Happy Birthday Jennalee

Today is Jenna's birthday, can you believe it; 21st year old. Times does fly. Those of you that know Jenna understand that the 13th of November is more important that the 25th of December for the most part. She, Max and Jillian along with her dad, Kelli and Alisa attended the Disney of Ice show yesterday afternoon in Salt Lake. Except for intermission, I don't believe that Max or Jillian either one blinked their eyes. It was a fun program and it was enjoyed by all.

One's identify is somewhat difficult to find. Kelli and I were talking about that this week and and we have determined that as much as we might like to be known for something else, we are Jenna's parents, Jenna's brother, Jenna's sister and so on. And that it great! We have know this for sometime as people will ask us who we are and after trying to explain it, we finally just say, Do you know Jenna? and they always do and then we can go on. This is interesting even in Layton as she is known up there. Ryan and Jenna brought some things down to Kelli's church a week or so ago and Kelli introduced Ryan as her brother but before she could finish the introduction, everyone was saying, Hi Jenna! and etc. Ryan thought that he had found a place were he might be known for himself, but no. Jenna went to Max's preschool a few weeks or so ago and she has been invited to attend this week to read to to the class. Kelli has said that the instructor always asks about her and when she can come over. And finally, a friend of Kelli's brought over some food last week and Kelli and Pete were gone. After proper introductions, she asked if Jenna was there because she needed a hug. And really was is the best medicine; of course it is a hug from Jenna.

Marilee has had a couple of good days for the most part. We hope that it will get better as she gets farther away from the last chemo treatment. She is still struggling to keep any food down but she did admit that she was in the kitchen Thursday morning about 4 AM browsing in the fridge. She has a big week ahead of her with a doctor's visit on Tuesday where I am sure they will discuss the nausea issue and then I think on Thursday she gets a port installed to receive her chemo treatments in the future. It is an out patient surgery but should help with the treatments rather that through an IV. She got her nails done with leafs on each of the nails. When she was in visiting Dr. Ward the last time, we has holding her hand. She thought he was looking at the bruises from the IV and she asked him about them. He admitted that he was only admiring her nails as he had never seen leafs before. A claim to fame! She is a little bruised from the previous attempts to get an IV started. Her next treatment is the day after Thanksgiving which will be number three of the anticipated six treatments. Hopefully she will have a great week prior to the next treatment.

Marilee has surprised us on Friday and Saturday as she was able to come upstairs and spent some good quality time with everyone and she got to watch it snow some yesterday.

We again appreciate all that everyone is doing, has done, will do and for the many prayers and blessings that are being offered for Marilee and Jenna. Jenna has done very well since the tooth came out and her ear was cleaned out. However, she did get me again as she got the ear drops hid away one more time but after some tough talk (you all believe that) she brought them back and has been really good about taking them.

I really appreciate my family for all that they do. The kids are so good about making sure that Marilee is well taken care of and keeping track of everything.

Looking forward to a great week and moving forward on winning the battle and the war of the cancer.