Cancer Update

 You may wonder why Scott's photo introduces my 'cancer update'.  Well it is a long and good story!

I had my 6 month checkup with my doctor at OHSU in Portland scheduled in late April but because of COVID-19 clinics were only seeing patients with emergent conditions so my appointment was rescheduled for June 24.  The plan was for George and me to drive over, stay in a hotel and go to OHSU for an ultrasound and CT scan and then see the doctor.  I would have my blood work here in Eagle.

My doctor, Dr. Madison, is fully booked at least 6 months out.  Can you imagine what it was like for his schedulers when they add to cancel almost 2 months of appointments and then reschedule them?  He had to add an extra day of clinic to his already full schedule.

The good news for me is that when my blood work came back it was excellent.  In fact, the calcitonin that is the marker for my type of thyroid cancer, had actually come down! After consulting with his nurse, we decided to schedule a phone conference with Dr. Madison.  During that conversation he decided that there was no need for me to drive over for scans because with my super low numbers, they wouldn't show anything.  So we cancelled the appointment.  Yeah!

George and I had been looking forward to seeing Scott when we were in Portland.  We hadn't seen him since Christmas and that is a long time.  So we had him fly over for a long weekend. That way he could see everyone!

It was perfect!  Way better than an ultrasound and CT scan!

Isabella was happy to see Uncle Scott!

We enjoyed lots of family time since there isn't much to do during a pandemic!

Family time is the best time!

Under Orders to STAY AT HOME

That's what I am trying to do!  Not worry and be happy!  

With so much uncertainty and panic in the world, I'm limiting my exposure to negative posts on social media and not paying a lot of attention to the news.  All I can do is take care of myself and my family.  It does me no good to worry.  This old but still very relevant quote has been almost constantly in my mind. 

That said, I don't intend this to be any kind of philosophical post but just a snapshot as to how I've been spending my days at home.  We returned from our trip to Dubai on March 20th and were asked to do a self quarantine for 14 days.  On March 25th,  Idaho Governor Little imposed a Statewide Stay At Home Order.   Since the 20th I've been to Fred Meyer twice to pick up our on-line grocery orders and once to Cafe Rio for a curbside pick up. (Which was delicious, by the way!)

George and I do go on walks almost every evening.  Because his company is considered essential, he has gone to work a few times for meetings but he is mostly working from home.  His company is enforcing strict social distancing and checking everyone's temperature as they come into the building.  We still have our N-95 mask that Fun For Less Tour Company gave us when we were in Dubai so we  have worn those on those 3 trips out.  We don't wear them on our neighborhood walks.  I find it quite amusing to see how everyone crosses the road or goes into the grass rather than walk near anyone else.  Amusing but necessary for sure.  Because we are older, we are in the group that is most at risk so we aren't taking chances.

So what am I doing to keep busy....well baking.  I've made cookies and bagels 

And bread!

I believe that this will be true for me... 

George and I have had a little friendly competition with a  Quarantingo game.  The winner will get to pick where we go out to eat when restaurants open again.  It is definitely a win-win.

I made another one for our family but it must have been a 'girl game' as only Monica, Mary and I have participated.

I've listened to my first podcasts.  Totally enjoyed learning about Ireland so much that I'm planning a trip there someday!

I've done some 'on-line' tours of art museums including a really fun interactive one of the Dali Museum near Barcelona.  I 'virtually' walked around London and found some pretty amazing street art, including this one by Banksy.

Never knew how valuable these Lysol wipes would be. 

I've done my best to keep things sanitized.

Totally disinfected and organized my refrigerator.

Put a bear in the window so that the neighborhood children could go on 'bear hunts'.

Speaking of the neighborhood children....cute Emma wrote notes on the sidewalks outside each house.

Are you as shocked as I am about how much you touch your face?

Had a 'through the door' visit with Isabella

Best of all, she calls me every night and we FaceTime so that I can read her a story.  I just love this so much.  I hope we continue after things return to 'normal'.

Lewis Ranch

Last year when we had our Lewis Family meeting at Zion National Park, we attempted to hike down into a canyon that is part of the park so that we could stay on park land and get a look at the ranch that George's Dad once owned. Because of changes to the landscape, that was not successful.  We later learned that even if we had made it down to the canyon floor, the path is overgrown with vegetation and home to many rattlesnakes.  This year we knew that we needed to find an alternative!

Tammy's husband Richard did extensive research and talked to locals in Springdale trying to come up with a way to get the 4 Lewis siblings one last visit to their beloved ranch. Just a few days before the scheduled trip, he was successful in getting permission  and we learned that we would be allowed to follow an employee into the ranch and explore one location - the pioneer house at the ghost town of Shunesberg. George and his siblings were so happy to be back on the ranch.  So many memories of their parents here!  There were even a few tears.

This photo was taken looking back towards the old ranch house.  Unfortunately, the house was recently torn down. 

And this shot is the view they saw everyday from the ranch house.  

This photo looks up both canyons - Shune's Canyon to the right and Parunuweap Canyon to the left. 

George asked me to marry him on a hike up Shune's Canyon. 

Our whole group - Matt, Scott, Me, George, Karen, Richard, Tammy Katherine, and John 

The pioneer settlement of Shunesburg started in the 1862 and prospered for more than 30 years, in spite of Indian attacks and frequent floods.  By 1897 most of the inhabitants had moved to nearby Rockville.  The house was built by Alma Millet and his father Artemus Millet.  Artemus had been a stone mason on the Kirtland Temple - the 1st temple built by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

So glad that we got to share this experience with our sons - Matt and Scott.  They were able to hear lots of stories about their Grandfather Walter Lewis and great uncle George K Lewis, who were both owners of the ranch.  The name that Uncle Georke (nickname for George K Lewis) gave to the ranch was, "Vivid Valley" and it is easy to see why.

We continued our theme of visiting old cemeteries with a visit to the Shunesburg or Shonesburg cemetery.