Easter 2010

Easter was a beautiful day! We woke up and immediately Tiffany and Kyle wanted to go on the Easter Egg Hunt! Last year they almost busted off our back door getting ready for the hunt - trying to push each other out of the way so this year we had to set up some new ground rules. #1 rule - Yee who hurts the other person (Kyole) loses all (his) eggs, #2 rule - Yee who breaks anything in my house (Kyole) loses all (his) eggs, and then rule #3 - Yee who pushes the other in the cold pool (Kyole) loses all of (his) eggs...hahaha. Well we didn't have to act on any of the rules and Kyle won! Here's a video of the calmer than last years Easter Egg Hunt! Enjoy!

Fun times!

Here are some pictures of Kyles track meet yesterday at ASU. All bandaged up and he did a great job, increasing his personal record not once but twice! Very good Kyle! It was a beautiful day, Grandma and Grandpa came and Grandma got to see her first track meet ever! It's a very fun event - there are so many things going on, one right after the other, you are totally entertained the entire time. Of course Grandma rooting everyone on - ESPECIALLY the LAST person on every event cracked us up! She always goes for the underdog. Haha. That's why we love her!

After that we enjoyed a nice mexican meal with them as our "final feast" before they head back to California and enjoy their beautiful weather in Merced. It's been a nice visit these past two months, it's nice to be able to call mom up and say "lets get together"!

I've just finished up spring break from the students at school. I had the first week off and had to work the second week. It was a joke going back to work, I had no classroom - they were replacing air conditioning pipes and I wasn't allowed in - the computers didn't work every day and the front office air never worked until Friday morning! Terrible. I did get some things done, but not nearly as much as I had expected. Now for the final 9 weeks of school. Yeehaa.

The next 9 weeks...wow. The changes that will bring.

The first thing it does is bring a big smile to my face. Tiffany is graduating from college. Raising our girls, there were a few things that just never budged with Bob and I - one was the girls getting a college education. It was never, ever, ever, an option not to go to college and graduate. We were extremely lucky that life didn't pose obstacles from getting that accomplished. It could have in a heartbeat. It happens to so many - I see it everyday at school. The plans are there, but life happens and things must change. We are so proud of Tiffany (and Kyle) and know that the future is bright for them and it's time to go out there and take on whatever comes their way!

The next thing - the move. Darn it all. I get it totally - I wouldn't ask for them to do anything else. She met her prince and he has an outstanding offer of a job in Boston. Of course they must go. Shoot! We have such a good time with them and it will be a huge adjustment not to have them around. But, just like with Jenni & Justin, the phone lines will be busy, skype - thank goodness it's free, and we have these things called airplanes that I will be investing heavily in. The way I figure it, I have a two week vacation every 9 weeks and I will just be spending much of that time visiting my family and hopefully they visiting us when possible.

The expendable income! YES! lol. For 9 years we have sent so much money to ASU, whatever shall we do now? lol. We're thinking maybe we'll buy a motorcycle.....or a boat.....or a motorhome...or season tickets to ballgames, who knows!

For 5 years. THEN we make a decision when we both retire on how much (summer) time we will spend in each of our childrens areas. Summer in Arizona is brutal - summer in Chicago and Boston is beautiful - it's a no-brainer! So we'll get through 5 years - coming up with a new pastime!
Here's some pictures of yesterday! Enjoy!

First Scope after Treatments

Bob went in last Wednesday for a scope to see what his bladder looked like after doing the 6 weeks of BCG treatment. It was a nervous day, always hoping for the best but bracing for not so good news.  Bob's doctor is really a great guy. He takes a situation and just seems to make you feel right at ease. Surprisingly to Bob, the procedure wasn't as bad as the first scope, when they found the cancer in October. He has learned how to breathe properly and relax as much as possible. As the doctor was looking in the scope, he saw what he called a "slightly raised bump" next to the original site of the tumor (which was removed during surgery). He said he wasn't overly concerned but wanted to make sure it wasn't something to deal with. He felt it was probably "a healing bump". He was able to stick a biopsy tool through the scope (amazing) and take a biopsy right there. We were told the results from pathology would be back by Monday. To say the least, we left feeling a little disappointed, but still hopeful that it wasn't anything to worry about.

Friday around 5:00pm the phone rang with the caller ID telling us it was his doctor. We were both very surprised. It was the nurse and she let us know the results were already in and it was NOT cancer. We high-fived and thanked her then got off the phone and started dancing! lol. What a nice Friday gift.

Now Bob has to do maintenance therapy for this which is one BCG treatment every month for 3 months. On May 21st Bob will then have another scope to make sure things are still ok. As time goes on, it will go from every three months to every 6, then once a year - for the rest of his life. That's ok as long as this darn stuff stays away!

So now, we smile, breathe, plan and simply enjoy life everyday. Thanks to everyone for their concerns and hopefully this blog has allowed you to stay up to date with our news. Stay tuned for normal everyday blogs from now until May!  

Normal Life Post

Hello Everyone!
Now I thought I'd put out a regular blog! We are on to the second month of the new year, where did January go??? We have a feeling this semester is going to go by very fast. We don't have a lot of plans in the next few months, perhaps going to Malibu to see a few places Tiff and Kyle are looking at for their wedding,  but other than that, just staying put. We have been keeping pretty busy on the weekends, just regular stuff, nothing exciting. We do get together with Tiff and Kyle every weekend - spending time with them is always enjoyable. We will miss them terribly when they leave this summer. Mo - what can I say - he has my heart and knows how to pull each string. I don't even want another dog, I want them to give me their dog. lol. Then I look at him with his mama and daddy and he loves them so much, I could never take him away from them. I know - it's a dog, but he's one of the coolest and sweetest dogs I've ever met.

Tiff and Kyle will be graduating this May. We will have a party at our house of course - probably on Friday and Saturday and then Saturday night we will be going out on the town like we did for Jenni and Justins graduation. You are more than welcome to celebrate with us! The Whitesides will be staying at our house so the Casita will be full but we have some brand new and close by hotels and we'll send that info out the closer we are to this date. Hope to see you all here!

Have a wonderful month of February and Happy Valentines Day to everyone!

BCG Treatment #6 - Last one!

The final initial BCG treatments were officially done today. It wasn't too bad, he got through it just fine. He is experiencing a little side effects, but not enough to dampen his spirit. Now he has two weeks off to rest up the ole bladder and then we go back to the doctor on February 17th for another cystocopy to see if these treatments worked. If it did (2/3 of the time it works and thats what we are banking on!) he will have to have a few more "maintenance" BCG treatments, then (we are guessing), but probably once every 3-6 months for awhile just to make sure all bad cells don't come back. If the doctor sees anything more on the 17th we will be back at square one and its back to surgery. Please keep Bob in your prayers and send positive thoughts our way! We'll keep you all posted!

BCG Treatment #5 - ONE to go!!

Today was another Tuesday and another treatment. A little more on the side effects today, but again nothing that he is complaining too much about. We had a different nurse and I will say she wasn't nearly as good as Wendy. Wendy has been awesome, very understanding, very nice and well, we only would request her. She was out today, hopefully she'll be back next week. After next week he gets two weeks off. Then another scope on February 17th to see if this worked. Positive thoughts, lots of hope and strong prayers continue to be requested.

BCG Treatment #4

I thought he was going to have to go it alone, but at the last minute at work I was able to get someone to cover for me (thanks Sheila!), and that was the first of the good news.  All is well with Bob today! This is actually the easiest treatment so far. I think he was extra lucky since the doc/nurse said they would probably keep getting worse with each one, he feels like he was given a gift today! 2 more and counting.

It's a rainy day here in Phoenix - something we are just not use to, that's for sure. So tonight we hang out, making sure to listen to the rain and be thankful for a good day.