Randomness of October

 

The elementary had dressup days for Red Ribbon week. Aubrey wore a wig for crazy hair day. My neighbors let me borrow 4 of their dressup/Halloween wigs and she chose one of those. I call it the Mom wig. It reminds me of my Mom's hair, and my own hair I guess.

 Cody went to Moab for a day with his cousin a few weeks ago. Jaron had gone camping with his family and his truck broke down. Cody was kind to volunteer to go back down and get the now fixed truck with Jaron. But, they had to get a bike ride in. They did the practice loop at Slickrock.

 Can you tell they are cut from similar genes. Cody's Mom and Jaron's Dad are twins : )

 I was able to snap a picture of this red tailed hawk that was hanging out on a tree next door. I also got a shot of it flying away with it's reddish tail.

 I took the kids to get their pumpkins from Days Market one Monday night. I told them they could only pick a pumpkin that they could carry. They all did, even Blake, although he wanted no part of this picture.

 

We didn't carve our pumpkins until the 30th. Cole did a Y for BYU, Tucker a bat and Aubrey a plain jackolantern. Cody drew a ghost on Blake's pumpkin.

 Our neighbor has a riding lawn mower and he is so sweet to give the boys rides. Cole loves it, Blake is a bit more tentative. Richard is also one of the boys nursery leaders. Some of our other friends/neighbors lovingly refer to Richard as Santa Claus. Richard joked once that if our friends wanted an underground trampoline, that he could come over and jump on it for them. We really have the funnest neighborhood!

 Cody enjoys bragging about how awesome it is to work in Park City. He took this picture in October showing off the bright yellow trees.

 2 weeks ago this became his view. Ski resorts are open, snow is covering the lawn, it's time for winter.

KSL story

I met a woman at the race that wrote an article on me for KSL. Here is the link.


MIDWAY — Lisa Calderwood signed up for the race hoping to regain a little bit of normal.
One might think that a brain tumor would make small things matter less. But sometimes it's the smallest things — shaving your hair or being told you can't run — that become the very essence of what a person misses most when life turns upside down.
It began for the Midway mother of four with daily headaches last fall.
"It was out of the ordinary," she said. Running a successful online business and caring for four children while her husband ran a dental practice in Park City kept her so busy, she assumed the headaches were stress related.
"They were annoying, but I would take Tylenol or ibuprofen," she said.
At a Christmas family get-together, her mother suggested the pain might indicate something more serious.
"I don't know if she was inspired or what, but she said, 'Maybe you should get an MRI and just see if anything is wrong.’ ”
On Jan. 2, Calderwood called her doctor, who referred her to a neurologist. He was able to schedule an MRI for the next day.

"I wasn't expecting results for three to five days, but the neurologist called the next day, Friday, and said I had a large mass on the right side of my brain," she recalled. "He said to pack my bags and get to the emergency room. … It was just crazy."

In just a week, Calderwood went from a healthy, active mother and business woman to a patient with a brain tumor.
"The word tumor scared me," she said, laughing. "Nobody told me until the next week that tumor meant cancer. I was overwhelmed, but I didn't think I was going to die."
The tumor, which doctors described as a "baseball with fingers," could only be partially removed from her brain. So Calderwood underwent radiation and chemotherapy.
She began having seizures from the radiation and had to take steroids to shrink the swelling in her brain caused by the surgery.
Calderwood was told that the half marathon she'd signed up for in March was not going to happen.
"I thought, 'No, not running! That's what I do,’ ” she said. "Looking back, it's kind of funny to see what I cared about, but that was really hard for me. That's what I did. I loved to run."

Tell us

The soft-spoken redhead had been more a jogger than a runner since high school. But eight years ago she became more committed to the sport because it offered her a reprieve from the demands of a busy life.

"I just love how I feel during and after," she said. "Just to be able to get out and relieve stress, especially where I live in Midway; it's so beautiful. I just love getting out and being by myself or running with friends. I've made a lot of really great friends through running. You get to talk — a lot of times about things you would normally have time to talk about."
She ran three half marathons — including her first — while she and her husband lived in Maryland where he attended dental school. Four years ago they moved to Midway, and between her business and having two more children, she just couldn't find the time to run another half marathon. That is, until she signed up for the Moab Half Marathon last March.
"But the doctor said, 'No, you won't be doing any running,’ ” she said.
While the doctor told her exercise was good for her, running was a little too high impact, and sometimes it hurt her head to jog. So she started out walking on a treadmill.
Over time, however, she began running, and doctors told her if it didn't hurt, she could run.
Running isn't just her reward or her escape, it's how her friends chose to help her raise money for the chemotherapy medicine she'll need to take for the next year. The 15 pills she takes each month will cost her $3,300.

"It's amazing," she said. "I had to start running a little because I had to be able to run my own race."

Shortly after that, she saw a local half marathon that caught her eye — The Best Dam Half Marathon. The 13.1-mile race transported runners on the Heber Creeper (from Heber City) to a trail along Deer Creek Reservoir. Race director Mark Nelson said she was one of the first to sign up for the first-year event.
"I've wanted to run a half (marathon) for a long time," she said. "Timing wise, it worked out that I could run this race. It was close to home and one of the cheapest races I've ever seen!"
The race was harder than she expected — not because of the cancer that still inhabits her brain — but because running up and down trails and streets for 13 miles is a little more difficult than she remembered.
Calderwood was disappointed that she couldn't run as fast as she once had. But she was, in the same moment, grateful that she was able to run at all.
She placed in her age division and reveled in receiving hugs from her children on the course and at the finish.
Calderwood enjoyed the experience a little more knowing that four days later she'd start her maintenance chemotherapy again.
"For a week to 10 days after that I'm sick to my stomach," she said. "I just don't feel good, I lose energy, I lose my appetite, I just can't do anything. If I try to push myself, I'm like that longer."
So while she battles the cancer, she respects the treatment.
But while she does, she will relish with more gratitude the small victories, like an early morning jog, a conversation with a friend, or the chance to run a beautiful local race.

Last Saturday, October 13th, I ran the DAM 1/2 marathon here in the Heber Valley. It's been about 4.5 years since my last 1/2 in Washington D.C. Pretumor diagnosis I was signed up to run the Moab 1/2 marathon in March. My surgeon told me no running after I was out of the hospital for awhile. I relented to running the Moab race, but signed myself up for this DAM race. I knew it was months away and had faith that I would be able to run it by October. I found a training plan for beginners, convinced my friend Jessica to register and we trained all summer for the big day. The unique thing about this race is we were able to ride the Heber Creeper Train to the start line by the Deer Creek Dam. The conductor happened to be a man in my ward.

 

We left the train depot in Heber at 6:45am. The train really "creeps" along and we arrived at our dropoff point by the dam at 7:30am. The race didn't begin until 8:00. Cody had a free dental lecture he was able to attend Friday and Saturday so he dropped me off and I informed him how I was doing by text throughout and after the race. He made a really nice facebook post about me. "A big shout out to my wife Lisa! 9 months ago she was having her brain tumor removed, and today she is running a half marathon. Even though she is still in the middle of her chemotherapy and feels like crap somedays, she is out there fighting and running. Congratulations babe, I love you." So sweet.

Jessica and I on the train. We sat right in the front next to the coal heater. We were nice and toasty on the ride over.

The sun peaked out from behind the clouds for a moment before the race began. It snowed the night before on Mt. Timpanogos.

Ready, Set, Go!

 Jessica's husband and kids met us about mile 7 on the Deer Creek trail. The race ran the length of the trail, about 8 miles and then finished with 5 miles winding through Midway and ending at town square.

My Mom came up to help watch my kids during the race. They were watching for me at the last corner of the race. Tucker and Aubrey are always asking me when they can run with me, so I told them to join me and cross the finish line.

 This was by far my slowest 1/2 marathon, but I finished and so did Jessica. I told myself throughout the race that I wouldn't leave her behind. I'm glad I didn't. My time ended up being 2:31. Average of about 11:33 minute miles. My fastest 1/2 was about 2:03, but considering the year I've had, I really am just happy that I finished. I start my next round of chemo today and I'm grateful the race fell on a good weekend.

 We received awesome beer mugs and railroad nails as our medals.

 No one wants to see feet, but I wanted to show my blisters I began forming while running. My toes are all pretty now with my sparkly glitter toes I received yesterday. I'm already looking forward to next years race and any others I can find. I signed up for our local Turkey Trot this morning and am contemplating running the Snow Canyon 1/2 marathon in 3 weeks. I love to run! Thanks to everyone for supporting me!

Elk Hunt 2012

Two weekends ago we went on the annual Elk Hunt. Cody's family has hunted above Strawberry Reservoir for years. This year was no different, except that now that we don't have a trailer, I didn't spend the night with the kids. Freezing temperatures with kids who don't stay in their sleeping bags is no fun. Cody took a couple kids up past Aspen Grove campground to the open country to pitch a tent Thursday night. He wanted to make sure we got a spot. Friday afternoon Cody's parents drove up with their 5th wheel. Cody woke up bright and early Saturday morning and drove up to meet his Dad, uncle and cousins for sunrise or whenever that magical time is to be allowed to shoot your game. About 9:30 am I received a text saying that he shot his cow elk (Cody had a cow and spike tag.) Tucker had his last soccer game and we were in charge of team treats so we didn't go up to meet him at the camp until lunch. Apparently the elk he shot got away because several hunters saw the elk go down, but no one could find it in the woods. I spent the afternoon and evening with the family and then brought the kids home for the night. Cody stayed and tried again Sunday morning. He was able to get another shot at a cow elk along with his Dad. I drove the kids back up to be with the family. They hauled up his Dad's elk up the mountain, but Cody's was so big that they were trying to find other solutions to get it. My Grandpa's horses weren't shod, so Cody finally got a hold of a friend with horses that drove up and helped them out.

Mickey's elk about to be deskinned.

Cole and Tucker on a little horse ride.

Parts of Cody's elk.

Campsite.

I never would have thought, ever, that I would be going on elk hunts yearly when I was younger. It's been a tradition throughout Cody's life and now it is with our family. Everyone must have some redneck in them.

BYU vs Hawaii

I purchased a Cosmo Kids Club membership for my kids a couple months back when there was a City Deal for $25. It included a tshirt, 4 football tickets and 8 basketball tickets, plus whoever is wearing the shirt can get into volleyball and soccer games for free. I mainly bought it for the football tickets. We chose the BYU/Hawaii game to attend.

 Cody's brother bought one too and I picked it up for him and got us seats fairly close together. Carson and two of his boys flew into town last Thursday for the weekend. I let Tucker miss 1/2 day of school on Friday and all of us drove down to Provo. Cody's dad didn't know they were here so we surprised him at lunch at Burger Supreme.

I don't know how to turn my videos upright. Sorry!

After we ate we went over to campus to walk/shop around the bookstore. It's been 10 years since I began school at BYU. Cody and I were dating and got married while we were there.

 My cute cousin Lindsey is a sophomore there and she met up with us on the quad.

 Cody and I played around with the panorama settings on our cell phones. This is the best I could get. We had a fun afternoon/evening with family and visiting our alma mater.

Cody and his parents

Fall Colors and Birthdays

The pictures will be in random order, but at least they are getting in. My 31st birthday was on the 24th. My chemo sickness set in after I completed my 6th round of chemo, and I was very sick the 23rd and 24th. I felt well enough to go out for dinner though. After my birthday dinner at Tarahumarah, we went for a family drive up Snake Creek canyon to see the fall colors. We live in one of the most glorious places on earth.

Cody and me. My hair is the perfect fall color. : )

 Mid September we took the Guardsman Pass drive from Midway to Big Cottonwood canyon. The maples were in full color.

Looking back into the Heber Valley.

 My Grandpa Foster's birthday is the day before Tuckers and my Mom hosted a family party at her house. I volunteered to make the cake. I wanted to make it like my Grandma used to. Two round cakes frosted in between with chocolate frosting. It was very good, not as good as hers, but I don't know the family secret!

 On our way home we were blessed to see this beautiful sunset.

 Tucker's birthday was the 17th and I made him another cake and we had ice cream with the Calderwoods. Tucker really wanted to eat at Subway for his birthday, but I convinced him that we could go to Subway before his soccer game the next day. Cody was given a moose roast and he cooked that up for us instead. It was very juicy and tasty.

 This 7 year old is extremely addicted to Pokeman these days. I picked up the Angry Birds hat from a vendor in San Francisco.

 Cody bought me some gorgeous flowers for my birthday and my Mom and sister came up to visit and brought me my favorite dessert, Turtle Pie from Baskin Robbins. I've tried the store bought and Cold Stone versions and they aren't as good as Baskin Robbins.

 My children can be found cutting small pieces of paper and creating their own Pokeman figures these days. The mess drives me crazy, but they are entertained and using their imaginations.

Mom, me and Heather

Aspens near Strawberry Reservoir. Cody took the kids for a drive one of the days I was feeling lousy last weekend.

Office Work Party

Last Friday, September 14th, we reserved my Grandpa's cabin and took the office staff up for a fall party. We had chicken, hot dogs and some yummy sides and desserts for dinner. Cody saddled up one of the horses, I think Dutchess, and we got the gator out and enjoyed a nice evening in the mountains.

Becky, Rachel, Kristi, Dr. and me. Unfortunately, RanDee and Christa weren't able to make it.

Kristi's and my kids playing on the gator.

Becky and I.

Rachel and her husband Brandon.

I rarely if ever ride the horses (I'm allergic to almost everything that sheds) and Blake freaked out earlier this summer when we tried to put him on and when Cody tried to ride with him, so when Blake got on with me and was happy we went for a little ride around the field.