Good News!

It is time for Good News Tuesday! Here is some Good Smith News!

1) Ryan officially has stage 2 colorectal cancer, which is way better than stage 3 or 4.

2) It hasn't spread at all to any lympnodes or other organs.

3) The doctor told us that this is totally curable and treatable.

4) Treatment and recovery will take about 6 months to a year, which is less time than an elephants pregnancy.

4) Ryan and I had lunch at Chuckarama today (salads for Ryan, everything else for me.)

5) Simon got 5 belt loops at his Scout Court of Honor tonight.

6) Preston landed a solo part in a play he auditioned for; "Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat."

7) Annie, Owen, Calvin, and Cricket are happy, healthy and none of their teachers contacted me today to report any problems (which is always considered a good news day.)

Thanks for all of your love, prayers, jokes, treats, meals, cards and kisses (mostly from Ryan and Annie, and Cricket.) We feel the support, and it warms our hearts.  XOxooXoXO

The kids and I found this card for Ryan, Isn't it silly?!

The inside says something like " It's not the speed that counts, just as long as you recover." It's probably more clever than that, but I can't remember it right now.

Ryan at the Chuck. 

Games after Scouts.

A mom and baby elephant. 

Vanilla Gorilla

A nick name that I have for Ryan is "My Vanilla Gorilla".  Shortly after we started dating, we snuck into a nearby apartment complex to go swimming (Ryan's idea) and that's when I got really scared/excited about the future. This man was hairy, like really hairy, which could only mean one thing: he's a real man. And that meant that I could actually marry this real man (as opposed to all of the boys I dated in high school.)  I've always loved his hairy chest, but with chemo looming, my Vanilla Gorilla might turn into a Hairless Cat (which is a loving nickname we have for one of my favorite male relatives who might have 3 chest hairs total.) Anyways, on Saturday we were killing time at the DI and Ryan found this shirt that says "God made a few perfect heads, on the rest he put hair." What a perfect shirt, a shirt that would have been almost meaningless just 8 days ago.  I have every confidence that Ryan will be able to rock a bald look.  I am hoping that when it grows back, it will be red and curly, like Napoleon Dynamite, and naturally, Ryan is hoping for that as well.

What are the odds that he would find this little gem in our local thrift store (aka the D.I.?)

Our special Sunday dinner was a delicious manicotti that a friend made for us a few days ago. First of all, it tasted fab, but secondly, I simply loved how she wrote the instructions on the foil. "Hello, I'm Manicotti!"

Its... A.... Baby!

The test results came back this week, and I'm not making a girl. I mean I'm making a boy.  A healthy (yeah!!!!!), darling, handsome, boy that won't be lacking in boys to hang out, since he will be my FIFTH son. Mercy. I don't think I'm a great boy mom, I just think that Ryan is a better "Boy Dad" than I am a "Girl Mom." Either way, it is what it is. I promised Annie a girl trip, and considering that she has been praying for a baby sister for literally 2+ years, she handled the news remarkably well.  Probably better than I did. To quote the Rolling Stones (which was what my Father in Law did during his visit):

You can't always get what you want, 

you can't always get what you want, 

you can't always get what you want,

But if you try sometimes you just might find, 

You get what you need, 

You get what you need -- yeah, oh baby boy*

I put the "boy" on the end of that song.

I love our local grocery store Dicks Market. I ordered a cake because Annie wanted a "Cut the Cake" reveal.

Annie and I bought these outfits at Costco. 

Blue Velvet with cream cheese frosting.

The suspense of the cut was so much fun!

This is turning into an Owen / Annie painting trend.

It looks like lake water.

Our "Super Saturday" women's meeting, also known as a women's conference was awesome.

The Them was "Faith, not Fear." We had a talk on faith, a lovely musical number, breakfast and lunch, classes on journalling, scriptures, meal planning, electronic less activities with kids, and lots of chatting and bonding. 10 points to all those who chipped in to make it a wonderful event.

I won a cake! Lesley put my name in the raffle, and it was 1 of three winners.  Her arms are more toned so I had her hold the prize for the pic.

The Miracle of Flight

On Friday, my sister in law provided one of many tender mercies for this week. After appropriately naming this week my "Week from H***" she hopped on the phone with my womb-mate, and decided that she could either send me flowers, or send me my twin.  I'm so grateful that she opted for sending an actual person!  Hanging out with my twin was the perfect medicine for the weekend. 10,000 points for the John and Robin Holman team.  I can't thank them enough (and I am certainly embarrassing them right now, but since we don't live in the same state, what are they gonna do about it?!) I'm also grateful to my brother in law who, with about two hours notice, let his wife take-off for the weekend. If wishes are fishes, the Ryan Smiths will see family in AZ for the holidays, we will hug every member, pigout together and listen to stories and ridiculous jokes, but at this point, I'm in personal inventory mode, and I have been blessed more than I deserve. My Family Rocks!!!!

We had a little more heads up about Lesley's visit then we did with Ryan's parents, so Les got a sign.  But I promise that the next visit from Grandma Linda and Grandpa Ed will result in a crazy, amazing sign. I'm pleased Simon drew his signature high heeled dog.

Update

Dear Family and Friends,
Mercy, what a week! I would love to communicate the Smith news to each of you personally, but that seems a very impractical route to take, so let me start with the update and then I'll finish with the thanks.  My dear, handsome, smart, talented, kind, hardworking, 38-year old husband has been officially diagnosed with CRC, which stands for Colorectal Cancer.  Not cool. We have one more test to go, which is scheduled for Tuesday,  that will help us determine the proper route for treatment.  Tests have determined that the cancer has not metastasized (leaped into other organs). His surgeon has told us that prognosis looks excellent, that he can beat this.  It will be a yucky 9 months to a year.  Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are on the horizon.  So is baby #6, due mid March.   If Ryan doesn't take me to Hawaii next summer, I will be very put out. It is impossible to list all of the many kindnesses that have lifted our spirits during this crappy (pun intended) week: rolls, dinners, pretzels, cookies, brownies, flowers, doughnuts, emails, texts, messages, cards, books, and especially all of the prayers, from near and far.  We have felt the peace and comfort that comes from such acts of service, and from a loving Heavenly Father who has sent the Comforter, and angels, to our family.  I hope this post finds all of you well. I am sorry that the news of this diagnosis has caused many of you to shed some tears on our behalf, but please know that we know that God is at the helm, cancer sucks, and we will be okay.
Hogs and Kisses,
Lindsey Joy Smith
Loving, Devoted, Attractive, Trophy Wife

One of the kids asked when we would be done with all of these Dr. visits.  

So Ryan read them a book we got from the Huntsman Cancer Center, basically letting them know that this Dr. stuff will be the new normal until they finish school this year. 

I love Ryan's reading voice.

Goodies

So many people have expressed love, support, dropped of food, made offers to babysit, clean, and even massage my feet! (well no one has offered that yet, but I'm biding my time, waiting for the right moment...) Truth: I'm exhausted.  Warmed by the outpouring of love.  Grateful Ryan's Dad was here to usb along procedures that normally take weeks, and thankful that his mom could man the home whilst we were up at the hospital.  Details to come. XOXOX for now. Below are a few pics of the day.

Athen got herself stuck in the sludign glass door An easy fix, but it was really darling to see her like that.

Ryan and his Dad.

They look so much alike.

Lemon cake, mmmmmm

With a personal invitation to the cancer club

A dear Friend made this for me.  I love it!

Dogs are soothing in times of of trouble.

Lovely flowers!

There have been way to many people for me to even to attempt to photograph the goodies, or document each kind gesture.  Above is what I had the energy to picture.

Goodnight.

Keep Your Head Up

Yesterday (Monday) I took Ryan in for a procedure and we went out with a diagnosis. He has colon cancer.  We left the facility a little low, but naturally headed to Nielsen's Frozen Custard to celebrate this new road that we will be traveling together. Some complications from the procedure arose and since that time, we have had two visits to the ER.  We know nothing about the stage of cancer; only that I personally think that having colon cancer is lame, but at 38 years old, it's especially lame.  Time will tell where this new development takes our family.   Many songs, especially hymns, have been running in my mind the last two days, but a favorite came into my mind today, and it made me smile.  It's by Andy Grammar, and is titled "Keep Your Head Up." I can do that. We can do that together,  I am confidant that my Heavenly Parents are watching over us. I feel Their love and the support, and the prayers from all of my dear family and friends. Thank you for the meals, emails, texts, babysitting (yeah Preston!) Priesthood blessing, and for Ryan's parents who arrived tonight to pitch in as needed.  Life in unpredictable, and at this time of reflection, we count you all among our greatest blessings. Go hug someone!

I had this for lunch today at the hospital. It was pretty lame.

Ryan didn't let me take a hospital picture. It's not like I would try to post it on my blog...:~)