Monster Update

I have been running around like crazy and am finally taking a moment to update everyone on what's happening in my world.

Mike worked on our dining room window and encased it in a nice cherry wood.  It turned out really nice and then we covered it all up with drapes.  If we open the sheer drapes a little we can still see the wood.  Now we are just waiting for the dining room set which should be here in a couple weeks.  Can't wait.

We spent one evening at the tire shop with Cori's kids since she had an emergency dentist appointment and a flat tire.  She took my car and Mike met us at the tire shop and we got her car fixed before she even got home.  These kids love to see Mike.

We went to St. George with our friends Jaime and Chris and their kids.  Mike, Chris and Doug (a brother-in-law) rode in 100 mile bike ride that started and ended in Mesquite.  We had fun meeting them a couple times along the route.

Here Mike is riding up "The Wall" (a pretty steep hill).

Here we are playing at a park before we went and waited at the finish line.  These kids are so fun to be with and we had a great weekend with them.

The guys finally showed up at the finish line.  We were glad to see them and were so proud of their accomplishment. (This picture is actually taken about half way through the ride at one of their official break stops).

Before leaving St. George we went and said "Hi" to Trudy and Bill (my aunt & uncle) who were staying down there.  It is always so fun to see them and spend time together.

We came home to cold weather and falling leaves.  Mike has a new leaf sucker upper that he uses to get rid of our leaves.  Most of our trees are evergreens so we don't have a lot of leaves in the yard.

I went home to Seattle for a quick weekend trip and my sisters were playing in a symphony concert.  Check out all these kids in this little bitty room.  And that's only about 1/2 of my nieces and nephews.  They are probably watching Tom & Jerry...a favorite shared by all.

December came and my mom and Emily came for a visit.  We went to go see "Christmas Around the World" down at BYU.  It was fun to be back on campus and we went with my mom's sisters' also.  What a fun outing.  I loved having my mom and Emily here and we ate at some yummy places (Pei Wei, Zupa's, & Kneaders).  It was a quick trip but we did a lot and they helped me decorate my tree.
(Notice my new purse:  I call it Petunia and I made it as a birthday present for myself.  So fun.)

We were busy during December.  We had our ward Christmas party and Mike's work Christmas party which is always a lot of fun.  We went to see "White Christmas" up at the U at the Pioneer Theater.  So fun and I was so proud of Mike for being a sport and going even though he doesn't really enjoy plays and musicals.  I was also selected to get tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir christmas concert with David Archuleta.  I always love going to this concert and I am a huge David fan.  We went with Trudy and Bill and it was so much fun.  Trudy is a huge David fan also and so it just made us fans even more.  I can't wait for the CD to come out next year.  We walked around temple square a little bit afterwards and got a quick picture.  It was so crowded but so festive and beautiful.

I couldn't resist adding this cute picture of Cori's twins checking out the little houses under the trees.

We went to Seattle for Christmas and saw lots of movies, played lots of games, ate good food and just enjoyed being all together.  Jordan & Emily came from Texas to visit and it was sooo good to see them.  I could not get enough of Sunny (my newest niece).  She is the sweetest girl ever and I hardly ever saw her upset or crying.  I'm sure she was in amazement of all the activity going on around her.

Christmas Eve was spent at my parents where we had a yummy dinner and then a Christmas Nativity and talent sharing.  Every kid had a costume but it was pretty chaotic getting them to play their parts and to stay put.

Andrew contemplating his role as a wiseman.

Dad & Jordan singing with gusto!!

Here are the string players in the family minus Jared.  It was fun to hear them play all together.

Christmas morning parade after breakfast to see what Santa brought.

I made some cute quilts this Christmas for gifts and only got pictures of a couple of them.

I got together with some of my friends one night.  I love these girls and we have such a great time talking and laughing and reminiscing about old times.

Holly, me, Sandra, Stephanie, Shiela, Michelle, Kristi & Crystal

Love you girls!!!

For my birthday (New Year's Eve) we went to breakfast at Snoqualamie Falls.  It is so yummy and has a great view of the falls.

And last of all, here is the picture we put on our Christmas card.

We hope everyone had a great holiday.  I just got Christmas all put away last night.

As for a health update....I am having scans taken next Thursday and then I meet with my doctor on Feb 1.  He wants me to talk to some doctors up at the U of U about doing a clinical trial.  So it looks like it will be a busy month.  I am feeling pretty good.  I sleep a lot (about 10 hours a day) and my tailbone area has been aching a lot.  I'm hoping the scans will be able to show if anything new is growing.  I am hoping and praying that everything is still small and manageable.  My life is in Heavenly Father's hands.  Whatever his plan is...I am OK with.  Thanks to all for your continued thoughts and prayers on my behalf.

Traveling girl

I have been all over the place and am finally getting around to updating and posting some pictures.  I went to Washington to see the family and we went to the cabin for a couple fun days.  We lounged around, played games, ate yummy food, rode horses and just enjoyed our time together.

 Here's cute Brigham and Amelia.

 Mike doesn't like me to ride horses especially since I broke my knee but he wasn't there and I rode bareback again!!  I love to ride.

 My dad came up and as you can tell it was a little chilly and we had the stove going or as we call it the energy zapper.  It sucks you in and puts you to sleep.

 Blurry picture but we had fun playing games.

Jared and Jess came over from Spokane and we had a big game night.  We had a Rook card tournament (mom actually had a 200 hand without cheating), played Quirkle and did a puzzle.  It is fun to just all be in the same room even if there are different things going on.  I'm sure we'll do it again at Christmas.

 The girls went to lunch at the Secret Garden.  A fun girly restaurant.

 Here's my 2 youngest nieces.  They are growing up.  Megan loves to snuggle with me and Lily is a little firecracker and check out her curls.  Just like her mom.

 I have been working on LOTS of projects.  I can't really show them all yet because they are Christmas gifts.  But here are some cute skirts I made for some lucky little girls. They are fun to make and so cute.

Mike and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary on Oct. 8.  He had a scout campout that night so I went to dinner with some friends.  So fun!!!

My friend Cori and I and her 3 kids went to Montana for 4 days.  Her parents have a ranch there and it was so peaceful and quiet.  We made it into a quilt retreat and worked on lots of projects.  This was the room we worked in and had big windows on all 3 sides so the views were great.

Here is the ranch.  Such a pretty setting. I love the book "Hattie Big Sky" which takes place in Montana.  We had a great time and I got a lot of projects finished.

Cori and I came home for a day and left on Monday morning for New York City with our other friend MaryAnn.  We got there early enough on Monday that we were able to get discount tickets to Mamma Mia!  So fun.  Gotta love ABBA.

Here we are just before the play!

Times Square...so many lights and it really does not ever sleep.

The M&M store was still open at 11 p.m.  Work it girls!

This was the real reason we came to NYC was to see Wicked.  It has been on my bucket list.  I LOVED it.  It was amazing and so fun.

Here's a look at the stage from my seat.  AMAZING.  This of course was taken before they announced that no pictures were allowed.  Ooops!

After NY, I came home for a day and Mike and I went to Lake Tahoe for the weekend to meet up with his cousin and aunt.  I didn't take any pictures and it poured down rain the entire time so we didn't get to explore much.  It was a long ride but it was fun to travel in my new car.

We are off to St. George next so Mike can ride in a 100 mile bike ride.

My CEA score is now 17.  It came down but I'm not getting too excited because the tumors did grow a little bit.  I'll get another score in a couple weeks and probably more scans in January.  For right now I am just feeling great and enjoying my craft room and projects and travels.

Doctor's update

I have been running around having lots of fun times.  I have pictures but will not get to it tonight.  I went to Washington to see my family and have had lots of lunch dates and fun times with good friends, and I've also been sewing a lot in my craft room.  I will post pictures later.

I went to the doctor today and things were better than what I thought I was going to hear.  My tumors have grown a little 7 mm to 10 mm so not too aggressively in 6 weeks.  My decision is to still not do any chemo...I'm feeling way too good to go back on that.  The doctor isn't able to give me any type of time frame...but I am just keeping my hopes high that the tumors stay small.  My last CEA score was 33 (not good) but at least I don't feel any effects yet of the growing cancer.  I am also taking an herbal tea a couple times a day that I heard about from my cousin who is fighting cancer.  It tastes like hay and is pretty disgusting but if it helps keep the tumors small then I'll keep trying it.  As for now I have many fun times ahead.

Tomorrow I am off to Montana with my great friend Cori and her kids.  We come home for a day and then head to New York City to see Wicked...I'm so excited.  Hopefully Mike won't miss me too much.

Love to all my great friends and family for your continued prayers for me.

Let the Fun Begin

I have been having the best time ever.  I'm so glad I feel good.

I have been bugging Mike for over a year that I want a new car.  He keeps talking me out of it and so I was consigned to the fact that we were OK with our paid off cars.  He went into work last Thursday with a strong feeling that he needed to do this for me.  So....I negotiated with the dealer and I traded in my Honda Civic for this...an Acura MDX.  I love it and feel very spoiled.

Mike spoils me so much and I love it.  We were able to buy the car just in time to take on our trip last weekend to Jackson Hole, WY. 

We had a blast with the LOTOJA (Logan to Jackson) bike race.  It is 206 miles long.  The weather was so beautiful and the perfect temp (70's).  Mike was in a 5 man relay.  My friend Staci and I were the support for our neighbor Gabe who rode the whole thing himself.  His wife Tina was in a 3 woman relay.  It was so fun and everyone did an awesome job.  We didn't have any crashes, flat tires, or mishaps.  Gabe was an animal and didn't stop.  He would come into a stop and I would trade water bottles with him and give him his supplements and then he was off again.  He ended up taking almost an hour off last years ride.  I think it helped him to know that the relay was behind him and he wanted to keep his lead.  We almost had a couple lost cell phones but luckily they stuck to the bumper like glue.  We stayed a couple extra days in Jackson along with some of the other couples and had a great time.  Here are some fun pictures from the weekend.  (Our camera did not have any bike race pictures...I'll have to post those later).

Mike and I going into the Teton National Park.

We took a boat ride across Jenny Lake.  I looked at the map and decided that I could handle a .5 mile hike to some falls.  I didn't know it was going to be uphill.  It took us an hour to go 1 mile up and back.  My knee is just not strong enough for hiking.  I relied on Mike a lot to climb up big rocks and to come back down.  But I did it and was glad that I made an effort to go on a short hike.

Gabe & Tina...great neighbors and friends and fierce biking competitors.

Mike and I took the Jackson Ski Tram up to the top of the ski lift.  Incredible views of the Tetons up there.

I am just so glad that I feel so good and feel semi normal.  I still get really sleepy in the afternoon (my 3 p.m. nap) but for the most part I'm doing great.  More fun times ahead so stay tuned...

Good & Bad News

I know that many are waiting for an update on my latest scans and doctor's appointment.

I met with the doctor today excited because I knew that I was done with chemo.  He however was in a bit of a solemn mood and did not share in the excitement I was feeling because of the news he had to deliver.  So my abdomen looks great...no signs of any tumors or new growths.  The bad news is that the cancer has decided to attack a new body part...my lungs.  There are an innumerable number of spots on my lungs with the largest being 7 mm.

 Not large at all but we don't know how fast it is going to grow.  So I am on a 6 week break and then I will have another chest scan to see if these spots are growing or if they are going to stay this same size.  My guess is they are growing because my last CEA score was 10.4 up from the last score and in looking at my February chest scan they were not there.

So my options are 1..to go back to heavy duty chemo which will not cure it...only prolong it and I won't have any good days, 2..go on a clinical trial (human guinea pig), or 3..do nothing and just have as many good days as I can.  Right now my thinking is #3 but I have 6 weeks to mull it over.

It was not the news I was wanting or expecting to hear today so I have been a little numb.  I still feel so much peace and comfort and know that my life is in the Lords' hands.  I know He hears my prayers and knows that I don't want to go yet but He must need me really bad on the other side because I have fought like crazy to stay here and keep this cancer at bay.

Mike has been my rock and continues to support me in my decisions.  He has been so strong although I'm sure he has his quiet moments of emotion and sadness.  I continue to rely on him so much for his faith and strength.

So in the meantime, I'm going to live it up and enjoy these good days ahead.  I'm heading to Seattle to see my family and go to the CABIN!!!!!  Yeah...I thought I was going to miss going this year.  We are going to CA to see Mike's family and hopefully another trip to Hawaii in the spring.

Love to you all for your thoughts and many prayers on my behalf.  Hopefully I have many good days ahead.

Chemo stinks!!

Today is the first day in a little over a week that I have felt pretty good.  Only one more treatment to go and I should be done with heavy duty chemo.  I know that mentally I can't take much more.  I am tired of poisoning my body and then working through the side effects to feel good again.  My doctor originally told me 6 treatments but then he cut that back to 4.  Next Tuesday will be the 4th treatment and I keep telling Mike that "I am done".  I have radiation coming up but I'm not sure what that will be like since I haven't had it before.  Hopefully it will be better than what I feel like now.  My score has been climbing (it is 7.4) which worries me a little bit but I meet with my oncologist on Aug 31 armed with scans, blood tests, and CEA scores and we'll see what he thinks.  I'll also send the info to my Spokane Dr. to get his opinion also.  I know that I was guided to this surgery and that I should likely have 3-5 yrs so I just need to have more faith that things are OK.

So onto happier things.  My sister-in-law Kristi Ann came for a baby blessing with her family and I was able to steal her away for breakfast on Saturday morning.  We went to Kneaders (yum) and it was so good to see her.  She brought me lots of gum to chew during my chemo week.  I brush like crazy and just can't get rid of the metal taste so that was thoughtful of her to bring me a little care package of gum.

This is the first summer I can remember where I'm not going to the family cabin.  It is my most favorite place on earth but it just won't work out this year.  I do have some fun things coming up in Sept and Oct so hopefully I will feel great and be able to enjoy life again.

Mike has been a saint through all of this.  I really don't know how I would get through any of this without him.  He has learned to be so much more patient and he is so quick to calm down my many fears and meltdowns.  We have also come to appreciate the blessings of eternity and that we are sealed together.  So many times we have felt heaven very close and are glad that we are on the right path and that we are together.  I love him lots and appreciate all that he has stepped up to do to help make this journey better.

I am off to bed and to take my nightly concoction of drugs.  Tomorrow is going to be a GREAT day.

OK...Time for an update

I keep thinking I need to have some new pictures before I update but I'm not sure when that will happen so I thought I would update without pictures.

Being home has been so great since my surgery.  I have felt so good and had so much energy.  The tailbone area is still a little sore but it has been nice to get out and enjoy a little bit of the summer.  My oncologist here in Utah is pleased with the surgical results and so we are on a new path again.  I started back to chemo again this past week.  I hate chemo more than anything and hopefully these 5 rounds will fly by.  Luckily I am back to doing the regimen I did very first and the side effects are not near as bad.  I just hate the lack of energy and state of yuckiness.  Mike has been the best ever.  The first night my leg bones were aching and he took time to rub my legs plus he's been doing laundry, cooking dinner, grocery shopping, sitting with me and just being my hero.  I don't know how I would get through this without him.

Everything still looks really good.  My cancer score is low (3.7) and hopefully after I get through with these treatments I'll have a few great years....or longer with just checkups :):)  So that's the update.  This is the 3rd summer in a row of chemo and hopefully the last.

Thanks to all for your continued thoughts and prayers.  It means so much.