3rd Time's a Charm?

Following are the pictures of what I hope is my last round of radiation, despite my adoration for the doctors and nurses there.

Eric stayed home this round to take care of the kids, allowing one of the greatest individuals on earth, Kim, to accompany me.

After 3-4 attempts of accessing my port, it finally worked with a longer needle.

Check out how swollen my head is where the screws go in. I think most of the swelling is the lidocaine.

Here we go for another ambulance ride to the building next door. LOL

And here we are for radiation.


Of the 5 remaining tumors, 2 shrunk so much that my doctor opted not to radiate them. The other 3 shrunk by almost half, and the previously treated tumors look like scar tissue, meaning not living. In other words, my body is responding beautifully to the chemotherapy – it’s working in the brain!! Dr. Ahn said he does this all the time and doesn’t see this kind of rapid success, not with the number of tumors that I had.

The plan is to continue chemo every two weeks and have another MRI in 2-3 months to check up on things, as well as a full body scan. Things are going well and I think can only get better! Thank you for all the prayers that are obviously being heard!!!! I Love you!

Elder Bednar visits

Our stake was fortunate to have Elder Bednar visit us this weekend. Following are some random highlights that I enjoyed, hopefully paraphrased correctly:

We hope you, not of our faith, aren’t offended by our forthrightness to share the gospel with you. Rather, we hope you see the compliment in our sharing with you what matters most to our hearts.

Agency is not necessarily choosing, but the power of independent action. Once you sign a contract for a team, a company, etc...you are duty-bound and no longer a free agent. When baptized, our agency falls under baptismal covenant. We don’t have the option not to keep the commandments. If you break a covenant, don’t call it agency of choosing – it’s rebelling and breaking a commandment. Once baptized, you are duty-bound to choose the right.

When I was president of BYU, many times I was approached by students about why they had to follow a dress code and certain standards. I would first ask them if they signed up to attend BYU, or if their parents signed them up? Secondly, I would ask them if they signed the dress code contract, because once they signed the contract, they didn’t have the right to choose not to obey the standards. They could do it elsewhere, but not at school, not under contract.

I hear from a lot of people in the western world that they don’t have time for family scripture study. I simply do not believe it. You make time for what’s important to you. If you don’t have time to read and pray, it’s not important to you.

We will be what we have become. We all will overcome physical and spiritual death and return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. The question is, “Will we stay there?” Our actions will determine if we can stay. We will be what we have become.

Leyna is 4!!!

Both my girls are another year older -- guess that means we all are, huh? It's the best to have family around to celebrate! Grandma Joan got Leyna some princess shoes that were a bit too big, but she loves them anyhow. When she woke up this morning and realized it was her real birthday, she ran to the dressup shoes and put on a pair. She sighed and slumped, then said, "But my shoes still are too big." She expected to grow overnight -- love it. Leyna ate a bit of this cake and said, "Mom, this cake is too giant. I can't finish it." Thank goodness, because it was giant. Leyna cracks us up constantly. Her Aunt Kristi said that Leyna sucked all the personality out of the other kids. She talks incessantly which can be tiring at times, but she is adorable and hilarious. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank God for her presence in our family, and for her amazing cuddling capabilities.


Tiff and Devin were excellent to have our family stay with them this weekend. I told Tiff that holding an event at another person's house is the way to go -- she did most of the cooking and cleaning while I visited. By the time all the guests went home, I was okay, but poor Tiff was deliriously exhausted -- as a result, she was laughing at everything, to the point of snorting! It was hilarious to watch her, but I felt a pang of guilt inside knowing she was tired from hostessing our family and friends for days.

Kambria's Baptism

We send our love to all the friends and family who came from far and near to celebrate this special day with us, including those who sent their support but weren't able to make it. Before going to the church, Kami said to me, "A lot of kids are nervous when they get baptized. I'm not -- I'm just excited." Then, as more and more people started arriving, the more shy she became. The attention, which she thrives on, was even more overwhelming than she expected, I think. Again, I am so sad I didn't get pictures of the Wilcocks, Raymonds, Grandparents, Aunt Heather, and so many more. I stink at this stuff.




Cousin Curtis just arrived from Peru two days prior

Nate's family traveled from Casa Grande (practically another state)

Grillones traveled from New Jersey

Speases traveled from California

Kam said the water was so cold. It took a while to get warmed up afterwards.

For the closing song of the program, we asked all the children to stand up front and sing, "I Am a Child of God." I realized that Gavin wasn't there. He had fallen asleep while driving to the church building so Eric laid him down on a couch in the foyer. We both got so busy with the baptism and, I must admit, forgot about him. Please don't report us to CPS. I turned to Eric and asked, "Where's Gavin?" He asked, "Did he ever wake up?" I had to snicker. I couldn't believe we didn't know. Sure enough, he was still on the couch in the foyer. So here's a snapshot of what Gavin experienced while we all viewed Kami's baptism.

Tour de Phoenix

Saturday morning we went to Red Mountain Park to cheer Eric and Gary in from their 72mile bike race. I think Eric took 6th place; what a stud!

Phoenix Zoo

Yay! Time to go to AZ and visit the cousins! We enjoyed time at the Wilcocks swimming and making a trip to the zoo. We were especially surprised to have Heather and Josh drive down from Utah in the middle of the night to join us for our fun-filled, special weekend celebrating Kami's baptism and Leyna's 4th birthday.



Wow, I really thought I took more pictures than this of our time at the Phoenix Zoo with the Wilcock cousins, Grandma, Aunt Heather and Josh. In reviewing the weekends' photos, I realize I don't have pictures of those individuals we spent the most time with -- Tiff & Devin, Heather & Josh, Mom & Dad. I suppose I took their presence for granted, figuring I'd get their pictures later and never did. :(
I wish I could drag a photographer with me everywhere I go. I'm awful about pulling my camera out. Sorry, Fam -- you know I love you!

Grandma the Great!

Kade & Kami decided to write a song to Grandma Teri. These are their short, but sweet lyrics.

Grandma, we like you so much
We would like you to stay with us.
Grandma, you are so fantastic
And also Grandpa Rick.
Grandma, the presents that you bring us are so amazing
That the gift is a gift of your love!

Easter

Easter Sunday was fabulous -- we celebrated the Resurrection of our Savior, Kambria's 8th birthday, had an egg hunt, enjoyed General Conference, good food, family and friends!

Grandma decorated eggs with the kids!






The Fortuna and Raymond families joined us for a turkey feast!





Game time with the Williams and Raymonds!

Girls Night Out!

Dinner at the Claim Jumper filled our energy tanks so we could get our groove on, salsa style, at Borderline.






Mom does not discriminate. She worked up a sweat (on the dance floor that is) with numnerous men, both old(er) and young.

California Science Center

For all who haven't visited the CA Science Center, you've got to check it out. There's so much to see. Though the kids seemed to enjoy most of the center, their favorite area was the Ecosystems zone, especially the underwater zone.


Hurricane Simulation