Dear Family and Friends,I'm trying something new and innovative this year with my Christmas card. Most our friends and family have been checking our blog for updates on Tim. Those who might not have been in the email loop, were sent a card with a message to check out the blog for the Christmas letter. Hopefully, my attempt at using the blog will work for everyone. It sure has made it easier for me and that's a good thing!!!!
Well, as most of you know, this has been an interesting year for the Woodman family! If you haven’t heard by now, our world changed drastically when Tim was diagnosed with a brain tumor on August 12th. I could write pages about the ordeal, but for those of you who have already been checking the blog, you don't need to hear the details again. For everyone else, you can take a look at the entry for the story (click here). To summarize, Tim’s tumor was causing quite a bit of pressure in his brain so his neuro-surgeon scheduled brain surgery right away. The initial brain surgery went well, but the tumor was more aggressive than anticipated. He was referred to the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake for radiation and chemotherapy. During the radiation, he got a terrible infection and had 2 subsequent surgeries. The last one the surgeon removed a small section of his skull to help clear up the infection. He is still going through IV antibiotic treatments, and in February, will have a titanium plate put in the area where the bone was removed. Good news is that he returned to work Monday, Dec. 15...after being out for just over 4 months. His employer, Greater Nevada Credit Union, has been WONDERFUL and we are so thankful that he still has a job to return to after all that has happened. Hopefully the February surgery will be the last! Going from someone who has NEVER been in a hospital, to having 3 brain surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy and infectious disease care has been quite an ordeal. However, we are blessed that such wonderful medical means are available to us! The boys school just moved to year round school so they had October off. I was able to take a leave of absence and we all spent October in Utah with Tim while he was going through his treatments. We had a wonderful month together! I especially enjoyed the time off which helped me decompress and probably prevented me from having a nervous breakdown!!!
In May, and prior to us knowing about Tim’s tumor, I finally made the decision to leave my 12-year job at Sierra Pacific Power Company. I planned to start my own "wellness" oriented company, but the turn in the market, and of course the news about Tim, happened right after I left. I’ve always wanted to teach, and was able to get certified to teach elementary school and was offered a job with the Washoe School District and started the week of Tim’s surgery. My job offer was to teach 2nd grade and I was moved a month later to 1st grade because of low enrollment. I’m at a Title 1 school (Smithridge Elementary) so I’m am learning lot’s about the “No Child Left Behind” and all the endless paperwork that goes along with the program. Only 2 of my 15 students speak English at home, so it’s been a challenge (to say the least)!!! So starting a new job, having a major illness in the family, having to switch classes and rooms after only 1 month as a brand new teacher….ARRRR!!!! BUT…The main reason I left the power company was to spend more time with the boys, which I get to do now. And for the 1st time ever….I get 2 weeks off for Christmas!!!
The boys are growing like weeds! Jake is now 9 and in the 3rd grade. He is an excellent student and really does well in all subjects, especially math. He is still a natural in any sport he plays! He is fickle about sports. Last year it was all about snowboarding and football but that was before he played Fall baseball! Now he thinks football isn’t nearly as great as baseball. Now it’s all about baseball in our house and his Santa list is full of baseball paraphernalia. He played Little League this fall and missed about a month because of the trip to Utah, but pitched most of the games he played in. He still loves to snowboard, but we weren't able to put him in the ski program this year but we'll try to get him up to Mt Rose a few times this season. Tim has also taken him out to the golf driving range a few times and everyone around us marvels at his beautiful swing! He really is a joy and makes us all laugh because of his witty sense of humor.
Austin is still our little angel! He is so sweet and loving and has quite the personality! Danielle loves both her brothers and they are so silly around her....but recently she has found she can bribe Austin into giving her hugs and kisses. In Utah, I saw Austin holding hands with Danielle several times and thought it was so sweet. I later found out that every time he held her hand or gave her a hug or a kiss she gave him a dollar! He made out like a bandit and had a lot of spending money while his sister was in town! He is also quite the student and is reading at a very high level. I like to use my new “teacher” assessments on him because he is in 1st grade, the same grade I’m teaching. Luckily, he loves to take my tests and scores way off the meter on the excellent side. He wants to do everything his brother Jake does so is also asking Santa for baseball and golf equipment. He is also learning his times tables and will be a master 3rd grade mathematician by the end of the school year! Tim doesn't like me to "baby" him, but I still have 1 boy who will cuddle with me so I'm taking all I can get before he decides it's not "cool" to snuggle with his mom!
Chad is now working as a Meter Reader for the power company and is walking about 10-12 miles everyday! He enjoys what he’s doing and hopefully will enjoy it despite the fact that we are getting snow in Reno. His brothers love him and can’t wait for him to come over and visit. Chad is also a great golfer, so the boys have had fun going to the driving range and hitting balls with their older brother. Tim hasn’t been able to hit for a while because he has a picc-line in his arm and can’t wait to have his own Woodman Foresome with the boys this spring.
With her dad being in the hospital so much, Danielle has now decided to go back to school and work on her nursing degree! She is taking placement tests and will go through the program here at Truckee Meadows Community College. She is still working at Tetrus Building Supply and spends a lot of time with the boys. She has been INVALUABLE to us throughout Tim’s ordeal and has been so good to the boys through all of this. The boys love her so much and we're glad they have gotten to spend more time with her throughout the past few months.
Even though this year has given our family plenty of trials and worries, we have been blessed! We couldn’t have gotten through it without knowing that we have a loving Heavenly Father who knows us individually and has been watching out for us. We have had so much peace and comfort throughout all of Tim’s surgeries and treatments. We know this is mainly due to all the prayers from our family and friends on our behalf and we are thankful for your faith that has led to us having our wonderful dad and husband with us at the Holiday Season.
May the spirit of our Savior be with you through this Christmas season and all throughout the year.
Love, The Woodman’s ~Tim, Lori, Danielle, Chad, Jake & Austin
ps: notice Tim not posing for the camera!!! I tried to get a photo with the whole family but he wouldn't coorperate. If you couldn't tell, that's him in background fishing in the Provo River! I guess he gets a free pass this year for all he's been through. BUT I've already made him (and everyone else) promise to go in for a family portrait this year!!!
