The Next Generation

So, we thought we might be able to wrap this blog up!  We'd like to make a final posting and close out this record of our cancer journey.  

It has been almost exactly 2 years since Wendi completed her final round of radiation and was declared cancer free!   She recently finished another series of CT scans and cancer marker blood work tests and is still gratefully in remission.  She continues to take Tamoxifen and struggle with the side effects of having her hormones suppressed all the time.  A few months ago she developed lymphedema in her left arm where they removed the 39 lymph nodes.  It was really amazing she held out that long before the pain and swelling started!  It is common for people to get lymphedema even if they have only had a couple of lymph nodes removed so we feel blessed!  She has been seeing a physical therapist regularly and now wears a compression sleeve and has a couple of exercise routines to help the drainage. Just add it on the “to-do” list!

Our family has been doing well, back in Colorado, had a great summer, and closing in on Christmas.  Kayli married Bronson Kunzler in the Logan temple back in May.  We had a FUN wedding getting together with family and friends and we love our new son-in-law Bronson and his family!

Summer was a typical whirlwind of Scout camps (Wendi was the camp cook!), hiking, biking, a summer job for Alex, and great Colorado weather.

Alex chose to attend Palmer Ridge High School and is liking it quite a bit.  He is doing well is some pretty challenging classes.  He has developed a love for reptiles-he owns 7 snakes and 3 geckos!  Kade likes Lewis-Palmer Middle School and has been playing a lot of basketball in a local league.  Mark spends much of his time at the United Airlines training center teaching the 767.  He's gone on some pretty fun trips this past year.

But our most exciting news is that Derek and Jessica gave us new titles to go by, namely Grandma and Grandpa!   Wendi broke down in tears--crying and talking in a really high embarrassing voice that she has never used before.  It was kind of a release I think because in the back of her mind, she wasn’t sure if she would ever live long enough to be a Grandma!  As of May next year, there will be a mini-me Derek wandering in the world.  We don't feel that old, but at this point, it's out of our hands.... We'll be excited to add yet another little person to our family.

As we close out our blog updates we want to again thank everyone for your love, support and encouragement.  We could not have made it through our trial without our friends and family.  Thanks you, thank you for being a part of our journey!

We are looking forward to this holiday season—Jenna gets home from her LDS mission in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 15!  We will have ALL of our family together for the first time since Derek left on his mission in May of 2011.  We are anticipating some precious family time together and sharing cherished memories!  Merry Christmas everyone!!

the Kirchhoefer's