December 2015

December, overall, was a lot more fun!! Only thing that was missing was Jared... for the first half. He had to go back to UT for work, while the kids and I stayed in Omaha, NE. My amazing, beautiful mom came and stayed a week with us in Omaha to help with the kids.

We had a lot of fun doing play-doh, coloring, museum, and a bunch of other stuff with her. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated her being there and how much she did.

A couple days after my mom left, Jared's mom, our sister in law, and nieces came to play with us a week, week and a half.

We had a lot of fun doing manicures, swimming, a few things at the hospital, and just playing around at the house. It was a blast having them. I am so incredibly grateful they came out. They did so much to help too. It was so much appreciated.

On Dec. 15, so 4 weeks after getting there/surgery, we got the clearance to go back to UT! We left Omaha on Dec. 17, got to UT on the 18th. Even Buddy was tired of the car

We had an awesome time putting together a ginger bread house that a sweet friend sent us.

I am total wimp for the snow, but my family sure enjoys it! This one is Ayden going sledding by himself

This is Jared and Bree sledding

Christmas Eve, Day we got a lot of snow. Jared was a hero and made a snowman with/for Ayden.

We spent time with Jared's side Christmas Eve and Day. This was Christmas Day, cousins playing in the snow. Ayden had just fallen of the sled he was riding with his cousin.

Dec. 28 was mine and Jared's 9th wedding anniversary. How he has stuck with me that long, I don't know, but sure glad he has. Anyway~ we got my sis. to baby-sit while we went to lunch, spent the afternoon just being together, and we also went out to dinner. She took this pic of my cute kids

We had a couple days of my niece coming to play with us. She dressed Tayla and me up.

Awesome, right? lol

As you can tell, we definitely had a much better, relaxing, more fun December. Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season!!! 

November, you will not be missed

November was a long, hard month for us. Going to need to refresh your memories on stuff before I can get into Nov...

Back in June, we found out that Breeann had some dilated intestines. This dilation made it so she could not absorb or move her formula/food very easily at all. Here's where I first, publicly, told about the dilation. Anyway, so then end of Aug., Bree and I made a trip out to Omaha, NE to see what her team would be able to do to help her dilation. OH MY! I just realized I never blogged about what happened out there!! Just mentioned it in another post. SO, summary of that trip was... her drs. were not able to say what they could do. They couldn't do all the testing they needed/wanted because during one of the test, they found Bree had some pneumoatosis... air pockets in her intestinal lining. We ended up being in NE for a week and a half because of it. It was a miserable trip! Anyway, after that trip, we didn't hear any from NE until first week of Oct. Bree's dr. here in UT emailed us saying NE agreed to do another STEP procedure on her. Here's a YouTube video for those of you, like me, who think that stuff cool! Breeann has had this surgery 3 times already... once before we got her. I want to say she was about a month old from what I was told (Oct. 2012). Her second one was when she was 6 months old (March 2013) and she was still in the foster care system. Her third one was right after we finalized her adoption, July 2013. Okay, I think that's enough of refresh... on to Nov. :oP

Nov. was busy preparing and getting out to NE for Bree's surgery. We arrived in Omaha on Nov. 16. Gave us a day to settle in and do a day of appointments. We knew after surgery, we wouldn't be able to "play" for a bit, so we went to the Mormon Trail Center

 And the Kainesville Tabernacle, but I didn't get pics there apparently.

Nov. 18 was the day of surgery

She didn't fully wake up until the next morning. She was miserable and out of it! She didn't feel good at all for a few days, but in no time was back to her spunky, cute self

She was only inpatient for a week... got out the day for Thanksgiving!! Luckily, just in time to be able to have fun with Dad and decorate for Christmas before Jared had to go back to UT. 

 This was, I believe, her first time eating after surgery... all she now will eat is yogurt.

 This year, we had a very special visitor join us!!! Her name is Christina Marie :) Thanks so much Aunt Jeni!!!

That really does sum up our Nov. Not a totally fun one, but ended up good :o)

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts

We all know I'm not the best with words, so bear with me here. I've been working on this post for a while :P but I just can't seem to find the right words, so here ya go, with my attempt.

I just have such an immense amount of gratitude for all of you, our loved ones. With Bree's health recently back on the roller coaster (more on that later too), there has been so many people that have helped us! Watching Ayden, calls/text, letting me vent/talk, a meal or two, etc. We received a few awesome packages, letters in the mail... Just a outpouring of love from everyone! It was just a huge reminder of how extremely blessed we are. I try to show that appreciation by paying it forward/back or at the very minimum sending a thank you message. But it just seems so completely inadequate for the love and service that has been rendered to us. Please know it is all sincerely appreciated and noticed.

Frequently I get asked, commented to that people don't know how we do it. Honestly, our success is, first and for most, is Heavenly Father. Our prayers and fasting, as well as the prayers and fasting of you all, are definitely heard, have been answered, and felt. No question in my mind that Breeann wouldn't be here and we couldn't make it through without all our faith. Secondly, our success is also you guys, our loved one. We couldn't do it without the help you guys give by your help of lifting our burdens. So thank you a million times over, for everything!!! We love and appreciate you all so very very much... even if we aren't the greatest at expressing it.

I wanted to add a couple of music videos because... music. lol Music is how I best express myself, feel closed to Heavenly Father, and stress relief. I wish there was a thank you video, but I couldn't find one that I liked :P Anyway~ this first video is how I feel about our situation.

Not easy, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Breeann is such a huge blessing to all those who know her and I consider her our "beautiful heartbreak". I know we'll make it through.

This next one... I think is more to help remind me that Breeann, and everyone for that matter, really is in Heavenly Father's hands.

We have our "mountains" in life, but He is aware of all, and in charge. He may not answer our prayers how we want it to, but He will answer them according to His will/plan. 

Thanks for baring though this post. You guys really are awesome!!! Love, and appreciate, each one of you!!!