Updates on the Tagg life

     Some time has passed since my last post so I figured I would give you a little update on our life and the things that have happened.
     After my family left, as much as I missed them, it was nice to be able to get back to the normal life routine.  The house was quieter and life slowed down, I will admit that I crashed the night that they left and got a pretty good nights sleep thanks to Titan who was also exhausted from all the attention that he got.  The next day, Tuesday, I was able to go back into work with TJ which was nice as well. Working from home is nice and really convenient, but I miss the office and the interaction with people.  It was really funny because as soon as our co-workers saw us so many of them came rushing asking where Titan was.  Unfortunately to them we had left him home with TJ's mom since our whole point in going was to meet with the HR lady to talk about insurance.  We wanted to be able to focus and thought it would be a little more professional to go in alone instead of bringing Titan in his car seat.  The whole insurance thing was really frustrating and rather confusing to me.  I learned that because I don't ever get 30 hours of work in a week then I would have to be under TJ on the insurance plan which would raise our monthly payment up to almost $800.  I don't know about you but for a young couple with a newborn $800 is no where near affordable for us.  Other than the price, having TJ on the plan was not our plan either so we had to figure out how to get it so that only Titan and I would be on the plan, which ended up with me committing to 30 hours a week.  Now that I am trying to do that, I didn't realize how hard it would be with taking care of our baby.  It all worked out in the end and the price was dropped to a much more financially affordable amount.
     The Sunday after his baby blessing was Titan's first full Sunday at church and he did really good if I must say so myself :)  It was fun to have him and show him off to more people other than the family and the whole congregation from the front of the chapel.  That weekend more of TJ's family came to visit as well so it was another crazy weekend of having a lot of family over.  But we made it through again :)

Titan in his Sunday outfit

TJ's little cousin, Mikelle, and Titan

     Just last week Titan went in for his 2 month doctors appointment, can you believe he is 2 months old already? Time goes by so fast, I understand now why we are always told to enjoy every moment because it goes by faster than you think.  I need to get a camera other than my phone so that I can take better quality pictures.  I didn't realize what the 2 month appointment included until we were already in the doctors office, I remember feeling so bad!  Titan took it like the champ that he is.  Of course there was a lot of crying and struggling against the nurses, but who wouldn't? I know that I would, they're sticking 3 needles straight into your thigh!  No fun at all.  I remember taking off the little band aids and seeing the dried spots of blood, made me so sad too!  Knowing that the next appointment at 4 months will include another round of shots makes me not want to take him but it's what I've got to do so I guess we'll both have to tough it up and go in like champs again :)

The crying after his immunization shots

     Other than those things not much else has happened.  We went back into work one other time and learned that TJ is getting his own office now, awesome!  Granted its in the back corner but hey, its better than the cubicle that he was in.   Every day is wonderful and different every day as Titan grows more and more.  Definitely the joy of ours lives :)

Just a cute random picture of him sleeping

 his often funny and strange positions

Titan's baby blessing

     This past Sunday was Titan's baby blessing and what a special, unforgettable day it was.  The whole last week TJ stressed about it and was in constant thought of what he was going to say, looking for inspiration and waiting for more.  Because church starts at 1:00 I was able to sleep in until 9:30, which was nice until I got up and realized all that I had to do.  Making pasta salad, bathing Titan and getting him ready, get ready myself, make sure I feed Titan right before we left so he wouldn't get hungry or fussy during the blessing and throughout Sacrament.  Thankfully TJ was very helpful in taking care of Titan so that I was able to take care of everything else, he is the best husband in the world and I am very thankful for him.
     12:40 rolled around and we all ran out the door, there was going to be three blessings that day and we knew that seats were going to be sparse.  We had 13 people in the circle with made for many families there to support us and share in our special day.  Many friends attended as well adding more supporters to the already large group.  I can't describe in words how special it was for TJ and I to have so many friends and family there who love us and were there to support us.
    TJ did a more than incredible job with the blessing and I will admit, I cried throughout the entire thing.  I wish that I had recorded it, but it will always be in my mind.  Once the blessings were finished both TJ and I bore our testimonies which was special to me as well.  We haven't done that before and it was the first time that I was not afraid to go up at all.  TJ went first and made me cry with his testimony, which was not really fair for me as I was trying to be strong and hold back the tears in the first place.  My testimony has never been as strong as it was that day and I cried/sobbed through the whole thing.  Many moments I had to stop and try to calm myself down as I'm sure the congregation could not understand I was saying through the tears.  After Sacrament meeting was over I received many compliments and thank-yous for my testimony, as did TJ.
     After a couple pictures in the foyer we headed home and enjoyed a luncheon with everyone.  The day was wonderful as well as exhausting.  I am so thankful for the support that we received and for the blessing that TJ gave to our beautiful son.

Titan in his blessing clothes

~More pictures to be posted when received~

Titan meets my family

     This past weekend my family was able to make a trip down here from Idaho to meet Titan as well as to attend his baby blessing.  They arrived Friday night and stayed until Monday morning.  It was really fun and special for me to introduce Titan to them, they all love him very much and think he's pretty darn cute.  I have to agree with them, lol :)  I was proud of him each day that they were here, he was very well behaved and didn't have a problem with constantly being passed around from person to person. On Saturday Titan and I went with them up to Primary Children's Hospital to visit my sister and her husband, as well as see their baby girl, Saylor, as she just came out of surgery.

*Side story* My niece, Saylor Williams, has had a hard time concerning her health since she was born.  It started as jaundice, but as the weeks went by we noticed that it didn't go away.  Her skin color continued to darken and her health continued to go down.  She went to several doctors appointments and soon learned that her liver was not working properly and was having a hard time passing fluids (can't remember what exact fluid it's supposed to be passing) and was beginning to fail.  The doctors told Lindsey, my sister and her mom, that there was a chance that if it did not get better then Saylor may not live to see her 2nd birthday.  She was admitted to Primary Children's Hospital where she stayed for 6 weeks before a liver was donated that matched what she needed.  It's sad that another baby had to die for her to receive a liver but we are all so very grateful that one was donated as her liver was in the last stages of liver failure and it was just a matter of time before her body gave up.  Today Saylor is recovering very well from surgery and her body has accepted the new liver and gall bladder smoothly.  She will stay for another 6 weeks until she is completely healed before she can go home.  It's really cool to see her dark skin lighten and become white, she looks like a completely different baby.*

It was fun to be there as a complete family, minus TJ as he had to stay behind due to meetings.  It's been a while since we have been able to do that, I enjoyed it very much.

My sister Kylee holding Titan 

     After we left the hospital and started to head home, we stopped by Cabellas to check it out and look around.  I have never been there and had a lot of fun seeing all of the animal displays and learning more about different animals that I had never seen.  I held Titan as we walked around and told him about the animals we were looking at. I wish he could have understood what I was saying to him but it was really fun for me to pretend like he could and teach him new things.  The fish tank was AMAZING!!  I have never ever ever seen fish so big, it was so cool!  There were salmon, steelhead salmon, black basses, catfish, crappie, sunfishes, carp, small sturgeon, and so many more.  Some just stared right through the glass at you or at the logs inside, never moving :)  One of them was between a log and the wall- upside down! 

     We went home and had a nice dinner with TJ's family, played some games with them and watched movies.  It was nice to relax and spend time with both families.  Over all, the weekend was wonderful and I can't wait to do it again.

Kylee and I in front of the fish tank

Kylee with a fish "swimming into her mouth" ;)

The upside down fish

First Sunday at church for Titan

     Today was Titan's first day at church and our little man handled it like a champ :)  Two people gave their farewell's and so the chapel was absolutely packed with friends who all wanted to see and hold him afterwards.  You would think that this would upset a 6 week old but he actually slept through the majority of it and the parts that he was awake he was very calm and happy.  TJ and were really proud of him and had fun showing him off to everyone there.
     It has been a really long time since TJ and I have been at church, I think the last time I went was back in December maybe?  Being in my third trimester of pregnancy and dealing with gall stone complications caused me to stay home and rest, and then every day after having Titan was spent in the NICU with him.  Anyways, today in Sacrament a lady behind me got my attention and asked how I was doing.  I said I was good and she asked if I was there for Breanna (one of the two that gave their farewells) and I said yes.  She smiled and said "this is my home ward."  I was confused for a minute thinking "this is my home ward too, why don't you know that?" and then I realized-it had been so long since I had attended that she had forgotten!  That made me laugh and wonder if I would need to announce in Relief Society that I was indeed a member of the ward and not a visitor, lol :)
     Nothing interesting happened after that, it was just a normal Sunday.  Now that Titan is well enough to go to church I am excited to go as a full family now :)  Next Sunday is Titan's baby blessing, I'm looking forward to having our son receive that wonderful blessing as well as sharing the great experience on here with you.

TJ, Lauretta, and Titan Tagg

~The Tagg Family~

Titan John Tagg

     It was the beginning of June and I came down with a strange form of the flu I guess?  I had to take a day or two off of work because I couldn't get through the day without feeling awfully nauseous.  Finally on June 5th I decided enough was enough, it was time to go to the doctor.  We got there, I told them how I was feeling, and the nurse left saying that the doctor would be in shortly.  Dr. Lytle came in, told me a couple of things, and then said the best words I have ever heard- "You are pregnant".  I remember staring at him and saying "What? I'm pregnant?"  He laughed and said yes.  I turned to TJ and started crying.  We had been trying for so long and finally the test results were positive, I couldn't believe it.  We left and went out to lunch, talking about the next nine months and our future after that.  When we got home we told his family and a day or two later I sent my family a picture in a text, then called and told them the news.  They were so happy for us!  I called my grandma and grandpa a day or two later and read a poem to them, I cried so hard through the whole thing that I'm surprise they understood what I was saying.  The following months passed so quickly and yet seemed to drag until I was into my third trimester.

I do not have a face to see,

or put inside a frame.

I do not have soft cheeks to kiss, 

I don't yet have a name.

You can't yet hold my tiny hands,

nor whisper in my ear.

It's still too soon to sing a song,

Or cuddle me so near.

But all will change come February,

that's when they say I'm due.

I'm your new grandchild,

I can't wait til I meet you!

All I have to give you now,

is a wish to you from me.

I cannot wait to be a part,

of my new family.

     The only pregnancy complications that I had were gall bladder attacks, I learned through an ultrasound that I had gall stones "without number".  I also experienced two seizures that thankfully did not affect or damage the baby.  Each seizure happened when TJ was right there with me and I am so grateful that I told him what to do if I ever had a seizure, he knew exactly what to do.  I had an MRI after my second seizure that sadly did not come back with any answers to the cause of the seizures- an hour in a small, painfully loud tube for no reason.  Awesome.  

     I was sitting in our bedroom working on the computer as I had started working from home when the pain in my lower back caused me to pull my legs up onto the chair.  Moments later I peed my pants, at least that's what I thought I had done.  I was so embarrassed, I couldn't believe I had done that! I got all cleaned up and was changing when it happened again.  That's when I got concerned, this shouldn't be happening.  So I went upstairs and talked with my mother-in-law who told me to lay down and see if I felt better. I went back downstairs and was warming up some lunch when I found blood.  I ran back upstairs and my mother-in-law immediately jumped up and announced that it was time to go to the hospital.  I jumped on the phone with my insurance to find out which hospital covered me while Treaci packed my hospital bag for me.  Both things should have been done already but I thought I still had another month to go.  TJ arrived home from work just in time for me to jump in the car and we hurried down to the hospital.  The whole way all we could say was "we're having a baby!".  We got there and I waddled into the doors and up the elevator, so nervous and yet so excited.  

     Once in the gown and on the bed the real contraction pains began I remember not being able to breath or talk, which worked out really well as the nurse was firing questions at me and I was unable to answer.  This really made TJ mad and that was when we began to not like our nurse.  In fact we couldn't wait until 7:00 when her shift was over and she would be gone.  Around 5:00 the anesthesiologist finally came in and I can't tell you how happy I was to see him!  I was nervous about the epidural but TJ held my hands and pressed his forehead against mine, telling me how brave and strong I was over and over again as the needles poked me and inserted the medication I was so thankful to get.  After it was all over my legs started to go numb and the pain from the contractions was finally gone.  The best part of all was I couldn't feel my stomach pains anymore from being so incredibly hungry.  The last time I had eaten was 9:00 that morning and now it was 5:00 pm.  

     The night continued on as I continued to dilate and talk with TJ's family, sleeping at times as well.  2:00 am rolled around and the nurse checked me and told the other nurse to start setting up.  I couldn't believe it, it was time!  I started to get so scared, this was it!  The doctor came in and 40 minutes later Titan John Tagg was born at 2:52 am.  He was so tiny!  I was able to hold him for 2 minutes before he was taken to the nursery.  I was sad to see him go, I wanted to hold him forever, but was in a way happy as well as the nurse rolled in a meal for me afterwards. 

     TJ and I were able to go to sleep about an hour or so later until our nurse came in and told us that Titan was being moved to the NICU as he was having problems breathing.  I tried not to get too worried and was able to go back to sleep.  Two hours later the nurse came back in to tell us that Titan was going to be transported to the Timpanogas hospital where they would have the doctors and equipment that Titan needed.  10:00 that morning the life flight team rolled Titan into the hospital room in a little incubator so that we could say goodbye to him before he left.  He was transported in an ambulance, the life flight team was there as they would be the ones to go with him.  Titan was sleeping when he came in, his face looked so peaceful.  You would never know that he was in pain or having any difficulty at all if you didn't already know.  That helped me to feel better as they took him away.  I stayed in the hospital the remainder of that day as well as the next before I was discharged and was able to go see him at the Timpanogas hospital.  

     Over the next three weeks I spent most of my time there at the NICU with him.  At first it was just to feed him once he was strong enough to do that, but later I was there just to be with him.  Sometimes it got boring as the majority of the time he spent sleeping, but towards the end of his stay he was more awake and I was able to hold him more often.  

     The entire time he was in the NICU I could feel the prayers that were being said for our little family.  I know for a fact that without the strength of the Lord there is no way that I could have healed the way that I did and be able to handle leaving our little boy in the hospital the way that I was.  I wish that I could personally thank everyone who prayed for us but I'm not sure that I could, there were so many, many prayers offered by so many different people- including the person who said the opening prayer for sacrament one Sunday :)

     Titan is now home and growing each and every day.  So far he has gained 2 pounds since being born and has become so much more awake and alert of the world around him.  He is my whole world and we are so lucky and blessed to have such a special spirit in our family.

Wedding Bells!!

     Planning a wedding is so much more stressful than I ever thought it would be until it was my turn to plan.  It all seemed like it would be so much fun- picking out the dress and the flowers, choosing the flavor of the cake,and picking out the songs.  Don't get me wrong, it was so much fun, but I didn't ever really take into consideration how many different choices there are and the infinite number of details that need to be planned.  I can't tell you how thankful I am to all of my family members and friends who stayed right there with TJ and I and helped us plan out the most perfect wedding we could have asked ever asked for.
     All of the planning began... well, to be honest the first wedding plans happened on our flight home from Alabama in a little notebook with the light on above us.  :)  The planning continued in that same notebook but really began on Thanksgiving Day when we went up to Idaho so TJ could ask my dad for my hand in marriage.

(Side story insert here:  TJ and I drove up to Idaho to spend Thanksgiving with my family and so that he could "meet my family", or so my dad thought.  When we got there it ended up just being my dad and Katie left at home, the rest of my siblings had already headed to the big Thanksgiving dinner.  I introduced him and I remember my dad pulled me aside and talked to me about how I felt about TJ, which made me nervous because I didn't want to take over what TJ was going to say but wanted to assure him that I knew this was right.  After we got done talking TJ sat down with him and proceeded to tell my dad how he felt about me and then asked him for my hand in marriage.  Considering that we had just gotten there and my dad had just met him minutes before- he took it very well and gave him permission along with some words of marriage advice.  We then headed out to my cousin's house to meet up with the rest of my family and announce the news there.  This is where the story continues...)

TJ and I sat down with all of the women in my family and began to make plans for the reception we wanted to have in Idaho.  Normally you would call that the Open House as we were married in Utah, but I wanted to have more of a reception like-evening with those I know and love in Idaho so that's what we made it into. The reception was held in February and I was able to wear my wedding dress and TJ his wedding tux, it was  a very special, beautiful night with so many friends and loved ones there.
     TJ and I were married a couple of weeks later in the Salt Lake Temple on March 5th, 2011.  The day was perfect- sunny and warm.  Actually the warmest day of the week, even month!  I drove to the Temple with my cousin Amanda and her husband Jack, Amanda had beautifully done my hair that morning and was wonderful to get me to the Temple on time.  TJ drove up with his family and left his Temple clothes, our marriage license, and the rings in the car so his dad had to run back the car a couple times to get everything.  He wasn't so happy about that but I had to laugh :)  The wait to go into the Temple seemed like forever and yet went by so fast, maybe that was because I was so nervous.
     An hour or two later TJ and I came out of the doors to the cheering and paparazzi-like amount of pictures from our family and friends.  We hugged everyone and I will admit to some tears being shed, especially when I hugged my best friend, Kiri, as we had talked about that day all throughout high school.  We all arranged ourselves up the temple stairs and took A LOT of pictures, my lips were hurting by the end :)  Time was running out so we all hurried to our cars and headed back to Spanish Fork where the reception was held.  I had a puffy skirt underneath my dress that covered my entire view of the road, I'm sure that gave the passing cars a good laugh.
      The reception was wonderful.  We started with a slideshow of pictures that TJ had put together the night before.  The best part of that slideshow was a surprise video inserted by his parents of Tanner, TJ's brother serving a mission in Florida at the time, giving his    speech and telling TJ how much he loved him.  It made both of us cry, it was one of the most special parts of the night.  After the slideshow all of the groomsmen and bridesmaids gave a speech, most of them weren't aware that they were going to have to do that but they all did a wonderful job.  The night continued on with a lot of dancing (I don't think I have danced that much in my entire life), the cutting of the cake, and the dance with my father and TJ with his mother.  We had our first dance, which we had previously choreographed, and finished the night with our last dance.  Everyone created a tunnel that we went through on our way out and cheered as we got in the car, waved, and drove away.
     As we left for our honeymoon, about a mile down the road our tire went flat.  TJ called his dad who drove out to help us out as we unloaded all of our luggage and sat on the side of the road.  What a way to begin  our honeymoon, huh?  John (TJ's dad) traded us cars and we were off.  Our honeymoon was taken in Las Vegas, we had so much fun!  Swimming every morning, riding on all the roller coasters, seeing all the sights and stores along the strip.  When we got home we happily opened all of wedding gifts and cards, we were so grateful for all that we received.
     So that wraps up the story of our wedding, the reception, and our honeymoon.  It's been almost 2 years since that day yet it still doesn't feel like it was that long ago.  I married my best friend and will be ever grateful that we have each other for eternity.

The Engagement...

     It was again just another normal day for me- go to work, make it through the day, then go home and spend the evening with TJ.  I remember it was almost time to go home, I was the only one left in the office and was trying to finish up with my work for the day when TJ walked in and surprised me.  He said "So it's warm outside and I was thinking it would be a good night to go and see the Temple Square lights, want to go?"  I about jumped out of my chair in excitement, I had been asking to go and see the lights for a while and now he wanted to go!  So I hurried and wrapped things up so we could go.  We walked outside to get in the car and I began to question TJ's definition of warm- it was really cold!  I laughed and said "TJ, this is not warm," which he defended with "Well, it was warm. We'll be okay."  So we got in the car and headed to Temple Square.
     We had a hard time finding close parking and ended up parking half way up a street that had the most amazing view of the temple, I'd live there for sure if I could.  I remember TJ had forgotten something in the car and so I had to wait for him to get whatever it was before we started speed walking to Temple Square to keep warm.  It was so cold that night that by the time we reached the Joseph Smith Building right outside the Temple we had to make a pit stop inside that building to get warm!  We walked inside and I thought that I had just walked into Heaven- it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen!  The chandelier was so bright above the huge christmas tree decorated just like how my mom used to decorate my childhood christmas trees.  The ribbons and garland on the grand staircases were just as enchanting, the whole building was almost more than I could take in.  It took TJ a couple tries to break me from the spell I was under and get me up one of the staircases to where we were greeted by an elderly Sister Missionary who started showing us the rooms.  The first one she showed to us was a chapel that she said used to be a ball room when the building was first built.  TJ and I took a minute and danced, pretending that it still was the ballroom that it used to be.  Then she pointed across to the rooms on the other side, telling us that there were large windows that offered a good view of the temple and lights- I grabbed TJ's hand and pulled him over there as fast as I could.  We ran inside one and straight over to the window where we stood and looked at the lights and the Temple.
     The Salt Lake Temple has always been my favorite temple and it was the one that we had talked about getting married in so I was under a spell again seeing it light up the night. I pointed at it and said "Look, that's the temple that we're getting married in!"  I turned to look at him after that and found him down on one knee, pulling a little box out of his pocket.  My heart literally stopped and I remember not being able to breathe.  He told me how much he loved me and how he wanted to spend the rest of eternity with me, then asked me to marry him.  By this time tears were streaming down my face and all I could say was "Yes!"  He put the beautiful, perfect ring on my finger and kissed me before we ran out and called to the lady that was showing us around earlier, telling her that we were engaged and asked if she would take a picture.  She was more than happy to do so.

     After having a little photo shoot, we went back downstairs and headed back to the car- we never made it to see the lights as it got to too cold.  That was okay with me though as my night was already more than perfect :)  TJ did an amazing job at surprising me with his proposal.  For weeks previously he had told me that I really need to stay in Utah for my birthday (December 19th) because quote "it's going to be the best birthday of your life."  After a few reminders that I need to stay I knew that he was going to propose to me on my birthday and that's what was going to make it the best, so that's what I was expecting.  His proposal on December 1st was a complete surprise that I did not see coming, which made it all that much better :)  I mentioned earlier that December is my favorite month of the year, before it was just because it's Christmas and my birthday month but now I can add into that list- it's the month that TJ proposed to me in.