Kendra's Baby Shower!

Last weekend all the Fischer women got together to host a baby shower for Kendra! Baby girl Kailee is coming the first week of March and we all pooled our talents to put together a shower for the family and neighborhood friends.

We had so much fun planning and decorating! Kendra's nursery is decorated with purple and zebra, so we decided to match the shower to the nursery. Kamie and Jenny put together a hot chocolate bar with some yummy snacks for the guests. Since I basically have no skills when it comes to food (seriously, none), I was in charge of making the invitations and some little details to decorate.

I made this picture frame for Kendra to put in the baby's nursery and to use as a decoration for the shower.

I made these little snowflakes on toothpicks for the snacks. They turned out cute!

I also made these wood letters for Kailee's nursery. Kendra has been calling Kailee "Miss K" since they chose her name, and we all love the nickname. I thought it would be cute to have her nickname in her room too!

I made this banner that said, "Baby it's cold outside," which was the theme of the shower. January showers are always so cold, but the hot chocolate was a hit!

All the Fischer women! We took a picture like this at Kendra's wedding shower and it is crazy to think how fast time flies! Since then, Kendra and Lance are married and having a baby, Matt and I are married, Kamie and Tim have a 1-year old, and Jenny and Randy have had their third baby, who is also 1!

Cute Reagan was so fun to play with all day! I'm pretty sure every guest had her in their arms at one point or another during the shower.

After the shower, and after the boys got home from ice fishing, we all went out to lunch. Harrison loved dipping his fry in the ranch, and had sauce all over his face! It was too cute! I'm not sure why he is examining his fry like this, but we were all laughing!

We can't wait for Lance and Kendra's little girl to join our family! We are so excited!

One Year Later

One year ago, I had brain surgery and was diagnosed with MS. I can't believe that it has been a year. That was probably the fastest year of my life. A lot of things in our lives changed because of my diagnosis. Matt and I had to learn the hard way about being prepared for emergency medical expenses as we learned how expensive it is to go to the doctor, have multiple MRIs, have brain surgery, spend the night in the ICU, and all the many, many follow-up doctor's visits.

MS changed the way I deal with stress. Matt and I both were too stressed out in our old jobs and decided to get new jobs. I interviewed for all kinds of jobs in Salt Lake, and felt that Logan was the right place to go. I immediately got a job in Cache Valley, and we started looking for an apartment. After a long day of looking at apartments, we decided to look at KSL one more time and it just happened that a new apartment had been posted. We called, checked it out, and found the perfect place. We love where we live. We moved all our stuff to the new apartment before school was even over, and we lived at Matt's parents' house for a couple weeks until I was done with work.

Matt's job fell into his lap when we got up to Logan, and he loves it more every day (especially on days that the temperature is not below zero). It will be a challenge to get him back in school because he hates school and loves to work! I love my new job also. It is so refreshing to work somewhere where people actually care about their kids' education and recognize how hard I am working and actually appreciate what I am doing for their kids. I enjoy going to work every day.

We get to spend more and more time with some of our nieces and nephews, as well as Randy and Jenny. It is so fun to be so close to family and get to watch the kids grow. We are excited for Tim and Kamie and Reagan to move closer to us. I wish everyone we knew lived in Logan, but we also appreciate the time we spend with other family members more because we don't see everyone as often.

As far as the MS goes, nothing has really changed. I am still numb on my right side, mostly in my foot and leg, with no end in sight. I have gotten really good at giving myself my shot, and balancing the corresponding meds so I'm not too sick. We have just made the transition to my new health insurance (which has been a nightmare getting started, but will be an INCREDIBLE blessing). Due to my meds, I will hit my out-of-pocket deductible every year within a couple months as long as I am on my medicine (which is planned for the rest of my life, or until something better comes out). The best part is that I do not have to pay for this medicine due to our meager income. I guess some advantages do come from not having any money. Very few people know about my MS, and it has been nice not being treated any differently from anyone else. While I appreciated everyone's help when I had my surgery and was diagnosed, I just want to be treated the same as if I didn't have a chronic disease, and I get to do that now. 

I can't even think of anything bad that we have experienced since we moved here. We definitely have received more than our share of blessings and happiness. We look forward to more happiness in 2013.

Happenings in the Fischer House

Recent events in our house:

1. In the middle of the night, the smoke alarm in our room started beeping. Immediately my mind starting thinking about the episode of "Friends" when the exact same thing happens to Phoebe. I'm laying in bed, listening to the beeping, thinking about "Friends." Finally, Matt wakes up. He pulls the smoke alarm off the ceiling, disconnecting the alarm. About five seconds later, it continues beeping. Matt looks at me and I start laughing. I ask, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Matt says, "Yes. Friends." He pops the battery out, and the battery continues beeping. Matt swears at the smoke alarm and takes it downstairs and puts it on the couch under a blanket. Problem solving in the middle of the night does not always yield the best solutions.

2. Matt and Randy have been watching a lot of Jazz games together. Being loving wives, Jenny and I also watch the Jazz games with the boys. I'm not sure why we continue to do this. After a couple of games, we only hear the same few comments during each game:

• Why is Al in the game?
• The starters suck!
• Take him out!
• I could coach the Jazz!
• Brad's basketball team is better than the Jazz!
• What the hell is he doing?!
• (I think you all catch my drift)

This used to be how Matt watched the Jazz with his dad and Tim. Funny how the Fischers all have the same opinions on the Jazz.

3. Matt and I both hate doing chores. My least favorite job is doing laundry. It never seems to end. My job is to fold the laundry, and put my own clothes away (Matt refuses to help with any of my clothes because he says I have too many clothes). Matt's job is to mate the socks and put his own clothes away. Well, today I started more laundry and I find the basket of socks that Matt is supposed to mate. From several weeks ago. Our huge laundry basket is almost full of socks. We have been pulling socks out of this basket for probably a month. And now that I have started laundry again, the basket of socks is getting more full and Matt has not mated any of the socks. I am looking forward to seeing how long it takes Matt to mate that huge basket of socks.

2012 Recap

What did you do in 2012 that you have never done before?

Brain surgery- definitely never done that before
Self injections
Lake Powell with my dad and step-family
Matt started building houses- and thinking about building a house for us someday
Looking back, it felt like a fairly normal year minus January
 

Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and will you make more for 2013?

I finished my monster quilt and made more home video DVDs, but I seem to make resolutions that have no definite "end." They'll stay the same this year, as always.

What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

I'd like to keep Matt in school. The brain blob prevented that in 2012. Maybe some material things too, like a truck and a boat.

What day will be etched in your memory?

The day I had my brain biopsy. The day the neurosurgeon called to report that I did not have cancer or a tumor, but an MS plaque. Luckily this happened at the beginning of 2012 and the rest of the year was so good!

What was your biggest struggle this year?

I can't think of anything. With the diagnosis and everything that followed there was no struggling, just acceptance. We got out of other things we were struggling with this year, like our jobs, and found more peace and happiness.

What was your biggest achievement this year?

Lots of happiness! Sometimes I forget that the brain biopsy and MS stuff happened this year. It seems like the year started in June once we moved to Logan. Everything before that was kind of a blur.

What was the best thing you bought this year?

USU season football tickets!

Where did most of your money go?

Hello? Medical bills. We'd be in a totally different place if we didn't have those.

What did you get really excited about this year?

Being back in Logan. I missed everything about this place and we love being back.

 

What songs will remind you of 2012?

Anything by Fun. and "Home" by Philip Philips and "Drunk on You" by Luke Bryan

What was your favorite television program of 2012?

New Girl and Duck Dynasty

But...

We still are watching Glee, Bones, Once Upon a Time, Big Bang Theory, Grimm, Guys with Kids, Gold Rush, the Voice, and Matt's outdoors shows

Oh...

and

SPORTS, SPORTS, and more SPORTS...

We currently watch the Jazz (every game), other NBA games (seriously, ask me ANYTHING about the NBA), Real Salt Lake (every game), every major college football team in Utah (yes, three games a week), some NFL, Utah State basketball and the NCAA tournament

What did you want and get this year?

An awesome new apartment in Logan
A brain blob... oh wait, that fits under the category "What did you NOT want and STILL get this year" :)

What was the best movie you saw this year?
Pitch Perfect and John Carter. Matt and I see a lot of movies and were not so impressed with the movies this year. Hopefully better movies will come out in 2013.

What did you do for your birthday and how old did you turn?

I turned 25 this year and Matt turned 27. On my birthday we went to the pumpkin walk after work with Randy, Jenny, the kids, Alex, my dad and Laurie, and Matt. Then we went to Olive Garden for dinner, as per tradition. Matt's birthday was in the middle of us moving, finishing our jobs, and getting ready for Lake Powell. I didn't buy him a birthday gift until August or September. Definitely a slacker. Good goal for next year.

How would you describe your personal fashion statement this year?

Wranglers and cowboy boots. I love living somewhere where this is okay! Matt's fashion statement is thermal underwear. Working in sub-zero temperatures has him dressed every day in millions of layers. It takes him five to ten minutes to undress after work!

Christmas and New Year's 2012

Matt and I are lucky to have so many great family members, and even more good friends to spend time with over the holidays. This year we started our Christmas on December 23 with Matt's extended family at a party at his Grandpa's house. We stayed at Diet and Myrna's overnight and spent the day with the immediate family on Christmas eve. The kids made gingerbread houses,  and around lunch time we opened presents. We had a fun time messing around together for the rest of the night. We went bowling and had dinner and played games. Part of the shenanigans included Randy and Matt playing a new game with Harrison:

Late on Christmas eve we went to my mom's house to sleep over. Little did we know that Jeff had other plans for us. They bought a new TV for Christmas and needed Matt to help move the old TV, and old, HEAVY, TV by the way, and the furniture to fit the new TV. My mom and Jeff were so excited. We spent the night and were woken too early by an excited mom who wanted to open presents. It's supposed to be the kids who wake up the parents right? We spent a nice relaxing morning with my family and then headed over to my dad's house for more presents and family. After lunch we headed back to my mom's for some well-needed naps and dinner with the extended family, followed by more games. Matt and I had so much fun, but were definitely ready for our own bed and relaxation!

On Friday I headed back to Salt Lake for dinner with some friends from high school, which is always so much fun. I slept over at my mom's and on Saturday had lunch with another friend. I'm glad the holidays give me a chance to catch up with people I don't get to see very often. I came back home on Saturday night and Matt and I had no plans for New Year's. I forget that living near Randy and Jenny usually means that we have some kind of plans. We spent New Year's Eve at a party with some of Randy and Jenny's friends who we have gotten to know and the boys lit the rest of the summer fireworks. I have to admit that I was a little nervous after the fireworks disaster in July. But things went off without a hitch (definitely too cold for fireworks in December) and we spent the rest of the night with the kids in bed and the adults playing games.

So I hope you all had a very merry Christmas and a happy new year! We are so excited for 2013 and more fun to come!

Jordan's Wedding

On December 17, my step-brother Jordan was married in the Salt Lake temple. Matt and I were so lucky to be there to celebrate with them. Now, I don't mean to throw anybody under the bus here, but I have to share some memories of the day. Matt and I were the first people in the waiting room in the temple, but slowly Jordan and Melanie's families started arriving. We were a little concerned when only one of  Jordan's brothers was there with us, and we were also missing Jordan's mom. My dad told us that she was on her way. We get walked to the sealing room, still no brothers or mother. We sat in the sealing room for what felt like forever, and finally Jordan's brothers made it. Still no mom. Waited. And waited. I thought for sure she would miss her youngest son getting married! But, just as they were ready to start, Laurie ran in and was able to be there for her son's wedding!

What a day to choose to get married. While we were waiting for Jordan and Mel, Matt and I walked around temple square and froze to death! It was sooo cold! They finally came out, we did some pictures, and then Matt and I bailed. We had to find the perfect gift for Jordan (Matt's idea) and make it to the luncheon to help set up in less than two hours. We were literally RUNNING errands. In the freezing cold wind. Matt and I were the first ones to get to the luncheon to help set up and nothing was ready. Guests would be arriving in 30 minutes and nothing was set up. We were putting tablecloths and dishes on the tables, meanwhile there is no food except the desserts Matt and I were assigned to pick up. Laurie arrives with the food at the same time that the guests start arriving, so Brooke and I start frantically putting salads together. When all the food was finally ready, we were 30 minutes late in starting. The food was worth the wait though, maybe not the hassle! We had a nice lunch, and it was fun hearing from all the friends and family. Then the crazy cleanup begins. We are being pushed out of the room for the next event. Crazy.

Matt and I rush over to change clothes for the reception and then head to Provo with a quick stop at Cabelas. It was 5:00 and the reception wasn't until 6:30. We get a call that we have to be there for pictures at 5:30. No way was that happening. So we pick up Alex and hurry to the reception around 6:00. My dad is mad that we are "late" but we weren't even the last family members there. They actually took the "family" pictures without everyone in the family there! Guests started showing up way early because the weather was awful and we spent the next few hours at the reception. The reception was beautiful and Jordan and Melanie were very happy. They had a receiving line that went on forever, but finally they got to leave, and so did the rest of us! By that time it was a crazy blizzard outside and I was so nervous about everyone driving home. What a crazy (and long) day.

This is how Matt gets out of dancing at weddings- he grabs the nearest baby. What a slacker!

Avery is so cute! Even with her finger so far up her nose!

From left: Cassie, Alex, Matt, me, Ashley, Kelly, Trevor (in front of Kelly), Chris holding Sadie, Melanie, Jordan, Rylie (in front of Jordan), Laurie, dad, Ryan holding Kevin, Kylee (in front of Ryan), Stacey, Chason holding Avery, Brooke, Chelsie

Going Bowling!

This year, much to our pleasure, the Aggie football team got to go to the Idaho Potato Bowl again, which meant that we got to go again! Matt and I have loved having season football tickets and look forward to a long tradition of going to games at Utah State. Matt said that we'd follow the Aggies wherever they went bowling, and it happened to be in Boise again this year.

Bowling with Randy was an adventure. He has so much energy (I have no idea where his son Bradley gets it)! The whole ride to Boise he was on his phone, looking up restaurants that were nearby, or showing us videos on the internet or just jabbering away. He found us a fun burger place to eat before the game, Big Jud's, which was way good. We had to wait in a 45 minute line to get in to this tiny little burger joint, but it was worth it. The boys were too chicken to try a one-pound patty on their burger though!

We had better seats this year, and it was definitely worth the extra money. We sat just in front of a group of old people all dressed up. One of them was Santa and the rest were reindeer, and his wife was Mrs. Clause. We had a blast chatting with this group throughout the game. I hope that when we're old that we still do fun things like this!

Before the game started, I was worried that we had overdressed. Last year we froze our butts off and so this year I dressed in millions of layers!

I had to take off several layers before the game started and through the first half. But, as you can see in the next picture, they all were on my body by the end of the game! It was cold when the wind started blowing and the sun went down! I am wearing jeans, wool socks, snow boots, coveralls, long-sleeve shirt, two sweatshirts, a ski coat, two layers of gloves, a scarf and a headband!

And much to my additional pleasure, the Aggies took home the win this year! And while we are so sad to lose Gary Andersen, Matt and I still love Aggie football and look forward to more Utah State games!