Park City 2010

Brian and I were able to take a short trip up to Salt Lake in September. We had such a great time!! Because of Brian's ostomy surgery, he had to stop chemo treatments for a few weeks. He was feeling great and we decided that would be the perfect excuse to get away!

We flew into Salt Lake on a Sunday morning and checked into our hotel in downtown Salt Lake. It was really nice. We took a long nap and then headed over to South Jordan to visit with some of our old friends, the Watkos. We have been friends with them since we were newlyweds. Their oldest had just entered the MTC for his mission and it was so nice to catch up with their sweet family!!

On Monday we headed out for breakfast, Temple Square, and some fun shopping. We met up with Lyle McMillan, one of Brian's oldest friends from high school. We had lunch and visited with him for a while. He's doing great and it's always fun to catch up with Lyle! We ended the day at the Cheesecake Factory with Scott and Cindi and a short trip to Tai Pan for some more shopping.

Tuesday we spent the entire day up in Park City. Brian and I love it up there - that's where we spent our honeymoon - oh, so many years ago!! We went up the mountain on the ski lift and it was truly beautiful!! The weather couldn't have been better!! We also went on the Alpine Coaster twice which was a blast! We spent time walking up and down the streets looking for souvenirs for our kids. It's so pretty up there!

We were sad to see our little vacation end!! Especially since it meant Brian was headed to the hospital again the next morning! We had such a great time and can't wait for our next get away!!

Chemo - Round 3

Brian finished up round 3 last Saturday. He went into the hospital on Wednesday the 22nd of September and spent 4 uneventful days receiving 3 different types of chemo. He wasn't given Avastin this time because of his earlier ostomy surgery. He will have to wait a few more weeks to be given that drug because of how aggressive it is on the colon. The surgeon doesn't want all of his good work to be ruined!



We were very happy with how well everything went and how great Brian tolerated treatment. We are truly blessed that he hasn't had to deal with any of the awful side effects that we hear about! The only side effect he seems to have is tiredness. For the first few days after chemo he is just so exhausted! On Tuesday morning he walked the little girls down the street to school and came back huffing and puffing. He said he almost flagged someone down to come get me to pick him up. It really tuckered him out and he ended up taking a good nap after that adventure. (It probably doesn't help that it's been so blasted hot here - even at 8:30 in the morning!!)



We will most likely start round 4 of chemo at the end of next week. (He's supposed to go 2 weeks between treatments.) Dr. Kadiyala wants to try it at her office again, which we're not looking forward to! I guess we'll go in to her office for about 3 or 4 hours and then be sent home with a drip that will last 46 hours. It really scares both Brian and I to be having chemo administered over 2 days in our home. Just put him back in the hospital!! Apparently the doctor feels like the hospital is a great place to pick up a staph infection or some other weird germ and would like to keep Brian away from there if at all possible. Yeah, makes sense. But seriously, we have 5 kids and 2 dogs - I'm sure there are some pretty funky germs running around here!

Anslee Michelle

This is my niece, Anslee Michelle. She was named after her favorite aunt - me, of course! My sweet sister Kristen came over one day just to let me hold this baby! Some days you just need a baby to snuggle! Thanks, Kristen!

Hunter's 15th Birthday

Wow - I can't believe Hunter is 15! And I also can't remember why his cake was so small. It looks like my sister Kristen made it, and I'm sure it was delicious, and it was probably eaten on the 4th of July. My brain is not functioning well these days!

I do remember that Hunter and his dad invited their friends over to watch a UFC pay-per-view fight. I bought a six foot sub and then took the girls out for frozen yogurt and a trip to Target. I think it was a fun night! What I can remember of it, anyway!

Teenage Twins!

Sommer and Sydney spent their 13th birthday in Las Vegas! The twins and I had planned on going up to Vegas for the Joe Tremaine Dance Convention - but since Brian was in the hospital I figured it wouldn't be the best decision for me to go with the girls. So I sent them with one of their dance teachers and they had a great time! They actually earned all of the money to pay for the convention by holding a "Dance Camp" at our house earlier in the summer. It was a good experience for them and I'm so glad they were able to go!

When they got home we went to Texas Roadhouse with grandma and grandpa Olsen. Definitely a birthday they will always remember!

Round Two

Brian went in for his second round of chemo on the 10th of August. Unfortunately, this was at the doctor's office and didn't go as smooth as his first round, which was done in the hospital! He had some type of reaction to one of the chemo drugs - his face turned bright red and swelled up - and he was given Benedryl. They tried to start that drug again and this time he ended up shivering and couldn't stop for about 20 minutes. It was scary! So we were sent back to the hospital on the 13th to have his chemo done there. We're okay with that.

The week following his chemo treatment Brian started to develop severe stomach pains. The tumor in his colon was sort of obstructing his bowel. Brian finally relented and let me take him to the hospital. He was in so much pain! He had colostomy surgery on the 24th of August and is still recovering from that. He is happy to not be in pain any longer - but still getting used to the colostomy bag. (Thankfully the colostomy is reversible!) He left the hospital on the 27th and we haven't had to return since (knock on wood)!

After being released from the surgeon on the 22nd of September he can resume his chemo treatments (hopefully back in the hospital). Right now he is feeling great. He looks good, has a good appetite and is still his funny, optimistic self! We think his hair might be falling out, though. It's hard to tell because he didn't have much to begin with - but it has a different texture to it now and looks like it might be thinning. We're okay with that!

August 17, 1991

19 Years Ago - August 17, 1991

It's so hard to believe 19 years have come and gone! When I look through these pictures it seems like just yesterday!!

Brian & I were married in the Salt Lake Temple because the Mesa Temple was being renovated during this time 19 years ago. We headed to Utah with just our parents, a couple of siblings, and a few friends. The morning we were married we walked from the Marriott, through the mall, and across the street to the temple. It was crazy! We were married and headed back to the hotel to meet up with everyone and then we were off to Lagoon for the day. Oh, the memories!

We spent the next few days - without our families, of course - in Park City. We had a great time! We even worked one night in a bakery making donuts and danishes to purchase the cake top I wanted so badly for my 85 tier wedding cake (exaggerating) - (but we really did work in a bakery on our honeymoon, and it paid for my awesome cake top)!

When we got back to Mesa the following weekend we had our reception. It was quite the event! Champagne sherbet punch, m&m's and chocolate cake. Brian and I even had our Big Gulp's hiding behind the lattice we were standing in front. Classic!

This was definitely the best decision I have ever made! Brian has been the best husband, dad and best friend I could ever ask for! Love him, love him, love him!!

From Happy to Crappy

So our summer hasn't gone as we were expecting! When I re-read my last post it seems like such a long time ago, when really it was only a month and a half ago!

So Brian started losing weight noticeably back in May. It had been coming off gradually and we all thought it was because he was back working outside in the heat. He came home exhausted after work and on his days off spent most of the time recuperating - but again, we thought it was from working hard and because of the heat. We didn't really think much of it until he started having fevers that would last a few days. They weren't too high - most of the time in the low 100's but once or twice they got a little high. It was the last week of June I finally made him go to our family doctor. The doctor ordered blood tests and we immediately went to the lab and had the blood drawn. Brian wasn't too happy with me that first of all, I made him go to the doctor and second, I was insisting he go straight over to the lab and give his blood the same day. But he did. Sometimes it's just easier to do what I say than argue with me.

We got a call a couple of days later from our doctor's office that we needed to go see a hematologist. Apparently his labs showed that he was anemic. This is where I started to get nervous. I started calling "hematologists" to set up his appointment and every one of them worked out of a "cancer center". We were starting to worry a little - but still not thinking the worst. I made 4 or 5 different appointments with different hematologists trying to find the one that would see him first - that was how were were going to choose who to see. All of them scheduled for 3 or 4 weeks out. It was very frustrating!

I did get paperwork from one office and I filled it all out with our insurance information and everything. And the next week when Brian's fever got high again I called that office - thinking it was the "first appointment office". I called and asked them to see Brian sooner and they said okay. They were very nice and I could tell they were concerned with Brian. When they were making his new appointment is when I realized this wasn't the office I thought it was. The soonest they could fit him in was actually after the "first appointment office" appointment. I got off the phone with the receptionist and had such a strong feeling that this is where we needed to go and I immediately called Brian and told him so. He agreed with me that if I had such a strong feeling it was obviously the Spirit talking to me and guiding us where we needed to go.

So we went on Thursday the 15th of July to Dr. Kadiyala's office. Our appointment was at 4:30 in the afternoon. She looked Brian over and told us that she wanted to rule out any blood diseases like Valley Fever, Mono, TB, etc. She also thought that he might have an aneurysm in his stomach because she heard something weird when she was listening to his stomach. So that was what we really thought was going on. She ordered blood work and a CT scan "stat" and we were sent on our way. On Friday Brian had his blood drawn and on Monday afternoon had his CT scan. We received a call from Dr. Kadiyala Monday afternoon to meet her in her office the next morning. We knew it was bad.

So on Tuesday morning the 20th of July we headed to the doctor's office. Hunter had gone to football practice and the girls were all at Intense Dance Camp. I actually was teaching that entire week - and so was planning on heading back to dance after his appointment. Little did we know our world was about to be turned upside down! When we showed up at the doctor's office Brian's parents were there waiting for us. We were so touched that his mother actually drove all the way down from Eagar that morning to be with us. It was a surprise and meant so much to Brian and I. Again, we were thinking aneurysm. When we were called back to see the doctor, she came in, shut the door behind her, and said, "I have bad news. You have stage 4 colon cancer". I think I went into shock after that because the next thing I know we were being given instructions to head to the hospital - that she would follow us there. My head was spinning and I asked her to prescribe me something because I wasn't going to be able to get through this day. She did, and I took it and that's about all I remember of Tuesday.

The next week was full of tests, biopsies, a colonoscopy and lots and lots of tears. We managed to keep the kids busy with dance camp and football practice. Family took our kids back and forth for us while I stayed at the hospital with Brian. I did manage to get to the dance studio to teach my production number and was happy to get a break for a couple hours here and there. We decided not to tell the girls that Brian had cancer until after their fun-filled week. Hunter knew and was handling it pretty well. We told the girls on Friday night. Each of them took it a little differently. They are still trying to process everything and I'm sure will each go through a gamut of emotions in the next few months.

Brian started chemo on Saturday the 24th. They gave him 3 different types - Oxaliplatin, Fluorouracil and Leucovorin. At the last hour before he was discharged Dr. Kadiyala ordered one more type of chemo because he had tolerated the others so well. (I can't remember the name last one!) He was discharged from the hospital, Desert Banner, on Monday night the 26th of July. We were soooo happy to have him home again! The oncology ward at the hospital was so good to our family. Everyone was so concerned with Brian! Brian was the best patient - always upbeat and in good spirits. His nurses loved him! In fact, for the first couple of days he kept his basketball shorts and shoes on. He didn't act like he belonged in the cancer ward! It was such a blessing to me to have him so positive. I spent many hours in the hospital bed snuggled next to him. He was such a comfort to me.

Our family and our ward really stepped in and took care of our kids and our house while we were in the hospital and we can never thank them enough for that! (My parents actually were on vacation in Branson, Missouri and flew straight home to be with us.) We haven't been on the receiving end of things very often and it has been such a humbling experience for us. We love and appreciate them more than they can ever know!

Happy Summer!!

Our summer has gotten off to a great start! Things around our house are crazy - as usual. But it's so nice not to have such a rigid schedule. The end of the school year just about did me in!

Hunter started football practice in the spring for the high school team. He has been very diligent in making it to every practice. He is up at 6:00 in the morning and heads to the school for his work outs until around 9:00 or so. We are amazed at his dedication and eagerness to get himself up and out the door. This NEVER happened during the school year. It was so hard to get him out of bed in the morning! We are really proud of him. We've always looked at Hunter like he was really big. I guess because we have a house full of little girls - he seems so much bigger. When I dropped him off at his first lineman camp I almost cried. He was the smallest kid there. He assured me though, he wants to be on the line - and the coaches are okay with it. So hopefully he'll have a growth spurt here real quick. Unfortunately for him, he has more of me in him than his 6'5" dad. Only time will tell!!

Sommer & Sydney finished their first year of Junior High. It wasn't too traumatic for them. They've spent most of the past month in the dance studio and any free time in the swimming pool. Sydney's already had her first ear infection of the summer. The girls had their dance recital last weekend and did a great job. We were so happy to have all grandparents and a few aunts & cousins in attendance. I love to watch my girls dance and can see the progressions they've made this year. It's incredible! I'm such a lucky mom! We will continue dance lessons through the summer - all technique, which will be so good for them. I will be teaching a few classes, too.

We have 3 birthdays in July and so next month will be a busy one! The twins and I are heading to Las Vegas for a dance convention over their birthday. I can't wait! We're not sure what we're doing for Hunters birthday - but I'm sure it will be great!

Spring Break 2010

Waiting for the gates to open!!




Yeah! We found Sara!! Too bad there was no line - otherwise she would have taken us straight to the front!





We've got our license to drive! Watch out world!

Grandma & Grandpa came along for the fun. What would Disneyland be without them?

Hunter, Grandpa & Sydney - we had to bribe Sydney with some Dibs to go on Splash Mountain. She was a little scared of that ride.

Waiting for the parade.

Dancing in the parade! Chloe thinks she might want to do this professionally in a few years.

Waiting for dinner at the Rain Forest Cafe in Down Town Disney.

Our favorite ride. We went on this about 100 times. Seriously.

Hanging out on the carousel with the Ashby boys.

Hunter, Sydney, Dad & Lauryn on Pirates.

Watching the fireworks.

Hunter, Cameron, Sydney, Kyler, Lainie & Brian on Splash Mountain.

The gang after a wet ride on Splash Mountain.

This Spring Break Brian & I decided to take the kids to Disneyland! We had such a great time!! My cousin, Sara, is doing an internship with Disney and is working at the park for 6 months. We though it would be the perfect time to head over there and visit!

Of course, what would a trip to Disneyland be without my parents?! We were so glad they could join us! We met up with some friends from the ward, the Ashby's. The kids had a blast running around with them and going on ride after ride! Ron & Mary also were there and it was fun to see them! We were able to all go to dinner at the Rain Forrest Cafe one afternoon and had a great time catching up with Sara. She's so cute!

It was such a great trip. In our past trips to Disneyland it seemed like we were tied down to schedules - babies needing naps, feedings, diaper changes - and when the girls danced there last year we had to be at certain places at certain times for the performance and classes, etc. This time we were free to do whatever we wanted. We even let some of the kids split up from us and do things on their on. It was great! The kids all came with their own money, also, and it was so nice to not hear "buy me this"!! They spent their money on whatever they wanted.

The last time we went on vacation to Disneyland I came home exhausted and not wanting to return for a LONG time! This time was awesome and I can't wait to take the kids again!

Dance Photoshoot

Lauryn, Makkenzi, Neely & Chloe

Sommer & Noelle

Sommer

Neely & Lauryn

I spent most of January (December, November) finishing up the new website for AZ Desert Dance - http://www.azdesertdance.com/ We took a few of the girls out to get some pictures for the site and these were a few that were taken with my girls in them. What a fun day!!

Lauryn turns 7

January was a very busy month for birthdays! We had several cousins turning a year older - and added an additional Olsen cousin, Graham Michael, to our family (Todd & Lara's)! Lauryn ended up celebrating her birthday with a Neus family party at our house. It was nice to have family over. We missed Grandma, of course!! The family doesn't quite seem right when grandma is missing!!

Instead of a big birthday party with friends, Lauryn decided she wanted to go on a "shopping spree" with mom. Good choice! I picked her up from school at lunch time and we headed out to San Tan Mall. We ate lunch at Panda and shopped the day away! Lauryn got new clothes for her Build A Bear, some fun jewelry, make-up, and a new backpack. She made out pretty good! I'm sure this will be a tradition her and I will continue to keep. Since we share a birthday it made my day so much fun, also!

Christmas 2009

The Neus Family
(Okay, I know I'm being vain, but my butt really isn't that big. There's a wreath or a chair or something behind me that makes my butt look like Aunt Fanny's in the movie Robots.)



My beautiful girls!



The Neus cousins. (Pay no attention to Hunter in the back strangling his sister!)



Sydney, Ivy & Sommer at Grandma Peterson's house.



Aubrey, Aunt Lainie & Mackenzie at the dance recital! I am so lucky to have my own sweet neices in dance class with me this year! These girls stole the show - each in her own special way!



Chloe & Brian decorating Gingerbread Houses. Yeah, her shirt is really telling it like it is!

Christmas came and went so quickly this year! We had a terrific time visiting with family and enjoying a break from school and lessons. We spent the few weeks before Christmas making Gingerbread Houses, dancing in our studio's Christmas Dance Production, going on a "hayride" around the neighborhood, a slumber party with friends, orchestra concert, shopping and basically just trying to keep it all together. (Some day I WILL lose my mind.)

Christmas Eve was spent at my parent's house with the whole gang - 20 cousins ranging in age from 14 to 6 months. Yeah, it was crazy. It always is. But we had so much fun! The kids acted out the Nativity and got to open their 1 Christmas Eve present.

The kids woke us up around 5:00 or so Christmas morning. They were so excited to see what Santa brought! Everyone was pleased with their gifts this year. Santa did good. After making a mess in our family room we drove over to my Grandma Peterson's house. We do a big family breakfast over there every year. It was nice to catch up with my cousins, aunts and uncles. We had a special treat this year - my brother Ryan and my Uncle Brian sang for us. It was great!

We went over to Michael and Sandi's in the afternoon and ate and opened more presents. The Neus cousins total 16 but it's just as crazy as 20. (Once you hit 10 kids under the age of 14 it's all the same.) The kids had fun playing with their cousins and seeing Grandma and Grandpa Neus. Now that they've moved to Eagar we don't get to see them as much as we would like!

We ended the day at my parent's house again. We ate and opened the last of the gifts. It was a crazy day. Christmas just wouldn't be the same without all of the chaos! I love it!

Hunter's Black Eye

So I got a call from Hunter during his 3rd period PE class. He told me that he was in the nurses office and that the back of a kid's head hit him in the eye during a game of Capture the Flag. He said his eyebrow was a little swollen and he had a headache. Me, being the awesome mom that I am, told him to take a Tylenol and go back to class. When he protested a little I told him to give the phone to the school nurse. She pretty much told me the same story that Hunter had. Not too much description, but that yeah, his eye was a little swollen. So I went to the high school to pick Hunter up and this is what I saw. This isn't just "a little swollen"! Hunter's eye was swollen shut for at least 2 days, and when he could finally open it again the actual eyeball was red. It was so gross! Poor Hunter, he had that black eye for at least 2 weeks! And if you ask him, he'll tell you that his eyebrow bone is broken because there's something moving around up there above his eye. It's a true story. Ask him.

Lost Teeth

Gunnar and Lauryn both lost the same tooth at Grandma's house! Gunnar's had been wiggly for a while and he finally pulled it out. After seeing Gunnar lose his, Lauryn just had to get hers out also!

Halloween 2009

These are pictures from Halloween night!


The Neus, Hunt & Watson gang getting ready to do some trick-or-treating!



Sydney & Sommer


Chloe


Lauryn