Saturday, February 13, 2016

Another Valentine's Day

The last two years Karen has been in the hospital on Valentine's Day.  This year we are hoping to avoid a three-peat and, so far, things are looking good.

Karen's last chemo treatment was February 1st with her next one scheduled for February 22nd.  Her oncologist added back in a third drug to the regimen.  As a result she has had lower blood counts and increased bleeding this past week.  It was bad enough she needed a unit of red blood cells and a unit of platelets.  Luckily her counts have come up enough that more hasn't been needed.

For Karen losing most of a day being required to have a blood transfusion is frustrating.  It is time she would rather be spending with James and Rebecca.  That doesn't even consider the other side effects that, to put it mildly, she just doesn't like.  She will be talking to her oncologist about other options at her next appointment.

As I type this we are on a mini vacation/work trip in Mt. Pleasant.  It's nice for us to be able to take the kids back to visit friends and family in the area.  Karen had a 'survivor' party today since she has made it to two years (that's how long she was given in her original diagnosis).  Her mother and sister were able to help with the planning and party.  While the party was going I was working so I don't know how it went.  I do know she is taking a nap while the kids do the same.

We will head back home when I finish working here the middle of next week.  With a little luck we can keep Karen out of the hospital while we are here.  After that, we will see how things go at her next chemo appointment.  Hopefully, all goes well since she has been given a vacation, courtesy of One Wish Cache Valley, for our entire family that starts February 29th.  I really hope she is feeling up to it since it could very well be the last family vacation we have.  Whatever the outcome we are happy to have the time together we have been given.

Rebecca reading to James

Braden

Saturday, February 6, 2016

We have plans for tomorrow!

Ever since Christmas, when we received the news that my doctor did not expect me to live more than a year, I have been thinking about the mantra and if I needed to change it. It was difficult to think about how finite 6 months or a year seemed. There is a definite limit on those tomorrows.

But then I realized that this just wasn't my mantra, but Braden's and the kids as well. They will have plenty of tomorrow's that they will have to beat. I know that life continues on after we die and so I will have plenty of tomorrow's. I also know that through Christ I can have my family together after this life. I am grateful for my Savior and Redeemer who makes this all possible.

So I continue to say, "I am going to beat this. I have plans for tomorrow."

Love you all,

Karen