Happy New Year! | 2023 Recap
12.31.2023
Well, a career pivot for Bron coupled with breast cancer, a mastectomy, and complications for me is most certainly the definition of a rocky start for any year! But I am happy to announce that 2023 ended on a high note. All is well that ends well. This December we are all healthy and happy and thriving here in the Nelson home.
I feel so lucky to simply be a cancer statistic. I saw God work miracles in my life this year. It's a story of tears and pain and stress but it doesn't make it any less miraculous. I am ending the year in a state of sincere gratitude for my blessings and heart-bursting love for the boys I get to claim as mine. We fit so much life and adventure into one year!
The Highlights of 2023:
JANUARY
:: Bron began his new job as the general manager of Liberty Basin.
:: The whole family hopped on a plane to spend a fantastic week in Florida swimming, spying alligators on an airboat, and riding all the rollercoasters at Disneyworld and Universal Studios.
:: I celebrated my 38th birthday at the beach.
FEBRUARY
:: Levi enjoyed a fast paced pinewood derby competition with the boys at church. I attended a flower arranging class for Valentine’s Day.
:: Misty had the sweetest and fluffiest litter of Aussie Doodle puppies on the 18th.
:: I prepped for surgery with an appointment in Boise and an MRI in Twin Falls. Then I went in on February 24th for my seven hour Mastectomy and reconstruction surgery.
MARCH
AKA The month everyone wants to forget.
:: I spent three days in the hospital on IV antibiotics. I had surgery to remove my right breast implant. Three weeks later I had surgery to put another implant back in and woke up with a wound vacuum. Five days prior to that I had an in office procedure to clean up and re-suture my left breast incision due to necrosis.
:: At work, Bron dealt with train derailments and a flash fire and loads of stress.
:: The boys had spring break, but of course we went no where.
:: The little ray of light during the month was having my sister visit for a week after my last surgery. She took care of the kids and kept me laughing.
APRIL
:: We celebrated Easter and Jed’s 13th birthday. He’s officially a teenager!
:: Jed and Levi began lacrosse practice and games. They also attended their 4H education day.
:: Ezra began attending daycare full time so that I could rest and heal. I napped almost daily and went for a walk outside whenever possible. I also tried to keep up with my calling as our ward’s Young Women’s president, but I mostly delegated to my presidency.
:: I sold our litter of fluffy puppies.
:: I had one last surgery to get rid of the necrotic skin on my right breast and awoke with yet another wound vacuum.
MAY
:: I met up with my grandma, mom, aunts, and cousins for a girls’ weekend in Utah at BYU Women’s Conference.
:: Our ward youth had their second annual Work Hard Play Hard day. I had to sit out for most of it because I was still limited - no lifting, no swimming.
:: The boys attended their 4H sale day and brought home two new dairy heifers. They continued playing lacrosse.
:: Levi went on a field trip to Craters of the Moon. Levi was recognized twice for his academic achievements at a year end school assembly.
:: Ezra turned three years old!
:: I had a couple more post op appointments, of course.
JUNE
:: I wound up in Doctor Poppler’s office yet another time for some curious red bruising that we decided to just watch.
:: Levi went on an overnight campout with the boys from church.
:: Our family met up with Talon’s family in St George, Utah for a weekend of hiking, biking, and swimming. The boys had so much fun playing with their cousins.
:: I spent a night at stake girls’ camp and enjoyed myself so much that I could hardly speak when I returned because I was so hoarse and sick.
:: We started running a fireworks stand on Five Points in Twin Falls as a family. There were some very long and warm days but the older boys learned so much!
JULY
:: We sold a ton of fireworks over the 4th of July holiday and watched some from the roof of our stand that night.
:: Levi took care of all the neighbors’ animals when they were out of town. The kid is learning how to work hard and be dependable.
:: Jed began mountain biking with his team.
:: I had my last doctor appointment in which I was officially cleared to lift and pursue all the things I love to do! Woohoo!
:: The kids and I spent a day at Roaring Springs with my mom and family.
:: Bron and I spent an amazing week rafting down the Main Fork of the Salmon River! We laughed, we ate, we conquered rapids and jumped off a bridge, we saw a million night time stars, and just plain enjoyed being together.
:: Jed, Levi, and Conrad all visited Commander and Liz in California for a few days. They went to Knott’s Berry Farm, played at the beach, and made lots of special and funny memories with their cousins and family.
:: We joined all of Bron’s brothers in Ririe, Idaho for a Nelson family reunion that included an obstacle course around the farm and a giant blow up water slide for the kids.
AUGUST
:: Levi turned 11 years old!
:: My family photography season officially began.
:: We took the family camping at Cabin Creek near Stanley, Idaho and made some great memories.
:: Sports started in earnest. Levi played football. Jed rode on the mountain bike team. Levi had his first games and Jed had his first race of the season.
:: The boys started school: 8th, 6th, and 1st grades.
SEPTEMBER
:: We spent a week at the Twin Falls County Fair! Jed and Levi showed their dairy heifers.
:: I began potty training Ezra.
:: I was released from my calling as young women’s president. Whew! Don’t worry, I filled all my “extra” time quickly with violin students. The family photography season chugged on. I desperately tried to keep my balance as I juggled all the things. September was intense.
:: I spent my weekends taking Jed and his friends to their mountain bike races across the state. Levi crushed his football games on Saturdays.
:: Jed went on a day long fly fishing trip down the Snake River and is totally hooked on the sport now.
:: Misty had her third (and last) litter of puppies; ten fluffy Aussie Doodles! Ooops.
:: Bron spent a couple of days in Denver for work.
OCTOBER
:: Football and mountain biking continued until mid month. Then Levi started wrestling at the middle school.
:: I continued to take family pictures.
:: Bron and I got Nitrox certified with our fellow scuba diving friends.
:: We celebrated Halloween! Bron and I dressed up as each other for our annual adults only party. Then Jed hosted a friends party at our home while the rest of the boys went trick-or-treating.
NOVEMBER
:: We discovered Levi had head lice! He probably got them from another kid at wrestling. It took weeks to successfully rid his head of those nasty little bugs.
:: I sold Misty's puppies. It always feels bittersweet.
:: Conrad turned 7 years old!
:: Bron and I went on another scuba diving trip of a lifetime to Roatan, Honduras. We spent a week eating, diving, diving, eating again, diving some more, eating some more, and sleeping. We saw sharks and baby box fish and iridescent strings of pearls! It was a beautiful, warm, and sunny dream vacation.
:: We celebrated Thanksgiving with the entire Nelson family in Ririe, Idaho. This year, dinner was held at the church where we played games of lightning and pickle ball between eating and chatting.
DECEMBER
:: Ezra qualified for preschool due to his speech (or lack of it). We are still trying to potty train him, by the way.
:: I played my violin for an MCO concert in the Boise area. The best part was that I got to sit and play right next to my mom! I love playing my violin for MCO. It’s fast paced and they always do an excellent job with their concerts.
:: Bron and I enjoyed a fun night out with friends at an annual Christmas party and white elephant gift exchange.
:: We celebrated Bron’s 40th birthday!!! I surprised him with a date to Miracle Hot Springs for massages and a soak in a private pool. Then we met our friends at Texas Roadhouse for dinner.
:: We celebrated Christmas and surprised the boys with a week long cruise to Jamaica, Grand Caymen, and Cozumel in January. Of course we squeezed in some cookie baking, craft making, skiing, and extended family time over the break too.
*****
It's been a wild year with a toddler, a teenager, and two kids in between. But they are good kids. Jed and Levi have matured quite a bit. They stepped up to help out around the house and with their siblings when I could not. Then they continued the habit. They are thriving in school and in sports and becoming their own people with their own talents and interests. I could not be more proud.
Jed is so tall now! I'm not sure he ever stops eating. Lucky for me, he still allows me to kiss his cheek before he leaves the house each morning.
Levi is confident and ambitious. He has the best group of friends at school and has the work ethic of a lumberjack.
Conrad still talks a mile a minute and is our creative child. There's never enough tape in the house for his projects. He loves to play outside with friends every chance he gets and can ride a bike like a mountain goat climbs a steep cliff; it just comes naturally. Conrad is also learning how to read.
Ezra deserves the nickname Gremlin. He's our growling monster that we are lovingly trying to tame through silly songs (he requests Baby Shark each night before bed) and dance (he loves it when Jed spins him around the living room) and family meals. Ezra can entertain himself for hours with his favorite toys that wind up all around the house. He's a mama's boy whom loves to climb into my lap for cuddles every chance he can get.