Halloween 2017

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

OUR KIDS IN UTAH

Update on Dick after his lifeflight

Dick is still experiencing discomfort to his right upper abdomen. Mostly behind his right breast, above the rib. His stomach is very distended which makes me think he is having problems 
with his cirrhosis of the liver.

 (Ascites, which refers to abnormal accumulation fluid in the abdominal (peritoneal) cavity. The most common cause of ascites is cirrhosis of the liver.)

 I don't know if it's necessarily the tumor behind his liver. I think it's complications from too much chemo. He will see his family doctor tomorrow to follow-up.
I've been praying he stops the chemo and just continue with the antibody. I think his body is getting into trouble.

 I LOVE THIS MAN!

Deacon's Primary Program

Dad and I had the opportunity to go to Bree's ward for their Primary Program today. It really was the best Primary Program we've ever seen. The spirit was so strong! The children did a wonderful job! Brianna is not just an amazing music leader. She loves those children as if they were her own!

Deacon you were AMAZING!

Family Photo... All 15 of us!

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." I'm so grateful for my family. I love each and everyone of our children so much. I am so blessed for their willingness to always choose the right. I am so blessed for the love they have for me and their father. 

"What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories."

We really do have great kids! 

I prayed for this family and the Lord answered my prayers.

CYCLE 5... just the antibody

Salt Lake City again!

Maybe we should just move here.

*************

Today he just got the antibody which doesn't make him sick like the chemo. Then we had dinner and turned right back.

Dad lifeflighted... Life can be hard. Sometimes you'll fall. Sometimes you'll stumble. But get back up. Always get back up.

 Life can be hard.

 Sometimes you'll fall.

 Sometimes you'll stumble.

 But get back up.

 Always get back up.

Yesterday, around 5pm, Dick told me he was experiencing chest pain that went all the way through his back and difficulty breathing. We were headed out of town for his infusion the next morning but didn't feel good about being on the road for 3 hours when his symptoms were getting worse. Instead we went to the ER in Burley.

They said it wasn't the heart, and probably no blood clot but we were waiting on the CT Scan.
I encouraged the kids (Anson, Brooklyn, and Aubrey) to go home because it was already after 9 PM and they still had to drive to Logan. Giselle had already headed back before we knew Dad was not feeling well.

 After the CT Scan they discovered a hematoma on top of his liver. The doctor called the Huntsman on call sarcoma oncologist. They were thinking it was the tumor by his liver that was bleeding. They were worried the tumor might rupture so they lifeflighted him to the Huntsman.
 When he arrived at the Huntsman Richie and Giselle were already there waiting for him.

 While we were in the ER my nose started bleeding
 out of control.

After the first nose bleed in Logan, I had 3 more and ended up seeing an ENT in Utah who cauterized it. I thought I was done with nose bleeds! I have never had a nose bleed and now in 1 month I've had 6!

They got it to stop. 
After it stopped the kids left and I went to sit with Dick and Brianna. 

As soon as they told us that they were going to lifeflight Dick, Brianna went home to pack me a bag. After she left, my nose started bleeding again.

It was so crazy!

I'm used to taking care of him and reassuring him that everything will be alright but instead I was putting pressure on my nose to get it to stop bleeding. He was teary eyed and so worried about me and I was so worried about him. When they took me to the other room I was a mess. I quickly texted Bree to come back. I didn't tell her I was bleeding. I wanted her to be with her father. I started crying because I wanted to be with Dick before they took him. The ER doctor who is a dear friend, Dr. Campbell, got me cleaned up and put a gown on me to cover my bloody shirt. He then told me to go be with Dick. Dick called me to him and said, "Get better pumpkin and come join me as soon as you're better." We both cried a little. He asked for a kiss but I couldn't let go of my nose so we held our foreheads together. I really felt that if his tumor ruptured I would never see him again. The flight nurse asked if we wanted a picture of both of us as patients in the ER. It doesn't happen very often.
 I don't think anyone had any idea how much I was bleeding.

This picture of me looks exactly like the way I felt. 

I felt like my face was going to explode.

There was so much blood coming from my nose. I could feel the pressure in my sinuses and throat from the blood collecting there.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to go with Dick. When the flight nurses took him, they took me back to a room to put a balloon (rhino rocket) in my nose. Right before they started, Brianna walked in the room and I felt so much better. She said she got to kiss her dad goodbye before they took off and he looked very calm. She held me and calmed me down. She knew I was worried about Dad and I was also scared. 

I was discharged from the hospital. A few minutes later, Brianna and I were on our way to Salt Lake City. We picked up Aubrey in Brigham. We arrived around 4 AM on Monday. As soon as we arrived, Richie II gave Dick a blessing. Richie and Giselle drove to Logan and the rest of us stayed with Dick. Anson and Brooklyn arrived later.

Brianna stayed with us every minute of the day. The rest of our children came and went because of their obligations. 

Dad and I are so loved.

Dick's bleeding stopped. The body miraculously healed itself. We are so blessed. We are thankful for the love and support that our children constantly give us. And we are thankful to everyone for lifting him up in prayer and sending love and positive vibes.

More fall activities...

Giselle came to visit for the weekend.

The day after Aubrey, Anson, and Brooklyn came home too.

We picked the last of the apples, made candy apples,

 and saw home videos.

Travis and Deacon raked our leaves and piled them by the curb.

MY GIRLS...

Giselle, Brianna, Mom

Travis took over Dad's job.

Dad did open the gate.

Our cherry tree looks beautiful!

They take this same picture every 2 years.