A tribute to you, my love!

Thursday... I have the greatest husband a wife could ever ask for. I don't know if I can express the admiration I have for such a wonderful man in this short tribute to him.

He is indestructible and so full of strength! He has the funniest sense of humor even when times get tough. He would do anything for anyone of us and never expect anything in return. He has always worked so hard... not so that he can drive a brand new car or wear stylish clothing, but to take care of his family. He has a drive for live that I can only dream of.

Because of his strength and courage, he has been able to withstand the test of time.

On January the 3rd 2009, (his 51st birthday) he had an MRI done because we noticed a mass on his right thigh. On the 5th, our whole world was turned upside down when we received some of the worst news ever. This great husband of mine, who I mentioned is indestructible, was diagnosed with cancer on his right thigh. Myxoid lipo sarcoma is the name of this demon. The demon that shatters so many families into a million pieces. The demon that takes so many lives, even the lives of little children. The demon that causes so much pain and suffering.

He started radiation in January to shrink the tumor before surgery. He had a 7 hour surgery to remove the tumor in April. Now in May he will have another round of radiation because they found some positive margins around the sciatic nerve.

Throughout the most trying time of his life, he has insisted on working. He has even been directing a play on the side. He is as amazing as ever! Not a single day has gone by where he has ever doubted that all this will be over soon and that he will beat this. Not a single day has gone by where he ever pitied himself. His motto has been, "Let's do it!"

Quite frankly, I have never seen anyone trying to overcome and illness like this with such grace. The year 2009 has been a tough year for all of us, especially him.
Because of Dad, I've learned to stay strong and be positive during difficult times.
He has been our ROCK throughout this ordeal.

"World's Greatest Actor!" Look at how happy Dad looks just minutes before surgery.
Thanks Dad for being so strong for us. You are amazing! You ARE our ROCK!!!

Wednesday... On 04/16/09, Dad had a follow up visit with the surgeon to have his drainage tubes taken out. The surgeon didn't pull them out because they were still draining a lot, so he gave Dad another return appointment for 2 weeks. Today, Wednesday (04/29/09) was the next follow up visit and NOPE... it didn't happen! He came home with the drainage tubes again. Dad goes back in two more weeks. Hopefully they will come out then. The site around the tubes looks pretty sore. The incision is looking great though! The doctor reminded us today that 1/3 to 1/2 of the patients get infections after this type of surgery. (That's on patients without diabetes!) Dad has diabetes which causes someone to heal a lot slower. The doctor can't believe how well Dad's incision looks though.

On our way to Huntsman.

Waiting and waiting as usual.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Sandra, Sayda, Lety

This picture means a great deal to me.
When I was five years old there was a hurricane where I lived in Texas.
My parents lost everything except their children.
We woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of sirens.
We had to evacuate immediately!
Our neighborhood and so many others were starting to flood.
We left in our pajamas!
Our house and every thing my parents owned was under water for 3 days.
Because of this incident, I don't have any pictures of me under the age of five.
I've never seen a baby picture of me.
This picture is priceless to me because it's the first picture that my parents
took of me and my sisters after the hurricane.
I'm the one in the middle.

Birthday celebration activities: Went to Twin Falls for two days to get away. Travis and Bree joined us. Stayed at the Best Western to let the kids swim til their hearts were content. Had a birthday dinner at Sizzler's. (My favorite!) Saw the Shoshone Falls! In the 12 years we've lived here, I've never seen the falls so big. They were awesome!

We could feel the mist of the falls in the parking lot. Even driving down the hill, we had to use the windshield wipers because of the mist.

I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND WHAT DID I SEE.

So Dad called in sick today because... I MADE HIM!
His right foot has been really puffy from not doing what he's suppose to be doing.
(HEALING!)
He has also felt so drained lately, which tells me that his body is still trying
to recover from the radiation treatments
and from the 7 hour surgery he had almost 3 weeks ago.

I was doing Dad's wound care this morning and left the dressing off to air it out.
He then said to me, "I wish I had the energy to mow the lawn."
I replied that Anson was doing it after school.
(Anson couldn't do it yesterday because of a church activity and hockey practice.)
A little while later, he announced that he was going outside to putter around the back yard.
He said, "I think it would be good to air the incision out outside."

Like 10 minutes later, I heard the sound of a lawn mower.
I thought it was one of our neighbors mowing their lawn.
I looked out the window and what did I see...

...Dad with his drainage tubes hanging from his knee.
(Tune to the Popcorn song! he he)
Yes, there was Dad mowing the lawn.
I went outside and yelled at him, so he came in the house very discouraged.

What am I going to do with this man?
If there is anyone out there who wants a full time job of tending to a crazy man, please let me know. I am willing to pay!

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

This is Dad during his prep hour today.
He had to come and elevate his leg. As soon as he covered his head he fell asleep.

This is
Dad right after school today.
I'd say he still has a lot of recovering to do.



We miss your big, bright eyes and you being so mischievous.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Look what's BLOOMING along our driveway!

TULIPS! TULIPS!

AND MORE TULIPS!

Hockey game and Primary Quarterly Activity. 04/18/09

SATURDAY... Anson #75 had a hockey game today at 11:00 am against the orange team.
Anson was wonderful! I can't believe he is only 14 years old is playing this well. He will be amazing by the time he is as old as the kids he plays against.

At 1:00 pm we had our Primary Quarterly Activity. We had a lot of children show up. There was 4 different stations.

I had the station where we made prayer rocks.

Mindy's station made book markers.

Julie's station taught them how to separate and fold laundry.

Karen's station planted seeds in a little cup.

Julie kept all the children entertained while the rest of the presidency and the teachers cleaned up and served ice cream.

Yummy!

This is the poem that we gave the children with the prayer rock they painted.

Prayer Rock

I'm your little prayer rock, and this is what I'll do. Just put me on
your pillow until the day is through. Then turn back the covers and
climb unto your bed, and... WHACK! your little prayer rock will
bump you on the head. Then you will remember as the day is
through, to kneel and say your prayers as you intended to. Then
when you are finished dump me on the floor. I'll stay there
through the nighttime to give you help once more. When you get
up next morning... CLUNK! I stub your toe, so that you will
remember your prayers before you go. Put me back upon your
pillow when your bed is made, and your clever little prayer rock
will continue in your aid. Because your Heavenly Father cares and
loves you so, He wants you to remember to talk to Him, you
know.

Aubrey's birthday party and the hockey fight. 04/17/09

FRIDAY... We had a birthday party for Aubrey from 4:30 - 6:30 pm. She just invited a couple of kids. She had a wonderful time. Unfortunately her best friend, Sarah was unable to come because she was out of town. Aubrey wanted a theme for her party. She told the kids that they would get a prize for wearing the craziest hat, and the craziest socks.

Dad helping me clean the back yard for Aubrey's party.
The birthday cake.
Here are some crazy socks!
The craziest hat prize goes to...

At 7:45 pm, Anson #75 had a hockey game. One of the kids from the other team was skating and tripped Anson. (This kid is a Senior in High School and 18 years old.) Anson fell on top of the other guy and as he was trying to get up, the other guy starts punching Anson. He knocked the helmet right off Anson's head. Anson didn't want to punch back because he didn't want to get kicked out for the rest of the season. He said he thought in his head, "Oh no! I'm in the middle of a fight and I don't want to get kicked out of the hockey season." Then he said that he quickly asked himself, "What do I do?" Then he thought, "Oh, I do wrestle and I can pin him down without punching him.
(Anson IS the
District champion in his weight division!)
He was able to pin the guy down til the referee's got there. The other guy got kicked out of the game. There is some rumors that the other guy might get kicked out of the season because what kind of example is he setting for the other kids by fighting. I am so happy that Anson didn't punch back, even though his mom was yelling and telling him to punch the kid. I didn't get a picture or a video of the fight. I was too busy being a "hockey mom". I hate who I become when I go watch Anson's hockey games.

Aubrey's birthday. 04/16/09

THURSDAY... Aubrey opened some presents before school and after Brianna got out of work. At 12:45 pm Brianna and I took some cupcakes, juice, and pretzels to Aubrey's school. The cup cakes were the cutest cup cakes. Giselle ordered them for Aubrey's homeroom. Giselle also treated Aubrey to a haircut at the salon.

Aubrey opening Brianna's gift. She got a home for her IPOD from Bree and Travis!

Anson gave her his old scooter.

Follow up visits with Surgeon and Oncologist. 4/15/09

WEDNESDAY... Dick had his follow up appointment with the Surgeon and the Oncologist at Huntsman. We woke up to a little blizzard that lasted from B town to SLC. I have had to do a LOT of growing up ever since Dad became ill. First, I never used to drive on the expressway while it was snowing. Second, I never used to drive in SLC.

I do not like driving in big cities!!!
Well... with Dad's leg immobilized and his condition, I've had to learn fast. My left elbow is still hurting from all the tension. Julie loaned us her parents Cadillac for the drive. Her parents, Bro. and Sis. Petersen are serving a mission in Argentina and they left their car behind. That made our drive so much easier. The car is a Cadillac! Dad fit perfect in the back seat and we were able to elevate his leg. It was amazing driving a Cadillac. It felt is if I was driving 20 miles/hr when I was actually driving 70 miles/hr. The ride was so smooth.
THANKS Julie and Petersen's!

The doctors basically told us that Dad will need 8 more treatments of radiation. There is some positive microscopic margins around the sciatic nerve. (It is not part of the tumor.) They can't start radiation until his incision heals. The surgeon thought maybe in about one month. They didn't pull his drainage tubes out because he is still having lots of drainage. We will return in 2 weeks so that they can pull the tubes out and so that he can have another mold done for radiation. (That way they can shoot in the right places.) The Oncologist is hoping he won't have any nerve damage after this.

Talk about blessings pouring all around us. We found out that we DO have cancer insurance. They have been pulling $44.00 a month since July 2008. I don't remember filling up the forms and Dad doesn't do things like that. Anyways... we are covered and we are going to have a lot reimbursed and more! I think this is another miracle!

This is what we woke up to on Wednesday.

Dad was looking out the window on the second floor at Huntsman. This tree looked so pretty.

I love you Dad! All this will be over soon.

The Cadillac!

Dad with his leg elevated and ready for the comfortable drive.

Taking a nap on the way back. It was a long day!