The new year

With the new year brought Carson some new hair! He has some very soft, blond hair! He was happy to put some gel in it.

 We spent some time sledding in the snow!! Carson loved it. I enjoyed it as well even though it was COLD.

 Blake enjoyed riding the 4 wheeler with Uncle Shawn.

 Blake and I were in need of hair cuts, it had been months since we had gotten one. Blake and I jumped up in the chair and got our cut. He was very good for the sweet lady. 

 Carson of course wanted his done... The lady was very sweet and "cut" a few hairs on his head. He jumped down and said "all done, I am cute" I laughed and was happy she cut his hair.

 We also took a day to go out. We went to the "old" hang out of mine, the skating rink, I remember going here as a pre teen and loving it. The boys loved it as well, and enjoyed riding their scooters. I was happy they were ready for a nap when it was all done.

 

On Friday Jan. 25th, Carson had his appointment with his ENT doctors. I was nervous for this appointment going in. I knew that we would discuss what our next steps would be to fix his airway. The doctor wants to take a second look and will do so this Thursday, I didn't expect it to be so soon, but Carson was already going to be sedated for his chemo treatment anyway so it made sense to do it then. On Thursday we will learn what will happen in the next few months with his airway. We are hoping that a miracle has happened and he does not need any surgery at all. Finger and toes crossed. 

Also on Thursday we hit MAINTAINCE! YAHOOOOOO I did not think this day would get here. 9 months ago I didn't see a light now I can see it, though it is still 2 years away we are headed in the right direction. Most kids if they relapse do so with in a few months of entering this part of treatment. So the next few months are intense and we are hoping for the best. 

Bieber for Millie... saying goodbye....Happy Birthday to daddy

I am sure you know by now, I belong to an amazing group of Cancer moms that support one another. One of our cancer cutties Millie, is now fighting Leukemia for the 3rd time. A child shouldn't have to fight once let alone 2 and 3 times! Millie had tickets to go to the Justin Bieber concert. Because of her recent relapse with Leukemia she wasn't going to be able to go to his concerts... So some of the other cancer moms got a grand idea to have Justin come to Millie! I of course jumped on board, seeing a smile on a cancer cutties face is priceless! We got an hour notice to run to SLC to be on the 2 news to campaign for Justin to meet Millie, Carson and I jumped into the car and drove up just in time for him to hold a sign for Millie. He was so proud of this sign. We left 2 new studio to head to his favorite place McDonalds to eat(gag) He rolled down his window in the -2 temps and rocked the sign all the way through the drive through. :) I was very proud that he was happy to help a fellow Cancer cuttie!

 

The next day I joined others in saying goodbye to one of our other cancer cutties Hunter Hansen. This 9 year old boy inspired me. He lost his mom suddenly in Sept while they were at PCMC. His family is from Rock Springs Wyoming. I followed Hunter's journey in the last months and wished that Carson could have met him. Hunter was wise beyond his years, and his dad has to be the biggest inspiration to any parent that has ever gone through their child having cancer. Hunter's dad Phil, was so strong. This has to be one of the hardest things I have ever done. Going to a child funeral is so hard.

That night after I got home; Carson's cough got a little worse with the OKAY from his doctor we tried a breathing treatment. He was happy to sit and take it by himself! at 130AM we ended up heading to the ER since he had a fever and a fever for him = blood draw. He had  a virus test, cultures and we stayed there till 7AM.  We learned Monday that he had a + test for Rhino virus or the common cold YAY! I was so happy to have my child have "just a cold"! 

Not very often do they show love to one another, but they fell asleep at Grandma Georgiana's and she got this picture. Melts my heart!

Brant and the boys being silly! I love those Mickey Mouse jammies! This was on Bran't birthday, Carson wanted daddy in jammies like him, so I pulled out my Mickey Mouse Jammies and they rocked the sleeper PJ's for a few hours. :)

Wrapping up 2012!

   Treatment on Christmas eve, meant that we had to go for a blood draw on Sunday. The nurses at American Fork hospital love this kid, and came in to do his blood draw on a SUNDAY. He is the only pediatric patient they have; and he ham's it up for them!

 We found this GREEN Santa hat and Carson had to have it! He wore it for 2 weeks. Made him happy.

 He dressed himself to go to the hospital, his brothers shirt, star wars jammies, and Gabbi's pink monster slippers. If is makes him happy, then I am happy. Some battles are not worth fighting! 

Christmas eve night I ended up in the ER with a slipped rib talk about pain.

Then we got to Christmas morning! Blake enjoyed it so much, he loved opening presents and was super excited to get each one. 

Carson didn't feel well, and it was a rough day for him and I. But we were blessed to stay home and all be together, when I know so many families who were celebrating in the hospital.

 They got a play kitchen that they both LOVE! Brant thinks it is a dumb for boys but they like it and play with it often!

 Carson HAD to wear shorts like daddy's, and Santa brought him 4 more so he could be just like daddy and have pockets and all!

He loved all the trucks he got for Christmas. It was a good Christmas just not great.

A few days after he felt better so we went shopping to use some of the gift cards we got. In JC Penny he put on girls bracelets and glasses and pulled faces! I thought it was cute and he thought it was silly. I was happy he was feeling better since it has been a rough few days.

 

Then cam the NEW YEAR! Carson partied at Grandma and Grandpa's while Blake, mom and dad went home to bed. I still did not feel well from my rib. Carson enjoyed staying at grandma and grandpa's.

Another blood draw on 1/2/13! First one of the new year! We were excited as you can see!

This was his outfit to go to the hospital on 1/3/13 :) much better than before! 

His dad has been off work for 2 weeks now, and he loved that daddy got to go with us. He liked to play trucks with daddy. Brant said " your on a first name basis with all the nurses?" I replied "yes I have been here every week for the past 8 months, I know them well!"

 

 

The chemo made his mouth taste funny and he was not liking it.



 

Laying on the floor watching the Ipad.

 

The chemos he got in this phase are...

 Methotrexate is an anti-metabolite medication, meaning that it interferes with the normal cellular metabolism causing cell death. This makes it an ideal chemotherapy agent, and it is used to treat many types of cancers, including but not limited to breast, head, neck, lymph, blood, lung and bone. Because methotrexate is administered systemically, meaning to the whole body, it can also interfere with normal healthy cells functions, leading to unwanted side effects.
      Vincristine is used to treat: acute leukemia, Hodgkin's and non- Hodgkin's lymphoma, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, Wilms' tumor, multiple myeloma, chronic leukemias, thyroid cancer, brain tumors.

We have one more treatment on Jan 14 and then we have a 2 week break and then..... drum roll please..... WE HIT maintenance. maintenance will be what we do for the next 2.5 years, a routine will develop and we can start to live like a normal family to a point. We will still go to the doctors every 4 weeks. He will take Chemo pills each night, and have some Chemo put in his Port each month. But nothing will change, we will have the same thing for 2.5 years.

We did get different nausea medications for this time, since he was pretty sick for a few days last time. we are hoping they will help. This past year was filled with so many new challenges that I never thought I would face. But we got through them, a little stronger, and wiser I think.
   There is no way we could have got through it with out the help of so many family and friends. My mom and dad have helped so much. My dad lost his job in July and was able to tend Blake for me, and help me on bad days, it was a safety net I loved having. I was scared when he went back to work. My mom comes over whenever is needed, no questions asked and does what is asked, she isn't good at just offering so I have to "be bossy" and tell her what I need, but she raised me to be that way :).
My mother in law has been great at driving an hour down whenever she is asked, staying the night, cleaning and just helping out with whatever. My little brothers have been there as well, they are not as good at taken care of us as I am of them, but they are there, to bring new toys to the boys, Pepsi to me when I need it, and to play b-ball with Brant. Really I don't think we could have made it with out these 5 people plus the countless others who have helped us. It has been rough. I wish I could name each of you, but I know I would forget half of you. THANK YOU. This next year I am hoping it will be much less stressful, and eventful.

Goodbye 2012! A year that I will never forget. A year full of struggles, heart ache, fear and unknown. But filled with lots of love, and support! 2013 I hope you are good to us and much less eventful! Here is to wishing everyone a very blessed new year, filled with love, understanding and laughter!!!

This quote rings so true at this time in my life... I have learned so much about who people really are over the past 8 months...

"There comes a time in your life when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back is living." - Unknown