Latest insights and Fundraiser info.

It has been a while since I blogged, sorry about that. I cannot tell a lie. Part of the reason I haven't blogged in a while is I had a hard time sharing how things were going, after Clyde passed away. It was harder on my than I thought it would be. But, the attitude he had, helps me have a stronger desire to fight this and beat it. He was a good man and a great friend, I will miss him dearly. He was one person who knew exactly what I was going through. My prayers and thoughts go to his wonderful wife, kids and grandkids. I heard a new book being advertised on the radio the other day titled "Created for greater things." The premise of this book, (I think) is how we have been created for a greater purpose and achievements than we have any idea of. I think I will read this book. Anyway, it got me thinking that focusing on what I can do and what I would like to be able to do, is where my energy should be. Since I started doing this, I have emotionally turned a corner, I have been a lot happier, more confident in my future, and dare I say, even a little more optimistic of the long term future for my family. So once again I say, Bring it on! I am ready and willing!! I will progress, I will grow, and I will achieve my dreams and help all those around me as best I can to achieve their dreams as well. On another note: With help, I have been working on a fundraiser. We have some dates, Friday May 13th, dinner and auction, Saturday May 14th, a 5k fun run/walk. So we are looking for volunteers, to help with the fundraiser and volunteers to get donations for the silent auction, and for the walk/run. If you are interested in what you can do, please send me an email at adlayne62@gmail.com. Thanks for all that you do for us. We hope you can feel our love and appreciation. May your day be happy, and smiley. Merry Christmas and have a lovely day. Love Andy.

spring is springing

I am in a mood for spring/summer! I think we all are. This week we have had ups and downs, just like the roller coasters at Disney World. If you have read the past blog, you know about our downs, but let me tell you of our ups. Shae and Caity celebrated their birthday's and we had a blast doing so. Thursday, after guitar we all went to our favorite sandwich shop that we only visit once in a blue moon because it is soooo fattening, but sooo good. Logan's Heros is the best sandwich place ever!!!!! Celebrating birthday's is great. Although seeing your babies grow up is hard. I still see them as the cute little chubby bundles of silliness. Shae was a round ball of chunk that everyone wanted to pinch or cuddle. Caity was her sister's complete opposite. Caity was long and skinny. She had these long monkey fingers that stretched outward. They will probably scream if they knew I wrote this about them. They are not little kids anymore, they are teenagers. Morgan felt a little left out with the birthday singing and cards with money. He will have his turn in a few months. I really hate that time moves so quickly, however, this is one more year to appreciate life and all its wonders. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Clyde's Obituary

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/news/state-and-regional/obituaries/article_574c1600-b64e-5a95-a9ab-dc4b98e33fe5.html

Our hearts are heavy

We found out last night that a friend has passed away over the weekend. Andy met Clyde while going through treatments in Vegas. They were both on the same cycle and would sit by each other and talk about everything while the drug was administered. I meet Clyde, his lovely wife, and daughter when I went with Andy in November. They were warm and kind. Andy had a connection with Clyde because of the cancer and the treatments they were both experiencing. We knew that Clyde's time on this earth was limited. Melanoma had ravaged his body. Everything from his brain to his colon. When we tell people that Andy has melanoma, most people respond with, "isn't that just skin cancer?". I wish more understood that melanoma attacks the skin then burrows its ugly head into the inner workings of the body. Yes, it is skin cancer but it consumes so much more. The first defense is protection from the sun because it is a trigger for the cancer. Then once it starts with the skin cells it transfers quickly to typically the brain or liver, however, it can and does attach to anything internal. Pancreas, colon, thyroid, esophagus, brain, liver, bones, stomach, lungs. Clyde's melanoma was never caught soon enough to know the primary position of the cancer. It had pitted everywhere and the specialist could not say where it had originated. That is one reason why melanoma is so deadly. It is a terriorist-ic cluster bomb that sneaks up on you. Andy's first diagnosis was 6 years ago. The primary location was on his right ear. Our surgical oncologist (Dr. Noyes) was stunned that the cancer had not spread past the ear. With the amount of time and size it should have consumed most of his upper head and possibly body. With a miracle it had not. Now years later, we are facing the fact that you can not run from melanoma. You truly battle it. Each individual with any form of cancer is battling a war. Each battle is different and each is inspiring. Clyde was a typical Midwesterner. He was strong, brave, and caring. Andy will remember his cancer buddy always. Our hearts go out to the family, especially his wife, kids, and sweet little grand babies he left behind. I hope you will all remember them in your prayers tonight. They will always be in ours.

blog,blog,blog.....

I have been meaning to blog since Thursday after the appointment down to Huntsman. Andy and I went to Huntsman to meet with Dr. Kokeny (radiation oncologist). Andy had an x-ray then we waiting to meet with the doc. We all looked at the x-ray and she read the radiology report (by the way, the report was still being processed as we were looking at the x-ray). The tumors are still there and the report stated that there was not a significant change in size. Dr. Kokeny was optimistic. I really think she wants to be the one to say "hey, the tumors are shrinking and you are in remission!". She didn't get that chance. The tumors are still there. She did say that Andy should start feeling better as the month continues. Unfortunately, Andy has not been feeling very well. He has not been sick like he has in the past, but he is not up to doing to much. We have been busy like all of you. I hope this blog finds all of you well. Remember we love you and thank you for your love and support.

This is the killing machine. Isn't it great, lots more counterspace and storage. It looks better in person.

What's up?

Sorry we haven't written something on the blog as of late, but life seems to continually speed forward even when sometimes we would like it to stop and wait for us to be ready. Andy has been doing okay for what he has been through. He hasn't had the energy or strength that he or I was hoping for, but he is alive and trying to keep going. He has been to work and his goal was to be at work 8 hours for 5 days straight. Well, it's a good goal, however, we are constantly reminded that cancer and the treatments that Andy has completed are really the deciding vote on many issues. A week or two ago Andy wasn't feeling well (mostly coughing and in some pain), so while he was driving to work he called one of our huntsman helpers. Tony told Andy to come all the way down to meet with one of their docs. So, instead of going to work he drove to Huntsman. After x-rays and tests they concluded that Andy needed a special little pearl-like pill that would help alleviate his cough and hopefully stave off a serious side effect of the radiation to his lungs call pleurisy. That is where the lining of the lung pulls away from the lungs. This is a bad thing and could make recover difficult. So Andy and I have continued as always and are just happy that things have not progressed as quickly as statistics say they should. During these last weeks we have tried to work and be normal (ahh... what dreams we have.). Fast forward to this weekend and more importantly today(Wednesday). Andy built a kitchen island over the weekend that seemed to be more physically difficult than we both were thinking. He completed it with all of our help and we thought that we were so clever. Well, this morning Andy woke fairly early (6:20a.m.) and went to work, except as he drove closer to Brigham he felt a stabbing pain that was not improving. So he call me to ask my opinion. I told him to call Hunstman. He turned around and went to Dr. Schow's in Garland instead. He said he didn't think he could make it SLC. Garland was closer and knew Dr. Schow would work him in. After many test (8 vials of blood and EKG and chest x-ray), Dr. Schow told him he probably had acute pleurisy and needed to go home take some pain pills and relax in bed. So, that is where Andy is today drugged and sleeping in bed. I have to tell you something a little funny. Yesterday I texted my mom to come over and see the wonderful island that Andy constructed (he really built it from scratch). In my text to her I mention that it nearly killed Andy to finish this project. I refer to the fact that Andy starts projects but rarely finishes them(I usually have to complete the project, whether I know how or not). Well, I guess we did push the boundaries of his physical limits with recovering from the radiation on this one. You just don't know how much energy and exertion it take to do simple tasks that use to take half the thought until you lose so much. It could have been so much worse than what has transpired and we are thankful that the Lord is looking out for us and our stupidity. I know what you are thinking. "Andy has cancer don't make him do things to hurt or aggravate his condition!" Well, this is what I and Andy think of that. While we still have breath to breathe, so we are going to do just that. Breathe!! I hope that you are all doing well and we want to continue to thank you for all your support. Your prayers are heard and felt. We love you all.