Biopsy results: Hodgkin's Lymphoma

We've previously written about Anthony's ER visits and tumor here and here and here.

We had airfare for Utah for 11/30-12/4 for the Mills Family Christmas Party and figured we might as well see Dr. Bull (Chief Cardiothoracic Surgeon at University of Utah) while we were there.

We left OKC, OK at 6:50am.

and flew into SLC, UT at 9:50am and the appointment was set for 11:00am. Anthony's parents picked us up from the airport and we headed to the medical center. Dr. Bull talked with Anthony for a while, and suggested he have a biopsy... which was weird because he's previously told us not to get a biopsy. Turns out, he just wanted the procedure done where there was more equipment and what not... and he didn't want anyone else to touch it. The nurses asked our availability for the following two days in an effort to schedule a biopsy and sent us to the lab for blood work while they figured out schedules.

At 12:45, waiting for Anthony's turn in the lab, the nurse told us they figured a biopsy day and time... 2:00 that same day. Tender mercy? Anthony was so nervous going into the biopsy, as it was a CT guided biopsy and he would be AWAKE while and gigantic needle was shoved into his chest.

The big needle was the size of 3 IV needles together, then a smaller needle was inserted into that needle and bits of the tumor were removed and sucked up the smaller needle. Luckily they had him pretty doped up and he didn't remember much of the procedure, other than the popping noises when parts of the biopsy were taken.

They didn't let me watch the procedure, but I was able to be with Anthony right when he got out.

That's iodine, not blood.

The phone rang as we were walking out and it was Dr. Neumayer, Dr. Bull's wife who works at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. She was calling to check on Anthony and talk with him about how he was feeling, how the procedure went and what not. Up in recovery Dr. Neumayer stopped by to see how Anthony was feeling. She also said that one of Anthony's scans during the procedure looked like the needle was going straight into his heart, as the tumor was positioned behind his heart where it was not seen. After Anthony's meds had worn off we left the hospital and awaited news. He was pretty loopy and didn't remember much of the hour in the recovery area.

We were at the hospital for nearly nine hours.

Anthony's parents were such troopers, they stayed in the hospital with us ALL day.

On 12/6 Dr. Bull called Anthony telling him the biopsy results were in. Anthony has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Of all the cancers to have, this is definitely the best one as it has one of the highest survival rates. Anthony will need to start chemotherapy and radiation soon, and we have decided to stay in Oklahoma as there is a cancer center in Oklahoma City, about 30 minutes away.

Anthony has good days and bad days. His cough picks up a lot in the evening and he has a hard time sleeping quite frequently and most often sleeps on one of the chairs in the living room as he can not lay flat much of the time.

I wish I knew what to do for him.

Another tender mercy, open enrollment to make changes to my insurance was 12/8. I was able to add Anthony, so now he has his not-so-great insurance through OU, and whatever coverage he gets through my insurance.

We're still waiting to hear back from some oncologists in OKC, and after finals this coming week Anthony is hoping to start Chemo...

Random photos

and the Earth shook

It has been a very busy and eventful couple of weeks.

First off, Anthony has been really sick. I already posted a video of him wheezing and telling you about him being diagnosed with Bronchitis and a Sinus Infection. Well, the doctor at the student health center gave Anthony some antibiotics and a steroid and told him that if he got worse to go to the ER. Anthony sang at the Saturday evening session of Stake Conference and was feeling horribly and couldn't catch his breath so we spent our extra time change sleep-in hour in the ER. After a chest x-ray he got a new diagnosis - Bacterial Pneumonia. Yeah. So now he's on a different course of antibiotics and is supposed to go to the doctor if he isn't feeling better in three days. We're halfway through the second day, and I foresee us going back to the doctor.

After Stake Conf. on Sunday I was standing in the kitchen and Anthony was at his computer in the living room when something moved all weird like. I had no idea what was going on and Anthony & I just stared at one another for a second... then I realized the water in the fish bowl was sloshing around and our walls were swaying and creaking. I felt my first big earthquake. It was a 5.6 about 65 miles to the NW of us...pause, we're having another small one right this second. Also, there is a tornado warning for our area. Wanna come visit?

Work is going well. One of these days I'll actually explain what I do.

Hemingway and Winston are doing well. They went to the vet last week and Hemingway weighs 2.4 pounds and Winston weighs 1.8 pounds. That's almost a pound each in the last three weeks. Hemingway has started making these cute noises, and Winston purred for the third time today!

That's what going in this neck of the woods, how about you?

Time Flies!

So I was looking at pictures today and here are pictures of the boys first day of school from 2006 and 2011 They grow up so fast!!

An author and a statesman

Thanks to everyone who gave name suggestions for the kittens.  After two weeks of observing their personalities and mannerisms (and not wanting to get attached with names in case we had to give them away due to Anthony's allergies) we have finally named the little men.

The kittens were living in squalor and I've had a heck of a time litter box training them. They have been quarantined in the bathroom for 4 days, apparently that will help them grow accustomed to going in the litter box.

I had some inklings the kittens had worms so I took them to the veterinarian. They were weighed ( H is 1.5 lbs, W is 1 lb) and given their first set of shots. After a little testing it turned out they have roundworms, which the majority of kittens are born with, so they got a little medicine.


Anthony is SO good to let me keep the kittens even though he's pretty sneezy and his eyes get red and itchy when he holds the kittens.  We had to go buy allergy meds & eyedrops that seem to be helping, but sometimes he's still pretty miserable.  I'm grateful he loves me enough to try to manage his allergies so I can keep the kittens.

Back to the kittens, let me tell you an awesome thing about each one.
Winston is unique in the way he climbs off his platform, it's so dang cute.

Hemingway is unique because he is polydactyl, meaning he has extra toes.  It looks like a little thumb, which cats don't ordinarily have.  It doesn't hinder him at all, and the vet called him "mittens" all day because of it.  Apparently Ernest Hemingway, (author of A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Old Man and the Sea) owned several polydactyl cats which is why they are often called Hemingway cats.  Interesting huh?

New additions

After my hamsters sadly perished in this Oklahoma heat I needed something to love on. So we got a fish.

Meet our Crowntail Beta, Little Chunk.

However, a fish just wasn't fulfilling my need to . . . mother (for lack of a better word). So, today I talked my husband into getting kittens. Yes, you read that correctly. This dog lover and that allergic to cats man now have two adorable kittens. Itty bitty ones.

(No, I'm not pregnant, just chunky)

Tonight while Anthony was in the Priesthood Session of General Conference I ran some errands with Erica. I got home about two minutes before Anthony, and there were no kittens to be found. The door was locked, the bedroom & bathroom & patio doors were closed and there was no explanation of where two living breathing creatures could have gone. We scoured our entire apartment, took apart bedding, pulled out and looked under furniture, kitchen appliances, etc. No kittens. Anthony thought he heard some squeaking in the couch so it now has some large window cutouts in various areas of the back and sides. You also read that right. My allergic to cats husband literally ripped our couch apart trying to find lost kitties, to no avail. By this point I'm getting a little emotional and we decided to say a quick prayer.

Anthony decided to check under the ledges of the drawers and guess what he found under the bottom drawer?

The little stinkers found a gap we didn't even know existed and climbed right on in. If Anthony hadn't felt that gap and thought to pull the drawers out I don't think we would have found the naughty little fuzz balls.

See how they climbed in? The drawer was still out at this point because I found the following items jammed in the back, must have been falling out of drawers over time.
A ton of grocery bags, a washcloth, soup can label, alarm system agreement, and a ladle.

After a prayer of thanks our little storm clouds are now hiding/napping under the ripped up couch while I clean.

Now, if you're read this far you get to partake in a little fun!

We can't think of names for these cuties. Want to help?

We want to stay away from cutesy stuff like; Tiger, Cloudy, Fluffy and so on.

Please leave your name ideas in the comments and we'll let you know what we decide!

P.s. since Anthony is allergic to cats and we don't know how well my "you have a cat when you're allergic" method is going to work... so I have heavy-heartedly agreed to give them away if his allergies get bad. If that's not love on both of our parts I don't know what is.

Chickens, camels, and pigs! Oh my!!!

You know, you wouldn't think Oklahoma would be so exciting, but let me tell you - it is. You wanna know why it is so exciting? Because they have State Fairs (granted, there is a State Fair in every state, but I've just never been able to go before) where you see huge horses, tiny pigs, chickens hatching out of eggs, and life-cycles of butterflies! Ok, so maybe it's not that exciting, but guess what is? RIDING A CAMEL!!!! That's right, I paid $5 to ride a big, soft camel named Tantor around a ring 3 times, and it was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!


Never in my life did I think I would ever ride a camel... and now I have! In Oklahoma. Also, this guy captured my attention and heart as soon as I saw him. *sigh*

No, not the farmer you sickos, the pig!!! He sure did squeal like he thought the Grim Reaper was coming after him, but he finally settled down once he was with his mama and 16 brothers and sisters. That's right, that mama pig had 17 babies. Can you even imagine!?!?

Did I ever mention that I went fishing? Well I did, and this is us fishing.


And this is my new best friend out here, Megan. Seriously, you would be so lucky to meet her!


And this, this is the view of our little fishing hole. Gorgeous right!? I stood in that little patch of mud all night and caught 8 fish. That's right, 8. And they were accidental too. I didn't even want to catch anything. Still though, it was a super fun experience that I hope to repeat in the near future!

The Lone Star State

I FINALLY made it to Texas!!

Anthony & I haven't been to the temple in a while and decided before Saturday rehearsals are in full swing this is a perfect time to go. While the Oklahoma City Temple is about 45 minutes away from where we live in Norman, the nearest Distribution Center is three hours away in Dallas. Anthony & I needed some things from the Distribution Center so at 6:30 this morning we headed out.

We were lucky enough to watch the sun rise as we drove.

We also saw the "mountains" here in Oklahoma as we drove West.

We made it into Texas, a first for both of us!

First we went to the Distribution Center, which is handily located in the temple. However, they only had clothing and such so after getting a few things we headed down the street to a tiny little LDS bookstore to get a book I've been eying and little plastic holders for our recommends.

The Corner Market and Bakery was down the street & around the corner so we stopped there for lunch. The Paninis were phenomenal.

Even though we ended up in a Spanish session it was such a magnificent and beautiful afternoon. I love learning new things :)