A Great Trip to Temple Square

Julie has been so great to me while I was sick, doing anything I asked of her, I decided she needed a reward. We went to Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. What a great time the two of us had. We left Wednesday, November 19th and came back Sunday, November 23rd. We saw just about everything on Temple Square. I got a little tired each afternoon. Don't know if the Synthroid medicine has kicked in completely or if its still processing in my body. We saw "Savior of the World," a musical drama, in the Theater at the Conference Center. It was about the birth of Jesus and the events leading up to it and the events after his resurrection. The Church puts on spectacular events. We also saw "The Bells on Temple Square" at the Tabernacle. The orchestra and the bells were fabulous. The sound is great in the Tabernacle. Also we saw "The Spoken Word" with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra. It was great and so inspirational. Julie loved it and got very emotional. We also saw the Christos at the North Visitor Center. So beautiful and had a tour with the Sister Missionaries. I believe Julie would be a great sister missionary on Temple Square. She is not shy at all. We toured the Beehive House and ate at the Beehive Pantry. We also took a tour of the Conference Center and took several pictures of the views from on top of the Conference Center. There are all kinds of plants growing on the roof with a water fall starting on the top of the building. How spectacular looking at the temple and other sites from on top of the Center. We saw the "Joseph Smith Story" in the Joseph Smith Memorial building. We also listened to an organ recital in the Tabernacle. I also looked up a few family names at the Family History Center. I did get a little overwhelmed with all the books and films. Before we left on our trip, I got an email from a lady I did not know who is writing a book for a client which includes the name of my dad's father's second wife, Erna Fruedenberg Jordan Hall, and some interesting information about her. So while at the Family Search area in the Joseph Smith Memorial building, a sister missionary helped me find the 1900-1930 census' of her. She lived and married my grandfather in El Paso, Texas. By coincidence, this sister missionary was from El Paso. I think that was interesting. We had a very good time in Salt Lake. Our trip was great!

The Worst Week of My LIfe

Well, I have thyroid cancer and had to start a treatment plan. It all started on August 14th with the removal of my entire thyroid. Then on October 6th I stopped the temporary thyroid medicine (cytomel) and went on a salt free diet thinking this would be for two weeks. My TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone had to be at 50 points but after 2 weeks it was only at 32 so I had to go another week without good food and thyroid medication. Just think - the normal thyroid level is between .4 and 4.5 and I had to be at 50. That is near death. Finally the nurse called and said, "yippee" you reached the 50 mark. That was on a Friday and I still had until the next week on Thursday before I could start any thyroid medication. I was so weak and puffy. My eye lids were hanging on eye lashes and my cheeks were so puffy I looked like a chipmunk.
Then on October 25th I went in to take the big pill, the I131 radioactive iodine pill. I asked the technician and the doctor if I had no more thyroid how long before I would be on my death bed and they both gave the same answer, "about now."
I took an anti nausea pill then looked at the pill and said here goes and swallowed it. Then I rushed out of the hospital and Jerry drove me home. I ate some lunch and then started the salivary inducing pill which I had to take 3 times a day. I had planned to finish the binding on my bed quilt (2 sides left to finish.) I knew I would have to wash it when this whole thing was over. I got about 1 side done and broke out in a cold sweat and then just layed down on the bed and never got up again. Tuesday I went through the same thing, holding myself up in the shower to wash my hair. It had to be done 3 times a day. By 4:30 and 5 pills later of the salivary inducing pill, I was so sick, I was on the john with that problem, shaking uncontrollably and vomiting. I managed to call the doctor and he said to stop that pill, that it sometimes can make you sick and just suck on hard candy. He didn't want my teeth to rot. After throwing up I felt a little better but so weak. Then on Wednesday, I had the worst headache. I called the doctor again and was told I probably had malnutrition. Who wouldn't after throwing up everything I had eaten and so weak I could hardly put a spoon to my mouth. My dear cousin, Julie, told me to get a supplement like Ensure. That makes my IBS act up so Jerry found Boost which has proved good for me.
I started Synthroid on Thursday and now have been on it for over a week and getting stronger each day. But - my body went through so much stress that my mouth broke out with canker sores so I could hardly swallow water or food. But each day I am better.
Thank you to all the sweet sisters in the ward who brought me meals and words of encouragement. I do so appreciate you.
Now to build up my body until the next time in April or May. My body scan showed no thyroid cells any other places in my body except the throat which the doctors said to expect. Now hopefully, the radioactive pill is killing the cancer in my throat.

I've Been Booo!ed Oh My!

I guess it is too late to Boo anyone since it is now November but I sure enjoyed looking at all the Halloween pictures of decoration and costumes. You all are amazing with what you do in your families.