Friday, December 23, 2011
Big Brother
Ben is really getting into this "bay brur" (baby brother) stuff. When we go to a store and see a baby or even a picture of a baby, he says "Ma, bay brur!" over and over.
He has a big tractor and a "bay brur tracto".
We even have a "bay brur Jesus" in our nativity scene.
Merry Christmas!
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Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Pie Frenzy
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Monday, November 21, 2011
Matchy Matchy
After Ben was born, I got a little obsessed with this outfit. I kept finding it on clearance in different sizes, so he was able to wear it often. I just couldn't resist dressing my boys up in the same outfit.
Ben really likes to try and hold Ike's hand. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Isn't this just the cutest thing?
Posted by Nick and Karalynn 4 comments
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Isaac Story
One problem with having a c-section is that the birth story isn't very exciting. So I will try to add as much drama and suspense as I can. And a few - ok a lot - of pictures in between to liven it up a bit.
We got up super early and went to the hospital. We checked in. They started doing all the surgery prep stuff. I had to drink a shot of some nasty orange stuff, I don't remember what it was for. An antacid maybe? Doesn't matter. I now supposedly know what really bad tequila tastes like. At least that's what the nurse told me it tastes like.
After all the poking and prodding was done, we were off to surgery. During the surgery, the doctors were talking about what their kids dressed up as for Halloween the night before. I wanted to tell them to quit yakking and pay attention to what they were doing, but I refrained. I visited with the anesthesiologist a bit, and he told me what they were doing to me. Somewhere in there I threw up the nasty orange stuff. They cut me open and out popped a baby!
I wore a pretty "fall risk" bracelet for a day until I could show the nurses that I could walk safely down the halls. It got a little annoying getting in trouble every time I wanted to get up. And I had to get rid of those stupid leg massagers. I know they are supposed to prevent blood clots, but seriously, they are obnoxious. Every time the nurse came in, she would put them on my legs. I left them on as long as possible, then I would take them off after she left.
Now for the gory part of the story. Feel free to skip this part if you're not into that kind of stuff. I managed to talk the doctor into letting me go home on Thursday afternoon. He wanted me to stay another night, but I wore him down with my begging, pleading, and crying.
That night I got into bed, started to roll over, felt my incision pop, and then I was covered in blood. Nick and I both panicked for a minute. Turns out I had a seroma, like a fluid pocket that had built up under my incision. It opened up and drained out, which they tell me is a good thing when you have a seroma. So I have spent the last two weeks with a hole in my stomach, and Nick has to pack it twice a day with gauze. It is healing up nicely and there is no infection, so hopefully it should only take a couple more days. Hopefully.
That's all of the gross stuff. Nick's mom stayed to take care of Ben (and Nick) while I was in the hospital and she left Saturday morning. Mom and Dad came back up Friday night. Dad left Tuesday morning and Mom left Wednesday afternoon. I was all alone all day Thursday and Friday, and I survived! I think I can handle being a mother of two. Boys. Yikes.
I think that's about it. Isaac is such a good baby. He hardly ever cries, and he wakes up once in the night to eat. I love to snuggle and kiss him and he tolerates it all very well. Now I'll quit and you can just look at the rest of the pictures.
Posted by Nick and Karalynn 5 comments
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Camping
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The Pumpkin Patch
A couple weeks ago, we went to the pumpkin patch. Ben loved this hot walker swing so much, he had to go on it twice. The second time was right before we left, and I think if they had let him stay on it a little longer, he would have fallen asleep. He was pretty relaxed. One thing about my crazy kid - as soon as the ride was over, all the other kids go running to their parents. What does mine do? He goes straight to the motor to check it out and see how things work. Something he inherited from his dad and both his grandpas.
He also loved the barrel ride. He was such a big boy, sitting all by himself. Nick told him to hold on, and his hands did not leave that spot.
And a completely unrelated picture:
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Happy Halloween
We went to the trunk-or-treat on Friday. SpiderBen really scored some good loot. Even after he paid his "Dad tax", he still had quite a bit.
I even managed to make costumes for the rest of us. Please don't pay attention to my kankles - I'm having a baby in 2 days.
Posted by Nick and Karalynn 3 comments
Updates
October 17
Dear Family and Friends: Just a quick update. The insurance company declined the request for the treatment that the Dr. recommended. University of Utah, they do the pre-authorizations, said they are appealing and felt sure it would be approved this time. He is still pretty weak but I think he is improving a little bit every day. When we have anything new to report I will let you know. Love to you all. Jolene
October 24
Dear Friends and Family: Well, Blue Cross denied it again. I called my insurance and, if I had the right code, they will pay for it if it is done as outpatient. It is so frustrating to have to deal with this on top of just dealing with the rest of the problems. Huntsman will appeal again but maybe if my insurance pays then we will get it done sooner anyway. Also, Chuck went in last Friday to have his port flushed and it didn't work. He is at the hospital now having a dye study done to see why it is not working and if it is not going to work then I am not sure what the next step is. He may have to have surgery again to have a new one put in. So, pray for a good result. We are still just plugging along and trying to keep the faith and have a good attitude. We have so many things to be thankful for, good insurance, good employers, and great friends and family to give us encouragement and support. Love to you all, Jolene
October 25
Dear Family and Friends:The dye test came back okay. The end of the catheter from the port is leaning up against his artery so they can put stuff into it but they can't draw any blood because it just sucks against the wall of the artery so he is okay to start chemo. Dr Manning (Oncologist) talked to him yesterday and wants to start the Chemo tomorrow. He sure hates to start it again. It will be every 2 weeks again. He didn't ask the Dr. how long this series will be. He will probably find out tomorrow. This chemo is the one that causes the neuropathy in his feet and hands and sure did make them hurt last time. We are hoping to have less side effects this time. We still don't know about the liver directed therapy yet. I am sure it will get done. If there is anything new to report, I will let you know. We just keep moving forward with hope and faith and try to sprinkle in a little courage. We really appreciate your thoughts and prayers. Love, Jolene
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Saturday, October 1, 2011
Update
Dear family and friends: We went to SLC yesterday to see the radiologist about the liver directed therapy. He thinks the best course is radiation. It is an approved treatment for metastatic liver cancer so the insurance will pay for it. It will take about two weeks to get the approval from the insurance companies and then we will go back and they will map his liver with dye through an artery in his thigh. It will take about 6 hours for the mapping and the recuperation. Then 1 to 2 weeks later we will go back for the procedure. It will only take about an hour and then he will recuperate for a couple of hours again. Both are same day procedures. They will put isotopes right in the tumors to kill them. They make these isotopes in the east some where which is so much better than it used to be. They used to be made in Australia only. They are smaller than a hair. It is amazing. There is very little side effects from this and they can do it only a couple of times and then they will have to try something else. He is still feeling weak but I think he is improving slowly. We appreciate all your prayers and concern and thank our Father for you daily. Love to you all. Jolene
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Monday, September 19, 2011
Update
Dear Family and Friends: We saw our oncologist here this morning. He has not had time to consult with Huntsman but did have a copy of the PET report. Huntsman recommended that he do more chemo and add Evaston (he has not been getting it because it inhibits cell growth and he had the fistula that needed to heal.) They also recommended liver directed therapy, which he didn't know for sure, either, what that entailed. It could be electric probes or isotopes etc. He will find out exactly what they were recommending. We would go back to SLC for that. He would like to try the first type of chemo that Chuck was on because it seemed to work better but it does cause neuropathy so it may be too hard on his feet. Chuck has to decide if he is willing to try it. I also gave the Dr. some papers that Miss U (Chuck's sister) sent to us about some experimental drugs that have promising results for his type of cancer (mutant KRAS) and the Dr said he was just at a conference where they were discussing a new drug that worked really well on this type if the mutation was in the right spot?? Anyway, Huntsman has had all the work done on the tumor so he should be able to find out if it is the right (or wrong) one. He will call us back with what he has found out about the liver directed therapy and the other info on Thurs. We are doing fine and just have to continue on in faith and hope. We appreciate all your thoughts and prayers and thank our Father daily for you. Love to you all. Jolene
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Friday, September 16, 2011
Hallelujah
My boy has FINALLY decided that he likes to read books. He will actually bring you a book, sit on your lap, and sit still - yes, I said sit still - while you read it to him. Sometimes he will help turn the pages. Then, when the book is done, he turns it back to the beginning so you can read it again. And again. He loves to take books with him to bed. This is how I found him after his nap the other day. Those two in his bed are his favorite right now. Especially the Chuck Truck book. "Hi, I'm Chuck. And I'm a dump truck". He likes getting dirty with his friends. The other one is an Old McDonald book he got for his birthday. It has little pop buttons (kind of like on the lid of a fountain drink) on all the animals. I can tell when he's awake because I hear a popping noise coming from his room.
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At the Shoe Store
Yes, I was a little worried too. Especially since his favorite ones to try on were the sparkly little girl shoes. But then we came home and he spent the rest of the day wearing his Dad's church shoes.
I don't think he's going to be a cross-dresser, I just think he appreciates a nice pair of shoes - like his Mom (and his Grandma Jolene).
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Friday, September 9, 2011
Update
Dear Family and Friends, Well the PET did not come back as we had hoped. He has 4 new spots in his liver so the chemo he has been doing did not work. The surgeon will put his case before the tumor board on Tuesday and we will have a new plan of action. It may include burning the spots or new drugs to see if they will work better. Our new oncologist is gone for the next week so we will see him the week after. We are doing okay and he is in pretty good spirits. We were just hoping to have a little break from the chemo etc. We continue to move forward. No sense in going backward. I will send more when I know more. Love to you all. Jolene
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Thursday, September 8, 2011
Update
Dear Family and Friends: We are off to SLC for the PET CT. He is scheduled for the scan at 6:30 am and we see the surgeon at 12:30. If this scan comes back clear then he will not have to have another one for 3 months. We are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. Everyone pray for a good scan. He has still been weak and tired but I think he is improving a little at a time. We will be home sometime Sat. I will let you know how it goes as soon as I can. We move forward with faith and just a little courage. We really appreciate your love and concern. Love to you all. Jolene
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Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Fun At the Fair
Before the fair this year, I went online and did a little pre-fair planning. I found a few fun shows to watch - first up, Knights of the Realm. It was pretty neat. There were guys dressed up as knights on horses with swords, complete with a king and a princess and a castle. There was jousting and swordfights and other knightly competition. Unfortunately, the knight we were supposed to be cheering for was killed. We watched the first of two shows, but I don't know if he survived the second show.
There was a butterfly exhibit that was pretty fun. They gave you a q-tip when you went in, and there were a bunch of bowls of sugar water everywhere. We dipped our q-tips in the water, then use them to feed the butterflies. Ben was really getting into it.
He was pretty aggressive going after them, until one of them would get a little too close and touch his fingers.
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