Down to Party

Sorry 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!

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.

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

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.

She said, "Mommy, my bum part hurts."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 poisons 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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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".

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.

[Insert dramatic cliffhanger audio]

TO BE CONTINUED...