Delivering

I am pretty sure I have 12 loads of laundry to do.
I have successfully finished 2 loads and it is almost dinner time.
This August heat is killing me.
I am done with heat, summer, mowing, gardening, flowers, and A/C.
I am still hard at working on my book that comes out in the Spring.
Its hard to re-tell my accident and recovery.
It has been emotional and being pregnant doesn't help.
I find I cry at anything.

{on a side note:}
I am on my fifth deodorant since being pregnant becuase
I wear one for about a week and then it makes me sick.

My cousin Katie delivered a perfect little girl on Sunday.
She is adorable, dark, and a lovely size. (7 pounds)
It makes me so excited in anticipation for my peanut in the Spring.
I will deliver a baby and a book.

But first, I need to get over August.

***I bought my copy of Martha Stewart's Halloween, have you???****

I can go the Distance

Since lil peanut has joined my stomach, I haven't been feeling so hot.

Examples:
I can't go downstairs, the smell, oh, the smell. Not sure what it is, but it bothers me.
I got the children off for school today sans lunch because
I can't open the refrigerator. I just can't do it.
Unfortunately, I opened the garbage can today and then threw-up next to it right after.
I cry easy. I watched Disney's Hercules today with Nicholas for "quiet time".
I cried at when Hurc sings "Go the Distance".
I sleep with a gum wrapper stuffed up my nose and sleep with gum in my mouth.
That way, when I wake up the taste in my mouth doesn't kill me.

On top of that, I am dying for a cold, gray day complete with rain.
I can only handle so much sun...that's just me.

Thanks for coming.

Here is what I did last Thursday.
It was such a wonderful experience, and I always feel humbled when people come
to listen to hear me speak. I don't have anything very intellectual or profound to say,
but my message is of hope.
I just want everyone to know the blessings that come when we keep on going.
It's hard, I KNOW, but sooo worth it.
{Especially when you have 4 1/2 Lil peanuts living with you}
I also got to talk with Ethan and Alex on the "Nightside Project", very cool guys, it was an honor.

Nie asks on Blogher

***Nie asks on Blogher***
What summer flower is your favorite right now?

Me? I planted gladiola bulbs 2 years ago, and they are going strong, and beautiful!
Go here to tell me.

A note to you from Nie.

Its Friday and I am headed to Arizona with Mr. Nielson.
Lil peanut wont like the flight, and neither will I.
We are speaking at the Burn Symposium, and I feel honored to be a part of it.
I just don't feel super social right now. That is a crummy feeling.
Speaking of crummy, I am also feeling quite crabby too. {see my note below}
Happy Friday! Happy Weekend!

Just a little thought from me to you.
To all of you worried and wondering why the children don't have
life jackets or "safety vests"{ as some of you call it} on our recent
photo session with Blue Lilly (here).
I just want to maybe help you feel more at ease.
After the 500th e-mail I got yesterday about it, I thought I'd explain.
We wanted the photos to looked a little relaxed...just for the 1/2 hour we shot.
So we made the choice of photographing the family sans "safety vests". We were however, prepared with 3 water patrol officers, {in boats, which you don't see}
and 3 lifeguards on deck just in case. Oh, and one helicopter flying overhead-

We always make our children wear a life jacket- always, when we go boating.
Mr. Nielson and I feel very strongly about this.

As always, thanks for your concern.

-Nie.

I really want:
-tufo lettuce wraps
-peach snow cones
-beets drenched in vinegar

A post for you to think about.

Did you know that September is National Life Insurance Month?
Since this issue is dear to my heart, I am going to remind you to seriously
consider purchasing some sort of life insurance for your family!
Remember Mr. Nielson and I were this close to dying and leaving nothing for our children.
That burden would have been placed on my sweet family.
I am glad for so many reasons that I am alive, and that is one of them.

Mr. Nielson has started his own company called Beacon Beneficial because
of our convictions on this matter.
If you want to learn more, go here.
Either my Mr. Nielson can help you, or ask someone near you to get you set up.
Maybe Its not something that you think will effect you right now in your life.
Maybe its not even something you think you can
afford, but I think you will be surprised at what you can get.

I let Nicholas watch this cartoon today, and it has put me in a
bad mood ever since. It is the WORST cartoon alive.

Other reading here.

**Hey locals, will you be at Girls Night Out tonight in American Fork? It will be a treat. I am going to be there and will be speaking at 6:00. Hope you can make it.**

Being gratefully sick.

I woke up this morning and threw up. Just like every morning.
It happened just minutes after I spotted Nicholas drinking from my juice container.
The only blessed thing that helps me alive.
Now all I can think about is ketchup with eggs floating around the ginormous Costco-size juice-my juice, now wasted.
My mornings are hard, but when the children are all off to school, and I get to be just with Nicholas I take it all in, and my heart swells and I am super excited for lil peanut even more.
Mr. Nielson has made dinner these past few weeks. Mostly I sit in my room with a
piece of minty gum on and under my nose and pray for at
least 15 minutes of normalcy so I can shower.
Lots of times, it never happens.
But being grateful is still at the top of my list, the subject of all my prayers,
and the reason I am moving along.
{that and all the Halloween catalogs I get in the mail. How fun!}


**I am certainly getting a silver spoon from The Vintage Pearl
for Lil Peanut. They are classically beautiful.**

Back to School Feast 2011

...By small and simple things...

{Photos by Justin Hackworth}

Sunday evening was the annual Back to School Feast.
Our theme this year was selected by Mr. Nielson:
..." but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are
great things brought to pass "...
This bit of scripture was found and chosen from my favorite book
The Book of Mormon. {in Alma 37}

We discussed what that meant together as a family when we unveiled the theme.
We talked about Lil peanut inside of me and how small and
little he/she is but how one day he will be a big tangible blessing in our lives.
It also applied to making good simple choices in life now, making those crucial
decisions while young will effect so much later.
I felt the spirit. It was welcomed. {as usual}

The crowns were unwrapped and the children opened up
their beautiful glass stars. The tradition was started last year. I commissioned
local Ashley Baker to help create the stars.
{ rashreyk@yahoo.com}

And this year Piggy and Dirt {Kurt Knudsen} out of North Carolina
created these gorgeous stars for the children to enjoy.
I couldn't have been more pleased with the colors and way they were
wrapped and presented. It looked beautiful.
Kurt even made me a necklace with a mini glass star for my Lil peanut,
it resides around my neck.
Check out Kurt's etsy store here.

Our title engraved on the star with the date. I am so pleased.

To check out past Back to School Feasts
here-2008
here-2009
here-2010
AND, if you are interested in reading the book where I am getting
all of these beautiful quotes for our theme, I will send you your very own copy
for free! The Book of Mormon is my favorite book, and you will see why...
Go here to get yours. (free, no strings attached, I promise)

And, are you coming? Read about it here.
thanks to here , here and here for helping make my children really cute for school:)

Shoot

My friend Jake Johnson took this photo of me and Jane in October of 2003.
Jake is a fabulous photographer and a dear friend.
He lives in Arizona and is offering a photo workshop for those of you
who are hoping to "take things to the next level".
Go here to learn more about "Shoot".

Today is the first day of school.
We are excited here at the Nielson home.
Last night was our Back to School feast, pictures to come.
Happy Monday!

Lil Peanut is now about the size of a blueberry.
I think I must personally know 15 girls who are due when
Lil peanut is due. Popular time to conceive!

Nie asks on Blogher

**Nie asks on Blogher**
What summer activity will you miss most when summer ends?

Us? Swimming- Tell me here.

Lucy took me on a date tonight.

{Lucy and Nicholas months before my accident in my home in Arizona}

Tonight I went to a movie- just me and Lucy.
It was a nice distraction from the 'lil peanut making my stomach spin.
It was one of those days. I am going to bed now.

Its coming!!

I woke up sick again.
This is normal pregnancy gross sickness, but it sure gets old.
I wouldn't want it any other way. I am so happy to have little peanut inside of me.

Just a little FYI, Matthew Mead's beautiful Autumn magazine comes out soon and I want to make sure you have ordered your copy {since you can only purchase these online}
I share my family Back to School dinner with beautiful
photographs and recipes for the dinner too.
As some of you may know, Autumn is my favorite time of the year,
so I am especially looking forward to this magazine! Order yours here.

Have you gone to the Sweet Tooth Fairy lately?

Last week it was Nie Day at the Sweet Tooth Fairy.
I was so sick with lil' peanut, that thinking of smelling a cupcake sounded like death.
So I missed out. I am so sorry. Lets do a make-up ;)

Slushies.

{da da da da da daaa da du du du du du du. da da da da da daaa da du du du du du du
That is the Wizard of Oz witch song)

Thank you to all of your well-wishes on Nielson baby #5.
I am just barely along, but since I am deathly ill, I can't keep it much of a secret.
{especially on facebook, I feel sooo loved}

Today I went to the grocery store with my daughters and a man came up to me
and asked me what had happened, when I told him he responded with:

"Well, I'm used to talking and meeting with people who aren't normal.
I have a few of them in my family.
So, that is why I am not scared to talk to you"

I was shocked, and in my pregnancy state I began to cry and walked away.
I feel very fragile.
It was nice to come home to Mr. Nielson who took me on a motorcycle ride
through beautiful Provo this evening.
We also stopped at the snow shack and got a peach/lemon/lime slush.
A craving of mine.
I think I deserved it too.

A few announcements,
Girls Night Out...have you heard?
{Correction, I put Time out for Women, but meant Girls night out...
Sorry for the confusion!!}
I will be speaking at this free event. Information here.

*Fer fun*
Check this out. I love to bike!
{Favorite part of this picture, Jimmy peeing on the address pole. }

Some of you have asked where I shop for my girlies....mostly here.

3 years of miracles...and counting.

Do you know what today is?
Did you know that for me, today is a special day?
Do you know why?

Three years ago my life changed.
It changed beyond recognition.
Three years ago I was in my airplane accident that scarred Mr. Nielson and I
and killed our good friend and pilot Doug.

These three years haven't been easy.
In fact, most of those days I felt like I was in hell.
But today couldn't be further away.

Today, three years later, I am changing-physically, and emotionally.
My children are thriving and growing strong.
Our belief in God's plan for us is enhanced.
And to top it all off, I am pregnant.
Yes, you heard me...pregnant!!!!!
Miracles happen, I am one, my husband is one, and together we have made one.

I am so excited I can barely keep my lunch down...literally!
Welcome to the world baby Nielson #5!!

**Looking back**
August 16, 2008
August 16, 2009, here too.
August 16, 2010, here too.

Mr. Nielson and I will be speaking at the Seventh Annual Burn Care Symposium
For more information, go here.

Also, A very happy birthday to my sweet sister in law Megan!!
And, thanks to Jamie who took the wonderful peeps treats at the Maricopa Burn Center!!