June 17, 2016

The first week of June was kind of a tough one.  The morning Rick was scheduled to have his chemotherapy treatment, he got a stomach virus.  Tanner, Marcia and Maddie also got it.   Rick was so sick, we weren’t sure whether to go up to Huntsman or not.  We decided to head up there and when we got there and told them about his night, they immediately started an IV with fluids and zofran for nausea.  It really helped him start to feel better.  (In fact he got feeling better than the others that were home.)  We were so thankful Rick didn’t get the fever that the others had.  We went ahead with the chemotherapy treatment that day as scheduled.  Rick’s sister Kristie joined us for our appointments and for infusion.  We loved having her there.  She is always so happy and positive!

On June 9^th, Whitney and her family arrived from Connecticut to live with us.  There have been so many blessings associated with their decision to move back here.  Bill was able to find a great job at Ancestry.com, their house in Connecticut sold the weekend that they moved here, and it has been such a blessing to know that they are here to stay. 

We continue to feel so much love and support from the Carollo Engineers family.  Here are pictures we received from the Boise and Portland offices showing their love and support for Rick and all of us.  They are being Strong Like Rick and socking it to cancer!  The love and support continues to buoy up Rick and help him in this fight!

This week marks the completion of round two, which is the halfway point of the clinical trial and also means that this week has been Rick’s week off from chemotherapy.  Having a week off is always a welcome recovery week. 

On Wednesday afternoon, we decided to take a short fishing trip to another great fishing spot.  Rick said to me, “I can either sit home and be sick or I can sit at a fishing spot and be sick.”  We met a good friend, Phillip Solomon there.  He gave Rick a shirt from their recent power plant upgrade project.  The shirt said, “Failure is not an option” and Phillip said, “the slogan is also for your fight against cancer.”  We fished for two hours and had great success!  These moments always help us get our minds off of cancer for a while and keep us smiling! 

We found a quote this week that really resonated with us.  It says:

“At times we may despair that our burdens are too great.  When it seems that a tempest is raging in our lives, we may feel abandoned and cry out like the disciples in the storm, ‘Master, carest thou not that we perish?”  At such times we should remember His reply: ‘Why are ye so fearful?  How is it that ye have no faith?’  The healing power of the Lord, Jesus Christ – whether it removes our burdens or strengthens us to endure and live with them like the Apostle Paul – is available for every affliction in mortality.”  -Dallin H. Oaks

This quote reminds us that things really are in the Lord’s hands and what is required of us is to have faith in Him and in His healing power. 

Thanks to all of you for your love and prayers!  We really feel it!