March Fun

Happy 33rd Birthday Jeff!

Aubrie loves playing soccer and scored 4 goals in her first spring game! She is very competitive and is learning to dribble the ball and pass to her teammates.

 We had the opportunity to go to St. George the last week in March. Ivory homes sent Jeff down to do some training with warranty and we were able to stay in Clark Ivory's condo for the weekend. It was so nice to get out of the snow in South Jordan and enjoy the 60 degree and feel the sunshine on our faces. We went to many of the various parks including the Dinosaur park which was really neat. We also spent time swimming in the pool for hours which felt so nice. I was pretty exhausted and didn't feel like hiking so we found a park that had some petroglyphs to show the girls.

Cancer update March 2019

My most recent CT scan was on March 22nd. I knew something may not be good since I usually get an email from Dr. Werner letting me know the scan was good, but didn't hear anything over the weekend. Monday I got a call from Ester, her nurse practictioner letting me know that there is a new spot on my bowel that is concerning. 

I met with Ester on March 27th to look at the images and discuss what the new plan for treatment is. The doctor was concerned that the other tumors were staying stable with the Ibrance Chemo medicine along with Letrozole but why is the new tumor growing since December?

This older tumor is near my right kidney and measures about the same since December.

This older tumor  is in the right upper quadrant peritoneal nodule measures 1.2 x 1.0 cm previous 1.2 x 1.1 cm in December 

This is the image of the new tumor found this month. This mass is along the anterior surface of the ascending colon is now 2.9 x 3.2 cm compared to 1.8 x 1.8 cm in December (this was originally not seen in December since it was in a loop of bowel. It has changed from a nickle size to quarter size.

I have not had any new symptoms besides a little cramping sensation in my right groin, which I thought was an abdominal muscle pull. I am still unsure if it is anything related to cancer at this time. 

I met a week later with Dr. Zempolich to discuss the possibility of surgery. She suggested that surgery can be done but that it will be a major surgery and my incision will be over my old one and most likely 12 inches long. She reminded me that there are risks with this surgery. The other option could be a biopsy of the new tumor. Dr. Z and Dr. Werner spoke and decided that surgery is the best option. They were worried that a biopsy may not get enough of a sample, especially if the tumor is mixed types. Surgery is set for April 15th at St. Marks. 

I have had numerous blessing, prayers on my behalf, my name has been on the temple prayer rolls and have had many well wishes and love from my family, neighbors, co-workers and patients. I am nervous about surgery but hopeful that since I have been through a big abdominal surgery a few years and now know what medications to take for pain, nausea and bowel management as well as the importance of walking and getting up after surgery. 

I have tried to prepare our home and family for surgery by labeling all the meals while I am in the hospital, making lists to remind Jeff about bills, laundry, feeding the cats and taking care of the kids. I hope he will appreciate all the organizing I have done to help this transition to be better. 

Disneyland Trip Day 5

After taking a break from the parks we were ready to enjoy another day at Disneyland. Brynnley loved getting treats like a churro while Dad and Aubrie rode the big kid rides. 

Aubrie loved riding the tea cups with Brynnley and Dad....I sat that one out since I don't do spinning rides.

Alice in Wonderland was another favorite, especially since the girls could sit next to eachother.

We had a great time as a family eating lots of yummy treats, riding rides and being able to walk right on to the rides since I had a disability pass. This pass allowed us to ride almost everything in the park we wanted and helped me not get too exhausted.  The girls were so sad that we had to go back home and keep asking when we are going again!

Disneyland Trip

Disneyland Trip Day 3 and 4!

We stayed at the Holiday Inn on the opposite side of Disneyland where we usually stay. We were hoping it was walking distance from the parks but we decided it was worth getting a bus pass since we are all worn out at the end of the day. The girls were so excited to continue having fun in California. The Second day we went to California Adventure to play. 

                                                  

Tired Disney girls and Dad

Toy Story ride....my cute girls wearing their 3D glasses

Day 3 of our vacation we had a non-park day. I still wanted to have the kids enjoy seeing characters and get more pictures and set up a Breakfast at California Adventure Hotel.

Getting autographs from Donald Duck

Brynn and Minnie Mouse

Stitch was another favorite of the girls. He doesn't appear in the Disney Parks and was a rare find!

At the breakfast the kids were able to dance with Minnie Mouse and Stitch on the stage.

Of course Brynnley had to have Chocolate ice cream for breakfast!

After having a fun breakfast we decided to go to Huntington Beach to play in the Ocean. When we pulled up to the beach there was a really neat kite festival going on. It was fun to watch the variety of gigantic kites in the wind and some kites even had a competition where they "danced" to a song.

My little water girl Aubrie! She went straight into the cold water and stayed there for hours. She loved splashing in the waves and collecting shells.

Brynnley was not much of a fan of the cold ocean water, but did like playing in the soft sand and playing with shells.

I loved to feel the ocean water touch my feet and feel the warm sand. It was so relaxing to also hear the waves coming in and out.

While we were walking along Huntington Pier, we spotted a seal playing in the water which was fun for the kids to see.