Happy Veterans Day!!!!

Monday, November 11:    Nanette had a good restful weekend.  Tyler came home from BYU for the weekend so we were happy to have him with us.  Sergio and Nanette went out to an early dinner with good friends and enjoyed their time together.  Saturday was a beautiful day again and their neighbor Keith Bird helped Sergio, Jared and Tyler put the Christmas lights up on the house.  They turned them on at night so Nanette could see them but will wait until after Thanksgiving to turn them on for real.    Huntsman called early today and said the radiation machine was not working and canceled Nanette's appointment.  They called shortly thereafter and said it was fixed and to come for the treatment.  It was Veterans' Day and Jared, our family veteran, drove us to the center. We were grateful she didn't have to skip today because it would add a day on to the end.  We met with the doctor after her treatment and he said her lab report was very good.  Her immune system remains good and her white blood cell count was up a little too, which is encouraging.  She is still experiencing headaches and they are increasing the steroid dosage a little bit and attempting to manage the pain with medication.  After the treatment, we celebrated the good lab report and Veterans Day by eating at Applebee's.  They were offering all veterans a free lunch today so Jared didn't have to pay!    Nanette continues to tire easily and is napping and pacing herself each day.  Thank you all for the phone calls and encouraging words on this blog.  She is surrounded by wonderful friends and family.  

You Can't Have a Rainbow Without a Little Rain

Thursday, November 7: Regan read me this saying today:   "Everyone wants happiness.  No one wants pain.  But, you can't have a rainbow without a little rain".   It was a good day to hear those words because Nanette's hair has started to fall out.  She knew this was a real possibility.  Many had prepared her for this event!  However, when it started happening, it was like having a little rain in her life.  Her friend Melody came to the rescue and cut most of her hair off and Nanette is hoping that this will help a little with the soreness on her scalp.  She was one of about five women we saw at Huntsman today with hats on in the same situation.  She has several cute hats (and a wig waiting to be used) so she was prepared for this loss.  Still, she is cheerful, grateful, and optimistic and willing to do whatever she can to fight this battle.  Losing her hair is just a little "rain".

A Note from Nanette

Family and Friends, I can never thank you enough for all the kind words, cards and love you have shown me and my family. I would try to respond individually, but right now I can't read my own writing! I do believe in miracles too so i think I'm in pretty good shape considering all the prayers on my behalf. I am so lucky and so grateful. You know when Kaylen passed away I prayed that if my family had another challenge because we do face them because we learn so many valuable eternal lessons that I prayed it would be me that could go through not one of my children or my husband and that i could have a fighting chance and thats exactly what happened so I'm at peace. I have been given amazing blessings and I know the Lord answers prayers so its all going to be OK, but again I can't thank you enough for all your love, prayers and support. Love to you all, Nanette

Laughter in the other room

Wednesday, November 6:  Three weeks of radiation completed.  She will have 33 total treatments so the end date will be December 4.  She is still tolerating the chemo pills and has not been sick on that  front.  The radiation continues every week day.  The commute continues to be easy with only one day of snow flurries (much heavier snow in Salt Lake but not out our way).  Some days when we get to the Huntsman center, the room is full of others waiting for their chemo infusions or radiation treatments.  There are so many people in similar situations and we are getting to know some of them.  Nanette always has a friendly smile for the staff there and words of encouragement for others receiving treatments.  Sometimes when we are out in the waiting room, we hear her laughter in the other room with the staff.  The radiation is beginning to tire her out, although she keeps going throughout the day and usually a short nap restores her energy.  She feels some burning on her scalp and she continues to have headaches almost every day, which is not unusual and manageable at this point.  She doesn't complain about any of it and she tries to stay positive. 

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Halloween

Thursday, October 31:  The beautiful weather is holding for her trips to Huntsman.  She was running a low-grade fever in the evening but it settled down in the night.  She helped Regan and Riley get ready for Halloween "trick or treating" and she sat in the living room for awhile while Sergio handed out candy to a few hundred kids at the door.  Her sister-in-law Debbie (Sergio's brother Jose's wife) arrived today from California and will be staying with us for about three weeks.  Nanette is glad to have her here for awhile.. 

Two weeks complete

Wednesday, October 30:  Today marks the end of the first two weeks of radiation and chemo for Nanette.  She has been tolerating the treatments fairly well, although she has had a headache for several days.  It is not unusual for someone getting this particular treatment to be experiencing headaches; however, the doctors are monitoring her every day.  We had three friends help drive her to radiation this week and she enjoyed and appreciated the rides with them.  She is in good spirits.