WE CAN DO HARD THINGS!

We can do hard things is my new motto in life. I actually stole it from my good friend Erica and her family (Thanks). The last couple months have been tough but knowing we can do hard things has helped get me through. I know it has been a while since our last post, so here is an update. Prepare yourself it is fairly lengthy.

As most already know my mom has been valiantly battling colon cancer for the last three years. She has been such a trooper and endured treatments I can't even imagine going through, all the while staying positive and not letting it get her down. A couple of weeks ago, she was hospitalized and had abdominal surgery to remove an obstruction in her bowel. Unfortunately the obstruction was a tumor that could not be removed. She has opted out of treatment to regain her strength and concentrate on quality of life for however long that may be. Brooklyn and I have been in Reno with her for the last two weeks minus a few days and Shae and Aiden have been able to travel to visit us on weekends. I am so grateful for such a supportive husband and son. I know it has been hard on them as well. Here we all are with my uncle Gary who was up visiting from Vegas. Thanks for all your help Uncle Gary!

While visiting Grandma Susi in the hospital we were able to see the care flight helicopter land and take off. It was a highlight for Aiden. It was loud but he loved to be so close to the helicopter.

Aiden has been a great big brother and loves his new sister so much. He has been a great helper and I love to see the joy that Brooklyn brings to him. Aiden has done some hard things his month too. They are being away from mom for days, traveled back and forth in the car for the last three weekends, and my personal favorite... Aiden went poop on the potty for the first time! It was very difficult for him but he did it! Okay so he has only done it once but it is a start.

Brooklyn has also been a trooper. Let's just say she and I have had our fair share of hospitals and we will be happy not to see the inside of one for a long time. Brooklyn has endured quite a bit of traveling over the last few weeks. Besides the numerous 5-7 hour car rides, she also took her first plane ride. It was quite eventful. Traveling with an infant has its challenges but ours was intensified with two blow outs, spit up and spilled soup all over my shirt. Oh yeah, and you should have seen me pushing a stroller with a car seat, car seat base, diaper bag, and suitcase. Plus and don't forget the baby carrier she was in most of the time. I have to say, however, we have been blessed with a very good baby. She did sleep on both flights (no direct flights between Reno and Medford), and I am very happy to report she is sleeping between 7 and 8 hours at night! Yipee!!! She has also started smiling this week. One of our biggest highlights.

So you probably thought our eventful flight was over but there is more. These next pictures depict the icing on the cake for the day. When we arrived in Reno, my dear friend Tami came to pick us up to take us to my mom's house. I was glad that our flight had come in early because I thought it would give us plenty of time to get to moms for a 4:00 appointment. However, I totally botched that one when I thought I was unlocking Tami's car to put the car seat in. What I had actually done was locked it with the keys in it. Oh, and did I mention the car was still running too (Thankfully I hadn't put Brooklyn in the car yet). I thought we might have lucked out because Tami had already opened the trunk and her car had the nice feature of unlatching the seats from inside the trunk. However, her sons car seat had been installed so well that we were unable to bypass it to unlock the doors. Fortunately her sweet husband rescued us with the spare keys. Thanks Harold, you are the best! We had to laugh at ourselves and took these pictures to remind us to find humor in all things. I am just glad Tami didn't snap the picture with my rear hanging out of the trunk.

Aunt Tara came to visit and was with us when we got the news of mom's surgery. She was so helpful and extended her stay to be with Aiden for the week. Thanks nanny Tara you are awesome.

We also had our good friends, Ron and Nancy, come visit from Rhode Island. I was able to make it back home for the few days they were here. It was great to visit with them. It has been a rough couple of months but we are so grateful for all of our family and friends love and support. I have truly gained a new respect for friendships and service. The outpouring of of this support and service has been amazing for not only Shae, Aiden, Brooklyn and I, but also for my mom. Thank you so much. We love you all!