January 2018

Brynnley had her very first dance recital with Synergy Dance in January. She has been taking lessons through a dance company that comes to the daycare once a week. She is the youngest in her class at age 2! She has been telling me and showing me how to do a sha sey, plie, and turns. She made everyone laugh when she went on stage...she just stood there while all the girls danced....at least she didn't cry!

                                            

  

The girls were ready for church in their cute matching outfits and thought they were so cute in their sunglasses!

Brynnley loves her puppy dogs!

                                        

Grandma Susie took the girls to South Towne Mall to ride the animals around the mall. The girls laughed the entire time and had fun ordering Mrs Fields cookies on their animals.

Grandma and Grandpa Evans took the girls to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point.

January 2018 Cancer Update

Since my last post 6 months ago, I have been trying to live my life in my "new normal" state. Life since being diagnosed with cancer has definitely been a rollercoaster and has made me learn to appreciate each day and the little joys in life. I am still fighting end stage Ovarian Cancer daily with every last bit of energy I have. 
My last CT scan a few weeks ago showed that I continue to have 4 tumors in my abdomen and pelvis. The wonderful news is that the scan shows that the tumors have decreased in size by 0.2 cm.....it's not a lot but any decrease in size is a miracle! My Oncologist was not sure how effective the chemotherapy I am on would be since I am one of the first people at Huntsman Cancer Hospital to take it for Ovarian Cancer. It is so crazy to me to think that this medication I am taking daily to prolong my life was only approved by the FDA a few years ago! Even though the medication is not approved for my type of cancer, I am so blessed that the drug manufacturer was willing to help me get financial assistance at this time instead of having to pay $16, 000 for 21 pills every month! I know that so many things are being developed to help to help cure cancer and I hope that I can continue to respond positively to this medication!
I will continue to take my chemotherapy pill and estrogen blocking medication daily for the next 3 months and have another CT scan. I also started on a new medication/injection that will help to keep my bones strong. I was diagnosed last year with osteopenia (the start of osteoporosis) which is from the chemo medication I take. The medication blocks my body from making estrogen which normally helps to strengthen your bones and places me at higher risk for bone fractures. In addition to this injection and the knowledge I have in health care, I have been focusing on weight lifting and impact exercising to keep my bones strong along with Vitamin D and Calcium supplements. I have been told to avoid drinking milk because of the estrogen and hormones that is in our milk which would feed my cancer. 
I have continued to be strict with my nutrition and eating clean and organic food along with drinking lots of alkaline water. (Cancer loves acidic environments, which most of our tap water is). I take quite a few supplements and recently found out that Ginger Root directly kills ovarian cancer cells! I also have been using a machine called a Rife Machine for 2 hours every other day. The purpose behind this machine is to use certain frequencies( via a special light) to break up cancer cells through vibration. I know it sounds kind of crazy, but I figure it can't hurt and since I have been using this machine, the size of my tumors have become smaller! 
I am still dealing with the side effects of the medication....exhaustion and joint pain, but am pleased that I haven't lost any hair! (My doctor told me that a side effect is hair loss which I was dreading going through again). In fact, my hair is finally shoulder length and very strong! I have also been working full time still and focusing on becoming certified in hand therapy. I love spending time with my cute little girls who keep me on my toes! 
Thank you to everyone who has been there to support me since my diagnoses and through all the ups and downs I have experienced. Your love and prayers are appreciated for continued health!

Happy New Year 2018!

We celebrated New Years Eve by staying up until midnight and taught the kids some of my family's traditions that I loved as a kid. We pulled out the horns and pots and pans to bang on outside as well as lit off a few fireworks in the street. We talked to the kids about making goals for the new year and toasted with bubbly drinks. Brynnly was excited and kept saying in her cute tiny voice...happy new year!

The goals for 2018 include: 

- Aubrie: Go to Kindergarten

- Brynnley: Get potty trained

- Mom: Stay healthy 

- Dad: Loose weight