Halloween 2008

Here is Madison in her costume this year. She is having fun with the stockings, she asked me.

Madison: "Is this what women go through to have nice legs?"

Me: "Yes it is."

Madison: "Then forget it, I won't have guys looking at my legs then, if I have to do all this!"

Are Doctors Suppose To Get Sick???

Well my surgery has been postponed until next Tuesday the 4th. My Sergent called this morning, which I was thinking as I answered "what a nice guy calling me at home", then him saying we have to do your surgery next week, I have the flu!

So another few days of STRESS,NERVES and DEPRESSION won't kill anyone right?! LOL Really I'll be fine, just want this to be over so I can work on getting back to normal health.

Flashback Friday:

Ok Ok...I know it isn't Friday, but seems how I am going to be in the hospital, I had to get it on here early. My surgery is Thursday morning early.

This flashback Friday is of Bill and our oldest son Chris, I was there but I was the one taking the pictures. Chris and Bill enjoy going target practicing so 1 day when we where in Safford Chris had gotten a new gun so they had to go out shooting. Here are some fun shots...ha ha ha!

A Blog Set Up & Fundraiser

The family has set up a blog for Lorin so people can go and see how he is doing and to read his story and progress. Please fill free to leave words of encouragement, your thoughts. Lorin loves to hear all about what is going on, even if he doesn't know you. Thank you to all of my friends that have left him messages...www.lorinmerkley.blogspot.com

If you like Gold Canyon Candles they are having a fund raiser for my Brothers family to help out with Lorin medical bills, go to the site and check it out, thanks.

Good News about Lorin

Written by LeAnn...October 25th
It's working! The swelling in his arm is going down and starting to look like a body part instead of a balloon. Everyone (including his Dr.) is happy about this and they are kicking him out of ICU sometime today. Yesterday we had them lower the pain meds by 1/2 and so far so good. He hardly ever pushes his pain button either so hopefully tomorrow we can lower them again. He really wants to get out of here and knows that he is kind of loopy with all the medicines, so he is asking them to get him off. It amazes me that one minute he is off the wall, doesn't know where he is etc, and the next he realizes that he's in the hospital and not quite right in the mind and asks us to please forgive him for saying stupid things. That part breaks my heart because with everything running through him he has no choice at how his mind and body reacts. Our goal now is to get him eating so he can gain some weight and strength to give him an even stronger desire to fight this and get walking again. Yesterday he wanted to try and stand but when he couldn't he was fearful that he would never walk again, (but we know better) once he gets the epidural out it will be much easier to try.
Lorin received something very special today, with the help of his Aunt April. As a lot of you know Lorin's favorite football team is the Oregon Ducks and they are playing at ASU tonight. Lorin really wanted to go to that game but since he couldn't, April (being the very persistent person that she is) was able to get a hold of the right people and managed to get a signed football, of the entire team and coaches, a motivational CD and note card written out to him from the Oregon Ducks team. I wish you all could have seen him when she gave it to him. He couldn't believe it, and said "this is the greatest gift ever, I love it." I was so pleased that he actually realized what he had gotten and Craig and I were so touched that we were quite misty eyed, but I also know that when he has all his wits about him, it is really going to be a treasure. Thank you so much April you are a real sweetheart.

4th Folder, 4th File Tag!

This is pretty easy and fun.
Go to your 4th picture file, select the 4th photo file,
post it and tell us about it! Everyone is tagged...(Stole from Julie again!)

This was January 6, 2007, we had just got done setting up for Brittany and David's Wedding. The chair up front on the left hand side that is facing forward, is in memory of Grandma Lewis. She had passed away in December, Brittany placed a white long steamed rose on the seat.

Lorin:

I have decided that so many of you have asked about my nephew Lorin that I will put the updates on here as I get them. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers, thank you! Charilla


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2008 10:05 AM

We had a rough night in ICU trying to get the fluid off Lorin's arm and now lungs. We did pretty good with the lungs but his arm is swollen huge and not going down. The Drs. think there may be some kind of blockage. They have stopped the last day of chemo for now because we can't afford to give him another 20 hours of fluid until his arm gets taken care of. He is such a fighter and he's really getting tired of all the Drs. nurses, mom and dad bugging him. He says "I'm gonna be fine so just leave me alone so I can sleep". I can't say that I blame him. We are waiting for the oncologist to come in and tell us what we need to do about the arm but until then I guess we will just have to play a few rounds of "UNO" anyone game?

Flashback Friday

This is my family. My father Zane, my mother Betty,oldest brother Craig (in the white shirt)
next my brother Kevin and then me.
This was taken in 1964 and shortly after that we left for Scotland where the family served a service mission. My father fixed and put electricity into church buildings. Kevin came back with a Scottish brog, that he had a hard time in school. I don't remember a thing, I hope that some day to go over and seeing where I spent the first 2 years of my life.
My father has pass and Kevin lives in Montana, Craig with my mother live in East Mesa. Good times growing up in this family, I thank Heavenly Father for sending me to them...

ICU~ Lorin

Written by LeAnn...Lorin's Mom. Thursday, October 23rd

Lorin is on day four of chemo, has kept very little food down and feels like "crud." He's glad that he's not a girl if this is how they feel being pregnant! It stinks!!
For some reason Lorin's left arm is swelling up like a balloon. They have been running tests on him last night and this morning to try and find out why, but they are moving him down to ICU in the meantime. The bright side is... he has one really massively buff arm! I'm beginning to wonder if anything about this strange cancer is going to be easy? Thank you to all of you that have had our family and especially Lorin in your Prayers.

Just gotta love her....

I love my Mother in law to death. She is just the funniest person, 2 years ago I took a trip to Florida with her. It was a riot! Anyways....She has started taking piano lessons and she was like a kid in the candy store when she was showing me what she had learned. I have told her after she is done, she will have to teach me! I am so proud of her.............

Playing with Madison

Chloe had the funniest time playing with Madison. Chloe was in her saucer and Madison was laying down below her, Madison would tickle Chloe's foot and say her name. Chloe would lean over to find Madison and just laugh! It was the cutest thing......

Luncheon Time Fun!

Last Friday Brittany and I went to the annual get together luncheon that my mother puts on, anytime a relative comes into town. This time it was for Aunt Kay...So we all met at Garica's in Mesa. It was really nice to see everyone, it is hard when you live on the opposite end of the valley to see them as much as you would like too. Aunt Kay came in from Minnesota. We had a good time talking and catching up on family!

My Nephew Lorin

Written by LeAnn , Lorin's Mom. (this was Saturday 10/18)

Another tough day for Lorin, can't seem to get the pain under control so he hadn't gotten much sleep and was very agitated. Dr. Beck has been wonderful at trying to relieve Lorin's pain so he came in again this evening and made some changes. Finally around 10:00 this evening he started to settle down and seems to be comfortable, sleeping right now. It is such a relief to see him calm and at peace. I wish I had a magic wand to make it go away, but I know that's not the plan so I put my total trust in the Lord and have faith that it will all work out the way it's suppose to. Then I feel His love and comfort and know that it's going to be ok. "But it still hurts to watch."

(10/19)

I talked to LeAnn tonight and Lorin isn't doing to well...It seems no matter what they do, Chemo or Radiation the tumors are growing. Please keep their family in your thoughts and prayers.

Flashback Friday ~ 2004

Today's flashback brings back good memories! My best friend in the world Bev, I have talked about her alot, was coming to Arizona on vacation. I hadn't seen her in like 10 yrs. They were going to take her boys to see the Grand Canyon. So we all met up there and had a really good time. IT was the first time I had been to the Canyon myself, what a beautiful site. On the way home we stopped at the Beddrock Park (Flintstones) Madison and Brittany had fun, it is a cute little place.

Activity Day

Last week Madison went to her activity day and then painted these pots. Then they planted grass in it to look like hair (like a Che pet). Madison's has really taken off, it seems like every time I look at the thing it has grown more. It is a really cute idea for Halloween. Hers is suppose to look like Frankenstein~Ewwww Scary!!!

Happy Birthday Teppo!

Today is my grandson Teppo Maximus turned 4. He lives in Alaska with his Mom and 2 brothers, while his dad is in Iraq. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY 4th TEPPO ~ Grandma misses you!!!

I know I have

Ok I know I have already done this on here, but I found a picture of my Mother, her Senior picture and I just had to try and see what she would look like.

Mom you are beautiful to me!

Power of Prayer

I know without a shadow of a doubt, that prayer truly works in many ways. If you could keep me in your prayers I would greatly appreciate it...have ran into some new health problems and could use some thoughts coming my way. Thank you, Charilla

Flashback Friday:

Well this weeks flashback is in April of 1986. I was very much so pregnant with my 3rd son, Zane. He was 2 weeks over due and I was miserable!!! My mother in law flew down to Tennessee for the delivery. In this picture I am sitting behind a table and that's my large tummy sticking over the top, we just couldn't believe how big I was. So glad when that day came and he was here. When I found out I was pregnant, I weighed 110 pds, then just before I had him they weighed me and I was 210 pds. Yes, honestly I gained 100 pds,(that's military for you, 22 yrs ago). So on April 21, 1986; Zane Preston came into this world : 9 pds 9 oz 21 1/2 inches long....Now is 6ft. 4 inches tall !

Keep in Prayers

Written by my Sister in law LeAnn, Lorin's mother...

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 08, 2008 12:29 PM
We just got the results of the MRI and now things are making more sense. The tumor on Lorin's spine has grown and is compressing on the spinal cord, which explains the reason for the weakness, numbness in the lower body, not being able to walk and trouble urinating. They are sending him immediately over to Good Samaritan hospital for radiation to start shrinking the tumor. He will be doing this everyday for a while until there is relief. They will bring him back here to PCH.

Happy Anniversary

Today is Zane and Diana's 3rd Wedding Anniversary! Wow I can't believe it has been 3 years...They have been in different jobs and towns. They are living in Lake Havasu City, Az. right now and have a beautiful girl named Zoe Jane. So I wish them Happy 3rd Anniversary!

Back in the Hospital

For those of you that don't know, my nephew Lorin was diagnosed with cancer in May. He has been on Chemo,he has had 2 rounds and was on a break for 2 weeks, but today he was running a high fever and had to have a blood transfusion and was admitted to the hospital again. He has lost most of the strength in his legs and is bed ridden mostly. He did go to General Priesthood meeting this last Saturday and was able to lye on the cough in the entry way and listen. Please keep him in your thoughts and Prayers. Thank you, Charilla

Looking Around

Today I was looking through at my senior picture and I kept thinking I had seen it somewhere else just recently...I started laughing. The colored picture is my real senior photo, the other is from www.yearbookyourself.com
I'm not sure what was up with the hair!...hee hee

Fall Break

Today here in Arizona we started Fall Break, which last a week long!!! Not sure what we are going to do this whole week. This weekend we are going out of town to visit Chris and his family and go to the Good Ole` Safford Fair, (good times) I go for the cotton candy and the rest of the family goes for the rides, I get sick just thinking of a ride, so I won't be on any. Today for our first day, us girls went out to eat at Olive Garden. Madison had never been and she was so excited! Of coarse headed out the door forgot camera, so we just got this one with her standing by the bag. The twins weren't very excited so it was a short rushed lunch...next time we will go without the little ones.