Goodbye summer, I'll miss you!

With the start of Football means summer is coming to an end. The kids stayed VERY busy again this summer with baseball, swimming, theater, gymnastics, etc. I can't believe they are back in school already (well, Larson started Monday and Raisa will start tomorrow). Fall I have a feeling will stay just as busy with football, cheerleading, gymnastics, theater and so forth lol. This will be Larson's first year doing the tackle football. He did flag for 2 years. He is SOOOO excited (I may not have added enough OOOOOOO to that haha!). He has weigh in this Friday. He has all his gear ready to go! Raisa is going to keep up with gymnastics for her cheerleading. She is mastering her roundoff back hand springs now!
'

As for me, my 6 month break from MD Anderson is about to come to a close :(. We already have our tickets and room reservations. We head back the 3rd week in September for my 4 YEAR check up/ 3 YEAR post stem cell transplant check up. It feels so good to keep adding years to that each September!

If you're on facebook, look me up! I keep that WAY more updated than this blog :).

Where we went last week.......

We just came back from another FABULOUS vacation in Maui! Here are a few photos from our trip!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2070711&id=1223271865&l=ff8815c684

First Communion

Larson is gearing up to take his First Communion this weekend. I am so proud of him!
























Larson's Grandpa also joined the church and took his First Communion last week.


While they were all dressed up, I took them to the studio for a 3 generation photo of just the boys!

Skiing at SnowCreek!

What a fun day we had! I think we are all a bit sore today, but it was SO worth it!

Raisa on the ski lift



Larson riding the ski lift on his own!

Larson with his Snow Monster's Class


Raisa heading down the hill! I was right behind her. This was the hill we rode the most. Raisa never fell at all! I only did once, while trying to avoid someone else who fell. Well, I fell once more, but not while skiing lol, I was at the top of the hill and got one ski over the other. Larson rode this hill about 100 times!

This is one of my favorites pictures--it was Larson coming down the fast slope! I was so proud of him for going down it! I only did that slope once and Kevin rode down it a few times (and had a few good falls lol!)






For you, Joe! Thanks for the email!

Scan Updates..............

I forget not everyone is on my facebook and I forgot to update over here!

This time was a bit harder than most.....I actually had to leave my Doctors office without knowing the scan results (they were not read yet). I did have my tumor marker test, which actually went up a couple points (but I have been a little sick with a cold/sinus infection and the last time I had them drawn when I was sick they were up just a tad too, so I tried not to worry too much about that.) After we left the doctors, I had to go to have an FNA (fine needle aspiration--aka-biopsy) of a small (5 cm), soft, lump in my abdomen, right below my left ribs. Nerves were getting the best of me right around then.
But, the boipsy proved it was just a small "lipoma", not cancer! Shortly after, my doctor called and all my tests were NEGATIVE for cancer! Clear, clean scans!!
So, now I don't have to go through this again for 6 months.
I want to thank everyone who commented on my facebook, it really helps knowing people care! This is always a hard, scary time.
We got home late Wednesday night, got to rest up a bit yesterday and now I am packing getting ready to take the kids skiing and snowboarding tomorrow!
Thank you again for all your prayers!!!!!!
God is so good!
~Kasey

Houston.......have you missed me??

Because I have not missed you!

Six months went WAY too fast. We head back to M.D. Anderson Monday. I will have all my scans Tuesday and meet with my Stem Cell doctor Wednesday. Have I mentioned before I hate scan time??? Really hate scan time. REALLY REALLY REALLY hate scan time!

I always try to stay busy right before scan time, to keep my mind off of it. Tonight, Kevin and I are going to the Elton John / Billy Joel concert in OKC. I love seeing Elton in concert. This will make my 4th time seeing him, but my first for Billy Joel! I have some portrait sessions this weekend to keep me busy too.
Larson started piano lessons last month--he's doing great! He has a little hidden talent there! His favorite song so far is Beethoven 9th Symphony "Ode to Joy". I have been taking violin lessons down in Dewey and they have been going great too. I have been working on Bach's "Brandenburg Concerto No. 5" right now. Ya, our house sounds pretty interesting when we are praticing LOL!
Raisa has finished up cheerleading for the year and will get ready for high school tyouts soon. She stays pretty busy with her friends and omg, you would have thought the world was ending when her phone quit working hahaha! She had to go without it for a few LOOONG days (an impossible feat for a teenager!), but now she has a new one and all is well in her world.

I will post again next week when we get back from Houston. Prayers are surely welcomed!
~Kasey

Whew! Is it time to relax yet?

I love Christmas time, but, wow, it is just so busy! I have hardly even had a chance to download any of my pictures from Christmas, let alone post any lol. We had a wonderful Christmas. I think the kids got mostly what they wanted and some things they didn't know they wanted, but loved. Larson got a skateboard (along with some Ryan Sheckler and Tony Hawk clothes to complete his look!), a FUN toy called Snap Circuits (he actually made an FM radio, a working fan and a light from this!), Tony Hawk Ride for the Wii, a new camera and so much more. Raisa got the usual stuff like clothes and shoes, plus a few surprises like an ipod touch (which we also gave Kevin--those things are cool--I think I may get Larson and I one too!!).
Me, I got a VIOLIN! I used to play in an orchestra MANY years ago. I am going to take some lessons from a lady in Bartlesville who plays in the Bartlesville Symphony. I am SUPER excited about that!
Well, now time for some R&R--I have been trying to plan a summer vacation these last few days. Had our mind pretty much made up to spend it at Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, but they more we have talked about it, we have decided that it is too "theme park". We loved Maui when we went, it was so relaxing yet fun. So, right now I am looking into the Cayman Islands (warmer water, great snorkeling!). Larson thinks we should go to Fiji. I think he has seen the Truman Show one too many times haha!
We shall see!
Here are a couple of photos from Christmas I grabbed real quick off my computer!
Happy New Year!
~Kasey

Merry Christmas!!

Hello from Branson!

Sharing a few pics off the phone :) Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from U.S. Cellular

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just want to wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! We are headed off to the cabin in Branson for a weekend of relaxing, shopping and eating! I love their old time Christmas! Really gets you in the spirit of Christmas!
Eat lots, love lots!
Kasey

Future Anchorman?

Possibly!

Halloween Fun

Just our usual Halloween fun! Even Howie and Maggie, our cats, got into it this year lol! Ok, so maybe they were not EXACTLY into it hahaha, but they looked cute!

Happy Halloween!

Have you seen the clip of Michael Jackson ghost?? SPOOOOOKY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqrFuPT56gg

NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE!!!

Those four words are what every cancer survivor LOVES to hear!!!!! Every report was NED!! Praise God!
We do not have to come back for 6 months.I received my last round of immunizations and my flu shot---6 shots total. I am so relieved an happy!! I love MD Anderson. We are off to lunch, then off to the airport and hopefully will be back home in time to catch a bit of Larson's football practice. Thank you for all the prayers and good thoughts!

Scanorama Time

The months, although they are longer in between scans, seem so much shorter. Next Sunday, we go back to Houston for my TWO year post stem cell transplant scans. Luckily, I have lots of work to keep me busy this week. I hate the week before scans. Very nerve wracking. After this visit, my scans will be every 6 months. It will be nice to have a longer interval without thinking about them.
Please keep us in your prayers next week! Thanks!! :)
Kasey

Beautiful Rainbow!

I hope all of you in Coffeyville got to see this BEAUTIFUL, big, double rainbow tonight!