C. Diff

C. Diff - short for Clostridium Difficile.  You don't want it.  I know because I got it.  

1 week after having my port placed, I started coming down with flu like symptoms:  diarrhea, throw up, no appetite, fever, chills, cramping, etc, etc.  I thought, "Dang.  Hope this is over in 24 hours."  When it wasn't I thought, "Darn. This better  be over in 48 hours."  And when it still persisted I thought, "Rip my innards out NOW and leave me for dead!"
I had to wait the weekend to go to instacare on Monday.  They gave me two bags of fluid in an IV and told me to go home.  If it persisted, I was to come back for a stool sample kit bc it was probably C. Diff.  I went home and researched then the next day just requested the stool sample kit.  I was pretty sure I had it.  2 days later and the results were positive.  This bacterial infection in my colon was most likely caused from unsanitary places in the hospital when my port was placed.  Needless to say, chemo has been postponed.  It'll take 2 weeks for my body to recover via antibiotic from this illness.

I'm worn out, tired and weak.  

I'm sick of being sick.

Saratoga Splash Days

We didn't get to participate much in the week long city festival due to the port placement, but the parade goes right down our neighborhood's street so we walked the block Saturday morning and let Gavin and Laynie see the sights and catch the candy.

Port Placement

On Wednesday, June 6th, a port was placed inside me for future chemo treatments.  I wasn't psychologically prepared for this surgery bc I had no idea what to expect.  It was pretty emotional and more invasive than I thought it would be.

The port goes under my skin and a tube hooks up to one of the main jugular veins in my neck.

There are three nodules that the nurses feel so they know where to put the needle in for chemo.

Before surgery.  I may have cried.

But Matt always knows how to cheer me up.  

I got wheeled down to the OR and I was completely awake while they taped the surgical draping all around my surgical site.  I was still awake when they covered my entire body in plastic.  Good thing I didn't start hyperventilating!  I was even awake when they were dressing the surgical site with alcohol and antiseptic rubs.  Then I fell asleep.  I came to shortly thereafter and had to ask if it was over bc it had only seemed like I'd closed my eyes for a second or two.

Recovery wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.  They send you right home... just as the anesthesia is wearing off and nausea is at it's worst.  I felt nauseous the whole ride home and as soon as I got in the door of my bedroom I demanded a garbage can so I could relieve myself!  The port site was very, very sore and I couldn't move my arm or sleep on my side for two days.  But each day got better and two weeks later, I only feel the tube when I move my neck in a certain way, and it's only painful if Gavin or Laynie bump into it.

Having the port placed made the next phase of this journey seem very real.  It's an outward sign that my body is broken, and I'm still a little emotional just thinking about it and what the next few months will bring.

Horsey, Horsey On Our Way...

Horsey, horsey on our way.

We've been together for many a day.

So let your tail so swish and your wheels go round.

Giddy-up!  We're homeward bound!

I like to take my horse and buggy,

As we go traveling through the town.

I like to hear Old Dobbin clip clop.

I like to see the world go round!

(Verses sung in a round.)

School Days, Dear Old Golden Rule Days...

 After 30 years, Mother decided to throw in the towel and call it quits.  Rightly so, 30 years of teaching will wear a person out!  

She was the first ever "computer lady" at GVES for the first 2 years back in 1987-1989.  I remember going with her to a Mac place in Utah County to be able to see what kind of computers the school would be getting.  I also remember the computer room had 30+ monitors that all ran off one GIANT computer that was housed in a large closet of the room.  I also remember helping unwind some kind of cable in the hallway of the school to get the computer room ready and accidentally letting go and having it whip back at the district computer specialist's arm.  Oops.  

Then in the summer of 1989, Mother spent 6 weeks of the summer away from her family to obtain her elementary degree at SUU.  She had a bachelors in secondary ed, and needed the elementary endorsement.  She student taught in Mrs. Waltzer's 5th grade class. My brother, Brian, was also in that class.  Mrs. Waltzer retired that year and in the Fall of 1990, Mother taught 5th grade in her place.  

I was in my mom's first homeroom class.  Not to worry - the new kid didn't know I was the teacher's daughter until December of that year.  Many, many memories fill my mind of helping Mom put up bulletin boards, grade papers, passing the time after school on the computer's Oregon Trail, cutting around things that were laminated, and sneaking a candy or two from the candy jar.  

A new elementary school was built in Gunnison close to 8 years ago.  Mother finished out her tenure there - still in the fifth grade.  

She was a wonderful teacher that made sure students were learning at all times, but still had the sense of humor and silliness to make it fun.  She wrote a play called, "Sing a Song of USA" that was performed all 28 years by fifth graders.  I can still sing all of the songs by heart. One of which was called "School Days."

School days, school days

Dear old golden rule days

Readin' and writin' and 'rithmetic

Taught to the tune of a hick'ry stick.

You were my queen in calico.

I was your barefoot bashful beau.

And you wrote on my slate, "I love you so."

When we were a couple of kids.

I somehow convinced the brothers and dad to be in on a surprise retirement party.  The sisters in law were very cooperative.  Both Carl and Dad practically spilled the beans due to not paying attention to the fine details of the surprise.  Luckily, Mother doesn't notice the details of things and when I finally got her to Carl's house at the designated time, she heard commotion in the garage, and walked right in to a big "Surprise!"

I made a few refreshments for the evening.

We got a group picture

Then we told memories of being in mother's class - which made her laugh hysterically.

 It was a good time.

 Lawn games kept the kids entertained.

I hope Mother knows how influential she was in so many ways to so many children.

Gavvy's Graduation

On May 29th, Gavin's kindergarten class had a little graduation that consisted of about 5 songs and a few verses of rhyme.  I will certainly miss his little kindergarten face; the way he'd run from the car down the sidewalk and into the kindergarten playground each time I dropped him off; how he'd try to be funny when I picked him up i.e. pretending to walk right past our parked car still looking for it; and being a classroom helper and room mom.  I always have a hard time with these kind of changes.  He's growing up, and it's making me a bit melancholy. 

Mrs. Stump and Gavin

Grandma/pa were able to come.

Marshall and Gavin (One of Gavin's best friends).

Our family

Ben and Gavin (Ben is our backyard neighbor and was in Gavin's class.)

May 30th was the last day of school for Gavin.  Now he's on to first grade!

Kindergarten Class Picture:

Top: Jessica, Brody, Eli, Hayden, Jack, Bronco, Brenna

Top Middle: Dax, Marshall, Peyton, Bailey, Levi, Chandler, Aija

Bottom Middle: Claire L., Lynlee, Josh, Sofia, Gavin, Claire W., Ben

Bottom: Jaden, Dustin, Mack, Kai, Tyler

Camp Floyd and Memorial Day

Camp Floyd is about 15-20 minutes away from where we live, nestled in the small town of Fairfield.  It has an amazing history behind it.  Back in the late 1850s, President Buchanan sent an army out west to make sure Brigham Young and the Mormons weren't planning any revolts against the US.  When Brigham Young caught wind of their coming, he didn't trust the US government (for good reason), and sent the Mormon Legion ahead to impede their progress.  The Mormons were sneaky and burned down Fort Bridger and a bunch of US government wagons filled with supplies.  The army was forced to stay put in Wyoming for the Winter.  A government liaison worked with Brigham Young to insure him that the army would do no harm.  Brigham still didn't trust the US government, but once it was pointed out that he could be tried and sent to prison for treason, Brigham agreed to let the army in, on his terms that they stay far away from SLC.  When the army marched through SLC, it was completely vacated.  All the Mormons had left to areas such as Provo because trust was still an issue.  The army kept marching until they came to what is now, Fairfield, Utah and set up camp - Camp Floyd to be precise.  It soon became a thriving city - third largest in the state at one point due to all the profit people in the area could make off the army - making their adobe bricks, food, etc.

The army generals realized there was no threat of revolts, but were told to stay and survey the land and build a few roads.  Once the Civil War began, President Lincoln called the army home - about half of the the army taking sides with the Union and the other half with the Confederates.  The Mormons greatly profited from the US Army being here because when they left, they sold all their supplies for pennies to the community members.

Matt's mom and dad invited us to go with them to Camp Floyd.

We got to ride in a stage coach;

Learn about late 1850s ladies attire;

dress up like Union army officers,

(Gavvy really loved this part)

and stand in a brigade;

play with toys from that era;

learn how to make biscuits, cook them, and eat them too;

and get our family picture taken next to a cannon. 

A tintype photograph that was taken while Gavin was in the line.  He is unrecognizable (lol), but it was really cool they had a photographer there that does such photography.

Pelican Bay

We traveled to Pelican Bay again to take pictures of just the kids.  These are some of my favorites:

Trying to keep things as normal as possible for the kids

Not feeling 100% for my kids has been so hard for me emotionally.  I want to be there for them, but can't.  Heavenly Father has told me He will take care of them and that they are His children too.  But parenting from a bed is hard, and I've been doing that a lot lately.  Luckily, we've had some great help with the kids:  other moms in the ward have graciously taken my kids in (often times at a moment's notice), Matt's parents, my parents, Ashley (our 12 year old niece), even my good friend, Brittney, gave up 3 days of work to be with my kids so I was able to recover.  We are awed by their service and sacrifice and can't thank them enough!

Gavin reading a bedtime story to Laynie.

Gavvy lost his 5th tooth.

Laynie in one of her pretty dance outfits.

Daddy putting Laynie to sleep.

My awesome Fanny Ice Pack that Brittney gave to me really helped with the swelling.