FIGHT TO THE FINISH!

I titled this post Fight to the Finish for MANY reasons!! 1. Because I feel like EVERY day right now is a fight to the finish just to get through it!! Not the same kind of fight I used to have after Dakota’s accident (fight of physical, emotional, and spiritual survival) but more a fight to FOCUS and accomplish EVERYTHING that needs done and EVERYONE that needs me for SOMETHING!!! Some days I feel like my brain might EXPLODE!! To all you working mom’s out there, my hat is off to you!! Working for Zach, helping him do this Kickstarter campaign about threw me over the edge!! I have a hard enough time keeping my house clean(and it’s a tiny basement right now), making dinner, keeping up with the bills, helping Zach with just the normal things he needs help with, and being a mom to 2 fully dependant kids…Throw a full time job of marketing, advertising, and maintaining this Kickstarter thing while trying to focus on building a house…let’s just say I did NOTHING well!! I feel like these last few months my house has been insanely dirtier and unorganized then ever, we have eaten A LOT of pizza, my one on one with my kids (which is my most prized and valued thing) was fewer and far between, I wasn’t filling all of Zach’s needs as a wife, I haven’t even had time to pick out and enjoy house ideas, I rarely do something I WANT to do (like blog, run, even shower some days ;)), and let’s be honest, I was only a semi-good marketer for the Germavoid! There were literally days where I felt like throwing in the towel to EVERYTHING and just laying in bed! Not that that could EVER happen but I WANTED to!! And the bummer part about it…in the end we didn’t even hit our Kickstarter goal!!! :(


We are trying to stay positive around here…take what we have learned from our experience, learn from it, and hope to make something from it!! I know Heavenly Father is mindful of us and there is a reason behind all of this madness right now…there always is!! As we try and sort out what direction to go next, what decisions we make for our families future…I know Heavenly Father will guide us! As always…it just takes longer and requires more patience and work then I sometimes like! But obviously we have been through A LOT worse….so in comparison this is nothing!! I am grateful that Dakota has taught me to put things in proper perspective! As bummed as we were, we both looked at each other and thought…...at least we are all healthy! (Our version of healthy! ;))


For now…Zach is back at his landscaping full time. My heart breaks for him as he was hoping this would take him in a new direction and landscaping could start to take a back seat! Being a blind landscaper was never what he planned for his future but he has done AMAZING at learning to take what you have been given and make the best of it! He sure is my hero!!! And literally every day for him is truly a FIGHT to the FINISH! He is a fighter for sure!!


So what’s next for the Germavoid?? Well, Zach had two products ready to launch for the Germavoid and the Clean Touch was the first. The second product he designed is for use at gas pumps and costs A LOT less to make and manufacture. So, he is contemplating launching that in the near future but now with landscaping in full tow it might have to wait a bit. It is still up in the air though as he fears wasting more money on this if it is not going to do well. We realize you have to risk money to make money but there is that fine line between knowing when you have risked enough and need to move on or keep going. So…we will keep thinking, praying, and pondering on it and go from there! In the meantime if anyone hears of any great job opportunities in sales, product design/development, or whatever let us know! He is still keeping his eyes wide open for a new career! ;)


The kids are still growing and changing as fast as ever!!! Navy will be 1 this month!!! I can’t believe it!!! (I realize I have missed posting about 10 and 11 months...I hope she will forgive me ;)) so her 1 year post will catch you up on her soon! ;) Let’s just say she is still full of life and joy!! She is busy and crazy but we love it!! She continues to bring SOOO much life to our home!



Dakota man is for sure still Fighting to the Finish EVERY day!! I would say physically we haven’t seen much change and progress except for the fact he is growing taller and getting stronger every day!! Luckily he is still my skinny little boy so lifting him is still manageable. He stiffens up (literally straight as a board) when he is excited, happy, mad, or just randomly…so that’s a lot! When he does that it makes him 100 times heavier and harder to carry but we make it work!

We were SO blessed to get some help from insurance to get a new car that allowed us to put a special seat in it just for Dakota. We just got the seat in this week and it is seriously a LIFESAVER!! It makes getting him in and out of the car 100 times easier!!

It rotates all the way out of the car like this to easily get him in and out. It is a little slow which is the only downfall but it is SO worth the wait. Dakota thinks he is pretty cool to have a chair that COMES to him! ;) And Navy LOVES a turn to ride in it when she can! Who needs Disneyland when you have a moving chair!?

Although physically we aren’t seeing a lot of changes, mentally Dakota is still improving the most!! He is seriously so smart even though he still can’t talk. He knows what he wants and he knows how to get what he wants! ;) At school they finally got the new Toby device that is an eye gaze communicator and they are working on teaching him to use it right now with fun games. He is getting faster and faster and looking and choosing things and I hope soon he will realize how much this device can help him to really communicate!! Technology is AMAZING!!!

We still obviously have our moments of frustrations not understanding what in the world is going on! His days are still sporatic and random…some days so happy you can’t stop him from smiling and laughing. Other days so ornery you can’t sneak in a smile. Some days are a roller coaster…the nurses call it bipolar ;) laughing and smiling and then the next second crying. These moments by far are still the hardest. Trying to understand what causes the changes and what he is feeling. But for the most this kid shares his smile and light and that is what we LOVE!! Heaven is SO near when he smiles that huge smile and his eyes sparkle like no other!! He knows more then I will ever understand…I can see it in his eyes!! He is still our guiding light back home to our Heavenly Father and we love him more then EVER!!

Lastly…I put FIGHT TO THE FINISH because the 3rd annual Fight to the Finish 5k for the Giving Trees is already around the corner and of course we are planning another Team Dakota!! It is AUGUST 1ST!!

 
My favorite sight! ;)



Our AMAZING team last year!! Thank you to ALL that came!!! Means the world to us!!


We need 25 people to make a team…and I”m already behind in getting the word out. We would LOVE to have ANY and EVERYONE come join us in this neatest event!!
It truly is more of an event then a race! For those that have joined us you know what I am talking about!! It is seriously such a fun, special, inspiring morning where so many come together for a great cause!! I never posted about last years so here is my summary!!

There are all of these teams…each in honor of someone who is a shining example of Fighting to the Finish.

Just a few of my favorite teams!! (Missing Team Lincoln…also a fav!!) Although I love them ALL!!!


There is inspiring messages at the beginning and end. The balloon release in honor of each team.


And thousands of people ALL joined together to help my dear friend and hero Ann raise enough money to continue the tradition of the Giving Trees in honor of her son Tyler who fought a hard fight and passed away at the age of 15. Ann is truly a saint!! I wish EVERYONE could know her!!



She gives of her own time to plan this huge event with Becky from Anything for a Friend. Then all year, she selflessly gathers and organized these trees and finds these families who are facing tragedy and brings them a tiny source of peace and light during their difficult time with a tree filled with money, gift cards, and inspiring quotes…all with nothing in return!

This is why I am SOOO passionate about this race and always doing a Team Dakota. It touches my heart to watch Ann do SO much and this is my TINY way of helping her!! And of course having a team in honor of my fighter Dakota makes my heart so happy!!

So please join us!! Whether we know you or not!! We LOVE to see as many people that can come, wearing their Team Dakota shirt and helping support this AMAZING cause!!


First time his sister got to be on TEAM DAKOTA!!  I can’t believe how tiny she was!

Little does she know she is on Team Dakota for life! ;)


 
Me and my people!

My 2 favorite parts about last years race was 1. Meeting one of my biggest heroes FINALLY in person! ;) I have blogged several times in the past about Ashley Sullenger. She lost her daughter to a drowning several months before Dakota’s accident. She was one of the few people in my dark time that gave me hope and strength to keep going! She will never know how much she did for me!! It was her first year coming and doing a Team for her sweet Preslee! It was so fun to meet her in person and see her darling boys! I loved it!!



Meeting her cute boys!


Alicia and Ashley..TWO of my heroes! ;)

My second favorite part about last years race is that they challenged each team to find someone to do a Giving Tree for. Ann would match $500 to go towards the tree and provide you with the tree and all the fixings but as a team you were supposed to find someone and come up with more money and gift cards. This made it even more meaningful.

So Team Dakota did a tree for my 16 year old hero Mckindree who has been a true example of Fighting to the Finish through her bone marrow transplant!

Mckindree and her mom.

Seriously, this girl has endured more pain then probably anyone I know! Her fight has definitely not been easy but she continues to fight with a beautiful smile on her face! Her and her mom are quite literally superhuman!!  Her mom is probably one of the most inspiring and beautiful writers I have ever read from. To follow along their journey and to be more then inspired go here. Together with donations from Team Dakota and Ann we were able to give her around $1,500 in gift cards and cash. Team Dakota you rock!! Because she lives in AZ we had to have my family (Team Dakota AZ) put the tree together for us and deliver. The pictures my mom sent me of my nieces and nephews helping get it all together touched my heart!!
 
Love this crazy bunch and they LOVED being a part of it
Giving to others is truly the best!!

So…please come out and support the Giving Trees so they can keep blessing the lives of so many people. Here is the link to sign up! You only have until July 11th to join our team! We hope to see you there!!!

Channel 2 News TONIGHT!

We had the opportunity to be interviewed last week by Dan Roscan with the Channel 2 News team! He had heard about Zach’s story and was interested in learning more about how he does what he does and what motivates him! After all…being a blind landscaper and inventor is a little out of the ordinary! ;)

We met with him last Tuesday and the interview got pretty personal and emotional. Tears were shed as Zach dug deep into the past. I was SO proud of him for doing it since he is normally super private about his feelings with all he has been through! (I have begged him for years to write a blog post but I don’t think it will ever happen!)

This interview will probably be the closest thing you can get to what makes Zach tick and what motivates him to do all the amazing things that he does!! He AMAZES me daily!!  (Although he is super embarrassed that they got him to cry! ;))


It airs on Channel 2 at 5 pm tonight!! I will post a link after it airs for those who aren’t local! Check out the preview…you will even get to see some of sweet Dakota and his precious smile! Might be my FAVORITE part!!

Ok...here s the ACTUAL link to watch the full story...click here!! Zach and  I didn't really love to watch ourselves on TV but Dakota was pretty pumped to watch himself on TV!

The GERMAVOID Clean Touch is NOW AVAILABLE!!!!!!

Our Kickstarter page is FINALLY live and we couldn’t be more ecstatic!! (Read our last post to get the details of how we are REALLY feeling)


HURRY over to our Kickstarter page…and check out what we have been working our tail feathers off on!

 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2064527144/germavoid-clean-touch-conveniently-avoid-public-ge

If you like it back us (which means buy the product at a presale discounted price), and then PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE (I am on my hands and knees right now for Pete’s sake!) share this with EVERY single person/avenue you can!! The success of our 30 day campaign depends upon us having the ability to spread the word!!

If you can do it within the first 24-48 hours even better! The more backers we can get RIGHT away the better our chance to get on the popular page of Kickstarter is…which only helps us get more and more exposure!!!

Here are the basics of how this works (in case there is any confusion): Our campaign lasts 30 days/ Our goal is $50,000/ 100% of our goal  will go straight to manufacturing / If we hit our goal your card will be charged and you will receive your product after it is manufactured/ If we don't hit goal your card will not be charged and your poor little hands will be SO sad ;)

PLEASE know we thank you for from the bottom of our hearts for even checking it out!! We would LOVE to hear any an all honest feedback!

March is a HUGE month for us!!!

March is probably the biggest month for our little family in a LONG time!! We are kind of on emotional and physical overload trying to take everything that is happening in our life in right now!!

FIRST THINGS FIRST…

Zach is FINALLY getting ready to launch his product he has been working on for a couple of years on Kickstarter TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I wrote all about what Kickstarter is and a short description about his product on this post.

Preparing for this launch has been SOOOO much work!!! As we are getting close the emotions are pretty much on a rollercoaster ride right now. One second we are SOOO excited and pumped, the next second we are scared and stressed out of our minds!! When you put SOOO much time, thought, passion, money, work, and effort behind something it becomes VERY personal to you! Not only do you want it to be successful to recoop what you have put in…but you want it to be successful because you care SO much about it!!

 

Watching our preview of the video for the first time!!! Can't even tell you how many hours went into this!! Writing the script for this I thought Zach and I were going to kill each other! ;)

For Zach and our family this is more then just a fun idea/product that we hope people like and if not it’s no big deal! For Zach and our family this is EVERYTHING!!! He has made his landscaping company continue to work for us (as crazy as being a blind landscaper sounds and is) because he is a go getter, the HARDEST worker, and mostly because he had to to keep our family afloat and that is the only way he knew how at the time! When most people would have given up and said I can’t do it I’m blind…he didn’t! He got up bright and early, he humbly let his wife and kid (kids now) take him to bids, went out in the hot sun and dug those trenches as hard as it was and as humbling as it was because he is a good man who LOVES his family and wasn’t going to let us down!! His work was and still is PERFECTION!!

Waiting for daddy in the truck while he is at a bid! As hard as “living” in the truck is during the spring/summer…it does make for some pretty sweet memories!


The Lord has truly blessed him and has been VERY mindful of him and our family in helping him to continually have work and make things work out for him!! But for those of you who have followed my blog you know…this is not what he wants to keep doing forever! Although he is VERY good at what he does and will continue to do it until he has to…it is definitely not ideal and definitely not a lifetime career. Zach’s mind is naturally a thinker! Product development is in his blood!! This guy’s mind NEVER shuts off!! Getting his posthole digger licensed 10 months ago was a HUGE confidence booster for him…knowing that his own idea was validated by a big company game him the confidence to keep developing!

Zach at the hardware show in Vegas (March 2013) where he met the company that licensed his post-hole digger!


We are hoping this new product (The Germavoid Clean Touch) is hopefully the one that will take his product development ideas and turn them into a new career! He has more ideas after this but he can only spend so much time and money on them without getting anything back in return! We are launching this product on Kickstarter because the molds that he needs just to make this product are around $50,000. We have already put up a lot of our own money to get it this far but there is only so much we can put upfront on our own. Kickstarter helps take the huge risk out of things for entrepreneurs like him and helps you presale so you have the funding to keep going!! Zach has done his homework and is continually working to make this product a success but if this Kickstarter campaign doesn’t go well then his dreams will be crushed!! This is where the fear comes in!

But this quote about sums it up!!


We honestly feel that we have done EVERYTHING that we could to the best of our ability to prepare for this Kickstarter campaign and are just praying that the Lord will continue to guide us and help us the rest of the way!! The hardest part once we launch is just SPREADING, SPREADING, and SPREADING the word!! In order to get enough backers to buy the product people have to KNOW about the product. In order to do that we need people to spread it like wildfire so that it can reach people across the globe! We have gotten AMAZING feedback from the people that have previewed our Kickstarter video and product! We KNOW it is a good product that SOOOO many people will love and want but it is a BRAND NEW product…nothing like it on the market! So we not only have the job to educate people about it by getting them to watch our short AND funny video…but we have to first get it into people’s hands so that they even have the chance to learn about it and then buy it!!! So I am not just asking right now, I am begging EVERYONE that reads this post to first check out our Kickstarter page (which I will post the link to in the morning…aaaaahhh!) and see what we have been so passionately working on…if you like it, back it! If not no sweat…we won’t hold it against you! ;) SECOND, PLEASE SHARE, SHARE, SHARE it with EVERYONE you know and ask them to share it too!! Use social media, email, snail mail, whatever you got…just share!!! ;) This is the ONLY way we can ensure that we have THE BEST and fairest shot possible to have a successful campaign. We only have 30 days to reach our $50,000 goal!! So this is HUGE!!! Set your alarms for Tuesday, March 17th 9 a.m when The GERMAVOID Clean Touch goes LIVE!!!!!! We need ALL the help we can get!!! My SINCEREST thank you’s to ANYONE in advance that helps us with this…TRULY!!!!


SECOND…


They broke ground on our house this week!!!!

I have never been so happy to look at dirt!!


We are FINALLY getting closer to having our ONE LEVEL home!!! For those of you not from Utah…one level homes are a rare thing around here! Most homes have stairs galore just to get into the front or garage door! When we sold our house we looked and looked for a home already built but there was nothing that looked accommodating enough in a spot we liked so we decided to take on the challenge of building. We had a lot of ideas of what we wanted to make life easiest with Dakota so we decided to draw up our own! Zach (the blind one) spent hours drawing them up just right. This is what took us the longest…just trying to get them to be the best possible layout for Dakota without making the house too big and unaffordable for us.

It has been such a long process leading up to this point, it started to feel like our house was just something we talked about but was NEVER going to happen! This little basement rental started to feel like our forever home!! So to finally see a hole in the ground makes it all real again and SOOOO exciting! I am already dreaming and envisioning wheeling Dakota right into the house instead of carrying his 40 awkward pounds down stairs in the dark. Wheeling him into his walk in shower instead of bending over our bathtub breaking our backs trying to lift his slippery, heavy body out!! It sounds MAGICAL!!! We know we have a LONG physically challenging life caring for Dakota so to make things as convenient and easy to do these things for him is worth EVERY penny!! He is worth it all!!!


THIRD…

On the exact same day we broke ground on our house we got our new car for Dakota!! It is a long story but through some insurance money we were able to get a brand new SUV that has a special seat that can literally come out of the car and onto the ground to put him in, instead of lifting him up and sideways trying to get him awkwardly into his carseat!! This is a HUGE tender mercy from the Lord that this BIGGEST and most SUPRISING blessing came to us!! We weren’t expecting it or planning on it but it testifies SO clearly that the Lord is aware of each one of us…He knows our needs…and at times we have NO idea how we are going to do things or make things work…and He steps in and makes it happen EVERY time!! I still honestly can’t believe it every time I get into drive it! We could NEVER have afforded a brand new SUV on our own!! Our hearts are FILLED to the max with gratitude!!

We are waiting for the seat to get done to get it installed but I will post a video of Dakota man in it when it comes!! ;)

Now you can see why March is so huge for us!! These are 3 huge life-changing events all wrapped up into one month! We are feeling SO very blessed right!! A few years ago, there were SOOOO many fears about the future, so many doubts that the Lord was even aware of us and what we were facing, so much despair at the losses we faced, so much insecurity about how we would manage and what we were going to do with a blind husband/father and a brain injured son! The future looked dark, lonely, and scary!!!

This quote sums it all up

Today I can tell you I KNOW with ALL of my heart the Lord was and IS with us EVERY step of this dark and difficult road!! He not only listened to our MILLIONS of pleas for help…he step by step guided, taught, and blessed us through each day!! Even when I couldn’t feel him near I KNOW he was there!! 4.5 years later…Zach is still blind and Dakota is still brain injured (despite the hundreds of prayers that we pleaded for miracles of healing) BUT the load on our shoulders is lighter and brighter then it has EVER been and the miracles came..not in the way we had wanted or hoped… but in a way that WE needed…in our hearts!!!

The person I am today is a MUCH better person then I was! My heart is FOREVER changed…it is FILLED with love and compassion for my fellow travelers like never before. My eyes and Zach’s (although still blind) see much clearer the things that matter and mean the most! My relationships with my family/friends and even more importantly with my Savior are stronger, closer, and more sincere then ever before!!

I testify with ALL my heart these trials, these unanswered prayers have been the GREATEST blessings in our life!!

These 3 mean the world to me!!!

This man of MINE!!!

I get the opportunity and privilege to celebrate 8 years of marriage today with my INCREDIBLE man!! I call it an opportunity and privilege because I know of several people who have lost spouses…many at very young ages and my heart hurts that their opportunity here on Earth to celebrate another year of marriage was taken. I know I often take Zach for granted but some these recent tragedies of people I know over the last several months have caused me to stop, think, and TRY my very best to count my MANY blessings of having Zach in my life!! To enjoy each day with him (and by day I mean ALL day since he is home for the winter :)) and to do a better job at showing my love and appreciation for him…in HIS love language…not mine! ;)



I should have known with the VERY thought out, planned, lots of work, VERY surprised proposal that he gave me that I was marrying a man who would climb mountains for me…who would do ANYTHING to bring me happiness…who would NEVER let ANYTHING including going blind stop him from being the VERY BEST husband and father that he possibly could!! I think I was just a naive, lovesick girl who didn’t realize how lucky I REALLY was to find such an incredible man to call MINE!!

In our 8 years of marriage I think this last year has been my VERY favorite!!! Zach and I have grown closer, stronger, and more in love then ever before…and I’m pretty sure our fiery trials have played a HUGE role in that!!

Don’t get me wrong…we have had A LOT of struggles, fights, and hardships in our relationship due to our trials. To be completely honest their was even some times through our darkest days that I wondered if we would make it. It is hard to admit that out loud but after talking to several couples who have faced their own tragedies together…I realized that this is an all too common thing that isn’t talked about.

Trials bring out the worst and the best in people. As Zach and I faced his blindness together we grew closer and stronger. He NEEDED me more then ever before as he tried to navigate this dark new world he was living in.



Right after Dakota’s accident we grew even more closer as we clung together in hope that our little boy would come out on top. When we realized we weren’t getting our little boy back and as we faced the daily hardships of blindness and brain injury…the emotions, the pain, the stress, the lack of sleep was all too much! We grieved differently from one another. He wanted to tell me daily about all of his pain, anger, frustrations, worries, fears, and stress and I didn’t want to hear it. I was hurting myself and I couldn’t take on his pain too!! Their was a lot of tension. We were both emotionally on edge at ALL times so the littlest of things would cause us to blow up at each other! We both still loved each other deeply but their were times when I couldn’t handle being around him because of the anger he sometimes felt…which is a totally normal part of grieving…but it doesn’t mean it is easy to watch and live with.

We have both come SO far individually and as a couple since our darkest of days as we waded through these unknown and VERY unexpected paths. We have seen each other at our weakest points AND at our strongest and I believe that as hard as that was…that it was also what has brought as closer together as a couple!! The thing that truly saved our marriage during those difficult days…in my opinion…was we never stopped doing the little things together. The things that we are told over and over to do that kind of get old hearing about. Even when I was SO frustrated or bugged at him…or he was so angry and upset…we still prayed together, read our scriptures together, went on dates together (weekly at that time because of his awesome parents who knew how badly we needed to be alone), went to church together, and attended the temple together. It wasn’t always easy…and their were definite times when neither of us felt like praying one more prayer for help…thinking that Heavenly Father knows and obviously doesn’t care…but we said it! Those little things that we did TOGETHER even when we didn’t feel like being in the same room together…saved us!! And over time as we allowed the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ to enter into our broken life and start to heal our broken hearts, lift our HEAVY burdens, and bring light, hope, and even JOY back into our lives…we healed, grew, and learned together…still at different rates!!

If you asked either of us right this very minute…we would both tell you we are happier then we have EVER been in our whole married life together! Which totally blows my mind BECAUSE…our trials are still here with us daily. Zach is STILL blind, Dakota is STILL brain injured, life is STILL hard but we are happy as EVER!!! I truly believe with all of my heart…the greater the sorrow you feel in your life…the greater your ability to feel joy is! I feel a type of joy I didn’t know existed. I delight in the simplest of things that I once took for granted….and I owe it ALL to the intense pain that I once felt!!!

As I have watched Zach rise above ALL that he has experienced and faced and do things that are truly remarkable for any man…especially a blind man…my love and admiration for him has deepened.



I often forget that he is even blind because of all that he does. His latest product that he has developed to launch on Kickstarter soon has been SOOOO much work, time, and effort. I didn’t even realize what a little “closet” genius he was until I sat in at meetings with him (since I have to drive him to them) with manufacturing companies and printing companies. I listen to their conversations and feel like they are speaking a whole other language and then I wonder…“how does Zach know all of this?” He didn’t go to school for engineering or product development…he got a sales degree for heavens sake!! But I sit their and listen to these professionals in these areas telling him what a great idea this was, they had never thought of this, what a great job he has done at figuring out materials and design and that they themselves are unsure how to make it better!! It literally blows my mind!! Not only does he do all of this on his own…but he does it blind!!! And trust me…I am NO help to him at all!! I can barely think about what I have to do that day to survive, let alone think of, design, and produce a new product!!!!!






So what is this product he has created and what is this Kickstarter I am always talking about?? (I told you I would tell you! ;))


First of all…if you aren’t familiar with Kickstarter…it is a crowdfunding website that allows creators (inventors) and backers (consumers) to work together to launch and fund a new product or business without the help of angel investors and venture capitalists. Project creators set a funding goal and a deadline before their launch begins and then basically PRE-SELL their product in hopes of reaching their funding goal by the deadline. If people like a project, they can pledge money (purchase the product) to make it happen. Funding on Kickstarter is all-or-nothing which means if the funding goal is not reached, then the "backer's" card is never charged and the creator receives no funding. If the goal is reached, the creator receives the funding for initial start-up costs and his "backers" are the first to receive the new product when it's ready. To learn more go to www.kickstarter.com.

His new company name is called The Germavoid Company and his first product he will be launching on Kickstarter is called the Clean Touch.

For those of you who know Zach…you know he doesn’t like public germs!! He is constantly using his pinky to open doors, elbow to push buttons, and foot to flush toilets. He did his research and found out that he wasn’t the only person that did this (I thought he was ;)). He found out that 82% of people regularly try to avoid touching public surfaces with their bare hands. (I guess I’m the weird one who doesn’t! ;)) So he created a compact, convenient, and innovative product that allows you to touch germy public surfaces without touching all the germs. It conveniently attaches to your keys so it goes wherever you go and it's innovative design makes it quick, easy, and discreet to use.
Unfortunately I can’t tell you much more about his product or show you the amazing pictures of it because he is wanting to wait to release all of the details about how it works until the launch on Kickstarter because we have created a video that tells about it better then words alone can describe. Our launch date for Kickstarter is HOPEFULLY middle to end of February…so SOON…so stay tuned!! It is SOOOO much work to get ready because SO much is on the line!! It is nerve-wracking to put your idea out there…spend so much money and time on it…and not have any idea what others will think or how it will go!!

So my job in all of this Kickstarter process…besides being his main assistant, is to spread the word as far and wide as I can about it…since Zach is THE LEAST social media man alive!!! So I am asking for anyone who reads this post to help me…because I am SOOOO afraid to fail!! Kickstarter success comes from spreading the word and driving traffic to your page. You can have the greatest product (which I think he does…but of course I’m biased! ;)) but you can still fail if you can’t get the word out about it and drive people to your page to learn about it. So, if anyone AND everyone who reads this would be willing to share our Kickstarter link on social media, email, blogs, WHATEVER once we launch we would appreciate it more then you will EVER know! I would even kiss your feet if I know you! ;) (If they are clean of course!! ;))

Also if anyone knows of BIG bloggers, social media, news people, anyone who you think could help us…even if we have to pay for their advertising please let me know!! I feel like a beginner myself to all of this social media advertising and I could use ALL the advice I can get to help Zach make his dream become a reality. Obviously we don’t want people to back our project if they don’t like the product and I’m totally not asking just for donations BUT we want to help share the word about it as much as we can so that those who would truly be interested in this product can learn about it and buy it!! So any suggestions are appreciated as we venture into this unknown scary world!!
We have a Facebook page The Germavoid Company, and an Instagram and Twitter account @germavoid that you can follow along for all the details. (I will do my best to keep this blog updated too although we all know how great of a blogger I am these days! ;))

THANK YOU THANK YOU in advance for any and all help! Even some prayers offered up in our behalf would be greatly appreciated!!!

6 Months…I Stand In AMAZEMENT

Navy Jo is 6 months today…SIX MONTHS!!!! I know I’m going to say this EVERY month but I can’t believe how fast time is going and how much she is growing and learning every day!!

Just a few days ago I watched her in her crib on the video monitor roll over, squirm her way over to her binky, grab it, and put it in her mouth. I know that doesn’t sound like much but to me I was in awe!! I think after having a kid with a brain injury…seeing everything he had learned taken from him and watching him take SO long and work SO hard just to relearn how to move his arm to awkwardly hit the ipad or communication button (which I will blog about soon)…the fact that at only 6 months old she can grab something and put it in her mouth sounds INCREDIBLE!!! Every little new thing she does (which is on a regular basis these days) I just watch in amazement. I realize it’s not above and beyond any other 6 month old but to physically be able to watch how fast their little brains learn and their little bodies strengthen on a daily basis is truly miraculous to me!! The brain is SUCH a powerful thing that we so often take for granted.

I probably sound like a crazy person but living with a brain injured child for the last 4 years has OBVIOUSLY changed my perspective a little on things! It has forced me to see ALL the little things that I normally took for granted and TRULY APPRECIATE them! Just this morning as I got up to workout at 4:30…so tired and wanting to crawl back in bed…I said my morning prayer and I thanked with complete sincerity my Heavenly Father for my healthy body and my ability to do the things I enjoy with it and take care of the people I love with it, and I meant it with ALL my heart!!

I stand in amazement as I watch my husband, that although blind, is the MOST talented man I know and is CONSTANTLY doing things that a blind man shouldn't be able to do!! Shoot a pheasant (just the other day),



draw up TO SCALE our house plan…COMPLETELY on his own, come up with these new products and ALL the details of them, landscape BEAUTIFUL yards for so many people, etc.


He will kill me for posting this but her seriously just drew stuff this!! I can’t even draw a stick family by a square house let alone a whole house!!

I have learned to never take one day for granted with our beautiful Navy like I once did with Dakota! I marvel and have SO much gratitude for EVERY little thing she does and I am SO thankful for every day that I get to spend with her, for her healthy body, for her brain that is functioning properly, etc. Although I pray EVERY day for her protection and safety…I never know how long my time will be with her or what the future will hold. I am no longer naive to the fact that just because she is perfect and healthy today means this is how it will be forever.

 
Story time!


My heart is SO full of love and gratitude these days I often think it might explode!!! Our life is still far from perfect but it is TRULY WONDERFUL!!!! I am SO glad Dakota was willing to sacrifice SO much to teach his poor mom these simple yet powerful things! He has taught his mom and dad how to TRULY “see” and for that I can NEVER repay him! He has taught me what “true” happiness is and because of him my heart is full of “pure joy!” I’m not sure where I would be without this special boy!!!





SO…back to my Navy girl…since this post is supposed to be all about her!!! (sorry for the sidetrack!)


Like I said, she is CONSTANTLY learning and growing by the minute.
The best words to describe her is alert, curious, happy, smiley, and active!!

Navy and her 3 cousins…SO fun!!


She still has to ALWAYS be seeing what is going on…never wants to just snuggle!


She wants to grab EVERYTHING in her sight and is rolling and squirming ALL over the floor to get to what she wants. She is starting to get on all fours and I’m afraid she is going to be crawling in no time and I’m not too excited about that!! ;) It will be a lot harder to keep Dakota man safe from her!


Just taking off her sweet cousin Lola’s headband while kicking Dakota in the face!! ;)


She is still just as happy as ever and is SOOO easy to get to smile…even at strangers and I LOVE that!!!


Navy and Lola just playin!


She is so busy and active, never wants to sit on your lap she wants to stand…and jump and jump and jump!! If you want her to sit you better have a toy or something to keep her entertained.

 
Just playing the piano no big deal!


She is still such an amazing sleeper although she has become a binky girl when she sleeps and will sometimes wake up crying until you give her back her binky. Not sure how I feel about this new habit! Dakota was never a binky fan he just sucked on his blanket so he never woke up for things like that!


I LOVE looking at the monitor and seeing this sweet face staring at me like… “mom, come get me!”


Her little hair although kinda thinned out and getting lighter, is so long and curly on top! It gets a little crazy some mornings but it is fun!!!

Crazy hair, don’t care…and no pants! ;)


I am LOVING having a girl and dressing her up!!! She finally fits in her DARLING pencil skirts I LOVE!!!

 
Seriously…SO cute! And yes she can mover her legs! ;)


She is becoming more and more aware of Dakota and loves to suck on his hand if it is in her reach although she has to watch out because that same hand will swing over and bonk her on the head! ;)
 


My favorite thing now is that Dakota is more into her then ever. He gives her his most handsome smiles daily and although they still aren’t totally interacting and playing together, he still loves to watch her do her thing and still LOVES her kisses!!


Just tucking Dakota in bed…I think he wanted her to stay!


Not so sure that he loves how she pulls his hair and grabs his face but the fact that he is smiling more and more at her makes me one happy momma!!!


Navy Jo…you are SUCH a blessing to our WHOLE family and we love every little piece of you more then you will ever know!!!!!