September 2011

September 4th, 2011
My family went to church today while I stayed home. I wasn't feeling well from the chemo. I was able to get some good rest while they were gone. When they returned home Bob told me that he thought Abby and Robert were ready. They had communion at church and the kids were asking a lot of questions on the way home. After we had lunch Bob and I took the kids into our room and talked with them about asking God to forgive them of their sins and getting saved. Both said that they wanted to do that and then individually they prayed, with very little help from us and they both asked for forgiveness and that God would save them from their sins!! We and the Angels rejoiced!!!

September 6th, 2011
Robert started 3rd grade and Abby started 1st grade. Elijah will start his last year of preschool on Thurs. Where did the time go???

Chemo:
Things are going ok.  I am tired come the afternoons and I am battling the nausea again. 5 weeks down and only 7 more to go!! I am using a nausea patch this week to see if that works better and only a day out and I am already seeing a difference!! I am more tired but at least I am not nauseated!!!

I saw my LE PT for the first time on Wed. She gave me lots of exercises and I will see her again on Monday. That is when she will do the massage and wrap me. I am going to be sweating like mad!! It is suppose to be near 80 next week and the hot flashes are bad as it is!!! I won't get fitted for a sleeve until a month out of chemo as the steroids are bloating me out like crazy!! My face is all round and puffy!!! I don't want to get fitted for a sleeve and then have to get another one when the puffiness and swelling go down.

Summer 2011

2 weeks after radiation ended we went on vacation. It was fantastic to be able to rest and relax.

We started our vacation by heading to MA for my Aunt Catherine's birthday party. It was at her friend's parent's house. They had a pool, tons of food and lots of fun. The kids had a blast and it was so good to see my aunts again!!!

My father in law's cousin has a house on Lake Wallunpawpak in the Poconos Mountains of PA. They felt that we needed a vacation from the difficult year we have had and let us stay at the house for a week. This was the first time we went on vacation just the 5 of us. Usually we visit family and friends, which we did at the end of the week, but it was just US and it was so much fun. The kids had a blast in the lake, in the kayak, swimming, in the hot tub and feeding all the ducks!!

Tuesday it was suppose to rain all day again so we decided to go to the National Train Museum in Scranton, PA. Turns out that if they say rain, it will be nice and if they say sunny it will rain!! Anyways we went and had a lot of fun. We road the train and Robert even earned a Junior Ranger badge!

One day we spent the whole day at the lake. We cooked over the fire pit and the kids played in the water, Daddy took each kid out in the kayak and Mommy was able to sit in the shade and watch everyone and read! After dinner it was time for a dip in the hot tub!! Did I mention we LOVED the hot tub!!!

The week came to an end and we packed up and headed to my aunt and uncle's house in Southern PA. On the way down we went to the Crayola Factory. It was a lot of fun for the kids and they got a lot of "prizes"!! It also helped to break up the ride down.

We were able to spend 3 days with my aunt, uncle and cousins. We went school shopping and swimming!! On Monday, Linda, Bob and I fixed the heater for their hot tub and we were able to enjoy the warm hot tub again!!! It was perfect timing!! During this vacation Elijah was brave and would swim all around the pool with his vest on, even the deep end!! Robert learned how to swim completely with out a vest now!! He even knows how to swim under water without holding his nose, something his mom has never mastered!! Abby had her own achievement, she stood on the bottom of the pool, not just on the steps!! This is so huge for her as she does not like the feeling of floating! Such a great Summer Vacation!!

After a wonderful week we headed home to see our kitties that had missed us very much!! Only 2 weeks until school starts!!!

Aug 25th 2011
Today I start my 2nd round of chemo. This time should be milder and I should be able to handle it better. I should keep my hair, which is coming in curly, too!!! This is week one only 11 more weeks to go!!