12 weeks post surgery and no more radiation!

I figured it was about time for another update. The great, exciting news is I am completely done with radiation. This morning was my last day! I am so ecstatic for this. I feel like I will be able to get back into a semi-normal routine for myself and my family. (Not sure what "normal" is.) But, no more having everybody ready by 9 am. Not that I want to be lazy and sit around in my pajamas all morning, but I can if I want to!  One goal that I have is to get Cole potty trained. We were so close before Christmas and before my surgery. Then I was in the hospital and he was shifted between so many different families that anything we had done was gone by the time I got home and then back from our trip to Mexico. The key is finding the motivator for him. He didn't care about any sort of treat/reward before. I've been searching for "Angry Birds" underwear and can't find any. I think that might do the trick. He loves Angry Birds and maybe, just maybe he won't want to pee in them. I did find some Angry Bird fruit snacks, so maybe he'll go potty for those. We already have Thomas the Train, Cars and Toy Story. If I can't find any, we will probably do the naked from the waste down that I was doing before. He was almost perfect going in the potty if he was naked. I know that he will get trained eventually, when he is ready. I just really want him to be ready now. He doesn't get to do swimming lessons or go to preschool until he is trained. I know that gives me 5 months until preschool, I just want it now! Is that too much to ask for?! I think not!

I've been seizure free for over 4.5 weeks now. That feels so great! My doctor cut me back on my steroid again to just 1/2 a pill a day instead of 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at lunch. I just called and spoke to a neurologist office this afternoon to find out how I'll get myself off my anti-seizure medication. I have to be 6 months seizure free before I can cut my pills back to twice a day instead of 3 times. And then after a year I'll need to go into the doctor and I might be able to cut back to once a day or go completely off of it. Luckily my anti-seizure medications only cost me $10 for a copay when I have to refill.

I have my next MRI scheduled for June 20th. It's a ways out there, but if they were to do one before, my results would most likely show a worse picture than before I started treatment. It takes that long to get the radiation out of my system and for the swelling to go down. I have a follow up appointment with my neuro-oncologist at the Huntsman Cancer Institute on April 24th. I will then get a different chemo prescription for the year that I have to take following radiation. I've been told that I'll do chemo for a year, 7 days on, 21 off. Hopefully it will continue as a pill and I won't get sick. I've been extremely blessed that I haven't been sick at all through these past 6 weeks. Well, it's a lie if I say I've never been sick. Last Saturday I did get sick. I'm supposed to take Zofran (anti-nausea pill) 30 minutes before my chemo meds every night. Last Friday night Cody and I got home late and because I haven't been sick at all through this I thought I'd skip that step in my nightly medicine routine. Well, Saturday morning I woke up and felt sick to my stomach. I ended up throwing up. I learned my lesson. I don't skip the Zofran step. I only have to take my chemo medicine through Monday though, along with my antibiotic. I'll stay on the vitamins that I've been taking, but all my main meds, I get to stop taking except for the anti-seizure ones.

Last Saturday Cody and I went skiing at Deer Valley. I'm sure a couple of my doctors would not have recommended that I do that, but I like to ski, I'm not an aggressive skier (actually I'm not even that good), but I really wanted to go, so Cody and I went and his parents watched our kids. We bought myself a helmet at Sports Authority to protect my noggin, just in case and we went and had fun together. Cody was actually given free passes to Deer Valley last week, so it cost us nothing too. Oh except that we did splurge and ate at the lodge (typically we pack food in our coats to save money, but we figured it was OK to treat ourselves). It was spring skiing weather for sure. We didn't get on the slope until 10:30 and we left by 2:00pm. The snow was super slushy and soft and it just wasn't very fun to ski on anyway. I had a good time getting out doing something different, with Cody, but the conditions could have been better. Oh well. At least I can now say that I went skiing twice this winter, instead of just once.

My doctor has also told me that my drive/motivation should start coming back after I stop treatment. I was very excited to hear this as well. I've been a bit more productive the past couple weeks, but not nearly as close to what I was pretumor.

Tucker might not be thrilled about this, but we will start practicing the piano again, I'll probably open my Etsy shop back up and my goal is to start working out in the mornings again. This morning Cody and I actually got up at 6:45 and he lifted while I ran a couple miles on the treadmill. It felt good to be active and productive first thing in the morning. I used to get up everyday at 6:00 to run or bike. The steroids I've been on, plus my lack of exercise, and sitting around have caused me to gain about 10 pounds since the beginning of the year. I'm not worried about being fat, but I definitely can get back into shape. My 5K race is only 3 weeks away and I'm excited to see friends and family that are signed up to come run it with/for me. If you aren't signed up yet, do it soon! We need a good count so that we know how much food to prepare for the breakfast. Race day registration will also be more money, so hopefully that will motivate you to sign up sooner rather than later. Right now, registration is $15 a person or $40 a family. If you sign up the day of, it will be $20 a person or $50 a family. You can also buy raffle tickets online when you register. Go to www.runningwithlisa.com

Our good friend is building a garden shed to raffle off. Actually the guy is so great that he is building our family one too and one for the raffle. Lucky us! Raffle tickets are $10 for one or $15 for two. You will be able to buy those the day of. Plus, I think that we'll throw in free raffle tickets for the winner of the race (even though it is not a timed event.)

As far as my auction is concerned, we will still have one, but it will not be the same day as my race. We are looking at dates in June for the auction. Sorry to those of you that have donated or are planning on it the day of. It's just too uncertain with the weather and the more time we have, the more items we can gather. If you've donated for the auction so far, your items will still get auctioned off, they are just being kept safe until the date is set and arrives.

Aubrey turns 5 next week and I'm going to attempt to throw her a party. She wants a rainbow party so I spent about an hour yesterday going through pinterest and other websites coming up with ideas for her party. It should be fun. We are inviting 10 little girls, and our cute neighbor girl/babysitter is going to help me with the party, so even if everyone shows up, it will be fun!

Along with the many donations that people have been so generous in giving to us, I was also given a free Blendtec Blender. It's awesome and works so much better than the one that Cody and I have had since we've been married. Companies are extremely giving when they hear of my situation. I love Jamba Juices and have been making green smoothies at home for a couple weeks. Last Friday I was given free tickets to the Timpanogos Valley Theater. I went and saw Forever in Plaid with my friend Jessica Ashurst. Cody went to the Jazz/Kings game with his Dad and brother. It was good Cody had other plans because musicals are not up his alley. It was a fun night out though and my cute babysitter even babysat for free.

Saturday, Cody was going to go skiing with Tucker, his Dad and brother at the Canyons. But, when Cody went to print off our free passes we received from going to the Warren Miller movie last fall, he realized that they were only good Monday through Friday. So, we changed our plans and drove down and met Cody's family at Sugarhouse park for a picnic lunch. The kids flew kites, played on the playground and we all enjoyed time in the sun, visiting. We watched afternoon conference at Cody's parents and then I went to my parents house during priesthood session to spend time with my Mom and sister. I actually wrote a bunch of thank you cards while I was there too. Unfortunately, thank you cards have been on the very bottom of my to-do lists the past couple months. I should have done them a long time ago, but just have had no desire too. I'm sorry for the delay for those of you receiving them now. My bad.

Cody, Carson, Kristin

Aubrey, Carson and cousin Aspen

I really enjoyed listening to general conference yesterday. I mainly only sat through and listened to morning session, but have everything DVR'd and plan on watching/listening to them throughout the week. There were a couple talks that I felt were directed towards me and gave me comfort. Especially Elder Rasbands talk. Check out http://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2012/04?lang=eng to listen or read any talks from this weekend.

Thank you all for your continued love, prayers and support. My family and I are so appreciative and couldn't have done this without you.