June Favorites

I love reading about other peoples monthly favorites.

I sometimes feel mine are always the same, but yet I still share away!

For the month of June, I've been loving...

EOS lip balm

I LOVE this stuff. I started using mine in February, have used it consistently since then and its STILL nowhere near gone. I have seriously chapped lips from the chemo and it does wonders for them.

Plus, it's cheap!

Nivea lotion

This Nivea lotion makes my skin feel so soft and smooth. Like my lips, my skin has suffered the effects of chemo as well and is so dry and ashy at times. I use this every time I get out of the bath. It doesn't make my skin oily or too slippery. If you do have oily skin already, I probably wouldn't use this on a regular basis - but it's definitely a good deep hydrating lotion.

Olay Face Moisturizer

      

I definitely know I have shared this before. I've been using it for two years now, been through about 4 bottles, and I have no desire to change it up. Makes my skin moisturized without being greasy. When I  am more dry, I use it twice a day. When I'm more oily-ish (is that  a word?!) I use it once a day. You can find it pretty much anywhere, but the cheapest I've found it is at the Dolla Gentral (have ya'll seen those Hannah and Kaylee YouTube videos?)for $6.50.

Don't make the mistake I did and buy it at Ulta for like $12. No sir.

Ain't nobody got time for that!

Skype

 

Skype s a lifesaver for my family. Literally. With this invention, I'm able to see my girls and Mike every night. I can help my girls pick out clothes for the next day. I can help them with homework. I can see my oldest reading her books to me, and watch the spirited shows my 4 year old likes to put on.

It keeps me encouraged and feeling like I'm still a bi g part of their every day life.

Leopard print....anything!

I got these leopard and pink Sperrys a few months ago on major clearance at Dillards.

How much did I pay for them?

$31.50.

You heard me.

Can I get a WHAT WHAT/!

V8 Juice

Stop gagging, ya'll. It's not that bad, for real!

I don't drink it for its nutritional value or anything, but because I'm not allowed fresh fruit or veg right now (due to possible bacteria) and this is the closest I can get.

Well, that's all folks! My June favorites once again.

I hope ya'll had a great Tuesday!



Meal Plan Monday 6.3.2014

 

 

It's Menu Plan Monday - Daddy style!

If you don't know, I (the mama) am in the hospital 2.5 hours away,

having a bone marrow transplant.

I have always planned our meals, and it is the #1 money saving tip I have.

 Plus, you don't  end up wasting

and buying junk that just sits in your cabinets until it dies a lonely death.

 

 

I'm linking up with Organizing Junkie. If you meal plan, or if you want to get started - check her out! There are tons of link ups each week and the ladies give some really great tips and ideas.

Now remember, this is Daddy-style.

This means the recipes are super quick and easy because they won't get home until about 5:45,

 and bedtime is 8:30.

 

Monday: ramen noodles and egg rolls

Tuesday: alfredo pata with mushrooms, chicken, and green pepper

Wednesday: Transplant day - girls are going to family and Mike will eat out

Thursday: Mike will be alone,, so sandwiches or out

Friday: same as Thursday

Saturday: homemade cheese pizza

Sunday: spaghetti and garlic bread

Weekend Recap

Happy Sunday!

I hope ya'll had a great day today.

Mama and I had some visitors here in Atlanta.

 

 

These folks came up to visit awhile, and I'm thankful.

It was a break in the monotony, mama got to get out and grab some more food supplies,

and we ate some good chicken & potato salad.

And they got SWEET TEA and brought it back!

You don't realize how much you miss sweet tea until you don't have it.

#thestruggleisreal  #firstworldproblms

 

Days -4 and -3 have been uneventful.

My counts have started to drop a little, but that is what we want and is what is expected.

I got to see one of my favorite doctors today, Dr. Koury.

Last January he met us in the ER with my first trelapse and gave me little hope.

He's said he doesn't understand the recoveries.

Truth be told, I don't either.

But I serve a God greater than any doctor, medicine, or problem.

He brings an understanding I can't even explain.

Peace, joy, an EVER present strength when I have none left.

 

Other than that, noting is happening, friends.

That's okay, though! I'll let you go now so that I can get back to the fried chicken and my book.

You know, the important  things in life. :)

 



My Transplant Life: Days -6 and -5

Yesterday morning, my mom, Mike, and I dropped the girls off at daycare

 and headed back to Atlanta.

I hate saying goodbye to them. It'll be about four onths before I'm home again.

But there's got to be some rain to see the rainbow, right?

 

They did good, alll things considered. I signed them in and gave them some last hugs and kisses.

They didn't cry, thank the Lord.

I think it was a good idea to do it in the play area because they were just excited to go and play with the new toys and their friends. I was able to get in the truck before I started crying.

I only let myself cry for a second, though.

There are some who have it way worse than me.

I'm going into this thing healthy as I can be.

I'm in remission, I'm tolerating chemo well, my counts are ALL normal.

I have the best support system anyone could want.

I have someone who can stay here with me while my husband stays home
 and continues a stable lifestyle for our girls and works to provide for our family.

I have NO reason to let myself wallow in self pity - God is too good for that!
 

 

Day -6 _meaning 6 days to transplant) consisted of having my chest PICC line placed, getting settled

  into my room and receiving my first dose of chemo.

My doctor has a sense of humor! :)
 

 I was able to do the chest line with no sedation (something I am absolutely terrified of),
 It hurt.
A lot.
I cried on the table.
I almost wanted to punch the doctor.
 I think he  was more rough than he actually needed to be.
 I'm pretty sure someone spit in his Cheerios before he came into the room
 and shoved that thing into my neck and chest.
 But it's over, and taking it out is a whole lot easier than putting it in!

Day -5 is about the same so far. We unpacked te rest of our things.
 My new line is still sore, but I haven't had to take any pain medicine so far.
I've got chemo scheduled for tonight.
 I walked 1/2 a mile so far out in the hall.
 I talked to Mike and the girls. They had a squadron family day and it sounds like they had a blast. The girls went waing and got soaked!



So all in all, Day 2 of 100 Days in Atlanta has gone well.
I pray they pass quickly and I can get back to complaining about cleaning, the girls not doing their chores cheerfully, Mike's boots left beside the door, his belt left in his pants, and change in the washing machine.

 

June Claire turns FOUR!

This sweet little girl turned four on April 21! 

I know, I know. I'm almost a month late.

Better late than never, though!

Miss June is sweet, sassy, and everything in between. 

We threw her a Minnie Mouse birthday party, which she LOVED.

She recently started full-day preschool (but stays home with me if I don't have any appointments) and has grown in leaps and bounds. She is still seeing a speech therapist and is excelling there. She will officially start K4 this fall - we got the paperwork yesterday to sign her up. 

Junebug, you love anything Minnie Mouse (you have several outfits and a pair of shoes that are Minnie Mouse and you wear them almost every day - as often as I'll let you!), Doc McStuffins, babies, bubbles, and anything to do with your hands. You especially love putting together puzzles, and you do a great job at it! You have a wooden tool bench that you play with almost every day. You build lots of great things. And you love blocks and are SO proud when you build things with them! Yesterday you and Sara built a zoo inside a city. I love your imagination. You keep us laughing every single day and is the best medicine anyone could ever give me.And you defend your family until the last breath. The other morning Sara said, "Mama - you're looking mighty chubby this morning!"and you let her know real quick that your mama was not chubby and she was being mean. :)

 It's okay sweetheart - I am okay with being chubby, as long as I get to be your mama! 

I think this picture says it all. She was pretty excited to get her very own "iPad".

I cannot believe my baby is four years old. She has come so far from the tiny 1 pound, 15 ounce, 13 inch little miracle that she used to be. God blessed us so much with her and I hope never to forget that. June Claire, mama, daddy and Sara love you more than anything and we are so thankful you get to be our daughter and little sister. You are a good one - most of the time. :)

Menu Plan Monday 5/5-5/11

MONDAY: creamy ranch chicken, rice, english peas and crescent rolls

TUESDAY: creamy lemon chicken over pasta, salad and garlic bread

WEDNESDAY: chicken pot pie

THURSDAY: frozen pizza, salad

FRIDAY: shrimp scampi, salad, green beans

SATURDAY: we have a birthday party to attend!

SUNDAY: something NOT prepared by me :)

I'm linking up over at The Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday - check her out & share your menu plan for the week!

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Life has a not-so funny way of throwing lemons at you, know what I mean? 

But as the saying goes -

"When life throws you lemons, make lemonade!"

Or in my case, make sweet tea because we are in Alabama and that's what we drink down here!

So that what we are doing.

One year to the day of my relapse last year, I relapsed again. 

It wasn't quite so bad this time. I haven't even felt sick.

I've been back in the hospital for six weeks today. 

If the bone marrow biopsy results look good,

I will go home this week.

But the BEST news is that the spinal and brain fluid shows remission 

after just four weeks of treatment!

I hope to be back to regularly blogging within a week.

Til then, we are continuing to give God the glory for these lemons He blessed us with.