She is on the move ......

We got a phone call from Tifani this morning and when she took a bottle of her milk into feed Brynlee her nurse told Tifani, Brynlee weighed 3lbs. 12ozs!!!!!!!! One ounce shy of her birth weight! Oh what joy is this Mimi feeling since that faithful phone call! It is the power of the priesthood and Leelee's will to survive. She is just like her mom! I am very confident the Lord has a great mission for Leelee and her siblings. I still marvel at the outcome of so many of this family's challenges when as a mortal, I let my faith slip for a little while. My Heavenly Father knows my heart and now it is times like this when I feel almost a shame of even letting myself get to that point! Thank you to all the family members and friends who have prayed for Brynlee and her family. Day before yesterday, Leelee weighed 3lbs. 9ozs!
So you go Tif with your wonderful milk!! We are looking forward to the day when our girls get to come home!! It will be a bittersweet time because of leaving those awesome nurses and doctors at Mesa Banner Gateway!!! Take lots of pictures Tif so Brynlee can see it does take an army to raise a child!!! I love you all!!!!

Four decades later ...

This is a picture of Vergene and his high school football coach, Reed Peterson, at Uncle Jay's funeral. Coach Peterson was genuinely glad to see Verg. Vergene was the offensive center and defensive tackle for the mighty Mesa High football team. It never seems to surprise me how people are affected by the gentle, noble soul of my eternal companion. I am so grateful to be his wife and love him more every day.

Here she is ......

Brian, Tifani and Brynlee

The plan of our Heavenly Father is a greater testimony to me when tiny miracles entered our lives. Here is our newest "tiny" miracle, Brynlee Dawn Cluff! Her journey began on February 21st when her family was on an outing to Mesa. Her mother had a doctor's appt. on the 19th and was told she had high blood pressure but not to worry since she had toxemia. A trip to see the Broadway musical "Mary Poppins" and a movie and some shopping brought the Cluff family home on Sunday (28th). We got a phone call from Tifani asking if she could come over and use her dad's blood pressure cuff since she wasn't feeling quite right. The result: 164/108!! A call to Sue McNamara (a PA in our ward) ended with us taking her to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center to the OB dept. and them keeping her over-night. The next morning came with a severe storm and a decision to have Tif flown to Banner Gateway and Dr. Huish. A learjet was called from Sky Harbor since all helicopters were grounded and ambulances were backed up and would take to long since Mesa was a 2 1/2 hr trip. So off flew Tif from Safford Airport and 27 mins, yes, you read right, 27 mins later she landed at Sky Harbor and an ambulance waiting to transport her to Mesa Banner Gateway and Dr. Huish! Tests were taken and a high risk pregnancy specialist, Dr. Miller, was called in and decided she now had preclampsia. Tif was placed in an isolation room on the OB floor and the week began. Now with this going on we had lost Uncle Jay and his funeral was on 24th (Verg's 1st anniversary of his heart attack). Family came from all over and Vergene was asked to give the life story. It went really well and family got to see Tifani which helped her stay positive. On Friday the 26th I get a call from Stacey Harmon (Brian's cousin) saying she had been dilating and was at a good 4 so I called Brian and we left for Mesa. We arrived at 1:30 am and in Tif's room was her support group: Shawna, Melissa, Chris (Melissa's husband)and Stacey. It was 7 weeks early and things were progressing and Dr. Huish arrived and told Tif her body was done since the lab work came back with high blood pressure and low platelet count, so our Brylee began her earthly mission with Dr. Huish breaking Tif's water. After about 6 contractions Tif looked at me and said she was having A LOT of pressure and dilated to a 6 Krista (Tif's nurse) checked and Brynlee was coming fast. Dr. Huish came in and started to get dress and was hurried by Krista announcing the "head is here". Tif was moved to her back and after her legs were placed in the stirrups and gush of blood and Brynlee came "shooting out". The cameras were rolling and we had a 3lbs. 13ozs 17 inches long "miracle" born at 3:53 am on February 27, 2010! I must say it was a flashback for me when almost 33 years ago, Tif came into the world a "tiny miracle" herself. 3lbs. 14ozs. 17 inches long! The Lord knows our hearts and He prepares the way for us to grow and learn and find strength in His example. So with our tiny miracle here we are sure the road will be filled with highs and lows but we have each other and our love for this restored gospel. I thank my Savior each day for the strength to keep going and for this incredible family unit.
Families can be forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The best things in life are ............

From left to right:Doyle, Kaely, Wyatt
Second row: Cambry, Cody, Theron
Third row: Sydney

Okay, so have you ever seen a grander bunch of chilens in your life!! We have so much fun when they are all together and Papa and Mimi's house is the happenin' place to be!! The ocassion for this little get-together was Cambry's 8th birthday and baptism and Cody's 9th birthday!!! I have told these precious ones they are NOT allowed to grow while they are at Mimi's house so I've decided they need to come see us alot more so the "growing-up" will "slow down" a bit. Yah right, WHATEVER!!!!! Papa and Mimi love the grandchildren with all our hearts!!!!!

Toad turns 8 and is baptised !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The gorgeous blonde standing to the right of her mother is now a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Yes, on the 13th of Febuary (her birthday), Cambry Christi Cluff entered the waters of baptism and though we missed Rex, C.J. and Amber, it went really well. Her grandmothers gave the talks, her grandfathers gave the prayers, Aunt Flo played the piano and sister Kaely lead the music. She was baptised by her dad and comfirmed by her grandfathers, uncles and Bishop Hackett!! She wore a beautiful white dress and Tifani told Brian the next white dress will be expensive so start savin' kids for that one!!!!

Trip to Silver City .....

Yesterday we went to Silver City to see C.J. and Amber. They have taken on a new challenge as RA (Residence Asst.). Free housing and if they still are doing this for the summer they will have their classes paid for by the Housing Department. It is mostly C.J. and with school and football he will be very busy! We took Harley with us and he did really well, just a slight bout with car sickness but he played and roamed in the snow so on the way home he SLEPT!!! We are so proud of the "get er done" attitude of Cheej and Ber and as a part of the Gardner siblings the legacy continues. We have so many blessings with all "nine" of our children. Thank you for being such awesome examples to each other and Dad and I!!

Have you ever seen a cuter face (except on Kipp)?! Well our newest member of the family is fitting in and the meeting between father and son is progressing. Harley is certainly learning the boundaries of "not in my space" real well!!!! He is very smart and is so much fun to have around!!! His first trip will be to Laveen and Theron's birthday party so we will see how he travels, either he will be great or not so great but either way he will get use to going on visits to see the family!!!!!!!
I'll let you know how it goes!!!!