Well my chemo is done for today. All my blood work came back great. The doctor said that I should expect to feel about the same as last time so I am optimistic that I will do fine. Tomorrow I start taking my anti nausea pills, eat every two hours, and drink tons of water. I have been so blessed so far in this entire experience. My Heavenly Father is looking out for me. I have so much support from my family and my friends. Thank you all so much. I had a little more hair come out today so within a few days I will be shaving my head, then I can post a glamour shot of Randy and I bald.

grandma kids

Well here it is Monday already. Saturday I felt like the energizer bunny. I had a ton of energy that I did not know what to do with. Since then I have felt similar. I still feel a little strange but not too bad. I'm just trying to get ready for chemo on Wed. afternoon. So I am making sure things like laundry are done. Today Mom and I tied a baby blanket and then went to Snow Canyon State Park. We enjoyed the scenery and took a very short hike to see some pioneer names carved to the face of the rock there. After that we went to a second hand store to look around. Lunch was a delicious sandwich from Jimmy Johns and then we came home so Mom could take a nap. I've been working on the binding of the baby blanket and now we are going to go visit family. I think for Family Home Evening we are going out to eat.

Love you mom!

I wanted to leave a video, but since my roommate never leaves her room and I feel a little awkward because she listens to my phone conversations and comments on them, I will just write what I want to say.

Do you remember that one time we were playing Phase 10 and you and I were cheating like it was part of the game haha. I was so amazed that you were actually cheating with me that I couldn't stop laughing and then Dad was like, "Why are you laughing!?" I didn't want us to get caught so I was like uh .... I farted and mom heard me ... that was the bomb! Oh wait that was last week! haha

One of my favorite memories I have with you is kind of weird I think, but it involves the big blue van. Me and you went on all kinds of adventures in that van. When it was summer time I would sit back and put my feet on the dash and rub my toes on the windshield ... why did you let me do that? haha We would stop at that random fruit stand on the free way. We would go shopping, you drove me to a million soccer practices and games. It was fun and I could just talk and talk and you would sit and listen. I remember one time I must have driven you so nuts! I saw a sign for Downy and Riverside and I kept singing, "Downy ... is next to RIiiIiiiiIiiverside!" I think I sang that one line for a good 20 minutes probably at the top of my lungs and you didn't every yell at me. You were probably just really good at tuning me out, but it was great because I felt like I could always just talk and talk about what I needed to. You not only didn't care about what I talked about, but you loved me no matter how annoying I was. Many times after school you would drive me home in the big blue and I would talk a mile a minute the whole way home. It was perfect and just what I needed.

I baby sat Jenny's kids last night and I painted their nails pink in honor of you! Here is a pic!

They were really excited and wanted to make sure I labeled them from left to right Lilia, Lelei, Ave. They love you so much!

Thanks for always being on my side and always being willing to listen! You were the best cheer leader, best friend, and most importantly mom that anyone could have ever had! Love you with my whole heart!

Glenna

That Comforting Sound

Many a time I have been in a crowd of people, at the church, swap meet, grocery store, etc. looking for my Mom.  But if I could hear that sound, that familiar comforting sound, I knew that my Mom was nearby.  I know that if I could make that sound now each of my brothers and sisters would know exactly what it is that I am talking about.  The sound that I am referring to, is the sound of an over-sized Indian penny key-chain.  As long as I can remember my Mom has had that penny on her key chain.  Whenever we heard that key-chain we would head for Mom (unless we were in trouble). To some that might sound foolish (being that it is just a penny) but for me it is the sound of comfort.  It is the sound of my Mom nearby. When I hear that unique sound, I know that my Mom is close and it is comforting.  I love you Mom.

 (Randy Mart)

RPatt

Just trying to get to sign-in as contributor.  RPatt

Unlimited Fun

I've been thinking about memories from when we were little,  mostly because Lucy hounds me constantly to tell her stories of when I was little like her.

The best word to describe our childhood was FUN.  Our mom is so fun and she was the life of our party as kids.  If we went to Disneyland she insisted that we get there at opening and wait on Main street and then stay "until the last dog died" and I can still remember how excited she was as we waited on Main street and how she'd push us all day long to try everything and how she'd laugh and smile at everything we did all day. 

But the memory that is sticking out most in my mind this morning is from when I was about 6 or 7 years old.  It was one of those super hot July or August days in Banning and we relied on the swamp cooler mostly to cool us off.  I don't remember why we had been out for a walk but I do remember that she and I, and maybe Randy too, were walking back up 41st street in the heat.  Everyone knows Mom hates heat.

So as we were walking she was encouraging us by telling us how we'd get a big drink of ice water at home.  After a while that wasn't enough for us and she said, "Oh! I have a great idea.  When we get home we're going to set up the baby pool and just lay in it and cool off."  I remember thinking she was crazy because we were "big kids" and she was an adult. My mental boundaries did not include my mom swimming in a baby pool :)

True to her word, when we got home we all got our suits on, dug the pool out of the shed and filled it up. 

I remember that being one of the most fun moments of my childhood.  Squished into that tiny pool together playing and having fun and cooling off.  Probably the reason I remember it so well is because my mom was great at teaching us to break down barriers and unneccessary limitations and just do our thing.  not only was she fun, but her attitude toward life was a great teacher for us kids.

I bet we can all think of a million moments when mom was there to say, "Do it! Try it!" and we thought, "No, I can't!" and with her big smile and enthusiasm she convinced us that we could.