Chemo---Done!

I completed my last chemotherapy treatment this Tuesday, April 19th.   What a great feeling!   This time when I get to feeling better in two weeks I will not have to go back and get the meds again.   Whoo hoo!  

I met with the radiation oncologist Tuesday as well and will start radiation on May 16th.  I will go five days a weeks for six and a half weeks.   That will be a lot of driving but I'm sure it will pass quickly as well.  

God has been so faithful and good during this time.   He has provided and loved us so well through our friends, family, and our church.

On another subject, the kids only have four more weeks of school left.   R man will start high school next year.   I can't believe that it has flown by so quickly.   Kinley will start seventh grade.   They both have so many exciting things in store for them and I can't wait to experience it all with them!

The best laid plans....

All the good intentions of keeping up with my blog since I had so much time on my hands.   Out the window.   But maybe I will start keeping up with it now.   Maybe.

Today is the kids first band competition.  It's a Seiling this afternoon and I'm trying to decided whether or not to go.   It's driving me crazy to not go but at the same time I know it would wear me out.   It doesn't start until 3:00 so I still have time to decide because it's only 10:00 a.m. as I write this.  

Either way, the Princess was very excited about her first band trip.  She also gets to go back tomorrow to do a vocal solo.  Steven will be taking her to that.   So Rman and I will get to spend a little time together while they are gone.

Speaking of, right before Spring Break he enrolled for high school.   High.  School.   That does not even seem possible.   The years have flown by.   I am so proud of the person he is becoming.   I am a little nervous for him but he has flourished in every environment he has been in so I don't know why this would be any different.  I should be excited for him and the experiences he will get to have.

He will do band as an elective but also wants to do shop.  That surprised me just a little bit but I also think it's cool that he chose that.   He wants to learn how to do metal cutting and use tools to build stuff.  

This school year is almost over.  They have both done so well, especially considering all that we have gone through!

My writer

This past November, R-man got notified that he received first place in the OK district 12 VFW's Patriot's Pen essay.   We were so excited that he was awarded this honor.   As he said, "It's usually someone else who wins that kind of stuff."

Last Friday, his teacher held an assembly.  He read his essay aloud and was presented his award.   He doesn't like speaking in front of crowds but did a great job.   His dad and I were so proud.   Papa and Granna drove up to attend as well.   It was special to them because Papa has always been very involved in the VFW in Sentinel.

I'm really proud of this kid.  

Already...

Well, tomorrow is the day again.   Off to Enid for my second chemo treatment.   I have felt so "normal" the past week that I so dread going back.   However, I know it is what I must do to kill off this cancer that wants to suck the life from me.  

Yesterday at church, our pastor preached from Isaiah 41.   In it, God is telling the Israelites not to fear.   HE will uphold them with His righteous right hand. (v. 10).   I am clinging to that.   The point was made that our fear says something about who we think God is.   I believe God is bigger than any treatment, any cancer, any side effect I may have.   I want so badly to cling to that this week and not fall back on my pity, especially when I don't feel well physically.  

If you are reading, please pray that I will stand firm knowing that God is upholding me with His right hand.

What a year

Well, after good intentions, my last blog restart never got off the ground.   Because of medical reasons, I have a little more time on my hands so hope to get more done on here!

The past few months have been a whirlwind.   In November, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.   I had a mastectomy in December and they also removed my lymph nodes on the right side.   I had cancer in one of the lymph nodes.  So fast forward to January and I have started my 16 weeks of chemo treatments.   I go every other week for 8 treatments.   This is my off week and I am feeling pretty good but I'm not gonna lie---last week was not fun.  

However, through this, I have learned a few things that I want to hold onto to get me through when times are bad.

1.  My husband is the true definition of a man.   Confession--I already knew this.  But the past few months he has been strong yet tender, unwaiveringing yet kind.   I honestly could not do this without him.

2.  My kids are pretty awesome.   Neither one of them has hit the terrible teenage years yet.   They do what they are asked, still enjoy hanging out with mom and dad.   But they have gone above and beyond to love me and Steven and to do whatever we need done.

3.   I have amazing friends.   From bringing me meals to uplifting texts to sharing Scripture/song to Facetiming me during church so I can hear the sermon.   God has placed amazing people in my life.  

4.   God is good.  Always.   He is my sustainer.   There have been times I have felt far from Him and I'm sure I will go through more valleys.  But I am clinging to His promise from Romans 8:28.  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."   Even when I feel far away, He is there--always working, always loving, always shepherding me.

I don't know what the next few months hold for me but I hope to hold onto these truths to get me through.

Where have you been?

I had almost forgotten that I used to do a blog.  Then I started looking through some old facebook posts and "rediscovered" it.   I realized how much I enjoyed it and how it helped me catalog things that were going on with the kids.   So I decided I would start it back up again.  

This has been a busy week.   Princess has been busy with The Music Man rehearsals.   She is a girl after her mama's heart.   She loves the stage and all that goes with it.   I'm really looking forward to seeing the play next week-end.

Rman has decided that he wants to learn computer coding so he has been doing lessons on the computer.   I hope he can learn enough to write a popular game/app and make me.....uh, I mean himself.....rich.   Haha.  

Tomorrow is our first "free Friday" of the the year.   Hellooo beautiful.  

Back to school....

Well, summertime has officially ended and we are back in school mode.  The kids are both in great classes with wonderful teachers.  They are also in class with their buddies.  One of Rman's best friends moved away this year so that has been a little bit of an adjustment but his other best friend is in his class so that's a big help!  Princess got all her buddies in class so all is well there.

First day of second grade

First day of 4th grade

I started a new job as well.  I'm the speech pathologist at Fort Supply schools and I'm loving it!  I was off for 10 years staying home with my babies but it's like riding a bike--you just hop back on and take off.