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Wednesday, July 30, 2008

GOOD NEWS!


I just got off the phone with my mom: They are letting my dad come home today! He has officially "turned the corner" with his chemotherapy and stem cell transplant, and they are allowing him to return home. It has been a rough ride for him...He has been so sick - I just can't tell you except that I hear in my mom's voice her fears and worries for him, but always the positive outlook that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. She has been a wonderful caregiver to my dad. I am so thankful for all of my friends and family, for their support and love they have shown to me through this time. Thanks, from the bottom of my heart.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

A Monster in my Garden!



I just had to take a picture of this monster zucchini that we found out in the garden! Holy cow! Madi was kind enough to be my vege model today, just to give you an idea of the size of this thing. The only reason I thought this blog-worthy was the fact that it grew in MY GARDEN! A shocker!!

Visiting Afton in Logan, Utah


Me holding sweet Shelby!


Trev and Shelby


Just back from Bear Lake...


We had a such a great time! Thanks Afton and Matt for having us! The highlight of our trip was Bear Lake. The weather was so beautiful and warm! The kids had a blast and are begging to move there, or at least to Logan. HA!

Chillin' out with cousins at Bear Lake


Isaiah - Do ya think he'll float??


Isabella - She loved the water! Can you tell???


Madi - A beached mermaid.

More Bear Lake...


Sweet Shelby!


Madison and Trevor


Having fun entertaining the little ones


Lauren holding Shelby


Brandon having fun in the sand

Sunday, July 27, 2008

The LEE's and DESCHAMPS', Payson Lakes


We had such a blast camping with you guys!! Thanks for the laughs and memories!

Friday, July 25, 2008

24th of July

July 24, 2008...HAPPY PIONEER DAY!

Yesterday was the 24th of July, which is Utah's famous Pioneer Day with celebrations throughout the state. As I am reflecting on pioneerism and my roots, the topic of polygamy came up in a discussion with Chris' sister Stef and her husband Brian, who actually has polygamatous roots (like my homemade Latinism?).

Which...reminds me of an old joke I heard on the Bob and Tom Show:

What is the definition of Polygamy???

Poly in Latin means MANY, and gamy...well, gamy means HEADACHE.

Yeah...pretty dang funny. A man must've thunk up that gem. :)

A long time ago, I saw a movie which depicted the exact opposite of standard polygamy. This movie played a girl who had multiple husbands, one of whom was Clint Eastwood (I swear it's true). Now, that's what I'M TALKIN' ABOUT!!

Of course, that would only work if the woman was a complete sexafreak and could balance multiple, fragile, male egos. Hmmm...sounds like a demanding job!

...Me thinks one headache is sufficient! :)

Relay for Life, June 20, 2008

This years Relay for Life was a huge success. I want to say thanks to my family, especially Chris' parent's Bennie and Carol and lil' sis Jamie, for being such a huge part of his team. They helped set up, cook, take down, and basic moral support for this event. Chris and his employer, Neways, support the Relay for Life with a team each year and actually were able to raise quite a bit of money this time around. Some other noteworthy teams were the Save the Ta Ta's Team, the Toilet Flusher Team (to flush away cancer), plus many, many others. Chris had guys from his crew volunteer to cook. The food was delicious. I am really impressed with the caliber of people who took the time to help out for this good cause. My dad had just recently returned from his first session of chemo and was not able to attend as his immune system was vulnerable, so mom came and walked in his place for the survivor lap. It was an incredibly humbling moment to watch the many survivors take that first lap around the course...I had this huge lump in my throat and tears stinging my eyes, just imaging the strength and willpower these folks posses as they fight for their lives each and every day. Chris was nominated as MC and over entertainment this year, which he totally rocked at and, if I might add, totally blew last year's entertainment out of the water too. Taking the Wizard of Oz theme and tweaking it a bit, Chris dressed up like the scarecrow and played the part to boot. He was a great MC, all night long. He entertained the masses (as well as the many kids who never went to sleep at all that night) with a live band - Meals on Wheels, live vocal - Brittany Shields and Blake Draper, DJ music, and many extras such as a pie eating contest, hoola hoop contest to the music "Wipe Out" (which I almost WON by the way, but lost to some teenybopper - My birthing hips can be good for something!). Chris and I were scheduled to walk at 3 a.m. (each team has to keep members on the track all night). It was a somber stroll as each step along the pathway guided you past glowing luminaries of survivors, but also loved ones who had succumbed to their illness.

South County Relay for Life, June 20, 2008

June 14, 2008

On Saturday, June 14, 2008, we headed over to Salem Pond for a BBQ to celebrate the Lee BDs for the month of June. Trevor's birthday was on the 14th and my neice (sister Amy's daughter) Savannah, had her BD on the 16th, both 11. We got lucky that day and aquired a few more neices, Shannon and Ellie, as they were visiting their dad in Payson that weekend. We had such a great time! Mostly everybody ended up getting wet at some point. The kids played for hours making sand castles and having water fights. Brandon fished with Grandpa Crosby and eventually caught a fish with the help of Madison. :)

June 14, 2008

Thursday, July 24, 2008

The Grandkids came for a visit!

Going back in time folks...

The Friday before Father's Day, the girls (minus Amy) and all the grandkids traveled up to SLC and surprised grandma and grandpa with a little visit. We gathered on the patio below and called them on the phone. Boy, were they surprised! Mom came down; it was so good to see her. Dad being in isolation (other than mom) could not come down, but he sat in front of the window and talked to us for hours on the phone. It was a great visit.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Mom's phone call

I just got off the phone with Mom. Dad had his last IV chemo today (as far as this transplant session goes), had some lab work done at the Hunstman. He has been very lightheaded, dizzy. Blood pressure was very low, so they gave him IV fluids. His white count was down to 0.05...amazing. The next 3 days will be critical. The nurse said to keep their fingers crossed that he doesn't spike a fever. So far, he has defied expectations: No mouth, throat, or digestive tract sores, no VT'ting or D, only queazy stomach and severe weakness, lethargy. He is eating as best he can, Ensure, oatmeal if he can stomach it. Packing his mouth with ice chips obviously helped minimize the uptake of the chemo into the cells of his digestive tract last week. I love you, Dad.

Call me "Slacker," July 23, 2008

Sorry...I am getting boo's from my family left and right for not posting my pictures and filling them in on what's going on. Chill out! I will post soon!

Camping up at Blackhawk, July 11, 2008

We finally took our camper up Payson Canyon for her virgin run. We met up with the Lee's at Blackhawk and had a great time! The weather was perfect. Jesse told ghost stories around the campfire, we had BB gun competitions, ate tons of good food, and laughed til our guts hurt. The next day, the party rolled on down to Payson Lakes where Grandma Lee had canoes and the kids had a chance to get wet.

The camper did well on the curves up and down the canyon. If I never sleep in a tent again for as long as I live, I might die a happy gal! However, dumping it at Flying J was not the fairly tale ending Chris had hoped for (use your imagination here folks). Chris is literally physically challanged when it comes to bodily fluids (other peoples).

Anyway, one more note to add: If you leave raw hamburger in your camper for over a week, and it is really hot in Utah, it will smell terribly horrible. 'Nuff said.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Brett and Jonah shootin' the BB gun!

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Kaisa - Such a cute Mama!

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Jamie...OOps, I did it again!

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Trevor doing a solo

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Jesse and Jonah

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Jonah waiting patiently for a turn in the canoe

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Brandon riding a log

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Ashley and Kennedy

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Playing cards in the camper

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Brenda checking brake lights for the guys....Grrrr don't take my picture!

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Kaisa and Jesse

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Lauren and Jonah

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