Oh, how I love The Soup!

Quote of the Day

When life gives you lemons, squeeze it in someone's eye and haul a*@!!!

Scan-tabulous!!!

Last week, we headed to San Francisco for scans.  The drive there was gorgeous!  The weather was fantastic and there wasn't a cloud in the sky!  We drove right to the hospital where I had a CT.  Usually when I go I have a PET Scan first, which lasts about 2 hours, and then a CT. Because my last scans were so fantabulous, I didn't have to have the PET.  I have come to the realization that CT's are actually pretty great.  You walk  in, get an IV and some contrast and then they shoot you through the scan in about three minutes.  Let me tell you that I have come to love the CT scanner after having to do about every other scan known to man kind.

After the scan we walked right up to the UCSF Pediatric Cancer Clinic, where the amazing Dr. Rob Goldsby is located. (Here's a little side note:  Dr. Goldsby's mom is a character actress.  She has played in movies such as Joe Dirt, The Wedding Singer, Red Eye and was the little old granny who got it on with Stiffler in the closet in American Wedding.  Crazy, huh?!?!)  Anyway, we got the results about 30 minutes after the scan and discussed the results with Goldsby, aka "Homeboy".  He told us that the spots in my neck have not done anything for almost 2 years.  There was no change, no nothing!!!  He proceeded to tell us that I didn't have to come back for one whole year.  He looked my right in the eyes and told me that I was a walking miracle, that at a medical standpoint, I shouldn't even be here.  He said he brings my case up to other doctors because he can't believe the progress that I have made.  At that moment, my eyes welled up and my heart was full of gratitude.  Gratitude for my Heavenly Father, the Savior, my family and especially Dr. Goldsby.

 I know that Heavenly Father has been there with me since the beginning. I feel his love and presence with me everyt single day.  He is the one to get me where I'm at today.  I had heard people say the word "miracle" to me before, but it wasn't until I heard it from my Bishop and my doctor, that I actually believed it.  

I am so grateful for all of my family and friends.  This journey has been a long one, and at times I never thought that I would make it this far.  But because of all of you and the faith that I have in my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, I am here today.  I may not be totally cancer-free, but I have learned that you can live a long, healthy life with cancer.  And that is what I intend to do.

What Cancer Cannot Do

What Cancer Cannot Do

Cancer is Limited,

It cannot cripple love

It cannot shatter hope

It cannot corrode faith

It cannot destroy peace

It cannot kill friendship

It cannot suppress memories

It cannot silence courage

It cannot invade the soul

It cannot steal eternal life

It cannot conquer the spirit

It WILL NOT take me.

Silly Dude!

Awhile ago, I was getting Brayden ready for school and after I put on his little green striped shirt and he told me this: "Dude Mom, I look like Steve from Blue's Clues."   After looking him over, we went down stairs and turned on Nick for confirmation.  Yep, he was right!

All I can say is "whoa"!!!

Holy toledo!!!  I just witnessed a crazy parent scream at Brayden's kindergarten teacher.  He was screaming at the top of his lungs.  I could not believe my ears.  WOW, people are crazy!

Christmas

Mitch singing Hotel California.  Hilarious!!!

The "Guys" rocking out to "Livin' on a Prayer".  We love Guitar Hero - World Tour!

All Brayden asked for was Geotracks, and he got a lot of them.

Dude, we got a Dell!  Thanks Mom and Dad!

Brayden and Jaxson love Wall-E.  Brayden got a Wall-E from his Auntie B and Jaxson got Evahhhhh!

You can't have Christmas without getting some Oakland A's stuff!

More geotracks!!!

Our little boy has been so good this year (well, there are always those ocassional incidents!).

Brayden told everyone that he looked like Hugh Hefner in his robe (of course that is what my dad told him to tell everyone)!  Where are all the hot blondes???

 Christmas is an amazing time of year where we get to celebrate the birth of our Savior.   It is such a wonderful time for our family and we are eternally grateful to know that He lives and loves us!  We hope that you all had a fabulous Christmas!

Christmas Eve

In the Vaughn household, every Christmas Eve is spent at my grandparent's house.  And every year we do the same things which consist of great food (ham, scallops, grandma's famous candy, and some veggies, of course), presents, and the always hilarious White Elephant Gift Exchange.  Let me tell you that this year we had some flat-out hysterical gifts.  Now, my family consists of very conservative Republicans, and here were some of the gifts:

My first picture is of my Gramps.  Every Christmas day he and my Uncle Steve would wear Bah-hum-bug sweatshirts.  So, it was decided that he needed a hat to go with it.

Barack Obama commemorative plate.  Gramps continued to tell us that he was going to throw it out his front door like a Frisbee.  Can you see the excitement on his face?!?!

The ever-so popular Barack Obama "Hope" poster, which came from the campus up at UNR (of course).

The best hat ever made.  My dad said that he would take it to his bowling league and wear it whenever he got a "turkey"!

Jaxson and Brayden - although Jaxson looks like he is in pain.

Brayden and Santa.

Some grand kids and great grand kids.

Presents, presents and more presents!

Getting ready for Santa!

Sad day for Republicans!

This year I decided that I would get more involved in politics and find out more about the candidates and where they stode on the issues. I have strong opinions when it comes to the sanctity of the family, how hard we work and where our money goes, health care, social security, goverment programs, etc. As you may well see, my vote went to the republican party with John McCain and Sarah Palin as the candidates. My mom, sister and I we privilaged to go and hear Sarah Palin speak on November 3rd (day before the election) about the issues and problems our country faces. I loved to listen to her and thought that she was wonderful. Here are some pictures of the event.

Sparks Hometown Christmas Parade

This year we went to the Sparks Hometown Christmas Parade with our friends the Grover's. To put it nicely, it was terrible. We were so bored that we left about 20 minutes into it. The pictures of the kids were cute so I thought that I would at least post them.

Let's start by saying that the boys had more fun playing in the leaves and eating at Taco Bell than they did at the parade.
At least the tree was pretty.

Meg and Mallory

The boys watch the parade enthusiastically!

Winter Fun!

Our little snow angel!

Brayden loves to write his name everywhere, especially in the snow.

Here's Mike throwing snow at Brayden. Brayden is tough. He took it like the little man that he is and laughed it off!

Hiking Rattle Snake Mountain

Johnson Thanksgiving 2008

This Thanksgiving we celebrated at the church. The Johnson family has gotten so large that easiest way for us to eat and all be together is at the church (although Matt hates it!). We had a fantastic dinner followed by even better desserts! I had made Pilgrim hats, bonnets and Indian feathers and everyone had to wear them. We had a fabulous time being with all of our family and friends!

Love of my life.

Kid table
Mom and Dad Johnson
The Thankful Tree

Our cute, little family!

Brayden dancing away with his cousins.

Mom and dad Johnson with kids and grandkids!

Here is what we normally look like!

The Johnson Clan

Great Grandpa and Grandma Martindale with their 10 great grandchildren and two on the way!