Tom's Tumor - Part One

Saturday February 6th was a regular ol' day.  Tom was gone most of the day doing scouting for food so the girls and I were on our own.  We went to the farmers market, Soadalicious, drove around looking at houses (our favorite hobby) and ran into Tom at Café Rio for lunch!  Not even planned.  He was on his way to deliver 12000 pounds of food to the food bank the boy scouts had collected that day.

That night we did farm chores, watched a show and went to bed early. Normal, boring, perfect.

At 3:30am I woke up to Tom breathing heavy and grunting.  He sometimes like to fight people in his dreams so I nudged him and tried to wake him up.  He didn't respond.  I nudged him again.  His body was tense and moving weird.  I turned on the light.  I wish I could block out what I saw.  He was shaking, blood was coming out of his head and his eyes were rolled back in his head.  He was having a seizure.  I tried to wake him up, I called 911 in a panic. Tom does not get sick.  He doesn't have health problems.  What was going on?

The 911 operator kept me on the line and told me what to do.  I don't remember what she said.  I don't remember much except I was crying and in a panic and I had woken up the girls with my screaming.  Cassidy helped me hold him so he didn't fall off the bed until the paramedics, police and firemen arrived.  Bless her - she's going to be a great nurse!  Nerves of "Steele" that girl has!!  We don't have a lot going on in our town and it's a little joke around here that when you need help the entire force shows up.  That night I was so thankful for a ton of strong men who were kind and helpful to Tom, the girls and me. 

Tom was whisked away to the nearest hospital and I followed in my car.  I left the girls at home.  Why didn't I bring them?  I have no idea.  I feel guilty that I left them here all alone.  I wasn't thinking rationally.  They are more than old enough to be left but my gosh, their daddy just was rushed to the hospital and I left them.  Mom fail!

We got to the hospital and Tom somewhat alert and had no idea what had happened.  We are so blessed that his seizure happened at home.  What if he was driving that big truck full of all that food hours earlier?  What if he was in his office alone?  What if he was on a boy scout camp out, in Vegas at his shooting place or at home with the girls while I was out of town the week before?  Tender mercies blessing us that night.

At the hospital I tried calling both my brothers to come give him a priesthood blessing.  No answer.  Called my sisters-in-laws.  No answer.  Called Tom's good friend and his wife. No answer.  I told myself I'm never sleeping with my cell phone ringer off ever again.  I finally got Kurt and Deland to call me back.  They were coming.

In the meantime they had taken Tom back for a CT scan of his head.  He had not been sick, he had never had a seizure before, he doesn't take any medication.  The doctor on call came in and was very frank.  I appreciated this.  I have had health problems most of my life.  I don't like it when doctors or nurses beat around the bush.  I feel like that is a form of lying.  If you know something regarding my, or my families health - tell me straight up.  I'm tough I can take it!  The doctor said it was bad news, he was very serious and spoke very quietly.  There was a mass in his brain and it was large, very large.  There was an ambulance in route to take him to Barros Neurological Institute in Phoenix.  They are the best in the nation for brain tumors and I felt like I was going to throw up.

This can't be happening.  My husband has to take care of me!  I told him four months ago to get off his beloved diet coke because it was making his memory wacky.  I told him he has to take care of that brain because that was his money maker.  He was having a hard time hearing and chalked it up to his dad being stone deaf and would need a hearing aid soon.  His eyes had become blurry but because we are mid 40's reading glasses are the norm right?  Nope.  It was a brain tumor.

Kurt and Deland came just in time to give Tom a blessing.  It was very calming, peaceful and needed.  I then left to follow the ambulance.

Fast forward a day or so.

Tom had every test in the book.  CT, MRI, FMRI, blood work, chest x-rays, and he was hooked up to a machine with wires galore.  It was the weekend and he was feeling normal except for some muscle soreness so they were waiting for the doctor to come in on Monday with a plan. 

Lets just say it was a party in 5N21.  Our nurse Brad was so nice and looked the other way when seventeen hundred people showed up to hang with Tom.  (that's an exaggerated comment but not by much.  At one point he had 40 people in there and Tom was standing in one place hooked up to his machines, amped up on meds and talking to everyone in a circle.  It was hilarious!

Monday came with a new Doctor and a surgery date.  Tom got to go home, tie up loose ends, call all his church people to rearrange his meetings, call all his clients to let them know he would be gone for a few weeks and get some farm chores finished up.  He really is The Man Of Steele.

We had family and friends drop what they were doing and come from Utah, Vegas, California and North Carolina as soon as they heard the news.  We had our church family bring food, clean our house, do our laundry, feed our animals, water our garden, help the girls with rides and to feel special and loved.  And we had the most amazing nurses at both hospitals who were kind, funny, helpful knowledgeable.  More tender mercies. 

I don't know why this happened.  Trials are hard.  Believe me, I know, I have had more than my fair share.  But we learn and we can grow and become better because of these trials.  I personally believe that we got to pick our challenges in heaven and gosh darn it I sure was an over achiever. I know my little family is being watched over and blessed by my Father in Heaven.  We can feel the prayers from everyone who is praying for us.  It has given us peace, comfort and healing in this scary new life we are embarking on.  We are blessed to have so many people who love us and are helping us.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Cara
Disclaimer: Please excuse my grammar, spelling and punctuations.  I'm out of practice writing on my blog.  ♥♥♥

Tom's Birthday

Man I am behind on this blog!  His birthday was a month ago and I'm just now posting about it.  It's been a crazy summer and this blog took the backseat.

For Christmas I got my dream bike.  You can read about it here.
I love my bike and the girls and I have so much fun riding around the neighborhood we wanted Tom to have a bike and love it too.  Well, when we told him we were buying him a bike for his birthday on the way to the bike shop let's just say he was less than thrilled.  See he has never had a nice bike - ever!  Well guess what?  We changed that!

We had him try out all kinds of bikes until he found the perfect one.  He couldn't be happier.  Plus......he has already signed up for a triathlon so having a bike is pretty important...wouldn't you say?

look at all the fun bikes you can choose from!  This is the same store they bought my bike from.  They even gave us a discount since we bought from them before.

We took it out to my car knowing full well it would fit.  I mean we have always been able to fit anything and everything in my car so there was no doubt.

It was a tight fit.  But it fit!  Both rows of seats had to be put down so the girls got to ride in the back with the bike.  The squeezed in there and laid down because her have instilled the fear of policemen in them and they didn't want to get caught without a seat belt.  Good thing we were close to home!

We went on a family bike ride right when we got home and it was so fun!  Can't wait to have the weather cool down enough so we can go again.  There's something about 112 degrees that makes bike riding not sound like fun.  One more month and we should be good! 

Happy Birthday to my sweetie and his new bike!

52 BP #7 & Love Week Day 7

 


Tom is my blessing – ALWAYS.  Not just for Valentines day, not just for this weeks blessing but forever.  I’m thankful I have him.  He’s my best friend, biggest hero, teammate and partner in everything we do.  We have so much fun together I’m so glad he’s mine.  Love you sweetie♥

This……………………….

is what 15 years looks like:

He’s still handsome as ever and I love him to death.

Thanks sweetie for the best 15 years a girl could ask for!

Love you a ton! xoxo

Memore Monday - Last Weekend

Last weekend was very busy. Thursday night I had book club here. I didn't realize how stressful having book club is. I haven't had it at my house for two years so I had forgotten how much work goes into it. I decorated for Halloween, did a little rearranging of rooms and vignettes, got a little snacky-snack for us to munch in. (I ordered a BIG cake of the yummy one we had for lunch the other day. It was to-die-divine!) We had a grand time and I picked The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. I haven't started it yet but plan to this week.

Friday I helped in Abby's classroom. We made spider cupcakes, (they were so cute! good luck finding black string licorice - there isn't any to be found, I used black pipe cleaners instead)spider webs on a black paper plate with a hanging spider, (i don't have a picture)and spiders that hang from a string. They are learning about spiders this month. How fun is 1st grade? My word, to be a kid again!

After I got done from helping in the classroom I hurried off to help my neighbor decorate for a bridal shower. Blue and brown were the colors. I love a party that's for sure. I then hurried home and changed and got ready for a night out with the hubby.

**funny story alert**funny story alert**funny story alert**funny story alert**

Last year Monica and her hubby went to Time Out for Couples on Friday night then a bunch of us girls went to Time Out for Women on Saturday. It was so much fun we thought we would do it again. So Monica bought the tickets months in advance we got a posse together and off we went. We decided it would be fun to eat dinner downtown before we all (husbands included) went to Time Out for Couples. As we are walking up to the conference center people are staring. I looked GOOD but come on why all the stares?! I know my hubby is handsome but I was starting to get a little self conscious. We get up to the door and find out it's..............

NOT TIME OUT FOR COUPLES THIS YEAR!

What? The guy that sold Monica the tickets specifically told her she only needed one ticket per couple for the Friday night session. We decided to go in anyway and found seats on the back row in case we needed a quick escape. Our friends Annie and Aron were already there and boy was Aron worried we weren't going to show up. He was sitting with 1800 women and no other man in site! Talk about a brave hubby!!

We had fun listening to the speakers, laughing at all the people staring at us and laughing harder when Jarrod came back from using the restroom. He sat down and said, "there are NO men's bathrooms ANYWHERE! I finally went into the 15th women's bathroom full of nursing women and said, sorry ladies but I've got to go!" Oh my was it funny!

At one point during a break this older couple came up to one of the guys and said, "boy am I glad you guys are here I was feeling out of place!" Wouldn't you in a room full of the opposite sex?

We had a great time even though we were out of place. Tom said he has never been so motivated by "such fluff" before. I though that was the funniest part of the night!

Miss You

Tom was gone for a few days last week. I guess the girls missed him because this is what I found them doing in the office one morning. Making a HUGE "Welcome Home" sign. Daddy is sure loved around here and it just isn't the same without him home!
Plus, check out these babies! High Heel Dress-Up Boots!!! The girls saw these at Savers and wanted them soooo BAD! I told them I wouldn't buy them if they were over $5 buck-a-roonies. When we got the the register (after they had been wearing them all over the store) the boots had a price of $7.50. Daddy caved and bought the boots!
See why he gets a welcome home sign!!!

5112

Today Tom and I have been married for 5112 days. That's also 14 years for those of you who don't want to have to do addition. It sounds like a long time but doesn't feel like a long time.

We've had our ups and downs - who hasn't? What makes us keep going after 14 years is that we are best friends. We don't yell at each other. We aren't sarcastic, mean and we hardly ever fight. We aren't perfect but we make it work and we are there for each other.

I'm so glad he picked me out of all the girls who were after him all those years ago! (And there were A LOT!! He's the best husband and Daddy to the girls. He's sweet and I just couldn't be luckier to have him.

I love you sweetie♥♥♥

♥Happy Birthday Tom ♥

Today is my sweetie's birthday. So to honor the day I thought I would list 36 reasons why I love Tom. Happy Birthday Love! I think you are the greatest!!

♥♥♥♥

1. Tom loves Disneyland more than anyone I know! It just wouldn't be the same if we ever went without him!

2. He is very sweet to me and the girls.

3. He let's me take goofy pictures of him doing random things like standing in front of a golfing trophy!

4. There are two Tom's. Business Tom whom I love because that's the Tom that is driven and task oriented and structured. Business Tom also supports our family so we need to keep him around! Then there's Fun Tom - who is my absolute favorite! He's goofy, and silly, and fun with a side of crazy! Love it!!!
5. He always encourages me when I want to do something. Blogging, photography, my callings at church. He's very supportive in whatever I am doing at the moment!
6. He's very handsome!


7. I love how he can tell me how he is feeling with just his eye's. I have never know anyone who can do that!
8. He's very down to earth. No pre-tense there!
9. He loves his girls and is the BEST Daddy!!!!

10. He knows how to communicate and has taught me how to have a good solid relationship. Without him who knows what I would be like! I am a better communicator because of him!
11. He can't sing worth a dime but I love that about him!
12. He's great at making up songs though!
13. He can rhyme all the time.
14. He is the fasted reader I know!!! That is just not fair!
15. He's a smarty pants. (that's what I like to call him because he truly is so darn smart!)
16. He let's us eat pie for dinner! And who doesn't love that?!

17. He makes me want to be better at everything I do!
18. He's very romantic - too bad he married a girl who isn't - but is learning.
19. He's thoughtful
20. He's kind.
21. He's patient.
22. Forgiving
23. He loves the Lord and has a strong testimony of The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
24. And he has instilled these traits into our girls which is such a blessing!
25. He loves to go to the Temple
26. He has helped me learn to get out of my comfort zone and travel the world. Without him I would not have seen Banana's growing on trees in the Bahama's. I wouldn't have kissed a dolphin named Jack, swam with the sting rays, ate fresh coconut shrimp, taken a picture in Hell, seen the prettiest mountains in CO. , surfed in Kauai, walked the streets of NYC and I even rode the subway! All these things and more because I knew I would be safe with him by my side.
27. Can play a mean game of dice with his family!!

28. Out of the 13 1/2 years of marriage 9 of those years were spent with some family member living with us. We have officially boycotted all family staying with us long term but man was Tom a trooper all those years!!!
29. He loves to play sports. Golf, racket ball, basket ball, tennis and ping pong! He also doesn't hold it against me that I am not a sports girl. (He has his girls who he is training them young!)


30. He loves me for me. He doesn't care if I have make-up on, or if I leave the dishes in the sink at night. He knows my key's may not be hung up on the hook EVERY time but forgives me anyway. He overlooks the little things because he has the big picture in his mind. (Thank Heavens for that!)
31. He's handy when he wants to be. If I need him to fix anything (but a computer) he can do it!
32. He comes from a great family who are all great friends. This is a blessing these days.
33. He loves our cat even though he would rather have a big huge dog!
34. He wrote a book for each of the girls telling them the story of how our family came together. They love it and it's just another example of what a great Daddy he is!

35. He's very focused.

36. He's perfect for me and I am so lucky to call him mine!♥

Happy Birthday Tom! I Love you ♥

My Golfers

Golf has become the #1 sport in this house. Tom and the girls have so much fun golfing I'm sure this will be a hobby that lasts for awhile. Aren't they just so cute?

We signed Cassidy up for a 4 week golf lesson through the town rec. program so every Saturday Tom and the girls get dressed and head out to class. While Cassidy is doing her class, Tom and Miss Abby hit golf balls. Abby thinks this is the funnest thing ever. Can you believe that? This morning we all went and I have to admit it was fun to watch them so into this sport!! I sat in the shade and read my book and it was HOT!!! The rest of them were out in the sun just having the time of their lives! I think next week I'll stay home where it's cool, and they can go sweat it out on the golf course.

BTW I'm sure I would be roped into playing golf with them but lucky me my arms don't go strait so when I hit the ball - oooops it always goes the wrong way. Darn! (wink)

52 Blessing Project Week 24

Breakfast in bed with Daddy and his Darlings!

I know last week I posted my blessing on Fathers but this week I am doing my Fathers Day post and just have to use Daddy's this time! My sweet husband is the best Daddy on the planet. He never gets mad, never yells, is always sweet and most of all LOVES HIS GIRLS!!! He is the perfect girl Dad and will dance, sing and play with them for hours! He loves to put them to bed so he can have one-on-one time with them and Cassidy will spend hours talking to him about everything! They for sure have a special bond! This fathers day the girls and I made Tom this golf cake from Family Fun. Tom said he had never seen the girls more excited about a cake ever! It was true they were excited and can you blame them?? The cake is a golf course for crying out loud!!! It even has sand traps, a water bunker and a golf ball! So for Tom's Fathers Day he spent the entire day watching GOLF, eating yummy food and enjoying his golf cake!!! This is Tom's Dad (don't they look alike?) His parents came over for a nice dinner of "Monica's famous ribs", strawberry's, baked potato's and corn on the cob. It was fabulous I must say!!

So Happy Daddy's Day Tom

To the best Dad in the whole world!!

Pictures from Mexico

Cass and Abby looking down on the beach from our condo.

Abby with her perfect sea shell

Tom and the girls finding shells and crabs

Cassidy with her Bucket-O-Crabs!

Febuary Freebie

Go get a cute desktop at Shabby Princess. We sure are Daddy's girls over here. There is no question to that!! I also saw another free desktop while I was searching for some paper and now I can't remember where. So if you don't like this one there are lots of cute things out there for the taking! Enjoy!

13 Years

13 Reasons Why I Am Thankful I Have Been Married To This Man For 13 Years.

13. He is patient and thoughtful in regards to my arthritis. I'm sure he never planned on marrying a girl who wasn't a sports nut like him but he always says he doesn't mind. He's always watching out for me yet not making me feel like I have anything wrong with me.

12. He's very tall and handsome. Isn't that every girls dream?

11. I actually married two Tom's. "Business Tom" who I love because he is so driven. And "Fun Tom" who I am IN love with because that's who I love to be around. He's goofy and funny and is never afraid to dance around with his girls. "Fun Tom" is who we vacation with, have fun on nights and weekends and love the most! "Business Tom" is smart and successful, always thinking and learning how to better the business and is very conservative. "Fun Tom" flys by the seat of his pants and will head off to Disneyland or go on a cruise at a moments notice, will spoil his girls like no tomorrow and has the funniest smokers laugh I have ever heard! (even though he's NOT a smoker!)

10. He's very spiritual and loves the Lord. He never forgets to say prayers with the girls at night (like I sometimes do). He listens to conference CD's in the car. He makes me a better person and doesn't get mad when I ditch Sunday School to talk in the hall (shame on me!)9. He never gets angry. If he does get upset (which is rare) we have a nice long talk about things and then everything is fine again. I think I have only seen him super mad twice in 13 years. He's a saint I tell ya!

8. He always knows the perfect answer to every question. It doesn't matter the subject he has the answer, but not in a "I'm a know-it-all way. I love listening to him and Cass at night. They always have these deep discussions and it's fun to hear him advise her about all kinds of different subjects.

7. He's the best Daddy to our girls. He loves them so much and makes each of them feel so special. Now that they are getting older (his favorite part) he takes them to do all kinds of fun things. Hiking, skiing, rock climbing, running races and snorkeling. He makes those girls "think" that they can do anything!

6. He's kind and patient and very thoughtful.

5. He's very strong in the areas that I am weak in. He's organized, I'm a little flighty. He's book smart, I've got great common sense. He's super strong, I'm super weak. He can remember everything and I'm losing the brain cells right and left. Oh I forgot that I kick his hiney in the electronics department. He can't figure that kind of thing out to save his life! Good thing we're a team or I'd be out of luck!

4. He tells me he loves me at least 20 times a day. He's so sweet to me and always makes me feel like a queen.

3. He makes it possible for me to stay home and take care of my girls and run the house. I don't know what I would do if I had to go out and get a job. It would break my heart to leave my girls with someone else. I very, very thankful for him giving me this special gift.

2. He puts up with all my faults and never complains if the house isn't perfect or dinner isn't made. And of course all my other faults that I don't want to mention on this blog for everyone to read!

1. I'm so, so thankful to have married my prince charming! He's everything I never knew I always wanted. Here's to 13 years down and eternity to go!

Lets Go Surfing Now..............

Every body's learning how..........

Come on a safari with me!
Tom and Cassidy had so much fun surfing!! This bottom picture is of Cassidy jumping up and switching sides. She actually did tricks!!!