Going on TEN!

Casey is doing well we are our 10th week. We are definetly feeling it. It has become a part of our life but it still does not make it easy. With the kids in school, soccer practices, achievement days, young womens, cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping, and visiting Casey it is all a little overwelming. His counts are coming up to 0.6 so hopefully by next week some time he will get to come home. He is getting extremely bored, but we learned being bored is better then being worried. When he gets to come home the doctors will still be searching for some new clinical drugs that will help him stay in remission. We cherish each day and hope that he is granted more time with us.


REASONS WHY I LOVE CASEY:
1. He is always so positive (he was not a match to some new wonder drugs and he reply's, "it's probably a good thing because maybe the side effects would have been bad").
2. I love having old trucks in my back yard.
3. He taught me that the classifieds are the most important section in a newspaper.
4. He always lets me win at games.
5. He is great with our kids.
6. He always lets me have my way. (he said this is changing when he gets out of here!)
7. He helps me in the middle of the night with the kids (thank goodness this doesn't happen very often).
8. He is always willing to try something new.
9. He is always talking of new business ideas.
10. Has great family and friends!
11. Is very strong willed.
12. Use to have the cutest wrangler butt. It's not that it isn't cute anymore it's that I haven't seen him in wranglers in a long long time. Thank goodness!
13. Respects me.
14. Listens to me.
15. Has definetly made my life interesting and exciting.
16. Always watches the most interesting TV shows.
17. Has the smoothest feet in the whole world. (He takes great pride in them)
18. Is an excellent driver (this is true, he has been in and out of ditches without a scratch) (Oh! I forgot last year on his birthday he rear ended someone and lost the hood of his car! Ooops!)
19. Will always give me good advice.
20. Has definetly taught me there is more than one way to eat a grapefruit.


This week my Grandma Carol turned 75. She is the one in the middle. On her birthday she learned that she has stage 4 lung cancer. It was heart breaking to hear about it. I love her and we have so many good memories with her. Hopefully she will still make many more. Life is great and I have learned to cherish and make the most of everyday. My Grandma lived in St. George for the past couple of years in the winters. It was nice to get to spend time with her. She is always the Grandma that would shove you full of food and always had good stuff to eat. She would take offense if you didn't eat what you had to offer. I admire my Grandma she was always at my Grandpa's beckoning call. I could learn a lot from her. She is also the only person I know to have two different colored eyes. I love her and am going to fully support her in her challenges that lie ahead. My advice: Take one day at a time and NEVER GIVE UP HOPE!

9th Week!

Nothing much has changed, but we thought you all might like an update. He has just started his 9th week. They are giving him a steroid to help produce his white blood count which is called leukine. We hope this comes back clean without leukemia. They are not sure what treatment he will get when he gets out of here. Our new latest hospital entertainment is a game called "Ticket To Ride". It is a very fun and entertaining game. If you have any other game ideas please let us know so we can enjoy them the last hopefully weeks we will be in here.

Crazy Canucks

My trip to Canada was quit the adventure. I arrived at the airport and was told that only Sam and I could go. I had a friend bring me Aubree's Canadian Certificate and then was told only Aubree and I could go, because I accidently showed the supervisor that Sam was American. She did not understand that you could be citizens of two different countires. They finally said that Aubree, Sam and I could all go. But no Max. Max hopped in with Skye and off they went. I felt so bad for him. Meanwhile, my kids are crying cause Max couldn't come and I finally started crying because I was not expecting all of this added stress. The airline had told me if I have my passport and my kids had their birth certificates then all would be well. The supervisor said, "Mame it is not our job to inform you of the laws." So I am informing you, first to the supervisor you never give up your right as a citizen of one country to become a citizen of another. (called DUAL citizenship).

NoTe: If you don't have passports for your children then get them, even if they have a receipt showing that they are mailed that will do.

NOW, about a Canadian wedding, they are a little different then your American weddings. First off to anyone attending the reception, I apologize but yes we are crazy. I think my new sister-in-law and her family think we are crazy. My uncle was MC of the wedding. It started off good, then we were told by my brother that we weren't allowed to clink the glasses because it was offensive to the bride's family. Then we got in to the program, the dinner is all about the program and the food (which came from Columbia, we had stuffed pigs, It was really good) the program consisted of one of my uncle's being Elvis, then my Grandma Yoodling, the MC had transformed into Spiderman and the costume has shrunk from last time he wore it. Elvis by then had even gotten more warmed up and decided to do another number. Then to top it off my Dad did a crazy dance completed with a routine of his animal noises. We were all looking around to see how everyone was reacting. I guess Chad (my brother) need not hide how crazy we all are, at least now she knows what she has gotten in to and at least she will get sympathy from her family now.

The trip was great we got to see lots of old friends and family and it was even nice enough to go bale jumping. This is really fun! The little kids even rode calves. What we do on a farm is very different but it was a great way to grow up and we wouldn't trade it for anything. We had a great time and am excited to be back with Max and Casey, all is still going well with Casey. He is started on this 8th week and hope to be out of here at least by next weekend.

Amazing Adventures

I just have to tell you some of the things that Casey has been doing for fun. He will walk around the hospital talking to everyone he sees. The picture below is a volunteer desk. When no one is around Aaron and him will sit at this desk and try to help people. I was surprised the volunteer wanted to take a picture with him. They will also sit in this lobby on the second floor and watch out the windows to the main entrance. So when you come to visit don't be surprised if you have a masked face watching you from.

Also one night as I was leaving I passed in the parking lot a jetta with two guys in it. One being a man with a mask and gloves on and the other being Aaron Johnson. When they saw me they were speeding through the parking lot only to end up hiding behind a dumpster in a car. I felt like I was chasing Herbie. Those guys are crazy. At least it's nice to see him having fun. Those two are always up to trouble. That reminds me of another story. About three weeks ago Aaron was up here visiting and Casey was complaining of how cold it was, so before Aaron left he turned the heat up for us. The thermostat made a really loud buzzing noise but we weren't to alarmed, we were glad to finally be warm. Well, about 4:00 am the nurse came in and we all woke up it was so hot in here we were sweating so bad we had to open the door to get cool air. There was no going back to sleep. The next morning maintenance came up and said it was 107 degrees in our room. Thanks Aaron, they fixed it and Aaron is no longer allowed to change the temperature.

Everything is going well! We hope to get him out of here (legally) soon.