Happy New Year!

It has been a very busy month for the Lerwill's. Jw started basketball Joshlynn preformed in two dances. Family Christmas parties to attend. My family surprised us with a much needed gift this year. My Dad gave my Mom a diamond ring and told us how 50 years ago he purposed to her. It was a really special moment, it meant a lot to my kids to hear there Grandparents love story.And where all of this started. We love getting together with family for the Holidays. Our Christmas was amazing it was nice to just be together. We hope everyone had a great safe Christmas. Now its New Years my how this year has flown by. This year has been very life changing for me. My heart has been touched so deeply. My mind and soul have been places I never new existed. I knew at the start of 2013 life was going to change. I was prepared for the things I knew were soon going to happen. We were preparing for a huge family vacation. We would soon be closing on our house. And moving across town. I was prepared for my kids to be one year older.( That is a big deal for me.) I knew going on our vacation we were going to meet new people. See new places and have an experience of a lifetime. And that we did. We had so much fun. It was all we could have expected and more.  I knew we were going to soon be closing on our house. I knew what a huge change that would be for our family. New house, new neighbors, new ward.Two days after our vacation we closed on our home. We moved into our home and meet a lot of new people. This year we have meet so many new people who truly have touched our lives. We have watched our kids grow one year older. We have watched them grow physical, and spiritually. We have watched each of them have personal life changing experiences. I was not prepared to go on a emotional roller coaster, we did not agree to ride. I was not prepared to be in a position we were found in. I was not prepared to search the world for answers. However that is where we were. And through our families faith, and our family spending a lot of time on our knees. We were lead to this person and to that person. Through our Heavenly Father we found a new sense of hope. We are so blessed to have these amazing new people in our lives. Our family has been the recipients of some amazing giving people. We are overwhelmed with gratitude to our families, friends, and community who are helping lighten our load. I was not prepared to have my mind and heart go to the places it has been. I was not prepared to feel the feelings I have felt. It has been a life changing year. We are so blessed to have these experiences so we can grow. We are so blessed to have each of you to help us conquer this trial. We wish you all a Happy New Year! Bring on 2014!       

Pictures from our last Colorado treatment with the Family

We found a Dinosaurs eating the Grinch!

                                           Us at the Wild Buffalo Bill Museum and grave site.

 We visited the Coors Beer Brewery it was really interesting they brew a lot of beer this is the             largest                                                 on site Brewery in the world.

                                     We saw how candy is made at Hammond's candy factory

                                               We are at the Bronco Stadium it was so cool!

                                              Family relaxation! Hot tub goodness...........

                                                                      Treatment #3!

                                             Feels good to have another treatment down!

                                                                      Our way home.

Home safe and sound

We are home safe! It feels so good to home. Kim got super sick during the night. We waited for awhile this morning seeing if he could get feeling better and we all really dreaded the roads. We started off the roads were snow packed. Kim was real sick, so Momma Bear had to drive us home. It was fine I had a perfect path to drive on. It was a nice trip with the family the drive home wasn't pleasant but grateful for our safety. Glad to home snuggled up with my babies. Treatment # 3 DONE!   

Treatment Day

His surgery went great. It was nice to let the kids meet Dr Yakes and Kelly the PA and see what Austin has to do. He is in more pain this time. Feels a burning feeling in his arm. We tried to make it home but the roads are awful so we are stopped in Grand Junction for the night. We will start fresh tomorrow. 

Round 3 of treatments

I can not believe we are on round 3.We are glad the time seems to come fast. This time we decided it needed to be a family event. We brought the whole family minus our little Spartacus. He is having a sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa Lerwill's. (We already have pictures that he is being spoiled.) It feels so right to be here all together. Our drive was great. Coming over the top of Spanish Fork Canyon was beautiful everything was covered in frost. The fog was settled over the top of the mountains. It was a pleasant view from our warm car. I am at peace being here with my family, being able to spend some much needed family time. Kim and I have been working so much, it is nice to have this time to reconnect as a family for a few days. So blessed to have your prayers, we could not get through this with out them. Love you all!  

Busy few days....

It has been a busy few days. Spent a fun Black Friday with my girls, my beautiful daughter Joshlynn and beautiful niece kelsee. We had so much fun shopping, laughing, and sitting out in the cold to get those great deals. It was great times! Saturday spent the day with my girly family members making our traditional gingerbread houses, it was great. I look forward to this all year. So grateful to my Grandma "B" who started this special tradition so us girls can have a special day. I felt her there with us I pictured her laughing at our conversation and giving her advice with such wisdom. I love and miss everything about her. I loved being with my family that day. I love how creative we all are. Saturday night had our Thanksgiving dinner with the Lerwill. It was great to be with family.    

Thanksgiving

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for so many things this year. Life has been good. My heart is full of gratitude towards my family and friends. My hubbie had to work today and missed our extended family Thanksgiving dinner, but made it home to enjoy our own family dinner. So blessed to have a nice dinner and warm house to be in. Love all of you!

Table  is set!

Happy Thanksgiving!

My two cents

This past week our bank account was hacked. We found it pretty quickly and alerted the bank. I was so angry, I could hardly think. I was consumed by anger as I have to make phone calls extra trips to the bank to fill out paperwork. Then I thought about who did this. I felt sorry for them. They must be miserable. Maybe they did not have good parents to teach them right from wrong or good influences to teach them to use there talents for good. I changed the way I thought.  Although it is a huge inconvenience for us to cancel the accounts, call our pre paid bill accounts, go without bank cards. It added extra stress, left us spending our  time fixing this inconvenience instead of relaxing with our family. I still feel sorry for them. Because I am still happy, blessed and grateful to be me. My family still loves me I have a great husband. And I was raised well. And hope to be raising my kids to be honest with there fellow men.

Home sweet home

Our quick trip wasn't too successful we were at the hospital yesterday for over 12 hours. Didn't get released from the hospital until late. Then we made our drive back home through the night. Austin luckily slept most of the way, for Kim and I we tried our best keeping each other awake. Finally arrived home early this morning. Thankful for my parents to be so flexible and was able to spend another night. We crashed out and was able to sleep in a little bit. Today Austin has done great, a lot more numbness and tingling than last time but all in all doing well. Thinking we wont do the quick trip thing again too much on all of us. We are living and learning our new way of life. This time around we saw more of his patients it was very humbling to see others in our similar circumstance and how this effects them as well. We are so blessed everyday with so many things.

Treatment Day

It has been a very long day. His MRI took forever they sent him in then pulled him back out. Put him back in another way. They took images of his upper arm and chest. He was really uncomfortable they packed him in there tight. It was hot and uncomfortable. Came out with a bad headache.
Waited for a bit, then they came got us for pre operation. Went there and they started his IV. Kelly Dr Yakes PA came and told us Dr Yakes wanted to meet with Kim and I before surgery. For the next few hours Kim and I were pretty tense wondering if something new had shown up on his MRI.
Then they came got us for surgery, we went with him down to the O.R. where we meet up with Dr Yakes he told us his chest looked great and that we would do treatment as planned.....Phewwwww..... We were so relieved. Then it was kisses and goodbyes for us. Kim and I ran real quick to get a bite to eat. Then it was back to the waiting room.....where we waited.............for what seemed like forever. Then we got our phone call that he was out and that everything went well, but that he was really dizzy.
And then we waited forever.........again....... Momma bear was about at her witz end. I was going crazy, we had been away from him long enough. When they came to get us she brought to a intersection of hallways. And told us to wait here and that we would intercept him as he was passing through. It was kind of an odd feeling we were so anxious to see him. We were looking this way and that way, two nurses walked by and asked if we needed help finding somewhere.We told them that we were waiting to intercept our son. I am sure we looked quite funny. But finally we were with him. We are now in PICU he has been in a lot of pain. They are trying to get him on top of his pain. He told us he was in a lot of pain right after surgery. Thank you for all the text messages and support. It has been hard.           

Made it to Denver

We made it to Denver! We hear at home we got snow and lots of it. We were so blessed to have great weather. Hoping for that on our way back. Austin is ready for round 2. We will be at the hospital bright and early. We will update as soon as we can.  

Off for round 2 of treatments

We are off for round 2 of treatments. Yesterday I found our that they scheduled him for another MRI. So now we will have that first thing Monday morning then treatment. Makes me a bit nervous, hadn't planned time for that. We wanted to be back on the road as fast as we could because there is an expected snow storm. I will keep you posted! Thanks for all your prayers!

Recap of our past week

Here is a recap of our past week.
 Our sweet cousins received an Angel from Heaven. She left her tiny foot prints on our hearts and soul. She was sent here to change our lives. And that she did, she reminded us how precious life is and what is most important. My thoughts and prayers are with her sweet family, as her family endures this tremendous loss. She will forever be our Sweet Angel Baby.



Our family lost our Momma Pygmy goat "Buttons" she has been in our family for a long time. She has given us so many babies. She has truly been apart of our family. Our family has enjoyed having her. We have stayed up many nights as she has been in labor with her babies. My kids have many good memories taking care of her. We will miss our Sweet "Buttons".




                                                 "In loving memory of our Sweet Buttons"

We had a great Halloween. Realized at JW school Halloween parade (thanks too Jen) that this would be my last parade I would watch. Yes, it made me sad. It is hard to have your kids grow up. We were able to visit with our cute kiddos and Grandma Lerwill then it was off to Jane and Lee's. They always have a great party. I love to have traditions. I know they put in so much time and effort. Thank you!

                                                     Spartacus Is being eaten by a shark!

Austin's Doodle work

Austin loves to doodle (that's what I call it). He always incorporates shed horns, sports, and bull riding. He has created some really cool things. Last year I took one of his doodles and had it put on some jackets for each one of us. I found this today and thought I should share it. 

             It reads Failure will never overtake me if my determination is to succeed! Stay strong

Peaches!

Mmmmm The finished product!

                  Joshlynn also helped me prepare the fruit for canning! She was such a super helper!

Our first Peach Harvest!

Our first Peach Harvest! One year ago when I looked at this house and put our offer in. I dreamed of the day that we would harvest our own peaches it was so exciting!

          Lucky we have a little monkey to get those peaches that were at the tippie top of the tree.

                                                                 Look at our Harvest!

Joshlynn's Cooking

Joshlynn is working on her 10 hour project for Young Women. With our crazy busy family schedule, I decided to jump into the "Freezer meal" planning. Me and Joshynn spent a afternoon preparing several meals. It was so awesome because most of the vegetables we harvested from our own garden. Joshlynn did such a great job! So proud of her! She is learning very valuable lessons to prepare her for her future family. 

                                                                This is Jw Election poster!
                                                                (sorry picture is not great.)

Treatment #2

Treatment # 2 is set up for November 4th. We are going to try doing a fast trip and see how it goes. We will drive to Denver Sunday, sleep and have treatment first thing Monday morning then get him in the car and drive back home. We are trying to get a new routine down. I am sure we are going to become pros before we know it.

JW's Awesome Week!

This past week was JW's week. His football team won there playoff game and made it to the Pizza bowl! It has been such a fun year. I have loved watching his team grow and learn and play as a team. Way to go Payson Green! Then he won his class Elections, he is this years class President! Way to go! (I will post his Election poster.) He has had a great week!

Humbled

I am so humbled. Yesterday was amazing. We had so much support. So many donations, time, service rendered in our behalf. So many friends and family came from everywhere. Our hearts are so full of gratitude, love, peace and support. We meet some amazing people who are now and forever are apart of us. This is so hard to be the "receiver" and not the "giver" it has brought so many emotions I did not even know I have had. My heart and mind has went places I did not know existed. I have no idea how to thank and repay everyone! However THANK YOU for your support! You have blessed our lives more than you could ever begin to imagine. We are so very blessed!

Elk Hunt 2013

We have had so much fun hunting these past two weekends.

                                                                       Joshlynn

                                            Nothing better than time spent around a campfire.

                                                 Mmmm best part Grandpa's sticky buns!

                                                              Look at Austins nice hair do!

                                                                  Those are our girls!

                                                  Joshlynn * Makaydee * Jacee * Lyndee

Clay and Jw the mighty hunters!

 We were not having to much luck elk hunting, so they decided to lizard hunt instead. They caught so many!

          We did not have a successful hunt. But we sure did have fun and made some great memories.
                                                    Thank you Grandma and Grandpa

We have recently been in contact with a family in a similar situation as we are. And have been at this for a very long time. Who has seen Dr Yakes for treatment. I had a opportunity to talk with the Father. He provided us with so much information. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity. Since the beginning of this whole thing, I have felt very alone. Since May when all of this has changed. I felt so small, feeling so overwhelmed that we were left to figure this all out. I felt I am one person. I do not know where to turn. I don't know Doctors. I don't know people. Our family prayed so hard for help. And one by one our Heavenly Father has sent people to help. Has literally put people right in our path. It was so awesome to talk with this Father who understood where we are. It was great to hear another parents perspective. To hear his story, and what they have learned. He shared his advice, and his wisdom. Given this new perspective, and information, has left us with a lot going through our minds. Feel so blessed and overwhelmed. So excited to have this new friendship with this family. I have once again found myself at an emotional stage. So sorry if find yourself asking the simple question "how are you doing" and I burst into tears (sorry Cindy) you just never know how long I have been holding back. Haha.... Just remember it is just me allowing myself to have emotions. :) We are so grateful, and want our friends and family to know how important they are, and how much they mean to us.      

PBR video

Please remember to go vote for our video on PBR.com! Air Bull Riding Around Town! Thanks

Austin update

Since being home he has done really good. Been sore, and tired. He is ready to return to his normal routine. He is going to go to school for a half day tomorrow to try some normal life. His friends miss him. They have came to visit, but it just isn't the same. Because he cant drive his Buddy volunteered to pick him up. Because once your 16 and have a drivers license is is just so below you to ride the bus. Thank you Cody for saving him that horrible embarrassment. Thank you everyone for still praying for his recovery.

PBR Air Bull Riding: Air Bull Riding Around Town

                                              Austin putting his new patient pin in Santaquin.   

                                                            He is ready for his MRI

                                   Map of the USA the pins represent where all his patients live.

                                                          Out of the country patients.

                                            Austin and Kelly the Doctors amazing assistant

                                                                  Ready for surgery....

                                                                        He is all done.

                                                                  Kisses from Mom!

                                                                     Kisses from Dad!

                                              Lunch time! He has to eat before we can leave.

                                                  This is what it looked like after surgery.

                                                                     We get to leave!

                                                              Resting back at our hotel.
                   With his puppy from Courtney and blankie from Lisa and his new favorite ice cream.