My Sweet Mother's Helpers...Summer update #2!

This summer when I got out of the hospital, we flew two of my adorable cousins here to help me with Harrison while I continued doing my treatments at home. What can I say? I wanted to adopt these cuties and never let them go home!!! We had a blast and Harrison absolutely loved all the extra attention! Unfortunately, the week went way too fast!

On one of the days they were here, Ric took the three of them on a Harbor Cruise. He got some great photos, here are a few of my favorites:

When he pulled into my mom's driveway, I cracked up at all of them conked out in the back of his truck! Evidence of a pretty fun day?!?
It was sure hard to let these girls go home to Utah. I made them PROMISE we would have a repeat week next summer and the next...

Not only were they such an incredible help to me at a time when I needed them, I also just had so much fun with them, watching movies before bed and staying up late talking, having them come to Young Women's with me, and seeing them interact with Harrison! I know the week they were with us will be a highlight of the year for Harrison but it was also definitely a highlight for me!

Day 14...Ali's Wedding Extravaganza!

Tomorrow I plan on doing an update on Katrina. I don't have all the info. yet but please keep praying, there have been developments and I believe Katrina will get her miracle!

So...today I am going to share a few pictures from my cousin's wedding. I never really blogged about it, just about how going to Utah was super hard on my health. Never mind that! This is the FUN stuff!

This wedding was unbelievable. It was so special to be in the Temple with Ali and Eric. Ali is one of the most beautiful people I know. She's gorgeous yeah, but that's not the kind of beautiful I'm talking about. Her soul is beautiful. She is wise, kind, mature beyond her years, she has a strong faith and testimony of the love of her Savior, she is generous and pure and so so fun to be with. There is not a time that we are together that I don't end up splitting my gut laughing!

Check out this stunning couple:

After the ceremony:

I love this picture of me with my mom and Grandma. I don't know if I have any pictures of just the three of us.

The Reception: (Watching Ali dance with her dad was definitely the most touching moment of the night, they were both so emotional and full of love for each other. It was beautiful.)

I truly love Ali like a sister and was honored to spend this special day with her!


Day 14 of the Healthy Home Challenge: "Plastic Islands?!?!"

Even though this book focuses on creating healthier homes, it also discusses how plastic has an impact on our much larger world.

"If not recycled or disposed of properly, plastic ends up in our waterways, degrading so slowly that there are now massive "plastic islands" floating in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Bit by bit, lighters, trinkets, grocery bags, and containers break into smaller fragments that fish, marine mammals, and seabirds mistake for food. This can be a lethal mistake--both for the animals and for us.

Suddenly, the toxins we've worked so hard to avoid in our home are found in the marine food chain, where they will make their way back to our dinner tables."

There are many solutions to cutting down on the amount of plastic in our homes and in our environment, but one simple and inexpensive solution is to use reusable grocery bags. I see these for sale everywhere and have accumulated quite a few. I keep them in my trunk and use them as much as I can.

I am still getting in the habit of grabbing them before I go into the store and have forgotten, but as a part of this challenge am recommitting to be more diligent in using these. Today at Target I whipped out my reusable bag!!

Day 5...Walking away from my (health) problems...

I was blessed enough to attend my beautiful cousins wedding last month and although I have no regrets, the trip left me struggling health-wise. She was married in Utah and my mom and I drove and planned to stay for just a few days. I had been feeling strong and felt confident that I would do fine. I brought my portable oxygen concentrator with me in case I needed it.

Well, I was surprised at how breathless I was. I needed to be on my oxygen nearly the whole time. I have spent so much time in Utah over the years but this trip was really hard and it was eye opening. I'm realizing that my body is definitely not as strong as it used to be. My baseline has dropped and even just a few days at a higher altitude affected my lungs more than I expected.

Anyway, my mom and husband were both understandably worried and wanted to get me into the hospital right away. However, I felt like I was just there as I did 5 weeks of I.V.'s in February and March and couldn't do it. I just couldn't go in. I told them to give me a few days to rest and try to recover on my own.

Against Ryan's wishes, I dragged myself onto my treadmill. I cranked up my oxygen to 5 liters and just went slowly, very slowly. It was so tough the first time especially because my lungs were so tight. I kept a careful watch on my saturation and just kept going.

Everyday, I have been feeling more energy. I am definitely not back up to 100% but I'm honestly convinced getting on my treadmill despite feeling like I should actually be going to the ER prevented me from ending up there!

This week I got on the treadmill five times and walked a mile each time I got on. I have resolved to make this even more a part of my health routine as I can really see how it has helped me overcome this set-back.

P.S. Here's a picture of the gorgeous bride....have you ever seen something so beautiful it made you cry?! I wept when I saw Ali, she is an angel in my life and I will never forget being there on her special day! Totally worth it : )



Day 5 of Healthy Home Challenge:

This is another tip that costs nothing and is so easy to do.

The book talks about how toxins enter our homes and one of the ways is through our shoes. "Toxins don't just waft it--they also walk in." When we walk in our homes, our shoes track in dirt and other contaminants that can be harmful...especially if we have kids who are playing on the floor!

The simple solution is to have a basket by your door or a shoe rack in the garage where you can remove your shoes before entering the house. Of course you don't need a basket or a rack, the important part is just to remember to remove your shoes before walking through your house!

I put a basket by our front door so we can have a place to put our shoes when we come into the house. Easy!

****REMEMBER to let me know if you are applying any of these tips in your own home and I will send you your own copy of The Healthy Home book as a gift!!****

2010 Memories...

What a year!

This was an amazing year filled with experiences that will never be forgotten.

Here are a few of the highlights with pictures!

Disneyland Trip with cousins Abbey and Tony and their adorable family, and Maddie and Ali and their boyfriends

Visit from Chelsea and new nephew Alex

Visit from Somer for the CF Ladies Luncheon and winning the "Woman Who Takes Our Breath Away" Award

Ryan's trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp with Mom, Dax and Zak

Hawaii Trip with family

Harrison gets a big boy bed and starts Preschool

Watching Dax cross the finish line after this 50 mile run. His physical strength, willpower and endurance are a constant inspiration to me

The Annual CF Breath of Life Gala where my mom received the "Breath of Life" Award and I was the speaker

This year also had a few tough weeks...NINE to be exact. I was on I.V.'s for nine consecutive weeks this year and it was hard to say the least. However, I have said this before and I will say it again and again: Any trials I am called to bear are overcompensated by an outpouring of love and blessings from my Heavenly Father.

The darkest moments I experienced this year brought about some of the sweetest moments I experienced this year. Moments where my family rallied around me, fasted and prayed and helped with Harrison. Moments when I felt hopelessness turn into hope and felt a subtle reassurance that I would bounce back yet again.

These thoughts are for another post but just wanted to summarize here that although this was a difficult year in terms of my health, the good times definitely outweighed the tough times but I will remember the good and the tough because that is what gives me the strength to keep fighting!

(this is how many hours were spent during those difficult months of I.V. and double vest and breathing treatments. Harrison and Ryan were my cheerleaders and got me through the monotony of all the treatments!)

Love looking back on the past year in gratitude and looking forward to the next year with faith and hope for another blessed year!

Well Healed...A night of HOPE!

The annual C.F. Breath of Life Gala this year was definitely a night to remember. With my mom being honored and presented with the Breath of Life award by Robert Beall and my speech, it was a very eventful night. Having so much of our family and friends there made it even more special!

Arriving at the Aviara Park Hyatt


Congregating with some of the Larsen women!


My mom accepting her award, she is my angel!


Giving my speech...


and being COMPLETELY surprised by Harrison afterwards!!


Then being surprised and humbled by Uncle Dallin's generous donation. He is a true hero!


A happy family filled with hope for an incredible future!


My mom bought TONS of raffle tickets to try to win me an Electric Bike. Little did she know...


the owner of Green Cruiser was there that night and already planned to surprise me with a bike!!
(my mom said she attracted it and I TOTALLY believe her!) It was an AMAZING surprise!


The night ended on the dance floor with my little guy. A perfect ending to a perfect night!

Here is a copy of the speech I gave:

Nine years ago I spoke at this very event, the Breath of Life Gala. I was a nervous 22-year-old; partly because my boyfriend and his parents were in the audience. When I finished speaking, my boyfriend started walking towards the podium. I thought he was coming to escort me back to my seat so I was confused when he came up on the stage and took the microphone…until he dropped to one knee and pulled out a gorgeous ring. It was an emotional, magical moment. Of course, I said YES! 

When Ryan and I first started talking about marriage, I remember having mixed emotions and frankly, being frightened. I asked Ryan if he was really okay marrying someone with Cystic Fibrosis. I loved him so much and would understand if he wanted to be with a woman who didn’t have my physical limitations and who would be able to have children. I will never forget Ryan’s words to me that night. He told me that he couldn’t help who he fell in love with and CF was a part of who I was. He told me he loved all of me.

Ryan was right, CF is a huge part of who I am.  

Because of the way I was raised, I learned I can choose how to view my disease. My mom has the most amazing way of finding blessings in every situation. She instilled this in me and so although CF remains my toughest challenge, the lessons and blessings that come from living with a life-threatening disease have not been lost on me. I recently read a quote that struck me so powerfully, especially because I’ve been battling another serious lung infection.

“While you can’t shut out illness entirely, you can make your body a place where health thrives.”  I’ve learned there are many people without symptoms or illness that don’t experience and enjoy true health. Until there is a cure for CF, I can’t shut out illness entirely but every day I can strive to make my body and soul a place where health thrives. 

The irony is that living with CF has actually taught me the lessons that have been so valuable in facilitating healing. Without the perspective CF has given me, I’m not sure I would be so uniquely conscious and grateful for every breath of air I take into my lungs. That awareness is a blessing!

I’m not sure I would love with the same intensity and capacity. I held my little sister Lexi in my arms as she passed from this life to the next after her struggle with CF and transplant and you can be sure I do not take a single one of my precious relationships for granted. What a blessing! 

I don’t know that I would celebrate life as I do now. I’m never going to be one of those people who dread birthdays and fib about my age. When I was diagnosed at 14 months the doctor told my mom encouragingly that I may even live to the age of ten. I celebrate every birthday and want to shout from the rooftops…I am 31! Another blessing! 

I’m not certain I would have recognized all the miracles in my life. Albert Einstein said: “There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle or you can live as if everything is a miracle.” When I look at my 3 ½ year old son, I can think of all the medical reasons why I should not have been able to carry, deliver and take care of a baby and now an energetic toddler. I am so grateful for the indisputable miracle of not only being alive but of being a wife and a mother. This has been the greatest blessing! 

I might not have the relationship I do with my mom. She is my hero and I love her so deeply. Ten years ago my mom qualified for a trip to Hawaii. I wasn’t feeling 100% and she was hesitant to go, but I insisted. I didn’t want to ruin the trip she had been so looking forward to. However, after she left, my health spiraled downhill quickly and I was admitted into the hospital. I knew my mom was in the air but I left a message on her cell phone so she’d know what was going on. That night I went to sleep wishing she could be with me. When I woke up the next morning she was sitting on my hospital bed. I gasped… I could not believe it, I couldn’t even understand how it was possible! I just stared at her with this amazed, confused look on my face. She leaned over, kissed me on the forehead and while putting a beautiful lei around my neck, whispered, “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you yesterday…I had to fly to Hawaii to get you this lei.” 

She arrived in Hawaii, listened to her messages – and when she heard mine, went right back to the airport, flew through the night and took a cab to the hospital. This is the kind of mother she is. I have never ever felt alone…she has been beside me during every trial and every triumph.

She is being honored tonight and although I know she is uncomfortable receiving an award for something she says any mother would do, she is so deserving and I am so proud to be her daughter and so grateful to be the recipient of her love and devotion. My relationship with her is another of my greatest blessings. 

As I look around this room I want you to know that each of you bless my life. You are helping me along this journey in ways you might not even realize.

After Lexi received her double-lung transplant she went into rejection and was put in a medially induced coma that left her legs paralyzed. After about three months she was weaned off life support and able to come home but the paralysis remained. The young men and women in our church were going to go on a bike ride up to San Onofre and Lexi was heart-broken that she couldn’t participate. The plan was for Lexi to ride along with some of the leaders in a car. When we got to the meeting point, a dear friend of ours who happened to be a very good cyclist told Lexi he had a surprise for her and pulled a tandem bike out of his van. He said, “Lex, we’re going to do this together!” Lexi was nervous that she would slow him down and be too much of a burden for him but he just helped secure her feet to the pedals and then told her to peddle her hardest and he’d make up the difference. That bike trip meant the world to Lexi and I’ve never forgotten the kindness of that wonderful man.

You’ve done the same for me. Despite all the blessings, the burden of living with Cystic fibrosis can sometimes seem too much to bear. I feel all of you behind me pedaling, pushing, cheering me on. The emotional, physical and financial support you so unselfishly provide give me countless reasons to keep pedaling with all my strength.

I am not cured yet. I desperately want that and pray daily for that miracle for me, for my 9-year-old nephew Ben, for my 6-year-old niece, Lauren and for all who are fighting for every breath. But there is a reason I can stand in front of you tonight with 18% lung function and feel vibrant. I am healed by love, faith and hope. That is what tonight embodies. My cells are abuzz at a soaring frequency with the energy of generosity, determination and pure love in this room. Because of you, I not only see a cure…I can feel it. Thank you for being here tonight and God bless.