We're expanding.....

Wow it's hard to believe that Zac and I will be married for 9 years this April....9 years ago we said we were on the 5 year plan.  Except with each passing year, the 5 year plan stayed the 5 year plan!  In July we announced our exciting news.....

Then in October we were able to announce that our Baby Broadie is a boy!!!!!  We are both over the moon and super excited to begin this next chapter in our lives!  

Brylee's Battle

Just 4 months ago, my sister and her family celebrated the 4th of July up in McCall.  So much can and has happened in such a short period of time!  So many questions, so many unknowns, so many emotions, so many feelings that just can't be put into words!  Our family has quickly come to realize that our individual plans for life are out of our control and instead in the hands of God. 

In August, Monica, Rob, Brylee and Zayden were on vacation on the Oregon Coast.  Brylee started exhibiting abnormal symptoms that their local pediatrician, nor the local coast clinic could diagnose.  They made their way to Portland's Doernbecher Children's Hospital.  There, after a myriad of tests, Brylee was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).  She underwent spinal surgery to remove cancer lesions on her back and quickly started her first round of chemotherapy.  They spent roughly a month in Portland while Brylee completed her first round of chemo and her recovery time.  Mom and Cam lived out of the motorhome for the month in Portland to be there in support of Brylee and help with Monica and Rob.  Jonathan, Anna, Zac and I spent a week over there keeping Brylee busy with all sorts of activities (painting, crafts, room decorations, window painting, playing polly pockets, dolls, making jewelry, clay, Legos...you name it, the hospital had it for us to do, or we got it somehow!). 

Byrlee and I making bracelets.  She has come so far from that day in the wheel chair!

Brylee, Nana and Aunt Anna....Bry getting her legs working again by riding the bike!

Byrlee and Rob....Brylee teaching her muscles to stand again!   Jonathan painted both of Brylee's windows in Portland so she had something fun to look at everyday!  She picked a horse and monkey for one window and an underwater scene for the other!

Above left:  Brylee loves to give manicures....she picks the colors, stickers, and decals to put on and depending on her mood determines on what kind of manicure you get....so far I've had, pink and red with sparkles, blue and orange, rainbow (every nail a different color), sparkles with Halloween stickers, and black, white and sparkles.  Not sure what my next manicure will be!  Even Zac got a manicure....it's pretty hard to say no!  Above, Bry is demonstrating her balancing abilities while putting together a Lego set!  Left:  Brylee made a heart pillow with Nana! 

Below right:  Brylee made Papa a blue and orange cupcake for his birthday! 

Zac Brylee and Emmy....she loves to take pictures and videos with any phone she can get her little hands on!  

Monica, Brylee and Nana....Nana brought the store to Brylee so she could go shopping!  Bry used her coins she's been collecting to buy items she wanted! 






Happy Halloween!  Byrlee dressed up as a fairy and Zayden was spiderman!  Mom and I put on our witch hats!  We all went behind the doors at their house and they got to trick-or-treat until their bags were full and then some!  Brylee was able to be at home for the week between chemotherapy rounds, but with her counts not high enough or her immune system not strong enough to fight any germs we all brought Halloween to their house!  The kids had a blast!  Papa even hid and Brylee made Zayden go first to find him!  I tried hiding, but caught on video Brylee announced she could still see my "belly."  We all decorated cookies!  There were smiles all around! 

Brylee put on her cat ears and posed for the camera....Look at her strength and balance. And she's posing!  She has come so far in such a short time.  In September Brylee was working with physical therapy to sit up on her own, she didn't have any movement in her legs or feet, now in November she is sitting on her own, crawling, standing and walking on her own with her stylish walker.  Kids are amazing!

After the first round of chemotherapy, Monica and Rob made the difficult decision to come back to Idaho and complete the remaining rounds of chemo.  While Doernbecher sees and treats multiple cases of AML yearly and St. Luke's might see one only case of AML a year, there is something about being home that is healing.

Brylee just completed her third round of chemo, which is the strongest (10 times stronger than the rest of the chemo treatments).  She is now in her recovery phase, which means after the chemo has completely wiped out everything in her body, her counts are 0, she will slowly start to rebuild her blood counts.  This usually takes about 3-4 weeks.  While Brylee usually feels okay during this time she is in isolation to prevent any germs, bugs or sickness getting to her!  That means she doesn't leave her hospital room, her door is closed and she has very limited visitors.  Between her recovery phase and the next chemotherapy round, they usually get about 4-7 days to spend at home! Brylee loves sleeping in her own bed, playing in her own room with her toys and having friends and family over for visits. 

Brylee has had an MRI after her first round of chemotherapy and two bow and arrow biopies (bone marrow) after the first and second rounds.  The MRI showed her cancer lesions had vanished from her spinal cord and the "bow and arrow" biopsies reveal that Brylee is cancer free and in remission!  While this is the best news we could ask for at this point, we know she still has a road ahead of her!  She has one more round of chemotherapy.  Please continue your prayers for her strength and healing! 

The amount of support that has come forth for Brylee and her family is amazing!  We have had fundraisers, hundreds of donations, cards written, gifts given, blankets made, meals cooked, dinner gift cards provided and prayers said from here to Nepal and back!  It is amazing!  Brylee proves again and again that kids are resilient!  We have so much to learn from them!  One day at a time.....keep on fighting like a girl, Brylee Jeanne!  We love you!!!!!!

Challis 2013

Sawtooth Mountains....This sight never gets old!

We had such a nice visit up in Challis this time around.  We kept busy with walks/runs, a RZR ride, a trip up to Bayhorse Lake, lots of picture taking, a night of cards and only 2 trips into town!  The weather was pleasant.  We sat outside every morning drinking our coffee and every night as the sun went down.  We didn't really see any animals, except for a dead rattle snake in the road!  We took a RZR ride up behind the house.  It was beautiful!  I forgot about a couple of steep spots...but I just closed my eyes!  It was fun though!

Then before we knew it, it was time to pack up and head home!  Hopefully we can get up there one more time this summer!

Such a beautiful view!

Remmy Dog--in front of the pond--one of his favorite places!

Two happy dogs!

Zac with a dog nose!

Grandma and Grandpa....enjoying morning coffee!

Rio--being a good boy!

At first glance, it looks like just another picture of Remmy...but look a little closer and you'll notice his hind legs are sticking straight out (no bends)...Zac and I got such a good laugh out of this pose!

Beautiful day for a RZR ride.  Looking down on the house and the rest of the Challis area.  We were looking for a dried up reservoir and a petrified wood forest....but no such luck....we only saw beautiful views...not even any animals!

Zac and Em

Pretty lupine from our ride! 

Our little family--at Bayhorse Lake

Bayhorse

Beautiful clouds and sky in the makes....always hate leaving....but hopefully we can get back up to Challis soon!

Graduation

Such a happy day!

Zac graduated from the Radiological Sciences Program from BSU! He already took the board and passed so he is a registered tech!  I'm so proud of the hard work he put into the program!  Looking back it feels like it flew by, but during all of those papers, tests, projects, studying, clinicals, labs, etc. if felt like time stood still!  They had a graduation ceremony just for their graduating class and it was very nice!  Each of the 3 main teachers (Darlene, Lesley and Scott) all spoke, along with various students from the program.  Scott gave out awards and Zac will be remembered by having a gray lunchbox complete with snacks, real silverware and a lunch that he ate every day!  Challis earned the Almond Rocco award for watching the most YouTube and Nic was noted for having the most family at the ceremony.  It was fun for Jill and I to finally put faces to all of the names we've heard about for the past two years!

Grandma and Grandpa Broadie and Grandma Sandy

It was a great weekend to celebrate.  Zac's parents, grandparents and grandma stayed with us and it was nice to have everyone together!  We had a lunch/BBQ on Saturday to celebrate before we were off to the ceremony.

Zac is taking a couple of summer classes and then he has one semester of CT before he is officially done! 

Cam and Mom

Grandma Sandy

Being silly....Chelsea and Zach, Grandma and Grandpa Broadie and Sherry and Kyle

Race for the Cure--May 2013

Monica, Mom and I

Running for Aunt Joan

Monica and I did Race for the Cure this year with Mom, and a whole slew of other people...Trish, Hannah, Barb and Amy to name a few.  Let's just say I got left in the dust!  Going to the Dutch Goose the night before and then Bardenay probably didn't help!  But it was a good time even if I did nearly all of it by myself!  This was the first year I did it, and I don't think it will be the last....it is for such a great
cause!

Jenn and Tina on the poster ad!

ISRT--April 2013

ISRT--McCall Weekend--April 2013

Idaho something Radiological Technologist....is my best guess!  I don't know what it exactly stands for...all I know is it was some sort of conference for Zac and a great excuse to make a weekend out of it.  Jill and Nic stayed at the house with us and we had a great time!  Mom and Cam got in late Thursday night after driving over from Hailey from Jacob's confirmation (Mom was his sponsor).  Friday morning Mom, Zac, Nic and Challis got up and went to the conference while Cam, Jill and I slept in, lounged in our comfies for most of the morning and then made our way into town and Jill and I found ourselves at the Bistro for a good chunk of the afternoon wining, dining and chatting!  Later we walked to Stacey Cakes for some "must try" gingersnap cookies.  Then we made our way into Paul's for a pretty good laugh.  I'll just leave it at that!  Afterwards we started walking to the Shore Lodge (where the boys had their conference...our plan was to have a drink and wait for them) but they met us walking on the road!  While waiting for them Jill and I laughed so hard.....we always have a good time together!  Later with the boys we made our way around to the local breweries before eating dinner and stopping by the Perseo's and Kaili (who is pregnant with twins!) and Matt's.  It was fun seeing them.  The next morning we had breakfast at the Pancake House and then hung out before wining and dining some more and sitting around the campfire.  Over all, it was a great weekend!

Saying Goodbye to the Hailey House!

After making 4 weekend trips and a mid week spring break trip, the Hailey house is packed up, we're moved out and that chapter in our lives has ended.  It is surreal, hasn't quite sunk in...feels like a dream.  Time to start making new memories in a new place! 

It snowed one of the weekends in March that we were home.  The dogs loved the snow.  The last trailer ride.

The last "gate" picture.  Fortunately, we kept the gate, so there will be more "gate" pictures in the future...just a different location! 

The last family photo in front of the house!  We were fortunate to spend a weekend with everyone home for one last time!  Certainly a special weekend full of laughter, stress, joy, and of course tears!

The last view at the river looking south.  So many walks to the river to look for heart rocks and skip rocks, to snowshoe or walk, see elk or mountain lions (although I never saw any), throw sticks for the dogs, or just get out for a breath of fresh air!

 Curly dogs, Remmy and Rio hanging out on one of their last trips to the Hailey house!

On our last walk to the river!  It was a beautiful day!  I didn't want it to end....I didn't want to "head back to the house." 

Trucks and cars are all packed up.  Dilly Dallying around, not quite ready to drive out of the driveway one last time! 

 

 Cam and Mom with Rockee on the bridge at the cemetery....so many pictures taken here...so many special memories at the Secret Place....Anna walked over this bridge on her special day to say "I do!"  So many dogs swam in the disgusting pond water. 

As we walk away from years of memories....we will forever cherish and hold onto such a special place in all of our hearts!  So glad this place came into our lives....the Hailey house means Cam went from being a single bachelor to a husband, father and papa!  So incredibly grateful!  

As one door closes, another one opens...but too often we look at the closed door, while wonderful opportunities pass us by....so here's to holding onto memories of the "Hailey House," while embracing what is yet to come!  Here's to new memories somewhere else!