G-R-R-R-reat News!

Yesterday was a busy day.  We started the day with a doctor's appointment with my Oncologist.  Thanks to my good friend Sarah for coming over and hanging with the kiddos.  About a week and a half ago I had a CT Scan done and it was time to get the results.  Dr. Cen came in and read us the radiologist's report.  The report wasn't that great.  The radiologist reported that there was a slight change.  So, Dr. Cen said, "Let's look and see."  We looked and guess what?  There wasn't a slight change, there was a GREAT change.  He said that the radiologist isn't an oncologist and they tend to err on the side of caution and since it is still wide spread they probably didn't want to say too much.  We looked at my liver and before I had more cancer than liver.  Now I have more liver than cancer!  YAY!!!!!  I am super excited.  There is still a lot of cancer, but the tumors are shrinking.  It was great to see that.  I also asked if we could have 4 weeks, not 3, between this week's chemo and the next round of chemo because we were going with my family to the beach for a weekend in August.  He said that I must want more energy and he thought that it would be fine.  YAY!  Another victory for me!!!

After we saw the doctor we went home.  Then my wonderful sister, Jenny, and her kids came down from Woodland and hung out with my kids so that David and I could go back to Kaiser and get my port put in.  That was a scary procedure.  They put in a port so that the nurses wouldn't have to do I.V.s anymore.  It is a little thing that they put under my skin above my right breast that has a catheter that goes directly into the upper chamber of my heart.  The nurses have a special needle that they just plug into the port and it directly puts the drugs into my bloodstream.  It is a neat little contraption, but it was scary for me to get it put in.  I was awake for the procedure and would have preferred it if they would have knocked me out!  But - I made it through.  And now I have a port so they don't have to poke me again while in search of a good vein.

I also got to speak with a doctor from the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City.  The doctor, John Ward, said that he was sorry about my cancer, but that they would be doing the exact same thing that Kaiser is doing.  That was good for me to hear.  I am glad that they came to the same conclusion.  It was nice to have someone else concur.

We came home from Kaiser and had a good visit with Jenny and her way cute kiddos and then we had the world's greatest pizza for dinner (thanks Carrie).  Round Table Pizza's Maui Zaui with Polynesian Sauce minus the red onions is the best there is!!  YUMMY!!  I LOVE that pizza!!  It was so good that I ate 3 pieces.  David was shocked and very pleased that I was eating!  I went to bed after Family Home Evening and was asleep before 8 o'clock.

It was a busy and great day.  I am so happy that the cancer is getting it's butt kicked!  I am so grateful that I have the port now.  I am lucky to have such great family and friends that are always so willing to help out with kids and dinners.  I am blessed to have good doctors and live in a time when things have been discovered and invented for my well being.  Things are good.  Life is great!!  And I am happy to be living!!!!!!!

Last week's adventures....

We left around 7 am on Monday morning for Yosemite. It is a little under 200 miles, 187 to be exact, to Yosemite to our front door. The kids were excited and the van started out running great. As we approached Yosemite...it was the beginning of the end. We got about 30 minutes out of the park entrance when the "Check Engine" light came on. We stopped, checked fluids and everything seemed okay, so we continued on. About 15 minutes later the light started flashing - not a good sign. We pulled over, had no cell phone service and wondered what to do. We said a prayer and felt like it was okay to continue, just at a slower pace. The light wasn't blinking anymore and within 10 - 15 minutes we arrived at the entrance to the park. David spoke with the ranger and she said that there was a mechanic shop in Yosemite Village. So, we decided to continue on. We made it to the campsite and were very relieved! The kids got their swimsuits on and headed over to the beach with Grandma and their Aunts and Cousins while all the boys helped David put up the tent. We unloaded the car and spent the rest of the day visiting with the family. David went over to the mechanic shop and talked with them and they agreed to look at the car. *****side note: I might get the order of these things mixed up, so if I am a little off, please forgive me.***** The good news of all of this is that we made it there safely. The kids were excited and we got to see our family in a really beautiful place.

On Tuesday the whole family wore our cool new family shirts (thanks to all that worked so hard on these) and went to Lower Yosemite Falls on the bus (my kids love riding the buses in Yosemite) after taking some pictures. When I find my camera I will post the pictures that I got. We had a great time looking at the waterfall and David took the kids up to climb on some rocks. Ted and Megan took me back to camp and David stayed a while with the kids and then they rode the bus back. Things were great. Then the fever hit. I started in with the chills and knew that this was not a good sign. I took some medicine and the fever went down and we decided that with no car (by then we had found out that there were major engine problems and it couldn't be driven home, but had to be towed - thank goodness for AAA) and since I was feeling better we would stay the night. The next morning I felt okay, but soon the fever came back. After a few hours and a rising fever, David's wonderful Mom and Dad hatched a plan to bring us home. Thanks Ted & Megan and Tami & Brent for the use of your cars and thanks to Mom & Dad for helping us drive everyone. While I got myself ready to go all of David's family was packing our stuff and taking down our tent. By the time I was ready to go, everything else was ready too. It was amazing to me. The Cox Family is AWESOME!!!! We really appreciate you guys and all the hard work you put into getting us out of there!

We left Yosemite around 5:15 and pulled into Kaiser's ER at 10 pm. After waiting for 14.5 hours in the ER I was finally admitted to the hospital with a white blood cell count that was off the charts (the opposite problem from last time). After many tests and many hours of waiting they finally diagnosed the problem, got me on the right antibiotics and I was on the mend. I was released from the hospital yesterday (Sat) afternoon. Thank goodness for modern medicine.

As for the car: David has spent hours talking with several different mechanics and they have determined that it needs a "Full head job" - at least I think that is what it is. Basically the top of the engine needs some major work. The car goes into the shop on Monday and it will hopefully be done on Thursday. We just cannot survive without a car and it is our only one. Starting on Monday I have appointments everyday - Monday thru Friday - for 5 weeks. We NEED a car. So it will be fixed.

So in a nut shell: We had fun for the few days we were in Yosemite, we are home safely, I am out of the hospital, the car goes into the shop on Monday and life doesn't look like it will slow down anytime soon. While things didn't go as planned, they are working out. I wish we could have stayed longer in Yosemite and that the car wasn't a problem, but it was beautiful and we loved being able to see family that we haven't seen in a long while. I am one lucky girl with a great extended family. All of you are great - Cox and Morgan. We are very blessed to have all of you in our lives and I love you all very much. Life is great and I am determined to enjoy it, rollercoasters and all. I am hoping for a less eventful week this week....stay tuned!

It's gone

Well, it's official...my hair is gone. Just last Sunday I was able to style it and no one really knew that it was falling out, but this week I have lost it all. It was hard. Who would'a thunk? I mean it's just hair, right? Yep, it is just hair. Just hair that I love to wear in ponytails. Just hair that I love to have brushed and styled by kids. Just hair that I love feeling the water run over in the shower. Just hair that I love to blowdry and brush and style and look great! But really, it is just hair. Just a thing - a thing that regardless of what happens here I will get back in the resurrection. So, I am trying to keep that eternal perspective. But I have to admit that it is not always easy.

This week I also had a CT scan to check the status of my cancer after 2 rounds of chemo. It was gross. I had to drink this nasty barium junk and of course I threw it up - so YUCK! But, I made it through. We won't get the results until a week from Monday, for 2 reasons. First of all that is my next appointment and second of all we will be in Yosemite all next week so we won't be calling the doctor for updates. I'm okay with it. Waiting is not always a bad thing. I know that the cancer is getting it's butt kicked so I really can wait to hear that from the doc. I will post the update after I see the doctor.

We had a really fun day today. We started off the 4th festivites by meeting with our ward for a pancake breakfast and parade at the park. The kids had a blast. Following that we came home and packed the kids' bags for Yosemite and then relaxed for a few hours. Around 3 we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Morgan's for the annual BBQ and swim party followed by fireworks. David and I got to watch most of the movie Independence Day with my Dad. It is his annual tradition to sit and watch that movie on the 4th and I am glad we got to participate. David and the kids had a great time in the pool and the food was delicious. While the kids ate dessert I cleaned out the van and hooked up the DVD player for our trip on Monday. Then we watched Grandpa Morgan set off a bunch of fireworks. It was a delightful evening and I am so grateful that we got to spend the afternoon/evening with my family.

We leave on Monday for Yosemite and I am super excited. I am a little nervous as we will be 2.5 hours from any real emergency room and with my chemo I can get sick easily. I am very excited that we get to spend time with the Cox side of the fam. I am very excited to take a vacation from the everyday. I love going to Yosemite (we go each year) and I absolutely love camping there. It is amazing, all of the beautiful things to see. I can't wait. I will post lots of pictures when we get back. Have a great week everyone - I know we will!!!!!!!!

Another Exciting Day....

Yesterday I met with the Doctor that will be giving me my radiation. It was a good meeting. We got there, David and I, and met my Dad there. I'm so glad that he and my mom have been going with us to all these appointments. They come up with questions that I don't and it gives us all a chance to find out what is going on. Anyway ... back to my story ... so we met with the doctor. Let me give you a little bit of info ... Dr. Cen is my oncologist. A few weeks ago he ordered an MRI on my brain and they found some small tumors. Apparently chemotherapy doesn't completely cross the brain barrier - it's the body's defense mechanism - so the chemo won't resolve the tumors in my brain. Dr. Cen decided that I should go ahead with radiation and chemo simultaneously. So, he referred me to Dr. Chen. At first Dr. Chen looked at my information and said that based on how far spread the cancer is in my body he didn't think I could handle both radiation and chemo at the same time. Dr. Cen told him that he hadn't met me yet and that he thought I could handle it. I don't appear as sick as my tests would all suggest. Dr. Chen agreed to meet with me and make his own suggestion.

So, yesterday we met Dr. Chen - way nice guy, by the way. He said that I looked really sharp and that he usually doesn't do chemo at the same time as radiation, but that no one is sure how fast these brain tumors are going to grow and that he and Dr. Cen both feel it is good to start as soon as possible to get rid of them. I have to do 18 treatments. Each one takes approximately 15 minutes. They do them Monday thru Friday and I will start on July 20th. Everyday at 9:15am we will drive to Rancho Cordova to get my treatments for 18 days.

Yesterday, after meeting with the doc, I had to make a mask that I will wear that will hold my head in the same position everytime. They also took a few pictures with their CAT scan machine and then scheduled out the next month and a half. We did have to go over all the side effects and that is always a little weird for me. The common short term side effects are simple things like hair loss and fatigue. The common long term side effects include permanent hair loss and possible problems with thought processing or memory. These side effects can take up to 6 months to really show themselves and they are not reversible. There are other side effects but those are the ones that make me a little nervous and they are the ones that will most effect me. A little scary, but I have to do it, so I am going to faith that the Lord will protect me and that regardless of the outcome in this life, I will have all things returned to me in the resurrection.

So, after that appointment David and I went to Deseret Book and looked around and I got to buy 3 new books. The first 3 of the Fablehaven series. Then we came home and I took a nap and he went and picked up Nephi and Gloria from Sarah's house (Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!). Around 8 my back started hurting - my right side. The kids went to bed and by 9 I was hurting really bad. We called Kaiser's 24-hour advice line and they said that I should go to the ER - again! So, I called my Dad - a HUGE THANKS to him - and he came and stayed with sleeping kids while David and I visited the ER once again. We got there around 10pm and were done around 1:30am. It turns out I have a Urinary Tract Infection - infact he thought that it might even had been the beginning of a kidney infection. After getting my IV antibiotics and some really good pain meds, I picked up my prescriptions and we headed home. It was a late night and I am really glad that we got to sleep in a little this morning. I am feeling much better today. Thank goodness for doctors and their tests. I am so glad that we live in a time where they know so much. I know they don't know everything and I know that they are human and make mistakes, but I am very grateful for the knowledge that is on the earth and the blessings that I get from that knowledge - including the blessing of pain killers and antibiotics.

100th Post

I started this blog a few years ago because a great friend (yep, you Katie) suggested it.  I never thought that it would be used for what I use it for today.  To keep all of my friends and loved ones appraised of my health.  I never thought my health would be in such question.  I have always taken being a healthy person for granted.  Running, playing, going to the park, cleaning my house, even driving a car have just been functions that I performed everyday.  Now those things are treasures to me.  I haven't run anywhere in over a month.  I haven't driven a car in over a month.  I can't wait until I am healthy enough to do those little things.  Yes, even cleaning my house is something that I look forward to being able to do completely.... although, David really is better at it than I am and for that I am truly grateful!  

Things here are going well.  I have been tired - not sleepy, just fatigued.  Overall though I feel really good.  Standing in one place is really difficult, and walking makes me tired, so there is a lot of sitting go on around here.  David has been great at spring cleaning the kids rooms.  So far, the boys room is complete and the girls is next on the list.  He is much more structured than I am and that makes it much easier to clean out all the junk.  He also is not a fan of clutter and I am a clutter magnet.  So, we have been working together (him more physically than me) to get it all done.  Tomorrow we attack the girls room and then on to our own room.  This house will be spick and span before the week is out and I am thrilled!!!

I have been giving Dave some cooking lessons and he is quite the student.  He can now successfully cook my secret spaghetti sauce (it's not really a secret - just my own creation) and rice pudding as well as various other things that he already knew how to make.  I can't wait to teach him Chicken Parmesan - it's one of my favs.  I know some of you have asked for the recipe and I will post it when I can.

As for school, I did go to Sac State orientation and had a great time.  I am really excited about the prospect of school this next semester and am currently enrolled in 3 classes.  One is fully online, one is fully in class and one has 3 in class sessions and then the remainder are online.  Now the biggest set backs that I foresee are my chemo appointments (I have 2 rounds after school starts) and my hearing.  My major is Speech Pathology and hearing is an important aspect of teaching people speech.  Since I have begun chemo I have had a problem with my ears being plugged.  It kind of is like taking off in an airplane, or driving in the mountains, and not being able to "pop" your ears.  More an annoyance than anything, but I am hopeful that it will resolve itself after chemo is finished.  If not, then I am taking suggestions of what I should major in because, obviously, Speech Pathology would be out.

As for all else, things are great.  I know that the Lord loves me and that is what really matters.  Lately I have felt weak - in spirit.  I have felt sad and even angry at times.  BUT now I am feeling much better.  I know that "in the strength of the Lord I can do all things."  That is a plaque that I have on my entertainment center and I am so grateful to my mom for getting it for me.  My strength is not enough to carry me through this, but the great thing is that I don't have to rely on MY strength.  I am grateful for the knowledge that I have of this concept.  I am grateful for my ability to smile and be happy.  It is a blessing that I know my Father in Heaven has given me - an optimistic spirit, and I am truly grateful for it.  So, I will continue to smile and be happy.  I will continue to thank my Father for all the gifts that he has given to me --- and those gifts are numerous.  Most importantly I am grateful for a husband that loves me and that treats me as a Queen.  I only hope to be able to treat him the way he should be treated for eternity.  Love to you all!  Thanks for your prayers - they are a blessing to me and I can feel their power.