MS Fundraiser BBQ

I have starting to stress out about this MS Marathon.  YES!  I am THAT crazy I signed up for PF Chang MS Marathon in January 2013.  I am not stressing about the run.... well okay I am but of my stress is going towards raising the $1,750.00.  I am ALMOST there... But it's almost....
I decided at the last minute to host a BBQ Fundraiser at the Nelson's Nest.  It was a last minute project that I wasn't sure I was going to be able to pull off. 

Team BRIANATERS!!!!!!!!

Thank you to my BIL who made us all shirts!

Luvd our Costco trip.  Wasn't that bad.  Only one overfull basket.

Corina, our very dear friend started on the cookies for sale.

Team BRIANATERS from MS Santa Barbara Walk/Run in May of this year. 
The BBQ was $5 per person or $20 per family.  Included hamburger, hot dog, chips and soda. 

 

THE BRIANATER

It's time to eat.

Those that were not ready to eat, played!

Amanda and her Birthday twin.  Eden. They were both born April 5, same hospital, same floor.  Just a couple hours apart.  They melt my heart!

These MEN deserve a HUGE THANK YOU!!!!!! I turned around to find my sliding glass door off the frame.  Low and behold, they all had to decided to fix "that horrible door".  We thought it couldn't be done.  The door was so incredibly hard to open or close that an adult had to use all their strength.  No joke.  After a couple of trips to the hardware store and a couple of burgers later..... We had a new door.  We were so amazed.  AND..... So GRATEFUL!!!!! Such a blessing to know such wonderful serving men...

 

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE MS BBQ!  IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS AND A TON OF FUN.

Tara's Plate

I have started another Blog..... This is a little more personal

www.tarasplate.blogspot.com

Catching Up! Is that Possible?

A lot has happened since April.  We are now well into the 3rd week of June.  Where did April and May go? 
What has happened?  Well First of all, I have lost all pictures from March until the first week of June. :(  We had to get Brian a new phone AGAIN due to his new sleeping habits.  He tends to hit, jump and well be distructive in his sleep.  For the second time I found his drink tipped over on his phone.  Needless to say it was not coming back to life.  But with that.... He took my phone, I got the new phone and did not download everything correctly. 
So, I am sorry if there are not pictures of all of you.... I only have a couple. 
We spent the 1st weekend in May in Santa Barbara.  For the Annual Multiple Sclerosis walk and Amanda's 1st Birthday.  It was a lot of fun. 

On the Road Again

Brian and Linda

Birthday Girl Tina with Chris

it was Rogers (not pictured)

birthday too!  ha ha  

Chris Nelson Family

MS walk/Run 2012

Zack Nelson took 5th place overALL

Brian Nelson Family

Not pictured: Roger Arroyo Family

Linda Nelson

Eva Shoemaker

Found a PIC of the

BRIANaters!!!!!

May 5, 2012

Santa Barbara, CA

New Life in Daycare

We have decided it would be best if we placed Amanda in daycare a couple days a week.  Now that she is 13 months old she never ever stops and no longer takes long naps.  Brian on the other hand, does stop, and now takes longer naps than she does. With me working 6 days a week... It seemed like the only reasonable answer... The only question was where? 
I truly believe that Heavenly Father does place people in our lives for a reason. (I am believing that more and more everyday)
Vincent has a friend in our Stake whose mom has ran her own daycare for the past 13 years. I have to add that she comes highly recommended.  Not only does she have family in our Ward that we just adore, her daughter is a great friend of Vincents and to top it off; she makes the best Chicken Salad Sandwich I have ever had. 
We are so Thankful that she had an opening.... (Like I said, Heavenly Father has a hand in everything)

She is having so much fun!!!!

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful Daycare provider....

Thank YOU to Heather McKinstry!!!!!!

First Swim of the Season

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........

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 :)

Brian is staying busy

When we first moved into this house more than a year ago there were a couple screens on the windows.  As time passed our dog Raven decided she would eat them while we left her at home.  Served us right!  Right?  I mean after all, she didn't want to stay home alone.
The seasons are starting to change her in Phoenix.  Yes, when I say that I mean from COLD to HOT. In an instant.  It's crazy.  This we have been blessed with some in between weather.  Brian is in HEAVEN.  We have not had the heater on for quite some time now.  For the rest of us it means we wear sweatshirts and our slippers all the time.  That darn heat is such a trigger for Brian's MS and Sarcoidosis. 
We have been blessed to be paying off some bills these past few months and doing a little better it seems.  So, With that Brian has been a busy bee around the house.  This weeks project, weather inflicted was the screens.  He has been making the frames and then placing the screen material in them.  We chose a screen that is suppose to be dog durable and shade the sun.  (sigh) I have to admit that it is money well spent.  And even though it is time consuming and my kitchen table is scratched (due to Brian needing his own work shed now) I LUV the feeling and sound of having my windows open during the day.  (hopefully it helps with the darn dog smell :( )
He has done a couple and now working on the other side of the house.... Boy, I am so grateful for a husband that can do these things.... The quote from the Screen Mobile was outrageous. 

Before: We had two old screens

on the two small outside windows.

After: I can not believe what a difference

it makes in our front room... And... it

sure does look better. Kuddos to Brian.

Unexpected Trip

I mentioned in my last post that Brian had spent a couple of days in the hospital. 
We decided that the best medicine for him would to be with family.  And what a better time, since everyone was going to be celebrating Katie's birthday.
So, the afternoon after he was discharge we headed out for a road trip.  We are so blessed with good little travelers.  It was a long eight hours but so incredibly worth the drive. 
It was such good therapy to spend time with family. 
Of course our main reason for going was to celebrate our neice, Katie's 1st Birthday.  I mean really...... We all know the 1st one is the best one.
Thank you to the Arroyo's for letting us stay with them.  The guest house was far beyond our expectations.  (Good Luck Chris...... Not sure you are going to be able to have use of it while camping)
Thank you to my siblings for our BBQ (Trina and Kevin hosting) and breakfast at our normal spot Sunday morning...(Holland Family... You are too kind)
Warning you..... There are A LOT of pictures. 

Amanda ready to go!

All Nelson Grand daughters

Amanda, Isabel, Katie & Jamie

Morning tea, with 3 generations

Auntie Tina & Unkie Chris playing not

so nice with Daddy...... :)

Unkie Brian and Birthday girl Katie

AAAAHHHHH.... Grandma Linda making

Crepes :)

Time for Pedi's

Luv these chairs....

Lisa, Linda, Tina and the girls

Of course after pedi's we HAVE to

do lunch at CPK.

Gavin & Gabe Garcia with Bri

Uncle Chris giving the

rules of the game.

Trina and Kevin

Auntie Angela, Quentin, Auntie Erin

and Auntie Erica

My nephew will only take pictures if I pay him

All cousins, and Jon E.

That's a lot of people

Father and Son

Diaz Siblings :)

Thank you Unlce Chris for Smiling,

Holland family. (I got Erin mid sentence)

Diaz & Lamkin

Vincent trying to beat up

on cousin Zack

Birthday girl Katie

Mommy and Katie

Some of the Nelson family.  This is the only pic

that I have that turned out.  :(  We are missing the

Arroyo's.....

Thank you to everyone.  It was a wonderful trip to see our families.  We enjoyed every minute of it.  Can't wait until May :)