Christie's Visit From Ohio

A Beautiful Quilt of My Boys!

I feel bad that it has taken me 3 weeks to post about this because I am still so touched by it. One of my best friends, Trisha, made this quilt for me so that I could take my babies with me while I was in the hospital! This was her first time ever at making a quilt and she tackled it in a week and a half! I am still amazed every time I look at it and I can feel the love that she has for me and my family. A-mazing.

My Wonderful "Falyim" and Friends

I have received countless cards, flower bouquets, e-mails, phone calls, treats, meals, prayers, visits.....all from my amazing group of friends and my incredible family! It has, without a doubt, been the most humbling experience for me personally. I continue to say that I have been touched beyond words, and that I have gained an even greater desire and excitement to be able to, in turn, do all I can to serve them when I am able to.

Now, on to explain the photo above...

One of our dear friends (you know who you are!) has a cleaning lady coming to our house once a week. I am sooo grateful! The day after the cleaning lady and her crew had come, I was at the kitchen sink and happened to glance over at the shelf in the family room where I had set the cute "F-A-M-I-L-Y" block letters that Alayna made us for Christmas. I tried not to laugh too hard because my tummy is still tender when I do, but it was so hard not to! Apparently, the cleaning crew rearranged the letters after dusting the shelf....obviously, they no speaka English!

We Got Our Baby Back!

Hip Hip Hooray! Yesterday Curt and I picked up Jake and brought him back home! Even though he has been well taken care of at Grandma's house, I was just missing him way too much to be without him for another second.

Jake seems so happy to be home and to be in is own bed. His brothers missed him, too. I think Ty is happy to have someone to tease again.

I can't put into words how happy it makes me to have our family all together again. These past couple of weeks have definitely made me realize how much my family means to me and how blessed I truly am.

The Many Faces of Ty

Post-Christmas/Surgery Update...

Well, we survived! Here's a quick re-cap...

* The night before my surgery, I really wanted to do something fun with our boys. So we decided to take them to Peter Piper Pizza where they could play and get all of their energy out. All 3 boys had a great time...as for mom and dad...we definitely did it for the kids! I had a headache by the time we left, but it was well worth it to see the boys having so much fun.

* Tucking the kids into bed that night was rough on me. Luke was crying because he was afraid I was going to die. My heart breaks for him. We did our best to comfort him and to let him know that I was going to be ok. Luke wondered how Noma knew she was going to die. We explained that the doctors gave her medicine and it just wasn't working and she wasn't getting better. It's a tough tough lesson for our little boys to learn, but I can only imagine how this experience is going to mold them and help them to become the men that God wants them to be.

* Marla (Grandma Holbrook) stayed with the boys while we were in the hospital. She then took them to stay at her house once Luke started his Christmas break.

* On Curt's 29th b-day, I was in surgery for about 11 hours. Curt and Rich (my father-in-law waited in the waiting room the whole time. We were hoping they had some recliners or couches for the guys to rest on, but they didn't! Curt had a couple of his buddies come visit him and bring him food while he was waiting.

* After a day in ICU, I was moved to the regular floor. They discharged me on Friday, December 21st. The doctors were amazed at how well I was recovering. I was and continue to be amazed! I thought I would be in so much more pain than I am, but I guess I have a high pain tolerance.

* The boys came back home so they could sleep in their own beds when Christmas morning came. The Pajama Elf dropped off some jammies for the kids on Christmas Eve. Luke was so excited because he peeked out the window and saw the elf's leg as he was running away! I'm just glad he didn't recognize that leg! Luke was saying, "Mom!! I saw the pajama elf's leg! He's a REAL person!". It was cute. The boys were excited to get their new jammies, except for Jake. He was ready for bed, so he wasn't a happy camper. When Luke opened up his jammies he was so excited..."NFL!! NFL!!" and Ty said, "It's TARS (Cars)!".

* Christmas morning, everyone had fun opening their presents. Rich, Marla, and Alayna then came over with breakfast burrito fixins'. That evening, we went to Rich and Marla's for yummy dinner. By that time, I was pooped and ready to hit the sack. The boys stayed over at their house for the next few nights. They've had a lot of fun spending so much time with their grandma and grandpa. We are so grateful for them and their willingness to take care of our boys for us. As sad as it make me sometimes, I know that I cannot recover without some help with the boys. Jake will be spending the most time at their house because I can't lift anything for another 5 weeks or so. It's impossible for me to take care of him by myself and I hate that! But, this is only temporary and I know Jake is in good hands. He's been such a happy boy, except for when he was sick, and it does do my heart good to see him having a fun time with grandma.

* Each day I continue to feel better and am anxious for life to get back to normal. I meet with both of my surgeons next week and on Wednesday will get the oncologist info.

* We continue to feel extremely blessed and are so appreciative to all those who have helped our family. From the phone calls, to the prayers, we thank you so much!

On a Lighter Note...

There have been a lot of other events happening in the Holbrook household...fun and exciting ones that I've been meaning to post about. So, in a nutshell, this is what we've been up to for the past month...

* We got a new van! Buh-bye, Suburban. You are no longer a pain in our sides. We all LOVE our van ('07 Kia Sedona) and Curt and I are relieved to have a car with a warranty in case something breaks down!

* We spent Thanksgiving at the cabin in Snowflake! We had a fun time there riding the 4 wheeler, decorating the gingerbread house, eating the delicious food, playing Chicken Foot, and sitting out by the fire pit. Grandma and Grandpa Holbrook, Alayna and her friend, and Ashlie were there with us, too! Good times.

* Our baby is now walking!! There's no stopping Jake now!

* Luke turned 6 years old on December 4th! He had a blast with all of his friends at the party the Saturday before his birthday. We met Grandma Holbrook (Grandpa was out of town.), Alayna, and Ashlie at Texas Roadhouse for dinner on the 4th. Luke was so stinking excited to be able to sit on the sadle and have the waiters sing to him! It was so cute!!

* Ty (and Luke, too) has grown about 2 inches in the last 2 months! Ty has always seemed so much shorter than Luke was at his age, but now he is starting to shoot up.

See photos below...

A Life Full of Learning...

Looking back at our crazy pictures from our anniversary celebration last month, how glad I am that Curt and I spent that time together! Especially now that our lives have changed drastically since that post. Our lives are forever changed because of the news we received last week, but it has changed for the better. I was diagnosed with breast cancer last week, for those who don't know. I don't know much else at this point, but hope to find out more this week.

Of course I am scared and nervous about having such a radical surgery and going through chemo, but I am more focused on the important things in life....my family, the gospel, Jesus Christ, my friends, serving others... I know I wasn't living up to my potential as a wife, mother, and friend before "the news". I pray that I can become who my Father in Heaven would have me be.

Below is a copy of an e-mail I sent out.

To all:



I am finally able to sit down and collect my thoughts and make sure I express to you all that I’ve been feeling.



I am so extremely grateful for all the prayers, meals, phone calls, e-mails, flowers, and concern on my behalf. I feel bad that I haven’t been able to thank most of you in person or to even be able to respond to each e-mail I’ve received. Please know that I have been touched beyond what can be described into words. I have never felt so much love from my family, friends, and church members as I have this week. This week, I have also been blessed with such a strong feeling of love FOR each of you, too. It has been incredible and I am determined to do what I can to influence those around me through my latest trial.



I keep asking myself…”What can I learn from this experience?” and I have felt such a strong desire to be an example to those around me. To help lift others up through my example and to maybe help strengthen their faith and assurance that God does love each one of us. I know He loves me and I have felt his love. He has sent each one of you to me at this time in my life. I have no doubt that my family and I will make it through this trial, but I also know that we will be ok no matter what the outcome is. I am going to put up a good fight, but I also accept His will for me and my family. I can’t see the “big picture” like He can, and I have total faith in Him. I know there will be days when I will struggle, both spiritually and physically, but I hope to keep those to a minimum!



So, thank you, thank you, thank you for all that you have done and all that you will do for me and my family in the future! Just know that no act of kindness goes unnoticed and I have been praying that those who are helping us at this time will be blessed abundantly for their efforts.



Love,

Charlene