CANCER SUCKS!!!!

It has been so long since I was on here I had to request a password reset! Alot has happened in the last couple of years. Good and bad! Our family has had it's struggles and blessings! As of late we have hit another hurdle in life. Chandler was diagnosed with Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma a type of cancer in the third stage this week. He started chemotherapy today and we are optimistic the treatments will work and we will be cancer free in no time! Obviously we know there is no magic pill or spray to just take it away but we are in it for the long haul and plan on beating this one step at a time! I love my children and will always try to protect them from everything and everyone! This one must be in the Lord's hands I am at his mercy as well as the doctors he will work through to cure my son of this horrible disease! I know Chandler is a special spirit and has so much to contribute here now and later! I am looking to see what it is our family as a whole and each of us as an individual are to learn from this trial! I will always remember when I first held my son and the way he looked at me with his eyes! They smiled and at me and seemed to say" finally, there you are I've been waiting for this!" If he can be so brave while going through chemo then I can too! Channy Bananny my best friend said we'd be friends til the end! CANCER SUCKS!!!!!!!!

Maude's Surgery

Maude at home this evening 5/30/09

Ouch!

Poor thing! Maude after surgery in her sleeping room.

Yesterday Jared and I got up at 5 O'clock am to get ready to take Maude over to Seattle's Children's Hospital to undergo bilateral ureteral re implant surgery. We checked in at 7 O'clock am and at 8 O'clock they were taking her down to surgery. 2 1/2 hours later Maude was in recovery. The surgeon said she did great! 2 hours after being in recovery Maude woke up and was brought into her sleeping room where we were able to finally see her. An hour or so after being in the room with her she asked to get up and walk around. The took out her catheter at around 3 this morning and she has been urinating frequently and on her own since. We were able to go home today due to Maude's fast recovery! The surgeon was almost shocked that she was cruising the halls so quickly. She has been able to keep down the small amounts of food she does consume and we are pushing fluids. i have a few pics I will include in this post. Thanks to all who had her in their prayers. I'm sure that made the difference.

Garden Success!

Jared and I planted our garden a couple weeks back and are proud to say we have success so far. Corn, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, peas, watermelon, cantaloupe, and tomatoes are all up and thriving! Hope that when we go on vacation we will have a reliable garden caretaker! lol We have sunflowers planted along the fence line that are doing well also, and have marigolds, zinnias, and alyssum growing in cups in the house that are waiting to be transplanted. Today is a beautiful sunny day. Guess I had better seize the day and get out there to do some weeding of some sort! I'll try to improve on my posting more frequently!!!

This Tuesday the 28th of April is Chelsea's 14th birthday!! Yikes!! She's getting so old already. It's so scary to have the kids grow up so fast!! Maude has testing for her kidneys and reflux the 28th of this month as well. Hope all goes well. This will determine if her condition has improved or deteriorated. We have the missionaries coming over tomorrow to teach the family, and we are all excited to meet the new elder we were assigned at the beggining of this week. Hope he has something to offer to our family or us him!! Jared is going paint balling tomorrow with the priesthood! I know he's really looking forward to it, and quote ,unquote, "Mormon Hunting!!!" lol That's about it. Til' I write again. Take care!

Easter

Kids at the Beach

Tim and dad cashing in their tickets at Chuck E cheese

Kids at the beach

Coloring Easter Eggs

Easter was great!!! My folks were up, and so was my sister and her family. The kids did an egg hunt, colored eggs, ate candy, and played for hours on end. We adults stayed up late playing scattergories! Whe had a blast!! Dad sure was the life of the party!!!! Monday, Maude and Kayley got their ears pierced, and after we all went to Chuck E Cheeses. Mom and dad flew out later that afternoon. We were all sad to see them go. Jared and I headed towards home, but decided on our way to take an unscheduled detour to the beach for the night. We woke up Tuesday morning, and went to see some of the members of his family. We had a nice visit. Got home late, and are still trying to recover.

Baptism

Jared and Chelsea after the baptism

Chelsea and Maude after being baptized

Chelsea and Maude currently perfect!! lol

Chelsea waiting to get baptized

Maude about to get baptized

Cousins together after the baptism

Kids with Elder Reed and Elder Talboe after the baptism

Maude and Chelsea will be getting baptized on the 11th of April and be confirmed Easter Sunday! The girls are very excited! I'm excited as well not only for the covenants my children will be entering into, but also because my sister and family will be coming up , and my folks will be flying into town as well! Can't hardly wait to see them all! We have a new missionary that has never baptized anyone due to the fact he has been out for a mere 3 weeks!! We are his guinea pig family!!! lol Chelsea chose to have Elder Reed baptize her as opposed to Papa! Maude will be getting baptized by my father. So glad my father could make it into town for the ocassion. Hope to see you all at the reunion this summer though!!!!!