Home at Last!

A holiday visit to Temple Square.

When I walked out of radiation therapy a week ago with a graduation certificate in hand, I started to cry.  I had such a feeling of freedom!  I was able to go home at last to be with my family.

I felt like Santa driving his sleigh, as I headed home with Jessica.  The van was bulging at the seams with all the Christmas goodies I bought during my stay in the big city.  Steve joked that I had nothing to do up there but shop--in stores and online.  He said packages kept arriving from Amazon, even though he hadn't bought a single thing.  What can I say?  If I can't be with my family, at least I can buy presents for them. :-)

When I got home, I was welcomed with a big sign on the door, and balloons and flowers.  It was so wonderful!  Steve even had a fancy dinner all prepared, and the kids had cleaned the house and decorated for Christmas.  It was all so beautiful and wonderful.  Of course, I had to cry a little again.

With radiation behind me, I was eager to get started on my plan to get my body into better physical shape.  I signed myself and the older girls up for a membership at our local fitness center, and I attended my first Zumba class on Monday with Katie.  It was super fun!  I felt like quite the fitness guru, as long as I didn't look in the mirror. ;-)

Unfortunately, the next couple of days I could hardly walk. I made a trip to the doctor for an x-ray of my pelvis and got a brief scare when the possibility of cancer came up.  But, I'm happy and relieved to report that it turned out to be merely a "degenerative" injury.  In other words, I'm getting old and I'm not nearly as flexible as I was when I was dancing so much in high school and college.  Now, the trick is remembering that.

Secret Santa

I have a little bit of home here with me this week, in the form of my youngest daughter.  It's been fun having her with me.  I have somebody to take care of again. :)

Last night, I took her to Ihop to have breakfast for dinner.  Jess had pancakes, while I had my favorite stuffed french toast with blueberries.  When it was time for the waitress to give us our check, she was interrupted by someone signaling her elsewhere.  I didn't think anything of it until she came back a little while later and told us that an anonymous friend had payed for our meal.  I was stunned.  Nothing like that has ever happened to me before. 

I peered unobtrusively around the restaurant, trying to figure out who it was, but no one gave a clue.  What a kind, generous act!  I was deeply touched.  My only regret was that I could not thank them.

My family and I have been the recipients of many kind and generous acts during this last year.  They have brightened my day and lightened my load.  It's not so hard to go through cancer treatments with such generous friends and family to help you out.  So, thank you to everyone who has served us and continues to help us.  I hope someday I will be able to repay the favor, or at least to pass on this legacy of service to someone else in need.

Old Saint Nick

"Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, lean your ear this way . . .

Don't you tell a single soul what I'm going to say!

Christmas Eve is coming soon, now you dear old man,

Whisper what you'll bring to me: tell me if you can!"

We had a great time visiting Santa, an awesome toy store, and playing in the rain yesterday!

Gumdrop Christmas tree

Giving Thanks

My carpet of fuzzy grey hair.

On Thanksgiving Day this year, I got the brilliant idea to have the kids make a count-down chain for Christmas with everyone in our family writing something on a link that they're thankful for.  However, I forgot to add one item I'm thankful for: hair!  It's growing back, and I am so thankful!  Maybe by Christmas, I'll dare to walk around without a hat.

There are many more serious things for me to be thankful for this year, not the least of which is the treatments that have allowed me to remain on earth with my family a little longer.  My kids have been incredible, the way they've held up throughout this whole ordeal.  My husband has been absolutely amazing, juggling family and work, especially when I'm not there.  My in-laws are fantastic, taking care of my kids when I can't.  I'm especially grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, which makes it possible for me to be with my family forever.

Some "city fun" at Fat Cats.

As my family prepared to drive back home this weekend, everybody was loaded in the car except Megan.  I went in search of her and found her crying in the basement, sure she'd been left behind.  I told her that her family would never desert her.  Even if somehow they did, she would get to stay with me all week long.  That cheered her up, and she happily climbed into the truck.

It's tough to watch your family drive away without you.  It made me think how very important it is for me to live my life in a righteous way so that I can be with them for all eternity.  I don't want any of us to get permanently left behind.  I'm so glad that I only have to wait 5 days before I get to see them all again.

I've been living "up north" now for a couple of weeks.  It's fun, but much more quiet (and lonelier) than I'm used to.  It hasn't been quiet this week, however, with the Thanksgiving holiday and all my family around me the entire week.

Steve carved up the turkey.

Rachel organized the kids for an awesome Thanksgiving theatrical debut.

Aunt Nellie is always a big hit with the kids.  She was the life of the party with her marshmallows and hot chocolate.

Rachel obediently made signs for the various dishes (this one is stuffing) . . . doing it HER way, of course.

Steve and I were in charge of pies this year.  They were yummy--even if I do say so myself.

My radiation treatments are going very well.  I can't feel a thing when I get a treatment: I just have to take the technician's word for it that the buzzing noise means I'm getting radiated.  So far, I haven't had any side effects, either.  Every other time I go, they drape a fancy sparkling cloth over me so that the machine will deliver the radiation closer to the skin surface.  I told them I feel like a knight in shining armor when I get to wear my "mithril" mail (for Hobbit fans).

I'll be in residence here for about 2 more weeks, until December 7th (at which time I will beat a hasty retreat for home).  Until then, I sing "I'll Be Home for Christmas" in my heart.

We got in a round of black-light mini-golf.  One of my favorite activities!

Fighting off a ferocious dinosaur.

Man-eating whale on the loose!

The adults all got wooped by my "baby" sister--who toted her year-old baby on her back the whole time!

Radiation--Next step on the "Yellow Brick Road"

Sometimes I feel like Dorothy, making her way through dangers untold to the Emerald City where she hopes to get her life back to the way it used to be.  In the meantime, she (and I) chant: "There's no place like home!"

Steve's parents are home.  Yeah!

I finally have more to report on my road to good health.  I have finished convalescing from surgery and started the radiation process.  (No, you will not be able to use me as a nightlight on moonless nights. ;-)

Yesterday, I got to have a mold made of my upper body so that the radiation team will be able to position me in exactly the same place each time I arrive for radiation.  Radiation is targeted very specifically where my cancer used to be, so it will not effect my whole body like chemo did.  It will be like getting a sunburn every day in that spot, and I may be a little more tired than I would otherwise be, but that's all.  (After chemo, everything else is a cake-walk anyway.)

I made Megan a rainbow cake for her birthday.

The radiation treatments start in earnest on November 14th.  Actually, that will be a dry run.  I'll get my first dose of radiation the next day.  (Watch out for the Incredible Glowing Woman!)  I get my dose of radiation every weekday (excluding holidays) for 11 to 15 days.  Speaking of which, I have officially signed the papers to participate in the study that decreased the amount of days I have to get radiated from 6 weeks down to 3.  WAY better!  I'll be finished during the first week of December.

I will be living with my sister Janelle in Pleasant Grove for the duration of my treatments.  (Thanks so much to everyone who offered me a place to stay--you are wonderful!)  I have mixed feelings about my temporary move.  I'm kind-of excited to get a taste of the single life again.  I have a long list of things I want to do--including sewing projects and writing.

But, at the same time, I know I will really miss my family!  And I'm worried about my 4-year-old "baby" missing me.  This week, we were only gone for 2 days, and she cried on the phone when she talked to me.  Sad!  Plus, I have gone to very few cancer treatments without my wonderful husband.  He's been my constant companion and comfort in this whole ordeal.  I know I could never have gotten through cancer without him.  Going to treatments for 3 weeks alone will be a challenge.  I hope I'm up to it!

I dream of Genie, and Cinderella

Nancy Drew

Black Cat

While we were at the Huntsman this week, we looked into the exercise and wellness programs they have.  We talked with a very enthusiastic secretary who wanted us to try everything.  I nearly burst out laughing when she very earnestly urged Steve to try acupuncture.  (Those of you who know him well understand why. ;-)  As it turned out, I won't be able to take advantage of their programs, because we decided to get my treatments at their South Jordan facility, thus shaving about half an hour off my commute-time. 

So, I have a big change coming in my near future.  This step may prove to be the hardest of all on my journey--not because of the treatment itself, but because of the separation from my family.  At least, we'll be together on the weekends and for Thanksgiving, and the process will only last half as long as we originally planned.  So, I am grateful for that.

My sister-in-law writes about something she's grateful for every day during November.  I think that's an awesome practice, and one worth implementing not just for a month, but for the entire year.  I just can't be gloomy when I start counting all my blessings!

Things are Looking Up

I just wanted to offer a quick update, for those who wonder if I'm still down-and-out and that's why I haven't written for awhile.

Actually, I'm doing very well.  Life has returned to a semblance of normalcy, and I've been busy enough that I haven't gotten around to my blog . . . so that's a good thing.  ;-)  I was getting really tired of sitting around doing nothing all day.  That may be fun for one day, but when it's a couple of weeks, it gets old. 

For awhile I should be able to stand on my own two feet and take care of my family.  Not that I don't appreciate all the help we've gotten--everyone has been wonderful!--but it's nice for me to be able to cook meals and do some cleaning around the house.  I still can't push or lift with my arms, so my sister-in-law came over yesterday to mop and vacuum.  She's so awesome!

The next step on my cancer road is radiation.  That will start on November 14th.  My original plan was to get an apartment in Salt Lake (since radiation treatments are daily), but we found out that I WILL be able to participate in a clinical trial that will be many less treatments than we'd originally planned for.  So, I'm going to live with my sister in Pleasant Grove until radiation is done, about the end of November or first week of December.

We're very excited that Steve's parents will get home from their mission next week.  We're anxious to see them again.  They'll be here in plenty of time for Megan's birthday, and to help out on the home front while I'm missing in action for radiation.

And one other good thing I have to mention: my hair is growing back!  Yeah!  It's like baby hair--soft and fuzzy.  Jessie likes to stand next to my chair and rub her cheek on top of my head.  It's about the length of a military cut right now, so I look like G.I. Jane.  Maybe another month or two, and I might even be able to go out in public without a hat.  :-)

I'm A Survivor!

I just have to "shout out" to the world that I got a clean bill of health today from my doctor: the pathology report from my surgery showed NO cancer!  I am now cancer-free. :D  So, technically, I can now say I'm a survivor!  I just need to finish up the treatments (radiation, specifically) that will pound a few additional nails into the cancer coffin.  Take THAT, cancer!

The Bag Lady

I feel like the "bag lady" this week.  The surgeons installed my very own built-in drains to keep the swelling down at my surgery sites.  (Now I REALLY look like a Borg!)  I have spaghetti-like tubes coming out of my sides that connect to little rubbery bags I have to pin to the inside of my shirts.  Talk about making me look fat!  More than ever, I resemble one of the bells my mom collects: slender top and very wide bottom.  Hopefully, someday, I'll be able to balance my shape a little better, preferably toward the "slender" side.

I haven't had a whole lot of pain, at least less than I expected.  When my pain meds lapse, it feels like somebody locked my chest in one of those colonial wooden stockades and I have to lug it around everywhere I go.

But all of that is nothing next to the boredom.  I've decided it takes a great deal of patience to recover from surgery.  I guess that's true of many other types of recovery--including emotional and spiritual ones.  Some things just take time, and you can't exactly rush the process.  Lucky for me, I live in the age of electricity and computers.  I can download video games and watch T.V.  But even that gets a little tedious at times.  (Hard to believe, I know. ;)

Yesterday, Steve took Jess and me for a drive up the canyon to help me combat my cabin fever.  The leaves are turning, with patches of bright red and yellow everywhere you look.  This is my favorite time of year.  I love the colors of fall, the cooler weather, and the holidays.  For those who are wondering if I'll manage my annual spook house, I admit I'm already scheming.  I hope I'll be recovered enough by then to pull something off--probably scaled down from my usual ambitious project, but fun, nonetheless!  Hmmm.  Maybe the theme this year should be "For whom the bell tolls."

The above pictures were taken the last couple of weekends.  I really enjoyed being out on the mountains and having the strength and energy to heft logs into our truck bed.  Steve had a good group of girls to help him prepare for winter. :)  We all had fun, and it was great to be able to get some work done before surgery incapacitated me. 

Here, Jess appreciates the cream of a banana-cream pie. She's enjoyed being the only child this week, although I think she gets bored too.  We both miss her sisters.  Luckily, we'll be home in just two more days! 

The Power of Prayers

I don't have a lot of stamina right now, but I wanted to give everyone a quick update on my status.  I went in for surgery on Monday morning.  The doctors said everything went very well, although I was in surgery 2 hours longer than they predicted--making a total of 5 hours.  Then it took me about an hour to wake up.  It was a little stressful for my family, waiting so long, but I didn't know the difference. :)

I'm not in as much pain as I expected.  I got to leave the hospital yesterday, and now I'm staying with my parents while I recover.  We'll go home next week after follow-up doctor visits.

I want to let everyone know how very grateful I am for all of the prayers and fasting!  Someone told me today that I'm "tough as nails."  Well, I never really considered myself tough, so I know that the burden of this surgery was eased because of all of your prayers.  The Lord has truly blessed me, and made my burdens light.  Thank you so much for all you've done for me and my family!

Pavlov's Dogs

I think most everyone has heard of Pavlov and his experiments with dogs: how he conditioned an automatic response in them to a stimulus, like a ringing bell.

Well, last Monday I discovered that I am just like those dogs.  (Not that I'm calling myself a dog, or anything :)  Returning to the infusion center was one of the hardest things I've done.  I knew in my head that I didn't have to get the nasty FEC stuff, only Herceptin.  But my body reacted the same way it has for the last 4 treatments; with fear, anxiety, stomach upset, etc.  I was an emotional wreck!

Somehow, I got through the treatment and gradually calmed down.  The good news is, I felt great the next day.  With FEC, I was pretty much down-and-out for a week and a half, but Herceptin has very few side effects, and I have relatively good energy with no stomach troubles.  Hurray!

Besides getting a treatment on Monday, I met with 3 doctors in preparation for the second half of my cancer treatments.  We saw the reconstruction surgeon, the radiologist, and my regular chemo doctor.  After that, I have a pretty clear picture of how treatments will play out over the next 6 months.

I have surgery coming up in less than 2 weeks now.  After that, I will need to meet with the reconstruction surgeon once a week until radiation starts on November 7th.  I will undergo radiation once a day for 31 days.  In the meantime, I'll continue getting Herceptin every 3 weeks until the end of February.  (Hopefully, I'll get over my Pavlov response soon!)  Then, reconstruction surgery will happen about next April.

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa "G"

I think the radiation may well be the hardest trial I'll face throughout this whole ordeal.  It isn't that the radiation itself is difficult, but since it's every day I'll have to live near the hospital for 6 weeks.  We're looking into renting an apartment.  Being separated from my family like that will be really difficult.  Steve has been right by my side through everything so far (except when he had to undergo his own surgery), so it will be hard to go up to the hospital without him.  Not being able to see my kids each day and take care of them will be equally tough.  Steve has promised they will all come fetch me home, or visit me each weekend, so that will help.  I'm also really grateful that Steve's parents will be home from their mission by then, as we will desperately need their babysitting skills while I'm missing in action. :-)

Huge "shout out" to all our babysitters!

So, with one thing and another, we will soon be keeping the road hot again with weekly trips.  But we do what we have to do to get me well again. 

I got an MRI on Tuesday to see how much of the tumor (if any) is left.  I don't know the results of the test yet.  However, I found a comparison between the test and my experience with cancer in general.

For 20 minutes, I had to lie completely still on my stomach.  I held a "panic button" to signal the technician if anything went really wrong--like I got claustrophobic or something.  At the end of the scan, they injected a contrast into my veins for 9 minutes.  I was paranoid of an allergic reaction after my experience with Taxol (which proved to be an unfounded fear), but the technician was careful to caution me against squeezing the panic button for anything less than a real emergency.  I wasn't supposed to signal them just to ask how much longer I had to endure the injection, for example.  So, I was a good doobie and held still for the entire 20 minutes without squeezing the "panic button."

I relate that to cancer by reminding myself that my job is to figuratively "lie still" and endure everything that comes at me.  It doesn't do much good to ask, "Is it over yet?"  Eventually, it will be, even though right now it seems to be taking such a long time.  Maybe by the summer of 2013 I can do a happy dance and rejoice that cancer is gone and I got through it.

Our extended family is so awesome!  Thanks so much for all your service!

Milestones

I've reached another milestone: I am now finished with my last FEC treatment.  Hurray!  The nurses at the infusion center even sang me the coveted song (see earlier posts) and gave me a blanket and a certificate of completion.  It was awesome!  So now, as I experience each FEC symptom, I get to think, "This is the last time I have to do this!"

On to the next phase of treatment, which is surgery.  We met with the surgeon just a couple of days ago.  With cancer, there is simply no waiting if you want to beat it.  Even though the chemo treatments have reduced the tumor to practically nothing, and my body has responded so well, the cancer will come back with a vengeance if preventive measures aren't promptly taken, which is why surgery is necessary.  So, they've scheduled me as soon as they can: September 24th.  I'll be in the hospital for a couple of days, then with my parents for a couple of days before I'll be able to go home.

When I was first diagnosed, I was terrified of surgery.  It was a huge relief for me to find out that I'd get chemo first.  Now that I've experienced some of the more unpleasant effects of chemo, I find my fear of surgery has nearly disappeared.  I'm ready to take it on and get it over with.  I think I'll recover well.  So far, my body has responded impressively to treatments, and I trust that it will continue to do so.  The Lord has truly blessed me, and I see His hand in so many ways, helping me get through this.

I'm so grateful for all of the prayers everyone has sent up on my behalf!  I know they are answered, and I've felt their strength.  So, thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.  They mean a lot to me and my family.

Summer's Final Fling

Where did the summer go?  Every August, as school starts again, we find ourselves contemplating this question.  But this summer, with all the chemo treatments, the summer seemed to evaporate faster than raindrops obliterated by the heat before they reach the ground.  We didn't even get to fill our summer with camping and cookouts, like we usually do.  So, to make up a little for a poor summer showing, we decided to take a little family vacation to Wyoming.

On the drive up, we were able to visit with some of Steve's family.  Then we spent the next day driving through the Grand Tetons.  The day was hazy, but we were still able to see the peaks.  The views were fantastic!

Some of the peaks.

Beautiful Jenny Lake and some beautiful girls.

An historic homestead cabin

According to the kids, the highlight of the trip was seeing two mooses (meese?) grazing along a river bank.

Two "meeses"

That night, we had dinner and a show at the Bar J.  The kids really enjoyed the music and jokes of the Wranglers.  What I liked best was hearing Megan giggle at the jokes.

Enjoying dutch-oven biscuits at the Bar J

Encouraging a stubborn mule

The next day, we headed south down Star Valley.  On the Internet, I'd found mention of a cool water geyser in Afton, so when we got there we decided to go on a little adventure.  We drove up a canyon for a ways, then found the trail head to Periodic Springs, as the geyser is known.

We hiked about half a mile to get to the spring on an easy well-maintained trail.  Unfortunately, my camera battery died on the hike, so I had to take photos with Steve's cell phone.  They turned out better than expected.

At the spring

I was expecting a geyser like you find in Yellowstone, shooting straight into the air; but it was more like white water rapids flowing out of the side of a mountain.  Every 15 minutes or so, the spring trickles to a stop, then starts up again about 15 minutes later.  It was neat to watch the white water start to appear on the rocks above, like magic.

The kids and Steve hiked up a steep trail and were right next to the spring when it started flowing again.  I watched from below, but wished I could have hiked up the trail with them.  Maybe next time. 

After that adventure, we headed for my parent's house and then on home the next day, so the kids could start school.  Our trip was short, but a lot of fun.  It was a good way to say goodbye to summer.

More Thoughts on Strength

A young friend of mine recently wrote a poem for me.  Reading it, I don't feel that I measure up to the strength that she attributes to me.  However, it is something I aspire to.  I hope that I can be strong in the face of this trial.  I have so many moments of weakness, times when I wish so desperately it would all just go away and never return.  But I continue to muddle through and keep a smile on my face as much as I can.  Hopefully, by the end of my ordeal, I can feel like I better deserve my kind young friend's words.

She gave me permission to post her poem here.  I hope it inspires all of us to be the best we can be!

Strength

We all think we’re strong

One way or another

Greater than everyone else

But sometimes

There is one who is

Stronger than the rest

With the strength to carry on

With faith and hope

They strive for the impossible

Giving all they can

They smile when they want to cry

And they lift others up as they go

Even when they’re hurt

They never stop

They won’t let themselves fall

They’ll stand up with an unknown

Strength

They’ll show something nameless

Something mysterious in this life

A power unreachable

For most

Even through the storm

They won’t shatter

They’ll just play in the rain

Making the best out of life

They’ll just laugh and smile

Knowing that tomorrow

Everything will be great

That their life was fulfilled

To the best it could

Have been

And that everything was

Worth it

In the end

Strength to Face the Future

I'm home again after another chemo treatment.  My nurse this time called one of the chemo meds "Red Devil."  The name is appropriate for more reasons than the color.  But at least now I only have 1 more round of FEC before I'm done with that nasty stuff.  :-D

That's the good news.  The bad news is: I found out Monday from my doctor that I have to continue getting the medicine Herceptin every three weeks until the first of April, 2013.  Luckily, Herceptin has very few side effects.  For example, I'll be able to grow back my hair during treatments (yay!). 

The news was a little disheartening, however.  As much as I like all the nurses in the infusion center, I was really looking forward to seeing the last of that place next time.  When you're done with chemo, the nurses sing a song to you to the tune of Happy Birthday: "Congratulations to you; your chemotherapy is through!"  I was hoping to soon be the recipient of that song, but now I'll have to wait several more months.

Speaking of endurance, I met another patient briefly who hands out candy to everyone whenever he has a treatment.  I thought that was great, that in the midst of his trial he still finds a way to brighten other people's day.  Then I read the back of his T-shirt as he walked away.  It said something like "incurable, but not defeated."  I was amazed that he could maintain such a cheerful and positive attitude.  It must take a lot of strength to face indefinite cancer treatments.  I don't think I could do it.  Talk about a marathon!

As for me, I have faith that I will see the end of cancer--hopefully around next April!  I'm counting down the days until the moment I can say: "I'm cured, and I'm a survivor!"

Making Up for Lost Hair

I haven't written about hair for awhile, so I figured it was high time I again touched on this important side effect ;-), especially since I've recently experienced a change.

My hair didn't stand a chance against the big guns.  While I was on abraxane, it never really stopped growing.  I had to shave my head every couple of weeks or so.  No longer. (pun intended)  In fact, recently, my eyebrows and eyelashes have all fallen out.  This gives me that "chemo eyes" look everyone associates with cancer.  I have an even harder time looking at myself in the mirror these days.

To combat the mirror blues, I decided I'd better start wearing makeup every day, even when I don't expect anyone outside my family to see me.  Drawing eyebrows on is something I've never had to do before.  It is a tricky business.  Sometimes I look like a lopsided Groucho Marx.  But maybe I'll get the hang of it by the time my eyebrows begin to grow back in a couple of months.

I also tried fake eyelashes without much success.  I never could get them to glue on right so they weren't poking me in the eye.  So, I finally settled for painting a dark line on the lid with eyeliner and calling it good.  Steve said he can't tell I don't have lashes unless he looks at me from the side.  So, as long as I make an effort to face people head-on, they won't notice, right?

I guess the long and short of it is: I just need to stop worrying so much about how I look, and enjoy life.  I'm in the good part of my cycle now, so I'm doing more and getting out more often.  That's a real morale-booster.  It's also nice to be able to take back some of my responsibilities around the house, like fixing meals and doing laundry.  (Gasp!)  I never thought I'd say that about household chores!

My Rockin' Road Trip

When I first asked my sister if I could join her cross-country road trip, I wondered if I'd lost what little chemo left me of my brain.  After all, a cancer patient making a long road trip to Indiana then flying home on a germ-infested plane seemed a little crazy to me, especially in the week and a half following my first FEC treatment (aka: the big guns).

Miraculously, most of my symptoms cleared up a couple of days before the scheduled trip, and my spirits lifted into the stratosphere.  I was really happy and excited to be going.  So, on Friday June 29th, I met up with my sister Janelle and we headed for our first stop in Denver, Colorado.

A monkey friend I discovered at a Truck Stop playground.

Janelle had a portable GPS because neither of us is stellar with directions, and I'm about the worst navigator in the world.  But we ran into problems getting it to work.  Fortunately, the way was pretty straightforward at first.

The first couple of days we simply drove most of each day (and talked each other's ears off!).  We stayed at a little hotel in Denver the first night, then spent the second night with my brother-in-law and his family in Kansas City.  They were very gracious and welcoming, even though we got in rather late.  We missed an exit, so I had to call "Steve the GPS" to guide us back to where we needed to be.

What a gorgeous family they are!

After that, my brother-in-law fixed the problem we were having with our GPS so we were able to use it.  We christened it "Debbie."  Sometimes Debbie let us down (like when we tried to program in a Chuck-E-Cheese Debbie said was close by, but then she changed her story when we got on the road and said it was really more than 25 miles away!).  But most of the time Debbie diligently led us to our destination and helped us get back on track if we took a wrong turn.  Thanks, Debbie!

Liberty Jail

Independence Visitor's Center

On Sunday, we went to church with my in-laws and said a fond farewell.  We rounded out our Sabbath by visiting the LDS Church sites of Liberty Jail and Independence.  Both were very positive, spiritual experiences.  At Liberty Jail, I contemplated the revelations of comfort and peace Joseph Smith received there amidst such a difficult time in his life, and reflected that these same versus bring comfort to so many of us going through the trials of life.

On Sunday night, we stayed in St. Louis, Missouri.  The next day, we visited the Thomas Jefferson memorial, more commonly known as the Arch or the Gateway to the West.

The Arch . . . It's shiny!

While we waited for our turn to ride a tram to the top of the arch, we looked around their underground Museum of the West and shops.  They had some interesting things, including a wide collection of gold medals that were used to trade with Indians and seal peace treaties.

Our "space pod"

The tram car we rode in to the top of the arch reminded me of an old 60s sci-fi space pod, with white plaster covering the inside and little seats for 5 people to cram into.  The only window looked out on the concrete center of the arch and all its many steps (we were glad we didn't have to climb those!).  The tram was designed a little like a Ferris Wheel to move up the curve of the arch.

Peeking out the window at the view.

At the top, a relatively small corridor was pretty crowded with visitors, all trying to get a peek at the ground far below through little windows lining both sides of the corridor.  Looking out was like looking out the window of an airplane.  As such, I had no fear of heights, even knowing I was up so far--I feel safe when I'm in a solid structure like that.

We ended our day by meeting up with my parents in Corydon, Indiana (they flew) in the midst of a rain storm.  It was so nice to see rain!  It ended up being the only time we had respite from the heat during my whole vacation.  Somehow, we managed to schedule this trip in the midst of record-breaking temperatures across the nation.  3-digit temps combined with humidity made me grateful for the relative "cool" of Utah when I got home!

Janelle was the entertainment committee!

A future beauty stylist in action.

My brother and his family live near Corydon, so the next day (July 3rd) we visited with them and celebrated my niece's 8th birthday with bubble guns, burritos, presents, and chocolate cake.

The birthday girl!

The Fourth of July celebrations in that area of Indiana are rather more relaxed than what I'm used to at home.  Since there was no parade, Janelle and I slept in late.  Then we had brunch at Cracker Barrel with our parents.  Later, Janelle and I caught a 3D matinee of Brave at the local theater.  That night, the big display of fireworks was cancelled, due to the drought they're having even in that part of the country.  So, we enjoyed a small fireworks display in the driveway, courtesy of my brother and his family.

I'm a big fan of caves, so one thing I wanted to do while in Indiana was to visit Marengo Cave, located not too far from our home base in Corydon.  Everyone else humored me by making an outing of it.

The cave visit was very popular that day, as so many other people were retreating underground to beat the heat.  We had to wait awhile in the crowded gift shop for our tour, which gave me plenty of opportunity to find souvenirs. ;-)

I love caves!

It was an awesome cave!  My favorite part was seeing the shallow pools that were so still they perfectly reflected the stalactites above, so it was almost like you were looking down into a lower chamber.  I'm always fascinated by caves.  I'll have to set one of my books in a cave someday.

Janelle and I with our "little" brother

Eating Superman (red and blue) ice cream

After caving, we stopped at a quaint country store, then ate dinner at a restaurant overlooking the Ohio River.  It's a little shocking to see the size of the rivers that far East--so much wider than the rough and tumble "streams" we're used to in the West.

Overlooking the Ohio River.

A local favorite shop.

On my final full day in Indiana, Janelle, my parents, and I did a little site-seeing in downtown Corydon.  It was the capital of Indiana for awhile in the early 1800s, so we saw a few historical things and some fun shops.

"Conversing" with Frank O'Bannon

That evening, Janelle and I went miniature golfing.  This has always been a favorite activity of mine, ever since my kid birthday parties at our local course.  This place was located right by our hotel and had a cool (as in not 100+ degrees) indoor blacklight course that was also very cool (as in awesome!).

Golfing in the Glow

It was some of the best black-lighting decor I've seen (not that I've seen a lot, but it was impressive).  They said local school kids painted it, under the direction of a professional artist.  It was all very clever and wonderful.  At the end of the course, I discovered a pair of 3D glasses and tried them on.  Parts of the paintings popped off the wall into the air!  I wished I'd had the glasses from the start.

It was hard to get a photo not blurred, but my hand reads "I won."  Oh, yeah!

We ended our day with a visit to a local icon hamburger joint.  Janelle parked her car in the driveway while we took pictures by the sign, so we were a bit embarrassed when a local had to drive around us.  She was laughing at the tourists who were so starved for entertainment they were photographing the White Castle sign. :-D

The Vanna Whites of White Castle

The next day, we spent the morning visiting my brother and his family, then I got a ride to the airport.  I regretted that I wasn't able to stay long enough for my niece's baptism on Sunday because I had a treatment on Monday morning.  But, thanks to that wonderful vacation, I felt ready to face chemo again.

I really had a wonderful time!  Janelle has more experience traveling, and started conversations with strangers we encountered.  That really helped me to come out of my shy shell a little and realize how many nice people there are in the world.

I loved seeing new things and finding wonder and delight in something every day.  It lifted me out of my slump and showed me that there is life beyond cancer.  I feel like my creativity well has been filled again after a long drought.

By the Mighty Mississippi

So, I give a heart-felt thanks to my sister for letting me crash her road trip and share the fun, and to all my other family for being so kind and generous and hospitable.  Finally, to my wonderful husband for being "Mr. Mom" at home and supporting me so much in this endeavor, as he does with everything in my life.  He is the most awesome husband any woman could have!  It was great to be home with my family again.