JENSEN HIKES!

 This month while the weather has been nice, we have been meeting up with Nate and Jenn's family and taking some nice Sunday hikes! It's been good to get out and get some fresh air and spend time with cousins! 

SUNDAY HIKES!

 We spent a couple Sundays this month hiking with Nathan's family. It was good to get out of the house, get some fresh air and spend some times with the cousins. This is our last month of hiking because next month Jared will have surgery. Family time on Sunday is the best time!

CANCER ANNOUNCEMENT!

 The letter we sent our families after we sat down with the kids and told them about Jared. Emma cried and wanted to come home from school and be here and help, we told her that she can help us by finishing the semester strong and staying in Utah and not doing things to cause us to stress. Eli cried and walked away from us several times. I am not sure he knew what to do. He texted his baseball coaches. He didn't find jokes funny. He took it VERY seriously and was very stressed out. The twins I don't believe understood the full gravity of everything. When Jared asked them if they knew what the prostate was they asked if it was his balls. Jared said no. Then they asked if it was his "holder" - we had a good laugh about that one. They never cried. They made a couple of jokes with us and then realized how serious it was, but we were grateful they weren't stressed about it. We timed telling the kids just right so that Emma was home with us, we didn't want to ruin her birthday with it, but we wanted them told early enough that it gave her a chance to stew on it and be fully confident when she left to go back to Utah that everything would be ok! 

Hello all - just wanted to give some news on Jared ...

Every year at Intel Jared does a health check. They quit doing it when Covid happened. This year they started it up again, but they changed it to an at-home kit instead of an in-office blood draw. He signed both of us up but our kits got mixed up, after we completed everything and sent them back, so they had to send us new kits.  At that point we were over it and Jared told them don't worry about it.  New kits ended up showing up at our house and by this time we were still over it but Jared felt like we needed to do it so we completed the kits and sent them back (just a finger prick with some blood samples). 

The results came in and Jared's PSA levels were high (PSA is a prostate health marker). He was told to reach out to his doctor so he did. She said it could just be a mistake from the at home test. So she drew more blood in office and it was even higher. 

She sent him right away to a urologist. Jared filled out the questionnaire and answered everything perfectly! No symptoms, no signs, nothing. The PA wasn't very worried but did a prostate exam anyway. He found a nodule. It needed to be biopsied right away. That night our Bishop came over and gave Jared a blessing. We did it in Emma's room and told the boys it was just church stuff. 

We went in for his biopsy. They did a lot. Jared was hurting. We then went back 2 weeks later for the results and he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. That night RJ and Nathan came over and gave him a great blessing. They had been sworn to secrecy. We again, did it in Emma's room and told the boys RJ needed a blessing so no one would be suspicious. 

Jared then did another test where they injected his veins with a radioactive liquid and scanned his whole body to see if the cancer has spread, which thankfully it hasn't. 

The final test Jared had to do was a painful invasive bladder check to make sure it is OK and it is OK as well - this was the final hurdle to clear Jared for surgery. 

Jared is set to have surgery on April 18th to remove his prostate (robot-assisted radical prostatectomy). The cancer is for sure all over the left side and the doctor thinks because of how much came back in his biopsy that it's on the right side too. They will be cutting into his nerves, removing everything, etc.  Recovery time will be at least 8 weeks - Jared has already communicated major details with key co-workers, all of which have been very compassionate and accommodating.

IF YOU ARE A BLOOD RELATIVE OF JAREDS (Brothers, father, sons, nephews): Because Jared got this in his 40s the chances of you getting it young are much higher than the average person. When you turn 40 you need to go get a PSA test (basic blood draw) to get a baseline and be watching it. However, if you get prostate cancer as an older adult, your bloodline has the same chance as the general population of getting prostate cancer.

Jared and I are extremely grateful to our Father in Heaven during this time. We have known since January. It is a blessing the way we caught it so early. The doctor sees no problem with him beating this. It will be a long road to recovery though. He will be in the hospital for a night or two after surgery. He will come home with a catheter for 2 weeks. He won't be able to do or lift anything for at least 6 weeks (only walking will be allowed). There are a couple of other concerns that have us worried, but we do believe that it just means 2023 will be a long road but in the end Heavenly Father will lift us through it and we will grow closer together as a family throughout this whole thing. 

We are telling our kids tonight about all of this (this email was written in the morning). We plan to give them all blessings of peace and comfort. We have waited this long to tell them so we would know all the facts, dates, etc and can answer any questions they might have. 

Feel free to reach out with any questions/etc!  We've learned much more about prostates than we care to know lol.  We'll probably have our phones off for most of the night but please reach out if you'd like!

We love you all! 

Jared and Carol 

UMPIRING!

 Eli got certified as an umpire and now umpires for little league up the road at Mansel Carter Park. He was stressed at first, but has learned to not care what parents say. His favorite games are the ones he gets to umpires with his friends! He is the cutest little umpire I ever did see! 

CANCER LETTERS!

 From me to Jared: 

Hey babe - 

You’ve been though a lot so far in 2023. I fear your road is going to get harder as you draw nearer to surgery. 

I want you to know how much I love you! I am here for you! I will support you however you prefer and even when you prefer I don’t  (like today in the dr office) 

I care about one thing and one thing only…you living and staying with us! I don’t care about pee bags, no sex, just you! 

You will forever be my ride or die…I love you with my whole heart 

From Jared to me:

Thank you babe.  I know I put up a fight when you want to come but truth is it would suck to sit at the Dr by myself and I really appreciate the support... so thank you

And yes I agree it will be a bit rough for all of us but every time I think about the fact that I have prostate cancer I cant help but feel the Spirit and feel the Lord's love for me and for all of us.  He'll help us all through this and hopefully we'll all grow stronger because of it!!

You're the best boo ... thank you.  I love you

PS I'm saving this email in my Health folder with the rest of my cancer stuff 

CASTEEL MORP!

 Eli got asked to Casteel Morp from Sahara - he didn't know her, but she asked him because all her friends know Eli so it would make for a fun group! The theme was famous couples so they went as Squints and Wendy Peffercorn from Sandlot. So grateful for doorbell cameras so we could watch the girls try to sneak and ask him - hilarious - thank heavens doorbell cameras didn't exist in my day! I forgot to take a pic of Eli's answer, but it was something like "it would succ not to go to the dance with you" with a succulent and her favorite candy - it was cute! The week before the dance, Eli's group went out to the lake and had a picnic in the desert. The dance ended up being lame and they only lasted 30 minutes, but he had fun the rest of the night with all the group of kids! So grateful he gets to experience these high school things! 

RANDOM FIRST FEW MONTHS HAPPENINGS!

 We got together with Nate and Jenn and celebrated Jared and Jenn's birthdays; we brought over Carrabbas and Nothing Bundt Cake, Tyler and Tyson played against Masen and his cousin in basketball, We took the family out to eat at Culinary Drop Out for Emma's birthday, Eli signed up for driving school, the twins went to lots of football games for their friends, we took Grandpa Rodgers out to eat at Ryu and Eli and his buddies spent lots of mornings at the Temple before school started!