I went to the beach with my family. We missed Jordan & Emily & Mike but had a great time in a big 7 bedroom beach house. We had great weather and were even able to enjoy some fun times in the sand. Here are some fun pictures.
Playing kickball...almost everyone got involved in the game.
Our beach house is the wide one with all the windows.
We had fun crafting with Perler beads, coloring, playing games, watching movies, flying kites, but most of all just being together. Jason looks pretty intense here but he's just playing a computer game.
Celebrating all the March birthdays in the family. I love the way Lily is blowing out her candle. Once it was blown out she threw out the candle and attacked the cupcake. Too cute.
We had a great time and hopefully we'll all be able to make it next time.
Here is my new toy. I ended up getting a bonus for the 1/2 year I worked last year and so we spent it on a Clavinova. I love it. Mike got his first piano lesson on it. I forgot how much I miss playing the piano. I play the organ so much now but it is nice to just play some of my old classic piano pieces.
That is the end of the fun times. I am heading back into surgery on May 5. I met with a doctor in Spokane, WA who does what is called a HIPEC treatment. It is heated chemo flooded into the abdomen but first he goes into the abdomen and removes all the cancer he can see. It will be a long and intense surgery but it is the first time I have heard the word cure. With the treatment I'm on right now, we know the cancer will come back, we just don't know when or where. I feel like this is the right decision. I've been talking it over with my medical oncologist and he feels like this might buy me some time. So it is going to be a busy month getting ready for this surgery with x-rays, colonoscopy, blood tests, etc. I will be gone about 6 weeks so I have to get everything in order at home too so Mike can survive when he isn't with me.
The good news is that my CEA score came down to 6.0 from 7.4. I was pretty sure it was going to go up again because that is the trend it has taken. That gives me some relief and hopefully when I have the surgery, there won't be much disease that has to be cut out.
Another exciting thing happening this month is that I start playing the organ in the Mt. Timpanogos temple. I am so excited and know that I will feel the spirit so strongly. I had my orientation and got to play a couple hymns on it. It is such a simple yet beautiful sound. If I can help others feel the spirit in the house of the Lord then what a great experience it will be.
Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I still feel incredible peace and know that it is because of all those around me who pray for me and love me.
