Fun Sayings

*We were watching Tinker Bell when there was a sad part in the movie. Kate asked me why she had tears then she wanted to know why she kept getting more tears. It was so cute because this was her first experience with this feeling. Apparently this was the first sad movie we have watched (I fast forwarded Lion King when the Dad died...) Such an innocent and sweet age!


*Liam says what sounds just like Bye Bye and moves his arm like he's waving bye whenever someone leaves or comes in the room. It's so cute!


*Fun Little Conversation with Abby on a cold rainy day:

Abby: I want to go out outside and play
Me: It's raining today
Abby: Then we need umbrella so my hair doesn't get wet
Me: But it's a cold rain
Abby: I'll get a jacket and hat then I won't be cold
Me: But the swings are all wet
Abby: You need to get a towel and dry the swings

I'm being outsmarted by my 2 year old!!!


* We told the girls they could pick out a movie to watch. It was Kate's turn to pick the movie. Among our Disney collection are some old VHS movies about New Testament stories. Abby is too young to like these movies but Kate likes them. Kate picked one out and we could hear Abby start whining and saying, "I don't like Jesus, no Jesus movie." Jason and I started laughing so hard from the other room. (Obviously she doesn't always have this attitude considering Jesus so we just let it go).

Chemo... My version of He*# week

This isn't meant to be a woe is me post. A lot of friends have asked me about what chemo is like and about my side effects. I have no problems talking about any of this. Unfortunately there isn't much I can sugar coat about chemo.

Cycle 1 was by far my worst. I underestimated how much I needed to rest and how sick I would get. I ended up being severely dehydrated and became very weak. I lost A LOT of weight. I hated that because it made me look sickly. I think from now on I will associate super skinniness with unhealthy. I had to go into the hospital to get fluids and that helped a lot. My blood pressure got dangerously low and I almost passed out. I started to loose my hair about 2 weeks after my first cycle. I didn't like the long strands falling out, again just seemed sickly, so I went to the wig place and had them cut my hair super short (like an inch). I LOVE my wig and I didn't mind the short little hairs falling out. 

The next couple of cycles were still rough but they automatically scheduled me to come in for fluids a few times and that helps. I've gained most of the weight back. Most people end up gaining weight during or after chemo but that's okay with me.

Some general side effects:

Apparently the younger you are the sicker you get. Cancer attacks the fast growing cells and your cells are growing faster when you're young. (Makes me sick to think of kids having to get chemo). 

I am nauseous for about 9 days straight. This is by far the worst. I had extreme sickness during my pregnancies but even this tops that. The chemo kills the lining of your stomach and digestive tract, hence being sick. When the cells grow back I get extreme pains and cramping. One cycle was so bad I was throwing up from the pain. I called the Dr. and they prescribed me a miracle pill to help. I should have called during my previous cycles but I always feel like there's nothing that can be done to help, which isn't always necessary true. The chemo kills the lining of your mouth, tongue, and nose too. I occasionally get mouth sores but they're not bad at all. I do sometimes get a bloody nose and sores in my nose but neosporin helps that. My lips get really chapped and my eyes will get dry. All solved by chapstick and eyedrops (usually during the middle of the night). 

I have to take steriods for a 3 day period to counteract side effects from the chemo. This means I don't really sleep for those days. Luckily I only have to take them for 3 days.

Thankfully, I get good weeks during all this too. I am refusing to miss out on too much of our kids so lots of times I have to suck it up and do things, but during my good weeks I take complete advantage of those days. I get so much done and make sure to get out or do a girl's nights. Jason and I have actually been on lots of dates because it's so exciting when I'm feeling good :) I'm tired during my good days but being tired is completely doable! It's definitely different than your run of the mill, being a Mom tired, but I'll take that any day over being sick!

Neulasta Shot:

I get this shot after every cycle. It is used to stimulate the growth of healthy white blood cells in the bone marrow. This is great because it helps prevent infections while my immune system is compromised. It's not so great in that the actual shot hurts and then the bone pains can be kind of intense. The first shot is always the worst they say. I remember I dreamed I was being electrocuted and then woke up still thinking I was being electrocuted before I realized it was just pain in my spine. The following shots haven't been too bad. I mainly get pains in my skull. Kind of feels like someone knocked you over the head. Luckily the pains come and go so they're not constant. As long as I get a break between side effects I can totally handle that (think that's why the sickness is so rough... no break). I still have days where my immune system is weakest and have to be careful. I've been recommended not to be around unvaccinated people and now that flu season is in swing I'm supposed to be extra careful. Apparently a little infection to others could land me in the hospital.  

My last cycle I started to get nail bed pains. It's neuropathy in my nails. They seem to be doing better now so we'll see what time brings. Each chemo treatment is cumulative so I get sicker sooner and side effects can build on each other. 

I also have "chemo brain." Again, that's not really a big deal. I'm sure I'm forgetting some things but this is the general gist of my side effects. It's hard and I will say many prayers that I never have to do chemo again.

I still have a month left so there may be new things or changes but I ONLY HAVE A MONTH LEFT, WooHoo!

I'll update when all this is done (a few months down the line) on all the amazing things Jason, family, friends, people from church have done for our family and me. I honestly know it's because of all of them that I'm able to get through this and still be a Mom to my kids. So many people are genuinely good; I will never doubt that again.

Pumpkin Time

We went to the pumpkin patch at Kate's preschool this year. Close and convenient  Kate was concerned that all the pumpkins would be gone by the time we got there. Considering we bought one big pumpkin and the girls each picked out a little pumpkin I don't think she needed to worry. After pumpkin shopping we went out to lunch and then to Party City for costume accessories. It turns out Liam, the 7 month old, is the easy one to take out to lunch!

Halloween

This was the first year Kate picked out her costume by herself. Awhile ago my parents took her to pick out a treat after getting her 4 year immunizations (the 4 yr old ones are pretty intense) and she picked out a snow white costume. She still wanted to be snow white when Halloween came around so that was easy. I originally planned for Abby to wear an old costume of Kate's but then I saw the cutest costume ever at TJ Max. I was right too when I saw her in it. I'm pretty obsessed with how cute my little candy corn witch was. Liam was a pumpkin, a super adorable pumpkin.

Halloween, unfortunately, was during my sick week. I got myself dressed, sucked it up, and made it to Kate's preschool parade and trick-or-treating with the kids. Keeping it as normal as possible for the kids! Jason's Mom was in town helping and my sister was in town so we all went over to my parents. I rode in a golf cart :) with my Mom while Jennifer and my Dad walked the girls up to the doors and MeeMaw strolled Liam. Abby ran straight into the first house we trick-or-treated at, not surprising considering how friendly she is to complete strangers! We also had to explain to Kate that raisins are indeed a treat :)

The weekend after was our church Fall Festival. Kate had a birthday party earlier in the day that I RSVP yes too without realizing I probably wouldn't be up for it but we made it and she had a blast.  I actually went to the Fall Festival for a couple of hours too! MeeMaw came and helped watch Liam, then when I got too sick she stayed with Jason and the girls and I brought Liam home. It was a lot of fun. They had games, bouncy houses, food, movie, and of course the trunk or treat.

The kids had fun and with a lot of help from Jason's Mom and my parents chemo didn't ruin Halloween after all :)

Stone Mountain

The day after round 2 of chemo we met Laura, Andy, and their kids at Stone Mountain. They were camping there for the weekend but we just went for the day. I didn't realize we were only 30 minutes away. I've always thought it was a lot farther away. It was such a nice day. We met at the campgrounds to eat lunch then rode the train, walked around, rode the skylift, hung out on top of the mountain, played in a sandbox, watched a 4D movie, then went back to the campgrounds where the kids played together. Amazingly, all 7 kids were accounted for at all times and no serious injuries occurred, even with them running around on a mountain. Kate and Drew loved the movie. It was too cute listening to them laugh. Abby tried to like it but by the end I had to block the water from spraying her. I got quite wet. Our kids get along together really well. I guess the whole boy/girl thing doesn't matter. I felt good for most of the day but definitely started to feel sick by the end. (Round 2 seemed to be better but my sickness lasted longer. Fluids definitely help so I may go back more than once next time. We'll see how #3 goes).

Cutie

Yes, she is the cutest thing ever :) Abby makes us laugh ALL the time. She has become very independent lately. I love listening to her play pretend and hearing the dolls/toys talk to each other. My favorite was two dolls saying they were going to miss each other and then pretend cry. She loves playing with her big sister and to cuddle with her Mommy and Daddy.

Liam

We love watching Liam crawl around the house. Especially since he seems so little to us, too little to be crawling from room to room! It also allows him to be pitiful and follow you around crying then bump into you, encouraging you to pick him up, which is where he really wants to be, in your arms.

This video is a couple of weeks old from when he was first crawling.

Time to lower the mattress!

Tae Kwon Do

Our neighbor teaches Tae Kwon Do to adults and kids. He is great at teaching kids and has a lot of patience with them. Kate has been going for a few months and it is so cute! She still doesn't like it when we watch her but after a few minutes she'll get over her shyness and get into the lesson. She has two stripes on her white belt and is so proud of them.

She even got to break her first board :)

6 Months

Liam has done well having formula and was never fazed by using bottles, thankfully. We started giving him baby food a week ago and he LOVES it! So far, he eats everything we try. He's officially sitting by himself. I'm convinced he's going to start crawling soon. Though, he really doesn't even need to since he can get around an entire room by scooting and turning in circles. He is such a good baby and has been on many car trips the past week and done great each time. He still has his fussier period in the evening when he needs to be held and entertained. Liam loves watching the girls play and run around him. He's even more adventurous now and likes to be thrown in the air a little. I love when he blows raspberries and babbles and giggles and smiles...!

His dimple is the cutest thing ever! 

Friendship Quilt

My friends surprised me with the most amazing quilt. I'll eventually do my own post about it but until then here's my friend's...

http://joannajune.typepad.com/work_in_progress/2012/10/friendship-quilt-.html

Worth the Rip Off

I'm so glad we decided to buy this picture because I can't stop looking at it and it makes me laugh every time. Kate was determined to sit as far forward as possible so I'm holding onto the back of her shirt. This was her first time and I think she thought we were about to go under water. Either way, she was ready and prepared! Abby looks a little more like she's not too sure what she's about to get into :) I forgot how high the second fall was and not only were they not scared they wanted to do it again!

"Best Night Ever"

Jason had been telling the girls when the weather was nicer he would take them camping in the backyard. Well, we finally had a nice weekend and he planned the entire thing. He coordinated with Shannon to have her come spend the night to help take care of Liam since this was during my rough week and I was pretty much out of commission. Then he asked our neighbor and their 2 boys to come over. The kids love playing together so that was a highlight in itself. First, they grilled hotdogs on the the fire pit our neighbor brought over. Then they walked to the playground behind our house for awhile. They came back for glow sticks and the treat of the night, smores. When it was pretty late the neighbors went home and Jason and the girls went to sleep in the tent. As they were laying down Kate told Jason, "this was the best night of my lift." :) Yes, Jason is an awesome Dad!

Jason is more of an in the moment type of person so he rarely takes pictures but I took these the next day, while we were eating powerade snowcones. (Jason bought a snowcone maker to try to help me stay hydrated during the rough days since I had to go in for fluids due to dehydration that week. It worked pretty well.)

The tent they slept in

Liam loves being thrown in the air. It's official, all our kids are thrill seekers!

Real Food

It's funny how things change with each child. With Kate I counted down until she was 4 months old and I could feed her rice cereal and oatmeal. With Abbey I skipped the rice cereal but did oatmeal and waited until she was a little older. With Liam I had waited forever before giving him oatmeal (we took a break since right after I had to switch him to formula and wanted him to have time to adjust). We finally started feeding him baby food and he loves it! He eats everything we give him and all of it most of the time. I guess it was alright that we waited until he was 6 months old since he doesn't seem to have any complaints!

Family of Five

We decided very last minute to do some family pictures. Thankfully, Dana came over and took our pictures for us. They turned out so good!

Six Flags

It was GA Tech night at Six Flags and I had been looking forward to taking the girls for months. So, even though it was the night of my first chemo day I decided to go. We left Liam with my parents and met Susan, Pat, Johnson, Laura, Andy, Drew, Brady, Luke, Anna, Jenny and Brian. The kids had a blast! Kate is definitely a thrill seeker. She loved the real roller coaster best and wanted to be in front. Abby had a lot of fun too. I loved being able to go on the rides together as a family. It was one of my favorite nights!