Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Leaps and Bounds





Update from Lindsey.... see me and Brocklii Bear below......

The last time I was in Utah was in August and my Dad was doing great.... but now he is doing exceptional! He has come leaps and bounds since I saw him last!!!! Sometimes it's nice to be far away so I get to see huge steps of improvement instead of small ones each day.
 
When I was here in August Dad was still pretty passive and having a hard time making decisions and he was very mellow. This time around I felt like he was my same Dad I have always had:) Maybe with a little less feistiness......, but speaking, thinking, movement, decision making, and personality are all still my Dad! What a blessing!!
 
As my Mom said before the Doctors are AMAZED at this. Sometimes it's easy to forget that he has cancer because he is doing so good. The Doctors say that this is so rare. 98% of patients who have 1/4 of their brain removed with a tumor the size of a lemon and then go through the most agressive and intense radiation and chemo for brain cancer... Almost all of them have dozens of side effects... either loss of movement or vision or speech or personality. Something. But not our Dad:)) He is a walking miracle. Other than a pretty sweet hairline.... aka MAJOR power alleys.... his side effects have been pretty non existent.
 
We don't know how long this will continue. But our prayers are as fervent as ever that our Dad will continue to live a full, healthy, fun filled life.
 
Situations like this {crappy dang poopy brain cancer} really make you take a look at your life and realize what is important. We don't need the biggest house or the nicest car or the best of everything. We have what is most important and that is an eternal family. I feel so extremely grateful to have that knowledge.
 
I think we are all trying to take advantage of every opportunity to enjoy life. To enjoy Sunday dinners at Grandma and Grandpas house, pizza parties in the backyard, trips to the temple, working at a job you love, changing poopy diapers, trying to control our crazy kids. Everything. We are trying to enjoy it all.The fun and the not so fun.
 
My husband and I feel like we want to take every opportunity we can to help our children create memories. And to enjoy our families as much as we can. That is why we decided to bless Brocklii Bear in Utah. I feel so grateful that all of my family {except Jord:((} got to be there. I feel so blessed to have 6 brothers and husband and a Dad who are all worthy preisthood holders. The blessing was so sweet and amazing and we also took the chance to pack in as much fun as we could for the week.... including:
 
1. adult temple trip
 
2. delivering signs around the ward for Grandpa's 5k... if you haven't registered go do it now!!! It's going to be so awesome!!
 
3. BYU football game
 
4. Cafe Rio, Village Baker, Pizza, In-N-Out, and dessert night
 
5. Pumpkin patch and soup bowls
 
6. lots of snuggles hugs running around the backyard and just enjoying being together!
 
And the goodbye wasn't even too sad because we get to see everyone again for the 5k in 2 weeks!






p.s. Dad if you are reading this.... I appolish-gige for the crumb explosion that took place in your car....we are still working on the concept of eating clean:) Oh, and thanks for being such an awesome Dad and Grandpa. You are our Hero!

3 comments:

grammajill said...

Great post linds
What a beautiful baby and mom. You are all so blessed to be in such a brilliant family! ( that is British for awesome) Keep up the good work, and remember we are all praying for your family!

grammajill said...

Great post linds
What a beautiful baby and mom. You are all so blessed to be in such a brilliant family! ( that is British for awesome) Keep up the good work, and remember we are all praying for your family!

grammajill said...

Great post linds
What a beautiful baby and mom. You are all so blessed to be in such a brilliant family! ( that is British for awesome) Keep up the good work, and remember we are all praying for your family!