Bike MS Century

It was finally here...... Or is it OMGoodness it's here??????

Either way. Yesterday it was time for the Bike MS Century ride.  What is a Century?  I have now decided that it is for crazy people that want to show off and burn A LOT of calories in a short amount of time....
JUST KIDDING.... Becuase, that would mean that I would have to admit that I am crazy........
Anyhow, Brian, Vincent and I set off at 3:00am to reach Sedona, AZ.  One of Vincent's friends, Meaghan was such a sport and spent the night so she would be here to watch Amanda in the early am.... (she still decides to wake up at 6am :( or earlier)
 Thanks to Brian, Vincent and I were able to sleep for the 2 hour drive. (helped since I didn't get off work until 10pm) The first thing I noticed was the snow :(  Wait really?  It's the 2nd week of April.  I knew we were North but that North....... I hadn't noticed how cold it was due to the large quilt I was wearing.  (we try not to use the heat due to it making Brian completely uncomfortable.)
That moment came..... After I had noticed while waiting in the car it had hailed, snowed and rained; for us to get out of the car and get ready. WHAT WERE WE THINKING?????  It was a nice warm 41degrees outside... ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? 
Vincent being the champ and well pretty much not so smart teenager decided to start in his bike short and bundled up on top.  Me, completely not worried about looking cool at my age.  I was beyond bundled up.  :) 
7:15 and the horn sounded.... Oh I was so incredibly nervous.  We decided to start at when the pack had already passed by.  (no way was I going to ride in the hot mess)
We were making pretty good progress as both of us were shiffering and dreaming about the ride being over.  Of course being a teenager and much more fit than I, Vincent went ahead and I fell back.  He waited for me at the first rest stop.  Seeing how I knew he was riding much faster than I was, I knew that the clothes I had were much better against the wind than his.  So, since the tempature had dropped we decided we would trade clothes....
From then we were both riding seperate.  It was so cold that I had text Brian to get us full gloves (cycling gloves are half) and some kind of feet warmers and meet us at the next rest stop.
A whole day of getting lost, (signs were horrible) rain, hail, snow and lightening we were beyond happy to be completed..........
It overall was fun and such an accomplishment for all of us.  A special thank you to Brian who was the BEST Pit Crew Cheif, and our only help :) I think he was just as tired as we were at the end of the day. 
We would like to publicly Thank some of our SPECIAL supporters.  With out your donations or support, this journey would have never happened.  Thank you so much for helping us become closer to make and help find a cure for Mutliple Sclerosis. 

Ms. Carla Miller

Mr. Steve and Shannon Cook

Trina Diaz & Kevin Lamkin

The UTI Foundation

The Cavaletto Family

Linda J. Nelson (Grandma Linda)

Deborah A. Diaz

Mr. Chris & Tina Nelson

Mr. Chris & Erin Holland

Ms. Crystal Brock

Grandma Eva Shoemaker

Grandpa Mike Cain

Mr. Christopher Pugh

Mr. Matthew & Erica Diaz

Brian has been so great to keep up

with the maintenance on our bikes

And this is what we woke up to

time to get started :( 

Vincent ready to go.... me obvi

I was still trying to warm up

Maybe if I stretch it will help

Over 800 riders!!!!!

And we're off!

First rest stop after

changing clothes with

each other and Vincent staying

up and me falling behind :)

I was telling myself

these were motivational

clouds

Yes, Yes those white

spots were hail

AAAAHHHHHH off

the saddle and into the warm

car

It was a great day with BIKE MS SEDONA.........

Now for our next venture...

In two weeks May 5, 2012 Santa Barbara MS Walk/Run

Train for the So CAL Coastal Century ride in October 5, 2012 and

the MS PF Chang Marathon in January 19, 2013........

Easter Sunday

We woke up Sunday morning and headed off to Church... It was a beautiful day at Church.  I enjoyed the speakers and the spirit that was throughout the meetings. 
After Church the kids looked out the front door... Guess who had come?  That's right... The Easter Bunny.
It was such a great Easter Sunday... We are so blessed to be together. 

Vincent opted to not sit on the Easter

Bunny's lap this year :(

Dad even hid eggs for Vincent

 

He is such a good brother to help her

She got the hang of it

pretty quickly

Our Baby Girl is 1

I can't not believe that is has been a whole year since Amanda has entered our lives.  Life sure has changed with her around.  There is not a day that doesn't go by that I just watch the two children luv conversing and spending time with each other. 
It is such a blessing to be able to sit back and watch her grow... Watch Vincent help mold her and realize that each day truly is a blessing. 
I scrambled my brain for a great place to eat. Since we take Vincent out for his birthday every year we decided we would take Amanda.  We trecked over to the town of Tempe.  I know I make it sound so far but it is 45 min!  Anyhow.... We ended up at Rainforest Cafe.... Such a treat.  I remembered taking Vincent there when he was a toddler.  I just knew Amanda would luv it!

Birthday girl

I thinnk they both want one

for their rooms :)

She is enjoying the mac and cheese

Vincent so very proud of the size

of his burger

I was so thankful the hostess sat us

next to the Elephants.  They move around

and ROAR every ten minutes and

ROAR even louder during the tropical

storm that happens every 15 minutes

throughout the restuarant

Happy Birthday to our Baby Girl!!!!!!!!

Brian BIG Heart

On Monday the 2nd of April Brian ended up having to be admitted to the hospital.  I pretty much forced him to go to the ER. (he wouldn't let me take him) His heart beat was 185.  That is just a little out of the ordinary we will say. 
I called my brother on the way to the hospital.... Pretty much told him he can never come back to visit.... Seeing how the last time Brian was admitted into the hospital was when my Brother was visiting. 
It was all just a distraction for me... When your luvd one has heart problems it really makes you stop and think..... I entered the Emergency room and asked to be taken to my husband.  The EMT (?) escorted me upstairs and pointed to two gentlemen.  I looked at her and said "ah, I'm looking for my husband, Brian Nelson, biggger guy, tattoos, heart problems." "Oh, that guy, we had to stop his heart, he is down stairs."
OKAY REALLY, who trains these people...... I had all I could do to just look at her and smile. Calmly asked me to take her back down there.
This is what I was escorted to:

Brian can't stand this picture but I am posting it anyhow..... :)

They ended up having to "restart" his heart twice... Yes, no joke.  They gave him medicine twice that stopped and restarted his heart. 

He was discharged that night and all has been well since? 

Of course he is now required to stop drinking so much soda, start yoga and meditation and well excerise.  Even though all of those things are so hard for him to do with the Sarcoid and MS....

We will keep you updated with his prognosis as he has an appt with the Cardiologist next week :)

My Crazy Brother & SIL

Well, to tell you the truth, they are not crazy..... My brother on the other hand... He.... pretty much is.  But he is a fun kind of crazy.  They were so nice to come visit us the last weekend in March.  Luckily there was alittle bit of heat.... (My brother LUVS the pool.)
We are always so grateful for visitors and it is always so much fun spending time with family.  I will say though, I always need a vacation after spending time with my brother..... The age difference is killing me... He is such a night owl.
We had so much fun having a impromtu birthday party for Amanda.  Auntie Erica was adimit about making her a special birthday cake :)
We are so grateful for their visit..... Looking forward to the next. 

We always start off with Fondue

when they visit... (Auntie Erica

taking pic, I am at work)

Of Course we had to

introduce the Roller Rink to

them... This is the best pic I

could get of Vincent and friend

Meaghan.

We KNEW it... of course

Uncle Matty Matt LUVD it!

Brian opted not to Roller Skate

this time... I'm showing off my way

cool Roller Derby socks. (I didn't

take any to work and had to buy some)

I really don't know how to describe

this picture but ODD....

Auntie Erica made the Cutest

Birthday cake for Amanda

One of our friends came and

made balloons for the neighbor

kids

Not too sure about this cake

stuff

I LUV this picture of the two of them

A visit is not complete unless my brother

and I bowl at least one game.

Of course..... I won. (he begged me to

play another 4 more :( )

Last but not least,

Pedi's before they leave. 

Erica and I lUVD the relaxation.

Brian..... giggled and squirmed the whole

time... It was his first pedicure :)

WE LUV YOU UNCLE MATT AND AUNTIE ERICA.....

THANK YOU FOR COMING TO VISIT!!!!

So Thankful for Insurance

Monday evening a couple weeks ago we were having dinner and received an invitation to go Roller Skating.... Yes, There are still roller rinks around.  I couldn't believe it.  I opted to not skate at first.... Brian on the other hand was ALL about it.... Oh great.... Let's just say after two crashes, he was done.  I was so thankful for it being Amanda's bed time... :)

Coming Home With a Tatoo

Vincent went to a Birthday party with a friend a couple of weeks ago.... and THIS is what he came home with! (it was rather funny) His friend assured me that she too received a tatoo and hopefully that made me feel better :)

First Adventure Outside

These pictures say it all.......

Wednesday Playgroup

One of the ladies in our Ward has organized a playgroup at the park nearby on Wednesday mornings.  I honestly wish I could say that I am a regular.  Unfortunately I am not.  Wednesday's are my only day off, often times I am trying to catch from the last week and prepare for what is ahead.  I was so proud of myself when I made it two weeks ago.  Amanda had SO much fun we continued playing after we got home.

She LUVS the swings

Camille, who so graciously organized

the weekly playgroup

Our first time on the slide

She had so much fun at the playground

we decided to relax in the pool (or

at least our feet)