Sunday, September 16, 2012

Updates, etc, etc, ...

I don't even want to go into details as to why I haven't blogged in a very long time. I used to be soooo faithful at blogging. When did I fall off the train?! It might have been when my laptop died and had to be sent back to Dell for a month. It might have been when I got so wrapped up in the happy cancer progress and started trying to do "real things" again. I started physical therapy on my weak muscles that have had poison constantly flowing through them for three years. But truly, I really have no excuses....I just have been too busy being a relatively healthy mother of four beautiful children....which is just where I always want to be.

I am just going to quickly go through updates around our home:

Morgan: Happy with his job. Happy with his calling as Gospel Essentials teacher. Had a horrible cold/flu that lasted about two weeks.  Really enjoys golfing especially with his brother and daughter. Really, really enjoys having a somewhat healthy wife!

Christa: Recently found out that my tumor markers (the measurement of how much progression the cancer is making in the body. Just remember, high numbers bad, low numbers, good), is down to 214 as of September 10th. The Oncologist was really happy when she told me that since being at MD Anderson over this past year, my tumor markers have gone from 800 to a mere 214! This means cancer is steadily leaving and my medicines continue to work. Although if you ask me, I am still going with the miracle/prayer theory. The Lord must have some more assignments for me!
 I am recently loving/hating physical therapy as I try to gain some strength in my weak body. But I am totally enjoying the one hour massage sessions that I also get!  I have been getting crafty again in my spare time and that helps my soul. I still have a lot of issues with the cancer such as working out a pain regiment that doesn't have me sleeping all day long. But, after this ginuea pig stage of balancing "real" life, it will be awesome!

Cassidy: Loving/hating the 8th grade. Loving/hating the songs she creates as she sits at the piano. Loving/hating her family and all of life. Basically, she is a normal 13-year-old teenager!
     (Mom's overview of Cassidy is that she is a beautiful, strong, caring, compassiante girl/woman. She has an amazing talent with music...piano playing, singing, writing her own songs. Has an amazing relationship with Lund and is just great)

Lund: Enjoying 7th grade, especially because his big sister is right there with him at the same school. Has a love/hate relationship with football right now. Loves football/hates practices. And he is still amazing at learning/memorizing piano songs. (I just wish he would concentrate on the stuff the piano teacher is giving him). Altogether, he is a happy, energetic 12-year-old.

Sarah: She is really enoying 3rd grade and is a great student. She loves animals and is training to be a Vetranarian. She uses family pets and teddy bears as victims, I mean ..patients. She loves that we practically live in a zoo. Current animal count at the Johnson home: 1 dog, 1 cat, 1 bird, 2 tortoises, and quite a few dust bunnies.It's kinda nice because after all the kids leave for school, I never feel alone..............ever! She is still using her big brown eyes to get what she wants and is my cuddlebug.

Will: Is actually enjoying school this year. Second time around has been so great for him. It's as if someone turned a light switch on in his brain...Hallllleeelllluuuaaaa! He likes to sport a fau-hawk or a "fluff like Lund" (hair sticking up in the front) to school but always knows that it has to be "Sunday hair" for church. Such a goof! He is constantly getting taller and he loves to create from his imagination with Legos, duct tape and anything else he can get his hands on.

So, that gives you a bit of an update, but nothing beats pictures, so I will keep working on posting.  Hopefully while I am on vacation this week without kids and hubby! wahooo!

Colorado or Bust

blog 1At the end of July, Morgan and I had a chance to go to Colorado for work. He had company stuff to do and I was lucky enough to hitch a ride. I have never been to Colorado and it was sooo beautiful! And of course, it is ALWAYS fun when we get to go on any trip, just the two of us. It was very rainy when we were there, but coming from Arizona, where the weather was holding steady at 115 degrees, it was heavenly!
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When Morgan didn't have to be at work, we took long drives in the mountains, and not just any mountain range, the ACTUAL Rocky Mountains! Wow, nature can be soooo beautiful!


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And we did keep oxygen on hand for me, because sometimes the elevation was reaching 11,000ft or more.

blog 1Beauty everywhere. And right behind that river are the Outlet stores where we spent a lot of time and money as well. Lots and lots of walking and lots of fun!

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Here is the mine in Climax, Colorado. In that tall building you can see in the distance is an elevator that goes 5,000ft down to the underground mine! Not an elevator ride I would ever take. I think I would be having a bit of anxiety!
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I also really loved all the tunnels that went through the mountains.
DSC_0319 (640x423)And everyone had to stop on this highway and wait until the elk sauntered on through. I would definitely do this trip again, four stars for sure!

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Take me out to the Ballgame

 Well Ladies and gentleman, after a long blog vacation I am hoping to get back at it.  I have a new picture program on my labtop and I am hoping it works out well because it sends the pictures instantly to my blog and that would save a ton of time! Let me know if you notice any problems on this blog, let me know. I am not a real technology guru, that is for sure.
  This first blog entry is from earlier in August when we had a chance to go to a Diamondbacks game with some friends. We had such an amazing time~

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Tim and Clarissa are so much fun and they only had to bring one baby, which is quite the amazing feat for this family (11 children, and they are soooooooooooooo calm). Thanks for coming!
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Here is the whole gang except Tim and the baby. The baby was taking the picture and she needed her dad to hold her while she stedied the camera.

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Lund's cousin, Cooper, came too and had a great time.

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Morgan and I love a good baseball game!
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What?! This must be the Kiss Camera!!