Catching up on the FUN stuff!

It has been a rough Three (only 3?) weeks but for the most part I have had a wonderful time with family and friends.  In a previous post I added some pictures of the 4th of July which Scott and I spent with Jenni, Lynn, Dyson, Colby and Lennon - at our cabin up Tollgate Canyon.  I also mentioned it was our anniversary and added some pictures of that as well.  I have taken SO many pictures recently that I want to just continue with that post... kindof a Part 2 and add more pictures.

Scott and I took a day away from cancer and didn't think or talk about it AT ALL on July 7th so we could celebrate our FIFTH wedding anniversary.  He booked a room at the Blue Boar Inn in Midway.  We had a wonderful time!  I love him more every day!! 

After dinner we went back to our room and the bed was turned down... lights were low.... romantic music was playing~  Ahhhh

Thursday, July 12th, my lovely friends Rea and Colette met me for lunch in Orem.  We had a nice time visiting though most of the talk was about my diagnosis.  They were both so concerned and showed so much love for me.  What a blessing friends are!

Saturday and Sunday (July 14th and 15th) Randy, Annie, Hank, Max and Sam came to cabin to spend some time with Scott and I.  It was SO nice to have them there!  It was peaceful, calm and just plain perfect!

While the BIG kids were riding the 4 wheelers - Sam took a bath in the sink (which he loved)  ....  who can resist THAT face!

AND spent some quality hugging time with me!!  He was happier than he looks right now!! I love his laugh! 
 

After the 4 wheel rides.. there was some down time for some movie watching!

 

 Sunday, after we got home, we went over to Jenni's house to check out her car and see what it wouldn't start.  Her luck with cars continues....  (Dyson and Lennon in the driveway)

  Wednesday, July 18th, my friends from work: 3 Linda's and a Ruth (Jill and Teri came but not pictured) took me to the movie BRAVE.... very poetic~

 

On Thursday I worked 2 hours  then decided I needed some "me" time before my surgery.  I took some flowers up to the cemetery. I needed my mom and dad.

I then went to Jenni's house to see the kids.

 We decided to paint our toes nails (including Lennon's) TEAL as a statement for the OR staff.  I wanted them to think of me as the 'gal with the Teal toenails' instead of the 'gal whose boobs we took!'

Friday came as much as I didn't want it to.  I needed our last "normal" picture together.  This is as we are leaving for the hospital~ 

 I don't have a picture of my cheerleaders at the hospital but Scott, his brother Bruce, Jenni, Dyson  and Jerry Griffin were in the waiting room... doing just that.... waiting.  The surgery was 5 hours.... whew

On Tuesday, January 24th, Randy, Annie and their kids along with Jenni, Lynn and their kids came for fireworks.  It was a fun few hours.  It's really ODD though when your daughter and daughter-in-law start MOTHERING you.  It was sweet and kind and I know they are worried and want me to get better.  I love them so much for it!!!  But role reversal.... 

I didn't get pictures of the fireworks but they were VERY cool this year.  As you can see - the past few weeks have been amazing and busy and FILLED with a lot of love!!  Next up - Rick, Anna, Rusty, Collette and Owen will be visiting!!!!!  I CAN NOT WAIT!!

New Blog

I've started a "new" blog to document my walk with cancer.  If you would like to read my cancer story, here is the blog:  http://jeriandscott.blogspot.com  If not, I am good with that!!

4th of July, Anniversary and the big "C"

Happy Birthday America!!  I love celebrating the 4th of July and wearing red, white or blue.  I love the patriotic music and fireworks!! This year was a little different.... no fireworks, as Utah is burning into a crispy critter, no patriotic music (as I forgot my CDs) and I wore WHITE... instead of RED. .. whatever!  BUT we had a fun day!!

 Jenni and her family came to the cabin with us the night of July 3rd and stayed until the 6th.  We 4 wheeled around, ate lots of yummy food, watched movies, ate yummy food, played games, ate some more and went to the Oakley Ro DE o!  It was great fun! I especially liked how the peeps kept everything moving so we weren't waiting for things to happen (like some rodeo's I've seen).

Lennon was the most patriotic person!  This is Lennon before the baby contest.

Lennon loved taking a bath in the sink at the cabin! Lots of splashing!!

The Oakley Rodeo...

I was playing with Lennon while Jenni, Lynn and the boys were out on the 4 wheelers.  She is so funny!

July 7 marked 5 years married to Scott!  I love this guy so much!  He thinks what I think - he is empathic and kind to everyone.  He goes out of his way to make everything pleasant. He's a hard worker and is ALWAYS busy.  I feel so grateful and lucky to be with him.  He is the calm during the storms.  He's an amazing man.

Now the crappy stuff.  On Tuesday I received a call from the doctor's office confirming that I have Breast Cancer.  Yep - wow... I finally get my platelets to play nice and look what happens!! Scott and I met with the surgeon on Thursday.  I'm scheduled for surgery on July 20th.  Apparently my "girls" are dense - tissue wise, that is, so the doc ordered an MRI which I had on Friday.  Those results will tell us if there are more tumors making trouble.  Once that result is in, a final decision about surgery will be made.  It appears, at this moment, that I will most likely need chemo and possibly radiation.  So a couple of wigs (maybe a burgundy color?) and some cute scarves (I don't yet know how to wear those) will be in order.  I know my hair isn't the greatest but I quite like it.... WELL - a good friend of mine has a saying "Life is all about how you handle Plan B".   So we (me, my husband and kids) will handle plan B... of course this might be plan C or D for me.. but you get the point!

Life is so precious!  Family and friends are what makes life worth it.  Not the money, the house or the car but love and support.  Nothing meant more to me this past week then my kids asking me daily how I was feeling and telling me that they love me, my grandkids all hugging me and the love and tears in Scott's eyes.  We will be fine.  I will get through this dip in the road of life and we will all learn something important from this experience.  Family is what life is about.  I love you, my family and friends!!

The Marvelous Month of May

May is always a VERY busy month for me.  This year I added TWO trips into my busy May schedule.

We celebrated Annie's birthday on May 1st - then on May 3rd I took off for a national conference in Orlando, Florida.  Unfortunately, I had to miss Jenni's birthday for the trip. 

View of Orlando from my hotel window on the 22nd floor.

My hotel room - it was very nice~

Room service.... a delicious grilled chicken salad and KEY LIME pie!

My Hotel... 23 floors

View from my room at night~

It was a good conference - sadly it transpired over Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.  I had originally hoped Scott could go with me.  But NO WAY was I going to let him play on the  weekend in Orlando while I was in meetings!   We'll get back there together.

After I came home - Max had his pre-school program.  OF COURSE I wanted to be there and cheer him on like I did in previous years for Hank.

Hank and Sam on the blanket before the program~

Max in full costume - as Humpty Dumpty

Max recited his lines perfectly! He was so cute - and his singing and actions were so fun to watch!  I couldn't have smiled more - nice job Max!!

  
THEN on May 24th Scott and I headed to Madison, Wisconsin to celebrate with Owen his FIRST birthday! 

Below are some random pictures of our trip and Owen's party.  Owen is such a sweetheart.  He smiles and laughs 99% of the time.  He is such a happy little guy.  I enjoyed every second with him, Rusty, Collette and Scott. It was a fun visit.  I can't wait until they all come out in August!!

We just arrived~

 Owen loves bath time!

 He thought Scott was funny!

ALMOST walking!

 Birthday morning -

The party boy - on a 30 minute nap - he was awesome!

Eating his "baseball" cake.  It took him a minute to figure it out but he LOVED cake!!

 Opening his mitt from Scott and I

After the party we went to the "Kite Fest".  Below - Rusty is learning how to fly one of the fancy/trick kites.... (his is the one crashing into the ground)

Sunday we went to the "Sassy Dairy".. AWESOME icecream!  Owen preferred the tractor to the animals.

Back at the apartment.  Owen does a nice picture pose for me~

On Monday we went to the "Brat Fest".  Rusty and Owen before we left.

May WAS a marvelous month!!