Italy 2012

Eric and I left Munich this morning, not without mishap--while trying to get to the Lufthansa gate we had to take our luggage up an escalator.  Eric went 1st and I followed, when I stepped on pulling my luggage for some reason it did not make it, my arm was twisted up and I did a complete somersault falling down the escalator a few steps, hit my head and knew my leg was messed up.  During all the tumbling I could see a woman running to try to help me, unfortunately just a bit too late--at the same time out of natural instinct Eric was grabbing for me and tumbled also, he ripped his nice pants and had quite an ugly bloody mess on his leg.  After gaining my composure, I stood up and felt as if I was going to faint, throw up or both.  Lifting my pant leg up, I had to peel the skin off my pants and yes there was blood--we looked like quite a pair walking through the airport--thankfully the woman who checked us in at Lufthansa gave me a band aid so I could at least put my pant leg down without getting blood all over my nice linen pants.  As I sat waiting at the gate I couldn't help but wonder if my kids would of laughed or cried seeing what just happened--I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry--it was pretty dramatic, however, on the other hand how often do you see that?  It's just time to laugh--lol
We made it to Venice and once again I am stunned by the beauty of this city on the water.  I will say though, it is not as clean as Germany was.
We walked through a park hidden in a quiet neighborhood, it looked like it was reserved just for local families, I heard the laughter of a child and wanted to see what was going on, I watched as father and son played, the boy looked to be around Recker's age, it reminded me of Jeremy and Recker playing, they both were having so much fun hiding from each other and the little boy squealed with laughter when his dad would find him.  So cute and fun to watch and listen.

Eric's leg--this picture does not do justice to the damage

Eric enjoying the view

much different than Munich--not quite as tidy

I love the vine growing on the side of the building

Good morning Venice

Salzburg Austria 2012

The subways in germany are extremely clean, no garbage or paper on the the ground, unlike NYC subways where the stinch of urine is most often found along with grafitti and garbage everywhere.
On the train between Munich and Austria the beauty is breathtaking, I'm mezmerized by the lush fields of green--seriously, people live like this?  I thought this was only in movies.  The red roof tops of the homes are spread just far enough apart to enjoy the beautiful spread of green fields that lie between the homes.  The Apls are now in view, just enough snow on the tips to bring a smile to my face.  From where I am sitting I can see a small white church out in the middle of acres of green on everyside. Out every window I'm surrounded by beauty, clean, peaceful and serene.  I can see Recker in my mind running through these open fields of green, no one to stop him, I could just die right now with the thought of him so happy--he loves to play outdoor and here in Austria he could run and play for miles on end--he would enjoy every second with a huge smile and maybe even a giggle. I'm startled out of that thought when the lady with the orange hair gets up to get off the train in Bad Endorg, it looks like a small community, I wonder where she lives, what she is doing and where she has been, then just as fast as she came she was gone out of view never to be seen by my eyes again.
As we move forward the intoxicating beauty continues, it makes me think of my son in law Brian-he would love to explore this, a lake surrounded by small farm homes each with a small fishing boat anchored in the water.  I could see him and Kaitlyn living here, a view of the snow capped Austrian alps to one side and nothing but greenfields and pine trees to the other, a huge herd of cows leisurely eating grass and a horse or two in the stables.----totally Brian.
The Sound of Music is my all time favorite movie--and we are going to visit--I can mark this one off my bucket list today--All I have to say about Austria is it may be my new favorite place to visit.

The Trees where the Von Trap Children hung like
monkeys singing

Von Trap Palace

The Backside of the Palace

Eric trying to be a Von Trap Child

in the garden area

this is the Gazebo where "16 going on 17" was sung
and where Maria and Captain Von Trap danced

inside the Gazebo

The Aby where Maria lived

Today on our little adventure I told Eric this was a wonderful day and made me really happy--

Munich 2012

Eric and I arrived in Munich this morning. On our way to our hotel we travel via the train.  It was so nice, green and lush, farm land everywhere.  It immediately made me thing about Dr. Shreiber the one who wrote the Anti Cancer, after his death last July I think about him quite often.  He was European and lived on a farm with houses miles apart from one another, after he received the diagnosis of brain tumor, he did some research and found that in all of the surrounding farms of his childhood rearing he found each home had at least one family member diagnosed with some type of cancer.  In my mind, the farm land I am looking at now as I stare out the window of the train remind me of how he described his upbringing.  Crop dusters were flying over and dusting the farms, this is what brought my mind to him, I wonder if they know the harm they are doing to the enviorment and people living close by.

 Although we are quite exhausted we are determined to see the city today after checking into our hotel we headed out to figure out the bus and train system. Everywhere we look there are lush green trees and beautiful frangrant florals and bushes.  Munich is a quaint and very clean city, the people take pride in keeping it clean and tidy.  I dropped a piece of paper on accident and before I could bend down to pick it up, a woman did it for me then shook her hand at me, as if to say "that is a no no"  I appoligized and continued on with what I was doing.

The parks and gardens here are plush, well taken care of and beautiful.  Holding hands with Eric makes me think about our dear friend Sheldon Cook, who is suffering with cancer right now, he is a humble kind man learning to enjoy his journey with grace and dignity, believe me it is a hard task to do.  I want so badly for he and Kit (my dear friend) and Sheldons wife to experience some alone time together without the constant thoughts of the Villain shattering your brain on overload.  I'm not quite sure how it happens but I'm some how able to forget the Villain,  push through the hip, leg and back pain when I'm in another country with Eric, totally consentrating on walking through beautiful parks hand in hand with my lover boy, nothing on my mind but the beautiful nature God has given us and no one better to share it with then my best friend and eternal companion--seriously do not know what I would do without him.

A girl gets on the train, and of all the places she could of sat she decides to sit next  to me...right away I could smell the BO on her body--and she was a good looking girl, ,wearing normal clothes, but I get her undrarms are hairy...I glance over at Eric and he is holding his nose obviously he smells it too.  I guess this life style is good for some, but for me I think I am not an au natural type of girl--I like to smell good.

Today has been a great day--tomorrow we are off to Austria--the Sound of Music--my favorite movie of all time--looking forward to it--I miss Recker already.

European Patries--my desire

Lunch at a Deli, Eric's desire
guess who gave in?

European chocolate

He ate that sandwich and loved it

Is this America Brand?

Bridal/Groom Pics

Just thought I would post some of the pictures from the bridal/groom shoot--they're married--and Eric and I couldn't be happier, we love Chloe, and Blake is so happy.  They were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple.  Many generations of Williams have been married there, myself and Eric, his mom and dad, his grandparents, all of my children so far--well only one more to go and Haleigh told us she is going to elope--ha ha-- you could say it was a little stressful at our home the last few months.  I will post the pictures from the reception when I get them but for now enjoy....

Hello Sam--Goodbye Port

Today was an important day for me at the Mayo Clinic-- I met "Sam the Man" he took out my Port--yes, I got the ugly thing taken out of my chest.... no more 3rd boob sticking out of my chest.
I'm pretty sure Sam thinks I'm a little weird, I asked him to take pictures before during and after the procedure--I just wished I had gotten a picture of Sam--what the heck?  I always have that dang camera with me and take pictures of everyone and everything going on in my life--why didn't I get one of him?

before 

during--disgusting--can you see the port?

the port--Sam asked if I wanted to keep it--
uhhhh that would be a big fat NO

after--notice all the stitches are on the inside--very cool

Now as I sit here on my bed in some pain, and after hearing Sam tell me I can't lift anything for 10 days, I wonder why I didn't wait until after Blakes wedding to get this out, I have so much to do.

SUNDAY-fill my well

Lately, I've been feeling a little depressed and alone.  There has been some drama around here, which is expected when you are planning a wedding, dealing with a broken ankle, working, and volunteering.  I have gotten a little lost in those things and forgotten a few days of reading my scriptures, I do not like the feeling I get when I don't include those 30 minutes of study.  Today I needed my well to be filled, and it was, I was spiritually fed during church today. The most wonderful thing I love about the gospel of Jesus Christ is that he loves us unconditionally and knows we are not perfect, he knows me and knows of all my weaknesses, so each and every time I have to kneel and pray I am constantly saying I"m sorry for  this or that, please help me to improve in those areas--we all know that when we ask for those types of things the Lord will give us trials and chances to prove ourselves worthy.  I have so much to be grateful for in my life but forget sometimes to give myself a break, I cannot do it all and sometimes I will let people down, including my own children--I'm sorry for that, luckily I have tomorrow and the next to work on those imperfections and try to become more like our Savior.

My visit with Dr. Northfelt

I spent some time at the Mayo Clinic this week--just  routine check ups with Dr. Northfelt.  I had my port accessed by the sweet nurse who has helped me so many times before--she asked about Recker and I asked about her little guy who is now 3--wow how time fly's by.

I had to wait about an hour and half before my next appointment with Maryann, as I waited I could feel my ankle swelling up, the blood was rushing to my ankle making it difficult to sit, when they finally called my name I stood up and just about fainted--right there in the Mayo waiting area--in front of everyone,  I think I scared the nurse, I know it startled me, I heard someone gasp when I grabbed the wall to keep from falling. At that very moment I thought to myself, "are you kidding me Monya? pull it together, you survived cancer for heaven's sake"  a smile came on my face and I very slowly hobbled to the room where I waited for Maryann.  My blood work looks good, no elevations at all, her exact words were "Everything looks normal, you are normal"
So there you have it, I am normal, I love hearing those words.  She asked me about the lower back and hip pain, and I explained the physical therapy did not help, neither did the 2 shots of cortisone I've received since December, Dr. Freeman said it was a misdiagnosis of  bursitis.  Maryann didn't say much more about it, but she did say that Dr. Northfelt was going to come in and see me.  That was a huge surprise, I feel like I have this wonderful oncologist who I never get to see.  When he came in he hugged me and was wearing the tie I bought him for Christmas.  I was soon reminded of how much I love him, he is a good doctor.  For some reason just having those 15 minutes or so to talk to him made me so happy, he knows me and is aware of me.   We talked a little bit about the cancer symposium Mayo Clinic had in January, I told him how great it was and that I hope they will do more of those.  It's really good for women going through the long journey of breast cancer to have the opportunity to be in room filled with cancer survivors and care givers,  it's a time to feel the support and love from not only doctors but more importantly other women going through the same things.  Today, Dr. Northfelt reconfirmed to me that Mayo Clinic is where I need to be.  I called Eric on my way home, happy to report that I got to talk to my oncologist, I told him what a world of good it did for me to see him.

Brittle Bones

I find myself deep involved in wedding planning and have not been able to find time to blog like I usually do.  Blake will be married in 5 short weeks, the reception is taking place in our backyard, I decided this was a perfect time to start my wedding decorating business that I have been wanting to do for quite some time.  It has kept my mind off of my cancer and allowed me some joy.  Of course every mother and father want their children to have a beautiful reception, but I feel a little extra pressure as this will be our 1st reveal of some of the things we will be renting out to others and so we want it to be extra special.

I think most of the invitations are in the envelopes and should be mailed out tomorrow--there will be a few stragglers as we try to get addresses, but that is always expected.  In the midst of all this, I am struggling with the pain in my hip and lower back, I will be seeing Dr. Northfelt (my oncologist) on Monday at Mayo Clinic.  My mind keeps wondering to the worst, but I know the Lord is by my side and will guide me no matter what the prognosis is.  I'm sure more tests will have to be scheduled.

On Wednesday I was bouncing Recker on the trampoline with my shoes on (dumb idea) even with a simple bounce I heard my ankle crack and down I went immediately grabbing my foot and crying like a big baby from the pain--I was glad Kayla was there, Recker does not know how to respond to someone crying--another words he continued to run and play, just over and on top of bonbon, I think he thought I was playing a game. Eric was in the house being "TIM THE TOOL MAN" with the REAL tool man Howard Peterson, so I told Kayla not to bother them, but I truly cannot remember feeling that much pain.
Yesterday morning when I woke up my ankle was swollen up twice the size and hurt even more.  After Dr. appointments and X-Rays taken I was told the ankle was broken--so off to the orthopedic surgeon we went--however, he said it was difficult to see the exact seriousness of the fracture because it is too swollen, needless to say I get to wear that beautiful black boot for a couple of weeks until they can X-Ray or if needed MRI it again.  I am not one to sit around with my feet up eating bonbons and watching TV, so the next couple of days is going to hard--time to put on my big girl panties and buck it up.  Today I laid with my foot elevated most of the day, tonight I put on the boot and was able to put pressure on it enough to walk.

I just hope this is not the beginning of the broken bones that will come--after chemo I was diagnosed with osteoporosis caused from chemo I remember the dr. telling me no more running and hard impact sports and to be careful--I really need to start listening to the doctors advice, every time I think "I'm strong that won't happen to me"  guess what?  It DOES.  The truth is my bones are brittle enough to break even bouncing with my grandson on the trampoline. I'm 49 years old but today I feel 90.