1st Grade!!!

Back to Meadow Elementary we go! School started on Tuesday the 20th, and Maddie got the best teacher in the world, Mrs. Terry! She is also my visiting teacher and just about the sweetest lady on the planet.

After the open house the night before, Maddie was super excited about going back to school. She has her own desk, a lady bug lunchbox, and fun new school clothes. Could life get any better?

Maddie thinks it's pretty great that her classroom has it's own door outside! They line up here to meet Mrs. Terry in the morning. It really pulled at my heart strings to see her being so brave, going to line up with the class even though she didn't know many people and was a little nervous.

Picking her up the first day was the best. She ran at me full throttle and gave me the biggest bear hug ever, and wouldn't let go. She was half excited and proud, and half relieved to see me after a long day. Her grin said it all--it was FUN! Her favorite part was eating lunch with her best friend like the big kids.
 

Little Ella Bella has missed her sister, but we've been pretty distracted by cousins coming to visit. In any case, it's always fun to see Maddie again at the end of the day!

Maddie is also in the 1st grade soccer league for girls this fall. Last year it was co-ed, but this year they divided them up.

 She has gotten some good kicks and likes playing with her friends.

When did this girl grow up? I blinked and she was big.

Before School

We had a few last things to cross off our bucket list before school started. 

We made it to the Tracy Aviary with some friends from our ward. It was so beautiful and entertaining... definitely worth the dollar with our Pass of all Passes.

Maddie's favorite part was the baby owl.

Ella's favorite part were the pink flamingos.

The next item on the list was camping. Since we have a new baby, that is not happening away from home, so we talked Daddy into putting up the tent in the back yard!

They were so excited!

I just have to note how refreshing and rewarding it is to have the yard finished. I mean, it's never really finished, but to be able to use it is amazing!

Well.... let's just say it's a good thing they were close to home because they were in and out of the house all night long.  Maddie went potty around 1 a.m., Ella woke Ty up and he ended up in his crib at about 2 a.m., where he cried for 20 minutes. The girls were in their beds briefly at 5:30 a.m., until Mike caved to their disappointment and tried the tent one more time. Finally, they slept until after 8 a.m. when I woke them up for pancakes.

Do they look plastered? You should have seen Daddy. :) We all took afternoon naps that day.

After naps, we attacked another item on the bucket list and took the kids to Trafalga for the climbing wall. Ella didn't have the right shoes, so she backed out, but Maddie made it to the top many times!
 

I am in denial that summer is over... waah.

Hodge Podge

I am behind on posting the daily happenings of life, which is what I most love to remember... the silly things that the kids think up to entertain themselves, and the little moments I grab on camera so I can savor them later.

Ella is working on reading 50 books during the summer! She loves Bob books from her preschool teacher. She only has 10 more to go!

The same teacher/neighbor also lends Maddie books. She read the whole Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew series, and is now getting into American Girls.

Jake continues to be my sweet spot in the craziness of life. Even when everyone else is being naughty or wild or ornery, he is so sweet and yummy! I love having a baby in the house.
  

He is starting to sit up... it is just the cutest!

He is such a fun buddy to have while I'm folding laundry.

Shifting gears a little... I have some fun photos from the past few weeks of having family around.

When my parents were here for the surgery, we roped them into playing Twister with us for FHE.
 

Last weekend we babysat my cute little nephews while their parents went to youth conference. For two days straight these kid just wanted to wear capes and be superheros!

Everyone had a cape and a buddy.

Tyler and Bodie are starting to be friends. Up until now, Tyler has pretty much scared Bodie away with his personal space issues (scratching) but now they are mellowing a little and having fun together.
 

One of our favorite ways to entertain gaggles of children is to play Fox and the Pie. It's always a hit.

We have some cute neighbor kids who my girls usually play with every afternoon. Nothing says summer like sprinklers.

Changing subjects again, I love when my kids use their imaginations to entertain themselves. This doesn't always happen when we are keeping tight schedules, so long summer days are precious around here. My favorite day of the week though is Sunday... it's different than any other day. Because we have late church, don't have anywhere to go (so refreshing!) and don't watch cartoons (I love having a break from tv), the kids just get creative and play with each other!
 

A few weeks ago they were Jake and the Neverland Pirates, with treasure, ships, and blue yarn waves.

Yesterday they decided to be husband and wife and get married. Maddie asked for a mohawk hairdo so she could look like a boy.

You may kiss the bride!

Then they went through my closet and dressed up like "teenagers."

Sunday evenings are relaxing too.  Mike had a meeting but the rest of us just chilled outside. 

Cute kiddos! Mmmm, these pictures just capture their yumminess.

 

I can't believe summer is over in 7 days. I am going to miss this weirdo when she is gone all day long at 1st grade.

These girls are sure silly!

Polishing Me

Our family has been facing a big challenge of late, and I have hesitated to write about it here because I am already writing in my personal journal and in many emails to family and friends. But since this is a family history of sorts, it seems fitting to document our experiences with a few photos.

In fact, Maddie's sweet little diary tells the story most poignantly.

Oh the tears that brought, to see it in writing, through the eyes of my sweet 6 year old daughter. I have worried that this is a heavy burden on her little shoulders. On all of them, really... Tyler often talks about Mommy's owie and asks if I cried at the doctor, and when Ella learned they had to cut my neck, she innocently asked, "Are they going to cut your head off, Mommy?" Oh no, I'm glad I get to keep my head.

Backing up a little bit, maybe I'll compile the story from other places to fill in some details.

"Last fall during a routine medical exam my ob-gyn discovered a nodule on my thyroid gland and asked me to get an ultrasound done on it. For the results of that screening I was sent to an endocrinologist and was told that I have two thyroid nodules. He suggested a fine needle biopsy to rule out thyroid cancer, and this was performed June 21st (I waited until after I had baby Jake to pursue it). On July 8th I met with him again and was told that one of the nodules is malignant. I was blindsided, as 95% of nodules are benign, and I did not expect to be the 5%.

The type of thyroid cancer I am diagnosed with is Papillary Thyroid Cancer (PTC) and it is very treatable. It requires the entire thyroid gland to be removed, and according to medical reports 98% of patients had no cancer after 20 years if it had not spread when it was discovered. We won't know if mine has spread until after surgery, but if it has I will be treated with radioactive iodine to destroy any remaining thyroid cells. The heartbreaking part of this treatment for me (if required) will be that I have to stop breastfeeding Jacob. My surgery is scheduled for August 1st in Timpanogos Hospital. Further treatment will be assessed after the pathology report.

I know that this is in the Lord's hands. I am not afraid and know that I will live many more long years. I'm only 31 and I have a full life ahead of me!!"

Mike wrote this to his family:

"In early August, Lauren will have her thyroid completely removed along with some adjacent lymph nodes.  There are risks to this type of surgery.  She will then take radioactive iodine that will kill any remaining thyroid tissue.  Breast feeding Jake will be cut short.  For the remainder of her life she will take a daily thyroid hormone that will need to be fine-tuned to prevent hypo or yperthyroidism.  Please keep Lauren in your prayers.  She is the best thing under heaven that this household has. 

Thanks, 

Mike"

My Dad wrote this to my siblings:

"Hi everyone. I thought I would reach out to us all to share a few thoughts about Lauren on this day that we'll probably always remember. I'm sure it was a very hard thing to do for Lauren to have to call us all to present such news to her entire family and repeat the same thing basically to each of us and answer a ton of questions among the tears. Funny thing about life...when a loved one receives a health scare we 'circle the wagons' so to speak, and rally together quickly and become as one against the threat. Isn't it wonderful? The bond within a close-knit family such as ours is so, so strong and with that bond comes such strength and power and determination and the will to do whatever is required or needed to move the family forward and keep it united, healthy and strong. And, of course, the real power behind a family like ours is LOVE. And there is certainly no shortage of that in ours."

He also organized a family fast and invited Mike's family to join in as well. Mike and my Dad have each given me priesthood blessings filled with comfort and guidance.

I have never had such an outpouring of love from family, friends, neighbors, and ward members. I am overwhelmed by the demonstrations of support and kindness, and the promises of prayers. Even the Young Women I work with in my calling set aside a day to fast for me all together. Many people have put my name in the temple, which means so much to me. The cards, flowers, gifts, and food have been pouring in, and they are all so appreciated.

Despite the scare of the diagnosis, this experience has really been full of blessings in disguise. My Bishop said it well, that we are diamonds, but just need a little more polishing. Mike and I have often discussed how this is strengthening us, bringing us closer to each other and our loved ones, and most importantly, to the Lord. I have felt His hand in my life more than ever before. Another excerpt from an email to family...

"Now onto other things...I have had many powerful experiences reminding me that the Lord loves me and is aware of me. Music and the Spoken Word yesterday was written just for me.

Sunday school was about the trials of the early saints, and how all things worked together for their good. A story was told about a young girl who got away from a neighborhood party and was found in the blackberry hedge, all cut up and bleeding. The father was angry at first that his daughter got hurt, until he realized that beyond the hedge was a pool, and she could have been in danger of drowning if not for the hedge. Even when we are hurting or struggling, the Lord knows what the plan for us is and is preparing the way for the future. Mike pointed out a scripture D&C 101:16, "Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine ^ahands; be still and ^bknow that I am God."

I also really loved a scripture from the lesson I taught in Young Women, Mosiah 5:15, "Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in ^agood works, that Christ, the ^bLord God Omnipotent, may ^cseal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who ^dcreated all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all." I know that he knows all things, loves me, and will help me through this.

Interestingly, we talked to a neighbor on Saturday who told us that his dad and 9 out of 10 siblings had thyroid cancer!!!! Talk about crazy odds. They are all doing well. I also talked to a friend of mine who has been through WAY worse and scarier things than I have been, and I am amazed by her optimism, resilience, and ability to still love life and live it to the fullest. She is one of the most energetic, positive people I have ever met, despite it all! She says her motto is, "I can do hard things." If she can do it, I can too!

Thanks for everyone's support. I sure love you all! If nothing else this is helping us cherish family relationships."

Well August 1st did arrive, and I awoke (at 4:45 a.m.) knowing everything would be alright. I wore my 'sunshine' shirt from a thoughtful friend who sent a box of yellow sunshine for my soul. 

The surgery outfit was pretty awesome. I think I look like a school lunch lady. :)

This was Maddie's take on the event, sweet girl. Here is mine:

"I have gotten so many calls and texts and I can't keep on top of them, so I thought I would send a quick email! Hopefully that's ok... thanks for showing me so much love! It might also benefit my voice, since I am still pretty hoarse.

I checked in to the hospital at 5:45 a.m. on Thursday, and by 7:45 I was given sleep medicine, right as I was staring to have anxiety. Mike says it took under two hours and they were able to take out the whole thyroid, although they didn't find any affected lymph nodes.

The first thing I remember was waking up in a different room, in a different hospital gown, with different people! Thank goodness Mike was there, or I would have been pretty freaked out. I slept most of two days and came home yesterday afternoon. Also, Jake took a bottle like a champ! Some of you may know how stressed I have been about this, so it was a miracle! Dana is the baby whisperer and she figured out how to do it, while my mom chased the rest of the kids. It was definitely a tender mercy to not be worried about my absence at home.

All went very well, and we will know more about the future at my follow-up appt next week. Thanks for all the prayers, it means so much!"

I came home to a fun sign that said "Welcome Home Mommy" from Auntie Dana and the kids. Maddie had hung yellow balloons all over the house with duct tape, and the kids had all drawn me sweet pictures. 

Grandma and Grandpa remain as cheerleaders and helpers for a few more days... what would I do without them?