Davey Doo

Dave noticed a lump in his neck the middle of January (which I thought he was making up, because I couldn't feel it.) He asked my OB doc about it at one of my visits, and the Dr told him that he thought maybe it was his thyroid and ordered an ultrasound. The ultrasound came back showing that he had a 4 cm x 1 cm x 1 cm growth on the right lobe of his thyroid. So, the dr ordered a thyroid uptake and scan. This is where he takes a radioactive iodine pill and then they use a special camera to see how much iodine the growth uptakes. Anyway, the scan came back showing that the growth was cold, which means that it is a growth on the thyroid, not part of the thyroid. So, then we had a fine needle aspiration which is a biopsy where the radiologist pokes little needles into the tumor and gets tissue to test. The results came back saying that they couldn't say it was cancer, but they couldn't rule it out. So, we met with the surgeon last week and he recommended that with the growth the size it is (quite large) and that it is undetermined as to whether it is benign or malignant for cancer, he needs to have it removed. The surgeon said that he thinks the risk of cancer is 50%. Dave is scheduled for a thyroid lobectomy on Tues, April 14. It is a 1 1/2 to 2 hour surgery and they will keep him in the hospital overnight to make sure there are no complications. Then they will do extensive tests on the tumor to rule out cancer. If it is cancerous, they will go back in a few weeks and take out the other side of the thyroid. If not, all it well and we are done. They say that 80 percent of people can live with only half a thyroid and no meds. If he needs meds, it is a cheap hormone that replaces the thyroid produced hormone.

Please keep Dave in your prayers. We are kind of nervous about all of this. Although they say that thyroid cancer is the best cancer to get if you are going to get cancer, we really don't want to go there.

Bowling

Last weekend we went bowling as a family with some friends. We had a great time. Especially Colton...he is quite the bowler and ended up beating us all with a score of 124. But, I do have to say that I took second place and beat Dave by 1 point!!! YEAH ME!!! Braden was so good and it was awesome when they turned off the lights and did the black light bowling because we had a glow-in-the-dark baby!

I think he's worth keeping

Well, the jury has been out on this one for a while, but I have decided that Braden is worth keeping. The colic (if that's what it was) has settled and he is a much happier baby. And, he is sleeping in his own bed so much better now. It seems like each night it is a little longer. He didn't wake up this morning until quarter to 6. YIPEE!!! He is even smiling much more. He seems to really like his Daddy and smiles at him a lot. That makes me so happy! I kind of worried that with Dave being gone for so long that Braden wouldn't bond to him. No problems there. He is also very strong and arches his back all the time. This is a picture of our super baby. (At one of his sadder moments.)

He's Home!!

Dave called this afternoon and told me he would be home around 7 -- but he was being tricky and got home shortly after 6. The boys drew pictures for daddy and we hung them on the door. Tanner is getting really good at drawing and drew some cool buffalos/hippos. We are so glad our daddy is home! He was gone for 17 days, and it was too long. I decided that single parenting stinks!!! Anyone who chooses that is crazy - including the octomom!

Morning Serenade

This morning while making breakfast, my boys sang me a beautiful song. Enjoy!

This is my crazy life

Dave has been out of town (in New Mexico on business) for the last week and a half, and will still be gone for a few more days. Hopefully he is home sooner than later, but we won't get too excited about seeing him until Tuesday (at the latest, he said). So, instead of going crazy alone, I brought my trio to Pleasant Grove to stay with my parents. I have been so glad for their help, because as much as I'd like to say Braden is a good baby, he really is kind of a grump. And my two big boys suddenly turned into tazmanian devils and are kind of crazy. Man can they tear up a room in an instant. I don't remember it being like this before!! Their most recent tricks are that Colton has been drawing on things...himself, the walls, the doorknobs, grandma's furniture; and Tanner was caught yesterday climbing in grandma's washing machine, taking it apart. Good thing he was caught early, before too much damage was done.

But, we were able to see some old friends, and it has been wonderful. Lindsay and her kids came over one afternoon and her little girl painted with the boys (on paper luckily). (Above, Katelyn & Colton.)

Then we saw Brooke and her kids one afternoon, and it was so fun to have the boys all play together. (Above is Colton, Tanner, Chase & Marriner. Also Braden & Sadie 5 mo.)

Today we went to Springville and played with Tiffany and her girls and new baby boy. It will be fun for our babies to be the same age and play in the future.

It is so crazy to me to think that here we are, all friends from our teenage years, now the "responsible adults" with our own herd of kids. I still feel like I am 19 and certainly not qualified to be the one in charge. It is an odd feeling to sit back and realize that this is my life....my kids, my husband, my house and vehicle, my crazy life....and to know that I am certainly so blessed!