January 2011

Wow, I am really horrible at keeping this thing updated. I am sorry to all of you who have been wondering and waiting for an update! Not only is it now January, it's a whole new decade! I have a lot to catch up on, and then I am going to TRY to post at least monthly on what's going on in our family.

October: After surgery, we swung back into life. Jed and I were on the activities committee at church so we helped put together the ward trunk or treat. It was a lot of fun, and was really good to get the kids involved with us also. We are so enjoying them at this stage of life.

November: Not a lot happened this month. I was on the mend and slowly getting back to real life. I tell people that I don't want to get back to normal, but that I want to establish a new normal for me. I felt really good this month. Not sick, no ear problems, no sore throats. I felt better than I had in a long time. My brother Shane brought his family down for Thanksgiving. It was so nice to see them, and glad they could come. We had a great time. His kids don't like the drive, but I'm sure glad they did it.

December: After feeling so good in November, I hit a brick wall and felt awful. Doctors said that it was my body not having any thyroid hormone. It was time to do the radioiodine treatment. I had to stay isolated from everyone for about 4 days. I thought it would be great to lounge around and read, watch tv and movies, and sleep. In reality though, my neck swelled a lot. I was pukey, and had migraines. I think I slept in a ball for most of the time I was alone. The rest of the time was spent wishing I felt better. After my time was up, I was able to resume a normal diet. No more low iodine. Jed took me out and we had a great dinner. After that I really started to bounce back.
We put up Christmas and really enjoyed our holidays. The kids were home for just over 2 weeks. We spent a lot of time together and it was great. At the last minute, I decided to go home to Utah to see my family for Christmas. I flew up alone. I spent Christmas morning with my kids, and then flew up that night. I stayed for 2 days and came home exhausted. I was able to see Jed's family as well as my own. I also saw a few friends. It was nice to be "home". I regret not being able to see more people, but it was not from lack of trying. I am looking forward to a long visit this summer when my whole family can go.
Jed started working a lot in the office this month. Things are going pretty good for him, but the office is crazy. Sometimes I think I would rather have him in the field even if he does have to travel. But, this is good for him. We are looking forward to having him here a lot more.
January: This month we celebrated our 17 year wedding anniversary. I can't believe he has put up with me for that long! I am so grateful to Jed for his love and caring for me and for our children. I am so grateful for families that can be together forever.
The kids are back in school and doing good. Alyson is planning out the rest of her high school schedule in preparation for college. She loves getting mail from the various colleges. I can't believe that she will be off to college in about a year and a half. Where does the time go? Tyson has given up his band class. There was so many students in it, that he didn't feel he was getting anywhere with it. So, he has traded in his drum sticks for pottery clay and he is now in a ceramics class. He is really enjoying that. Alexys is liking school, but starting to get nervous about going to Jr. High next year. She has always been so quiet, I hope she will come out of her shell and show everyone how great she is. Hannah is in running club at school. She loves to run, and has her first race this week. She is so excited. I am glad that she has found something that she can do and take pride in a job well done.
As far as our health goes, Jed is still sore in the shoulder. He just switched doctors and they are recommending more physical therapy. Glad it's not surgery. He will get better, he's just not very patient. Maybe this is so he can learn to have some patience! I am doing good. I am working with the doctors to make sure my thyroid hormone supplements are balanced well. From here on out, it's just routine blood work and body scans. Unless something shows up, I am good to go!

I would like to finish by saying how grateful I am to my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. I know they live, and that they love me. I have felt their love very strong in recent months. I am glad to be a part of their plan. I am glad to belong to such a great family, and I am thankful for each one of them for putting up with me and my eccentricities. I am grateful for good parents who taught me to respect and be respected, to know right from wrong, and to serve unselfishly. I am thankful for my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and for the wonderful brothers and sisters that I have there. We love you and appreciate all of you!
Until next month, T

What? It's already December?

Okay, so I know a lot of you are wondering what has happened to me. I truly haven't forgot about you. I am doing well right now. I have lots to tell, but no time right now. Look for an update coming within the next week! Love to you all, Traci

Post Surgery

Okay, I made it through surgery. It went very well. My vocal chord nerves were not damaged in any way. I had to have a breathing tube in my throat during surgery, and my throat is very raw from that. I have a hoarse voice, but I have full sound. I am very grateful for that. I am excited to sing again soon. 3 out of 4 of my parathyroid glands survived surgery. These regulate calcium in the body. I have to take calcium supplements for a while until my calcium stabilizes on its own, and then I should be okay as far as that goes. The lump that was suspicious for cancer came back as definite cancer. I will be on a low iodine diet for a while, and then I will have radioactive iodine treatment. Not sure yet when that will be. This next week will be full of follow up stuff and then I meet with the endocrinologist in a month to determine the radioiodine treatment.

I have been blessed to have some family here. It has been awesome. Sandra (Jed's Sister) and two of her kids, and Jed's parents have been here. They have been really good to make sure everyone is fed and things are taken care of. They have even taken the kids out so I could have some quiet time.

The ward sisters have been great with food help and I know they will be there for anything else that I might need when family leaves.

Today I am pretty sore, but I am very confident that I will be better soon. I am going to sacrament meeting today because it's the primary program. I am excited to see Alexys and Hannah take part in the program. They have been working really hard at it. This will be Alexys' last program. She turns 12 next month and then goes to young womens. I can't believe how fast my kiddos are growing up. I sure do enjoy and appreciate my kids. After church it's home to rest, rest, rest! I will need it today.

I truly appreciate all the prayers in my behalf. I would like to thank all those who have put my name in the temples, and kept me in your thoughts and prayers. I feel very blessed. I know that I am loved, and that I will be okay. I will try to post updates when I can. -T

Day Before Surgery

Okay, so surgery is finally upon us. It is tomorrow at noon. I am so grateful for those who are traveling to come and help us out. Thank you to Sandra, Alisha, Jake, Mom and Dad Tolman. I am so very excited to see family and feel their love during this time. I am very nervous about tomorrow, so I try not to think about it too much. Thank you so much for all the prayers in my behalf. I can actually feel a protective "bubble" around me constantly. I know that I am truly blessed, and will continue to be blessed.
Jed is home from New York, and has been working some in Arizona. He has also been working in Texas, and it looks like he might have a couple months in Texas, but he should be home every weekend. We are still grateful that he has a job.
The kids just went back to school after having almost 3 weeks off for fall break. It was awesome to have them home, but nice to have them go back. I have sure gotten used to having quiet days!
Anyways, not a lot of news right now. I will try to have one of the kids post tomorrow night after surgery so that you can all know how it went. When I get home, I will try to post more.
Until then,
T

Okay, it was fun to let the older kids do their own posts. It helps me know what's on their minds. Alyson spends all of her time with school, homework, and cello practice. She excels in all of it. I am pretty sure that even though she thinks she is bored, she will occupy her time just fine during our fall break. It lasts for two and a half weeks.
Tyson is so right that he loves his agriculture class. It makes him a member of the FFA (Future Farmers of America). He is loving all aspects about it. In just the first term of school I have seen him grow so much, and I know that most of it stems from that class and the positive feelings he gets there. Some of you know about my obsession with moving furniture around, and some of you don't. But, it's true. I get bored, or my ADD kicks in a little and I have to rearrange furniture. My kids have started to roll their eyes, and Jed makes sure to turn on the lights if he's been gone a while. I hope I don't feel like rearranging for a really long time though. I finally got the house how I like it. It just feels right, and I am really enjoying it.
Alexys is happy for break because she gets to sleep in. She is also reading Harry Potter for the first time, and is happy for more reading time. She loves school, and her teacher. She is doing very well, and starting to come out of her serious shyness. It's nice to see her getting more comfortable with who she is.
Hannah is still Hannah. She has such a great big heart and tries to take care of everyone. She "enforces" her love on others, and has a hard time when people don't respond positively. She makes me laugh. She is doing so good in school, and she is slowly, but surely learning balance. I am so grateful for her in my life. She teaches me so much.
Jed is finally home from NYC. We are so happy to have him here. He is working in AZ, but home every night. It is very nice. His shoulder is doing well, and he meets with his doctor next week to see if they release him from care. So glad that he did so well after his injury to his shoulder.
I am scheduled to have surgery on the 22nd of this month. I am a bit disappointed that we couldn't do it over break, but I think everything will work out just fine. I am a little nervous, but mostly excited to get on the path to getting healthy.
We have officially been here for a year and sometimes it feels like longer. Other times it feels like we just got here. We survived our first summer in the heat. We miss autumn in Utah, but I don't miss the cold. As always, anyone is always welcome to come visit. Just let us know.
Until next time, T

TYSON JED TOLMAN - UP DATE

Hello my fellow family members it is me Tyson. A few weeks ago while my dad was still in New York my mom had me help her move around some rooms, AGAIN. On a Tuesday after school she picked me up and brought me home. when we arrived she did not even let me touch my homework. Instead she had me switch around two rooms completely. There was a good thing from the move though. I got a new loft bed from IKEA. The bed is a full size top and underneath I have my drums and my desk. After I was done moving things I did not want to do my homework but my mom still made me. High School is good. I may only be in ninth grade but im in high school. For any of you that are going into or are in high school i suggest that if there is an agriculture class TAKE IT. It has been my most favorite class so far. The teacher is my stake president so he and I know each other pretty well. If you ask my mom how much i like my ag class she would probably say "When ever he talks about it you can tell he loves it." And I would have to agree. I LOVE AG. My life is going well. The weather only gets to 117 at the highest. When I say its cold the theomomeater says its about 75. You guys probably think that is a good temperature but for me a good tempurature is about 95. So there is my update. Talk to ya later.

Hello random internet people that may or may not be so random, this is Alyson! I'm taking over the blog today, which is kind of funny because I didn't know what a blog was until a few years ago. In today's news, it has officially been one year since we arrived here in Arizona, and it's starting to cool off again. Mom's surgery is officially scheduled for October the twenty-second in the year of our Lord two thousand and ten. Dad's home and worked in Tucson or Tempe (something with a t and local) today. I RSVPed to an evening with ASU today and just got another letter from Washington University in St. Louis. I have gotten 4 things in the mail from Washington University in St. Louis, 2 postcards from Westminster College in Utah, 1 letter from Reed's college in Oregon, a letter from Oberlin in Ohio, and maybe one other letter from somewhere else. I got the majority of these last week. They really start paying attention when you get a 4 on your AP physics test as a sophomore in high school. I don't know how many juniors get this much attention in their first term of school, but I'm glad I'm one of them. It's a comfort to know I have a few colleges in my back pocket who all want me to go to their school. Today was the first official day of break for us kids. It was nice to sleep, but I'm getting bored easily. You don't go from 8 classes (5 IB and/or AP) to nothing without a few side effects. I'll survive, though.
Adios! -Alyson Tolman