Update

It's been quite awhile since I've updated this blog.  Life just keeps buzzing by so fast.  This is just a quick update.  Trey has been doing so great.   A few months ago though, he came down with a fever and I took him into Primary Children's.  They took us back into the ER right away.  They started him on fluids and an antibiotic.  I thought we might get to go home that night, but his blood pressure started to elevate.  He started to get really shaky and cold.  I got concerned and had the nurses look at him again.  It came on so suddenly.  I actually started to get scared.  After talking with the oncology department, the ER dr. said we were going to get admitted.  So after being in the ER for about 5 hours we headed upstairs to the 4th floor.  Trey was in the hospital for 2 days.  Not too bad.  He started feeling a lot better by the next day and his temp went down so they let us go home.  They ran some tests to make sure the infection didn't affect his port.  If an infection gets into his port it can be really really bad.  The Dr. took him off all his chemo meds for a few weeks.  Then as his counts went up they started him back on a low dose.  Now after a few months, they have continued to increase his medication.  He isn't on as much as he was before he went into the hospital.  I hope he doesn't have to take that much again.  It was a lot of chemo. Each time he goes in for his Dr. visits, Dr. Barnette says how great Trey is doing.  He's amazed that Trey doesn't experience more side affects since he has been on such high dosage amounts.  He says it's great that he doesn't have the side affects. His body is able to tolerate the medication.  I will be excited when he is done....March 2013! 

School has started and he is in 6th grade.  Top Dog in his school.  :) He's doing great and learning lots.  He is working hard in Boy Scouts and working towards earning his Eagle in the future.  He also loves football and will be going to a BYU game Oct. 13th.  BYU vs Oregon State.  He's really excited. GO BYU!!!  He has been trying to convince me to let him play tackle football next year.  I've been hesitant, but then he started  running  a couple miles a day and wants to eat healthier so he can be fit to play football.  Maybe I'll have to let him try....

I'll post some photos soon.  Next spinal tap is this month.  I think he will only have one more after that.  Yeah!  We are almost done.  I can't believe it is almost over.  We continue to feel blessed and appreciate the love of our family and friends.

Family Photos Nov 2011

Some updated family photos. My brother-in-law took them for us and did a great job. Thanks Rob!

Overdue Update

It's been a while since an update...but here it is. I've attached some pictures. They are out of order, but oh well.


Trey at his Cub Scouts Pine Wood Derby in Nov. They had a lot of fun. Look at their anticipation!

Christmas Day. We had a nice and quiet Christmas. Tiana's first Christmas. We had a fun day.

Christmas Eve we went to Temple Square in Salt Lake City to see the lights. It was sooooo COLD! We had to leave early because some of us were freezing. This picture turned out blurry for some reason. Next year we will try it again...

Halloween Fun! The kids all dressed up except for Skyler. Trey is hidden behind the mask. They all had fun going door to door for treats.

(First day of school. He wasn't happy with me for taking his picture...but I'm his mom, so of course I have to catch every milestone on camera. Who can blame me? ;) )

Trey started the 5th grade back in Aug. He's doing great. He's right where he should be in all his subjects. Earlier this year his class was learning the states, where they are and how to spell them, plus all the capitals. Trey was bound and determined to get them all correct...and he did! I was so proud of his hard work.

Trey received his Weblos award in Cub Scouts. He has worked hard to achieve this. He will also receive his Arrow of Light next month. We are very proud of him for his dedication.

His chemo treatments have been going well. He continues to brave the hospital visits once a month. We are on the count down now. Only 13 more months left to go! AND only 4 more LPs to go. Lately he's had a few restless nights. Don't know if its medication related or just growing pains. Trey's knees and legs have been giving him a rough time. The doctor said to just watch the pain in his knees. They attribute it to the steroids he is on.

This last visit in Feb. turned out to be harder on him then expected. He had an LP and the doctor seemed to have a harder time with it initially. Then when she was administering the chemo at the end, the syringe popped out and some chemo splattered everywhere. That was a bit unnerving. They were quick to go through the procedure of cleaning it up. Luckily they cleaned it up off of Trey before it became a chemical burn on his back. One funny thing though was when Trey was under and just coming out of the anesthesia, he informed me that we have Ninja blood in our family. I said, "Oh really, how do you know that?" He said, "Because I'm ninja of course!" We had a good laugh!

Afterwards, Trey and I met up with Dad to go out to lunch. Usually this is a fun tradition we have with Trey, but his eyes were hurting so much, that he couldn't enjoy it. We took him home and for the last 6 days he's been laying down with his back hurting and his eyes hurting. I called and the nurses say that it is not uncommon for the "eyes" to hurt. They think it is a severe migraine. Trey has been sensitive to light and whenever he stands up he gets dizzy and needs to lay back down. At one time he told me he wanted an eye transplant. I feel so bad for him. Today he seems to be doing a bit better. We hope he'll be back to school on Tuesday. The nurses said this could last up to 7 days. We are at the tail end of it.

He continues to play football with his buddies at recess and outside in our front yard. He loves, loves, loves football and has been trying to convince me to let him play tackle football. I'm not convinced yet. Maybe, just maybe next year after his port is taken out. I guess I just worry too much. :)

Well that is my update. Overall Trey has been doing great. We continue to feel the Savior's love. I know He watches over my family. I want to thank those that continue to place Trey's name on the Temple Prayer Rolls. I have a testimony of prayer and I know He listens and hears our prayers.

BYU Thursday's Hero Reunion

Coach Mendanhall and Trey

Dave, Trey and Juice

We received an email inviting us the BYU Thursday's Hero Reunion. I did not realize that they did this every year. All the football players were there and music was playing and they served dinner outside in the practice field. It was so nice and a couple of football players came and ate dinner with us. Trey loved that. I only remember their first names Dave and Juice. It was a fun event and we are glad we were invited to attend.

Trey has been doing well. The kids seem to be coming down with a cold and with Trey's medication increase, I've been a bit on edge wondering how he'll do. Tommorrow Home Health is coming to take Trey's CBC so on Tuesday we should know if his counts have dropped. If they haven't I won't be surprised if his chemo is increased again.

School is just around the corner and the kids can't wait to start. Skyler will be in 9th grade, Katrina in 7th (middle school here she comes!) Trey in 5th and Alanna in 2nd grade. Can't believe how fast the summer has flown by. We are excited for them and the new adventures that await them in school.

Family Time

We went on a family picnic the other day and we saw this cool tree. Katrina at once was climbing and then we had an idea to get all the kids up in the tree and take a picture. Trey had a hard time at first, but then once he was up, he climbed pretty high. The kids had a fun time and we enjoyed playing in the tree and playing Frisbee. I am so grateful that we live in a country that offers us freedom and choices. That I can be with my family and worship as I want. We are blessed with so much living in America. This is truly a blessed country. Happy 4th of July everyone!

I know it's been awhile since I've blogged, but with a new baby it's been a little busy. In June Trey had his spinal tap. He always gets nervous about it, but it works out okay. He didn't' get sick this time which I am grateful for. The picture above is of him not looking too happy. The child life specialist was super. She saw that Trey was pretty upset so she offered to play some games with Trey while we waited for the chemo. Trey had a fun time playing Connect Four. They also played another game while he waited to have the spinal tap procedure done. Trey was laughing and later after we were driving home he said that the child life specialist really helped him keep his mind off of what was happening. She made him feel better. I am so thankful to Rachelle and her kindness.

Trey once again showed his humorous side by singing songs and saying funny things when he came out of his subconscious sedation from the spinal tap. He sang the whole introduction song from Dinosaur Train and also some parts of You Give Love A Bad Name by Bon Jovi. He had the doctor and nurses laughing hard. Next time I think I'll record him. Got to have something to show his girlfriends in the future, right?!

He goes in on Tuesday July 5th for just the chemo treatment and to have his blood counts checked. So far everything is looking good for him. He did have one of his chemo pill dosage increase. We'll see if it has effected his CBC counts. Once again, we give thanks to all who have been keeping Trey in your prayers. We appreciate your continued support.

Visit From Grandpa & Grandma

Our family at Tiana's baby blessing. We decided to bless her at home. We had many family members there to share with us this special occassion. We are so glad that my parents were able to make the trip from Washington for this purpose. It was wonderful to see them and have them share some of the experiences we had while being apart of the Make A Wish family.

This is Trey's scrapbook page at the Make A Wish foundation. Anyone who knows Trey can sign this page at the Foundation. It's pretty neat. Trey will always be able to go back there and read what was written to him.

When we had the star raising, Skyler was sick and wasn't able to make it. So he came with us so he could sign the scrapbook too.

Picture with Grandpa and Grandma. This is in front of the wishing fountain in the gardens at the Make A Wish foundation. When you go to the wishing fountain, you can make a wish and toss in your golden wish token. The gardens are so pretty and peaceful.

My parents came out for our daughter Tiana's baby blessing. They stayed for several days and so we took advantage of that and took them to the Make A Wish foundation for a tour. Trey showed them the Wishing Room and they signed his scrapbook page. It was fun to share this with them since they could not be with us at Trey's Star Raising.

Update on Trey. He's doing great. He is back to school. For a while his teacher was coming to our house to tutor Trey. He's caught up with his lessons and so his teacher no longer needs to come over to tutor him. We want to thank Mrs. Billings for being so great and taking the extra time to come over and help Trey out! Thank you.

His medication was cut back for a few weeks, but now the doctor is slowly increasing it. So we are back to every two weeks having his blood counts checked by home health. So far his counts look good and he has been feeling great. I'm sure that as his medications increase, his counts will start to go back down. I just hope that they don't drop so much that we end up in the hospital again. We can only hope.

Thanks again to everyones wonderful and thoughtful prayers. Prayers are powerful and we have felt the love of our Heavenly Father through them.