Doctor visit

I went into the doctor today and here's what happened:

Yesterday afternoon I started feeling some pain on my right side. This morning it was still there and a little worse. So, I called the advice line and they made me an appointment with my doc. I saw him and he looked over my last scan and poked and proded and has come to the conclusion that the cancer on my lower right rib is growing. He gave me more pain meds and has now referred me to get radiation again - this time on my side. As of my last scan the cancer spot there had been stable, but with the pain he thinks it is growing so that we should be proactive and radiate it.

Other than that I am feeling much better today. This round of chemo was hard to recover from. It's been one week and I am finally feeling pretty good. I do take some pretty heavy duty meds, but they are low doses so I don't feel so out of it.

I like all the people at the radiology place so it will be nice to see them again - not that I am looking forward to driving out there over and over again. But if they can get this thing under control I will be a much happier camper.

Just thoughts

We have had a very busy day and I have taken all of my medicine - which usually puts me to sleep, but I am not feeling sleepy at all!! So I thought that I would blog a little about what's on my mind tonight.

I am so grateful for my family. I have the world's greatest kids who love me and who are more than willing to jump in and help (most of the time) when I need it. It has been interesting to watch them over the past 13 months transition from kids whose mom did everything for them to being more independent and helpful. I have a fantastic husband who is helping to teach the kids to be independent and taking care of me. He really loves me and that is an amazing blessing to me daily! I have great parents and in-laws who love me and support us in everything. They arrange their very busy schedules to help us and to be there for support whenever we ask them. I am blessed with brothers and sisters (natural, step and in-law) who also support us and are willing to help whenever we need it. I have nieces and nephews with testimonies of the gospel and sweet spirits who are concerned for my health and I get to play with and love. As you can see I am blessed with an amazing family!!

I also have fantastic friends who I love to visit with, go to dinner with, go to see silly teenage movies with and just enjoy! To borrow a line from Faith and Vilate's book - My friends ROCK!!

As much as I am blessed, I feel it so strongly today of all days. You see today is the day I beat the odds. The median life expectancy for my type of cancer is 8 - 13 months. Today is 13 months and one day. I have won!! Yes I know I'm not cured, the fight's not over and I don't know what the future holds, but according to the doctor, my body is fighting this thing. I am so grateful to all my family and friends - it is because of you that my body is fighting. You give me hope, you give me support and most of all, you give me your love! Thanks for sharing your sweetness and your hope for me. It definitely keeps me going!!

I love my life - as much as I hate chemo, I am learning how to rely on the Lord. He is good and He wants me to be happy. I am happy. Many people might think that sounds weird, but I truly am. I know that being happy is up to me. I can choose to "love the road that I am on" - and I do. The road I am on is not always fun, but it is a good road and I have a great destination that I am headed for. Thanks for all your love!! ~ Kaci

Vilate turns 8

We have another 8 year old in the house!! Today was Miss Vilate's birthday!! We started off the day with donuts then on to pick up friends, McDonald's for lunch, swimming at Del Norte and then home for spaghetti dinner and ice cream sundaes. It was a very full and fun day!!! Vilate is going to be baptized on July 9th (Friday) at the Stake Center at 6pm. We are so happy for her - she is super excited and spending this week practicing being a peacemaker - her primary teacher gave her that assignment and she is having a difficult time, but hasn't given up yet!!

Vilate is such a dynamic kid. She loves her friends and her brothers and sisters. She is passionate and while that has it's benefits, sometimes she goes a little overboard!! Vilate loves to take care of others and help them. Vilate loves school and dreams of being either a teacher or a rock star. She loves to play the guitar and piano. For Christmas she got a microphone and loves to sing into it through the amplifier just like she's on stage. She also uses her easel and old school papers to play classroom and she is always the teacher. The little kids love playing school with Vilate. Vilate has a tenderheart and always wants to fix things and help people to get along. She has an obedient spirit and likes to be the enforcer!!

As much as she sometimes drives me crazy - I love this kid with all of my heart and I am so SUPER grateful that she came into our family!! Love you Vilate - I hope you had the happiest of Birthdays today!!!!

Movin' along

Well I have successfully completed 15 rounds of chemo. So far I feel just fine. It will hit me in a day or two and I will be really, really tired. Other than that I should be just fine.

On Tuesday night Vilate, Helaman and Gloria completed a 6-week art class through Sutter Cancer Center. It was a magnificent class with wonderful instructors who, using art, opened the door for discussion on cancer. It was great for the kids and they are sad that it is over - but they loved showing us all their art projects.

While they went to their class, I had a class of my own. Nancy, my mom, came with me to most of the classes - in fact she just didn't come to the 1st one because I didn't think about it until after that first class. It was a group therapy class for people affected by cancer - either have/had it or are a caregiver. Mostly it was the parents of the children in the art class. At first I was not quite sure what I thought of it. As the class went on, I looked forward to it every week and I am really sad that it is over. They will start up another one in the fall - both art and the group therapy. This time it will be an art class for older kids. Vilate will be able to participate again and Faith and Hyrum will go as well. The little kids will be sad - but they will do another "little kid" class later in the fall.

We met great people. I feel like I made some good friends and I am grateful for technology - email, facebook and blogs - to be able to keep in contact with them. I wish them all the best in their challenges and adventures.

As for my foot - according to the doctor on Monday, the radiologist said that it is officially NOT broken. YAY!!! I was so glad to take that boot off. At the doctor I weighed my self with it on and then with it off - it weighed over 3 pounds!! Crazy!

Now I am boot-free and my foot is feeling good. I have horrible bruising on top of my foot and it is still very tender, but I can wear my flip-flops with no problem, so all's good!!

My doctor's appointment went well. I saw a different doctor as mine was called out on an emergency. This new doctor said he doesn't subscribe to the strict diet that my doctor does. He thinks that there is really not enough evidence that it makes that big of a difference. So now I am kind of torn. It doesn't help that I also have lost about 5 pounds in the last month and that is really dangerous. So, I am going to add in a few things, but not get too crazy. I will be also working harder at getting on the bike in my living room and exercising. I think moderation is the key. So that's what my plan is for now, let's see how good I can stick with it!!

I must say I am so excited that I get to have Dreyer's Strawberry Ice Cream again!!! Ohhhhhh I love it sooooo very much!!!!! I also got to go and get Leatherby's Peppermint Ice Cream and that was oh so de-lish!!!

Bye for now!!!

Nephi turns 3...Yipee!!

Today was a great Saturday. It was Nephi's 3rd birthday and we started the day with a trip to the park. We invited friends and family to meet us at the park for a little party in the morning and it was delightful. I have pictures that I will upload, maybe tomorrow.

He loved playing and hitting the pinata. He sure got mad when his turn was over and had a really hard time waiting for the Transformer to be broken open. The kids all had a fabulous time. I really love doing simple parties like that at the park. The kids seem to all enjoy it, the adults get to visit, it's CHEAP, easy clean-up and I'm not dead tired at the end! It was a great party!!

Following Nephi's party we came home for lunch, cleaned the kids rooms, dropped Hyrum at another birthday party and headed over to yet another party. I'm telling you it was a party day!! The kids loved going down a waterslide and running around with their friends. I love all the end of school festivities, there are just so many and packing that many things in only a few days really tires me out - but it is worth it to visit with all my friends and watch my kids have a blast!!

Thanks to everyone who opened their homes to us. We have had a fantastic time!!

As for my foot - it is feeling much better. I don't believe that it is broken. The docs did say that they weren't 100% sure - the x-ray was of a spot where many bones overlap. David wants me to wear the boot for a while longer and see how I do. I have consented for now, but that thing weighs a ton and is hard to move around in. I go into the doctor on Monday for a "check-up" so that I can start round 15 of chemo on Tuesday. I don't expect to get really any news due to the fact that I haven't had any tests. Next week is busy with chemo and more parties/playdays - but thankfully it won't be anything like this past week was!! Today David finally had had enough driving around and bouncing from one thing to the next. I totally felt his pain as he asked me what else was on the schedule for today!! I am ready for the bouncing to stop and I am excited for a slow summer. I doubt it will really happen - but a momma can dream right?