Roller Coaster Day !!

Right now all I can say about today is WOW!! The morning started off great. Both TJ and I woke up early and sat on the patio with the dogs drinking coffee. Nice morning here in beautiful AZ so was very enjoyable. A little before 7:00 AM we decided to head in the house for some breakfast. As soon as we walked in the house we heard a knock on the door. I assumed it was a car guy and told TJ I was going to go get a shower. Turned out it was not a car guy. It was our neighbors (not the ones that throw flakes to my horses but the ones to the south). Too many good neighbors to keep track of is a wonderful thing! Anyway, I heard Josh tell TJ "we rounded up a possee" I am heading for the shower but thinking what the heck does that mean? I sneaked a peak out the spare bedroom window and there were Josh & Sarah, Josh's Mom & Dad, & two Elders from their Ward in our front yard. All the weeds were gone and the tree was trimmed!!!! I went ahead and jumped in the shower and turned out they all headed to the backyard to do the same thing. As soon as I got out of the shower I headed outside to thank them all. What a wonderful thing to do for us. TJ has been talking for weeks about getting someone to help him clean up the yard and trim trees and BAM we got help. I have to admit that when I walked in the backyard to thank them all I had a huge lump in my throat and could hardly speak. This was such a huge help they had no idea. TJ and I both have always been the first ones to step up to the plate and help others in their time of need but to actually be on the receiving end of help was new to both of us and made us both so grateful once again for fantastic neighbors and friends. At the last minute TJ said I should get my camera so here are a few photos I snapped just as they were finishing up.

I so wish I could remember the name of the Elders that helped but I was so overcome with emotion their names went in one ear and out the other. THANKS A BUNCH TO ALL OF YOU!!

So, that was the first part of the roller coaster ride today. We are at the top but unfortunately that speedy downhill is quickly approaching. After they were all done and gone TJ and I had some breakfast and decided to run some errands; PetsMart, Staples (for my work), Best Buy, etc. When TJ grabbed his phone right before we left he had a voicemail. It was from Joe, his Mom's boyfriend, and his mom is not doing well at all and they are at the Emergency Room. His message was garbled and we really could not understand it. Finally, Kelly, TJ's sister called and gave us the scoop, she is in the hospital in Mesa. We finally get up there this afternoon and talked to her nurse. Keep in mind that she was diagnosed with cancer about 1 week before TJ. Here are the things that her nurse told us and keep in mind nothing is set in stone as tests are being run but these are the things that they are looking at. Her heart rhythm is off, she has paralysis in her right leg (possible stroke), something showed up in her brain on the CT scan they did (possible brain mets i.e. cancer spread), and some kind of bacteria infection that they are talking to infectious disease about that is giving her a fever. Because if the infection you had to wear and gown and gloves just to go in the room!! We spoke with her nurse and he suggested that TJ not go in there at all since his immune system is compromised because of the chemo. So guess who got volunteered?! The one who always wore masks and gloves when his kids got the flue and is extremely paranoid of sickness?!?!!? Are you kidding me ??? Then TJ said, "please go and tell me how she looks, I need you to do this". So, of course I did and it wasn't so bad really and she looked OK. She obviously feels bad with the fever but really looked OK over all. I spoke with her a bit and then we took off.

I hate to keep doing this but PLEASE cross fingers and pray for her, we are very worried.

Change in my sign off tonight:

Battle On Carol, Battle On