Our Story!

Our amazing love story!

Pay attention because it is kinda a wild ride!

I have a brother Doug and in high school he had this great group of friends.  Doug, Adrian, Travis, Keith, Doug (corbett, yea my husband), Clint, Dustin, and Jordan....There were tons more guys but these particular ones have stayed incredible close.  When my brother Doug was a junior in high school he was killed in a car accident.  This group of guys, especially Adrian,  stayed close to our family and kept us informed on what was happening in their lives. They all kinda started going their own way, whether on missions, school, working or whatever it was they kept close to each other and kept my family, the Carlson's, always updated.  Eventually they ALL got married, yep even Doug Corbett, my husband. 

Doug and Jill Wiseman were both attending BYU in Provo. They were in the same ward and started hanging out. Doug felt "safe" with her as just a friend because she wanted to go on a mission.  But the more they "hung out" the more they started liking each other. It didn't take long before they decided to get married. And although Jill's mom, Joann, thought Jill was too young, they still went ahead planning their life together. They were sealed on Nov. 22 1996.  They had planned on waiting a year to start a family but Heavenly Father obviously had something else in mind. They followed the promptings to get pregnant and months later they were pregnant with a baby girl who was due in December.  Life was looking perfect until about September when Jill started having some vision problems, headaches, and couldn't balance well.  One night, in October  they were eating a malt and Jill's malt had kinda fallen in her face. Ya know when you are trying to get the last of the malt out of your cup and you have to hit the bottom of your glass and a huge glob of ice cream comes screaming down the glass and it falls on your face before you can tilt your glass back? Well this is what happened.  Doug noticed that there was ice cream on her face and mentioned it to her. She couldn't feel a thing.  He realized that her face was numb and he knew that wasn't good.  They went to the neurologist and she sent her to get a MRI @ the hospital and then they found a brain tumor. Jill at the time was 31 weeks pregnant. After being in the hospital a few days and keeping a close eye on the baby they decided to they needed to take her. Samantha Jill Corbett was born Oct. 14, 1997 in perfect health.  Jill remained in the hospital for 2 more months and they kept Sam also in there not because she needed to be but the hospital said they wanted to keep the family together.  When Jill got out of the hospital, Doug, Jill, and Sam went to live in Layton Ut. with her parents, the Wiseman's, until she passed away in June.  Leaving Doug a single dad, he went to his school counselor and asked how he could graduate ASAP! He continued to commute from Layton to Provo almost everyday to get his diploma. And that he did. He graduated from BYU with a degree in manufacturing engineering.  

2 years later, back to the group of high school friends..., Our friend Adrian, who was married to Rachel and has 2 darling boys, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  Adrian stayed incredibly close to our family through the years and so this news, for everyone, was very difficult. He was absolutely amazing and his faith was admirable.  At the time I was 23 and was always telling him to "find me a man!"  He spent so much time with doctors and nurses I would always tell him, "Adrian, there has to be a single guy SOMEWHERE!" He always told me not worry about it he would find me a man!   Knowing he didn't have much longer to live he started drilling me a little.  I remember him looking me dead in the eye and asking me, "Baber, (that is my nickname) if you died tomorrow would you be ready to meet our Savior."  This was one of those moments  that changed my life forever.  I thought about that, especially under the circumstances, for weeks, months and now 10 years later.  Well, I was blessed to be able to help Rachel and boys and Adrian his last few weeks of his mortal life.  It was the most spiritual experiences of my life and it is a huge part of who I am today.  Adrian met his Savior on a beautiful Easter morning in April of 2000.  I will never forget what his father-in-law said, "The cancer died but Adrian lives on forever!"  He was right on! 

For the funeral ALL the friends came. We were all at the luncheon together and Doug Corbett, who I hadn't seen in years, asked if he could sit by me.  I was sitting at the table with Rachel and some other friends.  My family, who was sitting kiddy-corner  to us, looked over and was overcome with emotion thinking that "ME & DOUG" were meant to be...... YES, as crazy as it sounds it was true. After the funeral all the friends got together to hang out for a while before everyone had to split there different ways. While we were there they started giving Doug and I a hard time.  They were saying things like, "why don't you 2 just get married?" And to that Doug said, "well I would have to buy a new suit!" and I replied, "I would have to buy a new dress!" Since that moment we have called each other "dress girl" and "suit guy".  I remember Rachel telling me, "if Adrian had to die just so he could find you a guy, referring to Doug, I will be SO upset!"  WE laughed pretty hard about that!

About a week after Adrian's funeral Doug came up for my birthday and we ate dinner with my family.   Doug went back to Utah to work and I stayed here in Idaho going to school and working.  One night, days later, we were having a very casual conversation on the phone.  Then Doug asks, "hey what are you doing on July 28th?' I said, "nothing, why?" He then asked, "Do you want to get married?" I answered, "yea sure!"  (time line---beginning of May of 2000)  I explained that I was leaving to go to Europe with a friend for 5 weeks and would be back in the middle of June.  We kinda laughed for a minute, not thinking the other was very serious, and then we agreed that we really would need to get that "new suit" and "new dress".... 5 weeks later, when I returned, the wedding plans were made!  For those of you who ask....."Did you 2 date?" Well kinda. We saw each other a few times on the weekends. 

 My dad and Doug negotiated the price of his daughter while I was out of the country. They agreed on, for those who have seen 'Jonny Lingo', 40 cows and 1 bull! The morning of our wedding we walked out in the front yard and there were 40 large cut out cows and 1 huge bull! Doug payed up! 

I am so blessed to have 2 amazing sets of in-laws. We have 3 families that we love dearly. We feel no differently towards one than we do the other....THEY ARE ALL OUR FAMILY!  I truly feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have my family, the Carlson's, the Corbett's and the Wiseman's. 

Our life together has been blissful. The first morning we spent in our new little apartment Sammy woke up, ran out of her room and said, "I love my new mom!" It felt so natural and just what I had prepared for my entire life. It was a blessing to have a family and it was everything I ever dreamed of!

We have been married for 10 years and it has been amazing.  Almost perfect!  I say almost because there have definitely  been trials.  But every trial we have had we have come out stronger! We consider ourselves incredibly blessed. Even given the latest news on Doug's health. It will only make us stronger!

This morning Doug woke up to this sitting on his bedside table.  His cousin, Tim, who had cancer back in February, dropped it by for him.  We also got a package in the mail today from our great friends in South Carolina and they had 2 'live strong' wrist band. He told Doug he wasn't going to take his off until Doug was in the clear. I just put mine on and along with Jesse, I am not taking mine off until he 'is in the clear!'
Doug feels proud to wear his. He said it is kinda like an eagle scout badge, "I have earned this!"
                                                               LIVE STRONG!!

Doug's home

Doug is posting this one - from HOME!!!. I have been overwhelmed by all the people who have shown support so far - the prayers and visits, calls, letters, notes, thoughtful acts and kind words - the outpouring of love have been incredible to feel. There have been countless miracles through my stay in the hospital, and more I am sure will be coming. Through these past few weeks, I have felt my Savior's love and the reality that He will lift our burdens if we will allow Him to lead us through our challenges.

My 90-year old, across-the-hall neighbor from the hospital said something today that I felt was worth sharing - "I have no problems. Once you turn a problem into a situation, you can do something about it. Situations are easy to deal with. Problems are hard to fix." How true. We can all use a bit of his wisdom as we confront challenges in our lives.

Our hospital stay!

This is Doug's amazing mother! She is also a nurse.

 Everyone, including us, is asking when he will get out of here...WE wish we knew! He is still relying heavily  on the IV for liquids and the bed that moves up and down. This helps so he doesn't have to use those tummy muscles that have been sliced! It has been touch and go since the surgery... He isn't recovering quite like they were hoping but guaranteed we will be out of here by next month. haha

Today is a pretty rough day. Doug has a fever of 102.8 and is feeling awful. They just drew his blood to see if it is systemic or more flu like. Doug's immune system is weak already so this isn't the best news! They say this will set us back a few days.  Darn it:( They are just getting ready to take him in for a chest x-ray. The great news is we got his pathology reports back yesterday. His cancer is stage 2! YEA!!! They took 32 lymph nodes and all of them came back clean. Can you believe that. This is such a miracle. With the size of his tumor and the fact that it had grown into the muscle wall this is nothing short of miraculous!   Thank you to EVERYONE that is praying for us! We can not thank you all enough.

The kids have LOVED coming a visiting Doug. Ethan wants to know how every button works and where every tube is attached. The nurse asked him what he wants to be when he grows up and he said, "everything my daddy is!"

Doug has to ambulate (walk) 4 times a day. Our good friend Eric Dodd gave him a hand Sunday.

 Doug in his "man dress"... that is what he calls his robe.  When Ethan got it for him at Christmas he said he would never wear it..Man is he grateful he has had it now!  It covers up the 'full moon' as he walks down the hall!

surgery...

The surgery that Doug had is called a right hemi-colectomy. 

They cut out a portion of his large intestine and small intestine then reattached it. Here is the incision.

since we found out....

Our support system is amazing. We are so blessed to have so much family and SO many friends that want to help out. My parents have been at my house almost every second of the day since all this. My mom has been busy helping me deep clean, ya know because it takes my mind off of it a little, and my dad has been working in my yard and totally cleaning up, sheetrocking and putting shelves up in our garage. How great are they?! My sister, Mel & Dave, have taken Ethan and helped with the kids, Mike and Jess have been over to help and have been a tremendous support and my sister Michelle has been staying with the kids in our home. Doug's parents have been here everyday supporting and taking care of Doug and his siblings also have been here for us and continually asking what they can do for us!  We have incredible friends that listen to the spirit and call or come over when prompted. And we have an AMAZING ward that has fasted and are continually praying for us. Thank you to everyone. 
I know without a doubt that this trail in our life is for our good. We will be stronger and better because of it. We are spiritually excited for the journey because we will grow. WE are so blessed to be a part of this challenging yet necessary mortal existence. Eternally what matters is what we learn from our tribulations.  Doug told his mother, in trying to comfort her, "Mom my spirit is fin, they can do whatever they want to this body but it is my spirit that matters." i strive for this same attitude. It has made me question my own life...Is my spirit fine?
Doug looked in the mirror the other day and almost didn't recognize his weak, anemic, slim body to which he said, "well, there isn't much I can do with this physical body so I better get to work on my spiritual body." So he went into his bedroom and wrote in his journal and read.
I can't imagine going through this without the knowledge of the gospel.  For 15 years I have prayed daily that I may always keep an eternal perspective. I know that my Heavenly Father is blessing me with this knowledge at this time.  In 100 years from now it won't matter how we die but what WILL MATTER.... is what we learn from our trials that are placed before us.  
People say to us, "why would this happen to your family, it is awful." We have found absolutely NO tragedy in this news.  We feel at peace and know that Thy will will be done, not our own.
I told my nephew Josh, Doug's illness doesn't just affect his immediate family, it affects EVERYONE that has a relationship with him. WE ALL have something to learn from this bump in the road!

Doug's health

SO as many of you know that on Sept. 1st 2010 Doug was diagnosed with colon cancer.

He had been sick since May with stomach pain and it has increasingly got worse until some nights he was bent over in pain. He hasn't been eating or sleeping and is very anemic. He is as white as a ghost and cold to the touch, I call him my personal Edward Cullen! We both think it is pretty funny.

So he finally started going to the doctor to run some test. WE thought it would be a simple gal-bladder, or ulser or maybe even appendix. But after a EGD, multiple blood test an unltra-sound more blood test, to check his anemia, and any other possibility, the doctor told us to schedule a CT scan and colonoscopy.  During the colonoscopy he found the tumor in his cecum. It was about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and was cancerous. We were told by multiple doctors to go to Hunstman's Cancer Institute but we didn't have time.  Doug intestines were telescoping. Incredibly rare they tell us. Basically his large intestine is sucking in his small intestine which is causing the severe pain.  Our surgeon told us that this is a huge blessings because it caused him so much pain. If there wasn't the pain they would have never found the tumor. Colon tumors are slow growing and for the most part pain free until it has matastisized.  On Saturday we came to the E.R because his intestines had obstructed. They preformed emergency surgery and everything went well.  WE won't know what stage the cancer is until we hear back from pathology on Thursday. In the mean time so many friends and wonderful family has shown there love and support in our behalf.  We appreciate the visits, prayers, love, and concern people have shown. Our families have been absolutely amazing. They have been here for us every step of the way both physically and mentally. WE love you Corbett's, Carlson's and Wiseman's. Our lives could not be more blessed.