Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Just checking in... 

We had a wonderful Christmas

and are excited for a new year & the exciting possibilities 2015 brings.

A whole bunch of catching up to do.

Sorry I never have time to blog with going to school. This is not in any particular order but at least it's something :)

Eric hit the 2 year mark since being diagnosed with TC. I was reflecting back yesterday about that day and this picture along with a few lines from the beautiful poem my sister in law Marrie wrote sum up how I'm feeling.

Forever are we.
Let come what maybe.
Tender hands I hold.

This journey has not been easy but together, with the Lord on our side we can do anything.

For Eric's work party yesterday we went bowling. A couple years ago when Eric was sick they also went bowling for the work party and had made these shirts for everyone. We were excited to finally be able to wear them! It was also really nice to have a date night!

The cutest visitors that ever came to visit me at school. Eric finally let me trim his beard and Tayvia had been asking for a while if she could come to my school to get her hair cut. 

A throwback picture for this post because it's a cute one with the people that I'm most thankful for. 

While putting up our Christmas decorations Tayvia insisted on wearing her Rapunzel dress. I think because we were listening to Christmas music and she wanted to dance. It was so fun to watch her and Eric two step! When he dipped her she was like no no no. It was funny!

Last but certainly not least Eric went with his dad about a week or so ago to go see about getting some hearing aids. His dad needed to get his fixed and he brought Eric a long with him to see what they could do for Eric. We are incredibly thankful and blessed that Eric's dad was so generous to get Eric hearing aids for him. It has been something that I have been hoping he could get because communication is so so hard between Eric and I. It just hasn't been an option for us to get them for him due to cost. Most of the time talking to Ric has been ok but other times seriously frustrating. Since Eric got the hearing aids it's definitely been an adjustment. He has to learn how to use them and take good care of them which he does. I can already tell a difference though!

Celebrating six years.

Where does time seem to go no one will ever know. One thing I do know for sure is how much I love spending time with my wonderful husband! I'm so glad I get him for eternity!

We ate on main street in Park City tonight. The city where we met and our love began. This special dessert was waiting with my name on it.  Yum!

Happy Halloween

Princess Rapunzel and her royal parents.

Eric went in for more shots today. Such a champ! It will take two years to get everything he needs.

Immunizations

Since it's been one whole year since Eric finished his bone marrow transplants it's time to get re-vaccinated. He heads in tomorrow to get the first couple shots. 

Ps. How amazing is that.  I can't express to you all how truly grateful I am that those horrid bone marrow transplants worked.  This past year has been a pretty good one considering all that it has entailed.

That's what fun is!

About a week and a half ago we went to Lagoon with my work.  So much fun!

September update: Eric is seriously The MAN!

Eric had a new CT scan done last Friday and a follow up appointment with Dr. C on Wednesday this week. This seriously has to be one of the best appointments that Eric has had. We were informed the results of the CT scan were really good. All of the lesions in Eric's nodes were gone [GONE people] and the lesions in his lungs and liver continue to shrink! We say boo yay grandma to that! Dr. C wants to see Eric back in three months (December) and do another CT scan in 6 months.

A few pictures of Eric hiking Mt. Nebo recently! 

Cars For a Cause Car Show

Almost a year ago I was approached by some family friends if we would be interested in having a car show held in Eric's honor to help raise money to help with his medical bills. At the time I though that Eric should be better by then and that it would be selfish to accept their generosity. Although Eric is indeed 'cancer free' we continually have medical bills that we are paying for. Obviously I accepted their good will and am so glad that we did for a few reasons.

 First reason is because it was a very fun event.

These are all prizes for a raffle that were donated! We ended up winning a few great prizes including that green canoe.

The party tent! Miss Farmington was even there to help with the little kid games!

We each got to pick our favorite car and give an award to our choice!

Eric checking out his choice with the car owner. This truck was sick!

My choice. I thought this little guy was pretty cute!

Family photo by Tayvia's choice!

The second reason that I am glad we participated in this event was because it was so great to feel so much love and support from family, friends, and strangers. I would say that we made out pretty good because of everyone's generosity. So THANK YOU! An especially big thank you to Bryce and Sydney Green for putting in lots of time and hard work in putting this car show together for us!

Archery Hunt

Eric is off to his cabin this weekend to hunt. It's the first time since we have been together that I haven't gone with him because I have school.  I'm hoping Eric gets an elk this year so we can stock our freezer! 

Summer time madness

A couple pictures from a weekend at the cabin in July

Some pictures from our recent trip to Lake Powell

July Smash post

Eric had an appointment on July 18th. It was fun to be able to meet him for lunch before heading over to the clinic. Eric's blood work looks good! He has gained some weight (due to the steroid he was on earlier this year) and Dr. C would like him to work out a little more. Eric has a hard time remembering what he was going to do but will recall what that task was 20 seconds later. Dr. C encouraged him to do little memory building games to help. Eric wont be going back for another appointment for 2 more months. Dr. C wants to get a CT scan at that time because it will have been 6 months since his last one. YIPEE! I did ask at what point do we talk remission and he said in 5 years. Eric's blood work shows that he is cancer free but he will continue to be watched closely for a few more years.

While at this appointment we saw a flyer for Relay for Life. This is something we have heard about before and were excited for the opportunity to attend. This particular one was also on July 18th over at Murray Park. The restaurant Brio catered...amazing! We watched a little program, got t-shirts, and did the walk. I was so proud to see Eric walk the 'Survivor' walk and then we joined him as 'caregivers'. Mostly Tayvia wanted to play on the play ground after that :) We look forward to being apart of Relay for Life every year. Next time hopefully apart of a team!

July 22nd was Eric's Birthday! He turned 30 and I really wanted to throw him a surprise party. He figured it out as we were on our way to the park but at least he didn't know until then or know who was going to be there etc. The theme was 'Nerdy Thirty' and it was great to see everyone dressed up. Eric is kind of a nerd if you didn't know already. He is into lots of fantasy movies and games. Eric's sister Laura just so happened to be visiting from Texas and boy did she hit the ball out of the ball  park with her birthday cake for Eric. She made our wedding cake, Eric's sisters, and Eric's brothers groomsman cake so I knew she would do amazing work! Thank you so much for everyone who came to Eric's party. He really enjoyed it. For me it was more to celebrate Eric's life than it was to celebrate another birthday. So grateful that he is still here with Tayvia and I today!

Eric came into my school for a spa pedicure and manicure for his birthday!

Hearing Loss

Eric had an appointment today to evaluating his hearing loss.  In his left ear he has 40% hearing loss and his right ear had 10-15% heading loss.  Eric's ears didn't have fluid behind his ear drum or an excess of wax in them like before.  A bone in his ear is damaged from the chemo and isn't sending a clear message of what is being received.  You can do surgery but it's risky.  You risk the chance of damaging the bone even more.  The best solution would be hearing aids.  Eric is on the borderline of needing them vs wanting them.  He goes in on Friday to have an evaluation for hearing aids. I personally would love for him to get some.  Unless I have eye contact with him he doesn't usually know what I've said.  Therefore I have to repeat myself several times. You can imagine that would get old fast.  I think the main thing that would hold Eric back from going through with getting hearing aids would be the cost.  If you could please take some time to check a fundraiser Facebook page that my sister in laws sister is going to do for us we would greatly appreciate the support! It's called Cars for a cause.

This is a picture of Eric with his new hat that his parents brought back from Russia.

Happy Fathers Day.

I have been meaning to get Tayvia's 2 year old pictures done. While Eric was in Lake Powell I ceased the opportunity to surprise him for Fathers Day! Needless to say they turned out beyond cute!

This past Fathers Day also marked having our Bella puppy for four years now!

Follow up with Dr. C

Eric had vital signs taken and blood work as per usual. Everything looked good.

 Dr. C went over how the Biopsy went and the results. They don't treat radiation necrosis unless it interferes with daily life. For example if Eric feels that it's no longer safe for him to drive because of his shaky vision because it's gotten worse. Eric hasn't been playing as much basketball because he is a little fumble and we haven't gotten out to play tennis yet this year but Dr. C encouraged Eric to try to do those things if he can. Eric can taper off of the medicine he is currently on!

 If Eric gets any new symptoms or anything worsens we are to let Dr. C know. They would treat it with a series of steroids. Otherwise he doesn't want to see us back for 2 months! No scans, blood work- nothing!

Thank you so much to all of you this past week for your thoughts and prayers.  We couldn't get through any of this without your support or Gods helping hand.

So I may go on hiatus and not post for 2 months! AH! *Here's to a good summer!*

Going home today!

The night went well. I could hear the nurse come in to do assessments on Eric. At about 3 they took Eric down for a follow up ct scan. When I woke up and saw that he was gone I thought gee he must be restless and went out for a walk but his I.V. poll was still here. Did he escape? Lol Not too much later  his nurse was wheeling him back in from the scan. Everything looked great on the scan.

We just met with Dr. Rich's nurse practicioner. She was following up on how surgery went and how Eric is doing. 

She removed the dressing and told us how to take care of the battle scares. Eric basically shouldn't get them wet and when he goes outside he needs to wear a hat. Next Thursday he will go in to get the staples removed. 

The soonest he can return to work is Monday but she advices that he take a week off to recover. 

As I noted in a previous post they found dead tissue and not new or old cancer. In a week they will have the final results.

I'm going to run down to the cafeteria to grab breakfast and hope we get out of here soon....in record time I might add. We are only staying one night during this hospital visit and no one can stop us!

Good Night.

Today I thought Eric was taking a nap so I snuck away to eat lunch...only to get a text with a request for what he wanted for lunch. Before surgery the nurse asked Eric if he had any concerns going into the procedure today. He said honestly I'm just thinking about what I want to eat after lol 

Shortly after lunch Eric's mom came to visit for a little bit. 

We spoiled our dinner with a cookie and brownie. We asked the nurse for milk and it took a while to get it. Most people in the ICU aren't able to eat and the fridge was out of stock so it took a minute to track down some milk. Lol I returned to the cafeteria to get dinner...two beef chimichangas that were pretty good. 

Eric's brother Paul and his wife Jodi also stopped by to see how E was doing. We face timed with miss Tayvia Sue this afternoon as well. She is so cute and we all can't wait until we are reunited.

Eric was able to get unhooked from a few contraptions...blood pressure cuff etc and go for a walk around the unit before retiring for the night. 

The nurse will be doing assessments on Eric every two hours during the night to make sure he doesn't develop weakness in one side of his body over the other. I'm hoping to sleep through it. I'm on a recliner tonight because even though I fit in Eric's bed with him to watch t.v. he said I can't sleep there :( ok, fine. It's only for one night.

The prognosis is good!

My dad came to the hospital to wait with me and to be there when the doctor was done and came to deliver the news.

Most doctors have talked to their patients loved ones in the waiting room but he had us go to a private consultation room. This made me a little nervous but I also preferred the privacy. 

The first lesion that they took a sample from indicated that there was no tumor and that it was likely radiation necrosis. To make sure they took a sample from a nearby lesion and concluded the same thing. 

It isn't testicular cancer spreading. It isn't a new cancer. Its radiation necrosis. 

We will now meet with Dr. C on Friday to see what the plan is now that we have an understanding of what it is. 

I'm so happy and can't wait to go give Eric a big hug when he gets out of recovery. 

He will stay in the ICU over night. 

A few photos from two lunch dates this past week.

I was finally able to try authentic churros. They are Eric's favorite things he had in Brazil. The picture doesn't lie. They were amazing!

We had giant sandwiches at the Grove Market.

And the other date was to Hires Big H.  How cute are these two?

Mothers Day

On Sunday Eric and I we able to get together with both of our families. In between parties we got both of our fathers together so that we could receive priesthood blessings. It's comforting to have fathers who are worthy priesthood holders in our lives and who are able to bless us especially during this time. 

We hope all of you women out there had a lovely Mother's Day! 

Before Biopsy Surgery

We had to be at IMC @ 5 am this morning. I had our over night bag packed, paper work, iPad & kindle to keep me busy and a begal and juice for breakfast.

It didn't take long after checking in before he was taken back to the prep room to gown up, get an I.V., blood work and instructions. 

Eric was then taken to get an MRI which will help guide Dr. Rich in surgery. I was able to go and sit outside of the room during the MRI. It was a quick one and only took ten minutes. 

An orderly from surgery came to get Eric from the MRI. We went up the elevator. I gave him a kiss and we parted ways. 

The surgery should take about 90 min. I'll update you all after.

Below: Double checking where to place the Fiducials. And Eric going into the MRI machine.