Happy Birthday! The Big 3

I can't believe how big Canyon is getting. We had to delay his birthday celebration a couple of days due to him being very sick with the swine flu. I have never seen him so sick. Finally we celebrated his big day. It was just our family and it was so fun to see him so excited to blow out the candles. Kaylee and Carson both say that they don't want him to grow up. They absolutely love their little brother. He is so snugly and also full of life. He has piercing blue eyes that just make you melt. We are so grateful to have him in our lives!!!

The 3 Amigo's !!!

We love him sooo.. much!

He loves to watch and mimick Carson playing football, this helmet is from Grandma and Grandpa Hansen

His new race car track!

Mmm... Cake!!!

Canyon First Day of Preschool

I know he started pre-school a couple of months ago but I forgot to put these on the blog. He is so gosh darn cute. He is quite the little celebrity at the gym I go to. People just gush over him, you can't blame them. Also Canyon started potty training since Sunday and he is doing Awesome! I can kinda of say he is potty trained but we are still hit and miss with Number 2... I know he'll get it soon.

He was so excited to go to school like his brother and sister!

Showing off his cool new Back Pack!!

I am finally able to put our pics on from our trip to Hawaii. It's been kinda of crazy since we have been back. Nothing like sick kids to bring you back to reality!! Hawaii was Amazing. Our first 5 days we were on Oahu which is where the famous Waikiki Beach is at. We went to Pearl Harbor, Haunama Bay to snorkel, Polynesian Culture Center, Sea Life Park to swim with the dolphins, we were pretty busy on Oahu. We were pretty tired at the end of the day but so fun. Then we flew to Maui which is typically what you think Hawaii is. Maui is absolutely beautiful. We went on our helicopter ride and that was pretty spectacular. We got some beautiful pictures and was able to see the landscape that you wouldn't be able to see other wise. I got pretty sick but Ben was right it was well worth the money. Other wise we pretty much relaxed on the beach, played in the ocean and snorkeled and ate. It was defiantly the relaxing part of the trip. We also took the infamous road to Hana. Literally it twists and turns and it takes two n half hours to get there and of course two n half hours of winding road to get back. The road literally looks like a snake from the air. I got sick of course but it was beautiful. This trip was truly what Ben and I needed after such a difficult year. I am so grateful I felt good enough to go. Thank you to mom and dad for making it possible for us to go. I know the kids were in good hands. I'm convinced that Hawaii can cure anything! When we got back I was putting Carson to bed and he said "Mom you guys seem so much happier, Dad's face isn't all squished up anymore!" Pretty funny but it probably says a lot to what kind of load Ben has been carrying this year. He literally took all my responsibilities on so that I could rest and deal with trying to get better from the cancer. Along with still providing and taking care of the family. He has been absolutely amazing through all of this. I knew I loved him before but I have fallen deeper in love with him. He is my best friend and we will have some amazing memories together with this trip. I'm so grateful that were able to add some happiness and smiles to our memories of this year and not just the tears we have shed through this difficult journey. Hope you enjoy the pics!! Now back to reality!!!

If you want to see the pictures in full view click on "View All Images" and then click "Full Screen"

The kids are finally back from Idaho and at last it's time for school. Not seeing them for nearly 2 months they have grown up in many ways. Kaylee is in middle school. This is a big change for her. She changes to 8 different classes and has 4 minutes to get there. After the first day of school she came home and said, "I'm so sore." I said, " Sore what do you mean your sore?" She goes on to say that she was like a little rag doll being tossed and turned in the hallways with everyone trying to find their classes. It was kinda of funny. Lets just say now she holds her own. Carson loves his teacher and changes teachers for Math and Science. They have a pet lizard named Einstein and Carson thinks its pretty cool. Canyon is starting what they call A Mothers Day Out Program which is pretty much a pre-school. He'll go Monday and Thursday's. There is a picture of him and his teachers down below. He had meet the teacher night and I wasn't able to go do to the fact that I got full on Type A flu. They aren't testing for Swine flu right now but Swine flu is a Type A flu so it could be swine but they have been treating me the same. They have put me on a mask that I have to wear until my symptoms subside and I am on Tamiflu. I got sick last Saturday and I am still weak and achy from it. I can't believe I got it already. Type A is the worse flu you can get and let me tell you it is. Because of the Radiation and all that my body has been through this past year my immune system is pretty run down. This is the last thing I needed. As regards to my cancer follow up they are still slowly adjusting my meds. It's a very frustrating process but I'm trying to stay postive. We are just praying that I can stay healthy enough to enjoy Hawaii!!! I thought the background was perfect for our trip. We leave Sept 24th. Mom and Dad are flying down to take care of the kids. You have no idea how much we need this trip. We are very excited. Hope every one else is healthy.

Love the Palumbo's

Cancer Update/Post Radiation Treatment

Well here's the update. I went in for my Radiation Treatment July 13th. I was admitted Monday morning. Ben had to leave before they administered the radiation. So before I had my treatment the "Nuclear Techs" came and prepped my room. As you can see in the pictures below they covered the floors, toilet, sink, knobs, phone and pretty much anything I would possibly touch. While they were prepping the room they were explaining to me what I needed to know regarding the radiation. They said that I was receiving one of the highest doses they give and that's why I am being admitted to the hospital. They told me they didn't know how long I would be in the Hospital. They said the earliest would be Wednesday and It could be as long as a week in a half. I was shocked to hear how long this could actually take. As you can see I wanted to get out of that room as quick as possible. So finally Dr. Uy comes in with what looks like a miner's lunch box and in that was what they call a "Pig". It was a cylinder shaped chunk of heavy metal, it probably weighed 30 pounds. 30 pounds of steal I kinda of felt like superman and they were pulling out my kryptonite. Anyway in the pig the middle was hollowed out and in that was a plastic container with a pill in it. It honestly looked like I was going to take a simple Tylenol Pill but it was full of radiation and Iodine. I got really anxious and a little scared because right before they administered the pill I had to sign a waiver with all the risks that can occur after being exposed to Radiation and one of the more serious risk was Leukemia. I felt like my heart was going to come out of my chest but I knew I needed to take it so I did and I was waiting for something to happen like explode or turn green but nope it was pretty anti-climatic. Dr. Uy told me not to get out of bed and not drink anything for an hour because it was crucial not to vomit. The only way to get the radiation out was by urinating and through my sweat glans. My Radiation dose was 211 micis and to be able to be released I had to be below a 7. So I had some work to do. I drank 240 ounces of water on Monday. I pretty much lived on the toilet and I took a couple of showers. Tuesday morning they came and took my radiation level and all my hard worked paid off, I was down to a 13. I said to the Tech that I'm going to leave tonight and he said it would take a miracle to leave by Tuesday night and told me the earliest I would leave would be Wednesday night and I said, "Game on!" You watch I will leave tonight! I knew that they would come and read my levels again by 4:30 so I drank 215 ounces of water. I was anxious to see if I did it. Well the Tech came at 4:30 to read my levels again and guess what I was a 6.5!!! I did it. He just shook his head and smiled and said " You are a miracle!" I called Ben and he was shocked that I told him to come and get me. He wasn't ready for me to come home because I still had to be isolated at home for 3 days. So I slept in on Kaylee's floor on a foam pad and I had a little dvd player and they brought food up to me and would leave. This was really hard but I got through it. The radiation made me very sleepy but other than that I still just had my normal symptoms . On Monday the 20th I had to go to my body scan to see if the cancer had spread to my skull or lungs and I'm happy to report that I am Cancer Free!!! This was the most happiest and most emotional day since my diagnosis. I am so grateful and very blessed. I am now on the road to recovery. It will take a couple of months to feel what my "New Normal" will be. This is hard because mentally I'm ready to take on life again but physically I'm not there and won't be for some time. I have a lot of blood work coming up and I will have a ultrasound done in 6 months. The last few days I have been experiencing some symptoms from the radiation. I have a constant taste of Salt in my mouth along with feeling like I have metal in my mouth, this has been difficult to deal with but hopefully that will go away in a couple of weeks. I want to Thank my parents and Ben's mom, Karen for all that they have done in my behalf. Thank You doesn't seem sufficient to really express all that they have done for me and my family. Thank You to my brother and sisters and also Ben's family for their love and support. I also have felt Troy's presence and I know with all my heart he was very aware of me. I love you all.

Love Jodi