To Huntsman again... Cycle 3 or not???

If the stress from today doesn't kill me, nothing will. From midnight to 2:30am, Dick's stomach got really hard and distended. His bowels sounded like fireworks. He fell asleep for a little bit. Around 2:30am, I could hear him whimpering. He was in so much pain. (Another possible bowel obstruction I thought.) We drove from 4 to 7am with those awful semi lights that looked like halos glaring at me. (My eyes are so sensitive to light.) I had to see and hear my sweet husband in so much pain while I drove for 3 hours feeling helpless. The roads in the summit were crazy slick. When I got to the hospital I couldn't even see because I was having visual impairment from those lights and stress. I get aura migraines. (No pain I just see crazy lights.) But we made it safe. We are so blessed! We didn't slide off the icy roads in the summit. I didn't fall asleep considering I haven't slept in days. I handled the CRAZY SLC traffic. I didn't hit the two deer I saw. One was dead already. Today we were supposed to be here for his scans at 5pm to see if the chemo is working and tomorrow he was supposed to start cycle 3. Now we are waiting for CT Scans to see if he has another bowel obstruction. I love this man and his strength so much.

And then one of his angel princesses showed up and tickled his head. Now he's sleeping like an angel.

 I love our sweet children.

The ER doctor that saw him at the University of Utah is hoping his partial bowel obstruction resolves itself. 

After visiting with his team, the oncologist decided to give him an extra week before he starts Cycle #3. His platelet count has to be over 100 and Dick's is in the 30's. 

Another transfusion for Dick and flowers for me.

 This chemo is not only making him so sick. It wipes out his blood count too. Dad needed some more blood today. He is so anemic plus his platelets are so low.

Sissy gave me this beauty for Valentine's Day.

 It's fabulous!

"The Lord promised that if we would be humble in times of need and turn to Him for aid, we would be made strong, and [be] blessed from on high." 

"Perhaps no promise in life is more reassuring than that promise of divine assistance and spiritual guidance in times of need. It is a gift freely given from heaven, a gift that we need from our earliest youth through the very latest days of our lives." -Howard W. Hunter

Happy Valentine's Day. "Grandma Spoils Us!"

I made a casserole for dinner. We were having dinner with Richie's children, Deacon, Anson, Aubrey, Giselle, and Philip. Almost all of the children were complaining that they didn't like my casserole. Giselle asked Sophie if she wanted a Hot Pocket and Sophie said yes. Then Deacon asked me for toast. I told them I needed their attention. This is what I said. "YOU KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THIS GENERATION OF CHILDREN??? LOOK AT WHAT GISELLE IS DOING FOR SOPHIA. SHE'S FIXING HER A HOT POCKET. WHEN WE WERE LITTLE, WE WOULD EAT WHAT WAS ON OUR PLATE. IF WE DIDN'T LIKE IT, WE DIDN'T HAVE DINNER. AND NOW LOOK AT WHAT I'M DOING. I'M GETTING UP TO FIX DEACON A TOAST." As I get up to go to the kitchen, Deacon says, "Grandma. There is no problem here. You are just a really good grandma." Then he looked at everyone and said, "Grandma spoils us!" I couldn't feel too angry after that. I love my grandchildren and I love that I got to spend the weekend with ALL 5 of them. It was the perfect Valentine's Day.

PREF DANCE FOR AUBREY

They've been best buddies since the 3rd grade.

Ryan Lopez and Aubrey...Pref Dance2016 

Happy 21st Anson plus a blood transfusion for Dad.

Dick's blood count was not very good so he received 2 units of blood today. This explains the extreme fatigue he's been having. 
 

Anson celebrating his birthday with us.

  

Happy Birthday Anson!

Super Bowl

Yummy food of course!

Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos are Super Bowl champions!

Goodbye Blazer! Hello little red car!

On December 12th, Anson rolled Aubrey's Blazer. Him and two of his friends were on their way to Pomerelle to go snowboarding. Aubrey and two of her friends were following in another car so they saw it happening in front of their eyes.
 His two friends and him came out without a scratch.
 I know angels were surrounding those boys.

The Blazer was claimed a total loss by our insurance. With the insurance money, Dad surprised Aubrey with a cute little red car on February 6th. It cost the exact amount of money that the insurance company gave us for the Blazer.

Cycle 2... New Chemo

SUNDAY

January 31, 2016 

On our way to SLC, I noticed a sundog. The right side of the halo was behind the mountain. It was amazing!

MONDAY

February 1, 2016

Cycle 2 starting. 

The chemo infuses for 24 hours. Dick's oncologist decreased the dosage because he got so sick with the first cycle.

 Also because his blood count got into trouble.

During his 24 hour infusion and hospitalization, he did well. He didn't have major reactions.

 The following night at the hotel, he became very ill again.

He got even worse when we got home. The falling, nausea, and vomiting continued.
 He also became very disoriented, and very weak.