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!