24/7, 730 days

 

Nicholas, 5, holding his new sister, Lottie, on her BIRTHday.

I love this picture so much!

I remember how excited he was to hold Lottie in the hospital.

Then about 1 minute later, he looked at me and said,

"Ok, I'm done."

Today, we spoke to Gigs in Slovakia.

He's happy, and he LOVES this area and his companion.

I am so grateful that he feels this way in his first area. 

It's fascinating to see how differently my four missionary 

children have approached their missions. 

Gigs' attitude is typical for him; 

he has always been such an easygoing kid.

He's pretty accommodating, but also very opinionated.

This 24/7, 730-day service in Slovakia will not only help him develop

a closer relationship with the Savior and the people he is serving,

but he'll grow into a man, leaving all selfish traits.

I can already see it.

Halloween 2025

We celebrated Halloween.  

Somehow, I pulled off a dinner (I even made chili!)

We had the usual Halloween dinner suspects:

dry ice with root beer

charcuterie board covered with flies and bugs

sourdough bread and

Jane made cookies, which we didn't eat because I think

we were all sugared out.

I must have had 100 Snickers and 100 Tootsie Rolls throughout the day

 not because I wanted to eat treats, but because this pregnancy has made me

have the WORST taste in my mouth ALL THE TIME, and 

so I keep eating sugary stuff.

This pregnancy has been so strange.

After dinner, we drove out of Stillstead country

and into our old neighborhood so Lottie could

find her friends, and we could see the fun decorations and 

watch the kids running around.

I love Halloween.

Earlier this morning, Jane and Lottie (who skipped school)

went to a Barre3 class at the studio, both wearing matching Halloween bows.

I was sad to miss the class, but vigorous exercise physically hurts

my super non-stretchy pregnant skin.  So I'm skipping out.

Next year I WON'T be pregnant and WILL have a little

baby girl whom I get to introduce ALL my favorite 

Halloween everything's!

I get to read ALL my Halloween books to her,

and watch ALL my favorite Halloween cartoons together.

It can't come soon enough!

Validating

 

Today was NOT a good day.

The morning expected throw-ups lasted ALL DAY.

I was also very super emotional. 

It hurts to work out in the studio,

And my nausea meds make me dizzy.

Christian took me in the truck to go for a ride.

It was nice to get out.

And, I love feeling baby six move around in my belly,

 it's so validating and gives purpose to my many woes.

It's Been Two Months

It's been two months since I last checked in with the NieNiedialogues!  
Every day feels like a battle.  This pregnancy has been complicated.  

Between the 24/7 nausea, loss of energy, a touch of depression, and physical pain 

(burns and pregnancy are really painful), 

I've only been able to do the very, very minimum to survive.
But baby six is growing healthy (and happy- she never stops moving); 

I'm now entering my 6th month.

Christian told me, as I complained and cried to him last night in both pain and frustration, 

to focus on growing baby six right now, and he'll take care of the rest.  

And he will- and does! But for me, while I am incredibly grateful, 

every day, my world moves on without me, and I feel like I miss the train every day.  

This is a feeling that only women can understand, because we

carry guilt alongside our numerous responsibilities anyway.  
I've been in this situation before—sick and bedridden, relying completely on others.

It's not a comfortable place to be, and I sometimes wonder if

 God thought I didn’t learn the lessons I needed from those experiences,

so I'm here again.
I know God doesn't work like that, but I wonder.

I'm going to back-blog and catch up for the last two months. 

So much has happened, and for the sake of posterity, 

I want to document it all.

As I type this, October is displaying its beauty outside my window, and 

that is bringing me so much joy.

God Had A Hand In This

 Today I walked outside to get some fresh air and noticed a 

few pumpkins growing on my fence.

Those pumpkins grew from seeds of a pumpkin I threw over

 the fence after Halloween last year.  I love that they just grew on their own.

I think God had a hand in this.

He knew it would make me so happy,

and He knows I need some cheering up.

Gigs In The MTC #3

All is well for Elder Nielson in the MTC.

He's learning more and more, although today he did

tell me he was bored.

That's a bad word in our house.

How could he be bored in the MTC? 

Typical Gigs.

Of course, he HAD to take the pic with Uncle Topher as Paul.

Such a sacred picture for our family.

 

Barre3 Summit 2025

 After dropping Ollie off, Christian and I flew 
to our Barre3 Summit conference in Portland, Oregon.

It was really great taking classes and attending sessions

to help us succeed and flourish in our studio.

I would usually sit in the back during conferences so I had easy access

to the bathroom for the throw-ups.

Then, unfortunately, we both got really sick, and then my life

became a blur, and I don't even remember much.

One day during the summit, I didn't even get out of bed.

What a waste.

The throw-ups were real this trip.

It was overall miserable.

There was even one day I forced myself out of bed

because Barre3 wanted to interview me, and I showed up

 in my Oompa Loompa jumper.

There are days in my life when I look at myself in the mirror

and want to die.  Who am I?

It was nice to pack up and go home.

It's exhausting to always look for the nearest bathroom or exit

everywhere we go.

Throw-up anxiety is a real thing.

Goodbye Olls

 

Today, we made another run to the local Walmart, where

EVERYONE AND THEIR DOGS were getting stuff for college

dorms.

The lines were hours long.

After loading up his apartment with all the necessities, 

we grabbed lunch (of course, Cafe Rio) and then said our goodbyes.

One of his mission buddies had lunch with us, and then

when we were done eating, they took off.

Ollie didn't even turn around for a wave or anything; he just walked ahead

disappearing into the crowds of college kids on campus.

It was so bittersweet for me.

Gigs In The MTC #2 /Ollie at College

 

In between shopping and stocking for Ollie's apartment, 

we got to talk to Elder Nielson in the MTC.

He's doing great, but is already sick of the food.

Oh boo hoo, it must be hard having three meals a day,

especially since you didn't have to cook it or clean it up.

Boysssssss.

He found his cute cousin, Luke, also in the MTC. He

 is going to Brazil.

These boys are so cute and are going to do great things!

Luke's sister, Chickie, is also pregnant and due in December.

Both of these boys will be coming home to meet 

new toddlers for the first time!

But the lines at Walmart......

Enchilada Style

 Today, we left Jane at the studio on our way to Idaho to drop Ollie off at college. 

I'm so excited for Ollie to start this new chapter in his life, and so proud of Jane, 

who will hold down the fort (home, farm & the studio)for us while we're gone. 

I really felt weird flying on 9/11.  

I hate flying anyway, so this day just added a little more anxiety.

But we made it and went directly to Cafe Rio for dinner.

Ollie's apartment is literally a one-minute walk to Cafe Rio.

He's so lucky.

Then I threw up.

Good times.

Breaking

 Today, Charlie Kirk was murdered at UVU- where I went to college,

and in my hometown.

I am in shock.

Shocked that it happened, and that it was on social media 

for everyone to view.

My heart breaks for his family.

I am so grateful for a Savior who heals, comforts, and brings peace.

Jesus Christ has overcome all things through His Atonement and Resurrection. 

As we see unfairness in this life, we can exercise faith in 

Him and in our Heavenly Father’s plan. We can trust that the

 Savior will make everything right in the end. And through the Holy Ghost, 

we can receive comfort and strength in our trials. (here).

Our family respected and loved Charlie.

We will miss him.

I was also shocked and honored that Charlie followed me on IG. 

Luscious Lips

Today we had another ultrasound of baby girl six!  

She's healthy and growing as she should!  I am so relieved.  

I've been so anxious about this pregnancy, more so than my other five.

My favorite image of her is of her GIANT, luscious lips.

Takes after her mama. 

(Post accident)

Tragic

This afternoon, I drove myself to the studio and met Jane and Christian for lunch.  
Lunch is usually the best part of the day because I emerge from my room/bed, 
force myself to get dressed and into the studio. 
 I'm still not able to teach.  I'm still so sick, and unfortunately,

the way the studio smells pushes me over the edge.  

It's such a tragedy.
 But I can usually get a few bites of food in me.
Except today I threw it up.
Do you want to hear something else tragic?

Dr. Pepper doesn't even sound good.