Randi's Reality

Power Behind the Scenes

2011-03-30T14:26:00.002-05:00

I have always loved our church. When I say loved, I mean thought of these people as my family. One of my favorite things about our church is how intentionally they are at challenging and equipping the men to be leaders and to step up to guide people to the Lord. I love that. It makes such a difference. Through Mom's illness, I have seen a side of our church that I knew was there but, never had really seen it in action. As a young girl and through my growing up, I watched the "older" women serve one another with meals and prayer. I guess I knew that someday I would be "old enough" to serve like that (and I love to). But, I have been amazed and humbled at the women at our church, women of all ages, who are serving behind the scenes. Not only are they taking meals to those who really need it but they are being intentional about seeking people out who need them. They are planting plants, hanging pictures, stocking pantries, taking care of children, cooking meals....the list goes on and on. These women are living lives with their eyes wide open to what the Lord has in store for them. They are not holding back even when they have crazy lives and families of their own. With women living lives like that, who can stop the men that they stand beside????? These men are capable of incredible things partly because God has given them mighty women who bring God to many tables. To these women and the many others (who don't attend our church) who are living their lives with eyes wide open, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I want to be one of those women who does not miss an opportunity to serve or to bless others with the love of the LORD! Your servanthood is making a difference. More than you will ever know. To the men who stand with these mighty servants, nothing can stand in your way of leading us to the Lord. As women, we will provide you with power behind the scenes. Thank you for pointing our eyes in the right direction.

Quick Update...

2011-02-22T17:27:00.002-06:00

Mom is feeling pretty good right now. The tiredness is starting to set in along with a few other effects from Chemo Round 1 but, for the most part she is doing really well.
She has her port surgery tomorrow morning and Chemo Round 2 on Thursday.
Thank you for your continued prayers.

No New Information Yet...

2011-02-14T14:56:00.002-06:00

Just to keep you all informed...Mom has a Dr. apt. tomorrow mid morning. We hope to find out quite a bit of information at that apt. Many of you have asked how she is doing, and quite frankly, that is a question with many answers. I will try to sum it all up with this...
Spiritually-Mom is rock solid. We have no doubt who reigns over every step of this journey.
Emotionally-To be honest, it depends on the moment at hand but when we fall emotionally our spiritual strength carries us through. Mom is doing really, really well.
Physically-She has begun to cough again some, but otherwise she feels pretty good. Cancer stinks!
More information will come tomorrow once we have a chance to wrap our brains around it.
Thank you for your love and concern for our family. Most of all, though, we are leaning on your prayers.

A Kiss to Remember

2011-02-11T20:54:00.002-06:00

To be honest, it has been an emotional day for me but, something happened that I want to write down so I don't ever forget it (not that I even think that would happen.)
Today Mom (Sweets) and Dad (Ha Ha) came over to play with the boys for a little while. Needless to say, the boys were in heaven! Cason was so excited to play wii with Ha Ha he couldn't stand it. Braden grabs a remote and thinks he plays too. So, Ha Ha and Sweets parked themselves on the couch and Cason and Braden followed right behind. Cason sat between them and Braden found his perfect spot right in Sweets' lap. Ha Ha gave Cason a run for his money and Sweets and Braden sat fixated on the game at hand. I stood in the kitchen looking on and caught a glimpse of one of the sweetest moments I think I will ever see...
Braden turned around, propped himself up, and gave his Sweets a kiss. He then sat back down and resumed his interest in the game. Mom teared up on the spot and I was not far behind. My boys adore their Sweets and Ha Ha and they are not afraid to show it. Braden's actions were real and unprompted. I will cherish that kiss forever...

Pick Up the Phone!!!

2011-02-10T16:11:00.003-06:00

Today was such a blessed day. I got to spend the day with Mom. We had such a treasured time. We laughed and cried and then laughed some more. We, as a family, have always believed in saying what needs to be said when it needs to be said. Today was no different. This was the first time I have actually seen her since we found out that her cancer is back. It was so needed to just see her and be with her. I'm sure, in some families, this would be just a sad time where everyone cries and stays down. Not in our family...we have way too many reasons to keep rejoicing even when the tears come. I won't share too much of what we said to each other but we left no stone unturned.
On day one, we were in shock! We grieved the news and mourned deeply.
Day two, we were more hopeful about treatment and maintenance of the cancer.
Here we are in day three and I am somewhere in the middle. Reality is starting to set in and my emotions come in waves. Today is about accepting what is before us (while knowing God could change it at any moment) and dealing with what we know.
I write all this to encourage anyone who is reading this to not wait. Pick up the phone and say what needs to be said. We are not sure of tomorrow. Make sure the people you love know you love them today. I have no question about the love Mom has for me and visa versa. Life is too short. Don't wait for Valentine's Day (there you go Kenneth), make sure your loved ones know where they stand with you now.
I pray that as my children grow up, they never have to question for a single moment my love for them or that they never have to wander if I am proud of them or the job they are doing. I have been fortunate to have a mom that has never left me wandering or questioning. Her legacy will live on in that way and hopefully many, many others. I love you, Mom and always will!

I'm Back...

2011-02-09T15:55:00.003-06:00

Well...I think it is time I return to blogging. We Mom got sick two years ago, blogging was more than just fun for me. It was an outlet and a way to connect with people that I would not otherwise have had. Now that her cancer has returned and our lives are going down a path we had hoped to never see, I think writing and keeping others in touch is part of my role in all of this. Because there is so much to cover, since the last time I wrote, I am going to just start with today and write like I have never left.
Mom had her procedure today to remove the fluid from her lung. It was obviously covered in prayer because it went better than expected. God is so good to grant us those little gifts in the midst of a storm. Dad was with her, which was perfect. She is taking the rest of today to rest and regain her lung function.
Taylor and I have stayed on the phone with each other often over the last few days and I am sure for the many days to come. She is such a blessing to me always but especially in times like these. Our needs are so similar during hard times and she provides strength for me. Many of you are praying for her while she is away and I ask that you continue that. She is with Tyrel, which is the best place for her to be but, being away from here is hard too. She will come here when the time is right.
I have been nothing more than amazed and awe stricken at how God has answered the prayers many of you prayed that my children would allow me to grieve and concentrate on what was at hand. That was more than answered by God. Cason and Braden, I'm sure, can sense something going on and they have been more than wonderful (which is not always easy to say with two boys).
Freeby has been my rock. I am so thankful to have him by my side. Please continue prayers for him too as he stands beside me through all of this. His role is a difficult one that is ever changing due to an emotional wife and changing circumstances.
I am rambling and realize it but I want to end with this...My parents have always been "the perfect couple". I say that not to brag but because I stand in awe at how wonderful they are for each other. I am so proud of the way my dad is and has always cared for my mom. I am proud of the way my mother has always stood beside my dad with more respect and adoration than you can even put into words. God is blessing them through all of this but they have never taken their eyes off of Him and because of that I am full of joy even in a time of utter sadness.
Thank you for your love and support.
(I will get used to writing again and not ramble so much...sorry.)

I do exist...

2010-11-17T15:57:00.002-06:00

I am overwhelmed with trying to start this up again. I have been absent for so long. But, I am contemplating blogging again. There may be more to come...

A Year Ago Today

2010-02-25T11:04:00.002-06:00

Today marks the year anniversary of when we found out that Mom had breast cancer. In some ways I cannot believe it has already been a year and in other ways it has been the longest year of our lives. I don't want to relive much of it at all, but now that we are one the other side of most of it, I can say I am very thankful for so much of it. God did some wonderful things through Mom. She is so much stronger than I could ever have imagined. I am so proud of the way she made it through and continues to live life to the fullest. I am proud of my dad for being the strong support that he has been while being so compassionate at the same time. I am so thankful that Taylor and I had each other to go through it all with. I am thankful for both of our husbands for letting us grieve, rejoice, laugh, cry, talk, or whatever else we needed to do at that moment. They were and are wonderful. Life looks different on this side of things. No moment is taken for granted and I thank God every day for giving us a yes on Mom being healed to this point. I thank God for the lives he has brought into our because of her illness and for the ministry she did while going through the hardest time in her life. Mom blessed so many while being in a challenging place. It teaches me that there is always room to let God use me. This post is just a jumble of thoughts but I think it is good to reflect back and be grateful for what God has done in our lives. I also look forward to where He is taking me...

5 Months and Feeding Later

2010-01-29T11:53:00.002-06:00

We are done with feeding therapy!!!! Braden did such a great job and caught on much faster than expected. We are so thankful to have had the therapist and others that we did but, we are even more thankful to be done. The verse Deut. 31:8 may have become my new favorite verse. It reads, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." This verse has meant so much to me over the past year but specifically with Braden's eating. I never doubted, for one minute, that God had gone before me and prepared the people that would be there to help us. He surrounded me with evidence that He was there. He gave us people to help, but also people to walk the journey with us. I am amazed and humbled at God's attentiveness to the details that took care of us. So I say, bring on the cheese, pizza, fruit, green beans, etc. God planned our journey for us and we are thankful to be able to go on this journey with Him. Thank you for all the prayers for us and for always asking how he was doing. Your thoughtfulness has meant the world to us during this trying time. Blessings friends!

December 2009

2009-12-31T07:17:00.003-06:00

Here are some pictures from Christmas time and then there will be updates on everyone to follow. (Many have been asking about Mom, so that is where you can find that out.)

Freeby and me in the snow. We forget to take pics of just us sometimes, so I love this one.
Freeby, Cason, and CoCo making a snowman.

Cole, Jake, Sydney, Cason, and Braden on Christmas Eve.

I got decorations for my house! I cannot wait until it is finished so I can actually decorate.

The boys in their new playhouse.

The boys wanted to take a ride in the snow. It was cold, but they still had a blast.

Cason, stepping on the gas!

Santa brought the boys cars for Christmas. They love driving them. We are so blessed.

Aunt Tay Tay and Uncle Ty gave them a weed eater that Cason was so excited about. He wanted the goggles and wouldn't take them off. He was so funny. I was crying because I was laughing so hard.

Braden looks so cute in the goggles too! Thanks Taylor and Tyrel! These are gifts that keep on giving. Hilarious!

Ok, Updates...

Freeby family: We are all doing really well. We love living here with Sweets and Ha Ha but, we are excited about our house. We cannot wait to have it finished and get to move in. We are guessing it is going to be ready in late February or early March. Cason has really enjoyed watching the process. We drive by it most days and we talk about what is being done. He will later explain to me what they are doing on the house that day. So cute.

Freeby is still enjoying his job and we thank God every day for where he works and the people there. I am at home with the boys every day and love every minute of it. Cason keeps us all on our toes and keeps us laughing all the time. Braden is learning and growing so fast. He has just started saying bye bye and waving. Melt my heart. His feeding is going great! He is eating so much better now and we just have a few more things to learn and then feeding therapy will come to an end. That has been a long process but we feel God has blessed it all along the way. Overall, the Freeby's are doing great. I do have to admit though, that I am thankful to see 2009 behind us.

Mom and Dad (Sweets and HaHa): Many of you ask me how Mom is doing so here goes...Mom is doing really well. She is working full time now which is very hard on her but, she does extremely well. There are days when she is really tired but, most days she does great. She goes in soon to meet with her next surgeon to figure out the schedule of her next surgery. We will know more on that later. She also meets with a dermatologist this month to remove some skin cancer that they found recently. I have not really said anything about this due to it being minimal compared to what else has gone on but, to be honest, I am kind of in denial about it due to the simple fact that even the smallest things overwhelm me at the moment. The doctor does not seem too worried by it. We will know more after they take it out so, I will let you know what we find on that too. We actually thought Dad had it to on that same day but, thankfully, his came back normal. Dad is doing well. He sure loves God and people. He works so hard everyday. We are so proud of what he does and the life he lives.

Tyrel and Taylor: Tyrel is still deployed. Right now, we are hoping he gets to come home mid-February. This could change, as it often does, but we are praying that he comes home quickly! Taylor is hanging in there. We were so thankful that she got to come home for Christmas and she will come home again for our cousin's wedding in about a week. She is so tired of being alone, which I cannot blame her. That is no fun at all. She continues to work as much as possible, though keep her busy. We talk to her multiple times a day and try to keep her company the best we can.

Thanksgiving Day 2009

2009-12-13T21:43:00.002-06:00

Happy Birthday Braden!

2009-11-23T16:01:00.003-06:00

I know I am a day late, but I wanted to post a Happy Birthday to my precious baby boy! This boy is a true blessing to our family and I thank God for him everyday! Happy Birthday Baby B!

Port Aransas, November 2009

2009-11-15T13:51:00.005-06:00

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our Freeby family vacation last week. I had so many pictures to choose from but, this should give a pretty good representation of how much fun we had. Cody and Taryn got engaged...Cason and Braden loved going to the beach, playing in the sand, riding on boats, watching dolphins, going to the aquarium...Clark, Cody and Freeby went tuna fishing twice...and Peggy and I got to spend 10 days with Cason and Braden which kept us busy but, was so much fun.

October 2009 Pics

2009-10-21T12:25:00.005-05:00

Dad and Cason carved their first pumpkin together. These pics are in backwards order, sorry. Cason named his jackolantern Punkin Punkin Punkin. What fun fun fun!

Ha Ha and Braden!

Cason and Sweets enjoying relighting the pumpkin that Dad and Cason carved together.

Cason loved blowing out the candle on the inside.

Cason getting a peek of the eyes being cut out of the pumpkin.

Dad and Cason carving their first pumpkin together.

Cason jumping off the haystack at the pumpkin patch.
Cason jumping with buddy, John.

All the boys climbing on the haystack together.

John and Cason jumping again.

Braden looking sweet in the hay.

John and Cason counting down to the next jump.

Braden playing in all the pumpkins.

Cason posing at the wooden house.

Cason and friend Kailey at the pumpkin house. Such sweet friends. Kailey has that pose down.

One Bite at a Time

2009-10-09T11:53:00.002-05:00

I am so excited! Yesterday was yet another feeding therapy appointment. I have to be honest and say, that we go so often it becomes hard to see progress between visits. Yesterday, however, was a different story. We went in and Ms. Sarah started with the usual mouth exercises, which Braden hates, and then she moved to actual eating practice. This is our routine and I have gotten very used to Braden's reactions and the distractions that Ms. Sarah uses to try to get him to chew and swallow. During our visit, though, Braden did something that I used to take for granted. We have been working with tiny apple pieces for weeks now. Ms. Sarah gave Braden an apple piece and he chewed and chewed it, like always. Then...instead of spitting it out, he did what we have been praying for all along...he gathered the apple together in his mouth and swallowed it! I know to most this does not sound like a big deal but, to us, it is HUGE!!! He is getting it!! I was such a proud momma. Ms. Sarah could not contain herself either. This is a milestone in his therapy plan. He chewed and swallowed four apple pieces. I seriously almost teared up right there in the room. Ms. Sarah was so proud of Braden that she told everyone she saw on our way out. All the other therapists cheered and wowed at Braden's success. I am not sure I have said this yet, but I am so proud!! What we are doing is working. We still have a long way to go but we are getting there quicker that I had expected. God is so good! He has given us such wonderful people with perfect knowledge to help us through this trial in our life. Braden is such a quick learner.
On a side note, it is awesome to look back and see how God has gone before us and has prepared the way for us. My youth interns Kendra and Jennifer are both speech therapists. Jennifer was Ms. Sarah's professor who helped to make her who she is as a therapist (the best, if I do say so myself) and Kendra who works with Ms. Sarah now. I love how God weaves our lives together and blesses us even when there are hurdles to get over.
Anyway, I am so thankful for our sweet Braden who is such an eager learner and I could not be more proud and thankful for his amazing progress this week. Please keep praying that he continues this progress and that eating becomes second nature to him.

10 Months Old Today

2009-09-22T11:46:00.003-05:00

I cannot believe it has already been 10 months since this sweet baby came into our lives. I have loved every minute of it. Braden is such a good baby. He is so happy and loves to play. He is already walking, which he started at 9 months. He can get anywhere he wants to. His favorite spot right now is up on Cason's bed. This is not my favorite place to find him in the house but, he loves it. He squeals with delight when you walk in and find him up there. He knows he is not supposed to, which I guess is what makes it so much fun. We pray everyday for this precious life God has given to us.

We love you more than words can express, Baby Braden!

Braden at Feeding Therapy Today

2009-09-17T12:26:00.004-05:00

Today was not Braden's favorite day at therapy but, his is still making progress. We have so much to be thankful for. Sara is so sweet with him. We say a prayer of thanksgiving for her everyday.

Braden and Sara working on some mouth exercises.
Trying to distract him so some work could be done.

Braden playing in the waiting room.

So Much to be Thankful For

2009-09-14T10:36:00.002-05:00

I cannot even begin to put into words how much peace I feel right now. I just got home after taking Braden to his second feeding therapy session. We have been working at home but, I was not sure how to judge his progress. I felt like he was getting better but, didn't know what was normal. After meeting with Sara this morning I now know that Braden is making progress faster than she ever expected. She was so pleased with what she saw in him. God is so good!!! This is such a relief and I am oh, so thankful. Braden still has a ways to go but, this progress is so encouraging.
On a little side note...Freeby and I have decided to build a house right by Mom and Dad. Keep that in your prayers and I will update on this as it unfolds. We have to make sure this house sells first before too much is done on the other house.

August and September

2009-09-09T21:40:00.005-05:00

We have had an eventful summer but I have neglected to post any pictures. Here are some highlights from the past few weeks.

Cason and Braden got a new John Deere truck.
They rode all over the yard at the lake house.

Dad teaching Cason how to drive it. The lake was a great place for him to practice.

Braden loves to "drive" too!

What a sweet boy!

We went to Jump Zone with some great friends and Cason loved sliding down the big slide.

Braden loved playing in the Sesame Street jump house. So fun!

Cason enjoying a Popsicle in the backyard when the weather was HOT!

Braden loves being outside. He doesn't care how hot it is.

Feeding Therapy Underway

2009-09-01T15:39:00.002-05:00

On Monday morning I took Braden for his first feeding therapy session. He did great! He is so remarkable in what he can do that it still seems strange to me that he has any problem. Nonetheless, on the way there, I just could not wrap my brain around what all you can even do to teach a nine month old how to relax the muscles inside his mouth. I guess I went in very naive to what we might have even gotten ourselves into.
Once in the room with our sweet therapist, Sara, we got to work right away. This first visit was not really about teaching Braden at all. It was more about teaching me so that I can reinforce at home. She had a whole list of exercises and stretches that we can do to get him going. I watched mostly but, at one point she had me actually do one of the stretches. It was more than eye opening for me. She had me place my index finger inside his mouth and my thumb on the outside and pinch and pull out toward the opening of his mouth. I have never felt inside of a baby's mouth like this but, I guess it feels kind of like mine. Braden's is a ball of muscle. He has no give at all. I was shocked. I mean, seriously, it is like the corner of his mouth is still attached in the back by his molars. There is nothing but tight muscle. I think Sara saw the shock on my face and nodded in agreement with me that this is the main issue that we have to work on. By the way, please say a pray of thanksgiving for Sara and pray a blessing over her as well as she works with us and many, many others who have much harder issues that ours. She truly cares about so many kids. Ok, back to my story. We only worked for a little while, as Braden could not tolerate much more of our hands on teaching the first time.
On my drive home, I have to admit, I cried most of the way. I just felt so overwhelmed. I felt thankful that we have gone and gotten help, I felt overwhelmed with the task at hand, I felt sad that Cason is going to have to adjust to me and Braden being gone a couple times a week, I felt inadequate to do all this at home, I felt sad that something is wrong with my baby, I felt so many things all at once and was unsure how to work through each one of them. My biggest concern was what I was going to do with Cason twice a week for a couple of hours. He goes to YCW on Thursdays which sounded like a perfect time to take Braden except they didn't have anything available on Thursdays. Awesome. Well, God in His infinite wisdom, had gone before me and taken care of everything. I called this morning to schedule our second time each week and the lady who does scheduling said, "Well someone just canceled this morning for Thursdays, would you want that appointment?" I was so excited. That is just one less time I have to be away from Cason and it takes care of his childcare while I need to be focusing on Braden. God is so good.
We started doing our at home exercises today and Braden just cracks me up. He does not like having to sit still, so I just kind of follow him around our living room while he plays, touching all over his face and in his mouth. I am praying that he will get used to all this quickly so that we can move onto him learning to relax those muscles. Who knew? God knew and for that, I am so thankful.

Hug and Howdy

2009-08-30T08:09:00.002-05:00

Last night at church during Hug and Howdy time, I tried my hardest to get hugs from and say hello to everyone I could. When we started to sing again, when H&H was over, I looked around the auditorium and others were doing the same thing. There were so many people out of their seats. So many hugs going around. There wasn't enough time. Not that it was any less time than usual, there are just so many relationships the God has made special there. It made me cherish the fact that you know you are at a great church with some wonderful people when there just isn't enough hug and howdy time to fit it all in. We are so blessed to be surrounded by so many people who love each other but, more than that, they love and worship our heavenly Father. I love our church and thank God everyday for blessing us with such a special place to worship and fellowship.

Braden's Feeding Evaluation

2009-08-27T13:40:00.002-05:00

This morning was the day that I took Braden to be evaluated on his eating ability. For several months now I have thought something was wrong but could not put my finger on it. We kept trying and trying but, were unsuccessful at helping him learn to eat. He is 9 months old now and has never had a meal other than nursing. Braden is also waking 2-3 times a night, no matter what I do, to eat. He eats like he is starving and then goes right back to sleep. I have let him cry several times but it just always seems to me like he is so hungry and needs me to feed him.
Well...this morning, long story short, the two sweet ladies that worked and worked with him came to the same conclusion I have come to. His muscles in his mouth are too tight to get any food to go down. His tongue stays rigid along with his cheek muscles. He is eager to try the food and to put it in his mouth but, beyond that he is unable to actually eat it. God has been so faithful to keep this heavily on my heart. I battled back and forth on whether or not we should have him evaluated but, after this morning I am convinced that God placed it on my heart for a reason. Braden is so capable of so many things. He is ahead in almost ever motor skill but, in this case, he needs someone to teach him how to relax those muscles. This is something beyond what I know to teach him. I just know that God has also provided us with the people who are caring and fully capable of filling in the gaps that we need. We are going to start with one to two therapy sessions a week and hopefully get some relief soon. Overall, I think they plan to see us for about six months, which sounds like so long. We are fortunate though, because some kiddos have 2 year plans, so we count this a blessing too.
I have to say that I am so happy it is not a huge deal but, that we did get him checked out. I am also happy to be in such wonderful hands and to have friends near by. Kendra Vaughn works up there and joined us for a little while which was such a blessing. Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement and for the many prayers sent up for us. I have not shared this with many people yet, not because I didn't want to, but because it took me a long time to realize something was wrong and then to describe it to people was difficult too. Keep praying that Braden will learn and adapt quickly and that I can be as encouraging to him as he needs.
I am a little giddy too, because I am seeing sleep in my future which, after nine months, makes me just smile. I will keep you all posted on our progress. Keep the prayers coming.

Freeby Family Update

2009-08-23T15:22:00.002-05:00

In my last post I wrote about potty training Cason. I chose to go with Lora Jensen's 3 Day Potty Training. The intense training lasted for 3 long days and I have to say it was so worth it. We have had a couple of accidents here and there but, overall Cason is potty trained night and day. He is so smart and knew exactly what we were doing. He caught on really well and I am so thankful that God gave me all that I needed to get this done. There were many times during those three days that I needed patience, understanding, energy, encouragement, a heart felt smile, and so much more. God granted me all that I needed and more. Freeby was such a help too. When he wasn't backing me up, he was taking over with Braden, the house cleaning, going to the store, and everything in between. There is no way Cason and I could have been successful without him. Cason is so proud of himself and we are proud of him too.
Braden is also growing and changing so much. He will be walking in no time. We are having a few struggles with his feeding, though. At 5 months we started to introduce oatmeal and baby food. We tried again and again and again without any progress. He is now 9 months old and we have not made much more progress. He likes most everything. We try all kinds of baby food as well as our table food but, he is just unable to get any food to stay in his mouth and go down. We have an appointment to have an IFE (infant feeding evaluation) on Sept. 10th and would greatly appreciate prayers for this. He is also not sleeping through the night at all. I am hoping that when he is able to get a good amount on his stomach that he will be able to go longer without being hungry. I am making it sound like he is a difficult baby and to be honest that is not the case at all. Braden is so easy in every other area. He is so mobile and curious about everything. He is so good at entertaining himself and playing with anything and everything. He loves to laugh and smile. He is so happy and we just don't know what we would do without him.
Freeby and I just keep on going. Although we are so tired, we are also so blessed to have such precious boys as our best friends. We are going to miss these stages, that the boys are in right now, so much when they are gone. For now, we just try to soak it all in and cherish every moment that we have with them and each other. God is so good to us.

Victories and Failures

2009-08-15T21:13:00.003-05:00

Today we are celebrating both. We have decided that Cason is ready for potty training. Today was day one of three of intense teaching and learning. I read up on it and decided to go with a hard core three day program. (More on that later, depending on how successful it is.) Cason has done so well today. I am so proud of him and will write so much more later. Today has worn me out but, what a blessing it is to celebrate his efforts. Last night I prayed for patience, discernment, fast thinking, understanding, ease of teaching, and so much more. God has been so faithful to grant me all of that today. I have found so much delight in watching Cason learn and grow today. My little boy is growing up before my eyes and I could not be prouder. I am off to bed as well as looking forward to another fun filled potty training day tomorrow.

25th Anniversary Celebration

2009-08-06T10:17:00.002-05:00

Last night we celebrated my parents being at RHCC for 25 years. What a great night it was. It is so out of character for my dad to be in the spotlight. In fact, it is almost uncomfortable for him. But, it was great to hear what so many had to say about both of my parents. I have always known that Dad and Mom have had an amazing impact on the people at our church. To hear them encourage them and dote on Dad a little was wonderful. His spiritual gifts are many but, his gift of mercy shines bright. So many people talked about his mercy last night and I have to second everything they said. I have been so blessed in my life to have the two parents that I was given. I love to see and hear that others feel the same way about them.
As a child I saw more behind the scenes stuff than most, and I can honestly say that Dad has always handled things with the love of Christ and had others interest at heart. He loves so deeply and those who have been touched by him love him deeply too. Our church family is so wonderful. What a great and blessed 25 years it has been! I thank God for each and every blessing he has given to us and I pray for many more blessings on the RHCC people.

I'm In Love With Three Men

2009-08-03T09:11:00.005-05:00

Okay, maybe not three men, but one man and two boys. I think it is about time I blog about something that is about our family and what we are up to.
First, Freeby. He is doing really well. He loves his job and does it so well. I am so proud of him at every turn. His job is so demanding but he always seems to have something left over for us here at home. He is an incredible husband and dad. He spoils me rotten and our boys simply adore him. Every day when the boys hear him pull in the driveway they go running and cannot wait for him to open the door. He continues to bless us with his growth in the Lord and the leadership that he shows to our family.
Next, Cason. Where do I start? This kid is hilarious. He keeps us constantly entertained. He is coming up on 2 1/2 years and he does more and more every day. He loves to sing, count, say his ABC's, basically show off in any way that he can. He adores trains (especially Thomas the tank engine) and "Cars". He loves to try every sport and he is pretty good at most everything he tries. Cason is especially good at kicking. He loves soccer and football. Just the other day, though, he was begging us for a tennis racket, so we broke down and bought him one. He has used it every day since and has gotten pretty good. For that matter, Freeby and I have improved on our skills too. Cason has also started to encourage his dad by saying things like, "Good job, Dad" or "Good boy, Daddy". Things with Cason have gone so fast, like everyone said. But, we are enjoying every moment and are amazed at how much God has blessed us with this one.
Last, but not least, Braden. Braden is so unique and so different from Cason yet, he loves his big brother's attention. They are just starting to really interact and play a little bit with each other. Braden has been pretty remarkable in his physical ability. It is obvious that he wants to be where Cason is at all times because he started really crawling at 6 months and has not slowed down since. He loves to pull up on anything and everything. It is hard to keep Braden in one place because he loves to see and be a part of everything. He has also mastered the art of smiling. This kid can light up a room with his smile. He enjoys playing and interacting and it shows. When he gets going with his belly laugh it is not long before everyone in the room is laughing too, because it is so contagious. I love to hear him laugh and see him smile. Braden is also very emotional. He gets so sad if his toy is taken away of if he can't find who he is looking for in the house. He has such a tender heart. I think this trait is going to serve him well later in life. I know that God has equipped him to feel things deeply for himself and for others. I look forward to what God has in store for him.
As you can tell, I am totally smitten with all the men in my life. I am truly blessed and adore the ones God has placed in my life. I love to look back and see what God was planning. I am also enjoying living in the moment God has given me right now. It gives me confidence to look ahead and have no idea what the future holds but know who holds that future.

Happy Birthday Taylor!!!

2009-08-01T20:44:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday to my precious sister and best friend! Life is sweeter with you in it. I still remember the first time I got to hold you. I knew right away that you were something special. Hope you have a great day!

Mom and The Work Thing

2009-07-31T15:46:00.002-05:00

I had written that Mom was back at work, and she was. However, she did well but really wore herself out. She, wisely, chose to stay home and rest on Thursday and again today. She is still doing very well. She just wants to make sure that if she does something she is able to do it very well. In order to do her job to the best of her ability she is going to have to recover a little more. Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers. We continue to be so blessed by your words.

Work In Progress

2009-07-31T07:31:00.002-05:00

This blog is just like me; a work in progress.

Mom: Back at Work

2009-07-29T15:49:00.002-05:00

Mom went back to work today for the first time since her surgery. She still has very little stamina, so she only stayed until lunch time, but she did it! She continues to get stronger every day; both physically and emotionally. Going to work was something that she really wanted to do. She came home and is resting but feels good. Thought you all would want to know.

An Emotional Weekend

2009-07-26T10:41:00.002-05:00

My poor dad has lived with three women for quite a long time and is very used to our emotional activity. He was so excited when he got sons in law to roll his eyes with and to laugh with him when the women in their lives were a little hyper-sensitive. This weekend, for some reason, has been one of those weekends. We are all doing very well. Mom is continuing to recover and she gets stronger every day. I am constantly amazed at all she is able to do. That being said, it has always happened when one of the girls in our family cries, we all seem to chime in. It is like a chain reaction. Taylor is away from her husband and that just stinks no matter how you look at it. She is so strong and does so well but, it is so hard. Needless to say, Taylor can cry at the drop of a hat to just about anything. Mom has been emotional too for obvious reasons. Her journey is so long and daunting, you just have to expect times of emotional exhaustion. That is kind of where Mom is right now. She can't remember feeling good and there is not really an end in sight. The middle area always seems to be the hardest. Anyway, I am emotional too, for no reason in particular. My aunt and cousin came in this weekend to lift our spirits, and lift them they did. I miss spending time with them. When I say, we have an awesome family I am not exaggerating. They really are wonderful and oh, so fun to be with. There is laughter at every turn. But, I miss them. I hate when they have to leave. They are precious to us. My boys have also been rather needy lately with Braden teething and Cason just being two. We have not slept much which is not the best. I know this will pass. I cherish every moment, even when no sleep is involved. I am simply trying to explain the recipe for emotions around here.
It never fails when the Washburn women are emotional, it is followed up by a lot of laughter. We look back at things we either cried about or wanted to cry about and we laugh. Oh, do we laugh! Dad has a way of waiting for just the right time and then he finds a way to make us laugh about our irrationality and we just...laugh. Freeby and Tyrel are picking up on this and they are getting really good at it. I expect the next few days to be spent laughing and renewing our spirits for this long and blessed journey. Thanks for hanging in there with us crazy women. We are so blessed and have so much to laugh at.

Yet, Another Update on Mom

2009-07-21T16:18:00.002-05:00

Mom continues to do well. This morning she got to come over for a little while and watch the boys play. Those times have always been fun, but now they are cherished. Cason wants to show Sweets everything in our house. He kicks the ball in the soccer net, shoots the basket, starts all the trains, jumps on the beds, etc. Braden crawls around and laughs at his big brother and puts anything and everything he can find in his mouth. What a blessing!
Mom had a Dr. apt yesterday that gave her a lot of info. on what is to come. It is a bit overwhelming to take it all in, but there is a certain peace that comes with understanding. If we knew everything from the beginning it would have been easy to just give up. But, as God always plans it, He gives us things as we can handle them. This is no different. Mom is handling all of this surgery information like a champ. It is so over our heads at times but the doctors are so good to give us all the information we need. I say all of this because I am amazed over and over how patient and caring God is. He truly does take care of us at each turn. I have never really doubted that. I am at a place in life where I am holding on tight to it. We are all doing so well and feeling so much peace. I cannot believe that Mom has been so amazing through all of it. I have always had big shoes to fill and knew that her example was amazing. She has now taken it to a whole new level.
Thank you all for your continued love, support, and prayers. They are daily reminders of God's love for us. I read the verse, Ecclesiastes 4:12 today and was encouraged. That verse talks about the power of relationships and how a strand of three is not easily broken. So often, I feel like our family, you, and God are a strand of three and can take on anything that comes our way. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

A few more words about it...

2009-07-14T13:06:00.002-05:00

I have written about this on facebook and Mom has written about is on her blog, but I just can't help but write it again. On Monday evening Mom's Dr. called and told us that the two lymph nodes that looked fishy during the surgery came back negative, which is the best news ever! If they had been cancer, that would not have been good. But, I am doing a Bible study right now that is reminding me to live in what is and not what if, so I know I should not even focus on what might have been. I have to be honest, though, and tell you that my thoughts were wandering and I was having a very hard time not thinking about the What Ifs. Because we have a merciful God, I do not have to face that What If right now. For this, I am so thankful to God. He has given us a yes right now and I am going to shout from the rooftops that, "God did it!" (those are Cason's words.) Mom has been so faithful to always give the glory to God no matter what answer we get. Mom and Dad both live their lives with this mentality which has led Taylor and I to try to live the same way. I will give him praise no matter what His answer might be. But this time, I am oh, so thankful that His answer is yes!!!

The treatment continues as scheduled no matter the news we got on Monday. Her next step is going to be radiation for 6 1/2 weeks. Then another mastectomy surgery that will include the first step of reconstruction, then another surgery for the actual reconstruction. I will post any changes or updates but, for now this is the plan. Thank you again and again for the prayers. There is nothing in this world that means more to us.

7-13-09

2009-07-13T10:13:00.002-05:00

Mom continues to do really well. Last night she had a pretty big jump in pain, but with a little more pain medication, she got it under control. She is doing her exercises as often as possible. She is doing very well with those. Taylor is in town and has been a huge help to Mom. Her nursing skills are coming in very handy these days! Dad continues to do anything and everything he can for Mom. We try to get the boys over there whenever she feels up to it. They sure do seem to be great medicine for her. I am sure she needs a nap when we are gone, but they keep her smiling.

Today

2009-07-11T12:56:00.002-05:00

Mom is headed home. Dad says she is doing really well. Thank you for all the prayers.

Surgery Went Well

2009-07-10T19:48:00.002-05:00

Mom's surgery went well today. She had some pain right after surgery but they quickly got that under control. When I left, she was napping every now and then and sharing all her blessings with all the nursing staff. She never ceases to amaze us. All of your thoughts, prayers, and visits helped make today even more blessed.
When I got home, I called Dad to check on them. He got choked up and said that a whole bunch of the nurses from the hospital had come into Mom's room with a cake wishing them a Happy Anniversary. That was such a kind thing for them to do. They just happen to hear them tell each other Happy Anniversary as she was being taken into surgery. That nurse went and asked permission to get them a cake, and so they did. What kind and thoughtful people those nurses are. When Dad told me that, I burst into tears. What a way to spend your 33rd wedding anniversary. The funny thing is...as long as my parents are together, neither one of them really cared. They find a way to make everything they do a memory. They are such a great example of what a wonderful marriage should be.
I am back at home now, but will update tomorrow when I find out more about how her night went and when they think she will be able to go home. As always, thank you, more than words can express, for your love, support, and prayers. God has blessed us with each one of you.

Surgery Tomorrow

2009-07-09T09:38:00.001-05:00

Mom's surgery is tomorrow morning. Please pray all things good for her. Please include Taylor's travels in your prayers too. She has a long and lonely drive ahead of her. We expect her some time late evening Saturday. Updates to come...

Coming Up

2009-07-07T19:14:00.002-05:00

Many have asked and I now have the answer. Yes, Taylor is going to get to come to Texas for Mom's surgery. Taylor will leave on Friday morning and arrive late on Saturday. Mom will be getting out of the hospital sometime either Saturday or Sunday which will make that perfect timing. Taylor will be driving here and then flying back and forth a few times to help take care of Mom while keeping up with her own work back home. After a few trips here and there, she will drive back. Please keep Taylor, her travels, and her sanity in your prayers. She has so much on her plate but would not rather be anywhere else than taking care of Mom. She is such a blessing to have here when we have her. I will update more as surgery gets closer.

Work is a Blessing

2009-07-01T10:49:00.002-05:00

Just a quick update...Mom went to work today even though she probably should not have. She feels pretty good but even getting ready for work can just simply wear her out. She is doing the best she can and will go home after a couple of hours of working. She continues to do a little better each and every day but the exhaustion is going to stay with her for a while. Her co-workers are amazing and have been so wonderful to let her do as she needs. That is just more proof that God is taking care of her at every turn. Being able to go to work is such a blessing. Pray that she gets the rest she needs when she is home.

Surgery Has Been Scheduled

2009-06-30T09:56:00.002-05:00

I am going to leave the details that Mom wants to share up to her. It is not that she doesn't want people to know what is going on, I am just trying to be respectful of her privacy. She and Dad decided that surgery was the best thing to do next. With as aggressive as her cancer is, we don't want to take any chance of letting it have time to grow back. They are just going to remove what is left. The surgery has been scheduled for Friday, July 10th. There will be other surgeries to follow. Radiation, as I understand it, will be shortly after this first surgery. Please be in prayer about the 10th and all that goes along with it.

The Doctor Called

2009-06-29T19:51:00.003-05:00

Mom and Dad heard from the Dr. earlier this evening. The cancer is mostly gone, which is wonderful news. There is still a small spot that is left. This leaves Mom and Dad with some decision making to do. They have asked that we pray for peace and wisdom for them while they are making this decision. They will tell the Dr. tomorrow morning what they have decided and then they will quickly move into the treatment "of choice". I will post again tomorrow with more details and with the direction of treatment to follow. Thanks you, in advance, for all the prayers about this decision. God is so good to hear our prayers and the prayers of those who love us.

Keep Checking

2009-06-29T17:18:00.001-05:00

We did not hear any news today. We are hopeful to hear something early tomorrow. Keep checking back tomorrow. I will post as soon as I know anything.

MRI Over

2009-06-29T13:55:00.001-05:00

Mom's MRI is over now and we expect results by tomorrow. We may even have the results by the end of today. I will post whenever we know anything. Thank you again and again for all the prayers.

Report On Mom

2009-06-29T08:21:00.002-05:00

I have not posted on Mom's illness in a while, but I now realize that when I don't post there are people who wander if something is wrong. Mom is doing very well right now except she is just so exhausted and cannot do many tasks without being so tired. Her spirits, of course, are wonderful. She has the follow-up MRI today at noon which will give the Drs. the information they need to make the decision of which treatment course to follow next. I will post about that as soon as I know something.
Please pray that the MRI give the Drs. all the information they need to make a wise decision and pray that Mom and all of us have a peace about the decision being made. Mom is going to try to post soon, so keep looking for that. Thank all of you so much for your continuing love and support and, most of all, prayers during this marathon that we are in. I know we say the same things over and over but we want everyone to know how Mom is doing.

Back From Port A

2009-06-24T19:16:00.004-05:00

Family picture after dinner
Cason fishing in the ocean with Dad.

Cason with his prize rock.

Mom with the boys on the porch at the condo.

Mom and Cason at the beach.

Braden enjoying the sunshine.

Braden with Dad.

Swimming Lessons '09

2009-06-12T15:58:00.008-05:00

As you all know my son has no fear, especially when it comes to water. Ms. Jody and Ms. Breanna did a great job this year of helping him learn to swim. Today was his graduation day and I just eat this stuff up. Here are some pictures that capture a bit of what these ladies have been seeing that past two weeks. Thank you both for being so precious with my precious one!

Cason and Ms. Jody

Cason and Ms. Breanna

Cason going down the slide at the end.

Cason finally sitting on his fishy mat. They had to ask him a thousand times during his 30 min. lesson.

Ms. Breanna is so good with the kids.

Cason having such fun with Ms. Breanna

Cason and Addie were fast friends.

Cason swimming with Ms. Jody

Cason and Addie eating their reward candy.

Braden: 6 1/2 Months

2009-06-08T16:11:00.003-05:00

Braden is an absolute joy to us around here. He is such a happy baby who smiles and explores all the time. He has such a tender heart already. He also knows what he wants when he wants it and he usually can get to what he wants. He has been scooting a whole lot lately, but in the last week he started to crawl. I have to admit, I was not ready for this just yet. I really thought it was going to be a bit longer before he started to more this quick. However, it is so fun to watch him work at getting somewhere and then being so happy that he made it. He is one determined little man. He has also been sitting up all the time and today his first tooth broke through. I had no idea that this was coming either. He has really not fussed or anything which is such a blessing. We sure do love this little man. God is so good to give us each other. We could not be more blessed.

Round #7 Today

2009-06-04T16:44:00.003-05:00

Mom went and had her blood work done this morning and all numbers were good. Her red blood cell count was still lower than her normal but the level was in the normal range. I think she kind of predicts to get that booster shot again, maybe next week, but we will see. It sure did make a difference last time.
I have only talked a short time with Mom today but, what I gather, is that she was full of joy today. She sat with her "chemo friend" today for the last time since she is one round ahead of Mom. Her name is Jamie and Mom has really found a good friend in her. I think meeting people who are going on a similar walk is one of the ways God blesses us during these hard times in life. Mom sure has enjoyed her time with Jamie. I even think that Jamie and her son are going to join us at church on Sat. Please pray that Mom and Jamie both feel up to coming to church.
Mom was also joined today by two other special people. One of them is a long-time friend of Mom's, Sarah. Sarah means so much to Mom and her presence today brought peace and excitement at the same time. The other special person is my aunt Juanda. Juanda is married to one of my dad's brothers. We adore every member of the family and each one of them has brought something different to the table during Mom's treatment. Juanda has offered to come help Mom through the first few tough days of this round of treatment. This provides Mom with some help when Dad needs to be away and it also provides Dad with a little bit of a breather. Don't get me wrong, Dad has not complained one moment, but we all know how much he does and Juanda is so gracious to step in. She has been running errands and driving Mom to and from chemo along with countless other things. Thank you so much Juanda!
On the way home from chemo, Mom was overjoyed. She was even brought to tears by the shear joy that today brought. Not many people could take a day of chemo and turn it into feeling overwhelmed with joy, but Mom can. She and Dad have prayed that everyone they come in contact with during all of this be touched by the hand of God. I think today is a testament to that prayer and also an answer to many of mine. Thank you all for going on this journey with us and for your constant encouragement and eagerness to help in every way you can. We are blessed by you all.
More details to come, as usual.

Fun at the Lake

2009-06-01T13:22:00.002-05:00

Braden on the dock.

Cason and Mom on the boat.

Cason could not get enough of the water. He is a fish, just like his mother.

Dad and Cason jumping off of rock island, 20 feet up. Cason made Dad do this countless times. They had a blast.

Both boys in their matching suits. Neither one would ever look at the camera. Of course!

Embarrassed to Admit This

2009-05-26T08:50:00.003-05:00

I am embarrassed to admit this but, as a little girl, when I went to a wedding I was a bit confused. I have always loved weddings and have always known that a marriage relationship was something exciting and something I knew I wanted. However, a line that was frequently said by the preacher was something I viewed the wrong way. When the preacher would say, "Let not man set asunder" I heard it incorrectly. I would hear that as the preacher talking to many of the men and women watching the wedding. Like he was telling everyone in the audience to keep their hands off of this married couple because they are now off limits. I thought this was important for everyone to hear. I know this is silly but, over time I realized what was really being said. He was talking to the couple and commanding that they not LET anyone harm their marriage. In other words, DO NOT LET anyone or anything come between you. This comment is so empowering to me. I have always felt that love is not a feeling at all. It is a decision that we must make each and every day of our marriage. Yes, I choose to love you and to not let anything or anyone come between us today even when life is hard or does not go the way we ever expected.
I write this for several reasons. The first reason is because I am very passionate about working daily on a marriage, and I think we should remind ourselves of the importance of this. The second reason for this post is because I have watched close friends go through divorce and it is not easy at all. In fact, it is devastating and I think those of us who are married owe it to God and ourselves to work on our marriage every day. A third reason for writing this today is because, I along with a lot of you, watched Jon and Kate plus 8 last night and am heart broken for those two people. I stopped and prayed for them and everyone I know, to be honest, to protect our marriages.
I write this to, hopefully, inspire at least one person to take a moment and choose their marriage. We get too comfortable and too tired and too distracted. We need to LET NOT man set asunder. Choose to love your spouse today and maybe even tell them that you choose them today and every day.

Today's Update

2009-05-21T19:54:00.002-05:00

Mom is doing well after today's chemo. She is going to continue to get more and more tired with each round. But, overall, she is doing well and is still in great spirits. She is going to stay home tomorrow and rest up. For those of you who have asked about what she wants to eat right now, all I have to say is that it is really touch and go. Some days she likes one thing and the next another. Some days (probably most days) she doesn't really feel like anything, but forces herself to eat because she knows she needs to. Her pain, so far, is managable with medication which is such a blessing. Thank all of you for your prayers.

Round 6 Today

2009-05-21T06:38:00.001-05:00

Mom's chemo round 6 is today. Please pray for minimal side effects for her. Taylor and Tyrel are also coming in town on Saturday. Please pray that Mom feels well enough to spend a good amount of time with them.

More Zoo Pictures

2009-05-19T10:18:00.004-05:00

Riding on the train with uncle Cody.

Cason loves trains, so he takes it very seriously.

Cason loves his uncle.

This is Braden's new face he loves to make.

Daddy is helping Cason reach the birds. This is also one of Cason's favorite things to do at the zoo.

Feeding the ducks with Dad.

Uncle Cody, Cason, and Dad in front of the monkeys.

In Over Our Heads

2009-05-12T15:18:00.004-05:00

I am not really sure what we were thinking when we decided it was a good idea to take two two year olds and two babies to the zoo but we did. Jennifer and I thought we had a better grip on motherhood than we actually did. Both of us should have known by the mornings we had had just to stay home, lock all the doors, and wait for reinforcements. But, like I said earlier, we left the house and took all the boys to the zoo. The pictures are backwards. We ended with a train ride to remember that I will get to later. It all started off pretty routine. We went and saw the monkeys. Jennifer and I, I have to say, we being great moms by talking with the older boys about monkey sounds and discussing the actions they were doing. I was thinking..."this is going great..." Around the next turn we ran into a school group that was...well, full of energy. We were quickly surrounded and could not move the double strollers in any direction. This is where it all went down hill. We quickly realized that the Mommy time that we were looking forward to was not going to happen along with our big boys being content to stay in their strollers. A few minutes later after we let the boys walk for a minute (I know...this was our big mistake.) they took off and made it all the way from the orangutans through the inside of where the gorillas are. As Jennifer and I were running with the double strollers, people were kindly opening and holding the doors for us so we could try to keep up with our sons that were dodging in and out of everyone at the zoo. Jennifer let go of her stroller and took off, finally catching up with the two break aways. This is when we both wrestled with the boys to strap them back into the strollers. Things went well for a short time after this...but I am not done. We did some walking and said some, "obey Mommy"'s. At this time Cason suggested that we go see his favorite thing at the zoo which is the bird house where you can buy a stick of birdseed and feed the birds. I thought I would take the big boys in and monitor them while Jennifer sat with the strollers and the babies. Braden feel asleep and Jasper had some lunch while I sweated more than I have in a long time. I ran around and around chasing the two big boys and then lifted them up to feed the birds and then ran around a few more thousand times before I could talk them into leaving. At this point we were all getting a little hungry and Jennifer had snagged a bench so we thought why not have lunch right here. Right here next to these bees did not enter my mind, but the orange I brought did enter the bees minds. I know there was nothing to be scared of but I am a big baby when it comes to bees. Needless to say I was dancing all over the place trying to eat lunch. I am sure everyone there was laughing. I, myself, had a good laugh about it too. We finished up lunch and decided to strap everyone back in again and head to the train station where we would have a lovely ride back to the front. I say lovely because for some reason at this point we were still optimistic. The train ride consisted of...a lost ticket within seconds of buying it, needing help loading two double strollers with babies in hand and 2 year olds running like mad, loud creaking and whistling startling the babies, Bennet laying down to go to sleep, Cason jumping off the wrong side so a nice man jumped over to get him, Bennet running off so the same man chased him down, needing help from another man to unload two double strollers, forcing big boys back into stroller buckles, all while sweating profusely. Jennifer and I breathed a sigh of relief knowing the chaos was over and then I couldn't find my car. Awesome!!!!
We ended the whole adventure with..."We will have to do this again sometime. Next time will have to go better." There is just nothing like motherhood. It is so worth all you have to go through to get the fun in between

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-09T20:58:00.003-05:00

I have always felt that God blessed me more than I could ever understand by giving me my mother. She has always been my go-to, my best friend. I have no idea why God blessed me with her as a mother, but I am so glad He did. Throughout Mom's diagnosis, I have learned to appreciate her even more. So on this Mother's Day I want to wish my mom the best day ever. You are a true friend, inspiration, example, and blessing to me. I love you more than words can express. I learn from you each and every day. I am so blessed to have you and I love sharing you with other people. I love you, Mom.

To all my friends who are mothers...Happy Mother's Day to all of you too. Each and every one of you inspire me to be a better mother. There is something about all of you that I would like to be more like and your friendship and example to me is priceless. Our job as mothers could not be more challenging but it could also not be more rewarding. We have been given a gift from God and I say we celebrate it.

To anyone who wants to be a mother but it just hasn't happened yet. I wish you Happy Mother's Day as well. Sometimes God makes us wait for something we truly desire. The first part of being a mother is having a heart for it.

MRI Results are in!

2009-05-07T10:33:00.000-05:00

Great news! Mom's chemo is working. The biggest tumor is GONE! and the others are greatly deminished. She is being hooked up right now for round 5. Thank you all soooooo much for your prayers. God said, "Yes!" and we are so thankful. Our God is oh so good.

Tornado pics From Taylor

2009-05-05T11:51:00.001-05:00

Tornado in VA

2009-05-04T15:18:00.001-05:00

Taylor's neighborhood was hit by a tornado about an hour ago. She is ok and was able to make it inside with the dogs right before it hit. A tree was blown over onto the power lines in her backyard as well as trees blown over and uprooted throughout the whole neighborhood, so she does not have any power at all. Tyrel knew the storm was coming and called and called until he could get ahold of her. They talked and she told him she was ok. She is going to try to send or post pics later. She is really shaken up but we are so thankful she is ok.

Update on Mom 5-3-09

2009-05-03T08:01:00.002-05:00

Mom went to church last night which is always a blessing. She is doing well lately, just very easily tired. She rests as much as possible and takes it easy. The cumulative effects of the chemo are the worst when it comes to energy level. She is going to become more easily tired as this goes along. Her spirits are still great overall and she is handling this with such grace. It has been such a blessing to watch her work through the difficulties. It has also been extremely hard to watch someone you love go through such a mean and powerful treatment. Thank you, yet again, for all the prayers and encouragement. That is what keeps all of us going and I know it means more to Mom than you all could ever know.

MRI Today!!!

2009-05-01T07:13:00.002-05:00

Mom's MRI is scheduled for today at 10:30. We will know the results sometime by Thursday. We will not know them today though. I will post them as soon as I know them and can get to my computer. We are confident that God knows what is best and His will is what we are surrendering to. With this said, we are also asking for our heart's desire which is healing for Mom. This MRI is so important for the continuation of this treatment. If it shows that the cancer has not gotten smaller that only means the treatment will change. I am praying that all of this chemo Mom has had to go through has been working so her discomfort has not been for no reason. Anyway, I will post as soon as I can. Until then, pray hard.

Numbers 4-30-09

2009-04-30T09:22:00.001-05:00

Mom's numbers were good this morning and she is going into work for a few hours. She is doing ok today, just very tired.

MRI Scheduled

2009-04-29T15:38:00.001-05:00

Her MRI is scheduled for Friday at 10:30.

Still Haven't Heard

2009-04-29T09:32:00.003-05:00

I just talked with both Mom and Dad this morning. This is what I know...Mom stayed home from work today to rest and work on her pain meds a bit to see if she can figure out which ones will work best for her. Different pain meds work better for different people, so we just need to see which one works best with her side effects. I also talked to Dad about the MRI. It was my understanding that she would have it maybe Thursday this week, but I was mistaken. The Dr.s office is going to schedule it for sometime maybe early next week and we are waiting for them to call us and give us the time and day. Dad said that if we don't hear from them by tomorrow then he will call and follow up on that; but they really think the Dr.s office is on top of it and will call when they know something. So, we wait...It is OK though because we should know before her next round if all this is working or not. As soon as I know anything on that I will let you all know.

Great Day to Stay in Bed

2009-04-27T09:50:00.002-05:00

This weekend proved tough but manageable for Mom. She stayed on top of the nausea and pain for the most part but still felt both. I went and stayed with her on Sunday morning so that Dad could go to church and not worry about leaving her. My sweet aunt Andrea also came over to help which turned out great because it allowed me to help Mom with some of the embroidery that we want to get done. It gave me some good time to help her while letting her TRY to sleep and rest. While Mom never left the bed, she was still in great spirits. She is not going into work today either. Her pain and achiness are just more than she would like and so bed seems to be the only answer right now. Dad is so sweet. He gets her set up before he leaves and then comes home on his lunch hour to check on her. For those of you wandering if she needs someone there while he is gone-the answer is no. She has everything she needs right there and she calls and checks in with me when she is awake. Otherwise, she is trying to sleep and does that best when no one is there. We knew from the beginning that the cumulative effects of this were going to make it more difficult with each dose, but we are thankful her body is doing what it needs to bounce back each round so far. As far as the MRI goes...they have not scheduled it yet. I will let all of you know when it is as soon as we know. I hope it will end up being some time this week. We are just waiting to hear from the Dr.'s office. Your prayers on our behalf mean more than you will ever know and we ask that you keep them coming. So much of this battle has to be fought by Mom alone, but whatever others can do to help she is more than willing to let us. If I know of anything that needs to be done, I promise I will pass that information along so that you all can help. Until then, keep praying and encouraging. God has greatly blessed us with each one of you.

Privileged

2009-04-24T20:50:00.003-05:00

Throughout this whole cancer thing I have been a bit disconnected because the boys require so much of my attention and I am not available near as much as I would like to be. I have precious friends and family that have offered to keep the boys so that I can be with Mom, but with Braden needing to be fed regularly, it is so hard for me to be away. Kids are not allowed in the cancer treatment area, which is totally understandable, but that too makes it hard for me to attend things with Mom. Anyway, I say this to tell you all that today my dad came and kept the boys while I got to take Mom to her day after injection. I felt privileged and like I finally had a part in all this. I got to meet the people who are helping care for Mom and whom she has made friends with. It was so nice to see where she goes and what she does. It made it even more real for me which in a way was weird but more than anything it made me feel more at ease even though I don't really know why. Mom said that she didn't want me to ever have memories of her being "sick", but I view all of this as memories of her getting well. I really appreciate all the hard work that goes into making cancer patients feel connected and as comfortable as possible. What those people do each day is amazing. What my mom is doing is also amazing. She is doing well so far this go 'round. She and I had a fun time today while she showed me around and introduced me to each of those people who have become special to her. I am going to try to make it to where I can take her each Friday if at all possible. However, I am going to have to find another way home. (Ha Ha-inside joke with me and Mom.) The prayers you all are praying mean so much to us and I know God is listening.

Chemo Round 4

2009-04-23T11:04:00.002-05:00

Mom went in this morning and had her numbers checked. All was good and now they are doing round 4 of her chemo. She is very tired, but doing well. Thank you for all the prayers for her numbers. God said, "yes" and we are so thankful. Please pray now that she be able to sleep and that the effects be minimal.

Chemo Tomorrow

2009-04-22T15:44:00.000-05:00

Pray hard!!!

Mom's Latest

2009-04-19T15:48:00.002-05:00

Many of you that I have seen are asking about how Mom is doing. She has such a great attitude and her spirits are up but she has not had the same experience this time as the previous two. This round of chemo for some reason has been a bit of a beast. It might be the cumulative effects, I am not totally sure. She started, almost immediately, with nausea and then achiness, and tiredness. The tiredness is the one that has really held on this time. She seems to have gotten the other two symptoms under control in the last few days but she just does not have any energy. Because of this, I ask that you pray that her numbers go up by Thursday. She goes in for labs, which will tell if her body has bounced back enough to have the next round of chemo, and then she will hopefully have the next round of chemo that same day. The reason I am praying for the next round to happen (which seems mean to pray for) is because if she has this next round on Thursday then the following Thursday she will go in for an MRI to see if the tumors are shrinking. This is something we have been praying for since the first day of chemo. We want it to be working. All of these awful effects will have a purpose if the cancer is shrinking. So this week and next please join me in praying for the effects to subside, the blood count numbers to be good, the chemo to be working, and as always, God be glorified every step of this journey.

Inspiration

2009-04-16T15:46:00.002-05:00

I read this in an inspirational email and thought I would pass it along.

"Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.
The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.
We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness. I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore.
Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.
No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.
And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for..
You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems:
If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD. " Quoted from Rick Warren

Better Today

2009-04-14T12:33:00.001-05:00

For those of you keeping up with Mom, she is doing so much better today. Thank you for caring for her and us. God allows you all to make such a difference in our journey.

Keep 'Em Comin'

2009-04-13T12:15:00.003-05:00

For those of you who read this for an update on Mom, here it is: She is having a harder time with this round of chemo than the previous two. She went into work this morning for a few hours, which was as much as she could do. She still has a great attitude and tries to focus on all the blessings that have been given us during this time, but chemo is still a mean thing to go through. Please pray with me that the effects subside and also for her to be able to sleep through them as much as possible. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Also, many of you have asked, "What can I do to help?" We appreciate this more than you know, but there is not much to be done at the moment. I promise, on behalf of our family, that we will ask for help whenever help is needed and when there is something to be done. For now we just need as many prayers offered up as possible. God hears us and you and we feel all the love He has to give. Thank you for your love and prayers.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T18:29:00.001-05:00

Happy Easter everyone!

Today's Labs

2009-04-09T16:14:00.002-05:00

Mom had her labs done this morning before chemo and her numbers were good. That is great news! She then sat through chemo and did well. She took her anti-nausea medicine when she got home and is now sleeping. She will hopefully sleep the next few days. Her hardest days continue to be day 2-4 after chemo, so she takes her meds to help her and then sleeps as much as she can. Thank you again and again for all your prayers and concern.

Small Group Easter Egg Hunt

2009-04-09T10:00:00.002-05:00

Last Sunday John and Courtney filled and hid eggs in their backyard for all the kids in our small group to hunt. I wish I had all the words to tell this story with all the excitement that it had but I just know I cannot do it justice. Watching all the kids go crazy trying to find the eggs and watching them fall out of the baskets and watching kids fall and trip and lose interest and steal other kids' eggs was just so hilarious. I don't think I have laughed that hard in a while. We tried and tried to get a good picture, but as you can tell, we were a bit unsuccessful. This one was the best we could get. Right after this picture was taken Braden rolled backwards and ended up with the little rubber pieces in his mouth. I know I shouldn't have but I just kept laughing. These kids are such a joy in our lives. ( We missed the four who were not there by the way.) Our small group is no longer small. It is full of chaos and excitement, laughter and enjoyment. God has blessed our lives so much by placing these people in it. There is nothing like sharing your life with others who love and encourage you. Thank you God for these people and these sweet, precious, little angels.

Birthday Celebration Pictures

2009-04-05T10:27:00.005-05:00

Here are a few more pictures from our train ride celebrating Cason's second birthday. We had so much fun even though it was so cold. Mom was unable to go, so my Aunt Juanda went in her place and took pictures so that Mom did not miss a moment. This was a priceless gift that Juanda gave to all of us. Cason was in heaven seeing and riding Thomas. Enjoy!

Sweet Picture

2009-04-03T15:25:00.002-05:00

My Aunt Juanda took this picture of Cason and I just had to share it. It was taken while riding on Thomas the Train for Cason's second birthday celebration. Those of you who know him know how much he loves trains. Notice we could not leave home without Thomas in hand. :)

Mom's Labs 4-2-09

2009-04-02T18:03:00.001-05:00

All her labs were good today! Thanks for the prayers...and keep praying.

Prayers all around

2009-03-31T09:56:00.002-05:00

My heart is so heavy and I just need to put this out there. So many people I know are suffering right now. There are people in the hospital and sick, there are people who are dealing with loss, and sickness. There are people dealing with family separation. Marriages are being tested. The list goes on and on. But today we found out about the Collins' family and the loss of Troy, their dad. This family has been through so much recently with the loss of precious baby Cash (Troy's grandson) only weeks ago. I would like to ask you to join me in lifting them up to the Father. Their pain is more than I could ever imagine, but their walk should not be taken alone. Let's walk with them and cover them in prayer.

Bad Hair Day?...Not Even Close.

2009-03-26T08:56:00.003-05:00

Well two days ago it happened. We were really praying it wouldn't but we planned for it and knew it probably would but Mom's hair started to fall out. She and Dad had decided that they would just shave it when it started and so that is what they did. I love my dad for a whole lot of reasons but one of the reasons that stands out always is his ability to take a bummer situation and turn it into one that you actually...enjoy. I am not sure if that is the right word exactly or not but I think it is pretty close. He makes things fun and helps you laugh when you wouldn't otherwise. He has a knack for humor and I strive to be like him in that way and many others. I don't know the details, but Mom said, "He made it fun." She took it remarkably well. She shed some tears as we all would but held her head high and realized that her hair does not make her the person she is. I was so proud the next day when she called me and said she went into work. She did not have to do that. I think I would have wanted to just stay at home by myself, but not her, she worked that wig. Losing her hair is not about to stop my mom. How blessed am I to have the two parents I have? We went to see her that night and the wig looks great! I also got to see her without it and she looks so cute. It was like God shaped her head for just this occasion. Anyway, she took a pretty hard day in stride and for that I am so proud.
Today is also her second round of chemo. Please pray the same prayers as before that the effects be minimal. She handled that well last time too and we truly believe it is because of the prayers offered up on her behalf. We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. Mom is leaning on His strength and making it her own. You all are such a blessing to us. Thank you for all your prayers. Keep praying!

Happy Birthday Cason!

2009-03-23T09:22:00.004-05:00

Happy Birthday to you sweet Cason! You are a true joy to our family!

Fun Pictures

2009-03-19T16:31:00.006-05:00

Cason playing in the dryer. ( I was right there...don't worry)
With Thomas (he is never far away)

Braden's first time to the lake (Cody, Dad, and Braden)

Braden smiling for the camera.

Update on Mom

2009-03-18T16:44:00.002-05:00

Many of you would like an update on how Mom is coping with the chemo. Here it is: She is a real trooper. The chemo has had an effect on her in some ways but overall she has done really well. She snacks as often as she can to keep the nausea at bay. She has been going to work for as long as she can each day and I have to admit she stays a lot longer than I would. Food is tasting very different to her so things she used to like are just not the same. She tries to stay hydrated at all times but drinks taste funny too. She has tried many suggestions from other people, but if you have one you think may not have been suggested please feel free and I will pass it on to her. Keep praying because it is working. She goes in for labs tomorrow, then next Thursday is her second round of chemo. If you have any questions that I have not answered please ask them and I will do my best to answer. You all are great. We love each and every one of you.

Competitive Soccer

2009-03-16T13:38:00.002-05:00

Well...after many nights of not sleeping and trying to combat a double ear infection on a two year old, Freeby and I decided to go on a quick date last night. It was really refreshing. Peggy (Freeby's mom) came to watch the kids for a bit and we left to go to Ghengis Grill. It was pretty good started unexpectedly. After Peggy left and we were counting down the time until bath and bed time, we started to play a game of soccer with Cason. After a few minutes he was disinterested so Freeby and I kept playing. We threw some rules in there and even kept score. After all was said and done, Freeby ended the game before taking it too serious and he beat me 7-5. I am ready and waiting for a rematch anytime. I think I have his number next time and who knows I may even get in a little practice before he gets home. Moral of the story: never stop playing soccer with your spouse and always know when to quit before it gets too competitive (or before your wife beats you).

Blessings

2009-03-15T15:04:00.005-05:00

Last night at church was such a blessing. The sermon was wonderful. Worship was wonderful. Family being there was wonderful. But to be honest, I had a heavy heart yesterday. I think it was in anticipation of my sister leaving along with watching Mom go through chemo. I felt good but just had a heavy heart. I think Taylor was feeling the same way. When we heard Rick read part of Mom's blog during the sermon I think it made those feelings come to the surface. The tears really started to flow. I am not afraid to cry but try to avoid getting started because I am one of those people who once they get started, it is really hard to stop. If you were to look down our row you would have seen Dad and Mom, Taylor and Tyrel, and then me. Freeby offered to take Braden out and walk him so I could sit for a little bit in church. I guess my good friend Allison noticed I was alone and crying, so she came and sat with me. She hugged me and I shared with her that it is really hard to sing right now. It is not that I don't believe the words, it is just that the words mean so much and it is hard to say them out loud. I don't know if this even makes sense, but I am just being me and letting you know how I feel. Anyway, Allison, thank you for being such a sweet friend. Thank all of the rest of you for your sweet words of encouragement. This is a hard time and I know that when I have a hard time singing there are others of you out there who will sing for me until I can get my feet on the ground and sing them too.

Happy Birthday Freeby!

2009-03-13T13:11:00.002-05:00

I want to wish you a very happy day! You are my best friend and a wonderful Dad to our boys.

Family Weekend

2009-03-13T11:34:00.004-05:00

Here are a couple of pictures of the family weekend that we had for Mom. Aren't the shirts cute. Don did a great job on them. There will be more pics to come but this will get us started. Oh, by the way, Mom is feeling some of the effects of the chemo today. Please continue to pray. I know you will but as her daughter I have to ask. Oh, and, we picked out some wigs for her yesterday, and just let me say that even when she loses her hair, my mom is still just as beautiful maybe even more. She just seems to glow right now. You might say it is the chemo (ha ha) but I know it is the love of the Lord shining through. Enjoy the pictures!

Kids and Messes

2009-03-11T14:15:00.002-05:00

How is it that it takes so much longer to clean up what a kid can mess up in just a few seconds? I find myself undoing what Cason does all day long. Life would be much easier if it only took a second to clean up a mess that took a long time to make. Just a thought.

Surgery Went Well

2009-03-11T11:09:00.003-05:00

The inserting of the chemo port went well this morning. She now has to go to chemo today from about 1:30-4:00ish. I will let you know information as I find it out. Thank you for your prayers this morning and always.

Hard to Hear

2009-03-10T07:31:00.003-05:00

I did not post yesterday because, to be honest, I needed some time to digest the information given to us yesterday about Mom's treatment. As most of you know, I was not prepared for any of this buy yesterday's news, for some reason, just rocked my world (not my faith, just my day I guess). Anyway, we were told that Mom now has an aggressive stage 3 cancer that we must deal with quickly. That means that chemo will start on Wed. and last for 16 weeks. That is going to be extremely hard on her body. My prayer for that is that it will go by quickly and the Drs. can help keep her as comfortable as possible. The chemo will be followed by surgery and then that will be followed by 6 1/2 weeks of radiation. Please join me in praying that the chemo be successful and quick to attack this disease.
Like Mom says, all the time, we lean fully on our God who gives us the strength to go through this but He also blesses us with each of you that we will also be leaning on. You all have been a source of strength already and I know this will continue throughout this long road ahead.

Family Fun

2009-03-08T16:26:00.003-05:00

Last week after Mom was diagnosed with cancer, my uncle Don called me and said he was going to arrange for the family to get together for a sort of pep rally for Mom. I had no idea how he was going to pull it together or how many people would even stop what they were doing and come. On Saturday afternoon I showed up at the restaurant where we were all to meet and was amazed at how many of our family members left their own lives at home to encourage ours here. There were 30 people who showed up. Don had made t-shirts for all of us with a pink ribbon and "TEAM Sharon" on the front. Mom was so excited to see everyone. I think it really boosted her and made her feel special. Many of them also stayed and went to church with us that evening. We all wore our shirts proudly. We were a sight I am sure.
I want to say thank you to every single one of you who made this weekend as special as it was. Tom-thank you so much for putting all the out-of-towners up in the hotel. Don-thank you for thinking of the event, lunch, t-shirts, and travel. Tim-thank you for coordinating the other side of the family. Don, Juanda, Kendyl, Kyle, Matt, Jonelle, Cindy, Tom, Julie, Trey, Preston, John, Jan, Papa Dad, Nana, Max, Andrea, Tim, Shelly, Reagan, Bailey, Susan, Norman, Russell, Amanda, and Hunter thank you all for being the family that you are and showing us the love of Christ in your support of our Sweets.

Putting Our Shoes On

2009-03-06T07:22:00.003-06:00

Last night I had the precious privilege to pray with and be prayed for by an incredible group of women. We (Mom, Taylor, and I) were among a group of women who I admire so much and strive to be like one day. Such sweet words were said and taken to God on our behalf. These women begged God for things we want and prayed protection over us throughout this whole process. We cried, laughed, and shared. It was so wonderful.
The thing that left the biggest impression, however, was their willingness to put on their shoes and walk this journey with us. There was no hesitation in allowing Mom and Dad to set the pace and they would all follow along to be encouragement and support. We all know even under the best of circumstances that cancer is a long journey and because God has blessed us so dearly, we do not have to go down that road alone. That is one of the biggest blessings of a church family. This is why Mom and Dad have been here 25 years. These people that we are surrounded by love the Lord with all of their hearts and it shows.
This situation stinks, with Mom having cancer, but it has already been such a blessing. I am ready and willing to grow in whatever way God has planned for me and I know I have every one of those women to help and encourage me. I am completely overwhelmed with love for each of you. I am also in utter awe of the God we serve who never ceases to amaze me with his grace and compassion on us.

Bone Scan

2009-03-05T15:17:00.000-06:00

It's clear too! What a blessing!

CT Results

2009-03-03T16:28:00.002-06:00

God is so good! Mom got the results back from this morning's CT test and all is clear on that. That means no cancer was found in her core area (chest, abdomen, lungs, etc.) This is a huge answer to prayer. She has also been shown God's power through her new Dr. It is so true that God has gone before us and put people in place to help us along the way. (Thank you Suzy J. for those encouraging words.) This Dr. brings a sence of urgency with a lot of confidence which, in turn, grants us God's peace.

Please pray for: the bone scan tomorrow morning. We will have results from that tomorrow evening.

Thank God for a clean test today and taking care of us each step of the way.

Link for Walk for the Cure Team

2009-03-02T19:06:00.002-06:00

Tara has put together a team to do the walk in honor of Mom. Here is the link to our team if you would like to join or just find out more about it. Thanks Tara! you are the BEST!

http://www.the3day.org/site/PageServer?JServSessionIdr006=qqv7vlbwk1.app321a

Schedule This Week

2009-03-02T14:45:00.003-06:00

I now have a schedule that I ask you to pray for this week for Mom. Tomorrow (Tuesday) morning she goes in for a CT scan. This will show chest and abdomen areas. Then Tuesday afternoon she will have a Dr. apt. On Wed. morning she will go in for the full body bone scan. This one is the big one that will put our minds at ease, or answer our questions. Please pray that these tests come back with nothing on them and that the cancer we have already found is all there is. Please also pray that the Dr. apt goes well and Mom has a peace come over her about the person or people who are being put in charge of her medical care. God has already shown us that He knew long before we did what was going to happen and He has taken care of us so well. I know without a doubt that He will continue to do this during each step we take. Thank you again for your love and support.

Friendships are Special

2009-02-28T14:52:00.002-06:00

I don't have the pictures yet, but I just wanted to say how thankful I am to God for my precious friends. A few of them took time out of their day today to celebrate my birthday. I had so much fun spending time with you girls. Thank you for making me feel special. To those of you who were not there, I want you to know that I am so thankful for you too. I cannot tell you how many of you have sent me messages and encouragement over the past week and you mean the world to me because of it. I could not ask for better friends. So-thank you for being the women of God that you are and thank you for loving me and my family the way you do.
I thank God every time I remember you.

Results Are In

2009-02-27T15:50:00.002-06:00

We just found out that they did find cancer in her left breast. My understanding is that this does not mean they have found all of it yet. I pray that they have, but to make sure, they are going to do a full body CT scan and a bone scan on Monday or Tuesday of next week. It should not take too long to get the results back from that. From there we will know more about our game plan and how we are going to respond.

Mom's MRI Over

2009-02-27T13:09:00.002-06:00

Mom's first MRI is now over. It lastest 45 minutes and they took a whole lot of pictures. She had a wonderful, caring lady take the pictures which was such a blessing. They told Mom and Dad that her Dr. would have the results today but we are not sure when we will know anything. I will post on here as soon as we know anything. Please keep praying.

MRI Scheduled

2009-02-25T15:24:00.001-06:00

Mom's MRI is scheduled for Friday at 9:30am. This test will tell us what kind of caner, where it started in her body, and what stage cancer she has.

Update on My Mom's Tests

2009-02-25T10:05:00.002-06:00

Mom was called this morning at 8:00 by the Dr. office and asked to come in at 9:00. She went in and we found out she has an advanced stage of cancer. We are not sure how advanced or even what kind yet because we don't know where it originated. We won't know more until the MRI is done and we don't know when that will be but I will keep you all posted. Please keep praying and know that we are feeling it. Thanks so much.