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!



Thanksgiving was great!  The dinner was yummy.  It was nice to be able to visit with most of the Lovell Family.  We missed Kjerstin, Megan, Teresa and their cute families.  And Falcon, Blake and his wife. Addy got to visit for a while but had to leave before the dinner to get back to Logan to work.  :(  I hope the cherry pie was yummy.

Yummy Pie!

Cole, Taleena & Erika

Playing Games after Thanksgiving Dinner

As I sit here trying to figure out what to write so much is going through my mind.  Cole starts radiation tomorrow.  He and Taleena are doing well and they continue to have the best attitude and outlook on life through  this whole "experience".  They are amazing.

I have struggled with some news that I, for several weeks, didn't want to really think about and I didn't want to tell Cole and Taleena knowing that they are going through so much I didn't want to add to their stress.  But during their visit for Thanksgiving I decided I needed to tell them that Grandma Mary (my Mom) had a mastectomy last week.  Her cancer came back but the very good news was they caught it very early and she will not need radiation or chemo.  She will be fine, another very tender mercy that it was discovered and taken care of.  Now she is recovering and doing well.  Sore and tender but doing well.  We went to see her and my dad yesterday and she looked very good.  She is a beautiful woman and I'm grateful for her.  

I'm so blessed to have such great friends and family with so much support on both sides, the Hatch's and the Lovell's.

If any of you have not head the song "Blessings" by Laura Story you should google it.  It is a great song that puts our trials into perspective. I know trials truly test us and I believe in miracles and faith.
Cole got another week to recover.  His blood counts weren't where they needed to be for him to have chemo.  Next week he should have his short week of chemo then the following week he will start radiation.  The following 6 weeks will be tough.  Thanks for all your prayers and support. 
A great friend of ours took Cole fishing yesterday.  He taught Cole how to fly fish.  Cole had a wonderful day!  Thanks Phil!
Addy is going to be able to come down for a few days but has to be back work Thursday evening.  It will be great to see her.  She is doing well in Logan, but she misses scenic Enoch ;)

Cole had an MRI on Monday.  We were very happy to find out that his tumor that was the size of a cantalope is now the size of a golfball!!  We were very happy to hear such great progress is being made.  He will now start radiation starting on Nov. the 26th.  For 5 weeks the radiation will be targeted to the large area where the tumor is and was.  The 6th week they will then focus the radiation only on the tumor.  He will continue chemo every other week, Monday through Friday.
It will be a hard 6 weeks but he is tough and we pray all will go well.
The Dr. said his bone where the cancer formed will always be weak and he will have to be careful... Cole being careful might be possible?!  I think he will somewhat because the Dr. said if it every gets broken or fractured there won't be anything they can do for it and it will be very painful.  I tried to get him to promise me that he would be careful but he just smiled.  He wants us to bring the motorcycles to the Thanksgiving gathering.  If you have seen the movie "Little Giants"?  It's a movie about a  little league football team and one of the Mom's sends her son to practice all bundled up in foam pads to protect him.  I told Cole I would make him one of those protective outfits!

We talked to Cole and Taleena earlier today.  They are doing pretty good.  It was a long week but he was able to have chemo.  He did have to have a transfusion on Wednesday and that helped. 
Tomorrow is a big day, time for the MRI to let us know what progress has been made.   Thanks to everyone for the prayers and those that were able to fast with us.  I know our prayers are heard and our fast recognized. 
Tuesday they meet with the surgeon to see if he will have surgery or radiation.  I'll keep you all posted!