Washington Park

This was from the summer but there are so many cute pictures not to post! This past July, the Meiman's came to visit us for a whole week! It was the perfect week! Not only did we spend lots of time catching up but mom had her "off week" from chemo so she was feeling great. We celebrated Kaleb's first birthday, went swimming, went to a wedding and had lots of cousin time. One evening we all went out to dinner to Buckhead's on the river and then drove over to Washington Park. It was so much fun. It is such a beautiful park! Perfect scenery, easy to get to, and lots of fun things for the kids to do. The boys LOVED the fountain. Austin will love it next year.

It always takes Braylen a little bit of time to warm up to certain situations. He's very careful to get "involved" until he becomes a little familiar with his surroundings. Kaleb on the other hand, jumped right in. I'm pretty sure that this night was one of the greatest times of his life. :)

Team Linda & Best Day Ever

Sorry for the lack of posting lately.There are so many great things to report! So thanks for coming back and checking it.

2 months ago we participated in the Cincinnati Ovarian Cancer Awareness Run/Walk 5K. We created a team in support of mom (Team Linda) and we were so thrilled to have over 75 friends and family participate in this race with us. Seriously. 75 people came out! People we knew and loved, and new friends that we had never met before. One of my mom's clients and friends donated our Team Linda tshirts and all the money we raised selling them went towards my mom's medical bills. We raised around $800 for her bills. We are so thankful for that day. My main goal for this race was to get as many people as possible to join our team, so that on the day of the race, my parents could look around and see some of the people who have been loving and praying for them. It was a very special day. Right after the race, I had made reservations at Sky Galley restaurant for anyone that was able to stick around and eat with us. We had about 25 close friends and family members eat with us.

The day before the race, mom received a phone call from one of her nurses in the cancer center. They knew she had a special day planned and they wanted to let her know that her scan came back clear. My family knew going into the race that things were looking pretty great for mom. That definitely made our day even more wonderful.

On September 17th, we received the official news that my mom is CANCER FREE!!!! We are so overjoyed by this news and so thankful to our Great Physician that he has allowed her to overcome this disease. We were all packed into the little check-up room when Dr. Shellhaus came in with the nurse. He said that her scan couldn't have looked better. It came back clear and the cancer is gone. Wow. He said a few other things and then he left. I was like, okay. That's it? I asked the nurse if this means she is actually cancer free and she said yes! Yes it does. Praise God. The 4 of us (mom, dad, Jess and I- Austin was there too but he was asleep) all stepped outside the cancer center and hugged and cried. What a journey. 

**I love this picture of Braylen running to the finish line. He actually believed that he won the race.** 

Thank you to everyone who participated with Team Linda. Thank you to those who sacrificed their time, money, made dinner, sent letters, emails, donated tshirts, etc. You have all played a huge role not only in the healing of my mom's cancer but also in her state of sadness and anger throughout this experience. When she was feeling bitter or sad, you would send her a note in the mail saying that you were thinking and praying for her. When she was sick and couldn't find anything to eat, you gave her Graeter's and brought her cherry icee's (that's for you dad!). When she was cold, you  made her lovely blankets and brought her warm socks. When she was too sick to be outside, you brought her beautiful flowers. When she was restless, you would be praying to our Heavenly Father to heal her body and heart. THANK YOU! God used you in my parents lives and we will all be forever changed by your servant hearts. 

Today is the final day of mom's chemo treatment. After this treatment, she will begin another treatment that is similar to chemo but not as hard on her body. This will be another precaution/prevention tool and she will be on this medicine for about a year. As of now, her insurance company has denied the request of using this particular medicine, but her doctor will continue to submit the request until it is approved.

The journey is not over.

There are still hoops to juggle.

There are still things to process.

But one thing we know is God is present, constant and the creator of all things. Even cancer. John Piper says in his article "Don't Waste Your Cancer," that you will waste your cancer if you do not believe that cancer is designed for you by God. He says, "What God permits, he permits for a reason. And that reason is his design. If God foresees molecular developments becoming cancer, he can stop it or not. If he does not, he has a purpose. Since he is infinitely wise, it is right to call this purpose a design. Satan is real and causes many pleasures and pains. But he is not ultimate. So when he strikes Job with boils (Job 2:7), Job attributes it ultimately to God (2:10) and the inspired writer agrees: “They . . . comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him” (Job 42:11). If you don’t believe your cancer is designed for you by God, you will waste it."

That is equally comforting and hard to hear at the same time. I choose to trust because the opposite is choosing to believe that God would be out to destroy. I know that's not true. If you have time, go here and read the rest of John's article. It will greatly change your perspective of cancer.

Thanks for reading! I hope to start updating more often.

A Time For Everything

I'm always amazed with how quickly summer flies by. I cannot believe it's almost mid-August. I mean it's the week of the Boone County Fair! I have so many memories of the fair being the last "event" before school started back up. I would usually save an awesome summer outfit to wear to the fair so that I would look super cool when I saw my friends. My freshmen year, I got braces (red and blue for Conner Cougars!) and I remember having to show them off at the fair! So fun.

This summer has been one to remember. I am thankful for my mom being off work and having some extra time with her that otherwise would have been spent with her working. I am thankful for baby Austin this summer and that his neck and head conditions are not permanent. Like every season though, this summer and experience is certainly just a "season" and I am ready to begin a new one. I have reflected on Ecclesiastes 3 many times and as a believer it brings so much hope that this season of fear, sadness, confusion, etc will soon pass. However, I have learned in this difficult season of life, that Jesus reigns as our hope and our refuge. In the midst of pain, you can still find peace, laughter, forgiveness, strength. My mom continues to cling to the cross as she goes through her journey. I see joy in the midst of treatment, laughter in the midst of chemo symptoms, forgiveness in the midst of confusion, and strength in the midst of sorrow! 

Each of our family members have experienced something crazy this summer. Whether it was the passing of a grandpa or step-dad, a tragedy at work, losing a baby tooth by falling (little Kaleb!), and finding out a new baby was on the way (Meiman's!).....we have all had quite a season this summer. I'm honestly looking forward to it being over. But for now.........

3 There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,

    a time to plant and a time to uproot, 

3     a time to kill and a time to heal,

    a time to tear down and a time to build,

4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,

    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6     a time to search and a time to give up,

    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7     a time to tear and a time to mend,

    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8     a time to love and a time to hate,

    a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

15 Whatever is has already been, 

    and what will be has been before; 

    and God will call the past to account

  

Please continue to pray for our mom. She is halfway through her 5th chemo treatment. She experienced her horrible symptoms and continues to FIGHT! Please pray that God continues to heal her body and heart. That he would control her thoughts and keep her focused on him. We thought that after her 6th treatment, that she would be finished but it looks like the doctor has decided to extend it to 8 treatments. 24 weeks total. Her body is responding so well to the chemo, that as a precaution, they would like to continue the treatments. 

Please sponsor us in our 5K run for ovarian cancer awareness! You can sponsor us by clicking the Chip In box on this blog. It will direct you to paypal. All of the money that we raise through Chip In, goes directly to Ken and Linda's medical bills. 

You can also join TEAM LINDA and run/walk with us to support my mom. You can click here and join our team. There is a $25 registration fee to participate in the race. Please note that any EXTRA money that you donate on that website does NOT go to Ken and Linda. That donation goes to the American Cancer Society. If you would like to give money towards their medical bills and sponsor TEAM LINDA, use the above Chip In box. 

Thanks so much! 

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!