Austin's New Wheels!

Remember when Zach crashed the van. (Oh yeah, that story!)  Well, that kind of caused a problem for Austin.  He didn't have a car to drive.  Everything was fine until this year.  He is a senior this year and can leave campus early.  The only thing is, I sometimes sub, so I can't get him.  We couldn't afford another car, so Austin asked for a scooter.  He asked and asked, and Don said no!  The thing is, he can get to school from our house without using any major roads.  Then Don had a change of heart. So eventually he started looking into it.  One of the teachers at work was selling her scooter and gave us an awesome deal.  Austin paid half, and here are his new wheels.  He loves it.  He can only take his scooter to school and work.  At night he can take the car.  I worry about him, but I think it will be good for college too.  Oh, and if any of you see him riding this without his helmet, call me right away!!!!

Sad Day!

It is with great sadness that I write this post.  Today Don's Aunt Betty Jo passed away.  She had suffered a stroke a few months ago.  Her health seemed to be on the mend.  She would never be the same, but things were looking up.  Then today she passed away while her daughter was spending time with her.  All I can say is that we loved her so much.  Don had such a love for her.  Last summer she came out to Idaho and we spent some time with her.  It was a wonderful visit.  It always is.  Don and I are so grateful we spent our time with her and did a lot with her.  She was always full of energy and so funny.  Don often talked of all the found memories he had while visiting her in Alabama.  Personally, I really loved this lady.  She was full of spunk and energy.  One time Don took us all to Alabama to spend some time with his Aunt and Grandmother.  It was on this trip that I first fell in love with this great lady.  I fell in love with her cooking!  Last summer she gave me some of her recipes.  I felt like I hit the lottery!  The special recipes were mine.  Well, the ones she let me have.  One thing I will treasure the most is the time I spent, last summer just talking with her.  I would go running, training for the marathon.  I would get up early and enjoy the cool Idaho mornings, and go for a run.  When I got back she would be up enjoying her morning coffee.  We would sit outside on the patio and talk.  I remember thinking, "She is so wonderful, nice, and simply amazing."  We had some good talks.  When we drove her to the Salt Lake Airport last summer, we all hugged and cried when we said good-bye.  Maybe deep down, we knew that was the last time we would see each other.  We will miss her.  She has blessed our lives! 

Things Are Moving Along Quick Now.......Good!

Things are moving along now.  I have spent the last week having tests done and proceedures all getting me ready to start my chemo.  It was hard on the whole family as I went to all of these tests.  What a pain.  I can honestly say that I have met some great people along the way.  Very positive and uplifting people.  They think I have Her2-positive breast cancer.  They are not sure and are waiting for some more tests to come back.  (Yeah, my doctor was not too pleased that the lab work could not be found! Don't mess with her! ) So the plan is for me to go through chemo for a while and then have surgery.  After that they will try to decide if I need more chemo or radiation.  I know this sounds different than what most people go through, but they are trying to shrink the tumors to get better margins when they do the surgery.  I have talked to many survivors who have done the same thing, and they said they were very pleased with their care.  My prognosis looks really good.  I am very confident that I can fight this.  The PET scan shows that it has not spread.  I was happy about that.  Other than all of this, I am a very healthy cancer patient.  Funny huh?  Everything looks good, so we started chemo this week.  I actually did pretty good.  I got all three of my drugs this week and I handled it well.  I only get a little sick to my stomach once in a while.  I am thirsty all the time. Water is my favorite drink.  I can't get enough of it.  There have been some very special experiences this week.  Before I met with the oncologist I prayed and prayed that I would find a doctor that would just fight for me and help me to fight this.  Before we met with our doctor, the office switched the doctors.  Don was none too pleased, but I wanted to meet this doctor. I had heard about her and people had told me I would like her.  We met with her and she talked with us.  In the middle of talking to us I became emotional. (As always lately!  Dang it!)  She stopped and looked at me and said, "I am going to fight for you, and you have to be a fighter.  Are you ready to fight?"  I knew right then that this was my doctor.  I knew Heavenly Father was letting me know, this was the doctor for me.  Since then we have heard nothing but wonderful things about her and today Don admitted that he really liked her to.  Prayers are answered.  We also got to skype Zach!!!!  I am thankful for a wonderful mission president who let our son talk to us.  It was good to talk to him.  The missionary couple whose computer he was using had him all set up with hot chocolate and everything.  They even told me they were praying for me.  (Hey with all these missionaries praying for me, how could I go wrong?) Zach said he needed to just see me.  He also talked about some scriptures that he had been thinking about when he heard about this.  They were the same scriptures I was thinking about.  Once again, prayers were answered. 

We have been overwhelmed with the kindness of friends and members of our ward.  We got the famous Francos homemade chips and salsa!!!!  (Don't be jealous ward members!!!)  I went out to lunch with my most wonderful friend Elaine!!! I went to Yogurtland with the ladies from the ward!  (Yes, I am gaining weight, but it's cool!)  I got cute hot pink pj pants, breast cancer socks, breast cancer tictacs(grapefruit flavor) and some bath salts!  Dang, I'm ready!  When I went to girls camp they still had my camp shirts ready for me.  So cute.  I am wearing the yellow one now.  I was excited they had them for me, because I was going to steal Aubrey's sweatshirt.

My good friend Deanna was down from St. George, Utah. She is also a breast cancer survivor.  It was so good to talk to her.  She is letting me borrow her Purell dispenser.  Her husband got this so people would santize their hands before they came in their house.  People going through chemo get sick easier.  She told me about a sign that he put on thier door saying something like, "We love visits, but if you are sick, please visit another day." I have to make one of those. 

When I came home from my first chemo treatment I found that my house had been heart attacked!  I wonder who did that?  It totally made my day. 

Then after my chemo all I wanted was fruit and water.  My brother didn't know that, but today he sent me this fruit bouquet.  Yummy!!!!  We love it. 

We do appreciate all the love and kindness that has been shown to our family.  We love you all!  Thank you.

Girls Camp

I was suppose to go to Girls Camp this week and be a leader for our ward.  Unfortunately I couldn't make it because of my health.  I started chemotherapy this week and I had some tests to do.  It broke my heart that I couldn't be with Aubrey and the girls in our ward.  Her friend that was coming with her also cancelled because she was sick.  I did go up for a day.  I was suppose to hike, but once again I had to get my port in and I didn't know if I would be back in time to get off the mountain.  So I just hung out at camp and felt the wonderful spirit there.  It was awesome to watch our 4th years repel.  They did awesome.  All 12 girls did it.  It was also awesome to listen to Brother Nishimoto's lecture on how repelling is like the plan of salvation.  I needed to hear that!  I got to spend some time with Aubrey.  She loves camp and I am sure she is having fun.  I am glad she is up there with friends of mine who are cancer survivors themselves.  Their daughters are so sweet to Aubrey and are so supportive.  I know this is exactly where she needs to be.

We Have A Webelo

We had Pack Meeting!  Ian received his Webelo Badge.  We were so excited.  Here are all the boys that received their badge that night.  Don is amazing when it comes to scouting.  He loves working with the boys.  Ian and Don work on scouting every Sunday.  Then Ian has amazing leaders.  They do a ton.  These kids always get a ton of awards. 

Part of getting the Webelo Badge is getting their face painted.

Ian is so thrilled with that.

Look at Ike and Ian.  They are like, "What did they just do to us?"

After his Webelo badge, Ian received a bunch of other pins, compass point badge, and a compass point.  He is cruising along.  This is Brother Wilde giving his awards.

Ooops, I Almost Forgot About The Water Fight!

The kids were kind of complaining that we always have spiritual family home evenings.  (Family home evening is a special time set aside each week that brings family members together and strengthens their love for each other, helps them draw closer to Heavenly Father, and encourages them to live righteously.)  Now there is nothing wrong with having spiritual family home evenings, but the kids wanted to have a giant water fight to celebrate the end of school.  So we invited a few families, told everyone to bring their own ammunition, and meet at the park.  Oh the fun began!  Slowly at first, but then it was on!

This little dude is the one that started it.  He wanted to get Brother Brasier.  When Brother Brasier got him, Enoch cried.  Mean Brother Brasier!!!!

Look at this big kid!  Don loves it.  The kids were chanting, "Get Brother Brasier!"  He loves it!  It is great to see that after all these years, some things never change!

It was a great night.  The kids had fun.  I am sure we will do it again.  It was good to have fun and laugh with good friends!

Happy Father's Day!

Father's Day was a great day.  We went to church and Don led the Primary Children in a couple of Father's Day songs in Sacrament Meeting.  The kids did so good.  They love Don.  They have so much fun with him and he loves being the chorister of the Primary children.  After church we came home to open presents.  As you can tell, the kids love to stay in their church clothes, not.  It is P.J. time.

Don loves his cards.  He laughed at all of them.  Especially the one with a parrot that talks back to him!

Don's camp chair broke.  We got him a new one and personalized it.  Don has a thing about his chair.  Heaven forbid any of us or anyone sits in it.  One time a scout sat in his chair and kept sitting in it all day.  Don warned him.  He wouldn't listen.  So Don went into his tent in the middle of night, dragged him out in his sleeping bag, carried him to a huge field, and left him there.  Let's just say, Don is very possessive when it comes to his camp chair.  Now he has a bigger one and we put his name on it.  He was very excited about that.  No more confusion!!!!

Then the boys gave him their gift to him.  Oh, what can it be?

A new video game.  Don and the boys are excited.

After that We had steak, baked potatoes, and salad.  Don also had his favorite homemade chocolate cheesecake. 

Don is an amazing father!!!!  I can't say enough wonderful things about him.  When I first married him I always knew he would a wonderful father.  He loves his children so much, and would rather spend time with them than do anything else.  We love him and appreciate him so much.  Hopefully we make him feel special, not just on Father's Day but everyday!  He deserves it! 

Here We Go.....

On June 5, 2012 I received the news that I have breast cancer.  I had a high school friend over visiting me and the phone rang on and on.  My friend turned to me and said, "Someone really wants to talk to you!"  I knew right then, it was my doctor calling me with the news. 

It started about two months ago.  Maybe it started about 5 years ago.  I started having problems with my right side.  Every year, every summer I would have a cancer scare.  We would have biopsy after biopsy.  I would always say to Don, "Someday it will be positive!"  Then two months ago I felt a lump.  I went in to my doctor.  When I went for my mammogram and ultra sound they told me it was nothing and to come back in six months.  A voice in my head screamed, "No, don't leave this office!"  I started to cry and asked them to do more test.  So an MRI was ordered. This is when they found the lump.  A biopsy was done and during that I said to Don, "This is it, I have cancer."  Don said, "Not until they tell us."  So the news is in.  I have cancer.  It has been an emotional roller coaster.  Sometimes I am fine and strong, other times I am a mess.  Sometimes I want to talk about it, other times I don't.  Some people have asked me to blog about it, and I will.  I will keep everyone updated here.  We don't have much info right now.  I meet with the oncologist on Wednesday.  There are some cancer cells on my lymph node, so that is a problem.  I have already made my decision about my surgery.  It has been made for about 5 years now, and I am totally at peace with it!  I know I will make it.  Every priesthood blessing I receive says so.  I am surrounded by survivors who constantly give me hope and strength.  It is so hard to put my life on hold for a while.  It is hard to pull out of races I wanted to run.  I struggle with not being the mother I love to be and knowing I will be sick.  I love the Lord, and I know he is right beside me.  Every time I pray, read my scriptures, and go to the temple, I feel that God knows who I am and I am not alone!  I just want to get going.  I am so impatient.  Oh there is so much I will be learning!  Also, my amazing husband and children.  They are a huge strength for me.  They keep me calm and still laugh and joke around with me.  I love it!  I will keep everyone informed.

Some things that have kept me calm:
This group of amazing people!!!!  They keep me focused and laughing!

Reading this book:

You can request your free copy here.

I love this book.  Even though I am going through a different trial, this book gives me strength.  It is worth the read!

Also, this talk is so good. 

Time To Get Braces!

Now that recital was over it was time to get braces.  Aubrey wasn't too pleased, but I know she will be happy with the results.

Here is her before picture:

And this is her after picture: 

You can't really tell that she got her braces, but they are there!  It will be great!

Recital Time!

The reason why Grandpa and Grandma Brasier and Kelly, Megan, and Rayce came down from Idaho was to go to Aubrey's dance recital.  She was really excited because she got to perform in the big Saturday night show.  That is the show that features the Performing Arts Company teams.  She was also excited because this year all the recitals were held at the Smith Center.  The Smith Center is the new theater built in Vegas.  No, it isn't a casino!  It is especially built for Broadway shows, and performing arts!  It is amazing.  I was blown away.  I worked the Friday night recital, so I got to see back stage too!  Oh my, it was out of this world.  It is so exciting to have this in Vegas.  Aubrey was honored to perform there.

I took this picture off of one of the girl's facebook pages.  I love it.  It gives you an idea what the dressing rooms were like.  I also love these girls.  They are the sweetest girls.  I can't say enough wonderful things about them!

Aubrey and her wonderful cousins.  It meant a lot to her to have them come down and support her.

This is Nicky.  She works at the studio.  All the kids LOVE her.  She is so sweet.  Every time she sees Ian, she hugs him!  She loves Ian, and I don't think Ian minds a few hugs from her.  She is moving from Vegas.  We will really miss her.  She also keeps me laughing at the studio. 

The best thing of the night is when Austin saw Aubrey do her first number.  He was sitting behind us and he said to us, "Man, Aubrey is awesome!  I had no idea how awesome she is."  She has improved a lot this year.  It was great to watch her shine!

Grandpa and Grandma still make it down for the show.  I asked Veloe what she thought of the show during intermission.  I loved it when she said to me, "Uh, some of it I don't get!"  Yes, contemporary is sometimes difficult to understand.  I am still glad they come down to watch Aubrey dance!