Take Out!

Thyroidectomy~Yup, there it is.
When they find thyroid cancer the treatment is to take it out. I will be put on a synthetic hormone replacement for the rest of my life and that is it. The recovery is suppose to be a few days and the adjusting the hormone takes awhile. The trouble is, I have no symptoms, I don't feel sluggish, nervous or in any kind of pain. It has been hard to really believe there is any problem. Couldn't I just go on living as I have and not do anything? Just a thought. Cancer travels, I like to travel, I can understand that, but it has no grandchildren to find joy in visiting does it?? No,  just growth where there shouldn't be growth, that stinks. This whole thing stinks, but hey, as they say, "if you had to have cancer, this would be the very best one to choose". Does anyone else think that is a perfectly ridiculous thing to say, let alone to even think?
So surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, May 26th

"One of the Blogs in my head"

Charlotte once mentioned all the blogs she has done in her head and thought that she had blogged about something only to find out that she hadn't. 

Many times as we go adventuring in DC or travel we take pictures, sometimes awkwardly. Thinking that I will blog about that only to think I did or wish I had and hadn't.

So here is one of those catch up blogs .

Whenever I think of the coast of Corpus Christi I think of this beautiful color. Beautiful color of the water, the beautiful color of the water. We went to see the DeHarts as well as my mom and Wayne in McAllen Texas. Mother's Day was such a special day for me. We spent the morning with Alyssa and her family and then drove down to spend the rest of the day with my mom. I can't even remember the last time I got to spend mother's day with my mom. Who knows but what that may be our last time.... 

 Aynsley wanted to ride horses on the beach. So for her birthday that is what she asked for. That was great fun and a dream come true, what a highlight! Thanks Aynsley for asking us to go too. Thanks for waiting, we just loved it!

One day we collected Evan, Aynsley and Jacob and went to look at land. It was just a bit warm and we got mosquito bites but it was a great time. We saw that many have built places of their own. Many had small ponds, horses, goats, we even saw some guinea hens that led to a whole discussion about how this birds are so helpful to gardeners. However they are so diligent in bug eating that they wait at the mouth of the hive to eat the bees as they come out of the hive, so bee keepers and guinea hens aren't consistent. We then went for a "fake" slurpy.

One last day on the beach was just great! 

Plenty of live shells, high winds and gulls that eat bread right out of our hands! Frightening! 

Great day......... hope that is in our future. 

         Who Knows??

Thanks DeHarts, thanks Corpus Christi, thanks mom

 Glad we went!!

"Who is next?? " Katie has enjoyed Rachel, Stephanie and us all in a short time, so who is next, or what is next??

This Bud's For YOU!

This is a picture of our good RS president. She has lived in and around DC area for awhile. She knows all the fun places to go. We got an early start and went to the East Capital Market. So fun and quite a cold day! We saw so many fun things, fresh flowers, fresh fish, jewelery, painted eggs it all was very fun.   I am having trouble with the formating, sorry haven't done the blog since they changed things!

Here is LaVar mailing Jaim's "40" th birthday card, yes I now realize that he is only 39. One would think since we are looking forward to celebrating our BIG 40th wedding anniversary June 19th of this year it would have dawned on me that I had made the card wrong.... but it didn't until it was mailed. I called him to apologize and he was a good sport about it. Thanks!

 The Elipse was the most popular place that day. Jefferson Memorial has always been my favorite to visit, even under renewal it is a great place.Ollie this one is for you. Remember Stephanie posted this a long time ago? We saw it again.Thanks everyone for a fabulous day in DC seeing the Cherry Blossom Festivities wasn't on my bucket list of things to do but it really should have been! Loved the day!

Everything will be ok in the End, if it's not ok, its not the End.

       OK, so right before we left Norfolk my Doctor felt my thyroid and said she felt a very small lump.  We were moving from there and I didn't want to be in the middle of any medical procedures during a move. Besides in my mind it wasn't anything to be concerned about so I let it go. After the move we decided to change insurances since we are both so healthy, we changed to Kaiser Permanente. The thoughts about my thyroid never left me and so first thing after getting the insurance straight and a primary care physician selected we had it checked out. They did an ultra-sound and found nodules there. Then I went for a fine needle aspiration. They found cancer. That was February 2, it is now March 24 ( and now April 3 – took me awhile to finish writing this). I have been on what I hope is a complete cycle of loss, grief, mourning, whatever one wants to call it. I have been through the feelings that it just can't be happening, and shear and complete panic.
      Now to put this in perspective, I had my gallbladder out and didn't really tell very many people because it just was no big deal and a catheter ablation done while we were house-less and living with Steve and Alyssa's family and didn't feel that was big deal either. They maneuvered a probe up the vein in my thigh and into the heart, then tried to send me into a heart arrhythmia to find the problem path and "ablate" it to stop the stray electrical signals that cause the problem. For a more precise description: (tachycardia can often be treated by catheter ablation. In this procedure, catheters (long, thin tubes) are threaded through the patient's blood vessels to the heart. Radio frequency energy is applied through the tip of the catheter to destroy (ablate) the small area of the heart that is causing the fast heart rate.) That procedure really didn't frighten me and we had it done and were on our way to Fallon,  living with Cecile and Ralph while we got a home to remodel etc. I have wondered why this most recent news has sent me into this kind of emotional trip? I do know that I have had a new spiritual realization that at any moment a person could leave this earth and be on to another experience in a flicker of an eye. No downward spiral in health, just gone. Could happen to anyone, like me. Of course I knew that already but now I realize it in a new way. Very sobering and has been a great experience for me. There were days when I knew that evil in whatever form was right beside me making me feel physically cold and emotionally miserable. Our Stake President actually talked about that in Stake Conference and said we needed to dispel Satan, which I did and felt instantly opposite of how I was feeling, just amazing! I had 2 priesthood blessings and in both they said that everything would be ok. The Bishop of our ward asked that that I and one other lady in our ward with really serious bowel cancer be fasted and prayed for. I was grateful for that but also a little uncomfortable. 
         So, after consulting with the endocrinologist and being assured that this is a slow growing cancer and that he saw no problem waiting 3 months for the recommended operation, we decided to try and get as healthy as possible – eat well, sleep on a schedule, start exercising daily, and reading the scriptures before LaVar goes to work. I also started going to a "wellness center" four times a week and stay between 2-4 hours a day plus some commuting time during rush hour.  While there, most of what I thought about was how she could run her office better, the colors that could be used to make a peaceful, wonderful experience and how to suggest she organize things to help her not waste so much time. So I started suggesting and she liked the first suggestion so we have gone on from there. Tyler would have done soooo much better but this experience got me excited, it released me from some of the funk.
    She is also a chiropractor and she got rid of the hump on my back that was getting quite pronounced and painful. I have learned to cook differently. LaVar and I now LOVE carrot juice, we have eaten Quinoa, buckwheat, and Nori (sea vegetables, {sea weed}) added to salad and soup. We both feel healthier and have lost some weight. We are happy with that.
     The surgeon called twice but the last time I actually talked to him. What surgeon ever calls up a patient?? Why is he anxious to do this? Well, anyway we talked about scheduling a surgery for the last of May. We also plan to get another fine needle aspiration of the nodule and see if things are any different before the operation. The recommended procedure is to remove the entire thyroid and nearby lymph nodes. Then after thorough study of what was removed by pathologists decide whether further treatment with radioactive iodine is needed.
      We appreciate all the interest and concern people have expressed. We feel an assurance that in the end everything will be OK in the end.

OK

"Did you ever stop to think and forget to start again?" Winnie the Pooh
Seems to apply right now......... soon I will blog again.

"Snowpocalypse"

Are you tired of snow pictures yet? We live in a wonderland to be sure. It's just that there is a sheet of solid ice under this snow on the roads. Looks like these cars aren't going anywhere soon, but they say its business as usual on Monday....... we'll see. Church was cancelled for the second time this winter. Our Bishop is from Maine and he doesn't cancel when others might. Ihere were avalanches coming off the dark metal roofs yesterday and more will happen today I am sure. Glad for the snow and the joy that comes with it. Many were without power. That would have been hard but we never lost ours. 

People were partying down the hall last night and the neighbors are gaming with passion today, so I am playing Pandora for masking the base beat in his music.t is so quiet outside. Many people are shoveling out their driveways, cars sidewalks and we saw many a wonderful snowman, even a snow cat but no snow dogs. Saw the remnant of dogs that had to "find a place".

I know Alyssa loves her sunshine but right now I can't think of anything more beautiful than the sun shining on the sparkling snow and feel the refreshment in a "snowcalype". 

"It is Christmas in our Hearts that puts Christmas in the Air" W.T. Ellis

We were very blessed to get to go to Utah for Christmas this year. Our thinking went along the lines of "since Tyler will not be with his family for the holidays maybe we could go and give them something to look forward to." I know we missed Tyler very much but with the movies sent with the iphones he was able to enjoy the gift giving somewhat. We arrived on LaVar's birthday Dec 23 and took Tim and Laura up on their offer to pick us up at the airport. They gave him a lovely book on ships that not only he enjoyed but so did Ollie.

LaVar was the donkey for our lovely Emmaline as Mary in the Christmas play with Charlotte's neices and nephews.

 Christmas day was so fun, but Tucker felt a bit overwhelmed at first but soon got into the swing of things. He got a cell phone that was a particular attraction as well as all kinds of balls.

This rock candy from my mediteranian store was a hit and the dinosaur liked it very much.

Jaim and Jody invited us to come and see what they have been doing in their kitchen and we thought it was really great. We love what they are doing in true "Huntzinger makeover" style. They did bring Monster their Great Dane over for visits he is well behaved and obeys Jody well. 

We went to see Savannah's campionship soccor game. She played well and they won! Lucky 13!

 Some people went to Avatar the movie, some people cooked, some went to the temple and someone got to hold Naomi and loved it.

Charlotte opened their home for a Hightower/Huntzinger get together on the day after Christmas. All of the boys came with their wives and children plus Chelsie. Rachel and Greg went to the only temple open during the holidays and stayed for the evening then went back home to Orem and Greg's family. Tim and Laura arranged the evening a delicious desserts and Charlotte served pulled pork sandwiches with all that could go with it. We played games and had a great late night with all of them! It was so wonderful for me to meet the girls I had been lurking on their family blogs and see the precious babies they have pictures of. Emmaline was the main entertainment for the children. Savannah floated between the group of children to the games and conversation of the adults. Jaim and Jody were the hit when they arrived with Monster. The children didn't seem to mind this small horse amoungst the party. 

Ryan and Stacey~ Chelsie~Jessica and Chistoffer down front. Brook and Chason (holding Chris' baby)~ Jordon just returned from his mission and Kelly
Our friend Molly Collings came to visit after church on Sunday with her 3 children. It was so good to see her and remember old times.
After all that partying one of us got sick! Ollie kept him company and we delayed our going to Fallon a day to see if anyone else was going to get sick.

Off to Fallon we went. Tuesday on the road, Wednesday there and Thursday back home. It was a full day though. Brad and Kendal were there with Izzy, two dogs, an interesting cat and a mouse. Linda was there too, we just missed seeing Natalie and her girls. Brett and Rowena had house guests from California but we still had a great night of chili and cornbread from them. Mom and Dad's had a house full but they seemed to enjoy the company as they always do.

Emma asked for and got some alone time with Great Grandma, looking at shells.
They got to play in the freshly fallen snow. This is Grandma Cecile done in "snow"
Brad and Kendal brought not only gingerbread house for each child but a PILE of candy to decorate like I have never seen before.
It was almost time to go after that full day! I had no voice after getting some kind of virus and am still recovering. Tucker thought he would give himself a shave like Grandad. The kids were perfect travel companions and Charlotte and excellent driver in the snow that we traveled through going both ways. We had a wonderful trip, wonderful memories and we thank all of you for your contribution to both.
Our Amaryllis waited for our return to bloom.
Terry this one is for you. This little leather purse I bought at my wonderful thrift store for $1.98. There were 2 there at the time and I have had so many compliments on it I wish I had gotten both. I found out what "color swap" means on my little camera! What fun that has been.
The orange Wal-Mart boots took us there and back. Even got me a comment by an ardent Boise State fan on her way to the big game. She liked the color as she too was dressed all in orange. Thank-you, thank-you, we had a great time!

                                                                    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!