Wednesday, December 26, 2012

December 18, 2012


On December 18 we headed to Salt Lake. We went to the temple in the morning to feel at peace and prepared for the results that would be coming. We knew it could go either way. We left the temple and headed straight to the doctor. 

We got checked in and were sitting in the patient waiting room. It took about 45 minutes before the nurse practitioner came in. She said that Dr Glenn was being held up with a patient and she didn't want us waiting a minute longer to let us know the GREAT NEWS! Andy is in remission! She gave us the radiologist report from his Petscan and we both were literally in shock. People have asked me if I started crying... I honestly just sat there with my mouth agape taking it all in. We had prayed for months and months for this, but here it was, proof in our hands!!

We are not out of the water yet, because he isn't considered cancer free until he has been in remission for 2 years. But we are THAT much closer!!

After the Nurse left our wonderful, amazing, talented Dr Glenn came in to discuss with us further the rest of our treatment and what to expect in the next 2 years. Then she showed us the greatest picture!

On the left is Andy's scan from July. All the neon colors are the cancerous tumors. The organ in the middle that starts on the left, and goes all the way over and down on the right is his Liver. It is huge! It is no wonder he was in so much pain leading up to him going to the doctor. The two largest tumors aren't pictures here because they rested on his spleen and the backside of his liver. They were about 4 times the size of the biggest tumor pictured.

As you can see on the scan on the right... which was taken December 17. No neon colors! The little neon you see is his heart, but it is just blood... no cancer.

We were completely blown away at this picture! We never saw the original petscan in July, we only saw the CT Scan. We are forever grateful for the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake and their wonderful team of Physicians!

Christmas 2012

Christmas 2012 was magical. Lucas is at the perfect age! All he wanted for Christmas was a Lego Train. He talked about it for weeks and weeks and weeks! Fortunately, Lucas was a good boy and Santa came!

Here he is opening his Lego Train!



Looks like Santa Came!
Jane loved this little magical mirror my mom got her. So cute!

 Jenny Jump up!



 Lucas finally loves opening presents! Each time he would ask, "What is it?"
 WOODY!
 Let's be honest... this was Jane's favorite part... the wrapping!
 A new lens!


 Dallas looking dashing in his new winter coat.


 Dallas was the official toy opener and lego put togetherer. Thank goodness for Uncle Doodle!

 Lucas has literally not left his Lego Train for 24 hours. Slept with it. Asks for it all day. He is obsessed! Thank you Santa!

It was a fun filled day and we are so grateful that our Savior Jesus Christmas was born. We could have not gotten through this last year without His sacrifice and are eternally grateful for this Christmas Season.






Christmas Eve 2012

Christmas this year was a first for both Andy and I. We stayed at our house and hosted. This is the first time we haven't been at his parents house or my parents house! We were so lucky that both my brothers were staying in town! I cooked dinner and we all enjoyed one another's company. We of coursed missed our parents, but we have to grow up sometime, right? Nope. didn't think so. We will always need our parents!!

Here we are before church on Sunday.
 The kiddos.
 We acted out and recorded the Nativity for my parents. Here is Joseph.
 Dallas was a wise man.

 The table setting for Christmas Eve dinner.
 Christmas Eve night.





 We opened Christmas Pj's and went to bed!

Here is the final production of our Nativity. :)

25 Days of Christmas

For the month of December we decided to do something as a family every night until Christmas! We missed a few days here and there due to sickness and missed naps, but overall we had a successful 25 days of Christmas!
Here are a few of our days...

Decorate the Christmas Tree
 Watch Muppet Christmas Carol and eat popcorn
 Have a dance party with Christmas music!



 With a Holiday Treat!
 Game Night with TrevorFern and Dallas
 Make a Christmas Picture

 Christmas Carol and drop of Treats
 Lights at Temple Square

 Decorate Sugar Cookies




 Go to Grandma Bompa House!


 Open Christmas Presents with Grandma Bompa!








 Decorate Gingerbread Houses


 Drive around and see Christmas Lights
 Make a Santa Beard out of Cotton Balls 

 Act out the Nativity. (see Christmas Eve post for final production video)
 Visit Santa

 Some fun nights not pictured included reading a Christmas Book, Celebrating Lucas' Birthday, Watching Mickey Christmas Carol, and eating lots of Chocolate!