Conference Weekend

This weekend was General Conference and it was so great to hear all the speakers and to be uplifted and inspired by them. As has been tradition the past few years, the children construct reverence tents where they listen to the talks. They take notes and do quiet activities while they listen. It's a great activity and it keeps them listening and engaged in what is going on Here are Kaylie and Cam in their tents...

Kyler had a tent but he didn't spend much time in it. One of my traditions, since before Kaylie was born, is that I scrapbook during conference sessions. It's the perfect activity because I can focus on the talks and preserve our family memories at the same time.

Well Kyler likes to be involved my crafting as well. I can't believe the mess he made punching papers and cutting papers....but I try to remember these are fleeting moments since in a few years he won't have any interest in my punches. My stamping studio will be much cleaner but also much quieter. =( So here's a picture for posterity!

Wii Fit

Well, about a month ago I started exercising a little bit 5 days a week. I put on 15 pounds due to steroids and being in bed for 6 weeks. For someone as small as me the 15 pounds makes a big difference and currently I can not wear any of my clothing except sweat pants! That doesn't really work when its in the 90's outside. I was fed up with this 'rubber ring' that I had put on (this is the third time I've had this in the past 2 years due to steroids) and wanted to do something to lose the weight.

So I decided to turn to the Wii Fit that I got for Christmas almost 2 years ago. I have determined that it is a great tool for someone recovering from surgery! It really has worked well for me to help me gradually get my strength back. If you are a really athletic person then you would laugh at what I call 'exercises' but for me, someone who could hardly walk up stairs a month ago, this is working really well for me.

I've worked up to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise and I'm so happy to see the improvement in my stamina when I exercise. The weight is slow coming off, but at least I'm trying so I try not to get discouraged. One time it took me 6 months to lose the steroid weight, all those drugs just do crazy things to my body. Anyhow I just wanted to share that I am enjoying the Wii Fit for now as my exercise tool and I am grateful that I feel well enough to actually exercise even if it is just very mild. The Wii is amazing..you should all try it out!

Grateful Reflections..

So this past week I've been reflecting on little things that I couldn't do a month ago that I am grateful to be able to do now!!

*I can drive a car! Last week I started driving again...weird but I'm glad to be self sufficient again!
*I don't have to take Ibuprofen every waking minute just to survive!
*I can open the shutters and blinds in my house and let in the light!
*I can finally sleep through the night again!! No more drugs causing me to wake up all the time.
*I can play Candy Land with Kyler!! Spending time with my kids again has been great!
*I can make my BED!! This is a huge one for me...making it means I'm not going to be getting IN it until that night. Oh I am so tired of that bed and am grateful to be out of it!
*I can kneel again! Hooray..I've had so many joint issues due to steroids..I'm not 100% back to normal but I'm doing a lot better now.

Those are just a few of the little things that I am grateful for this week in my reflections. I'm SO happy to be 100% Drug Free. That is an amazing thing for a patient with all my issues. I know I only have pockets of time where I get to be drug free but let me tell you how GRATEFUL I am for those pockets of time. I really hate how drugs affect me so much. I'm grateful to just me ME and to be semi-normal again.

Be sure to be grateful for the little things.....

Our First Pinata!

Ok so I am one of those not-so-fun Moms that does not like pinatas! I have never let my children have one before. Something about children madly swinging a bat around in desperation to whack candy all over the ground doesn't appeal to me. However I am learning that it isn't about what I like as the mom..I have three boys and for some reason boys (and their dad) seem to think that pinatas and all the madness surrounding them is cool. So, I succumbed and purchased a soccer ball pinata for the party....Here is some of the excitement...I still can't believe I did this!

Sunner Birthdays

Two Days before my big surgery we had a combined birthday party for Dallyn and Kyler. Dallyn turned 6 and Kyler turned 4. It was so fun to be able to invite all their friends over for a water party. We bought one of those inflatable waterslides and it was a blast! Here are the kids waiting for their turn on the slide.

Dallyn going down the slide for his first turn!

Kyler trying out the slide...looks pretty fun!

Here comes Kyler...getting sprayed by a friend at the bottom of the slide. This slide was really fun to have this summer. As I was in bed recovering from surgery the kids had a blast playing outside with the waterslide!

2 Month Post-Op MRI

Well yesterday was my 2 month Post-Op scan and meeting with Dr. Jensen. Other than the fact that it was a really LOONG day, things went well for my appointments. My last scan was July 17, the day after surgery, so this scan showed a great reduction in the swelling which is great. You could see the cavity where they removed the tumor and it looked great. The chemo wafers were completely gone...you could really see that on the scans as well.

Dr. Jensen said he is really happy about what he saw. He said our next focus is to figure out how to keep this tumor from coming back!! Yes, I agree with that! He said he is going to meet with the tumor board today and will call me tonight with their consensus on whether we should radiate or just let it be and watch it! I'm all for that!! =)

Swim Team!

I don't have photos yet but I wanted to share Cameron's news that he made swim team this past month!! He's been really excited about this and has been working hard all summer taking lots of classes to improve his stroke!! He is following in his father's footsteps with the swimming. I just hope I'll survive the busy schedule of driving my children to yet one more activity!! Cameron currently is in a theater class and takes piano lessons and scouts..so adding swimming to his life will make him the most busy of my children...hopefully he will do well with it since he loves swimming so much! We shall see!! =)