Dylan's Basic Graduation

Dylan after his Turing Blue ceremony. Doesn't he look sharp in his Dress Blues. 

 

Hugs from everyone

 

Brothers

Boy do they look up to their big brother. 

Dylan with Grandpa Marc & Grandma Linda

They met us in Chicago,  we all flew to Alabama together and drove  the rest of the way to Fort Benning Georgia. It was a lot of fun and we really enjoyed the extra navigational help. ha ha We would have been so lost!

They are ready to PLAY THE GAME 

 On the first day of boot camp all the soldiers had to run this hill with all of their gear. It's a lot steeper than it looks in this picture. Cole had heard the stories and Dylan challenged him to run it (without any gear). Cole DID IT! He did it with out any stops and the next picture is him at the top. Gabe did it next and made it all the way to the top too. Dylan was proud of his little brothers. :)

 (even us OLD folks climbed it a LOT slower of course)

 Way to go kido!

One of the next things they did was making them hold their ruck sacks above their heads and not touch their heads. Dylan relaxed for a second and let it rest on his head. OOPPS. Drill Sergeant caught him and threw his bag into the gravel pit and made him crawl for it. It was a hard first day and the thought of quitting crossed his mind a few times. Dylan is one tough kid, he did not quit, he kept going and he made his dream come true. He made it through one of the toughest boot camps they have and graduated a US ARMY INFANTRY SOLIDER.

Where Dylan spent 16 weeks with his battle buddies

The Barracks

 His Platoon

Charlie Company 4th Platoon ROUGHNECKS

Dylan giving us the grand tour and showing us where he did all his training. 

Celebrating with lunch

This was a real cool little Chinese Restaurant  we found off base.

Dylan really liked Gabe's Fedora and bought it from him. 

 National Infantry Museum. 

 Amazing place 

 The row of flags has a flag for each state

Chillin at the motel after a long day. Isn't he a handsome young man!!

Dylan words can not express how proud your family is of you. You did something most of us would never be able to accomplish. You had your struggles but never gave up. You are everything I expect from one of our brave servicemen. 

You are smart

You are brave

You are resolve

You are steady

You are consistent

You are a Untied States Solider

You are my son

The Boys getting ready for the talent Show to day at school! They did such a great job!!!
Gabe played the bass! He is Amazing!

 His friends played in the band too. Jonathan provided vocals, Tim played guitar, & Ian played the drums!

I wish I could figure out how to put the video up!!!

Keys to Success

Dylan was nominated my three of his teachers to participate in the Key's to Success program that Ken Graff's puts on for kids that are doing well in school. Each kid chosen gets a key, if your key starts the car, YOU WIN the CAR! You can imagine how excited Dylan was! He turned the key on Friday....his did not work. :-( Sad for him. But we took him out to lunch and sluffed the rest of the day together. It was a lot of FUN!

Here are some pics of the events. Of course it was raining so we had to do it indoors and with an inflatable car. But I don't think the kids cared.
Way to go Dylan!!!

Each person was asked why they were nominated....Dylan's answer was "Because I'm Cool"
Ha Ha What a ham! Then he said because of his grades!

He turned the key, but no car. Again Way to go Dylan!!!!

 They had lots of other games too that other kids were able to participate in. It was a lot of fun.

I decided to share because of some of the stories I read from people that have been through the same thing.
I was lucky and feel like I need to share.

These pics I have not let anyone look at.


I started taking Lamictial 3 weeks prior to my "break out" I got really sick about a week before I was hospitalized in July last year. It started like the Flu. I went home from work sick on July 20th and did not move from my couch for 2 days. Running a fever of 104 and not being able to bring it down. I went to the Doctor and he did some test and sent me home with strict orders to stay out of work until he knew what was going on or I got better. I told him I thought it was mumps because the last time I felt this bad was when I was a child and almost died.

I got much worse a few days later and my doctor could not get me in. I went to the ER and they told me it was the FLU most likely the Swine Flu and gave me Tamaflu and discharged me. When they were wheeling me out to my stepmothers car I passed out. I woke up to the wheeling me back into the emergency room and starting more tests. Once they determined I would "live" the sent me on my way. The next day I developed a terrible rash on my face and upper torso. I called my Doctor and let him know what was happening. This was on July 23rd. He brought in another doctor and they did not have a clue as to what was going on with me. (I have to say I love my doctor, he is a good family friend) They asked me to give them a little more time to figure this out and they would check with me again on Monday.

I went home with an over whelming feeling of dread. I KNEW something was not right. On the 24th of July, which is a holiday here, I had my husband take me to the hospital in Salt Lake City The University of Utah. Because a friend that is a nurse told me to stop messing around with small town hospitals and get my behind to a major hospital. I knew I needed to be seen at the University of Utah.

I asked my husband to call a friend and ask him to come and help give me a blessing. They did and we headed to the ER.

After a very long emergency room visit (in the hallway on a gurney) I was advised that I probably had Stevens Johnson Syndrome, however the test was expensive and painful, they did not do the test unless it was more severe and they wanted to try medication first. I was given steroids and if I remember correctly antibiotics. They sent me home and told me if the rash spread at all to come back immediately.

I got up early Sunday morning because I was in such discomfort I could not sleep. I did a lot of research on the dangers and the long-term effects of SJS and was very worried. When I got dressed I found my rash had spread. It covered my feet, entire face, my mouth, throat, pretty much my whole body except my legs below my knees (really weird I know) I woke my husband and asked him to take me back to the emergency room. He did and I was admitted within an hour. I was there for 5 days. I started in the burn unit and then move to a non-critical ICU, then to a regular hospital room. I was given Immunoglobulin product and replaces what is being damaged. I don't understand it all but I know it helped. Because of the cost they have to make sure you are improving or the insurance company will not pay for it if they continue the treatment. I was very lucky not to have been affected as bad as it could have been.

I was very blessed, it is usually much much worse. It has taken 6 months to get where I am today. I still get tired very easily but I have more energy than I did when I was first released. I have had no further breakouts and no side affects thus far. I do have to go in for a few tests this month to make sure but I do know things are better. I have a few skin issues but they are minimal.

The Lord intervened and spared me a lot of the trials, embarrassment and humiliation of this disease. I pray for all that are still struggling and dealing with the after affects. I am SO grateful I have a wonderful husband and friends that have the priesthood and can ask the lord to intervene in my behalf.


This was before I went to the ER at the U of U.



I did not take any more after this day. This was after visit one to the U of U.




http://www.sjsupport.org/index.shtml

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

Then people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons: things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

I Love this thought. I don't know who originally wrote it but, I love to remember this when I am having a hard time

with past relationships. :-) God knows us and knows what we need and when we need it.

The Newest addition to our family!



Welcome Abram & Wyatt

Proud new mom & dad!




It was a little stressful for a about a month for
the Miller family while waiting for the arrival
of the two little bundles of joy. My sister spent
a little over 4 weeks in the hospital on strict bed
rest. She went into labor at about 31 weeks, it
was such a miracle they waited as long as they did.
They were born Monday morning 12/28 at 8:09
& 8:10, weighing 5lbs 6oz each. Abram was born first
and was 19 in long, Wyatt was a minute behind
and was 18 1/2 in long. (I hope I got those right ;-) )
I had the opportunity to go to the NICU with
the boys and daddy right after they were born.
I spent about an hour with them and took some
great pictures, with my sisters camera. Wyatt
spent 5 hours in the NICU and Abram spent
about 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Both babies are perfect and healthy.
What a wonderful experience! I feel so blessed that
my sister asked me to be there. Two be apart of
such a special event. She has been the
rock in my life and I don't think she realizes how
much I appreciate her friendship and support.

Welcome to the family Abram & Wyatt!
Love you sis!

Merry Christmas 2009





Cole benching his new punching bag


Using the new gloves (OH MY What were we thinking!)

We got 2 sets of gloves & 2 mouth guards,
his grandparents got him 2 protective head gear!
At least that should minimize the damage, right?
LOL

Gabe received a new DSI for Christmas

Dylan received a new electric air soft rifle.



So Cute!!!

Our niece's Hannah and Samantha, Christmas Eve

Dylan was such a good sport. We played Curses
with Jason's family as teams and Jason & I were
to chicken to do the challenges, so Dylan did them.
We won the game! What an awesome young man
we have!

These boys and there airsoft guns.

Cousins Adam & Hannah and Aunt Kathy



Even little sis got in on the fun. She even went out and
shot it with the boys. You GO GIRL!