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I was so excited to be able to wear "warm clothes", but
of course we were there during a heat wave!! We
still got lots of fresh blueberries of the bushes at J's
new place. Shhh..... |
PORTLAND TRIP - JUNE
Wow...has it really been 8 months since I last posted!?!? Crazy how life gets away from us! Well it has definitely been a busy 8 months, so I'll do a quick recap of the major points from that time. This summer was a whirlwind. We got to go visit Uncle J in Portland for a few days and that was awesome!
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| The visit to Mt. St. Helens was beautiful!!!! |
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And we planned our trip when "Amma" and Bill were
there too! It was an awesome trip! |
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It was so hot, we got to enjoy the water park downtown
along with the rest of Portland families! |
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We went to visit a farm where we got some fresh berries and
delicious lemonade as we found reprieve under the shade of a tree! |
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The times spent at home were some of my favorites. Benjamin has a
pretty spectacular uncle...I only wish we could see him more! |
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To help keep us cool, our handymen installed the
swamp cooler. That looks totally safe, right?!?! |
CANCER SUCKS - JULY
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| Benjamin sure loves his Papa!! |
Our last day in Portland, Dad called and said he was in the hospital and was going to be going in for a scope and biopsy on his throat. He said they anticipated the results to show cancer. Luckily, we were headed home and I was able to be at the hospital for everything. It didn't seem real...I didn't believe it - didn't really hit me until the doctor walked out. He told me he didn't even need to wait for the official results. He was 99% confident my dad had hit stage 4 throat cancer. Yikes! The month of July was filled with a lot of driving back and forth to Tucson. I wanted to be there to support dad. He has already been through cancer treatments when he was 19. He questioned whether the pain and suffering was worth it. It was a tough month for us. Thankfully, I think Benjamin was a major factor in the final decision to go ahead with treatment, knowing full well it was going to be hell. How could you not at least try when as they wheel you down the hall, you hear little B's voice yell "Paaaappppaaaa!!!!!"?!?!
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He may be a lot skinnier with a little less hair, but
Benjamin loves him just as much and we are so happy
to spend time with him as we see him grow healthier
and stronger each visit! I love you more than you
know daddy! |
Treatment went as best it could, but recovery has been difficult. Though everything is moving along as expected, each step is taking longer than anticipated. It has been an extremely difficult time. Nothing could make it easier, but thank goodness my aunt, Rocki moved her life to Tucson to help through treatment and recovery. Good thoughts are still welcome!! They won't do a scan until 3 months after the final treatment, so as of now, we are still only hopeful that it has been effective!! He sure is one strong dude and one amazing Papa!!
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Since Shilo got my husband drunk and everyone was
still sleeping, Ben and I enjoyed a nice brisk early
morning walk! Benjamin LOVED playing in all the
apples. Every tree for the next few weeks was "apple!" |
PAYSON TRIP - OCTOBER
I love camping! My husband does not. So as a compromise, we "cabin". :) Shilo and her family invited us for a weekend at their cabin in Payson and I was so excited to go! Benjamin loved being outdoors and spending good time with his buddy Myles.
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| Cutest little face in the world!!!!!! |
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Love this! The boys are watching as Joe gets the jeep ready to go
wheeling. Sorry dudes - you're stuck with us! |
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Walk #2 - Greg and Shilo still sleeping. :)
Ben was trying to catch up to take a bite of Myles' apple! |
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| Myles with his grandpa. Love this photo! |
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| These boys had so much fun on the sit and spin! |
IT'S A........!!!! - OCTOBER
In early August, we found out Benjamin is going to be a big brother!! It actually came at the perfect time. I found out on Tuesday and on Wednesday, I went to Tucson to be with my dad during his first chemo treatment. I was hoping the exciting news would add a little extra motivation and a little bit more positive to an otherwise crappy situation.
Just for the fun of it because I think it is the best sound in the world, a short clip of B laughing at Brew in the cone of shame trying to eat the food he's throwing. I was learning a new phone, but in the smaller frame, it's still great!
Whew...are you still with me??? In writing this post, waves of memories accompanied with mixed emotions are washed over me. The past 8 months have definitely had ups and downs, as I'm sure the next 8 will as well. But overall, I am consumed with the amount of love and joy that I have in my life. Thank you to all who are part of it...I love you! Until next time!
