Underwood Family Farms

Haircut

It's a mess in this photo, but be honest -- short hair or longer? Eric, no need to respond...we all know what you think.


I see in this picture how much I'm starting to look like Mom, especially with my haircut. The funniest thing--for Mother's Day, Mom bought me a Sunday dress and I bought her one, as well. We wore them to church on Sunday and several people commented on how I look like my mom, wearing a collared shirt, and how Mom looked like me with a light, flowy dress. Like mother, like daughter (or vice versa), I guess.

Ready for Summer!

Today was a momentous day! Leyna jumped right into the pool with no flotation devices. Grandma Teri pushed her under the water to pick up some dive toys and...voila....she was transformed into a fish. She figured out how to swim that fast. We're still working on breathing, but she's getting there. You'd be amazed at how long she can hold her breath. She cried when we had to leave the pool and kept telling us over and over how big she is and how she can swim by herself. She was ready last summer to swim on her own, but I admit that I was lazy and dependent on her life jacket.

What a relief to know that all my kids will be pool safe before long! Now those waves at the beach...I don't imagine I'll ever get over the fear of one of them swallowing up my babies.

Hold the Goat

When asked what he learned at church, Gavin said they talked about hold the goat. It took a little bit, but we figured out he was saying the Holy Ghost. He had us giggling all afternoon over that one. Then he came home from preschool so excited to share that he can hoop-a-loop (hula-hoop) all by himself.

You've gotta love toddlers. I never tire of hearing what they have to say!

There's No Place Like Home!

We're taking it one day, or rather, one hour at a time. I wouldn't say I'm experiencing good days yet, but I do have days that are better than others and hours that are great. The 2nd nurse that came in taught Eric how to administer the antibiotics and he's a pro and a natural at this stuff (what a surprise, right? what can't the boy do well?). When he heads out of town, it'll be a bummer but at least I have nursing friends nearby that can help.

When I was in the hospital, I had, at one time, 5 different IVs in my arms, so they decided to access my chemotherapy port-a-cath. The downer news is that we received a call from the hospital a couple night ago and learned that the port-a-cath site somehow got infected itself and has to be removed. So...I'll be driving into Santa Monica again this week to have that removed. And if they decide to do a few more months of chemo in 6-8 weeks time like originally planned, I'll have to go in for yet another outpatient surgery to have another port put in place. Aaargh. Things ARE getting better, though! Don't forget us over here. We need your constant prayers. the Lord IS ALWAYS listening! Let's make so much ruckus from down here that He can't ignore us! :) ha ha

Back in the Hospital...Again!

This is my liver specialist Dr. Bilchick, and his amazing resident PhD, Dr. Washington. I don't think I could be in better hands.


For those who aren't aware, I had a rough couple weeks after returning home from the liver surgery. We just thought it was a tough recovery I was dealing with until my conditions declined quickly. I slept 20+ hours out of the day, didn't remember having conversations with people, and because I got back into a lethargic/non-appetite state, symptom upon symptom stacked up. One doctor prescribed an antibiotic that didn't do anything. My body was constantly experiencing severe chills one minute, then super hot flashes the next. I started coughing a lot. Finally, Eric, Mom & Kim decided to get me to the ER. So back to Cedars Sinai I went. We checked in at 10 am, got a CAT scan that reflected I had pneumonia and two infected abscesses that needed to be drained. My doctor was currently flying home from the east coast, so I never expected to see him, so when he came sliding in from behind the curtain like a magician late that night, I was so impressed(yet sorry for his poor family that was without him).

Due to the hour, I was sent to a room in ICU and given transfusions all through the night, then went in for a torturous procedure at 8 am the next morning. I was in just so much pain which made it difficult to hold still for them to poke and prod me on the small little table.

I stayed a couple days in ICU before going back to the oncology ward on the 8th floor where I remained in the hospital for a week and a half. During that time, I had to experience three paracentesis procedures where they numb with me lidocaine then stick a giant tube in my stomach and suction out the fluid on my abdomen that continues to build up such a significant amount of pressure and had me looking as though I was due to have a baby any day. Finally, it just got to the point that the infections were going to require weeks of IV antibiotics and I was miserable in the hospital. Dr. Bilchick thought it best to release me to my family and have a nurse come in to administer any help I might need. What a blessing that day was!

I did have fun rekindling friendships with the staff from a couple weeks prior and sneaking out to the mall with mom and walking the streets from time to time (a girl's just got to get some fresh air and a change of scenery). If I never go back again, however, that'll be fine by me!