I Know Where I'm Going!

So I finally found out where I am going for my surprise vacation in December! :)

Brad decided that he couldn't hold it in anymore, and my family was dying to talk to me about it!

So yesterday morning I woke up and Brad told me that he had a couple clues for me and they were videos from the place that we are going.  I am not so good with languages or anything to do with other countries...so it was a little difficult for me to even guess.  Then the last video he showed me I noticed a flag in the background of it.  I had recognized the flag only because I did a report on this country when I was in sixth grade (haha weird I know) and because my grandma's family is from there also.  So brad told me to take a guess but that he wouldn't tell me if it was right or wrong.  Then the last thing he had on was from skype and it was a piece of paper that someone had wrote on that said 

"Guess where you are going!?"

and then I was supposed to read it outloud and the next part said...

"I am going to SWEDEN"

Yes I am going to Sweden!  I cannot wait.  One of Brad's mission companions, Michael, and his wife Aurelie (that they taught on their mission) is flying us out to come visit them in SWEDEN!!  They were on skype and I finally got to see who is being so nice to us and flying us out to visit them.  They are the sweetest, most nicest people ever!  I met Michael already because he came to our wedding, but I haven't met Aurelie yet and I am so excited to finally meet her!  

It's so crazy to me because Sweden is a place that I've always had on my list of must-go-to's.  I've heard so much about it from stories from my grandma that it was just always a place I wanted to visit, and I'm actually getting the opportunity to go!!  I cannot express exactly how excited I am!  :)

That is not the only surprise I got.  After I read where I was going, they told Brad to read it also.  It looked like the same paper so we didnt think anything of it.

He ended up reading...

"I am going to BELGIUM!"

That is where Brad served his mission and they are flying us to visit Belgium for a weekend while we are over in Europe!  Brad was so surprised and so was I.  He hasn't had the chance to go back yet and he has wanted to so bad!  We are both so so excited!

It's hard to think how real it is.  It wont be real until I'm actually there I think.  We both feel so blessed.  We feel beyond blessed, and we don't know what we've done to have such amazing people in our lives.

We leave in 23 days!  I cannot wait! :)

Bay

Rambles

I took my last final in my first semester of nursing school yesterday!

I remember thinking at the beginning that all this homework and studying would never end.

But it did!  It ended yesterday...well at least until February when I start my second semester, but I made it!  I made it through my first semester of nursing school!  

K joke again...I actually have two full weeks of clinicals left BUT no more homework for two whole months!  Everyone told me when I first started that the first semester is the hardest and it gets a little bit easier from there, and so you know what?  I'm feelin' pretty good.  I'm feeling really good infact...and a little bored sometimes.  haha I have all this time now and I don't know what to do with myself.  I'm at the library with my husband right now while he's studying, and for the first time in a looooong time I am just hangin' out doin' whatever it is that I feel like doing.  It feels good.  Really good.

I had so much time that I decided to change my blog background and such...I told you that I would get bored of my background pretty quick.  My last one looked more like fall/thanksgiving though, so I needed one that is more wintery.  

Well with my last real week of school we had a lot of clinical orientations and we got to get all dressed up and go walk around all the hospitals that we are going to do our clinicals at.  I don't know how I got so lucky with such a fun group of girls to be in my nursing class.  We hang out with each other so much that three of us decided to show up in animal print today...haha

Yes it was so dang bright outside and only Kaitlyn has her eyes opened...but I still love this picture.  I love these two girls!  They have made being in a class for 7-8 hours everyday well worth it.  There is never a dull moment.

  

Next matter of business...

I STILL DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM GOING FOR MY VACATION IN DECEMBER!

It's driving me crazy because I want it to be surprise, but I also want to know so so bad!  I don't even have a place in mind that I think we might be going.  Brad has stumped me.  I am actually way surprised that he hasn't accidently told yet.  I know that he is dying to tell me though!  I can just tell!  Also more good news is that I got all my passport stuff figured out.  I was really nervous about getting my name changed and getting my passport by the time we left (I know I know, it's been almost a year and I still haven't changed my last name officially to Bybee).  We did get everything worked out though, and my passport will be here in a couple of weeks!  I am sooooo excited!  I have the BEST husband.  I love him very much!

Next

My momma did my hair the other day and I am loving it!  I've needed a change in my hair...so I cut bangs not to long ago, and decided I didn't love them.  So this time I had my mom add a little bit of blonde to my hair.  It made me a little nervous because blonde just kills my hair, but we're just gonna take it slow and eventually get it blonde instead of brownish/orange, but I do love it!

Thanks Momma!! you're the best!  I'm lucky to have such a talented mother!

Last thing

Did I mention how much I love my husband?  Oh I did!  Alright well I guess I'll talk about our christmas tree then! :)  We got it up and it's very cute!  Brad had a little tree handed down to him so that is what we decided to use this year for our first christmas married!  My grandma Call offered to let us use some of her old christmas tree decorations so that's what we used!  She is so sweet.

Not the greatest picture, but it's still cute right?  I just love christmas time!
Last picture is one of me and Brad that I put on Instagram, but I love it and I wanted it in my blog so this is where it's going to go:)

I don't know how I got so lucky to not only marry the sexiest man alive, but also the sweetest most loving husband ever!  I don't know where I'd be without him.

Sorry for the randomness, but I had to do SOMETHING with my free time that I have now:)

Bay

Blessed

To say the least, this Thanksgiving break has been busy and full of surprises.  

The day before Thanksgiving we spent all day with my parents and we met up with my aunt Krissy and my grandma and JC for dinner at Juniper Takeout.  It was delicious and we spent hours there just talking and catching up.

I know I say it a lot, but my family really is amazing.

For Thanksgiving day we spent time with Bradley's family.  We had our feast around one and then watched the Red Skins WIN!  Yes, Bradley has made me a big fan of the Red Skins now.  The food was so delicious and it was so fun to be with such a great family.  

Brad and I are truly blessed to be surrounded and supported by the families that we have.

BLACK FRIDAY

I have never ever gone shopping on black friday...but this year Brad and I decided we wanted to see all the craziness.  Crazy doesn't cut it...it was insane.  People are whacko on black friday it is hilarious!  We went to Wal-Mart...I had no idea such people even existed in Cache Valley...we were very entertained.  Since we were up I wanted to go to Head Over Heels because I heard they were selling some clothes for one dollar.  Seemed too good to be real, but it most definitely was.  I bought 12 shirts for 12 dollars, and they are all actually really cute!  We also each got a new pair of shoes for christmas. I don't know if i'll be able to wait till christmas to wear them though haha!

The day after Thanksgiving Brad and I both worked till noon then we went to my sister Nikki's new house to see Bradley's mom, Carol.  It was such a fun day.

Once again...we are so blessed!  I seriously can't say it enough.

Brad's mom lives in St. George so it was so so much fun seeing her!  I love when we get to see her because there's always so much to catch up on and talk about!  She is the sweetest person ever, and I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful mother in-law.  

We got to spend all day with Carol and Nikki's cute family.  Nikki's three boys have stolen my heart!  I never thought having nephews would be so much fun.  We watched a movie called October Baby later that night, and it was really touching.  I think all people who think abortion is right should watch this movie...because it might change their minds.

Saturday I had to work again...blah.  BUT when I was at work Bradley told me that I need to take ten days off of work after christmas.  I was thinking what in the world Bradley?  So I did as he said and tried to find people to cover my shifts during those days.  As soon as I got home of course that was the first think I asked about.  Yep...all of you reading know just about as much as I do...

NOTHING

All I know is...

We are going for our anniversary and New Years
Someone that Brad knows, and I may or may not know, is paying for us to fly somewhere
We are going for 11 days
and I need a passport

WHAT?  Am I freaking out...yes I most definitely am.  This is crazy, and I am so so so excited!  Did I mention earlier how blessed I am?  Well it's true....I am so incredibly blessed!  My husband is the sweetest, most thoughtful and truly amazing person ever.  And someone is kind enough to spoil in this kind of way.  I don't feel deserving, but I do feel so grateful.

Life is crazy, and I'm enjoying every single second of it.  I am so blessed to spend every moment I can with my best friend, my husband, my Bradley.  And I am so blessed to have the family that I have, no matter how close or far they are.  Last, but not least I am so overwhelmingly grateful for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I know with everything in me that from living the teachings of it I have found pure joy and happiness.  I could not be more happy in my life right now, and it all leads back to the gospel that I am so proud to be apart of.  My blessings and everything I am grateful for are all because of God and Jesus Christ.  People think we're weird and crazy...but I know without a doubt that those people haven't experienced happiness in the way I have.  I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving!  I know I did! :)

Bay

Help Me Find A Cure

When I was 6 months old I was extremely sick and my parents took me in to the hospital.  Having no knowledge of what Cystic Fibrosis even is, they found out that I had it.

Now that I'm a little older, I realize how hard that must have been as new, young parents.  As hard as it is raising a child for the first time....just to add a disease that wasn't very well known on top of that would be a great challenge.  

I can't imagine what it would be like being told that your six month old daughter had a life expectancy of 18 years.  Or being told that treatments and medications would consume the life of your new born baby.  That money and finances would have to further be evaluated.  Or having the doctors tell you that your daughter would have difficulty in running and playing sports and doing things that "normal" kids do.  

To say the least...my parents are amazing. 

Sure, I'm the one that has it...but up until I got married they were the ones reminding me to do a treatment everyday, and to take my pills before each meal.  They were the ones that had the fear of that 18 year mark coming up.  I will never ever understand what they went through raising me.  I was too young to understand I even had anything "wrong" with me.

I guess what I'm getting at is that my parents are the greatest people alive.  They sacrificed everything they had just so I could outlive this awful disease and live a normal, healthy life.

I love you mom and dad.

Did my life pass when I turned 18?  No I'm 22 today and I'm still here.  I haven't even lived half of my life yet.  Do the medications and treatments consume my life?  Yes, but that's my life and how I've learned to live it.  Did I end up on oxygen never being able to run around as a normal child?  No...I was 100% normal and played every sport I wanted to.  I even played college soccer when my doctors told me I probably would never be able to.  

I outdid the odds because of two things...

First, because of people who care about me.  Like my parents of course, my brother and now my husband has to put up with me.  So many other people have made me do a treatment when I refuse to do it and everyone I know including friends and family have ALWAYS been better reminders of my pills then I am for myself. 

Second, the advancement in medication and technology.  The life expectancy has climbed to about 37 years now.  People are finding new things that are working and making other cfers like me....live.

So the big question...what is Cystic Fibrosis?  Here is a quick and very brief overview.  It is a genetic, life-shortening disease.  It causes and abnormal function in the sodium chloride channels in my body and causes excessive amounts of mucous.  My lung function is decreased compared to that of "normal" lungs, and my body can't get rid of the mucous fast enough.  It effects my digestive tract making it difficult for me to digest food (that's why I need my pills).  Last, there is a 50% chance I will not be able to have children.  It mostly effects the lungs...which is why it makes it such a scary disease.  More in-depth information is easily found by searching the internet.

Although my parents and I are still very close, they aren't holding my hand through this disease anymore.  It's up to me to stay healthy now.  It's easy for me to find ways to stay healthy because I've always been healthy (thanks again to my parents), but other cfers aren't as lucky.  Others can't afford the treatment or they just have a more severe case of it.  Kids are still being born with it today, and it breaks my heart knowing them and their families have to deal with it their whole life.  I'm old enough now, that I think I can make a difference...even if it's a small difference.

This year they came out with a drug called Kalydeco.  It's a drug that not cures, but improves lung fuction, lowers sweat chloride levels and helps patients gain weight.  They do not call it a cure, but patients with CF view it as one.  It is the first and only drug out there that is this close to a cure.  Unfortunately it is only for a certain gene mutation of CF that only a very scarce number of patients have.  I do not have it.  BUT that means they are close...they are SO close that is actually feels real this time.  

I don't exactly know how to go about it so I need help.  There are so many ways to raise money for CF. If anyone has any grand ideas I would love to hear about them.  Where it is so close in finding a cure, I just know that you would be able to see the effects of it.  You might just be the reason why they finally find a cure.  I am just beginning and researching ways I can help, but anyones input would be awesome!

There are bracelets that support CF and the money is donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, I think that is the first thing I want to do, and then maybe make a "team" for the Foundation.  Even if you just go to http://www.cff.org/ you can make a quick donation there.  

Thanks to those who took the time to read:)

Bay

Spiderman, Captain America...and a Monkey

Although I did have to be in class AND work for Halloween this year, I was able to spend it with some great people!  In my nursing class we had a huge pot luck lunch!  We had enough food to feed like 5 other classes, and every bit of it was delicious.  Some of my class mates even dressed up!  It was lot's of fun

This was my first time around...yes I did have seconds!

A few of the girlies that dressed up!

My girl Shalese...she is probably one of my most favorite people I've ever known!

I absolutely LOVE everyone in my class!  I've had the opportunity to meet some really awesome people and class is rarely dull!  While we're on the subject of my class....

I AM ALMOST DONE!!

Only a couple more weeks before we have our finals and then I'll have just a few more clinicals and I will have officially completed my first semester of nursing school!

Well after class I had to go to work, which kinda sucks, but I honestly really enjoy my job so it wasn't bad :)  I even wore my wig to work!  When I got off work I had the BEST surprise waiting for me.  Brad, Nikki and my nephews were hiding behind my couch when I came home and scared me!  It was a pleasant/frightening/unexpected surprise! They all looked so darling and got lots and lots of candy!

Brad lighting up the pumpkins for them!

I love them...they are the best!

So that was our Halloween...call us lame, but we probably wouldn't have wanted it any other way.  I must add that I am so excited that it is the weekend!  Wet get to help my sissy, Nikki, move into her new house! :)  It will be lots of fun!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Bay

October Goodness

The month of October has been so fun!  Brad and I have been able to find time to do some fun things in-between our busy schedules.  It's weird thinking back a year ago from now I had just gotten home from New Jersey and Brad and I were finally getting to be together while we were engaged.  Last year for Halloween we went to the Howl as pirates, and we carved pumpkins with our nephews!  I can't believe a year has already gone by!

So for this year it was different and so fun because we aren't the only married ones anymore!  We have so many more friends that are either married, engaged or dating seriously...it's about time friends ;)  Life just gets better as you get older because you do things more with people you actually enjoy being around, instead of sweating/dying at the Howl with bunch of people showing off their man and lady goods.  Yes, I went buuuut now I realize how much more fun I have with all of mine and Bradley's friends.  Marriage is just so much better:)  Costumes aren't chosen for sexiness anymore, they are chosen for fun and to get a good laugh out of everyone...definitely a lot more fun.  You get to chose fun and creative costumes instead of the "popular" nurse, cat, waitress, bunny or sailor.  Call me crazy, but I think those are typical costumes chosen every year! 

A couple of weeks ago we got invited to go carve pumpkins with some of my friends!  It was fun cause I don't see my friends as much as I used to so it's always fun to catch up with everyone!  Here's a little bit from our pumpkin carving night...

the group!

Amber and Braeden were telling us poses we had to do with our pumpkins ha

lighting our pumpkins up outside our house

This last weekend Bradley and I got invited to go to a halloween party!  It was a lot of fun getting ready...especially getting Brad ready haha!  I have the best husband...he's such a great sport with everything!  We had other outfits planned out, but my parents bought costumes for their party that they had the night before we had ours...so we decided to steal theirs.  We were an angel and a devil...yes my husband was the angel:)  Everybody's costumes were so good!  We caught up with everyone, played games and ate lots of food:)  I think all of us girls that were there feel pretty lucky to have such great husbands, because most of them played their parts all night haha!  It made for a good laugh!

 

So there you have it!  Halloween hasn't even come yet, and I've already enjoyed the holiday so much!  Halloween day I have school AND work, so I wont be doing a whole lot, but hopefully we get some trick-or-treaters!  I love seeing all the creative costumes that people have!
Also, random fun fact...me and my bestie, Kristie, both got baptized on halloween.  I've always thought I was pretty cool, and it's an easy date to remember! :)
Anyways...
I hope everyone is having a happy Halloween week, or month, or however long you've been celebrating it!

Bay!

One last thing...I can't stand things being the same for long because I get bored...soooo my blog "theme" and background may change often:)

My Family Is Better Than Your Family

Life is so busy!

Brad and I hardly have time to see each other.  As of late, I only see him when I watch his flag football games or we are passing each other for 10 or 15 minutes.  If one of us isn't doing something, then the other one usually is.  I know we just had fall break, but I am so ready for Thanksgiving break already!

I love October because it's the beginning of fall and holiday season!  From here on out we have a lot of fun holiday's coming up.  As I grow up and get older, I look back at how fun holidays like Halloween and stuff were.  Now that I'm a little older, I think I'm still just as excited, but it's a little different because it's an excuse to see my family.  It wasn't until I moved to Iowa and then came back, that I realized how important family time is to me.  I was blessed to grow up with such amazing parents and the BEST little brother.  I don't know how I got so lucky to marry into such a great family as well...I sometimes feel like I don't deserve the people that are so close to me in my life.  I will never understand how people can disown their own family members.  I have so many variations that make up my family and we have never let our differences tear us apart.  I could never imagine being so upset with someone in my family that I would never talk to them again.  It's just not worth it.

Here's a few things I've done with my family lately.

Fishing with the in-laws.  It was so much fun!

the best father in law a girl could ask for. love you curt.

my nephew easton 

Cory and Mickey

the fam fishin

Brad with cute little Mason

So cute

Cute little Porter with his Fish

My sissy! I love her so much!

Haha Mickey chasing Nikki with a fish and Nikki was chasing Porter.  So funny!

Me and Bradley...he was concentrating on getting his line ready to fish!

My parents are probably the greatest parents alive.  They live with so much youth in them.   If i can grow up and be anything like either of them I would be more than grateful.  Here they are after playing softball the other day, and yes they are both really good! :)

Aren't they so cute! My mom is gorgeous and my dad is always making us laugh! 

We went to the new batman movie after my birthday dinner last week with my family, even Joshy could come (he is a workaholic so it's always fun when I get to see him!)

Me and my sister, Nikki, both have our birthday's in October so when she came up this saturday we went to dinner at the Blue Bird. Num Num! :)  She is such a great sister!  I never had one growing up so it's so fun to have a girl so close to me that I can talk to about "girl stuff" now.  Her husband, Mark, is such a great person too.  We're the soccer fans of the family so we get along really good:)  I didnt catch a picture of me and Nikki, but I did get the cutest picture of Brad holding Easton.

Then on sunday we went to Lagoon with my family!  We always go every year in October so we can go to frightmares! It was so much fun!

i love him

most of the kiddos 

my cute cousins Connor and Kennedy 

Waiting to ride the re entry 

Lunch time! 

Everyone waitin to ride a ride! 

My boys!

The crazies that went on rattle snake rapids...it was a little chilly! 

haha these were fun! 

The white roller coaster 

Me and the cutest girl ever born, Cadence!

I just want to end with a picture of my grandpa chuck!  He passed away unexpectedly 5 years ago.  Not a day goes by that I don't miss him or think about him.  Everyone that knew him loved him, and I know that he was one of the best people to ever be on this earth.  Love you grandpa chuck.
I'll see you again one day, I promise!

I just have to say again... I have the BEST family anyone could ask for!  I'm so grateful for the relationship I have with each member, and I'm so grateful that Brad loves being with family just as much as I do.  

I will never take my family for granted because this life is so short and things can happen so quickly.  I recommend keeping a good relationship with everyone that's part of your family (whether its blood related or not).  I promise that life is so much better with the support of people that love you no matter what! 

Bay