Help Us FIGHT Ovarian Cancer!

If you have been following this blog, you will know that my mom is going through an incredible journey right now. You can read about the start her (our) journey by going here. She has been going through chemo and is half way through her 18 week treatments. As soon as she was diagnosed, we started looking for races to run in as a way to fight along with our mom. We found the Power is Teal 5K Run/Walk for Ovarian Cancer Awareness in Cincinnati. We decided that this would be the perfect race for us to be apart of!

We are inviting you to join us as we run/walk in this race for our mom! You can support us by joining TEAM LINDA and signing up for the race. There is a competitive run, a competitive walk and a casual walk. We will have lots of people (including me and my kids) walking in the casual walk category. The race is at Lunken Field in Cincinnati and is on September 15th. This is a great way to show support for our mom and other woman (Debbie Warning, Linda Warnick) who are going through this courageous fight. You can also support us financially as a way to join Team Linda. All of our finances raised will go towards their medical bills  We would like to raise $500 to give to Ken and Linda before the race begins in September!

It is so important to us to show our mom that we are fighting along with her and my dad. Let's smother her with support by getting lots of friends and family together for this race. It costs $25 to register and you can click here to join our team/register. If you donate extra money on their website, that will go towards the Ovarian Cancer Society. If you donate via our blog that will go directly to Ken and Linda. It is a secure website that sends funds directly to a paypal account that we have set up.

I should note that a few years ago, a friend's wife (Libby) in our Young Life community was diagnosed with cancer. Her friends and family rallied around her to support her fight. During her journey, they all helped raise money for their medical bills and ran in a 1/2 marathon for Team Libby! I have been given a lot help and inspiration from her blog and her own fight. She is now cancer free! PTL! Go here and read her story. 

We would love to have 25-30 racers on our team! Braylen says it will be fun. I'd also like to give props to my awesome husband who has been kicking butt training for this race! He is down to 9 minute miles and is running a 5K three nights a week! Seriously. He started a month ago. He's amazing. If you see him running on Hopeful, just give a honk and a "Go Team Linda!" 

Squirmy Braylen

Life with a 4 1/2 year old is pretty awesome. Braylen is becoming quite the young man. He is sweet and hilarious and energetic, all at the same time. He definitely went through a growth spurt this spring/summer. I started to notice this little growth spurt when he requested the chicken sandwich at Chick-fil-a and he would devour the whole thing plus fries. And then he would eat some of mine. He is a little over 42 inches tall and weighs about 50 pounds. Giant. He is not easy to carry up to bed after falling asleep in the car.

As much as we have talked about my mom's situation around him, he has not asked about cancer or what it means. He knows that maw-maw is sick and he loves to ask about her or to make sure she is doing ok. He just painted a wooden train for her that he said "would help her feel better." So sweet. He's very sensitive and caring of others. And despite having a few tantrums here and there, he's surprisingly polite and well-mannered. The other night, he randomly invited our waitress from O'Charley's to go to school with him and meet his teachers. He said she would like school.

I hate to admit this but he LOVES watching TV shows and movies. It is so easy to turn the TV on and go about caring for Austin or relaxing or finish chores. But he also loves to play in his room with all of his toys and could stay up there for hours! He has finally started to enjoy painting and coloring, but he would rather play in the dirt with his shovel. It's been so hot outside so we've been staying indoors more than usual.

This summer Braylen has learned how to swim by himself-with no swimmies! He can swim underwater with goggles, swim on his back, and jump off the side and swim to the ladder. He can also do a flip into the water. He's crazy. Once he did a running flip into the water and I about had a heart attack. He's done a few "accidental" dives too. He has pretty good form actually. He can ride his bike without training wheels now but is still a little shaky on it.

A few funny/sweet things he has said lately:

"Mom, you smell like a squid."
"Excuse you, squirmy."
During his prayer with my mom- "God I love maw-maw and hope she feels better. And God I hope I can go on an airplane and go to a festival."
"Austin, you are the cutest little boy in the world."
"That is so cool."
"That is embarrassing."
"Nice mom. Real nice."
"Austin is freaking out again!"

For some reason Braylen has this awesome "yee-haw" voice. Here is a video of it. It's hilarious.

He is still very cuddly and says that Guy and I are his best friends. Mommy is his best friend and daddy is his buddy. He loves Austin so much too. He tends to smother him hugs and kisses. He adores Guy. I just love seeing their relationship grow. I have a special relationship with my dad but I'm excited to watch Father/Son. Braylen is always talking about daddy and how one day he will be just like him. As much as I wanted to have a baby girl, I am SO very excited to raise a house full of boys (Guy included). :)

1/2 Way There! & Birthdays

I just finished reading this awesome book called "Love Does" by Bob Goff. Bob became a Christian through Young Life in high school and was a YL leader for a few years in college. He has these crazy life experiences and stories that literally don't seem real. I've been telling people that each chapter you read is like a club talk. He tells a short story and then relates it to scripture or to the character of Jesus. I love it. 

I've been so inspired by this book. "Love Does" is an outward expression of LOVE! It's not just people "saying" I love you but actually LOVING them, "with actions and in truth." Bob seems to be an "all in" type of person. With everything and everyone. He's a participant instead of a spectator. I've been thinking about my mom a lot during this book. This trial with my mom has been the hardest experience of my life. She is the only one who can physically experience what it's like to have cancer, but we are still "all in" with her. WE are FIGHTING with her. WE only have 9 more weeks of chemo. WE only have 3 more cycles to go. WE are 1/2 way finished! 

Guy always laughs at me when I use the word "we." I use it a lot. For example:

 

I will say to Guy:

"We need to cut the grass."

"We need to paint the kitchen."

"We need to put away the outdoor toys."

"We need to clean the bathroom."

You get the picture. And he always says "you mean I need to do these things." :) I'm sure this is a common phrase in most marriages. But that is truly how I see myself. As a "WE." As a partnership and family. And that's how I feel about mom. If someone asks me how she is doing, I'll tell them that she is doing great and moving along and that WE are almost through the treatments. I don't know if that is offensive to some people who have gone through something like cancer. But I don't care. Obviously, I will never know the extent of my mom's pain or even her fearful thoughts. But she will know that she is not alone and that Jesus is constant, real and always present. 

Mom just had her birthday a few days ago. She told me that birthdays have a whole new meaning to her now. They sure do! To celebrate her life is so special and amazing. And if you can believe this, mom spent her birthday shopping for someone else! I love that. The boys and I joined her to find a few bday items for Kaleb's 1 year bday party for next weekend. Afterwards we had dinner at her fav place  (TGIFridays -of all the places!) and ice cream at Orange Leaf. We gave her some presents and took a few pictures. We had just returned from a spontaneous trip from Charlotte to surprise the Meiman's but we did miss my sister and her family. Looking forward to seeing them next week again. 

Happy birthday to our sweet and strong mom. You are almost finished! Keep fighting! Keep the faith! 

 

Annual Trip to New "Er-lens"

Last month we took a trip down to New Orleans to visit Guy's family. We were so excited to go!! 1) Because my in-laws were joining us, 2) Guy's cousin Brooke had a baby boy 3 days after Austin was born (besties!), and 3) Braylen could ride a street car! We always have the best time visiting family in New Orleans. There are so many fun things to do! The city is just full of excitement and of course food! Also my friend Kelly and her family lives there- so it's like I have friends to visit too. :) 

Guy's parents, Jon and Peggy, allowed our crew to join them on the 12 hour road trip. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, but when you are nursing a baby every 3 hours, a 12 hour trip can easily turn into 16. Which it did. The trip down and back wasn't terrible but it was long! Thank goodness for portable DVD players, iphone's, Kindle's. Kindle's are awesome. Seriously. 

Our time included a small family reunion, a craw fish boil, a stroll through the Quarter, shopping on Magazine Street, exploring the Aquarium, dinner at Kelly's house in the North Shore, riding the Street Car, eating beignets, and dining at lots of our favorite restaurants (and some new ones!). 2 new favorite restaurants are Joey K's on Magazine Street and K Paul's Louisiana Kitchen in the Quarter, where I had the BEST honey chicken po-boy with fried onion strings. So. Good. 

We had a great time! Looking forward to our next visit! 

Baby Austin

It's about time for an Austin post! We are so blessed by him. He is full of happiness, chubbiness and seriousness. He is either super smiley and happy, hungry or he'll just sit there and soak everything in with a smug look on his face. He's hilarious. He loves to put his fingers in his mouth constantly. He devours them. It's really funny. He's already rolled over a few times which isn't good since I'm usually just leaving him on the couch while I go fix lunch or do something for Braylen.

It has taken him a few months to feel more comfortable and content. We really had a rough start with him. We decided with my doctor to schedule an induction on his due date. I have had a few friends that were induced so I just didn't think there were ever any complications with them. I'm not sure why I trust everything without researching it, but I do. I'm trying to not blame myself or keep looking back to the past but I do think a lot of Austin's current issues may have to do with him being induced. I tend to blame myself for not letting him come on his own but I know there is nothing I can do about that now. When I was induced we learned that he was face up which resulted in pushing for 2 hours and led to my doctor using the forceps. Which led to his face being completely bruised and had a swollen lip. The bruising led to Jaundice- the red blood cells that are part of the bruises are broken down and produce bilirubin as a byproduct. Which led to 3 days in the ICU under the lights. From there he started sleeping and looking only to the right side, never to the left. I started to notice this around 6 or 7 weeks. He was diagnosed with torticollis and plagiocephally. Ever heard of those things before? Me neither. Torticollis is a muscle condition in the neck- "twisted neck." He is going to physical therapy to help strengthen his neck muscles. Plagiocephally is basically called "flat head syndrome." He has this because of the torticollis and sleeping on the right side of his head so much. He has torticollis from either his position in the womb or because of a difficult delivery (ie: forceps). To repair the shape of his head, he will more than likely need to wear a helmet for a few months. And now my heart is breaking. They have to wear the helmet for 23 hours a day from 2-6 months. I know that in the long run it will be worth it. We have an appt in a few weeks to determine if he needs it or not. Shew. That is a lot of info.

I love Austin so very much. We all do. We are thankful that God has given him to our family. I am thankful that his current issues are "fixable" and are not something that we will need to be concerned about in the future. God has really allowed alot of things to happen over these few months. We continue to try and trust that he is still in control and knows what is best for our family. I am telling these things as a way to keep account of our life but also as way to inform other parents. If I had known about the difficulties of an induction I may have taken a different. Not everyone has these issues either! You just never know I guess. But now you know about torticollis and plagiocephally. :) And if you see a little babe in a helmet it is more than likely a way to repair their sweet little heads.

Here are some photos of Austin when he was born. It's amazing how quickly his bruises and swollen lip disappeared.

And now! These were a few weeks ago so he's even chubbier now! 

Chemo Cycle #3 & The Surprise Carpet

Since my last post on June 4th, my mom's white blood cell count was still too low to begin her treatment. Her last treatment on May 24th and 25th really took a huge toll on her body! She tried to receive chemo the following two weeks and her count was still too low. Crazy! But her doctor decided to not push her schedule back and just skip her day 8 treatment (in a 3 week period, she receives treatment on day 1, day 2, day 8 and blood work on day 15). She was a little apprehensive to receive this news but Dr. S reassured her that her body is responding well to the chemo and it's not a set back. Mom actually had 4 weeks off from getting chemo! She gained her energy back, her appetite and got some extra snuggling time with baby Austin. Austin LOVES being held so it was a win-win for the both of them. :)

Mom started her third cycle this past Thursday, June 21st which was also my sister's birthday. Kind of bittersweet. Jess was away at Young Life camp ministering to some sweet high school girls. Mom found out that her CA-125 test (which is a blood test that they use as a tumor marker) was at a low number of 18! Her original number during surgery was 120! You can have a number of 35 and NOT have cancer. We are so very excited for this and thankful that the chemo is doing its job. She went through her hard treatment on Thursday and Friday and recovered over the weekend. She was very tired, super exhausted and a little bit nauseated. However I don't think it hit her body as hard as before. Mom! You are so very strong and an amazing example of courage and sacrifice. We love you so much!

Please continue to pray for our mom. Pray that our TRUE PHYSICIAN heals her body 100% and that the chemo continues to do it's job. Pray for her thoughts and for peace, as it is hard controlling her wandering mind. Our family verse has always been John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled; trust in God, trust also in me." It's amazing how we are forced to live this out now. How easy it is to trust in the "seen." Doctors, medicine, people; even things like sleep, comfort, relaxation, media, etc. Please capture our hearts Lord so that we are only trusting in you!

The next two and a half weeks look like this:

Thursday, June 28th: Day 8 treatment
Thursday, July 5th: Blood work
Monday, July 9th: MOM'S BIRTHDAY! We're so excited because she will have an off week during her birthday! Looking forward to some extra special birthday fun!

As an early birthday present, my parents came home to a super fun surprise after her treatment this past Thursday. They have an AMAZING group of friends who LOVE them so well. Prior to my mom's diagnosis, my dad had been working on refinishing the basement. Here is the video of the their surprise via YouTube! Please keep praying! If you want their address, message me-she still LOVES getting cards.

Chemo & 2nd Cycle Update

I'm a little bummed that it's been a few weeks since my last post. I've been trying hard to keep this updated with how things are going with my mom.  However, as if life isn't crazy already, Austin was diagnosed with torticollis and now has to go to physical therapy. :( His first appointment is this Thursday morning. I started to notice that he only looked to the right and had a lot of trouble looking to the left. I thought it might be his hearing but when I brought up to his doctor she said it was torticollis. I had no idea that was an actual diagnosis. She said it's nothing to be worried over and that PT will help his movements. Poor little guy. He has had such a hard few months. He is the sweetest little babe. Sleeping through the night, smiling like crazy. He is so adorable. He has a hard time napping but we're just going with it. Whatever works, right? SO NOT BABYWISE! Funny how things and routines are so different with baby #2.

We had the BEST time with my mom during her off weeks of chemo. She felt really good! My sister and Kaleb were still here and we went shopping, out to eat, to a Florence Freedom game, went swimming, and just got to be together! I was so thankful that my mom felt well enough to do these things. It's hard for her to be cooped up in the house all the time.

On May 24th and 25th, she started her 2nd cycle of chemo. She had a treatment to her shoulder on Thursday and then a treatment to her abdomen on Friday. Guy and I took the boys to Young Life camp for a leader retreat during Memorial Weekend so we were not here during this cycle, but Jess and her family stayed. On Saturday morning Jess called me and said that mom was feeling really good. She was up and walking around, and even sat outside for a bit. However, by that evening she started to feel pretty bad. She came down with a super swollen throat. She couldn't speak, eat, or take her medicine. I tried talking to her Monday morning but I could tell it was painful for her to speak. When you think you have a handle on your chemo symptoms something else comes up. It's best to have no expectations. With medicine my mom started to feel better by Tuesday. Her taste buds are still giving her a hard time and eating has not been fun.

My mom is an example of such strength and beauty. She is living her life in complete trust and faith that  God is in control. She is going through such a trial. We all are.

Something that one of the speakers said at our leader retreat was that when we are with Jesus in Heaven, we will no longer experience pain or heart ache or trials, etc. So when we experience them now on Earth, they should be special. This is the only time in our life on Earth that we can cling to Jesus for comfort and peace. We won't need to do that in Heaven. So for now we will .......

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

My mom was supposed to have chemo last Thursday but her white blood count was too low. As much as we hate that she has to have chemo, it's hard when you're told you can't do it. We're hoping that she is able to do it this Thursday. It's hard when her schedule gets pushed back; prolonging everything. Please be praying that she is able to go on Thursday. Please pray that God is healing her body and that the chemo is working. Pray that God continues to work in her heart and controls her thoughts. All of our thoughts!

Thank you for your support of our family. My parents feel so loved! Keep the cards coming too!