Lisa-Marie's Blog on Sirri's Condition

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."


This scripture has been rolling around in my head all day. And for that I am grateful. There are a lot of other things that could be going on up there in that crazy brain of mine, so to be feeling comfort and peace is truly a blessing.


On Thursday I took Sirri to our doctor for a routine well check. I had a few minor issues that I wanted to discuss with him before sending her to school. You know things like she walks a little pigeon toed and she has funky fingers.


I figured when we got to the funky fingers part, Dr. Sena would look at me like the crazy mother that I am, and say, "Well, ya, she does have some interesting fingers. Lucky girl is double jointed. What's next on your list?"


Instead, he proceeds to tell me that spoon shaped fingers like hers can be a sign of Cystic Fibrosis. He then listened to her chest and ordered x-rays of both her feet and her chest.


Typically the night before a scheduled doctor's appointment for my children I pray to Heavenly Father that our doctor will have the gift of discernment and that he will be able to listen to the Spirit in regards to my children's health. So, when Sirri's x-ray pictures came back and Dr. Sena told me, "you know, I just have a gut feeling that something isn't right here." I listened.


He explained that something did not look right with Sirri's heart. It seemed to be enlarged. He told me that she would need to have a Eco-cardiogram in I.F. and then go to Primary Children's Hospital in Utah for further testing.


The office in I.F. would not do the eco on Sirri because they are not a pediatric cardiologist office. They recommended she have a CT scan at our hospital and then go directly to Primary Children's. Within the hour Dr. Sena had scheduled an appointment for a CT scan Friday morning and an appointment with Primary Children's Hospital on Monday morning.


After a traumatic CT scan (we were not warned that Sirri would have to have an IV. She was actually quite brave and I was proud of her.) the results showed that the problem is not in her heart or her lungs but is some sort of mass in her chest.


So instead of seeing the cardiologist in Utah on Monday, we need to see an oncologist. Dr. Sena tried to reach the oncologist all day Friday and will call first thing Monday morning to get Sirri an appointment.


Dr. Sena has been fabulous through all of this. He has personally called me 5 or 6 times throughout this process, even when Friday was his day off. He has given us much hope through each step and turn of the way and has had the best bedside manner of any doctor I have dealt with. Instead of dwelling on all the scary possibilities that we could be dealing with, he has shared optimism and words of comfort. (For example, the mass he says, could very likely be an enlarged thymus gland. Not a problem he says. Easily fixed. I appreciate his, glass is half full outlook!)


So, until Monday, at the earliest, we aren't sure what we are dealing with. We are playing the waiting game. And that is where my crazy brain could start making me, well, even crazier. But instead, through much prayer and through fasting today, I have felt peace. Yes, I am anxious and worried, as any mother would be, but I am functioning and calm. I have felt my Heavenly Father's love and I know that He knows our family. I know that He has a plan and that through trust and faith and more prayer, we can be willing to follow that plan.


I am hoping that I am feeling peace, because Sirri is going to be well. I am praying that the doctors will discover that this is "nothing" and we can move on with our lives. But, if not. If this is the calm before the storm, I want to be able to look back and read this, and remember the way I felt today. I want to be able to remember that fasting and prayer work. I want to remember that I know that Heavenly Father is aware of me and my family. I want to remember that I do not have to feel alone and frightened. I want to remember that I can and that I HAVE felt peace through my Savior. That through Jesus' love, I can let not my heart be troubled or afraid.


"Peace...my peace I give unto you."

Sirri during the CT scan.

How we felt when we found out she had to have an IV.

How we felt when the nurse gave us both ice cream coupons for being so brave!


Update: The nurse just called. Wednesday at 11:00 is the earliest they could get us in. So glad I wrote this last night cause Wednesday seems like a long way away. I might have to read my own words a time or two (or 100) in the next few days for a good reminder.


Update Update: They got us in today at 10:30. Gotta run.


Stacey's update on the situation. Lisa-Marie and Sirri headed to Salt Lake City yesterday afternoon to Primary Children's Hospital. Sirri's Grandma Bigelow (Lisa's Mom) met them there. Kendon followed a couple of hours later. This morning the doctors and surgeons are meeting to figure out if they are going to go in and remove the mass from Sirri's chest from the front or back and whether they can do orthoscopic surgery or if they will need to open her up to remove it. The mass is 2 cm by 3 cm.

Please pray for our Sirri Marie. Also pray for her parents who are dealing with this burden of having their little girl facing surgery. Finally, pray for the two little kiddos still at home who do not understand what is happening.

I am so grateful for the help of our ward members who have stepped up and watch the other kiddos during the day so I can work and then I stay with them at night. You never know how much these people mean until you are in situations like this and they step up and really support you in your time of need. You really are extensions of our family.

The Rest of the Story

I teach the 10 and 11 year old girls in Primary. Today was my day to teach. The lesson was on Helaman and the 2,000 Stripling Warriors. The girls were very excited about the story. At the end of the hour I told the girls that the army of Antipus and army of Stripling Warriors overtook the Lamanites and forced them to either put down their weapons and become prisoners or be killed. I asked them if they knew what had happened to the prisoners. They were on the edge of their seats. I told them that the prisoners were sent to the land of Zarahemla. Then the girls asked....then what happened? I told them they would just have to come back next week to find out. They were really disappointed that I didn't tell them the entire story. In fact, Kelsi Sanderson said, "this is like a really dumb movie where it has a sequel."

During sharing time the Meyers girls asked me to tell them what happened next because they are going to a family reunion next week and just had to find out. I told them I couldn't tell them.

Tonight I got a phone call from Nichelle Meyers asking me to tell her where we were in the Book of Mormon so she could read what happens next because she thought it was awful that I wouldn't tell them what happened. I was really touched that maybe just maybe what I am trying to teach is making a difference.

So my sweet girls....you will have to come next week to find out "The Rest of the Story."

You Don't Know Me.....

Emily tagged me again. This time I have to tell you six things you probably don't know about me. Here goes....

1. I have always wanted to be a motivational speaker...I just don't know what to talk about that anyone else would want to listen to.

2. Sometimes I really do talk just to hear myself speak (sorry Zack and Syd). Ok, not really but I know that I say A LOT of the same things I swore I would never say to my kids when I was a parent.

3. My husband is funny. Ok, sometimes.....just sometimes ... he really is funnier than me. Please don't tell him.

4. I have never broken a bone, but have had eight different surgeries. I have never had braces, never had my tonsils out and don't wear glasses or contacts.

5. I was awful at being single. Now that I am married I finally have the confidence I needed to be good at being single. Go figure. Must have something to do with my amazing guy.

6. Relationships are invaluable to me. I don't know what I would do without my husband, family, and closest friends. Without relationships I think I would not survive. I value being with people. I love being part of something bigger than myself.

Now it is your turn. You are all tagged. I want to see six things that you think I don't know about you.

The Last Lecture.....It Was His Greatest

On September 18, 2007, Computer Science Professor Randy Pausch stepped in front of an audience of 400 people at Carnegie Mellon University to deliver a last lecture called “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” With slides of his CT scans beaming out to the audience, Randy told his audience about the cancer that is devouring his pancreas and that will claim his life in a matter of months. On the stage that day, Randy was youthful, energetic, handsome, often cheerfully, darkly funny. He seemed invincible. But this was a brief moment, as he himself acknowledged.

Randy’s lecture has become a phenomenon, as has the book he wrote based on the same principles, celebrating the dreams we all strive to make realities. Sadly, Randy lost his battle to pancreatic cancer on July 25th, 2008, but his legacy will continue to inspire us all, for generations to come.

I am really inspired by this man and his life. He knew he was dying and yet he did one last thing that will mean so much to so many but especially to his wife and children.

Tagged!

I have been tagged (thanks Em) on this. So this is me from A to Z.

A - age - 36

B - birthday - May 30, 1972 (Yep a Memorial Day Baby)

C - candy or cake - seriously, you want me to choose between my two favorite things?!

D - dessert you love - cheesecake

E - easiest person to talk to - Jerry (most of the time)

F - favorite song - "I Love The Way You Love Me"

G - gold or silver - so silver

H - habit - nervous twitch with my leg. I can't keep it still (but all of us Mishler girls have it).

I - instruments I play - flute (but I have a piano that is sitting in my dining room)

J - job title - Financial Aid Advisor

K - kids - Zachary (my bunny) and Sydney (my roo)

L - love or lust - love, definitely love

M- married or single - married 15 years in September

N - next to you - my sweet hubby

O - one wish - I want to go back to Hawaii with my fam

P - person you called last - my hubby

Q - quotes - Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. (Robert Frost rocks)

R - reasons to smile - sometimes people are like slinkies....not really good for much but you can't help but laugh when they fall down the stairs.

S - steak or pork - STEAK! We are carnivores!!

T - turns you on - guys wearing nice cologne

U - unique talent - that would be a big nothing. However, I think I am really funny. My hubby disagrees and thinks I am not nearly as funny as I think I am. I happen to think I am one of the funniest people I know.

V - vegetable - any smothered in Chiz's Ranch Dressing

W - woke up at what time - too early (7 a.m.) as always

X - x-rays I've had - ankle, abdomen, hand, head (hehehe....they each make a really good story)

Y - your favorite color - blue

Z - zodiac - Gemini

I tag Amy, Becki, Laurie, Tammie, Melissa and Lisa-Marie.

Growing....Growing......GROWING!!!

Zack starts fifth grade this fall. I am really okay with that. What I had no idea I wouldn't be prepared for was to see my sweet little boy begin football camp. I watched as my very tall (his head is up to my shoulders) son walked onto the football field and was towered over by kids who are in junior high and high school. I felt the lump in my throat rising.

He walked over to the field, sat down and proceeded to try and put his kleets on. I say he proceeded to try because these are his soccer kleets from this past Fall. We bought them and they fit fine. They are a size 3. He came almost crying back to the car. "Mom, these shoes don't fit me," he began to tear up. "What do you mean they don't fit....we JUST bought them!," I said completely shocked. I even (to my chagrin) made him give me his kleets and his shoes to compare sizes. I was completely dumbfounded to discover he was trying to shove his now size 5 feet into those practically new size 3 kleets. Dad to the rescue! New kleets and a football camp practice was well underway.

When he came home my "little" boy came strolling into my room as proud as a peacock wearing his new football pads, new kleets, and a football helmet! Now it was my turn to begin sobbing. I was so shocked to see my little boy literally transformed into a young man right before my very eyes. I am still trying to deal with the fact that my boy is now a football player AND a wrestler. This is definately going to take some getting use to.

Happy Birthday BOYS!!!

One birthday gift that Zack got four years ago today was one of the best gifts a kid could get. He is lucky enough to have his cousin Connor born on his birthday. These kiddos are wonderful and I am so glad they live next to each other and enjoy being together.

I also have a dear friend whose sweet baby boy was born on this day as well. No photos of him but I sure love him and am thinking of him too.

Man how my boys grow and all too quickly begin adventures of their own. No matter how old you boys get or how far you may go, you will always be loved by your Mothers and you will always be our little boys. But for now, while you are young, we enjoy every moment we can with you and wish you the Happiest of Birthdays!!!