Remembering my Sister and my Niece

4 years ago today my Sister Niki and my oldest Niece Alauna were killed in a car wreck! I finally got around to scanning some pictures and up loading them to my computer.

Pictures of MaKenzie's day with Jaelin!

Autumn was nice enough to babysit my daughter for me one day these are just snaps she took! She is a great friend and an Awesome photographer! I just love how MaKenzie looks so sweet and thoughtful in some of these!!
PS you can check out more of Autumns pictures at atwitchell.smugmug.com!

Test

1. When you go to Wowmart, what one thing do you get every single time, besides a funky-wheeled squeaking cart full of frustration?
Usually orange juice, milk, and bread!

2. What is something that people are currently "into" that you just don't get or appreciate?
Twitter? WTF

3. What is something that really hoists your sail that other people might feel "ho-hum" about?
Painting!!! Not like artist painting, painting my house or other stuff is therapeutic for me

4. Favorite song to sing in the shower or car?
Simple Man or oh geeze there are so many (music is my motivation)

5. A really great salad must have this ingredient:
Anything to do with a taco salad I am game

6. Advice in a nutshell to new bloggers (one or two sentences):
I pretty much suck at it so don't ask me

7. What was the alternate name that your parents almost named you? Do you wish they had chosen it instead of the one they gave you?
Michael

8. What in your life are you waiting for?
Stability (mental and in general LOL)

9. You get a package in the mail. What is it, and who is it from?
E-bay my husband is an E bay Junky

10. Today--what song represents you?
Second Chance- shinedown

11. What is one thing that blogging has taught you about yourself?
That I should have paid more attention in school I am not a great writer

12. How are you going to (or how did you) choose the clothes you're wearing today? What do they say about you in general or specifically how you're feeling today?
I have a slight hangover from the Bachelorette party and I am wearing sweats and a tshirt

Here's to you, Blake!! Rest in Peace

This 4th of July a friend of mine and my husband's was struck by Lightning and killed while at a Celebrate Freedom carnival in a park in Billings. He was running to his car pulling a wagon of toys and picnic stuff, while his family including his two little girls were running in front of him to get out of the storm!



We met Blake through his brother Fred who worked with us at United Glass in Billings. I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with MaKenzie and we needed someone to help the guys in the shop and do part of my job while I was on maternity leave. It just so happened that Blake was looking for a job. He jumped into whole heartedly and was eager to learn everything, it only took me a couple of days to train him on my end, and he fit right in with everyone. He had a wonderful personality and was a joy to be around. After Harold and I moved back to the ranch Fred and Blake came out hunting, and if there was anything at all we needed help with while they were here, he was more than happy to help! I would cook them all lunch and dinner and before I could finish eating he would be up doing the dishes. He was just a Good Guy.
He was just starting to pick up the pieces of his life after his wife left him and their two little girls!
Please pray for the Harmon family as they lay their son, brother and father to rest tomorrow!
So Here's to you Blake, we were blessed to have had you in our lives!

When I finally stop procrastinating, everyone else is on VACATION!!

Janelle from Dr Damron's office called me back yesterday. Nancy Meyer the Genetics lady we worked with is on Vacation til next Monday! Since the test for DiGeorge for already born people is a fairly new test called FISH (don't ask me why) she has to find out if we have to go somewhere special to have it done. So we have to wait another week. I will keep ya posted!!

I will finally Stop putting this off!!!

I Finally made the call to set up an appointment for the tests we need done to find out if we will or will not try for another baby! I have been putting this off for... well really since Landon was diagnosed with Trisomy 22 (DiGeorge Syndrome)! I did make the call but they are out of the office until Monday!
Now it is not the test itself that makes me so nervous because I believe it is a simple Blood test. But it is the part of possibly finding out that either Harold or I have DiGeorge Syndrome and never knew it. Now the chances of that are slim, but I have met a few people over the internet who also have Children with DiGeorge and one lady and her husband just found out that he had DiGeorge. For those who don't know DiGeorge or trisomy 22 or VCFS has like 180 different symptoms, problems that can range anywhere from severe mental defects, heart defects, to not even knowing you have it. It mostly affects the Thymus Gland which controls your immune system. They tell me that in 90% of the cases it just happens, but it is that 10% that really worries me. If neither Harold or I have it, there is still a chance that it could be a defect in my eggs and that is the part they don't really want to test, they know there are some good ones because MaKenzie was a good egg (that makes me laugh now) so if they take an egg to test and it is fine then it would just be a waste of a good egg!
So I guess I will wait for their call on Monday and we will go from there! It will be the deciding factor in wheter or not we try for another little blessing!
So please throw in a little prayer for us!

Just one of those days

When I had originally started this Blog I had every intention of making it more geared toward a loss and grieving sort of Blog, for some reason I have a horrible time sharing any of that with anyone even my Husband so you haven't seen much about Landon and his story on here.
But sometimes when I am having a rough day and I have my head stuck up my own ass, I forget that I am not the only one that lost my son,.... but my Husband did to! I think this one is true in any sort of grieving situation! My Aunt Shannon found this on the internet and I am not sure who wrote it.

Daddy

It must be very difficult
To be a man in grief,
Since "men don't cry" and "men are strong"
No tears can bring relief.

It must be very difficult
To stand up to the test
And field calls and visitors
So she can get some rest.

They always ask if she's all right
And what she's going through
But seldom take his hand and ask,
"My friend, but how are you?"

He hears her crying in the night
And thinks his heart will break
And dries her tears and comforts her
But "stays strong" for her sake.

It must be very difficult
To start each day anew
And try to be so very brave ~
He lost his baby too. . .