Monday, September 30, 2013

Utah @ BYU: Rivalry Week

20-13 

 Another rivalry game has come and gone, and thank goodness we get a long break after this one.  As fun as it is, it has always been one of the more stressful weeks of the year.  For me, at least.  And back in 1997, life threw another curveball at me.  I was 20 weeks pregnant and had previously had some early complications, but everything seemed to have resolved.  However my doctor sent me for a follow-up ultrasound just to be sure, and of course the ultrasound was scheduled right at the beginning of rivalry week.  It turned out that the complications hadn't resolved, and things were worse than expected.  I won't go into details, but I was informed during my appointment that I needed to decide as soon as possible if I should abort the pregnancy because going through with it would put my life at risk.  Little did my doctor know, I was now faced with two major decisions.  1- whether or not to keep my baby and 2- whether or not to tell my husband during one of the hardest weeks of the season.  Even though he was not head coach at the time, he was still under a great deal of stress and I didn't want to add to it.  I decided to take the few extra precious days and wait to talk about this with Kyle.  That Saturday, November 22nd, Utah beat BYU 20-14 and that very night I sat down with Kyle and finally told him of the medical issues.  I think he was more in shock that I was able to hide it from him for days than he was upset that I didn't tell him.  After much discussion and prayer, we made the decision not to abort the pregnancy and I had Kylie (6 weeks early) by C-section on February 26, 1998.  I have looked back on that situation and I'm not sure anyone outside of a coach's family could understand why I would make that decision.

This year I had another health scare on the Monday before the BYU game when I found a lump in my breast.  It was difficult, but I made the same decision as I made 16 years ago and decided to keep my fears to myself.  I was unable to get into a doctor until the Monday after the game, so I was a wreck all week.  Kyle asked me a few times if everything was ok, but I kept my silence.  Finally after we won the game 20-13, I told Kyle what I had found.  Again, he was shocked that I didn't mention anything the entire week.  And while he insists my health is more important than a football game, I know the challenges he faces during the week and I am glad that I did not add to his stress.  I ended up having a mammogram and ultrasound and while I do have to follow-up again, everything seems to be fine.

I think the bottom line of this is that being a coach's wife is a unique position.  When your husband is putting in 80 hour weeks during the season and on the road recruiting for weeks at a time during off-season, it makes you learn to deal with things you never thought you could have on your own (like dealing with 4 crazy kids).  And while it has been hard, I wouldn't change my life for anything.  It has made me become a strong and independent woman, and I have learned that "I can do hard things."


Pregame-Oh the stress!
 
 

Kylie, Swoop, Kaela and family
Our view of the game was unbelievable in the worst way possible.
Half time radio interview
me, Ashley Johnson, Timberly Sitakie, Jenn Shaw
Matt, Demi, Dad
Melissa, Helen, me
Kylie, Kaity and the family
Grandma doesn't like to sit during the game. 
I can give my dad an ankle rub while he rubs my shoulders-nice!












Kyle with the girls after the game

Matt, Kyle and my dadf after the game

TV screen shot sent to me by my brother, this is the family cheering section

Final Score
After the win!!
Our favorite way to celebrate the win is at In-N-Out on our way out of town!

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Oregon State @ Utah

48-51

There is a fine line between elation and misery/winning and losing. For Utah this week we received the losing/misery combination.  Down to the wire with an overtime is one of my least favorite scenarios. It makes for an entertaining game and is great if you get the winning/elation ending.

This week was homecoming so Melissa was able to come back and cheer with the group she cheered with, doing the school song before the game began.  She tried a few of her old stunts she used to do and she still has what it takes!

Alex looks great in all the right gear

Dawson and Melissa

#53 Jason Whittingham had a really great game
 
It even rained on us but Helen and I were prepared!
 Losing a football game is heartbreaking.  This was a good game and one play could of changed the outcome.  Being part of the Utah Football family and so emotionally involved somehow makes it hurt more.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Weber State @ Utah

70-7   

I have been enjoying the win against Utah State last week and hoping the Utes do not let up for Weber State.  There were a lot of games last week where the team that was favored to win was very disappointed.  Coming to this game I still had my anxious feeling I always get before a game.  It was a great game, my favorite kind, a blow out.  
Pre-game Alex Whittingham #47
 Tyler in mist.
I don't know what the temperature was at the start of the game but it got to 90 degrees with full sun on us!

Kylie with her friend Brikelle
Uncle Freddie

Jay Hill  coaching kick off  team


Ken Lowry, Alex, Cary, Jason
Melissa and Dawson
 It was great to feel relaxed by half time when the score was 49-0.  The the coaches seemed to relax a little during the last half of the game too.  We were able to see a lot of new players in the second half get a chance to play.