Hogle Zoo

Today we ventured to the Hogle Zoo. We have been wanting to go since we moved here and having cousins in town was the perfect excuse! We met with up Cari and crew and started our adventure. Let's just say it was one HOT adventure. Yikes! Pushing a double stroller up those hills in 90 degree heat is quite the workout. :)

Outside the entrance... Lucas, Bostyn and Avery. Jax and Jane opted out of this photo op :)

 Lucas' favorite animal... the elephant!

 Looking at the rhinos

 Lucas loved his treasure map

 Outside the Gorilla habitat... they were huge!

 At one point Lucas sat down so he could better plan our next stop: 

 Of course we went on the train!

 Cute sisters Bostyn and Avery

 Cute Giraffes

It was so much fun and as soon as we got back in the car Lucas started screaming... NO MOM! More animals!!! Maybe we will have to take dad back... in October when it is NOT so hot :) Thanks Moore family for a fun day!

Cycle 1

This past Thursday Andy started his first round of Chemotherapy. But before he started my MOM GOT TO COME VISIT! This was the first time she got to meet Janie Girl. Here is Jane waiting for Grandma...

So happy to be together at last! We of course went to Hires Big H for dinner since my mom hasn't had it in 2 years.

The next morning Andy had surgery for his IV port placement and his bone marrow Biopsy. The surgery went great and although the port is very sensitive we know it will be so much better in the end.

On Thursday morning Andy and I went on a little breakfast date. We wanted to spend some time together sans kids before Chemo and the sickness really set in. Of course we went to kneaders for some french toast!

Andy has done remarkably well since having Chemo. We obviously didn't know what to expect and each day is a little different. But slowly we are finding our new normal. He is really tired and nauseous, but each time he gets sick to his stomach we say, "But it is killing the cancer!" And then it doesn't seem so bad :)

 My mom brought Lucas a light up light sabor sucker.. he was obsessed.

 And this little miss decided rolling over was next up. She was showing off for grandma!

 Like mother like daughter

 We also went to Magleby's for breakfast

 And Lucas was having a hard day... so he had skittles for breakfast and no shirt.

We went shopping for some "Chemo Clothes" and it wiped Jane out

 My mom asked what Andy's favorite cookies were and I might have told her Snickerdoodles. Because seriously you haven't had a cookie until you have had Tracy's Snickerdoodles. 

 Just sleeping with Grandma :)  

 We got the exersaucer out and Jane loves it. And her headband looks like an 80's sweatband... that's how we roll.

 On Saturday night we decided to get out of the house and gets some J Dawgs. YUM!

Today Lucas was being so cute with Jane. He was showing her all the cool tricks on the exersaucer

 Smiling for the camera

 Sweet Jane

 Lucas making Janie laugh

 I looked down and Lucas was playing cars with his hand on his cheek. Such a cutie!

 One last picture of Grandma and Jane

Despite the hard Chemo day on Thursday we tried to have fun with Grandma Tracy while she was here. The BEST news was that Andy's bone marrow biopsy came back negative! YAY! We will take all the good news we can get. So we have 20 days before our next cycle of Chemo.

Quite the July

July 2012 will go down in the books as unforgettable. In short, Andy has been recently diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma diffuse large B cell. When we moved to Utah in April Andy had been having some stomach pain and after a few trips to the doctor they diagnosed him with an umbilical cord hernia and an ulcer. After a few more weeks of intense pain and the medicine not working he went back for more testing.

On July 12 he had an ultrasound where the doctor could not recognize some objects. Immediately they sent him for a cat scan. It was then where they found multiple tumors throughout his lymphatic system and on his spleen. 

On July 17 Andy had surgery where they took a biopsy of the tumors. We then met with the oncologist where we went over the pathology report and they gave us our diagnosis. Today he had a second surgery where they did an IV Port Placement and a bone marrow Biopsy.

Tomorrow starts Round 1 of Chemotherapy. The doctors are extremely positive as are we.

Although this has been extremely difficult, we have felt of everyone's love, prayers, and support. We are so grateful for all the kind emails, Facebook messages, Texts, voicemails and cards. I am so sorry if we haven't responded... we are trying our best. Just know that they are so helpful and usually come at just the right moment when we need them most. 

Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks:

Daddy's good luck charm for Surgery #1

Eating Firehouse for lunch

 Sweet little Janie

We were so so lucky for Auntie Jammy and crew to come and visit... Jane loves her Auntie.

And Lucas loves "The Boys"

Where we will be spending some time for the next 6 months 

Cute bowling shoes... why is everything cuter in "mini" version?

Chadder Boy!!

Eating Pizza and Thomas Juices

My mom got to come to town for our first chemo treatment... She got to meet Jane and she already loves her grandma

Lucas was a little shy at first and now he can't do any activity without grandma

Surgery #2!

And this Little Miss decided to roll over... 3 months, 3 weeks. Naughty Shamers!!

I'll periodically update the blog with information... I really want our blog to be happy memories, but I realize that this is our new life. So wish us luck as we embark on this new journey!