Hi Everyone! And Happy Halloween!

Talk about procrastinating! It's been a while since our last update and I apologize!

David and I did make it back to Smithers the following week after being rear-ended. We took a nice long drive (in the rental car) through Whistler and Lillooet for a scenic drive and we camped overnight outside of Williams Lake (about 6 hours from Smithers). It was really cool to get to camp after 5 months in a busy city. We missed the wilderness a lot.

The following day we headed to Smithers and got the call that our car was, in fact, written-off and that we would need to buy a new one. We really lucked out when a 2011 RAV4 came up on the market just outside of Smithers and we pounced on it and bought it immediately. It's very similar to our last car except being one year younger, with 20,000 less kilometers. It's worked out well. 

Being back in Smithers was a dream come true like you can imagine and we had such fun surprising our friends (we told no one we were coming back). Sleeping in our own bed and waking up with our beautiful espresso machine... It's been very dreamy! 

David had a follow-up CT scan in September to clear him of the fungal infection. It was reduced by 90% and is considered to be "all good" now. 

We also celebrated David's Birthday on the 12th of September! HE MADE IT TO 28!! YAAAAAAY. We had a lovely dinner surrounded by friends and I even pulled off a surprise welcome home/birthday party. 
Special thanks to Shannon for organizing (and for the amazing banner!!!), to Smithers Brewing Co for hosting (and providing delicious beer - as always), to Danika for the most beautiful cake we've ever seen (and most delicious) and to Thomas Camus (camusphotography.com) for the wonderful photos, to Alvin (DJ Alvalanche) for keeping us dancing, and to everyone who came out!  How lucky are we?!

For photos click here: David's Surprise :) 

On Sept 28 we flew home to Ontario for 3 weeks to visit with family. It was a lot of running around (THANK YOU JAIMEE FOR YOUR TRUCK) but it was so great to see everyone and for everyone to see David and just how well he's doing. His hair (and beard) are coming in nicely and he's just freakin' killing it all around.
We went to a concert, we went hunting, and we got a lot of hugs! Again, it was great to see everyone. At the end of the 3 weeks we decided it makes sense for me to return to Smithers to work, and for David to stay on with his dad in Brighton so he can partake in the annual deer hunt with the family. Deer hunting starts this Saturday and they will camp out for 1-2 weeks. David will be in Ontario until Nov. 14th and then he comes back to ME! And I can't wait (the separation anxiety is reaaaaaaaal)!

I still get very emotional when thinking about the last 6 months and just where we were such a short time ago. It still seems surreal sometimes that it even happened. I'm so grateful for this time on the other side of this thing and for being able to get back to normal life.

A special thanks to my amazing boss, Laurence, for being the most understanding boss and just all-around great human. I appreciate it more than you know. 

David will be off work at least until January, but we're thinking more likely February. He's physically feeling great but still gets a little tired throughout the day. He is off all medications and is just focusing on getting back to normal and feeling more like himself. He gets monthly blood work (last two showed totally normal levels), we will have a teleconference with the Doc's in December, and then a hospital visit to Vancouver in March (at 6 months). 

We don't have any other big plans and are happy to get back to enjoying our incredibly wonderful and blessed life here in Smithers.

Once again, thank you all for your continued support, your love, and your well-wishes. We still feel insanely lucky. 

All our love, 

Carlie xo