Graduation

Skyler graduated from BYU-I this last weekend.

His major was in chemistry.

 

Terry and I were able to attend, but after making sure I took my camera with me on the trip, I left it in the motel.  There was just so much going on ... Oh Bother!

 

However, I did steal a few photos from Skyler and Lisa's blog

(where you will find a few more)

 

Here he is receiving his diploma cover! 

Don't ya just love how they receive only the cover at graduations!  ;)  It was really cute how they made it a fun moment at this departments Convocation Ceremony, as they announced how exciting it was going to be for each of these students who had spent 4 to 6 or even 7 years to arrive at this special moment of receiving their diploma cover.   (Diplomas will be mailed of course.)

 

 

Here is Skyler and his sweetheart, Lisa

 

 

Now, Skyler and his parents ..., us!

 

 

Graduations always seem long to me, and when there is a Commencement and a Convocation ceremony on the same evening it makes for a long evening.  But, there were wonderful messages given and beautiful musical presentations that have touched our hearts and minds.

 

I'll share a very shortened version with you as I highlight a few of my favorite parts.  They were excellent messages, but I will not expound on them.  Part of what makes a message so special is how each one receives it, so hopefully you can each receive something personal as you read these short quotes.

 

- "In all thy getting get understanding" and "lean not unto thine own understanding but trust in the Lord"   (two scriptures that fit so well together)

 

- "This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it" (quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson)

 

- "How we react to our failures can be more important than how we react to our successes"

 

There was a beautiful musical number that touched my heart so deeply.  It was "Come thou Fount", sung by a friend of Skyler's, Parker Crandall (also in chemistry), accompanied on the piano by Lindsey Pruden (also in chemistry) and another special addition of a cellist (I don't have his name) - it was amazingly beautiful. Very well done - couldn't have been better ..., well, unless I'd have taped it.  The next photo (from Lisa) is of this trio (the three most left persons on the stage).

 

 

Now, here comes the news that really gives me mixed emotions. 

I love that Skyler is following his dream and desire, going on to grad school and furthering his education ..., I should stop there, because that is really great,

..., but it's so far away! 

They will be heading out to the University of Oklahoma sometime the middle of next month. They are looking forward to it with great excitement. 

My excitement is wavering - sometimes I'm very excited for them and other times I get overpowered with selfish feelings and wish they could be closer.  I guess those are the times when I will "lean not unto mine own understanding, but trust in the Lord".  I am so grateful for the Lord, and that He allows us, even invites us, to lean on Him!

 

Lucky for us they are here in Royal and Moses Lake visiting for the week.  We'll post pictures sometime this week when we get them (I did bring my camera home).

 

We know Skyler will do great with his ongoing schooling, and are proud of his accomplishments thus far.  Oh, I'd better mention - he got an award at their Chemistry dpt luncheon for most Outstanding Overall Performance.  There were a couple other awards given and the professors had a hard time choosing who to give those to, but when it came to this award, there was no question who should receive it.  (just a little Proud Parent Moment!)

 

Spring Break

Spring Break came and went too fast around here.  I personally didn't get enough time out of that week.  When I look at all I wanted to do and all I did, I'm kinda thinking I saw one day out of those 7+.  So where did the other 6 go?  I'm sure it wasn't that bad, but I wish I could have crossed more off my list.  However, the garage did get straightened up - and BJo and I did it ourselves!

 

Anthony spent most of his waking hours helping his dad and brother put together a circle.  Awesome huh!

 

 

They are still working on it (without Anthony now) and will be pleased when it is all up and going.  I wish I had a close up of the pivot, which they made themselves a few weeks ago.  It's pretty awesome.  My guy is like that you know!  ;)

 

 

 

Happy Easter!

 

The only eggs we colored this year -

 

 

In memory of our missionaries!

 

;)

 

They are out spreading the good news!

 

 

Medical Madness

I'm not sure how to say what we learned at Terry's appointment.  Instead of getting easier to understand this stuff it seems to be getting harder.  WHY? 
Well, maybe because I'm looking at it from a different perspective than the doctor, or from what I was looking before, or a number of other reasons - one being frustration I suppose.

 

 

image from here

I'll try to share what we learned:

 

1. Next appointment is April 25th. 
We don't have all of the results from the bone marrow biopsy in yet, so I guess we'll just wait for a call from the doctor to explain the rest of it (and that can be 1 or 2 or more weeks).

 

2. Terry is to start taking Fluconazole - a medication for fungal prevention. 
He has taken this medication before (after his transplant) and didn't seem to have terrible side affects.  It's just precautionary. They are concerned that his immune system is so low. 

 

3. Leukemia is still present.
Some results from the bone marrow biopsy are back.
My memory and my paper are fighting each other to remember which was which of the two counts I'll share, and I'm not going to just guess at it.   It really doesn't matter anyway.
One part of the biopsy tells us that the leukemia is about 20-25% (it was about 20% last fall, so that's about the same or possibly slightly increased, nothing grand or overly concerning).  Another part tells us it's about 50% abnormal population.  (one was the bone and one was the marrow, and it's all relative, depending on whether one needle got into a "pocket".) 

 

4. The MDS is still present, at 32%. 
I don't remember what this was last time - I just know that it was present. I do wonder if this is a higher percentage, but don't know.

The doctor seemed to be saying that everything was about the same.  She also mentioned the probability of the oral meds suppressing Terry's immune system and keeping his counts low.  She wanted him to continue the meds.  He wasn't improved, but at least he wasn't worse.  She said; "we don't have a Terry with treatment and a Terry without treatment to compare to each other, so we don't know for sure, but this treatment could be what is keeping his disease from progressing."  She suggested that he might add a monthly Ritiuxan chemo treatment along with the oral meds as a way to help keep things at bay. 

With all that was being said, my mind was saying, "Okay, enough is enough!"  "Too many maybes!" and I spoke my mind.  Uh Oh!  I can get in trouble when I speak my mind.  I was so confused and wanted to know.  So I said something like this:

"It doesn't seem like the treatments Terry has had are doing much good.  Many of the meds and chemos even cause other side effects or problems that are not pleasant, and who really knows what will happen because of them in the future. 
For instance, the Ofa treatments (last year) didn't do any good, the Rituxan (a few months ago) didn't seem to help, and the transplant itself didn't do any good and in fact, brought about another cancer (MDS) that we are fighting with now.  The Revlimid is possibly causing problems with his immune system and hasn't proved to be beneficial, so why do we do all of this? What good is coming from all of this?"

Ya, I said that ..., and asked that!  I really do understand that medical science is not an exact science. Oh Bother! 

The doctor kindly told me that it was a good question and was something to consider.  She then proceeded to give us three plan options. 

Plan A
Hold the Revlimid (stop taking it) for one month to see if there is any change with his neutrophils.

Plan B
Continue the Revlimid and hold course.

Plan C
 Continue Revlimid and add a monthly Rituxan.

After sharing these options she looked at me and raised her hand toward me as if showing a "stop" sign, and said, "We already know how you feel", and then turned to Terry and asked him how he felt.  He chose plan A.  By the way, her gesture toward me was not given in offense, nor did I take it as offensive.  It was just something I personally observed and thought was funny and worth noting here - it brings a chuckle to me, so maybe it will to others who read this.  Happy is good!

(I'm sure there was other conversation throughout all of this, but I'm pretty focused on what my mind was thinking and speaking out loud. If I knew Terry's mind I'd probably speak it out load too. smile! )
(I know what you're thinking - "Girls talk too much!"  ;)  I think I'm proving it!)

It will be interesting to see the blood results next month -  I'm hoping for positive change.  Oh, counts from this appointment:

WBC = 1.9(L) [normal is 4.5-11.0]
RBC = 4.00(L) [normal is 4.50-5.90]
HCT = 34.3(L) [normal is 41.0-53.0]
Platelet Count = 38(L) [normal is 150-400]
Ab Neutrophils results were not back by the time we met the doctor, but we know they are extremely low if they exist at all.

Okay, one last thing.  The doctor said that she will tell SCCA to open the search for an unrelated donor for a second transplant.  She said that it could take 6 months to find one, so we need to start now.  We'll see what happens.  We do have mixed emotions about it all. 
And, as we have learned with our past experiences, anything I've just said in this post could be completely changed in the near future.  ;)  

For now though, this is what we've got!



image from here



Just a Note

Terry's bone marrow biopsy went well yesterday. 

It almost sounds strange to say that something like that went well, when it is so painful.  But there were no complications, and it was one of the better ones he's had.

I'm reminded of the saying

 

Pain is Inevitable

Misery is Optional

 

That's definitely what it is in this case.

 

We have an appointment scheduled for next Thursday, to find out results of this biopsy.  (We'll see if all of the results are back in time and what kind of news we'll learn.)

I'm already anxiously waiting - that can be painful in itself, but I promise not to make it miserable. ;)

 

Have a Great Day!

 



A New Look!

Here's a peek at something we've been working on for awhile now. 

 There is still more to do, like baseboard and putting a sink and toilet back in the laundry room, but I wanted to post about it now, so you kinda get an unfinished look.

We installed new flooring in the homestead!

 

The living room -
 



 

the kitchen -
I guess I didn't get a good photo of the kitchen - sorry - but here's a sweet smile

 

 

the laundry room -
it's so much more bright with the painted walls and lighter colored flooring.

and side entrance

 



It looks great, but we do feel a pinch in our hearts as the look changed from what it was and what it represented.  What it was held fond memories of people and moments together.  We are so grateful for memories!  We will cherish those memories forever!

Doctor Visit

Terry had an appointment today. 
I could really end there because everything seems to be the same, or close enough to the same as it has been for a few weeks.

WBC = 2.3(L)
RBC = 4.26(L)
HCT = 36.7(L)
Platelets = 32(L)
(there was no report on the ANC/Absolute Neutrophil count, but we are sure that it is still 0(L), as it has been for the last 4 weeks.)

So, what's up next?
More of the same = taking meds as prescribed and weekly blood draw.

Then on the 21st he will have a bone marrow biopsy to see how the Revlimid has been working.  The results of that biopsy will determine the course from there, which would included continuing with meds (with the same dose or a changed dose) or a second transplant (though maybe for the MDS this time instead of the CLL/SLL).  We have no idea when that would take place or how ..., or any other info about it.  We are not making any plans either way and don't have any speculation.  When we know more we will post it. 

Today we are just looking forward to spring and getting some work done. 

PS - I should have posted earlier that Terry and Thomas planted the spring wheat.  That work is done, and we are grateful for the rain that we have had to moisten the ground.  There is more work being done, and maybe I'll remember to post about it earlier than just a PS at the end of another post ..., and maybe I'll include a photo with it. 

Have a great day!

Just a Reminder

We were reminded of this in our meetings - in a very loving way that touched our hearts and made us smile.  As I write this my mind started singing "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world!"  He loves each of us, and wants each of us to enjoy the good life.

 

 

full story here

 

I am so grateful for special moments with loving reminders.