~ Wrapping up 2010 ~

What a crazy year this has been!!  I have celebrated the highest of highs this year ~ marrying my best friend and sweetheart ~ and struggled with the lowest of lows ~ dealing with Chad's illness ~ but we are full of hope for the future and know 2011 will be a great year!!  

I was minding my own business ~ content, but freezing in Chicago.  I had no intention of falling in love and making any big changes to my life... and along comes Craig Gallagher ~ who shakes up my world completely!!

A view of Chicago

We met when we were 10 years old ~ at the Scera Pool and even then he caught my eye =) When we finally went to the same school ~ Lincoln Jr High ~ I knew he was the one I wanted!  I guess he felt the same way and we followed each other around for a couple years, meeting up at the ball park, the swimming pool, even the mall, but I was extremely shy and he gave up on me (I know your Mama taught you that the BEST things are worth fighting for!!!) And yes, that was me who wrote "Love Ya" on his yearbook picture!  =) So we went our separate ways through high school, although he stayed on my radar!  Still, he didn't have to wait til we're almost 50 years old to make his move on me ~ all I can say is... it's about damn time baby!!!

I started 2010 in Texas, as I spent the holidays (Christmas 2009 & New Years 2010) with Craig ~ and we started talking about getting married =)  Craig flew to Chicago for his birthday in late January ~ and we talked more about getting married... I flew to Utah in February to visit my family ~ and Craig convinced me to go meet my future Mother-in-law and sisters-in-law while I was there ~ on my own, I might add ~ and he still owes me for that one!! =)  

Meeting my future in-laws ~ Feb 2010

We planned a joint trip the end of April ~ to meet each other's families and had a wonderful, but quick trip!  We had a big Gallagher family party, where I felt welcomed and loved right away. It just felt we had all been family for years already!  We had a huge Renstrom family party, where Craig fit right into the rowdy Renstrom bunch and everyone loved him from the first meeting ~ it just felt as if our two families were one already ~ we just needed to get them altogether in one spot!  Craig made his proposal official at Bridal Veil Falls ~ and we started planning a wedding =)

More of the in-laws ~ May 2010

Craig meeting my Mom & Dad ~ May 2010

Craig meeting Chad & Magan ~ May 2010

Craig flew back to Houston and I flew back to Chicago and started packing up my place ~ and planned my move for the end of May.  What a big job that was!!  I left Chicago on May 28th and met Craig in Little Rock Arkansas for the drive through Texas ~ we arrived in Baytown on May 30th.  It took some time getting used to my new home ~ the heat, humidity, the bugs! But I was here with Craig and that's all that really mattered.  He started working out of town, leaving for the week and coming home on Friday through Sunday ~ we decided it was a good transition for us both, but we are so ready now for the job in Athens to finish up so we can be together all week!!

Leaving Chicago IL 

Almost home to Houston

Summer passed as I unpacked, organized the house, got familiar with my surroundings and new home, and planned our September wedding!  We spent two weeks in Utah for the wedding and honeymoon ~ and finally got our entire family (we missed a few) together for the occasion!  We enjoyed visiting family as much as we could during our time there ~ I fell in love with all the grandkids and can't wait to see them again =)

Eleven of our 12 Grandkids =)

November came and it took me to Las Vegas to be with Chad for his thyroid surgery... the rest of November  was not productive for me at all while I struggled with the bad news we had received and researched everything I could about thyroid cancer.  I thank God every day for Craig, Chad, my family and friends who have shown such love and support and helped me cope the past 6 weeks!!!

Chad & Magan ~ Check out his incision!

During December, I prepared the house for Christmas, looked for work, went on interviews, with hope that one will offer me a job ~ It looks like I'll be heading back to Las Vegas in January or February to be with Chad, but in the meantime, Craig and I are loving life, enjoying being with each other, and teasing each other about all sorts of things.  We definitely know how to have some fun!  Money was tight this year, but there was enough love in this house that we could forget about that stress for the moment.  We enjoyed our first full Christmas season together!

Our first Christmas 2010

We look forward to celebrating the end of this amazing and incredible year ~ and welcoming in 2011 with hope for the future, love in our hearts, love for everyone in our lives, and prayers for good health and happiness to everyone. We truly love each and every one of you!!  

~ You Raise Me Up ~

Thank you ... to all my family and friends who have been so incredible and have shown so much love and support...  we appreciate all your prayers ~ I believe in the power of prayer!!  Thanks to Craig, who keeps me smiling when I'm struggling to find it within me ~ Thanks to Chad, who has such a great attitude and keeps me calm ~ Thanks to Magan, for being there for him!!  ~ Thanks to all my friends and family, your love, support, and prayers mean the world to us and we love you all so much... Each of you raise me up in your own way ~ Thank you!!!

~ Chad's Surgery ~

November is a month for giving thanks, and I am so thankful for all of God's blessings!  I'm grateful for being able to be with Chad during his surgery, for my wonderful husband's support and encouragement, for my sister Julie and all my family support and love (Renstrom's, Robertson's & Gallagher's), for the surgeon's steady hands, and for Chad coming through the surgery so well.

A couple of weeks before the wedding, we found out that Chad had a tumor on his thyroid.  He went through a series of tests, scans, biopsies, and they determined it must come out.

I flew into Las Vegas on November 4th to be here for the surgery the next day. After a rough night and little sleep, we made our way to Summerlin Hospital to check in.  The wait was hard on Chad... he was hungry and thirsty after a night of fasting.  They finally took him in for prep and we spoke with the surgeon, the anesthesiologist, and the nurse.  It was good to meet them all and ask some questions beforehand.  

The surgeon anticipated 2 hours in surgery, so by 3, I was a little concerned.  The next hour was hell for me and I'm so thankful for Craig & Julie, who did their best to keep me calm!!  Finally, the doctor came for me after 4 hours and 20 minutes ~ Chad was doing well... and was in recovery.

The tumor was the largest mass he'd seen... growing on his thyroid, nerves, and vocal cords.  It was crushing his trachial tube... and they found a second, smaller growth on the other side.  They removed  a large part of his thyroid.   There was also a possibility that his voice could change due to the tumor  being on his vocal cords. They decided to keep him in the ICU for a day or two to monitor his condition and recovery. 

It was so good to finally be able to see him and talk to him ~ although it was hard to see him with tubes and an oxygen mask and the bandages around his neck.  I stayed by his side til they kicked me out... and I was actually thankful he was in the ICU because I knew he'd be monitored constantly during the night.

His night in the ICU was uneventful and he looked good the next morning! =)  After checking his incision, they decided he could go home that day!  They removed the drain from his neck along with the bandages and we got our first look at his incision.... wow!!  It was truly frightening to see... about 4 inches across his neck, staples, puffy, swollen... it looked like a Frankenstein scar across his neck!  We know it will heal and fade in time and will someday just be a memory... and thanks to some of Chad's friends, decided it would make for a great "story" about a fight with a ninja warrior =)  

Chad is getting stronger every day... and today we're venturing out to another doctor's appointment (this one for his back injury!).  His voice seems to be just fine... and we don't hear any difference, so that makes me smile too.  We see his surgeon on November 11th to find out the results and remove his staples.   Prayers continue for the prognosis to be good...  and I thank God every day for the beautiful and amazing son that I've been blessed with, my sweet, wonderful husband, who would give the shirt off his back, who has been my rock throughout, my entire family... and Chad's friends who showed so much love and support.  I love you all.