Fwd: Huntsman verses Veterans Clinics

> We went up to Salt Lake on the 9th and spent most of the day getting tests. Lab work at 10:30 A.M., bone biopsy at 11:00 A.M. Then we had to wait around until 7:40 P.M. for the total body MRI. The MRI took 2 1/2 hours to do. I just read a book in the waiting room. What a pain to wait, but Curt wasn't having any fun either. When I set up these appointments with the VA I was told that they would have all the results over to Huntsman by Friday noon. This was critical because we were seeing Dr.Zangari at 12: 30 P.M. and he would need the tests to see if Curt could go on a maintenance plan, which would be just taking Chemo pills instead of going to Cedar for an IV. We got to Ryan and Ginelle's at about 11:00 P.M. went in as quiet as possible and went to bed. I am so thankful to them for having a place that we can stay we we have to be in Salt Lake. Sure makes the trip less painful for sure!
> Well, we saw Dr. Zangari and of course the VA didn't have all the tests and the ones they did have didn't have the Multiple Myeloma markers so we actually had to wait till the next Wednesday (February 16th) for the Dr. to call us. When he did he said that Curt's numbers were still not down enough so Curt is still going to the clinic here on Tuesdays for blood work and Thursdays for infusion. Curt was pretty bummed out but we just trudge on.
> We are going to Matt's house on Friday (March 11,2011) so we can be there when Zach and Zoe are baptised. It will be good to get away from the snow and Spring mud for awhile. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone. Daniel and Sarah may head that way too because they have Spring break.

January Thaw

Well, here we are already the last of January. I have gone back to work on my bus route after a 12 week break. Just testing retirement. It was a good break. I'm glad to be back, but I did turn in my retirement paper this week and will retire at the end of this school year.
> Curt is still having chemo on Thursdays and is really doing well. He does get very tired but has been painting and going out looking for rocks lately. He will have his last chemo on Thursday February third then we will be going up to the VA and Huntsman to have tests and see the Doctor. We are hoping that the Doctor will stop the Chemo and just have him take pills. That will be much easier.
> Curt was sick part of the time since Thanksgiving with bronchitis but is really better now. The weather has been nice and it is great to get out of the house for a while. We know that winter is not over but the promise of Spring is in the air. -Elaine
>

Elaine

> We have been out to the Gap several times in the last couple of weeks. Yesterday we went out and hiked around a little. This is me (Elaine) with the lake behind me. The Little Salt Lake had water (usually dry) and ice. It looked very pretty. It was a little chilly but we always like to get out and walk. Helps our backs to walk a little every day.
> Curt is doing pretty good. He is still doing Chemo on Thursdays. We have a break coming up next week and plan on going to Matt and Amy's to be there when the twins baptised. Looking forward to that.
> Maybe California won't float away before that. They have had LOTS of Rain and we have had LOTS of snow! I just hope we have some Sun when we get there. We actually had a lot of rain last week and it melted most of the snow in town. Brian Head still has lots of snow.
> -Elaine
>

Christmas Tree 2010

> We really wanted to go out and get a real tree but every time we could go it would be snowing too hard. So we settled on my tree that I made out of safety pins, wire and lights. I made one for Tishanna and one extra. They were pretty at night with the lights on.
>
> -Elaine

Winter is here!

> Curt was out plowing the snow after our big storm. I guess winter is really here.
> We had a very nice Christmas, quiet but nice. Curt wanted to have Christmas the Norwegian way, so we fixed our Turkey dinner and all the trimmings and my cranberry torte on Christmas Eve and opened presents after dinner. It was just Curt, Tishanna and I so it was very nice. Curt and I got a new BIG screen TV and Tishanna got recording equipment and clothes.
> When Curt was little his parents would hear Santa's bells (Christmas Eve) so he and his Dad and brother would go out in the car looking for Santa. They heard bells too, but never saw him. When they got home they had JUST missed him and Santa had brought presents! They would open their presents then. (Probably a great way to do it as Mom and Dad got to sleep in the next morning)
> We did this a few times when the kids were little. Curt would take them out in the cold and look all over for Santa. They came home a little disapointed because they could hear the bells but could never see him. Then as they came home, what to their wondering eyes but toys under the tree and Mom had seen Santa and was so sorry that they had just missed him. We had some great Christmas's, some lean but non the less good. I loved having my children all there and opening presents. Dad would assign one person to bring the presents out one by one. He called him the 'Christmas Boy.' When Tishanna was old enough to bring presents to us she was called the 'Christmas Boy' too.
>
> -Elaine
>

Parowan Pond

> Yesterday Curt and I sat out at the pond and just enjoyed the view. We have had a Blue Heron visit quite a bit and he just sits on a post by the pond. The reflections were really nice so I thought I'd share. I haven't been able to get a good picture of the bird yet but I will keep trying.
> We also went out to the gap and hiked around for a while. The weather was a little cool but it was good hiking weather.
> We are getting ready for Christmas by putting lights up and decorations in the house. We will be here for the holiday. In January though we will be going to Santa Clarita for Zachary, and Zoe's baptism. They will turn eight on December 14th. Happy Birthday you two! Happy Birthday to Caleb too who will be 16 on the 27th. Congratulations from Grandma and Grandpa Paulson.
> Curt is doing pretty well. He still goes to Cedar for Chemo on Thursdays and will continue that until the end of January. We hope by then that he can just take Chemo pills and not have to have the IV's. He keeps a pretty positive attitude so that is good.
-Elaine
>

Kira and Maelle

Sarah

Getting ready to leave Daniel and Sarah's house.  Thanks for the visit.  We had a great time. Loved seeing the kids too.  They grow too fast!

-Elaine 

Tucson

> This Curt, Daniel and Kira out looking for treasures in the desert. (1 block from Daniel's house) Daniel was using his high powered earth magnets to find any metal. We had a lot of fun in Tucson. In stead of having turkey we BBQ ed steaks. We didn't get up early to cook food all day. It really was nice to have that day just to visit and play in the back yard. Curt wants turkey for Christmas though. I will also make my Cranberry Torte that everyone likes. I made it twice at Daniel's.
> We Had some sad news while we were there. Tishanna's husband died the Sunday before the holiday. She was back home tending the dogs. She left the dogs in the care of a friend and went to Salt Lake for the funeral by herself. She had been separated from him for 3 years but still held a special place in her heart for Chris. We will all miss him.
> -Elaine
>

Parowan Gap

> Saturday Curt and I went out to the Gap for a little hike. The weather was just right for hiking. Not cold and not hot. It was really nice out there. We were looking for a spot that Curt had seen on one of his painting trips and he wanted to get a picture of it. When we finally found it, it wasn't exactly what he wanted. We had a good time anyway.
>
> -Elaine
>

Caleb's Eagle Court of Honor

Today November 6, 2010 Tishanna and I went to Salt Lake to be at the court of honor when Caleb, our first grand child, received his Eagle. It was very nice to be able to go and see the family. Curt wanted to go but since we were just in Salt Lake a week ago he really didn't feel up to traveling. Geralyn and Debra, my sisters, also were there. I was glad to be able to talk to Caitlyn and Caleb and see how they have grown into beautiful young adults. Caitlyn is now 12 and Caleb will be 16 in December. Curt and I hope that they will come visit us here so we can get to know them better.

-Elaine

Beautiful Fall at our pond

Curt and I sat out at our pond last evening and watched the leaves cover the pond. We have a net over it right now so we can just blow the leaves off and they won't get in the water. When all the leaves are off the trees then we will take the net off.

-Elaine
>

Up to the Yankee

> Curt has been working on his little aluminum boat, fixing the trailer, putting a whole new floor in and carpet down on the deck? And getting it ready to go fishing. Yesterday we took the boat 'up to the Yankee' and put it in. All went well and the day was beautiful. The engine worked fine after a little fine tuning. The fish were not biting, but we had a good time anyway. It was nice to be able to just pick up and go. I am not driving my bus for a while so I can just go when ever Curt wants to go. I could get used to this and just retire but I already miss driving my kids on the bus. I'll just wait till January to make that decision.
> Last week Curt was supposed to see his Doctor on Monday. The VA said that in order for them to pay for his treatments at a non VA center that he would need to see a VA doctor and they were only there on Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday. We sure didn't want to stay over in Salt lake so I kept checking on when we could make the appointment. Found out that our Huntsman Doctor, Dr. Zangari would be starting a clinic at the VA on Thursdays. We were his first patient on his first day at the VA. It worked out good so we saw a VA doctor and Curt's Doctor at the same time. Yeah! Dr Zangari told Curt that he wanted him to do another series of Chemo then he would probably just take pills. So Yesterday he went to the clinic here in Parowan and had his labs done and will go to Cedar tomorrow for his Chemo. He will do this for three weeks then we have a week off for Thanksgiving. The three sets will take him into January when we will go to Salt lake and see Dr. Zangari again. With every thing going just like the Dr. planned Curt should be able to just take pills and not have to do anymore infusions. Curt is really doing very good, but he still gets pretty tired if he works outside very long.
> -Elaine

Lost tooth

Well, what a sight. Three generations of Paulson's looking for Zach's missing tooth. He was swinging the girls in the hammock and the rope caught his loose tooth and popped it right out. We told him that the tooth fairy would still give him money if he left a note for her under his pillow.

-Elaine

Four wheeler

Matt and the family came for an extremely short visit the weekend of the 16th. The class of 1990 of Parowan High School had their 'first' reunion party at Brianhead. The party was a success but the family wasn't here long enough. I was able to spend some time with the kids the previous weekend at their home in California while Matt and Amy were in Canada. I really had a good time with the kids. They were great! I caught a cold the day I got there so couldn't talk very well. The kids would wisper to me when I would whisper. Too funny. They really helped me with everything. We even went out for breakfast one morning and they were so fun. Hope I can come again and visit soon.

Grandpa and I are planning to visit when Zach and Zoe will be baptized in January. Curt seems to be doing really well. He still gets tired a lot but can usually do what he wants. Lee came down for the beginning of the Elk hunt. No luck but they had a good time. Curt went out several more times but didn't see anything to shoot.  I am taking 12 weeks off from driving my school bus. I talked to the district and I will be able to return to MY Route with My pay scale on January 18th. I just need to spend some time with Curt and have some fun. I will miss most of the cold weather so I am happy about that.

-Elaine