Rocky Racoon

Rocky Racoon

Okay, so McKenzie tagged me to do this fun little itune game. The hardest part of this was thinking of people that I knew that had mp3 players. Most of my friends for some reason do not own a ipod or an mp3 player. I myself do not know how I would live without mine. It has gotten me threw chemo, long car rides, and tuning out my kids when needed. I have to laugh at the answers that my ipod came up with for the questions.

THE RULES!!
1. Put Your iTunes on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. Tag at least 10 friends.
6. Anyone tagged has to do the same, because fun pointlessness spreads like a virus.

THE ANSWERS!!!
If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say?

Only Hope - Mandy Moore "A Walk Remembered"

How would you describe yourself?

Ready, Set, Don't Go! - Billy Ray Cyrus featuring Myle Cyrus "Home at Last"

What do you like in a guy/girl?

Everyday I write The Book- Evlis Castello "The Wedding Singer"

How do you feel today?

Never Enough -Five Finger Death Punch "The Way of The Fist"

What is your life’s purpose?

Herculean- The Good, The Bad and The Queen "The Good, The Bad and The Queen"

What is your motto?

Vindicated- Dashboard Confessional "Dusk and Summer"

What do your friends think of you?

Welcome - Christina Aguilera "Back to Basics"

What do you think of your parents?

It's Not My Time - 3 Doors Down " 3 Doors Down"

What do you think about very often?

Should've Said No - Taylor Swift "Taylor Swift"

What is 2 + 2?

Relax, Take It Easy - Mika " Life in Cartoon Motion"

What do you think of your best friend?

DOA - Foo Fighter " In Your Honor

What do you think of the person you like?

Why Don't We Do It In The Road? - The Beatles "The White Album"

What is your life story?

Rescued - Jack's Mannequin "Everything In Transit"

What do you want to be when you grow up?

The Great Wall of China - Billy Joel " River of Dreams"

What do you think of when you see the person you like?

Cowboy - Kid Rock " Devil Without a Cause"

What will you dance to at your wedding?

Undone- The Sweater Song - Weezer "Weezer"

What will you dance to at your wedding?

All About Soul - Billy Joel "River of Dreams"

What will they play at your funeral?

Breaking the Habit- Linkin Park "Meteora"

What is your hobby/interest?

Clair de Lune - The APM Orchestra "Twilight Original Movie Soundtrack"

What is your biggest fear?

The Right Man - Christina Aguilera "Back to Basics"

What is your biggest secret?

The Reason - Hoobastank " The Reason

What do you think of your friends?

Got Me Going Crazy - Jonas Brothers " A Little Bit Longer"

What will you post this as?

Rocky Racoon - The Beatles "The White Album"

I am Tag:
Chase , Paige , Carson , Tyler , Kathryn , Rebecca T., Jill, Jodi, and anyone else that has an ipod.

[HQ] The Twilight Before Christmas (Parody) / The Juice Box

For those of you who love twilight. This is super funny. It is perfect for Christmas time. Enjoy a good laugh.

Christmas Tag!

Christmas Questionnare-ness

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Got to say Hot Chocolate with whip cream

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa gives the kids one super cool gift not wrapped (Jared's family never wrapped presents so that was our compromise) Where the presents for mom and dad (or the cheap not so cool gifts according to Logan) are wrapped.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? The Christmas tree must have white lights on them. I think it makes the tree sparkle. On the house a mix is cool with me.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? I do not. But I think maybe I should.

5. When do you put up your decorations? I put up my decorations a few days before Thanksgiving so that when our family gets back from our Flagstaff Thanksgiving Everything is ready for Christmas.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? I would have to say my mothers Christmas cookies. Skip the dinner and go straight for the things we have been waiting for all year.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? There are way to many but I do have one as an adult. So, Jared and I decided to make the day of it on his day off. We would walk around the outlet malls here in Anthem and then go to Santa's house for a shot with the Jolly Old man himself. As we entered the building Logan is trying to remember everything that he wanted. Although his list was short he wanted to make sure that the colors and names were right and where Santa might be able to get them if His elves were not able to make them to his exact specifications. Lexi on the other hand is singing a song about Santa and how he says HO HO HO! Everyone thought she was a sweet little angle. LOL!! As we got closer to Santa Lexi turns to Jared and says I need a list. So Jared runs her to a little table to jot down the two things that she wants from Santa. As we get closer to it being our turn Lexi decides that Pictures with Santa are not such a good idea. Santa was very sweet and talked to Logan as it got time for Lexi , the camera people were on their toes ready for the shot. AND BOY DID WE GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is what is being said as this wonderful picture is taken Rolling his eyes he say she is always like this. Santa tells Lexi "OH it is not so bad." Lexi just sits and frown at the lady with the rubber reindeer that she keeps squeezing hoping to get the winning smile.


8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I was about 10 I was over at a friends house and she told me. I was so upset. I would not talk to her for a week.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We open gifts on Jared's side on Christmas eve or a week before so the entire family is there. On my side we open our gifts from our brother and sister.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? I put on my jingle bell garland (Christmas tree alarm system) followed by the big bunches of bells that match. then I try to put on like ornaments so that none of them are too close together. Last is the tree topper.

11. What is another favorite Christmas tradition memory? Every year we get together as a family on my side for Christmas eve. Every year has a theme and an ornament. One Year we did a cowboy Christmas. I thought I would pee my pants watching my mom on a stick horse running for her life to help win the relay race.

12. Can you ice skate? I can.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? It was a baby doll that I got when I was little. She had black hair and blue eyes that opened and shut.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being together with family. I love it more than anything.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? My mothers Christmas cookies all of them... well not all of them I hate hermits ( a German fruit cake cookie).

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Getting my kids pictures taken with Santa.

17. What tops your tree? A big red metal heart

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving!! I love to pick the perfect gift and then wrap it up really pretty. And watching the person then get all excited as they open it. Super cool in my book.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Carol of the bells. But I do love I'm getting nothing for Christmas by Relient K too funny.

20. Candy Canes? I like them. Just do not want so many that I feel like I am going to smell like peppermint for the next year.

21. Do you feel Christmas is too commercialized? Yes, but now a days what holiday isn't.

I'm tagging Kayla and Christine.

Christmas Cards

So, here is our Christmas Card that we went out this year. I usally have a family photo on the front but this year went with the kids photo. The reasons for this are :

1: The kids photo is so cute this year. I think this is the best one that I have ever gotten of them.

2: The family photo although okay. I did not care for because I look sleepy and like I am wearing a wig.

The inside of the card says:

A Christmas Hello and a little wish too, to let you know We're thinking of you! Happy Holidays!

Jolly Old Saint Nick

So today we took Logan and Lexi to see Santa. Logan could not wait to tell him his wish list. Logan is hoping to get a wii and a Lego train. Lexi was not sure what she wants. She says she would like some Barbie stuff and a wii as well.

A Flagstaff Thanksgiving

Every Year for Thanksgiving we go up to Flagstaff, Arizona and stay at the Little America. We have such a BLAST up there. We celebrate Lexi's birthday on Wed., then I take family pictures before we go to the best Buffet in Arizona on Thanksgiving and on Saturday we go to the Lighting ceremony at the hotel.

Here are the pictures from are super fun weekend.

That was our Fun Thanksgiving. I hope that everyone of you also had a Fun and relaxing Thanksgiving too.

Twilight Arizona Premiere

So, tonight Jared, Logan and I went to the Arizona Premiere of "Twilight". The Premiere was a way for Stephenie Meyer to enjoy the release of her movie with Family and Friends. How you might be asking do we know Stephenie. Well, Jared has know Stephenie's Family and Poncho's (Stephenie's Husband) Family for forever. I went to school with one of Stephenie's brothers. He actually went on my first date with Jared. We all went ice skating. Plus, I knew one of Stephenie's sisters and While I dated Jared I got to know Poncho's family. They were in Jared's parents ward. Plus, Logan is friends with Seth, one of Stephenie's sons.

So, here were my dates for the evening. Don't they look so handsome. Logan was very excited to go see the movie. He also thought that it was very cool that he got to go and Lexi had to stay at Grandma Smart's house.

When we got to the Movie theater we went and got in a line. We saw Paul (Stephenie's Brother) there with his wife and other people that we have known for awhile were there as well as many people that we did not know. We were lead into the theater in group as we got to the theater where the movie was to be played we were asked to show our tickets and then each person was given a gift card to purchase popcorn and drinks. As we were lead in we were able to stop and say hello to Stephenie and Poncho. Jared and I thanked her for the invite we got our picture taken with them.

The movie was great!! It was not word for word the book but the feelings and the outline were pretty close to the book. Everyone cheered when the title for the movie came on and when we saw Stephenie's cameo in the movie. And of course we all cheered at the end. Logan enjoyed the movie until the end. Then he got a bit scared. I will not say what frightened him, because I know that some people have not read the book yet.As we were leaving the theater we were told that we could each get a poster from the movie. This is one of the two posters that we received, the other is the image from above.

The night was GREAT!! It was really neat to see everyone dressed up and there to help the Meyers celebrate this neat event.

My Little Cheerleader

So, this year Lexi wanted to try her hand at Cheerleading. Young Champions of America has a program that they do once a week at the local schools. We signed Lexi up and she is really enjoying herself. They had Cheer Pictures this week and here is a picture of her with her pom poms.
The cheer that Lexi likes that they say the most goes like this:

Peaches and Cream

Peaches and Cream

What's the Matter with the other team?

Nothing at All!

Nothing at All!

They just can't play Football!

Looking at this little lady reminds me that my baby is not a baby but is growning up really fast.

BIG POST!!!!

Okay so this is going to be a really long post. I have a lot to talk about. There are fun things that have happened and things to be thankful for. First, a week before Halloween Paige and her friend Carson held the annual Hansen Halloween Party. It was held at Terry's house. The girls did a great job and the kids seemed to think it was a blast.

Paige had set up all kinds of games. Like how much candy in the jar and what dead body parts do you feel and how fast can you wrap a mummy. Greg and Jen's family came along with the Dukes, Dale ands Lisa with their two cute girls, Chase's friend, Paige's Boyfriend and his family and then Grandma and Grandpa.

Lexi loved hanging out with all of the teenagers. I am telling you I think she thinks that she is going on fifteen instead of five.

Lexi, Cole and Logan dressed up to scare people as they were coming inside. They thought this would be a lot of fun.

Then as usual we carved pumpkins. and let me tell you there were a lot of pumpkins to carve. Logan this year was really into carving. It was neat seeing him so excited.

Lexi want a Cinderella pumpkin while Logan started out wanting Sponge Bob but went with carve your own face.

This year Lexi wanted to be Sleeping Beauty for Halloween. I asked what she might want to be back in September. And she never changed her mind. She was a little sad that I would not buy her a real sleeping beauty wig. I made her wear her Hannah Montana Wig telling her no one would know.

Logan came up with his own costume idea. He wanted to be a Shamu trainer. I thought that sounded cool. So I found a wet suit on clearance for five dollars went on to the Shamu website and bought the Believe necklace that the trainer are wearing during the show and he carried around Lexi's stuffed Shamu.

As the kids went around the neighborhood people thought that Logan's costume was very neat and that Lexi looked just like a Disney Princesses. I have to say when they came home I have never seen so much candy. It filled a Fry's reusable grocery bag.

I can not believe that I am saying this but I am done with Chemo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On November the Third I got my last infusion of chemo. Although I hate the pain that follows a treatment. I left Mayo on that day feeling great!! I can not believe that I finished all eight treatments.

On Wed. the Fifth I went back to the Mayo to talk to the surgical oncologist. But before I visited with him they ran a mammogram and a diagnostic mammogram. Guess what they found when they looked at my film. NOTHING!!!!!!!! There was no tumor. They could not find it. The Chemo worked it dissolved my tumor completely. I can describe how excited this new made me feel. I have one last step in my treatment and then I am done. I have to go in and have surgery. I will keep everyone posted on what date that will happen. So there is the news. that is what is happening.

The End is Just Around the Corner

On Monday I had my Seventh Treatment. There is just one more left. I am so excited that I can not stand it. As far as treatments go it was not that bad. Now I just have one more and I am done. I can not say that it is easy. Because the pain from the chemo that I get can suck big time but soon I will be done.
We went to the ward turnk or treat. That was fun. I was in a wheelchair because right after chemo I can hardly walk. But it was nice to see my ward family.

Twilight Trailer Spoof

I stumbled across this Spoof Trailer. These guys are so funny. They also have a Dark Knight trailer that is pretty funny as well.

Oct. 6th the sixth treatment of Chemo!

So, today was my sixth chemo treatment. I can not believe that I only have one more month and then I am done with Chemo. (HAPPY DANCE!!)

As you go through chemo you find the nurses that you like and enjoy working with and the ones that you would rather not. Today I found out that my favorite nurse Charles (he is a traveling nurse) is leaving and his last day is going to be on the 17th. I was so sad. He is a very funny guy, but I am sure that he and his wife are going to love Seattle and the chemo patients are going to love him up there.

Any who, I have two more chemo treatments and then I have surgery four to six weeks later. Right now I am trying to decided what kids of surgery I want. I know that I do not want a Lumpectomy because that would mean that I will have six to eight weeks of radiation every single day but Saturday and Sunday, after they take out 3.2cm or more of breast tissue out of my left breast. And when I am done lets just say my left breast will feel and look like a dried up wrinkled prune and be a lot smaller than my right. So then I will need another surgery to fix the left Breast and even then they can not promise that it will feel the same or look the same. So, I don't think so. That is so not for me.
So what you might be wondering am I going to do. Well, I am leaning on choosing a mastectomy or a bi lateral mastectomy. Either way the surgery that I am going to do is using my own tissue.
"The deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap procedure is another option for women who would like a breast mound present immediately after reconstructive surgery. This procedure has several benefits — a faster recovery period than traditional TRAM flap surgery, no loss of abdominal muscle tone and the "effect" of a tummy tuck because excess tissue is removed from the abdomen to reconstruct the breast. " - quote on the type of procedure that I am going to do from Mayo Clinic. It means a 10-16 hour surgery and 7 days in the hospital. Two in ICU and five in a regular room.

After the six to eight weeks of healing time I am done. I will just have to do regular check up every six months to see if the cancer has come back for the next five years. I will also have to do hormone therapy which is taking one pill everyday for the next five years, and if the study proves that it is better to take it for ten I might be taking this pill until I am 41. WOW!!

So there you have it November 3rd is the last day of chemo. Still can not wait.
I love you all!!

School Photos

Well, it was school year photos once again. Logan wanted to make sure that his hair was just so. He is growing up so fast. Lexi wanted to make sure that everyone knew that the picture was of her.

So this is Logan's third grade photo. I think he looks very handsome. I asked him what he thought. He said, " Well, the girl's in my class said that it was the nicest smile in the class. So, I guess it is good."

When Lexi brought home her pictures she was so excited that she could not stand it. When I started to cut them up to hand out to family Lexi got all upset. "Hey, those are mine." I told her that I was giving them to family and that seemed to make her happy. If you look at the picture Lexi is wearing her A necklace. A for Alexis. She said that none of the other girls had that and so everyone would know that she was Alexis. I had to laugh. She is just getting so big and to smart.

My Fifth treatment!!

Before my fifth treatment I received a call from my genetic doctor. Her name is Katherine Hunt. She informed me that at this point in time my cancer is not genetic. Which is really good news. I was so worried for the rest of my family what the news would mean. I guess I just got the luck of the draw. I have to laugh because I guess you could if I did not have bad lucky I would not have any luck at all. But all is good. I know that Lexi is safe as well as Logan and my Nieces and Nephews.

So, my fifth treatment was yesterday. Before I went into treatment I was scared out of my mind. I was worried that I might have an allergic reaction to this type of chemo. Plus, there was a chance that I could go into anaphylactic shock. And like I said before if I did not have bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all. So, I was worried that I would be that one part of the group of people that does that. But everything went off with out a hitch. I went into the Mayo at 8:45 am and left at 5:30pm. I felt drained but really up beat when I left. By 10:00pm I was bouncing off the walls which is weird. They told me it was probable going to happen because of all the premeds that they gave me. So, I did not finally fall asleep until about 4:00am and woke up at 8:30am. Awake but a little tired nothing unmanageable.

Now, I am trying to get ready for Halloween and Christmas. I know Christmas is two months away but I am afraid of what the next step in my treatment might bring. I might have surgery before Christmas. If that is the case then Christmas might not happen for our family. So, I am starting now. Plus, I am in charge of the Christmas Eve party for the my side of family. They told me that I could do next year but you know I am looking forward to putting this Christmas Eve party and would not give it up for anything.

So, that is what we are up to. By the way, my sixth chemo treatment is on October the 6th. Funny huh!!!
Anyway love you all!!!!!

WE ARE HALF WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can not believe that I am able to state that I am finally half way through my treatment but I am. I can not tell you the relief that I feel that I am almost done with this treatment. There are a lot of positives to consider.

1. This is the last time I am going to half to watch them hand pump in my chemo.

2. I will no longer need to get the extra shot to keep my white blood cells up. ( I can honestly say I do not care for this shot.)

3. I AM HALF WAY! only four more to go.

4. I was scared that I was going to be flat on my back by now and so far I am still able to get around not to say that I love to take a nap. I find that I am more tired than I ever have been.

5. And although I do not care if I am Bald, I only have to be bald for just a few more months then the hair will start to grow back.

6. Plus, I have a GREAT ward, friends and a wonderful family that has helped my through this in ways that I can not even express. They are what help me get through each day. Their words of encouragement keep me smiling and help me to know that I can make it through this with a smile on my face and a bounce in my step.

To those of you have read this little blog and have stood by me as I have set out on this journey I say to you thank you. It is because of you that I am where I am right now. You are wonderful!!

Saying good bye!

About two and a half years ago we welcomed Tali into our home. She is a sweet dog that loves to bark and swim and run and run and run around the house. When I was told that I had cancer she was a bit of a comfort to me. Licking my hand and trying to be a good girl. When I was told that I should not be around outside dogs because of their poop and what not. I was sad. I did not know what was going to happen to Tali. My sister was great she offered to take Tali while I was going to go through treatment.

Now, I will be the first to admit, I think I tried to make the family fit the dog and not the dog fit the family. With Tali out of the house the kids were calmer the house seemed more pleasant, and I have to admit it was a nice change. Still, the idea that Tali was not coming back had not crossed my mind.

About a week ago, my sister called me and told me that her trainer Joe , a very nice lady, knew a guy that wanted Tali. Now, I have to say at first I was shocked. I knew the man I had met him briefly at a few PWD shows and water trails. He was a very nice man. He bought a dog named Cody from a breeder that I was going to get a puppy from but decided to wait a few more months. Cody and most of his litter mates have died from varies disease most of them being cancer. To say that Brett and his family was devastated by their loss. I had to feel bad for them. Losing a pet that you love is hard.

I guess I should say that I knew that taking Tali was hard on my sister. Nemo her PWD loved the companion, Curt did not like the new pet. I do not blame him. Tali can be difficult.

So, I started to pray about what I should do. My parents offered that when I get better that they would help me get a new dog. Buy it for me if they had to. They told me that I needed to find a more clam breed one that like just sitting in a persons lap for hours at end. I have to say I think that they were right. I mean I loved Tali but she was never really into just being still. Plus she was so energetic that it would get the kids going even Logan. And Logan does not need help getting going. I mean with his ADHD, he is always ready to go and full of energy.

I also had some pretty strong feelings that Tali needed to go and be with this family. She was meant to be with this family. I know it sounds weird. But I know I was only meant to have her in our family to help this man and his family with being able to get her.

On Sunday, all of my feelings were confirmed. The family came to see Tali and it was love at first sight. For her as well as them. I can not tell you the joy that I feel knowing that she is where she needs to be. Sure, I will miss her. But she is where she finally belongs.

Round Three

Well, on Monday I had round three of chemo. It was not the best day of my life. When I started chemo I had a port put in. For the last few times they have had a hard time getting blood from my port. This time they got no blood. so they had to stick me in my arms.
I can not tell you the fear that I felt as I thought of having to go and get a new port put in. But on Wed. I went to have it tested and the meds that they had put in my port got it working again. so maybe on time number four I will only have to get one needle in me.

First Day of School

Okay, so the first day of school was last week. But I thought that everyone would like to see the cute pictures of my kids that Jared took.

Logan is now in the third grade. I can hardly believe that he is old enough to learn multiplication and how to write in cursive. As you can tell by his alone picture he is anything but excited to start school. When I talked to him after his first day I asked him how school was he said,"It was school. Okay I guess." WOW!!! He is getting older.

Lexi is starting Kindergarden. I can not believe the day has finally come. We are so excited for her and as you can tell she is pretty excited for herself. When I asked her how her day was she said,"GREAT!!!" And then went into a play by play of what happened on her first day of school that lasted for about a good thirty to forty minutes.

Because of being sick there is this super nice mom that has been taking Lexi to school and bringing her home everyday, because her son goes to Lexi's school as well. On the first day as Lexi was getting out of their car and walking in the gates the office lady greeted Lexi and asked if the boy next to her was her brother. Her reply was, " NO, HE IS NOT MY BROTHER! And my Dad forgot my plant you got an extra one?!" We only later that day found out that she said this as Jared took her plant to school and the same lady started to laugh as Jared told her who the plant was for.

So that is how the kids did and what they wore to their first day of school for this year!!!

HAIR?!?!

Well, I guess it was only a matter of time really until the day came that my hair would fall out. I can not say that I am surprised. I will admit that I cried a little. It started the other night. I was laying in bed when all of a sudden my head started to hurt. Hurt does not really describe what it felt like it was more of a burn. Anyway I got up and ran my fingers threw my hair and out came clumps of hair. Once again I was sad but knew it was coming. It had already sort of started that morning. So, I guess I should have know that it would only be a matter of days for it to really start coming out.
By the time I could not stay awake for another second I had a garbage can full of my hair. When I go up the next morning I told Jared and my parents I wanted to go to super cuts to get my head shaved.
I can not help but to smile every time I think of the boy that thought he was watching the coolest thing ever. And then asked his mom if they could shave her head.
So now I wear hats, scarves and wigs and am waiting for the rest of the hair to come out. I guess I should say stubble. but it is what it is.
And as I wait for the chemo to be over I am still smiling!!!

Fun with the cousins!!!

When we decided to have Logan's baptism after Chase got home from his mission. We knew it would be great to have it with as many of Jared's family as posible. We were really lucky that everyone was able to come but Blair's family.

This is Logan with his cousin Hunter. Hunter is the son of Craig and Christine. They live in Nevada.

Here is Jared, Brit and Logan with the Bishop of the Anthem Ward. He is the GREATEST!!!!!! Our family just loves him and his beautiful wife.

Jared and I could not have been happier for Logan. Although I was tired after having just had surgery and getting ready for my first round of Chemo it was nice to have something to celebrate.

Alanna, Lexi and Brandon at Grandma Smart's house. They were having a blast playing together.

Here are all of the Smart grandkids. Well almost all of them. Stephanie is pregant with number four. But this is all of them for the time being.

Brandon, Lexi, and Amanda swimming with Stephanie. They had a blast swimming from the steps of the pool into her arms.

I Belong....

Logan was baptized today. I was so proud of him. Chase spoke on Baptism and did a wonderful job. He gave an example of a paper boy and that before the boy was baptized the boy was able to be tempted and so he could get burned by the flame or temptation in this case. after the boy was baptized he was new again and was not easily tempted so the flame did not harm him. The kids loved watching him talk about it. Terry spoke about the conformation and her talk was sweet and the kids loved it. She had a beautiful wrapped boxed with different things in it to give to Logan. the Kids all squealed when the walkie talkie spoke back to Logan. Jared baptized and confermed Logan. He was all smiles. It was wonderful to see him follow the teaching of the church . This was a special day to me. I could not help but think back to my baptisim and smile. I am sure that Lexi's will be just as nice and hers will be in just three years. That is a scary thought.

A Week that is FULL!

I can not wait for Thursday. Logan is going to be baptized on Thursday. I am so excited for him. What a neat treat. I remember getting baptized and how neat I thought it was. When I have some pictures I will post them of that. Jared is going to be baptizing Logan and Jennifer and McKenzie are going to be singing. Chase and Terry are going to give talks. I think it will be so nice for Logan plus how many kids get so say that they were baptized on Pioneer Day.
Then on Friday I will start chemo. So, only time will tell how that works out. But I do know that my last day of it will be on Halloween. So, that is cool to think about. Plus, that means I should be all done by the first of the year which is what I am looking forward to. What is it that people say, a new year a new start? Well, I am excited for that. I now know that the trials that we receive while we are here on the earth are not only given to us to help us to grown as a person but can prepare us for new obstacles that might come our way.
Anyway hugs to all of you.
Brit

New Doctor News

Yesterday, Jared and I went to go see the doctors to decided what was the best course of action to take. We had already had our minds made up about what we were going to do. And then after talk with the wonderful doctors there we have decided to do chemo first, then we will be doing genetic testing while I am doing that for the next 16 weeks, and then we will do surgery.
We feel really good about the decision.
After being at the Mayo for about 3 hours we went to go have a birthday party with the family. It was a blast. we went to sweet tomatoes and the went bowling.

How everything can change with one word.

On July the 7th I went in for my yearly exam with my doctor. After the exam was over. the doctor started to tell me that she was going to do a breast exam on me. Something that I try to do once a month or once every other month. About half way the doctor looks at me and asks if I knew I had a lump on my left breast. I honestly did not know what to say to her.
From there it was a mad search trying to find out if I could get into to get a mammogram. Something I thought I would not have to endure until I was at least 40. But there I was the next day July the 8th. I was standing in front of the machine and then place in an ultrasound room from there and then back into another room where they then did a Biopsy of my left breast. After about two days of no sleep and worry. I got a call telling my that I had Infiltrating ductile cancer Grade 3.
All I could think was WOW!!!!
For that word caner could change my life so fast.
So Here I am at the beginning of my journey. Scared but optimistic. I feel calm that the outcome will be good. But scared out of my mind, like the guy in the scream painting.
I will trying to keep everyone posted.
Brit

Fun time in San Diego!!!!

After driving for six hours. We arrived in San Diego. After checking into the hotel we took the kids swimming in the pool and then got ready for Dinner. We decided to eat in Old Town San Diego. Greg, Jennifer, Tyler, Blake and Carter met us there. We ate a neat Mexican restaurant.

Here is Kent, Barbara, and Margret. They were hanging out while we waited for a table.

After dinner we walked around the shops near the restaurant. Tyler found a Nacho Libre mask. He had to get it. It was so funny to see him posing as Nacho.

Our first full day in San Diego was spent in Sea World. Everyone was enjoying the time that we spent there. There was a new area and it was the Sesame Street area and movie. Lexi thought that area was great.

She loved that area almost as much as she loves the two different Shamu shows.

We all enjoyed the the Dolphin show.

The rides at Sea World are fun. Jared and Madison and Maggie rode on all the rides. and Enjoyed getting wet.

Here is Jared, Maggie and Madison on the Journey to Atlantis ride. The girls loved it and they got really wet.

Lexi loved every stuffed animal that she saw. Even the Penguins. She wanted to hug every stuffed animal that she saw.

Here are Logan and Lexi in front of the Penguin enclosure.

The kids loved the star fish. they thought it was so neat to hold them. I think that we went to the enclosure about four times while we were there. The next day we went to Legoland and the kids thought it was neat to see everything built with Legos.

Here is Jared and his Officer Lego twin.

Logan wanted to get his picture taken with the Bionicle statue. He thought they were really neat.

This ride was like a really fast merry go round on water. Jared and Maggie rode together. As you can see Jared was having a blast.

Lexi and Madison rode together. Lexi though the ride was neat.

As we were walking around Logan found a Thomas the Tank Engine statue. We had to get a picture of it.

Here is Maggie, Madison, Lexi and Jared on the Beetle Bounce. Lexi was so sure that she wanted to go on this ride. I asked her about four times if she was sure that she wanted to do it. As I took this picture I asked her one last time was she sure. She said yes.

As you can see she did not like the ride very much. In fact I would say she hated it.

Chase came HOME!!!!!

Logan, Lexi, Paige and Cole made signs as we waited for Chase to get off of the plane. The could not wait to see him.


Here they are waiting for him to get off the plane.

Here is Chase and Logan. Logan and lexi were so exctied to see him. Lexi kept looking at him to make sure that he was really there and was not going to get back on a plane.

We all were glad to see Chase. He is just a sweet and happy as he was before his mission and now he can say he servied his mission and Returned with Honor.