Exactly one month ago, on March 7, a day after his 63rd birthday, my dad was diagnosed with colon cancer. The following week he had a baseball sized tumor removed from his colon and they biopsied everything so we knew exactly what we were dealing with. We found out that it is stage 4 colon cancer that has spread to the liver.
His outlook is not great. Statistics say a lot (life expectancy anywhere from 2-5 years with chemo). However, I know that faith is often able to tell a whole different story. Right now my dad is trying to heal and recover enough to be able to start chemotherapy. He should be good to go in a few weeks. His regimine will be to get accessed and start pre-meds at the office on a Monday, then be sent home with a chemo pump that will distribute the chemo throughout a 48 hour period (so he will be continuosly attached to the pump), he will then return to the office on Wednesday to get de-accessed (from his port inserted into his chest- just like Rylee has) and turn the pump in. He will then have the rest of the week off (but not really, because he'll be dealing with the effects of the chemo on his days "off" the pump) and do it all again the next Monday. This will be a two week cycle per month. So....cancer is not new to me. In fact, cancer is getting very old for me. Just when we thought cancer was getting behind us, it in fact is not. Besides Rylee, Justin's grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer about 8 months ago and now my dad. We have 3 generations seeing the same oncologists. Rylee & my dad have apppointments on the same day at the same time next week. Life is so surreal and unreal sometimes.
I wish more people really understood the far-reaching effects of cancer. The toll it takes on lives. I had this epiphany at Relay for Life last year. Rylee was pretty tired, so during the survivors lap, I packed her on my back. 
As you do the lap, everyone there claps and cheers for all of the survivors and families/caretakers, which is nice because it's a very taxing trial. It takes a lot of sacrifice and endurance and some encouragment is nice sometimes. It was an emotional moment for me because it truly encomplassed how it feels to go through something like this. It's like this load on your back that you carry around with you and even though it gets very heavy at times, you keep going because it's not an option to just drop the load and walk away without it. The load can never be dropped, only eased and lifted by those willing to help, love and serve you.
As you do the lap, everyone there claps and cheers for all of the survivors and families/caretakers, which is nice because it's a very taxing trial. It takes a lot of sacrifice and endurance and some encouragment is nice sometimes. It was an emotional moment for me because it truly encomplassed how it feels to go through something like this. It's like this load on your back that you carry around with you and even though it gets very heavy at times, you keep going because it's not an option to just drop the load and walk away without it. The load can never be dropped, only eased and lifted by those willing to help, love and serve you. I've just been feeling this burning within myself to figure out a way to help more in the fight against cancer. In encouraging others to give to the cause and reach out to those affected by it. I'm becoming more and more interested in links to cancer- in the things we eat, how it's packaged, etc. I'm getting more and more sensitive to the foolish things people do that have known links to cancer (like tanning, not protecting skin with sunscreen, smoking, drinking, etc.) And wondering why so many people ignore recommendations for screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies. My dad's situation could be so different if he had been getting regular colonoscopies for the last 13 years as recommended (age 50!). Colon cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer death, yet it is 90% preventable! It's troublesome at times- ignorance. Cancer is affecting so many people, yet it seems that everyone feels invincible. Rylee is an innocent victim- there was nothing she or we did to cause her cancer, yet there are so many people out there willingly taking the risks or ignoring recomendations.
One of Rylee's nurses just lost her dad to melanoma last month. It started with a dark mole on his back that turned out to be cancerous. It then spread to his liver and lungs and eventually took his life. Yes, a dark mole. Have you checked lately? Why do we ignore this? Why do so many people feel that it will never happen to them or those close to them? Why aren't people more diligent in getting recommended screenings? I don't have the answer, but I hope it sparks some awareness. I'm here to shout it from the rooftops that it can happen to you- we are as normal and average as they come and it happened to us....more than once now. With no family history of it.
My heart has been breaking all month over cancer. Please excuse my passion about this subject, but it has been stirring me up. Shortly after my dad's diagnosis, my friend, Sadie Shippen Shanz, who is the sister of one of my best friends, found out that her 4 month old baby has a rare subtype of leukemia called leukemia cutis. Her baby just started chemo yesterday and it breaks my heart. I understand it all on such a personal level and feel deeply affected by what their family is going through. It's a road that I've been down and I feel their pain. It's a different type than Rylee's, so her baby, Graham, will be on a different treatment regimine and it's done in inpatient care. She and her baby will live at the hospital for 6 months! His chemo treatment yesterday lasted 12 hours. She has a two year old as well and their family will have so many sacrifices and adjustments to make. Most people just have no frame of reference for how much this affects your life. Visit her blog at http://www.sadieandherboys.blogspot.com/ to read their story so far. Their first post describes the reality of the situation. They will need help- from strangers and friends alike. They need prayers, to keep their names in the temples and are doing a fast this Sunday, April 10. Shower them with words of encouragment, send a monetary donation to help with the financial burdens. If there is any way you can serve them, do it. I cannot tell you how many times other people's willing generosity has blessed our lives- even from strangers, which almost means more. They are at Primary Children's. If you have anything to offer, if you live in the area, if you are aware of services that might help them, please do it, let them know or let me know and I'll relay it to them.
My cancer rant is finished. I hope it sparked something in you!
Please remember Don Price and Graham Schanz in your prayers and faith.
Jaden came in the middle of it....I don't blame him for screaming his guts out, I felt the same way! Two years has already passed though? 
And now here he is- all grown up. The cutest 'lil rascal you'll ever know. 
He is a funny little guy. He says stuff like "Zooey Mama!" 
Seems like we've been through about every "phase" with him- the climbing on top of phase.
The pulling things out phase
The putting things down the vents phase.
The dumping phase. 
The climbing inside phase.
It was wonderful. Pure paradise. A dream vacation.
It finally happened- I left the United States of America for the first time in my life! Yahoo! Finally got that first stamp on my passport that's been sitting lonely in our cupboard, waiting for an adventure. Sad it had to miss Israel, wondering why I don't get away more often. It's one of those "seasons" of life things, I guess.
Justin has some good perks to his job. Required to get continuing education each year turns out to be a pretty good perk- especially when there's always so many fun places to choose from. This time we chose Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico (about 15 minutes from Puerto Vallarta). We spent a few fabulous days there back in October. 
We stayed at an all-inclusive resort called Vallarta Palace. And a palace it was...total VIP treatment and completely relaxing! When we arrived, they handed us a moist towel to relieve ourselves from the heat. Then they handed me a flower and gave us both a refreshing drink. I've never had such a warm greeting. :)
When Jus was slaving away in classes, I got to sit poolside, reading my gossip magazines and books, completely uninteruppted, soaking in the sun and sucking up all of my new-found freedom. Loved every minute. 
Especially when the pool waiter would come around and offer me a drink or one of these yummy fruit cups. It's nice to be waited on for a change. I don't know my way around drinks, but a friend had recommended I try a Miami Vice (virgin, of course) and turns out, they are pretty darn good. But...nothing beats ice water and sunshine!
Each night, the resort would host some type of show or activity. One night we attended this Mexican Circus, which was based around Halloween (since it was the week of Halloween). It had acrobats and a contortionist and this guy (who was a Mexican clown apparently) who did this bazar act with this puppet lady. A little unusual, yet pretty entertaining.
There were 5 different resaurants at the resort that you could choose to eat at. It was all-inclusive, so basically you could have whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted it. Although hard to not over-indulge, I loved the concept. Funny how cost or fear of not liking something that you paid for holds you back from trying new things sometimes. I liked trying stuff that I never had before because I had nothing to loose, if I didn't like it, I could always order somehing else. Fun to be so uninhibited.
Look how cute some of the meals (or dessert in this case) were prepared. It hardly makes you want to eat it. 
Of course, we spent some time on the beautiful beach. I love the Ocean- so soothing. 
We also spent some time in Puerto Vallarta. Loved seeing the culture and art there. Love all the bright colors
And of course the shopping. "How much you want to pay?" "It's nice, isn't it." I'm not one for knick-knacks, but we found some fun stuff for the kids and a hammock that I'm so excited to put in my yard this summer. There were like 8 year old little kids working in these shops!
Although we were spoiled enough at the resort, we did venture off for some real adventure as well. 
The zip line was a blast. Beautiful view from the top of the jungle.
Our guides were so fun and let Justin do some fun stuff- like Superman and going upside down! Ahhh- he was screaming like a girl the whole way across. So glad we got to do this.
Another adventure was going to this water park and experiencing Mexican water slides. Let's just say...they don't meet U.S regulations. Oh my goodness. This one behind us was made of pure concrete and was a total death ride. Such a thrill though. Jus & I were having so much fun and laughed the whole way down. They had this one slide that was like a toilet bowl- Justin came out with a completely scratched up back and I felt like I was going to drown when I got "flushed."
Oh...and a sweet kiss for Justin. Our kids can't get enough of this picture- they think it's so funny. 
He said that a boy in his class had given it to him and said he could keep it if Jace would be his friend.
