Daycare Christmas Program

The kids had their Christmas program at daycare Tuesday night. Santa was a little baffled at Tyler being a girl and was concerned with Drew's cut on his head... but was cute anyhow! LOL

Here are some pictures, enjoy!

Boobies Update

I just realized, as my doctor called, that I haven't updated since I went to Huntsman Cancer Institute. Last month I met with a genetic counselor who had made a graph based off my family medical history laying out my risk factors. I didn't realize I had so many family members with cancer, ranging from breast, to colon, to even brain tumors. Yikes!

She went over the "normal" person's risk of just be being a woman... no family or personal history involved. Then she showed how I increase with having a couple of lumps removed, having extremely dense breasts, etc. Then she shows the increase of having my mom as well as other female family members having breast cancer. It shows were my risk is now at being 30 and how it increases every 10 yrs. My lifetime risk is around 50-55% compared to those with no risk having a lifetime change of 7%.

We went over options... from doing nothing, mammogram/MRI'ing yearly, starting a drug commonly used for breast cancer treatment, and prophylactic mastectomies. I decided on getting clinical breast exams (performed by a breast specialist) 2x a year, as well as an MRI and a Mammogram 1x a year. Doing this I will have something going on every 3 months to ensure if something does come up, it will be caught early. I am going to discuss starting a medication with a medical oncologist that will as well as decrease the density of my breasts so if something does happen they can see it easier in the screenings as well as cut my overall risk in half if I take it for 5 yrs

I feel good about things... I feel like I have done everything that I can control. If, God forbid, I ever do get diagnosed I can feel good with my decisions and know this is something out of my control and deal with knowing God has a different plan for me.

So anyhow... there is my update. I'll let ya know how things go with the oncologist.

PSS: Snow

Kim asked what our favorite thing about Snow is... favorite memory involving snow... blah blah blah. Honestly, I am not a big fan of snow... I could do without it. I know I live in Utah, but if it would stay up in the mountains and leave me alone, I would be fine with it. Luckily for me, I have a HOA that shovels my snow, so that helps me get through the winter season. Its pretty and all from a distance, but I am not a big fan of the cold.

Damn Saliva Gland Part 2

We went to the ENT last week to check on options. He said he isn't comfortable doing surgery b/c of the risk involved. I respect that; however we need to do something differently than we are currently doing so I asked what options we had. He said go see a doctor at Primary Children's Medical Center and see if he knows of anything else or would be comfortable dealing with all those little nerves that run through the gland. We have an appointment for January 8.

Ty finished her antibiotics on Saturday and Sunday night she started complaining of not feeling well and went to bed early. Monday she didn't say anything so I thought she was better. Today she called me from school, bawling. By the time I made it there to get her, she was asleep in the office just shaking. The lump is back again, but on the other side. This is a record... 8 freaking days in between outbreaks.

She cried... I cried. I cant believe we are the only people in the state of Utah who are dealing with this... someone has to have more ideas than heat, water, and lemon drops.

I am waiting for the Dr to call me back to call in yet another round of meds. In the mean time I have been looking up a lot of things regarding juvenile parotoid syndrome and found that Maxiofacial Surgeons deal with saliva glands. I called my dentist and asked if he could recommend someone. I called his referral and found out that he does deal with saliva gland and saliva ducts. We have a consult on the 30th. I am printing out everything I am finding online to ask about it. I am going to write up a big medical history of everything we have tried so far in the past 3 years. I am going to take pictures of her face when she wakes up to take with me to show him how it looks at its worst.

I pray that he is able to help. I am missing work, she is missing school, she is miserable, and its taking a toll on us both. Hopefully he will know of something we haven't already done and we can get past this. Keep your fingers crossed!!!

and the rest of Saturday night...

After their play, we took them to Baskin Robbins for ice cream before we came home. Earlier in the day someone had given them these cool glasses to put on at night and look at the Christmas lights with. They are really cool... they show snowmen and gingerbread men!

Anyhow, the kids wanted to bring them in the house to look at our tree. When they were done, I told them to go put them in the car and get ready for bed. I was online checking email at the kitchen table and Bryan was at the counter when we heard a blood-curling scream. We both took off running and I saw Drew standing by his car door holding his head. I moved his hand and blood was pouring down his face. I grabbed him to run into the house and Ty saw all the blood and freaked out... she was screaming and crying. Bryan was calming her down as I sat Drew on the counter and grabbed for a rag. He had about an inch cut on his forehead and it was deep. Instantly I knew we were heading to the ER. Not so much for the blood, b/c it really didnt end up bleeding all that much once we wiped it up, but because he has a seizure disorder and I wanted to make sure nothing else was going to happen.

We ended up dropping Ty off to my parents... she was still freaking out and if he was going to have stitches, I didnt want her there. Hell, I didnt want to be there... so it was a good thing Bryan was with us. He kept us all calm.

We were in and out at the hospital. I think it took us longer to get there than the time we were there. They were able to glue his laceration closed rather than stitches (yay!) and we have to have extra seizure precautions for the next 2 wks. She thought he would have a big bump today and bruising, but so far he is good. He was such a trooper at the ER, it was unreal. He laid back on the bed with his arms behind his head, just chillin'.

Today I took him to the movies and he is feeling good. Here is a picture from before we left.

"Oh No You Can't Go!"

On Saturday evening, the Sunday School kids from Ascension Lutheran had their Christmas Play. The program was called "Oh, No You Can't Go" and it was about the Christmas story told from the shepard's and sheep's perspective. It was darling and the kids had so much fun.

Ty was the shepard, Ezra. She had 4 lines in the play. Although terrified, she did a great job. Her little brother, Drew, was a sheep. He was running around before hand making his sheep ears fly up so everyone named him the "Flying Sheep". What a goof!

Here are some pictures of them... along with some video. Enjoy!

Christmas Tag

Christmas Tag!
Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper for home, gift bags for presents we have to take somewhere.
Real tree or artificial? artificial
When do you put up your tree? Uh... still not up yet. Will be done by Sunday.
When do you take your tree down? Usually the day or two after christmas.
Do you like eggnog? No
Favorite gift as a child? Cabbage Patch Kids
Do you have a nativity scene? Yes- one the kids and I painted a few years ago.
Hardest person to buy for? Parents.
Easiest person to buy for? The kids
Mail or e-mail christmas cards? Mail- sometimes homemade or atleast the ones with pictures on them.
Worst christmas gift you ever recieved? a XXL red sweatshirt with penquins on it. My son really liked penquins and had to by it regardless of size or if I'd like it.
Favorite christmas movie? Home Alone
Have you ever recycled a gift? Yes.
Favorite thing to eat at christmas time? Carmels
Clear or colored lights on the tree? Clear.
Clear or colored lights on the house? Clear.
Favorite christmas song? Silent Night
Travel @ christmas time or stay home? Stay home with the family.
Can you name all santas reindeer? Only if I am singing the song.
Open presents on christmas eve or christmas day? Christmas day.
Most annoying thing about this time of year? Rude people driving and at the mall.
Favorite ornament theme or color? Silver and Red
What do you want for christmas this year? I am getting a new cell phone.
What is your favorite christmas memory? Going to Children's Mass then back to my grandparent's house to eat and open gifts. The whole family was there and it was great.

I tag: Mary and Heidi!