Garden pics...

..
Here is the little green house, where it all started, this was about 5 days after we planted the seeds...I had already had to transplant the pumpkins and the lettuce at this point. ( green house= $6 at Wal-mart= 72 starts)


Here it is about a week ago, I had transplanted all those plants out of the the green house and started more in the green house (bottom right corner of the picture) you can see the tall green beans, then the pumpkins, over on the left tray are the tomatoes and the lima beans, and watermelon. My strawberry plants already have strawberries! (nope they aren't in the picture)

Here is Cameron next to our apple tree.
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Here is Kevin next to the apple tree.

It's garden time!

For those of you who don't know.. I completely enjoy gardening and food storage. Spring and Summer is spent gardening, the fall is spent canning and winter is full of getting dry goods and planning for the next spring.. yes I learn a little more each year and enjoy every minute of it. (I kill less plants every year too!) My first canning experience was in 2007 when I canned peaches and pears, the pears are now all gone and I love to stair at my peaches, they are the perfect color, and when you pop them open, ohh, the smell is amazing. My first experience was a good one. Then in 2008 I tried out my hand at apples and apple pie filling. I canned them and they really aren't that pretty but they taste fine. This year I am going to try to can tomatoes.. yep that is right my sister-in-law has talked about her homemade tomato soup so much I figured it would be a good thing to do, that and we go through a lot of spaghetti sauce so it will be worth it. Now you have to understand that while I learn not only to can something every year I also learn how to use the canned stuff every year. If I won't use it, I won't can it... Ok so on to the point of my rambling...

I am in, the garden groove. I have plants coming out of my ears, (I can't wait to plant them in the actual garden) and I noticed something, I have three years of old seeds, thats right half empty packets that fine, while woudn't all germinate and grow, some wood and they definitely would have had a better chance had they been used the first year (the year they were supposed to be used) So my brilliant (ok good) idea was we would have a seed/seedling swap in our ward, as the cannery specialist, I come up with random ideas all the time and see if they will fly, so here we go. What ever seeds I am not gonna use this year, and a few of my seedlings that I am not gonna use this year are all up for grabs, first come first serve. Others have already contributed there left over seeds and if you need something let us know. If you are willing to contribute, let us know... Now we are not talking, giving you 6 of the same plant, I am talking about 2 or 3 seeds of a kind or one or two seedlings, I figured, more seeds would get used, more people would have larger variety in their gardens, and may even learn to grow and eat different foods. So what do ya think are you willing to try something new?

Here are the seedlings up for grabs:
Iceberg lettuce
Roma Tomato (good canning tomatoes)
Big boy tomato (good slicers)
Cantaloupe
Cucumber

Here are the seeds up for grabs:
Cherry tomotoes (super sweet 100 or Sun gold)
Eight ball zucinni
Delicata Squash
Beets
Bush champion cucumbers
Roma tomatoes
Big boy tomatoes
Lima beans
Green beans (bush burpless)
Pumpkins
Green peppers
Onions
Radishs
Carrots

Remember it is first come first searve thing, so if they are gone they are gone. I have a few people who are going to let me know what extras they will have this weekend.

Things people are looking for:
Bananna squash
Herbs

If you have something that is being looked for let us know either where you got it, or how many seeds (or seedlings) you would like to donate to the cause. Remember we all need to step out of our comfort zones once in a while and try something new!

Oh and we have a few people who have said they hand out different kinds of squash at harvest time to anyone who wants it, so let us know if you are interested!

Also, for those plants that can not be planted before the last frost, it is a good time to start your garden indoors, it will lenthen the growing season for you!

Oh and we just planted an apple tree in our back yard!... we just need to find it a companion for pollination purposes! Yeah! (seriously excited!)

I would totally post pictures of my (indoor) garden but i can't find the cord right now.. so pics will have to come later)

Answer to the request....

Strawberry freezer jam recipe...

Go to Wal-Mart and buy a box of fruit pectin (found on the canning isle this time of year or on the jello isle normally) Read box.. follow directions.
No, I am just kidding it really is that easy if you have done it before, but for those of us who are a little behind the times (this is my first time) here is some extra info: There are a couple of different brands, I use the "Ball" brand, but I know a lot of other people who use the "sure jel" brand. I have tried the "no sugar added fruit pectin" box and followed the freezer jam directions, you can use the same box to cook jam, or cook jelly, but I am a freezer jam girl myself. Then there is the actual "no cook freezer jam" packet. Each box/packet will tell you how many pounds or cups of smashed fruit you will need. somewhere between 3 or 4 cups is the norm. I personally am too lazy to crush them with a potato smasher as the directions say so I get out my trusty blender and blend them up.. just enough to make they "crushed" or if you don't actually like strawberry chunks in your jam go ahead and puree, it doesn't matter, then you mix with the pectin (in the no cook version) or in the cook version you cook the pectin with some juice and add the fruit. I have to say it was a blast! I made a batch yesterday and one today. One was the no cook method and one was the cook, The both taste great. The cook method had less sugar because it had juice to sweetin it naturally.. then you put it in your freezer containers and freeze! Easy pezy!
My sister in law says she makes one batch and then she purees the rest of her fruit and puts it in a freezer bag so that it takes up less room until she gets low and then all she has to do it take out one bag and a box of pectin, instead of having all these jars of already made jam taking up extra room in her freezer. Anyways I may have made it sound a lot harder than it is... but really it was easy and fun!

Wal-mart finds, frezzer jam, and an apple tree

So I got a call yesterday, Wal-mart has strawberries on sale for 50 cents a tub.. So I went down, bought a bunch, found the gamma lids I've been wanting to buy for my 5 gallon buckets and got some pectin. Then came home and made some yummy frezzer jam! Of course my kids ate a whole pond of strawberries between them and I need to make some more jam but I love getting a great deal!...
Then the other day we went to costco for diapers, then we walked out with two blueberry plants and an apple tree!.. What?! We were looking for bluebery plants because Ty got a blueberry a couple of weeks ago (and they pollinate better with two) so we were looking for a second one, well costco only sells them in twos... so now we have three blue berry bushs! Oh and the apple tree, that was us being crazy! our kids eat apples like crazy so we figured it would pay off... even with the spraying every year, it is a semi-dwarf tree so it won't get too big, problem is, you really need a second one to get it pollinated, so now we are one a hunt for another apple tree, preferably green, (the one we got is red) semi-dwarf or dwarf... Other than that our seedlings aren't really seedlings anymore, and it doesn't look like we wilL be able to plant them any time soon, it snowed last nght, and is still snowing! like 2.5 inches!... I sure hope the plants can hold up inside for a while, I heard that some peopLe wait until June to plant outside... yikes!
Oh and I got a calling on Sunday, I am the cannery specialist! :)

Cameron's teeth

Cameron got three teeth in before we left Washington (march 20th) (I know I am a little behind..) and just last week got the 4 one in.. the ones just outside of the 4 front teeth on top and bottom... so know he has a mouth full! I think that make sit 16 teeth total.

The garden is growing!

ok.. so really our little seedlings are doing great inside the house.. but whatever... i actually had to transplant all of the pumpkins, and some of the cucumbers and lettuce into their own containers because they were to tall for our little green house! The strawberries are doing good, and all of the seeds have sprouted minus a couple of the watermelon which i am sure will happen in the next few days! I just planted some peppers (wal-mart finally got some seeds in) so we will see how those do in the next few weeks! I am soooo excited. This year I will do much better "hardening off" the plants before we actually transplant them into the garden. Usually I get too impatient and just put em out there and hope they live.. it doesn't work so well...lol. I am really good at killing plants.. but this year I will do better! my next assignement is to go out and clear the left 1/3 of the garden so we can plant our onions, radishs and carrots, which supposedly can already be planted outside right now... we are still trying to figure out what we are going to do for a trealis for the beans, but i am sure we can figure something out with some string...

More for "Kevins book"

Kevin stated as we drove from Washington to Idaho "oh no, the cars are all passing us, where never gonna get there"... ha ha.. Tyler's response was.. honey I'm sorry Mommy has to drive...

While in Washington we were trying to get Kevin to go poop on the potty... Grandma had promised him this really cool dinosaur bone toy if he went, so there he was sitting pushing as hard as he could and it wasn't working, he couldn't go, I explained to him that sometimes you just don't have to go and that he could try later, he then looks at grandma with the saddest eyes and asked "Grandma can you poop for me?".. when she told him it didn't really work that way.. he said "Cameron can do it, he will poop for me"... he realllllly wanted those dinosour bones!

Cameron's 18 month pictures

Sooo cute!

If only my hand wasn't in the picture

We even got a good one of the boys together!

My favorite.. yes they centered it at the store

Yeah this is him..lol

Long weekend

yep, it was a very long weekend. Cameron got sick (vomit, diarrhea) Friday night, Tyler and Kevin got it Saturday night and I was lucky enough to get is Sunday morning.. oh what a fun weekend. Tyler was nice enough to stay home and help us all begin to feel better on Monday.. plus I don't think he wanted to give it to his students, this wonderful little "flu bug" that we had. So we went through a lot of laundry and since have gone through a lot of lysol wipes, disinfecting is a must after that!...

But really I think we are all better now. ready to move on, go for our family walks again, play outside and get our garden growing. We all planted our seeds for family home evening, at least the ones you can plant inside. The ones that we can plant outside have to wait until we get the giant tumble weeds out of the garden. Turns out you can't leave a garden full of plants when you leave for 7 months and think that anything but weeds are going to be there when you get back..:). But we have big plans for our garden this year. Lots more plants, including Tylers very own blueberry plant anad we are going to try grapes again this year!.. Lots of work ahead of us getting all those dead weeds out and we are watching the weather close for some warm days.. we did get one 60 degree day in last week... it was wonderful!

oh and also on that 60 degree day we were the lucky recipients of a bike.. a neighbor (that i had never met before) rode by with his two kids and their brand new bikes from the school auction, he said that they were giving away a trike and a bike and wondered if we could use one, which was so funny becuase just a few days before I had thought about how Kevins legs were just a little too long (ok... a lot long) for his trike but that he would have to wait for his birthday in September. When he told me about it, he said that one of the training wheels was missing and I thought... training whells are cheap compared to buying a bike.. no big deal!.. but when they brought it over they had found the missing training wheel. The back wheel needs pumped up and it isn't new but Kevin doesn't care.. how cool is that! The funniest part was how Cameron ran over to Kevins ol trike the second Kevin got on the bike... he had been eye ballin it all along...I thank that mystery neigbor for the kind act that he did.. I wonder if he has any clue how much that ment to me (and Kevin, and Cameron)

I sure wish there were more 60 degree days to get out and pull some weeds, and let the kids run around the back yard, they sure do sleep alot better after playing outside. :)

Cool conference stuff and Cameron stats

So a good friend of mine (thank you thank you thank you!) sent these in an email and I thought I would pass them on... they are websites to conference packets to help your primary age children listen and get more out of conference coming up!

http://www.scribd.com/doc/13298891/2009-April-Conference-Packet

http://www.sugardoodle.net/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4195&Itemid=5


Check them out!

Also Cameron had his 18 month well baby apt today, his stats are:

29 lbs 6 oz
33 inches tall
19 1/4 in head circumference

Yep, we are back.

In Jerome that is. Tyler moved here a month (or a little more) ago, and me an the boys moved in last week. Tyler and his Mom were nice enough to go get all our stuff from Oklahoma and have the house set up when we got here.... I don't think I could possibly say thank you enough. Tyler and a few neighbors (thanks guys) even painted the boys room, and the living room, dining room, and front room.. its like anew house! So I am enjoying the organization part of moving at a leisurely pace becuase all the hard work has been done.

So tonight, we gave Cameron his first hair cut, he has started to get "mullet" comment so we figured it was time. His hair is so blond and thin it never looked like there was enough there to cut! But tomorrow he will be 18 months! He has his well baby check tomorrow and I have an appointment for his pictures later next week (he has a cold and I didn't want a bright red nose in pictures!)

But that seems to be all going on here! Pictures of Camerons hair cut coming soon!

Cameron Tyler

yes he fell alseep while 4 wheeling on vacation last summer!

Name & Meaning: Cameron Tyler. Cameron means crocked stream, Tyler means tile maker.. lol.. I don't remember those being the meanings when we named him that..lol He was almost named Noah but we changed our minds while at the hospital. and we had to go with family name for the middle name. with both boys I wanted Grant Allan but Tyler wouldn't go for it (he wants Allan Grant)...maybe with our next kid.. (that is if it isn't used already.. I did give permission for Grant to be used)

Age: 17 months or one year 5 months

Nicknames: the little one, Cam bam, your son, my son (depending on if he is being good or bad:) Cam-er-rom (said as if it was from the book of mormon), baby

Favorite Activities: going outside... playing with is brother, cuddling, being tickeled.

Favorite Foods: fruit- could be pears, strawberries, grapes, doesn't matter, Cheese- cheese sticks or medium cheedar, pasta, chicken nuggets, chocolate milk,

Least Favorite Foods: I haven't found anything he won't eat

Favorite Music: any music gets him dancing around and around and around in circles.. if he can't move ( like in his car seat, he doesn't want music on...)

Favorite Toy: his brother... he loves to play with his brother!.. blue mcqueens are his favorite (kevin takes the red ones from him so he sticks to the blue ones) and he loves to throw things, so balls are a must!

Favorite Book: McQueen books, anything with McQueen in it, or books that play music to him like the VTech ones, or the ones with animals, he makes all the sounds- ok so really he likes ANY books!...

Favorite Item of Clothing: Shoes!!!

What Makes Him Happy: playing outside, eating, reading, cuddling

What Makes Him Sad: when he can't find he brother, if you are holding him and try to put him down,

Funny Words or Phrases:"brother?" with his hands out looking for Kevin, juice and cheese are both said in his throat, so they both sound really funny..."darts" and "throw" and both said with a throwing movement, "tank you" is cute, "oes" and "ocks" are cute when he wants his shoes and socks on to go "bye bye" and his "on" "off" and "battery" all make us smile too! and "na nigh" when he is going to nap or to bed for the night, or when kevinis covering himself up with a blanket. oh and "pa yeee" for potty... he has tried to go potty in the potty a few times..lol

Kevin William

I saw this on a friends blog and couldn't help but copy it (thanks Whitney!). Today I'll tell all about Kevin, in a few days I'll do Cameron, Hope you enjoy!

Name & Meaning: Kevin William. Kevin means handsome, beautiful and William means strong willed warrior- both fit him perfectly :) he was almost Kevin Alexander, we all like the sound of it best but we decided to go with the family name- William is Tylers middle name.

Age: 3 years, 6 months

Nicknames: the big one, that one, your son, my son (depending on if he is being good or bad:) kevin kevin came from heaven)

Favorite Activities: moving, if it has something to do with moving he enjoys it, if it is outside, or up high, even better. Playing with his dinosaurs, or playing with lightning mcqueen. (we have plenty of both)

Favorite Foods: PIZZA- pepperoni pizza to be exact, chicken nuggets, cheerios, chocolate milk, fruit- could be pears, strawberries, grapes, doesn't matter, he would rather have it than chocolate,water

Least Favorite Foods: the only thing we can't get him to eat is eggs...

Favorite Music: the music on his night time thing.. he picked it out when he was a baby and has used it to get to sleep ever since. that and music from the movie CARS, he calls it mcqueen music (he even picked it out when one of the couples danced to it on dancing with the stars) He sings the ABC and his numbers regularly, then he also sings the sunbeam song at random times.

Favorite Toy: either his newest mcqueen car or his 'terry" dinosour (big red T-rex)

Favorite Book: he has two they are both about dinosours, and way over his reading level: Encyclopedia of Dinosours: Fascinating facts about the world of dinosours and The usborne world atlas of dinosours... at any givin moment you will find him sitting there looking at the pictures in the books.. with comentary..

Favorite Item of Clothing: probly shoes becuase it means he will be going outside!

What Makes Him Happy: playing outside, eating, reading, his dinosours

What Makes Him Sad: loosing his dinosours, having an accident in his pants (potty training totally sucks by the way) having to stop playing outside

Funny Words or Phrases: "I want to listen to you" (usually when he is in time out for NOT listening to me) "I want to be nice"(get the picture) "I just want...fill in the moments whim here" "hey guys!... listen to me"

I am a genius and an idiot all rolled into one!

So I am a professional diaper changer.. and I am proud of it!.. Today while changing Cameron's diaper I came up with the perfect solution to a diaper changing problem. Cameron like most little boys I know tries to grab himself every time the diaper comes off... When he is poopy this is even grossier and more annoying than normal, so my wonderful solution.. "Kevin can you come over hear and hold babies hands"..... they laughed and giggled the whole time I was getting that kid clean!.. it was wonderful.. hence the genius part.. the idiot part is that I think this is so genius (only a stay at home mom stuck with two kids would find it genius)

"A genius is an individual who successfully applies a previously unknown technique in the production of a work of art, science or calculation, or who masters and personalizes a known technique. "

yes i think it fits quiet nicely....lol :)

Very true...

So I found this on my friend Whitney's blog and thought I would pass it on. Click on it so it is big enough to read and I know you will enjoy it!


Cracks me up!

Another cute story...

So a few nights ago, everyone was in bed (except me- I was on the computer) the house was quiet, all was calm, and then all of a sudden there is a huge THUD.. and then silence. Ya wanna know how many bad things a THUD could be, just ask my brain what it thought in the 1.2 seconds it took to get to Kevins bedroom door. The light was on, it was supposed to be off, So I open the door just as my parents come sprinting out of their bedroom door to see what the sound was and I open Kevins door, he is sitting on the floor at the bottom of his bed holding his wrist.. ( i think he was trying to be quiet) when i said what happened he started to fuss... I asked where it hurt and he said his wrist and showed it to me... (nothing wrong, nothing broken ) Then I asked him what happend and he points to the desk and says he climbed up there to get something (have I ever mentioned that I gave birth to two monkeys- not children- they climb on everything!) and then I tried to get back here (he points to the bed) so you jumped off of the desk to get to the bed and didn't quiet make it? "yeah" he says.... I just start laughing... why? becuase my heart was beating out of my chest that something had gone really wrong, that he had broken a bone, or cracked his skull, or something but no, he just was trying to get back to the bed and I have found out that boys do things differntly then girls, I would have gotton down and walked to the bed but no, he was going to be more efficent and skip the walking part, beside jumping is sooo much more fun!... :).. I love my boys!

Kevin is so cute..

So Kevin took his favorite book to Grandma today and she said she couldn't' read it to him because she couldn't see without her glasses, which of course she can never find. So he said "I'm gonna go find the one that gives you a big head" and runs off, we of course have no idea what he is talking about but a few miutes later he comes back with the little plasic magnifing glass (that i got when i was like 8 in a kids meal) and hands it to grandma... "I found it!".. this magnifying glass gives her a big head (atleast when you look threw it the right way..lol. And Grandma read him his book..lol (maybe you had to be there).. he is a cute kid.

Sweethearts tag!

I realize some of these things already were on my blog, but I really can't go over them enough so, bear with me!

1. Where did you first meet your hubby?

In my apartment my freshmen year at BYU-I. I walked into my apartment for sweet swap (on a Sunday night in October) and my roommate Tonya was wrapped around him on the couch... (she had just meet him 5 minutes earlier too...)

2. What do you remember about him the most?
I remember not liking him that first time.. I did like his eyes, but I didn't like seeing him with my roommate like that. he had on his brown leather jacket, a T-shirt and jeans, with his brown doc martins... is it weird to remember what he was wearing?

3. Who asked who out first?

our first date

The funny thing is, we kinda hid our relationship for like forever, so we kept going out in groups, or in double dates where I was supposed to be out with the other guy but the first time we went out just us, was to McDonalds for breakfast after a 9 hour conversation on the phone. Tyler said "hey I am gonna go shower seen it 6:30am, I'll pick ya up at 7:00" Me: "um.. ok".. lol

4. What did you do on your first date?
McDonalds for breakfast and then I think we went to our respective apartments so we could go to sleep, although knowing me I probly just went to class...no it was a weekend, I think i took a nap.

5. What was your favorite thing to do together while you were dating?
Actually once we came out as a "couple" I went on dates with Bryan because Tyler got a job so we really didn't date... Although we did go on road trips to Salt lake to visit his siblings, Grandparents, and my brother a few times.

6. When was your first kiss with your sweetheart?
It was the weekend before Christmas In Troy and Jackee's house. They left the room to go get a deck of cards, and he kissed me. Then during the card game, they asked about our relationship and so the first kiss came up.. ( i still don't know how) I turned bright red and he told them "O.. it was on your couch about 5 minutes ago".. I thought I was going to die of embarrassment...lol


7. Who said it ( I love you ) first?
he did and I believe it was on the phone.. I will have to ask him if he remembers more details.


8. When did you first realize you loved him?
Well, I think I got an inkling over Christmas break when I was going crazy without seeing him, then when he came to ask my Dad for my hand (I know your thinking.. a little late huh?) I told my dad that he had to "be nice to this one.. I love him" I think it threw both me and my Dad for a loop.

9. How did he propose?
We went to the park in Rexburg early one Friday morning to take pictures (kinda engagement pictures.. I know we did everything backwards) and his friend Bryan was supposed to meet us there to take the pictures,( he was running late.. I thought) it was freezing cold, so we walked around, danced, all the silly things couples do, and then he started telling me the 5 characteristics of his mother that he wanted in his future wife and how they related to me. Then He said that there was one thing about his wife that he didn't know and I of course asked "what's that?" and he said "that it is you" and he knelt down and got the ring out and asked me if I would marry him and I said yes.. then Bryan showed up to take the pictures (including re-inacting the actual proposal)

10. What are two things you remember most about your wedding day?

1. I was running late (the last day I ever thought I would run late for!)

2. While pictures were being taken my Dad said "well she finally got the large family she always wanted" When we got married all of Tyler's siblings were already married and had 13 kids between them, Pictures were crazy to our little family of my mom, dad, and brother.

3. I rememeber thinking it was so cool that the sister missionaries that had brought the gospel to my parents were both there...

Randomness...

So, life in the fast lane here at the house...

Cameron got pink eye earlier this week and is dong much better...

but he gave it to Kevin... who "doesn't want to get better".. every time it is time to put the drops in his eyes!


I got to go to church today without the kids, and I got to hear every word!

Kevin has grown out of saying "zapiz" for pizza... so sad...

I scrap booked today for the first time in over a year.. and noticed that Cameron's scrap book is very sad.. it only has his professional pictures in it.. not one snap shot, or cute quote.. sad.. very sad...


Life without Tyler here sucks.... even though Kevin is in real underwear during the day, So all that is left is Cameron, it still sucks to be the only one on diaper duty. I miss ya babe (and yes for more reasons than to have you around for diaper changes)


Today's Relief Society lesson was on the talk "Come what may and love it"... it made me cry.. (suprise suprise)


Tyler got to go to our old ward and felt very welcomed by everybody.. apparently they already have callings for us.. :) ( nothing puts a smile on my face like a good calling.. except maybe my kids)


Cameron is learning his animal noises.. in fact he talks in them all day long. the first animal he knows is the dinosour..lol... but he also knows monkey, chicken/rooster (dood le doooo), duck, dog,.. he has a suprised face, a mad face (that comes with a growl) and a happy face. He makes a great car sound...

Kevin starts every sentence with the word"just", or .... "listen to me".. sometimes together...

We are in a new phase.. we don't know which one will last longer.. Dinosaurs or Lighting McQueen...

I have found out that even when others are spending their money I still get a kick out of getting a good deal.

And although I hate to shop, I love looking through catalogs and sale papers, if only I didn't actually have to part with the money, I think I could be really good at shopping.

So what about you.. have any randomness going on at your house?

Picture Tag

Thanks Jackee.. this was fun!

Rules:
1. Go to the Document/My Pictures site on your computer.
2. Go to your sixth file.
3. Go to your sixth picture.
4. Blog about it.
5. Tag six people.


Here is my 6th picture.. my little kite flyer...this was before we left Jerome...
I tag whoever goes to check their 6th picture...

I feel so accomplished and yet...

I got nothing done..lol. The dishes were still sitting in the sink, and The laundry may be cleaned but it isn't folded or put away. BUT I did get two games colored, cut, laminated (thanks to Grandma's toys) and ready to play. A bingo game (to review colors and shapes) and a blues clues memory game.. which is just plain fun! Plus me and Kevin painted his pirate ship bird house... you will have to see picture s of that.. lol. I even restrained myself from "taking over" .. he had a blast and so did I. We even started working on his writing... something that is enjoyed on two different levels.. i keep telling myself that he is learning and he keeps "coloring" away.. I am not sure that the cookie sized "o" he drew counts as the letter "o" but.. we are getting there ;)

Cool Stuff to share...

So I found s cool websites off of a friends blog that I follow... for those of you with pre-school age children check out this website... they have all sorts of cool stuff.. stuff to work on your kids writing skills (trace this line, write this letter) memory games, bingo games, hand eye-coordination ( cut on this line) very cool stuff.. I knew I was going to have to work now that Kevin no longer has preschool and i think i found what we are giong to do.. I printed off worksheet after worksheet and can't wait to get started.. he even saw the "dinosaour pages" that I made "Custom" for him.. Yeah!

Website = http://www.dltk-teach.com/alphabuddies/trace.htm


Also my very cool sister-in-law's ward is starting a new motivational program and I am trying it too! See you get points for doing 8 things a day that will help you grow spirtually and physically and basically become a better person (becuase you are striving for points...lol)... What I need is motivation so we will see how it goes.

1. Getting 7 hours of sleep
2. Getting 30 minutes exercise (everyday but sunday on sunday you get a "keep the sabbath day holy" point
3. water (8x8oz)
4. 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit
5. Scripture study (does one verse count?)
6. limit: one sweet or soda
7. Am/Pm/ Personal prayers
8. a personal goal of your choice (not a to do list item) can change daily
you can earn a bonus point if you 1. had an extra 30 minutes of exersize or 2. had no sweets or soda.

So everyday you add up your points and at the end of the week you add up the days... Tryt o do better every week!

Doesn't seem hard but it would keep me accountable. I am so excited.. you let me know how you do.. and I will let you know how I do.

Yep we are in Washington!

and loving it.. We are getting more sleep, enjoying Uncle Ken, Grandma Wicky and Grandpa Terry. Me and Tyler we able to go on a date two nights ago, dinner and a movie... subway and "He's just not that into you"- Very funny cute movie but had lots of dirty words! Then my adopted Aunt Melddody and Uncle Dwayne came down from Spokane to see us, which was a blast. Tyler plans on leaving tomorrow for Jerome to start Subbing. His night school class starts March 4 and then during spring break, sometime the middle of March, Tyler and his mom fly to Oklahoma to get our stuff out of storage and move it into our house, and then Me and the kids show up the end of that week to move into our house with beds alreay put together (I told Tyler he doesn't need to unpack everything, just make sure that the kids each have a bed and that I do to..lol) I am so excited to actually have a plan. The first thing that happends when I get there is to go to the dollar store and buy a bunch of plastic baskets, and organize my house. That is right, have a basket for winter gloves and hats and keep them there, and if they don't fit, get rid of them. ( I know.. what an Idea huh?) I am a little bit of a pack rat and I need to ding out! And I am excited to do it! ( is anybody having a garage sale? I give you my stuff to sell)

Other than that I am doing better, I have lower back pain and I have figured out it is from being so out of shape.. ( I am a nice shape of ROUND) so, my next goal is to stop eating all this junk food from the road and start eating healthier... I will get there.

As for this stroller brigade... I am so excited! I didn't start it, is but I sure did enjoy it! I hope the snow all melts fast enough that we can start when I get there! I miss all you Jerome people!

I am done!

That is right, I am done! I had my last treatment yesterday and we are headed to Washington on Monday! My next appointment is in three months!.. no more poking or prodding or feeling nauseous for three whole months!.. Woohoo! They even gave me a certificate and everything!.. Yeah!

High School Tag

Pasco High School

1. What year did you graduate? 2002

2. Did you date someone from high school? Yeah, a few

3. What kind of car did you drive? What ever my parents weren't using that day, either a Chevy Lumina or a GMC Sonoma (truck, little truck)

4. What was the most embarrassing moment of high school? I had more than a few, I have an issue where I can't say where I want to say, and it comes out wrong and I end up looking "special"- like eat paste special. :)

5. Were you a party animal? I didn't party in the normal "party" way.. but all the mormons new how to make it a fun night!

6. Were you considered a flirt? I have no idea.. I don't think so.. If I was I must have been considered really bad at it.

7. Were you in band, orchestra or choir? Nope, not in high school.

8. Were you a nerd? Not a very good one.

9. Were you on any varsity teams? Volleyball my senior year.. I was the bench warmer!

10. Did you get expended or expelled? No, my parents would have killed me.

11. Can you still sing the fight song? I don't know... maybe if the music was playing.

12. Who were your favorite teachers? Both Mrs Jones. and my seminary teacher Bishop Banks and Mr Davis.

13. What classes do you wish you would have taken? I wish I would have continued on with A.P. English my Senior year, I gave it up for Mythology (the most boring class ever- I still haven't read the Illiad or the Oddessy) and some other class that I can't remember (apparently it was worth the time to)

14. What was your schools full name? Pasco Senior High School

15. School mascot? We were the Bulldogs...

16. Did you go to homecoming and who with? Didn't go junior year... Sr year I went with Josh ( I can't remember his last name?)

17. Where did you go on senior skip day? I was in class.. and got a lot of extra credit! (nerd I know)

18. Were you in any clubs? FBLA, DECA,... was that it..?

19. Who was your prom date? Jr Year I think it was Alex doubling with Peter and his date and Sr year I went stag with Katy whose date was her brother.

20. What do you remember most about graduation? It was hot, and I kept hoping we could finish sooner. Plus I remember the outfit I got for it, it was a purple top with a purple flowered skirt... I thought I was so cute!

21. What advice would you give yourself? Don't be so opinionated, you offend a lot of people that way... and... relax, you won't see half these people again so don't stress over what they think of you (maybe I wouldn't have been so toung tied)

22. Are you planning on going to any of your reunions? I think it would be fun to go back and see some old teachers and friends.

23. If you could go back and do it again would you? no, it was fun, but life is good now.

I tag anyone anybody who would like to relive there highs school moments for a second or two.

I haven't felt this good in a long time...

So, I am really feeling wonderful! I can't believe it. I started and have carried on an exercise schedule the for 4 whole days (the longest I have ever done, outside of a team) Starting last Thursday (I only work out on week days apparently) I have gone out to the "Wardle gym" and worked out. It started really small, but I just got done like quadrupling my first work out and I feel wonderful. Here is my new schedule: put Cameron to bed before 8:30, put Kevin to bed before 9 (the are in the same room and as such cannot go to bed at the same time) 9:00-- work out.... tonight was 20min on the treadmill walk/jogging, then 10 min on the eliptical machine, then cool down on the stationary bike.. yes this can only happen for the remainder of this week when we move away from "Wardle gym" but me and Tyler are determined to keep it up. (o, did I forget to mention Tyler worked out with me yesterday and today??) How cool is that? Anyways I have more energy during the day and I look foward to my workout everynight.. it is also a lot easier to get my 8 glasses of water in... Things are definetly looking up!!.. Have any tips on how to stick to it when away from exercise machines?

Week 2

Only 5 treatments left! I just finished week 2 which went off without any issues. I have a sore throat and headaches, but my sore thoat should go away soon after treatment. I have been feeling much better. I actually went out and exercised: (think baby steps) walked on the tread mill and rode the stationary bike for a while yesterday and today... I know not much, but it is better than nothing! It feels good to get moving again.

Side note** Cameron got tooth number 13 last week, bottom third to his right!.. he is growing up to fast! (Could be because I feel like I have missed the last 4 months of his life)

Week one

So I just finished week 1 of radiation. Tuesday was my "mock appointment" where they really just did scans to make sure I was lined up correctly. Then I had three treatments wed, thur, and friday. They really are short I am in and out in 30 minutes or so. The actually time the radiation is on is like 8 seconds in front and 16 seconds in back. I have a little nausea, but really we all have a cold so I can't blame it on the radiation. Just 10 more treatments and I am done. And we can get back to life. Me and Tyler have decided that this little vacation has been fun but we really should be getting back to the real world now. We are excited to see my side of the family. We are gonna go stay with my parents until further notice (or when they kick us out.. whichever comes first... :) and Ken said he would even come visit us.

Big day

So yesterday was a big day. It started with an appointment with the radiologist Dr. Hoppe. He gave me all the risks of the radiation therapy I will be getting and more details. Radiation will be 13 days long with one "mock therapy" session where I won't actually be getting any radiation but they want to make sure ever thing will go correctly. My sessions will be short (5-15 minutes, monday through friday. Although radiation could cause other cancers later on, breast cancer being one, and hypothyroidism (because my thyroid will be in the radiation area) risks are low. I am getting a VERY low dose of radiation and because of it should have very many side effects. Mayby nausea for a few days at the begginging and maybe some skin irratation there at the end. I do have to start getting mammorgrams and the other test (forgot what it is called) in 8 years instead of when I am 40. and I do have to start thinking heart healthy becuase my heart maybe affected. If I ever get diabetes or high blood pressure I am suppose to treat those aggressivly. I should start eating right and exercising regularly and keeping my weight in check. This I am very excited about. It gives me a reason to make myself a priority. I have always put the money elsewhere... (should I take a class at the gym.. pilates, or yoga? or maybe a swim class at the rec department?) Yes I am still cheap, so of course I will start small.. but this could be fun! by the way half of this stuff I am just putting here so I can remember it later.

Then I got my picc line pulled out! Serious seperation issues here... that picc line had been though a lot with me and had saved me from passing out more than a few times! It was pretty cool to see them pull it out. All 22 cm of it. We thought it was a lot longer than that!- pics to come of my old friend.

Then I got my CT scan done... We went back to Stanford at 4 and got me all put together in radiation. I laid on this big linear accelerator and they made a pillow that is formed to my head, and then then put this mesh mask over my face and bolted me to the table so I couldn't move, then they gave me three tattoos! yes tattoos!.. ( I kept telling myself that this is not what the Prophet had in mind when he told us not to get tattoos!) they are three little dots, blue, all below my sternum one on each side and one in the middle (you would never know they were there with out me telling you) but I have to say that it was painful and that people are crazy for getting them! They use mine to make sure I am lined up in the machine correctly so the right parts of my body will get the radiation. I am hoping that the worst part of this radiation thing will be the whole bolting me to the table thing because it really sucks. Tyler asked me "so how ya doing?" and I couldn't move!.. couldn't move my mouth to talk, couldn't shake my head or anything. I was stuck to the table!.. yikes.. Oh well, I guess I can handle it for 5-15 minutes for 14 days. (but I will be counting down the days)

So all great news, low doses, only 13 short sessions, no more picc line, and I buzzed my hair!.. it is now 3/4 inches long, all over. It sticks strait up on top.. so hilarious and kinda lays down in the back. It was a very emotional experince but I really do like it a lot better now. (should have done it a while ago- pics to come) anyways... that was my very big day!

"5" things tag

Tagged by Kristi-

5 Things I was doing 5 Years Ago:
-In January 2004 I was in the middle of my sophomore year in college
-Trudging through snow to get to class
-Starting my new job as a lab assistant in Bio 102
-loving newly (5 months) married life
-planning the rest of my life (oh how plans change)

5 Things on my To DO list for Today:
-laundry
-take care of kids
that really is it...

5 Things I would do with a Million Dollars:
-pay off debt ( house, hospital, school... all of it)
-buy Tyler his dream car
-fill college accounts for the kids
-invest so I could live off the interest.. (ha ha)
-build a basement under our house (not possible but still)

5 Places I've Lived:
Pasco, WA
Rexburg, ID
Jerome, ID
Perkins, OK
Cupertino, CA

5 Jobs I've Held:
Nanny/ Babysitter
J.C.Penny Associate
TRAC marketing intern, banquet server, banquet captain, admin assistant, ticket person,
Bio 102 Lab assistant
Mom/Wife

5 Things I Want to be doing in 5 Years:
-Be Cancer free
-having more kids
-loving life
-not moving anywhere (we are always moving)
-going on a 10 year anniversary trip with my hubby

5 People I TAG:
-Gigi
-Nicole
-Tammy
-Saunya
-Jackee

why...

"because you are still my little girl"... that is what that card said when I woke up to a wonderful bouquet of flowers this morning. Tyler reading the card smiled, and said "I know who they are from" after I read the card he continued to joke they were from my "other boy friend". I have had him 24 years now and all he asks for is more grandkids... When I called he said he figured I could use a cheer me up. It worked! (I am sure even Mom is jealous of the lilies) My Dad is the coolest.

New Years Resolutions

So this year I am posting my New years resolutions so they are easier to remember and check up on. I know I had some good ones last year but I can't find them, so they essentially did me no good. But here are what I have come up with and I am sure I will be adding for a while:

1. Get Physically healthy
-eat healthier
-get active
-loose a little weight (not a number, but a feeling)

2. Get Spiritually Healthy
-search, ponder, pray- and take the time to do so

3. Realize, I am not in charge but that I should be in ca-hoots with the one who is. If there is something I have learned it is, That although I am not in charge, Heavenly Father is and he is preparing me what is to come.

4. Spend time and money wiser
-save a little for a rainy day
-time is worth so much more than any THING ever could be

That is all for now.. more to come when I am on less drugs..lol ;)

Jesus wants me for a...

Sun BEAM! That is right.. Kevin came home from his first day of sunbeams today and was singing the whole song!.. he is adorable... I sure hope he sticks to it! I just can't believe that he is that old. He is now part of Primary.. wow... and my little one is just 3 months away from being in nursery! Wow... can you believe that I am just months from being able to go to church to hear something during classes! wow! My boys are growing up!... sad, fun and thought provoking all in one.

Week 7 day two

So this is going to be a busy week I had Chemo yesterday and today.. with some serious nauseousness. Then tomorrow and then next 4 days I come back for nupagen to keep my white cell numbers up. Even with all those shots and bone pain.. my numbers are hovering around 1000. normal people are around 5000 to 10000 when I got down to 300 they canceled chemo all thogether for another week to get my numbers up, if I am around 600- 700 they would decrease the amount of chemo I would get. Where they really want me to be is like 1500, but for some reason my body is being very difficult. But I only have one week left, ( if all goes as planned) Oh and they started weaning me off of my prednisone last week. I get to take 10mg less every time I take it (every other day) So today I get to take a half dose and next wednesday I will take my last dose! Woohoo! No more wanting of all those bad foods! Although most people swell while on prednisone, I think I have swollen more since the weaning began. Anyways, I am just sitting here trying to waste time while they pump me full of anti-nausea drugs. I am to the point where I wish I could vomit.. then I could juse feel better... Right?.. ok maybe not. but I have to say I would take pregnancy nausea over chemo induced nausea anyday (remind me of that in a few years) Atleast I would get a baby out of it! Hope you all had a wonderful new years eve (mine was spent sleeping.. heavenly) and that this New Years brings only happiness, fun and loving moments to you and yours. More to come, my news year resoulutions!..

Pictures

So we dressed the boys up for church today in their outfits we got them for Christmas.. can we say adorable...(biased? yes, do I care? no)


Kevin's might fit for a couple of months but I am not so sure about Cameron's. It is 18 months (he just turned 15 months) and it is already a little tight... oops!
Side note.. Cameron got two more teeth, molars on the bottom.. total:12

Christmas Pictures

Here is a great on of Kevin.

Cameron of course not wanting anything to do with Santa. (Holiday tradition I tell ya)

Our family with Santa.. we have one for every year we have been married... and I love each and every one, screaming kid (or dazed) or not!

And here are the "Santa" gifts. Kevin is in a "Polar express" phase and loves "the black train".. so he got one. And Cameron who is the easiest kid in the world is of course going to love playing with all of his brothers toys way more than anything we get him, but he does love to play with balls, so he got this bug ball thing.

Week number 6

Well, week 5 was horrible, the worst week but now we are onto number 6, so we can stop complaining now. they gave be benadryl so now I am just tired, but thank goodness I have enough energy to sit down to some good grub, Tylers mom asked what we wanted and we are getting it all! Twice baked potatoes, creamed corn, and tri-tip.. yum, yum! Thanks Mom! Good news, they are weaning me off of the prednisone and trying some new antacid, my left finger tips are now tingly and numb... no fun, we will see if I start to drop things becuase of it... other htan that, same old same old!
I do send lots of love this Christmas Eve!... I will take pictures of what Santa is leaving my little one's tonight. We will see how excited those faces will be tomorrow morning as they find what the Grinch was not lucky enough to grab! I am so excited this will probly be the first year Kevin actually gets it and enjoys!

There's no crying in baseball!

Ok, So I have heard some rumors that, people cry as they read my blog... "there is no crying in baseball!" (which movie, which movie?) I do not post so others can cry, I mainly post to document my journey, because, well, I am horrible at real journal writing. But to hear that others feel the need to cry...that just doesn't work for me, no way!... so now that I got that out of the way... No more crying!

I will tell you that this week has been the worst, so far, for something they say it "tollorated well",(cytoxan) it doesn't mix with me. Plus the 4 shots on top of it.. no fun for anyone. 4 hour naps are a very wierd occurance for me... I just wish that I didn't have to be so nauseated to get them :).. life as a Mom right? Husbands, go give your wives a 4 hour nap.. she will love you after-words and might give you a 45 min one later! ;).. It's only fair.

On a lighter note, can you believe it is the 20th of December?.. my jaw dropped as I saw the date on a newspaper in the cancer center... It can't be that close to Christmas! yes, I have shopped, I have wrapped, decorated, sung, but for some reason, I can't believe that it is the 20th!... does anybody else fell like it just isn't time yet? How to make it feel like it is time before time runs out?!? I need snow, a snowman, and a cup of hot chocolate!

Good news and stuff

So to start off, Cameron got two new teeth! for a total of 10. I know last time I reported I said he got number 9.. but apparently that tooth was a figment of my imagination becuase it can't be found. However, he has two huge 1 year molars on top and two very swollen gums on the bottom. If I had to guess he got them within the last 2 days because the fussiness factor has been off the charts and...they are bigger then when I usually notice teeth. They are his new toys, he has his tongue hung out of his mouth or his fingers are in his mouth chewing on them at all times. Cute kid I tell ya.

Then I had week 5 today, the worst week (1 & 5 are the same) for nausea and just generally feeling like crap. They upped my nausea medicine which is nice (I hope it helps). and good news, my PETCT scan showed... nothing!... no hot spots!... a few swollen lymph nodes, scar tissue, but no cancerous metabolic activity! yeah!.. that is good, that is where I should be at this point! So we continue on with 3 more weeks of chemo, two week break, and then three weeks of radiation. Great news!

I have 4 more days of neupagen shots this week to help keep my numbers up. Friday through Monday, and the following Monday I have a pentamadine apt in the pulminary lab... I am allergic to the normal anti-pnemonia drug so I get to go inhale junk from a nebulizer. Good news it is only 10 minutes long! This will be my second and last time. (and they even give you a flavored totsie roll if you are good :)

PETCT scan#2...check

So I just got back from my PETCT... didn't pass out this time.. they used my Picc line.. yeah! by the way, it is so much easier to do it in the morning.. I had to fast all day long...I literally ran for the van to have my wonderful husband waiting for me with Taco Bell and a 1lb box of See's candy... The Taco Bell I was expecting but, the See's was a wonderful surprise! Lets all hope that the Chemo has done such a great job that the cancer is almost hard to see on the scans... what do you think... am I that lucky? Well, good news is, I don't have to change any diapers tonight, bad news kids have to be at arms legnth.. looks like I will be locking myself in my room and enjoying a couple of episodes of Gillmore Girls...

Week 4 and some other randomness..

So week four went great today, I went running from appointment to appointment, and was out in like 4 hours! Chemo was just two drugs this week and they were both push... so that means quick.. I think the thing that takes the longest is getting the dressing changed on my picc line... have to keep that thing sterile... I don't think I will ever look at Saran Wrap the same way... having to use it to take a shower is wierd... but I haven't got my picc line wet yet!.. I did hear today they are scheduling me for another PETCT scan this week or monday to see how small the cancer has gotton.. so that is cool. I am now halfway through my chemo... party!

Here are a couple of pictures of my hair... for your laughing pleasure... it cracks me up. NEVER would I have EVER cut my hair this short but I enjoy 5 minute showers and my hair being dry in no time flat.. these pictures were litterally taken 4 minutes after my shower and it is DRY!! Will I lose it all or not?.. I don't seem to be plugging the shower any more, but maybe there just isn't enough left to plug it... or maybe it is to short.. I guess we will just have to wait to see.
Here are some pictures of those christmas gifts I sent off... I know for all the Jerome people these are nothing new.. but I sure like them.. I got the 6th (6 different colors too!) one done and now I just need to get the 7th done for Christmas morning. They can spell out like 87 different things, plus my mother in law found a new one "Servants of God" and my sister in law says they spelled out their name.. I swear it is like a mind exercise to find out what you can spell.
And here is a picture of my shelf in my room, our own little family Christmas tree set up next to my blocks!.. My own little piece of home!
Other than the picture I put in my header, here are some of our Christmas pictures. Cracks me up how a three year old and a one year old can have so much on their mind while I am trying to get a picture taken.

My day off...

So today was the first day since Tyler got here that I haven't had to go into the Cancer center. The four days of shots were short at least, in and out pretty quick, but those shots sting a little and they make my head ache, as well as my lower jaw bone, bone pain sucks I have decided... lol.(like any pain is good) Any ways, today is my day off and what have I done with it you ask.. nothing. Hung out with the boys, slept in, cuddled with my boys (which I can't get enough of for some reason) Oh another haircut!. Teri, cut it shorter, it is really thin now, but I still don't want to "buzz" it. So I sleep alot these days, but other than that I have gotton 5 of the 7 christmas gifts done. (I will post pictures later) but I am sending off these very cute, inexpensive, homeade gifts to four different states. I hope all my Sister in laws and my mother enjoy them. I know I am enjoying mine. I acutally have to get back to it.. One more to send off tomorrow!

Treatment 3b

So we got up early and had VP-16 this morning, this PiCC line really is great, just hooked me up and got it! woohoo! then Tyler took me out for Quizno's lunch.. wonderful! and I passed out for like 3 hours.... I can't sleep enough! on the bad news thing, the neupagent(sp) shots i need to keep my blood counds up are a 4 day series and becuase insurance won't pay for it at home, i have to go into have it done- 4 days in a row!... thank goodness gas prices have gone down.

Week 3.. A

So I had my first chemo treatment this week.. and it was a VERY LONG DAY! My first appointment was at 8:00 this morning to have my PICC line put in. It is wonderful and so far I love it. She got it in on the first try. It is a catheter on the inside of my bicept and it extends up into a vein above my heart, it is like 5 feet long. The best part is there shoudn't be any more needles, they draw blood and put my chemo in through it so it will save a lot of time! From there we went to the blood draw, very easy, and then we had a while until my doctors appointment so me and Ty headed to the van for a nap, I havn't slept that good in a while. Then I went to see the doctor, saw a new fellow this time, and good news my numbers were much better. I found out that my count last week was 300 (hence, no chemo) and this week I was back to 5000. very good. but I do have to get a shot friday to keep my numbers from dropping to much again. then we went back up for chemo which was adrimycin and vinblastine again (same as week one) and then VP-16 ( a new one) which was a drip. I have to go back tomorrow for another helping of VP-16. Should be a much shorter day though. 10 hours is way to long! Oh, my potassium is low.. I need to eat more, but the rest looks great! Tomorrow will be be treatment 3B. by the way, if this doesn't make any sense, they drugged me, benedryl, I can never think strait on that stuff!

He's Here!

No not Santa... not yet!... Tyler is here with us! Woohoo, we drove over to pick him up at the airport, Kevin feel asleep on the way, but Cameron was awake and gave Tyler the best welcome ever! He grinned and smiled and said "hi". He was just plain adorable. Kevin when he finally woke up said hi Daddy and held his hand the rest of the way home and was very excited to show Daddy his room, and Daddy's room and Cambria's room.. then they played forever wrestling on the floor, I think Kevin really missed that. So we took our pictures, that lasted about 30 seconds, the kids were more interested in the plane flying by and the birdie, birdie, birdie than taking pictures.. Maybe we will try again tomorrow after Chemo.
My hair was still here this moring but then I took a shower and lets just say I have "cancer patient hair"... it is very very thin and I can't move with out strands just falling out. I think if Iwashed it tonight it would all be gone. I have heard people say that it is easier to just buzz it but for some odd reason, I really don't want to do that. They say it is more tramatic this way. Who ar "they" anyways. I think the only trama was when Kevin went to play with my hair today and a whole lot found out on his arm, he had the weirdest look on his face and asked me why it did that... Poor kid.
Tyler is actually combing my hair as I type, he thinks this is funny, watching it fall out like this..lol he says this is too time consuming. Where is the buzzer?...lol. Well we will see how long I takes for me to buzz it or just let it all fall out!

hmm...

Ok so, I am losing my hair.. and it sucks and it funny all wrapped into one. It is a funny feeling because, it is scary to loose that much hair.. you feel like you should be dying if you are loosing that much hair.. well I am not dying but I am loosing a LOT of hair. Number two, (was there a number one?) I wonder, what will I look like without hair, do I have a good shaped head, will it be lopsided or bumpy? Will I have any femininity left? or will I look like a boy? Weird questions, all becuase I clogged the shower drain with my hair. It sure is a good thing I started with a lot of hair other wise I would be bald by now. We will see if I can make it to my goal, Tuesday, I just want to have enough hair to take a family picture for our Christmas card, Tyler gets here Tuesday afternoon and has an online class before he can take pictures... so wish me luck on keeping my hair until tuesday evening! Other wise we are all wearing hats in our picture. :) (now you all want a Christmas card from us don't you!)

I am Thankful for..

My family, all of them, my parents, my in-laws, my brother, my in law siblings. The love an support that they have shown has carried me farther than I ever thought I could go.

My friends, all of them from Idaho and Washington to Oklahoma and back, your words of support have been amazing.

My life, I have been blessed with a great life, good education, strong body, the gospel, and much, much more! **A side note, I am grateful that if I was to have cancer that I got this one, there are others with higher cure rates or easier regiments of chemo or radiation, but there are much worse also.

My kids, they are my reason to keep on keepin on. Their smiles keep my spirit up and their hugs stop the world! Love you guys!

My LOVE, even from 2000 miles away that man can do things no one else can. I love you babe and miss you much.. all I have to say is this better be the longest we are ever apart! (can you promise me that much?)

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and remember to give thanks!

Week 3?... not

So we went in early today becuase I had some (what I call) severe swelling in my right knee, not knowing if it was infection, they wanted to see me before I went in for my pic line. Well it doesn't look like it infected, they don't know why it would be so swollen but when they did my blood they found... issues. My white blood count it to low to do chemo this week, Neutrapenia, it is from my first week of chemo, which I also get weeks 3,5, and 7 so it looks like I will have to give myself shots on those weeks to boost white blood cell production. Me shots?!? So good news, I don't have chemo on Christmas anymore, and I will get to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow! Bad news, I am at a higher risk for infections and chemo will last a week longer. Before we left I went and had a ultrasound of my knee to check for blood clots, none found, but I am supposed to stay off of my knee but not become imobile (i know, funny) anyways, it if funny to be at a learning hospital, my ultrasound was done by a resident learning the ropes of the ultrasound machine.... she was a lot of fun to watch find different veins and arteries...

Cameron's 9th tooth!

Cameron got his 9th tooth, right around yesterday, he has been cranky (for him- he really is one happy kid) and was drooling a lot so of course we suspected a tooth! Woohoo, it is third on the top right! 9 teeth wow!

Have you had your poisen today?

I have! and I passes out to boot!... funny, the lady (Carol) who got it on the first try last week couldn't get a vein after 3 sticks so they called in Cathy, she got it on the first try! But, I passed out while Carol was doing it and honestly it would cut down on time if they could just get a vein, so I am getting a pic line next week. It will be in my arm and hopefully save all of us a lot of hastle, time, and passing out. So far this week no side effects, it should be a good week, I just have to wach for shortness of breath and constipation, oh and the first two days I might have a high fever.. 101 or 102... Anyways, two treatments down, 6 to go.
P.S. Blemycin hurts like crazy when they inject it into your arm for a test shot.. it does not hurt in the IV.. weird.... oh and Vincrisitine sucks...becuase it messes with your nerves, especially my sciatic nerve

Much better!

So what can I report?.. I feel so much better! The nausea has subsided to a degree, I went out and went Christmas shopping for 3 hours today, just me and Cameron!.. (Kevin was at preschool) and I was apparently in the mood to spend! I am so glad I am feeling better! I can play with my kids and I don't have to take naps all day long! Yeah!... My Mom flies in tomorrow and more Chemo on Wednesday so a lot to look forward to!

Negative side effects enclosed

Ok, so I have had a few hard days, vomit, nausea and unbelievable fatigue, no appetite (this is a whole new world for me!- I don't ever remember running from a fresh pot of spaghetti before) my mouth has just started to hurt, and my lips are starting to sting, but really the hardest part is the whole not enjoying my kids thing, it seems like I sleep when they are awake and they sleep when I am awake and really I have only changed one diaper today!... ( don't get me wrong, I don't mind sharing THAT particular duty) but it really is hard that I am not the first person they run to anymore. Other than that, I no longer can watch perscription drug commercials, for some reason they have an odd effect on me, like they bring me back to reality, I am NOT healthy. Funny stuff to start crying at a rumatoid arthritis Rx drug commercial, I wish I could blame it on PMS, but alas, for once, that is not the issue.

**don't get me wrong, I am glad my kids have someone else to run to, but really what good is Mom if she can't fix the "owwee's"

WHAT?!?

So I was look through my Chemo schedule (they have me scheduled until Christmas) The two weeks I have Chemo twice in the same week are week 3 and 7... guess when that happends to be?... Christmas and Thanksgiving! That is right I have Chemo on the day before Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve and Christmas!.. WHAT?!? For some reason this seems like I am being punk'd or something.. well let me tell you something Ashton... I am NOT famous!..
Good news, Tyler informed me tonight that he will be joining me and the boys a couple of weeks early.. He will get to come and STAY the week after thanksgiving.. they are going to let him teach and take his classes on line the last few weeks of the semester!.. woohoo.. even Ashton can't take that away from me!
:)

Just call me pin-cushion!

So today was my first treatment.. I am officially a cancer patient.. :) Day one down and weeks to go. I was there like all day and about to fall asleep at the wheel so I will try to make this quick. Went in had my blood drawn, had lunch while my doctor ran late.. ( apparently is is habitual with her) Went back had my doc apt and then went upstairs for chemo, I got a window set which apparently is the coveted seat.. lol. The first lady couldn't get a vein in my right arm so another lady came back a did one in the other arm, got it on the first try...woohoo! They are trying to talk me into getting a pick line, but I really don't want one. So all in all 4 stabbings occured! hence the pin cusion lead in. They got me doesd up on anti-nusea meds first thing and then proceeded to inject me with a red chemo drug,(my pee is already red) and clear one that cuases numbness in fingers and toes (My left fingers went a little numb while it went in)-"this is the one that will make your hair fall out"..."lovely" then they put me on one that is "tolerated well", which of course gave me a horrible metal taste in my mouth and that was on a drip line so it took an hour.. all in all we got there at 12:30 and didn't leave until 7:30... I am on 6 differnt Rx pills at home and am already greatful for the nausea ones becuase the taste in my mouth alone is makeing me nauseous- think pregnacy nausea. Anyways, I made it through.. didn't pass out (although I think I would have if my feet hadn't been elevated- had the ringing in my ears and the twinkly vison and everything) But I made it and now I just need to sleep (I get to take a sedative nausea pill tonight!)- For Mark who I am sure is trying to guess the drugs I have been describing, the three were, Adriamycin, Velban, Cytoxan
Oh and I found out the plan from here on out: 8 weeks of this. 2 weeks rest, 3 weeks radiation, 5 days a week, and then tests every 3 months for the next 2 years, every 6 months for the 2 years after that and then every year after that. There is the plan stan!

Cute pictures

So 600 pictures dating back to July I thought I would upload some of my favorites:

Cameron being cute.. playing with cards and eating bananas

One of our impromptu trips to Washington- Kevin and Grandpa exploring Grandpa's boat.

Grandma and the boys!

Grandpa and Cameron playing in Washington

Cameron playing in Washington

I got a hair cut!

Yep I got a haircut, below are my before and after. I figured if I was going to loose my hair I might as well take a risk and go shorter and I LOVE IT! ( i havn't had bangs in decades!)I don't want to loose my hair now! What do ya think?