tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29148518876969768002024-03-04T22:24:06.085-08:00Something PrettyNicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13970669372768803084noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-51359825536276867322019-06-10T13:56:00.001-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.581-07:00Mamma MiaI just got back from Greece, one trip I will not soon forget.<br>
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Let me preface with this. I do not write this to be mean, malicious, or to be a bully. I'm writing this as a warning to anyone looking into this company or any other company. Do your homework. Also I hope you get a good laugh, I know I did, once the tears dried.<br>
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I have had a lot of people asking me about my trip and there is so much to unpack and truly I still don't have all the answers. This is a very long story but I will try to make it quick.<br>
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A couple of my friends were asked to go with a traveling group called Book your Bucket list (BBL). When I heard they were going to Greece I promptly invited myself. (Side note if you don't want me to come on a trip with you don't tell me about it until after you have returned home, I will invite myself.) I called Josie the owner of BBL and handed over my fee to attend what I thought would be an amazing trip to Greece. About 2 weeks before we were to leave I was getting nervous as we had not received any information. The friends I was with said they heard from someone that had previously traveled with BBL that they were late getting flight info to you but once you were there it would be amazing. That was the sliver of hope I held on to for much, much too long.<br>
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Four days before we were to leave I reached out to Josie explaining I had not received any information beside a rough itinerary. I got an immediate response saying "...as soon as I land I will send over your flight over". That was about 1am early Sunday morning. Monday morning after not hearing a word from her I emailed her again telling her my concerns. She ignored my email and sent out a group text. Apparently "they had a bug in their email server" and she is "reaching out to everyone to confirm they have received their flight email". I responded with "As you know I have not received any information" She then sends me a screenshot of a flight. Not a confirmation, just a screenshot from Delta's website of a flight that is going from SLC to Athens. That's it.<br>
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I then asked for hotel names so I can give them to Derrik in case of an emergency. She responds with 3 names of hotels. I continue to ask for an actual flight confirmation number and she continues to give excuses. It is now Tuesday afternoon, at this point I actually ask her if she is running a scam. <br>
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Tuesday at almost 10pm I finally get my flight info. I questioned myself many times if I should cancel but I have that one glimmer of hope that "once we get there it will be amazing". Wednesday evening I ask her what to do at the airport, she responds that she will be there waiting for us.<br>
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Okay. Everything is about to line up and be smooth sailing from here on out, right? RIGHT?!?!<br>
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We arrive in Athens after a 16 hour trip. It's 11am local time and I'm a bit hungry and even more tired. We find the BBL group but no Josie in sight. She won't be arriving until 4:30pm. No big deal, flights get delayed. So we stand in the airport waiting for our van. After 45 minutes they say it's almost here so we head outside. We proceed to stand there for another 30 minutes. I question them as to where the van is. They say it's late. I suggest we get an Uber. They say they have one, it's 2 minutes away. Five minutes later I ask where it is. They say "our location hasn't been picked up". To anyone who knows how Uber works knows that this doesn't make any sense. After more standing around we finally get ourselves into a cab. There are 6 of us friends total but probably 15 more in the whole group. I get in a cab with a BBL "employee?" Mallory and two of my friends. The other 3 friends are in a separate cab. We drive 45 minutes to the AirBnB that the BBL team stayed at the night before (and had checked out of...) to drop our luggage off, because our rooms aren't ready yet. I know, I'm confused too. We show up to the old BnB only to hear Mallory say. "This isn't it". Ok, so where is it? "I don't know". Our friends are now standing in front of some house in the middle of Athens. We tell our cab driver to slowly drive next to them as then walk with their luggage to a busy street to find another cab. At this point it is becoming very apparent there is something seriously wrong.<br>
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I ask Mallory why we can't just go to the hotel and drop our stuff off and she informs me we are not staying at Titania Hotel, the hotel Josie sent me and told me we were staying at, but rather at an AirBnB 40 minutes back outside the city. Nice. Liam Neeson isn't my dad so this sounds extra sketchy.<br>
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We are all very hesitant to stay at some place we have not seen. We also had plans that we made specifically by The Titania Hotel we were supposed to stay in. We called Titania and they tell us that Josie never had a reservation there and they are all booked. At this point the day is half over and we ask Mallory "what is the plan if we miss the acropolis today?" She says, "We will just go tomorrow". The next day we were supposed to be going to the beautiful <span class="maps-controls-ModalHeader__name--277wG">Melissani Cave. She says, "Oh we aren't doing that anymore, it is a 10 hour round trip bus ride, but we heard about another cave we will go to instead". Ummmm, no thanks. </span><br>
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After driving around for two hours, getting in and out of the cab our driver tells us "I remember this for one year!" It's getting late so we just decide to go to the Hilton and cut our losses for the day. Once we're there we get a text from Josie with a few sad excuses as to why she wasn't at the airport and why we don't have rooms at Titania.<br>
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We explain that we had booked spa reservations that night in the city near the hotel they told us we'd be staying at and that we don't want to drive 40 minutes back outside the city to stay in a place we aren't even sure exists. She then says "that is more than fine and we can keep you in a hotel in the city." Which was great. So we are now sitting in the Hilton lobby going on 4 hours. Mallory is still with us, but she keeps telling us she has to go to the new AirBnB to take the rest of the group the key. We explain to her that she can not leave us in Athens alone and that someone else can come get the keys from her, as there are multiple other BBL "employees". She says the entire group is waiting at the AirBnB for the keys. At this point I am hoping that is the case. I hope everyone else in the group is having a great time and they are all just thinking we are a gaggle of crazy girls. That dream is completely shattered when a couple from "the group waiting at the AirBnB" walks into the lobby saying they have been sitting on a random curb for the last few hours. No AirBnB in sight...<br>
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Questions so far:<br>
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<ol>
<li>Mallory, if you had the keys why didn't we go there instead of the old AirBnB?</li>
<li>Why do you have keys to a place you have yet to go to?</li>
<li>Where's Sherlock Holmes when you need him?</li>
</ol>
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Like with the Uber situation, we're assuming that the workers don't know how AirBnB works.</div>
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Josie finally shows up at 5:30 with a tone in her voice like she is a waitress who brought us the wrong soup, "What seem to be the problem?" My frustration generally either comes out in yelling or tears. In this situation I still want answers, so the tears begin to flow. I am thousands of miles away from my kids and husband, I have spent a lot of money and taken time off work for this dream trip and we are being talked to like children.<br>
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All we ask Josie for at this point is honesty and answers, both of which she is having trouble supplying. What she is saying and what we had been told by Mallory are two completely different stories. We ask for hotel names, confirmation numbers, and phone numbers so we can call and make sure we have places to stay in Mykonos and Santorini. Not an absurd request by any means. In fact, this is basic information that SHOULD be provided before a guided International tour. You know, the kind of basic information that we can give to our families if we go missing so they know where to look. Josie takes about 30 minutes to retrieve one hotels information. We call the hotel. The hotel explains they do have a reservation but the credit card was declined. The second hotel was a similar story. To be honest, at this point we would have been surprised if anything was actually booked. It's now 8pm we are still waiting on her to get us confirmations for various excursions, so two friends and I decide to go to our spa evening we had planned. My friend is writing an article on this Turkish Spa and it wasn't super helpful to have six girls trying to figure out what is happening with the trip so we decide to head out. When we returned at 10:30pm, the other girls we were with informed us that the rest of the group showed up and is now staying at the hotel.<br>
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New Questions:<br>
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<ol>
<li>If you made the reservations weeks ago then finding and forwarding us the confirmations should take, um 30 seconds max, right?</li>
<li>What happened to the cooking class we were supposed to do?</li>
<li>Why is everyone staying at a hotel, where is the supposed AirBnB?</li>
</ol>
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Our first day in Greece we explored the hotel lobby of the Hilton. The history, the culture, the architecture!<br>
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We make the decision to see how the next day goes. At this point I am ready to change my flight and just come back home. I go to sleep and wake up to a few texts just after midnight. One of our friends husband did some digging and talked to an employee. "Josie... said things started out rough due to bad weather...but has given him her commitment that it will get better from here. <b>Whatever that means</b>". That's reassuring, thanks for that.<br>
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That text was put in a group message between us six girls plus Josie. She responds with her apologies. "If you are going to be happier and feel more secure doing your own thing I will give you all refunds and you are welcome to keep your flights...." We all respond yes, we will take the refund. With only 5 days left in the trip we don't want to waste one more second. She said it will take "7-10 business days, which I can process right away".<br>
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The next morning I finally get to eat the first real meal since our layover in JFK about 34 hours before. We talk to Josie and she assures us again we will get a refund. We then head up to our room and proceed to plan the rest of our trip, just us six.<br>
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The rest of the trip turned out amazing.<br>
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The following Thursday and Friday the 30th and 31st we asked for confirmation numbers for our refund. No response. So Thursday the 6th I called my credit card company to dispute my charge. She was not responding and after reading countless new comments I was afraid I would never see my money again. She has posted screenshots on BBL IG page that she has refunded us, but I haven't seen that refund. The credit card dispute did go through so in the end I did get my money back.<br>
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I can laugh about this now, but in the moment being in a foreign country that none of us had been to before and we had already paid thousands of dollars is a very scary feeling. I got lucky, I had been to Europe before so planning a last second trip while on this failed trip wasn't as bad as it could have been. I also was planning on paying for a trip so as soon as I was reimbursed going off on our own I wouldn't be spending any "new money" but for a few of our friends, they now had to pay for a trip they weren't planning on and for countless others who paid and then had a trip cancelled and have yet to get their money back, that is a whole different story.<br>
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I hope you got a good laugh from this story. I know I have. <br>
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Everything I have said here is the truth to the best of my friends and my knowledge.
I have plenty of emails and texts of almost every conversation I had
with Josie.<br>
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<br>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13970669372768803084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-47775385692197374932018-07-24T08:26:00.000-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.581-07:00Aruba Boobas<span style="font-size: large;">Today we are one step closer to the happy end of the Nin's cancer journey. Right now she is in surgery for her breast reconstruction. When I say right now, I mean Tuesday July 24th at 7:30am. Not whenever you are reading this. You could be reading this in 2021. Don't be crazy, we're past that cancer shish. But I hope the future is treating you well. I also hope Dippin' Dots are just referred to as ice cream now instead of ice cream of the future. Because you're in the future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You may have looked at the title of this post and asked yourself what it means. Well, we're taking the kids to Aruba next month so we are calling this the surgery for her "Aruba Boobas". Your next questions is likely, "Where is Aruba?" Or maybe if you're a little slower, "What is an Aruba?" Aruba is an island off the coast of Venezuela. Don't feel bad, I didn't know where Aruba was either. All I know is it's a Caribbean island with sandy beaches and flamingos. Or as Penny likes to call them "Migos".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But not these Migos:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's been a long, tiring journey but we are all so grateful that we are nearing the end of her treatments and procedures with smiles on our faces and a bright future ahead. We know that not everybody going through similar trials is as fortunate as we are and we don't take our situation for granted. We especially don't take Nin's badassery for granted. I've said it before and I'll say it at least seven more times, Nin is a utter badass. She has tackled the last 16 months with a smile on her face and a positive outlook, regardless of what she was facing. I honestly don't think I could have done what she did. If I did, it would be with at least 487 times more complaining and whining.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Me if I went through what Nin did, like the whole time:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today Dr Kimball Crofts of Aesthetica Plastic Surgery in Lindon, Utah is swapping Nin's expanders for actual implants. For the past 15 months she's had tissue expanders as temporary placeholders between her double mastectomy and implants. She had to have expanders because radiation can encapsulate the tissue around the implant/expander. Which basically means that the body will create scar-like tissue around the expander. This is why Nin couldn't get implants right after her mastectomy. We had to wait and see how her body and tissue would react to the radiation treatments. If you remember from previous blog posts, which seem like a lifetime ago, radiation therapy causes the skin to become somewhat leather-like and causes it to lose its elasticity. So the expanders Nin has had in her chest have been just holding the space so the implants have a nice warm home waiting just for them. It's like when someone warms up your spot in a cold bed. If you don't have somebody that does that for, you should. You're worth it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Update from the future. Well, technically from your past but from the future of the inception of this blog post. It is now Thursday July 26th. Nin has done really well with the surgery. So well in fact that we left the hospital around 2pm on the day of surgery (about 2 hours after she got out), went to Nektar Juice Bar to get an Acai Bowl, then drove straight to our friend's pool party on our way home. Yes, Nin went from surgery to a pool party. Because she's Nin so, why not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">While she didn't technically get in the pool, she did hang out with her feet in a bucket of water. Count it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She's taken it easy the past couple days. She's more sore today than she has been. Nothing like the mastectomy but sore enough that she has been laying in bed resting and watching movies all day. Tomorrow we head back down South for a follow up appointment with Dr Crofts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In summary, Nin is doing great. She's sore but doing better than we expected. For those of you going through a similar journey, from our experiences the swap from expanders to implants is a breeze compared to the mastectomy. Wherever you are in your journey, it gets better! Keep your heads up then go to a pool party with your new foobs. #SpringBreak!</span><br />
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<br />Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-58814412037637214572018-04-09T22:05:00.001-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.582-07:00One Year Later<span style="font-size: large;">Guys, it's been an entire year since Nin was diagnosed with cancer of the boobs. Can you believe that? They say "time flies when you're having fun" but whoever coined that term had clearly never battled cancer. It's not really that fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I just went back and looked at some of my Instagram posts from this time last year. It's crazy to remember how I felt when I wrote them. Like nostalgia but the crappy version. While looking back it is amazing to be able to compare how our lives are now to how they were this time one year ago. Last year seems so distant and our lives still feel like our lives this year, just different. Does that make sense? Am I getting too philosophical? If a tree falls in the middle of the forest with nobody around to hear it, did the cancer ever really exist?</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/gaze.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="480" src="https://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/gaze.gif" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's been surreal to pass the year mark and enter a season that feels familiar but new. When we had that weird Spring-like warm spell in February I felt myself getting very anxious. I just thought it was stress from work but I realized that I was anxious because the season was changing and the weather outside was very similar to the weather when Nin was diagnosed. When I told Nin about my experience, she said she had felt the same way but also hadn't realized why. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This past Saturday was Nicole's family's annual yard cleanup at her Grandparent's. That was where we were when we broke the news to her family last year. It was a hard day but there was a lot of love as well. I remember we showed up late and instructed Nin's parent's to have the entire family gathered together. When we arrived there was the typical goofing around, kids playing, and generally happiness. We walked up and dropped the (at the time) devastating news like we were dropping a building on everybody there. The family was standing in a big circle and it was dead silent for a couple of minutes. Just some sniffling noises, quiet sobs, and gentle hugs. It was a hard day. I wasn't able to attend the cleanup this year but I hear that it was significantly less depressing this time around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've had a few things I've wanted to write about on this blog but we are becoming so far removed from that #CancerLife that it feels good not to open up these fairly raw memories and feel all the feels again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I remember back on this time last year, one of the most prominent memories I have, that I wish I would have gotten a picture of, was after we had told some of our friends the news. All of the girls embraced Nin in the most loving group hug and cried together. It really was a beautiful moment that I hope to never forget.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2018 is completely different so far. Nin is cancer free, I'm back to a regular work/travel schedule, we're planning new adventures, and generally living the good life. After cancer you enter a new normal life but it still falls under the category of "The Good Life". **</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">** Reference "The Encyclopedia of Baddassery" for example charts and a detailed description of what is known and categorized as "The Good Life" by dozens of people worldwide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Right now we are in beautiful Las Vegas for Nin's annual family Easter/Spring Break. Last year for this trip we were in Mesquite, NV. It was about a week after Nin's diagnosis and we desperately needed a physical and mental vacation. Unfortunately for everybody, Baby Jude came down with RSV and the Human Meta Virus, and spent the entirety of the vacation in the hotel room receiving Nebulizer steroid treatments and unsuccessfully trying to sleep. Not to forget the late night Emergency Room visit to the closest in-network ER about an hour away. What joy. Perhaps the most stressful vacation stacked on top of the most stressful time of our lives. Not our best work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This year is completely different. The weather is beautiful, the pools are warm, Nin is healthy, and life is good.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISKdrgIx4PWU3P1FSYQ7-8Kx-f-taUg1zJhQk_lPcqP2UoGR7YLH5Few4vVSRkYfibcNFTMZo6rGpKjSwuny_zGswNoc6qiZbNM2-4-snzoWdxJPJR3VYvyKwYHxWZ-B5vCKSVdO43A0S/s1600/20180405_160433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISKdrgIx4PWU3P1FSYQ7-8Kx-f-taUg1zJhQk_lPcqP2UoGR7YLH5Few4vVSRkYfibcNFTMZo6rGpKjSwuny_zGswNoc6qiZbNM2-4-snzoWdxJPJR3VYvyKwYHxWZ-B5vCKSVdO43A0S/s640/20180405_160433.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is really the point of this blog post. I know that not everybody who goes through experiences similar to Nin's will have the same results, but most will. This post is a reminder and a beacon of hope for others going through what we went through last year. While it can suck and feel like your world is caving in on you, don't forget that it won't always be that bad. Life will return to a normal state. A different normal but it can still be great. You and those around you will emerge out the other side of your journey as much better people for a many number of reasons. Just keep your head up, force yourself to smile when you feel like you can't, and unleash the badass within to crush any obstacle that comes in your way. You've got this.</span>Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-62634934062654777692018-03-18T14:09:00.002-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.582-07:00Mickey Mouse's House!<span style="font-size: large;">News Anchor: "Tell me Nin, what are you going to do now that you've won the CancerBowl?" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nin: "We're going to Disneyland!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For those of you who have been following Nin's journey from the start, or know us personally, you know that of all of the things that Nin went through while battling breast cancer, having to cancel our family trip to Disneyland last year was easily one of the hardest things for her to accept. It wasn't the prospect of getting ravaged by chemo and radiation, or having her chest meat scooped out, or even losing all of her hair, it was postponing the trip to Disneyland that we had been getting Penny so excited for. We were watching as many of the Disney movies as possible, playing non-stop soundtracks, and constantly talking with her about going to "Mickey Mouse's House".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So instead of doing Disneyland 2017, we did Double Mastectomy 2017. Not nearly as fun. And they didn't even have churros. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Unbeknownst to us, and without them even knowing that we had a Disneyland trip we had to cancel, the vacation company Get Away Today reached out to Nin's brother and told them to relay the message that they would be sending us to Disneyland after she completed her cancer treatments. I should clarify that the son of the Get Away Today owners and Nin's brother are great friends and grew up together terrorizing their neighborhoods. I wasn't there but I imagine that would be a good summary of their childhood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Throughout this whole journey we have been so blessed by so many of you and your charity (Again, thank you a million times over). Knowing that we would be able to take Penny to Disneyland after Nin's treatment was the greatest cherry on top of it all. You now that Nin and I love to have vacations to look forward to and the prospect of this trip undoubtedly motivated Nin to rock her way through chemo and radiation so we could celebrate with Mickey Mouse & Co.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So this February, we went to Disneyland and it was more magical that we could have ever expected. Watching Penny meet all of her favorite characters and Princesses made my Daddy heart absolutely melt. She just oozed excitement and you could genuinely see the magic in her eyes. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9g7s8siUA1ZDE5uULkyzMiiy01AMOKxYXnKmEVk6ESXaDvO4NmSIo9fA4zXXKXlVo8qz3u0w78PLSylhCwyyxk52CuUbtb0G6tnpLHFvQ6Y4kqsomjVvL1j2fxYs-Qs-6q4A3T6AgANQ/s1600/20180131_164117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9g7s8siUA1ZDE5uULkyzMiiy01AMOKxYXnKmEVk6ESXaDvO4NmSIo9fA4zXXKXlVo8qz3u0w78PLSylhCwyyxk52CuUbtb0G6tnpLHFvQ6Y4kqsomjVvL1j2fxYs-Qs-6q4A3T6AgANQ/s640/20180131_164117.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These goofballs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I didn't want to overload this post with gajillions of Disneyland photos so you just get a couple of my favorites. We went bell to bell and I think this picture of Jude effectively summarizes our level of Disneyland commitment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We spent the last day at the beach playing in the sand and water. Just what the Doctor ordered. Of course a Doctor didn't literally order it, that would be absurd and he's probably lose his license. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The good folks at Get Away Today did not request that we post about the trip or anything like that, they just did it out of the goodness of their hearts. For that we are forever grateful. I'm going to post about them anyways, so deal with it while I shamelessly plug their awesome business. If you aren't familiar with Get Away Today and/or plan on going to Disneyland in the near future, click the image below and peruse their website. They have great contracted rates to save you a TON on a Disneyland trip. Every dollar counts when you're living on a steady diet of $10 corn dogs and $5 churros! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As an update on Nin's current condition, she's doing great. Her hair is growing back, she feels great, and life is returning to a new normal. She's still getting her Herceptin infusions every three weeks until July. She hasn't had any serious lingering side effects and appears to be making a pretty full recovery. Life is good!</span></div>
<br />Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-3804109124221939272018-02-14T20:26:00.000-08:002023-04-13T19:33:55.577-07:00New Year New Nin!I wrote this post at the first of the year but didn't publish it. No reason, just forgot. It's been great with life returning to normal because the less cancery stuff we have to do, the less we think about it. The downside is I keep forgetting to update the blog and schedule babysitters for Dr appts. C'est la vie!<br />
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A lot has happened since our last post. A whole year has gone by! [Don't pity clap for the generic New Years joke]. Don't encourage me.<br />
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Perhaps the most exciting news is that Nin is done with radiation! No more chemo and no more radiation! Those have definitely been the heavy hitters during this process so we're glad they're behind us.<br />
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Ring that be-ee-ee-el, ring that bell!</div>
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Victory walk out of radiation for the last time.</div>
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Nin will continue to receive Herceptin infusions until sometime this summer, early July if everything goes well. Then the Plastic Surgeon will finish her breast reconstruction surgery. New year new boobs!<br />
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We're very happy to have radiation behind us and equally happy that the side effects are on their way out as well. We didn't really know what to expect from radiation and in hindsight I would say that it wasn't as bad as we thought but it was also worse that we thought. The fatigue was worse than we expected but the skin burn wasn't quite as bad as expected.<br />
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Nin's skin didn't turn into a charred piece of wood. Unfortunately she did still get pretty toasty. The burn was like having a severe sunburn for a few weeks straight. It continued to get worse for a couple of weeks after radiation then one day it just disappeared, but not before she had some skin flakes come off that were worth saving.<br />
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Here is a slideshow of her armpit crispiness progression.<br />
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I drafted this post at the first of January. It's mid February now. Valentine's Day actually. Looking back on this past year, I'm so amazingly proud of Nicole. She's seriously a super human. I couldn't have done what she did with a smile on my face like she had. I had a cold this past weekend and barely made it. I'm happy to celebrate this year with my Valentine so healthy and happy. 2018 has started with a bang and I dare say it'll only get better. Always an adventure with this beauty!<br />
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<br />Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-11772672438414180162017-12-11T15:10:00.001-08:002023-04-13T19:33:55.578-07:00Hair Today Gone TomorrowHey guys it's me, Nicole, the less funny Schweppe. I like to get on here every once and a while try to be as entertaining as Deek but we all know that's a lost cause. So I'll just stick to some pictures. I recently got back the photos that Ciara Richardson took of my Head Shaving Party back in June. As many of you know she is a very good friend and equally good photographer. She documents my life and Im grateful to her to have these beautiful pictures to look back on. Thinking back on this day I thought I remembered every second of it. But looking through these photos there was a few details I forgot.<br>
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In these first photos you can see how much my hair had changed in just 2 days. At this point it was falling out in chunks. It had started to become dread locks as it fell out and I probably could have just pulled it out completely at this point. My emotions were all over the place I went from crying to laughing and back again. I was blessed to be surrounded my some of my best friends that helped me stay happy and positive. We also chose to have Penny watch so that she wasn't scared or confused when she saw me for the first time. <br>
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<br>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13970669372768803084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-69120446331068345822017-12-04T22:02:00.000-08:002023-04-13T19:33:55.583-07:00Turtle Doves<span style="font-size: large;">Oh hey there. Remember us?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We're back for a little update. I feel like there hasn't been a lot to report on lately so I haven't written any posts. To be honest I'm happy that there isn't anything major and cancer related to update you all on but I do miss writing more frequent posts. I never thought I'd like writing but as I've been documenting this journey I've realized that I really enjoy it. Especially when nobody is grading my papers and I can let my jackassery run wild...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As Nin finishes her treatments and life returns to normal the question arises, do we/I keep up on the blog? Over the past few months months I've been told by <u>at least</u> two people to keep writing. As polling goes, I'd say that translates into millions of potential readers. That's how polling works, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So my question to you is, should I continue to write blog posts through the end of Nin's treatments and beyond? Or should I keep my non-sensical ramblings about my awesome family to myself? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Or in a text. Or a candy-gram. You choose your preferred method of communication.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Cancer-wise not a lot has happened in the past few weeks. Nin has started radiation and will hopefully finish by the end of the year IF there aren't any delays. Apparently the radiation machine that is used on her is one of the best in the state but can be very finnicky. Is that how you spell that? Finnicky, Finickie, Phinicky? Finnick from Hunger Games, what do you think?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">He ain't care about spelling, he just wants sugar cubes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This radiation machine, which uses TomoTherapy, has to be constantly re-calibrated when there are changes in barometric pressure, weather, or when a One Direction member leaves the band. So pretty often. These delays are usually only a day so hopefully we don't experience many. **I just googled One Direction and it looks like they are on a "hiatus". Hopefully that doesn't mean that we'll be plagued with delays now. Thanks a lot guys. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The side effects have been pretty minimal. In her right arm her skin and inside sinews/tendons/gristles are starting to feel a little tight. She's also starting to feel less mobility in her right arm, which fortunately shouldn't be permanent. It turns out that this TomoTherapy technique also won't leave her skin looking like a 98 year old lady from Florida that has sun-bathed every single day for 90 years. So that's nice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The radiation has made her pretty tired. The fatigue isn't as bad as the first eight weeks of chemo but it still isn't fun. As always, she's taking it in stride with a smile on her face. And sometimes with a nap on her face.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since the last blog post we've been partying pretty hard. Life is seemingly returning to normal, or at least a new normal, and it's been nice to get into a better rhythm of daily life. Sans the nausea, severe fatigue, hair loss, constant Dr appointments, non-stop babysitting requests, and all that other fun stuff that comes along with cancer treatments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We had the wonderful opportunity to spend ten days in Europe to celebrate Nin finishing chemo. A trip to metaphorically celebrate Nin crushing and walking away from chemotherapy, middle fingers high in the air. Two turtledoves, sky high.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'll post a little bit about the trip soon. In the meantime, here are the cliff notes. Crepes, baguettes, more crepes, mountains, waterfalls, and another crepe.</span>Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-55706718180188339282017-10-25T10:20:00.003-07:002023-10-27T12:33:41.372-07:00Living in a Post Chemo World<div style="-en-clipboard: true;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hey guess what?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You guessed wrong.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nin doesn't have get chemo this week or any other weeks!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Celebrating Bubba Dudey's birthday the day after chemo. Nin looking fabulo per usual!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's been a surreal few days knowing that Nin doesn't have to get poisons pumped into her body any more. Her hair has started growing back, her immune system has started growing back, and our normal life had stated growing back. Lots of good growth happening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With all of this exciting news and milestone achieving, people have been asking what is next. More treatment? Tests to conclude all disease is eRADicated? Disneyland trip? Running for President? Hopefully all of those things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nin will continue her Herceptin infusions every three weeks until sometime next Summer. These shouldn't be a big deal at all. A simple thirty minute infusion with little to no side effects. Every ninth week Nin will have an appointment at Big Huntsman in SLC with all the tests and meeting with her nurses, Doctors, and fan club(s). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just patiently waiting for Nin's autograph.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nin will also be starting RADiation on November 16th. You will notice that I capitalize RAD in RADiation. If I make it sound fun, maybe it will be! These will be daily (each weekday) treatments that will last somewhere around eight weeks or so. Fortunately we'll be able to do these about ten minutes from our home. That will make it much easier with kids. We can just turn on the TV then scatter some popcorn and Reese's Pieces on the ground like ET. They'll never even know we're gone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm joking. We would never do that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We'd also leave them something to drink...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We honestly don't know much about RADiation besides knowing that it will turn Nin's skin into leather.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not quite like that but kind of. You now how your skin is stretchy and pliable? Apparently radiation causes your skin to lose it stretchyness. Nin should only need localized RADiation on/in/around/near (choose your adventure and pick the preposition of your choice) her right breast area as well as her right armpit. So hopefully this won't wreck her skin too bad. We're fairly ignorant at this point because we've been focusing so hard on getting through chemo that we haven't even thought about RADiation. One thing we were warned of by the Plastic Surgeon is that over time the RADiated tissue can/will tighten. You know how over time breasts stretch and sag? If you don't, you have my permission to Google it for research purposes. Well, her left side will follow nature's path but her right side won't. Or it could even be lifted up over time. So that will be fun. One day it could put her boobs "out of orbit". Luckily, breast reconstruction is covered by insurance forever. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we know about RADiation thus far. Another big question we get is, do the Dr's give Nin a clean bill of health, cancer free medal, or "in remission" sticker? Unfortunately I don't think she gets any of that. I still don't fully understand why but these could be some reasons. I've heard the full body scan used to detect remaining cancer cells can cause Leukemia. Yeah, let's check that you don't have any more cancer by probably giving you a different kind of cancer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nin will be monitored every few months with blood tests to make sure everything is functioning smoothly. Besides that, since we haven't crossed the "end of treatment" bridge, we don't really understand that stuff. Rest assured that when we learn more about it we'll most definitely probably post about it here. Maybe. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, I think I've rambled enough for one post. Just want to give a huge shoutout to all of our friends and family who helped us with the kids during the endless appointments and chemo days. People have helped us in every way imaginable. Mowing our lawn all summer, brushing our grumpy old man dog and picking up his poo trains (he walks while he poops, setting an intricate series of "poo train" landmines), cooking us fresh meals twice a week for six months, love letters, messages and comments on social media, letters in the mail, stripper-grams (alright, nobody sent a stripper-gram but now you have ideas for the future), helping us clean our house and yard, monetary donations, surprise house decorations, gift cards, hugs, tongue kisses, and endless support. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We love you all with all our loves and we hope you know it. We aren't great are accepting help sometimes but please know that we've greatly appreciated it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If someone out there reading this and isn't telling other people that they are fighting cancer, consider sharing your journey. You aren't alone and don't need to face this on your own. Others want to lift you up and support you to courageously fight this battle. Alone we are just us but together we are unstoppable. </span></div>
Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-76904442350003653382017-10-18T09:40:00.002-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.583-07:00Ringing The Bell!<span style="font-size: large;">Wow. We made it. Yesterday, October 17 of the year 2017, Nin finished chemo. Six and a half months ago it seemed like this day would never come. It felt like an unattainable day. The metaphorical unicorn of days. But here we are. Take that unicorns.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This morning there was some unspoken tension in the air. Nin's chemo treatments are typically every seven days. We requested that this last appointment be moved forward one day because today is Baby Jude's 1st birthday! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Look at this precious ball of chub!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In order to qualify for chemo </span><span style="font-size: large;">your bloodwork has to meet specific parameters. N</span><span style="font-size: large;">ot to make it sound like qualifying is an achievement by any means. "Congratulations, you have been granted the blessing of having poisonous medicines pumped into your body, well done!" These parameters are set to essentially just ensure that you are healthy enough for the chemo to ravage your body. Since it was only six days since her last appointment, and she's had a minor cold for three weeks (remember the cold two weeks ago that I said went away quickly? Surprise, it never did), we felt there was a chance that her chemo would have to be pushed back a week. That would have been absolutely crushing for both of us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We grabbed some Jamba Juice, dropped the kids off at a friend's house, then went to chemo. Spirits were still high but we were a little gripped and anxious to know if this would actually be the last day of chemo. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To pass the time we played Harry Potter trivial pursuit. It was a magical distraction (puns intended). We learned that our Harry Potter nerdery knows few bounds. In the middle of our heated battle, the nurse came in and told us that chemo was a go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">During every other chemo appointment I have set up my mobile command center and worked during the infusion. Like this guy. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.marketingjava.com/wp-content/uploads/desktop_computer_at_starbucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="640" height="298" src="https://www.marketingjava.com/wp-content/uploads/desktop_computer_at_starbucks.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since today was such a special day I took the day off to enjoy this final day of chemo and soak in the experience. All day Nin was constantly on the brink of crying happy tears. As we were nearing the end of her final infusion, I went out to the lobby and grabbed our friend and amazing photographer Ciara to document the joyful end of this journey. If you've ever seen a beautiful picture of our family, you can thank Ciara for digitally sexifying us with her crazy good editing abilities. Just like this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Or maybe like this:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I surprised Nin by bringing Ciara back and told her that I invited her to document Nin ringing the bell. Little did she know that I had arranged for a big chunk of our families to be there to support her and share the momentous occasion of her ringing the bell. She had absolutely no idea and I can confidently say it gave her and everybody else butterflies inside of their butterflies. I know mine were extra buttery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After lots of hugs, lots of tears, and lots of tambourine shaking by Penny, it was time to Ring the Bell. At the Farmington location of Huntsman Cancer Institude, you get to ring the bell when you finish chemo. The main location in Salt Lake City has a gong. One thing is absolutely certain, for chemo to officially be completed, you need to make some kind of loud noise with metal. I'm pretty sure that if you don't, you have to restart chemo all the way over. So it's a pretty big deal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After the auditory tribute to the chemo powers that be, we two stepped it out of there to never return! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">...But in reality we'll be back every three weeks until next Summer to complete her Herceptin doses. At least the future visits will be much shorter, easier, with little to no side effects, and we get free grape juice. </span></div>
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The army! Apparently Papa (Dave), (Gigi) Julie, and Mumsie (Kristal) were so overwhelmed with joy that they fell asleep. There is probably a less blinky picture out there but it's too late now.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have absolutely loved the nurses and Doctors at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. We don't recommend anybody get cancer but if you do, go to Huntsman. They are the best of the best. Nin's nurses all signed a card with this goosebump-giving poem.</span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">A mighty wind blew night and day.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">It stole the Oak trees leaves away,</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Until the Oak was tired and stark.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">But still the Oak tree held its ground</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">While other trees fell all around.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">The weary wind gave up and spoke,</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">"How can you still be standing Oak?"</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Oak tree said, "I know that you</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Can break each branch of mine in two,</span></b></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Carry every leaf away,</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Shake my limbs and make me sway."</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">"But I have roots stretched in the earthm</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Growing stronger since my birth.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">You'll never touch them for you see,</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">They are the deepest part of me."</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">"Until today I wasn't sure</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Of just how much I could endure.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">But now I've found with thanks to you....</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">I'm stronger than I ever knew."</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">-Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.</span></i></b></div>
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Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-11309038100990115402017-10-11T15:58:00.003-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.578-07:00Six. More. Days.<span style="font-size: large;">We are counting down the days until Nin is done with chemo. As of today, Wednesday, there are only six more days!</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">The chemo treatments are definitely compounding. Before Nin stated this cycle we heard a bunch of different scenarios of what might happen. Everybody reacts a little differently and Nin has definitely fallen under the category "Compounding fatigue and dude effects." <-- I'm typing this on my phone and it auto corrected side effects to dude effects so I'm leaving it. I'm not even mad about it. I'm kind of proud that my phone is starting to understand what I truly want to type.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nin has weathered the side effects surprisingly well. Even as they get more intense, she's MVPing her way through.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The most obvious, recent side effect, besides hair loss (duh), is Nin's finger nails slowly dying. Over the past few weeks they've turned a little red and have become sensitive. She regularly catches her nails on things which causes them to lift up. [Gross chill shivers] <-- not unlike pee shivers, btw. She has a hard time with simple tasks like buttoning buttons, opening cans (of Whoop Ass), undoing car seat buckles, or plucking at a harp. I don't think she's ever plucked at a harp but the thought of her playing one with the current state of her nails just made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nin's hair has started to grow back. It's really light (in color and thickness). Here is a crappy quality picture showing what her hair is looking like.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Her head feels like a minkey blanket. I'm not exactly sure what a minkey is but I like to think that it is a monkey with suuuuper soft fur that just gets brushed and conditioned all day long in the salon of nature. Her hair doesn't feel like it's from a full grown minkey though. I'd say it would be from a brand new super soft baby minkey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nin's fatigue has been stepping it's game up over the past couple treatments. She's starting to feel more tired for those first couple days after chemo. Especially the second day. Even then, she handles it like a trooper. She rarely complains and even more rarely asks for help. If the situation were reversed and I were going through chemo, I'd probably be face down in bed for 5 days following treatment, peek outside to see make sure the world was still spinning on the 6th day, then go back to chemo on the 7th day. Nin is seriously so tough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She just completed her 15th of 16 chemo treatments today. Plus it's her birthday tomorrow! Make sure you wish her this cancer fighting badass the Happiest of Birthdays! Just do it more gently than this girl...</span><br />
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<br />Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-38257404399965702072017-09-28T20:50:00.003-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.580-07:00Snot RocketsWhile I'm the Captain of this blog, I should rename it to "Long Time No See", "Sorry for the Delay", or "I Promise I'll Write More." I'm the worst and writing consistently, I know. I'll try to do better. It's not you, it's me.<br />
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Nin just completed chemo treatment #9 of 12! Three weeks left and she is D.O.N.E! We're getting pretty excited about it. As long as there aren't any setbacks (fingers crossed) Nin's last chemo will be the day before Jude's first birthday, October 17th! It'll make for quite the birthday/post-chemo celebration. T-Swift will probably even show up. NBD.<br />
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During this whole process we've tried to have things to look forward to. Nin is turning 30 AND beating cancer, it's a big year. To celebrate these big accomplishments, we are taking a trip to Paris and Switzerland in November! We, Nin especially, have always wanted to go to Paris. We're going to spend five days in Paris then head over to Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland to spend a few days with our friends, the Brinkerhoff's, who moved there for two full months. Because they're awesome. If these pictures don't make you want to go to Switzerland, we can't be friends anymore.<br />
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I haven't felt the urge to post a lot of updates lately because not much is happening. Nin is just crushing it, per usual. Her treatments have been uneventful and have gone smoothly. I've missed the last two treatments. One because I was traveling for work and the other because we couldn't find babysitters for our snot-nosed kids.<br />
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Over the past week or so our little family has been sick. Penny got it first, then promptly gave it to everybody else, including Nin. Amazingly, this is the first time Nin has been sick since she started chemo. We didn't know what to expect. We'd heard the horror stories about common colds turning into ER visits but luckily it didn't hit her very hard. It was a very minor cold and even with a compromised immune system, she got over it quickly. I would say the worst part about it was that her nose ran a lot. Normally that's not a big deal but when you don't have nose hair, the snot has no resistance and escapes with great force. Just imagine that these two Russian dudes are snot and the slide is Nin's nasal passage. It's a shockingly accurate depiction of her snot life these past few days:<br />
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Overall, Nin is still doing great. It seems like the chemo treatments are compounding slightly and taking just a little more toll on her each time. She gets a little more tired but nothing too crazy. This cycle is still very mild compared to the first four doses of the DDAC. We feel very blessed that she's done this well. We have no doubt that the countless prayers her positive attitude has made a huge difference in how well she is doing. Stay positive people and keep praying. Everyday.<br />
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I know this blog is about Nin but I'm going to digress for a good cause.<br />
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For the past six months, there has been an ever present "heaviness" in our lives. These past few weeks have been extra heavy. Nin is doing great but one of my best friends, Jesse Johnson, recently found out he has an advanced form of testicular cancer.<br />
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A few weeks ago he had such severe back pain that he checked himself into the ER only to find that tumors on his lungs, pancreas, and other areas in his body were causing the pain. Turns out it is an agressive form of testicular cancer called Testicular Choriocarcinoma. They started a light form of chemotherapy almost immediately. After a few days of chemo he went home for the weekend. Due to the tumors in his lungs and the toll his body had taken from the chemo, he had to be admitted to the ICU where he was placed in a medically induced coma. I know, heavy.<br />
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He has been steadily improving and isn't completely sedated anymore. He's doing well enough that they removed his ECMO tubes (life support oxygenation tubes). It's an uphill battle but Jesse's a fighter and will pull through. Through the past few months with Nin's diagnosis and treatment, we know now more than ever that the power of prayer is real. We're asking that everybody add Jesse and his family to their prayers.<br />
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To end this post on a lighter note, here is one of my favorite pre-Youtube videos that always makes me laugh. Words that Jesse and I lived by. You know, something to take they breff away.<br />
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You got this Jesse.Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-61012233594988635662017-09-06T21:54:00.001-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.582-07:00Feel it on the First<div dir="ltr">
As a quick update, Nin is doing very well. She gets a little wrecked a couple days after chemo but overall she is handling everything like a champ. Today her nurses told her that they concluded "she was the most beautiful bald person they had every seen." Quite the compliment considering they see bald people all day every day. She just completed her 6th of 12 chemo doses. HALF WAY DONE with this final chemo round!<br />
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Thanks for the balloons and gift Tori!</div>
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The rest of this post is going to be dedicated to breast exams. I know I did one back in April but I felt it appropriate to post another. We've been blown away by the number of people close to us that have recently done breast self-exams, only to find tumors. Most of these lumps weren't cancerous but a few were. A few too many.</div>
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There is a great movement promoting monthly self breast exams called "Feel it on the first." It simply suggests that you do a self breast exam on the 1st of every month. I know what you're thinking. "Well Derrik you done messed up because it's not even the 1st, it's the 7th." Lucky for us all, your boobs can't tell time.</div>
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Take this opportunity to get to know your boobs. You can even let your significant other pitch in. As they say "Many hands make light work." If you aren't comfortable doing a breast self-exam call me, I'll lend you my hands for the greater good. </div>
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A bold strategy, I know. But in all seriousness I'm no breast exam expert. For that reason I have copied and pasted some of the key tips from <a href="http://www.nalie.ca/feel-it-on-the-first/#" target="_blank">Nalie Agustin's Website</a> below. Take the time to read them over. <br />
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If you're wondering where to start, I'd suggest taking some pointers from my feline friend below. He looks like he knows the proper techniques.</div>
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And yes, I had to Google "cats giving breast exams" to find this gif. </div>
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Here are the tips from Nalie's website. Happy groping:<br />
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<span style="color: #1c1a1b; font-family: "robotobold";"><u><b>FEEL IT ON THE FIRST!</b></u></span></div>
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Here’s the secret to examining your breast:</div>
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<span style="color: #1c1a1b; font-family: "robotobold";">It’s not about doing it </span><span style="color: #1c1a1b; font-family: "robotobold";"><i>right</i></span><span style="color: #1c1a1b; font-family: "robotobold";">, it’s about doing it REGULARLY!</span></div>
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So on the <span style="color: #1c1a1b; font-family: "robotobold";">first day of every month</span>, I want you to feel yourself! <i>Yeah girl.</i> Both literally, and figuratively.</div>
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Get to know your breasts and remember what they normally look and feel like! Look out for <i>any </i>changes.</div>
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Here’s what to look out for:</div>
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<span style="color: #1c1a1b; font-family: "robotobold";">Breast Changes:</span></div>
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<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Size or shape</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Deformation</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Lumps in the breast, upper chest or armpits</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Swelling of the breast or arm</li>
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<span style="color: #1c1a1b; font-family: "robotobold";">Skin Changes:</span></div>
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<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Redness</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Orange peel skin</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Thickening</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Discoloration</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Dimpling, pitting or puckering</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Localized feeling of warmth</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Ulceration or wound</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Visible vein</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Skin shrinkage</li>
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<span style="color: #1c1a1b; font-family: "robotobold";">Nipple Changes:</span></div>
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<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Appearance</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Spontaneous Discharge</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Inversion</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Deviation</li>
<li style="line-height: 20px; list-style-type: none; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 22px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;">Eczema or ulceration of the nipple</li>
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If you find anything, visit your doctor immediately! And from experience, if you find a lump demand an <i>ultrasound! </i>If you’re under 40, remember… an ultrasound, not a mammogram! A clinical examination just won’t suffice!</div>
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Keep in mind, that not all changes are breast cancer! In fact, it’s quite normal for our breast to change due to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, lactation or aging. But it’s better to be safe than sorry!</div>
Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-53741669643125800102017-08-29T16:58:00.003-07:002023-10-27T12:16:27.539-07:00Sorry For The Delay<div dir="ltr">
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It's been a while since I posted an update about Nin's badassery. Sorry not sorry. We've been too busy partying hard in between chemo treatments to type words. You're probably thinking, "How hard can you party after chemo?" I'll let our camping/dance party in the dirt video answer that question for you.</div>
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Or as I'd say, along with everybody else, in a business email, "Sorry for the delay."</div>
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Nin has now completed 4 of her 12 rounds of chemo. I actually don't know if the term "rounds" is correct. As far as I know it could be called rounds, doses, acid trips, cycles, infusions, walk abouts, or gentrifications. I don't think anybody really knows the correct term, and they probably never will. #Mysteries.</div>
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Overall, Nin has been doing pretty great. She got a little greedy after this last dose, which was on a Wednesday, and thought she could attend a work retreat meeting/kayaking on the lake with co-workers day. Not the best decision. She was <b>worked</b> the next day.</div>
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Besides exhaustion, exactly like the anti-drug commercial girl above, Nin has weathered the potential side effects very well. We're still wrapping her wrists and ankles in ice packs during her chemo infusions of the drug "Taxol" or officially "Paclitaxel" for you medical nerds out there. </div>
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This restricts blood flow, and thereby chemo drugs flowing through her veins, to her extremities. This will hopefully prevent neuropathy, which is the loss of feeling in the fingers and toes. </div>
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Obviously, she makes even this look glamorous. I'm afraid that people see her on social media and will think "Oh man, cancer treatment looks so fabulous, I want to try it." We know it's tempting but don't do it. Not worth it.</div>
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One small thing that has been bugging Nin is the tissue on her gums becoming sensitive and basically falling off. It's not like she sheds her gum skin like a snake though. Unless that's what you're imagining. If you are, keep imagining that. You do you. Don't let anybody tell you who to be. </div>
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When Nin's gums first started to bother her, she thought it might just be a popcorn kernel stuck under her gum line. Or "subgingivally" for you dental nerds. Man, lots of nerds in the house tonight. Sorry cool kids.</div>
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We all went to see "Nana", my mom who is a "gentle" hygienist (according to a little neighbor boy years ago), at work. I'm not great with grammar or "Englishing" but I just used parentheses inside of a set of commas indicating a nonessential phrase. Like this: "(___)". I'm no Leo but I'm pretty sure that is the literary version of Inception.</div>
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Guys, I'm sorry. It's taken me four paragraphs to explain that Nin went to the Dentist. I'm out of control. <br />
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Make that five paragraphs. Nana didn't find any popcorn in Nin's gums but she gently scraped off some plaque while being very careful to not make Nin's gums bleed.<br />
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A lot of people don't understand why I'm so uptight about Nin doing something that could make her bleed, like cutting herself, falling down, or getting shot, as a few examples. It's a condition called hemophilia...probably, and it is a result of the chemo drugs making some patient's bodies unable to clot blood. Luckily that hasn't happened for Nin. In some cases even small things could lead to Emergency Room visits like bleeding gums from brushing your teeth, nose bleeds, and even hang-nails that just can't stop, won't stop, bleeding.<br />
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Another concern is anemia. Chemotherapy attacks and kills cancer cells but it also attacks red blood cells. This lack of blood cells can cause fatigue and feeling cooler than normal. Nin couldn't get warm the other night and it wasn't even cold. She bundled up like ET and I piled blankets on her until she warmed up.</div>
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Just another fun side effect. </div>
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Overall, Nin is killing it. She goes back in for another "gentrification" on Wednesday. Keep the prayers coming that she continues to do well and doesn't feel tempted to be a bonehead and go kayaking the day after.</div>
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On a final note of culinary inspiration, and in preparation for the new IT movie that we will absolutely never watch, this makes Nin laugh any time she sees it. Because it's her.</div>
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Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-58605394542445673462017-08-07T22:56:00.001-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.582-07:00Making Cancer Glamorous Since 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Look at this hot mama making cancer look glamorous! All the cool kids are doing it.</div>
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It's been a couple weeks since I wrote an update about Nin, so learn from this guy and buckle up!<br />
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The last update post was right after Nin finished her final dose of her first heavy round of chemo. At that point she was feeling pretty well. She drank a ton of water before, during, and after chemo and was fortunate to forego most of the side effects that had laid her out the round before. Those first few days after chemo were great. She came home and slept 20 straight hours, you know, as one does.<br />
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Then she woke up feeling way better than she had after any of the previous three rounds. It was a HUGE relief, especially compared to the round before. I was absolutely dreading her waking up and feeling terrible but she snapped right up and got right back to it. Like the boss she is.<br />
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A few days after her infusion a few side effects caught up to her. Throughout the four doses there was a high chance of Nin getting bone pain from the Neulasta. She lucked out for the most part on the first three rounds but unfortunately it caught up to her on the fourth and final dose of the first round. She described it more as feeling as if the majority of her body was severely bruised. This lasted a couple days and beat her down a bit but she handled like a champ, like she does.<br />
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The second weekend after that fourth dose we were able to spend some time at one of her favorite places on Earth, Bear Lake. The weekend was filled with a lot of lake time, pool time, nap time, and game time. Just what the doctor ordered.<br />
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Bubba dude was clearly having a good time at the pool with mommy!<br />
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We mostly stayed at the resort but we took a quick detour to Minnetonka Cave.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">After Bear Lake (two weekends ago), we were dreading the next week. That's when Nin started her second cycle of chemo. We've learned that through this experience, that hardest thing to deal with is the unknown. Not knowing how Nin's body would react was a bit stressful. She received her first infusion last Thursday. I had to go to Lake Tahoe for a work event from Tuesday to Thursday. On Thursday morning during our final meeting, as Nin was on chemo, I was pretty anxious. I kept checking my phone, sat trying to pay attention but sat there fidgeting like I was waiting for a call from my favorite drug dealer to deliver some goods. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">One of the common side effects with her new cycle of chemo is an allergic reaction. They loaded her up with Benadryl and monitored her for rashes, hives, etc. Nin's mom Julie kept me up to date and luckily she didn't suffer any allergic reactions. [Wipes brow]</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The next, and more serious, side effect we are concerned about is neuropathy. Neuropathy is essentially numbness of the extremities or loss of feeling in your fingers, toes, feet, and hands. You know when your hands get so cold that you can't grab or hold on to stuff? It's like that but can be permanent. For-eh-ver.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">To combat the neuropathy we uses ice packs around her wrists and ankles which constricts her veins and restricts blood flow to her hands and feet. We used two ice machines that recirculate cold water around her feet, ice packs on her hands, and ice wraps around her wrists. It was a good look.</span></div>
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I'm happy to report that since her chemo infusion on Thursday, Nin is doing GREAT! She is a little tired but didn't suffer the nausea, extreme exhaustion, blurry vision, or any of the other majorly crappy side effects. If she can keep this up for the next 11 weeks, we'll all be happy campers. It's been good to have her back with (a little) more energy. Penny was so happy to have her mommy feeling great that she offered her a free hair styling. "But mommy doesn't have any hair. I'll make it pretty though."</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Everywhere we go, people come up to Nicole and tell her how brave she is. Or we'll meet people in public who will recognize her from social media or the blog and introduce themselves and tell her how inspiring and brave she is. Nin is always flattered by this but at the same time she just thinks that she isn't doing anything special. From her point of view she just sees the day to day grind but what she doesn't see, that we all see, is that she is a beacon of inspiration, hope, and badassery. We all see it from the outside but the amazing thing is that she doesn't realize how amazing she is because she isn't doing anything that isn't normal for her. She's not putting on a show to be an inspiration, she just being Nin, which to me is even more inspirational. She's not doing it to prove a point, she's not doing it for a social media appearance, she's not doing it to impress other people, she's doing it because she's a champ. </span></div>
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Nin likes to end posts with inspirational quotes, so I'll leave one:</div>
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Be like Nin.</div>
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Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-69761576657657873692017-07-31T20:44:00.002-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.583-07:00Iceland Day 4 - Glacier Kayaking in JökulsárlónWelcome to <span style="color: #212121;">Jökulsárlón! We've got glaciers, we've got icebergs, we've got seals, we've got black sand, we've got crystal clear ice, we've got dreams come true, we've got it all!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #212121;">Every couple's paddles in this picture, except the Crabby's, are in sync (o</span><span style="color: #212121;">r N'Sync if you prefer).</span><span style="color: #212121;"> Get your heads in the game Crabby's. This is serious business. Don't you realize that handfuls of people will see this picture on this blog? Handfuls. We can't have amateur posing mistakes like that. We're better than that.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #212121;">Jökulsárlón</span><span style="color: #212121;"> was one of the coolest places we visited in Iceland. No pun intended... I can't decide if it's more appropriate to say in Iceland or on Iceland. Tomato, Tomatoe. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #212121;">Jökulsárlón is a deep lagoon that is the magical leftovers from a receding glacier. The lagoon connects the glacier, and the icebergs that break off of it, to the ocean. It's about 5 km from the glacier to the ocean and apparently 100 years ago the lagoon was completely covered by the glacier. I guess </span><span style="color: #212121;">Jökulsárlón is one benefit of global warming? You've gotta look for the bright side of everything... Sorry Al Gore.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #212121;">We got to wear dry suits and kayak around the icebergs that were floating in the lagoon. When we arrived to meet our guides they had pretty disappointed looks on their faces. It had been blowing super hard all morning and they said that the wind speed was higher than they typically allow for kayaking. Then they saw Nin's shaved head and thought, "Well this chick is clearly a badass so at least whoever is in her kayak will be fine." Amazingly the wind died down and it became, according our guides to Bobo and Brindisch, one of the very best days on the lagoon they had experienced. They said the group just a few hours earlier had to paddle as hard as they could against the wind to move just a couple of feet. For us, there was barely even a breeze. </span><span style="color: #212121;">#Blessed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #212121;">See Crabby's, paddle synchronization. You gotta GTS (get that shot).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEGwIp-6ldr1UBNwiidz_b7ZrbYlChlL0l25rTfwaM_BdNyx82sHoPfGz_NjQhyphenhyphenWp5LWOnAikOoht7I4u9srEainlKiSO9K3su95eSIgIk7qI3yos91zt6DVdaxQ85AWokRubPK-dbkDN/s1600/20170626_163347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEGwIp-6ldr1UBNwiidz_b7ZrbYlChlL0l25rTfwaM_BdNyx82sHoPfGz_NjQhyphenhyphenWp5LWOnAikOoht7I4u9srEainlKiSO9K3su95eSIgIk7qI3yos91zt6DVdaxQ85AWokRubPK-dbkDN/s640/20170626_163347.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #212121;">Jökulsárlón is a glacial lagoon that connects the </span><span style="color: #212121;">Vatnajökull glacier to the Atlantic Ocean through a short waterway. When we pulled up to the lagoon we were blown away by the size of the glacier. The glacier went from the lagoon all the way up the mountain and covered the ridges as far as you could see. It wasn't until later that we realized this part of the glacier was part of the 8,000 square kilometer V</span><span style="color: #212121;">atnajökull glacier. For those of you who don't hablo metric measurements, that is equivalent to an area larger than 3,100 square miles. Yeah, it's big. It covers 8% of the entire island.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4hO3gHZkWxJgh_XHyIwCZzlEmX12Nw2g3EfRwAStYfeBZURsfXj-Z4asgPeIagZFyrBSKaNqSvWTzoV90x6b8AJcyQNDFGJKnsz2uQ3908oymLNKW-jdkXPhEqC1gbjLlariz3AYhOW8/s1600/Glacier.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="770" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4hO3gHZkWxJgh_XHyIwCZzlEmX12Nw2g3EfRwAStYfeBZURsfXj-Z4asgPeIagZFyrBSKaNqSvWTzoV90x6b8AJcyQNDFGJKnsz2uQ3908oymLNKW-jdkXPhEqC1gbjLlariz3AYhOW8/s640/Glacier.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We paddled around the icebergs and marveled in their unique beauty. This was definitely not something you can readily experience in most places on Earth. We turns some mini icebergs over, made loud noises on our kayaks to attract a seal, and even took a quick plunge. Crabby led the way and just jumped in. Kollin and I followed and just "iceberged" for a minute. We figured that most people wanted to swim in the lagoon on their kayak tours but when we asked if others ever jump in they just said, "Uh, no. Only you are this crazy." It really wasn't bad at all with the dry suits on. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67YEzz01PY2MPfpnAp4-x5meTvB2VmU6_m07DvxV8u6tRiUA7xZBHICM-q8GjTq0Qj0tmn4mRaKoanaUyqKXYeGHpJQWVlbVdvy0_JMKJ5GbX46GXH2Oj61LS42HHFdV2Ftdh1AzdIfj-/s1600/20170626_165436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67YEzz01PY2MPfpnAp4-x5meTvB2VmU6_m07DvxV8u6tRiUA7xZBHICM-q8GjTq0Qj0tmn4mRaKoanaUyqKXYeGHpJQWVlbVdvy0_JMKJ5GbX46GXH2Oj61LS42HHFdV2Ftdh1AzdIfj-/s640/20170626_165436.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #212121;">After kayaking the girls got in the water with us too. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBukxM-uwchjzSwgYs7iaKAmL_7SOYHMQMZX-Flub3RCeaIe7f2Ud_PQ6YAroc_PnNKjdcUn86AByPRhTxVW9mB9NZeq4v4OItA0T4uuUvEFI6CQ7lbEcjLMeaJ8lnh_3dh5-7-cj21jX/s1600/20170626_171412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBukxM-uwchjzSwgYs7iaKAmL_7SOYHMQMZX-Flub3RCeaIe7f2Ud_PQ6YAroc_PnNKjdcUn86AByPRhTxVW9mB9NZeq4v4OItA0T4uuUvEFI6CQ7lbEcjLMeaJ8lnh_3dh5-7-cj21jX/s640/20170626_171412.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #212121;">Then us men partook in a public display of our strength to woo our females. I think I won. I think this is one of the main reasons Nin loves me.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #212121;">As the icebergs calve off of the glacier they float 5 km across the lagoon towards the Atlantic Ocean. I'm guessing that the icebergs go out to the ocean when the tide changes because there were a bunch of icebergs lined up at the outlet of the lagoon to the ocean. It was so amazing to sit next to the water and just watch them. It sounded like a giant bowl of Rice Krispies with all of the snap, crackle, Mitch, and pop. Pieces of the icebergs would break off and a couple smaller ones even flipped while we were there. Check out this pano!</span><br />
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On the other side of the short waterway connecting the lagoon the ocean is the Black Sand Beach. This is where the strongest icebergs end up. The ones that finished their dinners and drank all of their milk when their mommies told them to. The float down the waterway then get pounded against the beach by the ocean waves. The remaining ice is crystal clear which makes for an amazing sight. A long black sand beach that looks like it's littered with precious treasures. </div>
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Nin got a little greedy trying to get the perfect shot.<br />
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Nin and I sat on the beach and watched the waves beat against a couple shrinking icebergs. It was one of the most relaxing parts of our entire trip. If you ever go to Iceland, this should be at the very top of your must do list.</div>
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Here is Nin GTS'ing hard.</div>
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<span style="color: #212121;">After our adventures in </span><span style="color: #212121;">Jökulsárlón, we drove to Svartifoss which is a waterfall surrounded by dark lava columns. The hike was pretty mild and the prize at the end was worth it.</span></div>
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It wouldn't have been a normal day without Kollin having drone issues. As we left Svartifoss for our AirBNB we passed beautiful fields with rivers from glacial runoff. Kollin had to GTS and in true fashion he lost his drone. We were sitting in the car watching him and Crabby fly around. Then out of nowhere Kollin starts running to the away from the cars. Then he turns around and runs back to the other side of the cars. Steph radioed "I think Kollin lost his drone again" without an ounce of surprise. He lost connection with his drone, as he does, and it was going to auto-land. He didn't know where it was and because of the area we were in there was a 82% chance that it was going to auto-land in an ice cold, milky glacier river never to be found again. Fortunately he reconnected with the drone and flew it safely back home. You might think, oh man I can't believe Kollin had another crazy experience with his drone. Just you wait, there's more. </div>
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I should also point out that I've only highlighted his crazy drone stories. Once you see the footage that Kollin gets, I think you'll agree that the NDDE's (Near Drone Death Experiences) are well worth it.</div>
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Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-28358420022283159772017-07-20T07:56:00.001-07:002023-10-27T12:07:49.981-07:00Last Chemo Dose of Round 1!We've been a little incognito lately, apologies for the absence. We've been busy with chemo, kids, work, adventures, and more ice cream than usual. Not too much ice cream, just more than usual. You can never have too much ice cream. We don't officially have a family crest or motto but "You can never have too much ice cream" sounds like it could be the beginning of something beautiful.<br />
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Right now we're sitting at the Huntsman Cancer Institute where Nin is getting her fourth and final dose of her first round of chemotherapy! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMycgSCU6tpiGyUId4oFbN8aGLlLDj0m2Ng1tj77tARfUPkK1KEZ5X7KWeOJ8ZeXUfPt6OvVhByoJ1Sh6TyAH0f28pN-cM9zPrg0LdkPtKB9lIddtOW7n-qP67qqytEfcl-2SXb5qWWTa/s1600/IMG_20170719_172504_393.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMycgSCU6tpiGyUId4oFbN8aGLlLDj0m2Ng1tj77tARfUPkK1KEZ5X7KWeOJ8ZeXUfPt6OvVhByoJ1Sh6TyAH0f28pN-cM9zPrg0LdkPtKB9lIddtOW7n-qP67qqytEfcl-2SXb5qWWTa/s640/IMG_20170719_172504_393.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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After this she will still have her 12 weekly doses but apparently that treatment is much easier than this one. These four doses are supposedly much more difficult to tolerate than the next 12 doses. Nin tolerated the first two doses fairly well but the 3rd dose (two weeks ago) really took the wind out of her sails. We think the problem was the she forgot to hydrate, which is super important to flush the drugs out of your system. We hope that was the reason and that it wasn't because the drugs were compounding and becoming harder to tolerate. This last dose should answer that question for us. We made sure Nicole drank plenty of fluid the day before, the morning of, during, and after this dose.<br />
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Crossing our fingers that drinking a lot of water will help and she'll have an easier week that last time.<br />
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The main side effects she suffered last time were fatigue and nausea. There was a lot of this happening that first week:<br />
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We assume that both of these side effects were intensified by her not hydrating. After chemo she couldn't even look at water because it tasted terrible. Chemo can make things taste different for some people. For Nin it makes things taste like metal. Mostly drinks. Because she wasn't hydrated and couldn't drink anything, she became more dehydrated and wasn't able to get the chemo drugs out of her system as quickly as before. It was a vicious cycle. She needed to drink to flush the drugs out of her body but the drugs made her too sick to drink. A real nasty chicken-egg type situation. <br />
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Along with the fatigue and nausea Nin has been suffering from blurred vision around Day 3 or 4. Luckily it only sticks around for less than a day. She has a hard time focusing on things further away. So when she has conversations with people she looks like she's squinting while staring into the sun.<br />
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We love to have something to look forward to. We love to travel and try to do one International trip each year. We also try to do one big trip in the US each year, usually a long distance camping trip with our tent trailer. Having a trip to look forward to every few months makes for a happy Schweppe family. With all of the crappy-ness that is cancer, it's treatments, and it's unpredictability, having things to look forward to is so much more important than usual. Our recent trip to Iceland was a HUGE blessing in keeping us in good spirits through all of this.<br />
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This past weekend we took a quick trip up to Lava Hot Springs. It was a great getaway before this latest chemo infusion. I wish we had a bunch of awesome pictures to post but we hardly took any. We spent the entire day swimming, sliding, and jumping off stuff at the pool. A crazy rainstorm blew in around 4pm so they had to close the pool. We went back to camp and got in the tent trailer. Both kids immediately fell asleep and we sat back and relaxed as rain drops slammed the top of the tent and wind blew against the walls. It was just what the Doctor ordered. <br />
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Nin's next round of chemotherapy will start on August 3rd and run weekly for 12 weeks. She will be getting Taxol, Herceptin, and Perjeta. There are still a lot of side effects with these infusions but most people breeze right through them compared to the past four infusions Nin received. We're anxious to find out how she does with the next round. We are optimistic and hopeful that the side effects will be minor.<br />
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<br />Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-65826605576766025892017-07-19T17:37:00.003-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.582-07:00Iceland Day 3 - Husavik & FossesAfter we left the amazing AirBNB with the foxi and the geothermal hot tub, we hit the road for hours of driving in some of the most amazing, picturesque landscapes ever to landscape.<br />
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We had to stop shortly after we left so a family could herd their sheep across the road. A few minutes after that we passed what I can only assume was an opening scene of an upcoming Western movie. In the middle of a glacial valley ran a beautiful river surrounded by green luscious land. In that river there were people, who I'd assume to be the protagonists of this future film, riding their horses. I bet Steven Spielberg was filming from somewhere, it was that good. Kollin promptly stood out his sunroof to document the magic. In fact, Kollin stood out of his sunroof taking pictures in most places we went.<br />
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We dropped out of the mountains into a quaint little fishing village that was also labeled a "ski town". The ski lift was only a few hundred yards long but what it lacked in skiable terrain in more than made up for with their regulation size ski long jump ramp next to the recreation center in the middle of town.<br />
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I'm just kidding. The jump they had was about 1/100th the size. Instead of 250 meters, imagine 25 feet. Max. It's where Iceland's ski jump legends are born. In reality it is probably for kids and it made my heart warm.<br />
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We stopped to fill up our cars with gas like we did at every gas station. Good thing it was only $27 a gallon! It was actually only around $9 a gallon. See what I did there? After reading $27 a gallon you thought, "oh man, $9 a gallon is a steal." Reverse psychiatry.<br />
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After giving all our monies to the gas pump, we took a breather at this quaint little coffee shop. It was Sunday morning, the sun was out, and a hot chocolate was calling Nin's name.<br />
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Sometimes we go so hard on our trips that we forget to slow down and be locals for a minute. There is so much to see in this world so we try to maximize every trip we take. When we're older we'll go back to our favorite places to relax. It was nice to sit on this patio, drink some hot chocolate, eat some cake, and just relax in the sun for a bit.<br />
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After being quaint we went to check out some fosses. This one is Glosafoss.<br />
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A few minutes away from Glosafoss was a small fishing town called Husavik. We ate lunch on the harbor at this great restaurant. They had a lot of really cool looking sail boats. I know nothing about boats but I know they looked pirate-y.<br />
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We made a lot of great memories in Iceland and two of my favorites were made in Husavik and they both involved Kollin.<br />
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As we were eating at the restaurant above, Kollin kept itching at his armpit. He stood up and started to lift his shirt up like it was Spring Break 2004. He casually said, "I think there is a fly in my armpit." As our normal thought processes shot into action we all thought it was just a shirt tag, or a down feather, or some foreign fuzzy object stuck in his shirt. Nope. Sure enough as he lifts his shirt up, a fly flies out of his armpit. Like a cartoon.<br />
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After Kollin had rid himself of common house flies nesting in his clothing he and Crabby got their drones out. They brought their drones to Iceland and flew them whenever they had a chance. Kollin is notorious for things going wrong with his drone and it is always entertaining. While Kollin and Crabby flew their drones around the harbor, the town, and the purple flower covered hillside, Nin, Alex, and I walked around the town. We gave ourselves a self guided tour of this beautiful old church.<br />
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I suspect that we weren't supposed to be in there because a few people cane in after us, likely following our lead, including a guy who kept to himself in the corner on his phone. We were the last to leave and he followed us out, locked the doors, then ran away. He literally just ran off. No rush while he was in there but the second he got out, it was go time. <br />
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Bless his heart for letting us look around when we probably weren't supposed to be in there.<br />
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Anyways, back to the drone story. Kollin had flown his drone way up the mountainside. He'd gotten a little too greedy with his distance over the ridge and his drone lost service. This happens 92% of the time he flies his drone, it doesn't even phase him anymore. Steph casually says over the radio "Kollin lost his drone and we're going to look for it. It might take a while so you guys can go to the next waterfall (hours away) and we'll catch up later." Yeah right, like we're going to miss out on a Where's Waldo adventure.<br />
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When Kollin's drone loses connection it will either auto-land or return home (home to wherever he is standing, not home to Utah). In this case it was returning home. It used sensors to keep it a certain distance above the ground on it's return trip. What it didn't realize was that the mountainside leveled off before dropping back down again. So naturally, it crashed. Kollin had a GPS reading of it's location but the battery was dying quickly.<br />
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It should be mentioned that this isn't some entry level hobbyist drone. This drone takes up an entire full size suitcase and it costs what I could only imagine to be dozens of dollars. <br />
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So with a GPS location and a quickly fading battery we found a dirt road up the mountainside that we hoped would get us close to the wreckage. All of us got out of our cars and waded through the thick purple flowers called "vibrant purple nootka".<br />
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Fun educational fact about this Vibrant Purple Nootka aka Alaskan Lupine. It was introduced to Iceland in 1945 to add nitrogen to the soil and function as an anchor for organic matter. It's crazy that it isn't native because it is everywhere and it's so pretty.<br />
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Kollin was standing right where his GPS said the drone would be and he couldn't see it. Steph was literally just two feet away from him and found it. That's how thick the flowers were. The crazy part was that it only had 4% battery left. If it had died we never would have found it. Nobody would have found it for years, if ever. It would be added to Icelandic lore and the story would be told for generations. I bet National Geographic would have even done a show about it. A lot of missed opportunity there but I'm sure Kollin was glad to have his flying friend back.<br />
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After a successful drone treasure hunt, we headed to the most powerful waterfall in all of Europe, Detifoss. It was pretty late when we got there, around 11:30pm, which was nice because we were the only ones there. The hike it was short and looked like the surface of Mars. <br />
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The girls headed back to the car while the guys hiked a little way up river to another big waterfall called Selfoss. We didn't hike all the way but we did hike far enough to get this great shot. <br />
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The smaller, more yellow waterfall in the center is called Schweppenfoss.<br />
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Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-81929916089139328942017-07-09T21:30:00.002-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.584-07:00Iceland Day 2 - Westfjords -> NorthAs you can tell from the previous post, I got a little ambitious with my expectations of keeping the blog updated while we were in Iceland. I knew we would be doing a lot of driving but between the driving, the adventuring, lack of interwebs, and more adventuring, we didn't even think about having time to update the blog. Which is exactly how it should be when you are on an adventure.<br />
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Now we are home, rested, and ready to type all the words about Iceland. All the words.<br />
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We saw and experienced so much in Iceland that I'll probably break it up over a couple posts. This is more of a digital journal for us so we don't forget this amazing trip. For those of you following the blog for Nin's cancer journey, pardon this detour. It was a much needed cancer vacation. A vacation from hospitals, from chemo, from appointments, from it all. We traded all of that noise for waterfalls (fosses) and adventure.<br />
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Let's start at Day 2. We woke up in our AirBNB that was an hour and a half from the nearest town in its own valley. I wrote a little about this place in the first Iceland post. It takes the woman that lives there an hour to get to the next valley over where someone she knows lives. In the winter they have to travel by snowmobile and it only takes 20 minutes. I'm assuming his is how she made up the time...<br />
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After we left the AirBNB we made our way to a natural hot pot on the side of a fjord in the middle of nowhere. The land owners had created a little cement pool to contain the water. It was a beautiful place to sit in toasty water and enjoy the view. <br />
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Perhaps the best part was the mini tour bus of older Germans that showed up out of nowhere and tried to bust into the changing room where Nin was Winnie the Pooh-ing it (my made up term for when you are wearing only a shirt and no pants).<br />
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Once Nin was changed she left the room and all of the Germans squeezed in there. It was like a clown car but instead of clowns it was a bunch of naked Germans. Probably 12 people in that tiny room. Good for them.<br />
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Shortly after we left the hot pot we were driving down the side of another isolated fjord and over the walkie talkie we heard Steph scream "I saw a whale!" Swimming nonchalantly in the fjord next to us was a pod of Orcas. Killer Whales. Free Willys. While none of them jumped over us, it was still pretty amazing to see whales in the wild.<br />
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Here is one of the very crappy pictures we got of the whales. If you look really closely you can almost not tell what it is, at all. This is one of those "you had to be there" moments. Luckily we had binoculars.<br />
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As we hit the road again we passed a girl hitchhiking. What's crazy is we passed this same girl ealier that day hitchhiking hours away from where we were now. Seeing as how Nin doesn't have an immune system I declined to pull over. I thought it would be awkward to pull over and have a conversation like this:<br />
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<b>Me</b>: "Hi, do you speak English"<br />
<b>Hitchhiker</b>: Of course. I'm not a lazy American, I speak five languages.<br />
<b>Me</b>: "Do you have any diseases or illnesses?"<br />
<b>Hitchhiker</b>: WTF?<br />
<b>Me</b>: "Well you see, my wife has cancer and her immune...." [This is where I realize it would be too long to explain the whole situation and just drive away, feeling remorseful for even getting up this poor girls hopes that she'd get a ride.]<br />
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We got about a mile down the road when Kollin, in his true DTP (Down To Party) fashion flips a U and goes to pick her up. Because, I quote, "We're here for the adventure." So they picked up a girl whose name sounded like May-when. My French is nonexistent so apologies for the misspelling. She seemed pretty cool. She was 19 and was spending a few weeks backpacking and hitchhiking the Western side of Iceland. By herself. At 19. This is how safe Iceland is. For reals, apparently it is one of the safest places to live. Here is a really hi-def selfie that Steph took of her.<br />
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It only got weird when we wanted her to talk to us on the walkie talkie. We had three different cars, one for each couple and we constantly communicated and made stupid jokes as we traveled the island through our walkies. They handed Maywhen the walkie and said it seemed like she'd never even seen one before. She held it a few feet from her face and talked into it. It got really weird when I asked if she was dating anybody. She didn't get it and I think it made her feel awkward. The Brink's then explained that I was just joking, that I was married, and that I was too skinny to be attractive. Hopefully that helped.<br />
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After we dropped Maywhen off at the town she was staying in, we continued our journey. We still had a few hours to go. As we drove up this super green mountain pass we turned a corner and beheld the most magical of all sunsets. These are the unedited pictures I took from my phone. One day someone way more talented that I will edit one of them to show its true beauty. Until then, you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.<br />
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After we sat and drooled at this sunset for a good 30 minutes, we continued on to our AirBNB. This was the nicest place we stayed at and my favorite (Nin said she liked them all for different reasons, like the sweetheart she is). The whole village was heated by geothermal water that they ran through their houses like radiant heating. They also had a hot tub heated by the same water designed to refill and drain so it was nice fresh and hot water. It smelled slightly sulfur-y but it was pretty amazing. We got there and got in the hot tub around 2:30am. We watched the sun kind of set, then watched it kind of unset. It was surreal to be hot tubbing in the middle of the night with the sun out. <br />
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The next morning we woke up around 11:00 am and enjoyed the grounds. The owners have made the area into a mini petting zoo. It had been unseasonably cold for the past few weeks so most of the animals were still tucked away in their heated bungalows. As we were getting ready to leave the owner asked if we wanted to see their Arctic Foxes. Foxens? Foxi? I'm leaning towards Foxi even though I know it's not correct, it just feels like it should be in my heart.<br />
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Arctic Foxi are the only animal indigenous to Iceland. They apparently don't get very big. When I asked the owner's son where they got the foxi, he said "There is a guy that hunts them." I don't know what that meant but I'm going to pretend that it means they were operating an underground railroad type of situation for Arctic Foxes. A true Icelandic Harriet Tubman. They raise the foxi and apparently they become domesticated like cats.<br />
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That was Day 2. I thought I could squeeze a few days into each post but I'll refrain and just end here. Much more to come.Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-47453554900992593042017-06-26T18:00:00.001-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.581-07:00Iceland Day 1 - Reykjavik to WestfjordsThe first day in Iceland was a long but majestic day.<br />
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Our flight from Utah was a red eye flight and who doesn't love a red eye flight? Fortunately we got a full forty minutes of sleep. Plus we had enough time to build this rocking horse.<br />
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Our first day was a TON of driving.<br />
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It was mostly dirt roads that followed the water around fjords. The roads would go up and over the mountains then drop back down into the next fjord.<br />
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Luckily the views were amazing and we did a couple magical hikes along the way. The first was a huge waterfall called Glymur. The get to the best views of the waterfall you had to ford a river like on Oregon Trail game in the early 90's.<br />
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Nin was down to party and hopped right in.<br />
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Side note: I can't pronounce, understand, read, or even imagine what any Icelandic words sound like. It's crazy! This is what every word sounds like to me.<br />
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We drove way north on a dirt road that followed the coast up and down the Westfjords with a gas station hot dog lunch pit stop.<br />
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We took a detour to this beautiful waterfall. Waterfalls are call _______foss. They will henceforth be referred to as "fosses" because the names are ridiculous and don't make any sense in my mind.<br />
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Nin, Alex, and I nailed every photo by keeping our eyes open.<br />
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We arrived at our AirBNB which was an hour and a half from the nearest town in it's own valley on the coast. It looks like something straight out of a Windows 95 screensaver but way better quality. It's like real life IMAX. If you look closely you can see our AirBNB right on the coast.<br />
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We arrived around 11:30pm. A bunch of people were at this church so naturally we thought it was a cult and we were going to get murdered that night. Logical. Turns out it was a reunion of the people that went to the school there when they were little, many years ago. They came back that next night for music and dancing.<br />
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The sun was still shining bright when we arrived which messes with your brain. We came to Iceland this week because Wednesday was the longest day of the year. In Iceland they call it the midnight sun because the sun never actually sets. It turns to dusk/twilight them right back to day an hour later. Yay for sleep masks.<br />
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I originally planned to dedicate a post to each day but we've been partying too hard to keep up. It's already Day 4 and I'm just posting this so who knows what will happen!<br />
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Nin's doing great overall. She's been tired but hasn't missed out on any of the activities. She's a champ! We've already listened to a solid 16 hours of Harry Potter. Nin's slept through about 12 1/2 of those hours. Raging internationally is hard.<br />
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<br />Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-9436763102851019902017-06-22T17:06:00.000-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.578-07:00Girl, you trippin'! <div dir="ltr">
If you know us, you know that we are shakers and movers. Before the "Great Cancer Uprising of 2017" we already had our entire summer planned with vacations almost every single weekend. These trips included: Disneyland for Penny's first time, Moab, Vegas with Nin's high school girlfriends, Uintas, St George, Great Basin, Flaming Gorge, Bear Lake 3x, and the mothership of our summer adventures ICELAND. </div>
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Between all of my work flights and our personal flights, 14 in total, we were able to get 12 of them fully refunded or credited back to our accounts without issue. The two flights we couldn't get refunds for were, of course, the most expensive tickets we'd purchased to Iceland. With everything else going on, missing a trip of a lifetime AND having to eat a couple thousand dollars just stung something awful.<br />
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I spent almost six weeks trying to find a solution. I didn't have the heart to tell Nicole. She just assumed I'd cancelled the tickets and gotten a refund. It made me feel sick to my stomach that they wouldn't refund our money, let us transfer the tickets to someone else, or even let us give them away. Zero options. Even more frustrating was had we just paid the extra $27 per ticket for medical specific flight insurance, we could have gotten full refunds. Even then, you'd think the airline would have a heart and give us a reasonable option for a young, attractive cancer patient.</div>
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I thought all was lost and our hearts would be extra broken for those 8 days of adventure we were going to miss. Then something magical happened. The stars aligned. The ducks got in a row. The britches were no longer in a twist. </div>
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We were sitting in Bear Lake a couple weekends ago and Nin said, "I wish we hadn't cancelled those tickets, I feel like I'd be healthy enough to go to Iceland." When I told her that I'd been unable to get refunds, she cried tears of joy. A lot still needed to fall into place to make the trip happen but this was the first good news about a trip since the diagnosis. Every other news was "We're sorry, you can't go. Because, you know, cancer."</div>
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I immediately got on the phone and called our Dr to see if she thought it was a good idea. We had to wait until Monday before we heard back. It was an anxious couple days waiting for the call. The response was an astounding, "Yes, if she is feeling this well she absolutely should go." This was just 10 days before the trip.</div>
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Nin did so well with her first dose of chemo and the trip (originally) just happened to line up perfectly in between chemo doses 2 and 3. Unfortunately Nin's white blood cell count was too low for her to get her second dose of chemo. They had to move it back a few days. Had they not moved it, Iceland would have been about eight days after her infusion. Now it will only be about four. If everything goes like last time, she'll be pretty tired during the first two days in Iceland but fortunately those days are basically all driving. Like 7 hours each day driving. Good thing it'll probably look like this.</div>
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So we're going to Iceland. We didn't tell many people because we wanted to make it a surprise. You're probably asking yourself, "Who is it a surprise for?" Good question. We have no idea. We just never do anything like this because we're over sharers, which we're not ashamed of. I guess it's just a surprise for our friends we are going with that still thought we couldn't go. We also didn't want to tell many people because we felt like something would happen where we couldn't go and we didn't want to amp ourselves up too much until we were actually in Iceland being awesome.</div>
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On a somewhat related note, while in Bear Lake last week we were determining "house mottos" for each of us. We concluded that my house motto is "Sharing is Caring". The puppies explain it perfectly.</div>
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We're super excited to get out of dodge for a few days and enjoy God's beautiful and majestic creations in Iceland. Prepare yourself for an overload of Instagram and maybe blog posts if we have service and/or energy. Sorry not sorry. </div>
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Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-40714906031894325632017-06-22T09:07:00.000-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.580-07:00Bald is BeautifulSo...this happened last night:<br />
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Emotions were as true and raw as ever and I'll glad our friends were there to document it. While they probably won't be our favorite feelings to relive, soon they will become memories we look back on fondly.<br />
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Nin was going to buzz her head on Saturday while we were in the Uintas but decided to wait it out unto her hair starting coming out in bigger clumps. Needless to say, we got a little greedy and tried to hold off until Wednesday so Nin could have our friend, and photographer extraordinaire, Ciara Richardson document the experience. By the time Wednesday rollout around, Nin looked like she had one big dreadlock. So much hair had already fallen out but it was held in place by her other still rooted hairs. If we had waited even another day I'm sure it all would have fallen out as one full real-hair wig.<br />
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Surprising nobody, Nin looks beautiful with a buzzed head. She can pull off all the hair styles with ease. Even the hair styles without hair.<br />
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The hardest thing for Nin is the visual reminder that she has cancer. Up until this point she's had some side effects like exhaustion and nausea, but very people looking in from the outside would even know she was sick. Especially with how well she has handled the side effects. At least she looks stunning so when she gets that visual reminder it's a beautiful one!<br />
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We'd like to give a big shoutout to two of Nin's biggest supporters, my dad Mark (right) and step-dad Barry (left). In a true display of solidarity, they preemptively shaved their heads in support for her. What's even more impressive is that they did it over a decade before she did and they will keep it up for the rest of their lives. That it true commitment. Thank you both for your continued support! #Solidarity<br />
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<br />Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-21045734819143262262017-06-19T07:47:00.003-07:002023-10-27T12:05:25.269-07:00Down to PartySorry for the lack of updates. We've been too busy partying our hearts out to put words into paragraphs on the interwebs. But now we're back and ferocious as ever. I even started that last sentence with "but" even though I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to. We ain't care!<br />
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The last blog update was on Day 6 post-chemo. At that time Nin was doing great. She's still doing great but she used to be doing great too. If that sentence doesn't make sense to you, enjoy this clip from one of my favorite comedians Mitch Hedberg. We don't condone drug use but we do condone comedy use.<br />
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She only got better after Day 6. She almost had her normal amount of energy back. This is especially impressive because a couple days after the Dr's said, "Nicole's immune system is now compromised so do your best to keep her from getting sick." My, Penny's, and Jude's bodies wanted to do all they could to protect Nin so they all immediately got colds. Good work team. Luckily she didn't get it. #Blessed<br />
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We've been making the best of the situation and trying to get out as much as possible. We've been lucky enough to go on a few evening and weekend getaways. One day it was especially warm (94°) so we decided to go to the pool in the afternoon. Nin told Penny to go grab her swimsuit so she could get her dressed. Penny was gone in her room longer than usual but came back having dressed herself. She didn't get the memo that we weren't going to a Brazilian beach.<br />
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She said, "Mommy, my bum part hurts."<br />
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The next evening we went to dinner at Taggarts to celebrate Nin's parent's 38th anniversary. The restaurant had two Peacocks and Penny couldn't get enough of them or the views of the river.<br />
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We spent last weekend at the Brinkerhoff's condo in Bear Lake. We lounged on the beach, played games on the grass, rode bikes to Le Beau's for their famous raspberry shakes, and played board games. It was the best of times and it was the best of times.<br />
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On the way home we thought we'd take the scenic back road home which was all dirt. We forgot that the mountains up there still have snow in June. Kollin did what he's best known for and got stuck. I'd actually say he's best known for being DTP "Down To Party", which often leads him to the thing he's second best known for, getting stuck.<br />
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These two pictures of them getting pulled out are my favorite. Steph HATES getting stuck. It literally made her throw up when they were stuck in mud for over an hour in Southern Utah. Her face in the first picture clearly demonstrates her true feelings regarding their vehicle adventures. Her face in the last picture is the kind of emotion I imagine Land Rover would want to convey in their catalogs. Besides the part about them being pulled out of a snowdrift by a huge truck, obvi. Great range Steph.<br />
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We went in for Nin's second chemo dose on Wednesday. Each week before she receives her chemo infusions they draw her blood and run tests to make sure her body is strong enough to be given the chemo <strike>poisons</strike> drugs. Unfortunately this time her white blood cell count was too low for treatment. So they sent her home and rescheduled her chemo appointment for the following Monday (today). She had to go in every day until Sunday to get a Neupogen shot. Yay!<br />
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This is the same shot she got after chemo last time that helps boost her white blood cell count. She's been getting mild bone pain this time but hopefully it won't become a recurring issue.<br />
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Nin was pretty bummed about the treatment delay but we were able to take advantage of the extra time she'd be feeling okay. We went swimming at her grandparents pool, to dinner and a movie with friends, and a quick overnight trip to our friend's cabin in the Uintas. This is how you know Penny had a good time. Dirt, smiles, and sour patch kids FTW!<br />
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We swam at the pool with Penny's two cousins. Nicole, her sister, and cousins are all pretty close in age and were best friends growing up. Now they have little girls that are almost the exact same age difference. It's tender.<br />
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Overall, Nin's been doing very well. We don't expect chemo to always be this smooth sailing, but a girl can dream! We've been very blessed these first few weeks with minor side effects and the opportunity to get out and live a little. <br />
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Lots of people have asked about her hair. Her hair hasn't started coming out in clumps yet but she's definitely started "shedding her winter coat". <br />
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Nin planned on buzzing it this Saturday at the cabin but decided to wait until it starts coming out in clumps, which may or may not happen. Some people's hair thins but doesn't completely fall out. We figure if anybody can pull that off it's Nin with her thick lions mane hair. We'll probably know by the next post if her hair made it or not.<br />
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[Insert dramatic cliffhanger audio]<br />
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TO BE CONTINUED...<br />
<br />Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-39266596808407525822017-06-06T09:29:00.000-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.580-07:00Weak-End<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm going to start with a spoiler alert. Nin is doing GREAT! Day 6 is in the books and she has done so well. We fully expected her to be bed ridden for the better part of the first week after each dose. She's pretty exhausted and weak but is staying ahead of the nausea with her anti-nausea medication. She luckily hasn't experienced bone pain from the Neulasta (It's like speed for bone marrow. Or maybe crack?). </div>
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We feel beyond blessed for her strength thus far. Everybody seems to say chemo effects them differently. Some say the first dose is the worst because your body isn't ready or prepared to be injected with poison. Others say the last dose is the worst because the side effects from previous doses compound each week. Either way we are grateful for this week.</div>
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We were able to party pretty hard this weekend as demonstrated by Nin here on my Mom's floor. </div>
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Really though, we got out and partied. On Saturday we went to Huntsman for Nin to get a shot in the morning, then to our friend's parent's house for a mid-day pool party/BBQ, then to the valley for my cousin's wedding. Penny and I raged in the pool while Nin napped like a boss. </div>
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Nin actually got to spend some quality time in the sun with her legs in the pool, looking like a Baywatch lifeguard. She even ran in slow motion.</div>
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After the pool/nap party we drove to Liberty for my cousin Ben (+ Jen's) wedding. I only got a couple pictures from the wedding. Nin looked like she just flew in from NYC fashion week. So hip.<br />
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Overall, a great week. Hopefully the first of many. We can't know exactly why she is doing so well but I know that her positive attitude is a huge factor. Nin's been dealt a pretty crappy deck of cards. Nobody would blame her for having a 24/7 pity party. Being miserable would probably be much easier than being as positive as she has been. Tyler Smith, the 15-year old from the Chemo Day 1 post, said it best:<br />
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"I could complain but it wouldn't change my situation. I can be happy and be sick, or just be sick. I choose to be happy."</div>
Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-33376367821835716072017-06-04T21:38:00.002-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.579-07:00PSA: Sick People Beware<div class="MsoNormal">
Just a friendly but <b>extremely important</b> Public Service Announcement: </div>
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From the chemo drugs, Nin’s immune
system is now compromised. For those of you who don't habla espanol, el cancer is spanish for....the cancer. <br />
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And the chemo drugs that Nin is snorting to fight the cancer will essentially kill her white blood cells. White blood cells fight infection. Remember that episode of Magic School Bus? Yeah, they're super important.<br />
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So if Nin gets any kind of infection it will be bad news bears. We love to
have visitors but please be extra cognizant of your and your family’s health
before visiting. If you or anyone in your
family is sick, please wait until you (or they) are better before visiting
Nicole. At the very least, if you are
around her and might be sick, ask her to put on a medical mask and/or wear one yourself. We’ll have them on hand at our house. Just pretend like you live in Shanghai circa 2003 and
this is the middle of the SARS outbreak. If you want to go the extra mile you can rent a hazmat suit.<br />
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Chemo will be hard
enough for her, we don’t want to add her getting a cold, bird flu, bubonic plague, or something else
that her body will have an extremely hard time fighting off. Thank you all for your help in keeping Nin as comfortable as possible. <br />
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In other news, she is doing GREAT so far. Day 4 is winding down and she has done so well. A bit exhausted and slightly nauseous but nothing like we were expecting. Hopefully this can be par for the course and she can weather the side effects like a champ. I'll post more about how she's doing soon. Just know she's doing much better than we ever expected.<br />
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Cordially,<br />
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The Management <o:p></o:p><br />
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Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2914851887696976800.post-954126331217005542017-06-02T10:55:00.003-07:002023-04-13T19:33:55.577-07:00Chemo Day 1 - Puzzles & Poisons<div dir="ltr">
This was written late on Thursday night June 1st. I waited to post it so Nin could read it first:<br />
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Today went much better than expected. Nin, her mom Julie, and I had a pretty enjoyable day at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. It started with some focused puzzling while we waited for our pre-chemo Dr appointments. </div>
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We can't decide if the puzzles in the waiting area are a good or bad thing. We have so much fun and get so into it that when the nurse walks out and says "Nicole?!" I just want to yell "Nope! You'll have to reschedule her!" Then we would finish the puzzle, the cancer would disappear, and the heavens would open to a chorus of angels praising our puzzle building abilities.</div>
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Unfortunately in our modern world, puzzles don't cure cancer. YET. Until that day comes we'll continue to rely on radioactive poisons injected directly into the bloodstream to kill cancer. Hopefully the puzzle cure happens soon.<br />
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We had all of these grand plans for her first chemo dose. We were going to play a new card game, watch a show, color in her adult coloring book and my children's coloring book, take a nap, and write thank you notes.</div>
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Instead, we mostly just talked, read our books, and Instagrammed/Insta'd/Grammed/Be'd Anti-Social", whatever the cool kids are calling it these days. I think we were all so buzzed with anticipation of the unknown that we all reverted to the easiest distractions. We had a great time though.</div>
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Nin, no surprise here, handled the day like a champ. The full chemo side effects haven't hit her yet but she's managed the fatigue and nausea with grace. She would tell you that nausea is in her top two worst things ever category but you wouldn't have known it today.</div>
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We were able to go for a short walk and eat some grapes. She wasn't feeling the mushy grapes so she delicately requested that I only give her the grapes that were as firm as her temporary fake breasts, which are pretty rock solid at this point. I ate the less breasty grapes like a good husband should. </div>
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After our walk and a hot bath, one of our best friends and neighbor, Stephanie Brinkerhoff came by to hang out.<br />
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We talked of everything from how the day went, to reminiscing about our favorite parts of previous travels, to deep conversations of others losing loved ones. There is one thing that I wanted to share from the conversation. It is the story behind the butterflies on the giving tree that our friends gave Nin a few weeks ago.<br />
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I will include scanned copies of the Anything For a Friend, F2TF (Fight to the Finish), and the story of the butterfly at the bottom if you'd like to read it all. The excerpt below is about the butterflies:<br />
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<i>"A few days before Tyler Smith's death (a 15-year old with terminal liver cancer), his mother and older brother, Ann and Tanner were sitting with him and as one can only image, Tyler's mind and thoughts were directed towards things that most 15-year olds never have to think about, he was contemplating his own death.</i><br />
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<i>In keeping with his character even in this most difficult and unbelievable hour, he found a way to find the positive. Though there had to be a great deal of fear of the unknown, he stated that there was a part of him that was excited to die because he "would soon know for sure if it was all true!" (Referring to the things that he had been taught about life and death).</i><br />
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<i>Ann sesnsing where her youngest son's heart must be and in her own anguish, commented back, "When you find out, let me know too".</i><br />
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<i>"How?" Tyler questioned with a playful tone. Ann thought for a moment and suggested that he could possibly send butterflies.</i><br />
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<i>Tyler quipped, "A butterly, I'm not coming back as a dumb buttefly!"</i><br />
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<i>They all giggled at Tyler's humor and her and Tanner lightheartedly talked about other options like a racoon or badger; a far more appropriate representative for this 15-year old powerhouse!</i><br />
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<i>Ann recalls that the conversation ended without a conclusion and the three broken hearts moved on with their day, not knowing that they would have to face the ultimate nightmare of losing Tyler just days later.</i><br />
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<i>The morning that Tyler died and after the mortuary had come to care for Tyler's mortal remains, the Smith's met out on the deck to find some peace before the onslaught surrounding Tyler's death hit. They gathered around the patio table and talked and reminisced about the experiences that they had been through and spoke tenderly of Tyler. </i><br />
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<i>In the days leading up to Tyler's death the weather had been turbulent, with torrential rains and dark, threatening skies, but as a fitting tribue the sky was cloudless on this Sunday morning and perfect hues of pink, orange, and blue began to fill the western skyline waiting for the familiarity of the rising sun. The emerging reverence for the passing of a truly incredible Son of God.</i><br />
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<i>Symbolically, the first ray of the gentle sun peaked over the mountain range and illuminated the darkened canyon of the Rocky Mountains, just as a beautiful eagle flew through the beam of light.</i><br />
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<i>Time had not stopped, the sun was still rising and the world was moving on despite the crushed hearts of the Smith family. Where would they turn for peace?</i><br />
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<i>As they visited, a big, beautfiul monarch butterly flew midst the family, creating a basis of a healing balm for their broken hearts. Since that time, there have been some truly amazing stories about the butterflies and has come to serve as an additional symbol of hope and love that reaches beyond the grave. We may never look at a butterfly in the same way...any maybe we shouldn't."</i><br />
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Nicole read Tyler's story late on the night that she received the giving tree. The next morning she woke up to a card from her Great Aunt. In this card her aunt described how Nin's Great Grandma Beckman loved butterflies. Inside the card was a beautifully knitted blue butterfly of her Grandma Beckman's that she wanted Nicole to have. When she read the card and saw the butterfly she cried tears of joy. Some things are too perfect to be coincidental. <br />
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We had a conversation the other day about how great our lives are and how happy and blessed we are. Of course these past two months have been completely devastating but at the same time they have been such a huge blessing. We see the Lord's hand in our lives daily and understand that we are becoming better people through these trials. We know the next few months are going to be difficult but recognizing how blessed we truly are puts it all into perspective. We are so grateful for all we have, including our trials, including the cancer. We are so grateful for all of you and everything you do. You all know who you are. Pretend we actually took the time to write thank you notes during chemo today. Make sure you pretend that it was the sweetest thank you note you've ever received. You're welcome.</div>
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We just want you all to know that we love you and appreciate your support more than you know. We love our Heavenly Father and the knowledge and testimonies we have that families can be together forever. We can't imagine going through this without that knowledge. Currently at this time (12:10am), I especially appreciate bedtime.</div>
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Sleep tight.<br />
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Deekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02718427332336882599noreply@blogger.com2