Cancer Shmancer!

Why is it that Doctors can be the dumbest people on this planet? Yet…they are the smartest as well, curing disease, diagnosing illnesses, and expanding modern medicine. For all of this I am grateful but sometimes I feel like Doctors are just playing the guessing games and pretty much just practice “the process of elimination." Ever since I was a little girl I have been terrified of doctors. In fact I remember when I was 6 years old riding in the back of the Caravan, after my parents tricked me into a doctors appointment. I sat in the backseat of the van having a inner panic attack thinking “what am I going to do?” Suddenly I had an idea, but I waited until the last second possible to execute it. As we pulled into the parking lot of the doctor’s office I slowly crawled under the seat of the Caravan. My parents came around to get me out, but they could not physically get me out so it took quite a while to coax me out from my hiding place. However, I was still not ready for the doctor. So I tried to be a big girl and did everything the doctor said to. Then, suddenly, I had an escape. He wanted to draw some blood (NO WAY!!) So, I pretended like I needed to pee. I excused myself, went to the bathroom, and locked myself in the stall. Sadly I was not able to hide very long. After some more coaxing, my mom got me out. In the end, I had to give blood, and got my tonsils out. It was very traumatizing and  now it takes a lot for me to get to the point of actually going to the doctor. But what is even more traumatizing… is that I feel like every time I do finally go to the doctor, after putting it off for a while, I come away feeling let down. Let down, because the doctors pretty much always make me feel like nothing is wrong with me and say, go home and if you still are sick in a month, come back. See why Doctors are DUMB!!


Well since October I have been sick on and off, so I finally went to the doctor in the middle of February (see it takes me a while to get up the guts). Well, this doctor did recognize something being wrong and instantly started testing for Lymphoma Cancer. Well, it is now 7 weeks later and I still have no answers. I go from test to test, from scan to scan, and from doctor to doctor. NO ANSWERS…just the waiting game. In fact one of the doctors told me last week, nothing was wrong with me and if I still feel sick in a month come back. Hmmm…never heard that before. So one doctor is telling me nothing is wrong with me and the other two doctors are saying. Well, Lymphoma Cancer is really hard to diagnose, we think that is what we are dealing with and then wait a week before deciding the next step. So in turn...I an going CRAZY! 
The funniest thing happened  last night I got the mail on my way to pick Greg up from class at 10:00pm. Well, imagine my surprise when I opened the mail and have a letter from my insurance company that says.


Dear Erin,


We have received the request from your Doctor for a certification of the services listed below. Based upon the information given us, these services have been certified as medically necessary.


Dates of Service                Service                                Units


3/4/2010 to 3/4/2011   RITUXIMAB, 100 MB           12 Months


Please call with any questions.


WHAT THE HELL???? (Yes it is my blog Mom I can swear) This is my what the HELL face to go along with my WHAT THE HELL???comment, just for my mom!

 I look at the service “Rituximab” what is that? I have been prescribed nothing? So as I am driving I am frantically goggling it. Well, this is what popped up on Google Rituximab (Rituxan) is a drug used in the treatment of Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (NHL). It is one of a special group of drugs called ‘monoclonal antibodies’ used in chemotherapy treatments.
So imagine, going from Doctor to Doctor from test to test and just feeling like you were getting the run around and no conclusive answers. Yet, one day in the mist of all of it, you get a letter from your insurance company saying per request from your doctor you have been approved for a 12 month supply of chemotherapy medicine. WHAT!!! So now I have made my own conclusion. Either I really do have cancer and my doctors, who have been out of town for spring break for 2 weeks, know I have cancer and have failed to mention it to me. Or, my doctor is into insurance fraud and is just getting money from my insurance company. Or, like the doctor said last week, nothing is wrong with me, if I feel sick in a month come back. AAARGHHH!!Either way, I still have no real answers I am just laughing about getting that letter in the mail.

SHOWER

Greg's twin sister is pregnant with twins so I got to go to Utah for her and Lisa's double baby shower this last weekend. It was so fun to see everyone. I had a really hard time coming back to Colorado. If I did not have to work Monday I think I would have called Greg and told him I was staying and to just come visit me on the weekends, haha! It was so fun to see all the girls! It was a great weekend! I think my gift to Erin was the best (so humble)! Mike, Erin's husband LOVES, or should I say is obsessed with U2. So I had little baby onsies made one with Bono on the front and one with Uchtune Baby on the front with some cute little capries.  I also added binkis that said "Rock Star" on them and a babys first band set that included a soft little quitar. And then to top off the gift was a U2 lullaby CD. I think I am so clever!!

Dani--purposfully putting a roll in front of her face because at this very moment through my smile I am yelling, Dani, "you better be smiling for this picture" silly girl does not listen. Mattie, with her cute perm, Mattie had a soccer game after the shower. She did great!! Jen, looking hot as usual! Me eating the 2nd of the 5 eclairs I ate at the shower. Not really, I only ate one. But, I loved them and wanted to eat 5!!!!

We took this picture and texted it to Greg, just to rub in what he was missing out on for this weekend!

This is my new favorite treat. You take strawberry's and then dip them in sour cream and the raw sugar--SO good! I may have held off on eating 5 eclairs but I did not hold back with this treat.

Dani and I! One of these days I will get Dani to smile for one of her pictures. Luckily she is cute anyways!

P-Town BABY!

I got to experience the old college days again. Thursday night I spend with my sister Kara and brother Tyson in the hop "nin" city of Provo. Awe--it made me miss the roomate days a little but not very much. Kara has a really cute house and Tyson has a really cute face (I just had to say that because I did not see Tyson's house). We went out to yummy ice cream/frozen yogurt. As I sat surrounded by a bunch of college students I whispered to Tyson "can you tell I am thirty hanging out with a bunch of 22 years olds" He told me no and that I looked good for my age--he is good, he knows exactly what to say!

This is my yummy yogurt. They have 25 soft serve flavors to choose from and then a topping bar with everything you can imagine. I think it is the best idea ever!!

A little blury...but Kara, Tyson and I eating our yogurt. I hope I did not embarass Kara and Tyson by making them hang out with their OLD SISTER!!

Husband for Sale!!

We are in the middle of a BLIZZARD!! It started snowing at 5:30, it is now 8 and we have at least 3 inches and it is not letting up. I am just glad we have no where to go tonight. Well, I kinda wish Greg had somewhere to go. We were just sitting here watching boring basketball, (as usual) and I was looking out the window watching the snowy blizzardly weather and though, hmmm...wow, a nice bath would feel good. So I left Greg to boring basketball, put a little Keith Urban on and was laying in the warm bath tub relaxing when all of a sudden a pile of snow was dumped on me. Its not like I can chase Greg through the house soaking wet so instead I tried to throw as much back at him as possible. But then, it all ended up on the floor for me to clean up later. Greg sure likes to tease me, I try not to give him the reaction he is looking for because then I think maybe it will stop. But, no, he is obviously getting the reaction he wants :) (and no, I am NOT DRAMATIC!) haha

On a good note, Greg got his grades for last quarter and did great! I am so glad, he put so much time and effort into his school that I would really have to complain about it taking away from ME time if he did not do so good! So good job babe! I would say lets go out and celebrate but that costs money that is paying for next quarter so lets stay in and watch boring basketball.

I am very impressed with Greg though and his work ethic. He gets up so early and studies and  puts alot of effort in to his work. He is working so hard to get his 18 month program done in one year. I complain alot and am SO excited for this to be over, but I know it will all work out and be a good thing in the future. So in other words...Greg is not for sale but, he might have a black eye next time I get snow dumped on me in the bath.

DISNEYLAND

It is Gregs spring break so we met my family in California and spent a few days in Disneyland. It is so fun to see how excited the kids get about all the fun things at Disneyland. However, next time I am requesting a stroller for me. I felt like and 80 year old lady about half way through the day.

Happy St. Patty's Day

We had a great St. Patricks Day this year. However, it was celebrated as my sister Kara's birthday. We had lots of fun. The whole family got together in Disneyland to celebrate--Kara must be spoiled for the whole family to fly to Disneyland for her birthday. It was fun!!!!We had a birthday dinner at Cheesecake Factory and then had cheescake later that night (and it was my second favorite kind...lemon/rasberry).

I made Greg wear this hat on the airplane out to California--he thought it was a great idea!! HAHA The cute glasses he stole from Dylan.

Greg and Lauren. Lauren was more into chewing on the headband than wearing it. But don't they both have cute smiles!

These guys are singing happy birthday to Kara all decked out in their St. Patty's outfits. I wish you could see the video. Althoug the Allreds singing does not show alot of talent. The amazing dance moves make up for it.

DENVER OH DENVER

Denver OH Denver, what can I say? Other than I have a bad attitude. It is nothing personal about Denver. I am sure I would like Denver if...but I don't?

As you probably know, Greg and I got married and a couple months later quit our stable, established jobs (in this economy??), and picked up and moved to Denver. Greg has always wanted to get his Masters and I thought, now, before we have kids would be the best time (or 4 years ago, but that is beside the point). Although it does not make complete sense, we know that it will be the best decision for us and pay off in the future.

Getting married when you are so old and set in your ways is already a huge adjustment. But getting married, losing your identity, giving up unlimited clothing budgets, not being able to golf 4 days a week, quitting your jobs, moving, going back to the student life and leaving friends and family has been such an adjustment that Greg is wondering what happened to the girl he married. He is questioning where my orneriness and bad attitude were when we were dating (I hid it well, because it has for sure surfaced these past months)!

But..I have promised myself an attitude adjustment. So I am working on it! You just wait its coming!

DENVER VISITORS

I have been so lucky to get lots of visitors to entertain me here in Denver.  I have some good friends here to. I am very blessed. However, it still does not make me change my attitude about being here, I really like to have something to complain about!

We had so much fun Shopping Shopping and Shopping! Mattie got a trip to Denver for her Christmas present but I am pretty sure it was really my present. It was so fun! I wish Jen and Mattie would move in.

We hiked around the Red Rocks--Mattie come back!!

We had so much fun at

 Wicked and we hit every TJ MAXX in the state of Colorado!

Next time I am making Mindy get in the snow too. Actually I am just pretending I am in the snow!

I love this picture-I even loved more having you guys in town.

Anna came twice! She saved me this weekend. We went to the temple and walked around down town. Last minute she decided to run the Denver marathon that was that weekend. I of course did not!!

Me and my sis Ashlee. Ashlee and her baby Maggie came to visit me. Ashlee and I would put Maggie down for a nap, make Greg babysit and then hit the town. Well, not really but we would hit the Gillato store. It was great to have Ashlee and Maggie around, I wish it was for 6 more months.

Maggie and Greg are good buddies! We made her a bed in our closet--(a little Harry Potterish) She loved having so much individual attention all weekend.

LEAVING OUR FRIENDS

We spent our first 3 months of marriage in Salt Lake, ah I took for granted how nice it was to live down the street from one of my best friends and how nice it was when Greg was working late how I could just go hang with the girls. Or friends coming over for dinner and Bachelor night. Or Sunday dinner with Gregs family, and 24 night, and everything in between! I sure miss it!

St. George trip!

I miss YOU girls!

Erin and Mike's Wedding It was so awesome! And fun to be with the family.

Cooking class with the Pikes and friends--like any of us even need cooking classes-WE ARE AMAZING! But, it sure was fun!

I miss Eric's planned fun! Thanks to Toyota-free ski passes! It was sure fun to show everyone the ropes on the ski hill--with my skiing skills I was zzzzzzzzzoooooommmming past everyone!

At a Rascal Flatts concert! Of course I rushed the stage, I get so into the whole concert thing--hehe I am lame, I think I sat in my chair the whole time and only stood up to take this picture.

Ah--my girls! We looked HOT at the Christmas Sweater Party. Pretty sure Anna won the prize-or at least ATE the prize :)

Christmas 2009

The only thing I do like about going back to the student life is the holiday breaks that are included.  Greg had the end of November and the whole month of December off so we spent Thanksgiving in Utah with Gregs family and then headed to Washington for the month December and Christmas.  Gregs parents left on a mission to San Antonio in the beginning of December so it was fun to be able to be in Utah before they left. We miss them and are excited for things to be "like they were" when they get back.  Washington was lots of fun, we played, played and played! Greg gave me my favorite purse ever for Christmas and I got him a Guitar.  (of course it was his favorite ever too!)

The nativity is always entertaining in the Allred home. As you can see in the first picture the camels are having a wrestling match. The second picture is very cute of Mary and Joseph, I especially like the enthusiasm of the Donkey following behind. Joseph is very focused and Mary forgot to put her dress all the way on.

Look at the Angels--ah Kate and Gracee--they are SO CUTE!!!!

WEDDING

Like I said, I have never been one to want a big wedding. So instead we did a small dinner at Market Street Grill the night before we got married. I thought it was perfect. The food was yummy! The menu was Salmon and Prime Rib, scrimp, salad, rolls, fruit, and rice. Many of our closest family and friends were there. We had an open mic which ended up being very entertaining. Especially when my favorite 4 year old Dylan stood up and started entertaning us and after a few minutes he did not want to give the spot light up.  As soon as his dad tried to grab the microphone from him, he said "yeah, my dad is the best" the funniest thing was, that it worked! His dad sat right back down and let Dylan keep going. 

I spent my wedding planning time finding good outfits for pictures. I must say--I did pretty dang good.

My Nieces and Nephews

Erin's Family

Greg's Family

This is my new Matts (Mattie). Isn't she beautiful!

This is my dad writing out the check for the wedding dinner. I don't know what he is frowning about, I could have done SO MUCH MORE DAMAGE!

The next day was pretty simple. It started out by Austin throwing me in the swimming pool and then me procrastinating getting ready so I have big frizzy hair for my wedding day. Oh well! We got married in the Draper temple and then had lunch at Goodwood with our families.

I was so non traditional that I did not even have a wedding dress. As my 3 year old niece J-Bird stood outside the temple anticipating the beautiful brides entrance she was sorely disappointed. As I came out of the temple (not in a wedding dress) she screamed quite loudly "Mom, you lied to me, Erin did not get married" So I guess if you do not wear a real wedding dress it does not count??

I know I know--we both are not even looking at the camera, but its the best I got! At least I am smiling, well kind of :)

My Buddy TYLER!

Right after lunch at Goodwood, Greg and I headed out on our honeymoon to Jamaica.

I must say laying in the sun by the water for a week straight is my kind of life!! It was great! Greg did get sick the last 3 days of our honeymoon. I thouroughly enjoyed walking around a couples resort all by myself! :) Somehow we both ended up on our honeymoon without packing a camera? So we actually have no proof we went to Jamaica but have really good stories, okay nothing really good but it was very nice and relaxing!