Third 6 week checkup... The tumors have doubled in size... 2016

December 28, 2015

Chemotherapy and immunotherapy every third week for 2 and a half years.

  After a pleural effusion that he had been fighting for months, he ended up needing a thoracentesis. They punctured his lung during the procedure so he ended up with a pneumothorax.

 He went straight into the ICU and ended up with a chest tube. This took place in August 2015 after his last cycle of chemo. The tumor board decided to stop the chemo during this time.

 Not because his tumors were gone but because his heart and lungs needed a break. 

At the FIRST six week checkup, the tumors stayed stable. At the SECOND six week checkup we were informed the tumors grew a little so the possibility of him starting chemo again was great. At his THIRD six week checkup and after Christmas, the CT Scan confirmed that all of the tumors had doubled in size. 

Dad will be starting chemotherapy again.

 He had a little rest from the chemo for a little over 4 months. We were hoping and praying that it would be a long time before, or maybe never again,
 we would hear the words, “The tumors are growing.”
 These words continue to come out of his mouth every day,' “I’ve got blue skies.” 

Christmas 2015

 My favorite Christmas tradition.

Dad reading The Night Before Christmas to our family.

(Later entry)
 Giselle gave Anson a one way ticket to fly to California for one of his presents. He planned on road tripping back with friends who are attending school in Utah. He left the day after Christmas and stayed there for two weeks. These little boys and their parents became like family to Anson during his mission.

Christmastime 2015

I love Christmastime!
 I love the excitement, the childlike spirit of innocence, decorating our home and the Christmas tree, Christmas music, traditions, baking, the cold outside, the warm fireplace inside, family time, and just about everything that goes along with Christmas!
 I love the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Christmas season brings out the best in everyone! 

Dad bringing in presents for me!

I taught Anson how to make enchiladas.

 Dad and Anson decorating our home with Chistmas lights.

I love decorating our tree!

 Brianna sets up the tree and adds the Christmas lights first.

Then I start. She does the hard part. I do the fun part.

 Aren't those our stockings!?!

 ...and those too!

 Christmas baking!

Thanksgiving 2015 in Island Park, Madison Hospital, Huntsman

November 23, 2016

We went to Island Park for a little Thanksgiving getaway. We had an awesome time the first two days. Giselle arrived the 24th. We were so excited because our family would all be together soon. Richie, his family, and Dick's father were arriving on the 25th. On the 25th during lunch, Dick started complaining of a terrible stomach pain. He couldn't even finish his food. That was around 2:30. Then it turned into nausea and vomiting. The pain increased drastically. This guy never complains of pain so it must have been bad. Against his will, I made him go to the hospital because I had a feeling it was a bowel obstruction. His vomit didn't have a strong odor like it does when someone gets food poison or the flu so I knew it was something serious. Also his stomach was very distended and really hard. Well after a CT scan, the ER doctor informed us he did have a small bowel obstruction. He didn't think it was a tumor obstructing it. He thought it was scar tissue from a previous surgery. They put a Nasogastric tube in to suction his stomach. Tons came out in the first 5 minutes. No wonder he was in so much pain! It's because it couldn't go down! The surgeon was hoping it would resolve itself. We prayed so hard that it would because he can't be put through surgery. His lungs and heart can't tolerate it. He got admitted at Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg. We're so blessed that he didn't go to bed and hoped it would get better which is what he wanted to do. His bowel could have perforated. We are so blessed! 

November 24, 2016
Madison Memorial Hospital

November 25, 2016

Richie stopped at the hospital before they drove to Island Park. They gave Dick a Priesthood blessing.

It looks like they had a great time at the cabin. The kids and Dick's father drove back and forth everyday. It was like a 30 minute drive one way. It was so hard for us not to be with them at the cabin.

November 26, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving

November 28, 2016

Leaving the hospital right after we jump Brianna's car.

I got to play with the grands only for a little bit the day Dick got discharged. We made pizzas.

Dick stayed 5 days in the hospital in Rexburg. He got discharged and a couple of hours later got even sicker than the first time so we drove 5 hours to get to The Huntsman in SLC. He was admitted another 5 days there.

November 30, 2016
Huntsman Cancer Institute

A visit from Richie and some other USU theater associates.