Together

I hate to post anything after Brent's video. But sadly, the photos are piling up on my camera. This will be a post of few words and many pictures in an attempt to capture the happenings of the last few weeks.

This is what happens when Keith gets tired of playing and wants to lie down...Cole and Ally join the resting party. I can assure everyone that very little resting actually follows suit.

Keith and Cole "sword-fighting".

Cole and Ally's way of "helping" with the yardwork. Any bystander can see how much yard work we do these days...very, very little.

Keith has enjoyed the sandbox on warm days this month. Trying to keep sand from getting inside his casts has proven difficult but possible.

Grandma B enjoying backyard time with the boys.

Cole: looking squatty in my rainboots.

This is what happens when Ally has a marshmallow craving.



This is what happens when Ally wants to dance.





Grandma Smart joining us on our annual pumpkin patch outing.

If I were as good as Brent and could put a soundtrack to these pictures to describe our life these last few weeks, it would include: Keith and Cole starting preschool, Brent and Darcee celebrating birthdays, Ally potty-training herself and sleeping in a "big girl" bed (the timing of these milestones were not chosen by me. I'm learning that Ally has her own timing and her own way and it's best not to battle her will. I will lose. Every time.), Keith receiving only one blood transfusion this chemo cycle and avoiding any fevers, visits from both sets of Grandparents, lots of visits with Evie and Syd, really fun visit with Aunt Erin, quick but very fun visit with all the Eckhardt sisters and Joe, Keith not sleeping much but somehow happy and energetic, Brent getting in one last dirt bike ride for the season with Clint, soaking in as much beautiful fall time outside as possible, Keith getting fitted for splints and viewing the end of the tunnel of his serial casting, continuing to receive much strength from the prayers and efforts of friends and family.
Phew! Busy but hanging in there.

Thank You

I first heard this song when Keith was in the middle of his radiation therapy and I started to play it almost everyday on the way home from his daily morning treatments. It was so hard to see him coming out of radiation every morning. I wished I could take his pain away, but this song just reminded me that all I could do was be there for him when he needed me. It also reminded me that so many others were there for him and us too. I put this video together, hoping to show just a snapshot of the many, many people who have strengthened Keith during this time. There are many more who aren't shown simply because we didn't have pictures.

Darcee and I have just been overwhelmed at the outpouring of love and support for our family during Keith's diagnosis and cancer treatments over the last 7 months. Our families and dear friends have shouldered this burden right along with us, with someone here staying with us nearly every week to help out with the kids while Darc shuttles Keith to Doctor's appointments and I try to keep my head above water at work. Our parents, brothers and sisters have all spent considerable time and personal expense helping us out during this time. They've cancelled trips, taken off work, rearranged schedules and driven and flown many miles to spend time at our house, getting little sleep, helping out any way they can. Our mothers have been especially helpful. They come to our home and immediately go into "Mom" mode, taking care of anything and everything that needs to be done. Laundry, cleaning, cooking, entertaining, everything. They don't ask, they just do. We love having them and we are so grateful for their constant support.

Aside from immediate family, our dear friends the Eckhardts have been a lifeline during this process. Debbie is like a 3rd grandmother to the kids and she is always available at a moments notice to help out with Cole and Ally. She even rearranges or sometimes cancels her work schedule to accomodate Keith's doctor's appointments. She's set up "Debbie's Clubhouse" in her basement so that Keith has a germ free place to play that is away from home. Keith loves it and Cole and Ally love going there too. Jenny and Katie are also amazing. Jenny turned down a well paying summer job to spend most of her free time at our house, helping Darcee out with the kids. Katie also comes by often to help out. During the summer, almost every day when I got home from work, their green VW bug would be parked outside of our house and they would be inside playing with the kids and taking care of Keith. Apart from helping with the kids, I know Darcee loved having somone there to talk too while I was at work and I always felt so much better when I'd call Darc in the middle of the day and Debbie, Jenny and Katie would be over there spending time with her. Bill or "Bilshop" as we like to call him is equally amazing. He seems to have a sixth sense for stopping by when we need it most, just to see how things are going. There's been days when Debbie's been with the kids all day and Bill's been at work, but instead of going home to relax in the evening, they've come down to the hospital at night to bring me a meal and say hello to Keith. They always lift our spirits and there is no way we could have made it through the last 7 months without them.

We have also been overwhelmed by the small acts of kindness of so many friends, family members, and even perfect strangers over the last 7 months. Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and friends have sent so many cards and care packages for Keith and the kids. High school friends, who we haven't talked to in ages, have sent meals or cards. Ward members have offered meals and put together care packages for our family. Co-workers and former co-workers have sent gifts to Keith and the kids and have volunteered to babysit and even contribute their paid time off to me so that I could spend more time with Keith. Neighbors that we hardly know have stopped by to see how Keith is doing and to drop something off for our family. Distant friends and mere acquaitances have sent flowers and/or made constributions to cancer charities in Keith's name. Perfect strangers have overheard conversations at the hospital and have volunteered to pray for Keith by name. Pretty much everyone we know has sent us a kind email message, blog comment, text or phone call, reassuring us that they are thinking about Keith and are continuing to pray for him. We can't tell you how much these seemingly small acts of kindness uplift Keith and our family.

Darc and I try to stay on top of thank you cards but I'm sure that there are some we miss, but I can assure you, not a single act of kindness goes unnoticed or unappreciated. Despite the challenges of the last 7 months, we have been humbled and strengthened by the sincere kindness shown by so many to our family.