Christmas with the Cougars!

Here's a little video of our experience with The Christmas for Children with Cancer Foundation last night. It was a great time for the whole family! We love the goodness of the people who run this foundation. They are awesome! It was also nice to hang out with the BYU basketball team. Go Cougs!

Clinic 12-5-11

This weeks clinic visit marks an important milestone. It was the beginning of phase 3 of Jacob’s chemo treatments. Phase 3 lasts about two months but it’s also the date they use to determine the end of his treatments. Jacob will be all done with chemotherapy on December 5, 2014—three years from last Monday. It seems like a long time, and yet I’ve already been looking forward to getting to this point; I feel like we’ve achieved something.

There was another highlight from clinic this week: Jacob did awesome. Really awesome. He is getting used to what happens while we’re there and is much happier than he has been at past clinic visits—even on an empty stomach! He is amazing. I’m so proud of him. He happily played angry birds while the doctors looked at him and while he got his chemo medicine (the downside is that I couldn’t take a picture, because he was using my phone. Scott didn’t come with us this week, he’s back to work). Of course the moment when they poked him was awful, it always is, and I imagine that it always will be, but it’s to be expected—that hurts! However, when it was time to leave and they pulled the needle out Jacob happily announced, “that didn’t even hurt!” He told me later that he wants that nurse to de-access him every time.

Jell-o for breakfast before clinic (although it’s more fun to play with than actually eat)

Jacob went to clinic fasting (with the exception of some “clear liquids” including two bites of Jell-o). Once we got there however, I learned that he didn’t need to! There was no procedure scheduled! Argh. The calendar that they gave me said there was a lumbar puncture. Oh well. Jacob was good about it and as soon as they realized what had happened the nurse ordered Jacob some food. He wanted a cinnamon-sugar bagel ('cause that’s what the rest of us had for breakfast back at home). He munched on his bagel while they hooked up all the IVs and gave him his meds. He was just content. It was great. And I was so glad because I had been nervous about taking Jacob to clinic without Scott.

One more really great thing (I love having good things to report), the doctor said that often this medicine will make kids “puke-y” (her word) but Jacob has been fine! He hasn’t felt sick at all. Yeah! He did have a headache off and on, but other than that he has been great. I’m so glad. Hopefully it stays this way but I’m also trying to be ready if it doesn’t, you know, “hope for the best, prepare for the worst” (that’s what my mom always says).

And lastly, here’s all the medical stuff, for those interested. This third phase of chemotherapy (called Interim Maintenance) requires chemo every 10 days (instead of once a week). Jacob gets two meds each visit, Vincristine and Methotrexate, both through IV. And the dose will increase every time if his counts are high enough. There are no meds at home (except the antibiotic that he’s always on and a laxative too). His ANC this week was 3.0 (3,000).

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday morning we had breakfast with Santa Claus and all of his awesome elves: the student council of Lone Peak High School.

As part of their Gold Rush fundraiser each year these great kids put on a community pancake breakfast with Santa. Jacob had been looking forward to it all week. I think the first thing he said when he woke up was, “today is the day we get to have breakfast with Santa at Lone Peak!” (correction: that was the first thing he said when he woke me up, I don’t know what he said when he first woke up).

You bet he’s smiling under that mask. Only awesome teenagers putting on a fundraiser for our son with cancer could get Scott to sit on Santa’s lap.

Jacob with Tanner Jensen, Student Body President. Jacob & Ellie with some of the student council.

It was a great experience to see these kids putting on this fundraiser—and to see the parents that got roped into helping too! We were impressed with the mission statement of Lone Peak High that includes service in the community. 

Another highlight for Jacob was all the attention the teenagers gave him. He was loving it. All three of my kids were. They each got a good healthy dose of doting. That should hold them over until the next time they see Grandma.

Thanks Lone Peak High School! We love you! From the Woodward Family

I also just found out that the Alpine Christmas Concert will benefit Gold Rush this year (click for their website).  For more information about Lone Peaks Gold Rush you can visit Lone Peak’s website or their Gold Rush website (both hyperlinked). I know there has been some media coverage of Gold Rush, but I haven’t seen any of it yet. If anyone has a link to articles, etc. please leave a comment, I’d love to see them.

First Visit from the Home Health Nurse

Friday we met Jacob’s home health nurse. She comes to draw Jacob’s blood; the doctors need to know what his counts are before each visit for this next phase of chemo.

We were all a little anxious about this, at least I was. I didn’t know quite what to expect. I know what it’s like to have Jacob accessed at clinic or even to draw blood in a lab, but at home? On the couch? All those gloves, syringes and sterile things belong in a hospital, not in my living room.

On the other hand, I thought, it could be more comfortable for Jacob to just be at home, on the couch watching a dinosaur movie instead of at the clinic. I just didn’t know what to expect.

For the most part things went fine. I realized that Jacob hates being poked with a needle, regardless of location (not that I excepted him to love it just because we were at home) and, as always, the anticipation of the poke is the worst part.

Now that the initial visit is over with, I know how to plan for the future. For example, we won’t have Isaac in the same room next time. Poor guy got a little woozy at the sight of Jacob’s blood filing those vials. That was a little overwhelming for me, trying to comfort Jacob and Isaac at the same time. Thankfully, Ellie was sleeping. But after a drink and sitting on the couch with ‘Snuggle’ the bear-dog stuffed animal, Isaac was fine. (Keep an eye out because ‘Snuggle’ makes an appearance in our Christmas card this year).

Phew, I was glad when it was all over and we could just go back to watching the dinosaur movie like a regular Friday afternoon.

So Much to be Thankful For

Now that Thanksgiving is a week behind us, it’s time for me to blog about it. Isn’t that about my track record—blog about things a week after they happen? Oh well, at least it gets blogged (is that a word?) So while my boys happily play the Wii and my daughter naps, let me tell you about the sweetest Thanksgiving I can ever remember.

What a great holiday Thanksgiving is. Food, family and gratitude; does it get any better? Seriously, who needs presents? It’s my new favorite holiday.

We got to enjoy Thanksgiving with our parents and siblings (Jacob’s grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins).  At both family gatherings we participated in the time-honored tradition of going around the table to share things we’re thankful for. It was particularly sweet this year; I’m sure you can imagine.

Scott and I have so much to be grateful for—each other and our children topping the list. We’re so glad that Jacob’s outlook is so good; this year, I’m thankful for cancer research. We’re also grateful for the army of friends and family who love us and pray for us. I’m grateful for each note of encouragement and each “thinking of you” text or email (or Facebook post, or blog comment…on and on through the various forms of communication!) Sometimes those messages touch me so deeply, I can’t describe it. Thank you.

Scott even says he is grateful for cancer. I feel that too, though I can’t quite say it like that. I’m grateful for all of the blessings and the perspective that has come as a result of Jacob’s cancer. I hope it’s making us better people. This experience, for us, has unlocked the goodness of other people and a new sweetness in life.

Lastly, and perhaps most significantly, Scott and I have a deep appreciation for our Savior, Jesus Christ. The strength of the Lord is real and we have felt it. We are so grateful for His atonement and resurrection. We are thankful for His church and living prophets. All of the other things that we are thankful for come from Him and I hope we can praise His name better because of it.

And we’re thankful for family! For grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins near and far (just cause you’re not pictured doesn’t mean we’re not grateful for you!)

We’re also very, very thankful for uncles (and one particularly awesome cousin) with hair-less heads!! You guys are the best! We love you all!

Lone Peak High School’s “Gold Rush”

. Me, Jacob and “Santa” at Lone Peak’s “Gold Rush” Assembly 11-16-11

Every year Lone Peak High School in Highland, Utah does a service project around Christmas time; they call it “Gold Rush” and it’s a fundraiser for a local cause. This year they asked us if we could be their “cause” and donate some of the money they raise to Jacob’s medical expenses. We were blown away. Really, blown away. Still kind of blown away, actually.

“Gold Rush” is a bunch of events, including a dodge-ball tournament for students and teachers, a Christmas dance, and caroling in front of the local Wal-Mart, among other things. Tonight (Thursday, December 1st) they’re going to do something called “Kids in the Cold.” A bunch of teenagers are going to hang out in front of the school—in the freezing cold—in an effort to raise some money. Only teenagers would endeavor to raise money in such a way, and I love them for it! Last I heard they were going to keep their student body president locked in a box until they raised the desired amount. Again, only teenagers.

Me, Scott & the kids plan on attending (for a little while at least) to offer some moral support and maybe some hand-warmers and hot chocolate. It’s the motherly instinct in me. I can’t just let them sit out in the cold. Their own mothers must be shaking their heads right along with me. But again, I’m grateful for it. Over the past two months I have learned some wonderful things about teenagers, including how unreserved they can be and what big hearts they have.

And we’re just amazed that they would help us in this way. That being said, however, I have debated whether or not to even put this on the blog. Let me tell you why. I have realized recently that we are not the only ones who need help with medical expenses. Neither are just cancer families the only ones that have a difficult time finding money. Others in my very own neighborhood—with different medical challenges— face the same financial struggles we do, but don’t often get fundraisers like this. I’m so grateful, but it seems unfair too (not that life—or money for that matter—is ever fair). Do you see why this is difficult for me to write about? I’m just keenly aware lately of all the difficultly all around, in everyone’s life. I guess this whole experience with Jacob’s diagnosis has made me a lot more concerned and compassionate. Empathy borne of experience, you know? But compassion is a good thing to have, especially at Christmas time. And I guess even if I can’t offer money or make everything fair, there are still things I can do to help those around me. It definitely takes more than money to get through hard times.