

The Rudds have a family motto: No regrets. They don't have time for them. When Mandy was born, the Rudds were told the life expectancy of a CF child was 18. The life expectancy now is 30 to 40. Mandy is too busy to think about it. She plans to study dental hygiene at Utah Valley University.

A couple of years ago, the Make-A-Wish Foundation told Mandy to make a wish. She took the entire family to Thailand to ride elephants. Now she serves as a spokeswoman for the organization.

Her philosophy: "Never let the disease be a road block in your life. Never use it as an excuse. I forget I have it. It's just who I am."

What? ? I am shocked!

You Are Pocahantas!

Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

Which Disney Princess Are You?