Pioneer Day

Here in Utah the 24th of July is a state holiday. It is a day we celebrate the pioneers reaching the valley after a trek across the plains. Basically it is just like a second 4th of July. Which is great. I love fireworks so to get two days in one month to do them makes me happy.

Today was a full day and I definitely have been overdoing things. By the time I made it to the bbq I was spent, physically and mentally. It was good to see family and friends but dang my body isn't too excited with the heat and the busy energy prednisone/steroids makes me think I have.

Tomorrow is a new day and I am going to lay low and listen to my body like a good girl (I've been getting a lot of crap lately for being too on the go...)

As for now, happy Pioneer Day or Pie-n-beer day as it is also known.

My dad knows how to do a firework show - best home show around

Staycation

I spent the week up at Snowbird, a ski resort that is open in the summer with activities and such. My best friends own a week long timeshare there and are so gracious to allow me to crash with them for the forth year in a row. Every year it has been so different as so much changes in a year.

It is so great to just escape the valley and heat and reality to a serene beautiful mountain where you can just zone out, go swimming, watch for animals or just hang in the room.

Top of the tram at Hidden Peak - 11,000ft; Salt Lake Valley straight ahead (Top), Heber (Bottom)

Jack is snorkling his heart out in this picture right above my feet

Morning routine

The view outside the room

As the week approached I didn't know how I would feel or where I would be in treatment. Orignially when I was on the Niv/Ipi combo I was scheduled to get my infusion half way through the week so in my head I was going to only be there for a few days. Obviously that has changed and I was able to stay the whole time - not sure they were truly expecting that but I did it! I only had a couple days and moments that I struggled but was able to pull through it. I used the spa pool and solarium a couple times and just relaxed and thought through things. My friends are crazy busy and have multiple small business constantly going so they had to come down to the valley almost everyday so I used that time to just relax and recoup. It was fun to watch their two boys enjoy their time on the rides and just be boys. They are getting so big and becoming their own little beings. It is fun to watch and just live in their simplicity.

Tell Jack what a selfie is...  

Ben and Anton in the room hottub loving life! 

  

Popsicles, SpiderMan, Selfies and Movies. This kid has my heart

We had groups of people come up practically each day/night and so that kept things lively and not so stagnant. Heading into the week I was worried I would hold back my friends from really doing things up while they were there since my stamina is non existent, my sun sensitivity is back and I'm extremely low on funds (I couldn't do the rides even if I wanted to anyways...) I don't think I got in the way, but I will never know for sure. Prednisone was a factor I know that, I ate everything! Ha! I told my friend she shouldn't have left me alone during my witching hours of 3-5pm... the chips just disappeared I swear! I am doing better at regulating it all but it is still a bit out of control. I'm hoping that once I taper lower I will see the water weight drop off and then I can work on the chip/treat weight.

My sungear in full effect! 

Yes, this happened. Ha.

At the pool in the shade, under an umbrella. Also, where is the tumor? 

My life isn't that bad if I step back and look at the giant picture. I just spent a week at a resort with my great friends because they are that nice to include me. When I started to have a meltdown, I went to a spa and stared out a wall of windows to a mountain side that had a family of deer on it. I was healthy enough to go for a week and enjoy as much of the time as I could. I watched two little boys enjoy all they could and play and swim their little hearts out. I spent time with my friends that I don't see too much cause our lives aren't intertwined as they once were - I miss those times but know that these times are just as important and have their own value. Was it hard to realize that I am now on the sidelines for real? Yes, but that doesn't change how I care about them as my friends and it just makes the memories a little different and may take a little more effort. They are worth the effort. Again, my life is actually pretty good, I just have this whole cancer bullshit to slap me down a couple times.

I am thankful for what I have, and for my staycation.

Christmas 2015

Christmas is a time of family and fun – and me getting spoiled like a child from my family.  This year was no exception.

Christmas eve we spend with my extended family enjoying some home cooked Italian food and playing bingo for money. It is a mellow night and it is always good to get the big family together.

Christmas morning is spent at my parent’s house with my parents and sister and we have sweet rolls (that my aunt gives out on Christmas Eve every year and they are the best ever…) and then start opening presents. My family goes big on Christmas, even when we say we aren’t going to. This year I was engulfed and surrounded by presents and couldn’t even see my mom next to me!! It was insane, but in a good way! We spent the morning opening the presents and seeing the fun things people got each other, laughing at some of them. We all know what we want, let’s just say that.  After all the gifts are done and we have some clam dip (it’s a tradition) we all head our separate ways and pretty much all take a nap.

My family doesn’t do anything on Christmas night, so I decided to make my own plan for the evening. I had gone and got some word searches, Sudoku and RedBox movie codes with a popcorn and decided to go up to Huntsman and hand them out to the people who were still there on Christmas, one of them being Mandy.  It was fun to hang out with her and her family on Christmas – they have taken me in as another daughter I believe. No complaints here!  I walked around to the different rooms and sadly wasn’t really welcomed into more than a few – I think people were just over having people come in and wish them a Merry Christmas. I left them a goodie and headed down the halls. I was happy to see that there were more empty rooms than full ones, definitely a good sign. A couple people were extremely grateful and wanted to hear my story as well. They made it all worth it. Also the people that were there in the halls taking a break from visiting their loved ones were very appreciative and also need some recognition.

My dinner plans fell through (twice!) and so I spent the night with Mandy watching a movie and relaxing, it was very nice. I then joined my friend late and enjoyed some Chinese takeout. Definitely a Christmas to remember!

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope it was full of family, friends and LOVE (oh and some tasty food!)

Happy Thansgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

Yesterday was a day full of giving thanks for the people and things in our life. For me I spent the morning writing thankful posts to many people on Facebook. So many that Facebook decided to put a security question/quiz for each post as I was doing them. It was interesting.
Given my past few years, I felt it was fitting to give thanks to the people that have shown up for me in so many ways. I probably wrote over 100 posts. It felt so great to let people know how much they have meant to me this past year and how appreciative I was for them showing up for me. Some tears were shed as I realized how many wonderful people surround me and care for me. Especially after my benefit surprise party Sunday it was great to show my appreciation.
I spent the night with close family in Provo with excellent food and traditions. It was low key and wonderful. Wouldn't change a thing... well maybe I would have some left overs, that would be good.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of love, friends, family and good food. Hope your hearts are as full as mine and that you felt loved.

xoxox

all prints purchased from Simple as That Digital Shop