Easter weekend recap...

our weekend began thursday nite with a sleepover! corinn had her BFF over...after playing & eating dinner outside, then taking a neighborhood walk till it got dark, the girls had a great time staying up late & watching movies (remember, they were on spring break as well)

then friday eve, we enjoyed another cool spring evening & took a walk thru town again (something that becomes a regular thing 4 us as the weather gets warm) - this time with my sister & nephew

saturday was our family Easter dinner in WVa...we rented the community center this year, cause my grandma's house just ain't big enuff any more! of course, there was TONS of good food!


& plenty of eggs 2 b hunted!

Easter morning, the kiddos found out that the big bunny had indeed stopped by our house! Jaden's fav thing in his bucket was a dino that lays candy eggs ~lol~

all dressed up for Easter service :0)
(darn it if i didn't 4get 2 have some1 snap a pic of the whole fam!)

the day turned out 2 b such a gorgeous one - so we spent most of it outside! the girls had fun riding bikes & playing with our neighbor friend's new puppy

Curtis & Jaden got in some male bonding time b4 dad had 2 go 2 work ;0)

then Jaden & i got busy on building our fire pit...we've had 1 at almost every place we've lived (& thankfully, totally cool landlords)...& now that the weather is getting warm, it's time 2 get geared up 4 campfires!

those big river rocks were HEAVY! but my tough guy took his shirt off & together, we managed 2 get it all set up & ready 4 it's 1st fire...on daddy's next evening off, we're gonna try it out!

later, we headed over 2 Nana & Grandpa's 4 a little play time & go-kart riding

then on 2 Aunt Kelly's 4 some fun on their trampoline!

my sister's husband just got a new toy the day b4 too - i reluctantly let Jaden go 4 a ride...& he loved it!

by the time it was dark & we were all back inside the house, u could tell the week of spring break fun was coming 2 an end...i had 3 very tired & grouchy kiddos - all protesting the thought of having 2 get up & go 2 school this morning! but after baths & some reading, they were all snoring loudly in their beds! ~lol~

then this morning, something happened that totally rocked my world...my youngest child woke up & announced that she had her 1st loose tooth! :0( sure enuff, i wiggled it & discovered that i could probably have popped it out with just 1 tug! but Corinn declined, stating "that's ok, it'll fall out on its own"


ok, seriously - how is this happening?! 1st she had 2 go off & start school on me...& now this?! i don't know how much more of this growing up stuff i can take! :0(

i hope u all had a fabulous Easter weekend - wherever u r!


& i pray that it was filled with tons of time spent with family...praising Jesus Christ, our risen King, 4 the unbelievable gift He's given us!!!

how awesome is it that HE paid the price for OUR sins?!

radiation consult & mask fitting...

4 hrs & 3 sticks later...my blood level is at 2.23 (which is good) - they're putting me back on 20mg of Coumadin a day & will check my level again on wednesday

i got fitted with my radiation mask - one of the weirdest experiences ever! it started as a big, wet, warm net that they laid over my head/neck/chest...then it slowly hardened (see pic above - this is my mask lying on the table after it had already been cast on me & hardened)...they took several xrays with me in it, marked it up a bunch & then sent me over 4 another CT scan

they put the mask back on me, & after injecting me with the contrast dye, they ran the CT scan...they'll compare that scan with the 2 PET scans i've already had done (1 in the beginning & 1 halfway thru chemo) - then they'll get everything lined up & ready 4 my first zapping on 4/20...thankfully, they want 2 give me a 2 week break in between my last chemo & my 1st radiation treatment!

i'll receive 3 weeks of radiation therapy - every day, monday thru friday - so 15 treatments all 2gether...it'll probably zap some of my energy, i might start experiencing a sore throat or skin irritation in the area that they're zapping...maybe even some more inflammation in my lungs (since we're targeting my left neck/lung where the tumors were, & i've already been battling some pneumonia/inflammation in my left lung), but since i'm getting a "moderate" amount of radiation, the side effects shouldn't b too bad

here's 2 moving on in2 the next & FINAL chapter of my cancer treatment!
;0)

chemo # 8 - the final drip!

monday was my final chemotherapy treatment!

HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!

i had 2 go in early 2 have another PICC line inserted, which i was totally dreading...but it went in waaay easier than the 1st time - no roaming up my jugular this go round! ;0) after they get the line in, they follow-up with a chest xray 2 ensure it is indeed in the proper place...days leading up 2 this, i'd been complaining of being really short on breath - struggling just climbing up the stairs at home & having a weird cough that only really came on when i had 2 breathe deeply...at my daily injections over the weekend, they kept checking my oxygen level & it all appeared fine, so we just agreed i'd discuss it with my oncologist on monday (before chemo)...sure enuff, she said my chest xray showed possible pneumonia - so she started me on an antibiotic & ordered a CT 4 the next day

we went ahead with chemo as planned, only leaving out the 1 med (bleomycin) that gave me the crazy reaction last time (fever, sweats, etc.)...the doc said that since this was my last treatment, we'd just skip that one! fine by me! ;0)

my blood level from the day b4 was only up to 1.58, so i got another Lovenox injection...but the good news came b4 i left treatment - my current blood level jumped to 2.23! no more injections after that day - my poor bruised, knotted up belly can finally heal!!! monday's made day #19 of those buggers (& actually, there were several days when they gave em 2 me in 2 smaller injections - meaning i prob had 22 or more shots in the belly total!), so needless 2 say, i was soooo glad 2 get that news!

treatment finished up & i headed out - PICC line still in place since they'd need 2 inject me with dye the next day 4 my CT...only this time, i had em bandage me up instead of using tape - the tape from last time did more damage 2 my arm than the darn PICC line!

tuesday's scan confirmed pneumonia, but after just the 2 days worth of antibiotics, i was already breathing a little better - so we already had a jump on that one

yesterday, i went back in2 the cancer center 2 get the PICC line removed & 2 check my levels again...my white blood cells were low on monday (because my body was working hard at fighting off this infection), but yesterday's finger prick showed i was on my way up, so no booster shot needed

then, again as i was getting ready 2 leave, my INR blood work came back showing that my blood level had shot all the way up to a FIVE!!! i had worked so long/hard at getting to just 2.something & here now we were over dosing me with Coumadin & Lovenox & i was all the way up 2 a 5! not good! they considered giving me a vitamin K shot 2 bring it down some, but they didn't want me 2 go too far in the other direction again...so they took me off the Coumadin for 2 days & i'll get checked again 2moro...i'm also under strick orders 2 b very careful not 2 cut myself! ~lol~

i also have a 2 1/2 hr appt 2moro with my radiation doc...this will b 2 decide on what our radiation plan is & also 2 get me fitted 4 my "cast" - it's a piece that they'll mark up with exactly where they'll b shooting me, also protecting my breasts & lungs as much as possible (2 cut down on the increased risks of me developing other cancers - just getting this radiation at all, triples my risk of developing breast cancer in the future)...then each day, they'll just throw it on me, zap me & i'll b on my way...i'm assuming we'll start radiation next week & that the initial plan of 2-4 weeks is still a go, but i guess i'll find out 4 sure 2moro

after radiation, i'll follow-up with my oncologist again (in about 6 weeks)...she didn't order a PET scan yet - since the 1 that they did 1/2 way thru chemo showed the "hot spots" were gone & my CT on tuesday also confirmed my lymph nodes were finally shrinking some more...i assume i'll have another one once everything is said & done - just 2 make sure, but we shall see

i'm just so glad 2 b done with the chemo chapter & i'm anxious 2 get the radiation over & done with...i'm finally seeing that light at the end of the tunnel...

& if feels good!
;0)

weekend recap...picture marathon

since it's already late on wednesday nite, & i'm just now getting around 2 posting my weekend recap, this one is going 2 b a pic marathon (with some captions here & there)

i've had a rough week with not only my 8th (& final!) chemo treatment on monday, but i also found out on monday that i have pneumonia! but, i'll talk more about all that in my next post

& on top of that, our girls' daycare provider's 2 kiddos have been very, very sick since this past saturday...this week is spring break, so the plan of the girls spending the whole day there while curtis & i work, fell thru...i ended up staying home sick all week so far anyway...and with curtis having saturday thru tuesday off & the girls being home on spring break (& we kept jaden home from his daycare too - y not, right?!) - it's really been a family affair here this week! but i plan 2 return 2 work 2moro & curtis will watch the girls till he has 2 head in2 work himself - then he'll run em by my office 4 the trade off...we're also trying 2 line up someone 4 Good Friday since both daycares will b closed - ugh, i'm soooo ready 2 get back 2 normal life next week!

but anyway, back 2 the weekend recap...

this weekend was BEUTIFUL! a lil windy, but in the 70s & sunny...we spent a LOT of time outside! the girls gathered up a bunch of wild flowers (our mower is being repaired, so our yard if full of em - that & TALL grass! ~lol~) & some walnuts from the neighbor's yard - they wanted 2 make a flower garden...is it bad that these buckets r also their easter "baskets"? (3rd year in a row!) ;0)

some neighbor friends came over 2 play too...i'm loving the hours that the kiddos spend outside with other neighborhood kids these days! i'm the mother that insists they stay in our yard, where i can keep an eye on them - but so far, that's worked out fine ;0)


curtis & i also did some yard work on saturday (besides mowing of course - grrr!)...the renters that were there b4 us have some flower beds started & we have some plans 4 sprucing things up...mostly, we just did clean up this day tho - especially behind/beside our outbuilding...when the landlord had new gutters put on the house & made some other improvements, all the scraps got tossed around it & we're trying 2 get rid of that mess...i took some b4 photos & once we get moving & making some decent progress on the yard overall, i'll share those & some after shots....here's a pretty hyacinth popping thru tho ;0)


but we also went & picked up supplies 4 curtis 2 build me a raised veggie bed this year! i'm so excited! more on that in a sec...

we dyed easter eggs saturday eve too - using fresh brown eggs from my brother's farm & homemade dye that i whipped up...i loved the "natural" look...jaden stuck 2 blue (his fav color - everything must b blue!), but the girls & i had fun getting creative with stripes & marbling (add a tad of oil 2 the water b4 dipping ur eggs)


then of course, the girls had 2 build an "egg house" 4 them 2 rest & keep warm inside of...u know, just in case they decide 2 hatch?! it has doors & windows & plenty of air holes ;0)


sunday was Palm Sunday & since the adult choir always performs on Easter Sunday, this is the day that the kiddos' Joyful Noise Choir got 2 have their turn...they sang 4 songs, but this one was all the kiddos' fav...u know Gabby especially loved the sign language part!
(sorry 4 the wobbliness - i was seated & then the director blocked my view, so i had 2 stand up 2 the side)



they also handed out palms at the end of the service


afterward, we had our annual Easter Egg hunt at church...first, they played a few games


then came the hunt!


they not only get candy goodies inside of the eggs, but some have prize slips inside too - the kiddos were thrilled with their prize choices! ~lol~


after all that fun, the girls had a birthday party 2 attend...daddy & jaden hung out 4 a while & then once the girls & i got home, he took all 3 kiddos fishing so mama could rest...love that man! ;0)

on monday after chemo, i put my hubby 2 work on the veggie bed...i was feeling pretty beat & weak, but i had already given him the basic instructions & just came out 2 check up on things & snap a few pics


don't worry tho - he had a helper! ;0)

or 2 ~lmao~


this is behind our house & sort of on a slant - but that will make 4 good drainage & the girls have already started helping me fill in the big gap with rocks 2 prevent major erosion


we're getting some starter plants going inside 4 now - waiting till may 2 do any real planting (2 avoid any lingering frost)...the plans r 4 lots of tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, peppers, lettuce onions & some herbs - stuff that i know we'll really use! (just hoping i have room 4 it all!) i'm not expecting much, since this is my 1st real time gardening on my own...but with all the stuff i've learned growing up & helping out my parents in their huge gardens, combined with the advice of my dad thru this season (the gardening pro!), i think we'll do ok ;0)

& since the kiddos were home all week, they got in plenty of more outside time with neighboring kiddos

even when it got cold on tuesday (low 50s) - they were still at it in toboggans & gloves


i love this pic of jaden sneaking up on the girls with his "blaster" - don't worry, it's not loaded ;0)


congrats! u made it 2 the end of this very long & sporadic post - i realize i'm rambling & sort of all over the place with this one....i'll follow up this post with my chemo #8 post - maybe that will explain a bit ;0)

weekend cake 4 Willow...

this weekend, i made a baby shower cake 4 a lil girl who will b named Willow...it's actually a replica of a cake that my brother helped me with a while back...a baby shower cake 4 my BFF's daughter, Willow - & she just turned 2 in February!

click here 2 view that cake...the customer saw it on my site & wanted one "exactly the same"...my brother Joe is an artist - even majoring in art at VCU...back then, i baked the cake, iced it & covered it in fondant & he did an awesome job painting it 4 me....unfortunately, he lives in Richmond & wasn't in town 2 help me with this one...even tho my willow tree didn't turn out near as good as his, i hope i made him proud with my copy cat cake!

it's 3 tiers of white cake, iced in buttercream & covered in my homemade fondant...then, hand painted with edible colors...the customer was very happy with the result - whew! ;0)

another performance...

last night, preK through 1st grade put on a PE performance called "Shaping Up"....i love that the girls were in this one 2gether! :0)

we didn't have great seats 4 pics/vids, but i did my best (but ugh - again with the quality after i upload em 2 youtube - what's up with that?! maybe it's the settings on my camera?)

the kiddos were 2 wear white shirts, jeans & bandannas....most of the kiddos put their bandannas round their necks, but of course my girls had 2 b different & wear em on their heads....or maybe they were just giving a shout out 2 their bald mama ;0)

Corinn's preK class performed a song called "Shapes"



& Gabby's kindergarten class performed "Lettercise"



they both did awesome! i especially loved the bows at the end! ;0)

ps on the lice front - well, we treated Corinn twice yesterday – Curtis did it first thing in the morning & then i did it again last night after the program (i know, probably not necessary, but we’re paranoid!)....i also treated Gabby & Jaden, just to be safe (the nurse confirmed they were all clear though)....then we both spent hours sitting & searching through that girl’s thick, thick, thick & curly hair – removing the nits (even tho the treatment is supposed 2 kill the lice & their eggs/nits, she has 2 b nit free 2 return 2 school - just in case there's some that didn't die)....she’s mostly clear, but i was still finding one here & there this morning, so we kept her home today....plus we thought it might be good to let the class “air out” over today & spring break next week....on top of everything Curtis did yesterday, i was busy washing load after load of laundry (like everything in our house that can b washed) & spraying down the entire house with this cool killer spray that the treatment kits come with, until almost midnight last night....all the while, praying that these lil buggers do NOT come back! we have 2 treat Corinn again in a week (just 2 make sure, says the nurse) & at $20 a pop, i hope the 3 kits we bought yesterday r all we ever have 2 buy! the lady at rite aid (less than a mile from the school) says they've been flying off the shelves lately & i heard others were found 2 b infected by the school nurse yesterday....i sectioned off Corinn's hair this morning in2 lil pony tails b4 i left 4 work, so that Curtis can sit & go thru it again, inch by inch, for any remaining nits - then i'll repeat the process once more 2nite 2 ensure we've gotten every last one of them! ahhhh, i never want 2 live thru this nightmare again!!!

community field trip...

yesterday, daddy accompanied gabrielle on her kindergarten community field trip....they visited places like the local fire & police station, the community center, a local gas/service station, the town museum, etc....here's some pics from their trip - it looks like they had a great time!

gross!

of course, this week was going 2 good, right?

new ride, no kiddo activities in the eves so we've had more time 4 dinner, homework, etc...

well, then u'll never guess what happened!!!

we just discovered this morning that Corinn has picked up HEAD LICE from school!!!
ack!!!


she's been itching all week....my mom & i checked her over & over again - nothing! finally this morning, Curtis was washing her hair (again!) so we could put a deep conditioner on it (thinking maybe it's dry scalp???) & finally found the culprits! little did i know, they love clean hair!

i had 2 go in2 the school & talk 2 the nurse 2 find out what 2 do - i knew about the special shampoo, but didn't know when it would b safe 4 her 2 go back 2 school

she's at home with Curtis, getting "treated"....& he's on maid duty - cleaning the house like a mad man 2day!!! sheets, clothes, jackets, combs/brushes, stuffed animals (apparently, they can go in a plastic bag for 2 weeks & r then safe)....then sweep/vacuum everywhere (luckily, we don't have carpet)....& i'm insisting on not just Corinn's stuff either - EVERYONE'S!!! luckily, the nurse couldn't find much evidence on Corinn's head - so said we caught it early

no itching & we couldn't find anything on Gabby so far (of course, the school nurse is in the process of checking classrooms - she's going 2 check Gab's & Jaden's 2day) & well, she's really the only other one in the house we have to worry about getting it....i'm shaving jaden's head 2nite!

perfect time 4 me 2 b bald, right?! ~lol~

look what i got...

well, u know it's april fool's day....& i get curtis EVERY YEAR!

this morning, he was on a field trip with gabby & i called 2 tell him that we wouldn't b signing the paperwork 4 my new (2 me) explorer 2day - that the bank had called & there was an issue with the loan....he totally bought it!

but then he turned around & got me! i know, can u believe it?!

he got 2 the dealership 1st & called 2 tell me he had 4gotten his ID at home & that he couldn't sign the paperwork....that he needed 2 head in2 work & we'd have 2 wait till 2moro

i was pissed!
~lol~

but thankfully, none of that was true!
& look what i got...


i think i'm in love!!!
♥ ♥ ♥

april is autism awareness month...

although i wish it were called autism acceptance month!

yes, let's raise awareness - but more importantly, let's promote understanding & acceptance!