Good News!

MD Anderson, Houston, Texas. This place is truly amazing. So many patients...some just starting the process, and some, like me are for testing and relief.
We met with Dr. Kwak this morning. He gave us a little scare. He came in and shook our hands and asked us how we were doing. As he starts to give me my physical exam, I casually ask:
"Are we good?"

He replies: "I'll get to that in a minute"

HUH??

So, as you can guess, while he is probing my neck and arms for lymph nodes, I'm thinking my life is about to change.
After the exam...he says: "Everything looks good. I don't have the CT scan results yet, so I didn't want to say anything until after I had examined you"

He really, really needs to work on that bedside manner. Why didn't he just say AT THE BEGINNING that the test results weren't in yet?????!!!!????
So we are hopeful. The test results should be faxed over here within the week. He said we could return in 9 months. Brad and I had already talked about when we wanted to start coming and we suggested February and then we could have our yearly visits in February. He agreed. So, in February we will return.
I feel blessed and realize I need to make the most out of each day. No more whining, just enjoying the gift of life I have been given. This trip is always a reminder of the precious miracle we have been given. So it is a good thing.
And besides.... I did some great shopping :)

Lease on Life?

Brad and I are back in our "favorite" place (That is sarcasm, KM!) Good ol' Houston, Texas. I spent the better part of the day at MD. Of course there was a delay. One of the other diagnostic centers had a water pipe break and the patients assigned to that building had to come and join us. Oh Fun. So, I read 2 novels, the whole paper and one readers digest before I was called back for my test. But, I have to tell you....seeing the variety of patients, their ages, their stages helps me to realize and remember how very blessed I am to be where I am today. In remission and feeling great. All types of people, from all over the US. Most of those I talked to today were from the east coast, and so they all wanted to know what a "dry" heat was. Usually, I spend Tuesday at the fabulous, most awesome mall and then we head to the temple. Something told me today to check the Houston Temple and wa-la, it is closed for maintenance! Brought our temple clothes for nothing. More time to shop, I guess!
Wednesday we meet with Dr. Kwak and fly home...yeah! Love to all

UTOPIA

In the dictionary, UTOPIA is described as "an imaginary place considered to be perfect or ideal". I have decided that I know where UTOPIA is and exactly what it's like. See if you agree...


It's a place where the weather is perfect, no matter....
If it Rains...for hours or during church
Or hails..
Or if the sky is crystal clear with the most amazing clouds...

It's a place where kids are encouraged to play in the dirt

Where games such as "scum"
"Work-up"


"Sow"



and "Dead or Alive" are NOT run with electricty and are played with all ages and everyone is a winner!!

It's a place where chores are fun and everyone helps

teenagers are on their own and love every minute of their time together





Where cooks can be men

Where naps are for everyone...every age

Where hand-cranked ice cream tastes better than anywhere else

Where getting hit by hail doesn't matter as long as the truck is unloaded so the teenagers can take their annual trip in the truck thru the mud and riding bikes is for everyone!



This place is special to all, it brings the best memories to mind, it is our favorite place to vacation. Expressions and faces are recorded in our memories and treasured for a lifetime.







It's a place where friendships are strengthened, families are together, love is felt.

This place is COLUMBINE, Mt. GRAHAM. Our family enjoys this place over any other place we have traveled to or visited. It is where we can laugh, enjoy our Heavenly Father's creations and creatures, feel safe from worldly pressures and ridicule and feel loved from family and friends every moment we are there.

It is our UTOPIA

Jump...Dive....Twist.....

ER Room!!
Yes, the Weech family always has something to report!
Every teenager who plays this game in the pool knows the rules. You jump off the diving board and in mid-air, someone yells one of three things..."Jump! Dive! Twist!" and you are suppose to do that before hitting the water. So....
Aly is playing with her friends at Dani's and in mid-air, she changes and her knee hits her lip and WA-LA...it is split open.
Down to the ER we go, where the nice doctor puts in 3 lovely little stitches!
Poor Aly is on a liquid diet and quite swollen. She wouldn't let me post any pictures :(

By the way....the ER down on Power and Williamsfield is the best. We were there and gone in just over an hour! Yeah!! SHHHH...don't tell too many people about it tho!!

Florida Trip

We had a nice flight to Tampa, where we rented a SUV and traveled over to Orlando. Got there in the evening, so after dinner, we were pretty tired. Headed out to Universal Studios the next morning. The rides were surprisingly interesting and creative. Of course, we ran into the Fear Factor Studio and you know the rest of the story...

The bad news of our trip was that on the last ride of the evening Brad and the girls went on the Mummy Ride. During the rollar coaster ride (think Indiana Jones at Disneyland), Brad lost his phone! Yes, it flipped out of his shirt pocket and was never recovered. Not good!

At the end of the day, we had tickets to the Blue Man Group. This was very interesting. Not what you would think...but entertaining...a one time deal for us!

Florida Part 1-b

Our 2nd day in Orlando began with a trip to the Orlando Temple. The girls were able to join a youth group and do baptisms....even tho it was a Spanish group and Brad and myself went thru a session. This temple is gorgeous! Afterwards, the rain came...it was like clockwork...so we waited awhile in our hotel room and by the afternoon we were back at Universal Studios, this time at Island Adventures with all the hairy-scary rides. I opted out of the rollar coasters but Brad kept up with the girls. There were a few rides that warned us about getting wet...we did!

Florida Trip Part 2

Hollywood, Florida

After traveling 3 1/2 hours down to Hollywood, we arrived at our very fancy, schmancy hotel. We were on the 33rd floor. Oh, by the way....in Florida, if the weatherman says there is a chance for rain....it IS GOING TO RAIN!! While the guys were in seminars, the girls played! We shopped, learned how to windsurf and enjoyed the scenery!