I'm Alive!

Hey ya'll!

Yes, it's been a really long time.

It's actually quite shameful. About two months -- I can do better than that.

I just....chose not to.

I relapsed the first week of January, and it was very bad.

The doctors didn't give me much hope (I didn't realize this then)

and I've just been focusing on recovering and spending time with my family.

About a month ago, the long fight my dad has had with infection in his foot/leg

came to an end and he ended up losing it. Not the end of the world, no --

but it's been an adjustment for him. As for me, I'm doing well.

"Better than I deserve" as a dear friend says.

I have had two rounds of chemo (one in January and one in February/March)

and I have another tentatively scheduled in April.

But that may not happen, because I'm meeting with a bone marrow transplant doctor.

Yep, friends, it's come down to this. I can hardly believe it.

But I trust in my Lord and Savior and I KNOW he will bring me through this.

I have complete peace, and so does Michael.

The thing that has bothered me the mos tis knowing we will not be blessed with another child.

 

 

Anyway! On to  happier things, right?  :)

 

I am actually getting a few moments of peace and quiet today.
We stayed at my mom's this weekend, but Michael had to run back to the house to get some things.

He took June with him and Sara is with my sister and her family.

To say I'm enjoying it is an understatement.

This afternoon my sister cousin and I are going out to dinner for my birthday...

and a little shopping.

 

This is pretty much how I feel lately, so I will hopefully be picking up some new things.

Wish me luck!

 



Hope

5280 milligrams of high  dose Cytarabine

4 hour Potassium infusion

Nausea meds?

Check.

Please state your full name 

And date of birth.

Let us know if you need anything.....

If you haven't guessed, we are back in the hospital.

The first week of January I began to get really sick.

Three visits to different ERs provided no help.

One night I fell especially ill.

I couldn't talk and I had once again lost all muscle movement.

I couldn't stop vomiting and had extreme headaches.

My family loaded me up and we were in Atlanta before I knew it.

There we discovered I had relapsed and had leukemia cells in my brain and spinal fluid.

We also learned I had a second stroke.

Immediately I began radiation therapy -- I had three treatments.

After 5 days they released me and I got to go see my sweet girls for the weekend.

It was blissful and I ain't even exaggerating

I also got to spend the weekend with my awesome niece and nephew, who are pretty much the most the best kids ever (besides my own of course!)

Then on Monday I returned to Atlanta and checked into the Hope Lodge.

If you don't know what the Hope Lodge is, it's a facility funded by the American Cancer Society which allows cancer patients to stay in a safe, clean environment away from home for free so that they can receive the treatment they need. This place is awesome and such a blessing.

Since then I have been receiving high dose chemo, potassium, spinal taps, etc.

But God is still moving and my cancer cells are decreasing by the day.

Unfortunately, so are my blood counts and platelets.

But we expected that. I just have to be careful.

Please pray for my family as we go through this.

It's not just me, my whole family is stressed, worried, and suffering.

They have rallied the troops around me and are the best caretakers I can ask for.

I'm so very thankful to my big sister Elizabeth and her husband Kyle for taking our girls in. They love being there. I'm thankful for Raven and Will  accepting two little girls into their home and accepting the roles of "big brother" and "big sister". Sara and June adore them!

Will -- I'm sorry June broke the tail off your bird!


( I have tried and tried to upload a picture, but I'm on my new iPad and can't figure it out!)

happy new year!

 

Happy New Year!
I hope ya'll had a great Christmas and I hope you have an even better new year.

 

I'm so thankful for what I have been able to overcome this year.

 



Seven years

Today Michael & I are celebrating our SEVENTH anniversary!

 

Seriously....where has the time gone?

We've been through good times and bad times,

 knock-you-down-times and so-high-you're-floating-in-the-air times.

We've been through a lot, needless to say.

Married on December 23, 2005.

Lived in England until August 2007 (aaaaaamazing!)

 

 

Bought our first home September 6, 2007.

First child born September 29, 2007.

Second pregnancy lost February 2009.

Third pregnancy lost August 27, 2009.

Second child born at 27 weeks on April 21, 2010.

I was diagnosed with Leukemia (APL) on November 21, 2011.

Lots of squibbles, fusses, happy times, memories and time apart in between.

But I wouldn't trade this man for anything!

Because who else am I going to pose in cheesy wooden signs with?

 

 

We've been through for each other through everything since day 1

 and I can't think of anyone else to spend my life with.

We're lifers.

Nobody else could put up with him

and I know there sure isn't anyone else who could put up with me!

 

Happy Anniversary, Michael! I love you!

oh frozen goodness!

 

 

My mom picked these up to try & since we're at her house, I fixed them for lunch today.

Yes, they're from a bag.

Yes, they're frozen.

But oh my -- they are SOOOOO good!

I'm pretty sure she got them at Publix & they will be a staple at our house from now on.

They're meatless, but you can't tell. I don't think they're gluten-free (it says they contain wheat-gluten) -- but I don't tink they'reTHAT ba. Much better than the alternative, for sure.

 

I just wanted to share before I forgot to -- because they are really yummy and EVERYBODY loved them. Even the hubs, who can be hard to please with this kind of thing!

 

By the way -- if you have any good gluten-free recipes or recomendations, will you please e-mail them to me at sweetteablogs@gmail.com, or leave them in a comment?

We're on the gluten-free path nd I need inspiration!