a little prayer help

I woke up this morning feeling a little overwhelmed with everything going on in our families right now. So, I have decided to ask for help. What better way to spread the word than on the internet, right?

First Request:
I know I just introduced my new nephew, but I would like to ask for some additional help praying for Parker to get healthy. He is 15 days old and has spent the last 4 days in the hospital in Spokane with a bacterial infection in his bloodstream. We were able to visit him on Monday and he is being such a trooper. I never knew so many machines could be hooked up to someone so little. They have been running so many tests and he has gone through a lot in the last few days. He is constantly running a fever and we know he is a sick little guy, but he still looks so wonderful to me. My sister and her husband are hanging in there and my mom and dad and family are trying to help in any way possible. Ryan and I spent the weekend helping with the girls after they had to take him in, and I am very glad that I was able to be there. He is estimated to be in Sacred Heart Hospital for 14-21 more days but has wonderful nurses and a great doctor that my sister is very pleased with. So, all in all the situation is under control, just something that was not expected and they are taking it one day at a time.

Second Request: This past weekend was a rough one for both my family and Ryan's family. We were at our family reunion in Deep Lake in WA on Friday when we found out that my 3 year old cousin, Payton (their family could not make it to the reunion), passed away in a drowning accident in Sumas, WA that day. We didn't get many details and still don't know much, but she leaves behind a mom and dad, older step-brother, older sister, one little brother and many, many grandparents, cousins and friends that loved her a great deal. I can't even begin to know what my cousin and her husband are going through and I just pray that somehow they find a way to get through this. The funeral is this Thursday and I pray for safe travels for my family getting to and from Sumas and that together they can help each other.

Third Request: Ryan's first cousin, Kyle Brennan that lives in Tigard, OR was diagnosed a few weeks ago with cancer - Diffused Large B Cell Lymphoma, at a stage 3. He is 19 years old and this was completely unexpected, as he had just left for Florida to take on an awesome job at Disneyworld and seemed to be feeling great. About a week after he had left, he was in the hospital in Florida finding out he has a tumor in his ribcage right next to his heart and is now back home in the hospital getting ready for surgery and undergoing chemo therapy in Portland. We haven't been able to see him yet, but I just got an e-mail update from his dad, Uncle Steve, today and he said that Kyle seems to be handling everything very well and they are moving right along with treatment. He also said that Kyle has been singing karaoke with the nurses and trying to keep everyone in good spirits. He is just beginning to experience some side effects of the medications and will get to go home over the weekend before he is back in next week for another round. Ryan and I hope to be able to visit him soon. I have been amazed lately at how common cancer is becoming and how many people around me is it currently affecting or has affected in the past. I have so many prayers for so many people going through a lot right now and I just hope that I can do at least a little to help.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Have a great day.

Our new little man

I realize I am WAY behind on keeping everyone updated. Their have been so many things going on, so I apologize for the lateness. Our first nephew, Parker Irwin (named after his daddy's middle name) Darnold was born on July 8th at 12:32 in the afternoon at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, WA. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 11oz. and was 20 1/2 in. long. He looks a lot like his big sisters and they are SO proud to show him off to everyone. He is the perfect little mix of Tripp's and Darnolds and has beautiful olive skin. I was fortunate to be there when he was born and spent his first few days with everyone in Colville loving on him and the girlies. Here are a few pictures of him from his first few days....many more to come.

Monday morning in my old room...

I woke up in my bed in my old room at my parent's house this morning and it really got me thinking. WOW things have changed since I moved out of here 6 years ago! Not in the physical look of my room and the way things have been re-arranged and painted, but in me. Before I moved to Portland, I was a high school graduate that was nervous about moving to the "big city" where I didn't know anyone, not even my soon to be roommate who I had only spoken with on the phone. I remember trainging so hard before I left because I knew that at my very best I could hang in there in the biggest meets in Washington, but wasn't sure my best would even allow me to compete in Portland or in track and field at all at a collegiate level. Although I was nervous about moving away from family and stepping out of my comfort zone in a major way, a part of it was exciting to me to experience something new. I wasn't sure how I would feel about it when I got there and my parents had to go. It was extremely hard to watch them drive away, knowing they wouldn't be a few minutes or even a few hours away, thinking that I might have made a big mistake, but I got through it.

Getting through it has made me a stronger person than I was when I used to sleep in this room 6 years ago. It would have been easy to go to Montana where I knew people that went to school there and would have probably ran against a lot of the same people I did in high school. But in moving to Portland I have met so many new people with such different backgrounds, life stories, ethnicities and values that have taught me more than I could have ever imagined. I have allowed myself to experience diversity and have embraced it more than I had before. I have new friends that I know I will have for a lifetime and have kept friends from home that have stuck with me even though we have lived miles apart.

All of these things have helped me become who I am today and have helped me face adversity going through things that I couldn't have aniticipated dealing with in years past. It has also made me realize even more what a strong support system I have with my family (new and old), friends and this guy named Ryan that I am so excited to share my 1st wedding anniversary with next month! I have to say that by far, he has been the highlight of my choice to move to Portland. What would I have done without this guy? We always joke that our second school choice for both of us was Montana, so who knows...maybe we would have found each other there too :) Moral of the post, I have changed since I used to lay my head here. Not that I didn't like who I was before. I loved the experiences I had growing up here, but I think no matter who you are their is always room for growth and I am glad to say that I am continuing to allow myself to do that. My outlook on life is something that I thank my family, my friends and my experiences for everyday.

Portland Livestrong Challenge Continued

Here are a few more pictures from the weekend...

Lorie and I at the dinner.

Lance speaking at the Livestrong dinner. We thought the yellow paper chains in the background was a really cute decorating idea. It's something so simple, but it symbolized the yellow Livestrong wrist bands. Neat idea.
Lorie in front of her name on the powerpoint for raising over $5,000!
The riders....see what I mean about looking official?

Lorie giving Lance a little smooch...don't get jealous Matt :)

Matt's sign for Lorie.