An Easter thought.

"You're so UP!", a compliment I received from a prospective student. I have no explanation for it other than together my husband and I desperately cling to the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
We know our Savior came to earth, he lived a perfect life, died and has risen from the grave for us, for all of us. And that through Him and His sacrifices for us, we can have hope, we can repent and change, and be with our families for eternity.
There is NOTHING beyond His power to comfort us, no loss, no pain, no heartache is too much for Him to help us. Through our (almost) 11 years of marriage we've faced many challenges, some that have been so devastating that it was hard to see a way out, but through fervent prayers & priesthood blessings, we have been given guidance to help us know how to move forward. We were never ever left alone in our challenges we've been buoyed up & blessed, we have found comfort, love, light & hope in our Savior Jesus Christ.
#Heisrisen #becauseHelives #HappyEaster

We're still here, I promise.

Life has just been so crazy, insane really. But in a good way, an avalanche of blessings. 

We got a new car, on January 10th, it's 2011 Honda CRV. Why did we get a new car? Well it's hard to get the wheelchair in and out of our small car and then it takes up the entire trunk... and we were going to have to replace the struts and timing belt soon. So instead the $$ we had set aside to do that was used as a down payment on our new car. 

Her name is Luna.

And.......

we're buying a house!!!!!! 

Here it is! In Pasco Washington, roughly 4.5 miles from work or about 8 minutes travel time. 

This is the mirror image of our houses floor plan. 

We got pre-approved on Wednesday February 11th then we found the house on Valentine's Day, and BEFORE it was put on the market. So we negotiated via text and we will be purchasing the house for $12,000 less than they originally wanted + a 1year home warranty, and they're paying up to $4000 in closing costs. (Just to be clear this is not the 1st house we've looked at)

Everything is coming together so quickly it's hard to keep up.

A timeline... mostly just for me

I FINALLY have all of my medical records from Idaho and my previous Washington Doctors..so now I have dates I was missing from my journal, our journals...or lack thereof. I had been previously trying to construct this timeline and now it's almost complete. 

Big life events...

2006

May 5^th- We were married in the Portland Oregon Temple

May 12^th- Joseph starts work at Broulims

June- Shaylee Works @ Craigos

July – Shaylee teaches swimming lessons @ BYUI
            1^st Pregnancy

August- 1^st Miscarriage

Late August/ Early September- 2^nd pregnancy

Late September- 2^nd miscarriage, Dr. A confirmed

December- 3^rd pregnancy

December 19^th- Miriam & Josh married in Idaho Falls Idaho Temple

2007

January 12^th- 3^rd miscarriage

January 23^rd- Hysteroscopy done in office by Dr. Allred. Hysteroscopy is a diagnostic and surgical procedure that makes examining the inside of the uterus possible without making an abdominal cut (incision).{uterus is filled with fluid & a lighted instrument (hysteroscope)  is inserted} 

February 23^rd- HSG test done at Madison Memorial Hospital  {hysterosalpingogram is an x-ray test that looks at the inside of the uterus and fallopian tubes and the area around them. During the procedure dye is put through a thin tube that is put through the vagina and into the uterus. Because the uterus and the fallopian tubes are hooked together, the dye will flow into the fallopian tubes. Pictures are taken using a steady beam of X-ray (fluoroscopy) as the dye passes through the uterus and fallopian tubes.}

April- moved, new ward & called to teach in primary

May 5^th- 1^st wedding anniversary

May ?- Shaylee had surgery- diagnostic laparscopy, hydratubation of fallopian tubes & Dilation and Currettage.

Diagnostic Laparascopy- {A surgeon makes a small cut below the belly button (navel) and inserts a needle into the area. Carbon dioxide gas is passed into the abdomen to expand the area. This gives the surgeon more room to work, and helps the surgeon see the organs more clearly. A tube is placed through the cut in your abdomen. A tiny video camera (laparoscope) goes through this tube and is used to see the inside of your pelvis and abdomen. More small cuts may be made if other instruments are needed to get a better view of certain organs.If you are having gynecologic laparoscopy, dye may be injected into your cervix area so the surgeon can better see your fallopian tubes.After the exam, the gas, laparoscope, and instruments are removed, and the cuts are closed. You will have bandages over those areas.

Hydratebation of Fallopian Tubes: unblocking of tubes, using a technique much like the HSG

Dilation and curettage (D&C) is a brief surgical procedure in which the cervix is dilated and a special instrument is used to scrape the uterine lining.

2008

March 28^th- 4^th pregnancy, found out at the school clinic

April 11^th- Jake & Bethany Married Rexburg Idaho Temple

April 16^th- 4^th Baby has no heart beat

April 29^th- 2^nd D&C

May 2^nd- Shaylee had lump in Left Hand removed

May 4^th- Shaylee hospitalized with Gastrointeritis

May 5^th-  2^nd wedding anniversary, Joseph has gastroenteritis

June- We received our adoption paperwork, IUD put in

November 15^th- Alisha & Marc Married in Columbia River Washington Temple

December- Shaylee Graduated BYUI

2009

March- we are approved to adopt

April- Joseph graduates BYUI we walk together at commencement. We move to Kennewick.

May Joseph starts work at Toyota

May 5^th- 3^rd wedding Anniversary

June- Speckles joins our family

July- Joseph has an MS flare up, went to ER to get immediate attention from a neurologist.

August- Shaylee starts work at TCAB

September- Joseph starts seeing new neurologist Dr. Cooke in Spokane WA

October- Joseph MRI in Spokane

November- Shaylee called as 2^nd counselor in Primary Presidency, Joseph diagnosed with Relapse Remitting Multiple sclerosis (he waspreviously diagnosed with primary progressive MS in Feb 2004) Started Rebif

December 22^nd- Joseph diagnosed as legally blind

December 28^th- Joseph lost job at Toyota due to blindness

2010

January 15^th- Victoria Renee Bready is born (Alisha & Marc’s 1st)

February- Working with Washington Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) Joseph starts to use a white cane

May 4^th- Cadence LuRue Mecham born (Jake & Bethany’s 1st)

May 5^th- Our 4^th wedding anniversary

June- Joseph starts receiving Social Security disability income

September 18^th- Sam & Kaelee married in Idaho Falls Idaho Temple

November- Our adoption paperwork officially closed

2011

January- Shaylee started seeing Dr. O for irregular periods…          

February 24^th- IUD removed

May 5^th – Our 5^th wedding anniversary

May 19^th- Sera Jean Bready born (Alisha & Marc’s 2nd)

August 12^th-  Stella LuRose KimEllen Toy born (Miri & Josh’s 1st)

December 7^th- HORRID appointment with Dr. O, left on table for hours, PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome diagnosis. Left his practice after demanding metformin for cysts rather than birth control

2012

February 20^th- “new” calling 1^st counselor in primary presidency

March 14^th- Shaylee starts going to associated Physicians for Women

March 26^th- HUGE cyst rupture, in ER @ 2am KGH

May 5^th- Our 6^th wedding anniversary

June – Shaylee starts working out at Club 24

June 11^th- Paisley Beth Mecham born (Jake & Bethany’s 2^nd)

September- Joseph breaks his foot

October 13^th- Calvin Scott Mecham born (Sam & Kaelee’s 1^st)

October 28^th- Shaylee called as choir director & Joseph choir president

December 15^th- Joseph’s 1^st 5k in wheelchair, cable bridge run

2013

January 25^th- Sean Robert Bready born (Alisha & Marc’s 3^rd)

February- discovered link between PCOS and Gluten Intolerance, Shaylee goes GF

May 5^th- our 7^th wedding anniversary

June 22^nd- Rylee joins our family

August 16^th- Joseph gets new wheelchair, named Dude

September- Shaylee begins teaching preschool

September 3^rd- Victor Timothy Toy born (Miri & Josh’s 2^nd)

September 15^th – Shaylee called as 2^nd counselor in Relief Society Presidency

December 21^st-  Cable Bridge run

2014

February- 1 year of being gluten free!!
March 9th- Joseph called as a ward Missionary

April 13^th Rylee is 1 year old!
May 5th- Our 8th Wedding anniversary

June 5^th- Joseph gets lofstrand crutches we name Fred & George

July 5^th- Harvey James Mecham born (Sam & Kaelee’s 2^nd)

January -March ... I am so behind.

January 3rd, 2014

We went to the temple with the Wiberg cousins. There were about 20 of us: G&G Wiberg, Jodi, Mick, Davis, Kyle & Jake, Jeff Kim, Devin & Ethan, Kim, Shane, Carly Brooke & Macey, and of course Joseph & I.  It was great that I got to be “one of the kids” and do baptisms for the dead with the other cousins. Joseph was busy with my uncles perfoming confirmations, it was so sweet, they let Joseph do most of them. Uncle Mick would read the names to Joseph so he could do it, I was and still am grateful for my uncles, and how sweet kind and understanding they are with Joseph and helping him to be able to serve in the temple.

Josh & Miri came through town and stopped to eat lunch with us, it's always great to see them, even if its just a short stop.

January 5th, 2014

I taught my first lesson in Relief Society, it also happened to be the first lesson of the year, so I had the previledge of introducing the prophet whose teachings we would be studying this year. With about 40 pages of information and 20 minutes to teach we dicussed the life of Joseph Fielding Smith- it was great! I was nervous but also so over prepared, which it made it easy, once I got in front of the women it went fine.

January 15th, 2014
1st five guys, believe it or not this was the 1^st time I had ever had 5 Guys Fries… and it won’t be the last. The food was amazing and the fries are gluten free because that is all they fry there (and fried in peanut oil- YUM!)

February 2nd, 2014

We went and watched the Super Bowl at Grandma & Grandpa Wiberg’s house, we went there after church and since they have DVR we could watch it at our convienience we could fast forward or pause. We had lots of great food & it was fun to watch together but the game was a little bit of a let down, because the Seahawks KILLED the other team…its like they didn’t even show up. (Please excuse me in the pic, I had a headache!!)

February 7th, 2014

Snow day for preschool, due to a 2 hour delay, which was fine with me Michelle was in California at Disneyland with her family. So jealous!

February 14th, 2014 

Valentines day date at costa vida, yea its romantic… haha. But when you work all the time you do what you can.

February 16th, 2014

Church is cancelled due to snow, so naturally Dustin & I get busy shoveling snow for our neighbors and the elderly ladies in our ward.

February 25th, 2014

Got "valentine" pregnancy announcement from Sam, Kaelee & Calvin. Baby boy is due 7/11/14, very cute picture of Calvin! We kind of suspected that was what was in the envelope, Calvin turns 2 this year.

March 8th, 2014

Kennewick East Stake blood drive, Joseph's 1 time donating blood!!  We both donated, and we had a great time visiting with others in our stake.

March 15th, 2014

TOFW in Spokane with mom, Michelle & her Mother-in-law. We drove to Spokane after an eventful morning in which my bathroom flooded, we made perfect time and even got a great parking space a couple of blocks from the convention center…

March 16th, 2014 

A sweet little girl that I befriended while in the Primary Presidency sometimes likes to come and sit with me… I was really tired after being out of town the day before and we had a boring speaker, it makes me feel guilty writing this but it’s true, he was super boring…anyway I was totally zoned out- not sleeping, and I am suddenly “awakened” by a tap on my foot. It was B, she joined us and colored with me. I later found out that she had been standing there in front of me for a long time and I never looked up, hence the toe tap. Seriously, she scared the crap out of me.

March 23rd, 2014

Finally a beautiful sunny day so Joseph, Rylee & I enjoyed Sunday walk/ roll in the sunshine.

More to come, later :)

All about Rylee

Meet Rylee. 

This is our puppy, the day we brought him home on June 29th.

He is Joseph's new companion dog.

 And because of this he has some specific training to go through, including kennel training.

Sorry it's blurry I took it in the dark, T-Bone keeping Rylee company. 

Rylee made friends with the puppy in the mirror. 

Rylee LOVES to chew, so we make sure to keep good chew toys around. 

That way our things don't become chew toys.

Rylee learned his name! 

Even though he barked at sodas at first, he has come enjoy them..... or the straws.

The first picture I got in which he's looking at me. 

Speckles and Rylee have been interacting more and more, 

they play pretty well together now, here is video proof.

My boys!

Another cute picture, right before he fell asleep.

Sometimes, Rylee gets to go to work @ TCAB. 

He gets lots of socialization, and he shows off all his tricks.

Rylee gets to go on lots of adventures with us, even swimming. 

Although he wasn't supposed to actually get in the pool! 

Rylee even "helps" with chores, he especially likes weeding!

 He jumped into the garbage all by himself one morning, while Mom and I were weeding in the garden.

We are so proud of all the commands that Rylee knows, 

he is a really smart puppy.

Working on "come, sit and down"

Working on "sit" from the "down" position.

Rylee is 15 weeks old today. 

Rylee is incredibly smart, and way ahead for his age. His vet agrees and says he is a happy and healthy kiddo. And needs socialization so he doesn't "nip" or bite, but the only one he has ever "nipped" was the vet himself after giving Rylee a shot! According to the training books my mom has at 15 weeks he should know his name, be working on potty training and tolerate wearing a collar and leash. 

At 15 weeks he knows: his name, come, sit, go potty, no, leave it, kennel, and down.We are working on ringing bells to let us know he needs to "go out", he should be completely housebroken around 16 weeks old. We are working on our manners in public: no barking! or growling!  Also working on getting in and out of the car, "sit, wait, okay come Rylee" and coming and going out of the house,  he sits and waits for us to open the door, instead of rushing it. Rylee is also getting used to wearing his lease when we go out. 

We love Rylee! 

Flood Fiasco

So here are pictures of the whole thing....
my apologies, all of them are from our phones, it's what we had on hand.

The pipe that caused all the trouble, over a period of about 1 1/2 hours

Back Patio, standing next to sliding door.

The entire lower yard is flooded,

 and there next to the step it where the water got in

The water entering the house from the garage steps

The wet carpet, the cord is from the shopvac, 

as we were cleaning up while also making sure to document everything.

Inside the closet, carpet soaked, walls wet.

demolition, removal of all the wall/ sheet rock that got wet. 

Removal of closet and bedroom sheet rock

Knocking to find studs to take out the last parts of my bedroom walls that needed to go.

The living room, ready for mold treatment

Our bedroom/ closet, ready as well

Me, I was helping. we all wore masks because we did find mold.

Dad and I finishing up the closet sheet rocking

Living room, sheet rock

Sheet rock finished

Bedroom and closet, tapped and mudded.

Living room too.

Bedroom finished, and new paint color. 

Still a green, but much lighter it's called Restful

Painted next to the door it all matches

The new wood paneling, once Joseph and Dad were done.

It is now painted a "white" color, and brightens up the living room so much. 

I haven't taken the real "after" photos because we're still piecing it together. The insurance companies still haven't gotten back to us. We fall into a weird loophole: it's a flood, water from outside came inside. We live uphill so we don't have flood insurance, but if it had been water from inside our house it would have been covered under our insurance. So for us to get anything from insurance, our neighbors need to be found negligent, then their insurance would cover it. Shouldn't be too hard  to prove negligence considering that they are never ever home, and this is not the first time they've flooded us, but the first time it's come into the house. Our guess is that the insurance companies are still battling it out, both sides have investigated. But because we have to live in the house we had to fix it or continue to be miserable with our stuff everywhere except where you really need it. We had the carpets cleaned and fixed everything else.

So there you have it.