35 days, 7 hours, 51 min....

Wow!  I am sitting here on the couch and wondering where Christmas went.  Blye has a new Woody doll from Toy Story 3 and is watching the movie right now.  There are remnants of packages and their contents placed all over the living room.  We all have new luggage for Germany thanks to Santa and I am really starting to get nervous and anxious and well I don't know what else.  As some of you know I had a ticker that was a little different than this one that I found this morning.  I am now wondering why I found this one.  It counts to the second and I am really wondering if I really wanted to know it down to the second.  I am sooo excited sometimes and then all I can think about is what can happen or won't happen and I am scared to death.  You know this is definitely the closest thing to the emotions that I felt when I found out when I was pregnant with his tiny little self.  We have an MRI next week to prepare for this and then it is off to setting up all of the therapy sessions when we get back.  I am starting a long list of TODO'S and right now all I can think is there really is not enough time.  I know that things will go into place, and we have been so blessed for everything else to fit together to easily.  I guess it just comes down to the fear of the unknown and how much it will affect you.  I KNOW that this will change our lives forever, but the magnitude is just not measured yet.  I guess just sitting hear after preparing for such a big holiday and then it be over so quickly I just can't help but wonder if this big milestone in our life will feel the same. 
I guess God will show us, huh?

1 Month, 3 Weeks, 4 Days...

Until our lives will change forever.  With the 1st of February coming up so quickly.  I think back and remember feeling that it was a lifetime away.  Now in just a short time we will board a plane and take the opportunity that so many people helped us make happen.  I know that I have said this before but what wonderful people we have in our lives.  We are so blessed to have known all of you. 
We have just finalized our airfare and we are still working on our hotel accomodations, things are really coming together.  If anyone wants a great travel agent call Norma Jean at Ogallala Travel.  She has a great staff that helps her and they all have great knowledge of the confusing world of airlines. 
I know that this is short, but I wanted to share with you where we are and what has happened. 
God Bless

What a wonderful town...

I have set down many times to write this addition and I can't do it.  I know that it is hard for some of you to believe this, but I get speechless.  Or in this case wordless, I don't even know where to begin.  Well for all of you following, but don't live here we had a benefit Friday night, November 12.  We have a beautiful event center that was finished just under a year ago.  When they built this I was one of the people that griped and groaned and wondered if there was ever going to be any need for something that BIG.  Well Friday night I know.  We started the benefit at 5:00.  There for and inkling I was worried that no one would come and all the hard work that everyone did would be wasted.  Like I said only for an inkling, because God shown me that this community that we live in has a HUGE heart.  By 5:45 there was no end to the people coming in the door and seats were filling very quickly.  Thanks to the organized committee that we had everything went so smooth.  By the time that the auction started there was not a seat to be found and people were standing in the back.  We have a count of 700.  I can not believe it, 700 people found the time to come and be there for our family.  WHAT A WONDERFUL TOWN!  As I sit here, I am so overwhelmed with all of the love that we felt that night.   I never knew that such a little soul would have an impact on all these people.  I don't know how to say thank you enough, for that is all that seems to find my lips.  I am so thankful for living in a small town and getting to share my life with wonderful people.  I remember when I moved to the city and lived for a while and how easy it was to not have to interact with people.  I lived there for almost a year and never knew the neighbors that lived next door.  I am so glad to live where everyone waves, smiles, and asks you how you are.  I wouldn't give that up for anything.  I know that I have said this before, but I am thankful that I get to have this litte boy in my life and that I have been given the charge to take care of him. 
Oh!!! Before I get lost in my tears, we have WONDERFUL NEWS!!  We have an appointment for 1:15 in Dusseldorf, Germany on February 7.  We are ON OUR WAY!! I am so excited and can't wait to share more with you. 

Thankful...

So as I am sitting here writing this I have a sleeping angel on the couch.  Dang the cold that he has acquired, it is probably from me.  I am so thankful, even though he is feeling punky, I am thankful that when things like this come on us, we can handle this.  So many times I wonder what God has planned and why he puts us through the things he does.  But as I sit here I am so thankful that he has chosen US to take these life trials on.  I try to think of myself 6 years ago and I remembering the excitement of being pregnant and what all of that meant.  Now looking at things and shaking my head and thinking if you only knew.  Knowing not in a woulda, shoulda, coulda thing.  More like a "Look where you are" kind of thing.  I am so thankful  that  I was chosen to be this beautiful child's keeper.  I am so glad that he thought that I was worthy of this special soul.  I know days I question as where he is leading us, but I am so thankful that I have found peace in that.  Now with us taking this HUGE step in this "Quest" I am so thankful for God, Family, and most of all Heart.  Heart of a community that has been so amazing.  There are days that I really don't want to make a 3 hour drive to Denver, or I am frustrated that I can't find what I need for a project.  BUT, in times like this I am so thankful I live HERE.  I love this community and all the people that make it up.  Without you this dream would not be possible.
Thank you

Halloween Fun!!

So we went out in full force last night and trick or treated.  Blye had sooooo much fun and totally loved all the candy he got.  He was out till 9 o'clock, so when we got home there was a quick piece of candy and jammies.  He is really getting big and I can't believe that this is his 6th Halloween.  I can't believe that life goes this fast.  It just seems like yesterday he was born.  Wow!  My baby is growing up.  Enjoy the pic...

Just Sharing Thoughts...

So I have decided to keep more of a "diary" of our thoughts and progress.  Today feels a little overwhelming.  I don't know if it is because of the day or the actual fact that everything is finally hitting me that what felt like was so far away is now literally around the corner.  I feel so much excitement as well as all the inhibitions that come with doubt.  I feel too like the harder that we try to organize some things is like trying to find the beginning of an unravelling rope.  The great thing though is it always seems to me that when I feel like this, there are people that help me to see that it is not that way and that it will be okay.   So in a part I think this will prove to be very theraputic for me so that I can leave these thoughts here and I will be able to go on with my day a little easier.

Long time no update...

I know, I know I haven't updated in a very long time so get your reading cap on, just cuz this might get long.  So since we last updated we have really taken off with the Bushels program as of today we have had 1800 bushels donated in both corn and wheat.  The harvest has been awesome as well as the farmers that live in this great community.  We also have t-shirts and we had our first big night of selling them at the volleyball and football game friday night.  It sure has taken off too.  We are so excited to see the orange fever to catch on.  As a special not, Friday night at the football game the wonderful football boys let Blye lead them on the field.  What a proud moment for all of us.  Blye was soooo excited and the football boys were so great. The night sure felt like a fall football game night too, the blankets were out and the hot chocolate was a big hit. 
As for the progress on how the benfit is coming along we are finding that time is getting shorter and shorter, our lists are filling with things to do as well as the auction items.  The businesses have been very generous and I can't wait to see how everything will come together.  We have a great crew helping put this on and it has been so great to have the support that we have had through all of this.
We are planning on having a Kids Korner and have found a great bunch of volunteers to help.  So if you are planning on coming and have children you are invited to have them participate.  The kids will make a craft for themselves as well as make pictures for Mr. Blye to put in a scrapbook for him to look at when we are in Germany. 
If you would like to donate something for the auction send me an e-mail linked to this site and we will contact you for the donation.  We are wanting donations by the 5th of November so that we can have time to organize a list for the event. 
If you would like to buy tickets you can find Gary or I, as well as Carolyn Arens at the Holyoke Car Care Center, Allyn Robinson, Ranae McCallum, Steve Triplette, Jill Hubbard, Brooke Dirks, Veronica's Hair and Nail Salon, Arlene Carper, Darlene Mahnke & Tracy Steggs
You will need to buy a ticket for the meal it is $10 per person or a family ticket of $25 for 3 persons and up.  Well I will sign off for now, but check back for more updating.

For the Benefit of Blye :)

So I know that it has been a while that I have posted anything and we are like mad to make things happen.  WoW!!! What wonderful people we have in our lives.  We had a support meeting to sit down and brainstorm about fundraising ideas.  We have come up with some great things.  Starting immediately is Bushels for Blye.  What we are asking is farmers as they harvest this year to open their hearts and donate bushels of grain to Blye.  Grainland Coop has so graciously supported this and we are hoping that it will take us that much closer to raising $25,000.00.  That amount includes everything, the procedure, the plane tickets, hotel and food.
Make sure and SAVE THE DATE for November 12, 2010 time tba.  There will be a benefit supper and auction with silent auction items. I will post more as we get more accomplished right now we just have the ball started rolling.
Also, I just wanted to say thank you.  Thank you for your support, prayers, help and most of all love that you have shown to my family.  Without people like you our dreams would just be dreams.

The Answer We Have Been Waiting for!!!

Okay, so here is the real reason we started this blog...
About a month ago we got a newspaper article from Nana and Pappo about a little boy who is taking a trip this fall to Germany.  The trip is is to have Autologus Stem Cell Therapy performed.  We had looked at procedures that were similar to this before only that it was done with cord blood.  Being naive and not really know much about the benefits of saving cord blood, that soon became an option that was ruled out for us.  We contacted the clinic in Germany and filled out the preliminary paperwork to see if this was going to be a fit for Blye and low and behold we got our answer 10:30 Tuesday morning.  WE GOT ACCEPTED!!!!
The procedure is mildly evasive and takes about one week over the course. The typical course of treatment is on Monday the extraction is made taking bone marrow from his hip, general blood work, and an examination.  Tuesday the clinic will sort the stem cells from the bone marrow and make sure that there is enough to reinject.  Wednesday he has a lumbar puncture done to reinsert the stem cells in to the spinal fluid where he is to remain flat for a few hours (hopefully we can do this without a fight).  Thursday becomes a mandatory rest day and if all goes well he is released from the clinic on Friday.
SO, with all of this out, now starts the foot work.
I will post more soon, but right now I could no longer hold this in.  WE ARE SO EXCITED!!!

The Fair!

Grandpa and Grandma Gift thought that the end to a first two days of school last week was to celebrate at the Fair in Imperial.  We went and watched the parade.  Blye got so much candy that he will be set for life.  If I can keep Dad out of it, it will be better.  We had lunch at JJ's which is such a great burger place, and went to the fair.  We walked around the first annual truck show and someone was a little impatient, see there was a promise to ride the rides.  So you can imagine what he was like when we started.  I remember being that excited and could hardly stand it to go high or spin in circles.  He rode the ferris wheel, the carousel, we walked through the fun house (note to self fun house is a little hard when you are 30 as opposed to 5), and we went to the house of mirrors.  What a great day, he never stopped smiling.

1st Day of Kindergarten

Yesterday was my first day of Kindergarten!!! I had so much fun.  I got to see all my friends from preschool and I got to meet some new ones too. We got to go to art, music, and p.e.  I have an aide that helps me around the school and she is really nice.  I was so excited to show Mom what I did at school.  I colored a Dragon and we put it on the fridge when I got home.