Super Mom

Katie ran a half marathon on May 10th. Amazing all of us. Way to go Katie Kakes.

Cristin's Art

In case you didn't see them on Facebook here is Cristin's AP art portfolio.

Halloween in Texas

Our Missionaries getting into the spirit of being in Texas. The guy dressed like Edward-Scissors-Hands is our Bishop. His wife has been dressing him like a Johny Depp character for the past three years (Jack Sparrow, Mad Hatter) and he is such a good sport to go along with it.

We do an annual Trunk or Treat in our Ward down on the Johnson Ranch. Hayrides, costume contests, pumpkin carving, pot luck the works. Our costumes are contellations. My shirt says, "Twinkle, twinkle." and Cristin's shirt says "Little Star". John's shirt has the constellation "Orion". It is my favorite constellation for obvious reasons but also because it greets me in the morning sky each day when I drive Cristin to seminary. My shirt carries all the constellation seen in the Western Hemisphere at 8pm on halloween night.

Visit from my Sweet Mother

My mother came to visit our family this last month. We had a fun filled twelve days. We went with Cristin to watch her horse back riding lessons, to Half Price Books to hunt book club books, we copied Mom's poetry, she made a birthday calendar to keep track of her children's, grand children's and great grand children's birthdays and their spouses and we visited the Dallas Art Gallery. We had a great time. I wish she lived closer.

Invasive Ductal Carsanoma (Voted Most Popular)

July 1st I was diagnosed with IDC. It is the most common form of Breast Cancer. My prognosis is excellent. The tumor was very small. They were able to remove the whole thing during the biopsi. My estrogen and progesterone indicators were good, so I should get away with the minimual treatment; which is a lumpectomy and Brachi radiation (no chemo, yeah!)

It is interesting because John has been working for Core Oncology for the past 18 months. Core makes the radioactive seeds that they implant in Breast and Prostrate cancer patients in one form of Brachi therapy. Core's customers are doctors mostly in Canada and Africa.

I have recieved such an outpouring of love from family and friends. I am so lucky to have a wonderful support group in my husband, children, mother and sisters.

My sister Robin is here in Texas to be with me during surgery, all my doctor visits and radiation treatments.

Kaitlin bought me the waterbottle cover the day after I got my diagnosis. The bracelet with all the guardian angel charms came from the Cedar City Shakespeare Festival from Barbara and Robin. Robin got the 'I <3 boobies' bracelets for all of us Capener girls and my daughters.

Today I had all the lab work prepatory for surgery; blood (kidney and liver function), urine (bladder), chest xray (lung) and EKG (heart).

Surgery is on Monday 1:30pm should last about two hours. They will do the lumpectomy and inject dye in the area and see which of my lymph nodes light up. They will remove the ones that have dye in them. There will be a pathologist there to check for cancer in the tissue removed during the lumpectomy and the lymph nodes. Then the doctor will put a balloon spacer in. They will culture all the specimens if they come out clear I will do five days of radiation. They will replace the balloon spacer with an epandable set of  catheters that will hold the radioactive seeds during treatment.

We all went to get pedicures to get ready for Monday even though they told me they (the nursing staff) will be covering my cute pink toe nails with souvenir socks. (The socks have smiley faces on the bottoms).

Daniel had his first and probably his last pedicure.

Bookcases for Ryan and Tammy

John had some beautiful cherry wood that he made into these amazing book cases for Ryan and Tammy. Now we just have to figure out how to get them to Denver.

The Kitchen

A little project Ryan and John whipped up while Ryan, Tammy and Family were out visiting. John and Ryan did the construction and then Ryan took it home and painted it.