Announcement

So we've just entered a whole new realm of recovery. It's called Will takes over all the tasks and meals of the day while I try to keep from loosing my second lunch. As you've guessed, Will is going to be a father! I've moved through a hundred different phases since we learned the news January 17th. I vacillate between "Yippee" and "Holy cow-- I'm gonna be a mom." The next paragraph is Will's blurp on the baby news- On my side I have to tell you I am thrilled. Becoming a mother has always been a life time dream of mine and I keep pinching myself just to make sure it is real. I thank heaven everyday that Will is the one who will bring balance to the force-- I always worried that my children would never know how to sit still and be calm. I now have a little hope for my offspring. I'll finish the blog with the specifics to the baby timeline, but for now know that this baby is a new and very strong motivating factor in Will's life. He is really on fire lately with his efforts to return to "normalcy" he is up on his own every morning, studying and preparing and exercising for the day. He is applying for jobs part of the week and volunteering the other half the week. OK-- so I'm giving the keyboard over to Will now...

Well, that was quite the introduction. I do have to say though that I am very excited and hope to be a good father. I'm sure it will take a little bit of learning (probably a whole lot), but I hope that not to many mistakes are made along the way. Anyway, we are through the first trimester and Summer is having a little bit of an easier time now. We hope that continues. We have a biking trip to Colorado planned for next week and hope that turns out well.

OK it is Summer again-- so the baby details--- We got our first ultra sound (below) at 8 1/2 weeks. The baby's head was the same size as the body and in all the baby was three quarters of an inch long. Our next appointment was a week and a half ago. We were about 13 weeks along and we heard the heartbeat. The baby has fingers, toes, lungs, eyes, lips, and all the other parts that baby's have at 13 weeks. Currently the baby is about an inch and a half long, and the size of a small orange. We are due Sept. 28, 2010 and will find out in the next month and a half whether it is a boy or girl. I will attempt not to turn this into a "baby blog" but will probably mention our little blueberry often in the posts. Because of the latest news our focus is on getting Will a job with benefits. I am not working-- but I have been writing for newspapers and doing a bunch of contract work at home. I have to say-- getting a guy with a doctorate's degree a more entry level job is practically impossible-- darn doctorate degree getting in the way ;) He is still studying for the Boards and hopes to take them this summer and reapply for residency this fall -- keep your fingers crossed and your prayers going!

Summer & Will

ps The last picture is of Will building a garden box with my dad. Since living here we couldn't help but hop on the garden train. This year we have planted potatoes and want to plant carrots and squash when the weather warms.

Ice Castles

I just finished watching a movie, "Ice Castles," about a skater who makes it to nationals than is injured and goes blind. In an instant everything is taken away from her. Now a little background on me. I don't cry during movies, but I fought back tears the entire show. In the movie the girl skates at nationals and no one finds out she is blind until after. It is not a true story and it was not something that really happened. But the tears still stung as I watched. I could only think of Will. How much he had. How much sacrifice he had made to get to where he was. President Bill Clinton was at his Graduation to congratulate him and his fellow Graduates on their hard work and accomplishment. I can tell you in Will's recovery- the pain of wanting to be back to where he was-- of him wanting to be a doctor does not dull. Will wants to practice medicine. He was born to serve and watch over people. I have always known this. It is one of the traits about him that I fell in love with instantly. He is compassionate and would never dream of hurting someone. What a true doctor should be. Why so much has been taken away from him - still causes tears to fall. So as this is his recovery blog I will let you in on the secret... that it is still hard. But watching Will weep over his misgivings and then stand to fight another day makes be believe it is not over yet.

Unlike the movie, Will and I are doing the real life thing. The how do we get him back where he can perform. What do we do with the entirely overwhelming medical school debt, my mortgage and our wanting a family. This is reality. I have decided the real heros aren't just the ones who rise after they fall, but it is the ones who rise after they fall again and again. Watching Will rise makes me fall in love with him all over again each day. I am truly the luckiest girl in the world. Such character is really the end all be all. The secret and meaning to everything we do here on earth. I return to invite you to not buckle, to be valiant in your values. No matter what the world throws at you-- don't throw it back. Give em back something better.

As for what we've been up to, Will has and continues to make some real strides. He has his "part time" job at Lingustica. He is at the Maliheh Free Clinic volunteering almost everyday. He continues to attend morning rounds. He is studying more than ever. And he continues his church service, two weeks ago he taught a lesson in Elders Quorum. It took him half the time it usually does to prepare and he delivered it beautifully to the class. This week he is giving a "speech" to his fellow toastmasters in his toastmasters class. As a side note Will's father attends this class with him every week and the two are working to improve their presentation skills. It is great to have Will's dad helping out in this area. As for the minor stuff you might not want to do summersaults over but I do- are his waking up without my prompting at 5:30 am to get to morning report on time. And his ability to recall what he learns there. OK, I am sure this entry is long enough. Thanks for taking the time to read our blog. Keep praying and keep watching.


Summer Blackhurst

ps I don't have a lot of pictures for you this week. The one I've posted is typical Will, paying attention to our nieces and nephews-- he sure is a big deal to them :)