And it's December.....

Where has this year gone? I can not believe it is already December and everyday keeps flying by. We started off the Holiday Season yesterday down in Provo. I ran the Santa Run 5k yesterday with Alisha and Sharie, it was so much fun! (A little chilly but fun.)
We also started to put up our Christmas decorations and Haigen just loves it. He keeps asking, "what's that?" about everything he sees. It is so fun that he will actually get Christmas this year.
We are looking forward to family get togethers and spending a quiet Christmas at home this year. Until next year :)

I am thankful for...

 

On Facebook lately I have been posting all the things I am thankful for on a daily basis and I thought I would do a post on our blog of all the amazing things that have happened in our life this year. Our family has so much to be grateful for, I don't think I can find the words to express it.

This year has brought many new medical hopes for Travis and his condition. We found a new therapy place in SLC called Neuro Works that specializes in Quadriplegics and Paraplegics. Travis therapist Matt is amazing and with the help of his students from the University of Utah they have come up with great ideas for Travis to do to strengthen the muscles in his legs to help him walk more independently.

Travis also had his Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted last month and now that he is recovering from the surgery he is realizing how much this device helps not only with his pain but his sleep, which is just an added bonus.

Haigen is of course a happy, healthy 1 ½ year old that is smarter than a whip and makes us so proud everyday with all the new things he picks up on.  We are so blessed to have a healthy little boy who is developing exactly how he is supposed to. He is the joy of our lives and couldn’t have imagined parenthood to being such an amazing blessing in our lives.

This year as well Travis and I are so thankful for the grace of God and finding him in our lives. We were baptized earlier this year into the Christian church and have found our church home at Mountain View Fellowship. We have come to grow in our faith and have met so many amazing life long friends there.

As for me I am so thankful for the education that I have received and am able to use in my career and provide for my family. I am really enjoying the change from the Severe Program to working with the mild/moderate students this year and working on the Reading Intervention team. I also am so blessed to work with such an amazing group of women that are some of my best friends.

We are most importantly so grateful and blessed to have the greatest family anyone could ask for. They are always there for our family, supporting and loving us no matter what comes our way.

We love each and every one of you and are so grateful to have all of you in our life!



Halloween Half Marathon Oct. 28th, 2011

Today I ran the Halloween Half Martahon from the top of Sundance Alpine Loop to Riverwoods Mall. It was a blast! This was my 5th Half Marathon since I started running 3 years ago and I have loved everyone of them. I am planning on training and running the Provo Full Marathon next June eek :) It is amazing what great therapy running is for the soul.I challenge any of my friend's  or family who have always wanted to do a race to sign up for one, even if it is just a 5k. It is the best motivation ever. Here is a picture of me in my costume for the run.

Cornbellys Oct 22nd, 2011

Today we took the kids to Thanksgiving Points Cornbellys. We had a blast! I was blown away how much stuff they had for the kids to do. We played on the pillow trampolines ( Aunt Megan and I got yelled at to get off), watched the pig races, played in bounce houses and just enjoyed watching the little ones run from one spot to the next, to make sure that they didn't miss anything. Kristin took some awesome pictures with her camera. Here are a few.



 ARR! Look at these cute pirates!

 Aren't they little heartbreakers. Lock up your daughters.

 Milking the cow.

 Love this shot and their expressions.

 I think all the kids would have stayed on the pillow trampoline all day.

 Audrey is not going to smile:)

 WEEEE!

Cute Hellmann Family!

UVU Halloween Party! Oct. 17th, 2011

Here is our little Pirate! We went to a party at UVU on Monday. It was cute lots of crafts and games. Now looking forward to take Haigen trick or treating this year.

 He loves coloring!

Surgery Day! Oct. 13th, 2011

Travis had his Spinal Cord stimulator implanted on Oct. 13, 2011. After arriving at the hospital at 11 and surgery not being done until 2:30 Trav made is out of surgery.

The surgery went great Dr. Nathan his Nuero surgeon said and after a couple weeks of recovery that he would be feeling good. He was in alot of pain the first couple days but it seems to be settling down and he is feeling more comfortable. We went down on Monday the 17th to Nexus Pain Clinic and had the device turned on. It is working better than the trial Trav say's and we are looking forward to see what the future brings with this device. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, phone calls and meals. We are so blessed to have such great family and friends around us!

This is trav coming out of recovery and wanting his Oreo's and Coke :)

Utah State Trip!

Two weekends ago Travis went hunting so Haigen and I meet up with Aunt Meg and baby Lawson and headed to Utah State to see Aunt Kel and Uncle Drew. We went to dinner and attempted a bath together with the cousins( Haigen does not like to share his bathtub). We sleep over and Uncle Drew was even nice enough to give up his bed to Aunt Meg and Lawson. We did a little shopping and just enjoyed spending time together. I hope as sisters we can do this more often, it was so much fun!

                                                      Megan showing off Lawson's package :)

                                      

                                                              

                                                   Being so mean and feeding Lawson a Lime

                                                                         Bath time!

                                   Haigen being mad Lawson is in the tub with him.

                                                                Tired from shopping!

ZOO Fun in October! (and other cute pictures)

A couple a weeks ago Haigen and I went with some friends to the Hogle Zoo. We had so much fun and weather was perfect. Haigen loved the Gorillas and the Giraffes the most. We went on a train ride and feed the ducks! It was such a blast!
Here is Haigen wearing Daddy's gear :)

 Yelling at the "GUCK, GUCK's."

                                                      Mommy and Haigen riding the train!

                                                             Locked in his bedroom!

                                             Do you think he looks just like his Daddy or what?

And it's September ...

     Wow where does the time go? I cannot believe it is already September 1st. August was a great month for a family with alot going on.
     We got moved back into our house after our neighbors toilet overflowed for hours and flooded our master bedroom and bathroom, Travis had is trial done for the Spinal Cord Stimulator and it was a huge success and helped him and Haigen and I enjoyed our last couple weeks of summer together before school started.
     I am now back to work full time but enjoying my new job as a resource teacher and all the time I have to spend with my students. Travis is still working until October and will be getting the Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted on October 13th so we are excited to get that done and over with. Haigen has started at his new daycare and is liking making some friends even though he is adjusting to not being home with mommy or daddy.
    Another big and wonderful thing that happened to our family this month is that Travis and I were baptized into the Christian church. It was an amazing and wonderful day with friends and family. We got baptized at Deer Creek and the water was a little chilly but such a wonderful and amazing day!
Here are some pictures from the month of August of our fun adventures!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!!

During Fair Days here in good old Heber we entered Haigen into the baby contest in the category of Talented Tot. We thought we would have him ride his bull and be dressed up in all his cowboy gear!
Well our idea was fabulous because he toook 1st place in the Talented Tot category and did so so good. (We are proud parents can't you tell!)

The video is below of the big event! Enjoy!

July 27th, 2011

        Haigen is 15 months old today! It is crazy how much our lives have changed having a little one now. He is such a smart little boy and is starting to talk more and more every day and always wants to know, "What's that?" He loves to say, "What's up and Hi to."
He loves feeding himself and even though it is a mess he looks so dang cute doing it!
          As for Trav and I we are just keeping busy dealing with our house being flooded again by the upstairs neighbors toilet, this time it flooded our master bedroom and bath so as for now we are staying at Grandpa Chuck's and Grandma Angela's waiting for the insurance to process the claim and then wait for repairs to be done.

          Travis still enjoying his summers mowing lawns and hanging out with us when he gets home and hoping to get some more camping trips in before school starts. I am still teaching summer school for 2 more days ( I am not counting down or anything ;) and then am looking forward to spending the rest of my summer playing with Haigen before school starts. We already have some fun zoo trips, playdates and pool time planned out to make sure we get it all in before our summer is gone.