Friends

Taylee has so much fun playing with her friend Hannah. They play so cute together and they have so much fun!

The Weekend at a Glance

We had a great Memorial Day Weekend. On Saturday we went to Grace and met up with my parents, Tiffany and Motor, JP, Aunt Konnie and Uncle Pete, Aunt Karen and Uncle Brent, and my Aunt Myrna and Uncle Phil and decorated graves in Grace and Soda Springs. We then went out to my Uncle Pete and Aunt Konnie's place and had a lunch!! We then spent the rest of the afternoon and evening at my parents' house. We took a walk up to the knoll behind my parents' house and it was so beautiful. The Mound Valley was so pretty and green and we enjoyed the nice fresh air.

On Sunday we went out and decorated Darcee's Grave with Cody's family. It is always so good to go out and see her peaceful place. Lots of emotion flood back and I love to remember our sweet girl. Despite the time that has past, I still vividly remember that sweet spirit and I love her so very much!

It was a great weekend with our families! I love Memorial Day Weekend. I love that time to specifically remember those that we have lost and that have touched our lives. I am so thankful for the gospel and the knowledge that it brings. That we can be forever families and that we will see our loved ones again. It is wonderful to know that we each have a reason and a purpose for being on this earth and that our Heavenly Father loves each of us so much. I know that I would not have made it through our trial with the twins without the love, comfort, and knowledge that the gospel brings. We are truly blessed to have the true church restored to earth at this time in our lives. I am so thankful that our lives were blessed by those that we knew only for a short time: Darcee A. Sparrow and Shantay Sparrow, and for those that we got to love a long time: my wonderful grandparents, sweet Aunts, and Cody's Grandpa. We love them all!

But we also hold a special place in our hearts for those that have lost their lives serving our great country. Thank you to those who risk their lives everyday and thanks to their families for their sacrifices!

Horse Races

When Cody was growing up he and his family would go to the horse races. His Grandpa had a couple of horses he would race every year and so him and his family would go to the races. Cody has been dying to take me the horse races ever since we got married and so finally this weekend Cody took Taylee and me to the horse races at the Bannock County Fair grounds on Saturday. It was a lot of fun! It was fun to watch and we enjoyed being out in the sunshine enjoying the nice weather. We went on Sunday to watch Cody's Grandpa's horse in a race. It took 5th and it was really exciting to cheer on his horse! It was so fun to pick the horses you wanted to win and then cheer them on as they raced. Taylee loved seeing all the horses and she would pick her favorites and cheer them on and clap her hands! We enjoyed yummy snow cones and just loved sitting out just watching the races together! Thanks Cody for introducing us to a new family activity and tradition that we can do together!!

The Verdict Is In

Well the verdict is in and Cody and I have made the decision on where he will attend Graduate School....drum roll please.......Idaho State University. Yes, we will be staying here in Pocatello. Cody was accepted at Lousiville, New Mexico, and Tennessee and of coarse ISU. ISU was the better choice for us at this time and we feel really good about our decision. Cody received a Graduate Assistantship and will be teaching at ISU while he is doing his masters. He will graduate next summer so only one more year left of school!!!! HOORAY!

We are so proud of him and his hard work and accomplishments!

WE LOVE YOU CODY!

Celebrating a Miracle

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY TAYLEE

On Sunday March 28, we get to celebrate our Miracle. Taylee!! She turns 4!! We cannot believe how the time has gone and that she is a very happy and healthy 4 year old!! She had a hard beginning but has made it through.

We were blessed with a set of beautiful twin girls. When I was at 20 weeks the twins were diagnosed with Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS). This is a syndrome where two babies share one placenta and the blood vessels are distributed so that one baby receives more blood supply and nutrition than the other baby. One baby is usually quite a bit bigger than the other. There is no cure for this syndrome and there isn't a lot that they know about it because every pregnancy and case can be very different. The chances for survival of both are very low and the risk of complications is very high. I immediately went on bed rest and we traveled to Ogden to the Neonatal Specialists weekly for appointments and ultrasounds. I underwent two amniocentesis procedures (where they take fluid out of one of baby's sacks). Taylee was the bigger baby and was very active, Darcee was smaller and she did not move that much at all.

At my 28 week mark, the twins were delivered unexpectedly by emergency C-Section because Darcee was not doing well. She barely had a heart beat. At 9:04 a.m. Darcee and Taylee came into the World. Darcee weighing in at 1 lb. 5oz and 12 inches long, Taylee was 1 lb 10oz and 12 1/4 inches long. Our sweet angel Darcee did not survive. Taylee was immediately put into the NICU. Taylee was flown that evening to the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City. This became her new home for the next 3 months. She was such fighter and endured several bumps in the road. We are so blessed to have Taylee in our lives and we thank our Heavenly Father everyday for the numerous blessings and the chance to have Taylee and Darcee in our family.
Darcee fought hard and long to grow and thrive and she saved her sister. We love you sweet girl!

We brought Taylee home from the hospital 3 months after she was born and she weighed about 4 1b 15 oz. Now after all the struggles to get them here, Taylee is such a joy in our home.

We love you Taylee! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Taylee in the NICU at the U of U.

Our first time holding Taylee

Our sweet 4 year old!!

Birthday Week

On February 22nd Cody and I went to the Jazz game in SLC. They played the Atlanta Hawks. We had a lot of fun on our outing together. Grandpa and Grandma Panter were so nice to let Taylee have a sleep over. We went Shopping and out out dinner and then to the Game. It was a good game......but the Jazz couldn't pull off the win sadly.....

This past weekend was "Birthday" weekend. I turned "25" on Friday! Wow.....I had a great day and my husband spoiled me! My mom's birthday was on Saturday, so we made the trip down to Thatcher for the weekend to celebrate! We had a great weekend. My sister Tiff and her husband came down and we had a sleigh riding party on Saturday. It was so much fun! The weather was perfect and the snow was awesome! We had so much fun taking the kids down on the sleds and we enjoyed watching my Mom having fun riding the sleds as well. We rode around on Dad's snow machine......which was an absolute blast. We enjoyed cake and ice cream and great food!! It was a great Birthday Weekend!! Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us come and stay!!!

My sexy husband on my Dad's Awesome snow machine......Taylee and Me going down the hill.


Grandma sleigh riding with Taylee. Mom was a machine on the sled....she was fast!

Cody crashing on the sled. Taylee and Conner (Tiff's little boy)

Conner LOVED the icing!!!

First Interview

Yesterday, Cody got a response from the University of Louisville! He has been selected to interview with them next Friday! He is really excited because they are the #1 ranked school for his program. I cannot believe how fast time has gone and that we are at this stage of waiting to hear from Grad Schools. Lets just hope and pray that some really good things start to come our way!