Pocatello Temple Open House Oct. 9

 I got a text from Amy (our first counselor's wife) asking if I wanted to go to the Pocatello's Temple Open House. After confirming we weren't celebrating Mary's birthday on her birthday, I said yes. 

Amy, Dianna, Rosie (2 girls from the ward), and I left Saturday morning. Amy drove Dan's car. Well, the car started to have some issues. It was on cruise control and started freaking out. It wouldn't recognize/couldn't shift gears. We took it off cruise control. About the fastest we could go, without the car freaking out was 65ish (the speed limit is 80). We got there a little late.

We met up with Amy's sister and her husband, her brother, his wife, and 3 of their kids (not sure if they have more), and her dad. We went through the temple. This was the first temple Rosie has been in. We were able to answer her questions. The color scheme inside are pinks and golds. They have a lot of flowers. Unfortunately I don't know flowers enough to know what kind of flowers they were.

After the temple we went to Amy's sister in-law's parent's house for lunch (they were sweet enough to host all off us). On the way there, the car struggled going over 45. After lunch, Amy and her Dad took the car to Napa to figure out was wrong. In the meantime, Diana called her sister to come pick her and Rosie up.

Amy and Diana's sister made it the house around the same time. Napa reset the car. They said it was some cylinders miss firing. To keep the engine protected, the car wouldn't go faster. We could drive it back to Utah, but just needed to go slower. We ended up having Diana's sister and her boyfriend (and Diana and Rosie) follow Amy and I to make sure nothing happened and if it did, they would be there to help. We drove 65 the whole way and had no problems. We made it back to Ogden safe.

Thanks Amy for the invite! It was a great day!

Interesting Cloud Coverage

I came out of work tonight and came across this view. The picture makes it look much lighter than it was. It was very dark when I walked outside.

Bowling

I was the only rec therapist again today. We went bowling. I just wanted to share/document that both of my games were over 100. I can't remember the last time I went over 100. Go me!

Chocolate Factory Tour

I was the only rec therapist today and will be all weekend. Kaitlyn was able to set up an outing for me today. I took the Resi peeps on a Chocolate Factory Tour. We went to Mrs. Cavanaugh's in North Salt Lake. It was a lot of fun. I learned that chocolate is grown with 20 miles of the equator. It is generally planted and harvested on small family farms. Once it is harvested it sits out before going into the machines. Once in the machines that is where the coco butter is taken out. It forms a liquid first called chocolate liquor (there is not alcohol). The liquor has to go through another process that will then make it into coco powder. To make chocolates they add back in/more of the coco butter, milk, and sugar.

We got to eat samples along the way and at the end they give you a $4 voucher towards chocolates or ice cream. I bought an assortment of chocolates, a caramel apple with the white chocolate and cinnamon sugar, and some chocolate covered cinnamon bears (which it total was about $13). 

Thanks Kaitlyn for setting it up and thanks Emilie for coming with me and driving!

Pretty Views from Altamont to Ogden

I went to Altamont this past weekend/beginning of the week. I drove back tonight and came across these amazing views!

Mom’s Cancer

This past year has been a rough one for mom. She hadn't been feeling well and felt like she was constantly sitting on a pebble. This summer she finally went to see a doctor. They took a biopsy on Thursday, June 10 and told her it would be 2 weeks before they would have results. 

Well Monday came around and they had the results of the biopsy and it is cancer. I was at work when I found out. My first thought was probably "shit" (that's my go-to word). Second thought, "How are we going to pay for a funeral?" Third thought, "What's going to happen with Mary?" I felt myself go on the verge of tears. I was sitting in my office at work. I had just finished a group and was charting. It had been a really rough weekend at work with some patients (one of them sending a sitter to the ER). I told myself I didn't have time to think about that and could wait until after I was home that night.

I managed to make it through the rest of the day, but it was rough. I don't really remember what I did that night. I think Meg came up that night. If it wasn't that night, then it was the next night. She brought me my life jacket for the Bear Lake Trip. Anyway we talked and vented to each other about work (which included Cassy saying the F word, as I was quoting patients. However this is not typical for me at all). 

The next day I had my first appointment with the PA to find out why it was so painful to take out tampons (see Surgery post for that story). That appointment ended with the PA telling me I might have to have an MRI, which is I was not prepared for that news (don't worry, I didn't end up needing one). So when I made it back to my car. I finally broke down and started crying from all the stress of work, Mom's news, my possible MRI. I cried the rest of the way home.

I went to Bear Lake with my ward and used it as a distraction. That weekend I went home to Mom's. It was Father's Day weekend and I thought it would be more fun to visit with Dad and John (over Portal) with all of us together in the same room. 

Mom had a colonoscopy the Tuesday after Father's Day. I took her to that. Meg joined us at the hospital as we awaited the results. Good news, her colon looked great. Bad news, the cancer is in her rectum and anal areas. The doctor sent everything up to Huntsman's to figure out a plan. 

Aunt Mary and Uncle Boyd ended up visiting that day. I'm grateful they did. It was hard getting Mom to tell her siblings she had cancer. I think a bit of divine intervention came that day and we were able to tell them and Uncle Boyd was able to give her a blessing. I know Uncle Wayne also gave her a blessing Labor Day.

The past few months have been the beginning of the action plan. Mom was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. It is located in the anal and rectum areas. She started with Chemo (still in the process of doing those treatments). She will then move to radiation and later surgery. 

She had a CT scan on the 23rd and Mandy sent me the following text: Scans went well, the tumor is shrinking. The Doctor will meet with the other doctors and figure out how many rounds of chemotherapy and then what the plan will be for radiation.

Thanks everyone for all the thoughts and prayers for her and our family's behalf. We appreciate it! 

As we start the radiation process I will do another update. 

Hair Dye Attempt

I've been feeling braver and wanted to add some pink to my hair. I had a coworker offer to help me with my hair. On the 22nd I went to Cassie (Rec Therapist in hair school) to have a trim and get some layers. She did a nice job and curled it all cute. Alex (a nurse) came over on the 23rd and applied the dye. I showered that night and washed my hair (Alex said that shouldn't make a difference, which I'm not sure if it did or didn't). The next day I looked at my hair dry and the pink ended up being so light. You can barely see it. At some point we will try it again.

My Trim with Layers

What We Were Aiming For

How It Turned Out