Race for the Cure!

Who gets breast cancer at age 29? That's what I thought when I found a small lump in my right breast. My life was full. I was busy with a 3-year-old little girl and a 2-year-old little boy, and we were starting to think about baby number three. I was busy with marriage, with my one-day-a-week job as a nurse, and with church responsibilities. I was worried about what preschool I should send Jensyn to and if Payton would ever be potty trained. But I wasn't worried about cancer. I was even less concerned after my gynecologist told me the lump was nothing to worry about at my age. "Nothing to worry about" turned into an ultrasound of the lump. The ultrasound turned into a biopsy, and on October 25, 2008, the biopsy turned into a breast-cancer diagnosis. The next few days were excruciating. How far advanced was the cancer? Would I have to have chemo? Radiation? The unknown future was horrifying, and although I believe in life after death and that I will be with my family forever, the thought of a temporary separation from my kids, husband, and family broke my heart. In those first few hours, I did not want my children to be out of my sight, but being close to them was agonizing because it made me wonder what the future held for all of us. This was not affecting just me; I knew it would change all of our lives. In those first few days, I prayed and prayed that someone would tell me that amazing progress had been made with breast cancer treatments and that I could beat this. At my first doctor's appointment, my surgeon told me those exact things--that we had come a long way with breast cancer treatment and that I could fight this; I could do it. Next came surgery, a double mastectomy, and then the final diagnosis of Stage 2 estrogen, progesterone, and Her2Nu-positive breast cancer. In other words, I had an aggressive form of cancer that would require 4 months of chemo (eight doses, each two weeks apart), plus radiation and a full year of of antibody therapy with a drug called Herceptin. With my family, friends, doctors, and neighbors on my side, I braced myself for the pain, the surgeries, the fear, the nausea, and the fatigue. It was the most difficult thing I've ever gone through.Eighteen months later, with chemo, radiation, and Herceptin finally checked off my list—and (cross your fingers) one or two minor reconstructive surgeries to complete—my life is getting back to being busy, full, and blessedly normal. Breast cancer has forever changed my life, surprisingly for the better in many ways. Still, I would not want anyone else to have to go through what I did. And that's why I am running in the Race for the Cure. (Okay, okay, I will probably walk, but give me a break, I just had cancer!) One thing I was amazed to learn through all of this is that just 6 years prior to my diagnosis, Herceptin was not part of standard treatment. And before Herceptin, my specific type of breast cancer had a worse outcome than other forms. So in case you're wondering if the research really makes a difference, I'm proof that it does. If you are interested in donating, so your dollars can help make further advances in breast-cancer treatment to help other women just like me, please go to www.komenslc.org/participant/becky.

Summer Luvin' Had Us A Blast!!!

So I know this is WAY late but that is just the way my life seems to work. We had a lot of fun this summer & I am getting sad to see the warm weather leaving us. In fact I am starting to get a little panicky about being couped up in inside for the next 6 or 7 months. All of you with an almost 3 and almost 4 year old can relate to my anxiety. Anyways... Here is a very brief summary of our summer:
* In June we were able to attend my cousin Chantel & Clay's wedding. It was a lot of fun. It seems like just yesterday I was babysitting her & my little sister & we were playing circus & doing "tricks."

(Does anyone have children that do this? It drives me crazy. I spend forever trying to get a "nice smile" but she always pulls this face when the camara comes out.)

*After Chantel's wedding (the very same day) we packed up the car & headed to St. George to spend some fun-filled days with Jon's family. We stayed in a beautiful home & spent 90% of our time in the pool. This is the first time that I had really taken Jensyn & Payton swimming & they loved it! There was a fairly big drop-off between the hot tub & swimming pool & Payton was lovin jumping off of it. Within an hour of being in the pool, their life jackets were off & they were swimming fairly independently with just their floaties on. The only drawback to this trip was my childrens sleeping schedule. They don't sleep at home I don't know what made me think they would sleep on vacation:)

*Next, was 4th of July. I love the the 4th. Next to Christmas there just isn't anything better. We went to the Riverton Parade & had a family party on the 3rd. Then it was the Riverton Carnival & fireworks on the 4th.

This last picture is of Payton's shaved head. We shaved it on the 4th & on the following Sunday Payton's nursery leader told us his sweetness left with his hair. His hair has now grown back but his sweetness ???

*In July we also got to have a quick get together with my college roommates Amy & Carrie. It is amazing what 10 years can do. There was 7 kids our little get together!

*We also spent a lot of time at Uncle Justin's Pool Parties in July. The water was freezing, but we had fun!

*August started out with Jon & I celebrating our 6th anniversary. Jon suprised me dinner at Olive Garden (our first date) & a stay at Grand America. He also gave me 8 gift cards to some of my favorite places. Not 6 gift cards but 8 because it was 8-8-08. Jon is always super thoughtful, but this time he owed me. He left me alone with the kids for a week while he was on "business" in Florida & didn't get back until 8 PM on our anniversary:)

*We finished off the summer with a weekend vacation with my family to a cabin in Heber. Jon claims it wasn't "camping" & tried to explain that to Jensyn but we saw several deer & were nearly trampled by a moose & her baby. O.k. maybe not "nearly" but for a city girl, my kids got uncomfortably close to a large protective mother moose & her baby. I liked the view from the living room looking out. We went to Swiss Days while we were there & had fun relaxing in the wilderness.

*We also spent a lot of time in our sandbox this summer. Someday Jon will miss the sand in the bottom of the tub & in his sheets (don't ask me how, but the kids always managed to get on our bed shortly after they played in the sand). Life doesn't get much better than playing outside with a 2 & 3 year old.

Happy #6, I Love You!

Just wanted to tell you that I love you! I am grateful for all that you have given me over these past 6 years. In some ways I can't believe it has been six years and in other ways it feels like so much longer (in a good way:)) Marriage & parenting is fun but it is also a lot of work & I wouldn't have wanted to do any of it with anyone but you! Enjoy the pictures of when we were only 2. Ahhh...Remember the days when we were thin & carefree?!?! Times sure have changed but I wouldn't change any of it for all the world!

BACK IN BUSINESS!

After a failed attempt at this blogging thing (I don't think you can consider 2 entries in 2 1/2 months successful) we are going to give it another try! We are having a quiet, but fun summer. I hope to update this in the next few days & post pictures of some of the highlights of the summer! I love reading all of your blogs & hope to keep everyone updated with this one. Wish me luck:) Oh and one last thing--a special thanks to Christy for helping remember my e-mail & password, it really has been a long time since I attempted this!

Thomas The Train

Payton loves trains. At first it started with a fascination with Thomas the Train. Now he just loves trains in general and will play for hours (o.k. so he never would really sit and do something for hours, but he will sit longer with his trains than anything else) with his trains. So...we decided to take the kids to the Heber Valley Railroad for A Day Out with Thomas. Even though in all of the pictures I am either struggling with the kids or Payton is frowning we really did have a great time. The kids loved the train ride and had fun at the other little activites. The only disappointment for Payton was that he did not get to ride in the actual Thomas Engine (see picture above where he is desperately trying to escape my arms to get to Thomas). I think their favorite part was petting and brushing the little minature horses they had there.

(P.S. After an hour and a half of trying to get the pictures and text where I want them to be, I quit...Christy I need your help!)

"Whoo Whoo"

So after months of what my husband calls "stalking" everyone's blogs, I finally decided to start ours. Actually my little sister started this for me, so we will see if I can figure this out on my own!! Can I get a "whoo whoo"(you know when you raise your arms above your head and while pumping your arms you say whoo whoo) for Christy and also for myself for finally starting this. I'm sure no one else cares, but I am pretty excited:)