Treatment #2

12-29-08

I completed treatment #2 today…again everything went well! Thank goodness!

Ron accompanied me today. We were able to meet with Dr. Harker before the Chemo. He was glad to hear that my side effects were minimal. I will just have one week off and then have a 3rd treatment on Jan. 12th. He doesn’t have any idea why I continue to burp so much, but as long as it isn’t uncomfortable I don’t mind!

This treatment was shorter only 1 hour. I only had two bags, the first one was the anti-nausea medicine and then the second one was the chemo. I’m not sure which medicine it was, but I am hoping that the side effects will be minimal again!

This afternoon we have enjoyed the Wii Olympics….I set a world record in long jump, but I sink instead of swim. Maybe Michael Phelps will give me some personal lessons.

We enjoyed a great dinner tonight from the Nehmers and Parks! We are so blessed to have such loving friends and family to support us through this trial!!!!

Thanks for your continued love, support, and prayers!! Enjoy the New Year and GO UTAH……(I will be cheering for the Utes this week!)

Snow and Icicles

12-28-09

We continue to enjoy the warmth of being inside next to the fire while the cold winds blow outside. There is about 6 inches of snow on the ground and the icicles on our home are over 4 feet long!!! Our driveway is clear, thanks to help from our home teacher, but our neighborhood street remains snow-packed! Winter in South Jordan!

Our week has been memorable…Chemo, Christmas, and family! Thanks again to everyone who fasted and prayed for us last week, our prayers have been answered! My first treatment has had minimal side effects…loss of appetite for a couple of days, fatigue for a couple of days, and some constipation! I was happy on Christmas since the food tasted good and I had energy!

Ron accompanied me to Chemo on Monday. During the time that we were there he was able to work on his computer and we talked. Tuesday was his last day of school before Christmas vacation, so on Wednesday he enjoyed sleeping in. In fact we also slept in on Christmas morning since we had to wake up the girls around 9:00 A.M., yes we are enjoying this stage of Christmas in our family!

Savanna has had the opportunity of working at the MTC during the break; she was thrilled to work on Christmas Eve since she was paid double! We are glad that we put new tires on Jamie since the drive down to Provo has been snow-packed the last few days! We enjoy having her home and her positive and fun personality! She loved getting some of her pictures from Jerusalem framed for Christmas! Savanna and Marie also loved setting up and playing the Wii on Christmas Day, in fact all of us have sore muscles from the Wii.

Marie has enjoyed sleeping in each morning and spending time with her friends during the holiday. Marie has proven to be the best “boxer” in the family; it seems that she has the ability to knock us out! Her competitive nature is being shown in the Wii, so watch out Heywood boys I would put my money on Marie! Marie went with me for the haircut and to help me pick out a wig. I value her taste of style!

I am grateful that I felt good on Christmas Day, I was afraid that it would be a hard day for me if I was fatigued! I held my own on Wii tennis and bowling, but I am constantly getting knocked out in boxing!!! So if you want an easy win just ask me to box!!! We loved spending Christmas evening with the Davidsons! We are blessed to be part of such a loving and supportive family!

Last night our family celebrated Savanna’s 21st birthday by going out to dinner….it is sad that it took us over a week to schedule a family dinner, we really are busy! After a great dinner at Wingers and some birthday “Asphalt Pie” we returned home and watched HSM and HSM2 on the big screen downstairs. (Marie did leave to go sledding at night with her friends, which made me cold just thinking about it!) It was the first time that Ron had since these movies! It was a fun evening for all of us!

We continue to feel the strength of your prayers and support. Thank you so much!!!! Tomorrow Ron will take me for treatment #2, we have faith that all will go as well as treatment #1. We will also be meeting with Dr. Harker, this will give us a chance to get some more answers of what we will be faced with plus we hope to find out why I am burping so much!!! My brothers would be proud of me!!!! No, I am not talented enough to burp the ABC’s!!!!

Love ya,
Jolene

Christmas Memories

White Christmas

White Christmas!!!

We woke up to a howling wind and snow blowing parallel to the ground, yes it was a cold, white Christmas in South Jordan!

Cleo was the first to wake us up this year; we had to wake up the girls at 9:00 A.M. ,my how things have changed over the years!!! We must have been good girls and boy since Santa found our house! Our family received many gifts, but the highlight had to be the Wii!!! Watching Ron box was a treat for the girls! He really has a mean left jab!!! We enjoyed the warmth of being inside and relaxing during the day.

We headed up to the Davidson’s home for the traditional “Davidson Christmas”! We love spending time with the family and enjoying food, songs, games, and surprises! We missed having Greg’s family join us this year, but a call from Devan does take priority!!! Thanks to Jim and Nelda for hosting this annual event and their generous gifts! Thanks to Linda for organizing the “White Elephant Exchange”!

By the time that we left our car was covered with over 5 inches of snow! This morning we woke to another snow storm, but at least the sun peaks out every now and then! We are planning on relaxing and spending the day inside. Savanna did head down to Provo to feed the missionaries and Marie went to lunch with some friends. Ron and I are looking forward to another relaxing day!

We hope that each of you enjoy being with your family and enjoying Christmas yesterday!

New Look for the Holidays!!!

12-24-08

Thanks to Suzanne for cutting my hair! She did a great job; I am now wondering why I didn’t cut it short sooner! Thanks to Marie for documenting the experience with her camera phone! I plan on enjoying this haircut for a couple of weeks, after that I will move to the wig, hat, and scarf stage of the cancer treatment!!

Today I feel tired, but luckily I can just relax and enjoy Christmas Eve with the family!

Chemo Day

12-22-08

My first round of chemo went well! I was nervous and I kept comparing the experience to childbirth, you just don’t know what to expect! Just give me an epidural and all will be well!!!

The staff at the Utah Cancer Specialist Center is so sympathetic and caring! Ron and I arrived this morning around 8:00 A.M. . A nurse inserted the “special needle” into my port and drew some blood. I didn’t feel a thing!!! Yippy!!!! We then went to a waiting room and met with a PA, Esther, who then explained some more about the chemo and answered any questions. Since everything was fine with my blood work we then started the chemo. I was seated in a comfortable leather chair, given some juice, covered with a warm blanket, and then the nurse hooked up the first IV bag. The first bag was filled with medicine that helps with limiting the nausea, this took about 20 minutes. The second and third IV bags were filled with carboplatin and genizar. These bags took about 30 minutes each. I was comfortable during the entire experience. The boys would have laughed at me as I wheeled my IV bag holder to the bathroom to take a potty break…too much liquid (juice and IV bags)! The hardest part of the treatment was the tape!!!! Again I feel relieved to get this first round over with!!! Now I just hope that the side affects won’t be too severe in the next few days!

Afterwards Ron and I went and got something to eat and did some Christmas shopping. A snowstorm hit while we were out shopping! It really is cold outside!!! When we got home someone had taken the time to shovel our driveway and sidewalks….Thanks to this considerate neighbor!!! Again we are so thankful for the love and support that friends and family continue to give us!!!! Last night we enjoyed a great evening visiting with Greg and Ruth, we also appreciated the blessings that Greg gave to our family! We love each of you and continue to feel the power of your prayers during this trial in our lives!!!

White Christmas

12-21-08

“Baby it’s cold outside!”

It seems that we have been pounded with a series of snow storms lately! We definitely will be enjoying a white Christmas! The mountains are covered and there is about 5 inches of snow on the ground at our home, and the icicles are beginning to grow on the corners or our house. We are enjoying staying bundled up and near the fireplace inside!

It has been another busy week for the family.

Ron gets to go to school for Monday and Tuesday, then his Christmas Vacation will begin. He remained busy last week with a few events at the high school on Monday and Tuesday night. Wednesday was Chemo Class and Thursday was his final. He is glad to have a break from school. Friday evening we enjoyed dinner with his mom and dad and last night we endured seeing BYU lose the football game against Arizona!!! Hard times for the Cougars!

Savanna is also done with finals, so she is welcoming a break. Wednesday we celebrated her 21st birthday; it wasn’t too much fun since she had some finals on that day! Thursday evening she and Spencer were going to go down to see the lights at Temple Square, but since it was so cold they just hung around the house and took Cleo on a walk! Friday evening she celebrated her 21st birthday with some friends by enjoying delicious food at the Cheesecake Factory. Yesterday she went sledding with some friends and then last night she enjoyed “Cousin Night” with the cousins at Steve and Sheree’s home! Today she is feeding the missionaries. Even though she has some down time it seems that her life remains non-stop!


Savanna & Spencer enjoying the "happy glasses" from Kela

Marie is looking forward to sleeping in for the next 2 weeks during Christmas Vacation. She remains busy too. Friday she went sledding with friends and yesterday she had a lacrosse game and then joined the cousins! She is looking forward to spending time with friends during the break.


Ron & Marie with the "happy glasses"!
My week was full of ups and downs….an MRI on my brain, the port placed, Chemo Class, meeting with the radiologist, and getting ready to start Chemo!!! Yes tomorrow my first treatment will start. We are praying that all will go well and I won’t have too many side effects. Our friends and family continue to provide us with great support. We are continually overwhelmed with the love and support that we feel. Our home is filled with a sweet calm spirit. We know that this is a direct result of the prayers and love that are said for us. Right now we don’t need any extra help; just keep us in your prayers and thoughts! We may need additional help in 6 weeks when the treatments get more intense, and we will be sure to call those of you have volunteered to help.

We hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!! We love and appreciate everyone!!!