FUN FAMILY REUNION

                                     HUBER FAMILY REUNION 2012 - July - MELBA, IDAHO

                                                           DON & PAULA HUBER


It's been a while since we posted and we apologize.  Life has been keeping all of us very busy.  As you can see from the top picture, almost all of the family made it to the reunion.   MOM & DAD were so happy and all 11 of their children were there.   We had several days of fun events and good food.   We had time to reminisce and laugh and talk.   

Mom's strength has been good and she is looking great.   The last visit with the doctor showed that she is doing pretty well.  The doctor asked Dad what he was giving Mom to help her out so much.   He is just amazed with her progress.   She still gets tired and rests frequently but her stamina is building and she is able to do so much more now.

Mom and Dad just got back from a trip where they were able to see dear friends in Indiana and then Kevin and Tami's sweet little family.   They had a great time on their trip.

They came home and then we all went as a family to see "Les Miserables' " and it was fantastic!!   

Just A Quickie

Thought I'd put a quick post here -- Mom's been feeling pretty good these past few months-- out mowing the yard, sewing and getting ready for the big family reunion in July. Her doctor felt she was doing so well in mid-June that he postponed her next PET scan until mid-July. Dad's daily dose of Immunocal is going well enough that Mom can even drink it down straight now without adding any juice to it (and believe me, I've tried it and gagged it down, so that's a real accomplishment!). His nursing and caring for her is wonderful. Next up is the Huber Reunion in July -- all eleven of us kids will be with Dad and Mom in Idaho -- with children, grandkids and 1 great-grandchild, that's over 60 in attendance! We'll take a granddaughter "bonnet" picture during the reunion and post it so everyone can enjoy those 22 bonnets Mom made!

Golden Corral

When Mom's appetite started coming back in March, Dad kept trying to figure out what foods sounded good to her. He had been giving her the Scandishakes, filled with heavy whipping cream, ice cream, and whole milk to try to get her weight back as she had lost so much. His hard work paid off as she started gaining weight and Mom finally said, "No more cream or whole milk!" Her energy increased and her color came back and then came the search for a variety of foods to eat. After several months of liquids only, Dad suggested Golden Corral. That hit the spot and has become a favorite lunch destination for Dad and Mom!

Wheat and Spiritual Experiences in China

Dad was invited to speak to an Empty Nesters group in Meridian on his experiences in China. We joined the group for a light, very nice dinner in a couple's home and then Dad showed slides and spoke for about 90 minutes. It was absolutely fascinating! I don't think anyone wanted to leave even though it was approaching 10 pm on a workday. We have got to get the recorders going when he starts speaking so we can capture his incredible experiences and memories.

So Many Granddaughters, So Many Bonnets

Eighteen bonnets just isn't enough when you have 40 grandchildren and 25 of them are girls -- and your one great-grandbaby is a girl, too! So Mom got to work and made 4 more bonnets for the other granddaughters who are under 18! They are the cutest pioneer bonnets and can be worn by the granddaughters who arrive in Melba in time to ride on Grandma and Grandpa's float in the Melba 4th of July parade. I got Mom to model one for me!

Mother, I Love You

Mother, I Love You,

Mother, I do,

Father in Heaven has sent me to you,

When I am near you,

I love to hear you

Singing so softly that you love me too.

Mothers' Day 2012 - what a special day! All 11 of Mom's children honored her -- some with flowers, with cards, with calls, and with a special bbq dinner at Joyce's home! Dad honored her, too, starting the day with his yummy mix of Immunocal early in the morning for her to down -- and made it sweeter with his sweet, tender message on his special Mother's Day card. I got to attend church with Dad and Mom and Mom wore her red rose corsage. We went home to make 2 large pans of apple crisp (naughty Mom, you're not supposed to work on Mother's Day, but boy was it good!) and then we gathered at Joyce's home for dinner with Joyce's family, Lynette's family, Sharon's family, and Natalie's family (and me!). Rick's mom was able to join us for dinner, too, and we had an amazing smorgasbord of grilled meats, salads, fruit, and desserts! We talked and enjoyed being together and being in the presence of our special Mother and our wonderful Dad!

Mom wearing her corsage

Dad, Mom and Bev at dinner

Mom with all her Mother's Day flowers

Mom surrounded by 5 of her 11 children

Six hot chicks (ha)

We love you, Mom!

The Wonder Chair (aka the Sneaky Chair)

Mom's chair lift finally came the first part of April! It was attached to the stairway in a few hours and then Mom was stair-mobile! It rides quietly down the 15 steps to the basement and then zooms a bit faster up again. Dad said he needs to put a bell on it to give him some warning of when she's coming downstairs as now she can "sneak up on him" in his office! :) It is a great piece of equipment that provides a smooth ride, saving sore knees! No more huffing and panting or crawling up the stairs either!

Ready for the trip down!

Catch you later, alligator!

More Details....

Just wanted to add the details from the visits of last week.  I have been out of town and couldn't get on to put the information as I left right after the visits last Friday.    Last Friday was a reason to celebrate!   The radiologist visit on Wednesday showed that the tumor and cancer on her liver is gone!  GONE!  The other tumors have shrunk and are manageable!   The doctor was very pleased with the results of the treatments.   On Friday we met with the main cancer doctor to review the PET scan and hear what he saw.   He pulled up Mom's original PET scan on one side and had the new one on the other side.  These were his words,  "It is remarkable" how good it looks and that "whatever you are doing, keep doing, because it's working!"  Dad got a big smile on his face and I said, "Way to go DAD!" and the doctor chimed in, "Yes, you are doing a great job at taking care of her".  Dad makes mom drink a "shake" every morning with his concoction in it.  It is helping strengthen her bones and her immune system.   The new PET scan was so much different from the first one.  The first one was all lit up in red (which shows the cancer all through her bones and body).  This new one showed faint red through her bones and some still very red up around the top of her spine but was incredibly different and so much better!! There are no tumors on her neck, she has cancer in the bones there.  Mom asked if that was why she has been leaning over so much and the doctor said no, it's just muscle memory.  So we are working on standing tall (remember Mom teaching us that!  Get out your books and place them on your head!! ha)  Mom was practicing all the way out of his office and out to the car!!! What a hard worker and dedicated lady!!!

 Mom has gained 10 pounds and is looking much better.  Her color is back in her skin and face and she has more energy.   The doctor said that he would continue the shots each month for her bones and the oral pill but that she could cut back on the pain meds and patch as she saw fit.  She had already been doing that so things are going very well.    She has another PET scan in 3 months to stay on top of it and make sure things are staying controlled.   The doctor said that he has never seen where it completely goes away once it's in the bones, but I told him Mom could always be the first, right!!!!  Thanks for the prayers, positive thoughts, fasts, and all that you have done to support Mom and Dad!!

A Reason to Celebrate

Mom had her second PET scan on April 6th. She and Dad met with the radiologist and oncologist the 11th and 13th. Joyce will write the details when she has a chance (and correct any errors in this post!), but there is too much gladness to be contained right now, so I wanted to make a quick post for everyone. The tumors that were treated with radiation are gone, even the spot on Mom's liver! The cancer in her bones does not appear as "bright" as before and in the doctor's words, "it is amazing!". While there is still a tumor at the top of her spine near her neck, Mom's pain has abated greatly and she has been able to reduce her pain medication. She has gained back some weight and her energy level has increased. In the words of Elder Russell M. Nelson this month during General Conference, "Thanks Be To God." Elder Nelson went on in his talk to say, "How much better it would be if all could be more aware of God’s providence and love and express that gratitude to Him." Our hearts are full and we are so grateful to God for His gift of healing for Paula, His love for each of us, and the knowledge we have that He is ever watching over us. Thanks to each of you, too, for your prayers and continued remembrance of Paula and Don.

Bonnets for the Huber Reunion

The Huber Reunion is fast approaching and Mom has been busy making pioneer bonnets for her granddaughters. She is finishing up her 15th bonnet and they are SO cute! All the girls riding on the Melba City float for the 4th of July parade will get to wear one of Grandma's special bonnets. Of course, Grandma has something special for the boys to wear, too (fun hats she found that fit the bill perfectly!). We're so looking forward to gathering together as a family! We are very grateful that this past month has been good for Mom--she's had more energy, been able to get her appetite back and is even swallowing Dad's special health concoctions more easily now!

UPDATE: 15 bonnets wasn't enough -- Mom went on to make 3 baby girl bonnets for her 2 newest granddaughters and great-granddaughter--bringing the total to 18!

Mom's Bunny Cake Tradition

I had to share Mom's Easter bunny cake tradition. We kids all grew up with Mom's bunny cakes every Easter and remember her making extras and sharing them with friends and neighbors. That tradition has been carried over into our own families and Easter is just not Easter without a bunny cake! I was talking to Mom a few days before Easter and she mentioned needing to get her bunny cake made. I thought it would be fun to get pictures from her children who were making bunny cakes this year and post them to share. While there were some who didn't respond to my request for pictures and may have made the cakes, Mom, Elese, Derek and I wanted to share our cakes. Sharon, Brooke F.and Louise's family also made bunny cakes, but didn't have pictures to share as they were delivered or enjoyed before they got my request for a picture! It is always a fun treat to share these cakes at Easter time; I know my friends loved receiving them! Thanks, Mom, for giving us these family traditions that bring meaning to our holidays and great memories!

Mom with her bunny cake

Derek and Brooke's children with their bunny cake

  Elese and Dan's bunny cake

 

Some of Elese's 34 cakes she handed out

 Brenda's bunny cakes

  Brenda and Greg's family with their bunny cake


Natalie's bunny cakes she gave to clients