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For those who are following my cousin Robert's progress, please take a moment to visit his CaringBridge page. There you will read more of his story and diagnosis, and even get a feel for what a fun kid he is :-) Here is a picture of Robert, so you can put a face to this young man we are praying so fervently for:
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For the second year in a row, we spent the evening of July 4 with several neighbors.....enjoying our own little community fireworks display. Here are the kids just before we left the house.
The men put on our own fireworks display. Between that and the other displays other neighbors and neighborhoods were igniting, we had quite a show! Claire and Drew loved it....he giggled the whole time. Anna covered her ears during the loudest crackers, though she enjoyed everything else.
After a while, Audrey decided that she did enjoy the sparklers, after all.
Then, we walked back home and tucked everyone in bed....no traffic jams! I may like this better than the big city-sponsored events! Happy Birthday, America! |
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Claire officially turned 10 in March. She wanted a pool party. Not just any pool party.....a PIRATE pool party. Even here in the southeast, it's too cool in March for a pool party. So we postponed her celebration until this past weekend. Claire and Drew had a combined party.....a pirate party, of all things!.....and fun was had by all!
A man from church made the pirate cake. We were impressed!
Claire and Drew blew out the candles together.
Drew and friend Daniel sparred by the pool.
Happy Birthday, Claire-Bear and Bubby-Boy! We love you both! |
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My sweet baby is two years old today! He's been such a joy.....the kind of baby that makes you want dozens more just like him! Here are some highlights from his first two years.....
  Happy Birthday, Bubby! |
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This just came in from Mom: "I just returned from my oncologist appt. The full body scans and CTs of brain, chest and abdomen show no cancer cells. I am hoping that this is a good thing. The chemo and radiation is an adjuvant therapy to kill off any newly forming breast cancer cells.
"Chemo tomorrow at 11 am."
We certainly appreciate everyone's prayers! |
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My mother sent this update today. I'm sharing it here for all who are following her recovery and praying with us toward that end: "Finishing up a lot of last minute details here. Heading to Berkley Springs to stay at an inn this weekend. David gave this to us as a Christmas gift. Spa massages included. Must pack and clean up. Will stop by my parents on way up or down or both. ...... I don't know when I will get to see them again with this chemo and thought I'd better go now before I feel worse, if that happens, or my hair falls out. "Think hair is getting ready to depart. Leg hair now ceasing to grow back in. Head hair looking dull and weird. The books say the scalp will begin to tingle and then it falls.
"Awakened last night at 11 pm with a swollen red mouth that was full of hives. Chemo had reached the killing stage to the mouth and stomach lining cells. Fortunately I had a prescription on hand for a chemo mouthwash that one gargles and spits or swallows and it alleviates the problem. Contains lidocaine. Slept after that and awakened with mouth nearly back to normal this morning.
"Eyelids have been red since the chemo. Conjunctivitis from the steroids. Lovely happenings here. Nasty, nasty ordeal.
"Next chemo on Wednesday, June 18. Oncologist appt on Tuesday, June 17. Should get results of the baseline testing. Have to gear up for chemo again.
"Pray all goes well with this and I stay normal and healthy over weekend."
Thank you to all who are praying with us!
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Posted in Family Life
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Twelve years ago today.....
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Posted in Family Life
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Our 23-month-old was eager to tell the family what we were having for dinner last night. "Anna! Come eat sketti. Daddy! Come eat sketti." Six-year-old Anna, in her most mature, doting voice, told Daddy, "That's so cute how he says that! When he gets bigger, he'll say it the right way, with the "Buh." Daddy (age left off intentionally) nodded in agreement. "That's right. How will he say it when he's older?" "Buhsketti." Of course. |
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Today my mother begins her first round of chemotherapy. She has recovered from her surgery (double mastectomy) and has had a port installed. Please pray with us that she will be healthy through this, that the chemo will not make her sick, and that all of the cancer cells will be destroyed but everything else will remain unharmed. We truly appreciate your prayers as she goes through this great trial! |
Posted in Family Life
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Posted in Family Life
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A year and a half ago, a very sweet little guinea pig joined our family. Dumbo weighed maybe two pounds, but he made a big impression on us. He always greeted us with an upraised head and a glee-filled squeak. He loved to have his head scratched. Every evening, as I made lunch for my husband, Dumbo squealed with joyful anticipation of the carrot or apple or kale that he knew would soon be coming his way. The kids loved to take him out and pet him. He loved to be held and petted, and would squeal in glee when certain parts of his little body were petted.
I had never owned a guinea pig before. Little Dumbo seemed especially taken by me. Maybe because I was the one who gave him his evening treats -- and many more throughout the day -- but Dumbo especially loved just laying across my chest, cradled like a baby. He practically purred. I'm sure he felt safe and warm there, maybe even smelled my mommy milk. He enjoyed his time outdoors, too, grazing in his little pen on the fresh, warm grasses when the weather was good. My husband assures me that Dumbo had a good life, even if it was short. But I miss him. The girls were not the only ones sobbing at his little backyard funeral two days ago. And tears are pouring down my cheeks now as I write this simple eulogy. We got Dumbo as a gift for our oldest daughter's baptism and our second daughter's birthday. How significant it seemed as we buried this little guinea pig in our butterfly garden that he came to us for a baptism. The old life dies and a new creature emerges from the waters of baptism. My children pray every night now that Dumbo is in heaven with Jesus. And I haven't done anything to discourage those prayers. I have to admit, every part of my being wants to believe and hope that our beloved pets will be waiting for us in eternity. I want to imagine sweet little Dumbo in a field of fresh grass, frolicking with Phoebe and Petey, the cat and parakeet that meant so much to me many moons ago.
God gave us the capacity to love deeply. Even two-pound guinea pigs. We miss you, Dumbo. Thank you for being a bright spot in our lives, even though it was such a short time. |
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Yesterday, I was served breakfast in bed. Today, Brian cooked a big breakfast for the family. I've received lots of hugs and kisses and Mother's Day wishes, several handmade cards, Drew's framed handprint from Sunday school, and little flowers in pots from the girls' Sunday school. And last week, Audrey had the opportunity to make a special Mother's Day gift during her Daddy & Daughter outing to Home Depot (and Starbuck's).
Happy Mom's Day to all you special homeschooling moms out there! |
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The pool opened last weekend. The kids talked about this for a month before the actual event! Everyday, I heard, "How long until the pool opens?" Every single day. Then, the infamous day arrived -- and the temperatures were quite cool. And the next day it rained. You've never seen four more disappointed children! But, the weather changed, and we made it to the pool twice this week, then again today. Nothing motivates my children to make beds and pick up toys like a trip to the pool! Here are a couple of shots of the kids in the pool today. The water is only 74 degrees, which means that Mom will not be swimming for another month, or 10 degrees, whichever comes first!
I couldn't get Claire and Anna to stay still long enough for a picture of them. So, if you have three minutes to spare, here's some video of all of them in the pool. Anna is at the other end of the pool, so you never really get to see her. If you listen closely, you may pick out some of Drew's sentences.
Summer has officially begun! |
Posted in Family Life
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Posted in Family Life
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I have three concerns that are very near and dear to my heart right now.
1) My mother, of course! She is recovering from her surgery (double mastectomy) and battling fatigue while preparing herself for chemo and radiation therapy in the next couple of weeks. Please pray that she will come through this completely cancer free, with no recurrence!
2) We just found out last week that my 17-year-old cousin is very sick. Here's the note I got from his mother this morning: "Robert's Doctor called us Friday with biopsy results. Fortunately no cancer cells were found. He said Rob is making red blood cells at a rate of 10% - his age group should be in the 90% range. Dr. wants to monitor him 4-6 wks. as outpatient checking blood and giving blood as he needs it. 2% chance his body will heal and begin to make red cells again, 2% chance he could develop leukemia, and 96% chance he will undergo the bone marrow transplant. Pray he falls in the 2% that will heal. GOD is giving us peace and showing HIS grace as we face this challenge. Robert has a great attitude. We praise GOD that we discovered his condition when we did. HE works in mysterious ways for sure. Love to you all. Becky" Please pray with us that this wonderful young man's body will indeed begin producing his own red blood cells!
3) My husband is about to begin a full-fledged effort to find a new job. Please pray with us that God will lead him to exactly the right position, that will be a perfect fit for him and our family, both professionally and financially.
Thank you all for your support of our family through the years! We are certainly blessed to have such wonderful prayer warriors in our corner! |
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You'd think after reading Courtney's blog earlier this week, I would have thought to look in the oven. But then again, why? I'm not moving. I don't normally store anything but my baking stone in the oven. It didn't even occur to me that anything was amiss until my dinner started to smell, well, like candles, as my younger daughters informed me. I thought there was something wrong with the macaroni noodles. But why would noodles smell like lavender lilac? I had preheated the oven for corn muffins, a last minute decision I came to regret. Imagine my surprise when, upon opening the oven door, I found this: It was my oldest daughter's Suave Lavender Lilac Shampoo, baked at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. I haven't gotten a real confession yet about how it happened. My four-year-old insists that her 22-month-old brother is the culprit, but I have my doubts. I'm off to clean out my oven now.....I think it's finally cool enough. And in case you're wondering, no, we didn't have corn muffins with dinner this evening. |
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My mother came through the surgery beautifully! Now, she is recovering well. She's home and in good spirits, with her sense of humor very much intact. We certainly appreciate everyone's prayers. I will update as her treatment progresses. Next on the agenda will be chemotherapy. The doctor is now saying that they may do some radiation, as well, due to the discovery of cancer in her lymph nodes. Mom is confident that she is going to defeat this cancer! With God's help, once she's through all this, she'll live another 25 good, healthy years! |
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For those who don't know, my mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer (specifically, infiltrating lobular carcinoma). She has decided to go with the most aggressive treatment plan. Tomorrow, she will have surgery for a double mastectomy. After that, she will begin chemotherapy. So you can see who you are praying for, here is a picture of my parents almost two years ago, holding one-week-old baby Drew.
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The kids are in the dining room eating a snack and I'm in the next room, eavesdropping. Six-year-old Anna is explaining to her five-year-old friend all about popcorn: "It's called 'popcorn' because it really is corn. My mom told me and she's from the kind-of old days, so she knows." So there you have it. I really am old!
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My mom sounds like she is doing better....her attitude is good and she's getting more rest.
My aunt (mom's sister) took the news so hard that she scheduled an appointment with her own doctor. She was reassured on every level after that appointment. I'll just copy her e-mail below, if anyone cares to read that far. But so far, it's better news than it seemed four days ago :-) We certainly appreciate and covet your prayers!
Here's my Aunt Susan's e-mail:
I had a meeting with my doctor today and lots of great information came from it. I feel much better for Paula and for all of us than before. He told me:
1) Women who get breast cancer postmenopause are almost always "first timers". That is, it is not an heredity factor in most cases. They are just the unlucky one.
2) He does not recommend genetic testing for me because only one immediate family member has been diagnosed. Immediate is a sister or mother, not an aunt, cousin or even a grandmother.
3) He does not recommend genetic testing for Paula's children yet because it would "taint" their medical history. He does feel that Paula should have the test for the generic marker, though, since her history is already "tainted". If she does not carry the marker, then her children cannot possibly be in danger because of her history.
4) He agreed fullheartedly with the treatment plan thus far for her and told me that M.D. Anderson would do the exact same thing. He feels in a local community setting she will receive better humane care than in a big center and she won't have to make every visit a day long affair like you would in a large setting.
5) He also told me that in almost every case when breast cancer occurs in postmenopausal women, the outcome is excellent. She will go through a whole lot, for sure, but she will be fine. That's his opinion (and I'M sticking with it !!)
I just talked with Paula and her doctor confers on every point. It sounds like she has a very good doctor. Let's all celebrate life now !!!
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