Chemo 101

Had an experience today that I never really thought I would ever have, never really thought about it I guess. We go through life and live each day, having all kinds of experiences.
Then there is that bump in the road of life that turns us in a different direction than we had planned or in this case never would I have planned this for one of my children.
On Tues Jan. 10 I drove up to SLC, took my mom home because as I said in my last post she came and spent about 2 weeks with us after Christmas. It was fun having her spend some time with us. I came up to be with Des for her 3rd and next to the last round of chemo. I am so excited that she is nearing the end of this portion of this part of her journey with breast cancer. She is about 1/2 way through, by the time she is finished with surgeries and radiation it will be about 11 months to a year, from the time she found out that she had cancer.
Going with her today to be her chemo buddy :) was an experience, I can't really say it was exciting because of what it is that is happening to everyone in the room. I looked around and there were many chairs with men and women in them that was hooked up to bags of chemo streaming through their bodies. There was a man across from us that was having this poison going through his body, for the most part he was sleeping, but then he would wake up and use his little bag that he held in his hand to throw up in, as his wife (I am assuming it was his wife) had tears in her eyes, it made me wonder what his prognosis was. If he was just getting chemo to buy him some time. Then a cute little lady sitting next to Des was very spunky and man could she move, she needed to visit the little ladies room, she jumped up, unplugged herself from the power and strolled her bags with her and she was moving pretty fast for her age. (to and from the ladies room) A very pretty lady sitting on the other side of us, still had a very pretty head of hair, I could tell she was in very good shape, she had a marathon magazine on her table. I wondered if she was going to lose her hear or just what type of chemo was going through her body.
The best part of this experience was sitting next to my sweet daughter going through this very hard thing, looking at Pinterest and blogs with her, something we both enjoy doing. I know that I make chemo sound like a bad thing in which i guess if you look at it as poison going into you body it is a bad thing, but it is the thing that is saving my daughters life, it is killing the real killer, which is the cancer. It was interesting to watch the nurses as they would hang the bags, they would glove up and put on a cover thing over their clothes to hook the people up to the chemo, my thought was "you have to put on all that gear, and you are putting that stuff through my daughters body, how is that possible."
The whole process of this chemo thing is just an amazing thing. I am so so thankful for the medical technology that we are blessed with today. That Desirae is able to go through this very hard thing to be able to continue to be the daughter, the wife and mother that she is.

December 2011

I can't believe the year 2011 is gone, it went by so fast. I always heard that the older you get the faster the years fly by and I turly believe that.
To finish out the year with the month of December, we started off with cute little Ellie' birthday which I do not have any pictures because we where here skyping with them. But she is a big 5 year old girl now. Getting excited to start school in the fall.
As always we are all busy shopping and preparing for that big day at the end of the month. I had to make sure I had our Texas family taken care of in time to get their package shipped off so they would have it in time for Christmas.
I got a wonderful cold during this time which is never to fun.
We also celebrated Logan' 8th birthday, he was looking forward to getting baptized at the end of the month.
Des went in (wed 21) for her 2nd round of this 2nd treatment of chemo, as far as I know she did better than the first round, she never complains at least to me. She is such a trooper, taking this challenge and hitting it head on. I actually recieved a phone call from her on the 21st, we had a great long talk about anything and everything. (little did I know she was keeping me on the phone for a reason)
Ron and I were heading to Vegas Wed afternoon to pick Sharise up from the airport. While talking to Des I recieved a text from Danette asking me if we had recieved the package that she had sent about a week before. I told her "no not yet" she text back that she would have to check on it. About 15 minutes later there was a knock on the door, I was still talking to Des. I went to the front door and I could see little faces looking in the window, thinking maybe it was neighbors dropping something off I opened the door and there on the other side was my cute Texas family, Danette, Chad, Carly and Sam. (have a video but it won't download) I think I was kinda in shock, because I didn't cry and I usually do when things like that happen. So needless to say we didn't leave quite so early to go pick up Sharise. (they had to bring back the gifts I sent to them in their luggage) She was to arrive in Vegas at 11:55 that night. It was fun seeing her in the airport, it has been since Aug. that we have seen her. Then on Christmas afternoon our SLC family came. It was the best Christmas present ever to have my family all together.
Christmas Eve night we had Sharise, Danette' family and Dan and his little family spend the night. Grandpa read the night before Christmas to the kids before we opened the traditional PJ's, got the kids settled in bed and played some games, then Dan took Sharise to do his paper route with him. Around 2 in the morning Dan came in with little Haiven, she had been throwing up and was one sick little girl. Grandpa and Dad gave her a blessing. It was fun getting up Christmas morning, having some little ones here to watch their excitment of Christmas. We did our Chritmas morning thing, had some breakfast and got ready to go to Church. Love going to church on Christmas to remember what this season is all about. Remembering the birth of our Savior, in which I really tried to focus on as I was preparing for Christmas. Brits Family joined us at Church and then came here for more presents and food. Back to when Des arrived, we opened a few more presents and we was able to do a little Nativity in which I have been wanting to do for so long, Grandkids finally to the point we could pull it off. I loved watching them preform the nativity. We had fun being together, even though a few of us shared little Haivens flu with her on Tues. Our Texas and SLC family left on Wed.
On the 31st was Logan' baptism, it was a nice little service, can't believe he is 8.
We were going to celebrate Haivens birthday that day as well, but Chantelle decieded to celebrate on Mon. because she was still not feeling to good. So we had a fun little celebration on Mon for Haiven, she is such a cutie, she loved everything about it except when everybody started singing to her she was not to sure about being in the spotlight. (pic below)
We took Sharise back to the airport on the 2nd to return to Texas, she is loving it there. As much as we miss her it has been a good thing for her.
My mom rode down with Ron' parents on the 28th so she could be here for the baptism. She is staying till the 10th, she will ride back up with me when I go up to SLC to be there for Des' next round of chemo.
That is the month of Dec. for the Fowlks'. Looking forward to 2012 and the expantion of our family.

Thurs. after Sharise arrived we did our traditional Gingerbread (graham cracker) houses.

Grandpa reading "Twas the Night before Christmas" to the kids. I love this picture.
Our first Fowlks Family Nativity, what cute kids we have :)
Random Pictures
Here's our big 8 year Logan.
Haiven looking at everybody singing to her in the first pic and not liking it in the second pic. :)
She was loving the cake and knew just what to do. I was worried that she might not keep it down but she did. She was lovin the frosting. 2011 was a good year, even with the shocking news of Des having breast cancer, it has been a growing experience for me. Learning more fully how to rely on our Savior for comfort and using His atonement. I have been so blessed with a wonderful husband, children, son in laws, daughter in law and grandchildren. I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving and Birthday

Thanksgiving this year was our family's off year where the kids all go to there in-laws. So as November hit this year I started thinking how different this year was going to be, with Sharise not even going to be here. I was thinking of all kinds of different things that Ron and I could do. Of coarse a Thanksgiving Cruise would be awesome right? Wrong, there would be no family at all. I thought maybe we could go help out at a homeless shelter, which would have been fun. But Thanksgiving is family time in my book. So heading up to SLC was the only option. We have lots of family up there, even though Des and her family ate dinner at the in-laws this year we were still with family. We had a quiet little dinner with Ron' parents and our niece Andrea came a little later. Can I just say how nice the clean up was, didn't take us long at all. But I would give up having the quiet and quick clean up for having all of my kids around and having it a little chaotic with grandkids running all over the place and yelling and screaming. That to me is Thanksgiving. Des and her family came over to Grandma and Grandpa Greats house when they were done at the Ogdens, the kids played some cards with Grandma. And then we headed to Des' house.




Friday is our after Thanksgiving movie day where it has been tradition to go see a new movie out. This year the movie was the Muppet Movie which we enjoyed Ron and I went and picked up my mom, she enjoys going to movies. It was fun keeping the tradition going.

After the movie we needed to drive my moms car on the freeway because she never drives it enough to pass the emission test. So I decided to call my brother in Boston to see if we could take a look at his home in Bountiful, he will be moving there soon. So off to Bountiful it was, took Ron through his home which is Gynormous. Then took mom to lunch at Kneaders, it was very tasty as always. Then on to Sat. which was the day for traveling home.

Sunday we celebrated Chantelle birthday that was on Friday I asked her what dessert she wanted and she said brownies or Oreo Pie. I told her it would be safer if I did brownies because I have not tried Oreo Pie so brownies it was, also wished Chad a happy birthday that was on Sunday. He is part of our TX family. They both had great birthdays. I love my wonderful family. I love the technology today, we can talk with and even see them over skype.



Along with thetechnology have to mention how grateful I am for the wonderful medical advancements that are so available today. So grateful that we are in a time that Desirae can be treated for her cancer and have the medications that will help her get through the effects of the chemo, she has been able to function, don't get me wrong it has not been an easy thing but she has not been throwing up like people I have known in the past has done on chemo. So grateful that her last scan showed that the little buggers are leaving her body. I am so grateful that I am going to be a grandma two more times next year, what a great number 12 grandchildren in the year 2012.
I am excited for Christmas, we will have most of our cute family here but so bummed that Danette and Chad will not be able to be here, with a cute little one joining their family they have to put the money elsewhere, than paying the airlines. Sharise will be coming in on the 21st, excited to see her. As always looking forward to see what the new year brings for us. (besides two new cuties to our family)

Back from TOFW

Friday night and Saturday

Laurel, Jenny, Karen, Desirae, Brittany Me, and Chantelle

I am ready to conquer the world now. Back from TOFW, was so so good, I have been spiritually fed, and have some great suggestion on how to help ME help others and how to help ME. I truly could not say who my favorite speaker was because they all were very edifying. I loved the theme this year, "Choose to Become" in general we could choose to become what ever we wanted to become. It is up to us!
There was great music provided by Hilary Weeks and Jericho Road. Very inspiring in their own way.
Hilary Weeks related her Clicker story I have thought alot about her story and have been trying really hard to incorporate that into my life of thinking uplifting thoughts rather than the alternative. Not perfect at it yet but I continue to try.
Brad Wilcox a couple things that I jotted down from him were, "HIS (Christ) ultimate goal at the end is to be able to see HIMSELF in us. Second thing was that "Gods delays are not His denials" in other words when we are fervently praying for something and the answer is not coming maybe as fast as we would like it to come, it is not that He denies us of answers, just may not be the time yet. Remember He can see our story, we can't.
Sheri Dew "If we want to see the view we have to make the climb, we need to tether ourselves to Jesus Christ.
Stephanie Nielson go here Quick story of her, she and her Husband were in a small plane crash in 2008. Her and her husband survived, the pilot did not. You can read her wonderful story on her blog. She is such and inspiration to me.
Emily Watts was wonderful gave us 5 tips on helping us to be a better daughter, wife, mom which ever hat we wear her tips were great.
Micheal Wilcox said "the secret of becoming is Knowledge."
Wendy Ulrich Wendy added 7 things to Emily's 5 these 7 things were how we can be happy. and last was;
Laurel Christensen she talked about some of her struggles and trials, one thing that she said was "Don't be the one that gets in your way!" She said that "Faith is wanting what God wants for you" She talked about ;
Pray with Faith
Think with Faith
Live with Faith.

TOFW

I am so excited for THIS I am always excited to attend this event each year. It always inspires me to try to be a better person. I love the music, the speakers and the atmosphere in general. We are going to Salt Lake this year, last year we attened the Las Vegas one and the year before the St. George one. I have also been to Logan. One year we hope to be able to attend the one in TX so that we can attend with Danette. (and possible Sharise where ever she ends up)
The music this year will be by Hilary Weeks and Jericho Road, love their music.
Speakers:
Sheri Dew
Brad Wilcox
Emily Watts
Wendy Ulrich
S. Micheal Wilcox
Laruel Christensen
Ann Osborn Poelman

Each year you get a new one of these





This was last years bag...............LOVE IT!

SO EXCITED FOR MY NEW BAG!!!!!!

Sunday thoughts

We just had a wonderful regional conference, learned much about the Priesthood, family's and marriage. What it takes to have a wonderful marriage, it is both people working together as one, over looking each others weaknesses. Also having the Lord at the center of the marriage and including Him in your marriage. Leaving conference feeling very edified.
I am so thankful for a good husband that puts up with my imperfection, all I can promise him is that I am working towards perfection. And who puts up with my tears, he has seen more than his share lately. I am thankful that he goes to work every morning because that way he doesn't really see all the tears shed. Having our oldest beautiful daughter going through this really stinky trial in her life. Sometimes all I feel like I can do is cry. I know that really does not do her any good, but it releases the pain I feel as a mom and then I can go on and do what I need to do. Along with this trial that has entered our family we have also received a few tender mercy's from our Heavenly Father, His way of telling us He knows us He knows what we are going through and feeling and that He loves us.
I feel so blessed as a mom to have such wonderful children, who loves this gospel the way I do. Who teach me more than I feel that I have taught them. Who care for each other even though we don't all live close they stay in contact with each other. Love it
My FAMILY is awesome.
For those of you that might not have Desiraes' blog address go HERE if you would like to read her cancer journey.

Happy Birthday Dad!!!!!

Thinking of my cute Dad today, as time goes on, birthdays, holidays come and go it seems to get easier not seeing his busy hands and hearing his gruff voice playing with the grandkids and giving them knuckle sandwiches. The wonderful memories are there and that is what I miss is those memory building experiences with him. There are days that are really hard such as today. He loved seeing and teasing the grandkids. This is dad holding little Ellie this is a typical picture of him when the new babies would come to see grandpa and grandma Holt, he would hold them and smile and talk to them. I know that I will see him again one day and that reunion will be so sweet. I am sure that he has those gardens in Heaven looking beautiful. I love you Dad!!!!!