Funeral Arrangements

A viewing will be held at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 S. State, Murray, UT, on Friday, Aug. 15, from 6-8 p.m. A funeral service will be held at eh LDS church on 6350 S. Rodeo Ln., Murray, UT on Saturday, Aug 16 at 12 noon. Friends and family may call prior to the funeral, from 11 to 11:45. Burial will be at the Murray City Cemetery. Online condolences: www.jenkins-soffe.com

Marilyn Passed Away Peacefully in her Sleep

Marilyn is finally cured and out of any pain. She is now with her son Steve and other friends and family members who have already passed away. Dennis and Marilyn visited with each other until midnight last night. This morning Dennis got up to fix her breakfast and found she had passed away in the night. Additional updates will be provided.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Hi to All,

Today was quite uneventful. I was still having a Lupus attack, and so I slept all day until Todd, Michelle and kids came over for supper. It was fun to see them,

I just wish I could get feeling 100% some time.

We had such a nice weekend celebrating Jay and Lynne's wedding which took place last March in Figi. They had rented rooms at the Inn by the Creek for all of us and that night (Friday) we all went out for Mexican food, which was sooo good,

Then on Saturday, I got up and tracked a few yard sales down (who out there among you thinks I'm kidding?????) I'm NOT kidding, found a few with some

pretty good stuff and then high-tailed it for home quickly to be there by 11 a.m.

to get ready for the fun.

I didn't mention that when I'm have a Lupus flare, it inflames my stomach problems also, and so Friday night I ate and got sick, then on Saturday, same story....sick as a dog. Came home and was sick all night Saturday and then as I said before, I slept ALL day today, but I'm feeling a little better now! That's the

end of that boring story!

Now to the important part.....Dennis!! He's had a great week and I am so happy to see him so robust and feeling so well. He begins his 7 hour treatments this Wed. but the good news is that this medicine shouldn't make him sick and his hair will start to grow back (black and curly and on the top of his head and out his nose)

I just made that part up, BUT, in truth, his hair should start to come back!

Side effects include neuropathy of his hands and feet (if he's one of the unlucky ones, but then he'll have empathy for me), and a few other things that I can't remember. I only hope and pray that he will be blessed as much over these next treatments as he was with the last ones, and I know he will be if everyone keeps remembering him in their prayers ----so please, do your part in this miracle!

Our little family from Idaho start a different regimine this week. They're coming to stay Tuesday night and then she has to go into the hospital for Wed. & Thurs. to have her heart tested and to receive some bone treatments, and then her new chemo, which she will do weekly for 10 weeks. Please remember her in your prayers too. Thank you.

Well, that about covers my "journaling", hope you skipped the parts that would be boring --- hmmmmm, that would account for the whole blog. Never mind, read what you can handle and remember this is my journal.

Until next time = WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!!!!

Queenie and Kojack

P.S. I noticed none of you bid on the "Peacock"....You're missing out!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Hi There!

Another good day and it's great to have Dennis feeling so well. He worked this morning driving and this afternoon he worked around here paying bills (yuck) and helping me out. I went over and got my hair cut

(it's not quite as short as Dennis', but Mary Lynn came pretty close to giving me the "Kojack" look....luckily we both stopped talking at once and

realized we were at the "stopping" point.)

Soooo, my hair looks very nice and I appreciate M.L. for cutting it for Jay and Lynne's post wedding celebration tomorrow and the next day. We're going up to Midway for the big celebrations and I'm so excited to see everyone. It should really be fun! The reason for the "Post" celebration is because they got married in March on the beaches of Figi and of course no one could afford to make the trip, so their "re-doing" the party for the

rest of us "po-folk".

Fortunately Dennis begins his 7 hour long infusions next Wednesday, and I think those will prove to be some very looooong hours. But hey,

if he can feel this good after 4 or 5 days, I think we'll make it, by jove!

We went to a fun Youth Activity last night. They are trying to raise money for service projects and they held a "Cafe Rio" supper and then auctioned off or out-right sold items and services that people had donated. I was able to pawn off some of the twenty-million home-made cards I have been making day and night when I can't sleep. I think they sold quite a few, so that was our donation. We didn't stay til the end because we were both tired, but I did end up with some cool "his and hers" towels, and the most exciting.......drum rollllll........AN HOUR CLASS TAUGHT RIGHT HERE IN OUR VERY OWN HOME, on how to do different things on the computer!!!!! Sheri Fullmer is our teacher and she teaches this class at Taylorsville High, so I am extra excited because she is also our very wonderful Relief Society President, so I know of her capable ways! I am way excited to learn how to get

pictures to this blankety-blank Blog and just how to work the million and one things I don't understand about computers yet. I know just enough to be dangerous as you have all witnessed thus far.

Enough useless chit-chat....I'm just on a high because Dennis seems to be feeling so good and so normal, and it just makes me happy and excited. So keep praying that these kind of days will be many, many and he will beat this beast called Cancer. Remember, WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!!! Let's hear it for our man!!!!

Love from the both of us....The Queen Updater who is almost Bald,

and Baldie, the REAL one.

Now if you want to buy the beforenamed Peacock, scroll CLEAR to the
bottom of this whole page and you will see the "bird". $300 to the first caller!

Sunday, August 2, 2008

Well, I bet you all thought we flew the coop and took an extended vacation!
(We can only wish on that one). Anyway, our computer died the day we left for Ed and Teri's and we were finally able to get hold of our computer genius and before he could get here, the monitor went out too. So I hopped off to one of my favorite shopping hang-outs (D.I.) and picked up a monitor for five dollars, which was the right price, brought it home, hooked it up and our genius appeared today and pronounced the old computer "dead". Sooo, luckily, my brother Jay had given us his old computer a few weeks ago and it was in the basement on "stand-by", so we brought it up and BINGO, we were in business again. Except for the fact that I will have to re-enter all the data we lost from the old hard drive and a few major/minor things, I guess this too will pass and we are grateful to be blogging the old blog again today!

Dennis had his treatment last Wednesday....that is the half-way mark! YAY!
Next time he will have the dreaded 7 hour infusions, which means we will be spending a lot of time at the Huntsman Center...about 9 to 10 hours each time. Then he will still have to go up the next day for his booster shot. This time he says that he feels better than two weeks ago, but he is really, really tired and has been nauseated a lot. However, today he got up and went to his assigned Stake ward and then picked me up and we made it through our three hour block. We were both tired when we got home and Dennis was feeling pretty touchy in the tummy area. He's still a trooper and hanging in there with that good old positive attitude. He is a great example to all of us! Love that man!

The Andersen family arrived last Wed. shortly after Dennis got home. I had been really sick all day from a medicine the Dr. started me on. (Too high a dosage to start with and I was a gooney looney bird) Anyway, Dennis had to drive himself up and back from the infusion because I was out of it. I slept all day and that night I came back to the real world in time to visit with the Andersen's before they went to bed. Trevor is in Alaska fishing, so Barb brought her sister, Nanette to go with her, and her mother, Cindy, to stay and watch the two little ones with me. We had a fun time, and I was able to clean out my closet and send Cindy home with a bunch of my clothes that looked a lot cuter on her than me, and she was tickled to get a new wardrobe! So, we killed two birds with 3 garbage bags of clothing for her!

Barb's treatment went well, but now she is starting "weekly" treatments and then her booster shot the next day. They are going to try having an infusion in Rexburg and see how that goes. If so, then they will probably go there for two or three and to our house for one or two.

We're all anxious for the next four infusions to pass quickly so that they can have their "body scans" and determine where the cancer is or isn't.

We're praying for a lot of "isn't's", but we know who has the final say and it isn't us! So, keep those two sweet people in your prayers because,

WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!

It was so fun to be in Idaho. The kids treat us so well and going to the fair and watching Brooke come in first place in horse showmanship was really a lot more fun than watching her fall off her horse in the next event, but she wasn't hurt (except her pride). The third event was English riding which she's never done, but she looked so cute in her little outfit and she came in third place overall which I think is pretty darn

terrific for a first time try. She says now she is a "real cowgirl" because you have to fall off your horse at least once in competition. (and that she did). The Snow Shak kept Ed and Teri busy and we were glad we were there to help with the kids a little bit. We celebrated Benson's B/D and he was excited with all the new stuff and we were glad! All in all it was just good to get away and be with our loved ones!

We got home in time to say "goodbye" to Todd, as he was leaving for Korea to go help them build their new composite towers that Todd was in charge of and it 's been long enough now, that he will be home on Tues. and two weeks flew by like that! Good news on one of his inventions:

He has been asked to do a presentation at the Pentagon in August on the military satellite dish and case that he and his friend invented. Looks like they are really interested and Todd could come out with lotsa "something or other" if they all want to buy his product (and it looks like they want to) it will be fun to have someone "Famous" in our family, we'll keep you posted on the end results.

All in all we're doing fine. Just wish all the $20,000 bills on Dennis would stop coming in the mail, and wish that the Insurance would decide to pay 'every last penny" (ha ha) of the cost, but if wishes were fishes.....and we know that would never happen, so we are just ever so grateful for the blessings we have been given and for the trials too. I'm sure there is much for us to learn from this experience.

Thanks again to all of you for your love and support and prayers. Keep remembering that WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES and surely it will happen.

Hope the picture of Dennis, Barbara and the kids turns up at the bottom of this blog, believe me I've tried to get it over here from there, we'll know in a minute if I've learned the eternal question of how to post pictures on this thing.

Until tomorrow, or some day soon, Goodbye, goodnight and be good!

The Queen Updater and Kojack!

(Scroll to the end of the page to see the "picture")

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Hi,

Just a quick update: Dennis went to the urologist and he told Dennis that the bleeding is being caused by the chemo irritating things down below.....whatever that means. Anyway the Dr. put him on a stronger antibiotic and said it should help and he also told Dennis that he is a "rare one" to have breast cancer. That seems to be the consensus of anyone who hears his diagnosis. Dennis is feeling much better today and Ed and Teri have invited us to come up to their place and spend the next few days celebrating the 24th, Benson's Birthday, and just hanging out with them. It sounded great to us to have a change of scenery, so we are leaving tomorrow, (Wednesday) and won't be back until next Monday (July 28th). They are having their "Fair" days and Brooke is competing with her horse on Monday morning, so we wanted to be there for that too. Sounds fun and so you probably won't hear from us until after his next treatment (Wed. July 30th).

I went into the Dr. today and he did some blood work for my diabetes, for thyroid possibilities, and did an ekg on my heart which was beating out of my chest...so he upped my heart pill from 180 mg to 240 mgs. (Of no interest to you, but I want it for my records)
Bone Dex looked good he said, which makes me wonder what the back surgeon was drinking when he looked at my x-rays and said I had a terrible case of osteoporosis. Sooo, after I get the rest of the blood results I just keep on truckin' .

We hope you have a fun holiday week and we know we will too. It's always great to be with the family.

Love to you all, remember: "WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES"!!!!!!!

Queenie and the "rare one"

Monday July 22, 2008

Well, this has been quite a weekend. Poor Dennis has been so ill and we've run the list of what could be wrong...from too much of one medication, to reaction to antibiotic, to his urinary infection, to just plain old chemo reactions, to we give up!

We've finally decided that he was just having a bad time from the chemo
treatments and he wasn't used to getting so sick after them. He really felt like he had fallen down a deep, deep hole and couldn't dig UP...Finally, today he is feeling better in the nausea and fatigue department, but his
cancer dr. had him schedule an emergency visit to his Urologist for tomorrow and see what is going on with the bleeding. I surely hope it is nothing serious, and am so glad that they worked him in so quickly.

I've got Physical Therapy in the morning and my Internist in the afternoon, so I guess he'll be going by himself to the urologist. I'll be anxious to hear what's a happenin'. We'll keep you posted.

Yesterday he was scheduled to speak in our Ward for his High Council talk and he was REALLY sick to miss an assignment. That's the first one he's missed I think, but he couldn't have spoken anywhere! He stayed down most of the day and then Michelle had invited us to her house to eat and she and Todd fixed a wonderful Halibut and Salmon dinner and that seemed to really hit the spot for Dennis and he finally was able to eat after three days of nearly nothing. Since then his energy is up somewhat and he is trying to obey the Dr's and try to lay low for a change.

Barbara (from Idaho) called today to see how Dennis was and she is feeling fairly well, just tired she said, but trying to follow the dr's orders
and slow down too.

We brought Seth and Dallin home with us to sleep over and spend Monday with us. Todd is leaving for Korea tomorrow for work and he and Michelle had a million things to do before he leaves. Jess left for girl's camp this morning. The boys and I had a fun time...we did some crafts, painting, and then went to Walmart, the Dollar Store, and to Sonic for a slushie and then home to eat pizza! It was quite a day, but we had fun! I always love it when the kids find a day in their busy schedule to sleep over and play with Grandma and Grandpa.

Tonight Michelle and Todd picked up the boys and Dennis and I have just been doing things around the house to clean up a bit. I've been on the computer trying to work the blog in a smooth way, but I am sooooo
bad at doing anything cute, clever or darling....so here it is, just the facts.

I hopefully will have some pictures show up at the end, but who knows?
Saturday I found all the pictures of Precious on completely the wrong day and the pictures were HUGE. So much for my vast computer knowledge! Well, I just peeked at the end of this and there ARE pictures, however they have nothing to do with the blog, I just thought you might like to see some pictures of our darling grandkids! Sorry, but gee, aren't they adorable???

Well, tomorrow we'll let you know who gets to complain the loudest, me or Dennis, after our Dr. appointments. I have the feeling he will have the most reason to complain and I'll have the most pain to complain about.
(and I hope neither of us has anything to complain about)

We love and appreciate you. Thanks again for bloggin' along with us!


Queenie and her Man, and most of the grandkids!

Monday, July 22, 2008

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Good Evening:

Dennis still hasn't felt well today. He's been really tired, nauseated, and lightheaded. I feel so badly for him. I stayed awake all night last night

checking on him and after only two hours sleep I got up and asked him if he cared if I went to some garage sales and he said, "Go, I'm so tired I could sleep all day again". So with that permission, I called Todd's mom,

Joy, to see if she wanted to go too, she did and we went and had a ball.

We were supposed to go to Birthday lunches for each other, but instead when we both ran out of money, we went to I HOP and had breakfast. That was fun and we both got lotsa "bargains".

I was home before 11 and Dennis was just waking up. He has still felt

really tired all day and finally the phone rang and it was our dear Larry
Reaveley wondering how Dennis was and offering to give him a blessing.

Soon he and Chuck McHenry arrived and gave both of us a blessing and we were so grateful that our friends are so in tune as to know when to call and offer their help. Thanks so much Larry and Chuck!

Another thank you to the Broadhead Family. Their two boys, Garrett and Ben came over again and mowed our lawn. They've done it all summer so far and we are so grateful to them. They are outstanding young men and we want to thank them and their wonderful parents for teaching them how to help people. They are always so happy to help us whether it is mowing the lawn, or carrying "bargains" in from the car for me. They act like they actually "like" to help the Adams'. What great guys...Thanks so much all you Broadheads!

Again a thanks to the "Sprinkler Committee"...every other day when it goes off, I feel like standing at attention and saluting it and shouting

"HooRay for the Little Ctnwd Young and Older Men"! Boy, what a dream come true to have our water come automatically! Thanks to one and all!

(Especially Wade and Bryan). You are ALL wonderfully!

Today was an emotional day for Dennis and I as we decided we were no longer giving our little Maltese the attention she needs. We are too wrapped up in the current problems of the day. So, we asked Joy (Todd's mother) if she would be interested in adopting Precious and she said "Yes". She loves dogs and her two older dogs passed away not too long ago and she was ready to get another dog and she's tended Precious for us before and just loves her. I have to admit on the way over to Joy's I was bawling my eyes out, but when we arrived at Joy's and Precious just

jumped out of the car and ran up to her house and acted as happy as a little clam, I decided she could care less who owns her as long as she gets all the love and hugs she needs and she will get lots from sweet Joy. So

I dried my tears and thought what a great adoption placement I had just made and felt good about it...they are a good fit! Thanks Joy!

Well, I've been trying to do this blog for hours and Dennis just tried to walk down the hall and about passed out, so I think I better go do my

"nurse" job and help him....this seems so odd that I am the helper for a change and he is the one in need.

Thanks again to all of you for your thoughts and prayers.

Love ya all,

Queenie and her King

Friday, July 18, 2008

Today we said "good bye" to the Andersen family as they left to return home to Arko, ID.
We've really enjoyed having them here these past few days, they are such a great young
couple and as I mentioned before they brought their sweet sister to help with the kids and the little kids were so good and so fun. I think we all bonded even more. Before you know it we will be taking out adoption papers and adopting the whole bunch of them!
Anyway, it was a treat to have them in our home and they brought a great spirit with them.

Barbara wasn't feeling too well after her infusion, and Dennis was feeling great.....UNTIL
this morning and then it hit!..... He came home from work shortly after noon and was so pale and sick to his stomach and so tired he could hardly move. He said all morning he had just kept falling asleep and I thought, "hmmm, he is driving lawyers from courthouse to their office, not too good to be sleeping on the job". Thank goodness he made it home without any problem and just went to bed.

I was in touch with the Physician's assistant pretty much all afternoon and she called in a different pill for nausea. Apparently, the one he took this morning was supposed to be
"one every six hours" and a mistake had been written "take two every six hours", that
seemed to account for the extreme sleepiness, but the nausea and lightheadedness
were a different thing. He's on an antibiotic for his urinary tract problem, and we're hoping that it will clear up soon so he won't have to go into the urologist again. We'll just wait and see, but I surely hate to see him feeling so rotten. I guess it is to be expected with the chemo, but he's been so lucky so far that I was assuming that he would just breeze through this like a champ! (silly me) Anyway, new request: don't forget to pray for him (and also Barbara). Thank you!

So, as you can tell we've had a pretty low-key day. I did at least shower! (The neighbors
have quit complaining about the odor in the air), and I feel better even if I don't look any
better! Jay (my brother) just called and said he and Lynne are dropping off some nectarines for us. They have been so darn sweet and thoughtful throughout this whole time, they'll never know how much we love and appreciate all their kindnesses. So,
Jay and Lynne, if you're reading this...We love you and thank you for EVERYTHING!

Marilyn and her Man

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Here we are again. Just a note to let you know about today's events. Barb and Trevor went to her treatment at 8:30 a.m. The treatment went well, and here on the home-front it went very well too. Kaeloni was a wonderful help,
(I would say more like she was the head babysitter and I was the babysitter-
watcher). Anyway, the kids were so good and Kaeloni and I enjoyed getting to know each other better. She is such a sweet girl and her name in Hawaiian means "Heavenly Child", and she is truly just that! I hope she can come every time they come for Barb's treatment. We've really enjoyed having the Anderson gang here and have bonded more and more. Boston wasted no time in calling us Grandma and Grandpa and wanted us to be with him most of the time. He was really cute and little Brynn would just coo and giggle the whole time. So all in all, we had a very good day.

The nurse called from Dr. Ward's office and said that Dennis' urinalysis yesterday showed a few problems: (1) blood in the urine (2) bacteria in the urine and (3) sugar in the urine. So, she called in an antibiotic and said if it doesn't clear up within the week, to get hold of Dr Middleton and see if the bleeding has anything to do with his prostrate problems. They don't want
ANY kind of infection, so red flags waved with vigor today when they checked his test. Hopefully, the antibiotic will clear things up quickly. Other than that problem, he feels fine and is High Council Meeting right now.

On the other hand, poor little Barbara looked so pale tonight and is feeling quite nauseated. My heart ached watching her trying to take care of her little ones and not having the energy or clear stomach to do what she wanted to do. Thank goodness for Trevor, who is so good to her and Kaeloni, who is the "lifesaver" personified! I just hope and pray that a good night's sleep and a few days will help her regain her normal self again and she won't feel so crumby. Again, we ask for your prayers in her behalf as well as in Dennis'.

Not much else to report in on, just wanted to touch base and let you know that we are all in survival mode, some more than others, and we are praying for tender mercies and mighty miracles in behalf of both Dennis and Barbara.

Thanks again for listening and caring and sharing and praying and everything else you wonderful friends and family are doing to make our lives easier.

Blogger Woman and her Man!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Hi There,

Well, #3 down and done! We were at the Huntsman Center for way too many hours today because they were so darn busy. Every chair in the infusion room was taken, so we just had to wait for Dennis' turn. When it finally came (at 2 p.m.) it took another 3 1/2 hours to do the infusion, so we didn't get home until after 6 p.m. Luckily, just as we drove up, the Anderson's from Idaho were just arriving and so we jumped out to greet them and see the beautiful new car they purchased today and then rushed them off with us to the neighborhood children's parade and dinner. They were probably totally overwhelmed at meeting so many new people, but they were so gracious and so nice and everyone kinda knew about them from reading our blog, so they were actually kinda like "movie stars" in their own right! The children were so cute, and Boston felt right at home riding around on any scooter, bike or car that he could find. He even found a helmet and put it on. He's a cute little guy. Brynn is a darling, chubby little girl who smiles at the drop of a hat and is such a good 4 month old baby. They brought Trevor's sister,

Kaloni, who is 15 and such a sweet girl, to help with the kids while they are at treatment tomorrow. I'm sure all will go well and I just hope she does as well with her chemo as Dennis has done so far!

We've taken some pictures, but of course I can't remember how to download them, so I'll fuss around tomorrow until I figure it out and will post pictures then. In the meantime, it's 10:30 pm

and we're all tired and ready for bed, so we'll call it a day ---- in fact we'll call it a GOOD DAY!

and be grateful once again for the tender mercies of the Lord in helping Dennis with these

treatments. We do believe in miracles and we thank you for believing in them too.

Thanks and good night!

Blogger Woman and Her Man of Iron!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Well, it's the night before the next chemo day and I am a little nervous about the big #3, but Dennis is as calm as calm, so I am hoping the Lord will extend another tender mercy to us and let Dennis go through the treatment without any side effects. We have been so blessed up to now!

Our adorable little Anderson couple from Arko, ID, will be arriving tomorrow night to stay with us while she has her treatment on Thursday.
We are really excited to have them stay with us, I just wish I could get around the house better to "unclutter" a few rooms. I think I will have them sign a paper tomorrow that they will promise NEVER TO REVEAL
the shape of our clutter, whoops, I mean HOME! Honestly, it's not horrid, but it's been better. With all our dr. appts. and therapy and chemo, etc., etc., I hurt too badly to walk in another room, and Dennis is so busy doing other things that he only has time to do so much! Oh well, I know they'll have clean sheets on the bed and I know that we will all enjoy being together and in the eternal perspective of things, that's all that really counts!

My niece, Lori, called today to tell us that she knows some people from
Arko, ID, and so she and I are so excited to tell the Anderson's about them and let Lori talk on the phone with them. You'd have to know EVERYONE in the town the size of Arko! Anyway, what a coincidence!
I failed to mention that Lori was on her mission with two people from Arko and she said they must have good stuff in the water because these two friends of hers are just outstanding!

I guess I better get moving and do something instead of sitting here stalling on the Blog. Again, please pray for Dennis that things will continue to go well and that they will for Barbara too. We love you all and thank you for reading this, praying for us, and just caring. God bless all of you!

Queenie and her King

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Just a quick (she always says) update. This has been a busy, but fun week having Teri, Ann and Adam staying with us while all the "older"

kids and two dads went into the Unitas for a few days. They returned home safely, but not without a few problems. Apparently one of Todd's horses didn't like the idea of carrying every one's "stuff" and was pretty "spooky", enough so that coming out they had to leave a lot of the equipment up there and then Todd went up with another horse the next day to get all of the things they had left when the horse wouldn't carry anything. I can't blame the horse, I wouldn't want to carry everything and watch the people walk in with ease!

Anyway, I feel badly that Todd had to make the "extra" trip in, but he went, he retrieved, he came home safely. That's his story and I'm stickin' to it!

The kids all had a blast. Except for the mosquitoes grabbing them on every part of their bodies, and having to walk miles and miles and miles, and all the other good stuff (like no REAL bathrooms), they are young enough to think it was wonderful! They are looking forward to going again next year.

Matt had a great experience at EFY and although he missed out on the fishing trip, he learned so much and grew even more spiritually from the wonderful time in Provo. It's extra special to him because Steve was so involved with EFY and that's where he and Deanne met. Steve was a Leader over groups of counselors and Deanne was the cutest counselor in the place.....so naturally they hooked up and the rest was history.

I haven't talked to Deanne yet, but she was in a Triathlon this past weekend and I'm anxious to hear how she did. Swimming, biking and running. Oh, kill me right now even thinking of doing it.

Dennis was able to go to Church today, in fact, TWO churches. He went to our ward and then went to another ward for their Ward conference. He has the new "Kojack" look and took a lot of kidding about it, but people were so happy to see him and everyone was so kind and concerned about how he was doing. He was his usual happy, positive self and I've decided that he has a very nice perfectly shaped head to wear his new "do". We both went in to renew our temple recommends and that is always special to have an interview with the Bishop and look inside to see how worthy you really are.

Our Bishop is such a wonderful man. I've talked about him before, but he never ceases to amaze me. He is so young in years, but so wise and caring in his love for the people of our ward. I have had a bit of trouble lately with my emotions and I cry at the drop of a hat. He was kind enough to take too much time with me, but gave me a beautiful blessing and I felt and feel so much calmer and better since. He is the type of person that never makes you feel like you are taking too much of his time and is so sincere and so in tune. If you're reading this, Bishop Arrigona, thank you so much for all you do for us and everyone else. He also interviewed Dennis and was so kind and helpful to him also. We both feel so blessed to have him as our Bishop during this time.

Talked for a minute with our cute little Idaho couple and they are planning to come and stay with us this week when she and Dennis have their treatments. She has lost her hair too, but her husband said she had a great week as far as not being sick like before. I am so glad to hear that, she is such a darling. We are going to talk tonight to finalize plans for this week. Thanks for remembering her in your prayers too!

This may be the end of this "short" (ha ha) blog, and it may not be..depending if anything exciting or interesting happens in the next few hours, but for now, good night and thanks again for your love, support and prayers!

Blogger Woman and her Kojack!

P.S. Nothing exciting happened, so good night and we send our love!

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Hi There,

Here we are again! I can't believe it is Wednesday already. Dennis starts infusion (chemo) therapy on Wednesdays starting next week. They were on Thursdays before. That is actually a better day for him as he is not as busy at work on Wednesdays and can take it off easier. Our sweet new friends from Idaho, (The Anderson's) will still have her treatments on Thursday, so hopefully they will be here to stay with us next week. We are anxious to have them stay with us.

As I said before, Teri and her two youngest have been with us since Monday when the older kids went with Ed and Todd to the Unitas's to hike in and fish. We've had a fun time! Teri and Michelle hung out together today and had a ball taking the little ones to a water park in Herriman, going to the temple and then going out to eat. Teri and Ann just got home and Adam decided to spend the night at Michelle's with Dallin. So
I think everyone is happy. The rest of the troops will be back tomorrow night and then the Hegemann's will head back to Idaho to resume making their "millions" on their Snow Shak and Firework's Stand. They have really done well on both of them so far this summer, but it's hard to leave and trust other people to run them for you. But, they found some good reliable people and so far everything seems to be running well. They've taken on quite the responsibilities with these little adventures!

Teri went to the Dr. for her "pregnancy" check up and they heard the heartbeat of the baby and so that is exciting. She is POSITIVE it's a boy, and I'm leaning towards a girl. I think because I have so many little girl outfits put away for her. Oh well, HE will look just "darling" in little girl pink!

Michelle is doing better after all her accidents this past month. She can now (#1) turn her head, (#2) put some weight on her knee and (#3) her bruises from being thrown from Jay's boat are starting to heal! The last one was a REAL journal entry. Dennis was driving the boat, Michelle was sitting in the top captain's chair, and Dennis turned to say something to Todd, hit a wave and Michelle catapulted about 30 feet into the air and into Strawberry Reservoir (without a life jacket)....oh, what COULD
have happened is scary to think about, but luckily all she ended up with were many bruises and a panicked family and Dad. After they rescued her and realized she was going to live, Dennis and Todd chuckled, but the kids were still shook up by the time they got home. They love their mom and it wasn't funny at all to them!

I'm still limping around with my toes, feet and hip; but I have had my new "bridgework of teeth" installed by our dear friend, Martin Bingham. He did a great job and it is one of the best, if not the best, crown threesome I've ever had (and I've had my share). He is an excellent dentist and I would recommend him highly if any of you are looking for a good one. We have so much fun laughing when I go in, he has to schedule 3 hours for a half hours worth of work...I keep talking and he can't get his hands in my mouth! (Imagine that, I TALK TOO MUCH!)

Dennis is trying to get used to the idea of being a "skin head", but he says it is a lot better than sitting there watching his hair fall into his cereal milk! I'm getting used to it, but he still looks so different to me! Handsome as ever, of course, but different.
He hasn't had to shave in a few days, so the hair on his face is gradually disappearing.
His eyebrows and eyelashes are starting to retreat and we're guessing if the nose-hairs will go or not! If any of you have been through this experience, what happened with you?

I went to water aerobics again this morning and it was wonderful again. What beautiful weather (at 8:30 in the morning) and so refreshing and great to start the day that way. I am so grateful to live in such a beautiful part of the Lord's vineyard.

Well, this was supposed to be a short update (what was that about me talking too much????) Anyway, I proved my point - I DO go on and on. We're fine, the Lord is so good to us and we love Him so very much for all He is doing and has done to help us get through the beginning of this "different" experience. Thanks again for all you do for us, we apparently need all the prayers you can spare! Bless you all!

Queenie and her man

Pictures of "the man" (Kojack)

Teri and all the kids are having way too much fun
cutting all sorts of designs in Dennis' hair. Today
he will go from "Hair Today and Gone Tomorrow" and
"Skin is In" > He does a mighty fine Kojack impression!



We are sharing a very devastating trial with our family and friends. But, by sharing, we feel the love from you coming back to us like the tides in the ocean; ever so beautiful and comforting and returning over and over. You show us again and again that you are always there calming our souls and helping the Lord to answer our prayers. Whatever will be will be....we will trust in Him. Thank you, and may you be blessed for your kindnesses to us.

Marilyn and Dennis

Monday July 7, 2008

Good Evening to all of you.....

Today was the day called: "Hair today = Gone Tomorrow"!

We had the official shaving of the head of Grandpa. Brooke, Benson, Adam, Ann and Sam were all here to witness and participate in the cutting of the bald. We got some great pictures, but when I downloaded them, of course through my usual vast computer knowledge, the pictures have again spun into outer darkness and until Ed comes back here, we have no hope of retrieving them! Oh well, if not tonight, tomorrow.

All the kids were grossing out because Dennis' hair was coming out in handfuls since the chemo last Thursday. Dennis was eating some cereal and looked down in the milk and low and behold there were clumps of hair floating in the milk.....yuck! Luckily, Teri and Ed and kids were coming down tonight so that Ed and Todd could go into the Unitas's with the oldest kids and backpack for a few days. They were all excited and I am so excited to have Teri and the two younger ones stay here with Me and Michelle and Dallin...we will lots more fun staying clean than they will wallowing in the dirt! Dennis has always gone in with them, but his energy level isn't at the highest right now, so he'll stay home and be with the "girly-girls". But, we'll love having him here with us!

Tomorrow I get to have my bridge with the teeth put back in by the noted genius, Dr. Martin Bingham. What a blessing he is to us. I'll be so glad to have "real, fake" teeth once again.

Tonight Ann is having so much fun chasing our poor dog around the house. I think she's mad at her, because they are trying to get the binky away from Ann, and when I threw the
binky to Teri, she caught it and said, "Oh no, Precious caught your binky and ate it all gone. Will you share with Precious?" Ann looked all over and then said, "Okay I will share my binky with Precious". And then she hasn't mentioned it since. I guess she really thinks the dog ate it. However, the dog is paying the price because she is chasing her and throwing everything she picks up at the dog and then says, "I love you Precious". Pretty tricky!

Well, time to put the little ones to bed. Just wanted you to know that "Kojak has been reincarnated and Dennis does a mighty fine imitation of him now." Actually, he has a nice shaped head and looks really good.....as they say, "Skin is in" and boy, is he ever in!

Sleep tight and maybe the "bald pictures will magically appear".

Thanks again for your caring and sharing. WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!!!!

Queen Updater

Happy 4th of July, 2008!!

Happy 4th! Are we a blessed nation, or what? I just hope with the way politics are going (or not going) we can stay that way. We really do need to
pray constantly for our elected officials. (Where the heck did that blog of
political wisdom come from????) Anyway, let's do it!

We are so happy to report that Dennis is still feeling fine today! No one, even
at the Huntsman can believe how well he is doing. Hip Hip Hooray! He went up for his "booster shot" today and was able to drive himself up and back. It was a good thing because as I was bragging about my energized spirit the last few days......well, it flew the coop and the body came out and let me know where I really stand (lay). Anyway, I was so hyped last night about Dennis that I didn't sleep much (as usual), and I got up at 4 a.m. and started repainting the bathroom mirror which I decided during the night looked awful.....well, at
5 a.m. it didn't look much better, so I started over and by 7 a.m. I didn't care
how it looked, I was exhausted. I started to try to do a couple of little things
and the old body said, "Whoa, we're spending the day in bed". The body won
and I slept nearly all day, waking only to open my eyes, think, "I ought to move", and then go back to sleep. I think I've just had Dennis and treatments on my mind so much and when it was finally over and everything good, so far, I just collapsed! It sure felt good and I am STILL in my nightgown and getting ready to go to bed when I finish this Blog! THAT my friends is the height of laziness, and I loved it!

Well, I hope the rest of you got to do some fun things to celebrate the 4th, but it was so darn hot again I don't think I would have gone outside even if I had been awake! (I know, I'm pathetic).

This is a short one, but just wanted you to know that all is well still today, and for that wonderful blessing we could not be happier. Thank you again dear ones, for your thoughts, cares and prayers.....and what's our motto????

"WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!!!" Yeah, don't forget it!



Love to you all,

Queenie, the Blogger-Woman

Thursday, July 3, 2008 - A double YaHoo Kinda Day!

HELLO EVERYONE!

This has been one heck of a dippity do dah day!!!! The second chemo treatment and no sickness, no tired, no nothing---but good! Oh, how grateful
we are to the Lord for this wonderful tender mercy He is showing so far to Dennis and myself. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and thoughts and fasting and caring and love!!

We hit the Huntsman Center at 10:30 a.m., and after they had determined that Dennis' blood counts were okay to have the infusion today,and they were, they shipped us down to the infusion room and started the IV at about 11:00 a.m. and ended at 3:30 and all went sooooo well. I just cried (as usual) but for happiness and thankfulness and all that good stuff. The dr. and nurses and infusion nurses could not believe that he didn't get sick or real tired from the first treatment and son of a gun, so far (and I say that with my knees on the ground and my fingers crossed, just in case) he is feeling perfectly normal! We are both so relieved and happy for this one more week of pure blessing.

I just called to him a minute ago to make sure I could write this blog and say
"all is well, all is well", and he said "Go for it!" So, here we are, going for it!

The darling little couple that I mentioned in our earlier blog, the ones from
Idaho, were there again and we saved them a seat next to us again so we could finalize the plans of them staying with us when she has her infusions.
Bless her heart, she's had it rougher this time than Dennis, but I told her to remember that she just had a new baby 3 months ago and her body is trying to regain health from that and then to have to go through a double radical mastectomy and then start all this chemo, we think she is a miracle to just be here.

We invited them to stay with us throughout her treatments. It's silly for them to pay for a motel when we have plenty of room for them, so they are planning to stay with us for the rest of her treatments. She is on Thursdays, but they changed Dennis to Wednesdays now, so that will work out well. They can come Wednesday, after Dennis' treatment and then we can watch their two little kids on Thursday while she has her treatment. Then they can stay over and get her shot the next day and then head home and not have to leave her little ones so often. They are just the cutest, sweetest little couple and Dennis and I just love them already. I think this will be a great experience for all of us. We can kinda help build each other up. Please add her to your prayers too...her name is Barbara and his is Trevor (Anderson) and they are from Arko, ID, (not Akron, like I said in the first blog...duh). Their little two and a half year old boy is Boston, and the baby girl is Brynn. I just hope and pray she can have an easier time this time than last. I told her that her tender mercy from the Lord was that her new baby has been sleeping all through the night since Barb had her first surgery. That for sure is a blessing.

Anyway, as you can tell by how many times I ask you to pray for yet another person, you can see that our circle of friends is growing through this trial and we feel fortunate to be able to be of some help to some other children of our Heavenly Father. Thank you for helping out in the prayer department, how grateful we are for you dear, dear friends and family. We got such nice notes from Dennis' two sisters, Diane and LuAnn, wishing him the best and of course from our children and Linda and Carol and Dale and their children, aunts and uncles, cousins, in-laws and out-laws, friends and more family and friends...wow! It's overwhelming, in such a wonderful way. We really have a great support group when we start to count. And of course, we are so grateful for the thoughtfulness of Dennis' dear Mother, Effie. We both love her so much and are so inspired by her 91 years of service to her fellow beings and her Father in Heaven. What a wonderful example of love and kindness, and being humble (and the list goes on) she is and has always been. She has been through so many trials and yet she is always so positive and happy and willing to help......Gee, I wonder where Dennis gets all those same great qualities from???? She is a perfect elect lady, and Mom, we love you!

I've had so much energy lately, if I could just not hurt so badly, I could tear thru this house in 5 minutes, but the body moves slowly and the spirit moves quickly, so yesterday the "spirit" painted the bathroom vanity, cleaned out the linen closet, went to water aerobics, went to physical therapy, cleaned the toy room downstairs, did loads of washing and then the body grabbed the spirit and said, "Stop it you fool or you'll never be able to walk again!" With that, I collapsed on the bed with elephant-size swollen ankles and every bone in my body screaming for relief (dramatic enough for you?) and tried to go to sleep, but again that little old spirit of mine was too worn out to go to sleep, so I laid there all night and "thought" about what I should be doing. By this morning a sore throat had set in and I'm doing my best to steer clear of Dennis; I would die if I got him sick.

By the way this is the week he should start losing those silver strands of hair.
Shall we try to guess how many hairs a day he will lose? Send in your vote to our "comment" blog and the one closest will win a check signed personally by us for TWO MILLION DOLLARS!!! There is one small catch,
please don't try to cash it or you and we will all be embarrassed to death. But it's a nice thought and a fun little contest. Whoops, I can tell my energy is lagging and I better close before this is called the dopey blog instead of the
"He did it again" blog!

Thanks again to all of you---- we send our love and we really do BELIEVE IN
MIRACLES!!!!!

Love,

Queenie

July 1st, already - wow! 2008

Hi There Again,

Boy, this one should be good....I'm so tired I can't see straight, but wanted to blog a little
blogger before I hit the sack. Try, try, try as hard as you can to make sense of this, when I talk 'bout my man!


Today I finished my "go-fer" duties and got the van registered, new windshield in it to pass inspection and made the overwhelming trip to the DMV to renew everything! There were at least six zillion people there doing pretty much the same as I was and I think I was one of about 8 people who spoke English and were Caucasion! Talk about feeling in the minority! Whew. Of couse after receiving my number, the only seat available was sitting next to a very "leave me alone" young Africian American man. I could tell he wasn't in the mood to chat, so of course I began chatting with him. What an eye opener. I shared with him our "death trail" over the past few years and he looked at me and said, "Ma'm I don't know how you can deal with all of these deaths in your family and still seem happy and normal (well, we all know that normal is not a very good description of me, but hey, this was our first meeting) He had lost a half sister to cancr and a half brother who had been shot to death. He had so many problems, that my heart went out to him. We finally sat there long enough, that we were bonded and best friends when all of the sudden it was my turn to pay up or ship out. After I finished, I felt I must do something to help him. He seemed so alone and so needy. He has no family just he and a world whom he feels there is no one who cares whether he lives or dies. The feeling of wanting to help him was so strong that I went back to him and said, would you mind if I prayed for you? He said, "no Ma'm, I would apprecite it, I haven't got anyone I trust enough to think they would care enough to do that". I told him that I would, I got his name and then I asked him if he would pray for Dennis and he got teary and said he would be happy to do that. He told me his name was Alex Polk, and I am putting out a plea that if any of you need someone else to pray for, please add his name to your list and pray that he might find peace and feel love from someone, especially our Heavenly Father....and if you're really into this like I am, pray that some way, some how, the missionaries might find him and teach him the gospel. I told him I was LDS and that being a member and believing as we do is what gets me through each day. Wow, that was a long story, but I can't get him off my mind and thought I'd give all our blog readers a chance to pray for a poor lost soul. Thanks for remembering Alex in your prayers, that could be another miracle!

After that I ran errands and then came home dead-tired, but couldn't stop until I'd done a few washings and cleaned the toy room. Now that was a little too ambitious of a plan, but I worked until 10:30 pm when Dennis came home from fishing with Todd, Michelle and kids.

That is another amazingly scarey story. They were in Jay's boat, having a ball, catching fish, when Dennis turned to say something to Todd and hit a wave and Michelle sitting up top in the captain's chair literally flew 30 to 40 feet off the boat and into the water...with no life belt on. I'll tell you that Dennis and Todd and the kids were paniced and poor Michelle was out playing "Little Mermaid" in the water. Thank goodness she was okay, they got her in the boat, stripped her down to some warm, dry clothes and continued fishing!
That could have been such a tragedy and thank goodness the Lord was watching out for them and everything turned out okay including the fact that they caught a gazillion fish and the kids had a ball. Then a storm came up and they fought huge waves, getting literally soaked to death with Dennis driving as slow as possible to get them to shore.
All in all, Seth said that part was the funnest! Better than Lagoon! Dennis could finally laugh about everything after they got home, but it was panic-ville for a few times. We said a very grateful prayer when he got home!

I'm finishing this on Wednesday morning, because I fell asleep so many times typing last night that nothing was readable. Today there is too much to read!

Tomorrow is the big 2nd treatment....I am nervous about it, but as Dennis says, "Don't worry about what hasn't happened yet." So, I'll keep you posted on how he does.

Again, thanks for all your faith and prayers! You are loved by us. And thank you to those who have posted comments, it means so much to us to read and hear what you are thinking and what you have to say to us. Until tomorrow!......

The Blessed Bunch
Mama Blogger reporting

Monday Evening, June 30, 2008

Different views of Dennis BEFORE the dreaded chemotherapy magically takes his hair away





Hi There!

Thought I'd try to put a few pictures in the blog of Dennis before he loses all of his hair. Supposedly he is supposed to start losing it by this next treatment, which is the upcoming Thursday. I wanted to prove that he really did have some hair before the chemo takes it's toll. So there he is, my handsome Prince!
It only took me 49 thousand hours to get these pictures posted, but I was determined and by darn, I don't know how I did it, but I did. I'm so proud!

Today Dennis worked a full day and did well. I was assigned to go and get the Van's emissions checked, oil changed and order a new front windshield. Mission accomplished! By tomorrow we should be able to assign me to go and get it registered again. I'm turning into a good little
"go-fer". I need to be able to do all kinds of things if Dennis takes a turn for the sicker, but I have great faith in him because of his great attitude, that he will stay well through the whole process!

An interesting sidelight that I'm sure I wouldn't remember years down the road. A young woman e-mailed me the other day and said she had been receiving e-mails from me about Dennis and from my pictures, she felt she knew me, but didn't know how or where. She has been reading the "blog" and said she had been praying for Dennis also. Her mother passed away of cancer a year and a half ago and she had great empathy for what we are going through. She has seven children and lives in Pleasant Grove. Well, this made me curious because I knew NOT
her name and e-mailed her back and asked her to call and chat with me. She called today and we had a wonderful conversation, but still can't figure out how she started receiving my e-mails and then why she started reading the blog. But, she was such a sweet young thing, about the age of our kids, and I really enjoyed meeting her on the phone. When she is in Salt Lake she said she would call me and we can get together and try to solve the mystery of "how she knows me". I guess I just have one of "those faces"! Anyway, that was a nice benefit of writing this blog. You meet new, very nice people.

Tonight for family night, we are having an activity.....Dennis is trying to unclog all our sinks that are so slooooow in draining. Success on the bathrooms, they now drain quickly! Yay for Dennis.
Next, he is going to install some sliding shelves under cabinets for me that I bought at a garage sale (so what else is new?) Anyway, I have about 6 of them and at least 6 places to put them.
Soooo, as I said, tonight is Activity Night for us!

I also started back to swimming aerobics this morning and I could not believe how beautiful the weather was and the water was heavenly. They had to drag me out when it was over! I can't wait to do it again this week. So, there are many fun and good things happening around here and we try to not think about the dreaded Thursday coming this week.

Have a good night and gee, what a bonus----two blog entries today (sorry). Love ya all.

Marilyn and Dennis

(Queenie and her Prince!)