Day 3-6 -- DisneyLand Trip

Pure exhaustion...

That is how I feel after a long trip of 3 boys and being on my feet non-stop. But it was a lot of fun to see how happy there were to do everything....even with the Mom, can I have some cotton candy...Mom, can I have a churro....Mom, can I have some icecream...Mom, I need to go to the bathroom (this was Tyler in almost every long line we stood in when we were getting close to getting on the ride..I would say..can you hold it...NO) Oh so fun!!!

We went to California Adventures on the 3rd day. We got there and no one was there. We were able to walk onto rides and ride them over and over again. They loved it. Tyler's favorite ride was Mulholland Madness -- it is just like the Wild Mice at Lagoon. Just a side note on this ride...we went to ride it Saturday and had fast pass tickets to get on for 3:50 (Yes I remember the exact time). Anyway, we get there and the guy taking the tickets looks at his watch and says...oh sorry it is only 3:40. I was thinking....you have got to be kidding. But I sat there and waited for what felt like 10 more minutes. We headed back up there...he looks at his watch and told us...sorry you have 1 more minute. I said, "What!! You have got to be kidding!!" He said, "Nope and I am making these people right next to you wait their 3 minutes...I know I am a mean person." Ok so who does the hiring at DisneyLand because that guy just shouldn't work at a place like that. Anyway..that was venting with stupid people.

Then we headed over to the Maliboomers and California Screamin'. Tyler was too short to go on both of those. He was pretty bummed. I stayed off with him while Dylan and Dallas did the Maliboomers...I was ok not going on that ride. Then I threw him on the Carousel with Dylan while Dallas and I went on California Screamin', and then we switched. That was Dylan and Dallas's favorite ride.

Then we were off to the Tower of Terror. They had been requesting this ride since the moment we entered DisneyLand. Well we survived...barely.... Tyler did not like that ride one bit. The look on Tyler's face on the picture that they take was pretty hysterical.

The next 2 days we went and hit all the smaller rides that we had missed on the first 2 days and got a lot of the characters autographs and pictures.

Dallas was chosen to be part of the "Jedi Training Academy" during one of the shows. He was soo excited. They got to wear the cool robes and learn different things with the lightsabers and then fight Darth Vader and Darth Mall at the end.

The last night they wanted to see Fantasmic. So after 1 1/2 hours of trying to save a spot on the ground being pushed and shoved by a million people, we finally saw the production. They thought it was the greatest. I just kept thinking...this is the last thing..this is the last thing...this is the last thing. I made it!!!

We also did a little swimming...they such cute little fish!!

Day 2 - DisneyLand

The boys were so excited for DisneyLand that we got there when it was opening. We were able to make see most of the park...but didn't have time for all the rides.

We started in Tomorrowland where Space Mountain is. Well that is Dallas's favorite ride and well...not so much for Tyler. He was in tears by the end. I think it was just the fact that he didn't know what to expect and he was flying through the air in the dark....he wants to try it again.

We went through many of the fun rides in Fantasyland...Alice in Wonderland...the Carrousel and of course the Tea Cups....that ride looks sooo fun...but wow it made me sick. The boys loved it.

Toontown was fun...we waited over an hour to see Mickey...but they loved it.

We were able to see the parade...they thought it was great to see so many characters.

Their favorite rides were Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Space Mountain...

We are all exhausted and ready for California Adventures tomorrow. :)

Day 1 of Trip to Cali - 1 Adult & 3 Kids

So we planned a trip to DisneyLand a few months ago for the 5 of us to go. Well Shane decided that 4 days of DisneyLand, rollercoaster, and him just didn't mix in his current state. So off I went on this lovely adventure of me and the boys. They have been so excited to go. I lost count on how many timess Tyler asked, "How many more minutes until we leave?"


So off we went to the airport. Dylan and Dallas have only been on a plane on other time (last DisneyLand trip - 4 years ago) and Tyler has never been on one. So there were 52 million questions for everything from security and "Why do we have to take our shoes off?" to the airplane with "Can airplanes really crash?" But needless to say, they were pretty excited. They sounded like we were on a rollercoaster when we took off and landed...and they were LOUD on the plane. I kept having to tell them to talk quietly. So onto the taxi ride. I didn't realize they would think that was so cool. But WOW...they thought taxis were great. The taxi driver was great. He was from Italy and had a really cool accent. The boys were being crazy in the back and I kept telling them to settle down, but the taxi driver kept telling me that the kids are just fine...they are just excited. He was really cool.


So not realizing how exhausting traveling with 3 little boys was...I was very excited to get to the hotel. I was checking in with this "lovely" guy at the Embassy Suites. He told me that they didn't have any rooms left. I asked if he was joking. He wasn't. He told me that there was a computer gliche and they were overbooked. He told me that they could send us down to the Sheraton for one night and then we could come back tomorrow for the rest of our stay. Well I was the wrong person to mess with at that time. (Side note: The boys are running around the entrance being CRAZY!!) I went off on him and how he obviously didn't realize what it was like to travel alone with 3 kids and did he realize what I was going to have to do to move kids around and go back and forth from hotels. He just sat there. So I asked what he planned on doing about this. He offered a $50 voucher to their restaurant. I said, "WHAT? $50!!" He said, "Ok I can give you one for $100." I said, "Whatever!" So he told me that he would go get the paperwork to move us to the other hotel and be back. I was irate!! Dylan came over and asked what was wrong. I told him that we had to change hotels...he asked why...I said, "Because this hotel sucks!" (Yes I was mad!!) I said that just as the guy came around the corner. Well he told me that somehow they were able to find me a room. It is funny what people are able to do when you throw a fit.


But some guy named Chris Wirly will not be happy...there was a handwritten note in our room to him thanking him for coming and being a member of some honory Hilton something or other. Oops!!

Picture of the boys in the Atrium in the hotel

Dylan and I at Denny's for dinner

Good News!

Dr. Chen came and visited us during Shane's chemo today to tell us the results of his scan. She told us...GOOD NEWS!! She said they have started to reduce in size. The soft tissue and lymph node that were cancerous in his neck has "resolved completely," meaning it is gone. There is a slight reduction in the lesions on his ribs. The nodules in the lungs are unchanged, but there aren't any new ones. This is positive that they are seeing results with the chemo. He will continue on with the same treatment he has been doing and will have scans every 6 weeks to monitor the status.

I am so happy that it was good news and especially since he would have had to be hospitalized for chemo had it been bad. What would I have done with Shane in the hospital...who would be here to constantly be sarcastic and to scare everybody to death with his sick and twisted humor (Yes, it was Shane who wrote the April 1st entry as if I had written it). So we are all glad that he will be here to continue on with this.

Crazy Night

Ok so last night was scary. Shane had been quiet ever since I got home from work and said that he wasn’t feeling all that great, well during dinner when I looked over at him I noticed he was quite pale. I asked if he was ok and he gave me his usual “I’m fine”. About 30 minutes later I could hear something strange in the bathroom, as I investigated I found Shane huddled over the toilet puking up blood. We rushed him to the emergency room. After all of the crazyness in the ER and what seemed like a blur I found myself in a room watching Shane sleep with tubes and wires strung all across his body. I realize at that time that the outlook isn’t good for him and I am not sure how much longer I can stay strong. As I sit in a chair with a tear soaked pillow in my lap a thought comes into my head that I ponder and question myself about. Is it wrong for me to smother him? Wouldn’t it be better for the both of us? How long would I have to hold this pillow over his face? Of course I dismissed the horrible thoughts, but as I type this blog entry one more question arises in my heart. Do you know what today’s date is?

Easter at Honeycomb

Shane grew up going to a place they call Honeycomb Mountain every Easter. So we have continued that tradition. The mountain looks like a big honeycomb and works great for hiding eggs. The boys just absolutely love going there. They love to hike up the mountain exploring, riding their four-wheelers, and doing whatever they want. This year they really got into going over jumps on their four-wheelers. They got pretty daring. Even Tyler, who looked like he was having a hard time controlling it. But he got better as the days went on. There was an old mine/cave a little ways up the mountain and everyone kept telling them that there was a mountain lion in there. Well Shane, Uncle Jace, and their cousin scared them to death by making growling noises when they were up there. Dylan ended up in tears.
Easter morning they got to hike all over the mountain looking for eggs and their Easter baskets. I couldn't look half the time that Tyler was running all over the mountain. I thought for sure he would go tumbling down it.

Chemo - Week 5

So for those of you who haven't seen Shane in the last week, he doesn't have anymore hair. It was coming out by the handfuls last week and it was really itchy. So he asked me to shave it off. Then a few days later, he took a look at his facial hair. It was splotchy, so he shaved it off. It was pretty funny this morning when one of the boys told Shane that he was starting to recognize him again without his hair. :)

He is still very positive and in good spirits. He had his double dose of chemo yesterday. He is a little tired from it and has lost his appetite. I just offered to make him some pull-apart bread and he turned it down. That is so unlike Shane. He is not looking forward to the sores he will get in his mouth - it makes him not able to tolerate his daily dose of Cholula. But he is still working out even though he is tired and he forces himself to continue eating 6-7 times per day. He is hardcore!! :)

Last time we met with Dr. Chen, Shane asked what we should expect after this first round of chemo. She had told us initially that there is a 50/50 chance of this chemo working. She told us that they will have results from his scans on his last day of chemo. They will be able to see if the tumors/lesions have shrunk. She told us that if they have gotten smaller, then he will start another round of the same kind of chemo, plus he will need radiation to get rid of the cancer in the bones. So then he asked the dreaded question of "What if the chemo is not working?" She told us to pray that it does. She said they would try a much harsher chemo next, that he would be hospitalized for 5 days at a time for.

We appreciate all the love and support we get from all of our family and friends. Thank you for the emails, text messages, phone calls (I know we are bad about answering our phones, but we try not to dwell on what is going on and talking to everyone about it sometimes makes it harder. That is why we chose to put info on the blog.) We love all of you!!

Tag...you're it!!

A: The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B: Each player answers the questions about themselves.
C: At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

10 years ago:-I was getting ready to make 1 of 2 big mistakes (1st marriage).
5 Things on my to-do list:-
Order more SkinCeuticals product (doing that right after I finish this)
Pack for the weekend
Pay Bills
Property tax crap for the business
Clean the garage

5 Places lived:
Long Beach, CA
Orem, UT
Winter Haven, FL
Eagle Mountain, UT
Highland, UT

5 jobs:-
Western Watts
ZCMI
Chilis
Maxi Mart -- Texaco
American Name Services

5 things people don't know:-
I am an open book...I don't think there isn't anything people don't know.

Well I think Amber tagged almost everyone that we know in common....
I am tagging Amy, MaryJane, Vanessa, Brindy, Adri, & Kelsie.

And so it begins......

I came home last night to find Shane asleep with a bandana on his head. He told me that his hair was falling out. I was like whatever...(last time he told me this, I believed him and he was really joking).
But it is true...

Shane had another chemo treatment today. Everything went well for him. I can't say the same thing for one of the ladies that was getting treatment in the infusion suite with him. She had a seizure during her treatment...a little scary.

Barber is Back Behind Bars!!

So it took 3 days to get Barber back behind bars. We kept hearing him in random places of the house. We finally were able to pin him down to being under the cabinets in the bathroom. There was a tiny hole in the kickboard that allowed him to get in, but we couldn't get him out. So we cut a few holes in the bottom of the cupboard and tried to lure him out. It didn't work. So when the boys got home from their Dad's tonight, we made them put their hand in the small hole and pull him out.

Where's Barber?

So I woke up to hearing scratching noises in kitchen this morning. The hamster had escaped. We can hear him under the cupboards or in the wall in between the kitchen and the laundry room. We have left some carrots out, in hopes that he will get hungry and come out.

My new car!!!

After 6 very long weeks, my car is finally here!! For those of you who know my patterns, I tend to rotate between SUVs and cars very quickly. The Tahoe was a great vehicle but the 24 inch rims had to go. Did you know that you can feel a dime if you run it over with those? Anyway, I am happy to say farewell to the Tahoe and hello to the BMW 328xi. It is black--of course and I love it!!

Another visit to Dr. Chen

Yesterday was Shane's 2nd week of Chemo. He is still doing GREAT!! He feels fine. He still is working out 2 times a day. So for anyone who wants to ask how he is feeling.... he would prefer you didn't or it will be followed by...GREAT...how are you feeling? (in a sarcastic voice) It is quite hysterical actually. He is the positive, strong one in the family!!
He has a total of 9 weeks of chemo and it will end the middle of April. He is so excited for the song that the nurses sing to you on your last day. :) It's actually pretty cute.
So we received the results to Shane's bone scan from Dr. Chen today. The cancer is in the bone in many places. They are as follows: left proximal femur, right sacroiliac region, mid right clavicle, left anterior second and fifth ribs, left inferior scapula, right mid humerus, right proximal ulna, right high parietal skull, right proximal tibia. I am not sure where some of those are...but that is the list from the CT report.
Dr. Chen told us that she wants him to continue with chemo for now and when the 9 weeks is up, he will be re-scanned and re-evaluated.

I got tagged!!

FAVORITE PAIR OF SHOES- any pair of flip flops or my slippers :)
NEW YEARS RESOLUTION- I didn't do one this year..but I always try to be healthier.
WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW- office talk and typing
IF YOU HAD $200 TO SPEND ON YOURSELF WHAT WOULD IT BE- i should probably buy decor for my house -- it is so bare still.
RANDOM THOUGHT- it was really nice that I had one day that was headache-free...because it is coming back.
FAVORITE PLACE TO GO IN THE CITY YOU LIVE IN - anywhere with Shane
THE BOOK YOU ARE READING - I finally finished Harry Potter 7 and started a new one on Focusing -- I need all the help I can get with focus.

i'm tagging SHANE -- Please hun!!, Amy, and Tone

Tyler's 6th Birthday

Tyler is already 6 years old!! He is sooo old. This was the year of the transformers. He is close to having the whole collection between him and his brothers. He also got a new hamster. For those of you who know the story of the last hamster..it ended very tragically. (Tyler decided to send Spike for a ride in the air in his ball) So we are crossing our fingers that he will live a long and prosperous life. Tyler named his new hamster Barber after Marion Barber who plays for the Dallas Cowboys - his favorite player.