Summer

We took our family on a two week road trip to see historical sites significant to our church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). We started out in Rochester, NY and ended in Independence, MO. Along the way Maddie got pneumonia.We were in the middle of nowhere (Nauvoo, IL) when we knew she was in trouble. We arranged to move our flights up by two days, but we still had to get to Kansas City to catch those flights. Aaron and Maddie flew out two hours ahead of the rest of us. He got her home and set up on supplemental oxygen and returned to the airport to get us and then took Maddie to the ER. She spent 33 days there. It is our longest hospital stay to date. Kaitlin and Brigham each spent time there too. Kaitlin two weeks and Brigham four. We are all home now and trying to enjoy the last bits of summer. Back to School is quickly approaching.

A few pictures from our journey (not necessarily in chronological order) 

A little bit of Philly graffiti 

Philadelphia Temple. It is right in downtown Philly.

Independence Hall. God Bless America.

Finding famous graves in Hope Cemetary. NY

Priesthood restoration site. Harmony, PA

David turned 12 and we celebrated with Uncle Todd and Aunt Diane in New Jersey.

Nauvoo Temple

Ella and Lily peer into the window of the small log house where the church was officially organized on April 6, 1830

When I say we were out in the middle of nowhere when Maddie got really sick I wasn't kidding.

We stopped to have dinner with my family in Indiana. This is my brother Tommy. He and Ella were texting buddies and they finally got to meet in person. He passed away, unexpectedly, six weeks later.

Kirtland, OH Temple. Not currently owned by the LDS church, but very significant to our history. 

This bin was used to clean the type set after printing was complete. The ink on the wall is original. The Book of Mormon was first printed here in 1830. Palmyra, NY.

Kaitlin in the Grandin Print Shop. Palmyra, NY

Ella learning the printing process. Palmyra, NY

As for an update on Aaron, the real purpose of this blog, he had scans on June 27th. One oncologist said he sees signs of the cancer progressing in his lungs, which means his medication is losing effectiveness, but a different onc said he thinks it isn't progression but left over pulmonary embolisms from April. Aaron isn't ready to buy into the idea that it is time for chemo and so in true Aaron style he has researched other options. We will travel to Boston the beginning of next week to meet with a doctor who works with doctors that developed Tagrisso. We are hoping he can tell us if we should simply increase the dosage or perhaps combine Tagrisso with another treatment or some other option. The good news is there are still options and Aaron still has the health and energy to work full-time. He will also have a conference call with a doctor in Colorado to discuss options. He has scans again tomorrow. Whatever Aaron's next treatment, it will be well thought out.