Disneyland - December 2010

I am amazed at how magical Disneyland still is. I remember it being magical, but that was almost 25 years ago. I fully expected the "magic" to be gone by now... but it most certainly is not. The best part was experiencing it for the first time through Molly's eyes and seeing her light up when she experienced the magic.

We spent 5 days in Southern California with a portion of Nick's family - Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Liz, Uncle Tim, Cousin Sarah, Cousin Whitney, Cousin Spencer, Aunt Julie, Aunt Carrie, and Uncle Kevin. We spent the first day traveling and getting settled, and then we drove out to Newport Beach so that I could get some Sprinkles cupcakes (!!!!!). I had to buy almost one of everything so that we could taste it all. It was certainly delicious, but not what I had made it out to be in my head. The experience was awesome though, and we enjoyed cupcakes for the entire trip.

The next morning we hit Disneyland bright and early. We tried to get on Peter Pan first, but it broke down - so we started with the Carousel and Dumbo. We got a lot of rides in the first day and then we spent the evening on Main Street for the Christmas Parade... which was amazing! My favorite part was when all of the Princesses came dancing down with their Princes. Molly watched with such excitement and loved every single second of it. There was a cute little girl sitting next to us - maybe 7 years old. She was so cute with Molly and Molly just took to her. Molly went over and gave her loves and then turned around and sat down on her lap. So, she sat there and watched part of the parade with this little girl. It was adorable! When the parade was over we headed over to California Adventure for the World of Color show. I had no concept of what it was we were waiting for, but W-O-W... it was spectacular! It was similar to the water show at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, but so much more! They project a show on to a mist of water while they do the water show with amazing colors and music. It was just amazing. And Molly was absolutely captivated by it - even if it was a bit chilly.We were sad that Daddy had to miss a lot of this day because of a stomach bug, but we were happy that he started feeling better soon..

The next day, we started super early in the morning because we had early admission that day. We started with Peter Pan, which Molly loved! Some of the other rides that Molly loved on this second day were: Pirates, Tea Cups, Safari, the train, and then there was Small World... I don't think I can express how much Molly loved it! She was so excited the whole time, dancing to the music and pointing (and Mmm-ing) to everything she saw. She just loved it! That evening we watched the firework show over Sleeping Beauty's castle. It was so magical! There was Christmas music playing and at the end it started snowing (Disney-generated, but snow none the less)! Molly was enamored! 

The third day, we spent some time in California Adventure. We started the day at a Bug's Land (little kid rides). There was hardly anyone there so we got to walk on all the rides... and for most of them, we were the only riders. It was so much fun to watch Molly get to spin and spin and love every second of it! We were also able to watch the Aladdin show (broadway type) that was playing and it was amazing. Genie was hilarious! If I didn't know better, I would think it was Robin Williams down there on the stage. Molly absolutely loved it (at least for the first half before she got tired and hungry). She was clapping, squealing, and dancing to the music. It was definitely a hit! After a nice long nap so that I could recover from complete exhaustion, we caught one more ride on the giant Mickey Ferris Wheel... this time (2nd time we rode it), we chose the swinging cars though... not sure how Molly would do.. but it was obvious that she loved it! As she would tense up as we began to fall and then just clap my arms as it came to the end of the fall, it was obvious she was having fun. As we walked off the ride she clapped and clapped the whole way up the ramp.  She loved it!

We  packed so much into five days and took very little time to rest. Molly was an absolute trooper! No matter what we threw at her, she handled it like a champ. She is such an amazing little girl we are so blessed to have her and so blessed to have been able to spend this Christmas season at Disneyland with her and the Bellamy family. Molly was really able to bond with her Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. It was such an amazing trip! We just feel so blessed!

Molly and Grandma Bellamy

Half the family

Uncle Kevin and Molly - captivated by the fireworks show!

 

Cousin Whitney wasn't walking fast enough while getting onto Pirates...

Grandpa Bellamy and Molly

Molly giving loves... so sweet!

Molly and Cousin Sarah

Newport Beach

Nick, Aunt Carrie, and Molly

The Eventful Thanksgiving of 2010

We spent this Thanksgiving at my Mom and Dad's. Everyone was there except for Chris and Ashley (maybe one of these days we will get to spend Thanksgiving with them. We sure do miss them!). Mom (now known as Nana) made a delicious dinner that started out with a yummy butternut squash soup. While cutting up the squash, I had, what I believe to be, an allergic reaction. My skin got all tight and almost like they were burned and cracked. I googled online and found a whole bunch of entries with the same symptoms from butternut squash. I guess it is some sort of a reaction to the squash. Well, that was fun, but I put some lavender oil on it and it went away within a few hours. After our delicious dinner, we were sitting around the living room relaxing, while the boys were in the middle room hanging out. All of the sudden Molly walks in to the front room and starts vomiting this white, foamy stuff. I freak out and immediately think she has swallowed Drano. I begin screaming "what did she eat" and completely freaking out. We swept her mouth and found a piece of deodorant. We then found the container of deodorant that was the culprit. She had only taken a penny sized bite, but of course I was still in panic mode. and trying to call poison control - but I couldn't get my phone unlocked because I am was such a panic. Someone finally found the number and called for me. Utah's poison control center is amazing! She was so nice and calmed me down. We gave Molly some milk and watched her for a bit. She seemed to be doing much much better after she threw it up. A few hours later the poison control lady called back to check on Molly and Molly was doing great. So scary!!! And to top it off... it was my deodorant :( Terrible mother!!!

Then Brad, Jamie, Dad, Nick and I went to a movie - Unstoppable. If you haven't seen it, you must see it - it is amazing! (Okay, this part wasn't eventful, but it sure was C-O-L-D outside!)

When we got back to my Mom and Dad's, Nick and I relaxed downstairs for a bit. When we decided to head upstairs for bed, we turn off the TV - and the lights were already out. While trying to find my way upstairs, I tripped over Molly's little lawn chair.. and then the sofa... and then a backback... and then I found myself on the floor screeching in pain - pain like I had never felt before. Now mind you, I have broken many bones in my life and even torn all the ligaments in my ankle once. This was nothing like that. Nor was this anything like 15 hours of natural labor... this was much worse. I felt my arm to see if it was broken and that is when I realized something was terribly wrong... yes, my elbow was dislocated. I screamed for Nick to come "fix it" (I have watched way too much T.V. in my day... Michael Weston (Burn Notice) just popped his shoulder back into place like nothing. So I figured that is all that needed to happen - never thought through HOW that needed to happen). Nick ran to grab my parents. I just knew that my Dad would be able to fix it... after all what were all of those years of scouting for, if not to re-locate his daughter's elbow. That is when he informed me that we needed to go to the E.R. "No", I screamed, "I can't make it!" (It is a 20 minute drive and I was certain that death would succumb be before we made it there). They tried to get me up off the floor - which was in itself, possibly more painful than the injury itself. They wrapped me up and buckled me in the car (in what as possibly the most uncomfortable position I could have put my arm in, but I had to be buckled). Dad and Nick took me to the hospital. That 20 minute drive on the icy, bumpy roads, seemed like it would never end. Finally, we get to the E.R. and start checking in. Of course she has to ask every single bit of information about us that she can (like we aren't in the IHC system or something!). Finally a nurse came around the corner and asked what was wrong. I told her and she promptly whisked me back to a room (THANK YOU!). There were about 5 nurses hooking me up to things and asking if they wanted to cut my sweater off - of course, I am too cheap, so I endure the pain of taking it off. After what seems like forever, they put me under anesthesia. As I realize what is happening, I think it prudent to tell Nick some important information, in case I don't wake up (half joking - but half serious). I only get out "Always brush Molly's hair. Don't let her leave the house uncombed). They promise me that when I wake up it will feel significantly better... ... ... .. then I wake up... and ask when they are going to do it, because it still hurts as bad as when they put me under! I guess I am one of those "lucky ones" that re-setting doesn't help the pain on. So, as I patiently wait for some pain meds, Nick informs me of the 2nd important item that I told him as I was going under (this one I do not remember)... "Always use essential oils..." LOL! It is ingrained in my psyche! Finally after being there for at least an hour, if not two - they give me some pain meds. Three hours later we head home. We spend until Saturday night letting Mom take care of me - and of course Molly. It was such a blessing that this happened at their house where we had the help, not only with Molly, but with me to baby me back to health. Thanks Mom and Dad! Then Sunday morning, at 9am, I spoke in Sacrament meeting while completely dosed up on pain meds. I'm sure it was an awesome talk (I don't remember much)!

I have attached some pics. Unfortunately I missed pics on the day that it looked its worst, but these give you a good idea. I still don't have a great deal of range of motion, and it hurts like the dickens if I bump it or move it into certain positions, but overall it is healing well. It will take a very long time though.

Now for a cute thanksgiving pic of Miss Molly: