If you're in the mood for more...

This morning, June 6th, we woke up early and went to our appointment at Primary Children's. He had a CT scan first, which was difficult because he had to drink the barium stuff for an hour. Then, he went to the scan part which wasn't too difficult (especially compared to the MRI). Then, we went to meet with Dr. Riva-Cambrin the neurosurgeon.
He did a lot of tests to determine how well Quinton's brain was talking to his muscles. He tested reflex-type things and the feeling in his feet. He asked a lot of medical history questions including if we had been anywhere tropical or out of the country. I felt like Q was on an episode of House! Ha ha. Then he talked to us for about 45 heart-wrenching minutes about Q's condition. First, he has a tumor inside his spinal cord. They have to cut the spine and roll it back to get to the tumor. Most tumors of this type measure 2-4 vertebrae, but Q's spans 8 of the middle vertebrae in his spine. These types are usually termed malignant, but they always stay inside the spinal cord and don't spread. The surgury will be booked for 12 hours but may take less. Q's tumor appears to be kind of 'slick' or something without a lot of finger-type things on there. The tumor is making his spinal cord 3 times as large as it should be and the break down of communication between the brain and the muscles is causing the lump on one side of his back.
Second, he has 6 small tumors on his lung. This really is the part that baffles the doctors. If the spinal cord ones don't spread, then why does he have this going on in the lung?
Long story short, the plan is to treat the spinal tumor first. It has to come out no matter what; however, there is a 'tumor meeting' at the hospital tomorrow first thing where radiologists, pathologists, oncologists, and surgeons meet together to discuss tumor patients. Dr.Riva-Cambrin (who happens to be from Edmonton, Alberta!) will bring up Q in that meeting to see if anyone has any brilliant ideas. He's also putting his information out on the Doctor Web to see if anyone knows why these two are happening at once or how to treat the two of them together in an efficient manner.
The spinal surgery is set for a week from Thursday -- June 16th. Again, we feel the love and support from our friends and family and pray that all is well with you.

More Details of Quinton's Story

So, to start at the beginning...

I was out to the movie one night when Quinton had an itchy back. He asked Jeff to scratch it. Jeff pulled up his shirt and scratched but was amazed to see a huge curve in his spine and lump on one side of the back. I called and made an appointment with Dr. Miller, our pediatrician, for Monday, May 2nd. Dr. Miller confirmed that it was scoliosis and referred us to Dr. Smith at Primary Children's.

We went to that appointment on May 17th, the day after he turned 11, and an X-Ray confirmed that he had a pretty major curve in his spine -- 43 degrees. Dr. Smith said that a few things about Quinton's scenario indicated concern for him, so he wanted to do an MRI to rule out other causes of the scoliosis. The concerns were the shape of his curve, his younger than normal age, and the quickness with which the curve progressed.

We weren't super concerned about his MRI (I was even making small talk with the technician about finding tumors on kids, never thinking this would happen to Q.) He was in the tube watching Harry Potter getting scanned by that loud, clanky machine for a while when I asked the technician if I could go trade off with Jeff, who was out in the waiting room with the girls. She said that she was actually calling the radiologist down to look at a scan she had just done and that parents weren't allowed in there while the radiologist was in. I went ahead and left to sit with Jeff and the girls for his 45 minute MRI. An hour and a half later, they brought him out and said that our doctor (Dr. Smith from the scoliosis specialty who had ordered the MRI) was upstairs that day and would like to talk to us about the results.

Heart pounding and legs heavy, we went up to meet with him. He told us there was a tumor on his spine, and he tried to explain a few things, but Jeff and I were too schocked to comprehend it. That wasn't his field, so he didn't actually know (or want to divulge) too much. He set us up with a pediatric neurosurgeon at Primary Children's for Monday, June 6th.

We waited away the weekend in anxiety but with an overwhelming sense of the love and support and fasting and praying that were being done on his behalf.

Oh yeah, we had Easter!

Forgive this blogger for not posting since January. That's super pathetic. But, I haven't been in a comical mood of late, and I like to keep the blog light and funny. I just wanted to state that we had a wonderful Easter, of course.

Look at those cute kids making a not-so-cute mess! We colored eggs of course.

Of course we hunted for eggs.

And of course...we made an Easter snowman.
Naturally one of the best Easters of all time.

Temple announcement and shoe drama

Hello there! First off, a new temple was announced for Payson! I am beyond grateful. It will be so wonderful to have a temple in our community. It will be kind of by Wal-Mart very near the freeway, and I'm so excited. We were a little depressed and okay, jealous, when one was announced for Brigham City in the October conference because it seemed about the same distance from other temples as Payson would be. Little did we know, it would just take a little longer. I hadn't really heard of temples being announced outside of conference, but we'll take it. We can't wait to be involved in the groundbreakings/cornerstone layings/open houses/dedications etc. What a great experience it will be for our family.
On to the shoe drama. Every lady loves a shoe drama. I'm a little different in that I don't really take pleasure in shopping for everyday shoes or even dress shoes for that matter, but I realized recently that when it came to athletic shoes, I could shop all day long and never tire of it. I agonized about the decision for new athletic shoes for weeks. I've loved my And 1 basketball shoes and have been playing volleyball and basketball in them for the last couple of years. Their soles were starting to cave, however, and I began getting shin splints. I loved my old pair so much, I couldn't imagine what to get. I went into a frenzy of different modes.
Online shopping mode: resulted in too much anxiety over how the shoe would fit/feel.
Mall shopping mode: this one lended a funny experience in which the salesman would NOT sell me any shoes. I pointed out a few pair only to be rebuffed for my poor choice. I should have known he was not such the salesman when he berated the lady in front of me, "Do you want to look good, or do you want a shoe that performs?" He brought me a few terrible, ugly pairs professing they were the only ones in the store good enough play my sports in. It was hilarious. Who ever heard of a salesman who tells shoppers the shoes are terrible?
Next mode: depression
Next mode: athletic store shopping. I went to Park Sportsman. I had no idea what they might have there, but finally someone was willing to spend time with me. I walked out of there with a pair of $95 volleyball shoes and immediately felt guilty and unhappy with the choice.
Next mode: depression and ducking back into Park's to return the volleyball shoes.
Final mode: online shopping again. I decided it wouldn't be such a risk if I bought the same brand online as the pair I had been wearing. Duh. I ordered a pair similar to my previous pair and waited anxiously for their arrival. The shoes finally arrived today. I felt a curious bump in the sole as I tried the first shoe on. I put the second one on, and no bump. Aaahhhh. Could I play with a bump? I couldn't imagine what mode I was going to have to go into next. Jeff confirmed the presence of the bump, so I knew I wasn't just having shoe mirages. He pulled up the sole and found a clump of tissue paper stuck to the sole! Now who just allows tissue papers to stay stuck to the sole of a shoe and thinks no one will care? Luckily, we were able to remove the offending clump and now the shoes? Feel great! Thank goodness. I can't wait to play in my new shoes, finally! The outcome of the story: shoe drama 1; Lori 0. I guess I need to score some points in my new shoes.

Invictus!

We saw the move Invictus last night. I was intrigued by it. I certainly hope it wins some Oscars. I loved Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman. It's not the type of movie I want to see over and over, because it's a little bit slow, but overall, it's such a good show. I was touched by the scene where the rugby team travels to the place where Nelson Mandella had been imprisoned. Matt Damon's character just tries to comprehend what it would be like to forgive the people who had put him there. Mandella's life, such a miracle in forgiveness, is an inspiration. The shortcoming that I had was a lack of knowledge of rugby. The way these scenes are filmed, it's difficult to follow without an understanding of the way rugby is played. I wanted to understand those scenes better and follow the story in the game more but was unable to. That being said, I think there are so many strengths in this movie in the way Eastwood really explores the theme of how rugby was just one tool in taking a step toward healing in South Africa. I also really loved the scene portrayed in this picture where the team goes out to the poorest of the poor and gives a clinic on rugby. It changes those kids and those players, and it's a great moment. I needed to look up the poem because it's difficult to hear on screen what the words are, but I am glad I did. It's really good.

Invictus by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may beFor my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

Wow! I finally got pictures

It took a long time, but I now have pictures on my computer from the past few months. Phew. They were some busy months! First, there were gingerbread houses!Then, there was a matter of a birthday to celebrate. Yeah, Jacey turned three! We had a totally fun party.Christmas Eve! The best Christmas pageant Ever!Christmas Day: too many toys!The day after Christmas, we trekked down to lovely St. George to party with Jeff's family. The warm weather was worth it! AAHHH. We had a totally great time at the party.

Jacey is tonsilless!!!

Jacey was well enough to get her tonsils out today. We were concerned because she had developed a little nose congestion and cough prior to the operation and after November's failure, we didn't want to have to reschedule again -- or try to get our 800 dollars back again. This time, I paid the moolah after she actually went in to surgery. Ha ha. Showed them. She did really great. No crying, minimal frustration at not getting her IV out, good eating and drinking afterward. Heck, I didn't even have to refuse baba juices this morning since we both slept until past her appointment time. Good thing the hospital is so close. I just threw on clothes (most of them the right way) and trucked on down the street with Jacey. It was as easy as it could possibly be.