Well right now things are going ok. I went to my pain doctor last week. I asked him how I can get off my pain meds. He gave me this medicine that is used normally for high blood pressure, but can also be used to help me. It is a sedative. This was the Thursday right before Easter. Randy and I decided that this would be a great weekend to get off since he had Friday off for Good Friday. Needless to say, I did. I practically slept all Easter weekend. Sweet Randy took care of the boys for me. Easter Sunday I managed to go to Church. I had to walk out at Sacrament meeting to take care of Cameron since I was falling asleep. It wasn’t because the speakers were boring, it was because of the medicine I was on. We made it home to do a very fun easter egg hunt with Ricky and Michael. We bought eggs that had stickers for a clue to where the other egg was hidden. There was 32 eggs hidden all around the house. We hid the eggs the night before luckily. I was so surprised how much fun it was. The boys were so worn out from running up and down the stairs to find the eggs. Randy was sneaky and hid the eggs up and down. It was a blast watching them. I have to give Randy credit too. He also made dinner. We had a spiral sliced ham, homemade rolls, corn, and REAL mashed potatoes. It was fabulous. I fell asleep after the egg hunt and slept until dinner. Randy made the whole thing! I love him so much. Back to my pity party story. So this was day three with no pain medicine and on the sedative. I had to be ready for Monday because then it is my turn to get the boys ready for school and do our daily routine. I chose not to take the sedative so I could be function able. Well… I still wasn’t. I couldn’t sleep and I was in pain. I took ibuprofen but that only took care of some of the aches. It was like I had the flu without the flu. My body just ached real bad. This is what a withdrawal is. I recall last summer when I tried to get off then, I hurt my back. Withdrawals are so nasty. I feel for anyone else having to go through this. I ended up calling my doctor to see what he recommended me to take half of a half pill. Basically 1/4 of what I was taking awhile back. I am now on 2.5mg once a day. It is so weird how much that makes a difference. Just as I thought things were ok, my tooth started to hurt. We all know what that means… root canal. Long story short I went to the dentist and sure enough I need a root canal plus other stuff done. I have periodontal disease, and a few decay spots that need to be treated and some fillings and crowns that are cracked and need to be replaced!!!! I give up. I am so tired of having problems. I know that my teeth could be worse considering what they went through, but still. We have shelled out so much money in medical just these first few months of the year. I am nervous how we are going to keep making it, but I have to have faith. I know the Lord will provide a way. He always does. It’s just discouraging. I’m sure you can relate. I just want a break for once. It can be someone else’s turn. I don’t wish it on anyone else though. See my problem? Enough with the pity party. I am still doing great besides my mouth now. My eyes are slowly getting better. It just takes time to heal them. I have decided that I am going to try and grow my hair out to see what it would look like. If it starts to go straight, I am cutting it!! Just kidding. I will probably still grow it out.

This month (well next month April) our area is having a huge huge garage sale. We are going to take part in it. So many people from all around come. There is hardly any parking anywhere. It is fun. Well we are trying to go through our stuff to sell. We really need money for the bills that are coming in like crazy. We are hoping to sell Randy’s car as well. He is looking to get a Toyota Corolla. I think that would be so cool for him. His Honda is really old. They say they last forever though. I hope we can sell everything. Pray we do.

The boys are doing great. We started Spirit Horse Therapy for Cameron. It is so good for him. He has become a little (ok, a lot) aggressive. I’m not sure what it is. I know this will work though. You should check it out at: http://www.spirithorsetherapy.com The owner is Charles Fletcher. He is the greatest guy. He has such love for the little ones and his ponies. Cameron is riding on Snowflake. She is the sweetest thing. She is so calm and patient with him. His instructor is Emily. I love her. She is so good to him. It takes patience to work with him.

Needless to say my life is good, but frustrating at sometimes. I just need a break sometimes.

Becca:)

I am finally home. I (Becca) spent about 14 days in Utah. As Randy posted, I went for my check-ups. Everything is great! I did get my port taken out. OUCH!!!!!!!!!! I really mean OUCH! It wasn’t even the action of pulling out the port, it was the numbing that hurt so bad. The doctor stuck me with the needle over and over again. Oh did I mention over and over again! It felt like he was cutting my skin although he wasn’t. I was screaming so hard. The doc just kept saying that it would be over in just a minute. I was ready to punch him. Really I was. My dad was over on the chair just laughing. I guess I was clinching my toes and moving them really fast back and forth. I guess it would look funny too. The whole thing only lasted 10 minutes. It was crazy. I really don’t think the doctor new how painful it is. I bet he hasn’t had one done to him. I know he is a good doctor, but I think he has been doing it too long. If you know what I mean. At least I don’t ever have to see him again. My dad still laughs when I tell the story. I am glad my dad was there.

As Randy said, I am getting off my pain meds. I hopefully only have one or two more weeks. I see the doctor on Thursday. Now onto the eye episode. I have Dry Eye Syndrome. Very badly too. I have been on a eye steroid and several eye drops. I have good days and bad days. I just went yesterday to get them checked. Not good. They are on fire. He gave me another steroid and some more drops. I just can’t wait to have it all fixed. I guess I am too impatient. I’m just tired of having problems. (Pity me). Ok, now I am fine. Just had to complain.

When I went to Utah, I helped my sister out. She had surgery and couldn’t take care of her house and kids. I felt like she helped me out so much during my time there, that this was the least I could do. It was nice to be on the giving end for once. I loved it. I helped her out a lot too. She had me bringing stuff up from her basement and taking stuff down. Things that I thought I couldn’t do, I did. Boy though, when the day was done I was dead tired. She wore me out. In a good way though. I totally enjoyed the time we had together. I love my nieces and nephews. Michael and Cameron loved it. Michael was spoiled and slept in the bed with me. Lucky kid. I know that I would have gotten more sleep without him there, but he really loved it. The sacrifices we do for our kids.

While I was there my Uncle Craig came to visit. Also my Grandma and Grandpa Layton. He lives with them for now. I was so excited. He is my Uncle that has a life story that is harsh. He has been in trouble since he was a kid. He says now that he has played for 50yrs, He was going to settle down. He started going to church (sacrament and Sunday school). He also got a great job. He is doing so good. I am so proud of him. His Bishop has him speaking with some adults and now with the youth. I really think that he may turn he life around. This is so good for him. I took a picture of him with Cameron. Cameron loves him. He must be good then!

Ricky finished basketball. He got to meet the mascot of the Mavericks, who signed his jersey. He loved it. Now it is Michaels turn. Michael started soccer. He was born to play soccer. This kid gets in there and gets the ball for him or his teammates. He is good at passing the ball and scoring a goal! He scored two goals at the game right before we flew out. His coach, Becca, loves him. All the parents and his coach think he has played before. I love it. Michael is so happy. As a parent it feels good when your kids are good at sports. Ricky is great at everything he tries and now Michael is. I love it!!!! I love my boys. They sure keep me going. Cameron is doing great in school. The teacher sent home a note saying that a lot of the teacher in the school stop by in morning to say hi to Cameron. I’m sure Cameron loves it. He is going to do great in school. He has learned a lot of signs. He also has learned to play on the playground as well. He hasn’t perfected it, but he is trying.

Randy has started playing in a flag football team. He is loving it! He played football for High School so he really feels like he is a kid again. We watched him play. It was cute. WE cheered him on. His team is really good. I’m glad him is able to play some sports. He plays basketball every Tuesday night with the men at church and with our neighbor. He says it makes him feel like he can get some cardio in. He looks good.

Me, well I am enjoying the new desk/scrapbook table Randy built for me while I was gone. I usually never get surprised, but this time he did it!!! I love it. It has laminate counter tops that looks like granite and lots of cabinet space. I am really impressed with the whole thing. It makes the room not so messy looking. I’m also working out at a gym now. It is the Lady’s of America Gum. I love it! I try to go every morning. I really feel like I am getting stronger. I need to look good for our trip to Hawaii! I can’t wait!!

Becca:)

I am finally having a little time while Cameron sleeps. A lot of fun has been going on in the Gibbons household. Especially with me. On the 3rd and the 4th I had to have a colonoscopy. I had to have two since I wasn’t cleaned out the first time. After the second one the doctor told me that I have a redundent colon. I am not even sure I spelt it right. Basically I have a long colon. I am always full of “crap”! Ha Ha. I am glad to know that there is nothing else wrong. Now I hope to have my intestinal tract taken care of. Now I am onto taken care of my eyes. I started to get blurry eyes at the end of my chemo. I didn’t say anything at the time to anyone because I didn’t want to have to stay longer. Now I have tried everything and am giving up. I have an appointment this afternoon to see an eye doctor. Hopefully it will be something small and easy. The biggest problem is that my eyes are totally clear one time and then totally blurry another. I can’t predict when it happens either. I have used a lot of eye drops to help thinking they were dry. They helped at first then stopped. Anyway enough about me.

I took a picture of Cameron’s potty award. I can’t believe it!!! I have tried and tried to get hhim to go potty before bath and it never worked. He even went #2! I know at the ARD, they mentioned they would help me potty train him. I think they ARE potty training him. That would be so nice. He is loving going to school. When the bus comes down the street, he runs to the end of the driveway to get on. He is so happy. The first day I was a little worried how he would be so I followed the bus to school. He was so happy when he got off. Then his teachers greeted him and off he went. I love that the bus driver, Ruth, let me go on the bus to see where he will sit and how they buckle him in. He leaves at 7:15am and gets home at 11ish. That gives me special time with Michael. He loves doing preschool. He is a fast learner. I think he may even read before he goes to Kindergarten. He loves to play with the Wii. What kid wouldn’t. He’s my little man. Ricky started Basketball. He is doing really good this year. He got a really good coach too. He is still wanting to play football this year. Randy is worried about him getting him hurt so young. I don’t blame him. We are trying to make him be a little tougher though. Let me just say he is a little tender hearted. If you know what I mean. So now when he cries over nothing we always say “football” and he stops and says “I know”. I think he may be ready this year. If not for sure next year. Tonight is his Pinewood derby. He is so excited. He painted his own car too. It looks ok. I guess I don’t have an 8 year olds taste in design. He likes it and that is all that matters. We will see how it goes. Last but not least, My sweetest husband Randy is doing great. He went to Denver for their Marketing Event. It was very cold but he had fun. He thinks this will be the only trip he will have to make this year! I hope so. Last year was hard on me. When I got home he had to take trips a lot. I had a hard time taking care of myself and the kids. But now we dont’ have to worry about that. He loves that his workload is light. He is impressing a lot of his co-workers. I love it. He helps out at home so much. This weekend he cleaned the bathrooms for me and vacuumed. What a man. on February 2nd is his 32nd birthday. I am making him something this year. I hope I can get it done in time. When I am done I’ll post pictures. Well after his birthday of course. I would hate to have him spoil his present form me and the kids. I will keep posting! Look at the pictures!!!

Becca:)