It's Christmas Time in the City

Matt and I have been enjoying Christmas time here lately! There are so many places decorated for the holidays. Tonight Matt and I went to the Carnegie National History Museums hall of architecture, and downtown to explore some of the Christmas fun!
The Carnegie Natural History Museum had several beautiful twenty foot trees decorated for Christmas. They also had people singing classic Christmas songs. It was nice to feel the spirit of Christmas!
Downtown Pittsburgh had been completely redecorated for Christmas. There was an ice rink, a little Christmas village and several large Christmas trees. There was also an entire Christmas exhibit inside of PPG place. The exhibit had Santa's from all over the world, and gingerbread houses made from children from local schools.

Cathedral of Learning

Before we came out to Pittsburgh we heard about the Cathedral of Leaning on the University of Pittsburgh's campus. The Cathedral is over 40 stories tall. It looks like Hogwarts when you first walk inside with all of the high gothic arches. Each classroom is decorated based on a different country. They brought architects and interior designers native to each particular room's country to decorate. At Christmas time they even use Christmas decorations from the country of origin. We briefly were able to look around the rooms today. It was beautiful and fun!

We Are Still Alive

Where do I begin? A lot has happened since my last post. Matt graduated from BYU. We moved cross country and now call Pennsylvania home. I have a job I love and like exploring our new city. Matt is busy in his first year of Law School. I will try to be better about updating with what we are doing, but for now just know we are alive and well.

Goodbye March You Will Not Be Missed

PLEASE SKIP OVER THIS POST IT IS MY JOURNAL TIME SO I CAN LOOK BACK ON AND SAY WE MADE IT!





The Saturday before valentines day Matt and I were working at the Temple something we have grown to love to do together! About an hour into the shift I randomly was in a lot of pain near my right ovary. I tried to brush it off like no big deal, but the pain kept getting worse and I could not even sit up. My mind was racing and I said a prayer. I kept thinking that the last time I was in this much pain was when my left ovary died two years ago. The pain continued to get worse and I went and found Matt and told him I needed to go to the Dr. as soon as possible. We quickly went home, changed and went to the ER. I spent the rest of Saturday in the ER they said that I had a cyst that I should rest and it should go away.

Matt and I were in communications with our parents and booked tickets home to see the Drs who performed my surgery and removed my left ovary three weeks before our wedding.

I layer in bed for a week Going crazy. The pain did not get better and I could not work which drove me nuts. The day after valentines day Matt and I flew to California to go to lots of Drs visits and have even more tests run on me. By the end of the trip the pain got a little better and we thought everything was ok.

That next Wednesday I went to work. I was so happy to be back. I tried to not stand or sit too much but I ended up being in so much pain I ended up going home at the end of the day in tears. The next week or so I tried to do what I could but was un able to get out of bed.

The Monday before my birthday I was in so much pain that we went back to the hospital where they ran more tests to see what was causing such severe pain in my lower abdomen. They could not find anything wrong but said if it continues that I should contact my Dr.

Once again Matt and I were communicating with our parents and we booked a flight to California this time the day after my 24th birthday. We had Drs appointments and a pre op appointment scheduled to see what was causing the pain.

My head was going crazy I had been flat on my back for a month which was driving me crazy and I didn't know what was wrong with me. I kept thinking what if my ovary died I will not be able to have children. All of my fears were not helped by having the Dr explain to me that if they remove my ovary I will go into menopause at 24 years old.

Matt was amazing throughout the whole thing, he was calm, patient, and took care of everything.

On Wednesday I went into surgery, the second one in less than two years. This surgery was a lot smoother than the last. They found that I have endometriosis and removed the scar tissue. I was so relieved. I spent the next week and a half in California recovering.

On Monday Matt headed back up to BYU for a conference. We were excited that I was getting back to normal and that our life could calm down a little. A little over a week after my surgery I had my post op appointment and my Dr. said that everything looked great. The next day I flew back to Utah to see my adorable husband and start working again.

On the way to come get me Matt got into a car accident injury his neck and our car. Now it is my turn to take care of my adorable husband.

I know this is long and may seem like I am being negative but I am grateful. I am grateful to be married to someone who makes me laugh even when I am upset with my situation. I am grateful that I can go back to work. I am grateful that I am healthy enough to take care of my husband. I am grateful I married someone who is hard working. I love that this has made us grow closer.

I just can't help but look back and say we are lucky. I am lucky that I still have 1 ovary. We are lucky that Matt was not hurt more. We are lucky that I still have my job. We are lucky to have great friends and family. We are lucky that we have a roof over our head! We are lucky that we have food. We are lucky that we can get out of bed. We are lucky that we have each other. Most importantly we are lucky to have a Heavenly Father who loves us and listens to our prayers!

Why I have the best Valenitne EVER

I know that I am a horrible person about blogging. I try to use this as my form of a journal. I try to write how I feel, or what I want to remember, or the occurrences in life. I am not very good at writing things down though.

My valentines day this year is very different than any valentines I have had in the past. Every plan that we had was thrown a curve ball. On Saturday I spent most of the day in the ER with some severe pain and medical problems I have had off and on for over 2 years.

My husband has been great with everything. He has been making breakfast, lunch, and dinner for me. He has been cleaning the house, helping me figure out drs appointments, talking to our parents to figure out flights home. He has been doing the jobs of two people and made sure I rested (something I am not very good at).

He has been telling me that he loves me and tells me everything will be okay. He has been telling me that I am beautiful even though I know I look gross. He tells me that no matter what happens I am a great wife. He holds me when I am sad or the pain is uncomfortable. He makes me laugh, and smile everyday.

So even though my valentines day is not filled with flowers and chocolates, it is filled with love. It is filled with a husband who is taking care of me and loves me no matter what. It is filled with the promise that tomorrow we will hopefully have some answers from a dr. I am so grateful for that because I need that now. I am in love with my husband more today than yesterday. I am the luckiest girl in the whole world.