tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65620089038869146112024-03-01T14:12:23.264-08:00SnyderMelissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.comBlogger628125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-19698383778343521252015-08-11T21:10:00.004-07:002015-08-11T21:10:32.296-07:00<h1 data-reactid=".1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It's been quite awhile since I have posted anything on here. I think I left off after my surgery back in April. So much to share and my brain is fried. I have recovered pretty well. I give my diet and strict schedule of working out credit for my fast recovery. It took me a good month before I felt like I was able to get back into the gym. Now I am back and it feels so good. There are a few things that aggravate my chest and back but it is working its way back to normal. Summer has come and gone and I am sitting here wondering where our summer went. We didn't really plan much in the form of trips because we were unsure of future cancer treatments and what were were up against. Now that cancer is not in our future we were left with an open schedule. Baseball kept us busy. Keaton was a part of the West Valley Little League and had a great time. He made great friends and learned so many valuable lessons. We are so thankful for great coaches and friends who made that a great experience for Keaton and for our family. Each weekend consisted of 2-3 games and practices and many other commitments. Keaton was faced with many challenges and opportunities to learn and grow. He played very well and we couldn't have been happier with the outcome of their team this year. We stayed busy. With what you ask me? I can't quite tell you with what but we were busy. This summer we had the privelage of having my brother-in-law Preston live with us. He finished a year at BYU Provo and then came up to live with us for the summer to work with Lance. We LOVED having him! The kids loved it and Lance and I loved it as well. We really grew to love Preston. My children just adore him and we will be sad when he heads back to school this week. In June we attended Lance's brothers medical school graduation in Lebanon, Oregon. Crazy little place but it was nice to get away. There were a few of us who made it and flew into Portland and we rented a beach home on the Newport coast. Talk about a cold place. Not my kind of beach to play on. It was pretty cold. But we had a great time attending his graduation and being there to support him in such a great accomplishment. In July we made it down to Utah to see family. Our kids had been begging us to take them to Lagoon so this year we finally did it and everyone joined in too. We had a great time there. The next day was another full day at the Provo Rec Center. Ever been there? It's amazing and you otta go next time you are there. We need on of those in Boise. The first part of August Lance took the boys up to Stanley Lake to visit my mom and extended family up at their campsite for a day or two. The kids loved that. They love camping. I would have gone but not with my younger two. It would not have been enjoyable so I leave it to Lance to take the older boys and they sure loved it! In June we met with the plastic surgeon. Dr. Ninu Mistry is her name and she came highly recommended. Surgery is scheduled for October 12 th. Kind of nervous for that but ready to get it over with. Cancer has not left me untouched. I am forever marked because of it and it will take some time to get it back. Surgery will be pretty detailed and it will be a little painful but bring it on and let us move on! Our children have been pretty supportive and have just been interested in the whole process. Its been good to inform them of what is up ahead of us. Nothing scary, just different. For a short time. Our children are growing right before our eyes. Conversations change and they understand more. It's hard to keep things from them. They are getting so big. Where did time go? Where are my little kids? </span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Lance and I are doing our best to raise our children strong, but loving, independent but warm, courageous yet prayerful and confident but humble. I hope that they can search inward, reach outward and always look heavenward. For they’ve got an incredible road ahead of them. </span></div>
Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-55986040871635281292015-04-26T08:56:00.000-07:002015-04-26T08:56:10.960-07:00Reconstruction I am out and about more. Every time someone I know see's me they will something like "Wow, what are you doing here?" or " Wow, are you suppose to be up and moving?" I guess no one really understands that it really ins't very complicated and terrible surgery. Yes, it was uncomfortable but it was doable. It was only about a 2-3 week down period and now that I feel better I can use my arm more and I am driving around and I am starting to feel like me again.<br />
But that is the just the thing, I don't want to feel like the old me again. She was tired, frustrated, impatient with her children and loved ones. When something as big as this happens, I want to feel changed. I feel it inside but I am trying to figure out how to change on the outside. Does it happen with some dramatic hair cut? I have contemplated that and I am not sure Lance would be on board with that.<br />
My children are constantly fighting with each other. It drives me literally to the point where I start yelling and it just makes everything so tense. How do you change that? I have been doing more meditating and scripture reading and other things to help me cool down. Someone once suggested yoga to me and I need to look into that. I need to make changes because this experience changed me, it changed our family and yet here we are still the same.<br />
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Last Thursday we met with Dr. Wigod the breast reconstruction doctor. Lance and I both went in with positive thinking and just upbeat about the whole thing. First of all they had us watch this video about breast reconstruction. Lance and I laughed the whole thing through. Growing up and in the church you always are taught about pornography and how we shouldn't watch such things. Well this video felt like it. It was a video on breast cancer and breast reconstruction. Felt funny and felt surreal all at the same time. So we just laughed which seems to be a constant theme to our lives.<br />
The gal, I guess you could call her a nurse came in and asked us questions, went over all the different reconstruction options and what they look like and how long of a period it would take. She told me that Dr. Wigod likes before and after pictures of all patients and so I was taken to a little photo studio to take pictures. Awkward!!!!<br />
Then Dr, Wigod walked in. He was not professional in anyway. Very smart probably in what he does but no bed side manners whatsoever. He didn't even shake hands with Lance. That was a huge red flag for us. He sat down in front of me and flat out told us that we needed to have the mastectomy done on the left side before we even talked about reconstruction. I am a good candidate for implants and that is the route he would go. So about 5-6 months of surgeries and procedures all to get the chest of a lifetime.<br />
As I sat there all I could think about was more surgeries, more pain, more being uncomfortable and more down time away from my kids. Our talk with him was short and to the point and that was it. Lance and I looked at each other not impressed. So as soon as we left we started doing our own research on reconstruction doctors. We have set up an appointment with another doctor but that is not until the end of June.<br />
So maybe for now we get back in touch with Dr. Szentes and schedule the other mastectomy. YIKES!!!! The thought of having to do that all over again just doesn't appeal to me but neither did doing it the first time. I knew is was what we had to do and I know this is what I need to do but doesn't make it any easier. Lance tells me that I need affirmations to recite to myself each day. Something like I accept myself. I accept that this will happen and I can be happy. Sounds kinds silly to me but as I have read book of those who have made lots of money and fame they all credit their affirmations they recited daily. Probably a lot to it.<br />
Today is Sunday. I am sitting in my sunny office and hearing the sound of kids screaming in the back ground. Some happy and some sad. When will they get along and love each other? I hope someday they will realize just how lucky they are to have siblings and a loving home.<br />
Time to get lunch ready and kids dressed for church. Here we go.......Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-41209073006103511362015-04-13T19:35:00.000-07:002015-04-13T19:35:06.219-07:00SurgeryIt's been a week since I had surgery. It's been a fairly okay week too. Surgery was successful. They removed all the cancer they could find. Doctor also removed 4 of my lymph nodes to test them for any signs that cancer had spread to the lymph nodes. Its called the Sentinel Node Biopsy. Surgery was about two hours. After I came to they put me to my room and I saw Lance and my father standing there with two thumbs up telling me that everything went well. That was our sign that things went well. I saw them with two thumbs up and all I could do was cry. We all cried.<br />
All the lymph nodes came back clear. No sign of cancer in them at all. I had a 5 cm tumor that was cancerous. It was diagnosed at DCIS in SITU. Meaning that cancer cannot spread outside the milk duct. But the surgeon was lead to believe that it had some invasive components to it. So we had no idea what was really going on until the surgeon could go in and physically see it.<br />
I stayed in the hospital over night. We had a steady stream of non stop visitors. It was so nice to have people come and take my mind off of pain. The pain was not as bad as I had anticipated.<br />
We were released the following afternoon and I went straight to my parents home. It has been quite the nice place to rest. They have been so sweet to take care of me and see that I am helped in anyway possible.<br />
It's been a week and I am doing better. I have a drain that is still in me and probably will be for another week. Until then I have to rest and take it easy or this drain will never come out. That is the hardest part of it all. Laying down or sitting up is pretty much what I do with an occasional walk outside to get some fresh air.<br />
My kids miss me and I miss them. I have come home a few times to visit and it seems to be really stressful on them and on me as well. It will be an adjustment to come back home and take on my role as mom again. I really miss it but I really need to rest to recover properly.<br />
I received the phone call from my doctor that all the final pathology reports read that all the cancer has been cut out. I am officially CANCER FREE!!!!! Dr. Szentes said no radiation, no chemotherapy and possibly a hormonal therapy will be beneficial but we won't know much about that until we meet with my Oncologist. So far all is looking great. I am hopeful for a full recovery and everything can go back to the way things should be.<br />
Thank from the bottom of our hearts for all you have done for us. Your prayers, emails, texts, phone calls, visits, goodness the list goes on and on. We are very grateful for the love and support you have all shown us. Now it is our turn to return that service.Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-59377570785048517052015-03-22T09:13:00.003-07:002015-03-22T09:13:45.663-07:00Morning will comeThis past weekend I was able to fly down to Provo and spend the weekend with my sisters-in-law for a women's conference held every year. Now picture in your mind a really large group of amazing women who gather together and share everything they know in life. They are truly amazing. All of these women belong to the same family. My family. The family I was privileged to marry into. I love them all and I can honestly say that.<br />
I flew in early Friday morning. On my flight from Denver to Salt Lake I sat next to a women with a small baby. I knew it was the seat for me. So I squeezed in. We had the most pleasant conversation. Her name was Ashlee and she is a member of the church as well. Serving as Relief Society President. Mind you she was only 32 years old. A young beautiful mom of 4 children. I really enjoyed that conversation. We talked the entire flight. Somehow the conversation got on to Breast Cancer. I had no plans to even talk about it on this trip. I was going to leave it all behind and just enjoy the weekend. But I think it was inspired. She had a friend who was a breast cancer survivor. She is alive and free of it. I needed to hear reassurance of something that has been so deadly to women around the world. I feel it though. Something inside me just whispers that it will all be okay in the end. No matter what that end will be it will be okay. I really enjoyed that flight and I made such a great new friend. I wish her all the best.<br />
Well my father-in-law picked me up from the airport. We had the most pleasant conversation on the way to Provo. Shared some tears and words of encouragement. It is going to be okay! I keep telling myself that. It is going to be okay!!!! It has to right?<br />
We arrived at the church and there they all were. This was my family! These people who have been praying for me. Fasting on my behalf. I felt this huge swelling in my heart of deep gratitude that I made it. For the next two days we sat for 5-6 hours listening to all different amazing people on various topics.<br />
Grandpa Ray was there. How sweet it was to be with him. Now mind you this man is still going strong, but not as strong as he used to be. He is 94 years old and he was there smiling and just happy as can be. I don't believe I have ever seen that man mad. He hugged me and told me I was loved. I felt loved. It's been almost two years since Grandma Ray passed away. She was greatly missed but I know she among so many others who have passed on were there in spirit with us.<br />
Saturday night after the conference was out all the girls and dad included went out to eat at the Old Spaghetti Factory. It was my first time there and I loved it! It even had gluten free food. Another bonus! We spent the rest of the evening shopping and just being together. I loved every minute of it. I knew that come 8 oclock I would have to say goodbye to all of them. Shauna was sweet to drop me off at the airport on her way back to Bountiful. We had the nicest visit. I love all my sisters-in-law. They are all amazing women who inspire me daily. I love the one on one time I get with them. I got to have that evening with just her. I loved it!!! Thanks Shauna!<br />
Thank you to everyone who made the weekend just absolutely wonderful!!!<br />
While I was there I stayed with Sharlene. They have a basement that was available. I went to bed around 10. I had the whole downstairs to myself. I felt kind of lonely but I found comfort in it also. I feel like I need to share an experience I had. I was ready for bed. I was trying to go to sleep and I couldn't. I was trying to figure out why. Maybe it was because I was missing Lance or my kids or maybe because I was so tired I had a hard time calming down. I remembered that I had forgotten to say my prayers. So I knelt down. I just cried. I laid it all to Him above once again. "I hate cancer!" I told him that. I told that to Him several times. After a good cry then I quietly got back into bed. I was wide awake. My thoughts drifted to Madalynn. I thought about her a lot. The way she felt, the way she smelled. The promise that was made that morning will come and we would see her again. I found comfort in that. Wondering if she was aware of me and what I was feeling. I laid there and closed my eyes. Morning will come. I am sure of it. A new day where we will be free from fear, fear of the unknown and free from all pain. I don't feel physical pain. In fact this is the best I have felt for a really long time. For the first time in my life I feel great. There is another aspect of pain. Emotional pain. This dark cloud that I have prayed so hard to be taken away is still there.<br />
There was a story told this weekend of a man who has been suffering from cancer in his jaw. He has been in a lot of pain. He had a dream that he was in a huge room with lots of people who were suffering from pain. The door opened and in walked the Savior. This man was aware of him. He said he couldn't describe Him. Only that it was love. The Savior went to some and commanded that they be healed and they were. Some of them were not. When it came time for his turn, he pleaded with the Lord to be healed. He had faith to be healed and was sure the Savior would. Then he said the Savior told him that it would be too unkind of him to heal him. What does that mean? Why would that be unkind of the Savior? Maybe He loves me so much that He has given this to me. <br />
I have the faith to be healed. I have the faith that the Savior can take this from me. From us.<br />
My mother-in-law reminded me that when Lance and I were engaged we went to the movie theater to see Charly. Why we went to this movie I still have no idea. But we went and hated it. She reminded me that Lance was troubled by that movie. He prayed that that would never be us. Now here we are young with a family and with breast cancer.<br />
Surgery is scheduled for April 6th. A single Mastectomy is scheduled and they will test my lymph nodes to see if it has spread. Until then we really won't know. So we just cross our fingers and toes and everything else that crosses that it will be good news. We have had small miracles along the way. Praying that they will continue to come. I know the Lord knows me. I know I have the faith to be healed. I know that morning will come and it will be glorious.Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-91549117290066452342015-03-16T10:33:00.001-07:002015-03-16T11:40:45.786-07:00The more I thinkThe more I have time to think the crazier I become. My goal is to keep busy. Hard to do sometimes. Many times actually. Just trying to find enough things to keep me occupied is the goal for this week. This week should be pretty close to normal. No appointments are scheduled. We are just waiting to see what the gene test results are. This will be a big decision maker for us. So until then we just sit tight. Hard to do. All of this started only about 3 weeks ago. This has been the longest 3 weeks of my entire life. I feel like I have aged 10 years since then.<br />
This morning my alarm clock rang at 6:30. Time to get up and go to the gym. I lay in bed wondering if that is what I really feel like doing. I know I gotta get up and get going. This is what I have been doing for the past 9 months. But this morning I have to fight myself to get up. But I do it anyways. I made it to the gym and I am so glad I did. Getting a good workout is what I like best in the morning. It starts my day off right. Everyone knows when I don't make it to the gym. Those days kind of stand out.<br />
So far I still feel normal. I don't hurt. I don't have any aches or pains. I feel good. I know this will change in the next little while. I am scared. I am terrified of what this is going to do to me. What will I look like? Who am I going to become? A monster? Every time I look at the pictures of women who have had similar experiences to what I will do, it terrifies me and I have to turn it off. I am trying to prepare myself mentally but I am not even sure that is possible until we are in the thick of things.<br />
We still have no idea if it has spread. We will know once I am under the knife and Dr. Szentes can test the lymph nodes. My fingers and toes are crossed that those will be free and clear. And if they are, well we will cross that road when we get there. If we get there!<br />
Yesterday was my father's birthday. He turned 61. That feels old but he doesn't look it. We had a family dinner at my parents last night. My niece Ava had a birthday as well so we celebrated them together. That is what we do in our family. We celebrate it on that Sunday so everyone can be there. As we were sitting around the table we started talking and people started asking about appointments we had this week.<br />
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We started to talk about cancer and all different possibilities we might be up against. Losing my ovaries, losing my chest, and possibly all my hair. What is left of me that is feminine? Not much. All I could do was sit there and silently cry. I am going to become an it. That is all I could think about. An it! I felt like my identity being washed away. I am scared. I am really scared. I admit it. I feel defeated some days. When I think about it long and hard.<br />
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This week we have no appointments. I want to feel normal. Have a normal week with my children. This weekend I will fly to Utah on Friday to spend the weekend with my in-laws for a sisters weekend. I am really looking forward to that. Something fun to do before crazy starts.<br />
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So the more I think about it, the more I just want to have a normal week. So that is what we are going to do. It is already filled with baseball practice. Soccer practice. Piano lessons, scouts, mutual and all the other things we do as a family. It's going to be a good week.<br />
<br />Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-20002747439847908502015-03-12T20:47:00.000-07:002015-03-12T20:54:59.118-07:00Miracle #2I missed writing down Miracle #1. Lance informed me that we found it so early. Yes, to some that isn't considered a miracle. The fact that I have breast cancer is not a miracle at all but the fact that we found it early is.<br />
Miracle #2 happened this morning. Last week I had my first Breast MRI to give the doctor's a better image of the breast and to see the cancer and what was going on. When we received the news that there was something showing on the left side, well that just made me sick to my stomach. All the thoughts that run through your mind as to what it could be. Has the cancer spread? Is it in both breasts? Does this mean it is going to get pretty ugly from here on out? Those were all the thoughts I have been been entertaining up until this morning. Literally I couldn't eat, sleep or just enjoy everyday life. Every time something hurt or didn't feel right, I would tell myself that it was probably the cancer spreading. You know, depressing stuff. That is what the mind does to you when all you have is time. Time to think. Time to play out all the scenarios. Time really is torture!<br />
This morning came. I didn't sleep at all last night. I took 4 melatonin and was thinking that would put me out but I think my mind was stronger than the meds. All I did last night was pray. Pray, pray and pray some more. I remember looking over at the alarm clock constantly to see what time it was. I must have eventually drifted off to sleep because my alarm went off at 6 am this morning. We had to be to the hospital by 7:30 so they could get me all set up for the MRI. Can I just say how much I hate MRI'S? Being confined and the loud noise. It is really quite terrifying for me.<br />
The nurses and doctors were all very nice. After I had dressed into the lovely scrubs an older man by the name of Ray came to take me back to administer the IV. I sat in a very sterile room. It was just me and him. As he was getting ready, I just sat there and started to cry. He turned around and stopped and sat down right in front of me. He held my hand and looked me right in the eye and said "you got this!" Do you know how many times I have heard that phrase? Millions of times. He sat and talked with me for awhile until I started to calm down. A nurse came in and started to give me some medicine to help me through the MRI. They had doubled my prescription because last time it didn't really work so well. Bless them all. I sat alone for about 5 minutes and the only sound I could hear was a constant loud beeping. To some this would be really annoying but to me this was calming. It helped settle me down. I welcomed that sound.<br />
The IV was in and Dr. Macy who was going to perform the biopsy came in and introduced herself. I felt good around her. She was gentle, friendly and very personable. I really liked her. After the medicine really started to kick in ( 5-10 minutes) they had me walk to the next room which was the MRI room.<br />
Now picture with me a very large room with a very large machine smack dab in the middle. The walls are a beautiful color and there are plants in the room. That was the first thing I noticed. Why are there plants in the MRI room? Sign that life is beautiful and can still go on in the middle of all the crazy out there. Anways they had me lay face down on the machine and placed me where they needed me. More pinching, more pressure and I was ready. Ray was right there to put a warm blanket over me and he also put some head phones on me so I could listen to music. I am still not quite sure why they give you that option because once you are in the MRI it is all static and the loud pounding of the machine is much louder and it blocks out all sound.<br />
Here we go........ I was so out of it. I was so groggy. They asked me if I was okay and all I did I guess was just lay there. So they pushed me in. This time I wasn't anxious, just really relaxed. I prayed some more. I prayed a lot. All I asked the Lord for this time was a small chance for something good. Some ounce of good information because all we have heard is negative this whole time. If I could get just one ounce of good information to keep me going I would be grateful.<br />
Oh I forgot to mention that before I went into the MRI machine Dr. Macy asked me if I had any questions. I asked her if she believed in miracles. She responded that she had seen some happen. I told her that I wanted a miracle today. I wanted her to give me good news when we were done.<br />
30 minutes of laying in the machine and just praying. I wasn't crying this time. No itches, just a slightly uncomfortable back with the position I was in but I was good. I prayed that whole 30 minutes. It felt more like I was talking to myself. I have been told and taught many times growing up that we should find time to pray out loud. Something about praying out loud makes me strange. At least for me. So I have decided that in order to be heard, I am going to pray out loud.<br />
I was told that there would be a lot of pulling me out of the machine and putting me back in so that they could find the exact location of the spot they were going to test. But nothing like that happened. I was in there the whole time. When they pulled me out I was waiting to feel the needle and the biospy would begin. Dr. Macy was there rubbing my back telling me that I was done and that I could sit up. I knew I was groggy but I wasn't groggy enough to know that they had missed the biopsy part. When I sat up the first thing she said " Melissa, you got your miracle." She went on to explain that she could not find anything there. It was simply gone. There was nothing to test. It was clear. I sat there silently. He heard me! He blessed me with a miracle. I have Dr. Macy a hug and told her that we had to go and tell Lance right away. So she helped me out and we went straight into the waiting room where Lance had been waiting the whole time. I was groggy but a happy groggy. Miracle #2 happened right before out eyes.<br />
I know God is a God of miracles. Miracles come big and small. Now maybe this was a small miracle to some but to us it was HUGE!!! Huge enough to celebrate. My left breast was okay. No cancer!!!!! If only my right side could have that same miracle. I know I can't ask the Lord for that right now. Small victories! I will take it! Tears of joy today!!!!! Now some of you might say "Ya but you still have cancer!" I know!! I know that!! I feel it!! There is no getting away from that cloud that hangs over me every second of every day. But today I see the sun peaking through and we are going to beat this! I feel it! The road might be long and hard but we are going to beat this!!!! Cancer will never take what is mine! I choose to live!!! I choose to be happy!<br />
So tonight as I write this I feel at peace. I am very grateful to Heavenly Father for allowing me this one small miracle.Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-28726996565229230792015-03-09T11:35:00.000-07:002015-03-09T11:35:12.878-07:00My honest faithSunday has come and gone. Owen woke up feeling really crummy. It was literally coming out both ends and I judging by his reaction I don't think he has ever had diarrhea like that before. It kind of freaked him out.<br />
Lance leaves early in the morning for meetings. Sunday mornings are kind of lonely in our home. We just got a new DVD on 50 different scenes from the Gospel series. Truly beautiful video. This was one literally 24/7 in our home. I sent Lance a text that I was going to have to miss church because Lance is conducting in sacrament this month. I felt let down. Church was the one place I wanted to be. Luckily my father came to the rescue! He has been hands down there whenever I have needed someone. I am so thankful for that. It is hard for me to leave my children now with this diagnosis. I just want to be at home with them.<br />
Our sacrament meeting starts at 1 pm. Hayden and Owen went down for a nap. It was going to be an easy afternoon.<br />
Church was better than I thought. I didn't want people to feel sorry for us or make it an all about me sacrament. That was not my intent at all. I only had 3 of my 5 children with me and it was so relaxing. It was nice to sit and listen and just be still. Kind of.<br />
Lance bore his testimony. I watched him and just felt this immense love for him. He has been my rock and just a great support to me. I don't know what I would do without him. I just knew I needed to get up. You know that feeling that builds and builds inside until you feel like you are about to burst? Yep, I felt that. So up I went. I didn't even know what to say. But I just knew I wanted to be honest with myself and with the Lord. I have felt a lot of emotions. A huge range of emotions. I don't really remember what I said, but I said it. I felt relieved. I could breathe.<br />
The rest of the day was very much for me. I feel personally that each class and each lesson I gained so much from. Brother Flemming gave an amazing lesson on the miracles that Christ performed. From raising the dead, to healing the lame. If Christ could perform miracles then why can't he do that now? Maybe he does. Maybe there are some who are completely healed and cured. Maybe that is not what he has in mind for me. Maybe my healing will come in other ways. But I am hopeful that all will be okay in the future. It is going to be a journey. My new mantra is "Trust your Journey!" It seems suited for me. Trust that this journey is going to be bright and change our lives for the better. Most days I just pray for my normal life to come back. That boring day to day routine that we created for ourselves. I would give anything to go back to those days when the dark cloud that tends to hover over my heard constantly go away. I want it gone!!!! I want the sun to shine all day. But I have come to realize over these past 2 weeks since this all started that the sun does shine. I just have to look for it.<br />
Surviving is my goal. Surviving for my children. Surviving for Lance and most of all surviving for myself. So I write this all down knowing that one day we will look on this and see how far we have come and to see what our new normal is becoming.<br />
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This evening a sister from our ward Linda Waumbolt came over to visit. She brought me a bottle of Curcumin C and she explained its power of fighting inflammation because that is the start of cancer. Inflammation in the body. I was so grateful for her visit. We are surrounded by several people to have gone above and beyond for us and that has been an emotional thing for me. After her visit my mother showed up to watch our children so we could go and visit our friends Kim and Kay Cherry. They are one of the most amazing couples I have ever met. Kay is a breast cancer survivor and Kim was diagnosed 6 years ago with ALS. According to doctors he should have been dead 4 years ago. At the time of his diagnosis he was told there was only hope. No treatments, no cures no nothing. I can't imagine being told that. In my diagnosis there has been story after story of survival and how so many are beating the odds now. ALS, there are no survivors. Only a death sentence and they have beaten the odds. Kim is still up and golfing. Getting healthier and healthier every day. They have literally reversed his diagnosis through several things and I have felt very impressed to visit with them and talk with them about some of the things they are doing.<br />
Several times we have been told about the benefits of a hyperbaric chamber and ozone therapy. So maybe we are being led in different directions. The more and more I read about the treatments out there the more I am terrified about what it can potentially do. So we are being well educated through many sources about all the options out there.<br />
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Thanks you for all your support, prayers, generous meals and thoughtful gifts we have had each and every day. We have been truly blessed. We love you all for that!!!Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-17998593949814164622015-03-08T08:40:00.000-07:002015-03-08T08:40:19.901-07:00GeneticsDr. Szentes recommended that we have some genetic testing done. There is a gene that has been discovered that can predict who will and who will not have cancer. It is called the BRAC 1 & 2 gene. Awhile back it became big news when the actress Angelina Jolie had her double mastectomy because she had tested positive for the genes.<br />
We were instructed to go downtown to MSTI. The Mountain States Tumor Institute. We met with a geneticist and went over our family history and all the many diseases that seem to creep up in the family. It is amazing that most of them are actually pretty healthy. Give and take a few here and there with something but overall pretty healthy genes.<br />
We were told that if we tested positive for the gene then my chances of having another breast cancer is up to 80% and my chances for Ovarian Cancer is 65% and higher. So if the tests come back positive, looks like I will loose both sides and have a hysterectomy as well. After the testing was all said and done Lance and I looked at each other and this is what Lance said , "They are going to take your ovaries, your boobs and you may potentially lose your hair? No one told me I get a boyfriend out of all of this!" All we could do was laugh. To be honest I almost peed my pants. And they we cried. This has been an emotional roller coaster of ups and downs and we are only just beginning.<br />
The tests will take up to 2-3 weeks to come back. Don't know if w have that much time so we will see what the doctor says this week.<br />
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The MSTI is a very humble place. This is where all the those who look like they are about to meet death go. The chemo ward had a few people in there and everyone looked at us like we were too young to be there. I would have to agree with that one. Everyone was old.<br />
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I still can't believe this is happening to us. Still feels like nothing physically has happened. I am sure that is all right around the corner. Lance and I are terrified of Chemo. We have heard the bad, the good, the life saving and the terribly ugly mark it can leave. We are looking into other treatments that don't seem as harsh.<br />
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Seems like everything we have read in the holistic line of healing is diet, oxygen, hyper barrik chambers and lots and lots of vitamins. We are considering this as well. We have read numerous accounts of people healing their body holistically and it seems more appealing to me now than ever. But at the same time, I want this evil out of me. I am almost to the point to do whatever it takes to get it out and gone. Chemo does save lives. There will be time for healing afterwards.<br />
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I have a word or two for you cancer. YOU SUCK!!!!!! GO AWAY AND LEAVE US ALONE! YOU WILL NEVER HAVE MY PERMISSION TO TAKE WHAT HAS BEEN MINE, WHAT IS MINE AND WHAT WILL BE MINE!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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<br />Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-50859830354083802512015-03-07T20:57:00.001-08:002015-03-07T20:57:09.884-08:00The blessingLast Tuesday Lance and I went in to renew our temple recommends. After we had our interviews and visited with great friends we hadn't seen in awhile President Firmage our Stake President calls Lance and I into his office. Now let me just tell you about this man. We have known him for many years. A great family friend, previous bishop and just an outstanding guy. We sat down in his office and chatted for awhile about some things I had questions about. I asked him "Do you really think Heavenly Father maps out who is going to get what aliment or who is going to pass away leaving 5 children behind. Or does he just allow life to happen and he tests us to see what we do with whats been dealt to us?" I have struggles with this for some time now.<br />
Lance had an aunt who passed away a few years ago from this very same thing we are dealing with here. Breast Cancer. Diagnosed and gone all within 6 weeks. Very sad story leaving behind a great husband who loved and adored her and 9 beautiful small children. I wanted to know if Heavenly Father really needed her more on the other side then here on earth taking care and raising her family. What could be more important on the other side than what we have both been called to do, be a mother?<br />
We had a pretty in depth conversation about that that helped me to understand a little better. Before we left he asked if he could give me a blessing. Of course those are always welcome. He placed his hands on my head and in a very bold and clear voice he told me that Heavenly Father loved me. He was aware of everything going on and that in the name of Jesus Christ he told me my cancer would be eradicated from my body. I would live a long healthy life. I would live to see my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He told me that when the time came to chose a treatment that the spirit will tell us loud and clear which path to choose. Through constant prayer we would be guided to know which treatment to use and if any treatment at all. I was loved! He knew what I was going through and I was also told that the Lord is pleased with my life. I was also told that this would be a turning point for my children as a turning experience for their testimonies. The blessing was over. I got up and tears were coming down the President's cheeks as well as mine. He was confident that the Lord was talking in that blessing. I was confident too!!!<br />
So even though all we have received is bad news. Somewhere, some time in and in some way some good news will come. Until then we just pray that no matter what happens, we are going to make it through. We cling to that. That night after the blessing I was encouraged to go home and write it all down. So I constantly go back and read those notes from the blessing.<br />
So another day as passed and I am exhausted. Not sure where this is all going to lead. I am nervous. I am optimistic. I am hopeful. I am tired.<br />
Tomorrow will bring on a new day and we will carry on our activities as if nothing still hasn't happened. I will hold on to these days because there are but a few left like today. Cancer is the new normal in our family. Cancer has come to stay for awhile but it may not stay permanently.Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-62281557409356074052015-03-07T20:34:00.002-08:002015-03-07T20:34:51.797-08:00MRIThursday night we had the MRI. I had to have a prescription for claustrophobia. I just hate being confined to small areas. So I took the pill on the way to the hospital. Lance and I headed up to the hospital at 4 so we could be ready for the MRI at 5:30 p.m. They gave me some lovely scrubs to wear. When they came in to get me they told Lance he had to stay behind. No one can be in the room while the MRI is taking place. So all he could do was wait as well.<div>
I have never been so nervous in all my life. I was hoping for the meds to kick in. Maybe they already had. I was told to lay face down on a bed with my chest facing towards the ground. They said that the MRI would take roughly 30 minutes and I was to hold really still or they would have to redo it. They so generously gave me some headphones with Pandora on them to block out the jack hammering sound that I would hear. </div>
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They gave me a little button to hold in case of emergency I could squeeze it and I could be pulled out. So I laid down face down and they pushed me into the machine. I was face down so I don't know exactly how close I was but I felt the top of the machine or tunnel touch the top of my head. So it was pretty tight quarters. I was really feeling stuffy. I was scared and I was tired. The machine started and Josh Groban came on the headphones. I love Josh Groban. Then all of a sudden the jack hammering started. They weren't kidding when they said it was loud. It frightened me. I was crying. I wanted out. But I knew that if I didn't do it this time there would have to be another time. </div>
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Let me step back here and explain something about our life. Since all my children were babies we have used noise makers. Noise makers are amazing with children and also with moms of young kids. So this felt kind of like that. It kind of put me to sleep off and one. The hammering would go on for a few minutes and then it would stop. I cried. The tears were itching my nose and I couldn't wipe it. I had to lay there and I had to find other things to take my mind off of that. So I prayed. I cried loud and I prayed loud. The machine was so loud anyways, how could anyone hear me? I couldn't even hear myself.</div>
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That was the longest prayer I have ever given in my entire life. I threw it all at him and was angry. I was sad. I felt betrayed almost. I just cried. I was confined and couldn't move and I cried. I was scared. I was really scared and there wasn't anything I could do about it.</div>
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So after what felt like an eternity the machine stops and they pull me out. The gal asked me if I was alright. She said I looked pale and sick. I was okay. Believe it or not I felt okay. I felt okay. For the first time in a very long time I felt like my heart felt prayer was heard. He wanted me to feel that. To know that and everything was going to be okay. Not to be afraid.</div>
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We headed on down to the blood lab for some blood tests. That was easy. Afterwards we held hands and walked out to the car. Stuffed our faces with Arbys and went home to our children. I just knew that the MRI was going to come back fine.</div>
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Well the next morning came and we received the call. I was by myself. Lance was outside working on a house or with a client and I was alone. Dr. Anthes was on the phone again. She had read the MRI results and she said that the cancer spot on my right side had grown a little larger and the left side was showing a non suspicious area of enhancement. What the heck does that mean? So she said because I have cancer on the right side we have to rule out if it is cancer on the left side or not. So what does that mean? Another biopsy is on its way. This Thursday at 7 am we are suppose to be up at the hospital for a MRI guided biopsy of the left breast. Again more bad news. Maybe. Just wait some more. More waiting. Can I just tell you that this is the worst part of it all. The role playing of what it could entail and all the horrible thoughts, sad thoughts, angry thoughts that go through your mind is torturous. So until then we try to act like nothing. We try to live a normal life. But what is normal anymore? I find myself praying like crazy to Heavenly Father to just wake me up from this terrible dream I am having. I just want my life back. I want it to go back to the way things were. Life had no worries. No real stress. Not compared to this.</div>
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I am tired. We are studying everyday to find the right kind of treatment for me. Chemo scares me to death. The poison they put into your body to kill the other poison. We are exploring all options right now. </div>
Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-89332567467037281712015-03-07T20:11:00.000-08:002015-03-07T20:11:59.516-08:00Breast Cancer - the diagnosisYou read it right. Breast cancer. I was recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I found the small lump on the morning of February 18. I remember just feeling my chest and right away I noticed a lump. I felt it some more and sure enough I was feeling a lump, probably about the size of a grape. So I called Dr, Carlson and scheduled an appointment to get in to see him. He couldn't get me in for a week and so the thought of having to wait for a week to see what it was was torture. Later that afternoon his nurse called me to see what I had scheduled for and I told her what I had found and she asked if I could come to the office the next morning. That was a huge relief.<br />
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So Thursday the 19th we go see Dr. Carlson. I really do have the best OB in the world. He has delivered 3 of my 5 children and I will stay with him til he no longer practices. He is just that friendly. He did an exam and felt it right away too. While he was doing his exam I had also mentioned that I had been having some kind of bloody discharge from my nipple. ( Sorry for all you boys out there who may stumble upon this.) He didn't seem too worried at all. He was under the impression that it would be simply a cyst that was it. But he recommended that I get a mammogram just to be on the safe side given the fact that there is some breast cancer on my mother's side of the family. Lance and I walked away from that appointment feeling pretty confident that it would be that and only that.</div>
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Well the mammogram was scheduled for the very next day. Looking back on all of this, it happened all so fast and doctors got my foot in every door exceptionally fast. We had planned to go to Utah that weekend for a surprise birthday party for my brother-in-law Dave who was turning 50. Lance and I tried to find a babysitter so just he and I could get away over night but we had no such luck. So Lance and I decided that he would take the three older boys and go for the weekend. Since we were pretty sure the mammogram was going to reveal a cyst and nothing more I was convinced I could go in on my own and just get it over with. Win, win!</div>
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So Lance and the boys packed up at 6 am and headed for Utah. I stayed behind with Ellie and Hayden and found a babysitter to watch the kids while I went downtown to the hospital for the mammogram. I wasn't nervous at all. Just anxious.</div>
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I waited for quite awhile and then they called me back. I was nervous actually. I was nervous about the mammogram hurting. I had heard all the stories of all the pulling and pinching. But actually it wasn't painful at all. I have no idea what those women were talking about. But maybe for women who actually have a chest it is painful. Since I am really small and flat chested it was a piece of cake.</div>
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The mammogram was fast and easy. Then after those tests I was lead into another room that had the ultrasound machine. The young gal who did my ultrasound was really nice. I felt comfortable with her. Then after she was all done she told me to wait in the room while the radiologist looked at my scans. About 10 minutes later the radiologist Dr. Anthes walked in and she was very young. Very pretty lady. She asked if she could do another ultrasound on me. I had no idea why she wanted to because I was convinced it was just a cyst but she went ahead and looked again. After a few scans she sat back and told me what she thought.</div>
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I knew right then and there it wasn't just a cyst. I could see the look on her face. She sat there and asked if I had a history of breast cancer in the family. We talked and she said that they had found two solid masses in my right breast. Cysts are usually liquid filled and the light will shine through them but solid masses pose another threat. Cancer? Fibroids? Dense tissue? She said that it the small mass measured about 1 cm and the larger one that I found was around 3.5 cm. Pretty large and very suspicious looking. She told me that I was looking at the possibility of having a 50% chance or greater of it being cancerous. My stomach literally dropped. I felt sick to my stomach and I just scared. I cried. I cried a lot. She wasn't very friendly. Kind of cold. She just sat there. I sat there by myself trying to take it all in. What was I going to tell Lance? My kids? That was my first initial thought, my kids. Sorry Lance! </div>
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She recommended that I have a biopsy of the two masses to know and confirm what she suspected. So we set up that appointment for the next Tuesday. That was it. I walked out of the hospital feeling absolutely nauseated. I walked slowly back to my car. I couldn't even find it. I had to walk around a little in the huge parking garage to find it. Found it. Got inside and dialed Lance. He picked up the phone so cheery like always and asked "So......?" "They think it is cancer Lance." That was all I could say. All I could think about was I have cancer. I just knew it. I felt it deep inside. I knew what this was going to be. Cancer. That stupid C word that you hear about all the time. Everyone around you who has battled it, knows someone who has survived or passed on because of that C word.</div>
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I am not sure what Lance thought too. I sensed that he was nervous. We talked about the whole procedure and he asked "Do you want me to come home right now?" I really wanted him to. I was alone. But I knew that my boys were having a great time with their cousins so I told Lance to stay. I should have let him make that decision and not me. </div>
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When I got home I let my babysitter go and I just sat down and hugged Ellie and Hayden. I cried and Ellie said "Mom, I love you most!" (We have been in this Tangled mode for a long time. Mother Gothel - me, tells Rapunzel " I love you, and Rapunzel replies , I love you more and then Mother Gothel says "I love you most!") That is our inside joke and we say it to each other all the time. I needed that. I needed someone to hug me and tell me they loved me. She did it! I cried and then we played. We played and played and made more phone calls.</div>
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Lance came home the next night after the birthday party. The boys rolled into town around 1 a.m. I was so glad to see them home. I was so glad to have him home. My boys, we were all together and that was all I wanted.</div>
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The next few days were a blur. We tried to carry on our daily lives as if nothing ever happened. Routine is a friend of mine and that helped me keep my mind on what I usually do every day when the kids get home. Do homework, hold Hayden who is sad, make dinner and try to love them all at the same time. When my boys walk through the door at 4:30 life gets pretty crazy in our home. The noise volume escalates, fights begin, hungry stomachs are churning and I am already tired. But that didn't phase me. I wanted all that back.</div>
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It is Stake Conference that weekend and I am so relieved that I don't have to face a lot of people. Just us. In and out and we are good. This time Lance is sitting with me and life is good. Man I wish it were like that each and every Sunday but he can't. He gets to sit up on the stand. Most Sunday's I envy him for that.</div>
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Tuesday morning rolls around and we show up to the same place for the biopsy. It is 7:30 am and our appointment isn't til 8 a.m. So we have a little time in our hands. We just sit patiently and wait. 8 o'clock rolls around and they call my name. Here we go!</div>
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They put me back in a room and I change into the hospital gown. The kind that makes you just feel so cute. Most likely someone just died or delivered a baby in it, but I don't care this morning. Dr. Anthes was back again. Only this time she was sweet and caring and very nice towards us. Lance was with me too so I felt like we could do it and prove them wrong that cancer wasn't it our cards.</div>
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The biopsy was fairly quick. They numbed me quite a bit and with the amount of needles they stuck in me to get tissue samples I am still amazed I didn't feel anything. 20 minutes later and we are done. That was it. </div>
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Dr. Anthes asked if I wanted to see the tissue samples. I was curious. They looked like little white worms floating in a cup with solution in it. So they sent us on our way and told us the results would be in 2-3 days. So more waiting. I am sensing a pattern in all of this. Wait. Wait some more and then some more. So we went home. I was told I couldn't lift anything heavier than 15 lbs for the next 48 hours to prevent leaking and infection? I have not idea but I like the idea of being babysat for awhile. Lance and I decided that we would stick together 24/7 until we got the results back because we wanted to be together when the news came.</div>
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Thursday morning start early in our household. Keaton and Andrew have piano lessons before school starts. So we leave the house right around 7:30 and have our lessons and then it is off to school. I thought well today was the day they said they would call but I will be back home by 9 and surely they won't call that early. Well I was sitting on the couch waiting for Andrew to be done so we could go to school and my phone rings. It is a Boise number and so I take my phone and run out the front door. It was Dr. Anthes. My heart was beating so hard. This was it. But wait, where was Lance? Oh ya that's right, at home. So I told the doctor that we weren't together and we wanted to be when the news came in. So she was very considerate and told us that she would call back in one hour to tell us. That was one of the longest hours of my entire life.</div>
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I take the kids to school and rush home. She calls. Lance and I are sitting in his office with the speaker phone on. Dr. Anthes went into detail about the biopsy results. The smaller of the two masses came back benign. That was good. The larger one however was showing signs of DCIS in situ. Meaning and cancerous lump of cells forming in the milk duct. Now the term DCIS has two terms. One of them is invasive or in situ, meaning non-invasive. This was what she said the biopsy results were showing. This was the good kind to have. So Lance and I sat back a little relieved but at the same time I was just diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I wanted to cry but I didn't. We just sat there and talked more about other things concerning the cancer and that we needed to make an appointment with a surgeon for some options of removing it.</div>
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So we set up an appointment with Dr. Szentes. He came highly recommended by several people including my own mom, grandmother and sister who all used him at one point in their lives. We got an appointment with Dr. Szentes for that Thursday. </div>
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We met him and he was a very nice doctor. Very polite and very sensitive to what was going on. After meeting with him and having an examination we sat down and went over my mammogram and ultrasound findings to understand what it all meant. No one up to this point had educated us at all about what they found. We were left to look it up all on our own and it was not good.</div>
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Dr. Szentes was a little concerned with the size and shape of the DCIS. He said typically you don't feel DCIS because they are small and in the milk duct. But because mine is so large and calsifications were spread throughout the area he was concerned that it has become invasive. Meaning it is starting to spread. But based on the biopsy and other tests it says DCIS non invasive. So maybe there was a mishap in the biopsy that happened. Still don't know. So we talked about treatment options and the best way to deal with what we know. He suggested I have a full mastectomy given the size of the tissue involved and how little chested I am in would leave my breast rather distorted. So that is what he recommended. He also told us that while in surgery he will do a sentinel node biopsy. This is the node that is the boss of all the other nodes. If the cancer has reached this node then they start taking each node out one by one to see if there is cancer in them. Cancer in the lymph nodes is never a good sign because this allows the cancer to move freely and faster to other areas of my body. So fingers crossed it hasn't gotten that far yet!</div>
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After the apportionment we were scheduled to have a Breast MRI.</div>
Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-78982098435372486022014-11-02T19:22:00.000-08:002014-11-02T19:22:02.344-08:00This is who I amThis past year has been a year of major changes for me. At the start of the year I made some goals. We all do that. How many of us actually follow through? Not me! That used to be my anyways. I made the goal that I was going to lose weight, learn to accept myself and change habits.<br />
Well I sat on the back burner until May. I remember I was at Costco and I ran into a dear friend I hadn't seen in quite awhile. Truth be told I hardly recognized her. She was thin, I mean really thin, she walked with confidence and she was just happy. After we talked and as she walked away I knew I had to do something for myself. This friend of mine was getting ready to compete. She had a trainer, worked on meal plans and worked out everyday. I hated the thought of doing that. I never really had to worry about what I ate or how much until child number 4 came and since then it had just piled up. Now mind you I wasn't fat by any means but I felt sluggish and just low. I had no self esteem and I always felt the need to cover up. I wasn't happy in my own skin.<br />
So that night after thinking about it that whole day. I couldn't really think of anything else but my friend. So I sent her a message on facebook and she responded with a name of a gal who was a fantastic trainer that would be great to give a try. I starred at that message for a whole week after that. I remember making the attempt to call her several times but I would end up hanging up before she would answer. I chickened out. I did that several times. I am sure she thought a psycho path was calling. I finally did it. I let it ring until she answered. I knew the minute I heard her voice that this was my gal.<br />
So this is where my journey started. It started at the end of May. I remember the first time I actually when and met Teri for the first time. She was so awesome! Made me feel like I could do anything and that she was there to help me do what I was there to do- change myself. Physically.<br />
So I did it! I stuck with it. It was hard. Super hard! I hated working out and the food, I wasn't used to it. But I did it and you know that saying that "slow and steady wins the race?" Well it is true. I can testify of that. I didn't see huge improvements right away. I hurt all the time. I was constantly craving sugar, sweets, anything that tasted good. Over time and every time I met with Teri she would measure me and take pictures of my progress. It was working and for the first time in a long time I could feel something happening inside of me. I felt good. I was starting to lose the weight and I was gaining confidence.<br />
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The food started to get better. I had to learn how to cook all over again. Goodbye boxed food. Goodbye canned food. Hello protein!!!!<br />
So here we are almost 5 months later and I have lost 12 lbs and 4 inches off my waist. I feel amazing!!! I can sleep better. My back pains have practically disappeared unless a child creeps into my bed at night and kicks my back with their feet, then it hurts.<br />
My cravings are still there. I fight them still. But they are slowly going away. On my meal plan I am allowed 2 cheat meals a week. I take them! I love them! They keep me going but I am starting to crave them more after having them so I am in the process of eliminating all of it! Goodbye sugar!!!!<br />
Every morning when my alarm goes off at 6:10 a.m,. and it is cold and still dark outside, it is really hard to get out of bed and go to the gym. But the mornings I don't make it to the gym, momzilla wakes up and it is not fun. My kids will ask me "You didn't go workout today did you?" I ask "Why do you ask?" and they will so kindly say "well because you are yelling and telling us what to do." So I make it a point to go every morning.<br />
I have a hernia in my stomach. It's called Dissectus Reci. Which means that my ab muscles are stretched to their max. I can fit my entire fist between my ab muscles. It is not pretty. Explains why I can't do a situp to save my life and while I struggle to do pull ups. I am quite the sight to when I do it. Teri laughs every time I try to do them at the gym. So I just kick her and we end up rolling on the floor laughing because I looked so ridiculously funny. I also have a lot of saggy skin from having 6 babies. I am seriously contemplating having a tummy tuck in the spring along with my muscles being sewn back together.We will see.<br />
So this is my life now. I am in love with it! Accepting myself as I am. I know I will never look like i did when I got home from my mission or post baby. I know that now. But I can learn to accept myself for who I have become. I have 5 beautifl children that I wouldn't change for the world. This is the body that challenged me through thick and thin, I accept myself now. Acceptance has always been a hard thing for me, but I can honestly say I am happy right now, except for Sundays. Sundays make me grumpy. Why do I admit that? Because I am being open and honest. Sundays are hard for me. My kids never listen to me,probably because I am just their mom and I don't really mean anything. That is another post for another day. But today I am happy. My kids all went to bed at 7 pm. I was tired. They were exhausted because they were up at 5 am due to the time change. I hope this isn't a new thing. Heaven help us all!Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-78902514681770516772014-09-24T14:01:00.001-07:002014-09-24T14:01:08.352-07:00doTERRA Convention- Salt Lake CityIt happened again! Another great doterra convention. My good friend Shannon and I hoped on the bandwagon and bought tickets and were traveling buddies.<br />
Shannon and I rented a rental car and drove down last Wednseday. Can I just tell you how fun it was! We laughed and laughed. Very therapeutic for me and probably for her as well. Shannon and I see the same trainer and it was nice to not have the temptation to eat crappy food, because that is usually what happens when you travel. Well we did pretty good! We stuck to our plan.<br />
We had a sorry rental jeep. Oh well, we made it and it was a gas hog. We stopped in one place called Snowville, Utah. Yuckiest pit stop ever. It is literally out in the middle of nowhere. The gas station was icky and creepy. There were rattle snack treats you could buy out of a gumball machine as you entered the store. Who feeds rattlesnack treats? Don't they eat live rats and rodents? So we snuck in to use the restrooms. There were signs all around like, "Watch for bats!" " Watch where you step." Creepy signs all over and they were for real too.<br />
The sign as you were entering the restroom said that the restrooms were not for the public unless you bought something. So I full intentions of buying something. Shannon used the restroom first and then I followed after. What I didn't know what that she had already gone outside and started the car and was waiting for me.<br />
The grumpy old man behind the counter was sure to tell me that I needed to buy something. I told him I would and I needed to get my wallet out in the car. So I went out to find Shannon already in the car waiting. I tried to sit in and reach for my wallet and when she did she started to take off. So what did I do. Closed the door and we cruised on. I felt terrible for not buying anything but we were on a schedule and had to get into Salt Lake by 4:3-5 o'clock for registration.<br />
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We finally made it. Shannon had never really been to Salt Lake before so I told her alittle bit about Temple Square and she asked many questions about the church. I think we made good progress. <br />
We stayed at the Hilton Hotel which we thought was across the street from the Salt Palace where the convention would be held. Perfect, walk across the street and be within walking distance to everything we needed. Wrong. We were in the Hilton by the airport. Not what we needed.<br />
So the first night we stayed there. We roomed with two other gals who came from Mexico for the convention. Only one of them made it. Ale Berron from Los Cabos was there waiting for us. She was so sweet. Young mom of 4 and a owner of a Salon there in Los Cabos. She spoke good English but was extremely exhausted and just wanted to speak Spanish. Perfect. I speak Spanish. What a relief. I was surprised on how quickly it all came back to me. It was so much fun.<br />
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Ale has a sad story. While she was in the U.S. a hurricane hit Los Cabos. A strong, very strong Hurricane. It destroyed everything of theirs. Their home- gone. Her salon- gone. Everything literally destroyed. There was no communication with her husband or children. She didn't know if they were alive or what was going on. Come to find out that right before we arrived at the hotel she had just received word that her family was okay. Her children were shipped off on a flight to Mexico City so they could stay with their in-laws. All woman, children and American citizens were the only ones that could leave on flights. So her husband stayed behind to help out with all their friends and family members that were still there. Can I just tell you how humbling it was to be with her. To listen to her cry. To listen to her cry as she spoke with her husband and children one by one. All she had left was her suitcase full of what she brought.<br />
As the week wore on we talked and come to find out that everything was literally gone. So where does she fly home to? Mexico City to be with her children or her husband who is still stuck in Los Cabos? She chose to go to Los Cabos to help everyone out. Her children are safe at her in-laws. It is all the thousands of people who are without. She spent a lot of their savings on supplies and things they needed to help others out. She filled up more suitcases with things from Costco, Target and other places. What a humble and amazing woman. I hope that we will continue to be in contact. I was really touched by her story. She has been on my mind and in my prayers. She asked me what faith I was from. I told her the Church of Latter-day Saints and she had never heard of it. Never seen missionaries or knew what we believed. So I told her. She said that she was going to look for missionaries and welcome them into her home.<br />
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Long post made short. We attended several classes on how to use the oils. From ADD- to hormonal imbalance in women, there was so much to learn. I took close to one hundred pages of notes. It was that good. I wish everyone could go and see for themselves what good these amazing oils are making around the world. More and more people are empowering themselves to take their health care into their own hands. What a wonderful gift.<br />
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Met many people from around the world. Flagged down crazy taxi drivers. Attended a Gala. Dressed up like I was in high school Prom all over again. Super fun. Driving at midnight in downtown Salt Lake without my headlights on. Crazy taxi drivers flagging me down to tell me I was an idot. We just laughed and laughed. Played with my brother. James. and flew back home Saturday evening. Wild and crazy. That is how I sum it up.<br />
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I came home with a determination to do the business. I will be walking that red carpet next year. Get ready world, cause here we come!!!!!Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-66404557515733927572014-09-09T21:37:00.003-07:002014-09-09T21:37:38.457-07:00Our random happeningsSo our life has been crazy busy as of late. We have done a lot of fun things and we have been just really enjoying being together. Here is a hodge podge of what we have been doing.<br />
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Sundays are fun around here. Most of the time. One Sunday we had everyone out to our place for dinner. Didn't go as well as we had planned. My mom was out of town and stopped in to say hi and visit when she got back. We took all the kids and grandma for a ride in the Polaris. Sunday Funday!<br />
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We love to do the Library summer reading programs. When they read for so many minutes or so many books they earn prizes. One of those prizes was a trip to Mongos. A different version of Mongolian BBQ. We weren't quite sure our kids would eat it. They actually really liked it. Notice anything different or mission? Yep! That's right, Owen's other shoe. I swear we always leave our house with him missing a shoe or just grabbing one. So he ate dinner that night with just one sandal. Kid cracks me up.<br />
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So my friend Jeralyn told me about this Mother/Son date Knight at Chick- fil- A. So I told her yes and I took the three older boys because it was a mother/son date night. They actually liked it. Not so much the food but getting out and having fun. To end the night they took us on a limo ride and the boys thought that was pretty cool.<br />
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Next we went to Slide the City. It came to Boise. We saw it advertised on Facebook and thought the kids would really enjoy it. The day started out well and ended well but the in between? Oh man it was a long, hot day. When the Slide was setting the Slip n' Slide up the water hoses broke so the big problem? How do you get water for the slide? So the slide was dry. It was slow but we made it and we probably won't do it again. Now we can say we did it.<br />
When we got home we saw a surprise visitor in our driveway. Uncle Justin had surprised us all with a visit to town. We love it when he comes to town! The boys jumped out of the car and ran in to see him. It was a good weekend.<br />
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Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-43406767212917359242014-09-09T14:18:00.000-07:002014-09-09T14:18:42.980-07:00First day of schoolI am really, really behind on my posts. First day of school! First 2 weeks have passed and everyone is loving it. Ellie wears her backpack every time we go to drop off and pick the boys up. She is really lonely around the house during the day so we try to find thing for her to do.<br />
Keaton is in 4th grade, Andrew- 2nd grade and Owen is Kindergarten.<br />
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Do you see her little silver teeth? Yep, my daughter is a pirate. A cute pirate. At least that is what her little friend Jack says.</div>
Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-18718368233265964952014-09-09T14:14:00.002-07:002014-09-09T14:14:27.942-07:00ColoradoEvery year Lance's family goes to Colorado over the 4th of July week. Lance's father was raised in the Rico/Dolores, Colorado area and it is just amazingly beautiful. Lance's grandparents Bob and Mary Snyder still live there. So every year there is a chance to go and visit with them. Service projects and so many fun family activities. <br />
Everyone tries to go. It is just little kid heaven up there. I guess I could almost say it was heaven for me too. That is huge coming from my mouth too. Anyone who knows me knows that. <br />
It started off with my driving myself and all my littles by myself to Utah and then following everyone to Colorado. I had worked up a lot of courage and guts to do the big girl thing and just go. So I finally decided to do it. My kids would love it and I was hoping that I would love it too.<br />
Lance surprised us by leaving work for the week and jumping on board with us. So we all went. Can I just say it was one of the best weeks I have had on vacation! It was so great!!! My kids loved every minute of it. <br />
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Grandma and Grandpa Snyder literally live off the land. They are so sweet and live so humbly and there is just a sweet reverence when you go there. There are many work projects to do and we were ready for all of it.<br />
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Some of the gang camped out. Some of us, rented a cabin and we survived. I don't do the tent thing. We rented a little cabin that was suppose to sleep 7 but we got stuck with a little bungalow that was only suppose to sleep 3. So the kids got the beds, because we wanted them to sleep. Lance and I traded between the recliners in the kitchen or the cot that folded out. We really did it. Looking back on it now I just laugh. It wasn't funny at the time but we did it and the kids actually slept really well.<br />
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Every day was play day. They went canoeing, paddling in the boat on the pond to making a fortune on Grandma Bucks. Grandma Snyder invented this amazing program where if all the grandkids did certain jobs around the place like helping clean up, cooking meals and other clean up projects, they would earn money to spend in the Grandma Store. All the kids went crazy over this and you could hear kids constantly asking "What can I do to help out?" It was a marvelous idea! Got everyone working and playing so nicely together.<br />
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My kids really do have the cutest cousins ever. They all played well. They made memories and now every year this will be a fun new tradition.<br />
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There were a ton of highlights but a few that were the most memorable to me was our ride to Silverton, Colorado. Grandpa S. told of an old rough road that they used to travel growing up that went up and over a pretty steep mountain that only took an hour instead of 3 going on the highway. So we loaded up all the grandkids and some adults to supervise in the back of Grandpa's truck and we had our suburban. We followed each other up to the base of the mountain and planned out what we were going to do. The kids were all together signing and having a grand time. Grandma came prepared with snacks and we followed comfortably in our car hoping that Hayden would take a nap on the bumpy ride up the mountain.<br />
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They weren't kidding when they said bumpy and straight up the mountain. I was pretty nervous going up the mountain on a small dirt road in our car. Sure going in a 4x4 up the mountain is one thing but in our suburban but it made it. Just as we were about to make it over the summit Grandpa blew two tires. What????? Change of plans. So all the kids hoped out and the guys changed the tires. Only problem is there was only one spare tire. So about 30 of us crammed into our suburban. It was really, really crazy but so much fun. Our car lost the new smell and look that day. Oh well.<br />
We finally made it down into Silverton, Colorado. A small town nestled in the most beautiful mountains. We had packed lunches for the kids and the guys dropped all of us moms and our kids off at a little park next to a library so they could go get the tires fixed for the truck. <br />
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So imagine 5 moms and about 20 kids over taking this small town. Once we had lunch we all went into the little cute library that looked like an old Victorian church. Our family overtook the entire place. But the cute little librarians were very understanding and let us make all the noise we wanted. <br />
Afterwards we traveled on down to the train station. The train was too long and too much to carry us all so we just waited there to see the train and get on and take pictures. The kids had a great time.<br />
Before heading back up the mountain we stopped to get some hamburgers, French fries and ice cream for everyone.<br />
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They we started our journey back over the mountain. It wasn't nearly has bad going down then it was going up for me. It was doable and Hayden slept. So it was a good trip. We made it back to the Ranch.<br />
Then on one other night we took a 2 hour drive into Durango, Colorado. There is a lot of cool places to see there. One of those places was the Bar D Ranch. Awesome place if you ever get a chance to go. It is an old western experience complete with shops, playground area and a huge BBQ dinner and entertainment for everyone. The food was amazing and the entertainment. That was the best part. There were 4 older gentlemen that had amazing voices and a lot of class. They also had all the kids dancing and laughing so hard they were crying. They sang a song that was close to Old McDonald had a farm instead they called it- Old Matt Palmer had a misfit farm. I was dying. Funniest song I have ever heard. An older man, grandpa age was playing the bass sang it and he was so funny. There were were asmatic horses, narcoleptic pigs, dyslexic sheep and other animals. Funny so funny!!!!<br />
We will be going back there again with our kids. They really enjoyed it! <br />
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I think this was the first summer in a really long time where we really had a great time, no one got sick and everyone got along. It was so much fun for me as well. I got to see my sisters-in-law in a different light and they have become some of my best friends.<br />
Since we spent the 4th of July there. The small town of Rico, Colorado held a great parade. The kids loved it! It was actually 10 x's better than our town parade. It was warm but we stayed cool with snow cones and thanks to Rashelle, an umbrella.<br />
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It didn't stop there. So we headed back to Utah on a Saturday afternoon thinking we would stay overnight and they head back to Boise the next morning. Well the kids and all the cousins talked us into staying another week in Utah to play. Lance had to get home to work and so he took our car home Sunday night (on my birthday) and we had mom and dad's house all to ourselves for a few days. My kids were in cousin heaven. I was so relaxed and stress free. We had a whole week to play and do nothing really but have a good time.<br />
The Mason clan. Aren't they just a sharp looking family? ( Lance's older sister Shauna.)<br />
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Well the second night we were there and after I put all the kids to bed, my sister-in-law Sharlene called me over. No picture in your mind an awesome new subdivision built up against the mountains just south of the BYU campus and my in-laws all live next to each other. They all built their homes next to each other. My in-laws (Lance's parents) built their home with a daylight basement which is a whole house and the top is rented out to a sweet gal who lives there. They bought the lot right next door and seeded that and it is a beautiful lot nicely landscaped for all the grandkids and family to gather, eat and play ball. That is where we do all our family gatherings. Then the lot right next to that is Tom and Sharlene and their 4 kids. Right across the street from them in another brother Paul and his wife Lesa and their 4 kids plus another one on the way in November. Paul is the BYU Raquetball coach so he built a court in his home so the kids love to go over there and play.<br />
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So back to my story- Sharlene called me over and had the bad news- Kali her oldest daughter who is 12 had lice. This was bad news. So the entire week we spent nit picking, literally every morning and every night on all the kids and even us. Glad to report that no one else got lice but we had to sanitize everyone and everything that week. Glad I was around to help out.<br />
It was really hard to leave but by about day 6 my kids were not sleeping well and I wasn't sleeping well. Like they say, "There's no place like hom!" It's true.<br />
What a great trip we had!!! Can't wait to do it all again next year!!!!!<span id="goog_1112223353"></span><span id="goog_1112223354"></span>Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-64187551496890526292014-09-02T14:00:00.003-07:002014-09-02T14:00:21.004-07:00Sister's Retreat 2014Well we did it! We actually did it!!! We all found a weekend that worked and all 10 of us met up. My sister-in-law Jaclyn hosted it this year in Acworth, Georgia. She was a great host too! They opened their homes, their family life and everything to all of us. It was so much fun too! Can I just tell you that I married into an amazing family. I love them all dearly!<br />
On Monday July 21st I flew out by myself to Chicago, IL to be with Carrie and John and their sweet kids. It had been a really, I mean really long time since I had that much free time to myself and boy o boy I loved it! I think every mom deserves that. But to be honest after the first day I did start to feel homesick for Lance and my kids. Crazy ha?<br />
My plane arrived around 2 p.m in Chicago and the Snyders were all their to pick me up. They were such a cute site. John drove us around to see bits and pieces of Chicago. Crazy. I have never really been in a place where I was the minority. This was my first taste. It was different. Things and places I have only seen in movies. This was the real deal.<br />
We spent the first day at their sweet home and just visited. It was so fun to catch up with them. We ate lots, went for walks down Millionaire avenue and played. Oh I forgot to mention SHOP!! Gotta shop! We made a few trips to Home Depot so we could plant some flowers around their little home so it would brighten things up. You know me and flowers. <br />
The next day we ventured out into Downtown Chicago. Holy smokes!!! Crazy place! Exciting place. A very sad place.<br />
John introduced me to the Park Me app so we could find an affordable place to park. We finally found one. Super ghetto. We had to pull up in front of a rusted shed and a spray painted sign that read Honk for service. So we pulled up. We honked. Nothing happened so John pulled up closer and almost rammed the door. We honked again and slowly the door started to rise. I think we were all alittle nervous when it was pitch black inside and the only way you could drive was straight down. So down we went until we came to a little car garage where a man who was just about as dark as night standing there telling us to get out so he could park the car. We all looked at each other wondering what in the world were we doing here. Rest assured it was all legit. The gentleman parked our car and we headed back up into daylight and explore the city. <br />
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We had Brantly and Evelyn with us. They were super troopers. They did fantastic.<br />
I have always heard about Sears Tower and have always wanted to go and stand on the glass ledge that overlooks the city. We finally found the building and headed up to the 40th floor. By the time we got there we found out the cost to stand on that little ledge and decided that $120 for all of us to see it just wasn't worth it so we went back down. The kids loved the elevator ride so that was worth it.<br />
We walked and walked and walked. We explored and explored some more. I think next time in order to see the city we will find a babysitter for the kids and rent bikes so we can move faster.<br />
I had seen homeless people before. Plenty on my mission but this was unbelievable. There were everywhere. We stopped into McDonalds to get some ice cream cones for the kids because they were hot and as we were sitting there eating there was this little old African American women just sitting on the corner crying. I sat there and watched her. Where was her family to help take care of her? So Brantly and I bought a prepaid card for the women to come back a few times and have a free meal. Brantly and Evelyn were the ones that went up to her and gave it to her. It was a very sweet moment.<br />
Thursday morning came and it was time for Carrie and I to fly to Georgia and meet up with all the other sisters. Carrie was on standby and her flight didn't leave until 6 that evening so our plans kinda changed. I flew out at 8 and arrived in Atlanta around noon. I met up with my mother-in-law Sharon who happened to be there the same time I did. It was so fun to find each other. <br />
After what seemed like hours trying to find our way around the largest airport I have ever been in we finally found the car rental place. We rented a car and then navigated our way to Acworth. Not too bad. A huge rain storm kinda slowed things down but we made it.<br />
Everyone arrived! All 10 of us together! It was so much fun. <br />
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Lee made some delicious BBQ rib dinner for all of us. It was fun to sit around the table and just talk, laugh and just catch up.<br />
We got to pick our rooms. I felt like I was in college again. We were all split up into two rooms and we stayed up until 3-4 a.m each night just talking and laughing. Seriously laughing so hard. I loved every minute of it!!!!! Such amazing sisters.<br />
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We went and say several history sites. That place as full of beautiful places. I wish we had more time to go and see it all. I guess I will just have to go back. I fell in love with Marietta. It was beautiful. I told Lance that we should move there. So green and so beautiful. It was my first time I have ever seen a fire fly. Each evening we would sit out on Lee and Jaclyn's covered patio and you could see them fly and glow. Pretty cool.<br />
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One night we went to Henry's Louisiana Grill. I hate seafood! I hate the smell and I hate the taste. I guess the word hate is pretty strong but that is how I feel about it. I ordered chicken to be on the safe side. Everyone ordered something fishy or spicy. Fun to see everyone's meals. My sister in law Lesa ordered oyster pasta and she had never tried one. I was so grossed out but they all dared me to try one so I did. Disgusting!! The texture was horrible. It didn't taste fishy at all but the texture was too much for me. I tried it though and I consider myself brave for doing that.<br />
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The weekend went by too fast and it was time to say goodbye. Can't wait to do it again in 2016. Love them all!!!!<br />
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Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-21529722716553733972014-06-09T21:36:00.002-07:002014-06-09T21:36:41.458-07:00FHE on Lake LowellThis afternoon we got a call from Bishop Wheelock wanting to know if we wanted to join them this evening for a night out on the lake. We are always up for that. So we got everyone and everything ready so we could be to their home by 4. The kids were so excited. Lance took them to the store to buy them their own life jackets since there wasn't that many that would be readily available especially for kids as young as mine.<br />
We went out to Lake Lowell. I was born and raised here in the Star/Eagle area and I had never ever been out to that side before. It was only about a 30 minute drive and the kids were done by about the time we arrived so it was perfect.<br />
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We packed up our dinner and all piled into the boat. We rode out and ate our dinner on the lake. It was perfect. The weather was perfect. Fun company. And all my kids were in heaven. After about 20 minute though Owen had had enough. He is not our water child. He could live without it. Baths are about as adventurous as he gets. We thought there would be a little sandy beach area for the kids to build sand castles and just play but there were only rocks. So it was everyone into the boat and we all really had a great time.<br />
Hayden was a true sport. He wasn't quite sure what was going on. He didn't like his life jacket. He could barley move in it. He was just relaxed and he actually feel asleep for a while. He did great!<br />
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Ellie loved the water and we would dip her in several times. Owen was content to eat treats and sit in the front of the boat by either Lance or I. Keaton and Andrew were dare devils. Jumping out into the lake and giving Big Mabel a shot. Big Mabel is a huge inflatable inner tube that you sit in and hang onto. They loved it! That is all they wanted to do. Bishop was nice not to go too fast so they wouldn't crash. Although I think Andrew would have loved it.<br />
The boys tried the knee board. Andrew tried a few times but had a hard time getting up. By the time he was done he was so cold, his lips were turning blue. So we brought him in the boat and warmed him up. Keaton was next. This kid of mine, I tell you what, no matter what he tries to do he succeeds. He is really just a talented kid to anything he puts his mind to. After his second try he was up and loving every minute of it. Once inside all the older boys were high fiving him and he felt pretty cool.<br />
Keaton commented that every family night during the summertime should be like this. I agree son!<br />
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8 p.m. rolled around and it was getting cold and everyone had had enough so it was time to pack up and head for home. They should all sleep really, really well tonight.Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-21013576067515289272014-05-31T06:37:00.000-07:002014-05-31T06:37:14.336-07:00the weather is nice<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">School is out. The weather is nice. Time to play outside. One of our favorite things to do when the days are warm and school is out. So we played. We just hung out. We did funny, stupid things. I love my children.</span></div>
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Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-41441482272162893422014-05-19T14:12:00.000-07:002014-05-19T14:12:28.523-07:00Let the training begin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I did it! I hired a personal trainer to get me back into shape. I am 2 weeks into it and let me tell you, it hasn't been easy. I have never had anyone tell me "No, you can't eat that!" or "Just a little bit more!" It has been tough. But I can do hard things. At least I think I can. I am on a strict diet plan, with the exception of 2 "off" meals a week. This makes it very doable. Most of the food is new food that I have never really eaten or cooked. It is different but I am learning to like new things. Who would have thought that rice cakes could actually be good. I didn't. But now I do.</div>
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I am on my own as far as working out during the week. I go to the gym 4 days a week and then every Saturday I meet up with my trainer and she works me hard! I am lifting a lot. I am lifting more than I thought I could. I am really enjoying going to the gym. I am learning how to do it effectively. I love it! I love how I am feeling. Big changes are coming and I can't wait for all of this to be worth it.</div>
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Some of the things I have had to get used to:</div>
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- plain yogart (tastes like Sour Cream, but you add Whey and it is not bad)</div>
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- quinoa. Never ate it before. Kinda interesting. Not gonna lie, not my favorite but I am eating it and finding new ways to cook it.</div>
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- rice cakes (2 a day)</div>
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-unsweetened Almond Milk ( kinda different, kinda good)</div>
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-drinking close to 90 oz of water daily. ( I use the restroom nonstop)</div>
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-I don't feel bloated anymore(I love this part!!!)</div>
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- I am more patient. Not only with myself but with my children.</div>
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-My shorts are feeling a little lose on my hips= success! I must be doing something right. </div>
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This is going to be my life for a few months. I am excited for the new challenge and feeling better again. Here's to being healthy!!!!!!!!</div>
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<br />Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-23231904036562779932014-04-30T10:28:00.001-07:002014-04-30T10:28:48.104-07:00Just her and I<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Most mornings are just her and I. How can one child be so much work. I thought having all 5 of them together was a lot of work. Not compared to her. While the boys are at school, and Hayden is sleeping the morning away we play. What do we do while we play? We wrestle. I know it is not a mom and daughter thing to do but I let her call the shots and that is what she loves to do. Sometimes she will grab my fingers and say "Let's go shopping mommy!" So we will wonder up to her playroom where all the kitchen and shopping stands are and just pretend. The world of imagination is a sweet thing. She is so much fun to watch. I am glad I have at least one daughter to play with. I love my boys, don't get me wrong but there is nothing like a mom and daughter. Love her to pieces.</div>
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Our mornings are going to come to an end pretty soon where it will just be the two of us. Summer break is right around the corner, in a few weeks actually and new mornings await us. Until then, we only have 4 more weeks to be wild and crazy without anyone knowing.</div>
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<br />Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-14744481817851336132014-04-18T11:33:00.001-07:002014-04-18T11:33:16.446-07:00More scorpions<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/lsS-s2sT4-A" width="459"></iframe><br />Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-81324860020996762152014-04-18T11:25:00.001-07:002014-04-18T11:25:09.207-07:00Scorpion hunting take 1<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/31KiIz20KBI" width="459"></iframe><br />Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-51963600389465394892014-04-17T12:53:00.002-07:002014-04-17T12:53:12.841-07:00The Snyder GrandkidsOne of these days I will get around to posting about our trip to Arizona. But for now, all I have time for is bits and pieces. This was breakfast in the park with Grandma and Grandpa Snyder and all extended family. We had an Easter egg hunt for all the kids as well. Such amazing people!<br />
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Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562008903886914611.post-21128592098695816192014-04-17T12:48:00.001-07:002014-04-17T12:48:45.218-07:00Armies of Helaman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lance has 5 younger brothers. All of them have served missions around the world. Preston, the one in the middle was the last one to serve. This was recorded by our good friend Lesa Crismon who is the Snyder's next door neighbor. She took this during Preston's homecoming talk on Sunday.</div>
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This is the song Armies of Helaman. There are a few different languages, they are Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Russian and Malay. Enjoy!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/dYoyaC9iCsI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Melissa Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14946429080991857977noreply@blogger.com0