Cancer Center

I don’t know if I ever posted about the new Cancer Center at Duke.  It is beautiful.  When I had physical therapy in the past it was at a separate hospital clinic.  Now they have a therapist on hand at the cancer center which is very convenient.

Here is one of the waiting rooms in the breast clinic:

And one of me from the other day when we were up there…my hair is a little longer now.  I have no idea how to fix it…:

I had kind of dreaded going to this appointment.  In fact, I have had very limited use of my right arm for a few weeks, but didn’t want to endure a painful appointment.  I cancelled the appointment they initially scheduled for last Friday and  rescheduled for today.

And I am happy to report that it was not painful at all.  :)

I think we made a little progress on my range of motion, but I’ll go back again once a week for a little while and hope to feel all better again soon!

It is late and I’ll be up early tomorrow to get the girls ready for their last day of preschool for a while.

Goodnight!

 

Thank you!

Do yall know how touching it is to realize that many of you are still thinking of me and praying for me?!  Thank you!  I have gotten messages from some of you, ran into some of you at the grocery store or around town, and have even continued to get cards and phone calls from some of you, which means a lot to me because I am so bad about stuff like that.  But in all ways, thank you for your continued support.

Mentally, I think life seems a little tougher for me right now than it did when I was  sick for all those months.  Being a parent and a wife carries more responsibility/pressure than just lying in the bed all day.  :)

And somehow these little people can make me feel like I never get a whole lot accomplished in one day.

I’ve blogged about it before, but I’m just trying to treasure all the tidbits of their little days.  I’m so thankful to be able to be here with them every day and the rewards are truly worth it.

Like last night - after an exceptionally late blog post I headed for bed, only to hear cries from Wade’s room.  I was actually kind of excited for a reason to go in there and hold him.  The kids rarely wake up in the middle of the night anymore, and if the girls do it just means our queen-sized bed is about to get extra crowded!

But Wade, he rarely wakes up in the night and it was somehow comforting and NORMAL to walk into the nursery that all of our kids have used, and smell that familiar “baby” room smell (diapers, wipes, lotion, POOP ) -

Even after a big blowout and diaper change Wade was sleepy and extra cuddly.  Worth it to stay up a little while just rocking him.  Nothing sweeter than when he curled up against me with his head on my shoulder and wrapped his arms around my neck and went back to sleep.

[Disclaimer:  I may not have been AS thrilled with this middle-of-the-night cuddle if he had awaken me from a deep sleep...I probably would have been too tired to appreciate it!!]

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So then tonight (even if it may have been a stalling tactic), Cadence said, “Mommy, tell me the story of Jesus.”  True story.  How could I rush in tucking her and Ella into bed with a request like that?!  They didn’t nap today and I really just wanted to sit down and relax, but of course I didn’t!  What an awesome thing to hear a little 4 yr old say!

What an awesome reminder from God that these little ears are listening and we have to be their first example at home!

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So that’s what has been going on in my world!

Here are a few pics from the past couple of months. There are MANY more pictures to come.

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The girls share a bed now.  Here is what Ella and Cadence thought of that the first night when I put them to bed:

Just Wade:

The girls got a haircut and it made them look 5 yrs older!

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That’s all for tonight.  Goodnight!

Anybody Out There?!

I know I have been MIA - Thinking about starting to blog again.  Anybody still reading?

Not much to update on these days, so will probably transition this to a journal of sorts for the kids.

Everything around the house is “normal” – Cadence, Ella and Wade are wearing me out!  Instead of a 1, 2 and 3 year old, I know have a 1, 2 and 4 year old.  FOUR!  How have four years passed me by?

When did this sweet little baby….

become this sweet baby:

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I guess the same way 2 months have passed by without me blogging.  Time marches on.

The girls are almost finished with preschool until the fall so I will really get back into practice with no break two mornings a week.  

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I had an appointment last month with the surgeon and everything was looking great.  I go back again in June to meet with the oncologist, and hopefully get another good report!

I do have a physical therapy appointment coming up this week.  I would appreciate prayers for that.

I have had the sad realization lately that cancer is all around us.  I know TOO MANY people that are dealing with it right now.  Support your friends and family as they go through this!!

I am learning that it is an ongoing process even though I am finished with treatments.

Just trusting that God will see me Through the Fire!

He never promised that the cross would not get heavy
And the hill would not be hard to climb
He never offered our victories without fighting
But He said help would always come in time
Just remember when you’re standing in the valley of decision
And the adversary says give in
Just hold on, our Lord will show up
And He will take you through the fire again

It has been a while.

It has been a while since I posted.  I’m sorry about that.  One of these days, hopefully soon, I will settle back into a regular routine.  We’re working on it!!

I don’t have anyone here cooking and cleaning for me these days, so I’m a little busier than I was when all I had the energy to do was lie in bed goofing off on the computer between naps.  ;)

In case you hadn’t heard, I am finished with my treatments!!  Way back last summer, being finished with my treatments seemed like a very distant dream.  All I could see ahead of me were dark days and not being able to take care of my kids.  But PRAISE THE LORD, I am finished!  And God was so faithful to me through the whole process.  Just as expected…EVERY NEED SUPPLIED.  I couldn’t have done it without support from all of you! Thank you!

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In the two weeks that I’ve been finished with treatment, I’ve tried to enjoy all my time with the kids.  And I do mean all.the.time.  From the time they wake me up in the morning til the time they go to bed at night.  Especially when they are in my lap.  And hanging on my legs while I try to cook.  And begging me to take them outside to play until we are completely covered in yellow pollen.  Especially when Brandon is working late so that I CAN stay at home!  ALL.the.time.

I love it.  Even when I know I should be folding clothes or cleaning instead of cuddling them.  They won’t want me to hold them forever.  I know that.  I sincerely try to remember that.

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I left my “good” camera at my parents’ house this weekend and I have felt lost without it the past few days.  I think I will have to drive over tomorrow and pick it up!  I have TONS of pictures to upload and share (dating back to mid-February, I think).  I will make that happen one day soon.

In the meantime, I don’t feel like I can leave you without at least one photograph!!

You may see a repeat of one of these in color on my Project 365 photos, but this little girl LOVES picking flowers.  I guess that thick coating of yellow pollen doesn’t mean anything to her!

Ready or Not…

FINALLY another blog post!

I got two cards in the mail today (thank you Aunt Debbie and cousin Alison!) — I haven’t posted in a couple of weeks, but I am still here, and to clarify, I’m not going anywhere once my treatments are over!  I’ll still be here plugging along on the blog…bombarding you with pictures of my kids!

I’ve actually had several reminders this past week that people are still thinking about me and praying for me.  Thank you!  If I learn nothing else through this, I hope I have learned how much a message, a phone call or a card might mean to someone that is struggling.  I appreciate you all remembering me, even by popping in to read the blog!

I don’t really feel like talking about my treatments tonight – so I’ll just share a REALLY BIG prayer request and then a funny story.

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I have a friend that has a little girl that is Cadence’s age and  is 37ish weeks pregnant with baby #2…  She has also just been diagnosed with breast cancer and will be having an induction on this Sunday, March 4 and will then quickly begin chemotherapy, have surgery, the whole shebang…all while trying to deal with her 3 yr old and a NEWBORN baby.  She lives in New Jersey and works in NYC – she and her husband really don’t have much family around, although his parents are coming in for a bit mid-March.

Would you pray for a peace that passes all understanding for Cristina?  Pray that her body will respond well to this induction and that baby boy will arrive happy and healthy!  I’ll keep you updated on her in the weeks and months ahead, but please pray for strength and healing for her.  Thank you!

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And on a lighter note … We had a killer game of hide and seek going on here the other night.  Brandon and Cadence were on a team and Ella and I were on a team.  The girls have really struggled with the concept of hiding without telling us where they are, but Cadence has been improving her game a little here lately.

Anyway, Ella and I went to the back bedroom, shut the door and counted, while Brandon and Cadence hid and Wade toddled around playing.  So really…how many “good” hiding places are there for 2 people to hide?

Especially when I knew the closets were too stuffed for them to fit in, I knew they weren’t in the shower because they had already hidden there (and I looked again anyway!),  and I also knew they weren’t behind the recliner (checked), the loveseat (checked), under the beds (checked…and yes, Brandon can fit under the crib — he got me there one time because I didn’t think he would!)…they weren’t even on top of the bed under the covers (checked) – although Brandon got a big gob of pillows and crammed in a pile to make it look like someone was under the covers!

So after combing over our not so large house, I walked into the kitchen.  I knew they couldn’t fit into any cabinets.  Then I saw Wade standing by the door holding his shoes and I KNEW they had gone outside.  Plus the house was just eerily quite!  So I grabbed Ella and  busted out into the carport.  DIdn’t see them.  Opened the Trailblazer.  They weren’t there.  Checked the back yard.  Not there either.

How does a not very small 6’4″ man and a loud little 3 year old hide from me!!!?

I walked back into the kitchen and noticed the laundry room doors were open.  Like this:

A slight movement made me look again.

I am a really bad hide and seek player!!!!  Don’t ask me how Brandon fit behind those folding doors.  Lol…

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Goodnight!

This and That

I hope everyone had a Happy Valentine’s Day!   I did!

The girls had a blast at their preschool party and they got tons of cute little Valentines.  Then we had a visit from Grandma and Pa…I know the kids were all excited to see them!  When I got home from radiation that night Brandon had a vase of pink roses for me that were very pretty and then last night after my treatment we were able to enjoy a nice meal out together.

AND Aunt Nancy dropped by a box of donuts – what a treat!!  Sorry I didn’t get to see you, Nancy!  We all loved the donuts. 

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I had a few “funnies” to share and I can’t remember all of them now, but here are a couple:

• Cadence: “Mommy, you’re growing some hair.  It is silver.”  lol
• Cadence to Wade as he tried to crawl onto the pallet she and Ella were “camping out” on:  “Wade, we’re camping out.  You can be the dog.”
• Ella:  “I want some kitty cats”  Translation:  “I want some tic tacs.”
• Ella, repeatedly to Brandon as he got her from her carseat the other night (where she had been asleep):  “Where’s sissy?  Where’s sissy?”  ………  Brandon:  “Look up.”  Cadence was on his shoulders and Ella was actually leaning her head on Cadence’s leg and just didn’t see her.  We ALL had a good laugh over that…Ella included!

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Have a good day!  I’m contemplating Walmart while the girls are at preschool.  Wish me luck!

Valentine’s Eve

Cadence asked me all day today if it was Valentine’s Day.  She told me she “loves” Valentine’s Day.  How does she even know about Valentine’s Day?!  And how can it be that I am already dreading certain aspects of the middle school and high school years with my girls!!?  Praying for them now that they don’t succumb to the world’s standards of beauty and love.

The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for He is your Lord.  Psalm 45:11

I was going to update the blog with more pictures, but think I’ll sneak in and kiss those sweet little girls instead.

I mean, this is a kissable face, right?  Bananas and all!  Lol…