Hello Everyone, Last weekend Erika, Kaitlyn and I spent the weekend with Cole and Taleena. On Saturday there was a surprise bithday party for my sister Shelley. It was a great party and she was surprised!! Cole and Taleena were able to be there and enjoyed seeing a lot of the family. We spent a relaxing Saturday and Suday with Cole and Taleena and headed back home on Monday. I just talked to Cole on facetime. Tomorrow he starts his week long session of chemo. He isn't too excited but at least it's another week closer to the end of the treatments. In a week or tow they will do another scan to check his progress. Thanks for all the prayers! Friday and Saturday is Jr. High State Wrestling. Our family will be there in Richfield to support Daniel and the CV team!!

I have been having technical difficulties so I couldn't post pictures the way I usually do. If you have questions about any of the pictures just ask!! These pictures were taken during the Christmas break.

I missed a week, sorry.
A lot has been going on.  It has been nice having the Christmas Break!!  I was looking forward to having my whole family home on Christmas but it didn't turn out quite like I wanted.  The good part was that Addy did make it home after leaving work at 10:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve and making home at 3:40 am Christmas Day!!  Duke stayed up all night and called her every 20 minutes!!  Such a dedicated and worried parent.  I fell asleep for a few hours but when she got home we stayed up for 2 hours visiting.  Crazy I know!!  But we had lots to catch up on.  :)
We were all up at 8 to start the exciting day.  Kjerstin, Kurtis and Sophie were able to come and spend the afternoon with us and enjoy Christmas Dinner and some fun family games.  My parents came down for dinner and visiting as well.  It was good to have them here.  Daniel, Kaitlyn and Erika enjoyed all the company!
The hard part was Cole and Taleena couldn't make it. With Cole having radiation and chemo it really took a toll on him and he has had a difficult time recovering.  In my last post I mentioned he had been trying to recover for two weeks.  Well, it has taken another two weeks and 3 or 4 more transfusions to see any progress.  The radiation hasn't allowed his body to recover like he usually does after a chemo session.  And so he had been down in bed for 4 weeks.  He has tried really hard not to get down but he kept hoping each week he would get better and then he wouldn't.  I was talking to Cole and Taleena the end of last week and Taleena had a Dr. appointment and the baby is measuring a little small.  But everything looks good.  They will do another ultra sound in another week to make sure the baby is growing.  But on Saturday, December 30th, they spent the night in the hospital because little Aspen was trying to come early, too early.  The Dr.'s monitored Taleena and the baby and got things under control and they were able to go home the next morning.  Taleena has been put on modified bed rest.  While I was talking to Cole, and they are both down in bed, Cole told me that Taleena has taken good care of him and now it's his turn to take care of her.  They are so good to each other it amazes me.  They always say they are doing OK but with Cole having painful side effects and Taleena having premature labor I decided to get a ride up to Salt Lake with Adelyn on her way back up to Logan on Wednesday.  We had all planned to go see them for Cole's birthday  (Jan. 4th) so everyone else came up on Friday.  Kjerstin, Kurtis, Sophie and Erika were able to come up Thursday evening.

It was so good to be able to spend a few days with them.  We had time to visit. Facetime is pretty good but nothing like really being there.  I don't think I probably helped much just a few dishes and I got to try out their new vacuum.  The best part was just being there.  I miss having them in Cedar.

Tomorrow Cole will have Chemo but it is his last week of radiation!!  After this week I pray things start looking up.

I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow.  It's getting late and I still need to down load the pictures from my phone.  Big day tomorrow, kids are back in school and so am I.

Almost two weeks ago the Cedar High Wrestling Team had a cancer awareness night.  At their wrestling match against Hurricane they honored three wrestlers fighting cancer.  One from Cedar, Hurricane and Canyon View.  They called and asked if Daren and I could be there to accept the gift they had for Cole.  I was honored to do so but it was an emotional evening.  The Cedar boy was there but the Hurricane boy and Cole were both in Salt Lake undergoing their therapy.  The Hurricane team accepted his ( I wish I knew names but I don't) and then they called for Cole's parents to come up.  Daren wasn't able to be there and I couldn't talk Erika into walking out on the mat with me, I don't blame her I don't like getting up in front of a big crowd.  But as I walked out there I was overwhelmed with gratitude for those boys and their coaches for thinking of Cole and for their support during this hard struggle in our lives.  It really meant a lot to us and to Cole.  They gave him an awesome blanket that had this message embroidered on it, "Keep Up the Fight and Get Well Soon from the Cedar Wrestling Team".  Thanks so very much Cedar Team, coaches and wives!!

This event gave us the boost we needed to help us though these past two weeks.  Cole has been really sick.  Having both chemo and radiation has really worn his body down.  He has had 3 transfusions in 7 days to try to build up his blood.  When they checked it Friday is was finally stabilizing.  Now hopefully it can start to build back up.  He has had some other side effects that have been very painful.  He will see a gastrointestinal doctor on January 3rd to see what's going on.  Please continue to keep him and Taleena in your prayers.  Thanks again everyone for your love and support.

Friday Daren and I did the LAST of our shopping!!  I think we are ready to enjoy the real reason for the season... to celebrate the birth and life of our Savior Jesus Christ.  How grateful I am for the plan of salvation and eternal families.  For the hope and peace the gospel brings into our lives.  Also to  spend time with family and friends and eat lots of goodies and delicious food and watch Christmas movies!!

Merry Christmas everyone!

I have an extra week to catch up on....
Let's see, we took Daniel to an allergy specialist and found out he is allergic to just about everything except food.  I thought for sure he had some food allergies but no he is allergic to , animals, grass, sagebrush, dust, mold, leaves, I think that is about it.  He will be getting shots twice a week for quite a while to get his allergies under control.  Oh and he has asthma.  It isn't severe and I'm thinking it will be even milder when his allergies are not so out of control.
This past week was pretty tough on Cole.  He is having some painful side effects.  He has been down in bed most of the week.  His platelets were very low and causing him to have bad headaches and dizziness whenever he would try to get up.  This has happened before and a transfusion helped.  So on Friday he went in for a transfusion.  We talked on Friday evening and his spirits seemed to be good.  He isn't one to complain.  I just know when he's not feeling well because he sounds so tired.
Saturday Daniel had a wrestling tournament in Salina.  He did very well.  He won 4 matches and lost 1 and had 2 buys.
After the wrestles we headed to the Mecham Family Christmas Party and a great time was had by all!!  The only bad part is we got there late because of the wrestling tournament and left before it was over because of the long drive home.  But while we were there it was great to see and visit with everyone.  We are blessed to have such a wonderful family!  After dinner my Aunt Camille shared a very thoughtful gift to my Mom, Cole and my Aunt Joyce who are all fighting the "cancer monster".  (My aunt Joyce was diagnosed about a week or two before my Mom found out hers was back.)  The basic message of the poem was that our family is always there to support and help.  They care and will be there through the good, bad and the ugly.
Thanks again for all the prayers and concern.  Someone said today that it doesn't seem like much that all they can do to help is pray.  But prayer is very powerful and is the best thing you all can do to help.
Have a great week.  :)
I almost forgot to mention on December 11th it was a super day!  It was our 25th wedding anniversay!!  Time sure does fly.  Cheers to MANY more wonderful years together!!

Before I forget to say THANK YOU to all that donated items for the Craft Fair Fundraiser for Cole.... THANKS soooo much.  I am always amazed at such generosity and kindness in Cole's behalf and ours.  Friends and family are such a blessing and we are truly blessed.  I can't say thanks enough.  My Mom, sister Janeen and Aunt Janet came to Cedar City to help me man the Lovell booth that day and I really appreciated their help and support. 

Yesterday Daniel had a wrestling tournament and he did very well.  He hasn't wrestled for a few years and is now back into it and working hard. 

The tournament was in Spanish Fork so Cole and Taleena were able to meet us there.  It was great spending the day with them. 

What a crazy crew!!

Cole's first week of radiation went well.  The doctors say it will take about 4-5 weeks before he starts feeling the major side effects from radiation.  Tomorrow he will start another week of chemo as well, if his blood counts are good.  Cole looked really good.  I know the next 6 weeks will really take a tole on him so thanks for all the prayers and positive thoughts on his behalf!   Taleena is doing well also. She looks so cute.  She is finally looking pregnant. :D 

We were able to go to Kyle and Kayla's wedding. (Kyle is my nephew.) It was a wonderful day!  They sure make a cute couple.  I wish them the BEST!