Update

The last couple of months my Dad has been doing some experimental cancer treatments including chemotherapy and then a pill to try and stop the growth or at the very least slow it down. At a doctor's appointment today and after some cat scans, my parents decided to stop any further treatments. None of the measures that we've tried have been working and the side effects that come with chemo aren't worth it anymore. My parents have decided to stop going to the Huntsman Center for treatments and have hospice start coming to their home to facilitate any needs my Dad has going forth. From here on out our main effort is to try and keep him comfortable and out of as much pain as we can. The next couple of weeks will obviously be difficult but we all feel that this is the right move to make.

Thank you to everyone that has expressed their support. There are so many people that know my Dad and know what an amazing person he is. I really appreciate it.

My dad and why I hate cancer

A few have asked for details about what's going on with my Dad and this is the best way I can think to let everyone know what's going on. So. About a month or two ago my Dad was having a hard time swallowing. At first he assumed it was a sore throat but when the pain persisted and got worse he went to a doctor. He ended up getting a bunch of tests and an upper endoscopy where a mass was found in his esophagus that was malignant. More tests discovered that the cancer had spread to all his major organs (lung, liver, kidneys). He was given 6 months to a year.

It's common that by the time you start to feel symptoms of esophageal cancer the cancer has already spread so much through the rest of the body, which is why his diagnosis was so grim. He will do a few rounds of chemotherapy to help manage some of the pain he is having and to shrink the tumor in his esophagus. So, far he has done one round and starts the 2nd round of chemo today.

Given all this information and how sudden it all was, unsurprisingly April was kind of a dumb month. The chemo has been difficult but has helped with his ability to swallow which is good. We're all staying positive and enjoying the time we have together. If anything, it's made me realize how fragile and sweet life is. So, some positive things have come from this.

Anyway, that's it in a nutshell. Thanks to all for any support given and for being a friend when a friend is needed! I am very lucky despite all this.

Bathroom Remodel and little bedroom spruce too!

I'm posting these pictures for Jayna and Kathryn. You both get a sneak peak! I'm going to Ikea tomorrow to get accessories to make everything cuter and there's still some work to be done in the bathroom but it's done enough to reveal. Here are some "before pics" in case you forgot:

And here is the after:

 This is terrible light but we bought a desk for Matt to study on that was a nasty oak brown. I painted it on Saturday and while I was at it, gave the bookcase a paint job too. Kat-remember that bookcase?!

 These were the handkerchiefs I got from my great Aunt Ardell. Aren't they cute?

After I get some more decorations, I'll post it on Facebook but thought you'd both like to get a sneak peak. I'm just excited that it's ALMOST done!!!!

Faux canvas prints

I've been wanting to put some pictures that we took recently as a family but haven't wanted to frame them the traditional way but also didn't want to pay the hefty price to get them printed on canvas. Enter: Mod Podge. I've been a fan of mod podge since college and have used it in many different ways but this is pure genius. I bought some canvas' at Michaels craft (50% off), printed my pictures at the local Costco and painted the edges of the canvas' with craft paint. I had to trim my pictures down to fit the canvas which was pretty easy. Then I mod podged the prints onto the canvas', waited for them to dry and then painted over the entire canvas. I only did one coat. And voila. If you look closely, you'll be able to see that they are not the real deal but I don't care. They look nice and when we get new family pictures next year, I won't feel bad throwing these away and getting new ones. It helps to have such cute subjects for a photographer to capture. Not me of course, the kids.

Alright! I'll do it!

I've been getting a lot of grief from my good friend, Jayna, about not updating this blog. She even went as far as you redecorate it and add her own little flourish. Look to my profile on the right. I will give her this though, it could be good to get back on the blog train. No, it's not as flashy and instantly gratifying as Facebook but it does offer me a good place to post about our everyday. Maybe one day I should put all this stuff in some fancy journal (Jayna...hint, hint.)

So. It's been a year. How can I wrap up what's been going on in a year. I don't like long, wordy blog posts in general so here goes.
Matt- Still working at Edwards Lifescience. Starting the MBA program at University of Utah. Has been growing an insane amount of tomatoes. Put word working on the back burner for a bit. Pretty handsome.
Carrie- Reads all the time. Heads up the local book club. Has run a 5k and is running another one in 2 weeks. Hates running. Feels peer pressure from neighbors to run 5k's. Coming up blank. Maybe has a really boring life but a good one.
Roxie- Started 1st grade. LOVES reading, just like Mom. Cut her hair. Thinks she's a tomboy. Doesn't know what a tomboy is. Played on her first and most likely only soccer team. Lost some teeth. Love art. Still dramatic. Makes life interesting.
Peter- Still the sunshine to the family. Sucks his fingers. Loves his neighbor friends. Goes to neighborhood playgroup. Potty trained. Adores Violet. Got stitches. Loves dried mangos. Jumps on anything. Cutest 3 year old on the planet.
Violet- Is almost 18 months and refuses to walk just on principle. Is growing hair. Has some teeth. Eats anything. Sleeps with a stuffed Kitty. Loves kitty's like crazy. Tiny. Maybe in the 4th percentile for weight if she's lucky. Adorable.

There you go Jayna. Hope you're happy. Maybe I'll keep this up. You never know. Now, an onslaught of pictures!!!

We are alive, I swear.

And to prove it, here are a bunch of pictures. I haven't much time to blog these days and put most of our pictures on facebook (if you're interested). We are enjoying summer and Violet very much. She is starting to move beyond the typical fussiness that I seem to get with newborns and we all feel like we're coming out of some kind of haze. She is getting bigger... well, bigger to me anyway, she is still under 10 pounds. She is smiling a lot and starting to make some little noises, which melt my heart everytime I hear them. Roxie is basically counting down the days until she can start Kindergarten. She plays constantly with friends and occasionally with Peter. Peter is enamoured with Roxie and would love to simply play with her every minute of every day. In a nutshell, we are doing well!!

Introducing: VIOLET

Violet is here!! She was born May 3rd at 2:33pm. She weighed a measley 6 pounds 2 ounces and is 18 inches long. The delivery was perfect and there were zero complications. It was great! Violet is doing fantastic and we are all adjusting to her being here. Roxie is in love with her and is becoming a really big help. Peter is letting Violet grow on him. He's handling it better than I expected, actually. He is very cute around her and is "very soft" with her (his words). Matt and I are in love with her. She is so beautiful and sweet. We are all tired, naturally, but so incredibly happy to have another baby. We feel very blessed and lucky to have had three successful deliveries and three great kids. And now... some pictures.