NO MORE CHEMO!!!!!

I didn't realize this... According to the nurse mom is done with the last of the chemo, the reason her stay is so long is to keep her in a controlled environment because of her low immune and the threat of bleeding???  Thus the picture - NO MORE CHEMO!!! -Text from Karen :)

Day 6 of 21

Jason went up and stayed the night and Sunday morning. Charleen & Karen plan on going up today. Missy will be up all of Monday, Tara Tuesday, Charleen Wednesday and Missy Thursday. Dad will fill in all the half days that we have to leave to pick kids up from school which ends up being a lot of days. We are a team and we all have our moms best interests in mind. All doing what we can when we can. I am so glad I am not an only child!

Having someone up there to remind mom to take medicine for pain and nausea, helps her feel so much better. Reminding her to eat and drink and order popsicles all make for a much healthy and happier Barbara. 

Today she is doing so much better. She enjoys us being there and makes all of us feel important, wanted and needed.

Hopefully the worst is over and we can protect her from any illnesses the next couple of weeks.

Lake Powell-long overdue July 2015

It has been a long time since any of us has been to Lake Powell with our mom and dad. The last two summers they have been serving a mission so we've gone without them. While we don't have the whole family and miss them it's nice to have some of the group. 

Mom was determined that this planned trip was going to happen and no one dared to disappoint her. We are so happy that the days everyone had off work just happened to fit right into her busy chemo schedule. Dad checked her out of the hospital at 1:00 on Friday and were going through beaver about 6pm. We will be here through Saturday the 27th and she has to go back to the hospital on the 30th.

As you can see she is working hard to get the boat ready and we are getting ready to launch. Us kids are learning the things to do that mom normally does. Dad is learning to do the things mom normally does. The boys are learning how to help dad with all the stuff he normally does to free up time and energy for him to do the things that mom normally does and... :). We are all works in progress and we are all grateful to learn new strengths and take on new roles.

5 down 16 to go

This round of chemo sucks! Our mom is not feeling well. She doesn't want to eat and when she does it doesn't settle well. The only thing that sounded good was clam chowder from Market Street. My dad brought that to her and she said it was really good but threw it up. 

The chemo has effected her short term memory. Even she says that she has chemo fog, BAD! We sure pray this is the last kicker those cancer basterds need. (If you don't get that humor then you need to read earlier posts.)

Five days down and 16 to go.

21days of chemo

Well I am into day 21 hospital stay. It's kinda boring but my family are all great to come spend time with me and that is wonderfull. I want to especially thank Missy for doing a blog page for me. That is one of those things I always say I will do but don't. Another step in my "well I meant to do that" and you know where that path leads to so I hope with her help she will get me to where I want to go and pray that my whole family will be there also.  I feel very grateful that my family all noticed my downhill climb and alerted me and Jerry and when jerry took me into the ER and misdiagnosed me with a stroke and put me into the hospital I'm glad that we were both humble enough to listen. Two days later my neurologist called jerry and said she had been looking at my MRI and she didn't agree with that diagnosis and had made me an appointment up at the University hospital for the next day and suggested we go there which we did and they did another MRI and said they would like me to go over to Huntsman's hospital for the doctors here to read it and give their opinion about the test so we did. And dr Cowen came in and he called in dr Jensen to help explain what they found and they both agreed that it wasn't a stroke but brain Xander. And dr Jensen said he could get me into surgery the next day. So the next morning I was being rolled down the hall to the surgery room and thinking to myself I hope these men know what they are doing. Later I learned that I had the two best doctors in that field. I feel that I have been very blessed. Because both doctors are wonderful and come highly recommended and once again I feel that Heavenly Father was watching over me.   I have done very well with the chemo. It has never made me sick and I haven't lost my hair. Jerry and my boys have given me wonderful blessing. One of which they blessed me that I would be patient with the doctors and nurses. When I told my doctor about that blessing hr said he really liked that.  I want to say thanks for all the cards phone calls and visits. They have all been great. I love you all. I pray that the lord will continue in blessing all of us. I love you all. Thank for all your thoughts and prayers. Barbara smith

Last Chemo!

Tomorrow morning our mom goes into Huntsman's for her last chemo treatment. 

While we are feeling optimistic, the next three week hospital stay will be difficult. Not because we are worried that she will be sick but because she is so spunky she will go crazy being cooped up. She doesn't like hospital rules. She does like the hospital staff a lot and they love her.

Last week she got an MRI and we get the results from Dr. Cohen tomorrow at her appointment.

Karen got the whole Fam Damly together on Sunday. It was great to be all together.

This last chemotherapy will completely wipe out her immune system. Any illness to her would cause complications. We will keep you updated. 

She would love to get your phone calls and texts.