Christmas Letter via Blogspot!!

I figured since we have a blog I would do our Christmas letter on here. The Lomax family made it another year in tact. It was a long hard year, full of scary, uncertain, and happy moments. We started this year knowing it was going to be a long year. January was when were getting ready to start my second bout with chemo treatments.  This time I knew a transplant would be in place. I didn't know what to think. I was hoping by some miraculous cure I wouldn't have to do it.  My parents didn't hesitate at all in their efforts to help us out. They were down here within hours of a phone call.  It took so much pressure and relief off, knowing my children were well taken care of. Not just by my parents, but by so many other wonderful angels! It is one thing to be independent. It is another thing to be dependent. People are so quick to talk up independence like it is the best trait in the world, but there is something about dependence that teaches us to submit.  I have never felt so much gratitude, humility, and submissiveness in being dependent on others.  Gratitude in the many sacrifcies made on our families behalf, garage sales, 5k's, auctions, blogs, donations, the list goes on and on.  I was truly humbled by this and the outpouring of love and prayers recieved on our behalf.  I was humbled many times, realizing that this journey was going to be long, and I would be starting all over. I had to submit many times to treatment and doctors. Trusting their judgement, and course was the best choice. We also went to the Lord many times asking him to guide the doctor's and us to know which way was the best. We felt guided and learned so much in being dependent on others. I don't think it made us weaker, it made us stronger and blessed so many others in the process.
       One of my favorite stories I'd like to share is with my 11 year old boy.  He is our child that struggles with anxiety.  He was really having a hard time with me going away for a while. I knew he was worried and scared.  I went into his room to talk to him about it and he just broke down. "I don't want you to go!" he cried.  We decided to do a trade, I first asked him for his favorite blanket.  He agreed at first, then quickly changed his mind realizing he needed that more.  He agree to give up "Monkey" his favorite stuffed animal, and I gave him my pillow and hung a picture of me up by his bed. I told him he could give me a good night kiss every night. So we eased his anxiety a little, but I was truly touched by his genuine concern and love that he showed.
      This year had a few highlights as well.  We got to watch Mateen perform in his school play.  He was fabulous!  Mateen placed first at the State Hershey track meet in the 200 and second in the 100.  He was spoiled by grandpa taking him golfing lots.  He had a great year in football and decided to try wrestling. Not sure he likes it.  Myra turned 16.  She is in the National Honor's Society and is still waiting for her first date (Desi is okay with her not dating :). She got a job at the local grocery store and loves it. She has a very uplifting personality. She loves to make people happy.        Tremaine ran his heart out in track. He can't wait until he is fast like his brother!  He is working very hard has his Senior red belt. He is on target to get his black belt in May. We are so proud of his dedication!  He stepped up to the plate this year and played center in football. Poor kid. I think after taking on 130 lb. linemen he's learned how to overcome a little bit of anxiety!      Taytum is our little perfectionist. She works hard in school and is getting better in her reading every week.  She ran track this spring and made her dad giddy everytime she ran. He can't wait until she is older.  She loves gymnastics and is doing front handsprings and back walk overs any chance she gets. She loves that they are letting her practice back handsprings at gymnastics.  She is quite the artist and is always leaving a mess somewhere in the house, of paper scraps, scissors, or markers somewhere.                             Desi is busy, busy, busy, but he love's what he is doing and is so glad he had an opportunity to leave the Sheriff's office and pursue a job that lets him use his degree!  He has felt this is what he was meant to do, and loves helping people change for the better.      I stay busy, just kidding. I get my workout in the morning, some morning's I'll run 6-8 miles and some mornings I go get my butt kicked at my favorite gym! Push it Gym! I'm still trying  to figure out how long I wait to get into things again. I'm not doing hair anymore, and I miss so many of my friends I've come to love and know through doing their hair.  We'll see what the next few months bring and with a few good bills of health I'll probably get into some kind of health and fitness avenue. I would love to help others feel good about themselves and see them change their lives. I am grateful for my time with my kids. I use to take for granted all the running around and now I cherished more the moments I have with them. Things are more simple now. We don't fuss and fight as much, we have more patience in how we raise our children. Each day is truly precious.

We have to acknowledge what our faith has meant to us. Our belief in a God and  our Savior who is mindful of us in our suffering and difficulties is what sustained us through some many times of uncertainty and unrest in our lives. There can be peace in times of sadness, disappointment, and pain! We no longer doubt God's influence in our lives and we humbly thank him for his tender mercies in our lives and will forever praise his name. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year. Thank you for your love throughout the year.
                                                  Picture of Taytum with Santa

                       

Kids snuggling in bed with mama!

Family stop for ice cream on our way to St. George!

Annual KP easter egg hunt!

Add caption

Chemo treatments!

Relaxing in St.George

Kids visiting mom in the hospital!

Selfie while Ali is sleeping!

Transplant day! May 23, 2014

Desi at comic-com with the boys!

Walking with the kids at the hospital!

Ali took the kids on a much resisted hike in spanish fork!

before the hike!

Ali's 36th birthday! Yea

Hike to the grotto

Myra's first job!

Byu game with family!

 aBirthday party at the Aquarium!

Lomax family2014!!

Update on Miles

Hi, this is Cathy (Ali's Sis)--

What an amazing group of friends and family who have tracked miles over the past several months.  So far we have collected 58,356 miles for Ali through out this year.  We hope you find yourself in better health for the miles you have logged.  

As you can tell from Ali's last post, she is recovering, but it is hard.  She was very honest about the emotional roller-coaster she has been through.  I appreciate her honesty and love her even more for sharing her feelings.

How thankful I am to have a Father in Heaven who answers prayers.  Who gives us strength, who can give strength to others when we ask for them to be strengthened. I struggle with what to say, so I just leave a picture of something that hangs in my house and helps me get through.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who follow Ali's blog!   A big thank you from our family to all of you who have prayed and supported and blessed her and her family!    How thankful I am to have her as my sister.

Hello Everyone,

I know it's been a while. Sorry to those of you who were following the blog.  Well there is good news. Our scan in September came back clear.  So no cancer as of September. We scan again in December so keep the prayers coming. I get nervous every time.  These last couple of months have been a roller coaster of emotion.  I have been able to get out of the house, but going through cancer is a lonely, scary journey.  It's been hard to find out where my place is again in the world.  What things can I do?  Should I wait to pursue things? How long should I wait? I hate my hair!  It's hard finding your place in the world sometimes.  I think the only thing that kept me going some days was football season! Our two boys played this year, and they both did very well. I stayed busy running them back and forth and making sure they had treats or meals for the games.  Mateen is a great running back.  It was fun watching him run the ball. Tremaine had to step up this year and play center. Poor kid. He's not very big so he would get pretty nervous when he had to face the big linemen in games.  After a few iffy snaps he would settle down and do pretty good.  He would really step up if you bribed him with mint chocolate chip ice cream or a Son of a Baconator from Wendy's! :)

The girls have stayed busy. Myra joined the National Honor's Society and she was a manager for the high school soccer team.  She got keep stats at the games.  She also does quite a bit with NHS. I think it's been an adjustment getting used to high school, but she is doing well.  Taytum loves gymnastics and art. She is either practicing front hand springs, back walk overs, or getting markers and glue out to make some kind of art project.  She is a busy body!

Halloween was kind of quiet this year. Tremaine went as a cheeseburger and ventured out with his friends to trick or treat for the first time.  Taytum was Gabby Douglas (the 2012 Olympic gold medalist). My sister and I took her around. So I only had one child to tag along with. They both got lots of candy, and I told them if I found wrappers around the house I get 5 pieces of candy for every wrapper. I have yet to find one.

I was looking through old posts today on the blog, and didn't realize how emotional it would be to look back at everything.  I was overcome with anxiety reading and looking at pictures. I was also overcome with a great sense of gratitude for my family and friends.  I don't think I can ever say thank you enough for everyone's love and support. It made things that much easier to know my children were taken care of and loved.  That we had so many friends show up to the 5k and support us there.

I was thinking about the Savior's life the other day and his ability and capacity to love.  It is hard to love sometimes.  Especially if we feel justified to be angry or dislike someone.  I have found myself in turmoil these last couple of months.  I think I was angry, depressed, trying to figure what's next for me.  I would find myself looking at people around me wondering why they don't have cancer. Why did I get it? How come I have to start over? Will I have to start over again? I had so much to be grateful for (miracles, support from family and friends, awesome husband, and a beautiful family) yet I was angry and hateful in some ways.  It wasn't until I started to really let some of those feelings go and soften my heart that peace came.  I've had to humble myself many times to feel the Lord's love for me and know he cares and is aware of me.  I've had to make a conscious effort to change my thinking when I look at others and felt angry or spiteful.  It hasn't been easy, but there really is a peace that comes from learning to replace anger in your heart with love.  It makes such a difference in so many aspects of life, but it's so very, very hard.  I still don't have it down perfectly, but I'm trying. That's all we can do to get through life sometimes.

Hi All, this is Cathy (Ali's Sister).    It's almost August 30th.   And that means it's time for the family friendly                         "5K Ali's Way" which is a benefit fundraiser for the Lomax family.  If you would like to participate click here.  The link will take you to the sign up page for race.  The cool logo pictured to the right has been custom designed to help you run as fast as Ali (results not guaranteed).  If you don't want to race or can't be there, but still want a T-shirt, you could leave a comment on the race blog for Becky (Ali's friend) or email Becky at 5kalisway@gmail.com  The time to order T-shirts is quickly drawing to a close...so if you want one, better jump on it soon!

Ali and I went for an 8 mile walk the other day (she slows down for me because I have bad knees).  I took a picture of the T-shirt that our family recently had designed for her.   She looks good in it!

Mileage Update for "50K for Ali"

 It is time to post our mileage for July!  We had a glitch in our spreadsheet over the past couple months....

  So here are the correct totals:

January-- 2906

February--5968

March--9235

April--7625

May--7443

June--6263

July5179

Total  44,623

We are so close to the goal of 50,000 miles for Ali.    Thank you to all of the friends and family that are running/walking/sweating in support of Ali.    We would like to continue this goal through 2014. 

If you would like to submit miles, please send an email to 50kforali@gmail.com

   We record miles at the end of each month.

As part of the 5K we are also doing an auction just following the race.  Click here to go to the race blog to find out details about when and where the race and auction will be held.     Just for fun I thought I would post a couple pictures of two of the items we have for the auction.

Definitely something you don't see everyday!   One of the items to be auctioned off is this
 Hopi Kachina Doll that was purchased on the Hopi Indian Reservation in the 1980's.  The detail is amazing and it is certainly a conversation starter at the dinner table.  

One of the other items  donated for the auction is an amazing quilt that was pieced, quilted, and bound by 3 women who have known Ali more or less all of her life.  The contrasting green is the Green Lymphoma Ribbon Awareness color.   It even looks good hanging over fence with sunflowers.  It is really a beautiful quilt.   Thank you Marlena, Linda and Leslie!

Hiking the Y  with some cool, but whiney kids.

Physically Ali is feeling pretty good and the lab values are going in the right direction.  When I went down to visit a week ago, we took the kids and hiked the "Y", then of course stopped for ice-cream.
 Ali's last blog was a sobering reminder for me of how precious life is and also a reminder to let those I love know it!    None of us know how long we will journey here on earth, but we can love, enjoy and live with purpose.   My visit with her again reaffirmed my belief in a loving Father in Heaven, who is mindful of physical and emotional pain, and honors those who turn to Him during that time.
Thanks for your many prayers in behalf of Ali and Desi and there family.  Keep them coming!

So I'm finally posting on the blog. Summer is ticking away with .  We have tried to keep the kids busy with things. Taking hikes, (unless it's short they complain), making fruit flags, going to One Republic concerts, and going out to breakfast for all you can eat french toast! It's hard keeping everyday occupied. I am so grateful for the friends the kids have to play with on the days we just stay home. I hope they aren't driving the other families too crazy. I will let the kids bring their friends over here and there and let them hang out! They always seem to forget to warn me so I can put a hat a first. I think I  have traumatized a few children in the neighborhood! I hope the kids have been able to make some good memories of this year despite the tough ones. They mean so much to me and I have moments I get overwhelmed. Will I get to be there for Myra's first date? Will I get to see Mateen play football ? Will I get to see Tremaine get his black belt? What will Taytum grow up and enjoy doing? Will I get to be a part of it here on Earth?  Do they know how proud I am of them and what they are becoming. I know this is selfish of me, but I want to be alive to experience their joys and pains. Their highs and
lows. To tuck them in at night.  To scratch their backs in the morning to wake them up for football! I have had a hard time staying positive especially when the anxiety gets to me. You just wish things could go back to normal sometimes. So there you have it I am not this amazing person to look at and admire. I fall short many times when I emotionally overwhelm myself. I can't keep it together. So I stay in my room until I can put it together. I  get up with that hope that things are going to work out. Things are going to work out. I try to remember some of the spiritual experiences I had in the hospital that brought peace to my soul that things were going to be ok. I just need to press forward with  faith and hope. We have to wait a couple months to scan where the cancer has been in the past, so I think if I knew things were fine my anxiety and fear would be good. I'm so touched by those people who have reached out to us to help us financially. It's overwhelming such a blessing to see so many good people take time out of their lives to help us out a little bit.  I don't know how to say thank you enough. I have tried to stay up on it with thank you cards or texts, but I know I have missed some people and I just hope that God blesses them in many good ways!!




So my sister sent me them miles for June so I will post  them for y'all.

                                                                 January--2,858
                                                                 February--5,921
                                                                 March--12,537
                                                                 April--7,603
                                                                 May--7,470
                                                                 June--6,114
                                                                TOTAL--42,480!!
This is so awesome what everyone is doing and I hope it has blessed your life physically, emotionally, somehow made you a happy healthier person by getting out and doing something. I started running a little bit. It is slow,but it gets me back to my destination faster. :) No matter what I do I just can't walk as fast as I can trot there! So be ready at the 5k. I'll be jogging some of it. It will be great to see friends and family there where can cheer each other on and support everyone in their own way!! Don't forget to sign up. Thanks Becky and everyone else who is helping out! Here is the link.      https://www.facebook.com/events/744484095601774/?ref=22  Hope it works from here! :)

May Miles

Hi Everyone, this is Cathy (Ali's sister)

Thanks to everyone who is submitting miles in May for Ali.  We are almost halfway to our goal of 50,000 miles in 2014...and that is a good thing because we are almost halfway through the year.  


Miles Submitted so Far:
January -- 2,059
February --3,968
March  7,183
April 5,490
May 4,867

Total  23, 567


For those who want to participate, here are the rules:

1 mile of walking, running or biking = 1mile
10-15 minutes of exercise (classes or sports) =  1 mile
1 lb lost = 10 miles (you can't keep loosing the same pounds)

Submit total  monthly miles  at the end of the month to 50kforali@gmail.com






We had a mini family reunion (with 5 of the 8 siblings and 17 grandkids)  this past week in Utah.  As we visited, I realized that Grandma and Grandpa have turned Ali's home in a "clean safe bubble". And they have done a super job!




Grandpa and Desi are a bit like bouncers at the front door.  They could refuse entry to anyone at anytime.  Yes, those two men pictured below, one sweetly holding the baby and the other riding children's rides at Lagoon, just might tell you to get lost without even checking your ID.

And Saint Grandma, the kind,  smiling party going woman who can throw together a great reunion lunch, tackles the Lomax kids at the door and smothers them in hand sanitizer and  removes their shoes.  It's all part of the plan to help keep Ali healthy.

Tables and Tables of food and family!

   So we couldn't party in Ali and Desi's house because she can't have the germs that company brings.   But we played and ate in the park across the street.   We also went swimming and and went to Lagoon.
 Ali did come to the park for a few minutes to visit, but had to wear the mask and gloves and couldn't stay long.   And she definitely had to avoid Lagoon.  There are moments of humor, like when family members overhear someone asking about that "lady wearing the mask".     There are also frustrating moments when we all want Ali to get back to "normal" quickly so we can enjoy her company completely.  But above all, we thank our Father in Heaven for one more day to enjoy each other...the cousins had a blast!

Even with the mask, It was so wonderful to see Ali home and her kids are thrilled to have mom back in the house again.  Her lab values are going in the right direction and that is good.  It will continue to take weeks for her immune system to return to where can safely get rid of the mask and gloves.  


Just a couple more pics of the reunion...

Grandma and Grandpa with a handful of the grandkids.  Yes, they brought hand sanitizer to this event.

Sisters are the best!   (As you can see, the fluffy mask is not so fun in family pictures, but Ali told us she was smiling).  It has been a long time since we have been able to take a sisters picture, as we are rarely all in the same location. (grandma was inside cutting watermelon? or getting more sanitizer?)

5K Race Information and Garage Sale Information

Hi All, this is Cathy (Ali's sister)--

We are so happy to hear that Ali was able to come home!  Thanks for your prayers in her behalf.  She will continue to need those as she is recovering over the next several months.  

As friends and family of Ali, we have organized two events to help cover the cost of medical bills.  Thank you to all who have helped in many ways to get these events in motion.   Please note that there is different contact information for each event.

• Benefit Garage Sale on July 18th & 19th (Idaho)
• This garage sale is being organized by the Idaho groupies.  If you have items you would like to donate or if you would like to help on the day of the sale, please send an email to 50kforali@gmail.com
• In addition to many garage sale items, we will have PC tuneups available and some baked goods and treats to sell.  

• "5K Ali's Way" on August 30th (Utah)
• Ali loves to run!  This event is being organized by friends and fellow runners in Spanish Fork (Thank you Becky!)  This race is not only to honor her, but to try and beat her.  She is hoping she will be well enough to get out and race with you.  This is a family friendly event.  There will also be items to be raffled off.
• For information about the race and how to sign up:
• Visit the blog  5kalisway.blogspot.com
• Questions about the race can be emailed to 5kalisway@gmail.com

Day 13-14

Well the hospital send us home last night!!! Alison's white blood cells are about 1200 (normal range is 4500-10000). Her fighting infections white blood cells are 750. All in All she is eating, breathing, pooping, and walking so they saw no use in keeping her longer. She had a horrible skin problem during this whole thing that is looking a lot better today. She is resting and getting some well needed sleep.  I brought a thermometer so I can check her temperature twice a day. Due to the low level of white blood cell fever is the best indication that something is not right.

There have been a lot of wonderful people who want to come and see Alison. We thank you for your kindness but would ask that we be given a few months for Alison to build her immune system up.

If everything continue to go well she will have her iv port removed next week. Look like we will have a few rounds of radiation as well now sure on when that going to happen.

It's great to have her home. We walked about 4 miles today along the Spanish fork trail and it was truly beautiful. Thank you all for your prayers and kindness.

Desi and Ali.

Day 12

Alison's white blood count is to 600! and her fighting infection white cells are at 500 which mean she has enough of an immune system to be taken off of her many antibiotics and is clear to walk outside again!!! Her platelets are staying in a decent range and her red blood cells are great. We are hoping to have my sweet wife home by next week!! This is a real tender time in our lives. We hope everything will continue to run well. We are starting to plan for the next step. Alison's parents already have a system to keep the house clean and sanitized and they are getting the kids whipped into shape. We could not have done this (Me being at the hospital) without them. I also have a great supervisor at work who has been very supportive. I could not ask for better in-laws or a better place to work right now.

Alison sends her love. She is ready to get out of the hospital. She is currently filling her time with resting, walking and making sure I complete my honey-do's ( which is a sign of health). We thank you again for your prayers.

Day 10-11

Day 10 brought no new results. Today Alison white blood count went to 300. We are celebrating every increase. Today Alison was at the line to have a platelet transfusion but create her own platelets so she did not need the transfusion. I am just over joy to watch this process. Just hoping and praying things will continue to progress.

Day 8

Great news! Alison registered 100 white blood cells today. Which means she is working her way back up to regaining her immune system.  They populate quickly but she will need thousands more before she can go home(And will need about a year to return to normal levels). So she is still eating, breathing, pooping and walking which are the basic requirements at this time. As silly as that may sound its a big deal! So we are going to sit here today and enjoy her 100 white blood cells and pray on white blood cells will continue to go up. 

Day 5, 6

Well Alison has finally reach the point where here white blood cell are now zero. For the next week or so her bodys ability to fight off infection is non-existant. So we sit in her hospital room and wait it out. We can still walk around the hospital floor but our outside trips are over. Alison continues to walk for about for about 1-2 hours a day which is amazing.

We had two of our fellow patients die today. One of them I knew his wife we would taught daily about our spouses. Her husband came back to the hospital after completing his bone marrow transplant with an infection that he could not fight off. I had an opportunity to talked to her after his past away. She wanted to keep my spirits high telling me that my circumstances would be different. The bone marrow transplant flloor is like a little family each of us hoping success for each other. Hoping that all of our circumstance would end with success. At the same time we all become well aquainted with sorrow and grief and the possiblity of things not happening the way we would want.

At the same time life is so amazing. Several minutes after this event I heard the lullaby song play over the intercome signifying the birth of a new child at the hospital.  Just like that the fragilities of life just hit you and you are thankful for each day you have with the people God has given you to love.

There is something to be hopeful of each day. It does take a conscious effort to not be consume by the things that are happening in your life. I think we often assume we are happy go lucky people completely naive to the fragility of our situation. On the contrary we make efforts everyday to focus on what gifts God has given us in our time of trial.

As always so many of you who read this blog are apart of the everyday miracles in our lives. We appreciate your prayers and sacrifice on our part. At this time we need prayers that Alison will stay free from infections and diseases for the next year but especially in the next 100 days.

Days 1-4

 Day 1 through 4

Alison has been doing really well. With the destruction of all of her stem cells her blood, white cells, and plaletes number are going down.. They will hit zero and then start to climb back up in about 7-10 days. After they climb and if she is still eating, walking and without any significant sickness or infections she will be able to go home. It's a very fragile time for her body her last day outside for a while was yesterday. As you can see was able to go on a walk outside with the kids during memorial day. Just across the street is Hatch Chocolate Factory. They have an iced hot chocolate that is very yummy. Thank God her food restrictions doesn't include chocolate or ice cream. As she loses vital red and white cells her energy levels have dropped. I can actually keep up with her right now while she walks. Despite her they take so much energy at this point in her life. We take on each day and make it the best. It was great to spend time with the kids yesterday. Its nice to have the whole family together. We see God's hand upon our children as they continue to excel in school and is having more patience with each other.

We really want everyone to understand that like most people we often get worried, scared even about what could happen during these fragile times in my wife's life. We learned during her first cancer treatment that worry, fear, and all those negative emotions don't change anything. They only make it harder to endure what we need to endure right now. So finding strength in God and our family is what helps us to endure well during this time.

We would like to thank you for your continual support and prayers during this time in Alison's life.