A quick word about a neighbor

Our neighbor and friend, Cory Alldredge is in the hospital at Huntsman. He was admitted today. For any who know him and Candace and their son Hayes--keep them in your prayers. We're hoping they can feel some peace as they pull through this.

Things have been going so well lately--I think maybe the cancer is gone!! (Who knows--maybe it's true!) The only thing I feel lately is a little achy and stiff after exercise or toward the end of the day. And this may not be the cancer, it may just be from the medications I'm taking. They cause joint and bone pain.

I went to a kick-boxing class at the gym on Tuesday. I used to love that class because you can take out all your frustrations while you're kicking and punching--it's very theraputic. I lasted 20 minutes (it's an hour long class). Once we started really bouncing back and forth, something in my chest started feeling like it was ripping or tearing. I'm not sure what it was, but I thought "At least I made it 20 minutes! Maybe next time I can go 25!" I finished off with the stair climber and the rowing machine. Guess I'll stick to the low-impact stuff for now.

So--overall I'm feeling pretty normal--and it's great!! I haven't had to take hardly any ibuprofen (when I use to take it daily). I feel very blessed and hope I don't take this time for granted. I remind myself each morning to show love to my husband and children and really take the time I need with them.

I also have this incredible urge to decorate my home. I'm not sure why.

--Jenn

The last few Saturdays we've been showshoeing--and it's beautiful up in the mountains with all the new snow!! I keep wishing for the feeling of gliding down the hill on a snowboard--but not ready for that yet (and maybe because of my bones I won't be doing that again). But the scenery is still great! And so is the workout!!



My dad's the one who taught me to snowshoe. We're at White Pine just below Snowbird.





Joe and Sam love this! The fire slowly melts itself into a hole.




Me and my love--who by the way gave me the sweetest Valentine's gift--new scriptures with the name "LITTLE FLOWER" engraved on the front. That's what he calls me--more than by my real name. I guess he was tired of me using his scriptures.

This is by far the best photo Bry took!! I'm checking out some snow caves probably made by scouts--the kids thought these were awsome!

I received my last treatment of Aredia (bone strengthener) by IV and my Lupron shot last Friday the 15th. My appointment went well and my side effects have been minimal since. I was speaking in the Saturday evening session of Stake Conference and singing in the choir on Sunday, so I figured God would bless me to be well so I could make it.

The Saturday Evening session was so great!! Elder Nuenschwander was our visiting General Authority. He sat down and spoke with me just before the meeting started and let me know he knew what me and my family were going through. His wife had just recently passed away from breast cancer. From diagnosis to her passing away it was only ten months. The whole meeting was amazing. Just before I spoke there was a musical number called something like Fear Not. When I heard that I was hoping I could make it through the song and be able to speak. The song was beautiful and had some of the words from "How Firm A Foundation" the verse about "Fear not I am with you Oh be not dismayed..." It was then that the tears started rolling and I had a really hard time pulling myself together for when I had to stand up. I spoke about the temple and how important it is to all of us and how it keeps us together as family no matter what happens. The thing is any of us could pass away at any time--and the knowledge that we'll be together after this life is the one thing that I hold onto and gives me hope and peace. Elder Nuenschwander spoke after me and told his story about his wife and her passing. He told us of how he has been blessed with peace. The whole conference was amazing and the talks by our stake presidency and others were a real boost to me.

Just yesterday we received a letter from Elder Nuenschwander reminding us we can call and talk with him any time. What a sweet man! I think Bry really enjoyed talking with him after the conference--and knowing he could talk with him if he needed a listening ear from someone who's been there.

Everything else is going well. Last Monday and Tuesday I was terribly depressed and then the rest of the week I've been anxious at night and it's hard to sleep. These are just hormonal swings from the medications. For the most part I feel great and I've been exercising every day which really helps.

I got a call Saturday from my oncologist's office saying my cancer marker numbers went down by another 1,000!! That means that treatment is working and things are going well. YAY!!! I'm sure it's because of everyone's prayers. THANK YOU!!

Still doing pretty well

This last week has been pretty good. The days are good, but in the evenings I get achy and I easily get tired and irratable. By eight o'clock I want to turn my children off. I also get really cold sometimes and have a hard time getting warm. It all seems pretty hormonal--which makes sense since I'm having my ovaries shut down each month and the pill I take every day messes with my estrogen.

I feel best when I'm around others because it helps me forget about myself. I've been helping out at the kids school one or two days each week. I've still been working out most every day either by walking or doing the stair master/treadmill/eliptical at the gym. I haven't gotten up the courage to go back to the water aerobics class yet, since it put me in so much pain last time.

The amazing thing is that so far this winter I haven't had as much as a little cold. I'm sure it's because of everyone praying for me. THANK YOU!!

My next treatments are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 15th. My oncologist wants to give me the full dose of bone strengthener along with my Lupron shot (shuts ovaries down). I'm a bit nervous to do it all at once, since my body seems to react strongly to everything. We'll see how it goes.

--Jenn

Good day today!

A good friend of mine who's great uncle is Gordon B. Hinckley called late last night to see if I wanted to go with her to the family viewing this morning. I was in a lot of pain last night, so I said I wasn't sure--but that I'd call her if by chance I woke up by 6:45 a.m. when she was going to leave. I just happened to sleep okay (I'm sure because of the blessing I asked for since I was in so much pain) and I woke up at 6:45. I called my friend (Angie) and she hadn't left home yet, so I threw on a dress and she picked me up and we went to the Conference Center together. It was so great! There wasn't even a line there, since it was just family viewing the prophet at that time. We were right next to him and were able to be in the room for quite some time talking with family. I was able to meet President Hinckley's children and hear them talk about their father. I found out after talking with his daughter that he had been seeing the same oncologist at Huntsman as I am (Dr. Sandra Buys). He had been having treatments every two weeks up until he passed. And still he kept going and working right up until the end. That's inspiring!

It was an amazing experience--and I'm so grateful I felt well enough to go and to have such a sweet friend to invite me.

I've been feeling pretty well the past few weeks--just a little achy in the bones from time to time. I've been exercising more--walking at the mall in the mornings with friends and going to the gym to use the treadmill/eliptical/stairmaster. I went to my first water aerobics class since summer on Tuesday morning. I paid for it last night--lots of pain in my mid-section and back. I'm pretty sure the pain was from the workout--but it feels like it's more than muscle pain. I'm pretty sure my bones are hurting too. It's not as bad today.

Love you all!
--Jenn

Results from Bone-Strenghthening Drug

I received my bone-strengthening IV yesterday at Huntsman. I was really nervous because of how much pain and problems I had after the last time I had it. This time my oncologist wanted to try a different drug that does the same thing to see if I did better on it. It's called Aredia (Pamidronate). My oncologist also wanted to start out with only one-third the regular dose. She obviously didn't want a reaction like my last one. As of today I feel great!! I'm sure if I was going to have a bad reaction it would have started by now. I've even been to the gym this morning--mostly to make other people on the treadmill next to me feel like they're going really fast. I seem to feel better when I exercise and get my bones and joints moving.

My blood counts (white blood cell, red blood cell, hematocrit and platelets) are low. The white blood cells are critically low, but a couple points higher than when I was in the hospital in Dec. and my Hematocrit is actually a couple points lower than when I received my blood transfusion in the hospital. The nurse told me I should stay away from large groups of people, or sick people since I have a high risk for infection. I told her I teach primary and volunteer in my kid's school classes each week. I called my oncologist's office, and the nurse there said I can go where I want, but to wash my hands really well all the time and to stay away from sick people as much as possible. That's good because I'll go nuts staying at home. I'd rather be with people--it makes me feel better.

I feel so good--I know prayers are being answered!! Thank you everyone!!

Hello! Hope you all had a great Christmas and New Years!! I decided not to do Christmas cards this year to lessen the stress--but felt so sad about it when we received so many from our friends and family. So MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!
Christmas Eve and morning were difficult--I wasn't feeling very well. We did the Christmas story from the Bible together as a family in the bathroom--because I was in the bathtub with the jets going trying to feel better. Kind of wierd, but it worked. Christmas morning I felt particularly yucky and painful. While Joe and Sam were trying out the new games on the Wii I went and cried in the bedroom--mad that it was Christmas and I was feeling so bad. Then I remembered my 5-year-old nephew Nathan had been praying that I would feel better for Christmas. I reminded God about Nathan's prayer and that he would be visiting us in about 30 minutes. My sister Suzanne and her family were flying in that day from Chicago (that's Suz and her husband Tracy in the photos with me). Joe also said he had asked Santa to bring us a cure for cancer. So I had all these kids looking to see if I was feeling well. I took 3 Ibuprofin and a Lortab (which I never take during the day) and showered up and got ready to go to my mom's to have breakfast with the family. I was a bit sleepy, but have actually felt pretty well since that day. I haven't had to take much medication--especially during the day.

I actually went to the gym for the first time on the last Saturday in December. I got on the treadmill and slowly plodded along. I felt like people were looking at me thinking "You're never going to get in shape going that slow!" I stayed 30 minutes and decided I'd better not push it too far. I went walking for 45 minutes yesterday, and felt pretty good. I'm still not very fast, but at least I'm walking!! I get a little achy toward evening, but it's much better than earlier in December.

My next IV treatment of Zometa (the bone-strengthening medication) is on January 11th. It was supposed to be Dec. 27th, but I wanted to be done with the holidays. This is the medication I had such a bad reaction to that I was hospitalized in the beginning of Dec. We're hoping for a better go of it this next time.

I told our bishop that I was ready to be released from being Relief Society President earlier in Dec.--and the change was made last Sunday. Now I'm going to be teaching the 10/11-year-old girls in Primary. I'm excited for the new calling and to be able to spend more time with my family.

THANKS again to everyone!! We love you all!!
--Jenn